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RCTV to Host Fundraising Night at Mandarin Reading 23 Sep 4:14 PM (29 days ago)

Reading, MA — RCTV is inviting the community to join them for a special fundraising night at Mandarin Reading on Friday, October 17, 2025. Guests can enjoy a delicious meal while supporting local community television.

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will directly benefit RCTV, helping the station continue to provide programming, educational opportunities, and community coverage for Reading residents.

“We’re excited to partner with Mandarin Reading for this event,” said Philip Rushworth, Exeuctive Director of RCTV. “It’s a great way to bring people together, enjoy wonderful food, and support community media.”

The event is open to all, and takeout orders are also included in the fundraiser.

Can’t attend and want to support RCTV? Become a member or donate using this link.

For more information, visit rctv.org.

CouponBenefit- RCTVDownload

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Reading Fall Street Faire 8 Sep 10:02 AM (last month)

Reading Street Fair 2025

Highlight video from the 2025 Reading Fall Street Faire recorded by Anna Cuevas and Ben Goldlust.

Reading, MA — The streets of downtown Reading will come alive once again for the 17th annual Reading Fall Street Faire, taking place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

This much-anticipated, family-friendly celebration brings together the best of the community—local restaurants, retailers, artisans, and civic groups—for a full day of fun, food, and festivities.

Organized by the Reading Rotary Club, the Fall Street Faire is a rain-or-shine event and a cherished tradition for both residents and visitors.

We are especially grateful to our Premier Sponsor, Post 1917, for their outstanding support once again. Thank you as well to our Beer Garden Sponsor, Elle Salon & Med Spa. And a big shoutout to NuImage DJ, who will keep the energy high and the music flowing all day long!

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RCTV Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipient 14 Aug 1:52 PM (2 months ago)

READING, MA – RCTV Studios is proud to announce that recent Reading Memorial High School graduate Blake Thomas has been awarded the 2025 RCTV Scholarship.

Thomas will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology this fall, pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology with a focus on Audio. His passion for the field began at RCTV Studios, where he has been an active member for the past four years, gaining valuable skills and experience in media production and technology.


Blake Thomas, 2025 RCTV Scholarship recipient with RCTV Executive Director Philip Rushworth and Deputy Executive Director Angela Merrill

“Blake has been an incredible contributor to RCTV, always eager to learn and take on new challenges,” said Angela Merrill, Deputy Executive Director of RCTV Studios. “We are excited to see how he will apply his talent and dedication to his studies and future career.”

RCTV congratulates Blake on his achievements and wishes him the very best in his academic journey.

About RCTV Studios
Founded in 1998, RCTV Studios is a member-supported source for public, education, and government access programming on issues and activities that reflect the expression of diverse community voices. RCTV Studios serves as a medium for member-produced programming to share opinions and ideas. As a center of learning, RCTV Studios provides comprehensive, hands-on training for its members and for students in cooperation with Reading schools. Since RCTV Studios’ success depends on the contributions of its members, the organization encourages and welcomes active participation from the community.

The post RCTV Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipient appeared first on RCTV Studios.

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Juneteenth 2025 27 Jun 8:15 AM (3 months ago)

On Saturday, June 21, Reading held its annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival on the town common, a community celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States. Families and friends gathered throughout the afternoon and into the evening for an event filled with music, food, education, and reflection.

The celebration kicked off at 1:00 p.m. with a welcome from Albert Pless, Director of Reading’s Office of Equity and Social Justice. Attendees joined together in singing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” performed by students from Reading Memorial High School. A flag presentation followed, led by members of Reading Scout Troop.

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General Lafayette Visits Reading 25 Jun 10:31 AM (4 months ago)

Reading, MA — Did You Know? General Marquis de Lafayette came to Reading in 1825. He returned to Reading this year on Saturday, June 21, exactly two hundred years later.

A reenactor with a horse and carriage traveled up Main Street from Green Street or Chapin Avenue with a police escort to the Latham & Latham Building on the corner of Pleasant Street, arriving at about 9:00 a.m.

In 1825, Reading residents flocked to the site of an old tavern to hear Lafayette address the crowd.

How did the locals hear about his tour back then? There was no local newspaper at the time. There were no telephones, internet, or other modern communication tools—but there was “word of mouth”! Perhaps it was at the church on the Common where news and gossip spread.

Lafayette traveled along the ‘Andover–Medford Turnpike’ northward, making many stops on his tour.

Did You Know? – The Andover–Medford Turnpike is still in use today. Did You Know? – Reading acknowledged Lafayette’s visit with a commemorative sign near the site of the old tavern. Additionally, a granite paver in the sidewalk marks the event. And finally, Did You Know that there is a roadway in Reading that bears his name?

Many residents participated in this present-day acknowledgement of Lafayette’s historic visit to Reading as the reenactor drove his horse-drawn carriage up Main Street on Saturday, June 21, at 9:00 a.m.

Alan Hoffman, president of the American Friends of Lafayette, undertook this project to remind people of the historic activity that occurred within our town some 200 years ago.

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Friends and Family Day 2025 25 Jun 10:23 AM (4 months ago)

Where can you hear great music, race mini cars, climb on Town vehicles, pet farm animals, and try your hand at minigolf? It’s all here and it’s free, at the 20th Reading Friends and Family Day (RFFD) on Saturday, June 14, 2025. All events take place in the Birch Meadow Fields area from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Residents of all ages will enjoy a full day of fun, food, music, giveaways, and demonstrations! 

This year, the Reading Lions Club is proud to host the community’s 20th Reading Friends and Family Day! RFFD, also known as Town Day, has tripled in size since its inaugural year and is now a true community event, with over 65 groups participating as sponsors.  

At Reading Friends and Family Day, you can check out the booth and activity area for remote-controlled race cars, kiddie train, petting zoo, cone games, a photo booth, face painting, miniature golf, and a 3 in 1 inflatable ball game. Special activities include the morning Kids Fun Run and the evening Fireworks! In addition to all the fun activities, the fair is a great opportunity to discover what’s happening in and around Reading. Representatives from over 65 community organizations, local businesses, and town departments will be on hand to offer activities, distribute giveaways, and share information on local events and happenings.

When you need a break from all the excitement, head over for a snack at the Reading Lions Club Food Tent and enjoy some music at the Entertainment Stage. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to share a great day with your neighbors and friends. Please see the schedule below. For more information and an online list of activities, visit readinglionsclub.org.

The Reading Lions Club would not have been able to host this event without the support of the community. Thank you to our Town of Reading partners: Reading Recreation Division, Department of Public Works, and Reading Facilities Department. Many thanks also to our 2025 financial sponsors: Reading Celebration Trust Fund, Reading Rotary, J. Griffin Heating and Plumbing, A&A Services Inc. – Salem, MA, Aleppo Shriners, Austin Preparatory School, Cobblestone Corner Academy, Code Wiz Reading, Elite Freestyle Karate, The Goddard School, Harris Appraisal Services, Kumon of Reading, Mathnasiumof Reading, Melrose Wakefield Hospital, North East Rhythmics School of Gymnastics, Orangetheory Fitness North Reading, Our House Design & Build, Reading Community Singers, Reading Cooperative Bank, Reading Orthodontics, Reading/North Reading Chamber of Commerce, Reading School of Guitar, Sidmore Chiropractic Office, The Pike School, The Reading Observer, TITLE Boxing Club – Woburn, TrueFix Services, and Women’s League of Reading.

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Reading Symphony Orchestra 2025: The American Experience 25 Jun 10:12 AM (4 months ago)

The Reading Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director and Conductor George Ogata, will present the grand finale of its monumental 90th season with a stirring concert titled The American Experience. The performance will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 7:30 P.M. at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, located at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield, MA.

This exceptional program will feature iconic American works that celebrate the nation’s spirit and cultural heritage. The repertoire includes:

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music as we conclude a remarkable season with compositions that evoke the power and beauty of the American experience.

Tickets and additional information are available at ReadingSymphonyOrchestra.org. Don’t miss this extraordinary night of music, community, and celebration!

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What is RCTV? 5 Jun 12:29 PM (4 months ago)

RCTV’s Mission

RCTV (Reading Community Television) Studios is a member-supported source for public, education, and government access programming on issues and activities that reflect the expression of diverse community voices. RCTV Studios serves as a medium for member-produced programming to express opinions and ideas. As a center of learning, RCTV Studios provides comprehensive hands-on training for its members and students in cooperation with Reading schools. Since RCTV Studios’ success depends on the contributions of its members for content, we encourage and welcome the community’s active participation. RCTV is dedicated to Reading, serving the community for over 30 years with dedication, compassion, and local expertise.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH READING SCHOOLS

How is RCTV working with the Reading school system?
For over 25 years, RCTV has partnered with the Reading school system to offer classes at the high school. Five classes per semester are offered at RMHS, taught by a dedicated teacher with formal training in TV and film production. Classes include Film Production, TV Production, and Broadcasting. Each class accommodates 20 students (200 per school year), and there are typically waitlists for these classes. In addition to formal classes, the RCTV school program offers flex block and after-school areas for students across the school to come, collaborate, and decompress.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

What does RCTV offer during the summer break?
For more than 15 years, RCTV has been offering summer workshops to students in Reading and the surrounding communities, serving those aged 10-18. Our programs range from one-week courses in video production to multi-week programs focusing on film production. Each summer is unique, tailored to the community’s needs and the interests of our students.

What does RCTV do for membership classes?

RCTV offers ongoing classes for all members in areas (but not limited to):

STUDIO SPACES & FACILITIES

What studio spaces does RCTV have available for filming?
RCTV is located at 131 Main Street in Reading, where it has space available for smaller production, recording, and editing. Larger spaces include the RMHS high school studio, and RCTV can help volunteers coordinate other public spaces such as the Library and Senior Center.

Why did RCTV recently move offices? What studio space is available for use?
In 2024, RCTV’s lease at its former space expired, and the rent increased significantly. For a cost comparison, our final monthly rental payment at our downtown studio was $10,170.16, and our first rental payment for our new office location was $1,600 (a savings of over $8,500 a month). We still maintain our studio at RMHS and have other facilities and equipment available for use by our community members should they wish to create content for air. Instead of simply renewing, RCTV reviewed various other options and decided to downsize to a smaller space at the new office located at 131 Main Street in Reading.

Part of this decision was based upon the fact that recording equipment has become smaller, more mobile, and easier to set up, and so volunteers were opting to use spaces other than the large studio to record their content. Reducing the studio space allows RCTV to save on annual rent and instead allocate that money to more important factors that contribute to a good production, such as state-of-the-art equipment and more flexible hours for volunteers to pick up, use, edit with, and return equipment. Budget has also been set aside to help rent alternative space should the public areas, such as the Library and Senior Center, not be viable options for our members. RCTV has a three-year lease on its current space and will review how the space meets the needs of the membership as the lease progresses. Ultimately, RCTV is so much more than a physical studio; much of the footage is recorded on-site, where the action is happening.

Studio Availability
RCTV has aligned numerous venues to be available as required for filming sites/studios, including:

PROGRAMMING

Where can I view RCTV content?

FiosXfinity
Public: Channel 31Public: Channel 9
Educational: Channel 32Educational: Channel 6
Government: Channel 33Government: Channel 22
High Definition: Channel 2131

Online:

What programming does RCTV produce?
RCTV is a member-driven non-profit. Nearly all of the content RCTV releases is generated by volunteer members who produce content they find to be of value to the community. RCTV focuses on offering three main types of content, collectively known as PEG (Public, Educational, and Government Access Television). In addition to covering various government meetings for which RCTV is often known, we are committed to providing an outlet for our members to produce and share locally produced content with the Reading community. RCTV helps bring awareness, education, and fun about the community to the folks of Reading.

Additional examples of programming that RCTV has helped cover over the past year (2024-2025):

GOVERNMENT MEETING COVERAGE

Government meetings that RCTV contractually covers:

Additional government meeting coverage that is often covered by RCTV upon request:

FUNDING & FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

How is RCTV funded?
RCTV’s primary source of revenue is funding provided by the town cable companies (Comcast and Verizon). Massachusetts law requires cable companies to collect a portion of each TV subscriber’s fees and pass them along to the respective town, which then disseminates them to an organization of their choosing to manage the PEG initiatives. RCTV has been the Town of Reading’s designated provider for over 30 years. The revenue is only tied to sales of cable television services, not Internet providers. Therefore, fees collected over time have decreased as people “cut the cord” and move to only internet-related services.

The state of Massachusetts is considering adapting the law to require Internet subscribers to pay a PEG fee. However, for now, RCTV’s board must plan using the allocated budget related to TV subscribers. Recently, RCTV downsized its TV studio lease to help significantly reduce overhead costs, ensuring the organization remains viable and able to offer the services the town needs, primarily staff, training, and new equipment. We have a budget that is sustainable on the current projected financial trajectory for the next five-plus years, and are considering alternative sources of funding to help offset (or increase) revenues to help ensure RCTV remains viable for years to come.

Fundraising
RCTV has had numerous fundraisers in the past, including our ongoing “membership fee” and donation program. In 2024, we focused our efforts on cost savings and arranged to save more per month (over $8K/month!) than our fundraisers ever achieved combined within a year.
Here are some of the fundraisers we are implementing:

CONTRACT STATUS & FUTURE PLANS

When does RCTV’s contract with the Town of Reading expire?
The current contract between RCTV and the Town of Reading is a five-year renewal, expiring on June 30, 2025. RCTV looks forward to working with the town to negotiate a renewal so we can continue to offer the great services we provide. Multi-year renewals help ensure RCTV has the ability to plan and fund what it needs to continue providing services to the Town of Reading, the Reading school system, and the broader Reading community.

What is at risk if RCTV’s contract is not renewed?
RCTV provides the following to the town, all of which are at jeopardy if the contract is not renewed:

What is the future of Public Access TV?

Takeaways from the May 27, 2025, Select Board MeetingAt the May 27th, 2025, Select Board meeting, the Select Board presented several ideas on how RCTV can better serve the town of Reading.

Here are a few takeaways and actions from the recent discussions with Select Board members and the Town Manager:

RCTV thanks the Select Board for their feedback and looks forward to working with the Town to continue improving over time.

The post What is RCTV? appeared first on RCTV Studios.

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RMHS Graduation 2025 4 Jun 6:40 AM (4 months ago)

The Reading Memorial High School Class of 2025 Commencement Exercises took place on Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Hawkes Field House. The ceremony commenced at 6:00 p.m. and was streamed live by RCTV.

The Graduation event began with the playing of “Pomp and Circumstance” march performed by the RMHS Band under the direction of Joseph Mulligan. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Justin Raimo, Student Council President, followed by the National Anthem performed by Choral Seniors.

Good evening Dr. Milaschewski, Principal Callanan, members of the School Committee, faculty, staff, family, friends, and most importantly, my fellow graduates of the Class of 2025.

My name is Justin Raimo, and I have had the pleasure of serving as your Class President these past four years. Before I begin, I would like to thank our families, friends, and teachers for helping us reach this incredible milestone. We could not have done any of this without all of your support and guidance.

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RMHS Promenade 2025 28 May 9:34 AM (4 months ago)

The RMHS Promenade is a pre-prom event for the senior class of Reading Memorial High School (RMHS), held annually in Reading, Massachusetts. It is a long-standing tradition where students, dressed in their formal attire, walk a designated path to be admired and photographed by family and friends. 

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