MAYOR'S UPDATE:
APRIL 8

Thanks to everyone who attended Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting. It was great to see a packed house in support of our Westfield High School Girls Basketball and Boys Indoor Track state champions. It was a privilege to recognize the tremendous achievements of these student athletes, and we look forward to doing it again when the state championship Girls Swim Team joins us at the April 26 meeting for a proclamation to honor their record-breaking season.

Thanks to the residents who took the time to ask questions about the proposed redevelopment at Prospect and Ferris as we continue to collect input and traffic  information ahead of voting on the final redevelopment agreement. For those who missed the meeting, I encourage you to watch the remarks by our redevelopment traffic and circulation consultant, John Federico of WSP, who provided some context for the ordinance we introduced to address some of the long-standing traffic and public safety issues on lower Prospect Street. While these measures will not solve every problem in the area, I believe they will make a considerable impact towards mitigating some of the traffic and pedestrian safety concerns that have been raised.

I’m happy to continue to report on the many events that are coming back after a COVID-driven hiatus. This week, you will find  details about the Westfield Police Youth Academy, the Memorial Day Parade, Girls’ Night Out and Live Greener Fair – all of which are back and ready for robust community participation. It’s an exciting time as we look ahead to warm weather and the opportunity to bring back some of our most notable events. 

Lastly, I want to once again thank Councilman Jim Boyes for his service to Ward 1 over the last two and a half years, following his resignation from the Town Council earlier this week. His counsel and diligence have been true assets to this governing body, and we are very grateful for his many valuable contributions. Details on the process of appointing his replacement will be forthcoming.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and, for those leaving town for spring break, safe and restful travels!

POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Also back this year is the Memorial Day Parade! As always, this beloved Westfield tradition is led by the Martin Wallberg American Legion Post 3 to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The Town is assisting the Legion by collecting parade participant information on our website. 

This year, the parade organizers will be unveiling a new route designed to maximize participation by the marchers and the spectators. The parade will begin with its traditional ceremony in Monument Circle to honor our fallen heroes, and will then process down East Broad Street and turn left on North Euclid, ending in Mindowaskin Park. The Westfield Police Department will then escort all participating veterans to Fairview Cemetery for the annual solemn service held there. All members of the public are invited to come to the American Legion beginning at 12:00 for a barbecue with music and entertainment. More details will follow in the coming weeks, and I look forward to seeing a robust turnout as we resume this annual tradition. 

EARTH MONTH 

Did you have a chance to catch my Facebook Live discussion with the Westfield Green Team this week? We shared the details of the Earth Month activities the team has planned, which include the following events:

• Living Greener Student Art Contest
• Native Plant Sale in partnership with The Friends of Brightwood Park
• Live Greener Fair on April 24
• Free Market on April 30
• Parks Clean-Up on May 1

You can find all of the information about these events on our website. 

In our discussion, we also reminded residents about the opportunity to obtain a $49 home energy audit from Ciel Power, and talked to Wonder about their upcoming reusable container pilot program funded by a Sustainable Jersey/PSE&G Foundation grant secured by the Green Team.

To stay up to date on all of the Green Team’s activities year-round, you can subscribe to their new quarterly newsletter launching next week.

THROUGH THE LENS 

Calling all photographers! The Westfield Public Arts Commission (WPAC) is pleased to announce the Second Annual Through the Lens Photography Exhibit. This year's theme is "Renewal and Strength."  Artists are encouraged to explore photographically what renewal and strength look like through their eyes and the camera lens, and are invited to use their own creative interpretation of the theme. The WPAC will select photographs to be displayed in Downtown Westfield. The deadline for submissions is May 1, and full details can be found on our website.

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

Girls' Night Out in Downtown Westfield is around the corner! Join the DWC on Thursday, May 5, from 5:00-9:00 for an evening of entertainment, special offers, shopping, and refreshments from our downtown businesses. Registration and additional details are available at downtown.westfieldnj.gov/GirlsNightOut.

SPEAK SOBRIETY COMMUNITY PRESENTATION

Please join the Westfield Municipal Alliance, Albert Anthony Kayal Foundation, and the Matthew Thomas Toriello Memorial Fund for a special parent program on April 20 at 7:00PM at Edison Intermediate School. The program features Stephen Hill, a renowned national speaker on substance use prevention.

Stephen is the founder of Speak Sobriety, a bestselling author, recovery coach, and a fierce attorney advocating for treatment over incarceration. He has presented in front of thousands of people for over 350 schools, drug-free community coalitions and alliances across the country, sharing his cautionary tale of addiction to recovery and beyond.

The parent program is free and open to the public. 

COVID-19

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, our region continues to show moderate COVID activity. As health officials continue to watch BA2, which now accounts for the majority of cases in the US, we are seeing an increase statewide in reported cases of 51% in the past two weeks.

The state’s average for daily confirmed cases is up 40% from a week ago, and also up 40% from a month ago. The rate of transmission is currently 1.15. Union County had an average of 76 cases reported per day over the past two weeks, and Overlook Medical Center reports five patients hospitalized with COVID. 

For the month of March, there were 127 COVID cases reported in Westfield (down from 137 in February), 51 (40%) of which were in those age 19 and younger. The pediatric cases can be broken down as follows:

• Under age 5: 8 cases
• Ages 5-9: 17 cases
• Ages 10-14: 17 cases
• Ages 15-19: 9 cases

Statewide, daily immunizations more than doubled over last week and averaged 16.4K a day. Currently, 79.7% of all New Jersey residents age five and older are fully vaccinated. In Westfield, 55% of children age 5-11 are fully vaccinated (up from 53% from last month). 71% of those who are eligible for a booster dose have received one (up from 69% last month).  

Additional breakdowns of vaccination statistics by location and age group can be found on the New Jersey COVID Dashboard.   

Last week, the FDA authorized second booster shots for those who are age 50 and above, and for those who are age 12 and above with certain conditions that compromise the immune system. The Westfield Regional Health Department reminds residents that second booster shots are especially important for those over 50 who have underlying health conditions that put them at risk for severe COVID disease, and for those over the age of 65. Second boosters can be given four months after the first booster dose. 

During the month of March, 71 vaccinations were given by the Health Department, and they continue to provide vaccines through home visits, pop-up clinics, and appointments (schedule at westfieldnj.gov/vaccine-appointments or by calling 908-789-4070). 

SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES

With the spring weather unfortunately comes the return of the Spotted Lanternfly.  According to the NJ Department of Agriculture, this insect has the potential to greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees, as it feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in our state. While it does not harm humans or animals, it can be a signifcant nuisance, affecting the quality of life and enjoyment of the outdoors. 

Now is the time to identify and destroy Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, before they begin hatching in the coming weeks. Our DPW Downtown Division is actively working to identify and address any egg masses that they may find over the next few weeks as they set up the outdoor dining areas. This video provides some helpful details so that we can all do our part to help minimize the disruption of these invasive insects this summer.