The Town has announced that applications for second water meters designated for outdoor use are now open to residentail property owners through OpenGov. To apply, a licensed plumber must initiate the applicaiton process on OpenGov under the ‘Building/Inspections’ category, see the screenshot below. The second water meter is designed to measure and bill only outdoor water usage, helping residents manage irrigation and other exterior water needs more efficiently. Each year, the Town will permit up to 500 second water meters, and property owners are responsible for all associated application and inspection fees, as well as the cost of the meter itself.

The Reading Community Garden is excited to share updates for the fourth upcoming season of planting! 

Visit: www.readingma.gov/communitygarden to find the link to the application and gardener agreement.

• Please submit applications by March 31, 2025.

• Plots will be assigned by the end of the first week of April 2025.

• Returning gardeners interested in applying for the same plot or would like to request a different one, please contact Town Staff

Karen Rose-Gillis has announced she is running for the Select Board. Karen is an active listener, a clear, consistent communicator, and a respectful and analytical decision-maker, and she believes these attributes will be a huge asset to the Select Board. Karen has lived in Reading since 1993 and raised three children in Reading. Most recently, Karen was a Parking Advisory & Recommendation Committee (PARC) member, a long-time Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, and a meaningful contributor to Reading school and sports communities. Please join Karen with your enthusiasm and energy to move Reading forward and make it even better. Decisions made now need to be thoughtful solutions for the future. Let’s come up with some thoughtful solutions for the future; our town deserves it! For more information, please visit: https://www.VoteForKRG.com

The Town Clerk’s office has officially mailed out the 2025 Annual Census, and all residents are encouraged to review the information on their form. Residents should update any necessary details per the instructions, sign the form, and return it to the Town Clerk’s office as soon as possible. Along with the annual census form, residents also received a dog licensing worksheet and a Vote By Mail application. All dogs six (6) months of age or older must be licensed by March 31, 2025, violations will result in a $50 fine.

The community is invited to celebrate Black History Month with a fun and educational Trivia Night at the Reading Public Library tonight! Hosted by the Office of Equity and Social Justice, this event will challenge participants’ knowledge of Black history while fostering an engaging and inclusive discussion.

The MBTA has notified the Town of Reading that it has requested to withdraw its Notice of Intent for the proposed project at 0 Vine Street. However, the agency has made it clear that this withdrawal is without prejudice, meaning it intends to refile at a later date.

Despite this change, the public forum scheduled for tonight will proceed as planned. The meeting, designed to allow the MBTA to gather community feedback and address questions, will take place from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Pleasant Street Center, located at 49 Pleasant Street.

Happy Black History Month! As the month comes to a close, CATO – The Coalition of Us – is proud to share its 5th Annual Black History Month Takeover Event, an interactive and engaging way to celebrate, reflect, and learn throughout February and beyond.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Reading Observer, a dedicated news organization committed to delivering in-depth coverage of local elections, government affairs, and educational topics in Reading, Massachusetts.