DNREC’s Weatherization Assistance Program

Did you know the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control can help you save potentially hundreds of dollars on your energy bills annually while protecting your home from the elements and keeping you more comfortable?

DNREC’s Weatherization Assistance Program has for years helped lower-income households reduce their electricity, heating and water heating costs, lowering their bill from 10% to 40% or even more. And the best part is it comes at no cost to income-verified applicants.

Essentially, the program connects Delawareans with certified contractors and energy specialists who will walk through their residence, determine ways they can save energy and then make improvements like adding insulation to their homes, weatherstripping doors and sealing HVAC ducts. These changes help keep the air conditioning in during summer and the heat in during winter, while steps like utilizing more efficient light bulbs save energy.

So, how exactly does the program work and how might you be able to benefit?

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Kim D. Stoeckel, 66, Maple Shade

Kim D. Stoeckel, age 66, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, formerly of Haddonfield and Medford, passed away on October 20, 2026. Born and raised in Medford, Kim attended Haddonfield Memorial High School.

Kim lived a life full of simple joys and deep passions. She loved to read, listen to music, write poetry, take nature walks, and spend time at the beach. Christmas was a particularly special time of year for her, and she was a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Amy Stoeckel-Cuencas; her sons, Michael Gallo, Anthony Gallo, and Joseph Gallo; her brothers, Mark McHugh and Robert McHugh; as well as her many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

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Two Sentenced to Prison for Handgun Possession

Woodbury, NJ – Two defendants were sentenced to state prison Friday by the Honorable Kevin T. Smith in separate cases involving the unlawful possession of a handgun, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in open court: Jacquez Prince, 22, of Pennsauken, was sentenced to five years in state prison with one year of parole ineligibility, after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. An investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force determined Prince unlawfully possessed a handgun on July 19, 2023.

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Christmas Village in Philadelphia Returns

Presented by Bank of America

Philadelphia, PA – One of America’s most celebrated authentic German Christmas markets returns to the heart of Center City with more time than ever to celebrate the holiday season! Christmas Village in Philadelphia presented by Bank of America will return to LOVE Park (1500 JFK Blvd.), City Hall’s Courtyard, and the North Broad section from Thanksgiving Day (November 26) through December 27, with a special preview on November 21 and 22, 2026. New for the season, Christmas Village will extend beyond Christmas Eve for the first time and remain open through December 27, giving visitors one additional weekend to experience the market. At the heart of LOVE Park, the market’s 30-foot authentic German Christmas Pyramid will once again tower above the festivities as one of Christmas Village’s signature landmarks. Inspired by the traditional wooden pyramids from Germany’s Ore Mountains and illuminated by over 3,000 sparkling lights, the Pyramid will be joined by rows of wooden vendor booths, holiday lights and returning crowd favorites including the 65-foot-tall illuminated Ferris Wheel, the historic double-tier Christmas Village Carousel and the Kids Train presented by SEPTA. Santa Claus will return for wish-taking and heart-warming photo opportunities. For food lovers, Christmas Village will serve up a mix of new flavors and returning favorites, including charcoal grilled Bratwurst, freshly melted Raclette Swiss Cheese Sandwiches, Austrian Strudels, Schnitzel and more European specialities. New offerings include Chesapeake Crab Loaded Baked Potatoes, the new Churro Split for a festive spin on the classic banana split, and a brand new booth serving Mac & Cheese. For beverages, enjoy the market’s famous hot Glühwein (hot mulled wine) by local Pennsylvania winery Mazza Wines, spiked hot beverages featuring local Boardroom Spirits, and kid-friendly offerings like hot chocolate and apple cider.

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DNRP Gathering Toys for Tots Donations

DNRP will continue its tradition this year of collecting unwrapped, new toys for families in need in Delaware/Delaware DNREC photo

The Delaware Natural Resources Police (DNRP) are collecting donated toys ahead of the upcoming giving season for families in need in all three counties beginning Nov. 1. Donations will be distributed as gifts to children in communities statewide through the local branch of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

The national program collects new, unwrapped toys, for all age groups of children, and distributes them as holiday presents to underprivileged kids in communities across the country. In the First State, DNRP officers from each of the three units – Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Crimes, and State Parks – lead this holiday effort, with donation boxes at Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) locations statewide.

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Medical Education Needs To Adapt

By Dr. James W. Schroeder

Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize most industries, and medicine is no exception. Eight in ten doctors already use AI for everything from taking notes to getting up to speed on the latest medical research in order to better diagnose patients.

AI promises to deliver enormous benefits to clinicians and patients alike. But like any tool or technology, AI also has limitations.

Medical educators need to adjust their curricula in response to the AI age. That means putting less emphasis on memorization — and more on developing an empathetic bedside manner, communicating well, and handling the many other uniquely human elements of the job.

Doctors have the unique privilege and responsibility of being invited into some of the most intimate and vulnerable moments of patients’ lives. Physicians often meet patients and their families when they are confronting anxiety, life-altering diagnoses, even death.

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Van Drew Demands ICE Custody of Illegal Immigrant

Today, Congressman Van Drew issued the following statement after a judge ordered the pretrial release of the illegal immigrant charged with drunk driving and seriously injuring Middle Township Police Officer Austin Kapurelos. The release order has since been stayed, keeping Lucio Lopez-Perez in county custody until his next court date in December.

“This is absolutely outrageous,” said Congressman Van Drew. “This man, who is in this country illegally, admitted to drinking throughout the day, got behind the wheel of a car, and struck a police officer so hard that he was thrown 30 feet. Austin suffered a compound fracture, a bruised lung, and multiple broken bones. He is lucky to be alive. And somehow, a judge determined that the man charged with doing this could be released back onto our streets. They are calling him low risk when his criminal history outside New Jersey has not even been fully vetted. Give me a break.

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Mom, 22, Killed In Fiery Gibbstown I-295 Crash Mourned

By Cecilia Levine

A 22-year-old New Jersey mother who was killed when her car crashed into a tree and burst into flames on Route 295 leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter, according to a fundraiser launched by her grieving family.

Aigner Johnson, of Oaklyn, died in the crash on Route 295 southbound in East Greenwich Township on Wednesday, Oct. 21, New Jersey State Police said. Now, loved ones are raising money to give her a proper farewell.

“Aigner was a loving girl with an amazing spirit, and everyone gravitated to her,” her aunt, Camilla Dowd, wrote on GoFundMe. “Her loss is heartbreaking for our family, and it is even harder knowing she leaves behind her beautiful 5-year-old daughter.”

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Trenton Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Girlfriend

A 52-year-old New Jersey man was sentenced today to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and related charges in the fatal domestic violence shooting of his girlfriend at a Bensalem hotel.

Orenthia Upshur, of Trenton, N.J., entered the guilty plea in Bucks County Court for the Jan. 15, 2025, murder of 49-year-old Maisha Coon, also of Trenton. Following the plea, Common Pleas Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. immediately imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.

Court testimony indicated that the two had been in a relationship spanning three decades and had gone to the hotel to address ongoing relationship issues before the encounter turned fatal, another tragic reminder of the lethal nature of domestic violence.

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Local Trick or Treat Hours

Below are Trick or Treat hours for surrounding area.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween! 🎃

Keep these safety tips in mind while trick-or-treating! Children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult, use sidewalks and crosswalks, carry flashlights or glow sticks, and wear reflective clothing so motorists can see them. Never enter a stranger’s home or car, and always inspect candy before eating it. Drivers are urged to slow down, stay alert, and watch carefully for children on the streets.

Let’s work together to make Halloween fun, safe, and enjoyable for everyone! 👻