New Castle DIGEST (Jan-Feb)
'News, Views & Stuff to Do' as of January 26, 2024
I. January News Round-Up 📰
Citing School Buildings Averaging 60 Years Old, CSD Referendum Seeks Approval for Capital Projects, Tax Hike
The Colonial School District (CSD) - which includes schools serving the City of New Castle - will hold a referendum at the end of February. If passed by voters, it would authorize major work on all 13 district school buildings, and the building of a multi-sport complex to serve CSD’s only high school, William Penn.
The maintenance needed, according to a $122M Certificate of Necessity granted by the state Department of Education, includes security, accessibility and grounds improvements at all district schools, upgraded playgrounds for elementary and middle schools, as well as roofing repairs and work on athletic facilities at some sites.
The State of Delaware will cover 60% of the cost, or roughly $73M - IF the district can come up with the remaining funds. That requires CSD to raise revenues, which the referendum would authorize via modest increases to school taxes in the district.
CSD has set up a comprehensive website with detailed information about the referendum, a calculator to help property owners understand how their taxes would be affected, links to helpful media and independent news articles about this story, and more. There is a video explainer on the tax reassessment that would be done on YouTube. On Wednesday evening (1/31), there will be a Virtual Q&A via Zoom.
The vote is on Thursday, February 29, with polls open from 7am to 8pm. Polling places within city limits include the Senior Center and William Penn High School. See the referendum website for full details.
Updates from the Trustees of the New Castle Common
At their meeting this month, on January 2, the Trustees of the New Castle Common (TNCC) voted unanimously to put an end to the Public Comments that have, in recent years, been heard at the centuries-old organization’s (now quarterly) open meetings. This follows a testy back-and-forth between members of the board and former city council president Mike Platt, who - while attending the December meeting as a candidate in the last Trustee election - leveled accusations of bias and shady dealing by the body.
Questions, comments and concerns for the Trustees can still be submitted by email or in writing. Inquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate TNCC committee or officer and responses given thereafter. Quarterly open meetings will continue, just without time for comments from the public. The Trustees will continue to look for other ways to connect with residents, such as the Open House event held last Fall.
As reported in the 1/10 issue of The Weekly (the only independent source for info from closed TNCC meetings), other highlights from this month’s session included:
TNCC Bylaws continue to be updated. The latest change would require would-be candidates in Trustee elections to personally visit Penn Farm to review a hard copy of, and preemptively agree to, the board’s Bylaws, Policies and Procedures (and then leave the copy there). These documents, which govern the board’s operations, include everything from how money is handled to restrictions on what Trustees (and presumably now candidates) can say about each other, and Trust decisions and deliberations. The Bylaws are available on the TNCC website (November 2023 update); the Policies and Procedures documents are not posted.
Trustee Thomas Wilson was selected to chair the next Election Committee, which will organize an election in coming months to fill the long-vacant thirteenth chair around the Board table.
The Trustees and the Property Maintenance Committee continue to deal with an array of maintenance and upkeep concerns at New Castle Public Library. (TNCC owns both the 5th-and-Delaware building housing NCPL and the Old Library on Third Street.) Mr. Baldini is leading an effort to use a previous assessment as a guide to prioritize ongoing preventive maintenance.
Updates from City Council and Administration
The central issue of this month’s city council meeting - held at the Senior Center on 1/16 with all members present - was the hiring of a new City Administrator. Council president Souder said that thirteen applications were received, from which six candidates had been interviewed.
Of these, three final candidates were selected, set to be ranked by Council at the meeting. However, an objection by Mr. Day removed another from contention during council’s discussion. (In order to protect the privacy of those who may not be selected, council members referred to the candidates by numbers.)
Ultimately, Council ranked the two remaining choices and authorized Ms. Souder to negotiate on the city’s behalf, starting with their first choice and moving on to the second if a contract could not be negotiated with the first. Ms. Souder and other members were very positive about both candidates, although Mr. Zeltt did dissent on the vote to rank them.
Other highlights of the meeting included:
Chief McCabe reported that NCPD’s staff clinician has started work and was riding along with officers in order to get oriented. Once she is ready and has the equipment needed, she’ll help respond to mental health and substance abuse calls. Other new services are being offered through partnership with a non-profit, including data tracking and referrals for ongoing case management, all paid for by a grant received by the department last year.
Following up on earlier requests by Mr. Day and Mr. Zubaca to make the city’s website more useful by adding information about housing/building permits in process with Council, the Planning Commission (PC), Building Official or Historic Area Commission, Ms. Souder noted that PC Chair Margo Reign, a UD professor, has put Council in touch with a UD class that may be able to offer inexpensive help with adding the desired features and improving the city’s website generally.
Tourism and economic development coordinator Sara A. Crawford has resigned, roughly half-way through her contract term. City Topics has reached out to Ms. Crawford but received no response at the time of this Digest.
Mr. Mattaway said the city should join the Chamber of Commerce, noting that other municipalities participate and suggesting New Castle could connect with major area businesses and other opportunities by joining.
Andrew Zeltt noted that he’d met with six residents regarding the proposed dog park. They went over the proposed agreement with the Trustees and dog park management standards from the American Kennel Club. The group will continue to work together to confirm a site at the Hermitage Natural Area and come up with rules for the park.
Michael Marinelli was voted onto the Flood Resiliency Committee through 2027.
During Public Comments, Ms. Souder read a letter received from Dorsey Fiske which alleged a years-long pattern of “weaponization of the police to intimidate New Castle residents.” Chief McCabe responded, strenuously denying that any case handled by NCPD had been influenced by local officials and asking citizens to contact the state Dept. of Justice in a timely manner with any such concerns.
Further information: Agenda / Meeting Video
II. ICYMI: Local Media Spotlight 📸
In case you missed it... after two years of mild winters, we finally got some snow, with back-to-back snowstorms blanketing beautiful New Castle in a soft, white glow that many on our socials were keen to capture! Sadly, snow wasn’t the only newsworthy weather this month, either…
Check out video below from the Nor’easter that hit New Castle on January 9, sending huge sprays from the river clear across the Wharf.
The storm shut down River Road and other routes throughout the city, forced the rescheduling of this month’s city council meeting and much else, and left local drainage systems backed up for days.
Then it turned colder and, after years of waiting, starting on January 16, New Castle became a colonial winter wonderland once again…
Posts highlighted above include:
Open in the Snow, from Opera House Arts & Antiques (Fb)
Steady Work when it Snows, by Good Will Fire Company (Fb)
Ice-Glazed Holly, from Cynthia Batty (Insta)
‘Amstel House Garden - Magical in Snow,’ from Arasapha Garden Club (Fb)
Snow Day Happy Hour, from the Mercury Cafe & Teahouse (Fb), photo by Pam Sack Henry
‘Snow Day!’, from A Mom in Old New Castle (Fb group), by admin Judy Cash
Immanuel on the Green in White, from New Castle Historical Society (Insta)
‘Beautiful but Dangerous,’ also from the Historical Society (Fb)
The snow wasn’t the only thing about Historic New Castle that gave our scrolls some joy and fascination this month, however…
Posts highlighted above include:
Town Hall’s Arch History (Fb) and Handwriting Day (Insta), from New Castle Court House Museum
‘Historic New Castle Appreciation,’ from Opera House Arts & Antiques (Fb)
Deer and a Beautiful Sunrise, by Doni Gregg in the Delmarva Nature & Wildlife group (Fb)
‘The Day is Getting Closer’ at the Sherriff’s House, from Toby H. in the New Castle City Topics private group (Fb)
Purple Sunrise and Perfect Harmony in HNC, from First State National Historical Park (Fb)
Lastly, here’s something readers can give a listen to: “Mercury Rising,” by local folk singer and songwriter James Eoppolo about his favorite New Castle hangout, the Mercury Cafe & Teahouse. Listen now on SoundCloud.
What local media caught your eye on socials this month? Let us know in the comments, here or… on our socials! Find & follow NC City Topics on Facebook and Instagram.
III. 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!
Remaining in JANUARY
1/26 - 4th Friday Art Loop events downtown from 5-8pm (TONIGHT), including:
Cobblestone Chocolates celebrating Mozart’s birthday at the Mo’zArt Gallery.
Artist Heidi Benson unveiling new works at the Mercury Cafe & Teahouse.
The Art of the Weekly / Rough Draft interactive art event at The Window on Delaware St. (5:30p).
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.
1/31 - CSD Capital Referendum Virtual Q&A, on Zoom, 6-7pm.
Coming Up in FEBRUARY
2/6 - City Council Special/Budget Meeting, NCPD Community Room, 6:30pm.
Mid-Year Budget Review; formal agenda not yet posted.2/10 - Mayor & Council Outreach in the Library conference room, 10am-12pm.
Council members Brian Mattaway and Nermin Zubaca will join Mayor Valarie Leary to greet residents and discuss their interests and concerns.2/10 - Community Wellness & Resource Event, at the Spirit Center, 10am.
This event just outside of town is hosted by the Community Collaboration of Delaware.2/11 - Super Bowl Sunday in the ‘Village’ at Zollie’s Jazz Cucina, 6:30pm.
$30, limited to 50 guests, celebrating the Big Game plus Chef’s birthday.2/13 - City Council Regular Meeting, New Castle Senior Center, 7pm.
Agenda to be posted.2/15 - ‘The Village of Little Jersey’ at the Arsenal (NCHS), 7pm.
Local archaeologists over the last few years have uncovered ‘A Remnant of a Forgotten African-American Community at Lums Pond.’ Professional archaeologist John McCarthy discusses the findings from an investigation by the state park.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.
2/21-25 - Historic New Castle Restaurant Week, at various local eateries.
Reservations are highly recommended for the dinner options.
2/24 - Meet Revolutionary War Hero Ned Hector at the Arsenal (NCHS), 10am.
Living historian Noah Lewis on the life and accomplishments of Edward “Ned” Hector, an African-American Revolutionary War soldier who fought at Brandywine, portraying Ned in the first-person to discuss his life and experiences during the war.2/24 - Dungeons & Dragons for Teens at New Castle Public Library, 10am.
Registration required for this campaign open to players of all experience levels.
2/29 - Colonial School District Capital Funding Referendum, 7am to 8pm.
Local polling places include the New Castle Senior Center and William Penn HS.
Ahead in MARCH
3/1 - Read House interior tours resume for 2024.
3/2 - atTAcK Addiction E-Racing the Stigma 5K, starting at St. Peter’s, AM.
3/2 - St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser at New Castle Senior Center, 6:30pm.
Featuring live music by Seven Rings, raffles and libations (guests invited to bring their own meals). Tickets $25 ahead/$30 at door.3/12 - City Council Regular Meeting, New Castle Senior Center, 7pm.
Agenda to be posted.3/21 - Library Friends Dinner ft. presentation on Mary Ann Shadd Cary, 6pm.
At New Castle Public Library. This event is for New Castle Library Friends members, though guests may join or renew at the door for $15.3/25 - Scotch vs. Bourbon: Taste the Difference! at Jessop’s Tavern, 6pm.
Tasting event benefitting the Battell and Read Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. (Ticketed event, limited to 24 guests.)3/30 - Easter Fair hosted by New Castle Presbyterian Church.
3/31 - Ecumenical Sunrise Service for Easter on the Wharf, 6:30am.
3/31 - HNC Hundred Lions’ Annual Easter Parade on the Green, 1pm.
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