Columns/Opinions

Thu
09
Apr
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What We’ve Lost

As we approach the one month mark of “social distancing” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the breadth of all we are missing continues to sink in.

At first, it was easy to see what we could no longer enjoy in our daily lives. It began with avoiding crowds of 50. Then ten. We lost the NBA, the NHL, the MLB, and the March Madness Tournament, along with countless concerts and festivals. We were no longer allowed to dine out at our favorite restaurants and bars, or patronize many of our local small businesses. Gyms, movie theaters, even parks were forced to shutter.

But sadly, as we are still realizing, that was just the tip of the iceberg. We don’t even grasp the things we are missing until they happen, or, rather, they don’t end up happening and the date passes by as we all continue to wait this out in our homes.

 

 

Thu
02
Apr
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Terrible Timing

As we battle – as a town, a state, a nation, and a global community – to navigate and end a worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, the health and safety of individuals matters above all else. Below that come thousands of other concerns, with varying degrees of seriousness ranging from stabilizing the economy and helping small businesses, to when we will finally get to see a baseball game and reopen movie theaters.

There is surely no “good” time for a pandemic to upend society as we know it, but there are several ways in which the COVID-19 outbreak hitting us right now is providing some unique challenges. One big item on that list is the 2020 U.S. Census.

 

 

Thu
26
Mar
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The Uncertainty of the Moment

As we deal with the continuing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, we don’t have all of the answers, and that’s scary. We have best case scenarios (which look bleaker with each passing day), and we have worst case scenarios. We don’t know how bad this will get. We don’t know how many people will get sick, and how many of them will die. We don’t know which small businesses will be able to survive this. We don’t know how long this nightmare will last. It’s hard to function through all this uncertainty.

But we persist. We persist because this too, eventually, shall pass, and because, frankly, we have no other choice. This is our reality and we have to do what we can to get through it.

It can help to look at the bright spots in all of this (yes, there are a few, even if you might have to squint to see them).

 

 

Thu
26
Mar
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Do Our Part, as They Did

Today, March 26, is the anniversary of the World War II battle of Iwo Jima, an American victory that spelled the beginning of the end of the war in the Pacific. Three days from now, March 29, is Vietnam Veterans Day, when we (belatedly) honor those who served in a conflict that was unpopular, and whose veterans were unfairly reviled for many years.

Let’s stop and think about those men and women who, when their country needed them, answered the call.

We are currently undergoing a global crisis, a pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. While not the same as war by any means, it is uniquely challenging and devastating in its own way. And we are being called upon now to do our part to help our country.

 

 

Thu
12
Mar
News Staff's picture

Virus Anxiety

Though as of press time no Livingston residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the effects of the continuing nationwide spread of the virus are beginning to hit Livingston. Readers need look no further than the closest empty hand sanitizer shelf for proof.

There is much that is not yet known about this virus and, for the sake of our most vulnerable populations (while testing positive could result in minor symptoms for someone in excellent health, it may be fatal for the elderly or those with underlying health conditions), we should continue to take the proper precautions without outright panicking.

 

 

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Thu
05
Mar
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A Matter of Empathy

“The bottom line of local reporting, in its best form, is empathy.” - Iris Samuels, reporter, Kodiak Daily Mirror

“There is nothing like the prospect of running into a news source in the grocery store aisle to make you a stickler for accuracy and fairness.” - Kathy Kiely, professor, University of Missouri School of Journalism

These two quotes were pulled from a Princeton Alumni Weekly magazine feature about the future of journalism. They struck us as perfect encapsulations of what we do here at the West Essex Tribune, and what makes us so unique from any other publication.

 

 

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Thu
27
Feb
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Celebrating Retirements, History and Voting

At the end of this week, two respected Livingston police officers will leave the department. Effective March 1, Lieutenant Reese Riley will retire after 26 years of service, and Sergeant Deborah Shumaker will retire following 27 and half years in law enforcement.

Additional information on Lt. Riley and Sgt. Shumaker will be featured in next week’s edition of the West Essex Tribune, which will be sent to every household in town, but we wanted to briefly acknowledge them in this week’s paper before they exited the force and enjoyed some well-earned time off.

 

 

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Thu
20
Feb
News Staff's picture

Pool Registration

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner, and registration has opened for Livingston’s pools. The early bird registration will be open through April, at which point membership prices will increase. So anyone planning to take advantage of our pools this summer should sign up within the next few months.

 

 

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Thu
20
Feb
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Celebrating Our Town’s History

This week, the Tribune presents its bi-annual “Celebrate Livingston’s History” section. It is one of our most popular sections (in fact, last year’s edition just won a first place New Jersey Press Association award!), in part because it speaks to our township’s sense of community; no matter who we are, we live here, together, in Livingston, and we all share that common thread. Livingston is a large town with a population of nearly 30,000, but we are regularly surprised to discover just how small it can feel. This history-focused section reflects that.

 

 

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Thu
13
Feb
News Staff's picture

A Fine-Free Library

Beginning tomorrow, Friday, February 14, the Livingston Library will join several other Essex County libraries in no longer charging fines for most overdue materials. We think this is a great way to encourage residents who have been missing out to return to our wonderful library and all the resources it provides our community.

According to library director Amy Babcock Landry, close to 2,200 Livingston accounts have each accrued more than ten dollars in fines, including 800 accounts classified as juvenile, in seventh grade or lower. Of those accounts, 436 were in use within the last year. The hope is that those hundreds of young readers will return if the worry of overdue fines is eliminated. Typically, fines most affect children and senior citizens, those likeliest to take advantage of the library’s vast array of services.

 

 

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