Category Archives: Local Life

A look, in photos, of latest area events, local everyday people and places.

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

R-FH Area Weekend: Kites, Beach Sweeps, Flavour Fest & More

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The National Weather Service is telling us that the weekend weather forecast calls for brighter skies and higher temps.

So, what better time to take advantage of the events planned for the area this weekend. And there’s lots to do …

Friday

• Everyone’s hangin’ loose in memory of Silvio Fabbri in the back room of Umberto’s in Fair Haven on Fridays, starting at 7 p.m.

It’s a great way to remember Silvio, the iconic Fair Haven pizza maker and friend to all, and hang with friends and neighbors in the community.

“Hanga loose,” reminisce and enjoy!

• Coastal Decor in Fair Haven is hosting at 7:30 p.m. a Green Beachy Living event billed as a “fun night of shopping and nutrition” at it’s River Road store.

Click here for more information.

• Noel Coward’s Present Laughter is playing at the Navesink Library Theater tonight and tomorrow night, April 24, 25, with an 8:15 p.m. curtain.

A matinee is set for Sunday, April  26 at 2 p.m.

For more information, click here.

Saturday

• It should be a great day to fly a kite, and just in time for Sea Bright’s Come Fly With Us Kite Festival at Sea Bright Public Beach.

People of all ages are invited to gather at the beach at 11 a.m. and, well, go fly a kite!

There will be prizes and giveaways.

• Don’t forget that Saturday is Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps Day.

In the immediate area, the twice annual beach clean-up is being held at Sea Bright Public Beach, the beach in back of Borough Hall and Gaiter’s Restaurant in the northern section of Sea Bright from 9 to 12:30 p.m..

Here’s a list of other locations close by:

• Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, 29 Ocean Avenue, Monmouth Beach;

• Leonardo Public Beach South, 1 Concord Avenue and the beach, north side of Leonardo State Marine Launch ramp, Leonardo section of Middletown;

• Ideal Beach at Ocean and Bayside, Middletown;

• Bayshore Waterfront Park, 719 Port Monmouth Rd., Port Monmouth section of Middletown;

For more locations and information, click here.

• Rumson’s First Presbyterian Church is hosting a healthy earth, body and mind slate of events showcasing healthy cooking, gardening, exercise and aromatherapy starting at 1 p.m. at the church on River Road.

• Monmouth Players’ Present Laughter at 8:15 p.m. (See the above entry.)

Sunday

• The annual Red Bank International Flavour Festival comes to the borough’s White Street parking lot from noon to 7 p.m.

The festival features the usual tastes and toasts of area food and craft booths and music by several area bands.

Proceeds for the event are donated to Monmouth Day Care Center, Red Bank RiverCenter and Parker Family Health Clinic.

• Matinee of Monmouth Players’ Present Laughter. (See Friday’s entry above).

Local Life, News

Going Retro with Rumson Cops

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Rumson police at the 2015 borough Veterans Day ceremony Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson police at the 2015 borough Veterans Day ceremony
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

With all the talk about emergency responders and Monday’s Rumson fire, it seemed logical to take a moment to focus on Rumson police.

In this Retro Pic of the Day, Rumson officers and Chief Scott Paterson were poised to remember the borough’s residents who served in wars at the 2015 Veterans Day ceremony at Victory Park this past fall.

They are charged with protecting and serving; and, that’s just what they do.

Kudos to our community police officers! Have you thanked your local cop lately?

Local Life

Fair Haven Shore Signs of Spring

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The temperature may have plummeted a bit, but spring has just about sprung on the banks of the Navesink River in Fair Haven.

Tree leaves and blossoms have or are just about to bloom. The tide has been low, boats being readied for the season and waters calm.

It’s the perfect time for a walk down by the river.

Take a look at why Fair Havenites treasure their river time and memories. 

You may purchase photos from this gallery, but may not publish them anywhere. They are copyrighted.

— Photos by Elaine Van Develde/Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Local Life

Retro Ode to Fair Haven Firemen

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Firefighters from several area municipalities swarmed to the scene of Monday’s fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson.

All are volunteers. The fire took roughly six hours to quell at the hands of hundreds of area firemen.

Yesterday, we took a look back at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization and its firemen at the ceremony.

Today, we take a look back at the Fair Haven Reorganization and the first responders sworn in and offer another thank you to all of those who volunteer to protect us.

The other fire companies that responded to the Blithewald fire were: Sea Bright, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Asbury Park.

Have you thanked your local firefighter lately?

 

Local Life, News

Fair Haven: Poised for a Park

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By Elaine Van Develde

The Fair Haven house that Charles Williams built is gone.

But the historic significance of the freed African-American slave’s family homestead at the foot of DeNormandie Avenue has not been forgotten as the borough preps the swath of Navesink riverfront property for it’s new life as a park.

Fair Haven officials have said all along that once the transformation to passive recreation park takes hold, a plaque commemorating the Williams family and its Robards descendants will be anchored on the site. The plaque will include a brief history of the land’s significance.

For now, though, getting set for some major landscaping is the priority.

“The DPW is finishing up with clearing the property of any remaining bits of debris from the demolition,” Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “The borough’s arborist has assessed the trees on the property and made a determination of which can be cut down and which must be saved. Becker Tree Service, which has a contract with the borough, will soon remove the trees that cannot be saved.”

After that, the property will be readied for turf and landscaping.

Taxpayers contributed roughly $200,000 to the acquisition of the $1.2 million plat. The remainder of the money to purchase it came from state, county and non-profit grants — all of which were contingent upon a commitment to eternally preserve the land as open space.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the property’s history, from borough acquisition to the home’s demolition.

— Photos and slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Rewind: Ode to Rumson Firemen

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Rumson firemen at the borough's 2015 reorganization ceremony Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson firemen at the borough’s 2015 reorganization ceremony
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

In light of the four-alarm fire at the historic Blithewald mansion in Rumson on Monday, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the borough’s volunteer firefighters with a look back to a moment at the 2015 Rumson Reorganization.

The fire, which left the Widener home at 76 Buena Vista Ave. severely damaged, burned for roughly six hours.

The fire is under investigation by the Rumson Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the county fire marshal and its cause is still unknown, authorities said.

There were no injuries.

Thanks to our firefighters for their countless hours of volunteer time spent in (at times) high risk situations to protect the safety of the area’s residents!

Local Life, Schools Scene

RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent

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The following is a press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s)Janae Mayfield has signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division I Basketball for St. Peter’s University in Jersey City.

Janae, a senior at RFH, put pen to paper and made it official on the morning of April 15 with her family and coaches proudly looking on.

“My parents put a basketball in my hands when I was four years old,” said Janae. “I loved watching my older siblings play, and as I got older my dad and I would shoot hoops in the driveway while I waited for my school bus.”

Continue reading RFH’s Janae Mayfield Signs Letter of Intent →

Local Life

Dancing for RFH’s George Giffin

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By George, it was an evening all about dance and raising funds for a good cause!

The George Giffin Memorial Dance-a-Thon was dubbed a good time for all on Saturday.

The popular Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School science and dance teacher and coach passed away last year. In finding a fitting way to memorialize him and garner some money for Monmouth Day Care Center, his daughter Debra Schluter and a committed group of volunteers set the dance-a-thin in motion — literally.

Take a look at the slideshow above for a glimpse into the event, and remember George Giffin.

“When you get that beat, you have to moooove your feet!” — George Giffin.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: RFH Prom Time

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The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) junior prom is over, but the memories will, no doubt, linger for a lifetime.

Prom is just one of those milestones that remains etched in the mind of a teen — indelibly.

Well, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect asked for snapshots of some of those moments and got them.

So, take a look at our slideshow above. that encapsulates the start of the Friday night event of a teen lifetime at Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. Be sure to click on the lower right icon to enlarge. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Grato Images, Doug Borden and Daryl Ley for the  photos! Grato says there are more to come, so check out the site by clicking here.

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

The R-FH Area Weekend: Hanga Loose, Whale of a Sale, George Giffin Dance & Theater

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The weekend forecast calls for a lot of sun and fun in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Plan accordingly. Get out and to all or a few of the events on tap.

Friday

• Everyone’s hangin’ loose in memory of Silvio Fabbri in the back room of Umberto’s in Fair Haven on Fridays, starting at 7 p.m.

Great way to remember Silvio and hang with friends and neighbors in the community.

“Hanga loose” and enjoy, as Silvio would say.

Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: Hanga Loose, Whale of a Sale, George Giffin Dance & Theater →

Local Life, News

A View of the Oceanic Bridge Revamp

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It’s a pictorial view from the underside of the Oceanic Bridge, which has been undergoing unforeseen structural repairs before the summer season starts.

“As the construction work has progressed, additional areas of critical structural steel and concrete deterioration were found,” Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering, said in a release about the progress of the repairs to the bridge.

The bridge, that spans the Navesink River from Rumson to Middletown, is in need of concrete and steel deck repairs that are slated to be finished on or about April 30.

“The limits of the additional deterioration were unknown when the project began and have become evident during the cleaning and preparation process for the repairs as originally planned,” Monmouth County Engineer Joseph Ettore said in the release. “The additional steel and concrete deck deterioration must be repaired immediately to maintain public safety and the use of the Oceanic Bridge.”

The bridge, being revamped by Howell-based George Harms Construction Company Inc., is closed overnight, from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., with intermittent daytime one-lane closures.

For more information on the bridge, check out the following stories:

https://rumsonfairhavenretrospect.com/?p=1544

https://rumsonfairhavenretrospect.com/?p=1764

https://rumsonfairhavenretrospect.com/?p=2577

https://rumsonfairhavenretrospect.com/?p=2580

 — Photos and story/Elaine Van Develde