The Alternative Press

LIVINGSTON, NJ – A Welcome to Livingston Picnic was held on Monday at the Livingston Community Center to welcome new residents to the town.

Stands and information tables piled with pamphlets, information packets and free take-home items lined the perimeter of the room. 

Groups and organizations such as Livingston Township Municipal Alliance Committee, the Livingston Library, the Arts Council, Livingston Clergy Association, Girl Scouts, Livingston Citizens Institute, the Unico Foundation, the First Aid Squad, township police officers and the Livingston Education Foundation were ready and willing to share information with the new resident attendees. 

After Mayor Steve Santola and School Superintendent, Dr. Brad Draeger made a short welcoming speech, residents mingled and enjoyed an array of food catered by Shop Rite, Anthony Franco’s, Calabria’s, Il Giacalone, Livingston Pizza and Master Pizza.

New Livingston homeowners, Olena and Ovidiu Chiparus ,with daughters Laura and Sophia, explained that they moved to Livingston in February from Cedar Grove.

“Livingston is bigger and seems to be better organized than Cedar Grove,” Ovidiu Chiparus said. 

His wife added that the town has made it easy for her family to adjust to the move because “all information is very easily accessible and the facilities are great.” 

They said that so far they are enjoying the library, tennis courts, and playgrounds, but the means for the move is because of the town’s “school reputation.”

New resident Jenny Feng and her family moved to Livingston a month ago from China. 

Feng said that they miss China since her family has only been here for a short while, but so far Livingston has been very welcoming.

“We decided to come tonight because we wanted to meet more friends,” Feng said. 

She explained that like the Chiparus family, they moved to Livingston for the “quality of education” that her sons, Andrew and Richard, would receive. 

Friends of the Library volunteer Barbara Bye explained that new residents were able to sign up for a library card at the stand as well as pick out a free book donated by current residents to encourage reading. 

“I hope those that attend tonight are left with the feeling that Livingston is a fabulous place to live with great organizations,” Bye said.  “I hope they come to realize that the library is a jewel in Livingston’s crown.”