News

At a Board of Education debate held by the Livingston Old Guard on Tuesday, October 30, a question was asked concerning the AP waitlist.

It was originally reported that more than 100 students were waitlisted for Advance Placement courses at Livingston High School, but upon further examination, interim superintendent James O’Neill found that 334 students were at one time waitlisted.

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At the end of the Monday, October 29, Township Council regular meeting, residents Bob Hunter and Walter LeVine both asked questions about a letter that was sent last week to Livingston property owners. The letter announced that township properties will be inspected over the next few months, the first step in the revaluation process. Livingston must revalue all real estate for the 2020 tax year, according to the Essex County Board of Taxation. The last revaluation took place in 2007.

The revaluation process is revenue neutral; if the assessed value of the property increases in the revaluation, the tax rate would drop as a result. The total amount for tax allowed to be raised annually remains capped at two percent, as always.

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Livingston police, on Saturday, October 27, arrested a man for growing marijuana in the basement of a Livingston home, and later participated in the vehicular pursuit of a reported kidnapper.

Growing Marijuana

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, Livingston police were called to a Hillside Avenue residence on a dispute. According to information supplied to the Tribune by police, the homeowner, Ingrid Tschapka, age 55, stated that she had an argument with her boyfriend, Michael Nowicki, age 25, and wanted him to leave the residence for the night. When offi cers spoke with Nowicki, they informed him of the complaint, and he agreed to leave the house.

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Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) founder and director Jeff “The Coat Guy” Friedman has reported that, early in the season, “ ‘business’ is brisk. Generous Livingston residents have already donated some 350 warm coats, winter accessories, toiletries, cosmetics, diapers, hand-knit scarves and other items, along with men’s dress attire to benefit a Welfare to Work program and two prisoner re-entry centers.”

THIS FRONT LAWN IS DECKED OUT: Matt Berger has been working steadily throughout the year making new Halloween decorations to grace his front yard at 9 Langtree Drive. This year, the ninth grader built new tombstones, four new figures (bringing the total to 15); and numerous wood cutouts of pumpkins, ghosts, and witches.

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During the course of an otherwise very quiet week, Livingston volunteer firefighters assisted at the scene of a two-car accident on Thursday, October 18, at 4 p.m. at the intersection of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and Force Hill Road.

According to the police report, a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe operated by Karen Hoffman, 61, of Union, was traveling eastbound on East Mt. Pleasant. Hoffman was stopped and waiting to turn left onto Force Hill when her vehicle was struck from behind by a 2015 Honda Pilot operated by Courtney Faye Hawkins, 35, of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Hawkins stated she was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision. Both were transported to Saint Barnabas Medical Center with minor injuries. Both cars were towed from the scene.

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Following two hours of presentation and discussion on Tuesday, October 23, the Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a use variance and multiple dimensional variances for a dog daycare and boarding facility at 81 Dorsa Avenue.

Also approved at that meeting were applications to subdivide a lot at 80 Old Road and to expand the house at 16 Carteret Road.”

Adjourned to the November 27 meeting were an application by Gjoni Associates for an addition at 16 Tower Road, and an application by Nancy Cangi for a non-conforming fence at 46 North Ashby Avenue. Both applicants agreed to return with amended plans, as suggested by the Board.

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The four Board of Education candidates – incumbents Pamela Chirls and Ronnie Konner, and challengers Todd Goren and Rachel Selvin – participated in an online forum on Sunday night, October 21.

The forum lasted nearly two hours and was livecast and recorded. It can be viewed on Facebook at bit.ly/LIVBOEFACEBOOK; or externally at bit.ly/LIVBOEWEB.

“We were delighted to have all four BOE candidates participate,” said organizer Mike Ramer. “They shared their messages and ideas, and answered the public’s questions live online.

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Editor’s Note: This week, Living-ston Philanthropies, Inc. founder and director Jeff Friedman explains, in his own words, how the Livingston-based charitable organization needs volunteers, thanks in large part to the continuing generosity of Livingston residents donating to the organization.
By Jeff Friedman
Volunteerism can be defined as “the policy or practice of volunteering one’s time or talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, especially in one’s community,” or, “the basic expression of human relationships… it is about people’s need to participate in their societies and to feel that they matter to others.”

At the end of the October 15 Board of Education meeting, former superintendent of schools Christina Steffner surprised the audience by stepping up to the microphone and providing a short statement during the public input portion of the meeting. About ten minutes later, during the Board’s new and old business category, Board member Samantha Messer spoke at length about the Board meeting of July 25, when the Board voted 3-2 to accept Steffner’s resignation and to approve a separation of service agreement.

Both speakers sought to correct what they say are inaccuracies. Both speakers said they did not know that the other would speak that night.

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