Category Archives: News

Find all the local news updates here

Local Life

The R-FH Weekend: Spaghetti Dinner, St. Patrick’s Day Parade & More

Leave a comment

The upcoming weekend in the Rumson-Fair Haven area is flush with fun, festivity, remembrance and tradition.

To start, on Saturday  …

• It’s been a longtime tradition of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company — the annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser.

The sauce and meatballs are prepared under the tutelage of 85-year-old Angelo DePonti, a Red Bank friend of Fair Haven who has been a social member of the fire company for 25 years.

“I was born to cook and I love sharing my recipe and food with so many,” Angelo says.

 

The meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad Italian bread, soft drinks and homemade desserts is made and served by firemen, Ladies’ Auxiliary members and fire cadets.

The dinner, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the firehouse on River Road,  is BYOB and costs $10 for adults and $5 for children. Oh, and take-out is available.

Mangia!

• Later on Saturday night, as a prelude to Sunday’s Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the parade’s Investiture Cocktail Reception fundraiser from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Salt Creek Grille in Rumson.

Tickets are $75. The price includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

And on Sunday …

• The third annual Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches into town beginning at 1 p.m.

The parade lines up at Victory Park and then proceeds east on River Road for about 1 mile to Piping Rock Park.

Last year, police estimated that there was a crowd of roughly 7,000.

• Also on Sunday, from 3 to 5 p.m. RFHers may pay their respects to former RFH teacher and coach Hal Lorme.

The service is being held from 3 to 5 p.m., with a prayer service at 4:30, at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank.

Schools Scene

RFH Students, Staff Pursue Sources of Strength

Leave a comment

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

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) peer leaders and staffers recently tapped into Sources of Strength training resources to enhance their knowledge of suicide, violence and substance abuse.

Approximately 80 RFH students who are members of the RFH Peer Leaders organization along with 16 faculty members trained in what is dubbed Sources of Strength, or SOS, on Feb. 18.

“Helping students learn how to access their Sources of Strength during life’s challenging moments will help them to build resiliency and improve wellness throughout their lifetimes,” RFH Student Assistance Counselor Suzanne Fico, who helped organize and participated in the training,” said.

Sources of Strength (SOS), according to the organization’s website, “leads in the field of suicide prevention by respecting differences among individuals, communities, and cultures and by drawing out stories of strength and healing.”

The group’s mission, according to the site is “to provide the highest quality prevention for suicide, violence, and substance abuse. This is accomplished by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults in the school community.”

“We approach prevention in a different way,” Barnabas Health’s Turning the Tides Program Manager and event facilitator Rachel Alvarez said in her introduction to the group at the February training session. “Research has shown that programs like this one work best when people like you — here in this gym right now — learn how to use your own strengths to send positive messages of hope, help, and strength to your peers.”

Jamie Juliano, RFH Child Study Team member and co-advisor to the Peer Leaders, helped organize the event and participated in the SOS training. She described it as a fun experience that appeared to have a powerful impact on all involved.

“It was encouraging to see the students developing creative ideas to spread hope, help, and strength messages to their fellow classmates,” said Juliano. “As one of the adult advisors, I hope to continue helping these students turn their ideas into action so that our whole community can feel the effects of Sources of Strength.”

The group took part of a number of exercises, and learned how to break down communication barriers — or what SOS refers to as codes of silence — to help bring about positive change and also increase the likelihood of peer leaders encouraging their fellow students to seek help when they need it.

“The SOS training makes you think about things in a different way,” RFH sophomore and Peer Leader Ben Pelino said.

News, Obituaries

Remembering RFH’s Coach Lorme

Slideshow photos by George Day and from RFH yearbooks, compiled by Elaine Van Develde

The news of former Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)  coach, gym teacher, Ski Club director, RFH Athletic and Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame inductee Hal Lorme hit the community with a wave of sadness.

While Lorme died on Feb. 15 at his assisted living home in Myrtle Beach, SC,  his obituary was only recently released by Thompson Memorial Home with the pending remembrance service for the coach originally slated for Thursday, but now scheduled for Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Thompson, with a prayer service at 4:30.

When longtime Fair Havenite, RFH grad and Rumson police officer Bryan Dougherty posted the news on the Fair Haven Facebook page on Tuesday, the post was flooded with warm memories shared of the coach.

“RIP Coach,” Dougherty said. “If I know you, you are surely looking for Yankees spring training game somewhere up there in heaven.”

“He was a great guy,” said RFH grad Doug Borden. “I went on lots of ski trips that he put together. RIP.”

“Ohh this is so sad to hear! What an icon he was at RFH,” Susan Kaltenborn Marino said.

“Thanks for all you did. RIP,” said Steve Howie.

“Loved his sense of humor. RIP coach,” said Jack Kavanagh.

And the list of accolades and love for the RFH icon goes on …

The following is Coach Lorme’s obituary from Thompson Memorial Home:

Harold A. Lorme “Hal”, 82, formerly of Oakhurst, passed away Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at Reflections Assisted Living in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Hal was born in Jersey City on Nov. 23,1932, a son of the late Harold and Margaret Lorme. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Patrick Murray.

Hal attended Snyder High School in Jersey City and went on to graduate from Montclair State College. Hal served in the U.S. Army in Korea, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He was a Physical Education teacher at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School for 31 years.

He coached Varsity Wrestling for six years and Varsity Baseball at RFH for 25 years. Hal was extremely proud to have won 324 baseball games during his coaching career at RFH and to have the baseball field at RFH High School named in his honor.

He was inducted into the RFH Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 and inducted into the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Hal enjoyed directing the RFH High School Ski Club for 12 seasons.

During the summers, he worked as a cashier at Monmouth Park Race Track in Oceanport, NJ. He was a communicant of St Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach.

Hal was a die-hard NY Yankees fan, enjoyed many trips to the Bronx during the summer and trips to Florida during Spring Training. His passions were collecting baseball memorabilia including many Yankee items, officiating High School football games in the shore area, playing softball and enjoying a round of golf.

His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his grandchildren especially watching them play sports.

Hal is survived by: his wife of 62 years, Joan Lorme; son, Hal J. Lorme and his wife Tracy, their children, Ryan, Meghan and Matthew, all of Long Branch; daughter, Jacquie Lorme and her son Raymond of Fargo, ND; sister, Doris Murray of Lincroft, and nieces, Lynn, Cathy, Cheryl, Colleen and nephew, Patrick.

A special thank you to Hal’s niece, Colleen and husband, David O’Hagen, who have been such a big help to Hal and Joan over the last few years.

 

News

Retro Rumson St. Paddy’s Day Parading

Image Leave a comment
Rumson Cub Scouts Pack 11 marches in the first Rumson St. Patrick's Day Parade. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Cub Scouts Pack 11 marches in the first Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The countdown to Sunday’s third annual Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade has begun.

People are lighting the town green (photos of that to come) and fundraising is in full gear.

So, our Retro Pic of the Day today hones in on the first St. Paddy’s Day parade and a pack of parading cub scouts.

Are you marching this year?

Schools Scene

RFH Chess Club Makes History

Leave a comment

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

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)Chess Club achieved a record-breaking finish at the Shore High School Chess League Championship Tournament on Feb. 25.

RFH placed fourth out of 36 teams in the tournament at the Monmouth Mall for the best finish in school history.

Chess Club Advisor and RFH Math teacher Kevin Pfister describes sophomore Nicholas “Nick” Alescio as the club’s “Top Dawg.”

“Nick is the highest-rated player on our team, and his work ethic both inside and outside of school is remarkable,” said Pfister. “Last year, Nick was our ‘fifth board’ — and after one year of hard work and determination, he has landed himself as our ‘number one board’.”

“I am very excited to see Nick continue to grow as a chess player and as a student over the next two years.”

According to Pfister, the Chess Club provides an opportunity for RFH students to participate in friendly matches against their peers. As a Varsity Club, RFH competes each week against other schools in the Shore High School Chess League, with the top teams vying for a championship.

In addition to their historic finish at the Championship Tournament, the RFH Chess Club achieved a 2014/15 Regular Season record of 6-2. This was the best finish since 2007/08 and it earned the club a Second Place berth in the Fischer Division.

The club’s Playoff record was 2-2.

Members of the 2014/15 Chess Club are: Danny Alegria (Varsity Squad), Nick Alescio (Varsity Squad), Charlie Barnes (Varsity Squad), Jacob Black, Lizzie Boyce-Blanchard, Maggie Boyce-Blanchard, Justin Daluise, Theo de Quillacq (Varsity Squad), Jack Felice, Tristan Kilper, Peter Maris, Teddy Montalbano (Varsity Squad), Arnold Muralt, Logan O’Connell, Connor Placer, Cole Stevens (Varsity Squad), Alex Thomson, Alex Werner, Eli Weitzner, and Doug Young (Varsity Squad).

Local Life

A Warm Winter Tiki Haven

Video Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

Aloha! The Foundation of Fair Haven has gone from Oktoberfest lederhosen and beer steins to hula skirts and leis with its newest fundraiser — the first annual Tiki Haven.

Locals gathered at the Knights of Columbus hall in Fair Haven on Saturday for an evening of luau food and festivities. Most everyone came dressed for the occasion in one way or another; and while gathering for “some tropical fun,” people participated in a super 50/50, auctions, games and dancing for a $50 donation to The Foundation of Fair Haven for Future Fair Haven Days.

The photo booth in the food and dancing room revealed some interesting visitors.

Food was provided by Red Bank Flavour. Local businesses provided baskets for the raffles and auctions; and Jake’s Surf Shop, a Sea Bright business owned by an RFH graduate, donated sweatshirts to the Tiki Toss game.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect caught a glimpse into the evening with lots of photos. Check out the above slideshow set to tropical music for a look. Make sure you click on the icon in the lower right corner of the video to enlarge to full screen!

 

Local Life

Serving Up Soul Food for the Soul

Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

It was good for the soul. A comforting scent of collard greens, pigs’ feet, chicken and fish filled the air. And there was a hearty helping of Fair Haven families rooted in the borough since the 19th century connecting.

It was Saturday afternoon’s Fisk AME Chapel Soul Food Dinner at the church in Fair Haven.

“We sold out!” one of the organizers cheered. “Seventy dinners!”

That was only a couple of hours after they opened the doors. They were proud and the food was not the only reason why.

The Fisk AME Chapel congregation has been steeped in Fair Haven history since 1858. Named after Civil War hero General Clinton B. Fisk, a “devout Methodist” and champion of civil rights, the first Fisk Chapel in Fair Haven was where Bicentennial Hall now stands.

Before that, the congregation had a church on River Road near what is now the Shrewsbury Yacht Club — then dubbed the Bethel AME Church (congregation).

Fisk, a Union officer, ran President Lincoln’s Freedman’s Bureau when the Civil War ended. He championed equal rights laws for African-Americans and education focusing on special courses about those rights. He ended up living in Rumson.

“Soon after the Civil War and his arrival in Rumson, New Jersey, General Clinton B. Fisk became very interested in the local Black community at Fair Haven village,” a narrative on Facebook compiled by Stacy Harris (a descendent of the well-known Rileys and Browns) said. “Many of his servants were Blacks, and Fisk apparently won the admiration and respect of these employees.”

After a fire destroyed the original Bethel church in 1875 and those in the black community, many of whom were some of Fair Haven’s founding fathers, were forced to make their way to Red Bank to worship, Fisk made sure a chapel was built to quell the difficulty of commuting.

Right before the church was built, he was also instrumental in having what was a school for black children on Fisk Street. It was known for many years as the Youth Center. After the end of segregation, Youth Center was used for kindergarten.

Kids were walked there to school on a rope. But, that’s a whole other story.

Fisk Street Chapel’s Rev. Thomas Johnson was very proud on Saturday, as were all the participating congregants and guests who made the Soul Food Dinner a Success.

Take a look at the photos in the above gallery for a glimpse into the event. Recognize anyone? It’s a pretty sure bet you do, if you’ve lived in the area for any length of time.  

Local Life

A Ducky Two River Exhibition in Rumson

Video Leave a comment

Saturday was a very ducky day in Rumson.

Live ducks were out wandering around by the river banks at Victory Park. Then there were myriad decoys, photos, drawings, paintings — all things ducky, otherwise bird-inspired, sporty and collectible — at Forrestdale School as the Two River Exhibition of Sporting Collectible Art held its second annual event all day.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson was honorary chairman of the show; and he had a couple of special family members by his side.

Take a look at our slideshow for a glimpse into the event. Don’t forget to click on the icon in the lower right corner of the video to enlarge!

Slideshow and photos by Elaine Van Develde

News

The R-FH Area Weekend: Tiki, St. Patrick, Soul Food & Ducks

Leave a comment

The weekend event plate in the Rumson-Fair Haven area is overflowing with Tiki, soul and Irish food and fundraising festivities — and ducks. Yes, ducks.

Friday

• Friday night, tonight, marks the second fundraiser for the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The evening kicks off at Molly Maguire’s pub on River Road at 8 p.m. For a $10 cover, there will be a buffet of Irish food, bagpipers and music by the Bloody Callan Band.

Saturday

• On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is serving as honorary chair of the Second Annual Two River Exhibition of Sporting Collectible Art at Rumson’s Forrestdale School.

Admission is $5; and children under 12 are admitted free.

The exhibit will feature artisans from the mid-Atlantic region, such as Jamie Hand, their duck decoys and demonstrations on how they are crafted.

Pottery and other art, such as oil, acrylic and watercolor nature paintings will also be featured.

• The Fisk Chapel AME Church in Fair Haven is hosting its Soul Food Dinner at 38 Fisk St. from noon “until the food runs out” on Saturday.

Admission is $15 for a chicken, fish or pig feet dinner and all the fixings, such as collard greens, cabbage, corn bread, rolls, green beans, candied yams, potato and macaroni salads, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie and cake.

Folks are invited to either eat in or take out. Call 732-737-4951 for place orders for pick-up.

• On Saturday evening from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fair Haven, The Foundation of Fair Haven is hosting its first luau dubbed Tiki Haven.

Touted as a tropical fun night full of warmth-inspired festivities, a $50 admission price will get you luau-type food, roasted pig, beer and wine, music and dancing.

Organizers invite all to come in tropical attire and possibly win a prize. Tiki Haven is a fundraiser for future Fair Haven Days.

Sunday

• The tradition continues with the countdown to the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade with a tree lighting in Victory Park from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The event kicks off the new tradition of “lighting the town green” when the laser switch on the large evergreen in the park is flipped.

The event will also feature refreshments, music and storytelling.

Schools Scene

‘Lunch with a Loved One’ at Deane Porter

Leave a comment

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

Students in Kindergarten through third grade at Deane Porter School in Rumson enjoyed “Lunch with a Loved One” on Feb. 16.

The students invited a special person of their choice to the luncheon celebration, a long-standing tradition at Deane Porter. The school’s entry-way, gymnasium and cafeteria were festooned with pink, white, and red hearts in keeping with a Valentine’s Day theme.

“The Parent-Teacher Organization works their magic every year to create special memories for all involved, and no detail is missed,” Deane Porter Principal Shari Feeney said. “Lunch with a Loved One lets both the students and the special guests know that they are loved and cared for, and the smiles and laughter from lunch last the whole day.”