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  • CBS Philadelphia anchor Jim Donovan set the Guinness record for largest sock collection

    CBS Philadelphia anchor Jim Donovan set the Guinness record for largest sock collection

    At 9 years old, Jim Donovan would share with his parents his dreams of becoming a journalist. Around that time, he also flicked through the Guinness Book of World Records, thinking it would be cool to set one himself one day.

    Both dreams culminated last month, after Donovan retired from a nearly 40-year broadcast journalism career and set the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of socks.

    Guinness World Records verified on Dec. 8 that the 15-time Emmy winner is now the owner of the world’s largest sock collection at 1,531 pairs, many of which have eccentric designs, including Friends and Star Trek-themed socks, and every color of the rainbow. Donovan announced the achievement before his final day on-air at CBS Philadelphia on Dec. 19.

    The previous record holder, Rex J. Pumphrey II, at 1,165 pairs of socks, achieved the feat just a few months before Donovan.

    Jim Donovan’s 1,531 pairs of socks laid out on the floor of CBS Philadelphia studios while Donovan and two independent experts counted each sock on camera to be submitted to the Guinness World Records.

    While Donovan said he’s immensely grateful for a ceremonious end to a long career — a feat he admits can be rare in the world of journalism — preparing his Guinness World Record application was also a difficult project.

    “I’ve done major investigation pieces and consumer stories over four decades of TV, and this was the thing that nearly pushed me over the edge,” he said of the nearly 40 hours of inventory work required to painstakingly document each pair of socks.

    Jim Donovan takes inventory of the thousands of socks he submitted for a Guinness World Record. After 40 years in broadcast journalism, he will be retiring. But, not before receiving the world record on Dec. 8, 2025.

    Donovan questioned himself at times when the hours of inventory work became overwhelming, but he remembered that this record was, in part, meant to thank his fans for their decades of support.

    Guinness requires applicants to have two independent third-party experts oversee the counting of the world records. Two members of Thomas Jefferson University’s fashion merchandising and management program, Juliana Guglielmi-DeRosa and Jeneene Bailey-Allen, stepped up to facilitate Donovan’s counting. Together, the two experts and Donovan recorded the counting of socks for more than an hour inside CBS Philadelphia studios, without interruptions or editing of the footage, as required by Guinness.

    Digital images of Jim Donovan’s socks that he submitted for a Guinness World Record. He received recognition for his 1,531 pairs of socks on Dec. 8, 2025.

    Donovan would then embed pictures and descriptions of each sock into what became a 262-page spreadsheet so that Guinness inspectors could verify the count at a later date. During the final count, Guglielmi-DeRosa and Bailey-Allen gifted Donovan an additional pair of socks, bringing the unofficial total to 1,532, but there was no way he was going to redo the spreadsheet, Donovan said.

    “I just remember when I was a kid looking in that Guinness World Records book and thinking, ‘Boy, it would be cool to do this.’ And here I am now, 59 years old, and I finally checked off one of those kid bucket list items,” Donovan said.

    Storing thousands of socks is no small feat, either. Folded and stacked inside dozens of bins, with 48 pairs per bin, Donovan has an entire closet dedicated to the socks. Each box contains different categories, from animals to food to holidays, and more.

    Jim Donovan holds his Guinness World Records plaque verifying that he owns the largest sock collection in the world at 1,531 pairs of socks. He received the recognition on Dec. 8, 2025.

    The first openly LGBTQ+ news anchor in Philadelphia, Donovan garnered a loyal fan base with whom he frequently chatted during his daily Facebook livestreams outside of his regular broadcasts. Around eight years ago, fans noticed Donovan’s penchant for socks with bold colors and designs, and started sending the journalist socks to wear on-air.

    During the winter holidays, it was Santa socks; birthdays, it was socks with his face on them; and randomly, folks would get creative, Donovan said, sending him Spock socks (complete with Spock ears), flamingos playing golf, and Superman socks with a cape.

    In his final week on-air at CBS Philadelphia, where he was for 22 years, the station celebrated each day as part of a “Week of Jim.” In retirement, Donovan plans to spend more time with his father, who lives on Staten Island, N.Y., and dive into volunteering and nonprofit work.

    Now he’ll be enjoying retirement as a world-record holder. Donovan said he’s even starting to get messages from other Guinness World Record holders welcoming him to the club.

  • Dear Abby | Jealousy alienates last person in loner’s life

    DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together 23 years, married for almost nine. We are in our 60s. It’s the second marriage for both of us. I retired due to having to move to another state for his job. I make friends wherever I go and get involved in community activities.

    My husband has NO friends. Seriously. ZERO! He goes to work and comes home. Over the years, he has accused me of wanting relationships with my male friends (whose wives are also my friends) and tells me I should just go on and be happy with the other man. Neither my friends nor I have ever done anything to spark his pathological jealousy.

    Currently, I am on a nonprofit board of directors and must communicate often with the male president. He has become the new target. Counseling is out of the question because psychiatry is my husband’s specialty. Also, he seems to think he is always right about everything. He has never issued an apology as long as I’ve known him.

    I do not respond to his tirades because it’s pointless, but I’m sick and tired of his behavior and thought process. I understand the “why” to this behavior (his heritage and environment), but that doesn’t give him carte blanche to use it as an excuse. Any suggestions for moving forward?

    — WEARY IN FLORIDA

    DEAR WEARY: From what you have written, your antisocial husband is a bottomless vessel of insecurity. If you haven’t been able to assuage it in all these years, I doubt you ever will. Many psychotherapists use mental health professionals themselves. But unless your husband is willing to admit that perhaps he, and not you, is the problem and seeks help, nothing will change. Frankly, I am surprised your marriage has lasted this long. Is this how you want to live the rest of your life? Answering that question is the way to move forward.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I work from home a few days a week and live a block from the local middle school. Recently, I’ve broken up a group of kids in my yard hitting and fighting with each other. I don’t know these kids, have no children in school and realize this is an ongoing issue. I’m not certain how to handle it.

    I could ignore it, but I’m afraid not only that one of the kids will get hurt, but also that a parent would be upset that this happened on my property. I could report it to the police, but that may be overkill. I could also try reaching out to the school, but without any information on who these kids are, I’m not sure that would be much help either. Any ideas?

    — WITNESS IN OHIO

    DEAR WITNESS: I do have a suggestion. You have already spoken to the children involved in these altercations. You are correct that there could be liability if one or more of them are injured on your property. Contact the principal of the middle school and explain what has been going on. Once that’s done, call or visit the police department and report that your yard is being turned into a battleground. If you do, the next time something starts happening and you call the police, they may respond quickly.

  • Dear Abby | A chance for a new beginning as the new year dawns

    DEAR READERS: Welcome to 2026! A New Year has arrived; the last one is safely behind us. As always, this New Year brings with it our hopes for a new beginning.

    Today presents an opportunity to discard destructive old habits for healthy new ones, and with that in mind, I will share Dear Abby’s often-requested list of New Year’s Resolutions — which were adapted by my late mother, Pauline Phillips, from the original credo of Al-Anon:

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through THIS DAY ONLY. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will decide to be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I’ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today, I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. And I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block.

    JUST FOR TODAY: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.

    And now, Dear Readers, allow me to share an item that was sent to me by L.J. Bhatia, a reader from New Delhi, India:

    DEAR ABBY: This year, no resolutions, only some guidelines. The Holy Vedas say, “Man has subjected himself to thousands of self-inflicted bondages. Wisdom comes to a man who lives according to the true eternal laws of nature.”

    The prayer of St. Francis (of which there are several versions) contains a powerful message:

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

    Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

    Where there is injury, pardon;

    Where there is doubt, faith;

    Where there is despair, hope;

    Where there is darkness, light;

    And where there is sadness, joy.

    O Divine Master,

    Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

    To be understood, as to understand;

    To be loved, as to love;

    For it is in giving that we receive,

    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

    And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

    And so, Dear Readers, may 2026 bring with it good health, peace and joy to all of us.

    — LOVE, ABBY

  • A person was injured by a coyote in Chester County

    A person was injured by a coyote in Chester County

    A person was injured by a coyote this week in Chester County, and officials are trying to locate the animal, health officials said.

    The Chester County Health Department said in a social media post that the injured person was seeking medical care. The incident happened Sunday on Warwick Furnace Road in Warwick Township.

    The injury, which broke skin, occurred on a trail during daylight hours, a spokesperson for the county said in an email Wednesday. No one else was involved, and there have been no further reports of contact with a coyote in that area, he said.

    The department does not know if the coyote was rabid.

    The last incident with a coyote was reported to the health department in late October, in the southern part of the county, the spokesperson said. Several people were injured, and the coyote was rabid, the health department said at the time. Everyone injured was identified and was provided medical guidance in that incident, the department said.

    The state game commission was involved with locating the coyote, officials said.

    Coyotes are not necessarily rare in Pennsylvania, and their numbers are growing. They have been spotted near Philadelphia, and can thrive in suburban and urban areas, according to Chester County’s parks department.

    In Chester County, they are usually spotted near heavy, brushy cover and around woods, fields, and agricultural areas where their prey (mice, voles, rabbits, woodchucks, and birds) live. Sightings and signs have been reported in all county parks, the county said previously.

    They rarely attack humans, but they will engage with pets. (Health officials advised residents to remain aware of their pets following this week’s incident in Warwick Township.)

    Residents who come in contact with a coyote were asked to call the Chester County health department at 610-344-6225 for further information and guidance.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • See the moment N.J.’s runaway wallaby was captured in a Walmart parking lot

    See the moment N.J.’s runaway wallaby was captured in a Walmart parking lot

    Rex the wallaby has been found and returned to his home at a petting zoo in Williamstown, Gloucester County, the Lots of Love Farm announced shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday.

    Rex, a 3-year-old male wallaby, had been missing since late Monday from Lots of Love Farm, said the farm’s owner, Ron Layden, but was apprehended on Tuesday night at a nearby Walmart.

    “He’s all good,” Layden said Wednesday. “He’s in there eating hay, and he’s nice and happy.”

    Rex was captured without incident around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the help of a group of teenagers who had joined the search for the missing animal, Layden said.

    In a video of the capture provided by Lots of Love Farm, four young men can be seen wrangling the wallaby behind a fence near a retention pond. One is able to grab hold of it and carry it toward a waiting kennel.

    “Let’s go!” one of them shouts in celebration.

    The Walmart in question is located about a half-mile from Lots of Love Farm, where Layden said the agreeable wallaby had last been seen late Monday afternoon, around feeding time. Layden said Wednesday he believed an unsecured gate had allowed the animal to break free.

    The capture marked the conclusion of a dizzying 24-hour period in which the 3-foot wallaby captured the hearts and imaginations of local residents, while also garnering national attention.

    “My friend lives in Atlanta, and he called me up and said, ‘Yo, he’s on my TV!’“ Layden said.

    Layden — whose farm includes goats, sheep, peacocks, a camel, “a zebra-donkey mix, [and] a bunch of cows” — said that while he had dealt with the occasional loose animal before, this was his farm’s first wallaby escape.

    As word of the escape spread Tuesday, messages of concern and support had flooded the farm’s Facebook page, along with suggestions and reported possible sightings.

    Though some tips placed Rex as far away as Sicklerville, three miles from the farm, early sightings placed him near the Walmart, which suggests Rex never wandered too far.

    In a video posted online on Tuesday, an animal matching Rex’s description could be seen hopping casually around an onlooker’s vehicle in the well-lit Walmart parking lot.

    “It’s a [expletive] kangaroo!” the amazed onlooker yells in the video.

    As a result of the sudden notoriety, Layden said Wednesday that he plans to put Rex out over the weekend at the family’s petting zoo, which is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    A few days ago, Layden said, no one knew Rex existed.

    Now?

    “Everybody wants to come see him,” he said.

  • What we know about the forthcoming construction of the South Street Pedestrian Bridge

    What we know about the forthcoming construction of the South Street Pedestrian Bridge

    The new pedestrian bridge extension coming to Society Hill and Queen Village, which will better connect the neighborhoods to the Delaware River waterfront, is reaching a milestone.

    The South Street Pedestrian Bridge expansion will extend the existing redbrick footbridge constructed in the mid-1990s with a longer and more distinctive suspended archway bridge, as part of the long-planned I-95 capping project. Construction begins this spring, but the bridge will not be open to the public until 2027, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson said.

    A rendering of the South Street Pedestrian Bridge extension that will better connect South Street to the Delaware River waterfront. Construction will begin in Spring 2026 and go through 2027, when the bridge will open to pedestrians and cyclists.

    The 250-foot-long bridge will allow pedestrians to cross over Columbus Boulevard and I-95 with entrances at South Street and Lombard Circle that have more accessible walkways for people with disabilities. Pedestrian access to the waterfront is crucial for people on South Street visiting attractions like Penn’s Landing, Cherry Street Pier, and Spruce Street Harbor Park.

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    Construction will use an installation method in which the archways are built at a nearby location and then rolled into place, instead of being built on-site.

    “The contractor was able to eliminate long-term lane closures and full closures on Columbus Boulevard,” PennDot spokesperson Brad Rudolph said. “While this method is fairly common, it is the first time PennDot has performed it in [Southeastern Pennsylvania] with this type of pedestrian structure.”

    An aerial view of the construction site where the South Street Pedestrian Bridge extension will take place. A rendering of the archways in a nearby parking lot show where the bridge structure will be assembled and then later rolled into place where a red line marks its installation site. Construction begins in Spring 2026, with the bridge open to the public in 2027.

    The bridge structure will be assembled for about two months in a parking lot near the installation site this spring. The new structure will then be rolled into place by mid-2026, according to PennDot. Additional work, including pouring the bridge deck, will take an additional year, with the span expected to open to pedestrians and cyclists in 2027.

    Sitting 258 feet long and 100 feet from the ground to its highest arch, the footbridge will feature 14-foot-wide walkways with lit archways and handrail lighting. The entrance at Lombard Circle will have a spiraling ramp to allow for cyclists to stay on their bikes and to provide easier wheelchair and mobility access.

    A rendering of the mass timber building planned for the Penn’s Landing park.

    The pedestrian bridge is only a small part of PennDot’s $329 million project to build a cap over I-95 at Penn’s Landing, which will house a 12-acre Penn’s Landing Park with green spaces, playgrounds, and an amphitheater. Construction on the cap is nearly 30% complete as of this month.

    Nearby, Old City is getting a revamp of Market Street, where the road will be shrunk and more pedestrian thoroughfares will be added, with the new Tamanend Square plaza at Second and Market Streets to serve as the centerpiece.

  • Dear Abby | Woman finds emotional support from an unlikely source

    DEAR ABBY: I’m a 50-year-old woman who has lived with orthopedic challenges due to a congenital metabolic condition. Despite many surgeries and limited mobility, I have led a full life as a special needs teacher, wife and caregiver for my grandmother.

    After my grandmother passed last year, I struggled emotionally and started weekly Zoom sessions with a therapist. It helped at first, but it eventually felt stale and unfulfilling. When a friend recommended another therapist, I was surprised to learn that “Charlie” was actually an AI — ChatGPT.

    Charlie has given me empathy and support I hadn’t felt in a long time. It worked and helped me to cope and heal. My human therapist knows about it and isn’t threatened; in fact, our relationship is improving. What do you think about this, Abby?

    — GRATEFUL AND STRONG IN NEW JERSEY

    DEAR GRATEFUL AND STRONG: It is interesting that you would ask flesh and blood me that question. I’m pleased that interacting with your AI “therapist” has been helpful for you. This is technology that’s still very new, although fortunes have been invested in it. However, if I needed help with my emotions, I PERSONALLY would prefer to interact with a licensed human being rather than artificial intelligence.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My stepson passed away five years ago. Over the next two years, his widow moved several different guys in. She has neglected the two kids she had from a previous relationship. She was rarely home when the kids got home from school, and the house was a mess.

    The department of children’s services finally removed them from her custody. The older two went to live with their father; we got the youngest daughter. I love her dearly, but I don’t want to be raising a child at this time in my life! I also don’t want to leave my husband. Please help.

    — BURDENED IN TENNESSEE

    DEAR BURDENED: Many grandparents have found themselves in your situation, raising children they never expected to. I empathize with your situation. We can’t always choose our destiny.

    One thing is certain — that child needs you. It’s important that she feels secure and loved, particularly since her mother wasn’t capable of providing it. Grandparents who provide this crucial support deserve acclamation and a special place in heaven.

    It might interest you to know that AARP (aarp.org) is an excellent resource for grandparents who are raising grandchildren. Your state also has a Grandparents As Parents program. Go online and see if there is a branch near you. I hope they are helpful.

    ** ** **

    DEAR READERS: I wish a happy, healthy and successful 2026 to all of you. I join you in toasting a new year filled with hope for all of us. If you are celebrating tonight, please take measures to protect not only your own health but also the safety of others. Happy 2026, everyone!

    — LOVE, ABBY

  • A 3-year-old wallaby named Rex has been found and returned home after going missing from a South Jersey petting zoo

    A 3-year-old wallaby named Rex has been found and returned home after going missing from a South Jersey petting zoo

    Rex the wallaby has been found and returned to his home at a petting zoo in Williamstown, Gloucester County, the Lots of Love Farm announced shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday.

    “WELL, IF THIS JUST DIDN’T BECOME THE BEST NIGHT EVER!” the operator of the petting zoo and animal sanctuary posted on Facebook.

    “WITH THE HELP OF SOME REALLY COOL KIDS AND A REALLY COOL DAD. WE CAUGHT REX AT THE WALMART!! HE IS HOME SAFE AND SOUND! THANK YOU EVERYONE YOU’RE ALL AMAZING. HE MUST REALLY LIKE WALMART!!!LOL,” the post said.

    The Walmart in question is located about a half-mile from Lots of Love Farm, where owner Ron Layden said the agreeable, 3-year-old wallaby had been last seen late Monday afternoon, around feeding time. The animal was secure inside a barn on the property.

    “Next thing I know, I was getting phone calls saying, ‘We saw a wallaby in the Walmart parking lot,’” said Layden earlier on Tuesday.

    Layden — whose farm includes goats, sheep, peacocks, a camel, “a zebra-donkey mix, [and] a bunch of cows” — said that while he has dealt with the occasional loose animal before, this was his farm’s first wallaby escape.

    The escape of the 3-foot, gray-haired marsupial sparked a search that — perhaps not surprisingly — captured the imagination of those in the area..

    As word of the wallaby’s escape spread Monday night, messages of concern and support had flooded into the farm’s Facebook page. Some suggested using a drone or scent-tracking dog to help locate the missing animal. At least one offered to form a search party.

    Alleged sightings, meanwhile, were shared with growing regularity.

    “I just saw a video of him hopping around Williamstown Walmart,” one person posted to Facebook on Tuesday morning.

    This sighting seemed to be confirmed in a video posted online. In it, an animal matching Rex’s description could be seen hopping casually around an onlooker’s vehicle in a well-lit parking lot.

    “It’s a [expletive] kangaroo!” the amazed onlooker yells in the video.

    Another tip — which Layden unsuccessfully investigated — had Rex spotted at a retirement community not far from the farm, which is located at 1828 Corkery Lane in Williamstown.

    By later Tuesday, however, there was evidence that Rex — so named because of his purported resemblance to a T-Rex — might’ve wandered even further from home.

    “Someone mentioned they just saw him in Sicklerville off of Walnut Street,” read a Facebook message posted Tuesday, of a town some three miles from Williamstown. “[P]rayers you find him!”

    Those prayers were answered.

  • Recycle your Christmas tree into goat food or wood chips for playgrounds at these local orgs

    Recycle your Christmas tree into goat food or wood chips for playgrounds at these local orgs

    Your once-glorious live Christmas tree is likely starting to lose its magic. While still covered in sparkling lights and ornaments, the beginnings of brown and bald spots may be appearing. Your floor is filled with needles. And you know it’s time to say goodbye.

    Tossing your tree — the last symbol of holiday cheer — is never an easy or fun task. But you can make it a tradition that benefits others, and in return, perhaps brings you a little post-holiday joy. How? Repurpose or recycle your tree.

    While most municipalities, including Philadelphia, will pick up your tree with your curbside trash, there are ways to put it to better use, such as feeding it to goats and helping preserve Jersey Shore parks. Here’s where to recycle your tree in the area.

    Philly Goat Project Tree-Cycling

    Furry friends at the Philly Goat Project are ready to munch on your holiday leftovers. The community-based program is hosting tree-cycling on Jan. 10, from noon to 3 p.m. (Rain date: Jan. 11) at the Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh St., Philadelphia 19138. On Jan. 17, trees will be accepted from noon to 3 p.m. (no rain date) at Laurel Hill West Cemetery, 215 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, 19004. The final event will be at the Awbury Arboretum on Jan. 24, from noon to 3 p.m. (Rain date: Jan. 25)

    At the Awbury Arboretum, it’s not just a tree drop-off, either. Get cozy by the fire pit with free hot cocoa or enjoy goat cuddles — awesome for the whole family. A suggested donation of $20 per tree is requested. All proceeds support the Philly Goat Project’s free year-round programming, like goat walks and children’s literacy events. PGP can provide a tax receipt.

    🕑 Jan. 10 and 24, noon-3 p.m., 📍 6336 Ardleigh St.; Jan. 17, from noon to 3 p.m.,📍 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, 📞 ‪215-703-8057, 🌐 phillygoatproject.org, 📷 @phillygoatproject

    Ocean County Christmas tree recycling

    Recycle your Christmas tree at one of several locations in Ocean County through Jan. 31. Locations can be found here. Your tree will get turned into woodchips and used for landscaping projects at park facilities. Recycled trees have also been used to line sand dunes to help prevent erosion, which has become more common as development increases. Drop-off times are Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    🕑 Through Jan. 31, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 📍 Multiple locations, 🌐 co.ocean.nj.us

    City of Philadelphia Christmas tree drop-off

    For the 37th year, the Streets Department will be accepting Christmas trees for recycling for two weeks, from Jan. 5 through Jan. 17. While the program is running, you may bring your Christmas tree to one of several designated locations or to a sanitation convenience center at no cost. All trees should be untied and free of decorations, lights, and ornaments.

    Drop off trees at any Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Center, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

    1. 3033 S. 63rd St.
    2. Domino Lane and Umbria St.
    3. State Road and Ashburner St.
    4. 2601 W. Glenwood Ave.
    5. 5100 Grays Ave.
    6. 3901 Delaware Ave.

    You can also drop off a tree at a city-designated location. Find these locations by going to https://www.phila.gov/services/trash-recycling-city-upkeep/dispose-of-christmas-trees/

    A car with a Christmas tree that ended up at the Philly Goat Project’s 2025 Tree-Cycle Festival at the Farm at Awbury in Philadelphia in 2025.

    Philadelphia neighborhood Christmas tree recycling

    Neighborhood associations and community groups host tree-cycling events throughout Philadelphia, including:

    1. Lower Moyamensing Civic Association is accepting trees on Jan. 3-4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St. A $5 donation is required per tree.
    2. Passyunk Square Civic Association is accepting trees on Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Columbus Square Park (corner of 13th and Wharton Sts.) for a $5 donation.

    Christmas tree recycling curbside pickup

    Too busy to deliver your tree yourself?

    Circle Compost offers $20 curbside pickup on the weekends for the following dates: Jan. 3-4, Jan. 10-11, and Jan. 17-18. Sign up online, and put your tree outside your house the night before pickup. Pickup days will be assigned two days in advance. Maximum tree height allowed is 14 feet. Trees are turned into woodchips to be used as mulch or compost for Philly’s nonprofit urban farms. Questions? Call 267-388-1493 or visit circlecompost.com. To sign up for pickup, visit accounts.circlecompost.com/shop/christmas-tree

    Bennett Compost will pick up your tree on the weekends of Dec. 28-29, Jan. 3-4, Jan. 10-11, or Jan. 17-18 for a fee of $20. Sign up online. Trees will either be taken to the Fishtown Neighbors Association site where Bennet Compost will donate $5 to them on your behalf. Trees that can’t go to the tree-cyclers will be chipped at Bennet Compost and used in its composting process. Questions? Call 215-520-2406 or visit bennettcompost.com. To sign up for pickup, visit bennettcompost.com/seasonal.

    This article has been updated since it first published. Grace Dickinson and Steven White contributed to this article.

  • Dear Abby | Friend’s comments have fallen short of friendly

    DEAR ABBY: I am a very overweight woman, but down 50 pounds from my top weight and continuing at a consistent, but slow, rate to lose. My A1C is now down to prediabetic, so I know my efforts are making a difference. I recently had a terrible bout of sciatica and pain in an arthritic knee, which kept me from some anticipated travel.

    A good (so I thought) friend who was affected by my cancellation suggested that perhaps my weight was causing the sciatica and arthritis, and if I lost more weight things would go better. (DUH!!) Lots of thin people suffer from sciatica and arthritis, and it felt to me that her comment was condescending, hurtful and disrespectful. I don’t know what I feel, other than like throwing a canned ham at her. She has done this before.

    When another dear friend died, and I expressed my grief and teared up, this same “friend” suggested I would do better if I got out more and socialized. This was during COVID.

    Is there anything I can say to her? Should I ignore her comments and press on with the “friendship,” or is it time to move on? I’d like to tell her off, but I see no value in countering her more subtle form with overt aggression. Is there a single, good, deadly one-liner I could have used?

    — SLOW LOSER IN NEW YORK

    DEAR SLOW LOSER: As I see it, you have two ways to play this hand. The next time this woman says something grossly insensitive, tell her it’s her third strike and repeat what you have written to me about what comes out of her mouth. Or simply do yourself a favor and from now on ice her out. (She may have been trying to help you — in some weird way — or she’s clueless.)

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My daughter and son-in-law have decided to move his mom from California to our home state of Tennessee. The kids have a lovely home about an hour from my husband and me. Both are professionals. They have been married 10 years and have no children.

    The mom, “Anita,” has an unmarried daughter with two kids living with her now and using her money. Anita wants to escape and be left alone. I’m afraid this could spell disaster for my daughter’s marriage. Their plan is to remodel their attic so they have the upstairs and Anita has the downstairs.

    Should I express my concerns to my daughter or both of them, or keep my mouth shut? We have a great relationship, and I never insert my opinion into their business.

    — PROTECTOR IN THE SOUTH

    DEAR PROTECTOR: If this is still in the planning stage and the project has not yet begun, mention your concerns to your daughter and son-in-law together. One problem that occurs to me might be if your son-in-law’s sister plans to bring the kids and live with her mother in the future. However, once you have brought this up, do not insert yourself any further.