MAYOR'S UPDATE:

WEEK ENDING MARCH 10

What a great week for Westfield as the momentum of new businesses continues! Last Friday, I had the pleasure of joining many community leaders at the ribbon cutting for the first phase of Redi-Farms, the only hydroponic vertical farm in the region. It was an exhilarating evening as we celebrated the reimagining of an old industrial building, thanks to the vision and passion of Westfield residents Greg Redington and Michele Modestino.

In addition, this week we saw the long-anticipated opening of Millburn Deli, and we also welcomed the new Fresh & Co to 21 East Broad Street (formerly Carlo’s Bakery). Also on the horizon for spring are Mochimoly Donuts, Rumble Boxing, and German Doner Kebab – and Maize Cocktails & Cocina is planning on an early summer opening. It’s exciting to see these new additions, all of which are reflective of the optimism around our downtown and its bright future.

On that note, I’d like to remind everyone about the steps we’ll be taking regarding the One Westfield Place proposal at our upcoming Town Council meeting on Tuesday night. There are three ordinances that were introduced on February 28 for the proposed PILOT and related financial agreements that will be voted on for adoption on March 14: 

• Ordinance authorizing eight Financial Agreements

• Ordinance authorizing eight Special Assessment Agreements

• Redevelopment Area Bond Ordinance

We will hold the required public hearings on the ordinances, with comments to be limited to their relevant specifics. Anyone who would like to speak about topics unrelated to these ordinances can do so during the general public comment period. If you would like to review the information presented about the financial agreements, the replay of the February 28 meeting is available on our Facebook and YouTube pages, and you can also view the slides on our website.

In the meantime, we're keeping a close eye on tonight's weather. While the current forecast does not call for significant accumulating snow on the roadways, our Department of Public Works will continue to monitor conditions and we will send out any necessary updates via Nixle if anything changes.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

CONSERVATION CENTER PERMITS

The Conservation Center will be open from 9:00-3:00 this Saturday, and will then begin its spring and summer seasonal hours on Thursday, March 23, opening on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00-2:30, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00-3:00. Annual permits for organic debris will be sold at westfieldnj.gov/conservation beginning March 13, and will remain at $60 for the year. 

As a reminder, the drop-off recycling programs are available free of charge and no permit required, with a wide range of items accepted. The annual mailer is en route to all homes, and full details are also available on our website. 

MARCH MENU WITH LES TRENT

Get your appetite ready! Join Les Trent for a new video every Thursday in March on the DWC’s Instagram account (@downtown_westfield), as he and local business owners explore the tastes of Westfield by highlighting a different eatery each week. When you're dining in Westfield, be sure to share your favorite dish on social media by taking a photo of your meal and tagging the restaurant and @downtown_westfield to be entered into a random drawing for a Yiftee Gift Card. Happy eating!

SCHOOL BUDGET VOTER INFORMATION

A variety of community engagement sessions have been scheduled in March and April to allow multiple opportunities for Westfield voters to hear about the 2023-2024 school district operating budget and to get their questions answered before going to the polls on Tuesday, April 25. The list of community engagement sessions -- some remote, some in-person -- are posted on the April Budget Vote portal on the district and school websites under Community Engagement. You can also submit questions through the BOE Budget portal.

AMERICAN LEGION FISH FRY

The American Legion Fish Fry fundraiser is underway and running every Friday through April 7 from 4:00 - 8:00. This is a great opportunity to support the Legion, which does so much to help our veterans. 

PROJECT PLAYGROUND AT LINCOLN SCHOOL

Have you heard about Project Playground? This is a terrific, community-based effort by a team of parents to create a more accessible playground at Lincoln School. 

Their goal is to add multiple pieces of accessible equipment to the Lincoln School playgrounds in order to create a more inclusive environment for children to engage in play together, including those with mobility and communication challenges. To find out more, or to donate, visit the Lincoln Schoool PTO website. 

LIFELONG WESTFIELD SURVEY

Calling all seniors! Lifelong Westfield is seeking your input through a new survey, which aims to identify and better meet the needs of the senior community. Many thanks to co-chairs Brad Chananie and Deirdre Gelline, who devote many hours of their time to Lifelong Westfield, along with Council liaison David Contract. You can find the survey at westfieldnj.gov/LifelongWestfield2023Survey.

WHS COMMUNITY SERVICE WEEK

Please support the students of Westfield High School in their Community Service Week initiative to help communities and individuals in need through the purchase and distribution of toiletry and personal hygiene items. You can shop directly from their Amazon wish list.

SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS

The Recreation Department is already planning for another great summer! Renewal information has been mailed to current members of Memorial Pool, with a deadline of April 5. Please note the renewal timeline is earlier than in recent years due to the robust wait list, which you can join at westfieldnj.gov/pool. 

In addition, Summer Playground Program registration is now open! This popular program returns this summer at all six elementary schools for a fun-filled summer! The program will be held Monday, June 26 through Friday, August 4, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday for students completing Kindergarten through fifth grade. Registration will close on June 9, or when each site reaches capacity. For more information, visit our website.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Planning is underway for 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. 

The parade route will be the same as last year with a later start time, beginning with the traditional remembrance ceremony at 10:00am in Monument Circle, and will then proceed down East Broad Street and turn left on North Euclid, ending in Mindowaskin Park, where all members of the public are invited for a gathering. The Westfield Police Department will escort all participating veterans to Fairview Cemetery for the annual solemn service to be held there. The American Legion will also host its annual barbecue with music and entertainment. Additional details will follow in the coming weeks.

To commemorate Memorial Day, the Westfield Veterans Banner program will be displaying the next round of banners to recognize our veterans and active duty military personnel. The banners will be displayed from Memorial Day through Veterans Day in a partnership between the Town and the Westfield Veterans Fund, a locally established 501(c)(3) organization. Phase 1 of this program was introduced last year on July 4, when the first round of banners was unveiled on poles adjacent to Monument Circle, along East Broad Street, North Avenue, and South Avenue. The submission deadline for new banners to be included in this next round is March 31. For submission details and an application -- or to make a donation -- visit westfieldnj.gov/veterans-banner-program.