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Schools Scene

RFH Football Champs Sign College Letters of Intent

Five Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) State Championship football players have made their college choices official. 

The athletes signed letters of intent on Thursday, sealing their college deals. 

The athletes and their college choices are:

• Evan Davis — University at Buffalo

• Alex Maldjian — Middlebury College

• Ryan McCann — Yale University

• Ian O’Connor — Lehigh University

• Henry Sullivan — Colgate University

Coach Robert Orrok, Coach Christopher Quinn,
Head Coach Jerry Schulte,
Coach Jeremy Schulte 
Ian O’Connor (Lehigh), Evan Davis (Buffalo), Henry Sullivan (Colgate), Ryan McCann (Yale), Alex Maldjian (Middlebury). 

This is the first signing day of the school year for football. Additional commitments will be made in February. 

— Press release from RFH

Local Life

R-FH Area Weekend: Singing, Santa & Lights

It’s that kind of holiday-laced weekend again. And there are a couple of events in the area that will have you humming, ho-hoing or strung up, in a festive sense.

On Saturday, if you’d like to venture a bit out of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, there’s a holiday gift of song that awaits you … 

You are cordially invited to celebrate the holiday season with a festive after noon concert. Red Bank Area Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society will present RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS — a fun concert of vocal harmonies — on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ocean Township High School Auditorium, 550 West Park Avenue, Oakhurst.

This is a merry group of harmonizing singers. You really have to see them to get your spirits soaring. 

The concert will feature traditional holiday favorites sung in 4-part harmony by the Chorus of the Atlantic — a group of male harmony singers under the direction of Craig J. Page.  

Also appearing on stage will be the Matinee Idles, a group of retired men that perform for area organizations in the afternoons.  The Matinee Idles will sing some favorites and share some laughter and good cheer, under the direction of Will McCain.

In addition, there will be some special guests … Ocean Chamber Choir from Ocean Township High School under the direction of Teddy Kernizan.

And Santa is rumored to show. 

Tickets are $18 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, free for children age 16 and younger.  Tickets are available at the door.  Please call ahead to buy your tickets and save $3 per ticket. Call 732-784-7343 and leave your name and phone number.

The Chorus of the Atlantic welcomes visitors to their rehearsals.  They meet Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 8, 2019 at the Red Bank Middle School, Harding Road, Red Bank.  

And on Sunday … 

Santa will park himself in a chair at the Fair Haven Firehouse from 1 to 3 p.m. to visit with all the good boys and girls around the towns and offer gifts and candy.

Word on the street is that Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick will also be seen riding around town in the fire truck from noon to 1 p.m. as a precursor to the classic holiday event. 

And all through the weekend and beyond …

Let your holiday decorations shine and be judged, as Fair Haven sets in motion its new festive decor contest. Which house is the most festive? Only residents know for sure. 

Local Life

Lighting Up the Holidays in Fair Haven

Gallery

 

Remember the old Sunday night drive to check out all the Christmas lights when you were a kid?

Well, it doesn’t have to be a Sunday night. Any night is a good one for the drive around to look at the lights.

We took a little night drive in Fair Haven. The only thing that was missing was the ol’ “Ooooo … ahhhh” and the backseat sibling quibbling to Dad’s, “Girls! If I have to pull this car over!”

This is what we saw. And it’s just a sampling. Fair Haven is quite festive. In fact, the borough, starting tomorrow, is having it’s first holiday decoration contest. Check out the informational flyer below …

Know of any great decorations? Let us know where they are, too. We’ll make sure everyone gets to take the pre-Christmas drive with us.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Scary Santa IV

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Mary Ellen and Tim Kelly with Santa at the Fair Haven Firehouse circa 1987. Photo/Evie Connor Kelly
Mary Ellen and Tim Kelly with Santa at the Fair Haven Firehouse circa 1987.
Photo/Evie Connor Kelly

Here we go again … revisiting one of those unforgettable trips to Santa that may be all too familiar … Yes, it’s time again for a little remembrance of the time-honored holiday tradition of the not-always-so-smooth Santa visit at the Fair Haven Firehouse, among other festive places.

Continue reading Retro Scary Santa IV →

Local Life

Focus: Santa Comes to Fair Haven

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Santa Claus came to Fair Haven on Friday. Well, he rode down the street in the firetruck to the annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll, after arriving from the North Pole, of course. Something like that. 

Tradition is the cornerstone of the 1.4-square-mile borough. It prevailed on a chilly Friday evening laced with a community spirit of comfort and warmth. Nestled in a time-honored corner at Memorial Park, young helpers helped, officials officiated, families flocked, friends got festive and, once again, Santa came to town. 

Take a look at the smiles and get a glimpse into what transpired … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)

Happy holidays!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

R-FH Area Holiday Celebrating & Giving

As the classic song goes, it’s that most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for tree lighting, Santa arrivals, community cheer and a lot of giving.

So, to kick off the weekend in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, the season of celebrating and giving is getting a big jump start with the annual Rumson DPW Toy Drive today and tonight and Fair Haven’s tree lighting, Santa visit and holiday stroll through the business district.

It begins today from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Rumson with the annual toy drive, which is a festive community gathering packed with holiday spirit.

“The employees of the Rumson Public Works Department will once again be volunteering their time to collect new toys for needy children,” the Rumson website announced. “They are asking you to help by donating a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy for a boy or girl.”

And this isn’t your ordinary drop off and run toy drive. People in the area like to gather, socialize, sip on some cocoa and give. The event, for those who cannot make it on Friday, is also run on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And down the road in Fair Haven, Santa is coming to town again on the firetruck. The borough’s annual tree lighting and celebrating starts at 5 p.m. with Santa arriving at 6 p.m. at Memorial Park at the corner of Fair Haven and River roads.

The usual holiday festivities will ensue, with games, crafts, song, photos with Santa and a stroll in the business district where businesses will hold open houses, offer refreshments, specials and socializing.

You never know who you’ll run into — a snowman, a neighbor or an old friend. It’s all about the Fair Haven community spirit tonight.

And, continued over the weekend …

Fair Haven Councilman Christopher Rodriquez is reminding folks to
“please bring a new unwrapped toy to one of three locations on Saturday: Rec basketball games at Knollwood and Sickles gyms and the Library. Send me a message if you have questions about timing or anything else and thanks for bringing joy to kids in need.”

And at 39 Parker Avenue, resident Maria Ruscigno, in an effort to give back the kindness she and her family received when their son was hospitalized, is conducting a pajama drive for Jersey Shore University Medical Center to keep sick kids and their parents cozy through the holidays and beyond. The collecting is being done right on her porch. She invites residents to stop over and see her decorations and drop off some PJs.

“Happy Friday Fair Haven friends, we are still collecting Pajamas for Jersey Shore Medical Center families!!!” she said in a Facebook post. “Swing by this weekend check out the small display we did and perhaps donate a pair of Pajamas.
39 PARKER AVE!!!!!!!!”

Happy holiday celebrating, all! See you around the towns!

 

Local Life

Retro ‘Ho No’ Santa!

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George Clark shuns Santa with tears in 2012
Photo/courtesy of Ann Clark

You know the drill. It’s that time of the year when the kids want to visit Santa — or not. It seems that since the dawn of time, when Santa time comes, there’s always at least one squirming, miserable child plopping on Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick’s lap with a cringe bigger than his signature belly accompanied by Fright Night screeches and tears rolling down his or her cheeks.

Everyone knows the scene well. It’s classic. The holiday tradition that goes terribly awry.

Continue reading Retro ‘Ho No’ Santa! →

Local Life

Focus: Gulls’ Paradise on the Rumson Riverfront

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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