Local Events March 15, 2024

Westfield Easter Egg Hunt 2024

Easter Sunday takes place on March 31st this year. But the Westfield Police Department and the local Soroptomists Club convinced the Easter Bunny to make a special stop in town a week early. Therefore, the Westfield Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Saturday, March 23rd. And the Easter Bunny himself promises to show up.

  • What: Westfield Easter Egg Hunt 2024
  • Where: Mindowaskin Park (385 E Broad St)
  • When: Saturday, March 23rd, 12 pm to 2 pm
  • Admission: Free

Westfield Easter Egg Hunt 2024

The Easter Bunny promises to hide colorful eggs (including some with special prizes) all around Mindowaskin Park. The official hunt kicks off at noon for kids ages one to ten. Unfortunately, this very popular event has already sold out. However, tickets for special needs children are still available. Just hop on over to the egg hunt website here to grab a ticket for your child.

Fortunately, you do not need a ticket to enjoy the rest of the afternoon’s festivities. For example, the Easter Bunny makes himself available for photos throughout the event. Plus, there will be games, face-painting, prizes, candy, and music playing all afternoon. And it all comes free of charge.

Parents need to stay with their kids throughout the entire event. You may park behind the municipal building for free. If that is full, you might want to try parking on the street at North Euclid or East Broad St,

Cranford Peeps-Tacular

Quick reminder. March 22nd is the last day to turn in your submission for the Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2024 contest. But you can still participate even if you don’t enter anything. How? By voting for your favorites. Official voting takes place from March 23rd to March 31st. So, don’t forget to walk around Downtown Cranford and take a “peep” at how creative our local families and organizations are this year. Then, get out there and vote, vote, VOTE!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events March 1, 2024

Westfield Week of Service 2024

I believe in giving back to the community whenever possible. When we help each other out, it only makes us a safer place to raise our families. That is one of the main goals of the Westfield Week of Service.

Westfield Week of Service Needs You

The Week of Service takes place from March 25th to March 29th. Students at Westfield High will be participating in the Week of Service in various ways. The biggest day of the week takes place on Thursday, March 28th. That is designated as Community Service Day. On that day, a time will be set aside for a student-teacher basketball game. During that game, members of the Student Government and Community Service Club plan on putting together toiletry kits for local organizations that service the unhoused in our neighborhood as well as those experiencing economic hardships. They plan on assembling approximately 1000 kits. They also want to write thank you and birthday cards for active military members serving overseas as well as cards for local seniors. But they need your help to accomplish this goal.

The groups created an Amazon wish list filled with all of the items they still need to create the toiletry kits. These include toothpaste, floss, wipes, deodorant, and hand sanitizer. They’ll be accepting donations through the middle of March. If you would like to help, please visit their Amazon page and order supplies today.

WHS students participating in the Westfield Week of Service will also be hosting a book drive throughout March. All books received will be given to the Bridge of Books Foundation and the Westfield Library. If you have any toiletry items or books you would like to drop off in person, please deposit them in the box provided outside of the high school. Make sure you mark them as donations for the SGA or the Community Service Club so they go to the right place. Monetary donations may be made to the school’s Wounded Warrior Project page here.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events February 23, 2024

Westfield Y Healthy Kids Day 2024

Working on one’s health typically falls in the top three most popular New Year’s resolutions each year. For some, that may also include their children’s health. According to the State of Childhood Obesity, 17% of kids in the United States between the ages of 10 and 17 fall in the “obese” category. That translates to about one in every six kids. Help your child learn healthy habits (and maybe pick up a few of your own) at the Westfield Y Healthy Kids Day 2024.

  • What: Westfield Y Healthy Kids Day 2024
  • Where: Westfield Area YMCA (220 Clark St)
  • When: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Admission: FREE
  • Contact: Jeff Mcleod, Westfield Area Y (908-301-9622×248) or via email

Westfield Y Healthy Kids Day 2024

Visit our local Y for an afternoon geared towards the health of your kids. Teach them healthy habits with fun family-friendly games. They might even win a prize. Let the kids expend some of their energy on the inflatables. Enjoy demonstrations of some of the sports they offer at the Y. Snack on something healthy, too.

While you are at the Y, check out the great programs they offer for all ages. Aquatics. Summer Camps. Youth sports. Teen trips and tabletop games. Fitness classes for seniors. Sign up for their spring session that lasts from February 25th to April 20th. They’re even hiring full and part-time staff right now.

Cranford Fire & Ice

If you do not have any younger kids living in your household at the moment, why not head over to Cranford for their Fire and Ice event? It happens at virtually the same time as Westfield’s Healthy Kids Day (1 pm to 4 pm). Enjoy fire-breathers alongside ice sculptures and much, much more.

I am grateful to all who entrusted me with your life-changing real estate moves and to all who referred me to your family and friends!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

Market Reports January 22, 2024

January 2024 Market Update

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Chatham

Clark

Cranford

Fanwood

Garwood

Madison

Millburn

Mountainside

Scotch Plains

Short Hills

Summit

Warren

Watchung

Westfield by Grade School:

Franklin

Jefferson

McKinley

Tamaques

Washington

Wilson

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events November 17, 2023

Y’s Men’s Club Christmas Tree Sale Needs Volunteers

The Westfield Area Y’s Men’s Club Christmas Tree Sale – Volunteers Needed

Break out your work gloves. It’s that time of year again to raise money for local charities and the Westfield Y.  And, we need volunteers! It’s a great way to get out and help your community, and it’s a lot of fun. You can volunteer for set-up weekend, or you can help deliver trees the following week. It’s a great way to get involved and help out.

This popular event raises money for local charities and the Westfield Area Men’s Y Club. The trees are reasonably priced and the selection is good. It is a win-win for everyone involved.

The effort starts Saturday, Nov. 18th with set-up weekend, and tree deliveries the following week.  Here are the dates:

  • Lot Set Up – Saturday, Nov. 18 from  8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Everyone Needed!  The trailer should be there.  Charge your Power tools and bring ’em. We could use a leaf blower or two.
  • First Tree Delivery – Wednesday, Nov. 22 from 8:30 AM to – 11:00 AM –  – 2 Truck Deliveries (325 Frasers and 45 rolls of garland.
  • Second Tree Delivery – Friday, Nov. 24th, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – 2 Trucks (610 Balsams & ~150 Frasers).  The Cadets should be there, so Bagels and Coffee would be good this day, too.
  • Opening Day – Saturday, Nov. 25th: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thereafter, a few good men will be needed Monday to Friday during sales hours, 5-7 PM and 7-9 PM, Saturdays and Sundays, 9-5 PM.

The Y’s Men’s Club has been selling Christmas trees for over 50 years and they are hands down the best place to buy a tree in the area.  The staff is always friendly and helpful, and they go out of their way to make sure you find the perfect tree for your home.

For further information reach out to Pete Burtness, ptburtness@gmail.com.

Local Events September 15, 2023

AddamsFest 2023 Info

For those keeping track, we only have 16 more days until October. And around Westfield, October means only one thing…AddamsFest 2023! Yes, Halloween moves over ever-so-slightly to usher everything Addams family-related. And it all makes for a scary good time!

AddamsFest 2023 Info

Arguably Westfield’s most famous resident, Charles Addams made spooky entertaining through his cartoons from the 1930s to his death and beyond. To celebrate, organizers put together several fun activities throughout October.

Haunt Your House 2023

Registration for Haunt Your House opened up last Sunday, September 10th. To accommodate more people, organizers opened up two routes this year. Only work seen from the street qualifies for judging in this contest. Registration is only open to the first 25 people for daytime haunts and the first 25 people for nighttime haunts. So if you’re interested in participating, you need to sign up right away. Registration closes on October 1st or when the limit is reached (whichever comes first). You must decorate your home and submit a photo of the completed work no later than October 8th. Winners will be determined by the number of votes received. Each category includes a first, second, and third-place winner. Good luck.

Morticia & Gomez’s Masquerade Ball

This year, the ball takes place on what else? Friday the 13th, of course. This event at the James Ward Mansion proves to be one of the most popular each year. Therefore, it sells out quickly. Tickets went on sale last Tuesday (the 12th). If you’re lucky, there still should be a few left.

The Gallery on Elm Street

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from October 13th to October 29th, The Gallery at 122 Elm Street features works of art from Charles Addams and Edward Gorey. Chief on display will be the duo’s Wild Curious Creatures and the Addams Animal Menagerie with works of art inspired by Charles Addams’ cartoons.

Wild Walk Pet Parade

From 1 pm to 3 pm on Saturday, October 14th, dress your favorite mutt or kitty-cat in their best costume. Then parade them through downtown Westfield. Best costumed pet wins a prize. You might even meet your next furry friend here. Several animals will be available for adoption.

Lantern Cemetery Tours

For one night only, the Presbyterian Church offers special lantern cemetery tours. That night (October 14th), tours start at 5 pm and run every 10 minutes until 6:30 pm.

Addams Family Fun Day

On Sunday, October 15th, Quimby Ave transforms into an Addams-inspired wonderland. Decorate pumpkins with the doctors at Atlantic Medical Group Primary Care. Or watch the experts show off their skills at the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers’ demonstration. Local youth bands perform live all day long on the Atlantic Health Youth Stage. And listen to Westfield’s own author Peter Lyons read his children’s book Tonight, Tonight is Halloween every hour on the half-hour from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Charlie’s Ale Garden

The Westfield Armory becomes Charlie’s Ale Garden on Saturday, October 21st. Saved by the 90s headlines the evening’s live entertainment, with several other local bands playing before them. Food trucks provide food for purchase while you drink wine and/or beer provided by the Harvest Restaurant Group. This year, tickets will be sold in two separate rounds: first on September 20th at 7 pm and second on September 27th at 7 pm. Organizers are trying to get permission to use the grounds outside of the armory as well. If that happens, they plan on opening up more tickets to purchase in the days leading up to the event. Check back on the AddamsFest website when the two rounds open up. This is one of the most popular events of the entire month. Tickets sell out right away each year. So, make sure you mark your calendars and check in early.

Addams Family House on Mindowaskin Pond

All throughout October, a miniature version of the Addams Family house floats out on Mindowaskin Pond. Visitors are welcome to come any time to take a photo with it.

Addams Family-Inspired Murals

Come see the murals created by talented local artists at the Central Ave Underpass all month long as well. This ever-changing canvas showcases a variety of artwork throughout the year. But the ode to Charles Addams’ beloved work only lasts through the end of October.

Wicked Windows of Westfield

Another fun and free chance to celebrate Westfield’s native son is by wandering around downtown Westfield and looking at the Wicked Windows set up in shops around town. Several shops set up Addams Family-inspired displays in their windows for the entire month of October. Once you see the displays outside, head inside to see what frighteningly great deals you may find inside.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

 

Local Events August 18, 2023

Westfield School Supply Drive

Westfield students begin their 2023/2024 school year on September 7th. As most parents know, school supplies can be expensive. For some Westfield area households, that brings an additional strain to their finances. If you want to help ease their burden, consider donating to the Westfield School Supply Drive.

  • What: Westfield School Supply Drive
  • Where: Various Locations Around Westfield (see below)
  • When: 8 am to 5 pm now through August 20th

Westfield School Supply Drive

Local high school student Jillian Almendral strives to make a difference in our community with her volunteer work. Since June, she has spearheaded a local school supply drive to benefit those less fortunate kids in our area. Supplies needed include backpacks, notebooks, composition books, #2 pencils, pencil cases, pencil sharpeners, erasers, folders, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, calculators, glue, child-safe scissors, and rulers. They request that all items donated be new (or gently used when it comes to backpacks). They also accept gift cards for Amazon or Visa. New laptops, tablets, and headphones would also be greatly appreciated. All supplies will be donated to Jersey Cares for distribution where needed.

Drop-Off Locations

* Westfield Memorial Library (550 E Broad St)
* Westfield Memorial Pool (713 Cumberland St)
* Westfield Area YMCA (220 Clark St or 422 E Broad St)
* Westfield High School (550 Dorian Rd)

Tax-Holiday for NJ School Supply Shoppers

Every year, New Jersey waives sales tax for back-to-school supplies for a ten-day period. This year, it falls between August 26th and September 4th. Unfortunately, that timeframe comes after the school supply drive takes place in Westfield. But it still provides a bit of relief for parents getting their children ready for the new school year. For a complete list of these items, please visit the NJ Division of Taxation website here.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

 

Local Events July 28, 2023

Westfield National Night Out 2023

Westfield offers a safe place to live and raise a family. We owe a lot of that to the bravery of our first responders. You can meet them and tell them thank you for their service in person at Westfield National Night Out 2023.

What: Westfield National Night Out 2023
Where: Northside Train Lot
When: Tuesday, August 1st, 6 pm to 9 pm
Admission: FREE

Westfield National Night Out 2023

Hosted by the Westfield Police Department, the Westfield Chapter of National Night Out provides an opportunity to learn more about how you can help our first responders do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. Learn how to identify and report criminal activity. Help continue to keep our community safe by creating a deeper bond with our local police. But there is so much more to National Night Out than that.

In addition to community outreach and education, guests can listen to music while noshing on great food, watch live demos, try their hand at the rock climbing wall, and get their faces painted. Come see what equipment firefighters, police, and EMTs use on a daily basis. The little ones can roam around the bouncy house obstacle course. There’s even a dunk tank and a photo booth. This event is meant to strengthen the bond between our first responders and the rest of the community so that Westfield remains a safe and secure community in which to live. I hope to see you there.

Westfield Area Y Carnival Games

Before the National Night Out festivities commence, you might want to bring the kids to Quimby Street. Westfield Area Y hosts free carnival games for the public from 10 am to 1 pm. Members of the Y’s teen leadership program man the booths for these fun games as part of their learning experience. This helps them to positively interact with the community while strengthening their communication skills and boosting their creativity.

Sweet Sounds Downtown Musical Festival

Also, don’t forget about the Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival. It also takes place on Tuesday night from 7 pm to 9 pm. If you get too caught up in the National Night Out festivities to attend the August 1st Sweet Sounds concerts, that’s OK. New concerts take place every Tuesday evening through the end of August. You can catch the next one.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

 

Local Events July 14, 2023

Westfield Summer Sidewalk Sale 2023

Do you like to shop? Do you want to support local entrepreneurs? You can do both when you go to the Westfield Summer Sidewalk Sale 2023.

What: Westfield Summer Sidewalk Sale 2023
Where: Downtown Westfield
When: Now through July 16th
Cost: FREE

Westfield Summer Sidewalk Sale 2023

This weekend, several of our local businesses will be participating in the Summer Sidewalk Sale. Organizers put together this fun event every summer to highlight everything that Downtown Westfield has to offer. Plus, shoppers receive some spectacular discounts simply for taking the time to visit these establishments.

Some of the businesses that will be participating in the Westfield Summer Sidewalk Sale include:

  • American Shoe Repair & Luggage
  • Athleta – women’s athletic wear
  • The Beau Ideal – home furnishings
  • Best Foot Forward – footwear
  • Cachet Boutique – women’s clothing & accessories
  • Club Pilates Westfield
  • Fleet Feet – shoes & sportswear
  • Francis Henri – children’s clothing
  • J McLaughlin – casual classic men’s & women’s clothing
  • Jude Connally – women’s clothing
  • Learning Express Toys
  • Osteo Strong – strengthen bones, joints & muscles
  • Roig Collection Westfield – art gallery
  • Ruby & Jenna – women’s clothing
  • Sofi’s Color Lounge – hair stylists
  • Sole Shoes

If the weather decides not to cooperate, the event still goes on. But you might want to head inside the shops to find those special street sale bargains.

Summertime Music Festivals

Don’t forget. Scotch Plains offers up its Summer Concert Series every Thursday evening throughout July. All you need to bring is a blanket or chair. Each week brings a new act to the Alan M Augustine Village Green starting at 7:30 pm. On Tuesday evenings from now through the end of August, make Westfield’s Sweet Sounds of Summer your destination of choice. With not one, not two, but three stages to choose from, you will never be lacking for musical accompaniment to your weekday shopping. And all of this entertainment comes free of charge. So, enjoy!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Westfield, NJ Luxury Homes

 

Market Reports June 26, 2023

June 2023 Market Update

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Chatham

Clark

Cranford

Fanwood

Garwood

Madison

Millburn

Mountainside

Scotch Plains

Short Hills

Summit

Warren

Watchung

Westfield by Grade School:

Franklin

Jefferson

McKinley

Tamaques

Washington

Wilson

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes