You could call this week a reflective one in the Rumson-Fair Haven area. It started with a sad farewell to the young Fair Haven hometown hero U.S. Army Pfc. Jamie Riley, 21.
Continue reading Focus: Reflections of Rumson-Fair Haven LifeCategory Archives: Local Life
A look, in photos, of latest area events, local everyday people and places.
Retro FHFD Chefs
If you made it to the Fair Haven Fire Department Spaghetti Dinner last week, it probably brought back memories of those same guys as youngsters and their dads doing chef duty at the firehouse for many an event.
Retro Peninsula House Swim Teaming
It was teaming today — rain.
And in some parts of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, like Sea Bright, the precipitation and high tides were forecasted to bring the usual coastal flooding to Sea Bright — or pools of water taken to the street, at least.
So, in keeping with wishes for voluntary swimming (rather than doggie paddling across the street) and sunnier days, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to the mid-1970s a different kind of team — not teaming rain, but swim team(ing).
This is the old Peninsula House Swim Team. Check out those freestyle tans, toothy grins and suits. Remember Peninsula House, commonly dubbed P-House? It was a popular, affordable beach club to team up with RFH buds and join back in the day. Recognize any of the RFHers win this pic?
They’re all about the swim and sunny daze.
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro Rumson Snow Day Imps
Snow days … Students in the Rumson-Fair Haven area haven’t used one yet this school year. Still, the anticipation of one that comes along with a fouled weather forecast bring back a lot of snow-coated, mischief-laden memories.
Continue reading Retro Rumson Snow Day ImpsRetro Fair Haven Snow Day Sirens
Well, after a lot of warnings and prep, the weekend played host to the snowstorm that wasn’t. But there were plenty of snowstorms that actually snowed Rumson-Fair Haven area folks in and left them to their own devices for resorting to fun in the snow.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Snow Day SirensScene Around: Rumson Breakfast Club
When you talk about dogs in Rumson, it’s usually a bulldog you’re referring to, as in the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) mascot. But, there’s a new dog in town who is providing a dog’s eye view into Rumson life. That would be Nancy Spakowski.
Continue reading Scene Around: Rumson Breakfast ClubRetro RFH Darkroom Days; Remembering Cliff Greene, 61
Hangin’ in the darkroom. There was such a thing at RFH in the 1970s. And it had quite the opposite renegade purpose of smokin’ in the boys room, as the ’73 Brownsville Station song mused.
Continue reading Retro RFH Darkroom Days; Remembering Cliff Greene, 61Retro Blizzard of ’96 Among RFH Friends
It’s that classic rescue story worth repeating …
Our Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to a blizzard that was true to its word.
What was dubbed The Blizzard of ’96 hit the Rumson-Fair Haven area with full force in early January of 1996. This one lived up to its promise to render everyone in the area immobile.
Scene Around: Visit with Deer Friends in Rumson
Oh, deer! That’s likely what Rumson dog Nancy Spakowski was thinking when she had a little visit with a family of deer while taking a stroll on Blackpoint Horseshoe Road today.
Continue reading Scene Around: Visit with Deer Friends in RumsonFocus: Power of People 2018
People. People put the power of place into perspective. They pull us back into places we remember, milestones. They set us soaring toward our dreams, reaching for our own stars. They bring us down to Earth. They anchor us, our memories, our life journeys.
So, in honor of bringing the people in our lives, our communities, all into focus on the journey of one year in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, we offer a glimpse at the people around us in 20018. Relive. Remember. Treasure.
Happy New Year! Be sure to stop, take a look at the faces around you and embrace the memories created in 2019 …
Take a look back (and don’t forget to CLICK to ENLARGE!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Focus: Power of Place 2018
There’s a lot to be said about the importance of place in people’s lives. It defines us in many ways. It brings us comfort. It triggers memories. It is a bookmark in our hearts. Oftentimes that important place is home.
So, to pay homage to the profound power of place in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, home, we offer a glimpse back to significant places of 2018 and many decades preceding it.
Happy New Year! Take a look and let the photos give a tug at your heartstrings. Remember.
(Oh, and don’t forget to click on each photo to enlarge and get the full view!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Focus: Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Winners
Drum roll please … for, perhaps, the little drummer nutcracker boys on the front porch of the first-place winner of the first Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Contest — the Ruscignos at 39 Parker Avenue.
Ben, Maria and Rocco Ruscigno added some special touches this year, they said. They collected PJs for ill children and their families at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in an effort to give back the kindness they received when Rocco was ill one year. In an effort to make the drop-off spot as festive and easy to find as possible, spirits soared and their house got the deluxe decoration treatment. Maria announced that they dropped off “100 pairs of brand new pajamas” to Jersey Shore. She thanked all for the donations.
Congratulations to the Ruscignos!
Second place went to the family at 11 Country Lane with the beautiful array of white lights. If you’ve done your holiday lights drive with due diligence every year, you’ve surely seen and admired the display here.
And third place went to the folks at 77 Poplar Ave., whose home is adorned with lots of festive multicolored lights and decorations year after year.
All the entries were drive-by worthy. Take a ride around the borough to see for yourself. There were 13 that were entered in the contest. In the meantime, take a look at some photos of the winners. And don’t forget to click to enlarge!
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