Forrestdale School’s Class of 2015 has graduated.
Here’s more information about the 118 Rumson students who received their diplomas from Board of Education President Colleen O’Connor and Deane-Porter School Principal Shari Feeney at the June 17 ceremony at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:
The following recent arrests on contempt of court charges were made by Red Bank police:
• John Cioffoletti, 45, of Fair Haven, was arrested on June 17 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman David Smith.
• Norberto Rivera, 51, of Red Bank, was arrested on June 16 in the area of Reckless Place and charged with contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.
• Pedro Christian, 46, of Matawan, was arrested on June 16 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.
• Samuel Colon, 22, of Mount Holly, was arrested on June 11 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman Shane Dengel.
• Javier Martinez, 29, of Mount Holly, was arrested on June 11 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman Matthew Ehrenreich.
Sunday was Father’s Day.
And, we at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect are of the mind that the day was really about much more than flipping a burger and patting a good ol’ dad on the back.
It’s bigger than that. It goes way beyond your own dad’s back yard and a grilling or two.
Growing up in a small-town niche like the Rumson-Fair Haven area carries with it that family tie feeling. Some of us were fortunate enough to have great dads. Some not.
But, what we all somehow did and still do have is a strong kinship to the dads of our towns. Even if we just recall a look, a bellowing chide or a chuckle over some stupid kid thing we did, we remember the dads with whom we grew up.
So many of these men were volunteers we saw all over town, characters whose nuances or sayings we remember, or that one poor patient guy who ended up being the poor soul to pick us up when we were stupid enough to get caught hurling eggs and toilet paper on Mischief Night — or something equally as stupid.
Yes, we do and should memorialize our own dads. Believe me, I, for one, am still looking for that money tree my dad told me was in the back yard and that gal named Dumb Dori whom he said I emulated when lacking “street smarts” to a ridiculous degree.
Yet, I also vividly remember the calm, “I’m going to kill those idiots” smile on my friend Stephanie’s dad when he picked us up at the police station after following through on a really dumb dare. Then there was the “To tell you the truth, my friend, I don’t know” quote that consistently came out of Daryl’s dad’s mouth as he shook his head in wonderment over our mangled teen logic.
There were those dads for all of us — each leaving his own patriarchal imprint in our juvenile minds. For them we are grateful — for raising us here, for coming together to protect and nurture us and for offering a communal scolding or 100, for loving all their village’s children.
They were part of this community’s foundation — everyone’s founding fathers.
Our Retro Pic (or video) of the Day honors the area’s dads for those reasons and so many more. We don’t have nearly enough photos to encapsulate all the love and all of the dads, but this is a sufficient sampling to get the message across.
— Photos/courtesy of Rumson, Fair Haven family members via Facebook
The following recent criminal incidents and arrests were reported by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Incidents
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on June 15 on West Street. There was a report of a window broken on the outside of a building.
Patrolman Ashon Lovick took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on June 17 at a Washington Street residence. The victim reported that someone threw a small table left out for trash at a parked vehicle and dented it.
Patrolman George Travostino took the report.
Arrests
• Noah Dubuss, 28, and Louie Magnus, 26, both of Red Bank were arrested on June 18 in the area of South Street and charged with disorderly conduct, possession of a CDS (under 50 grams of marijuana) and possession of narcotic paraphernalia by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto and Patrolman George Travostino.
• Caroline Dorsett, 42, of Red Bank, was arrested on June 17 in the area of Pearl Street and charged with harassment by Patrolman John Camarca.
• A 17-year-old male juvenile, of Middletown, was arrested on June 15 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with possession of a CDS (under 50 grams of marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia by Patrolman Ashon Lovick.
• Marc Peterson, 30, of Red Bank, was arrested on June 13 in the area of Broad Street and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) by Patrolman George Travostino.
• Adam Salama, 24, of Hazlet, was arrested on June 13 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, possession of a CDS (hash oil), and possession of narcotic paraphernalia by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto.
• Courtney Rossine, 21, of Lincroft, was arrested on June 12 in the area of W. Front Street and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) by Patrolman Stanley Balmer.
By Elaine Van Develde
He was known as the patriarch, and perhaps patron saint, of schools in Fair Haven.
He was steadying, calm, encouraging influence — never pushed by politics, never mired by mass red tape, always out for the students’ benefit.
A perpetually sage, serene smile set on his face, Robert Chartier, for many years, stood in front of Knollwood School welcoming his village full of students every single day, watching them learn and grow — fixated on seeing to it that they flourish.
He was always present, always available, always receptive. Under his leadership, students, always seen as unique individuals, soared to hit their full potential. They were all his kids. That’s simply how he saw it.
You could say that, over the years, Robert Chartier was proud papa to thousands. It was that simple to him. As principal for a stint at Willow Street School (now Sickles), then longtime principal of Knollwood and finally superintendent of Fair Haven schools, he retired many years ago, but he is still around. And the lessons learned from this iconic administrator are not forgotten.
Friends of the former top schools administrator’s son, Michael, were thrilled to see the above Father’s Day throwback photo of a young Mr. Chartier and his son.
And, since he is still so fondly recalled as that father figure by former Fair Haven students, many of whom are now parents in the borough, the photo is our Retro Pic of the Day.
Thank you, Mr. Chartier, for being a great dad of education to so many!
Share your memories of Mr. Chartier with us.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will feature an interview with the iconic leader of Fair Haven schools in the future.
A car went up in flames at Rumson Country Club on Father’s Day; and, just about as quickly as the fire ignited, it was extinguished by first responders.
With scant details, the Rumson Police Department posted a 24-second video of the Sunday fire at about 3 p.m. and the firemen putting it out.
“Great job by The Rumson Fire Department extinguishing a vehicle fire at the Rumson Country Club,” the post said. “Happy Father’s Day from R.P.D.”
Click here to see the full video.
No further details were available as of press time. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will add information when it becomes available.
— Photo/screenshot of Rumson Police Department Facebook page video
The following May arrests and incidents were reported by Fair Haven police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Arrests
• Terry Williams, 57, of Fair Haven, was arrested on May 10 and charged with disorderly conduct following a field interview, reference a call for service.
Williams was unable to post bail and was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold, pending a Fair Haven Municipal Court appearance.
Sgt. Jesse Dykstra was the arresting officer.
• Tracey Lichtig, 42, of Fair Haven, was arrested on May 15 and charged with driving while suspended as a result of a previous DWI conviction.
Special Officer Class II Brooks Robinson was the arresting officer.
• Johnny Morris, 23, of Tinton Falls, was arrested by Cpl. John Waltz on May 27 on an active arrest warrant out of Fair Haven.
Morris was later released after posting bail pending a Fair Haven Municipal Court appearance.
• Veronica Carlisle, 45, of Highlands, was arrested on May 28 and charged with driving while suspended from a previous DWI conviction.
Special Officer Class II Brooks Robinson was the arresting officer.
•Marcelino Trejo, 32, Edison, was arrested on May 3 and charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, speeding, refusal to submit to breath samples and driving with an open container of alcohol following a motor vehicle stop.
Sgt. Jesse Dykstra was the arresting officer. Trejo was released pending a court appearance in Fair Haven Municipal Court.
• Omar Azcona, 34, of Trenton, was arrested on May 5 by Sgt. Jesse Dykstra on an active traffic warrant out of Mt. Olive Township after a parking complaint. Azcona posted full cash bail before his release.
Incidents
• A Battin Road resident reported on May 7 the theft of a wallet from a vehicle in her driveway.
Patrolman Eric Patton took the report.
• A Willow Street resident reported on May 7 that his son’s bicycle was stolen from the front of Knollwood School.
Patrolman Christian Hostrup took the theft report.
• A Lake Avenue resident reported on May 7 that a wallet was stolen from her vehicle.
Patrolman Christian Hostrup took the theft report.
• A Maple Avenue resident reported on May 8 that someone fraudulently used the victim’s credit card.
Detective Stephen Schneider took the fraud report.
Lifelong Sea Bright resident, fireman and first aid volunteer Lester Johnson is being mourned Monday morning.
Services for the well-known and liked 87-year-old, who died on June 19 at Care One at King James in Middletown, will start at 10 a.m. at Flock Funeral Home, 243 Broadway, Long Branch. The firemen’s service is set for noon.
In addition to being a 67-year member of both the Sea Bright Fire Department and First Aid, Lester was longtime stock manager for the Acme stores in both Fair Haven and the Lincroft section of Middletown, according to his obituary on legacy.com. He also worked at Gardella’s in Sea Bright.
Valedictorian of the Long Branch High School Class of 1946, Lester was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the Korean War, it added.
He loved trains and the stock market.
Lester was predeceased by: his parents, Lester and Marion Johnson; his grandparents, Stephen and Elizabeth Johnson; a sister, Jackie Timmons; his aunt and uncle, Alice and Jack Weir.
Surviving are: his brother, Kenneth “Tom” Johnson and his wife Lize; sister, Barbara Waters and her husband John; nieces, Sharon, Nancy, Terri, Khristi, and Leslie; nephews, Jay, Tom, Robert, Thomas and Kenny.
Donations may be made to the Sea Bright First Aid.
Monmouth County DWI Task Force members and West Long Branch police will be conducting a DWI checkpoint on Route 36 in West Long Branch from late Saturday night through early Sunday morning.
Officers will be pulling vehicles from westbound lanes into the Monmouth Park Corporate Center parking lot from 11 p.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday to conduct sobriety checks, a release from the Task Force’s coordinator, Brielle Police Chief Michael W. Palmer, said in a release.
The checkpoint is being set up in cooperation with the NJ State Police.
Longtime Rumson resident Joan Sanders died on Tuesday, June 17, surrounded by family at home. She was 88 years old.
Joan grew up in Windsor Locks, CT. She graduated Cum Laude from the College of New Rochelle in 1948 with a degree in Social Studies and English. She received a masters of arts degree in Sociology from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1950.
Following graduate school, Joan worked as research assistant to the Chief Economist of the American Bankers Association in New York.
She was married for 61 years to her beloved husband, Robert James Sanders Jr. who predeceased her in 2012.
Joan is survived by: her six children, Mary and husband David Jones, Omaha, NE; Joanie Sanders, Rumson; Robert J. Sanders III and wife Joan Throckmorton Sanders, Oceanport; Michael Sanders, Worthington, MA; Catherine and husband Daniel Hibbert of Woodbine; and Maura Sanders, Metuchen; her sister, Mary Hammond, Wolfeboro, NH; her brother, Daniel Kervick, Vero Beach, FL; six grandchildren, Colleen, Mary Catherine, Caitrin, Norah, Ryan and Margaret; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21 at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 22 at the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven.
Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Embrace Kids Foundation (www.embracekids.org), 121 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
— Obituary, courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 2015 is graduating Friday night, and not without many of its members first recognized for special achievements
More than 80 awards were given out at the RFH Annual Awards Program on June 8, including valedictorian recognition, departmental achievement, student life, and honorary awards as well as scholarships.
RFH Principal Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Valedictorian Achievement Award to Alexandra Siwulec, who also received the American Association of University Women 2015 Book, Catalyst STEM, Holy Cross Church Scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence and Superintendent’s awards.
Siwulec will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she will major in biophysics and minor in Latin as part of the College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program.
At RFH, Alexandra’s extracurricular activities include: co-founder and co-president of Global Women Empowerment Club, president of Paws and Claws, chairman of the Gender Issues Committee of the Social Justice Club, and junior board member for Change a Life Uganda. She is an accomplished pianist, having participated in the Golden Key Music Festivals in Vienna and New York City as well as the annual Monster Concert at Brookdale Community College.
Some of the highlighted awards presented to RFH seniors were:
• Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship — Erin Blewett
A 2013 RFH graduate, Alyson M. Raywood completed her first year at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia before passing, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer, on October 14, 2014 at the age of 19.
The Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship was created to honor an individual who has suffered a tragedy but continues to fight on while maintaining a positive outlook. The scholarship was presented to Blewett by Alyson’s mother, Ro Raywood.
• Class of 2009 Scholarship Award — Ashley Adler
RFH Class of 2009 graduates Stephen Noglows, Timothy Robinson, and Daniel Ryan presented this new award to Adler in honor of their late friend and classmate Robert Anthony Melita. Funds for the scholarship were raised by the First Annual Robert Melita Softball Tournament.
• Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship — Abbey Weis
This scholarship is awarded to an RFH senior who, like Robert Anthony Melita, possesses the courage to stand up for what he or she believes in regardless of popular opinion and serves as an advocate for others. This year’s Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship was presented to Weis by Robert’s sisters Lauren and Haley Melita.
• Catalyst STEM Award — Russell Binaco and Alexandra Siwulec
This new award recognizes two outstanding students planning to study science, technology, engineering, or math at the post-secondary level. Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Catalyst STEM Award to Binaco and Siwulec.
• U.S. Army Reserve Top Future Soldier Award
This award was presented by Sargent Ethan Newago to Anthony Sciametta, who has enlisted in the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.
• American Patriot Award
This award is given to a senior who has displayed honor, courage, and commitment by taking the oath to protect and defend our country as a United States Marine. Michael Longo received this award from Sargent Pedro V. Roman.
• Gold and Silver Awards were presented to RFH seniors at a breakfast held on April 17. Students from the RFH Class of 2015 amassed 58 Gold Awards and 31 Silver Awards.
A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 4.00 at the conclusion of the seventh high school semester qualifies students for the Gold Award. A cumulative GPA of 3.67 at the conclusion of the seventh semester earns the Silver Award.
— Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School press release (edited)
Did you make it to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s) Night of the Arts?
If not, here’s a glimpse of what you missed.
If so, take a look back!
— Photos/courtesy of RFH
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