It’s back to the daily grind here in town. Sports, school, meetings and like. Spring break is over and the final push has come for the school year. Spring sports are underway here in town and everyone is busy! My family and I had the chance to get away last week to St. Thomas to enjoy spring break and get in some quality relaxation. Joel, Max, Lily and I had a great and relaxing time on the beach. Our oldest son, Jake, could not make it because he had to stay behind for high school lacrosse and we missed him. But luckily my parents live here in town, so Jake was able to stay with them for the…

It’s spring break here in Westfield and it’s a busy time for everyone. The weather is getting warmer, the spring athletic teams are working hard to prepare for the season and  we're all outside trying to figure out what to do with our beat-up yards. But as you figure out whether your rhododendron survived the harsh winter, our top story about the town food blogger will be a pleasant distraction.  Today I’ve got a great profile about a local foodie and some news about the local crew team and a note of condolence about a fallen hero. Here’s what is going on About Town. WEISS LOOKS TO SHARE LOVE…

We’re close to having warm weather on a consistent basis, or so I hope. It’s getting tiring going from warm to snow overnight. Today I’ve got a lot of interesting news from great athletes to student performers dazzling the audience to the story of a local photographer and news on two local women who are excelling. Here is what is going on About Town. CREW TEAM COMPETES IN FIRST REGATTA Congratulations to the Westfield Crew Team for competing in their first regatta on Sunday. The team journeyed down to Philadelphia to race on the Schuylkill in the second race of the five-race Manny Flick …

It’s been a busy week here in Westfield and I am not talking the weather. But speaking of the weather, it would be nice to be consistent. Seventy degrees on Friday and sleet on Monday! Well soon spring will be here. Today I’ve got some great news of a new pizza place, news out of the Y and the way you can honor the best teacher in town. Here is what is going on About Town. OPRAH FAVORITE COMES TO TOWN If it’s good enough for Oprah, then it’s defiantly right for Westfield. Homemade Pizza, picked by the talk show queen as one of the best places for pizza in America, opened their doors on Quimby…

Westfield is a community with a heart and many who work to overcome the tragedies in their way. Today I have stories that relate to this topic, along with an update on a former teacher in the district and an important education meeting coming up. Check out what is going on about town. A BATTLE WITH LYME DISEASE I had the opportunity to sit down with a very courageous woman, Jennifer Verrier Brillantes, a '88 Westfield graduate and current resident.  Jennifer has been battling lyme disease  for three years and her journey is far from over. She wants to share her experience with everyone to …

It continues to be an exciting time here in Westfield with everyone busy as the weather starts getting warmer and people getting outside more and more. The downtown has more foot traffic and the parks are starting to populate. And to help kick off some spring time reading, I have some news of a Westfield alum making it big in TV news. Plus some news of a great theater performance coming up this weekend, a local store doing well and a welcome to a new About Town columnist in another town. Here is what is going on about town. DODD HITS HIS STRIDE IN TV NEWS Tim Dodd has come a long way from his…

I hope everyone had a great week off! After all the fun and rest and relaxation that comes with the week off from school – or chaos of having the kids home all week – it’s back to normal. This week I’ve got some great news about a local kindergartener who has learned the value of helping others. Plus I’ve got some news about a seventh grader who wants to honor siblings, Westfield sisters who have a new business venture and it’s summer camp time….well almost. Here is what is going on About Town. SIX-YEAR-OLD LEARNS VALUE OF HELPING Gavin Handwerker hears one common topic when he attends …

We’re in the middle of a week off. It’s February break and yes we’ve been honoring our nation’s presidents and their hard work on behalf of our country, but we’ve also been spending a lot of time resting and in some cases vacationing. Today I take time to remember a remarkable Westfielder and her contribution to our town. Plus I welcome some new staff to the school system and recognize a Westfielder looking to help needy gymnists. Plus, share your break stories. Here is what is going on About Town. REMEMBERING LAURA TEBBETTS As many of you remember reading, I did a column on a courageous …

I never thought it would warm up. I am guessing the groundhog is on to something, but I am keeping some sweaters, Snuggies and blankets all ready to go just in case. I hope you had a great Valentine's Day and here at Patch the love didn't end at midnight, because I've got some great first-date stories in today's column. Also, I have some news about a Hall of Famer here in town, a shout-out to a Washington parent and some news about an important event tomorrow night. Here is what is going on About Town. LOVE OF A LIFETIME From eye surgery and a Springsteen concert to lost hikers to biking to …

Six days away from Valentine’s Day and there is a lot to do. First things first, remember it’s time to start picking up chocolates as gifts and I have some news about a great place right here in Westfield that you can do that in, Brummers. Also I have some news about some great people here in town helping out others and a shout out to everyone who was behind the Washington School Show this weekend. Here is what is going on About Town. A GREAT PLACE TO BUY SOME SWEETS FOR YOUR SWEET Brummer's Chocolates is dangerous place to walk into. One cannot help but smell all the homemade chocolate that …

Westfield is a town of great traditions and great people. Today I have a story about a WHS alum who has stayed here in town to teach, plus a reminder about one of the best Westfield traditions around. A group raising money for our own symphony is hosting an event today and send me your Super Bowl stories. Here is what is going on About Town. GOTTKO STAYS TRUE TO HOMETOWN One thing about Westfield is we don't want to leave and Jeanine Gottko, WHS Class of '93 is one of them. She's a product of the school system - Jefferson, Edison and WHS and her dad, Ed Gottko, served the town for two decades…

One of the best things about Westfield is the volunteer spirit of our residents. Today I have two stories relating to groups and people in town who have helped others in the last few days, plus some news about a group raising money to help others. And a story about a group in town that is helping women promote their own businesses. Here is what is going on About Town. HOOPS TO HELP The St. Helen's CYO basketball teams got into the volunteer spirit last weekend, during the church's annual foul shooting fundraiser. The fundraiser was used to raise money for the Helping Hands and Hearts ministry…

Today we take a few slight detours out of Westfield, but remain Westfield connected. I found out where the former owners of Clyne & Murphy ended up and the WSO is sponsoring an event in Rahway. There are some new faces in the schools and be careful out there today.Here is what is going on About Town.CLYNES PAIR WITH CRANFORDThere's a brand new restaurant that just opened in Cranford and people are already raving about it! Pairings palate + plate opened Sunday night in the Cranford Crossings complex on the corner of Walnut and South Avenue.  Carol and Vincent Clyne, Westfield residents and …

In today’s column I take a step back to remember a beloved Westfield educator who touched many lives before his retirement over a decade ago. I also take a quick look at the Washington School show, which is coming up in a few days, announce the All City leaders and we’re getting more snow.Here’s what is going on About Town.STUDENTS AND FACULTY REMEMBER MR. SCOTTEarly last month, Westfield High School alums lost someone who was a key part of their education. Frank Scott, a long time member of the WHS faculty and former assistant principal, passed away on Jan.8 at the age of 74. Mr. Scott, who …

Will it ever stop snowing? Kids may be having fun playing in the snow and we’re all about to start skiing in the Starbucks parking lot (hmm…maybe that could be a new revenue source for the town), but it’s time to think warm. Well maybe not, since everyone is finding a way to have some fun in the snow.Here’s what is going on About Town.JUST A LITTLE TOO COLD FOR METhe Caherly family rung in the New Year earlier this month at their beach house in Brigantine. While there, Shay Caherly heard of the New Year’s Day Polar Bear and decided he wanted to do it at least once in his life and tried to …

Wow, what happened? I go to sleep expecting a less than a foot of snow, and somehow it tripled. Today I've got some news on how people spent the snow day, how the library is helping kids, it's scavenger hunt time and let's talk about Groundhog Day. Here's what is going on About Town. SPENDING A SNOW DAY I think everyone is over the snow, but it keeps on coming. For the second snow day of the year I reached out to see how people spent the day. Julie Kropp -  "Scrapbooking, of course!" Helene Coustan - "Watching DVR of American Idol, eating popcorn and playing Angry Birds. When kids are asking …

As the snow falls — again — I can't help but think of storms... and speaking of storms, some terrific Westfield students are taking their colleges by storm. Also, I have sad news of two beloved educators who are retiring, happy news for two talented musicians. And I am looking for  and send me your ideas on how to warm up.Here is what is going on About Town.GOLDBERG SPROUTS UP IN EVANSTON PATCHLindsay Goldberg, WHS Class of  '07, is is a senior in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She's presently interning at Evanston Patch  in Illinois. It's a thrill to see how …

Today we’re learn what you can do if you have 50,000 Legos around the house, plus I’ve got some news about current teachers and my memories of a former teacher and a reminder for all of the moms out there. Here is what is going on About Town.BUILDING JERUSALEM WITH LEGOSWhat would you do with 50,000 Legos? Well a group at Temple Emanu-El used them to build the old city of Jerusalem on Sunday. Almost 300 children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents came together to build the city. Working with architect Stephen Schwartz from Building Blocks Workshop, the group built Jerusalem’s …

It’s freezing outside. There are many ways to warm up here in Westfield. And one of the best ways I can think of is to grab a warm cup of coffee and a Snuggie and read Patch! Today I’ve got some great news of Brownies helping out, scholarship opportunities, an event and it’s mid-term time at the high school.Here’s what is going on About Town.BROWNIES FEED THE HOMELESSFranklin Elementary School's Brownie Girl Scout Troop #645 worked with Daisy Troop #436 to assemble over 100 lunches in support of the school's Two Lunch Tuesday program.  The program encourages students to bring an extra lunch …

Welcome to another week here in Westfield and I’ve got some news on how your kids can be creative. Plus award winning students and I’m looking for your first date stories.Here’s what is going on About Town.GOLDENBERG GETS KIDS CREATIVEWestfield mom Lisa Goldenberg gave up her Manhattan media career in March 2008 to strike out on a “mom career” by opening Creative Kids. Goldenberg, who worked at U.S. News and World Report was looking for the children’s programs she kept seeing in Manhattan, but not in Westfield. She said she wanted to find ways for kids three months and up to participate …