Livingston Bicentennial Celebrations In Full Swing

Livingston continues its Bicentennial celebration this weekend with a talk by Eric LeGrand, the Rutgers University defensive tackle who suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury in 2010.

LaGrand, who became a national symbol of courage as he pursued rehabilitation, will speak Sunday at Livingston High School. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. on the day of the event and the program will run from 1:45 p.m. until around 3:45 p.m.

"LeGrand's presentation is an uplifting event in the Bicentennial calendar and will be an inspiration to anyone who believes in the human spirit," said Steve Santola of the Livingston Sports Council, sponsors of the talk. 

Tickets, which are free, are available by logging onto www.livingstonsyls.org, clicking on "Community Pass" and following the prompts.

Celebrations of the township's 200 years are intended to highlight various aspects of Livingston, from environmental awareness to volunteers to sports activities to locales and historical settings, said former mayor Arlene Johnson, co-chair of the Bicentennial Committee.

“April has been kind of a microcosm of the whole year,” said Johnson. “The goal of the year is to make sure there is something for everybody, not just one big event.”

As part of the celebration, a display of sculptures by John Seward Johnson have been installed at various locations in the business district. Seward Johnson is best known for his life-size bronze statues, which actually are castings of living people of all ages depicting them engaged in day-to-day activities. 

They include “Holier Than Thou” at Starbucks, “Contact” at Sams Clothing, “Weekend Painter” at Roosevelt Plaza, and “Holding Out” at Kings Supermarket. The 12 sculptures are on loan to the town through October.

"They are beautifully placed," Johnson said. "For example, one of them at the corner of Northfield and Livingston Avenues, is a guy who looks like he’s painting the pergola."

"Another, from the fire department on Livingston Avenue, I did a double take. It looks like a guy is sitting in the daffodils," she said.

Those last fall by many community members in anticipatiion of the Bicentennial, Johnson said.

Visitors to Town Hall, and the Livingston Senior and Community Center will find displays of the history of churches and houses of worship. 

Upcoming Bicentennial events include "Youth Appreciation Week" in May and a bike tour, bicycle recycling event and stunt show in June.

The theme? Seeing Livingston in a new way from a bike seat.