West Essex Tribune

By Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: This week, Jeff Friedman, founder and director of Living-ston Philanthropies, Inc., explains in his own words one of the charity’s initiatives, “Personal Shopping for the Homeless.”
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I want to re-introduce Livingston Philanthropies, Inc.’s (LPI) successful “Personal Shopping for the Homeless” initiative to altruistic Livingston residents – especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With jobs vanishing on a weekly basis, more families are finding themselves living below the poverty line or existing totally out on the cruel streets. Along with the serially homeless, our poorest citizens stand on long food pantry lines, which now wind down streets and around corners. As I often drive through Newark to make quick deliveries to our stalwart distribution partners, I see and feel this bleak reality check firsthand. 

LANCERS SHUT OUT VERONA: The Livingston High School boys’ varsity soccer team shut out Verona, 1-0, in an away game on the Thomas J. Sellitto Athletic Field on Saturday, October 17. Shown here, Lancer Kyle Kelly, #7, controls the ball against the Verona defender. Don Schwartz Phot

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Construction on the Habitat for Humanity home at 24 Burnet Street in Livingston accelerated this month as volunteers were welcomed back to the worksite.

Crews led by construction manager Rick Casaretto and site supervisor Alphonso Richards have been installing insulation, boards, and fire stops, and plan to soon put up sheetrock.

Habitat has fielded fewer volunteers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time the Tribune visited, in early March, more than a dozen F D m volunteers, as well as the home’s new owner, were measuring, cutting, and hammering. The home was estimated to be completed by July.

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At the Monday, October 19, Township Council meeting, members held two ordinance hearings and passed several resolutions.

20 minutes into the meeting, the Council went into a closed session for about an hour. Topics listed on the agenda for closed session included affordable housing litigation, redevelopment updates, municipal court contract negotiations, and DPW facility contract negotiations.

Technical difficulties prevented the meeting from being streamed on the township’s Facebook page, as it has been since March, meaning those who wished to attend the meeting had to do so directly through the Zoom. It wasn’t clear to all wishing to attend when they were permitted to return to the meeting after it had gone into closed session. At 8:15 p.m., the meeting resumed its open session, on Zoom only. The Council also began a discus

On Tuesday, October 20, the Planning Board held a combined conference and special meeting to hear about a proposal for a mixed use residential and retail development at Northfield Center.

The Board also approved the engagement of a landscaping expert for the new application at Northfield Center.

Northfield Center

The Board continued hearing an application that began on October 6, by Livingston Builders, LLC, for a mixed-use residential and retail development at Northfield Center.

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SNACKS FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS: Members of synagogues in Livingston and West Orange donated snacks to the Livingston Fire Department recently. The donation was a project of the West Orange/ Livingston Chesed Community, to thank “front line Workers for keeping their communities safe.” Shown here reciving the donation at Livingston Fire Headquarters are maintenance technician Josh Lewis; Craig Goldman representing Chesed; and Fire Chief Christopher Mullin. Mullin noted, “The members of the LFD thank Livingston and West Orange Jewish communities for their thoughtfulness and for caring for their first responders.”

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BARKER LOUNGE OPENS: The Barker Lounge, owned by brothers Michael and Rob Gonnello, offers doggie daycare, boarding and grooming in Livingston. The Lounge held a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, October 19. Shown here are the Gonnellos’ parents, Bob and Jennifer; Michael Gonnello’s wife, Tierney Farry; Michael Gonnello and his son, Ronan; mayor Rudy Fernandez; Township Council member Al Anthony; Rob Gonnello with his son, James, and daughter, Maya; Rob Gonnello’s wife, Anna, with their daughter Julia; and Beth Lipmann, executive director of the Livingston Business Improvement Districts. The Barker Lounge, located at 81 Dorsa Avenue, may be reached at 862-707-BARK (2275).

GDY Photo

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OVERTIME WIN FOR LADY LANCERS: The Livingston High School girls’ varsity soccer team defeated Mount Saint Dominic, 2-1, in overtime. The game was played on the LHS turf on Wednesday, October 14. Shown here, Lancer Jadyn Liebman drives the ball during a Lancer offensive charge. Don Schwartz Photo

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Barbara Ann Entwistle, 82, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by her family on October 13, 2020. She was a long-time resident of Livingston, New Jersey.

Barbara was born in Orange in January, 1938. She was the daughter of Michael and Lillian Savage. She married her high-school sweetheart, Albert Edward Entwistle, on November 24, 1956, and they were blessed with seven children. Barbara was a homemaker and then a long-time secretary in the Livingston High School guidance department. She was an active parishioner at Saint Philomena’s Parish.

Barbara deeply cared for others and had a special way of making them feel important. She was dear to all who were fortunate enough to know her. She was predeceased by her par

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, residents have gotten a head start on the 2020 General Election, and have been voting by mail for the past several weeks. We have been thrilled to see all of the photos circulating of the Livingston community casting their ballots. From first time voters to seasoned veterans of the process, it is inspiring to see everyone exercise their right to participate in this democratic institution.

While millions of the 6.2 million registered New Jersey voters have already cast their ballots, we know there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, who have yet to do so.

To them, we simply say: What are you waiting for?

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