News

The Livingston High School girls’ varsity basketball team ended its 2023-24 season with an excellent performance in the State Tournament.

After recording an historic upset over Paterson Eastside, the Lancers fell in a tough battle against Passaic County Technical School to end their State Tournament run.

“I am extremely proud of the way our girls ended their season with their performance in the State Tournament,” said coach Ashley Addison. “After failing to qualify for the North 1 Group 4 State Tournament last season, we made it this year as the 16th seed. In an historic program win, we defeated the 20-win, number 1-seeded Paterson Eastside Ghosts with a final score of 40-37.”

At the Livingston Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, February 27, the Heritage Middle School cafeteria was filled with concerned parents and residents. Many were there to voice their support or opposition to a planned after-school event held Wednesday, February 28, in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of MetroWestNJ. The event aims to allow survivors of the October 7 terrorist attacks to share their first hand testimonies of what they witnessed.

WATER MAIN CONSTRUCTION: On Thursday, February 22, water main construction began on Congressional Parkway. The street was closed in sections, beginning at Madison Court and concluding at the baseball field. As construction commenced, the Northfield Pool parking lot was accessible only from Madison Court via Bryant Drive. Shown here, construction workers excavated parts of Congressional Parkway to access the water main.

Open for 69 years, the Heavenly Finds Thrift Shop moved in December of 2023. It is now located in the rectory (the house) on the St. Peter’s Church property, 94 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, next to the Ritz Diner.

Since the shop became a ministry of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona in the fall of 2021, it has donated over $140,000 to fund various programs. Focusing on those that address food insecurity, almost 45 percent of the money raised has funded area food pantries, including Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ CHOW; the Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry; and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Food Pantry (Christine’s Kitchen) in West Orange.

Livingston’s Sia Malhotra recently spearheaded the project of creating a children’s lending library in Terminal A of Newark International Airport. The library officially opened last month.

The idea was born when Sia, 11, stopped by a similar lending library in an Alaska airport.

“When we landed inAnchorage, Sia saw a library there and she loves to read so she was very much in awe of it,” said Nishu Malhotra, Sia’s mother.

From there, she developed the concept, began emailing with PortAuthority, and made her dream a reality.

On a trip to the Home Depot in East Hanover, Sia spoke with the manager, explained her idea, and they said they would build the physical library for her.

From its conception to opening to the public, the project took over three years. Getting the proper approvals and dealing with airport security protocols took time, but Sia never got discouraged.

At the end of the Monday, February 26, Township Council meeting, members discussed A-4, a state Assembly bill that recently passed and will affect the town’s fiiture affordable housing plans.

Specifically, A-4 is aplannedoverhaul of the current affordable housing system. It would abolish the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and give its regulatory power to staterun agencies. If towns follow the guidance of the state, they would be immune to the builder’s remedy lawsuits that have threatened towns - including Livingston - during previous affordable housing rounds. Governor Phil Murphy has previously stated his approval of the bill, which will now move to the Senate, under bill S50 Sea (1R).

The Livingston Zoning Board, at its Tuesday, February 27, meeting, reheard cases for Gary and Darice Tufaro at 89 East McClellan Avenue, Abhishek Gangwal at 6 Hazelwood Avenue, and Ajith Kumar Bodepudi at 17 Maplewood Drive. Ultimately, the Board approved the Tufaros’ and Bodepudi’sproposals alongwithone other application, while delaying votes on Gangwal’s case andanother case to March 26.

89 East McClellan Avenue

Following their December 12 hearing, Gary and Darice Tufaro requested a five-foot height variance to build a two-car garage at the aforementioned address. At the prior hearing, they had presented an updated version of the garage plan, which would reduce its height to 18 feet in total. However, the Board had requested the Tufaros and their architect change the height further so that it properly conforms with Livingston’s zoning code.

The Livingston Board of Education heard a presentation on the 2024-25 budget at its meeting Tuesday night.

Assistant superintendent Mark Stem spoke about the implementation of EduPlanet21, an online platform where educators write and revise their curriculum. EduPlanet21 gives parents access to the curriculums and increasing transparency.

Stem reported that new courses and programs are being added to the district. Math in Focus will be growing into the sixth grade, while Word Study programs will be implemented in kindergarten and first grade.

The gifted and talented music program will be expanded to grades six through eight. The curriculum for AP Microeconomics will be written this summer. A costume design course will be offered next fall. Dance 4 will also be implemented, allowing students to fulfill all four years of their physical education requirements with dance courses.

This week, the municipal courts heard a number of cases, including charges of a broken door at Cooperman Barnabas, disorderly conduct, and fraudulent checks.

Criminal Mischief

A Newark man was arrested and charged with criminal mischief at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center on September 3. Marquise Granger, 30, kicked, pushed, and subsequently damaged a magnetic door. Damages totaled $2,532.08.

When reviewed by the Essex county prosecutor, the charge was downgraded to a disorderly persons charge. Granger pled guilty and was assesseda $300 fine, plus $33 in court costs; $75 for the Safe Neighborhoods Fund; and $50 for the Victims of Crimes Compensation Organization( VCCO). Granger must also pay $2,532.08 to Saint Barnabas Health.

Disorderly Conduct

LIVINGSTON GIRLS’ WRESTLING IN TOURNAMENT: The Livingston High School girls’ wrestling team competed in the Essex County girls’ tournament on Friday, February 16. The competition was held at Nutley High School. Two members of the team placed in their respective weight classes. Shown above, left, Livingston High School’s Ashlea Budzinski placed first within her weight class, receiving a gold medal. At right, Izadora Boneares placed second.