NEW JERSEY — Anyone planning a wedding can expand the guest list, starting Friday. 

Gov. Phil Murphy announced that wedding receptions may proceed at 35% of a venue’s indoor capacity (up to 150 persons) and up to 150 people outdoors. Indoor receptions must abide by indoor dining guidelines. Attendees must wear face covers unless seated and ...

Westfield's COVID-19 cases declined by about 50% in February, the health officer said.

WESTFIELD, NJ — The town’s Board of Health on Monday faced a barrage of questions from parents seeking clarity on the local health department’s role in rolling out in-person public school instruction amid a significant decline in Westfield coronavirus cases.

Westfield Regional Health ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — After 14 years as Superintendent of Westfield Public Schools, Margaret Dolan plans to retire July 1.

Dolan spent the first 10 years of her career as a music teacher before transitioning to administration with the NJ Department of Education and the Mountainside School District.

She was hired as principal of Westfield’s Franklin Elementary School in 1996, and ...

COVID-19 activity in Westfield is at a “moderate” level, Mayor Shelley Brindle said Friday.

WESTFIELD, NJ — The public school district will shift into fully remote instruction for four days following its spring break, the district announced Friday.

Schools will shift to remote learning Tuesday, April 6, through Monday April 9, Superintendent Margaret Dolan in an email to ...

Westfield's COVID-19 cases declined by about 50% in February, the health officer said.

WESTFIELD, NJ — The town’s Board of Health on Monday faced a barrage of questions from parents seeking clarity on the local health department’s role in rolling out in-person public school instruction amid a significant decline in Westfield coronavirus cases.

Westfield Regional Health ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Meaghan B Murphy is a terrible cook.

“Seriously awful,” is how the Westfield mother of three children — ages 7, 8 and 10 — describes her culinary skill set. And she’s OK with that gastronomic ineptitude.

“I asked myself: Did it really matter whether I made dinner or Trader Joe’s or Ferraro’s in Westfield did?” ...

For a quick and easy lunch or weeknight dinner, grilled cheese has it all — easy, cheesy, gooey comfort food at its finest. Press it in a sandwich press or indoor grill, toast it in a hot pan or pop it into the oven and it’s ready in minutes.

But don’t stop there. Level up your sandwich-making game with these tips for making the best grilled cheese ever:

1.

NEW JERSEY — Delivery has become our new best friend over the past year. With the pandemic almost a year old and numerous delivery services at our fingertips, the idea of having food come to you (instead of the other way around) has become commonplace.

After the initial shock and shut downs of the pandemic, New Jersey restaurants were put through the wringer with ...

CRANFORD, NJ — Hoagie lovers can rejoice.

There’s a new Wawa at 500 North Avenue East in Cranford, the chain of convenience stores announced. To celebrate the grand opening, the Wawa hosted a socially distanced ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. featuring VIP customers, local officials and charity partners, the company said in a statement. Doors officially opened to the public at ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — A long awaited nanobrewery in Westfield is open and seeing high demand for its product.

Corinne Grant, who along with her husband, Tim, opened Lions Roar Brewing Co. on South Avenue about a week ago, said they are pleased with how it is going.

“Outside of some expected hiccups, the transition from ‘opening a brewery’ to ‘operating a ...

Updated at 10:29 p.m.

WESTFIELD, NJ — South Avenue West near Palsted Avenue was closed for most of the day Sunday after a vehicle crashed into a utility pole, knocking wires into the roadway, according to police.

At 7:14 a.m., police said in a Nixle that PSE&G was assessing the situation and at 9:45 p.m. police reported that the roadway had been reopened.

An image posted by the ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Standards concerning prisoner handling, use of force and fiscal controls are among those the town’s police department is taking a hard look at — including by soliciting public feedback on — as it seeks accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.

What is it? To achieve the designation from the state association, Westfield ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy signed three bills last month that legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey. The “cleanup” bill clarifying how police may respond to minors in possession of marijuana is facing criticism from the Westfield police chief, but the bill’s lead sponsor is not backing down.

Bill 3454 outlines penalties for individuals under the age ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — When Bob Zuckerman was appointed to lead Downtown Westfield Corporation last year, he said he wanted to make the downtown “sparkle and shine.”

And shining it is, at least in the North Avenue parking lot of the Westfield Train Station, where 15 lighted seesaws have been set up as part of a playful art installation — Impulse — aimed at attracting ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — An electric car dealership is anticipated to come into the space once occupied by a specialty grocery store that closed in 2019.

Last week, the town council approved a license for Karma of Westfield to operate at 430 North Avenue East.

“The owner is very excited. This is a new car dealership that is going into the Vine Ripe space,” said Town Administrator ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Nearly 600 parents attended the Westfield Board of Education’s virtual meeting on Tuesday, some livid at what they see as incomplete planning for a return to in-person learning in the district.

While board members did not engage in much direct response, public comment continued for several hours and became tense, with some parents claiming the district was ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — The town council on Tuesday discussed a proposal that would permit a wireless carrier to install a cell tower at the Houlihan/Sid Fay Field Complex in exchange for the company expanding parking and installing other amenities there.

What follows is an FAQ from the town about the project. It describes the municipality's official position on the ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Shining at the North Avenue parking lot of the Westfield Train Station are 15 lighted seesaws that have been set up as part of a playful art installation aimed at attracting shoppers and diners into the downtown during what typically would be a slow time for local businesses.

Funded by a grant from Main Street New Jersey, with assistance from Columbia Bank and the food ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Franklin Elementary School music teacher Brent Geyer has a hit on his hands. His virtual x­ylophone, created to allow his students to make music remotely, has been used more than 350,000 times worldwide.

Geyer is a certified practitioner of the Orff-Schulwerk teaching method, which uses musical play and discovery to teach music to children. Through grants from ...

MANVILLE, NJ — Independence for Veterans, Inc. is the recipient of a $500 donation from the Valairco Cares program. Kevin McHugh, owner of Valairco Heating and Cooling, and company's founder Richard Valenti recently presented a check to Stacia McDonough and volunteers from Independence for Veterans at Valairco's office in Manville. 

Valairco ...

Updated 3/1 with additional information about donating.

WESTFIELD, NJ — In honor of Women’s History month, the Westfield High School Treat People With Kindness Club is holding a drive to collect necessary items for women in need.

Run by the club’s two-year president, senior Alexa Cassiba, and advised by Westfield High School Spanish teacher, Paula Parada, the club is ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield High School junior ran a personal best 4:21 mile last week, putting him at fourth in the school’s indoor track history.

With his 11-second personal record, Charlie Stock is the current state leader in the indoor mile. Stock is this week’s Ron Bansky and Associates Allstate Westfield Athlete of the Week.

“I try not to get lost in the ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — At last, the undefeated New Providence girls basketball team was tested, legitimately, for four full quarters.

They passed.

The Pioneers remained undefeated despite a stern challenge from a Westfield team that wouldn’t go away. And that figures, given that Westfield won the 2020 Union County Tournament, and New Providence would have been the primary ...

NEWARK, NJ — Months after signing expansive environmental justice legislative, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday vowed New Jersey would put its money where its mouth is — investing over $130 million in clean transportation projects.

Murphy, who spoke about more green initiatives during a press conference Tuesday morning, also signed an executive order creating a climate action office and ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Fast winds could blow around unsecured objects, knock down tree limbs and cause power outages Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are anticipated to gust at up to 50 mph, the Weather Service said in an wind advisory in effect 4 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday.

With the ground soggy from rain and ...