The Reading Rotary Club is proud to present the 14th Annual Reading Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 11. It’s back and better than ever! Drawing thousands every year to downtown Reading, it’s one of the most beloved Reading traditions. 

The Fall Street Faire happens every year on the Sunday after Labor Day – this year it falls on September 11. To honor and remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks, there will be a brief remembrance at 11:45 on the Woburn Street Stage, near the Town Common. Reading Police Chief David Clark and Fire Chief Greg Burns will speak and lead a moment of silence.
Live Entertainment
From noon to five, Faire goers will be treated to live entertainment on three stages, including bands, solo acts, and high-energy dance performances. Kick off the afternoon with the always entertaining Reading Community Concert Band on the Woburn Street Stage, located on Woburn Street between the Town Common and Venetian Moon. Then, enjoy thrilling dance performances by the LaPierre School of Dance, Encore Dance Academy, and the O’Shea Chaplin Irish Dancers. Get your groove on to great live music from Alpha Band, Cait, and Pat, and Talk to the Hand. 

You’ll find the Haven Street Stage on lower Haven Street near the Train Depot. Here you can get the party started with an electric performance by Encore Dance Academy. Experience a spectacular dance performance from the LaPierre School of Dance and enjoy live music from the Off Ramps, BJ Wass, Throwing Caution, Matt Pothier, Fifth Gear, and MC Killroy and Killjoy.

Finally, take it down a notch and relax at the Acoustic Corner, where you’ll find talented solo musicians playing gorgeous acoustic music. 

Meet our Vendors
The Reading Fall Street Faire runs along all of Haven Street and up onto Main Street in downtown Reading. More than one hundred local businesses, clubs, organizations, and non-profits will have booths located throughout the Faire. Many of our local downtown businesses are open for business during the Faire too. See how much the Town of Reading has to offer – stop in and see them all. 
Antique Car Show
Parking lot behind CVS between Haven and Woburn Streets
Come meet members of the North Shore Old Car Club and enjoy vintage vehicles from all eras. Rick Obey’s Entertainment DJ Nick Lamberti will spinning tunes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s all afternoon. Owners will be on hand to tell you about the automobiles and even pop the hood so you can take a peek inside. Take a fun trip down memory lane!
Football, Beer, and Cornhole
Lower Haven Street
The Patriots game will be streaming on a big-screen TV. Faire goers over 21 are invited to enjoy a cold one in the Beer Garden. Everyone is invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Cornhole Classic Tournament. A cash prize will be awarded to the best Cornhole player in Reading. Join the fun!
Tailgate
Lower Haven Street
The Patriots take on their division rival, the Miami Dolphins, at 1:00, and you don’t have to miss it. The game will be live streaming in the Tailgate area on a big screen TV. Faire goers over 21 are invited to enjoy a cold one in the Beer Garden. Everyone is invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Cornhole Classic Tournament. A cash prize will be awarded to the best Cornhole player in Reading. 

Fun for Kids
Kids won’t want to miss two different inflatable zones with bounce houses, inflatable slides, and other amusements. Inflatable zone tickets will be available for sale on the Common and on Haven Street. Younger children will want to check out the dedicated Children’s Area on upper Haven (in the Reading Cooperative Bank parking lot). There will be free crafts, games, pumpkin painting, and face painting.

Delicious Food
Throughout the Faire
Come hungry, leave happy! Food vendors will be selling pizza, fried dough, cupcakes, popcorn, and slush throughout the Faire.  [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
By a vote of 8-0, the Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC) recommended that the Select Board allocate $1.5 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to fund the phase one improvements proposed by the Recreation Committee at the Birch Meadow Complex. The proposed improvements include updated parking at the former Imagination Station site, a walkable “spine” trail through the complex, centralized bathrooms, a pavilion, and wetlands restoration. RAAC chair Marianne Downing noted that recreation concerns were the number one topic of interest for those who responded to the RAAC survey last spring. 

RAAC member Joseph McDonough spoke against the parking improvement, stating that he did not want to see the land covered in pavement and that adding parking discouraged walking or biking to the site. “I’d rather not see the money go to parking,” McDonough argued. Town Manager Fidel Maltez countered that the current parking situation is haphazard, constantly in need of repair, and environmental concerns to the adjacent wetlands. [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC) member Thomas Wise presented two possible models for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide extra pay to essential town workers who were required to work in person during the pandemic. Workers in this class include public safety officers, teachers, DPW workers, and several other groups. Wise and member Shawn Brandt developed the models.

Wise shared that both models provided for persons on staff from March 2020 to June 2021. Those who worked during these dates and retired during that time are provided for in the models, but those who left employment in Reading during that time are not. [Read More]
Reading Town Clerk Laura Gemme has released the unofficial results for the State Primary election of September 7, 2022. There were 5,010 ballots cast for a 24.9 percent turnout. [Read More]
September 11, Noon – Five
The Reading Rotary Club is proud to present the 14th annual Fall Street Faire on Sunday, September 11. Come out to enjoy great food, live entertainment, amusements, games, attractions, and fun for the whole family. One of the most popular amusements is back this year – Dunk the Readings! Local leaders have stepped up to take their turns sitting in a dunk tank for a good cause. Local students may want to take note, as they’ll see some familiar faces in the dunk tank this year.

School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Milaschewski will be spending some time in the dunk tank. So will Reading Memorial High School Principal Kevin Tracey and Reading Memorial High School Assistant Principal Kadi Buckley. New Parker Middle School Principal Rochelle Rubino will take a turn in the tank, and so will Parker Vice Principal Jay Peledge. Filling out School representation in the dunk tank will be Tom Wise, a member of the School Committee. 

And it isn’t just school leadership you can dunk. Town Manager Fidel Maltez will be spending some time in the dunk tank. So will four members of the Select Board: Carlo Bacci, Mark Dockser, Chris Haley, and Jackie McCarthy. [Read More]
Ongoing Project Will Document and Remember Those Lost
Chief David Clark and the Reading Police Department, along with the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support, and the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition, are proud to report they led a community recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.

Observed on August 31 every year, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) seeks to create better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and create change that reduces the harms associated with drug misuse.

“Overdose can affect anybody and one of the messages of this day is that the people who overdose are our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters – they are loved and they are missed. We want local families to know that their pain does not go unnoticed,” said Chief Clark. “We are strongly committed to addressing the complex issue of substance misuse, and ending overdose particularly fentanyl poisoning. The Reading Police Department is proud to continue the work of the Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support. We recognize the importance of a collaborative approach to improve prevention, intervention, and enforcement efforts. In the past year, we have expanded our reach by adding a Mental Health Clinician to our team. Together, our Officers, Dispatchers, Coalition staff and Coalition Advisory Board want to encourage our community to get involved and be part of our efforts moving forward.” [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
WHEREAS, Sally Hoyt celebrated the joyous occasion of her 100th birthday on August 20, 2022: and

WHEREAS, Sally Hoyt was born on August 20, 1922, grew up in Somerville, and has lived in Reading for over 75 years where she and her late husband, Brendan, raised their 3 children, Brendan L. Hoyt Jr., the late John E. Hoyt, and Sally-Jean O’Grady, all of whom are descendants of the family that lived in Reading’s Parker Tavern; and

WHEREAS, Sally Hoyt’s public service to her community began in the 1960s and has been boundless, as she was involved in countless town interests and projects, such as winning a seat on the Select Board in 1990, serving on the Council on Aging for over 20 years, serving as Senate President of the Silver Haired Legislature, and serving as a Reading Constable, just to
name a few of her accomplishments and involvements; and

WHEREAS, During her years of selfless service, Sally Hoyt was the recipient of numerous awards, made many valuable contributions to her community, held multiple important positions in public and private agencies, and worked to change the world around her for the
better; and

WHEREAS, Sally Hoyt is and always will remain an integral part of the Reading community, and created a legacy of positive change and tenacity. [Read More]
We aim to address the food and personal care needs of our neighbors through high-quality, respectful service in a welcoming environment, with the goal of enhancing well-being in our community.

Reading Food Pantry could use your help! Items in need are:
  • Kleenex
  • Mandarin Oranges
  • Brownie Mix
  • Crackers
  • Pastene Kitchen Ready Tomatoes

For your convenience, here is the link to our Amazon wishlist, which delivers directly to the Food Pantry 6 Salem Street in the Old South Church. [Read More]
Save the Date!
The Town of Reading Downtown Trick or Treat will be taking place on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm. A list of participating businesses will be published closer to the event date. [Read More]
The Reading Post only covers the town of Reading, but we think our readers might want to know what’s happening in nearby communities. The following articles might be of interest to Reading residents. [Read More]
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