It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting New Castle Italian Immigrant Memorial in New Castle, DE gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in New Castle, DE is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting New Castle Battery Park in New Castle, DE with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Zollies Jazz Cucina or visit Read House & Gardens, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in New Castle, DE, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in New Castle, DE understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in New Castle, DE 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.With the window to issue amended tax bills before New Castle County’s Nov. 30 payment deadline closing fast, Delaware’s Chancery Court heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit challenging local school districts’ ability to issue split rates for residential and commercial properties.Apartment and mobile home associations are suing the state, county and local school districts. They are asking the...
What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
With the window to issue amended tax bills before New Castle County’s Nov. 30 payment deadline closing fast, Delaware’s Chancery Court heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit challenging local school districts’ ability to issue split rates for residential and commercial properties.
Apartment and mobile home associations are suing the state, county and local school districts. They are asking the court to toss a recently created law that allowed schools to split rates for the 2025-2026 tax year, similar to what the county and city of Wilmington implemented.
Post-assessment property tax bills were sent out in July. State lawmakers approved that statute in August, during a one-day special session aimed at providing property tax relief. House Bill 242 was among a limited number of bills lawmakers passed, and Gov. Matt Meyer promptly signed it into law. New Castle County school districts had 10 business days to issue new tax warrants.
Recent once-in-40-year property assessments shifted much of the tax burden to homeowners, especially in New Castle County. New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry told a special legislative committee on the state’s property reassessment process last month that average residential assessments rose 477%, while nonresidential assessments went up an average of 233%.
Backlash from county homeowners spurred lawmakers to act.
Michael Hoffner, one of the state’s attorneys, told Vice Chancellor Lori Will that throwing out the ability for school districts to do different rates for residential and commercial properties would have far-reaching impacts.
“We’re not just talking about HB 242, and the school districts,” he said. “We’re also talking about the county’s split taxes. We’re also talking about municipalities, which were afforded by the General Assembly the ability to set different tax rates among different classes of real property. So the impacts do extend beyond just HB 242.”
Kent and Sussex counties received praise for clear communication, while New Castle County was criticized for a lack of transparency.
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The landlord associations said the law — and the way the county is implementing it — is unconstitutional because it violates the uniformity clause of the state constitution.
Paul Hughes, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, said millions more dollars going to the school districts because of the mass reclassification violates the language of HB 242, which says the total amount of revenue projected to be collected through use of the residential and nonresidential tax rates may not exceed the total amount of revenue the district was projected to collect under its original tax warrant.
Plaintiffs also argue that the county dropped “a bombshell” Oct. 3 when it admitted that thousands of properties were misclassified. The county said it planned to reclassify more than 1,400 properties, shifting more than $1 billion in assessed value from residential to commercial.
County attorneys said officials learned of the errors around Aug. 17, five days after HB 242 was adopted, when residents alerted the county to some of the mistakes.
Hughes said he’s confused as to why the county never told the public and waited weeks to reveal it to them in court filings.
“We have no idea why if this was known to the county at least as of Aug. 17, as defense counsel stated today, why it was not disclosed to anyone,” he asked. “It was only disclosed privately to us litigants on Oct. 3, and why it’s not been made public until much more recently?”
Hughes said the county’s rollout of the law has been so error-ridden that it’s unworkable.
“At this late an hour, we think that the 2025 bills should proceed and then all defendants should work together collectively for a new process to govern in the [2026-2027] tax year,” he said.
New Castle County officials, state and local school districts and their attorneys declined to answer questions from the press after the hearing.
Nicholas Brannick, an attorney for the county, told the court that the number of properties was insignificant. He said the county will notify affected property owners when the tax bill goes out, and has also created a policy where those affected by the reclassifications could challenge the decision.
The parties also debated whether the bill was unconstitutional under the uniformity clause. The county argued that the clause does not require actual revenue neutrality, and state law allows different rates for different properties.
Plaintiffs also took issue with the one-day special session lawmakers held, calling it rushed with no committee hearings or findings issued. Hughes said the court should lessen its deference because of that. Hoffner said he disputed that argument.
“Anybody who’s ever been in Dover in June, the June process often does not include committee hearings,” Hoffner said. “It is a regular practice in the General Assembly, and it does not undermine at the end of the day the intent and the conclusions of the General Assembly.”
The plaintiffs also argued that school districts were required to hold referendums under state law.
The court has promised to issue a decision by the end of October.
New Castle County Council heard overwhelming public support for guardrails against data centers in the county its Department of Land Use and Planning Board hearing.Board members took up the data center issue Tuesday during a hearing that included almost two hours of public comment.The meeting focused on Councilmember David Carter’s draft substitute for an ordinance that would regulate data centers. Among other things, it calls for the Water Supply Coordinating Council to ensure there’s enough water to support reside...
New Castle County Council heard overwhelming public support for guardrails against data centers in the county its Department of Land Use and Planning Board hearing.
Board members took up the data center issue Tuesday during a hearing that included almost two hours of public comment.
The meeting focused on Councilmember David Carter’s draft substitute for an ordinance that would regulate data centers. Among other things, it calls for the Water Supply Coordinating Council to ensure there’s enough water to support residents and the data center.
“I took an oath of office to protect the health, safety and welfare of New Castle County residents,” Carter said. “This is a land use with huge impacts. These are the level of impacts that we had many years ago when we had heavy industrial proposals coming in.”
Public commenters largely sided with adding guardrails to data centers looking to set up shop in New Castle County or spoke against the project outright. They often referenced the implications of overwhelming energy use, water use and noise pollution data centers would bring to the area.
Starwood Digital Ventures sent an application to the Department in June.
Data centers house computer systems and infrastructure that power digital systems and data. The campus could house 11 or more two-story buildings and would need 1.2 gigawatts of electric power. That's enough to power between 90 thousand to 876 thousand homes for a year, with source to source.
Carter said addressing potential issues connected to large data centers like the proposed 6 million square-foot Project Washington data center near Delaware City and others like it is crucial because they are not adequately regulated by the County.
When County officials penned zoning regulations in 1997, facilities consuming energy and water at the scale of a large data center didn’t yet exist.
“One facility has the potential to use more electricity than we use in the entire state of Delaware,” Carter explained. “And our zoning should evolve.”
The ordinance called for a number of regulations, including that data centers must comply with federal and state requirements on emission standards and air quality monitoring.
Carter noted the changes to his ordinance make it easier to enforce the regulations and require companies to have plans to decommission sites so they can be redeveloped if data centers become obsolete in the future.
“If we don't get this right, it can have major impacts on water and air quality, and the really big impact could be on energy and energy rates…” Carter said. “[Constituents] see the same concerns [as] us, and they want to make sure that we have safeguards in place, and that's what we've tried to do here.”
If Councilmembers vote in favor of the ordinance, data center operators or property owners would be required to notify the Department of Land Use and Planning if they are out of operation for six months or more. Within two years of being abandoned, they would also have to restore the land to its pre-developed condition or submit a land use application to establish a new use for the site.
It would also hold owners financially responsible, requiring them to show they have 100% of the funds to decommission the site before it's even constructed.
Carter said the community input at the Department of Land Use and Planning Board meeting Tuesday showed constituents care about this issue.
An attorney working for a company applying to open a data center spoke during the public comment, Carter said.
“They talked about they really wanted to meet with me and blah, blah, blah, but quite frankly, they can call me anytime,” Carter said. “I hadn't heard from them, and I'm happy to meet with them in any public forum.”
Carter added he was not open to a closed-door meeting with someone actively seeking a permit from the county.
If a trip to New England isn't in the cards this year, bookmark this leaf lover's guide to the best fall views right here in Delaware.It’s the most colorful time of the year! Peak leaf-peeping season is starting now, and it’s time to prepare for the best views and photo-worthy moments in Delaware this fall.While many autumn enthusiasts travel north to upstate New York or New England to experience fall views, the First State also boasts plenty of stunning landscapes to explore. From serene parks to scenic trails, Del...
If a trip to New England isn't in the cards this year, bookmark this leaf lover's guide to the best fall views right here in Delaware.
It’s the most colorful time of the year! Peak leaf-peeping season is starting now, and it’s time to prepare for the best views and photo-worthy moments in Delaware this fall.
While many autumn enthusiasts travel north to upstate New York or New England to experience fall views, the First State also boasts plenty of stunning landscapes to explore. From serene parks to scenic trails, Delaware offers a variety of spots for nature lovers to immerse themselves in the beauty of the season.
According to Almanac.com, New Castle County residents should have begun noticing the changing leaves in late September, with peak foliage season beginning as early as October 11. By late October, the entire First State is expected to be a bright tapestry of fall colors.
As we keep an eye on the changing leaves, here are a few spots for leaf peepers to catch great views.
Undoubtedly one of the best spots in the state for natural views, the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway in Northern Delaware boasts plenty of hotspots for leaf peeping. The winding country roads provide a scenic drive through the area and, with stops at a few of the major landmarks, there’s a whole season’s worth of fall views to take in.
is a great place to savor autumn views with a side of old-money grandeur. When fall foliage frames the historic du Pont mansion, the views are spectacular. Wander the grounds to take it all in, or enjoy special programs like Hops & Harvest and Tram & Treat.
is another must-visit during leaf-peeping season. Situated along Brandywine Creek, the historic powder yard and du Pont home are the site of many Instagram-worthy moments this time of year. The stone architecture complements the sprawling natural grounds for incredible fall views throughout the season.
Mt. Cuba Center is a no-brainer for nature views any time of year! A home for conservation and preservation since the 1930s, the grounds are nothing short of a plant paradise. During the fall season, the trees become a beautiful canvas of fall colors. In addition to admiring the landscape, visitors can enjoy special fall programs like hayrides, bonfires, scenic fitness walks and yoga, and craft workshops.
Rounding out the du Pont estate leaf-peeping experience is . Located just east of the Hagley Museum, Nemours is home to pristine gardens and a grand gilded age mansion. As the greenery begins to change to a tapestry of warm orange, it becomes the perfect location to snap fall photos. Take in stunning fountains and sculptures, and don’t miss the opportunity to tour the house after you’ve admired the picturesque outdoor areas.
It’s hard to believe the rock formations and autumn leaves at are just outside the Wilmington city limits. Walk the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail or the Alapocas Woods Trail during October for excellent leaf peeping right in Wilmington.
Within the city limits, and both provide plenty of stunning views during the fall. In Brandywine Park, Brandywine Creek offers a picture-perfect backdrop amid the fall colors, and Rockford Tower becomes quite the sight to see when framed with vibrant fall foliage.
To spend a day leaf peeping in the woods, visit or Each state park offers miles of hiking trails through sprawling wooded areas that are perfect places to take in the fall season.
For another fun leaf-peeping site, visit in Bear. The park offers miles of hiking trails, water sports, zip-lining, and so many more fun activities to enjoy in the crisp fall weather. Plus, fall hayrides through the forests mean more leaf-peeping and less walking!
While New Castle County is home to the scenic Brandywine Valley area, lower Delaware also boasts plenty of hotspots for leaf peeping. Here are a few of our favorites.
In Kent County, is worth a visit any time of year. From bird watching to leaf peeping, there’s plenty to take in during the fall. Plus, if you lay low and stay awhile, you just might see a red fox or two to match the foliage.
Another Kent County spot for excellent leaf peeping is Killens Pond State Park. Killens Pond features four different pet-friendly walking trails, a nature center with live animal exhibits, and so many more fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
In Sussex County, contains nearly 13,000 acres of wooded areas to explore. While the forest is home to many pine trees, it also boasts stands of mixed hardwoods like oak, maple, and gum trees. With over 44 miles of trails, there’s plenty to take in during leaf-peeping season.
One of Delaware’s most unique leaf-peeping experiences can be found at outside of Laurel. Grab your kayak and paddle through the northernmost stand of bald cypress trees for stunning views unlike anything else you’ll find in the region.
Paddling this scenic pond in the fall months feels like entering a magical autumn wonderland. Once you’ve experienced it firsthand, you’ll understand why Delaware natives return season after season bundled up with kayaks in tow. You can rent a kayak on-site until October 17, but if you bring your own, the fall views can be enjoyed throughout the season.
For beachy fall views, nothing beats . Hike through a colorful wooded area out to the cape. If you don’t mind getting an early start to your leaf-peeping journey, the sunrises at Cape Henlopen are top-notch. Plus, the observation tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding trees.
A stunning ship parade will be visible Oct. 9 from Battery Park in Historic New Castle, along the Delaware River near Delaware Street.The maritime procession of Navy ships and other vessels is making its way on the river toward Philadelphia to celebrate Homecoming 250, the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.The ships will begin gathering in the river, south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, as early as 4 a.m. All are expected in position by 8:30 a.m.They should begin moving north, passing the bridge sta...
A stunning ship parade will be visible Oct. 9 from Battery Park in Historic New Castle, along the Delaware River near Delaware Street.
The maritime procession of Navy ships and other vessels is making its way on the river toward Philadelphia to celebrate Homecoming 250, the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
The ships will begin gathering in the river, south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, as early as 4 a.m. All are expected in position by 8:30 a.m.
They should begin moving north, passing the bridge starting at about 9 a.m., and the procession is expected to take about 2½ hours.
The U.S. Navy traces its origin to Oct. 13, 1775, in Philadelphia. The Marine Corps was also established in Philadelphia in 1775. New Castle has strong ties to the Navy. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, born in the city in 1879, was the 17th commandant of the Marine Corps.
Traffic in and around Old New Castle is expected to be heavier than usual. Visitors are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes, bring a camping or folding chair, and binoculars. City officials ask that visitors leave dogs at home.
Parking will be available at the public parking lot at West Third and Foundry streets.
Delaware Street will be closed from The Strand to the Delaware Street wharf beginning at 6 a.m. on Oct. 9. Incoming traffic on Delaware Street will be diverted onto East Second Street. Parking at the Delaware Street wharf will be prohibited starting at 11 p.m. on Oct. 8.
Public restrooms will be available at Battery Park, near the basketball court, from 6 a.m., First State National Historical Park Welcome Center, 10 Market St., open at 7 a.m., and the New Castle Visitor Center at the Arsenal, 30 Market St., open at 7 a.m.
Old New Castle is also accessible by bike via the Jack Markell Trail and the East Coast Greenway. Bike racks and a repair station are located at the Battery Park entrance near Second and Delaware streets. Historic New Castle is served by DART’s Route No. 15 bus. The bus stop serving the historic area is located at Sixth and Delaware streets. DART's Route No. 51 has stops just a short walk from the historic district.
Arrival of the ships in Philadelphia is expected at around 11:30 a.m., but all times are subject to change.?
?The following vessels are participating in the Parade of Ships:
?USS Arlington
USS Lassen
USS Cooperstown
USCGC Lawrence Lawson
USS Billings
USNA YP 686 Class
USNA MKII 44’
?For more information, visit homecoming250.org.
Why Should Delaware Care?A lawsuit filed by landlords across New Castle County is adding more turmoil to a long-running controversy over Delaware’s once-in-a-generation property reassessment that initially shifted the northern Delaware tax burden from homes to businesses.New Castle County’s goal of mailing out its long-delayed property tax bills by November may be at risk after a year-long drama over tax reassessments just got more complicated with claims of arbitrary taxation and a demand to depose county...
Why Should Delaware Care?A lawsuit filed by landlords across New Castle County is adding more turmoil to a long-running controversy over Delaware’s once-in-a-generation property reassessment that initially shifted the northern Delaware tax burden from homes to businesses.
New Castle County’s goal of mailing out its long-delayed property tax bills by November may be at risk after a year-long drama over tax reassessments just got more complicated with claims of arbitrary taxation and a demand to depose county leaders.
In September, a coalition of commercial landlords and hotel owners sued New Castle County and area school districts, claiming a new property tax system lawmakers approved in August is unfair because it treats business and residential properties differently.
A Delaware judge later fast-tracked the lawsuit with a goal of resolving it by the end of October.
It was a schedule that would give New Castle County just enough time to send tax bills to property owners and receive payments by the end of November, a lawyer for the county said last month.
But, on Monday, lawyers for the coalition of commercial property owners asked the judge to change the fast-tracked schedule, in part to allow them to depose New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, and others.
The plaintiffs also asked the judge to allow them to file an amended lawsuit, with new allegations that New Castle County – which collects property taxes for itself, schools and municipalities – has arbitrarily deemed certain properties as commercial, and others residential.
They said the county recently “dropped a bombshell,” by “admitting that thousands of properties” are misclassified in such a way.
To buttress the new claims, the plaintiffs highlighted in court documents a string of seemingly similar properties, including two high-rise apartments in downtown Wilmington.
One – called The Standard – is a residential property under county rules, the attorneys said, while a brand new building around the corner – The Press – is non-residential. Both apartments are managed by the Buccini/Pollin Group.
“The county defendants have confessed that there are thousands of arbitrary discrepancies in how they have classified properties as residential or non-residential,” the attorneys said in their amended complaint, which they are asking the judge to accept as the new lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court case.
New Castle County has not yet filed a response to the claims in court. A spokesperson for the county declined to comment for this story.
As of Wednesday, the judge, Vice Chancellor Lori Will, had not yet replied to the plaintiffs requests, and so it remains unclear whether she would allow the case’s tightly scheduled proceedings to be altered.
The deposition of Henry alone, which the plaintiffs want to do next Monday, would happen three days after the two sides are scheduled to file their opening briefs in the case.
What Will did stress several times during a hearing in the case last month is that she did not want to see New Castle County send out property tax bills before she rules on the case.
“Because I think that could create some complications,” the judge said.
As part of their deposition of Henry, the attorneys for the commercial properties owners want to probe what they say is the county’s ongoing process of reclassifying nearly 1,000 properties from a residential category to the higher-taxed, non-residential one.
In their request to the judge, the plaintiffs also noted that Henry had testified to state lawmakers just last week that his county executive predecessor – now-Gov. Matt Meyer – had last year held up a first-in-a-generation property reassessment by delaying the release of property valuations until after the 2024 election.
Meyer is also a defendant in the property owners’ lawsuit.
The attorneys for the property owners said New Castle County can’t reasonably object to any delays caused by their requests, claiming that the county, under Meyer, had already delayed the reassessment process by many months.
As a result, they said county officials “lack clean hands” – which is legal parlance meaning a party in a lawsuit can not make claims of unfairness if they participated in it.
Last week, Meyer’s office defended the governor by sending Spotlight Delaware several documents showing that the county’s decision to release property valuations in November 2024 dates back to at least 2021.
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