New Castle City Topics

08/31/2026

The monthly New Castle Digest for September is out, with loads of upcoming events in town, recent local news, and more.

Read it now at tiny.cc/NCDigest-Sep2026 💬

08/30/2026

Tomorrow (Monday) evening, the City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on two proposed Ordinances:
◾️ Ord 568 would establish a definition of, and regulations governing, Data Centers within the city's boundaries.
◾️ Ord 567 would change city code to permit the developer of the Flats at River Edge project on Lukens Drive additional time to gain needed approvals (which have been held up in large part by DNREC-directed site remediation efforts).

Citizens can offer comment on each Monday, 8/31, at 6:30pm, at the NCPD community room.

08/25/2026

Local State House candidate Pamela Salaam visited Historic New Castle on Sunday for a meet-and-greet at Old Town Hall. Nearly twenty residents stopped by to ask questions and discuss local issues. Topics included truck traffic through town and on Route 9, how to address growing rates of substance abuse and addiction, the difficulty of getting a response about anything from incumbent Frank Cooke (as recounted by several attendees including a current city council member), and more.

The candidate sat down for a Q&A with City Topics in May, which you can read at tiny.cc/Meet-Pamela-Salaam 👀

Mr. Cooke, for whom Ms. Salaam represents the first electoral challenge since he took office in 2018, has been offered the chance to discuss a similar set of topics but, after asking for the questions, has not responded to complete the Q&A.

08/21/2026

Try your hand at painting a watercolor of one of the Read House Gardens' seasonal blooms while sipping a garden-inspired cocktail from The Mercury Cafe and Teahouse!

Saturday, August 29 | 6 - 8 p.m. | $25

We'll gather in the gardens to learn watercolor technique, and each guest can select their own flower to paint. No experience necessary! This event is for ages 21+.

https://dhs.givecloud.co/painting-the-parterre

08/20/2026

🎣 Dobbinsville Fishing Pier Nears Construction 🎣

Three years after the project proposal shown here was presented by the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and approved by City Council, City Admin Tantillo announced this month that DNREC has selected a contractor to build the pier, and that preliminary construction meetings will begin soon.

Based on the 2023 plan, the recreational pier would:
◾️ Extend about 300 feet over the river, ending with a short T,
◾️ Be served by a newly-paved Deemer Beach parking lot area, which will be set up to include a restroom (though that may not be part of the initial construction), and
◾️ Be built using state and federal funds.

The pier is expected to be made from aluminum over wood or concrete piles. After construction, the state will maintain the facility and handle repairs as needed, while the City will be responsible for basic upkeep of the site such as mowing and light bulb replacement.



📷 #1: Site Plan
📷 #2: Google Maps view of the area the pier will be built
📷 #3: Overlay of #1 onto #2

08/20/2026

County Councilman Kevin Caneco with a non-partisan, candidate-neutral reminder about the primary elections coming up on September 15, and how residents can make sure they are ready to have their say...

You can also learn more about this year's races in recent coverage on our website, at ttnc.substack.com/ 📰

08/18/2026

Tonight at the Route 9 Library, the EPA will host a Community Meeting to provide updates and answer questions about the Remedial Investigation at the East Basin Road Groundwater Superfund Site. 👇

Many constituents have reached out to me asking for an update on the East Basin Road Groundwater Superfund site in our community.

I am happy to share that the EPA will host a public meeting next Tuesday, August 18th, beginning at 5:30 p.m., to provide an update on the ongoing remedial investigation and to answer any questions community members may have.

The meeting will be held at the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center located at 3022 New Castle Ave, New Castle, DE 19720.

08/18/2026

A few notable quotes from our recent Q&A with local State Senate candidate Dr. Keonna Watson...

Read the entire thing at: tiny.cc/Meet-Keonna-Watson 🙋🏾‍♀️

08/17/2026

Built in 1809 as a one-story munitions depot, The Arsenal has retained its military-purpose name to this day. Over the years, however, it has also housed a school (during which time it was expanded to two stories), multiple restaurants, office space (including for Bellanca Aircraft Corp.), and more.

Today, The Arsenal serves as the home for the city's visitor center, New Castle Historical Society's offices and archives, and - through December - NCHS's exhibit, "A Center of the American Experience for 375 Years," which explores four centuries of New Castle history.



📷: November 1936, Historic Architecture & Buildings Survey (HABS)

08/16/2026

Meet community health and prevention professional Dr. Keonna Watson, who is challenging multi-term incumbent Nicole Poore in this year's Dem Primary for State Senate District 12 (which includes New Castle) on Sept. 15.

Dr. Watson discusses what got her into the race, what she'd be fighting for in Dover, and some of the claims that have been made about her by the incumbent's allies.

💬 tiny.cc/Meet-Keonna-Watson