Rhythm & Brews Pours Into New Garden

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☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. You don't need to see the forecast. You'll hear about it from at least six people today.

Your 302 Rundown:

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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 local voices to international talent, 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.

The best moments are often the ones that don't cost much or require much planning. We all have that one simple thing that can instantly improve our mood. What's yours?

Source: Delaware Business Now

A roof fire broke out early in the morning at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in the Bear area. Firefighters from the Christiana Fire Company responded to the South Old Baltimore Pike location around 1:30 AM after reports of smoke coming from the roof.

Crews managed to confine the blaze to the top of the building, calling in a second alarm to bring extra manpower to the scene. All hotel occupants safely evacuated the building, and no injuries were reported during the incident.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal began investigating the cause of the fire shortly after the flames were extinguished. Officials estimated the property sustained about half a million dollars in damage.

Source: Delaware Online

Newark City Council approved a pilot program to offer free 15-minute parking in four downtown municipal lots. The measure passed in a 4-2 vote on June 22 and targets customers making quick stops at Main Street businesses.

The plan designates 16 total spaces near business entrances with special paint and signs. Officials estimated the program would cost about $32,000 in lost parking revenue. Several council members expressed concerns about how the short time limit could be enforced with current staffing levels.

Surveillance cameras were slated for installation near the spaces, though parking staff planned to check them only if they received complaints. The new spots are expected to open in early July.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

SEPTA quietly extended its Wilmington/Newark Line service last Thursday, pushing the latest weekday departure from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to 10:40 PM, roughly three hours later than before. Weekend riders picked up a later option too, with an 11:14 PM train now running to Wilmington. The new schedule takes effect July 5.

The change came after DART pulled late-night service last fall, citing low ridership, sometimes just one or two passengers per trip. DART covers the full cost of Delaware-side service, which has run around $10 million a year.

DART spokesperson Catherine Smith said the agency will watch ridership closely over the coming months. If numbers stay low, the late-night trains could be cut again.

Source: Delaware Online

The Bardea Restaurant Group added a fifth location to its portfolio last week, opening Ezme on Wilmington's Market Street, directly across from its flagship, Bardea Food & Drink.

Ezme draws from coastal Mediterranean cooking, inspired by chef and partner Antimo DiMeo's travels along the Aegean Coast through Greece and Turkey. The name comes from a spicy, finely chopped Turkish salad made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and parsley, a mezze common in Turkish kebab houses.

The new restaurant is now open on Market Street.

Source: Newark Post

A new gym opened its doors last week in Newark's Market East Plaza. Loyal Fitness took over the former Fusion Fitness space at 280 East Main Street, marking the first standalone location for owner and longtime fitness trainer Marquís Johnson.

The facility features strength training equipment and an indoor artificial turf area for winter drills. While the gym welcomes all ages, Johnson focuses heavily on high school and college athletes.

Beyond physical training, the business offers wealth management and recruiting services. Johnson helps student athletes navigate Name, Image, and Likeness deals, set up limited liability companies, and manage their taxes.

Source: Newark Post

Agricultural sciences company FMC agreed to sell its 250-acre Stine Research Center just outside Newark. The company struck a $114 million deal with a New York commercial real estate firm, though FMC plans to lease back the facilities it actively uses.

The Elkton Road property serves as the global research and development headquarters for FMC, focusing on crop protection products like herbicides and insecticides. Company officials stated the sale will convert underutilized real estate into capital to pay down corporate debt.

FMC will retain ownership of adjacent agricultural fields across the Maryland state line. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of the year.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

The developer behind a large pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Middletown sued the Pentagon earlier this month. Shanghai-based WuXi STA Pharmaceuticals filed the federal lawsuit after the Department of Defense added the company to a list of designated Chinese military companies.

The designation subjected the company to federal contracting restrictions and limited its ability to work with American clients under the BIOSECURE Act. WuXi denied any ties to the Chinese military and argued the listing was used as political leverage during trade negotiations.

Despite the legal dispute, construction on the 1.74 million-square-foot Middletown facility continued. The company hosted an open house for industry executives and maintained plans to launch its drug research operations this winter.

Connor Creative House now brings our trusted story-driven content creation approach to individuals and families celebrating life's big occasions, such as weddings, showers and other private events.

We document everything you'll want to remember — candid moments, behind-the-scenes details and guest interactions, delivering raw footage within 24 hours and edited recap videos (Reels) within 48 hours.

View video samples and learn more, or email Krista Connor at [email protected] to reserve your event date.

(And businesses, we're still creating content for your brands, corporate events and social media, too!)

Source: Delaware Public Media

A proposed 12-story, 193-unit apartment complex at Bancroft Parkway and West 11th Street in Wilmington moved a step closer to a longer review period on June 28. City Councilmember Chris Johnson said he is preparing a resolution to extend the 90-day rezoning timeline by another 90 days, pushing the Planning Commission's review through October.

About 100 neighbors signed a petition against the project, citing its height and what they described as an aesthetic mismatch with the surrounding residential streets. The site is currently zoned for a maximum of three stories. The Protect Bancroft Parkway group said it supports addressing housing needs but noted the complex includes no affordable units.

Council is scheduled to vote on the extension resolution at its July 2 meeting.

Source: Delaware Public Media

Wilmington City Council passed an ordinance on June 28 establishing an online rental property registry, letting landlords register properties and apply for business licenses without visiting city offices in person. Councilmember Shané Darby brought the measure forward after meetings with local stakeholders, including a working group formed through the National League of Cities' Landlord Engagement Lab. Mayor John Carney did not sign the legislation but allowed it to become law.

The first-year cost is estimated at $816,000, with annual costs of $221,000 after that, and no additional staffing expenses. The Department of Licenses and Inspections has a year to implement the program and must report progress to Council every 90 days.

Councilmembers said they would need to meet again to work out how to finance it.

Source: Spotlight Delaware

State Rep. Bill Bush introduced legislation on June 25 that would require Delaware residents to purchase prepaid cards at physical stores before playing online lottery games. The bill was drafted to keep brick-and-mortar retailers involved as the state expanded its digital gaming options.

The Delaware Lottery rolled out digital scratch-off games earlier this year, allowing users to fund accounts directly from their banks. Lottery officials pushed back against the proposed change, noting that retail ticket sales actually increased after the digital launch. A fiscal analysis indicated the mandate could cost the state up to $4 million annually.

Lawmakers and lottery representatives planned to meet with retail groups to discuss a potential compromise.

Source: WDEL

New Castle County secured legislative approval last week to install a third electronic speed camera. The state bond bill authorized the new monitoring system along Old Capitol Trail between Farrand Drive and Stanton Road near Marshallton.

The device issues civil citations to vehicle owners caught driving at least six miles per hour over the posted 30 mph limit. These violations do not add points to a driver's license. Under current rules, revenue covers operating costs, with leftover funds directed to the state Office of Highway Safety.

Meanwhile, state transportation officials recently updated figures for a separate camera on Interstate 95. Over a 14-day period in late May and early June, that system photographed 136 vehicles traveling at least 91 mph.

Pearl is a 5-year-old large mixed-breed girl with a beautiful coat and, by all accounts, a genuinely sweet disposition. She walks beautifully on a leash, loves attention, and is the kind of dog who just wants to be around people who treat her well.

The good news for multi-dog households: Pearl is dog-friendly. That said, a meet-and-greet with any resident pups is recommended before she settles in, which is just smart planning for everyone involved.

Head to Brandywine Valley SPCA at 290 Churchmans Road, New Castle, DE 19720 to meet Pearl and see if she's the right fit for your home.

Summer Concert Series: Unity Reggae | Rockford Park. A live reggae performance where attendees can bring a picnic or purchase meals from on-site food trucks. The adjacent historic Rockford Tower remains open during the show. Monday at 6:30 PM.

Rhythm & Brews | New Garden Township. Local breweries, live music, food vendors, and yard games fill the evening at this outdoor township event. Tuesday at 6 PM.

Zoo Tunes: Jimmy Jimmy | Brandywine Zoo. Jimmy Jimmy plays a free outdoor concert at the zoo, included with regular admission, part of a weekly Wednesday series spotlighting local musicians across multiple genres. Wednesday 12-1 PM.

Summer Nights at Hagley | Hagley Museum and Library. An after-work stroll along the Brandywine with local food trucks, Dogfish Head beer, and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream for sale. Attendees can bring a picnic, walk dogs, or ride bikes on the property. Tickets are $5, and free for members and children under 6. Wednesday 5-8 PM.

Summer Concert Series: The Jimmies | White Clay Creek State Park. An outdoor concert featuring 60s, 70s, and 80s classic rock by The Jimmies at the Carpenter Recreation Area band stage, with a food truck and beer garden on site. Free with paid park admission. Wednesday 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.

Monday

89 🌡️ 66 | 🌤️ Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny | 8% | 💨 E 0 to 5 mph

Tuesday

90 🌡️ 71 | 🌤️ Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny | 2% | 💨 SW 0 to 10 mph

Wednesday

97 🌡️ 77 | ☀️ Sunny | 9% | 💨 SW 5 to 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 71ºF 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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