News

By Jeff Friedman
Livingston resident Jeff “the Coat Guy” Friedman, founder and director of the Livingston Philanthropies, Inc., here, in his own words, introduces his charitable organization and its mission to new readers. Livingston Philanthropies conducts a seasonal coat drive and year-round collections of travel-sized toiletries for the homeless, as well as men’s dresswear, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.
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Now more than ever, Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) is calling on generous Livingston residents to help provide for the “poor, homeless and disenfranchised.” You know who they are… the folks you sometimes see on TV, living out on the cold streets or in shelters. Compellingly, many are only minutes away in nearby communities.

Concern about a lack of civility in public discourse and a request for parental support were key ingredients of a letter that James O’Neill, interim superintendent of the Livingston Public Schools, sent to parents last week. The letter was shared on social media and published in the district’s newsletter and its sentiments were given a “thumbs up” in last week’s Tribune editorial.

O’Neill said it is the responsibility of teachers to establish guidelines at school, and for parents to enforce the appropriate use of technology at home.

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SEMI-FINAL SHUT-OUT: The Livingston High School varsity girls’ soccer team shut out Montclair, 1-0, in the semi-final round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 Tournament, held at Woodman Field in Montclair. Unfortunately, the Lancers suffered a shut-out of their own in the finals, losing, 1-0, to the West Orange Mountaineers in West Orange.

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This weekend, the Livingston High School Theater Club will present Midsummer/Jersey in the LHS auditorium.

Written by Ken Ludwig, the play is a parody of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a “Jersey Shore twist,” set on the boardwalk of a seaside town in modern-day New Jersey.

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NORTH JERSEY GIANTS FINISH FIRST: The North Jersey Giants 13U fall baseball team, a Livingston-based organization, recently competed in the USABL league, finishing first in both the regular season and the playoffs.

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The annual Livingston Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration will be held on Sunday, November 18, at 5 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Livingston, 271 West Northfield Road.

“This free, special event has been a major program involving the majority of churches and temples throughout the community. The event was a major highlight of the Livingston Bicentennial Celebration in 2013, and has continued with growing momentum each year,” said Scott Maynard, who is one of the event’s organizers.

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At its meeting on Thursday evening, November 8, the Livingston Planning Board continued hearing an application for a minor subdivision and preliminary and final site plan with variances for CP Management Group II.

The property in question, located at 92 South Livingston Avenue, was previously home to a Bank of America on the westerly side of the road.

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During an otherwise quiet Township Council conference meeting, Council members discussed last week’s election, specifically focusing on how to improve the process for voters moving forward.

The 13th of Livingston’s 26 voting districts was a major topic of conversation, as it encountered a series of problems during the busy Election Day. Theresa Allard of Scotland Drive addressed the Council at the end of the meeting to further detail the trouble at District 13. She was a judge for the district and painted a picture of chaos on Election Day as multiple machines failed and emergency ballots ran out.

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Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) is in dire need of volunteers who own an SUV or larger vehicle, announced founder and director Jeff Friedman. “Livingston residents have been so generous with their donations this year that we almost can’t keep up,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have, but it is a problem. We are really in need of volunteers to pick up coats and toiletries from our collection points – primarily the West Essex Tribune, next to ShopRite. It’s not a big time commitment, but we do need someone with a big vehicle, like an SUV or a pick-up truck, that can fit all these donations. We need help collecting them, and also with taking them to our distribution partners.”
To help motivate potential volunteers, Friedman said, “I researched why people volunteer and found meaningful reasons in an online article by Positive Force Consulting. Here are some:
“Volunteering allows the chance to expand your horizons and celebrate other cultures.

SURREY LANE PAVING: On Wednesday, October 31, contractors were installing a new top course of asphalt paving on Surrey Lane between the street intersections with Chadwick Road and Fawn Drive. The work was being done by Ischia Construction and Paving as part of the Township of Livingston Surrey Lane street improvement project.

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