Peter Maguire, Representative Brad Jones, Sophia Latham, Vice-consule Anouk Dumas and Representative Richard Haggerty |
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By Kevin Vendt with Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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In 1824, at the invitation of President James Monroe, the last living Revolutionary War general, the Marquis de Lafayette of France, made a historic journey to the United States. From his arrival in 1824 and through 1825, Lafayette toured the new nation with much fanfare, which included a stop in Reading in June of 1825 at the Skinner Hotel, which was located on the current site of the Latham Law Office building in Downton Reading.
To commemorate this visit, a small committee headed by resident Peter Maguire sought to have a historical marker placed on the site where Lafayette greeted the gathered crowd. Maguire recalled coordinating with Lafayette Trails, Inc., which issued the challenge to verify Lafayette’s visit through primary sources historically.
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Maguire shared that the sources discovered included a newspaper article from Concord, New Hampshire, about Lafayette’s journey and a first-hand account from the Reverend William Wakefield, who was present on the day Lafayette stopped in Reading. Maguire noted that Reading’s first doctor, John Brooks, who mustered the local militia to be ready for the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April of 1775, was a personal friend of Lafayette’s from their time of service together during the Revolution.
After a year of work, this past Friday, August 19, was the official unveiling of the marker, which was provided through a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Among those present were Representatives Brad Jones and Richard Haggerty, Town Manager Fidel Maltez, Select Board Vice-Chair Karen Herrick and her daughter Madeline, Dorothea Jensen from the nonprofit Lafayette Trails Inc., and Alan Hoffman, President of the American Friends of Lafayette Society. [Read More]
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Last Call for Sponsors and Vendors |
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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. Check out the Woburn Street Stage (near the Common), the Haven Street Stage (near the Train Depot on Lower Haven), and the Acoustic Corner.
Meet our Vendors
The Reading Fall Street Faire runs along all of Haven Street and up onto Main Street. More than one hundred local businesses, clubs, organizations, and non-profits will have booths located throughout the Faire. Stop in and see them all!
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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. 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!
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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, and face painting.
Delicious Food
Throughout the Faire
Food vendors will be selling pizza, fried dough, cupcakes, cookies, popcorn, and slush throughout the Faire. Come hungry, leave happy!
Dunk Tank
Middle of Haven Street
It’s a Fall Street Faire favorite! Local leaders step up to get dunked! Town Manager Fidel Maltez, School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Milaschewski, Reading Memorial High School Principal Kevin Tracey, and members of the Select Board and School Committee have all signed up to sit in the Dunk Tank. Your $2, $5, or $20 donation to take a chance at dunking a town leader will go to support both the Reading Rotary Club/Fall Street Faire and the owners of Ruff N’Ready Dog Grooming, a small local business that recently suffered a setback. [Read More]
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By Kevin Vendt with Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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Reading paused last Wednesday to help long-time resident Sally Hoyt celebrate her upcoming 100th birthday. The celebration, held in the Sally Hoyt Great Room at the Pleasant Street Center, was highlighted by recognitions of Hoyt’s accomplishments. |
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Hoyt joined the newly-formed Council on Aging in 1957. She joined the Conservation Commission in 1977 and became a constable in the same year. After thirteen years on the commission, Hoyt won election to the Board of Selectmen in 1990 and served on the board for twelve years. After her time on the Board of Selectmen, Hoyt returned to the Council on Aging, where she continues to serve.
Hoyt was a member of the Massachusetts Silver-Haired Legislature and the National Silver-Haired Congress. During that time, she was instrumental in promoting legislation supporting the rights of the elderly, of women, and of the disabled. She also has pursued conservation issues.
“Reading is a better place for having you as a member of the community,” State Representative Richard Haggerty exclaimed. State Representative Bradley Jones added, “She is always polite, but always persistent. Sally did it the right way.” Haggerty continued, “Her love of Reading is always on display and her years of service to the community are indelible.” Haggerty and Jones presented Hoyt with a certificate of recognition and congratulations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. [Read More]
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By Kevin Vendt with Photos by Kenan Cooper |
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Dale Gienapp of Gienapp Architects, Project consultant for the proposed Killam Elementary School project, updated the Killam School Building Committee on the process, which got Reading to this point. Gienapp began by sharing that the process started with an enrollment study conducted by NESDEC, which projected an increased enrollment of 155 students in the elementary program over the next twenty years. Gienapp also noted that seventeen classrooms had been set aside in the last fifteen years for special education purposes, nine for kindergarten, and three for pre-kindergarten. These factors create an expected 35% space shortage in elementary schools in the coming years. This information led Gienapp to the development of a master plan in which seven options for increased space capacity were submitted to the School Committee for discussion.
After consideration and discussion, the School Committee opted for a choice that will build a new Killam Elementary School to meet all its elementary space needs. A letter of interest was submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), asking to be included in its funding program. Gienapp shared that the MSBA received 188 letters of interest and that Reading is one of only seventeen selected to continue in the process. June 1, 2022, began a 270-day eligibility period in which the town needs to complete several tasks, including establishing a School Building Committee, reports to MSBA on programming and maintenance, and funding a feasibility study and schematic plan. [Read More]
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In Ira Levin’s classic comedic thriller Deathtrap, a washed-up playwright finds a chance to rise to the top once more—a shot he’s willing to kill for! Deathtrap is simultaneously both hilarious and horrifying, full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. [Read More]
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DEATHTRAP
By Ira Levin
Directed by Shanel Sparr
Produced by Jennifer Estabrooks
CAST
Sidney Bruhl . . . Jamie Cabot
Clifford Anderson . . . Colin Lamusta
Myra Bruhl . . . Ann Marie King
Helga ten Dorp . . . Beth Enos
Porter Milgrim . . . Kevin Pierson
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PERFORMANCES
- Friday, October 7, 2022 @ 7:30PM
- Saturday, October 8, 2022 @ 7:30PM
- Sunday, October 9, 2022 @ 2PM
- Friday, October 14, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
- Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ 7:30PM
- Sunday, October 16, 2022 @ 2 PM
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State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) is searching for motivated, civic-minded individuals interested in a Fall legislative internship. Representative Haggerty proudly represents the people of the 30th Middlesex District of Massachusetts, which includes the City of Woburn and Town of Reading.
Interns will have the rewarding opportunity to experience policymaking, politics, and government through participating in the day-to-day functioning of a State Representative’s office. Interns will report mainly to Nicole Redigan, Legislative Aide to Representative Haggerty, and will be responsible for assisting with a variety of tasks ranging from constituent correspondence, scheduling, legislative research, database management, to communications and social media assignments. They will also have the opportunity to attend various events such as hearings, meetings, and listening to guest speakers, while gaining the satisfaction of serving the Commonwealth along with adding beneficial experience to their resume. [Read More]
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WHEN: September 16, 2022
WHERE: MANDARIN READING, 296 Salem Street, Reading, MA 01867
TIME: 11:30 AM-9:30 PM
Go to our website and download a coupon to present to your server. 20% of your bill will be donated to Arts Reading. The coupon is good for both dine-in and take-out.
Our Members:
Ivy Chord Coffeehouse, Colonial Chorus Players, Everett and Ginny Blodgett, Nora Bucko, Heather Gay, Whitelam Books, Joe Leto, Jr., Quannapowitt Players, Inc., Reading Historical Commission, Reading Public Library, Town of Reading, The Music Porch, Northeast Youth Ballet, Creative Arts for Kids, CATO Coalition of Us, Reading Symphony Orchestra, and Rick Corbett Art.
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Chief Michael Murphy reports that Massachusetts Environmental Police, with assistance from the North Reading Police Department, immobilized a black bear on Sunday, believed to be the same bear sighted by residents in multiple communities in recent weeks.
North Reading Police have received several calls regarding black bears in the past month. On Sunday, Aug. 22, at about 8:30 a.m., North Reading police were informed that a bear was attacking chickens on Foley Drive. During the day police received several other calls reporting sightings in the areas of Haverhill Street and Gowing Lane. North Reading Police contacted Massachusetts Environmental Police to assist via mutual aid. [Read More]
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Highlights from the Reading Police & Fire Logs
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