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The sun was shining on Fair Haven Day 2015 and fun abounded.
Longtime friends caught up with one another, music played, people ate, drank and were quite merry.
Take a look at the slideshow above for a glimpse into the day.
Thanks to Tom Bull, David Becker and Cathy Mazza Truesdell for the extra help with our camera emergency! The photo of Mayor Ben Lucarelli, DJ Breckenridge and Susan Sorensen is courtesy of David Becker.
It’s an annual event that’s been going on for more than half a century. And Saturday marked its 67th year.
The St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church Canterbury Fair was held under sunny skies on the church’s grounds.
Fun in the form of kids games, food, festivities, a petting zoo and classic white elephant sale was had by all.
Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into the day.
— Elaine Van Develde
Saturday is Fair Haven Day.
Since the first, on Fair Haven’s Centennial Celebration in 2012, the day has become a borough tradition.
On that first Fair Haven Day, a couple of local celebrities, longtime Fair Havenites, were there and all jazzed up with love of their hometowns to celebrate.
Since then, these two have passed: RFH teacher and dancer extraordinaire, George Giffin; and longtime Fair Haven Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary member Pat Topfer.
So, today, with our Retro Pic(s) of the Day, we take a look back at those smiling faces, remember what these two did for their beloved borough and its people, thank them and remember the sincerity of their giving, neighborly hearts.
RIP George Giffin and Pat Topfer. May future generations of Fair Havenites carry on with spirits as generous and caring as yours!
The weekend weather forecast is promising, Rumson-Fair Haven area folks.
So, that in mind, here are some things to do around the towns:
Friday night …
• This one’s a longstanding event honoring the memory of former Rumsonite and doctor, George Sheehan — the 22nd George Sheehan Classic Race and Kids Classic.
The action starts at 2 p.m. and runs through 8:30 p.m. in Marine Park with activities, including the kids race, Runner’s Expo, music, and more.
• Don’t forget Hanga Loose Fridays at Umberto’s in Fair Haven. It’s a time to hang out in memory of the restaurant’s beloved Silvio, a friend to all.
Stop by the River Road place’s back room, mangia and chat it up!
Saturday …
• The George Sheehan Classic 5K Race runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Red Bank — Marine Park and Broad Street. There will be a post-5K party at Branigans.
• The Canterbury Fair, at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson, will be featuring a host of activities, silent auction, white elephant sale and food from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
There will be face painting, a petting zoo, a kids’ auction, activities, burgers, hot dogs, lobster salad, baked goods, plants for sale and more.
The proceeds of the longtime annual event go to area charities.
• And, yes, it’s Fair Haven Day time! The relatively new annual event kicks off at 3:30 p.m. in Fair Haven Fields.
Get your tickets for food and beverages. This year, Brennan’s will provide picnic — signature sandwiches, salads and mac-and-cheese. For a little extra, folks can feast on seafood from Lusty Lobster — clams, oysters and lobster rolls. And Booskerdoo will be providing desserts and coffee.
The snack bar will be open, proceeds donated to RFH Hockey.
And, the Fair Haven Business Association will have face painting and photo booths.
For adults, there will be a beer booth, featuring domestic and premium beers and fruit-filled red and white sangrias.
Bands will be playing: Stone Bullets at 3:30 p.m., River Road Band at 4:30 p.m. and Jukebox Criminals at 6:30 p.m.
Then the night will end with fireworks! See you there!
Sunday
• The Red Bank Farmers Market is in the Galleria parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It features the usual fresh produce, organic goods, breads, coffees, desserts, crafts and more.
• And if you feel like being by the water and taking in a little history at the same time, tours of the historic Seabrook-Wilson House, otherwise known as the spooky Spy House, are running from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bayshore Waterfront Park location on Port Monmouth Road in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.
The Fair Haven PBA’s Annual Beefsteak Dinner was last Saturday.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect could not make it there to take pics, so we are honoring the fine officers of the Fair Haven Police Department in our Retro Pic of the Day.
The above photo, courtesy of the Fair Haven PD, was taken of the officers on the night of the dinner.
All are sporting their new PBA T-shirts and lookin’ good!
Thanks for all you do to serve and protect the borough of Fair Haven and its people!
Have you thanked an officer today?
There’s a new superintendent in the Rumson School District.
John E. Bormann, Ed. D., was unanimously appointed to the district top administrator spot at a special Rumson Board of Education meeting on June 9. His start date is Aug. 1.
The board considered 32 candidates and conducted several rounds of interviews before choosing Bormann.
“When we did our research and checked his references, we discovered one good thing after another about Dr. Bormann,” Rumson Board of Education President Colleen O’Connor said. “His strong leadership skills and track record of successful interactions with teaching staff and with parents make him a perfect fit for our district.”
Bormann’s contract runs through June 30, 2020. He will be responsible for Deane-Porter School (pre-K through third grade) and Forrestdale School (fourth through eighth grade).
“I would like to thank the Rumson School Board for this opportunity,” Bormann said. “I am very excited to learn the Rumson traditions and history and meld that with my own vision, which is this — ‘If it doesn’t expand the possibilities for our students, why do it?’
“I have a special interest in motivating the stakeholders in our children’s education to help them become better learners for their own sake, and I believe that the road to success is in non-stop trying. I am determined to uncover how to make this happen for the students in Rumson.”
Bormann spent 19 years in the Spring Lake School District, where he served as chief school administrator for the past four years. He also has experience in the field as a science teacher, supervisor of curriculum, and superintendent/principal.
Dr. Bormann has a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, a master of science degree in Educational Technology from Ramapo College, a master of arts degree in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Peters University.
A two-time recipient of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award, Dr. Bormann has also earned the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. As a superintendent, he received the Monmouth County Education Association Friend of Education Award.
An avid reader, traveler, and gardener, Bormann lives in Freehold.
— Edited Rumson School District press release
An area man has been arrested and pinpointed as the alleged ringleader of a drug trafficking network that distributed mostly cocaine in Monmouth and Ocean counties, NJ State Police announced.
Edmund A. Scattaglia Jr., 39, of Middletown, alleged leader of what has been dubbed the Scattaglia Network, was one of 32 arrested on Wednesday in a state sting dubbed Operation Tidal Wave, which began in October of 2014 and targeted Scattaglia’s alleged drug trafficking organization operating out of his home in Middletown another in Beachwood Township, Ocean County, according to police.
The investigation revealed that Scattaglia allegedly met people at his home, where he supplied them with cocaine for redistribution.
Scattaglia was allegedly supplied with multiple kilograms of cocaine by Francisco Romero, 38, of 159 John Street, Englewood. Romero allegedly stored bulk quantities of the drug at his home and funneled them to Scattaglia’s network. One kilogram of cocaine, valued at $40,000, was seized from Scattaglia’s alleged network in the bust.
Romero’s residence was searched under the authority of an executed warrant by state police detectives and the Englewood Police Department, on June 2, 2014. That search resulted in the seizure of one pound of cocaine, $75,000.00 cash, an Acura TSX, and other assets valued at $50,000, state police said in a released statement.
A companion search warrant of Scattaglia’s home the same day yielded roughly $15,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and a BMW 325XI, police said in the release.
As a result of the takedown of both alleged trafficking operations, detectives recovered: more than 4 kilograms of cocaine, more than three ounces of heroin, 16 pounds of marijuana, 1,000 Xanax pills, Oxycotin and ecstasy pills, a large variety of steroids, one handgun, seven vehicles, and more than $125,000 in cash.
“These ring members allegedly were dealing large quantities of heroin and prescription pills in Monmouth and Ocean counties, which have been particularly hard hit by the devastating epidemic of opiate addiction sweeping the nation and New Jersey,” Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said in the release. “Through operations such as this one, we are taking aim at the criminals who are maliciously fueling the epidemic and profiting from it.”
The cooperative effort was led by the New Jersey State Police Trafficking Central Unit and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Atlantic City Office, with assistance from the Division of Criminal Justice, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Middletown Township Police Department, and the Jersey City Police Department.
The following is a list of all the Monmouth County residents arrested in Operation Tidal Wave:
• Edmund A. Scattaglia, 39, Middletown;
• Tabraz Mohammed, 34, Red Bank;
• Mark Ugaro, 35, Middletown;
• Scott M. Leander, 55, Keyport;
• Shawn P Cotter, 38, Middletown;
• Brian J. Rosenberg, 30, Red Bank.
For more information on what was dubbed the Beachwood Network and the complete list of those arrested from other counties, click here.
This case will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice under the Office of the Attorney General.
Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wiehl grew up in Fair Haven. In fact, he’s a third generation Fair Havenite.
And like so many other native Fair Havenites, he spent a lot of time down by the Navesink River at the Fair Haven Dock. He played there. He saw a lot of sunsets there. He likely did a lot of contemplating and soaking up of sun and scenery there.
And, most recently, he decided to make the iconic spot one that would mark a major milestone in his life. He got engaged and married there.
The engagement was three months ago and the wedding was Monday afternoon, officiated by Mayor Ben Lucarelli. So, we congratulate and honor Mike and his bride, Gloria Clark, in our Retro Pic(s) of the Day.
As Wiehl put it in Facebook posts, “Well, today’s the day I have been waiting for. Gloria Clark and I are spending the day together and then off to the fair haven dock to get married at 4pm! … 3 months ago the woman of my dreams said yes to marrying me. I am a lucky man …”
And so goes life as part of the Fair Haven family …
Congrats and much happiness to Mike and Gloria!
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student athletes are among several from the area who will be competing as part of the Navesink River Rowing Competitive Youth Crew in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals this weekend.
The students qualified for the competition, held in Sarasota, FL from June 12-14, after a bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals at the U.S. Rowing Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships in West Windsor on May 9 and 10.
That competition qualified the crew for three boats in the nationals.
Competing this weekend are: RFH students,Tom Johnston and Emily Unsinn, both of Fair Haven, and Emma Miller, of Rumson; Neil Hughes, of Oceanport; Max Kelly, of Middletown; Erik Bovino, of Brielle; and Ian Bamberger, head coach.
It’s almost summertime, and the livin’ is all about river time in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
That in mind, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the season with a look back a couple of years ago to a day of fun for one little Fair Haven girl — Francesca, who happens to be a Gap model — romping down by the Fair Haven Dock with her mom and dad.
The Navesink River shot that day back in 2013 was just a warm-up for work for the little one, who was set to strike a pose as soon as she saw the camera.
What’s your favorite riverfront spot?
As usual, the sign on the Fair Haven Fire Department’s marquee says it all — or, at least, the important part.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School senior football star Charlie Volker has scored another athletic accomplishment. The Princeton University-bound star athlete on Wednesday became the victor of the 100-meter dash in the state at the 47th Meet of Champions at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.
Volker dashed the 100 meters in 10.81 seconds. His best was 10.80.
The football running back was credited with leading RFH to its big Central Jersey Group II win.
Check out the video on YouTube filmed by Angelo Clark, who did not know who Volker was as he crossed the finish line.
Congrats, Charlie!
It was a traditional gathering of friends in business in Fair Haven.
Wednesday marked the annual Fair Haven Business Association’s annual barbecue.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect paid a visit to the festivities among friends, some of whom have been in business in the borough for a long time.
Ferguson Dental Care and Boxwood Gardens Florist and Gifts hosted the meeting/party, with the good doctor (dentist), Paul Ferguson, at the grill.
Besides longtime Fair Haven business Boxwood and Ferguson Dental business leaders, folks from, ForeFront, Two River Computer, Coastal Decor and DeFalco Pools made appearances.
Check out the photo gallery above for a glimpse into the gathering. Do you know who’s who?
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