News

Over the past week, Livingston Police officers responded to reports of a vehicle burglary, package theft, and shoplifting.

The Livingston chapter of UNICO has announced that Rufino “Rudy” Fernandez, Jr. has been named the organization’s 2024 Citizen of the Year. Fernandez, the 67th recipient of this award, will be honored at a brunch on Sunday, April 21, at Hanover Manor. He follows in the footsteps of Stacey Rubinstein, Brian Boyle, Walter Joyce, Nick Santinelli, Sandy and Len Goodman, Nancy Dinar, Tom Cooney, and many more who have been honored for their service to the community, embodying the UNICO motto of “Service Above Self.”

The Livingston High School boys ’ indoor track and field started the championship portion of its season at the Essex County Relays on January 20 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. The boys faced some of the toughest competitors in the state from St. Benedict’s Prep, East Orange Campus, and Montclair High School.

During its meeting on Thursday, January 18, the Livingston Public Schools Board of Education discussed the results of its recent equity audit of the district. Board members shared their ideas on how to apply the audit’s recommendations into practice.

The Livingston Zoning Board, at its January 23 meeting, revisited its October 24 applications forAbhishek Gangwal at 6 Hazelwood Avenue and Jian Hu at 68 Amelia Avenue, ultimately rescheduling the former to February 27 and approving the latter. The Board then heard arguments for six new applications before approving all six requests.

At its Monday, January 22, meeting, the Township Council passed several resolutions and introduced three ordinances, including two for overlay districts that would pave the way for 280 housing units to be built in town.

Nilay Shriram of Livingston Boy Scout Troop 12 became an Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor ceremony on Saturday, January 6. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest rank that the Boys Scouts of America offers.

SOUTH LIVINGSTON AVENUE CLOSED: At 12:46 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, Livingston Police officers responded to the area of South Livingston Avenue in front of St. Philomena’s Church on a report of a one-car motor vehicle crash. Officers arrived and found that a 2014 Honda Odyssey had traveled off the roadway and a utility pole had been snapped and was lying on top of the car. The driver of the Honda a 53-year-old Livingston woman - had exited the vehicle by the time police officers had arrived. She told officers that she lost control of the vehicle while driving on South Livingston Avenue, due to the ice and snow covered roadway. The vehicle then left the roadway and struck the utility pole. The driver was uninjured. The roadway was closed between Town Hall and Bennington Road for much of Tuesday, as PSE&G and Verizon crews worked to repair the pole. MI Photo

On December 16, Livingston High School’s “A” Academic Team competed at the annual Garden State Cup championships. Having won last year’s edition, the team defended its title this school year in a field of a record 66 teams from the greater NJ/ NY/CT/DE metropolitan area.

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.

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.

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