Category Archives: Local Life

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

Local Life

Focus: Dawn of a New Week at the Dock

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Down by Fair Haven Dock at sunrise
Photos/Susan Culbert

Oh, what a beautiful morning! The tune is an ear worm of background music for this scene that started the day and week today in Fair Haven. And it’s not Oklahoma, either. It’s the Fair Haven Dock at sunrise.

The serene scene never gets old. And while the focus may be honed in on the familiar scene in this utopia, it changes every so slightly with each ripple of water, each sigh of contentment with each capture.

This dawn of this new day in the Rumson-Fair Haven area was freeze framed in warmth by Fair Havenite Susan Culbert.

A snapshot of embracing calm. Ahhhhhh …

The week starts with a forecast of sunny skies and warmth through Wednesday and some thunder and rain toward the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Take a look …

Local Life

Retro RFH Graduation Daisy Chain

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RFH 1978 graduation, replete with daisy chain Photo/Daryl Cooper Ley
RFH 1978 graduation, replete with daisy chain
Photo/Wanda Becker via Daryl Cooper Ley

The following was originally posted in May of 2017. It is being reprised in honor of the recent RFH graduation, traditions of the past and the RFH Daisy Chain girl featured who passed away in 2019 — Daryl Cooper Ley.

It was considered a privilege and honor. They were chosen from the junior class at RFH to serve as the debutante-like ushers for the graduating class. All dressed in white and supposedly gracefully toting a chain of daisies, the Daisy Chain girls were a fixture of high school finery at graduations in the 1970s.

The origins of the somewhat upper-crust tradition date back to the 1900s, but this Retro Pic of the Day was snapped in 1978.

Continue reading Retro RFH Graduation Daisy Chain →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Eighth Grade Graduation Walk

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Fair Haven Knollwood School graduation walk down Third Street 2013
Photos/Elaine Van Develde

A reprise from last year in honor of the return of the graduation walks and festivities … Congrats to all the eighth grade grads!

There are two different graduation walks when you’re an eighth grade graduate of Fair Haven’s Knollwood School.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Eighth Grade Graduation Walk →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro Knollwood Grad Fashionistas

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Knollwood Class of '74 graduation fashionistas Stephanie DeSesa, Elaine Van Develde (yours truly) and Wanda Becker. Photo/Sally Van Develde
Knollwood Class of ’74 graduation fashionistas Stephanie DeSesa, Elaine Van Develde and Wanda Becker.
Photo/Sally Van Develde

In honor of eighth grade graduations, a reprise of that look back to Knollwood School Class of 1974 and best buds … 

It’s half past eighth grade graduation time in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Every year photos up all over social media. And these crews of grade school cronies seem to have a panache we eighth graders of the 1970s lacked. There they all are … posing, arms wrapped around one another, sporting stylish clothes, tans and toothy grins.

Continue reading Retro Knollwood Grad Fashionistas →
Local Life

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Returns for 2021

All’s fair, after all! It’s the post-quarantine, pandemic state-of-emergency news all Fair Havenites at heart, near and far, have been waiting for: The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair will return this year.

The highly-anticipated news, that was expected by mid-June came via the fair chairmen via social media within the past hour or so:

“We are thrilled to be able to announce that after review with our members, vendors and of course NJ safety protocols, 2021 will see the return of the Firemen’s Fair — Friday, August 27 – Saturday, September 4 (closed Sunday)!
The fair will continue traditions of rides, game booths, Outback and our 50/50 raffles. More details to be announced at a later time.
Our Seafood Dining room will *not* be open at this year’s Fair but will be back in 2022! In the meantime, look forward to planning your Fair week and when the call for volunteers goes out,
please join in the fun!”

Here’s a glimpse back to the last fair in 2019 to boost the good-time memories … (Click on one to enlarge and scroll!)

Local Life

Focus: Sunny Daze River Time

Serenity at the Navesink River in Rumson
Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro exclusively

It never gets old, or cold, for that matter — a little time down by the Navesink River in Rumson. It warms the soul.

And when the sun shines, a certain glow is cast over a familiar waterfront scene that can only be described as a locals’ utopia. River time is golden, enduring. The image, the mindset, the enveloping warmth come together in a snapshot that is a forever best friend — always there, always smiling at you, for you, with you. Nothing but bright, pristine sunshine.

Focus on the soothing snapshot (click on one to enlarge and scroll), as some stormy weather lies ahead …

Continue reading Focus: Sunny Daze River Time →