Mount Airy resident Anndee Hochman is smelling the Friday-night challah again after living for years without her sense of smell.

Back in 2012, Newsworks/WHYY joined Hochman at Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market to better understand what it's like to live with anosmia--the medical term for an inability to perceive odor.

Last year, a specialist recommended a new treatment, and Hochman is smelling again. She says, everything is different.

Hochman is a foodie and most recently noticed a change while pickling lemons at home. After mashing up thinly sliced lemons with red chili pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika and some olive oil, she covered the mixture and set it aside.

"I kept coming in the kitchen to lift the cover off the bowl to smell it, just because I could," Hochman said. "It smelled the way I might imagine a middle-Eastern fruit market might smell."

Smell loss can be caused by head trauma, upper respiratory infection or aging.

Hochman first lost her sense of smell more than eight years ago after a series of bad colds.

When a viral infection causes anosmia, about two-thirds to three-fourths of patients recover, but that improvement can take several years, according to researchers at the Monell Chemical Sense Center. The chance for recovery is much lower for people who suffer head trauma.

Monell and researchers at Jefferson University Hospital are exploring basic science to help people with smell loss but right now treatment options are very limited.

"For the most part physicians say: "Wait and see what happens,'" said Monell Director Gary Beauchamp.

After a series of temporary fixes, in 2013 Hochman tried a ten-day course of steroid medication and uses a nightly nasal rinse—a mix of a saline and a small amount of asthma medication.

"Squirt it up one nostril it drips down the other, and then do it in reverse. It's a little revolting but I got used to it. It has succeeded, I've been able to smell since May," Hochman said.

This story is reported through a newsgathering partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org.

Crews are at the scene of a water main break in Wilmington, Delaware.

The main broke around 9 a.m. on Linden and S. Lincoln Streets. Due to the break, traffic north on S. Lincoln Street will divert east on Maple Street or west on Sycamore Street. Traffic east and west on Linden Street is closed from S. Union to S. Scott Street.

Officials say residents in the surrounding areas should expect low water pressure and a possible interruption in service.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

Click here for more news from the Delaware, South Jersey and Pennsylvania area.

Police are on the hunt for two men who they say tried to abduct a teen girl as she was walking to school.

Investigators say a 14-year-old girl was on her way to Eisenhower Middle School Friday morning in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

As the girl was walking along Harding Boulevard near Elmwood Park, police say two men in a white van began to follow her. One of the men then allegedly got out of the van and chased after her. The girl managed to run away and escape however.

“It’s frustrating and it’s aggravating,” said Diane Vandevere, the mother of two girls who attend Eisenhower. “It kind of makes me mad that there are sick people out here doing this stuff.”

Investigators say one suspect was wearing a tan or brown coat while the other was wearing a black winter cap, dark-colored jacket and sweat pants. Their vehicle is described as an older model white work van with a ladder rack and no side windows.

Police have increased their patrols in the neighborhood and are passing out flyers to local residents. They are also investigating whether the attempted abduction is connected to a similar case involving a white van in Northern Montgomery County about a month ago.

If you have any information on this incident, please call Norristown Police at 610-270-0977.
 

A young boy found a creative way to honor our nation’s heroes.

Mark Schlegel, 10, of Lower Makefield Township, says he saw a television commercial about wounded soldiers returning from battle. The commercial inspired him to help them in his own unique way.

The 5th grade student at Makefield Elementary School is now chopping wood on his family farm and then selling bundles of kindling for $5 in order to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

“They come home and they’re hurt,” Schlegel said. “I would just like to help them get a life when they’re wounded.”

Mark’s father, Chris Schlegel, says his son has raised over $700 so far and will likely have close to $1000 by the time he donates the money to the project during the spring.

“It absolutely blows me away,” his father said. “He’s a tremendous kid. I could not be prouder of him.”

Click here to learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project.
 

Investigators say a hiker found the skeletal remains of a retired University of Delaware professor who went missing a year and a half ago.

A hiker found human skeletal remains in a heavily wooded area behind Fremont Road in Newark, Del. Friday around 4:30 p.m. The hiker alerted State Park Rangers who notified Newark Police.

Investigators used dental records to identify the remains as 64-year-old John Dohms, a University of Delaware professor who was last seen more than 17 months ago.

On Sept. 13, 2012, Dohms went missing after leaving his home on East Cleveland Avenue in Newark, Del.

A search involving several police departments and rescue teams was conducted in the woodlands surrounding White Clay Creek State Park. But the retired professor, who suffered from dementia, was never found.

An exact cause of death has not yet been determined. Officials continue to investigate.

Police say they arrested the fifth suspect in a gun and drug seizure.

According to police, 20-year-old Horace Johnson, of Newark, turned himself in two days after speeding away from a Greenridge Road home where troopers were performing a search warrant. He was charged with weapon and drug crimes.

Shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, police stopped a speeding 2013 Dodge Avenger on Delaware Route 1 southbound. 

After determining the driver, Marques Purnell, 30, had a suspended license, police say troopers searched the vehicle and found a bag containing 454 grams of marijuana and a digital scale.

Purnell and the passenger, Jermaine Durrant, 28, a New York native, were both taken into custody.

(Pictured: Horace Johnson)

While approaching Purnell’s Newark residence hours later to execute a search warrant, troopers witnessed a Nissan Maxima fleeing the house at a high speed. Troopers tried to perform a traffic stop, but the speeding car pulled into a parking lot and the driver fled on foot. The driver was not caught, but police say they were able to identify him as Horace Johnson, a resident of the Newark home.

Occupants of the home refused to answer the door. Detectives made a forced entry and located Kevon Walters, 23, Amanda Haden, 20 and another female.

A search of the residence resulted in the recovery of about 11 pounds of marijuana, 1.4 grams of heroin, a sawed-off shotgun, cash, and drug paraphernalia, according to officials.

Purnell, Durrant, Walters, and Haden were arrested and charged with drug crimes. Police say Johnson turned himself into police on Friday.

Purnell and Durrant were released on unsecured bail. Johnson, Walters and Haden were committed to correctional institutions on secured bail.

Philadelphia Police are investigating the rape and robbery of a woman in the Roxborough section of the city.

A 32-year-old woman told police she was on the 400 block of Seville Street shortly before noon on Saturday when she was attacked and raped by an unidentified man.

The woman told police the man also stole her wallet and cell phone before fleeing the scene.
Police have not yet released a description of the suspect.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

Kutztown University says four football players have been suspended from the team, and two were jailed on aggravated assault and other charges in a fight at a Bloomsburg fraternity, that left two people injured, one critically.
 
Online court records don't list attorneys for 20-year-old players Angel Cruz, of Robesonia, and Justin Wieder, of Quakertown. Also suspended from the team but not criminally charged are 20-year-old Eric Condron, of Philadelphia, and 18-year-old Jake Wygant of Whitehall Township, Lehigh County.
 
Police and the university say the fight broke out when the players went to a closed fraternity party near the Bloomsburg University campus about 1 a.m. Feb. 23 and refused to leave.
 
Two 19-year-old Bloomsburg students, Donald Hoover, of Robesonia, and Jackie Lithgow of Carlisle, were hospitalized with Lithgow last reported in critical condition.

Counties all over the area are making preparations for full snow removal ahead of the major storm expected Sunday night and one county in particular has taken an extra step to ensure the safety of its most vulnerable populations.

The Camden County Freeholder Board is offering assistance to senior citizens and disabled residents who are unable to remove significant snow amounts from their properties, according to the county's website.

"The snow removal program is available to help seniors and disabled individuals get out of their homes for necessities such as prescriptions or medical appointments," said Freeholder Scot McCray, liaison to the Camden County Department of Corrections. "The program uses Camden County Jail inmates who are carefully screened, non-violent offenders who are guarded at all times on the job site by corrections officers."

The Senior and Disabled Snow Removal Program will go into effect only after four inches of snow have fallen in Camden County, according to the Camden County website.

The crews plan to respond to calls in the order they are received and service as many as possible.

At-risk senior and disabled residents are told to contact the Camden County Office of Emergency Management at (856) 783-4808 ext. 5060, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. after each snow storm.

The Camden County website states that calls for snow removal will only be taken after the snow has stopped. The crews will remove the snow once it has stopped falling and only during daylight hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In regards to the entire county’s preparation, they plan to bring in 70 pieces of equipment and are supplied with plenty of brine and calcium chloride to pretreat the roads.

"We are set in resources," said Dan Keashen, Communications Director for Camden County. "It’s going to be an ‘all hands on deck’ snow removal operation."

The county is asking residents to use good judgment Monday. They ask residents to stay off the roads if possible in order to make snow removal operations more effective, call utility companies as soon as power is lost and to check on neighbors.

A fire tore through a South Jersey apartment building Saturday afternoon.

The blaze broke out around 4:15 p.m. in the Bellmawr Manor Apartments on the 1000 block of West Kings Highway in Bellmawr, N.J., according to reports.

Smoke can be seen billowing from the roof of the eight-unit building.

Officials say flames made their way into the attic, which allowed the fire to spread quickly.

No injuries were reported.

A major winter storm is moving through our region. By the time it moves out Monday evening, the storm could drop up to a foot of snow in some parts of the area.

NBC10.com is constantly updating information, weather forecasts and has tools to help you stay informed during this storm. Here are some great resources:

WINTER STORM TO MOVE QUICKLY
A winter storm is moving into our area, starting out as rain before it changes to snow.

SNOW EMERGENCIES
List of snow emergencies throughout our region.

MARCH SNOW STORM: TIMELINE & EXPECTED TOTALS
A photo gallery breaking down what to expect Sunday and Monday.

SEND US YOUR SNOW PHOTOS AND VIDEOS USING THE HASHTAG #NBC10Snow
We want to see what conditions look like out your doors and windows. Post them to our Facebook page, tweet them or upload to Instagram using the hashtag #NBC10Snow.

DOWNLOAD THE NBC10 NEWS AND NBC10 FIRST ALERT WEATHER APPS
Watch live NBC10 News coverage of this storm, get the latest storm information and track conditions using live, interactive radar with our FREE apps.

SIGN UP FOR FREE NBC10 SCHOOL CLOSING ALERTS
Know when your school closes or delays with this free service.

LIVE RADAR
Track the storm as it comes in with our LIVE Interactive Radar.

THE SEARCH FOR SNOW MELT
NBC10's George Spencer works his way around Camden County to see how people are getting ready for Sunday's winter storm.

Several towns across our region are preparing for the approaching winter storm. Here's a list of county by county snow emergencies.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

Philadelphia- 10 p.m. Sun - until further notice

Montgomery County

Abington Township - 7 p.m. Sun - 7 a.m. Tuesday

Cheltenham Township - 7 p.m. Sun - 11 p.m. Monday

Conshohocken - 6 p.m. Sun.- Noon Tuesday

Lansdale - 3 p.m. Sun. until further notice

North Wales - 6 p.m. Sun - 6 p.m. Tuesday

West Pottsgrove - 10 p.m. Sun until further notice

Chester County

Oxford - Midnight Sun - 4 p.m. Tuesday

Spring City - 6 p.m. Sun - Noon Tuesday

Delaware County

Haverford Township - Sun. Noon - Noon Tuesday

Radnor Township - Sun. night until further notice

Bucks County

Buckingham Township - Sun. night - Monday night

Dublin Borough - 6 p.m. Sun - 6 p.m. Mon

Falls Township - 6 p.m. Sun. until further notice

Lower Makefield - 11 p.m. Sun.-5 p.m. Monday

New Jersey

Cape May County

Ocean City - Sun. until further notice

Didn't have a chance to catch up on local news yesterday?

Snowstorm Timeline and Expected Accumulations
Check out our gallery for the expected timeline and totals for the major snowstorm.

Hiker Finds Remains of Missing Professor
Investigators say a hiker found the skeletal remains of a retired University of Delaware professor who went missing a year and a half ago.

The Most Expensive Place for Pizza in Philly
In what Philadelphia neighborhood will a pizza pie cost you the most dough? How about the least? The answers might surprise you.

Police Investigate Rape, Robbery of Woman
Philadelphia Police have a suspect in custody for the rape and robbery of a woman in the Roxborough section of the city.

2 Kutztown University Football Players Charged, 4 Suspended
Kutztown University says four football players have been suspended from the team, and two were jailed on aggravated assault and other charges in a fight at a Bloomsburg fraternity, that left two people injured, one critically.

Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot an off-duty cop in the early morning hours Sunday.

After finishing a shift, Officer Robert Penn, 46, was shot as he returned to his home on the 7300 block of Brentwood Road in the Overbrook Park section of the city around 12:15 a.m., according to Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross. 

A male approached Penn, who was in plain clothes at the time, as he exited his car in the driveway and muttered a few words before firing, according to officials.

Philadelphia Police Lieutenant John Stanford told NBC10 the bullet struck Penn in the right shoulder and exited through his back. He was rushed by police car to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Investigators brought three possible witnesses to HUP early Sunday morning, but the Officer was unable to provide any information as he was still sedated, according to reports.

However, shortly after noon on Sunday police told NBC10 Penn was alert and talking.

The witnesses described the suspect as a black male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and wearing all black clothing, according to authorities. 

It is unknown what the suspect said before shooting Penn, according to officials. The motive is unknown, but police say it was not a robbery.

Shortly after the incident occurred, a huge police presence descended on the neighborhood and a helicopter flew overhead in an effort to locate the suspect. Detectives are now searching through Overbrook Park with a K-9 officer. They also spoke with Penn's wife.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact police.

Penn is a 24-year veteran on the force and a 19th District Officer, Ross said. He has two children and his wife is a Lieutenant with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Stay with NBC10 for more on this developing story.

The Winter Storm is here and travel officials across the region are prepared as the system continues to move through. Here’s a breakdown of travel services and their storm-related schedules throughout the area.

NJ TRANSIT

Bus Service: On Monday customers may experience delays, detours or service adjustments on certain routes. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and give themselves more time for travel.

Rail Service: NJ Transit will operate on a normal weekday rail schedule on Monday. However, service is subject to potential delays and cancellations depending on conditions. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and give themselves additional time for travel.

Light Rail Service: NJ Transit will operate light rail lines on a normal weekday schedule on Monday. However, service is subject to potential delays and cancellations depending on conditions. Customers are advised to plan accordingly and give themselves additional time for travel.

Access Link Paratransit Service: Access Link service will be suspended statewide on Monday. Access Link customers can call 1-800-955-2321 for more information.

Systemwide Cross-Honoring – Systemwide cross-honoring will be in effect on Monday. This will give customers the option of using their NJ TRANSIT ticket or pass on an alternative  travel mode, including rail, light rail or bus.

Visit the NJ Transit website or Twitter feed for the latest travel information.

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Philly International Airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica says the airport is running normal operations on Sunday and is fully mobilized for the upcoming weather. Check the Philly International website for updates.

SEPTA

SEPTA will begin their winter-weather related bus detours at 4 a.m. on Monday. Check the SEPTA website for more info. The Norristown High Speed Line trains will operate every 15 minutes with two-car trains Monday morning. There will not be any express, Hughes Park or Bryn Mawr service. Customer service reps will be available at 215-580-7800 and also on twitter @septa_social on Monday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This article will be updated as we receive more information
 

County officials throughout the Delaware Valley are preparing for more snow as the latest winter storm approaches our area.

NBC10 checked in with Emergency Management Offices throughout the tri-state region as well as each state's Department of Transportation to find out what they're doing to combat the storm before it arrives.

Offiicals with PennDOT, NJDOT and DelDOT say the salt residue that remains on many roads should be enough to keep ice from forming, while crews will pre-treat other streets with brine. Despite salt piles running low, officials with all three departments say they are stocked with enough salt to prepare their state roads.

Authorities ask that everyone use their best judgment when traveling Monday and, if possible, drivers should stay off the roads to give road crews a chance to make the roads passable.

Pennsylvania

Berks: County officials will be using salt judiciously as they wait for a shipment, which will arrive Tuesday. The shipment of 1,000 tons of salt will be shared with the county's 12 municipalities, which are responsible for treating their own roads. Officials are hoping the storm brings more snow than ice so there is less chance power will be affected.

Lehigh: County officials are monitoring the storm and plan to activate the Emergency Operation Center at 6 a.m. Monday. If snowfall predictions change, adjustments will be made. Lehigh County has enough salt for all of its municipalities. Concerns over downed wires, trees and power outages will depend on how heavy the snow is.

Montgomery: County officials say they have 600 tons of salot on hand, enough for all of its municipalities. County crews are working with PennDOT to coordinate plowing snow-covered roads. The Emergency Operations Center is ready if the storm warrants its activation.

Philadelphia - SEPTA will begin their winter-weather related bus detours at 4 a.m. on Monday. Check the SEPTA website for more info. The Norristown High Speed Line trains will operate every 15 minutes with two-car trains Monday morning. There will not be any express, Hughes Park or Bryn Mawr service. Customer service reps will be available at 215-580-7800 and also on twitter @septa_social on Monday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Authorities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Northampton counties have yet to comment on their storm preparations.

New Jersey

Atlantic: Crews are brining roadways ahead of the storm and county officials are speaking with towns to ready them for possible power outages and flooding. While flooding is a possibility, it is an insignificant concern as of Saturday evening. Officials are more worried about the amount of snow expected to fall - predicted totals for South Jersey range from 6 to 10 inches.

Camden: Beginning Sunday, crews will pretreat roads with brine and calcium chloride liquid. Officials say they have enough salt and calcium for the storm. The "all hands on deck" operation will include 70 pieces of equipment and 80 personnel. Officials ask residents to notify utility companies as soon as power is lost and to check on neighbors.

Cumberland: Officials began monitoring the storm Friday and convened by phone Saturday to discuss plans. County authorities say salt shipments have been arriving over the last few days and they have enough stocked for the storm.

Officials in Burlington, Cape May, Gloucester, Mercer, Ocean and Salem counties have yet to comment on their storm preparations.

Delaware

Authorities with DelDOT say they are preparing for the possibility of ice, as well as heavy snow. Emergency Operation Centers will be prepared to respond to any issues that may arise.

Officials in Kent, New Castle and Sussex counties have yet to comment on their storm preparations.