LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities (LACD) is teaming up with The NoteWorthy Project—a small local orchestra made up of Livingston High School students—to present a free music program for people with special needs and their families on Saturday, April 13, in Rooms T2 and T3 of the Livingston Senior and Community Center from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
In addition to playing familiar tunes from family favorites such as “Frozen,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin,” members of The NoteWorthy Project will also provide arts and crafts supplies for attendees to create their own instruments, such as maracas and drums. The teens will then teach the attendees a simple beat or rhythm so that they are able to play along.
Families are asked to RSVP by April 1 by using the QR code pictured above or by contacting Kayla Fang via text to 973-619-8029 or via email at kayla.k.fang@gmail.com.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — Lyla Feldman of the Livingston High School girls basketball team has been named to the Super Essex Conference Colonial Division first team for 2023-24.
Feldman, a sophomore guard, led the Lancers in scoring with 8.8 points per game and in 3-point baskets with 42. She scored a season-high 19 points on Feb. 8 against Payne Tech.
Sophomore guard Aubrey Cohen was selected to the Colonial Division second team in a vote of the conference's coaches, and junior guard Jordyn Fersko received honorable mention.
Livingston won five more games under second-year coach Ashley Addison than the Lancers had the year before, and the team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in New Jersey when the 16th-seed Lancers defeated top-seeded Paterson Eastside, 40-37, in the first round of the NJSIAA Section 1, Group 4 tournament. Feldman had 11 points and three 3-pointers in that game.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston Public Schools (LPS) students looking to enhance their educational experience — either by catching up on the previous school year’s coursework or getting a head start on that of the academic year to come — have a wide selection of classes to choose from through the district’s upcoming Summer Academy program.
According to the recently released LPS Summer Academy brochure, LPS is committed to providing students with excellent educational experiences that over the summer include Remedial Courses, Bridge Courses and Enrichment Courses for students looking for an additional academic challenge as well as one-on-one guidance from certified teachers for students who need additional time on task and greater attention to help them achieve their potential.
The three options are described as follows:
Remedial Courses follow the same curriculum as is taught during the academic year and are designed for students to recoup lost credit;
Bridge Courses are designed for students enrolling in Advanced Placement or Honors courses for the first time in September 2024; and
Enrichment Courses provide students with a sample of content by which they might be intrigued. These courses include Brain Camp for younger students, Art or Engineering for elementary and middle school students, Science Research for older students and more.
To learn more about the courses available in 2024 for the LPS Summer Academy, CLICK HERE.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Lions Club and its student counterpart, the Leo Club, will be holding a speaker series event on March 23 for local youth aged 10 and older and adults, featuring professionals from various industries who will discuss potential opportunities and paths in their individual fields.
The panel will include college counselor Melanie Talesnick, yoga instructor and wellness and life coach Roma Kohli, entrepreneur Vineeta Khanna, Dr. Neha Abrol of Johns Hopkins University, entrepreneur Vinay Jain and Pratt Institute School of Architecture professor Ajmal Aqtash.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livingston Senior and Community Center, located at 204 Hillside Avenue in Livingston. To register, contact the Livingston Leo Club at leolivingston2024@gmail.com.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — A few months after realizing her dream of opening a boutique medical spa in her hometown of Livingston, Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics founder Lena Berlin, PA-C, is optimistic that her new office on E. Northfield Road is on the fast track to becoming Livingston’s preferred destination for Botox and other high-quality aesthetic treatments.
Berlin, who is currently offering a special Botox deal for new clients, expressed enthusiasm about her journey thus far, sharing that opening Berlin Beauty has been “a rollercoaster ride of emotions, filled with excitement, anticipation and a healthy dose of nervousness” and that every aspect of her experience has reaffirmed her “unwavering commitment and resilience.”
“Ever since I was a little girl, I was always a dreamer and always dreamed big,” said Berlin. “I wanted to one day be part of something grand that would make a difference in people's lives. I knew I wanted to have a business of my own that I could design and build from scratch from an idea that I would, with hard work, see come to life. This is what Berlin Beauty has been for me.”
Berlin shared that one of the most rewarding aspects of launching Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics has been witnessing the transformations of her clients and the profound impact she has had on their lives.
“The most beautiful transformations are not just skin-deep—they emanate from a place of genuine care, compassion and unwavering dedication to the happiness and well-being of others,” said Berlin. “Seeing the joy and confidence radiating from our clients' faces after receiving our treatments is truly priceless. It reaffirms my belief in the power of beauty and self-care to uplift and empower individuals from all walks of life.”
According to Berlin, it has not been uncommon for patients to leave her office feeling not only rejuvenated, but also “profoundly grateful for the positive change.” She shared that many of her patients express their appreciation through heartfelt hugs, testimonials and other gestures that “speak volumes about the transformative power of Berlin Beauty.”
One such instance occurred recently when a patient left Berlin a handwritten note saying, “Thank you for making me fall in love with myself again.”
“These words, simple yet profound, encapsulate the essence of my mission: to inspire self-love and acceptance in every individual that comes to Berlin Beauty,” said Berlin. “These moments of connection and validation fuel my passion and reaffirm my commitment to my craft.”
Berlin, who also has a passion for interior design, added that she was grateful for the opportunity to design her own office, which she described as “a relaxing, vivid and welcoming space” where patients can rest in velvet green chairs, listen to music and feel comfortable throughout their service.
“I would describe our office as a great escape,” said Berlin. “From touches of color to pops of pampas, we designed the space to be your oasis.”
Above all, Berlin said she was proud to be able to provide these services and to see her longtime dream come to fruition in her hometown of Livingston, where she resides with her husband and three children.
After 10 years as a resident and now as a member of the business community, Berlin said she is hopeful about her future in Livingston.
“Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the future of Berlin Beauty,” she said. “As we continue to grow and evolve, my vision is to become a trusted destination for individuals seeking personalized, high-quality medical aesthetic treatments delivered with care, expertise and integrity.”
As she continues her mission to become one of the top medical spas in the area, Berlin is currently offering new clients the opportunity to receive three areas of Botox at a discounted price of $450 at Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics.
“Our commitment to natural, subtle enhancements makes us the preferred choice for the best Botox in Livingston,” said Berlin, adding that the best Botox journey begins with a comprehensive consultation process that she provides as part of all treatment services at her Livingston office.
During this initial meeting, Berlin takes the time to understand each client’s specific aesthetic desires and concerns with a detailed assessment of his or her skin and facial features.
“This session is crucial in crafting a customized treatment plan, tailored precisely to enhance your natural beauty and meet your individual goals,” said Berlin. “We’ll discuss your medical history and any previous cosmetic treatments to ensure the safety and efficacy of your Botox treatment.”
As an expert in aesthetics, Berlin said that the most popular areas to get Botox injections typically include the forehead, glabella (the area between the eyebrows), and the crow's feet around the eyes.
“These areas are prone to dynamic wrinkles, which are caused by repetitive muscle movements such as frowning, squinting, and raising the eyebrows,” she said. “Botox works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles responsible for these movements, thereby smoothing out wrinkles and lines in the skin.”
Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics is located at 65 E. Northfield Rd, Unit K, in Livingston.
To learn more about Berlin Beauty or to claim the New Client Offer of three Botox areas for $450, CLICK HERE.
]]>EAST HANOVER, NJ — Tickets are still available for the Big L Club’s Duffy Casino Night, named in memory of event creator and lifelong Livingston resident Patricia “Trish” Duffy, to be held on March 15 at Hanover Manor in East Hanover from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
In addition to furthering the Big L Club’s overall mission to support the Livingston High School (LHS) athletic program, the event will also help provide a scholarship in Duffy’s name to a LHS senior athlete who embodies Duffy’s hard work ethic, commitment to volunteerism and dedication to family in addition to furthering the Big L Club’s overall mission to support the LHS Athletic Program.
“I think it's a tribute to not only what she's done with the Big L, but also her community service that she's done throughout between being a realtor and growing up and living in Livingston all her life basically,” Duffy’s husband and current Big L Club president Mike Duffy has said about the event. “She knew a lot of people, and she would be so thrilled to see number one that this has continued, and that it's grown.”
Prior to her death in December 2018, Trish was an integral part of the Livingston community, working as a realtor at Coldwell Banker for nearly 30 years in addition to being an active member of the Big L Club. She was also a former president of the Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteered for the Junior Lancers Football Organization, Livingston Little League, the Livingston Bicentennial Picnic Committee and the LHS Project Graduation Committee.
Following her death, Trish’s family continued her efforts to give back to the community by requesting that donations be made in her name to the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department and the Livingston Volunteer First Aid Squad in lieu of flowers.
In 2015, Trish organized the inaugural Big L Casino Night after hosting a similar event with the LHS Project Graduation Committee that was extremely successful. As the Big L Club is the official sports booster for LHS, Trish felt this would be the perfect way to get local parents involved in the organization’s mission to raise money to benefit the entire LHS Athletic Program.
The Big L has continued the tradition ever since, and Duffy Casino Night is now the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. What began as a small event with only about 100 guests now requires a larger ballroom with an average of 300 people as well as more game tables, prizes and food for the hundreds of annual supporters to enjoy.
All proceeds from Duffy Casino Night and other Big L Club fundraisers go directly toward various projects for LHS athletics. CLICK HERE to register for the upcoming event.
In the coming months, the Big L Club will once again host its annual senior fashion show, which returned last year after a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fashion show is the beginning of the end of high school for LHS senior athletes, who will also enjoy a senior pep rally in June thanks to the Big L Club.
On the morning of their prom, all seniors will be invited to the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center (FWC) to celebrate the graduating members of all athletic teams, including the cheerleaders and marching band, while also hearing from a motivational speaker. In addition to naming a Male and Female Athlete of the Year, the Big L Club also hands out commemorative plaques to all senior athletes during this event.
Another popular annual event is the Big L Club Hall of Fame Induction Brunch held at Hanover Manor in October, where outstanding alumni, coaches and teams are honored for their contributions to LHS athletics.
Most recently, the inductees for the Class of 2023 included Tom McNichol (LHS Class of 1975); David Koss (Class of 1977); Michael Braun (Class of 1980); Adam Neubart (Class of 1995); the 1980 LHS hockey team; and contributor Mickey Litvak.
Individual spotlights on these inductees are linked below, and nominations for the Big L Club Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are now being accepted at https://thebiglclub.org/.
Click on the headlines below to read individual spotlights on this year’s inductees:
Livingston's 1980 State Championship Hockey Team Inducted to Big L Club Hall of Fame
Beloved Livingston Athletics Contributor Mickey Litvak Inducted to Big L Club Hall of Fame
Livingston's Big L Club Inducts Dual-Athlete Adam Neubart to Hall of Fame
Dual-Athlete Michael Braun Inducted to Livingston's Big L Club Hall of Fame
Record-Setting Livingston Tennis Player David Koss Inducted to Big L Club Hall of Fame
Livingston Basketball Standout Tom McNichol Inducted to Big L Club Hall of Fame
Livingston's Big L Club Hosts Celebratory Activities Honoring 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
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LIVINGSTON, NJ — Registration is now open to Livingston residents for all spring and summer 2024 programs offered through Livingston’s Senior, Youth and Leisure Services (SYLS) department, including a vast array of youth activities, fitness and enrichment classes for adults and seniors, family and special population socials, Lancers Summer Sports Camps and more. Registration for non-residents will open on Wednesday, March 20 at 8:30 a.m.
The Spring and Summer 2024 Program Guide, which includes a full schedule, activity descriptions, locations and fees, can be viewed in its entirety BY CLICKING HERE.
Registration is available online at Community Pass or in person at the SYLS office, located at 204 Hillside Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For additional information, contact the recreation department at syls@livingstonnj.org or call the SYLS office at 973-535-7925 and select option 0.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating a residential burglary that occurred Friday on Thames Drive, which was the second home burglary reported over the last month.
A few weeks earlier, Livingston officers responded to a Montgomery Road residence on a report of a burglary in progress after surveillance cameras alerted the homeowner to an unknown person inside his residence.
Thanks to the alert and quick action of the homeowner, officers were able to apprehend one male suspect at the residence, where they determined that entry was gained by smashing a rear window and observed that a bedroom was ransacked.
The actor, identified as Julio-Cesar Ocampo-Valdes, 35, of Maspeth, NY, was transported to Livingston police headquarters and charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal damage. Ocampo-Valdes was released on a summons, and the Livingston Detective Bureau is continuing the investigation for additional suspects.
The detective bureau also continues to investigate the March 8 burglary while the homeowner compiles a list of stolen items.
According to police, officers responded to a burglary alarm at the Thames Drive residence at approximately 7:09 p.m. and located a rear sliding door that was shattered. Further investigation revealed that the home had very recently been burglarized and the bedrooms ransacked.
In addition to these residential burglaries, Livingston police have also recently responded to multiple vehicle burglaries. One of these incidents included an attempted home burglary that was unsuccessful. CLICK HERE to read about these reports.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — After recently returning from a 40-hour fact-finding mission to the Israel and Gaza border with a group of area educators, legislators and community leaders, Livingston Public Schools (LPS) Superintendent Dr. Matthew Block shared a personal reflection on his journey and lessons from the experience that he will bring back to LPS.
Acknowledging that there were “different opinions” shared among community members about his decision to take the trip and that “in some ways, it caused conflict,” Block emphasized “the benefit of seeing things firsthand” and reiterated that he “went with a hope that [he] would find some connection [and] bring back messages that could potentially bring people together.”
Major takeaways that Block shared in his reflection—including takeaways from his visits to various areas of devastation and his firsthand observations of the impact that the ongoing conflict has had on the people of both Israel and Gaza—are summarized below.
Reason for Attending and the Significance of Primary-Source Research
Block explained that he spent about 40 hours on the ground in Israel along with a group of seven school district administrators, six members of the New Jersey State Assembly, nine civic and community leaders and two facilitators from the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey, which orchestrated the trip.
As a former history teacher with a strong belief in the necessity of primary-source research, Block emphasized that when he received the invitation, he saw it as “a really educational learning opportunity” and “an opportunity to seek understanding of a situation that clearly impacted [the Livingston] community.”
“I was a history teacher, a social studies teacher and was a history major in college, and I've always believed that if given the opportunity, the benefit of seeing things firsthand is extraordinarily valuable since you can process information yourself and not through the eyes and ears of others. That primary-source research is really the best and only kind of research.
“I also went with a hope that I would find some connection and find some ways to bring back messages that could potentially bring people together…A sad part of my trip was that I know that there were different opinions on it, different thoughts on it and that in some ways, it caused conflict. But the important thing to me in sharing this with you is why I went, what I learned, and what I saw is that there's so much that connects us and brings us together, and that's what I chose to focus on on the trip.”
Takeaways from Visit to the Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education
With a Muslim woman in charge of community relations at the Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem serving as their tour guide, Block and his group visited “a school where Arab Israelis and Jewish Israelis learn together” and where “two sets of traumatized people” continue to come together every day as war rages on nearby.
“The biggest hope for the future is the Hand in Hand School,” said Block. “We visited a school in Jerusalem that was founded in 1998. It started as one school, and there are now six schools and there are 650 students just in Jerusalem. They find it hard to keep up with demand. They admit as many kids as they can, but there is more demand than there is space.
“We asked [our tour guide] how many families dropped out of the school after the attacks on Oct. 7 and the resulting war, and she told us they did not lose one family as a result. We asked how she kept the community together, and she said it was the parents. They came together right away and made a decision as a group that they would not allow whatever was happening—and happening right in their backyards and to people that they are related to and care about—that they wouldn’t allow that to stop what they believe in so fervently for the Hand in Hand School.
“The school teaches both Arabic and Hebrew, and every homeroom has one Jewish and Muslim teacher. I asked how the teachers figured out how to do this, and they said there are counselors who guide new teachers.
“Our tour guide said, ‘It’s all about strengthening the muscle.’ She said, ‘Our new teachers who come in aren’t necessarily good at it, but they are trained, and we help them, and we support them. Over time, they become good at it, but it’s not easy’…I think that’s important for me to say for us as well.”
Block also shared that there is currently a major focus on mental health at the Hand in Hand School, where the tour guide told Block’s group that there “are not enough therapists in the country of Israel for what the kids and families are going through.”
Despite the hard times, however, Block said it was powerful “to stand there at the Hand in Hand School, where kids of very different backgrounds played together while there is a war raging only a few miles away.”
“We asked her if they are actually friends or if they only play together in school, and I'll give you the honest answer,” said Block. “She said there are many integrated playdates, and they do fade over time, but the kids at the elementary school tend to play together. Boys tend to hang in there more because Muslim and Jewish boys will continue to play sports together. They said they're working on it, but that the girls tend to culturally separate over time.”
Ultimately, the students who go through the Hand in Hand School “build amazing listening skills,” according to Block’s tour guide.
“Somebody in the group asked what was a key activity that they did that they felt was powerful, and they have something that's called the ‘Grandparent Project,’ where every Jewish student at the school has to go to the home of a Muslim grandparent and interview the grandparent, and every Muslim student has to go to a Jewish grandparent’s home and interview the grandparent,” he said. “I just thought it was amazingly interesting that it was about grandparents because that's really how you get the culture and the history.”
Takeaways from Visit to Destroyed or Abandoned Kibbutzim* Near Gaza Border
In sharing his experience of the first part of his journey, which was a trip to the border with Gaza in the south of Israel, Block emphasized that the devastation in both Gaza and Israel was evident to his entire group even without being able to step foot in Gaza.
“To negate the fact that there's pain felt everywhere in that region is disingenuous, and I saw with my own eyes,” said Block.
As he drove through one of the kibbutzim* destroyed on Oct. 7, Block described it as “a place that was frozen in time” with “bicycles and toys out on lawns that were overgrown” and sukkahs—or temporary huts constructed during a week-long Jewish holiday called Sukkot—still standing from the autumn harvest festival celebrated months earlier.
“People were simply driven from their homes, and it was silent,” said Block. “We also got to stand at this first kibbutz at a lookout with binoculars because we were literally less than a mile from Gaza and Gaza City. So we were able to see Gaza City, and we saw a city that has been destroyed by war.
“Clearly, there were people that lived in those buildings that we saw blown out; clearly, there were people that had lives there whose lives were destroyed; and the pain and the suffering kind of entered you as you looked through the binoculars. We didn't get to go into Gaza, [but] we saw it, and there is no doubt that there are people suffering in Gaza. We saw that with our own eyes.”
Block also spoke about his visit to another kibbutz, where the group witnessed “total destruction.”
“The first one was just abandoned, the second one was destroyed,” he said. “The faces of the people—many of whom were asleep in their beds that morning—were hung outside the doors of their houses that were burnt out and destroyed.
“The tragedy and the emotion that we looked at from a distance, and the tragedy of the emotion that we looked at up close, will be something that I carry with me forever and affect me still today.”
(Editor’s note: *Kibbutzim (or kibbutzes) is the plural of the Hebrew term “kibbutz,” which is a community unique to Israel, typically in an agricultural area.)
Takeaways from Visit to Gaza-Israel Checkpoint
Reflecting further on the devastation he encountered during his trip, Block spoke about what he learned during a visit to a Gaza-to-Israel checkpoint that was destroyed on Oct. 7 as part of the attacks.
“What was striking to me, and what you don’t hear on the news, was that that checkpoint had just been built up,” he said. “You could see where they had just built brand-new bus stations for people who crossed over from Gaza who would then come and go to work. It didn’t occur to me, and I didn’t know, that nearly 30,000 people crossed every day from Gaza into Israel, got on buses and went to work.
“When you’re standing in the Kiba and on a kibbutz, how close that is to Gaza, you’re talking about less than a mile away. These people were neighbors. People crossed into the area on a daily basis, and the checkpoints were being built up to be able to accommodate the people that were crossing in.”
Although he didn’t have an opportunity to visit the West Bank checkpoints, Block learned about their recent closing and how that has affected the local economy that has since “come to a halt.”
“Sadly, there were 80,000 people who crossed into Israel to go to work from West Bank checkpoints on a daily basis,” he said. “They’ve now shut down the checkpoints to the West Bank for security purposes, so you’re talking about 110,000 people, approximately, who have lost their livelihood and their ability to support their families.
“You’re talking about people who lived in the communities, in the kibbutzes, that have not gone home, that are living in hotel rooms with two, three, four children or their neighbors and their friends….So there’s a lot that’s happening to everyone in that region.”
In speaking with those who lived on the kibbutz near the checkpoint, Block was told that they “never felt any sort of danger living there.”
“They knew they could see Gaza from their backyards, and they knew that the checkpoint was nearby, and it was never an issue,” said Block, who shared a story about a local mayor residing near the checkpoint who was regularly collaborating with a group of Gazans to improve relations as well as their ability to cross into Israel for work. “Sadly, that mayor was killed on Oct. 7. We asked the question, were any of the people in his group responsible? And we were told ‘absolutely not.’ As a matter of fact, they made sure to reach out to express their condolences to the mayor who was killed.”
More Takeaways About the Impact on Muslim Israelis
Block elaborated on the war’s impact on Muslim Israelis and their heroism during the Oct. 7 attacks as follows:
“What you may not know is that 1.8 million Israeli citizens are Muslim,” said Block. “That’s about 20% of the population. Although no matter who you talk to, you will hear that there is a lot of separation—the schools are separate, the neighborhoods are separate, while Muslims tend to speak Hebrew, Jewish Israelis tend not to speak Arabic, so there’s a language barrier—but Muslim citizens vote, they have access to municipal services, health care jobs, and some even serve in the army. There are Muslim surgeons, professors, judges and elected officials.
“Palestinian Muslims in Israel were also victims of the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, and some of their pictures are being hung in Hostage Square. There are also stories of heroism of Muslim Israelis who saved lives, tended to wounded people and drove people out of the terrorist areas on Oct. 7.
“One was a bus driver, who I read about, who drove a group of young people to the music festival that was attacked. When the attack started, they called the bus driver, who happened to be a Muslim Israeli, and the bus driver turned around and drove into the line of fire to save the lives of as many people as he could.”
Relating the Trip Back to Livingston Public Schools
Block concluded his presentation with another story from his visit to the Hand in Hand School that he said was “the most powerful part of [his] trip” and taught a substantial lesson that he could bring home to LPS.
“When we were driving to the Hand in Hand School, our tour guide got a call that 23 IDF soldiers were killed the night before in Gaza,” said Block. “One of those soldiers was a recent alumnus of the Hand in Hand School. We were scheduled to tour the elementary, the middle school and the high school. We were told we would not be able to get into the high school because this particular soldier still had family attending the high school and the entire school was in mourning.
“I thought that said a lot. I was looking for stories about being united. I was looking for different stories about how people have come together.
“My feeling is that if the Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem and the surrounding area can figure out a way to live together while the unthinkable is going on, maybe we can take some lessons from that.”
Block shared this reflection during a recent Livingston Board of Education meeting that hundreds of community members attended to share their thoughts about a registration-only event featuring a panel of Oct. 7 survivors that was offered to Livingston High School (LHS) students and their parents in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ the following night. A follow-up article about how the community has reacted to Block's reflection on his trip to Israel, to the turnout and comments made at the recent LBOE meeting, and to the subsequent LPS-sponsored event will be shared in the coming days.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating multiple recent vehicle burglaries that have occurred in residential and commercial areas over the last few weeks on the following roads.
Vista Drive — Livingston officers responded most recently to a Vista Drive residence, where the homeowners said they received a Ring video notification and observed an unknown male inside an Audi Q7 that was parked in the driveway. According to police, the vehicle had been left unlocked, and the actor was scared off when the homeowner yelled at him.
Tilden Court — A resident of Tilden Court responded to police headquarters to report that his 2020 Audi had been burglarized the previous morning. According to police, surveillance video captured the actor running up to the victim’s unlocked vehicle, entering the vehicle and stealing a pair of sunglasses before fleeing the scene.
Stonewall Drive — A resident of Stonewall Drive responded to police headquarters to report that his 2023 BMW had been burglarized the previous morning. According to police, surveillance video captured two actors running up to his vehicle and making entry, stealing his briefcase and laptop and then fleeing the scene.
South Livingston Avenue — Livingston officers responded to the office building at 201 South Livingston Avenue on a report of a burglary to a vehicle. The victim advised responding officers that he was getting items out of the back of his vehicle when he observed a female suspect rummaging through his glove box. When confronted, the woman fled on foot to an awaiting vehicle, according to police.
West McClellan Avenue — Livingston officers responded to a West McClellan Avenue residence on a report of a vehicle burglary and attempted home burglary. The homeowners advised responding officers that their BMW X3 had been left unlocked and was entered by unknown suspects attempting to steal the vehicle. When the vehicle did not start, the victim said the suspects attempted to enter the home at the rear but were scared off by the homeowner.
]]>SUMMIT, NJ — During the opening weekend of this year’s Cycle for Survival event at Equinox in Summit, members of the Livingston Chinese Association participated for the first time as Team LCASTRONG and has been inspired to continue garnering support through the fundraising deadline of April 15.
In the national fight against rare cancers that was founded by Livingston native Jennifer Goodman Linn in 2007, the Chinese community’s recent engagement underscores the community’s united front in this cause, which has continued in Linn’s memory thanks to the dedication of her husband, David Linn, and her parents, Sandy and Len Goodman.
Although Team LCASTRONG rallied a full team and reached an impressive fundraising milestone prior to the event, team members said that it was “the event’s energizing environment, filled with motivational speeches and the shared spirit of resilience, that deepened their commitment.”
Inspired by this experience, members of Team LCASTRONG amplified their advocacy upon returning to Livingston to share impactful stories, photos and videos that have catalyzed a second wave of support. Since the event, the team has continued to raise both awareness and funds toward the cause, with contributions now tripling the newly formed team’s initial goal.
Propelled by Team LCASTRONG’s achievements, the LCA reaffirmed its commitment to “sustaining this momentum” earlier this week and emphasized the “pivotal role of community involvement and collective action in advancing the fight against rare cancers.”
“With the fundraising campaign open until April 15, there remains a critical opportunity for additional support,” the LCA said. “This story of growth, from initial involvement to a significant increase in support, illustrates the profound effect of active participation and the sharing of authentic experiences.
“Team LCASTRONG’s journey from a promising start to exceeding fundraising expectations demonstrates the impactful results of communal effort. As they look forward to participating in future events, their actions serve as a beacon of hope and a rallying call to action. United, their efforts not only honor Jen’s enduring legacy but also significantly contribute to advancements in the battle against rare cancers.”
To contribute to Team LCASTRONG's efforts to continue supporting Cycle for Survival, an indoor cycling event born in Livingston that is now the official rare cancer fundraising program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), CLICK HERE.
LIVINGSTON, NJ — The curtains are now open on the Livingston High School (LHS) theater club’s spring musical, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” and will continue through the weekend with performances to be held on March 8 and March 9 at 7 p.m. with a matinée offered on March 9 at 2 p.m.
Directed by LHS theater arts teacher Scott Patteson with music direction by Mike Jedwabnik, choreography by Amanda Bigelow, vocal direction by Dan King and assistance by student director Cat Powers and student choreographers Ava-Rachel Lieber and Raquel Silva, this musical drama centers on the timeless tale of Cinderella's enchanting journey from rags to riches as she overcomes adversity with grace and kindness.
With LHS student Sylvie Friedman starring as Ella, the LHS production is set to the melodies of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's beloved musical adaptation, including classics such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible," “Ten Minutes Ago,” and more.
Every year, LHS produces a school-wide fall drama and spring musical in addition to a variety of other productions throughout the year. Students typically handle all the technical aspects of the productions, including designing and constructing the sets, designing the lights and sound, as well as many other backstage elements.
All LHS productions are fully funded through ticket sales and monetary donations made in support of the LHS Theater Club. All contributions go toward producing more captivating performances and maintaining clubs such as costumes and props. Those unable to attend but would still like to make a monetary donation can do so BY CLICKING HERE.
Tickets for the upcoming production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” are available at the door for $15 per adult and $12 for students.
CAST
Sylvie Friedman...........Ella
Michael Mintz...........Topher
Aditya Mirchandani...........Lord Pinkelton
Ben Altstadter...........Sebastian
Victoria Alfieri...........Marie
Ethan Rivera...........Jean-Michel
MK Peloquin...........Madame
Zoe Dee Lento...........Gabrielle
Gabi Elchoness...........Charlotte
Ava-Rachel Lieber...........Fox/Footman
Raquel Silva...........Racoon/Coachman
KNIGHTS/LORDS/HERALDS/BALL GUESTS
Jacob Bagolie
Jesse Carmody
Alex Croket
Jaden Nzekwu
Sky Sonnenberg
Emily Thompson
Max Wasserstein
MALE-PRESENTING CHORUS/TOWNSPEOPLE/BALL GUESTS
Alina George
Jules Goldstein
Sophie Heskett
Raquel Silva
Rishabh Sinha
Matti Stitelman
Angelo Tsounakis
Andrea Zhang
FEMALE-PRESENTING TOWNSPEOPLE/BALL GUESTS
Hannah Davis
Kennedy Erickson
Maya Friedman
Madeline Krasney
Ava-Rachel Lieber
Alexis Rubenstein
Lila Maru
Samantha Siminoff
FEMALE-PRESENTING CHORUS/BALL GUESTS
Kaila Barnett
Alexandra Halleran
Madison Harman
Sasha Krasney
Saanvi Kulkarni
Jenna Raiss
Raya Sapherstein
PRODUCTION TEAM
Brian Megaro......Technical Director/Sound Advisor
Christopher Iannuzzi......Playbill/Poster Design
Ava Thomas......Stage Manager
Spencer Ellenbogen......Asst. Stage Manager
Gillian Weiss......Production Manager
Hannah Simon......Asst. Production Manager
Simone McMichael......Technical Manager
Jasmine Wang......Public Relations Specialist
Kim Falco......Props Manager
Bailey Kim......Scenic Artist
Sierra Wade......Lighting Engineer
Chris Ferrell......Asst. Lighting Engineer
Alyssa LaMedica......Costume Advisor
Barbara Geiger......Costume Advisor
Leah Margolis......Costume Manager
Emma Blanco-Costa......Costume Designer
Ciara McGuirk......Asst. Costume Manager
Renee Cheung......Asst. Costume Designer
Rita Gordon......Makeup Artist
Lauren Raiss......Sound Engineer
Ash Litwack......Asst. Sound Engineer
T-Shirt Design......Karter Eagen
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LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston residents Eli Morse (eighth grade), Sophie Chua (sixth grade), who recently joined forces with Roseland seventh grader Arnav Jadhav to form the VEXPERTS Robotics team at the new location for the Livingston Robotics Club (LRC), are already making waves as newcomers to the VEX IQ Competition community.
The VEX Robotics Competition engages students worldwide in grades four through eight, tasking them to design robots for game-based challenges that foster teamwork, leadership, communication and STEM skills.
The team's progress was evident from the debut competition, where the self-named VEXPERTS clinched two awards, including the prestigious Teammate Award and the Robot Skills Award, for their project entitled “Ricky the Robot.”
“Winning the teamwork award in our first competition was a great feeling,” said Morse. “We were all proud that we built Ricky the Robot together and won the Robot Skills award too. Programing the driving and autonomous was a challenge for me, but I have great teammates, and we all work well together.”
Throughout the regular season and two subsequent competitions, the VEXPERTS consistently demonstrated their prowess, culminating in an impressive 24th ranking in the State of New Jersey.
With support from LRC mentors Bill Lam and Carmen Yung and guidance from Livingston High School Robotics Club members Ahana Agraqal, Lelun Li and Jaehee Lee, the VEXPERTS have remained focused and motivated throughout the season.
On March 10, the VEXPERTS are slated to compete in the highly anticipated New Jersey State Finals at NJIT, fueled by the aspiration to secure a coveted spot in the World Championship in Dallas, Tex. this April.
The LRC, a robotics community for students in grades K-12 based in Livingston and operated on a purely voluntary basis by parents and mentors, has commended the dedication and achievements of Morse, Chua, Jadhav and their mentors as they continue to showcase their talent and tenacity on the global stage.
]]>CAMBRIDGE, MA — Omega Speech and Debate (OSD), a local public speaking and debate academy established in 2020 by then-Livingston High School (LHS) freshman and now Harvard College student Matthew Zhang, is celebrating the remarkable achievements of its students at the 2024 Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament that recently attracted over 5,000 competitors from more than 470 educational institutions around the world.
The OSD 2024 Winter Travel Debate Team, composed of 24 students in 12 partnerships for Public Forum Debate, included many students who were introduced to debate during an intensive six-week summer training camp in 2023.
At the Harvard tournament, eight of the 12 OSD teams advanced to the elimination rounds as part of the top 64 competitors, including the following eight students from Livingston Public Schools: LHS freshmen Daniel Zhang, Ethan Zhang and Kailin Kang and Heritage Middle School students Alyssa Zhang, Jeffery Xiong, Chloe Guan, Teddy Zhu and Avni Dusad.
“This 67% advancement rate far exceeded the average 30% advancement rate of other academies, placing OSD at the forefront of educational institutions at the event,” said Zhang. “Their rapid growth from beginners to accomplished debaters is a clear reflection of their diligence and intelligence, as well as the high-quality mentorship that they received.”
Zhang added that the success of OSD's students “is deeply rooted in the dedicated guidance of their coaches.”
“These coaches attend Ivy League colleges and were nationally top-ranked debaters during their high school careers,” he said. “Their unwavering support and expertise were pivotal in refining the students' debate strategies, enhancing their research abilities and polishing their argumentation skills.”
He also described the Harvard competition as “a comprehensive educational journey,” sharing that the students engaged in intensive training sessions throughout the weekend where coaches debriefed their previous rounds and prepared them to win their next rounds.
“This immersive educational experience fostered a strong community spirit and a deep passion for debate among the students, facilitating their rapid growth and development,” he said.
Zhang founded OSD after his personal expansion initiatives as captain of the LHS debate team within a year and inspired him to establish his own debate academy to increase access to debate within the immediate community.
According to Zhang, the Livingston community’s unwavering support and belief in OSD's mission has driven the academy to new heights, leading young learners to competitive levels of speech and debate and “building an enduring legacy of excellence.”
In addition to the summer camps, OSD is introducing a spring class for beginners to Public Forum Debate later this month.
From March 17 to May 12, the program will aim to equip beginners with fundamental argumentation skills through lectures, interactive exercises and practice rounds. More information about this program can be found here.
Additionally, the OSD 2024 Spring Travel Team offers more experienced debaters the opportunity to compete in prestigious national tournaments, while the 2024 Summer Camp aims to continue nurturing future debate champions.
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LIVINGSTON, NJ — In response to several community members who have expressed concern about the solar eclipse that will occur on Monday, April 8 from approximately 3 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.—around the same time as regularly scheduled school dismissal times at Livingston Public Schools (LPS)—the Livingston Board of Education (LBOE) approved a revision to the 2023-2024 calendar on Monday that modifies April 8 from a full day to an early dismissal day.
According to LPS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Block, parents have raised concerns about their children being outside and unsupervised during the eclipse and will likely be drawn to look at it. Without proper equipment, looking directly at the eclipse can cause damage to the eyes.
The district physician not only echoed this concern but added that the glare and distraction caused by the solar eclipse could also present a challenge with driving and negatively impact the safety of parents, staff and bus drivers during pickup times, Block explained.
In addition to calling for an early dismissal schedule on April 8, the LBOE also called for all outdoor activities to be halted that day from 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Lunch will not be served, and students will be dismissed from school at the following times:
Elementary Schools: 12:00 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Middle School: 12:45 p.m.
Heritage Middle School: 12:45 p.m.
Livingston High School: 12:00 p.m.
The full LPS academic calendar for 2023-2024, including these revisions as well as another recent revision due to inclement weather days, can be found HERE.
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EAST HANOVER, NJ — The Big L Club, the official sports booster club for Livingston High School (LHS), will hold its annual Duffy Casino Night—renamed in memory of active member and event founder Patricia “Trish” Duffy—on Friday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover.
Duffy created the Big L Club’s Casino Night in 2015 as another way for Livingston parents to get involved, have fun and support the athletic program at the same time. The event has since become the biggest fundraiser for the Big L Club, whose primary purpose is to promote sportsmanship, integrity and school spirit for all Lancers athletic programs—including all sports teams at the varsity, junior varsity and freshmen levels as well as the marching band and cheerleaders.
Fundraising events such as Duffy Casino Night enable the club to recognize individual and team accomplishments, induct LHS Athletics Hall of Fame members each year, sponsor scholarship awards and present award plaques to all senior athletes, including the male and female athletes of the year.
In addition, the Big L Club contributes time and funds to a variety of projects that benefit the entire athletic program at LHS.
Gifts provided to LHS through the Big L Club in recent years have included exercise equipment for the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center (FWC); gear for an official high school mascot named Sir Lawrence the Lancer; the Livingston Lancers tunnel for players to run through during games and pep rallies; new sound systems for the FWC and the Jacobsen Allen track and turf field; a shed for LHS softball team; two portable score boards for the fencing team; bench covers for the turf field; and more.
Duffy Casino Night is open to all Lancer fans 21 years and older. Tickets priced at $75 in advance or $85 at the door include dinner, beer and wine as well as $100 in chips to play classic casino games such as Craps, Poker and Black Jack. Prizes will also be up for grabs as part of a raffle to be held during the event.
To purchase tickets to the Duffy Casino Night, CLICK HERE or use the QR code in the photos above.
To donate to the organization or to learn more about The Big L Club, visit www.thebiglclub.org.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — After hosting two successful Jail and Bail fundraisers for “Orange Ribbons for Jaime,” an organization raising awareness about gun violence and other causes in memory of Parkland, Fla. school shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg, Livingston High School junior Rayna Stern is adding some elegance to the event by hosting a gala at Livingston’s Crystal Plaza on April 17.
This year, the 17-year-old has secured celebrity guests and garnered an array of star-studded items to auction off as guests enjoy a high-quality meal and other activities throughout the event, which Stern previously hosted at the Livingston Senior and Community Center.
“I wanted to do something different than I had before to raise money for Orange Ribbons for Jaime,” said Stern, who has a personal connection to the cause because her father attended high school in Long Island with Guttenberg’s father. “I have pondered on this idea for a couple of years but felt I wanted to plan it out and do it the best way possible before I executed it.”
Stern explained that she has been busy contacting the managers and/or publicists of various celebrities in hopes of inspiring them to attend the event or contribute to the silent auction.
“The responses have been amazing, and everyone has been so nice,” she said. “It inspires me that many celebrities are helping out and truly gives me hope for the future.”
In addition to Fred Guttenberg—whose daughter Jaime lost her life during a gunman’s rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. in 2018—other celebrity guests include News 12 Morning Anchor Syma Chowdhry and American singer and actress Crystal Fox.
As of the first week of March, the celebrity auction items include the following:
There are also many non-celebrity experiences and items available for auction.
Stern’s parents, Robert and Hayley, have expressed great pride in their daughter’s passion for ending gun violence as well as her tireless work ethic, as Stern spends much of her spare time between school, homework, college visits and other activities planning for the event.
“Every day I am planning, sending emails and making graphics,” said Stern. “I am also working with Crystal Plaza, who has been so great, to plan details for the event and vendors as well…This event means a lot to me, and I would love everyone who’s able to attend to come and support Orange Ribbons for Jaime.”
While working toward ending gun violence, Orange Ribbons for Jaime also supports causes that Jaime believed in, such as The Friendship Journey, Jacob’s Pillow, World Central Kitchen, Ballet & Books, Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute, Paws of Love and more.
Stern expressed gratitude toward her event sponsors—including The Crystal Plaza, RWJBarnabas Health, CareOne at Livingston Assisted Living, Resnick Law Firm, The Gershen Family, Tony Boys Sandwich House and The Social Leader—and encouraged local businesses to get involved.
To purchase tickets, to view available sponsorship opportunities or to learn more about the upcoming gala, CLICK HERE.
]]>STATEN ISLAND, NY — Jessica Oji, a junior from Livingston High School, took first place in New Jersey in the shot put at the indoor track NJSIAA Meet of Champions on Saturday.
Oji won the gold medal with a throw of 44-09.25, besting the second-place finisher by nearly 3 feet.
In the boys competition at the Meet of Champions, Chase Kaufman placed seventh in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.54. Livingston's boys 4x4 relay team, which included Kaufman, Luke Petryna, Corey Leavy and Tugra Ovul, also came in seventh.
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LIVINGSTON, NJ – In their annual report on Livingston Public Schools (LPS) graduates—where LPS Director of School Counseling Sinead Crews and Livingston High School (LHS) College Counselor Nicole Rothman presented relevant data from the Class of 2023—Crews and Rothman analyzed statistics related to the recent graduates’ post-secondary pathways and provided the Livingston Board of Education (LBOE) with takeaways that will be used to better help future LHS graduates find their “right fit.”
“We would like to start again by noting our continued mission and goal, which is centered around finding the right fit for each individual student,” said Crews, who emphasized that the conversations start as early as middle school, when school counselors start directing middle school students to “explore interests and strengths, try new things, select courses, get involved in activities both inside and outside of school and take time to reflect on these goals.”
In addition to continuing the robust work that the LHS Counseling Department is already doing—such as hosting a workshop series and programming for students, parents and alumni as well as communicating with students and parents through post-secondary websites and resources, social media posts and more—other goals for enhancing the district’s post-secondary planning and supports based on this year’s findings, include:
Among the changes that Crews said will help the department achieve this goal was the recent addition of a 10th school counselor in order to decrease each individual counselor’s student caseload and ultimately increase the counselor’s availability for meetings. According to Crews, each counselor will have about 210 students on his or her caseload beginning next year.
In speaking about the counseling department’s new and recently enhanced programming, Crews shared that LHS is piloting a new evening program in lieu of the traditional college panel, adding that college admissions professionals will examine the application process.
“We enhanced our college and career fair experience last year for students and college admissions representatives by implementing StriveScan, which partners with several high schools for their fairs but largely works with regional fair,” said Crews.
StriveScan enables representatives to speak with more students and allows parents and students to talk with more schools. Students also get an email 24 hours after the fair with detailed information about each college that they visited.
Livingston, which already holds college fairs in conjunction with Millburn High School, has plans to partner with West Essex, Nutley, Columbia, West Orange and Hanover Park high schools for future college fairs as well, according to Crews.
Crews also spoke of other opportunities that Livingston offers to graduating students to assist them with college admission essays and applications.
“We have a unit on narrative writing in the spring of junior year, a week-long summer course in our LPS Summer Academy and workshops during the school year as well as in the summer,” said Crews, adding that the LHS Writing Lab is open every day throughout the academic year, where English teachers and counselors are available to review essays.
She also announced the addition of a presentation called “Top 10 Mistakes Students Make on Their College Application Essays” that is shared with graduating students.
Additionally, she reiterated that counselors begin discussing options with students who have Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) as early as seventh grade.
“The Department of Equity Inclusion, Intervention and Inspiration all worked together collaboratively to create a new website, our transition continuum, which was shared with families this past December,” she said.
While presenting the data from the Class of 2023, Rothman pointed out that this was the largest graduating class in recent years and explained how this affected the annual report.
“The Class of 2023 is the largest that we have seen in the last five years, so we saw an increase in the number of applications submitted to a larger number of colleges,” she said. “We also saw our four-year college percentage increase from 88.5% to 92.3%, which is the largest four-year college enrollment percentage since 2018.”
According to the data, Rothman shared that Livingston graduates continue to apply to a wide array of colleges and universities across the United States as well as schools in Canada, Europe and Asia.
Students from the Class of 2023 applied to 436 institutions, were accepted to 377 institutions and are now attending 153 institutions.
From 2019 to 2022, students were accepted to roughly 65% of the colleges they applied to, on average, in comparison to approximately 74% in 2023, according to Rothman.
“The increase can be attributed to students recognizing their ‘right fit’ and applying to a larger number of schools that fit that,” she said.
Rothman pointed out an increase in the percentage of students enrolling in four-year colleges and a decrease in students attending two-year colleges and pursuing other opportunities—including seeking employment, participating in gap-year programs, enlisting in the military, pursuing a training program or enrolling in Livingston’s 18-to 21-year-old program.
According to Rothman, the number of general education graduates who chose to attend four-year or two-year colleges or pursue other opportunities remains consistent this year, while the matriculation of IEP students into four-year colleges increased from 53.3% to 72.94% and decreased for two-year colleges and other opportunities.
Rothman also noted the LHS is consistent with the national trend of students applying to more colleges. The Class of 2023 applied to an average of 11.5 colleges per student compared to 10.7 the previous year.
She explained that the “U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Colleges” rankings showed an increase in the number of students accepted into liberal arts colleges.
Additionally, the number of Early Decision (ED) I applications continues to increase, while the number of ED II applications, which are submitted later in the year, is decreasing slightly. According to Rothman, students in the Class of 2024 are submitting more Regular Decision applications than the Class of 2023.
“This year, on our Instant Decision Day in November, we had 10 colleges and 30 students participate in the program, which yielded 48 acceptances,” said Rothman, who included the school’s Instant Decision Day programs in her presentation. “These students applied for interviews with the college admissions representatives and received admissions decisions on the spot.”
Rothman also addressed data related to the SAT and ACT, which remains optional for college admissions.
Of the 66% of students in the Class of 2023 who responded to a survey asking whether they applied test-optional or not to each respective college they applied to, approximately 68.9% said they submitted their application with test scores.
Noting that LPS encourages students to take at least one of the standardized college admissions tests and to consider trying both the ACT and SAT practice tests to determine where they score higher, Rothman pointed out that LHS students are sitting for the SAT at a slightly higher rate than the ACT in recent years.
Data indicates that of the 678 individual test takers during the 2022-2023 school year, 57 students (or about 8%) took both the ACT and the SAT.
According to Rothman, one of the major takeaways from this year’s report is that student application numbers will continue to rise due to “test-optional practices, affirmative action decisions, the impact of social media, political climate, outside college counselors as well as students ‘just going for it.’”
She emphasized that this takeaway would remain top-of-mind as the counselors continue to improve their post-secondary planning and supports at LPS.
To view the full slideshow with additional takeaways from this report, CLICK HERE. The full presentation with follow-up comments and questions from the board of education can be seen at the beginning of the recent LBOE meeting BY CLICKING HERE.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, Lena Berlin of Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics in Livingston will host a pop-up event in collaboration with other local beauty experts to celebrate all the women who are breaking barriers and making history.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics, located at 65 E. Northfield Road, Unit K, Berlin will offer an array of anti-aging treatments and invites the community to enjoy additional services by Valeriia Shatashvili, a renowned New Jersey makeup and eyebrow artist; Deb Levy, owner of Inked and Linked; Kelly Finnegan, owner of Kelly's Beauty Bar in Caldwell; Chitra Rochlani, author of "The Warrior Mindset"; and more.
“Helping other women feel beautiful is a great way to celebrate Women's Day because it promotes empowerment, self-confidence and solidarity among women,” said Berlin. “By uplifting and supporting each other's beauty, women can break down societal pressures and stereotypes, fostering a culture of acceptance and appreciation for diverse forms of beauty.”
Berlin explained that the idea for the pop-up event was born after she encountered “a remarkable group of talented women whose strength and charisma left a profound impression on [her]” at various networking events and other gatherings.”
Together, these beauty professionals will offer an array of services that will have their guests feeling rejuvenated and empowered on International Women’s Day.
“Celebrating Women's Day through initiatives that promote self-love and confidence encourages women to embrace their unique qualities and strengths, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being and happiness.”
A list of services being offered through Berlin Beauty as part of this one-day pop-up event can be found below. To learn more about the pop-up menu or to book an appointment during the International Women's Day celebration at Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics, visit BerlinBeautyNJ.com.
Berlin Beauty Menu:
Lip Flip — $69
Lip Filler — $600
Mini Pout — $350
PDO AfterGlo — $233
Eye Rejuvenation (PRP + Microneedling) — $399
Dermal Filler — Buy 2 get 1 free
Berlin Beauty Medical Aesthetics is a locally owned and operated boutique medical spa specializing in anti-aging treatments such as wrinkle relaxers, lip fillers, hair restoration and more with a focus on natural results. Berlin, a Livingston resident of more than 10 years, recently celebrated the grand opening of her new office on East Northfield Road. CLICK HERE to read more about her business journey and professional services.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — Two Livingston High School (LHS) students, freshman Rewa Jain and sophomore Carolyn Chen, recently qualified as international quarterfinalists when the Women in Entrepreneurship and STEM (WESTEM) Club—which supports underrepresented genders in business and STEM through various activities that will include a CoderGals initiative at the Livingston Public Library later this month—hosted a Climate Science Olympiad Testing program at LHS.
Jain has also become an international semifinalist in the Climate Science Olympiad and will be one of only 3,000 semifinalists globally to compete in the next stage of the competition for the chance to be invited to the COP28 Summit (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Dubai, UAE.
Chen, a sophomore at LHS, shared that she was grateful for the WESTEM Club’s commitment to nurturing female students and supporting them in various STEM contests.
“As I entered the competition, I was comfortable asking for help from those I was surrounded with because of the friendly environment that the WESTEM club provides,” said Chen. “The club offers many opportunities to expand your extracurriculars and step out of your comfort zone to help the community. I know that I am contributing to an important cause on climate science with the utmost support of my fellow club members.”
WESTEM Club co-presidents Nishna Makala and Mia Ong took the helm of the club when founder Nidhi Gosalia graduated last year.
“WESTEM, founded in 2021, is a community at LHS that supports underrepresented genders in business and STEM through our activities by providing a safe space where members are not hesitant to advocate for themselves, ask questions and/or offer solutions,” said Makala. “In 2021 and 2022, I earned the distinction of National Cyber Scholar Finalist and National Cyber Scholar, respectively, for exemplary accomplishments in the CyberStart Hackathon. I would have never realized my true potential in this field if WESTEM did not introduce me to this opportunity.”
She mentioned that during her experience as a member and then president of WESTEM, she has seen the empowerment that comes from building safe spaces and that it provides valuable opportunities for others to achieve their fullest potential.
Makala also spoke about how the strong sense of community in the WESTEM community “counters the inaccessibility” of these male-dominated fields by allowing members to advocate for themselves, ask questions and offer solutions.
“Understanding the value of creating safe spaces for underrepresented groups has allowed me to exercise empathy and advocate for inclusivity not just within WESTEM, but in other areas of my life as well,” said Makala.
Another accomplishment of WESTEM is an app called “Pom.” Last year’s Technovation team—comprised of seniors Era Shah, Priyanka Agarwal, Layton Lee and Katherine Hall—developed Pom, which provides free and safe period and symptom tracking.
“Pom’s mission was to create a safe space for menstruators to log their periods, and access physical and educational resources at no price,” said Makala. “Pom was designed to be a women-run non-profit that does not collect money from consumers but rather works for public and social benefit.”
The WESTEM Club’s next initiative is a CoderGals program to be held at the Livingston Public Library every Thursday in March (March 7, 14, 21 and 28) from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. CLICK HERE to register.
CLICK HERE for a sample of last year’s CoderGals projects or follow @westemlhs https://www.instagram.com/westemlhs/ on Instagram for more information.
]]>CAMBRIDGE, MA — Over the Presidents’ Day weekend, a group of Heritage Middle School students competed in the Annual Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament as members of the Bergen County Debate Club (BCDC) travel team.
Aanya RajSharma, Vincent Ye, Brielle Roberts and Sanaya Jhaveri advanced to the elimination rounds after two intense days of debating against 201 national and international debate teams.
RajSharma and Ye achieved remarkable success amid the tough competition by reaching the top eight, while Roberts also showcased exceptional talent by advancing to doubles (or the top 32) in the public forum middle school division.
Jhaveri won an award for her accomplishments in the middle school public forum, placing 11th in the individual speaker category and advancing to triples (top 64).
“This is my second time attending the Harvard debate tournament, and I am honored to say that as competitive as it was, it was such a fulfilling experience,” said Roberts. “Being able to experience this with my friends and fellow debaters was such an incredible opportunity. I am so thankful that I was given this challenge, and that it is now a memory that will last forever and guide me further in my debate journey.”
After attending the Harvard tournament for the first time this year, RajSharma and Ye both described the weekend as “a great learning experience.”
“I am really happy to achieve this success in the early stages of my debate journey,” said RajSharma. “I hope to beat this milestone in the future competitions.”
“I had a great time,” said Ye. “I was amazed we got into octafinals, and I felt this was a great learning experience.”
Jhaveri also expressed enthusiasm about her performance in the tournament as a fellow first timer.
“With this being my first-ever in-person debate tournament, I am very grateful for the new learning experience and the ability to meet so many new people,” said Jhaveri. “Each round was a thrilling opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. I am glad that my debate journey has started on a high note.”
The tournament, held annually on the Harvard campus, is the largest high school forensics tournament in the nation, drawing competitors from both across the country and internationally. Students compete across several categories that test their skills in critical thinking, public speaking and discourse.
]]>LIVINGSTON, NJ — The Heritage Middle School cafeteria hit capacity and a crowd gathered outside the school on Tuesday night as dozens of community members from Livingston and beyond addressed the Livingston Board of Education (LBOE) both in support of and in opposition to a registration-only event being offered to Livingston High School (LHS) students and their parents on Wednesday in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
The event, which will feature a delegation from the Jewish Federation’s partner communities in Israel to share their personal experiences as survivors of the Oct. 7 attack, has been met with mixed emotions from community members. Many have expressed gratitude toward the school district for hosting an optional educational forum outside of school hours, while others have expressed disdain and fear that such an event could negatively impact Muslim students.
“We were all so pleased and so proud that this program was coming to Livingston, [and] then we heard and saw the posts that people were planning on coming—mainly from outside of Livingston—to attempt to derail this program,” said Rabbi James Proops of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center, referring to out-of-town members of organizations such as CAIR New Jersey and NJ-11 for Palestine who have encouraged others to stand against the LBOE during Tuesday’s meeting and during a “rally for justice” that will take place simultaneously to Wednesday’s event. “That's why we're here…We're here to say thank you and to let you know that we appreciate it. You have our support, and I can't wait to hear about the success of tomorrow night's meaningful and impactful program.”
Although Proops was among the majority of speakers who expressed support, there were some who spoke out against the upcoming event as well as LPS Superintendent Dr. Matthew Block’s recent trip to Israel that was orchestrated by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Some of those speakers shared that many in the community chose not to attend or to publicly address the board about their concerns out of fear of retribution.
Prior to opening the conversation to the public, Block reflected on the 40-hour fact-finding mission to the Israel and Gaza border, which he experienced as part of a delegation of local and state leaders, and which was also met with mixed reactions from the community in the weeks leading up to his departure.
During his reflection, Block provided what attendee Livingston Township Councilman Shawn Klein called “a heartfelt and balanced report” in which Block “related and lamented the suffering of both Jews and Palestinians.”
Klein was one of many who thanked Block for his emotional report, stating that the trip was “clearly an important educational opportunity for [Livingston’s] chief of schools,” while others still felt that the LBOE’s approval of his mission to Israel and subsequent support of the upcoming event was inappropriate.
Jasmine Naidu of Livingston conveyed that the superintendent’s “decision to go on this trip without considering diverse perspectives ignores the devastating impact of this conflict on Palestinian lives.”
“As Jewish families freely express their pro-Israel views, parents and students from other backgrounds are hesitant to share their feelings about this conflict,” said Naidu. “They fear of being stigmatized as antisemitic or pro-Hamas just for having a differing opinion. This double standard is unacceptable and creates a chilling effect on open dialogue.”
She added that the superintendent has “remained unmoved” as concerned parents have implored him to “reconsider hosting an event that showcases only one side of the conflict,” stating that it has left those parents wondering if he is “truly committed to protecting all students.”
“The toxic social media climate and town-wide divisions are already affecting families, causing parents to fear for their children's safety and urge them to conceal their identities,” she said. “Students are feeling frustrated that they can't express their feelings about this conflict without being judged or labeled. This is the reality we're facing, and your response—simply reacting to complaints of harassment and bullying instead of preventing them—falls short of effective leadership. We cannot prioritize obligations without considering all members of the community, and we have a responsibility to protect all students. I expect more from our educational leaders.”
Noreen Akhter also spoke about the number of parents who share the opposing viewpoint but were fearful of speaking out publicly against the event.
“Since Oct. 7, tensions have been stratospheric in this town,” said Akhter. “Livingston Public School officials should be spending their time and resources bringing our community together right here, encouraging dialogue, mutual understanding and a balanced view of the war in Gaza. Instead, we're hosting speakers from Israel tomorrow evening that will speak to their trauma and poke at the raw wounds in a community that is hurting. No doubt attendees will leave the event tomorrow even more riled up, and the culture of silence and bullying perpetrated even further.”
Among those who spoke in favor of the event, there were several who expressed support for the Muslim community but stressed the need for more fact-based, educational programs for local youth like the one planned for Wednesday night.
“It's important that the LHS students hear from the survivors and bear witness to what occurred on Oct. 7 so that they can be better informed and educated about this horrific terrorist attack so that it never happens again, anywhere,” said Caroline Schmied, a parent of two LHS graduates. “There should be no disagreement about this at all, and if there is, then it is at best misguided ignorance. I say this as a mixed-race, first-generation American, the daughter of a Jewish woman from France who had to hide during the Holocaust, and the daughter of a Muslim man from Pakistan. Please do what is right and keep the scheduled program.”
Andrew Muser, a Livingston resident of 38 years, emphasized that listening to the experiences of both sides is the best way to promote peace.
“I am a very proud Zionist—that doesn't make me anti-Palestinian,” he said. “It doesn't make me an empathetic or unsympathetic. Quite the opposite, actually. I pray every day for the end of the violence. I pray that in my lifetime that my children, and one day my grandchildren will live side by side with Palestinians in peace and security. Tomorrow's event is a step to making that happen. We have to listen to each other. That is the way it works. The people that are coming are not coming because of what they believe but because of what they’ve witnessed. Please consider that, if nothing else: the value of them sharing their story, even if we can't relate to it.”
LHS student Hudson Stelmak, representing the leaders of both the Democratic Club and Republican Club at LHS, explained that after extensive research into the organizations or individuals opposing Wednesday’s event, members of both clubs unanimously decided that they would condemn any protests against the event and that they would provide “full support to the school board and to the victims who are going to talk about their experiences.”
“We looked for any reasonable explanation as to why somebody would try to shut down somebody sharing their experiences of being victims of terror, and we cannot understand it,” he said. “We understand that people of any side of this conflict are being injured or being killed, and that is never okay. One death is always a tragedy of any innocent civilian. But the bottom line is, we should be able to share those experiences. Education is the most important cure for hatred…
“I think there is a lot of hope for this community. As a Jewish high school student, I have many Muslim friends, many Jewish friends and many Christian friends. I can tell you that it doesn't matter to us. We're children. We play with each other. We hang out. We're united as a community. I see no distinction between my friends, whether they're Muslim, whether they're Jewish—really, it only matters if they're a good person.
“There are many great people on both sides, and I ask that everybody in this room—whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish or really anything else—pray for the victims, the innocent civilians on both sides. No matter what, their deaths are tragedies.”
As of Tuesday night, the LPS-sponsored event to be held at Heritage Middle School in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ remains in place. The event is open only to LHS students, their parents and LPS staff.
To view the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting, CLICK HERE and scroll forward to about two hours and eight minutes.
Dr. Block’s full reflection, more details of which will be shared in the coming days, can be heard at approximately one hour and 44 minutes.
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