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Local Life, Schools Scene

RFH’s Charlie Volker: A Champ … Again

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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!

Business Buzz, Local Life

Fair Haven Business Buds Gather

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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?

Schools Scene

RFH Engineers in the Making

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Have you heard of the Mini Engineering Academy?

Well, six Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students participated in what has been dubbed a first at Neptune High School.

The following release from RFH gives the whole scoop on the event:

RFH freshmen Reed DiCenso, Aidan Eustace, Jack Rallo, Matthew Ramirez, Chris Steinhacker, and Tyler Whetzel attended evening sessions that ran from Wednesday, February 25 through Wednesday, April 22.

Sponsored by the Neptune High School JumpStart Engineering Academy and IEEE, the inaugural program covered topics including Aerospace Engineering, Designing Green Buildings, Aviation, Electrical Engineering, Power Grids, and the Fluid Dynamics of Surfboard Design.

“For a first-year program, we felt that they did a great job,” said Jack Rallo. “The program covered a lot of different aspects of the science of engineering,”

“All of the presentations and activities were great in different ways,” said Tyler Whetzel. “We were able to see which aspects of engineering we valued the most.”

Highlights of the program for the RFH group, all aspiring engineers, included working in teams to build hydrogen-powered cars; visiting and learning about the “green” elementary school located in Neptune; exploring all aspects of solar cells; and using software to measure the aerodynamic qualities of a surfboard design.

RFH Science Supervisor Sharon Bryant learned of the Mini Engineering Academy during a County Supervisors’ Meeting and asked the RFH Science Teachers to inform their students.

“I am so proud of these students for taking the time to participate in the Mini Engineering Academy — they built critical thinking skills and gained engineering experience, both of which are vital in future science,” said Bryant. “The lesson of trying new ideas – and sometimes failing — so growth and improvement can occur in future attempts is an important one for these students to carry forward in their academics and in life.

“I hope they will be able to participate in this program again next year and use their new knowledge to create, invent, and learn even more!”

Local Life, News

A Weekend Respite: Oceanic Bridge Open

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An extra push with work on the Oceanic Bridge will allow for a weekend opening from Friday evening through Monday morning, Monmouth County officials announced.

Officials said in a release that work has been ongoing around the clock since 6 a.m. on Monday.

Harms Construction, the company doing the work, have assured that the work will be complete by next Friday, June 12, on schedule.

Work on the south side of the drawbridge that spans the Navesink River from Rumson to Middletown will start again on Monday at 6 a.m. 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts, a release from the county said.

County officials added that the bridge is open only to marine traffic with the usual season rules and scheduling applying.

 

Oceanic Bridge background information from the county … 

“The 2,712-foot drawbridge crosses the Navesink River and serves beach, commercial and residential traffic, as well as pedestrian and bicycle travel. It is also a key route for coastal evacuations and emergency vehicles headed to hospitals or providing mutual aid. The bridge has been classified as structurally deficient.

“Built in 1939, the Oceanic Bridge has deteriorated due to decades of exposure to saltwater and from accommodating heavier vehicles and traffic volumes than for which it was designed.

“In 2012, Monmouth County completed extensive work to rehabilitate the bridge’s 100-foot, center bascule span, allowing motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to continue use of the bridge.

“Monmouth County received notification from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees in January that $600,000 in federal funding was available to perform a Concept Development Study for the replacement or rehabilitation of the Oceanic Bridge.

“Monmouth County plans to replace the Oceanic Bridge in the next ten years.”

Local Life

The R-FH Area Weekend: Hanga Loose, 5K Run, Art, Market & Gardens

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Well, Rumson-Fair Haven area friends and fans, the weekend is looking nice, according to the National Weather Service.

The sun will be out and activities will abound.

Here’s what’s going on in the area:

Friday

• 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!

• Then there’s A Night of Wine Tasting benefit, the proceeds of which will go to an area favorite charity — Monmouth Day Care Center.

The event, held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Junior League of Monmouth County’s headquarters at 55 Center Street, Rumson, will feature hors d’oeuvres and wine pairings.

Call 732-741-4313 for more information.

Saturday

• A first, the Girls on the Run 5K, kicks off the day in Fair Haven with a start time of 9 a.m. at Fair Haven Fields.

Young girls in third through eighth grades will be running the course that ends where it begins — at Fair Haven Fields.

Run on, girls!

• And, over at River Road Books, Adam Sobel, the popular vegan Cinnamon Snail food truck chef, will be doing a signing of his book Street Vegan from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m..

The signing will also feature free donuts with the purchase of the book. Now that’s a sweet event!

• An area favorite is any Art Alliance show opening at the organization’s Monmouth Street headquarters in Red Bank.

The opening reception, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. with some snacks and beverages, kicks off the Ebba Osborne Memorial Award Exhibition. It runs through June 24.

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.

• For those who love gardening, Deep Cut Gardens, on Red Hill Road in Middletown, will be hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..

It will feature lectures and demonstrations by horticultural experts and Rutgers University master gardeners.

For kids, there will be a scavenger hunt and potted plant session.

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Remembrance of a Friend: RFH’s Suzanne Warren

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Suzanne Warren, RFH Class of 1993, died in 2004. Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello
Suzanne Warren, RFH Class of 1993, died in 2004.
Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello

By Elaine Van Develde

There’s nothing quite like having a friend to take the journey from childhood through adulthood with you.

It’s cherished time. And when the journey ends for one, it leaves the other to carry on with a weary, but enriched heart, for having had that time, and many milestones in between, with that person.

That friend for at least one Fair Havenite was Suzanne Warren (Cavigliano), honored in our Retro Pic of the Day.

Warren, a Class of 1993 RFH grad, who died 11 years ago, on June 4, 2004, is remembered by her forever friend Jenny (Jones) Costello, as “smart (so smart), funny and always the best dressed.”

Suzanne grew up on Briarwood Road, after coming from Indiana to live in Fair Haven in the third grade. She ended up becoming a social worker, yet, Costello said, cheated by death from being able to realize her full potential.

While her journey through adulthood was cut short, her friends still carry her spirit and many memories with them.

It’s a light, sweet load to tote on the rest of a friend’s journey.

RIP, Suzanne. You are remembered. Cherished.

Share your memories of Suzanne.

 

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

For Art’s Sake: Showing Off Artwork at Deane-Porter

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Talented students recently shared their artwork at the Deane-Porter School Art Show.

The exhibit featured the creations of students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.

The featured art included: Monet-inspired landscapes, cool color penguins, symmetrical butterflies, crazy pumpkins, self-portraits as king or queen, and texture trees (kindergarten); Chinese New Year dragons, Kandinsky-inspired concentric hearts, painted and printed weaving, and snowman with percolator app (first grade); coil pots, Kachina masks, Audubon-inspired cardinals, and Faith Ringgold cityscapes (second grade); slab pottery, Greek columns, and Matisse-inspired landscapes (third grade).

Continue reading For Art’s Sake: Showing Off Artwork at Deane-Porter →

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Stoked Up Neighbors at Stokes

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By Elaine Van Develde

This little crew grew up together. And years later they ended up reliving a sixth grade tradition as adults.

They are Jenny Costello (Jones), Dwayne Reevey, now a Fair Haven police officer, and Andy Dougherty. The three lived on Parker Avenue in Fair Haven across and down the street from one another.

Their parents were all friends and they all had the Stokes experience as Fair Haven schools students. This time around, they were counselors, with Andy Dougherty pretty much running the show from the schools’ end.

Much has changed about the annual trip right after Memorial Day to learn and camp out in the state forrest, but some things never do change — like childhood friendships and memories that connect for a lifetime.

So, our Retro Pic of the Day captures just that. Call it a little time capsule.

Get in for a little trip back …

This editor not only took the trip, way back in the early 1970s, but was also CAT at Stokes. I forget what the anagram stood for, but CATs were RFH seniors who were chosen to take the trip as sort-of junior counselors.

The RFH administrators chose leaders, who had to have above a certain GPA and a expertise or talent in a specific area.

I, along with my acting compadre, Kevin Carpenter, were sent to entertain the kids. We had to spearhead the dancing (poor kids) — and, yes, there was square dancing (yikes) — sing songs around the campfire, like Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley (so uplifting) and tell stories about the Jersey Devil and scare the bejesus out of the kids.

We were a pretty well-behaved lot of semi-nerds, but we did like to have some fun that I’m confident would have gotten us banned nowadays — like raising one poor girl’s bra up on the flagpole for the morning wake-up bugle call and capsizing one another’s canoes.

Oh, there were more pranks, but the mention of them may tarnish some respectable RFH parents’ reputations, so I digress.

Did you go to Stokes? What was your favorite memory?

From the Meeting Room, News

New Hires in Fair Haven

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By Elaine Van Develde

You may have noticed a couple of new faces in Fair Haven Borough Hall and around town.

That’s because in the past month, there have been two permanent new hires in the borough.

Jennifer Johnson has been appointed as the part-time administrative assistant for Engineering, Zoning, Code Enforcement, Public Works and Records Management.

Her pay is $15 an hour; and, she is to be working an average of 25 hours a week, or no more than 100 per month, according to the resolution, which was approved at the May 11 Borough Council meeting. The hiring was effective May 12.

In addition, Director of Engineering and Public Works Richard Gardella recommended Justin Herner be appointed as a part-time borough  seasonal laborer at $11 per hour. The recommendation was approved via resolution at the May 11 council meeting.

His hours for the job are not to exceed part-time limits, according to the resolution.

Local Life

Retro Rumson Sky After the Rain

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A retro look at Rumson and Gunning Island in the Shrewsbury River at sunset after a rainfall a couple of years ago Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A retro look at Rumson and Gunning Island in the Shrewsbury River at sunset after a rainfall a couple of years ago
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s been a bit dreary and rainy today.

So, to show everyone how the skies can brighten so quickly after the rain, the Retro Pic of the Day shows a sunset over the Shrewsbury River looking toward Rumson and Gunning Island after rainy weather two years ago.

Gunning Island is owned by the borough of Rumson. It is roughly 30 acres and is earmarked as preserved open space/ecosystem to never be developed.

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

RFH’s Talent on a Star Track at Riverfest

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The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015 Photo/Daryl Ley
The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015
Photo/Daryl Ley
The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015 Photo/Daryl Ley
The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015
Photo/Daryl Ley

Some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) stars are born — again.

A few RFH alumni and present students, mixed with Middletown students — all together in the blues/soul/rock Jake Tavill Band — won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands at the annual riverfront event in Red Bank on Friday night.

“I am beyond the moon right now!!” said Rumsonite Jake Tavill on his Facebook page. “We won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who cheered, the judges, all the bands that played, Musicians On A Mission, Brenda Wirth, Riverfest, the crew and techs, the sponsors, and my amazing band members. This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you!!! Thank you!!! I am truly grateful.”

The band is comprised of RFH alum Ben Ley, RFH senior, actress and fiddler Julia Mosby, Middletown High School South student Nick Ryan, Tavill, Middletown High School North senior Anthony Flora, guitarist/vocalist Christian Ace, of Manasquan Music Dance Arts, and Casey O’Connell.

Congrats, Jake Tavill Band!

Local Life

Retro Good Neighbor: Rumson’s Paul Hughes

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The Hughes family and Elaine Van Develde at closing day of an RFH show Photo/Luann Hughes
The Hughes family and Elaine Van Develde at closing day of an RFH show
Photo/Luann Hughes

We at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect continue with our ode to good neighbors in the Retro Pic of the Day.

Today we honor Paul Hughes (and family). It’s pretty simple why we are honoring Paul and family.

Not only has Hughes been a good friend since our days at RFH, he remains one.

Most recently, we attended the Rumson Memorial Day Parade and ceremony.

Our camera lost battery power. Well, just as we took the last shot on the camera, we heard a hearty and always positive “Hey!” from Paul and his family.

It only took one second to explain the situation before Paul quickly handed over his smart phone and told me to just go ahead and snap away any pics I needed to take.

I did, and so gratefully, and he emailed the photos to me so that Rumson could have a nice slideshow of its Memorial Day.

There are so many other things the Hughes family has done for me. But I digress to just say a simple “Thank you. You are appreciated.”

Now, that’s a good neighbor. And, I know, not just to me.