Stories
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Westfield Rotary Awards Scholarships
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Westfield Rotary Hosts High School Student Exchanges
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Philhower and Steengrafe Awards
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Boxer Gerry Cooney Speaks to Westfield Rotary![]() Gerry Cooney, former Heavyweight Professional Boxer was the Speaker at Westfield Rotary’s Lunch on May 9. Mr. Cooney, a Fanwood resident, talked to the club about his professional boxing career, his triumphant battle with addiction and his recently released autobiography "Gentleman Gerry, A Contender in the Ring, A Champion in Recovery". Pictured are Rotary Club of Westfield President Tony LaPorta (left) and and “Gentleman“ Gerry Cooney. The Rotary Club of Westfield meets the first three Tuesdays at Limani Seafood Restaurant. |
Boxer Gerry Cooney to Speak at Westfield Rotary
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Westfield Rotary Hears about Helping HomelessAt the regular Rotary meeting on Tuesday, noon, April 11, 2023, the members of the Rotary Club of Westfield heard about how a young man is making a difference to help people. John El-Maraghy was a student at Rutgers and noticed that during covid, the men’s shelter in New Brunswick shut down the showers. He and his wife decided to do something about that to help the homeless men in New Brunswick. They started a 501c3 to provide a mobile van which offered the homeless men the ability to take showers. It also includes a barbershop. They started in New Brunswick once a week, but have expanded to include Newark once a month, and hope to expand to Hoboken and Orange. After the shower, they offer a care package including socks, T shirts and toiletries. |
Westfield Rotary Bestows Golden Pancake Award![]() On Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at a regular Rotary Club meeting, Breakfast with the Bands event chair Barbara Frantz bestowed the Golden Pancake Award to Rotarian Warren Rorden. This award is given every year to the individual who exhibits dedication above and beyond normal expectations for the annual Rotary fundraiser called Breakfast with the Bands, formerly called Rotary Pancake Day. The proceeds of this fundraiser go to college scholarships and community grants. Musical groups form Westfield High School, Roosevelt Middle School and Edison Middle School performed. Last year the Rotary Club of Westfield awarded $117,400 in college scholarships and $26,000 in Community Grants. The Club has been running this event every year since 1967. Approximately 400 people attended the event this year. The Rotary Club would like to especially thank the sponsors of the event: Mary Ellen O’Boyle - Prominent Properties Sotheby’s; Children’s Specialized Hospital; Fanwood Animal Hospital; Phelan, Frantz, Ohlig & Wegbreit, Esq; Dr Shruti Shukla, DDS at Great Smiles General Dentistry; Westfield Area YMCA; Raymond Kostyack, Wells Fargo Advisors; Steven Lowe; Maxwell’s Furniture Restoration; Northfield Bank; Spencer Savings Bank; Star Painting; Warren and Ginny Rorden; Westfield Financial Planning; and David & Shuang Wroe. |
Westfield Rotary Inducts Two New MembersOn Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at a regular meeting, the Rotary Club of Westfield inducted two new members: Vincent Luongo and Michael Kaufman. Rotary is an organization of successful local business people who want to “give back” to the community. The Rotary Club of Westfield has projects to address local hunger issues, help homeless veterans, collect used bicycles for the third world, raise funds for Ukrainian refugees in eastern Europe, accept exchange students from Brazil and Australia, provide scholarships to Westfield college students and community grants to other local organizations. |
Westfield Superintendent Speaks to Rotary
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Nominations Welcomed for 2023 Philhower Fellowship Award and
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Fire Chief Speaks to Westfield Rotary![]() On Tuesday, March 14th, 2023, at a regular Rotary Club of Westfield meeting, Westfield Fire Chief Michael Duelks and Battalion Chief Brian Piccola spoke to the members about fire safety and the various roles the fire department plays in town. |
Police Chief Tells Rotarians to Lock their Cars and Houses![]() Police Chief Christopher Battiloro spoke to the Rotary Club of Westfield on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, about issues in Westfield. The number one crime issue in Westfield is car thefts. His advice is to lock your cars, take your keys inside and lock your house. According to the chief, thieves will typically enter Westfield in a stolen car with four or five occupants, including minors. They go up and down the streets, checking door handles for unlocked vehicles. They do not break into cars, and do not “hot wire” them. When they find luxury cars open with the key fob inside, the thief does not need to find the fob - they just push the start button, start the car, and drive off. There have also been incidents where thieves used an unlocked vehicle with no fob inside, to open garage doors gaining access to the home for theft of the keys and vehicles. Due to the combination of a large concentration of luxury vehicles and easy access to highways, Westfield is the perfect place to steal cars according to the chief. He said that Newark is the center of the car thief rings, where the cars are brought and loaded onto ships to be sent overseas for sale. Chief Battiloro says that he has taken measures to reduce car theft. First is public awareness- he asks residents to lock their cars and houses. Next, the town has mounted 15 license plate readers around town, which are able to scan the license plates and report stolen cars coming into town to the police department. Since they started this process, the car thefts have dropped by 50%. |
Governor Christie Whitman speaks to Westfield RotaryOn Tuesday, November 15, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman spoke to the Rotary Club of Westfield, NJ regarding her work with the US Democracy Center and her foundation of the Forward Party, a centrist movement advocating for a ranked choice voting system, non-partisan primaries and independent redistricting commissions in the United States. |
Jean Harris Award Given to Marilyn Ryan!Marilyn Ryan was presented with the prestigious Jean Harris Award at a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Westfield. This award is given to a non- Rotarian who does exceptional service to the community. It is a District wide award. The Rotary District 7475 comprises of 77 clubs through 9 counties in northern New Jersey. District Awards Chair David Breidinger, from the Rotary Club of Trenton, presented this award on June 7, 2022. Past President and Rotary Club Foundation Chair Liz Ensslin nominated Marilyn because she has worked closely with her for many years through the Rotary’s food program to feed the hungry. Her remarks are as follows: “Marilyn has dedicated her entire life to those in need. After earning a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, Marilyn embarked on a 20-year career as a teacher in the parochial school systems in both Elizabeth and Linden. She returned to school and became a licensed practical nurse, working in the Rahway Hospital Pediatrics Unit for the next 12 years. In 1985, she assumed the position of Pastoral Associate at Parish Community of Saint Helen in Westfield. In this role Marilyn coordinates many Outreach Programs and Eucharistic Ministry. Marilyn is the coordinator of the Helping Hands and Hearts Program, which is designed to provide temporary financial or material assistance to those in need in our community. Marilyn serves on the advisory board of Sister Pat’s Camp for Kids with Cancer in New York and is an Emeritus Member of the Board of St. Joseph’s Social Center in Elizabeth. What is most important to know about Marilyn is that she is truly one of the most selfless people we know. The poor, the hungry and those in need always come first. She is the driver of our Soup Kitchens, Food Pantry, Service Auction and many other ministries. When it comes to her work, Marilyn leads by example. She empowers others to lead their ministries for the poor and disadvantaged, but she also never hesitates to roll up her sleeves, pack Thanksgiving Baskets or deliver gifts to the poor. Marilyn knows first-hand that to “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Her legacy is not only the work she does herself but the work she supports and empowers others to do. While we think of Marilyn delivering to those in need, we also deeply value the support she provides to members of our community who are suffering from illness, grief or a family crisis. She has truly touched the hearts of many and taught us how to serve others and be an advocate for others less fortunate than ourselves.” Many guests attended the meeting and gave Marilyn accolades for her dedicated service to the community and surrounding avenues. The Rotary Club of Westfield meets the first three Tuesdays of the month at noon at Limani Restaurant on North Ave. Guests are always Welcome. For information check the Rotary Club website at www.westfieldrotary.org or contact secretary Michael Hart by email drmhart@yahoo.com Photo: left to right: District Awards Chair David Breidinger, Jean Harris Award recipient Marilyn Ryan, Rotary Club Foundation Chair Liz Ensslin. |
Obike Book Drive 2022Westfield Rotarians loaded a cargo van with over 3,000 books collected by McKinley and Jefferson Schools Early Clubs and Roosevelt Intermediate's Interact Club. The books were driven to Hartford, CT to go on a shipping container leaving for Obike, Nigeria. The books collected are for the new schools being built by Fr. Kingsley's (center in 1st photo) charity DMIWOO (Divine Mercy International Widows and Orphans Organization). https://dmiwoo.org ![]() ![]() |
Breakfast with the BandsIt was an honor for our club to have District Governor Shelby Rhodes come to help us with Breakfast with the Bands this past weekend. You can see her cutting fruit! ![]() ![]() |
Westfield Rotary Inducts Two New Members
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Nancy JacksonWestfield Rotarians mourn the loss of fellow Rotarian, Nancy Jackson. Nancy joined the club in 1998 and earned 4 Paul Harris recognitions. She is Past President and served for many years as club secretary as well as on the scholarship committee. Nancy was one of the first women to join Rotary and loved all things Rotary. She will be remembered for her dedication to the club and for being a role model for new members. ![]() |
Donations Needed!OUR NEIGHBORS DISPLACED BY HURRICANE IDA NEED OUR HELP! We are still collecting bags of food for families in Elizabeth. All contributions go to St. Joseph's Social Services Center. Please see the list below for updated list of items needed. Collection by Rotary is every Wednesday morning before 11:00am at either 438 Poe Ave or 529 Hanford Place in Westfield. Please consider donating the following “hotel friendly” (ready to eat or microwaveable) items: Bottled water Canned fish and chicken – in flip top cans or pouches Fruit – in flip top cans or plastic cups packed in 100% juice or dried Applesauce – no added sugar in plastic jars or cups Shelf stable milk or milk alternatives Shelf stable microwaveable meals such as stews, chili, macaroni and cheese, hearty soups (low sodium options are welcome) Whole grain cereal Oatmeal – instant or in microwaveable containers Nuts and Nut butters Granola Bars Crackers – preferably whole grain 100% Fruit or Vegetable Juice Please No Glass ![]() Thank you!
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2021 Rotary Scholarship WinnersRotary Club Awards 2021 Scholarships WESTFIELD -- The Rotary Club of Westfield is proud to announce 20 scholarship awards to Westfield residents totaling $117,400. The awards were given at the Westfield High School awards night on May 26. "It is always wonderful to award scholarships to hardworking and deserving Westfield students. This year's applicant group was incredibly impressive," Rotary Scholarship Committee Chair Carl Peer said. "As part of Rotary's commitment to education, these scholarships have funded over $3 million dollars of higher learning since 1967." The scholarships, which are funded by various means, are administered by The Rotary Club of Westfield and awarded based on academic excellence, financial need, and the student's commitment to community service. Harry Sturcke Scholars are: Rebekkah Dayon who will attend Montclair State University ($7,000); Martha Byrne who will attend Notre Dame ($7,000); Timothy O'Brien who will attend Washington College ($4,000) and Emily Bergerman who will attend Boston University ($4,000). The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. The Robert and Winifred Read Health Science Scholarship in memory of Linda Read was awarded to Aidan Bertsch ($1,000) who will attend University of Wisconsin; Joy Mulzoff who will attend James Madison University ($8,000) and Gianna Grace Magniamele who will attend Franklin and Marshall College ($1,000). The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Foundation. The Chester A. Gerdes Scholar award was given to Eva Terry who will attend the University of Virginia ($5,000). The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Foundation. Sebastian Wroe who will attend Stevens Institute of Technology and Dilany Santamaria, who will attend Brigham Young University-Provo were each awarded the four year $15,000 scholarship in memory of Charles and Florence Wallace. A $5,000 scholarship in memory of the Wallaces was also award to Katherine Wistner who will attend the University of Pittsburg. The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Foundation. Andrew Pink, who will attend Ohio University and Ralph Cerrero, who will attend Penn State were each awarded the $6,000 Georgianna Pollack Scholar. The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. A $3,400 scholarship in memory of Phil Richardson was awarded to Liam Robb, who will attend Mitchell College. The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. The 2021 Rotary Scholars are: Michaela Hobson (Roger Williams University $6,000), Elizabeth Bielen (Lehigh University $5,000), Dilany Santamaria (Brigham Young University-Provo $3,000) and Maxwell Zander Scialabba (College of Arts and Sciences Cornell University $1,000). The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. Additionally, two Robert and Winifred Read Health and Law Scholarships were awarded to Xenia Kobori (University of Toronto $10,000) and Caroline Bielen (University of Pittsburgh $5,000) who reside in the Town of Westfield and who are interested in pursuing a law degree. The scholarship funding is overseen by the Westfield Foundation. The Rotary Club of Westfield is a service organization of business men and women. Website www.westfieldrotary.com It is part of an International Organization of 1.2 million people in 200 countries around the world. www.rotary.org Local projects include hunger insecurity, helping homeless veterans, planting trees, supporting youth service clubs in the schools, and scholarships. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings. For information contact Club Secretary Dr. D. Michael Hart at drmhart@yahoo.com |
St. Joseph's Food CollectionWe are still collecting bags of food for families in Elizabeth. All contributions go to St. Joseph's Social Services Center. Please see the list below for updated list of items needed. Collection is every Wednesday morning before 11:00am at either 438 Poe Ave or 529 Hanford Place in Westfield. ![]() |
Be The Light! Luminaries to Fight HungerCome together. Support those in need. Be the Light. You can help fight hunger in Union County by purchasing luminaries and displaying them at dusk on November 29th, the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. This effort is jointly sponsored by the Westfield United Fund , the Presbyterian Church of Westfield and the Rotary Club of Westield. Please help to spread the message of light and hope as we support those in need. Each luminary kit sold raises more than $10 for non-sectarian hunger programs in Union County. These programs include The Westfield Food Pantry, St. Joseph’s Social Service Center, PCW’s Agape Local Food Boxes and Agape Community Kitchen, The Rotary Club’s Backpack Program and the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. Luminaries will be available for pick-up the weekend before the event and can be purchased through November 14th. Purchasers will be emailed with details of pick up location. Help us line our streets with the light of hope burning within our community...Be the Light, Westfield! Come together. Support those in need. Be the Light. |
"OMG, someone didn't forget us with all this virus and stuff!"The Rotary Club of Westfield, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Morristown and General Needs veterans service organization, has been visiting and supporting veterans housed at the Hope for Veterans® Transitional Housing housing program on the campus of Lyons VA hospital. These veterans are in the process of recovering from homelessness. The Hope for Veterans program, operated by Community Hope, provides transitional housing as well as services such as mental health therapy, access to employment and educational resources and placement in permanent housing for these men and women. But they also need to know that our community has not forgotten their service to our country. The Rotary effort helps to communicate this in a tangible way. Each week, Rotary volunteers are delivering a special luncheon for 80 veterans each week as a way to brighten their day and tell them that we remember. The meals are prepared by local restaurants. To support this effort and other programs to feed the less fortunate in our community, please CLICK HERE and donate to the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. Donations are especially welcome now because every dollar donated fighting hunger, up to $10,000 will be matched by a special gift from one Rotary member. As One veteran said "OMG, someone didn't forget us with all this virus and stuff!" We must not and will not forget our veterans. ![]() Dressed for the Occasion! Rotarian collecting meals at 5 Star Catering and Deli. |
Ms. Jeanine Gottko, master technology teacher for grades K-8 in the Westfield Public Schools, will receive the Philhower Fellowship award at the online meeting of the Rotary Club of Westfield on Tuesday, May 5. The Philhower Fellowship is awarded to honor a teacher in the Westfield Public Schools who has made an outstanding contribution to elementary education. Each year, the honoree is selected by a committee which includes Rotarians and Westfield educators. The award is given in memory of Charles Philhower, a founder and past President of the Club and a lifelong Rotarian. ![]() Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan stated “Jeanine is so deserving of this important recognition.Her years as a classroom teacher combined with an impressive knowledge of digital learning tools and technology has been invaluable to our school community, especially during the educational upheaval caused by COVID-19"
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Rotary Donates Ventilators to NJ HospitalsRotary District 7475, which includes the Rotary Club of Westfield and 82 other Rotary clubs in central and northern New Jersey, is donating 10 ventilators to hospitals in New Jersey. Three are going to Trinitas Hospital, and seven are going to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital . This effort was spearheaded by Dr. D. Michael Hart, a longtime Westfield Rotarian and a past District Governor of Rotary. Dr. Hart currently serves as Foundation Chairman of District 7475. As a part of the effort, Rotary volunteers located refurbished ventilators which could be purchased in this environment, and arranged a grant proposal for approximately $100,000. This proposal was submitted to the Rotary Foundation which is supported by Rotarians throughout the world. The Rotary Foundation approved and funded the grant proposal in days, rather than the normal months required for study and approval. Please click here to read more about this effort.
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Helping Keep People Fed During The CrisisDisadvantaged families are continually in crisis. When schools closed due to COVID, the school lunches many students depended on were not available, and they weren't receiving the “second lunch Tuesday” sandwiches Westfield schools have provided for many years. So Westfield Rotarians stepped up to help fill this critical need by distributing food to families directly and through St Joseph’s Social Service Center/The Elizabeth Coalition. Some of the food that was collected is shown in the photo below. While schools have thankfully reopened, we continue to support other programs to feed the less fortunate in our community. Please CLICK HERE and donate to the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation. ![]() |
Breakfast With The BandsDon’t miss the Rotary Club of Westfield’s 54th Annual Breakfast with the Bands! ![]() The breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 29th from 8am to noon at Westfield High School, 550 Dorian Road. This annual community event features performances by top bands from Westfield High School, Roosevelt Intermediate School and Edison Intermediate School. You can enjoy these performances, encourage our young musicians, and have a great breakfast with your neighbors and friends, all while supporting programs which help make Westfield a very special community. All proceeds benefit Rotary’s scholarship and community grants programs and Project Hunger. The event is Sponsored by Jayson Astel of Edward Jones and Mary Ellen O'Boyle of Sothebys. Tickets are $10 and available from Rotarians or at the door. You can also purchase tickets online--Click Here |
Hats, Gloves and Socks Needed Right Now!![]() The Rotary Club of Westfield is collecting hats, gloves and socks for homeless people in our community. Please bring your items, which should be new or used but clean and in good condition, to the drop boxes located at Columbia Bank, 251 North Ave. West, and at Northfield Bank, 828 South Ave. West. Both locations are accessible only during banking hours. The donated items will be distributed through St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, St. Ann's Soup Kitchen in Newark, and at the Transitional Shelter for homeless veterans at the VA Hospital campus in Lyons.
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Rotary Bike Collection Changes 100 Lives In A DayOn Saturday, October 19, Westfield Rotarians collected 100 bicycles and 10 sewing machines for re-use. Thanks to the generosity of the Westfield community, the lives of 110 people in underdeveloped nations, and their communities, will be better. The collection total this year was far in excess of prior years, and adds to the total of over 2100 bicycles and 110 sewing machines collected since the first annual collection ![]() The Rotarian volunteers set up each donated bicycle in a compact configuration for shipment by removing the pedals, turning the handlebars , and removing bulky accessories. Many hands made light work. The fellowship which comes from working alongside old friends and new acquaintances in a worthwhile cause made the time fly by. The event culminated with loading the bicycles into the truck for shipment, and a hearty cheer when the day's collection was tallied. ![]() |
Bike and Sewing Machine Collection Drive Saturday October 19From 9am to noon on Saturday, October 19 at the Board of Education Building, 302 Elm St., Westfield Rotary will collect bicycles and sewing machines for re-use by people in underdeveloped countries. This event, held annually by Rotary in cooperation with Pedals for Progress, has collected over 2000 bicycles and over 100 sewing machines in past years. That unused bike or sewing machine taking up space in your home can make a real difference in the life of someone less fortunate. For example, a farmer who tends a field 10 miles from his village will spend 5 hours or more just walking to and from the field each day. A bicycle will free up 3 or more hours every working day for the farmer to earn more and improve his life and his community. Pedals for Progress ships the bicycles to the receiving country and repairs them in a shop within the receiving country to provide added benefits in employment and skills. The bicycles are then sold for a nominal price, typically a dollar or two, within the reach of those willing to help themselves. Sewing machines allow empower women to earn income for their families. That machine which you have not touched for years can help a child's family afford school fees and break the cycle of poverty. No advance registration is required--Just bring in your sewing machines and bicycles! Bicycles and sewing machines do NOT have to be in working order. It costs $40 to collect, process, ship, rebuild and distribute each bicycle. A donation toward shipping costs is necessary (suggested minimum $10 per bike). In addition to your donations, Peoples Capital Group has provided a donation to help offset this expense. |
Rotary Sponsors Community Event to Fight Hunger![]() At the Westfield Rotary's sandwich drive event on September 16,2019, our community joined together to attack hunger in our community. Seventy five people came together to make sandwiches for distribution to those in need. The participants came to the assembly hall of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield armed with bread, meat, cheese and a desire to help their fellow man. Many hands joined together to produce over 1100 healthy and sandwiches. Rotarian volunteers organized the production process, supplied the necessary sanitary gloves and table coverings, joined with the community volunteers in making the sandwiches, and also collected and stored the sandwiches. The next day, Rotarians delivered the sandwiches to the community feeding programs of St.Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth and the Salvation Army in Plainfield. |
Westfield Rotary Selects New Officers![]() Elizabeth ("Liz") Ensslin was welcomed as the new President for the upcoming year. Liz is the owner of The InkWell Printers and has been a longtime Rotarian. She is also an active in her church and in the community, an accomplished musician and a mother. She is off and running with a great agenda to build the club up even more over the next year. |
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Helping people with disabilities make their own music![]() Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school. After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school. |
Finding Safe HavenAfter serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
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India celebrates three years without polio![]() The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio. |