Berks Weekly

A collection of six commercial properties in Douglassville has sold for more than $10 million, according to commercial real estate brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap. The company announced Wednesday, October 7, that it arranged the $10,027,169 sale of a retail portfolio totaling 48,736 square feet across 12.73 acres in Berks County. The portfolio includes two strip shopping centers, three freestanding commercial properties and a 1.98-acre site available for future development.

The Berks County Coroner’s Office is working with the Reading Police Department and forensic specialists to identify human remains discovered last week inside a vacant home in Reading. According to Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel, the office was notified of the discovery on Friday, October 2, 2026, at approximately 6:17 p.m. The remains were found in a vacant residence in the 500 block of South 6th Street.

Athena Worley, a senior at Wilson High School and longtime participant in Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading (YVCR) programs, has been named the 2026 Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) International Youth of the Year, the highest annual youth honor presented by the international Youth Volunteer Corps organization. Worley received the award Saturday, October 3, at the annual YVC Youth Leadership Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana.

A Berks County farm with more than five decades of agricultural history served as the backdrop Wednesday for the unveiling of the 2027 Pennsylvania Farm Show theme. Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced “Leading A Legacy” during an event at Winterside Farm in Lenhartsville, where Roger and Nancy Bowman have raised sheep and other livestock for 53 years.

This story was produced by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom. Sign up for Good Day, Berks, a daily dose of essential local stories at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks. READING — A coalition of immigrant advocates and legal aid orgs wants the City of Reading to compel the police department to create a framework and timeline to respond to requests for a critical piece of U visa paperwork.

For the Evans family, the spirit of volunteering is more than a tradition. It is a legacy passed from father to son through a shared commitment to neighbors, community and United Way of Berks County. For more than two decades, Irv Evans was a familiar presence in United Way’s annual campaign. He served as a Loaned Campaign Specialist (LCS) for 25 years, helping local workplaces connect their employees with the needs of the community and the programs working to meet them. Irv passed away in 2022.

Getting a flu vaccine will be more convenient this fall, with special “Walk-In Days” offered throughout October at two Reading Hospital-Tower Health pharmacies in Berks and Montgomery counties. No appointment is needed. Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of getting sick and help protect those who are most vulnerable to serious complications from flu. Community members can stop in during the designated Walk-In Days to get vaccinated and help reduce the spread of flu this season.

The South Heidelberg Township Police Department conducted more than 40 traffic stops and issued 19 citations during a monthlong traffic enforcement initiative in September. According to the department, officers spent more than 45 hours conducting stationary and roving enforcement aimed at aggressive driving, school zone safety and seatbelt compliance. In addition to the citations, officers issued 24 written or verbal warnings.

Reading officials, state lawmakers and business leaders gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg Tuesday to highlight ongoing investment in the city and make the case for continued state support of Reading’s redevelopment efforts. Mayor Eddie Morán led the event in the Capitol Rotunda, joined by members of the city’s legislative delegation, municipal officials, business leaders, educational institutions and community organizations.

Three first responders with Berks County ties were among nine fallen heroes honored by Gov. Josh Shapiro with the 2026 Keystone First Responder Award. Officer Kristen Yeager of the Central Berks Regional Police Department, Walnuttown Fire Company Chief Jeffory Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr. were recognized during a ceremony at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. The awards were presented to the surviving families of first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.