MAYOR'S UPDATE:

WEEK ENDING MARCH 24

This week, our community continues to mourn the recent and unspeakable loss of two young residents whose lives were cut tragically short. Lauren Harmer was a Westfield resident and a valued member of the Recreation Department, and Henry Meacock was a 2021 graduate of Westfield High School and a sophomore at The Ohio State University. Their short yet impactful lives can be honored by donating to the respective causes designated by their families: The Lauren Harmer Legacy of Kindness Scholarship Fund and the Echo Lake Country Club Caddie Scholarship Fund. 

We stand together in our grief for Lauren and Henry’s families and friends, and, on behalf of the entire Town Council and administration, extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and to all whose lives they touched.  

As a reminder, the Town Council will meet on Tuesday night where we will introduce the 2023 municipal and capital budgets. 

And of course, Ramadan Mubarak to all of our Muslim friends and neighbors observing. I wish you a holiday filled with peace and meaningful time with loved ones.

CONSERVATION CENTER PERMITS

This week, the Conservation Center began its spring and summer seasonal hours, opening on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00-2:30, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00-3:00. Annual permits for organic debris are available for $60 at westfieldnj.gov/conservation. 

As a reminder, the drop-off recycling programs are available free of charge and no permit required, with a wide range of items accepted. Full details are available on our website. 

LIQUOR LICENSE REFORM EFFORTS

Earlier this week, I was pleased to testify before the State Assembly Oversight Committee in support of legislation that was recently introduced to finally update New Jersey’s liquor laws. 

As Chair of the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Liquor License Reform Task Force, I look forward to being part of the solution to reforming our archaic liquor license laws, which currently limit municipalities to one consumption liquor license for every 3,000 residents, resulting in the ten licenses which currently exist in Westfield. The net result is artificially inflated prices for liquor licenses which presents significant barriers to equitable access for small business owners, and suppresses overall economic growth – especially for Main Street downtowns like ours. There are many bills currently being considered, including the Governor’s proposal which would gradually phase out the population cap and reduce limitations placed on breweries, as well as other bills that would allow for the reselling of the 1,600 inactive pocket licenses that exist around the state. In all instances, there is strong consideration for the impact on current license holders and how best to compensate them for any potential loss in value of their license. This legislation is promising news for Westfield as we plan for the economic revitalization of our downtown. 

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.

EARTH MONTH

As we prepare for Earth Month in April, the Westfield Green Team has several events in the works. On April 22, which is Earth Day, residents are invited to the annual Free Market at the South Avenue Train Station lot. This event allows you to donate and take home (at no cost) yard sale quality items such as clothing, kitchen items, garden tools, housewares, sports equipment, and books. This is a great way to share still-usable items instead of discarding them, which helps limit what is sent to the landfill. Donations can be dropped off between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM (pre-registration is required), and browsing is open to all from 11:30 AM through 2:00 PM.

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

• Battle of the Drains Competition with Berkeley Heights

• Parks Clean-Up at Tamaques and Brightwood

You can find all of the information about these events on our website. And if you’re looking for additional information from the Green Team about their ongoing sustainability efforts, be sure to subscribe to their quarterly newsletter.

FRIENDS OF WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The spring book sale returns to Westfield Memorial Library in April, with 100% of the proceeds directly funding library programming. Donation days this year will be April 19-22, and the sale will take 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.

NJ MAKERS DAY AT WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY 

Stop by Westfield Memorial Library on Saturday, March 25, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM as part of a statewide celebration of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and maker culture. This all-ages event will feature interactive workshops, drop-in demonstrations, and open exploration. Participants will learn about parallel circuits, potential energy, surface tension, artificial intelligence, engineering, and much more. Visit wmlnj.org/njmd to register for workshops or find additional information.

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.

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 with three bands – including local Westfied’s own Better Late, Hoboken's Undercover, and one of the hottest bar bands in New Jersey, The Counterfeiters. The night will include over 40 artisans selling their artwork, photography and crafts, 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 sq ft banquet hall for rental, and facilities for the veterans. You can find out more about this project, as part of the Foundation for Sustainable Veteran Housing, at fsvh.org. Tickets for the April 29 event can be purchased 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 10:00am 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.