DIGEST: Mid-Summer 2022
City of New Castle News, Information, Interviews & Events
I. News Round-Up
(As this is the first Digest, a couple stories we wanted to highlight will reach a bit further back than just July…)
Uncertain Future for Economic Development & Tourism Coordinator
In a Special Meeting on July 21, Council met to discuss the city PR/Development position authorized by Resolution 2022-08, after one of three candidates withdrew from consideration. They began with a discussion of what, exactly, the new city employee would do.
City administrator Bill Barthel also detailed discussions with Mike Connelly of NCHS regarding the possibility of that institution filling the role (and receiving the funding) envisioned for the development coordinator. At council’s request, Mr. Barthel and Mr. Connelly are to work out a tentative agreement for review in August.
City Passes $6.8M Budget for FY2023, Property Taxes Unchanged
The “big news” from the new city budget - which was approved 6/7 and released on the city website 7/18 - is a large increase for city security and modest extra funding for grants to community groups.
City treasurer Janet Carlin described the budget prepared for Council by city staff this year as “conservative” due to current economic uncertainty, and particularly the potential effect of fuel prices on the city’s vehicle fleet. Indeed, total general expenses come in at $5.46M, a decrease of roughly $30K, which itself masks some bigger shifts within the budget to account for higher costs of materials and services.
A $110,000 increase for Public Safety also reflects unstable fuel costs and includes funds for a new police vehicle and officer intended to focus on seasonal traffic enforcement. That expenditure for city security will be bolstered by nearly $100K in state funds recently received for installation of cameras throughout the city. The funds available to Mayor and Council for allocation as grants to city organizations was increased by $5K, to $43K.
Regarding consideration of a potential new ‘municipal complex,’ the minutes from the June 7 budget workshop state that,
“[Per Mr. Barthel] $10,000 allocated if Council wants to proceed to next steps relative to the Municipal Complex. The Trustees have indicated the possibility of the City looking into the property across the street as part of the project or as an alternative property entirely… Mr. Barthel noted that no specifics have been worked out, and a scaled-down version is also a consideration. Councilperson Souder noted that there is public opposition to a Municipal Complex. Further discussion… noted that there are a number of options… and a final decision has not been made; and the cost of $10.5M was never a final cost.”
The city’s new budget went into effect on July 1, 2022. You can see what changed from last year at-a-glance with this Annotated City Budget.
Court House Museum Gets Back to Sharing New Castle & DE History
After being closed throughout the winter and spring for improvements to its fire suppression system, New Castle Court House Museum reopened in late June and director Cindy Snyder is happy to be back to normal.
For the moment, “normal” still means working around some ongoing upgrades to the 290 year old building, which Snyder described as “the birthplace of the Delaware State [and] the most historically significant place in our state.” However, Snyder and staff are excited to be back to work and looking forward to the museum’s annual Chautauqua Tent Show on the Green, September 10th and 11th.
“It is wonderful to be open again,” Snyder said. “The staff at the courthouse are so happy to be back doing the job they love, greeting visitors to New Castle and sharing our unique history with them.”
NCPD Co-Hosts Successful First ‘Bystander CPR’ Training Event
On June 25, the New Castle Police Department partnered with New Castle County Paramedics and Good Will Fire Co. to offer ‘Lend a Hand, Save a Life.’ The public training course covered how to administer ‘Bystander CPR,’ a pared-down, average-Joe friendly method of providing critical respiratory support until professional EMS arrive. Nearly 30 people attended, prompting NCPD to place a cap of 15 attendees on future offerings of this training. The next event will be August 27.
The Return of Ted Joslin’s Cobblestones -
In late June, the ‘Teditor’ returned to New Castle in digital spirit (after returning in person for Separation Day) with the release of the first issue of Cobblestones in roughly two years! Enjoy the most recent issues at the links below and email Ted Joslin if you’d like to subscribe (his info is in the newsletter).
II. ICYMI on City Topics’ Facebook page…
William Penn Cuts Drop-Out Rate, Increases Grads over 10 Years
Ten years ago, WPHS had a drop-out rate of 7% and a graduation rate of 74%... As of 2021, even amid the pandemic, those numbers had improved significantly, with drop-outs down to 1.7% and completions up to 83%.
As detailed in this article from Town Square News, much of the credit for this turn-around goes to the Communities in Schools program. Through it, WPHS brought experts from community organizations with experience helping at-risk kids directly into the school full-time, with financing through a unique public-private partnership.
Hermitage Natural Area Promotes Native Biodiversity at Popular Events
New Castle’s ecological ‘hidden gem,’ a sprawling, semi-wild space right within its city limits, the Hermitage Natural Area is steadily coming out of hiding, hosting several events this year that have each brought many new visitors into its green embrace.
Earlier this month, over a dozen families and small groups turned up to learn about and pick wild-growing wine berries on the property (and thus help limit the invasive species’ spread) in a clever blend of volunteerism and free pick-it-yourself fruit. One guest later sent Hermitage project manager Jim Sidlowski photos of a pie she’d made with her harvest. And in May, well over fifty people descended on the Hermitage’s parking area and central meadow for a ‘Spring Native Plant Exchange’ organized within a popular group on Facebook.
A Glimpse of Bygone Summer Leisure in New Castle
We recently shared an old photo (below) of Deemer’s Beach Resort that sparked a lot of interest! While the resort is long-gone, we’re digging up the details that remain (plus more photos) for a closer look at this once-great summer destination. Keep an eye here and on our Facebook for the fuller story soon!
III. Catching Up with Council Member Suzanne Souder
NC City Topics (NCT): What are your impressions of the work done so far by the Sea Level Rise Task Force?
Suzanne Souder (SS): I think they have made a good start. They reviewed existing information and divided tasks among the members. They are investigating possible sources of funding. They are seeking input from other sources and have arranged for representatives of 2 different agencies to meet with them later this month.
NCT: What are your favorite Summer events or things to do in New Castle?
SS: Separation Day is always fun and seems to mark the beginning of summer in New Castle. I enjoy walking in Battery Park year-round and observing the seasonal changes in vegetation and animal life. I enjoy the Opera Delaware performances in the park, too.
NCT: Do you have particular priorities with the remainder of your term on council?
SS: I will continue to remind council that whatever we decide to do to mitigate the rising level of the Delaware River, it will be expensive. I know there are many grants available for such things, but I doubt they will cover 100% of the cost. Since any major action will cost millions of dollars, the city's share will not be insignificant. We need to plan our budgets for the next few years with this in mind and consider it when we make decisions about the use of the ARPA funds.
NCT: Can you tell us about the New Castle institutions or organizations that you love and wish more people knew about?
SS: I volunteer at the Brandywine Valley SPCA and hope more people will get involved. There are lots of things to be done from office work and fundraising to walking dogs and playing with cats. Interacting with the animals helps to socialize them which makes them more adoptable. I also serve on the board of the New Castle Library Friends which raises money so the library can purchase things not covered by its regular budget. These include computers for the children's area, special programming, and the audio-visual system in the community room. This group can always use more members and volunteers.
Thanks to Ms. Souder for her time and thoughtful responses!
…
We also recently spoke to artist Dennis Young, proprietor of the Mo’zArt Gallery - you can read that interview here.
IV. “City Topics?”
Uninspired though it is, for now this page/site/outlet will remain, simply, ‘New Castle City Topics.’ With many thanks to everyone who has offered input on the name change, no option engendering an unqualified “that’s it!” response has emerged. And NCCT fits, remaining similar to the original while being distinct - besides, New Castle is a ‘city.’
Special thanks go to the reader who emailed a very forceful and well thought out argument against changing the name at all. However, out of respect for the institution from which the original ‘Town Topics’ name was inadvertently borrowed, and a desire to find something better - eventually - here we are.
A more permanent re-branding may yet come… it’s just not a priority at the moment.
Incidentally, this project got one last award under the old name in early July, receiving an Honorable Mention for its social media presence in the NFPW’s 2022 National Communications Contest.
V. Hot Town: Summer in the City
(Upcoming Events)
August Events
8/2 - National Night Out in Battery Park, 6-9pm.
Join NCPD, Good Will Fire Co., the Historic NC Hundred Lions Club, the
Library and a host of local organizations for a fun (and free) “night out” with
games, food and music in the park! (Link goes to Facebook Event.)8/3 - Kona Shame performs at 6:30pm in Battery Park as part of NCCP’s
Summer Concert Series.8/4 - Taverns, Taprooms & Tippling Houses Walking Tour, 7pm.
New Castle Historical Society presents an elbow-bender’s guide to the lusher
bits of ONC history, starting at the Arsenal and ending at the Booth House
Tavern for a drink. (21+ Event)8/10 - Cherry Crush performs at 6:30pm in Battery Park as part of NCCP’s
Summer Concert Series.8/25 - Amstel Live: History After Hours at the Amstel House, 6:30-8:30pm.
Join NCHS to “explore art… of the 18th century, and American styles of
architecture. Sample historically-inspired food & beverages in the
Amstel Garden.” (21+ Event)8/29 - Antiques on the Waterfront in Battery Park, 9am-4pm.
New Castle’s beloved annual Antiques Show by Dordy Fontinel, benefitting
Friendship House and its work on behalf of the unhoused.
September Events
9/8 - Dining in the Street (benefitting New Castle Senior Center), 6pm.
9/24 - Art on the Green in Battery Park, 10am-4pm.
On-Going Events
Regular Historic Tours at:
New Castle Court House Museum (Weds-Sunday)
New Castle Historical Society (Weds-Sunday)
Read House & Gardens (Thurs-Sunday)
Check out the Fourth Friday Art Loop each month at participating shops and galleries around town square, including Opera House, Mo’Zart, Cobblestones Antiques and many more!
Remember, you can always check the Facebook Events Tab for an always-up-to-date ‘master calendar’ of what’s going on in town (that’s listed on that site, anyway)!
Thank you for reading. If you found the Digest useful, please Share and help others to find it. Feedback is definitely welcome - as are reader contributions and tips for future stories and digests. Stay cool and have a wonderful month!