Category Archives: Local Life

A look, in photos, of latest area events, local everyday people and places.

Local Life

Retro RFH Polar Bear Dudes

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

With the announcement of Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson’s successful fundraising ($17,030 for Special Olympics New Jersey) culminating in the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights on Saturday, it seemed only right that we take you back to polar bear plunging guys of RFH back in the day — way back.

These guys actually had a high school club dedicated to the cause of, well, just plunging into icy cold water on a whim or for a thrill in the 1970s.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is dedicated to the winter chill, the plunge and the guys who made it a club.

Do you remember the RFH Polar Bear Club? Know any of these cold weather beachgoers? Was the club solely dedicated to the dive into icy water?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Shipping Out at Sunrise in Sea Bright

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You never know when your ship will come in, when you’ll catch a perfect view of a Sea Bright sunrise or both.

Well, Rumsonite and RFH Class of ’78 grad Doug Borden got a good dose of both this morning.

Headed over the Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge toward Sea Bright beach, he got a good glimpse of a glorious sunrise and, yes, a ship passing (or coming in for him, if you will).

Take a look at this longtime Rumson-Fair Haven area guy’s moment of sunrise gratitude …

Thanks Doug! Happy Monday, all!

Photos/Doug Borden

 

Local Life

Rumsonite Luann Hughes: Irish Soda Bread Champ

Rumsonite Luann Hughes’ winning Irish soda bread
Photo/courtesy of Luann Hughes

Erin go Luann. She did it. Longtime Rumsonite Luann Hughes won herself a place in Rumson baking history with her first-place win in the  2017 Irish Soda Bread Contest at Oceanic Free Library.

The Thursday contest has become an area tradition and one of many prequels to the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Hughes, who hasn’t given up her ingredient secret, announced on Facebook her win and that she has become among the honorees who “get(s) to help carry the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day parade banner!!!”

She won third place last year. And in addition to the hometown baker prestige, not only did the first-place win this year come with the honor of toting the parade banner, but it also came with a festive four-leaf clover trophy.

Congrats, Luann Hughes! Will your secret ever be revealed?

Local Life, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police Chief to Plunge for Special Olympics

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is taking the plunge again — The Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights.

And, once again, the chief’s dip into icy waters is all for the sake of  a good cause  — Special Olympics New Jersey.

No, it’s not Paterson’s first plunge. But, it was a first for his $15,000 fundraising goal.

And, with only a few days left, Paterson has surpassed his goal. As of today, he has raised $15,340 from 68 donors.

He is grateful; and there is still time to donate, as funds will be accepted until the day of the plunge.

“I want to thank each and everyone of you that helped me reach my goal of $15,000.00,” Chief Paterson said yesterday in a message on his fundraising page. “I sincerely appreciate your kindness and generosity and I promise to represent well …”

Learn more about Special Olympics by clicking here. To donate to the chief’s plunge for the olympics, click here.

Local Life

Focus: Fiery Sunset Over a Rumson Island

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“Don’t you make me pull this car over, Sun!”

Well, it made me and quite a few others do it. It was a traffic stopper again — the sunset from the Eventide docks in Sea Bright overlooking Rumson on Friday night.

And, to coin the singular of another saying, the exclamation for the traffic stopper could be summed up as one “great ball of fire!”

As the biblical origination of the phrase indicates, implying the presence of God (nature, or whatever being one believes in) as fire, it could also haven been seen as a religious environmental experience.

Blazing and ducking very quickly behind Gunning Island in Rumson, the sight of the sunset was blindingly beautiful — again.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Focus: Black & Blue Branching Out by the River

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It was hauntingly comforting — the icy, howling wind and the stark hues of black and blue along the Navesink River in Fair Haven Wednesday at dusk.

The wind whistled, beckoned, and the air cut like jagged-edged glass.  It was a solitary, striking scene. Black branches jutting across a blue sky and seascape.

It was all so cold and clear-cut, yet still warm like a cup of cocoa. It’s home.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro RFH Basketball Court Cartwheel with Giff

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RFH teacher George Giffin does a cartwheel to cheer on the cheerleaders in the 1970s. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
RFH teacher George Giffin does a cartwheel to cheer on the cheerleaders in the 1970s.
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

With this howling chill in the air lately, people are pretty primed for the arrival of spring. In fact, you could say that they may even be doing cartwheels over it.

Well, in light of that excitement to spring into the warmer season, the Retro Pic of the Day gives a glimpse back to a beloved teacher who danced and, yes, did cartwheels over any exciting event — or just for plain old fun.

That teacher was George Giffin, otherwise referred to as Giff. He was a science teacher and was particularly famous for his ballroom dance class. And, boy, could the man dance!

The RFH community lost Giff on May 15, 2014; and, to ask just about any RFH grad or member of the community, it was a tremendous loss.

Last time this editor caught up with Mr. Giffin, he was grabbing some lunch at Fairwinds Deli. In his 80s, he was still dancing and actually launched into a little routine right there with a little cha-cha-cha and “When you get that beat, you gotta mooooove your feet!”

Who will dance or do a cartwheel when spring arrives in memory of Mr. Giffin? Oh, and send us your pics if you do!

Local Life

Retro RFH Snow & Ski

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RFH Ski Club of the 1970s with club director Hal Lorme on the slopes.
Photo/RFH yearbook

Well, the forecast is calling for a snow day soon … at the very least in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

And, back in the 1970s, a snow day was prime time to hit the ski slopes.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to the RFH Ski Club days.

This photo also brings RFHers back to a favorite coach who passed away not too long ago — Hal Lorme.

RIP, Mr. Lorme. Happy ski trails, all RFHers!

Local Life

Retro RFH Girls on the Beach?

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RFH girls on the beach at the 1975 Freshmen Follies
Photo/George Day

Well, about this time of the winter people are doing a sort of sun dance for summer days.

And, back in 1975, a few RFH gals got their gear on (or their mothers’) and did their own kind of chorus line for sunnier days on the beach on the RFH stage.

It was the Freshmen Follies that year and these seasonally appropriate girls did their own dance, clad quite festively, to that Beach Boys classic Girls on the Beach.

Bet you’ve never seen a gaggle of gals like this.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is a testament to sunnier days ahead and, ahem, girls, or something like that, on the beach.

Cheers to the girls! Oh, and how about that stage right crew?

Recognize them?

Thanks to the incredible George Day for this retro RFH classic!

Local Life

Retro RFH Girls’ Swim Divas

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RFH Girls Swim Team 1982
Photo/RFH

Well, the RFH Swim Team’s season just ended, and quite successfully.

We offered a glimpse back to a newspaper clipping touting the success of the teams of the late 1970s a few days ago.

Now, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a look back at a snapshot of the girls’ team in 1982, or the diving divas, as they dubbed themselves back in the day.

Check out the polyester warm-up suits.

Recognize any of these RFH divas who were a swimming success?