News

The Livingston Police Department reported several car burglaries and thefts over the past weekend, including one vehicle that was recovered with bullet holes in the windshield. Two teenagers were also caught allegedly attempting to break into a vehicle, according to police.

On Friday, March 8, police were called to a Stoneham Drive home to take a report of a stolen vehicle. The resident said that a Mercedes sedan had been stolen from the garage. The theft occurred between about 9 p.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The garage door had been left open and the key fob has been left in the Mercedes.

After taking the report, the police quickly tracked the Mercedes to Elizabeth where the car was found parked behind by an apartment complex.

On the same day, police took reports from three residents who reported that someone had entered their cars during the previous night. The cars that were entered were on Tremont Terrace, Oakwood Avenue and East Cedar Street.

Livingston High School will present its spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress, March 14 through 16. Performances will be held in the LHS auditorium on Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15, at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, March 16, at 2 and 7 p.m.

The musical comedy is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fable “The Princess and the Pea.”

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Livingston Public Schools honored its ten “Teachers of the Year” for 2018-19 on Monday, March 11, at its annual recognition ceremony at Heritage Middle School.

“Tonight is a special night because we get to recognize and support the people in this district who do the most – our teachers,” said Board president Buddy August.

This year’s elementary school recipients are Erin Espino, first grade teacher at Burnet Hill School; Tracey Dunleavy, fifth grade teacher at Collins School; Lisa Fischer, third grade teacher at Harrison School; Bridget Marshall, fifth grade teacher at Hillside School; Samantha Bannon, third grade teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School; and Geralyn Lacourtna, reading specialist at Riker Hill School.

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Average School Tax Expected to Rise by $89:

Several highlights of the 2019-20 school budget, and three presentations related to the construction of the budget, were presented at the March 11 school board meeting.

The average tax increase, on an average home in Livingston that is assessed at $600,000, will be $89, according to business administrator Steven Robinson. “That is the lowest increase I can remember,” he said.

State aid to schools was announced on March 7, he added, and Livingston’s general fund aid was increased by $475,247. “General Fund aid has increased by almost $1.7 million from 2017-18 to today,” he noted.

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Livingston Philanthropies Inc. (LPI) founder and director Jeff Friedman has announced he will name the organization’s collection of toiletries in honor of the late Patricia “Trish” Duffy. It was Duffy who, several years ago, inspired the year-round collection, Friedman said.
“Some years ago, Trish called to ask if we could use hotel toiletries collected during her treasured travels,” Friedman recounted. “Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), then known as the Livingston Coat Drive, had not yet dabbled in other items. Still being somewhat of an advocacy neophyte at that point, I surmised that sure, ‘I imagine the homeless can use these items.’ Who knew of the major need back in those days?”

Livingston High School principal Mark Stern announced the top scholars of the Class of 2019. Jonathan Ackerman has been name the valedictorian, and Vanessa Hu has been named the salutatorian. This year’s commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, June 20. LPS Photo

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Ageneralalarm was sounded at8:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, on a report of a house fire at 177 East Northfield Road. Both Livingston firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene. Emergency responders found flames venting out of a rear window of the home’s second floor.

The fire was quickly brought under control – within just 20 minutes, Fire Chief Chris Mullin reported. After the flames were extinguished, firefighters conducted an “overhaul” of the house to ventilate it and extinguish “hot spots.” All utilities in the house were then disconnected.

The homeowner, Daniel Pannucci, was outside on his front lawn when police and firefighters arrived. He confirmed to them that there were no other people or pets in the house.

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Inspections 90 Percent Complete:

Numerous details were provided to the community when Livingston Township andAppraisal Systems, Inc. (ASI), the company that is conducting the townwide revaluation, held a meeting on Wednesday, February 27. A second forum was scheduled for Wednesday, March 6.

This article covers highlights from the first forum, as the second one took place after the Tribune went to press. It was filmed by Livingston High School students and is scheduled to be published on the township website this week.

Livingston Township was ordered by the Essex County Board ofTaxation to undertake a town-wide revaluation and to have the new valuations take effect in 2020.

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ThePlanningBoardmetonTuesday evening, March 5, and continued hearing an application by CPManagement Group II LLC to build a drive-through Starbucks coffee shop and a child care center on South Livingston Avenue.

Tuesday night marked the Planning Board’s fourth hearing on an application for minor subdivision and preliminary and final site plan with variances for CP Management Group II LLC, represented by attorney Stephen Geffner. The property in question, located at 92 South Livingston Avenue, was previously home to Bank of America. The applicant proposes to subdivide existing Lot 3 to create two new lots. The existing, now-vacant building would be expanded on one of the new lots to house a child care center, Lightbridge Academy. A Starbucks with a drive-through is proposed to be constructed on the second lot.

“It Was a Crazy Weekend:”

Livingston received what has become its weekly dose of snow – this time in a one-two-three punch, with snow events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On Friday, March 1, Livingston woke up to two inches of the white stuff, which fell from Thursday night into Friday.

From Friday night into Saturday, another five inches fell, and another 5½ inches fell on Sunday night into Monday morning.

“My guys did not go home this entire weekend,” said Mike Anello, superintendent of the Department of Public Works (DPW). “We started salting on Thursday night, and we worked through the weekend.”

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