Category Archives: Local Life

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

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Halloween Parading

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A longstanding time-honored tradition made its comeback in Fair Haven on Sunday — the Halloween parade.

As always, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, historic characters and a host of other haunters of all ages marched their way down the usual parade route from Knollwood School to River Road to the firehouse, where the collection of festive creepers socialized and got prizes.

R-FH Retro caught up with the spirited trickers and treaters. Take a look at the photos in the below gallery for a glimpse into the day (AND don’t forget to CLICK to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!)

Happy haunting!

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

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Local Life

Retro Cheesy Class Pic Posers

It’s time to say “Cheese!” for those cheesy class pictures.

The era, along with its hair and clothing styles, may be bygone, aas are some since dumped picture day prep traditions, but the freeze framed sentiment is the same — straighten up and smile right, even if your bangs and teeth are both crooked. Never mind the sudden blemish pop-up, scratch or missing tooth. It all amounts to classic picture day pomp and circumstance. Classic.

Continue reading Retro Cheesy Class Pic Posers →
Local Life

Focus: Halloweening Tricks & Weather Treats

Tricks and treats are back on this year with the Halloween that wasn’t last year.

And with that comeback comes tricks of the season’s decorating trade and the treat of taking a cruise to sight see the result of all the creativity around the towns.

As the old Addams Family credo goes, the Halloween curb appeal on Rumson-Fair Haven area front lawns had a little creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether ooky.

The best part? The decor is still sprouting all over the towns. This was just a smattering of a spooky season prequel that endures for more than just the trick or treating day — sometimes weeks before and after.

The weather has been quite cooperative in getting decorations out and up. And this week’s forecast calls for more sun to shine on the creativity and joy ride to soak up the season.

According to the National Weather Service, what’s on the horizon is below. Check it out.

And while you’re doing that, check out what’s brewing in the area’s witch’s cauldron of decor and tell us where to find the best area haunts! Send your photos to evd@rfhretro.com for our next haunt collage. In the meantime, check out the competition by clicking on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy. Happy haunting!

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Local Life

Retro RFH ‘Hunt’ Party Starters

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RFHers at The Hunt of the late 1970s or early 80s
Photo/RFH reunion slideshow screenshot

A reprise from an original 2017 post all about The Hunt. It’s that time of the year, and we always need a little bit of retro cheer, so here’s to fond Hunt memories revisited! Happy Hunting in your dreams …

It takes a … bunch, yeah, a bunch of RFHers to get a Hunt party started.

Continue reading Retro RFH ‘Hunt’ Party Starters →
Local Life

Focus: Fall River Walk & Weather

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Broody and blue-hued as the scene seems down by the river these days, there’s a toasty comfort in the fall breeze.

It whisks by and envelopes with a snug squeeze — one that whispers “You’re home.” Anyone who’s grown up with feet in wet sand on that Fair Haven beach slip, plucking shells that plop a time-honored magic into the palm of the hand, knows the spell cast.

The magic reminds — the sun always peer through the clouds offering that snuggle, that glow that lights the path back home.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde (Click on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

That sun is coming this week. Here’s how and when, according to the National Weather Service …

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Local Life

Retro Hunt Wagon Tailgate

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Tailgating at The Hunt in the late 1970s to early 80s
Photo/RFH reunion slideshow screenshot

Fall was Hunt time. So, we take you back to The Hunt with this classic tailgating reprise Retro Pic of the Day. Have any Hunt photos? Send them over to us at evd@rfhretro.com for a new view feature.

Ahhhh, The Hunt. It was a fall tradition. It’s always remembered. And with that tradition came some elegant tailgating.

Continue reading Retro Hunt Wagon Tailgate →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Rainy Day Tricks & Treats

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Lounging in the RFH Senior Lounge on a "free" with Jim Scanlon and Mark Cardwell Photo/George Day
Lounging in the RFH Senior Lounge on a “free” with Jim Scanlon and Mark Cardwell
Photo/George Day

A reprise from Oct. 1, 2015 to give a little cheer on a dank day. A little tricks and treating among RFH loungers. Always an adventure of some sort at RFH … 

There was nothing quite like becoming a senior at RFH and being able to hang out in a special lounge just for you and your classmates, especially on a dismal October day.

Nothing was getting anyone down if they were senior lounging in the cozy RFH indoors. Of course, there was always something seniors were up to. Call it mod. Literally. 

Those were the days — in the 1970s.

The whole senior scene, in fact, was quite mod, or literally modular.

Continue reading Retro RFH Rainy Day Tricks & Treats →

Local Life

Retro Stokes Mess Hall Tripping

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Hanging at the Stokes dining hall in ’78
Photo/courtesy of Jill Sorrentino

Well, COVID may have put off the sixth graders’ trip to Stokes State Forrest, but it didn’t quash it.

It just moved the tradition and fun to locals’ summer fall instead of spring/summer. And the week full of outdoor learning, pranks and bonding came to an end this week.

Continue reading Retro Stokes Mess Hall Tripping →
Local Life

Scene Around: Whistling & Stopping Home with Barbara Leslie

She’s that lady who taught guitar to many a Fair Haven kid. She rowed the musical boat ashore and marched, played and sang with them as Fair Haven Folk Singers in parades. She’s Barbara Leslie. Her iconic base of song and play? The Whistle Stop.

Continue reading Scene Around: Whistling & Stopping Home with Barbara Leslie →
Local Life

Iconic Spot: The Girl From the Rumson Dock

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Svelte and coiffed and young and lovely, the girl from the Rumson Dock goes sunning … and when she suns … she gets her picture on a 1959 Rumson post card.

You’ve likely seen the card. It’s been in circulation for decades. But, that girl sitting on the dock has always been somewhat of a mystery — until now.

Continue reading Iconic Spot: The Girl From the Rumson Dock →
Local Life

Focus: River Time; Locals’ Summer Welcome

It’s locals’ summertime in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, where the livin’ is always easier down by the river.

Welcomed is how most any local wrapped up in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers’ shoreline embrace feels. It’s a local’s terminal rite of passage. And when summer’s crowded rush of soaking it all up cools down, the deep inhale of the rivers’ endless solace warms — a reminder that home is where the river beckons. A roaring, quiet reminder. It hollers with the tide … until it soothes.

Can you hear it now?

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde (Click on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

Locals’ summer days ahead are looking seasonably good. Check out the forecast for this week from the National Weather Service and head to your favorite locals’ summer river spot …

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