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Community Corner

Oprah Pizza Place Opens

A look at a new business, the Y has news and honor a teacher.

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.

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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 Street last week.

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The concept of the store, is simple. You can go, get the dough and the toppings all put on and take it home uncooked. When you get home you can pop it in the oven and have fresh from the oven pizza waiting for you. Here in Westfield, where we’re all busy with work, shuttling kids and running to school meetings, it’s a great idea.

“I’ve always been a big fan of pizza.  I can load it up with my favorite toppings and it’s an easy dinner option for my family.  As much as we love pizza, delivery never measured up to slice of pizza, fresh and hot, from the local pizzeria,” co-founder Eric Fosse said in a statement.  “I felt there had to be a better way - a way to have hot, fresh, all natural, made-from-scratch pizza at home, where you most wanted to enjoy it.”

Last week’s opening featured long lines of people waiting for a taste of the new pizza place. I haven’t had a chance to try it out, but I know I can’t wait to try it out. And one thing I keep hearing from many in town is that they can’t wait to check it out too.

Oprah must be on to something!

DEVILFISH SUCCESSFUL IN LANCASTER

Congratulations to the Westfield Y Devilfish swim team for their success in the YMCA 13 and Over State Championship meet on March 11. The team finished 12th out of 32 in the meet at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

Forty swimmers competed and 80-percent had their best times. Caroline Baldwin won the 50 and 100 meter freestyle titles and set two state meet records. Carly Whitmer won the 15/18 100 meter butterfly.

Good job!

GETTING IN TO THE SPIRIT OF ST. PAT’S

Everyone in town was getting into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day last week. Over at the Y, the preschool students had a visit from the DeNogla School of Irish Dance for a demonstration of Irish Dance.. Following the dance demonstration, the students worked with the class parents to make Irish soda bread.

What a fun day!

HONOR AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER

It’s that time of year again, time to honor the best elementary school teacher in Westfield. The Rotary Club is accepting nominations for the annual Philhower Fellowship award. The award is for a full time elementary teacher in Westfield.

The nomination needs to show why the teacher has shown an interest in students, been an outstanding teacher and had professional growth. Only teachers with five years in the Westfield public schools can be considered. The winner will be honored at a Rotary Club lunch, at a special Board of Education meeting and with a grant for professional development or to assist with classroom activities.

A list of past Philhower winners reads like a who’s who of the best of the best of Westfield educators. Past winners are Diana Collins, Karen Geddis, Catherine McGarry, Michael Burgess, Karen Yula, Mary Dura, Stacie DeChristopher, Michele Moise, Carole Kling, Anna Jane Sabbagh, Trista Pollas, Eva Morton, Angela LaCarrubba, Claudia Andreski, Bette Tuthill, Carol Joyce, Carol Mastroianni and Susan Feldman Glick.

Nominations can be sent to the Charles Philhower Fellowship Committee of the Westfield Rotary Club, c/o Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 302 Elm Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 or by email to rotaryphilhower@westfieldnjk12.org.

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