Weight Loss Clinic in Brandywine, DE

Unofficial results show over 9,000 voters hit the polls Tuesday despite the snowy conditions early in the day.

And 7,132 of them approved the request for additional tax to fund the Brandywine School District’s operating costs.

2,223 were against it.

Residents are now set to see a 45-cent tax increase spread out over two years - 25 cents in year one and 20 cents in year two.

This was Brandywine’s first referendum since 2016, and the first vote in the state since Appoquinimink's operating and capital requests failed by 248 votes in December.

Brandywine School District’s Bill O’Hanlon says there were some lessons learned there.

"I think that more parents and community members had a better understanding of the referendum, the process and the challenges schools face,” he said. “And I think we really made a diligent effort to contact almost every single civic association, community organization, non-profit - any organization within our district. We reached out to them to inform them about the referendum, and really just educate them and be as transparent as possible.”

That outreach took the form of representatives from the district speaking at three to five community meetings a night for the past few months, according to district officials.

Assistant Superintendent Kenny Rivera says they understood there were a lot of new factors to account for this year that differed from the 2016 referendum, including the larger role of social media and property reassessment.

“It’s hard to control the message sometimes and misinformation out there on social media, so we learned that lesson. And we saw a lot of questions and concerns around reassessment. So we tried to get ahead of that conversation, as well, to explain the impact reassessment will have on our residents,” explained Rivera.

Brandywine School District has seen 2.21% in budget growth in the past 8 years.

O’Hanlon says the win Tuesday will allow them to continue to fund the district’s current operations. That includes safety and security projects, after-school and alternative programming, staffing, and supplies.

It will also allow them to avoid big losses.

“It’s avoiding $6.5 million budget cuts next year, and roughly about 117 staff positions throughout the district. It's avoiding larger classroom sizes and less teachers. It's avoiding a setback of the progress that we've made in the Brandywine School District,” he said.

Brandywine’s referendum is the first in a string of tax increase requests from districts this year.

Red Clay and Colonial school districts hold referendums later this month. Smyrna and Cape Henlopen follow in March.

Appoquinimink expects to hold another vote this spring.

Manisha Collet-Govinden, the opening chef at Bar Reverie in Greenville, is no longer at the restaurant.

Owner David Dietz had “moved mountains” to bring the family to Delaware. (They previously owned a restaurant in Paris.) But ultimately, it was not a good fit.

The new chef, Steve Taplin, started Sept. 17 after working on new dishes at Dietz’s BBC Tavern and Grill next door.

He previously worked at the Union League in Philadelphia and at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

However, Taplin is no stranger to Wilmington.

He went to Salesianum High School, and his parents live in Hockessin, Dietz says.

Look for a new fall menu with Taplin’s imprint.

Bar Reverie is open for coffee and pastries, lunch and dinner.

Bill Irvin, an owner of Snuff Mill Restaurant, Butchery & Wine Bar, plans to open The Brandywine Restaurant in late October.

The seasoned restaurateur was inspired more by the posh department store eateries of his youth than the shuttered Brandywine Room in the Hotel du Pont, and the décor proves his point.

The intimate space near Santa Fe Mexican Grill boasts elegant Japanese wallpaper with cranes, antique mirrors, a barrel-vaulted ceiling and an underlit bar.

Stay tuned.

More than 25 restaurants are participating in Wilmington Black Restaurant Week, hosted by the Wilmington City Council and the Office of Economic Development

The list includes Justin Womack’s Oath ’84, which opened on 405 King St. in 2022 and is moving to 902 N. Market St. this year.

The week culminates on Sept. 23, from noon to 5 p.m., with a food truck event at the Wilmington HBCU Week Block Party. (HBCU stands for historically black colleges and universities.)

The event will be at 10th and Orange streets near DE.CO.

Minh’s Bistro closes

Minh’s Bistro, a Vietnamese restaurant on Route 1 near Rehoboth, announced its closing on Sept. 19. Owner Thinh Pham said he wanted to spend more time with family.

The restaurant opened in 2017 to great applause. It specializes in pho, the Vietnamese soup that eats like a meal.

The space near Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen won’t be vacant for long. The Secret Sauce Thai Kitchen is moving into the small shopping center.

This week, I had the opportunity to visit two Delaware favorites that I haven’t frequented in some time.

The first, Eden in Rehoboth Beach, has achieved culinary icon status.

It initially opened as a café on Rehoboth Avenue but later moved to the short-lived home of Pizza by Elizabeths on Baltimore Avenue.

MORE RESTAURANT FARE: Iron Hill shows off its new menu

The café morphed into a two-story fine-dining destination with fanciful food and a fairy-like décor that appealed to Mark Hunker and best friend Jeff McCracken, who purchased the restaurant in 2005. (They also own JAM Bistro.)

Antelope tenderloin has been an intriguing menu mainstay, and the blushing pink meat is as good as it looks. Kurobuta pork tomahawk is another winner, and the bone is as long as a pot handle.

We recently went to The House of William & Merry, owned by Bill Hoffman, a James Beard Award nominee, and his wife, Merry Catanuto.

The Hockessin restaurant has some of the prettiest plates in Delaware, and the ingredients are clearly top shelf.

For proof, consider the Hudson Valley duck breast, which shared the dish with beets, chanterelle mushrooms, truffle puree and red wine jus. (It would be the perfect Valentine’s Day delight.)

Hoffman loves to play with foie gras, so it’s not to be missed if you’re a fan.

The 12-year-old restaurant has not run out of steam.

The co-owner of the popular Snuff Mill restaurant is opening a dining spot at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, the mixed-use apartment, retail, and restaurant complex at the edge of the Little Italy neighborhood and a short hop to the Forty Acres area

Bill Irvin said he remembered a time when some of the best restaurants were located in department stores, often for “ladies who lunch.”

“It was the best Cobb salads and Dover sole — luxury dining,” he said.

Irvin has seen a revival of classic dining and wanted to bring back some of those items with a contemporary and French twist. The Brandywine Restaurant, which faces Pennsylvania Avenue, will open in late October, according to Irvin, who co-owns Snuff Mill Restaurant, Butchery & Wine Bar off Concord Pike.

The new restaurant will have 40 seats, including those seated at an L-shaped bar and additional outdoor seating.

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According to Irvin, The Brandywine Restaurant is named for the Branadywine Valley – not the Hotel DuPont’s one-time dining room. There’s also the Brandywine Diner on Concord Pike and further north Route 202, Brandywine Prime, a steakhouse.

Irvin’s Snuff Mill partner, Robert Lhulier, designed the 1,700-square-foot floor plan and kitchen, and Salisbury, MD-based Fisher Architecture created the blueprint. GGA is the contractor for the project.

Stephen Mottola helped design the interior décor. “Many people know Stephen for his real estate skills, but he’s also an extremely talented designer,” Irvin says.

Lhulier, the culinary advisor, is working with Chef de Cuisine Andrew Cini to craft a menu for lunch, dinner and late night.

Like the décor, the menu will have a French flair – roast chicken, saumon en croute, steak Diane and flounder with crab imperial bound with mousseline. Items for two will include beef Wellington, a rarity in this area and grilled whole branzino.

The Brandywine Restaurant’s burger version, the Royale with cheese, will have Cooper sharp cheese house-made pickles, lettuce, finely minced onion and a special sauce.

The bar will carry a selection of fine bourbons, Irvin stated.

Brandywine Restaurant Week returns for eighth time

The eighth annual Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week will take place October 2-6. This year’s lineup has also been expanded, featuring 20 dining spots.

The restaurant collaboration enables guests to sample items at special price points — prix-fixe lunch for $20; prix-fixe dinner for $35 or $55.

“Connecting with friends and family over a meal remains a top activity for visitors and residents alike,” added Jennifer Boes, executive director of the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are thrilled to be able to continue promoting the fine dining scene in the bucolic Brandywine Valley.”

Sponsorships and partnerships include Chase, Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mix 99.5FM, In Wilmington, Out & About Magazine, Heineken Silver and Standard Distributing.

This year’s featured restaurant are: Back Burner, Bardea Steak, Bar Reverie, Brandywine Prime, Café Mezzanotte, Ciro Forty Acres, Ciro Riverfront, Columbus Inn, Dorcea, El Camino, Krazy Kat’s, La Fia Bistro, Merchant Bar, Piccolina Toscana, Taverna (north Wilmington), The Market Kitchen, The Quoin, Tonic Seafood & Steak, Walter’s Steakhouse and Wilma’s.

The average gas price in Delaware has fallen by 15 cents a gallon during the past week, according to AAA.

Despite tepid demand with fewer drivers visiting the pump, the national average for a gallon of gas has fallen slowly. That was not the case in Delaware, which posted the second-biggest price change during the past week. By contrast, California saw a 24-cent increase.

Competition played a part in Delaware’s price drop. Sheetz, a convenience store rival of Wawa and Royal Farms, opened a store near the Delaware line in Elkton, MD, leading to price declines along the border.

“Oil is stubbornly staying above $90 per barrel for now, and it’s the main ingredient in gasoline,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “Gas prices will likely keep falling, but it’s going to be slow and unsteady, so expect some days where it might edge higher a bit.”

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose slightly from 8.41 to 8.62 million barrels a day last week; however, it is below last year’s rate of 8.83 million barrels a day during the same week in September of last year.

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Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased by 1 million barrelsl to 220.5 million barrels. Growing supply, amid tepid demand, has pushed prices lower. Still, fluctuating oil prices have limited seasonal price decreases typically seen as the country settles into the lower-demand fall driving season.

The market is concerned that tight supply may not be robust enough to meet demand for the remainder of 2023. As a result, the price of oil could climb higher and keep pump prices elevated this fall.

Drivers can find current gas prices along their routes using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.

Brandywine School District’s operational referendum passed with flying colors Tuesday, preliminary results show.

The referendum, which would raise $15,625,549 in local revenue to support ongoing district operations, was successful.

Although this means the average homeowner will have a $181.75 increase in taxes for fiscal year 2025 and a $145.40 per year increase in fiscal year 2026 and beyond, the district’s residents were in overwhelming support.

With 9,256 total votes, the results show a vote of 7,059 for (76.3% of the vote) and 2,197 against.

The results must be certified by the Department of Elections this Thursday, Feb. 15.

“Dear BSD Families and Staff Members,

I am grateful to announce the successful passage of our operational referendum. This accomplishment is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated community, committed staff, supportive parents, and engaged students. Your belief in our mission and commitment to the future of education in the Brandywine School District is truly inspiring.

I extend my deepest appreciation to each voter who participated in this crucial decision, recognizing the importance of investing in our schools. The funds secured through this referendum will enable us to continue our progress in the critical areas of curricular programming, safety and security measures, offer a wide variety of after-school and extra-curricular opportunities, as well as retain and attract talented educators.

Together, we have demonstrated the power of unity and the shared belief in the transformative potential that high-quality educational experiences make in the lives of children. Thank you for your trust, commitment, and belief in the future of our schools.

Proud To Be 16 great schools and 1 strong community.”

Originally published Dec. 11, 2023

The residents of Brandywine School District will have the opportunity to vote for or against a raise in taxes at a special election on Feb. 13, 2024.

The district is seeking to raise $15,625,549 of local revenue “to support ongoing district operations.”

If passed, those that live in the district will have their local school taxes increased a total of 45 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

The average assessed value in Brandywine is $72,701, so the average homeowner would see a $181.75 increase in taxes for fiscal year 2025 and a $145.40 per year increase in fiscal year 2026 and beyond.

Here are some of the ways the district will use the potential revenue boost:

The polls for the special election will be open on Tuesday, Feb. 13th, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Eligible voters do not have to be a registered voter for general elections, but must be a U.S. citizen and a Brandywine resident of at least 18 years of age.

Absentee ballots are also available here.

The Brandywine board of education is expected to discuss the election at its monthly meeting Monday night, which starts at 7 p.m. and can be watched here.

Polling places are Brandywine High School, Carrcroft Elementary School, Claymont Elementary School, Concord High School, Forwood Elementary School, Hanby Elementary School, Lancashire Elementary School, Lombardy Elementary School, Maple Lane Elementary School, Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Mount Pleasant High School, P.S. DuPont Middle School, Springer Middle School and Talley Middle School.

Brandywine is just one of several districts holding special elections in the coming months to raise local revenue.

RELATED: Red Clay sets 2024 referendum to match state capital funds

Others include Appoquinimink, Red Clay Consolidated and Colonial school districts.

RELATED: Appo referendum Dec. 12; would increase taxes $435 yearly

Appo’s referendum is Tuesday.

Jarek Rutz

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Brandywine Zoo are thrilled to announce Clover, a southern pudu at the zoo, welcomed a male baby the night of July 12. The new fawn is a significant contribution to the North American pudu population. Both Clover and her baby are doing well.

Clover, who has been at the zoo since April 2021, was joined by Ande, a 1-year-old male southern pudu, at the end of November from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Wash. Their pairing is part of an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), a conservation breeding program where vulnerable species in human care are optimally matched for genetic diversity to increase the population.

A name for the baby, who weighed in at 20 ounces – or four times the size of a hamster, will be chosen soon. Check the Delaware State Parks and Brandywine Zoo Facebook pages for updates as the baby progresses.

While they do have access to their exterior habitat at the zoo, Clover and her fawn are mainly keeping to their holding area for now, especially during hot summer temperatures. If they are seen in their exterior habitat, the public is asked to keep their voices down at this time.

Southern pudu are the second smallest deer in the world at 14 to 17 inches at shoulder height. There are fewer than 10,000 southern pudu left in the wild in Argentina and Chile. This pudu species is considered Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

While not currently endangered, the population in the wild is declining. Pudu face threats , including habitat loss due to logging and agriculture, feral dogs and poaching for the pet trade. AZA zoos, including the Brandywine Zoo, are working to maintain a long-term, genetically valuable population of southern pudu through their SSP program. There are only 45 pudu at 15 institutions in the AZA’s Species Survival Plan. Nine of these animals, including eight males are located at a facility in Argentina, so a new male in the U.S. population is a very welcome addition.

The Brandywine Zoo’s pudu were acquired as part of the zoo’s master plan, which was completed in 2018 and reestablishes the zoo’s commitment as an active contributor to the AZA’s conservation breeding programs.

Several other new additions have recently arrived at the Brandywine Zoo as SSP recommended moves and are visible to guests. These include a female Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, acquired in May. She is currently housed in the South American exhibit with the capybara, ducks and ibis. Hoffman’s sloth are currently listed as “least concern,” but their numbers in the wild are decreasing. Two yearling binturongs, which are also called southeast Asian bearcats, were acquired in June from a zoo in Michigan. These are tree dwelling animals and one of only two carnivores with a prehensile tail. Binturongs are listed as “vulnerable” and their populations in the wild are also declining.

The Brandywine Zoo, managed by the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is one of 238 accredited zoos and aquariums worldwide that meet the highest standard in animal care and welfare, and provide fun, safe and educational experiences.

About DNREC The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, [email protected]; Shauna McVey, [email protected]

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Related Topics: ande the pudu, AZA, Brandywine Zoo, clover the pudu, dnrec, southern pudus, species survival plans

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