🌱 How one woman’s legacy is reshaping Berks County nonprofits now

Hey hey Reading! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How one woman’s legacy is reshaping Berks County nonprofits now
• What did county leaders decide at this week’s commissioners meeting?
• How the 2016 clown panic turned deadly in Reading

Also on today's calendar: Fall Charcuterie Workshop and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the Buffalo say when his son left? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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From our Partner
Today's Reading Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Reading Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

• Sunday: A thunderstorm in spots, with a high of 81 and low of 59 degrees.
• Monday: Less humid with some sun, temps: high: 78, low: 58.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 79 and low of 57 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• Estate of Marian S. Snyder gifts final $1.5M to Berks County Community Foundation; Total amount gifted exceeds $17.1M (berksweekly.com subscription) — A major bequest from the late Marian S. Snyder is pumping millions into Berks County, including $250,000 for improvements at the Reading Public Museum. Her fund is also backing local animal welfare, hospice technology, vision services, and support for Berks patients traveling to Philadelphia, shaping long-term quality of life for Reading-area residents.
   

• Berks County Board of Commissioners Meeting 8/20/26 (bctv.org) — Berks County commissioners met Thursday to handle routine county business, including reports from the treasurer, controller, and other row officers, plus time for public comment. Linked government videos also spotlight Reading issues like blighted homes, city planning, and the new fire chief, giving residents several ways to catch up on recent local decisions.
   

• Not a laughing matter: the killer clowns of 2016 (thevisionngu.com) — A look back at 2016’s nationwide “killer clown” panic includes a tragic case in Reading, where 16-year-old Christian Torres was fatally stabbed by an assailant wearing a clown mask. The story traces how creepy clown sightings spread from South Carolina across the U.S. and abroad, leading to arrests, business impacts, and lingering memories for those who were kids at the time.
   

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📸 Around Reading

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

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Reading

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday August 24

• Fr. Cornelius vacation
  Greek Festival/Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church 1001 E Wyomissing Blvd, Reading, PA 19611
• First Day of School
  Reading SD Reading, PA 19601
• Daily Orthros
  Greek Festival/Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 E Wyomissi
  9:00 am
• Digital Lit Class @NE
  Reading Public Library - Northeast Branch, 1348 N 11th St, Readi
  10:30 am

Tuesday August 25

• spanish Class
  Reading Public Library 100 S 5th St, Reading, PA 19602, USA
  2:00 pm
• Harlem Empoerment Project table visit
  Reading Public Library 100 S 5th St, Reading, PA 19602, USA
  4:00 pm
• Orthros and (7pm) Divine Liturgy
  Greek Festival/Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 E Wyomissi
  6:00 pm

Wednesday August 26

• Computer class NW
  Reading Public Library 901 Schuylkill Avenue Reading, PA 19601
  3:30 pm

Friday September 4

• Fall Charcuterie Workshop →
  Ridgewood Winery, 2039 Philadelphia Ave, Birdsboro
  6:00 pm

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📣 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!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday August 23

• RiverFest →
  Muhlenberg Township, PA Calendar, 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road, Reading
  11:00 am
• 3rd Annual Romanian Festival — Reading Liederkranz →
  Reading Liederkranz, 143 Spook Ln, Reading
  12:00 pm

Monday August 24

• MJHS Picture Day
  Muhlenberg SD Reading, PA 19605
• First Student Day
  Antietam SD Reading, PA 19606

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Where can I buy medicine Itraconazole to treat ringworm?
  We need to treat a feral cat that comes every day. We were planning to TNR him too, as we rescued and placed two of his litters already and TNR's… (Nextdoor Glenside)
• Do you need a Plumber
  Triple Plumbing Solutions Keep Flowing with us 610 621 8657 (Nextdoor Northeast Reading)

• Ammega posted a job opening for Material Handler/ Shipper in Reading. Apply here.
• Brentwood Industries, Inc. posted a job opening for Material Handler I in Reading. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Reading here.

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🗞 Nearby News

West Reading

• 'Tush Push Sucks': Taylor Swift's Blunt Take on Eagles' Controversial Play Sparked an Unlikely Friendship With FOX Analyst Dean Blandino (yardbarker.com)

Wyomissing

• Wilson football: Bulldogs loaded with talent in pursuit of championships (readingeagle.com)
• Coroner: Wyomissing man apparently drowned in neighbor's swimming pool (readingeagle.com)

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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: Bison! (Thank you Judy M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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