Your City Matters Oct 2014

OCTOBER 2014

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communications@westfield.in.gov

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westfield.in.gov

IN THIS ISSUE • Grand Junction Derby • Little Libraries • Employee Spotlight • Youth Assistance Week

The Grand Junction Derby and Street Festvial returns to Westfield

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR Hello again, friends, and welcome to Fall!

You may find this hard to believe, but some of the best ideas do NOT come from politicians.

No, usually the best ideas in a community come from the folks who are deeply invested in their neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

A Little Free Library waits for readers outside of the Downtown Westfield Association office on Union St.

ELECTED OFFICIALS Andy Cook MAYOR

Cindy Gossard

CLERK TREASURER

Jim Ake

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Robert Horkay, Steve Hoover, Chuck Lehman, Bob Smith, Cindy L. Spoljaric, Robert Stokes CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

STAFF Todd Burtron

A prime example of this was unveiled late last month, when Patrick Hester, a Scout here in Westfield, built four Little Free Libraries and placed them throughout the city.

Working with our Parks Department, Patrick’s libraries were placed at the Downtown Westfield Association’s office, at the South entrance to Asa Bales Park, near Greyhound Pass on the Monon and at the Bed and Biscuit Dog Park out on State Road 32. Patrick filled the libraries with books, including Spanish language books in Asa Bales.

Residents are encouraged to check out a book, but also leave a book. It’s a great project for someone pursuing the Eagle Scout badge, and a wonderful addition to our community. Thank you, Patrick.

This month we’ve got some fantastic events going on here in Westfield.

The Grand Junction Derby, Ameriana Fall Festival and Westfield Youth Assistance Week are sure to help us have a great start to the Fall season.

We’ve also got a few exciting economic development updates to tell you more about, such as the new Carrington Mortgage announcement and Greek’s Pizzeria.

Joel Rush

I hope that you and your families have a wonderful start to the Fall season. Get out on the trails and enjoy the leaves turning color!

Joe Lyons

All the best,

CHIEF OF STAFF POLICE CHIEF FIRE CHIEF

Melody Jones

PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR

John Rogers

ENTERPRISE DIRECTOR

Matt Skelton

ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Ken Alexander

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Derrick Cash

INFORMATICS DIRECTOR

Erin Murphy

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

J. Andrew Cook Mayor

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHT:

WESTFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Westfield Police Department is ramping up efforts to keep the roads safer.

As part of Mayor Cook’s “Safe City” initiative, police are out and about in areas where most accidents occur, as well as US 31.

The department has been able to dedicate two officers full time to the traffic unit, complete with stealthy Ford Mustangs that aggressive drivers will likely not realize are being driven by officers of the law. In the last three months since the department had the mustangs, the traffic squad wrote 1182 tickets, representing 51% of total tickets (2316) written by patrol since June.

The department is also increasing its community policing efforts, spending more time patrolling neighborhoods.

Above right: Chief Joel Rush. Below: Westfield’s traffic unit.

YOUTH ASSISTANCE WEEK Join us for the Second Annual Westfield Youth Assistance Week (October 4-11th)! This week is designed to promote awareness about youth assistance and what we do.

The week will start off with the Grand Junction Derby (October 4th), Chick-fil-a Spirit Day (October 10th) and will end with the Ameriana Fall Festival (October 11th).

The exciting piece is that we are doing a WESTFIELD FAMILY FUN WALK at 9:00 am prior to the Ameriana Fall Festival.

The walk will begin at 9:00 am and we will walk the Midland Trace Trail from Carey Road to Union Street and back to Carey Road.

Cost is only $5.00 per family and everyone gets a free t-shirt! To register, simply visit http://youthassistance.org/westfield or call 804.3019 for mor information!

START YOUR ENGINES!

Join us for the Grand Junction Derby, from 3:00 -7:00 pm on Saturday, October 4th near State Road 32 and Union Street!

The event kicks off with the Derby Car parade, traveling from the Westfield Friends Church, North on Union Street to Gasoline Alley, located at the Westfield Pharmacy parking lot.

Next, local singer, songwriter and producer, Blair Clark will sing Back Home Again in Indiana. Tricycle racers will then get the race course warmed up as they speed down Union Street.

Derby car racers will then compete in bracketed heats, competing for the coveted trophies for the Creative, Competitive, and People’s Choice championships. Make sure you stop by the People’s Choice table to vote for your favorite Derby cars! The race will feature Special Guest Emcee and International Racing Champion, Derek Daly!

UPDATES MAJOR JOBS ANNOUNCEMENT

A fully-integrated mortgage origination and servicing company is moving to a vacant office campus on U.S. 31 in Westfield.

The 77,000 square foot facility was home to Verizon and Frontier Communications, but now the site is empty. Carrington Mortgage plans to utilize 25% of the space and spend $3.17 million in upgrades to the facility. The move will bring 180 jobs to Westfield by the end of the year. Carrington Mortgage plans to add 360 highwage jobs by 2019.

The Street Festival will feature food vendors including The Flying Cupcake, Yogi Frozen Yogurt, Kona Ice, Westfield Rotary Club, SV Meats, Pat’s Philly Pretzels, Chick-fil-A of Westfield, the Grand Junction Brewing Company, and more! Stella Luna and the Satellites will perform on the Main Stage on Jersey Street from 4:30pm-7pm. The Kids Area, sponsored by City Spring Church, will be located off of Jersey Street, and will feature bounce houses, face painting, ring toss and more all for free!

“It is with great enthusiasm that the city of Westfield welcomes Carrington Mortgage Services,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook. “Westfield continues to be a great place to live, work and play and expansions like this not only provide economic opportunities for our city, but job opportunities for our citizens.”

Sponsors for this event are:

GREEK’S PIZZERIA NOW OPEN!

Welcome Greek’s Pizzeria of Westfield. The beloved pizza shop has become a staple in many Central Indiana communities and will now call Westfield home.

The Westfield franchise owners have extensive experience in the restaurant industry, and are thrilled to be a part of the community. The new restaurant can be found next to the Rail Epicurean at 205 Park Street. Greek’s Pizzeria of Westfield offers outdoor seating and a family friendly atmosphere.

PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID

130 Penn St., Westfield, IN 46074

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCT 4 • Grand Junction Derby and Street Festival 3:00 - 7:00 pm, Union Street and SR 32 Intersection

OCT 6 & 20 • Advisory Plan Commission Meeting

7:00 pm, Westfield City Hall, Assembly Room

OCT 13 • City Council Meeting

7:00 pm, Westfield City Hall, Assembly Room

OCT 14 • Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting

7:00 pm, Westfield City Hall, Assembly Room

OCT 11 & 25 • Heart and Soul Free Clinic

9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 202 Penn Street