Category Archives: Local Life

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

Scene Around: State Champ Bulldog Bliss

Jenny and Nick Costello celebrate the RFH Varsity Football state championship winning moment
Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello

It’s double the RFH pride when the Bulldogs win the varsity state football championship, you’re a player and your cheering section is headed by your RFH grad mom.

Of course, moms are number one fans; but, the RFH connection between this mother and son just makes this on-the-field capture all the more Bulldog meaningful. That’s because the moment is one between 1993 grad Jenny Jones Costello and son Nick, an RFH senior and linebacker for the team.

Yes, by now, most know that the RFH Varsity Football team won the state championship with Friday night’s playoff win against Hazlet’s Raritan High School 34-27, making them the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 champions.

Those winning two-generation RFH smiles say it all.

Congratulations Bulldogs! Cheers!

Focus: Falling for Sun-Drenched River Time

Sunny days and Mondays are a great way to start the week — especially in the fall with some river time in Rumson tossed in.

With river time, along the Navesink River, it’s all about warmth. Soaking up the sun while getting a soothing embrace from the river is the coziest it gets. Always a homecoming.

There’s nothing like the soul taking a dip in the sun-drenched riverfront. Falling for it all on a fall day. Never shaking off an ounce of its healing power. Taking it in, holding it for a lifetime.

There are more sunny fall river days to come this week. Take a look at the forecast from the National Weather Service

Retro Sandy-Ravaged Donovan’s ‘DO’

People walk the sea wall by Donovan's Reef in Sea Bright after Sandy, checking out what's left of the iconic spot. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
People walk the sea wall by Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright after Sandy, checking out what’s left of the iconic spot.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It was 10 years ago that the havoc wreaked by Superstorm Sandy left monumental wreckage in its wake in Sea Bright.

Once the ghost-town kind of calm settled in after the storm, people flocked from all over to witness the devastating damage done first hand.

One iconic spot that Sandy decimated, hoisting up its buildings and fiercely slamming them down onto twisted tar, was Sea Bright’s Donovan’s Reef.

Continue reading Retro Sandy-Ravaged Donovan’s ‘DO’

Focus: Halloween Decoration Drive-By

Halloween is in the air — and on lawns — in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

All you have to do is take a drive to get into the spirit — or crash into a few out of amazement, shock or fright. Do try this at home. Just leave the crashing part out and take in the sights of the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether ooky decorations around the towns, as the Addams Family title song says.

Continue reading Focus: Halloween Decoration Drive-By

Focus: Celebrating Fair Haven History in a Pastor’s Retirement

“If you’re gonna worry, don’t pray. And if you’re gonna pray, don’t worry.”

Following his own advice, Fair Haven Fisk Chapel A.M.E. Church Rev. Thomas Johnson will tell you that he never did much worrying. In fact, if you you’ve ever even known him for a minute, you likely haven’t seen a scowl or worried furrow on his brow. Just a bright smile that speaks self-proclaimed countless blessings.

Continue reading Focus: Celebrating Fair Haven History in a Pastor’s Retirement

Scene Around: Coffee & Fall Fest Time

It was all about falling for the fall season with some sips, pets and socializing. The coffee was on and company came to celebrate the fall with festivities at Coffee Corral in Red Bank this past sunny Saturday.

Turns out that the Corral’s Fair Havenite owners, Courtlyn (Crosson) and Erich Reulbach, had the timing just right to offer up some free fall fun, food and feting before the rain came, cancelling lots of other fall and Halloween fetes on Sunday.

And the sun shone bright on the chicks and goats and sheep and folks scurrying to socialize and soak it all up. We’re told a sunny good time was had by all — even the animals.

Cheers to fall and coffee!

Take a look at the photos above, courtesy of R-FH Retro friend Magdalena Aders, for a glimpse into the day. (Click on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!).

Retro RFH Hippies’ Hunt Hill Chill

It’s that time the year again when thoughts of old-time Hunt times come flooding back for many Rumson-Fair Haven area folks. There still may be a Hunt, but not this one. So, we are offering a glimpse back to the days of the Haskell Hunt from a non-tailgating vantage point with a reprise of the following Retro Pic(s) of the Day piece originally posted on Oct. 20, 2017 … 

We went on the hunt for more Hunt photos and stumbled onto a couple of glimpses at the happening scene up on hip, hip Hippie Hill.

It was probably the late 1970s. These peacefully assembled cool long hairs and renegades likely snuck into the Haskell Hunt through the fence and onto that infamous hill on ol Amory Haskell’s elegant estate.

Continue reading Retro RFH Hippies’ Hunt Hill Chill

Scene Around: Rom-Com Filming Action in Fair Haven

It’s not every day that a movie cast and crew come to film in Fair Haven. Just today.

All was set up and rolling to film portions of the romantic comedy (Rom-Com) Which Brings Me to You at the Columbus Club on Fair Haven Road. Scenes for the film have been shot in other towns in the area — Rumson, Red Bank, Highlands and Keansburg.

According to IMBd, it’s about “two romantic burnouts (who) meet at a wedding and almost hook up in the coatroom before putting the brakes on. They agree to exchange candid confessions about their pasts on the off chance that this might be the real thing.”

Starring Genevieve Angelson, Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff and directed by Peter Hutchings, Fair Haven Mayor Josh Halpern caught the above scenes and posted them on social media, saying …

“How cool is it of the Columbus Club to accommodate the cast and crew of the movie Which Brings Me To You … As always, Fair Haven is in the center of it all. Can’t wait to see the results on the big screen!”

And that’s what was scene around in the Rumson-Fair Haven area today.

Thanks to the mayor for the photos.