Letter to the Editor: Churches Question Town of Reading Roadwork

Dear Editor:

The attitude of the Town of Reading towards the churches in Reading borders on the hostile. Access to the downtown churches for Sunday worship is once again denied without the courtesy of prior notice. Communication of the Sunday Lowell street closure was sent after was closed for the weekend but was not sent to the churches.

I'm sure the Lowell Street work could have been planned to start at the Willow Street end and allow partial access between Main Street and Linden Street until noon. This comes after the town hijacked the traditional church homecoming Sunday for the Town Faire (note the similarity to the Congregational Church's Ye Olde Redding Faire later the same month) when churchgoers are also prevented from reaching the downtown churches.

Negotiated street closures were ignored last year by the town. Even in these days of Sunday sports and other activities, the Town of Reading should have at least the minimum respect for the religious institutions that founded this town. I call on Town of Reading officials to accept the open hand of the Reading Clergy Association and work together to meet the needs of ALL Reading residents.

Joann Takehara Sanford