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Local Life, Schools Scene

Retro RFH Graduation Times

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Well, graduation is upon the RFH Class of 2017.

What better time than to take a look back at a couple of RFH graduations of the past?

So, in order to pay homage to the evening, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offer a look back at a couple of the milestone days in RFH history.

Above is a photo from the RFH Class of 1979’s graduation at Borden Stadium, taken by George Day. There are also a couple of pics looking back at the RFH Class of  2013 graduation when it poured just after the start of the ceremony and it had to be quickly moved inside. Below is a look at the 2016 graduation at Monmouth University, where they now take place.

Share your photos of past RFH graduations with us by emailing them, with proper credit, to evd@rfhretro.com.

In the meantime, congrats to the RFH Class of 2017!

 

 

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Day 2017

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It all started six years ago with a centennial celebration. Now, six years later, a community tradition begun continues — Fair Haven Day.

The weather was more than fair for the annual fete, bringing community cohorts together to celebrate the borough they’ve made home.

There was plenty of sunshine, food, drink, festivities and fun to be had.

Take a look … (And DON’T FORGET TO ClICK TO ENLARGE!)

— Elaine Van Develde

Schools Scene

RFH Spanish Teacher Christina Gauss: AATSP Teacher of the Year

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Spanish teacher Christina Gauss, has been honored as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).

Continue reading RFH Spanish Teacher Christina Gauss: AATSP Teacher of the Year →

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Fire Department’s Triple Wetdown

Call it a christening of sorts — a wetdown. It’s the traditional ceremony celebrating new trucks and honoring the retired ones by hosing them down, the drivers of the old ones turning over the hose to the new.

And the Fair Haven Fire Department Triple Wetdown Dedication did just that on Sunday to celebrate the arrival of a new (1372 Mack) truck and two command vehicles (1366 and 1355), a fire chief’s command and first responder command vehicle. The old 1372 was retired after 41 years of service.

The celebration is a grand one in fire company tradition. In addition to the wetdown rite of passage, there’s a community party with music, food and drink and fire departments from all over joining in the welcoming of the new and retiring of the old.

Take a look … (Be sure to CLICK on each pic to enlarge!)

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Schools Scene

The Stokes Connection

Half a century of Stokes! Today marks the milestone for Fair Haven students, parents and Knollwood School staff.

They’re homeward bound, satiated with 50 years of it all.

Some stalwart traditions have changed in the evolution of the trip, but one thing has remained the same — lifetime connections forged and pranks aplenty pulled.

One such classic story is that of Knollwood teacher and Stokes organizer Andy Dougherty and Jenny Jones Costello.

The two grew up as Fair Haven neighbors whose parents were best buds. They, of course, went to Stokes in the 80s. They forged a friendship, as their siblings also did, from the time they were babies. And they were mighty cute babies, as only their babysitter would know for sure (ahem). Call it another kind of family tie. Best of neighbors and second string siblings. It all started more than 40 years ago.

They both graduated from RFH. Still on the block. They spread their wings and flew the neighborhood coop for a bit. Eventually Andy ended up becoming a teacher at the very same school, though not on the block where his parents stayed until they passed away. Jenny and her family ended up back on the same block.

She ended up volunteering year after year to be a parent counselor at the camp. And, two of her children have already been indoctrinated into the Stokes tradition. Andy has become an anchor in the annual trip.

This year, Jenny was back for the 50th with her son Nick, like Mom, a pretty happy camper.

The kids have their own little pranks going on at Stokes. Hey, it’s a tradition. We’ll just pretend for now that such things no longer happen with the young ones. But, since the statute of limitations is up for the “elders,” or something like that, they got right back to it.

In the interest of keeping with tradition, Andy and Jenny revisited an old prank. It all has something to do with a swim suit and a case of botched identity … or not, Doug Herty. And laughs. Lots of laughs.

Hey, that’s what friends and Stokes are for!

So, raise some frozen underwear up the flagpole, put some itching powder in a sleeping bag (well, maybe not) and remember the good ol’ days.  Tradition!

What was your Stokes prank?

 

Local Life

Scene Around: Donovan’s Opening Day Icon Sighting

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Photo/Grace Cangemi Ryan

What would a Donovan’s Reef reopening be without a spotting of its unofficial, or official, mascot — the iconic guy about town everyone knows as Dizzy Dave?

Well, lots of area folks were there for Sunday’s (delayed from Saturday) grand reopening. And, while it was pretty packed and running into Dave was tantamount to playing a giant game of Where’s Waldo, one devout Donovan’s fan, Gerry Ryan, found him and struck the classic pose.

Ryan’s wife, former Red Bank Councilwoman Grace Cangemi Ryan, grabbed the photo op and shared it with Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect.

Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl told us he was there as well, but, no roving photographers seemed to capture him, either. He said he did not see Dizzy. “It’s surprising that I didn’t,” Ekdahl said on Memorial Day. “He’s pretty hard to miss!”

The new place got a thumbs up from the mayor. The Ryans and all other locals and fans we spoke with gave the new Donovan’s rave reviews.

Now, where’s Dizzy Dave?