community news from Livingston

The Livingston Board of Education will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed 2021-22 school budget on Tuesday, May 4, at 7:15 p.m.

This will be the public’s final opportunity to ask questions and comment about the budget before it is finalized.

The Board had approved a tentative school budget for 2021-22 on March 15, with a tax increase of $87, based on the average assessed home of $700,000. The budget was published as a public notice in last week’s Tribune.

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SPARKS FLY: The Fire Department held a training drill using an old Livingston Board of Education school bus that was donated to practice techniques involving mass casualty incidents, such as school bus extrications, according to Fire Chief Chris Mullin. “Members trained in creating access points to the interior of the bus when conventional doors were inaccessible due to simulated damage,” Chief Mullin said. “Members trained in the use of rescue air-bags that were used to lift the bus off the ground to rescue trapped victims. Many rescue tools and techniques were reviewed and practiced during this hands-on drill.” Craig Melhorn Photo.

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Nicholas Huth, a former resident of Livingston, died on April 22 after a battle with cancer. He was 85 years old.

old. Born in Manhattan and raised in Clifton, Mr. Huth lived in Livingston and Stamford, Connecticut before moving to Manasquan 24 years ago.

moving to Manasquan 24 years ago. Mr. Huth graduated from Clifton High School in 1953 and from the Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) in 1957 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was active in varsity sports and in Pi Kappa Phi.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Air Force, Mr. Huth served as a navigator in the Strategic Air Command for three years. He worked in sales at IBM for 37 years and then as a consultant.

Mr. Huth was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary (Harte); his sister Margie Mahoney; and his companion, Sue Warnick.

On Thursday, April 22, the Livingston High School girls’ track and field team opened its spring season at home against Bloomfield.

The field events got things underway with the javelin. Freshman Sophia Scharf threw 59’02” for a third place.

In the 400 meter intermediate hurdles, Kylie Prendergast won in 1:11. Captain Maggie Siao was in next in 1:15 and Annie Shen (1:17) completed the sweep, earning nine points for the Lancers.

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The Livingston High School varsity softball team has jumped out to a 4-0 start, including wins over two stateranked teams, #16 Cedar Grove and #4 St. John Vianney.

Livingston 12, Cedar Grove 0

The Lancers opened up with a 12-0 victory at Cedar Grove. Sophomore pitcher Caitlin Mullen picked up her varsity win as she struck out 11 and only allowed two hits. Senior Deja Robinson started the rally with two outs and the bases loaded with a triple to the right-center gap that scored three. She also had two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and scored two runs. Sophomore Katie Harrell and junior Guilia Wilson scored three runs with two stolen bases apiece, senior Hailey Reuter walked twice with two runs and a stolen base, and senior Nathalia DiIanni went two-for-five with a run and a RBI.

This past Sunday, Livingston Sings returned to our screens. It was billed as an anniversary show “celebrating the arts and acts of kindness,” one year after the original event brought the community together for a cause in a time of stress and uncertainty.

This year’s event again benefitted Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), an affiliate of Healthy Community Healthy Youth. Last year’s show raised more than $25,000 for the cause.

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While we are on the topic of graduations, we should note that our annual full color, pull out keepsake Livingston High School graduation section will be published this year on July 1, 2021. As usual, this section will feature photographs of all the members of the LHS Class of 2021. The section is always one of our most popular editions of the year, and we look forward to putting it together and helping our high school graduates mark a huge milestone in their lives.

We assume that there will be an outdoor graduation ceremony again this year, and we hope we will be permitted to attend and take candid photos of the event, to include in this special edition.

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Just as they do at this time each year, college graduation announcements are starting to come in. As a result, the Tribune staff has received some inquiries from parents about how they can share their good news with their neighbors.

While we believe it is our job to educate our readers about the major news and events concerning Livingston each week, the Tribune is also here to publicize family milestones such as births, deaths, weddings, religious celebrations, and other important personal achievements. As a result, we are happy to publish the news of a graduation in your family – at no charge. Information should be submitted in writing by mail to P.O. Box 65, Livingston, NJ 07039; by fax at 973-992-7015; or by e-mail at WestEssexTribune@gmail.com.

On April 15, 2021, Rupert “Rup” Rieger lost his battle with Stage 4 COPD in Arizona at the age of 60.

Born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey, he attended St. Joseph’s School and then West Orange High School.

As the son of Meinrad “Jo,” they ran M.J. Rieger and Son Painting and Decorating. Rupert also followed in his father’s love of snow skiing. The family belonged to the German Ski Club of New York. At the age of 16, Rupert became the Men’s Club Champion. Together, they skied the Northeast, the Rockies and even the Alps.

Rupert was predeceased by his parents, Meinrad and Elsie (Spindler). He leaves behind two sisters, Elsie Dunn of Camp Verde, Arizona, and Margie Rieger of Livingston, New Jersey. He cherished his daughter, Diane Mejia and his son, Rupert, Jr. Both reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the grandfather to both a granddaughter and a grandson. He had moved to Las Vegas in 1994 and later resided in Camp Verde, Arizona.

Kathleen Joyce Anderson, a 1984 graduate of Livingston High School, died on April 22 at her home in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The daughter of Walter and Dorothy Joyce of Livingston, Kathy was a stand-out Lancer athlete, who was later inducted into the Big L Hall of Fame. She was 54.

Kathy was married to John Anderson for the past 30 years, and they raised their four children in Livingston and Avon-by-the-Sea, before recently moving to Asbury Park. She is survived by her husband and children, John and his wife Michaella of Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter Kaitlyn of Boston; Sean, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Ryan, a student at Stockton State College. She found special joy and pride in watching their exploits in lacrosse, field hockey, bowling and baseball and successes in college and careers.