Livingston New Jersey news

The Livingston Police Department is participating in 7-Eleven’s Operation Chill community service program. Begun in Philadelphia to give law enforcement officers a positive reason to interact with children and teens, Operation Chill has expanded to hundreds of cities across the country. 7-Eleven works with local police and sheriff’s departments in donating free Slurpee drink coupons that can be distributed to youths. The reasons for receiving a coupon are varied and may include doing good deeds, committing acts of kindness, deterring crime, or observing safety rules. The Livingston Police Department recently rewarded the students who participate in Safety Patrol in the elementary schools. Another group that was given free Slurpees was the Hillside School Peer Mediators.

Officer Savino Balducci was sworn into the Livingston Police Department at the Monday, January 27, regular meeting of the Township Council. Officer Balducci graduated from the police academy in November at the top of his class. A former U.S. Marine, he has received numerous accolades from both the Marines and from his time in the police academy. Shown here, Glenn Turletaub swears in Officer Balducci, as his fiancé holds the Bible. MI Photo

At the Monday, January 27, conference meeting of the Township Council, members heard from a group of Livingston veterans as well as the ad hoc plastics committee.

Prior to the start of the regular meeting, the veterans requested that the Council deem Livingston a Veteran Friendly Community. The group of five provided the Council with sample drafts that other municipalities have used to do the same. Examples of what a Veteran Friendly Community would include are preferences in bidding for veteran-owned businesses and hiring of veterans.

Council members professed their continuing support of the township’s veterans. They also noted that much that was mentioned in the draft provided Livingston already does, and what they do not, they would further explore.

Funds to explore building a multiuse facility to support performing arts at Livingston High School were approved by the Board of Education on Monday night.

The Board authorized the expenditure of $30,000 to DiCara Rubino Architects to explore the idea and whether such a facility can incorporate shared space for community arts groups.

The architect, explained school superintendent Matthew Block, the primary speaker about the project, “will begin to take us through the process.”

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Flags at Livingston Fire Headquarters were lowered to half-staff to honor the life of long-time Fire Chief Charles Schilling, who died last Tuesday, January 21, at the age of 98. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 27. The fire house was formally renamed the Charles W. Schilling Fire Headquarters after Schilling retired as Fire Chief in 1990. Additional photos, as well as comments from those who knew the Chief, can be found on pages A-6 and A-7 of this issue of the Tribune . In addition, our editorial space this week is dedicated to the Chief, who gave so much of himself to Livingston.

Jerry Siskind and LFD Photos

Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) presented its inaugural Community Service Awards this week. Shown above, LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman presents the first of two Community Service Awards to Danielle Oliveira, who produced a promotional video for the Livingston-based charity. Also receiving an award was Allison Eglow, who developed LPI’s website. At the recent LPI board meeting, Friedman noted that, to date, LPI has collected and distributed more than 12,000 coats. “Keep ’em coming,” he urges Livingston residents. Coats, winter accessories, travel-sized toiletries, businesswear, women’s hygiene products, and diapers may be dropped during business hours at the West Essex Tribune, 495 South Livingston Avenue, next to ShopRite. For private pick-up, email Friedman at njhomeless@aol.com.   

The Livingston High School track and field teams competed in the Group 4 State Relay Championships in Toms River this past weekend. The team did well, with six of the 13 relay crews finishing in the top 16, including one in the top ten.

The pole vault got underway with Lancers Anna Sang and Sammy Lee competing. Their combined clearance of 15’00” landed them in a three-way tie for eighth place. Siraj Akmal had cleared 10’6”, tying his best vault of the season, and finished with the 18th best jump of the day.

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Tribune advertising representative Nancy Perlmutter retired this week after more than 26 years with our newspaper. With her desk situated near the front door, she was often the first face anyone entering our South Livingston Avenue office saw. It was always a welcoming face, eager to help with whatever was needed, be it a circulation question, an advertising request, an article submission, or a coat donation.

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Last week, a Livingston High School student was struck by a car while attempting to cross Madonna Drive. The boy was attempting to retrieve a bag from his parents and popped out between school buses. A driver was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting him. The young man was taken to the hospital for evaluation and no charges were issued.

Just this past September, an 11-year-old boy was hit, in similar circumstances, attempting to cross the street after appearing suddenly from between two parked cars at the Mt. Pleasant schools on Broadlawn Drive.

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Services will be held on Saturday, January 25, for Catherine T. (Ragonese) Bertero, a former resident of Livingston. A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:30 p.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Church, 2032WestfieldAve., Scotch Plains.

Mrs. Bertero, 89, died on January 16 at home in Garwood. Born in Newark, she had also been a resident of Irvington, Livingston, Budd Lake, and Bayville, and had been a payroll clerk for PNC Bank in West Orange.

Mrs. Bertero was predeceased by her husband, Louis ‘Sonny’ Bertero, and is survived by her three children, Ginny Bramwell, Maria O’Reilly (Jimmy), and Louis Bertero (Debbie); six grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.