Friday, November 30, 2007

Time to Put Up The Park Decorations!

Every year the Watsessing Heights Neighborhood Association and the Watsessing Park Conservancy join forces with the County to put up holiday decorations all around the fences of Watsessing Park.

This year's event will be held on Saturday, December 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coffee and donuts/bagels will be provided for those who come early. Meet at the entrance of the park on Glenwood Avenue, at the foot of Maolis Avenue, by the bowling green.

Volunteers are needed, so we hope you can join us!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Sad News

Former President of the Watsessing Park Conservancy, Jane Myers, passed away on Tuesday, October 16th. She had battled multiple sclerosis for many years.

Jane was passionately dedicated to Watsessing Park and was a driving force in the creation of the Watsessing Park Conservancy. She served as its first president before she had to step down due to health issues. She also worked hand in hand with the county in getting the Watsessing Dog Park built as well as having the historic band stand restored in the park.

Jane was a supporting member of the Watsessing Heights Neighborhood Association from its early inception and made many valuable contributions to our neighborhood and the Township of Bloomfield. She will be sorely missed.

There will be a memorial service for her this Friday, October 19th at O’Boyle’s Funeral Home which is located at 309 Broad Street in Bloomfield, NJ.

You are invited to pay your respects from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. From 3:00 pm-4:00 pm there will be an opportunity to share your remembrances of Jane in an informal setting.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be sent to either the Watsessing Park Conservancy or the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater North Jersey. Both organizations are tax deductible 501(c)(3) organizations.

Friday, September 14, 2007

No meeting in September

There will be no general meeting during September. So much is going on during the week with kids just back to school, etc., that we've decided to postpone meeting and schedule another type of event for the members to participate in.

More information to follow!

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Concert in the Park Tuesday, August 7

The Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the annual concert in Watsessing Park on Tuesday, August 7, at 7 p.m.

This year's Serenade Under the Stars features Lonnie Youngblood. Meet your neighbors at the corner of Watsessing Park bordering Llewellyn Avenue and Cleveland Terrace and have an enjoyable evening. It is also National Night Out!

Saturday, July 21, 2007

WHNA Summer Social in the Park - July 28



It's summer again, and time for the annual Summer Social in the Park! It is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 28.

Meet at the "W" garden at the park entrance on Glenwood Avenue at the foot of Maolis Avenue. Bring a blanket and/or chairs, something to drink and lots of food! The more kids the merrier, since we'll be right next to the playground.

Come on down and join your neighbors for some summer festivities.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Trash to Cash June 2nd!

Don't forget! The WHNA is sponsoring its annual "Trash to Cash" neighborhood yard sale on Saturday, June 2nd (rain date June 3rd).

Participants send the WHNA $10 and we will take care of all the advertising and permits and will also provide maps with all of the participating yard sales on them to be given out to those coming to the event.

If you'd like to participate, you can make your check out to WHNA, Inc., and mail it to WHNA, PO Box 1783, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, Attn: T2C. Please include your name and the address where you will be holding your yard sale so we can include you on the map.

If you are interested but would like more information, please call 973-680-WHNA or e-mail us at WHNA@yahoo.com.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Reminder! WHNA/WPC Theatre Night Saturday!

Just a reminder that this Saturday, May 19, is the anniversary gala at 12 Miles West.

If you haven't yet sent in your money, don't despair! There are tickets available, so just call us at 973-680-WHNA and reserve your tickets - you can pay at the door on Saturday night.

Don't forget to be there early - we are starting at 6:30 for a wine and cheese reception, followed at 8 p.m. by the play, Tales of an Urban Burb, which received excellent reviews in both the Star Ledger and the Montclair Times. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Thanks for a great park cleanup on May 5th!

The WHNA and WPC would like to thank everyone who participated in Saturday's Watsessing Park Cleanup, particularly Essex County (thanks, Tony & Ralph!), the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, the Essex County Department of Corrections, Coach Carter and his Bengals, and of course, neighbors like you!

It was a beautiful day to be out and about in the park, and not only was litter cleaned up, but volunteers planted the "W" flower garden, the flower barrels, and the Island in the middle of Prospect and Glenwood Avenues. Below are a few scenes from the event.

1) Volunteers gather near the PVSC and County trucks; 2) Volunteers planting the Island while WHNA president Anne Prince calls the Fire Department to ask them to water the plantings for us.


3) Bernard Hamilton and Pat Ritchings lend a hand planting the "W" garden.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Park Cleanup Today!

Today is the Watsessing Park Cleanup! Meet at the "W" garden at 10 a.m. and help clean up the park!

Also, be sure to get your checks in for your tickets to the WHNA 10th Anniversary Gala and Evening at the Theatre on Saturday May 19! We've received a number of checks already but there are still plenty of seats so send in your check and support the Watsessing Park Conservancy and see a great show at 12 Miles West!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Watsessing Park Cleanup This Saturday May 5!

There will be a park cleanup this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please meet at the "W" flower garden at the Glenwood Avenue entrance to Watsessing Park (across from Maolis Avenue) by the lawn bowling building.

Coffee and donuts will be provided for those who arrive at 10 a.m. - and lunch will be served at the end of the cleanup.

Bags and gloves will be provided, as well as waders for those willing to go into the streams to pull out debris. We will also be doing some planting so if you want to help, bring your trowel! We'll also have some on hand for those who don't have one.

Looking forward to a successful cleanup! Hope to see you there!

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Housekeeping - How to comment!

Please note, the blog is set up to allow anyone to comment even if they are not a registered user. You just choose "anonymous" and can post a comment.

I hope you will start posting comments on the blog and get a good conversation going! Apparently some people have thought they had to sign up to Google to be able to comment but that is not the case.

Hope to get some feedback soon! Please post any suggestions you may have for ideas for the blog and for the neighborhood itself.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Update on Team WHNA

Little League Coach Steve Rosenberger reports that our own Team WHNA has two wins and one tie under their belts, with just one loss so far this season.

The team won their most recent game on April 26th by a score of 12-7 vs. the Palagano team.


The next games are scheduled as follows:
Saturday 4/28 - vs. Kane, 1:30 p.m. - Wright's Field
Tuesday, 5/1 - vs. Armanti, 6 p.m. - Felton Field (dirt)
Thursday, 5/3 - vs. Armanti, 6 p.m. - Felton Field (grass)
Saturday, 5/5 - vs. Palagano, 4 p.m. - Wright's Field
Come on out and cheer on the WHNA team!

Monday, April 23, 2007

BCA Fashion Show April 25th!


The Bloomfield Center Alliance will be presenting their 2nd annual fashion show this Wednesday, April 25th from 12:30 – 1:30pm at Senorita’s Mexican Bar & Grill (265 Glenwood Avenue, Bloomfield)

The cost is $18.00 per person and includes lunch and admission to the show.

Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance. If you are interested in attending, please call the BCA @ 973-429-8050 to reserve your tickets.

Hint: April 25th is Administrative Professionals Day…..don’t send flowers this year, buy them a ticket to lunch and the show.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Congratulations to the WHNA Little League Team!

Team WHNA, coached by Steve Rosenberger, achieved a sound victory on Opening Day, April 14. The final score was 18-10!

Congratulations to Steve and the team! Will post pictures shortly!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

It's a celebration!


Guess who’s turning ten this year? Yes, the WHNA is marking its 10th anniversary as an organization! It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed. We have accomplished so much, and there is so much left to do.

One of our more exciting accomplishments was the creation of the Watsessing Park Conservancy, a full 501(c)(3) (charitable) organization dedicated to the preservation and upkeep of Watsessing Park. Partnering with Essex County, the WPC has received Green Acres funds over the past several years that have been used to refurbish the historic bandstand and the field houses, replace the running track with state-of-the art material, upgrade the playgrounds, and more.

To help celebrate our anniversary, we are working with the WPC to hold a gala fundraiser at 12 Miles West to continue to raise needed funds for the park. Green Acres grants are becoming scarce and the WPC needs funding to continue its mission. Funds are needed to plant new trees and repair the bridges in the park, among other projects.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 19th as WHNA/WPC and 12 Miles West present “Tales of an Urban Burb.” This world premiere play by Rose Caruso is also part of the New Jersey Playwrights Festival of New Plays. Come and see how the urbane and “sub” urbane clash in this rollicking comedic look at life in and out of the city. This promises to be an evening filled with laughter!

Tickets will be $30 each and are partially tax deductible. We will also have a pre-theater wine and cheese gathering as well as a post-theater “Meet the Artists” reception, which are included in the price of your ticket. The pre-theater event starts at 6:30 and the play starts at 8 p.m.

If you are interested in attending, please e-mail the WHNA at WHNA@yahoo.com, with your name and number of tickets needed. Or you can call 973-680-WHNA and leave the information there. Payment can be made the night of the show; we will accept cash or checks payable to “WPC.”

Seats are limited and you must reserve your tickets by e-mail or phone, so don’t delay – contact us today! We look forward to sharing this evening with you.

Also, Mark Your Calendars!

Once again, WHNA is proud to sponsor a little league team through BALL (Bloomfield American Little League), formerly known as Bloomfield Southern Little League.

Opening day is this Saturday, April 14th at 11:00am at Wrights Field. Team WHNA (coached by WHNA member Steve Rosenberger) will be playing their first game at the field at 12 noon against Armanti. If you have some free time, please come on down and cheer our team to victory! We will be adding their games to our online calendar so you can check to see when the team is playing. Please support the team all season long.

There will be a WHNA General Meeting on Tuesday, April 17, with featured speaker, Bloomfield Principal Jennings, at 7:30 p.m. at the Watsessing School in the 2nd floor Faculty Lounge. Hope to see you there.

The annual WHNA/WPC Watsessing Park Cleanup will be held on Saturday, May 5. Meet at the "W" garden at the Glenwood Avenue entrance to the park at 10 a.m. Donuts and coffee and lunch will be provided to volunteers.

The WHNA is sponsoring its annual "Trash to Cash" neighborhood yard sale on Saturday, June 2nd. Participants send the WHNA $10 and we will take care of all the advertising and permits and will also provide maps with all of the participating yard sales on them to be given out to those coming to the event. If you'd like to participate, you can make your check out to WHNA, Inc., and mail it to WHNA, PO Box 1783, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, Attn: T2C. Please include your name and the address where you will be holding your yard sale so we can include you on the map. If you are interested but would like more information, please call 973-680-WHNA or e-mail us at WHNA@yahoo.com.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Adding a calendar and a map to the site

Right above "Upcoming Events" you will now see a link to our calendar. All events pertaining to the Watsessing Heights Neighborhood will be posted on this calendar.

If you have an event you'd like to see posted please comment on the blog or e-mail us at whna@yahoo.com.

We have also added a map at the top, so people will know where in Bloomfield the Watsessing Heights neighborhood is located.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Welcome to the WHNA's New Blog!

We have launched this new blog in order to foster greater neighborhood communication. Our current website, http://www.whna.org, is still available and we will continue to offer downloads of our newsletter, our upcoming scheduled events, our membership application, and other important information on that site.

However, the format of the site is not flexible enough to easily allow for interactive communication among the neighbors. We often e-mail the group mailing list with upcoming events; however, this blog will be available anytime you are interested in seeing if there is any new news about the neighborhood or the town that may be of interest. The newsletter only comes out every quarter. This blog will give us the opportunity to update you more frequently about events in the neighborhood.

In addition, you will be able to comment on posts and make suggestions to us for issues you may want the WHNA to pursue, comments on the newsletter or requests for specific subjects or speakers for upcoming meetings.

Longer term, we will be accepting ads for items you'd like to sell or your local business. More to come on that!

In the meantime, here is an open thread for you to let us know what you think we should cover in the blog and make any suggestions you may have.