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Fair Haven Police and Fire Files, News

Focus: Swearing In Fair Haven’s New Police Chief

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In a meeting room packed beyond capacity with officials, family, friends and colleagues from near and far, Joseph McGovern was sworn in as Fair Haven’s new police chief at Monday night’s Borough Council meeting.

The swearing-in, at what Mayor Ben Lucarelli called the shortest meeting in history, came nearly seven months after the retirement of former chief, Darryl Breckenridge, who was also in attendance.

McGovern, a near 30-year veteran of the force in Fair Haven, thanked everyone for their support, especially the officers with whom he has served for decades, and said he looked forward to keeping the department top-notch.

Take a look at the photos below for a glimpse into the swearing-in — before, during and after. Click on each to enlarge. 

Congratulations Chief McGovern!

 

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Dock Spring Sunset

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“Isn’t it beautiful?” said a woman smiling and taking in the sunset at the Fair Haven Dock Wednesday night. “It’s just breathtaking and it’s right here in our back yards. Well, almost. Just beautiful.”

Yes. We agreed. And, no, it just doesn’t get old — the serenity, the scenery, the gratitude for it all.

So, again, and likely many more times, we offer the view from the dock over the Navesink River at sunset in Fair Haven — a little peninsula haven that is a sweet home to many.

Good night, home.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Rumson Egg Hunt Eggcellence

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The weather held out for the 37th Annual Rumson Egg Hunt on Saturday and every bunny was out for the prizes and the day at Victory Park.

Sponsored by the all-volunteer Rumson Fire Department, kids in three age divisions combed the park for chocolate eggs and other prizes.

It was an eggcellent day, according to officials.

Take a look at the photos below, courtesy of the borough’s Sarah Orsay, for a glimpse into the day.

 

Local Life

Mangia! Spaghetti Dinner 2016

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For the love of … spaghetti and meatballs, the annual Fair Haven Fire Department’s Spaghetti Dinner proved a tasty good time for all.

Saturday’s event fed a continuous full house of friends, family and fellow fire and first aid folks. Call it a night of community amore.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the evening. 

 

Local Life

Focus: Sunny Daze in the R-FH Area

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Blame it on El Nino.

Everyone in the Rumson-Fair Haven area got a taste of spring and then some with a good sun drenching and record-breaking temperatures hitting the mid- to high-70s.

In Rumson, it was so packed at Victory Park this afternoon that there was no parking within a few blocks’ radius. Things were quiet down at the Fair Haven Dock, with a couple of people and their best four-legged friends taking a stroll and a few teens out taking a run and jibing one another about some spring fever flirtations (just a little quibble over which guy “she” said hi to first).

Oh, and there was a swan taking a quiet swim.

Take a look. Ahhhhh. Serenity and sun now! Enjoy. Good night, R-FH area.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: RFH Grads Shoot Hoops & Raise Funds for a Good Cause

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Some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) grads took to the basketball courts at Knollwood and Sickles schools in Fair Haven recently to shoot hoops for a good cause.

The cause: Covenant House, a non- profit organization which provides much needed services for at-risk and homeless youth in America and abroad. The organization helps roughly 50,000 young people a year.

The fundraiser, which brought in $4,000 for the cause, was dubbed The 1st Annual Fair Haven Covenant House 3v3 Basketball Tournament and it took place at Knollwood and Sickles schools on Feb. 22.

There were a total of 24 teams and 95 players, many of whom were RFH grads. RFH classes 2003-12 were represented and players ranged in age from 22 to 60.

The tournament was run by Fair Haven natives D.J. Breckenridge, Jim Laufer, Ben Miller, Dan Miller,Will Miller, and Dan Ryan, who will all be participating in The Covenant House Young Professionals Sleep Out coming up on March 18.

At this coming event, more than 300 young professionals will sleep out on the streets of NYC in an effort to raise funds and awareness of youth homelessness. The Sleep Out is expected to raise more than $300,000.

Locally, there are Covenant House branches in Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Newark, Philadelphia and NYC. Covenant House President Kevin Ryan, also a Fair Haven resident, made a surprise appearance at the Feb. 22 fundraiser.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the event. 

For more information on Covenant House, click here.

— Photos and information, courtesy of D.J. Breckenridge

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Food & Folks for the Soul

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The Fair Haven Fiske AME Chapel Soul Food Dinner was deemed a success after only a couple of hours — by 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, to be exact.

Oh, the folks at the church may have been a bit worn out by then, but they were still cooking in more ways than one. Even though the ribs sold out completely, chicken was still in the fryer and 66 dinners had been sold. The side dishes were “wiped out,” gone, they said.

It’s no wonder people clamor to feast on the food for this dinner. Sonia Reevey, forever congregant and Fair Havenite, told us the secret is that there is no secret other than good, old fashioned home-cooked food made from special family recipes. “Everyone makes their special dish,” she said. “That’s all. That’s all it takes. We all have something special to cook.”

The ribs, she said, went right away. We were told that the not-so-secret secret to that recipe was a dry rub left overnight in the fridge, then slow baking and special barbecue sauce.

Missed that special treat. But, there was plenty of chicken and the cooks insisted that we try it fresh out of the cast iron skillet. Delicious. Crispy and warm on the outside and moist on the inside. Simple. The seasoning and coating were simple. Nothing overdone.

Call it food fit for the nourishment of the soul. There’s nothing complicated about it. That’s been the recipe for everything at the chapel since the dawn of time in Fair Haven. Hometown comfort food and friends.

Take a look at the photo gallery for a glimpse into the day.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: First Snowfall of the R-FH Area

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The first snowfall of the Rumson-Fair Haven area was actually a blizzard. The Blizzard of 2016, to be exact.

At least that’s what the weather authorities tell us. With accumulations ending up blustering and drifting into a couple of feet at least, the blizzard was, all told, weathered well in the area.

After a sunny Sunday that ushered in a bit of melting, the National Weather Service is calling for more sun with temperatures hitting a high of 36 degrees and a northwest wind of about 7 miles per hour.

The weather folks are cautioning that melting snow will lead to the usual flooding in low-lying areas of Rumson and Sea Bright and when temperatures fall at night, there will be ice.

Be careful. Oh, and take a look at our above Facebook collection of R-FH area snow scenes. Thanks to all R-FH Retro Facebook friends for the pics! 

— Elaine Van Develde