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The Green - Friday February 13, 2015

Embracing the spirit of its name (The Green in Dover and the New Castle Green), The Green will provide an open-air meeting place for Delawareans to discuss events, consider issues and share ideas. This radio and online magazine will present the highest quality Delaware news and information. Through informed reporting, nuanced storytelling and in-depth interviews, The Green reaches past stereotypes and knee-jerk reactions to encourage a fuller, more robust discovery of Delaware, today.


Backers of Delaware River Basin bill see more support this time

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Efforts to bring similar federal support and protection to enjoyed by the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes to the Delaware River Basin will be coming back before Congress next month.

The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act was introduced in 2010, but has yet to gain traction. Some lawmakers, including Delaware Senator Tom Carper and the state’s lone Congressman John Carney, are ready to try again. The bill, if passed, would require the feds to coordinate the conservation work of an array of state and local environmental groups and likely bring more funding to projects in the area region that stretches from upstate New York to the mouth of the Delaware Bay

With the help of Delaware Public Media contributor Jon Hurdle and Richie Jones, director of the Delaware Nature Conservancy, we look at the legislation and what it could mean to the First State. (More)


Development of Woodlawn Trustees land getting scrutiny

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Development along the crowded Route 202 corridor north of Wilmington always gets attention - both good and bad.

Right now, the focus is on two projects, both on land owned by the Woodlawn Trustees, and people concerned about preserving open space are watching these them closely.

Just over the Pennsylvania line in Concord Township, area residents and at least two groups are fighting a project called Vineyard Commons that calls for building 160 four- and five-bedroom homes on a 277-acre site that borders the Pennsylvania portion of the First State National Historical Park.

Meanwhile, Wilmington University has filed preliminary subdivision plans with New Castle County to build a satellite campus on 41 acres at the southwest corner of Concord Pike and Beaver Valley Road, practically across the street from Concord Mall.

Delaware Public Media contributor Larry Nagengast recently looked into these projects and he returned to The Green this week to tell us what he found. (More)


Parenting intervention program takes unique approach to at-risk parents

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Helping parents who’ve faced adversity has long been a challenge for child psychologists. The need to assist at-risk parents is becoming more imperative now that more studies show that children who are raised in poverty or abuse experience more difficulty academically, in their future relationships, and overall mental health. In a lot of cases, reading a book or taking a class on parenting may not be enough.

Over the last three years, a University of Delaware professor has been developing a promising parenting intervention program that takes a more holistic approach to working with parents -- by sending coaches in the home to offer encouraging comments, as opposed to giving advice.

Delaware Public Media’s science reporter Eli Chen went to find out what makes this parenting program successful.(More)


Tax filing resources available for lower income familes seeking help

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Even though there’s still plenty of time before April’s deadlines to file federal and state tax returns, financial literacy experts say that tax season really starts in January. Because consumers often find themselves short after the holiday season, early filing can give many lower-income people more money to work with during a financial crunch.

In Delaware, several free tax resources exist, notably the $tand By Me program.

Delaware Public Media’s Anne Hoffman spoke $tand By Me’s Director of Financial Empowerment Mary Dupont about how to use free resources to file taxes early.(More)


Enlighten Me: A taste of Mardi Gras in Sussex County

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Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday has been celebrated in New Orleans since the late 17th century.

For Catholics and some other Christian denominations, it’s a day to eat rich fatty foods before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. For others, Mardi Gras is simply a good excuse to indulge in some winter revelry.

On Tuesday, the city of New Orleans will party on a grand scale with beads, marching bands and a parade down Bourbon Street. And while the First State may be thousands of miles from the Big Easy- there are still ways to celebrate.

Rehoboth Beach hosts a Gumbo Crawl on Sunday and Del Tech’s annual Mardi Gras Party takes place February 21st on its George Campus in Wilmington.

In this week's Enlighten Me, Delaware Public Media’s Cathy Carter discovered a corner of the French Quarter in Sussex County where New Orleans inspired food is always on the menu. (More)


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