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MAYOR'S UPDATE:
FEBRUARY 18
As Black History Month continues, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to view the replay of the recent community panel discussion addressing hate, which was hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Association of Westfield and the Human Relations Advisory Commission. For those who missed it, the replay of the event is now available online. Thanks again to everyone who organized and participated in this helpful dialogue as we continue to prioritize an inclusive Westfield that celebrates diversity and has zero tolerance for acts of hate and bias.
In other news, we are looking forward to welcoming residents back to in-person Town Council meetings on Tuesday night, with our 7:00 conference session to be held in the Community Room and the 8:00 regular meeting in the Council Chambers. As always, the meeting will also be live streamed on Facebook for those who can’t join in person.
As a reminder, municipal offices and the Conservation Center are closed on Monday for Presidents' Day. Wishing you a wonderful long weekend!
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COVID-19
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, all six regions in the state are now at moderate levels of COVID activity (versus four of the six regions last week).
The state’s seven-day average for confirmed positive tests is down 16% from a week ago and 89% from a month ago. Hospitalizations statewide are at their lowest number since December 3.
Statewide, vaccination rates have decreased by 35% from last week’s rate, with an average of 17.2K doses administered per day. More than 6.6 million New Jersey residents are fully vaccinated, and more than 2.9 million have received third doses or boosters.
Additional breakdowns of vaccination statistics by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID-19 Dashboard.
The Health Department’s immunization outreach continues with all three brands of vaccine. A free vaccination clinic for ages 5-11 will be held on February 26 at the Westfield Memorial Library. The department is also offering vaccinations in home and in the office for those age five and above, and any resident interested in receiving the vaccine can call 908-789-4070. 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.
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RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATES
The Recreation Department is busy planning for a fantastic summer, starting with the return of the Summer Playground Program! This year, full-day camp is back at all six elementary schools for children completing Kindergarten through fifth grade. Camp will run from 9:00 - 4:00, Monday through Friday, from June 28 through August 5. Registration opens on Tuesday, February 22 at 9:00 AM on our website, or at the Recreation Department in Town Hall. Space will be limited!
Current Memorial Pool members, keep an eye on your mailboxes for your renewal information in the coming days! And for all of our new residents in Town, be sure to get your name on the interest list to have registration information mailed to you.
Registration is also open for the March Walking History Tour Of Brightwood Park: "Before It Became a Park, It Was A Neighborhood.” The walk will be led by the Friends of Brightwood Park’s own historian, Rob Lombard, on Saturday, March 26, at 10:00 AM. Rob will highlight the history of the African American community that lived in what is now this beautiful nature preserve. For more information, visit our website.
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RECYCLING REMINDERS
Our curbside recycling vendor, Grand Sanitation, has been experiencing staffing shortages, which causes their hours of collection to vary among neighborhoods. In some areas, at times, they are still completing their routes well into the evening in order to finish the pickup. As a reminder, your items should be placed outside no later than 6:00AM, which is their start time each day. To make their collection more efficient, please ensure your items are not in your driveway or on your private property, but at the curb for easy pickup. |
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NEW BUSINESSES
I was thrilled to attend last week’s ribbon cutting for The Green Room on Elm Street, which joins the owners’ six additional locations to offer CBD products. I’d also like to welcome DanTee Hair Architects on East Broad Street, and we look forward to Chutzpah Kitchen joining us in the former Savory Spice Shop location on East Broad.
In addition, Westfield native Ricardo Roig, known for his gallery in Hoboken as well as his beautiful mural near the South Avenue Circle, will be bringing his art back to town in partnership with the Evalyn Dunn Gallery at 331 West Broad Street. Roig Collection at The Evalyn Dunn Gallery Annex will hold its grand opening on March 5 from 4:00-8:00 with music and refreshments. The new space will feature weekly gallery hours and a monthly Open Studio Night, as well as the opportunity to partner with local organizations, charities, and businesses for fundraising and social events. Welcome back, Ricardo!
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