Free speech is the lifeblood of what we do. No one will defend the First Amendment right as much as a newsorganization.Butwiththegreat power of free speech comes great responsibility.Tuesday, November 21 is the next Westfield Board of Education meeting — the second since the terror attack on Israel ...

Exactly forty-three years ago, writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin wrote an essay on his vote for the 1980 presidential election. He began, “The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing t...

Election eve is nigh. Candidate statements, biographical information, advertisements, endorsements and residents’ opinions fill these pages. Now it’s up to you, the voter, to decide.We’re not endorsing candidates, platforms or messages — you get enough of that everywhere else. We firmly believe that...

I’m writing this note to ask Westfield residents for to vote “yes” for the Edison fields project this November 7, and here is my humble opinion as to why.Why Edison? Location. Simply look up Westfield on your cell phone maps app and gage the size of Edison vs. other existing field locations. Your ey...

Many residents in Westfield like to label themselves as environmentalists. They belong to “Friends of the Parks”, put up signs saying: “Save the Bees”, plant flowers to attract pollinators, and belongtothe“GreenTeamMovement”. I question their true identity as environmentalists when they back a decis...

After living behind Edison Field for 45 years, here are some down-to earth comments on recent proposals. The field is principally a resource for Edison school. Mid-day use is for lunch and general recreation. Students throw around balls and Frisbees and play ad-hoc games, running in random direction...

I suggest that this is an important issue to consider for the upcoming November 7 election.Years ago, Westfield did a town wide (Brandstetter Carroll) survey showing only 19 percent of the town’s residents ranked artificial turf fields as a priority. A massive turf field complex is proposed for a re...

A local drone pilot recently shared aerial photos and video on social media of Westfield featuring the steeple of the Presbyterian church on Mountain Avenue. I agree with everyone who has seen the images and commented on how beautiful our town looks from the bird’s eye view of a drone.But what I rea...

As a resident and taxpayer since 1994, I feel compelled to highlight the detrimental consequences of ongoing overdevelopment in our town, particularly One Westfield Place, exacerbated by the detrimental leadership of the Mayor and Town Council. On November 7th, the community can elect a Town Council...

In the lead-up to last April’s Westfield school budget vote, I was surprised how little attention was paid to PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) financial agreements comprising the One Westfield Place project which the Westfield Town Council approved just one month earlier.When a town grants a PILOT a...