Tag Archives: feature

Local Life, News

Holy Cross Church: A Look at its Expansion From Start to Near Finish

Gallery

Here’s Holy Cross Church. Here’s its steeple. Open the doors … Well, not quite yet.

By the looks of things and according to the word around town, the Rumson church will be ready for its people (or parishioners) by the summer.

And it looks that way.

With the foundation of the 1885 church restoration/expansion blessed on Nov. 3, 2013, after the project broke ground that spring, construction was slated for completion by the end of 2014. While it has looked very close to finished for several months, a look back from its groundbreaking to now shows the progress and latest refinements.

The church project has been a contentious one from the start, tainted by the scandal of its leader in the early 2000s, Rev. Joseph Hughes, who pleaded guilty to embezzling millions from the church and its revamp fundraising coffers.

Then there were battles over the size of the expansion of what was a small, white-shingled 1885 church the expansion of which is being tailored to recreate the original design of Charles Keely.

For fundraising sponsorship offers, check out the church’s website by clicking here.

— Photos and story/Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life, News

West Front Street Bridge is Open

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It happened on schedule. The new $21.9 million West Front Street (or Hubbard’s) Bridge opened just in time for Memorial Day on Monday, but work will continue.

The old, temporary bridge will be removed; and, with that, finishing touches on the bridge approaches and amenities will be wrapped up within a year or so, Monmouth County officials said in a release.

Continue reading West Front Street Bridge is Open →

Obituaries

Services Set for Former Rumsonite, Fair Haven Dell’s Pharmacy Owner, Pauline Dell’Omo

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Former Rumsonite and Fair Haven Dell’s Pharmacy owner Pauline Graff Dell’Omo passed away at her Long Branch home on May 14 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 84.

Born in Long Branch, Pauline lived in Red Bank and Rumson before moving to Long Branch. A graduate of Red Bank High School and Monmouth College, Pauline and her husband Louis owned and operated Dell’s Pharmacy at 598 River Rd. in Fair Haven from 1953 to 1979.

After the pharmacy, she worked at United Counties Bank in Tinton Falls and Red Bank. She was also a badge checker during the summers at Spring Lake Beach.

Pauline is survived by: her daughter, Barbara Ann Dell’Omo of Wall Township, RN; and her son, Gregory G. Dell’Omo, of Pittsburgh, PA, Ph. D, president of Robert Morris University to assume presidency of Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ in August, and his wife Polly Evans Dell’Omo; five grandchildren, Lara B. Brooks, of Oakton, VA, Nicholas E. Dell’Omo, of Washington, DC, Vincent B. Dell’Omo, of Pittsburgh, PA, Jeffrey M. Dell’Omo, of Atlantic Highlands, and Robert H. Dell’Omo, of Atlantic Highlands; and two great-grandchildren, Amelia (Mila) C. Brooks and Vivienne D. Brooks.

She was predeceased by: her husband, Louis M. Dell’Omo; and son Michael L. Dell’Omo.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. , with a service being held during the visitation hours at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814.

— Obituary, courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

RFH Scores Big in Basie Award Nominations

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It’s curtain up on the 10th Annual Basie Awards on Wednesday and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) directors, actors, musicians and techies have already gotten a standing ovation in nominations.

Among its 11 nominations, RFH is up for Outstanding Overall Production in both the Drama and Musical categories for its  Miracle on 34th Street and Young Frankenstein. In the acting categories, senior Julia Mosby also garnered nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in both the drama and musical categories for her roles in Miracle on 34th Street and Young Frankenstein.

RFH was also nominated for:

• Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Drama, Miracle on 34th Street,  Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Drama, Miracle on 34th Street, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, Julia Mosby, Miracle on 34th Street;

• Outstanding Direction in a Drama, Suzanne Sweeney, Miracle on 34th Street;

• Outstanding Overall Production – Drama, Miracle on 34th Street, Suzanne Sweeney;

• Outstanding Set/Scenic Design in a Musical, Young Frankenstein, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical, Young Frankenstein, Matthew Leddin;

• Outstanding Student/Adult Orchestra, Young Frankenstein, Vincent Mottern;

• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, Julia Mosby, Young Frankenstein;

• Outstanding Direction in a Musical, Suzanne Sweeney, Young Frankenstein;

• Outstanding Overall Musical Production, Suzanne Sweeney, Young Frankenstein.

Since 2005, the Basie Awards have served as a means to honor excellence in Monmouth County high school productions and performances.

The 2015 awards will be presented at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Wednesday night.

The three Count Basie Theatre Arts Impacts scholarships to be awarded to “high school seniors whose life, academic and career choice has been impacted by the arts” will also be announced at the ceremony: the Monmouth Medical Center/Barnabas Health Arts Impact Scholarship, the Monmouth County Freeholders’ Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education and the Moser-Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship.

For the full list of this year’s Basie Awards nominations, click here. 

 

Police and Fire

Arresting News: Assault, DWI, Theft

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

• Michael Granados-Campos, 28, of Red Bank, was arrested on May 14 in the area of Spring Street and charged with simple assault and contempt of court (COC) by Patrolman Benjamin Springer.

• Two male juveniles, 13 and 16, both of Red Bank, were arrested on May 10 in the area of Oakland Street and charged with theft by Patrolman Gary Watson.

• Eric Sharp, 63, of Willingboro, was arrested on May 8 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with disorderly conduct and on a contempt of court (COC) charge by Patrolman Cevin Albert.

• Paul Kozoil, 59, of Long Branch, was arrested on May 7 in the area of Maple Avenue and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of the law by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto.

• Andrea Frost, 30, of Red Bank, was arrested on May 7 in the area of Monmouth Street and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing the administration of the law by Patrolman Nicholas Maletto.

• Luis Ortiz, 22, of Tinton Falls, was arrested on May 13 by Patrolman Shane Dengel in the area of Monmouth Street on a contempt of court charge (COC).

• Tyrone Roy, 52, of Red Bank, was arrested on May 7 by Patrolman Ncholas Maletto on a contempt of court charge (COC) in the area of Monmouth Street.

Local Life

Sea Bright Farmers Market Feature: Cheesy and Udderly Fresh

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This Sea Bright Farmers Market butter, cheese and probiotic comes to you straight from the cow’s utters — the grass-fed cow’s.

That’s the scoop Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect got from Chris Stoner of Central Valley Farm.

“Yes, that’s my real name,” she said while explaining the makings of some special farm fresh products her farm sells at the market on Thursdays. “People always joke around with me and say, ‘What, exactly is it that you’re growing on that farm?'”

The truth, she said, is that they’re growing lots of vegetables and herbs, harvesting eggs from the chickens, and milking the grass-fed cows at least twice a day. And that organic milk is then churned into butter and turned into cheese, probiotic shakes and fruity treats.

“Yes, the butter, cheeses and shakes come right from the cow,” Stoner said. “Totally organic. Very yummy.”

The farm offers several different types of cheese, such as gouda, dill cheese cubes, ricotta, and the favorite, Jersey Cheese, is a soft, mild cheddar, she said.

We tried the farm fresh butter. It is a creamy organic dream. And it will, yes, melt in your mouth. We’re now convinced that there’s nothing better than fresh butter.

It’s not salty. “We use about a pinch of salt per four pounds, so if you like it a little saltier, you should add some on your own,” Stoner said.

 

 

Crime, Police and Fire

Crime Close By: Theft & Criminal Mischief

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The following recent criminal incidents were reported by the Red Bank police:

• A theft was reported to have occurred at a Carmen Place residence on May 7. The victim reported that someone stole cash from the bedroom dresser.

Patrolman Sean Hauschildt took the report.

• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred at a Carmen place residence on May 7. The victim reported that someone keyed a parked vehicle.

Patrolman Kristin Altimari took the report.

Continue reading Crime Close By: Theft & Criminal Mischief →

Local Life

Springing into the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair

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[WRG id=3630]

It’s a sure sign of spring when the Sea Bright Firemen’s Fair starts.

And spring was in the air on the first night of the longtime area tradition Thursday.

The fair continues through Sunday: Friday, from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, from 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, from 2 to 9 p.m.

Take a look at the photo gallery above for a glimpse into opening night of the fair. 

 

Schools Scene

RFH Wins 3rd Place in ‘Robot Challenge’

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Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students recently took the NJ Coast IEEE Robot Challenge and won third place.

Seven teams, 28 students, from RFH competed in the May 2 challenge at Brookdale Community College with Team Starlords taking the third place out of 40 teams from 15 New Jersey high schools.

Continue reading RFH Wins 3rd Place in ‘Robot Challenge’ →

Crime, Police and Fire

Man Arrested on Warrant for Aggravated Assault; $75K Bail

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The following recent arrests made on contempt of court charges were reported by Middletown police.

• Jonathan Rocha, 28, of Arvin Road in Old Bridge, was arrested on April 30 by Patrolman Adam Vendetti on a warrant out of Old Bridge for aggravated assault charges.

He was held on $75,000 bail.

• Harold Johnson, 33, of Sherman Avenue in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on April 24 by Patrolman Nicholas Fenezia on contempt of court warrants issued by Hazlet, Middletown, Red Bank and Holmdel municipal courts.

He was released after posting $5,269 bail.

Continue reading Man Arrested on Warrant for Aggravated Assault; $75K Bail →

Obituaries

Friday, Saturday Services Set for Fair Haven’s Ray Miller

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Longtime Fair Havenite and 60-year Exxon station owner/operator Raymond J. Miller passed away at his Middletown home on May 10. He was 92.

Born and raised in Bound Brook, Ray graduated from Bound Brook High school in 1940. After high school, he worked at Calco Chemical as a mill right then as a pipefitter.

Continue reading Friday, Saturday Services Set for Fair Haven’s Ray Miller →

Police and Fire

Police: Area Man Arrested on Burglary, Assault, Endangerment, Drug Charges; $250K Bail

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

• Gwen Daly, 34, of Fourth Street in Highlands, was arrested on April 27 by Patrolman Thomas Hughes of the Anti-Crime Unit and charged with providing false information to a police officer.

She was released pending a court date.

• Xavier Williams, 45, of Hopping Road in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on April 29 by Patrolman Scott Davis and charged with simple assault.

He was released pending a court date.

Continue reading Police: Area Man Arrested on Burglary, Assault, Endangerment, Drug Charges; $250K Bail →