Blue Angels, Thunderbirds headed to Delaware for free show; other news
Here's a look at news and events from around southern Delaware this week.
Thunder Over Dover brings elite jet teams
This year’s Thunder Over Dover air show will include two fighter jet teams famous for their death-defying precision stunts.
The Navy’s Blue Angels will be joined by their Air Force counterparts the Thunderbirds. The free airshow returns Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 at Dover Air Force Base.
Other performances include the Black Daggers, the parachute demonstration team for Army Special Operations, and Precision Exotics, which offers attendees the chance to drive exotic cars. In addition to the air shows, people will also be able to check out a wide variety of military planes and helicopters up close.
Gates open at 9 a.m., and public parking is at the north and main gates.
A different kind of tax refund is coming
The tax system is so complicated that millions of Americans end up paying money for the privilege of paying taxes.
Some of that money will be coming back to Delaware taxpayers who were tricked into paying for tax services they didn’t need, the state Attorney General’s office announced Wednesday in a press release.
Intuit, which owns popular tax preparation service TurboTax, will pay $141 million in a nationwide settlement, $400,000 of which will come to Delawareans.
It all stems back to an investigation by ProPublica, which reported misleading business practices by Intuit. The company had a deal with the IRS to offer free tax filing to military members and those making around $34,000 or less. Intuit and other tax preparation companies had agreed to offer the free services so the IRS wouldn’t compete with its own version. But the company misleadingly directed people toward its paid products, Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a statement.
People who started using TurboTax’s “Free Edition” from 2016 to 2018, and were told they had to pay to file even though they were eligible for free preparation, can expect direct payments of about $30 for each year they were deceived into paying, the press release said. You don’t have to do anything to get the money if you’re eligible: You’ll automatically get a notice and a check by mail.
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Greenwood farmers market pushed back by weather
Greenwood’s second farmers market season, originally scheduled to kick off this Saturday, will instead start June 11, the town announced this week. The town said the decision was because of rain and wind in the forecast for this weekend. Speaking of which,
Don’t make outdoor weekend plans
The weather forecast from the National Weather Service this weekend is as follows:
- Friday: Rain
- Saturday: Rain
- Sunday: Probably more rain
That's because a nor'easter is expected to move into the area Friday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan O'Brien. He said Thursday it will be a very slow moving system sitting offshore, bringing gusty winds along with high waves of 10-15 feet for an extended period of time. Because of the moon phase, O'Brien said, tides are lower than normal, but they are keeping an eye on the possibility of coastal flooding and beach erosion.
The circus comes to Salisbury
The Zerbini Family Circus will be in Salisbury all next week, Monday to Saturday. During the week, the show is at 5 and 7 p.m., and on Saturday it’s at 4 and 6 p.m. at the Wicomico Recreation and Parks Winterplace Park Pavilion area. Tickets are $15 per adult and $5 per child. The show includes acrobats, juggling, clowns, performing ponies and more.
Ellendale is selling abandoned property
The town of Ellendale announced it will sell off its collection of abandoned property that’s more than two years old. They’re getting rid of bicycles, scooters, skateboards, sports equipment and a charcoal grill. Find photos of the items on the town’s Facebook page. People can make an offer on one or all of the items before May 14, the date of the townwide yard sale. Call the town from 9 a.m. to noon during the week at 302-422-6727, or email aaron.moore@ellendale.delaware.gov. The town said it will throw away anything not sold May 14.
A chance for a clean slate
The ACLU of Delaware’s Clean Slate program is offering workshops to guide former offenders who are eligible to have their criminal records cleared.
“A person’s whole life should not be defined by their worst mistake,” the ACLU said on the program website.
Those who want to find out more about who is eligible and how it works can attend a number of workshops around the state, including several in southern Delaware.
These include:
- Thursday, May 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Everlasting Hope Ministries, 504 W. Market St., Georgetown
- Thursday, June 2, 6-8 p.m., at Bethel AME Church, 205 NW 4th St., Milford
- Wednesday, June 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Church of the New Beginning, 31003 Country Gardens, Dagsboro
Also, more information is available here.
Bike rally raises money for a state park
A bike rally to raise money to support Trap Pond State Park near Laurel is set for Saturday, May 7 at the park. The 18th Family Bike Rally registration starts at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 10:30. The cost is $10 per rider and $25 per family. It’s hosted by Trap Pond Partners, a volunteer organization.
Pop-up dining on Route 13
The parking lot at the O.A. Newton stores just north of Bridgeville on Route 13 has previously been known mostly for its parking spots, but this summer the company plans to feature food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays.
O.A. Newton’s Sarah Willey said in an email that they hope to draw some of the summer beach traffic, and supporting local businesses by featuring food trucks seemed like a win-win. Food truck owners interested in participating can contact Willey at sarah.willey@oanewton.com.
Reminder
Bridgeville’s spring townwide yard sale is Saturday starting at 7 a.m.
How to help the Harrington Library
The Harrington Library wants to make friends. Those interested in supporting the Harrington Library through fundraising, volunteering, advocacy and more are invited to the Friends of the Harrington Public Library meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at 6 p.m. New members are welcome.
Native dance troupe will perform in Georgetown
The Georgetown Public Library will host the Nanticoke Indian Tribe’s dance troupe on Wednesday, May 11 from 6-7 p.m.
As we noted a few weeks ago, the tribe is also holding its free Heritage Day event on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro.
Another local farmers market to check out
Frederica’s farmers market opens at 1313 Frederica Road on Sunday, May 29. Tidal Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature herbs, eggs, butter, breads, honey, fresh cut flowers, jewelry, candles and more. On opening day, there will be giveaways and a door prize.
Car show in Delmar
The Kiwanis Club of Delmar is hosting a car show and swap meet Saturday, May 14 at the U.S. 13 Dragway. The event, which also features live music, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is $15 per vehicle or swap spot. Find more information here.
Bridge work
Sand Hill Road, which runs through Marshyhope Wildlife Area off 404 west of Greenwood, was shut down Wednesday for pipe replacement on the bridge over Jones Mill Branch. The work is slated to run through Friday, May 20.
In case you missed it: Stories from the past week
Andrew Sharp
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Andrew Sharp