All posts by Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Obituaries

Looking Back at a Special RFH Teacher, Friend

Image Leave a comment
Mimi Hughes as pictured in the 1978 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School yearbook.

By Elaine Van Develde

It is with great sadness, yet gratitude for a treasure trove of great memories, that I dedicate our Retro Pic of the Day to the memory of longtime Rumson resident and former RFH English teacher Mimi Hughes, who passed away Saturday morning.

Mrs. Hughes is remembered as an exquisitely gentille, intelligent, strong and compassionate woman. While many knew her from her many years as an RFH teacher, she is also fondly recalled as a singer, actress, friend, wife, mom to RFH grads Mark, Paul, Nan and Patrick and beloved grandmother to her grandchildren.

“She had time to say goodbye to all of us, and she did it with shining grace and composure,” daughter Nan said in a Facebook post. “Her last night was filled with love, Christmas carols and family. Mimi was even singing along with her grandchildren … And as always, she has been a role model, showing us the best way to do this.”

There will be a memorial gathering 10 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by an 11 a.m. Mass at Nativity Church, Fair Haven.

With our Retro Pic of the Day, we ask that you take a moment to remember Mimi Hughes.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will be publishing an opinion piece on Monday in honor of Mrs. Hughes.

Local Life

A Retro Look at Fair Haven School Daze

Image Leave a comment

IMG_0545

Our Retro Pic of the Day takes you back to the days of Kindergarten classes at what was called the Youth Center in Fair Haven.

Kids were walked on a rope — yes, a rope — led by an official looking crossing guard-type person to the classroom which was where the police station is now. (We’ll get to the rope another time.)

This shot, circa 1965, features some kids who are still in the area, if not Fair Haven itself.

One is a well-known funeral director (front, left), another is your own Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect founding editor (front right, sort of), another has a mom who still lives in town and a brother who is a well-known area photographer and landscaper, and, yet another, was an impressive athlete growing up and is still in town.

Take your guesses. And, please feel free to send us your retro photos, credit included, at [email protected].

 

Business Buzz, News

Get Your Christmas Booskerdoo On Now!

Leave a comment
Screenshot of Booskerdoobakery.com website
Screenshot of Booskerdoobakery.com website

There are a lot of downtown business bargains going on for the holidays in Fair Haven right now.

However, one shop, in particular, is now aiming to make sure that all fans get their orders in by Thursday night to ensure a timely Christmas delivery. That shop is Booskerdoo.

The staff at the relatively new coffee and dessert shop on River Road is reminding people that “you can still order coffee at www.booskerdoo.com and get it by Christmas Eve. You’ve got about 30 hours left of guaranteed delivery,” according the business’ Facebook page.

“To receive it by Christmas Eve, order by Dec 18th,” another post not the page added. “Use coupon code ‘davy10’ for 10% off an order of three bags or more. All coffee is roasted the same day we mail it to you.”

Continue reading Get Your Christmas Booskerdoo On Now! →

Schools Scene

Parents Get ‘Google Apps for the Classroom’ Education

Leave a comment

The following is an edited press release from the Fair Haven School District:

The Fair Haven School District gave parents an opportunity to get some hands-on experience with Google Apps for the Classroom.

Parents gathered at the Media Center of Knollwood School on Dec. 2 for the fourth event in a series of several planned by the district’s new Fair Haven Family Institute. The Institute was created to relay information to parents on initiatives undertaken throughout each year in the district.

As part of the Go Google! event, parents received hands-on experience with the capabilities of Google Apps for the Classroom. The program was hosted by Ellen Spears, district director of Curriculum, as well as Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy, Knollwood School Principal Kevin Davis, and district supervisor of Instructional Programs and Support Kathy Elgrim.

Continue reading Parents Get ‘Google Apps for the Classroom’ Education →

Local Life

Taking a Spin Back to Cotton Candy and Fair Days

Leave a comment

 

Millie Felsmann spins and serves cotton candy at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair's Out Back circa 1993. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Millie Felsmann spins and serves cotton candy at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Out Back circa 1993.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

While we’re on a Fair Haven Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary roll, we figured we’d keep it going with a Retro Pic of the Day that hones in on some warmth with yet another “fair” lady, Millie Felsmann.

In this snapshot, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1993, she was up to her usual cotton candy spinning and serving.

The booth she is pictured in is now called the Out Back. Then it was just referred to as “the hot dog booth.”

What’s your favorite goodie from that booth?

Business Buzz, News

Bye-Bye to Mike’s Toy Store

Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

A little slice of area toy store history went tumbling down on Tuesday.

The building that used to house the iconic Mike’s Toy Store in Little Silver is no more. And as it was toppled, childhood memories arose.

Mike’s was that kind of place for which many a kid in the Rumson-Fair Haven area saved his or her pennies, clutched in their tiny fists, for a jaunt to the wonderland to purchase a token toy dream come true.

And, some might say, the irony was uncanny that the place that many saw as their own fantasy Santa’s workshop came down at Christmas time. The jolt of the toy graveyard scene crushed old-timers’ nostalgia-riddled souls while igniting that child-like light from within.

Continue reading Bye-Bye to Mike’s Toy Store →

Local Life

A Look Back on Holiday Partying with the Fair Haven FD Ladies’ Auxiliary

Image Leave a comment
Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary celebrates the holidays many years ago. Pictured are: FRONT ROW Mary Farley, Sally Van Develde, Millie Felsmann, Paula Mulvihill, Mary LeCardi, Jane Croft, Evie Kelly, Joanne Fowler, BACK ROW Kathy Watson, Ethel Russek, Bobby Lang, Florrie Carlock, Ruth Binaco, Elinore Osborne, Jean Burgess, Mary Albertson, Marion Bennett, Jackie Leslie, Chris Schrank, Trish DePonti, Raquel Falotico, Dale Connor, Nellie Egeland, Esther England, Dot Connor and Kathy Robbins. Photo/Kathy Robbins

Our Retro Pic of the Day brings us decades back to a snapshot of a little holiday party fun with the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary.

There are an awful lot of familiar faces in this shot, including some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) grads and/or their mothers — this editor’s mom, too.

Take a look and see who you recognize. Thanks to Kathy Robbins who took the photo and circulated it last year on Facebook.

News

Detour: W. Front Street Bridge to Close

Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

People in the area knew it was coming — a four-month West Front Street Bridge closure.

But, right now, with plans long in the works to replace the bridge, which spans from Red Bank to Middletown, Monmouth County officials today announced that there would be intermittent lane closures in the area in preparation of what has now been determined to be a Jan. 2 shut-down of the span.

Until that closure, county officials announced in a release, “there will be intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Hubbard Avenue and other roads on the Middletown side” of the 92-year-old bridge.

Continue reading Detour: W. Front Street Bridge to Close →

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Another Closing of Another RFH Show

Image Leave a comment
Julia Mosby and Ben Ley after “Miracle on 34th Street” performance at RFH. Photo/Barbara Mosby

By all accounts, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players’ Miracle on 34th Street was a smashing success.

The show, which ran Friday and Saturday nights, closed with a Sunday matinee.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect couldn’t make it to this show, but cast member Julia Mosby’s mom Barbara captured a couple of post-show moments and sent them. So, the photos are being featured as our Retro Pic(s) of the Day.

The photos, of course, included Julia and RFH grad and friend Ben Ley, a former RFH Jazz Ensemble drummer, who now attends NYU.

Take a look. If you have any photos you’d like to add, please feel free to send them to us, with proper credit, at [email protected].

 

Local Life

Reflection of a Sunny Beach Sweep

Image Leave a comment
Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps in Sea Bright 2014. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps in Sea Bright 2014.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Ah, yes, the sun was out today, but that chill is in the air and, well,  season-appropriate.

In light of a sunny day memory at the Sea Bright beach and the fact that Clean Ocean Action is celebrating its 30th year, we decided to take you back to the organization’s Beach Sweeps in October.

Take a look and, click here to see the slideshow of the day. Don’t forget to click the lower right corner of the video to enlarge it!

Here’s to more sunny, crisp days!