Tag Archives: Navesink River

Simple Summer: Gone Fishing

We’ve said it before and now we’ll say it again …

It’s summertime and the living is, well, let’s say pretty fishy if you live in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

In fact, it’s downright status quo when you grow up in the area to do so with some sand between your toes, a fishing pole over your shoulder, a crabbing net and trap and a bucket in which to tote your catch home — even if that catch is a couple of river rocks, some seaweed and a dried out crab shell.

It’s part of the magic of living by the Navesink River — growing up Rumson-Fair Haven style.

It’s a simple concept. And it’s one of those fabulous things in life that’s free. A walk, a view, a little fishing for a great summer day.

So, the Simple Summer feature today is all about fishing for some fun down by the river — honing in on a little spot by and on the Fair Haven Dock.

The catch is a keeper.

Take a look at our slideshow above for the whole picture. (And don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge!) See you down by the river!

Retro River Rats Rite

A 1976 River Rats crew Photo/courtesy Marc Edelman, Facebook

Call it a ratty reprise …

Summers in the Rumson-Fair Haven area are rife with river-oriented activities that have become tradition.

River Rats’ sailing “camp” is no exception. OK, nobody was camping per se. It was more like a little club. Still is. In fact, it’s that time of the year when kids start signing up for summer River Rats fun. In fact, it’s about that time to sign up for the Rats season.

It’s been a sort of rite of living on the Navesink passage for decades — since 1955. Kids learn how to boat and do a lot of summer fun bonding in the process.

Continue reading Retro River Rats Rite

Focus: Power of Place 2018

There’s a lot to be said about the importance of place in people’s lives. It defines us in many ways. It brings us comfort. It triggers memories. It is a bookmark in our hearts. Oftentimes that important place is home.

So, to pay homage to the profound power of place in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, home, we offer a glimpse back to significant places of 2018 and many decades preceding it.

Happy New Year! Take a look and let the photos give a tug at your heartstrings. Remember.

(Oh, and don’t forget to click on each photo to enlarge and get the full view!)

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Gulls’ Paradise on the Rumson Riverfront

The days have been dank on the banks of the Navesink River.

Yet, sea gulls seem to always seem to settle into a bit of hovering and hanging out at Victory Park in Rumson.

Year after year, damp days or not, they always come back home, lie many this time of year.

It’s another familiar scene down by the river. You’ve seen it before. Take a look again … It never gets old.

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Falling for a Riverfront Fall

Crisp air, bright sun and reflections of riverfront life are all it takes to fall for the Rumson-Fair Haven area in autumn.

The scene just doesn’t get any more comforting. It seems to always reach out and embrace the local soul. And it never gets old.

Get a glimpse. Take it in.

— Elaine Van Develde

Scene Around: Retired Knollwood Teacher & Grandkids Walk on Water

Retired Knollwood School teacher Eileen Kubaitis’ grandchildren cross the icy Navesink
Photo/Eileen Kubaitis

Why did the retired Knollwood School teacher cross the frozen river?

To teach her grandchildren to walk on water Rumson-Fair Haven area way? To get to the other side? Or, perhaps, to just celebrate a time-honored area tradition? Maybe a bit of all three.

Former Phys Ed and Health teacher Eileen Kubaitis, nonetheless, geared up, grandchildren in tow, and took the trek across the Navesink the other day when the water was frozen. How could one resist? When the weather is pretty frightful, but there’s such a simple adventure in the offing, the only thing to do is get walking — on water, or ice, as it were.

A lot of people in the area look forward to doing this when the water freezes, giving them a walking path across the river to the Middletown side.

Kubaitis and company were no exception. They were among quite a few others recently. Though, the retired Knollwood teacher tells us that they didn’t actually reach the other side, but came close. “We stopped about 20 feet away because at that point no one was in front of us,” she said.

Hey, they had fun and did their R-FH area civic duty to do their best to get to the other side!

Don’t try this at home, kids … at least until the ice freezes up again.

The big thaw has begun …

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will reach a high of 40 degrees today with a low of about 26 tonight. Tomorrow, weather will be about the same with mostly sunny skies and a high of roughly 39 degrees.

Eileen Kubaitis and grandchildren cross the Navesink
Photo/Eileen Kubaitis

Focus: Gone Fishing in Fall

It’s not a typical time of the year for fishing off the end of the Fair Haven Dock. Yet, Wednesday wasn’t a typical fall day, either.

Call it nature’s little overpour of summer. And no one was in a hurry to clean up the spill into the cooler season. The sun was bright, the leaves were turning and falling, and the Navesink River was beckoning the warmth and reflection of the sun and the solace of some lone fishing.

Take a look … (and click to enlarge!)

— Elaine Van Develde

Rumson & Monmouth U Forge Partnership to Build Marine Research Facility on River

Monmouth University and the Rumson officials unveiled plans Tuesday to develop a new Monmouth Marine and Environmental Field Station on the swath of borough property located on the banks of the Navesink River behind borough hall.

Continue reading Rumson & Monmouth U Forge Partnership to Build Marine Research Facility on River