Delaware State Police have identified the 2-year-old boy killed in a crash that injured four others near Hockessin on Sunday a 16-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries Troopers were called to Route 41 (Newport Gap Pike) by Valley Lane shortly before 4:15 p.m they found a Jeep SUV that had crashed into a Freightliner tractor trailer police determined the Jeep was driving south on Route 41 with the tractor trailer driving in the opposite direction For "reasons still under investigation," police said placing it directly in the path of the tractor trailer READ: What to know about ongoing measles outbreaks, when to get vaccinated and measles symptoms This caused the two vehicles to collide head-on Police closed the road for about seven hours as they investigated Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com After nearly two years of planning and even more years of residents losing cell signals ground was broken on one of three cell towers to be built in New Castle County New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer was joined by county lawmakers and officials from Verizon on Aug 29 to break ground on the newest Verizon cell tower located near the Hockessin Police Athletic League at 7529 Lancaster Pike Residents have reported “dead zones” near Hockessin and other areas in southern New Castle County for years where cell phones and laptops don’t pick up signal Background: Plans announced to fix cell service dead zones in Hockessin and Middletown areas With $1.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money the county commissioned a third-party company to conduct a study into which New Castle County areas have the worst reception in 2023 and narrowed the areas down to three sites for new cell towers Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant MiddletownHockessin Police Athletic League HockessinThe county sent out a Request for Proposal for each site with bids from service providers expected to be due back by Sept which pushed back plans to construct the towers Verizon signed onto a 10-year lease providing cell service to the area The contract for Verizon to take over the Hockessin cell tower was finalized earlier this year and has been going through the county’s land use process leading up to the beginning of construction Neither New Castle County nor Verizon responded with a timeline for the construction of the cell tower Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety when the vehicle they were in entered oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a tractor trailer Sunday near Hockessin The child's name has not been released pending family and relatives being notified The boy was in a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee heading southbound on Newport Gap Pike approaching the intersection with Valley Lane when police said the Jeep crossed into the northbound lane — directly into the path of a 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer a little before 4:10 p.m the Jeep and Freightliner collided head-on The 2-year-old was taken to an area hospital More: Police identify 60-year-old man killed in Selbyville crash was taken to an area hospital for serious injuries were treated at area hospitals for not life-threatening injuries His passengers were all from the Kennett Square area Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com Firefighters battling an early morning house fire in Hockessin found one person dead inside the structure Two firefighters were also injured during the blaze The Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office provided no information about the dead person The agency's Chief Deputy Robert Fox did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday seeking information about the deceased More: How many early votes were cast in Delaware? See the numbers and where they were from Fox said in a statement that firefighters were dispatched to the 500 block of Erickson Drive in the Hickory Hills neighborhood about 2:30 a.m Firefighters found smoke and heavy fire coming from the house's roof and windows Other fire companies responded to help fight the fire Two firefighters were injured during the blaze and taken to Christiana Hospital to be evaluated The body was found inside the home after the fire was extinguished The latest news and information from the world's most respected news source BBC World Service delivers up-to-the-minute news Three Delaware schools that played a key role in the fight against segregation have been added to the Brown v Board of Education National Historical Park File - A plaque on the front of Hockessin School #107C The First State still struggles with creating a quality education for all students despite its consequential role in the Brown v The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. A new pilot program in Wilmington will teach teens business skills to help them pitch their own business plans More than 300 Latinas are expected for a night of women empowerment Christmas trees have been banned from Delaware’s landfills since 2008 Johnny Perez-Gonzalez reports on the state of Delaware for WHYY News Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY 2025) – A tragic tractor-trailer crash occurred on Sunday afternoon claiming the life of a 2-year-old child and leaving five others injured at the intersection of Newport Gap Pike and Valley Lane a silver 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling southbound on Newport Gap Pike and was approaching the intersection with Valley Lane a gray 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer was heading northbound on Newport Gap Pike directly into the path of the Freightliner The front of the Jeep collided with the front of the Freightliner causing significant damage to both vehicles A 2-year-old male passenger from Kennett Square His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment Initial reports from the scene indicated that at least one individual was trapped in the Jeep and had to be extricated by firefighters before being transported managing both the injured victims and the traffic around the accident site The roadway was closed for approximately seven hours while investigators processed the scene and cleared the wreckage Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the young child who tragically lost their life in this accident The community remains deeply affected by this devastating loss and we offer our sincerest condolences during this difficult time has witnessed a concerning number of fatal car accidents over the past decade reflecting broader trends in New Castle County and the state While the community represents a smaller fraction of Delaware’s population the rate of deadly crashes remains troubling highlighting the need for improved traffic safety measures These accidents often lead to devastating consequences with families left grappling with grief and loss When a fatal accident occurs due to negligence or misconduct Delaware law allows eligible family members plaintiffs must prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused the death offering some financial relief to those left behind during their difficult time If you have lost a loved one in a fatal tractor-trailer accident locally, our brave Hockessin wrongful death attorney from Murphy & Landon is prepared to take on your case with firm dedication With an uparalleled commitment to client advocacy and a proven track record of success our law firm provides quality legal guidance and representation to bereaved families after the sudden loss of a loved one in a car wreck To speak with our attorney about your loved one’s fatal Hockessin tractor-trailer accident call Murphy & Landon at (302) 472-8112 to schedule a consultation Our hard-working team is ready to guide you through the claims process and ensure that your rights and interests are vigorously defended 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 The photo used in this post was not taken at this accident scene Murphy & Landon Delaware 1011 Centre Road Suite 210 Wilmington, DE 19805 Map and Directions Murphy & Landon New York 800 Third Avenue 28th Floor New York, NY 10022 Map and Directions Get Directions powered by Google By Dr. Michael T. Vest In jurisdictions where it is legal, the option of ending one’s life through lethal drugs will always be the cheapest option available to any patient with a serious illness Data compiled by the Oregon health department has shown a steady increase in patients choosing to end their lives via the Oregon Death With Dignity Act due to financial concern about the cost of medical treatment 9.3% of patients ending their lives through the act in 2024 reported financial concern with treatment as a reason for doing so This is an increase from 8.3% in 2023 and 5.1% in data combining years 1998 to 2022 While I find the idea of even 5% of patients choosing to end their lives because of financial concern unacceptable, as a Delaware physician, I have no doubt that, if The Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law (House Bill 140) is enacted a higher percentage of Delaware patients using it to end their lives would be trying to spare their families financial hardship In arguing for legalization of medical aid in dying/assisted suicide advocates repeatedly mention the principle of autonomy While this is an important principle in medical ethics when a patient with a viral infection asks for an antibiotic the principle of autonomy would indicate that they should receive an antibiotic other principles — such as beneficence/nonmaleficence (antibiotics will not help the viral infection and could cause harm) and justice (the antibiotic may increase community antimicrobial resistance and harm others) — argue against providing antibiotics for viral infections In making laws, justice is a particularly important principle. The disparate harm to vulnerable patients by medical-aid-in-dying laws (documented by the National Council on Disability’s “The Danger of Assisted Suicide Laws”) violates the principle of justice There are many examples in the regulation of medicine in which we limit autonomy to protect justice it is illegal for a patient to receive payment for “donating” a kidney for transplantation (even though some people have tried to sell one kidney) Laws requiring compulsory vaccinations and treatment for highly communicable diseases also deliberately restrict autonomy in the service of justice speed limits on public roads restrict drivers’ autonomy not only to protect others but to protect the drivers themselves For patients without adequate resources faced with a disabling serious illness being offered a choice between inadequate care and lethal drugs is not offering a truly autonomous decision — it is simply another injustice Dr. Michael T. Vest is a resident of Hockessin. This article first appeared at BaytoBayNews.com First State Update Delaware's News Authority | Delaware Breaking News | Local News The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating a House Fire that occurred overnight in Hockessin Officials said At approximately 2:30 AM Tuesday morning the Hockessin Fire Company was alerted to a house fire in the 500 block of Erickson Drive in the Hickory Hills neighborhood of Hockessin Upon arrival the Fire Department found smoke and heavy fire coming from the roof and windows of the house Multiple Fire Departments responded to assist with extinguishment State Fire Marshal Deputies were called to the scene and are currently investigating the origin and cause of the fire One person was found deceased in the residence during extinguishment Two Firefighters were injured fighting the fire and were transported to Christiana Hospital for evaluation and treatment About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy, Terms & Rules Facebook a premiere privately owned and physician-led dermatology group The office is the Pennsylvania-based practice’s second in Delaware following the success of its clinic in North Wilmington will be led by Board-certified dermatologist Katrina Hansen Hansen will provide a full range of dermatologic care Dermatology Partners shares my own vision for providing compassionate and timely care to every patient,” says Dr “I’m excited to be part of a practice that employs the most advanced medicine and technology in its efforts to prioritize the unique needs of each individual we serve.” Hansen’s commitment to providing exceptional patient-centric treatment makes her the ideal person to lead our new office in Hockessin and meet the growing demand for dermatologic care in that community upholding Dermatology Partners’ solid reputation for excellence in delivering general dermatology services and advanced treatments for skin cancer,” notes Dermatology Partners’ Chief Operating Officer Andrew Frankel Hansen is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology Hansen’s goal when performing surgery is always to optimize scar appearance while taking appropriate steps to ensure safe removal of lesions She also emphasizes achieving natural-looking results when utilizing neuromodulators (Botox) and filler Hansen earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with a minor in Spanish from the University of Delaware She received her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing her internship at North Carolina’s Sampson Regional Medical Center She completed her dermatology residency at Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills where she served as chief resident in her final year Throughout her undergraduate and graduate studies Hansen volunteered on four medical missions to various countries in Latin America she conducted health screenings and treated dermatologic illnesses while serving as a Spanish-English language translator the new Dermatology Partners’ office in Hockessin will have four employees with plans to increase staff in the near future Dermatology Partners’ other Delaware clinic is located at 2000 Foulk Road For more information or to schedule an appointment at the new Dermatology Partners’ Hockessin office, please call 302-485-9995 or visit www.dermpartners.com To learn more about Dermatology Partners, or to book an immediate appointment visit www.dermpartners.com or call (888) 818-3376 © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved NPR's Morning Edition takes listeners around the country and the world with two hours of multi-faceted stories and commentaries that inform Morning Edition is the most listened-to news radio program in the country A rear view of Hockessin Colored School #107C (Courtesy of Hagley Library and Museum) The brick building was once a one-room schoolhouse and the only one local Black students could attend Now it’s part of the National Park Service Carney is under pressure to diversify the court after Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock tendered his retirement After the Delaware Supreme Court sided with Seitz the court ruled separate but equal was unconstitutional using many of the arguments and language from the First State’s case Delawareans still debate how successful school desegregation has been in the state Sonny Knox said those court rulings improved opportunities for Black residents you started getting better jobs and better salaries Hockessin Colored School #107C closed in 1959. Busing students to other schools in New Castle County in the mid-1970s became very controversial Gary Hutt with the Howard High School Alumni Association said there’s still a desire by some today to maintain racial separation in schools “There’s still a lot of parents out there that fight look for other ways to keep their kids from having to be around kids unlike their own kids,” he said Some said the lack of a quality education for disadvantaged students in the state shows there’s still work to do on desegregation But others say it might be more beneficial for groups to have their own schools Elizabeth Lester was part of the first wave of students to go to desegregated schools in Delaware in the early 1960s She attended Hockessin Elementary School as a first-grader She said she went to public schools until her first year of high school when she left because of bad previous experiences with school staff “I really think that we would have been better off if we had the books, the learning to be in Black schools seriously,” she said. “Because you learn more.” In 2020, Delaware settled a lawsuit that accused the state of being complicit in the disparities experienced by students. An independent report released last year recommended adding up to $1 million to help students who are low-income Coverage of Delaware's state government is supported by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Christina School Board member Naveed Baqir says that while he no longer lives in Delaware he is still a state resident able to serve on the board Kevin Hensley accepted a plea deal last week for his DUI arrest last November Hensley avoided a harsher penalty because his other offense was more than 10 years ago The legislator says he’s on a “recovery journey.” Sarah Mueller is WHYY News’ Delaware politics reporter The new year has begun with big changes in the local dining industry Here's a look at recent restaurant openings and a couple of restaurants that have welcomed customers in recent months that you might have missed Coterie Cafe + Kitchen, a cozy cafe with a handful of tables and counter service, began welcoming customers on Dec. 31. The open daily "neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot" at 1130 W. Seventh St. in Wilmington's Cool Springs neighborhood is doing steady business and gaining fans through its social media sites Chef/co-owner Joshua Santiago's breakfast menu includes lox and bagels Macau Kitchen is one of Delaware’s most popular attractions “Modern and traditional Chinese plus Asian specialties are sure to be a hit with all audiences from our house-made General Tso’s chicken to our signature bubble teas to our comforting noodle soups,” said Nick Polcino Bally’s Dover Casino Resort vice president and general manager “Macau Kitchen and the adjacent high limit table games area bring a tremendous energy to Bally’s Dover,” Polcino said The culinary staff crafts dishes from scratch featuring wok specialties that showcase the art of high-heat stir-frying wonton soup and the signature Vietnamese pho a hearty bowl featuring house-made aromatic broth with rare Complementing the food are a variety of modern craft cocktails a curated wine list and an international selection of beers along with an extensive selection of alcohol-free choices like house-made bubble teas and bottled beverages from around the world to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m More: New Asian-inspired restaurant and bar with gaming area at Bally's Dover Casino Resort The breakfast menu is American fare with made-to-order favorites like omelets Breakfast hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m breakfast is combined with brunch at Sugar Factory in Bally’s starting at 8 a.m.Takeout and delivery are available What's coming?We just saw an update on the Regency Centers website, the owners of the Pike Creek Shopping Center, that Kyushu Ramen Bar will be moving into the 2,000-square-foot space vacated in August by the former Tierra Mexi-Cali Grill. A sign in the window says "coming soon." No more information was immediately available about the restaurant coming to the center at 4700 Limestone Road, although the restaurant logo appears to be related to two Japanese Ramen Noodles bars now operating in Ohio A billboard off Delaware Route 41 (Lancaster Pike) in Hockessin says that an Aunt Bertha's Kitchen location is coming to the Shoppes of Hockessin It will be taking over the spot formerly occupied by the short-lived Blade Kebab & Steakhouse the location was best known for housing Pat's Pizza Aunt Bertha's specializes in soul food and "hearty homemade dishes that taste just like Grandma used to make." The first Delaware site is located at 198 N Dupont Highway in New Castle and Aunt Bertha's has locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania In Sussex County, Old World Breads, the Lewes bakery on Nassau Road, announced in a Facebook post on Dec that it was opening a second location in Long Neck in early 2025 Owners haven't yet shared the address or opening date Hearth Kitchen in the Shoppes at Longwood Village Pike The Italian restaurant has been operated by Wilmington restaurateurs Andrea and Bryan Sikora since 2017 they wrote: "Many of you may have heard that Hearth Kitchen will have new owners at the end of January We hope to see you all in January before we say goodbye It has been absolutely wonderful being part of the Kennett Square community and maybe we will be back somewhere else in the not-too-distant future The Sikoras, who run La Fia and Merchant Bar in downtown Wilmington and Crow Bar in Trolley Square said their last day at the restaurant is Monday Hearth Kitchen gift cards must be used before then The couple opened The Noble Goat Kitchen and Bar New owners of Hearth Kitchen will be the Wilmington-based Platinum Dining Group The restaurant organization was founded in 1996 by Carl and Lisa Georigi They run the Wilmington restaurants Eclipse Bistro Carl Georigi told Delaware Online/The News Journal that he is acquiring Hearth Kitchen on Jan He said the plan is to close for February to do extensive renovations and a targeted reopening date is set for March 12 Hearth Kitchen in The Shoppes of Longwood Village a Kennett shopping center near Longwood Gardens once housed a pub named Manny Hattans and a short-lived eatery known as Bite of Italy Andrea Sikora said the space "was just four walls" when they got the keys to the Kennett site nearly eight years ago Georigi said he is keeping the Hearth Kitchen name and will create a new menu featuring globally influenced cuisine The bar will have a French/Italian/Spanish wine list craft cocktails and draft and bottled beers The restaurant seats 110 people with an additional 16 at the bar and 32 on a new Hearth Kitchen will be open daily for lunch and dinner and offer a live jazz Sunday brunch Platinum Dining Group has six Delaware locations Later this year, expect a different look at an old Dewey Beach favorite. The Starboard is getting a new pavilion Dewey's iconic Starboard has received approval from the town to make its COVID-era outdoor dining area permanent with a pavilion roof a temporary tent covers the former parking area at the Coastal Highway restaurant and bar Owner Steve Montgomery said it takes a beating in bad weather and isn't very nice-looking "This is all part of the silver lining that came from (COVID) bringing outside dining to so much of Delaware," Montgomery said "It's made Dewey an even more popular spot for those of all ages." Roof construction is set to begin in the fall of 2025 Bean Head Coffee Bar, which recently got a new sign, has been operating in Wilmington's Trinity Vicinity neighborhood since its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in late July. The cafe at 714 W. 11th St. has intriguing drinks such as a smoked hazelnut latte and a "dirty" iced coffee. Visit beanheadcoffeebar.com Be in the know: Korean & Vietnamese foods are among the hot trends in 2025. Where to find them in Delaware Check it out: 9 new restaurants offer 'smashburgers,' Italian American fare, falafel and pork belly buns The Selfie Restaurant at 504 Greenhill Ave on the first and third Sunday of each month The soul food restaurant opened in the fall 2024 and has brunch dishes like lamb and grits Quality Family Physicians medical practice located in Hockessin has joined ChristianaCare’s award-winning network of primary care practices The new name of the practice is ChristianaCare Primary Care at Stone Mill The practice has been led by Kathleen Willey ChristianaCare now operates 30 primary care practices for adults and children throughout Delaware ChristianaCare operates another primary care practice nearby at 726 Yorklyn Road in Hockessin and is exploring options for one expanded site in the future “ChristianaCare strives to make a positive impact on the health of every person in every community we serve,” said Christine Donohue Henry ChristianaCare’s chief population health officer “That includes increasing access to primary care services that will help people achieve their very best health her staff and the patients from her practice to ChristianaCare Their addition strengthens ChristianaCare as a preferred provider of high-quality primary care services in communities of Northern Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania.” Find a ChristianaCare primary care provider near you or call for an appointment at 302-777-0643 The physicians and support staff remain at the practice and continue to provide friendly high-quality care and service as part of ChristianaCare Family practice physician Genevieve Minick The practice plans to add more providers in the future Patients who belong to a ChristianaCare primary care practice benefit from the advantages of being connected to Delaware’s largest including electronic medical records and easy referrals Their primary care provider becomes their “medical home” — the place where patients can build a relationship with their health care provider and seek medical advice for health problems large and small The seamless transition to ChristianaCare enables the practice to continue to provide optimal primary care services preventive health screenings and immunizations chronic disease management and care for acute illnesses Patients of ChristianaCare’s primary care practices can access a secure patient portal that helps them to be actively engaged in their health ChristianaCare’s primary care practices are certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home The patient-centered medical home model of care puts patients at the forefront of care improving quality and the patient experience and increasing caregiver satisfaction while reducing costs The National Weather Service has determined that the wind that damaged parts of northwest Delaware on Monday night was not a tornado The agency will release a full report by the end of the day on Tuesday but said it was "straight line winds" that caused the damage Straight-line winds do not rotate like tornado winds but can reach 100 mph Monday’s storm path stretched from Newark into parts of Pennsylvania with residents in the Ogletown and Hockessin areas reporting some of the worst damage in the First State Meteorologist Eric Hoeflich said wind gusts in Hockessin reached between 45 and 55 mph And while it isn't unheard of for such a storm to brew in the late summer Hoeflich said "it's rare that we get something that intense" past the spring Aftermath of the stormIn the Cherokee Woods neighborhood in Ogletown on Tuesday morning Residents gathered outside to assess the damage which work crews were busily trying to clean up and a power pole had fallen onto his truck a tree had crashed through his deck and partially landed on his roof He said his wife had tried reaching out to their local state House representative for help but got hung up on before being able to speak to him He said the damage was surprising.“I’ve only ever seen something like this on TV before,” he said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer toured the storm damage with the Office of Emergency Management on Tuesday morning this kind of thing would happen once every 10 or 15 years Now he feels like it’s happening every year or every other year Other county officials were going house by house posting red “unsafe” signs in the window of homes they deemed unsafe in the Cherokee Woods neighborhood A county inspector who was assessing homes for structural issues said he was making his determination based on several factors but largely whether the homes are structurally sound He said several on East Cherokee Drive will need to be looked at by an engineer while others will need new roofs at minimum He called one home that was completely unscathed “a miracle." He then placed a green sign on the window indicating that the house had been inspected and was safe missing petsMany of the homes were damaged by falling trees Neighborhood resident Jenn Luna said she was in her bedroom Monday night and exited the room "It definitely could've been worse," Luna said Luna said she initially thought it was a regular storm and began her usual routine of making sure all the windows were closed she heard the wind howling and saw trees swaying outside She thought a tornado may be brewing and ran downstairs The tree ended up going through the bedroom One woman had several broken bones — including broken ribs — after being hit by a tree while inside her home and her husband and neighbors were outside Tuesday morning searching for a missing puppy An Animal Welfare officer also came to help out going as far as to climb through a home's window to try to find a missing 7-month-old puppy she said she heard what she thought may be the puppy but due to chainsaws on nearby streets and other local dogs barking A fallen tree inside the home prevented her from being able to get in far enough to continue the search and she later left saying she wasn't particularly optimistic about the outcome Fallen trees in Hockessin blocked traffic throughout several area roads on Tuesday Mitchell Road had narrowed to one lane of travel and Old Wilmington Road by the Iron Gates neighborhood was closed as tree branches and debris covered the street Construction crews were working to right downed power poles and clean up the trees While homes in the area were mostly spared from damage at least one car was crushed by a fallen tree A resident also reported a nearby home had its roof partially torn off Power outage map: Is your power out from Monday's storm? Where power outages are and repair efforts Warning vs watch: What's the difference between a tornado watch vs. warning? Find out and ways to keep safe Did you lose power?: Check out our guide on how long food can stay in fridge without power UPDATE: This story has been edited to adjust an incorrect address for the new cell towers The Hockessin location will be 7259 Lancaster Pike If you're having trouble with reliable cell service where you live and travel in New Castle County New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer on Monday announced they are accepting bids for cellular providers like AT&T Verizon and T-Mobile to set up new cell towers in the county's "dead zones." Meyer was joined by the county's chief of technology and administrative services at the Hockessin Public Library on Monday afternoon to announce the sites of the new towers on county property New Castle County commissioned a third-party technology company to conduct a study to evaluate where in the county had the worst cellular reception Most of these dead zones were focused around southern New Castle County near Odessa and Townsend as well as rural parts of northern New Castle County like Centreville and Hockessin More: New Castle County agrees to pay $1.05M to settle lawsuit over fatal Lymond Moses shooting The study finalized a list of five priority locations for new cell towers to be erected and the final plan was narrowed down to three A mandatory pre-bid meeting was set to take place Thursday and the proposals will be accepted until Sept Cost of the projectThe county will spend $1.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money on the project but the final cost will be confirmed after a proposal has been chosen by the county government County Executive Meyer also stated that there is an opportunity for New Castle County to earn revenue from these proposals to expand construction to other priority areas we'll look at finding more funds either from federal dollars or other sources," Meyer said "I think it's more realistic that there's going to be revenue coming in attached to the tower that we can use to build more." A public comment period will open up after the Sept this may not be for another estimated six months The timeline for the permitting process and construction to begin is largely dependent on the details provided by cell service providers in their proposals Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Ogorek created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories You can reach us 24/7/365 at (302) 731-5459 Copyright © 2025 Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home and Crematory The movement of a toxic chemical plume under the streets of central Hockessin is the likely cause of spiking concentrations of the pollutant PCE at wells that supply drinking water to the area, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control While regulators stress that Hockessin water supplied by public utility Artesian Resources Corp. is safe the state by itself does not have enough money to rid the underground aquifer of the offending chemical, commonly used in dry cleaning "That’s why we’ve asked for (Environmental Protection Agency) support,” DNREC Site Investigation and Restoration Administrator Timothy Ratsep said "The state did not have the financial resources to move forward with investigating it.” Last week, federal regulators responded, announcing that the EPA has proposed adding the central Hockessin area to its National Priorities List – a designation that would free up federal Superfund dollars to pay for further investigation and cleanup of the underground aquifer The 32-acre impacted area straddles Lancaster Pike through the core of the Hockessin business district.  A 60-day public comment period on the proposed listing began immediately after the EPA announcement on Tuesday "The next phase is to continue with the investigation," Ratsep said. "The extent of the (contamination) plume is not known." Artesian, as well as numerous private wells draw drinking water from the aquifer. At full capacity Artesian well sites can supply water to as many as 5,000 homes company spokesman Joseph DiNunzio said Filtration systems have shown to effectively decrease the amount of PCE in drinking water to safe levels and there is no need for homeowners who get water from public utilities to purchase filters for tap water Those who use a private well within a half-mile of the contaminant plume under the core of Hockessin, and do not have a water treatment system, should contact DNREC's Hockessin Groundwater Site Project Manager Robert Asreen at Robert.Asreen@state.de.us STORY: EPA sues New Castle salvage yard in latest chapter of Delaware's industrial legacy STORY: Mesmerizing fog shrouds Brandywine The EPA, in its announcement last week, also finalized the addition of a Newark aquifer to the federal Superfund list, a move that was officially proposed last summer. PCE also is the offending chemical in that case State regulators suspect someone at a business in a southeast Newark industrial area They also believe Hockessin's PCE pollution occurred long ago – in the 1980s or earlier leaving businesses free to dispose of it any way they chose "It was basically at the owners' discretion," he said "and a lot of them had disposed of it by throwing the material out their back door." New regulations imposed since require individuals who possess the chemical to document its location at all times. For that reason the state believes Hockessin's PCE releases are not recent.  an email circulated among officials at the EPA earlier this month said "historical and current operations appear to have contributed to the groundwater contamination."  An EPA spokesman did not respond to questions about evidence of current groundwater contamination Ratsep is unaware of any data showing recent pollution but noted that more investigation is needed.  STORY: Lawyers answer calls for information about Millsboro-area pollution    The PCE plume first was discovered in the Hockessin aquifer in the early 2000s the EPA funded a preliminary pollution assessment Regulators initially considered nine companies as potential sources of the contamination – four gas stations After tests of soil and groundwater at the properties themselves they zeroed in on two dry cleaners as likely culprits could not be reached by phone for this story.  While PCE also has been widely used in textile processing, the chemical was not found at Hockessin's nearest textile facility, National Vulcanized Fibre Corp. in Yorklyn "Right now we have not identified any other sources but that’s part of the investigation," he said "At this time all we know is that there are two sources.  The National Institutes of Health says PCE is “reasonably anticipated" to be carcinogenic. People who have experienced chronic exposure to the chemical could see damage to their livers, kidneys, skin, and nervous systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control Newborns could experience "adverse effects" through maternal exposure Environmental regulators also have discovered lower levels of other toxic chemicals in Hockessin's groundwater For example, perfluorinated compounds were collected from groundwater near Hockessin Memorial Fire Hall The finding confirmed "whether the use of certain firefighting chemicals potentially could have contaminated the groundwater," stated a letter to the EPA sent by technicians from West Chester-based Weston Solutions Weston Solutions has been contracted to test area groundwater and it was the company's technician who found PCE levels in Hockessin to have spiked during the past year One analysis at a domestic well in 2016 recorded PCE at 4.5 parts per billion. A year later the level jumped to 50 parts per billion The tests were conducted on raw water before treatment with charcoal or other filtration systems The state of Delaware's maximum allowable contaminant level for PCE in drinking water is one part per billion The EPA's maximum is five parts per billion Wells could be recording higher levels because the pollutant plume is drifting "It could be that the last part of the contamination finally got to the wells," he said "It’s not that there’s a new release just that the historical releases are finally getting to the wells.” and his company's well sites have not received a violation from the state as post-treatment water tests nearly always meet Delaware's strict standards Though water from one well recently tested 1.1 parts per billion Tests in 2001 after the chemical first was found in Hockessin showed PCE levels surpassed federal limits at two wells.    "But what we will do is shut that down until we get more treatment," he said.  Asked if regulators are doing enough to curb PCE pollution at its source DiNunzio said "I'm going to reserve comment.” "It is always best from our perspective that things are addressed at the source," he said Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329 While President Joe Biden left wreaths on the graves of his first wife and their baby daughter Sunday at St Joseph's on the Brandywine cemetery in Greenville someone in Hockessin also was recognizing the 50th anniversary of the car crash that took their lives A handcrafted sign that reads "Neilia Naomi RIP 12/18/1972" now sits in front of one of two holly trees that are decorated at Valley and Limestone roads where the accident occurred Who put the sign there and when isn't yet known A reader alerted a Delaware Online/The News Journal reporter about its presence For several years and this year since at least early December an unknown person (or persons) decorated two scraggy holly trees in a grassy open space at the intersection with garlands bows and strings of colored lights that blink at night The Christmas ornaments on the trees include one with a cardinal a bird that some believe represents someone who has died More:A holiday mystery: Who is decorating 2 trees at Valley and Limestone roads in Hockessin? There hasn't been any sign or message near the site explaining who has trimmed the trees It's not known if the same person who decorated the trees added the sign What is known is the four-way intersection is where President Biden's first wife died 50 years ago in a car accident on Dec She and her three young children had just gone shopping for a Christmas tree pulled away from a stop sign at Valley and Limestone roads and the car was hit by a man driving a tractor-trailer who had just been elected to the Senate was in Washington hiring staffers The driver of the truck later was absolved of any wrongdoing Retired Delaware Superior Court Judge Jerome O who was chief attorney general in 1972 and worked with crash investigators told The News Journal in 2008 that investigators discussed several possible causes for the crash including one that Neilia Biden turned her head and didn't see the oncoming truck as she exited the intersection of Valley and Limestone roads Before the sign remembering Neilia and Naomi Biden was erected local residents had said they thought the holly trees were decorated over the years to be festive and were not a roadside memorial More:Joe Biden lost his wife and baby daughter 50 years ago. It changed the course of his life "I don't believe it's part of a memorial for the Biden family members killed at that location as I can't recall if the trees have been decorated every year going back some 19+/- years when I moved to Hockessin I recall seeing it about 10-12 years ago," Mark Blake president of the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association said in an email to Delaware Online/The News Journal "I've often wondered who does the annual Christmas decorations at the corner but haven't seen them or 'caught them in the act,’" said Blake adding he often drives by the intersection first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a private memorial service at St Family members then carried two wreaths to the graveyard where Biden's son Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico