latest news from Livingston

The Livingston Police Department recently held its inaugural Junior Police Academy. The one week event was almost cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but, noted Police Chief Gary Marshuetz, “I am pleased to report a successful week. It was nice to have an in-person interactive camp, which exposed our youth to public service. Special thanks to our Community Policing Unit and the officers here who assisted with teaching and sharing their specialties. Also a thank you to the Livingston Fire Department and other participating law enforcement agencies.”

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Katherine A. Murphy died in her Livingston home on Thursday, July 16. She was 84 years old.

Ms. Murphy was born in Jersey City, where she lived through high school. She later married and raised her three children in Livingston. She began working part-time at Chubb Insurance in 1972 and worked her way through the ranks, eventually becoming a vice president.

After retirement in 1998, she volunteered as treasurer for the AARP, and delivered meals to seniors through Motor Meals.

She was predeceased by her brother, James Nurge.

Ms. Murphy is survived by her children, Jeannine Grabowski and her husband, Paul, of West Orange; Kristine Murphy of Monmouth Beach; and James Murphy and his wife, Karen, of Annandale; her brother, William Nurge; and four grandchildren.

The Last Dance Tournament was envisioned as a chance for New Jersey high school baseball players who missed out on their spring season due to the COVID-19 pandemic to compete one last time.

The 222-team tournament is being played throughout New Jersey through the end of July.

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Walter (Walt) Alfredo Aguirre of Livingston New Jersey, passed away on July 16. He was 51.

Walter was born in San Salvador, El Salvador in 1968. He graduated from Randolph High School. He enjoyed fishing, roller skating, going to the beach and being a father to his beautiful daughters.

Walter is survived by his wife, Christine Aguirre; mother, Gloria Mendoza; daughters, Lia Ferranti, Joelle RoseAguirre and Jianna Bella Aguirre; brothers, Stanley Aguirre and Rafael Garciamendoza; sister, Josephine Garcia; and other family and friends.

At the family’s request, all services will be private.

KEEPING COOL: With temperatures in the 90s and high humidity resulting in “real feel” temperatures around 100°, this family jumps into Haines Memorial Pool on Sunday afternoon, July 19. Jerry Siskind Photo

As we enter month five since Livingston recorded its first COVID-19 case, and as we surpass 500 total cases (after repeatedly passing that threshold, then dropping back under it over the past few weeks as cases were recategorized into other towns), it appears that the township’s daily numbers have begun to taper off, at least for the time being. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent findings that there are roughly ten times as many cases of the virus in the United States as have been confirmed, that could mean as many as 5,000 Livingston residents have, or have had, COVID-19. That would be about one in every six people in town.

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Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies Inc. (LPI) this week elaborated on where donations to the Livingston-based charity are going.
“As regular Tribune readers know, LPI has been providing cases of bread, bottled water and food items to the homeless and profoundly poor through our Newark distribution associates,” he noted. “The entire effort continues to be funded by altruistic Livingston residents through their kind donations.”
The daily survival needs of Essex County residents living below the poverty line, he continued, “is stunning. Aside from food insecurity, which is primary, the next priority for the poor is caring for their families in other ways. What about the infants and small children living in poverty? What about their needs? What are they to do?”

Jack Devon Nathan of Livingston passed away suddenly on July 3, 2020. Jack was 19 years old. He is survived by his mother, Bradi Harrison of Livingston; his father, David Nathan of Livingston; and his sister, Drew Nathan. He is also survived by his step-mother, Ali Nathan; his step-brother, Connor Kogen; and his grandparents, Harvey and Nancy Harrison of Loveladies, New Jersey, and Lynne and Les Nathan of Westbrook, Connecticut.

Jack was a rising junior at the University of Denver and a 2018 graduate of Livingston High School. He was an avid snowboarder and loving friend. Jack was also the founder of HappyJack (www.happyjacksworld.com) an apparel brand that featured his distinct art and is dedicated to raising awareness to mental health issues. Under Jack’s guidance, HappyJack donated thousands of dollars to the Child Mind Institute.

As of Tuesday afternoon, July 7, the Essex County health department has reported that a total of 502 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19. 68 of those residents have died as a result of the virus.

Compared to the same time last week, that is an eight case increase, with one additional death.

Town Hall and other municipal buildings are expected to open next Monday, July 20. Protective measures, including hand sanitizing stations, Plexiglas windows, and guidelines on where to stand, will be in place. The buildings will be open for the public to conduct business; other activities, like public meetings, will still be held online for the foreseeable future.

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Jamison Scala, a 2001 graduate of Livingston High School, has been hunkering down in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic. He moved there shortly after graduating from Temple University with a degree in communications.

Scala loves the California sunshine and lifestyle, even during the pandemic, yet remains very fond of his home town , which he sometimes describes as “Exit 145.”

Scala’s first professional job in LA was on the pilot season of “Deal or No Deal,” after which he spent two years at E! as a producer for “Live from the Red Carpet” and “The Daily 10.” He then decided to segue from TV production to acting.

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