Livingston Tribune

BOYS’ SWIM TEAM WINS: The Livingston High School boys’ varsity swim team defeated Columbia, 73-21, at the West Essex YMCA pool on Thursday, December 2. Shown here, Lancer Ting Lee propels through the water in lane two against the Cougars. Don Schwartz Photos

Anish Shriram of Livingston Boy Scout Troop 12 became an Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor on Saturday, November 27. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest honor attainable in Boy Scouting, equivalent to the Girl Scouts’ Gold Award.

Shriram began his Scouting career in fifth grade, following in the footsteps of his brother, Nilay, who registered for Cub Scout Pack 16. Shriram ended up joining Troop 12. His first camp-out was an arduous seven mile hike up mountains and alongside cliffs. During that memorable hike, the Scouts ended up getting so lost that a cohort of vehicles was designated to pick them up.

Shriram continued under the leadership of his first patrol leader, Nishay Bhatnager. Even today, Shriram notes that he looks back fondly to his experiences “camping surrounded by drifts of snow, flooded sleeping areas, large insects, and most importantly, the ever-vibrant Scouting community that made up Troop 12.”

THE CAMUSO DISPLAY IS OPEN! This aerial view of the Camuso Holiday Display was shot on Monday evening. The display, open every night now through January 2, will host a visit from Santa this Saturday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m., and two visits next Saturday, December 18. The first visit will be as part of a program for special needs individuals and their families from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., Santa will visit with the general public. More photos from opening night and the menorah lighting at the display may be found on page B-1. Sheryl Starr/Starr and Sky Photos

TRAFFIC CIRCLE ACCIDENT: A motor vehicle accident that included a rollover took place on Thursday, December 2, at 7:04 p.m. According to Livingston police, a Mazda CX5 operated by Ann Phillips, age 59, of East Orange, was traveling east on Route 10, at the same time a Ford Escape operated by Gokul Krishan Vendoothanpalle, age 53, was traveling northbound on Eisenhower Parkway. Phillips failed to stop her vehicle for a red light and struck the driver’s side of the Escape. The impact caused the Escape to roll over. Vendoothanpalle, two juvenile passengers in his car, and Phillips were all transported to a Saint Barnabas Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. A follow-up investigation is being conducted before any summonses are potentially issued, police said. CJM Photo

The Livingston High School ice hockey team defeated Verona-Glen Ridge, 4-1, on Saturday evening, November 27, at the Codey Arena in West Orange.

Lancer goal scorers included Andrew Qian, who netted the puck just 1:27 into the first period, assisted by Danny Grossbard and Dillon Schultz. Also scoring were Danny Grossbard, assisted by Austin Vecchio; and Zach Silva, assisted by Dillon Schultz and Jace Dockx, in the second period; and Austin Vecchio, assisted by Jace Dockx and Danny Grossbard, in the third period.

The Lancers had 42 shots on goal against Verona-Glen Ridge goalie Eli Gottlieb, while Lancer goalie Zachary Turbin stopped 12 of 13 shots.

A candle was the apparent cause of a fire in a Roosevelt Terrace home on Saturday evening, November 27. Both police and fire officials were dispatched to 9 Roosevelt Terrace at 9:45 p.m. When police officers, arrived, they saw smoke coming from a second floor window and visible flames in a bedroom.

Resident Kristine Chan told responding officers that she had lit a candle in her bedroom. The flame from the candle ignited a computer monitor and from there, the fire had continued to spread.

The Fire Department arrived within minutes of dispatch and made an aggressive interior attack of the blaze. The fire was contained to one room, with no extension to the attic or any other areas of the house.

None of the home’s residents sustained injury. Additionally, none of the family’s three cats were harmed.

An illegally parked landscaping trailer caused a vehicle to overturn and leave the driver hospitalized, Livingston Police said this week.

At 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, Ralph D’agostino, 75, of Livingston, was traveling on East Northfield Road in a Toyota Highlander.

A Dodge pickup truck with a landscaping trailer, owned by George Grammenos of Cranford, was parked along the side of the road. The pick-up and landscape trailer were illegally parked on the side of the road, according to police.

The Highlander then hit the back of the landscape trailer and overturned.

The Livingston Fire Department was called to assist in extricating D’agostino from his vehicle. D’agostino suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital.

No summonses were issued as of press time, though they may be in the future, police said.

Student Keith Covan-Rodriguez, during the November 23 Livingston Board of Education meeting, cautioned members against approving construction of an artificial turf field behind the high school in an area known as “the pit.”

The Livingston High School senior is the second student to approach the Board with concerns about the proposed field.

“No topic has had more discussion in my 20-plus years in Livingston,” commented Steven Robinson prior to Covan-Rodriguez’ speaking, “than the lack of athletic fields in Livingston, and how we can make what we have work better and more efficiently.”

Robinson, the district’s longtime business administrator, is retiring on December 31.

TURKEY BOWL 2021: As they have done each year since graduating, a group of friends from the Livingston High School class of 2014 gathered together to play a post-Thanksgiving “Turkey Bowl” football game. Shown here are Jesse Del Buono, Robbie Di Tonno, Derek Del Buono, Andrew Farrell, Joey Ratner, Ryan Howell, Andrej Eftimov, Tom Montesion, Jack Farrell, Grant Downes, Ryan Cardona, and Willy Cardona. Cheri Ratner Photo

CAMUSO DISPLAY RETURNS: Opening night for the Camuso Display will begin at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, December 4. Shown here, a scissor lift is used to move characters and props from the second floor of the Camuso storage barn for “elves” to set up. More details on the display set-up and opening night events may be found inside this issue. Photo Courtesy of Tom Cooney