Listen to this articleReading, MA — Boston 25 News opened its twenty-first year of “Zip Trip” by visiting Reading last Friday. The morning news team of hosts Gene Lavanchy, Shiri Spear, and Catherine Parrotta spent the morning at Camp Curtis Guild, highlighting local businesses and organizations during their morning news broadcast. The last time the Zip Trip came to Reading was in 2008.
The broadcast opens with a “Tour of the Town” by Parrotta that showcases the vibrant local businesses of Reading, such as Whitelam Books, Comically Speaking, the Tin Bucket, and the Burbank Ice Arena. The tour also visited Cal’s Creamery and DiCara’s Deli.
The area around the helipad at Camp Curtis was bustling with activity, with booths and kiosks set up for attendees to visit while the news show created its segments to be broadcast live on Channel 25.
Colonel Jonas Patruno of the Massachusetts National Guard gave the hosts a brief history of Camp Curtis Guild and showed off a Blackhawk helicopter that was flown in for the event. Spear also interviewed RMHS class of 2023 graduate Mina Wilander, a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who joined the Massachusetts National Guard upon graduation to help offset the costs of her college education.
Local eateries shared their favorite specialties while owners spoke about their restaurants. These included Empower Cafe at 190 Haven Street, Swissbakers in the Depot building, Cupcake City at 137 Main Street in their “Cupcake Van,” and Venetian Moon at 680 Main Street. Other restaurants highlighted were Public Kitchen at 530 Main Street and Post 1917 on Haven Street.
Intermingled with the restaurants were interviews with representatives of other local organizations such as Mission of Deeds, Colonial Chorus Players, Bark and Rescue, Camp Rice Moody, and Calareso’s.
Select Board chair Carlo Bacci participated in Town Trivia, answering four out of five questions correctly. Town Manager Matt Kraunelis shared about other notable activities in town, such as the Killam Elementary School project, the Maillet, Sommes, Morgan project on Willow Stree, which Kraunelis indicated should be completed this fall, and the upcoming PorchFest.
Lavanchy spoke with Coolidge Middle School principal Sarah Marchant who spoke about the school’s music program before receiving a $2,500 donation from Music Drives Us.
The morning closed with segments featuring Bunratty Tavern at 620 Main Street, the Reading Community Garden, and the Burbank Ice Arena. There was also an interview with long-time former Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) track coach Hal Croft and a segment celebrating the achievements of both the RMHS boys and girls track and field teams.
Boston 25 Zip Trip will visit Rockland on Friday, June 28.
