News

“It’s all about Livingston’s continued generosity,” notes Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. founder and director, Jeff Friedman. Shown here, Anglee Cody, director of emergency services at Newark Emergency Service’s for Families (NESF), helps a food pantry client with diapers, baby formula and baked goods stemming from LPI and its partnership with Bimbo Bakeries USA. “Local contributions funded these items, plus the heavy-duty grocery cart,” explains Friedman. “Please help LPI continue its initiatives by visiting paypal.me/lpinj. Contributions by mail are suspended due to postal issues.”

--------

 LPI Once Again Accepting Toiletries

JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY: The Livingston Police Department held its Junior Police Academy last week. The program was open to rising sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Participants had the opportunity to meet with the Newark Police Department’s Mounted Unit; see a demonstration from the New Jersey State Police Polygraph Unit; interact with the New Jersey State Corrections K9 Unit; ride with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police on the Hudson River; and visit the Port Authority Police Department at Newark Airport. They also had a lesson from the Essex County Sheriff’s Bomb and K9 Unit; spent a morning with the Livingston Fire Department; and attended presentations by various units of the Livingston Police Department. Above are members of the 2021 Junior Police Academy graduating class, along with Chief Gary Marshuetz and academy staff members Offi cer Joy Klapal, Offi cer Ralph Kolbusz, Sgt. Derek Wyatt, and Offi cer Savino balducci.

Shown here on Monday, July 12, crews from MSP Construction Corporation excavate a roadway trench and install a new replacement water main and valves on Dorsa Avenue. The work was being done near the street intersection with Eisenhower Parkway as part of the township’s Dorsa Avenue water main improvement project. Russell Jones Photos

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

As of Wednesday morning, July 21, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 2,171 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. 88 of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 17 new cases, with no additional deaths. In the past month, there have been 36 cases.

The New Jersey Department of Health has been tracking “breakthrough” cases, positive COVID-19 cases that occur in people who are fully vaccinated, which is defined as individuals who are 14 days past the date of their final vaccine dose.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

Among its actions at the meeting on Wednesday, July 14, the Livingston Board of Education approved a revision to the 2021-22 academic calendar to include Juneteenth as a day off for students and staff. The idea had been introduced at the June 24 meeting.

Juneteenth will be observed on the third Friday of June, which falls on June 17, 2022.

Konner Not Running

At the end of the meeting, veteran school Board member Ronnie Konner announced that she will not seek re-election in November.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

Elise Austin, right, director of the Willing Heart Community Care Center’s Clothing Boutique, “offers praise” as Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) volunteers deliver Livingston’s latest bounty of donations. “Along with facilities coordinator Luis Martinez (at left), a long-time LPI friend and supporter, Mrs. Austin receives new and from-the-cleaners men’s and women’s clothing for distribution to the profoundly poor,” notes LPI’s founder, Jeff Friedman. “We invite Livingston residents to visit the LPI website at njhomeless.org or send an email to njhomeless@aol.com to learn how to help the homeless of Essex County.” 

Veteran school board member Ronnie Konner announced Monday that she will not seek another term on the Livingston Board of Education after 16 cumulative years of service.

Konner’s current service on the Board began in 2014, shortly after she retired from teaching. She had previously served for nine years, from 1983 to 1992. She has been president of the Board four times.

Konner said that she believes the district is at a point where some of the things that she hoped to see have been accomplished, and said she is ready to be doing other things.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

Council members discussed the new DPW garage and restaurant parking, among other topics, at the Monday, July 12, Township Council meeting.

DPW Garage

The Council remains in “wait and see” mode on the material costs, including steel, needed to build the new Department of Public Works garage on Industrial Parkway. The costs are high due to the pandemic, but dropping.

Currently, “phase one” of the project is underway, with DPW workers clearing the site. Township manager Barry Lewis said the town will soon go out to bid for site improvements that can be done while waiting on building costs. These would include installation of fuel tanks and the salt dome.

“Progress is being made,” Lewis said.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

Council members passed a blanket “opt out” to prohibit all classes of cannabis use licenses in town at its Monday, July 12 meeting. The Council also later released a statement containing a list of questions it would like to see answered before reassessing which classes of cannabis it may permit in Livingston. In the statement, the Council said that it was “likely that some licenses will be permitted” once the Council has answers to their questions.

Near-daily rainstorms and frequent, violent thunderstorms have taken their toll on Livingston in the past week. The Livingston Fire Department was busy responding to downed trees and wires, lightning strikes, and flooded basements.

On Tuesday, July 6, firefighters went to 11 West Drive on a report of a tree branch that had fallen into wires. The wires turned out to be telecommunications wires rather than electrical ones. Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel removed the branch.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/