The Village of Westfield Recreation Department provides year-round programs, activities and opportunities for all ages, from infants to Sr. Citizens. We offer a variety of programming that includes programs during all seasons, including both indoor and outdoor programs. The Rec. Dept. is committed to providing safe, fun and cost effective programming.
Contact Information
Eason Hall
23 Elm Street
Westfield, NY 14787
Andrew Webster, Recreation Director [E-mail]
Ph: (716) 753-6842
WESTFIELD REC. DEPT. SUMMER PROGRAMS' SIGNUPS
Tuesday, June 7th and Thursday, June 9th are the dates for summer programs sign-ups for the Village of Westfield Recreation Dept. Sign-ups will be held at Welch Field (inside the field house) from 6 – 8 p.m. for the programs below. Though many people have already signed up (those who participated last year, received a mailing already), this is also the time to ask any questions you might have, and pick up pool schedules, field program calendars and field trip permission slip packets.
Summer sign-ups include:
• Swim lessons starting with wee woozles (water acclimation program) through level 6 swim lessons. Deadline for swimming lessons sign-ups is July 1st.
• Swim Team
• Welch Field Summer Field Program of games, sports, arts & crafts, trips, special events (Carnival, Battle of Welch Field, Bonfire), etc.
• Drama Program
• Lap Swim and Aquacize
• Other community programs such as the Patterson Library & Goldenhawks Football & Cheerleading, Girl Scouts
Fees for summer programs are as follows:
Westfield Residents: For youth programs, it’s $45 for the first child, $35 for the second and $25 for the third (max. of $105 per family). Partial scholarships are available if needed. This fee includes the swim and field programs, as well as summer drama. For adult programs, its $4 a session for lap swim and $4 a class for aquacize or season passes will be available at $100.
Non-Westfield Residents: For youth programs, it’s $60 for the first child, $50 for the second and $40 for the third (max. of $150 per family). This fee includes the swim and field programs, as well as summer drama. For adult programs, its $5 a session for lap swim and $5 a class for aquacise or season passes will be available at $125
For more information – Contact the Westfield Recreation Dept. at 753-6842 (Andrew), or message us at www.facebook.com/welchfield .
KIDS YOUTH FISHING DERBY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18TH
Sponsored by the Westfield Fish & Game Club
and the Westfield Rec. Dept.
Kids and their parents are welcome to come fish and have fun!
Saturday, June 18th 9:00am-2:00pm
@The Westfield Fish & Game Club (On Ogden Rd.) *No Rain Date
Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided-feel free to bring your own lunch also.
Top Prizes for HEAVIEST FISH
Prizes divided into two age groups
4 yrs – 8 yrs & 9 yrs – 12 yrs
Bait is provided
LIFEGUARDS NEEDED!
We are looking to hire some lifeguards to work at our outdoor pool at Welch Field this summer! The job description is below. Please message us or text/call Andrew at 716-753-6842 with any questions or to express your interest.
LIFEGUARD
-Ensure the safety of all patrons in the summer swim program through enforcement of safety rules and regulations. Full job description available on request.
Interested Candidates must possess the following eligibility criteria to apply.
-Must be at least 15 years old.
-Must have their life-guarding certification (if you are currently not certified, but would like to, we can do our best to help you find a class)
-Must have a certification in CPR/First Aid
-Will need to go through a background check.
PICKLEBALL ON MONDAY NIGHTS AT EASON HALL
There is pickleball on Monday nights from 7:00-9:00 INSIDE at Eason Hall in Westfield. Please spread the word! Participants do NOT need to sign up, they can just show up to play. We have a few spare paddles if you need to borrow one.
Please note that in light of COVID-19, we are asking that everyone cooperate with the rules below.
-If you feel sick at all, please do not come to pickleball and stay home and get well soon
-Wash hands before you come and as soon as possible after you leave
-Bring and use hand sanitizer often (we will have some available)
-Be respectful of others. Be safe and have fun!!
*This program is free to the public and is sponsored by the Westfield Recreation Department. Please call Andrew at 753-6842 if you have any questions.
JOB SERVICE
Westfield residents needing help with the spring cleanup of their yards and other odd jobs are asked to call the Westfield Recreation Department at 716-753-6842 (Andrew) and we will assist in arranging a local teen to help. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to find a worker, but we will do our best! We serve as a third party to set up the person who needs the work done with someone who can do it. We do not have any input on the payment process.
We are still in need of new teens for the job service. Most jobs are typically raking leaves, mowing grass, other yardwork, snow shoveling, etc. If interested, please call the Westfield Recreation Department at716-753-6842 (Andrew).
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT FOR MARCH IS NANCY JOPEK
*The following write-up/picture is the latest edition of our monthly volunteer spotlight of volunteers in the Westfield Rec. Dept. We are blessed in the Rec. Dept. to have so many wonderful people who do and have volunteered their time both now and, in the past, to make our department and programs/events what they are today. We want to say THANK YOU! To nominate someone for volunteer spotlight, please send us a private message on Facebook or call/text Andrew at 753-6842.
Our volunteer spotlight for March is Nancy Jopek. Nancy currently serves as a lifeguard and a training instructor for our pool and pool staff at Welch Field. Nancy has worked for the Village of Westfield as a lifeguard for 12 years. She is the fourth person to be named Volunteer Spotlight who has worked for the Recreation Department (following Carol Reynolds, John Emmons and Wade Dellow). However, she is being named Volunteer spotlight as she has given so much of her time and energy to the Rec. Dept. and specifically Welch Field pool for over a decade now. Nancy is the very definition of “going beyond the call of duty!”
In her own words: “My first volunteering happened years ago when my kids attended the Triathlon and other programs like soccer and basketball (1998-2008). Once my kids grew older, my volunteering transitioned into being an employee at the pool. I still struggle with saying that I volunteer for the Recreation Department, as I see myself as a paid employee, just at times at a discounted price to help the Rec. Dept. and the Village. The main program I volunteer for year-round and not just the summer is the American Red Cross Learn to Swim program, along with keeping up on guidelines and regulations for certifications of lifeguard and water safety instructors the Learn to Swim program, and any revisions there and the last two years with COVID guidelines as well.” We cannot emphasize enough how invaluable Nancy has been for Welch Field pool and our swim programs. It is quite complicated to run a pool and as many programs as we do, and we have not run them as smoothly as we have over the last 10 plus years without Nancy. She has done an amazing job for us and has certainly given a lot of her time beyond what she has gotten paid for.
When asked what her favorite Rec. Dept. program or event is, Nancy said: “Not sure I have a favorite program, as each program offered by the Recreation Department is important and is a favorite in their own way. I like the variety of programs offered from the Wee Woozles swim program at age 6 months to the Senior Citizen trips. If I had to truly pick one, it would be two swimming programs – the Annual Swim Meet and the yearly swim lessons. The Annual Swim meet held in August (often the same day as the Tour of Chautauqua) is open to anyone age 5-90. The Swim Meet, like the Tour of Chautauqua, is one of the many events sponsored by the Recreation Department that relies on volunteers to happen. From set up to registration to timers to ribbon writers to concessions to posting results, the meet is truly an example of teamwork of volunteers that only work together once a year. I first volunteered for the swim meet when my daughter was a part of the summer swim team at Welch Field. My favorite part of the meet is not seeing who came in first, but who, regardless of age, left the meet with a personal best. It is also fun to watch the competition between the coaches and the participants cheering each other on. The Swim Meet is an opportunity to showcase not only Welch Field but the whole village to both the participants and the spectators.”
“Yearly swim lessons are normally a paid position, but, when possible, I will work with students on my own time assisting them in fine tuning their skills so they can be promoted to the next level. There is no greater joy than in watching a student grasp the concepts and being able to demonstrate the skill/stroke they have been working on. The smile on their face when they realize they “got it” is the best benefit and pay. During the winter months, being approached to see when swim lessons will start again, and the excitement is truly a blessing. Swimming is unique in that it can be done by anyone of any age. Improvements in technique are always possible. Competitors may not always take first place but the chance to improve their times and have a new personal best is always possible.” The number of local youths who have been taught how to swim by Nancy is too many to count. She has also certified many of our lifeguards that have worked at Welch Field pool both now and in the past. Nancy has and continues to make such a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
To give as much of her time as she has given and to be so passionate about swimming and the Welch Field pool, left us to wonder why she volunteers so much of her time. Nancy said: “Volunteering is a part of my life, whether it be the Recreation Department, the school when my kids were students, or my church. I feel giving back to my community is important. To me it is not only important that I volunteer, but also that I am qualified to volunteer and can contribute something to the program. It is the reason I have traveled and obtained at my own expense the various certifications offered by the American Red Cross: it benefits the Recreation Department. As I finished my Bachelor of Science degree in business with a minor in aquatics, I had to justify my degree. What I found interesting about Chautauqua County is out of 1,500 square miles, 29% (440) of them are composed of water. Water safety and swimming are key to survival in our area with the many recreational activities offered. I enjoy being able to share this knowledge and teach these skills. Being able to volunteer while spreading this knowledge is the icing on the cake.”
Most people will never know just how much Nancy has done for the Rec. Dept., Welch Field, and her larger community. We cannot say enough about how awesome of a job she has done and how critical her impact has been to our youths, lifeguards, and overall programs. We would not be where we are today without her. Each year, she has gained more and more experience and knowledge and has passed that on to so many people. One thing that has never changed though, is her passion for what she does. Specifically for swimming and for the Welch Field pool. We are so fortunate to have her on our staff as well as volunteering for us in a variety of ways. Our department and community are so much better off for having Nancy do what she does. Thank you, Nancy!
Past Volunteer Spotlights:
July 2020: Christian Caballero
August 2020: Carol Reynolds
September 2020: Don Parker
October 2020: Luci Petrella
November 2020: John Emmons
December 2020: The Baum Family (Chris, Shannon, Mason, and Logan)
January 2021: Chris Anderson
February 2021: Roger Miller
March 2021: The Dellow Family (Wade, Wendy, Hunter, and Haleigh)
April 2021: Jim Van Dyke
May 2021: Josh & Amy Belcher
June 2021: Gavin Emery
August 2021: Roxanne Baideme
September 2021: James “Shaggy” Ruch
October 2021: Dave Walker
November 2021: Chris Chasse
December 2021: Josh Freifeld
January 2022: Mike & Sarah Burnett
THANKS FOR A GREAT SEASON!
We would like to THANK everyone who contributed to this youth indoor soccer season and made it an awesome one! We had 252 participants in grades pre-K through 8th grade. It was so nice to have indoor soccer again this year after having to shorten our season in 2020 and not have a season in 2021 due to COVID.
Thanks to Westfield Academy and Central School, Brocton Central School, Ripley Central School, as well as the YWCA of Westfield for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities for our practices and games!
Thanks to all of our sponsors for making this season possible: Add Lumber, Blue June Blooms, CHRIC (Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation & Improvement Corp.), Community Bank, Creek and Lake Campground, Fixer & Furniture, Full Strength Coffee Company, Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate, Howard Plumbing & Heating, Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union, Jim Alexander Construction, Mason Funeral Home, Pinehurst Golf Course, RockTerra, Sanderson Electrical Services, Seachrist Law Offices, Simpson Electric, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Westfield Family Dental, Westfield Family Physicians, Westfield Main Diner, Westfield Memorial Hospital and Westfield Optical!
Thanks to our AWESOME coaches for leading our young players this season: Nate Ahlstrom, Justin Akin, Chris Anderson, Matt Anderson, Pat Anderson, Chris Baum, Shannon Baum, Amy Belcher, Josh Belcher, Katlin Benedetto, Lea Benedetto, Adam Bratton, Autumn Brennan, Mike Burnett, Sarah Burnett, Chris Chasse, Arley Culver, Sarah Culver, Gavin Emery, June Fortney, Rachael Fortney, Betsy Freay, Josh Freifeld, Dana Gambino, Matt Gambino, Chad Heim, Grace Heim, Matt Johnson, Megan Johnson, Marcus Kaiser, Elizabeth Kindermann, Mike Kindermann, Mike Knight, Anthony Leone, Sammy Leone, Ben Lucas, Talena Lucas, John Machemer, Kyle Markham, Jenny Montalbano, Kevin Montalbano, Janelle Post, Jeff Zarpentine, and Paige Zarpentine
Thanks to the following individuals for helping out the program by officiating games this season: Chris Anderson, Gavin Emery, Rachael Fortney, Ray Fortney, Aiden Gatto, MaKartnee Mortimer and Dylan Scriven
Most of all, thanks to the AMAZING players for making it another memorable season! We look forward to seeing you all next season and we wish all the 8th graders moving on from our program best of luck! We will be cheering for you at your soccer games and with your other endeavors!
2022 WINTER CORNHOLE LEAGUE CHAMPS
Congratulations to Barry and Tyler Wright for being crowned the champions of the 2022 winter cornhole league in the Westfield Rec. Dept. This is the second championship for the Wrights. Their first championship was in our spring session of 2021. For the season, the Wrights had a record of 15-1, and never lost a match when both Barry and Tyler were there. They defeated the team of Herb Maddox and Chandler Smith in the championship. Maddox and Smith finished the season with a record of 14-3 and won the loser's bracket. They pushed the Wrights to the limit as the match was tied at 20-20, before the Wrights were able to win the match and the championship. Thanks to everyone for a great season! Our next session of the adult cornhole league will begin in mid-October.