🌱 Patch AM: Westfield Students, Liquor Stores Partner To Target Underage Drinking

Morning Westfield! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Westfield teens hit liquor aisles with a powerful anti-underage drinking message
• Christmas car theft tied to attempted Westfield home break-in
• Which 2025 Westfield stories made this editor’s must-read list?

Also on today's calendar: Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Breezy; morning flurries, with a high of 34 and low of 26 degrees.
• Thursday: Cold; morning flurries, temps: high: 29, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Breezy with periods of sun, with a high of 32 and low of 25 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Westfield Students, Liquor Stores Partner To Target Underage Drinking (patch.com) — Westfield High School students are teaming up with two local liquor stores to warn adults about the dangers and penalties of supplying alcohol to anyone under 21. Through the Sticker Shock campaign, teens and a Westfield Regional Health Department educator are placing bold reminder labels on alcohol packaging, highlighting possible fines and jail time. The effort aims to curb underage drinking in Westfield and across New Jersey.
   

2. Christmas Morning Thefts: Boy Charged With Stealing Car, Attempted Home Burglary, Police Say (patch.com) — Westfield residents are learning more about a Christmas morning crime in which a stolen BMW from Chatham was later linked to an attempted burglary at a Coolidge Street home. Police say a 15-year-old Newark boy, one of three teens arrested, is charged with burglary-related offenses after allegedly targeting high-end vehicles. Westfield’s police chief notes this case fits a broader pattern of luxury car theft attempts in town and nearby communities.
   

3. TAPinto Westfield's Biggest Stories of 2025 (tapinto.net) — TAPinto Westfield is looking back at the local stories that most shaped 2025, from celebrity sightings in town to a Westfield resident’s big game-show win. The editor highlights impactful coverage across schools, government, public safety, and community life, while inviting readers to help support continued local reporting into 2026.
   

4. Freshman spark powers No. 8 Westfield to victory over No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (nj.com subscription) — Westfield High School’s girls basketball team stayed undefeated by edging St. Thomas Aquinas 52-48 to win the Coaches Choice Holiday Classic at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Freshman Gella Hollins hit a late three and clutch free throws, while Sophie Lane and Megan Logan led a balanced effort that showcased the Blue Devils’ growing confidence and maturity.
   

📸 Around Westfield

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Westfield

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 2

• Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online)
  Online,
  2:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 31

• Broadway Through the Ages
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Rd , Westfield
  5:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• Closed for New Year's Day
  Westfield Memorial Library , 550 East Broad Street , Westfield
• New Year's Day (Municipal Offices Closed)
  Westfield, NJ Calendar Westfield, NJ 07090
• NEW YEARS DAY
  Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
• Swim 2026 Yards for the New Year at the Cranford YMCA
  401 Centennial Ave , Cranford
  10:15 am

Monday January 5

• Adult Improv!
  439 South Ave W , Westfield
  9:00 am

Tuesday January 6

• Summit Old Guard Speaker Program - Civil War - A Personal Connection
  New Providence Presbyterian Church , 1307 Springfield Ave , New Providence
  10:00 am

Friday January 9

• Mah Jongg & Lunch at the Fortnightly Club at Twin Maples
  Twin Maples , 214 Springfield Ave , Summit
  11:45 am

Saturday January 10

• Westfield Area YMCA Child Care Open Houses
  220 Clark St , Westfield
  10:00 am

Sunday January 11

• American Red Cross Lifeguard Training at the Westfield Area YMCA
  220 Clark St , Westfield
  11:00 am
• Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026
  Meadowbrook Country Day Camp , 73 E Valley Brook Rd , Washington Township
  11:00 am

📣 Westfield Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Westfield PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Somerset Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery — 908-222-0070
  A patient-centered plastic surgery practice
• Dogtopia of Union — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Clark Public Schools posted a job opening for Substitute Teacher in Clark. Apply here.
• First Children Services posted a job opening for Vocational Teacher in Plainfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Westfield here.

Ok Westfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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