MAYOR'S UPDATE:
JANUARY 14

Thanks to everyone who joined us virtually at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting! I’m very enthusiastic about what lies ahead for Westfield this year, and am counting on your continued engagement and input as we look toward many exciting initiatives.

This afternoon, I ended the week on a high note by touring the recently reconfigured Lord & Taylor space, which is temporarily housing Lamberts Mill Academy and Hillside Academy South, both of which are schools for special needs students throughout Union County that were devastated by flooding from Tropical Storm Ida. Thanks to the support of property owners HBC Streetworks Development, working in partnership with Union County, this space has undergone an amazing transformation serving the educational community. You can see the recap and tour on my Facebook page.

On the COVID front, I’m pleased to report that, after several weeks of increasing numbers, health officials are hopeful that this most recent surge is beginning to slow down. Today, statewide hospitalizations dropped for a second straight day after nearly a month of increases, and the state’s seven-day average for new confirmed positive tests is down 17% from a week ago – representing the third straight day the average dropped. Please continue to mask up in public places and get boosted if you have not already done so.

Heading into the long weekend, the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is of great importance as Dr. King’s legacy of racial, social, and economic justice is honored. As we continue to face some community-defining questions here in Westfield about how we respond to ongoing acts of hate and divisiveness, let’s all take some time on Monday to reflect on the teachings of Dr. King, how they remain incredibly relevant in our everyday lives, and how we treat one another. For those who will be in Town, I hope you’ll join Monday’s events, hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield, beginning with a march from the MLK Monument on the South Avenue Circle at 12:30, followed by a brief ceremony at 1:00 at the bandstand in Mindowaskin Park. Let’s come together on this holiday and recommit to modeling the spirit of inclusivity that we want for Westfield.

We are keeping a close eye on the forecast for a potential winter storm later this weekend. As always, we will distribute any relevant information via Nixle and post to our website and social media channels.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

COVID-19

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, all but one region in the state (the Southeast) are showing very high activity levels. However, Atlantic Health is reporting a plateauing trend of hospital admissions, and Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone reports with cautious optimism that we appear to be reaching a plateau with new cases in the region as well.

For the week of January 7 through January 13, there were 177 cases identified in Westfield, 62 of which were in those age 19 and younger.

Statewide, vaccination rates have increased by 20% from last week’s rate, with an average of 40.5K doses administered per day. More than 6.5 million New Jersey residents are fully vaccinated, and 2.5 million have received third doses or boosters.

In Union County, 71% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Westfield, 99% of adults and 79% of our entire population is fully vaccinated. In addition, 54% of children ages 5-11 in Westfield have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 59% of eligible residents have received a booster dose. Additional breakdowns by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID Dashboard.

The Health Department will continue to offer COVID vaccination clinics, walk-in appointments, and home visits throughout the winter – in addition to free flu vaccinations for any adult 18 or older. All residents over the age of 12 who are five months past their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months past their dose of J&J, are highly encouraged to get a booster dose, as recommended by the CDC. Any resident interested in receiving the vaccine can call 908-789-4070.

POLICE UPDATE

Residential parking permit renewals are ongoing this month, with the Parking Office open every Saturday in January from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Please remember to bring proof of residency and the registration for each vehicle that needs a permit. If you have any questions about the parking permit process, please call 908-789-4044.

Once again, we are experiencing similar staffing shortages both in the Police Department and with crossing guards, due to COVID cases and required quarantines. As a result, the crossing guard post reductions will continue again next week in order to maintain sufficient staffing for ongoing public safety issues and unanticipated emergencies. The same posts will remain unstaffed during the week of January 17, which are listed on our website, and we will continue to reassess each week based on available personnel.

In terms of police activity this week, the department responded to cases of fraud and identity theft. You can read more details in the weekly Police Blotter, which is posted every Tuesday on the Westfield Police Department’s website, as well as on the their Facebook (@WestfieldNJPD) and Instagram (@westfieldnjpd) pages.

WEBSITE UPDATES

As you know, earlier this year we launched a new Town website with enhanced capabilities to help streamline our communications and simplify interactions with Town departments, and we continue to make additional improvements that have proven to be very successful. This fall, we migrated the Police Department’s residential alarm registration and renewal process to the website, followed by the ability to schedule building inspection appointments online. In addition, Building Department records are now viewable online – including construction permits, inspections, violations, and more. And most recently, for my fellow pet owners, we’ve added animal license registration and renewals to the site, which are due by January 31. Next up: Additional categories of notifications on the Town Updates page, as well as plans to move our parking permitting system online later this year.

MLK ASSOCIATION

In addition to this Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march and commemoration, the MLK Association of Westfield will also host, in partnership with the Human Relations Advisory Commission, an upcoming community discussion entitled Disrupt Hate – Working Toward an Inclusive Westfield, which will be held on February 3 at Westfield High School. This panel discussion will engage the community on how we can promote inclusion and disrupt the atrocious acts of hate we continue to see.

You are welcome to attend in person or via live stream, with more details to follow in the coming weeks.

BUY A KEY FUNDRAISER

Did you know that the Westfield High School Choral Department has a 1920 nine-foot Steinway Model D piano? Following many repairs over the years, fundraising is underway to allow for a full restoration of the piano, which would entail sending it out for about six months to a reputable piano restorer.

While several local organizations have already contributed to this project – including The Westfield Coalition of the Arts, WHS High School Facilities Budget, The WHS PTSO, and The Westfield Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts Department – there is an outstanding fundraising goal of $31,000 remaining. If you’d like to assist with this project and help restore the school’s Steinway to its original glory, visit the WHS Choral Department's website, or contact Mr. Brzozowski, Choral Director, at jbrzozowski@westfieldnjk12.org.