Monthly Archives: May 2016

Local Life

Focus: More House on Fair Haven’s Church Street

The street that is called Church Street in Fair Haven is looking less and less like its namesake.

Old-time residents of the street that fronted River Road with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion have expressed some chagrin since the longtime church came down on the .54-acre parcel and a three-home subdivision by Kolarsick Builders — of one 3,000- and two 2,000-square-feet, roof-porched homes with garages and decks — was approved.

Development on the property had been stagnant since it was put on the market in October of 2010. After being shown a reported 43 times since (between 2011 and 2014) and for various uses, the subdivision was deemed the most appropriate fit the the Planning Board.

Now, several months after approval, two homes fronting Church Street are now undergoing finishing touches and the foundation is set for the third slated to front River Road.

The street had always comprised a close knit neighborhood of many who lived in much smaller versions of homes on the street in the 1960s through 1980s and ’90s. They keep in touch or remain close friends. Some still live on the street.

Those who no longer live there or close by have been asking lately what the street where they lived looks like. Here it is, old time Church Street people.

And, no, as we’ve confirmed before, there are no plans to change the name to House Street.

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Obituaries

RFH Grad, Longtime Fair Havenite Regina Lamberson Allison Dies at 56

Regina Lamberson Allison Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
Regina Lamberson Allison
Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home

It wasn’t too long ago that Brian Allison, son of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni and longtime Fair Havenite Regina Lamberson Allison was asking for help for his ailing mom via a GoFundMe page.

On Friday, after succumbing to what her son told R-FH Retro in a previous interview was a battle with health issues that began in 2013 and culminated in stage four kidney cancer, Regina passed away at Jersey Shore University Medical Center on May 6. She was 56. A service will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.

“Regina and I were best friends in high school,” Mary McCuen said in a message on the John E. Day Funeral Home website. “She had a heart of gold and she made people laugh. She was kind, considerate and loved life. When meeting up again with her 2 years ago, she spoke of her sons and how much she missed her mother … ”

Regina’s mother was a crossing guard in Fair Haven years ago, where she grew up. She raised her son, Brian, who lives elsewhere but still volunteers at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair annually, there.

“She was a loving daughter, mother and cousin,” said Terri Drapczuk on the funeral home site. “… May she rest in peace without pain and sickness.”

From Regina’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home … 

Born in Long Branch, Regina lived in Fair Haven before moving to Ocean Township twelve years ago. She was a medical billing clerk at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Previously, she was a carrier for the Asbury Park Press/PCF.

Regina was predeceased by her Mother Arminda Lamberson in 2007. She is survived by: two sons, Brian L. and Justin V. Allison, both of Ocean Township; one sister, Michele Lumberton, of Laurence Harbor; and her father, Leon Lamberson, of Oakhurst.

Interment is private.

The family asks that memorial donations be made in Regina’s name to the Associated Humane Societies, 2960 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.

Arts & Entertainment

RFH Grad Chef Rossi Sheds Some Sweet & Salty on ABC

Chef Rossi, the RFH girl gone self-made anti-chef/caterer, blogger and author of the recently-debuted The Raging Skillet made her own kind of special splash on network television over this past weekend in a spot on ABC news about fun kiddie snacks — and she wasn’t talking about dishing up anything healthy.

After all, she is the anti-chef. So, true to form, an unfiltered Rossi talked about some salty sweet snacks that probably had health-conscious mommies trying to feed their kids kale and broccoli disguised as chicken fingers scrambling for the remote while drooling.

It’s all about repurposing and lifting the lowbrow up a notch, as she puts it, with Rossi’s recipes. Doing things like serving peanut butter and bacon sandwiches among a platter of cascading orchids is part of her foodie purpose.

Rossi talked about those peanut butter and bacon sandwiches, a potato chip, Snickers and marshmallow casserole, chocolate-dipped pretzels,chocolate dipped chips rolled in crushed Froot Loops, pastrami reuben tacos with Michelle Charlesworth.

Click here to check it out!

Yes, there was a little blackout and, yes, she did say that about the casserole. Oh, and P.S., she said as soon as they were done everyone glommed onto the snacks like kids to an Good Humor truck with free ice cream. Well, maybe not quite like that, but close.

For more information on Chef Rossi and to order her book, click here.

Local Life

Retro Salute to R-FH Area Moms

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In honor of the area’s moms of the past and present, here’s a little glimpse into Mother’s Day in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Some of these moms are gone, some are still with us and celebrating several generations of motherhood.

In one way or another, many of the faces captured here from the past and present have made life in the area all the more special, if not for anything else but being a comfortingly familiar face in a place we call home.

Happy belated Mother’s Day!

Thanks to our Facebook friends for these priceless photos!

— Elaine Van Develde

Red Bank Police & Fire Files

Police Report: Area Thefts

The following recent criminal incidents were reported by Red Bank police:

• The theft of an Android cell phone from a charging station located in the area of Riverview Plaza was reported on April 23 .

• The theft of seven radiators from a Locust Avenue property, valued at approximately $300 each, was reported on April 27.

• The theft of $94 in cash from a purse on the seat of a vehicle parked in the area of West Bergen Place was reported.

Local Life

Focus: Waiting for the Sun Under the Dock

Gallery

The weather has been overcast, rainy, drizzly and downright gloomy.

Waiting for the sun to return to spring has become a ritual. It’s the kind of day for rewinding to when the sun was out and casting shadows in a view from under the Fair Haven Dock.

Take a look at our wishful gallery of shadows and reflections on a sunnier day right before the rain from under the dock.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Fair Havenite Set for Book Signing

By Elaine Van Develde

Fair Havenite Carolyn Cope’s life has undergone an unlikely transformation. She’s gone from corporate attorney to food blogger and author. And she has a book signing tonight at River Road Books in the borough she’s made her home for nearly the past 10 years.

What are the books? They’re entitled  We Love Kale and We Love Quinoa and feature more than 100 “healthy and delicious recipes for enjoying two of the world’s most nutritious foods,” she said the day of the signing which is slated for 7:30 p.m.

How did she end up there? One day the epiphany of wanting to live a simpler, more wholesome and, perhaps, healthier dream just hit her while sitting at her desk at work as an attorney for a large corporate firm.

“I looked up from my desk at a giant corporate law firm one day and realized I hardly had any idea how I’d gotten there,” she said. “Shortly thereafter I left and started my food blog, Umami Girl, where I share mostly healthy, mostly plant-based recipes. Food blogging has been a dream, and the books are a direct offshoot of my work on the blog. Although the blog has a wide reach, it’s wonderful to be able to put a real cookbook in someone’s hands. Thank goodness people still love books!”

And Cope will be signing hers at her “first-ever book signing” and giving a talk tonight about just how she ended up where she is after her journey “from hungry kid to corporate lawyer to food blogger and author.”

She will also be sharing some cooking tips and offering up some wine and sample finger food to complement the evening.

Join her at 7:30 p.m. at the store near the corner of River and Fair Haven roads.

 

Local Life

Retro Rumson, Fair Haven Firefighters on International Firefighters’ Day

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Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company back when they wore dress whites Photo/FHFD archives
Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company back when they wore dress whites
Photo/FHFD archives

Today is International Firefighters’ Day.

So, in honor of the day, the Retro Pic(s) of the day are snapshots back in time with Rumson’s Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and the Fair  Haven Volunteer Fire Company.

Rumson firemen gather and strike a pose back in the day at the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 firehouse Photo/Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Facebook page
Rumson firemen gather and strike a pose back in the day at the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 firehouse
Photo/Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Facebook page

The shot of the Rumson firemen (and child) at the building that is still standing on East River Road is an oldie, courtesy of the company’s Facebook page. Can you guess the year? And notice how many are smoking. Those were the days when it was cool to smoke.

We’re not sure of the year the photo, courtesy of the fire company’s files, but it was back far enough when Fair Haven firemen and Ladies’ Auxiliary members wore white dress uniforms with navy blue and white polka dotted scarves.

We recognize some of the folks in the Fair Haven shot. Who do you recognize? And what event was this?

On International Firefighters’ Day, we thank our Rumson-Fair Haven area firefighters for their service!

Have you thanked a firefighter today?

— Elaine Van Develde

News, Schools Scene

Meet Fair Haven Schools’ New Superintendent

By Elaine Van Develde

Lauded by his former Middletown School District supervisors as a “tremendous communicator, strong in curriculum and special education, a leader whom others follow, a forward thinker, one who is (so incredibly) good at celebrating success, and a master teacher,” Sean McNeil was appointed Fair Haven’s next superintendent for a three-year term, effective July 1.

Continue reading Meet Fair Haven Schools’ New Superintendent →

Local Life

Schwenker’s Duck, Goose, Gosling!

The ducks family of spring from Schwenker's Pond in Fair Haven Photo/Sandy Richards von Pier
The ducks family of spring from Schwenker’s Pond in Fair Haven
Photo/Sandy Richards von Pier

It may be dank, damp and drizzly, but a sure sign that a rite of spring has taken hold came in the form of a family of Canada geese dilly dallying around their Schwenker’s Pond home in Fair Haven today.

Fair Havenite Sandi Richards von Pier spotted the parents and four babies taking a little trek around the Schwenker’s Pond area neighborhood.

She says they made their way up the hill from the pond, and onto Chestnut Street and into and around the neighborhood and back.

So, she greeted them and captured the family walk in a picture.

Well, the fertility that symbolizes the season is evident right here, even though there have always been complaints about the overpopulation and mess Canada geese leave behind.

Isn’t that just ducky? OK, it’s goosey.