Christiana Mall Begins Charging For Parking

☀️ Rise and Shine 302. This is a good day to finish loose ends and quietly ignore anything new.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

Right now, in this exact moment, what is left to do for the holidays?

Home projects feel a lot less overwhelming when you trust the people doing the work. Fine Remodeling is a locally owned, licensed, and insured general contractor based in Wilmington that focuses on doing residential remodeling the right way, with planning, transparency, and craftsmanship leading the process.

They work with homeowners across New Castle County and nearby Pennsylvania communities on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, major renovations, additions, and accessibility projects. What consistently sets them apart is how much effort goes into the upfront work. Clear pricing, thoughtful design, and honest conversations help homeowners understand what is possible before construction ever begins.

Whether you are planning a full renovation or just starting to explore ideas, Fine Remodeling brings a practical, homeowner-focused approach that prioritizes quality and trust. You can explore their services, view project examples, and learn more at fineremodelingde.com.

If your usual mall routine includes circling for the closest spot, heads up. Christiana Mall has rolled out a small section of paid parking near the food court. Most of the lot is still free, but these premium spots are enforced 24/7, with rates starting at $1 for 30 minutes and maxing out at $20 for a long stay.

For a limited time, 10 percent of the mall’s net proceeds from this paid parking program will support the Brandywine Valley SPCA. That means choosing convenience could also help fund care for homeless animals around the state.

It is definitely a shift, and one to notice before you park on autopilot. Full details are in this WDEL story.

There is a new aircraft at Wilmington Airport, and it is built for speed, safety, and quieter flights overhead. ChristianaCare just unveiled a new Airbus H145 D3 medical helicopter during a ribbon cutting this week.

The helicopter will primarily handle inter-facility patient transports, but it can also back up Delaware State Police helicopters when they are already tied up or when multiple medical flights are needed at once. The model includes upgraded avionics, improved autopilot features, and a redesigned rotor system meant to reduce noise while increasing performance.

It is a pricey piece of equipment. Published costs hover around $10 million, but it adds capacity at a time when minutes matter. You can read more about the new helicopter and how it will be used in this WDEL report.

Delaware’s reputation as the corporate capital of the country was back in the spotlight last week. The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a Chancery Court ruling that had rejected a massive compensation package for Elon Musk, tied to his leadership at Tesla.

The court said undoing the deal entirely would be unfair, noting Musk spent years building value before the pay package was challenged. The decision follows a second shareholder vote that reaffirmed the award, even after public criticism of Delaware’s corporate courts and Musk’s threat to take future business elsewhere.

Why this matters locally: Delaware’s court system is a huge reason companies incorporate here, and recent high-profile cases have sparked real concern about keeping that edge. This ruling helps steady the narrative, at least for now.

Remember when homes disappeared in a weekend? November looked very different. New data from the Delaware Association of Realtors shows pending home sales fell 17 percent compared to last year, a slowdown realtors are calling seasonal but noticeable.

Homes are lingering longer too. Average time on market stretched to about 46 days, and fewer new listings came online. Inventory is technically up, but mostly because buyers are moving more cautiously, not because sellers are rushing in. Prices stayed relatively steady, with list prices inching up and sold prices dipping just slightly.

The takeaway: buyers are still watching, just not rushing. With rates holding in the six percent range, many seem content to wait until early 2026 before making a move.

That proposed mega merger you may have heard about is officially off. ChristianaCare and Virtua Health announced they are no longer moving forward with plans to merge, opting instead to continue operating independently.

The two systems signed a letter of intent over the summer that could have created a massive regional network stretching across four states. That scale raised questions in Delaware about oversight, competition, and whether resources generated here would stay here. Those concerns never reached a final verdict, because the hospitals pulled the plug before regulators weighed in.

Both organizations say the decision was mutual and mission driven, though neither has explained what changed behind the scenes. The move keeps Delaware’s largest health system independent for now, and preserves the status quo for patients and providers across the region. More context is available in this Spotlight Delaware report.

Hunting and fishing have been part of life here for centuries, and a new proposal would put that tradition directly into the Delaware Constitution. State Sen. Dave Wilson has introduced a bipartisan measure that would formally recognize the right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife across the state.

The idea is not about creating anything new. Supporters say it simply locks in practices that are already legal, while still allowing for reasonable regulation, licensing rules, and respect for private property. In other words, traditions stay protected, and common sense stays in place.

It is a long road. The proposal would need strong support from lawmakers over two sessions to become reality

Flooding in Northeast Wilmington is not a hypothetical, residents lived it during Hurricane Ida, and many say it will happen again without changes near the 11th Street Bridge. A community group called Northeast Rising is pushing for a different approach, one that works with nature instead of against it.

The group is advocating for a living shoreline along the Brandywine River, which would raise the riverbank and create a meadow designed to hold floodwater. Supporters say it would cost about $4 million, far less than the city’s current $21 million plan that includes a concrete wall. They argue the natural option is not only cheaper, but better for long-term flood protection and environmental justice.

The City of Wilmington Department of Public Works is expected to release a delayed flood study by the end of January, which could shape what happens next.

Zura is seven-years-young and has fully mastered the art of being an excellent dog. She is calm, affectionate, and confident in the way only a grown-up pup can be. This gentle giant loves her time outside, whether that means a relaxed walk, sniffing around the yard, or soaking up sunshine like it is her full-time job. She is also very into treats, which makes her a strong believer in positive reinforcement.

When the day winds down, Zura is all about closeness. She is a champion cuddler who happily leans into her people and would absolutely vote for more couch time if given the option. If Zura were a person, she would be the calm presence who makes your house feel like home.

Zura is spayed, ready to go, and waiting to meet her forever family at the Brandywine Valley SPCA Copeland Center in New Castle. Come meet her and see if she is your missing piece. Come meet Zura at the BVSPCA’s New Castle campus.

This is a quiet calendar week. With Christmas in the middle of it, there are no new major events to surface beyond what has already been published. Everything happening is already listed in the Shortlist events section. If it feels lighter than usual, that is simply how this week works. There is still plenty to do, and it is all listed in the Shortlist sections below. Major events pick back up next week.

42 🌡️ 32 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 3% | 💨 W 8 mph

40 🌡️ 38 | 🌦️ Scattered Showers | 37% | 💨 SW 6 mph

49 🌡️ 32 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 4% | 💨 NW 15 mph

47 🌡️ 41 | 🌦️ Scattered Showers | 37% | 💨 SW 8 mph

52 🌡️ 46 | 🌧️ Showers | 52% | 💨 WSW 11 mph

52 🌡️ 42 | 🌤️ Partly Cloudy | 16% | 💨 N 8 mph

48 🌡️ 27 | 🌦️ Scattered Showers | 40% | 💨 W 15 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 42ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

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