News

We at the West Essex Tribune have some big progress to announce: We have officially taken the first step in converting to a registered 5 01 c3 nonprofit newspaper, by entering into a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (more on them and why we made this decision below).

This initial step enables us to accept tax-deductible donations to support the newspaper. Which brings me to my second exciting announcement: We are officially launching a fundraising campaign to support our newspaper.

The Livingston Township Council, at its regular meeting on Monday, November 13,introducedareworked ordinance to adopt the 45 South Livingston Avenue District Redevelopment Plan. The conversation between residents and the Council became heated, at times, including some commotion when the ordinanc e was introduced following more than an hour of public comment.

When comment on the ordinance began, Council member Shawn Klein recused himself, due to a conflict of interest.

The plan, prepared by Beacon Planning and Consulting Services, had been initially introduced in June, but was pulled from the agenda in July, prior to its passage, following strong opposition from residents living near the district. Residents have cited building height and density, traffic and safety concerns, overcrowding schools, and a decline in nearby property values as some of the reasons they oppose the project.

The Livingston High School Theater Department fall play, “Pride and Prejudice,” will be held next week. Evening performances will be held at 7 p.m. on November 16, 17, and 18. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee on November 18.

Based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, adapted by Jon Jory, the play features a cast of 35 LHS students and dozens more working behind the scenes as crew members. The production is led by director Scott Patteson, in his fourth year at LHS, and features choreography by student Ava-Rachel Lieber.

“This production gave our students a wonderful opportunity to explore one ofhistory’s most enduringpieces of literature,” Patteson said. “It’s a refreshingly zippy adaptation that doesn’t skimp on any of the humor from Austen’s original text.”

Patteson said that a professional dialect coach was brought in to teach the cast how to speak with a proper British accent.

The Livingston Fire Department responded to numerous calls over the past week, including a fire in the laundry room of the CareOne nursing facility, 68 Passaic Avenue, on Thursday, November 9.

Upon arrival, fire responders discovered the contents of a clothing dryer burning, and staff members attempting to extinguish the fire. The area was evacuated of both staff members and patients.

The Fire Department stretched a line to the interior laundry room to extinguish the remaining fire. Crews checked for any other areas that the fire might have extended to in the area of origin, and did not find anything.

The smoke from the fire was confined to that area of the building, which was ventilated using Fire Department fans. The dryer unit was disconnected and removed. The facility manager was on scene and advised of the situation.

Engine Fire

The Livingston High School girls’ varsity soccer team completed an undefeated regular season and won the American Division Conference Championship. The Lancers also captured the Essex County Championship by scoring with 12 seconds left in regulation to win in overtime.

Season highlights also included the team emerging as a finalist in the NJSIAA North 1 Group 4 Sectional Finals, and defeating Montclair and West Orange three times.

The Lancers’ record of 18-1-1 was the program’s best record since 2016 and the second best record in program history.

Livingston started the season unranked, defeated top 20 teams four times, achieved the #2 rank in New Jersey in the top Public School category, and, according to coach Brian Carr, is currently ranked #7 or #8 overall.

LEAF COLLECTION PROGRAM: Employees of the Livingston Department of Public Works started the seasonal leaf collection program on Riker Hill Road near Cliffside Drive on Monday, November 6. The program will continue through December 10. For further information, go to livingstonnj.org/leaves. Fire Department officials remind residents that they should not park on the leaf piles left in the streets, as a car fire could result. Jerry Siskind Photos

GETTING READY FOR THE 2023 HOLIDAY SEASON: The Camuso Elves have begun the work of setting up the display at the Oval, which will be ready for the public to enjoy next month. “Yes, it is that time of year again,” notes “Chief Elf’ Tom Cooney, shown above, left, along with Tim Foley, right, leading a group of Elves carrying the center of the giant Christmas tree that is central to the display. “The Camuso Holiday Display Committee is busy preparing a special 2023 holiday celebration at the Oval.” The display will open for the season on December 2. PI Photos

Fang Gong has won the race for a seat on the Livingston Public Schools Board of Education. Two other Livingston residents running on the ballot, Rosy Bagolie, for General Assembly, and Pat Sebold, for Essex County Commissioner, also each won their respective races. Results and vote counts are as ofpress time Wednesday morning; they are preliminary and do not include all vote-by-mail ballots.

Gong won the Board of Education seat over challenger Harsh Raju, by a preliminary count of 2,840 to 1,615, according to the Essex County clerk’s tally on Wednesday morning. She will take the seat of current Board president Vineeta Khanna, who did not seek re-election. Gong will be joined on the Board by current members Jenissa Amette, Pam Chirls, Seth Cohen, and Parul Khemka.

In the New Jersey General Assembly, District 27, Democrats Rosy Bagolie and Alixon Collazos-Gill defeated Republicans Irene DeVita and Michael Mecca Jr. for the two open seats.

The Livingston High School Theater Department fall play, “Pride and Prejudice,” will beheldnext week. Eveningperformances will be held at 7 p.m. on November 16, 17, and 18. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee on November 18.

Based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, adapted by Jon Jory, the play features a cast of 35 LHS students and dozens more working behind the scenes as crew members. The production is led by director Scott Patteson, in his fourth year at LHS, and features choreography by student Ava-Rachel Lieber.

“This production gave our students a wonderful opportunity to explore one ofhistory’s most enduring pieces of literature,” Patteson said. “It’s a refreshingly zippy adaptation that doesn’t skimp on any of the humor from Austen’s original text.”

Patteson said that a professional dialect coach was brought in to teach the cast how to speak with a proper British accent.

The Livingston Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration, a long-standing tradition in town, will be held at Trinity Church, 343 East Cedar Street, on Sunday, November 19, at 5 p.m. The theme this year is “Celebrate Community.”

Rabbi Simeon Cohen, Cantor Perry Fine, the Rev. Anne Weinberg, and Trinity Church music director Calvin Hitchcockhave “put together a wonderful program filled with music, heartfelt inspiration and a message of celebration as we welcome in the start of the holiday season,” noted Scott Maynard, who helps coordinate the service each year.

The program will include music from at least three choirs, including the Voices of Harmony Choir, along with inspirational presentations from many pastoral leaders and lay members from the majority of churches, synagogues and other religious institutions throughout Livingston.