New Castle DIGEST (Dec-Jan)
'News, Views & Stuff to Do' as of December 29, 2023
I. December News Round-Up 📰
Thousands Revel in the Spirit of Christmas in HNC
The second Saturday in December is traditionally special in New Castle, and this year was no different. Celebrations throughout town turned the day into an extravaganza of holiday fun and cheer, thanks to a dedicated cadre of organizers, a small army of volunteers, and weather that finally, beautifully cooperated with everyone’s ambitions.
Nearly two thousand people filed through the New Castle Visitor’s Center at the Arsenal on December 9 to find Spirit of Christmas info or events. Over seventeen hundred checked out the activities at the concurrent Winter Festival & Market at New Castle Public Library (NCPL). Assuming a (relatively high) overlap rate of 70%, and acknowledging some visitors who may not have stopped at either location, we can conservatively estimate that roughly three thousand revelers took part in this year’s town-wide holiday celebration.
It “took a village” to make this success possible.
At NCPL, Teens’ librarian Nicole Worth was the mastermind behind the Winter Festival & Market, aided by fellow staff including Ewa, Tyler, Julie and many more. In its third year, the library’s event had an over-abundance of interested vendors, which led to helpful synergy early on between the NCPL team and those working to pull together Spirit of Christmas. And in the end, this year’s Winter Festival & Market was the biggest so far, cementing it as an anchor point for the day’s town-wide fun.
Making the Spirit of Christmas happen this year was an even larger undertaking, requiring coordination between various organizations and institutions, working to secure sites, line up performers, find sponsors, get private homes willing and ready to open their doors, and much, much more. That a new team of volunteers was able to pull the event off so well is a testament both to their dedication and efforts, and to the event’s legacy which they looked to as a guide.
Many deserve credit and thanks for making the day a big success:
The Spirit of Christmas Committee comprised (co-chairs in bold): Judie Baldini, Heidi Benson, Scot Dempsey, Tera Heyward, Kelly Koczak McCurdy, Rod Miller Barbara Petinella, Rodney Pratt, Phee Price, John Reaves, Sami Campbell-Sarver, and Diante Simmons.
New Castle Community Partnership, New Castle Historical Society, New Castle Presbyterian Church, and the Historic New Castle Hundred Lions Club all provided support for the event, in addition to other business sponsors.
Other partnering organizations included the New Castle Public Library, Arasapha Garden Club, New Castle Court House Museum, New Castle United Methodist Church, and Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green. New Castle Senior Center, New Castle Elementary School, St. Peter's School, and Medori Commercial Realty supplied parking for the event.
Plus all of the performers, the wonderful residents who opened their homes, the artists and craftspeople … and a bevy of others who organizers thanked in a recent Letter to The Weekly.
And the late Gene Dempsey, whose legacy guided and rallied those who came together to keep the Spirit alive for 2023. Gene’s many years of service to New Castle leading events like Spirit of Christmas, and other endeavors, were honored at the Tree Lighting by Mayor Leary and Scot Dempsey, Gene’s son who became part of this year’s team. The mayor also honored Gene with a Proclamation at this month’s Council meeting.
Thanks to Kelly Koczak McCurdy for providing a full credit roll, and sincere apologies for the errors of accreditation for this event in our previous story (since corrected).
Updates from the Trustees of the New Castle Common
On Tuesday, December 5, the Trustees of the New Castle Common held a public meeting at Penn Farm House. It was residents’ first chance to see new board president Chris DeAscanis in action presiding over a meeting. In updating the minutes from the Trustees’ previous meeting, Mike Alfree noted that Tom Episcopo had been elected by the board to serve as its vice president.
The major talk of the meeting was the recent, third, and most-serious-yet vandalism of the Battery Park bathrooms. Because of serious damage to fixtures and other hardware, the restrooms have been closed for the Winter early and will remain closed until further notice. The board discussed options including moving or even closing the bathroom, noting that staff should not have to keep cleaning up and pursuing police follow-up for these repeated incidents.
David Baldini suggested the possibility of rebuilding using more modern techniques that make bathrooms “mostly vandal-proof.” Marsha Corcoran added that the utility of the restrooms’ current location has changed over the years and they could be less vulnerable in a more visible area, “where people are.” During public comments, Phil Gross asked the board to keep tall ship crews like that of the Kalmar Nyckel, which use the BP restroom when in port, in mind as they consider what to do.
Other highlights of the meeting included:
Unable to be completed before Spirit of Christmas on 12/9, replacement of the brick patio behind Town Hall (aka the Market Square) was set to begin on 12/11. Mr. Episcopo noted, “if you see anyone down there tearing up bricks, that’s why,” adding that, “you’re all welcome to have some.”
Fred Gallagher stated that the Bylaws Committee had “discussed some of what’s gone on with the Trust.” He asked the president to appoint an ad-hoc committee to look at an over-arching strategy for the organization, which would “enable us to be more proactive than reactive.” Gallagher wanted “this committee to look at issues that don’t cleanly fit into existing committees, so we can flesh out where we want to be in the next 5 years.” President DeAscanis agreed and asked interested board members to email him.
During Public Comments, Andrew Camac asked about the challenge of keeping beach areas of Battery Park clear of the debris that frequently wash up there. He expressed frustration at an apparent lack of effort beyond trail maintenance and the restrictions on regular citizens pitching in. Mr. Wilson noted that there are two companies that do annual beach clean-ups. He also added that, “we’re subject to the Army Corps of Engineers’ mistake adding a jetty at the C&D, [which] brings lots of trash to our side of river.”
Mr. Baldini has been working on a comprehensive maintenance plan for the New Castle Public Library building on 5th Street, which the Trust owns. He suggested doing a thorough in-house assessment based on a past plan put together by a professional firm in 2015. Mr. Gallagher pushed back on the Trustees’ capacity to knowledgeably make such updates, but several Trustees felt Baldini’s approach was a good first step that the Board’s property management experience would be helpful in completing. “Need to do better at preserving the building,” Baldini said, “from a historical perspective and a maintenance perspective.”
Updates from City Council and Administration
On Tuesday, December 12, New Castle City Council met at the Senior Center, with all members present. As New Castle was still without an Administrator, Council president Suzanne Souder shared updates from the city administration.
The meeting began with a public hearing on Ordinance 540, which empowers Council to require a concept plan to accompany any building petition that would necessitate a zoning change due discordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
Two amendments were approved: one correcting a typo; and a second revising the Ordinance’s language to state that Council “shall require” rather than “may require” a concept plan for qualifying proposals. With these, the Ordinance passed unanimously.
Other highlights of the meeting included:
Regarding the search for a City Admin, as noted by Ms. Souder, “we have been interviewing candidates for the City Administrator position. We have a number of very strong candidates. Once the interviews are completed, we will decide if we are ready to make an offer to one of the candidates or, if it is very close, we may have a second interview with the top two or three… All of the candidates currently have jobs so the person we select will have to give notice. I expect that the earliest the new administrator will report is January or perhaps February.”
Janet Carlin will be retiring from her role as City Treasurer, a position she has held since 2001 (when it was an elected office). She will remain in the role, she said, until a replacement can be found.
The city received a Memorandum of Understanding from the Trustees, who manage the Hermitage Natural Area, regarding the dog park proposed for that site. Council is seeking residents who would be willing to volunteer as part of an ongoing committee to manage the project and, later, the park. Those interested should contact Mr. Zeltt or Mr. Zubaca.
Mayor Leary and members of Council lauded the previous weekend’s Spirit of Christmas celebration and the efforts of those who made it possible. Chief McCabe discussed some concerns residents raised about traffic around the event, which drew the largest crowd the city has had recently.
Several members also thanked NCPD, Good Will Fire Co., and the HNC Hundred Lions Club for a fun and well-attended Breakfast with Santa on 12/2.
Council unanimously approved a new contract for chief of police Richard McCabe, which extends his term in the role through 2029. Members also appointed Alice Riehl to the Tree Advisory Commission and GWFC fire chief David Majewski, Jr., as that institution’s representative on the Planning Commission.
Further information: Agenda / Meeting Video
II. Big Wheel, Keep on Turning
Part 1: Counting Down the Biggest Local Stories of 2023
The list below links to previous coverage of some of the major events that have shaped New Castle in the last year. It is not exhaustive.
Phase I of Battery Park Playground Renovation Completed. After months of work securing grants and working with stakeholders, members of the BPP Committee / ONCOR brought new equipment and accessibility to the site.
Rail Safety Concerns Prompt Community Meeting. Responding to a flood of resident concern about train safety following numerous high-profile derailments in 2023, state and local leaders hosted an emergency preparedness presentations from county and state agencies, and a sometimes testy Q&A with representatives of Norfolk Southern, which operates the line that runs through town.
Several Major Developments Entered the Construction Pipeline. These include ‘The Battery,’ planned for 7th Street, ‘The Flats at River’s Edge,’ planned for Lukens Drive, and others.
Local Politics Went Live Again. New Castle Topics was proud to host the first live Council Candidate Forum since the pandemic, ahead of April’s regular municipal election. Then, in July, we teamed up with The Weekly to present a Mayoral Candidate Forum ahead of the August special election for mayor.
Multiple Events Hit or Approached their ‘Biggest Ever.’ The first major local event of 2023, May Market sold out of plants and became the most successful Arasapha Garden Club has ever held… Despite being rescheduled due to some truly horrendous weather, Art on the Green 2023 was the ‘biggest ever’ in terms of number of vendors, and it was thronged… Then in December, after almost not happening at all, this year’s Spirit of Christmas was - if not verifiably the ‘biggest ever’ - a huge success, bringing thousands out onto New Castle’s historic streets (and setting up the Library Friends for their biggest single-day Book Sale ever). So many superlatives!
The Sea Level Rise Task Force Achieved a Serious Success. In July, the Sea Level Rise Task Force secured major national support for the studies and construction that will be needed to prepare the city in coming years, which could cost millions of dollars that will now be covered. After this significant achievement, City Council converted the group to a standing Flood Resiliency Committee to work with our new partners and monitor ongoing efforts.
We Had Resignations Galore! (What else could be #1?)
… No more links here, as this has been the ongoing saga of 2023 and we’d basically be linking to every previous Digest and several other stories as well. But what a year it has been! Including elections for the Trustees of the New Castle Common, New Castilians went to the polls an astounding four times this year. This blogger finds it amazing that the level of municipal turmoil we’ve experienced didn’t draw any attention from DE’s (admittedly anemic) statewide news agencies.
While the democratic process and the opportunity to have our say in civic affairs are truly important rights to be cherished, here is hoping that all of this year’s local elections “keep” for awhile and municipal politics cool off a bit. There will be plenty of political sturm and drang at other levels in 2024…
Part 2: A New Year’s Greeting from Mayor Valarie Leary
Thanks to Mrs. Leary for sharing the end-of-year statement below for NCT readers.
Well, it’s that time of year again when we all collectively agree to forget to write "2024" on everything… lol.
As 2023 comes to a close, we can acknowledge it has been filled with its share of challenges and triumphs, and in a world that sometimes feels like a circus with too many clowns and not enough cotton candy, you - the residents of this fantastic city, together - have demonstrated resilience, unity, and an unwavering spirit.
As we embark on the journey into 2024 let’s carry forward the lessons learned and the bonds strengthened during the past year. Let’s be a community that lifts each other up, celebrates our diversity, and turns challenges into opportunities. Remember, a smile to a stranger might just be the sunshine they need on a cloudy day.
So, here's to spontaneous gatherings, laughter that echoes through on our streets and in our homes, and the countless small moments that make life in the City of New Castle so incredibly special.
Warm Regards,
Valarie Leary, Mayor
City of New Castle, Delaware
Part 3: The State of the ‘Stack
Navel-gazing still feels unnatural, so we’ll keep this year’s publication update about New Castle Topics (NCT) as brief as possible, and welcome further inquiries by email from any readers who may have them.
2023 was a very interesting one for covering events in New Castle. Much of why is intimated in the countdown above, but also…
NCT was honored to have Linda Suskie as a guest contributor this year. She shared well-researched and fascinating glimpses into the history of Arasapha Garden Club’s major annual events. We look forward to sharing more of Linda’s writing in 2024.
We got out into the real world by hosting two anxiety-inducing but successfully informative political forum events, for which thanks are due once again to the Eide family, Robert Wingle, Jillian Green, and Theresa Buchanan.
Several other readers also stepped up to provide info and photos to help this one-person-operation stretch a bit further. We deeply appreciate the numerous Topics Tipsters who have, while declining credit, contributed in various ways this year.
NCT won several DPA Communications Awards in April, and reached audience milestones on both Substack (410 subscribers) and Facebook (1.4K page followers) this year. The project’s Reach punched well above its weight, too, with over a dozen stories reaching more than 1.5K people, and five of this year’s posts reaching 5K or more.
Plans for 2024 include…
Dropping the ‘City.’ As some readers may have noticed, the blog has been referred to simply as ‘New Castle Topics’ in the body of most recent stories. After four years, it is well established that this project is about the city and not the whole county, so goodbye to the unwieldy extra word (rebrand coming soon).
More, deeper dives into local history topics, including the stories of some of the unique institutions and organizations that make New Castle special. And…
As multiple readers have now pledged financial support for this project - unsought but very gratefully welcomed - 2024 will bring a renewed push to incorporate NCT as a non-profit community resource. This will require the establishment of a Board, which will serve as both a fiduciary check on any funds NCT accepts, as well as adding a layer of Editorial accountability. We’ve already had discussions with a few individuals about serving in such a capacity, but could use a few more.
Note: If/when NCT does incorporate and “turns on” Paid Subscriptions, that will not mean a ‘PayWall.’ All stories will always be for everyone.
Thank you so much to everyone who engages with this project, whether via Substack subscription or social media following. It remains a pleasure to share what we find laudable and lovely about New Castle with all of you. Happy New Year.
III. Santa and the Chimney Challenge
The story below comes from the final chapter of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, whom most know as the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum’s lesser-known bio of Santa - available to read in full, for free, at Project Guttenberg - is an endearing, light-hearted tale that blends numerous traditions into a fun, new take on the life of everyone’s favorite gift-giving elf.
In many of his works (including later Oz stories), Baum played with the contrasts between tradition and technology, and between fantasy and futurism. (See The Master Key: an Electrical Fairy Tale for a shining example.) This last chapter from the Life… of Santa, a sort-of appendix to the main story, has fun in that space. It focuses on how the Jolly One handled some very modern problems - modern for 1902, anyway! - that should amuse readers young and old.
(There is no local connection here - just a lil’ holiday feature from a favored author. Enjoy.)
“The Deputies of Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum
There was one evil following in the path of civilization that caused Santa Claus a vast amount of trouble before he discovered a way to overcome it. But, fortunately, it was the last trial he was forced to undergo.
One Christmas Eve, when his reindeer had leaped to the top of a new building, Santa Claus was surprised to find that the chimney had been built much smaller than usual. But he had no time to think about it just then, so he drew in his breath and made himself as small as possible and slid down the chimney.
"I ought to be at the bottom by this time," he thought, as he continued to slip downward; but no fireplace of any sort met his view, and by and by he reached the very end of the chimney, which was in the cellar.
"This is odd!" he reflected, much puzzled by this experience. "If there is no fireplace, what on earth is the chimney good for?"
Then he began to climb out again, and found it hard work—the space being so small. And on his way up he noticed a thin, round pipe sticking through the side of the chimney, but could not guess what it was for.
Finally he reached the roof and said to the reindeer:
"There was no need of my going down that chimney, for I could find no fireplace through which to enter the house. I fear the children who live there must go without playthings this Christmas."
Then he drove on, but soon came to another new house with a small chimney. This caused Santa Claus to shake his head doubtfully, but he tried the chimney, nevertheless, and found it exactly like the other. Moreover, he nearly stuck fast in the narrow flue and tore his jacket trying to get out again; so, although he came to several such chimneys that night, he did not venture to descend any more of them.
"What in the world are people thinking of, to build such useless chimneys?" he exclaimed. "In all the years I have traveled with my reindeer I have never seen the like before."
True enough; but Santa Claus had not then discovered that stoves had been invented and were fast coming into use. When he did find it out he wondered how the builders of those houses could have so little consideration for him, when they knew very well it was his custom to climb down chimneys and enter houses by way of the fireplaces. Perhaps the men who built those houses had outgrown their own love for toys, and were indifferent whether Santa Claus called on their children or not. Whatever the explanation might be, the poor children were forced to bear the burden of grief and disappointment.
The following year Santa Claus found more and more of the new-fashioned chimneys that had no fireplaces, and the next year still more. The third year, so numerous had the narrow chimneys become, he even had a few toys left in his sledge that he was unable to give away, because he could not get to the children.
The matter had now become so serious that it worried the good man greatly, and he decided to talk it over with Kilter and Peter and Nuter and Wisk.
Kilter already knew something about it, for it had been his duty to run around to all the houses, just before Christmas, and gather up the notes and letters to Santa Claus that the children had written, telling what they wished put in their stockings or hung on their Christmas trees. But Kilter was a silent fellow, and seldom spoke of what he saw in the cities and villages. The others were very indignant.
"Those people act as if they do not wish their children to be made happy!" said sensible Peter, in a vexed tone. "The idea of shutting out such a generous friend to their little ones!"
"But it is my intention to make children happy whether their parents wish it or not," returned Santa Claus. "Years ago, when I first began making toys, children were even more neglected by their parents than they are now; so I have learned to pay no attention to thoughtless or selfish parents, but to consider only the longings of childhood."
"You are right, my master," said Nuter, the Ryl; "many children would lack a friend if you did not consider them, and try to make them happy."
"Then," declared the laughing Wisk, "we must abandon any thought of using these new-fashioned chimneys, but become burglars, and break into the houses some other way."
"What way?" asked Santa Claus.
"Why, walls of brick and wood and plaster are nothing to Fairies. I can easily pass through them whenever I wish, and so can Peter and Nuter and Kilter. Is it not so, comrades?"
"I often pass through the walls when I gather up the letters," said Kilter, and that was a long speech for him, and so surprised Peter and Nuter that their big round eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"Therefore," continued the Fairy, "you may as well take us with you on your next journey, and when we come to one of those houses with stoves instead of fireplaces we will distribute the toys to the children without the need of using a chimney."
"That seems to me a good plan," replied Santa Claus, well pleased at having solved the problem. "We will try it next year."
That was how the Fairy, the Pixie, the Knook and the Ryl all rode in the sledge with their master the following Christmas Eve; and they had no trouble at all in entering the new-fashioned houses and leaving toys for the children that lived in them.
And their deft services not only relieved Santa Claus of much labor, but enabled him to complete his own work more quickly than usual, so that the merry party found themselves at home with an empty sledge a full hour before daybreak.
The only drawback to the journey was that the mischievous Wisk persisted in tickling the reindeer with a long feather, to see them jump; and Santa Claus found it necessary to watch him every minute and to tweak his long ears once or twice to make him behave himself.
But, taken all together, the trip was a great success, and to this day the four little folk always accompany Santa Claus on his yearly ride and help him in the distribution of his gifts.
But the indifference of parents, which had so annoyed the good Saint, did not continue very long, and Santa Claus soon found they were really anxious he should visit their homes on Christmas Eve and leave presents for their children.
So, to lighten his task, which was fast becoming very difficult indeed, old Santa decided to ask the parents to assist him.
"Get your Christmas trees all ready for my coming," he said to them; "and then I shall be able to leave the presents without loss of time, and you can put them on the trees when I am gone."
And to others he said: "See that the children's stockings are hung up in readiness for my coming, and then I can fill them as quick as a wink."
And often, when parents were kind and good-natured, Santa Claus would simply fling down his package of gifts and leave the fathers and mothers to fill the stockings after he had darted away in his sledge.
"I will make all loving parents my deputies!" cried the jolly old fellow, "and they shall help me do my work. For in this way I shall save many precious minutes and few children need be neglected for lack of time to visit them."
Besides carrying around the big packs in his swift-flying sledge old Santa began to send great heaps of toys to the toy-shops, so that if parents wanted larger supplies for their children they could easily get them; and if any children were, by chance, missed by Santa Claus on his yearly rounds, they could go to the toy-shops and get enough to make them happy and contented. For the loving friend of the little ones decided that no child, if he could help it, should long for toys in vain. And the toy-shops also proved convenient whenever a child fell ill, and needed a new toy to amuse it; and sometimes, on birthdays, the fathers and mothers go to the toy-shops and get pretty gifts for their children in honor of the happy event.
Perhaps you will now understand how, in spite of the bigness of the world, Santa Claus is able to supply all the children with beautiful gifts. To be sure, the old gentleman is rarely seen in these days; but it is not because he tries to keep out of sight, I assure you. Santa Claus is the same loving friend of children that in the old days used to play and romp with them by the hour; and I know he would love to do the same now, if he had the time. But, you see, he is so busy all the year making toys, and so hurried on that one night when he visits our homes with his packs, that he comes and goes among us like a flash; and it is almost impossible to catch a glimpse of him.
And, although there are millions and millions more children in the world than there used to be, Santa Claus has never been known to complain of their increasing numbers.
"The more the merrier!" he cries, with his jolly laugh; and the only difference to him is the fact that his little workmen have to make their busy fingers fly faster every year to satisfy the demands of so many little ones.
"In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child," says good old Santa Claus; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.
IV. Community Event Calendar 📅
Check out the Community Calendar on our website for a farther view of the local event scene and to catch additional events as they are added, plus the list of monthly/ongoing events!
Coming up in JANUARY 2024
A special session of City Council previously scheduled for 1/2 has been cancelled.
1/9 - City Council Meeting (Regular), New Castle Senior Center, 7pm.
Agenda to be posted.1/26 - Well Seasoned Heirlooms, at NC Court House Museum, Noon.
Historic Site Interpreter Kimberly Fritsch shines a spotlight on the practices, recipes and women throughout Delaware history that speak to us through their food.1/26 - 4th Friday Art Loop events downtown from 5-8pm, including:
Cobblestone Chocolates celebrating Mozart’s birthday at the Mo’zArt Gallery.
1/27 - The (Mock) Trial of Thomas Garrett, at NC Court House Museum, Noon.
Experience the 1848 trial of abolitionist Thomas Garrett in the very court room where it happened. Jim Whisman will portray Thomas Garrett and volunteers will get the chance to play various roles in the Federal Trial’s recreation (with scripts provided).1/31 - Which Craft: Framing Paper Art at NC Public Library, 5:30pm.
Learn about framing techniques and mount and frame your own 5” x 7” artwork.
FEBRUARY 2024
2/13 - City Council Meeting (Regular), New Castle Senior Center, 7pm.
Agenda to be posted.2/18 - ‘Second Street Coffeehouse’ Open Mic at NC Presbyterian Church, 7-9pm.
$3 admission, with refreshments available for purchase. Performer sign-up begins at 6:30.
2/21-24 - Historic New Castle Restaurant Weekend, at various local eateries.
Thank you for reading and, once again, Happy New Year!
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