Columns/Opinions

As we enter month five since Livingston recorded its first COVID-19 case, and as we surpass 500 total cases (after repeatedly passing that threshold, then dropping back under it over the past few weeks as cases were recategorized into other towns), it appears that the township’s daily numbers have begun to taper off, at least for the time being. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent findings that there are roughly ten times as many cases of the virus in the United States as have been confirmed, that could mean as many as 5,000 Livingston residents have, or have had, COVID-19. That would be about one in every six people in town.

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Although the lady retired from Livingston politics nearly 40 years ago, her name is still known and fondly remembered throughout town: Doris L. Beck, our first female mayor. This week, we bid farewell to the former mayor and Township Councilwoman, who passed away on Sunday, July 12, at the age of 91. Her relocation to Florida in retirement represented a loss to Livingston then; her passing now marks an even greater loss – and the end of an era.

As we look past Livingston High School’s virtual and inperson graduations, it is time to turn our attention to the fall. Yes, our students have a couple of months of socially distanced summer fun to look forward to, but planning for school to return in September needs to begin now. In fact, officials have been hard at work for a while on it, but they just recently received some direction from the state Department of Education on what school will look like in the upcoming academic year.

It is safe to say that New Jersey, and the country and world overall, will still be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in two months. And these last four months have shown us that this virus can render even the best laid plans useless. So, we must, unfortunately, have varying courses of action ready to go for the fall.

It’s that time of year again: Fourth of July is just a few short days away, and the celebrating has already commenced for some, with plenty of grilling and chilling, and more than a few fireworks to celebrate our nation’s independence.

With most fireworks shows cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fact that many fireworks may now be purchased right down the street at area retailers, we are sure to see plenty of backyard displays during the evening hours in the coming days.

Non-aerial fireworks, including sparklers, poppers, and snappers (nothing that “explodes”), may now be legally sold in New Jersey, and it is a safe bet that some more heavy duty options will mysteriously find their way into a few backyards as well.

Returning to Society

It’s been a wild week.

Last Friday, for the first time since early March, I did my own grocery shopping. Later that day I went inperson to get coffee, and after that, ordered lunch and sat outside the restaurant to eat. On Father’s Day, my dad, brother and I went golfing. And on Monday, mercifully, I got a haircut for the first time in five months. Boy, did I need that haircut; I was not meant to have long hair, especially in the summer.

Next week, Livingston High School’s Class of 2020 will attend their virtual graduation (a programming note: so as not to “spoil” the speeches for those who got their copy of the Tribune prior to the ceremony, our special graduation section will run in two weeks, on Thursday, July 2). In all likelihood, that cyber ceremony will be supplemented by a still-in-development inperson celebration a few weeks later.

Surely, none of these students expected their graduation to be quite like this as they’ve thought about the day through the years (if they did, we have some follow up questions). But this was the hand the Class of 2020 was dealt. And in no way does the strangeness of this moment minimize their amazing accomplishment, the capstone on an incredible education.

There is a disturbing sentiment that some individuals choose to share when we report on the latest COVID-19 counts in town, which are simply the baseline facts, as reported by the township, county, and state. We share these verified numbers because it is our job to do so, and because residents have a right to know them.

Yet, some accuse us of trying to spread fear or misinformation by sharing them, which is, of course, untrue. Others accuse us of wanting to “tank the economy.” Mind you, this is the same economy the Tribune relies on to stay in business. But more than anything, we get complaints related to reporting – or not reporting – the long term care numbers associated with COVID-19.

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Last week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey will soon move to stage two of its reopening plan, which includes in-person retail and outdoor dining, among other things. Township officials have already relaxed codes through the end of 2020 to maximize the outdoor seating and shopping for Livingston’s dining establishments and retail spaces, allowing them to utilize their sidewalks and parking lots, where applicable. This is great news for both our businesses, whose owners are excited to reopen, and our residents who are thrilled to return to their favorite local establishments.

We are approaching the end of month three – the entirety of spring! – of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are finally beginning to see our state gradually “open back up.” As Governor Phil Murphy continues to say on a daily basis, we are not out of the woods yet. We must continue to be cautious, wash our hands frequently, and practice social distancing, as well as following all other safety guidelines. But cases in our area have been on a downward trend for weeks, and hospitalizations have dropped at an even steadier rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidelines to say that the virus does not spread easily from contaminated surfaces and objects. So activities like a game of catch may not be far off.

The National Safety Council, which usually designates April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, has moved its annual education campaign to this October because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the weather getting nicer, and school buildings closed for the remainder of the school year, we think now is a perfect time to remind both drivers and pedestrians about road safety. More and more residents are getting their exercise during the stay-at-home mandate by heading outdoors. We have seen a marked increase in the number of pedestrians and bicyclists on Livingston’s roads since the pandemic began.

We’re asking drivers to be aware of the increase in nonvehicular traffic, keep their eyes on the road, and put down their phones. Talking on a cell phone – even hands-free – or texting, or programming an in-vehicle “info-tainment” system, diverts your attention away from driving, with a huge potential for tragedy.