Like many Rumson-Fair Haven area neighborhoods, there are some new neighbors on one street, who seemingly arrived all at once.
So, after the 82-year resident Ken Lockwood and his wife Peg left Fair Haven's Parker Avenue last year, and everyone's nana Kathy Dougherty passed away, homes were sold and the new "kids" on the block moved in. Bill and Judy Miller hosted a get-together Saturday to welcome them.
They are Maria and Ben Ruscigno, who tell Patch that they have a special tie to the area and are thrilled to now live here. The two, who come from South Amboy, met at Trade Winds in Sea Bright. Maria said they'd always wanted to relocate here. So they did. They are in the new home that replaced the Lockwoods' and are happy to know of and be part of their neighborhood legacy.
A.J. Sandone and his family live in what was the Dougherty home for many years. Kathy, Bob and kids Colleen, Andy and Bryan created quite a community legacy of their own. With Bob having passed away a few years ago and Kathy passing away on Christmas eve of 2012, packing up the house and finding just the right family to carry on in it was difficult, to say the least, for the Dougherty children.
As they spent their last evening in the home, Colleen told Patch that she hand-picked the new neighbor and was certain the family would live up to the Dougherty legacy.
A.J. was honored to hear that and is thrilled to be a part of the Parker family. He comes from a family of photojournalists, by the way.
The families bring new children with them to join the others on the street, some of whom are third-generation Parker residents.
Welcome!
Do you have new neighbors you'd like to welcome publicly? Send a photo and some information to elaine.develde@patch.com and they will get a Patchy welcome.
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