West Essex Tribune

The Livingston Lancer softball team celebrated several accomplishments in recent weeks. The team played three games, including two against SEC American division opponents. The Lancers defeated Hanover Park, 14-0, on Wednesday; Columbia, 5-2 on Thursday; and lost to Mt. St. Dominic, 4-3, on Monday.

There have been two Lancer softball milestones accomplished so far this season. Senior Sophia Mount recorded her 400th career strikeout on April 7. Allie Nankivell, a junior, collected her 100th career hit on Monday.

During the public comment portion of the Wednesday, April 10, meeting of the Township Council, members of the public discussed increases in crime, flying the Israeli flag, and the town’s shooting range.

Crime Concerns

Lauren Scher of Thames Drive discussed her concerns about crime in town.

Specifically, Scher’s home was recently burglarized. Individuals broke into her home, stealing jewelry and other valuables.

She said that the experience was not only traumatic, but evident of an uptick in crime in Livingston, especially near Route 280, which many criminals use to quickly enter and exit town. Scher asked for an increased police presence to combat this issue.

Mayor A1 Anthony said that the Council was sorry that Scher experienced that, with Council member Shawn Klein calling it “gut-wrenching” to hear.

LITTLE LEAGUE SEASON BEGINS: The Livingston Little League held opening day ceremonies at Treat Field within the Congressional Sports Complex on Saturday, April 13. Little League president Pat Ippolito introduced the many dignitaries and ceremony participants. The highlights included the ceremonial opening first pitch by Mayor Al Anthony, Little League player presentations, sponsor tables along the walkways, two inflatable amusements, pizza for all, and the season opening Little League games. Shown here, clockwise from top left: Some of the female Little League players show off the fielding technique; Yankee pitcher Zachary Shamash brings it to the plate against the Mets; Mets leadoff hitter Zach Goldfeld readies to steal second after leading off the game with a single; Jackson Giske is the first batter up in the tee ball league; and Haotian Shen reads the player’s pledge as part of the opening day ceremonies. Don Schwartz Photos

With the advent of warmer weather, we are seeing more people – especially children – out around town. That means it’s time to think about vehicle and roadway safety. This month, the state is conducting its “UDrive.UText.UPay” campaign, a federally-funded campaign to raise awareness and crack down on distracted driving. But it’s not just about avoiding traffic tickets; it is about personal responsibility and weighing the value of human life.

Distracted driving includes all situations in which drivers take their eyes off the road, take their hands off the wheel, or generally take their mind off driving.According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS), talking and texting on cell phones is the number one cause of distracted driving among drivers of all ages. Nine people in the United States are killed each day in crashes that involve a distracted driver, the CDC’s Transportation Safety division reports.

GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM DEFEATS ORANGE: The Lancers defeated Orange, 16-6, on Wednesday, April 10, at home. They next travelled to Morristown, defeating the Colonials, 14-7, on Thursday, April 11. Above, Lancer receiver Erin Podgorski, #10, turns the corner after making the reception. Don Schwartz Photo

The chess team at Livingston High School recently finished in first place for the second consecutive year in the New Jersey High School Chess Championship. Representatives from the team travelled to Baltimore, Maryland for the national High School Chess Championship.

National Championship

The High School Chess Championship saw chess players from across the nation competing against each other for top honors. LHS was able to nab a second place title, falling behind only to New York City’s Dalton School.

Individual medals were awarded to Livingston’s Roger Zhang,Ashton Roberts, Haari Muthukumar, Sam Israel, and Matt Ge.

State Championship

LHS’s chess team was named as varsity champions of the New Jersey High School Chess Championship. The high school also had a second team enter the varsity section, and they placed fourth.

Gloria Frances Szumaski (née Luciano) of Lavallette, formerly of Livingston, died on Tuesday, April 9. She was 82 years old. She was born on July 30, 1941 and raised in Livingston.

Mrs. Szumaski was the mother of four children, Gina Iammatteo, Denise (Joe D’Aries), Maria (Brian Siegel) and Joseph (Penny); and eight grandchildren.

Mrs. Szumaski was predeceased by her parents, Leonard and Antoinette Luciano; husband, John; her sisters, Nicolina Luciano, Beatrice Salemme, Dolores Freeman, Lucille Hoerrmann, Theresa Castelli, and Patricia O’Brien; and her brother Salvatore Luciano. She is survived by her siblings, Anna Mykietyn, Anthony Luciano, Janet Senft and Leonard Luciano. Mrs. Szumaski is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lavallette FirstAid Squad, P.O. Box 334 Lavallette, NJ 08735 in Mrs. Szumaski’s honor.

That chill in the air is finally subsiding, signaling that spring has arrived. Nowhere is that more evident than at Livingston’s baseball and softball fields, which are finally being put to good use after those dormant winter months.

Last week, the Livingston Lancers varsity baseball and softball teams opened their seasons. The varsity baseball team’s next game is scheduled for today, April 11, at 4 p.m., at home against Columbia High School. Varsity softball will play today, April 11, at 4 p.m, away against Columbia at Cameron Field, 5 Mead Street in South Orange.

Of course, the rest of spring sports are also in full swing, as well, including track, tennis, volleyball, lacrosse, and golf seasons. The Tribune plans to follow them all this spring, and we hope you’ll join us (and please send us your photos so we can share them in the paper!).

Livingston will hold its first free Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Event of the year on Saturday April 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livingston Senior/Community Center. Under New Jersey state law and the township’s recycling ordinance, it is mandatory to recycle electronic items. Electronic items cannot be placed at the curb for pickup - the garbage and recycling collection trucks will not take them.

Electronics Recycling

The following items will be accepted for electronics recycling: cellular telephones (erase hard drive and clear memory); computers and components (erase hard drive and clear memory); copiers; DVD players; electronic games; fax machines; keyboards; laptops; monitors, flat screens, and televisions (as long as they are unbroken and have no sharp edges); pagers; PDAs; portable electronic music devices; printers; radios; scanners; stereos; telecom equipment; typewriters; USP and other cables; and VCRs.

VIEWING THE ECLIPSE: On Monday, April 8, residents of Livingston gathered at the Oval, in driveways, and even in the parking lot at ShopRite to view the much anticipated eclipse. Above, at Newark Academy, seniors Olivia Croshaw, Katherine Guo, Julia Polen, and Ambika Sharma, watched the solar eclipse from the bleachers at Newark Academy’s football field, wearing glasses provided by the school. Below, even dogs need to be safe, as demonstrated by Clyde. Other pictures here show varying phases of the eclipse.