Salad Lovers Have New Place to Enjoy

I’ve got some great news today for anyone out there who loves salad. We’ve got a great new salad restaurant here in town for everyone to enjoy. In addition, the writers group just turned two and there are workshops coming up for student athletes and their parents.

Here is what is going on About Town.

SALAD LOVERS REJOICE

Daniel Damesek, a Westfield resident and father of two, is so excited about his new restaurant, Wild Greens, which recently opened at 102 East Broad Street. Daniel owned Wild Greens in New York on Park Avenue and 30th Street and decided he would love to own and operate one in Westfield.  He eventually sold his NYC restaurant and focused on the future Westfield location. 

With Westfield not having a similar salad only establishment, Daniel believes he is filling a hole in the local marketplace and is excited that he will be able to succeed in town. Playing off his New York background, Daniel is promising a Manhattan-style restaurant where you will be able to get in and out with your food in a New York minute.

Wild Greens is for the major salad lovers in town but have even more. There are over 100 items in the salad bar, yes you heard me right. 100 items!!! They offer seven different kinds of lettuce, a huge variety of vegetables, fruits & beans, and numerous proteins and nuts.  Every salad is chopped and dressed and made with all the ingredients you choose.  They also have a huge variety of chopped salad originals designed by Daniel and the chef. 

Westfielders who do not enjoy salad, don’t have to worry, Daniel has items ready for them. He is selling homemade soups, turkey chili, frozen yogurt, wraps, sandwiches and pressed sandwiches. For everyone who knows the yogurt served as Bloomingdales, it’s the same one! Daniel and his staff make all of the soups and dressings daily.

I love salad and was able to sneak in two lunches at Wild Greens last week and both were great. I enjoyed picking out the ingredients and creating a salad. The portions are huge and I saw people taking leftovers with them. It was a great atmosphere with plenty of tables.

Good luck Daniel!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WRITERS

Congratulations to the Westfield Writers Group on celebrating their second anniversary last Thursday. The group meets once a month at the Memorial Library to discuss and critique each other’s works. They are write in various genres including fiction, non-fiction, memoir poetry, young adult, humor and essays. The members all have a passion for writing and a goal of getting published.

Eva Natiello is the group’s leader and she was recently selected to attend the 2011 Sirenland Writers’ Conference in Positano, Italy. Members of the group are Cheryl Paden, Marisa Mangione, Karen Rooney, Rosanne Kurstedt, Lillian Duggan, Emma Schwartz, Jennifer Principato, Tom Butera and Charles Rubin. The group celebrated two years of writing with a party at 16 Prospect.

Anyone interested in joining the writers group can contact Eva at evanatiello@yahoo.com.

WORKSHOP FOR ATHLETE PARENTS OUT THERE

A lot of the student athletes here in Westfield have it in mind to one-day play at the college level. With so many NCAA rules and regulations relating to recruiting and scholarships, there is a lot to go through as you navigate your way through the waters. The Westfield High School PTSO and athletic department think they have a way to help you out.

Tonight at 7 p.m. at WHS, the PTSO and athletic department are hosting a workshop for parents of college bound athletes. The workshop will talk about what you need to get your child into a college athletic program and what to look at when navigating the athletic road ahead.

Thank you to the PTSO and athletics supervisor Sandy Mamary for organizing this important workshop.

CONCUSSION WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED

Last week’s snow day caused the cancellation of more than school. The concussion workshop was one of the cancellations and it has been rescheduled. It will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the WHS auditorium.

Joseph Rempson, the co-director of the Concussion Center at Overlook Hospital will be speaking. The high school is encouraging all student athletes and their parents to attend.