Tag Archives: Rumson

Focus: Rumson Light in Hazy Winter Darkness

Press “Play.” Sometimes light peering through stark, hazy darkness is a beacon to play time that’s drawing near. It can transport a daydreamer to past play, too. Warmth. Vision. Clarity. Contentment.

The pin spotlights scream silence — peace. They remind: There is a light to follow forward and back. Each spot shines a light on one memory at a time, bringing focus to the haze, bringing back the warmth. Each spot draws us to a brighter tomorrow, too. Each reminds: There’s a way out of the dark haze, forward or rewind. Either takes us back to the same place. Home.

When two iconic playtime scenes — an otherwise bustling iconic Victory Park or Barnacle Bill’s gathering haven — are somber and still, it’s then that one can see the power of place clearly. Feel it deeply. The more stark, the more profound. The more simple, the more black and white, the love of home.

Get lost in the light to find your own way home.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro only (CLICK on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

And lighter days are coming to the area. Here’s the week’s weather forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service, for the Rumson-Fair Haven area …

Scene Around: Rumson Police Chief Reigns as Top Plunge Donor

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside 2022
Photo/Rumson PD

Hail to the chief! He’s taken the plunge and triumphed again.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson dove into the icy ocean waters of Seaside on Saturday and emerged the plunge’s top donor once again to benefit his cause — Special Olympics New Jersey.

“Chief Paterson would like to thank all of the generous donors, along with friends and supporters, who reached out to wish (him) Scott well with yesterday’s Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge,” a Sunday post on the Rumson Police Department Facebook page said. “It was down to the wire, but we’re happy to report that Scott was able to regain his #1 spot as highest individual fundraiser for another year. He could not have done it without the support of all you!”

The chief solely ended up with a total of $41,337 raised for his cause. He plunged with the Little Silver Crocs team once again. The largest of the final hour donations was from Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade at $1,005. So, in the end, Paterson ended up top donor for what may have been his final plunge.

As a whole, the 2022 Plunge at Seaside garnered $1,935,180, surpassing its goal. The goal was $1.8 million.

Congrats, Chief!

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at a previous Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside
Photo/Rumson PD

Scene Around: Last Call to Support Rumson Police Chief in Plunge for Special Olympics

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson shows his winning certificate at the Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge 2020
Photo/Rumson PD

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is set to take the plunge again — the plunge into the icy winter ocean water at Seaside Heights to benefit the Special Olympics New Jersey.

Continue reading Scene Around: Last Call to Support Rumson Police Chief in Plunge for Special Olympics

In Memoriam: Longtime Rumsonite, Noted Attorney, George Aguilar, 91

“We can all be comforted knowing he not only lived the full life of his dreams, but became a pillar of the very community he admired so much. In fact, it is hard to even imagine Rumson without George, beloved by so many friends, serving as their own local North Star, gently guiding them to the right side of things.”
~ family of George Aguilar

On Feb. 6, 2022, after the first perfect round of golf ever recorded, longtime Rumsonite George Aguilar put away his clubs for the last time, kissed his beautiful wife Jutta, and left this world the best way he knew how, by making it a better place for all who came in contact with him. He was 91.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Longtime Rumsonite, Noted Attorney, George Aguilar, 91

Retro Barn Theatre-Staged RFH Teaching Moment

A 1977 Barn Theatre production of Music Man with RFH teachers Mimi Hughes & Lloyd Gross
Photo/courtesy of Bonnie Deroski, Barn Theatre Facebook Page

Call it a staged RFH teaching moment with the The Music Man and company.

With the upcoming RFH production of Mama Mia gearing up and in rehearsal, thoughts turn back to some shared staged moments between RFH students and teachers.

Continue reading Retro Barn Theatre-Staged RFH Teaching Moment

Scene Around: Snowed & Fogged Out at Barnacle’s

Even when the Rumson river view is obscured by the fog, a blanket of snow and empty Barnacle Bill’s chairs are vivid reminders that there’s always a seat for you at an iconic spot back home.

It sees you. You see it. The descending pea soup sky never takes away the view. It gives you a close-up of the little things that matter most, like a chair waiting for its townie.

Each piece of home is where the comfort embraces with a hushed, welcomed coddle in the disquiet of the cold air pangs. Its love blankets like the melting snow, sopping up the home earth beneath the feet that always seem to anchor there, tugging like quicksand at the heart. This is one piece of home. One iconic spot. The quiet, the starkness beckon. They call you back. Always.

You hear and return to take a big bite … of that burger, the memories and that home feeling, ingesting all that’s good. Yum.

The fog has lifted. Here’s what’s going on with the weather in the Rumson-Fair Haven area heading into the weekend, courtesy of the National Weather Service …

** Don’t forget to CLICK on one photo in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy! **

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde exclusively for R-FH Retro

In Memoriam: Rumson-Raised, RFH ’83 Grad, Teacher, Coach, Paul McGrade, 56

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

Confucius

We will all meet again someday.
Now get out there and live!

Paul McGrade

That’s what Rumson-raised Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 1983 graduate Paul McGrade did. Known for his zest for life, the popular RFH guy, husband, dad, soccer and lacrosse coach, called by those who knew and loved him “one of the greatest, yet humble men to ever walk the Earth” departed peacefully from this life on Feb. 1 at 56. He was “surrounded by his loving and wonderful family.”

Continue reading In Memoriam: Rumson-Raised, RFH ’83 Grad, Teacher, Coach, Paul McGrade, 56