By Kevin Vendt
After a presentation by Superintendent of Schools Thomas Milaschewski along with a team of teachers and administrators from the School Department, the Select Board voted 5-0 to allocate $2 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purpose of purchasing and rolling out a new literacy curriculum over the next three years. Milaschewski shared with the board that this request was “[the district’s] one big priority” and its “best spend-to-save effort.” Milaschewski cited the thirty-six percent of Reading students, including fifty-nine percent of African-American students, who do not read at grade level, as among the reasons why the request fits the ARPA guideline of addressing pandemic learning loss and as well as addressing educational disparities in the district.

Several residents spoke in favor of the request, including Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC) chair Marianne Downing. “This is a bargain compared to what the schools usually ask for,” Downing stated.

Both teachers and administrators spoke to the quality of the requested curriculum, noting its high rating by EdReports, and Curate. Wood End Elementary School Principal Joanne King also shared enthusiasm about the professional development for teachers and administrators that are included in the curriculum. “We need to shift to [principals being] educational leaders and not operations managers,” King added. [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
The Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) reopened the public hearing on a proposed development at 459 Main Street, currently the site of 128 Tire, on Monday. The 21,864 square foot proposed building would house 1,471 square feet of retail space on the first floor with four one-bedroom units, seven two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit on the upper three floors. The plans also include a nineteen-space parking garage on the first level.

Attorney Jesse Schomer, speaking for applicant G.C. Fodera Contracting, opened the presentation seeking assurance that the development would be considered using the bylaws in place when the project application was submitted and not those recently passed by Town Meeting in April. CPDC member John Weston indicated that legally this had to be the case. Schomer continued, adding that no additional changes had been made to the project since the April 11 hearing and that “we believe the project meets the guidelines for a transitional area.”

CPDC member Heather Clish asked Schomer about the requested shadow studies regarding the project’s impact on the abutting residential property on Washington Street. She also indicated that the wall on the east property line at eighty-four feet was too long not to be broken up by some form of an architectural feature. Project Architect Jeffrey Olinger suggested a range of options to make the wall a “pleasant thing to look at.” [Read More]
By Kevin Vendt
The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Board of Commissioners and the Select Board met in a joint session on Monday to begin conversations around the potential redevelopment of the area between Ash Street and the railroad tracks, known colloquially as the “eastern gateway.” This area was identified in a 2015 economic development study as one of the few areas in town that is underdeveloped and has potential for economic growth. Conceptual ideas were drawn up in 2019, though the pandemic sidelined the issue. The joint meeting, organized by Select Board chair Mark Dockser, is just the beginning of discussions on the issue.

The area hosts RMLD as well as several other businesses and is owned by multiple landowners. Any redevelopment of the area would include repurposing the 3,000 square foot historic RMLD “Station One”’ building and may also include relocating RMLD operations and storage to another place in town. “There are over forty vehicles, including fifteen bucket trucks on site,” RMLD General Manager Colleen O’Brien shared. RMLD rents 21,000 square feet of storage space in a large 45,000 square foot building behind its office building at 230 Ash Street.

RMLD member David Talbot suggested the first step of creating a plan for the RMLD conference room to be made available for other community uses. As discussion of the historic building continued, Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios suggested that an environmental assessment of the building might need to be done if it were to be made available for other uses. RMLD currently uses the space for records storage. [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]
It’s said that Love Makes The World Go ‘Round, and The Reading Community Singers are setting out to prove it with a program of songs to make their case.

Come join us on Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Reading Memorial High School when we will be performing The Beatles’ ‘I’m Happy Just To Dance With You,’ Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water,’ Adele’s ‘To Make You Feel My Love.’ and much, much more. 

The concert will also feature a medley of songs by the great 70’s rock band Chicago starring our fantastic pit band and ‘Disney Dazzle’ will fill the hearts of children and adults alike.

Tickets are going fast and space is limited. You can buy yours at the door, but we recommend an online purchase at our website ReadingCommunitySingers.org. Prices are as follows: adult tickets cost $25, Seniors and students pay $20, and kids under five get in free. To keep our audience and singers safe, please check our website for covid protocols. [Read More]

Favorite Book: “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover

Favorite Quote: “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Favorite Subjects: AP Government & Politics and Honors World Issues

Activities: Politics Club, Varsity Cheerleading & Gymnastics, Yearbook, Volunteering, Assists with Class Office, Organized a RMHS voter registration drive for students in collaboration with the Reading Town Clerk

Plans After Graduation: Sabrina will be attending The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. to study political science on the pre-law track.
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]
Reading Cooperative Bank’s (RCB) Rich Vecchione, Digital Marketing Specialist, has been tapped to join Reading Community Television Station’s (RCTV) Board of Directors. Rich has been with RCB for nearly five years and is deeply engaged in community outreach efforts spearheaded by the bank’s Marketing Department.

Rich has been eager to take on more of a leadership role locally. When a former RCTV Board Member stepped down, Rich seized the opportunity to fill the seat and gain the experience he had been seeking.

“I was more than happy to lend my voice to an organization I had been a member of since the beginning of my tenure at RCB,” Rich commented. “When Crystal Hodson, an old colleague of mine, called me up to gauge my interest, I knew I couldn’t say ‘no’.”

Rich began his journey producing video content for the Danvers High School (DHS) TV Production Club. He was fortunate to work under the tutelage of James Lombard, a former faculty member who helped nurture the existing program at DHS. [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]
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]