Sen. Huxtable represents the 6th District, covering Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.
Take a look at my latest newsletter so that you can stay up to date on the latest infrastructure projects in our district. https://conta.cc/3P7t2O8
Delaware’s nonprofit community goes above and beyond to serve the needs of our neighbors. Please consider supporting your favorite organizations today.
The small businesses within the 6th Senate District play such an important role as community partners: honor their efforts by supporting a small business today!
No one should ever go hungry on Thanksgiving, especially in a state of neighbors like ours.
Thankfully, DART First State and the Food Bank of Delaware make it easy to help out those in need through the annual Stuff the Bus food drive.
Non-perishable food donations are now being accepted at all DMV offices throughout the First State, with additional donation sites planned in Dover, Stanton, Wilmington and Newark in the coming days.
Click here for a full list of donation sites and suggested items that you can donate to help make sure everyone has something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: https://bit.ly/3SqggMF
Families struggling to stay warm as the temperatures drop this week may be eligible for some help from the state’s weatherization assistance program.
Managed by the Delaware DNREC, this program helps lower income families make their homes more energy efficient, starting with a free energy audit. Additional services provided by the program include air sealing, caulking, weather stripping, broken glass replacement, floor insulation, duct sealing and insulation for hot water heaters and water pipes.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, families who participate in the federally funded weatherization assistance program save $372 on average per year.
Click here to determine whether you qualify: https://bit.ly/3SFU6pZ
Chicken was topic #1 as I toured a family farm that grows broiler chickens with DCA staff and members. He also visited a Mountaire Farms hatchery, part of an industry that employs more than 8,800 Delawareans.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces the closure of Plantation Road for six months beginning, Monday, November 6th. Plantation Road will close to all traffic from Shady Road to west of Salt Marsh Boulevard, including access to the Route 9 intersection until May 2024 when the new roundabout will open.
This work is part of the ongoing Plantation Road improvements project. For more information, please visit https://deldot.gov/projects/index.shtml?dc=details&projectNumber=T202011201
As the temperature drops outside, act now to protect your family from the winter flu season.
Everyone 6 months or older should get a flu shot each year. Children under the age of five, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic underlying medical conditions are particularly encouraged to get their flu shot as soon as possible.
While you’re at it, be sure to sign up for the latest COVID-19 booster. The RSV vaccine is also available for people 60 or older, and can be combined with flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Click here to learn where to get these potentially life-saving shots https://rb.gy/wydmp.
You can also stay up to date on the latest flu and Covid data by using DPH’s My Healthy Community Portal here: https://rb.gy/7rldn
Deer-mating season is well underway and will continue for the rest of the year. Be sure to follow these tips to stay safe on Delaware’s roadways, especially at dawn and at dusk.
1. Turn on your headlights and use your high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.
2. Scan the sides of the roads, as well as what’s ahead of you.
3. Watch for the Deer Crossing signs that mark commonly traveled areas and be aware of the cover areas that deer typically use for crossing.
4. If you see one deer, there are probably others nearby.
5. Slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten deer away.
6. Do NOT swerve to miss a deer. Brake and stay in your lane.
7. If you hit a deer, get your vehicle off the road if possible and call the police. Keep a safe distance from the animal and wait for officers to arrive.
8. Stay alert, lower your speed and always wear your seatbelt.
For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/ymjhuhj6
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has launched the new and improved HelpIsHereDE.com, the state’s comprehensive resource for those seeking help for substance use disorder or mental illness, along with their family members, community organizations, and health care providers.
HelpIsHereDE.com will now be easier to use, and offers a comprehensive set of resources for those in need of support for substance use disorder or mental illness. These resources will include lists of treatment providers and facilities, with information on where to find an open bed nearby. There is also free and easy access to Narcan®, a lifesaving over-the-counter drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, along with training on how to use it.
This website is available in English and Spanish and will ultimately help Delawareans and their loved ones dealing with the impact of substance use disorder and mental illness.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first leg of our Affordable Housing Listening Tour at the Dover Public Library!
Special thanks to our panelists — Karen Speakman from NeighborGood Partners (formerly NCALL) and Sarah Keifer, Director of Planning Services for Kent County — and to Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris, Dover Councilman Rocha and Dover Councilman Neil for participating as well.
Our goal with these town halls is to discuss the challenges and solutions surrounding the lack of affordable housing supply in Delaware with as many stakeholders as possible.
Our next events will take place in November — in Wilmington, Newark, and Georgetown. I hope you’ll join us.
I was delighted to attend the First Annual Butterfly Bolt, an event dedicated to ending domestic violence in our community.
This event was put on by What is Your Voice, Inc., a Sussex-based organization that trains domestic violence peer support advocates for those in need.
Congratulations on a successful event!
Medicare Open Enrollment will run from Sunday, October 15 to Thursday, December 7 this year, meaning consumers can join, switch or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage plan during that time.
Please beware of scam artists and other bad actors who may try to confuse you about Open Enrollment for their personal financial gain.
If you have questions about Open Enrollment, the Delaware Department of Insurance’s Medicare Assistance Bureau is here to help. This state agency offers free, confidential, unbiased one-on-one assistance to help you determine if making a coverage change is the right choice. They helped more than 5,000 Medicare beneficiaries save a combined $1.5 million last year – and they can help you.
Call (302) 674-7364 today to set up a counseling session and find the 2024 Medicare plan that meets your needs and your budget.
You also can click here for more information about the program: https://bit.ly/48CBcWk
Thank you to Housing Alliance Delaware for facilitating an important town hall about affordable housing! It was a great way to kickoff my tour across Delaware this fall as we host similar conversations in all three counties.
We were joined by representatives from Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., Code Purple Delaware, Milford Housing Development Corporation, Sussex Housing Group, Better Homes of Seaford, Inc., and the Central Delaware Association of Realtist — as well as Rep. Stell Parker Selby, Councilman Mark Schaeffer, Milton Mayor John Collier, and dozens of community members and housing advocates who want to see more affordable housing in our state.
Family caregivers play a crucial role in providing long-term care for seniors and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, yet there are many challenges that impact caregivers.
This past legislative session, the Delaware General Assembly passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 78 establishing the Enhancing Lifelong Community Supports for the Aging, Individuals with Disabilities, and their Family Caregivers Task Force
The task force wants to learn more from caregivers directly about their biggest concerns, barriers, and focuses when caring for seniors and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If you are a caregiver and wish to share your perspective and lived experiences, please take a few minutes to complete this survey: https://rb.gy/edypr
Your input will help the task force identify policies to better support caregivers in Delaware.
For more information about the Caregiving Task Force visit: https://rb.gy/h8qgr
An hour of your time could help to save lives.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva recently declared a blood emergency following a summer of low donor turnout, particularly among youth and first-time donors.
While the region’s inventory for all blood types is well below the optimal 5-7-day supply, types O+, O-, B- and platelets are desperately needed.
Donating blood is safe and only takes about an hour.
Please schedule an appointment today and ask a friend or family member to join you.
For more information or to sign up for an appointment, visit: http://www.delmarvablood.org/ or call 1-888-825-6638.
As Delaware and our nation face a worsening housing crisis, we need to get creative in how we promote affordable housing solutions here in the First State.
One of the bills I passed this past year that I am most proud of would fully exempt affordable housing projects funded by nonprofits and government entities from the state’s portion of the realty transfer tax – a small change that can have a huge difference on whether or not a family can afford a home.
While we still have a lot of work left to do around affordable housing, it was a real honor to join my House cosponsor Rep. Paul Baumbach and housing advocates from across our state at Legislative Hall today as Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 87 (S) into law today.
This bill will encourage our local jurisdictions to more robustly participate in the growth of affordable housing, while also streamline existing tax exemptions for first-time homebuyers to make sure our tax code aligns with our values and the needs of our neighbors.
I’d like to thank the Delaware Bay and River Cooperative Inc for taking us out on their training exercises today. Their mission is to protect the Delaware River and Bay natural resources by focusing on three key areas; Environmental Preparedness, Environmental Response, and Education.
Their environmental response protects our communities and tourism industries from potential impacts such as releases from ships.
Thank you for what you do. Here’s a pic of Delriver, one of their vessels during the exercises.
Thank you Sussex Housing Group for giving me the opportunity to speak to your group about why housing matters yesterday. Keep up the great work and advocacy.
Supporting Delaware farmers is beneficial for both our economy and our health.
As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I know that a locally sourced food economy will preserve our agricultural traditions for generations to come and provide our communities with fresher meat and produce, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the risk of food contamination.
That’s why I am working with my Republican colleague Rep. Ron Gray to encourage our state agencies and local businesses to support local farmers whenever possible.
Last week, we also sponsored legislation directing the Delaware Department of Agriculture to look at steps my fellow lawmakers and I can take to make sure at least 20% of the food purchased by our state agencies and businesses operating in Delaware is sourced from local farms.
I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for voting unanimously to pass this measure.
Communities thrive when we promote homeownership. Our neighborhoods grow stronger when homeowners have a stake in their local schools and civic organizations — providing economic security and helping to build wealth over time.
During the month of June, we recognize National Homeownership Month and reaffirm the importance of homeownership in Delaware’s economy and its central role in our national economic recovery.
It is important to take the time to recognize our state’s organizations and structures, such as the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and nonprofits that connect families with housing resources, that work hard to make homeownership a possibility for many Delawareans. This is why I’m so glad to sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 63 with Rep. Kendra Johnson, which recognizes the month of June as National Homeownership Month here in Delaware.
It is with great pride that I share with you that the Senate unanimously voted this afternoon to pass Senate Bill 6. This issue is close to the heart of many residents of Coastal Delaware and people across our state who value our state parks and the open spaces along our coastlines.
Thank you to all of the community advocates who joined us today as we fight to preserve the natural beauty of Cape Henlopen State Park and beyond.
Before he gave his State of the State address last week, I had the chance to sit down with Governor John Carney. We discussed some of the biggest issues facing families living in the 6th District, like access to affordable housing, the effects of climate change on our coastline, and the need to preserve open space across our community.
