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Local Life

Focus: Washed in River Daze

Gallery

Call it a wash. Down came that rain and washed the murky, humid muck in the air away.

And like the song, it seems like “you can see forever more,” especially from the iconic shores of the Navesink down by Barnacle Bill’s. No matter how far a hometown Rumsonite or Fair Havenite roams, the riverfront always calls them back to hold them tight.

It’s never a fishing expedition. The line was cast long ago and the anchor never rusts. This one’s a diamond. Unbreakable, it glistens with magnetic light shining, calling from deep in the river’s sandy floor.

The precious anchor stone’s gleam reflects in that hometown kid’s eyes, offering the view no one else has. It’s from that river’s shores that, murk or not, that kid at heart can see more clearly every inch of beauty that’s always been there, yet still lies ahead. They look back while looking ahead to see those little big things that brought them there. Held them there.

Those things? They’re still holding … with soothing tightness.

Hold those thoughts and keep them … like a kid collecting shells down by the river.

Click on one photo in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy the view!

— Elaine Van Develde

The weather forecast …

Heatwave humidity and wildfire smoke has cleared. Here’s what’s in store with the weather in the Rumson-Fair Haven area through the weekend and into next week.

Local Life

Retro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s Summer

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Rumson girls Alice Coyle Mansfield and Linda Zerr Feeny in the late 50s
Photo/Ken Card, courtesy of Alice Mansfield
Alice Mansfield and Linda Feeny now

Reprise, because everyone’s asking about those hot Rumson girls of the 1950s dock days. And they’re still around the towns …

Well, we are steeped in steamy summer heat. And there’s really nothing more sizzling summer hot than two Rumson girls of the 1950s who took the plunge into and out of summers together — suited up, off the Rumson Dock and into a longtime friendship.

Continue reading Retro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s Summer →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro Rumson Summer: The Barn Theater

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Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater's production of "The Fantasticks" in the summer of 1977
Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater’s production of “The Fantasticks” in the summer of 1977
"Bye Bye Birdie" at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
“Bye Bye Birdie” at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The following piece was originally posted on July 8, 2015. As we dive into summer season, we thought it only fitting to remember good summer times outside of the usual beach romp for those who grew up and raised their families in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — summer theater. Once upon a time, there was a special little place in Rumson called The Barn … Take a trip back with us to  simple summers and magical, theatrical times … 

Remember The Barn Theater in Rumson?

Well, if you don’t, you missed out and are probably significantly younger than those who do and didn’t — miss out, that is.

It’s a plus if you’re that young. But, it’s definitely a factor in the minus category if you didn’t work, play or get entertained there.

It was a community theater that cast hundreds, maybe thousands, from the area, including many Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students.

The building is still there, only a few blocks away from the high school on Avenue of Two Rivers near the intersection at Ridge Road. The reason why it was called The Barn was, well, because it was an old barn, gutted (if there is such a thing with a barn) and converted into a small arena-type stage theater, with the stage at floor level and risers around it as seats, though not all the way around.

You get the picture. Now, here’s what’s behind the place’s show folk and shows …

Continue reading Retro Rumson Summer: The Barn Theater →
Local Life

Retro RFH Summer Theatrics

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Make up time for the cast of Carnival at RFH summer of 1976 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Cliff Rigby backstage at RFH summer theater production of Carnival Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Summer theater productions are opening once again all over the Rumson-Fair Haven area. This seasonal show time for locals has proven as popular as hitting the beach with buddies — OK, far away from the invasion of the outta town tourists.

Continue reading Retro RFH Summer Theatrics →
News

Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory

This week’s Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge construction travel advisory remains status quo. Work continues during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday, weather permitting.

Continue reading Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory →
News

Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory

With work on the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge halted for the Fourth of July holiday, it resumed today and continues through Friday during the usual 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. hours, Monmouth County officials announced.

Here’s what to expect with construction activity for the rest of this week …

Continue reading Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory →
Local Life

Focus: River Time Front-Row Seat

Gallery

Sometimes the best front-row seat is the one that cradles your river time.

Wherever it is, front-row Rumson Barnacle Bill’s or docked, it’s that seat that offers a hometown view with heart. Even in the haze, the the clarity of what matters most is caught like an opening night bouquet tossed into the audience’s lap from the Navesink River’s scenic stage.

It’s a show without a ticket or playbill. Curtain’s always up, even if the lights are dim and no one’s in the house. That’s because it’s always your own show with a take-away that stays like pressed flowers from the best of times.

That front-row seat to river time always calls, offering river time its own sitting ovation — always bowing in, not out.

That’s the show that holds down by the river. Always. Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse from the seat ... (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

The weekend weather …

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News

Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory

Despite the steady stream of rainy weather through last week and into this week, this week’s Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge replacement activity remains status quo. Work on the bridge continues Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, again, weather permitting, with a few new notes to roadway and sidewalk users. Note that the sidewalk across the bridge is fully open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Monmouth County officials advise …

Continue reading Weekly Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Advisory →
Local Life

Focus: Solstice River Walk Solace

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It doesn’t have to be the longest day of the year to get the most out of the warmth of river time before the sun sets, calling it a day — a first summer day.

The day may be over, but the river time feeling is forever docked in the mind. The fair haven on the Navesink always calls. Rain never drowns the call. The lap. The lull. The gentle tide reaches out and tugs at our hearts to stay. And we do.

Any day is the longest day down by the river, because it’s an endless river walk in our Fair Haven.

Rain never washes away the footprint of time wrapped in home’s swaddling river tide.

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

And there will be lots of rain this week, drenching the area, according to the National Weather Service. It continues through the weekend and into next week …