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Local Life

Retro Good Neighbor Ray Taylor

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Fair Haven resident Ray Taylor at friend Chum Chandler's memorial service recently Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven resident Ray Taylor at friend Chum Chandler’s memorial service recently
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

You see him in every parade, at just about every event around town and always ready to lend a hand with a smile, respectful nod and gentlemanly demeanor.

He is lifetime Fair Havenite Ray Taylor and he has been unanimously nominated for Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s Retro Pic of the Day featuring good neighbors.

The veteran of World War II and the Korean War is in his 90s and has nothing but love for his hometown and its people.

Whenever he gets the chance, Taylor lets people know that he remembers those in the community who were pillars without pretense — good neighbors, volunteers and friends. He talks about them, offers his anecdotes on what each gave to the town he loves and encourages others to never forget, but to emulate them.

Teary eyed, he told children at the Veterans Day service in Fair Haven a couple of years ago that they are the future and that they should learn right away to “do your best for our beautiful community. I was raised here; and, if i die, I’ll die here.”

Thanks, Ray Taylor, for being a community role model and a good neighbor to all.

Local Life, News

West Front Street Bridge is Open

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It happened on schedule. The new $21.9 million West Front Street (or Hubbard’s) Bridge opened just in time for Memorial Day on Monday, but work will continue.

The old, temporary bridge will be removed; and, with that, finishing touches on the bridge approaches and amenities will be wrapped up within a year or so, Monmouth County officials said in a release.

Continue reading West Front Street Bridge is Open →

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

RFH Scores Big in Basie Award Nominations

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It’s curtain up on the 10th Annual Basie Awards on Wednesday and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) directors, actors, musicians and techies have already gotten a standing ovation in nominations.

Among its 11 nominations, RFH is up for Outstanding Overall Production in both the Drama and Musical categories for its  Miracle on 34th Street and Young Frankenstein. In the acting categories, senior Julia Mosby also garnered nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in both the drama and musical categories for her roles in Miracle on 34th Street and Young Frankenstein.

RFH was also nominated for:

• Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Drama, Miracle on 34th Street,  Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama, Miracle on 34th Street, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, Julia Mosby, Miracle on 34th Street;

• Outstanding Direction in a Drama, Suzanne Sweeney, Miracle on 34th Street;

• Outstanding Overall Production – Drama, Miracle on 34th Street, Suzanne Sweeney;

• Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Musical, Young Frankenstein, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical, Young Frankenstein, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra, Young Frankenstein, Vincent Mottern;

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, Julia Mosby, Young Frankenstein;

• Outstanding Direction in a Musical, Suzanne Sweeney, Young Frankenstein;

• Outstanding Overall Musical Production, Suzanne Sweeney, Young Frankenstein.

Since 2005, the Basie Awards have served as a means to honor excellence in Monmouth County high school productions and performances.

The 2015 awards will be presented at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Wednesday night.

The three Count Basie Theatre Arts Impacts scholarships to be awarded to “high school seniors whose life, academic and career choice has been impacted by the arts” will also be announced at the ceremony: the Monmouth Medical Center/Barnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship, the Monmouth County Freeholders’ Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education and the Moser-Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship.

For the full list of this year’s Basie Awards nominations, click here. 

 

Local Life

Sea Bright Farmers Market Feature: Cheesy and Udderly Fresh

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This Sea Bright Farmers Market butter, cheese and probiotic comes to you straight from the cow’s utters — the grass-fed cow’s.

That’s the scoop Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect got from Chris Stoner of Central Valley Farm.

“Yes, that’s my real name,” she said while explaining the makings of some special farm fresh products her farm sells at the market on Thursdays. “People always joke around with me and say, ‘What, exactly is it that you’re growing on that farm?'”

The truth, she said, is that they’re growing lots of vegetables and herbs, harvesting eggs from the chickens, and milking the grass-fed cows at least twice a day. And that organic milk is then churned into butter and turned into cheese, probiotic shakes and fruity treats.

“Yes, the butter, cheeses and shakes come right from the cow,” Stoner said. “Totally organic. Very yummy.”

The farm offers several different types of cheese, such as gouda, dill cheese cubes, ricotta, and the favorite, Jersey Cheese, is a soft, mild cheddar, she said.

We tried the farm fresh butter. It is a creamy organic dream. And it will, yes, melt in your mouth. We’re now convinced that there’s nothing better than fresh butter.

It’s not salty. “We use about a pinch of salt per four pounds, so if you like it a little saltier, you should add some on your own,” Stoner said.

 

 

Local Life

Springing into the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair

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[WRG id=3630]

It’s a sure sign of spring when the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair starts.

And spring was in the air on the first night of the longtime area tradition Thursday.

The fair continues through Sunday: Friday, from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, from 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, from 2 to 9 p.m.

Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into opening night of the fair. 

 

Local Life

Retro Ode to Good Neighbor Chum Chandler

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Chum Chandler back in the day Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family
Chum Chandler back in the day
Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family

Well, once we published our first in a series of good (old) neighbors and asked for nominations, it didn’t take long to get an onslaught of nominations to feature  Fair Haven’s Chum Chandler as a shining example of neighborliness.

So, Chum is our Retro Pic of the Day good neighbor.

Chandler, who passed away not long ago, was a native Fair Havenite, RFH grad, local businessman, Fair Haven Fire Company lifetime member and just all-around quirky, personable character. Anyone who knew him would tell you that he embodied all that’s good in this slice of suburbia.

He was known as a tall order of tough pull-yourself-up-by-the- bootstraps love always ready to lend a hand, share a good joke, poke a little fun and spread his zest for life and, yes, the town that he loved.

The man who was known as a good neighbor to the entire borough also believed in paying it forward; and he did just that.

Thank you to neighbor Chum Chandler. People are paying your message forward.

 

 

Schools Scene

RFH Wins 3rd Place in ‘Robot Challenge’

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Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students recently took the NJ Coast IEEE Robot Challenge and won third place.

Seven teams, 28 students, from RFH competed in the May 2 challenge at Brookdale Community College with Team Starlords taking the third place out of 40 teams from 15 New Jersey high schools.

Continue reading RFH Wins 3rd Place in ‘Robot Challenge’ →

Local Life, Opinion

Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood

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Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s spring. Block party time has come.

And, with the advent of that sort of celebration of a neighborhood, we at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect are taking a look back at good neighbors.

So, we’re kicking off what will be a daily ode with our Retro Pic of the Day honoring Ken Lockwood.

Lockwood lived in Fair Haven for 88 years, nearly as long as the borough’s existence. He moved to Fair Haven at the age of 2 and is now 93.

Continue reading Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood →

Local Life, Obituaries, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Exxon Icon Ray Miller

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Ray Miller at his Exxon station at the corner of River Road and Smith Street Photo/courtesy of Peggy Miller
Ray Miller at his Exxon station at the corner of River Road and Smith Street
Photo/courtesy of Peggy Miller

By Elaine Van Develde

Another Fair Haven icon has passed.

Ray Miller, a pioneer of Fair Haven small business and longtime community friend, died at 92 on Sunday.

So, we honor him today in our Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of his daughter Peggy.

This day-in-a-life shot gives a focused picture of the Ray Miller so many knew back in the day. Gravelly voice curmudgeon-like manner always at a “high test” premium, there were countless memorable  visits made by many a youngster and their parents to Ray Miller’s Exxon at the corner of River Road and Smith Street — even if you knew you might get a scolding.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Exxon Icon Ray Miller →

Crime, News

Alleged Drug Traffickers Admit to Heroin Dealing Conspiracy

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A press release from the Office of U.S. Attorney, Paul J. Fishman:

Two members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization Monday admitted conspiring to distribute heroin in Monmouth and Ocean counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Robert Ketcham, 28, of Bayville, and Kenneth Greenhow, 41, of Asbury Park, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to separate information charging them each with one count of conspiring to distribute heroin.

In March 2014, 21 alleged members of the Britt-Young DTO, a drug trafficking organization named after its leaders, Robert Britt and Rufus Young, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin. Of those 21 individuals, 14 have pleaded guilty.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

Between February 2013 and December 2013, Ketcham conspired with Young and others to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties as part of the Britt-Young DTO.

From October 2013 through March 2014, Greenhow also conspired with Young and others to distribute heroin on behalf of the Britt-Young DTO. Ketcham and Greenhow were collectively responsible for distributing between 60 and 100 grams of heroin.

The narcotics conspiracy charge to which Ketcham and Greenhow pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation leading to Monday’s guilty pleas.

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Fair Haven Schools Students Make Their Mark with Art

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

Make Your Mark was the theme of the Fair Haven School District Art Show, featuring more than 1,000 pieces of original art.

“The art show is a great way to celebrate student talents and diverse ideas,” Knollwood School Art Teacher Kelly Fogas said. “The displayed works and items created throughout the year show the growth of artistic ability, conceptualization, and eagerness in our students.”

Students in Kindergarten through third grade at Viola L. Sickles School and in fourth through eighth grade at Knollwood School each contributed at least one project for display at the show on April 14.

This year’s show represented the district’s implementation of new standards in the Visual Arts program.

Those standards focus on essential questions to help develop both critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Fair Haven Visual Arts students are encouraged to create, present, respond, and connect their artwork to ideas that have personal meaning. This was reflected in the context of each of the displayed pieces.

Featured at the Art Show this year was a ceramics wheel and the Knollwood students’ creations from its use. The wheel was acquired as the result of a grant requested by and awarded to the Knollwood School Art Teachers by the Fair Haven Parent Teacher Association.

Also on display at the show was a variety of drawings and paintings as well as paper, wood and ceramic sculptures.

Fair Haven School District Art Teachers are: RoseAnn LaBrocca K-3, Viola L. Sickles School; Kelly Fogas grades 4 to 8, Knollwood School; and Chris Dudick, 5th and 8th grades, Knollwood School.

Art Show coordinators were Stephanie Bates and Marisa Coar.