latest news from Livingston

The Livingston High School wrestling team competed at the NJSIAA District XI Wrestling Tournament the weekend of February 18 and 19 at Morristown High School, taking first place; and this past weekend, competed in the Region 3 Tournament at West Orange High School. There, five Lancers qualifed for the State Tournament, to be held next weekend in Atlantic City.

In addition, head coach Dan Brill was named Coach of the Year at both the District XI and the Region 3 Tournaments.

District XI Tournament

At the District XI Tournament, the Lancers earned team title honors and won their first district title as a team since 2011. “As the coaching staff told the kids, this is another mark they’re leaving behind with their legacy,” noted head coach Dan Brill.

In 2020, Brian Boyle was named Livingston UNICO’s 65th annual Citizen of the Year. “After two cancelled events due to the pandemic, the ceremony to honor this truly amazing man will finally be held on April 9, 2022,” said UNICO’s Matt Ladolcetta.

Boyle will be honored for his many years of volunteer service to the community and the nation at UNICO’s 65th annual Citizens of the Year awards brunch on Saturday, April 9, at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover.

Prior to moving to Livingston, Boyle was president of the Lions’ Club and a Little League coach in South Orange.

Boyle and his wife of 48 years, Maria, have lived in Livingston for 37 years and raised three sons here. He was a volunteer Little League, soccer, and basketball coach. Today, the Boyles have three grandchildren and a fourth due this month. Boyle notes he is “grateful for all the nice people, all the volunteerism in town, and the many activities offered.”

Kaushik Mukkavilli of Livingston Boy Scout Troop 12 earned his Eagle Scout rank, and his Eagle Court of Honor was held February 5, at the Livingston Senior/Community Center.

Mukkavilli began his Scouting journey when he was in fourth grade in 2015, joining Livingston Pack 16’s Webelos Den 2. Kaushik earned his Webelos rank in February, 2016 and progressed through the Arrow of Light rank, which he achieved in March of 2017.

Mukkavilli bridged over to Troop 12 to continue as Boy Scout. After he earned his rank of First Class in June, 2018, his leadership position was that of an instructor. He served as a Patrol Leader for four terms. During his years as Patrol Leader, he took care of his patrol members and worked toward advancing in his ranks.

By Jenna Sundel

The Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment approved seven applications at their Thursday, February 24, meeting.

The meeting was held on Zoom and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

Amendment to Site Plan

The first application was submitted by Crystal Plaza for an amendment to the preliminary and final site plan at 305-307 West Northfield Road. The applicant sought approval to install a 200 K W emergency generator.

Michael Lanzafama, the project’s engineer, said the generator would allow people to evacuate the event venue safely in case of a power outage.

HIGH VOLTAGE: Linemen from Jersey Central Power and Light work on high voltage lines on the eastbound side of Route 10 at Walnut Street during the evening rush hour on Wednesday, February 23. Livingston Police closed Walnut Street and the right lane on the eastbound side of Route 10 near the intersection so that the work could proceed. Jerry Siskind Photo

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.”