Berks-Mont Newspapers press release, Sept. 26
Contact: James C. Webb (610) 367-6041 ext.243

Westside Weekly is Berks-Mont's 8th community paper

Berks-Mont Newspapers, headquartered in Boyertown, Pa., announced Sept. 26 that the “Westside Weekly” will begin publication on Sept. 29.

James C. Webb, Berks-Mont publisher, said that the community newspaper will be the company’s eighth weekly product and fifth in Berks County.

“The Westside Weekly will serve the residents and business-owners of the Wilson and Wyomissing Area school district region. We believe this newspaper will truly serve Reading’s western suburban audience. And we are certain that the Westside Weekly will complement our existing family of Berks-Mont publications.”

Webb stressed that the new paper will be strictly local in focus, with an emphasis on municipal and school-related news, as well as civic and church activities. “And local sports will represent a major segment of our coverage. Both high school and club sports will be included in our overall approach.”

Becky Erdman, a Reading area resident and veteran Berks-Mont editor, has been named editor of the Westside Weekly. Her comments echoed those of Webb. “I’m ready to launch a newspaper that will drive community news into local homes. The Westside Weekly will deliver a wide variety of information, including readers’ voices, school sports coverage and local government updates … it will certainly be a great source for ‘hometown’ news.”

Webb said that Alexander Gould, another veteran Berks-Mont staffer, will soon be named “regional manager” of Berks-Mont’s new suburban Reading office. Gould will be responsible for a staff which will include editorial, advertising sales and clerical personnel.

Berks-Mont’s other weekly Berks County publications include The Boyertown Area Times, The Southern Berks News, The Kutztown Area Patriot and The Hamburg Area Item. The company (with roots dating to 1857) also publishes The Community Connection, The Free Press (Quakertown area) and The Saucon News.

Destinations is a popular Berks-Mont monthly tourist/visitors’ magazine, and the Oley Valley Sentinel is a quarterly newspaper mailed to all residents of the Oley Valley School District.

Webb: “As the launch of the Westside Weekly nears, the reputation of Berks-Mont Newspapers to deliver dependable community journalism is intact. We look forward to more and more folks joining our readership family.”

For specific information about the Westside Weekly and/or other Berks-Mont products, persons can phone 610-367-6041 or 610-689-9558. The e-mail address is angould@berksmontnews.com.