Plans Nearly Complete for Westwood Day

Westwood Recreation Director David Burnes says a number of sponsores have signed up for the event, which will feature more than 20 activities.

The Plan: Start at 9 a.m. with a 5K race, continue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with more than 20 activities and finish off with a football game and fireworks display. In a nutshell, that's what residents can expect for Westwood Day on Saturday, Sept. 22.  But there's more to the event than meets the eye. The Westwood Recreation Department has been busy with the planning of the day, with the Westwood Day Steering Committee's most recent meeting taking place this past Monday.  "What we're in the process of doing now is we've accumulated almost everything we're going to have," said Westwood Recreation Director David Burnes. "Since this whole concept came about, we've had so much outpouring of support. People who want to get involved, they see the …

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PHOTO GALLERY: Kids Have a Blast with Fireman's Foam

The annual Fireman's Foam event in which Westwood Fire Department sets up a field of suds for children was another successful summer event this year.

Children gathered to frolic in the foam at Sheehan Elementary School July 11 for this year's annual summer event - Fireman's Foam. The Westwood Fire Department flooded the athletic field with a pile of sudsy bubbles and also set up sprinklers in which the kids played and rinsed off. According to Mike Griffin of the Westwood Recreation Department, this was the 25th annual Fireman's Foam event in Westwood.

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Summer Returns in Westwood with Fireman's Foam, Concert Series

The annual summer concert series kicks off in Westwood tonight, while the much-loved "Fireman's Foam" event takes place Wednesday.

Two of Westwood's most enjoyable summer activities are returning this week.  The fun kicks off tonight, Monday, July 9, with the first performance of the 2012 Summer Concert Series. The Westwood Swing Band will take residents on a journey of music from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. by the gazebo at the Westwood Senior Center. The concerts are sponsored by the Westwood Young Women's Club, and are ideal events for families in Westwood and surrounding communities throughout the summer months. In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved to the Islington Community Center.  But the fun doesn't stop there. Westwood's annual Fireman's Foam event is also returning this week. The event, during which children play in a billowing cloud of safe foam created …

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Westwood Recreation Launches Adaptive Programs

The programs are now underway and families can register online.

While the Westwood Recreation Department has been busy in the last year preparing for the upcoming return of Westwood Day this fall, officials have also begun a new set of programs within the department.  The Adaptive Programs come at the hand of the department's newest member, Cori Trombly, who has been a Westwood resident for the last six years.  "This is the first endeavor with the Adaptive Programming," said Trombly, a certified school councilor who holds a Master's in Education with a specialty in Special Education.  While the new programs are open to all children in Westwood, they are also designed to help cater to children and students with special needs.  "My view coming in is I very much beleive it takes a village to raise a child…

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Thurston Students Hit the Lanes at King's

The Westwood Recreation Department brought middle schoolers to the local bowling alley on Wednesday.

Students of Thurston Middle School enjoyed the afternoon on Wednesday by practicing their bowling over at King's at Legacy Place in Dedham. The trip, hosted by the Westwood recreation department, featured two hours of bowling, not to mention pizza and other refreshments. The students were picked up at the middle school by bus right at dismissal time, with parents picking them up at 4 p.m. Another, similar event will be held on Wednesday, April 11. To register, visit the Westwood Recreation Department's website. 

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PHOTOS: Westwood Residents 'March Into Summer'

Residents previewed a handful of summer programs from the Westwood Recreation Department on Saturday.

Following a week of summer-filled weather, residents in Westwood were able to get a further look into the summer months on Saturday, when the Westwood Recreation Department held its annual "March Into Summer" event.  At the event, residents could preview demonstrations of upcoming summer programs, from karate to tennis to synchronized swimming, as well as enjoy food from b.good, the food sponsor of Saturday's event as well as the upcoming Westwood Day.  "It seems bigger to me," said Diane Thornton, who is assisting one of the subcommittees tasked with organizing Westwood Day. The Recreation Office, meanwhile, was filled with locals, eager to register for the programs; those who registered Saturday received a 10 percent discount.

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Fundraising Success Continues for Westwood Day

The event's raffle alone raised $800 for Westwood Day; two more fundraisers will come later this spring.

The second of two Family Supper events held to raise funds for Westwood Day 2012 was sold out on Sunday.  The event, hosted by the Westwood Recreation Department at Chiara Bistro, featured an Italian-themed dinner.  Three raffles offered a Craft Beer Basket, an iPod player with a $50 iTunes gift card donated by residents Dave and Elaine Patterson, and a donated stack of Sisco Berluti bracelets by Carolyn Berluti.   Also for sale at the event were the Sisco-Berluti official "Westwood Day" bracelets, which were sold for $20 each. The raffles alone raised $800. All proceeds go to Westwood Day, which will be held on Saturady, Sept 22.   The Westwood Recreation Department will hold another event, this one being a craft beer tasting, at Chiara …

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PHOTOS: Westwood Day Fundraiser a Success

The first Family Supper event featured a menu of Americana cuisine. Next month's event will be Italian-themed.

Things are looking good for Westwood Day 2012.  On Sunday, the Westwood Recreation Department hosted the first of two "Family Supper" events at .  "It was a sold out event," said MaryAnne Antonellis of the Westwood Recreation Department. "There was a tremendous outpouring of community support." Among the raffle items at the event was a green-and-gold Sisco-Berlutti bracelet that will also be sold at Westwood Day in September.  Another Family Supper event will take place on Sunday, March 4 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The event is Italian-themed and will feature a meal of ravioli, meatballs, sausages and ceaser salad. To register for the March 4 event, visit the Westwood Recreation Department's website.           

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Fitness Center to Close in June

The gym will remain open but will no longer be available to members through the Westwood Recreation Department.

Residents who utilize the Westwood Fitness center at the Westwood High School gym will need to start looking elsewhere for exercise starting in July.  The fitness center, which is currently operated by the Westwood Recreation Department, will close on June 30.  The gym itself will remain open and accessible to Westwood school athletes, as well as for other school-related programs. "We'll partner with them as much as we can in terms of programs, but in terms of the response, it is difficult [for members], and I am sensitive to that," Recreation Director David Burnes told Westwood Patch.  The main drive behind closing the fitness comes from staffing costs, which, according to Burnes, far outweigh the revenue the department is bringing in.  …

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Westwood Day Fundraising Continues Next Week

A series of upcoming "Family Suppers" are aimed at raising funds for the event this fall.

Come this fall, the town of Westwood will see something that it hasn't in close to 20 years. Westwood Day.  But fundraising for the event, which began with a visit from Santa Claus in December, will resume as early as next week with what are being dubbed as a series of "Family Supper" events in coordination with Chiara Bistro. The first Family Supper will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 5-6:30 p.m., with a menu of Americana cuisine that will include fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Then, on Sunday, March 4, an Italian Supper night will be held.  The fee for each supper is $35 for adults and $15 for kids. To register for the Family Suppers, click here. Westwood Day is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, and will include a fun run…

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