New Castle DIGEST - May 1, 2024
Monthly 'News, Views & Stuff to Do' for the City of New Castle, Delaware
Admin Note: Beginning with this Digest, each issue will now be titled for the month about to begin, as is customary for magazines and newsletters. The Digest will continue to contain news and media highlights from the preceding month, and to come out on the last Friday (or occasionally Saturday) of the month.
I. April News Round-Up 📰
Trustee Election Heads to Runoff
Saturday, June 1 will see a run-off between Laura Fontana and Regina Marini for a seat on the Trustees of the New Castle Common (TNCC), after neither gained a clear majority in the three-way race concluded on April 13.
In that election earlier this month, Ms. Marini narrowly edged out Ms. Fontana, 259-248, with third candidate Philip Gross getting 32 votes. TNCC rules state that candidates must receive 50% +1 vote in order to win the 12-year term.
Voting will once again be at Good Will Fire Co. on South Street, from 10am to 4pm, with early voting and absentee ballots available through the office at Penn Farm up until election day (see the Trustee website for hours and info).
If you've missed the election so far, check out the candidates' recent Q&A here.
City Topics has confirmed that the Trustees have ended their relationship with Red Tail Restoration and Land Management, which was contracted through last year to manage and develop the Hermitage Natural Area, a Common property. With its entrance located behind New Castle Elementary School, the Hermitage offers 70+ mostly wild acres of meadow, marsh and forest, with miles of trails crisscrossing throughout and connecting to the much-loved Jack Markell Trail.
While TNCC has stated that the meadow trails will continue to be mowed and the site remains open to hikers, birdwatchers and (unmotorized) bikers from dawn to dusk, it does not appear that efforts at trail development, reforestation, species cataloguing or publicizing the natural area will continue.
In other news from the TNCC Board, as reported in The Weekly, the only source for timely info from its non-public meetings:
The Historic Area Commission (HAC) has denied the Common’s application to keep the flower beds installed on the ‘Market Plaine’ behind Town Hall during the recent rebricking of that surface. The beds will be removed, and the space restored to a flat plaza.
HAC also denied the bollards initially proposed for keeping cars out of Bull Hill park, where work has been done recently to clarify parking and prevent vehicles on the grassy areas there. TNCC is working with the commission to find a model that will work for the area.
The restrooms at Battery Park have been repaired, but will no longer be generally open to the public. TNCC and the City Admin will have keys and access for the magnetic locks so that the facility can be opened for specific functions and events.
Further Info: 2024 TNCC Meeting Minutes (one-month lag due to approval process)
New Castle’s Outreach Team offers First Report & other Updates from City Council
Just a month into his work as the city’s Outreach Coordinator, John Reaves addressed Council at their April 9 meeting to discuss how he - and the team working with him, including Phee Price, who joined him for the meeting - has hit the ground running.
The group has held “what do you need” meetings with local stakeholders throughout the city, begun making connections with groups like DeTV and the Greater Wilmington Visitors’ Bureau, begun development of a city-wide ‘master’ event calendar that would be open for local groups to post on, collected data on local tourism, started work on a master list of available event venues in the city that it can promote, and established new digital assets to reach potential visitors to New Castle.
In addition to a new website focused on tourist info - VisitNewCastle.org - the group have set up promo accounts on various social media, and had ordered printed promo materials that were in production as they made their report. They also recorded an updated ‘Mayoral Welcome Video’ featuring current mayor Valarie Leary.
“We want to engender collaborations,” Reaves noted as he described further plans to promote synergy between the city’s promotional efforts and those of its various orgs and institutions. His/the team’s term runs through July, after which City Council will need to readdress the need for and structure of the Outreach office/position.
Other highlights of Council’s April 9 meeting included:
Ms. Souder introduced new City Admin Antonina Tantillo and shared that she “comes to us after 4 years with the town of Townsend. She has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Delaware... As part of her graduate studies, she was a local government management fellow in the towns of Milton and Fenwick Island. She also served as an urban policy fellow for the Wilmington City Council… Ms. Tantillo also worked for various nonprofits such as Catholic Charities USA, In Trust Center for Theological Studies, and The Center for Community Research and Service. Originally from New York, Ms. Tantillo grew up in Kent County Delaware. We are very pleased to have her here.”
New city Treasurer Jim Whisman also made his debut council appearance and report, noting that the city was in good shape, with about 75% of expenditures for the year complete at the 3/4 point through the FY budget.
Mayor Leary urged residents to visit Arasapha’s May Market fundraiser, May 3-4, urging folks to find what they want early as, “by Saturday it may not be there.” She also read out a Proclamation in honor of Arbor Day (linked below), offered some Library Appreciation Week recognition for New Castle Public Library and its staff and programs, and previewed an upcoming visit to the White House where she hoped to represent New Castle and similar small cities. Finally, the mayor spoke on the importance of people volunteering and serving both the city and its various boards, commissions and non-profits.
Nermin Zubaca offered updated information about the city’s population, which he said has grown more than most seem to realize. City Topics has reached out to Councilman Zubaca and hopes to share a feature on our updated local data profile in the near future.
Ms. Tantillo reported that Delmarva Power is continuing the gas meter project, updating meters downtown and installing emergency shut-off valves on the exterior of buildings, as is now required. She noted that screens for these valves will be available for residents to pick up in the Fall. See below for a short video of the new City Admin’s first public report from City Topics Insta.
In public comments, Suzanne Swift offered an update from the Playground Committee and its associated citizen group, ONCOR, which she noted has now officially registered as a non-profit org. The group is currently developing Phase II of the Battery Park PG redesign, to include a large, ship-themed installation with bridges, slides, etc., and submitting grant proposals to secure funding.
Council voted unanimously to extend the independent contractor term of former City Admin William Barthel for one month, in order to retain his expertise with regard to making requests through the State Bond Bill process. Mr. Zubaca raised a question regarding oversight of the hours worked as part of the contract. Ms. Souder noted that Barthel had been available to consult even while on vacation.
Chief McCabe addressed the institution of parking fines for residents who fail to move their cars during Street Sweeping, which begins again in May. He noted that signage has been ordered and will be installed throughout the city to make residents aware of the rules, and recommended a 30-60 day grace period between the signs going up and the first tickets being written. Council President Souder also offered a reminder about Sweeping and urged residents to move their vehicles as needed. See the 2024 street sweeping schedule, below.
McCabe also addressed the significant flooding experienced in parts of the city during the previous month and thanked Good Will Fire Co. for its assistance handling frequent road closures and re-openings, and the constant shuffling of hazard signs that goes along with that. He expressed satisfaction with the new equipment and said his team is still looking to implement an early-warning system that would activate signs around the city’s main trouble spots once water rises to a certain level.
Council unanimously passed Ordinance 546, which amends the city code regarding requirements for certain equipment in structures in the local flood zone. The change affects new construction and major renovations only. City building official Jeff Bergstrom noted that “nearly all” projects over the last few years have already been following the updated guideline.
Council also approved the sale of three police vehicles no longer in use, and four resolutions authorizing largely pro-forma subdivisions, easements and line adjustments to various properties in the city. Most notably, one of these would permit utility access for the construction of the apartment complex planned for 7th Street. (See Resolutions 2024-13, 2024-14, 2024-15 and 2024-16.)
After a wide-ranging discussion of the policy of reading out pre-submitted public comments at council meetings, Council agreed to continue with the current policy (of doing so). While some members seemed to favor restricting comments to city business only, others raised concerns that this might prevent resident statements that are useful but not strictly business.
Further Info: Meeting Agenda | Treasurer’s Report & 2024 YTD Budget | Mayor’s Arbor Day Proclamation | Meeting Video
II. ICYMI: Local Media Spotlight 📸
In case you missed it... Spring is bursting out all over the City of New Castle! Here are screenshots of some of the best things to hit our scrolls this month, with links to follow these local pages and profiles…
First up, the aforementioned bursting - of flowers, nice days, etc. In addition to a couple of our own posts, there’s a stunning photo of Immanuel on the Green posted by Beverly F. in City Topics’ private Fb group. We also caught a few great shots of the garden at the Read House! One came from the museum itself, on Fb & Insta @readhouseandgardens, while the other came from Wilmington & the Brandywine Valley, on various socials @VisitWilmingtonDE.
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At the very beginning of the month, we were treated to two special events. Check out the posts below from this year’s Easter Parade by the Historic NC Hundred Lions Club, and from the Great American Eclipse of 2024, on April 8. These come from the socials of the Read House, the Lions Club (on Fb @NCHLions) and The Weekly (on Fb @YourWeekly).
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With its 2024 season beginning this month, Bellanca Airfield Museum has been sharing lots of great history and aviation info on their Fb & Insta, both @BellancaAirfieldMuseum…
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Good Will Fire Co. held a major training on April 20 and shared some great images from it. We also enjoyed their photo of a road closure at Rt. 9 (if not the messy reality of its subject). Good Will is on FB & Insta @GWFC18.
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For Earth Day, we shared a post with updated trail maps for our favorite spots in New Castle for just getting away from the noise of civilization: the Hermitage Natural Area, and the Broad Dyke Wetlands Natural Areas.
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We end this month’s Social Media Highlights with a bit of a grab bag. Check out our posts on a Historical Marker Mystery (later solved by Cindy Snyder - see the comments on that post for details) and the opening of the Sheriff’s House as the Welcome Center for First State National Historical Park.
Finally, the Delaware Public Archives has been pumping out amazing content on their socials (Fb @DelawarePublicArchives & on Insta @DEPublicArchive). These include great, historical aerial shots of the town from the Teitsworth & Lloyd collection, and a colorized classic showing Old Town Hall that really made the rounds, even showing up last week as a cover image for The Weekly on Facebook.
III. May Market and ‘A Day in Old New Castle’ Set to Kick Off Spring Events
More than Just Flowers: May Market
One week from today, Friday, May 3, May Market returns to Historic New Castle. This annual fundraiser by Arasapha Garden Club raises thousands of dollars each year to support the preservation of the historic Dutch and Amstel House gardens, through a partnership with NCHS, which manages those museums.
Last year’s May Market broke all records, completely selling out of plants before the event had finished. This year, Arasapha has planned to have more plants and, somehow, more bargains… with an ever-growing focus on plants that are native to our area and upcycling home goods, many of which would be at home in any antique shop.
May Market also features a book sale - with a focus on cookbooks and gardening books to complement Arasapha’s offerings - by the New Castle Library Friends, funds from which support their mission on behalf of New Castle Public Library. Apropos to this event, that currently includes a project to renovate the library’s back garden.
On Thursday, May 2, the day before May Market, Arasapha will host a Donation Drop-off Event at the Arsenal from 9am-6pm for supporters to stop by with their donated plants, home goods and garden items. See info for that event on its Facebook listing or on Arasapha’s website.
May Market is on Friday, May 3, from 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, May 4, from 9am to 3pm. While it’s helpful to be early, as some items will surely sell out Friday, there are often great bargains to be had on Saturday. These include, for the first time this year, $1 off all plants at the Annuals and Perennials Tent, on Saturday only.
Day in Old New Castle: ‘Stories Ignited - the Great Fire of 1824’
On the third weekend of May, New Castle will open its doors to share the story of a seminal event from its past - and the charming city it’s become since - with neighbors and visitors. This year’s A Day in Old New Castle is set to dive deeply into the ways that the Great Fire of 1824 changed the city and molded its community.
Special effort has been put into recruiting residents on The Strand to open their homes that either survived the catastrophe, or rose from its ashes. Good Will Fire Company will commemorate their 100th year at the event by hosting antique fire engines and equipment, with help (and additional historic apparatus) from other companies throughout Delaware.
Free activities will include:
Children’s activities on the Green and Wharf,
Plein Air Art Competition and Sale on the Green,
Native American foodways demonstration,
Costumed reenactors throughout the town, and
Tented seating and food trucks at the Wharf.
Adult Tickets are $25 and will be required for:
Kalmar Nyckel ship tours at the Wharf,
Historic houses and gardens open for tour, and
Museums and church tours.
A Day in Old New Castle is Saturday, May 18, from 10am to 4pm, and is organized by New Castle Community Partnership. Visitors in Colonial or Victorian period clothing get $1 off their ticket price (if paying on site). Tickets may be pre-purchased at historicnewcastle.com.
The DIONC Committee is still looking for some good volunteers - if you’re able to spare a couple hours before, during or after the event (no experience needed), you can sign up here.
IV. Community Event Calendar 📅
For a farther view of the local event scene and to catch more events as they are added during the month, check out and bookmark our website’s Community Calendar, where you’ll also find monthly/ongoing events (2nd link jumps to that section).
Remaining in APRIL:
4/6 - 4/28 - Pop-up Exhibit: The Great Fire of 1824 at NC Court House.
During regular hours, learn about the Great Fire of 1824, the Court House's connection to firefighting in the town and firefighting's connection to dogs.4/26 - Fourth Friday Art Loop at shops, galleries & eateries downtown, 5-8pm.
New Castle Historical Society’s Arts Committee has a new 4th Friday page linking to all participating local venues, so we’ll link to that here from now on (though we’ll still share individual 4th Friday events on social media).4/26 - Colonial School District Student Arts Showcase at William Penn HS, 5pm.
4/27 - Sheriff’s House Welcome Center Grand Opening, hosted by FSNHP, 2pm.
Official ribbon cutting and opening ceremony with National Park staff and state, local and possibly federal officials.4/28 - Music To Move You choral concert at NC Presbyterian Church, 3pm.
Featuring the Delaware Women’s Chorus under the direction of Joanne Ward. Free.4/28 - ‘ONC Litter Crew’ Cleanup Event starting at Castle Hills Elementary, 3pm.
Join Councilman Joe Day and others to reduce litter and trash along local roads and streets. Bring pickers/buckets and high-visibility gear if you have it; come anyway if not.
Coming up in MAY:
5/2 - May Market Donation Drop-Off at the Arsenal, 9am-6pm.
5/3-4 - Arasapha’s May Market on & around Market Street.
Friday, May 3, from 10am - 5pm; and Saturday, May 4, from 9am - 3pm. (See above.)5/3-4 - May Market Book Sale by the New Castle Library Friends.
Same hours as May Market, above. Book sale focused on gardening and cooking books.5/4 - Free Comic Book Day event & giveaway at NC Public Library, 10am-5pm.
Sponsored and featuring products from Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE.5/4 - Free Tennis Clinic for Ages 5+ at the South Street Courts, 10am-2pm.
Sponsored by the City and Rodney Street Tennis, this free clinic is open to all experience levels and will support Opioid Awareness.5/4 - St. Peter the Apostle Spring Bazaar, at the St. Peter’s School, 10am-4pm.
Food trucks, vendors, raffles, games and more at St. Peter’s first annual Bazaar.5/5 - Cinco de Mayo at Oaxaca Margarita Bar & Grill, 11am-8pm.
“Bring your best fiesta hat!”5/8 - Navigating Police Response During a Mental Health Crisis, 5pm.
At the Rt. 9 Library just north of the city, featuring New Castle Police Department.5/9 - Amstel Live: Got Dirt?, at the Amstel House Museum, 6:30pm.
Explore house cleaning in the 18th century from the point of view of different people living in the home. Includes light fare and historic beverages. 21+.5/11 - Lecture: The Great Fire of 1824 (Encore Presentation), at NCHS, 10am.
A discussion on New Castle’s Great Fire of 1824, which destroyed many buildings located along Front Street (today called The Strand). Follow-up to a packed first offering on 4/26.5/18 - 99th Annual ‘A Day in Old New Castle,’ centered at NC Court House, 10-4.
‘Stories Ignited: The Great Fire of 1824’ is the theme for this year’s event. (See above.)5/18 - Paint Historic Old New Castle Plein Air Art Competition, 9am-12pm.
Regional artists will descend on New Castle, hosted by Dennis Young and his Mo’zArt Gallery, to create ‘plein air’ paintings of New Castle to be judged (and thereafter up for sale) at the Court House starting at 12pm.5/18 - INFERNO 1824 Art Contest by the NC Outreach Team, at DIONC, 11am.
Students K-12 are invited to bring their illustrations of the Great Fire of 1824 for a chance to win fun prizes. At/around NC Court House Museum during DIONC.5/19 - A ‘Study in Vegetables’ Vegan Tasting at Zollie’s Jazz Cucina, 4-6pm.
Experience the Art of Vegan Cuisine with Robert Giddings, a skilled practitioner who was prompted by health concerns to reevaluate his food consumption practices… an adventure in Vegan Fare and drinks to pair, [told with] Rob's life-changing story.5/20 - Family Crafternoon: Cherry Blossom Art, at NC Public Library, 4:30pm.
Families will make a two-part craft to create cherry blossom trees! Participants will receive materials in order to create at least two trees: one from tissue paper and one using paint. Be sure to bring your own aprons or dress accordingly! Registration required.5/24 - 6/1 - Kalmar Nyckel in Port at New Castle Wharf.
Day Sails - tickets on the Kalmar website.5/29 - Memorial Day on the Kalmar Nyckel at the New Castle Wharf, 11am-4pm.
Free Deck tours for Memorial Day.
Again, there’s a lot more on the regularly-updated Calendar on our website:
Thank you for reading!
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