family

Paula Janssen relies upon families for Janssen’s to prosper

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines, Women Owned Businesses

One key to the success of Janssen’s Market is “family.” Sure, it’s a family-owned business, run by three generations of the Janssens since 1952. Over the decades, “our staff has become like family,” said Eileen Janssen, who joined her husband Joseph Jr. in the business in 1984 after teaching at A.I. du Pont High. The Greenville market closes on major …

Cora Mountain

Cora Castle charged up about OmniPotential’s neighborhood EV chargers

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines, Women Owned Businesses

WILMINGTON — Half of Americans could be the market for Cora Castle’s idea for curbside charging of electric vehicles, and her first customer is a Greenville museum. The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science signed on with OmniPotential Energy Partners in October. Installation is expected in the first quarter of 2025. “I met Cora at a chamber of commerce meeting about two years …

independence mall sign

Independence Mall headed for national historic registry

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Independence Mall, the Concord Pike shopping center modeled after Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and other historic structures, is on its way to joining the National Register of Historic Places. “Everybody is super-excited,” said Joe Capaldi, manager of the North Wilmington shopping center and grandson of Emilio Capaldi, who designed and built it. “It’s a big deal.” The nomination form calls it …

Four Youth programs focus on the visual arts, environmental science, and engineering. This is a class at Thomas Edison Charter School in using found objects to make a mural. Courtesy of Four Youth

Four Youth takes long-term ‘quality over quantity’ approach to helping kids achieve

Ken MammarellaEducation, Headlines

WILMINGTON — Four Youth is committed to its long-term mission. “There’s this metric in which [organizations offering grants] ask you how many kids you serve,” said co-founder Theresa Emmett. “But for us, it’s more about quality over quantity” and about serving students over an extended period. RELATED Brandywine Village promotes itself with new welcome center “For instance, I’ve been at …

Lauren Tyree volunteering in the Dominican Republic.

Meet Saint Mark’s Lauren Tyree, teen volunteer extraordinaire

Ken MammarellaHeadlines, Culture

Lauren Tyree was inspired to volunteer by the impact her grandparents had on the 150 children they fostered in her father’s lifetime. “Every time a child would come into their home, they would come in without a vision, without goals and without plans,” said Lauren, a St. Mark’s High School junior and resident of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. “They always left …

Avenue North is getting a restaurant that plans on having outdoor music. (Ken Mammarella photo)

Neighbors debate outdoor music at Avenue North restaurant

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Residents of North Wilmington are making their voices heard about a proposal to allow a restaurant liquor license that includes speakers and live entertainment on the patio. The restaurant is the Blackwall Barn & Lodge, planned for Avenue North, the multi-use complex being developed on the old Astra Zeneca operations at Concord Pike and Murphy Road. IN THE NEWS: Pedestrian/bicyclist …

New Castle County is planning major upgrades to Bechtel Park. Ken Mammarella photo

New zoning district proposed just for parks in NCCo

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

Four members of New Castle County Council are sponsoring an ordinance to create a new zoning district for land in parks – a plan that  the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has “significant concerns” about. “This new P zoning district created by ordinance 24-130 would only apply to preserved parcels owned in fee simple by the county, …

Two hearings are planned to discuss a toll increase for the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

Plans underway to raise tolls on Delaware Memorial Bridge

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware River and Bay Authority today announced hearings to discuss a proposed toll increase for the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The first phase of the increase, if approved, will affect only those customers who pay with cash, and that toll will go up from $5 to $6 for autos, pickups, vans and motorcycles. “E-ZPass rates and discount rate plans will …

The Walgreens in Trolley Square is closing. (Ken Mammarella photo)

Walgreens in Trolley Square closing

Ken MammarellaBusiness, Headlines

Another drugstore is closing, and this time it’s the Walgreens in Trolley Square. Citing a recent post on Nextdoor.com that reported the closure, DelawareLive asked Walgreens to confirm the news, to share the store’s last day and indicate if any other Delaware Walgreens locations have closures scheduled. RELATED: Kirkwood Acme to close in November because lease ends Here’s what a …

underpass photo

Pedestrian/bicyclist pathway sought under Concord Pike

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A pathway under Concord Pike for pedestrians and bicyclists is being considered as a way to break through the barrier between people who live on the eastern side of the busy and wide highway and the parks and trails on the west. The Rocky Run Underpass, if built, would take advantage of an existing culvert, just south of the Widener …