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Local Life

The R-FH Area Weekend: Concerts & Sidewalk Sale

There’s a 60 percent chance of rain on Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service, but there’s a concert and some sale shopping planned in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Starting on Friday … 

It’s the 62nd year of neighboring Red Bank’s traditional sidewalk sales.

Many R-FH area people remember either catching a bus for 5 cents or walking to Red Bank, babysitting money tucked in that change pocket of the Levis, to walk around, hang with friends and buy just about any bargain more for the sake of the event than price, and head home with that sidewalk sale souvenir.

This year, the sale will again fill the streets of Red Bank on Friday, Saturday and Sunday comprising more than 60 retailers from 6 to 9 . Parking is free, if you’re driving and not hiking it or catching a bus like the kids of the old days.

For a full list of sale participants click here.

StreetLife performances will be held on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. featuring various musicians and family entertainment.

And on Saturday, if the rain doesn’t come …

Fair Haven is holding two Concerts on the Dock.

Local teen band Avery Rose & the Thorns, a funk/rock band, will play at 6 p.m. at the Fair Haven Dock at the foot of Fair Haven Road.

At 7:30 p.m., SHARKHAVEN, a classic and alternative rock band, will play. SHARKHAVEN  is comprised of musicians from The Haven, Riptide, and The Danjo’s bands.

There is no charge and light concessions will be sold.

*In the event of heavy rain, an e-blast notification will be sent out prior to the show.

Local Life, Opinion

A Rumson Barn Theatre Show Biz Buds Reunion

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Once upon a time, 39 summers ago, in a little red building that looked like a  barn and acted like a theater, a bunch of high school kids were brought together, united in a common mission to “go on with the show” Bye Bye Birdie.

The place was The Barn Theatre. The building is still there — near the corner of Ridge Road and Avenue of Two Rivers. The cast of Birdie was comprised of a gaggle of theater-loving teens who didn’t recoil, but, rather, relished long rehearsals on summer nights.

There were high schoolers from Rumson-Fair Haven and the surrounding area. They auditioned, got cast and got down to the businesses of putting on a show and getting to know one another very quickly — as the usual route of show biz goes.

They acted, sang, danced and rollicked their way to what turned out to be a lifetime bonding experience.

Birdie was a hit back in 1977 at The Barn. The bonding experience proved to be an unbreakable one.

The teens ended up going their separate ways to college and theater paths of their own, or not.

But, they never forgot that summer of 1977. And, a few weeks ago, two cast members reunited after 35 years (they had seen each other four years after the show). The two were Connie Cairo (then Cairo) and Alisa Roblenski. Connie played Birdie-obsessed lead teen Kim MacAfee and Roblenski was a Birdie loving teen.

The two, who this Birdie mayor’s wife, Edna, recently reconnected with on Facebook, shared their reunion with us. Take a look.

This is why these two can honestly say, “We love you, Barn Theatre, oh yes we do!” and there’s really “no business like show business!”

To quote, loosely, a song from Birdie, “One bond, one special bond … one bond to grow with …” Sniff, sniff, smile.

This Barn reunion theme is catching! Curtain up! Heads up! Stay tuned for another!

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Simple Summer: Fair Haven Campout

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The concept doesn’t get any simpler for summer — a tent, some games, some snacks, some buddies, a movie and sleeping (sort of) under the stars far enough outside of your own back yard to call it an outing.

It’s what kids and parents gathered to do on Saturday in Fair Haven. It was the borough’s annual campout at Fair Haven Fields.

It was still steaming hot at tent pitching time — around 7 p.m..

The Fair Haven Recreation Department helpers were ready and curbside at the fields and set to inform campers about the rules and regs. And the concession stand was staffed. But, well, by 7:30 p.m., only two sets of campers had arrived.

The helpers anticipated that more would show when the movie started at 8:45 and they were ready!

This is how this simple summer night of new local tradition got started on Saturday. These guys in the featured photo were a little wilted from the humidity, but still smiling and energetic enough to kid around with each other a little. Though, one of them reflected that he thinks he always has a “reluctant gaze” when photographed. Hmmm. Can you guess which is the reluctant reflector?

If you have any photos of the campout after perhaps more campers arrived and more fun ensued or fewer campers looked “reluctant,” send them to us at [email protected] for our camp night slideshow for later. 

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Rumson Barn Theatre Buds

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Elaine Van Develde, Alisa Roblenski and Elaine Kraft — Barn Theatre buddies rehearsing Bye Bye Birdie in 1977. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Elaine Van Develde, Alisa Roblenski and Elaine Kraft — Barn Theatre buddies rehearsing Bye Bye Birdie in 1977.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Coincidence? Sort of. It just so happens that it is summer. It is just so happens that Bye Bye Birdie has been running on the Decades channel on TV. And it just so happens that it’s now been 39 years (WHAT??) since summer theater at The Barn Theatre in Rumson was in full swing and in rehearsals for Bye Bye Birdie.

Continue reading Retro Rumson Barn Theatre Buds →

Local Life

Retro Swim Days with Connor Jaeger & Sis

Connor and Dana Jaeger at in the much younger years of swimming Photo/courtesy of Jaeger family (photo of a photo)
Connor and Dana Jaeger at in the much younger years of swimming
Photo/courtesy of Jaeger family (photo of a photo)

It wasn’t that long ago that Connor Jaeger made the U.S. Olympic team by winning first place in two events in the trials: 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle.

When he first started swimming, decades ago, though, it was after taking lessons at Dosil’s Sports Center in Middletown mostly so he “wouldn’t drown” at Surfrider Beach Club, his mom Bernadette had said. He swam in many meets at the beach club. Then he then joined Central Jersey Aquatic Club (CJAC) and swam competitively year-round.

When Jaeger first started swimming in races at Surfrider, it was with his sister Dana. She has said that she just watched him get faster and faster the older he got. The two have said that they have always had a close sibling relationship.

Connor Jaeger is now on his way to the Olympics for a second time, this time competing in the two categories and going for the gold.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of the Jaegers a few years ago,  offers a glimpse back to Connor’s early days of swimming with his sis. Know where this was taken?

Congrats, again, Connor!

Local Life

Simple Summer: A Surfrider Swim Meet Win

A swim meet win at Surfrider Beach Club and smiles from the team enjoying a simple summer. Photo/Colleen Dougherty Doogan
A swim meet win at Surfrider Beach Club and smiles from the team enjoying a simple summer.
Photo/Colleen Dougherty Doogan

With many Rumson-Fair Haven area people’s minds on Olympian RFH grad and former Fair Havenite Connor Jaeger’s road to the summer competition in Rio de Janeiro lately, thoughts turn back in time to when Jaeger spent his summer days at Surfrider Beach Club in Sea Bright.

Well, decades may have passed and Jaeger may be far away from the Surfrider pool, but kids are still swimming and they were winners recently.

The above photo is a reminder of the simple fun in a summer swim competition at a local beach club.

This crew was celebrating a big meet win on July 14.

Thanks to native Fair Havenite and teacher Colleen Dougherty Doogan for this classic shot!

Happy simple summer!

 

 

News, Regional Interest

Sandy Hook Accident: Motorcyclist Medevaced

An accident at Sandy Hook’s Gunnison Beach parking lot on Thursday evening resulted in an as-of-yet unidentified motorcyclist being airlifted to the Trauma Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, according to Sandy Hook Fire/Rescue.

In the collision of a car and motorcycle that occurred at about 6:30 p.m., the “rider of the cycle” was thrown off the bike and “unconscious with shallow breathing,” Sandy Hook Fire/Rescue’s post on Facebook said.

“Rangers on scene immediately called for mutual aid from Sea Bright First Aid,” it added.

The patient was stabilized for the flight.

There have been no updates on condition or further information.

In addition to the law enforcement rangers on Sandy Hook and Sea Bright Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue and First Aid, Highlands Fire Department and Fire Police, MONOC, NorthStar & the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division assisted at the scene.

This post will be updated when further information becomes available.

Schools Scene

R-FH Area BOE FYI: Summer Tidbits

School may be out for summer in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, but there are some tidbits about things going on in the hallowed halls and in the office that residents may find useful.

In Fair Haven …

• Superintendent Sean McNeil has been at work since July 1, the start date of his contract. He has had meet-and-greets with parents, students and staff and has met with police and borough officials.

McNeil comes to the Fair Haven School District from Middletown. Learn more about him by checking out our story about his hiring and contract signing by giving the highlighted section a click.

Click here to read his letter to Fair Haven families.

• There are office hours at Knollwood from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday throughout the summer. The office is closed on Fridays.

• Longtime Fair Haven Board of Education member and former president Claudia Brasch has stepped down.

She and her husband are retiring and moving out of the area.

Marisa Coar will be filling Brasch’s unexpired term through the end of the year.

“I welcome Marisa Coar to the Fair Haven Board of Education today,” Fair Haven Board of Education President Bruce Padula said to the Fair Haven PTA on Facebook earlier in the month.  “Claudia Brasch, thank your for your many years of service. Fair Haven is a better place because of your service to the Board.”

If Coar wants to run for a full BOE term after filling Brasch’s unexpired term, she must run for a seat in the November election.

In addition to Brasch’s term expiring in 2016, Michael Bernstein’s seat is up and so is Jeff Spector’s.

Those interested in running in November must file a nominating petition. Check out how under the Rumson School District’s tidbits (below).

In Rumson …

• The terms of three BOE members on the nine-seat board are up at the end of the year. Those members are: Elaine Melia, Diane MacGillis and Russell Binns.

So, on its website, the Rumson School District is advising all that to run for a seat, the deadline for submitting a nominating petition with the Monmouth County Clerk is Monday, July 25 at 4 p.m. The election is set for the usual general election day on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

To get a petition, email [email protected].

Check the board association website at www.njsba.org/candidacy for more information.

• Summer office hours at the Rumson schools’ office are: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 25. Then, from Aug. 29 to 31, Monday through Wednesday, for three days, the office is open again from 8:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.

• Did you know that the Rumson PTO raised $85,891 for the 2015-16 school year? Check out this post …

“The REF is immensely proud to work alongside the Rumson PTO in support of our Rumson public schools. Please join us in congratulating them in their very successful fundraising for the 2015-2016 school year!”

• And the Rumson Education Foundation donated $108,006 to the Rumson School District this year.

Click here to find out where the money went.

Have any BOE tidbits to share? Email them to us at [email protected].

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

News, Obituaries, Opinion

Remembering RFH’s Mr. Botti

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Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduates going back several decades are honoring the memory of former RFH math teacher and basketball and baseball coach, Thomas Botti.

Botti passed away in July 6 at what had become his Royal Palm Beach, Florida home in 1999 after retirement, according to his obituary on legacy.com. He was 87 and was laid to rest today at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.

Botti taught math for more than four decades and was chairman of the Math Department at RFH until the end of his tenure there in addition to coaching freshman baseball and varsity basketball.

“RIP Coach,” said RFH grad Troy Brandon on the Fair Haven Facebook page.

“He was a super teacher and class advisor to the graduationing class of 1963,” said Jacqui Foster Reynoso on the Facebook page.

“I had Mr. Botti for Algebra I in freshman year,”  RFH grad Susan Mapes Zimmermann said. “My only A in mathematics, and I never did much good after that. I liked him very much.”

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the day honor the math teacher and coach with the above shots of Mr. Botti in action coaching and being a department head in the RFH yearbooks of the mid-1970s. Anyone remember who that is in the featured photo with the coach?

RIP, Mr. Botti. Coach. You are remembered.

Some things you may or may not know about Mr. Botti from his obituary …

Botti had a master’s degree in Education from New York University. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for a year, from 1950 to 1951.

He worked summers at Monmouth Park in Oceanport while teaching and became a mutual clerk after retirement. He enjoyed golf and ceramic painting.

Mr. Botti is survived by: his wife, Vivian; daughter, Liz Newsome and son-in-law John Newsome, of Wellington, Fl.; and daughter Cindy Morgan, of Hackensack; grandson, Spencer Morgan, of Montclair; and granddaughters Emily and Katherine Newsome, of Wellington, FL.

 

Local Life

Retro Fair Havenite Fishin’

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Fair Havenite Chum Chandler fishing Photo/Chandler family
Fair Havenite Chum Chandler fishing
Photo/Chandler family

There’s nothing quite like going fishing on the Navesink on those summer days.

So, today’s Retro Pic of the Day honors the tradition with a look back at a very popular native Fair Havenite doing a little solo fishing — Chum Chandler.

Chum passed away in March of 2015. He lived his life in Fair Haven, knew everyone and every simple pleasure about local life. Know when and where this pic was taken?

So, here’s to a happy, healthy summer from a real local perspective!

RIP, Chum Chandler. Gone fishin’!

Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family

Local Life

Simple Summer: River Kayaking

It’s summertime and the living is filled with typical summer activity — and not-so-typical. We’re in the midst of a heatwave.

A lot of people in the Rumson-Fair Haven area have predictable seasonal habits — like vacationing, beach clubbing, beachfront partying … any number of things.

Then there are others who have opted to take the opportunity to just simply enjoy some quality alone time.

That was the idea with this kayaker who was just enjoying some coasting and contemplation time on the Navesink River at Victory Park in Rumson. This is a bit of a retro pic, as it was taken a couple of years ago, before the clinging jellyfish fear set in. But, you get the idea.

This moment is the kind of thing it’s all about with our Simple Summer weekly feature. What’s your favorite simple thing to do in the summer?

It may just be sitting at the end of a dock or taking a stroll on the beach or a swim. We’ll be out and about capturing those simple summer moments.

Enjoy!