Kent County Profile celebrates area’s economic progress

DOVER — Some notes and quotes between headlines and deadlines...

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On Tuesday, we will celebrate another year of progress in Kent County. The Delaware State News will host the annual “unveiling” of the Kent County Profile, an economic development magazine we assemble in collaboration with the Kent Economic Partnership. In planning and editing the glossy publication, there were a number of “partnerships” we were able to recognize. Among them: •The new complex of the Kent County Recreation Center and Greater Dover Boys and Girls Club which opened in May on New Burton Road; •The Greater Kent Committee, Kent County, Delaware Union and others in the development of DE Turf, the sports complex that will open this spring; •Dover International Speedway, Red Frog and others that keep the Firefly Music Festival’s 90,000 guests rocking each year; •Harrington Raceway and Casino and its commitment to local vendors. •Dover Air Force Base and its community business ties. “The thing that I have found so impressive in Kent County is our ability to put together partnerships and really leverage those partnerships and make things happen with limited resources,” said Kent Economic Partnership director Jim Waddington in one of the magazine’s stories. The “unveiling” — so dubbed to go along with the fun of keeping the cover a surprise to the business leaders in attendance — will take place Tuesday morning in the Kent Rec Center. Copies of the Kent County Profile are strategically distributed by the Kent Economic Partnership with the intent of promoting the area and offering a “welcome” to businesses, entrepreneurs and career-minded individuals to the area. As Mr. Waddington says, he always has copies in the trunk of his car to readily share. On Tuesday afternoon, it will be available at www.kentcountyprofile.com. The 2017 edition will be the eighth Kent County Profile published by the Delaware State News.

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There was a sea of umbrellas at Tuesday’s inauguration of Gov. John Carney and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. It was terribly chilly, like it was during the Ruth Ann Minner inauguration mentioned in last week’s column. But it was wet. Lt. Gov. Hall-Long said she had heard all about the lieutenant governor being responsible for the weather. With an umbrella above her, she said, “Please note that it started raining before I took office."

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With David P. Buckson’s passing earlier this week, there are now six living former governors of Delaware — Pete du Pont, Michael Castle, Dale E. Wolf, Tom Carper, Ruth Ann Minner and Jack Markell. Gov. du Pont, who served from 1977 to 1985, goes back the farthest. He is 82. The eldest is Dale E. Wolf, now 92. Like Gov. Buckson, he rose from lieutenant governor to the role when Gov. Mike Castle became a U.S. representative on Dec. 31, 1992.

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Interesting to see the national media coverage of Delaware’s Democratic Party leaders Friday as they escorted former Vice President Joe Biden back to Delaware. Alongside Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, were Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester, Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper, and Gov. John Carney. “Hey guys,” the former veep said to the media, “Back on Amtrack!” Then it was a quick thumbs-up before returning to Delaware on the train on the same rails he traveled regularly as a U.S. senator.

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Wednesday’s “Final Jeopardy” question stumped the contestants. The answer: “On Dec. 7, 1787, 30 delegates at Battell’s Tavern gathered and made history in what’s now this state capital.” Our readers better get this right. What is ... ? Dover, of course.