Tag Archives: feature

Rumson Votes: Ekdal is Mayor Again, Uncontested Council

By Elaine Van Develde

Familiar challenger Michael Steinhorn tried again, but did not succeed in ousting longtime Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl.

With 864 votes cast in the mayoral race, Ekdahl ended up with 565 of them, or more than 65 percent.

Steinhorn, a Democrat who has long attempted to break the longtime Republican stronghold on the governing body, garnered 294 votes, or 34 percent.

There were five write-in candidate votes.

Ekdahl will begin his fourth four-year term as mayor in January.

Incumbent Republican Borough Councilmen Marc Rubin and John Conklin won uncontested three-year seats on the dais, garnering 623 and 629 votes, respectively. A total of 1,276 votes were cast for the council race.

There were 24 write-ins.

Rumson is run with a Borough Council, or Mayor and Council form of government.

As with Fair Haven, the governing body has six council members and a presiding mayor. The mayor runs the meetings, but does not vote unless there is a tie.

He has veto power.

 

Rumson Police Investigate Halloween Burglaries & Attempted Break-ins

As they investigate Halloween night burglaries and attempted break-ins, Rumson police are putting residents on alert and offering cautionary advice.

Homes on Buttonwood and Conover lanes were burglarized; and signs of attempted forced entry to residences on Navesink and Bellevue avenues were reported, according to a release.

At the homes on Navesink and Bellevue, glass doors were reported broken with a rock, police said. No entry was obtained in either of those instances.

The perpetrators are still at large.

In the meantime, “we ask that residents utilize their alarms and keep the outside of their homes well lit,” the release said. “Notify the dispatch desk at 732-842-0500 or dial 911 in an emergency to report suspicious persons or vehicles 24 hours a day.”

Fair Haven Police Report Car Theft, Assault, DWI, Marijuana Possession

The following arrests and criminal incident reports were reported by Fair Haven police for the month of October. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

Arrests

• Leobardo Martinez, 25, of Somerset, was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with possession of marijuana by Patrolman Brooks Robinson following a motor vehicle stop.

Martinez was released pending a Fair Haven Municipal Court appearance.

• Melissa Neczesny, 53, of Fair Haven, was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct on Oct. 16 after being involved in a physical altercation with another female outside of a local establishment. Patrolman Dwayne Reevey was the arresting officer.

She was processed and released pending a court appearance.

Continue reading Fair Haven Police Report Car Theft, Assault, DWI, Marijuana Possession

R-FH Area Halloween Rules

Happy Halloween, R-FH area people!

Here are the rules for ghosting and ghouling tonight …

• Trick-or-treaters under 18 and not supervised by an adult must be off the roads by 8 p.m.;

• Never, ever go trick-or-treating alone;

• Exercise caution around strangers both on the street and at homes;

• Do not go inside homes;

• Do not eat candy until you get it home and it is inspected by parents;

• Wear a highly-visible or reflective costume, walk on sidewalks and walkways and carry a flashlight and cell phone.

The main message: Stay safe, stay out of trouble and have fun!

Happy Halloween!

I’ll Just Pick: Gaslight’s Wings

By Elaine Van Develde

Sometimes it’s just a good idea to wing it.

Usually, chicken wings are pretty standard fare — a spicy, typically sopping morsel of an appetizer. There are usually standard variations, too: baked, fried, baked and fried, grilled and usually laden with a some sort of spicy sauce.

Continue reading I’ll Just Pick: Gaslight’s Wings

Focus: Halloween Haunts

Call them Halloween house haunts of the Rumson-Fair Haven area. They’re those subtle little decorations that pop out to give passersby a bit of a “Boo!”

Perusing the area, there were a few that just seemed to summon the spirit of the season.

Take a look. We will be adding new haunting discoveries to this photo collage until Halloween. Do you know of a ghoulishly good lawn scare? Let us know and we’ll stop by to take a pic.

— Elaine Van Develde

Learning About Achievement ‘Beyond Measure’ at RFH

It’s all about America’s achievement culture. Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) officials are showing another documentary at the school in an attempt to give parents and students some insight.

The feature-length documentary film Beyond Measure — a follow-up to the Race to Nowhere: the Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture — will be presented in the high school’s auditorium on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The screening is hosted by the RFH, Rumson and Fair Haven school districts.

Admission is free, but seats must be reserved in advance by visiting the RFH website at www.rumsonfairhaven.org, and clicking the the Home Page link.

Six years after 2010’s award-winning Race to Nowhere rose to national prominence, Reel Link Films has released Beyond Measure, which is intended to shine a light on tenacious and cutting-edge alternatives to the stifling, high-pressure education system presented in Race to Nowhere.

Beyond Measure follows public schools across the country as they take matters into their own hands and innovate from the inside.

Subverting a high-stakes education culture, even when it means putting their jobs at risk, the film’s featured educators are the “advance guard” in a burgeoning national movement to reinvent schooling.

Via spotlighting success stories, Beyond Measure shows that it is possible to rise above America’s toxic achievement fixation and build a richer, deeper, more empowering, student-centered education culture from the ground-up.

“… Beyond Measure is a road map for communities looking to put true learning at the forefront of their school experience,” said Timothy Quinn, former president of the Princeton Board of Education. “It demonstrates what students, educators, and parents can achieve when they look beyond merely improving an updated model of instruction to creating a dynamic learning environment where every student can thrive.”

Notable figures featured in the film include Sir Ken Robinson (international education expert and presenter of the most-watched TED talk of all time), Linda Darling-Hammond (education advisor for President Obama’s 2008 campaign), and bestselling author Daniel Pink (Drive and A Whole New Mind).

The upcoming screening at RFH is part of a nationwide campaign to bring the film to schools, theaters, and festivals across the country.

As part of Reel Link Films’ commitment to grassroots change, Beyond Measure is partnering with educational institutions and community organizations to host intimate special-event screenings that double as forums for constructive community dialogue.

Director Vicki Abeles’ new book, also entitled Beyond Measure, will be available for purchase at the RFH screening courtesy of River Road Books.

Abeles’ book examines cultural and educational symptoms of the academic rat race and suggests steps — big and small — that readers can take to reclaim their schools and their children’s lives.

It has been described as “America’s wake-up call” by Maria Shriver and praised by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Schulte as “one of the most important books of the early 21st century.”

— Edited press release from the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional School District

Rumson-Fair Haven Halloween Parading

There was no tricking and a lot of treating going on Sunday when Rumson and Fair Haven both hosted their annual Halloween festivities.

It all started with a parade in Fair Haven that culminated with costume prizes, some socializing and snacks at the firehouse. Then, in Rumson kids of all ages paraded a short route from the front to the back of Forrestdale School where some costume judging and prizes ensued along with some carnival-type fun and games.

Take a look at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s slideshow for a peek-a-BOO into the day. Enjoy!

We will be posting the photos in a separate gallery for purchase if you’d like your own copies.  

— Elaine Van Develde

Farewell to Fair Haven’s Thomas Vetterl

Fair Haven Fire Department mourns Thomas Vetterl. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Fire Department mourns Thomas Vetterl.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The marquee on the Fair Haven Firehouse is once again blanketed in memorial buntings. Borough firemen and longtime residents are in mourning.

Sixty-year fire company member and deep-rooted resident Thomas Vetterl “passed away peacefully” on Oct. 19 in Florida where he had relocated in his retirement years, according to his obituary in the Palm Beach Post. He was 93.

Born in Paterson, he spent most of his life in Red Bank and Fair Haven, where he was a member of the Church of the Nativity.

A graduate of Red Bank High School in 1941, Thomas was a star athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball.

A U.S. Army World War II veteran, Thomas Vetterl served as a staff sergeant in the 112th Field Artillery Division of the New Jersey National Guard, according to his obituary.

After being honorably discharged, he became a civil service employee — a motor vehicle foreman in the HISA, CECOM section of Fort Monmouth, retiring in 1985 after a 35-year career.

He was an exempt member of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 until his death.

Formerly, he was an active member of B.P.O.E. Lodge #233 in Red Bank, and the American Legion in Tequesta, FL.

He was known to love softball and was a member of Val’s Pal Softball Club in Rumson, and in Florida was a member of Jupiter Men’s Softball Association and Staying Alive Fitness Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

He was predeceased by his wife, the late Doris G. Vetterl, in 1987.

He is survived by:  two sons, Thomas J., of Gilbert, AZ, and Robert D., of Wakefield, RI; and six grandchildren, Alison, Thomas, Robert, Kristen, Victoria and Justin.

A memorial celebration will be held Nov. 7 at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Fund.

Police Report Child Endangerment, DWI, Drug Arrests & More

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

Criminal Incidents

• A theft was reported to have occurred sometime between Oct. 17 and 18 on Shrewsbury Avenue. The victim reported that someone stole a GPS and iPhone charger from their parked vehicle.

Patrolman Tanner Shea took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on Oct. 19 at a Broad Street office building. The owner reported that someone damaged the stone retaining wall around the sign.

Patrolman Gary Watson took the report.

Arrests

Continue reading Police Report Child Endangerment, DWI, Drug Arrests & More

This Weekend: R-FH Area Halloween Fun

The Halloween spirit is in the air and festivities to conjure it up into a hearty haunt abound this weekend.

There are parades, parties, costume contests, a haunted theater a regional run, and an egg hunt — yes, an egg hunt.

It all starts on Friday night with …

Brookdale Community College’s Haunted Theater:

Adult tours are held Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the college’s Performing Arts Center.

General admission is $12, senior admission is $10 (age 62 and up, college staff and alumni), high school students pay $8, and Brookdale students are admitted for $5 (two-ticket limit).

Saturday …

Fair Haven’s Halloween Egg Hunt starts at 5:30 p.m. at Fair Haven Fields near the concession stand.

It’s a play on the Easter Egg Hunt with a Halloween twist. The fields will be peppered with black and orange candy-filled eggs. Be there 15 minutes early and bring a bag for eggs.

The hunt is free.

• After the hunt, borough boy scout troops are hosting their Haunted Hike at 6:15 p.m.

The hike will take participants through the Fair Haven Fields Nature Area. Admission is a canned food item for donation.

Sunday …

 

• The regional 22nd Annual Trick or Trot 5K Race and Pet Walk, hosted by the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) and the Deal Fire Company No. 2, will take place at 11 a.m. at the Deal Casino in Deal.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the homeless animals at the Monmouth County SPCA and the Deal Fire Company. Over the past 21 years, the Trick or Trot has attracted nearly 50,000 participants and raised more than $25,000 for its beneficiaries. Formerly held in Long Branch, the large, regional run is now in Deal.

Race-day registration in person begins at the Deal Casino at 9:30 a.m. The Trick or Trot Kids Dash starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by the 5K Race at 11 a.m., with the Pet Walk at 11:05 a.m.

The People and Pet Costume Parades will take place at 11:45 a.m., followed by awards and prizes! Deal Fire Company will host a post-race party on site with hot dogs, beverages and music.

Registration costs for the 5K and Pet Walk are $25. Registration for the Kids Dashes is $15. Long-sleeved t-shirts are provided to all who pre-register.

Fair Haven Halloween Parade 2014 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Halloween Parade 2014
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The Fair Haven Halloween Parade/Costume Contest lines up at Knollwood School on Hance Road at 1:30 p.m. and makes its way down Hance and River roads and to the Fair Haven Firehouse at 2 p.m.

Prizes will be given out at the firehouse.

Children of all ages are welcome.

Rumson Halloween 2014 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Halloween 2014
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The Rumson Halloween Parade and Party runs at Forrestdale School from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Line-up is at the school’s main entrance at 3:15 p.m. There will be a costume contest and prizes, thematic games and activities, hot dogs and beverages and a trick-or-treat.