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Local Life, Rumson Police and Fire Files

Scene Around: Rumson Police Chief Reigns as Top Plunge Donor

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside 2022
Photo/Rumson PD

Hail to the chief! He’s taken the plunge and triumphed again.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson dove into the icy ocean waters of Seaside on Saturday and emerged the plunge’s top donor once again to benefit his cause — Special Olympics New Jersey.

“Chief Paterson would like to thank all of the generous donors, along with friends and supporters, who reached out to wish (him) Scott well with yesterday’s Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge,” a Sunday post on the Rumson Police Department Facebook page said. “It was down to the wire, but we’re happy to report that Scott was able to regain his #1 spot as highest individual fundraiser for another year. He could not have done it without the support of all you!”

The chief solely ended up with a total of $41,337 raised for his cause. He plunged with the Little Silver Crocs team once again. The largest of the final hour donations was from Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade at $1,005. So, in the end, Paterson ended up top donor for what may have been his final plunge.

As a whole, the 2022 Plunge at Seaside garnered $1,935,180, surpassing its goal. The goal was $1.8 million.

Congrats, Chief!

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at a previous Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside
Photo/Rumson PD
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Local Life, Opinion

Staying Home with My ‘Fair’ Lady on Her Birthday

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  • Sally Van Develde at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair in 1969.
  • Sally Van Develde and Mary Farley

Our now annual reprise honoring the inspiration for R-FH Retro — my mom, Sally Van Develde — on what would have been her 99th birthday. A birthday wish … Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom. You remain in the hearts of so many … Besides, I won’t let them forget.

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with! Is that right?” ~ Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

For the love of home and a Fair Haven mom … that’s right.

Sometimes a birthday without her is about lighting the candles, making the wish, sustaining the simple legacy of going home, staying home with my mom, Sally Van Develde.

Today would have been her 99th birthday. If she had lived to blow out all those candles on her cake, I wondered what she would have done. What her wish would have been.

Continue reading Staying Home with My ‘Fair’ Lady on Her Birthday →
Local Life

Scene Around: Last Call to Support Rumson Police Chief in Plunge for Special Olympics

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson shows his winning certificate at the Seaside Heights Polar Bear Plunge 2020
Photo/Rumson PD

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is set to take the plunge again — the plunge into the icy winter ocean water at Seaside Heights to benefit the Special Olympics New Jersey.

Continue reading Scene Around: Last Call to Support Rumson Police Chief in Plunge for Special Olympics →
Local Life

Retro RFH Class President’s Staged Moment

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RFH Freshmen Follies of 1975 honors Class Prez Ward Tietz
Photo/George Day

Yes, yesterday was Presidents’ Day. The day designated to honor presidents was first observed in 1971, borne out of the birthday of the first U.S. president, George Washington.

Continue reading Retro RFH Class President’s Staged Moment →
Local Life, Opinion

Focus: Black & White Navesink River Tidings

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Black & White Winter at the River in Fair Haven
Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro only

It’s black-and-white simple, stark. The crackly, cool-hued solace offered by the winter’s Fair Haven Navesink River view is a prelude to all that’s warm. It’s a constant. A reminder that all that’s good is pretty simple.

The tide still rolls in gently over the patches of snowy, broken ice. All is a still, simple move forward, yet keeping all that’s good in its niche. The river is always there. A home anchor. Its shore a welcome mat. The tide gently wipes out all that’s broken, a little bit at a time. All that soothes melds together, soaking up the same goodness in one sliver of Earth. The tide that always comes in saturates the shore and hometown heart with searing sunshine for the soul.

Nothing really changes when it comes to the river view or its wealth of healing power. And all you have to do is take a minute to take it in … rolling ever so gently with its inspiring tide.

Say “Ahhhh” and take in the scenes … (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy! And can you find those ducks?)

Here’s what’s headed this way weatherwise, courtesy of the National Weather Service …

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Local Life, Opinion

Focus: Fair Haven Dock Winter Blues & Sunshine Hues

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If the winter blues have set in after a day or two worth of spring(ish) respite, a little Fair Haven Dock time is a reminder that the blue hued winter sky and crackled icy shore is always a prelude to sunshine.

If not in the sky, in the heart. Through every crack in the icy snow coat on the beach under the dock, sun is seeping in for a peek into the happy place. The melt? Well, we know the cold sting in the air doesn’t stop the softening of the hometown heart with a glimpse back to dock days.

Of course, some of those dock days of the past involved a little mischief and jumping, which we are always asked to remind is prohibited. All the more the melt. But the daydream of one of your miscreant friends taking a plunge into that icy Navesink River water on a dare does crack a grin on the face.

How about the jaunt to a sliver of beach under the dock with a frozen cheesecake and a bottle of Boone’s Farm? Hmmmm … If that kind of memory doesn’t take away the winter blues … Focus back. What scene do you see?

Say “Ahhhhhh” to the serene river scene of blue and daydream the sun and smiling crazy times back. After all, the weather forecast is promising a peek through the icy cracks into spring again …

**Don’t forget to CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!**

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

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Local Life

Focus: Sea Bright Beach Chillin’ Warmth

Sometimes the warmth in a cold snap break isn’t just in the air. It’s in the place. And for many Rumson-Fair Haven area people, that place is the beach in Sea Bright. Always has been.

When life turns a cold shoulder, some Sea Bright time is that cozy niche the area kid in us crawls into for a bright memory snuggle, even if it’s only a moment. The power of place is the pull. It gives the hug, holds the warmth.

The view? It’s always bright, no matter the cool sting, its winter emptiness dotted with some of the happiest of scenes from any old RFHer’s youth. So, take a look back. Fill in the landscape. Let it bring you back to your chill play time in this little slip of peninsula where chillin’ is a smile back. Exhale. Smile. Ahhhhh …

Take a look for that glimpse back of your own. Take it all in. (And don’t forget to click on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy the view!)

Local Life

Retro Barn Theatre-Staged RFH Teaching Moment

A 1977 Barn Theatre production of Music Man with RFH teachers Mimi Hughes & Lloyd Gross
Photo/courtesy of Bonnie Deroski, Barn Theatre Facebook Page

Call it a staged RFH teaching moment with the The Music Man and company.

With the upcoming RFH production of Mama Mia gearing up and in rehearsal, thoughts turn back to some shared staged moments between RFH students and teachers.

Continue reading Retro Barn Theatre-Staged RFH Teaching Moment →