SUPPORT SOUGHT: The Channin Civic Association is looking to New Castle County to block apparent state plans to replace the derelict school building on Naamans Road with a large office complex. Officers told residents that they have learned the Delaware Economic Development Office is looking to put 70,000 square feet of office space there to accommodate Access Group, a nonprofit firm which provides financing for advanced professional education. Legislation slipped quietly through the General Assembly in the closing days of the session took the decision on what to do with the abandoned building from the Brandywine school board and gave it to the development agency and state financial offices.

Association officers told residents in a newsletter that their trump card is New Castle County zoning. Although fronting on a major highway, the property is zoned for residential use. The state or the company would have to go through the normal rezoning process in order to change that, according to Charles Baker, general manager of the Department of Land Use. County Councilman Robert Weiner, who represents the area, already has expressed opposition to any commercial use. The association is attempting to get County Executive Tom Gordon to take a similar stance, although his role would only be to veto the legislation in the unlikely event County Council enacted a rezoning ordinance in the face of community opposition. (CLICK HERE to read previous article.)

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FANS APLENTY:

Photo by Patt Cannon

There was no lack of support at Williamsport, Pa., over the weekend for Naamans Little League All Stars from Brandywine Hundred. The red shirt cheering section was in full voice as the youngsters fought back Sunday evening to even their tournament record. This photo was taken about an hour before the Saturday game. A win on Tuesday would put the first Delaware team ever to compete there into the semifinals of the youth sports organization's championship.

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PARTIAL ANSWER: M.B.N.A. Bank reportedly confirmed that it will convert the former Public Building into offices and move its corporate headquarters across 11th Street when the work is finished.. However, details about how the building's outward appearance will be changed are still shrouded in official secrecy. As Delaforum has previously reported, partial demolition has been underway for several weeks but its extent could not be determined. William Montgomery, Mayor James Baker's chief of staff, reportedly expressed pleasure at what has been done so far and confidence that the bank "will do a good job. But city spokesman John Rago has maintained that no redevelopment plan has been filed. (CLICK HERE to jump to previous article)

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LIBRARY GROUP REACHES ITS TARGET: Private funds raising for the Brandywine Branch library has been completed, but the Friends organization is still accepting major memorial and other gifts and commemorative bricks are still available. James Conrad, head of the financing campaign, said that County Executive Tom Gordon provided the final amount to reach the Friends' $2.5 million goal so that it would qualify for a Longwood Foundation  'challenge grant' of $500,000. Conrad would not say how much county money was given, but did say that the drive "came close [to] but didn't quite make" its goal. Delaforum was not immediately able to obtain the figure from Gordon's office or the Department of Community Services.

Inscribed bricks, which are offered in return for a $100 donation, are being laid in the Colonnade of Freedom on the north side of the library in Talley-Day Park. So far, Conrad said, 1,901 bricks have been installed and another 275 are ready to be put into place. Potential donors have until Aug. 31 to join that group. In all, the colonnade floor will consist of 4,000 bricks. It is filled now with plain bricks that can be replaced by the inscribed ones. The next set, he said, will be put in place in the spring or early summer of 2004. County government put up $3,940,000 in capital funds to finance construction and initial socking of the library. The state also provided capital funds.

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BRANDYWINE HIGH PRINCIPAL APPOINTED: Rick Gregg will return to the Brandywine School District as principal of Brandywine High School. Formerly principal of Concord High, he has been director of instruction for the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District since 2000. He succeeds Alfred DiEmedio, who is retiring. A native and resident of Newark, Gregg has a bachelors degree from the University of Delaware, a masters from Wilmington College and is pursuing a doctorate at the university. A classroom teacher for eight years, he also has coach volleyball and softball, directed school plays and served as advisor to the National Honor Society and other extracurricular activities.

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REELING HE IS NOT: Brandywine schools superintendent Bruce Harter called foul when the public finally got to see the first round of federal accountability ratings. While only four of the district's 17 schools received passing grades -- the top one of two in all cases -- Harter said that was because they had to have shown improvement all 34 test categories. The three high schools had to measure up in 33, but their graduation rates were also counted. Of the 12 schools listed as being on 'academic review' and the one on the lower 'academic watch', six fell short in just one category and one in just two. The 2003 Delaware state student assessment test results were used to measure performance.

"I feel these ratings seriously misrepresent the important and progress our students, teachers and schools have made," Harter said in a special edition of the district newsletter devoted to explaining the results and mailed to all residences in Brandywine Hundred and the portion of north Wilmington included in the Brandywine district. District superintendents and other key administrators were given the federal results a month early to allow time for public response.. Faring best in Brandywine were Forwood, Lancashire, Lombardy and Mount Pleasant Elementary. The near misses were Brandywood, Carrcroft and Maple Lane Elementary, Harlan Intermediate and Hanby and Springer Middle. Claymont Intermediate was the runner-up.

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LINES SOLIDIFYING: The commission charged with splitting New Castle County Council districts in two in order to effect expansion from six to 12 at the 2004 general election is confident enough of its

None of the districts are final until the full panel agrees to recommend them and County Council votes on the recommendation in October. Przywara said posting the preliminary drawings will allow the public to comment before the process reaches the decision point.  CLICK HERE to access previous article.

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DRY NO MORE:

This time last year, the Brandywine was shamelessly exposing bare rocks to the summer sun. As the result of the antidrought this spring and summer and torrential rains on Aug.11, only a few tantalizing glimpses are to be had on the fringes of the swift-flowing current. This view is in Brandywine Park just south of Van Buren Street.

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THE WAY IT WAS:
The Du Pont Building and 10th and Market Sts. have lost some of their preeminence since this post card appeared in 1915, The building in what is now Rodney Square was the courthouse. The Du Pont Building, which was identified on the card as the Du Pont Hotel, continues to house the Du Pont Co.'s central offices and the hotel.               This is another in a series of 'then and now' views of Wilmington. It draws on the extensive collection of local picture post cards accumulated by Terry Craig. Current views of the same scenes are Delaforum digital photos. See previous views in this series.

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