The Reading Post

Senator Jason Lewis Announces July Office Hours in Reading
2026-07-06 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Pleasant Street Center, 49 Pleasant St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Reading, MA — State Senator Jason Lewis will be holding Office Hours in Reading on Monday, July 6, 2026, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Pleasant Street Center (49 Pleasant St).
Any Reading resident is welcome to attend Office Hours, with no appointment necessary, to meet with the Senator and discuss any constituent issues or legislative feedback.
Senator Lewis will also be holding Office Hours the same day in Winchester from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Winchester Public Library (80 Washington St), and in Stoneham from 12-1 p.m. at the Stoneham Senior Center (136 Elm St).
Another option for residents who would like to meet with Senator Lewis is to attend Virtual Office Hours, which will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026, from 2-3 p.m. on Zoom.
For further information or any questions visit SenatorJasonLewis.com or contact his office at (617) 722-1206 or Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov.

Representative Jones Holding District Office Hours
2026-07-10 10:15 - 11:15 | Pleasant Street Center, 49 Pleasant St, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
July 10 at Reading’s Pleasant Street Center
BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) will be holding his monthly district office hours in Reading on Friday, July 10, from 10:15-11:15 a.m. at the Pleasant Street Center, located at 49 Pleasant Street.
During office hours, Representative Jones or a member of his staff will be available at the center to meet with constituents on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.
“I encourage Reading residents to stop by the Pleasant Street Center during office hours to discuss any issues of concern they may have, including questions about legislation and accessing government services,” said Representative Jones. “We are always happy to assist in any way we can and to be a resource to the community.”
Constituents who are unable to attend local office hours can schedule an appointment to meet with Representative Jones at a more convenient time by calling (617) 722-2100 or e-mailing his District Aide, Brittany Carisella, at Brittany.Carisella@mahouse.gov. Representative Jones can be reached at Bradley.Jones@mahouse.gov.
Reading office hours take place on the second Friday of every month at the Pleasant Street Center.

Colonial Chorus Players - My Dearest Friend
2026-07-10 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-07-11 14:30 - 16:30, 2026-07-11 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-07-12 14:30 - 16:30 | Colonial Chorus Players, 1249 Main Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
One weekend only, the Old Hose House Theater hosts a complimentary production celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the letters, love story, and legacy of John and Abigail Adams
Reading, MA — This July, to commemorate the nation’s 250th, Colonial Chorus Players is honored to present My Dearest Friend, a new play about John and Abigail Adams by Peter Manos.
Both a history lesson and a love story, My Dearest Friend is about the founding of the nation revealed through the rich, witty, and passionate correspondence between the second U.S. President and the First Lady.
Directed by Laura J. Bilodeau, My Dearest Friend is a Time Travel Theatrical production that is being performed at multiple venues throughout New England. Two pairs of actors—Peter Cavicchio & Carla Perrotta and James Hunt & Katie Broach—bring the couple to life on stage.
For Reading native Peter, being in this cast gives him the opportunity to play opposite his spouse in real life, Carla. “Engaging emotionally with Carla on stage is so easy,” he says. “Having the relationship we have off the stage makes those long, quiet moments, heartfelt moments, and moments of pain and loss in the play feel that much more natural.”
Performances of My Dearest Friend are one weekend only at the Old Hose House Theater, 1249 Main Street, Reading. Peter and Carla are featured on Friday, July 10, at 7:30 PM and Saturday, July 11, at 2:30 PM. James and Katie perform Saturday, July 11, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, July 12, at 2:30 PM.
Tickets are complimentary, but reservations are suggested. Reserve up to four tickets in advance at ticketstage.com or pick them up at the theater 30 minutes before showtime.

Reading Public Library Launches Summer Reading Program and Writing Contest
2026-07-22 | Reading Public Library, 64 Middlesex Avenue, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
Community members of all ages can participate in reading challenges and submit original work for the “Reading Is Revolutionary” writing competition
Reading, MA—This summer, discover how Reading is Revolutionary at the Library! We’re celebrating 250 years of independence with a Summer Reading program for children (ages 6 and up), teens, and adults starting June 22.
Register online at readingpl.org/summer-reading, and then come to the library to pick up your reading Passport and begin! Passports contain 12 reading challenges. Complete the challenges, have your Passport stamped at the library, earning prizes along the way.
To commemorate this momentous year, the Reading Public Library Foundation is sponsoring a Writing Contest for all ages: children (ages 6 and up), teens, and adults. Writers may submit up to five pages (poetry, memoir, fiction, or nonfiction) that fit the theme, Reading Is Revolutionary. Submissions are due by July 22 and will be judged by a panel for each age group. Prizes will be awarded on August 5.
For more information, visit: readingpl.org/foundation-writing.
We thank both the Friends of the Reading Public Library, who sponsor many programs including Summer Reading and Summer Sizzlers, and the Reading Public Library Foundation, whose support made possible the new Library Terrace, RPL Digital Archives, and Library Lockers.

Wakefield Porchfest
2026-08-29 12:00 | MA
Saturday, August 29th
Celebration of Live, Local Music Sets Date for 3rd Annual Townwide Event
Rain Date on Sunday, August 30th

WAKEFIELD, 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.
“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!”
The 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.
Some additional details announced by the Committee, in addition to the 2026 event date:

Registration 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;
Those 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
The exact time for the 2026 event will be announced later in the year.

Earlier 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.
In 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.
“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.”
This 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.
Wakefield 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.
