MAYOR'S UPDATE:
WEEK ENDING MAY 6

What a great week to be in Downtown Westfield! Thanks to everyone who came out last Sunday for the return of Spring Fling, and Thursday night for another successful Girls’ Night Out. I am grateful to the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the DWC for organizing two very successful events that drove significant foot traffic from residents and visitors to our downtown! We also had a special guest on Tuesday in Downtown Westfield, when Congressman Malinowski visited several local businesses to discuss their post-COVID recovery and the current challenges posed by inflation.

As we wrap up Small Business Week and Teacher Appreciation Week, and kick off National Nurses Week, I know you’ll all join me in thanking our local entrepreneurs, educators, and nurses for the dedication and hard work they put into our community. Westfield is lucky to have you!

Wishing you all a great weekend, and a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the community!

Congressman Malinowski Visits Downtown Westfield

AUTO THEFT POLICY CHANGES & RESOURCES

Earlier this week, Governor Murphy announced $10MM in funding to support the purchase of License Plate Readers for municipalities to combat auto thefts. As you know, auto theft has been a problem in Westfield for the past few years, and has now spread across the state, which has finally brought the attention from lawmakers it deserves. The state’s support in providing resources to our law enforcement officers to combat auto theft is a great first step.

Thanks to our residents for their vigilance, and to the incredible work of our Police Department, auto thefts are trending downward in Westfield so far this year. We’ve had four cars stolen year-to-date – including one reported just yesterday morning on the 400 block of Hillside Avenue, an unlocked Land Rover with the key fob inside. And while these four cars represent a 50% reduction over stolen cars at this point last year, it’s important for residents to stay vigilant and secure their property.

On the policy front, the State Attorney General last week issued an enforcement directive updating statewide vehicular pursuit policy and use of force policy, which adds six criminal offenses to the list for which vehicular pursuit may be authorized. These now include possession of a firearm for a destructive purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, burglary of a dwelling, theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property (motor vehicles only), and bias intimidation. You can read the full directive here.

In addition to resources for our law enforcement, we also need to increase deterrence since many of these auto thefts are being used in the commission of violent crimes, including robbery, car jacking, and homicide. After a meeting that Summit Mayor Nora Radest and I had with the Union County prosecutor, I reached out to Senator Jon Bramnick and Governor Phil Murphy to ask for their support to increase criminal penalties for auto theft to allow these criminals to be charged beyond the current maximum of possession of stolen property.

I’ll continue to advocate for whatever we need to do to keep our community safe. Please continue to lock your cars and personal property 24/7, which is making a difference. Thank you for your continued vigilance.

COVID-19

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, our region continues to show moderate COVID activity, with Westfield showing high activity locally. Health officials are continuing to monitor two newly identified versions of the BA2 variant, BA2.12 and BA2.12.1, both of which are considered even more transmissible than BA2, and have led to New Jersey experiencing a 50% increase in cases the last two weeks. With the increase in COVID activity, the Health Department would like to encourage residents to test early if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID.

The state’s average for daily confirmed cases is up 20% from a week ago, and up 133% from a month ago. The rate of transmission is currently 1.2. Union County had an average of 173 daily reported cases during the past two weeks. Statewide, New Jersey averaged 592 hospitalizations during the past two weeks, which is a 28% increase from the two weeks prior. Overlook Medical Center reports thirteen patients hospitalized with COVID.

For the month of April, there were 294 COVID cases reported in Westfield (up from 127 in March). The pediatric cases can be broken down as follows:

Under age 5: 32 cases
Ages 5-9: 23 cases
Ages 10-14: 22 cases
Ages 15-19: 21 cases

Statewide, daily immunizations averaged 12.2K a day (down from 15K a day four weeks ago). Currently, 80.3% of all New Jersey residents age five and older are fully vaccinated. Additional breakdowns of vaccination statistics by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID Dashboard.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with support from the New Jersey Health Fund is hosting “A Candid Conversation on COVID-19 Vaccines in Pediatrics and Young Adults.” This zoom webinar will be held on Thursday, May 12, at 6:30 PM. More information and details on how to register can be found here.

During the month of April, 322 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).

EARTH MONTH WRAP UP

Thanks to the many residents who attended last Saturday’s Free Market event, donating several tons of goods, much of which was claimed by those who came to browse, and the rest picked up by Green Drop – keeping all of these items out of landfills. Thanks to the Green Team, the Police and DPW, all of the volunteers and participating organizations, and especially Liz Chacko, who led this event on behalf of the Green Team!

We then wrapped up Earth Month with a great turnout for Sunday’s Park Cleanup in Brightwood, Tamaques, and the woods at Myrtle and Grandview, with many residents participating to help clean and beautify our open spaces.

Lastly, congratulations to the winners of the Live Greener Student Art Contest – eighth grader Zoe Hohlfeld and fifth grader Sophie Hohfeld.

For more photos and a full recap of Earth Month activities, visit westfieldnj.gov/earth-month.

NEW JERSEY BAG BAN

Hopefully, you know by now that the statewide implementation of the New Jersey Bag Ban legislation took effect on Wednesday. Intended to help reduce plastic pollution, the law encourages the use of reusable bags by no longer allowing single-use plastic bags at grocery and retail establishments, as well as paper bags at larger grocery stores. It also bans polystyrene foam takeout food containers and other products such as plates, cups, food trays, and utensils.

I was pleased to join the Westfield Stop & Shop team earlier this week to hand out free reusable bags and speak to the press about the importance of this legislation – the most progressive bag ban law in the country – as part of New Jersey’s efforts to lead on the sustainability front.

In addition to stocking up on reusable bags, please prepare by visiting the following sites with more details:

DEP’s Get Past Plastic website
DEP’s press release
Video from NJ Clean Communities

LINKEDIN LEARNING AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY

Westfield Memorial Library is now offering residents free access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), which offers more than 16,000 courses taught by industry experts on business, software, technology, creative skills, and more.

While individual subscriptions to LinkedIn Learning otherwise cost up to $29.99 per month, this service will be free to Westfield library cardholders. Users do not need a LinkedIn profile to use the resource. Courses can be accessed from any device at any time and are conveniently split into short videos. LinkedIn Learning also features a dedicated mobile app so users can learn on the go.

LinkedIn Learning is available to those who live, work, or go to school in Westfield with a valid, up to date library card. To access LinkedIn Learning with your Westfield Memorial Library card, visit linkedin.com/learning-login/go/wmlnj.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

To celebrate National Mental Health Awareness Month, and in recognition of the difficult times many in our community have experienced over the past two years, the Westfield Mental Health Council will present a Mental Health Day of free activities on Sunday, May 15. The day begins with a Walk for CAKE in Mindowaskin Park from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, where participants can enjoy a walk in the park punctuated with stations highlighting aspects of wellness such as yoga, music, art, meditation and pet therapy. CAKE is the Mental Health Council’s ongoing initiative emphasizing compassion, acceptance, kindness and empathy.

Across the street, at the Bauer Branch of the Westfield Area YMCA, enjoy family-friendly activities, mental health provider resources, and presentations from 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM. For more details, visit westfieldnj.gov/mentalhealth.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT SEASONAL JOB OPENINGS

Summer is nearly here, and the Recreation Department has the following seasonal positions available. For more information and to fill out an application, please visit our website.

Playground Program Staff (June 28 – August 5, 8:30 – 4:15, at all six elementary schools)

Site Supervisor (minimum age: 20)
Group Leader (minimum age: 17)
Counselor (minimum age: 16)
C.I.T. (completing 9th grade) Note: CITs are not paid; this is a training position

Pool Staff

Lifeguards (all other positions at the pool are filled)

GRETA'S RUN

There’s still time to register for Greta’s Run on May 22! One of the largest 5k races in the area, Greta’s Run was founded in memory of Greta Schoenemann, who was a Westfield High School freshman when she died from injuries sustained when a tree branch fell on her and her classmates during lunch.

This year there will be a Memory Walk prior to the 5k for registrants to walk in memory of someone they have lost. The event will feature food, music and local vendors cheering on the walkers and runners at the finish line, with all proceeds supporting Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss. You can donate or register to participate at imaginenj.org/gretasrun.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Memorial Day weekend is just three weeks away, and the Martin Wallberg American Legion Post 3 is busy finalizing the return of the parade on Monday, May 30. The Town is assisting the Legion by collecting parade participant information on our website, and there is still time to register your community organization to march!

This year, the parade organizers will be unveiling a new route designed to maximize participation by the marchers and the spectators. The traditional solemn ceremony to honor our fallen heroes will begin at 9:00 AM in Monument Circle. The parade will immediately follow, beginning on East Broad Street and turning 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 residents are invited to join the American Legion between 12:00 and 4:00 for a barbecue with music and entertainment. For additional information, contact James McDonald via email or at 612-910-4100. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact email Joe Mindak or call 201-410-8282.

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.

MAYOR'S UPDATE:WEEK ENDING MAY 6