It’s fall. All is quiet on the beachfront in Sea Bright.
Wind whipping, high tide crashing in, the stillness surrounding the choppy water is chilling, yet comforting.
It’s a familiar scene that envelops and soothes like hands clutching a steamy cup of coffee on a cold day.
Ahhhh. Exhale. Take a sip of scenery.
— Elaine Van Develde
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Spanish Teacher Christina Gauss has received a Learning and Leadership Grant from the National Education Association.
The awarding of the $2,000 grant was based on her proposal entitled Cuba: One Year Later, in reference to the time that has passed since U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced their normalization plan.
The grant will allow Gauss to travel to Cuba in January, 2016 for an immersive cultural experience. While in Cuba, Gauss and fellow educators will participate in a Witness for Peace Delegation hosted by the People to People Organization.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to enhance my Spanish language skills while developing an understanding of the Cuban people, their rich cultural heritage, and their perspective on being at the forefront of social change,” said Gauss. “I am also looking forward to sharing my insights with students in all of my classes, and working to coordinate cross-disciplinary activities.”
The group plans to get involved with and learn about many aspect of Cuban life and culture, including:
• The literacy campaign that led to Cuba’s designation as an “illiteracy-free” zone by the United Nations;
• Current education practices for Cuban youth and communities
Local, sustainable agriculture;
• The current “drivers” of the economy;
• Cuba’s response to global climate change, a particular threat to island nations;
• Creation of the art that sustains the Cuban soul, and live performances at The Martin Luther King Center, a hub for community education and faith;
• Ecology as it relates to the earth, the community, and the mind.
Gauss currently teaches Spanish I, IV, IV Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish at RFH. The activities she plans while in Cuba correlate directly to the AP Spanish Language and Culture Curriculum with a focus on contemporary life, global challenges, personal and public identities, family and community, beauty and esthetics, and science and technology.
Upon her return, Gauss will develop curricular materials, activities, and presentations to share her findings with her students.
— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
Have you heard it? Seen it?
Rumson’s Charlie Puth just spread the word to the RFH Performing Arts Society (RFH Pas), via Facebook, that his Chevy (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)commercial — using a coast-to-coast remix of his song “One Call Away,” partnering Atlantic Records and Chevy and featuring him, Brett Eldredge, Ty Dolla $ign & Sofia Reyes — is out and on YouTube.
It’s billed as a celebration of “the 2015 American Music Awards” on YouTube.
Check it out.
Puth also tells people on his Facebook page that if you pre-order his debut album, Nine Track Mind, you “get an instant download of “One Call Away” right now on iTunes http://smarturl.it/NineTrackMind.”
Puth graduated from RFH in 2010 and then from Berklee College of Music in 2013. An accomplished pianist and singer, he first gained notoriety when Ellen Degeneres discovered him via his YouTube channel and signed him to her record label eleveneleven. He is now signed with Atlantic Records.
A memorial service has been set for Saturday, Nov. 28, to honor the memory of forever Fair Havenite Benjamin “Ben” Barry Hamilton, who passed away this past Saturday at his home in the borough.
While “words of remembrance,” according to the obituary, will be shared at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Thompson Memorial Home in Red Bank, the service will span from 1 to 4 p.m.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is in the process of putting together a memorial tribute and slideshow to honor Ben.
In the meantime, here is his edited obituary from Thompson …
Benjamin Barry Hamilton,”Ben” 56, of Fair Haven, died at home on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015.
Born in Jersey City to George and Joan (nee, Shook) Hamilton, he was a longtime Fair Haven resident. Ben was a retired investment professional. His professional career spanned three decades trading securities in the United States and Asia.
Ben will be remembered for his love of the Jersey Shore, his passion for surfing and his forever search for the perfect wave. He always began each day in New Jersey or Nantucket reading the local surf report or driving to check out the waves.
A Rumon-Fair Haven Regional High School Class of 1977 alumni, Ben went on to graduate from Hobart William Smith College in 1981, where he was a proud member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and participated in Hobart Lacrosse. He then received his master’s degree in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
He was a past family member of the Sea Bright Beach Club and an active member of the Clean Ocean Action.
Ben was also a founding partner of the Navesink River Paddle Excursions.
Ben was predeceased by his parents George and Joan Hamilton. He is survived by: his brother, George L. Hamilton Jr., of Ocean Grove, ; his sisters, Jeanmarie Drucker of NY, NY, and Kate Hamilton Pardee, of Nantucket, MA; his nephews and niece, Richard Drucker Jr. and Hamilton Drucker, George L. Hamilton III, and Katelynn Hamilton; his aunt, Jean Prial; close friend, Wendy Ostrov Delehanty; and many loving friends.
There will be a memorial gathering to celebrate Ben’s life on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, from 1 to 4 p.m. with “words of remembrance” at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Benjamin B. Hamilton Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 8097, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or to the Fair Haven Fire & First Aid, River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704.
Nearly 100 community members shared their visions for the future of the Fair Haven School District at a recent workshop.
Expectations for the Future, held on Nov. 11, was the second in a series of four workshops open to the public designed to help drive the district’s current strategic planning initiative dubbed FAIR HAVEN VISION 2020. The first workshop, held on Oct. 7, focused on “points of pride” in the present-day school district.
At the second workshop, facilitators Dr. Charles Ivory and Dr. Gerald Woehr, of the non-profit Education Information & Resource Center (EIRC), asked attendees to peer into the future.
“Envision a highly successful Fair Haven School District about three years from now,” Ivory told the group. “Then consider what factors are making make it great, and what steps had to be taken to get there.
“This your opportunity to ‘future think’ what you would like to happen for the children of this community.”
Continue reading Insight into Fair Haven Schools’ ‘Expectations for the Future’
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Continue reading Police: Alleged Stalker Arrested, $70K Bail; Heroin Possession, $77.5K Bail
It may have been a bit too chilly for lederhosen this year, but there was plenty of community warmth emanating at Fair Haven’s November Oktoberfest on Saturday.
There was also plenty of beer, sangria, food and dancing among friends.
Take a look.
The following recent criminal incidents and arrests were reported by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Continue reading Police Report: Theft, Criminal Mischief, Marijuana Possession & More
National Signing Day was Wednesday; and, surrounded by coaches, family and friends, 14 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) athletes signed letters of intent.
The students and their college commitments are:
• Reid Bedell, Golf at Lafayette College;
• Butch Clark, Lacrosse at Pace University;
• Ian Clarke, Lacrosse at Pace University;
• Robbie Garavante, Lacrosse at Lafayette College;
• Maggie Jennings, Lacrosse at Villanova University;
• Stephanie Lesko, Basketball at Bryant University;
• Jacqueline Littleson, Lacrosse at Vanderbilt University;
• Madison Maguire, Field Hockey at University of Maryland;
• Nicole Morris, Basketball at Holy Cross College;
• Sydney Sabino, Basketball at Wagner College;
• Teddy Smith, Swimming at University of Denver;
• Morgan Steinhacker, Lacrosse at Bucknell University;
• Shoshanna Swell, Swimming at Cornell University;
• Matt Waters, Lacrosse at University of Delaware.
The National Letter of Intent serves as a binding agreement between student-athletes and Division I and II programs at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) colleges and universities.
— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School.
Hoist up your lederhosen and grab your beer stein. It’s that time of the year again in Fair Haven. It’s Oktoberfest time … in November.
So, they said it was a rain or shine event that was rained out.
It’s happening on Saturday … this Saturday, Nov. 14 … in November. Rain or shine.
By Elaine Van Develde
Call them all Tavolicious — the key fresh ingredients in just some of our favorite foods at Tavolo Pronto in Fair Haven.
Yes. Tavolicious. That works. They’re a special blend of uniquely Tavolo and just plain delicious. There are so many Tavolicious things at Tavolo.
By Elaine Van Develde
Veterans. Honoring them for a moment on one day at a once-annual small-town gathering on Veterans Day is not enough, Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli told the crowd gathered for a ceremony in the borough on Wednesday morning.
“It is up to us to honor the lives that we lost — to honor all those who have served our country,” he said. “We honor them through events like this. But we should honor them in everyday life as well.”
Noting the presence of young school children in attendance, as part of the program, the mayor continued, saying that it is “important to note that it is up to the parents to make sure that our children realize the immense sacrifice they’ve (veterans)made.
“It is because of them that we are able to enjoy the freedom and liberties we are afforded. Ceremony is a small token of gratitude to these men and women.”
The mayor’s sentiment was echoed by featured speaker U.S. Marine Corps Major Joshua Zager, a 1989 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Graduate who served in Marine Fighter Attack squadrons 251, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt and flew 43 combat missions over Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom.
“People are always thanking me for my service,” Major Zager said, turning his thanks to those serving their own towns at home. “It was my pleasure.
“I’ve stood the watch many times … Right now I’d like to thank our policemen and volunteer firefighters. They’re standing watch right now so that tonight we can sleep safely in our beds.”
That theme of hometown gratitude was emulated in Rumson.
There, First Sgt. James Duffney, 177 Fighter Wing in the NJ Air National Guard, gave thanks as well. “He thanked all those veterans present for their service and remembered all those from Rumson who have passed on,” Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect, after missing his speech by a minute.
Yes, thank you. Thank you to the veterans who died serving our country. Thank you to those who served, came home, raised their families in the area, lived their lives out serving their communities, or just being a good neighbor. Thank you to those now serving. Thank you to the police and firemen protecting and serving their communities every single day.
Thank you.
Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into Veterans Day in Rumson and Fair Haven. Don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge.
— Photos and slideshow/Elaine Van Develde
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