Focus: River Time Front-Row Seat

Sometimes the best front-row seat is the one that cradles your river time.

Wherever it is, front-row Rumson Barnacle Bill’s or docked, it’s that seat that offers a hometown view with heart. Even in the haze, the the clarity of what matters most is caught like an opening night bouquet tossed into the audience’s lap from the Navesink River’s scenic stage.

It’s a show without a ticket or playbill. Curtain’s always up, even if the lights are dim and no one’s in the house. That’s because it’s always your own show with a take-away that stays like pressed flowers from the best of times.

That front-row seat to river time always calls, offering river time its own sitting ovation — always bowing in, not out.

That’s the show that holds down by the river. Always. Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse from the seat ... (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

The weekend weather …

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In Memoriam: Longtime Area Restaurateur; Iconic Hook, Line & Sinker, Ichabod’s Owner, Chuck Barondess, 83

Longtime area restaurateur Charles “Chuck” Barondess, owner of the iconic Rumson Hook Line & Sinker and Sea Bright’s Ichabod’s, passed away on June 13, 2023. He was 83.

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Prosecutor: Authorities Seek Public’s Input in Solving 2022 Murder

Authorities are asking any witnesses to a fatal 2022 Neptune shooting, that they believe may be connected to a shooting incident the same day and in the same area, to come forward, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said on Thursday.

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In Memoriam: Fair Havenite Toni Towne-Kilkeary, 46

“Toni was a fierce Mama Bear, protecting her children and anyone whom she loved. Everyone in Toni’s world knew how special they were, as she truly protected her circle. She would have been the first person at the doorstep when someone reached out for help.” ~
family of Toni Towne-Kilkeary

Fair Havenite Toni Towne-Kilkeary passed away unexpectedly on June 24. She was 46. 

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Retro RFH Guys’ Summer Dive

Class of ’76 seniors dive into summer
Photo/RFH Yearbook 1976

The sun has had a hard time peering out from the dank weather veil these days. So, daydreaming about a simpler summer time when a dive into the ocean in Sea Bright was all you needed comes a lot easier than that ball of fire and the imminent need to cool down.

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Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory

Despite the steady stream of rainy weather through last week and into this week, this week’s Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge replacement activity remains status quo. Work on the bridge continues Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, again, weather permitting, with a few new notes to roadway and sidewalk users. Note that the sidewalk across the bridge is fully open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Monmouth County officials advise …

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Focus: Solstice River Walk Solace

It doesn’t have to be the longest day of the year to get the most out of the warmth of river time before the sun sets, calling it a day — a first summer day.

The day may be over, but the river time feeling is forever docked in the mind. The fair haven on the Navesink always calls. Rain never drowns the call. The lap. The lull. The gentle tide reaches out and tugs at our hearts to stay. And we do.

Any day is the longest day down by the river, because it’s an endless river walk in our Fair Haven.

Rain never washes away the footprint of time wrapped in home’s swaddling river tide.

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

And there will be lots of rain this week, drenching the area, according to the National Weather Service. It continues through the weekend and into next week …