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    Homecoming: A Celebration of Education andCommunity – October 5-7, 2012 
     
     
     
    September 11, 2012, Livingston, NJ – As the summer heat fades and the first few week of school underway, we begin to look forward to the activities associated with fall. Homecoming is one such event. The Livingston Third Annual Homecoming Weekend – October 5-7 2012, sponsored by the Livingston Education Foundation (LEF) and its partners will provide a wide range of activities in celebration of education and community. From pre-k to high school, from alumni to senior citizen, there is something for everyone.
     
    Beginning on Friday morning, October 5 as a culmination of Spirit Week, LHS Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees, Brandon Bodow, Class of 2002, Jeffrey Dollinger, Class of 1972, and Greer Gelman, Class of 1990 will visit to speak to high school students connecting their personal experiences, education and achievements with current students’ interests and class content. (Stephen Oremus, Class of 1989 will be also be inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2012; however, due to work commitments, Mr. Oremus will be unable to attend the October 5th activities and will visit LHS on a future date.) In addition to the Hall of Fame Honorees, several members of the Livingston education community will be presented with a LEAD Award for Leadership in Educational Achievement and Dedication. This year, the Foundation will recognize Ralph Celebre and Fraida Yavelberg who will attend the LHS Hall of Fame activities along with the Hall of Fame Honorees. LHS students will participate in an afternoon Pep Rally in preparation for the evening’s 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Football Game played against Nutley High School on the LHS home turf.
     
    Family, friends, and colleagues of the honorees and LEAD Award recipients will gather at the Hall of Fame Reception which will be held at Ravello Restaurant in East Hanover from 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. “We are looking forward to the Hall of Fame activities as a way to bring family and friends together in a reunion to reminisce, while honoring our most distinguished graduates and outstanding educators. The goal is to provide an opportunity to reacquaint our alumni with their roots here in Livingston and to inspire our youth to understand the connection that Livingston has with the global community through a combination of commitment to public education, passion, interest and giving back to others,” said Heidi Cislo, LEF President and co-chair of the Hall of Fame Committee. Proceeds from the Reception will go to support Technology for the 21st Century Classroom in the Livingston Public Schools. To purchase seats for the Reception or to send a message to the honorees and LEAD Award recipients in the Hall of Fame Roll of Honor, go to the LEF website at www.livingston.org/lef. The deadline for both is September 28.
     
    On Friday, October 5, from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, folks can enjoy lunch, dinner or a late night snack at Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. “We appreciate the support of our local businesses in providing the perfect venue for families and friends to relax and reminisce about old times while making new memories! Alumni visiting for a high school reunion or college break may want to consider planning a pre or post homecoming football game celebration,” said Trudy Bier, LEF Secretary and member of the Hall of Fame Committee. Margaritas will donate 5% of pre-tax sales on food and beverages served in the Lounge to LEF.
     
    When Livingston celebrates its bicentennial birthday in 2013, thousands of daffodils will bloom all over town to mark the occasion. In order to make that happen, the LEF will partner with the Livingston Bicentennial Committee and the Township to encourage volunteers to meet at the Gazebo for Daffodil Day, Saturday, October 6 between 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. to plant daffodils around the library, gazebo and the war memorials at the oval. This event is for everyone, families, seniors, service organizations and alumni or college students visiting for the October Homecoming Weekend! Daffodils will also be for sale to purchase for private dwellings. No need to register, just bring your trowel and join us rain or shine! For more information, contact Arlene Johnson at 973-994-2314 or arlene_johnson@verizon.net.
     
    On Sunday, October 7 from 1:00 p.m. until dusk will be Lance’s Lounge at Swede’s Frozen Yogurt! Enjoy a pleasant café ambience paired with musical entertainment. Lance’s Lounge, sponsored by HCHY, coordinated by the Livingston High School Community Action Club (CAC) and produced by Mo Menzel, Menzel Violins will feature performances by Livingston High School student bands on an outdoor stage! The event is open to the public! Swede’s will donate 25% of pre-tax sales from the entire day to LEF in support of the Livingston Public Schools! The raindate is October 14. For more information, contact Alan Karpas at alan@karpas.net.
     
    LEF is excited to once again be partnering with the Big ‘L’ and the West Essex YMCA to organize the Livingston 5-K Run, scheduled for the following weekend, Sunday, October 14. This multigenerational event will feature Fitness Fun, set-up and manned by Livingston Public Schools Physical Education Teachers and the YMCA, a 1-Mile Run/Walk, a 5-K Run certified by the US Track and field of NJ and booths providing information about health and wellness and health and wellness products. We are happy this year to be joined by The Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities (LACD) who will run fun-filled activities for participants with special needs. Net proceeds from this event will benefit Livingston youth!
     
    “LEF is thankful to all of the volunteers-parents, members of the school community and township and alumni who have been working tirelessly to make this homecoming weekend happen,” said Amy Saffer, Co-chair of the Hall of Fame Committee and past Hall of Fame recipient. She continued, “We look forward to bringing together the past with the present to celebrate education, to continue to advocate for excellence in our public schools and to recognize that the rewards of an outstanding school district can touch the far reaches of the globe as well as our own community. Livingston is a special township where education is truly valued. Raising awareness, advocacy and generating funds to support our public schools is essential. Hopefully, participation in the Homecoming Weekend will provide fun and support at the same time. Please learn more about the weekend and about the LEF at www.livingston.org/lef”.