Livingston community

Margaret “Peggy” S. Mittl, 91, died on Saturday, May 8.

Born and raised in the Vailsburg section of Newark, Mrs. Mittl attended Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newark and the Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth.

She moved to Livingston in 1952 and worked for many years as an office administer at what is now PNC Bank.

She was an active member of St. Philomena’s Church in Livingston and the Livingston Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.

Mrs. Mittl was predeceased by her husband, Joseph W. Mittl, and is survived by her children, Joseph R. Mittl, and Jeanne (Thomas) Carpenter, two grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.

Funeral Mass for Mrs. Mittl was offered on Wednesday, May 12, at St. Philomena’s Church, with interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Prices for household staples like diapers and tampons are poised to surge, according to recent reports. Both household staples will soon hit consumers with sticker shock, due to shortages of raw materials and increased shipping costs.
Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) director Jeff Friedman says, “The big price hikes are moot, in a sense, for the homeless and hopelessly poor. That’s because folks living below the poverty line can’t afford to buy them at current prices, anyway. Still, the pandemic-driven inflation pushes these basic family needs further from attainment. 
“LPI, along with continuing to purchase fresh produce, meat and other food varieties for adults and babies surviving only minutes away from Livingston, requires continued funding to procure and deliver these items through the summer months.”

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION: Township officials planted a tree behind the gazebo at the Livingston Oval on Friday, April 30, in commemoration of Arbor Day. Shown here are deputy township manager Russell Jones, councilmen Al Anthony, Michael Vieira, and Rudy Fernandez; and Department of Public Works members. Jerry Siskind Photo

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The Planning Board met virtually on Tuesday evening to open a hearing for an application to redevelop a 13.87-acre site with a 166 unit multifamily residential rental complex. The roughly three hour meeting may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

The proposed complex will include 25 units (15 percent) set aside for affordable housing. The site is in the R-5K Residence District and presently has an office building that would be demolished. The applicant for the property, which is located at 220 South Orange Avenue, is Livingston Corporate Park Associates, LLC.

This property is adjacent to Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care and the Regency Club in the southwest corner of Livingston.

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DOUBLE OVERTIME TIE: The Livingston High School boys’ junior varsity lacrosse team played Millburn to a double overtime 7-7 tie on Saturday, May 1, at home on the LHS turf. Shown here, Lancer Luke Write carries on an offensive attack against the Millers. Don Schwartz Photo

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Livingston’s veterans’ organizations – the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion and Jewish War Veterans – held a ceremony on Saturday, May 1, to commemorate Loyalty Day, which is marking its 100th anniversary. “On this day we affirm our recognition of our American heritage,” explained VFW chaplain Charlie Quinn.

The veterans in attendance “gave heart-felt speeches proclaiming their love and loyalty to America,” noted Brian Boyle, a member of the American Legion and Senior Vice Commander of the VFW.

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As of Wednesday morning, May 5, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 2,106 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. 86 of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 30 new cases, with no additional deaths. In the past month, there have been 189 cases.

An age breakdown has been released for 162 of the Livingston cases reported in April: 20 cases from residents ten years old and under, 59 cases 11 to 20 years, 16 cases 21 to 30 years, 20 cases 31 to 40 years, 20 cases 41 to 50 years, 15 cases 51 to 60 years, four cases 61 to 70 years, five cases 71 to 80 years, three cases 81 to 90 years, and no cases 91 to 100 years.

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Sylvia Pressman Cherna, a longtime active member of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, died April 20, age 95.

She is survived by her children, Marc, Jeffrey and his wife Mindy, and David and his wife Shari; her brother, Howard Pressman, and his wife Marlene; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family has suggested memorial donations to the Suburban Torah Center, Doctors Without Borders, or Yad Eliezer.

Joseph N. Battista, 56, of Livingston, died on Tuesday, April 20, in Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

Born in Orange to the late Armondo and Lucille (née Cortellacci) Battista, the family moved to Livingston in 1967.

Mr. Battista was the co-owner and project manager of BMC Construction, LLC in Orange. He was also a nightclub DJ for the last 40 years under the name “DJ Joey B,” and a rock and roll band drummer, known as “Joe Zep.”

He was the partner of Gwen Motley and the brother of Samuel J. Battista and his wife, Libby; Michael M. Battista and his companion, Jeanie; Raymond A. Battista and his wife, Susan; and Lisa A. Battista.

The Mass of Christian Burial was offered and livestreamed on Monday, April 26, by Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, and was followed by burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions to the American Cancer Society may be made.

Joshua Aaron Gendel, a long-time resident of Livingston, died on April 30 at home.

Born on May 11, 1999, Mr. Gendel is survived by his parents, Erica and Steven, and his grandparents, Ellen Gendel, and Marilyn and Robert Hilowitz. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Paul Gendel, He will also be missed by his service dog, Goldie.

In lieu of food or flowers, the family requests that donations in Joshua’s memory be made to The Friendship Circle ( https://wecare.lifetown.com/ campaigns/Joshua/), or to Temple B’nai Abraham (https://tbanj.org/).

Services are private, with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel.

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