It’s that time of the year again — time for the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair.
The fair opened on Thursday at 5 p.m. Featuring the usual host of rides, games of chance and good ol’ fair food, the fair continues tonight, Friday, from 5 p.m. to midnight, the same hours on Saturday, and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m.
The Buster White Band will be playing tonight.
Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse into the fair’s opening day. Click each to enlarge.
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde
With the news that recently retired Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge was appointed director of the Monmouth County Police Academy, thoughts of past teaching moments by mentors came to mind.
First, the Retro Pic of the Day honored Breckenridge’s mentor, Chief Carl Jakubecy on National Police Week.
That ode is followed by a look back at Breckenridge before he became chief with fellow colleagues in 2001.
Several of the officers in this photo have since retired, including former Chief Rick Towler, Captain Paul McCue, Lt. Bill Heath and … who else?
Recognize anyone in this photo. Who was a former juvenile officer and president of the Monmouth County Juvenile Officers’ Association. Do you know what rank Breckenridge had in 2001?
Have you thanked a police officer today?
— Elaine Van Develde
It was all about learning the creative process that spurs a successful writer when New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman visited sixth and seventh graders at Forrestdale School in Rumson recently.
Continue reading New York Times Bestselling Author Visits Forrestdale
On the first day of National Police Week and little more than six months after his retirement as Fair Haven’s police chief, Darryl Breckenridge has been appointed director of the Monmouth County Police Academy, Sheriff Shaun Golden announced in a press release today.
“There’s no one I’d rather have lead the Monmouth County Police Academy than Darryl Breckenridge,” Golden said of the 35-year police veteran in the release. “He brings with him a wealth of experience, exceptional leadership skills and shares the vision of maintaining and enhancing training at the academy, which as a result, will continue to produce the finest members of law enforcement who will serve the public.”
Breckenridge began his career in law enforcement as a special police officer in Fair Haven in 1976. In 1977 he left the department to serve in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the 3rd ID Military Police Division in Germany.
When he returned home from duty, he worked as an investigator at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and after graduating from the Monmouth County Police Academy in 1985, became a patrolman for the Fair Haven Police Department.
He rose through the ranks and was assigned to the position of detective in 1997. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and then lieutenant in 2002.
Breckenridge achieved his lifelong goal and dream of becoming police chief in 2005 and remained in that position for 10 years before retiring in 2015.
“I’m deeply honored to have been appointed to this position and I thank Sheriff Golden for allowing me this great opportunity to run the Monmouth County Police Academy,” Breckenridge said in the release. “I intend to meet every challenge with enthusiasm and will take pride in providing the most challenging and effective training possible to our police recruits and veteran officers.”
In addition to training basic police and corrections recruits throughout the state, as well as special law enforcement officers and county park rangers, the Monmouth County Police Academy offers in-service trainingcourses to veteran members of law enforcement. Officers from many of the 50 states as well as other countries have trained at the academy. The academy currently has 290 part time instructors.
Breckenridge began as director the week of May 16 and takes over the duties of Undersheriff Ted Freeman, who was the interim acting director. In addition to his vast experience in law enforcement, Breckenridge received three honorable service awards, an exceptional duty award, and in 2008, attended the National F.B.I. Academy.
— Edited press release from Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office
The following recent contempt of court and associated arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Continue reading Police Report: Burglar Nabbed; Heroin Possession & Contempt
The following is Joseph Slavin’s obituary from Thompson Memorial Home:
Rumson resident Joseph T. Slavin died suddenly in his office on May 10. He was 58.
Continue reading Rumson Resident Joe Slavin Dies Suddenly at 58
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.
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Continue reading Police: 26-Year-Old Jailed on Major Drug Bust Charges; $210K Bail
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
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
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.
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
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