MAYOR'S UPDATE: JULY 9

This Tuesday marks a significant milestone in our return to pre-pandemic operations, as we resume in-person Town Council meetings! Join us in Town Hall at 8:00 on July 13 as we cover another full agenda -- including the vote on the redevelopment plan for the proposed Redi-Farms hydroponic farm business on North Avenue.

In keeping with our pre-pandemic procedures, public comment will be accepted in-person only. For those planning to attend, please be advised that consistent with CDC guidelines, all unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask in indoor public places. The meetings will continue to be livestreamed for viewing only on Facebook, and will be replayed on YouTube, TV36, and Facebook. As always, I thank you for your ongoing engagement as we discuss a range of important issues.

Enjoy your weekend!

COVID-19 UPDATE

Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone reports that the state now has just one region in a low activity level (down from two last week and three the week before), while the rest of the state -- including our Central East region -- is in a moderate activity level. Locally, Westfield continues to show a low level of activity.

The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed cases is down 6% from a week ago and down 3% from a month ago. The statewide transmission rate is 0.89.

More than 5.08 million people who live, work, or study in New Jersey have now been fully vaccinated. In Union County, 336,120 residents (60% of the total population) have received one dose of vaccine, and 297,455 (53% of total population) are fully vaccinated.

In Westfield, 94% of those 65 and older, 94% of the adult population (18+), and 74% of the entire population has been vaccinated with at least one dose. In terms of those fully vaccinated, the data shows 89% of those 65 and older, 87% of adults (18+), and 68% of the entire population.

POLICE UPDATE

Chief Battiloro reports the following notable incidents:

On Monday, July 5, at approximately 2:43AM, a Scotch Plains resident reported the catalytic converter on his 2018 Ford F-150 pick-up truck, which was located in the parking lot of a business on the 300 block of E. South Avenue, was stolen by a male wearing a hood over his head and wearing black gloves. He was observed on surveillance video crawling underneath the vehicle to remove it. Thefts of this type are on an uptick statewide.

On Tuesday, July 6, at approximately 6:03AM, a resident of the 600 block of Salter Place reported his 2020 Mercedes Benz GLS450 was stolen from his driveway during the overnight hours. It was reportedly left unlocked with both key fobs in it at the time of its theft. The car was subsequently recovered in East Orange later in the day. Another unlocked vehicle was later reported burglarized on the 500 block of Salter Place.

Also on July 6, at approximately 12:45PM, a resident of the 200 block of Sunset Avenue reported that, upon returning from vacation, she discovered her home had been burglarized. Entry was apparently gained through a rear basement window, which was observably broken inwards. Several rooms inside were ransacked, and personal items and other valuables were reported stolen. Additionally, on this date, it was reported by a nearby resident on Carol Road that two of his vehicles were burglarized during the overnight hours. Both vehicles were left unlocked.

There have been 13 reported vehicles stolen to date in 2021, 12 of which have since been recovered.

For a more inclusive account of police activities, please see the weekly Police Blotter, which is posted every Tuesday on the Westfield Police Department’s website, as well as on their Facebook (@WestfieldNJPD), and Instagram (@westfieldnjpd) pages.

PAINT BY THE POND

Union County residents of all ages with special needs are invited to participate in Paint by the Pond, on Saturday, July 17, from 11:00AM - 2:00PM at Mindowaskin Park. Paint by the Pond encourages participants to express themselves and create art by painting cardboard model houses that will be floated on the pond. This is a terrific initiative that supports one of my administration’s key priorities to ensure that Westfield is accessible and inclusive for all. Thanks to Councilwoman Dawn Mackey and Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded for their efforts to bring this event to Westfield to serve the special needs community.

This event is free and sponsored by the Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Town of Westfield. Pre-registration is required online.

For more information, please contact Jasmine Whitous at the Union County Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs by phone at (908) 527-4781, or email at jwhitous@ucnj.org.

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FACEBOOK LIVE WITH VOLTA

Join me on Monday, July 12, at 11:30AM for a Facebook Live session with our partners at Volta Charging, as we demonstrate one of the six new EV charging stations that have been installed at no cost to the Town. These stations provide residents, local employees, and visitors with the ability to charge their EV vehicles for free, and also demonstrates one of the ways we are leaning into the green economy to help drive our post-COVID economic recovery. In addition to Volta, I’ll be joined by DWC Executive Director Bob Zuckerman and Kevin Flanagan of the new Karma EV Dealership that will open on North Avenue in the coming months -- just one of the new businesses focused on sustainability in our community.

FRIENDS OF BRIGHTWOOD PARK HISTORY TOUR

Join The Friends of Brightwood Park for a history tour of Brightwood entitled "Before It Became a Park, It Was A Neighborhood." The event will be led by FOBP's own historian, Rob Lombard on July 10 and August 21, from 10:00 - 11:30AM. Rob will highlight the history of the African American community that lived in the area that is now Brightwood Park.

This program is open to ages 14 and up. Spaces are limited and pre-registration is required.

DOWNTOWN WESTFIELD'S ANNUAL SIDEWALK SALE

Don’t miss Downtown Westfield’s annual Sidewalk Sale event, July 15 -18, when downtown streets will be lined with some of our local retailers’ best products. Sidewalk Sale days are a perfect opportunity to shop local and support Downtown Westfield!

WESTFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL FUNDRAISER

Get your car washed for a great cause! On Saturday, July 10, the Westfield Neighborhood Council and G-Wiz Auto Wash & Detailing will host a car wash fundraiser from 10:00AM - 12:00PM at OceanFirst Bank (520 South Avenue).

COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND PERFORMANCE

Don’t miss the Westfield Community Concert Band Concert on Thursday, July 15! Following a COVID-driven hiatus, this beloved Westfield organization under the direction of Dr. Thomas Connors, recently reassembled and returns for its 109th year .

The program begins at 7:30 in Mindowaskin Park, and will feature selections of popular American music, including George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Danzon,” Samuel Ward’s “America the Beautiful,” and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Experienced area musicians who are interested in a position with the band should contact band manager Barry Rosenberg at 908-337-9073, or info@westfieldcommunityband.com.

The band’s summer concert is sponsored in part by the Westfield Recreation Department, as well as through funding from the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.