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Business Buzz, Local Life

Focus: Bringing Donovan’s Reef Back

Gallery

It’s been more than five years since Superstorm Sandy tossed and flattened the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.

In the aftermath of the storm in which the Atlantic Ocean met the Shrewsbury River over the small peninsula town, all that was left of Donovan’s was a tossed building, a shell of the main bar, restaurant equipment, torn up pavement and wood — lots of wood — in scattered piles. What remained of its sign were the letters D O … found on the ground by Mayor Dina Long.

The letters became symbolic of the can-do attitude Sea Bright residents and business owners embodied in the tough months, even years, of rebuilding ahead.

There was a year without Donovan’s. Then there were a few years of an open Tiki bar on the beach.

Now Donovan’s is coming back — bigger, higher and stronger — for its first summer as a rebuilt area legend.

Take a look at the progress so far …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Black & White Rumson Riverfront Nightfall

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Then came the thaw …

After a warmer winter’s day, as nightfall hit along the Navesink riverbanks in Rumson, the sand slurped up the snow, the icy river waters dissolved, and the ducks glided across their glassy path.

Reflections in shades of grey gripped the low tide. Serenity seeped into the shoreline.

See for yourself …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

 

Local Life

Focus: Sea Bright Fire & Ice Sunrise

Sea Bright sunrise on Jan 10, 2016
Photo/Patrick Hughes

This morning’s sunrise over Sea Bright was a scene of fiery skies and icy waters.

Former longtime Rumsonite Patrick Hughes captured the scene, recording a 15-degree temperature and citing some “intrepid ducks” on the frigid Shrewsbury River.

Though, according to the National Weather Service, the cold snap is about to break today with temperatures reaching a high of 41 degrees.

Thanks for the view, Patrick!

Local Life

Focus: RFH Alum Reunited

The snow came on Saturday and some diehard traditionalists and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) alumni and friends went … to the annual New Year gathering at the Grady home.

Despite the weather, a few trudged not quite uphill, but at least from their cars down the street, in the snow, to what has become the annual gala at which all good RFHers congregate.

And though there were quite a bit fewer RFH alum partygoers this year, no enthusiasm was buried. Get the drift?

Thanks to Mike and Kathleen Grady for hosting this annual mini RFH reunion for each new year! 

Take a look …

Recognize of these 1970s and early 80s RFHers?

— Elaine Van Develde

News

Alert: RFH in ‘Shelter in Place’ Mode

Monmouth County Police & EMS have just issued an alert that Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) is in a lockdown.

Authorities, on the entity’s Facebook page, only said that RFH is in a “shelter in place” mode for “precautionary reasons,” not citing what those reasons are.

The alert means that no community members are allowed into the building at this point, according to the Facebook post.

No further information is available at this time.

R-FH Retro will update this post when more information becomes available.

Rumson police were not available for comment.

Notice from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Please be advised RFH is in a “shelter in place” for precautionary reasons. We will not allow community members into the school building.

Local Life

Retro Look at a Model Longtime Fair Havenite for Her 90th

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Who’s that lady?

Well, that lady … that sexy lady, as the song goes, is former longtime Fair Havenite Lee Weber (née Walker). Lee, long known as a model area mom with a generous spirit and heart, kicked the new year off with her 90th birthday on Sunday. Yes, 90! Yes, New Year’s Day.

This is a shot of her back in her modeling days in the late 1940s (roughly ’48, her daughter, RFH alum and Rumson resident Jenifer Weber-Zeller tells us). Bathing beauty, a/k/a Lee, modeled for Caroline Schnurer, a “very popular swimwear designer” of that era, Lee says.

In the post modeling days, Lee became Schnurer’s assistant, calling runway shows and such.

Lee now lives in Shrewsbury and is still looking runway ready.

See for yourselves …

Lee Weber turned 90 on New Year’s Day.
Photo/courtesy of Jenifer Weber-Zeller

Happy Birthday, Lee!

From the Meeting Room, Local Life

Focus: New Year’s Day Fun at Fair Haven Firehouse

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It’s a first day of the new year tradition.

Fire and first aid companies reorganize, naming new line officers. And festivities take hold at fire houses all over.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect made it to Fair Haven where there were a lot of familiar faces from all around the area — and a few reunions of RFHers.

Take a look …

And congratulations to the new line officers! They are:

Fire Company

Tim Morrissey, chief; Matt DePonti, deputy chief; Christopher Schrank, first assistant; Matthew Bufano, second assistant.

First Aid

Kim Ambrose, captain; Katy Frissora, first lieutenant; Daniel Kane, second lieutenant.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Faces of 2016 Part II

As 2017 approaches, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect cordially invites you to take yet another look back at the people of 2016.

There were lots of major events, small gatherings and just plain priceless moments among Rumson-Fair Haven area friends, family and colleagues in 2016. We were there to capture them with our lens. So were you.

Take a look back with us at some of those moments with those people in 2016 … (Don’t forget to click the lower right icon to enlarge! Enjoy!)

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of the R-FH Retro family!

— Elaine Van Develde, publisher & founding editor

Local Life

Focus: R-FH Area Faces of 2016

Gallery

As 2017 approaches, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect takes a look back at the people of 2016.

There were lots of major events, small gatherings and just plain priceless moments among Rumson-Fair Haven area friends, family and colleagues in 2016. We were there to capture them with our lens. So were you.

Take a look back with us at some of those moments with those people in 2016 … (Don’t forget to click the lower right icon to enlarge! And stay tuned for Part II). Enjoy!)

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of the R-FH Retro family!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Polar Bear Tradition

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RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge.
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

New Year’s Day is approaching. And, as tradition has it in the area, with the advent of the new year comes a plunge into the cold Atlantic ocean — the annual Polar Bear Plunge, to be exact.

The annual Sons of Ireland’s Asbury Park ocean dip for bonding and charity on New Year’s Day was conceived by Rumsonite Sean Clifford.  It benefits two charities each year. This year, all the proceeds will go to: Red Bank-based Stephy’s Place, a relatively new non-profit dedicated to help the grief-afflicted; and Long Branch’s Shore House, a center of assistance for the mentally ill.

But, way back in the day, there was a high school group of plungers who had a club all their own — the RFH Polar Bear Club.

So, in light of the New Year’s Day plunge of today and the jumpers into the ocean chill of the past, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to RFH in the 1970s and a bunch of BFF plungers.

The weather really didn’t seem to affect them. Though, a little cold water on a winter’s day as a teen was never a big deal.

We salute the fearless plungers of both eras! Recognize any of the guys in this mid-70s RFH Yearbook shot?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Happy Holidays From R-FH Retro!

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The happiest of happy holidays from Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect!

Here’s a look at how some present and former R-FH area people celebrated …

Photos/R-FH Retro Facebook friends (Thanks to our Rumson-Fair Haven area friends for sharing your moments with us!)

Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde