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New Castle City Topics · Aug 1, 2026

New Castle DIGEST - August 1, 2026

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Matt Alexander · New Castle City Topics

A haze of smoke from wildfires in Canada obscures the Delaware Memorial Bridge, making it barely visible from Bull Hill Park in the City of New Castle, whose July was characterized by heat waves and hazy days (until the last week or so, anyway).

Local News starts just below… Jump to: Council Recap | Beverly’s Reminiscences | Linda’s Gardening Tips | State News Spotlight | New Castle Event Calendar

Many residents took to social media this month to share photos of a pair of Bald Eagles that seems to have moved in along the Delaware River. The majestic birds started showing up around the beginning of July, just in time for USA-250 and Delaware-250, and have been seen flying high above various parts of the city since.

Last century, Bald Eagles were in danger of extinction due to habitat loss, illegal hunting and the fallout from DDT, with only 417 nesting pairs remaining in the continental U.S. by 1963. Following passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973 and aggressive conservation efforts, the species recovered. In 2007, it was removed from the Endangered Species list. Today, there are more than 300,000 and Bald Eagles are widely recognized as among the conservation movement’s greatest success stories.

Frank Moriarty, author of Within Walking Distance: Historic New Castle, posted the beautiful photo below, which he graciously agreed to share here. (Thanks, Frank!)

(Thanks also to Angela Marconi for making sure we didn’t miss this story.)

Election messaging throughout the state is ramping up as the September 15 primaries approach. Two of the three people who represent part or all of the City of New Castle face challengers this year for the Democratic nominations to continue representing their districts.

As mailboxes and inboxes continue to fill up with dueling messages (such as the large new print ads that arrived this week, on doorsteps from Keonna Watson and via USPS from the incumbents’ corporate supporters) here’s a look at how local races are shaping up.

Franklin Cooke, who has represented House District 16 since 2018, will face his first challenger since that election: area organizer Pamela Salaam.

Nicole Poore has represented Senate District 12 for fourteen years. Since her election in 2012, she has faced only one electoral challenge, from Bill Alexander in 2024. This year, she faces a primary challenge from environmentalist Dr. Keonna Watson, and the winner of that contest will face Republican Mark Esposito (who gained the ‘R’ ballot line unopposed) in the November general election.

  • Nicole Poore: Website | Ballotpedia

    • (City Topics hopes to complete a Q&A with Sen. Poore before the primary.)

  • Dr. Keonna Watson: Website | [City Topics Interview pending]

    • (As with most who are new to politics, minimal info on Ballotpedia.)

  • Mark Esposito: Website | [City Topics Interview pending]

    • (As with most who are new to politics, minimal info on Ballotpedia.)

As reported here last month, incumbents Cooke and Poore are benefitting from tens of thousands of dollars in outside advertising support from a coalition of DE-based corporate law firms representing some of the largest companies in the world. Spotlight Delaware released an even deeper dive into that money trail today (see the State News section, below). Ms. Poore has also received significant advertising support in the primary from her fellow elected leaders in the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Dr. Watson and Ms. Salaam, meanwhile, are supported by the Delaware Working Families Party, whose entire annual budget is likely less than $10K. While it cannot spend much (certainly not by comparison) on its candidates’ behalf, DE-WFP offers support with grassroots organizing, campaign planning and phone banking.

Once completed, interviews with candidates will be shared as individual posts. All candidates have been or will be given the opportunity to answer questions for City Topics readers. Remember to vote in September (if you’re a Dem) and November.

New Castle’s City Council met on July 14 to consider a variety of code changes, resolutions and community issues. All members were present, along with the Mayor, City Treasurer, and usual members of city staff.

The regular meeting was preceded by a public hearing on Ordinance 565, which sets up expiration timeframes for development plans approved by Council. No one spoke during the hearing, though the Planning Commission submitted a letter to Council expressing its unanimous approval, and the Ordinance passed unanimously later in the meeting.

The updated section of code:

  • sets 45 days as the timeframe in which the City must file approved site plans with the County,

  • establishes a 5-year expiration date on approved plans,

  • allows property owners to ask for a single extension of 2 additional years, and

  • requires already-approved projects to be completed or under-way by mid-2031, with the same option to request an extension.

Mr. Day, who introduced the Ordinance, said the intent is to provide greater clarity for developers and aid with city planning. Mr. Mattaway lauded the code update and noted that it had been in discussion since 2024. He also stated that it is meant for larger developments, not regular home improvements, as the change applies only to projects that require approval by City Council.

At the end of the meeting, another potential code change received its First Reading: Ordinance 568, “To Amend… the Zoning Code to Establish Standards for the Review, Siting and Operation of Data Centers.”

The ordinance would establish a definition of ‘Data Center’ in city code and establish an array of expectations for such facilities relating to:

  • proximity to residential areas, schools and daycares (must be 1000 ft. away),

  • noise (requires that site designs mimimize impacts, and a third-party study, for which it establishes standards),

  • aesthetics (requires site screening and that rooftop stuff be below view),

  • water supply and usage (must show capacity plan with appropriate utility),

  • energy supply and usage (must show capacity plan with appropriate utility),

  • cooling systems (must be closed-loop or get BoA & state approval),

  • HazMat plans, acceptable generator ratings, and more.

The ordinance will now be considered by the Planning Commission, which will hold a hearing and review it, then returned to Council in a couple months (ideally) with the PC’s recommendations for consideration. Then there will be another Public Hearing before Council, discussion, and a potential vote.

  • Council voted unanimously to permit a grant already approved for the Buttonwood School to apply to a playground project about to break ground this Fall, for which the funding is needed more urgently by the Buttonwood Colored School and Museum non-profit that manages the site.

  • Council considered a Site Plan submission for expansion of the New Castle Self Storage facility on Seventh Street, to include the construction of approx. 5,250 square feet of new storage buildings (bringing the total to 36,500SF). The plan was reviewed by AECOM, and represents a “by right” use of the property by its owner, meaning Council could set reasonable conditions but not deny it. The Board of Adjustment reviewed the site and determined that existing perimiter cover (fencing and landscaping) sufficiently shields the site from view to permit the change. Because the site is already fully ‘impervious,’ the new buildings should have no affect on stormwater drainage. Council approved the Site Plan 4-0, with Mr. Day abstaining.

  • City Administrator Antonina Tantillo reported that…

    • Phase II of the Battery Park Playground Project will begin in August, with the playground to be closed during construction. Mr. Zeltt asked if the playground would be done by Art on the Green on 9/26; Ms. Tantillo said that could not be guaranteed.

    • DelDOT & MSC continue to work with Norfolk Southern on its role in the Ferry Cut-off improvments — for which the current hope is for completion in Spring 2027.

    • One $9500 grant for construction of the Chestnut Street Dog Park is pending, and the city was invited to apply for another, for which the application is due in December (so likely no decision until Spring 2027).

    • The city is not eligible for the federal BRIC grant as its flood resiliency projects are not yet “shovel-ready.”

    • New Castle has a new City Engineer, Andy Wishart of AECOM, and a summer intern from the University of DE, Adele, who is helping with grant requests and with planning the Sepember health fair.

    • She offered a reminder about street sweeping, which is the 3rd full week of every month.

  • City Treasurer Jim Whisman shared the end-of-year report for FY2026 along with the city’s statement of accounts. He said revenues were above expectations and expenses below, and that the city had $12.07M in its accounts to start FY2027 (of which approx. $5.2M is the general operating budget, the rest restricted).

  • New Castle Police Dept. Capt. Keith Dempsey shared that…

    • NCPD will be accepting backpacks and school supplies for its annual drive through August 18. NCPD works with local schools to identify families in need of support and distribute the donated items.

    • He encouraged residents to share their concerns for directed patrols and reviewed the department’s security footprint for Separation Day, which he said worked well.

  • GWFC’s Chief David Majewski, Jr., reported that his agency responded to 201 EMS calls and 123 fire calls in June, including a number of emergencies during the Separation Day festival. GWFC also recently received a protective equipment grant, he said.

  • City Coucil unanimously approved Resolution 2026-33, Recognizing Chief Majewski “on his many years of service to the Good Will Fire Company and his promotion to the [company’s] First Career Fire Chief.”

  • Council considered a request from the Planning Commission (PC) to update its rules of procedure in various ways, including limiting meetings to 150 minutes, permitting members to submit agenda items, clarifying the order of business and consideration of motions, establishing contingencies for members stepping down and delayed chair/vice-chair elections, and more. The changes were approved by the PC a few months ago, and unanimously affirmed by Council in July.

  • PC Chair Margo Reign also presented the Planning Commission’s annual Comprehensive Plan Report to Council. Highlights of the report — and the PC’s work — over the last year included:

    • Sixteen ‘small projects’ and one ‘large project’ (The Battery) have been approved to-date (not just this year) in the Downtown Development District.

    • “The City collaborated with WILMAPCO and DelDOT to update the City… Transportation Plan. The Plan developed recommendations to address transportation goals identified in the… Comprehensive Plan.”

    • “The City has… been in discussions with DelDOT regarding the feasibility/applicability of… a Transportation Improvement District (TID).”

    • At city prompting, “DelDOT has improved Route 9 just south of the City, raising the roadbed [with approx.] 5-inches of permeable pavement overlay... This… temporary solution… will give… short-term relief while additional… solutions are evaluated.”

    • “The Van Dyke undergrounding project was completed in the Fall of 2024. While no [such] projects are currently underway, several… are included in the MSC’s 5-year plan.”

    • Updates on the city’s work on mitigation of Sea Level Rise and flooding incidents, including the disappointing fall-through of federal support in 2024 and 2025, and new glimmers of support in 2026, in the form of a $1M request from our D.C. delegation’s ‘Congressionally Directed Spending’ Budget, and a new $1B grant program announced this year by FEMA.

    • An update on the Battery Park Playground project, the grants received, the city and PC’s role, and its impending construction phase, and

    • A recap of the 1,023 total new residential units approved over the past four years, which “represent a 36% increase in the number of existing housing units within the City,” and are set to shift the ratio of renters to owners.

Learn More:

The City of New Castle’s Rain Barrell Sale has been extended to allow more time for folks to order. The new Pick-Up Date will be September 18, from 2pm to 4:30pm, for those who have pre-ordered through the website below.

The Trustees of the New Castle Common have also expanded their $33.40 subsidy for New Castle residents to the first two barrels purchased by each household. Single barrels start at around $50, which would be discounted to $16.60 for city residents.

The city also put out a video featuring former Flood Resiliency Committee Chair Alice Riehl speaking about the benefits of rainwater storage systems, which she has employed for many years. You can watch the video here (Facebook link but no log-in required — just close the prompt).

Learn more or order yours at: rainbarrel.ca/newcastle/.

by Beverly Flannigan, with neighbor feedback

The stories and photos below come from the locals-only New Castle City Topics group, where Ms. Flannigan originally posted them. The tales are shared with minimal editing for the newsletter, along with extra details and reactions offered by neighbors.

1 The Strand, past home of Joanne Viola and the late Corky Viola.

Pictured is the home of Joanne (Jo) and Carlo (Corky) Viola located at Delaware Street and The Strand. Jo and Corky enjoyed this home for many years raising their children and contributing to the town.

One of the first things that would strike you about Jo is that she made the decision at 52 years of age to begin the arduous process of attending medical school. She enrolled and attended the school completing internships and residency and upon receiving her license, opened her practice at our Senior Center on South Street. Jo was well sought after for her knowledge and community familiarity with her patients.

One of the first things that struck you about Corky was his remarkable oratory skills. As a result of his lifelong career at DuPont, he was familiar with business, government and finally after serving as a Trustee, our local issues.

Corky grew up in Vineland, New Jersey, where he met his wife Joanne Lubin. They kept a vacation spot in New Jersey that they enjoyed immensely, and they began to spend more time there.

Both Jo and Corky were passionate about working to have good representation and they spent much time working “in the weeds” to get their choice of candidates elected in national elections.

Corky adored Clay Bridgewater and after Clay passed away while serving as Trustee, Corky had a strong interest in serving but felt uncomfortable competing for Clay’s vacant seat. He felt it would be a dishonor because in his mind, Clay was larger than life. Fortunately, Cork was encouraged to run and was elected in 2003, following which he served for 17 years.

[In 2021], Corky decided to leave the position and focus on his health. Sadly, Corky passed away a couple of years ago, and his elegance, judicious and kind manner are sorely missed.

It seems that the Viola house at 1 The Strand originally served as a railroad station for the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad. Corky had many interests including historical preservation and photography so we are very fortunate that this property is in pristine condition.

Neighbors Added:

  • “[The Violas] are sorely missed in town.” — Lula A.

  • “When I grew up in #2 the Strand the Carlins lived there…I was told that the front parlor was the waiting room for the RR and the station master lived in my house.” — Taylor B.

  • “Love hearing stories of Old New Castle the past and present. It’s truly a home town to be proud of.” — Ann S.

  • “It’s an honor counting Cork and Jo as friends.” — Francine D.

Editor’s Note: As I’ve recounted before, Corky and Jo were among the first folks I met after moving to New Castle in 2019, and hosted my friends and I for a lovely couple hours of learning about the town’s history in their beautiful garden during Separation Day that year. As a fellow transplant, I found their generosity of spirit and commitment to building this community (Corky via the Trustees and the Library, Jo via the Board of Health and many other volunteer efforts) to be very inspirational.

The one-time home of the Kelly Family and their business.

At one time, Kelly’s Liquor Store was located on this site at East Second Street for many years. The entrance appears to have been specifically designed as a storefront and fortunately, that design was left intact.

Mr. and Mrs. [Mary Ann] Kelly had four or five children, and their children had many friends. This alleyway was important because the liquor store was at the front of the house and it would be illegal to enter that way unless you were over 21 years of age. On down the alley, there was an entrance to this beautiful home and we would travel the alley to visit Terry, Tommy or whoever we were friends with.

Mr. Kelly not only owned the store and generally worked it in the evening and weekends, but he was also employed full time by DuPont. Mrs. Kelly was a stay-at-home mom. She was very beautiful and it was not unusual for her to chat with us in the kitchen while we waited endlessly for Terry to finish dressing for school.

Some days, Mrs. Kelly would say, “I think I am in the mood to go downtown to Wilmington and buy a hat because something pretty would be nice.” This was foreign to us because many of our moms had braids or were bare-headed. And when we took the bus to Wilmington, it was to get much more than a pretty hat…

The trip would involve school clothes for all the kids, fruit and vegetables at the produce market at 4th and King Street — and a pretty hat surely would not have made it home in all those loaded bags! But these were nice interactions anyway because we were always eager to see a different style of life and the house was beautiful.

Terry, who was generally very relaxed about time, ended up working as a cracker-jack executive secretary for an airline executive.

A Neighbor Added:

  • “I remember Kelly’s store well . We used to buy our liquor there. Heard the bar that was in there was later transferred to The Log Cabin, and … is now in Jessop’s.” — Claire C.


Thanks to Beverly Flannigan for sharing her photos and tales of New Castle, and to all who engage with these ultra-local posts. If you use Facebook, join the locals-only City Topics Group to discover more and get in on the conversation!

by Linda Suskie, DE Master Gardener & May Market Plants Chair for Arasapha

New Castle, and the rest of Delaware, has gotten less-than-normal precipitation for almost a year. As a result, New Castle is in a drought. This means our soil is dry and our plants are stressed. You may have lost some of your plants in early July’s oppressive heat dome. The combination of heat and no water was simply too much for them.

One answer is to plant plants that don’t need much water. But this is tricky in New Castle. Plants that don’t need much water don’t want much water. If they get too much water, their roots may rot, killing the plant. Unfortunately, the soil in our area is clay, which holds water. So many drought-tolerant plants, including native plants, won’t be happy in our gardens. But there are a few that can do pretty well here.

If you have a sunny location, milkweed (asclepias) and false indigo (baptisia) are native plants that are happy in clay soil, can handle droughts, and come back year after year. Day lilies also do well. Some of their leaves may get brown, but just trim or pull the brown leaves off and the plants will send out new green leaves. Annual vinca and canna lilies are sun annuals that handle both drought and clay soil. The photo is of my annual vinca, which survived our early July heat wave with no extra water.

If you have a shady location, ferns, Solomon’s Seal (polygonatum), aralia, and liriope muscari (lilyturf) are happy in clay soil, can handle droughts, and come back year after year. (Don’t plant liriope spicata, which grows aggressively.) Standard wax begonias, impatiens, and New Guinea impatiens are shade and part-shade annuals that can handle both drought and clay soil, although they will need some water. (Tuberous begonias—the kinds with large fancy flowers—need well-draining soil.)

Another way to help plants survive drought is to add water…but be smart about it. Plants vary in how much water they need, so don’t water everything all the time.

Many plants need ½” to 1” of water per week. This includes new perennial plants, trees, and shrubs, even if they’re drought-resistant, for the first couple of years. Annual flowers and vegetables, whose roots are closer to the surface, may need daily watering, especially if they’re in containers or hanging baskets that dry out quickly. Large, older trees and shrubs have roots reaching so deep that they may not need extra water.

Linda’s annual Vinca plants, which did well without extra water in the recent heat.

When you water, an occasional slow, deep soaking that gets down to roots is better than daily water that only moistens the surface. We want roots to learn to grow deep to get what they need, not toward the surface where they’re more susceptible to heat and drought. I like to water in the morning. In midday heat, water may evaporate before it soaks down to the roots. Watering late in the day can leave plants damp overnight, making them susceptible to disease. No matter when you water, aim your hose under the plant so water gets to the soil, not the leaves.

Two final tips: Mulch helps keep soil moist. And skip fertilizer during a heat wave. Asking your plants to grow during difficult circumstances is putting too much stress on them. (Does this explain anything about teenagers?)

Thanks to Linda Suskie for sharing her knowledge! Look out for more of Linda’s local gardening and landscaping tips in future issues.

Contact Us - Spotlight Delaware
City Topics is a Spotlight Delaware Community Partner.
Last year’s bitter legislative fight over a bill to shield companies from certain lawsuits has spilled into this summer’s primary election campaigns. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE GRAPHIC BY ELSA KEGELMAN

by Karl Baker (July 31)

Last year’s bitter legislative fight over a bill to shield companies from certain lawsuits has spilled into this summer’s primary election campaigns, with leading corporate law firms backing an advertising blitz to defend Delaware legislators against challenges from a rising progressive movement.

Those law firms, which have represented Tesla, Meta and other Silicon Valley giants, have mobilized through two interconnected political organizations that have published digital ads, sent out glossy mailers, and even purchased sponsored content with Spotlight Delaware.

Many of the ads appearing on YouTube or within a mailbox praise one of about a dozen incumbent Democrats, who last year supported reforms to Delaware’s influential corporate law within Senate Bill 21. The legislation has since become settled law.

The mailers and online ads touch on familiar liberal themes, such as affordable housing, public education and an opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies. They do not appear to mention Delaware’s corporate law – even as last year’s fight over its reforms sparked the creation of one of the organizations now paying for many of the ads.

Read the full story.

Editor’s Note: As reported in our own coverage of this story last month, New Castle-area Reps Minor-Brown and Cooke, and Senator Poore, are among these intertwined groups’ beneficiaries.

by Julia Merola (July 21)

For years, parents of special education students in the New Castle area have sought out Southern Elementary School for its programs tailored to their kids’ needs.

But in recent weeks, the Colonial School District announced it is planning to decentralize those special education programs away from the school, which sits near the C&D Canal, and distribute the resources to schools throughout the district, which stretches from Wilmington to Port Penn.

During a board of education meeting earlier this month, Colonial Superintendent Jeff Menzer said the needs of special education students in Southern Elementary have outpaced the size and capacity of the building.

And he said that in order to reshuffle students to new programs, the district would have to also “tweak” its feeder pattern for all students at several elementary schools.

Read the full story.

The news stories previewed above come from Spotlight Delaware, a statewide, non-profit news outlet — visit their site to find much more original reporting. Spotlight also has a weekly free newsletter.

For a farther view and to catch more events as they are added, as well as the full list of regular/ongoing events, check out and bookmark our website’s Community Calendar.

  • 8/2 to 8/8 - Kalmar Nyckel Docked at HNC for Day Sails, Delaware St. Wharf.
    Check the Kalmar Nyckel website for details of the historic tall ship replica’s visit.

  • 8/3 - Walk-In Tech Assistance & Training at NC Public Library, 10am-5pm.
    Recurring every Monday and Tuesday, get hands-on assistance with digital devices and services. Bring your smartphone, tablet, iPad, Kindle, or laptop. More info here.

  • 8/4 - Free Lunch & a Movie for Kids & Teens, at New Castle Public Library, 1pm.
    A family-friendly feature film with lunch provided by Colonial School District. See the full list of dates and films plus more info at the link. Recurs on 8/7 for the final time.

  • 8/5 - The Kennett Squares Concert (Blues & Rock) in Battery Park, 6:30-8pm.
    Part of the Summer Concert Series from New Castle Community Partnership. Free.

  • 8/6 - Truly a Public House: Women & Tavern Keeping, at NCCHM, 7pm.
    Jane Pilato will discuss women-run tavern keeping in the 18th century as part of New Castle Court House Museum’s annual History Revival speaker series.

  • 8/7 - Outdoor Story Time in Battery Park, 10:30am.
    Presented by New Castle Public Library, featuring stories and play with a mix of dance scarves, egg shakers, and more! Families are invited to stay afterwards for playtime to enjoy music, bubbles, and other activities. For babies and toddlers with their families.

    • Outdoor Storytime recurs every Friday in August, weather permitting.

  • 8/9 - Old Town Outsiders: The Oldest View (2023) Film Screening at Old Town Hall, 6pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 8/11 - DIY Secret Journals with Katie LeCoq at New Castle Public Library, 6pm.
    Workshop on how to repurpose old books into hidden journals or sketchbooks! Reinvent an old hard-bound book into a journal or sketchbook that can hide on your bookshelf in plain sight. No experience needed; materials provided! Registration required (at link).

  • 8/11 - New Castle City Council Regular Meeting at the Senior Center, 7pm.
    Agenda to be posted, here.

  • 8/13 - When the Declaration of Independence was News, at NCCHM, 7pm.
    Historian and author Emily Sneff will discuss the Declaration and how news of it spread as part of New Castle Court House Museum’s annual History Revival speaker series.

  • 8/13 - Old Town Horror: Tourist Trap (1979), at Old Town Hall, 7pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 8/15 - Library on the Loose in Battery Park by the Wharf, 10am-12pm.
    Join New Castle Public Library & partners in the park to take advantage of free resources for adults, kids and families, including healthy food and snacks, books and school supplies, hygiene and dental items, mental health and financial literacy resources & more.

  • 8/15 - Postcard Social, at New Castle Public Library, 10:30am-1pm.
    Discover the hobby of postcard collecting and how to use Postcrossing.com to exchange “snail mail” with people around the world. Supplies will be provided to help you start your own collection. Registration requested.

  • 8/15 - Hearth to Heart: Medicine in Revolutionary America — the Good, the Ineffective and the Alarming, at the Amstel House (2nd Floor), 11am.
    Discussion of medicine during the Revolutionary period, both military and household, with an emphasis on herbs and other useful plants, as well as a discussion of popular medical books of the period. “Free, but please RSVP.” (Enter through the kitchen door.)

  • 8/15 - These Houses Were Homes: 5 Generations of Black Community in Old New Castle Walking Tour, starting from Read House & Gardens, 1pm-3pm.
    2025 tours expand upon Dr. Benbow Flowers’ research on the African American population of Old New Castle with additional source materials, a revamped route and accompanying map, and a special focus on the time period from 1776-1876. ($25.)

  • 8/16 - Community Fest 2026 at First Baptist Church of DE, 1pm-3pm.
    A family back-to-school event featuring music, giveaways of school supplies, clothing and food, community partner booths including GWFC & NCPD, a ‘Water Fun Zone’ for cooling off, and more. Free.

  • 8/18 - Delaware Street Book Wyrms Book Club at Denali Beauty Works, 7pm.
    The book for August is ‘Swordheart’ by T. Kingfisher. The Book Wyrms meet monthly to discuss fantasy and sci-fi selections.

  • 8/19 - Movies @ Old Town Hall: Shogun Assassin (1980), 6:30pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 8/20 - Fighting Along the Delaware River in 1777, at NC Court House, 7pm.
    Historical Michael Harris will highlight George Washington’s efforts to keep the British Navy out of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777 as part of New Castle Court House Museum’s annual History Revival speaker series.

  • 8/23 - Old Town Outsiders Double Film Feature at Old Town Hall, 6pm.

    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at links below.

  • 8/26 - Movies @ Old Town Hall: Napoleon Dynamite (2004), 6:30pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 8/27 - Loyalist Impression, at New Castle Court House Museum, 7pm.
    Mark Wilson will discuss be portraying an officer of the Loyal American Regiment, and learn about the uniforms, equipment and life of a Loyalist in Delaware during the American Revolution. Part of NCCHM’s annual History Revival speaker series.

  • 8/28 - ‘Dog Days of Summer:’ National Treasure Film Viewing on The Green, 8pm.
    A pet-friendly outdoor movie, hosted by New Castle Court House Museum. Watch the film and join in a discussion about its historic themes. Bring a (leashed) furry friend!

  • 8/29 - Painting the Parterre: Art Among the Blooms at the Read House, 6-8pm.
    Learn about the property’s landscape design through a guided painting lesson in the gardens, accompanied by specialty botanical cocktails created by The Mercury Cafe & Tea House. $25 per person, registration at the link.

  • 8/29 - Leo DiSanto Returns, at Old Town Hall, 8pm.
    Leo Disanto is a special kind of story teller. Last time he was here he had us stompin, clappin, and furiously enjoying an amazing night out here in Historic New Castle. So excited to have him back!” … $25pp, tickets at the link.

  • *NEW:* Free Yoga in the Park, Saturdays at 8am, hosted by Harmony Street Yoga in Battery Park (near the lot across from the tennis courts on W. 3rd St.

  • “A Center of the American Experience for 375 Years”New Castle Historical Society’s newest standing exhibition, located at the Arsenal — opened in May, covering four centuries of New Castle history. It’s free and open Thu - Sat, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sun 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.

  • 2nd Tuesdays: 2nd & Delaware Stitchers’ Guild at 7pm at Denali Beauty Works.

  • Third Wednesdays: Delaware Street Book Wyrms Fantasy Book Club at 7pm at Denali Beauty Works.

  • Fourth Friday Art Loop at participating shops and galleries around downtown, including the Opera House, Mo’zArt Gallery, The Window on Delaware Street, The Arsenal/NCHS, the Mercury Cafe’s in-house gallery, and more!

  • Third Sundays: ‘Second Street Coffeehouse’ Local Talent Open Mic nights at NC Presbyterian Church’s fellowship hall on 2nd Street.

  • City Board and Commission Meetings are posted on the City Website, here.

  • New Castle Public Library - Full Program & Event Schedule.

  • New Castle Senior Center - August Newsletter with Activity & Meal Calendars.

Looking for more to do beyond the City of New Castle? 👀

Check out Above the Canal for a wide range of ‘Stuff to Do’ throughout northern New Castle County, including concerts, cultural events and festivals, craft and vendor fairs, kids & family activities, and more.

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