Newsletter | January 26, 2018
Friends, January went by fast for all of us working in Dover. I sent you a newsletter shortly after the new year to recap 2017 and preview this year, but I want to keep you in the loop on some important community events too. Below this letter you will find a few of the events coming up that will affect the 12th District. If you are interested, mark them on your calendars!

This will be my last newsletter before we head into February, which is set aside for our Joint Finance Committee hearings. The JFC meets each February, about four times a week, to carry out one of the legislature's most important functions: writing a budget. Governor Carney released his budget proposal yesterday, and now it is up to us to go over each item and strike a compromise that will work for all Delawareans. Legislation and floor debates will be put on hold until March so that we can hold all-day hearings for state agencies to explain and defend their budget requests.

Thanks to the quick pace we set this month, there are a lot of exciting bills ready for consideration in March. I hope you will take the time to review some of them by checking the state legislative website , our caucus site , and by following along on Facebook . If any upcoming legislation sparks your interest, I am always eager to hear your thoughts. Until then, I look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events and hope you have a great weekend!

Sen. Nicole Poore
12th Senate District
Senate Majority Whip
DelDOT Public Workshop
When : Monday, January 29, 4-7 pm
Where : New Castle Senior Center, 400 South St.

DelDOT recently completed a study of truck traffic on Route 9 for the City of New Castle. This Monday, they will hold a public workshop to solicit public comment on the results of the study and the proposed changes.
Behavioral Health Consortium Community Forum: Mental Health and Addiction
The Behavioral Health Consortium was created last year to study a range of mental health issues, including addiction, in the first state. Led by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, the Consortium is working diligently this year to collect as much information as possible about mental health and addiction in Delaware so that they can draft a report and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how to fight back against the addiction epidemic that is gripping so many communities across the country.

Please join me at the Delaware City Forum on Thursday, Feb 8 from 6 to 8:30 pm at the Delaware City Fire Hall at 815 5th street.
Domestic Violence 101 Training
The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a federally recognized nonprofit that supports the empowerment of victims of domestic violence and their children through access to services and legal remedies. For professionals, state employees, and engaged members of the community, the Coalition's annual Domestic Violence 101 training is an important learning opportunity. The event charges a small ticket price, but offers attendees an overview of the dynamics and prevalence of domestic violence and teaches participants effective advocacy skills that support safety and empowerment across systems. 

Topics covered during the 2 day training include:
  • History & Culture of Domestic Violence
  • Dynamics of Abusive Relationships
  • Empowerment Advocacy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Safety Planning
  • Community Resources
  • Criminal Justice and Civil Justice Systems
  • Protection from Abuse Orders
  • Trauma-Informed Services
  • Prevention & Social Change

Attendees can sign up for one or both days. The ticket price is $25 per day.

Howell School Road Roundabout
DelDot recently opened the new roundabout on Howell School Road. Roundabouts are becoming more and more common in Delaware and around the country, as they allow for easier, safer traffic flows in less congested areas. Still, not everybody is comfortable driving them and we have gotten a good amount of emails from people in the area that are seeing other drivers struggle with the Howell School road roundabout. If you aren't familiar with exactly how these work, please take a minute or two to watch the video below.
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