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For those who live or work within 10 miles of Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Stations

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a 10-mile radius (also known as the Emergency Planning Zone or EPZ) of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.

The free tablets will be distributed on Thursday, April 20, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Volunteer Hose Co. of Middletown, 27 W. Green Street, Middletown, Delaware.

KI is available to residents who have received it previously and whose tablets have reached their expiration date, as well as those who never received tablets before. Individuals with home or business addresses within the EPZ are eligible to receive the KI tablets. Recipients must bring a photo ID such as a driver’s license, proof of residency such as a utility bill, or proof of employment within the EPZ when they go to the Middletown Fire Hall – this is the only requirement to receive KI tablets. Residents who have KI that is expired can bring those tablets to the distribution center to exchange for new ones.

KI does not protect against external radiation but can help protect the thyroid gland from ingested or inhaled radioactive iodine that might be released in a radiation emergency. KI is one of the protective measures outlined in Delaware’s emergency plans developed for use in a nuclear incident. The State of Delaware receives the tablets through a program initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Delaware residents living outside of the 10-mile EPZ who would like to obtain KI tablets should contact their pharmacist. KI is also available over-the-counter at some local pharmacies.

For additional information regarding the potassium iodide distribution program in Delaware, call the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) section at 302-659-3362. More information and resources can be found at PrepareDE.org

Social Media: Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram

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MIDDLETOWN – The long-rumored Target store is moving to fruition after the company purchased the land off Middletown-Warwick Road this month, according to county land records.

The Minnesota-based retail giant bought its nearly 13-acre parcel for about $4.1 million on Jan. 5 from local developers Lee and Louis Ramunno.

A request to Target for comment on the acquisition was not immediately returned Friday. It still does not list Middletown on its list of upcoming store locations.

Part of a planned development known as Northside Shopping Center just north of the intersection with Route 299, the 147,000-square-foot Target will be a major anchor for the plaza that will host about eight other stores.

Louis Ramunno told Delaware Business Times that site work on the Target would start within a few weeks, and the estimated opening of the new store would be the middle of 2024.

“It took a lot of work, but Target is obviously a world-class company and our intent is to build about 150,000 square feet of additional ancillary retail around them with national-caliber tenants,” he added.

The deal with the major brand took more than a year to close after they made contact and underwent a design process, Ramunno said, but the retailer expressed an enthusiasm for getting into the Middletown market and along a thoroughfare that sees more than 1 million vehicle trips a year.

Middletown Mayor Kenneth Branner Jr. told DBT said that landing Target was a major coup for the southern New Castle County town that has exploded with commercial, industrial and residential development in the last decade.

“We have Walmart and Home Goods all in one shopping center and to have Target on the other side of 299 is going to be a tremendous plus. We’re very excited about that,” he said.

According to marketing materials by Metro Commercial, the Target would be located in the center of the new shopping center with eight standalone pad sites ranging from 62,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet across the remaining 28 acres. A Dash-In gas station is already listed as confirmed near the frontage of Middletown-Warwick Road, and the new center will abut an existing Popeyes and liquor store.

Branner said that a PetSmart store may be in the works for the plaza as well, but no confirmation has been made yet.

Ramunno said that leasing interest has “picked up significantly” since word of the Target began to spread a few months ago. He expects to announce some additional tenants in the next few months.

The development of standalone pad sites rather than strip malls is important, however, as they are more sought-after by many major corporate brands for their ability to be personalized. Ramunno said that, unlike the Target, his development firm would construct the additional sites to own and lease, once tenants are identified.

Branner noted that standalone sites are more likely to become sit-down restaurants than strip mall locations that are typically smaller footprints that often lend themselves to take-out-focused locations.

The Middletown location will be the fifth in Delaware for the retailing giant, joining those in the Christiana Mall off Interstate 95, Brandywine Town Center off U.S. Route 202, Prices Corner Shopping Center off Kirkwood Highway and one off U.S. Route 13 in Dover.

MIDDLETOWN – A Weis Markets grocery store will anchor a new commercial plaza north of Middletown in the Bayberry master-planned community.

Blenheim Group, the Newark-based residential and hotel developer that began work on the Village of Bayberry community that spans 1,500 acres on both sides of Boyds Corner Road back in 2010, made the announcement Wednesday morning.

The 64,000-square-foot Weis store, its fourth in Delaware, will anchor a new 280,000-square-foot Bayberry Town Center commercial plaza and feature a gas station. The mid-Atlantic food retailer already operates 197 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia and Virginia. The Bayberry location is scheduled to open in 2025.

The town center is anticipated to break ground this fall and is poised to be the largest grocery-anchored center in the fast-growing Middletown-Odessa-Townsend (MOT) corridor in southern New Castle County, according to the developer. Although other tenants have not yet been announced, Blenheim aims to include a combination of grocery, upscale shopping, restaurants, services, banking and health care.

The center will also feature 31,000 square feet of office space, two green spaces for community programming, 145 townhomes and a connective artery to 3,400 homes in the rear of Bayberry’s northern community.

“It’s a significant milestone for us here at Bayberry to welcome Weis Markets and kickstart additional leasing activity at the future Bayberry Town Center, the final phase in our multi-year development of The Village of Bayberry master-planned community,” said Jay Sonecha, president of Blenheim Group, in a statement announcing the deal. “Located in one of Delaware’s fastest-growing residential areas, Bayberry Town Center will give local residents a new first-class grocery option, while also providing convenient access to quality goods and services and enjoyable dining and entertainment with family and friends. We look forward to naming more tenants in the coming months and breaking ground.”

The addition of Weis on Boyds Corner Road will be an answer to one of the biggest requests of MOT-area residents, who currently only have grocery options in downtown Middletown and few options for gas stations east of Route 896.

It also comes with a captive market in Bayberry, which features 1,700 sold homes and plans for another 1,000 homes in the coming years. Part of the community’s selling point has always been the addition of commercial tenants that would help insulate the needs of residents, but it’s taken more than a decade to reach the point of breaking ground.

“Weis Markets is eager to serve The Village of Bayberry and the surrounding communities in the years ahead. When open, our new Bayberry Town Center store will offer a strong combination of quality, service, convenience and value,” Dennis Curtin, Weis Markets director of public relations, said in a statement.

On Monday the National Weather Service (NWS) Mount Holly, located in New Jersey, conducted a damage survey following a tornado event in Middletown, Delaware on Sunday.

The survey aimed to assess the extent of the damage caused by the tornado and provide valuable information about its strength and path.

The tornado, rated EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, had an estimated peak wind speed of 100 mph. It traveled a path of approximately 1.19 miles in length and had a maximum width of 200 yards officials said.

The tornado originated in a field just west of North Bayberry Parkway, about 4 miles northeast of Middletown. Prior to the tornado’s formation, the area experienced notable rear flank downdraft straight-line wind damage in the Bayberry South neighborhood. Several homes along South Bayberry Parkway, Puccini Lane, Chopin Drive, and Ravel Lane sustained minor cosmetic damage, including soffit and gutter damage, and some shingles and siding were blown off. One home on Chopin Drive experienced a small section of roof damage.

As the tornado continued northeast, it crossed Route 896, causing some minor damage to small signs and the Bayberry North neighborhood sign. A single-family house and detached garage near the intersection of North Bayberry Parkway and Route 896 also sustained cosmetic damage, along with several trees in the vicinity.

The tornadic circulation intensified northwest of the aforementioned property, resulting in damage to small to medium-sized softwood trees along North Bayberry Parkway. The tornado then proceeded northeast, causing minor damage to a park playground and pavilion. It crossed a field and a pond before impacting a home along Plato Place, where it caused cosmetic damage and blew down a fence.

Moving into a tree line, the tornado uprooted several trees before entering the residential area along Milford Drive. At this point, the tornado reached its maximum width of approximately 200 yards. Additional trees were uprooted or snapped, and some homes suffered minor cosmetic damage along the western loop of Milford Drive.

The tornado continued northeast, strengthening further as it approached the western loop of Milford Drive. A line of cedar trees had most of its trees uprooted, and homes in the area experienced varying degrees of damage. One home’s detached garage had a blown-in garage door and a pushed-out exterior wall, while another home had its back deck porch roof completely destroyed. Outdoor furniture was blown away, and a hot tub was flipped over. Another detached garage sustained minor cosmetic damage.

Proceeding along Ethel Court, primarily tree damage occurred, including another row of cedar trees that were blown down. The tornado then followed Bullen Drive, slightly turning left as the circulation began to occlude. Numerous small trees sustained varying degrees of damage, particularly on the eastern side near the intersections of South Red Fox Circle and North Red Fox Circle. Homes along Bullen Drive were impacted, with significant damage occurring to one house where the attached garage roof was blown off into the front yard. Chimneys, windows, and siding were also damaged in other residences.

The tornado dissipated as it reached Hyatts Corner Road, north-northeast of Angelo Court. In addition to the tornado damage, the NWS survey team identified straight-line wind damage in the surrounding areas. A semi-truck was blown over on Route 1 southbound, and some corn was blown down in a field east of US Route 13. This damage was determined to be the result of straight-line winds and not related to the tornadic circulation.

Further northeast of the tornado’s dissipation point, sporadic tree damage and minor cosmetic damage to homes were found in residential areas along Port Penn Road, including Sugar Pine Drive and Dutch Neck Road. Additional blown-down corn was also observed in fields along Dutch Neck Road. These areas experienced straight-line wind damage.

The NWS Mount Holly extends its gratitude to the New Castle County Emergency Management and Mr. Lou Ruh for their valuable assistance during the survey.

Officials said that the information provided in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in the official NWS reports.

No fatalities were reported as a result of this incident.

Whether you’re searching for a beach retreat or a town in which to start a family, these 12 areas provide the best schools, convenience and value Delaware has to offer.

Photos by Joe Del Tufo

Looking to relocate in the 302? These booming neighborhoods offer distinct qualities catering to different lifestyles.

Delaware, at a slow and steady pace, finally cracked the 1 million residents mark last year after decades of incremental growth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Where’s everyone going? We tracked down just a few hot spots where new homes collide with local history and historic towns feel rejuvenated.

Arden

Rob Stigler knows better than most that Arden can be a lot to take in for the uninitiated.

The funky lawn décor. The odd, old, Frankenstein houses with mismatched extensions and outré curb appeal. Even the neighborhood’s cherished annual festival, the Arden Fair, may confuse first-time patrons seeking a run-of-the-mill block party.

“People see us for the first time and think, Why the hell are these Arden people dressed up like wizards?”

Stigler, a Realtor with Keller Williams, is a lifelong Arden resident and today sells homes there and beyond. Dressing in Shakespearean garb for the annual fair is just part of the quirky package.

“I’ve lived in Arden my whole life, so I feel like it’s OK for me to say this: Arden is weird,” he says. “And you either love that weirdness or you don’t. It caters to a specific buyer.

“There are some houses in Arden that will sell for a price that seems kind of ridiculous considering what you get on an objective basis. But what drives some of those prices is maybe how unique the house is or some of the quirks about it that people just, for whatever reason, love Arden for.”

The vast majority of the 450-plus homes in Arden are totally original. No cookie-cutters or McMansions here.

Stigler’s house, for instance, is the only octagonal house in the neighborhood, and one of only a couple in the state. There are plenty of other homes that have their own sense of uniqueness in the neighborhood, he says, “and that can be both a blessing and a curse because not everybody wants that weird one-off house that doesn’t cater to today’s kind of norms.”

Find everything here from cozy ranch cottages to fixer-uppers to historic Tudor-style homes—and oddballs and artists galore.

“There’s a bit of a premium placed on some of that uniqueness, charm, quirkiness, whatever you want to call it,” Stigler says. Home prices here can range from anywhere between $180,000 and $850,000. A one-bedroom house recently sold for $400,000. Between the variety of architecture, a happening summer music festival, swim club and Arden’s famous Gild Hall, residents are happy to embrace the weirdness.

Milton

Few spots in the First State are witnessing the kind of new construction explosion as Milton, the small Sussex town once known for Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a beloved theater…and not a whole lot else.

Things are far different today. “There’s so much slated new construction coming to Milton that I can’t even keep up,” says Jaime Hurlock, a Realtor with Long & Foster. Young families, downsizers and out-of-staters continue to flock to Milton thanks to its friendly, small-town feel, its proximity to the beaches and outlets, and a raft of affordable new inventory on the market. Single-family homes fetch prices in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, while properties with water views like Broadkill Beach and Wagamons Pond are going for more. Such neighborhoods as Preserve on the Broadkill and Cannery Village offer walkability and tailored amenities galore.

“Downtown is coming back again,” Hurlock asserts. “Milton has had a lot of stores turning over, but another couple of cafés showed up this wintertime that seem to be doing well.” Shops like Maggiemade and Cape Treasure Gallery sell hip and locally inspired housewares, and nearby spots like Revelation Brewery provide the kind of wide-open, relaxed vibe only found downstate and away from the bustle of the beach.

Who knows for how long, though. Open space is also being converted into destinations like Schellville—the “enchanted winter celebration” operated by the development giants Schell Brothers. The drive-through lights show and miniature Christmas village—complete with scale-model homes to explore, an ice rink, train rides and more—continues to attract enormous crowds in the winter months. Nearby Hudson Fields welcomed hometown country superstar Jimmie Allen to its stage in 2022.

Beyond the amenities, families and guardians can also plug into the excellent Cape Henlopen School District. Thanks to the population growth, most families can send their kids to new—“brand-spanking new” in many cases, Hurlock says—school buildings. “The growth and financial stability of this school district just keeps building up,” she says.

Unlike its neighbors to the south, Milford has mostly resisted the new construction boom. And that’s a good thing, in a way. “Milford’s definitely that town that has the old town, small charm still,” Hurlock says.

That also means 30- to 40-year old homes with old charms and mature landscaping, and average home prices near the $300,000 mark, with a handful of bargains to be had near historic downtown Milford.

Still, it seems impossible to deny Milford’s growing profile. “There’s a lot of reinvestment happening in town,” Hurlock says. “It has that walkable riverfront area. It’s an area that’s seeing a lot of families, especially because of the price point.”

Milford has a strong blue-collar presence, as it has throughout its history, with a chicken plant, a concrete plant, and manufacturers of electronics, thermoplastics and more among its major job providers—as well as the recently built Bayhealth Sussex Campus. That helps lead to a diverse range of home prices and a few newer condo options like Hearthstone Manor.

“And you’re starting to see the larger grocery stores, and just everybody popping up around that area now,” Hurlock adds.

Who can resist buzzy local favorites like My Sister’s Fault (the heralded Puerto Rican bakery and café), Surf Bagel and Arena’s Deli? Suddenly, they, along with Mispillion Brewery and Easy Speak Distillery, comprise a formidable lineup of dining and drinking options. A fondue place is even on the way.

There are a few newer neighborhoods with larger homes and water views that command much higher sums, especially in spots along Haven Lake, like North Shore Drive, Haven Lake Avenue and Evergreen Lane.

“There’s a lot of cool stuff going on in Milford, as I see a lot of people I grew up with from a little bit farther north going to that area,” Hurlock says. “And then anybody [who] grew up in Milford stays there, raises their families and are reinvesting themselves back in the community, too.”

Middletown

Great schools, flocking young families, and buzzy retail, breweries and restaurants? Check.

A Panera Bread and a Target? Now you’re officially on the map, Middletown.

After decades of rapid residential growth, Middletown’s surrounding amenities are beginning to catch up with the monumental demand for family-friendly dining and activities.

The beloved national chains join cool local hangouts like First State Brewing Company and Crooked Hammock, boutiques like F+L, and new and improved green spaces near Shallcross Road and Levels Park. Micro entertainment hubs see places like Putters Paradise mini golf and Westown Movies attract big crowds on warm nights.

The highly rated Appoquinimink School District still tops families’ wish lists when considering Middletown, Realtor Megan Aitken says. “A lot of people find that Middletown is a healthy balance for both top education and price point and location, and in proximity to where they have to work,” she says.

Coveted new neighborhoods include the Estates at St. Anne’s, nestled between some of the town’s newer, hipper shopping and restaurant options. A similar vibe is unfolding on the southwest side of Middletown near the Westown Shopping Plaza, Aitken says.

Planned “active” communities like Bayberry and the Town of Whitehall continue to spark interest, offering loads of community events and gatherings.

With a possible downshift in the economy looming, rising interest rates and inflation, home prices around Middletown—which hover around $500,000—could start adjusting back down the bell curve.

“The big buzz is really what’s coming next,” Aitken says. “What’s coming? Panera Bread was such a big deal when they opened up here and then it was onto the next thing. Just an insatiable audience here.”

Trolley Square

The 20-somethings who staggered around the Trolley Square bar loops have grown up, raised kids of their own and are now settling down in the historic neighborhood once again.

Realtor and Trolley Square resident Vince Garman says the neighborhood is experiencing a changing of the guard, along with nearby Forty Acres, both old, proud Irish neighborhoods. “It’s a known sexy area,” he says. “It’s charming, attractive. A lot of folks from the Wilmington area are leaving for college, then coming back in their late 20s and buy a place here.”

And why not rekindle your glory years in one of Wilmington’s consistently strong hangout spots, always teeming with nightlife and restaurants? It’s home to one of BrewHaha!’s most luxuriously hip locations and both long-standing and newer establishments.

The Trolley Square Oyster House, the narrow but knockout oyster bar that opened in 2016, remains a hot spot, Garman says. “One of the coolest, funnest places out there. A definition of a vibe.” The backyard at Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen is another pivotal place to see and be seen, along with stalwarts like Kelly’s Logan House.

Garman—who, along with his wife Mary, runs an Instagram account called Trolley Trends spotlighting local businesses and residents—says the area’s on a certified upswing. “When houses go up here, they’re going super quickly,” he says. “It’s the place to be. It has the best of both worlds: suburbia mixed with walkable city life.”

Homes can be had reasonably here, too—with their old-world charm and abundant brickwork, as long as you don’t mind a creak or two.

And who says parents can’t hire a babysitter (via the bulletin board at St. Anne’s Church, perhaps?) and still participate in a bar loop once in a while?