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Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), is urging residents to buy new items or donate funds to LPI to help the homeless. “With winter fast approaching, and the pandemic ramping up again and causing even greater economic adversity, you can make an immediate impact to help the homeless,” he said.
He noted that residents may take advantage of “rampant online sales” and purchase new winter coats and jackets, hats, scarves and gloves for the homeless and profoundly poor. “Although we started out years ago with a coat drive, this season, because of the pandemic, we cannot accept used items, as we did in the past. However, we can accept gently used items that have been professionally cleaned and are still in cleaner bags.”

The Livingston Planning Board, at a special meeting on Thursday, November 5, finished hearing testimony on a development application at Northfield Center and gave the multi-use proposal preliminary approval.

Attorney Matthew Posada represented the applicant, Livingston Builders, LLC, in the application to create a mixed-use residential and retail development. The applicant proposes to consolidate three existing lots into one parcel at 531 South LivingstonAvenue. The property includes the site of the former Northfield Baptist Church sanctuary at the corner of South Livingston Avenue and East Northfield Road, and adjacent retail buildings on South Livingston Avenue and East Northfield Road.

The plan calls for the demolition of three existing buildings, including the church and two retail buildings on East Northfield Road. A onestory building on South Livingston Avenue, which once housed a bank and now houses a dental practice, will remain and be renovated.

At the Monday, November 9, Township Council meeting, members again discussed a potential mixed-use housing project, proposed two ordinances, and passed several resolutions. The meeting was held virtually and livestreamed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

The meeting began with the Council honoring service organizations for providing COVID-19 relief throughout the pandemic.

“The Council thought it was important to recognize all the work (the township service organizations) do,” mayor Rudy Fernandez said. “The organizations who stepped up... are thanked for their thoughtfulness and generosity.”

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Livingston veterans, township officials, and residents gathered at the Oval on Wednesday, November 11, despite the rainy weather, to remember and honor those who have served our country. MI Photos

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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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