Mob murder, open bar, Sunday afternoon

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. Tax day came and went. If you're still thinking about it, file that under "next year's problem.”

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

There’s beauty around every turn at Winterthur! Nestled in the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley, Winterthur is a historic estate on par with some of the most famous in the country.

Discover two centuries of American craftsmanship on tours of the former du Pont family mansion and on view in exhibition galleries.

Explore the 60-acre naturalized “wild garden,” dubbed one of “the most beautiful gardens in America” by Forbes magazine. Paths lead from the garden—world-renowned for its striking succession of seasonal blooms—to open meadows, across waterways, and through woodland hiking trails on this 1,000-acre country estate.

Delight in the award-winning children’s garden, Enchanted Woods, featuring a Giant Bird’s Nest, Faerie Cottage, Upside-down Treehouse, and more.

For details on daily programs, tour offerings in the house and garden, special exhibitions, plus shopping, dining, and more, visit winterthur.org. 

It’s easy to drive over the canal and not think twice about it. But below those bridges, there’s a constant flow of massive ships moving through. The C&D Canal is doing a lot more heavy lifting than most people realize. Turns out, it plays a huge role in regional shipping.

The Brandywine Zoo is on track to open a new multi-species exhibit this July. The updated space will feature both indoor and outdoor areas, allowing visitors to see the animals regardless of the weather.

While the final roster is still being sorted out, current plans include golden lion tamarins, porcupines, and red-footed tortoises living together. Shifting these animals into the new habitat will also clear room for squirrel monkeys to return to the zoo.

The shuffle paves the way for a new African flight exhibit. Staff expect to welcome Abyssinian ground hornbills by late May, which will undergo a standard quarantine before going on public display.

Walkers and cyclists using the Michael N. Castle Trail will need to plan around a few temporary closures this spring. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing for routine maintenance dredging along the north side of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Crews will lay a pipe and build a ramp across the trail near the Delaware City Branch Channel. This will shut down a section of the path for several days in mid-April. Once the ramp is finished, the trail will reopen while dredging continues.

The trail will close again for a few days in August to remove the equipment. The nearby Delaware City Dredged Material Placement Area will also close in mid-April, though Cox Neck Road will remain open.

Delaware State Parks is rolling out a slate of volunteer events and guided activities across the state this April to mark Earth Day. The schedule includes cleanups, tree plantings, and educational hikes at locations ranging from Bellevue State Park to the Brandywine Zoo.

Volunteers can help plant 200 trees at Bellevue, pull invasive species at Brandywine Creek, or clear litter at Lums Pond. Other parks, including Fox Point and White Clay Creek, are offering guided walks to explore local habitats and water quality.

Some activities require a small fee or advance registration through the park office. A full list of dates and times is available through the state parks system.

The University of Delaware hosted its 20th annual UDance marathon on Sunday at the Bob Carpenter Center. The event drew a record crowd of 4,500 attendees to support children battling cancer.

Students raised over $1.7 million this year for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a Wilmington organization that funds childhood cancer research and assists families with medical expenses. Throughout the year, more than 7,000 students participated in the campus fundraising effort by collecting donations outside local businesses and hosting special events.

The funds will go toward the foundation's ongoing global research initiatives and financial assistance programs for families navigating pediatric cancer diagnoses.

The final beam is officially in place for the new Asters Apartments at the University of Delaware STAR Campus. Newark city leaders and university officials gathered with the Buccini Pollin Group on Tuesday to sign the steel before crews hoisted it atop the twin buildings.

The seven-story project represents a $75 million investment in the growing research and technology hub. Once completed, the complex will bring more than 200 new apartments to the area, with floor plans ranging from 600 to 1,100 square feet.

Newark Mayor Travis McDermott noted that the development aims to support working professionals moving to the city. Construction on the twin buildings will continue into the coming months.

The parent company of Two Stones is pulling the plug on its 2SP Tap House and Grill in Chadds Ford. The restaurant group cited rising operational costs and the proximity to its other locations as the primary reasons for the upcoming closure.

Meanwhile, the former Two Stones space in Middletown has already found a new tenant. Derby's is taking over the building to open its second location.

The new Middletown sports bar is slated to open its doors on April 20. A final closing date for the Chadds Ford tap house has not yet been set, leaving the regional brand with four remaining restaurant locations.

ChristianaCare is getting a new leader this fall. Dr. Janice Nevin is retiring after twelve years as president and CEO of the regional healthcare system. She first joined the organization in 2002.

Over her two decades with the system, Nevin worked as the chair of family and community medicine, executive director of the Wilmington campus, and chief medical officer before taking the top job in 2014. To fill her spot, the board tapped Jenn Schwartz, who currently serves as the executive vice president and chief strategy officer.

The board cited Schwartz's deep understanding of the system and its patients during the selection process. Both the retirement and the new appointment will officially take effect on September 1.

The Community Education Building is teaming up with three regional universities to launch a new collaborative initiative in downtown Wilmington. The educational partnership officially includes Widener University Delaware Law School, the University of Delaware, and Delaware State University.

Together, the group just announced plans for what they are calling the Bridge Project. This joint effort will bring a $250 million financial investment directly to the Bracebridge complex.

The recent rollout prepares the way for new construction and activity at the downtown property. Project leaders have not yet shared a specific timeline for the next phases of development at the site.

State environmental officials are looking to scale back the Brandywine Farmers Market schedule, prompting pushback from Wilmington leaders. The state agency proposed shifting the weekly market at Josephine Fountain to an alternating weekend schedule, citing turf maintenance and parking concerns.

Market organizers and City Councilman James Spadola are pushing to keep the weekly setup in place. While the state offered an alternate location near the Jasper Crane Rose Garden, vendors argue a move would cause confusion and disrupt established infrastructure. Organizers have offered to pay higher fees to maintain their current spot and weekly operations.

A biweekly schedule could lead to gaps of four weeks between market days if weather forces a cancellation. Discussions over the final schedule remain ongoing.

Newark is looking to put an explicit ban on Airbnb-style short-term rentals on the books. Planning Director Renee Bensley said the city's existing code only allows "non-transient renters," which code enforcement has interpreted as a de-facto ban, but proposed legislation would make the prohibition official.

The city has fined roughly a half-dozen property owners over the past three years for operating short-term rentals, often after complaints about large parties. An Airbnb search still turns up more than a dozen Newark listings, with nightly and weekly rates ranging from $66 to $1,500. Some promote walkability to UD; others market themselves as party spots.

The planning commission unanimously recommended council approve the law, which would ban rentals shorter than 180 days.

With two new members taking their seats, the Newark City Council is bringing three previously rejected tax proposals back to the table. The special meeting at City Hall follows the swearing-in of Deborah Welch and George Irvine.

The council will reconsider a 3% tax on retail alcohol sales, an increase in the lodging tax from 3% to 5%, and a 3% tax on residential rental receipts. Officials are looking for new revenue streams to avoid relying entirely on property tax hikes.

The alcohol tax requires a supermajority vote to advance to the state legislature. The lodging and rental taxes are slated for informal discussion, with potential votes coming later.

Delaware lawmakers are moving forward with a new rule that would allow renters facing eviction to remain in their homes if they pay what they owe. Senate Bill 116, often called a pay to stay measure, recently cleared a House committee after passing the Senate earlier this year.

Under current state law, a single late rent payment can trigger eviction proceedings. The proposed legislation allows tenants to halt the process at any point before the eviction is executed by paying all outstanding rent and court fees. The rule would not apply to renters who have three or more judgments in the state eviction diversion court over the previous two years.

The bill now heads to the House floor.

Pat McGee & Friends w/ Guest Meaghan Farrell at Elkton Music Hall. Acoustic rock and rich vocal harmonies take center stage as these seasoned singer-songwriters collaborate for a night of live music. Fans of melodic folk-rock will appreciate the intimate storytelling format of this performance. Thursday at 8 PM.

The Art of the Cocktail: High Stakes at Delaware Art Museum. Guests at this Derby-themed soirée will don wide-brimmed hats and seersucker blazers for an evening of casino games, silent auctions, and dancing to a live DJ. Attendees can savor appetizers from Jamestown Catering and custom drinks while supporting the museum's monthly family arts programming. Friday at 7 PM.

Music at the Market at Wilmington Riverfront. Saxophonist Vernon James Jr. sets a vibrant mood with a live performance designed to soundtrack a beautiful spring afternoon. Neighbors can enjoy some great food and browse the market offerings while soaking up the lively community atmosphere. Saturday at 11 AM. Saturday at 11 AM-1 PM.

Gerald Chavis/Harvey Price Quartet at Chapel Street Players. This free concert celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with jazz standards and American songbook favorites performed by Gerald Chavis on trumpet, Harvey Price on vibes, Barry Boyd on bass, and Tom Palmer on drums. Saturday at 2 PM.

Prom Night at City Theatre Company. Attendees can relive their high school glory days at this nostalgic adult prom featuring music by DJ Zip, catered bites, and a silent auction. This evening of dancing welcomes throwback attire from any decade and directly benefits local theater and Fearless Improv. Saturday at 7 PM.

Great American Songbook Concert at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Soprano Emily Margevich from OperaDelaware and pianist George Hemcher bring to life the classics of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and the Gershwins. Reservations required. Sunday at 2-3 PM.

Death of a Gangster: A 1920s Mafia Marriage Murder at Rockwood Park & Museum. Step back into the roaring 1920s for a thrilling murder mystery fundraiser. Solve a mobster's untimely end at a wedding while enjoying an open bar, appetizers, and a silent auction. Costumes are highly encouraged! Sunday at 2-5 PM.

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

Looking to bring a food truck to your neighborhood? Uncle John’s BBQ has a few weekday evening openings for local communities right now. Perfect for HOA events, family nights, or an easy midweek dinner that gets everyone outside. They handle the food, you bring the neighbors. Call or text 302-743-9737 to get on the schedule and lock in a date. *

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

Thursday

90 🌡️ 67 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 2% | 💨 SW 5 to 10 mph

Friday

81 🌡️ 59 | 🌧️ Chance Rain Showers | 33% | 💨 NW 5 to 10 mph

Saturday

77 🌡️ 52 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 7% | 💨 E 0 to 10 mph

Sunday

65 🌡️ 39 | 🌧️ Rain Showers Likely | 61% | 💨 W 5 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 50ºF Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

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