The Price Is Right comes to Wilmington

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Rise and Shine, 302. Every neighborhood has one person who knows everything. Be nice to them.

Your 302 Rundown:

• The Price is Right TV game comes to life in Wilmington

• 50,000 residents told to boil water in New Castle County

• $40 million apartment project breaks ground in Trolley Square

Let’s get to it

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Home insurance premiums are up by 9% this year

Home insurance costs continue to climb, with premiums rising over 9% this year and more than 60% in the past five years. However, coverage hasn’t kept pace, leaving many homeowners paying significantly more for less protection. With affordability becoming a growing concern, it’s more important than ever to compare options—check out Money’s handy home insurance tool to find the best fit for you.

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NEWS YOU CAN USE

🚰 Boil water advisory for Christiana, Bear, and beyond

A water main break on Oct. 25 left parts of Christiana, Brookside, Bear, and New Castle with low pressure, and Veolia has issued a boil water advisory for roughly 50,000 customers.

The company says water quality wasn’t affected, but anyone in the impacted areas should bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.

Testing is underway, and the advisory will stay in place until results confirm it’s safe.

💊 Highmark drops one Medicare Advantage plan in Delaware

According to a recent Spotlight Delaware report, Delaware’s largest health insurer, Highmark, is cutting at least one of its Medicare Advantage plans for seniors next year. The company says the decision is part of a long-term sustainability effort as federal funding for Medicare faces major cuts over the next decade.

Some members of the Freedom Blue PPO Prestige plan will lose coverage on December 31. Highmark says it’s replacing certain older plans with new ones and encourages members to review their options during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs through December 7.

The insurer will continue offering Medicare Advantage plans statewide. Seniors with questions can attend free workshops hosted by the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau through November 20.

🦃 Food Bank of Delaware launches annual Thanksgiving drive

The Food Bank of Delaware has kicked off its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, running through November 15. Donations collected after that date will still help families through the rest of the holiday season.

With demand rising as household budgets tighten, the Food Bank expects to distribute thousands of turkeys and holiday meals this year. Most-needed items include canned vegetables and fruits, stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, shelf-stable milk, and frozen turkeys.

Donations can be dropped off at the Newark warehouse at 222 Lake Drive or in Milford at 102 Delaware Veterans Blvd.

IN BUSINESS

🏗️ New $40 million apartment project breaks ground in Trolley Square

A new $40 million apartment complex is coming to Wilmington’s Trolley Square neighborhood. Berger Communities has started construction on Trolley Square Apartments, a 130-unit development at 1021 Gilpin Avenue.

The project will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments with modern amenities including a fitness studio, coworking spaces, a club room, fire pits, grills, and a rooftop deck. Dog wash stations and bike storage are also part of the plan.

Bancroft Construction is the contractor, and the project is expected to be completed by summer 2027. The development adds to the ongoing wave of investment and residential growth around downtown Wilmington.

🍽️ Wilmington’s Bardea Group named Delaware’s top restaurateurs

Wilmington’s Bardea Restaurant Group took home Restaurateurs of the Year honors at the Delaware Restaurant Association’s Cornerstone Awards, which drew more than 400 guests to Dewey Beach for the annual celebration of hospitality.

The group, led by Scott Stein and Antimo and Pino DiMeo, operates several Wilmington favorites including Bardea Food & Drink, Bardea Steak, The Garden, Roost Pub & Kitchen, Casa Nonna, and DE.CO.

Other honorees included 1776 Steakhouse in Rehoboth Beach, which earned the Cornerstone Award, and Palm Beach Bar & Grill, which received the first People’s Choice Award. The event highlighted the strength of Delaware’s restaurant community, from New Castle County to the beaches.

🧪 Solenis opens new R&D center at Wilmington’s CRISP campus

Global chemical company Solenis has officially opened its new $35 million research and development center at the Chestnut Run Innovation and Science Park (CRISP) off Route 141. The 100,000-square-foot facility will house 140 researchers and add 20,000 square feet of lab space to the company’s local footprint.

Solenis develops specialty chemicals used in water treatment and paper-based products such as cardboard and tissue. The expansion strengthens its Delaware roots, since the company traces its history to Hercules and Ashland, and it enhances Solenis’ global innovation network.

Backed by state grants totaling more than $4 million, the move reinforces CRISP’s growing role as a hub for science and manufacturing, with tenants including Prelude Therapeutics and Merck.

💵 Delaware nears $10 million milestone in small business funding

The Delaware Division of Small Business is closing in on $10 million distributed through its “Race to $14M” initiative, part of the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative. The program helps Delaware companies access capital for growth, innovation, and new jobs.

Nine companies received recent investments, including Wilmington-based Versogen, Aternium, and Nanotherm Therapeutics, each securing $1 million to expand research and clean energy operations. Smaller allocations supported startups like Dunya Analytics and 4th Phase Technology.

The state must distribute 80 percent of its first $20 million allocation by year’s end to unlock the next round of federal funding. Officials say the effort is paying off for small businesses across Delaware that are ready to scale and hire.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

📉 Workers’ comp rates drop again in Delaware

For the ninth straight year, workers’ compensation insurance rates in Delaware are going down. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro says the voluntary market will see an average decrease of 11.6%, while the residual market, which serves as a last-resort option, will drop by about 9%.

The changes mean many businesses will pay less for coverage, although savings will vary by policy. Navarro credits improved workplace safety and past reforms that helped pull Delaware from once having the highest premiums in the nation.

More than 900 employers now take part in the state’s Workplace Safety Program, earning discounts and helping make job sites safer.

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.

And Then There Were None – University of Delaware Resident Ensemble Players. Immerse yourself in Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit as ten strangers stranded on a remote island are picked off one by one in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller. Runs Thursday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Roselle Center for the Arts.

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

DOG OF THE WEEK

Say hello to Gamila 🐾

Gamila’s name means “beautiful,” and it fits perfectly. This 1-year-old black beauty has the softest fur, the sweetest eyes, and a heart that just wants to belong. She’s still young enough to be goofy and full of zoomies, but she already knows how to turn on the charm with that happy grin.

Gamila is a social butterfly in the play yard and loves spending time with other dogs. She’s at her best when she’s romping around with her furry friends. What she really wants now is a family to call her own, one that can show her what “home” really feels like.

If you have a leash, a soft spot for soulful eyes, and a few toys to spare, Gamila’s ready to meet you. Stop by the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Dover PetSmart location or visit bvspca.org to give this girl her happily ever after.

🐶 Bonus for pet parents

Get PAW-tected at the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s free drive-thru vaccine clinic on Sunday, November 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. Free rabies and distemper/FVRCP shots will be available for dogs and cats, thanks to Petco Love. No registration needed. Learn more.

THE HAPPENINGS

Tuesday

The Haunted Mill – Greenbank Mill. Step back in time for a chilling ghost tour through one of Delaware’s most historic mills. Tuesday from 7–9 PM. Tours depart every five minutes; advance registration is recommended.

Wednesday

The Price Is Right Live! at The Playhouse – “Come on down!” for a live, interactive spin on the legendary TV game show, complete with crowd-favorite games like Plinko™, The Big Wheel™, and the Showcase. Contestants will have the chance to win prizes ranging from dream vacations to brand-new cars. Wednesday at 8 PM. Tickets available through The Grand Wilmington.

Thursday

City Sounds: Downtown Block Party Series at The Sold Firm – Celebrate Halloween week in downtown Wilmington with a high-energy evening of Afro hip-hop beats from Hermy Potter, hosted by Charlie! Thursday from 5–8 PM. Free and open to the public, this block party brings music, art, and community vibes to The Sold Firm Art Gallery.

DelArt Nights: 6th Annual Día de los Muertos – Delaware Art Museum. Celebrate this colorful Mexican tradition with live music, dance, art, and community as you honor loved ones through ceremony and creativity. Thursday at 4 PM. Free admission, with food and drinks available for purchase.

Tailgate Tour: All Hallows’ Eve – Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Take a twilight walk to some of Winterthur’s eeriest corners with guide Tyler Johnson, then relax at a secret tailgate spot with food, drinks, and good company. Thursday from 6–7:30 PM.

Annual Halloween Parade – Courthouse Museum – A New Castle tradition returns as the city celebrates Halloween with costumes, community spirit, and cash prizes for standout participants. The parade begins at St. Peter’s School parking lot and proceeds down Delaware Street. Thursday at 6:30 PM. Free to attend, sponsored by the New Castle Hundred Lions Club

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

FORECAST AT A GLANCE

Monday

62 🌡️ 42 | ☀️ Sunny | 3% | 💨 NE 8 mph

Tuesday

59 🌡️ 45 | 🌤️ Partly Cloudy | 3% | 💨 NE 14 mph

Wednesday

58 🌡️ 50 | ☁️ Cloudy / 🌧️ Evening Showers | 24% | 💨 NE 13 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 63ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

THE NOT SO SHORTLISTS

• 🥳 Casual Plans

• 🌽 Farmers Markets

• 🧒 For the Kids

• 🧘 Health & Wellness

• 🎶 Live Music

• 🎭 Theatre/Arts

• 🎨 Workshops & Classes

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