40 Years Ago

May 25, 1972:

As reported on the front page of the Tribune 40 years ago this week, township officials were offering a $100 reward to anyone with information on the vandals who had ruined the Memorial Park oval playing fields by driving all over them with a large vehicle and creating huge furrows.

The Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment had heard testimony and subsequently reserved decision in two continued applications: a sun deck proposed at 12 Vista Terrace; and the construction of a new Esso gas station at the intersection of South Orange Avenue and East Hobart Gap Road.

The Board also denied variances for a large office building at 124 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue to house a law firm. The building plans, submitted by MorLaw Associates, had also been denied by the Planning Board.

A parked car ended up getting pushed into the front of Livingston Wines and Liquors following a fender-bender.

The township was to celebrate Memorial Day the following Monday with a parade and patriotic ceremonies. Chairman of Livingston's 20th annual Memorial Day parade was Kenneth Robertshaw.

The Livingston Community Symphony was to perform at Livingston High School under the direction of Louis D'Amico.

In other front page news, the eight semi-finalists in the Miss Livingston pageant had been whittled down to three finalists: Ginny Burns, Anna Butler, and Debbie Aroneo. The winner would be chosen during the town's July 4 festivities.

Tribune'

editor and publisher William Klaber wrote two editorials. In "Worth Attending," he urged residents to go to the Livingston Community Symphony performance.

In "You Can't Win," Klaber discussed the Vietnam war. He noted that, "It is amazing to us that politicians of both parties have landed on the President for the resumption of bombing and the mining of North Vietnamese harbors… What these critics completely choose to ignore is the fact that the escalation was started by the other side… the North Vietnamese launched a three-pronged attack… the President could have been far more justly criticized had he failed to act to protect his troops. The charge of escalation is being aimed at the wrong persons."

Temple B'nai Jeshurun was to hold a special musical Sabbath service in honor of Rabbi Ely Pilchik's 25 years as the congregation's spiritual leader. Meanwhile, the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center was celebrating its third anniversary. Shown in a photo at a dinner marking the event were Rabbi Moshe A. Kasinetz with congregation members Arthur Graff, Miriam Greenberg, Ethel Genser, David Hiltzik, and Eli Lief.

Members of the Livingston Rifle Team had won awards in a league competition. High individual honors went to Thomas Barret, Patricia Cox, John Madden, and Jeffrey Tubello.

Two  members of Boy Scout Troop 77, Kenneth Colbert and Orin Levy, had attained the Eagle Scout Award, Scouting's highest rank.

Mrs. Anthony Scocuzza of Village Drive won the "Mother of the Year" contest sponsored by the Livingston Public Library.

Ginger A. Curry, recently licensed by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, had joined the staff of her mother's real estate agency, Madelyn Macauley, Inc.

Livingston resident Anthony L. Saggese was to receive the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club, the organization's highest honor.

Edna Teed Porter was named the director of nursing services at West Essex General Hospital in Livingston.

Airman Ronald V. Daneski, of Livingston had completed his basic training with the United States Air Force.

One Livingston birth and three weddings were announced this week in 1972. Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Armstrong became the parents of Jeffrey Martin on May 14.

Carol Jean Zulauf married fellow Livingston resident Mark Arne Noyes. Another Livingston couple, Maxine Carole Wolt and Neil Jeffrey Dornfeld,  also exchanged vows.  Robert H. Donald of Livingston became the husband of Doris J. Slack of River Edge.

The Hospital was continuing its run in local movie theaters.