On Tuesday the 2^nd I attended a candidate forum in Hockessin in the evening.  On the morning of the 3^rd I hosted my monthly coffee at Panera Bread on Main Street.  On Saturday the 6^th I attended a homecoming ceremony for a division of the National Guard, and then attended the Improving Birth Rally in Dover.  Pam and I attended the University of Delaware/Delaware State University football game on Sunday the 7^th.  On the 8^th I attended a Newark Rotary Club meeting in the evening, at which I presented a House Tribute to Jack Billingsley, who had served as the State Representative for Newark from 1968-1978, and then attended a portion of the Newark city council meeting. On the 9^th I voted, and helped Representative Kim Williams and Dennis Williams in their districts.  On Thursday the 11^th I attended an open house at a group home run by Chimes, which provides services for adults with disabilities.  On Friday the 12^th I attended a Chimes Open House, celebrating their 20^th anniversary, then went to Dover for an annual luncheon with the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association, and then participated in a conference call with staff and board members from Christina School District, and staff from the Justice Center, to discuss the issue of school discipline.  On Saturday I attended the Sussex County Democratic Jamboree at Cape Henlopen State Park.  On Sunday the 14^th I attended an event for the Newark Symphony.  On Monday the 15^th I participated in a conference call with the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence, and attended the monthly meeting of the 23^rd RD Democratic Committee.

I have door knocked a lot in the past few weeks, and have had much followup from these conversations.  They have led to phone calls, memos, and meetings.  I have provided answers on education issues, roads (pothole and traffic light) issues, city ordinance clarifications, tree maintenance issues, police activity questions, turnaround time for concealed carry gun permits, defensive driving course discount procedures, and many other such issues.  One resident asked that I help her track down her son, who was incarcerated at Howard Young Correctional Institution, but who was unable to call her.

I have been a bit involved in researching the new Priority School initiative unveiled by the state Department of Education.  I am very concerned that the state is overstepping here, and is positioning itself to takeover local schools in Red Clay and in Christina School District.  I joined several colleagues in asking DNREC to reject a permit for the company which operates the composting site in Wilmington, due to the company’s ongoing violations of DNREC regulations.  I have been pursuing the issue of bringing Maryland local train service to Delaware in general, and Newark in particular.

I am preparing for meetings on midwifery legislation and regulation, and on Student Retention and Social Promotion (I serve on this task force), and to work on a few financial issues with the state, including infrastructure spending.