Winter Storm Disrupts Monday Plans

☀️ Rise and Shine, 302. Snow on Sunday means half the neighborhood is sore and the other half never went outside.

Your 302 Rundown:

Let’s get to it

We know our readers love a good meal, but how many of those are actually homemade? Whether you're whipping up risotto or just opening a Blue Apron box, we want to know how often you're really cooking from scratch.

New Castle County is digging out from a winter storm that hit on Sunday. Schools, colleges, and government offices closed on Monday as a result.

Appoquinimink, Christina, Colonial, and New Castle County Vo-Tech School Districts have shut their doors. Brandywine School District is also closed, moving a planned teacher workday to Tuesday. Meanwhile, the University of Delaware has canceled in-person classes, and Goldey-Beacom College is closed.

State and county offices, along with the City of Wilmington offices, are also closed for the day. Delaware State University is holding classes virtually, and essential personnel are expected to report as usual.

Delaware Shakespeare is rolling out a new workshop called 'Shake It Up,' designed for actors of all experience levels. This three-part scene workshop, hosted at OperaDelaware, focuses on practical performance skills and creative exploration with Shakespeare's text.

Participants will dive into scene analysis, character choices, and staging techniques, all under the guidance of OperaDelaware's Artistic Squad. The sessions are set for February 7, 8, and 10, each offering a unique schedule to accommodate different needs.

Early bird pricing is available until January 25, allowing folks to snag a spot at a reduced rate. This workshop aims to make Shakespeare more accessible and engaging, helping actors build confidence and expand their craft.

Every weekday afternoon, 9-year-old Joey Sage from Elkton races his school bus, Bus 41, from his bus stop to his grandmother's house. This daily race between an Elkton boy and his school bus has become a spectacle since Joey got the green light to start running alongside the bus in early September.

Joey’s sister, Virginia, and his bus driver, Miss Margy, cheer him on as he sprints up the sidewalk. The race begins as soon as the bus pulls away, with Joey trying to outpace it for as long as he can. Joey's family and friends enjoy watching him and are impressed by his speed and enthusiasm.

Greater Wilmington Beer Week is making its comeback from February 16 to 22, inviting locals and visitors to dive into the area's vibrant craft beer scene. This annual event, presented by Out & About, will feature a week full of specials and community events across Wilmington and New Castle County.

Participants can expect a lineup of featured beers, limited releases, and themed experiences that highlight the creativity of local brewers. The Beer Week Passport adds an interactive twist, encouraging attendees to collect stamps at participating venues for a chance to win prizes.

With collaboration being a key theme, the event showcases the strong ties within the local food and beverage community. Whether you're a craft beer aficionado or just looking for a winter outing, Beer Week offers a chance to explore and connect.

ChristianaCare, Delaware's largest health system, is facing a class-action lawsuit after a cyberattack allegedly compromised sensitive patient information. Two plaintiffs, Chase Stout from Newark and Lisa Addi from North East, Md., have filed the suit, claiming negligence by ChristianaCare and its third-party vendor, Oracle Health.

The lawsuit, filed in December, follows ChristianaCare's public notification about the breach, which reportedly occurred in January 2025. The plaintiffs argue that the hospital and Oracle failed to adequately inform affected patients and secure their data. They are seeking damages and a halt to what they call deceptive practices.

According to Spotlight Delaware, the hospital has offered credit monitoring to impacted patients, but questions remain about the extent of the breach and the delay in public disclosure. ChristianaCare and Oracle have not commented on the pending litigation.

The Delaware Division of the Arts just handed out $184,000 in 2026 Individual Artist Fellowships to 27 artists from across the state. This annual program shines a light on the creative talents of musicians, writers, and visual and folk artists in Delaware.

This year saw a record 246 applications, prompting the division to increase the funding pool by 20%. The fellowships, evaluated by out-of-state arts pros, span categories like Master, Established, and Emerging Fellows, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $12,000.

Recipients will use the funds for artistic needs like materials and studio time, and they’re expected to showcase their work publicly in the coming year. The next application deadline is set for August 3, 2026.

Luann D’Agostino, a local business owner, has thrown her hat in the ring for the District 23 state House seat. Her decision follows State Sen. David Sokola's retirement announcement, which has set off a chain reaction of candidacies in the area.

D’Agostino, who owns a dance studio in Hockessin, plans to focus her campaign on issues like affordable housing, healthcare access, and public education. She previously ran for a different state House seat in 2020 but was unsuccessful.

The deadline for other candidates to file is July 14, so we'll see if anyone else joins the race for this Newark-area seat.

Wilmington's Police Department reported an 8% drop in overall Part 1 crime for 2025, including significant reductions in murders and shootings. Mayor John Carney expressed satisfaction with the results, attributing them to improved relationships between the police and the community.

Despite the positive trend, the department faces a staffing shortfall, with 18 officer positions currently unfilled. Carney emphasized the importance of maintaining police presence in neighborhoods and highlighted ongoing community programs like Partners in Care.

Looking ahead, the city plans to continue property inspections and provide resources to the unhoused, aiming to sustain the crime reduction momentum into 2026. Carney also mentioned refining strategies for managing areas with higher disorder incidents, including the city-sanctioned site at Christina Park.

The Delaware State Housing Authority's Downtown Development Districts Rebate Program has just released its Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report. The report highlights 68 projects completed statewide, including several in Wilmington, which received state funds to spur private investment.

Wilmington saw a mix of residential and commercial developments, all part of a broader effort to rejuvenate the downtown area. The program's funding helped leverage significant private investment, aiming to enhance the city's urban landscape.

As the program continues, applications for 2026 Large Project reservations are due by February 26, with Small Project applications accepted on a rolling basis. This ongoing effort seeks to further strengthen Wilmington's downtown vibrancy.

Congress has passed three appropriations bills that bring earmarked funds to the Newark area. The University of Delaware is set to receive $3.6 million for biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment to aid the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals at the STAR Campus. Another $5 million will go towards equipment for the Center for Clean Hydrogen, also at STAR.

Beyond Newark, UD will use $1 million to maintain its Hugh R. Sharp research vessel in Lewes. Additionally, $50,000 is allocated to address flooding along White Clay Creek, and Christiana Care will get $500,000 for its Gene Editing Institute. The bills, which include over $40 million for projects across Delaware, now await the president's signature.

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.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Wilmington Drama League. This witty musical comedy takes on love, dating, marriage, parenting, and everything in between through a series of sharp, relatable scenes and songs. Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, plus Sunday at 2 PM, for a weekend run full of laughs and heart.

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

If your love language is cuddles and snacks, Wanda already gets you. This sweet two-year-old, medium-sized mixed breed is the kind of dog who wins hearts fast. She is easy to leash, happy on walks, and very into making new friends, both human and canine. One look at those soft gray looks and you might find yourself planning your life around her treat schedule.

Wanda has that just-right mix of calm and charm. Think afternoon strolls, cozy couch time, and a dog who is genuinely happy to be by your side. If Wanda were a human, she would be the friend who always brings snacks and remembers your birthday.

Wanda is waiting to meet you at the Brandywine Valley SPCA Copeland Center for Animal Welfare in New Castle. Stop by, say hi, and see if she is your perfect match.

26 🌡️ 11 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 8% | 💨 WNW 17 mph

23 🌡️ 11 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 4% | 💨 WSW 12 mph

23 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 4% | 💨 WNW 12 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 39ºF
Temperature readings taken from the Atlantic Ocean in Rehoboth Beach.

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