Tag Archives: Rumson

News

Quaking in Rumson & Fair Haven?

Reports of tremors felt in southern and western New Jersey flooded social media at about 1:30 p.m.

Now, at about 3:30, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reported on Twitter that the rumblings felt were likely not an earthquake but a sonic boom. Why was it felt at different times and, in some spots, multiple times? “A sonic boom travels through the air w/ the airplane so it arrives at different ground locations at different times,” USGS reported.

This editor felt it in Fair Haven while on the phone with a news contact for another story. It wasn’t major, but enough to startle and make the house rumble for a few seconds. It only happened once here.

Seconds later, while the news contact from a mile or two away in the same area did not feel the same quake, people started bombarding social media with reports of tremors. Most reported were felt in western Monmouth County and Ocean County and farther south.

No one else from the immediate area has said they felt any sort of tremor. Since, though, NJ State Police, on their Facebook page, has asked people to let them know where and when tremors were felt throughout the state.

Here’s their post:

“Have you felt the tremors?
We are hearing reports of tremors here in Jersey. For the record, we have not reported any seismic blasts anywhere in the State.
If you’ve felt the tremors today, let us know in the comments where and when. We’re working to confirm.”

While USGS has stood by the sonic boom theory, other sources have disagreed and the state police are still asking people to report any tremors from the afternoon.

Did you feel it?

 

News

How Rumson Weathered the Storm

Rumson officials called it one of the worst storms to weather in three decades in the borough.

Continue reading How Rumson Weathered the Storm →

Obituaries

Former Rumson Fire Chief Edward Duffy Dies at 81

Edward Duffy Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home
Edward Duffy
Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home

Longtime Rumsonite and former Oceanic Hook & Ladder Company No. 1  Chief Edward J. Duffy passed away with his family at his side at Riverview Medical Center on Jan. 9. He was 81.

Born Jan 4, 1935 to James and Catherine (Walsh) Duffy in New York City , where he spent his youth and attended Power Memorial Academy, Ed first came to Rumson as a teen vacationing with his parents. He met his bride Midge there and moved to the borough permanently in 1955.

A 59-year member of Oceanic Hook & Ladder, Ed served as its chief in 1971, company president from 1975 to 76 and served on most of the fire company’s committees.

He created the fire company’s social committee, putting much effort into managing bus trips, picnics and parties. Ed retired from Coastal Building Maintenance in 2000 after more than 30 years as its vice president /general manager.

He had a passion for theater, from Broadway to local community theater productions. “He was inspired to write his own comedy mysteries, bringing laughter to many,” his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home said. “He was our favorite comic, magician and jokester. We will forever miss checking the mail to find a card from him with a joke or newspaper clipping.”

Ed Duffy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret (Midge); daughters, Marie Duffy, Margaret Duffy Bodchon and Regina Duffy; his son, Edward Duffy; grandchildren, Kristen Turner, Brian Custer, AJ Custer, Nicole Bodchon, and Derek Bodchon; and three great grandchildren; his brothers, James Duffy and Philip Duffy; and his sister, Virginia Keane.

He was predeceased by his sisters Grace Linderman and Catherine Ferrick, and his son-in-law, David Bodchon.

Visitation is Tuesday from 2 to 4  and 7 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Holy Cross Church, Ward Avenue, Rumson. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.

— Edited obituary from Thompson Memorial Home

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Faces of 2015

In one way or another, they were part of the lives of the people of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Some were leaders. Some were in prominent positions. Some were just plain popular people — mainstays around the towns. Some retired. Some resigned. Some were promoted. Some passed away and left behind their community legacies. Some made small, significant contributions of kind words or bright smiles.

For whatever the reason, we remember them. They passed through our lives last year or a lot longer. They embodied the community. They are the Rumson-Fair Haven area faces of 2015.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

2015: The Year’s Events

There was a lot happening in the way of events in the Rumson-Fair Haven area in 2015.

There was …

Take a look back with us! Don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge!

From the Meeting Room

Swearing In, Promoting & Retiring at Rumson Reorg 2016

By Elaine Van Develde

Rumson rang in 2016 with tradition and a little change at the New Year’s Day reorganization ceremony.

Officials were sworn in to  additional terms on the Borough Council dais. New emergency response line officers took their oaths for the coming year. Police officers were promoted. And officials said goodbye to a longtime borough employee.

Mayor John Ekdahl was sworn in to his fourth term. Councilmen John J. Conklin III and Mark Rubin were sworn in to additional terms on the dais.

Joseph Hemphill was named council president.

After the swearing in of officials, two police officers were promoted.

Detective Senior Patrolman Christopher Isherwood became a sergeant. Wife holding the bible by his side along with Chief Scott Paterson, Mayor Ekdahl administered the oath to Isherwood and presented him with his sergeant’s badge.

Then Senior Patrolman Anthony Ciambrone was also promoted to the rank of sergeant. With the mayor administering the oath, Chief Paterson also present and Ciambrone’s wife holding the bible, he was sworn in and presented with his new sergeant’s badge.

Then onto the business of saying goodbye …

Longtime assistant to the mayor, Loretta Chebookjian was thanked by the mayor, given a gift and flowers. Chebookjian joked that she was with the borough exactly “11 and three quarters years. I will miss passing you on the road every morning on my way to work (while you were on your way to work),” she told the mayor.

Then there was the business of installing new line officers in the Rumson Fire Department and First Aid Squad.

Outgoing EMS Captain Mary Nichols was thanked for her service  and new Captain Darren McConnell was sworn in.

Then Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy was thanked for his service and the oath of office was administered to the new chief, Ronald Immesberger and Assistant Fire Chief Micheal Trivett. Each was given his new badge as well.

In keeping with true Rumson tradition, the mayor then announced that there would be a small intermission before he gave his annual speech, which, he joked, “will probably again be longer than it probably should be.”

The speech began with, “The Borough Council members have met the year’s challenges with diplomacy and with the dignity that would be expected from such an experienced council. I applaud each of you for the contributions you have made on behalf of the residents of Rumson.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to every Borough employee, committee member and professional for their support and assistance throughout the past year …”

For the remainder of the full speech, click here.

Happy New Year!

 

From the Meeting Room, News

Rumson, Fair Haven Reorganizations

It’s status quo for the New Year. Towns reorganize. Newly-elected and/or re-elected officials are sworn in, professionals are appointed and re-appointed, emergency responder line officers are installed and volunteers are named to committees. It’s called reorganization.

It’s also usually status quo for towns to hold their annual reorganization ceremonies on New Year’s Day.

This year, there’s a slight change in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

While Rumson will still hold its annual reorganization at Bingham Hall, on Bingham Avenue, at 11:30 a.m., Fair Haven’s reorganization will be held, instead, on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall.

In Rumson, Mayor John Ekdahl will officially be sworn into his fourth four-year term as mayor.  In addition, the emergency response line officers will be named and sworn in. And, Ekdahl will give his classic “looking back on 2015” speech.

In Fair Haven, incumbent councilmen Robert Marchese and Eric Jaeger will be sworn in to additional three-year terms. Fire Department and First Aid line officers will be sworn in. Residents and officials will also be named to various committees.

Click here for the full agenda of appointments.

 

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Landscape Scene 2015

When it comes to landscape scenery, there’s a lot to see in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect always tries to seize the moment in a photo when the scene presents itself — and it has countless times in 2015. How could it not? The area, surrounded by the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and nestled along the Atlantic Ocean, is enveloped with natural beauty.

So, here are the most picturesque scenes captured in the R-FH area in 2015. What a wondrous waterfront world …