Protecting Our Environment
This past Tuesday, April 22, was Earth Day, so let us take a moment to reflect on the gains we have made over the last five-plus decades since that holiday began. We have done much as a society to accelerate environmental progress, yet there is still so much left to accomplish.
Celebrated around the globe, Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day to provide education about, and demonstrate support for, environmental issues. When it comes to recognizing the need to care for our planet, humans have come a long way, but there’s still much more to be done.
The thought of working to rectify hundreds of years of ignorance and denial about the injuries we inflict on our air, water, land and wildlife, may lead many people to think that a single person cannot do much. This is not true. There are little things that each of us can do that really will help the environment. A good place to start is by practicing the three Rs: first Reduce how much you use, then Reuse what you can, and then Recycle the rest. Finally, dispose of what’s left in the most environmentally friendly way. Try to buy permanent items instead of disposables; buy and use only what you need; and purchase products with less packaging and that use fewer toxic materials. We can also close the “three Rs” loop by purchasing as many items made of recycled goods as possible. These actions are in line with the Earth Day Network’s mission “to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations.”
We should also note thatArbor Day is tomorrow, Friday, April 25. Those with the means are encouraged to plant trees to commemorate the occasion. In Livingston, township officials will be planting a tree by the gazebo on the Oval at 2 p.m.
And don’t forget about the annual town-wide Pick It Up! Livingston community clean-up day this Sunday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. We can all help keep this town beautiful by working in teams to pick up litter on the side of our roadways. Even one hour of your time can contribute to making Livingston a little bit nicer than it already is.
Families and individual residents, local civic clubs and organizations, youth groups and students are all welcome to join (and it’s a great way to log community service hours). Bags, gloves, safety vests, and waste disposal will be provided. People can register at bit.ly/41WQVwL or through the township website calendar at livingstonnj.org. Residents can email [email protected] with any questions.
The nine clean-up locations are: Beaufort Avenue, the Livingston Senior/Community Center (204 HillsideAvenue), West Hobart Gap Road (from Nero’s to Coventry), East Hobart Gap Road (from the Fire Station to South Orange Avenue), Laurel Avenue in Prospect Park, East Northfield Road at the Kiwanis entrance, ShrewsburyAvenue in East Hills Park, South LivingstonAvenue (across from St. Philomena’s), and Madonna Drive by Livingston High School.
These holidays and events provide simple, actionable ways to beautify and protect our environment in Livingston. Let us take advantage of the opportunities.
Inspiring Women
Earlier this month, the Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (LCDI) honored the 2025 Inspiring Women of Livingston. These 14 leaders, volunteers, educators, entrepreneurs, and students were lauded for their extraordinary contributions to the community.
This year’s honorees were Tanya Shah, Shilpa Kulkarni, Jodi Eisner,Amy Ipp, Robin Weiss, Colomba Anzalone, Kathryn Picardo, Falungi Pandya, Sandy Goodman, Sara Kiareldeen, Monica Gupta, Barbara Sherman, Mindy Scheier and Dana Dang.
These honorees represent the best of Livingston. They join a long list of past honorees, including Judith Friedman, Patricia Sebold, Pamela Chirls, Ronnie Konner, Pam Kaufman Tepper, Carmen Yung, Debbie Kirchen, Donean Rocheville, Marina Goldin, Stacey Melhorn, Xiuju Jiang, Cynthia Healy, Dakashna Bahadur Lang, Barbara Bye, Eleonore “Ellie” Cohen, Vivian Olshen, Maninder “Dolly” Abraham, Kristen Fless, Margie Heller, Joy Klapal, Melissa Casper Holub, Naomi Berkurestsion, Gabriella DeFliippo, Martha Ackermann, and Christy Sanborn.
We tip our caps to this impressive group of women, and look forward to seeing who gets the nod next year. Nominations for the 2026 Inspiring Women in Livingston will be accepted by the group in the fall.
