Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How much more paid leave will Wilmington city workers now receive?
Coming up: Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts on the Wilmington Patch calendar
Morning Wilmington! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How much more paid leave will Wilmington city workers now receive?
- Why ChristianaCare just walked away from a major regional partnership
- How Wilmington small businesses can tap into new millions in funding
Also on today's calendar: Christmas Day Bash! and 2 more events.
Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Wilmingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Heavy morning showers; windy, with a high of 58 and low of 25 degrees.
- Saturday: Some sun, then clouds; colder, temps: high: 39, low: 32.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 48 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Family leave ordinance for City of Wilmington employees signed (wdel.com) — City of Wilmington employees now qualify for a much more generous paid parental leave package, expanding from four to 12 weeks at full pay, with added medical and family-care leave options. Signed by Mayor John Carney, the new ordinance aims to keep Wilmington competitive as an employer while supporting workers through major life and health events. 
2. Virtua, ChristianaCare agree to terminate letter of intent (roi-nj.com) — A planned regional health system that would have included Wilmington-based ChristianaCare and New Jersey’s Virtua Health has been called off, with both sides deciding to remain independent. The move means ChristianaCare will continue operating on its own while still serving Delaware patients through its hospitals, trauma center, and extensive outpatient network.
3. $14M Dollars in 8 Months! (delaware.gov) — Delaware’s Division of Small Business just hit its “Race to $14M” federal funding goal ahead of schedule and marked the milestone at CSC Station in Wilmington. The program has already backed dozens of small businesses statewide, including many in New Castle County, and another $20 million round is expected next spring. Wilmington entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore these flexible loan and investment options.
4. Two retried, again convicted in Dover murder-for-hire case (wboc.com) — A years-long gang-related murder-for-hire case that involved travel from Wilmington to Dover has ended with a New Castle County jury again convicting two men of first-degree murder and related charges. Investigators tied the case to a wider pattern of shootings, including a six-victim mass shooting in Wilmington, and Attorney General Kathy Jennings praised Wilmington police for their role in securing accountability.
5. Secret Santa pays off $8K in layaways at Burlington Coat Factory in Wilmington (6abc.com) — A Secret Santa quietly paid off about $8,000 in layaway balances at the Burlington Coat Factory in Wilmington, wiping out costs for kids’ toys and even employee purchases. Shocked shoppers and staff say the surprise brought real relief during tough times and renewed their faith that neighbors in Wilmington still look out for one another.
📸 Around Wilmington
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Wilmington
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts
Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison St, Wilmington
10:00 am
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- DCM OPEN 10a-3p
Delaware Children's Museum , 550 Justison St , Wilmington
10:00 am - Christmas Day Bash!
Dogtopia of Wilmington , 2101 Concord Pike , Wilmington
9:00 am - DCM OPEN 10a-5p
Delaware Children's Museum , 550 Justison St , Wilmington - Mastering Online Learning: Student Meetup by Online Class Help 247
221 W 9th St PMB 150, Wilmington, DE 19801
9:00 am
Wednesday December 24
Thursday December 25
Monday December 29
Wednesday December 31
📣 Wilmington Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Brandywine Creek State Park
Brandywine Creek State Park , 41 Adams Dam Rd , Wilmington
9:30 am - Forgotten Cats's Middletown PetSmart Cat Adoption Event Dec. 19-21
Middletown PetSmart , 421 Middletown Warwick Drive , Middletown
10:00 am - Holiday at the Mill
Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm , 500 Greenbank Rd , Wilmington
4:30 pm - Couch Potato: Movies & Game Night in the Museum
Rockwood Park & Museum , 4651 Washington Street Extension , Wilmington
5:00 pm - An Evening with Sam Sussman at Huxley & Hiro
Huxley & Hiro Booksellers , 601 N Market St , Wilmington
6:00 pm - Miracle on 34th Street
The Playhouse on Rodney Square , 1007 N Market St , Wilmington
2:00 pm - Fossils From the Future
Smalls Music Shop , 100 Greenhill Ave F , Wilmington
7:00 pm
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Wilmington PatchAM possible:
- Dogtopia of Wilmington — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - Champion Force Athletics — (800) 940-7469
Join Champion Force Cheer - Classes Starting at $10
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- 2025 Christiana Classic Invitational —Christina School District Read on Patch
- Christina School Board Listening Session - Dec 18 at Pritchett Academy —Christina School District Read on Patch
- PUBLIC NOTICE: Board of Education Vacancy Nominating District A —Christina School District Read on Patch
- Transition to Adult Life Fair, March 12 —Christina School District Read on Patch
- 2025 Governor’s Institute for School Leadership Graduates! —Christina School District Read on Patch
- This time of year and pretty much always the animal shelters in the area are over capacity.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA offers an incredible foster program for those who may aren't ready to adopt, but want to help out . Some of these animals… (Nextdoor Stanton) - Driving thru the neighborhoods ,I have seen so many beautiful Christmas Lights .
Here is just 1 pic before the rains melt all the snow off he trees (Nextdoor McDaniel Heights)
- TIBCO Software, Inc. posted a job opening for Solar Installer in Wilmington. Apply here.
- Sweeping Corporation of America, Inc. posted a job opening for Porter - Parking Lot (Day Shift) in Wilmington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wilmington here.
Ok Wilmington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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