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It was hauntingly comforting — the icy, howling wind and the stark hues of black and blue along the Navesink River in Fair Haven Wednesday at dusk.
The wind whistled, beckoned, and the air cut like jagged-edged glass. It was a solitary, striking scene. Black branches jutting across a blue sky and seascape.
It was all so cold and clear-cut, yet still warm like a cup of cocoa. It’s home.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
With this howling chill in the air lately, people are pretty primed for the arrival of spring. In fact, you could say that they may even be doing cartwheels over it.
Well, in light of that excitement to spring into the warmer season, the Retro Pic of the Day gives a glimpse back to a beloved teacher who danced and, yes, did cartwheels over any exciting event — or just for plain old fun.
That teacher was George Giffin, otherwise referred to as Giff. He was a science teacher and was particularly famous for his ballroom dance class. And, boy, could the man dance!
The RFH community lost Giff on May 15, 2014; and, to ask just about any RFH grad or member of the community, it was a tremendous loss.
Last time this editor caught up with Mr. Giffin, he was grabbing some lunch at Fairwinds Deli. In his 80s, he was still dancing and actually launched into a little routine right there with a little cha-cha-cha and “When you get that beat, you gotta mooooove your feet!”
Who will dance or do a cartwheel when spring arrives in memory of Mr. Giffin? Oh, and send us your pics if you do!
The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players are in full swing rehearsal mode, setting the stage for their production of Disney’s Tarzan.
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.
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!
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
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!
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?
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)
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
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
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!
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