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Coronavirus Updates

As the coronavirus alters daily life around the world, the Chestnut Hill Local will report on how it is affecting residents, businesses and institutions here in Chestnut Hill and in our nearby neighbors in Mt. Airy, Germantown, Springfield Township, Whitemarsh and more. A page with latest updates from Philadelphia, Montgomery County and local institutions can […]

Latest Stories

Philadabundance closed until March 30 due to COVID-19

By Sue Ann Rybak Stephanie Arck-Baynes, a spokesperson for Philabundance, the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley, said Philabundance closed on March 26 and March 27 “out of an abundance of caution for its staff, volunteers and the public.” A statement on Philabundance’s website read: “Wednesday, March 25, a staff member informed […]

Philadelphia announces 2 deaths from COVID-19, more than $8 million raised for city fund

The following is a press release from the city. The Local is watching every day. These releases have been good and accurate summaries of what has been said at each briefing. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley today announced 154 additional presumptive confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. That brings the number of […]

Chestnut Hill family throws ‘drive-by parade’ for grandmother

by Sue Ann Rybak Chestnut Hill resident Kara Maletta-Howe, 36, said her family was already practicing social distancing to keep her mother Linda Maletta healthy in the safety of her Oreland home during the coronavirus pandemic. So when Mayor Jim Kenney announced a stay-at-home order for all city residents on Sunday afternoon, March 22, she […]

Neighbors turn to holiday lights in a time of darkness

by Kate Dolan Mount Airy residents may begin to see a sight more typical of the holiday season as they take solo walks in the neighborhood. On March 22, East Mount Airy resident Mohamed Latib wrote a post on the neighborhood social networking site, Nextdoor, informing neighbors of a small gesture he was to begin […]

An East Mt. Airy church turns 200 and now streams services online

by Barbara Sherf The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration at Stenton Avenue and Gorgas Lane in East Mt. Airy celebrated its 200th anniversary last month with a bit of history and a slew of proclamations from local and state authorities along with the hiring of a 31-year-old minister who now has his sermons streamed […]

Tour a Woodmere exhibition with the director, virtually

by William ValerioDirector, Woodmere Art Museum Woodmere’s exhibition, Fully Saturated is about the many ways that artists step forward with bright color to express emotions and tell stories. We organized the show back in December of 2019, imagining that in the gray days of January, February and March, it would bring joy to our visitors […]

Philadelphia announces new COVID-19 cases, breaks off negotiations with Hahnemann

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley today announced 127 new cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, bringing the total confirmed cases in the city to 475. Farley said 40 of the city’s cases have been hospitalized. He also said that testing remains available but is limited and that the city’s hospital still has available beds for […]

Weavers Way alters services to help seniors, vulnerable customers during COVID-19

by Sam Newhouse The Weavers Way Co-op has made multiple changes to its services during the coronavirus pandemic to protect customers and staff at its Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Ambler locations while continuing to provide needed groceries and services. Those changes include extending their Tuesday senior’s discount to all weekdays, limiting the number of […]

Businesses look to serve customers as COVID-19 orders keeps most home

By Stacia Friedman On March 23, Governor Wolf ordered all non-essential businesses to close or face potential legal consequences. Chestnut Hill has complied with that order, and many shops temporarily closed their doors, while others found creative ways to work around the ordinance. “Our store is closed,” said Vince Hillanbrand, who runs the 14-year-old business, […]

Local musicians face uncertainty with regular gigs suddenly gone

by Len Lear The Local routinely runs feature articles on professional local musicians who perform in Northwest Philadelphia, the nearby suburbs or elsewhere. Now that all such performances have been cancelled for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus pandemic, how are those musicians faring? We checked in with several of them, and here are […]

Philadelphia records first death from COVID-19

At the city’s daily COVID-19 press conference, Mayor Jim Kenney announced that the the city had recorded the first death of a resident due to COVID-19. Kenney said the death is the first of a likely many and reiterated it underscored the need of everyone to heed the city’s stay at home orders to make […]

We’re here for you, but we need your support

By John Derr Publisher Some of you may be surprised to have a print version of the Chestnut Hill Local in your hands this week. I have received more than a few messages from people asking if the Local will still be printing a newspaper. Of course we will! A newspaper is recognized as […]

Learning, leisure and love in the time of corona

by Sheyna Rose Many of us are now home with children who would otherwise be in school. This may feel distracting and overwhelming at times for those of us working from home. We would like to offer some tips that may help during this unique parenting experience. Most importantly, we want to give you resources […]

McMenamin’s forced to close on St Patrick’s Day for the first time in 83 years

by April Lisante As St. Patrick’s Day unfolded last Tuesday at McMenamin’s Tavern down on Germantown Ave., there were no revelers packing the bar, no one seated to eat the annual corned beef and cabbage or shepherd’s pie. The annual day of celebration came and went last week, and perhaps no one felt the grim […]

Chestnut Hill businesses adapt to coronavirus pandemic

by Stacia Friedman Sheltering in place is difficult enough, but what do you do when your cat is sick, you need a ball-peen hammer or a birthday cake for your six-year-old? Fortunately, Chestnut Hill businesses are rising to the occasion. Sick kitties and their owners will get valet service at Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic. The […]

Mt. Airy mother worried for daughter on front lines of COVID-19 testing

by Sue Ann Rybak While many young people continue to party and ignore warnings to social distance, Mt. Airy resident Deborah Haas, 58, worries about her 24-year-old daughter, Madeleine Stander, who works in an urgent care facility that tests people for COVID-19. The Surgeon General Jerome Adams even asked Kylie Jenner [the “Keeping Up with […]

City, PIDC launch fund for small business relief

City officials announced today that they have partnered with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) to crate a fund for relief of small businesses in the city impacted by COVID-19 closures. We are acutely aware of the potentially devastating impact that the spread of COVID-19 is having on small businesses in Philadelphia and around the […]

Chestnut Hill Hospital says it is managing supply levels, staff morale as COVID-19 cases rise

by Tom Utescher To discover how Chestnut Hill Hospital is currently coping with the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus pandemic, the LOCAL contacted Catherine M. Brzozowski, who is the hospital’s Marketing and Public Relations Director and a Chestnut Hill native. The hospital requested that questions be submitted and then answered in writing via e-mail. Obviously, specific cases […]

How to explore history at home

By Lori Salganicoff,Executive Director, Chestnut Hill Conservancy Let’s take a socially distant stroll through history. While we all stay close to home, we invite you to virtually explore the Chestnut Hill area through the treasure trove of the Conservancy’s free, searchable, online Archives. Here you will find community stories from our past, in the comfort […]

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Philadabundance closed until March 30 due to COVID-19

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Springtime in Mount Airy with the coronavirus

by John Colgan-Davis For the past week or so there have been some wonderful sights and sounds when I leave my house early in the morning. On the little patch of land to the front and side of the house there are white and blue pansies, snowdrops and now daffodils in bloom. The daffodils, in […]

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Neighbors turn to holiday lights in a time of darkness

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Tennis coach Ryan Gargullo returns to Chestnut Hill

by Tom Utescher After helping the old Chestnut Hill Academy win a string of Inter-Ac League tennis championships while earning individual MVP honors, Ryan Gargullo graduated in 1998 and went on to play for La Salle University. When his formal playing career ended, he held numerous positions as a coach and instructor. Now he’s back […]

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