News

During its reorganization meeting on Wednesday, January 3, the Livingston Board of Education formally swore in Fang Gong as its newest member, and named Board members Pamela Chirls as president andJenissaAmette as vice president.

Gong Sworn In

At the beginning of the meeting, school business administrator and board secretary, Thomas Lambe, swore in board election winner, Fang Gong, as a Board of Education member.

Gong thanked the Board and residents of Livingston for voting for her during the election,.

“Thank you for your trust,” she said. “Your vote means so much, and that is the motivation that will keep me going. I am committed in leading up to your expectations. Together, I’m sure that we will make a collective, positive impact in this beautiful Livingston community. Thank you for this incredible opportunity.”

President, Vice President Named Board member Seth Cohen nominated Pamela Chirls as president.

The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating two unlocked vehicle burglaries that occurred in town last week.

At 7:17 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, officers responded to a Devonshire Road home on a report of two vehicles that had been entered in the early morning hours.

Officers arrived and met with the homeowner, who said that after reviewing his surveillance video, he noticed several suspects enter his two unlocked pickup trucks parked in his driveway. Nothing was reported missing at the time and the Detective Bureau is investigating the matter.

The township’s recycling calendar has been published in this week’s issue of the West Essex Tribune, on pages B-3 and B-4.

The calendar page also includes several 2024 Livingston Curbside Residential Recycling reminders, including the 2024 curbside residential recycling schedule, the 2024 metal recycling, bulk garbage and holiday schedules.

For more information on recycling, go to livingstonnj. org/Recy cling.

Jocelyn Rebecca Brandes, reported at press time to be Livingston’s first baby of 2023, has been named the winner of the

annual First Baby Contest. The little girl was bom - seven pounds, nine ounces - on January 1 at 4:09 p.m Central Time (5:09 p.m. Eastern Time). She was bom in Northwest Health - Porter hospital in Indiana, through surrogacy. As the first baby bom at her hospital in the New Year, she was also celebrated with gifts and a feature on the Northwest Health Facebook page.

Her parents are Karen and Ross Brandes of 29 North Road. Mother Karen is a stay at home mother, and father Ross works as a talent agent.

Karen’s parents, Max and Julie Silbermann, also reside in Livingston. Ross’s parents, Ramona Toyen and Joel Brandes, both live in Westlake, California.

VARSITY HOCKEY TEAM COMPETES: The Livingston High School boys’ ice hockey team was defeated by Governor Livingston, 6-2, on Friday, January 5, at the Codey Arena. Here, Lancer winger, Dylan Gibbs, #16, skates in with the puck to set up a goal.

Dagny Slomack, senior girls’ basketball captain at Newark Academy (NA), an independent school for grades six through 12 in Livingston, netted her 1,000th career point during the Boardwalk Basketball Classic tournament in Wildwood on December 30. Throughout the weekend, Dagny tallied 30 points, five rebounds, eight steals and four assists to earn a Second TeamAll-Boardwalk Classic nod.

“This means a lot to me and I am really excited because it has been a personal goal of mine to surpass this milestone since my freshman year,” Slomack said. “Coach Bona, Coach Mike and my teammates pushed and supported me over the last four years and had an important role in me reaching this goal. I am really honored to be a part of NA girls’basketball history.”

Because of the pandemic, Newark Academy only played four games during Dagny’s freshman year, making the 1,000 point mark an even more impressive feat, noted Nina Shirey, NA sports information director.

During the past week, a township pharmacy was robbed at gunpoint and a j ewelry store reported an attempted break in, according to Livingston Police.

Invictus Pharmacy

At 12:30p.m. onSaturday,December 30, Livingston officers responded to Invictus Pharmacy at 91 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue on a report of a robbery.

Upon arrival, officers were met by the store owner and employees, who said that they were robbed at gunpoint. Two masked suspects had entered the store brandishing handguns and made their way behind the counter, where they stole a large quantity of prescription medication and fled the scene.

Livingston Detectives began a “round the clock” investigation, and by early Tuesday morning, January 2, they identified and arrested one of the two suspects.

There were multiple residential burglaries, as well as several additional attempted burglaries to homes, in the last week of 2023, according to Livingston Police.

Residential Burglaries

At 1:23 p.m. on Saturday, December 30, officers responded to a Village Drive home on a report of a burglary to the residence. Officers arrived and were met by the homeowner, who showed them forced entry to a rear window and an open slider. Several items were disturbed and the homeowner is determining if anything was stolen.

At 10:26 p.m. Monday, January 1, officers responded to a Chestnut Street residence on a report of a burglary. Officers arrived and were met by the homeowners, who said that after being away for a few days, they returned to find the home burglarized. A window to the home was forced open and the bedrooms of the residence ransacked. The homeowner is compiling a list of stolen items and jewelry.

The West Essex Tribune is celebrating more than six decades of showering the first baby of the new year with an assortment of gifts generously donated by our advertisers. The first baby of 2024 born to Livingstonparents will be named the winner of the Tribune’s 66th annual First Baby Contest.

The rules to determine the winner are the same each year: The first baby of2024 must be born in a nearby hospital to parents who currently reside in Livingston. The exact time of the birth must be certified in writing by the attending physician.

If no new arrival is reported by that date, the contest will be extended until the first baby is bom. Parents who believe that they may be the winners of the contest should call the Tribune at 973-992-1771 or send an e-mail to WETribune@gmail.com. In the event of a tie, gifts will be awarded at the discretion of the Tribune staff.

The Livingston Township Council held its annual reorganization meeting on New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1. During the meeting, A1 Anthony was sworn in as mayor, his third time in the lead role, and Ed Meinhardt was named deputy mayor.

Longtime Planning Board chairman Peter Klein, who retired from the board at the end of 2023, was also recognized for his years of service. Klein, who spent 27 years on the Planning Board, including 22 as chairman, was given the key to the town.

New Mayor, Deputy Mayor

Anthony was tapped as mayor for the year following a unanimous vote.

Now the longest tenured Council member at the start of his 12th year, he was previously the mayor in 2016 and 2019.

“Livingston will be very fortunate to have A1 Anthony as mayor in 2024,” Meinhardt said in nominating him, calling him a great family man.