News

Editor’s Note: This week, Jeff Friedman, founder and director of the non-profit Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), makes, in his own words, an appeal for funding to purchase a vehicle the organization can use to transport the large amount of donated items it receives and distributes each week.
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By Jeff Friedman
Especially at this time of year, the “giving season,” we are assaulted by a variety of national charities looking for donations prior to the end of the tax year. Lots of good ones, too. But, as the founder of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc., I’m making the case for keeping a portion of one’s giving right here in town.

LEAF COLLECTION COMPLETE: This past weekend, the township conducted its final sweep of Livingston streets as part of its annual leaf collection program. The program is now done for the year. Shown here, Public Works Department employee Brian Antonio smiles at the wheel of a street cleaning machine he is operating on the newly paved Country Club Road. Jeff Friedman Photo

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“SANTA PAWS” CAME TO TOWN: Regal Bank of Livingston held its annual “Santa Paws” event December 8, providing photos taken with Santa (a.k.a. Regal Banks’ vice president of business development, Monte Enrenkranz). This is the seventh year Regal has held it in Livingston. In exchange for the photos, some customers give cash and food donations for Regal to pass on to local animal shelters. Corie Satine/Art By Corie Photos

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A modest but fluent and enthusiastic group of 15 Livingston residents turned out Monday night at a public meeting to solicit feedback on the traits and characteristics the community would like to see in the next superintendent of schools.

About the same number of people participated from home. The forum, 90 minutes long, was live-streamed on the district’s website and YouTube. It can be viewed by going to livingston.org/BOE_LIVE.

The video was also live-streamed by community member Brian Bradley and posted on the Livingston Education! Parent and Community Forum Facebook site. As of Tuesday afternoon, 540 views were indicated on the site.

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A Newark man was fined in Livingston Municipal Court this past week in connection with a road rage incident that took place in Livingston during the fall.

Zahir Robinson, 21, faced both traffic and criminal charges in the aftermath of the October 22 incident, which took place in the area of West Mt. Pleasant and South Livingston Avenues.According to court officials, Robinson punched the other driver involved in the incident, Louis Fontanella of Wharton, numerous times.

Traffic charges included possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) in a motor vehicle, and driving with a revoked driver’s license.

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After receiving votes from four of five Council members, the Township Council selected a new name for Formosa Plastics Road. The selection was announced by township manager BarryLewisattheMonday,December 17, conference meeting.

The Council reviewed submissions from residents before casting their votes based on the suggestions, with Volunteer Way receiving the most support.

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As the final Livingston Township Council meeting wound down on Monday, December 17, councilman Michael Silverman unexpectedly announced his resignation, effective January 1.

“I have been sitting on this dais for six years and, as most of you know, I, like everyone else, has had good days and tougher days, but on a whole, representing the people of Livingston is not only an honor but also a privilege,” Silverman said during the meeting. “I am saddened to have to say I am leaving this post. Earlier today, I submitted my formal resignation, effective January 1, 2019, to our township manager and township clerk.”

After 50-plus years in town, Silverman said he and his wife Daena have decided to downsize their living conditions and will purchase a townhouse in West Orange.

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The Northern New Jersey FIRST LEGO League Championship concluded December 8 and 9 with team Exit 5ARobotics, an all-girls robotics team from Livingston and a member of the Livingston Robotics Club (LRC), taking home the crown jewel of the two-day event: the first place Champion’s Award. Exit 5A will be representing the region at the FIRST World Festival in Detroit, Michigan next April.

Two other LRC teams that advanced to the State Championship also went home with trophies: Team Adroit Robotics of Livingston received the second place Project Research Award, and team Flame Machines of Millburn earned the second place Robot PerformanceAward with 238 points.

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Representatives of Essex County presented plans on Tuesday evening for the Phase I refurbishment of Riker Hill Art Park. No mention of the timing or plans for a second phase were presented, although additional renovations were alluded to during the meeting.

Representatives of Suburban Consulting, a firm hired by the county to prepare plans for theArt Park, had met with interested residents and artists in January and again in October to discuss the needs for the site. The final Phase I plan presented on Tuesday was a result of input from the previous meetings.

Shortly after the October meeting, explained Joe Perello of Suburban Consulting, work at the site began with curb replacements, stop signs, drainage improvements, road striping and new entrance signs.

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The Board of Education on Monday night reviewed aspects of the superintendent search and the sixth grade 1:1 technology implementation. It also held a discussion on a potential policy about its use of social media, and heard concerns from several parent organization presidents.

Superintendent Search Process

On Monday, December 17, at 7 p.m., the district will hold a public forum to solicit feedback on the characteristics that members of the community would like to see in the next superintendent of schools. It will be held at the central office, and livestreamed so that individuals will be able to participate from home.

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