Hello Reading! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Peregrine falcon nestlings, family dinolympics, and full moon hike and yoga + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Downtown development shifts: Reading City Council approved a downtown Transit-Oriented Overlay District, giving developers smaller lot minimums, taller buildings, and reduced parking to anticipate passenger rail’s return and draw residents and businesses -- see downtown zoning changes.
Urban wildlife success story: Downtown Reading’s peregrine falcons marked their 20th nesting season as four nestlings were banded at the Callowhill Center on Penn Square, underscoring a hard-won comeback from DDT-era declines -- meet the peregrine nestlings.
Local supply needs help: Reading Hospital, Berks County’s only trauma center, is urgently seeking blood donors amid a shortage, especially Type O. Donations help trauma, surgery, and cancer patients across the region -- learn how to donate.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Arcade night, zero commute: Skip the mall and fire up the Arcade LIVE app from Sprocket's Fun Factory, LLC to control actual arcade machines at The Works Wyomissing, just outside Reading, right from your phone or computer. Live video of the game you’re playing and a lineup that keeps growing when you crave quick fun at home.
Freshen up, Reading: Owned by Amy Waltz, Stein's Flowers is a family-run shop crafting Berks County blooms for over 32 years, the kind that make kitchens feel fancier and apologies land softer. Tell them your color vibe, they’ll customize it, even coordinate for events, so your table, porch, or surprise drop-off looks effortlessly thoughtful.
Kid-energy release valve: When cabin fever hits, Stoudts Ferry Bridge Playground is an easy local fix where the kids can run themselves happy and you can actually finish a coffee. Simple, free, close to home... sometimes that’s the exact win a Muhlenberg weekend needs.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🦴 Fossil Exploration @ Reading Public Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:00 AM – Summer at RPL brings real fossils, hands-on fun, and a museum educator who knows a trilobite from a T. rex. Kids make a trace fossil, you get nostalgia without cleanup, and supplies are limited at RPL branches.
🌳 Explore Outdoors @ Cacoosing Meadows Recreation Area | Wednesday (6/24) at 2:00 PM – Midweek calls for fresh air at Cacoosing Meadows Park, where Miss Jess wrangles the under-8 crowd with books, nature activities, and hands-on exploring. They get muddy, learn a thing or two, and you get to call it enrichment, not laundry.
🚗 Opening Night Car Cruise @ Greater Governor Mifflin League Community Days | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Opening night of Community Days kicks off with a car cruise at Governor Mifflin Cumru School, off 724. Chip in $10 to light 50th anniversary fireworks, admire classics, arrive early to snag a dash plaque, because nothing says summer like chrome, sugar, and bragging rights.
🧘 Family Tree Yoga @ BLDG. 7 Yoga | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Yoga with your tiny human that feels like fun, not a circus. For ages 1 to 6, you’ll share a mat, try simple poses, breathing, and mindfulness, then leave with wobbly trees, kinder moods, and coffee-worthy zen, plus you can rent a mat if needed.
🦖 Family Dinolympics @ West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Round up the herd for Family Dinolympics, a team showdown of challenges, games, and brag-worthy prizes. All ages play, so you can coach, compete, and pretend this is field day with less sprinting. Short arms, dad jokes, and victory dances absolutely encouraged.
🎱 Community Days Bingo! @ Governor Mifflin Intermediate School | Saturday (6/27) at 6:00 PM – Community Days Bingo is back with themed nights, from Hyper Glow to Red, White, and Bingo. Expect classic rounds and school pride for Mifflin Park, GMIS, Brecknock, and Cumru. Bring your lucky dabber, and that competitive streak you swear is just for fun.
🎶 Summer Concert Series Stephanie Grace @ Stone House Wyomissing | Sunday (6/28) at 6:00 PM – Douglassville’s own Stephanie Grace is back on the Stone House Lawn, blending country heart, pop polish, and just enough rock attitude to keep your toes honest. It is Summer Concert Series comfort, free, easygoing, and fully compatible with lawn chairs, neighbors, and sunset gossip.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Reading report Weather forecastToday — High: 82°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind 0 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 85°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 9%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildThis meticulously maintained corner-lot home pairs Brazilian cherry floors and cathedral ceilings with a chef’s kitchen featuring granite, double ovens, and a five-seat breakfast bar. A glassy four-season room, first-floor primary suite, and finished lower level with bar and fitness space add appeal. Outside, a gazebo, fire pit, and outdoor kitchen turn the backyard into a resort-style retreat.
Take a peek inside → |
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