Kennett Throws America a Birthday Party

TOGETHER WITH

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. Two more days before the week stops asking things of you. That is not nothing.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

The Newark Independent Film Festival returns August 13-15 with three days of films, filmmakers, and stories you won't find at the multiplex. From award-winning shorts to thought-provoking features, 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.

Save the dates, grab your tickets, and see what independent filmmakers are creating beyond Hollywood.

Think about every beach day, backyard barbecue, and afternoon walk you've enjoyed over the past year. Those sunny days add up faster than most people realize. How many do you think Delaware gets annually?

Source: DNREC

State environmental officials expanded their deer damage assistance programs this week after Delaware farmers reported increased crop losses. The state offered expedited enrollment in its highest tier of relief, allowing farmers to bring hunters onto their properties year-round to harvest antlerless deer.

The department deferred standard requirements for damage data and management plans so agricultural workers could seek immediate help. State agriculture officials noted that dry conditions slowed crop growth, making the plants highly vulnerable to deer feeding.

The expanded hunting access also aids the state in monitoring Chronic Wasting Disease. Officials recently detected the condition in Delaware for the first time and plan to test deer harvested through the program to track its spread.

Source: WHYY

Delaware’s Police Athletic League landed under state and federal law enforcement scrutiny after questions surfaced about how the nonprofit obtained and spent public grants tied to renovations at its Hockessin and Garfield Park facilities.

State finance officials demanded in February that PAL repay $863,992 in duplicated and unallowable costs after a review found the same invoices were submitted under separate grant awards. Former executive director Valerie Longhurst denied wrongdoing and said grant reporting was handled by the bookkeeper, who also said she followed proper procedures.

PAL’s interim board president said the group is still operating programs while it looks at options to address the repayment demand.

Source: Delaware Public Media

The Appoquinimink School District announced a $47 million funding gap for its ongoing school construction projects. District officials stated earlier this week that the state did not provide enough money to complete the new campuses.

The district began building Summit High School, Summit Bridge Middle School, and Green Giant Elementary School after voters approved a local referendum in 2024. However, rising building costs quickly created a shortfall that local funds could not cover.

Administrators noted they were waiting to see if lawmakers included the requested funds in the state Bond Bill. Without the money, officials said the district would have to make decisions regarding the planned 2029 school openings.

Source: WDEL

U.S. Representative Sarah McBride officially launched her reelection campaign in Rehoboth Beach on Tuesday. The kickoff event followed a statewide tour where she visited all 57 Delaware municipalities over a 57-hour period.

Addressing a crowd of supporters, McBride focused her platform on economic issues and lowering costs for working families. Several prominent state leaders endorsed her campaign, including Governor Matt Meyer, Senator Chris Coons, and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester.

On the Republican side, Reverend Earl Cooper is currently the only candidate who has filed to run for the at-large congressional seat. Cooper previously ran against McBride in the Democratic primary two years ago.

Source: WDEL

A push to allow same-day voter registration in Delaware fell short in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday. The proposed constitutional amendment failed to secure the required two-thirds majority, keeping the current registration deadlines in place for the upcoming election cycle.

Under existing rules, residents must register to vote four Saturdays before an election. Supporters argued the change would help new residents accustomed to same-day policies in other states. Opponents raised concerns about the readiness of poll workers to validate identities on the spot.

The final vote was 26 to 14. The bill sponsor strategically voted against the measure, a procedural move that left the door open for the legislation to be reconsidered later.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

Two new speed cameras near Marshallton recorded more than 20,000 speeding violations during a two-month period this spring. New Castle County Police shared the data with the County Council, detailing the initial results of the automated traffic enforcement program.

The cameras on Milltown Road and McKennans Church Road triggered when a driver traveled at least six miles per hour over the limit. Officials mailed out 14,000 written warnings during a grace period that ended in May. Following that period, the county issued over 3,000 citations with fines starting at $20. Another 3,500 citations are currently being processed.

Police noted that 345 drivers had already received repeat citations. County officials said they were evaluating the performance of these two locations before considering any program expansion.

Source: DNREC

The state program aiming to plant one million trees in Delaware by 2030 officially crossed the halfway mark this week. The Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative reached 500,000 plantings and opened its next round of grant applications.

State agencies, schools, municipalities, and nonprofit groups can apply for funding to support spring 2027 planting projects. Grant requests must fall between $10,000 and $30,000, with applications due by August 3. The funding relies on the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The program also finalized plans to host eleven tree giveaways across all three counties this fall. Officials expect to release the exact dates and locations for those events in September.

Source: Cecil Whig

On June 16, local government officials from Maryland and Delaware sent a joint letter to ChristianaCare leadership. New Castle County Councilman David Tackett joined Elkton Mayor Robert Alt and Cecil County Executive Adam Streight to ask the health system to keep the Family Birthing Center at Union Hospital open.

ChristianaCare scheduled the closure for June 30. The healthcare provider cited financial challenges, staffing shortages, and low birth rates. Tackett noted that he got involved because the two counties share a border and residents frequently cross the state line for medical care.

The officials requested a meeting with incoming ChristianaCare CEO Jenn Schwartz and awaited a response.

Connor Creative House is a social media agency that brings brands' digital presence to life through video content creation, ads and social media posts that capture their personalities and tell their stories.

Founder Krista Connor believes that when strategy meets creativity and human-centric storytelling, marketing becomes an effective tool to engage with audiences, build brand awareness and ultimately get leads, bookings and sales. 

Just ask Above the Canal — we've helped them bring in more than a thousand leads and dozens of event bookings in just over one month. 

Go to connorcreativehouse.com to learn more about social media content creation (event, product and on-location sessions), ads and full account management. 

Sculpture Garden Happy Hours: 7th Annual Beyond Juneteenth Celebration | Delaware Art Museum. An outdoor Juneteenth gathering featuring live R&B, spoken word, and traditional Senegalese drumming, alongside food trucks, lawn games, and a cash bar. Free. Thursday at 4 PM.

250 in Kennett | State Street, Kennett Square. A street festival celebrating America's 250th anniversary with live brass band music, outdoor dining, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6 PM. The town's illuminated eight-foot mushroom will drop twice during the evening, at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Thursday 5:30-9 PM.

Summer Concert Series: Del Soul Show Band | Bellevue State Park. A Bellevue Bandshell concert in the 39th annual Summer Concert Series, with food available from locally owned food trucks or picnics permitted. Thursday at 6:30 PM.

Candlelight Comedy Club 2026 | The Candlelight Theatre. A monthly adult comedy night featuring three comedians, with light fare and a cash bar included. Free onsite parking. Thursday at 6:30 PM.

Concerts in the Courtyard: The Deb Callahan Band | Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. An outdoor concert featuring Philadelphia singer-songwriter Deb Callahan and her band playing a mix of blues, funk, rock, roots, and swing, with food and drinks available for purchase. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door, with discounts for museum members. Thursday at 7 PM.

Delaware City Juneteenth Celebration | Fort DuPont State Park. The day opens with a Commemorative Service at the African Union Church Cemetery, then shifts to Battery Park for a Black-owned businesses expo with vendors, music, and line dancing from noon to 8 PM, closing with a live R&B performance by Best Kept Soul at the Battery Park Gazebo. Bring a chair or lawn blanket. Friday 10 AM - 9 PM.

An Evening w/ Kelli O'Hara | Copeland Hall. A concert by Tony Award-winning, Emmy- and Grammy-nominated artist Kelli O’Hara featuring a program of American Songbook classics and modern Broadway favorites. Friday at 8 PM.

Bernard Purdie & Friends | Elkton Music Hall. A live performance headlined by Bernard Purdie, the session drummer whose credits include Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, and hundreds of studio recordings. Friday at 8 PM.

Music at the Market | Wilmington Riverfront. Live saxophone from Vernon James Jr. at the Riverfront Market, alongside the regular Saturday shopping and dining. Saturday 11 AM - 1 PM.

Wine Through Winterthur: A Sparkling Soirée Under the Solstice Sky | Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. A wine tasting on the estate grounds featuring Chandon sparkling wines and culinary pairings. Actors from Delaware Shakespeare perform sonnets and soliloquies during the event. Saturday 12-3 PM.

Golden Hour | Mt. Cuba Center. Mt. Cuba Center extends its hours until 8 PM on the summer solstice, with a full bar on-site. Tickets are $10 for walk-up visitors arriving after 4:30 PM; members get in free. Saturday 4:30-8 PM.

Live in the Beer Garden: Drew Nugent & the Midnight Society | Longwood Gardens. A Beer Garden set from Drew Nugent & the Midnight Society, playing Jazz Age blues, jazz, and pop. Free with Gardens Admission; timed admission tickets are required. Saturday 6-8:45 PM.

Art Battle Wilmington | The Queen Wilmington. A live painting competition where artists create original works in 20-minute rounds. Attendees vote to crown a winner and can bid on the finished canvases in a silent auction. Saturday at 6 PM.

Roots Revival Roadshow (Rooftop) | Kennett Flash. A live rooftop concert featuring the Roots Revival Roadshow, open to kids and grown-ups. Saturday at 7 PM.

Grateful Allman Band Experience | The Queen Wilmington. A tribute act covering Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band, and The Band material, with regional musicians and extended improvisation in the jam-band style. Doors open at 7 PM. Saturday at 8 PM.

Live in the Beer Garden: Ernesto's Club | Longwood Gardens. A Brazilian choro and samba set by Ernesto's Club in the Beer Garden, with Victory Brewing craft beers and casual food for sale. Free with garden admission; timed tickets are required. Sunday 6-8:45 PM.

Summer Concert Series: The Petty Thieves | Bellevue State Park. A Tom Petty tribute band performs as part of Bellevue State Park's outdoor summer concert series. Sunday at 6:30 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.

Thursday

93 🌡️ 68 | ⛈️ Chance Showers And Thunderstorms | 37% | 💨 SW 10 to 20 mph

Friday

84 🌡️ 63 | ☀️ Mostly Sunny | 0% | 💨 NW 5 to 10 mph

Saturday

83 🌡️ 63 | ☀️ Sunny | 0% | 💨 NW 5 to 10 mph

Sunday

86 🌡️ 65 | ☀️ Sunny | 5% | 💨 NW 5 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 72ºF 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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