Tag Archives: Rumson

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 …

Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Detour: Bingham & Ridge

If you’re planning on traveling on or around Bingham Avenue in Rumson on Monday, police advise that you plan an alternate route.

New Jersey Natural Gas will be installing a gas main at the intersection of Bingham Avenue and Ridge Road on Monday from  7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., police said. So, the roads at that spot will be blocked off.

The new gas main is slated for the installation on Monday, police said, in an effort to get the major project work completed while Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and Forrestdale and Deane-Porter students are on winter break and the traffic flow in the area is slated to be far less congested during school hours than usual.

Bingham will be accessible to local residents of the immediate area only, police said. Otherwise, police advise that all other drivers avoid the area.

 

Schools Scene

Rumson Parents Take a ’15-Minute Child Break’ to Talk About Substance Abuse

The Rumson School District Parent Academy offered parents some insight on how to talk to their kids about substance abuse with 15-Minute Child Break, a program offered through the state’s Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

The organization is run as a collaborative effort between the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the NJ Department of Human Services.

On Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., Rumson parents got together at the Forrestdale School Media Center to talk about how they are the key influencers in the prevention of substance abuse and learn how to effectively talk to their children about drugs and alcohol and their potential for destroying lives.

More than 40 parents attended the session hosted by Superintendent John Bormann, Forrestdale School Counselor Jenn Crow, and Deane Porter School Counselor Jessica Piernik.

The program is supported by research on substance abuse from Middle School Foundation of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. This research shows that kids who communicate regularly with their parents about their daily activities — for as little as 15 minutes — are 67 percent less likely to be involved in substance abuse than those who have little or no communication.

The 15-Minute Child Break theory supports and empowers today’s parents with the assurance that they are still the strongest influences in their children’s lives.

The presentation covered the following topics:

• Talking to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol;
• Influence of Media and Pop Culture;
• Effects of Specific Drugs;
• Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free;
• Strengthening Parenting Skills;
• Utilizing Teachable Moments.

Additional information about the program can be found under “Child Break” at www.drugfreenj.org.

Information on upcoming Parent Academy presentations can be found on the Rumson School District website at www.rumsonschool.org.

— Edited press release from the Rumson School District

Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police: Safeguarding Santa’s Gifts

In light of the holiday season and the onslaught of deliveries that usually come with it, Rumson police have some cautionary advice to safeguard your packages’ safe arrival.

In addition to just being mindful that an unattended package on a porch or stoop is a potential theft invite for unsavory Grinches, police, on their Facebook page, advise that you:

•  “Request a signature option when ordering an item so it will not be left unattended while the family is out;
• Request that the item be held at the shipping center for pickup;
• Tell a friend or a neighbor to keep an eye out and retrieve any packages for you while you are out.

“As always, report any suspicious persons or vehicles 24/7″ by calling the police station at 721-842-0500.”

Local Life

Tradition: Rumson’s 16th Toy Drive

Santa Claus is coming to … the Rumson Department of Public Works Annual Toy Drive.

That’s right. Once again, it’s that time of the year, on Friday and Saturday, when Rumson tradition takes hold and Santa, in the form of countless charitable elves, brings new, unwrapped toys to the Public Works garage on East River Road to bring a better Christmas to children in need.

But it’s not just a toy drive. It’s an annual Rumson community tradition. It’s hosted by the DPW employees and the community as a whole, replete with holiday-appropriate hot chocolate, candy canes and yuletide company.

“It’s definitely turned into a big community event,” DPW organizer Mark Wellner told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect last year. “A lot of people stop down, bring the kids and socialize. We give the kids the candy canes and hot chocolate and there’s coffee for the adults. It’s really nice.”

This is the 16th year of the drive for which organizers usually set a goal of gathering at least 1,000 toys that will get funneled to the kids via Family & Children’s Services, Long Branch, and The Salvation Army, Red Bank.

And they’re always setting higher goals, trying to reach more kids and top each year’s number of toys collected and distributed.

Organizers ask that anyone wishing to donate bring a new, unwrapped gift to the Rumson Public Works Garage, behind Borough Hall on West River Road, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday and/or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

— Elaine Van Develde

News

Pub Crawling at Murphy’s with Bon Jovi’s Drummer

It’s not every day that you end up in the middle of a pub crawl at Murphy’s in Rumson with Bon Jovi’s drummer — just this past Saturday.

It’s a usual event for the Ancient Order of Hibernians. They get on a bus and pub crawl. Murphy’s is one of their stops at the annual outing.

Some bag piping is done and there’s the usual fun and socializing for everyone.

This year, though, there was a celebrity crawler — Tico Torres.

He was just hanging out and having some fun. He blended right in, until a fellow Hibernian crawler called attention to him. He kept calling him by the wrong name (Tito), but Tico, very politely made the correction and introduced himself and hopped back on the bus with everyone after posing for a group photo (lead photo).

That busload left and another bunch of Hibernians piled in. It was a festive day at Murphy’s.

Take a look. Cheers!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, News

Decking the Halls: Rumson, Fair Haven Tree Lightings

It’s that time of the year in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — time for tree lightings, Santa, a holiday stroll, song, dance and some hot cocoa.

It all starts on Friday evening with festivities in Fair Haven …

Santa arrives at Memorial Park, at the corner of River and Fair Haven roads, by firetruck at 5:30 p.m. and will be visiting with kids and posing for photos.

The Christmas tree will be lit at 6 p.m. And in the midst of all of it, the classic holiday stroll will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. It is the classic annual local businesses’ holiday open house. All are invited to partake and enjoy some treats and, perhaps, good deals.

And on Sunday in Rumson …

The annual Christmas tree lighting is set for 5 p.m. at Victory Park.

As usual, it features Tim McLoone & the Shirleys with members of Holiday Express, the RFH Tower Singers and the Deane-Porter Third Grade Chorus.

Oh, and Santa will be there, too. And there will be the usual treats, including some hot cocoa to cap the warm tenor of the event.