Category Archives: Local Life

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

Focus: Riding with the River Tide

Sometimes it’s just time to ride into the spring sun with the tide — down by the river, of course.

Now’s the time. When isn’t the time right, though? The bright light shows the way to the clarity of it all, though. The sun comes out, the water glistens and calls. The ride has begun. The ride into a tsunami of the simplest best of time-honored times at the Fair Haven Dock.

The dock may have changed over the years since Fair Haven’s existence, but the Navesink River it juts out to still plays the same part, ebbing and flowing with each ride down by its shores. Holding each ride with the times close. A piece of the dock etched indelibly.

The anchor is never lifted on the ride to river times. The moments stay. They will never leave. The sun is always there somewhere, casting its light on them. Always.

Take a look (click one photo to enlarge and scroll) and remember your time that stayed.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

There are some rainy days ahead, but the sun will return. Here’s the weather forecast from the National Weather Service …

Scene Around: Boys of RFH Junior Prom Night

RFH junior boys of 2023 prom
Photo/Susan Culbert

There’s nothing quite like a dapper boys’ line-up on junior prom night.

Saturday night was the night for the stylin’ cool freeze frame of that classic pre-prom moment for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) juniors. The moment? It was one taken at Rumson Country Club’s Riverhouse. In keeping with prom picture and celebratory precursors to the main event, different groups of friends, dates and even snap-happy, sentimental parents gather at different spots to be posers and get set to prom the night away.

Continue reading Scene Around: Boys of RFH Junior Prom Night

Focus: Branching Out with River Time Buds

There’s nothing quite like branching out to a budding riverfront perspective — down by the Navesink at the Fair Haven Dock, of course.

Yes, spring has sprung. The buds are budding. And when it comes to seeing the river for the trees, the view is always the most flattering panoramic close-up of sunshine on an old friend.

It always smiles back and reaches out to hold with a tight hug. The buds on the trees branch out pulling you in to a new season, new day down by the river.

Happy budding river time 2023! (CLICK on one of the photos in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

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

Here’s what’s in store for the end-of-the-week into weekend weather forecast …

Retro RFH Girls’ Ball Game

RFH girls of softball with Amy Connor pitching Photo/George Day
RFH girls in the ball game with Amy Connor pitching
Photo/George Day

Reprise! Just because it’s that time of the year to play ball! And girls played ball, too! We take you back to a game of some sort on the field with the girls, except Nancy Welchel, of course. She was the only girl who played on the boys’ team. We’re pretty sure she pitched in on the field for the girls, too!

Baseball season is upon us. We’ve taken you out to the RFH boys ball game. Now we’re taking you to the girls’ version of playing the field.

This may not be an official RFH game, by virtue of the lack of uniforms, not to mention lack of girls on the team in those days, but it’s all about the girls this time … and having fun playing the field … and a little ball.

Continue reading Retro RFH Girls’ Ball Game

Scene Around: Some Bunny Gone to the Dogs

Easter Bunny dog walking
Photo/Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca

Stop in the name of Easter! Or something. Some bunny’s walking the dog.

It’s not every day that you see the Easter Bunny, or some giant bunny, taking a break from rolling and hiding those Easter eggs to walk the dog and wave to the neighbors. Just Saturday.

Yes, this unpawed, gloved bunny was spotted on the streets of Shrewsbury Borough. Some say they know him. They say the bunny-masked man was Steve Drucker. But, hey, “they” may be bunny skeptics. Not believers.

We like to think that you’re no bunny ’til some bunny believes. But, really, who knew the Easter Bunny had a dog?

See it? Believe it! Happy Easter!

** This special Easter treat scene was captured by RFH grad Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca. Thanks to Jo Ann and the bunny, of course! **

R-FH Area Easter Greetings of Yesteryears

It’s what the holiday is all about. Take a look at our glimpse into how Easter was spent in the Rumson-Fair Haven area in yesteryears far back and more recent.

We, at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect, hope you all had a happy holiday.

— Elaine Van Develde

Photos in slideshow, courtesy of Facebook friends.