News

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: This week, Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Living-ston Philanthropies, Inc., reflects on the plight of the homeless with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In my role as director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), I continue to interact with our long-time distribution associates during the pandemic. It’s a fact that conditions are just horrible for the homeless and profoundly poor. It is even worse than before the emergency – much worse.

More than a hundred people joined the “Black Lives Matter Protest Against Racism and Oppression” at the Livingston Town Center on Sunday afternoon.

Lauren Posklensky, Livingston High School class of 2016, and Nicolas Ramirez, class of 2020, organized the event, along with LHS graduates Dev Rathod (class of 2018) and Alex Herbst (class of 2016).

“We aim not only to mourn the deaths of Black citizens as the result of police brutality and racism, but to petition for specific and immediate change in Livingston to ensure a better future,” said Posklensky.

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As of Wednesday morning, June 10, the Essex County health department has reported that a total of 491 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19. 64 of those residents have died as a result of the virus.

On Friday, June 5, Governor Phil Murphy extended the public health emergency in New Jersey an additional 30 days.

“We will continue our path forward, while remaining vigilant and prepared to act should there be a new outbreak of COVID-19,” Governor Murphy said.

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Livingston High School’s Class of 2020 will have an in-person graduation after all. Details were still being discussed as of press time Wednesday, but the news was confirmed following Governor Phil Murphy’s Tuesday declaration allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 500 people beginning July 3.

On Tuesday night, following Governor Murphy’s announcement, principal Mark Stern sent a letter to the Class of 2020 and their families, inviting them to take a survey to determine what they would like to do for an in-person graduation. The administration will be accepting feedback from the surveys through 3 p.m. on Thursday.

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LuvLivLocal, a combined initiative of the Township of Livingston and the The Livingston Community Partnership (Business Improvement District/BID), has been working to support independently owned Livingston businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last month, LuvLivLocal created a grant program to help businesses negatively impacted by the crisis. This week, it has announced that zoning regulations have been temporarily relaxed through the end of the year to help businesses that have been permitted to re-open by the state.

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The Livingston Chapter of UNICO has announced the recipients of the 34th annual Dominick A. Crincoli Memorial Sports Awards to honor two Livingston High School seniors with the Brian Piccolo Sportsmanship Award. The award is presented annually to two high school seniors, a male and a female, who best symbolize the character and ideals of Brian Piccolo. He was starting full back for the Chicago Bears who displayed the virtues of courage, teamwork, leadership and dedication both on the football field and in his fight against cancer.

This year, the winners of this Sportsmanship Award are Briana Melucci and Luke Nardone. They exemplify the “never give up” attitude of Brian Piccolo. They each will receive their Sportsmanship Award Plaque, and each will receive a scholarship worth $1,000.

With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down a lot of social interaction, Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) has had to change the way it helps the homeless of Essex County.
“Three words accurately describe the status of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. during the pandemic,” noted founder and director Jeff Friedman. “According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, we have Invent, ‘To make or redo completely;’ Change, ‘To make a shift from one to another;’ and Paradigm Shift, ‘A fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.’
“Thanks to caring and generous Livingston neighbors, LPI’s ‘emergency metamorphosis’ has been seamless. As regular Tribune readers know, we now ship food and pantry items directly from local vendors to our regular Newark distribution associates.”

Two dozen volunteers delivered just under 500 caps, gowns, and other graduation goodies to the members of the Livingston High School’s Class of 2020 on Monday, June 1.

Many of the volunteers themselves donned graduation robes and hoods and decorated their cars for the occasion, making the delivery a townwide celebration.

Included in the seniors’ surprise packages were caps and gowns; honor cords and stoles, as applicable; a Class of 2020 banner from the LHS Home and School Association; and graduation mask covers from the Livingston Education Foundation.

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On Monday, June 1, Livingston’s Township Council held a livestreamed meeting to discuss the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and pass several resolutions.

The meeting, a combined conference and regular meeting that was held via the video conferencing service, Zoom, was shared on the Livingston Township Facebook page. There were more than 50 live viewers during the meeting, and about 1,300 people had watched at least part of the meeting by noon on Tuesday.

At the start of the meeting, high school student Allison Small was honored for being a finalist for the Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship. She wrote an essay, which was submitted to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, about pedestrian safety. Police Chief Gary Marshuetz said he agreed with what she wrote, and planned to concentrate on encouraging helmet use for bicyclists this summer.

On Monday, June 1, Governor Phil Murphy announced stage two of reopening New Jersey. On Monday, June 15, outdoor restaurant dining and non-essential in-person retail will be permitted to reopen. The following Monday, on June 22, salons and barber shops can open. Governor Murphy said the opening of gyms and health clubs will “follow.” While not announced on Monday, stage two of reopening also includes in-person clinical labs and some in-person government services, like the Motor Vehicle Commission.

“We are glad that the Phase 2 of business openings by the Governor will be taking place the middle of June,” said Beth Lippman, executive director of the township’s Business Improvement District. “Our businesses have their work cut out for them to find ways to get their customers back by making them feel comfortable and safe. The BID is working with the Town to help our businesses with information, resources and money from the Grant Program.”