City Seeking Community Input for Five-Year Plan
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 284 City seeking community input for five-year plan By PETER CURRIER Development Block Grant will be available at the Senior required of all of the US households and neighbor- Microenterprise Grant Staff Writer (CDBG) as well as the federal Center, the Greater Westfield DEpartment of Housing and hoods of low to moderate Program were also allocated WESTFIELD- The Office HOME Program funds from Boys and Girls Club, and the Urban Development entitle- incomes. funds from the grant. of Community Development 2020 to 2024. Westfield Athenaeum. The ment communities every five The City of Westfield was The survey will be available is seeking input from Westfield “This is something we do survey asks multiple choice years. The idea behind the the recipient of $360,885 in to the public until Dec. 20. residents and those who work every five years. We are look- questions such as: “What pub- required program is that it grant funds to be allocated to a Anyone with questions in the city for its Five-Year ing for community input,” lic services programs are most ensures that municipalities are range of similar programs. regarding the CDBG program Consolidated Plan. said Acting Mayor Ralph J. needed in Westfield?” and addressing the specific needs Some of the funds from that and the survey itself are A 10-question survey was Figy. “This is their chance to “What are the economic of the community. grant were used to repair the encouraged to contact posted on the city website to help shape the direction that development needs of the The national CDBG pro- sidewalks on Washington Community Development help city officials dictate how the city takes in the next five city?” gram was signed into federal Street, the Westfield Housing Director Peter Miller at (413) they will allocate the funds years.” The outreach program being law in 1974 to provide a Improvement Program and the 572-6240 or at p.miller@ from the Community Hard copies of the survey performed by the city is source of federal funding to recently established cityofwestfield.org. DecemberFest festivities continue with parade and tree lighting By HOPE E. The school cafeteria will be each year and St. John’s 12-4 p.m. Starting at WOW’s chase a ticket for the tour and rated for the holidays. TREMBLAY transformed into a land of offered a larger staging area. Creative Arts Center at 105 visit private homes, as well as For more information, visit Assistant Managing Editor snow and families can create The parade steps-off at 6:15 Elm St., participants can pur- The Dewey House, all deco- westfieldonweekends.com. WESTFIELD – Westfield their own lanterns to use in the p.m. Acting Mayor Ralph J. on Weekends is bringing sea- Lantern Light Parade later that Figy, city officials, Westfield sonal cheer to the city with its day. families, floats, the Westfield annual DecemberFest series Plasse stated “It’s a fun time High School Band, communi- of events. for everyone, celebrating a ty organizations and the e DecemberFest began with DecemberFest world of many Giant Puppets of puppeteer the Tree Jubilee Nov. 29, faiths and family traditions Anne Cubberly. Will prome- which continues Dec. 7-8, and with treats, crafting, a special nade down Broad Street and is highlighted by this week- raffle and even a visit from around Park Square Green for end’s Lantern Light workshop ‘Snowy,’ DecemberFest’s the Mayor’s Tree-lighting and parade, Mayor’s Tree jolly Snowman.” Ceremony. Lighting and Holiday House The entire community is Figy, city faith leaders and Tour. also welcome to join in the other officials will help light WOW DecemberFest orga- parade, which assembles at the 20-foot tree. nizer Robert Plasse said he 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at St. John’s The Mount Moriah Lodge hopes the community will join Lutheran Church, 60 Broad will provide hot cocoa, and in the fun beginning with the St. Bring your lanterns and Santa and Mrs. Claus will free Lantern Light Family dress warmly, said Plasse. arrive by firetruck. Workshop Dec. 7 from 10 Plasse said the parade start- The festivities continue James Homan fills the air with frost flakes as the Frost Family parades in a past Lantern a.m. – 2 p.m. at Westfield ing point was moved because Dec. 8 with the WOW Light Parade sponsored by Westfield on Weekends. This year’s parade is Dec. 7.(Photo by Carl Middle School. the parade continues to grow Holiday House Tour from E. Hartdegen) ‘History Chat’ explores holiday traditions at the Athenaeum By LORI SZEPELAK “Sharing those memories often a part of holiday tradi- experiences of living in anyone who chooses not to be Correspondent keeps them alive and adds to tions, added Creighton. Westfield,” she said. “Even if recorded, their wish is respect- WESTFIELD — For resi- our knowledge of what it was “We’ll be showcasing some folks think they have nothing ed. dents who enjoy sharing their like to live in Westfield,” said different cookbooks and reci- to say or talk about, they “If people agree, they sign a memories of life in Westfield, Creighton. “Westfield is a city pes from different eras in might find that comments simple permission form grant- the next History Chat at the that has welcomed a number Westfield, as well as some from others spark thoughts ing us permission to record Westfield Athenaeum explores of different ethnic and cultural history of how food was pre- and memories to share.” them, and share the recorded winter holiday traditions. groups, all of whom bring pared, and a display of histor- Both women also noted that conversation with any inter- The chat, hosted by Kate their own special holiday tra- ic cooking utensils,” said the history chats with people’s ested researchers who come to Deviny, Athenaeum director, ditions with them, and learn- Creighton. “Some of the personal reminiscences can the archives,” said Creighton. and Susan Creighton, archives ing about what those are helps cooking utensils date back to “help fill in the gaps in our Creighton added that con- and museum coordinator, is paint a more vivid picture of the 1700s.” knowledge” from what is in ducting a history chat as a slated Dec. 4 from 2 – 3 p.m. Westfield’s unique history.” For everyone who attends “It’s so valuable to learn the archives. group has several advantages. in the Elizabeth Reed Room. While Deviny and the gathering, there will be about Westfield’s history first- Creighton noted that a new “First, if someone can’t The topic is “Celebrating the Creighton will lead off the handouts of an apple pie reci- hand from people in feature of the chats includes remember particular details of Winter Holidays” and the discussion with a brief favor- pe that has lasted through the Westfield,” said Creighton. recording them with a high- some event, others will often event is free and open to the ite holiday tradition of their decades. “Even if your everyday expe- quality microphone. The help fill in the gaps,” said public. own, they are more interested “We’ll have four different riences now don’t seem note- archival-quality recording Creighton. “Collective memo- “We want to hear from folks in hearing from attendees. recipes from different times worthy, it’s worth remember- will be kept in the archives as ry is a valuable thing here! what winter holiday traditions “We’ll also have some spanning the mid-1800s to ing that in another 100 years, an oral history conversation. Second, doing it as a group they had growing up that have information from the archives today,” said Creighton. it will be a treasure to some- “As a result, researchers in conversation puts everyone at remained meaningful to to share about winter holiday A smaller display in the one to have firsthand accounts the future can listen to the ease, and most times, every- them,” said Deviny, adding, traditions from the past in Reed Room will also tie into of what life in Westfield was voices of Westfield residents one has spoken up about “pictures, letters and memora- Westfield,” said Creighton. the history chat discussion. like.” talking about their own expe- something by the end of the bilia are always welcome.” A new exhibit in the front Creighton noted the goal of Creighton added that our riences,” said Creighton. chat.” Creighton noted that the lobby cases will also be on the Archives Department is to experiences today are the At the beginning of each For more information on holiday season is oftentimes display in December that preserve Westfield history, future’s history. chat, Creighton talks about the gathering, call (413) 568- when family traditions are focuses on cooking in and that includes people’s “We try to focus on topics privacy and permission with 7833 or visit www.westath. observed. Westfield – since cooking is experiences. that speak to the everyday the participants, and if there is org. Bookclub a great way to share recipes, kitchen tips By LORI SZEPELAK ular in libraries across the been mostly experienced “We are doing vegetarian The Westfield Correspondent country over the last several cooks with “great insight and dishes in January because we Athenaeum’s WESTFIELD — Area resi- years. opinions on the writing style, probably will eat so many Cookbook dents who enjoy cooking and “We had several patrons ingredients and processes.” baked goods in December,” Bookclub will sharing their kitchen tips with request we start one so we In December, Blackburn she said.