Berks Weekly

A conversation with new Reading Fire Chief Robert Leonard II about his career in the fire service, his transition from Prince George’s County, Maryland, to the Reading Fire Department, leadership goals, recruitment efforts, community engagement, and his vision for the future of firefighting in Reading.

Rick Perez, a Reading native, is the CEO of the Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading & Berks County. Having first connected with Olivet as a young member during a pivotal time in his life, Rick's journey has now come full circle as he leads the organization that once helped shape his future. Known throughout the community for his tenure as the head coach of Reading High's boys baske...

Chris Rothermel is a retired Captain of the Reading Police Department, bringing over 25 years of law enforcement experience to his campaign for Berks County Sheriff. His career began in the trades as an electrician before transitioning into policing, where he rose through the ranks. Throughout his career, Rothermel was deeply involved in community outreach, serving as Vice President of Pennsylvani...

Gavin Milligan is a dynamic young leader from Maidencreek Township with a deep passion for community development and engagement. At just 21 years old, Gavin has already made a significant impact as a business development manager at his family’s company, Advanced Comfort Specialist, while serving on over 14 nonprofit boards and committees throughout the county. A graduate of the Berks Career and Te...

Alexa Freyman, a Berks County native and Millennial, grew up hearing family stories about the “good old days,” sparking her passion for uncovering local history. In 2017, she created Berks Nostalgia, a multimedia project that uses writing, videography, photography, and drone technology to explore and share the rich history of Berks County from a fresh perspective. A Wilson High School (’09) and Ph...

Ryan Bradley is the Clean City Coordinator for Reading, where he has lived since 1996 and takes pride in calling home. With a background in counseling and case management in the drug and alcohol field, Bradley's commitment to community well-being is evident both personally and professionally. Starting with cleaning up his own block, he inspired neighbors to join him, and now leads city-wide cl...

JD Turner is a dedicated advocate and entrepreneur who has played a pivotal role in enhancing the skateboarding community in Berks County. As the owner of Holistic Skate Shop in West Reading, JD has spent the past decade tirelessly advocating for the creation of a free, public, concrete skatepark designed by skaters, for skaters. His vision culminated in the establishment of the Reading Skatepark...

Kelly Barber is a seasoned ballet professional from Reading with a rich background in both performance and teaching. She began her dance journey at Carol Ennis Dance Arts, eventually joining Berks Ballet Theatre as a soloist. Kelly danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland, where she performed leading roles in classics like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty. After returning to Reading, s...

Interest in weather since the age of six when an F3 Tornado struck near his home in Lyons, PA, Justin Selig has always been fascinated by weather. Selig is now an Advanced Severe Weather Spotter/Storm Chaser for the National Weather Service and a National Severe Weather Media Stringer for Live Storms Media and has had his work featured on The Weather Channel, 69 News WFMZ, and The Morning Call.

We sat down with local actor and small business owner Bill Pugh to learn about his role in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film Glass . A semi-sequel to Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2016), Glass stars James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, and Samuel L. Jackson.

When it comes to innovative website design, FXV Digital Design owner Freddy Vasquez has a consistent message for his clients: “Let’s make something awesome today!”

Branden Moyer is a Berks County resident and entrepreneur who took up the unique hobby of beekeeping during the pandemic. After a successful first year with his hive of honeybees, Branden decided he would take his hobby to the next level by creating Uncle B’s Bees, a business that not only sells local honey, but educates the community on the importance of beekeeping.

Local actor Josh Spudeno may not be Hollywoods hottest actor (yet), but he certainly aspires to be. Moving his way up the ladder, Spudeno talks to Reading Magazine about how he got into acting and his recent experience on the set of Creed II.

Jobany Bedoya joins us in studio to discuss his experience as an entrepreneur, DJ and founder of Wednesday Diversity Mixers.

Justin Schenck, entrepreneur, public speaker, and host of The Growth Now Movement podcast talks with Reading Magazine about his new event: The Growth Now Movement LIVE. Recently named a top podcaster to follow by INC.com, each week Schenck sits down with a new guest to discuss personal growth strategies.

Tanya Melendez has a deep love of the natural beauty contained within the city of Reading. Whether she is enjoying bike rides on local trails, walks to local parks, or watching her daughter climb trees, she has a true appreciation for the joy that nature brings to communities.

Lieutenant Lance Lillis, Community Resource Coordinator for the Reading Police Department talks about community outreach.

Marc Goldstein joins us in studio to talk about his nonprofit Blankets of Hope.

Dylan Shively’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur was an unconventional one. An East Stroudsburg native, he shared that he was a troubled and highly unmotivated teen. Instead of continuing to be a self-proclaimed “disappointment” to his parents and to himself, Shively decided to take a sharp 180 on the road of life. He built a moral and ethical network around himself, primarily on social media,...

Gavin Milligan is a typical highschool student in many aspects–he enjoys goofing off with his peers, and maintains a full schedule of classes, including dual enrollment classes at RACC and Berks Career and Technology Center. However, that is where his resemblance to many of his peers abruptly changes.

Do your remember Reading’s Charlie Brown Christmas Tree? It made national headlines in 2014, drawing lots of criticism locally and online. Going back and forth, it was eventually re-decorated and given a second chance to be Reading’s Christmas Tree.

Local photographer Mateo Toro has accomplished a lot in the three years since he graduated from Penn State Berks. Toro now holds the title of entrepreneur, teacher, and international travel photographer thanks to his recent trips to Colombia and Cuba.