West Essex Tribune

The Livingston High School girls’ fencing team is currently undefeated, with eight wins against no losses. “The girls are very passionate about and committed to this sport; nearly all our starters and a number of subs also fence outside of school and train at private fencing clubs,” says coach Jeanette Ng. “They have brought, and continue to bring, what they learn to school events and help each other grow as fencers and as a team. You will often hear them shouting ‘do this’ or ‘try that’ and see them call time-outs to strip-coach each other.”

The Livingston High School boys’ indoor track and field team traveled to the New Balance Armory in New York City for the Metropolitan Invitational ahead of the final weeks of the championship portion of the season.

“The meet allowed for Freshman, Novice and Varsity Divisions, and for many of the athletes, this would be their last meet of the season,” noted coach Nancy Petryna. In addition, the meet saw Krish Malhotra break the school record in the 200 meter dash.

First up for the Lancers was the 1,600 meter. Freshmen Richard Romero and Jordan Fleishman set out running in their heat looking to gain experience. Fleishman went out fast leading the pack, but it was Romero who finished first for the Lancers and ninth overall with a season’s best 5:13.76. Fleishman crossed the line at 5:49.61, also his best time of the year.

WINTER WONDERLAND: After a weekend snowstorm dropped some six inches of snow on Livingston, local children flocked to Hillside School for some sledding fun. Connie Lam Photos

Over the past few years, stormwater management has been an urgent issue for residents in certain areas of town, though for others not living in flood-prone areas it may not be given much of a thought.

For many, this pressing concern is only top of mind when massive rainfall and weather events like last summer’s tropical storms Henri and Ida resulted in extensive flooding (melting snow also causes stormwater runoff). Such storms used to be few and far between, “thousand year storms” as they have been referred to. But as our climate continues to change, these storms, and the flooding that comes with them, will continue to occur with increasing regularity. Stormwater runoff also leads to pollution caused by carrying bacteria and chemicals into nearby waterways; it is directly contributing to contaminants in our drinking water.

Sam Levine, a Livingston resident for the past 17 years, passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the age of 91.

Sam was born in New York City in 1930. He was raised by his parents, Max and Goldie, along with his younger sister, Esther, on the lower east side of Manhattan. As part of a large extended family, Sam had many aunts, uncles and cousins – most of whom resided nearby. He often spoke about how his cousins were more like siblings growing up.

The Roseland law firm of Mandelbaum Barrett kicked off its 2022 charitable giving with a winter gear drive and a $5,000 donation to Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. “LPI is one of our favorite local charities to support,” notes Lauren Lynch, the firm’s chief culture officer. In addition to the financial donation from the Mandelbaum Charitable Foundation, Mandelbaum Barrett attorneys and staff donated gently used and new hats, scarves, gloves and winter coats to the Livingston-based charity.

Each year in late January and early February, veterans’ organizations across the country pay tribute to the Four Chaplains, the four military chaplains aboard the U.S.S. Dorchester who, when the ship was torpedoed, sacrificed their lives so their fellow crew members could live.

Livingston resident Charles Quinn, a veteran of the Vietnam War and chaplain of Livingston’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, wrote to the Tribune this week about the Four Chaplains.

“On February 3, 1943, there was a great crash followed by a muffled explosion aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester,” Quinn noted. “The ship was sailing in the icy, U-boat infested waters of the North Atlantic, heading for Greenland. A torpedo had smashed on the starboard side, the right side, near the engine room.

During the Monday, January 24, meeting of the Livingston Township Council, members passed a housing ordinance that had been debated for much of 2021. The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

The ordinance would amend chapter 170 of the code to establish a new inclusionary development zone, designated as the “R-5L Residence Overlay District” for lots 25 and 26 in tax block 6101. The proposed ordinance had been discussed during Council meetings for several months.

These lots are located on more than three acres of land along Passaic Avenue and Volker Lane. The purpose of this ordinance is to permit inclusionary multi-family residential development of not more than 72 units, including a 20 percent set-aside of affordable units in the district. Inclusionary zoning requires a given share of new construction to be affordable housing.

After weeks of postponed and/or canceled matches, the Livingston High School wrestling team was finally able to get its dual meet season underway.

It began on January 12 with a 34-21 home victory over Pope John XXIII High School. The Lancers followed this with a win the following Friday against Bloomfield, 53-18, and a set of wins the next Saturday at a home quad-meet, 36-24, over Seton Hall Prep, 48-24, over Old Bridge, and 57-18, over Freehold Boro. The Lancers finished their first week of competition with a 5-0 record.

The next week began with a match against top ten-ranked Phillipsburg at Phillipsburg, a rescheduled match that was originally scheduled to be a home one for the Lancers. The Lancers received their season’s first defeat, a 37-22 loss to the Stateliners.

This week continued with back-to-back wins against Essex County opponents: 63-12 against Caldwell on Livingston’s Senior Night, and 72-9 at West Orange.

At the Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on Tuesday, January 25, the Board elected their chairman, vice chairman, and recording secretary. The Board also set its meeting schedule for the year and reviewed eight applications.

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

Re-Organization

During the reorganization portion of the meeting, former vice chairman Tony Nardone renominated Jim Hochberg as chairman. Board member Edward Bier seconded the nomination and Hochberg was unanimously elected.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve,” Hochberg said.

Nardone nominated board member Lauren Tabak Fass as vice chairman. Alternate board member Laurie Kahn seconded the nomination and Fass was unanimously elected.

Fass nominated Bier as recording secretary. Nardone seconded the nomination and Bier was unanimously elected.