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Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

A Showing of Student Art at Deane Porter

The annual Deane Porter School Art Show is highly anticipated by the Rumson community. This year was no exception.

Original work by students in kindergarten through third grade was showcased on the evening of May 19.

“The annual Art Show is a fantastic event that showcases the creative, imaginative, and beautiful work of the Deane Porter students,” Deane Porter Art Teacher Robin Yaeger said. “My students work hard in the art room week to week; and having the opportunity to show the community their masterpieces is a very rewarding experience for them and for me.”

Featured projects by grade level:

• kindergarten — paper sculptures, Chinese lanterns, stuffed fish, Monet landscapes, and self-portraits in which students imagined themselves as kings and queens;
• first grade — turtle sculptures, Chinese dragons, self-portraits in Starry Night by Van Gogh, and weavings;
• second grade — ancient Egyptian portrait masks with digital cartouches, African-inspired masks, coil pottery, and Picasso portraits;
• third grade — Dia de los Muertes sugar skulls, Kimmy Cantrell faces, slab pottery, and Matisse-inspired collages.

Digital art was featured once again, as Deane Porter has received additional iPads for use by art students in all grades. The iPads were purchased through a PTO grant.

— Edited press release from the Rumson School District

Schools Scene

RFH French Students Create iBooks for Haitian Orphans

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students have created iBooks ® that will soon be enjoyed by children in Haiti.

The imaginative original stories — written in French, the language of Haiti — were created by the second and sixth period classes of French II teacher Christine Berg.

The iBooks ® will be stored on two iPads ® and shipped to an orphanage in Haiti. The project, coordinated through the Haitian People’s Support Project, is being funded by a grant from Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey.

The adorable and colorfully illustrated story books are entitled Le Soleil d’Haiti (Haiti’s Sun), La Journee d’Emmanuel (Emmanuel’s Day), and Nadia et le Chat (Nadia and the Cat).

The participating students in Berg’s section two/French II class are: Joseph Afflitto, Olivia Benedetto, Matthew Caldwell, Colleen Fagan, Katherine Gagliardi, Alyssa Hull, Caroline Kane, Blake Lerner, Julia Marchese, Olivia McDermott, Jeremy Nives, Courtney Parton, Armani Rodriguez, Joseph Sestito III, Madison Taylor, and Michael Taylor.

Participating section six/French II students are: Lara Baez, Timothy Bull, Ella Campbell, Olivia DeBonte, Theresa Duffney, Madyson Fanning, Jeanne Gagliano, Kenneth Gilvary, Laura Higgins, Grace Karagjozi, Natalie Livingston, Thomas Montalbano, Annabel Morris, Caroline Peitler, Chloe Reynolds, and Kelli Tuttle.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

Local Life

Focus: Rumson Bike Rodeo

Kids, police and parents took a successful ride with a message at the third annual Bike Rodeo in Rumson on Saturday.

By all accounts, the event, sponsored by the Rumson PBA and PTO, was a well-attended one in which youngsters ran obstacle courses and races for fun while learning some bicycle safety lessons.

As a bonus, bikes and helmets were inspected by Jonathan Erdelyi of Red Bicycle in Fair Haven, according to the Rumson PBA Facebook page.

Take a look at the slideshow and gallery above and below for a glimpse into the day via photos by Sarah Orsay, Rumson communications director and Detective Sgt. Chris Isherwood of Rumson Police Department.

 

Local Life

Focus: Sea Bright Fair Fun

Gallery

It’s that time of the year again — time for the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair.

The fair opened on Thursday at 5 p.m. Featuring the usual host of rides, games of chance and good ol’ fair food, the fair continues tonight, Friday, from 5 p.m. to midnight, the same hours on Saturday, and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m.

The Buster White Band will be playing tonight.

Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse into the fair’s opening day. Click each to enlarge.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven PD

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Fair Haven PD in 2001 Photo/FHPD
Fair Haven PD in 2001
Photo/FHPD

With the news that recently retired Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge was appointed director of the Monmouth County Police Academy, thoughts of past teaching moments by mentors came to mind.

First, the Retro Pic of the Day honored Breckenridge’s mentor, Chief Carl Jakubecy on National Police Week.

That ode is followed by a look back at Breckenridge before he became chief with fellow colleagues in 2001.

Several of the officers in this photo have since retired, including former Chief Rick Towler, Captain Paul McCue, Lt. Bill Heath and … who else?

Recognize anyone in this photo. Who was a former juvenile officer and president of the Monmouth County Juvenile Officers’ Association. Do you know what rank Breckenridge had in 2001?

Have you thanked a police officer today?

— Elaine Van Develde

News

Former Fair Haven Police Chief is New County Police Academy Director

On the first day of National Police Week and little more than six months after his retirement as Fair Haven’s police chief, Darryl Breckenridge has been appointed director of the Monmouth County Police Academy, Sheriff Shaun Golden announced in a press release today.

“There’s no one I’d rather have lead the Monmouth County Police Academy than Darryl Breckenridge,” Golden said of the 35-year police veteran in the release. “He brings with him a wealth of experience, exceptional leadership skills and shares the vision of maintaining and enhancing training at the academy, which as a result, will continue to produce the finest members of law enforcement who will serve the public.”

Breckenridge began his career in law enforcement as a special police officer in Fair Haven in 1976. In 1977 he left the department to serve in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the 3rd ID Military Police Division in Germany.

When he returned home from duty, he worked as an investigator at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and after graduating from the Monmouth County Police Academy in 1985, became a patrolman for the Fair Haven Police Department.

He rose through the ranks and was assigned to the position of detective in 1997. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and then lieutenant in 2002.

Breckenridge achieved his lifelong goal and dream of becoming police chief in 2005 and remained in that position for 10 years before retiring in 2015.

“I’m deeply honored to have been appointed to this position and I thank Sheriff Golden for allowing me this great opportunity to run the Monmouth County Police Academy,” Breckenridge said in the release. “I intend to meet every challenge with enthusiasm and will take pride in providing the most challenging and effective training possible to our police recruits and veteran officers.”

In addition to training basic police and corrections recruits throughout the state, as well as special law enforcement officers and county park rangers, the Monmouth County Police Academy offers in-service trainingcourses to veteran members of law enforcement. Officers from many of the 50 states as well as other countries have trained at the academy. The academy currently has 290 part time instructors.

Breckenridge began as director the week of May 16 and takes over the duties of Undersheriff Ted Freeman, who was the interim acting director. In addition to his vast experience in law enforcement, Breckenridge received three honorable service awards, an exceptional duty award, and in 2008, attended the National F.B.I. Academy.

— Edited press release from Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office

Local Life, Police and Fire

Retro Fair Haven Police Chief, Mentor

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Fair Haven Police Chief Carl Jakubecy Photo/FHPD
Fair Haven Police Chief Carl Jakubecy
Photo/FHPD

The news of former Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge’s appointment as the new director of the Monmouth County Police Academy prompted thoughts of the man he says in one moment, with one gesture became his mentor and motivated him to live his dream of being a police officer in his hometown — Chief Carl Jakubecy.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Police Chief, Mentor →

Local Life

Retro RFH Baseball Home Run

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It’s not only still baseball season at RFH, it’s Friday the 13th.

So, in the spirit of good luck, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day feature some  successful ball playing of the 1970s with a beloved coach whom many felt charmed the game — Hal Lorme.

Lorme passed away just over a year ago. He is still fondly remembered by many an RFH alumni and ball player.

In the top featured photo, Lorme is seen with ball player Tripp Dupree.

Below, he’s behind and in the scenes coaching. Recognize anyone else?

RIP, Coach Lorme. May the luck of Lorme be with today’s team!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Wine Tasting, Politics & Pals in Fair Haven

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It was a night of wine, bi-partisan political perspectives and socializing when political and community leaders gathered at Raven & the Peach in Fair Haven on Thursday evening.

Billed as a simple Wine Tasting Party, hosted by and benefitting the Fair Haven Republican Committee, the evening featured casual talks about the current political landscape by former gubernatorial candidates of both parties, Bret Schundler and Michael Murphy. The talks were followed by mingling and hors d’oeuvres and, yes, wine tasting.

Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into the event. Recognize anyone? The name tags are a giveaway.

— Elaine Van Develde