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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260829T120000
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SUMMARY:Wakefield Porchfest
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, August 29th  \nCelebration of Live\, Local Music Sets Date for 3rd Annual Townwide Event\nRain Date on Sunday\, August 30th\n\n\n\nWAKEFIELD\, MASS. – The Wakefield Porchfest Committee has selected a date for Wakefield Porchfest 2026\, which will return to town on Saturday\, August 29\, 2026\, with a rain date the following day\, Sunday\, August 30th. The exact time for the event has yet to be determined\, but will be announced later this year\, along with registration details for bands and hosts. The 2026 event will be the third annual community-wide festival\, which is focused on promoting local live music across the town\, with music acts hosted by homes and small businesses. \n“The final weekend of August will be the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration of live local music\, and an opportunity for our community to come together before the start of school and the busy fall season\,” said Porchfest Committee member Nate Johnson. “Wakefield is lucky to have one of the country’s best Fourth of July celebrations at the start of summer\, and we hope Wakefield Porchfest can become an annual tradition to close out the season. We’re looking forward to getting work underway to make this the best live music event in the region!” \nThe 2026 event builds on the success of the previous events in 2024 and 2025\, which each drew over 100 musical acts at 50 to 60 host locations around Wakefield. The community-wide event is coordinated by a group of volunteers who collaborate with musicians and the Wakefield residents\, homeowners\, and small businesses who host performances. \nSome additional details announced by the Committee\, in addition to the 2026 event date: \n\nRegistration for hosts and musical acts will also open later in the spring. Residents or businesses interested in hosting musical acts\, or those interested in performing\, should register on the Wakefield Porchfest website to receive an update when registration opens;\nThose interested in becoming a sponsor for Porchfest 2026 can reach out via email to sponsor@wakefieldporchfest.com to communicate interest and learn about our sponsorship options; and\nThe exact time for the 2026 event will be announced later in the year.\n\nEarlier this year\, Wakefield Porchfest co-founder Ike Adams received the Wakefield Human Rights Commission’s Community Service Award for 2026\, an honor awarded during the Town’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 19th. Adams was nominated by local community members Eileen Rooney and Ben Blackstone\, a high school musician\, who introduced him at the event\, which was shown live by WCAT. \nIn his acceptance speech\, Adams highlighted the many volunteers\, hosts\, musicians\, sponsors\, and music fans that help deliver a celebration of live music and of the community. \n“We made a day all about music and filled the town with it\, twice so far\,” said Adams. “My goal moving forward is simply: more music\, more volume\, more often\, more styles\, more variety\, more venues\, more bands\, more fans\, more music in places we haven’t heard it yet\, more people playing or singing for the first time\, and more people picking back up after a long break. If any of this sounds like something you’ve been considering\, this is your invitation.” \nThis program is funded in part by a grant from the Wakefield Arts Council\, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council\, a state agency. Wakefield Porchfest also receives funding and in-kind support from businesses and residents across the community. \nWakefield is one of more than 200 communities that host a Porchfest\, according to organizers in Ithaca\, NY\, which launched the first iteration of the community-focused music event in 2007.
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/wakefield-porchfest/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260829T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260829T190000
DTSTAMP:20260827T195317Z
CREATED:20260827T195317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T195317Z
UID:10000591-1788004800-1788030000@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Stoneham PorchFest
DESCRIPTION:Stoneham PorchFest will take place Saturday\, August 29\, from noon to 7 p.m. Musicians will perform throughout the community\, turning porches\, driveways and yards into informal neighborhood stages. The free community event is designed to bring residents and visitors together for an afternoon of live music and local talent. Performance schedules and locations are available through the Stoneham PorchFest website. \nhttps://www.stonehamporchfest.com/ \n  \n 
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/stoneham-porchfest/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260831T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260831T203000
DTSTAMP:20260827T194600Z
CREATED:20260827T194600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T194600Z
UID:10000589-1788201000-1788208200@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Reading Override Q&A Webinar Set For Monday
DESCRIPTION:Town Manager Jayne Wellman and Superintendent Dr. Henry Turner will answer residents’ questions about the proposed override during a virtual office-hours session\nReading\, MA — Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions about the Town of Reading’s proposed override during a virtual Q&A session on Monday\, August 31. \nAs part of the Town’s series of override information sessions\, Monday’s webinar will take a different format. Rather than beginning with a presentation\, the session will be dedicated entirely to a question-and-answer\, drop-in office-hours format. \nTown Manager Jayne Wellman and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Turner will be available to answer residents’ questions about the override and related Town and school issues. \nResidents may also submit questions in advance by emailing override@readingma.gov. \nOverride Office Hours\nMonday\, August 31\, 2026\n6:30 p.m.\nVirtual only \nResidents can register for the webinar through Zoom. \nZoom: Register for the Override Office Hours webinar \nAdditional information about the override and upcoming information sessions is available through the Town’s Override Hub.
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/reading-override-qa-webinar-set-for-monday/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Aug-31-2026-Office-Hours.png
LOCATION:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e1wP7nM0S72kJjhxc7zlXA
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260902
DTSTAMP:20260827T194829Z
CREATED:20260806T040813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T194829Z
UID:10000580-1788220800-1788307199@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:State Primary Election
DESCRIPTION:September 1\, 2026: Primary
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/state-primary-election/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/election-2026.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T210000
DTSTAMP:20260807T191405Z
CREATED:20260807T191216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T191405Z
UID:10000584-1788291000-1788296400@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Reading Community Singers - 3 Open Rehearsals
DESCRIPTION:Reading\, MA — Mark your calendar! The Reading Community Singers are pleased to announce that our Fall season will begin with 3 OPEN Rehearsals\, starting Tuesday\, August 25\, and continuing on September 1 and 8. New and Returning Singers are welcome! \nSign-In for the first 3 Rehearsals starts at 6:45 PM\, with Rehearsal to follow at 7:30.  Try RCS out for free before joining! Registration is Open for the first three rehearsals! \nAll Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at Old South United Methodist Church\, 6 Salem St.\, Reading MA. \nWhile RCS does NOT require Auditions\, our Members must love to sing\, be able to match pitch and carry a tune\, and be committed to attending rehearsals. We’re open to ALL ages and backgrounds – from 18 years to Senior Citizens. Even if you haven’t sung in years\, what better way to get back into it than by adding your voice to more than 60 other singers? Founded in 1919\, RCS is one of the longest-running non-audition choruses in the United States. \nOur Concert “Holiday Dreams” will be performed Saturday\, December 5 at Reading Memorial High School\, with Beth Mosier ~ Artistic Director\, Joe Beninati ~ Accompanist\, and a full band. The inspiring music for this concert features many Favorite Classics and Broadway-Inspired Holiday Songs that many of you are sure to recognize\, including “Sleigh Ride”\, “Feliz Navidad”\, “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman\, as well as new favorites like “That Christmas Mornin’ Feeling” from the movie Spirited! \nJoin RCS this Holiday season to have a wonderful time singing and making new friends. For further info\, please visit our website https://ReadingCommunitySingers.org\, find us on Facebook\, or contact us at info@ReadingCommunitySingers.org. Online registration is now open!
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/rcs-open-rehearsals-2/2026-09-01/
LOCATION:Old South Church\, 6 Salem Street\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RCS-Sing-with-Us-Holiday-2026-square-v3-e1786129312872.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T190000
DTSTAMP:20260827T005138Z
CREATED:20260827T005058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T005138Z
UID:10000588-1788886800-1788894000@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Post 1917 Hosts 2nd Annual Mr. Black Espresso Martini Competition
DESCRIPTION:Bartenders will compete for the title of Espresso Martini Champion on September 8\, with cocktails\, appetizers and charity fundraising\n Who will be crowned this year’s Espresso Martini Champion?\nReading\, MA — Post 1917 Reading is bringing back the 2nd Annual Mr. Black Espresso Martini Competition on Tuesday\, September 8\, at 5:00 PM! \nWatch talented bartenders put their own creative spin on the beloved espresso martini while a panel of judges determines this year’s champion. Guests can sample every competition cocktail\, enjoy one complimentary Post 1917 signature cocktail and passed appetizers\, plus receive a 10% off dinner coupon. \n Tickets: $45 per person\n A percentage of proceeds will be donated to charity. \n Get your tickets: Eventbrite \nBartender interested in competing? Email bar@post1917.com for details. \n#Post1917 #EspressoMartini #MrBlack #ReadingMA #CocktailCompetition #EspressoMartiniCompetition
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/post-1917-hosts-2nd-annual-mr-black-espresso-martini-competition/
LOCATION:Post 1917\, 136 Haven St\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mr.-Black-Espresso-Martini-Competition.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T210000
DTSTAMP:20260807T191405Z
CREATED:20260807T191216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T191405Z
UID:10000585-1788895800-1788901200@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Reading Community Singers - 3 Open Rehearsals
DESCRIPTION:Reading\, MA — Mark your calendar! The Reading Community Singers are pleased to announce that our Fall season will begin with 3 OPEN Rehearsals\, starting Tuesday\, August 25\, and continuing on September 1 and 8. New and Returning Singers are welcome! \nSign-In for the first 3 Rehearsals starts at 6:45 PM\, with Rehearsal to follow at 7:30.  Try RCS out for free before joining! Registration is Open for the first three rehearsals! \nAll Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at Old South United Methodist Church\, 6 Salem St.\, Reading MA. \nWhile RCS does NOT require Auditions\, our Members must love to sing\, be able to match pitch and carry a tune\, and be committed to attending rehearsals. We’re open to ALL ages and backgrounds – from 18 years to Senior Citizens. Even if you haven’t sung in years\, what better way to get back into it than by adding your voice to more than 60 other singers? Founded in 1919\, RCS is one of the longest-running non-audition choruses in the United States. \nOur Concert “Holiday Dreams” will be performed Saturday\, December 5 at Reading Memorial High School\, with Beth Mosier ~ Artistic Director\, Joe Beninati ~ Accompanist\, and a full band. The inspiring music for this concert features many Favorite Classics and Broadway-Inspired Holiday Songs that many of you are sure to recognize\, including “Sleigh Ride”\, “Feliz Navidad”\, “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman\, as well as new favorites like “That Christmas Mornin’ Feeling” from the movie Spirited! \nJoin RCS this Holiday season to have a wonderful time singing and making new friends. For further info\, please visit our website https://ReadingCommunitySingers.org\, find us on Facebook\, or contact us at info@ReadingCommunitySingers.org. Online registration is now open!
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/rcs-open-rehearsals-2/2026-09-08/
LOCATION:Old South Church\, 6 Salem Street\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RCS-Sing-with-Us-Holiday-2026-square-v3-e1786129312872.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260918T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260918T150000
DTSTAMP:20260827T194738Z
CREATED:20260827T194738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T194738Z
UID:10000590-1789740000-1789743600@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:J. Warren Killam Elementary School Groundbreaking Set For September 18
DESCRIPTION:Town officials\, school leaders\, and project partners will gather to mark the start of construction on Reading’s new Killam Elementary School\nReading\, MA — The Town of Reading will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the J. Warren Killam Elementary School project on Friday\, September 18\, at 2 p.m. \nThe event will take place at 333 Charles St. and will mark the beginning of construction on the new elementary school. \nThe ceremony is expected to include representatives of the Reading legislative delegation\, Massachusetts School Building Authority\, Reading Select Board\, Killam School Building Committee\, School Committee\, various Town committees\, and project partners\, including the owner’s project manager\, designers\, and contractors. Town of Reading and Reading Public Schools employees will also participate. \nThe Killam Elementary School project was approved by Reading voters earlier this year as part of a major investment in the Town’s schools. \nMore information about the project is available at killamschool.com. \nReading Community Television will record the groundbreaking ceremony and make the recording available for distribution following the event.
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/j-warren-killam-elementary-school-groundbreaking-set-for-september-18/
LOCATION:Killam School\, 333 Charles St\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JW-Ground_Breaking.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260920T170000
DTSTAMP:20260827T004929Z
CREATED:20260827T004929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T004929Z
UID:10000587-1789916400-1789923600@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:Austin Prep Educator Tells Untold Story of Deadly World War II Bombing
DESCRIPTION:1941 World War II tragedy brought to light through years of research\, uncovering the stories of the 71 civilians killed in the Portland Square bombing\nThe following article\, written by an Austin Prep student\, features teacher Michael McLaughlin\, a Reading resident who will celebrate the release of his new book\, Plymouth Blitz\, with a launch event at Whitelam Books in Reading on September 20. \nBy Kim Tauro ’28\, Austin Preparatory School Student \nReading\, MA — History is often remembered through its biggest moments\, but some of its most devastating stories remain largely untold. In his new book\, Plymouth Blitz\, Michael McLaughlin\, a Reading resident and Head of Middle School at Austin Prep\, shines a light on one of the deadliest incidents of the bombing campaign against Plymouth during the Second World War: the bombing of Portland Square. \n\nThe book examines the April 1941 bombing of Portland Square in southwest England\, which killed 71 civilians taking shelter during the Plymouth Blitz\, the German bombing campaign against the port city. More than 80 years after the bombing\, the tragedy remains one of the least-studied civilian disasters of the Blitz\, making Plymouth Blitz the first book to examine the event in depth. For McLaughlin\, the project began with a deeply personal connection. \nA Family Connection Leads to an Untold Story\nAfter meeting his wife\, Jessica\, Michael McLaughlin learned that her great-grandparents\, Major Lang and Maggie Cornelius\, were among those killed in the Portland Square bombing. Their deaths left his wife’s grandfather\, Anthony Cornelius\, orphaned at 13 years old. After reading his grandfather-in-law’s memoir\, McLaughlin discovered Anthony’s wish to preserve the memory of his parents and share their story with future generations. “It started as an exercise in family genealogy\, but I quickly realized there was a lot more to the story\,” McLaughlin said. “There were 69 other voices and families and people whose lives were cut short. And nobody had told the story before.” \nYears of Research Bring the Tragedy to Light\nAs his research expanded\, McLaughlin found that no historian had thoroughly documented the Portland Square tragedy. Existing accounts devoted only a few sentences to the bombing and often contained incorrect dates and casualty figures. Determined to correct the historical record\, he spent years examining death certificates\, archival records\, military documents and firsthand accounts. \nHis work took him from archives in Plymouth to the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle in England\, where he received permission from King Charles III to conduct research. As word of the project spread\, descendants of victims reached out with family photographs\, memoirs and letters that had never before been made public\, adding deeply personal perspectives to the historical record. \nRather than focusing solely on military strategy\, Plymouth Blitz tells the story through the experiences of ordinary people. The Cornelius family serves as the narrative’s central thread\, and the stories of many other victims help illustrate the human cost of the bombing and its aftermath. \nMcLaughlin\, who previously taught European history at Saint Patrick Catholic High School in Biloxi\, Mississippi\, said his background as an educator shaped the way he approached the book. “I think good education is about good storytelling and making connections\,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve not written a fictional novel. I’ve written a real disciplined historical piece\, but I want readers to be invested in the characters.” \nGiving the Victims Their Names Back\nBeyond documenting this event\, McLaughlin hopes the book encourages readers to look beyond familiar World War II narratives and remember the individuals whose stories have faded from public memory. Although the Portland Square bombing was the deadliest civilian incident in Plymouth during the war\, it remains largely unknown outside the city. \n“The goal in writing it was not to focus on the numbers\, but to really restore names to the history\,” McLaughlin said. \nAt Austin Prep\, Michael McLaughlin hopes the same curiosity that drove his research will inspire students and readers alike to uncover their own overlooked stories from the past. \nPlymouth Blitz will be distributed in the U.S. by Simon & Schuster and available wherever books are sold beginning September 22. Plymouth Blitz is available for preorder now on Amazon. McLaughlin will celebrate the release with a launch event at Whitelam Books\, 610 Main Street in Reading\, on Sunday\, September 20\, 2026\, from 3-5 p.m. The event is open to the public. \nExplore Austin Prep\nAt Austin Prep\, learning is shaped by educators who bring curiosity\, scholarship\, and a passion for discovery into the classroom. Faculty members like Michael McLaughlin\, Head of Middle School\, model the kind of intellectual curiosity we encourage in our students every day. \nInterested in discovering what an Austin Prep education could offer your child? Learn more about Austin Prep academic programs\, or complete an inquiry form to begin your Austin Prep journey.
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/austin-prep-educator-tells-untold-story-of-deadly-world-war-ii-bombing/
LOCATION:Whitelam Books\, 610 Main Street\, Reading\, MA\, 01867\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Michael-McLaughlin-edited.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261103
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261104
DTSTAMP:20260806T040729Z
CREATED:20260806T040729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T040729Z
UID:10000579-1793664000-1793750399@thereadingpost.com
SUMMARY:State General Election
DESCRIPTION:November 3\, 2026: General election
URL:http://thereadingpost.com/event/state-general-election/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:http://thereadingpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/election-2026.jpg
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