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  • Mavis Staples is playing Phoenixville, plus Florry, Ratboys, Sheer Mag, and more in Philly music this week

    Mavis Staples is playing Phoenixville, plus Florry, Ratboys, Sheer Mag, and more in Philly music this week

    This week in Philly music features gospel-soul great Mavis Staples in Phoenixville, Philly favorites Florry and Sheer Mag returning to town, Culture Club in Atlantic City, and the Everyone Orchestra and zydeco scion C.J. Chenier on the Main Line.

    Wednesday, Feb. 25

    Homegrown Live

    This is the South Jersey edition of the free Homegrown Live concert series presented by WXPN-FM (88.5). The three-act bill is topped by Linwood quartet Fat Mezz, who blends classic rock influences with a touch of jazz. The band’s name was inspired by late clarinet player and civil rights advocate Milton Mezzrow. Nicoletta Giuliani fronts Ocean City’s Polaroid Fade, whose beguiling full-length debut, Chaos Into Poetry, displays an affection for jangly 1990s bands like the Smiths and Sundays. The band’s sound meshes nicely with Atlantic County quartet Te Vista, whose dreamy power pop recalls melodic guitar bands Nada Surf and Gin Blossoms. 7:30 p.m., The Lounge at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., xpn.org

    Thursday, Feb. 26

    Mavis Staples

    Mavis Staples’ place in music history has long been secure. Her family band, the Staple Singers, marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Ling Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, and her powerful vocals anchored counterculture-era hits like “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.”

    But the 86-year-old national treasure’s creative output has continued and even increased in recent years with the Chicagoan recording a series of albums with Jeff Tweedy and Ben Harper. Her newest is the soulful and deeply moving collection Sad and Beautiful World, which was produced by Brad Cook and includes covers of Frank Ocean, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Curtis Mayfield.

    The title cut is by Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse. Another new song, “Human Mind,” is written by Allison Russell and Hozier. Massachusetts singer-guitarist Kimaya Diggs opens. 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville, ColonialTheatre.com

    Blackwater Holylight play Johnny Brenda’s on Thursday. The California band’s new album is “Not Here Not Gone.”

    Blackwater Holylight

    Portland, Ore.-born and now Los Angeles-based doom metal-meets-shoegaze heavy rock band Blackwater Holylight is touring behind its bruising fourth album Not Here Not Gone. The Sunny Faris-fronted band will be joined by like-minded Austin, Texas, trio Glassing and Philly’s Cigarettes for Breakfast. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com

    Friday, Feb. 27

    The Record Company & Jontavious Willis

    Los Angeles blues rock trio the Record Company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 2016 breakthrough album, Give It Back to You. Make sure to arrive on time for Jontavious Willis, the country blues singer and guitarist whose sound is shaped by regional predecessors like Blind Willie McTell. 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1016 Spring Garden St., utphilly.com

    Marshall Allen + John Morgan Kimock

    The hardest-working centenarian in showbiz, Sun Ra Arkestra leader Marshall Allen, makes his way to Bucks County for this noteworthy show in Henry Chapman Mercer’s Moravian Pottery and TileWorks building in Doylestown. Drummer John Morgan Kimock will also perform. The show is part of the Tileworks’ monthly “A Night of Song” series. 6:30 p.m., Tileworks of Bucks County, 130 E. Swamp Road, Doylestown, thetileworks.org

    Everyone Orchestra

    Matt Butler conducts two nights of improvised music from a cast of leading musicians from the jam band world, including Dave Matthews’ associate Tim Reynolds, Aron Magner of Disco Biscuits, Rob Mercurio of Galactic, and Camden trumpeter Arnetta Johnson, who has toured with Beyoncé. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Ardmore Ave., ardmoremusichall.com

    Boy George and Culture Club

    Boy George and original Culture Club members Roy Hay and Mikey Craig are back together for a 2026 tour. The British New Wave-era band, which scored hits with “Karma Chameleon” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” is playing two nights in the region. 8 p.m. Friday, Borgata Event Center, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, borgata.mgmresorts.com, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem, windcreekeventcenter.com

    Philadelphia band Sheer Mag plays Johnny Brenda’s on Sunday. Left to right: Tina Halladay, Kyle Seely, Matt Palmer, and Hart Seely.

    Sunday, March 1

    Sheer Mag

    Mighty Philly foursome Sheer Mag — most recently heard from on its 2024 album Playing Favorites, released on Jack White’s Third Man Records label — tops a four-band bill. The similarly hard-hitting acts opening are Dirty Fences, Nancy, and the Smarthearts. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com.

    C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band

    Zydeco accordionist C.J. Chenier has spent his life carrying on the legacy of his father, Creole musician Clifton Chenier. That legacy got a welcome boost with 2025’s A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, featuring Chenier, Geno Delafose, the Rolling Stones, and Taj Mahal, winning a Grammy earlier this month. Rev Chris and Les Garçons Crasseux open. 7 p.m., 118 North, 118 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, 118NorthWayne.com.

    C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band at 118 North in 2024. The zydeco accordion player and band leader returns to the Wayne venue on Sunday.

    Monday, March 2

    The Ike Reilly Assassination

    Pugnacious rock and roll troubadour and Sirius/XM satellite radio host Ike Reilly has released 12 albums since his 2001 debut, Salesmen and Racists. He’s also the star of the documentary Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night, which was produced by Tom Morello, whom he shared a bill with last month at the anti-ICE benefit show in Minneapolis. It’s the same where Morello brought onstage Bruce Springsteen, who has added Morello to the E Street Band for his upcoming tour. Another cool booking at Nikki Lopez. 7 p.m., Nikki Lopez, 304 South St., @nikkilopezphilly on Instagram.

    Chicago indie band Ratboys play the First Unitarian Church on Tuesday with Florry.

    Tuesday, March 3

    Ratboys & Florry

    A double bill headlined by Ratboys, the Chicago quartet fronted by Julia Steiner and founded in 2010. The band hit its stride with 2023’s The Window. It keeps up its winning streak on the new twangy, Neil Young-ish Singin’ to an Empty Chair, produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla. It is well-matched with Florry, the Philly-bred loose-limbed collective led by Francie Medosch, whose 2025 Sounds Like… landed on this publication’s best albums of the year list. 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., r5productions.com.

  • Joel Embiid returns from stress reaction in leg, the latest test in a cautious approach to managing health

    Joel Embiid returns from stress reaction in leg, the latest test in a cautious approach to managing health

    INDIANAPOLIS — While away during the All-Star break, Joel Embiid began to feel a sensation all the way down his right leg that he compared to an electric shock.

    “It was really painful to walk,” Embiid recalled at his locker late Tuesday.

    Though officially identified as shin soreness on recent 76ers injury reports, Embiid called it a stress reaction. It became the latest test in Embiid’s more cautious approach to navigating his health this season, as he missed five consecutive games with that ailment along with right knee injury management.

    Sixers dominate Pacers, 135-114, in Joel Embiid’s return to the lineup

    His return to the floor Tuesday was productive and efficient. He totaled 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting plus six rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes of the Sixers’ 135-114 blowout of the shorthanded and tanking Indiana Pacers.

    “I feel good enough to go out there,” Embiid said, “and play to the point where I think I have a little bit of confidence that I’m going to be fine and hope for the best.”

    The Sixers (32-26) lost their first four games during this Embiid absence before an impressive win at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back. Questions about those struggles without the former NBA Most Valuable Player prompted a candid response from rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, who said Thursday, “We miss Joel. It’s that simple. He’s a walking 30 points.” Starting wing Paul George also remains out until late March while serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

    On Sunday, Embiid progressed to four-on-four on-court work. He was upgraded to questionable on Monday evening’s injury report, then participated in most of Tuesday morning’s shootaround, coach Nick Nurse said. Thirty minutes before tipoff, the team listed him in the starting lineup.

    The initial minutes were clunky for Embiid and his team, which did not execute Nurse’s desired pace and movement around the big man on offense and could not get a stop on the defensive end.

    Joel Embiid had 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Tuesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers.

    Embiid’s rhythm returned in the second quarter. He scored at all three levels, including a driving finish, multiple mid-range jumpers, and a three-pointer. He was on the receiving end of a slick no-look pass from Tyrese Maxey, which he dunked.

    By halftime, Embiid had 20 points.

    “Kind of wanted the ball more than I did the first time around,” Embiid said of that second-quarter stint. “Just got shots and knocked it down.”

    Maxey said he felt Embiid’s presence on both ends, helping the point guard flirt with a 32-point triple-double (nine rebounds, eight assists) in 34 minutes, while four other teammates finished in double figures. Embiid appeared to be moving around the court well, including while protecting the rim as an interior defender. He received fourth-quarter minutes even with the Sixers possessing a massive lead, an effort to reestablish his conditioning. And though locking back into that two-man game with Maxey was mostly seamless, the point guard added that there were still moments when Embiid wanted him to cut more.

    “He just takes so much pressure off us offensively,” said Maxey, noting that opponents can no longer send multiple defenders his way while sharing the court with the big man. “They’ve got to pay attention to him. … And then when I’m second pass right there next to him, it’s hard to [double team], too, so there’s a lot of space out there on the court.”

    This Embiid return comes after a dominant stretch, when he averaged 30 points on 52.7% shooting along with eight rebounds and 4.5 assists in 20 games from Dec. 23 to Feb. 7. During that vintage run, Embiid declared this comeback season was already a success, assuming many outsiders figured he would never return to that level of productivity (and availability) after multiple left knee surgeries derailed his 2024-25 season and caused a nearly two-month absence the previous year.

    Sixers need to ‘blast ahead’ and play faster — with and without Joel Embiid in the lineup

    Following Tuesday’s victory, Embiid acknowledged he previously was “not familiar” with the treatment or recovery process for stress reactions. He anticipates the path forward — closely monitoring the leg, and managing his workload — will be similar to how he and the medical staff handled his knee at the beginning of this season. Embiid also reiterated that he will trust in God, and that his body will respond how it is supposed to.

    Count Maxey as somebody who appreciates Embiid’s newfound careful approach. Maxey believes it gives the Sixers “a chance to be healthy when it really, really matters” in the playoffs, when Embiid has often labored through games or suffered new injuries. And it has forced the Sixers to try to figure out how to play without him, mostly with a fast-paced formula that Embiid emphasized in conversations with Nurse during this most recent absence.

    The Sixers snapped out of their skid Sunday night, while Embiid was still sidelined.

    And once Embiid returned to game action against the Pacers?

    “When he comes back and he looks like that,” Maxey said of Embiid’s performance Tuesday, “I think we’ve got a pretty good chance.”

  • Milan Iloski’s on-field role has changed. How much will it benefit him and the Union?

    Milan Iloski’s on-field role has changed. How much will it benefit him and the Union?

    Milan Iloski had no strong opinion.

    If he did, he certainly wasn’t sharing it on this day, doubling as a model for the Union’s new home kit, one that pays homage to America’s 250th birthday and coincides with the FIFA World Cup passing through Philadelphia this summer.

    But the question last month was plain. As the Union’s new No. 10, the number generally designated for a team’s playmaker, how does it suit his strengths, and more importantly, his role on the team?

    Will the move create opportunities for his partners sitting behind the forward in Bradley Carnell’s modified 4-4-2 (essentially 4-2-2-2) formation? Will it create chances for him running off them? Which would make sense given the imposing size of Ezekiel Alladoh, the team’s new 6-foot-3, 170-pound powerhouse up top?

    Will it be both?

    Some might suggest that two games into the regular season and a handful of televised preseason matches are still too small a sample size to determine where Iloski exactly fits and where he’ll be most effective. In that same time, however, credit him with four goals and a Man-of-the-Match award after a 5-0 rout of Trinidad’s Defence Force in the club’s Concacaf Champions Cup opener.

    It is certainly not a bad thing to be a bit of an unknown for a team looking to surprise early in the season in defense of its 2025 Supporters’ Shield crown.

    That continues this week as the Union have their Champions Cup return leg against Defence Force at Subaru Park on Thursday (7 p.m., FS2), followed by the team’s MLS home opener against Eastern Conference rival New York City FC on Sunday (4:30 p.m., Apple TV).

    If that’s the case, one has to wonder what the coaching staff has told Iloski it’s looking for from him in the No. 10 jersey.

    After a breakout season, Olwethu Makhanya is ready to be a leader for the Union

    “I think stepping up in a big way,” said Iloski, a 26-year-old native of California. “I was brought here midseason last year to help bring a trophy. And you know, we were happy to win the Supporters’ Shield, but we fell short in other places. Now, it’s for me to be an important player on the team and really be a leader in the locker room and make sure to implement those core values and, you know, things that this club stands for.”

    But the answer was a bit more complex from Carnell, who noted during a recent news conference the variety of ways Iloski can be used, with none of them sounding like a one-size-fits-all approach to the second-year Union player.

    Union manager Bradley Carnell says that plans have been created that fuse the team’s attack with Milan Iloski’s skill set.

    “We have a bunch of things drawn up in my [coaches] room,” the manager said. “There are different scenarios on tactical sheets of paper. We have an overload of strikers with us right now. So [we just need] Milan to build his foundation, I would say.

    “We know what he brought us last year, through the summer [when he arrived] and down the stretch. He’s a real weapon in both phases, whether it’s in the possession phase or in the transition phase. … He has a bunch of things to learn even in the [No. 10] spot. But using him in the striker spot is an option as well. Right now, he’s being used in that 10 spot, and we’re confident we’ll get greater value out of him there.”

    Andre Blake begins his 13th season with the Union, still waiting for fate to finally smile on him

    It’s no secret that Iloski provides value. His eight goals in a five-game tear for San Diego last season made him a midseason commodity that the Union pounced on. He collected four goals and five assists in just 14 games for the Union in all competitions, drilling home the fact that he’s anything but one-dimensional.

    But a shift in position means a shift in mindset, and at the end of the day, Iloski is happiest around the box angling on goal. Proof came in the five shots, two on goal, from the Union’s loss to D.C. United on Saturday. It also arrived in a preseason wonder goal he scored running off the ball against CF Montréal.

    It’s where he likes to be, his happy place if you will.

    In his new role, Milan Iloski (left) is expected to be the creative provider for strikers like newcomer Ezekiel Alladoh (right) and others as the Union’s No. 10.

    “I think in an ideal world, I enjoy being around the goal more,” Iloski said. “I came here because I enjoyed playing next to someone, that’s one thing I’ve talked with the coaching staff a lot about. I love playing next to someone up top.”

    But that’s not his role anymore — at least not game over game. Which is why in the same breath, the leadership he spoke of earlier came through.

    “I also know I can be that creative player who can come inside or can float underneath the strikers,” he said. “So, you know, for me, I’m open to anything that can help the team. And you know, I’m totally bought in. So whatever the staff needs from me is what I’ll try and provide.”

  • The best sushi, right to your door | Let’s Eat

    The best sushi, right to your door | Let’s Eat

    Restaurants are stepping up their delivery sushi. Here are our favorites downtown.

    Also in this edition:

    — Mike Klein

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    The best delivery sushi

    With the gap narrowing between casual sushi joints and upscale omakase, Kiki Aranita set out to find the best delivery sushi in downtown Philly. These nine restaurants are clearly on a roll.

    A father-son Japanese homecoming

    🏯 Chef Jesse Ito and his father, Matt, flew to Japan for a rare bonding trip, exploring markets, family roots, and the traditions that shaped Royal Sushi & Izakaya. Craig LaBan and Monica Herndon tagged along to share an inside look.

    🍜 If you toured Japan for nine days with a chef and a food critic, here’s where you might eat.

    Beer festival brouhaha

    This Saturday, there will be two beer festivals with identical-sounding names. Beatrice Forman reports that Philly Bierfest wants the New York-rooted Philly Beer Fest to stop confusing customers.

    Tacconelli’s opens a cocktail bar, but where’s the pizza?

    Vince Tacconelli opens a cocktail bar Wednesday. Although Bar Tacconelli is not a pizzeria, he figures at least he and his South Jersey neighbors won’t have to cross the bridge to Philly for a fun night out.

    Gluten-free bakery opens on the Main Line

    Flakely, the gluten-free bakery, has opened a shop in Bryn Mawr, as Denali Sagner reports, bringing its pastries front and center after toiling in a commercial kitchen in Manayunk.

    The best things we ate last week

    Follow the food team’s travels: tasty spanakopita, scallops and burrata, and a clam pizza that brought beach vibes to Center City.

    Scoops

    After five years behind the smoked-fish counter at Biederman’s in South Philadelphia, Gene Mopsik has moved on. The food maven and erstwhile commercial photographer known as @phillyloxsmith says he lost most of his hours after three spinal surgeries in 14 months. With retirement not an option at age 77, he has started what he calls a small-batch food project. On the eve of Purim, he’s baking hamentashen — poppy, prune, and apricot. Preorders (six for $22) at phillyloxsmith.com should be available through Thursday for pickup Sunday. “I need to stay busy,” Mopsik said. “There’s something about people enjoying what you create.”

    Monto is the name of the pub that the Fergie’s Pub crew is planning to open in Old City this spring. Sandwich meister N.A. Poe is planning a Celtic-Philly menu.

    Blue Sunday, an American-Asian restaurant out of Maryland (there’s a location in Bensalem), is planning a September opening in the former Carrabba’s Italian Grill space at Springfield Mall. It’s also headed into the former Famous Dave’s location at Christiana Town Center in Delaware.

    Restaurant report

    For his latest review, critic Craig LaBan ties on a lobster bib at Bomb Bomb Bar to dig into chef Joey Baldino’s revival of the classic red-gravy bar.

    The oxtail lasagna is one of the rustic South Philly-inspired dishes on the menu at Piccolina, a cozy, new bar-restaurant at the Society Hill Hotel in Old City.

    Briefly noted

    Charlotte Ann Albertson, whose cooking school helped launch many careers (remember Chef Tell?), has died at 90. Here’s her obit.

    Philadelphians are annoying, unfriendly, and stressed. But, as Emily Bloch reports, we have the best sandwiches, according to an analysis of how ChatGPT views the city.

    Cherry Street Tavern, one of Center City’s oldest bars, is for sale as the owners want to hang up their aprons. “There’s just something sacred about the place,” one bartender told Mike Newall.

    Restaurant weeks in progress: Queen Village/Bella Vista (through Sunday) and East Passyunk (through March 6).

    The Philly Chef Conference will host restaurateur Drew Nieporent (Nobu, Tribeca Grill) for a talk/book-signing at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Drexel University’s Academic Bistro (101 N. 33rd St.). In convo with Inquirer food writer Kiki Aranita, Nieporent will discuss his new memoir, I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories From the Restaurant Trenches. Admission ($25) includes a signed copy of the book (free for students); a light reception will follow. Register here.

    Pita Chip, the Middle Eastern fast-casual chainlet, will mark its first year at the Concourse at Comcast Center with free chicken shawarma or falafel entrees from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 3. Limit one per person.

    Panda Fest, the outdoor Asian food and culture festival, is returning to Dilworth Park April 18-19 for its second year. Early-bird ticket sales start Thursday.

    Dig Inn, a farm-to-table fast-casual chain, has set March 13 for its opening at 112 S. 11th St. It’s previewing with a food-drive exchange on March 11 and 12; those who donate a canned good or nonperishable food item get a free bowl in return. Reserve a time slot here. All donated items go across the street to Thomas Jefferson U’s Ramily Market Pantry.

    ❓Pop quiz

    A regular crafted a replica of his favorite restaurant out of Lego bricks. Which one?

    A) Pat’s King of Steaks

    B) Friday Saturday Sunday

    C) Buddakan

    D) Famous 4th Street

    Find out if you know the answer, and see a photo of it.

    Ask Mike anything

    I saw a restaurant online in the city with a dessert that was a carrot cake combination cheesecake. The cheesecake was on top of the carrot cake. Any idea where it could be? — Alan M.

    I’m sure more than a few locals offer this hybrid; the key is finding one on the regular menu. There’s the Cheesecake Lady (in new quarters in Jenkintown, with Cloud Cups’ Kensington location as an outlet); Bredenbeck’s in Chestnut Hill; and the assorted Cheesecake Factory locations. Know of others? Let me know and I’ll include next week.

    📮 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • As more Americans embrace anxiety treatment, MAHA derides medication

    As more Americans embrace anxiety treatment, MAHA derides medication

    After a grueling year of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to treat breast cancer, Sadia Zapp was anxious — not the manageable hum that had long been part of her life, but something deeper, more distracting.

    “Every little ache, like my knee hurts,” she said, made her worry that “this is the end of the road for me.”

    So Zapp, a 40-year-old communications director in New York, became one of millions of Americans to start taking an anxiety medication in recent years. For her, it was the serotonin-boosting drug Lexapro.

    “I love it. It’s been great,” she said. “It’s really helped me manage.”

    The proportion of American adults who took anxiety medications jumped from 11.7% in 2019 to 14.3% in 2024, with most of the increase occurring during the COVID pandemic, according to survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s 8 million more people, bringing the total to roughly 38 million, with sharp increases among young adults, people with a college degree, and adults who identify as LGBTQ+.

    Even as psychiatric medications gain public acceptance and become easier to access through telehealth appointments, the rise of a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, has triggered a backlash from supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement who argue they are harmful. Doctors and researchers say medications such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro are front-line treatments for many anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and are being misrepresented as addictive and broadly harmful even though they’ve been proved safe for extended use.

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decried broadening SSRI use. During his confirmation hearing, he said he knows people, including family members, who had a tougher time quitting SSRIs than people have quitting heroin. More recently, he said his agency is studying a possible link between the use of SSRIs and other psychiatric medications and violent behavior like school shootings.

    Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary speaks at the White House on Oct. 16. MUST CREDIT: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post

    Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary has also suggested that SSRI use among pregnant women could lead to poor birth outcomes.

    SSRIs’ common side effects include upset stomach, brain fog, and fatigue. Some SSRIs also can reduce libido and cause other sexual side effects.

    For many people, however, the side effects are mild and tolerable and the benefits of treating chronic anxiety are worth it, said Patrick Kelly, president of the Southern California Psychiatric Society. “The statements about SSRIs were just not grounded in any sort of evidence or fact,” Kelly said of Kennedy’s comments.

    A recent comprehensive study showed that over half of people with generalized anxiety disorder taking an SSRI saw their anxiety symptoms reduced by at least 50%. Side effects prompted about 1 in 12 to stop taking an SSRI.

    “When it’s being done right and when you’re also using appropriate therapy techniques, SSRIs can be really, really helpful,” said Emily Wood, a psychiatrist who practices in Los Angeles.

    MAHA blames anxiety on poor diet, lack of exercise

    Supporters of MAHA have partly blamed poor dietary choices and the increase of a sedentary lifestyle for the rise of a number of health problems, including anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. As a remedy, they have called for measures such as reducing consumption of ultraprocessed foods, which studies in recent years have connected to depression and anxiety, and cutting back on screen time in favor of exercise.

    Psychiatrists often encourage a healthy diet and exercise as an adjunctive therapy for anxiety and depression. Wood said those who can manage anxiety without medication should also consider talk therapy. The proportion of American adults using mental health counseling boomed from 2019 to 2024 as teletherapy grew in popularity, federal data shows. “Anxiety disorders are amongst our psychiatric disorders that really respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy,” she said.

    But medication can help.

    Studies show the risks of taking SSRIs during pregnancy are low for mother and child. By contrast, “depression increases your risk for every complication for a mother and a baby,” Wood said, adding that recent statements by government officials about SSRI use during pregnancy are “potentially leading to real harm for these women.”

    Some people who stop taking antidepressant medication will experience nausea, insomnia, or other symptoms, especially if they quit suddenly. But “the concept of addiction simply does not apply to these chemicals,” Kelly said, a statement backed up by studies.

    Addiction, though, is a possibility with benzodiazepines such as Xanax that are often a second line of treatment for anxiety. These controlled substances can also increase the risk of opioid overdose in patients taking both types of drugs. During congressional hearings last year, Kennedy also decried benzodiazepine overuse as a problem.

    While benzodiazepines are effective for short-term use, they require monitoring and care, Wood said.

    “Those are really great meds for acute anxiety and not great as long-term anxiety medications, because they are habit-forming over time,” Wood said. “If you’re taking them on a daily basis, you’ll need more and more to get the same effect, and then you have to come down from them in a tapered way.”

    And an increasing number of people are also occasionally taking beta-blockers such as propranolol for anxiety. Some people use beta-blockers to prevent a racing heart before a public speech or other big moments, even though they are not FDA-approved for treating anxiety and are prescribed “off-label.”

    Beta-blockers can cause dizziness and fatigue, but they are “nonaddictive, really helpful for bringing down the autonomic nervous system, going from fight or flight to something more neutral, and really safe,” Wood said.

    Social shifts drive increased use of anxiety meds

    A number of leading theories could explain why so many more people are taking anxiety medication, including increased social media use, more isolation, and heightened economic uncertainty, physicians and researchers say.

    Plus, the medicines are relatively easy to get. Many people obtain SSRI and benzodiazepine prescriptions from their primary care physician. Others obtain the medications after a brief teletherapy appointment.

    Many social media influencers talk about their mental health struggles, easing some stigma among young people and encouraging them to get help. About a third of teens in a recent study said they get mental health information via social media.

    Still, increased access to anxiety medication can be a problem when combined with a trend of self-diagnosis based on social media trends. A Google search for “buy Xanax online” leads to sponsored promises of same-day treatment, though fine-print disclaimers clarify that a prescription is not guaranteed.

    “I think increased access is good, but that’s not the same thing as, you know, ordering Xanax online,” Kelly said.

    Young adults are largely driving an increase in anxiety medication use. The proportion of Americans ages 18 to 34 taking anxiety medication rose from 8.8% in 2019 — the first year such survey data became available — to 14.6% in 2024. By contrast, the rate didn’t change much among adults 65 and older, CDC data shows.

    The pandemic and COVID lockdowns greatly increased stress among many American adults, particularly young adults.

    And data shows more women than men take anxiety medication. Jason Schnittker, a department chair and professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, said that’s because they’re more likely to need them. They are also likelier than men to report when they feel anxious, and doctors are “inclined or see anxiety more readily in their female patients than their male patients,” Schnittker added.

    Broader trends could also be at work. Schnittker said studies have shown anxiety growing more prevalent among ensuing generations for much of the 20th and 21st centuries. Schnittker, author of Unnerved: Anxiety, Social Change, and the Transformation of Modern Mental Health, said growing income inequality could be partly to blame, with people feeling stress over improving their economic status. Social and religious activities have been replaced by more isolation. And people have become more suspicious of others, creating a sense of unease around strangers.

    Sadia Zapp started taking anxiety medication after surgery and treatment for breast cancer. She says it has helped reduce the noise in her mind, allowing her to focus again. (Jackie Molloy for KFF Health News)

    For Zapp, the cancer survivor, it took a few months on Lexapro before she started seeing clear results. When she did, she said, it felt like her mind was less noisy, making it easier to focus. She also underwent talk therapy, but now her chronic anxiety is stabilized on medication alone.

    “It definitely helped me get back to my day-to-day in a way that was productive and not just riddled with my anxieties throughout the day,” she said.

    Zapp, a communications director in New York, is one of millions of Americans to start taking an anxiety medication in recent years. “It’s really helped me manage,” she says.

    KFF Health News’ Holly Hacker, Maia Rosenfeld, and Lydia Zuraw contributed to this report.

    KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

  • 🥟 Empanadas on demand | Morning Newsletter

    🥟 Empanadas on demand | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, Philly. Look out for snow atop black ice as storm recovery continues, and don’t forget that city trash collection is on a two-day delay. Check when yours is getting picked up.

    You can now get hot empanadas out of vending machines at 30th Street Station, thanks to a Philadelphia-founded company.

    And New Jersey state lawmakers just got a 67% pay increase, their first raise in more than two decades. They still make less than their peers in Harrisburg — and most have other jobs, too.

    — Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Empanada. Vending. Machine.

    Philly has been home to vending machines selling cheese, yarn, pastries, Narcan, and tiny art since the first Horn & Hardart in the United States opened on Chestnut Street in 1902.

    🥟 There’s a new entry in the automated snack category: empanadas.

    🥟 The dough dispensary at 30th Street Station comes via Empanadas United, a local company founded by a former Comcast designer and now expanding with national partners.

    🥟 The machine is satiating travelers’ hunger amid yearslong renovations at the city’s SEPTA and Amtrak hub, as well as at other travel hubs around the country — but not yet Philadelphia International Airport.

    Business reporter Joseph N. DiStefano explains how it all works.

    More food news: A cocktail bar from Tacconelli’s opens today in South Jersey. Just don’t expect pizza.

    A raise for New Jersey legislators

    Elected officials in New Jersey’s state House and Senate just got their first pay raise in 25 years.

    By the numbers: The lawmakers received a nearly 70% pay bump, from $49,000 to $82,000, after a law signed in 2024 took effect in January. That’s still lower than the state’s median household income, and at least $31,000 lower than what Pennsylvania legislators make.

    Salary stakes: Garden State lawmakers are considered part-time, though some members say the job is a full-time commitment and most have other employment. At least one is also a public schoolteacher.

    Better pay, better lawmaking? Some experts argue that the higher pay means more New Jerseyans will be able to run for office — not just those who are already wealthy or can otherwise afford to make the salaries offered — and that legislators will be able to commit more time to the job. Others aren’t so sure it will make a big enough difference.

    Politics reporter Aliya Schneider has the story.

    In other state government news: Pennsylvania spent $397 million in overtime last year. Here’s why state workers are logging such long hours.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    North Philadelphia native Brian Wanamaker has an incurable cancer. It hasn’t stopped him from turning Texas Wesleyan University’s men’s basketball team into a winner.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Philadelphia’s Department of Planning and Development has identified three possible locations for a permanent intercity bus station. Which is not one of them?

    A) The former Greyhound terminal at 10th and Filbert streets

    B) A pair of parking lots on Arch Street near Eighth Street

    C) The Philadelphia Gateway Garage on Vine Street near 15th Street

    D) A parking lot near 30th Street Station on Arch Street

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    💊 Noting: The FDA’s removal of the “black box” warning on hormone treatments for women in menopause.

    🦅 Following: Where the Eagles Autism Foundation is donating the $10.8 million it raised last year.

    🏘️ Comparing: What homebuyers can get for about $760,000 in Chestnut Hill, Riverton, and Upper Dublin.

    🎞️ Watching: Riverbend, the lost 1989 film brought back to life in Norristown.

    ⚖️ Considering: Why government’s separation of powers still matters today.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Delaware River-adjacent neighborhood

    TENN PROPS

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Sonia Tupone, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Scranton. The Flyers will bring the (fictional) Dunder Mifflin from its Northeast Pennsylvania hometown to South Philly for The Office theme night next month.

    Photo of the day

    James Walker with Valley Forge Flowers places baby’s breath on a large overhead sweeping, twisting root structure at the Convention Center on Tuesday while setting up for the Philadelphia Flower Show.

    Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Until the city’s (outdoor) trees bloom once again, be well.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • These Chesco spots are the wealthiest in the region | Inquirer Chester County

    These Chesco spots are the wealthiest in the region | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Local communities dominate a new list looking at the Philadelphia region’s wealthiest areas by income. Also this week, East Vincent’s planning commission has voted against a proposed data center at Pennhurst, North Coventry Township officials headed off a different data center before it was even formally submitted, plus Tired Hands Brewing Company has closed its Kennett Square outpost.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Chester County dominates a list of the region’s wealthiest spots

    Homes along Yorkshire Way in Birmingham Township, one of the wealthiest communities in the Philadelphia region.

    Chester County is home to six of the 10 wealthiest spots in the Philadelphia area, according to the latest U.S. Census American Community Survey, which compiles self-reported income data.

    Topping the list is Pocopson Township, which had a median annual household income of $230,000 during the five-year period ending in 2024. It’s followed by West Pikeland ($226,100), Birmingham ($215,000), and Easttown ($214,900). West Vincent ($202,600) and Charlestown ($202,200) were the other two Chesco spots in the top 10, ranking No. 7 and 8, respectively.

    The Inquirer’s Anthony R. Wood and John Duchneskie delve into the data and map the wealthiest pockets.

    📍 Countywide News

    • The county saw widely ranging snowfall totals from this week’s storm thanks to heavy banding. According to figures reported to the National Weather Service, Malvern saw the largest total in Chester County at 12.3 inches, while East Coventry came in at the lower end, with 5.5 inches. See a map of how much snow fell near you earlier this week. Keep an eye out for a bit more snow today.
    • Former Chester County detective Christine Bleiler, who was a technical adviser on HBO’s popular drama Mare of Easttown, is suing the county and her former supervisor over alleged sex discrimination. Bleiler was a police officer in Oxford Borough before becoming a county detective in 2015. She resigned from her post in September.

    💡 Community News

    • In case you missed it, East Vincent’s planning commission recommended last week that the township’s board of supervisors deny a proposed data center at the Pennhurst site when it comes in front of them next month. The commission said the proposal, which calls for five two-story data center buildings, a sixth building, an electrical substation, and a solar field, was not in compliance with the zoning ordinance. The board of supervisors is holding a public hearing on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at East Vincent Elementary School.
    • Pennhurst isn’t the only data center proposed in the area that’s getting pushback from local officials and residents. Envision Land Use has decided to look elsewhere to develop what it’s calling a “boutique” data center after public outcry over its plans, which called for building a 120,000-square-foot, three-story center at 299 Schuylkill Rd. On Monday, North Coventry Township’s board of supervisors took a preemptive vote that they’d reject the proposal, before it was even formally submitted.
    • The developer looking to build a data center on a remediated Superfund site in East Whiteland Township has submitted updated plans following last month’s planning commission meeting. The applicant is expected to attend tonight’s planning commission meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the township building, and will also be live streamed.
    • Last week, Constellation Energy Group withdrew its application for data center code amendments, which were set to come before the East Coventry Township board of supervisors next month. The energy company was seeking changes that would have allowed data centers on five properties.
    • The 300-year-old village of Cochranville is one step closer to getting its first public water line after West Fallowfield Township secured a $1 million grant to fund the project. It’s estimated to cost $5 to $6 million total and is still years away from a groundbreaking.
    • Lincoln University in Lower Oxford Township is planning to implement new safety measures for large events after a shooting at homecoming in October left one dead and six others injured. The university said it won’t host outdoor events after dusk, and events will be held within “a controlled environment” so visitors can be screened.
    • A group of residents is trying to save a deteriorating West Goshen fieldstone home from being demolished, with hopes of restoring it and converting it into an education center about the county’s Quaker history and involvement in the Underground Railroad. A judge will decide the fate of the property, which was built in 1900 and has been left to deteriorate for the past two decades.
    • John Michael Bontrager, founding head of investment-risk adviser Chatham Financial, is focused on revitalizing Kennett Square, including spaces like beer garden The Creamery. He recently sat down with The Inquirer’s Joseph N. DiStefano to talk about the projects he’s focusing on.
    • West Chester-based home shopping giant QVC Group, parent company to HSN, is being sued for $30 million by fashion designer and longtime former HSN host, Antthony Mark Hankins, who says he was abruptly and unjustifiably terminated last July.
    • Heads up for drivers: A monthslong Peco project to improve natural gas infrastructure in Willistown Township is set to get underway Monday. Work will take place on Paoli Pike between Frazer Avenue and South Cedar Hollow Road and on Fairview Road between Paoli Pike and Gable Road. Paoli Pike will be closed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the end of July. During the closures, drivers will be directed to use Devon and Darby Roads and Lancaster Avenue. The project is expected to wrap up by July 31. In Caln Township, Olive Street between South Caln Road and 13th Avenue will continue to be closed on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for utility construction. Work is now expected to wrap up on April 30.
    • A new gating system at the Oxford Borough parking garage at 2nd Street and Octoraro Alley will go into effect Monday. The system will have 24-hour enforced payments, though free or reduced-cost parking may be implemented in the future.
    • Enrique Lopez-Gomez, 32, of West Grove, pleaded guilty this month to third-degree murder after allegedly punching a 9-month-old baby who was in his care in 2024 and not seeking medical attention for the child afterward. Lopez-Gomez will remain in prison while he awaits sentencing.
    • Uwchlan Township is seeking residents’ feedback as it prepares for a five-year strategic plan. Find the survey here.
    • A few pieces of early childhood education news: In Downingtown, a new Kiddie Academy is opening this weekend at 595 Bell Tavern Blvd. Also, The Learning Experience is planning to open two new Chester County locations. They will be at 715 Pike Springs Rd. in Phoenixville and 43 Lancaster Pike in Malvern. A timeline for opening hasn’t been announced yet. (Philadelphia Business Journal)

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Great Valley School District is discontinuing its use of the Bus Status app and will instead send communications through ParentSquare.
    • The Octorara Area School District is looking for a resident of Sadsbury or West Fallowfield Townships to fill an open board director seat. Applications are due Monday.
    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District will open applications for a redistricting steering committee April 6 to 24. The committee will be comprised of 10 parents or guardians who will work with Wendy Towle, the district’s director of curriculum, instruction, staff development and planning, plus an external facilitator and “observers,” on a redistricting process in anticipation of the opening of the new Bear Hill Elementary School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Tired Hands Brewing Company has closed its Kennett Square taproom and bottle shop at 201 E. State St. after its owner decided it no longer made sense to continue operating there. Tired Hands will continue to distribute its beers in the area.
    • Cup of Dreams Coffee and Tea in the Paoli Village Shoppes is closing on Saturday as its lease ends. The owner is looking for a new location.
    • Tasty Table Catering has opened a new storefront known as The Table: Kitchen + Market for private events for up to 40 people. It’s located at its headquarters at 10 Leopard Rd. in Berwyn.
    • West Chester Restaurant Week continues through Sunday. See all the participating restaurants here.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎭 Twelfth Night: William Shakespeare’s comedy gets a modern twist. ⏰ Wednesday, Feb. 25-Sunday, March 29, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍People’s Light, Malvern

    🍸 Hush: An Immersive Speakeasy Experience: The Franklin Follies will perform parlour noir-style music, while cocktails featuring Bluebird Distillery libations will be served. ⏰ Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. 💵 $35 📍The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🍺 Kennett Winterfest: Over 60 craft breweries will be at this annual event, along with food trucks, live music, and vendors. ⏰ Saturday, Feb. 28, 12:30-4 p.m. 💵 $20.80 for non-alcoholic tickets, $62.40 for regular admission 📍South Broad Street, Kennett Square

    🪈 Family Concert with BVS Woodwind Quintet: This family-friendly and interactive performance features woodwind instruments. ⏰ Saturday, Feb. 28, 2-3 p.m. 💵 $10-$30 📍Kennett Library, Kennett Square

    🏡 On the Market

    A Chester Springs estate with two primary suites

    The home has a covered porch that looks out on the surrounding property.

    Built in 2021, this sprawling Chester Springs estate has plenty of privacy thanks to both conservation land and surrounding pastures. The home features a two-tone kitchen with a quartz-topped island and a walk-in pantry that opens onto a dining and living room with a fireplace. Spanning six total bedrooms, the home has two primary suites, one on the first floor and another upstairs. The first-floor suite has a double vanity and a large walk-in shower, while the second-floor suite also has a soaking tub. Other features include a walk-out finished basement, a five-car garage, and a whole-house backup generator.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.895M | Size: 9,130 SF | Acreage: 2.34

    🗞️ What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    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.

  • The real revolution is not giving up on democracy — or on each other

    The real revolution is not giving up on democracy — or on each other

    As the nation enters its 250th birthday at a moment when faith in democracy feels fragile, I have been thinking deeply about what it means to be American right now. This is not a season for rose-tinted nostalgia, nor is it a time to ignore the difficulties of the past year. The challenges we have faced have been real and impossible to dismiss.

    But cynicism is not a solution, and disengagement is not patriotism.

    I keep returning to what feels like a revolutionary idea right now: I am not giving up on democracy, and I am not giving up on my neighbor.

    American democracy is a glorious, unfinished experiment. Anchored in the radical idea that government derives its power from, and is created of, by, and for the people, it was new and unproven nearly 250 years ago.

    Rejecting rule by kings in favor of the will of the people, it was an idea that endured extraordinary challenges and helped shape one of the most successful societies in human history.

    But democracy does not sustain itself. It requires constant care, tension, participation, and belief.

    Because of that, I am choosing to engage.

    Staying in the game

    In everyday life, not giving up on democracy looks like staying in the game. It means talking openly with people in our communities, engaging across differences, and resisting the urge to judge or dismiss ideas before listening for understanding. At its core, it is a recommitment to respecting the human dignity of every person.

    I come to this work as the president and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, a site founded on a Quaker belief in the “light within” every person, and a deep respect for our shared humanity. Today, Eastern State bears witness to nearly 200 years of evolving ideas about justice, liberty, and freedom in America. Walking its corridors and sitting with its stories reveals a powerful record of trauma and human resilience — and a nation still wrestling with the true meaning of those ideals.

    This perspective is also shaped by more than 20 years of studying the Constitution, a document woven with both brilliance and imperfection. At Eastern State, we recognize humans’ capacity for change. Like democracy itself, people are not a finished product. We are living beings who both require and deserve care to grow and evolve.

    When democracy is healthy, individuals and groups can express different viewpoints freely, with the goal of shaping public life. But those viewpoints must also be shaped by one another through engagement and dialogue. Civic ideas are meant to strengthen over time, not harden into absolutes. When trust erodes, that essential civic interplay breaks down.

    We see this erosion clearly. According to the General Social Survey, the share of Americans who believe “most people can be trusted” fell from 46% in 1972 to just 34% in 2024. Research shows social trust is rooted in personal experience. How we treat one another is inseparable from the health of our democracy.

    Children look at an original printed version of the Declaration of Independence. The ideals that guided the founders are pertinent today.

    The American Revolution did not happen in a single summer in Philadelphia. John Adams wrote that the war was just one part of the revolution, stating: “The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People. … This radical Change in the Principles, Opinions Sentiments and Affection of the People, was the real American Revolution.”

    Likewise, Benjamin Rush, a framer of both the Declaration of Independence and of Eastern State, believed the real revolution was still unfolding, shaped over time by citizens’ morals and manners. He was right then, and he remains right now.

    Civic holidays give us a chance to come together, remember, commemorate, and celebrate. As we approach the Semiquincentennial, perhaps it is also time to reconnect and consider how those founding ideals can guide us forward.

    The real revolution is not behind us. It is happening now — in how we show up for one another, and in our refusal to give up on each other.

    Kerry Sautner is president and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary.

  • Exploring Cherry Hill’s Underground Railroad stop | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Exploring Cherry Hill’s Underground Railroad stop | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    Archaeologists are digging at Croft Farm to learn more about the site’s stop on the Underground Railroad. Also this week, new public pickleball courts are in the works, plus several high school sports teams are making post-season runs.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    An archeological dig opens a window to the past at Croft Farm

    Chelsea Carriere, archaeologist with PS&S, grabs for a bucket while digging at Croft Farm.

    Over the weekend, archaeologists unearthed pieces of the past as they excavated around the historic Croft Farm property. The dig, which was open to the public to view and part of a project to stop groundwater from entering the home’s basement, revealed artifacts dating back hundreds and thousands of years.

    They provide clues to the site’s past, including as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and before that, as a place where the Lenni-Lenape Indigenous people lived.

    Animal bones and pieces of pottery will help archaeologists better understand eating habits and traditions of those who lived there, The Inquirer’s Brett Sholtis reports.

    Read more about what the archaeologists unearthed.

    💡 Community News

    • This week’s storm brought a lot of snow to the region, with totals varying widely thanks to heavy banding. While the National Weather Service didn’t report an official total for Cherry Hill, surrounding towns reported 14 to 16.5 inches. The bad news (for those who don’t like snow): There’s the potential for a little bit more today. The good news is that it’s unlikely the snow will stick around as long as it did with last month’s storm thanks to the warmer temperatures and the extra daylight that late February brings.
    • Cherry Hill residents had a median household income of $121,500 between 2020 and 2024, according to the latest U.S. Census American Community Survey, which compiles self-reported income data over a five-year period. That’s up just about $2,000 from the last survey, looking at data from 2010 to 2014, and makes Cherry Hill the third-wealthiest town in Camden County.
    • Good news for pickleball players: Eight new public courts are in the works at two sites around town. The township is planning to build four courts with lights at Beechwood Avenue and Route 38. The goal is to start construction this summer and have the courts ready by early fall. Meanwhile, Camden County is building four courts at the nearly 18-acre John Adler Memorial Park at Challenge Grove at the corner of Bortons Mill and Caldwell Roads. Construction on those courts is also expected to begin this summer and will add to the park’s existing sports facilities, including a softball field, and basketball and bocce courts.
    • The planning board is meeting Monday evening to hear public comment about an amendment to the township’s Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, which would amend its overall master plan if adopted. One change would allow for the site of the six-story office building at 3 Executive Campus to be redeveloped into residential or mixed-used buildings with between 39 and 64 affordable units. It would also allow for part of the 28.2-acre site’s land to be developed. See a draft of the amendment here.
    • A Cherry Hill man who pleaded guilty to child molestation after having a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl in Indiana in 2021 was sentenced last week to three years in prison. Jonathan A. Trauger, 28, must also register as a sex offender for a decade after his release. (Courier Post)

    📸 Cherry Hill residents dig out after the storm

    Three generations of Cherry Hill residents, Julio Maldonado Sr., 79 (right), Julio Maldonado III, 19 (middle), and Julio Maldonado Jr., 49, (left), dug out the family’s car on Covered Bridge Road Monday. “We live together, play together, and work together,” Julio Maldonado Jr. said.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • There are several school board committee meetings on Monday evening, which are open to the public. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • East girls’ swimming will take on Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School in the NJSIAA Team Swimming Championships this morning, after the event was postponed due to the weather. The meet will kickoff at 8:30 a.m. East defeated Passaic County Technical Institute 88-82 in group semifinals to claim its spot. As for the East boys’ swimming team, after making it to the semifinals, the Cougars fell to Hillsborough High 91.5-78.5. (NJ.com)
    • The NJSIAA girls’ basketball playoffs kick off this week, with both East and West competing. The West girls’ team will look to defend its state championship title in the first round of the Group 3 tournament on Friday at 3:45 p.m., hosting Cumberland Regional High School. Follow the results here and see the Lions’ full group bracket here. And East will take on Atlantic City High School tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. as part of the Group 4 tournament. See East’s full group bracket here.
    • East boys’ basketball also kicks off its NJSIAA playoff run this week, hosting Toms River High School North tomorrow at 4 p.m. The Group 4 top-seeded East went into the playoffs with a 21-3 regular season record. See the Cougars’ full Group 4 bracket here.
    • Camden Catholic High School’s boys’ wrestling team captured its 20th state title on Sunday, defeating Pope John XXIII Regional High School 53-19. It now has the third-highest number of state titles among public and non-public teams. (Courier Post)

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Two Cherry Hill spots serve some of the best bagels in the state, according to a new ranking from NJ.com. Bagel Spot on Kings Highway landed at No. 18 on the list for its 24 types of bagels and 30 varieties of spreads, while K & A Bagel Cafe came in at No. 43. The Route 70 spot has 21 kinds of bagels and 18 spreads, including a honey cinnamon butter.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎷 A Journey Through Jazz: Hear the Bradford Hayes Jazz Quartet perform. ⏰ Friday, Feb. 27, 7-8:30 p.m. 💵 $15 in advance, $20 at the door 📍Croft Farm Arts Center

    ☕ Bridgerton Handbuilding Workshop: Fans won’t want to miss this workshop, where you can make a teacup and saucer inspired by the popular Netflix show. ⏰ Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 $150 📍Hugs Ceramics

    🍎 Holistic Health and Healing Expo: Learn about holistic wellness through lectures and workshops. You can also meet practitioners and shop for related goods. ⏰ Sunday, March 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Free or $7.18 for VIP admission 📍DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia

    ✡️ Purim Carnival: Kids are encouraged to dress in costume for this event celebrating the Jewish holiday. There will be face painting, games, crafts, food, and drinks. ⏰ Sunday, March 1, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 💵 $20 per child 3 and older, free for adults and children under 3 📍Congregation Kol Ami

    🏡 On the Market

    A classic four-bedroom brick home in Short Hills

    The home has a classic brick facade, a portico, and dormers.

    Located in the Short Hills neighborhood, this brick-fronted home is full of classic elements, including a covered portico and dormers. Inside, there’s a two-story foyer, a formal living room with a gas fireplace, a formal dining room, a first-floor office, and a family room with a brick fireplace. The kitchen has a double oven, a separate bar area, and a dining area with vaulted ceilings and access to the deck. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a separate sitting area, a large walk-in closet, a jacuzzi tub, and two vanities. Other features include a finished basement with a full bathroom, a three-car garage, and a patio.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.05M | Size: 5,007 SF | Acreage: 0.46

    🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    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.

  • Philly has lots of trails. For the first time, it is hiring a full-time crew to maintain them.

    Philly has lots of trails. For the first time, it is hiring a full-time crew to maintain them.

    Philadelphia’s miles of trails draw a constant stream of runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists, and commuters.

    Yet for years, city officials have depended on residents calling in or logging in to the 311 system to report trail issues before a crew was sent out.

    Now, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) is set to roll out the city’s first dedicated trail-maintenance crew, a pilot program funded by a $600,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation.

    The money will fund a six-person team tasked exclusively with monitoring and maintaining multiuse trails that thread through 10 watershed-protecting parks.

    Susan Buck, PPR’s deputy commissioner of operations, said the crew would launch this summer and resolve a long-standing logistical problem.

    “The focus has always been on building the trails,“ Buck said. ”However, in recent years we would go to community meetings and hear more about trail maintenance.”

    Right now, addressing a downed tree or a washed-out path means pulling staff away from recreation centers and neighborhood parks. A dedicated trail crew will ease that strain, she said, and position the city to address issues before they snowball into bigger problems.

    Now, PPR can be proactive, she said.

    Parks are priorities

    The crew’s immediate priority will be to rotate through 10 watershed parks, such as Wissahickon Valley, Pennypack, Tacony Creek, and Cobbs Creek. Crews will also monitor the Schuylkill River Trail, which recently saw major repairs to sinkholes and storm damage.

    Buck said the crew will initially be responsible for about 80 miles of trails.

    The city has 166 miles of trails or more depending on what’s being counted. Overall, PPR manages asphalt, gravel, and dirt trails that residents use not only for recreation but for commuting and walking neighborhood to neighborhood.

    The new crew will have skid-steer loaders, which are small versatile vehicles with mechanized arms and buckets used to clear, dig, grade, and lift. And they’ll have other equipment such as wood chippers and chainsaws.

    For the average park-goer, it should translate to a smoother weekend run, daily commute, or less frustrating bike ride, Buck said.

    “Overall, people will see safer trails and more enjoyable trails,” Buck added. “If you’re a runner or cyclist getting hit by overgrown brush, maybe we’ll be able to get to that faster. Ruts and divots should get filled in faster.”

    By having a mobile team that can move from the Wissahickon to East Fairmount Park, the city aims to create a uniform experience for all users.

    Buck has been working alongside Sarah Clark Stuart, the trails manager for the Streets Department.

    The two are working toward a cost-sharing agreement between the two departments to turn the pilot program into an annual part of the city budget.

    That way the crew can continue to clear overgrown brush, haul away downed trees, fix washouts, tackle soil erosion, eliminate tripping hazards, and clean graffiti off signs.

    The pilot program could use existing employees or result in new hires, she said.

    ‘Great cities have great parks’

    Sara Stevenson, executive director of Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW), said the dedicated crew represents a shift in the way the city has viewed its natural assets. The nonprofit FOW helps manage the city-owned Wissahickon Valley Park.

    The 2,000-acre park has more than 50 miles of paved and dirt trails. The new trail crew will be assigned to help with paved paths and major arteries like Forbidden Drive.

    “It’s a great program,” Stevenson said. “The more we can invest in Parks and Rec, the better our city will be. This is a good step forward and a recognition of how important the trail system is.”

    The Wissahickon relies on thousands of volunteers annually to pull invasive species, clear debris, and help with other maintenance. Stevenson said that the demands of maintaining sustainable trails requires a professional, daily presence.

    “Great cities have great parks,” Stevenson said. “I think what we’ll see is a new standard of care … It’s an illustration that the city understands the value of the trail across the entire city.”