Livingston community

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: This week, in his own words, Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), reflects on the concept of disenfranchisement and how residents can assist LPI in helping the disenfranchised.
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Vocabulary.com offers the following to describe disenfranchisement; “Being disenfranchised is no fun. The rules work against you, your rights are constantly violated, and you have little power to change your life for the better. The Old French word enfranchir means ‘to make free,’ and when you add the negative prefix dis-, disenfranchised means ‘made unfree.’ A disenfranchised population doesn’t rest easy.”

This week, Livingston Public Schools is reporting its first COVID-19 cases of individuals that were within a school building.

In a message posted last Friday on the district website, Livingston Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Block confirmed the first COVID-19 case. By Tuesday, prior to deadline, there were a total of three confirmed cases of individuals who have been in school or participated in school related activities. The district did not say if the cases were students or faculty members.

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As of Wednesday morning, October 7, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 570 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. 72 of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 14 new cases, with no additional deaths, and 35 new cases overall in the past two weeks.

Township manager Barry Lewis said things have been “status quo” in town in regard to the virus. He noted that there were 31 new cases last month, but there were no new deceased and hospitalizations have been down. Between Monday night’s Township Council meeting and Tuesday before press time, eight more cases were reported by the township.

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LANCERS SHUT OUT NUTLEY: The Lancer boys’ varsity soccer team defeated Nutley, 2-0, on the LHS turf on Thursday, October 1. Shown here, Lancer left wing Lav Saigal, #12, controls the ball against the Nutley defender. Don Schwartz Photo

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At a special meeting on Tuesday, October 6, the Livingston Planning Board began hearing an application by Livingston Builders, LLC for a mixed-use residential and retail development at Northfield Center.

Attorney Matthew Posada represented the applicant, Livingston Builders, LLC. The applicant proposes to consolidate three existing lots into one parcel at 531 South Livingston Avenue. The property includes the site of the former Northfield Baptist Church sanctuary at the corner of South Livingston Avenue and East Northfield Road, and adjacent retail buildings on South Livingston Avenue and East Northfield Road.

The plan calls for the demolition of three existing buildings, including the church and two retail buildings on East Northfield Road. A onestory building on South Livingston Avenue, which once housed a bank and now houses a dental practice, will remain and be renovated.

Joseph Bolognini, age 65, of Livingston, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 2, 2020.

After an eight year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and most recently, complications from a stroke, Joe is finally at rest.

A devoted husband and father, he is survived by his wife of 40 years, Deborah Ann (Rizzuto) and two daughters, Alexandra and Kimberly; his sons-in-law, Christian and Giuseppe; and his two grandchildren due this month, Amelia Ann (Alexandra) and Liam Joseph (Kimberly).

He is also survived by his mother, Dorothy (Battista) and sister, Maria (Kenneth); his sisters-in-law, Cathy and Jackie; and brother-in-law, Tony (Terri); as well as his three nieces and five nephews.

He was welcomed into heaven by his father, Pasquale, who passed away exactly one month prior.

Joe was born on August 3, 1955 in Newark, was raised in West Orange, and resided in Livingston, New Jersey.

William Graulich III, 92, passed peacefully at home in Livingston on September 27. He was 92 years old.

Mr. Graulich was born in Orange to William Jr. and Margaret C. Graulich. He graduated from Exeter and Syracuse University and worked in the food and hospitality business.

During the Korean War, he served in the US Army and managed the Officers Club in Washington, DC.

Mr. Graulich was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Q. Graulich; and his brother, James C. Graulich. He is survived by his children, William Graulich IV (Carrie), Debra Graulich Arthur (Charles), Susanne Graulich Frees (William) and Richard Q. Graulich (Krystyna); 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and his special friend, Renata Lutkiewicz.

Services were held at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home on Saturday, October 3.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Give Kids the World or the American Heart Association.

Stephen Place, 71, passed away on September 30, 2020 in Morristown Medical Center, surrounded by his children.

He was born September 7, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jack and Agnes Place. After high school, Steve volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War. He served in the Army and was a member of the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Air Mobile Division, with which he made over 40 combat jumps from a helicopter. He was part of a machine gun squad that patrolled the jungle with his platoon for weeks at a time looking for enemy combatants. Steve received two Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat. He carried scars and shrapnel within his body the rest of his days, and loved telling his children and their friends war stories, always smiling as he did.

Livingston High School athletic director Rich Porfido has released the following information regarding procedures for student athletes participating in the fall athletic season.

COVID-19 Daily Screening

Home Games and Practices: Each day of practice and/or competition, each team member who is scheduled to be at a game at a home or away site is required to complete the Daily COVID-19 Questionnaire, which is emailed each day to the primary parent/guardian email address listed in Genesis. This is the same procedure that has been followed for practices. The daily temperature check will also be conducted upon arrival at the school.

This process is also required for away games. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) recommendation is for schools to screen their own teams prior to arriving at the opponents’ site.

NATIONAL COMMERCIAL IS FILMED IN LIVINGSTON: On Thursday, October 1, actors, directors and production workers filled an empty storefront and much of the parking lot in The Shoppes at Livingston on Eisenhower Parkway. Armed with lights, cameras and trailers, the filming focused on a fictional Armed Forces Career Center, and was to be followed by driving shots on Essex County roads. Livingston was one of four New Jersey locations in the shoot, explained location manager John Maher; the others are Montclair State University; Brookdale Park in Montclair; and the Armory in West Orange. Producer Alex Hughes said that he has been filming in New Jersey “a lot, since Governor Murphy re-opened filming in June. Film and TV productions in the state must adhere to safety guidelines and protocols and the same restrictions as social gatherings. The commercial’s client, for now, is being kept confidential. EL Photos