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REMINDER FROM LAST WEEK: DNREC is again sponsoring the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s TreeCycle event that aims to make beneficial reuse of holiday trees by turning them into wood chips and mulch while also keeping the trees out of the state’s landfills. TreeCycle is a family-friendly recycling event to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, at the DCH parking lot, 1810 North Dupont Street in Wilmington. DNREC also reminds residents who don’t plan to take their trees to a yard waste drop-off site that they should check with their waste hauler or municipality to see if the hauler or town offers curbside collection of holiday trees. If residents find that curbside pickup is unavailable to them, they are advised to check DNREC’s by-county listing of yard waste drop-off sites.
Another free disposal option with the environment in mind is the Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuges’ collection of holiday trees for a salt marsh restoration project at Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna from Dec. 27 to Jan. 13, 2025. The project, undertaken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, calls for placing the disposed holiday trees so that they will help “catch sediment and help build back some of the marsh and reduce the impact of waves along Bombay Hook’s wildlife drive,” according to a recent Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuges Facebook post. Trees must be stripped of all decorations before they are dropped off at the refuge. The project is also being supported by the Delaware Wild Lands conservation organization. For more information, call 302-595-1609. More information about yard waste collection in Delaware can be found at de.gov/yardwaste.
Other locations include the following. Be sure to contact facilities ahead of time for specific drop-off hours and additional details
New Castle County
- DSWA Cherry Island Composting/Mulching in Wilmington, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Pine Tree Corners Transfer Station in Townsend, (800) 404-7080
- Holland Mulch in Edgemoor, (302) 765-3100
- Middletown Materials, (302) 378-6306
- Polly Drummond Hill Community Yard Waste near Newark, (302) 739-9403
Kent County
Sussex County
- Atkins & Sons in Millsboro, (302) 745-1587
- Blue Hen Organics in Frankford, (302) 732-3211
- DSWA Bridgeville Collection Station Composting/Mulching, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Ellendale Collection Station Composting/Mulching, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Jones Crossroads Landfill Composting/Mulching in Georgetown, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Long Neck Collection Station Composting/Mulching in Millsboro, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Milford Transfer Station Composting/Mulching, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Omar Collection Station Composting/Mulching in Frankford, (800) 404-7080
- DSWA Route 5 Transfer Station Composting/Mulching in Harbeson, (800) 404-7080
- Eastern Shore Forest Products in Frankford, (410) 742-5440
- Mr. Mulch in Seaford, (302) 629-5737
- Selbyville Mulch, Stone and Soil, (302) 436-8286
- STI Landscape Solutions in Lewes, (302) 645-6262
- Stockley Materials in Georgetown, (302) 856-7601
BUSINESS
Home sales and prices in Delaware climbed in November compared with one year ago, but the short-term trend is lower, with both sales and prices dropping from October. Sales of existing homes, not new construction, totaled 1,084 in November, a 2.65% increase from 1,056 in November 2023, according to the Delaware Association of Realtors. But compared with October, sales were down 10.63% from 1,213.
Delaware Prosperity Partnership surpassed an important milepost in its work since 2017: 10,000 new and retained jobs across Delaware. This accomplishment is coupled with exceeding $2 billion in projected all-time capital investment. This latest milestone was achieved through DPP’s 73rd, 74th and 75th overall projects (see below).
All 15 available open retail licenses for marijuana dispensaries were awarded through a lottery on Dec. 19. Three licenses are in Kent County, five licenses are in Sussex County, and seven are in New Castle County. Open retail applications were open to anyone, anywhere. Before the lottery, 529 applications were in play, costing $5,000.
Navient Corporation has agreed to sell its government services unit to an affiliate of Los Angeles-based investment firm Gallant Capital Partners. The sale would shed 1,200 jobs from Navient, including a few from its Delaware offices.
After four successful years of supporting hundreds of businesses with funding and other resources, the Wilmington Alliance and the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation (PDFF) will continue the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (E3) to support rising entrepreneurs in Delaware.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Focus Multisports recently made a $22,550 donation on behalf of participants and sponsors of the 2024 Annual Bethany-Fenwick Turkey Trot presented by The Bank of Ocean City, to the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. Primary sponsors including Wilgus Associates, Bethany BoatHouse, Charm City Run, Baja, Creative Resource Group, Tansey-Warner Realty, Harvest Tide Steakhouse, Zoca, Anne Powell Realty, The Coastal Point, and Steve Morgan-Keller Williams Realty. Generous participants also filled the Neighbors in Need SUV with non-perishable foods.
The Independence Veterans Club presented a check for $6,000 Dec. 18, to the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford. This money was placed into a general patient account to be used for personal items for each veteran throughout the year. In addition, the club raised and donated $2,000 to Mary Mother of Peace Church in Millsboro, $2,000 to the Community Resource Center in Rehoboth Beach, and $2,000 to the Fort Miles Museum at Cape Henlopen State Park.
Bloom Energy’s 3rd annual Stars and Strides Delaware 5K and Family Fun Day raised more than $80,000 with the help of more than 30 sponsors and community partners over the past two years to support Delaware’s veterans and military families. This year alone, more than 450 community members participated and raised more than $50,000 to support its beneficiary organizations: Delaware National Guard Youth Foundation, Stop Soldier Suicide, and The Food Bank of Delaware.
The Del-One Foundation continued its rollout of $3,500 holiday donations to Delaware organizations. More than $120,000 was raised and donated to local organizations over the past two years by the Del-One Foundation, which announced these $3,500 donations this past week:
- The Harry K Foundation’s focus is defeating childhood hunger. Working with the Food Bank of Delaware, this organization is “tackling childhood hunger on all fronts – hunger after school, during the summer and holidays, and on weekends.” Among many other initiatives, they have established and continuously fund more than 50 food pantries throughout the state and provide hundreds of food backpacks for children during weekends, holidays and summer.
- The Dover Art League offers a variety of art classes and workshops as well as opportunities for artists to teach, promote, and sell their work. It also offers volunteer opportunities for those who want to get involved in the local arts community.
- La Plaza Delaware’s vision is to “improve opportunities, business savvy, and prosperity for Latino and minority-owned businesses”. For more information on La Plaza Delaware, visit www.laplazadelaware.org
EDUCATION
Tech Impact, a nonprofit and leader in technical training programs for young adults, graduated its 1,000th ITWorks graduate earlier this month. ITWorks, which trains young adults towards industry-recognized IT certifications through hands-on training, paid internships, and mentorship, graduated its first cohort in 2011 and has since grown to four locations, including a new Nashville cohort prepped to kick off in 2025.
ENVIRONMENT
A number of snow geese found sick or dead Dec. 27 in coastal waters of Sussex County have been sent to the University of Delaware Poultry Health System laboratory to determine if they fell victim to the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI), the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today, in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Detections of HPAI in the snow geese stricken in Sussex County – including geese found today at Prime Hook Beach – would mark the Delmarva region’s first confirmation of HPAI in wild birds since May 2022, when the H5N1 virus was found through wildlife surveillance in black vultures in Harford County, Md. HPAI is known to be carried widely in North America by wild birds, especially waterfowl, raptors, and vultures. Waterfowl hunters and anyone coming across a dead or sick wild bird of any kind should take precautions – for more information on proper protocols upon coming in contact with a wild bird that may have contracted HPAI, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services website
. DNREC also reminds hunters to be cautious when handling their harvests of duck and geese as the waterfowl season continues in Delaware.
Delaware officials are planning a $9 million nature center and $1.5 million bridge and erosion control project at White Clay Creek State Park north of Newark.
The Brandywine Valley Trail Plan at First State National Historical Park, a proposed 27.8-mile trail network that will provide high-quality recreational opportunities, promote visitor safety and enjoyment, and preserve connectivity with leased property within the Brandywine Valley section of the park and neighboring properties, has crossed a significant hurdle. The National Park Service (NPS) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the plan. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the EA considers alternatives, including a no-action alternative and environmental impacts. After consultation with the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Delaware Nation, the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, and local government and considering public comments, the NPS approved designation of a 27.8 mile shared-use trail network, which includes the administrative roads, that will be open to hiking, equestrian use and bicycling.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced $17.3 million in funding for a record slate of 45 partner-led conservation, accompanied by $20.7 million in matching funds. The projects supported by the grants, made possible through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, reduce flood impacts to communities, improve water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and enhance safe public recreational access in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Partners throughout the four-state watershed identified these four priorities to guide restoration, ensure investments reflect shared goals, and contribute to landscape-scale conservation gains within the Delaware River basin. Since 2018, the two agencies have worked collaboratively with communities to direct more than $72 million in federal funds to support 239 projects that connect people to nature, build resilient communities, and support local economies.
HEALTH
Foulk Living senior community in Wilmington has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a 2025 Best Nursing Home in the category of long-term care. Earlier this year, Foulk Living was designated a 2024 Best Independent Living Community and a 2024 Best Memory Care Community. Foulk Living is a full-service, rental continuing care retirement community offering carefree and engaging independent living, compassionate assisted living with memory care, and comprehensive skilled nursing. Life Care Services manages Foulk Living. For the 2025 recognition, U.S. News evaluated more than 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes, health inspection results, staffing levels, and other important indicators of the quality of care.
POLICE, FIRE, AND MILITARY
The Delaware State Police (DSP) has added two new Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopters, bringing the DSP Aviation Unit’s fleet to four helicopters, with two hangared in Georgetown, and two in Summit. Aviation Unit Commander Captain Jeff Whitmarsh told WDEL that with thousands of calls each year, including an average of between one and two medical runs every day, having the full fleet is a necessity.
Dover Base Honor Guard instructors held a two-day Below-The-Zone(BTZ) Prep Course, designed for Airmen to sharpen their skills and prepare for the fourth-quarter BTZ selection board process. Fourteen BTZ-eligible candidates received nine hours of hands-on selection board practice plus 10 hours of curriculum focused on professional presentation, public speaking, and dress and appearance applications.
New Castle County Police Detective Joshua Willis received the Delaware Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award for Large Departments. He was recognized for his exceptional work as chief investigator in numerous criminal investigations across New Castle County.
New Castle County Police Sergeant Tracy Duffy and Sergeant Michelle Burrus graduated from Leadership Delaware’s 2024 class. This 10-month program covers a broad spectrum of Delaware’s key sectors, including healthcare, education, government, public affairs, law, industry, non-profits, law enforcement, and philanthropy.
RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS
The Bardea Restaurant Group, which runs the Market Street restaurants Bardea Food & Drink and Bardea Steak, will unveil new concepts operated by Bardea staff members in the DE.CO food hall in the Buccini Pollin Group-owned DuPont Building at 10th and Orange streets by the end of January. As first reported by Pam George in Delaware Live, all stalls will change except for Bardea’s Taqueria el Chingon and Pizzeria Bardea and the independently run Al Chu’s Sushi. Bardea also plans to open its new full-service, Italian American restaurant Casa Nonna by the end of January. The restaurant will occupy the seating area adjacent to the bar that extends along Orange Street. New stalls coming soon include Sumac, which will offer Mediterranean cuisine; Bean by Bardea, a stop for coffee and pastries, and Casa Nonna’s grab-n-go, which will have to-go versions of some of the restaurant’s dishes, plus other items.
Delaware’s third Hobby Lobby has opened in the Prices Corner Shopping Center on Kirkwood Highway, above the Target store.
Party City has gone out of business after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has closed its Delaware stores in Stanton and Dover. In some cases, its 850 stories are holding going out of business sales or selling assets to investors.
Warren’s Restaurant, a family-owned institution in Fenwick Island for 65 years, is rebranding itself as The Station.
TRANSPORTATION
DART will operate regular weekday services statewide on New Year’s Eve and SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line train will operate regular weekday service. On New Year’s Day, January 1, DART statewide services, both fixed route and paratransit, will not operate. SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line train service will run a Holiday schedule. Please view Holiday Schedule for details.
Frontier Airlines has cut flights from Philadelphia International Airport to a number of cities in 2025, including Pittsburgh, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Pensacola, St. Louis, Knoxville, Buffalo, and Norfolk, according to the Ishrion Aviation site.
PEOPLE
Tanner Polce has joined ByrdGomes in time for the 2025 Legislative Sessions. Polce previously served as chief of staff and chief advancement officer at Brandywine Valey SPCA. Tanner was also instrumental in the acquisition strategies that brought the Human Society of Harrisburg Area (PA), the Animal Adoption Center (NJ), and most recently the Human Society of Washington DC into the BVSPCA management portfolio.
Dr. Erin Lee Kelly, associate professor of Psychology at Goldey-Beacom College, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Specialist Award for the 2024–2027 tenure. Selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, Dr. Kelly joins a distinguished roster of U.S. academics and professionals committed to fostering international collaboration and expertise.
Oana Sofronie of Millsboro as Sussex County’s 2024 Employee of the Year. She was one of 17 employees recognized as quarterly winners or honorable mentions over 2024. Sofronie, is a geographic information systems (GIS) technician in the county’s Geographic Information office.She was recognized for her attention to detail and willingness to take the lead in helping the county achieve a better-than-97 percent match rate for its 911 addressing-telephone number database.
Peter Osborne has more than 15 years of experience as an award-winning business reporter and editor, leading two papers (the Delaware Business Times and Dallas Business Journal) to recognition as the nation’s most improved business publications. Osborne also helped launched The News Journal’s Business Monday section and worked in communications and business development for MBNA America and Bank of America.
Source: delawarelive.com…