MALT in the News

MALT Weekly E-News

The New York Times, June 17 2026
Germantown: A Philadelphia Neighborhood Where People Stay

Weavers Way Shuttle, June 2026
Out-of-the-Way Treasures Emerge During MALT Hidden Gardens Tour

Chestnut Hill Local, June 11, 2026
MALT’s annual Hidden Gardens Tour returns

Chestnut Hill Local, May 21 2026
This week in Chestnut Hill Local history, 1966-2016

May 18, 2006: MALT celebrate 25 years with gift to the community

Most people enjoy receiving presents in celebration of their birthday, but for its 25th birthday, the Mt. Airy Learning Tree is giving a mosaic that illustrates its mission to the community. On Saturday, MALT unveiled the gift, a mosaic of tiles created by members of the community on the side of Lovett Library on Germantown Avenue. A tree, under a blue sky, sprouts from roots, depicting MALT’s mission of providing community-based learning, and of course illustrates the name of the organization. The diversity of Mt. Airy, which gives such pride to the community, is illustrated by the varied designs and colors of the tiles that frame the mosaic. The conception of MALT began in 1980 when Barbara Bloom wanted to create an inexpensive, adult community education program, and worked together with individual volunteers, East Mt. Airy Neighbors and West Mt. Airy Neighbors to establish the first program, consisting of 17 classes, in 1981.

Chestnut Hill Local, May 2025
Mt. Airy ‘soil nerd’ helps you forage for edible plants

Chestnut Hill Local, May 2025
MALT’s David Low is high on the list of multitaskers

Weavers Way Shuttle
September 2024

CBS Philly, May 2023

Mt. Airy Learning Tree was featured on CBS 3 Philly as part of their Mental Reset Series during the month of May.

Our dance instructor Marck “Flaco” Best demonstrated line dancing, and brought a group of dancers from his dance studio, Flaco’s Dance Factory in Jenkintown, to join the fun! Instructor Sheila Holiday led the dance as well, and taught the steps to keep the good times going during the full hour in Love Park!

Vicki Mehl invited all of her MALT t’ai chi students down to the park and we also had passersby join the class.

Here she is being interviewed about the five aspects of T’ai Chi including how to relax with the movements.

Chestnut Hill Local

Learning to love the ‘beautiful efficiency’ of flowers

March 16, 2023

CBS Philly, May 2022

Mt. Airy Learning Tree was featured on the evening broadcast to kick-off the station’s Mental Reset Series.

Weavers Way Shuttle, Jan. 2022

Chestnut Hill’s distilling couple to share their know-how

**Long-time Chestnut Hill residents Walter and Katy Palmer are the co-owners of Palmer Distilling Company, a small craft distillery at 376 Shurs Lane in Manayunk. (Photos by Susan Beard Design)**

The good and the bad about online dating

**Mt. Airy resident, model, actress and writer Sandra Wade, who has many years of online dating experience, is teaching an “All About Online Dating” course Mt. Airy Learning Tree**

Grassroots efforts to rise above ugly partisan divide

**Local marriage mediator Max Rivers hopes to bring Braver Angels, a national grassroots organization that seeks to promote healthy political discourse, to the Philadelphia area.**

‘Dreamer’ Low is high on the ladder of multiple talents

David Low, who spent five years living in the Siddha Yoga Ashram in New York State, including one year at their facility in India, will be teaching “The Interpretation of Dreams”

From Communism to wealth-building classes in Mt. Airy

**Paul Mladjanovic, a financial expert who has authored several books on investing and spoken about investing during numerous TV appearances, will be teaching three classes for MALT**

Wayne Junction brewery: from attic to Attic

**Todd and Laura Lacy of Attic Brewing will give a talk on the history of beer at MALT.**

Hiller shares ‘miracle’ that ended decades of pain

Nicole Rodriguez runs the “posture therapy” center, “Pain-Free Philly,” at the Montgomery Integrative Health Group, 1108 East Willow Grove Ave. in Wyndmoor. (Photo by Len Lear)

Mt. Airy classes for older folks are a real stretch

Starting Sept. 18 and continuing for five sessions, Ferguson-Hardin will be leading “Fergie’s Bootcamp,” an extreme workout with push-ups, running, climbing, jumping, burpees, etc.

Saddled with stress? Take MALT’s ‘Horsemanship 101’

Misty, whose classes begin Sept. 24, has been able to share her love for horses with over 400 students during her 12 years with MALT.

More than 275 MALT classes are back in session

**This is the cover of the MALT catalogue. It began arriving in Mt. Airy mailboxes around Aug. 30.**

MALT author has improved skills of countless students

Toizer took this terrific shot in Colorado. “I was on a trip with the Equine Photographers Network,” she said. “There were wranglers (cowboys and cowgirls) that ran the herd through a pond.”
NICKI TOIZER

Hill resident Barbara Bloom, MALT founder, dies at 79