All posts by Elaine Van Develde

News

A Snow Angel Day in the Neighborhood

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Snow angels in Fair Haven paved the way to work for an editor. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Snow angels in Fair Haven paved the way to work for an editor.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s a beautiful day in a Fair Haven neighborhood when a few snow angels shovel out an asthmatic editor on a mission to get some photos.

That’s exactly what happened on a certain block in Fair Haven when yours truly was unknowingly dug out from whatever white stuff fell as a result of the “winter storm.”

No, there was no blizzard. But there was certainly enough snow to bring on an attack while shoveling or at least delay work.

Thanks snow angels! The photos are coming next in a nice slideshow! Stay tuned.

News

Blizzard Goes Bust: Snow Angel Sabbatical?

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Snow angels in training take time to chat and play. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Snow angels in training take time to chat and play.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

By Elaine Van Develde

The snow must go on!

That’s what was continuously predicted for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from Sunday through Tuesday morning by the National Weather Service and climatologists all over. And the preparations — in the name of the boy scout credo and post traumatic stress disorder from Hurricane Sandy — took hold.

An epic blizzard was headed down the shore, according to the experts, and people needed to protect themselves. And they did.

The Rumson-Fair Haven area snow angels and unofficial junior apprentices were poised to help in the dig-out. Store shelves emptied, flashlights were loaded with batteries, fireplaces were stocked with wood, a state of emergency was declared, roads were emptied, local emergency responders were ready and people scurried into their homes at nightfall prepared to be stuck there for days. New Jersey was, essentially, closed. Until now.

In case you haven’t heard, the blizzard threat is no more and hasn’t been since this morning. The state of things outdoors shows it, too. It’s been downgraded to a snow storm. In fact, a winter storm warning is in effect until 3 p.m. today for the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

The National Weather Service, at the height of the threat, predicted up to 33 inches of snowfall over a two-day period and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. The forecast now calls for a possible accumulation of 1 to 2 inches today and a northwest wind of 20 to 22 miles per hour. And then the rain may fall before midnight.

But, school’s out today and a delayed opening is scheduled for all districts in the R-FH area. And the snow angels have been busy.

Those in training took a bit of a sabbatical to play, but they’re ready.

Thanks to the angels! Any seniors or people with disabilities who need help with removal should call the police department in Fair Haven and an angel will be sent your way.

Local Life

The Next Generation of Snow Angels in Fair Haven

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By Elaine Van Develde

No sooner did the snow start to steadily fall in Fair Haven than some neighbor kids hit the sidewalks in front of their houses equipped with colorful shovels great attitudes.

The gaggle of good little guys and girls got some quality romping and “work” in before it all got too tough to handle.

Between the snowmen, snow piles and festive shovels and grins, it was evident they were next in line for snow angel duty.

Referred to by many residents as snow angels, there is a group of teens in the area who sign up to clear driveways, sidewalks and steps for senior citizens and those with disabilities in town.

Watch out for this group!

Click on any image to enlarge to full size and hit next or previous image for the rest. 

Local Life, News

Here Comes the Snow!

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By Elaine Van Develde

As the weather outside in the Rumson-Fair Haven area started getting frightful, the view from the banks of the Navesink River was one filled with choppy waters and a blustery dusting of snow.

It all started Monday morning. As forecasts continue to promise piles of the white stuff, it was still stable enough to get out and capture a bit of the clam before the blizzard in the afternoon.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect hit the docks in Fair Haven and Rumson so people could get the picture.

Take a look at the photos above to get a glimpse into the beginning of the 2015 blizzard. Just click on any image to enlarge, and scroll.

Local Life, News

Rumson on Blizzard Prep

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With the predicted blizzard headed the Rumson way, officials are offering advisories on the borough’s website:

• Borough parks will close at dusk;

• There will be no Tuesday garbage collection;

• and Forrestdale, Deane Porter and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School will be closed on Tuesday.

Residents are also advised, according to a post by Councilman Ben Day, that there will be “NO overnight parking on Borough streets or Borough Parking Lots to allow for DPW Crews to clear. Cars left there will be towed.”

Local Life, News

Mayor: Fair Haven is Blizzard-Ready

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By Elaine Van Develde

“Fair Haven is ready,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said of the impending blizzard on Monday afternoon.

There was a meeting of all major departments (police, emergency management and public works) at noon, he said, and all equipment is fueled up and ready to go, staff is on alert and well-rested, and supplies have been loaded.

Aside from the postponement of tonight’s Borough Council meeting to Thursday at 7 p.m., the mayor asked that “people please keep sidewalks clear and hydrants free of snow (3 feet in each direction with a path out to the street.”

Fair Haven’s two schools, Knollwood and Sickles, are both closed on Tuesday, according to the district website. There will be a delayed opening on Wednesday, Superintendent Nelson Ribon said in a post on the site.

The bulletin that was emailed to residents who have signed up for borough alerts and posted on the Fair Haven Facebook page is as follows:

“Tonight’s Council meeting is cancelled and has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

“Historic Commission meeting has been cancelled for Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Historic Commission will meet again at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

“Zones 3 & 4 trash service for Tuesday has been suspended. Trash pickup for Zones 3 & 4 will resume Friday, January 30, 2015.
Recycling for all zones has been suspended for Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Recycling will resume next Wednesday, February 4, 2015.
Borough Hall most likely will be closed Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and will reopen as soon as practical on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

“Please remember to report all power outages directly to JCP&L.
Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com. In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department.

“Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

“FirstEnergy customers also can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive billing reminders, weather alerts in advance of major storms, and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts, and make other inquiries about their electric accounts.

“More information about these communications tools is available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.

Borough Code 14-6.2 states that no person shall sweep, throw or deposit any snow or ice in that part of the street which has been or is being plowed, swept or cleared by the municipality for the passage of traffic.

“Property owners, tenants or occupants must clear the sidewalk in front of their property of all snow and/or ice within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall or the formation of ice. The path cleared must be a minimum of two feet in width (Ord. 14-6.1).

“If there is a fire hydrant in front of your home or business, please clear the snow around the hydrant. Borough Code 7-10.1 states whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that it covers the streets and highways, an emergency shall exist and no vehicle shall be parked on the streets or highways or portions thereof indicated.

“The parking prohibitions shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic.”

Communication Tools
Return to top Our customer app and mobile website provide on-the-go access to important information and services related to your electric account at WWW.FIRSTENERGYCORP.COM.

 

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

All About the Forrestdale Winter Concert

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Forrestdale School in Rumson showcased student talent in the  Instrumental Music Program’s Winter Concert on Jan. 15.

Under the direction of John Lebitsch, the Intermediate and Advanced bands and the Jazz Ensemble took center stage to entertained a large, appreciative audience in the school’s gymnasium, a press release from the Rumson School District said.

The Winter Concert, the release added, featured the following selections:

• Percussion Portrait, by Jerry Nowak, was performed by the Advanced Band, showcasing the skills of the percussion section on six different instruments;

• The Intermediate and Advanced bands teamed up to present Walkin’ Cool, a jazz piece.

• The Jazz Ensemble closed the show with the Duke Ellington piece Satin Doll followed by an encore reprise of the band’s favorite holiday number, Feliz Navidad.

If you were at the concert and would like to have your photos added, send them, with proper credit, to [email protected]

Crime, Police and Fire

Crime Close By: Criminal Mischief, Theft

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The following recent reports of criminal incidents next door in Red Bank were obtained from police records:

• An incident of criminal mischief — the entire length of a parked vehicle was keyed on both sides — was reported to have occurred sometime between Jan. 15 and 16 on Locust Avenue.

Patrolman Michael Zadlock took the report.

• The victim of an alleged incident of criminal mischief reported that on Jan. 18 an unknown person shattered both the far rear and driver’s side rear windows on a vehicle parked on Union Street.

Patrolman Patrick Kennedy took the report.

• The theft on Jan. 9 of a handicapped placard from a car on Maple Avenue was reported on Jan. 21.

Patrolman Cevin Albert took the report.

Local Life, News, Schools Scene

R-FH Schools Blizzard Prep: Early Dismissals

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The impending blizzard brings with it closings and cancelled/postponed meetings and events within the next few days.

So far, in Rumson:

• There will be a 1 p.m. dismissal on Monday at Forrestdale and Deane Porter schools, according to the district website.

All activities are cancelled.

• The school district’s PARCC Parent Workshop set for Monday at 7 p.m. will be rescheduled. Check the district website for updates.

So far, in Fair Haven:

• There will be early dismissals on Monday at both Sickles and Knollwood schools, according to the latest post on the Fair Haven Schools website.

Sickles will dismiss at 12:10 p.m. and Knollwood at 12:30.

“For the safety and well-being of our students and staff, FH schools we will have an early dismissal today,” Superintendent Nelson Ribon post on the district website. “Overnight forecast models show a potential for extremely windy conditions (blizzard warnings) during the early afternoon along with snow.”night:

So far, for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

• There will be an early dismissal at 11:45 a.m. on Monday.

All after-school activities have been cancelled.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will update this article as information becomes available. Please check back for updates.

News

Blizzard Update for the R-FH Area

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Along with the upgrade of the blizzard warning for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from noon Monday through Tuesday evening, preparation mode has gone into overdrive with the anticipation of up to 33 inches of snow in a two-day period.

“There’s nothing left,” a grin-sporting guy joked as he left the near barren Acme in Fair Haven Sunday night.

Yes, the snow is coming, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Here’s how it’s going to hit the area, the NWS says:

• Overnight into Monday morning, starting at about 3 a.m., there is a chance of up to about half an inch of snow predicted with temperatures hitting a low of about 25 degrees and northeast wind from 11 to 16 miles per hour

• Monday during the day, intermittent snow is expected with accumulation of roughly 1 to 2 inches and a northeast wind of 20 to 24 miles per hour.

• Monday night, a new snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches is expected with a north wind blowing at 26 to 36 miles per hour and gusts of up to 47 miles per hour. A low temperature of 25 degrees is anticipated.

• Tuesday will see a lot of areas with blowing snow, winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour, gusts up to 43 and heavy accumulation of roughly 10 to 14 more inches. A high temperature of 32 degrees is expected.

• On Tuesday night, the NWS predicts temperatures at a low of 19 degrees, winds of up to 31 miles per hour with gusts of as high as 36 miles per hour and 1 to 3 more inches of snow.

The Fair Haven Fire Department asks that residents keep hydrants clear of snow by 3 feet in each direction and clear to the street. “Attention Residents…Help US Help You!!! If there is a hydrant in front of or near your property, please keep it clear. Thank you!!!” a post on the department’s Facebook page said. See the graphic below.

Forecasters say that what puts a snow storm in the blizzard category is mostly the high winds causing high drifts and dangerous circumstances.

A coastal flood warning is also in effect for Sea Bright and Sandy Hook that could also affect low-lying areas of Rumson.

On Tuesday, at Sandy Hook, high tide is slated to come in at 1:07 a.m. “with a forecast tide level of 7.5 to 8 feet above mean lower low water,” according to the National Weather Service.

News

Snowmen Before the Slush

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Yes, there was snowfall in the late evening into early morning hours in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

And, as is status quo when snow falls, snowmen are built by enthused children.

There were a few built in the area. They’re still standing, but that rain is falling as night sets in and it’s only a matter of time until they, let’s say, shrink a little, to put it delicately.

Do you have a snowman to show off before he meets his untimely demise? Send your photos to [email protected].

News

Retreating Back to Another Sunny Day Down by the River

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Hanging down by the river in Fair Haven circa 2013. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Hanging down by the river in Fair Haven circa 2013.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

In light of the impending nor’easter, our Retro Pic of the Day, once again, brings back memories of fun in the sun on the banks of the Navesink River.

This crew had a great time one day in 2013. The photo encapsulates a typical day for kids enjoying life down by the river.

Enjoy! It won’t be long before these sunny days return.