
TOGETHER WITH
☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. There’s still time to become someone who does that thing you admire. The beginner class is full of beginners.
Your 302 Rundown:
Judge Morris Estate adds weddings to its future
Governor Matt Meyer welcomes a son
The Playhouse welcomes Broadway’s The Wiz
Let’s get to it
SPONSORED BY THE NEWARK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Spotlight On: The Newark Symphony Orchestra’s 60th Diamond Season
Did you know a world-class night of music is right in our backyard?
This year, the Newark Symphony Orchestra marks 60 years of live music in New Castle County! Experience the magic with us across three moving performances:
Symphonic Masterworks: October 25, 2026
Requiem for 9/11: November 8, 2026, a powerful orchestral tribute honoring the lives lost and forever changed by 9/11
Family Holiday Concert: December 6, 2026
All three performances will be held at The Independence School.
Join friends and neighbors for an inspiring season of music, connection, and community celebration. Single tickets and discounted season subscriptions are available now!
Reserve your favorite seats early at newarksymphony.org or call (302) 369-3466. We can’t wait to celebrate six decades of music with you!
QUICK POLL
🪑 The Unwritten Rules of Seating
There's something comforting about having a familiar place to sit. You know the view, the lighting, and exactly how comfortable the chair is. Then someone comes along and takes it. Do you shrug it off, or does it bother you more than you'd like to admit?
Someone takes your usual seat. Does it bother you?
NEWS YOU CAN USE
🦃 Thanksgiving food drive opens across Delaware
Source: Newark Post
The Food Bank of Delaware kicked off its annual Thanksgiving food drive to collect holiday meals for families across the state. The organization is accepting donations of nonperishable foods, frozen turkeys, and financial contributions at its Newark and Milford facilities.
The drive comes as the food bank reports a steady increase in demand. Visits to the organization's pantry centers jumped by 15% in September compared to the same time last year.
The collection runs through November 13. Organizers also rolled out a new virtual food drive option for residents who prefer to donate online.
IN BUSINESS
🏦 WSFS launches upscale signature banking offices
Source: Delaware Business Now
Wilmington-based WSFS Financial Corporation introduced a new branch format called Signature Banking Offices. The concept combines traditional banking services with the wealth management offerings of Bryn Mawr Trust under one roof.
The newly designed locations feature upscale decor aimed at attracting customers seeking trusts, stocks, and mutual funds. This strategy helps counter the broader industry trend of branch closures as routine transactions shift online.
Five initial locations began converting to the new format. The first wave includes the Greenville branch in Delaware, along with four other offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
🏛️ Judge Morris Estate work begins
Source: Jeffrey A. Miller Hospitality Group
A Newark estate inside White Clay Creek State Park started its next chapter as Jeffrey A. Miller Hospitality Group and DNREC marked the start of work on Judge Morris Estate. The property was being turned into a wedding and event venue while keeping the historic estate house in the mix.
The project added another state park venue partnership for JAM and DNREC, following The Barn at Cauffiel Estate and Bellevue Hall at Bellevue State Park. Plans called for a glass solarium ballroom near the old stone barn ruins, with weddings, corporate events and community gatherings beginning in April 2027.
🧬 ChristianaCare lands grant for cancer research
Source: WDEL
A research team at ChristianaCare secured a $95,740 grant to explore a new treatment approach for colorectal cancer. The Delaware Bioscience Center for Advanced Technology provided the funding to help advance the project toward an early clinical study.
The work focuses on patients with metastatic cancer that no longer responds to standard care. Laboratory tests showed that blocking a specific cellular pathway might make cancer cells more responsive to compounds related to vitamin A.
The proposed trial would involve a small group of patients and requires regulatory clearance before moving forward. The project builds on a long-time partnership between the health system and the University of Delaware.
SPONSORED BY CONNOR CREATIVE HOUSE
Relive your special day in 24 hours with a wedding content creator
Want your very own movie trailer-style videos to look back on and share with family and friends right after your wedding?
We document everything you'll want to remember, including candid moments, behind-the-scenes details and guest reactions, delivering raw footage within 24 hours and edited recap videos within 72 hours.
View our portfolio and email [email protected] to reserve your date.
(And businesses, we're still creating content for your brands, corporate events and social media, too!)
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
🏚 Delaware preservation credits drew $7M
Source: Delaware Business Times
Delaware historic preservation projects drew $7 million in rehabilitation investment through the federal historic tax credit in fiscal 2025, the National Park Service said. The program applied to income-producing historic buildings, including properties being reused or brought back into active use.
Nationally, the credit generated $9.6 billion in rehabilitation investment, supported 163,000 jobs and contributed $9.2 billion to GDP during the same fiscal year. Since 1978, projects using the credit have generated about $269.2 billion in rehabilitation investment nationwide.
The National Park Service reviewed historic features and rehab work, while the IRS handled the tax-credit provisions and financial pieces.
🔋 County passes second data center rule
Source: Spotlight Delaware
The New Castle County Council passed a second ordinance regulating data centers and other large energy facilities. The measure requires developers to prove the local grid has enough electricity and transmission infrastructure to support their projects before building.
Councilman Dave Carter sponsored the rule to prevent massive new power demands from raising electric bills for residents. Unlike a previous data center ordinance that drew heavy debate and union lobbying, this measure passed quietly. It mirrors a state law passed in June and does not apply retroactively to projects already in the county approval pipeline.
The ordinance now goes to County Executive Marcus Henry for his signature.
🏈 Senate sports bill splits Delaware delegation
Source: Spotlight Delaware
The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, splitting the votes of Delaware lawmakers. Senator Chris Coons co-sponsored the legislation, while Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester voted against it.
The bill would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption and allow universities to restrict athlete sponsorship deals. Leaders at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University backed the measure, arguing it would help smaller athletic programs compete with wealthier schools and prevent student athletes from being classified as employees.
Critics argued the legislation is designed to control costs and limit player compensation. The U.S. House of Representatives will consider the bill after the November elections.
🍼 Governor Matt Meyer welcomes a son
Source: State of Delaware News
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer and First Lady Lauren Meyer welcomed a baby boy. The couple announced the birth of their son on Thursday, sharing the personal update through official state communication channels.
The governor noted that both the mother and the newborn child are healthy following the delivery. He expressed deep appreciation for the medical professionals and caregivers who assisted the family throughout the entire process.
The couple thanked residents for the kindness shown to their family. They are now looking forward to beginning their next chapter together with their new son.
🏘️ Wilmington councilman proposes nuisance property czar
Source: WDEL
Wilmington City Councilman James Spadola proposed adding a nuisance property czar to the city budget. The role would coordinate the response to problem businesses and residential houses across multiple departments.
The proposal comes as the council's Public Safety Committee reviews an ordinance targeting disruptive businesses. Sponsor Yolanda McCoy delayed a full council vote on the measure to balance business and community concerns after members debated the appeals process.
Spadola suggested the property czar position could be created by consolidating existing responsibilities rather than making a new hire. The city reviewed 59 nuisance property cases in 2025 and 36 cases in 2026.
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.
Sam Kissajukian: 300 Paintings | Delaware Theatre Company. A solo performance by Sydney comedian Sam Kissajukian exploring art and mental health through the 300 large-scale paintings he created during a six-month manic episode. The show includes a post-show experience, with tickets at $34 for ages 13 and up. Runs October 21 through November 8.
First State Ballet Theatre Presents Don Quixote | Copeland Hall. First State Ballet Theatre brings Don Quixote to Copeland Hall with comedic charm, romance, dazzling dancing, and spirited Spanish flair. This Saturday and Sunday.
The Wiz | The Playhouse. A touring Broadway revival of the Tony Award-winning musical twist on The Wizard of Oz. The production features a score of gospel, rock, and 70s funk alongside ballet, jazz, and modern pop choreography. Runs October 23 through October 25.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.
DOG OF THE WEEK

Make room for Dominos 🐾
If your weekend plans usually involve lacing up your walking shoes, we have just the companion for you. Dominos is a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog who thrives on staying active. He is a friendly, high-energy guy who is happily past the puppy teething phase but still has plenty of stamina for long afternoon strolls.
The shelter team describes him as an ideal adventure buddy who is more than ready to settle into a permanent routine. As a wonderful perk, his adoption fee is completely waived for military veterans through the shelter's Sponsored by Simba program.
Stop by the Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, to take Dominos for a test walk before another active family scoops him up.
THE HAPPENINGS
Monday
Sharon & Shawn | Chapel Street Players. Wilmington musicians Sharon Sable and E. Shawn Qaissaunee perform live, drawing on jazz, R&B, world, and pop; they have opened for jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan and shared a stage with Stevie Wonder. Monday at 7 PM.
Wednesday
Music School of Delaware Performance Collab Series featuring Pyxis Piano Quartet | Delaware Art Museum. The first evening of DelArt and Music School of Delaware’s new four-part concert series, featuring the Pyxis Piano Quartet in Fusco Hall with beer and wine available for purchase. Wednesday at 7 PM.
More happenings we couldn’t fit in the newsletter.
Were you there? Share your photos & videos →
Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.
FORECAST AT A GLANCE
Monday
66 🌡️ 47 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 N 5 mph
Tuesday
68 🌡️ 46 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 0% | 💨 N 5 to 10 mph
Wednesday
65 🌡️ 44 | ☀️ Sunny | 4% | 💨 N 5 to 10 mph
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 67ºF. Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.
THE NOT SO SHORTLISTS
🗓️ Looking for more than the handful of events featured above?
The full events calendar includes live music, festivals, classes, markets, family activities, community gatherings, and dozens more happenings across Northern Delaware.
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