MAYOR'S UPDATE:
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 5

It was great to see so many of you out on Tuesday night for another successful National Night Out and Sweet Sounds Downtown! Many thanks to our Police, Fire, EMS, Recreation, and Library departments for a great community-building event, and of course to the DWC for another night of fantastic music downtown.

We have another heat advisory in place through 8:00 tonight, so please remember to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity, and check on any neighbors in need. The Westfield Memorial Library has been designated as a cooling center, and is open today until 4:30.

This weekend, don’t miss the Westfield Farmers Market, and be sure to check out our newest business, Gong Cha Bubble Tea, on East Broad!

FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Chief Duelks is introducing the Westfield Fire Department’s first-ever Youth Fire Academy on August 22 and 23 for Town residents from the ages of 12 to 14. This is a free program, where participants will learn lifesaving skills and what it takes to be a firefighter. There are still a few spaces left, with all applications due by August 12. For additional information, please email fire@westfieldnj.gov, or call 908-789-4130.

POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Bravo to the Westfield Police Department for the recent accreditation of its public safety emergency communications center. This, in addition to the 2021 accreditation of the agency, makes the WPD the first in Union County and one of only five departments in the state to achieve both distinctions. We are very fortunate to have a police department with this level of professionalism serving our community – congratulations to Chief Battiloro and his entire department!

On the public safety front, you may have seen the recent installation of new speed signs in various locations throughout Town. This is part of an ongoing program to deter speeding, as well as monitor vehicular speed and capture data on a long-term basis to help guide ongoing road safety improvement decisions. You can expect to see additional installations in the coming weeks and months.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES

COVID-19

This week, Union County is showing high COVID activity, along with 13 other counties in the state. Statewide, New Jersey saw a daily average of 3,390 confirmed cases (up from 2,420 cases four weeks ago and down from 3,845 cases eight weeks ago), and eight average daily fatalities (unchanged from four weeks ago, and down from 11 eight weeks ago). The state had an average of 1,133 hospitalizations this week, up from 884 last month. Overlook reports 18 COVID-related hospitalized patients last week. The rate of transmission has dropped below 1, to 0.98. The percent positivity is 18.18%, which is higher than four weeks ago (15.92%), but significantly lower than the 40.83% we saw in January at the peak of the Omicron surge.

In Westfield, there were 289 cases reported during the month of July (up slightly from 283 in June).

76.8% of all New Jersey residents are fully vaccinated, and additional breakdowns of vaccination statistics by location and age group can be found on the NJ COVID-19 Dashboard.

During the month of July, 90 vaccinations were given by the Westfield Regional Health Department, with 3,958 doses of vaccine distributed by them to date. As a result of their recent clinics for ages six months through four years, 14% of residents age six months through two years have had a single dose of vaccine, and 26% of residents from three to four years old have had a single dose of vaccine.

The Health Department continues to provide vaccinations for all age groups. Residents can book appointments online by visiting westfieldnj.gov/vaccine-appointments, or by calling 908-789-4070. Home visits continue to be offered as well, and they are continuing to distribute home COVID tests to community partners. They are also anticipating the delivery of newly formulated COVID boosters that are Omicron-specific this September and will arrange for a round of booster clinics at that time.

MONKEYPOX

New Jersey is reporting 188 total monkeypox (MPX) cases, with 14 cases identified in Union County. Public health officials anticipate the number of cases to rise in the upcoming weeks. More information on MPX can be found on the State Health Department's website.

Although monkeypox is less transmissible than COVID, the Health Department is recommending that anyone at increased risk for contracting monkeypox consider vaccination. Those at increased risk include:

People who have known contact with someone who tested positive for orthopoxvirus or monkeypox virus within past 14 days (contact your local health department to coordinate vaccination)
People who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)
People who identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men (MSM), and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary and who have a history of multiple or anonymous sex with partners within past 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)

Individuals that are interested in pre-exposure vaccination can contact the following programs. Vaccination at these sites is by appointment only.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Location: Annex 2 (white tent structure), 230 East Ridgewood Ave, Paramus

Phone: 800-730-2762

Website: www.newbridgehealth.org

Cooper Vaccine & Testing Clinic, Cooper University Hospital

Location: 300 Broadway, Camden

Phone: 856-968-7100

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7am-8pm and Friday, 7am-5pm

Website: https://my.cooperhealth.org/mychart/authentication/login

Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!

Location: Jersey City

Phone: 201-706-3480

The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey

Location: Asbury Park

Website: www.prnvnacj.org

North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)

Location: Newark

Phone: 973-483-3444 ext. 200

ARTIST ALLEY AT THE RIALTO

The Westfield Public Arts Commission is seeking artists on a volunteer basis to create murals that express their unique vision and expression of creativity for the new Artist Alley – a permanent public art installation which will be located alongside The Rialto, connecting Broad Street to the parking lot. For more information, visit westfieldnj.gov/artist-alley, or email publicart@westfieldnj.gov.

SUMMER STREET SWEEPING

Summer street sweeping continues throughout Town in order to keep our storm drains clear and remove debris from the roadways in anticipation of summer storms. Residents are asked to remove all cars from the streets where the sweepers are working so that the stormwater drains can be accessed to help avoid clogging and drainage issues.

We have two sweepers, with one working on the north side and one on the south side each day. Our crews have finished Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 6, and Zone 7, and Zone 8, and are currently working in Zone 3 and Zone 9. To stay apprised of the sweepers' locations, residents can enroll in text or email updates at westfieldnj.gov/townupdates, or visit westfieldnj.gov/street-sweeping. A map of the leaf collection zones used for street sweeping can be found at westfieldnj.gov/zone-map.

Once the summer pass is complete, the street sweepers will return in the fall after leaf collection, and also continue with their ongoing sweeping of the downtown area several times per week throughout the year.