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Town Hall will be closed for the following recognized Holidays:
- Monday, January 2nd - New Year's Day Observed
P.S. - Trash will be on your regularly scheduled day this week.
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Have some free time on your hands? Ever considered volunteering? The Town of Reading relies on many volunteers to collaborate with staff to help achieve community goals. We have over 20 boards and committees with varying interests, responsibilities and commitment levels.
Current Vacancies include but not limited to:
- Finance Committee
- CPDC
- Conservation Commission
- Zoning Board of Appeals
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Select Board Office Hour Alert! |
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Christmas Tree Recycling
This January, the Town is providing two options for recycling of Christmas trees. On Saturday, January 21, 2023, residents may take their trees to the Compost Area on Strout Ave. from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (leaves and branches will also be accepted at this time). In addition, Republic will collect Christmas trees curbside the week of January 17 – 21, 2023. Please note that due to the Holiday on January 16, 2023; trash, recycling and tree pickup will be on a holiday schedule. All decorations, including tinsel, must be removed from the trees. Trees in plastic bags or trees not completely cleaned of this material will not be picked up or accepted at the Compost Area.
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Snow & Ice Removal
With winter weather approaching, the Department of Public Works would like to remind residents that their cooperation is needed to keep our streets clear and safe. The Town of Reading’s General Bylaws prohibit depositing snow or ice on a portion of any street or sidewalk that has been plowed or cleared for travel. Violation of this General Bylaw is punishable by a fine of up to $300. The owner of the property is responsible for the violation, even if it was done by a contractor hired by the owner or a tenant of the property. We appreciate your cooperation in our efforts to clear all the streets, including sidewalks in both the school and business districts.
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Winter is coming…
- Basketball hoops can break mirrors, costing the Town time and money to repair.
- Hoops are a safety hazard since side mirrors are essential to safe operation of a plow truck during a storm. Broken mirrors lead to delayed snow removal.
- In an attempt to avoid damage, trucks cannot plow close to the edge of roads, sometimes being forced to stay as much as 5 feet from the curb.
- If trucks do get too close, hoops in the Right-of-Way are likely to be severely damaged, and the Town would not be at fault.
- Plow truck drivers work the entire storm, whether it is 4 hours or 34 hours. It is critical that roads are free from obstructions to ensure the safe drivability of the road during every storm.
- We are requesting that all residents pull their basketball hoops off the roads and sidewalks so as not to impede with Snow and Ice removal. Please make sure that all basketball hoops are at least 10 feet from the roadway. Please don’t let your basketball hoop be the reason the street didn’t get adequately cleared of snow.
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Mattress Recycling
Since Monday, October 31, 2022, Republic Services no longer picks up mattresses or box springs as bulk waste.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has made amendments to its waste ban regulations which include the banning of mattresses from the trash stream and a requirement for them to be recycled.
As a result, the Town of Reading has contracted with Tough Stuff Recycling to pick up and recycle mattresses and box springs for a fee. Residents have two options available:
Pricing is for EACH mattress or box spring being disposed
$55.00 for curbside pickup
$33.00 for drop off at DPW garage (resident brings mattress or box spring to the DPW garage with proof of payment).
Important: Mattresses/box springs must be placed in a mattress bag prior to placing curbside, and prior to dropping off a mattress/box spring in the container at the DPW garage.
Starting in January 2023, mattress bags will be available at the DPW Administration office in town hall free of charge with proof of payment that resident has scheduled with Tough Stuff Recycling. However, if you need to drop off a mattress at the DPW garage prior to January 2023, please call the Department of Public Works at 781-942-9092.
What is accepted as part of the Mattress Recycling Program?
All size mattresses, including crib and foam. All size box springs. Each piece is considered a unit.
What is NOT included in the recycling program?
Futon mattresses, air or water beds, mattress pads and toppers, pet beds
Important: Mattresses and box springs must be
· Free of bed bugs and other insects/vermin
· Not heavily soiled
· Dry
· Free of human bodily fluids
· Removed from any solid waste, trash, debris
· Placed in a mattress bag and put curbside on day of pickup or when dropped off at DPW garage
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RPL Lockers are here for easy after-hour or quick pick-up. Can’t make it to the library to pick up your holds during regular business hours? Send your items to our new secure Hold Pickup Lockers and access your materials at your convenience. The new RPL Hold Lockers are located to the right of the main entrance of the library. The lockers were made possible due to generous support and funding from the Reading Public Library Foundation. Instructions here!
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The Gravestone Girls return to the library to provide an illustrated ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history and symbolism. From colonial New England burial grounds of the 17th and 18th centuries, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century, and into 21st century locations, the program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones. You’ll see photographs of original gravestones and burial grounds found in Reading alongside images from cemeteries visited by Gravestone Girls over many years. Welcome to the Graveyard with The Gravestone Girls - Wednesday January 25 in the Community Room.
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Storytimes return to the Children's Room in January!
Thursday afternoons feature Preschool Storytime Fun for ages 3-5.
This series is filled with rollicking stories, songs, felt boards and other visual methods of storytelling!
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Winter Concert: The Softer Side of Celtic. Much of the history of Scotland, England and Ireland is preserved in song. Hearing those stories along with the songs educate as well as entertain. Jeff Snow is a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays the music and tells the stories behind the songs. Join us for an evening of music at the library on Tuesday, January 24. Assistive listening devices are available for this program. |
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On Monday, January 23, teens can exercise their green thumb and plant some greenery! With help from Biss Botanicals, teens can plant three succulents that they can take home. Any questions about Succulent Plants for Teens - please contact us at rdgteen@noblenet.org. |
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Reading Memorial High School – “The Orbit” |
The Orbit is a student-run news website at Reading Memorial High School, focused on providing important information and informed commentary on issues and events centered around RMHS and the Reading community. Students from all grade levels and experience engage in contributing to The Orbit, covering a range of topics and different areas of interest. Some of our contributors are enrolled in the English department's journalism elective, while others are club members who contribute on an extra-curricular basis. The Orbit features regular news on sports, drama, and choir/band events and also delivers insight into RMHS happenings. Most recently an article was published about the unveiling of the new Vietnam War memorial by the front entrance of the high school. Almost every event of note at RMHS this year has been covered by our journalists. The Orbit ensures Reading students, teachers, parents, and residents alike obtain the news occurring in the high school.
Along with articles and news updates, The Orbit presents occasional photo galleries pictured by The Orbit's official photographer senior Mina Willander. Galleries this year have included an inside view of a band/color guard rehearsal, cross country practice, and a 30-minute photo session with RMHS’ most famous friend, Cooper the comfort dog. Each gallery features about 20-30 photos, highlighting a different aspect of life at RMHS and allowing people to get an inside view of varying school activities and events.
The Orbit is on social media! We are on Instagram and Twitter @theorbitofrmhs. Also, consider bookmarking our website www.rmhsorbit.com as articles are published weekly. We strive to be the main source of Rocket news and write the stories the community needs to hear.
The Orbit is advised by Mr. Michael McSweeney, English Department Head at RMHS. Student co-editors for the 2022-2023 academic year are seniors Timmy Duggan and Hannah Rigney.
Timmy Duggan
Student Co-editor
RMHS Orbit
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License your pooch! Dogs need to be licensed by the Town Clerk's Office by the end of March! |
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BOLO: the 2023 census has been sent out! Please return your census to the Town Clerk by the end of January! |
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Nomination Papers Available |
Nomination papers are now available for the April 4th election. The deadline to pick up papers is February 13th, 2023 at 5 PM.
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The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) and its contractor, Energy New England are partnering to present a webinar to educate the public about free home energy assessments on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 7:00 pm. The webinar is free, but those interested in attending are encouraged to register through this link.
A home energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, examines your current energy consumption and helps identify energy efficiency measures that you can take to make your home more efficient. An energy auditor will determine where your home is losing the most energy and will propose the improvements you can make to help save energy, improve the comfort of your home, and reduce your utility bills.
We hope you can join us!
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Town Hall Hours
Mon, Wed, Thurs 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tues 7:30 am – 7:00 pm
Friday - CLOSED
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