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Date: 8/31/2022
WESTFIELD – Tea, scones, and fancy hats will return to Westfield as the Woman’s Club hosts its annual English Tea this month.
Now in its 24th year, the annual event features a person recognized for commitment to community service and activism. This year’s honoree will be state Sen. John Velis, who serves as chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, vice chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Recovery and vice chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was the state representative for Westfield from 2014 to 2020.
Woman’s Club Chair Dawn Thomas said Velis was chosen for his presence in the communities he represents over the past two years, when the coronavirus pandemic prompted many to remain at home.
“Everyone always thought of him as our state representative,” said Thomas. “He does a lot for the community [of Westfield] and the others he represents.”
Thomas said that this year’s English Tea will be similar to that of years past, with tea, lemonade, scones and jam. A highlight is the hat parade, where the club’s members will wear all sorts of hats and be awarded prizes in categories such as Beautiful Hat and Most Creative.
“Some of those hats are gorgeous,” said Thomas.
Planning for the event begins in May, when the club votes on who will be honored. Over the summer, members set out to find sponsors and inform the community of the event.
Over the past several years, the English Tea has benefited the club’s effort to modernize its Court Street building and make it more handicap-accessible. It’s also benefited the Open Door Nursery until it closed. Thomas said the event was canceled in 2020, but returned in 2021 with more than 150 attendees. So far, she’s received more than 140 reservations for this year’s English Tea.
“Everyone was just glad to be out of the house and congregate and have a good afternoon,” said Thomas of last year’s tea.
This year’s event begins at 1 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Beveridge Pavilion in Stanley Park. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Dawn Thomas, chair, at 539-1956. Tickets are $25 each.