2022 State Election Results |
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Reading Town Clerk Laura Gemme has released the unofficial results for the State election of November 8, 2022. There were 12,160 ballots cast for a 60.3 percent turnout. [Read More]
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In preparation for Subsequent Town Meeting, which begins on November 14, the Reading Post sat down with Town Manager Fidel Maltez to review the town meeting warrant. The warrant, the list of items of business up for discussion at Town Meeting, is 23 articles long. Maltez suggested it could take upwards of four nights to complete. |
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Articles one and two appear on every warrant. Article one gives time for reports. Maltez shared that Moderator Alan Foulds requested that reports be in written form for this Town Meeting. There are two reports printed in the warrant report booklet, which is available on the town’s website. One, from the Reading ARPA Advisory Committee, reports on its process and ultimate recommendations to the Select Board on how the American Rescue Plan Act could be distributed. The second is an update from the Reading Center for Active Living Committee.
Article two allows for non-binding instructional motions to be made. This article is typically tabled to the last night of the meeting. Maltez is not aware of any instructional motions currently intended.
Article three amends the capital improvement plan. Maltez highlighted three proposed additions to the plan. The first, for the current fiscal year, is for $60,000 to resurface the tennis and basketball courts at Sturges Park. Maltez noted that he had heard about this need several times during his tenure as town manager. If approved, this work is scheduled for the spring. For Fiscal Year 2024, an additional $175,000 is proposed for the rebuilding of the tennis and basketball courts at Barrows Elementary School. The current plan only spends $25,000 on this issue. Maltez also noted that $80,000 for the police department to replace their firearms had been added to the plan. He shared that firearms typically have a ten-year life span and the department’s current weapons are twelve years old. Maltez continued, stating that replacing the entire supply of firearms is advantageous from a training and maintenance perspective.[Read More]
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Simms Jewelers 648 Main St, in Reading, Massachusetts – Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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Charles Simms, the founder of Simms Jewelers, took advantage of an opportunity to open his own business as he attended night school for watch repair. He bought a former jewelry store in 1956 and established a long-established family business in downtown Reading.
Peter Simms, the son of Charles Simms, joined the business in the 1980s and eventually took over the business operations in the 1990s. Simms grew up in Reading alongside his father’s business, so his transition into Simms as an owner has seen significant growth and development.
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A resident of North Reading, Simms has been devoted to developing their services. Simms Jewelers has always been a busy repair shop, and it still sells fine jewelry and diamonds and buys gold. Within the last ten years, it has significantly grown its custom-design jewelry and computer-generated design (CAD) products. Accessibility provided by the Internet and overnight shipping has also contributed to the continued expansion of its custom jewelry services.
“We are always looking for new vendors for jewelry in our store; people want different,” said Simms. “We are always looking for different vendors, styles, and always trying to stay up to date on the latest trends.”
Simms Jewelers does its best to provide a personalized experience when producing custom jewelry and works closely with its customers through the purchasing process. As it is a small, local business, Simms Jewelers is able to provide the attention and quality service that mass merchandisers cannot. [Read More]
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40R Drawing of 28 Haven Street |
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Attorney Josh Latham, speaking for applicant Lima Walderi, shared plans with the Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) for significant changes to the proposed 40R development at 25 Haven Street, the site of the former Reading Municipal Light Department building, on Monday. CPDC reviewed the previous proposal on June 13. The previous plans proposed a 52,000-square-foot building, which has now been reduced to 30,000 square feet. Latham explained that the unit count had been reduced from 25 to 12, reducing the units per acre from just over 58 to just over 27. The 16 parking spaces will be in a partially covered, partially open parking lot.
The building’s first floor will host two retail spaces totaling 3,848 square feet. An 875-square-foot outdoor patio space adjacent to the building is also planned. Landscaping plans provide a public pathway on the east side of the property, creating a pedestrian link from Haven Street to Green Street. The proposed building will have a 16-foot setback on the east side with a ten-foot setback on the western lot line. “There is a lot more green space than proposed before,” Latham explained. Latham also noted that the new plans no longer propose preserving the historic art deco facade of the current building.
Architect Donnie Gerrity added that each of the 12 units will have private outdoor space and that the fourth floor is towards the back of the building, placing it in the middle of the site. His rendering suggested that the fourth floor would be barely visible from across Haven Street. [Read More]
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By a vote of 5-0 and subject to successful contract negotiations, the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Board of Commissioners chose current interim general manager Gregory Phipps as the new RMLD general manager on Thursday. Phipps also has served RMLD as the Director of Integrated Resources. He will be RMLD’s fifteenth general manager in its 128 year history. The eighteen-minute meeting followed several months of interviews culminating in a three-hour and forty-five-minute meeting on Wednesday in which the Commissioners interviewed three finalists.
Commissioner Philip Pacino, in making his choice, shared that he admires the leadership Phipps has shown over the past months as interim and is pleased with his work on the Wilmington substation and in helping begin to change the culture at RMLD. “Greg is a leader,” Pacino declared.
Commissioner John Stempeck echoed Pacino’s statement sharing his belief that RMLD needs Phipps’s “strong leadership and excellent business analysis.” Commissioner David Talbot noted that Phipps had received praise from leaders in all four communities that RMLD serves. Phipps was also the choice for Commissioner Robert Coulter, who stated that Phipps had done things already that he would like to see continued. [Read More]
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Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) Director of Academic Achievement, shared progress that is being made toward implementing Innovation Pathways at RMHS. The program would help connect learners to a broadly defined industry sector that is in demand in the regional and state economy and guide students to relevant post-secondary education and training in those fields. Each pathway is a series of courses designed to continue through a student’s high school career, ending in a capstone class or student internship during their senior year. Callanan is currently meeting with potential industry leaders who might partner with RMHS in the program.
Callanan explained that the program would begin with two pathways: information and advanced manufacturing. The program includes enhanced support from the Guidance Department. The goal is to enroll twenty to twenty-five students in each pathway, with target groups for the program being females and high-needs students. Callanan shared that the state requires Innovation Pathways programs to have an emphasis on equity. Callanan noted that 8.2% of male students at RMHS participate in computer science classes, while only 3.9% of female RMHS students participate in the same courses. She also reported that only 30% of those in the Commonwealth working in science, technology, engineering, and math professions are female. Also of note is that twenty-five percent of the students at RMHS are in the high-needs subgroup. [Read More]
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House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn), and State Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) have secured $175,000 in state funding for the Town of Reading to help support a series of local initiatives as part of a comprehensive economic development bill recently finalized by the House and Senate.
House Bill 5374, An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth, was enacted by the House and Senate on November 3 and is now on Governor Charlie Baker’s desk for his review and signature. The bill represents a compromise reached by a six-member House and Senate conference committee that has been in negotiations since July attempting to resolve the differences between earlier versions of the bill approved by both legislative branches. [Read More]
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Reading Senior Citizens are invited to attend the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hillview Country Club in North Reading on Saturday, November 19 at 1 p.m. Doors will open at 12:15 p.m.
Held annually since 2008, the Reading Thanksgiving Dinner is hosted by Representative Brad Jones, his wife Linda, Representative Richard Haggerty, and Senator Jason Lewis. As in years past, hundreds of local residents are expected to attend this year’s event and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings served buffet style. Guests will enjoy a DJ and dancing at the event.
“We are excited to be able to return to a sit-down dinner this year to help celebrate the start of the holiday season with Reading’s seniors,” said Representative Jones. “Thanks to the support of my legislative colleagues, Representative Haggerty and Senator Lewis, as well as the generosity of the many local businesses and individuals who have partnered with us over the years, we are able to carry on this wonderful annual tradition for the community, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the 19th.” [Read More]
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Looking to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping while helping a great cause? The Church of the Good Shepherd in Reading will be hosting its annual FALL-iday Fair Saturday, November 19 from 10AM to 2PM. The FALL-iday Fair is our most ambitious fundraiser of the year.
We welcome all to join us in-person at the church at 95 Woburn Street near the train depot (Corner of Woburn and Chute Streets). It will include the Bargain Box (including our special discount Christmas sections), the Good Shepherd Crafters, a raffle table, tickets to our Grand Raffle, and much more!
Back for 2022 are our Bargain Jewelry, Gourmet Café, and Spin-it-to-Win-it game. We will also have live music. [Read More]
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This holiday season, believe in magic . . . believe in kindness . . . believe in hope as Colonial Chorus Players presents Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play based on the classic holiday movie. [Read More]
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The Reading Community Singers is excited to present their Annual Holiday Concert, “Holidays Favorites,” on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm, at Parker Middle School, 45 Temple St, Reading, MA. Beth Mosier, as Artistic Director, and Joe Beninati as Accompanist, lead the chorus of more than 70 Singers of all ages. Included among the Choral numbers will be “Mary Did you Know?”, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “The Chanukah Song (We are Lights),” and the ageless audience favorite, the “Hallelujah Chorus.” There will also be several solo performances by talented RCS members, a featured youth choir – and look out for some other Holiday Surprises – Ho, ho, ho! [Read More]
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AVERY ABATE Class of ‘23
Favorite Book: “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon
Favorite Quote: “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” Oprah Winfrey
Favorite Subject: Anatomy and Physiology
Athletics/Activities: RMHS Gymnastics Team, Reading Gymnastics Academy, Reading Gymnastics
Academy Coach, Special Olympics Coach
Plans After Graduation: Avery plans to attend college in the fall to pursue a degree in Exercise Science.
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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