Gabby Molina from Westfield has been named to St. Lawrence University's Dean's List for ...
Letters to the Editor
By MIKE DARDIA
November 2, 2023
Before Erika launched her campaign, she approached me to discuss the commitment involved in running for town council. I didn’t sugar coat it. Each councilperson invests countless hours in working for our town. We discussed the issues that are important to our neighbors, and we reviewed the process ...
I am one of many long-time Democrats in Westfield who have put significant time and effort this past year opposing the council’s recent decisions on zoning changes, the One Westfield Place development, PILOT tax breaks to developers and the long-term diversion of funds from schools to the municipal ...
Your vote on Tuesday’s ballot has two simple rationales for you to consider: The first is to vote for the town council candidate in your ward that will restore democracy back to the Town of Westfield. The second is to reaffirm the right of the citizens of this town not to be bullied into ...
I am not a neighbor to the Edison Fields area, but I think all Westfielders should be sensitive to the tremendous impact that lighted athletic fields used until 9:45 p.m. would have on the peace and quiet in any neighborhood. Consider if lights and a nighttime schedule were proposed for the ...
Please vote NO on this referendum question. Artificial turf will lead to contamination of soil and water, exposure to carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals, more injuries, more scrapes, burns and abrasions, and emissions of toxic gases. Students and other users of the field should not have ...
I am writing in support of Scott Katz for re-election as Westfield Ward 4 Councilman. I am the chair of the Westfield Recreation Commission and I have had the benefit of Scott as a partner on the town council over the past four years. Scott fosters collaboration among varying groups that ...
The Westfield School Boosters Association is a local community organization founded in 1945 dedicated to the mission of supporting all Westfield High School athletes and athletic programs. Made up of 52 volunteers, the Boosters raise money annually to upgrade and maintain facilities and provide ...
I suggest that this is an important issue to consider for the upcoming Nov. 7 election. Years ago Westfield did a town wide (Brandstetter Carroll) survey showing only 19% of the town ranking artificial turf fields as a priority. A massive turf field complex is proposed for a residential ...
In the lead-up to last April’s Westfield school budget vote, I was surprised how little attention was paid to the PILOT Financial Agreements comprising the One Westfield Place project which the Westfield Town Council approved just one month earlier. When a town grants a PILOT agreement to a real ...
In an episode of “Ask Governor Murphy” on WNYC 93.9 in May 2023, the governor was asked about the proliferation of artificial turf (a.k.a. plastic grass) athletic fields in New Jersey. He stated he has “mixed emotions” but “on the margins, you’d much rather have natural grass.” He acknowledged that ...
Four home games, and 12 away games. That is what the schedule looked like this season for the field hockey team. Countless hours were spent on the bus traveling to towns that were over an hour away, and we were often left trying to find rides to the games due to a shortage of bus drivers. After a ...
I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse Mike Domogala as a candidate for Westfield Town Council in Ward 3. Over the past seven years, I've had the privilege of knowing Mike, and I believe it's essential to share my experiences with those who may not have had the chance to get to know him yet.
Government works best when diverse ideas and opinions are raised and discussed by those elected to serve. Like in business, monopolies in government are bad. For the past four years, I have ensured that Westfield residents are not governed by a one-party monopoly on the Town Council, as they are in ...
If you’re a Ward 1 resident, you’ve likely had the pleasure of meeting Councilwoman Emily Root on your doorstep, at least once if not twice, or maybe you’ve seen her downtown or jogging through town. After handily winning a special Town Council election for a one-year term last year, she’s now ...
For those who haven’t made up their mind yet on how to vote on this Nov. 7, on the bond for $11.8 million dollar plastic field, I would like to point out several inconsistencies about the Edison Field Project. If we New Jerseyans are not allowed to use plastic shopping bags at supermarkets, then ...
Greetings Neighbors. I am writing in regards to the Edison Fields referendum that will be on next week's ballot. We live in an unbelievable town that provides great schools, a sense of community and pride in all things Westfield. I respect all of the differing opinions on the field proposal, and ...
Many residents in Westfield like to label themselves as environmentalists. They belong to “Friends of the Parks,” put up signs saying: “Save the Bees,” plant flowers to attract pollinators and belong to the “Green Team Movement.” I question their true identity as environmentalists when they back ...
Step right up to the Shelley Show. And have a seat. What I really mean is — Sit yourself down because you only have 5 minutes to speak at the town council meetings. And who is really listening to you anyway? The mayor and town council seem to already have decided For You, no matter what or how you ...
Dear Westfield Residents, I’m writing this note to ask for your YES for the Edison fields project this Nov. 7, and here is my humble opinion as to why. Why Edison? Location. Simply look up Westfield on your cell phone Maps app and gage the size of Edison vs other existing field ...
I am writing to endorse Councilwoman Emily Root for Ward 1. I have had the pleasure of working with her for 18+ months. She is smart, thoughtful, compassionate, dedicated and engaged, and I could not be more excited to continue working with her representing Ward 1. Unlike her challenger in the ...
We moved to Westfield from the city. We wanted our kids raised where there are open spaces, less traffic, good schools, a safe, clean environment and low crime. Now Westfield is becoming the city. Apartment complexes have sprung up on many major avenues. Schools will soon be overcrowded. Open ...
Its election time Westfield! Signs are up and residents are tuned in as we head to election day on Nov. 7. My one word of advice to all Westfield residents ... DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Please give serious consideration to not voting strictly down the party line and consider each race and each respective ...
The debate over athletic fields in Westfield and the Edison Field Project (EFP) continues after more than two years. The argument against natural grass athletic fields starts with the false premise that Westfield has natural grass ATHLETIC fields. We don’t. We have schoolyards and parks that we ...
I am writing to express my outrage and frustration about the way sexual harassment is handled in our schools and community. My daughter and other girls have been victims of bullying and harassment by boys from Westfield Intermediate Schools and Westfield High School. They have received threatening ...
When I heard David Kiefer was a candidate in Ward 4, I made it a point to attend an event where he was speaking. For the past few years, I have felt that my concerns have not been addressed by the current council members, so I wanted to hear what David had to say. To say I was impressed is an ...
“AI pornographic images were circulated of your 14-year-old daughter,” the WHS principal informed me on Friday. “This has been confirmed by four people, but not to worry, the person who did it is gone.” “We have it under control, the images were deleted,” the vice principal informed me earlier ...
Over the last few years, several applications for projects containing new residential units have been approved by the Planning Board. Most recently, an application was approved for a mixed-use three story building to replace the mostly vacant buildings and the adjacent long-abandoned gas station at ...
For the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Acting Mayor and Councilman Scott Katz, witnessing first hand how hard he advocates for his Ward 4 constituents and how committed he is to improving our entire community. Scott’s love of public service is evident if you’ve ever had ...
I think we can all agree that most of the responsibilities of any town council are quite mundane: road safety, zoning, paying the bills and so on. A councilperson may spend their entire legislative career on the board without making a consequential decision regarding the future of the town. I am ...
Election Day is almost upon us, and for Westfield, this year's election of town council members is even more consequential than usual, with One Westfield Place and the Edison Fields Project looming large in the minds of voters. Town council decisions impact residents' wallets and their daily ...
