ANN CALLAHAN
I had the privilege of attending both the Patriots Day Ceremony on April 20 and the Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Ceremony on April 27 at Parker Memorial Park and was so impressed with how each ceremony was conducted. The organizers, speakers and participants of both did a wonderful job and the programs were very meaningful and moving. We are fortunate in Westfield that our veterans groups remain so active and involved and take the time to educate each generation about their experience and sacrifice. I encourage all residents to attend these services to show their respect and gratitude and take some time to reflect on those who gave their lives for our freedom.
There will be a meeting Monday, June 17, at 7:00 p.m. at South Middle School regarding the Western Avenue construction project (plans available for review at 6:30 p.m.) I strongly urge all interested people to attend as the design continues to evolve and take shape; this project will impact many residents and those who treasure the Western Avenue corridor. There are changes planned to the streetscape and traffic flow of this busy road, now is the time to become informed and involved. If you cannot attend but have questions, don’t hesitate to contact City Engineer Mark Cressotti at 572-6219, email [email protected]. You can also view plans on the city of Westfield website www.cityofwestfield.org under the Engineering Department.
There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the Mandatory Water Use Restrictions. This action is necessary to replace the raw water main from the Granville Reservoir and also to repair damage made to the Granville Reservoir dam from recent storms. This is not a frivolous action and is required so that we can continue to use the same source of water we have relied on for years. The Superintendent of Water Resources, Dave Billips, gave a terrific and very informative presentation back in February relative to all things water, “Where Does Your Water Come From”: history, rates, repairs, budgets, necessary projects, etc. It was very eye-opening (and alarming) to see the condition and age of some of our pipes and facilities and interesting to hear about how the system comes together and functions. I was disappointed that only a couple of residents attended this meeting as a lot of misconceptions were put to rest. Check out the Water Resources Department on the city of Westfield website, there is a wealth of information. If anyone would like a copy of the PowerPoint presentation email me at [email protected].
Keep in mind city hall offices are on the move! Temporary locations for all departments during renovations over the next several months are posted on the city web site and have been published in the paper.
Congratulations to Westfield Volunteers of the Year Clare Fouche and Jay Pagluica for this well deserved honor. How inspirational are their bios and hard work, and that of all the nominees this year. Congratulations to all of our 2013 graduates! Be proud of your accomplishments, be safe in your celebrations and represent Westfield well as you start the next chapter of your lives. Make sure to come downtown this summer and support your local businesses. We have some great new retail additions and probably one of the lowest store front vacancy rates that we’ve seen in years – your patronage will help them succeed and thrive. There are a lot of activities and events planned all season. Go to westfieldonweekends.com and thedistrictwestfield.com to see what’s on the horizon.
The Farmer’s Market starts back up on Thursdays beginning June 13 on the lawn of the Church of the Atonement at 36 Court Street from 1:30-5:30 and promises some great new products. MusicFest Westfield 2013 kicks off on Thursday June 27 at 7:30 on the Green with a performance by Livingston Taylor. What a great way to start the summer!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
