Tag Archives: feature

News, Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Prosecutor: Rumson Blithewald Fire an Accident

April 23, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

They weren’t able to rule out electrical malfunction as a cause of Monday’s Rumson fire, but the tri-fold investigative team has determined that, regardless, it was an accident, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charles Webster said.

There were “energized electric circuits or equipment” in the area of the fire’s origin, “in the area of a wall located between a guest bedroom and an en-suite bedroom, both located on the second floor” of the 19th century mansion dubbed Blithewald, a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Fire Marshal and Rumson Police Department determined, Webster said.

There were no injuries sustained from the six-hour, four-alarm blaze fought by several area fire departments at the 76 Buena Vista Avenue home owned by the Widener family.

Designers had been on site putting finishing touches on the home that was to be the centerpiece of the Visiting Nurse Association’s Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House event slated to kick off on Saturday.

Local Life

Fair Haven Shore Signs of Spring

Gallery April 23, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The temperature may have plummeted a bit, but spring has just about sprung on the banks of the Navesink River in Fair Haven.

Tree leaves and blossoms have or are just about to bloom. The tide has been low, boats being readied for the season and waters calm.

It’s the perfect time for a walk down by the river.

Take a look at why Fair Havenites treasure their river time and memories.

You may purchase photos from this gallery, but may not publish them anywhere. They are copyrighted.

— Photos by Elaine Van Develde/Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Police and Fire

Police Report Contempt, Probation Violation

April 22, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent arrests on contempt of court and violation of probation charges were reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• James Georgianna, 23, of Port Monmouth Road in Middletown, was arrested on April 14 by Patrolman Stephen Greenwood of the Anti-Crime Unit on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.

He was held on $4,416 bail.

Continue reading Police Report Contempt, Probation Violation →

Local Life, News

Fair Haven: Poised for a Park

April 22, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

The Fair Haven house that Charles Williams built is gone.

But the historic significance of the freed African-American slave’s family homestead at the foot of DeNormandie Avenue has not been forgotten as the borough preps the swath of Navesink riverfront property for it’s new life as a park.

Fair Haven officials have said all along that once the transformation to passive recreation park takes hold, a plaque commemorating the Williams family and its Robards descendants will be anchored on the site. The plaque will include a brief history of the land’s significance.

For now, though, getting set for some major landscaping is the priority.

“The DPW is finishing up with clearing the property of any remaining bits of debris from the demolition,” Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “The borough’s arborist has assessed the trees on the property and made a determination of which can be cut down and which must be saved. Becker Tree Service, which has a contract with the borough, will soon remove the trees that cannot be saved.”

After that, the property will be readied for turf and landscaping.

Taxpayers contributed roughly $200,000 to the acquisition of the $1.2 million plat. The remainder of the money to purchase it came from state, county and non-profit grants — all of which were contingent upon a commitment to eternally preserve the land as open space.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the property’s history, from borough acquisition to the home’s demolition.

— Photos and slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

News, Police and Fire

Sea Bright Fire Company’s Focus on the Rumson Blithewald Fire

Video April 22, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The Sea Bright Fire Company has shared its view from a head cam of Monday’s Rumson fire at the Blithewald historic mansion via a post on its Facebook page.

In the post, the company’s representatives said that the release of the video on YouTube, they felt, would “not only give the public insight on what we do but will allow our brothers and sisters of the service an opportunity to better both themselves and ourselves in the future.”

No cause has been as of yet determined. The fire is under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Rumson police and the county fire marshal.

Take a look for a glimpse into the life of a local firefighter on the job. Firefighters have asked that the public excuse their language at some points.

Crime, Police and Fire

Arresting News: Heroin Possession, Vehicular Assault, DWIs, Stalking & More

April 21, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following recent arrests were reported by the Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Matthew Carscadden, 35, of Windswept Road in Holmdel, was arrested on April 6 by Patrolman Thomas Foster and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

He was held on $5,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• Robert Kolb, 47, of Route 36 in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, was arrested on April 7 by Cpl. James Keenan and charged with simple assault.

He was held on $2,500 bail.

• On April 7, Cpl. James Keenan arrested a 15-year-old female juvenile and charged her with obstructing the administration of law.

She was released pending a court date.

Continue reading Arresting News: Heroin Possession, Vehicular Assault, DWIs, Stalking & More →

Local Life, Schools Scene

RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent

April 21, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following is a press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s)Janae Mayfield has signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division I Basketball for St. Peter’s University in Jersey City.

Janae, a senior at RFH, put pen to paper and made it official on the morning of April 15 with her family and coaches proudly looking on.

“My parents put a basketball in my hands when I was four years old,” said Janae. “I loved watching my older siblings play, and as I got older my dad and I would shoot hoops in the driveway while I waited for my school bus.”

Continue reading RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent →

Local Life

Dancing for RFH’s George Giffin

April 20, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

By George, it was an evening all about dance and raising funds for a good cause!

The George Giffin Memorial Dance-a-Thon was dubbed a good time for all on Saturday.

The popular Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School science and dance teacher and coach passed away last year. In finding a fitting way to memorialize him and garner some money for Monmouth Day Care Center, his daughter Debra Schluter and a committed group of volunteers set the dance-a-thin in motion — literally.

Take a look at the slideshow above for a glimpse into the event, and remember George Giffin.

“When you get that beat, you have to moooove your feet!” — George Giffin.

— Elaine Van Develde

Police and Fire, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Fire: Rumson VNA Show House Up in Smoke

Gallery April 20, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The historic Rumson mansion known as Blithewald was all set for a Saturday Gatsby-themed gala to kick-off its month-long feature as the Visiting Nurse Association’s (VNA) fifth Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House — until a fire ravaged it.

The 19th century home to the Widener family, at 76 Buena Vista Ave., went up in flames on the upper floors and roof area at about 12:55 p.m., according to first responders at the scene.

As of 3:45 p.m., firefighters from several surrounding towns and beyond — Rumson, Fair Haven, Middletown, Red Bank, Little Silver, Sea Bright, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Shrewsbury and Asbury Park — were still arriving at what was still considered an active fire.

Smoke could still be seen billowing from the roof and upstairs. And firefighters were still on the scene at about 7 p.m.

There were no reported injuries, authorities said.

Fair Haven Fire Department thanked Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 for covering Fair Haven while its firemen assisted at the Rumson fire.

The VNA released the following statement in the late afternoon:

Today, Blithewald, the house that designers, staff and volunteers have been preparing for the fifth edition of the Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House event to benefit VNA Health Group, caught fire and sustained heavy damage. The cause is unknown and we thankfully have heard of no injuries to anyone at this point.

We are tremendously grateful to the first responders and to our staff members and volunteers who were on the scene to respond to the emergency.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the first responders and the homeowners as they assess the damage.

Blithewald, a historic treasure from the Gilded Age, was the setting for the fifth edition of the Stately Homes by-the-Sea Designer Show House. Proceeds of tours and the Preview Gala were to benefit VNA Health Group.

We will provide updates about the Stately Homes-by-the-Sea Preview Gala that was scheduled for Saturday, April 25th and the opening of the Show House tours, which were scheduled to begin on April 28, 2015 as information becomes available.

This is a breaking news story. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will add information as it becomes available.

— Elaine Van Develde

Crime, Police and Fire

Police: DWI, Mischief & Missing Meds

April 20, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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

Arrest

• Linda Vicinio, 50, of Freehold, was arrested on April 11 in the area of Hudson Avenue and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) by Patrolman Stanley Balmer.

Incidents

• The theft of medication was reported on April 14 to have occurred sometime between April 3 (when the medication was last seen) and 14.

Patrolman Tanner Shea took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred at the Morford Place parking lot on April 11. The victims reported that an unknown person or persons scratched a parked vehicle around its entire length.

Patrolman Jorge Torres took the report.

Local Life

Focus: RFH Prom Time

April 20, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) junior prom is over, but the memories will, no doubt, linger for a lifetime.

Prom is just one of those milestones that remains etched in the mind of a teen — indelibly.

Well, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect asked for snapshots of some of those moments and got them.

So, take a look at our slideshow above. that encapsulates the start of the Friday night event of a teen lifetime at Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. Be sure to click on the lower right icon to enlarge. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Grato Images, Doug Borden and Daryl Ley for the photos! Grato says there are more to come, so check out the site by clicking here.