It was good for the soul. A comforting scent of collard greens, pigs’ feet, chicken and fish filled the air. And there was a hearty helping of Fair Haven families rooted in the borough since the 19th century connecting.
It was Saturday afternoon’s Fisk AME Chapel Soul Food Dinner at the church in Fair Haven.
“We sold out!” one of the organizers cheered. “Seventy dinners!”
That was only a couple of hours after they opened the doors. They were proud and the food was not the only reason why.
The Fisk AME Chapel congregation has been steeped in Fair Haven history since 1858. Named after Civil War hero General Clinton B. Fisk, a “devout Methodist” and champion of civil rights, the first Fisk Chapel in Fair Haven was where Bicentennial Hall now stands.
Before that, the congregation had a church on River Road near what is now the Shrewsbury Yacht Club — then dubbed the Bethel AME Church (congregation).
Fisk, a Union officer, ran President Lincoln’s Freedman’s Bureau when the Civil War ended. He championed equal rights laws for African-Americans and education focusing on special courses about those rights. He ended up living in Rumson.
After a fire destroyed the original Bethel church in 1875 and those in the black community, many of whom were some of Fair Haven’s founding fathers, were forced to make their way to Red Bank to worship, Fisk made sure a chapel was built to quell the difficulty of commuting.
Right before the church was built, he was also instrumental in having what was a school for black children on Fisk Street. It was known for many years as the Youth Center. After the end of segregation, Youth Center was used for kindergarten.
Kids were walked there to school on a rope. But, that’s a whole other story.
Fisk Street Chapel’s Rev. Thomas Johnson was very proud on Saturday, as were all the participating congregants and guests who made the Soul Food Dinner a Success.
Take a look at the photos in the above gallery for a glimpse into the event. Recognize anyone? It’s a pretty sure bet you do, if you’ve lived in the area for any length of time.
The sign says Cravin Haven is for sale. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
By Elaine Van Develde
It was a little more than a year ago that Cravin Haven opened its specialty comfort food doors in the Acme shopping center in Fair Haven.
Now, shortly after the owners announced on Facebook that the eatery would close for the month of February for renovations, the business that brought several deep fryer-meets-barbecue goodies together on one heaping sandwich is for sale.
A chalkboard sign on the storefront says so. And a search of businesses for sale confirms that a $1,500-a-month lease of the space that houses the business comes with it. A price for the business (brand) itself was not listed.
The 1,200-square-foot place that made its short-lived mark satisfying some unique and large food cravings is, according to commercial real estate website LoopNet, for sale as a “turn key restaurant,” with more than 40 seats and equipment that is “less than 12 months old.”
When it opened in January of 2014, Fair Havenites Anthony Mazzucca, Matt and Elaine Jones and Michael Mazzucca were partners.
Anthony Mazzucca is the former chef of Val’s Tavern. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect reached out to him for a comment. As of press time, he was not available.
The other Cravin partners have restaurant backgrounds as well: Michael Mazzucca is the owner of Five Guys franchises, Elaine Jones is the former manager of Playwright Tavern in New York, NY, and her husband, Matt, is managing director of Food Services Ireland, a Cravin Haven opening release said.
According to the sign in the window, those interested in purchasing the business can call 732-809-8034.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
The snow started falling again on Saturday afternoon. And down at the Fair Haven Dock, the Navesink River had transformed into a blanket of snow against an white-out backdrop.
The scene was nothing but a big snow blanket to keep dock die-hards warm with some down-by-the-river serenity.
Take a look at our gallery for a glimpse into the snowy scene. Just click on any photo and scroll. Enjoy and stay warm!
What is it that longtime Fair Havenite Larry Quigley has not done as a volunteer serving the town he has called home for more than a quarter of a century?
“That’s the question,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said before Monday night’s Borough Council meeting as he looked over a proclamation the borough had prepared to honor Quigley. “If you ask what he’s done, the list is just endless. So the question becomes ‘What has Larry Quigley not done?’ and the answer is ‘Not much.’ I’m looking at about, let’s see, nine committees and/or boards he’s served on, not to mention the fire company.”
So, the mayor said, that’s why the borough decided to honor Quigley. “He really deserves it,” Lucarelli said.
Quigley, an attorney, has lived in the borough for more than 25 years, the proclamation said. He was recognized for his “many years of selfless public service.”
In those years, Quigley has served on Fair Haven’s: Historic Commission; Planning and Zoning (14 years) boards, with a stint as vice-chairman of Zoning; Long Range Planning Committee, as chairman of its Land Use subcommittee; Land Use and Revision Committee (1996 to 1998); Memorial Park Advisory Committee; World War II Veterans’ Memorial Monument Committee; 9/11 Memorial Committee; and the Communications Committee, as its first chairman in 2003.
Quigley was also chairman of the 2008 Veterans Day in the borough.
He was also a social member of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department.
“As our first Communications Committee chair, Larry really helped a lot with advising the administration on how to effectively communicate with residents, such as with our newsletter (Focus on Fair Haven), and he was also the unofficial photographer for a lot of events,” the mayor said. “His dedication just didn’t stop at committees. Larry’s advice, as the proclamation says, has been sought out by everybody — mayors, administrators, council members, attorneys, employees. We thank him and wish him the best.”
Fair Haven’s reorganization day may have come and gone, but a few appointments had yet to be made.
So, that business was completed at the Jan. 29 meeting with an appointment to the borough Planning Board, Memorial Park Advisory Committee and Historic Preservation Committee.
Snow angels in Fair Haven paved the way to work for an editor. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
It’s a beautiful day in a Fair Haven neighborhood when a few snow angels shovel out an asthmatic editor on a mission to get some photos.
That’s exactly what happened on a certain block in Fair Haven when yours truly was unknowingly dug out from whatever white stuff fell as a result of the “winter storm.”
No, there was no blizzard. But there was certainly enough snow to bring on an attack while shoveling or at least delay work.
Thanks snow angels! The photos are coming next in a nice slideshow! Stay tuned.
Snow angels in training take time to chat and play. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
By Elaine Van Develde
The snow must go on!
That’s what was continuously predicted for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from Sunday through Tuesday morning by the National Weather Service and climatologists all over. And the preparations — in the name of the boy scout credo and post traumatic stress disorder from Hurricane Sandy — took hold.
An epic blizzard was headed down the shore, according to the experts, and people needed to protect themselves. And they did.
The Rumson-Fair Haven area snow angels and unofficial junior apprentices were poised to help in the dig-out. Store shelves emptied, flashlights were loaded with batteries, fireplaces were stocked with wood, a state of emergency was declared, roads were emptied, local emergency responders were ready and people scurried into their homes at nightfall prepared to be stuck there for days. New Jersey was, essentially, closed. Until now.
In case you haven’t heard, the blizzard threat is no more and hasn’t been since this morning. The state of things outdoors shows it, too. It’s been downgraded to a snow storm. In fact, a winter storm warning is in effect until 3 p.m. today for the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
The National Weather Service, at the height of the threat, predicted up to 33 inches of snowfall over a two-day period and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. The forecast now calls for a possible accumulation of 1 to 2 inches today and a northwest wind of 20 to 22 miles per hour. And then the rain may fall before midnight.
But, school’s out today and a delayed opening is scheduled for all districts in the R-FH area. And the snow angels have been busy.
Those in training took a bit of a sabbatical to play, but they’re ready.
Thanks to the angels! Any seniors or people with disabilities who need help with removal should call the police department in Fair Haven and an angel will be sent your way.
No sooner did the snow start to steadily fall in Fair Haven than some neighbor kids hit the sidewalks in front of their houses equipped with colorful shovels great attitudes.
The gaggle of good little guys and girls got some quality romping and “work” in before it all got too tough to handle.
Between the snowmen, snow piles and festive shovels and grins, it was evident they were next in line for snow angel duty.
Referred to by many residents as snow angels, there is a group of teens in the area who sign up to clear driveways, sidewalks and steps for senior citizens and those with disabilities in town.
Watch out for this group!
Click on any image to enlarge to full size and hit next or previous image for the rest.
“Fair Haven is ready,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said of the impending blizzard on Monday afternoon.
There was a meeting of all major departments (police, emergency management and public works) at noon, he said, and all equipment is fueled up and ready to go, staff is on alert and well-rested, and supplies have been loaded.
Aside from the postponement of tonight’s Borough Council meeting to Thursday at 7 p.m., the mayor asked that “people please keep sidewalks clear and hydrants free of snow (3 feet in each direction with a path out to the street.”
Fair Haven’s two schools, Knollwood and Sickles, are both closed on Tuesday, according to the district website. There will be a delayed opening on Wednesday, Superintendent Nelson Ribon said in a post on the site.
The bulletin that was emailed to residents who have signed up for borough alerts and posted on the Fair Haven Facebook page is as follows:
“Tonight’s Council meeting is cancelled and has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
“Historic Commission meeting has been cancelled for Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Historic Commission will meet again at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
“Zones 3 & 4 trash service for Tuesday has been suspended. Trash pickup for Zones 3 & 4 will resume Friday, January 30, 2015.
Recycling for all zones has been suspended for Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Recycling will resume next Wednesday, February 4, 2015.
Borough Hall most likely will be closed Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and will reopen as soon as practical on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.
“Please remember to report all power outages directly to JCP&L.
Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com. In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department.
“Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.
“FirstEnergy customers also can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive billing reminders, weather alerts in advance of major storms, and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts, and make other inquiries about their electric accounts.
“More information about these communications tools is available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.
Borough Code 14-6.2 states that no person shall sweep, throw or deposit any snow or ice in that part of the street which has been or is being plowed, swept or cleared by the municipality for the passage of traffic.
“Property owners, tenants or occupants must clear the sidewalk in front of their property of all snow and/or ice within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall or the formation of ice. The path cleared must be a minimum of two feet in width (Ord. 14-6.1).
“If there is a fire hydrant in front of your home or business, please clear the snow around the hydrant. Borough Code 7-10.1 states whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that it covers the streets and highways, an emergency shall exist and no vehicle shall be parked on the streets or highways or portions thereof indicated.
“The parking prohibitions shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic.”
Communication Tools Return to top Our customer app and mobile website provide on-the-go access to important information and services related to your electric account at WWW.FIRSTENERGYCORP.COM.
• There will be early dismissals on Monday at both Sickles and Knollwood schools, according to the latest post on the Fair Haven Schools website.
Sickles will dismiss at 12:10 p.m. and Knollwood at 12:30.
“For the safety and well-being of our students and staff, FH schools we will have an early dismissal today,” Superintendent Nelson Ribon post on the district website. “Overnight forecast models show a potential for extremely windy conditions (blizzard warnings) during the early afternoon along with snow.”night:
So far, for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:
• There will be an early dismissal at 11:45 a.m. on Monday.
All after-school activities have been cancelled.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will update this article as information becomes available. Please check back for updates.
Along with the upgrade of the blizzard warning for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from noon Monday through Tuesday evening, preparation mode has gone into overdrive with the anticipation of up to 33 inches of snow in a two-day period.
“There’s nothing left,” a grin-sporting guy joked as he left the near barren Acme in Fair Haven Sunday night.
Here’s how it’s going to hit the area, the NWS says:
• Overnight into Monday morning, starting at about 3 a.m., there is a chance of up to about half an inch of snow predicted with temperatures hitting a low of about 25 degrees and northeast wind from 11 to 16 miles per hour
• Monday during the day, intermittent snow is expected with accumulation of roughly 1 to 2 inches and a northeast wind of 20 to 24 miles per hour.
• Monday night, a new snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches is expected with a north wind blowing at 26 to 36 miles per hour and gusts of up to 47 miles per hour. A low temperature of 25 degrees is anticipated.
• Tuesday will see a lot of areas with blowing snow, winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour, gusts up to 43 and heavy accumulation of roughly 10 to 14 more inches. A high temperature of 32 degrees is expected.
• On Tuesday night, the NWS predicts temperatures at a low of 19 degrees, winds of up to 31 miles per hour with gusts of as high as 36 miles per hour and 1 to 3 more inches of snow.
The Fair Haven Fire Department asks that residents keep hydrants clear of snow by 3 feet in each direction and clear to the street. “Attention Residents…Help US Help You!!! If there is a hydrant in front of or near your property, please keep it clear. Thank you!!!” a post on the department’s Facebook page said. See the graphic below.
Forecasters say that what puts a snow storm in the blizzard category is mostly the high winds causing high drifts and dangerous circumstances.
A coastal flood warning is also in effect for Sea Bright and Sandy Hook that could also affect low-lying areas of Rumson.
On Tuesday, at Sandy Hook, high tide is slated to come in at 1:07 a.m. “with a forecast tide level of 7.5 to 8 feet above mean lower low water,” according to the National Weather Service.
Former Fair Haven Board of Education members Katy Frissora and Cathy Alescio with Viola L. Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy (center). Photo/courtesy of Fair Haven School District
The following is an edited press release from the Fair Haven School District:
Since Jan. 7, three new Fair Haven Board of Education members have been seated at the dais. They and their predecessors are offering a glimpse into their goals for the district and looking back at what brought then to the board.
Jennifer Halcrow, Bruce Padula, and Karen Saad have been sworn in to three-year terms on the nine-member board at the 2015 reorganization.
The three new members will serve on the board with Michael Bernstein, Claudia Brasch (vice president), Mark Mancuso (president), Tracy Rehder, Jeffrey Spector, and Randi Walker.
Jennifer Halcrow’s family has lived in Fair Haven for eight years. She has three children attending Viola L. Sickles and Knollwood schools.
Halcrow, who was drawn to Fair Haven by the excellent educational opportunities and strong sense of community, has a master’s degree in business administration and hopes to apply her skills toward achieving educational goals.
“My focus is on student achievement and academic excellence in the classroom as well as fiscal responsibility while budgeting to the needs of our children,” Halcrow said. “I also have an interest in improving communication among our parents, administration, and school board.”
Bruce Padula has been a Fair Haven resident since 2010. He moved to New Jersey to attend Seton Hall University Law School after graduating from Villanova.
A partner Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs law firm, Matawan, Padula has a son in kindergarten and a daughter who will start school next year.
“Fair Haven is a truly special and unique community with dedicated and caring parents, volunteers, professionals, and neighbors,” said Padula. “My goal is to make Fair Haven schools the best they can be; and I hope to lend my professional experience as a school board attorney to the board in order to help achieve this goal.”
I am grateful for the support and trust this community has placed in me.”
Karen Saad discovered the borough of Fair Haven during a lunch stop at an eatery on River Road.
She “fell in love” with the town and is now a resident with three children who are currently students in the school system. Born and raised in New Jersey, she graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.
She worked for the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. prior to moving back to New Jersey to raise her family.
“As an active volunteer in our schools and community, I love connecting with friends and neighbors and using my professional skills in finance, consulting, and accounting to enrich these organizations,” said Saad. “I am so excited to be a part of the board and will work to ensure that our children have the best possible educational experience.”
The oath of office was administered by Board of Education Attorney Anthony P. Scarrillo.
Katy Frissora and Cathy Alescio look back at their board time
Among those in attendance at the swearing-in was former board member Katy Frissora, who was thanked by Mancuso for her eight years of dedicated service.
Frissora and Cathy Alescio, who served one term of three years, did not seek re-election this year when their terms expired.
A former PTA president, Alescio attended many board meetings — something she considers an important prerequisite — before making the commitment to run.
“I sometimes hear parents discuss a concern; and I encourage them to get to know their board members on an informal level as well as during a meeting,” said Alescio.
Alescio’s commitment to understanding parents’ concerns translated into making certain that decisions about administrators and curriculum were considered from every angle during meetings of the committees to which she was assigned — Negotiations and Personnel. She expressed pride in how effectively she and her fellow committee addressed some very tough decisions.
“At the end of the day, I knew that I wasn’t elected just to represent the interests of my children,” said Alescio. “I was elected to represent the over 700 families who send children to our schools.”
Frissora focused on curriculum and community relations during her time as a board member. She worked with administrators to help parents visualize and understand how curriculum was being implemented in the classroom.
“Starting when I was a parent of a first grader, and then as a board member, I realized that parents are hungry for information about how their children are learning,” said Frissora. “I was emphatic about how we must use every possible tool — whether it’s social media, newsletters, photos, a teacher’s written communication, or a phone call — to share what is happening in classrooms with parents.”
Frissora was pleased to be known as the Board of Education’s “onion peeler,” examining each layer of every issue to come up with the best possible outcome.
“My mantra to parents has always been ‘for every question you have, your board members are asking the exact same question and discussing pros and cons’,” said Frissora. “I am so proud of how deeply the board on which I served probed into every question surrounding every decision, and I am confident that the present board will do the same with new onion peelers.”
Both Alescio and Frissora expressed a desire to see Fair Haven schools continue to be unique, as well as maintain their focus on developing confident learners.
“Cathy Alescio and Katy Frissora will be greatly missed by the Board and district,” said Mancuso. “The amount of time and energy they poured into their terms on the Board are a testament to their strong work ethic and absolute devotion to our schools and children.”
They helped invigorate and strengthen every committee on which they served, and are model board members worthy of emulation. I look forward to their continued interest and participation as stakeholders of our community.”
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