There’s a great deal of power in place. The places in people’s lives anchor them, comfort them, change them, inspire them. Each place to which we travel, even within our own hometown iconic spots, does one or all of these things. In one way or another, place defines us. That’s the power in place. It brings us to a home base in our hearts.
Continue reading Changing Landscape: Power of Place 2020Galleries
Focus: Classic Santa Slaying Moments
Ohhhhh, the pain … of pandemic distancing? Well, when you look back at some scary Santa experiences, you start to think, uh, not so much. The pandemic may have spared some kids a lifetime of PTSD flashbacks of Beelzebub cloaked in ol’ Saint Nick garb and merriment.
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Focus: Rumson Area Bird’s Eye View; COVID, Weather & Pics
There are unseasonably warmer days ahead, yet a seasonally chilling pandemic outlook looms.
Continue reading Focus: Rumson Area Bird’s Eye View; COVID, Weather & Pics
An R-FH Area Veterans’ Homage
Our annual Veterans Day tribute … (Click on one of the photos in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll.)
Their faces are the faces at the core of a close-knit community. Some have passed. Some are still with us. They are cherished. They are veterans.
They were and are neighbors, dads, and just plain friendly faces around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns.
They served. They fought for freedom.
They lived and still do live their lives with hometown pride, honor and respect. They were, they are founding fathers, friends. They were, they are cornerstones of the sense of community that is the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
The gift of their legacies bears no upscale real estate market value. They passed along a love of country and community that is priceless.
Thank you, on Veterans Day, to the veterans of the area who have passed and those who are still with us. You are cherished, honored.
Take a look at some of their faces and remember the legacy they carry.
— Elaine Van Develde
— Photos, courtesy of families of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
Focus: A View from the Barnacle’s Perspective
On a clear day … nothing will astound you quite like a front row seat to a river view and a burger from Barnacle Bill’s in Rumson.
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Focus: Remembering Superstorm Sandy’s Wrath
A reprise from 2017. Taking you back again after eight years … Remember?
It was the year that Halloween wasn’t, but was in a sense. People in the area woke up to a nightmare, if they slept at all the night before. It was 2012 and Superstorm Sandy had pummeled the Jersey Shore. It decimated Sea Bright and destroyed low lying parts of Rumson. Fair Haven was a bit war torn and powerless.
Continue reading Focus: Remembering Superstorm Sandy’s Wrath
Scene Around: Commandeering a Coffin
Fill ‘er up … with premium Halloween tricks and treats!
It’s not every day that you stop at a gas station and almost get run over by a masked Dracula-commandeered coffin. This ghoul guy was running on empty when he swung into the station in Highlands with flailing cape gusto and had a little topple at the pump.
“Did ya get that?” the masked marauder said as he picked himself up from the pavement and dusted off his cape. All gassed up and set in his coffin ride, he gave us a few waves and went on his way.
Just who was that masked Halloween treat of a man? No clue. Uber? No back seat. Can’t exactly commandeer that ride. But, hey, if the coffin fits, take a spin and a little spill.
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde
- Retro RFH Tower Playing Outtake
- Scene Around: Foxy Playmate
- Fair Haven Post Office Accident: The Fact Update
- Retro RFH Polar Bears’ Dive & Chill
- Living The Dream: Susan Sorensen’s Legacy of Heart for Home
Focus: Rumson Gull Friends’ River Heaven
It’s often been viewed as a slice of heaven — solace time down by the Navesink River.
And on a sunny fall Sunday, the seagulls were basking in the scene on the banks of the river in Rumson. A gentle fluff of clouds embraced a blue sky and peering sun with warmth as the gulls manned heaven’s gate.
Swoop with the gulls into the slice of this utopia. They’ve called you home — to this heaven.
(Click to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde
Focus: Freedom Festival Rockin’ in Sea Bright
A sunny Sunday made for a festival first in Sea Bright.
In a niche by the boardwalk, music played for a few hours as people gathered to soak up some seaside sun, listen to speakers, take part in activities, peruse booths and tents, mingle and gather resource information for addiction recovery as the First Annual Fall Freedom Festival got underway.
The aim of the festivals is to “offer free resources for freedom from addiction, fear and co-dependency,” a banner said. “Uniting Resources for the Courage to Change,” the subhead of the banner said.
Take at the photo gallery below for a glimpse into the event … (Click to enlarge!)
Focus: Rich Chandler’s Fair Haven Goodbye
The picture of his childhood friend caught his eye. Among the cozy chatter of old friends and family, he left the conversation at the table staring, transfixed for a brief moment. The sudden silence in his own head overcame him, welled up a bit in his eyes as he moved toward the picture of his old friend that seemed to call to him.
Continue reading Focus: Rich Chandler’s Fair Haven Goodbye
Scene Around: RFH Marching Band, Color Guard Show Goes On
The pandemic didn’t stop the show. The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Marching Band and Color Guard marched, twirled and played on at Friday night’s first RFH Football game. And the show was winning, by all accounts, just like the team.
Continue reading Scene Around: RFH Marching Band, Color Guard Show Goes On
Scene Around: Fisk Chapel’s Community Spirited Dress-Up
The call came for neighbors, friends, paint brushes, scrapers, masks and soaring helping spirits. That call was heeded over the weekend at the Fisk Chapel AME Church in Fair Haven as many showed to get the church with historic roots dressed up in its Sunday best.
Continue reading Scene Around: Fisk Chapel’s Community Spirited Dress-Up