
TOGETHER WITH

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. There is a version of this week that goes smoothly. It requires making one fewer commitment than you think you can handle.
Your 302 Rundown:
A spring freeze devastated Milburn Orchards
Bardea just made another big move downtown
Bing’s Bakery is celebrating eight decades in Newark
Let’s get to it
SPONSORED BY SCOUT CAFE
Scout Cafe Is Hosting a Vintage Market
Scout Cafe is turning Father’s Day Weekend into a treasure hunt. On Saturday, June 20, they’re hosting the first-ever Scout & Seek Market, a one-day flea, vintage, and upcycling market packed with curated finds from local collectors, thrifters, and makers. Expect vintage home goods, pre-loved gems, handmade pieces, retro décor, records, art, and the kind of stuff you didn’t know you needed until you spotted it sitting on a table.
The market runs 9 AM - 3 PM at Scout Cafe, with coffee, breakfast, and lunch available while you browse. If your ideal Saturday involves wandering through cool old things and finding something with a story behind it, this one’s worth carving out time for.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
👶 Noah and Mia top Delaware baby names
Source: WDEL
Delaware parents have a new set of favorite names for their newborns. Noah and Mia claimed the top spots for boys and girls across the state this year.
Noah moved past last year's favorite, Liam, to take the number one position for boys. Oliver held steady in third place, with James and Lucan rounding out the top five. For girls, the top five names remained the same but shuffled their order. Mia jumped from fifth place to first, followed by Sophia, Isabella, Charlotte, and Emma.
Several names made notable leaps up the list. Benjamin, John, and Cooper surged into the top ten for boys. Ailany climbed from twentieth to eighth place for girls.
🚧 Academy Street sinkhole closes road for weeks
Source: Newark Post
A stretch of Academy Street between East Park Place and Kells Avenue is closed after a sinkhole opened in the roadway. Public Works Director Tim Filasky said a corrugated metal stormwater pipe beneath the street has been rusting from the inside out, causing the soil above it to collapse and the road surface to buckle.
The city first spotted the problem last year, patched it temporarily, and put together plans for a permanent fix. Those plans went out to bid about two weeks ago, but when the hole reopened recently, officials decided to keep the road shut rather than keep patching it.
Repairs are scheduled to begin in June.
A NOTE FROM MIKE
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IN BUSINESS
🎓 New UD school for entrepreneurs
Source: Delaware Business Now
The University of Delaware's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics is launching the Neil Book School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This new school, recently approved by trustees, aims to foster entrepreneurial thinking across all disciplines at the university. UD President Laura Carlson highlighted the school's role in cultivating this mindset among students.
The school is named after Neil Book, a UD alumnus and successful entrepreneur, thanks to a generous gift from him and his wife, Sharon. While the exact amount wasn't disclosed, the donation will cover the school's planning, startup, and a new building within the planned Siegfried Hall.
The new school will expand on the work of UD's Horn Entrepreneurship, which began in 2012. With these resources, the university hopes to build a vibrant hub for future innovators and business leaders.
🍒 Frost devastates Milburn Orchards crops
Source: Cecil Whig
Milburn Orchards in Elkton is facing a tough season after a harsh frost in April wiped out 90% of its apple, peach, cherry, plum, and nectarine crops. Caleb Milburn, a fifth-generation family member, explained that the cold snap on April 8 and a more severe frost on April 20 caused the damage. While the orchard's apple trees are mostly barren, sour cherries and berries managed to survive.
The orchard is relying on its agri-tourism attractions to offset the losses, including U-Pick events for berries starting in June. Meanwhile, the Maryland Farm Bureau is seeking a disaster declaration to secure federal aid for affected farmers across the state. Milburn hopes for community support during the challenging season.
🎂 Newark staple Bing's Bakery marks 80 years
Source: WDEL
A longtime fixture on Main Street is gearing up for a birthday. Bing's Bakery in Newark is celebrating 80 years of business, having operated from the exact same location since opening its doors in 1946.
Staying in one spot for eight decades can sometimes cause a storefront to blend into the background. However, a featured appearance on the television show Cake Boss twelve years ago helped boost the shop's profile, bringing a wave of fresh attention to the local bakery.
To mark the anniversary, the bakery is preparing special birthday cakes. Slices will be handed out free to the public on Friday May 15, 2026.
🥙 Bardea group opens Ezme in Wilmington
Source: Delaware Business Now
The team behind Bardea Food and Drink has opened a new Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Wilmington. Located at 625 North Market Street, Ezme is the fifth dining concept from Chef Antimo DiMeo and his partners, sitting across the street from their original location.
The menu draws inspiration from the Aegean Coast, featuring dishes from Greece and Turkey. Diners will find options like chicken gyro bao, lamb kefta, and a dedicated section for seafood served over contemporary hummus. The space features a 50-seat dining room, a 14-seat bar, and an eight-seat chef's table.
The restaurant also offers a cocktail program alongside regional wines. Dinner service runs nightly, with reservations available online.
SPONSORED BY UNCLE JOHN’S BBQ
Your Summer Party Just Found the Food
Planning a graduation party, neighborhood get-together, wedding weekend, or company event? Uncle John's BBQ handles the food so you don’t have to think about it twice. Their catering and food truck options cover everything from casual backyard parties to full-service events, with smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, mac and cheese, and all the barbecue staples people actually want to eat.
You can keep it simple with pickup or drop-off catering, or bring in the food truck for a full event setup. Uncle John personally reviews every request, making the process easy and straightforward from start to finish. If you’ve got a summer event coming up, now’s the time to lock in your date before weekends fill up.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
🏘️ Housing density bill faces local pushback
Source: Newark Post
A new state bill aimed at increasing housing density is drawing strong opposition from local government leaders across Delaware. The Senate Housing and Land Use Committee heard testimony on the proposal on Wednesday but held off on a committee vote.
Senate Bill 23 would require counties and towns with more than 2,000 residents to add specific affordable housing strategies to their comprehensive plans. Municipalities would need to allow higher density residential zoning and remove barriers to building townhomes and duplexes.
County executives and local planners testified that the mandates override local control, while builders and housing advocates argued that municipal efforts have stalled. The measure will require a two-thirds majority vote to pass the legislature.
A NOTE FROM MIKE
If a cleaner, shorter version of this newsletter sounds useful, the ad-free tier is it. Sponsor blocks out, everything else in. Try the ad-free version.
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.
Fearless Improv at Wilmington Brew Works and City Theatre Company. A rotating cast of local comedians builds entirely unscripted performances from on-the-spot audience suggestions, delivering quick-witted banter, clever characters, and completely unpredictable scenes during these fast-paced comedy shows. Thursday at 8 PM at Wilmington Brew Works and Saturday at 8 PM at City Theatre Company.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.
DOG OF THE WEEK

Say hello to Cherry 🐾
Here's a girl who proves that a little patience goes a long way. Cherry is a 4-year-old large mixed breed with a white coat and a whole lot of heart. She had one eye removed due to a serious infection, and her remaining eye has limited vision, so new spaces can feel a little overwhelming at first. But once she gets her bearings and feels safe? She is all snuggles and zoomies, a full-on cuddle bug who will run her heart out and then climb right into your lap.
Cherry is dog friendly and doing her best in a shelter environment that isn't exactly built for a girl like her. She needs a calm, patient home where she can learn the layout, settle in, and finally exhale. That kind of love is exactly what she's waiting for.
Head to Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle to meet Cherry and see for yourself how much she has to give.
THE HAPPENINGS
Tuesday
Death Angel - "Act III" Tour w/ Violence & Incite at The Queen Wilmington. Thrash metal fans won't want to miss this all-ages show featuring Death Angel's "Act III" tour with special guests Violence and Incite. Tuesday at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Indigenous w/ Billy Pierce Band at Elkton Music Hall. Indigenous brings their signature blues-rock sound, rooted in Native American tradition, to the stage alongside the Billy Pierce Band for a night of soulful, guitar-driven grooves. Tuesday at 8 PM.
Wednesday
Free Summer Concert Series: Ryan Jacobs at Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. Enjoy an evening of live music with local favorite Ryan Jacobs, bringing his signature acoustic melodies. Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
Thursday
Copeland String Quartet at Chapel Street Players. Four accomplished musicians, including two violinists, a violist, and a cellist, perform a free recital drawing from the rich classical string quartet repertoire. Wednesday at 7-8 PM.
Selwyn Birchwood w/ Special Guest Antar Goodwin at Elkton Music Hall. Florida-bred blues guitarist and singer Selwyn Birchwood brings his raw, soul-drenched sound to the stage, with up-and-coming talent Antar Goodwin opening the night. Wednesday at 8 PM.
Nothing in this section is sponsored. Just things worth knowing. I’ll always flag sponsors clearly.
A NOTE FROM MIKE
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FORECAST AT A GLANCE
Monday
93 🌡️ 69 | ☀️ Sunny | 1% | 💨 S 0 to 10 mph
Tuesday
94 🌡️ 72 | ☀️ Sunny | 3% | 💨 SW 5 to 10 mph
Wednesday
93 🌡️ 61 | ⛈️ Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely | 68% | 💨 SW 5 to 10 mph
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 57ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.
THE NOT SO SHORTLISTS
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