NCCo touts upgraded sewer cleaning trucks

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

The Vactor 2100i recycles water while it cleans sewer lines. (New Castle County)   Two new sewer cleaning trucks promise to save water, energy and time by recycling cleaning water, New Castle County says in a flyer accompanying its annual sewer bills. The new vehicles use hydraulic jets to dislodge debris, and they vacuum up debris and liquid from the …

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M&T, WSFS, PNC reducing, easing overdraft fees

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Delaware’s largest banks are addressing concerns about overdraft fees (Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels)   Delaware’s three biggest banks are changing their rules on overdraft fees. M&T Bank this month is joining a nationwide movement to reduce or eliminate overdraft fees. WSFS Bank in December eased its overdraft rules. PNC Bank last year expanded its app to give customers …

Planning Council: If I-95 is capped, what should go there?

Ken MammarellaHeadlines

Officials are considering capping I-95 to improve Wilmington’s cityscape. (Wilmapco)   A regional planning agency is gathering public input on what to do if land is created over part of Interstate 95 in Wilmington during the Restore the Corridor project. The Wilmington Area Planning Council is running an online survey that ends Jan. 21. It follows two hearings on capping …

Celebrations, service opportunities to mark MLK Jr. day

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

A demonstration for peace for Martin Luther King Jr. (West Side Grows Together) Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, and for many people, it will be a day of service. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” the United Way of Delaware quotes the assassinated civil rights leader. Here are some events …

Hockessin, Unionville used book sales canceled

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Concerns about the spread of coronavirus have caused two huge fundraising book sales planned for early 2022 to be cancelled. “We hope to reschedule the sale for later in the year and to hold several smaller sales in the coming months,” the Friends of the Hockessin Library Board posted. “There will be no 2022 [Unionville High School] Book Sale,” a …

Santa brings back many beloved area Christmas traditions

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

Longwood Gardens’ 2021 Christmas display focuses on a Fire and Ice theme. Photo by Becca Mathias   Christmas tours and displays that were curtailed or eliminated by the pandemic last year are back in more of the holiday spirit this year. Some features are still on hold, and masking and social distancing may limit attendance and activities.  (Edwards Christmas Village, …

Mt. Cuba studies best way to grow a forest

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

This fall, 60 volunteers worked for two weeks to plant 3,000 native trees and shrubs, part of a test at Mt. Cuba Center on the best way to create a forest. Three thousand native trees and shrubs have been planted this fall as part of Mt. Cuba Center’s massive study on the best ways to bring back the region’s forests. …

Ready for some holiday lights? Try these.

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

  Winter Wonderfest Light Spectacular welcomed more than 17,000 vehicles to its show in Milton.   Christmas lights this year promise a bright future, after so much was dimmed by the pandemic. Here are some crowd-pleasing places to enjoy holiday lights in Delaware. The Brower family has a Facebook page and a #BrowerFamilyLights hashtag for their display. “Tune to 97.9FM …

Brandywine River Museum reopens for holidays, without as many critters

Ken MammarellaCulture, Headlines

  After coping with massive flooding from Hurricane Ida, the Brandywine River Museum of Art reopens the day after Thanksgiving.     After being closed to the public for almost three months by flooding, the Brandywine River Museum of Art is reopening Friday with its miniature railroad and Critter-decorated holiday displays. The holiday display will include highlights of its permanent …

Closures for toll plaza, I-95/Route 141 interchange, Route 9

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

I-95 toll plaza. www.ezpassde.com file photo Painting, construction and flooding are the reasons behind some upcoming road closures in New Castle County, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. EZ Pass lanes on I-95 The I-95 Newark Toll Plaza northbound and southbound EZ Pass lanes will be closed for patching and striping, 9 a.m. Nov. 15 through 5 a.m. Nov. …