Category Archives: News

Find all the local news updates here

News

Detour: Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Overnight Closure

So it goes again … If you’re planning on traveling over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge any time between 8 p.m. tonight and 6 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, morning, you’ll need to plan an alternate route.

The bridge, which is slated for replacement, will be undergoing a continuation of routine maintenance work to its bascule span (the moveable part)  to keep it traversable until the total replacement transpires.

A released statement from Monmouth County officials on the previous week’s work said:

“This critical work is necessary to keep the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge’s movable span in working condition,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “Monmouth County works diligently to keep its bridges in safe, working order. The goal of the overnight construction is to minimize the disruption of travel.”

The bridge will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic while the work is conducted. Motorists should plan an alternate route during the overnight hours.

Detours will be posted. Motor vehicle traffic from Rumson Road in Rumson can travel west to Bingham Avenue over the Oceanic Bridge through Middletown and Highlands to reach Sea Bright.

Motor vehicle traffic in Sea Bright can travel south on Ocean Avenue through Monmouth Beach to Atlantic Avenue to Monmouth Boulevard (Oceanport) to Seven Bridges Road (Little Silver) to reach Rumson Road in Rumson.

Local Life

Register for Saturday’s KDM Race

The following was originally posted on Jan. 24. The run, set for Saturday, is still accepting registrants. Read on … 

The 15th Annual Keith McHeffey 3-Mile Fun Run is set for March 11 at 11 a.m. in Sea Bright; and, registration has begun, organizers said.

McHeffey, an RFH grad, avid athlete and good friend to many in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, was a victim of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

His friends created the KDM Foundation in 2002 to keep his memory alive and fund several charitable causes in his name.

Since then, the Fun Run has been known as an annual memorial to Keith in a setting truest to his nature.

To register for the run, either go to the Sea Bright Municipal Building or click here.

 

Local Life

Focus: Reflective Nightfall at the Dock

Gallery

Call it a reflective moment. With crystal clear reflections cast on the Navesink River from Fair Haven Dock just about at sunset, thoughts are turning to a forecasted break in the chilly temperatures — but not without a little precipitation to go with that reflection.

The National Weather service says that while temperatures will go up to roughly 56 degrees, the chance of rain is 40 percent after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. That chance increases as the night goes on.

Another reflection: thoughts of clear skies and sunny warmth.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Sea Bright Beach Romp

Image
A Sea Bright beach summer day after Superstorm Sandy
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Oh, the recent cold snap after unseasonably warm days has unleashed an bitter chill in the air. It makes Rumson-Fair Haven area folks long for warm summer beach days in Sea Bright again.

And the revamp of Donovan’s Reef brings back memories of a Sea Bright ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day warms the heart and dank air with memories of fun in the sun at Sea Bright beach and the peninsula borough on the mend.

This snapshot in time takes us back to the summer Sandy and some kids making the most of a sunny day at the beach.

Know them? Remember those days?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: The Donovan’s Rebuild

Gallery

When it comes to the rebuilding (and expansion) of the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright, things are looking up … and out.

It will be five years ago this October that the mainstay locals’ summer hangout and RFH reunion spot was tossed and flattened to bits by Superstorm Sandy.

So its rebuild has been a particularly long-awaited one by townies and Rumson-Fair Haven area folks.

The plan is for the new, improved and indestructible Donovan’s to be open for business by the start of the summer season.

Much progress has been made to date.

Take a look and see for yourself …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Post-Sandy Donovan’s

Image

There’s a lot of buzz about the long-awaited rebuild of Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright after it’s untimely, untamed demise due to Superstorm Sandy’s merciless wrath in October of 2012.

Well, Donovan’s will be getting back in step with its summer traditions in a literally grande way.

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offer a glimpse back to a winter about four years ago when Donovan’s was in bits and people came to mourn what was or was not left of the iconic hangout on the beach.

Take a look back and remember …

— Elaine Van Develde

Donovan’s Reef after Sandy
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Sightseers looking at what’s left and mourning the loss of Donovan’s Reef after Sandy
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Local Life

Detour: Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Closure

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

If you’re planning on traveling over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge any time after dark on Thursday night through to Friday morning, you’re going to need to plan an alternate route.

The bridge, according to a digital sign posted at its entrance and Monmouth County officials, will be closed from 8 p.m. on Thursday to 6 a.m. on Friday for routine bascule span (the portion that opens) maintenance.

The span is a county bridge which is slated for a major revamp.

Schools Scene

Filling Empty Bowls for the Hungry at RFH

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students are getting set to fill the pantries, bellies and empty food bowls of those in need.

The high school will host what has been dubbed the Empty Bowls fundraiser, benefitting the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Empty Bowls stands for the situation faced by local families struggling to put food on the table. The annual event is open to the public and features beautiful original artwork in the form of colorful bowls created by RFH ceramics students. For $10, people may purchase a handcrafted ceramic bowl filled with soup (and bread on the side) and the proceeds go to the Food Bank.

Event organizers are also requesting donations of canned foods for the Food Bank as well as new or gently used children’s books for donation to Bridge of Books.

Local Life

Retro RFH Polar Bear Dudes

Image
RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge. Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot
RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge.
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

With the announcement of Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson’s successful fundraising ($17,030 for Special Olympics New Jersey) culminating in the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights on Saturday, it seemed only right that we take you back to polar bear plunging guys of RFH back in the day — way back.

These guys actually had a high school club dedicated to the cause of, well, just plunging into icy cold water on a whim or for a thrill in the 1970s.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is dedicated to the winter chill, the plunge and the guys who made it a club.

Do you remember the RFH Polar Bear Club? Know any of these cold weather beachgoers? Was the club solely dedicated to the dive into icy water?

— Elaine Van Develde