community news from Livingston

BOYS’ BASEBALL TRYOUTS: The Livingston High School’s boys’ baseball team began tryouts for its 2024 season. Shown above, Matthew Lopa gets ready for the pitching machine to fire a fastball during tryouts. Below, assistant coach Corey Feigenbaum feeds the pitching machine during tryouts. Don Schwartz Photos

At its meeting on Tuesday, March 19, the Livingston Public Schools Board of Education approved a tentative budget for the 2024-2025 school year.

The budget totals appropriations between the general fund, special revenues, and debt services amassing a total of $ 154,450,072. This will set Livingston taxes to be raised a total of $125,399,923. An additional Board meeting was held the day prior, on Monday, March 18, to ensure the Board had all its questions answered ahead of the March 19 vote.

The Board also met with the finance committee on March 14 to discuss the district’s budget. Prior to the meeting, a number of adjustments had already been made. These included a $2.5 million cut to the budgeted fund balance, and eliminating $600,000 of recurring expenses. These recurring expenses will still appear in the proposed budget, but they will no longer be recurring. The finance committee also found and eliminated a number of non-recurring costs.

This week, the West Essex Tribune presents its bi-annual “Celebrate Livingston’s History” section. It is one of our most popular features, in part because it speaks to our township’s sense of community; no matter who we are, we live here, together, in Livingston, and we all share that common thread.

As always, our “Celebrate Livingston’s History” section contains interesting tidbits about the history of our town and its residents: stories of beloved, but now defunct institutions; tales of the founding families who gave their names to our streets and schools; and old photos and news articles that provide insight to what Livingston was like back “in the old days.”

Eleanor Klein Breslow, 99, died on March 11. She was born in Passaic and was married to Howard Breslow for over 65 years.

She is survived by her children Roy Breslow, (Debbie Streit), Lynn Levy (Jeffrey Levy), and Clifford Breslow (Elaine Breslow); six grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

Services were held at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Funeral Chapel in Livingston on Thursday, March 14. A private interment followed. Shiva was held at the Crown View Manor in West Orange on Thursday, March 14.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations may be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation.

START OF BOYS’ TENNIS SEASON: Livingston High School’s boys’ tennis team held tryouts for its spring season. Above, Arjun Bansal sets to power a return, while at right, Jake Hershkin powers a serve during tryouts. Don Schwartz Photos

TEACHER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION: The instructional aides and students in Mr. Justin Grossman’s fourth grade class at Hillside Elementary School surprised their teacher with a Teacher of the Year celebration. The students displayed their support for their beloved teacher by wearing masks of Grossman’s face and donning hats they designed.

Evelyn Doris Goldbach, 91, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, died on March 6. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul Hans Goldbach.

Bom in Newark, she grew up on a family chicken farm in Livingston before moving to Colonia to raise her own family The Goldbachs moved to Honesdale to start a farm and enjoy retirement.

Mrs. Goldbach is survived by her children, Cecilia Spitzer (husband, Howard), Paul Goldbach, Daniel Dawson (wife, Jill), and Katherine Brown (husband, Jemil); ten grandchildren; and one great grandson.

Amass and graveside services will be at a later date. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Frank P. Jasinski, 93, of Holiday City, Berkeley Township, died at his home on March 13.

Born on March 17, 1930 in Newark, he resided in Livingston, before moving to Holiday City. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving in the 45th Infantry Division in Korea.

Mr. Jasinski was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and his daughter, Patricia (Tony) Critelli. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen (Tim) Thall; and his son Michael (Jamie) Jasinski; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services were held on March 18. Donations may be made to the Holiday City First Aid Squad.

Ronald F. Murano, 76, of Parsippany, died on Saturday, March 16. He grew up in Bloomfield and then lived in Livingston from 1977 until 2022, when he moved to Parsippany.

Mr. Murano is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lynne; his son Chris (Amy); and his daughter, Jillian (Darell); and his three grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Frank and Joe, and in-laws. Mr. Murano was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Anne Murano; his in-laws Barney and Joan Garry; and his brother-in-law.

A memorial visitation for Mr. Murano will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home in Livingston.

In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Animal Welfare Association.

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Howard Brad Solomon, age 61, of North Caldwell, New Jersey passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024. He was born in Newark and lived in Livingston for many years. He graduated from Livingston High School where he belonged to their Gordon Cup winning ice hockey team of 1981 and to their cross country track team. He scored the hockey team’s first goal of the season.

Howard was the beloved son of Doreen (Coleman) and Irwin Solomon, cherished brother of Jody Leibowitz (Phillip Friedman) and Andrew Solomon (Ping), devoted uncle of Max, Jed (Reagan), and Kip Leibowitz. He is also survived by many wonderful friends.

He was a hero to all. A funeral service was held at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ on Sunday, March 17. Burial followed at Beth David Cemetery, 731 Boulevard, Kenilworth, NJ.