217 Beatles Songs Over Six Nights In Wilmington

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☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. You don't have to understand somebody's excitement to help them enjoy it.

Your 302 Rundown:

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The Newark Independent Film Festival returns this week, August 13-15, with three days of films, filmmakers, and stories you won't find at the multiplex. From local voices to international talent, the festival brings independent cinema from around the world to Newark.

Screenings take place at Chapel Street Players' state-of-the-art theatre, creating an intimate setting where audiences can experience fresh perspectives and creative storytelling. It's one of the few opportunities in Delaware to see this kind of work on the big screen.

Grab your tickets and see what independent filmmakers are creating beyond Hollywood.

Thirty days is not forever, but it can feel pretty long when something you use all the time suddenly disappears. Which one would you have the hardest time giving up?

Source: Cecil Whig

An anonymous auto-body mechanic purchased a winning Maryland Lottery scratch-off ticket in Perryville. The man bought the $20 Triple Red 777s ticket from a kiosk at the Royal Farms on Perryville Road.

He secured the winning ticket just after watching another customer buy several of the same game, leaving only one behind in the machine. After taking the ticket home and scratching off the numbers, he discovered the $1 million top prize.

The winner plans to use the funds for a family vacation, investments, and an early retirement. The Royal Farms location received a $1,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Source: Delaware Business Now

Delaware's first floating solar facility opened on Thursday, when the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation and the Town of Middletown cut the ribbon on a three-megawatt array at the town's wastewater treatment pond on Middletown's south side.

The installation covers six acres of the 14-acre pond with 5,000 panels and is one of only five such facilities on the East Coast. Funding included a $125,000 federal grant from the American Public Power Association, plus federal tax incentives. The final project cost has not been disclosed.

Source: Delaware Public Media

The Delaware Department of Transportation opened the final ramp at the I-95 and Route 896 interchange in Newark on Thursday. This step wraps up more than three years of primary roadwork at the site.

The $300 million infrastructure project added new flyover ramps to reduce traffic weaving and collisions. While the main interchange is fully accessible to drivers, crews are still finishing a bridge-rehabilitation project over Route 72.

Additional work on drainage, landscaping, and signage will continue in the surrounding zone. A new multi-use pathway is scheduled to open later in August, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross over the interstate.

Source: Delaware Public Media

The measles outbreak in Kent County grew to twenty confirmed cases on Friday. State public health officials reported the increase after tracking thirteen cases two days prior.

The majority of the infections involve adults over the age of twenty, alongside six children under ten and one teenager. Health officials noted that among the initial thirteen cases, only one person was fully up to date on their vaccinations.

Local hospitals coordinated with state health departments to share information with patients. Officials advised anyone unsure of their vaccination status to receive a dose to ensure full protection.

Dinner Club is headed to Hockessin on Wednesday, August 26.

Since launching in March, Above the Canal has hosted five Dinner Clubs around northern Delaware, with an average of 86 people at each event. For number six, we'll bring together small groups at restaurants throughout Hockessin for dinner, conversation, and a chance to meet people you probably would not cross paths with otherwise.

After registering, you'll complete a short questionnaire that helps us create the dinner groups. We'll handle the matching, restaurant assignments, and logistics behind the scenes.

You'll find out where you're dining the evening before, then meet your group when you arrive.

Wednesday, August 26 at 6:30 PM. Registration is $20 per person, with food and drinks purchased separately.

Sign up now for the Hockessin Dinner Club.

Source: Delaware Business Now

The Delaware Division of Small Business announced updates to its fall EDGE Grant Competition. The state program offers funding for local companies that have been operating for less than seven years and have fifteen or fewer employees.

This year features a total of $1.15 million available across two funding tracks. Applicants can apply for a portion of a $400,000 pool in the entrepreneur category or a $750,000 pool in the STEM category. The state also shifted the process to a one-day pitch-and-award event scheduled for November 10.

The application window opens on August 11 and closes on September 11. Finalists will pitch their business plans to secure funding for equipment, infrastructure, or marketing campaigns.

Source: Newark Post

City of Newark officials announced the schedule for the annual water main flushing. The overnight work takes place from 10 PM - 6 AM between August 24 and September 4 across various local neighborhoods.

Residents might experience temporary drops in water pressure and changes in water clarity during these hours. Officials advise postponing laundry, dishwashing, and showering while crews are working in the area.

If water appears discolored, residents should wait 30 minutes before running cold water until it clears. Anyone with stained laundry can pick up Rust Rover powder at city hall to rewash their clothes.

Source: Newark Post

The Newark Planning Commission deadlocked on a proposal to build a four-story apartment complex at 24 to 30 North Chapel Street. The plan from developer Nikola Slijepcevic would replace five existing rental units with a 30-unit building featuring ground-floor parking.

Commissioners split their votes evenly, with supporters noting the design matches recent mixed-use developments in the area. Opponents criticized the scale of the building and the street-level appearance of the parking garage. The project requires rezoning the properties to a central business district designation.

The tie vote leaves the project without a formal recommendation. The developer can now revise the plans or take the current proposal directly to the city council for a final decision.

Source: Newark Post

A proposal to build new townhouses on Benny Street cleared its first hurdle with the local planning commission. Developer Ben Prettyman proposed demolishing an older rental house at 40 Benny Street to construct a seven-unit complex.

The development features large buildings with six bedrooms each. The project requires several code waivers for height, density, and parking, as the design falls short of the required parking spaces.

The planning commission voted to recommend the project despite some concerns over the building design. The proposal requires final approval from the city council.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Gov. Matt Meyer signed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act into state law during a ceremony at Shiloh Baptist Church in Wilmington. The legislation codifies several protections from the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 into Delaware law.

The measure prohibits voter discrimination and vote dilution, specifying that plaintiffs do not need to prove intentional discrimination to establish a violation. It allows the state attorney general and private organizations to file complaints against offending agencies. The bill also expands language assistance requirements for local elections.

The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2027. Advocates are preparing to push for a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights for individuals convicted of certain felonies.

Cow is a two-year-old male mixed-breed pup with a medium-sized build and, by the sound of it, a pretty remarkable outlook. He was found abandoned in a park, which would be enough to make anyone a little wary, but Cow hasn't let a rough start define him. Now safe at Brandywine Valley SPCA, he's showing the kind of steady, hopeful spirit that makes you root for him immediately.

He's been spending time socializing with other dogs at the shelter, building his confidence and brushing up on his dog-to-dog manners while he waits for the right match. A patient, loving home could be just the reset this good boy needs.

Stop by Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, DE 19720 to meet Cow and see if he's your next great companion.

Also: The 2027 Paws & Pose Calendar Contest is now open. Enter your pet for a chance to be featured in the calendar while supporting homeless animals: bvspca.org/calendarcontest.

The Rock Orchestra: All Together Now | Delaware Theatre Company. A six-night concert series where The Rock Orchestra performs the entire Beatles catalog chronologically, covering 217 songs from the band's early pop records to their final studio albums. Attendees can purchase a single-night ticket for a specific era or a festival pass for the full run. Playing Monday through Saturday at 8 PM.

Summer Concert Series: Gretchen Emery Band | Rockford Park. An outdoor performance by the Gretchen Emery Band with on-site food trucks and space for picnicking. The adjacent historic Rockford Tower is open to visitors during the set. Monday at 6:30 PM.

Zoo Tunes: Vernon James Jr | Brandywine Zoo. A midday concert featuring local musician Vernon James Jr., free with zoo admission. Tuesday 12-1 PM.

Music in the Plaza: Island Vibe | Brandywine Mills Plaza. An outdoor concert featuring a set by Island Vibe. Attendees can purchase meals from food trucks like Uncle John's BBQ and Marley's Caribbean Cuisine, and shop for handmade goods from local vendors. Tuesday 5-8 PM.

Ally Venable w/ Alicia Maxwell Project | Elkton Music Hall. A blues-rock concert featuring Texas guitarist Ally Venable, with the four-piece Delmarva band Alicia Maxwell Project opening the show. 21+. Tuesday at 8 PM.

Zoo Tunes: John Gallagher | Brandywine Zoo. A midday concert featuring local musician John Gallagher, free with zoo admission. Wednesday 12-1 PM.

Summer Nights | Hagley Museum and Library. A dog-friendly evening stroll along the Brandywine with local food trucks, Dogfish Head beer, and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream. Tickets are $5, and free for Hagley members and children under six. Wednesday 5-8 PM.

Sounds of Summer Free Concert Series: The Holy Smokers | Anson B Nixon Park. A free concert featuring The Holy Smokers, with food and beverage vendors serving hot meals, cold drinks, and sweet treats starting at 6 PM. Wednesday 6:30-8:30 PM.

Summer Concert Series: The Space Farmers | White Clay Creek State Park. An outdoor concert at the Carpenter Recreation Area band stage with a food truck, a beer garden, and a 50/50 fundraiser. Attendees can bring a picnic supper and lawn chairs. Free with paid park admission. Wednesday at 6:30 PM.

Stanley Clarke N•4Ever | Longwood Gardens. A jazz fusion performance in the Open Air Theatre by four-time Grammy-winning bassist Stanley Clarke and his band 4EVER, blending jazz harmony with rock, funk, and hip-hop influences. Tickets are $64-$114 and include all-day garden admission. Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

More happenings we couldn’t fit in the newsletter.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.

Monday

93 🌡️ 73 | ⛈️ Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 44% | 💨 W 0 to 10 mph

Tuesday

89 🌡️ 70 | ⛈️ Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 39% | 💨 NW 5 mph

Wednesday

87 🌡️ 70 | ⛈️ Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 26% | 💨 NW 0 to 5 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 78ºF. Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

The full events calendar includes live music, festivals, classes, markets, family activities, community gatherings, and dozens more happenings across Northern Delaware.

Submit an event →

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