Livingston New Jersey news

A West Orange man is facing several charges after leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash last weekend.

At 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 19, Livingston Police received a call about an accident on East Northfield Road near Sycamore Avenue. A Mercury Sable had struck a tree, leaving the car disabled in the roadway. The caller stated that two men had exited a crashed vehicle and were walking away from the scene.

Responding officers were given a description of the vehicle’s occupants. Officers Sheena Maldonado and Levecy DeOliveira located and detained two men walking nearby who matched the description that was given.

The Livingston High School boys’ track and field team started their February vacation with record-breaking performances at the Garden State Invitation on Friday, February 18. Held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, it was the team’s last regular season invitational. Many of the athletes finished with season’s best performances, and two school records were broken.

Co-captain Matthew Ho and Ray Oji got the boys started in the 55 meter hurdles, the first event on the inside of the oval. “The two have battled all season in a friendly competition to decide the team’s top hurdler,” explained coach Nancy Petryna. Oji finished first for Livingston with a personal best time of 8.21 and a third place finish overall. Ho also raced well, crossing the line at 8.43 for a fifth place finish. Also competing were ninth graders Kondwani Lwamba (10.00), Nicholas Siao (10.32), and junior Lanz Canent (10.39).

WATER MAIN REPAIRS: Livingston Water Department crews were hard at work on Thursday, February 17, doing water main repairs on Congressional Parkway. Affected areas also included Filmore Avenue, and Jefferson, Adams and Madison Courts. Nathan Kiracofe and GDY Photos

Beginning with the meeting scheduled for Monday, March 7, the Livingston Township Council will again conduct meetings in person at Town Hall. It will mark the first meeting held in person by the governing body since March of 2020.

“It has been a long time coming,” Mayor Ed Meinhardt said. “We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the chambers and the conference room.”

In addition to being held at Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue, the Council meetings will continue to be livestreamed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page (facebook.com/LivingstonTownshipNJ). There will be no Zoom component to the livestream.

Individuals wishing to participate or ask questions must either attend the meeting in person, or email their comments or questions to livcomments@livingstonnj.org by 4:30 p.m. on the date of the meeting.

Joan Koll Borneman of Livingston died Tuesday, February 8, at home after a long illness.

Born in Jersey City on January 8, 1935, she had lived in Millburn and Short Hills before moving to Livingston.

She was a school nurse for the Millburn School District for over 30 years, retiring in 1997.

Mrs. Borneman was predeceased by her husband, Edmond Borneman, her son, Steven G. Vrahnos and her stepson, Christopher Borneman. She is survived by her son, Donald P. Vrahnos; her daughter-in-law, Barbara J.; and her stepson, Jeffrey Borneman.

Funeral services are being held privately under the direction of Bradley, Smith and Smith of Springfield and Chatham. The family has suggested that donations in Mrs. Borneman’s memory be made to Greenwood Gardens, 274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078.

The Livingston High School girls’ track and field team took one last trip to the Ocean Breeze indoor track facility in Staten Island to take part in the Garden State Invitational on Friday, February 18. More than 100 schools were represented in the meet, and Livingston brought eight girls to compete in a multitude of events, including the 55 meter dash, 55 meter high hurdles, the 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 meter races, the 4x200 relay, and the long jump.

Livingston’s day was highlighted by eight personal bests and one season’s best performances. “It was a great way to end the season for some athletes, and a tune-up for the Group IV State Championship for others,” noted coach Dave Czeizinger.

The first event on the inside of the oval was the 55 meter high hurdles. Captain Maggie Siao led the Lancers with a time of 9.69 for 19th place. Joining her were Darcy Bialick (10.58) and Arthi Mampilly (11.12, an indoor personal best time).

Albert P. Branchi (Al) of Livingston passed away on February 21.

He was born in New York, New York, on September 18, 1941, and married to Carol Ann (Bevilacqua) for 55 years.

Al and Carol have one son, Christian, married to Angela; and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Samantha.

Al is a graduate of Manhattan College and New York University School of Engineering. In his professional career in the oil and gas industry with ABB Lummus and Foster Wheeler, he had the opportunity to travel to many foreign countries. Prior to retirement, he also worked at Northfield Construction.

Al was an active member of various organizations, including Chaine Des Rotisseurs, Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, and the St. Philomena’s Men’s Ministry; he was also Past President of Livingston UNICO. He loved life to the fullest, including driving his Porsche Boxster.

NEW LIGHT POLE: Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) replaced a light pole on South Living ston Avenue in front of the Tribune’s office on Wednesday morning, February 23. The former pole had apparently been struck by a vehicle and had been nearly severed at the base. CKS Photo

Livingston High School will present its spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof, on Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 18, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale next week at www.lhstheater.com/spring-musical.html.

Fiddler is set in the early 20th century in the Russian village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia.

Jonah Ruderman will play the lead role of Tevye, and Leah Waessa will play his wife, Golde. Their daughters will be played by Brooke Lelia, as Tzeitel; Jayden Declet, as Hodel; Sylvie Friedman, as Chava; Lila Maru, as Shprintze; and Gabi Elchoness, as Bielke.

In last week’s edition of the Tribune, we ran a story about Rabbi Simeon Cohen of Temple Beth Shalom consulting with the cast and crew of Livingston High School’s spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof. He advised the students about costuming, rituals, and history of the time and location, to make the production as period-appropriate as possible. As part of the collaboration, some students will perform selections of the show at Temple Beth Shalom prior to the March 17 opening night.