community news from Livingston

Livingston High School will present its spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress, March 14 through 16. Performances will be held in the LHS auditorium on Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15, at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, March 16, at 2 and 7 p.m.

The musical comedy is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fable “The Princess and the Pea.”

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Livingston Public Schools honored its ten “Teachers of the Year” for 2018-19 on Monday, March 11, at its annual recognition ceremony at Heritage Middle School.

“Tonight is a special night because we get to recognize and support the people in this district who do the most – our teachers,” said Board president Buddy August.

This year’s elementary school recipients are Erin Espino, first grade teacher at Burnet Hill School; Tracey Dunleavy, fifth grade teacher at Collins School; Lisa Fischer, third grade teacher at Harrison School; Bridget Marshall, fifth grade teacher at Hillside School; Samantha Bannon, third grade teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School; and Geralyn Lacourtna, reading specialist at Riker Hill School.

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Average School Tax Expected to Rise by $89:

Several highlights of the 2019-20 school budget, and three presentations related to the construction of the budget, were presented at the March 11 school board meeting.

The average tax increase, on an average home in Livingston that is assessed at $600,000, will be $89, according to business administrator Steven Robinson. “That is the lowest increase I can remember,” he said.

State aid to schools was announced on March 7, he added, and Livingston’s general fund aid was increased by $475,247. “General Fund aid has increased by almost $1.7 million from 2017-18 to today,” he noted.

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The Livingston High School boys’ varsity basketball team honored its seniors during Senior Night festivities on Tuesday evening, February 19, at the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. Each senior player and team manager was introduced with his/her parents, presented with floral bouquets, and photographed. Shown above, honored senior varsity players included Jack Ernst, Fil Tosic, Ryan Caruso, Will Farrell, Chris Boulin, and Joe Cullen. Below, senior managers Rachel Leibel and Sabrina Rosenbaum proudly display their roses.

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Evelyn was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School. She was an ardent Zionist who was instrumental in the formation of the first Young Judea chapter in her neighborhood. She spent her summers training to make Aliyah at the Zionist Organization of America farm in Poughkeepsie, New York. She participated in packing “farm equipment” on the Brooklyn docks that was shipped to the Land of Israel in 1948.

Evelyn married her childhood sweetheart, Burton Schneck, in 1952, and once wed, they emigrated from Brooklyn to Long Island and ultimately to Livingston, New Jersey.

Over the next 50 years, she raised her three sons, saw her grandchildren born and grown to adulthood, and became a canasta legend throughout the state.

Three members of the Livingston track and field squad traveled to the Bennett Center in Toms River to compete in the prestigious Meet of Champions. The boys’ meet was held on Saturday February 23, and the girls’ meet on Sunday, February 24.

The All Groups or Meet of Champions (MOC) is the final leg of the New Jersey State Tournament. To get to this point, an athlete or relay squad had to finish in the top six in the State Sectional Championships. There are 16 throughout the state.

The second leg pits the top six sectional winners against each other in the State Group Championships. Again, the top six finishers get to move on.

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Harold R. Rogers died in Livingston on Monday, February 25, at the age of 89.

Born in East Orange, Mr. Rogers was a long-time resident of Livingston, and worked as a lumber salesman for Georgia Pacific for many years. He served in the National Guard for seven years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 201 in Livingston, the Livingston Old Guard, the LivingTones chorus, and the Livingston AARP.

Mr. Rogers was predeceased by his daughter, Lynn Davies. He is survived by his wife, Florence; his children, Richard and Joi Stauffer (Randy); his brother, Ronald Rogers (Patricia); five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 1, at the Presbyterian Church of Livingston. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that donations in Mr. Rogers’ name may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Livingston.

Craig Foster Parker Sr. of Livingston, died Monday, February 25. He was 60 years old.

A life-long resident of Livingston, he was the son of the late Howard and Frances Parker.

Mr. Parker was a dispatcher for the Livingston Police Department, and, earlier, worked for the Livingston Water Department.

He was a volunteer firefighter for 43 years, moving through the ranks to Deputy Chief and working with the Exempt Fireman’s Association.

Also a Mason with Livingston Lodge #11 for 28 years, Mr. Parker served as Lodge Master in 1998 and Right Worshipful Grand Pursuivant in 2007. He also sat on the board of directors and held a number of other positions within the Lodge.

He is survived by his son, Craig Parker, Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri; and his siblings, Carol Selitto (Michael) of Whippany and Howard Parker, Jr. of Parsippany. He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Sivartsen.

This week, Pastor Peter C. Picos of Northfield Baptist Church has announced the sad news that the congregation has decided to sell the church building, and the church will cease most operations once the building is sold.

This will be a huge loss, not just to its members, but to the entire community. Northfield Baptist Church has been closely entwined with Livingston’s history since the town’s earliest days, and its founding dates back to before the seven hamlets it served were incorporated into a single township in 1813.

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While the West Essex Tribune’s regular readers will not notice any changes to this week’s issue, some are picking up our paper for the first time. This week’s edition is the first of three newspapers this year that we will send to every residence in Livingston. So for those who are new, allow us to tell you why this paper is worth reading as you wait for that bagel to finish toasting.

We who make the Tribune are proud to work and live in a town that values community reporting, and we do our best to be an essential part of your weekly media diet. While there are many other places to get news on a state and national level, no other newspaper exclusively covers Livingston. We cover the Council meetings, highlight local residents, and provide updates on what is happening in our schools. We make sure no appointment, resolution, or budget goes unchecked. If there is a national story, we will tell you how it affects Livingston.