Education and fun went hand-in-hand as the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Chinese Honor Society hosted an authentic celebration of the Chinese New Year.
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Retro RFH Snow & Ski
Photo/RFH yearbook
Well, the forecast is calling for a snow day soon … at the very least in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
And, back in the 1970s, a snow day was prime time to hit the ski slopes.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to the RFH Ski Club days.
This photo also brings RFHers back to a favorite coach who passed away not too long ago — Hal Lorme.
RIP, Mr. Lorme. Happy ski trails, all RFHers!
PJ Rawlins: Knollwood Spelling Bee Champ
Fair Haven’s PJ Rawlins has been dubbed the spelling champ of Knollwood School and is headed to a regional competition.
The seventh grader won the Knollwood School Annual Spelling Bee on Jan. 31. By spelling the final word “feckless” correctly, he claimed first place in the school-wide competition for fourth- through eighth-grade students.
Competing along with PJ were eighth grader Alex Fratto, sixth grader Will Ross, fifth grader Michael DeFazio, and fourth grader Kate Cusick. The students were selected through competitions at the classroom and grade levels leading up to the school-wide spelling bee.
“I am amazed by our participants’ study skills,” said Knollwood School Principal Amy Romano. “This year, we had to dig deeper for more difficult words. I am impressed by all of our participants. Congratulations to all.”
Next up for PJ is county-level competition in the Regional Spelldown to be held on March 13 at Monmouth University.
— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District
Retro RFH Girls on the Beach?
Photo/George Day
Well, about this time of the winter people are doing a sort of sun dance for summer days.
And, back in 1975, a few RFH gals got their gear on (or their mothers’) and did their own kind of chorus line for sunnier days on the beach on the RFH stage.
It was the Freshmen Follies that year and these seasonally appropriate girls did their own dance, clad quite festively, to that Beach Boys classic Girls on the Beach.
Bet you’ve never seen a gaggle of gals like this.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day is a testament to sunnier days ahead and, ahem, girls, or something like that, on the beach.
Cheers to the girls! Oh, and how about that stage right crew?
Recognize them?
Thanks to the incredible George Day for this retro RFH classic!
Retro RFH Girls’ Swim Divas
Photo/RFH
Well, the RFH Swim Team’s season just ended, and quite successfully.
We offered a glimpse back to a newspaper clipping touting the success of the teams of the late 1970s a few days ago.
Now, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a look back at a snapshot of the girls’ team in 1982, or the diving divas, as they dubbed themselves back in the day.
Check out the polyester warm-up suits.
Recognize any of these RFH divas who were a swimming success?
RFH Scholar Athlete’s National Signing Day
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s) senior scholar athletes have officially committed their talents to colleges for the fall.
There were 13 who took part in National Signing Day on Feb. 1 at the high school.
Surrounded by proud coaches and family members, they signed either National Letters of Intent or commitments to participate in National Collegiate Athletic Association programs at the colleges of their choice next year.
RFH students and their sports are:
• Nicholas Calabrese, Fairfield University, Boys soccer;
• Samuel Sapnar, St. Lawrence University, Boys Soccer;
• Hannah LoSavio, St. Joseph’s University, Girls Soccer;
• Grace Forsyth, Lehigh University, Girls Soccer;
• Samantha Beaudreault, College of St. Joseph’s, Girls Soccer;
• Thomas Chapin, University of Sioux Falls, Football;
• Timothy Leonard, Bentley University, Football;
• Michael Murdock, Lafayette College, Football;
• Michael O’Connor, Bryant University, Football;
• Tyler Pierson, Hobart and Williams Smith College, Football;
• Michael Ruane, University of Massachusetts, Football;
• Matthew Vecchiarelli, Holy Cross, Football;
• Michael Shaw, Loyola University, Mens Rowing.
— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)
Show time at Knollwood: ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’
Thespians at Fair Haven’s Knollwood School are getting set to go on with a show in March — Beauty and the Beast Jr.
The 60-minute stage version of the 1991 Disney animated film and 1994 Broadway musical and is designed for middle-school aged performers.
The cast at Knollwood’s production is comprised of roughly 40 sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
The show tells the story of Belle, an adventurous young girl, and the Beast, her grisly captor, who is actually a young prince trapped under a spell. In order to break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn love in return.
With the help of the staff at the prince’s castle, including a loving teapot, a charming candelabra, and a nervous mantel clock, Belle and the Beast find uncanny friendship and love. Beauty and the Beast Jr. features classic songs from the Academy Award®-winning film score such as “Be Our Guest” and “Belle,” as well as original songs from the 1994 Tony®-nominated Broadway musical.
The March 2 Knollwood performance will be presented in the Knollwood School all-purpose room at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and donations of nonperishable food items for local food banks would be appreciated.
— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District
Focus: Snow Dust on the Dock
Rumson-Fair Haven area folks started their day with a dusting of snow.
The National Weather Service’s forecast for the area calls for some more snow and possibly sleet before 3 p.m. There’s a chance of rain later with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees.
Tomorrow’s forecast: Mostly cloudy with a high temperature of about 45 degrees.
In the meantime, the snow was untouched on the Fair Haven Dock, offering a snow dusted picturesque view.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro RFH Swim Champs
Photo/photo of newspaper clipping
They were a swimming success. They still are.
Both the Boys’ and Girls’ RFH Swim Teams have ended the season with records to do some backflips over. RFH swimmers have always dove into the season with winning streak gusto.
Most recently, they won the 2015 state championship. And this year finished the season as Group A Central Division champs.
The Lady Dawgs had successful final meet with a “great win over Neptune,” RFH Swimming said on Twitter.
And, as for the boys, they “after a tough 1st loss to CBA … beat Neptune.” Final record for the season: 10-1-1.
The RFH swimmers were state champs in 2015 and ended this season as Group A Central Division champs 2017.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day pays homage to those RFH swimmers of old … back in the late 1970s.
It is a glimpse from an old newspaper clipping of some of the proud RFH strokers after they were captured on a winning streak after a meet.
Recognize anyone? There are at least two with strong ties to the Fair Haven Fire Department. What year?
Go team!
Scene Around: Fiery Sea Bright Sunset
It was a sizzling orange ball of fire — a good night beacon ducking down below Gunning Island. The sunset in Sea Bright on Saturday called out to people like a Siren.
They pulled over into at Eventide’s parking lot to catch a glimpse with the lens as the ball of fire bid goodnight and ducked behind the island, melting into the Shrewsbury River.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro Remembrance of a Fair Haven Police Chief
He was just that kind of community guy, old school cop and fireman — the kind people remember.
He that face many remember peering around every corner, offering help, an anecdote or 10 with a wry smile and wisdom-inspired wink. He was George Chandler. It’s been just over a year since George, a former Fair Haven police chief and 65-year fire company member, died at 92 on Jan. 25, 2016.
He grew up in Fair Haven and spent most of his life in service to the borough in addition to serving in the U.S. Navy.
George Chandler was known as a tall order of homegrown gentleman and community kinship filled to the hilt. He loved to fish, dance, tell jokes, offer up lots of anecdotes and just plain be kind to his neighbors by serving the community he loved and treating everyone like family — Fair Haven family.
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day honor the George Chandler and his Fair Haven roots and dedicated service.
To ask for an anecdotal story about George’s well-known anecdotes of life (yes, that was intentional) was to hear something like the story that follows from the memory of a young boy growing up in the borough. This guy is one of many who still hears the former police chief’s voice and sees his friendly, old fashioned brand of stern with a caring smile.
It’s a classic from longtime Fair Havenite Thom White.
And it goes like this …
“On a ‘no school snow day’ in the 1960s my friends and I decided we’d throw snowballs at cars on River Road. We were hiding in a church’s bushes across River Road from George’s house. I threw one that smacked the side of a borough bus, and gleefully asked ‘Did you see that?’
“George answered from behind me, ‘Yes I did.’ Stop doing that right now. It’s dangerous. And go home and tell your mom that I caught you.’ He added with a wry smile, ‘I might just come by later and check.’
“Well, I did as I was told, and a couple of hours later there was a knock on our front door … and there was George in his uniform. He spoke to my mom, who told him that I had confessed, and he reminded me how dangerous it was to do what I was doing. Needless to say, I never did THAT again, and whenever I’d see him in later years, he was always friendly and wanted to know what I was up to. A true gentleman.”
From the closest of family members to distant friends who may have only had that one milestone memory of the chief that just stuck like that lingering wad of ABC (already been chewed) bubblegum under a kid’s shoe, he is remembered by many and emulated. OK, so no one chews bubblegum anymore. That’s the point — the sticking point.
RIP George Chandler. You are remembered.
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro RFH’s Keith McHeffey
He was raised in both Rumson and Fair Haven. He was an RFH graduate. He was a friend to many. He had a gift for making people laugh and love life. Then he lost his in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was Keith McHeffey.
Since his untimely death, friends have gotten together and started a tradition — an annual fundraising run in his name known as the KDM 3-Mile Fun Run/Walk, the proceeds of which benefit various youth-oriented activities, scholarships and sports. Registration for the March 11, 2017 run in Sea Bright has begun.
Known as a well-rounded, adventure-loving athlete, McHeffey “spent his life giving of himself to others. Now, we are giving back to the community in his good name. His life was a testament on ‘how to live,'” the mission statement on the KDM Foundation website says.
“The memory of Keith’s wit and humor serves as an inspiration to all of those fortunate enough to have been a part of his life,” another statement added.
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day honor Keith McHeffey with a look back at him and his RFH buds and a solo shot doing something he loved to do.
RIP, Keith. You are remembered. Run on …
— Elaine Van Develde
Photo/courtesy of Gregg Kennedy
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