Tag Archives: Fair Haven

Elections, News

Fair Haven Council Election Winners Split Ticket: Sorensen & Rodriguez

With all six districts reporting results as of 9 p.m. on election night, voters have split the party teams running for Fair Haven Borough Council and elected Republican incumbent Susan Sorensen to serve her third term and Democrat Christopher Rodriguez for his first full term.

Rodriguez, who ran for his first full council term after being chosen to fill Democrat Aimee Humphreys’ unexpired term, garnered the most votes with 1,148, or 26.05 percent of the vote. Sorensen brought in 1,120, 28 fewer, or 25.41 percent of the vote, according to the Monmouth County Clerk’s online election results.

Sorensen’s running mate, Betsy Koch, garnered 1,112 votes. And Rodriguez’s running mate, Jessica Patel, got 1,017 votes.

A total of 4,407 votes were cast. There were 10 write-ins.

In the District 13 State Senate race, Republican Declan O’Scanlon won with 32,484 votes. Democrat Sean F. Byrnes garnered 26,376 votes.

In the District 13 Assembly race, Republicans Amy Handlin and Serena DiMaso won.

The results are unofficial, as provisional and mail-in ballots have not yet been tallied.

Neither Sorensen nor Rodriguez was available for comment on election night. We will feature a post-election interview with both. 

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Sandy, Five Years Ago

Gallery

It was the year that Halloween wasn’t. It was 2012 and Superstorm Sandy had pummeled the Jersey Shore. It decimated Sea Bright and destroyed low lying parts of Rumson. Fair Haven was a bit war torn and powerless.

Beach cabanas landed like Dorothy’s house to the Witch of the East on West Park lawns. Boats were hoisted by surging water onto dock tops and back yards. Gunning Island, in the Shrewsbury River, was loaded with the moored belongings of Sea Bright and Rumson people. Trees were downed. Transformers exploded.

Sea Bright residents were homeless. The beach was in the road. Sea Bright Rising began with some good-hearted burger flipping by Woody’s owner Chris Wood and chef Onofrio Moscato. The U.S. Army National Guard was parked in the Sea Bright municipal lot. There was no electricity.

There was a curfew. At nightfall, people scurried back into their homes, if there was anything left to go home to, like moles burrowing into cold, still night. Things were awfully dark. And Halloween was cancelled. There was no treat in Sandy’s trickery, just in the kindness of those who were good neighbors.

Take a look back … (and click to enlarge).

— Elaine Van Develde

Photos/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Car Show Cruising

Gallery

The Fair Haven Fire Department Fire Police & Auxiliary Car Show made its 18th appearance on the firehouse grounds on Sunday.

In the hopes of having a bit more sun to shine on the day, organizers shifted it to the rain date from the originally planned Saturday event.

There was a big showing and turnout.

Take a look (and please forgive the blurriness of some of the photos. The photographer was a bit out of focus herself with a fall cold.) But, don’t forget to enlarge! Enjoy!

— Elaine Van Develde

Schools Scene

Fair Haven: Sickles Students Pose for Peace

Students in first through third grade at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven poised themselves with a pose for peace in honor of World Peace Day recently. Continue reading Fair Haven: Sickles Students Pose for Peace →

Obituaries

Memorial Services Set for Lifetime Fair Havenite John R. Choma Jr., 35

John R. Choma, Jr.
Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home

Lifetime Fair Havenite John R. Choma Jr. passed away on Sept. 28; and memorial services begin today, Sunday. He was 35.

Born to John R. Choma Sr. and Lorraine K. Choma, John was a lifelong resident of Fair Haven.  He was employed by the maintenance department of the Middletown Township Board of Education.

John is predeceased by: his grandparents John Choma, Leslie Peter Stout Sr., and Kathleen Stout, and his step-grandmother, Georgia Stout.  Continue reading Memorial Services Set for Lifetime Fair Havenite John R. Choma Jr., 35 →