psuedo local variables for recursion:
keep a list with the variable name you want, and an index variable measuring your recursion depth. every time you enter a routine that needs the local variable increase the index variable and push onto the variable list with augment{(L)VARNM,{VAL}). every time you exit, decrease the index variable and pop off the variable list with indexvar->dim((L)VARNM

you can access the local variable with (L)VARNM(indexvar)

I had an idea on that for keeping track of shots fired on a screen, merely by keeping track of the dim( of a list...

Definitely a nice idea though.

May I recommend for your perusal:
http://www.unitedti.org/index.php?showtopic=5946