community news from Livingston

Concern about coronavirus, a constant in the news cycle since December, has resulted in two event cancellations in Livingston.

About two weeks ago, the district cancelled an exchange program with middle school students from China. An unrelated event, the annual Chinese New Year celebration in Livingston, was also cancelled in January.

Superintendent of schools Matthew Block said the decision to postpone the exchange was made in concert with the organizers (the exchange program EduAcross and the YMCA) and local health experts.

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

At the Monday, February 3, regular meeting of the Township Council, members proposed a bond ordinance providing a $2.6 million appropriation for the acquisition of property to preserve open space.

The funds include $130,000 in down payment and $2.47 million for the remainder of the cost. The property is block 2504, lot 23, located at 321 East Cedar Street. It has been referred to as the Strahman property. The ordinance will next be heard at the Monday, February 24, meeting.

On a related note, the Council also passed a resolution creating and appointing members to an ad hoc committee for how to best utilize the two recently-acquired open space properties, the aforementioned Strahman land and the miniature horse farm Licari tract.

At 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, Livingston Police were called to the parking lot of the Aldi Supermarket at 277 Eisenhower Parkway for a car fire. Upon arrival, the police found the car to be fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the car, Phyllis Velardi of Livingston, was located nearby. She told officers that she was sitting in her car when a woman came running over and told her the car was on fire. Velardi was able to get out of the car without any injuries. CJM Photos

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

Richard “Dick” Filippone, 88, of Livingston, died at home on January 16. He was raised inVailsburg and lived in Livingston for 60 years.

He was a Cadillac specialist and active with the Maplewood Lions Club.

Predeceased by his wife, Marilyn, Mr. Filippone is survived by his five children: Carol, Linda, Robert, Catherine and Diane; six grandchildren, and his companion, Joan.

Lucy A. Broomall, 79, dear wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, passed peacefully on Tuesday, the 28th of January, 2020, with her loving family at her bedside.

Funeral services were held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday the 31st of January at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman, located at 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston. A committal service followed at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, New Jersey.

The threat of the coronavirus has left many in the community concerned for their safety. While there is a widespread outbreak in Wuhan, China, risk in the United States is currently considered low. As of press time, there have been no confirmed cases in New Jersey, though earlier this week Governor Phil Murphy announced a state coronavirus task force.

The coronavirus spreads through the air by coughing and sneezing. It can also spread through close personal contact, like shaking hands, as well as touching an object with the virus on it. Much is still unknown about it, though cases have ranged from symptoms similar to the common cold, to death in hundreds of individuals.

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

At the Monday, January 27, conference meeting of the Township Council, the Ad Hoc Plastic Committee discussed a proposed ordinance banning plastic bag use at Livingston businesses, as well as a list of additional regulations. The list included limiting the use of paper bags, Styrofoam, single use plastic utensils, plastic straws, and more. If it felt like déjà vu for those in attendance, that was because those same findings were presented to this same Council last October. In between, the state passed nothing at the end of 2019, which had been referenced as a reason the Council had held off on drafting a town ordinance last fall.

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: This week, Livingston Philanthropies founder and director Jeff Friedman recounts, in his own words, how the Livingston-based charity has obtained 40,000 pairs of socks for the homeless. This past week, LPI delivered more than 5,000 pairs of these socks to its distribution partners and other agencies.
    •    •    •
Through happenstance, I learned of an organization that has thousands of pairs of new men’s socks donated by Bombas Socks. Many Tribune readers have seen Bombas’ commercial spots on television, radio and the internet, offering to donate one pair of socks for every pair sold. It’s all true and is working amazingly well. Bombas has donated millions of pairs of socks to date.
The thought of procuring warm socks was beyond interesting. Knowing that our van was finally coming, I made getting the high-quality hosiery one of my first tasks upon its arrival.

Eugene Levin of Livingston died on January 24. He was born in the Bronx, and lived for many years in West Orange. He owned and operated the Tremont Soda Shop and Scotland Cleaners in Orange.

Mr. Levin was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Japan during the Korean War.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth; his children, Sari (husband David), Craig (wifeWendy), and Abby (husband Wayne); and seven grandchildren.

The funeral was held at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 27.

Memorial donations may be made to the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center.

Howie Kessler died at home on Saturday, January 25.

A 50-year resident of Livingston, Mr. Kessler owned and operated Howard’s Auto Body Supply Company in North Bergen.

He was married to Bobby Kessler for 58 years; and was the father of Wendy Farbstein, Michael Kessler, and Debbie Kessler and the grandfather of four. Mr. Kessler is also survived by two sisters, his twin, Judy Feld, and Evelyn Telesnick.

Memorial donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Afuneral service was held at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 27, followed by burial at B’nai Abraham Memorial Park in Union.