Remnants of a 136-year-old shipwreck have been discovered at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Large, wooden chunks of the Lawrence N. McKenzie, a 19th-century schooner that sank in the Atlantic Ocean on March 21, 1890, surfaced on the shoreline following weeks of beach erosion caused by persistent high winds and rough surf, according to a statement from State Park officials.
“Beach erosion during the winter months is common at Island Beach State Park and is part of a natural, cyclical process,” the statement said. “Most beaches recover from the erosion during the calmer summer months — but for now, this winter’s erosion has revealed a glimpse into the park’s maritime history.”
Pieces of the Lawrence N. Mckenzie, a 98-foot schooner that sank off the coast of New Jersey in 1890, were discovered on the shore of Island Beach State Park.
The 98-foot McKenzie was hauling oranges from Puerto Rico to New York City when it encountered a thick fog near Barnegat, New Jersey. According to a report that Captain Lawrence McKenzie filed with the insurance company, there was six feet of water in the vessel’s hold when members of the Cedar Creek U.S. Life Saving Service rescued the eight-person crew.
Barnegat’s coastline is notorious for its constantly shifting shoals and channels. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that between 1705 and the introduction of the steamship, there were 40 shipwrecks each year off the coast of Barnegat, earning the coast of New Jersey the nickname “the graveyard of the Atlantic.”
Island Beach State Park officials are currently monitoring the area. They reminded visitors to respect the park’s historic artifacts. Touching or removing any part of such objects is prohibited and subject to summonses issued by the New Jersey State Park Police.
DEAR ABBY: I saw my husband’s Instagram account, and he’s following only women who show their bodies provocatively. Is that emotional cheating, or is it just lust? Also, is that grounds for divorce? His looking at and lusting after women online hurts my feelings.
— IMAGE PROBLEM IN ALABAMA
DEAR IMAGE PROBLEM: What you have described is lust. Emotional cheating involves starting a relationship with someone. While there are many grounds for divorce in the state of Alabama, looking “with lust” at scantily clad women on Instagram is not one of them. Many men do this, and it doesn’t present a threat to their marriages. (Consider it an updated version of the old Playboy calendars you might have seen hanging in garages.)
Come to think of it, there was once a PlayGIRL magazine containing centerfolds with photos of gorgeous, scantily clad men. (I’m sure a friend told me about them.)
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DEAR ABBY: I’ve been a hairstylist for 37 years. My niece is getting married in two months. Four months ago, my sister-in-law asked me to do her hair for the wedding, and I agreed. Well, about a month ago, I learned that another niece (who doesn’t do hair) has offered to do it because she and her best friend want to start a wedding planning service. This hurts my feelings so bad. Please help me understand why I shouldn’t be upset finding out about this.
— READY TO STYLE IN OHIO
DEAR READY: You write that another niece has offered to do the bride’s hair. Did the bride accept her offer? If the answer is yes, dry your tears and wait to see the result when an amateur pushes a professional out of the way on the most important day in a young bride’s life. If you have any compassion in your heart, pack your gear in your trunk and have it handy, because the bride may need your help. Desperately.
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DEAR ABBY: Every time I tell my wife something, she questions it, doubts it or disagrees. I could walk inside soaking wet and say, “It’s raining,” and she’d still check her phone’s weather app. We went to counseling years ago, but the counselor focused mainly on my communication problems, not so much on hers, which made her behavior worse.
I have reached my breaking point. I no longer want to talk to my wife because I know she’ll question whatever I say. Each time it happens, I feel myself getting angrier. One day, I may snap and tell her exactly how I feel about her behavior.
— KEEP IT TO MYSELF
DEAR KEEP: “One day” you will tell her? How about getting it off your chest right now? Swallowing your anger has only allowed this problem to fester. Tell your wife you have reached your breaking point, that you both need more counseling from a different therapist. If she refuses, consult one for yourself, starting now.
Joseph R. Syrnick, 79, of Philadelphia, retired chief engineer and surveyor for the Philadelphia Streets Department, president and chief executive officer of the Schuylkill River Development Corp., vice chair of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, former adjunct professor, college baseball star at Drexel University, mentor, and “the ultimate girl dad,” died Saturday, Jan. 17, of cancer at his home in Roxborough.
Reared on Dupont Street in Manayunk and a Roxborough resident for five decades, Mr. Syrnick joined the Streets Department in 1971 after college and spent 34 years, until his retirement in 2005, supervising hundreds of development projects in the city. He became the city’s chief engineer and surveyor in 1986 and oversaw the reconstruction of the Schuylkill Expressway and West River Drive (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) in the 1980s, and the addition of new streetlights and trees on South Broad Street and the upgrade of six city golf courses in the 1990s.
He was an optimist and master negotiator, colleagues said, and he worked well with people and the system. “You have concepts that seem simple,” he told The Inquirer in 1998. “But when you commit them to writing, they raise all kinds of other questions.”
In 2000, as Republicans gathered in Philadelphia for their national convention, Mr. Syrnick juggled transit improvements on Chestnut Street and problems with the flags on JFK Boulevard. He also helped lower speed limits in Fairmount Park and added pedestrian safety features on Kelly Drive.
He beautified Penrose Avenue and built a bikeway in Schuylkill River Park. He even moderated impassioned negotiations about where the Rocky statue should be placed.
Since 2005, as head of the Schuylkill River Development Corp., he deftly partnered with public and private agencies, institutions, and corporations, and oversaw multimillion-dollar projects that built the celebrated Schuylkill River Trail, renovated a dozen bridges, and generally improved the lower eight-mile stretch of the Schuylkill, from the Fairmount Dam to the Delaware River, known as Schuylkill Banks.
In an online tribute, colleagues at the Schuylkill River Development Corp. praised his “perseverance and commitment to revitalizing the tidal Schuylkill.” They noted his “legacy of ingenuity, optimism, and service.” They said: “Joe was more than an extraordinary leader. He was a great Philadelphian.”
Dennis Markatos-Soriano, executive director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, said on Facebook: “He exuded confidence, humility, and unwavering commitment.”
Mr. Syrnick reviews plans to extend a riverside trail in 2009.
Mr. Syrnick was a constant presence on riverside trails, other hikers said. He organized regattas and movie nights, hosted riverboat and kayak tours, cleaned up after floods, and repurposed unused piers into prime fishing platforms.
“Great cities have great rivers,” Mr. Syrnick told The Inquirer in 2005. “Here in Philadelphia, we have Schuylkill Banks.”
He was a Fairmount Park commissioner for 18 years, was named to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission in 2008, and served as vice chair. He lectured about the Schuylkill often and taught engineering classes and led advisory panels at Drexel. In 2015, he testified before the state Senate in support of a waterfront development tax credit.
Friends called him “a visionary,” “a true hero,” and “a Philly jewel.” One friend said: “He should be honored by a street naming or something.”
Mr. Syrnick (fourth from left) and his family pose near a riverboat.
Paul Steinke, executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, said on Facebook: “He left his native Philadelphia a much better place.”
Mr. Syrnick was president of the Philadelphia Board of Surveyors and active with the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia, and other organizations. At Drexel, he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1969 and a master’s degree in 1971.
In 2024, Drexel officials awarded him an honorary doctorate for “his visionary leadership in engaging diverse civic partners to revive the promise of a waterfront jewel in Philadelphia.”
He played second base on the Roman Catholic High School baseball team. He was captain of the 1968 Drexel team and later played against other local standouts in the old Pen-Del semipro league.
Mr. Syrnick (center in white shirt) had all kinds of way to publicize fun on the Schuylkill. This photo appeared in The Inquirer in 2007.
Most of all, everyone said, Mr. Syrnick liked building sandcastles on the beach and hosting tea parties with his young daughters and, later, his grandchildren. He grew up with three brothers. Of living with three daughters, his wife, Mary Beth, said: “It was a shock.”
His daughter Megan said: “It was a learning experience. Whether it was sports or tea parties, he became the ultimate girl dad.”
Joseph Richard Syrnick was born Dec. 19, 1946, in Philadelphia. He spent many summer days riding bikes with pals on Dupont Street and playing pickup games at the North Light Community Center.
He knew Mary Beth Stenn from the neighborhood, and their first date came when she was 14 and he was 15. They married in 1970, moved up the hill from Manayunk to Roxborough, and had daughters Genevieve, Amy, and Megan.
Mr. Syrnick received his honorary doctorate from Drexel in 2024.
Mr. Syrnick enjoyed baseball, football, and golf. He was active at St. Mary of the Assumption and Holy Family Churches, and he and his wife traveled together across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
“He was humble,” his daughter Megan said. “He was quiet in leadership. He always said: ‘It’s the team.’”
In addition to his wife and daughters, Mr. Syrnick is survived by seven grandchildren, his brother Blaise, and other relatives. Two brothers died earlier.
Visitation with the family is to be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Koller Funeral Home, 6835 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19128, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Holy Family Church, 234 Hermitage St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19127. A Mass celebrating his life is to follow at 11 a.m.
As soon as the snow stops falling, it’s time to get shoveling. In Philadelphia, you have six hours to clear the sidewalks in front of your home before facing potential fines, according to city rules.
For residents, whether you rent or own, here’s what you need to know.
Can I get fined for not shoveling my sidewalks?
Yes. Fines range from $50 to $300 for those who violate city snow-removal rules.
How much time do I have to clear my sidewalks?
You have six hours after the snow stops falling to clear your sidewalks.
From left: Philadelphia Zoo Garden service workers Joseph Mineer, of Fairmount, Naeem Price, of North Philadelphia, and David Wallace, of Southwest Philadelphia, clear snow from the sidewalks near the bus drop-offs in Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
Who’s responsible for clearing the sidewalks? What if I’m a renter?
Whether you rent or own, you’re responsible for clearing a path, unless you live in a multifamily dwelling, like an apartment building or a building with more than one unit. In this case, the building owner or agent is responsible for snow removal.
What about businesses?
For businesses, clearing sidewalks and parking lots is the responsibility of the property owner, said Chris Young, communications manager for the Streets Department.
The city is responsible for clearing sidewalks at city facilities.
How wide do I need to make the path?
A path must be at least 3 feet wide, unless the width of the pavement from your property line to the curb is less than that. In that case, your path can be narrower but has to be at least one foot wide. Paths must be thoroughly cleared, and you can’t dump the snow and ice into the street. Pro tip: Push and clear snow toward your building.
You can use a commercial deicer to salt your sidewalk or driveway, and it’s a good idea to apply it as soon as you see a light layer of snow. If you don’t have a deicer, you can use kitty litter for temporary traction.
Can I report someone who hasn’t shoveled their sidewalk?
If you want to report a sidewalk that has not been cleared, call 311 or report the issue online through the 311 portal.
A Philadelphia Parks and Recreation plow truck heads along Reservoir Drive, Fairmount Park near Diamond Street, after overnight snowfall, Philadelphia, Wednesday morning Feb. 12, 2025.
What happens if I’m parked along a snow emergency route?
When a snowstorm hits, the city may declare a snow emergency. When that happens, the city plows 110 miles of snow emergency routes from curb to curb, which means vehicles and dumpsters within those areas must be moved or you face fines of up to $130. If you can’t get to your car, or if your car can’t be moved, it doesn’t matter. Your car will be towed and ticketed if you don’t move it.
You can view a list of snow emergency routes at bit.ly/3YSMeDm/.
If you live, own a business, or frequently park in these areas, you’re advised to plan ahead as winter weather approaches. Large signs reading “Snow Emergency Route” in white letters on a red background will be posted along the streets once a snow emergency is declared.
If your vehicle was towed from a snow emergency route, call 215-686-SNOW (7669) and be prepared to provide information to identify your vehicle.
What if I live in the suburbs?
If you live outside of the city, the rules vary by township. These include how quickly you have to remove snow and how wide the pathway must be.
In most towns, property owners and tenants can face fines if sidewalks aren’t cleared. Check with your township for specific details.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together 30-plus years. When our love was new, it was all smiles, hand-holding and thrills when we saw each other after a long day at work or school. And, I guess, that’s normal.
Now, three kids and three grandkids later, we’re edging past our mid-50s and there isn’t much left. There are no more smiles and no more hand-holding, only two sad adults. We still love each other. Neither of us wants to be apart from the other, but we don’t know how to bring back happiness.
We hardly touch, and neither of us remembers the last time we smiled or even really laughed. We sit in the same room, living two completely different lives. I am partially disabled, so there are no more long walks or outside activities, which we used to do 20 years ago.
We are now wondering: Is this the rest of our lives? Are we going to spend the next 20-plus years in a depressing marriage in which we love each other but no longer have anything in common? Our youngest daughter is 8, and our youngest grandson is 5. We watch the kids (15, 9, 8, 5) in the evening so our eldest can work. Is there any hope for us?
— SAD SPOUSE IN NEW YORK
DEAR SAD SPOUSE: You say that you and your husband love each other. There is hope for reviving your marriage if you agree to go to couples counseling together. Marriage involves more than smiles, hand-holding and thrills. It is a deep and caring partnership. Few couples can sustain the excitement of their honeymoon years. You and your husband have already done the hard work. Now you need to find your way back together.
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DEAR ABBY: My husband and I were dining with friends in a high-end restaurant. The food was great, and so was the conversation. My husband leaned close to me and whispered, “She’s brushing her teeth!” I glanced to my left. I had thought the gal at the next table was just using a toothpick. No, she was vigorously brushing with a full-sized toothbrush!
After about a minute, she placed the toothbrush into a cosmetic bag and pulled out a denture container. She then proceeded to insert and adjust her retainer. We were flabbergasted. Never in all my years have I seen such appalling table manners. Perhaps we shouldn’t have been staring, but it was one of those moments in which you are frozen to the spot.
Abby, that restaurant has very nice bathrooms. What is happening to our society?
— SHOCKED IN THE SOUTH
DEAR SHOCKED: I understand why this woman’s performance stopped you cold. But, please, don’t blame “society” for her ignorance of the rules of etiquette, which dictate that to avoid grossing out those around us in public, we should excuse ourselves from the table and take care of our oral hygiene privately, IN THE RESTROOM if needed.
Just in time for what figures to be a monumental year for local tourism, the renowned Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center has introduced a new luxury floor dedicated to what it calls personalized, “residential-style” living.
The crown jewel? A massive two-bedroom penthouse that offers countless amenities, sweeping city views, and a nightly price tag roughly equivalent to that of a new car.
A booking agent on Tuesday said the penthouse suite — which spans some 4,000 square feet and features a sizable outdoor terrace — is currently going for around $25,000 per night (plus tax).
Among the amenities included in the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia’s new Sky Garden floor is artwork curated by the firm Hanabi: Art and Artists.
As for what you get for that price: Guests have access to menus curated by Vernick Fish and Jean-Georges, the floor’s treatment and wellness room, and an art collection curated by the firm Hanabi: Art and Artists.
The penthouse is part of a new floor — located on the building’s 45th floor and dubbed “Sky Garden” — that features eight separate accommodations, including four guest rooms, two one-bedroom suites, and a two-bedroom suite, according to the hotel, along with the two-bedroom penthouse.
In a recent Instagram post, the hotel described the new floor as having “lush terraces and sweeping city views” that “create a true garden in the sky” — and indeed, the views included in marketing photos do appear to be sweeping.
Views from the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia’s new Sky Garden floor.
“This residential-style floor privileges calm over spectacle and intimacy over scale, inviting guests to experience luxury in a way that feels personal and unforced,” according to a press release announcing the new offerings.
In the off-chance the penthouse proves cost-prohibitive, the new Sky Garden level also offers other, not-quite-as-extravagant options.
The Sky Terrace Suite typically goes for around $10,000 per night, according to a booking agent, while the Sky Garden Suite goes for around $3,500, and the additional rooms go for around $1,300 to $1,400 a night.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 40 years and share the same friendships — joint, his and mine. We have camped, hosted parties and traveled with the same friends. My problem is my husband says I’m not allowed to speak privately with the males in our group unless I first confirm with him what I’m talking about. He also gives me the third degree about my visits with the wives, mainly to find out if their husbands were around.
In all our married years, I have never given him reason to think there’s anything going on between me and anyone else. I have always held him in high regard. I consider him to be somebody with honesty and integrity, and I love him wholeheartedly.
Where in the world does he get off trying to order me around and think that I can’t ask a question of his friends, or visit with his friends and their wives without asking his permission? This has been a longtime situation between us, and I’m tired of it — almost to the point of leaving him and enjoying what’s left of my life in peace with all kinds of people and relationships. Please help.
— PUT IN A CORNER IN OREGON
DEAR PUT: Why didn’t you write to me about this 39 years ago? Your husband may be a man with “honesty and integrity,” but he is also someone with bottomless insecurities and an insatiable need to control you. I am surprised it has taken 40 years of this for you to finally say to yourself, “Enough!” I would recommend marriage counseling for the two of you, but I seriously question his ability to change. Counseling for you alone might give you the courage to draw the line.
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DEAR ABBY: After I found the courage to leave my abusive marriage, it has been difficult. My family refuses to accept that a woman could have actually abused a man, and they are very skeptical. Even after my mother and sister attended therapy with me, they still question my honesty, something that has never been questioned before. Still, I have an amazing 9-year-old daughter from the marriage. She is part of the reason I had to leave her mother: There was no way I could model acceptance of that abuse after her mother refused to seek help. I tried.
Now, two years later, I’m in a healthy relationship — with another man. While my daughter is overjoyed because he treats both of us well, my family continues to attack me, even saying they were no longer going to speak to me. They say this is why I left my ex, even though it is not true. (I didn’t anticipate this either.)
My mother, who refuses to talk to me, recently let me know she wants to take me to court for the right to see my daughter. My daughter no longer wants to spend any time with her after seeing how she has treated me. I don’t think allowing visitation would be in my daughter’s best interest. Should I be worried?
— UNRESOLVED IN OHIO
DEAR UNRESOLVED: Not every state has laws on the books that govern grandparents’ rights. Ohio, where you reside, is one of those that does. Because your question is legal in nature, and you are rightly worried, the person you should ask would be a lawyer familiar with family law. I understand why you are worried, and you have my sympathy.
On a recent wintry evening at Queen Village’s Moon and Arrow, a group of 10 women poured essential oils into beakers, mixing them with carrier oils.
They’d gathered for a workshop led by Tasha Gear, founder of local brand Linear Beauty, who instructed as they created a formula for body oils.
The 10 women took a whiff of each other’s potions, commented on their notes, and took in the smells.
Here was a perfect picture of Philadelphia’s beauty scene, which is having a moment — not the glossy, influencer-backed boom of coastal cities, but something scrappier, smarter, and deeply local.
Across the city, indie founders are hand-batching serums, mixing skincare in one-kilogram beakers, and designing products meant to withstand SEPTA, summer humidity, and long work shifts.
Leila McGurk (left) laughs with Leah Antonia at a DIY body oil workshop organized by local skincare brand Linear Beauty at Moon and Arrow, a boutique in Queen Village on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
They are united by a commitment to science, transparency, and community,
At the center of this shift is Indie Shelf in Grays Ferry and Malvern, where cosmetic scientist Sabeen Zia helps customers navigate an often confusing clean-beauty landscape.
“Clean beauty goes beyond ingredient lists,” the Main Line resident said. “It’s how a product is developed, packaged, and the values behind it.” Zia doesn’t draw up fear-based “toxic ingredient” lists. Instead, she relies on science-backed safety standards and direct conversations with product founders.
“People come in because they want to support small businesses, but they stay because they’re stunned by the changes in their skin,” she said.
Sabeen Zia runs Indie Shelf, which stocks a bunch of indie beauty brands. She also runs a brand called Muskaan that she sells at the store, in Philadelphia, December 11, 2025.
Before opening the shop in 2019, Zia ran her own makeup line, Muskaan Beauty, which was cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and halal. It struggled to get visibility — a challenge she realized many indie founders shared. “Philly didn’t have many clean beauty shops at the time,” she said. “It felt like a real gap in the market.”
A gap that Indie Shelf aims to fill.
Other local founders, too, swear by that community-first ethos.
A former professor of English at Stockton University, Adeline Koh of Sabbatical Beauty, hand-batches high-concentration, K-beauty–inspired products, often using ingredients from neighborhood businesses, like Câphe Roasters and Baba’s Brew.
“I wanted formulas that actually deliver what they promise,” she said. “Philly has so much pride in Philly-owned businesses. That made me feel this would be a really good market to build in. People here show up for their community.” She’s based in the Bok building.
As for what feels uniquely “Philly” in Sabbatical Beauty’s identity, she doesn’t hesitate when asked.
“We’re unapologetic about who we are, and that shows up in our emphasis on diversity: skin tones, body sizes, age. We want to expand what beauty means, not narrow it.”
Sabeen Zia runs Indie Shelf, which stocks a bunch of indie beauty brands. She also runs a brand called Muskaan that she sells at the store, in Philadelphia, December 11, 2025.
The brand is sold at local shops and spas.
Sabbatical Beauty also pours back into the city’s maker ecosystem — donating masks and sanitizer during COVID, hosting holiday toy drives, running small-business markets, and partnering with the Equitable Skincare Project to fund donation facials for the trans community.
It’s a similar story with brow artist Tara Giorgio.
When the Lancaster native grew frustrated by the discontinuation of her favored brow beauty products, she created Brow Gang — her line of high-pigment brow mousse and powders that are, as she says, made “for real life.”
Her products are sold in her two salons — in West Chester and Northern Liberties — and online.
Essential oils and an instruction sheet are pictured before Linear Beauty’s DIY body oil workshop at Moon and Arrow, a boutique in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia, on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Linear Beauty is an independent Philadelphia-based botanical skincare brand founded by Tasha Gear.
Philly’s beauty customers, she said, are unique because this city is “a true melting pot — all cultures, all backgrounds, all brow textures, all lifestyles. We don’t like fluff in Philly and we want things that work and are priced reasonably.”
People here are busy and “they want products that make their lives easier — fast routines, long-lasting wear, and formulas that hold up through humidity, work shifts, SEPTA, the gym, real everyday life.”
Cosmetic chemist Tina D. Williams feels “there’s still a real lack of handmade, natural skincare” in the local market to feed that need.
Her Center City-based DVINITI Skincare crafts small-batch, food-grade blends of natural oils like argan, jojoba, and almond, which are designed for customization. Her philosophy, too, is rooted in the city: “The first ingredient in every DVINITI product is love — and this City of Brotherly Love is the perfect home for a brand built on self-care.”
Williams, who grew up in the Olney area and graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, is all too familiar with the city’s cold winters and hot summers. “I grew up here, so I understand the kind of skincare [Philly] people need,” she said. She also sees the city’s scientific backbone as a natural fit for a chemistry-driven brand. “Philly is a tech hub and a leader in research and development. DVINITI is positioned well to scale and grow with the local resources here to support our clients’ needs.”
Linear Beauty founder Tasha Gear poses for a portrait at a DIY body oil workshop hosted by the beauty brand at Moon and Arrow, a boutique in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia, on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
Another brand shaping the city’s beauty identity is Haiama Beauty, a Black woman–owned haircare line built in Philadelphia “because I love this city wholeheartedly,” said founder Allison Shimamoto.
Haiama’s Grow & Strengthen Elixir takes four months to make and uses premium, organic argan oil — not because it’s the most profitable, but because it’s the right way to make it.
Small-batch production allows the brand to source intentionally from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women-owned suppliers and to design products that work across all curl patterns— from the Leona red-light scalp stimulator to the multipurpose Everything Cream.
What resonates with her Philly consumers, Shimamoto said, is connection. “People here want to know who’s behind the brand.”
Linear Beauty products are pictured at a DIY Body Oil Workshop hosted by the brand at Moon and Arrow, a boutique in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia.
Markets like Made@Bok and Art Star have helped Haiama meet customers face-to-face, build community, and grow within the city’s tight-knit maker ecosystem.
Philadelphia’s indie founders agree that the city’s beauty identity is defined by three traits: creative, authentic, community driven.
“The passion for high-quality products and supporting small business truly sets Philly brands apart,” said Zia. Even small details — easy drop-offs, quick restocks, face-to-face conversations with founder-formulators — become part of the city’s distinctive customer experience.
Local customers meet founders in person, pick up their products, return for refills, and show up at pop-ups and farmers markets.
Products at Indie Shelf, which stocks a bunch of indie beauty brands.
Despite challenges like tariffs, supply-chain delays, and seasonal slowdowns, Zia remains hopeful. Her dream? “For Philly to be known as the city for indie beauty — a place where founders can scale without losing their authenticity.”
Gear, who moved to Philadelphia in 2019 after spending a decade working in New York City’s Package Free Shop, agrees.
“Philly is a pretty no-B.S. city,” she said. “That shows up in everything I make.”
DEAR ABBY: My young daughter and I had the pleasure of spending three months with my parents while my husband was deployed. We had a lovely visit, but over the course of our stay, I noticed my parents were spending more time on their phones than previously. Both are retired and in their mid-60s.
I’m glad they are keeping up with technology, but I’m also concerned that their phone use may have a negative impact on their social health, behavioral health and mental acuity as they age. Growing up, we never had the TV or computers in our main living space, and screen time was limited. We ate dinner together every night, and socialization and conversation was an expectation.
During my stay, my parents brought their phones to the dinner table and grabbed them midmeal to answer messages or search things on the internet. Throughout the days, I’d look up from what I was doing and see them glued to their screens. This new behavior is so different from the way they raised me. How can I speak to them about my concerns and encourage them to consider decreasing their phone usage?
— NOTICED THE CHANGE IN WASHINGTON
DEAR NOTICED: Yes, many things have changed since the time when you were raised. But if you think the day has arrived for you to parent your parents, forget about it. It not only won’t work, but it could also cause resentment because they are adults and not impressionable teenagers being educated about social interaction.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My college roommate and I became close friends. I always thought he was a little bit arrogant. When I caught him getting upset that a girl liked me and not him, I realized he has always been about comparing and competing.
At age 30, after we ended up working for the same company, we had a falling-out. I’m sure he has his complaints about me, but I am no longer interested in being his friend. We’re 36 now and still involved in our fantasy football league, so we see each other from time to time. We’re generally civil to each other, especially for the sake of the league.
Well, he now wants to rekindle the friendship and keeps asking me to hang out. I’ve made excuses so far, and I wish he would take a hint, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to eventually tell him (again) that I’m not interested in hanging out. I don’t want to hurt his feelings any more than I have to. Please help.
— NOT FEELING IT IN KANSAS
DEAR NOT FEELING IT: You are not obligated to have anything more to do with this person than you wish. If the only time the two of you interact is during the fantasy football season, he shouldn’t be too hard to avoid. When he asks to hang out, continue doing what you have been, which is to say you are busy. Eventually, he may take the hint.
DEAR ABBY: I have three daughters with children of their own. Every year, we have a family vacation. My daughter “Monica’s” children, ages 8 and 9, whom I love and see regularly, behave badly. They cuss, yell at adults and show no respect whatsoever.
We have brought this to Monica’s attention multiple times. She always reacts like we are wrong and says, “I’m not going to beat my kids.” At no time did we imply she should “beat” her kids, just give them a time-out or a scolding. If any of us tell them “Stop, please don’t do that,” they act like victims. It’s so bad that one of my other daughters told us as we were planning a vacation that she will not be going because of Monica’s kids’ behavior.
Monica accuses us of not liking her kids and being mean. She goes to the school to argue with teachers and the principal if her kids tell her they didn’t get their way. I don’t know what her issue is. Her reasons sound like she is mentally ill. Anything you can recommend?
— NOT ENABLING IN NEVADA
DEAR NOT ENABLING: Monica is a terrible parent. A responsible mother would see that her children learn appropriate behavior before they get into serious trouble. Because you cannot help your daughter to see reality, I recommend you stop inviting Monica and her children on these vacations. Their behavior is unacceptable, and their cousins should not be further influenced by their bad example.
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DEAR ABBY: I am a 70-year-old male caring for my 71-year-old wife. She has had health issues for more than 10 years. I own my own business and am the only employee, although my wife does help me with a portion of the business. Dealing with all her health issues, trying to run a business, trying to survive financially and navigating the world today is difficult.
I am seeking resources or a support group in my area that works with people who care for their family members. We have been to counseling, which helped, but did not help me with all that I feel and have to do. I don’t think my wife could navigate this world on her own. Can you point me in the right direction?
— RESPONSIBLE IN TEXAS
DEAR RESPONSIBLE: You are carrying a heavy load. An organization called The Caregiver Action Network (formerly the National Family Caregivers Association) may be what you are seeking. Established in 1992, it works to improve the quality of life for tens of millions of family caregivers, providing education, peer support and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge. For more information, go to caregiveraction.org or call 855-277-3640.
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DEAR READERS: Today, we remember the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who in 1968 was martyred in the cause of civil rights. During a time of insanity, his was a voice of reason when he eloquently preached, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
