District 32 -- Milford statehouse race

District 36 (Milford) statehouse race grows contentious over developer donations

Jose Ignacio Castaneda PerezGovernment, Headlines

This story originally ran on Spotlight Delaware. Spotlight Delaware is a community-powered, collaborative, nonprofit newsroom covering the First State. Why Should Delaware Care? The House District 36 seat race could be pivotal in this year’s general election, and it has quickly become one of the most heated in Delaware. That contention comes partly from the support of developers who have …

Challenger Patrick Smith on Wednesday asked for a recount of the vote against incumbent Bryan Shupe in the Republican primary for District 36 in the Delaware House. (Pexels photo by Edmond Dantes)

Challenger asks for recount in House District 36 GOP primary

Ken MammarellaHeadlines

Challenger Patrick Smith on Wednesday asked for a recount of the vote against incumbent Bryan Shupe in the Republican primary for District 36 in the Delaware House. The key issue: one more absentee vote recorded Wednesday for Shupe and the state’s arithmetic on calling for an automatic recount. Smith said in a statement that he filed a petition Wednesday with …

Kori Lewandowski, owner of The Crafty Reader in Milford, is a “mood reader,” selecting what strikes her fancy. Lately that includes romance, fantasy and historical fiction. Courtesy of Kori Lewandowski

New store in Milford combines books and crafts

Ken MammarellaHeadlines, Business

Kori Lewandowski loves books. She also loves crafts. And whenever family members and friends asked what she wanted to do with her life, if cost were no object, “it’s always been to open a bookstore.” And so she finally is. The Crafty Reader is scheduled to open Aug. 30 at 39 N. Walnut St. in Milford. She plans to be …

Commercial accounts in Milford can expect an increase ranging from about 2.3 to 3.0%, depending on demand, load factor, seasonality and time of use. Anthony Indraus photo from Unsplash.

Milford electric rates to rise 2.4% in June

Ken MammarellaGovernment

Starting in June, electric bills for the average residential and small business accounts in Milford are going up 2.4%, the city has announced. Commercial accounts in Milford can expect an increase ranging from about 2.3 to 3.0%, depending on demand, load factor, seasonality and time of use. “The power cost increase is entirely due to market-driven capacity cost increases that …

pancake

Meet Bobby Pancake, celebrating High 5 Hospitality’s 20 years

Pam GeorgeCulture, Headlines

Bobby Pancake has heard it all. The CEO of Newark-based High 5 Hospitality is accustomed to people commenting on his last name, especially since High 5 operates Eggspectation, a Christiana-area restaurant famous for breakfast and brunch. How does he handle it? “I deal with it the same way Kevin Bacon deals with it,” he said. “So, I’m Bobby Pancake, and he’s Kevin Bacon. …

Milford Middle School (MMS) will open for the 2025-2026 school year.

New Milford school gets its name: Milford Middle School

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

After a few months of consideration with plenty of public input, the Milford School District Board of Education finalized a name Monday night for its new middle school.  The new Milford middle school, a key component of Milford School District’s strategic plan to accommodate rapid enrollment growth, will be called “Milford Middle School.” Opening in fall 2025, the building had …

therapy

Physical therapy, movement helps seniors thrive in retirement

Katie KazimirBusiness, Headlines

Keep it moving — that’s the top tip for longevity from local experts to Delaware’s aging population. “As we get older, we get lazy,” said 71-year-old Rick Stetler.  Stetler was wrapping up a session at Milford’s Aquacare Physical Therapy last week. He is one of the hundreds of retirees pouring into Delaware yearly and expected to dramatically increase the size …

Milford homeless village

Hearing on Milford homeless village is comment-palooza 

Katie KazimirGovernment, Headlines

A Milford City Council hearing on a proposed tiny house village for the homeless packed the council chamber, lobby and a basement overflow room on Monday with people who spent four hours expressing their opinions. No vote was taken. Everyone who spoke agreed that it was important to help the homeless. They also stressed that  the city should do something …

train A study starts in 2024 to resume passenger rail service from Wilmington (shown in this photo) or Newark to downstate Delaware. (David Wilson photo from Wikimedia Commons)

DelDOT to study restoring passenger rail service downstate

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A Delaware Department of Transportation unit has received a federal grant of up to $500,000 to study bringing back passenger rail service to the Delmarva Peninsula. “The Diamond State Line will provide rail service south from Wilmington or Newark through Dover to Harrington, and then continue southbound along one of two potential routes, based on the presence of existing railroad …