Students in the Fair Haven School District achieved several distinctions in the 2014-15 school year; and, they were recognized for all by the Board of Education.
The accomplishments were all outlined in an early June ceremony by Superintendent Nelson Ribon and Knollwood School Principal Kevin Davis with a little pizza party on the side.
Continue reading Looking Back at Fair Haven Students’ Honors for 2014-15
It’s more than likely that if you live in or have lived in Fair Haven, you know a Reevey.
The family is rooted in the borough’s history, and with much longstanding honor. There are many Reeveys around, and usually doing something, career wise or otherwise, for their community, neighbors, family and friends. It’s seemingly second nature for them.
It’s living matriarch, Sonia, a modest, community-minded woman who is known to love and do anything she can for her hometown, is always featured at the Memorial Day ceremony singing My Buddy, the old war remembrance tune.
This year was no exception. Well, Sonia, family told us on Memorial Day, is turning (or has turned) 80 this month.
We are not quite sure of her birthdate, but would like to take a moment to honor her and wish her Happy Birthday by featuring her in our Retro Pic of the Day offering thanks for her dedication to Fair Haven.
It’s a comfort to know people like Sonia are still around, part of the Fair Haven family without a second thought.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will feature a full story on Sonia Reevey in the near future.
By Elaine Van Develde
Calling the $8.4 million 2015 Fair Haven municipal budget a sound one with no compromising of borough services, the Borough Council unanimously adopted the spending plan at its Monday night meeting.
What it boils down to is roughly a $100 hike in the municipal rate for the average assessed property in the borough.
The average assessed property value in Fair Haven this year is $720,000, up from $688,540 last year. It actually means a slightly lower tax rate per $100 of assessed value, but the rise in average assessed value naturally raises the rate on the average home.
The amount to be raised by taxation is $6.1 million for 2015, calculating an increase of $231,591.
The budget “brings us back to the same spending level as in 2008,” after vacillating from cuts to increases in spending, Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. But, he added, it has never gone past that 2008 point.
The spending plan increased by about 3 percent this year.
Surplus is at $800,000, Borough Administrator Theresa Casagrande said, adding that she feels the budget is a tight, sound one. leaving a healthy enough surplus.
Another plus for the borough is that its debt is down to about $3 million, after paying down about half, which gives the borough an excellent credit rating, officials said.
For more details, click here for the story on the budget draft and here for the full budget on the borough website.
It’s the principal of the pic — literally.
With the school year coming to a close, it seemed like a good time to take Rumson-Fair Haven area people back to days at RFH in the early 70s when the teen pictured was a student at the high school.
Take a close look. Many from the area, especially those who grew up with him, will recognize this now Rumson resident who was principal at Fair Haven’s Knollwood School for 11 years, interim principal at Sickles School and interim superintendent for a stint not all that long ago.
Yes, it’s Tom Famulary, who grew up in Fair Haven.
Here are a couple of fun retro facts about Tom:
His mom, Millie, was piano teacher to many in the area, and quite talented herself.
His father, John, was publisher of an area weekly newspaper in his retirement years (well, sorta). That paper was the Courier.
Tom was also known to be quite the piano player.
Students at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven have been exploring and celebrating differences.
It’s an annual event — Understanding Differences Day.
Held on May 15 this year, the day featured hands-on activities and presentations hosted by school staff members and volunteers.
Continue reading Sickles School Students Strive to Understand Differences
Fair Havenite John Somerville passed away peacefully at his home on June 12. He was 100 years old.
Born in Evanston, IL to John and Corinne Patton Somerville, John divided his time between Chicago and Sarasota, FL. He graduated Asheville High School, Asheville, NC in 1934 and earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Cornell University in 1938.
Continue reading Services for Fair Haven Centenarian Start Tuesday
The sun was shining on Fair Haven Day 2015 and fun abounded.
Longtime friends caught up with one another, music played, people ate, drank and were quite merry.
Take a look at the slideshow above for a glimpse into the day.
Thanks to Tom Bull, David Becker and Cathy Mazza Truesdell for the extra help with our camera emergency! The photo of Mayor Ben Lucarelli, DJ Breckenridge and Susan Sorensen is courtesy of David Becker.
Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wiehl grew up in Fair Haven. In fact, he’s a third generation Fair Havenite.
And like so many other native Fair Havenites, he spent a lot of time down by the Navesink River at the Fair Haven Dock. He played there. He saw a lot of sunsets there. He likely did a lot of contemplating and soaking up of sun and scenery there.
And, most recently, he decided to make the iconic spot one that would mark a major milestone in his life. He got engaged and married there.
The engagement was three months ago and the wedding was Monday afternoon, officiated by Mayor Ben Lucarelli. So, we congratulate and honor Mike and his bride, Gloria Clark, in our Retro Pic(s) of the Day.
As Wiehl put it in Facebook posts, “Well, today’s the day I have been waiting for. Gloria Clark and I are spending the day together and then off to the fair haven dock to get married at 4pm! … 3 months ago the woman of my dreams said yes to marrying me. I am a lucky man …”
And so goes life as part of the Fair Haven family …
Congrats and much happiness to Mike and Gloria!
It’s almost summertime, and the livin’ is all about river time in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
That in mind, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the season with a look back a couple of years ago to a day of fun for one little Fair Haven girl — Francesca, who happens to be a Gap model — romping down by the Fair Haven Dock with her mom and dad.
The Navesink River shot that day back in 2013 was just a warm-up for work for the little one, who was set to strike a pose as soon as she saw the camera.
What’s your favorite riverfront spot?
By Elaine Van Develde
There’s nothing quite like having a friend to take the journey from childhood through adulthood with you.
It’s cherished time. And when the journey ends for one, it leaves the other to carry on with a weary, but enriched heart, for having had that time, and many milestones in between, with that person.
That friend for at least one Fair Havenite was Suzanne Warren (Cavigliano), honored in our Retro Pic of the Day.
Warren, a Class of 1993 RFH grad, who died 11 years ago, on June 4, 2004, is remembered by her forever friend Jenny (Jones) Costello, as “smart (so smart), funny and always the best dressed.”
Suzanne grew up on Briarwood Road, after coming from Indiana to live in Fair Haven in the third grade. She ended up becoming a social worker, yet, Costello said, cheated by death from being able to realize her full potential.
While her journey through adulthood was cut short, her friends still carry her spirit and many memories with them.
It’s a light, sweet load to tote on the rest of a friend’s journey.
RIP, Suzanne. You are remembered. Cherished.
Share your memories of Suzanne.
By Elaine Van Develde
This little crew grew up together. And years later they ended up reliving a sixth grade tradition as adults.
They are Jenny Costello (Jones), Dwayne Reevey, now a Fair Haven police officer, and Andy Dougherty. The three lived on Parker Avenue in Fair Haven across and down the street from one another.
Their parents were all friends and they all had the Stokes experience as Fair Haven schools students. This time around, they were counselors, with Andy Dougherty pretty much running the show from the schools’ end.
Much has changed about the annual trip right after Memorial Day to learn and camp out in the state forrest, but some things never do change — like childhood friendships and memories that connect for a lifetime.
So, our Retro Pic of the Day captures just that. Call it a little time capsule.
Get in for a little trip back …
This editor not only took the trip, way back in the early 1970s, but was also CAT at Stokes. I forget what the anagram stood for, but CATs were RFH seniors who were chosen to take the trip as sort-of junior counselors.
The RFH administrators chose leaders, who had to have above a certain GPA and a expertise or talent in a specific area.
I, along with my acting compadre, Kevin Carpenter, were sent to entertain the kids. We had to spearhead the dancing (poor kids) — and, yes, there was square dancing (yikes) — sing songs around the campfire, like Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley (so uplifting) and tell stories about the Jersey Devil and scare the bejesus out of the kids.
We were a pretty well-behaved lot of semi-nerds, but we did like to have some fun that I’m confident would have gotten us banned nowadays — like raising one poor girl’s bra up on the flagpole for the morning wake-up bugle call and capsizing one another’s canoes.
Oh, there were more pranks, but the mention of them may tarnish some respectable RFH parents’ reputations, so I digress.
Did you go to Stokes? What was your favorite memory?
By Elaine Van Develde
You may have noticed a couple of new faces in Fair Haven Borough Hall and around town.
That’s because in the past month, there have been two permanent new hires in the borough.
Jennifer Johnson has been appointed as the part-time administrative assistant for Engineering, Zoning, Code Enforcement, Public Works and Records Management.
Her pay is $15 an hour; and, she is to be working an average of 25 hours a week, or no more than 100 per month, according to the resolution, which was approved at the May 11 Borough Council meeting. The hiring was effective May 12.
In addition, Director of Engineering and Public Works Richard Gardella recommended Justin Herner be appointed as a part-time borough seasonal laborer at $11 per hour. The recommendation was approved via resolution at the May 11 council meeting.
His hours for the job are not to exceed part-time limits, according to the resolution.
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