Monthly Archives: January 2017

Local Life

Scene Around: Rumson’s ‘Can You Hear Me Now?’

Rumson’s evergreen cell tower gets a branch facelift.
Photo/Jenifer Weber-Zeller

A little observation … 

It is certainly not your typical evergreen. In fact, there’s nothing evergreen about it, because its branches have to be replaced. And it’s branches aren’t really branches. They’re camouflage for that infamous Rumson cell tower.

We’re thinking that everyone knows and has always known it’s not a tree. It’s pretty obvious. And when the tower was first erected, it was a definite conversation piece around the towns.

And though the novelty of that conversation has worn off a bit, when the “tree” is getting a coiffing, the chatter starts again.

Towering over all trees, there it was years back when first erected — the nouveau tower tree, tree tower, or something like that. It was supposed to blend in. But, visible from a ride over the Oceanic Bridge’s Middletown side, the “tree” jutted up like a branched beacon rather than a member of the Rumson “blended” evergreen family.

But, who knew that the branches needed to be replaced now and again? Well, apparently, they do.

Rumsonite Jenifer Weber-Zeller caught a glimpse of the branch refreshment project herself a couple of days ago.

And here it is — not so ever green and branching out.

Now, that’s a tall order of a tree to climb. More proof that it really ain’t easy being green …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Rumson Pier Sunny Daze

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Sunning with the Oceanic Bridge as a backdrop
Photo/courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca

Yes, dank days are dampening spirits lately. Warm, sunny memories can brighten them, though.

So, why not take a photo trip back to a simple day of sunning the old fashioned way on what was referred to as the Rumson Pier?

This look, in particular, offers a glimpse back to some very old time sun bathing — going back about 75 years. There was a lot of suiting up and little skin to show or sun, for that matter. But the bright smiles were bright by the Navesink River.

It’s the wishful thinking sunny days by the river Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca. It’s a rare shot of some folks hanging out on the old pier (or dock) at Victory Park in Rumson with what was the bridge that connected Rumson to Middletown — what became the Oceanic Bridge — in the background.

According to Slocum Mazzucca, “My grandmother Lillian Turnbull Slocum is the far left with her hands folded. The picture was taken on the old pier (dock) at Victory Park in Rumson. Picture is about 75 years ago.”

Anyone remember the old pier/dock at Victory Park? Is this where the Barnacle Bill’s dock is now? How about those swim suits and dresses?

Many thanks to Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca for this gem from her family photos!

Local Life, Schools Scene

Fair Havenite Soars to Eagle Scout Rank

Fair Havenite Michael Frissora has soared to the Boy Scouts of America’s Eagle Scout rank.

The award of the status, the highest attainment in scouting, was conferred by BSA Troop 67 Scoutmaster Michael Maier at a Court of Honor on Jan. 8 at Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.

Continue reading Fair Havenite Soars to Eagle Scout Rank →

Obituaries

Memorial Service Set for Sea Bright’s Kerry Ann Hon, 48

Kerry Ann Hon, of Sea Bright, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 14. She was 48.

Born in Stamford, CT, Kerry Ann moved to Sea Bright with her two sons and loved the area and going to the beach. She was a representative with Servepro in Middletown.

Surviving are: her sons, Eric and Nicholas Elfstrom; her parents Jack and Laurel Anderson Hon; and her brothers, Michael Hon and Bruce Benway.

A celebration of Kerry’s life will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. at Ron’s West End Pub, 103 West End Avenue, Long Branch.

To share a favorite memory or messages of condolence, please visit Kerry’s Book of Memories at www.woolleyboglioli.com.

— Obituary, courtesy of Wooley Boglioli Funeral Home, 

Schools Scene

RFH Makes AP Honor Roll

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) is one of 433 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on its 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll.

To be included in the Honor Roll, RFH needed to, since 2014, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher.

RFH boasts a commitment to  providing students with an array of AP courses that pique intellectual curiosity and prepare students for  post-secondary studies.

“Congratulations to all the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked so tirelessly to both expand access to AP and also to help students succeed on the AP Exams,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s head of AP and Instruction.

In 2016, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admission process.

Inclusion on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years worth of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, and analysis of 37 AP exams, including world language and culture.

Criteria included:

Continue reading RFH Makes AP Honor Roll →

Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Area Man Pleads Guilty to 2014 Murder of Pregnant Girlfriend

An area man pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the 2014 strangulation death of his pregnant girlfriend and faces up to 28 years in prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced in a released statement.

Sender Neftali Villatoro-Reyes, 27, of Freehold Borough entered his guilty plea before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard W. English.

The case background … 

On Friday, May 16, 2014, at 2:15 a.m., Villatoro-Reyes called 911 and reported that he killed his 30-year-old girlfriend, Lucenay Fermin Gallegos, at their 51 Hudson Street Apt. #3 home in Freehold Borough.

Police responded to the scene where they found Fermin Gallegos dead on the couch in their apartment. She was pronounced at 3:27 a.m. by Dr. Spiegel at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. An autopsy was conducted the same day by Middlesex County Medical Examiner Diane Karluk.

The cause of death was deemed asphyxia due to manual strangulation. The victim was approximately five months pregnant at the time of her death.

The Freehold Borough Police Department and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit conducted a joint investigation.

Villatoro-Reyes was arrested and charged with murder the same day. The defendant was originally indicted by a grand jury on March 23, 2015, for one count of murder.

At his plea before Judge English, Villatoro-Reyes admitted that he during an argument with the victim, the defendant placed his hands around her throat, strangling her to death.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the state is recommending a sentence of 28 years in a state prison. Subject to the No Early Release Act, Villatoro-Reyes must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole; in addition, he will be under parole supervision for five years once released.

Villatoro-Reyes is scheduled for sentencing on April 21, 2017 before Judge English.

Villatoro-Reyes is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $1 million bail with no 10 percent option.

Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Jennifer Lipp and Julia Alonso handled the case.

Villatoro-Reyes is represented by Allison Friedman, Esq., of Freehold.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Local Life

A Retro RFH Ladies’ Club

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The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Ladies of the Round Table are featured as the Retro Pic of the Day.

It’s pretty likely that RFHers from this decade have never heard of such a thing. It, actually may have been indigenous to the Class of ’78.

The mission of this unique “group of good will and cheer,” as stated in the yearbook, was to “meet weekly to imbibe and to pursue leisurely interests …”

Hmmmm. They were very cool, as this editor recalls. Somehow, however, it’s highly doubtful that RFH would ever see a club like this one again.

The graphic, very well done, shows a round table in front of a fireplace with a softball, a bat, a pitcher (of something), and a pack of cigarettes.

Remember? Know any of these ladies?

Business Buzz, Local Life

Focus: Bringing Donovan’s Reef Back

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It’s been more than five years since Superstorm Sandy tossed and flattened the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.

In the aftermath of the storm in which the Atlantic Ocean met the Shrewsbury River over the small peninsula town, all that was left of Donovan’s was a tossed building, a shell of the main bar, restaurant equipment, torn up pavement and wood — lots of wood — in scattered piles. What remained of its sign were the letters D O … found on the ground by Mayor Dina Long.

The letters became symbolic of the can-do attitude Sea Bright residents and business owners embodied in the tough months, even years, of rebuilding ahead.

There was a year without Donovan’s. Then there were a few years of an open Tiki bar on the beach.

Now Donovan’s is coming back — bigger, higher and stronger — for its first summer as a rebuilt area legend.

Take a look at the progress so far …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Black & White Rumson Riverfront Nightfall

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Then came the thaw …

After a warmer winter’s day, as nightfall hit along the Navesink riverbanks in Rumson, the sand slurped up the snow, the icy river waters dissolved, and the ducks glided across their glassy path.

Reflections in shades of grey gripped the low tide. Serenity seeped into the shoreline.

See for yourself …

— Elaine Van Develde