Focus: Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Winners

Drum roll please … for, perhaps, the little drummer nutcracker boys on the front porch of the first-place winner of the first Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Contest — the Ruscignos at 39 Parker Avenue.

Ben, Maria and Rocco Ruscigno added some special touches this year, they said. They collected PJs for ill children and their families at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in an effort to give back the kindness they received when Rocco was ill one year. In an effort to make the drop-off spot as festive and easy to find as possible, spirits soared and their house got the deluxe decoration treatment. Maria announced that they dropped off “100 pairs of brand new pajamas” to Jersey Shore. She thanked all for the donations.

Congratulations to the Ruscignos!

Second place went to the family at 11 Country Lane with the beautiful array of white lights. If you’ve done your holiday lights drive with due diligence every year, you’ve surely seen and admired the display here.

And third place went to the folks at 77 Poplar Ave., whose home is adorned with lots of festive multicolored lights and decorations year after year.

All the entries were drive-by worthy. Take a ride around the borough to see for yourself. There were 13 that were entered in the contest. In the meantime, take a look at some photos of the winners. And don’t forget to click to enlarge!

Prosecutor: 82-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Fatal Hit-and-Run

An 82-year old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a male pedestrian who was struck and killed during a hit and run incident on Friday evening in Asbury Park, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Continue reading Prosecutor: 82-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Fatal Hit-and-Run

Prosecutor: DWI Convictions Between 2008 and 2016 Could be Overturned

From the Monmouth County Prosecutor …

On November 13, 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the case of State of New Jersey v. Eileen Cassidy. The Court found that all blood alcohol content (“BAC”) results reported by Alcotest machines “calibrated” by former New Jersey State Police Sergeant Marc Dennis between 2008 and 2016 are not scientifically reliable and, therefore, are inadmissible as evidence in prosecutions of Driving While Intoxicated (“DWI”).

Continue reading Prosecutor: DWI Convictions Between 2008 and 2016 Could be Overturned

Memorial Set for Fair Haven Fire Department 30-Year Member, Chris Bertell, 88

You didn’t have to know lifetime Rumson and Fair Havenite Chris Bertell for him to have touched your life and put a smile on your face, if only for a moment, especially at holiday time. That’s because he was the guy who, year after year, set a festive, antique Santa-driven Ford Model T on his River Road lawn. It was a traffic stopper. It was also a heart warmer.

And when people think back on holiday time in Fair Haven, most remember that guy, Chris Bertell, who set out to spread a little joy with a car, some lights and good ol’ Saint Nick. They also remember him as the guy in town who loved antique cars and dalmatians and shared that love with many.

Bertell also saw many through emergencies as a 30-year life member of the Fair Haven Fire Department many-time president and ex-captain of the department’s Fire Police. He was also that go-to guy in the community for electrical repairs with his longtime business, Chris’ Electric.  

Bertell, also a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and member of the Masons, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Riverview Medical Center. He was 88.

A memorial is set for Bertell from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec.22. There will be a fire company service at 11. And The avid volunteer and lover of antique cars and dalmatians 

Chris is survived by: his wife of 60 years Frieda “Ruth” (Dudley); and his cousin, Vincent Domidion, of Morganville. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Chris’ name to the ASPCA, 260 Wall Street, PO Box 93, Eatontown, NJ 07724.

RIP, Chris Bertell. You are remembered.


RFH Football Champs Sign College Letters of Intent

Five Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) State Championship football players have made their college choices official. 

The athletes signed letters of intent on Thursday, sealing their college deals. 

The athletes and their college choices are:

• Evan Davis — University at Buffalo

• Alex Maldjian — Middlebury College

• Ryan McCann — Yale University

• Ian O’Connor — Lehigh University

• Henry Sullivan — Colgate University

Coach Robert Orrok, Coach Christopher Quinn,
Head Coach Jerry Schulte,
Coach Jeremy Schulte 
Ian O’Connor (Lehigh), Evan Davis (Buffalo), Henry Sullivan (Colgate), Ryan McCann (Yale), Alex Maldjian (Middlebury). 

This is the first signing day of the school year for football. Additional commitments will be made in February. 

— Press release from RFH

Prosecutor: Woman Charged in 1992 Murder of 12-Year-Old

A Monmouth County cold case has been solved. A former Asbury Park woman has been charged in the 1992 fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl.

The woman, now 40 and living in Henderson, North Carolina, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter for the killing of Quiana Dees, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced on Thursday.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Woman Charged in 1992 Murder of 12-Year-Old

Prosecutor: Area Man Facing Life in Prison for 2013 Double Murder

A Long Branch man has been convicted of murder and weapons charges in connection with the 2013 double murder of a couple found dead inside a Sairs Avenue apartment in the city, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced. 

Continue reading Prosecutor: Area Man Facing Life in Prison for 2013 Double Murder

Prosecutor: Prior Violent Crime Convictions Extend Robber’s Prison Term

After being convicted of a 2017 liquor store robbery, a Long Branch man now faces an extended prison term due to his prior convictions, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Prior Violent Crime Convictions Extend Robber’s Prison Term

R-FH Area Weekend: Singing, Santa & Lights

It’s that kind of holiday-laced weekend again. And there are a couple of events in the area that will have you humming, ho-hoing or strung up, in a festive sense.

On Saturday, if you’d like to venture a bit out of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, there’s a holiday gift of song that awaits you … 

You are cordially invited to celebrate the holiday season with a festive after noon concert. Red Bank Area Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society will present RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS — a fun concert of vocal harmonies — on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ocean Township High School Auditorium, 550 West Park Avenue, Oakhurst.

This is a merry group of harmonizing singers. You really have to see them to get your spirits soaring. 

The concert will feature traditional holiday favorites sung in 4-part harmony by the Chorus of the Atlantic — a group of male harmony singers under the direction of Craig J. Page.  

Also appearing on stage will be the Matinee Idles, a group of retired men that perform for area organizations in the afternoons.  The Matinee Idles will sing some favorites and share some laughter and good cheer, under the direction of Will McCain.

In addition, there will be some special guests … Ocean Chamber Choir from Ocean Township High School under the direction of Teddy Kernizan.

And Santa is rumored to show. 

Tickets are $18 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, free for children age 16 and younger.  Tickets are available at the door.  Please call ahead to buy your tickets and save $3 per ticket. Call 732-784-7343 and leave your name and phone number.

The Chorus of the Atlantic welcomes visitors to their rehearsals.  They meet Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 8, 2019 at the Red Bank Middle School, Harding Road, Red Bank.  

And on Sunday … 

Santa will park himself in a chair at the Fair Haven Firehouse from 1 to 3 p.m. to visit with all the good boys and girls around the towns and offer gifts and candy.

Word on the street is that Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick will also be seen riding around town in the fire truck from noon to 1 p.m. as a precursor to the classic holiday event. 

And all through the weekend and beyond …

Let your holiday decorations shine and be judged, as Fair Haven sets in motion its new festive decor contest. Which house is the most festive? Only residents know for sure. 

Lighting Up the Holidays in Fair Haven

 

Remember the old Sunday night drive to check out all the Christmas lights when you were a kid?

Well, it doesn’t have to be a Sunday night. Any night is a good one for the drive around to look at the lights.

We took a little night drive in Fair Haven. The only thing that was missing was the ol’ “Ooooo … ahhhh” and the backseat sibling quibbling to Dad’s, “Girls! If I have to pull this car over!”

This is what we saw. And it’s just a sampling. Fair Haven is quite festive. In fact, the borough, starting tomorrow, is having it’s first holiday decoration contest. Check out the informational flyer below …

Know of any great decorations? Let us know where they are, too. We’ll make sure everyone gets to take the pre-Christmas drive with us.

— Elaine Van Develde