All posts by Elaine Van Develde

Obituaries

Former Rumson Beauty Salon Owner, Ella Gaynor, Dies at 87

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Longtime Rumsonite and part owner of the Rumson Beauty Salon, Ella D. Gaynor, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 4.

Having lived most of her life in Rumson, Ella was born in Oakhurst. here mom, Dorothy, owned the Sugar Bowl, a “soda pop shop” in Rumson, where Ella worked while at RFH, according to her obituary by Thompson Memorial Home.

In addition to her business connection to Rumson, Ella was a member of what was known as the Carton Town Gang, a townie group. She loved boating and bowling and earned an associate’s degree, her obituary said.

Ella was predeceased by: her parents, Roderick and Dorothy (Gebien) Dangler; her husband, William H. Gaynor Jr., in 2003; and her son, William H. Gaynor III, in 2015.

She is survived by: her daughter, Judy Cuje and her husband Doug of Rumson; her son, Robert W. Gaynor, of Rumson; her sister, Joan Shea, of Tinton Falls; her daughter-in-law, Rosemary Gaynor; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

There will be no services, as Ella wished.

— Obituary, courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home.

News

Adopt a Senior; Ride with Harley

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Yes, adoption is for seniors, too.

And Harley, a chihuahua mix currently residing at the Monmouth County SPCA, needs a loving home in which he can live out his senior years.

Harley, described as very sweet and affectionate and friendly with other dogs, needs a quiet home without kids. It takes him a little time to acclimate to new people in his life, but he does like to be held, according to his bio on the SPCA website.

He only weighs 12 pounds and doesn’t need to be walked a lot.

Check him out on film and see if he just might be the little old guy for you.

 

Police and Fire

Crime Close By: Theft & Criminal Mischief

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

• A theft was reported to have occurred sometime between April 29 and May 4 at a Riverside Avenue apartment. The victim reported jewelry — a gold ring with diamonds and amethyst and a gold bracelet — missing from a night stand.

Patrolman Cevin Albert took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief on Newman Springs Road was reported on May 4. The victim reported that someone scratched his parked vehicle on the entire length of the passenger side.

Patrolman Cevin Albert took the report.

• Theft was reported on May 6 to have occurred within the past two months at a Riverside Avenue Apartment. The victim reported that someone stole a jewelry box, containing several pieces of jewelry valued at several thousands of dollars, from a bedroom closet.

Patrolman George Travostino took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief — graffiti deployed onto a fence surrounding property — was reported to have occurred on May 6 at a Reckless Place residence.

Patrolman Nicholas Maletto took the report.

Business Buzz, Local Life

Sea Bright Farmers Market Back in Season

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By Elaine Van Develde

The Sea Bright Farmers Market is back in season and the goods are ripe for the picking.

In addition to the old favorites — Picklelicious, Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters, Harvest Moon Farm, Holly Jolly Jams, Neshanic Valley Beekeepers, Baker’s Bounty and Franklin Soapworks — there are also some small family-owned farm vendors that have joined in the second year of the outdoor locally grown, organically crafted shopping tradition in the Sea Bright Municipal Parking lot from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

Those new additions include organic goodies, like Asian produce, herbs, free-range and grass-fed meats, farm fresh cheeses and  from Green Duchess , Central Valley and Holly Hill and Harvest Moon farms. DIVE was also there offering some samples of corn and clam chowder.

Continue reading Sea Bright Farmers Market Back in Season →

Crime, Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police Beat: Teen Party, Tax Fraud, DUI, Theft, Burglary

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The following recent criminal incidents and arrests were reported by Rumson police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

•  A Bingham Avenue resident reported on April 9 a fraudulent tax return filed with her personal information.

The incident will be forwarded to the I.R.S. fraud department.

Sgt. Koenig took the report.

• A Lafayette Street resident reported on April 12 that his vehicle was vandalized by numerous eggs being thrown at it sometime during the night.

Patrolman Bryan Dougherty took the report.

• A West River Road resident reported on April 14 that there was a burglary at their home. Bicycles and surfboards were removed from the garage.

Patrolman Gaynor took the report.

•  A Rumson Road resident reported on April 16 that a fraudulent tax return had been filed with her personal information. The incident will be forwarded to the I.R.S. fraud department.

Patrolman Lovgren took the report.

• A Little Silver resident reported on April 16 that her purse was stolen from her vehicle while at Meadowridge Park. A credit card was subsequently used at a store in Middletown.

Detective Christopher Isherwood investigated.

• Lea Brantly, 30, of Rumson, was arrested on April 18 on Hartshorne Lane and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) by Patrolman Campanella.

Brantly was released pending a municipal court date.

• A Bingham Hill Circle resident reported a burglary at her home. Entry was gained by breaking a door window. The resident reported jewelry missing.

Sgt. Koenig and Special Officer Leahy took the report. The incident was referred to the detectives.

• A Mays Landing resident reported on April 21 that his cement mixer was stolen from a construction site on Shrewsbury Avenue.

Patrolman Schneider took the report.

• Carl Bergen, 53, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 21 at headquarters on charges of numerous counts of burglary, theft and credit card fraud by Detective Christopher Isherwood.

Bergen was released pending court.

• Headquarters received a report on April 25 of a large party at a Clover Lane address with possible underage alcohol consumption. Patrolmen Fenn and Dougherty responded and were assisted by officers from Sea Bright, Fair Haven and Little Silver.

Patrolman Bryan Dougherty took the report.

Contempt of court

• Paul Dougherty, 50, of Belmar, was arrested April 3 on West River Road on a contempt of court charge by Ptl. Lovgren.

Dougherty was released to Belmar Police.
• Victoria Hayes, 41, of Union Beach, was arrested April 6 on Bingham Avenue on a contempt of court charge by Special Officer Berger.

Hayes was released after posting $350 bail.

• Trevor Eyerkuss, 25, of Little Silver, was arrested on April 20 at headquarters on a contempt of court charge by Special Officer Morse.

Eyerkuss was released after posting $300 bail.

 

* Contempt of court arrests with a bail of less than $200 have not been included.

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Getting Festive with Forrestdale Follies

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The following is a press release from the Rumson School District:

From soulful ballads by talented vocalists and stirring performances by accomplished pianists, to comedy and dance extravaganzas and even a hard rock performance, there was something for everyone at the Forrestdale Follies talent show.

Presented by the Rumson Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), the Follies took place on the evening of April 16 in the school’s auditorium. Proceeds benefited the Rumson PTO.

Continue reading Getting Festive with Forrestdale Follies →

Business Buzz

Former FH Sunoco at a Standstill

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Site of the former Fair Haven Sunoco gas station Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Site of the former Fair Haven Sunoco gas station
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It seems as if plans for future development at the Fair Haven Sunoco station have run out of the gas to drive them home.

One thing, though, seems pretty clear — that the site at 626 River Road won’t become another gas station.

The site has been completely cleared of underground tanks and remediated for safe development. But it’s static and empty, with no sign of any sort of comeback — not yet, anyway.

“There’s no tenant,” Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “It’s in a state of limbo between Sunoco and someone who may or may not be under contract (to develop the site). The site has been decommissioned and debranded, so one would assume that was done for a transfer of title. Maybe, maybe not.”

Who that title would have been or is in the works of being transferred to, the mayor said he did not know.

As for the notion of another gas station, not only have the tanks to make that a reality been removed, but “that business model in a small town is shot,” Lucarelli said. “Any new gas station being built right now is something like a WaWa or a Quick Check, with 16-24 pump operations on big highways.”

There used to be several gas stations between Rumson and Fair Haven. Now each borough is down to one.

Fair Haven is in the process of reworking its master plan. There has been talk of some zone changes and alterations.

What sort of development do you think the site, now zoned for business, is ripe for? 

 

Local Life

Sea Bright Stairway to Donovan’s?

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It’s May. Countdown to Memorial Day weekend has begun and the unofficial start of summer is not far off. But whether or not Donovan’s Reef will make its comeback with summer is not yet clear.

The lot of the iconic Sea Bright spot has been cleared. The Hurricane Sandy-ravaged bungalow is gone. That all happened, after a static period, in December of last year.

Last word, according to Donovan’s Facebook page, was in February of this year. In answer to a patron’s query of whether or not the bar would be back and exactly when, ownership said, “Yes. Things are moving forward, just don’t have specifics yet!”

Since then, not a word. Only speculation. After Sandy, there was a time when a sale was pending. Then that changed. And in the summer of 2013, owners were saying that it would be back in 2014.

Plans for a larger Donovan’s, replete with on-beach Tiki bars and tree houses, were approved, after some delay, in 2014. And there was a plan to at least partially open with Tiki bars on the beach that year, as a teaser.

A Tiki bar and thatch umbrella have remained on the beach since.

The cleared lot and sea wall are fenced in. Small remnants of the original Donovan’s remain. And there’s a relatively new staircase over the sea wall to the beach, where Donovan’s deck and staircase to the beach was before Sandy. Another staircase is a few feet away for beach access.

One of the owners, Dr. Robert Carducci, died in February of 2014. The other is Bob Phillips.

Phillips was not reachable for comment.

There have been rumors of sales bandied back and forth for years.

But, as of now, the above gallery offers a glimpse into its present state — looking far from ready for an end of May, or even summer, opening.

Could that change?

Rumson-Fair Haven Restrospect will keep you updated. 

 
— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Appreciation of RFH Teacher Bill Kern

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Former RFH math teacher Bill Kern in a 1960s RFH yearbook.
Former RFH math teacher Bill Kern in a 1960s RFH yearbook.

By Elaine Van Develde

Today is the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day all week will randomly highlight fondly remembered RFH teachers who have passed.

The first pick brought to the attention of Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect was RFH math teacher Bill Kern, a former longtime Fair Haven resident.

Continue reading Retro Appreciation of RFH Teacher Bill Kern →

Crime

Area Woman Headed to Prison on $500K Insurance Fraud Charge

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An area woman has been sentenced to three years in state prison for submitting more than $500,000 worth of fraudulent healthcare insurance claims, Acting Attorney General John Hoffman and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) announced.

Donna Dzienisewski, 41, of Middletown, pleaded guilty in October to a second-degree healthcare claims fraud charge that she bilked Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey by submitting 101 completely illegitimate claims within a two-year period — between March 18, 2011 and March 12, 2013.

“Defrauding an insurance company is not the path to easy money, it is the road to prison,” Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi said in a released statement. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases and seek punishment for those who commit these crimes.”

Dzieniskewski, according to the Attorney General, “gave the false impression that she incurred approximately $502,740 in reimbursable” health care expenses during 107 doctor visits, when she actually incurred only $2,640 of those expenses in six legitimate of the total 107 doctor visits. The legitimate $2,640 in the six visits was also falsely inflated by her to show $8,640 in expenses.

Dzienisewski then deposited $141,126 into her bank account, according to the Attorney General.

She was sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr.

Deputy Attorney General Bradford Muller represented the state at the sentencing hearing. Deputy Attorney General T.J. Harker and Detectives Wendy Berg and Matthew Armstrong coordinated the investigation. Analyst Kelly Celenza provided substantial assistance in the financial analysis of the investigation.

People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the website at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. 

Crime, Police and Fire

Arresting News: Prostitution, Cocaine, Marijuana Possession, Dealing & More

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The following recent arrests were made by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction. 

• Esperanza Avendano-Morales, 47, of Freehold, was arrested on April 28 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with engaging in prostitution and contempt of court.

Patrolman Sean Hauschildt made the arrest.

• Edwin Ventura-Egochega, 41, of Staten Island, NY, was arrested on April 28 in the area of Locust Avenue and charged with promoting prostitution and contempt of court.

Patrolman Jhonatan Quispe made the arrest.

• Oscar Ciriaco-Molina, 27, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 30 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with hindering apprehension and contempt of court.

Lt. Errico Vescio made the arrest.

• Alfredo Hernandez-Codero, 38, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 26 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Patrolman Cevin Albert.

• Veirick Kirlew, 26, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 24 in the area of Newman Springs Road and charged with possession of a CDS, Ecstasy, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of a CDS with intent to distribute by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Pepita Gadson, 22, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 23 in the area of Montgomery Terrace and charged with terroristic threats by Patrolman Jhonatan Quispe.

• Zachary Roslin, 23, of West Palm Beach, FL, was arrested on April 23 in the area of Bridge Avenue and charged with possession of a CDS (cocaine), and possession of of under 50 grams of marijuana by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.

• Alvin Ross, 25, of Eatontown, was arrested on April 25 in the area on Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge by Patrolman Gary Watson.

• Maximo Sanchez-Gonzales, 18, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 29 in the area of Bridge Avenue on a contempt of court charge by Patrolman Shane Dengel.

• Leanni Munoz, 28, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 29 in the area of Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge by Sgt. Juan Sardo.

 

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: Patient Flees Hospital with Heart Monitor in Tow

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

• An incident of criminal mischief — air let out of tires on a parked vehicle Montgomery Terrace — was reported on April 24.

Patrolman Michael Zadlock took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at a Tower Hill Drive residence sometime between April 23 and 25. The victim reported that someone stole cash and a pair of gold and diamond earrings from the residence.

Patrolman Shane Dengel took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at Riverview (Medical Center) Plaza on April 25. Staff of the hospital reported that a patient who left from the Emergency Room took a heart monitor, valued at $3,000, and never returned.

Patrolman Benjamin Springer took the report.

• A theft was reported to have occurred at a McLaren Street residence. The victim reported that an unknown person, within the past few weeks, stole a bicycle, circular saw and Craftsman tool box with tools in it from the garage.

Patrolman Shane Dengel took the report.