Continued Good Work
The Livingston Fire Department continued its busy fall last week. In addition to continuing to monitor the nearly 200 acre wildfire in town, and managing flare ups within it as we continue to await desperately needed rain, two high ranking members of the department were also hospitalized after responding to a different incident.
Fire Chief Chris Mullin and Deputy Chief Josh Lewis were both hospitalized after rushing into an Irving Avenue home to save a man from chemical exposure. Knowing time was of the essence, they carried the elderly man out of the basement themselves, rather than waiting for backup to arrive.
We cannot thank our fire department members for all they have done over the past few weeks, and continue to do to keep Livingston and its residents safe. Their quick action last week may have saved a life, and managing the wildfires may have saved lives as well. It remains incredible that, as this fire continues to have flare ups, there have been no injuries or damage to buildings. Now, we continue to eagerly await rain to extinguish it once and for all.
We are lucky to have such a strong crew of first responders in town, and would, once again, note that the Livingston Fire Department (LFD) recently sent a letter to residents requesting donations. We hope people will remember the events of the past few weeks and consider making a donation.
Put Your Leaves Where They Belong
While walking and running through town over the past few weeks, we have continually run into the same issue: piles upon piles of leaves are not only at the curb line waiting to be collected, but also in the sidewalk and, in many instances, on the street. The resulting mess is a dangerous one, prompting pedestrians and cyclists to essentially have to walk in the middle of the roadway at certain points.
This is not the way leaf collection is supposed to be. Leaves are supposed to be left at the curb, on your own grass, not in the sidewalks and streets where they become a nuisance and danger to others – drivers, pedestrians, and pets – as well as a fire hazard in these current drought conditions.
During the fall Leaf Collection Program, property owners – and their landscapers – are allowed to put leaves in the street near the curb only during a one-week period prior to their scheduled pickup dates. Currently, only sections 1 and 2 are permitted to have their leaves out; section 1 should be in the process of being collected, while section 2 is scheduled to begin on November 11.
Extracurricular Activities
During the October 28 conference meeting of the Township Council, a homeschooled boy asked officials for their help. He said that, while he was not a student in the Livingston Public Schools district, he wished to attend after school activities to socialize and make friends with students in the district. While homeschooled students may particpate in township-sponsored events, such as recreational sports teams, school district activities are not permitted.
In New Jersey, homeschoolers can participate in public school programs at the discretion of the local Board of Education. Put in another way, the local Board of Education is not required by law to allow a child educated elsewhere than at school to participate in the regular school curriculum or in extracurricular or sports activities.
Per the Livingston district’s official guidelines, “Policy 2430 Co-CurricularActivities” states, “The Board will not allow students who reside in this district and who are not enrolled in the public school to participate in co-curricular activities.”
While we understand the policy that is in place (and that reasons such as insurance and medical clearances are likely factors for the policy), it is worth keeping in mind that children do not make the decision whether or not to be homeschooled. This rule, which essentially punishes them by not allowing them to join in sports, arts, and other peer activities, seems needlessly cruel. We are talking about a child who wishes to participate in the community and make friends, the latter of which he told the Council was his reason for wanting to join after school activities.
As the mother of the boy noted during the conference meeting, he is a Livingston resident; and as a homeowner, their family pays into the schools through taxes. Just because they do not take classes within the district, should that preclude attendance at after school events?
Perhaps this is a good conversation to have at next Monday’s public joint meeting between the Council and the Board of Education, which will be held Monday evening, November 11, at Town Hall. We look forward to hearing a spirited discussion on the topic.
