Livingston Tribune

Ageneralalarm was sounded at8:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, on a report of a house fire at 177 East Northfield Road. Both Livingston firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene. Emergency responders found flames venting out of a rear window of the home’s second floor.

The fire was quickly brought under control – within just 20 minutes, Fire Chief Chris Mullin reported. After the flames were extinguished, firefighters conducted an “overhaul” of the house to ventilate it and extinguish “hot spots.” All utilities in the house were then disconnected.

The homeowner, Daniel Pannucci, was outside on his front lawn when police and firefighters arrived. He confirmed to them that there were no other people or pets in the house.

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Inspections 90 Percent Complete:

Numerous details were provided to the community when Livingston Township andAppraisal Systems, Inc. (ASI), the company that is conducting the townwide revaluation, held a meeting on Wednesday, February 27. A second forum was scheduled for Wednesday, March 6.

This article covers highlights from the first forum, as the second one took place after the Tribune went to press. It was filmed by Livingston High School students and is scheduled to be published on the township website this week.

Livingston Township was ordered by the Essex County Board ofTaxation to undertake a town-wide revaluation and to have the new valuations take effect in 2020.

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ThePlanningBoardmetonTuesday evening, March 5, and continued hearing an application by CPManagement Group II LLC to build a drive-through Starbucks coffee shop and a child care center on South Livingston Avenue.

Tuesday night marked the Planning Board’s fourth hearing on an application for minor subdivision and preliminary and final site plan with variances for CP Management Group II LLC, represented by attorney Stephen Geffner. The property in question, located at 92 South Livingston Avenue, was previously home to Bank of America. The applicant proposes to subdivide existing Lot 3 to create two new lots. The existing, now-vacant building would be expanded on one of the new lots to house a child care center, Lightbridge Academy. A Starbucks with a drive-through is proposed to be constructed on the second lot.

“It Was a Crazy Weekend:”

Livingston received what has become its weekly dose of snow – this time in a one-two-three punch, with snow events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On Friday, March 1, Livingston woke up to two inches of the white stuff, which fell from Thursday night into Friday.

From Friday night into Saturday, another five inches fell, and another 5½ inches fell on Sunday night into Monday morning.

“My guys did not go home this entire weekend,” said Mike Anello, superintendent of the Department of Public Works (DPW). “We started salting on Thursday night, and we worked through the weekend.”

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Craig F. Parker Sr. of Livingston, a long-time volunteer firefighter, police dispatcher, and township employee, died on Monday, February 25, at the age of 60.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 1, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston. The funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Quinn-Hopping, officiated by Father Francisco Mendonca, chaplain for both the Livingston Police and Fire Departments.

Interment will immediately follow the funeral at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Full obituary information was not available as the Tribune went to press, and will be published in next week’s edition.

Although Puxatawney Phil has promised us an early spring, it seems every week has been bringing us wintry “mixes” that are neither snow nor rain, but a nasty mixture that delivers the worst of both worlds. On top of that, we saw high winds in town on Sunday and Monday that brought down trees and caused power outages. And as we went to press, a round of snow was set to fall on Wednesday, February 26, and another “wintry mix” was forecast for this weekend.

Most of us are able to sit inside and stay warm and safe while the snow and sleet fall and the winds blow; but there’s a contingent of township employees who do not have that luxury. The folks in the Department of Public Works (DPW) who are responsible for plowing our streets and shoveling municipal walks as well as clearing the parking lots at the schools and the township buildings, are outside in foul winter weather both day and night, working to make our streets and sidewalks safe for travel.

This week, Livingston suffered a major loss with the passing of Craig F. Parker, Sr., who died this past Tuesday at the age of 60. “Parker,” as he was affectionately known by his friends and colleagues, was a dedicated member of the community who wore two very special hats: He was both a firefighter and a police dispatcher.

The Livingston High School boys’ varsity basketball team fell to the Hackensack Comets, 65-45, in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 Tournament. The game was played in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center on Monday evening, February25.Shown above, Lancer center Chris Boulin, #12, wins the opening tip-off against Hackensack. At right, Lancer forward Jack Ernst, #13, “soars and scores” against the Comets.

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The Livingston High School girls’ varsity basketball team defeated the Mount Olive Marauders, 35-28, in the NJSIAA State Tournament, played on Monday evening, February 25, in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. The Lancers will next face the winner of the Bloomfield/Kearny game. Shown here, Lancer forward Kayla Parsons, #10, drives the lane to score against the Marauder defenders.

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“I Will Not Play Politics in This Room:”

Michael M. Vieira, who was selected by the Livingston Democratic County Committee on February 13 to replace Michael Silverman on the Livingston Township Council, was formally sworn in at Monday night’s Council meeting.

Vieira’s wife, Gabriela, administered the oath of office, while their children, Samantha and Michael, looked on. Also in attendance were Vieira’s mother and members of his extended family.

Prior to joining his fellow Council members on the dais, Vieira took to the podium to thank his family and friends.

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