MAYOR'S UPDATE:
DECEMBER 17

It’s wonderful to see our downtown bustling with activity as everyone prepares for the holidays. Please remember that a thriving downtown comes from spending in our stores, restaurants, and local service establishments, and our Westfield businesses need your support now more than ever after the pandemic-driven challenges they’ve faced since early 2020. If you can’t decide which of our many wonderful stores to patronize, the DWC has you covered with the new Downtown Westfield Gift Card, which is accepted in a number of downtown businesses. For more information, visit bit.ly/DWCgiftcard.

And as we celebrate the true spirit of the season, please take the time to watch this video created by the Westfield Clergy Association, who have come together to share a beautiful message of solidarity in response to the horrific hate crimes that have occurred recently. In this season of reflection, giving, and gratitude, “let’s shine together.”

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

COVID-19 UPDATE

As you know, the Omicron variant is spreading quickly and, so far, appears to be more transmissible, even as health officials await further data to determine the severity of illness it can cause. The good news is that we have the tools available to us to help slow the spread, the most important being vaccines. If you have not yet been vaccinated or received your booster, I urge you to do so with the winter months of indoor activity and gatherings upon us. It’s also prudent to get tested before and following any holiday travel.

Today, the state has reported back-to-back days of more than 6,000 confirmed positive tests for the first time in the 21 months since the pandemic began. New Jersey had just six days total last winter with more than 6,000 cases.

Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone reports that the entire state continues to show a high level of COVID activity.

Locally, there were 40 cases identified in Westfield between December 10 and December 14 (note the shorter timeframe, as this is the most recent data available this week). The age ranges are broken down as follows:

Age 9 and under: 5 cases
Age 10-19: 10 cases
Age 20-29: 4 cases
Age 30-39: 8 cases
Age 40-49: 3 cases
Age 50-59: 8 cases
Age 60-69: 2 cases
Age 70-79: No cases
Age 80-89: No cases
Age 90 and above: No cases

The state’s seven-day average for new confirmed cases is up 23% from a week ago and up 199% from a month ago, the highest since January 29. The statewide transmission rate is 1.23.

Statewide, vaccination rates have decreased by 11% from last week’s rate, with an average of 50.5K doses administered per day. More than 6.3 million New Jersey residents are fully vaccinated, and more than 1.8 million people in the state have received third doses or boosters.

In Union County, 69% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Westfield, 98% of adults and 78% of our entire population is fully vaccinated. Additional breakdowns by location and age group can be found on the New Jersey COVID Dashboard. Note that the fully vaccinated data does not include booster shot information.

Wednesday was Boost NJ Day, which marked one year since the first COVID vaccine was given in New Jersey, and the day was utilized to encourage New Jersey residents to get their booster shot. The Westfield Regional Health Department held a clinic in Fanwood on Wednesday with over 200 participants! There will be two more clinics in the coming days – one tomorrow at the Westfield Memorial Library for booster shots, and a pediatric clinic (age 5+) on Monday in Garwood – no appointment needed. The attached flyers have all of the pertinent details.

Vaccine clinics, walk-in appointments, and home visits will continue to be offered throughout the winter. Any resident interested in receiving the vaccine can call 908-789-4070. All residents 16 and older who are six months past their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months past their dose of J&J, are highly encouraged to get a booster dose, as recommended by the CDC. The department is also offering free flu vaccinations for any adult 18 or older.

The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services have partnered to offer a free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kit that is available to every New Jerseyan who thinks they need a test, with or without symptoms. The kit will be shipped through UPS with next-day delivery. Once received, you will connect over Zoom with a Vault healthcare professional who will walk you through the test and answer your questions. When complete, the test can be sent back in a prepaid package via UPS next-day shipping. You will receive your test results 24 to 48 hours after your sample arrives at the lab. To learn more or to order a free test kit, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nj.

POLICE UPDATE

Westfield, like many suburban communities, is currently facing a shortage of crossing guards. All City Management Services (ACMS), which manages our crossing guard program, is currently recruiting dedicated individuals to fill these important public safety positions. Flexible schedules are possible, and seniors are welcome. For more information, contact our Area Supervisors at richards@thecrossingguardcompany.com or seubanks@thecrossingguardcompany.com.

Police activity this week included cases of fraud/identity theft, criminal mischief, and theft of property. You can read more details in the weekly Police Blotter, which is posted every Tuesday on the Westfield Police Department’s website, as well as on the Westfield Police Department’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

ROAD PAVING

This week, paving was completed by Elizabethtown Gas on Columbus Avenue, Grandview Avenue, Irving Avenue, Ripley Avenue, Pine Street, Sycamore Street, Elizabeth Street, and Hillside Avenue. With paving now concluded for the year, I’m pleased to share that 76 roads were paved in 2021 (40 by the Town and 36 by utility companies) as part of our unprecedented multi-year paving plan. You can see the full list of anticipated road improvements through 2024 on our website.

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY EVENTS

Today is your last chance to enter the Fourth Annual Westfield Gingerbread Display and Competition! This year’s categories are Kids Only Effort (ages 12 and younger), Westfield Spirit, and Traditional – all of which will be displayed at Savory Spice Shop. For full details and registration, visit westfieldnj.gov/gingerbread.

The DWC’s Elf on the Shelf Selfie Contest is wrapping up! Find the Elf on the Shelf in Downtown Westfield businesses, take a selfie, and share it to Instagram using the hashtag #WestfieldElfieSelfie. A random drawing will be made from photos posted, and winners will receive four tickets each to the December 19 screening of Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story at the Rialto! Tickets for the movie are also available for purchase at bit.ly/RialtoScreening-Dec19.

During the final five days at the Welcome Center (December 17-19, December 23-24), the DWC is giving out $100 gift cards to Apple and Beyond Main! Head into the Downtown Westfield Welcome Center, located at the North Ave Train Station, enjoy free gift wrapping, and you will automatically be entered into the raffle drawing for one of the five remaining gift cards! Thanks to the Westfield Soccer Association for donating the Apple gift cards.

CONSERVATION CENTER HOURS

As a reminder, the Conservation Center will be closed beginning Monday, December 20, through Friday, January 7. Beginning January 8, the Center will reopen every Saturday in January from 9:00 - 3:00 for the use of free recycling programs, fee-based mattress and bulk waste programs, and the depositing of Christmas trees (free, no permit required).