Fall Events Return To Delaware State Parks

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There are plenty of reasons people show up for a cancer 5K. Some are celebrating a survivor. Some are remembering someone. Others simply want to support research that could make a difference for the next family facing a diagnosis.

The Friends 5K Run/Walk returns to Newark on Sunday, Sept. 27, with proceeds benefiting research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.

The Graham Center is one of only five cancer centers in the country with dedicated on-site research facilities. Its scientists work directly with physicians, helping connect laboratory research with clinical trials and the treatment patients receive.

The event welcomes runners and walkers and includes a DJ, face painting, food and refreshments after the course.

The Friends 5K Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. Registration is $35.

Community Spotlights are unpaid features highlighting local people, events, and organizations.

There are regular lottery players, occasional players, and plenty of people who wouldn't spend a dollar on it. Where do you fall?

Source: DNREC

Delaware State Parks rolled out its fall lineup across the state’s 17 parks, with festivals, wagon rides, camping options and seasonal programs on the calendar. In Northern Delaware, that includes events at Lums Pond, Bellevue, Brandywine Creek, White Clay Creek, Auburn Valley and the Brandywine Zoo.

Among the scheduled stops are Pond Fest at Lums Pond on Oct. 10 and Celebrate Lemurs at the Brandywine Zoo on Oct. 3. Wagon rides run from mid-September through October at several parks, with accessible wagons available at Bellevue, Brandywine Creek and White Clay Creek.

Some programs require a fee, while others are included with paid park admission.

Source: Delaware Lottery

A Wilmington woman picked up a $25,000 Delaware Lottery prize after changing her usual PLAY 5 routine. Jaidae Shearin, 25, bought one ticket for the Sept. 1 day drawing instead of her typical five and matched all five numbers.

Shearin bought the winning ticket at Shiva Grocery & Variety Store on Vandever Avenue in Wilmington. The matched numbers were 3, 9, 3, 1 and 6, and she claimed the prize at Delaware Lottery headquarters in Dover on Sept. 3.

Shearin said she told her father first and planned to save the money.

Source: Delaware Business Now

A Delaware Chancery Court judge ruled in favor of the nonprofit board that operates the Wilmington & Western Railroad, ending a lawsuit brought by a former volunteer.

The court accepted the argument that the plaintiff lost his membership status because he had not performed recent work on the railroad. The ruling noted that members of nonprofit corporations do not have the same ownership rights as shareholders in for-profit companies.

The legal battle follows a turbulent period for the excursion train, which included a 2025 shutdown, staff dismissals, and protests from volunteers demanding the right to elect board members. Passenger service has since resumed.

Source: Delaware Business Times 🔒 PAYWALLED

The WRK Group, a coalition of three Wilmington nonprofits focused on community revitalization, secured at least $7 million toward a massive fundraising campaign. The funds will support a strategy to scale social and educational programs for residents over the next five years.

ChristianaCare committed $5 million to the effort, while Bread Financial pledged $2 million. Barclays also promised an undisclosed amount to the initiative. The coalition needs to raise $20 million in philanthropic dollars to unlock an additional $25 million from a national nonprofit funder.

The funding push coincided with the completion of the new Kingswood Community Center, a massive facility built to provide early childhood education, youth recreation, and support services.

Source: UD Review

Water treatment company Veolia filed a lawsuit against nine chemical companies it says made, distributed, or used PFAS that contaminated White Clay and Red Clay Creeks. The waterways provide drinking water for more than 100,000 people in New Castle County.

The complaint accused the companies of negligence and improper disposal of the materials, commonly known as forever chemicals. Veolia operates the Stanton Water Treatment Plant in Wilmington and claimed the contamination forced the facility to spend millions on filtration upgrades and maintenance.

The lawsuit sought financial damages to cover those operational costs, which could impact water bills for local ratepayers. The case is awaiting a court date.

Two hands-on art experiences are coming up in early October. No art experience is needed for either one.

🎨 Oct. 2: Trading Card Social at Sarafina Art House

Create original art cards, see what others make, and trade finished cards with the group.

See the Trading Card Social

✂️ Oct. 6: Collage Night at Newark Arts Alliance

Learn collage techniques and create your own piece with instructor Mary Jane Arden. Materials are provided.

See Collage Night

Both workshops still need a few more registrations to move forward. Come on your own or bring someone with you.

Looking for Dinner Club instead? Historic New Castle Dinner Club is Sept. 30 at 6:30 PM.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

A Chancery Court judge blocked the Wilmington City Council from removing Councilman James Spadola from his seat. The ruling is the latest development in a months-long dispute that began when Spadola changed his voter registration from Republican to Democrat.

The city charter guarantees at least one at-large council seat goes to a minority party member. Council members passed a resolution to declare his seat vacant, arguing the party switch violated the charter. The judge found that the city code does not restrict officials from changing their political affiliation after an election.

The ruling permanently prevents the council from enforcing the resolution. Attorneys for the council president have 30 days to decide whether to file an appeal.

Source: WHYY

Dave Tackett defeated six-term New Castle County Recorder of Deeds Mike Kozikowski in the Democratic primary, winning 52.2% of the vote. The race turned on a secretly recorded meeting at a Newport-area restaurant where Kozikowski offered Tackett a $76,295-a-year county job to stay off the ballot.

Kozikowski, who had held the seat since 2002, defended the offer by noting Tackett had not yet formally filed his candidacy at the time. Tackett filed paperwork hours after that meeting and later lodged a formal complaint with Attorney General Kathy Jennings' office, which has not confirmed whether it is investigating.

Tackett, who has no Republican opponent in November, is set to take the recorder of deeds post in January at an annual salary of $123,000.

Grey, sweet, and still shy of her 3rd birthday, Ankha is a medium-sized mixed-breed girl with a lot of good years ahead of her. At 2 years old, she's past the chaotic puppy phase but still young enough to grow right alongside whoever brings her home. The shelter describes her as very sweet, and she's been socializing well with other dogs while she waits.

There's not a long list of asterisks with this one. Ankha seems like a genuinely good-natured dog who's ready to settle in and start building a life with the right family.

Head over to Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle to meet Ankha and see if she's your kind of girl. And if you're a military veteran, she qualifies for a no-fee adoption through the shelter's Sponsored by Simba program.

Dale Watson & His Lonestars w/ India Ramey | Elkton Music Hall. Dale Watson, a honky-tonk and outlaw country veteran with more than 30 albums and TV appearances on Austin City Limits and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, plays his self-described "Ameripolitan" sound; Nashville outlaw-country artist India Ramey opens. Doors open at 6:30 PM. 21+. Monday at 7 PM.

Music in the Plaza: Exit 93 | Brandywine Mills Plaza. A performance by dance band Exit 93, with food available from Uncle John's BBQ Stand. Attendees should bring a chair. Tuesday 5-8 PM.

The California Guitar Trio | Kennett Flash. A guitar trio with Bert Lams, Tom Griesgraber, and Paul Richards plays across rock, jazz, classical, world music, surf, and spaghetti Western tunes. Tickets are $40 advance, $45 day-of-show; BYOB is $5. Wednesday at 7 PM.

Levitt AMP Wilmington Music Series: Jonathan Scales | Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. A free outdoor concert featuring Jonathan Scales as part of the ongoing Levitt AMP Wilmington series. Wednesday 7-8:30 PM.

Reverend Horton Heat w/ Special Guest Messer Chups | Elkton Music Hall. A psychobilly and rock show by Reverend Horton Heat, with cult surf-rock trio Messer Chups opening the primarily standing-room-only performance. 21+. Wednesday at 8 PM.

Circle Jerks | The Queen Wilmington. A hardcore punk bill with Circle Jerks, Haywire, and Negative Approach in the Main Hall; doors open at 7 PM. Wednesday at 8 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

73 🌡️ 58 | ⛅ Partly Sunny | 10% | 💨 NE 5 to 10 mph

Tuesday

66 🌡️ 55 | 🌧️ Rain Showers | 78% | 💨 NE 10 to 15 mph

Wednesday

66 🌡️ 54 | 🌧️ Chance Rain Showers | 37% | 💨 NE 10 to 15 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 75ºF. 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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