Thursday, May 9, 2013
Westwood Councilman Peter Grefrath said skateboarders damaged memorial benches in Veterans' Park twice this year.
Westwood officials are taking new measures to prevent skateboarders from damaging benches in Veterans' Memorial Park. The borough will install armrests in the middle of the memorial benches to stop skaters from sliding their boards along the seats, Councilman Peter Grefrath said this week. Grefrath previously reported that benches in the park had been damaged, then reported more damage after they had been repaired. "When all is said and done, it's vandalism," Grefrath previously said. The new armrests come at a cost of $148, which will be paid for from the donation account used to buy the benches. Grefrath said he was unsure whether the price for families looking to dedicate benches would increase in the future. The armrests should be …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Benches in Veterans' Memorial Park have been damaged twice so far this year.
Seven memorial benches, dedicated by local families to deceased loved ones, were damaged this week, according to Westwood Councilman Peter Grefrath. It was the second time skateboarders damaged benches in Veterans' Memorial Park this year. "I am totally aware that none of it was done on purpose," Grefrath said. There is no law against skateboarding in the park, though damaging public property counts as a "violation of the peace" under borough ordinance. On some of the benches, the damage was minor paint scuffing left by the boards, according to Mayor John Birkner. Others were "damaged down to the metal," he said. Repairing the benches the first time took about five hours, according to Grefrath. Some of them may need to be sent back to the …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Westwood officials said they would investigate ways to prevent skateboarders from performing tricks on the memorial benches.
Skateboarders have damaged four memorial benches in Veterans' Memorial Park, according to Westwood Councilman Peter Grefrath. The benches were purchased by local families as memorials to deceased loved ones as part of a borough program. Families donate $1,700 for the benches in Veterans' Park or $900 for benches in other parks. "I'm not really happy with skateboarders damaging memorial benches," Grefrath said. Officials said chipping on two of the benches could probably be repaired by borough employees, but two others may need to go back to the manufacturer for repair. The damage was not purposeful vandalism, they said, but appeared to have been caused by skateboards being slid along the bench edges because of chipping and multicolored …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Westwood Council voted in favor of closing Madison Avenue where it bisects Veterans' Memorial Park and doing other work to add parking and improve the flow of traffic.
Drivers will no longer be able to cut through Veterans' Memorial Park in Westwood to reach Washington Avenue. The Westwood Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to proceed with a plan from Borough Engineer Stephen Boswell that will close Madison Avenue near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Third Avenue. "This is the worst intersection in our community," Councilman John Sciara said. The plan also involves widening Madison Avenue and Third Avenue to add 20 additional parking spaces. Park Avenue, which is currently a one-way street between Third and Second Avenue, will be made a two-way street. Boswell estimated the project will cost $240,000. Closing Madison Avenue was recommended by Westwood Police. Police Captain Frank Durante said he …
Friday, July 6, 2012
The band is holding the second of its summer performances in the Veterans' Memorial Park bandstand tonight.
The Westwood Community Band is holding the second of its six annual concerts in the Veterans' Memorial Park Bandstand tonight. The show will include performances from the group's Dixieland and jazz bands, according to conductor Tom Offerjost. There will also be a pre-concert performance by their saxophone quartet at 7:30 p.m. This is the band's twelfth season. They play a variety of "light classics," according to Offerjost. The group features an approximately 30-member concert band, a jazz band, a Dixieland band, ragtime band and various quartets and quintets. "We play the kind of music I think people want to sit in the park and listen to," Offerjost said. After this week's show, the community band will play with a full concert band July …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The free concerts will be in Veterans' Park on Thursdays starting June 28.
Westwood's annual summer concert series is set to begin with R&B/soul artist Joan Gardner as Lady Blue June 28. This year's five bands include a mix of new and returning acts, according to Westwood Recreation Director Gary Buchheister. They play a variety of genres, including oldies, reggae and classic rock. Westwood has been holding summer concerts for more than 20 years. "I'm excited about all the bands we have," Buchheister said. The free concerts draw crowds of hundreds from around Bergen County, according to Buchheister. They start at 8 p.m. in Veterans' Memorial Park and usually last between 1.5 and two hours. The schedule of concerts is: The events are co-sponsored by Atlantic Stewardship Bank, Hackensack University Medical Center …
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Westwood Heritage Society hosted Westwood Pride Day and the annual craft fair in Veterans' Memorial Park Sunday.
The Westwood Heritage Society hosted Westwood Pride Day and the annual craft fair in Veterans' Memorial Park Sunday. The event featured dozens of craft dealers and representatives from local organizations. Money raised at the event benefited the heritage society. Later that evening, the Westwood Library hosted the annual Taste of Westwood. Check out Patch's video of the event. Have a question or news tip? Contact editor James Leggate at JMLeggate@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Friday, June 1, 2012
The Westwood Heritage Society is hosting the annual Westwood Pride Day and craft fair in Veterans' Memorial Park Sunday.
More than 80 dealers will be selling their crafts in Veterans' Memorial Park Sunday for the annual Westwood Pride Day. The event, which is sponsored by and benefits the Westwood Heritage Society, will feature a variety of high-quality crafts, food and members from local volunteer groups like the Rainbow Girls, Boy Scouts, Christopher Hrbek Scholarship Fund, Westwood Police Reserves and Fire Department. "It's basically a feel-good day," Lee Tremble, of the Heritage Society and the Iron Horse, said. The event is expected to draw thousands of attendees. Tremble emphasized the quality of the crafts that are available at the event, noting that local company P.J.'s Promotions was responsible for organizing the dealers, who pay "hefty fees" to …
Friday, July 22, 2011
Councilman Peter Grefrath outlined the revitalization project at the last council meeting
Members of the Westwood governing body heard about the Veterans' Memorial Park revitalization project during the council meeting Tuesday night, which aims to improve the area. Councilman Peter Grefrath outlined plans that Borough Planner Ed Snieckus worked on to enhance the park. The revitalization project includes four phases. The first phase put water into the park in preparation for plantings that will come later. Grefrath said he wants to begin phase two of the project soon, especially since one resident has already purchased a memorial bench for Veterans' Park through the Park Bench Donation Program. Sixteen bench sites, some of which are memorial benches and some not, are part of the second portion of the project. Other elements for …
40.99134
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Veterans' Memorial Park
Broadway & Cr-502, Westwood, NJ
/articles/improvements-planned-for-veterans-memorial-park
1448065
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Monday, June 27, 2011
Exotic car show helps the Sgt. Christopher Hrbek Scholarship Fund
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Dave Turner
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Monday, June 27, 2011
Car drivers and enthusiasts alike flocked to Veterans' Memorial Park in Westwood Sunday, for an exotic car show to benefit the Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek Scholarship Fund. "We thought about this late last year and we thought it would be a great way to raise some money for Chris's scholarship," said Melissa Breen, one of the coordinators of the event. "It's awesome because we even have some NFL players here who donated a lot more than what we asked for and it's a great way for the town to come together." Hrbek was a Westwood resident and Marine who lost his life in Afghanistan in January 2010 at the age of 25. A scholarship fund in his honor was created. Each year, $2,500 is given to a Westwood High School graduating senior who plans to …
40.99134
-74.03285
Veterans' Memorial Park
Broadway & Cr-502, Westwood, NJ
/articles/cars-drive-in-for-a-great-cause
1448065
/locations/4709531
kevin clark
11:20 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013
all that installing armrests is going to do is cause more visits by the ambulance corps... the problem is the attitude of the kids/bikers -- and that starts with their parents. cure that and you won't need potentially more hazardous armrests... more ›