Category Archives: Local Life

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

RFH Class of ’78: Revving Up for a 40th Reunion

The year was 1978. Springsteen and Saturday Night Fever were hot. So were alligator shirts, espadrilles, top siders, Sun-In hair and dark baby oil and iodine enhanced tans.

Life was pretty carefree for a class full of 314 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students who were about to graduate.

Now, 40 years later, still dancing to a high school beat, fearless leaders of the same crew are preparing to host the RFH Class of ’78 40th Reunion.

Recently, the reunion committee gathered at the venue for the Aug. 18 reunion — Sea Bright Beach Club. They’re pretty “psyched,” as many RFHers of the 70s used to say.

And, they’re reminding all that counting today, there are only FIVE days, until June 18, left to get your money in before the price goes up! After June 18, it goes up $10 and $20 if payment is made at the door.

Classmates are reminded to: either make checks ($108 each for drinkers, and $98 for non) out to Leanne Bell and send to Lisa Lindeman Luckett (message her on Facebook for address); or pay via PayPal.

When paying via PayPal, enter RFH40th@gmail.com. Select the Friends and Family option.

With all payments, please Include your email, phone number, high school name and guest’s name.

So, ’78 classmates, do the Hustle, get those payments in and get set to “boogie on down” in your hometown! In the meantime, check out the committee’s photo op (above). Yes, still crazy after all these years …

Retro RFH Buds & Bridge

There’s nothing like a best buddy — or a few best buds. There was also nothing like the combination of best friends and the iconic bridge that was a leftover statue or cement billboard of sorts from the McCarter estate in Rumson.

So, to pay tribute to both buds and the bridge, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offers a glimpse of both in milestone moments of friends paying homage to one another by painting the bridge way back in time.

Continue reading Retro RFH Buds & Bridge

Happy Birthday & Retro Look at an Iconic Crossing Guard

Dorothy Breckenridge crossing children at Knollwood School circa 1960s.

She was there watching over and crossing kids to school in Fair Haven for more than 25 years. She took her job seriously. She loved and looked after many. No one would dare take a single step into the road without her nod, loud whistle, broad outstretched arms with stop sign palms and her iconic “CROOOOOOSS!” bellow.  She is Dorothy Breckenridge; and she turned 88 on Tuesday.

Continue reading Happy Birthday & Retro Look at an Iconic Crossing Guard

Scene Around: The Fair Haven Fire Department Memorial Flag Story

You’ve seen them. Those little red and white flags. As Memorial Day approaches, the little memorial flags from fire companies pop up on  lawns or any other fitting places to remember members who served and passed.

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Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Openings Set to Change

This is a test. A trial measure is in place to abate seasonally high traffic volume between Rumson and Sea Bright.

The Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, the drawbridge which spans over the Shrewsbury River, will open less frequently, on the hour only rather than every half hour, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays this summer season. The trial begins on Friday, May 25, and will be in effect through Sept. 3.

Continue reading Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Openings Set to Change

Retro RFH Dance into Summer Times

As the unofficial start of summer approaches, thoughts turn to beachy sorts of antics among pals — RFH pals, specifically. Call it something to sing and dance about — center stage.

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Springtime in the Rumson-Fair Haven Area?

After a string of rainy days of spring, otherwise just plain dank weather, the sun made a seasonal appearance on Monday and went back into hiding on Tuesday. And down came the rain — again.

Continue reading Springtime in the Rumson-Fair Haven Area?

Retro RFH Baseball First: Girl on the Boys’ Team

RFH Class of '78 alumni Nancy Whelchel was the first girl to play on the boys' baseball team. Photo/George Day
RFH Class of ’78 alumni Nancy Whelchel was the first girl to play on the boys’ baseball team.
Photo/George Day

In light of baseball season and honoring high school firsts in the breaking down of gender barriers, this Retro Pic of the Day, originally published in 2015, is being recirculated … 

Yes, it’s all about baseball right now.

And the idea of RFH girls breaking into sports that were traditionally boys’ is something to think about.

So, who was on first, or, rather who was first to be somewhere on the field with the guys in the 1970s? It was RFH Class of ’78 alumni Nancy Whelchel.

Yes, Nancy got onto the baseball field with the boys at RFH a year or two after Chris Bowden scored a goal for girls in soccer.

It all happened back in the day when girls had just made strides to change the dress code and wear pants to school. That was a mass effort. There were a lot of girls walking around wearing skirts or dresses with pants underneath. But that’s another girls’ liberation story for another day.

It’s about those singular sensation girls who defied a status quo form of sexism when literally playing the fields.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day honors one of those girls — Nancy Whelchel. It’s a snapshot of Nancy on the field with Ward Tietz.

We’re not sure if this is an actual team practice shot or just one in which she was just tossing the ball around for fun with a couple of the guys from her class.

Still, there she is playing ball. She had the guts and the sports acumen to break the good ol’ — or young — boys’ sports network.

Home run.

I somehow don’t recall any sort of rebellion from the boys. She was good. That was all that mattered.

Any firsts for girls on the football field? Anyone? What was Nancy Whelchel’s specialty on the baseball field?

Many thanks, again, to George Day for this classic!

— Elaine Van Develde