Newsmakers: The Top January Stories

The chill that January brought with it was heightened by the sting of some harsh moments and buffered by the warmth of some heartfelt happenings in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Remember the stories on the following issues? They're what people were talking about most:

• People were very peeved in Rumson when rumor surfaced in the wake of Hurricane Sandy that there was looting. Rumson police investigated the matter and ended up arresting teens on the charges, but stemming from a singluar incident on Buena Vista Avenue only.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson wanted to clarify that the rumor of mass looting was unfounded. He gave the details of the arrest and talked to R-FH Patch about it. .

• of a young woman shopping with her child in Bed Bath & Beyond seared area people with fear. Many in the area shop at the store. Some had been there that day, just minutes before or after the incident.

Check out the report.

• People in the entire Rumson-Fair Haven area mourned the loss of forever Fair Haven resident, community leader, day care provider and just all-around great neighbor Kathy Dougherty. Services for Dougherty had people in endless lines filing in the funeral home to pay respects to someone they loved and knew as a no-frills pillar of the community.

She was remembered in the R-FH Patch with a tribute opinion piece and slideshow (click here). R.I.P Kathy.

• After being dubbed the "winningest" coach in the history of the school, with a record 100 wins, Fallon announced he would be resigning to pursue a different path and master's degree.

• of last year. Each was on the list for a distinctly different reason. In case you haven't see who they are, check it out.

A lot of people wanted to know more about the significant people in the area in 2012.

• In the business community in Fair Haven, a couple of staples for many years are leaving the River Road strip.

The Java Stop has closed and will be replaced by another coffee shop with roots in Monmouth Beach — Booskerdoo.

And 40-year eclectic boutique Nature's Emporium is closing its doors at the end of February. Teary-eyed patrons have been filing in to say goodbye to owner and Fair Haven business fixture Priscilla Bahr. Stop in. Bahr says everything must go.

• in the wake of Sandy, people piled in to the restaurant to celebrate.

R-FH Patch was there and found all sorts of community leaders, politicians, R-FH alumni, and out-of-towners thrilled and offering support and patronage to owner Chris Wood, who founded Sea Bright Rising.

Check out the story (click here) and see who we saw there.

• The thrill of the re-opening of Woody's was dampened a bit when Chris Wood found out that a three-week closure of the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge would follow a few days later.

Wood pushed for a compromise and ended up getting it. The bridge will now be open on weekends to help recovering businesses by making the main access to and from the town easier on peak days.

See these stories: