latest news from Livingston

The Livingston High School theater department’s production of “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood” will open this Thursday and run through Sunday. Performance dates are Thursday and Friday, November 18 and 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 20, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, November 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The show will be simultaneously livestreamed during the 7 p.m. performances on both November 19 and 20.

Directing the play will be theater arts teacher Scott Patteson. The play is being produced by special arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. The show, written by Middletown,

Thirty-two years ago, a young Englishman named Paul Sales found himself stranded at Newark Airport and taken in overnight by a kindly Livingston family. Now, three decades later, he is seeking to reconnect with them. The problem is, he cannot remember their surname, and the contact information has been lost for many years. He is hoping the Tribune’s readers can help him track down them down.

Sales, then 23 or 24, was at the time “going through my wanderlust backpacking stage,” he recalls. “By circumstances that are too long too explain, I found myself stranded and unable to get a flight back to London until the following day. It seemed like a rough 24 hours in Newark Airport was ahead of me until I could get a Virgin Atlantic flight home. It was at this point some true guardian angels came into the situation.”

During the past week, the Livingston volunteer Fire Department responded to a car fire, two motor vehicle accidents, a stalled elevator, and four reports of smoke.

Car Fire

On Tuesday, November 9, the LFD responded to the scene of a car on fire on Route 280 westbound at exit 6. The car was fully involved by the time firefighters from both the Livingston and Roseland Departments arrived. The fire was extinguished without incident, and no injuries were reported.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Livingston firefighters also responded to two motor vehicle accidents. On Tuesday, November 9, a car hit a utility pole at the intersection of Shrewsbury Drive and North Baums Court, snapping the pole in half. The battery cable was disconnected and the car was towed from the scene. Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) was notified.

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: Livingston resident Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), explains, in his own words how his charity works to aid the homeless of Essex County.
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Not too long ago, before the unfortunate pandemic that won’t really go away, conditions for the homeless and very poor were beyond challenging. Cue the pandemic and then send in the worst inflation seen in a decade. The result for families living below the poverty line or folks existing out on the streets is not surprising… their heartache has progressed in sync from terrible to worse and finally worst. Life is a nightmare for populations with no means at all.

Physical and organizational aspects of the proposed new athletic turf field to be located at “the pit” behind the LHS football field and near Littel People’s Park were discussed Tuesday evening, November 9, at the Livingston Board of Education meeting.

Business administrator Steven Robinson responded to questions that the Board had posed at the October 19 meeting.

While the Board has not yet committed to the project, Robinson said, “The game plan would be to go out to bid in December or January.”

If the process is successful, the bid could be awarded in February, and construction could take place between May and November.

He also said that the impact of lighting on the immediate neighbors would be minimal.

The Livingston High School girls’ cross country team qualified for the Group 4 State Championship race thanks to its performance at the sectional championship, held at Garret Mountain in Woodland Park on Saturday, November 6.

Seventeen teams were represented in the sectional race, the first step of the three tier State Championship tournament. LHS put seven girls on the starting line. Only the top five teams and top ten individuals would qualify for the next level of competition, the Group 4 State Championship. “The squad was determined to not let the season end quite yet,” said LHS coach Dave Czeizinger. “The favorite was a nationally ranked squad, and the field included some other state ranked teams. The Lancers, though probably overlooked by many, were determined to get a top five spot and keep their season going.”

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY DIWALI: Aerial fireworks capped the Sanskriti of New Jersey celebration of Diwali on Friday night at the Livingston Oval. “Diwali is celebrated by millions of Indians all over the world irrespective of religious affiliation, a celebration of good over evil and a path toward light from darkness,” said Neeta Juvekar who, with Nilesh Mhatre and Punam Bhargava, organized the event. Police Chief Gary Marshuetz estimated that close to 1,200 people witnessed the show. Sweets (mithai) were shared, children waved bright sparklers, and volunteers handled ground-based firecrackers.

Livingston Police officers are investigating the theft of a car from a resident’s garage last week.

At 8:45 p.m. on Friday, November 5, a Lexus was stolen from the garage of a Ross Road home. The theft was discovered when Livingston police officer Jaleesa LaSure was patrolling the neighborhood just after midnight on Saturday morning.

Officer LaSure saw that two garage doors to the home were open and stopped to investigate. Upon speaking with the homeowner, it was determined that one car had been stolen from the garage.

The thief was able to access a garage door remote from an unlocked car in the driveway. The Lexus was then driven out of the garage using the key fob that had been left in the car.

The Lexus was located at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, by the Newark Police Department, parked and unoccupied.

The Livingston Township Council discussed Open Space and housingrelated ordinances at its Monday, November 8, meeting. The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

At the start of the meeting, the Council was read a letter from resident Ronald Schlein asking members to ban gas powered leaf blowers in town. Mayor Shawn Klein said that it was a great idea to consider. Council member Al Anthony noted that the Livingston Environmental Commission is already in discussions on the matter and plans to provide recommendations on use of electric leaf blowers in the near future.

Carolyn “Connie” M. Scardena (née Doyle), a resident of Livingston since 1958, died on Tuesday, November 2.

Mrs. Scardena had been a long distance operator for Bell Telephone, and a sales representative at Lord and Taylor.

Mrs. Scardena was predeceased by her husband, Joseph L., and six siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her children: Kathleen Leong (Roland), Stephen (Ellen), Joseph (Sally), Mary Ellen Stefanak (Frank), and Leonard; eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Also surviving her are her sister, Irene Barclay, and her brother-in-law, Peter Shannon.

A funeral Mass was offered on Tuesday, November 9, at St. Philomena’s Church, Livingston. Cremation was private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Scardena’s name may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.