Updated at 7:10 a.m. Jan. 22

WESTFIELD, NJ — How does one respond to acts of hatred? Speakers addressed this topic during a service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his works on Monday.

Stanley Talbert, a doctoral student at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, told a full house at the First Congregational Church to strive for better in a time when hate is ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Due to freezing temperatures, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March set for Monday morning has been called off, but the church service is still on, authorities said.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Westfield’s 32nd Interfaith Commemoration Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Westfield, 125 Elmer St., starting at 1 p.m.

The ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – With federal workers furloughed as a result of the government shutdown, local businesses are pitching in to help those people impacted.

Among the free goods and services being offered to impacted federal workers in Westfield are coffee, stretch sessions and financial planning advice.

Downtown Westfield Corporation, which represents businesses in the town’s ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – With their beeping, buzzing, chiming and bright colors, smartphones phones can be much to handle.

Recognizing this, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains-Westfield Here2Help Mental Health Coalition held its first forum, one among a series on mental health topics, at the Westfield Memorial Library Thursday, on the topic of smartphone overuse.

FULL COVERAGE: Addicted to Your ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – The brain chemical contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction is produced as people scroll through social media feeds and answer messages on their smartphones.

Sean Foley, a social worker at Prevention Links, a Union County nonprofit fighting substance abuse, discussed the production of dopamine during a talk about the debilitating effects of smartphone ...

Updated at 10:04 p.m. Jan. 15

WESTFIELD, NJ – Smokers lighting up at a street fair or town festival here could face fines, even those who do so with an e-cigarette.

The Town Council on Tuesday introduced a regulation to ban smoking at public events such as jazz nights, the AddamsFest beer garden and FestiFall. And it looks like smooth sailing for the update to an existing local ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – With a deep chill setting in, the outdoor portion of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March has been called off, but services planned for the observance will still be held, police said.

The Westfield Police Department announced the cancellation of the outdoor march shortly after 10 a.m. Monday.

The National Weather Service in a statement Monday warned wind chill ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – Officers have arrested a 20-year-old Newark man who police say attempted to break into a home on Fair Hill Drive during broad daylight on Monday, authorities said.

A resident living in the 70 block of Fair Hill Drive called police to report that a man, later identified as Wali Wiggs, was attempting to enter the residence by breaking windows shortly before 1:40 p.m., ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – Parts of the already busy downtown could be a bit busier Thursday and Friday as utility workers upgrade electric facilities on four streets.

The work in Westfield is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday on Clark Street, Cowperthwaite Place, Ferris Place and Prospect Street, Lauren Ugorji, a spokeswoman for PSE&G, said.

“We are upgrading our ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – A local pizzeria owner is helping to take the sting out of the partial government shutdown that has stopped federal workers’ pay.

Outta Hand pizzeria owner Burim Regjaj said Monday that after reaching out with an offer on social media, he has provided five families impacted by the shutdown with meals.

“This is the first week that they didn’t get paid ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – Inspection fees for establishments serving food in town will be based on the public health risk of the food served and no longer determined by the size of the establishments if a recently proposed regulation is adopted.

The Westfield Board of Health is set to hold a public hearing and adopt on Feb. 4 the measure changing the fees it charges to inspect food retailers. The ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Hawaiian-inspired Poke Bowls are coming to Downtown Westfield this weekend.

Orgreen, located at 132 East Broad St., is set to begin serving on Saturday with a formal opening to be held at 11 a.m., the restaurant’s manager, Kidd Fang, said.

Poke bowls, which are comprised of diced raw fish served over rice and vegetables, will be served at the eatery located ...

The anticipated change for the area encompassing New England Drive follows significant public opposition over a proposed subdivision in the neighborhood.

WESTFIELD, NJ — A proposed rezoning of the area encompassing New England Drive would allow only for the larger lot sizes already existing in the area, officials said.

The new regulations were discussed at last week’s Town ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ -- Citing its centralized location, easy access to highways and proximity to the Somerville train station, New Jersey Rep.Tom Malinowski (D-7th) has opened a temporary district office in Somerville at 58 E. Main St. to handle constituent needs.

The flagship District Office will be located at 75-77 N Bridge St. Somerville. The facility is currently undergoing construction which ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — A dramatic crash in the 2nd Ward last month has caused the town to consider changing parking regulations on South Euclid Avenue, officials said.

Following the Dec. 12 crash, an engineer for Westfield recommended parking be prohibited on the northwest side of South Euclid Avenue for 75 feet north of its northwest curb line intersecting with Lenox Avenue, Town Administrator ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Twenty-three students from nine schools were recognized for essays, poetry and artworks at Westfield's 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day service on Monday.

The students recognized in the annual contest are as follows:

Intermediate schools

Essay contest winners are as follows:

First Place – Matthew Akins, seventh grade, Holy Trinity ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Due to freezing temperatures, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March set for Monday morning has been called off, but the church service is still on, authorities said.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Westfield’s 32nd Interfaith Commemoration Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Westfield, 125 Elmer St., starting at 1 p.m.

The ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – The brain chemical contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction is produced as people scroll through social media feeds and answer messages on their smartphones.

Sean Foley, a social worker at Prevention Links, a Union County nonprofit fighting substance abuse, discussed the production of dopamine during a talk about the debilitating effects of smartphone ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — The Westfield High School varsity boys basketball team edged out Scotch Plains-Fanwood Thursday night in a thrilling game, 60-59.

The Blue Devils held a three-point lead with under a minute left when the Raiders had a chance to score with 17 seconds left. Scotch Plains-Fanwood hit the final shot, a two-pointer, which left them one shy of Westfield’s ...

METUCHEN, NJ — Saint Joseph High School Athletics Hall of Fame is again taking nominations for induction this year following a 17-year hiatus. Inductees must be Saint Joseph graduates, must have lettered in a varsity sport, attended the school for at least three years, and must possess a record of high performance and excellence.

On Jan. 4, the Falcons hosted St. Benedict's ...

A girls hockey workshop at the Westfield Rink drew 55 players this week.

WESTFIELD, NJ – There weren’t many opportunities available for girls to play hockey when she grew up in the town, but that didn’t stop her.

Rebecca Morse, who plays for the Metropolitan Riveters, a part of the National Women’s Hockey League, is pleased to see that the sport has become more ...

The anticipated change for the area encompassing New England Drive follows significant public opposition over a proposed subdivision in the neighborhood.

WESTFIELD, NJ — A proposed rezoning of the area encompassing New England Drive would allow only for the larger lot sizes already existing in the area, officials said.

The new regulations were discussed at last week’s Town ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — With the town of Westfield’s first full readjustment of assessed home values for Westfield in since 1981 nearing completion, the first round of letters with new property valuations will be mailed to most residents later this week by the town’s certified vendor, Realty Appraisal Company, the town announced Monday. Letters will continue to be mailed out on a ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — It’s not your average school play.

Washington Elementary School parents are in rehearsal for a PTO-led play in which they act out the main roles.

Written by Anthony Tessitore, the father of daughters, ages 7 and 11, “Happily Ever After” details the efforts of two junior librarians, who join forces with icons from children’s literature to save ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – A representation of a home that made international news is among the winners of a town-wide contest of gingerbread building, but it is not the top vote-getter in the competition whose winners the public picked in an online poll.

Tara and Rob Donnelly along with Brian and Amy Shields, of Westfield, built the gingerbread model of the “Watcher ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — In his rendition of a tune from the musical “Bells are Ringing,” Broadway vocalist Cooper Grodin played the role of a con artist and gangster looking to win over a wealthy lady.

Before performing the song with vocalist Maria Failla at the New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve show Monday, Grodin told the full house that his character, a ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Just months after opening, Business Energy, a flexible and collaborative work space in Downtown Westfield, is expanding, the company announced Tuesday.

Located at 220 Lenox Ave., BE celebrated its grand opening in the fall with three private offices, plus six work stations and a conference room that are available on a monthly, weekly or daily basis. 

Now ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – With federal workers furloughed as a result of the government shutdown, local businesses are pitching in to help those people impacted.

Among the free goods and services being offered to impacted federal workers in Westfield are coffee, stretch sessions and financial planning advice.

Downtown Westfield Corporation, which represents businesses in the town’s ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Tepp Accounting Services/Tepp Financial Planning in Downtown Westfield hosted about 40 local business people Wednesday morning at the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s first open networking breakfast of 2019.

“We’re very grateful we had such a wonderful turnout. I want to give a big thank-you to the chamber,” said owner David Tepp, ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – With the New Year has come new regulations for recycling in the town.

The key message is that the town will only recycle plastics labeled #1 and #2, and no longer takes plastics labeled #3 - #7, Councilman David Contract said. The modification is a result of changes in the market for scrap plastics, officials previously said.

All other guidelines remain in effect, said ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – With the freezing temperatures upon us, experts state that several key factors play an important role in maintaining a warm and safe home throughout the long, cold winter. 

“Maintenance is key when it comes to your home running safely and efficiently,” said Mike Iarrapino, owner of Edison Heating and Cooling. “Ensuring that your home is ...

Updated at 7:10 a.m. Jan. 22

WESTFIELD, NJ — How does one respond to acts of hatred? Speakers addressed this topic during a service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his works on Monday.

Stanley Talbert, a doctoral student at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, told a full house at the First Congregational Church to strive for better in a time when hate is ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Due to freezing temperatures, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March set for Monday morning has been called off, but the church service is still on, authorities said.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Westfield’s 32nd Interfaith Commemoration Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Westfield, 125 Elmer St., starting at 1 p.m.

The ...

Attention chocoholics: The Chocolate Expo is coming to the Garden State Plaza in Paramaus, NJ, on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Now in its 11th year, organizers claim that it’s America’s largest chocolate festival.

Local, regional and international vendors at the expo will offer tastings and sales of gourmet chocolates, baked goods, ...

Falafel, that tasty vegetarian Mediterranean street food made from chickpeas, isn’t just for pitas anymore. It’s showing up in sub sandwiches, salads, chips, pizzas – even soup.

Why is it so popular?

“It’s vegetarian and a hearty add on,” said David Delinko, owner of The Salad House of Somerville, where customers can get warm pieces of ...

New Jersey Date Night is a new series on NJ Flavor by relationship writer Craig Rogers.

There are two things we can count on happening when the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve. One is that a big shiny ball will fall on Times Square, signifying the beginning of a … well, new beginning. The other is that we have 365 days ahead of us with which to plan really great ...