Vote No to the Turf Field on September 24th!

Shaniqua September 4, 2012 at 07:31 pm

Not sure why my first post was deleted. All I said is the blogger has no proof the field had not been used that evening. Does Ms. Brines have access to the soccer leagues scheduling?

Pete September 4, 2012 at 07:39 pm

It looks pretty empty. Or does Westfield have invisible players?

Walkin Westfield September 5, 2012 at 03:00 am

the BOE wants to waste millions of $'s for another grassy field to be converted to plastic turf with lights, is it any wonder why the average air temperature is increasing. Keep Westfield Green

billy September 5, 2012 at 09:02 pm

1.grass does a minimal amount to reduce green house gases.
2. upfront cost for turf is a lot, but consider the amount of money spent not only for machines, seed and fertilizer but OT man hours that need to be paid for to take care of EVERY grass field in the town. 3. Shaniqua is correct. there is no evidence that the field was NOT being used. This person may have driven by 5 min after a team finished with practice. 4. how many homes were affected by these lights? St. Helans which was prob empty. 5. neighboring towns that have turf fields with lights have a curfew for the lights to automatically go off. Westfield has how many residents? divide that by the utility 'bill' and we are talking cents per household. 6. if you purchased a home near the high school, there was always a possibility that lights, or a new field would be an option down the road. Should have considered that before signing. Im proud to say that I grew up in Westfield, product of the school system and athletic system and back now owning a house in Westfield. To stay on par with competing districts close to us, and maintaining property values and reasons for people to stay here and move back here- improvements and enhancements should be done.

paola briones September 6, 2012 at 03:22 pm

Billy and others dont you think its sleazy for the BOE to piggy back two different and COSTLY projects into one bond? Westfield residents should have the CHOICE to vote on the two proposed items separately. I do live close to the highschool but not close enough that it would affect me. My point here is how the BOE handled the proposed bond..especially in this economy. Our children have more than most kids have around the country. I dont think our kids will suffer from not having a lit turf field. I rather see the money spent on technology at the schools, arts programs, science programs, etc. Fundraising at schools start earlier and earlier each year...why not fundraise for a turf field? I bet you a lot more people would be opposed to it if each kid came home with a letter from the their school asking to fundraise for a $3 Million dollar turf field.

billy September 6, 2012 at 08:29 pm

I do agree with you that the projects should have been separated into two different bonds. I think that if the board went about it in a different manor more people would be on board. And as educator I also agree that money should be allocated and prioritized for technology, arts and the sciences. It is at the point where you need to rationalize and say is a new turf field a 'want' or a 'need'? A new roof is a 'need'! A new field is a 'want' and that could be the area too, as you stated: fundraise for it. It will take longer to get, but it would be something that the school and town can all be a part of.

James September 17, 2012 at 08:48 pm

I agree with Billy-- we are sending the wrong message to the children- we will pay attention to athletics over academics- priorities are wrong: rather that upgrading the roof, installing central air, or renovating the high school so it does not look like it did when it was first was built! We need put academics ahead and then any resources left over can go towards athletics

Frank September 17, 2012 at 09:35 pm

Moved to town 30+ yrs ago without kids, but liked the idea of neighborhood schools. Living near a school does NOT MEAN expect lights down the road. Living near a train track DOES means expect train noises. Since the Kehler Field bond of astroturf 10 years ago, the use went up in an unprecedented way- from 4 football varsity games and a few track meets to DAILY use- 7AM but sometimes earlier with fitness drill sgts barking orders, to evenings, close to 9PM- the incessant horn blaring for games, announcers amping up the music and chatter for every game, whether its P.A.L. football (8am starts), soccer, lacrosse, track, you name it, is mind-numbing. Late nights of teens partying 9pm-3am as well. The BOE and the athletic staff have been informed by letters and calls, but no reasonable change has occurred. No one there is willing to be a better neighbor to the hundreds of neighbors that are within shouting distance of the field, blocks away. 16+million to bundle a new field & ruin another 1/4 mile's worth of people's quality of life seems like a poor decision. Lit fields in NJ are not as common as in the Midwest or the South because of the density of the population- there's a reason to vote no besides the cost: the quality of life of everyone who lives in the town known for it's neighborhood schools.

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