News

Livingston’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, November 22, at 5 p.m., televised by Livingston Television (LTV), and it will be seen on Comcast Channel 34 and Fios Channel 26. It will also be available at facebook. com/LivingstonTV.

St. Philomena Catholic Church is the official host this year. The inspirational speeches and some of the musical presentations will be presented at the church.

One of the key components ofthis year’s celebration, noted organizer Scott Maynard, is a special video program entitled “Total Praise,” presented by Voices for Change. Cantor Perry Fine of Temple Beth Shalom is one of the founding members of Voices for Change, a collaboration of 100 cantors and Black ministers from around the world to promote faith in healing. “This presentation is extremely appropriate and timely for our society dealing with racial injustice and significant stress,” said Maynard.

Supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden both held rallies at the same time on the Oval on Sunday, November 1, two days before Election Day.

Republicans and Democrats from Livingston planned their rallies together; the Biden rally was initially scheduled to take place a few days later. Saying that every American has the right to freedom of speech, organizers agreed to hold their rallies simultaneously, on opposite sides of the entrance to the Oval.

“Together, as one community, we can set an example of civility in an ever polarizing world,” read a joint statement issued by both groups. “Let this day be a constructive day that we can all use as a step forward in improving the country for which we all share the goal of wanting to make it a better place.”

BELCUORES HONORED FOR HEROISM: Senior Lancer girls’ soccer captain Lauren Belcuore was presented a Joint Legislative Resolution by State SenatorAnthony M. Bucco (shown here), Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn and Assemblyman Brian Bergen prior to the Lancers’ “Play For Pink” game.

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As of press time, Wednesday morning, November 4, Vineeta Khanna has tallied the most votes for the open Livingston Public Schools Board of Education seat, according to preliminary results of this year’s General Election. Khanna leads challengers Jenissa Arnette, James Calderon, and Bridgette Nevola for the single open seat on the Board.

With 11,582 votes cast, according to the Essex County clerk’s office, Khanna received 3,792 votes (32.74 percent). Arnette is the closest challenger with 3,232 votes (27.91 percent), followedbyNevola with 2,656 votes (22.93 percent) and Calderon with 1,902 votes (16.4 percent).

Due to the election being all paper ballots as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, final tallies were not available before press time. Results are preliminary and come from the county clerk’s office. The Tribune will update these results if these change in the coming days.

On Monday, November 2, the Livingston Township Council held a special meeting to approve a settlement agreement with Fair Share Housing Corporation concerning the town’s affordable housing obligations. The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

The document has to be signed after it has been approved, at which point it will become a public document. That was not confirmed to have happened before the Tribune’s print deadline, as the FSHC also has to sign the document.

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As of Wednesday morning, November 4, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 668 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. 73 oftho se residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 34 new cases, with no additional deaths.

Governor Phil Murphy, this past week, has noted that Essex County, reporting an average above several hundred cases per day, remains the “biggest concern.”

“This virus has been waiting for us to get lax,” Governor Murphy said. “Stay vigilant, safe, and smart.”

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Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) founder and director, Jeff Friedman, spoke, via Zoom at Tuesday morning’s Rotary meeting. He focused on homelessness and LPI’s mission of providing for the homeless and profoundly poor. LPI is urgently requesting new clothing items and diapers for families living below the poverty line. “The extreme need has rocketed as the pandemic continues,” Friedman explained at the meeting. LPI’s “Personal Shopping for the Homeless” initiative empowers generous Livingston residents to take advantage of online sales to purchase men’s medium, large and extra-large winter coats, winter jackets, underwear, socks, shirts, gloves, hats, scarves, and other accessories at reduced prices. Diapers in all sizes, 1 to 6, are immediately needed by families, many of whom are losing jobs at a record pace.

Because parents have not had much chance to watch their children in the Livingston High School marching band perform, band director Jim Hegedus invited them to last week’s “Thursday Night Lights,” a weekly opportunity for the band to participate in a virtual state competition.

“This was the first time we ever did anything like this in my 20 years here as band director – much like everything else in 2020,” said Hegedus. “Our parents have not had a chance to see the Lancer marching band perform this year other than the one home football game we had on October 9. So I decided to create this event and call it ‘Thursday Night Lights,’ a take on ‘Friday Night Lights’ for high school football games.”

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The Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment held its monthly meeting online on Tuesday, October 27. Seven applications were heard; five were approved, and two were adjourned. Another two applications on the agenda had been adjourned prior to the meeting date.

Rear Deck

The Board granted a 5.6 foot rear yard setback variance to Dr. Michael Sheridan and the Shireen Trust for the property at 33 Burnet Hill Road for the construction of a deck.

Attorney Philip George told the Board that the house was constructed before the applicant realized a variance was needed.

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As of Wednesday morning, October 28, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 634 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. Seventy-three of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 38 new cases, with one additional death.

New Jersey’s quarantine travel advisory currently has 39 states and territories on the list.

Individuals coming from the states and territories listed on the advisory should self-quarantine for 14 days. To be included on the travel ban, a state or territory must surpass ten average daily positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. New Jersey’s ban runs concurrently with New York and Connecticut. Currently, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware all also meet this threshold. New Jersey governor Phil Murphy has advised people to avoid inessential travel between the states.