Delaware
History from News Journal Feb. 1-7 with bank collapse, rising inflation
Mural of Richard Allen, abolitionist and first AME Church bishop, unveiled
With a grant from T-Mobile, the Town of Smyrna commissioned a mural illustrating the most notable achievements of Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church
“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.
Feb. 2, 1926, The Evening Journal
Captain in Florida saved from ship by Delaware relative
Mrs. Fred Martin of Laurel, wife of Captain Fred Martin, master of the schooner Richmond, this morning received a telegram from her husband stating that he had rescued Captain Roland F. Quillen and wife and crew from the schooner Jacob Hook, abandoned off the coast of Vero Beach, Fla.
A strange coincidence in connection with the rescue is the fact that Captain Martin is the brother-in-law of Captain Quillen.
The Jacob Hook was lumber laden from Beaufort, N.C., to Miami, Fla., where the Quillens are to spend the winter. Mrs. Quillen insisted on making the trip with her husband.
It is supposed the Jacob Hook became disabled in the storm off Florida.
Another unusual coincidence is that Captain Martin until a few months ago was master of the Jacob Hook. When he took charge of the Richmond, he turned the Hook over to his brother-in-law.
Both Captain Martin and Captain Quillen live in Laurel.
Captain Quillen was nominated for State Treasurer on the Democratic ticket several years ago. His brother, John Quillen, is Clerk of the Peace of Sussex County.
Feb. 4, 1976, The Morning News
Farmers Bank gets 3 rescue offers
Three potential investors have expressed interest in providing badly needed capital to the financially troubled Farmers Bank of the State of Delaware.
The bank has asked the state for $10 million to $20 million to shore up its finances after sustaining a $9 million loss in 1975 – chiefly from bad loans.
In a hastily called meeting last night, directors of Farmers heard of feelers from an insurance company, another bank and a wealthy Miami Beach investor with Delaware ties. Directors declined to identify the insurance company or the interested bank. …
Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt characterized one of the feelers as an offer, and, in a brief appearance at the directors meeting, urged the bank to accept it. It came from Victor Posner, wealthy chairman of the NVF Corp. of Yorklyn. …
Tribbitt said Posner had offered to put up $15 million of his personal funds in exchange for preferred stock in the bank. Tribbitt said the state could find another $5 million from unspent capital improvement and divestiture funds to provide the needed total of $20 million. …
The board meeting was called by eight of the nine directors who represent the state’s interest in the bank. The state already owns 49.3% of the bank’s common stock and is the bank’s largest depositor with more than $100 million currently in time and demand accounts….
Farmers Chairman A. Edwards Danforth has been under fire from legislators since last Wednesday when the bank’s difficulties first were revealed to state officials….
Tribbitt rebuked the Farmers chairman for blaming the bank’s problems on its relationship with the state. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said the major problem was the bank’s real estate loans, Tribbitt told reporters.
The governor said he continues to support divestiture of the state’s ownership in the bank.
A summary of the FDIC examination obtained by The Morning News shows the ratio of problem loans to bank assets had risen to more than double the accepted danger level. …
The bank’s $124 million portfolio of securities – stocks and bonds – was worth $11 million less than the original purchase price.
The FDIC report listed $31.3 million in capital accounts – stocks, bonds and retained earnings – and showed $4.5 million in reserves for loan losses, a total of $35.8 million.
The report showed the bank had $73.1 million in classified assets, mainly problem loans and securities losses. Classified loans amounted to $66.8 million. Of that total, $50.7 million were listed as substandard, $6.3 million as doubtful and $9.8 million as lost.
Farmers Bank acknowledged last night that the bank is in technical default on $9 million it borrowed in recent years to buttress its capital. But Farmers President Edward W. Hagemeyer said the two New York banks that hold the capital notes are not pressing for immediate payment and are allowing Farmers to continue making interest payments.
Feb. 5, 2006, Sunday News Journal
The rising cost of everything: Expect to spend hundreds more a month
When retiree Charles Kolodjeski moved into his Little Heaven manufactured home south of Dover in 1986, his monthly expenses totaled $500.
He estimates he now spends $2,500 to $3,000 a month on food, land rent, gasoline, health care, insurance, utilities and incidentals. …
Like residents across the state, Kolodjeski, 74, is facing even greater cost-of-living increases this year. From gasoline prices and heating bills to health care and housing costs, many Delawareans are going to be shelling out hundreds of dollars more each month.
The extra cost can mean real trouble for many in a state the U.S. Census Bureau estimates had a median income of $50,315 in 2004, with 79,682 of the state’s 830,364 people living below the federal poverty line.
And other increases could be coming soon. Property tax hikes loom in New Castle County, and many school districts are facing shortfalls. State officials are talking about higher tolls and fees for driver’s licenses and car registrations.
Come May, Delmarva Power electricity customers will begin paying nearly 60% more to keep the air conditioning humming.
“No matter how you turn, they get you,” Kolodjeski said. …
Like most, Kolodjeski’s income hasn’t kept pace with rising expenses.
Civilian workers’ wages and benefits rose 3.1% in 2005, the smallest increase in nine years, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Meanwhile, inflation was at 3.5%.
Patricia Parsons, 58, is one of the many not seeing income increase as expenses mount. The Long Neck retiree said her lot rent for her manufactured home rose this year by 37% to $6,200. Neighbors with waterfront lots had 70% hikes, she said.
“A lot of people have walked away. They’ve abandoned their homes,” said Parsons, who supports a bill in the General Assembly to force land owners to justify increases above inflation….
Here are examples of how Delawareans are being squeezed by increasing costs this year compared to one year ago:
- Cost of median home, $230,600, up 19% from $193,800
- Home insurance, $442, up 13% from $390
- Monthly rent, two-bedroom apartment, $804, up 5% from $765
- Natural gas, Delmarva Power, $1.58 a cubit foot, up 20% from $1.26
- Heating oil, $2.53 a gallon, up 21% from $2.05
- Electricity, Delmarva Power, 14 cents a kilowatt hour, up 59% from 9 cents
- Automobile insurance, $2,262, up 8% from $2,092
- Gasoline, regular unleaded, $2.34 a gallon, up 31% from $1.79
- White bread, $1.05 a loaf, up 8% from 97 cents
- Milk, $3.29 a gallon, up 0.2% from $3.21
- Ground beef, $2.61 a pound, up 5.6% from $2.47
- Dozen eggs, grade A large, $1.35 a dozen, up 12.5% from $1.20
- Health insurance, premiums up 9.2%
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
Delaware
When will Delaware warm up? After snow, ice Tuesday, temps will rise
Ever seen a spring peeper peep?
A spring peeper singing in the Millsboro area.
Meteorological winter has ended and we’ve entered spring.
However, there’s still a last winter blast hitting Delaware early this week before a spring warm up hits at the end of the week.
Here’s a look at the Delaware forecast.
Will Delaware see more snow?
After a brisk Monday, March 2 with sunny skies and highs only reaching 35 degrees, there’s a chance of snow after 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 3 with freezing rain after 4 a.m. in New Castle County. Snow and freezing rain are expected before noon Tuesday, March 3. The county may receive less than a half inch of accumulation.
In Kent County and Sussex County, there’s a chance of snow and freezing rain after 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 3.
When will it warm up in Delaware?
It will start feeling like spring as warmer air moves into the First State on Tuesday evening, March 3, but wet weather is coming as well.
Rain is predicted from Tuesday, March 3 through Friday, March 5, but spring-like temperatures will make it bearable. In New Castle County temperatures will range from the mid-50s on Wednesday, March 3 to the 60s on Thursday, March 4 and Friday, March 5. Kent County should see temperatures in the 60s and Sussex County will see 70s during the mid- to later part of the week
What’s the weekend forecast?
Remember when you were daydreaming about warm weather during the polar vortex or blizzard? Well, it is coming next weekend.
The forecast is calling for sunny to partly sunny skies throughout Delaware on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Highs will reach the upper 60s in the north to the low 70s in the south.
Delaware
Law enforcement increases security across Delaware Valley after U.S. strikes on Iran
PHILADELPHIA – Law enforcement agencies across the Delaware Valley are boosting security at religious and cultural sites following U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, even as officials say there is no credible threat to the area.
The Department of Homeland Security also issued an alert after Operation Epic Fury, warning agencies to remain vigilant for suspicious activity despite assessing that a large-scale attack on U.S. soil is unlikely.
Hours after the strikes, protesters gathered in cities nationwide. In Phoenixville, dozens rallied Saturday afternoon, calling the military action “senseless.”
“Stop the war. People are suffering in this country with food prices, rent, healthcare, money for the people’s needs here,” said Curry Malott, a West Chester University associate professor of educational foundations and policy studies.
President Donald Trump has said the joint operation would eliminate Iran’s nuclear and military programs and change the regime. Some demonstrators criticized the president’s decision.
“Trump has broken his campaign promises with no new wars, and here he is going into another,” said Kyle Horstmann of Phoenixville.
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said in a statement that Iran poses a grave threat, adding, “Iran and its proxies are responsible for countless deaths of Americans and our partners. That record is long, deliberate, and undeniable-and it cannot be ignored.” He adds sustained military engagement should be done with consent of Congress.
Democratic leaders, including Senator Andy Kim, argued the president failed to seek congressional approval for the strikes.
“I have zero confidence in this president who has so flagrantly violated our constitution,” Kim said. He called for Congress to immediately reconvene to vote on a war powers resolution.
“I hope there can be unanimity that when it comes to strikes of this magnitude, when American service members lives are at risk, what greater responsibility do we have in Congress than to look out for our service members and the national security of our country?” he said.
The Homeland Security alert also warned of potential low-level cyberattacks targeting U.S. networks, adding another layer of concern for authorities monitoring threats at home.
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Delaware
Delaware County looks to boost maternal services in face of need
As the Delaware County Health Department recognized success over a year period, county officials also voiced work needed to be done particularly in light of infant and maternal outcomes.
“Unfortunately, in Delaware County, we do still have some issues with maternal and child health,” county Executive Director Barbara O’Malley said. “Between 2019 and 2023, 1.3% of our births were classified as ‘very low birthweight.’
“That’s actually higher than our neighboring suburban counties, which are all under 1%,” she explained. “And Philadelphia is at 1.6. So, we know we have work to do and that’s what our health department is here to do.”
O’Malley added that 15.6% of Delaware County residents received inadequate prenatal care, which is determined by when someone begins their prenatal care.
In addition, County Deputy Health Director Stephanie Reese said the disparity among communities of color has grown.
“While Pennsylvania’s Black and white infant mortality gap has narrowed in recent years, Delaware County’s gap has widened. Black infant mortality in Delco increased from 2.9 to 3.9 times that of whites,” she said.
That’s a factor driven by low birthweights linked to premature birth and preventable social and environmental factors.
Last week, Delaware County Council approved to advertise a request for proposals for an awareness and education campaign for the county health department’s Centralized Intake System and the Delco Doula Collaborative. This is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant.
This action will allow the DelcoDoula.org to go live once completed. This site for the Delco Doula Collaborative is a web-based registry of perinatal doulas offering doula information and matching services in Delaware County.
“We have so many resources available to people but they may just not be aware of how much we can do for people that are around maternal and child health issues,” O’Malley said.
She said the intake system would be a single point of entry for maternal and child health resources, including eligibility-based matching.
“Once we maybe learn about you, we can give you customized services and resources that you would qualify for,” O’Malley added.
The executive director explained why it’s critical to focus on these outcomes.
“We do know that maternal and child health is very important for so many reasons,” O’Malley said. “A healthy infant, a healthy pregnancy obviously gives people a healthy life, a great start in life, has better health outcomes, educational outcomes and better outcomes for the families.”
Doula programs can help, she explained.
“Research shows that doula programs such as the one that is supported by grant funding through the health department (and) through The Foundation for Delaware County … that there are lower rates of pre-term births, lower rates of low birthweight, lower rates of Caesarian section and higher rates of breastfeeding,” O’Malley said.
One way to support this is through increased awareness of these programs and initiatives, something O’Malley said is hoped to improve birth outcomes and advance health equity in Delaware County.
While the awareness campaign is coming, many of these programs already exist.
“People can avail themselves of them right away,” O’Malley said, directing the community to the health department website.
There, moms and moms-to-be can get support through virtual pre- and postnatal partum doula groups, where moms can learn how to care for their baby, free supplies including diapers and baby essentials, immunizations for infants as well as mental health support for new moms.
“It is critical that we get our Delaware County infants and youth off to the right start and taking care of their moms and families is the way to do it and we do have a lot of resources and we want to make sure that people take advantage of them,” O’Malley said.
Other health programs
Among some of the efforts the Delaware County Health Department have done include meeting with residents during February to offer free blood pressure screenings across the county, including Yeadon, Lansdowne, Chester and Springfield.
Through its Delco Revive! program, it also continues to offer free CPR classes with another one being held at the Yeadon Wellness Center at 125 S. Chester Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
“According to the American Heart Association, about 70% of cardiac arrests that happen outside the hospital occur in homes,” county Council Chair Richard Womack said. “Please take the opportunity to learn how to save a life by participating in one of these classes.”
The health department also released its 2025 Annual Report that focused on strengthening public health infrastructure, expanding equitable access to services, and deepening community partnerships across the county.
Some of the accomplishments included expanded doula services, maternal wellness programming, and youth health initiatives to support healthy families and improve early-life outcomes; comprehensive Back-to-School events and community-based education efforts, including the Lead Free in 1-2-3 campaign connecting residents to screenings, supplies and preventive services.
Over the last year, the department has also offered continued implementation of Delco Revive! by increasing community training, lifesaving supply distribution, and overdose response capacity while also strengthening data-driven monitoring and outbreak response to guide prevention strategies and protect residents from communicable diseases; and also expanded the public health kiosks.
The department is also responsible for conducting inspections, investigations and regulatory enforcement to safeguard food safety, monitor environmental hazards, respond to complaints, and prevent vector-borne disease.
The annual report stated that 83% of the department’s $11.4 million budget came from federal and state funding and that the remainder for that time period was funded through American Rescue Plan Act revenues.
“As we reflect on 2025, this report represents the dedication of our staff and partners who work every day to protect and promote the health of Delaware County residents,” county Health Director Lora Siegmann Werner said. “We remain committed to building a resilient, equitable public health system for the future.”
The full Delaware County Health Department annual report can be viewed at https://delcopa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/DCHD-2025-Annual-Report-Revised.pdf.
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