Elaine Van Develde, Patch Staff
- Rumson-Fair Haven, NJ
Email: elaine.develde@patch.com Hometown: Fair Haven, NJ Birthday: Aug. 6
Bio
A veteran, award-winning writer and actor, you've probably seen Elaine Van Develde somewhere: either with pen, notebook and camera in hand at a local event; or oddly costumed and wielding a weapon or plopping poison in someone's drink as a suspect character in an interactive theater murder mystery.
The native Fair Havenite's journey to journalism began when an unwitting writing professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, told her that it might be a good idea to pursue a career in the field, because she had a knack. Those were the days when it was cool to trudge uphill in a storm and sport a reporter's fedora to get the story ... or get to class and daydream about it, anyway.
Elaine took the professor's advice to heart. Post-Pittsburgh, she wrangled with which writing career direction to take and eventually made her way to the arena of local journalism. She has since been on staff at several weekly newspapers — the Courier, Hub, Independent, Atlanticville, Link News, Coaster, Two River Times and Edison/Metuchen Sentinel — and covered just about every municipality within a 50-mile radius, including the largest in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, Edison and Middletown.
Her coverage of Middletown and Tinton Falls garnered her first-place awards in Coverage of Government, Feature Writing and Special Subject Writing from the New Jersey Press Association.
Middletown was the first town Elaine covered in her early reporter days. She continued to pick up where she left off in the municipality for different publications throughout her career. Elaine is thrilled to, once again, be back "home" in Middletown with Patch and looks forward to providing the people of the township with quality coverage. She's just a little disappointed that she can no longer threaten her restless teen with the civics lesson/punishment rolled into one of attending an endless township meeting.
At Patch, we promise always to approach the news as objectively as possible and adhere to the principles of good journalism.
However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
Politics
I am and always have been issue-driven rather than party-driven.
Religion
I was raised Catholic; but, aside from the slew of funerals I've attended, haven't been to church since Father Hickey bellowed, "Separate and behave!" from the pulpit to my giggling adolescent cousin and me. For mother's sake, though, I do find myself making the sign of the cross, crafting deals with God and riddling myself with good old fashioned Catholic guilt. No matter what, I do always try to do the right thing and maintain a spiritual sense.
Local Hot-Button Issues
Death and taxes ... What else is there?
Posting Activity
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Fort Monmouth Marina Still on Market
Proposals for the property were due to FMERA by Jan. 27.
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Knollwood Students Vie as Science Stars
Students experimented with solutions for better hand washing habits.
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Police Investigate Burglary, Eatery Theft
A 55-inch TV was reported stolen, among other things.
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Fair Haven to Inherit Schwenker's Pond
Deal should be solidified in the next couple of weeks
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Fixx Nightclub Must Abide by Strict Liquor License Conditions Upon Reopening
Mandatory 20-day shut-down imposed on club
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Raising Funds for RFH's New Rowing Team
ReGala is slated for Saturday at Navoo Grill Club in Fair Haven
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Hiring in the Rumson-Fair Haven Area: Morgan Stanley, Balderose, Cravin Haven
Jobs available in the Rumson-Fair Haven area
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Hiring in the Red Bank-Shrewsbury Area: Enterprise, Morgan Stanley
Jobs available in the area from our partners at careerbuilder.com
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Project Homeless Connect this Week
It's what's going on in the Red Bank-Shrewsbury area this week.
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Meetings & Fundraisers in the Week Ahead
It's what's going on in the Rumson-Fair Haven area this week.
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Man Allegedly Stole, Pawned $10.5K Worth of Jewelry in Sea Bright
Ronald Laverty also allegedly committed credit card and check fraud.
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Red Bank Police Investigate Burglary
A 55-inch TV was reported stolen, among other things.
Red Bank-Shrewsbury, NJ|News|
Monmouth Assembly GOPers Named to Party Leadership
Mary Pat Angelini, Declan O'Scanlon, Amy Handlin, David Rible and Caroline Casagrande on the list
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Monmouth Assembly GOPers Named to Party Leadership
Mary Pat Angelini, Declan O'Scanlon, Amy Handlin, David Rible and Caroline Casagrande on the list
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
RFH Students Empower Women Globally
Fundraisers through Global Women Empowerment club coming up
Rumson-Fair Haven|News|
Peddling Girl Scout Cookies for a Cause
Boxes of cookies can be donated to the troops.