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Local Life

Catching Sun & Dunes on Sea Bright Beach

Video

They were ready.

With the uncertain path of Hurricane Joaquin looming at the end of last week, the powers that be in Sea Bright, having been through the Sandy battle, prepared.

A makeshift wall of dunes was built along the shoreline of Sea Bright Public Beach and beyond to stave off stormy ocean water. And while Joaquin veered further east and out to sea, remnants of a nor’easter pelted the sands of the Sea Bright beaches and, as is common with any significant rainfall in the area, roads flooded.

Then the sun came out. And as temperatures hit the 70s today, dunes still intact, small-scale reminiscent of Mount Sandy, local summer lingerers headed to the beach.

Here’s what the scene was there. Beaching it tomorrow while the sun is out and temperatures permit?

(Be sure to click on the lower right icon to enlarge.)

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, News

Fair Haven: Saving Mucky McCarter Pond

The mucky state of McCarter Pond has pushed a passel of residents to try to get the Fair Haven governing body to find a better way to resolve the issue so people can see clear through the green, get the blob out and keep the longtime borough focal point functional.

It’s a matter that has been discussed at many a Borough Council meeting. Aerators have been installed to clear up what has become a  meadow of tangled duckweed and algae.

But, residents have said, it doesn’t seem to be enough.

So, some got together on Sunday and formed a group to brainstorm fiscally prudent ideas and research remediation.

Here’s what Councilman Rowland Wilhelm had to say in a Facebook post on the matter …

“This past Sunday, concerned residents who live near McCarter pond got together to form the Friends of McCarter Pond. This group’s goal is halt and reverse the deterioration of something that is a large part of the fabric of this town and will work with regional groups and Fair Haven’s government to do so (Full disclosure: I was elected to council in 2010 and still hold office).

“It is our belief that F.H. governing body recognizes the problems with the pond and has addressed some issues (five aerators have been installed and a contractor hired to remediate the green blob (its actually primarily duckweed)).

“However, dredging still needs to be done; as many of you already know the south side of the pond is turning into a meadow. As such, we will endeavor to assist the town council by providing focused research and alternative remediation and financing ideas.

“Why are we posting to Facebook? Frankly, we need help and know that there are many of you out there who care about this important focal point of our town as deeply as we do.

“What are we looking for right now?

“Simply your name and email address. What will we do with this information? 1) we can anonymously show town government exactly how many people care and 2) put your name on an email list to keep you current on our efforts. We will NOT SELL your information or give it away. How do you get this info to us … Just message me here (on Facebook).

“Please help us save the pond!”

Yours,
Rowland Wilhelm and Friends of McCarter Pond

Note: The photo is one from a winter gallery of skating on the pond and does not represent the group.

Local Life, News

Perspective: Woody, Sea Bright Sandy Survivor, On Joaquin

Fair Havenite and Sea Bright Woody’s Ocean Grille owner Chris Wood knows what havoc is wreaked by a superstorm hit.

He and his waterfront restaurant/bar weathered Sandy. Not only that, but Wood, a/k/a Woody, a longtime Rumson-Fair Haven area resident and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduate, in the wake of Sandy started Sea Bright Rising in the Sea Bright municipal parking lot with a grill, some burgers and the help of his head chef Onofrio Moscato.

Looking back on his own Sandy experience, he offers, via a Facebook post, a calm-down perspective on Joaquin:

“As I look out my window right now at Woody’s I see the ocean and two news teams. Then I listen to those news people say, ‘Prepare for Joaquin’ or ‘Joaquin is barreling towards us.’ This is FAR from the truth.

“Unfortunately, we’re experiencing a very strong Nor Easter type storm (High pressure system meets Low pressure system coming up coast)…This is VERY common for us in Sea Bright.

“What is uncommon is the expected duration. (It may last 2 + days)……So unfortunately there will be some major beach erosion, high winds, rain and some coastal flooding. We’ve seen this before and yes it sucks…..

“But call it what it is and stop terrifying people by saying this is related to the Hurricane Joaquin. IT IS NOT. THANKFULLY it looks like that storm will pass.

“1: Hurricane Joaquin is STILL 1200 miles away as of 8am
2: The rain and wind we are experiencing now STILL has ZERO to do with Joaquin. (see above)
3: Joaquin has no similarities to Sandy at ALL…Thankfully NONE
4: The 5am National Hurricane Center has the eye drifting MUCH further East .The probability cone NOW has left front quadrant about 400 miles offshore…(this would be what impacts us if anything and it’s a weaker area of the storm)
5: The Front Right Quadrant is where the strongest winds and surge occur ….these will be HUNDERDS of miles to the East of NJ (this is one reason Sandy was so bad…we got the brunt of the front right quadrant along with lunar high tides)
6: Joaquin is not expected to be close to NJ until very early Monday. (still 4 days away)
7: The models STILL continue to trend East and we should have NO impact from Joaquin other than higher surf.
8: Time will tell and the models will probably change so watch NOAAs Hurricane Tracker and don’t believe all the hype.
9: Pray for the people in The Bahamas. They’re STILL getting hammered and will need help!”

Local Life, News

Joaquin Watch: Retro R-FH Area Post-Sandy

With Joaquin winding its way northeast, Rumson-Fair Haven area residents are hoping it the predicted path will stay on course and not become reminiscent of Hurricane Sandy’s wrath.

Despite the lack of similarities in storms, officials area urging preparedness with a since-Sandy “better-be-safe-than-sorry” mindset.

So, as a reminder that we made it through the worst in a storm, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is taking a look back at the post-Sandy scene in Rumson, Fair Haven and Sea Bright.

For the latest from the National Weather Service, click here.

— Elaine Van Develde

Schools Scene

Lessons Learned by RFH Girls Soccer Team from Olympian Christie Rampone

It was a motivational moment for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s female athletes — specifically, soccer players.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Christie Rampone on Monday made an appearance at a team practice at Rumson’s Meadowridge Field East.

During an informal session, Rampone described participation in high school soccer as a “privilege.”

Continue reading Lessons Learned by RFH Girls Soccer Team from Olympian Christie Rampone →

News

Retro RFH Tech Crew at Work

RFH Tech Crew of 1977 working on the set of Plaza Suite Photo/George Day
RFH Tech Crew of 1977 working on the set of Plaza Suite
Photo/George Day

‘Tis the season for the tech crew for the RFH Tower Players’ fall show to get to work on building a set.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day revisits the set of the fall show of 1977 — Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite.

The set was quite ornate, in keeping with the decor of the upscale Plaza Hotel in New York City, where the show was set.

In this photo, reflected in a mirror over the hand-crafted fireplace are crew members Jamie Blake and Tom Campbell. Looks like these guys are actually laying a carpet to mimic the lush interior of The Plaza’s rooms accurately. Check out the small detail of the light switch cover. They even wall-papered. These guys did very nice work.

The guys and girls on crew were considered pretty cool and from diverse extra-curricular backgrounds back in the day.

Is it still as widely accepted as “cool” to be on crew? We’ve noticed a dip in popularity of the activity by sheer virtue of the fact that far fewer have signed on.

Tech crew people are an integral part to a show’s success. These guys work very long hours and labor pretty intensely over little-known behind-the-scenes details. Have you thanked a techie lately?

Thanks again, George Day, for this photo contribution!

Local Life

Hail to the Fair Haven Chief on Retirement Eve

You could say that Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge’s days are numbered.

That’s because the chief’s last day of work is Wednesday.

At the end of the day, the Fair Haven native is hanging up his police chief’s hat and walking out of the office he first walked into decades ago as a kindergartener in the borough and years later set up office as a cop.

While he’s been mum on in what direction post-Fair Haven police retirement take him, Breckenridge looked back in a recent interview with much love for and pride in his work and community.

So, in honor of the chief’s last day, we take a look back at some moments in his career.

Best of luck, Chief!

Effective Oct. 1, Fair Haven Police Captain Joseph McGovern will become acting chief/captain.

For information on Darryl Breckenridge’s retirement dinner in October, click here.

Local Life

UPDATE: Holding Off on Gearing Up for Fair Haven Oktoberfest

UPDATE: Don’t get your lederhosen on just yet. Despite the rain-or-shine, move-forward original declaration, the event, due to uncertain Joaquin storm repercussions, Fair Haven Oktoberfest has been postponed, according to Councilwoman Susan Sorensen. 

Sorensen advised on the Fair Haven Facebook page that people should check the page for updates and a new date. 

Stay tuned.

Original story, posted on Sept. 29 …

Hoist up your lederhosen and grab your beer stein. It’s that time of the year again in Fair Haven — Oktoberfest time.

For the fourth year, The Foundation of Fair Haven (a 501C3 non-profit group) is sponsoring the fundraiser on Saturday from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Smart Start Preschool and adjacent River Road municipal lot.

The proceeds of the adults-only event will benefit special community events, such as Fair Haven Day, some   borough capital improvements and other amenities.

“A very dedicated committee has been hard at work for many months and excited that the Fair Haven Oktoberfest has now become a fun outdoor fall tradition celebrating the Borough of Fair Haven,” Fair Haven Borough Councilwoman Susan Sorensen, also president of The Foundation, said. “We hope that the residents come out and support this event. We have some community restaurants providing authentic Oktoberfest food, a great local band, RipTide, providing music and, back by popular demand, the Pong Tournament.”

This year’s Oktoberfest will feature RipTide, traditional Oktoberfest food from local eateries, games, seasonal beer and sangria.

The cost for admission is $25 and includes the food and entertainment. The beer and sangria are to be purchased separately as is inclusion in games.

Tickets are available at Fair Haven Borough Hall or by contacting Sorensen at [email protected] or via Facebook or blasts with a link.

Fair Haven Oktoberfest is a rain-or-shine event.

Local Life

Retro ‘Register’ School Tech Daze in Rumson

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The Tandy and gifted and talented Rumson students Photo/Red Bank Register archives
The Tandy and gifted and talented Rumson students
Photo/Red Bank Register archives

Apparently, it was considered a gifted and talented trait in the early 1980s to be well-versed in the operation of a Tandy computer — or whatever you want to call it.

This Red Bank Register photo went unpublished in March of 1982.

It shows Rumson students, clad in the oh, so traditional preppie fair isle sweaters and turtle necks, gathering around the ol’ Tandy in this promo for a “conference on gifted students for elementary school teachers and administrators to be held at Brookdale Community College on March 26,” a photo caption in the archives of the 2011 Monmouth County Library exhibit entitled Red Bank Register: 40 Photographs, 1976-1985 said. “The Model 3, released in July 1980 and sold at Radio Shack, featured a 2.03 MHz processor; it predated by more than a year the first IBM PC, introduced in August 1981.”

So, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to that March 13, 1982 with a copy of an unpublished Register photo of that day.

The exhibit featured the work of several Register photographers. The photos came from years’ worth of preservation of negatives from the work of Carl Andrews, James J. Connolly, Carl Forino, Dave Kingdon, Don Lordi and Larry Perna.

While the records did not indicate which photographer took the RFH shot, it’s a classic, so we’re sharing it in our look back for the day.

So, have you ever worked on a Tandy? What about a word processor? Recognize anyone?

Local Life

Fair Haven Super Moon Gazing

Video

It was a lot of things — the full moon on Sunday was a harvest moon, a super moon, a blood moon and, yes, it was a moon in full eclipse mode to boot.

Skies were a bit hazy, but, post-eclipse, the moon managed to peek through and cast an irdescent glow.

Fans of the movie Moonstruck might simply call it “la bella luna.” Bella. Take a look.

Don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge!

— Elaine Van Develde