🌱 Why this year’s Reading menorah lighting felt especially powerful.

Morning Reading! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why this year’s Reading menorah lighting felt especially powerful.
• How a quick call helped stop a major mail-theft spree
• How Reading homeowners can now pay their property taxes online

Also on today's calendar: The Behavior of Light and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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.

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 44 and low of 40 degrees.
• Friday: Morning rain, then a shower, temps: high: 57, low: 25.
• Saturday: Some sun, then clouds; colder, with a high of 38 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Menorah lighting in Reading symbolizes unity, 'brightness' in wake of tragedy (wfmz.com) — Residents gathered at Fifth and Penn streets in downtown Reading for an annual menorah lighting that doubled as a show of unity after a deadly Hanukkah attack in Sydney. Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors stood together against rising antisemitism, emphasizing courage, community support, and keeping the light of the holiday shining brightly.
   

2. Two Suspected Mail Thieves Nabbed in Reading After Police Chase, Stolen Christmas Cards Recovered (hoodline.com) — A police chase through downtown Reading ended in a multivehicle crash and the arrest of two men accused of stealing hundreds of pieces of mail, including Christmas cards. Authorities recovered a postal master key and warn of rising mail-theft and check-washing scams. Residents are urged to avoid leaving mail out overnight and to use secure drop locations.
   

3. Residents in 3 more Berks municipalities can pay real estate taxes online (readingeagle.com) — Reading homeowners can now pay their Berks County and city real estate taxes online, joining several nearby townships and boroughs using the same system. All annual and interim bills for the year are combined into one full payment, with a vendor service fee added at checkout. Residents can search parcels and pay through links on the county and participating municipal websites.
   

4. Read Alliance in the Reading School District (Part 2) (bctv.org) — A new BCTV podcast episode spotlights the Read Alliance program working with students in the Reading School District, featuring United Way staff and local teen leaders. Recorded in downtown Reading, it also invites Berks County residents to pitch or produce their own community podcasts through BCTV.
   

5. NHRA Countdown to Championship Shifts to Michigan Dragstrip (autoweek.com) — Maple Grove Raceway just outside Reading is leaving the NHRA for rival IHRA, ending its role as the longtime kickoff track for drag racing’s Countdown to the Championship. NHRA will shift its 2026 playoff opener to Michigan’s US 131 Motorsports Park, while Maple Grove’s new owners tout a more innovative, family-focused future under IHRA. Local fans may see a different mix of major events at the nearby track.
   

📸 Around Reading

Show off your photography skills and the sights around Reading! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Reading

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Anything Goes
  Genesius Theatre, 153 N 10th St, Reading
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• The Behavior of Light
  Genesius Theatre , 153 N 10th St , Reading
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Divine Liturgy
  Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church , 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd , Reading
  9:00 am
• Adirondack Thunder at Reading Royals
  Santander Arena , 700 Penn St , Reading
  7:00 pm
• A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland
  Santander Performing Arts Center , 136 N 6th St , Reading
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• St. Ignatius of Antioch; St. John of Kronstadt
  Greek Festival/Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church , 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd , Reading
• Orthros & Divine Liturgy
  Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church , 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd , Reading
  8:00 am
• AT LEBANON: Orthros and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Ordination of Christopher Giovanis to the Holy Diaconate
  Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church , 116 E Weidman St , Lebanon
  9:00 am

📣 Reading Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Divine Liturgy
  Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church , 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd , Reading
  9:00 am
• Read and Play Storytime
  West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library , 101 Woodside Ave , West Lawn
  11:00 am
• 📚Read and Play Storytime🧸
  West Lawn-Wyomissing Hills Library , 101 Woodside Ave , West Lawn
  11:00 am
• Power Networking - The Inn on Main (Dec 2025)
  Inn on Main · Oley , PA , Montrose Manor
  11:30 am

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

• Bags of stolen mail, drop-box master key recovered by Central Berks police after chase of suspects
  Two New York men arrested after fleeing into Reading from St. Lawrence post office Two New York men were arrested Monday morning after Central Berks… (Nextdoor Lorane)
• Hello everyone.
  I need some suggestions on what to do for my back. I'm not 100% sure what's wrong with my lower back... it's either a pinched nerve or a herniated… (Nextdoor Chapel Terrace)

• Ross Stores posted a job opening for Early Morning Stock Associate in Reading. Apply here.
• Packaging Corporation of America posted a job opening for Clamp Truck/Roll Stock Operator - 3rd Shift 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. I haven’t heard the last report.
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.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook