Submitted Photo Pictured at the opening day ceremony of the 2019 season and decade number three in operation are (from left to right) members of visiting Randolph Cardinals Boys Varsity, Jake Hitchcock (Westfield AD), Venn Blakely (Current Board Member), Thayne Bodenmiller (Founders Board Member), Dave Walker (Current Board Member), Ivana Hite (Westfield Secondary School Principal), Mike VandeVelde (Westfield Mayor) and Dave Gross (NorthLake’s Good Neighbor) and the members of the Westfield-Brocton Wolverines boys varsity soccer team.

Special to The OBSERVER

NorthLake Family Recreation Center, located at 38 Nichols Avenue in Westfield, recently celebrated twenty years of service to the Chautauqua County, Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania area.

Principal Hite kicks off the ceremonial first kick to Westfield-Brocton Captain Nate Culbreth and Randolph Captain Matt Schultz. The ceremony also included historical and grateful comments by Venn Blakely and Thayne Bodenmiller, Invocation by Thayne Bodenmiller, player introductions by Matt Eggleston (current board member) and the National Anthem.

Sincere appreciation goes to all individuals and organizations who have volunteered and contributed to the founding, development, and operation of NorthLake Family Recreation Center Inc. Opening in the Fall of 1999, the 16-acre facility includes three full-size soccer pitches, a full -size baseball/softball field, two sand volleyball courts, two basketball/pickleball courts, a kickwall, playground, and a concession/restroom/storage building.

Founders Board Members include Albert Sam, Thayne Bodenmiller, Bill Culligan, Jim Alexander, Al Vestrand, and Jon Cooke. The property was purchased by Albert and MaryAnn Sam in 1998.