52 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, May 2 - May 8, 2003
Food for Future topic of Soil
and Water Stewardship Week
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner recently
signed a proclamation announc-
ing April 27 to May 4 as Soil
Stewardship Week. During the
ceremonies in Dover, the gover-
nor also presented the Governor's
Conservation Award to three agri-
cultural and three urban nominees
who have provided conservation
benefits to the environment in a
variety of ways, whether on the
farm or in the city. Sussex County
award winners included Latty
Hoch and Mike and Paul Connor.
Hoch, who operates a farm near
Milton, has five Conservation Re-
serve Enhancement Program con-
tracts administered by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and
the Department of Natural Re-
sources and Environmental Con-
trol for 182 acres of hardwood
trees, 10 acres of wildlife plant-
ings, 30 acres of wetland restora-
tion, and two wildlife ponds. His
farm is a wildlife haven for area
deer, turkey, quail and other
species. He also participates in the
Natural Resources Conservation
Service Wildlife Habitat Incentive
Program.
Brothers Mike and Paul Con-
nors of Christiana Construction
were recommended as a result of
their cooperative nature and de-
sire to adhere to approved sedi-
ment and stormwater manage-
ment plans. Christiana Construc-
tion, of Newark and Lewes, has
constructed several large projects
in Rehoboth and Bethany Beach
during 2002, including residential
projects such as The Sanctuary
and Stable Farms. In their team
efforts, the Connors are very con-
scious about providing temporary
and permanent stabilization,
which is critical for minimizing
the transportation of sediment in-
to waterways. By working with
district staff, having a working
understanding of sediment control
and by complying with the district
approved plan, Christiana Con-
struction has been an exemplary
company.
Other winners included James
R. Correll, agriculture, New Cas-
tle County; Delaware Center for
Horticulture, urban, New Castle
County; H. Ronald Webb and
Scott Webb, agriculture, Kent
County; and Delaware State Uni-
versity, Rep. Nancy Wagner,
DNREC, city of Dover, DelDOT,
Kent County Levy Court, Kent
Conservation District, Silver
Lake Water Quality Forebay Pro-
ject, urban, Kent County.
This year's Soil and Water
Stewardship Week Proclamation
recognizes that the ability to feed
a word that could grow to eight
billion by 2030 is a serious task
that will require a serious stew-
ardship ethic among all citizens,
according to the organizers of the
observance.
"Despite our struggles over
technical and ethical questions in-
volved in increasing food produc-
tion, the world's food still de-
pends on an adequate supply of
good farmland," said Ron Breed-
ing, chairperson of the Delaware
Association of Conservation Dis-
triets (DACD), local sponsor of
this year's Soil and Water Stew-
ardship Week.
"Our conservation districts are
in the business of providing con-
servation technical assistance to
farmers and ranchers on private
working lands who want to re-
duce soil erosion, improve water
quality and make a better home
for wildlife," he said.
DACD, a voluntary, nonprofit
alliance, provides a forum for dis-
cussion and coordination among
the districts as they work to en-
sure'the wise use of and treatment
of renewable resources. Using
this association as their coordinat-
ing force, the districts will help
lead the way in conservation ef-
forts for Delaware's future.
Delaware has a wealth of natural
resources that provide priceless
benefits to Delawareans. Continu-
ing to work to conserve these re-
sources and improve the state's
environment is the steadfast goal
of the districts. The DACD and its
conservation partners believe a
quality environment in Delaware
is achievable with the full com-
mitment of its citizens.
The special observance, Food
for the Future, addresses the most
basic issue any society faces and
one of the most complex. In to-
day's world and for tomorrow's
needs, an ample food supply re-
quires productive soils and ample
water quantities; a wide and di-
verse variety of food crops; an
economic and social system that
provides peace and security for its
people; a transportation and dis-
tribution network; and a global
network of support.
"While providing food for the
future may seem out of our grasp,
each of us can do something
around our own place to conserve
our natural resources," Breeding
said.
For more information, call Sus-
sex Conservation District at 856-
3990.
Business art seminar registration set May 5
More than 40 artists, craftsmen
and representatives from
Delaware's art industry have reg-
istered for The Business of Art:
Creating Success, a one-day semi-
nar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon-
day, May 5, at the Delaware Cen-
ter for the Contemporary Arts,
Wilmington.
The featured speaker will be
Libby Platus, an internationally
known business artist, consultant
and lecturer from Los Angeles,
Calif. Platus' morning session
will include pricing for profit,
record keeping, meeting financial
goals and a launching party. Fol-
lowing lunch, she will help partic-
ipants determine their market,
teach them how to promote their
work, approach consultants, artist
representatives and galleries; how
to plan a museum tour, craft fair or
art show, how to gain a reputation
as an artist and explore alternative
markets and avenues for selling.
This seminar is targeted toward
craftsmen, artists, commercial
artists, gallery owners and those in
the arts business who want to
learn new techniques for survival
in today's business world. Platus
will discuss the changing climate
for art in America and share infor-
mation on how to become self-
sufficient through arts organiza-
tions and others in the arts busi-
ness world.
This workshop is sponsored by
the Delaware Center for the Con-
temporary Arts, Delaware Small
Business Development Center and
Delaware Technical & Communi-
ty College. The cost of $45 in-
eludes lunch and materials. To
register, call the Delaware Small
Business Development Center in
Georgetown at 856-1555.
Families in Crisis to hold
annual conference May 9
Raymond E. Lloyd Jr. will be
the keynote speaker at the annum
Families in Crisis conference, to
be held Friday, May 9 at the Carter
Partnership Center on Delaware
Technical & Community College's
Owens campus. Lloyd, chair of the
Human Technologies Program,
will speak on five building blocks
that create stronger families.
There will be many exhibits for
visitors, as well as morning and af-
ternoon workshops. Registration
begins at 8:30 a.m. For more in-
formation, call 855-5988.
Elder planning workshop
set May 22 in Lewes
The Lewes Senior Center will
sponsor a workshop for seniors in-
terested in financial planning at
10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 22.
Registered investment adviser
John Boraski will present the
workshop, which will discuss tax
reduction for seniors, pitfalls to
avoid, increasing retirement in-
come, asset protection, appropri-
ate investments and more.
Refreshments will be served
and there is no admission cost. To
reserve a place, call 227-6850.
