It was a sizzling orange ball of fire — a good night beacon ducking down below Gunning Island. The sunset in Sea Bright on Saturday called out to people like a Siren.
They pulled over into at Eventide’s parking lot to catch a glimpse with the lens as the ball of fire bid goodnight and ducked behind the island, melting into the Shrewsbury River.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
He was just that kind of community guy, old school cop and fireman — the kind people remember.
He that face many remember peering around every corner, offering help, an anecdote or 10 with a wry smile and wisdom-inspired wink. He was George Chandler. It’s been just over a year since George, a former Fair Haven police chief and 65-year fire company member, died at 92 on Jan. 25, 2016.
He grew up in Fair Haven and spent most of his life in service to the borough in addition to serving in the U.S. Navy.
George Chandler was known as a tall order of homegrown gentleman and community kinship filled to the hilt. He loved to fish, dance, tell jokes, offer up lots of anecdotes and just plain be kind to his neighbors by serving the community he loved and treating everyone like family — Fair Haven family.
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day honor the George Chandler and his Fair Haven roots and dedicated service.
To ask for an anecdotal story about George’s well-known anecdotes of life (yes, that was intentional) was to hear something like the story that follows from the memory of a young boy growing up in the borough. This guy is one of many who still hears the former police chief’s voice and sees his friendly, old fashioned brand of stern with a caring smile.
It’s a classic from longtime Fair Havenite Thom White.
And it goes like this …
“On a ‘no school snow day’ in the 1960s my friends and I decided we’d throw snowballs at cars on River Road. We were hiding in a church’s bushes across River Road from George’s house. I threw one that smacked the side of a borough bus, and gleefully asked ‘Did you see that?’
“George answered from behind me, ‘Yes I did.’ Stop doing that right now. It’s dangerous. And go home and tell your mom that I caught you.’ He added with a wry smile, ‘I might just come by later and check.’
“Well, I did as I was told, and a couple of hours later there was a knock on our front door … and there was George in his uniform. He spoke to my mom, who told him that I had confessed, and he reminded me how dangerous it was to do what I was doing. Needless to say, I never did THAT again, and whenever I’d see him in later years, he was always friendly and wanted to know what I was up to. A true gentleman.”
From the closest of family members to distant friends who may have only had that one milestone memory of the chief that just stuck like that lingering wad of ABC (already been chewed) bubblegum under a kid’s shoe, he is remembered by many and emulated. OK, so no one chews bubblegum anymore. That’s the point — the sticking point.
RIP George Chandler. You are remembered.
— Elaine Van Develde
He was raised in both Rumson and Fair Haven. He was an RFH graduate. He was a friend to many. He had a gift for making people laugh and love life. Then he lost his in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was Keith McHeffey.
Since his untimely death, friends have gotten together and started a tradition — an annual fundraising run in his name known as the KDM 3-Mile Fun Run/Walk, the proceeds of which benefit various youth-oriented activities, scholarships and sports. Registration for the March 11, 2017 run in Sea Bright has begun.
Known as a well-rounded, adventure-loving athlete, McHeffey “spent his life giving of himself to others. Now, we are giving back to the community in his good name. His life was a testament on ‘how to live,'” the mission statement on the KDM Foundation website says.
“The memory of Keith’s wit and humor serves as an inspiration to all of those fortunate enough to have been a part of his life,” another statement added.
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day honor Keith McHeffey with a look back at him and his RFH buds and a solo shot doing something he loved to do.
RIP, Keith. You are remembered. Run on …
— Elaine Van Develde
Photo/courtesy of Gregg Kennedy
What started out being dubbed the Million Women March turned Women’s March on Washington ended up evolving into marches of the same ilk all over the country on Saturday.
The marches, while many were called non-partisan, were intentionally set on the day after the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States — Donald Trump. They were deemed a collective stand-up-and-march cross country show of support for women’s rights as hard-earned, strong and everlasting ones not to be trifled with by the new administration. Some area women did not share those feelings and said so on social media.
Nonetheless, from Asbury Park to Red Bank to New York to North and South Carolina and to Washington, D.C., many Rumson-Fair Haven area women (and men) of the past and present went to take part and peacefully say their peace on the subject among masses.
Many from the area shared snapshots of their day on Facebook.
Take a look …
Photos/Eileen Hershenov, Bonnie Werner-Swart, Jenifer Weber-Zeller, Monica Sheehan, Kate Grady, Robin Ens Wilkins, Anne Toronto McNamara, Tara Connelly, Connie Heath Thibeault, Rossi, Lisa Ericson, Mary Beth Gibson
Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde
A little observation …
It is certainly not your typical evergreen. In fact, there’s nothing evergreen about it, because its branches have to be replaced. And it’s branches aren’t really branches. They’re camouflage for that infamous Rumson cell tower.
We’re thinking that everyone knows and has always known it’s not a tree. It’s pretty obvious. And when the tower was first erected, it was a definite conversation piece around the towns.
And though the novelty of that conversation has worn off a bit, when the “tree” is getting a coiffing, the chatter starts again.
Towering over all trees, there it was years back when first erected — the nouveau tower tree, tree tower, or something like that. It was supposed to blend in. But, visible from a ride over the Oceanic Bridge’s Middletown side, the “tree” jutted up like a branched beacon rather than a member of the Rumson “blended” evergreen family.
But, who knew that the branches needed to be replaced now and again? Well, apparently, they do.
Rumsonite Jenifer Weber-Zeller caught a glimpse of the branch refreshment project herself a couple of days ago.
And here it is — not so ever green and branching out.
Now, that’s a tall order of a tree to climb. More proof that it really ain’t easy being green …
— Elaine Van Develde
Yes, dank days are dampening spirits lately. Warm, sunny memories can brighten them, though.
So, why not take a photo trip back to a simple day of sunning the old fashioned way on what was referred to as the Rumson Pier?
This look, in particular, offers a glimpse back to some very old time sun bathing — going back about 75 years. There was a lot of suiting up and little skin to show or sun, for that matter. But the bright smiles were bright by the Navesink River.
It’s the wishful thinking sunny days by the river Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca. It’s a rare shot of some folks hanging out on the old pier (or dock) at Victory Park in Rumson with what was the bridge that connected Rumson to Middletown — what became the Oceanic Bridge — in the background.
According to Slocum Mazzucca, “My grandmother Lillian Turnbull Slocum is the far left with her hands folded. The picture was taken on the old pier (dock) at Victory Park in Rumson. Picture is about 75 years ago.”
Anyone remember the old pier/dock at Victory Park? Is this where the Barnacle Bill’s dock is now? How about those swim suits and dresses?
Many thanks to Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca for this gem from her family photos!
Fair Havenite Michael Frissora has soared to the Boy Scouts of America’s Eagle Scout rank.
The award of the status, the highest attainment in scouting, was conferred by BSA Troop 67 Scoutmaster Michael Maier at a Court of Honor on Jan. 8 at Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.
Kerry Ann Hon, of Sea Bright, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 14. She was 48.
Born in Stamford, CT, Kerry Ann moved to Sea Bright with her two sons and loved the area and going to the beach. She was a representative with Servepro in Middletown.
Surviving are: her sons, Eric and Nicholas Elfstrom; her parents Jack and Laurel Anderson Hon; and her brothers, Michael Hon and Bruce Benway.
A celebration of Kerry’s life will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. at Ron’s West End Pub, 103 West End Avenue, Long Branch.
To share a favorite memory or messages of condolence, please visit Kerry’s Book of Memories at www.woolleyboglioli.com.
— Obituary, courtesy of Wooley Boglioli Funeral Home,
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) is one of 433 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on its 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll.
To be included in the Honor Roll, RFH needed to, since 2014, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher.
RFH boasts a commitment to providing students with an array of AP courses that pique intellectual curiosity and prepare students for post-secondary studies.
“Congratulations to all the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked so tirelessly to both expand access to AP and also to help students succeed on the AP Exams,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s head of AP and Instruction.
In 2016, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admission process.
Inclusion on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years worth of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, and analysis of 37 AP exams, including world language and culture.
Criteria included:
The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Ladies of the Round Table are featured as the Retro Pic of the Day.
It’s pretty likely that RFHers from this decade have never heard of such a thing. It, actually may have been indigenous to the Class of ’78.
The mission of this unique “group of good will and cheer,” as stated in the yearbook, was to “meet weekly to imbibe and to pursue leisurely interests …”
Hmmmm. They were very cool, as this editor recalls. Somehow, however, it’s highly doubtful that RFH would ever see a club like this one again.
The graphic, very well done, shows a round table in front of a fireplace with a softball, a bat, a pitcher (of something), and a pack of cigarettes.
Remember? Know any of these ladies?
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
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
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