Celebrating Christmas in July at Fair Haven Businesses

Christmas is coming to Fair Haven on Friday. And, no, no one is confused.

July 17 marks the start of a week-long Christmas in July promotion in the borough’s business district, sponsored by the Fair Haven Business Association.

Throughout the week businesses will offer specials and promotions.

Which businesses are participating? You’ll know by the ones with Christmas decorated front doors.

“We have a great variety of stores and businesses in Fair Haven,” event coordinator Pam Boyd, of Boxwood Gardens, said. “If you want the latest fashions, a great book to read on the beach, flowers or fancy food for a dinner party, or lunch delivered to your beach club, you can get that right here in Fair Haven.

“With this event, we wanted to create a little fun and encourage people to visit our stores, restaurants, and services businesses in town.”

Deck the halls — or the River Road corridor!

Break a Leg: Retro Rumson Barn Summer Theater Part II

It’s been the subject of the Retro Pic(s) of the Day before and it is again — summer theater at The Barn in Rumson.

It was a place for local talent to gather, hone theatrical skills, have a lot of summer fun and entertain the masses in Monmouth County to boot.

One of the shows produced in the summer of 1977, which thrust lots of arts-thirsty area teens into myriad rehearsals and onto a  stage, was Bye Bye Birdie.

As told in our last piece on The Barn, many RFH students were in the cast of the show. And one area resident who played Albert Peterson — the English teacher, no less — broke his leg during rehearsals.

Continue reading Break a Leg: Retro Rumson Barn Summer Theater Part II

Police: Sex Offender Jailed, Failed to Register; $40K Bail & More

The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Daniel Swarrow, 21, of Pacific Avenue in Middletown, was arrested on July 8 by Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia and charged with obstructing the administration of law.

He was released pending a court date.

• Joseph Doren, 29, of Hamiltonian Drive in Red Bank, was arrested on July 8 by Patrolman Richard Fulham and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).

He was released pending a court date.

• Christopher Imlay, 28, of Roma Court in the Lincroft section of Middletown, was arrested on July 12 by Patrolman Michael Pintilie and charged with simple assault.

He was released pending a court date.

• Anthony Cocuzza, 23, of Dibling Street in Union Beach, was arrested on July 12 by Patrolman Daniel Benbrook and charged with possession of heroin, possession of hypodermic syringes and on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Keansburg Municipal Court.

He was held on $290 bail.

• Rocio Garcia, 42, of Suydam Street in New Brunswick, was arrested on July 12 by Patrolman Michael Heaton and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).

She was released pending a court date.

• Maryam Jrad, 18, of Dartmouth Avenue in Avenel, was arrested on July 11 by Patrolman Stephen Greenwood and charged with driving while intoxicated.

She was released pending a court date.

• Gregory Deguttola, 27, of Homestead Avenue in West Long Branch, was arrested on July 10 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with unlawful possession of Oxycodone, unlawful possession of Alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was released pending a court date.

• Joan Cappadona, 33, of Wilson Avenue in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, was arrested on July 10 by Patrolman Daniel Benbrook and charged with shoplifting from the Walgreens Pharmacy.

She was released pending a court date.

• Waymon Young, 38, of West Water Street in Toms River, was  arrested on July 10 by Detective Laurence Schachtel and charged with violation of Megan’s Law for failing to change address and failing to register as a sex offender.

He was held on $40,000 bail.

• John Byrne, 23, of Bucknell Drive in Hazlet, was arrested on July 10 by Patrolman John Walsifer and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).

He was released pending a court date.

• On July 10, Patrolman John Soltysik arrested a 17-year-old male juvenile from Middletown, and charged him with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a false driver’s license.

He was released pending a court date.

• On July 13, Patrolman Brian Dilworth arrested a 15-year-old male juvenile from the Port Monmouth section of Middletown and charged him with simple assault.

He was released pending a court date.

• Richard Murphy, 37, of  Valley Drive in the Navesink section of Middletown, was arrested on July 12 by Patrolman Richard Fulham and charged with simple assault.

 

Retro Reorg on Deputy Fire Chief’s Birthday

Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wiehl being sworn in on New Year's Day at the borough's reorganization Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wiehl being sworn in on New Year’s Day at the borough’s reorganization
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wiehl’s 37th birthday.

The deputy chief is a lifetime Fair Havenite and RFH grad whose family goes back a couple of generations in the borough. And he and new wife Gloria got married not too long ago on the Fair Haven Dock.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to reorganization day in Fair Haven when he was sworn in as deputy.

Happy Birthday, Deputy Chief Wiehl! And thank you for your service and dedication to the borough. Have you thanked a firefighter today?

Police Arrest Three Locals on Marijuana Growing, Dealing Charges & More

An extensive investigation and execution of a search warrant led to the uncovering of a local marijuana growing operation and drug bust during which three Middletown residents were arrested at their township home.

On July 9, Kenneth Newell, 48, Samuel Hudson, 26, and Nicole Boutiette, 25, all of Carter Avenue in Middletown, were arrested by Middletown police after a search warrant of their home was executed based on evidence of a marijuana growing operation there, according to a Middletown police report.

Newell was charged with: possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft of lost or mislaid property, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, unlawful possession of a rifle and on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Holmdel Municipal Court, the report said.

Hudson was charged with: possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of heroin, possession of hypodermic syringes and unlawful possession of a rifle, according to police.

Boutiette was charged with: possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of hypodermic syringes and unlawful possession of a weapon, police said in the report.

Newell was held on $5,750 bail; and Hudson and Boutiette were held on $5,000 bail, set by Judge D’Auria.

The warrant execution was a result of an investigation conducted by Officer Adam Colfer.

Police: Major Heroin Bust; 85 Bags

An investigation launched by area police resulted in a major heroin bust yielding the seizure of 85 bags of the drug on Monday.

Joshua Hart, 23, of Church Street in the Belford section of Middletown was arrested on July 12 after Middletown police found him in the Belford section of the Henry Hudson Trail allegedly in possession of the 85 bags of heroin, police said in a released statement.

Upon his arrest, Hart was charged with: possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and loitering with the intent to use CDS (controlled dangerous substance), police said.

The Middletown Police Department has recently beefed up patrols on foot and using all-terrain vehicles on the community trail.

Hart’s arrest was a result of the increased patrols and an investigation conducted by Detective Keith Hirschbein, Patrolman Gregory Buhowski and Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia, the release said.

Helping a Fair Haven Friend in Need

By Elaine Van Develde

Brian Allison is a son beside himself and by the side of his mom.

He is desperately trying to get some help for the woman who raised him in Fair Haven and grew up there and graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School herself — Regina Lamberson Allison.

After a long and winding two-year plus medical journey, Regina has been diagnosed with stage four cancer in her pelvic region, Brian said. And she needs some financial help for her care and hopeful cure.

It’s an all too common healthcare problem that Regina is experiencing, Brian said. In financial straits, “she has straight Medicaid but it does not pay for some of the cancer meds or treatments that could help cure this,” he said. “She will be starting radiation next week everyday for the next five weeks.”

And that begins yet another uncertain medical journey.

It all started in January of 2013 when Regina contracted an infection in a surgical wound after surgery for a broken ankle, her son said. “She has been in and out of the hospital with antibiotics (since 2013),” Brian said. “Then in Janury 2014 they had to remove the hardware because it was protruding from her leg.”

Blood clots had formed due to a lack of movement, he said, and after a some bouts with that issue, she ended up with stage one endometrial cancer. After complications from that, Regina ended up having a hysterectomy, the prognosis being a good one. Cancer had been removed and she did not require any follow-up chemotherapy or radiation, according to Brian.

That was in April of 2014.

But, as of March of this year, Regina found herself facing the worst of her medical dilemmas — the stage four cancerous mass was found in her pelvic area.

“I am trying to raise money to get her the best treatment and care possible to get rid of this cancer hopefully this time,” Brian said.

So, he set up a page on GoFundMe to help offset medical costs not covered by Medicaid and fund alternative treatments that Brian says could be explored and possibly help, but for which she does not qualify through Medicaid.

After a period of hospitalization, Brian said that Regina is being discharged Monday and headed back into rehab at Liberty Royal in Tinton Falls.

While they no longer live in Fair Haven, Regina had lived in the borough for 42 years, again, having been brought up there. Brian, also raised in the borough, spent 18 years of his life there.

While the two live in Ocean now and have for the past 12 years, Brian has volunteered at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair for 16 years, as Fair Haven holds a special place in his and his mother’s hearts.

 

Any help with his mom’s plight at this point, said Brian, would be “greatly appreciated.”

You may contribute to the cause by going to the Regina Lamberson Allison GoFundMe page by clicking here.

Red Bank Car Show Classics

If you made it to the classic car show in Red Bank on Sunday — sponsored by Liberty Hose Fire Company in memory of Bob Holiday — you likely saw the cars featured above.

They, an orange Dodge Super Bee and a Challenger, are owned by Bob’s son Joseph. In fact, if you live in the area, it’s likely you’ve seen the cars around. They’re difficult to miss. Though we’re told that the orange color choice is a popular one for the Dodges.

The reason: it’s a new version of color dubbed Hemi Orange that was popular in the 1960’s and 70’s, a Charger owner and car enthusiast tells us.

Nonetheless, former longtime Fair Havenite and RFH grad Troy Brandon caught up with “Joey” at the show and grabbed a pic of the Dodges along with a Camaro owned by Brian Penta of Tinton Falls.

Of course, he included a photo of a Liberty Hose fire truck.

Thanks to Troy Brandon for the photos! Which was your favorite classic at the show?

A Retro Happy Birthday to Former Fair Havenite Ann Mauger

 

Former Fair Havenite Ann Mauger in the late 1940s  Photo/courtesy of Peter Mauger
Former Fair Havenite Ann Mauger in the late 1940s
Photo/courtesy of Peter Mauger

Former longtime Fair Havenite Ann Mauger turned 88 on Friday, June 10.

So, to honor the birthday girl, who lived in Fair Haven for 28 years, from 1957 to 1985, the Retro Pic of the Day is a snapshot of her in the late 1940s, provided by her son, Peter. The photo was taken in Plainfield, a few years before she moved to Fair Haven and raised her family there.

Check out the car with the wood side panels. Do you know what make and model it is?

How about some memories of a Fair Haven mom in the 1960s to ’80s — Mrs. Mauger?

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Mauger!

Police Make DWI, Obstruction, Disorderly Arrests

The following recent arrests were made and reported by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Hugo Cruz, 32, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 5 in the area of Catherine Street and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated)  by Patrolman Stanley Balmer.

• Elezar Garcia-Avendano, 36, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 5 in the area of Shrewsbury Avenue and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Jorge Torres.

• Tajhi Tomaino, 20, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 3 in the area of Tilton Avenue and charged with obstructing administration of law and resisting arrest by Patrolman Kristin Altimari.

• Mark Scaliti, 48, of Middletown, was arrested on July 3 in the area of Broad Street and charged with disorderly conduct by Patrolman Ashon Lovick.

• Shaquan Jackson, 23, of Tinton Falls, was arrested on July 2  in the area of S. Pearl Street on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman George Travostino.

• Edwin Segura, 26, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 2 in the area of Wharf Avenue on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman John Camarca.

• William Manser, 35, of Ocean, was arrested on July 6 in the area of Riverview Plaza on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.

• Markies Wells, 29, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 5 in the area of Monmouth Street on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Kelvin Gonzalez, 23, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 4 in the area of Chestnut Street on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman Shane Dengel.

• Tariek Boynton, 25, of Red Bank, was arrested on July 3 in the area of Monmouth Street on a COC (contempt of court) charge by Patrolman Michael Zadlock.

Caution: DWI Checkpoint in Monmouth

Going somewhere and planning on having cocktails? The Monmouth County DWI Task Force advises that you use discretion and not drink over the .08 blood-alcohol limit and drive or appoint a designated sober driver.

The Monmouth County DWI Task Force, in collaboration with the Oceanport Police Department is conducting a DWI checkpoint to determine drivers’ sobriety in Oceanport tonight, July 10, into Sunday morning.

The checkpoint will area will be set up at Fort Monmouth’s 400 area on Oceanport Avenue. Vehicles will be directed from northbound lanes on Oceanport Avenue into the lot from 11 p.m. tonight to 3 a.m. on Saturday.

Your closest look at local news