It seems like just yesterday, the entire region was trapped in a deep freeze, yet here comes Memorial Day to remind us that the line between shivering and sweating is oh so thin.

As is our tradition, Flying Kite is taking the week off. We'll be using that time to get refreshed, while also keeping our ear to the ground for the latest news and amazing stories on everything from local development to community activism to innovative companies and creative triumphs.

To sate you until our return (on June 3), here are some of our favorite stories from the year so far.

We're taking a look at the city's shuttered schools. First up: Germantown High School and William Penn High School. Stay tuned for more after the break. 

We offered up some tasty morsels, including this feature on the state's artisan cheese movement and this one on food entrepreneurs.

We looks at inspiring stories of community action, like the triumph of the local land bank coalition and citywide efforts to increase access to the arts. 

And we took a big-picture look at some of our city's shifting institutions, whether its the industrial corridor of Washington Avenue West or Philadelphia's thriving Quaker community.

See you in June!

LEE STABERT is managing editor of Flying Kite Media and Keystone Edge. Follow her on twitter @stabert.