Delaware

Delaware’s Calidore unlock origin story of their golden instruments

Published

3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Delaware’s Calidore unlock origin story of their golden instruments

The Calidore String Quartet, in residence at the University of Delaware, features instruments with unique histories.
Calidore’s next show is at University of Delaware on April 6.
The group’s oldest instruments are from 1775.

When you’re in a world-class chamber group like The Calidore String Quartet in Delaware, each instrument carries more than just a rich tune.

Those prized instruments also string together a colorful backstory.

Calidore, which serves as the Distinguished String Quartet in Residence at University of Delaware, unveiled the tales behind each member’s instruments, before their homecoming concert at UD’s Gore Recital Hall in Newark April 6.

Jeffrey Myers of Calidore rocks a violin from 1775

Chamber musicians widely recognize Antonio Stradivari, the 17th-century Italian craftsman, as the No. 1 violin maker, Calidore violinist Jeffrey Myers said.

The No. 3 spot is claimed by the guy who made Myers’ violin: Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, the 18th-century Italian who crafted his “Eisenberg” instrument in circa 1775. He currently uses bows by Dominique Peccatte and Francois Tourte.

Myers’ instrument belonged to the late David Niwa, assistant concertmaster for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, who died young in his 50s in 2022. Myers is originally from Columbus, Ohio, and was already familiar with that particular violin, long before he started using it.

“I actually grew up watching and hearing this instrument being played,” Myers said.

Niwa’s wife, a pianist, has decided to loan the instrument to Myers on an extended basis.

“I’m very fortunate to get to play it,” Myers said. “These instruments are … they’re really just pieces of artwork.”

Jeremy Berry finds his stringed boo: ‘I never turned back’

Calidore violist Jeremy Berry has the youngest instrument in the group: one made by Umberto Muschietti from circa 1903, with a bow by Pierre Simon.

Berry said he stumbled across that viola when he was getting a previous one repaired and needed a substitute. That’s when Julie Reed-Yeboah, the acclaimed owner of Reed Yeboah Fine Violins in New York City, played matchmaker and introduced him to his current stringed boo.

Reed-Yeboah “was clearly a very good salesperson,” Berry said with a laugh. “She said, ‘why don’t you play on this for a bit?’ And I never turned back.”

Estelle Choi’s cello ‘has a lot of sentimental value’

Around 2013, Estelle Choi began playing a cello created by Charles Jacquot (circa 1830). The instrument was loaned by her former teacher Ron Leonard, an esteemed musician who was on the cello faculty at Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, before he retired in 2017.

Choi said she initially used a different cello on loan, but after taking it in for an “annual check-up,” she asked Leonard if she could borrow one of his.

“At that point, that’s when he lent me this cello that I now own,” Choi explained. After about a decade of borrowing the instrument, Choi finally bought it from her former teacher, just two or three years ago.

“I own the instrument that my teacher originally got as a teenager,” she said. “It sort of has a lot of sentimental value.”

Ryan Meehan knew it was love at ‘first note’

Calidore violinist Ryan Meehan uses a bow by Joseph Henry and a violin by Vincenzo Panormo (circa 1775). The instrument is tied with Myers’ for being the oldest in the group, and Meehan acquired it thanks to Robert Lipsett, the violinist’s former instructor at the Colburn School.

Meehan said Lipsett is a “world-renowned violin teacher” who is also “a great collector of instruments.”

When Meehan was looking for an instrument, Lipsett called to let him know there was a violin he might be interested in that another student passed on. But Lipsett didn’t know if the instrument was still available. Meehan eventually tracked it down.

“I knew from the first note that, that was [my instrument],” Meehan said. “After searching for so long, you know it when you know it. I feel very lucky.”

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters

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Delaware

Powerball winner in Delaware worth $2M among unclaimed lottery prizes

Published

12 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Powerball winner in Delaware worth M among unclaimed lottery prizes

Do you have a Powerball ticket lying around? If so, check your ticket because you might be a winner.

There are three unclaimed Powerball prizes in Delaware worth $50,000 or more including a $2-million winning Powerball ticket, according to the Delaware Lottery. There’s also a Delaware Lottery game winner worth nearly $400,000 that is still unclaimed.

As of Tuesday, April 7, these tickets remain unclaimed, according to lottery officials.

Think you might be a winner? Check the numbers here:

Powerball unclaimed tickets

$2 million winning ticket sold at Boyd’s Corner Liquors in Middletown for Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, drawing
$50,000 winning ticket sold at Brookside Liquors in Newark for Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, drawing
$50,000 winning ticket sold at Wawa No. 849 in Rehoboth Beach for Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, drawing

Delaware Lottery unclaimed tickets

$390,000 Lucky for Life winning ticket sold at Safeway #2706 in Rehoboth Beach for Friday, April 18, 2025, drawing

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners to remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much or how little they win.

How can I claim my prize?

First things first, sign the back of your ticket using an ink pen to identify yourself as the ticket owner. According to the Delaware lottery, once signed, ticket ownership cannot be changed or transferred.

For prizes $599 or less, tickets can be redeemed at Delaware lottery retailers or the Delaware Lottery Office. You can also mail your tickets to the Delaware Lottery Office: 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.

Prizes worth $2,500 or less can be claimed at select Delaware Lottery retailer claim centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle counties.

Any prize between $600 and $5,000 can be claimed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at these redemption centers:

Delaware Lottery: 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover
Division of Revenue: 20653 DuPont Blvd., Suite 2, Georgetown
Division of Revenue: Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French St., Wilmington

A prize worth $5,001 or more can be claimed at the Delaware Lottery Office on business days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You must bring a photo ID that includes your name and address, as well as a Social Security card.

All winning Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America tickets must be redeemed in the state and jurisdiction where they were sold.

When was the last $2 million Powerball ticket sold in Delaware?

The last the a $2 million-winning Powerball ticket was sold in Delaware was for the Feb. 25, 2023, drawing, according to the Delaware Lottery.

A 36-year-old Newark woman bought the winning ticket at Wawa #861 on Capitol Trail near Newark.

When was the last $1 million Powerball ticket sold in Delaware?

The last $1 million-winning Powerball ticket sold in Delaware was for the Oct. 22 drawing worth $321 million.

The prize was won by a 51-year-old Dover woman, who purchased the ticket at Harrington Raceway and Casino, according to Delaware Lottery officials.

Has there been a Powerball jackpot winner in Delaware?

The most recent Powerball jackpot winner in Delaware was during the Monday, Aug. 6, drawing worth $231 million. No one has claimed the prize as of Tuesday, April 7.

Before that, the last Powerball jackpot winner in Delaware occurred about a decade ago. A lucky winner purchased a ticket at the Selbyville Goose Creek store for the Dec. 17, 2016, drawing worth $121.6 million.

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Delaware

Crash on Del. highway leads to man hit, killed by passing truck on Saturday, police say

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Crash on Del. highway leads to man hit, killed by passing truck on Saturday, police say

A man was killed on Saturday night after his car was hit by another vehicle and he started to walk along the highway before being hit by a third car, according to the Delaware State Police.

This all unfolded around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 as a Ford Winstar and Kia Optima were going northbound on Interstate 495 near 12th Street, police said.

At one point, the front of the Kia crashed into the back of the Ford and the Ford hit a guardrail, officials explained.

The man driving the Ford, identified as Upper Darby resident 45-year-old Mark Barnett, Sr., then started to walk along I-495 when he was hit by a Ram 1500 pickup truck, according to police.

Barnett was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The driver of the Ram pickup was identified as a 65-year-old man from Gillett, Pennsylvania, and he was not hurt, police reported.

The driver of the Kia left as officers made it to the scene, officials said.

I-495 was shut down to traffic for about five hours as detectives investigated.

If you have any footage of the incident or have any information that could help investigators, please contact Cpl. D. McKenna at 302-365-8486.

Tips can also be shared through a private Facebook message to Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

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Delaware

Vote for Week 1 Delaware High School Team of the Week

Published

2 days ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Vote for Week 1 Delaware High School Team of the Week

Help decide which team was the best in Delaware high school sports during Week 1 of the spring sports season. Vote for the Delaware Online High School Sports Team of the Week.

Nominations for Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week can be sent to high school sports reporter Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. The nomination period closes Sunday. Please send the name of the team or athlete you would like to nominate and a brief summary of their accomplishments in the past week.

Polls are open to the public with unlimited voting from Monday through Thursday. Winners are announced Friday. Here are this week’s nominees:

Archmere girls lacrosse: The Auks opened the season 3-0 with wins over Shipley (Pa.), Wilmington Friends and Ursuline.

Concord softball: The Raiders defeated Appoquinimink 7-6 and Brandywine 10-6.

Delcastle boys volleyball: The Cougars opened the season 3-0 with wins over Christiana, McKean and Appoquinimink (3-2 on March 27).

Hodgson baseball: The Silver Eagles defeated McKean 13-3 and Middletown 11-9.

Padua girls tennis: The Pandas opened the season 3-0 with wins over Appoquinimink, Ursuline and Wilmington Friends.

Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.

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