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New Castle City Topics · May 1, 2026

New Castle DIGEST - May 1, 2026

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Matt Alexander · New Castle City Topics

Local residents have flocked to Battery Park as the weather turns nice again (in one recent instance, way too many at once).

The oldest home and garden tour in America returns again just in time to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. In addition to tours of historic houses, museums and gardens there will be children's activities, art contests, Revolutionary War reenactors, musical and other performances, as well as food and craft markets.

This is one of New Castle’s biggest chances each year to really show off its historic charm, and both the DIONC committee and New Castle Historical Society are still in need of volunteers. The main need is for folks to serve as docents in the private homes that will be open, plus the Dutch and Amstel Houses, to welcome visitors and help share each place’s history and architectural profile.

To get involved, email DIONC cochair Andrew Zeltt.

Pamela Salaam has filed to challenge New Castle-area incumbent Franklin Cooke in this year’s state legislative election. Representative District RD 16 includes parts of the City of New Castle.

Salaam is new to elected politics, but has a long history advocating for residents in her own Southbridge neighborhood north of the City. She is a long-time organizer who has worked to fight hunger, create safe communities, and seek environmental justice.

City Topics has reached out to both candidates, and both have graciously agreed to answer our questions. ‘Stay tuned’ for an upcoming interview with Ms. Salaam in the next few weeks, and another with Mr. Cooke soon thereafter.

No one has yet filed to challenge either Melissa Minor-Brown, who represents the rest of New Castle in the state House, or Nicole Poore, who represents the city and surrounding area in the state Senate. If that changes, City Topics will seek to offer readers direct-from-the-candidate info on those races as well.

The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 15.

Penn Farm Program’s seasonal shares program is open right now for folks interested in signing up to get fresh, local-grown vegetables weekly throughout the Summer.

Check out the flyer below for more info…

At the same time, just a few plots remain in the Read House Community Garden on The Strand, where you can claim a raised bed in the same space that once hosted a Victory Garden during World War II.

Very few spaces remained as of a few days ago, so act fast if interested!

Two articles and two photos shared by City Topics have won awards in this year’s Professional Communications Contest by the Delaware Press Association, including three First Place honors.

Congratulations first to guest contributor Cynthia Batty. Her story, “Historic New Castle: Vernacular Architecture in a Continuum” — first published in The Weekly — won First Place in the Style category.

A Hundred ‘Days in Old New Castle,’” City Topics admin Matt Alexander’s retrospective of that long-running event, won First Place in the History category.

Two photos also won. “Mayor’s Inner Biker,” below, received First Place in the News/Feature photograph category, and another won an Honorable Mention in the General photo category.

DPA Awards are decided by panels of out-of-state judges made up of subject matter experts. The First Place winners will now be judged in the national competition, which is hosted by the National Federation of Press Women.

The “Mayor’s Inner Biker” came out during last year’s DSGC Pride Market on The Green. (And this photo won 1st Place for a News/Feature Photo in the DPA Contest.)

Resolution 2026-27 was written to amend the budget for the current fiscal year to enable certain unexpected expenditures, including shifting some moneys from the police salary column for additional police training.

Most of the discussion of the resolution, though, focused on a set of funds that would be moved around to enable a study of what the effects would be, should Council implement impact fees on major building developments within the city.

Mr. Mattaway advocated for doing the study, pointing to the Comprehensive Plan’s call for the city to raise funds from developers of new projects. City attorney Mr. Hoffman noted that impact fees must be tied to support for specific items that are generally related to the development.

Ms. Souder questioned whether considering such fees might not be worth it, given that they may not apply to projects already ‘in the pipeline,’ and that there have been no recent murmurs of other large projects soon to file. Mr. Day said he liked the idea of doing the study but would prefer to plan for it in FY 2027 through the normal budgeting process.

Following amentment to remove the clauses relating to the Impact Fee Study, the resolution passed 4-0, with Mr. Zubaca abstaining.

Editor’s Note: Because the editor was unable to attend this month’s meeting in person, these highlights draw partly on Council President Suzanne Souder’s unofficial monthly synopsis, complemented with the editor’s impressions from a 2x playback on YouTube (link below).

  • The main meeting was preceded by a Public Hearing on Ordinance 563, which would permit the use of large dumpsters in residential areas, for up to 30 days, with the possibility to extend that for an additional 30 days. One persistent critic of Council used the opportunity to rehash his usual complaints but did not address the contents of the Ordinance. Later, during the regular meeting, the Ordinance passed unanimously.

  • City Administrator Antonina Tantillo reported that…

    • Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and staff visited the City and met with City Admin Tantillo, Council members, and others, on April 1. The meeting included discussions about flood mitigation and the proposed Delaware River Trail that would connect from Bull Hill northward.

    • Changes to the Ferry Cut-off intersection are under way, and DelDOT should be done soon; they are working with Norfolk-Southern on the impending updates to the rail crossing there and the closure of that end of 8th Street.

    • The delivery of new equipment for the Battery Park Playground has been delayed by the manufacturer. Installation is now projected for Fall 2026.

  • City Treasurer Jim Whisman reported that, 75% of the way through this FY, the city has received 102% of expected income ($7.7M) and spent 64% of expected expenses ($4.8M). There is $12.8M in city accounts, of which $6M restricted to certain uses. He said the city remains in good shape.

  • New Castle Police Dept. Chief Richard McCabe shared that…

    • The city has two recruits in the state police academy, who have been in the program for about a month and are set to graduate in late Summer. Both are doing well, he said.

    • He hopes that HB133, which recently passed in the state House and would eliminate certain fees for people who come in contact with the state’s criminal justice system, will fail in the state Senate. He remains concerned that the portion of those revenues that get allocated to New Castle will be a hidrance to the department if it is not replaced.

    • NCPD had a thorough response to the huge, unpermitted April 4 gathering of teens and young adults in Battery Park. Ms. Souder recounted his report on this incident in excellent detail, which is shared in its entirety below.

Chief McCabe said he wanted to begin his discussion of the April 4 incident with the timeline. The first call came at 1608 (4:08pm). An officer was dispatched at 1717 (5:17pm) and arrived at 1719. The officer found 30-50 people at the basketball court. The caller said there was loud music, but the officer heard none on arrival. It is possible the visitors turned it off when they saw the officer approach. Most of the visitors were kids estimated to be 14-15 years old.

They received a second call at 1656 (4:56pm). This one referred to a crowd and public urination. Two units responded to this call. They searched for the public urinators based on the descriptions given by the caller but were not able to locate them. One officer left the park and made himself available for other calls while the second officer remained in the park.

The crowd continued to grow and more calls came in. He said officers described the crowd as “young but polite”. They responded to police requests. Police witnessed no criminal conduct. There was one report of a shot fired. This is what drew the massive response. Police found no evidence of a shot fired but ordered the crowd to disperse and leave the park. The kids left quickly but many had to wait for a ride as they were too young to drive. Many called Ubers and then had to wait for them to arrive. Police remained in the park until around 7pm.

Police later learned that the gathering had been announced on Instagram. They found the poster who turned out to be an 18-year-old high school senior. He was responsive to the police and said he was not aware of the rules requiring a permit for gatherings of over 25 people in Battery Park. There were similar incidents in Banning Park and in Middletown.

One of the stalls in the men’s public restroom was damaged but they do not know if this was done by people from this group or by other visitors. There was a great deal of trash in Battery Park but no other property damage.

He said incidents like this have occurred in Chicago and other places around the country. In some places cars were burned, people were hurt, etc. Here the crowd complied with police requests. He knows there were quality of life issues for residents around the park and doesn’t mean to minimize that.

He said that some public media posts about the incident were inaccurate. For example, there was no call reporting rocks being thrown at a dog in someone’s yard. People asked why there are no seasonal officers. He said we had seasonal officers in the park from 2010-2020. They were stopped because COVID prevented the necessary training. He said that anti-police sentiment since then is the reason he decided not to renew this program. Officers are targeted simply because they wear the uniform. He does not want to put minimally trained, unarmed college students in the position of representing the police to the community. He added that they had several seasonal officers go on to become police officers. Two became officers here, several went to other jurisdictions, and one became a Secret Service agent.

The Chief then outlined the proposed solutions to try to prevent future incidents like this one. They will do directed patrols in the park, especially at night and on weekends. They will watch for people being there after hours, especially if they are drinking, using pot, etc. They already do patrols at night but he will add extra ones for the next few weekends. He added that he can’t compromise normal operations to cover the extra patrols. Officers will still respond to calls. He said New Castle has a low crime rate.

They have been checking social media and will continue to do this. They missed the post about April 4. They share any information they find with their partners in New Castle County. They try to get ahead of things. During this incident, they had quick response from the County, the State, and several neighboring towns. He is grateful for their assistance.

He was asked why the police didn’t cite the person who posted the event on Instagram. He said the person who posted was 18 years old and was not the organizer. They are still seeking that person. He said officers tried to determine if it was just a group of kids playing basketball that got out of hand or an organized event. He got a call about people “twerking” (dancing in a sexually suggestive manner) but asked, “What can we do except ask them to stop?” He said any other action would lead to challenges on First Amendment grounds. He said there is a threshold to disperse a crowd – not just what someone thinks is right. He is proud of the department’s response.

He is continuing to review the available information and is considering further response. He is willing to meet with residents to talk about this incident; he does not think this meeting is the right time or place. He said community meetings have successfully resolved other issues so, if you want to talk about it, call him.

Mr. Day said social media reported fights and arrests. He asked if that was true. The Chief said the police did not see any fights. Mr. Day asked what residents should do if they see posts on social media about future gatherings like this one. The Chief said they should call the non-emergency number or the captain. Mr. Day said he noticed an increased police presence in the park this past weekend. (As did I.) He wondered if we need a cut-off time at the basketball court or additional signs. The Chief said the current signs say that the park is open from “dawn to dusk”. He thinks changing the sign to say the park closes at “sunset” would be easier to enforce because that is a specific time.

Mr. Zubaca thanked him for his explanation. He said one person reported a call to the non-emergency number at 2:30pm. He asked if that number is monitored. Chief McCabe said he reviewed all the call logs, including the non-emergency number, and there was no call at 2:30. Messages left on the non-emergency number are also converted to an email. The email account is monitored by the duty officer. He spoke to 3 officers responsible for this at different times (due to shift changes) on April 4. None reported any calls or messages. Mr. Zubaca asked if we could put signs on the posts at the basketball court since some may walk across the grass and not see the signs by the parking lots. Ms. Tantillo said that we can.

Mr. Zubaca said he has seen an increase in ebikes in the park which makes him uncomfortable when he takes his kids there. Chief McCabe said they recently made an arrest for riding a dirt bike in the park and seized the bike. Police will not chase people on dirt bikes in the park because if they crash it is viewed as the fault of the police. They can make an arrest after the fact if they can identify the rider. He thinks we have enough rules on the books but need to improve the signage. He said he is creating a tracking system for incidents like this. He will add a directed patrol summary to the monthly report.

Mr. Zubaca asked if there was a place people could go to ride dirt bikes legally. He recalled a similar issue with skateboards a few years ago and now there are skateboard parks. Chief McCabe said many of these have no guidance.

I said I walk in the park nearly every day. I have been nearly run off the path by people going very fast on conventional bikes but never by an ebike. I said I see many older people riding basic ebikes which simply provide pedal assist. This allows them to get some exercise or spend time with their families. I don’t see this as a problem. The Chief said we can handle reckless riders now. I thanked the Chief for his thorough report.

  • Councilman Zeltt reminded people that A Day in Old New Castle is on Saturday, May 16. Twenty-eight private homes and gardens will be open, in addition to the city’s historic museums. Those who wear period-appropriate costumes to A Day in Old New Castle this year will get their ticket entirely free. The city’s historic churches and grave sites will be a focus this year.

  • Mr. Day said the New Castle Litter Crew would be hosting its clean-up events starting in April, given the nice weather. He also encouraged residents to look forward to the New Castle Saturday Markets on the Green, which return May 2.

  • Council President Souder reminded residents that “next month marks the return of street sweeping. This is being done to help keep our city clean and to reduce the debris that gets into the Delaware River from our storm drains. Keeping the drains clear also helps to reduce street flooding in heavy rain. Please check the schedule on the City website or the signs on your street so you know when to move your car. It’s only once a month. The sweeper can’t maneuver around parked cars, so we all need to do our part to help keep our City clean.”

  • Council gave its blessing to the Planning Commission to conduct a survey of residents on the topic of Accessory Dwelling Units. Such housing structures are defined as secondary rental units on a lot where there is already a primary private residence (such as above-the-garage apartments, garden house apartments, au pair/in-law suites, etc.).

  • Council voted unanimously to adopt a New Castle County/FEMA “All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.” (Resolution 2026-24)

  • Dennis Anuszewski was unanimously confirmed to the Board of Adjustment, filling a seat recently vacated by Angel Ramos, whose term expired.

Further Info: Meeting Video | Meeting Agenda with links to Council’s Meeting Packet (set of PDFs with all monthly department reports, all resolutions/ordinances, exhibits, etc.)

by Beverly Flannigan, and neighbors

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.

Pictured is the [former] home of Ernest and Edith Brown near Second and Chestnut Streets. Although Mr. and Mrs. Brown insisted forever that we call them Ernest and Edith, we just couldn’t do it. For this post, however, we will use their preferred first names.

Ernest and Edith moved into this home during 1964 so many neighbors had the great pleasure of spending decades enjoying their accomplishments and their company. Ernest was a very large man – tall and muscular with an amazing sense of humor and Edith was very small and stylish.

There was a porch at the front of the house and we were able to watch Edith daily in the organization and management of her family which included three children – Melvina, Chucky and Kyle.

The dad Ernest worked at Brosius Eliason as a manager for many years and Edith worked at our M&T Bank (maybe Wilmington Trust at that time) as a teller. To this day, many people remember hoping to get in Edith’s line for banking service because she was very kind and gracious.

The couple attended the Bethany U.S.M.E. Church on Williams Street where Ernest was a beloved Sunday School teacher and they spent much time on Sundays at the church preparing food for socialization time after the service.

The Brown children tended to be very serious about their studies and in fact Melvina is working on her second doctorate degree, and Chucky and Kyle have had successful careers.

Recently, Ernest passed away and it is one of those situations where there is much grief and mourning at the loss of someone who was bigger than life and you think they will always be there. Of comfort is that Edith is such an important part of the community with her family, her church associates and her neighbors that it is hoped the devastating loss of her husband will be eased somewhat, as she has eased the lives of those around her.

Decades ago, she opened a daycare in her house and some of those children now in their fifties still text her when they are in town to meet up. It is pretty amazing how moving into a house in our beloved town can change your life and bring much joy and happiness with our town’s everlasting spirit.

Neighbors added:

  • “My family lived in this house before the Browns. The work they’ve done in restoring it to classic condition is incredible. Once I was visiting the area with my family and I wanted to show them where I had lived. We stopped and talked as Mr. Brown was bringing in groceries. He invited us in and gave us a tour of the inside. Great guy and obviously a very hard worker!” — Patrick L.

  • “May his memory always be a blessing to his family.” — Jason P.

  • “I’m going to miss talking to him. The stories he would tell and the wisdom he would share.” — Thomas L.

  • “A wonderful family. So kind and generous!” — Vincent W.

  • “Our Best Friends/ Partners in crime — we had some good times. Many Years and many laughs, tears and comforts! Lots of good food and pounds!” — Linda G.

  • “Nicer people than Ernest and Edith are very hard to find...” — James C.

The Penn Mural inside the Delaware Street Post Office in New Castle.

Pictured above is the mural entitled “Willliam Penn Welcomed At New Castle, October 28th 1682,” that is displayed in the lobby of our post office at Fifth and Delaware Streets. It was painted in 1938 by J. Scott Williams.

Murals such as these were part of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which he instituted during his first term during the Great Depression. As most know, the purpose was to make meaningful work that would employ Americans and provide wages for a while.

Many of these projects still stand including murals in public buildings that were painted by artists, and bridges or dams built throughout our country. It is interesting to note that a record of the projects was kept and our post office mural is included in that list.

Whenever we saw one of these paintings as children, we knew they were not especially remarkable or priceless pieces of work and they may not have reflected our diverse culture in an appropriate manner, but we did know that the point was to employ men and women in art, civil engineering and other occupations and produce works that were useful and something they could be proud of.

We understood that our parents who grew up during the Great Depression considered the WPA to be a life saver regardless of politics.

From LivingNewDeal.org: “FDR and the New Dealers launched scores of new programs to respond to a wide range of problems facing the country: stabilizing the banks and stimulating the economy, creating jobs and raising wages, investing in public works and modernizing lagging regions, and giving ordinary Americans a new sense of security and hope.”

It should be noted that artwork produced under the New Deal is not without controversy.

“Since 1933,” the site continues, “New Deal art programs and the artworks they produced have stoked controversy. The entire project of using government funding to hire artists has been controversial in some political circles since well before the New Deal era, and public funding to preserve this heritage is similarly contested. Questions over how artworks with controversial subject matter should be treated, who owns and is responsible for managing the vast body of New Deal art, and how to pay for repairing works nearly a century old are especially pressing.“

Back to our mural, here is some additional information from the listing:

“The historic post office in downtown New Castle, Delaware houses an example of New Deal artwork: the mural “William Penn Welcomed at New Castle,” painted in 1938 by J. Scott Williams, was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.”

Not sure what will happen to this artwork but for now it is nice to remember to take a look at it.

Neighbors added:

  • “Thank you Beverly for this article. The mural has been overlooked for so long . I am happy you have published the photo of the mural and historic information of why it is in existence.” — Catherine T.


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

by Linda Suskie, May Market Plants Chair for Arasapha Garden Club

Decades ago, when we lived in upstate New York, I fell in love with the huge old lilac in our backyard. So about five years ago, I added one to our New Castle backyard. It’s the sad little plant in the photo (below)—still only about a foot tall. What went wrong?

As a Master Gardener student at University of Delaware, the phrase I heard most was “Right plant, right place.” In other words, choose a plant that will thrive in the conditions where you’re planting it rather than forcing a plant to grow in conditions that aren’t optimal for it.

Linda Suskie’s “sad little” lilac.

My lilac is the wrong plant in the wrong place. I did know it needed a sunny spot, but that’s not enough. I didn’t know that lilac roots need well-draining soil. New Castle County soil is largely clay that can waterlog roots. And I didn’t know that lilacs “set” their buds during cold winters. They need at least 2000 hours of temperatures below 45 to bloom! New Castle is on the southern edge of the region where lilacs grow well. An unusually warm winter—which happens here!—really stresses them.

Don’t let this happen to you! Ask yourself the following before you buy a plant:

What’s the size of your space? How big will the plant get when it’s mature? Will it still fit in the space then?

How much light does your space get? How much light does the plant need? “Full sun” is at least 6 hours of sun a day. “Part sun” is 4-5 hours of sun, “part shade” is 2-3 hours, and “full shade” is up to 1 hour.

How good is your soil? (I talked about this in my last column.) Is it the kind of soil the plant needs to thrive? Will you need to add anything to the soil?

How much water does the plant need? Will you need to add water during our inevitable droughts?

Is your plant space a “micro-climate”? For example, a space along a south-facing wall or a sidewalk may be hotter in summer than the rest of your yard.

Is the plant a “drama queen” that needs a lot of attention? Do you have time to give it the care it needs? Boxwoods, for example, may need protection from winter winds. They’re also susceptible to pests that require applying the right treatments at just the right time.

Unless you’re buying an annual plant that dies at frost, how much cold does the plant need in winter? The US Department of Agriculture divides the country into growing zones based on how cold the winters get. New Castle is in Zone 7. A plant that grows in Zones 3-7 (like my lilac) or Zones 7-10 (like camellias) may struggle here more than plants that grow in, say, Zones 5-9.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these questions, help is available!

  1. Read plant tags when you shop. They’ll answer some but not all of these questions.

  2. Come to Arasapha’s May Market on May 1-2, in and around the Arsenal at 30 Market Street. Many of the plants we sell have information signs, and this year UD Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions.

  3. Learn more about your plant at two great online resources: the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder and the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

  4. Schedule a team of Master Gardeners to visit your yard and offer written recommendations.

One final tip: Plants native to Delaware are more likely to thrive here…if you plant them in the right place! Mt. Cuba maintains lists of our native plants, here.

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

Spotlight Delaware graphic by Elsa Kegelman.

by Olivia Marble (April 24)

A new analysis of Delaware’s electricity market suggests that the construction of new data centers could cause power bills to spike.

The analysis – completed by Siemens Energy on behalf of the State of Delaware – found that a doubling of energy demand by 2029 could cause the average wholesale electricity price in the state to rise more than 80%, according to a summary of the analysis released by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Delmarva Power said in January that winter peak electricity demand within its Delaware coverage area would likely double if five data centers planned for New Castle County are ultimately built.

“It’s very concerning,” said Delaware Public Advocate Jameson Tweedie...

Read the full article, here.

by Nick Stonesifer (April 28)

A group of state revenue analysts will vote on Wednesday to determine the level at which they predict health care costs will burden Delaware taxpayers in 2027.

A subcommittee of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, better known as DEFAC, sets what is called the “health care spending benchmark” in an attempt to manage hospital spending that is passed down to taxpayers.

Delaware is one of eight states that set health care industry benchmarks. In 2018, then-Gov. John Carney created Delaware’s system by signing two executive orders.

Since then, Delaware has blown past its spending benchmarks almost every year they have been in effect. In December, DEFAC approved the 2026 benchmark at 4.9% after months of debate and outside litigation surrounding an oversight board meant to hold Delaware’s hospitals accountable to that spending level.

Read the full article, here.

The news stories previewed above come from Spotlight Delaware, a homegrown, statewide, non-profit news outlet. New Castle City Topics is a Spotlight Delaware Community Information Hub partner. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox weekly by signing up for SD’s 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.

  • 5/1 - Arasapha’s May Market (Day 1) on & around Market Square, 10am-5pm.
    Shop for annual and perennial plants, herbs, donated home and garden treasures, and donated plants at Arasapha Garden Club’s beloved annual fundraiser for New Castle’s historic Amsetl and Dutch House Gardens. Leashed pets welcome.

    • Concurrent: May Market Book Sale & Raffle.
      Featuring books on gardening & cooking, Spring/Summer fiction, free books for kids, and a Raffle - by the Library Friends, fundraising for New Castle Public Library.

  • 5/1 - Colonial School District Student Art Show at Wm. Penn HS, 5-7pm.

  • 5/2 - New Castle Saturday Market 2026 Opening Day on The Green, 9am-1pm.
    “Fabulous produce and baked goods and gourmet and specialty treats, vegan and soul food and microgreens. Plus, crafts and art and kids’ activities, it’s a family-friendly community vibe.” Recurs every Saturday through the Fall.

  • 5/2 - Arasapha’s May Market (Day 2) on & around Market Square, 9am-1pm.

    • Concurrent: May Market Book Sale & Raffle.

  • 5/2 - Colonial School District Student Art Show at Wm. Penn HS, 10am-12pm.

  • 5/5 - CSD Board of Education Meeting at William Penn HS, 7pm.

  • 5/5 - New Castle City Council Budget Mtg., NCPD Community Room, 6:30pm.

  • 5/6 - Movies @ Old Town Hall: My Dinner with André (1981), 6:30pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 5/7 - Yes2Health Walk & Seminar at New Castle Public Library, 5:30pm.
    First session of a 10-week course. Each session includes a short walk around HNC, followed by a short workshop on nutrition. For adults and older adults.

  • 5/8 - Bull Hill Boat Yard Bonfire, at Bull Hill Boat Yard on 2nd St., 6:30-9pm.
    Hot dogs & hamburgers provided free. Bring a dish to share and BYOB. Open to all.

  • 5/9 - 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 is requested.

  • 5/11 - Booked & Hooked w/ Delawarm, at New Castle Public Library, 6:30-8:30pm.
    Knit and crochet items for community members in need. Yarn is provided; please bring your own needles or hooks.

  • 5/12 - Health for All Free Physicals at New Castle Public Library, by appointment.
    Make an appointment to see a University of Delaware Nurse practitioner for the following services:

    • Sports Physicals for 6th - 12th Graders (parent or guardian MUST be present)

    • Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Checks

    • Cholesterol Checks - (MUST FAST FOR 8 HOURS PRIOR)

    • Other health-related concerns you would like to discuss with the nurse practitioner.

    • No insurance required! (More info at the link above.)

  • 5/12 - New Castle City Council Regular Meeting, NC Senior Center, 7pm.
    Agenda to be posted.

  • 5/14 - Center of the American Experience (New Exhibition) opens at NCHS.
    Exploring “the span and impact of New Castle’s history over nearly four centuries since European settlement. There will be a private preview event for NCHS members on the evening of 5/13 - register here.

  • 5/14 - Old Town Horror: Tetsuo, the Iron Man (1989), 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.

  • 5/16 - A Day in Old New Castle throughout the Historic Districts, 10am-4pm.
    Featuring home & garden tours (ticketed), performances, reenactments, historic crafts, activities for kids, vendors and more (all free). Info and tour tickets here.

  • 5/16 - Hearth to Heart Cooking Demo at the Amstel House, 10am-3pm.
    This month’s hearth cooking program is part of the tours for A Day in Old New Castle. (House & Garden Tour ticket required.)

  • 5/20 - Movies @ Old Town Hall: Nightcrawler (2014), 6:30pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 5/26 - Keeping Your Plants Happy at New Castle Public Library, 6pm.
    Master Gardener Linda Suskie offers tips on how to keep your plants happy throughout the growing season, with quick pointers on getting to know your plants, watering, fertilizing, mulch, preventing weeds and disease, and more.

  • 5/27 - Movies @ Old Town Hall: Clockwatchers (1997), 6:30pm.
    $5-10 recommended donation, refreshments available, BYOB welcome, presented by NC Public Library and The Mercury. More info & film description at link.

  • 5/30 - Restore & Remember: The Monday Club, at The Monday Club, 1pm-4pm.
    DHS is gathering volunteers to help with organization and processing archival materials at the site while learning from the elder members of the historic club about their history.

  • 5/31 - Pride Pop-Up Market on The Green, 12pm-5pm.

  • 6/3 - Annual NCHS Garden Party in the Amstel House Garden, 6-8pm.
    “An evening of music and good company in the [historic] Colonial Revival garden,” a ticketed event. Info & tickets at the link.

  • 6/5 - First Outdoor Storytime of the Season 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.

  • 6/7 - New Castle Little League Day at the Blue Rocks, Frawley Stadium, 1pm.
    Join NCLL families and friends for a day at the park. Register early to get in on group tickets - use passcode NCLL1996 and select the June 7 game.

  • 6/12 - Separation Day Block Party on The Wharf, 6-9pm.

  • 6/13 - Separation Day Festival, Delaware Street & Battery Park, 12-10pm.

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

  • 2nd & 4th Mondays: Improv Fun & Games! at the NC Presbyterian Fellowship Hall at 6pm. “Just show up! It’s free!”

  • 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 - May 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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