Mold Remediation in Newark, DE

Change is coming to Newark and more may be on the way, as city officials approve special use permits for a new Wawa, consider potential additions to Folk Memorial Park and debate the merits of a free parking pilot program.

A long-planned Wawa was approved off of Elkton Road during a Newark City Council meeting on Monday, March 10.

A dog park is proposed by the owners of Dash In in Folk Memorial Park, just a few months after community uproar prevented a baseball field from being built there.

And, finally, the free parking pilot program was evaluated in front of the City Council.

Here’s what to know.

New Wawa on Elkton Road

A long-standing plan by developers Otts Chapel Associates LLC to build a Wawa on 1105 Elkton Road was approved during the Newark City Council meeting on Monday night.

The project plans call for demolishing the vacant buildings that used to house Leon’s Garden World and Ewing Towing to build a 5,585-square-foot Wawa with gas pumps on about 5.87 acres of land. Sixty-seven parking spaces and eight bicycle parking spaces are planned for the site, as well as two proposed electric vehicle charging stations.

A traffic study approved by Delaware’s Department of Transportation estimated that 5,532 daily trips would be generated by the development.

As it currently stands, the site lies in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 100-year floodplain. In order to keep the site’s plan in line with city and county code requirements, the developers are going to have to elevate the site, effectively removing it from the flood risk zone.

Before the City Council could approve the plan, developers had to get approvals from FEMA that would certify that the elevation would effectively remove the site from the floodplain, as well as get concurring agreements from the city, from New Castle County and from Cecil County, Maryland, which is less than a mile down the road.

The planning commission recommended that Newark City Council approve the subdivision plans and four special use permits in August 2023.

Plans for the site began in 2018, when concepts for the gas station and convenience store were first proposed to the city. Original plans had Royal Farms as the likely tenant of the site.

In 2021, Newark’s planning commission and City Council agreed to annex the property, which previously was a part of unincorporated New Castle County, as well as rezone the site from industrial to commercial usage.

Potential dog park at Folk Memorial Park

Newark officials are seeking public feedback about building a dog park in Folk Memorial Park at 98 Welsh Tract Road.

Wills Group, owner of Dash In gas and convenience store, chose Folk Memorial Park as the recipient for its Reimaging Outdoor Spaces 2025 Signature Project Grant, which would fully fund the design, development and construction of the potential dog park.

Plans for the 130-by-120-foot, fenced-in Dash In Dog Park include ground cover with woodchips, existing grass or potentially artificial turf, and additional trees for shade and screening. It may also include a dog fountain.

The dog park is planned to sit behind the existing baseball/softball field, parallel to the paved trail and may also include improved access to the Villa Belmont condominium complex.

Staff from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will be at the park on Wednesday, March 12, from 11 a.m. until noon to answer questions from residents. The City Council is expected to vote on the upcoming project in the coming weeks.

Feedback on the project can be sent to District 3 Councilman Jay Bancroft at bancroftnewark3rd@gmail.com or asknewark@newark.de.us by Friday, March 14.

If the City Council approves the proposal, steps would be taken to finalize the park’s location and refine the design.

Community input would be solicited for key design elements such as color schemes, preferred dog obstacles and decorative fence art themes, as well as organized volunteer days for the park’s installation and artwork.

Free parking pilot fails to meet revenue goals

Between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, the city of Newark conducted a “pilot” test of free weekend parking during the University of Delaware’s winter break to see if more foot traffic was generated downtown.

Free parking was offered between Sundays and Tuesdays, an awkward choice that in hindsight may have confused folks in the area, according to Renee Bensley, planning and development director for Newark, who presented the results during Monday's City Council meeting.

Instead of a projected increase in revenue, the city saw an overall revenue decline of nearly $19,000, she said.

However, in a Monday, March 3, presentation to the City Council, planning and parking staff said the concept as a whole was a success. Businesses reported that the program got people talking and increased patronage at the local stores and restaurants.

Staff recommended that the city move forward with approving another pilot for free weekend parking from June 16 until Aug. 15, and continuing plans to implement a permanent parking incentive period for the 2025-2026 winter break.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

Newark, DE (February 20, 2025) – A crash on Interstate 95 Southbound near the South Chapel Street underpass caused lane closures and injuries on Thursday evening, February 20.

Authorities responded to the scene around 6:20 p.m. and found vehicles blocking the right lane of the highway. Emergency personnel assisted those involved and provided medical treatment to at least one injured individual before transporting them to a local hospital for further care. The crash led to traffic congestion in the area as crews worked to clear the scene. Officials have not yet released details regarding the number of people injured or the circumstances leading up to the accident. Investigations are ongoing.

We hope those injured in this accident recover quickly.

Car Accidents in Delaware

Car accidents in Delaware cause thousands of injuries each year. According to state reports, there are over 30,000 crashes annually, with many resulting in serious injuries. Factors like speeding, distracted driving, and inclement weather contribute to many of these incidents.

If you’re ever involved in a crash, here are a few things to keep in mind:

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash in Newark or anywhere in Delaware, seeking legal guidance is essential to protect your rights and ensure you receive the fair compensation you deserve. Car accidents can lead to overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress, making it critical to have experienced professionals on your side.

At Murphy & Landon, we are committed to helping accident victims navigate the legal process and rebuild their lives. Serving clients throughout Delaware, our skilled Newark car accident attorneys understand the complexities of personal injury law and the challenges injured individuals face. We handle everything from negotiating with insurance companies to building a strong case, so you can focus on recovery.

If you’ve been hurt in a crash, don’t wait to seek the legal representation you need. Time is crucial when it comes to gathering evidence and protecting your claim. Call us today at 302-472-8112 for a free consultation, and let us fight to secure the best possible outcome for your case. At Murphy & Landon, your justice is our priority.

Note: Our law firm utilizes secondary sources to create this post. The facts surrounding this specific accident have not been independently verified. Contact Murphy & Landon if you locate any inaccurate information. We will update the post right away to reflect the most accurate information available.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this post is intended to be legal advice or medical advice. This is not a solicitation for business. If you have been injured in an accident, get medical attention as soon as possible. The photo used in this post was not taken at this accident scene.

After seven years, it's last call for good at Midnight Oil Brewing Co.

The Glasgow craft brewery has announced it will pour its final brew later this month, joining a string of First State breweries that have shuttered in recent years.

Midnight Oil's last day will be Saturday, April 19, and beer will be discounted until then as they attempt to sell every last drop of the good stuff.

"Today, as we prepare to close this chapter, we do so with full hearts. MOBC has been more than just a brewery – it has been a community, a family," the brewery posted last month on Facebook. "And while it’s time for us to say goodbye, we hope the friendships and memories we’ve built together will last long beyond our doors."

When Midnight Oil opened Feb. 3, 2018, at 674 Pencader Drive, it was the only brewery in Glasgow, cannonballing into an underserved craft beer market.

It was a location where craft geeks had options limited to brewpubs that made their own beer, such as the veteran beer hub Stewart's Brewing Co. in Bear or Newark's Iron Hill Brewing and Two Stones Pub.

It was a year after Midnight Oil opened when another craft brewery joined them in Glasgow with the smaller Autumn Arch Beer Project launching just a few feet down the road.

In the years since, the state's craft brewing world has grown, now boasting about 40 breweries.

But in an interview with Delaware Online/The News Journal, managing partner and brewer Mike Dunlap said Midnight Oil's model with a small tasting room and a 15,000-square-foot production brewery – one of the biggest brew houses in the state – just didn't work in the long run.

"It wasn't a friendly environment here in Delaware in terms of welcoming a new distribution brewery," said Dunlap, pointing to the state's limited number of distribution partners. "It was tough getting that moving. We always found ourselves producing more beer than our distributor could or would sell."

Dunlap, whose Midnight Oil co-managing partners included T.J. McGrath and Joe Stickel, also pointed to his brewery's marketing efforts as a contributing factor to its demise.

"We understated the value and importance of that. We really concentrated hard on the quality of the product. All of our money went into that. We brewed some of the best beer in the state, but unfortunately, nobody knew about it," he said of Midnight Oil, which is tucked away in an industrial park off U.S. 40.

The impact of the pandemic also weighed heavily on the brewery, which maintained support from its dedicated patrons, but "never quite got back to speed," Dunlap said.

For those who did know about Midnight Oil, it became a second home.

And not only for its craft beers, hard iced teas and homemade root beer.

Customers bonded with the small staff at the retro-themed tasting room, which hosted many community events along with live music, poker nights, dance parties, 5k races, painting parties and karaoke.

It has a unique nostalgic '80s/'90s vibe with a VHS wall, cartoon collage, vintage arcade games, classic tunes playing on their speakers and framed art from old movies on the walls. As they liked to say, "It's where 'Jaws' meets Atari meets Beastie Boys."

So expect quite a farewell on April 19. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and they will close for the final time at 11 p.m.

Kris V and Richie D will be performing at 6 p.m. with the Claymont Steak Shop food truck selling cheesesteaks and other goodies.

"We're hoping to pack the place and kick the kegs," said Dunlap, whose brewery is selling discounted $5 pints and $10 six-packs until they close.

Delaware beer historian John Medkeff Jr. lamented their closure.

"They were one of the stalwarts in what they did over those seven years," said Medkeff, author of 2015's "Brewing in Delaware" ($21.99, Arcadia Publishing). "Their run was pretty solid. It's nothing to sneeze at."

He agreed with Dunlap that Midnight Oil's 15-barrel brew house became a liability as competition increased for shelf space at retailers as the craft beer industry grew.

"Most breweries these days aren't surviving on distribution. It's their tap rooms and the bigger profit margins that come with selling directly to your customers. And Midnight Oil has a humble tasting room," he added. "The brewing world has changed in the past seven years and in that industry, it can be deadly if you can't adapt quickly."

In addition to Midnight Oil, the list of breweries that have closed in Delaware in recent years include Stitch House Brewing (Wilmington), Blue Earl Brewing Co. (Smyrna), Hangman Brewing (Claymont) and Fordham & Dominion (Dover).

The causes are many. Some point to the effects of inflation that brought rising costs and supply chain issues to the craft alcohol world, meaning shrinking profit margins. Other forces include increased competition thanks to newer trends such as THC drinks, seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, nonalcoholic beverages and legalized marijuana.

Even so, Medkeff does not believe there is cause for alarm when it comes to Delaware's constellation of craft breweries.

"The industry is stagnant," he said, "but I don't see any indication of mass closures or anything like that."

Midnight Oil was years in the planning when it first opened, growing from Dunlap's love of home brewing.

Now the network engineer, a married father of two who worked about 80 hours a week between his two jobs, is about to have a lot more free time after burning the midnight oil for years ― the reason why the brewery had its name.

"I have a lot of catching up to do and I'll be playing Dad for a while," he said. "But I also kept my homebrew rig, so I'm going to wheel that back out, put it in the garage and go back to the old propane burners for a while."

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

Looking for eggs Benedict, Bloody Marys, carving stations, seafood and sushi selections (yes, sushi!), and more for brunch this Easter Sunday?

Easter is Sunday, April 20. Tables tend to fill fast, so make plans now.

This is not meant to be a complete list of the state's offerings, as most Delaware-area restaurants are open on Easter, but here are 10 holiday-worthy ideas:

Harry's Savoy Grill

2020 Naamans Road, Brandywine Hundred; 302-475-3000; harryshospitalitygroup.com

If you want something special, Harry's Savoy Grill was named by USA Today as one of the best restaurants in the country in 2024. An Easter brunch buffet in the restaurant's ballroom will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and a la carte dining in the restaurant is from 1 to 8 p.m. The brunch buffet is $75 for adults and $25 for children ages 5 to 12. The price includes gratuity and non-alcoholic drinks. The buffet includes a prime rib and ham carving station, entrees such as jumbo lump crab cakes, roasted salmon, grilled chicken breasts, an omelet station, smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, salads and a grand dessert buffet.

BRIO Italian Grille

305 Christiana Mall Road, Christiana; brioitalian.com

For Easter, brunch with an Italian twist will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., alongside BRIO’s dinner menu. The brunch menu includes avocado toast with crispy pancetta, a Tuscan scrambler, and stuffed French toast, plus traditional pastas and hearty entrées. The Mediterranean-inspired dishes can be paired with such brunch cocktails as a peach bellini or a Caffé Disaronno — a blend of Amaretto, Grand Marnier, Dark Crème de Cacao and coffee, topped with whipped cream.

BRIO also offers made-to-order catering packages for pickup, curbside or delivery from Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20. Guests can choose from four packages, each featuring bread, salads, hearty pastas, Italian-style entrées, and desserts. See full Easter catering details here.

Timothy’s Riverfront Grill

930 Justison St., Wilmington Riverfront; 302-429-7427; riverfrontde.mytimothysrestaurants.com

An Easter buffet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes hand-carved turkey and ham, scrambled eggs and omelets, French toast, creamed chipped beef, sausage gravy, pancakes, bacon, sausage and home fries, fruit, bagels, muffins, biscuits, and Danish. The cost is $24.99 for adults, $19.99 for seniors, and $11.99 for children.

Augustine Tavern

1919 St. Augustine Road, Port Penn; 302-444-5114; augustinetavern.com

Seating for the Easter brunch is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A raw bar includes jumbo shrimp cocktail and raw oysters. The buffet also includes Caesar salad, lobster bisque, pineapple brown-sugared ham, classic eggs Benedict, caramel apple French toast bake, chicken and waffles, Caprese frittata, bacon and sausage, home fries, and assorted pastries. The cost is $49.95 per person, plus gratuity; and $24.95 for children under 12.

Le Cavalier

Hotel du Pont, 42 W. 11th St., Wilmington; 302-594-3154; lecavalierde.com

The annual Easter Brunch at Le Cavalier at the Hotel du Pont includes dishes such as a spring salad with watercress, chanterelle mushrooms, English peas, roasted carrots, and a green garlic buttermilk vinaigrette; lamb loin with flageolet beans, cucumber-mint salsa verde, and Castelvetrano tapenade; steak oeufs with grass-fed bavette, two eggs, brown-butter béarnaise, and crispy fingerlings; quiche Lorraine and carrot cake. Easter brunch reservations can be made on Resy.

Saketumi

18814 Coastal Highway (Route 1), Rehoboth Beach; 302-645-2818; saketumisushi.com

An Easter Sunday Brunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is $38.95 per person and $25.95 for children 10 and younger. A sushi station and cold bar assortment of fresh fish includes specialty sushi rolls, shrimp cocktail, avocado salad, and a kale Caesar's salad. The restaurant has a carving and hot station with prime rib and roast turkey. Spring rolls, dumplings, chicken gyoza, Thai beef curry, General Tso's chicken, mashed potatoes, shrimp tempura, lo mein noodles, fried rice, cheesecake and mini pastries also are included. Call for reservations.

Victoria's Restaurant

Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, 2 Olive Ave., and the Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach; 302-227-0615; boardwalkplaza.com/dining

Seatings for an Easter Sunday brunch by reservation are from 10 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., and an a la carte dinner menu is available at 5 p.m. The menu includes deviled eggs, Cobb salad, shrimp cocktail, a brie tartine, Easter ham, crab eggs Benedict, mixed berry cinnamon French toast sticks, lobster Oscar omelet, red snapper, pork chops, chicken pot pie or steak tips and eggs. Desserts include carrot cake, Easter blondie and chocolate layer cake. The cost is $55 per person, $30 for children 6 to 12; and $20 for children 5 and younger.

Klondike Kate's Restaurant & Saloon

158 E. Main St., Newark, 302-737-6100; klondikekates.com

The iconic downtown Newark restaurant has a "Bunny Brunch" for Easter with two seatings at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Reservations are required. The menu includes cheesy scrambled eggs, smoked bacon, sausage, a fruit platter, charcuterie board, warm roast beef and provolone sliders, carved ham, brown sugar bourbon salmon bites and tortellini primavera. Dessert includes mini mousse "shots," brownies, cookies and carrot cake. A children's menu includes macaroni and cheese, wimpy burgers and chicken tenders.

Deerfield Golf Club

507 Thompson Station Road, Newark, 302-368-6640; deerfieldgolfclub.com

Reservations are required for Deerfield's Easter brunch buffet held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The carving station has New York strip steak, rack of lamb and slow-roasted turkey breast. A breakfast "corner" offers scrambled eggs, omelets and eggs made-to-order, bagels, pastries and Danish. The seafood station includes coconut shrimp, peel-and-eat shrimp, lump crabcakes, and bay scallops and mussels marinara. Other entrees include dijon and honey-glazed salmon, grilled pork tenderloin and lobster ravioli. Other dishes on the buffet include broccoli and cheddar soup, Caesar salad, mashed potatoes, and a variety of desserts. Children's dishes include pizza, chicken tenders, French fries and grilled cheese. The cost is $79.95 for adults and $20.95 for children 7 to 12. A 20% gratuity is added to tables of six and more.

Back Creek Golf Club

101 Back Creek Drive, Middletown, 302-378-6499; backcreekgc.com

Easter Brunch at the Middletown golf club includes made-to-order omelets, a pancake bar, carving stations with ham and herb-crusted prime rib, cheese tortellini, salmon, children's option such as chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, and assorted mini desserts.

There are six seatings from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The cost is $39.95 for adults, $16.95 for children 5 to 12. A service charge will be added. The buffet includes Easter games and a visit by the Easter Bunny.

Patricia Talorico writes about food and restaurants. You can find her on Instagram,X and Facebook. Email ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.