Community Websites as a Local Communication Network: “Directory Westfield”, an Experience Report

A small crisis occurred in the town of Westfield, New Jersey (NJ) in 1999 when NJ Transit (the local commuter railway), citing safety problems, changed their policy of allowing organizations to drape signs for town events and celebrations along the Raritan Valley railway trestles that form a gateway to the downtown area. Newspaper articles, window postings, even mailings to the homes are far more onerous and expensive, and much less effective than a couple of huge banners proclaiming “Jazz Week”, or the Community Players latest show over the two major arteries into town. Even in the age of seemingly ubiquitous information, the loss of a sign across a railroad trestle was cause for uproar. The crisis reflected the recognition by townspeople that communications form the core of the community, and they had just lost an important node in their local social network.