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The Town Manager Minute

AUGUST 2022

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENIN'!

August 9th @ 7:30 AM - Vehicle Day August 10th @ 6:30 PM - Craftivism 101 August 14th @ 10 AM - Electric Car Show August 17th @ 7 PM - RMLD and Abode Energy Management Heat Pump Virtual Live Q&A and Info Session August 27th - EARLY VOTING BEGINS Keep Reading for more information on these events!

GET INVOLVED!

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: Climate Advisory Committee Conservation Commission Recreation Committee Cultural Council ZBA (associate) View the full list of vacancies here Fill out an application here

HAVEN STREET POCKET PARK

Haven Street Pocket Park Now Open! The Town of Reading celebrated the opening of a new Haven Street Pocket park on July 14, 2022. The Haven Street Pocket Park, located at 52 Haven Street, is a Town of Reading initiative designed to “Keep Downtown Vibrant.” This space includes bistro tables, vibrant public art, professionally designed flower planters, solar lanterns/lights, and rain barrels.   This project was a collaboration between the Town of Reading’s Public Services Department (Economic Development Division) and Department of Public Works as part of the Town’s COVID Local Rapid Recovery Plan.   Please enjoy this seasonal public space.

RMLD UPCOMING EVENTS

RMLD Electric Car Show: 08/14/2022   The annual RMLD Electric Car Show in partnership with the Wilmington Farmers Market will take place on Sunday, August 14 from 10am-1pm.   A variety of plug-in electric vehicle models will be on display from area auto dealerships and local EV owners. Attendees can learn about the various makes and models and talk to EV owners about their experiences. Information on home and public charging stations, electric vehicle incentive programs, and RMLD rebate programs will also be available.   If you’re interested in attending with your car as an EV ambassador, please fill out this form. We hope to see you there! RMLD and Abode Energy Management Heat Pump Virtual Live Q&A and Info Session   During the past few years, heat pumps have surged in popularity from an obscure technology in the Northeast to one of the area’s fastest growing installations for homes and buildings. And as Massachusetts works toward a no-carbon future, residential heat pump adoption will continue to accelerate.   There are a lot of misconceptions about heat pumps as well as a lack of public awareness about the benefits of heat pump installation. Join RMLD in Partnership with Abode Energy Management that will answer your burning heat pump questions on Wednesday, August 17 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.   Click here to register!

Library Happenings!

New in August! Participate in our small but mighty Community Read, starting August 13! Read a book, share perspectives, attend a library event. Celebrate community dialogue around the themes of body positivity because every body is a good body. Copies of featured titles are available at the library for checkout and free copies can be discovered at various locations throughout town. If you stumble upon one of our collections in the wild, take a book, read it, and return to the location for the next person to enjoy. More information available at the library! #RPLcommunityread2022 and #everybodyisagoodbody

Summer reading continues through mid-August, and we’ve got great events lined up such as Drum2TheBeat with Otha Day, Vehicle Day, Teen Campout, and Craftivism 101. Check it all out on our Events Calendar.

A message from the Town Clerk...

CONSERVATION INFORMATION

Monarch Butterflies Recently Monarch butterflies have been added to endangered lists. There are some basic suggestions for environmentally concerned Reading folks to implement if they’d like to help monarchs and other pollinators. Learning about and removing Black Swallow Wort ranks high as well as planting native nectar plants for the monarchs and their offspring. Native plants will feed other pollinators, too. If folks only plant milkweed, which is a monarch host plant, without native nectar plants, you won’t attract them to your yard to lay eggs on your milkweed plants. Suggestions for native plants can be found on the Conservation Area of the town website.

Black Swallow Wort Secondly, folks can become very familiar with the Black Swallow Wort “vine”. It’s in the milkweed family so monarchs sometimes lay eggs on the plant but it’s not a host plant so the egg hatches and can’t eat. It creates pods like other milkweeds and blows with the wind. The roots are succulent so if you try to pull up the plant it breaks off and all the bits of root left behind will create new plants. If found around Reading, be sure to remove as much of the plant as possible and definitely the seed pods to help stop the spread. The pulled foliage and seeds should be put into the trash and not composted.

POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES

The Police Department has been very busy on the lookout for kids wearing their helmets! Make sure to wear your helmet and maybe you will receive a 'citation'; good for a piece of pizza or ice cream at a local shop!

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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