Livingston Tribune

In announcing Livingston Philanthropies’ largest merchandise donation in its history, founder and director Jeff Friedman, a 60-plus year resident of Livingston, recounted, “I never know what the next email or phone call will bring. Then, just a few days ago, it happened. I received an email at njhomeless@aol.com from a philanthropic Livingston shoe manufacturer. ‘Back in 2017, we donated about 200 pairs of shoes to your organization. It’s that time of year again. I have a bunch of shoes (brand new) that I would like to donate,’ he wrote to me.

The Livingston High School boys’ varsity soccer team is off to a 5-2 start. The Lancers kicked off the season by defeating the Millburn Millers, 1-0. Senior Noah Fisher scored in the second half off an assist by junior Andrew Pessoa to give the Lancers the victory. Logan Paredes made five saves in goal for the shutout victory.

The team then traveled to West Orange to take on the number tworanked team in the state, Seton Hall Prep School, and came away on the short end of a 2-0 loss. The Lancers played well and held their own, but a goal on a corner kick, along with a penalty kick goal in the second half, doomed the visiting team.

Winning Streak

The Lancers then went on a fourgame winning streak, beginning with an away victory over Bloomfield, thanks to two goals by junior Charlie Grossman. Senior Jared Fiske assisted on both goals.

Several follow-up investigations by Livingston detectives led to criminal charges relating to vehicles that were stolen earlier this year.

On July 17, an Elmwood Drive resident reported that their Mercedes had been burglarized and phone chargers were stolen.

Detective Michael Spano processed the car and located several fingerprints. A fingerprint comparison led to the identification of a 17-year-old male from Newark. The same male had been arrested in Livingston for car burglary in 2020. The teen was charged on juvenile complaints with burglary and theft.

On August 17, Livingston Police took reports of car burglaries on Wynnewood Road and Stratford Drive. Video from the Wynnewood Road incident shows the suspect arrived in a BMW that had been stolen from Verona. The suspect entered the victim’s Audi in an attempt to steal it.

The Livingston Township Council held hearings, at its Monday, September 27, meeting, for several ordinances to establish inclusionary development zones for affordable housing. In all, the Council passed four ordinances after final hearings, carried one, and denied another. Residents expressed their concerns with the projects during several of the hearings.

The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

Ordinance Held

During the past week, the Livingston volunteer Fire Department responded to a truck that had become entangled with a tree branch, several instances of downed wires, and three downed trees.

Truck Entangled

On Wednesday, September 22, firefighters went to the intersection of Shrewsbury Drive and East Mt. Pleasant Avenue after a tractor trailer struck a large tree branch, which then got wedged between the cab and the trailer. The branch was cut away and the truck freed.

Truck into Wires

The following day, Thursday, September 23, a garbage truck struck overhead service lines for DeSesa Engineering at 83 Dorsa Avenue. Upon arrival, fire officials found that a wire had fallen to the ground but was not burning. Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) personnel cut the electrical power to the line so the truck could be removed.

Trees Down

A repast will be held for Edward Vincent O’Donnell at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 1. It will take place at St. Philomena’s Church.

A lunch will follow at the Shillelagh Club, 648 Prospect Avenue in West Orange, from noon to 4 p.m.

O’Donnell died as a result of COVID-19 on February 8, 2021.

Louise Buchbinder (age 63), of Livingston, New Jersey, passed away on September 24 after many years of courageously fighting many chronic illnesses. Louise was born in Newark, New Jersey, but lived her entire life through her college years in Livingston. She moved back to Livingston several years ago.

Louise was devoted to her family, and is survived by her beloved sisters, Elizabeth and Janie Buchbinder.

Louise graduated from Livingston High School in 1976 and from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1982 with a degree in medical technology. She relished her career as a medical technologist, working over 35 years in the field.

Known affectionately by her family as “the checker” or “the boss,” Louise was always looking out for her family and friends and making sure all was well with them. She truly treasured her family and friends, and the feeling was mutual.

VARSITY SOCCER TEAM EDGED BY WEST ORANGE: The Lancers were defeated by the Mountaineers, 2-1, at home on the turf on Tuesday evening, September 21. Shown here, Lancer center Kelly Lyons heads the ball during a corner kick. Don Schwartz Photo

It was confirmed this week that five Livingston Police Department vehicles, two Livingston Fire Department vehicles, and two Department of Public Works vehicles sustained damage when the remnants of Hurricane Ida ravaged Livingston on Wednesday evening, September 1.

According to Police Chief Gary Marshuetz, four LPD vehicles were damaged as a result of flooding. A marked patrol car, which had been parked at the township garage, sustained irreparable damage when Canoe Brook overflowed its banks. Three Detective Bureau vehicles which were parked in the parking lot at the Municipal Services and Police Building also sustained flooding damage because of the brook.

A fifth Police Department vehicle, a marked patrol car, was damaged when an officer responding to a call drove through flood waters near the 7-Eleven store on South Livingston Avenue.

WELCOME BACK: Livingston Public Schools superintendent Matthew Block and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School principal Lorena Dolan attended a welcome back family picnic at the school on Friday, September 24. Block and Dolan are shown here with Heritage Middle Schooler DJs Ethan Reiter and Spencer Ellenbogen.