New Castle County Tax Bills Dropped and People are Furious

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. We were going to lead with Shakespeare in the park. Then 5,000 people appealed their tax bill. Some weeks just write their own headlines.

Your 302 Rundown:

• The Tax Bill That Launched 5,000 Appeals

• Delaware Shakespeare Breaks New Ground

• SEPTA Shutdown Could Hit Hard in January

Let’s get to it

NEWS YOU CAN USE

🏡 What’s up with your property tax bill?

If your tax bill made you gasp, you’re in good company. New Castle County just dropped the 2025 numbers after a massive reassessment, and plenty of people are seeing spikes of $500, $1,000, even more.

The county says rates actually went down, but updated property values pushed bills way up. They claim it's all revenue neutral, but with over 5,200 appeals and little clarity, people are furious and honestly, who can blame them.

If you appealed and haven’t heard back yet, you can still pay part or all of the bill. A refund with interest is possible if you win. But don’t ignore it. Council says answers are coming at next week’s Finance Committee meeting. Fingers crossed.

🎶 Musical Shakespeare lights up Rockwood Park

Delaware Shakespeare is making history this summer with its first-ever musical at Rockwood Park. But don’t expect the same old Twelfth Night because this one comes with a fresh twist. Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras runs July 17–Aug. 3 and blends English, Spanish, and original music into a colorful, high-energy reimagining of the Bard’s classic.

Set in a post-political-shakeup Illyria, the story follows Venezuelan twins Violeta and Sebastian as they navigate a wild web of protest, power, and mistaken identity.

Pay What You Will Wednesdays, Family Nights on Sundays, and special events like LGBTQIA+ Night make this festival feel more like a party than a play.

This one’s got heart, rhythm, and a little mischief–all perfect for a summer night out in Wilmington.

🚉 Commuter rail to Philly may end in January

SEPTA’s broke, and if Pennsylvania lawmakers can’t agree on a budget, commuter rail service between Philly and Delaware could vanish by January. Yep, no more Wilmington/Newark line. In the meantime, DART’s stepping in with a “bus bridge”, meaning direct peak-hour buses from Newark, Wilmington, and Claymont to 30th Street Station.

Exact times are TBD, but they’ll try to match current train schedules. DART’s even surveying riders at stations to shape the service, so if you’ve got thoughts, now’s the time to speak up.

It’s not ideal, but better than nothing. If Philly’s part of your daily grind, keep your eye on this one.

IN BUSINESS

🏗️ More apartments coming to Newark’s Main Street

Lang Development just got the green light to add two more floors to its Center Square building in downtown Newark. That means 25 new apartments will rise above Home Grown Cafe and the old Walgreens, bringing the building’s total to 39 units.

The Walgreens space has been empty since 2023, but Home Grown plans to expand into part of it. The rest will be leased to new businesses, and the building’s facade is getting a darker, modern refresh.

There’s no new parking, but the city says that’s fine under updated rules. Council approved the project 6-0, calling it a small but important step toward easing Newark’s housing crunch.

🏥 ChristianaCare and Virtua Health plan $6B mega merger

ChristianaCare might be teaming up with New Jersey’s Virtua Health to create a regional powerhouse. The two nonprofit health systems just signed a letter of intent to explore a merger that could bring in $6 billion a year in combined revenue. That would make it one of the largest health care systems in the region.

The proposed network would span ten counties across four states with 600 care sites and nearly 30,000 employees. Leaders from both organizations say this is about improving access, expanding services, and staying strong in a tough health care climate.

If it goes through, expect big changes across Delaware, South Jersey, and beyond. You can read more about the potential deal at Delaware Business Times.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

⚡ Lawmakers tackle sky-high utility costs

Gov. Meyer just signed eleven new laws aimed at cutting utility costs and boosting local energy generation. After a cold winter sent bills soaring, lawmakers jumped into action. Now we’ve got caps on utility spending, new protections for low-income customers, and rules against using your bill money for lobbying.

The legislation also tackles the root issue: Delaware uses way more energy than it makes. So expect studies on grid tech, battery storage, and even nuclear options. And yes, the state is still eyeing offshore wind.

One more win? Bigger fines for polluters, with more money going to affected communities. As Rep. Larry Lambert put it, “this is just the beginning”.

THE HAPPENINGS

Multi-Day Events

Twelfth Night, O Lo Que Quieras brings Shakespeare to life in a vibrant, bilingual musical adaptation set in a politically shifting Illyria. Join Delaware Shakespeare for this lively and original outdoor production featuring Spanish, Shakespeare, and live music from July 17–August 3 at Rockwood Park, 4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington.

Artisan Market at Winterthur offers a weekend of shopping from over 150 local artisans, along with live music, food and wine tastings, and garden access. Friday–Sunday, July 18–20, 10 AM–4 PM at Winterthur Museum, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur—tickets required, with optional workshops and premium parking available.

Thursday

Sculpture Garden Happy Hours: Ice Cream Social brings sweet summer vibes to the Delaware Art Museum with live performances by talented young vocalists Seylin Abarca and Jada. Thursday, July 17, 5–7:30 PM at the Sculpture Garden, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington. Enjoy local food trucks, a cash bar, and of course, plenty of ice cream.

Third Thursday at Nemours Estate July Event is back with an evening of garden vibes, live music from Bella Von, food trucks, local brews, and wine. Thursday, July 17, 5–8 PM at Nemours Estate, 1600 Rockland Rd., Wilmington.

Third Thursdays on State Street brings open-air dining, live music, and community fun to the heart of Kennett Square. Thursday, July 17, 5:30–10 PM on State Street, Kennett Square, PA. Make a dinner reservation or just stroll the closed streets and enjoy the vibrant summer atmosphere.

Stevie and the Bluescasters at Bellevue State Park deliver a soulful acoustic set blending Piedmont, Delta, Chicago, and even international blues styles like Portuguese Fado and Cape Verdean Mourna. Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 PM at the Bellevue Bandshell, Bellevue State Park, Wilmington.

Glasgow Park Summer Concert Series: Roberta Faceplant brings high-energy music to the lawn at Glasgow Park — perfect for a summer evening with a lawn chair and snacks from the on-site farmers market and food trucks. Thursday, July 17 from 6:30–8 PM at Glasgow Regional Park, 2275 Pulaski Highway, Newark. Free and fun for all ages.

Friday

Twilight on the Terrace at Mt. Cuba Center offers an evening of live music, garden strolls, and local food truck fare with beer and wine available for purchase. Friday, July 18, 5–8 PM at Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin. This week features funk and hip hop from Richard Raw & The Word Warrior Band.

Concerts in the Courtyard: Parlour Noir at Brandywine Museum of Art brings the swing to Brandywine with vintage jazz tunes under the stars from this Philly-based band. Friday, July 18, doors at 6 PM, concert at 7 PM at Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman's Mill Rd., Chadds Ford—food and drinks available from Millstone Café, tickets required.

Fort Folk Fest at Fort DuPont features The Blarney Pilgrims playing a lively mix of Celtic, Irish, and early American music with sing-along sea shanties and folk rhythms. Friday, July 18, 7–9 PM at Fort DuPont Pavilion, 2546 Colter Rd., Delaware City. Free admission and food trucks on site make this a fun, family-friendly night out.

Saturday

Grainfest at Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen is back to celebrate Grain’s 10th anniversary with a day full of live music, local flavor, and community fun. Saturday, July 19, starting at 12–5 PM behind Grain on Main Street, Newark. Free and family- and dog-friendly, with headliner Nelly’s Echo and Gotcha Covered. Plenty of food and drinks to enjoy. Acoustic Sinz keeps the party going inside at 6 PM.

Family Fun Fest in Downtown Middletown is a joyful afternoon of music, games, crafts, and community fun for all ages. Saturday, July 19, 3–7 PM in Downtown Middletown, DE—expect face painting, live entertainment, and plenty of surprises along the way.

Opera in the Park with OperaDelaware at Battery Park offers a casual, open-air performance by professional opera singers along the scenic Delaware River. Saturday, July 19, 3 PM at Battery Park, New Castle Free and no reservations needed for this one-hour musical escape.

Sunday

Spokey Speaky at Bellevue State Park brings the uplifting rhythms of reggae to Wilmington with a high-energy, feel-good show perfect for a summer evening. Sunday, July 20 at 6:30 PM at the Bellevue Bandshell, Bellevue State Park, Wilmington.

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Thursday

93 🌡️ 73 | ⛈️ PM Thunderstorms | 45 % | 💨 WSW 13 mph

Friday

83 🌡️ 68 | 🌤️ Partly Cloudy | 2 % | 💨 NNW 9 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 77 ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach

THE NOT SO SHORTLIST

🎶 Live Music, 🥳 Events, 🧘 Health Picks & 🧒 For the Kids — Now on Their Own Pages!

Quick heads up:
Our shortlists are getting long. So long that Gmail sometimes clips the message. To keep things tidy (and totally viewable), we’ve moved each category to its own page.

Just click through to see the full lists!

• 🧘 Health & Wellness

• Theatre/Arts – Coming soon!

• 🥳 Weeknight Social 

• 🎶 Live Music

• 🧒 For the Kids

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