There’s a new king in the NFC, and it’s the team that strolled into Lincoln Financial Field on Black Friday, ran all over the Eagles, and silenced the critics — this writer included — who said its 8-3 record was fugazi.
Yes, if the season ended today, all roads would lead to the shirtless final boss, Ben Johnson, and his 9-3 Chicago Bears. And if that pole positioning holds, they’ll have earned it. Chicago’s final five games look like this: at Green Bay, home vs. Cleveland, home vs. Green Bay, at San Francisco, home vs. Detroit.
In other words, the Bears are holding on to that top seed in a similar way Jalen Hurts held onto the football during that fourth-quarter Tush Push on Friday.
There are six teams in the NFC now with eight or nine wins, and the Eagles — despite the sky falling on Philadelphia and Nick Sirianni fairly being asked about his offensive coordinator’s job status — are one of them.
Only two teams have an easier schedule the rest of the way than the Eagles, according to Tankathon, and neither team is in the aforementioned group.
How likely is the No. 1 seed for the Eagles? FTN Fantasy puts the chances at 3.3%. Not great. But not quite the one-in-a-million odds Christmas faced in Dumb and Dumber.
In fact, considering FTN puts the Eagles’ playoff chances at 93.3%, there’s a better mathematical chance this collapse ends with the Eagles blowing the NFC East and missing the playoffs than the Eagles turning it around and securing the No. 1 seed.
Still, that latter scenario seems pretty unrealistic given the schedule ahead. The Eagles could be facing a Chargers team without Justin Herbert, then they have the lowly Raiders and their minus-129 point differential. After that, the remaining three contests are a difficult road game at Buffalo sandwiched by two Commanders games.
The magic number — any combination of Eagles wins and Cowboys losses — to clinch the NFC East is four. FTN Fantasy has the Eagles at 91% to win the NFC East. The Eagles control their destiny there.
As far as the No. 1 seed goes, it’s out of their hands, thanks to Chicago’s 281 rushing yards and another stinker from one of the highest-paid offenses in the NFL.
PHILADELPHIA — The Trump administration’s maneuvers to keep the president’s former lawyer Alina Habba in place as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor were illegal and she is disqualified, a federal appeals court said Monday.
A panel of judges from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sitting in Philadelphia sided with a lower court judge’s ruling after hearing oral arguments at which Habba herself was present on Oct. 20.
The ruling comes amid the push by President Donald Trump’s Republican administration to keep Habba as the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, a powerful post charged with enforcing federal criminal and civil law. It also comes after the judges questioned the government’s moves to keep Habba in place after her interim appointment expired and without her getting Senate confirmation.
Habba said after that hearing in a statement posted to X that she was fighting on behalf of other candidates to be federal prosecutors who have been denied a chance for a Senate hearing.
Messages were left Monday seeking comment from the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey, Habba’s personal staffer and the Justice Department.
Habba is hardly the only Trump administration prosecutor whose appointment has been challenged by defense lawyers.
Last week, a federal judge dismissed criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James after concluding that the hastily installed prosecutor who filed the charges, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed to the position of interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Justice Department has said it intends to appeal the rulings.
The judges on the panel were two appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, D. Brooks Smith and D. Michael Fisher as well as one named by Demcoratic President Barack Obama: Luis Felipe Restrepo.
A lower court judge said in August Habba’s appointment was done with a “novel series of legal and personnel moves” and that she was not lawfully serving as U.S attorney for New Jersey.
That order said her actions since July could be invalidated, but he stayed the order pending appeal.
The government argued Habba is validly serving in the role under a federal statute allowing the first assistant attorney, a post she was appointed to by the Trump administration.
A similar dynamic is playing out in Nevada, where a federal judge disqualified the Trump administration’s pick to be U.S. attorney there.
The Habba case comes after several people charged with federal crimes in New Jersey challenged the legality of Habba’s tenure. They sought to block the charges, arguing she didn’t have the authority to prosecute their cases after her 120-day term as interim U.S. attorney expired.
Habba was Trump’s attorney in criminal and civil proceedings before he was elected to a second term. She served as a White House adviser briefly before Trump named her as a federal prosecutor in March.
Shortly after her appointment, she said in an interview with a right-wing influence that she hoped to help “turn New Jersey red,” a rare overt political expression from a prosecutor.
She then brought a trespassing charge, eventually dropped, against Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka stemming from his visit to a federal immigration detention center.
Habba later charged Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver with assault stemming from the same incident, a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress other than for corruption. McIver denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. The case is pending.
Questions about whether Habba would continue in the job arose in July when her temporary appointment was ending and it became clear New Jersey’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, would not back her appointment.
Earlier this year as her appointment was expiring, federal judges in New Jersey exercised their power under the law to replace Habba with a career prosecutor who had served as her second-in-command.
Bondi then fired the prosecutor installed by the judges and renamed Habba as acting U.S. attorney. The Justice Department said the judges acted prematurely and said Trump had the authority to appoint his preferred candidate to enforce federal laws in the state.
Brann’s ruling said the president’s appointments are still subject to the time limits and power-sharing rules laid out in federal law.
A U.S. Navy veteran with a background in financial services, Citadel Credit Union president and CEO Bill Brown has made it his goal to ensure that Citadel is a trusted partner to its members who, as collective owners of the credit union, are more than just customers. The organization is focused on helping them improve their financial well-being and plan for a stronger financial future.
Under his leadership, Citadel is expanding its presence across the greater Philadelphia region, with new branches like its upcoming Overbrook Park location, new partnerships, and a renewed focus on small business growth, financial education, and community empowerment. “I have a firm belief that people deserve a financial institution that cares about giving them a better experience and improving their financial well-being,” Brown said. “That’s exactly why I chose Citadel and what we’ll continue to prioritize.”
Brown’s approach to leadership is rooted in creating partnerships that have impact. His vision for Citadel’s future is clear: create opportunities and help strengthen financial wellness for individuals, families, and businesses throughout the region.
In this Q&A, Bill Brown talks about what inspires him and how Citadel’s mission of “Building Strength Together” shapes its work in Philadelphia and beyond.
What inspired you to take on the role at Citadel?
It was a chance to bring my experience in financial services to a not-for-profit organization. We have the opportunity to help individuals improve their financial lives. And as a result of helping those people, Citadel can strengthen their communities. That really appealed to me. It was a way to return to service, but this time through finance, helping families build financial stability and opportunity.
Coming back to this region felt a bit like coming home. My wife and I first lived here years ago, near Rittenhouse Square, and we absolutely fell in love with Philadelphia — the energy, the people, the neighborhoods. Our son was born here, so the city has always held a special place in our hearts.
You’re a U.S. Navy veteran who served at the Pentagon and as a naval flight officer. How has your military experience shaped your leadership style and approach to teamwork?
Early in my military career, I learned an important lesson: rank matters, but it doesn’t automatically earn you trust and confidence. Those have to be earned. That idea has stayed with me throughout my career in banking, financial services, and now at Citadel.
What really matters is that our employees feel they’re working with leaders who care, who have their best interests at heart, and who have a clear vision for how we can serve our members and communities. That comes directly from my time as a Naval Flight Officer. On a crew with people from all walks of life, you learn quickly that leadership isn’t about giving orders. It’s about communication, trust, and shared purpose. You explain the mission, you invite input, you listen. When people understand why we’re doing something and feel part of the process, they’re far more engaged and committed.
You’ve led a variety of large financial organizations. What makes a credit union different from a bank?
What makes credit unions different is their purpose. A credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. We exist to serve our members, not shareholders.
Credit unions began in the 1930s, when many people felt overlooked by traditional banks. Groups of employees and community members pooled their money to help one another, lending to coworkers, neighbors, and small businesses. That spirit still defines us today.
In a publicly traded bank, the board’s fiduciary responsibility is to shareholders. Of course, banks care about their customers and communities, but their primary duty is to deliver shareholder value. At a credit union like Citadel, our responsibility is to our members, the people who trust us with their money.
That perspective shapes every decision we make: the products we offer, how we serve, and how we give back. For example, through programs like our Home Help grants and small-business lending, we reinvest profits back into our members’ goals. We still must be financially sound and well-run, but our measure of success is how well we help our members and communities thrive.
What drives you in your leadership of Citadel?
What drives me is helping others find the same opportunities I’ve been fortunate to have. I don’t think of myself as particularly gifted or special. What’s helped me succeed is my ability to connect with people and bring them together. I want to create an environment where others can do the same, where they feel empowered to take chances and build fulfilling careers.
When we help our employees grow professionally, that confidence and purpose often carry over into their personal lives, and that ripple effect is meaningful to me.
When it comes to our members, my deeper purpose is helping people achieve financial well-being. To me, that’s not about wealth or status. It’s about peace of mind. It’s the ability to sleep at night knowing you’re on solid financial footing, that you’re making informed decisions for your family and your future. Not everyone has access to the same financial knowledge or resources. That’s where Citadel can make a difference, by filling those gaps, educating, and empowering people to feel in control of their finances.
That same mindset extends to how we support our communities. One of the programs I’m most proud of is the Citadel Heart of Learning Award, which recognizes teachers who make an extraordinary impact on students’ lives. Teachers shape futures, often without much recognition or financial reward, so honoring their work feels deeply aligned with our mission. The awards we give may not change a school’s budget, but they can fund that next project or help one teacher make a difference for 30 kids in their classroom.
Beyond education, we focus on areas like food security, housing, and financial literacy — the essentials that help people live stable, dignified lives. We can’t solve every issue, but we can partner with others to help move the needle.
Citadel’s tagline, “Building Strength Together,” reflects its commitment to investing in members and communities. What does this actually look like day to day?
When we talk about “Building Strength Together,” it’s more than a tagline; it’s our mission and how we measure success. I think of it as a lattice, an interconnected network of programs, partnerships, and volunteer efforts that reinforce one another. It’s not one single initiative; it’s the combined effect of many people and organizations working together to create a stronger safety net for our members and our communities.
Because we’re a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, our business model lets us reinvest directly in our members. That means consistently offering higher rates on savings and deposits and lower rates on loans compared to traditional banks. The difference is that instead of profits going to shareholders, the value goes right back to our members.
We also invest heavily in digital tools and products that make banking simpler and more rewarding, things like higher cash-back cards, better digital experiences, and financial education resources. And through our wealth management division, we help people make informed, long-term decisions about their money, whether they’re rolling over a 401(k), starting an IRA, or planning for retirement.
At the end of the day, “Building Strength Together” means making life a little easier for our members and stronger for our communities, one financial decision at a time.
Citadel is expanding its presence into Philadelphia with new branches and initiatives. What is the goal with this growth?
As we expand into Philadelphia with our first branch location in Overbrook Park, our focus isn’t on creating programs just for the sake of visibility. We want to partner with the best local nonprofits and community organizations, bringing our time, talent, and resources to support the great work that’s already making an impact.
Our goal is simple: educate and empower people. That’s why we formalized our philanthropy group over the past year: to make our efforts more intentional and effective. As we grow, we aim to uplift the programs and people already doing great work. We’ve already committed more than $6 million in community lending and housing-access programs, and that work will continue citywide.
Citadel recently became an authorized Small Business Administration lender and expanded its commercial banking services. How does supporting small businesses fit into your vision for community development and economic equity?
Becoming an SBA lender to small businesses helps not just one business, but an entire community. We aim to empower small business owners, and we support them in every way, including educating them on operations and how to handle payroll and other aspects of running a successful business. We are helping bridge gaps in access to credit, financial literacy, and overall financial wellness for individuals and businesses.
Who in your personal life inspires you to be the leader you are today?
My kids inspire me every day. My son has a real passion for running, a test of will and perseverance that he didn’t get from me. And my daughter has been an incredible dancer since she was little — so fluid and creative. Watching them dedicate themselves to their passions is both humbling and inspiring.
What do you do with a few hours of free time?
My free time is sacred, and I spend it with my wife at our kids’ events whenever I can. Vacations are also important for us as a family, a chance to get away and reconnect. Skiing in the mountains is my favorite getaway because it’s family time. [It’s] a chance to disconnect from everything else. Those chairlift rides are some of my favorite moments to talk with the kids or just enjoy the view.
I even use the idea in business: When I’m looking for people to join our team, I think about the kind of person I’d enjoy being stuck on a chairlift with for 30 minutes. If we can connect there, they’re probably the kind of person who’ll thrive on our team.
PHILLY QUICK ROUND
What’s your favorite Philly food splurge? My wife and I love a special dinner at Giuseppe & Sons. Sunday gravy is a must!
Favorite small business in Philly? Salty Paws Philly on South Street.
What’s the biggest misconception non-locals have about Philly? We have a reputation for being tough, but once you crack through the exterior, we’re really soft and gooey on the inside.
What sports jersey do you wear most often? It just so happens that I got number 11, A.J. Brown [of the Eagles], because I can wear my last name!
Who is the greatest Philadelphian in history? Nancy Johnson. She invented the hand-cranked ice cream machine in the 1850s. And really, who doesn’t love ice cream?
I feel most like a Philadelphian when … I am packed in on the train, down in South Philly, with everyone else who’s coming back from a sporting event.
HONG KONG – Hong Kong authorities said on Monday they had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a probe into the city’s deadliest fire in decades, pointing to substandard renovation materials for fueling a blaze that has claimed at least 151 lives. Police continued to sweep the seven burnt-out towers engulfed in Wednesday’s disaster at the Wang Fuk Court estate, finding bodies of residents in stairwells and on rooftops, trapped as they tried to flee the flames.
More than 40 people are still missing.
“Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore we might not be able to locate all missing individuals,” police official Tsang Shuk-yin told reporters, choking up with emotion.
Tests on several samples of a green mesh that was wrapped around bamboo scaffolding on the buildings at the time of the blaze did not match fire retardant standards, officials overseeing the investigations told a news conference.
Contractors working on the renovations used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors, said Chief Secretary Eric Chan.
Foam insulation used by contractors also fanned the flames and fire alarms at the complex were not working properly, officials have said.
Thousands have turned out to pay tribute to the victims, who include at least nine domestic helpers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines, with lines of mourners stretching more than a kilometer (a half-mile) along a canal next to the estate.
Vigils are also due to take place this week in Tokyo, London and Taipei, authorities said.
Amid pockets of public anger over missed fire risk warnings, Beijing has warned it would crack down on any “anti-China” protests.
At least one person involved in a petition calling for an independent probe and a review of construction oversight among other demands was detained for around two days, sources familiar with the matter said.
Police have declined to comment on the case.
Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang also declined to comment on specific operations at a press conference on Monday.
“I’ve noticed that some people with malicious intent, aiming to harm Hong Kong and national security, have taken advantage of this painful moment for society,” he said.
“Therefore, we must take appropriate action, including enforcement measures.”
The buildings being scoured for remains are the worst damaged and the search may take weeks, authorities have said.
Images shared by police showed officers clad in hazmat suits, face masks and helmets, inspecting rooms with blackened walls and furniture reduced to ashes, and wading through water used to douse fires that raged for days.
Throngs of officers arrived at the site early on Monday morning to continue their search of the burnt-out buildings.
Members of the Disaster Victim Identification Unit work in an apartment in the aftermath of a deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in Hong Kong.
The apartment blocks were home to more than 4,000 people, according to census data, and those that escaped must now try to get their lives back on track.
More than 1,100 people have been moved out of evacuation centers into temporary housing, with a further 680 put up in youth hostels and hotels, authorities said.
With many residents leaving behind belongings as they fled, authorities have offered emergency funds of HK$10,000 ($1,284) to each household and provided special assistance for issuing new identity cards, passports and marriage certificates.
Deadliest blaze since 1948
Residents of Wang Fuk Court were told by authorities last year they faced “relatively low fire risks” after complaining about fire hazards posed by the renovations, the city’s Labour Department said.
The residents raised concerns in September, 2024, including about the potential flammability of the mesh contractors used to cover the scaffolding, a department spokesperson said.
Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, has stunned the city, where legislative elections are due to be held this weekend.
Flowers are placed near the site of the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong.
On Saturday, police detained Miles Kwan, 24, part of a group that launched a petition demanding an independent probe into possible corruption and a review of construction oversight, two people familiar with the matter said. Reuters could not establish whether he had been arrested.
Kwan left a police station in a taxi on Monday afternoon, according to a Reuters witness.
Two others have also since been arrested on suspicion of seditious intent, the South China Morning Post said. The police declined to comment on those reported arrests.
China’s national security office warned individuals on Saturday against using the disaster to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of 2019, when massive pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and triggered a political crisis.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’,” the office said in a statement. “No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished.”
The biggest question of Christmas isn’t whether Santa Claus exists. It’s whether to display a real or a fake Christmas tree.
Though many households in the United States have switched to artificial ones, for the purists who splurge each year on the real thing, it’s time to start shopping.
The Philadelphia region offers a number of farms where you can cut down your own tree or find a wide selection of pre-cut varieties — including delivery.
We’ve found farms across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, all within about an hour of Center City. And we’ve included a couple of options where you can buy a fresh-cut tree right in Philadelphia, too. Here’s where to get a real Christmas tree in the region.
Rocky Yo-Mo of South Philadelphia, owner of Rocky YoMo’s Christmas Trees, takes a photo with Britni Volkman of South Philadelphia, with the tree she purchased in 2019.
Looking for fresh-cut Frasier firs in Philly? Check out Rocky YoMo’s selection in South Philly at Front Street and Washington Avenue. Payments are done in cash. If you don’t have a car, you can still pick a tree and get it delivered to your home for free.
While most people buy their Christmas trees from nearby farms, this pop-up tree seller sources them from the places they’re native to. For instance, Trev’s Trees gets its Douglas firs from places like Oregon and Pennsylvania, its Fraser firs from North Carolina, and its balsams from near Lake Erie. This means you get high-quality pre-cut trees with ease. Typical sizes cost around $120 or less, but Trev’s also offers trees reaching 13- or 14-feet tall for up to $350.
The Christmas Tree Stand is a family business known for its delivery and setup services. They specialize in premium Fraser and Douglas firs, from cozy 3-foot apartment-friendly options to grand 15-foot showstoppers. Visit the Fishtown or West Chester locations to select your perfect tree, or schedule a Christmas tree delivery on the website. Next-day delivery options are available in most areas for orders placed by 4 p.m.
💵 $75 and up,📍Fishtown: 1727 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122 or 📍West Chester: 62 E. Street Rd., West Chester, Pa. 19382, ⌚ West Chester: Mon.-Fri., 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m., or ⌚ Fishtown: Mon.-Fri., 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., noon-8 p.m. 🌐 thechristmastreestand.com
This Yardley farm offers a dozen varieties of trees. Swing by any day of the week, before 4:30 p.m., to choose your own tree for staff to cut, or select a pre-cut option. And if you need delivery, call to schedule. The farm makes fresh wreaths daily, too.
This Buckingham farm is entering its 62nd holiday season with a wide variety of trees. Visit the farm to pick a pre-cut tree or balled and burlapped tree and claim a free holiday mug while supplies last. Cut your own blue spruce, Fraser fir, white pine, or Norway spruce on the first two weekends of the season. There is also a holiday shop.
An hour west of Philadelphia is Clark’s Christmas Tree Farm, a 25-acre family business offering Douglas, Canaan, and Fraser firs, pre-cut or take a wagon out to cut one yourself. Prices are based on the tree height. Once there, you can check out the 3,000-square-foot gift shop, with more than 100,000 items including decorative ornaments like bearded dragons, horseshoe crabs, and dinosaurs.
Hop onto a wagon to the cut-your-own (saws provided) tree section of this 200-acre Chester County farm, which is open Friday through Sunday. Choose from a variety of firs, like Douglas, Frazier, and Canaan, as well as blue spruce and Norway spruce. Wreaths, decorations, and other items are available at the gift shop. Tree bailing and help loading your vehicle also offered, and pets on a leash welcome.
Take a tour across 55 acres, pick your favorite pre-cut or cut-your-own tree, and warm up with free hot cocoa. At any given time, at least four varieties of trees are for sale, as well as a selection of wreaths.
This family-owned business has two locations to cut your own tree plus a pre-cut tree lot. The West Chester farm offers Douglas firs averaging 7-feet tall, and the Cochranville location has trees up to 10-feet tall. The pre-cut lot in West Chester has Douglas and Fraser firs up to 12 feet available daily (Pre-cut lot: Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.) at 1301 West Chester Pike.
Cut your own Fraser, Douglas, Nordmann, concolor, or Canaan fir, or pick out a fresh-cut Douglas or Fraser fir at this Phoenixville farm. For folks looking for family-friendly activities, hayrides run every weekend 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Santa visits between noon to 3 p.m. on select weekends. Plus, enjoy a drive ($25-$30 per vehicle) or hayride ($15 per person) through the holiday light show a mile long across the 60-acre Christmas tree farm. There are so many lights that the owners lost count at well over 100,000.
Linvilla returns with free family hayrides to the Christmas tree fields, where you can cut your own trees daily (Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.). Most trees are Douglas firs ranging from 5- to 8-feet tall. Offering more varieties, Linvilla’s pre-cuts are also available daily with extended hours on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. Be sure to stop by Linvilla’s Farm Market, where you’ll find baked goods, gift baskets, and more. Make it an all-day adventure by visiting the winter makers market (Fri.-Sun., through Dec. 21) and the ice-skating rink ($13 per person). Santa will also make appearances.
Corkum Tree Farm has delighted patrons for more than 30 years. Enjoy hot cider as you take your pick of cut-your-own Douglas fir, white pine, and blue and Norway spruce trees. There are four varieties of pre-cut fir trees to select from. Inside the barn, you’ll find fresh wreaths and holly and hand-knit hats, scarves, and mittens, and fair-trade ornaments. A second farm location offers choose-and-cut trees up to 14-feet tall.
💵 $13 per foot, $60-$200 for balled and burlapped trees,📍Main farm: 797 Bridge Rd., Collegeville, Pa. 19426, or 📍 Second farm: 3934 Mill Rd., Collegeville, Pa. 19426 ⌚ Main farm: Mon.-Tues., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wed.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., or ⌚ Second farm: Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 📞 610-715-4640, 🌐 corkumtreefarm.com
About 30 miles from Center City, Hague’s offers cut-your-own Nordmann fir, Scotch pine, white pine, Eastern red cedar, white spruce, or blue spruce trees, and a variety of pre-cut trees. (Cut-your-own ends before 4:30 p.m. each day.) Be sure to shop the award-winning handmade wreaths and check out wreath-making and tree-decorating classes in the heated barn.
A fourth-generation, 160-acre farm, Westlake offers pre-cut and cut-your-own Canaan or concolor firs. Afterward, check out the Christmas Barn, where families can enjoy a complimentary visit with Santa (through Dec. 7), watch trains, and browse an assortment of ornaments and gifts.
You’d have to walk 13 miles to see every tree in this farm’s 16-acre field in Gloucester County. Cut your own with a provided saw or bring your own. All trees on the farm are available for purchase — all priced at $60 no matter the size. The farm strongly recommends that you arrive before 4 p.m.
Offering pre-cut and cut-your-own trees, Exley’s welcomes families to two locations for Christmas trees and holiday activities. On weekends at the Sewell farm, you can hop on a hayride to Santa Land and see holiday-themed houses. The Monroeville farm has a gingerbread house and other holiday attractions perfect for photo opportunities. Both farms feature visits with Santa on weekends.
💵 Depends on the size,📍 1535 Tanyard Rd., Sewell, N.J. 08080 or📍1512 Monroeville Rd., Monroeville, N.J. 08343, ⌚ Tues.-Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for pre-cut; Fri.-Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for cut-your-own, 📞 856-468-5949, 🌐 exleyschristmastreefarms.com
Pick a tree and enjoy a sleigh ride along a decorated path toward the Christmas trees at this small, family-owned farm in Gloucester County. Blue and Norway spruces and concolor and Canaan firs are available to cut yourself or get a pre-cut, with no tree more than 9 feet. Cash and Venmo only.
💵 $80 and under,📍 101 Idle Lake Rd., Franklinville, N.J. 08322, ⌚ Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 📞 609-685-6234, 🌐 facebook.com
This article has been updated since it was first published. Former staff writers Grace Dickinson and Jillian Wilson contributed to this article, as did Steven White.
PopUp Bagels, the viral bagel chain that is on its way to the Philadelphia area, will preview its arrival with a one-day pop-up event Sunday at Di Bruno Bros.’ flagship store near Rittenhouse Square.
PopUp will take over Di Bruno’s second floor from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering an early taste of its “grip, rip, and dip” bagels — and a limited-edition collaborative schmear — while raising money for charity.
PopUp’s location in Suburban Square in Ardmore, across from Shake Shack, is due to open in early 2026.
Bagels will be available by preorder only, with sales launching Monday on popupbagels.com. Franchisee Brian Harrington said 300 dozen bagels would be available at Di Bruno’s, 1730 Chestnut St.
Harrington said that for one of his new stores in Boston earlier this year, PopUp tied a preview to the Boston Marathon. “We put them online for preorder and they sold out in 16 minutes,” Harrington said. As people arrived for their bagels (six for $24), they were feted with music and PopUp swag to stimulate buzz.
PopUp, conceived in a Connecticut backyard in 2021, does not make sandwiches or even offer sliced bagels — rather, the bagels are sold hot and whole with cups of cream cheese “schmears” or butter for dipping.
In Philadelphia, customers will be able to preorder a six-pack of mixed bagels — plain and everything flavors — along with classic plain and scallion schmears. The highlight will be a third schmear: a limited-time-only collaboration blending Di Bruno’s Abruzzi cheese spread with PopUp’s classic cream cheese.
Proceeds from the day will benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation.
After Ardmore, PopUp is planning for three locations in the Philadelphia market in 2026 and as many as seven or eight overall in the longer term.
PopUp Bagels was launched during the pandemic by Adam Goldberg, a bored flood-mitigation specialist who started baking sourdough bread at his home in Westport, Conn. He turned that into a bagel recipe, settling on a light, soft bagel, as opposed to the chewy New York style. The backyard project drew attention and led to pop-up shops in New York City.
Social media attention and investors quickly followed. Fans of the chain line up outside locations across Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts to film TikToks of them ripping apart bagels and dipping them into cream cheeses.
As 76ers public-address announcer Matt Cord rolled through Sunday’s starting lineup, an in-arena camera caught Joel Embiid jogging down the hallway that connects the locker room to the tunnel. He then met his huddled teammates, who bounced and threw their arms in the air while engulfing the former MVP.
Embiid was back — again — from a nine-game absence because of an issue in his right knee. He described his first half as successful and his second half as “a little rough,” while totaling 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists in a season-high 30 minutes in a double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Before training camp, Embiid said he was prepared to face unpredictable health flare-ups that would force personal restarts throughout the season. He stressed the need to navigate them methodically and with positivity.
So how would he evaluate his ability to put that mentality into practice?
“It was OK,” Embiid said at his locker after the game. “Obviously, like I said, it’s going to happen, so you can’t put your head down and whine about it. Keep working hard and trying to get back at it as close as possible.
“What can we do? The only thing you can do is keep doing the right things, focusing on the right things, and go from there.”
Sunday’s return meant the 10-9 Sixers’ max-contract players Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (44 points, nine assists, seven rebounds), and Paul George (16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, five steals) — plus third overall draft pick VJ Edgecombe (seven points, two assists, two steals) — played together for the first time. And though Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) and Trendon Watford (thigh) remain out, it was the closest the Sixers have gotten to a “normal” top of the rotation — at least in the first half, before minutes restrictions became a factor.
Joel Embiid passes to Tyrese Maxey, who led the Sixers with 44 points against the Hawks on Sunday.
That it took until Game 19 to achieve this was unfortunate for Embiid, who said he was “actually getting back to myself” just before reporting soreness in his right knee the morning of a Nov. 11 home game against the Boston Celtics.
His day-to-day status turned into nearly three weeks, including recent toggles between questionable to play and out. Embiid said Sunday that uncertainty was due to how his knee responded to on-court sessions.
He was initially ruled out for Sunday’s game on the NBA’s official injury report, before getting upgraded to questionable in the afternoon. He stepped onto the court for his pregame warmup about 45 minutes before tipoff, then was officially announced as in the starting lineup.
On the Sixers’ first possession, Embiid took his defender off the dribble to get to his spot for an elbow jumper. He hit a baseline fadeaway in the second period, then two more textbook mid-range shots. At halftime, he had 11 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting in 13 minutes.
Coach Nick Nurse said he was pleased with how Embiid created offense and open space for teammates in a variety of ways. He set pin-down screens, or began possessions in the corner while George and Dominick Barlow ran pick-and-rolls in the middle of the floor. He executed dribble handoffs with Quentin Grimes. And though he could lean on his exceptional two-man chemistry with Maxey when the game got tight down the stretch, Embiid reiterated his desire to contribute to the Sixers’ faster-paced, passer-friendly offense.
“I can make nine of those 10 shots [off the short roll] every single time,” Embiid said. “It’s easy to get there. But I think it’s also better when everybody else is involved and we play together.”
Added Maxey: “It’s different, because he’s still really good. We’ve still got to get him the ball. We’ve also got to run our stuff. … We haven’t really practiced with that group [with George and Edgecombe], so it’s kind of hard. But that’s no excuse. I think we did a good enough job to win the game.”
When Maxey’s heroic game-tying three-pointer forced overtime, Embiid said he “fought hard” to play in the extra frame. He missed both shot attempts during that stretch but helped Barlow protect the rim on a Jalen Johnson miss with 5.3 seconds to go.
Embiid then “wasn’t allowed” to stretch his minutes restriction further to play in the second overtime. It was an obvious absence because of the “simple” package of plays the Sixers can run through the big man even while he is limited physically. Nurse noted that smaller players attempted to set screens for Maxey, but they “couldn’t hardly get up there because of the physicality” of the Hawks.
“I still felt like there’s something I could have done,” Embiid said, “just being on the floor.”
Embiid said he will not judge his progress on his shot-making but by how he moves laterally and jumps. Though a hesitancy (or inability) to get airborne for rebounds was obvious, Embiid said Sunday’s effective first half was a “good step” on which to build.
And the need for another personal restart is no surprise to Embiid.
“If anybody thinks that I don’t want to play every game, that’s their problem,” he said. “But I think, this year, I’ve shown that I would do anything just to play one game of basketball. … You’ve just got to trust what you’re doing, and in God, and be OK with the fact that whatever happens, happens.
“If I have something [that] happened to me like it happened, what can I do? Just go out and rehab, and come back as soon as possible. That’s the mindset.”
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he’ll release the results of his MRI test that he received in October.
“If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” the Republican president said Sunday during an exchange with reporters as he traveled back to Washington from Florida.
He said the results of the MRI were “perfect.”
The White House has declined to detail why Trump had an MRI during his physical in October or on what part of his body.
The press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has said that the president received “advanced imaging” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center “as part of his routine physical examination” and that the results showed Trump remains in “exceptional physical health.”
Trump added Sunday that he has “no idea” on what part of his body he got the MRI.
“It was just an MRI,” he said. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) practices before the game at SoFi Stadium.
It hasn’t been a fun start to the holiday season for Eagles fans after watching their team lose back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears.
After two consecutive losses, the Eagles will prepare for a prime-time matchup at SoFi Stadium, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. The last time these teams met was during the 2021 season in a game the Eagles lost, 27-24, at home.
While the Birds are sliding, the Chargers have won four of their last five games. But their latest win over the Las Vegas Raiders saw quarterback Justin Herbert suffer a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand. Ahead of the teams’ Week 14 matchup, the sportsbooks are favoring Philly, who opens as a 3-point favorite.
Police confirm Kevin Patullo’s home was egged over weekend
A viral video making the rounds on social media Monday appears to show Kevin Patullo’s home being vandalized. And according to the Moorestown Police Department, Patullo’s house was indeed targeted over the weekend, but the vandals weren’t throwing rocks — they were eggs.
According to police, Patullo’s Moorestown, N.J., home was vandalized with multiple eggs at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday morning, hours after the Eagles lost, 24-15, to the Chicago Bears on Black Friday.
Detectives are still working to determine the identities of those involved in the incident, a police spokesperson said.
Patullo, the first-year Eagles offensive coordinator, has shouldered the brunt of the blame for the Eagles’ struggles on offense. A website calling for his firing surfaced. Fans chanted for him to be fired during the game Friday.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reiterated Monday what he said after the game Friday: Patullo will remain the play-caller as the Eagles prepare for their Week 14 game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.
Nick Sirianni reiterates Kevin Patullo will call plays
Nick Sirianni said Monday that the Eagles spent the weekend — and are still — “evaluating everything,” but he reiterated what he said after Friday’s game: Kevin Patullo remains the play caller.
The Eagles, Sirianni said, are working through “different things that we want to do” but declined to share any particulars.
“We’re working through everything,” Sirianni said. “I have a lot of faith in all the players. I have a lot of faith in all the coaches.”
Chargers rookie RB Omarion Hampton could return against the Eagles
Chargers running back Omarion Hampton has missed the past seven games with an ankle injury.
After opening his 21-day practice window last week, it appears likely Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will make his return to the field against the Eagles Monday night.
CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz wrote “there’s optimism” the rookie could return to action this week after missing the past seven games with a broken ankle.
“Gosh, he looked good,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said of Hampton’s return to practice last week.
Without Hampton in the lineup, the Chargers have relied on the one-two punch of running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson. It worked out well Sunday, with the two combining for 180 yards rushing in a blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hampton, a standout at North Carolina taken with the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, quickly became a key part of the Chargers offense, both rushing and receiving out of the backfield. He slid into the starting role after Najee Harris’ season-ending Achilles rupture against the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
If he returns, Hampton will likely find some open running lanes against the Eagles. The Birds defense is allowing 128.9 rushing yards per game, ninth-worst in the NFL, and just gave up 281 yards rushing to the Chicago Bears.
Former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles has been weighing in on the team’s offensive struggles.
Nick Foles sees everyone’s frustrations with the Eagles offense, but he’s not ready to pull the plug on Kevin Patullo just for the sake of making a change.
Foles doesn’t believe Sirianni wants to call plays himself, and the solution to the Birds’ offensive woes in the long-term might be outside the building.
So, in the short-term, Foles pitched a few potential solutions, including moving Patullo up from the sideline back into the box, where he’s sat since joining the Eagles in 2021.
“Being a pass game coordinator, [Patullo’s] role was to be in the box, to be in the booth, to oversee what is happening on the field from an up-above perspective, not being on the sidelines with the players and feeling the emotions from the sideline,” Foles said on the most-recent episode of The SZN podcast he co-hosts with Evan Moore. “He was in a controlled environment to see coverages, to see plays, and to make recommendations for the passing game.”
Being on the sideline surrounded by the players provides a different perspective than being up in the box, which is also where Vic Fangio calls plays from. It’s a less distracting environment, and it can be easier to make adjustments as the drive develops instead of waiting to watch tape on delay.
“Kevin Patullo is probably a great dude, a great coach, but there’s an art to play-calling that not everyone has and it’s not showing up this year,” Foles said.
Vikings waive WR Adam Thielen, wants to join a contender
The Vikings are waiving WR Adam Thielen, who approached the team about moving on last week. The team granted the request out of respect for Thielen and will allow him to finish out his final NFL season elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/iSea83ELiK
FOX NFL analyst Greg Olsen agreed with Nick Sirianni’s two-point attempt.
You never start an argument with an analytics zealot because you will always lose. They have data and numbers and history. They generally ignore intangibles such as momentum, atmosphere, competition, site, and psyche.
This matters this week because of the meaningless yet fiery debate, fueled by superb (if somewhat self-anointing) NFL analyst Greg Olsen, surrounding the Eagles’ decision to try a two-point conversion with more than three minutes to play, trailing by nine, to make it a seven-point game. It failed. That meant the Eagles needed two more possessions to win, which was unlikely considering the limited time remaining. It made more common sense to kick the PAT and make it an eight-point game.
Nick Sirianni said, “I’m always going to go for a two in that scenario,” citing his personal research on the matter over several years. Sirianni is winning at a legendary clip, so maybe his studies show something publicly available analytics do not. Those analytics give a slight edge to doing what Sirianni did.
But what Sirianni did virtually assured the loss. By doing so, it removed any real incentive from the defense, which had already been on the field 14 minutes more than the offense. The most realistically hopeful scenario after the missed two-point try was for the defense to hold, for the Eagles to score a TD, then for the Eagles to recover an onside kick, which happens at only about a 5% rate the past two seasons.
The 2 pt conversation is this
Philly trailed by 15
That’s a 2 score game slightly less than 50% of time (2pt success rate)
It’s a 3 score game the remaining %
You want to know as early as possible how many possessions you need.
Seth Joyner does not hold back, calling out Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown:
"A lot of people are going to be pissed at me, and he might even be pissed at me, but in a lot of ways he's a typical wide receiver—21st century wide receiver diva and he's selfish…The Eagles lost… pic.twitter.com/MT70Ni6RWi
The Eagles’ path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC is difficult
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have a difficult path to claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
There’s a new king in the NFC, and it’s the team that strolled into Lincoln Financial Field on Black Friday, ran all over the Eagles, and silenced the critics — this writer included — that said its 8-3 record was fugazi.
Yes, if the season ended today, all roads would lead to the shirtless final boss, Ben Johnson, and his 9-3 Chicago Bears. And if that pole positioning holds, they’ll have earned it. Chicago’s final five games look like this: at Green Bay, home vs. Cleveland, home vs. Green Bay, at San Francisco, home vs. Detroit.
In other words, the Bears are holding onto that top seed in a similar way Jalen Hurts held onto the football during that fourth-quarter Tush Push on Friday.
There are six teams in the NFC now with eight or nine wins, and the Eagles — despite the sky falling on Philadelphia and Nick Sirianni fairly being asked about his offensive coordinator’s job status — are one of them.
Only two teams have an easier schedule the rest of the way than the Eagles do, and neither team is in the aforementioned group.
There’s a lot going on there. How likely is the No. 1 seed for the Eagles? FTN Fantasy puts the chances at 3.3%. Not great. But not quite the one-in-a-million odds Christmas faced in Dumb and Dumber.
In fact, considering FTN puts the Eagles’ playoff chances at 93.3%, there’s a better mathematical chance this collapse ends with the Eagles blowing the NFC East and missing the playoffs than the Eagles securing the No. 1 seed.
Kurt Warner finds a problem, and it isn’t Jalen Hurts
Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo during Friday’s loss to the Bears.
NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner took a deep dive on the Eagles’ offense following their Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, and came away noticing a big issue in the team’s approach on offense.
To illustrate his point, Warner spent 15 minutes on his QB Confidential YouTube channel examining a single offensive play from the second quarter, a failed third down pass to what appeared to be a wide open DeVonta Smith.
From Warner’s perspective, what at first appeared to be a misfire by Jalen Hurts looks more like a failure to plan for defensive pressure. Specifically, the decision for Smith to run a “choice route” that led to a bad throw because he didn’t appear to be on the same page as Hurts facing a Bears’ blitz.
“To me, this is a losing play scheme-wise because you didn’t define what you wanted to do,” Warner said. “You left too much indecision and too much guessing in a critical situation, and it’s something that cost you.”
So why did Warner do a deep dive of the play? It appears to be in reaction to several pundits, including Brian Baldinger, blaming Hurts for making an errant throw on the play.
“Jalen went to exactly the right place and really the only place he can go” in their offense, Warner wrote on social media.
Please don’t… Jalen went to exactly the right place and really the only place he can go in their O vs B0… they just miscommunicated on the route, but JH did everything else right! https://t.co/Mjv0eLs5o9
This is obviously just one play, but speaks to a larger issue my colleague Jeff McLane has written about — a failure along multiple fronts that has led to the Eagles offense dropping from an elite squad to the league’s ninth-worst, averaging just a few more yards per game more than New Orleans Saints.
“If you want to know why the passing route design sometimes looks rudimentary, look at Sirianni, Patullo and their nondescript scheme,” McLane wrote following Friday’s loss. “But don’t forget the quarterback. There are swaths of the playbook that aren’t touched because Hurts isn’t comfortable with certain concepts.”
Running back Saquon Barkley was nursing an injured groin he suffered back in Week 8 against the New York Giants. The injury didn’t prevent him from starting against the Bears and isn’t expected to sideline him against the Chargers.
Defensive end Brandon Graham was also dealing with a groin injury. He played last week, but was only on the field for six plays.
Safety Andrew Mukuba was placed on injured reserve last week after breaking his leg during the loss against the Dallas Cowboys. His season could be over.
An Eagles fan yawns during Friday’s loss to the Bears.
The Chicago Bears?
Thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ upset win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, the Bears suddenly hold the NFC’s top playoff spot with five games remaining in the season.
The Eagles remain in the No. 3 spot, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still hold the No. 4 spot and first place in the NFC South thanks to their win against the Arizona Cardinals, which officially eliminated Jonathan Gannon’s squad from the playoffs.
The New Orleans Saints were also eliminated from playoff contention Sunday. Despite their loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday night, the Washington Commanders remain mathematically alive, at least for another week. Though their only path is sweeping the Eagles and winning the NFC East with an 8-9 record.
NFC playoff standings
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As for the NFC East, the situation is a lot tighter for the Eagles than it was just two weeks ago.
The Birds will enter Week 14 just one game up on the Dallas Cowboys in the loss column facing a feisty Los Angeles Chargers team that has won four of their last five games.
That being said, the Eagles still remain in control of the division. Their magic number — a combination of Birds wins and Cowboys losses — is four, and the overall record of their opponents down the stretch is 24-34, including two games against the 3-8 Commanders.
NFC East standings
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Dave Caldwell worked for the Eagles for parts of five seasons after being fired by the Jaguars in November 2020.
A member of the Eagles’ front office staff will be joining a college football program.
Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the general manager Dave Caldwell will become the University of Florida’s college football general manager, per multiple reports. On3.com first reported the news.
Caldwell will join the staff of Jon Sumrall, the Tulane coach that multiple outlets reported is finalizing a deal to take over the Gators program.
Caldwell joined the Eagles in 2021 after an eight-year stint as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent time with the Atlanta Falcons (2008-12), Indianapolis Colts (1998-07) and the Carolina Panthers (1996-97) prior to to his Jaguars tenure.
With name, image and likeness realities and the transfer portal taking over college athletics, Power Four programs have increasingly sought dedicated general managers with the experience to handle the acquisition and compensation details of players.
Justin Herbert may be forced to miss Eagles-Chargers
Justin Herbert broke his non-throwing hand Sunday and will undergo surgery.
The Eagles will face the Chargers in a pivotal Week 14 matchup Monday, but Los Angeles may be without their star quarterback.
Justin Herbert suffered a broken left hand during Sunday’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Herbert is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday and might night be able to play the Birds on Monday Night Football.
Herbert was a bit more optimistic about his chances of being on the field.
“I’m treating it as if I’m playing on Monday,” Herbert told reporters.
Herbert suffered the broken left hand in the first quarter, but missed just a handful of plays before returning to the field. He got a lot of support from running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson, who combined for 180 yards rushing Sunday.
That’s not promising for the Eagles, who just gave up 281 yards rushing to the Chicago Bears.
If Herbert isn’t able to play, Trey Lance would get the start for the Chargers.
Despite broader economic challenges and a few restaurant vacancies, new and old Chestnut Hill businesses have found success. On this Cyber Monday, consider how the neighborhood’s main street is staying relevant in the Amazon era.
And U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle has been central in shaping Democratic messaging around Republican policies. Follow the Northeast Philadelphia lawmaker for a day in this look at his growing profile in Washington.
As consumer habits skew digital, Chestnut Hill’s main commercial corridor has stayed busy with foot traffic.
🛍️ Business owners and retail advocates say Germantown Avenue’s diverse mix of shops — from a century-old hardware store to an all-day coffee and cocktail bar newcomer — is what continues to draw customers to the downtown area.
🍺 While some of the neighborhood’s biggest restaurants have closed recently, including the regional chain Iron Hill Brewery, patrons still visit because they expect they’ll be able to find something unique to eat, drink, or buy, experts told The Inquirer.
🎄 “When you come to Chestnut Hill over the holidays, you get what you came for,” one Germantown Avenue shop owner said. “You get that charming feeling of being somewhere special for the holiday.”
🎤 I’m passing the mic to politics reporter Julia Terruso.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a six-term lawmaker, is the most veteran of Pennsylvania’s eight Democrats in Washington. He has been the ranking member of the House Budget Committee since 2023, meaning he is the top Democrat playing defense as the Republican-controlled Congress ushers through GOP spending priorities. It can be a futile exercise in shouting into a void — until the yelling starts to echo outside.
Increasingly, Boyle, known as the Democrats’ “budget guy,” has been the man behind the messaging against President Donald Trump’s reconciliation bill and the shutdown fight over healthcare.
If Democrats reclaim Congress in next year’s election, Boyle would shift from ranking member to chair of the powerful Budget Committee, becoming the first Pennsylvanian to lead it since 1989.
It would be another resumé builder for the 48-year-old lawmaker whose role in Washington keeps growing and who has not ruled out a potential Senate run in 2028, when Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s seat would be up. — Julia Terruso
A 25-year-old man died on Saturday at the federal prison at Fort Dix in New Jersey, prompting prison officials to notify the FBI, officials said.
State police are investigating a Sunday shooting on I-95 that left one person wounded, and partially shut down traffic for hours.
The Philadelphia Police Department is forming an unarmed “auxiliary” unit that could launch in 2026, adding to its ranks volunteer members to assist officers at public gatherings.
A former Fox executive is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a petition seeking to terminate the license of the network’s Philly-area affiliate, Fox29.
King of Prussia District is getting new funding to advance a trail project planned for Montgomery County, currently called the “Gulph Road Connector.”
In Chester County, inmates are getting workforce training and jobs to match post-release. Nearly two years in, officials say it’s been a success.
FIFA’s World Cup draw is happening this week. The event should help determine which international sides will play in Philadelphia this summer.
Cheers to Maryn Gemgnani, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Robert A.M. Stern. The renowned architect whose designs included the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution, has died at 86.
And shout-out to Brad Baer, who shared this connection: “Bob was my dean in architecture school at Yale. In a full-circle moment, I was in his Comcast Center, watching the Comcast Holiday Spectacular with my wife and sons, when I learned of his passing.”
Photo of the day
Zhaomin Li records Weili Jia as she throws leaves in the air along Walnut Street at Washington Square. The couple was visiting from Carmel, Indiana.
📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story
Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.
This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Megan McCusker, who describes finding a reminder of home, 100 miles away:
Branching out of my comfort zone to attend Columbia University in New York City but with roots firmly planted in Philadelphia led to an internal struggle between living the life of glamour and grind in the city that never sleeps and affecting a more laid-back, casual style. While my mind told me, “Keep up! Keep hustling!” my heart said “Just be who you are — the big-city, small-town girl from next door.”
That internal war started to fade the night the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. I had a friend who had already graduated from Columbia and was living downtown. He invited me and my friends to a place called Wogies, a sports bar that he claimed was for Philly transplants living in New York. I almost didn’t believe him that such a place existed, but since “Wogies” rhymed with “hoagies,” I thought maybe it could be true.
I arrived at Wogies to find a sea of red baseball caps and jerseys, only Phillies fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the center of a TV-lined bar, all eyes glued to the screens. Feeling the buzz after a beer, I felt like I had found my people and my place in a city that constantly reminds you of your anonymity.
About an hour into the game, into the bar walked a guy donning a Yankees hat flanked by two Phillies fans — his “friends.” As if the crowd could feel the presence of an intruder, the entire bar turned to see their foe, and without skipping a beat, began chanting in unison, “Boo! Boo! Get out of our house!” Nowhere in New York has a Yankees fan felt so unwelcome. The poor guy left!
It’s that kind of fan dedication and commitment that can only be inspired by being from Philadelphia. In that moment in a corner bar in the West Village, I realized my true identity without having to be physically present in Philadelphia. From then on, I had the courage to be unapologetically “from Philly” in a city where New Yorkers think talking about “the city” always and exclusively means “New York City.”
Thanks for starting your week — and month — with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.
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