🌱 Patch AM: Why Wilmington leaders are pressuring Delaware’s only commercial airline now

Hi Wilmington! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Wilmington leaders are pressuring Delaware’s only commercial airline now
• Will Wilmington’s 311 finally give clear answers and fewer dropped calls?
• How and where Wilmington residents can recycle their Christmas trees

Also on today's calendar: Mastering Online Learning: Student Meetup by Online Class Help 247 and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Occasional morning rain, with a high of 57 and low of 27 degrees.
• Tuesday: Very windy; much colder, temps: high: 35, low: 25.
• Wednesday: Breezy with clouds and sun, with a high of 37 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• State legislators target deals with Delaware's only commercial airline (delawareonline.com) — State lawmakers are pushing a resolution urging tighter scrutiny of deals with companies like Avelo Airlines that work with ICE deportation flights, even though those flights don’t leave from Wilmington Airport. Wilmington City Council has already passed a similar measure, and protests have been held outside the airport, even as Avelo continues expanding passenger service and routes from Wilmington with local tax-related incentives at stake.
   

• Can Wilmington's 311 reporting system be improved? (delawarepublic.org) — Wilmington residents may soon see a more responsive 311 system after City Council unanimously backed a resolution urging upgrades to how service requests are handled. Proposed changes include clearer confirmation emails, automatic status updates, detailed closure notices, and a callback option to cut long hold times and prevent dropped or lost requests.
   

• DNREC: Delawareans have a few options for disposing of their Christmas trees (delawarepublic.org) — If you’ve got a Christmas tree to get rid of in Wilmington, DNREC is backing a free tree‑shredding event at the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s parking lot on January 10. If you can’t make it, officials urge you to first check with your regular waste hauler about curbside yard‑waste pickup, or use DNREC’s online list of county drop‑off sites.
   

📸 Around Wilmington

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Wilmington

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Tuesday December 30

• DCM OPEN 10a-5p
  Delaware Children's Museum , 550 Justison St , Wilmington

Wednesday December 31

• Zoo Year's Eve
  Brandywine Zoo , 1001 North Park Drive , Wilmington
  5:00 am
• Mastering Online Learning: Student Meetup by Online Class Help 247
  221 W 9th St PMB 150, Wilmington, DE 19801
  9:00 am
• New Year's Eve at Tonic Seafood & Steak
  Tonic Seafood & Steak , 111 W. 11th Street , Wilmington
  5:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• First Day Hikes
  Brandywine Zoo , 1001 North Park Drive , Wilmington
  5:00 am

Saturday January 10

• Thea Vidale
  The Grand Opera House , 818 N King St , Wilmington
  8:30 pm

📣 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

Tuesday December 30

• DCM OPEN 10a-5p
  Delaware Children's Museum , 550 Justison St , Wilmington
• Cretaceous Carnival
  Delaware Museum of Nature & Science , 4840 Kennett Pike , Wilmington
  9:30 am

Wednesday December 31

• Zoo Year's Eve
  Brandywine Zoo , 1001 North Park Drive , Wilmington
  5:00 am
• Roaring into the New Year
  Delaware Museum of Nature & Science , 4840 Kennett Pike , Wilmington
  9:30 am
• New Year's Eve at Tonic Seafood & Steak
  Tonic Seafood & Steak , 111 W. 11th Street , Wilmington
  5:00 pm
• Neon New Years Eve Party @ the Elsmere Fire Co.
  Elsmere Fire Company, Station 16 , 1107 Kirkwood Hwy , Elsmere
  7:00 pm

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:

• Champion Force Athletics — (800) 940-7469
  Join Champion Force Cheer - Classes Starting at $10
• Dogtopia of Wilmington — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Fraud alert!!
  Last night someone stole my debit card information and attempted to use it at several fast food locations. Thank god my bank notified me and I was… (Nextdoor Klair Estates)
• Good morning, neighbors just wanted to give you an update.
  The roads are very clear some of the back roads and in the neighborhoods could be icy and I would be cautious, The main roads and the highways are… (Nextdoor Springer Woods)

• ShopRite Supermarkets posted a job opening for ShopRite - Meat Wrapper Clerk in Wilmington. Apply here.
• Dividend Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Cleaner/Janitorial in Wilmington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Wilmington here.

🗞 Nearby News

New Castle

• See the higher median price for November home listings in New Castle County (delawareonline.com)
• DelDOT Release Wilmington DMV to Remain Closed Week of December 29, 2025 (hoyendelaware.com)
• In 1952, DC's skies were littered with US fighter jets chasing UFOs. More than 70 years later, the mystery persists (cnn.com)

Claymont

• Claymont Pharmacy Robbed at Gunpoint on Christmas Eve Morning • TV Delmarva Channel 33 (tvdelmarva.com)

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: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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