News

Three Livingston students were recently named merit scholars. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released the names of the first group of winners in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Livingston High School’s Rebecca Liu was awarded the National Merit ADP Henry Taub Memorial Scholarship. LHS senior Nathan Zhang also found himself listed. He was awarded the National Merit S&P Global Scholarship.

NewarkAcademy student Meghan W. Lai also received a sholarship. She was named the recipient of the National Merit Marsh McLennan Scholarship.

All are invited to Livingston’s Veterans Organizations for a brief Loyalty Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at War Memorial Park on the Oval in Livingston.

Loyalty Day is a special day for people to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and to recognize the heritage of American freedom.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Livingston Public Library.

Join Maestro Anthony LaGruth and the Livingston Symphony Orchestra (LSO) for “Atmospheres,” the fourth concert of the 2023-2024 season, on Saturday, April 27. The program honors LSO “forever cellist,” Tammy Tobitsch. Highlights include works by Claude Debussy and Joaquin Turina, a lyrical piece guided by New Jersey Symphony Orchestra clarinetist Andrew Lamy, and a world premiere written by 18-year-old Kush Tailor.

Tobitsch has been a member of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra since her graduation from Grove City College in the early 2000s.

On Thursday, April 18, the Livingston Fire Department responded to a two-car accident in front of 127 South Livingston Avenue. The wreck occurred between West Cedar Street and Wilson Terrace, less than a block from the Fire Department’s headquarters building.

One of the vehicle’s occupants reported being stuck within the car, prompting the dispatch of the Fire Department’s rescue truck for victim extrication. However, the occupant was able to climb out of her car’s passenger window without injury. Once safely out of her vehicle, the driver was checked by emergency medical services personnel.

As this occurred, officers from the Livingston Police Department were on the scene, directing traffic as the vehicles were towed. The second fire engine was cancelled prior to its arrival on the scene.

This past week, the Livingston F ire Department made two trips to provide mutual aid to the East Hanover Fire Department. LFD also responded to a single call about a gaseous odor at a residence and multiple smoke alarm activations.

Mutual Aid

On Tuesday, April 9, the East Hanover Fire Department requested a fire engine from the LFD to assist with the overhaul of a structure fire.

A fire engine from the LFD was requested again by the East Hanover Fire Department to assist with a structure fire on Monday, April 15. The Livingston firefighters performed an overhaul on the exterior of the garage that caught fire.

Odor

A gaseous odor was reported at the residence of 51 Hickory Avenue on Sunday, April 14. No gas reading was found, but PSE&G was on the scene and investigated the incident.

Alarm Transmissions

Several car burglaries were reported Monday evening in Livingston, and four minors were arrested in connection with the crimes that same evening, Livingston Police said.

At 8:25 a.m. on Monday, April 15, Livingston officers responded to Bear Brook Lane on a report of a burglary to a motor vehicle. The homeowner told officers that their video surveillance cameras captured two masked suspects entering his vehicle and appearing to take a phone charger. The actual time of the burglary appeared to be approximately 2:45 a.m., according to the recording.

Later that day, at 2:30 p.m., officers responded to Cedar Commons on a report of another motor vehicle burcontinued on Page A-8) glary. Cedar Commons management reported that there were multiple suspects seen on video surveillance entering parked motor vehicles at approximately 1:30 a.m. that morning. Proceeds of the burglaries included a cell phone charger and a pair of sunglasses.

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.

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.

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.