Home Care In Middletown, DE

Salesianum School benefitted both from who B.J. Alleyne is as well as who he used to be Friday night at Rocco Abessino Stadium.

Alleyne was among several heroic figures as the Sals thwarted determined Middletown 24-14 in a DIAA Class 3A Football Tournament semifinal played before an overflow crowd.

He rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. But it was his 52-yard touchdown pass to William Neuman late in the third quarter that keyed the Sals' win. Alleyne, who played some quarterback last year at Delaware Military Academy, took a pitch from quarterback Ryan Stoehr and threw to Neuman.

"We've been running it since the beginning of the season," said Alleyne, who also had a TD pass against Appoquinimink. "We were just trusting that everybody was gonna do their job. We ran it in practice and it didn't work. I threw it out of bounds, but Billy Neuman told me it'll work in the game."

Salesianum (11-1) will seek its eighth state football title and first since 2013 in Friday night's Class 3A title clash with Cape Henlopen at Delaware Stadium.

"We've had this day-by-day, week-by-week mentality," said two-way senior lineman Andrew Sellman. "Every time we do that, it puts ourselves in the best position to get to where we want to be. We're finally where we want to be."

Middletown (8-4), which had lost to Salesianum here 37-14 on Oct. 27, drove 72 yards to pull within 17-14 on quarterback Austin Troyer's 2-yard keeper. But Nicholas Strusowski's 57-yard kick-off return put Sallies in position to score again on Alleyne's 2-yard run with 7:06 to go.

Interceptions by Jake Zeigler in the end zone and John Casale at midfield then thwarted Middletown's final two possessions. Matthew Copeland had a first-half interception for the Sals.

Salesianum's defensive effort was also keyed by seven sacks. Middletown had drives stopped on downs at the Sallies 25-, 20- and 13-yard lines and also had a field-goal try rejected by a stiff wind.

Troyer passed for 199 yards and Makai Walker rushed for 122 yards on 24 carries for Middletown. The Cavs led 7-0 after Troyer's 12-yard first-quarter TD pass to Ariyon Matthews.

The Sals then took a 10-7 lead into halftime on Colin Maradik's 32-yard field goal and Alleyne's 16-yard TD run that closed a five-play, 53-yard drive. It featured an 18-yard pass by Stoehr, who replaced starter Brady McBride midway through the second quarter, to the speedy Jasir Gaymon, whose long kickoff return led to the field goal.

"We made some huge stops and got some big turnovers," Sallies first-year coach Gene Delle Donne said. "And the offense picked up first downs when necessary. We pulled a couple tricks out of our back pocket on the toss pass and a reverse. So they stepped up when they needed to."

Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

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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Editor's note: Bubbakoo's Burritos provided an incorrect opening date. The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to open in the next two weeks. This story has been updated to reflect that.

A regional Mexican fast-casual chain will soon open its first Delaware location.

Bubbakoo's Burritos offers a variety of made-to-order Mexican-fusion items such as hibachi steak and shrimp, Nashville hot chicken and General Tso's chicken served as customized burritos, tacos, nachos, tostada salads or quesadillas.

The new restaurant is located behind the HomeGoods and Ashley Furniture Store and next to Tommy's Express Car Wash at Middletown Warwick and Bunker Hill roads (1915 Lake Seymour Drive) in Middletown.

"As a longtime resident of Delaware, I'm thrilled to bring the brand to the state and provide the community with a new concept that is unlike anything else out there," franchisee Kushal Patel said in a statement.

Patel hopes to open the restaurant in "the next week or two."

The restaurant's decor features images of surfboards and skateboards and neon green accents.

2023 RECAP: Royal Treat, Nutter's are among the Delaware restaurants and shops that closed in 2023

Founder and co-owner Paul Altero has described the concept as a sort of "utopia" or getaway from the druthers of many folks' day-to-day schedules. Altero and business partner Bill Hart started Bubbakoo's in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, in 2008 after moving together through the corporate ladder at Johnny Rockets, the burger chain styled as a 1950s diner.

Altero made up the word Bubbakoo's in college. "It's more of a name that represents a lifestyle, a utopia, more than anything else," he said in 2015.

That year, Altero and company had eight locations in New Jersey. They have since franchised, expanding Bubbakoo's to 16 states and more than 100 locations, mostly concentrated in the Northeast and Florida.

Like knowing what stores, restaurants and developments are coming and going in Delaware? Join our Facebook group What's Going There in Delaware and subscribe to our What's Going There in Delaware newsletter.

Contact Brandon Holveck at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram @holveck_brandon. Follow him on TikTok @bholveck.

More dining news

UPDATE: Birdie's Links and Drinks has announced a Jan. 10 grand opening. The story below is as it was originally published in November.

The boredom of the pandemic will have at least one good effect in Delaware — at least for golf lovers.

After more than two years of work, a local mother and sons team is preparing to finally open a massive entertainment complex they believe will be unique in the Middletown area.

Birdie's Links and Drinks will be a massive 30,000-square-foot fun center comprising two full 18-hole miniature golf courses, eight immersive golf simulators, shuffleboard, ping pong, giant Jenga, cornhole and a full bar and restaurant serving Southern-inflected food alongside burgers and pizza.

Licensing permitting, the entertainment center will open as soon as December along Middletown’s fast-growing 299 corridor, at 320 Auto Park Drive.

Marge Hannum and sons David and Dylan got the idea to open Birdie’s during the time when pandemic restrictions seriously curtailed what people could do in public.

Previous coverage:Birdie's Links and Drinks to bring golf simulators, mini golf and family fun to Middletown

“We were trying to figure out things to do during COVID,” said Dylan Hannum. “There were not a whole lot of activities. And one activity that we found that you could do once a lot of restrictions started getting lifted was indoor golf. And we just kind of fell in love with that.”

They had long dreamed of opening a restaurant with an entertainment component — and their newfound love of golf made everything fall into place.

This is the first venture of this sort for the Hannum family, who previously worked in marketing and banking. The Hannums built the space from the ground up over the past two years, and are now adding finishing details for a projected mid-December opening.

Unlike many miniature golf courses, Birdie’s will be a year-round experience. And the addition of a full bar makes it as attractive to adults on dates as to families, said Hannum.

From black lights to virtual

Birdie’s will feature two full 18-hole mini golf courses with black light and vibrant colors. One will be pirate-themed, with a storyline the putters can follow as they progress through the holes, and the other will be a sort of nostalgic tour through beloved characters of the 1960s, '70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

To make the golf courses, the Hannums enlisted a St. Louis company called Black Light Attractions, which has also designed features for Sea World, Six Flags and Busch Gardens.

About 10,000 square feet of Birdie’s will be devoted to the miniature golf courses.

But for those who prefer their golf virtual, Birdie’s will also feature eight HD Golf simulator bays suitable for groups, with sensors that detect your motion and translate your movements into golf balls sailing across the green.

“It looks like a real golf course,” Hannum said. “It looks like you're actually golfing. And when you hit the ball, it puts it exactly to the place that it would have gone if you were there in real life.”

The simulators also offer other sports, whether archery or the experience of shooting penalty kicks on the goalie in soccer.

What's on the menu

Menu items at the restaurant will include novel dishes like a french onion flatbread pizza, and “guac-elotes,” a mixture of guacamole and spiced Mexican street corn.

Birdie’s will also serve burgers and pizza, and Southern-inflected fare like pimento dip, as well as a pulled pork sandwich including a barbecue sauce of Dylan Hannum’s own devising.

“That sauce is something I’ve been working on for the past two years now,” said Hannum.

If that special sauce is a personal touch for the Hannum family, the name “Birdie’s” is even more so.

“Birdie” was a nickname of his late aunt, Eileen Bird, Hannum said — his mother’s youngest sister known for being the life of the party. It was she who helped spur their love of golf together, and helped the family relax and enjoy life.

Her nickname also just so happened to be a pretty good showing on a golf hole.

His aunt Eileen became not just the namesake of the golf course, but also the inspiration for the feelings that the Hannum family hoped to inspire there.

“She always had a good time. And quite honestly, there was not a single person that we ever heard of that ever disliked her, and didn't love her,” Hannum said. “We're trying to have a business that has that same kind of energy.”

Matthew Korfhage is business and development reporter in the Delaware region covering all things related to land and money: openings and closings, construction, and the many corporations who call the First State home. A longtime food writer, he also tends to turn up with stories about tacos, oysters and beer. Send tips and insults to [email protected].

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.