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News, Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Prosecutor: Rumson Blithewald Fire an Accident

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They weren’t able to rule out electrical malfunction as a cause of Monday’s Rumson fire, but the tri-fold investigative team has determined that, regardless, it was an accident, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster said.

There were “energized electric circuits or equipment” in the area  of the fire’s origin, “in the area of a wall located between a guest bedroom and an en-suite bedroom, both located on the second floor” of the 19th century mansion dubbed Blithewald, a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Fire Marshal and Rumson Police Department determined, Webster said.

There were no injuries sustained from the six-hour, four-alarm blaze fought by several area fire departments at the 76 Buena Vista Avenue home owned by the Widener family.

Designers had been on site putting finishing touches on the home that was to be the centerpiece of the Visiting Nurse Association’s Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House event slated to kick off on Saturday.

 

Local Life

Fair Haven Shore Signs of Spring

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The temperature may have plummeted a bit, but spring has just about sprung on the banks of the Navesink River in Fair Haven.

Tree leaves and blossoms have or are just about to bloom. The tide has been low, boats being readied for the season and waters calm.

It’s the perfect time for a walk down by the river.

Take a look at why Fair Havenites treasure their river time and memories. 

You may purchase photos from this gallery, but may not publish them anywhere. They are copyrighted.

— Photos by Elaine Van Develde/Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Local Life

Retro Ode to Fair Haven Firemen

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Firefighters from several area municipalities swarmed to the scene of Monday’s fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson.

All are volunteers. The fire took roughly six hours to quell at the hands of hundreds of area firemen.

Yesterday, we took a look back at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization and its firemen at the ceremony.

Today, we take a look back at the Fair Haven Reorganization and the first responders sworn in and offer another thank you to all of those who volunteer to protect us.

The other fire companies that responded to the Blithewald fire were: Sea Bright, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Asbury Park.

Have you thanked your local firefighter lately?

 

Local Life, News

Fair Haven: Poised for a Park

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By Elaine Van Develde

The Fair Haven house that Charles Williams built is gone.

But the historic significance of the freed African-American slave’s family homestead at the foot of DeNormandie Avenue has not been forgotten as the borough preps the swath of Navesink riverfront property for it’s new life as a park.

Fair Haven officials have said all along that once the transformation to passive recreation park takes hold, a plaque commemorating the Williams family and its Robards descendants will be anchored on the site. The plaque will include a brief history of the land’s significance.

For now, though, getting set for some major landscaping is the priority.

“The DPW is finishing up with clearing the property of any remaining bits of debris from the demolition,” Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “The borough’s arborist has assessed the trees on the property and made a determination of which can be cut down and which must be saved. Becker Tree Service, which has a contract with the borough, will soon remove the trees that cannot be saved.”

After that, the property will be readied for turf and landscaping.

Taxpayers contributed roughly $200,000 to the acquisition of the $1.2 million plat. The remainder of the money to purchase it came from state, county and non-profit grants — all of which were contingent upon a commitment to eternally preserve the land as open space.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the property’s history, from borough acquisition to the home’s demolition.

— Photos and slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

News, Police and Fire

Sea Bright Fire Company’s Focus on the Rumson Blithewald Fire

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The Sea Bright Fire Company has shared its view from a head cam of Monday’s Rumson fire at the Blithewald historic mansion via a post on its Facebook page.

In the post, the company’s representatives said that the release of the video on YouTube, they felt, would “not only give the public insight on what we do but will allow our brothers and sisters of the service an opportunity to better both themselves and ourselves in the future.”

No cause has been as of yet determined. The fire is under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Rumson police and the county fire marshal.

Take a look for a glimpse into the life of a local firefighter on the job. Firefighters have asked that the public excuse their language at some points.

Local Life

Rewind: Ode to Rumson Firemen

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Rumson firemen at the borough's 2015 reorganization ceremony Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson firemen at the borough’s 2015 reorganization ceremony
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

In light of the four-alarm fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson on Monday, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the borough’s volunteer firefighters with a look back to a moment at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization.

The fire, which left the Widener home at 76 Buena Vista Ave. severely damaged, burned for roughly six hours.

The fire is under investigation by the Rumson Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the county fire marshal and its cause is still unknown, authorities said.

There were no injuries.

Thanks to our firefighters for their countless hours of volunteer time spent in (at times) high risk situations to protect the safety of the area’s residents!

Local Life, Schools Scene

RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent

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The following is a press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s)Janae Mayfield has signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division I Basketball for St. Peter’s University in Jersey City.

Janae, a senior at RFH, put pen to paper and made it official on the morning of April 15 with her family and coaches proudly looking on.

“My parents put a basketball in my hands when I was four years old,” said Janae. “I loved watching my older siblings play, and as I got older my dad and I would shoot hoops in the driveway while I waited for my school bus.”

Continue reading RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent →

Local Life

Dancing for RFH’s George Giffin

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By George, it was an evening all about dance and raising funds for a good cause!

The George Giffin Memorial Dance-a-Thon was dubbed a good time for all on Saturday.

The popular Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School science and dance teacher and coach passed away last year. In finding a fitting way to memorialize him and garner some money for Monmouth Day Care Center, his daughter Debra Schluter and a committed group of volunteers set the dance-a-thin in motion — literally.

Take a look at the slideshow above for a glimpse into the event, and remember George Giffin.

“When you get that beat, you have to moooove your feet!” — George Giffin.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: RFH Prom Time

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The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) junior prom is over, but the memories will, no doubt, linger for a lifetime.

Prom is just one of those milestones that remains etched in the mind of a teen — indelibly.

Well, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect asked for snapshots of some of those moments and got them.

So, take a look at our slideshow above. that encapsulates the start of the Friday night event of a teen lifetime at Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. Be sure to click on the lower right icon to enlarge. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Grato Images, Doug Borden and Daryl Ley for the  photos! Grato says there are more to come, so check out the site by clicking here.

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

The R-FH Area Weekend: Hanga Loose, Whale of a Sale, George Giffin Dance & Theater

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The weekend forecast calls for a lot of sun and fun in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Plan accordingly. Get out and to all or a few of the events on tap.

Friday

• Everyone’s hangin’ loose in memory of Silvio Fabbri in the back room of Umberto’s in Fair Haven on Fridays, starting at 7 p.m.

Great way to remember Silvio and hang with friends and neighbors in the community.

“Hanga loose” and enjoy, as Silvio would say.

Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: Hanga Loose, Whale of a Sale, George Giffin Dance & Theater →

News

Fair Haven Police Report: DWI, Fraud, Assault, Hit & Run & More

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The following incidents and arrests in the month of March were reported by the Fair Haven police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• A River Road resident reported on March 3 that an unknown person had used her name to obtain and use a PayPal credit card. A fraud report was filed by Patrolman Christian Hostrup to dispute the charges.

• Jordan Rivera, 24, Red Bank was arrested on March 5 and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and received traffic citations for reckless driving and improper passing following a traffic stop.

Lt. Joseph McGovern and Sgt. Jesse Dykstra made the arrest.

• Shane Callahan, 21, of Rumson, was issued three traffic citations on March 14 after an investigation found him to be the operator of a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident in the borough.

Callahan was issued the following citations: leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and reckless driving. S/O Brooks Robinson was the investigating officer.

• Luke Vinci, 21, of Long Branch, was arrested on March 15 and charged with simple assault stemming from a physical altercation with codefendant Shane Callahan at a Church Street address.

Vinci was processed and released pending a Fair Haven Court appearance. S/O Brooks Robinson was the arresting Officer.

• Shane Callahan, 21, of Rumson was arrested on March 15 and charged with simple assault stemming from a physical altercation with codefendant Luke Vinci at a Church Street address.

Callahan was processed and released pending a Fair Haven Court appearance. S/O Brooks Robinson was the arresting Officer.

• A Princeton Road resident reported on March 15 vandalism to her vehicle which had sustained a broken rear window. The damage was documented, nothing inside the vehicle was reported missing.

Sgt. Jesse Dykstra took the report.

• A Princeton Road resident reported on March 15 vandalism to a walkway lamp that occurred sometime during the previous evening.

Sgt. Jesse Dykstra took the report.

• A Linden Dr. resident reported on March 16 that an unknown person had filed a fraudulent tax return in his name with the I.R.S.

Patrolman Christian Hostrup took the report.

• Scott Meller, 31, of Shrewsbury, was arrested on March 20 and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated)following a traffic stop.

Meller was also issued summonses for speeding and reckless driving. He was released pending a Fair Haven court appearance.

Patrolman William Lagrotteria was the arresting officer.

• Jessica Bellagamba, 29, of Toms River turned herself in on March 24 for an active traffic warrant out of Fair Haven in the amount of $350.

Detective Stephen Schneider was the arresting officer. Bellagamba posted full bail amount and was released.

• Nicole Shubeck, 22 , of Eatontown, was arrested on March 25 following a traffic stop for an active traffic warrant out of Shrewsbury in the amount of $240.

She was released after posting full cash bail. Patrolman Dwayne Reevey was the arresting officer.

• Jake Bevilacqua, 23, of Eatontown, was arrested on March 29 following a traffic stop for an active traffic warrant out of Woodbridge Twp in the amount of $250.

He was released after posting full cash bail. S/O Brooks Robinson was the arresting officer.