Livingston community

Municipal Clerk

For the first time in many years, there has been a shake-up at Livingston’s municipal clerk office, following the retirement of Glenn Turtletaub and the promotion of deputy clerk Carolyn Mazzucco into the head position.

Glenn is retiring after more than 30 years of service to his hometown, including 11 years as municipal prosecutor and 21 years as township clerk. The municipal clerk position is vital to the success of a community’s operations and the functioning of its governing body. During his tenure, there have been dozens of Council members, mayors, and township managers. But through it all, Glenn was always there, steady and rock solid, a veritable lighthouse in a sea of change.

GAME BENEFITS TRIAL BLAZERS: The Livingston High School varsity baseball team hosted Columbia in a game benefiting the Trial Blazers For Kids Foundation on Friday evening, April 29, at Tevlin Field on Okner Parkway. Trial Blazers is a non-profit organization focused on improving treatment options and finding cures for pediatric cancer patients; to donate, visit http://www.trialblazers.org. Both teams were introduced as they lined up on the baselines prior to the national anthem. Above, a donation is presented on behalf of the Lancer baseball program; shown are team captains Scott Schroeder and Ben Hauser, Lily Kestler, Sarah Blatt, Josh Kestler, head coach Mickey Ennis and team captains Nick Slotnick and Brandon Kenney. At right, Josh Kestler throws the ceremonial opening pitch. Don Schwartz Photos

Peter Katramados, 97, of Livingston, died on April 26, 2022.

A Funeral Ceremony was offered on Saturday, April 30, at 11:00 a.m. at Ss. Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 80 Laurel Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068. Entombment followed at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum in East Hanover.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Katramados grew up in Newark, resided in Irvington and settled in Livingston 52 years ago.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy on Midway Island and was a member of the Seabees 33. He was a member of the American Legion Post 440. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Katramados was a claims representative for the Social Security Administration in East Orange.

For many years, he was a parishioner of Ss. Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Church. He was a past president and secretary for AHEPA and Eureka Chapter 52.

It is with a broken heart that we share the news of Jonathan Burstein’s passing on April 24, 2022, in his home on Bainbridge Island, WA, at the age of 45. His death was sudden and unexpected and caused by undetected coronary arteriosclerosis.

Jonathan’s passing leaves a big hole in the heart of his beloved wife Alanna Burstein, and all of his family, friends, and colleagues.

A long-time technologist, entrepreneur, and angel investor in the Seattle area, Jonathan was known professionally for his brilliant mind, fearlessness, ability to solve the hardest problems, and utmost integrity. He was a sought-after technology leader and had a significant impact on some of Seattle’s greatest companies, and the many people he worked with, over the past two and a half decades.

Jean Althea Harris passed away peacefully on April 22, 2022, at her home in Livingston, NJ, at the age of 96. Her beloved husband Clifford Earl Harris pre-deceased Jean in 2016.

Born in Belleville, NJ, Jean’s parents were Russell and Alice Smith. Jean was a life long resident of New Jersey, and lived in Livingston since 1968 with her husband, Clifford. Jean was the last surviving child of Russell and Alice Smith. Jean’s siblings, Elwood, Nancy, George, William and Russell, predeceased her.

Although Jean and Clifford had no children of their own, they had numerous relatives, some who have passed on, and many loving and extended relatives who have survived them. Most of the surviving relatives live in New Jersey, others are in Texas and California.

Carolyn Mazzucco, deputy township clerk for nearly four years, was appointed by the Township Council to be Livingston’s new township clerk at the Monday, April 25, meeting.

Glenn Turtletaub announced his retirement last week. The township plans to honor him at a later date.

Mazzucco earned her registered municipal clerk certification in 2018. Before joining Livingston, she worked as both the technical assistant construction official and the land-use coordinator in Mendham Borough. She is a graduate of the University of Rochester and is familiar with working with local government, having worked in municipal banking in New York City for many years. She was also one of the original initiators and the co-chair of a nonprofit education foundation in Long Hill Township.

Council member Shawn Klein said that Mazzucco has done “a wonderful job” as deputy clerk and he looked forward to her serving Livingston for many years to come.

Boy Scout Troop 16 of Livingston recently held a Court of Honor to elevate five members to the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank available in Boy Scouting. The new Eagle Scouts include Henry Dagistino, Matt Ferraro, Mason Levitt, Gene Lu, and Manav Patel.

The Tribune will be featuring one of these Eagle Scouts each week.

Mason Levitt

Mason Levitt started as a Cub Scout in 2010, providing him with an opportunity to expand his love of the outdoors, camping and building things, while meeting new friends, many of which successfully made the journey to Eagle Scout with him and were celebrating at the Court of Honor.

The Livingston Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the 2022-2023 budget at their April 26 meeting. The meeting was a hybrid format held in-person and on Zoom. It can also be viewed on the Livingston Public Schools Facebook page.

Superintendent Matt Block and business administrator Michael Davinson gave a brief review of the budget before opening it up to discussion by the Board and public comments.

One change agreed upon by the Board was the transfer of funds for three new technology coaches from salary and benefits to a contingency account. The account will contain about $240,000 and can be accessed at a later date if necessary with Board approval. Board president Seth Cohen stated that this is simply a transfer of funds and it will not affect the budget total. He also explained the reasoning behind the decision.

The Township Council, at its meeting on Monday night, unanimously passed a resolution to reject proposed developments by Esplanade Livingston, LLC and 570 West Mt. Pleasant Associates, LLC, from inclusion in the township’s affordable housing settlement agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center.

The developers had requested inclusion of multi-housing projects sought for two residential apartment buildings, with a combined total of 372 units, in the township’s affordable housing plan.

LHS VARSITY BOYS’ LACROSSE TEAM SPORTS 6-1 RECORD: The Lancers defeated Hanover Park, 13-8, away on Wednesday, April 20, and lost to Columbia, 9-5, on the home turf on Thursday, April 21. Above, Danny Grossbard, Lancer #13, vies for the draw ball; below, Lancer defender Evan Lastella, #34, works the Columbia attack player as goalie Gavin Coyne, #23, sets in the net. Don Schwartz Photos