Columns/Opinions

At the Township Council conference meeting, held on Wednesday, May 22, there were two extended discussions about perceived improvements needed in the community. In one, the Council agreed to discuss with the Board of Education how to provide theater space for the performers in our town and in the other, they avoided the question of how to deal with plastic bags.

Retired art teacher Hugh Mahon made a valid point when he said that the town provides ample space for the many young (and not-so-young) athletes, but not one inch of space is offered to the many performers and artists. Fewer athletes from Livingston have been recognized nationally for their abilities than performers, he said, pointing out the accomplishments of Jay Greenspan (AKA Jason Alexander), Nikki James, Stephen Oremus, and others.

An abomination. Shameful. A ghetto.

These aren’t words one typically hears thrown around offi cial meetings regarding a building in Livingston, but over several recent meetings of the Township Council and Planning Board, we have heard just that about a proposed Pulte Homes affordable housing project to be built on the property of the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy. The main point of contention, though there are others, is that there is no elevator for residents living on the upper fl oors of the four-story structure.

After a nearly year-long search, the Livingston Board of Education announced at Monday’s meeting that it has selected a new superintendent of schools for the upcoming academic year. Matthew Block will replace interim superintendent Jim O’Neill, who has successfully held down the fort, offering a steady hand during this lengthy process.

It’s no secret there has been a revolving door at the position in recent years. Including those operating in acting and interim capacities, O’Neill was the eighth person filling the superintendent position in about 11 years, and the sixth since just 2014. Block will become the seventh in the past half-decade, and hopefully the one who will put Livingston Public Schools back on the path of stability.

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At the April 29 Board of Education meeting, interim superintendent of schools Jim O’Neill discussed the increased exposure children now have to coarse language, hate and violence.

“We frequently hear educators, sociologists and others say that young people today are exposed to information and issues they previously did not receive until they were much older,” he said. “This reality is now evident in every community in the United States.” O’Neill added that the most alarming thing students are now confronted with is the “increasingly commonplace” violence in schools. He ran through a flurry of recent headlines focused on school shootings, gun laws, and active shooter drills.

O’Neill said the district plans to do its part to help its students navigate through these experiences, by increasing awareness and discussing any issues that may occur. But it is not simply mass shootings that pose a threat; there are incidents that are far more common and more insidious.

At the Monday, May 6, regular meeting of the Township Council, an ordinance was passed to allow a conditional use of block 6300 in the Coventry section of town, which will permit an assisted living facility to be built on the property if it is approved by the Planning Board.

The hearing had been left open on the agenda for five consecutive meetings, several months’ time, as residents living in the area have expressed concern about adding vehicles to an area with existing traffic problems, among other issues. The Council, citing obligations to fulfill affordable housing requirements and provide options for a growing aging population, were always likely to move forward with this ordinance. But they did not rush this decision through, and we applaud them for it.

Somehow, it’s already May, and the Memorial Day Parade is right around the corner on Monday, May 27. Over the next few weeks the township will be collecting money to fund the upcoming parade, and we encourage our residents to offer their support.

Memorial Day, first known as Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in that conflict. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all of our nation’s wars. Volunteers would place American flags on the graves of veterans, hence the name Decoration Day.

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This past Monday, a member of the Tribune staff joined Richard Cornell, chairman of Livingston’s Trails and Greenways committee, on a two-hour canoe ride up and down the township’s section of the Passaic River. It was a crisp, sunshiny morning and the leisurely paddle offered a unique snapshot of town.

We passed under the Route 10 and Mt. Pleasant Avenue bridges, past rows of houses and offices, and even glided right by the Cedar Hill Country Club golf course during the annual PBA golf outing. We started our journey behind the Brandon Tevlin Fields off Okner Parkway, made our way to the canoe launch a few miles down the river on South Orange Avenue, and paddled our way back. We saw trees in bloom, deer at play, and heard plenty of birds chirping.

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Tomorrow, April 26, is Arbor Day, and township officials will again recognize the holiday by planting a tree, specifically a weeping cherry tree, near the gazebo at the Oval in the morning.

On Arbor Day, people are encouraged to plant trees. The tradition dates back centuries, though the first United States Arbor Day was held in 1872 in Nebraska; one million trees were reportedly planted that day. It has since grown to become a nationally observed holiday with millions of trees expected to be planted nationwide (and many more worldwide) each year.

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With the nice weather finally arriving, it is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, and there are few better ways to do so than riding a bicycle. Many people, however, do not take proper safety precautions, including adhering to helmet safety standards.

Every year in the United States, more than 500,000 people end up in the emergency department with injuries resulting from bicycle accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2015, 818 of them did not survive. More children between ages five to 14 visit the ER every year for bike-related injuries than any other sport. Some of those children die, typically from head injuries. Many of these injuries can be avoided or reduced by simply wearing a helmet.

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With Earth Day less than a week away on Monday, April 22, and the topics of sustainability and climate change as prevalent as ever, let us take a moment to reflect on the gains we have made over the last nearly five decades to accelerate environmental progress, and all we still have yet to accomplish.

Celebrated around the globe, Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day to provide education about, and demonstrate support for, environmental issues. When it comes to recognizing the need to care for our planet, humans have come a long way, but there’s still much more to be done.

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