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    Ain't That Grand!
     
     
       
     
    September 10, 2013 Livingston, NJ – If asked to describe an experience, an event in one word, the word for the Livingston High School Hall of Fame Activities would be GRAND. Whether it is the fact that our Hall of Fame honorees, Hannah August, Class of 2001; The Honorable Governor Chris Christie, Class of 1980; Nikki M. James, Class of 1999; Ronnie Konner, Class of 1966 and LEAD Awards recipients John Hopton and Dr. Barbara Tamburro are speaking to current students; whether it is the elegant piano in the foyer of the Hall of Fame reception venue, or the name of the venue itself, The Wilshire Grand Caterers, in West Orange, the Friday, October 18, 2013, Livingston High School Hall of Fame will be GRAND!
     
    T    his year’s Hall of Fame honors distinguished alumni who through education and interest-driven passion are leaders in the social sciences, one currently serving as an elected official, The Honorable Governor Chris Christie, one serving as press secretary to the First Lady in the White House, Hannah August; the creative arts, TONY Award-winning actress known for her OFF-BROADWAY, BROADWAY and television performances, Nikki M. James; and in education, World Language teacher at Riker Hill and Burnet Hill Elementary Schools teaching Spanish to Livingston students in grades K-5, Senora Ronnie Konner. Ain’t that GRAND!
     
    “For each of our Livingston High School graduates, there have been talented educators who have served to guide them to achieve. This year the Livingston Education Foundation (LEF) will continue a tradition of recognizing individuals who have created, through a lifetime of service, successful educational opportunities for the students of the Livingston Public Schools. Their vision, their dedication to education, to the children of Livingston and to the district is to be commended,” said Amy Saffer, retired LHS Spanish Teacher, past Hall of Fame recipient and Co-chair of the LEF Hall of Fame Committee. This year we will honor John Hopton, who started his career in the Livingston Public Schools (LPS) in 1983 and served for the next seven years as K-12 Director of Computer Education and K-12 Supervisor of Instructional Computing. Many will remember him as Principal of their school his having served September 1990 – June 1993 at Burnet Hill Elementary School and from July 1993 – June 2010 at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. We will also honor Dr. Barbara Tamburro. When she came to Livingston High School in 1979, there were four string players enrolled in orchestra and forty additional string players disbursed throughout the school district. Within ten years, the number rose to 450. Dr. Tamburro served as a Strings Teacher and Orchestral Conductor grades 4-12 from 1979-2010. And, ain’t that GRAND!
     
    In addition to the Hall of Fame Activities, the homecoming weekend will feature a home football game played against Bloomfield on the LHS home turf at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18. Ain’t that GRAND!
     
    On the morning of Sunday, October 20, LEF, the Big ‘L’ Club and the West Essex YMCA have come together again this year to co-host the Livingston 5K Bicentennial Run. “We are proud to be partnering with the Livingston Education Association (LEA), LPS teachers and staff who assist as volunteers for planning, and running registration and children’s events, The Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities (LACD) who joined us last year to run special needs track and field events and new this year, the township Livingston Bicentennial Historical Committee. The Bicentennial will add a historical flavor to this multi-generation event which is certified by the US Track and Field, NJ,” said Heidi Cislo, LEF President. Ain’t that GRAND!
     
    Information on required reservations for the LHS Friday, October 18 Hall of Fame Reception, which is open to the public or how to become a patron for the Hall of Fame or a sponsor of the 5-K Run is available on the Livingston Education Foundation (LEF) website www.livingston.org/lef. Inquiries can be made at (973) 535-8000, x8898.
     
    LEF thinks all of this is, in a word, GRAND! Now see if you have found the words by reading this article to complete a Homecoming October 18-20 crossword puzzle.