Community Corner
🌱 Are your building’s sprinklers working like Reading fire officials expect?
Make time for Cirque Dreams Holidaze on the Reading Patch calendar
Hello again Reading! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Are your building’s sprinklers working like Reading fire officials expect?
- How an $8,000 gift could reshape early learning in Reading.
- How much new state money is flowing into Reading neighborhoods?
Also on today's calendar: The Behavior of Light and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Reading? Post it to Reading photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
Today's Reading Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Reading.
- Tuesday: Cold with clouds and sun, with a high of 30 and low of 21 degrees.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy and not as cold, temps: high: 44, low: 24.
- Thursday: An afternoon shower in spots, with a high of 48 and low of 42 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. City of Reading Fire Updates and Safety Reminder (bctv.org) — Reading’s Fire & Rescue Services are warning residents after a fatal October fire on Angelica Street and multiple intentionally set fires at 600 S. 9th Street tied to code violations. Officials stress the danger of buildings with non-working sprinklers, cite past serious Reading fires, and urge property owners to maintain fire protection systems and report information to investigators. 
2. Mid Penn Bank donates $8,000 to YMCA of Reading & Berks (readingeagle.com) — Families in Reading and Berks could see more affordable, high-quality childcare thanks to an $8,000 Mid Penn Bank donation to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County. The funds, using Pennsylvania’s EITC program, will support scholarships, staff development, and classroom resources at STAR 4-rated Early Learning Centers in Reading and Richmond, helping working parents stay employed and children start school ready to learn.
3. Berks County organizations receive funds through state Neighborhood Assistance Program (berksweekly.com) — New state Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits will fund a wide range of Reading-focused projects, from food access and housing to education and neighborhood safety. Local groups like Helping Harvest, Our City Reading, Safe Berks, and the Reading Science Center are among the beneficiaries, meaning more resources for food-insecure families, new community spaces, workforce training, and youth programs across the city.
4. Officials dedicate historical marker to Civil War hospital in Reading City Park (readingeagle.com) — A new historical marker in Reading City Park now honors the Civil War-era Fairground Hospital and the women of the Ladies Volunteer Aid Association of Reading who cared for wounded soldiers. Local leaders, including Mayor Eddie Moran and county officials, joined Alvernia University nursing historians to celebrate preserving this piece of Reading’s past for future generations.
5. Newtown Police Log: Attempted Package Theft Case, Utility Pole Strike, Crashes (patch.com) — A man from Reading is facing charges in Newtown, Connecticut after police say he tried to take packages from a FedEx driver, linking our city to an out‑of‑state attempted theft case. The same police log details several unrelated crashes, from a snapped utility pole to black‑ice spinouts and minor parking‑lot fender‑benders.
📸 Around Reading
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Reading
★ Featured events ★
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Santander Arena, 700 Penn St, Reading
7:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- 12 Days of Crafting
Reading Public Library, Children's Department , 100 S 5th St , Reading
3:30 pm - therapy dog visit
Reading Public Library , 100 S 5th St , Reading
3:00 pm - The Behavior of Light
Genesius Theatre , 153 N 10th St , Reading
7:30 pm - Drop In Crafting
Reading Public Library, Children's Department , 100 S 5th St , Reading
3:00 pm - PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Reading, PA
Regus , 2395 Lancaster Pike 1st Floor , Reading
9:00 am - German New Year’s Eve Celebration — Reading Liederkranz
Reading Liederkranz , 143 Spook Ln , Reading
3:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Monday December 22
Tuesday December 23
Wednesday December 31
📣 Reading Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Divine Liturgy
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church , 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd , Reading
9:00 am - Preschool Story Time
Mifflin Community Library , 6 Philadelphia Ave , Shillington
10:00 am - Personnel Committee
Wyomissing Borough, PA Calendar , 22 Reading Blvd , Wyomissing
12:00 pm - Personnel Committee- Canceled
Wyomissing Borough, PA Calendar , 22 Reading Blvd , Wyomissing
12:00 pm - Mahjong Club
West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library , 101 Woodside Ave , West Lawn
1:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- My cat Abby has gotten out of the house last nite .
He is a make cat.., black and White around 3200 block of Perkiomen Friendly but prob scared . (Nextdoor Reiffton) - Good evening, anyone know this young man?
It’s not a huge crime but we paid him to shovel our sidewalk and driveway. He never did sidewalk and we didn’t notice until we took trash out this… (Nextdoor Glenside)
- McDonald's posted a job opening for Shift Manager Up to $20/per hour to start in Reading. Apply here.
- Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Reading. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Reading here.
Ok Reading! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.