New Castle DIGEST (June-July) 🌦
New Castle DIGEST (June-July) 🌦
Recent News & Media, Local Chat and Upcoming Events for 6/30/23
I. June News Round-Up 📰
Four Vie for Mayor’s Office in August 5 Special Election
As the days heat up, so has the unexpected race for mayor in the Special Election set for August 5, with four residents having filed by the 6/26 deadline. These include former councilwoman Valarie Leary, who ran unsuccessfully in April’s regular mayoral election, only for the winner, William Blest, to resign shortly after taking office. Mr. Blest has yet to comment publicly on the reason for his departure so soon into his term.
Joining Mrs. Leary in the race this time are relatively unknown political newcomers Ethan A. Bradbury, Angel B. Ramos, Jr., and Charles “Scrumpy McGrumpy” Snatchko. Mr. “McGrumpy” may be recognizable to some for his YouTube channel bearing the same name and the stickers around town promoting it. And Mr. Ramos has just introduced himself with a Letter in the June 28 issue of The Weekly.
For full information on absentee ballots and how to vote, please see the official notice of election on the city website, here. You can also find contact info there for each of the candidates. You can also send your questions and topics for the candidates to City Topics or The Weekly, as we’ll be collaborating for this special election to ensure residents can learn as much about each of them as possible.
BREAKING: On Monday, July 24, The Weekly and City Topics will also team up to offer a Mayoral Candidates Forum at the Senior Center, giving citizens a chance to hear from and get to know the candidates live… Save the date!
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Council Passes $9.36M Budget for FY2024, no Tax Changes
During their regular meeting this month on June 13, City Council passed next year’s budget, following various tweaks, over several meetings, to the original proposed by city administration.
The city’s projected FY2024 Revenue - not including grants received - will be ~$5.7M, with the greatest contributors being:
3.05M - Property Taxes. Discussion of any changes tabled to January 2024
670K - Appropriation from Municipal Services Commission (MSC)
663K - Funds carried over (combining general and restricted accounts)
350K - Property Tax Transfers + Building/HAC Application Fees
255K - Business Licenses + Franchise Fees
Highlights of the New Allocations for Next Year:
$20K for the long-discussed Dog Park, heretofore planned for the Hermitage site
$30K to install audiovisual equipment at the Senior Center to enhance virtual availability and accessibility of Council meetings
$50K to cover the salary and promotional needs of the city’s Tourism Director
$63K for protective breathing equipment for Goodwill Fire. Co. (from ARPA funds)
$40K for the design of improvements to City Admin offices at 220 Delaware Street
Special expenditures aside, the city’s Expenses remain largely in line with past budgets. The biggest increases in spending on ‘normal’ items came from Public Safety (i.e. NCPD +$121K), Mayor & Council operations and direct expenses, including contributions (+$104K), and Building Maintenance (+$45K). Total Expenditures are projected to be $5.7M from general funds and $3.66M from grant funds and other restricted sources, making up the headline total of approx. $9.36 million.
Other Updates from City Council
Welcome News from Sea Level Task Force - Alice Riehl announced that the City of New Castle has been accepted into a flood prevention program operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This program will cover the cost of a complex study into the best way to protect New Castle from rising water levels and more frequent storm surges. It will then also cover the estimated $37M+ construction cost to follow through with remediation efforts, likely to include the extension of existing dykes and the addition of a floodgate on Delaware Street. The city will still bear lesser costs at the periphery of the project, and there will be opportunities for public comment as the process moves forward.
Members Question City Admin on Election Rules Change - Joe Day asked administrator Bill Barthel about changes to the Notice to File for this summer’s election, which he said contradicted the will of four members who last month declined to hear a resolution that would have enshrined the rule. Barthel replied that they had “tightened up some loose language,” while Mr. Platt averred that Council had expressed no will by not passing any resolution, leaving the matter to the city administrator’s discretion. Members Suzanne Souder, Andrew Zeltt and Nermin Zubaca nonetheless joined Mr. Day in expressing varying degrees of displeasure at the process being made more restrictive in the face of their stated desire for it to be more modern and accommodating, which they reiterated.
Zeltt Proposes Making Juneteenth a City Holiday - Following a brief description of the holiday’s history and meaning, Andrew Zeltt asked about making Juneteenth a holiday within the city, thus closing offices and giving workers a day off. Mr. Barthel noted that this would require both action by Council and agreement from the city employees’ unions. As this year’s holiday was imminent, members agreed to explore the possibility in time for Juneteenth 2024.
Updates from the Trustees of the New Castle Common
The Trustees held their quarterly public meeting on June 6 at the historic Farm House at Penn Farm. Here’s what we found notable from the meeting…
Bug Problems - A swarm of bees was recently removed from the rafters of Penn Farm House and treatments are ongoing for termite infestations found at several Trust properties including Bellanca Museum and the Old Library.
201 Delaware St. (“Old Town Hall”) - A broker has been retained to help list the property for rent. The thinking had been toward apartments but the Land Management committee has “had other options come forward,” which it is exploring. The historic building has been mostly vacant for over a year now.
B-Ball Back at Battery Park - The restoration of the basketball court in the park was completed the week before the meeting. Resident Andrew Camac offered thanks to the organization for following through with the repairs promptly and providing a great new facility for local players. (Photo in the Media Spotlight below.)
Public Comments focus on Toner - A handful of residents spoke before the meeting regarding an alleged incident involving Trustee president Pete Toner. Schuyler Borton, Susan Hagar and Horace Beale made references to an exchange which has “a lot of women very upset,” according to Beale, and may have involved a “threat of violence,” according to Borton. Trust attorney Andrew Taylor stated that the issue was “an internal HR matter” and had “been dealt with,” though this did not appear to satisfy Mr. Toner’s accusers.
‘New Castle Recreation Park’ - The Trustees discussed very preliminary plans to transform the New Castle Little League area into an expanded sports complex that would connect the current facility to the Bellanca parking lot and add new fields and courts for additional sports like soccer and basketball.
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From Dry and Smoky to Drenched and Stranded
The weather has been a big part of many stories this past month, with a prolonged period of hot, dry days early in the month stunting gardens and green spaces throughout town. By the end of the month, New Castle had the opposite problem: roughly a solid week of recurrent, heavy downpours have tested our storm water drainage and diversion systems past what they can handle. In recent days, this has caused numerous road closures and left motorists stranded after attempting to drive through deceptively high water.
In between, an Air Quality Warning shuttered outdoor activities and events for days, as smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the eastern seaboard of the U.S. (And it’s happening again at the very end of the month as we write this Digest!)
This lack of atmospheric cooperation led to the cancellation of the Historical Society’s annual garden party at the Amstel House, the cancellation or postponement of several outdoor concerts scheduled during June, and Battery Park Story Times getting moved back inside the library, among other schedule snafus. However, it was worst for those who work in essential jobs that require them to be even partly outdoors.
Thanks to the City of New Castle’s public workers and emergency service workers and volunteers who did the hard work to help us all get through a rough month.
II. ICYMI: Local Media Spotlight 📸
This month’s spotlight has lots to shine on, as big events and plenty of sunny (sometimes too sunny) days filled our feeds with local beauty and people having fun.
Below are a few of our photos from Separation Day - view the full album here.
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The very next day, the St. Anthony Day Procession wound its way from St. Peter’s to Shawtown, as fireworks shot from the Italian Immigrants’ Memorial in that neighborhood. Again, a glimpse below, with more photos here.
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On June 14, we spotted a bizarre phenomenon at the Wharf, where an especially high tide and accompanying ‘tidal bore’ had the Delaware River flowing the wrong way!
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We also rang in the Spring at the Read House Garden, found shelter on the beach and checked out the updated basketball court at Battery Park, and enjoyed Good Will’s Third Thursday Food Truck Fundraiser.
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Other local socials were abuzz this month as well, including:
The first lovely peeks inside some of New Castle’s private gardens from @Arasapha’s recent Walkabout and ongoing ‘Garden Glimpses’ feature.
Happy families “Chalk the Walk” down Delaware Street as part of a program by New Castle Public Library.
County Exec Matt Meyer tours the Delaware Skills Center in New Castle.
Landscape photographer Sterling Funches debuts a gallery show at the Library.
Good Will Fire Company keeping everyone safe and making sure folks get home through the recent torrential rains and flooding.
Beautiful wildlife spotted at the Hermitage, with a nature-inspired reflection on fatherhood.
The “New Castle Mouse” Bicentennial coloring book dug up by the New Castle Library Friends.
And, lastly… one more of our own finds from this month, of a Delaware Public Archive photo from 1931, showing New Castle Court House in white stucco!
III. To New Castle, from… Newcastle?
A Special Spotlight on our Favorite Social Media Story from June ✈️
This tale actually originated online, with an unusual request from Chloe Turnbull, a resident of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. She was planning a multi-state tour of the U.S. and, having discovered a photo of our (since replaced) ‘Historic New Castle’ sign on Delaware Street, wanted to visit her home city’s U.S. namesake.
So, as many a modern netizen might, Chloe crowd-sourced the information she sought, posting in a local Facebook group to get the details, and…
Though we weren’t able to get in touch with Chloe directly, she did leave some comments about her fun side-quest to Historic New Castle and her trip in general:
Asked her favorite thing about New Castle: “I love the American style houses with flags outside 😃 and everyone was really friendly… be proud of where you are from”
Asked her favorite U.S. stop: “all of them were amazing but the beauty of America [is] each state you go to you brings a different culture 😃 the Tennessee accent has been my favourite so far because they sound like cowboys off the films 🤣”
In the end, Chloe made it back across the pond and thanked those who helped out with a nice offer for anyone visiting her Newcastle…
We’re glad this young world traveler decided to share her adventure to our New Castle… and that she didn’t get into which one is more “historic!”
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!
Tonight (June 30)
6/30 - Movies by Moonlight: Clueless, at New Castle Public Library, 9pm.
Movie showing in the rear garden - bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Coming Up in JULY 2023
7/1 - Trail Maintenance Party at the Hermitage Natural Area, 10am.
“Bring gloves, a water bottle, and any sized container to bring home some Wineberry!”
7/4 - ‘Let Freedom Ring’ Bell-Ringing Ceremony at Immanuel Church, 1:15pm.
The annual ceremony - concurrent with like events throughout the country - is presented by Immanuel on the Green and the local Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.7/7 - Pop-Up Opera on the Green, by Opera Delaware, 6pm.
7/12 - Summer Concerts in Battery Park: Seven Rings Irish Band, 6:30-8pm.
Organized by New Castle Community Partnership, with local sponsorship.7/15 to 7/23 - Kalmar Nyckel in Port at the Wharf.
The replica of the historic tall ship will be offering Day Sails from New Castle.7/19 - Summer Concerts in Battery Park: Tony Cimorosi & Friends (Jazz), 6:30-8pm.
Organized by New Castle Community Partnership, with local sponsorship.7/20 - 3rd Thurs. Food Truck Fundraiser at Good Will Fire House, 5-8pm.
Featuring Gastro Graffiti 302, Taco Jardin, and Gotta Lotta Gelata.7/21 - Fourth Friday Art Loop at participating local shops and galleries, 5-8pm.
7/24 - MAYORAL CANDIDATES FORUM at the Senior Center, 6:15pm.
City Topics and The Weekly are teaming up to offer citizens a live forum featuring all four candidates for mayor. The event will also be streamed live and recorded.7/26 - Summer Concerts in Battery Park: Club Phred (Rock & Roll), 6:30-8pm.
Organized by New Castle Community Partnership, with local sponsorship.
V. Fond Farewells… and a Lil’ Teaser
Two of New Castle’s preeminent cultural institutions are about to experience some big changes, as Read House and Gardens director Brenton Grom moves on after nearly five years at that institution, and New Castle Court House Museum site supervisor Cynthia Snyder retires after three decades stewarding our history there.
As we quipped earlier this month in the private City Topics group on Facebook (which you can join here)… Quick, somebody put (Historical Society director) Mike Connolly on lockdown!
In all seriousness, New Castle has been lucky to be served by these two thoughtful professionals. We were honored to chat with Mr. Grom in a Digest last year - an interview you can read here - and wish him all the best in his future pursuits.
City Topics has also been fortunate to have Ms. Snyder answer some of our questions as she prepares to retire (today, actually). Look out for that story/interview in early July, both online from City Topics AND in print in The Weekly.
And thank you to both Cindy and Brenton for their contributions to New Castle!