By Kevin Vendt
“If you want to invest in our kids, then invest,” Wood End Elementary School Principal Joanne King challenged the School Committee on Monday night. “This group was tasked by you with finding a better way to improve literacy for our students, and they found it,” King continued.

As part of the School Committee’s “Reading in Reading” initiative, King was a part of a group of teachers who studied multiple literacy curriculums in preparation to present their choice for an updated curriculum to the committee. According to Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sarah Hardy, their choice, ARCcore, is a comprehensive curriculum that builds on foundational skills, vocabulary, and grammar and includes independent practice time. Both Curate and EdReports highly rate it. “I was blown away by the level of student engagement,” Hardy exclaimed.

The intent of the group is to implement the curriculum starting with grades three through five in 2022-23 and in kindergarten through grade two in 2023-24. Hardy reminded the committee that the new math curriculum is being implemented in kindergarten through grade two in 2022-23. Hardy also emphasized that the curriculum includes significant professional development and coaching for teachers and educational leaders. “Reading needs to invest as much in its teachers as it does in its curriculum.” Hardy urged. [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
After two full nights of discussion, Town Meeting, by a vote of 126-0, approved a series of changes to the 40R smart growth district zoning bylaw on Thursday night. At the previous session, Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) member Heather Clish presented proposed zoning changes in five broad categories: the promotion of open space through an expanded definition; protections for abutting uses; modifications to the as-of-right zoning for dimensional setbacks, parking requirements, commercial components, and affordable components; an innovative tiered approach to waiver requests; and alignment and clarification of the bylaw. 

Thursday’s session of Town Meeting was highlighted by debate over eleven proposed amendments to CPDC’s recommendations made by Town Meeting members. Town Meeting member Barry Berman proposed to add a clause providing protections for existing businesses in redeveloped properties. “It doesn’t make any sense to say we value new businesses and turn our backs on current businesses,” Berman argued. While many members applauded the intent of the amendment, others considered it unenforceable, and a vote of 48-72 defeated the amendment.

After an amendment by Clish to correct a typographical error was passed by a hand vote, Town Meeting member Sarah Brukilacchio offered four amendments. The first, regarding the affordability waiver, was withdrawn by Brukilacchio after a determination was made that it was counter to state law. The second, the addition of a tier of parking requirement for two-bedroom units at 1.5 parking spaces, passed with a hand vote after extensive discussion. [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
Fire Chief Greg Burns stepped to the podium in the Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center on Wednesday evening to welcome the gathered crowd to the first badge pinning ceremony for police officers and firefighters in Reading in over two years. Burns commented that badge pinning ceremonies are a long-standing tradition in Reading that had to be curtailed due to the pandemic. Typically, badge pinnings occur at Select Board meetings, but given the sheer number of pinnings to be done, the choice was made to hold a more significant event.

Families and friends of all the new and newly promoted police officers and firefighters were in attendance along with Senator Jason Lewis, Representatives Brad Jones and Richard Haggarty, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, former Town Manager Robert LeLachuer, and members of the Select Board. The event opened with an entrance by the Irish-American Police Officers Association Pipe and Drum Corps and the presentation of the colors by the Reading Police Department Honor Guard. This was followed by the national anthem by Reading Memorial High School student Julia Mullen and the Pledge of Allegiance. Maltez then offered a few opening remarks. 

Families and friends of all the new and newly promoted police officers and firefighters were in attendance along with Senator Jason Lewis, Representatives Brad Jones and Richard Haggarty, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, former Town Manager Robert LeLachuer, and members of the Select Board. The event opened with an entrance by the Irish-American Police Officers Association Pipe and Drum Corps and the presentation of the colors by the Reading Police Department Honor Guard. This was followed by the national anthem by Reading Memorial High School student Julia Mullen and the Pledge of Allegiance. Maltez then offered a few opening remarks.[Read More]

It only happens once a year! Reading is gearing up for its fourth annual Porchfest on Saturday, June 25 and you won’t want to miss it. Free live music will be playing all afternoon on front lawns, driveways, and porches all over Reading. Make sure to mark your calendar and start planning your afternoon.

Long-time Porchfest fan Jeanne Borawski says, “I got involved in promoting Porchfest during the Reading 375 celebration in 2019. Since then, I’ve made it a point to get to several venues every summer. I can’t believe the quality of the music – there are some really great bands performing for free all over town. Even better is seeing neighbors get together outside and enjoy the summer weather, live music, and each other’s company. It’s fun to see how some hosts really get into it.”

Don’t miss out on the fun. Sign-ups are happening now. Are you part of a band or musical group? Sign up today! Do you have a front lawn or porch and want to invite your neighbors over for some free live music on Saturday, June 25? Sign up today!

For further information, visit readingporchfest.com. Follow Reading Porchfest on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date. [Read More]

Favorite Book: “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

Favorite Quote: “The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Jobs

Favorite Subjects: History and Environmental Issues (Ecology)

Activities/Employment: Kayla designs clothes and works at Primark, a fashion retailer.

Plans After Graduation: Kayla plans to enroll in a one-year course in fashion design at New York School of Design, participate in New York Fashion Week, and promote her clothing brand (Carben).
For more information visit rctv.org | 781-944-8888 or email classes@rctv.org
Video Production: Students will gain video recording experience using RCTV’s professional camera equipment, as well as gain post-production skills such as; Celtx, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Photoshop. All of these skills will culminate into their own masterpiece worthy of television and/or YouTube. This class can be altered to fit the needs of intermediate and advanced video students.

Photography: Students will learn (or refresh themselves with) the basics of photography including; camera settings, depth of field, shot composition, and movement. Students will navigate through many styles of photography including; street photography, portraits, and food, to name a few! This class can be altered to fit the needs of intermediate and advanced photography students.
Filmmaking: Students will learn all the key elements of creating a film, such as; scriptwriting, shot composition, lighting techniques, cinematography and so much more as you develop the skills of all the great filmmakers! This class can be altered to fit the needs of intermediate and advanced filmmaking students. [Read More]
Monday, May 30, 2022

Please join us as Reading remembers the service and sacrifice of all men and women who have died in service to our country

Reading will be returning to our pre-pandemic Memorial Day services with a parade beginning at 9:00 AM on Monday, May 30, 9:00 AM. The Parade begins at the American Legion on Ash street and proceeds down Main Street to Laurel Hill Cemetery. 

Services will be held in each of Reading’s four cemeteries. Decorating of the 2,300+ Veteran’s graves will begin on Wednesday, May 25, 9:00 AM at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Volunteers are needed to place a flag holder at each Veteran grave. If you are interested in assisting please email Kevin Bohmiller at kbohmiller@ci.reading.ma.us or call 781-942-6652. Thank you. [Read More]
With Memorial Day in a few weeks, two of Reading’s most prominent memorials at Laurel Hill Cemetery recently completed a transformative restoration by Rob Surabian from Gravesite Preservation. Surabian began the work last week, donating the labor and materials as well, on both the Civil War Memorial and the Town’s War Memorial honoring men and women of Reading who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The War Memorial was erected in 1939 and the Civil War Memorial, the third such dedicated in the Commonwealth, was dedicated on October 5, 1865, to all those who died in the “Great Rebellion.” For more information on the latter, please see this article below: Link to Massachusetts Civil War Monuments Project for Reading, MA [Read More]
Join us for a Community Meet & Greet with Sudeshna Chatterjee, on May 18

Please join us at the library for a Meet & Greet with Sudeshna Chatterjee, Director of Reading’s newly created Office of Equity and Social Justice. Take this opportunity to learn more about the division’s mission, vision, and community engagement opportunities. You’ll hear about the volunteer-led advisory board for the division, get to know the Director, and be able to register your interest in volunteer opportunities. The event is open to all and will be held at the RPL’s community room on the ground floor. Refreshments will be served.

The role of the Director of Equity and Social Justice at the RPL was developed after more than two years of thoughtful and thorough conversation and received broad, town-wide approval. The Division, comprising the director and the advisory board, will work towards establishing cross-community partnerships, assessing organizational needs, and collaboratively developing plans and programs to bring the Reading community together in a shared vision for an inclusive Reading for all. [Read More]
Saturday, May 14
11:00AM – 1:30PM

Reading Police Department, 15 Union Street, Reading MA

Come visit us for a fun-filled experience, we will have:

• NEMLEC Equipment/K-9
• Comfort Dogs
• Middlesex Sheriff Equipment
• Child Fingerprint/ID Kits
• Police/SWAT/ATF Vehicles • Free Helmet Raffles• Bouncy Houses • Free Food
Military Humvee(s) Lots More!

Free and open to all the public! [Read More]
The Reading Cultural Council (RCC) Annual Survey is now open. Let your Cultural Council know how you want us to allocate your funds.

The Mass Cultural Council receives an annual appropriation from the Commonwealth, as well as support from the National Endowment for the Arts for support of the arts in Massachusetts. The Reading Cultural Council is one of 329 local councils who are responsible for disbursing that money to local programs and events. Last year we disbursed $23,500 in grants to local individuals and organizations to support art and culture in Reading.

In order to know what types of programs you would like to see supported we reach out to the residents of Reading with an annual survey. You can fill out our survey by clicking on the link below to let us know what you think. [Read More]