When I head to the gym these days, it is often during the bustle of early morning rush in Scotch Plains before the public schools open. At 7:30 a.m., I will often see working mothers bringing their young children to early education programs. The women are fully dressed for a day of work; their child...

Three years ago, I ran for School Board because our District had become comfortable living off its reputation – not up to it. I spent my term turning items talked about into action. As President, I partnered with District leadership to revamp our strategic planning and budgeting processes, creating ...

The essence of my candidacy for Ward 2 Town Council is rooted in a deep love for our home, our neighborhood, and the town of Westfield. I believe now is the right time to give back to a community my family and I plan to be part of for many years to come.A long-term perspective runs through many of t...

My name is Violetta Watson, and I am running for the Westfield Board of Education to make a difference in our community. I am a public school parent, a leader in the Westfield special education community, and a technology attorney at Google, with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI). If elected...

A collaboration with the Westfield High School Journalism ProgramSince the Covid-19 pandemic, the shopping industry has undergone drastic transformations. Not only did the pandemic shut down millions of stores, it prevented people from leaving their homes and shopping inperson, forcing them to shop ...

This new series of gratitude columns will feature unexpected friendships and how illuminating and elevating these connections can be. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the arrival of spring, here is a tale about an Irish forensic specialist and a DNA scientist I met in Dublin.A call came from ...

A collaboration with the Westfield High School Journalism ProgramArt has been one of the most powerful tools used throughout history. It has depicted injustice, war and tragedy. It has stimulated joy, sadness, empathy, among many other emotions. With our constantly developing world and rapidly growi...

There was a Public Notice in the February 27 edition of The Westfield Leader of Ordinance 2025-05 to update the Green Building Checklist. The Checklist is a questionnaire that encourages green building practices on a voluntary basis. It requires all applicants to the Planning and Zoning Boards, as w...

A collaboration with the Westfield High School Journalism Program

It was disheartening to read recently that, according to a study by WalletHub, New Jersey continues to have the highest property taxes in the country. We ranked last — 51st, including the District of Columbia — when it comes to heaviest property-tax burdens, with Garden State property owners paying ...