Livingston community

Last Wednesday, March 30, a new single-family home was dedicated in town, constructed through Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark. Work on 24 Burnet Street began several years ago and is now home to the Winston family, mother, Keisha, and her three children.

Over the past few years, affordable housing has been a contentious issue in town, as an agreement with Fair Share Housing Center (made to satisfy Livingston’s affordable housing obligation under the Mt. Laurel Doctrine) has resulted in the approval of several housing developments that are largely unwanted by neighbors of these areas. The agreement was reached to save the township from future unwanted development as a result of “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, where a developer cites the ability to create affordable housing as a way to force construction of a much larger project, and the township’s Council, Planning, and Zoning Boards lose control over what is built.

LIVINGSTON LITTLE LEAGUE AND SOFTBALL opened for the season with special ceremonies on Saturday, April 2, at the Peter J. Cilenti Complex on the Treat Field. The event was highlighted by a carnival and ceremonies on the pitching mound. The Opening Day Ceremony was attended by members of the Township Council and Little League and Softball Board members, and baseball and softball players and parents. Shown here, top left, Little Leaguers salute the flag during the National Anthem. Above, center, Little League and Softball president Pat Ippolito salutes retiring board member Tim Foley. Foley directed the snack bar during his 17 years of volunteer service. Above, right, the Cyclone softball team is ready to open the season. The team includes Jordan Guralnick, Isabella Lenza, Milly Weisberg, Harper Good, Sadie Gill, and Andie Gill, along with coaches Jesse Good, Scott Weisberg, and Joe Gill. Don Schwartz Photos

Marilyn Olin of Livingston died Monday, March 28. Born June 6, 1931, she was 91 years old.

Arrangements are being handled by the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel. Memories and expressions of sympathy for the Olin family may be shared at www.bernheimapterkreitzman.com.

All eight of Livingston High School’s National Merit semifinalists have advanced to the finalist stage in the prestigious annual academic competition. The students are Andrew Qian, Shourya Bansal, Daniel Siegal, Arthur Zang, Kate Pun, Joshua Faber, Alan Wu, and Kush Vachher. LHS principal Danielle Rosenzweig recently presented certificates to the finalists to commemorate this achievement.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

VARSITY BASEBALL SCRIMMAGESWITH PASSAIC VALLEY: The Lancers scrimmaged with Passaic Valley on Wednesday, March 23, on the Oval. The home opener is set for Friday, April 1, against Millburn. Above, Lancer Alec Mistretta dives toward home plate trying to score against the Hornets. Don Schwartz Photo

The owner of an average assessed home in Livingston of $700,000 will see an increase of 1.12 percent, or $171, on their annual tax bill in the school district’s tentative budget for the 2022-23 academic year.

The tentative budget was adopted last Tuesday, March 22, for submission to the County, which has until April 20 to approve it.

Discussion on the budget will continue at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 5, which will be held virtually and in person.

Members of the public may also ask questions and share their thoughts at a virtual public forum on the budget that will take place on Thursday, April 14, at 5 p.m.

The district will hold a public hearing on the budget at the Board of Education meeting on April 26. That is the last time that changes may be made to the budget.

The Tax Levy and the Cap

The actual tax levy, inclusive of debt service, is $120 million, $1.3 million more than in 2021-22.

As of Tuesday, March 29, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 5,540 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March of 2020.

94 of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 36 new cases, with no additional deaths. In the past month, there have been 143 cases.

The state currently lists no active cases within the township’s long term care (LTC) facilities.

County and State

Cases are steadily starting to rise in the state as the BA.2 omicron subvariant has become the dominant strain of the virus in the state.

In Essex County overall, there were 194,109 total confirmed positive cases as of Tuesday. At least 3,282 county residents have died from complications related to COVID-19 as of that time. An additional 17,584 cases and 311 deaths are listed as probable.

VIETNAM WAR VETERANS HONORED: National Vietnam War Veterans Day was honored in Livingston with a ceremony at Memorial Park on the Oval on Tuesday, March 29. Dozens of elected officials, first responders, and members of the public braved freezing cold temperatures to honor Livingston’s veterans during the half hour ceremony, during which time several residents shared their experiences both in wartime and postwar. MI Photos

Denise V. Taddeo, 56 of Florham Park died on March 5.

Raised in Livingston, she was a 1984 graduate of Livingston High School. She attended Montclair State College, and earned a post graduate degree in counseling. Ms. Taddeo was an adjunct Professor at Morris County College. More recently, she served as Health Coach for The Glitter Cookie, LLC.

She is survived by her mother, Nell Taddeo, as well as her sister, nieces and nephew. Donations can be made in her memory to the ASPCA.

Robert D. Bier, of Warren, formerly of Livingston, died Friday, March 25, at Overlook Medical Center after a battle with cancer. He was 73 years old.

Mr. Bier is survived by his wife, Cynthia Bier; his son, Adam Bier; his three daughters, Mellissa Bier and her husband, Jeremy Sziklay, Yohannan Bier and her husband, Elmo, and Naomi Bier; and one grandchild.

Mr. Bier was born in Newark on June 4, 1948. He was raised in Livingston with his brother Barry and was a graduate of Livingston High School. He was the co-owner of the Richards Manufacturing Company of Irvington, a manufacturer of electrical components, for many years.