latest news from Livingston

Last week, longtime Livingston Public Schools Board of Education member Ronnie Konner announced that she will not seek reelection after her term expires at the end of the year. We sincerely thank her for her decades of service to our school district and its students. She has compiled a long list of accomplishments through the years, and will leave big shoes to fill.

But we trust that there are many qualified people in town who can fill those shoes. So, we are asking them to consider running for a seat on the Board of Education this fall.

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

Elise Austin, right, director of the Willing Heart Community Care Center’s Clothing Boutique, “offers praise” as Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) volunteers deliver Livingston’s latest bounty of donations. “Along with facilities coordinator Luis Martinez (at left), a long-time LPI friend and supporter, Mrs. Austin receives new and from-the-cleaners men’s and women’s clothing for distribution to the profoundly poor,” notes LPI’s founder, Jeff Friedman. “We invite Livingston residents to visit the LPI website at njhomeless.org or send an email to njhomeless@aol.com to learn how to help the homeless of Essex County.” 

Veteran school board member Ronnie Konner announced Monday that she will not seek another term on the Livingston Board of Education after 16 cumulative years of service.

Konner’s current service on the Board began in 2014, shortly after she retired from teaching. She had previously served for nine years, from 1983 to 1992. She has been president of the Board four times.

Konner said that she believes the district is at a point where some of the things that she hoped to see have been accomplished, and said she is ready to be doing other things.

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

Livingston High School graduate Ryan Cardona was drafted this week by the Cincinnati Reds baseball team.

On Tuesday, July 13, the Reds selected Cardona in the 19th round of the MLB draft; pick number 570 overall.

“I’m so happy for Ryan. He’s a tremendous pitcher and a terrific young man,” said Mickey Ennis, who was Cardona’s Livingston Lancers varsity baseball coach. “He has worked extremely hard to get to this point. I’m excited to see where this journey takes him.”

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

Council members discussed the new DPW garage and restaurant parking, among other topics, at the Monday, July 12, Township Council meeting.

DPW Garage

The Council remains in “wait and see” mode on the material costs, including steel, needed to build the new Department of Public Works garage on Industrial Parkway. The costs are high due to the pandemic, but dropping.

Currently, “phase one” of the project is underway, with DPW workers clearing the site. Township manager Barry Lewis said the town will soon go out to bid for site improvements that can be done while waiting on building costs. These would include installation of fuel tanks and the salt dome.

“Progress is being made,” Lewis said.

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

Council members passed a blanket “opt out” to prohibit all classes of cannabis use licenses in town at its Monday, July 12 meeting. The Council also later released a statement containing a list of questions it would like to see answered before reassessing which classes of cannabis it may permit in Livingston. In the statement, the Council said that it was “likely that some licenses will be permitted” once the Council has answers to their questions.

Near-daily rainstorms and frequent, violent thunderstorms have taken their toll on Livingston in the past week. The Livingston Fire Department was busy responding to downed trees and wires, lightning strikes, and flooded basements.

On Tuesday, July 6, firefighters went to 11 West Drive on a report of a tree branch that had fallen into wires. The wires turned out to be telecommunications wires rather than electrical ones. Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel removed the branch.

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

DISTRICT 8 CHAMPIONS: The Livingston Little League 9/10 Williamsport baseball team captured the District 8 tournament championship with a 4-0 record, finishing with a 10-0 win over Nutley East. Shown here, the team includes Manu Silva, Tanish Reikhy, Vivaan Gandhi, Praj Kumar, Matty Beeney, Jack Uliano, Manny Bahler, Nick Forgione, Blake Simon, Alan Gholston, Alexander Mujoski, Matthew Gillock, and Liam Zotti. At rear are coaches Greg Bushwell, Dave McLaughlin, and Mike Sorrentino. The team advances to the Sectional Tournament, which will begin in Hackensack on Sunday, July 18.

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

Stuart Arnold Blum of Norfolk, Virginia, formerly of Livingston, died July 7 at the age of 62.

He was born to Stanley and Marilyn Blum on November 25, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Livingston High School in 1976.

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Jaime Spiegel-Blum, and his mother, Marilyn Blum.

Mr. Blum is survived by his children, Ian Spiegel-Blum and his wife, Elizabeth, and Noah Spiegel-Blum; his father, Stanley Blum; his brother, Michael Blum and his wife, Benita; his girlfriend, Christina Brennell; and many friends, including his Olive Garden family.

A graveside service was held for him at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk on Tuesday, July 13.

Victor P. Valente, 82, of Hyde Park, New York, formerly of Livingston, died on July 11.

He worked at Newark and La-Guardia Airports for American Airlines, starting in the freight department and eventually retiring as a passenger services supervisor. After retiring, he and his late wife, Victoria, moved to Hyde Park to help their daughter with her business.

Valente was born in Newark, where he attended East Side High School. He lived in Livingston and Naples, Florida, before moving to Hyde Park eight years ago.

Valente was predeceased by his wife, Victoria, and his sister and brother-in-law, Walter and Aurora MacFarlane. He is survived by his daughter, Valerie Valente, and her partner, Eric Miller; his sister, Aida Souza; and four nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Reilly Bonner Funeral Home, 801 D Street in Belmar.