Livingston news

LANCERS DEFEAT SHABAZZ AND BARRINGER: The LHS boys’ varsity basketball team defeated Shabazz, 58-54, on Senior Night, Thursday, February 1, at home. The Lancers also defeated Barringer, 44-39, in an away game on Tuesday, January 30. Here, Lancer forward Sam Winitch, #21, soars to score over the Shabazz defender. Don Schwartz Photo

During the Monday, February 5, Township Council meeting, Captain John Drumm was honored by the Council. Drumm retired at the end of January after working more than 34 years with the Livingston Police Department. February 5, 2024, was named John Drumm Day in his honor.

Each member of the Council, township manager Barry Lewis, deputy township manager Russ Jones, and township attorney Jarrid Kantor all spoke fondly of Drumm, saying that he was a friend and that the Livingston community would miss him.

WRESTLERS EARN MEDALS: The Livingston High School wrestling team competed in the Essex County Wrestling Tournament on January 24 and 25 at the Codey Arena in West Orange. Six LHS wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes, including Alex Diorio, shown here at center. Diorio, at 157 pounds, pinned all of his opponents throughout the tournament, including a 1:07 pin in the final against Caldwell. Also taking home medals were Joseph Jean Marie, who placed second at 165 pounds; Chris Taddeo, who took fifth at 138 pounds; Jimmy Bonardi, who placed sixth in the 106 pound weight category; Dominic LaPolla, seventh place at 175 pounds; and Christian Giordano, eighth place at 190 pounds.

With the retirements of three long-serving Livingston Police Department officers last month, we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude for their service to this community.

We thank Captain John Drumm, Sergeant Michael Herbert, and Officer Ralph Kolbusz for their combined nine decades of experience working with the LPD. Each of them brought his own contributions to Livingston, and we wish them well in retirement.

Happy Lunar New Year

Leslie Kritzer, a 1995 graduate of Livingston High School, visited her alma mater on Monday, February 5, to talk with students involved in theater and chorus. An actress and singer, Kritzer is currently starring on Broadway in Spamalot as the Lady of the Lake. Many of the students in the audience had attended the show the previous week as a class trip.

Kritzer spent over two hours in the school auditorium, sharing memories and challenges from her time at LHS. She described the LHS stage and auditorium as “the home that was everything” to her during her school years.

She shared her perspective on her career and answered questions about roles, disappointments, being part of a cast, and working together as a team. She also offered insight on college selection, and auditioning. She encouraged the students to participate in every aspect of theater, and marveled at the expanded theater arts program at the high school.

Marilyn Mount, age 83, of East Hanover, formerly of Livingston and West Orange, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 4, 2024 surrounded by her family at her side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Philomena Church in Livingston on Friday, February 9, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home.

LANCERS WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT: The Lancers defeated Montclair Kimberley Academy, 5-1, on Saturday, January 27, at the Codey Arena. Livingston was led by two goals from Anthony Cassese, two assists by Matthew Zocks, and ten saves from Goalie Brody Teitelbaum. Shown below, Lancer Matthew Zocks, #10, wins the opening face off against the Cougars. Livingston’s # 11 Zach Silva awaits the puck. The game was also Senior Night, and the graduating seniors – Sean Chen, #15, Zach Silva, #11, and Ryan Zales, #2 – posed for a photograph with their coaches, assistant coach Zach Dorfman, assistant coach Dave Melucci, and head coach Dave Conklin. Don Schwartz Photos

The Livingston Democratic County Committee has submitted three names to fill the pending vacancy on the Township Council. Laurence Bergmann, James Mcllvaine, and Ketan Bhuptani have been nominated to fill Rosy Bagolie’s seat on the Council.

The Council now has 3 0 days from the time of the submission to select one of the nominees from the list, which is done by resolution during a public meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 5.

The person chosen, who will be sworn in immediately following passage of the resolution at the meeting, will then serve until the next certified general election. The 2024 general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. That election will be to fill the seat for the remainder of Bagolie’s term, which runs through the end of 2026.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT: The Livingston High School varsity girls’ basketball team honored their seniors on Senior Night, Friday, January 26, prior to the Newark Tech game. Each senior was introduced with their parents, presented a floral bouquet, and photographed. Shown here are assistant coaches Natalie Pacholec and Cara Dlugo; seniors Alexa Kay, #34, Samantha Mintz, #10, Jordan Spitz, #20, Sydney Rubin, #1; senior team managers Lily Dulman and Erin Hunter; head coach Ashley Addison; and assistant coach Lauren Daughter. Don Schwartz Photo

Livingston resident Josh Commer is one of the organizers of a rally held last Friday, January 26, outside of Town Hall. The pro-Israel rally called to “Bring Them Home Now,” in reference to the hostages that were taken by Hamas on October 7,2023.

“This past Friday, we saw our community come together as one, to stand against terrorism, to stand with Israel, to stand for what is right and to stand up andunapologetically demand that we bring them home now,” Commer said. “On October 7,2023 the world changed not only in Israel but here in Livingston for so many who have direct connections to the land and people of the only democratic state in the Middle East. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months many local residents banded together into groups to support one another. From these support groups has developed a need to act.”