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There’s something about Christmas lights in small towns that just soothes the hometown soul.
Here’s to yet another reason why the Rumson-Fair Haven area is so special.
Take a little holiday tour with us in our photo gallery above. Just click on any image to enlarge and click the arrows to scroll through.
Happy holidays to all from Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect!
The following is an edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:
Based on an extremely successful fall sports season, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) has achieved a high ranking in the 12th Annual ShopRite Cup 2014-15 Fall Standings.
RFH is ranked second among all Group 2 schools, and stands at fourth place among all public schools in New Jersey.
The top five Group 2 high schools in the ShopRite Cup Fall Standings, in order, are: Haddonfield, 34 points; Rumson-Fair Haven 31 points; Collingswood,16 points; Madison, 16 points; and Kinnelon, 15 points.
The ShopRite Cup is presented jointly by ShopRite stores and the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Winning schools earn ShopRite points for top finishes in competition as well as for sportsmanship.
RFH earned points for the Girls Cross Country Sectional Championship, Field Hockey Group Championship, and the Football Sectional Championship.
These police officers have been seen around the towns donning their special Christmas suits.
No, they’re not any sort of Santas, but they sure are festive. They told us that they even special ordered the suits.
Do you know these guys?
By Elaine Van Develde
You may have seen them popping up all around the Rumson-Fair Haven area — blue signs of support for local police.
The solemn show — blue ribbons, blue lights, blue anything peppering the area — has been dubbed the Sea of Blue Ribbons campaign.
And it continues through Dec. 31.
Continue reading Sea of Blue Extends to Show of Support for Local Police
By Elaine Van Develde
It is with great sadness, yet gratitude for a treasure trove of great memories, that I dedicate our Retro Pic of the Day to the memory of longtime Rumson resident and former RFH English teacher Mimi Hughes, who passed away Saturday morning.
Mrs. Hughes is remembered as an exquisitely gentille, intelligent, strong and compassionate woman. While many knew her from her many years as an RFH teacher, she is also fondly recalled as a singer, actress, friend, wife, mom to RFH grads Mark, Paul, Nan and Patrick and beloved grandmother to her grandchildren.
“She had time to say goodbye to all of us, and she did it with shining grace and composure,” daughter Nan said in a Facebook post. “Her last night was filled with love, Christmas carols and family. Mimi was even singing along with her grandchildren … And as always, she has been a role model, showing us the best way to do this.”
There will be a memorial gathering 10 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by an 11 a.m. Mass at Nativity Church, Fair Haven.
With our Retro Pic of the Day, we ask that you take a moment to remember Mimi Hughes.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will be publishing an opinion piece on Monday in honor of Mrs. Hughes.
Our Retro Pic of the Day takes you back to the days of Kindergarten classes at what was called the Youth Center in Fair Haven.
Kids were walked on a rope — yes, a rope — led by an official looking crossing guard-type person to the classroom which was where the police station is now. (We’ll get to the rope another time.)
This shot, circa 1965, features some kids who are still in the area, if not Fair Haven itself.
One is a well-known funeral director (front, left), another is your own Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect founding editor (front right, sort of), another has a mom who still lives in town and a brother who is a well-known area photographer and landscaper, and, yet another, was an impressive athlete growing up and is still in town.
Take your guesses. And, please feel free to send us your retro photos, credit included, at [email protected].
There are a lot of downtown business bargains going on for the holidays in Fair Haven right now.
However, one shop, in particular, is now aiming to make sure that all fans get their orders in by Thursday night to ensure a timely Christmas delivery. That shop is Booskerdoo.
The staff at the relatively new coffee and dessert shop on River Road is reminding people that “you can still order coffee at www.booskerdoo.com and get it by Christmas Eve. You’ve got about 30 hours left of guaranteed delivery,” according the business’ Facebook page.
“To receive it by Christmas Eve, order by Dec 18th,” another post not the page added. “Use coupon code ‘davy10’ for 10% off an order of three bags or more. All coffee is roasted the same day we mail it to you.”
The following is an edited press release from the Fair Haven School District:
The Fair Haven School District gave parents an opportunity to get some hands-on experience with Google Apps for the Classroom.
Parents gathered at the Media Center of Knollwood School on Dec. 2 for the fourth event in a series of several planned by the district’s new Fair Haven Family Institute. The Institute was created to relay information to parents on initiatives undertaken throughout each year in the district.
As part of the Go Google! event, parents received hands-on experience with the capabilities of Google Apps for the Classroom. The program was hosted by Ellen Spears, district director of Curriculum, as well as Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy, Knollwood School Principal Kevin Davis, and district supervisor of Instructional Programs and Support Kathy Elgrim.
Continue reading Parents Get ‘Google Apps for the Classroom’ Education
While we’re on a Fair Haven Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary roll, we figured we’d keep it going with a Retro Pic of the Day that hones in on some warmth with yet another “fair” lady, Millie Felsmann.
In this snapshot, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1993, she was up to her usual cotton candy spinning and serving.
The booth she is pictured in is now called the Out Back. Then it was just referred to as “the hot dog booth.”
What’s your favorite goodie from that booth?
By Elaine Van Develde
A little slice of area toy store history went tumbling down on Tuesday.
The building that used to house the iconic Mike’s Toy Store in Little Silver is no more. And as it was toppled, childhood memories arose.
Mike’s was that kind of place for which many a kid in the Rumson-Fair Haven area saved his or her pennies, clutched in their tiny fists, for a jaunt to the wonderland to purchase a token toy dream come true.
And, some might say, the irony was uncanny that the place that many saw as their own fantasy Santa’s workshop came down at Christmas time. The jolt of the toy graveyard scene crushed old-timers’ nostalgia-riddled souls while igniting that child-like light from within.
Our Retro Pic of the Day brings us decades back to a snapshot of a little holiday party fun with the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary.
There are an awful lot of familiar faces in this shot, including some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) grads and/or their mothers — this editor’s mom, too.
Take a look and see who you recognize. Thanks to Kathy Robbins who took the photo and circulated it last year on Facebook.
Downtown Fair Haven is decked out for the season.
The old-fashioned lamp posts are adorned with evergreen, wreaths and bows and Borough Hall and Memorial Park show more of the same festive decor.
Just a reminder of what “home for the holidays” means in this area. Take a look.
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