All posts by Elaine Van Develde

RFH’s Alex Perkins Skis to the Top

April 15, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)student Alex Perkins is a skiing star.

The Fair Havenite finished in first-place in the state for his age group, 16 to 17, at the 2015 NASTAR Eastern Regional Championship held at Okemo Mountain in Vermont, according to a release from RFH.

The RFH junior attained the competition honor with a finish time of 20.96 — the fastest raw time of all skiers under the age of 21 — in the Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 event, the release said. The win qualified him for the 2015 NASTAR National Championship held at Aspen Mountain in Colorado.

While NASTAR ranks Alex number one for his age group in the state, he is number 43 in the national NASTAR rankings.

This is the third consecutive year that Alex has taken the podium at the NASTAR Regional Championship, according to the release. He has qualified for competition in the NASTAR National Championship for six of the past seven years.

NASTAR is the world’s largest recreational ski and snowboard race program.

It allows racers of all ages and abilities to compare themselves with one another and with the national champion, regardless of when and where they race. Many U.S. Ski Team stars have competed in NASTAR programs.

Local Life

Spring Sunning Around the Fair Haven Dock

April 15, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

For a Fair Havenite, there’s nothing quite like the sand between your toes down by the Navesink River at the Fair Haven Dock.

Call it an embrace of spring magic. Once the sun shines, the temperature rises, and that sea-faring scent wafts in, it’s river beach and dock time. And you know you’re home.

Catch that familiar spring fever in Fair Haven. Get a glimpse of one of the first sunny days in this little slice of utopia in our slideshow above. Be sure to click on the lower right corner to enlarge!

— By Elaine Van Develde

Police and Fire

Police: Several Locals Arrested on DWI, Drug Charges & More

April 15, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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

• John Corley, 36, of Holmdel, was arrested on April 8 in the area of Broad Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Lt. Errico Vescio.

• Daniel Giammarino, 23, of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 in the area of Broad Street and charged with possession of a CDS, anabolic steroids, possession of a hypodermic syringe, and possession prescription legend drugs by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• William Faherty, 55, of Little Silver, was arrested on April 5 in the area of Spring Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman John Camarca.

• Craig Gangi, 46, of Rumson, was arrested on April 5 in the area of E. Front Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Kristin Altimari.

• Anthony Carrozza, 36, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 5 in the area of Spring Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto.

• Robert Blazer, 24, of Holmdel, was arrested on April 4 in the area of West Front Street and charged with simple assault by Patrolman John Camarca.

• Ketti Pecyna, 20, of the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 in the area of Broad Street and charged with possession of a CDS, under 50 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Jasper Tyler, 28, of Neptune, was arrested on April 6 in the area of Herbert Street and charged with possession of a CDS, under 50 grams of marijuana, and contempt of court by Patrolman Shane Dengel.

• Jose Lemus-Martinez, 19, of Red Bank, was arrested on April 6 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Sgt. Joey Fields.

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Sun Shines on Forrestdale’s Production of ‘Annie jr.’

April 14, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following is an edited press release from the Rumson School District:

The sun will come out tomorrow, but it was the stars that shone brightly in the musical Annie jr. presented by the Forrestdale Drama Club in March.

The production, with a cast of more than 30, was directed by Vinny Sabatino, with musical direction by Forrestdale music teacher Barbara Leutz.

The show starred and featured: Gina Teschke as Annie; Sophia Bocklage as Miss Hannigan; Kate Gagliardi as Ms. Warbucks; Mara Campolattaro as Grace Farrell; Rory McGill and Annabel Morris as the “shady characters” Rooster and Lily St. Regis; and Rachel Bailey as Annie’s dog, Sandy.

Continue reading Sun Shines on Forrestdale’s Production of ‘Annie jr.’ →

Schools Scene

Forrestdale’s Fisbowl of Communication

April 14, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

It’s all about opening up lines of communication — getting a good look from the outside in, like a fishbowl.

That was the impetus behind the annual Fishbowl Event that’s been held at Forrestdale School in Rumson now for a decade. And the latest Fishbowl was no exception.

Continue reading Forrestdale’s Fisbowl of Communication →

Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police Report Burglary, Theft, Vandalism, Assault & More

April 14, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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

Incidents

• On March 24, Special Officer Berger took a report of an altercation between juveniles at a Rumson Road address.

• There was a report on March 1 of vandalism to a mailbox at a home on Edwards Point Road.

Special Officer Class II Morse took the report.

• There was a report on March 1 of vandalism to a vehicle on Holly Street. The caller reported that the spark plugs of the vehicle were loosened.

Special Officer Class II Morse took the report.

• There was a report on March 2 of harassing phone calls being made to a West River Road business.

Patrolman Ciambrone took the report.

• An attempted wire fraud was reported on March 5 by an Edwards Point Road resident.

Patrolman Gaynor took the report.

• There was a report on March 16 of a stolen license plate from a Wardell Avenue resident.

Special Officer Class II McCurdy took the report.

• A theft of jewelry and tools was reported by a Park Avenue resident on March 17.

Patrolman Torres took the report which was turned over to Detective Christopher Isherwood for investigation.

Arrests

• Nicholas Aarseth, 24, of Sea Bright, was arrested by Patrolman Torres on March 13 and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated).

Aarseth was released pending court.

• Robert Toros, 36, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested by Special Officer Class II Morse on March 22 and charged with simple assault.

Toros was released pending a court date. Patrolmen Gaynor and Ciambrone assisted in the arrest.

• Robert Toros, 36, of Philadelphia, PA was arrested on March 22 by Special Officer Class II Morse on a contempt of court charge.

Toros was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institution. Patrolman Campanella assisted.

• Christopher McKnight, 28, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, was arrested by Special Officer Berger on March 24 on a contempt of court charge.

McKnight posted bail and was released. Lt. York assisted.

• Theresa McGroarty, 24, of Oceanport, was arrested on March 24 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with receiving stolen property.

McGroarty was released on a summons pending court.

• Michael Carter, 23, of Sea Bright, was arrested on March 31 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with receiving stolen property.

Carter was released on a summons pending court.

• Paul Procopio, 27, of Eatontown, was arrested on March 31 by Detective Christopher Isherwood and charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

Local Life

Retro Williams-Robards Estate

Image April 13, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

With the Monday demolition of the more than century-and-a-half-old Williams-Robards home on the Navesink River in Fair Haven, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is featuring the home in its Retro Pic of the Day.

The colonial was the last remaining one of its kind on the river in the borough and the surrounding area.

The home was demolished as part of an agreement with the state to procure grants to purchase the property.

It will be preserved as a passive recreation park.

Local Life, News

A Heap of Fair Haven History

April 13, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

By noon on Monday, all that was left of the historic Williams-Robard estate in Fair Haven was an old television, a couple of mattresses, a laundry basket, and a chunk of foundation on a heap of scrap.

The 160-year-old waterfront DeNormandie Avenue home that freed slave Charles Williams built — and made home to his immediate family and Robards family descendants — was demolished to make way for a passive park was on the banks of the Navesink River in Fair Haven.

The acquisition of the property has been in the works, via several funding avenues, for the better part of a decade.

The borough finally acquired the 6.9-acre property in the fall to preserve a rare swath of waterfront open space for future generations to enjoy, rather than letting it be sold to a private developer and closed off from public access.

The house, officials have said, was in too much disrepair to preserve. Also, as part of the deal for procurement of funding for the $1.2 million acquisition, borough officials had to agree to demolish the home.

The most recent owners, the Robards descendants, had lived in the house since 1855.

“Winifred Robards (who lived there since 1855, when she was 3) was known to invite kids onto the property to play and enjoy it all the time,” Lucarelli said.

It was her wish to pay that forward, Lucarelli had said. A plaque commemorating the Williams-Robards families will be erected on the site with a recounting of its history, Lucarelli said at the announcement of the acquisition in the fall.

Click here for the story of the acquisition.

— Photos and story by Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Donovan’s, Dunes & Diehards

April 13, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

Flying a kite in the Sunday sun and wind

New stairs over the wall by Donovan’s in Sea Bright

Bundled up and braving the sun and chill in Sea Bright

Chilly and capturing a moment in sunny Sea Bright on the beach

— Photos by Elaine Van Develde

Sunday was true to its namesake. The sun was out … and bright.

So, people hit the beach in Sea Bright — a sign that spring had finally sprung.

While the sun was like a siren calling all beach bums back, upon hitting the beach, there was a chill in the blustery air.

So, some stuck it out, bundled up and taking advantage of the wind with kites, others abandoned the beach-going idea.

However, there were a few things to take notice of — like the bit of progress being made to bring Donovan’s Reef back, and the dunes sprouting up all over.

Donovan’s, the longtime Sea Bright summer classic for Rumson-Fair Haven area people and beyond, was flattened by Hurricane Sandy.

There were all sorts of rumors circulating that it had been sold, then the ownership announced that it would be rebuilt with a target date of last Memorial Day.

There’s a Tiki hut and accompanying thatch umbrella at the base of new staircases and it looks like there may be some hope for some sort of resurrection this summer. We’ll see.

And the dunes that were planted across the beach — some by the Fair Haven Garden Club — to stave off erosion are really taking hold.

Check out our photo gallery above for a glimpse into the day and the progress. Click on any photo to enlarge.

Local Life, News

Finishing Up Fair Haven Streetscape

April 13, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

The uncharacteristic March cold staved off progress for a bit, but with the spring warmth come the finishing touches of the Fair Haven Streetscape project.

And with the final phase of work, that will continue for about another three weeks, comes a minor traffic delay, with one lane closed, during daylight hours on River Road.

“We’re executing the rest of the Streetscape East program,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “We started last fall at around Buena Vista Avenue on the north side, just to get that last part of the project started, then winter kicked in.”

As with the rest of the Streetscape project that spans from the business section by the Acme and now through to the Rumson border, sidewalks are being replaced on both sides of River Road and the consistent historic-looking lighting is being installed.

The last part of the east portion of the project is under construction on the south side of River Road, from Buena Vista to Oak Place, or roughly 911 River Road where the Shrewsbury Yacht Club sits, Lucarelli said.

Next, the project will be competed on the north side of River Road in the same area.