Livingston news

After scheduling an in-person meeting for Monday, December 20, and canceling it that day due to COVID-19 concerns, the Livingston Township Council held a special meeting to pass some “housekeeping” resolutions before the end of the year. The Council also heard a presentation on a proposed redevelopment plan for the Bottle King-Walgreen’s shopping center site. The meeting was held on Zoom

The meeting was held on Zoom and livestreamed on the township’s Facebook page; it can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/LivingstonTownshipNJ.

Proposed Redevelopment Plan Bottle King-Walgreen’s Site

New York Jets football player Zach Wilson visited the Ritz Diner in Livingston on Christmas Day and gave his waitress two tickets to the Jets’ game, which was being played the following day against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jets’ rookie quarterback was eating Christmas breakfast with his family, with Kensia Thelusma serving as their waitress. When Thelusma told him that her son is a “massive” Jets fan, he presented her with two tickets to the Jets-Jaguars game, which took place on Sunday, December 26, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The Jets edged the Jaguars, 26-21, during the home game. Accumulating 193 total yards, Wilson completed 14 of 22 passing attempts. He threw one touchdown with no interceptions, as well as a 52 yard touchdown run.

One of the very best things about having children, to me, is getting to watch them experience the holidays. At over a year and a half old, my boys are still far too young to truly understand Christmas, Santa Claus, and the fact that the holiday is the reason why they just received a large amount of toys.

And yet, they are old enough now to experience much of what makes the season so magical. They stared in awe at the Christmas tree (before attempting to pull ornaments off it) and at the lights that hang off the house. They looked forward to the tiny piece of chocolate they got every morning from their advent calendars. They enjoyed getting to see a little bit more television than normal, as we watched “Elf,” the seemingly 100 versions of “A Christmas Carol,” and various Mickey Mouse-related holiday specials with them.

Former Livingston resident James Victor Osorio died in Indiana on Wednesday, December 15. He was 58 years old.

He was born in Orange on Tuesday, September 17, 1963, to Frances M. (Conilio) and Joseph M. Osorio Sr.

While living in Livingston, Mr. Osorio was employed by Temple B’nai Abraham. He had also worked part time for Livingston’s Animal Control Division.

He later moved to Texas, and served as director of training and e-learning at the National Dangerous Animal Task Force, based in Fort Worth.

Mr. Osorio was predeceased by his father, Joseph M. Osorio Sr., who had served as Livingston’s animal control officer for many years. He is survived by his mother, Frances M. Conilio; his brother, Joseph M. Osorio Jr., of Garland, North Carolina; and his sister, Georgia Osorio, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Livingston Police Officers Joy Klapal and Donna Majuri were among the local law enforcement officers, first responders, educators and holiday helpers who took part in the recent “Shop with an Unstoppable Hero” event at Macy’s in the Livingston Mall. Macy’s hosted nearly 50 children from East Orange for the in-store shopping event.

“This is why I became a police officer to give back,” said Officer Klapal, a member of the LPD’s Community Policing Division. “What a great way to celebrate the holidays and connect with children so they get to see us in action.”

Officers Klapal and Majuri joined more than 25 law enforcement officers from Livingston and East Orange. Nearly 50 youngsters from the neighboring community were transported by the city and were paired with law enforcement heroes, including East Orange firefighters and ambassadors from the Unstoppable Girls Foundation anti-bullying organization.

Shirley Fradkin, formerly of Livingston, died on Tuesday, December 21, at her home in Whippany. A graveside service was held

A graveside service was held on Thursday, December 23. Arrangements were by the Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel. Born in Newark, Mrs. Fradkin

Born in Newark, Mrs. Fradkin lived in Livingston and South Orange before moving to Lake Worth, Florida. She was predeceased by her hus

She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Edwin, in 2011, and by her brother, Jack Schlein. Mrs. Fradkin is survived by her daughters, Amy Furst (Alan) and Alison Fradkin; her son, Andrew Fradkin (Jill); three granddaughters; and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Home for Good Dogs Rescue in Berkeley Heights.

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It took three Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) volunteers to pack the van with new merchandise for immediate delivery to LPI’s Newark distribution partners for a recent Christmas delivery. Items also went to the homeless finding refuge from the cold in Penn Station.
“Volunteers brought hundreds of thermal gloves, winter beanies, heavy socks, baby bottles, stuffed animals and childrens’ winter jackets just before the holiday festivities began for many of us here in town,” noted LPI founder and director Jeff Friedman. “The ‘Two Alans’ – Alan Wishengrad and Alan Levin – also helped me load school supplies donated by Livingston’s GreenBinz Organization, founded in 2015 by four Livingston Public Schools students who continue to run GreenBinz today. The goal of the organization is to decrease the amount of school supplies wasted by donating new and gently used school supplies to underprivileged families and communities.”

CHEERLEADERS OPEN SEASON: The Livingston High School cheerleaders opened their winter season at home, cheering during a basketball triple-header against North Star Academy. The junior varsity squad cheered the freshman and junior varsity games, while the varsity squad cheered for the varsity team. The JV cheerleaders include Sophie Kasson, Gabriela Quintero, Leah Rubin, Maddy Abelew, Ella Cocuzza, Angelina Giordano, Eden Kantor, Sydney Lewis, Emma O’Neill, Arissa Pol, Abigail Silverstein, Clare Luo, Simone Pardasani, and Amira Jenkins. On the varsity squad are Genevieve DeRosa, Nicole Rojas, Haleigh Harte, Vivian Turner, Sasha Lederman, Alex Simon, Emilie Malave, Cynthia Coppola, Alyssa Galasso, Gianna Miller, Jordana D’Andrea, Colette Kay, Julia Levitt, Kara Massoni, Gabby Rosa, and Devin Goldstein. Don Schwartz Photo

Following the cancellation of the final Township Council meeting of 2021 due to COVID concerns, the Council stated that all matters listed on the agenda would be deferred to one or more future meetings.

As such, the agenda for the cancelled meeting, described below, offers a glimpse of the actions and discussions that are expected to be on the docket at the start of 2022.

Ordinances Four final hearing ordinances were

Four final hearing ordinances were expected to be discussed during the cancelled meeting. They will need to be reintroduced as new ordinances in 2022, though some may not be, as three of the ordinances had already been carried for several meetings.

Earlier this month, the New Jersey Department of Health reported that community transmission of COVID-19 for Essex County – as it has for all counties in the state – went from moderate activity (yellow) to high activity (orange).

As a result, the district must follow new quarantine requirements, said superintendent of schools Matthew Block in a letter posted on the district website.

Any unvaccinated student or staff member who is exposed to COVID-19 must now quarantine for the full 14 days. “While in the high activity level, providing a negative COVID test result during quarantine will not allow the unvaccinated individual to return to school,” he said. No new information from the district was availble as of press time.

The district is continuing its weekly reports on the number of individuals who test positive for the disease, and the number who are required to quarantine.