community news from Livingston

LHS PRIDE SHINES AT RUTGERS: The Livingston High School Marching Band performed with three other New Jersey high school bands during the halftime of the recent Illinois at Rutgers football game.

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Essex County officials held a public meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, October 9, to present plans for improvements to Riker Hill Art Park with roughly two dozen neighbors and residents in attendance.

Essex County executive Joseph DiVincenzo noted that a meeting had been held in January to solicit public input on improving the site, which was formerly a Nike missile base and is currently an artists’ colony. Based on neighbors’ concerns and suggestions, a preliminary plan was subsequently developed which calls for renovations to the existing buildings and the creation of a community garden and a scenic overlook. The county has set aside a budget of $4 million to make the improvements. County officials hope to have construction underway by July 1, 2019.

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A man is facing criminal charges after forcefully entering a township home without permission, telling the homeowner it was an “FBI matter.”

At about 7:43 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2, a Torrance Drive homeowner called 911, reporting that a man had entered the house without permission.

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Betty Jane Van Stratton (née Barry), 93, of Seaside Park, died on September 26 in Novato, California. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, October 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals in Seaside Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 27, beginning at 12 noon, at the parish of St. Junipero Serra at St. Catharine of Siena Church in Seaside Park. Mrs. Van Stratton met her first husband, Theodore “Ted” Kent Schuyler, while attending East Orange High School. After marrying, they moved to Rochester, New York and then to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Upon Mr. Schuyler’s death, Mrs. Van Stratton relocated to Livingston where she raised her children, continued her education, and met and married William “Bill” Van Stratton. Mrs. Van Stratton received B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Montclair State University and retired from Montville Regional High School after 17 years of teaching.

The four candidates for the Board of Education – Pamela Chirls, Todd Goren, Ronnie Konner and Rachel Selvin – agreed on seeking what is best for the children of Livingston, but differed over whether experience or freshness will provide the best solutions.

Speaking to a standing room only crowd at the League of Women Voters debate in the Livingston High School chorus room, each candidate claimed to be the person whose passion, experience and vision will best serve the school district.

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The Livingston Fire Department this past week extinguished a truck fire, a shrub fire, and responded to two natural gas leaks.

Truck Fire

On Saturday morning, September 29, a landscaping truck owned by M&J Landscaping of East Hanover caught fire and caused a large explosion on Post Lane. Several engines from the Livingston Fire Department responded, as did Livingston police and other first responders. After extinguishing the fire, the vehicle had to be removed by a flatbed provided by Livingston Collision. No one was hurt, but the vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire.

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SUKKOT, SEASON OF REJOICING: The Temple B’nai Abraham Jewish Learning Program recently hosted a Sukkahfest that celebrated the holiday of Sukkot. The day’s theme was “A Taste of the Adirondacks,” one of Rabbi Cliff Kulwin’s favorite places. Those attending lounged by the temple’s “lake,” fished, played games, did arts and crafts, and watched a magic show near the temple’s sukkah.

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The Livingston Warriors and the Kotchi Tuskers were the winners in women’s and men’s play in the Sanskriti Premier Cricket League.

Women’s Cricket

The Warriors played the Livingston Rookies on Saturday, September 29,. at the Riker Hill School athletic field.

The Rookies batted first and scored 44 runs in their allotted seven overs.

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As the Super Essex Conference (SEC) moved into its fourth week, the Lady Lancers were looking to close out the dual meet season with three more wins in the Liberty Division of the SEC. They would face Mount Saint Dominic, Newark Collegiate and Payne Tech to finalize their season’s dual meet record.

Along with the other harriers, they would also face Mother Nature, busy dumping torrents of rain on the competitors and the grounds. The course filled with small ponds and calf-deep active streams as the athletes set about the task of finishing the SEC season. The racing conditions were tough and, as has happened before, Livingston High School was not at full strength, but the ladies were determined to not to let these distractions matter and to end on a positive note.

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The Livingston Fire Department will once again celebrate the beginning of National Fire Prevention Week with its annual Open House at its South Livingston Avenue headquarters on Sunday, October 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. We encourage all residents to attend and learn more about the people who keep them safe and how to better keep themselves out of harm’s way.

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