newarking

The Delaware Kenya Association is a non-profit group located in Newark, Delaware, who have worked to assist Kenyan immigrants living in Delaware, and to make a positive difference in the lives of people living in Kenya.

The group was founded in 2001, and their efforts are aimed at reflecting the tradition of “harambee,” Swahili for “pulling together.”

The News Journal is reporting on their latest efforts in a story titled Local group to create children’s center in Kenya

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Zofia Smardz of the Washington Post wrote a wonderful piece on Newark in the travel section yesterday.  Obviously visiting for end of school year events, she was mesmerized by the beauty, history and vitality of our home town.  Give it a read, it will make you feel good about yourself.

After the idling of the Chrysler plant and the closing of Avon it is nice to see some good news on the job front.  Comcast will be joining Lowes and Home Depot as new large employers in greater Newark.

Comcast has announced plans to open an 800 seat, state-of-the-art customer service facility in Newark.  The phone center will be located at 300 North Wakefield Drive near the intersection of Rt. 273 and I-95.  They expect to have a grand opening event near the end of this year.  No word yet on specific job openings but the application process is open.  Applicants should visit Comcast.com - Not Comcast.net - for information about upcoming job fairs and even to apply online.

 The new customer service center is required to handle the expansion of Comcast services that now include Digital Voice.  The voice over Internet packet (VOIP) phone service is expanding quickly.  Comcast operates similar centers in New Castle and Dover.

New Castle County Executive Chris Coons says “We are excited to work with Comcast and look forward to their plans for additional hiring in the next few years. I thank Governor Ruth Ann Minner and the Delaware Economic Development Office for their dedicated leadership in this effort and others to ensure our local economy continues to grow.”

The space Comcast will use became available after the purchase of MBNA by Bank of America. 

Rohm and Haas has extended the deadline for applications for the 2007 community partnership grant.  The new deadline is April 19th.  The grant provides $30,000 to a non-profit organization that focuses on youth development.  Other areas that could be addressed with this grant include:

“…programs that support youth activities and recreation, educational enrichment, youth development, and community beautification in the greater Newark, Delaware, area; specifically, the area between the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland state lines, and Route 7.”

The Rohm and Haas facility in Newark is located next to I-95 at the 896 interchange. For details see the company site or contact;

Dick Williams
Rohm and Haas Manager of Public Affairs
451 Bellevue Road; Newark, DE 19713-9960;
302-283-2159; e-mail: richardwilliams(at)rohmhaas.com

The intersection of Hillside Road and West Main Street (273) is almost done.  While the improvements look minimal from this drivers perspective, I imagine the engineers have done more behind the scenes.  In fact, the new traffic signal system is scheduled to be implemented on Saturday, April 7th.

Some in City Council have been looking at revamping the traffic pattern in the whole area.  If you are interested or affected by traffic in this area it would be a good idea to show up at meetings of the City Council to make your views heard.

In response to Bill’s post I am including a link to the traffic calming committee report that includes traffic circles, red light cameras and tightening up some intersections to slow traffic.

The Downtown Newark Partnership will be making a case for expanding their activity in Newark to expand from activities covering Main Street to include a stretch of Elkton Road. It’s probably a good idea, and reflects recent growth, activities, and planning for that additional area.

Elkton Road leads to the Delaware/Maryland State line, and changes in name to Newark Avenue once you pass over into Maryland, running out to Elkton Maryland.

The area under the Partnership’s eye would run along Elkton Road from Main Street to Apple Road.

I like the idea, and hope if it passes City Council, which I think it will, that this new section of “downtown” gets a little more attention from the City and the community as a result of this expansion.

There are a lot of unsung heroes who don’t get much recognition for what they do to make their communities and the world a better place. Sometimes they are recognized for their acheivements, and the recognition may create an opportunity to their successes to grow further than they may have imagined.

A University of Delaware Junior, Vincenza Carrieri-Russo, was recognized in Washington, DC, this past week for her efforts in helping to found and in running a nonprofit group that collects books and distributes them to places such as hospitals and schools and libraries, and community gathering spots. The group also sent books to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.

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