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.