In the City

THE CITY

COUNCIL MEMBER LORETTA WALSH RETIRES

Mayor Mike Purzycki expressed Wilmington’s thanks and appreciation to longtime City Council Member Loretta Walsh, who retired from Council on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

The Mayor’s edited statement follows:

Loretta Walsh

Council Member Loretta Walsh, who represented the entire City on Council for 28 years, not counting her many years as Deputy Sheriff for New Castle County, is unfortunately retiring from her Council position due to health reasons. Loretta has devoted her career and much of her personal life to serving the people of Wilmington, and she will continue to serve, to question, to challenge, and to ensure that the people’s interests are heard and well-represented. I will continue to seek Loretta’s advice and counsel. Her knowledge, wisdom, political skills, and concern for the issues that affect children, families, and individuals are immeasurable. I know she will continue to share the knowledge she has accumulated after decades in public life, and I also know how important that is for our City as we manage the present and plan for its future. On behalf of a very grateful City of Wilmington, thank you, Loretta, for all you have done for generations of residents and businesses that call Wilmington home. Get well but stay ready because your City still needs you very much!

WFD CONTINUES TO DIVERSIFY

Mayor Mike Purzycki congratulated Wilmington Fire Chief John Looney on bringing together one of the most diverse fire academies in City history. This month, when the 42nd WFD Academy opens, it will feature a diverse group of recruits that includes 8 Black males, 8 White males, 1 Black female, and 2 Hispanic males, or a 58% minority participation class. These individuals were selected for the academy from the hundreds that applied.

The 19 recruits have received a conditional offer of employment, which is contingent on the successful completion of the academy along with passing a complete medical examination and a criminal background check.

“Our primary focus is to recruit the most outstanding individuals to become Wilmington firefighters,” said Chief Looney. “Recruitment into a line of public service that potentially carries severe consequences as well as tremendous rewards is not necessarily easy, but the WFD supports the Mayor’s call to make sure the doors to public service are open to everyone. We’re committed to making sure our department reflects the community it serves and provides the highest standards of firefighting.”

The Mayor also pointed to the Wilmington Police Dept.’s last academy—the 101st—which graduated in August as another example of the City’s commitment to diversify Wilmington’s public safety landscape.

BVD BARBER SALON’S CHESS ON THE SQUARE

Chess players of all skill levels are invited to participate in the 7th Annual “Chess on the Square” event, to be held Saturday, November 12 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Wilmington Library. This FREE chess tournament and chess learning event is sponsored by BVD Barber Salon owner Terrone Warren, Council President Trippi Congo, and Lisa Flowers. Mayor Mike Purzycki thanks the organizers for staging this annual event, which is popular with chess players of all ages. The Mayor also thanks Council President Congo for his sponsorship of the annual event. Warren owns the BVD Barber Salon on W. 8th St. and organizes the tournament each year with Lisa Flowers. This year’s FREE tournament will feature multiple chess tables and simultaneous games at the Wilmington Library on East 10th Street. To register for the tournament, visit www.chessonthesquare.org, email chessonthesquarewilm@gmail.com or call 302.420.2152.

2022 WILMINGTON AWARD AND ACCESS WILMINGTON AWARD RECIPIENTS

Mayor Mike Purzycki, and Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo, honored six City residents with the 18th Annual Wilmington Awards and two local organizations with an Access Wilmington Award during a public ceremony on Thurs., Oct. 13, 2022, at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building in Downtown Wilmington.

Mayor Purzycki joined other elected officials, community partners, and assorted guests to cut the ribbon on the new $26M Southbridge Wilmington Wetlands Park. The award-winning 20-acre stormwater management facility and community park bordered by A St., Walnut St., and Garasches La. in South Wilmington took 16 years to complete. Mayor Mike Purzycki, Matt Ford, Charles McDowell, Denara Charles (Caring Hands Phlebotomy Services, LLC), Debra Mason, Constance McCarthy, Apostle Andre Harris, Michael Kalmbach (Creative Vision Factory), Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo.