News

This Saturday, residents can safely dispose of old or unwanted electronics and can have their confidential papers shredded at Livingston’s Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Event. The event will take place on April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue. The event offers residents drive-through service to dispose of unwanted electronics and small appliances and have confidential papers shredded.

Under New Jersey state law and the township’s recycling ordinance, it is mandatory to recycle electronic items. Electronic items cannot be placed at the curb for pickup – the garbage and recycling collection trucks will not take them.

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The Livingston Township Council hosted a public forum Tuesday evening to discuss potential cannabis legislation in town.

“The Council sees tonight as an opportunity to listen,” Mayor Shawn Klein said at the start of the meeting.

Township attorney Jarrid Kantor explained the basics of the new marijuana law passed earlier this year in New Jersey after 67 percent of New Jersey voters voted in favor of legalization during last November’s election. The Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Modernization Act was signed by Governor Phil Murphy on February 22, and the township has 180 days from that date to pass any ordinances restricting marijuana-related business in town, making August 21 the deadline for municipalities to enact applicable zoning regulations.

At its meeting on Monday, April 12, the Livingston Township Council updated procedures for meetings, introduced several ordinances that could lead to new development, and passed several resolutions. The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

Final Hearing for Ordinance

Following a final hearing, an ordinance was passed to amend the township code to update Council procedures. Among the updates are changes to public comment during the meeting.

There will be two public portions, consisting of four minutes for the first public portion and three for the second public portion. Any response made by the Council shall be included in the speaker’s four-minute and three-minute allotted time periods. Previously, public comment was limited to a total of six minutes per person, though members of the public have regularly been permitted to exceed that amount of time.

HOUSE FIRE: At about 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, the Livingston Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire at 8 Arbor Court. Firefighters responded and found the siding of the house, near the garage, was on fire (shown below). Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire before it spread to the rest of the home, and no injuries were reported. The fire appeared to have been caused by a cigarette on or near the siding, according to Fire Chief Chris Mullin. MI Photos

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The Livingston Health Department has announced the renewal of its contract with the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark for litter abatement throughout the township through a grant from the New Jersey Clean Communities Program.

Catholic Charities and its staff have been providing these services to the Livingston community for the last nine years. The clean-up program commences in April and runs through December. Litter and debris will be removed from public areas within the township, including the Municipal Complex, Memorial Park, the Town Center, the Okner Sports Complex, and bus stops throughout town.

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Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) founder Jeff Friedman has announced a new partnership with the West Essex YMCA.
“I never know when a potentially new, exciting partnership may present itself. That’s one of my favorite aspects of running LPI,” said Friedman. “This week was no exception. Joanne Browne, associate executive director at the West Essex YMCA on South Livingston Avenue, called ‘out of the blue’ with food boxes to donate. Naturally, I said ‘yes’ immediately, not knowing the volume or exact contents of the boxes. That’s just fine because I generally accept a generous offer and then figure out the details later!”

The Livingston Board of Education discussed several issues at its April 5 meeting. It heard brief updates about the budget and “Spring Forward” plan, and took actions to investigate optimal board size and the possibility of a new social media policy.

The meeting was held virtually on Zoom and can be viewed on the district’s website and Facebook page.

Budget News

“We are still waiting to hear from the state about the $1.26 million we expect to get from the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package,” said business administrator Steven Robinson.

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LFD RESPONDS TO ACCIDENT: Members of the Livingston Fire Department responded to the scene of a car accident at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, at the intersection of South Orange Avenue and Walnut Street. According to police, a 2017 Honda operated by Cyriacus Ibezim Jr., 24, of Union was attempting a left turn from South Orange Avenue onto Walnut Street. The Honda was struck by a westbound 1997 Ford operated by Charles Hammed, age 72, of East Hanover. Both drivers claimed to have had a green light. Neither required medical attention. The Livingston Fire Department was called out to extinguish a small fire in the engine compartment of one of the cars. That same day, fire officials went to 41 Franklin Avenue, where a car leaked gasoline onto the street. The Fire Department also answered two requests for mutual aid, from Maplewood on Monday, April 5; and from Orange, late Monday into Tuesday, April 5 to 6. CJM Photo

As of Wednesday morning, April 7, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 1,943 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. 83 of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 72 new cases, with no additional deaths. In the past month, there have been 247 cases. Only one COVID-19-related death has been recorded in Livingston since January 6.

An age breakdown has been released for the 229 Livingston cases reported in March: 28 cases from residents ten years old and under, 56 cases 11 to 20 years, 33 cases 21 to 30 years, 16 cases 31 to 40 years, 51 cases 41 to 50 years, 27 cases 51 to 60 years, 10 cases 61 to 70 years, three cases 71 to 80 years, four cases 81 to 90 years, and one case 91 to 100 years.

David Bagoff, a resident at Brandywine in Livingston, celebrated his 100th birthday last month.

Bagoff turned 100 on March 16. He grew up in Brooklyn before moving to Monroe, where he raised his family. He has been married 66 years to his wife, Doris, with whom he still lives with at Brandywine. He has two children, Gary and Robert Bagoff, who live locally and love to come and visit.

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