TOGETHER WITH

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. The lead runner in yesterday's Delaware Marathon did everything right for 26 miles and one thing wrong for about four seconds. It cost him the whole race.

Your 302 Rundown:

  • Charlie’s Pizza ranked top pizza in Delaware

  • Bermuda cruises now depart from Philadelphia

  • ShadFest returns to Brandywine Park this May

Let’s get to it

Images: Becca Mathias | winterthur.org/field-and-fete

Field and Fête: Winterthur Celebrates 75 Years 

May 16, 2026 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm 

Pack your prettiest picnic and step into the timeless charm of a country-estate garden party inspired by H. F. du Pont’s love of entertaining outdoors.   

Enjoy your own beautifully packed picnic or indulge in seasonal offerings from our curated mobile vendors. Then settle in amid the scenic open fields alongside Azalea Woods for a joyful day soundtracked by the Unforgettable Big Band performing favorites from across the decades. 

Adding to the charm, an old-school procession of vintage Rolls-Royces, 1950s automobiles, Winterthur farm tractors, marching bands, and bagpipers will parade through the garden in a spirited nod to Winterthur’s heritage. Guided garden tours will be available. 

Come celebrate the season—and 75 years of Winterthur—with a gathering that blends nostalgia, style, relaxed elegance, and the simple magic of celebrating outdoors.  

Tickets and more information at winterthur.org/field-and-fete

🌱 What’s your garden looking like this year?

Some yards are carefully planned. Others are just doing their best. Where are you at right now?

NEWS YOU CAN USE

🍕 Charlie's Pizza crowned Munch Madness champion

A Claymont pizza shop took the top spot in a recent statewide bracket. Charlie's Pizza won the Munch Madness tournament, beating out 63 other local contenders for the title.

In the final round, Charlie's faced off against Dom's NY Style Pizzeria in Newport. The Claymont shop secured a decisive victory, capturing 90 percent of the reader votes to claim the championship.

Dom's had a strong run to the finals, defeating former champion Cafe Napoli and local favorite Nick's Pizza Parlor along the way. Charlie's advanced through the bracket with comfortable margins against several other local pizzerias.

🐟 Spring ShadFest returns to Brandywine Park

The Brandywine River Restoration Trust is bringing ShadFest back to Brandywine Park this spring. The free outdoor festival highlights the annual migration of the American shad and ongoing efforts to restore the river.

Running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, the event features food, adult beverages, and a marketplace with sustainable arts and crafts vendors. Families can find hands-on activities, including children's fishing lessons, games, and face painting, all set to live music.

Interactive exhibits will be set up throughout the park to detail current work on fish passage and water quality improvements.

🚢 Bermuda cruises set sail from Philadelphia

Delaware residents looking for a tropical getaway have a new departure option closer to home. The Norwegian Jewel just launched seven-day-trips from Philadelphia to Bermuda, marking the first major cruise to operate out of the city in 15 years.

The ship holds over 2,000 guests and docks in Bermuda for an overnight stay. The current itinerary includes a stop in Charleston, South Carolina, before heading back up the Delaware Bay. During the summer, the route swaps the southern stop for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The inaugural departure faced a slight luggage delay, pushing its trip past the Delaware Memorial Bridge into the evening. Later this year, the Norwegian Pearl takes over for holiday trips to the Caribbean.

🎣 DNREC lines up spring youth fishing events

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is rolling out its seasonal Take A Kid Fishing events. The state program gives local families a chance to learn the basics of the sport from scratch, even if they have no prior experience on the water.

Guided by state education specialists and a team of local volunteers, the outdoor sessions cover everything from baiting a hook to reeling in a catch. The instructional program runs throughout the spring and summer months at various public locations across the state.

The next scheduled outing will take place on May 15 at Silver Lake Park. Additional sessions will follow as the weather warms up.

🚧 Rain pushes back I-95 traffic shift

Drivers heading northbound on Interstate 95 will not see the next phase of construction near the Route 141 interchange just yet. The Delaware Department of Transportation planned to roll out a new traffic pattern this weekend, but the agency pulled the plug for now.

Contractors were originally scheduled to begin setting up multiple lane restrictions starting Saturday evening. However, the threat of incoming rain forced crews to postpone the shift for another week.

The upcoming traffic switch is part of an ongoing project to rehabilitate four bridges along that stretch of highway leading up to Interstate 495. Commuters should expect rescheduled lane closures in the coming days.

For advertisers: Sponsoring this newsletter is about creating recognition, not interruption. Email me for details.

IN BUSINESS

✈️ Aunt Vonda's landing at Wilmington Airport

Travelers flying out of Wilmington Airport will soon have a new local option for grabbing a quick bite before their flights. Aunt Vonda's Kitchen Table is officially setting up shop inside the main passenger terminal.

The Ogletown soul food restaurant plans to offer a variety of freshly made grab-and-go meals for travelers on the move. While the exact menu is still being worked out by the owners, the focus will be on convenient, ready-made food that passengers can easily take with them to the gate.

The new airport location is currently expected to open its doors near the end of the year.

🏥 ChristianaCare plans new Newark heart surgery center

ChristianaCare is teaming up with Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware and US Health Partners to build a new cardiovascular surgery center near Newark. The outpatient facility will be located on the second floor of the HealthCare Center at Christiana.

The 9,000-square-foot space will focus exclusively on same-day heart and vascular procedures, such as diagnostic catheterizations and pacemaker implantations. By shifting these less intensive procedures out of the main hospital, the joint venture aims to lower patient costs and preserve operating room capacity for complex cases.

The project will cost an estimated $9.3 million and is expected to create 14 full-time jobs. The new center is slated to open in late 2027.

🌸 Spring reset starts here

Spring is a season of growth and new beginnings. On April 22, Mind Body Spirit DE in Wilmington will host a Bloom & Grow Sound Bath & Meditation designed to help participants reconnect with their intentions for the season ahead.

The evening includes a gentle guided meditation followed by a crystal singing bowl sound bath that encourages deep relaxation and reflection.

Coming up on May 9, Mind Body Spirit DE will also host a Mini Retreat for women featuring meditation, a sound bath, and a crystal intention bracelet activity.

Space is intentionally limited to keep experiences peaceful and personal.

Learn more and reserve your spot at mindbodyspiritde.com.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

💳 Banks battle proposed ban on tip fees

A battle is brewing in Dover over a proposal to ban credit card processing fees on gratuities. House Bill 315 would prevent banks and payment networks from charging interchange fees on the tip portion of a bill.

The measure has strong bipartisan support and backing from the local restaurant industry. In response, a coalition of banking giants and credit unions has launched an extensive lobbying and advertising campaign to defeat the legislation. Spotlight Delaware's coverage shows that the bill recently passed a House committee and is now waiting for a full floor vote.

⚖️ Lawmakers propose five month abortion limit

Republican lawmakers in Dover just rolled out legislation to ban most abortion procedures after five months of pregnancy. The proposal shifts Delaware away from its current standard, which permits abortions up to viability as determined by a medical professional.

Under the new measure, abortions after five months would only be allowed if the fetus is nonviable or to prevent the death of the mother. The bill removes broader maternal health exceptions found in existing state law. Providers who violate the restriction could face a felony charge.

Patients would not face criminal penalties under the proposal. The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Health and Social Services Committee for review.

💨 Newark considers new rules for vape shops

Newark city officials are looking to tighten regulations on new tobacco and vape shops. A proposed law would require future businesses to secure a special use permit before opening their doors.

The city currently has at least a dozen of these shops. Under the new rules, the city council could deny permits or attach specific conditions, such as limiting the bright, flashing window displays that have generated recent complaints. The regulations would only apply to new locations, leaving existing stores unaffected.

The planning commission recently requested a few tweaks to the proposed language. Once updated, the measure will head to the city council for a final vote.

🏫 Red Clay pauses McKean High restructure plan

A two-year effort to restructure high school enrollment in the Red Clay Consolidated School District is officially on hold. The school board voted to delay a proposal that would have converted McKean High School into a district-run innovation center.

District officials designed the plan to address dropping enrollment at A.I. duPont High School by redistributing students among the remaining traditional public schools. The proposal faced pushback from parents who raised concerns about transparency, financial reporting, and the overall planning process.

The future of McKean has now become a central issue in the upcoming May 12 school board election. The vote leaves the district's long-term high school strategy unresolved as voters prepare to head to the polls.

Ad-Free Option: Want the same Above the Canal, just without the ads? There’s a sign-up for that.

OPENING ACTS & EXHIBITS

On Mondays, opening acts and exhibits are listed here when they debut. After that, you'll find individual dates in the regular Theatre/Arts listings.

Rapunzel & The Witch at Delaware Children’s Theatre. A fresh spin on the classic fairy tale brings humor and heart as the story unfolds from both Rapunzel’s and the Witch’s perspectives. Saturday and Sunday performances at 2 PM through May 9.

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

DOG OF THE WEEK

Say hello to Chevy 🐾

Meet Chevy, the dashing two-year-old mixed breed who’s ready to rev up your life. This medium-sized marvel (weighing in at a sleek 44 pounds) sports a handsome grey coat and a personality that’s as friendly as they come. Chevy is a social butterfly with a knack for getting along with other dogs, making him the ideal companion for both solo strolls and pack adventures. If you’re searching for a loyal sidekick to create joyful memories with, Chevy might just be your perfect match.

Ready to welcome a new best friend into your life? Head to Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle to meet Chevy and see if he’s the missing piece to your family puzzle.

Loyal Readers: ⭐ If you enjoy getting local news and events in one place, a quick Google review is the single best free way to support Above the Canal.

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Monday

55 🌡️ 33 | ⛅ Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny | 16% | 💨 NW 5 to 15 mph

Tuesday

57 🌡️ 45 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 NW 0 to 5 mph

Wednesday

68 🌡️ 49 | 🌧️ Chance Rain Showers | 39% | 💨 SW 5 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 54ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

THE NOT SO SHORTLISTS

Planning something? Tell us about it.

Quick favor? It helps more than you think 🙏

We’ve been getting a lot of love lately (thank you!). But here’s a little behind-the-scenes truth: when you click on things in this newsletter—links, polls, even the little “Read more” button—it tells the internet powers-that-be that Above the Canal is something people care about.

So if you like what you’re reading, tap below and let us know. It’s a small gesture that helps this whole local thing keep growing.

APPRECIATE YA!

Thanks for tuning in. Send this to the friend who calls "shotgun" from inside the house.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up
Want your business featured in Above the Canal? Partner with us!
Interested in promoting your music? Feature your band!
Got a live show or event I missed? Just hit reply and let me know!

If Above the Canal adds value to your day, consider supporting it.

Let’s make it official—follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Reply

Avatar

or to participate

Keep Reading