Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today that the Department of Justice has settled its lawsuit against a developer for allegedly having misled residents at Noble’s Pond, a 55+ community outside Dover, Delaware and will begin making payments to residents.  The Department’s complaint, filed in 2019, included charges that Regal Builders, LLC, its president, and related entities, violated Delaware law by […]

A Seaford pastor has been arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of Dealing in Child Pornography, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday.  James R. Dryden, 74, was arrested February 15 following an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigation led by the Delaware Department of Justice and Delaware State Police. ICAC’s investigation was spurred […]

Plan will create new public-private entity and new economic development division at the Department of State WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced a plan on Wednesday to create a public-private partnership and strategically realign Delaware’s economic development efforts, with a new focus on promoting innovation, supporting Delaware’s entrepreneurs, and leveraging private sector resources to […]

August 15, 2017 Georgetown – The DOL Georgetown office has reopened to the public today after an interruption in water service was restored. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused.   ABOUT THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR The Delaware Department of Labor connects people to jobs, resources, monetary benefits, workplace protections and labor […]

PRESS EVENT Delaware to Launch First Restaurant Apprenticeship Program Secretary of Labor to host program launch, in partnership with the Delaware Restaurant Association   Wilmington, DE May 13, 2019 – Delaware will start the state’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program for culinary professionals in the restaurant industry, an important expansion of Registered Apprenticeship programs beyond the […]

Effective June 1, outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people will be permitted at Delaware’s state forests, subject to compliance with the Division of Public Health's "Guidance on Outdoor Gatherings." While the state's ban on short-term rentals will be lifted on June 1, camping at Blackbird State Forest and Redden State Forest, as well as the Redden Lodge, will be closed to the public until further notice. Plans are underway to implement a new online, fee-based reservation system expected to be operational later this summer. There is no fixed date on the launch of the new system, which will include the addition of two new camp sites each at both Blackbird and Redden. The new system will also handle advance bookings for the popular and historic Redden Lodge. Users can make camping and lodge reservations for future dates, receive electronic confirmations, and make payments and receive refunds via credit card.

The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Grant Program has awarded more than $31,000 to fund nine community tree projects in all three counties. The program offers up to $5,000 in annual competitive matching grants for projects on public land and community open space, and grants are available to all municipalities, homeowner associations, and nonprofit organizations in the First State. Since the grant program began, Delaware’s urban and community forestry program has given over 575 grants totaling more than $1.75 million and planted more than 13,000 trees.

The Delaware Forest Service’s Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program has awarded more than $18,000 to six volunteer fire departments to help boost their capability and readiness to respond to wildfires.

The Delaware Forest Service is seeking public comment on its new 2020 "Forest Action Plan," comprised of an updated Delaware Forest Resource Assessment, Delaware Statewide Forest Strategy, and a new "Assessment of Need" for the U.S. Forest Legacy Program, which provides funding to conserve working forests.  The documents can be found at de.gov/forestactionplan and are available in both Flipbook versions and PDF format. The public is kindly asked to review and provide comments via email at delawareforests@gmail.com by Friday, September 4, 2020.

Delaware's urban forestry program director Kesha Braunskill has been named to the Stakeholder Council of the U.S. Chapter of 1t.org,  an international effort to plant one trillion trees launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The U.S. is home to the first regional chapter of 1t.org. The U.S. chapter is supported by the 1t.org U.S. Stakeholder Council, a bipartisan group of senior-level representatives from government, business, civil society and academia who are informing the strategic direction of the initiative.

Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program is once again offering competitive matching grants up to $5,000 for tree planting or tree management projects on public land. The grants – open to municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profits in the State of Delaware – require a 50-50 match in either cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services, including volunteer or staff time, equipment rental, or supplies. Requests can range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (i.e., professional tree inventory, hazardous tree removal, or pruning). This year's deadline is Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

Delaware’s state forest campsites are now open to the public under a new online system that allows for advance booking and preferred site selection. Primitive-style camping is available 365 days a year on a first-come, first-serve basis at both Blackbird State Forest, north of Smyrna, and Redden State Forest, north of Georgetown. The cost per night is $25 per site (plus a small administrative fee) with a three night maximum stay per reservation. Each state forest has added two new sites for a total of eight (8) at Blackbird and seven (7) at Redden. All camping requires a permit and is subject to state forest rules and regulations. Complete information, maps, camping rules, and links to make a reservation are available at de.gov/forestcamping.

Visitors to Delaware state forests can now use a mobile phone to locate trails, hunting stands, or parking areas using the Avenza Maps® mobile app (available for iPhone or Android devices from the App Store or Google Play.) All state forest maps are free to download. The app uses the phone's built-in GPS to locate it on the map, even when the device is out of range of a network or Internet connection. Users can select a particular map of interest, which can be downloaded and stored on their phone. A blue dot follows users wherever they go so they always know where they are on the map. More info at de.gov/forestmaps

The Delaware Forest Service plans to conduct a 48-acre controlled burn in the City of Lewes on Friday, April 23, beginning around mid-morning. Residents and visitors in the area might see smoke and should not be alarmed. The 48-acre site is primarily coastal marsh with phragmites and other vegetation. The purpose of the burn is to reduce hazardous fuel buildup and restore native marsh habitat. The area was last burned in 2008. The area has been treated several times over the past ten years to control phragmites, (Phragmites australis), which outcompetes native vegetation and lowers the local plant biodiversity.

The Delaware Forest Service and its new "Tree Stewards" program led more than 50 volunteers and town officials to plant 160 trees in Milton, Sussex County on Saturday, April 24. The trees will enhance the town's hiking and biking trail near West Shore Drive, part of DelDOT's  "Rails to Trails" project in Sussex County. Delaware’s urban and community forestry program funded the cost of the trees and provided technical assistance. 

The Delaware Forest Service joined the Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) to observe “World Outdoor Classroom Day” by planting trees this week at Heritage Elementary in Red Clay School District and Allen Frear Elementary in Caesar Rodney School District. An outdoor learning place is “any place where meaningful experiences can be had in and with nature and the environment," according to DAEE.  “Outdoor learning places are especially beneficial to young students to develop the deep life-long appreciation for the natural world, our dependence on it, and its fragility. Outdoor learning places are often at schools but they can be at parks, churches, or even created in a backyard.” For information, go to http://daeeonline.org

The Delaware Forest Service is awarding more than $40,000 in matching grants to 14 volunteer fire companies to provide tools and equipment to fight wildfires throughout the First State. The VFA Grant program is open to all Delaware volunteer fire departments and can provide up to $4,500 in matching grants to acquire pumps, hoses, and equipment to respond to and suppress wildfires. Since its inception, more than $400,000 has been given to enhance wildfire response in the First State.

The Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Program has awarded $135,193 for 36 tree projects through its annual grant program, which offers up to $5,000 for projects on public land and community open space. All municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified nonprofits in Delaware can apply. Since it began, the program has provided over 588 grants for more than $1.86 million and planted more than 16,000 trees.

Redden State Forest has closed its campsites and many trails still remain inaccessible following the heavy snowstorm on January 3 that dumped up to 14.5 inches in nearby Ellendale. With a potential for additional snowfall of 3 inches or more and wind gusts to 35 m.p.h., Delaware Forest Service staff are currently assessing impacts from the storm and working to mitigate hazardous trees in and around high-use areas and clear trails and access roads. The Redden Education Trail (photo) on the Headquarters Tract is littered with downed trees and covered with heavy snow. Visitors should be aware of the potential for falling tree limbs on all areas of the state forest. The historic Redden Lodge, also on the Headquarters Tract, remains accessible for now and is open for previously scheduled events and bookings.

Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program is now accepting applications for up to $5,000 in matching grants for tree planting and management projects on public land and community open space. Urban and community grants are open to all Delaware municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified nonprofits – including schools and churches. There are also grant opportunities specifically for applicants with properties located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Complete guidelines on all grant programs are available at de.gov/treegrants. The deadline is March 4, 2022 and all submissions must be online. 

Delaware's Urban and Community Forestry Program is sponsoring “Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Underground Railroad Experience Walking Tours” at Blackbird State Forest to celebrate Harriet Tubman’s unique connection to Blackbird State Forest and commemorate the bicentennial of her birth in 2022. The tours will take place on Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m. and on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. at Blackbird State Forest, 502 Blackbird Forest Road, Smyrna, 19977. There is no cost to the public, but space is limited and advance registration is required.

TOWNSEND, Del. (September 7, 2022) – Volunteers are needed to plant 2,000 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest on Saturday, September 17 to provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed. State Forester Michael Valenti said, “Planting trees is a […]

TOWNSEND, Del. (September 20, 2022) – At a bill signing ceremony held at the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadow Tract, Governor Carney signed Senate Bill 328, renaming the Blackbird State Forest’s Meadows Tract the “Bruce C. Ennis Tract” in honor of Senator Bruce C. Ennis. The Ennis Tract covers 456 acres with open meadows, forested trails, […]

DOVER, Del. (November 4, 2022) – Delaware’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is now accepting applications for up to $5,000 in matching grants for tree planting and management projects on public land and community open space. Urban and community grants are open to all Delaware municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified nonprofits, including schools and churches. […]

DOVER, Del. (May 2, 2023) – On the morning of Saturday, April 29, the Delaware Forest Service celebrated Arbor Day with an extensive tree planting surrounding the Peters Scout Camp/Peters Tract at Blackbird State Forest, along with our 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest winners and their families. With support from the Forest Initiative Fund (FIF), […]

DOVER, Del. (May 11, 2023) – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is partnering with the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service (DFS) to plant over 12,100 trees in support of the Forest Initiative Fund (FIF). FIF was created by the DFS to help address water quality, air quality, and overall life for all […]

DNREC and DDA have determined that trail cameras for recreational use are no longer to be permitted on state wildlife areas, state parks, or state forests.

DOVER, Del. (June 28, 2023) – Odessa High School in Townsend placed first among six Delaware high school FFA chapters that squared off at Brecknock County Park in Camden last week, at the annual “Forestry Career Development Event (CDE),” a challenging test of tree identification skills, forestry tools and knowledge, and math-related abilities. Each team […]

The Delaware Forest Service has launched a new online portal for reserving campsites and other venues on state forestland. Applicants can make reservations for primitive tent camping, rent the Lodge at Redden State Forest and reserve the pavilions. Additional campsites at Blackbird State Forest and Redden State Forest are also now open to the public.

DOVER, Del. (October 19, 2023) – With hunting season now open, the Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service would like to remind our users of regulations as they relate to State Forest lands. This information can also be found in the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. To view all State Forest Rules and Regulations, please […]

The challenge is geared towards children ages 4 through 10, but all ages are welcome to join. The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge aims to engage youth in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers while they explore their local environment.

DOVER, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Delaware Forest Service hosted the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Col. John Haslet Chapter in Dover, and other volunteers to establish a memorial plot dedicated to former State Forester Walter F. Gabel, who served in this role from 1974 to 1991. “We are excited about this DAR […]

Surrounded by family members, teachers, legislators, and cabinet officials, a dozen school-aged children from across Delaware were honored during the Delaware Forest Service’s annual Arbor Day celebration held on April 26 at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center for their artistic abilities, depicting this year’s theme of “Trees are Terrific…For Outdoor Adventures!”

DOVER, DE (March 15, 2022) – The Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Health Crisis Response (OHCR), has initiated a Restaurant Accolade Program to train and educate restaurant industry staff on how to reverse an opioid overdose and support coworkers with substance use disorder (SUD). The program was developed to assist restaurants, hospitality groups, and […]

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 10, 2022) – Como parte de su plan estratégico para facilitar el acceso a los servicios para los residentes de Delaware a través del estado, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales (DHSS) comenzará una fase crítica de participación comunitaria en la que el público puede opinar sobre los tipos de cambios […]

DOVER, DE (Dec. 6, 2022) ­– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) would like to recognize High 5 Hospitality as the first hospitality group in Delaware to have all its restaurants achieve the Bronze Fork award as part of the Restaurant Accolade Program. High 5 Hospitality restaurants include Buffalo Wild Wings, Eggspectation, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Limestone BBQ, […]

DOVER, DE (Jan. 20, 2023) –   The Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) announces the arrest of a sixth man involved in a Seaford dog fighting incident from January 8. OAW charged Laurel, DE, resident Ronnell Jacobs, age 45, with three felony counts related to dog fighting, and two misdemeanor counts […]

Delaware Animal Services (DAS), the enforcement unit within the Office of Animal Welfare, announces the arrest of a man and a woman involved in an animal cruelty case.  On Aug. 25, 2023, Delaware State Police (DSP) Troop 7 received a tip from a concerned citizen that Dillon Hensey, age 32, and his wife, Chelsie Puckett, age 33, were seen […]

Learn how to fit a random forest and use your model to score new data. In Part 6 and Part 7 of this series, we fit a logistic regression and decision tree to the Home Equity data we saved in Part 4. In this post we will fit a Random [...]

Getting Started with Python Integration to SAS Viya for Predictive Modeling - Fitting a Random Forest was published on SAS Users.

In the SAS 9.4 world, SAS Stored Processes (STP) were incredibly popular. An STP is a SAS program that is stored on a server and can be executed as required by requesting applications. On SAS 9.4, they were widely used for web reporting, analytics, building web applications, delivering packages to [...]

Interesting use cases of SAS job web applications was published on SAS Users.

Kent/Sussex Counties, DE – 911 Services are fully restored for AT&T subscribers. If you have an emergency, you can now call or text 911. If you experience any problems, please call the following administrative lines: Kent County 911 (302) 734-6050 Dover PD (302) 736-7111 Sussex County 911 (302) 855-2970 Rehoboth Beach PD (302) 227-2577

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) in partnership with the Delaware State Police announce that beginning Monday, January 17, 2022, the pilot Electronic Speed Safety Program will be active only in the I-95 construction zone in Wilmington and will last until the end of the project. The goal of the pilot program is to reduce […]

Governor John Carney has terminated the State of Emergency and Level 2 driving restriction in Kent and Sussex counties, effective at 6:00 p.m. A Level 1 Driving Warning will be in effect for Kent and Sussex counties after 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 30.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) in partnership with the Delaware State Police announce the warning period for the Electronic Speed Safety Program in the I-95 construction zone in Wilmington ends on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Beginning Monday, April 18, 2022, first-time offenders will receive a warning and all subsequent violations will result in a […]

Delaware Natural Resources Police investigation leads to the arrest of a 16-year-old male of Wilmington, DE, for an attempted carjacking at Bellevue State Park.

Delaware Natural Resources Police arrested two men on June 22, 2024 following an investigation into the assault at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced on Monday that a Maryland resident was arrested for allegedly stealing the identity of a registered nurse (“RN”), and then trying to use those credentials to fraudulently obtain employment in Delaware nursing homes.  “The licensing system for healthcare professionals is crucial to patient safety,” Attorney General Jennings said.  “The Delaware Department of […]

DOVER, Del. (October 28, 2024)—The Delaware Forest Service is offering $910K in funding for local communities through four grants launching on November 1, 2024. While the application period for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Sub-Grant for Disadvantaged Communities is already open, three more grants will become available. Delaware Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator […]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Delaware Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Delaware Forest Service