MAYOR'S UPDATE:

WEEK ENDING APRIL 21

This week we join municipalities across the state to commemorate NJ Local Government Week and express our gratitude to each of our Town employees for their professionalism in serving the residents of Westfield every day. From our incredible first responders, to our dedicated staff in Public Works, Public Health, Recreation, the Clerk’s office and in all of our department offices, our employees prioritize a “get to yes” mentality and strive to provide exceptional service to our residents and businesses. On behalf of the entire Town Council, I’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to each of them.

There are numerous events around Town this weekend and throughout the spring, which is what makes our community such a vibrant and welcoming place. Please come out and support these initiatives and the many volunteers that make them possible! 

As a reminder, the Town Council meets on Tuesday night. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

WESTFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET VOTE AND BOARD ELECTION

Don’t forget to cast your vote in Tuesday’s election, which has the Westfield Public Schools’ 2023-2024 operating budget on the ballot, as well as the candidates for the three open Board of Education seats. I hope you’ll join me in voting YES on both budget questions to ensure we maintain the high quality school district that attracts families to Westfield and maintains all of our property values. Whether or not you have kids in the school system, every resident has a stake in the outcome of this election, so please VOTE! 

If you haven’t already done so, please visit the April Budget Vote Portal to review the detailed information about the ballot questions – including a budget explainer and video, which provides helpful historical background and context for the proposed budget increase. You can also find information about the Board candidates, including bios and a recording of last week’s Candidates Forum, on the district’s website. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, and you can find your polling location at westfieldnj.gov/elections.

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

In support of  Autism Awareness Month, the Westfield Police and Recreation Departments are hosting Autism Family Day on Saturday, April 22, from 12:00 - 2:00 in the Town Hall Community Room, which is open to all Westfield residents on the autism spectrum and their families. The event will feature crafts, food, music, police vehicles, sensory games, therapy dogs, and more. For more information, or to register, visit our website.

Also on Saturday, from 11:00 - 3:00, be sure to stop by the opening day of the new exhibit at The Rialto Lobby Gallery, showcasing work by artists with autism of all ages. The exhibit will also be open on April 23 (11:00 - 3:00), April 26 (5:00 - 6:00), April 29 (11:00 - 3:00), and April 30 (11:00 - 5:30).

In addition, the Center for Creativity at the Rialto will be hosting several events for Autism Awareness Month, including the screening of In a Different Key on April 26 and Rocco Up on April 30, both of which will include a panel discussion. For more details, visit centerforcreativity.art/exhibits.

EARTH MONTH

April is also Earth Month, and the Westfield Green Team has several events in the works! 

On Saturday, April 22, which is Earth Day, residents are invited to the annual Free Market at the South Avenue Train Station lot. There are still a few donation slots open, and everyone is welcome to browse the yard sale quality items at no cost – such as clothing, kitchen items, garden tools, housewares, sports equipment, and books – from 11:30 through 2:00. This is a great way to share still-usable items instead of discarding them, which helps limit what is sent to the landfill. 

And as Earth Month continues, be sure to take advantage of the additional activities presented by the Westfield Green Team:

• Native Plant Sale in partnership with The Friends of Brightwood Park: By choosing native plants for your yard this spring, you can help play a critical role in restoring the natural ecology of our area and provide food and habitat to local insects, birds, and other wildlife. The Westfield Green Team and Friends of Brightwood Park are partnering with the Great Swamp Watershed Association for their 3rd Annual Pollinator Plant Sale. Plant pickup for Westfield residents will be at Brightwood Park on Saturday, May 6. Order native plants at greatswamp.org/native-plant-sale/plant-catalog.

• Battle of the Drains Competition with Berkeley Heights: Sign up online to adopt a storm drain in your neighborhood and help keep it clear of debris and prevent pollution from entering local waterways. Plus, if you track your activity online by entering estimated debris you collect between April 22 and May 31, you’ll be helping Westfield compete against Berkeley Heights to see whose residents took the most action to prevent water pollution during the time period, and you’ll be entered to win a prize.

In 2020, Westfield became the first municipality in the state to launch the Adopt-a-Drain program. This volunteer-driven initiative acts as a supplement to the ongoing efforts of our Department of Public Works to regularly maintain the 3,000+ drains throughout Westfield. 

For more information on the Adopt-a-Drain program and how to enter the Battle of the Drains, visit the Adopt-a-Drain website, and find out how easy it is to help keep our watersheds clean.

• Parks Clean-Up at Tamaques and Brightwood: On May 7, spend the morning volunteering to beautify Tamaques or Brightwood Park. Families, teens, Girl/Boy Scout troops, and other community groups are welcome. Additional information and registration is available at bit.ly/2023-Parks-CleanUp.

THROUGH THE LENS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

The Westfield Public Arts Commission (WPAC) is pleased to announce the Third Annual Through the Lens Photography Exhibit. This year's theme is "Movement." Artists are encouraged to explore photographically what movement looks 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 April 30, and full details can be found on our website.

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. Thanks to the generosity and support of our community, they have raised approximately $94,000 to date, which includes the generous grants of $50,000 from The Westfield Foundation and $2,500 from the Optimist Club of Westfield. They are 85% of the way to their goal of $110,000!

There are two upcoming community events to support Project Playground. On April 27, from 3:30 - 5:30 PM, there will be a fundraiser held at Victoria’s Cake, and on May 11, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Roig Collection will host a Mix & Sip. You can also donate directly on the Lincoln Schoool PTO website. 

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

Join the Westfield Mental Health Council on Sunday, April 30, to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month with the second annual Walk for CAKE and Mental Health Fair. 

CAKE is the Mental Health Council’s ongoing initiative emphasizing Compassion, Acceptance, Kindness and Empathy. The goal of the walk and fair is to help reduce the stigma of mental health and provide resources for the community.

The day's events will include the Walk for CAKE in Mindowaskin Park from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, and a Mental Health Fair to be held across the street at the Bauer Branch of the Westfield Area YMCA, 422 East Broad St., from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

FLAG FOOTBALL MINI CAMPS

The Westfield PAL is excited to announce a flag football minicamp for children with special needs on Sunday, April 23, from 9:30-10:30 at Kehler Stadium. The minicamp is for ages 5-14, and will provide 1:1 instruction moving through stations focused on passing, catching, rushing and defense, while allowing the children to enjoy time with their friends, neighbors, and classmates. No prior knowledge or football experience is necessary. Fore more information, or to register, visit the PAL website.

And with its inaugural season right around the corner, the Westfield PAL is excited to announce a girls flag football minicamp on Sunday, April 23, from 4:30-5:45 at Tamaques Park. The minicamp is for girls currently in grades 1-7 who will play in the fall 2023 season. The day will provide instruction on passing, catching, rushing, and defense, while allowing the girls to enjoy time with friends, neighbors, and classmates. No prior knowledge or football experience is necessary. Dress comfortably, wear sneakers or cleats, and bring a water bottle. Register online, and mail Kelly Hantman at westfieldgff@gmail.com with any questions.

FRIENDS OF WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The spring book sale returns to Westfield Memorial Library this month, with 100% of the proceeds directly funding library programming. Donation days run through April 22, with the sale taking place April 26-30. 

The Friends is a volunteer group that exists to enhance the library and to serve the library community. Through membership dues and fundraising efforts like this sale, the Friends enable the library to provide programs like the Hale Speaker Series, books on wheels, museum passes, Saturday children’s programs, and more. For additional details, or to volunteer, visit their website.

MIDDAY MADNESS CLUE HUNT

The DWC is bringing back Midday Madness on April 22 for a downtown clue hunt! Grab your family and friends and use your detective skills to decipher clues that will lead you to various locations throughout downtown Westfield. Come up with your team name and show your spirit with a unifying team color or theme. 

The cost to participate is $9 for adults and kids 12 and under. For additional details, or to register, visit our website.

WORK READINESS WORKSHOP

The Mobile Academy of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) will be hosting a free work-readiness workshop at Kean University on April 22, from 9:00 - 2:00. The workshop will cover mining for open job positions, resume writing, cover letters, interviewing skills, LinkedIn profiles, and general business etiquette. Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served as well. To participate, please register online. 

WESTFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL CAR SHOW

Be sure to stop by the Westfield Neighborhood Council’s Car Show on Sunday, April 23, from 10:00 - 4:00 at the South Avenue train station lot for a day of family fun. In addition to a variety of cars on display, there will also be food trucks, vendors, face painting, and more. A $5 donation for general admission is requested – kids five and under enter for free.

AMERICAN LEGION ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Join the Westfield American Legion for their Arts & Music Festival to support a great cause! The event will be held on April 29 from 6:00 - 10:00 at the Westfield Armory for an evening of live music and artisans selling their products, as well as food trucks and 30 brands pouring unlimited beer, wine and liquor tastings.

All proceeds go to the rebuilding of the Westfield American Legion Hall, which will include 22 units for homeless veterans, a 3,000 square foot banquet hall for rental, and facilities for the veterans. Once the facility is running, a full-time Veterans Affairs representative is planned to be on-site to help veterans with job placement, resume writing, and counseling services. This initiative is part of the Foundation for Sustainable Veteran Housing, whose goal is to repurpose existing veterans’ facilities to build upgraded sites in all 21 counties in New Jersey over the next five to ten years. They are currently working on facilities in four counties, including the Westfield project, that will provide housing for 70 at-risk veterans. With an average of 20 units per facility, they hope to provide enough housing for all 442 current at risk veterans statewide.

You can find out more about this project, as part of the Foundation for Sustainable Veteran Housing, at fsvh.org. Details and tickets for the April 29 event can be found here. 

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 10:00 in Memorial Plaza, 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 fun gathering with music and refreshments. 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.