Police and Fire

Focus: Fair Haven Police Officers’ National Unity Tour Trek

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Police officers from across the nation arrived in Washington D.C. at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on bicycles last week and Fair Haven Police Patrolmen John Waltz and Dwayne Reevey and former Chief Darryl Breckenridge were riding with them.

It was the culmination of the annual Police Unity Tour to benefit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Arriving on May 12 — after making the sponsored bicycle trek to D.C., each officer riding in honor of a fallen brother in blue — all gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for a candlelight vigil on May 13.

This year, $2,317,315 was raised to benefit the memorial fund, according to the website.

The memorial was dedicated in 1991 and has more than 20,000 names carved on it dating back to the late 1700s.

This year, Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.

“We are not here because it is our duty. We are here because it is our honor,” NLEOMF President Craig Floyd said in a Facebook post.

— Elaine Van Develde

— Photos/courtesy of John Waltz, Ryan Reiff & Christina Reevey

Take a look at the photos above for a glimpse into the event. 

 

Local Life

Retro RFH Baseball Home Run

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It’s not only still baseball season at RFH, it’s Friday the 13th.

So, in the spirit of good luck, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day feature some  successful ball playing of the 1970s with a beloved coach whom many felt charmed the game — Hal Lorme.

Lorme passed away just over a year ago. He is still fondly remembered by many an RFH alumni and ball player.

In the top featured photo, Lorme is seen with ball player Tripp Dupree.

Below, he’s behind and in the scenes coaching. Recognize anyone else?

RIP, Coach Lorme. May the luck of Lorme be with today’s team!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Wine Tasting, Politics & Pals in Fair Haven

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It was a night of wine, bi-partisan political perspectives and socializing when political and community leaders gathered at Raven & the Peach in Fair Haven on Thursday evening.

Billed as a simple Wine Tasting Party, hosted by and benefitting the Fair Haven Republican Committee, the evening featured casual talks about the current political landscape by former gubernatorial candidates of both parties, Bret Schundler and Michael Murphy. The talks were followed by mingling and hors d’oeuvres and, yes, wine tasting.

Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into the event. Recognize anyone? The name tags are a giveaway.

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Schools Scene

An RFH Home Run Derby for a Good Cause

The first annual Home Run Derby fundraiser for Change A Life Uganda, hosted by the RFH baseball teams and the Global Women Empowerment student organization, raised more than $3,000. Photo/RFH
The first annual Home Run Derby fundraiser for Change A Life Uganda, hosted by the RFH baseball teams and the Global Women Empowerment student organization, raised more than $3,000.
Photo/RFH

The first annual Home Run Derby was held at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) recently and ended up raising $3,000 for Change A Life Uganda, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of Ugandan children and their families through quality education, healthcare, and income-generating programs.

Continue reading An RFH Home Run Derby for a Good Cause →

Local Life

Focus: More House on Fair Haven’s Church Street

The street that is called Church Street in Fair Haven is looking less and less like its namesake.

Old-time residents of the street that fronted River Road with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion have expressed some chagrin since the longtime church came down on the .54-acre parcel and a three-home subdivision by Kolarsick Builders — of one 3,000- and two 2,000-square-feet, roof-porched homes with garages and decks — was approved.

Development on the property had been stagnant since it was put on the market in October of 2010. After being shown a reported 43 times since (between 2011 and 2014) and for various uses, the subdivision was deemed the most appropriate fit the the Planning Board.

Now, several months after approval, two homes fronting Church Street are now undergoing finishing touches and the foundation is set for the third slated to front River Road.

The street had always comprised a close knit neighborhood of many who lived in much smaller versions of homes on the street in the 1960s through 1980s and ’90s. They keep in touch or remain close friends. Some still live on the street.

Those who no longer live there or close by have been asking lately what the street where they lived looks like. Here it is, old time Church Street people.

And, no, as we’ve confirmed before, there are no plans to change the name to House Street.

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Obituaries

RFH Grad, Longtime Fair Havenite Regina Lamberson Allison Dies at 56

Regina Lamberson Allison Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home
Regina Lamberson Allison
Photo/courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home

It wasn’t too long ago that Brian Allison, son of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni and longtime Fair Havenite Regina Lamberson Allison was asking for help for his ailing mom via a GoFundMe page.

On Friday, after succumbing to what her son told R-FH Retro in a previous interview was a battle with health issues that began in 2013 and culminated in stage four kidney cancer, Regina passed away at Jersey Shore University Medical Center on May 6. She was 56. A service will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.

“Regina and I were best friends in high school,” Mary McCuen said in a message on the John E. Day Funeral Home website. “She had a heart of gold and she made people laugh. She was kind, considerate and loved life. When meeting up again with her 2 years ago, she spoke of her sons and how much she missed her mother … ”

Regina’s mother was a crossing guard in Fair Haven years ago, where she grew up. She raised her son, Brian, who lives elsewhere but still volunteers at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair annually, there.

“She was a loving daughter, mother and cousin,” said Terri Drapczuk on the funeral home site. “… May she rest in peace without pain and sickness.”

From Regina’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home … 

Born in Long Branch, Regina lived in Fair Haven before moving to Ocean Township twelve years ago. She was a medical billing clerk at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Previously, she was a carrier for the Asbury Park Press/PCF.

Regina was predeceased by her Mother Arminda Lamberson in 2007. She is survived by: two sons, Brian L. and Justin V. Allison, both of Ocean Township; one sister, Michele Lumberton, of Laurence Harbor; and her father, Leon Lamberson, of Oakhurst.

Interment is private.

The family asks that memorial donations be made in Regina’s name to the Associated Humane Societies, 2960 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.

Arts & Entertainment

RFH Grad Chef Rossi Sheds Some Sweet & Salty on ABC

Chef Rossi, the RFH girl gone self-made anti-chef/caterer, blogger and author of the recently-debuted The Raging Skillet made her own kind of special splash on network television over this past weekend in a spot on ABC news about fun kiddie snacks — and she wasn’t talking about dishing up anything healthy.

After all, she is the anti-chef. So, true to form, an unfiltered Rossi talked about some salty sweet snacks that probably had health-conscious mommies trying to feed their kids kale and broccoli disguised as chicken fingers scrambling for the remote while drooling.

It’s all about repurposing and lifting the lowbrow up a notch, as she puts it, with Rossi’s recipes. Doing things like serving peanut butter and bacon sandwiches among a platter of cascading orchids is part of her foodie purpose.

Rossi talked about those peanut butter and bacon sandwiches, a potato chip, Snickers and marshmallow casserole, chocolate-dipped pretzels,chocolate dipped chips rolled in crushed Froot Loops, pastrami reuben tacos with Michelle Charlesworth.

Click here to check it out!

Yes, there was a little blackout and, yes, she did say that about the casserole. Oh, and P.S., she said as soon as they were done everyone glommed onto the snacks like kids to an Good Humor truck with free ice cream. Well, maybe not quite like that, but close.

For more information on Chef Rossi and to order her book, click here.

Local Life

Retro Salute to R-FH Area Moms

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In honor of the area’s moms of the past and present, here’s a little glimpse into Mother’s Day in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Some of these moms are gone, some are still with us and celebrating several generations of motherhood.

In one way or another, many of the faces captured here from the past and present have made life in the area all the more special, if not for anything else but being a comfortingly familiar face in a place we call home.

Happy belated Mother’s Day!

Thanks to our Facebook friends for these priceless photos!

— Elaine Van Develde

Red Bank Police & Fire Files

Police Report: Area Thefts

The following recent criminal incidents were reported by Red Bank police:

• The theft of an Android cell phone from a charging station located in the area of Riverview Plaza was reported on April 23 .

• The theft of seven radiators from a Locust Avenue property, valued at approximately $300 each, was reported on April 27.

• The theft of $94 in cash from a purse on the seat of a vehicle parked in the area of West Bergen Place was reported.

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