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Local Life

Retro Rumson Barn Summer Showtime

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Reprise from 2016, just because we think more people need to remember summer theater fun at the old classic — The Barn Theatre …

Summer is in full swing. School’s out and kids are embarking on summer activities.

Back in the 1970s, teens were actually singing about it … in summer theater at The Barn Theatre in Rumson.

Continue reading Retro Rumson Barn Summer Showtime →
Local Life

Focus: Taking a Summer Stand in Sea Bright

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Sometimes you just have to take a stand — one to guard your life in a special way. The notion holds true especially in the summertime in Sea Bright.

When a beautiful summer’s day winds down, the scene become serene and the view clearer from the mind’s eye, no matter where you’re looking. From an abandoned lifeguard stand, it’s just all the sweeter a sight — as far as the New York skyline or as close as the shoreline and some child’s play or local scene home-in with a content sigh.

Taking a stand to take in all that’s home and a beach always gives perspective. Taking it in with ease and awe makes the sigh all the more grateful.

So, take a stand with us and take in the view — grande and microcosmic, there’s something to see and sigh for in every corner. Ahhhhh … That’s summer life that’s a beach in the heart of the Rumson-Fair Haven area kid.

Click on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!

—Photos/Elaine Van Develde exclusively for R-FH Retro

The view will remain clear for days now … until Saturday’s rain. Take a look at the week’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service …

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News

Prosecutor: Area Man Gets 11 Years for 2017 Child Porn & Adult Invasion of Privacy

A Monmouth County man has been sentenced to 11 years prison in connection with a 2021 conviction for 2017 incidents of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials and invasion of privacy, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said on Wednesday.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Area Man Gets 11 Years for 2017 Child Porn & Adult Invasion of Privacy →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Graduation: The Daisy Chain Girl

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RFH 1978 graduation in front of the high school, replete with daisy chain
Photo/Daryl Cooper Ley

The following was originally posted in May of 2017. It is being re-run in honor of graduation, time honored traditions past and this RFH Daisy Chain girl of ’78, who passed away in February of 2018 — Daryl Cooper Ley.

In high school social circles, it was considered a popularity status symbol to be chosen for the chain. Daryl wasn’t all too thrilled about it at the time. It had confirmed what her closest friends knew. That she was cool. It was often repeated to her. “I didn’t think so,” was always her answer. Sorry, Dar. We win. Got the last word. You were. RIP, Dar. You are remembered … in our hearts, souls and print, like it or not! Love you forever more. Oh, she would kill me …

It was considered a privilege and honor. They were chosen from the junior class at RFH to serve as the debutante-like ushers for the graduating class. All dressed in white and supposedly gracefully toting a chain of daisies, the Daisy Chain girls were a fixture of high school finery at graduations in the 1970s.

The origins of the somewhat upper-crust tradition date back to the 1900s, but this Retro Pic of the Day was snapped in 1978.

Continue reading Retro RFH Graduation: The Daisy Chain Girl →
Schools Scene

Scene Around: Rumson River Rats & Oyster Lessons Learned

Gulp? They say that oysters come in their own little spoons, ready to serve up their own nuggets of goodness from their deep water beds. But, as far as some Rumson kids are concerned, the looks on their faces while slurping what some call raw culinary delights tells a horror story that needs to be chased with a spoon full of sugar to make that river medicine go down.

Continue reading Scene Around: Rumson River Rats & Oyster Lessons Learned →
Local Life

Retro Old Timers’ Day Tripping

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A reprise Retro Pic of the Day in honor of Fair Haven Fire Department’s Old Timers’ Day on Sunday. Now, back to the 1960s with the annual FHFD tradition, now that new back then has turned into old …

Nothing says community spirit like a face full of dirt and smashed eggs on your Sunday casual best. Well, nothing like Fair Haven Fire Department’s (FHFD) Old Timers’ Day, anyway. Add to that the fact that the young ones from back in the day are now the old timers and the losers … of the traditional baseball game that is the day’s focal point.

Continue reading Retro Old Timers’ Day Tripping →
Local Life

Scene Around: Fair Haven Fire Department Finery

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It was a banner weekend for the Fair Haven Fire Department.

The forever Fair Haven group of volunteer firefighters, first aid tenders and auxiliary helpers swept some awards at another company’s 150th anniversary on Saturday and the next day celebrated the old and new with its traditional Old Timers’ Day.

Fair Haven, with it’s unique white trucks, has always stood out at parades and celebrations. This past weekend it was at Freehold Fire Department’s 150th anniversary that the department shone bright with its sharp, gleaming white apparatus and membership.

The department garnered first-place awards for: Most Active Members Present; Best Appearing Command Vehicle; Best Appearing Pumper 6-15 Years; Best Appearing Ambulance; and Best Appearing Rescue (light or heavy). A second-place award was won for Best Appearing Motorized Antique.

Congratulations, FHFD!

Then, on Sunday, the crew gathered to celebrate fire company tradition with a blend of generations, the old and new, in Old Timers’ Day. This gathering of all that’s good in connecting through volunteering and friendship for the community is a tradition that dates way back.

There are casual contests, fun, food and fire department family bonding. This fire company kid vividly remembers a tug of war and egg toss miserably lost. There may have been a two-legged race with sister tossed in the failures somewhere. Yet, everyone wins with this fire company day.

Take a look at the above photos, courtesy of the FHFD, for a glimpse into the win and Old Timers’ Day Gathering. (Click on one to enlarge and scroll.) Cheers to FHFD tradition! And, who won the egg toss?

Local Life

Scene Around: Rumson’s RFH Senior Celebs & Fetes

They’re pretty famous as Rumson parenting and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School history goes. Add a few banner birthdays and community connections to that and you have some celebrities who are still celebrating and going strong.

They are Tony and Sharon Mellaci, their buddy Diane Dey and kids, also RFH grads. Tony celebrated his 100th birthday in May. Sharon just celebrated her birthday (as the lead photo shows) and Dey, 92, turned 90 in 2020. The three got together recently for Sharon’s festive 90s celebration. The trio, who raised their kids in Rumson, were joined by those kids, Merrall Dey Freund and Jim Mellaci, RFH Class of ’78 grads. And there are a few more Rumson connections sprinkled in the company. Know them? Cake, anyone?

Here’s the glorious RFH couple’s scoop. Sharon graduated from RFH in 1947. Tony, a celebrity centenarian in his own right, graduated in ’41. And he did so after making RFH football history. “Dad scored first touchdowns at the new Borden field in the fall of ’40 when it opened,” Jim said. “His senior year was the first winning season Rumson (RFH) had.”

Now, that’s some history and longevity worth toasting to for the weekend! Cheers, Mellaci and Dey folks, kids and friends!

R-FH Retro will be chatting with all three in the future.

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