Previous editions of The Local
2025
March
– Locked and Liberated. A second amendment suggestion for women.
– Philly’s Red Raptors. Red-Tailed Hawks put on a show in the skies.
– Safe Speech Solution. PatriotScan® helps keep your speech free.
– ICE Impostors. Temple student caught in impersonation scheme.
February
– Food Fight. Local restauranteur stiffs staff.
– White Men’s Burden. Victims of wokeness seek reparations.
– Chinatown Hustle. City officials blindsided by billionaire bluff.
– Rescue Mission. One woman’s dedication to saving the city’s strays.
January
– Power for Sale. Pay for sway at the PA Society’s annual gala.
– Wild in the City. Philly’s coyotes are closer than you think.
– Timeless Finds. Thrifting turns common cast-offs into treasured finds.
– Mocktail Month. Your local guide for Dry January.
2024
December
– Solstice Celebration. Your guide to celebrating the Winter Solstice in Philly.
– Pining for Martens. Hoping for the return of Pine Martens to PA forests.
– From Ruin to Revival. Can Lynnewood Hall be returned to its former glory?
– Pearl Harbor Hero. Dorie Miller’s legacy continues to inspire.
November
– Flood Fight Plan. East Falls and Manayunk brace for future flooding.
– Coining a New Hero. Zitkála-Šá Honored by Women’s Quarters program.
– Art for Sale. Moore College of Art opens a new kind of gallery.
– Girls’ Sports Milestone. Girls Flag Football named official college sport.
October
– Phantom Files. Paranormal reports from our locale.
– Foxes Gone Wild. A crazy time of year for Vulpes Vulpes.
– Easel Come, Easel Go. UArts files for bankruptcy.
– Community Couture. An interview with the founder of House of Diyah.
September
– Beats Over Bullets. Local rap battles boost lives one bar at a time.
– Trump Card 2025. The authoritarian playbook has major implications for Philly.
– Building Diversity. Rebuild increases diversity in the trades.
– Soup’s On! A Cuban Citrus Chicken Soup that’s best enjoyed loudly.
August
– Laughing Matters. The sad state of women’s right to LOL.
– Purr and Pour. A new cat cafe offers interaction and adoption opportunities.
– Special Events for Mom. A local guide to celebrating Mother’s Day.
– Gangster’s Legacy. The hard life and times of a family felon.
July
– Taste of Paris. Parisian charm at Matines Cafe.
– Butterfly Effect. July is a Butterfly Bonanza in Philly!
– Treetop Tale. A German immigrant builds a musical treetop haven.
– Money for Mothers. Philly Joy Bank provides support for expectant mothers.
June
– A Clear Victory. Public safety victory at Queen Lane Reservoir.
– Corner Tap Room Tour. Reviewing five neighborhood corner bars.
– Freedom Festivities. Juneteenth and Pride month events in Philly.
– Cycling Season. Bike lessons for all and the MLK Bike Party.
May
– Minds of All Kinds. JeffU breaks new ground on neurodiversity design.
– Philly Felines. Critter Chronicles spotlights domestic cats.
– Special Events for Mom. A local guide to celebrating Mother’s Day.
– Gangster’s Legacy. The hard life and times of a family felon.
April
– No With the Flow. NIMBYs clog progress on Philly water safety upgrades.
– Gnawesome Rescue! Local wildlife rescue saves baby beaver.
– Spring Fun Guide. So much to do in Philly!
– Poll Worker Push. City Commissioners looking for help in April election.
March
– Board Games. Philly School Board plays hide-and-seek with agenda.
– Helping Herps. Critter Chronicles: Eastern American Toad
– Facts or Faux? Real talk about fake news.
– Grounds for Celebration. Discovering the slow art of Ethiopian coffee at Salam Cafe.
February
– More Brew, More Better. Wissahickon Brewing announces new Kensington location.
– Flaky Flashback. Last month’s snowstorm can’t compare to 2016’s “Snowmageddon.”
– That’s Amore. Valentine’s Day dining destinations.
– Community Win! Colored Girls Museum keeps its Gtown home.
January
– Curbing Hit-and-Runs. Speed cams coming to Philly roadways.
– New Clues, Ancient Brews. U of P archaeologist rethinks discovery of ancient bar.
– Critter Chronicles. White-tailed deer: What are these woodsy wanderers up to?
– New Year, New Flavors. Reviewing three new Philly restaurants.
2023
December
– Blueprint Beyond Policing. Why Philly needs a Marshall Plan to solve gun violence.
– Rethinking Resolutions. A flexible, intentional approach to being your best self.
– Festive Feasting. Mifflin Tavern helps make the season bright.
– Eagle-Eyed History. How the Birds got their wings.
November
– Historic Showdown. The Local Recaps Philly’s Mayoral Debate.
– Not in My Name. A plea for peace in the Middle East.
– This Land Was Their Land. The indigenous roots of Mt. Rushmore.
– Rhyme and Shine. Dell-P’s Wordsmith Experience is a freestyle master class.
October
– Dying for Solutions. City Council bans safe injection sites in Philly.
– A Ghostly Past. Ghostly games and lore from 1914.
– Fall Fun Guide. Tips and events to help you enjoy the fall season.
– Upper Crust. Philly’s pizza scene is second to none.
September
– The Carbon Diaries. Crunch time for the climate.
– Happy 50th Hip Hop! A review of the Hip Hop in the Park festival.
– Breaking Down SEPTA’s Budget. The good, the bad, the ugly.
– Write Makes Might. The Mighty Writers program comes to Germantown.
August
– A Chief in the City. Sitting Bull’s Philly Visit, 1884
– Mosquito Magnetism. The science of selective biting.
– Black Business Guide. August is Black Business Month.
– Old School Italian. The retro charm of La Famiglia Ristorante.
July
– Moms for Tyranny. Maga moms come to town.
– We Cannon Believe It. Cannon disappears from Fort Mifflin.
– The 411 on 988. A new kind of crisis hotline.
– A Local Link. The Titan submersible tragedy has a local connection.
June
– Big Bang Theories. Was that a firecracker, car backfire, or gunshot?
– Gratitude for Daditude. The rise of dad doulas.
– Proud and Free. Juneteenth and Pride Month events in Philly.
– Nyuk Nyuk Nostalgia. Local Three Stooges museum offers more than pokes the eye!
May
– Blast from the Past. The devastating Tidewater Explosion of 1956.
– Screen Queens. Islamic women artists experiment with an ancient art form.
– Resilience and Resistance. Trans Visibility Day rally shows the power of unity.
– Seasonal Sniffles Support. Allergy advice from local herbalist and educator.
April
– Hot Seat. Mayoral candidates square off over gun violence.
– Cutting Edge Kids. Dobbins High students power the Future Visions program.
– Honoring Arab Excellence. Celebrating Arab-American Heritage Month.
– Sing a Rainbow. Remembering Captain Noah and His Magical Ark.
March
– Straight Talk with Seth. Editor Sandy Smith chats with candidate Seth Anderson-Oberman about his plan for real change in the 8th District.
– “Philly Pigeon” at PhilaMOCA. Poetic wings take flight in safe, comforting space for BIPOC artists.
– Paranormal Report: Summoning Santos. The Local’s own Dr. Von Lichtenhollen dives into spooky legend of NY congressman with hauntingly good results!
– “The New Town Librarian.” Check it out! Local author Larry Benjamin reviews page-turning tale of romance, mystery, and dewey decimal systems!
February
– V-Day Voices. Seniors reflect on the meaning of Valentine’s Day.
– Mysterious Signs. Who’s behind the “Pick Up the Damn Trash” signs?
– Shopping for Sisterhood. “Rebel Rides” on the Sisterhood Sit-In Trolley Tours.
– Championship Pics. Celebrating a Birds Beatdown.
January
– Dream Big. Opal Lee takes Juneteenth nationwide.
– Here Fur Them. Elizabeth Morris founded the country’s first animal shelter.
– Gimme a Brake. Grassroots traffic-calming efforts in NW Philly.
– Heart of Education. How communication skills nurture learning in difficult times.
2022
December
– Philly’s Jewish Santa. “Daddy” Cohen was a light to hundreds of children.
– Coming to Town. Major grant moves SW Philly dream forward.
– Comfort & Joy. Dealing with the stresses of the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
– Brighter Days Ahead. Taking solace from the Winter Solstice.
November
– No Contract, No Matisse! Art Museum workers end strike after winning new contract.
– Political Theater. What movie titles best describe Philly politics?
– Thanksgiving Thoughts. A meditation on gratitude.
– Give a Hoot! November spotlight: The Great Horned Owl.
October
– Shocking Saturdays. Remembering a local horror TV host
– Haunted Restaurants. Breaking bread with the undead in Philly.
– Calling All Voters. The stakes don’t get much higher in November’s election.
– Paranormal Report. Unexplained incidents in East Falls, Germantown and environs.
September
– Labor Fight in Philly. Tragedy and victory at mill strike in Kensington.
– Pox Vax Is Here. Additional doses of Monkeypox vaccine arrive in NW Philly.
– Fab Festivals. Odunde and NE x NW festivals showcase food, music, and culture.
– For Frisk’s Sake! Some neighbors push for a return to the bad old days of minor traffic stops.
August
– Getting Lost Is Good. Mazes help us wander and find our way.
– Best BBQ Near You. Our resident pit master rates the best joints around.
– Keeping Cool, Old School. Seniors share time-honored tips for keeping cool.
– Summer Fiction. Selected tales from two local authors.
July
– Blindsided. Roe v Wade decision hits home.
– Pit Primer. An intro to America’s best BBQ regions.
– Classic Summer pics. Sunny scenes from seasons past.
– Freaky Flick. Review of Folk Horror Movie “Men”
June
– Sensational Soul. Celebrating a culinary American revolution.
– Ready for a Fight. Pro-choice protesters prepare for battle.
– Inclusion Intrusion. As Juneteenth goes mainstream, what’s the best way to honor it?
– War! What Is it Good For? Seniors reflect on war memories.
May
– VOTE! Primary election prep.
– City on Fire. Documentary marks the anniversary of MOVE bombing.
– Island Flavors. Top Caribbean restaurants.
– Wissahickon 101. Wissahickon wonders.
April
– Harrowing Homecoming. Neighbor narrowly evades Russian forces on her way home
– The 311 on 420. Making the most of a magical plant on 420 Day.
– In the Spotlight. WHYY’s “Movers and Makers” profiles The Local.
– Redlining=Racism. Rigging the housing market in NW Philly.
March
– Cruel and Unusual. Philly’s prisons are a human rights crisis.
– All Heart. Community Focused Women Taking Charge and Changing Outcomes.
– Invasion Separation. Fallser Keeping Vigil for his Wife in Kyiv.
– Groundbreaking Author. A Children’s Book Ahead of its Time.
February
– Hero and Gone. Philly gets its 1st statue to a Black woman, but it’s only here a short while.
– Cemetery Save. After decades of neglect, preservationists intervene to save Mt. Vernon
– New Cafe Coming. Breakfast Boutique announces new East Falls location
– Mad or Nah? Block the Vote. Feeling let down by the government’s failure to protect voting rights?
January
– Mad or Nah: New Mandate. Reactions to new vaccine mandates for indoor dining in Philly.
– 2022: Believe and Achieve. NW Philly is full of potential for all of us, if we open up to it.
– Apron Strings Attached. Ask Athena takes on gender stereotypes in a reader’s family.
– Popup Village Coming. Shipping container mall coming to West Philly.
2021
December
– New Day at NAACP. Purple Blackwell interviews Catharine Hicks, the new President of
Philly’s NAACP chapter.
– Toward a Better Justice. The flawed Rittenhouse verdict demonstrates the need for Restorative Justice.
– Tat’s a Shame. Think before inking a lover’s name on your body.
– Whose Neighborhood? Heads up NIMBYs. Law suits, like the one filed by an East Falls RCO against a proposed development, aren’t the answer — activism is.
November
– Rescuing Gtown YWCA. Activists push for new developer for historic landmark
– Taking out the trash. Gtown resident helps fight Philly’s tide of trash
– Cruel and Unusual. America’s for-profit prison system is a cruel race to the bottom (line)
– Pages for All Ages. SOWN’s intergenerational reading programs helps seniors and grandkids.
October
– Ida Know. Hurricane Ida flooding,
– Classic Film, Community Conversation. “Do the Right Thing” film event,
– Old School Halloween. Halloween memories from SOWN,
– Public Safety Progress? Reclaim Philly critiques Philly police budget
September
– Calculated Frisk. Police Experimenting with Less ‘Stop & Frisk’ in NW Philly
– Mad or Nah. Neighbors React to New Mask Mandates & Vax Requirements
– Crisis Coping for Kids. Skills for traumatized students.
– Cleaner Currents. JeffU Students’ Project Removes Trash from the Schuylkill
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015