community news from Livingston

The Livingston High School ice hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the State Tournament, facing Westfield on Wednesday, March 2. Results were not available at press time; however, the winner of that game will play in the championship at the Prudential Center in Newark on Monday, March 7.

After winning the division with an undefeated record 10-0-2, the Lancers played against Westfield in the championship game of the McInnis Conference. The Lancers were 2-0 against Westfield this season, and expended great effort to gain the title. Livingston, however, fell short, losing to Westfield, 5-2.

LHS had a quick turn-around and needed to focus on the State Tournament where it received the number one seed in the Public A bracket. Livingston defeated Bayonne, 10-0, in the first round of the State Tournament and in doing so, became the fourth team in Livingston High School ice hockey history to win 20 games in a season.

Eileen Zysk died on Sunday, February 27. She was 96 years old.

Mrs. Zysk was born in Queens, New York, to Patrick and Susan (Olwell) Foy, and lived in Livingston before moving to Crane’s Mill in West Caldwell in 2013.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward, and her siblings: Peter A. Foy (Ruth), Patrick Joseph Foy, Monica Foy, and Kathleen Foy. She is survived by her nieces, nephew, and cousins.

Funeral services are private. Condolences may be shared at www.codeyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in Mrs. Zysk’s name.

Former Livingston resident Deborah Kyle Gieger died in her East Hanover home on February 8. She was 64 years old.

Mrs. Gieger spent her childhood in Alabama and later moved to Livingston. She attended Livingston High School and Seton Hall University. She was very active in the East Hanover community, volunteering for associations including the PTA and CCD programs at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

Mrs. Gieger is survived by her husband of 41 years, James F. Gieger; her children, J.J. Gieger and his wife, Kerri; Jaime Repsher and her husband, Luke; Karlyn Burrini and her husband, John; and Kasey Gieger and his fiancé, Jenna; her siblings, Emmett Perrini; Mary New and her husband, Steve; and Kirk Perrini and his wife, Annette; and eight grandchildren.

Next Monday, March 7, will mark the first in-person meeting of Livingston Township’s Council in nearly two years. It also marks the second major governing body in the community to return to meeting in the same room; the Livingston Board of Education has been holding its meetings in a hybrid format, allowing people to attend in-person for several months. It is also reasonable to expect the township’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment to both follow the Council’s lead in the coming weeks or months.

While the pandemic that forced meetings to be held virtually for so long has not dissipated and COVID is still a threat, it feels like now is a realistic time to return to meetings in a shared space. Mask mandates are ending in schools, cases have leveled off after the massive omicron spike, and Livingston is a highly vaccinated and boosted community. Even the remaining Essex County vaccination and testing sites are in the process of winding down.

Since the start of the pandemic, Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) has been purchasing fresh produce for its long-time distribution partner, Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF) to stock its monthly Free Grocery Giveaway events.
“I am pleased to share that LPI just completed its largest fresh produce purchase ever, procuring some 115 cases of assorted vegetables including carrots, onions, cabbage, tomatoes and grapes to serve NESF’s clients and their sister Newark agencies,” said Jeff Friedman, the charity’s founder and chief executive officer.
Families living below the poverty line along with the homeless queue in the hundreds to stock up with as much sustenance as possible, he notes. “Other Newark agencies who perform the same vital work as NESF, in terms of feeding those who cannot afford to feed themselves or their families, arrive all morning to pick up fresh produce and many other food items for their needy local constituencies.”

A West Orange man is facing several charges after leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash last weekend.

At 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 19, Livingston Police received a call about an accident on East Northfield Road near Sycamore Avenue. A Mercury Sable had struck a tree, leaving the car disabled in the roadway. The caller stated that two men had exited a crashed vehicle and were walking away from the scene.

Responding officers were given a description of the vehicle’s occupants. Officers Sheena Maldonado and Levecy DeOliveira located and detained two men walking nearby who matched the description that was given.

The Livingston High School boys’ track and field team started their February vacation with record-breaking performances at the Garden State Invitation on Friday, February 18. Held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, it was the team’s last regular season invitational. Many of the athletes finished with season’s best performances, and two school records were broken.

Co-captain Matthew Ho and Ray Oji got the boys started in the 55 meter hurdles, the first event on the inside of the oval. “The two have battled all season in a friendly competition to decide the team’s top hurdler,” explained coach Nancy Petryna. Oji finished first for Livingston with a personal best time of 8.21 and a third place finish overall. Ho also raced well, crossing the line at 8.43 for a fifth place finish. Also competing were ninth graders Kondwani Lwamba (10.00), Nicholas Siao (10.32), and junior Lanz Canent (10.39).

WATER MAIN REPAIRS: Livingston Water Department crews were hard at work on Thursday, February 17, doing water main repairs on Congressional Parkway. Affected areas also included Filmore Avenue, and Jefferson, Adams and Madison Courts. Nathan Kiracofe and GDY Photos

Beginning with the meeting scheduled for Monday, March 7, the Livingston Township Council will again conduct meetings in person at Town Hall. It will mark the first meeting held in person by the governing body since March of 2020.

“It has been a long time coming,” Mayor Ed Meinhardt said. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the chambers and the conference room.”

In addition to being held at Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue, the Council meetings will continue to be livestreamed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page (facebook.com/LivingstonTownshipNJ). There will be no Zoom component to the livestream.

Individuals wishing to participate or ask questions must either attend the meeting in person, or email their comments or questions to livcomments@livingstonnj.org by 4:30 p.m. on the date of the meeting.

Joan Koll Borneman of Livingston died Tuesday, February 8, at home after a long illness.

Born in Jersey City on January 8, 1935, she had lived in Millburn and Short Hills before moving to Livingston.

She was a school nurse for the Millburn School District for over 30 years, retiring in 1997.

Mrs. Borneman was predeceased by her husband, Edmond Borneman, her son, Steven G. Vrahnos and her stepson, Christopher Borneman. She is survived by her son, Donald P. Vrahnos; her daughter-in-law, Barbara J.; and her stepson, Jeffrey Borneman.

Funeral services are being held privately under the direction of Bradley, Smith and Smith of Springfield and Chatham. The family has suggested that donations in Mrs. Borneman’s memory be made to Greenwood Gardens, 274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078.