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MAYOR'S UPDATE:
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 12
Bravo to the cast of Twelfth Night, who had a terrific opening night performance of Shakespeare in (Foundation) Park last night! Tickets are sold out for this in-demand event tonight and tomorrow – the first of its kind in Westfield, and a great example of the arts playing an important role in our town’s vitality. Many thanks to the DWC for organizing such a wonderful event, and of course to Acting Out for sharing their talent with the community!
As a reminder, the Town Council meets on Tuesday night. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
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FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Last call for the Westfield Fire Department’s first-ever Youth Fire Academy! This free program, where participants will learn lifesaving skills and what it takes to be a firefighter, will be held on August 22 and 23 for Town residents from the ages of 12 to 14. The final application deadline is close of business today, August 12. For additional information, please email fire@westfieldnj.gov, or call 908-789-4130.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Congratulations to the 12 participants of this year’s Westfield Police Department Youth Academy, who will complete their week-long course of basic police training this afternoon! The youth recruits performed morning physical training, followed by team building sessions and classroom lectures by a variety of law enforcement groups and experts. Many thanks to our Community Policing Bureau for providing this free program to the community!
Separately, I also want to remind everybody once again that car thefts remain an ongoing issue – not just in Westfield, but statewide. According to State Police data,14,320 vehicles were reported stolen in New Jersey last year, a 22% increase compared to 2020, which also saw a rise over the previous year. In Westfield, we have had 13 vehicles stolen so far this year (12 cars and a motorized bike), versus 28 for the full year in 2021. In almost all cases, stolen cars have been left unlocked with key fobs inside.
Apart from the numbers, we are seeing the attempts become more brazen, often during daylight hours in plain sight – all of which is unsettling, and requires more comprehensive action at the state level. I have asked Senator Bramnick to support the bipartisan state legislation proposed last week to stiffen criminal penalties for car theft and deter minors from their involvement – a problem that is on the rise across New Jersey. Our police are doing their part as they face increasingly difficult and dangerous circumstances, and state legislators and the public must do theirs. Please help them by ensuring your vehicles are locked with keys and key fobs removed at all times.
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ARTIST ALLEY AT THE RIALTO
The Westfield Public Arts Commission is seeking artists on a volunteer basis to create murals that express their unique vision and expression of creativity for the new Artist Alley – a permanent public art installation which will be located alongside The Rialto, connecting Broad Street to the parking lot. For more information, visit westfieldnj.gov/artist-alley, or email publicart@westfieldnj.gov.
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MARCH TO YORKTOWN DAY
For our history buffs, don’t miss the Third Annual March to Yorktown Day on August 28! This unique event begins with an opening ceremony at 11:30 AM in Mindowaskin Park, where you can meet historical interpreters as General George Washington and French Generals Rochambeau and Chastellux, and hear about how they and their troops marched from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, passing through Westfield on August 29, 1781. From here, they went on to Princeton to meet with two columns of the French army before the combined forces continued on to Yorktown to besiege the position of British General Lord Cornwallis. This route has been designated as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, a unit of the National Park Service.
Following the opening ceremony, the community is invited to join in a march re-enactment on the road to victory in Yorktown along Broad Street, and ending at the intersection of Prospect Street, where a Pop-up Visitors Festival will be held from 12:30 - 1:30.
As a native of Yorktown, Virginia, this march is a piece of American history that is particularly exciting to me, made even more meaningful by its connection to Westfield. Please join us!
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SUMMER STREET SWEEPING
Summer street sweeping continues throughout Town in order to keep our storm drains clear and remove debris from the roadways in anticipation of summer storms. Residents are asked to remove all cars from the streets where the sweepers are working so that the stormwater drains can be accessed to help avoid clogging and drainage issues.
We have two sweepers, with one working on the north side and one on the south side each day. Our crews have finished Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, and are currently working in Zone 4 and Zone 9. To stay apprised of the sweepers' locations, residents can enroll in text or email updates at westfieldnj.gov/townupdates, or visit westfieldnj.gov/street-sweeping. A map of the leaf collection zones used for street sweeping can be found at westfieldnj.gov/zone-map.
Once the summer pass is complete, the street sweepers will return in the fall after leaf collection, and also continue with their ongoing sweeping of the downtown area several times per week throughout the year.
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BLOCK PARTY INFORMATION
It's block party season! Before hosting your neighborhood gathering, be sure to follow the Town's procedures to obtain all necessary approvals. You can find full details, as well as a fillable application, on our website.
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