Livingston community

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

The third time was the charm: Jeff Ackermann’s third Emmy nomination became his first win.

The 2010 Livingston High School graduate started his TV producing career at KOAA, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There he produced the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts, and was nominated for a “Breaking News” Emmy for coverage of the Black Friday mass shooting at Planned Parenthood.

Ackermann was next employed at WCPO, the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati. There he produced the 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts, and was nominated for an Emmy in the “Documentary – Cultural/Topical” category for an hour-long special about Fiona the Hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo.

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Those keeping up-to-date on Livingston’s COVID-19 case tallies are undoubtedly aware of the recent spike that has been reported in town.

After staying relatively flat for several months, Livingston saw an additional 35 residents test positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks. Three cases have also been reported within the schools, which recently started reopening. It is worth mentioning that deaths have not risen at the same rate, with just two of 72 reported residents who have died as a result of the virus doing so since August 17, according to the township. This may be due to younger individuals contracting the virus, as well as improved treatment as we learn more about COVID-19.

The spike in cases should be a wake-up call for us. We may be able to do more than we could this past spring, but we are still dealing with a novel disease, and all the uncertainty that comes with it. Still, we know so much more about COVID-19 than we did six months ago.

During the period prior to the November 3 election, the West Essex Tribune will make space available to each of the Board of Education candidates, at no cost, in order for them to present their views to the public. It is our hope that this will allow the voters to make a direct comparison which will assist them in making an informed voting decision. The Tribune will not, however, accept “Letters to the Editor” from the candidates during that portion of the campaign. Nor will the Tribune publish letters of endorsement or opposition for any candidate, though we may choose to publish, in the issue before the election, excerpts from letters of endorsement received during the campaign.

Candidates are not obligated to answer the questions, or even to present any statement at all. A maximum of 300 words is allocated to each candidate each week.

SOCCER SCRIMMAGE WIN: The Lancer girls’ varsity soccer team defeated Columbia, 8-0, in a scrimmage on the Livingston Community Field turf on Friday, September 25. Shown above, left, Lancer wing Bella Dilanni (in dark uniform) works the ball downfield against the Cougars. Above, right, Lancer defender Christine Belcuore clears the ball. Don Schwartz Photos

As of Wednesday morning, September 30, the Livingston Health Department has reported that a total of 548 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was recorded in mid-March. Seventy-two of those residents have died as a result of the virus. Compared to the same time last week, there are 12 new cases, with no additional deaths.

The spike coincides with the return of Livingston students to school as the district moves into a hybrid model of learning. Pre-K through second grade students began returning to classrooms September 21.

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Ava Reinfeld and Steve Delman of Livingston were recognized at the George H.S. Bush Point of Light Awards Celebration on Saturday, September 26.

They were among approximately one dozen individuals from around the world named to the Point of Light’s Inspiration Honor Roll, which was created this year to recognize the efforts of everyday citizens who are working to effect positive change.

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On September 24, the Livingston public school district provided a timeline for bringing additional students to school on the hybrid schedule.

“The decision to move forward in the transition to the hybrid model was based on the success of our pre-K-2 opening, as well as our belief that over the course of time, we can work out our staffing issues,” said Dr. Matthew Block, superintendent of schools.

Livingston Public Schools has been operating under full remote learning since the beginning of the school year. It began moving to the hybrid model on September 21 for the youngest students (pre-K through grade two) and self-contained classes.

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Joseph W. Calabrese, 88, a Livingston resident for 55 years, died on Friday, September 25.

Born in Newark, Mr. Calabrese was a veteran of the U.S. Army who served during the Korean War.

For many years, he worked as a purchasing director and also owned a liquor store.

Mr. Calabrese was predeceased by his son, Christopher, and his sister, Florence Petruzelli. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Annette; his daughter, Lisa Dodgen (Charles); and two grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was offered at St. Philomena’s Church on Tuesday, September 29, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that donations in Mr. Calabrese’s name be made to the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Development Department, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, NJ 07052 (https://www.rwjbh.org/ saint-barnabas-medical-center/ giving).