Livingston news

Murray Saul Dobro, a resident of Livingston for many years before moving to Crane's Mill in West Caldwell, died of COVID-19 on April 26.

He was born on May 6, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Samuel and Sarah Bornstein Dobro and grew up in Dorchester. Mr. Dobro (Mashe) received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Northeastern University and served in the Korean War as a chemist.

Although he grew up in a kosher home, Mr. Dobro developed the modern method for curing ham. He worked for decades in meat manufacturing before starting JCS Sales, a food brokerage business that he ran for over 40 years.

In 1953 he married Barbara Diane Edinger, and together they raised Jeffrey, Carrie and Stuart Dobro.

Murray was preceded in death by his brother, Danny, and is survived by his wife, Barbara; his three children, Jeff (Candace), Carrie (Mark) and Stuart; and two granddaughters.

Former longtime Livingston resident Elaine Abeles died on Monday, April 27, at Ocean Medical Center in Brick. She was born in Newark and graduated from Weequahic High School in 1942. Mrs. Abeles moved to Florida in

Mrs. Abeles moved to Florida in 1991 and to Brick in 2015.

Predeceased by her husband, Donald, who died in 1979, Mrs. Abeles is survived by her daughter, Randy Abeles; her sons, Gary Abeles (Charna) and Richard Abeles (Anja); four grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. A private burial was held.

Livingston High School 2020 graduate Emma Zuckerman proudly displays a congratulatory sign and a lacrosse stick. Zuckerman, who is captain of the Lancer girls’ lacrosse team, also wears a hat from the University of Texas, which she will be attending this fall. The LHS graduate signs were a project of the LHS boys’ lacrosse team. Don Schwartz Photo

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A fallen telephone pole ignited a brush fire near the cell and water towers on Force Hill Road on Saturday, May 2. Livingston firefighters responded to the area at about 4 p.m. The fire was extinguished without incident. Shown here at the scene is firefighter Michael Ciccone. CJM Photo

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It came as no surprise last month when the Memorial Day parade committee cancelled this year’s event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But just because this decision didn’t come as a shock, that does not mean we were not disappointed by the news. The Memorial Day parade – and the veterans’ ceremony

The Memorial Day parade – and the veterans’ ceremony that precedes it – are events many in town look forward to each year, signaling the unofficial start to summer. It’s one of those traditions that make Livingston a large town with a small town feel. Neighbors gather along Livingston Avenue and wave flags as the parade passes by. Residents cheer for their friends who are in the parade, and once the last float has gone by, lawn chairs are folded up and families walk home together. The scene is something you’d expect to see in a Norman Rockwell painting.

Beverley Johnson, a 20 year resident of Livingston, passed away at Saint Barnabas Medical Center on May 5, 2020.

Mrs. Johnson taught for 25 years in Kingston, Jamaica, before moving to the United States. Here, she participated in the Americorps Program as a teacher; took courses at Essex County College; and volunteered at the polls during elections.

She was also a long-time member of St. Philomena Church and Lighthouse Pentecostal Church.

She is survived by her husband, James (Jim) Johnson; a daughter, Claudia Crutchley, in Jamaica; a son, Claude, in Switzerland; and a son, Curt, in England. She was grandmother to 13 children.

To send condolences, call 973-994-3723 or email JamBever@ comcast.net.

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), here, in his own words, writes about food lines, and what LPI is doing to help.
    •    •    •
The lives of our most vulnerable populations, the homeless and profoundly poor, has always been about lines. Lines for free clothing, lines to get benefits, lines to see a health care professional (if they can actually make it happen), and lines for food. Lines, lines, and more lines. These lines are even longer and more difficult as the pandemic’s havoc is being played out in New Jersey’s cities like Newark, the main homeless population served by Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI).

In honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, on April 29, that nation’s fl ag was raised at town hall in Livingston. Although the Livingston Celebrates Israel festivities were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fl ag will remain fl ying for all to see until Friday, May 1. Shown here, the fl ag was fully raised and then lowered to half staff in honor of those lost to the virus. Thinking about Regardless of your plans, I am prices in our neighborhood.

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Public Hearing Is May 7: 

Superintendent of schools Matt Block, at the April 27 meeting of the Board of Education, said that the district is aiming “to balance the financial hardships that so many people in the community are suffering with the determination to creatively preserve the excellent educational program and services that define our schools… and are central to Livingston’s identity.”

The administration is recommending small cuts to the budget for projects that can be delayed to a later time. “But we feel strongly,” Block said, “that it would be a mistake to make significant cuts when we don’t know what the future looks like.”

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On Monday, April 27, Livingston’s Township Council held a livestreamed meeting to discuss the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its upcoming budget. The township was granted an extension to pass this year’s budget due to the pandemic.

The meeting, a combined conference and regular meeting that was held via the video conferencing service, Zoom, was shared on the Livingston Township Facebook page. There were more than 60 live viewers during the meeting, and about 1,500 people had watched at least part of the meeting by noon on Tuesday.

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