Category Archives: News

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Scene Around: Snowed & Fogged Out at Barnacle’s

Even when the Rumson river view is obscured by the fog, a blanket of snow and empty Barnacle Bill’s chairs are vivid reminders that there’s always a seat for you at an iconic spot back home.

It sees you. You see it. The descending pea soup sky never takes away the view. It gives you a close-up of the little things that matter most, like a chair waiting for its townie.

Each piece of home is where the comfort embraces with a hushed, welcomed coddle in the disquiet of the cold air pangs. Its love blankets like the melting snow, sopping up the home earth beneath the feet that always seem to anchor there, tugging like quicksand at the heart. This is one piece of home. One iconic spot. The quiet, the starkness beckon. They call you back. Always.

You hear and return to take a big bite … of that burger, the memories and that home feeling, ingesting all that’s good. Yum.

The fog has lifted. Here’s what’s going on with the weather in the Rumson-Fair Haven area heading into the weekend, courtesy of the National Weather Service …

** Don’t forget to CLICK on one photo in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy! **

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

RFH, Coach Robert Orrok Recognized in National Strength Coaches Association

RFH’s & Coach Robert Orrok’s NHSSCA win
Photo/RFH

The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) has announced that Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) has earned the distinction of Program of Excellence for 2022-2024.

Continue reading RFH, Coach Robert Orrok Recognized in National Strength Coaches Association

Catching Fair Haven Rays: Remembering, Emulating Ray Taylor

Ray Taylor weeps for those lost at a Memorial Day ceremony in Fair Haven
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

“Cornerstone: A stone which lies at the corner of two walls and unites them” (often the starting point of a building), hence, figuratively, “that on which anything is founded.” 

Fair Haven’s cornerstone has been yanked from it rightful place. Its walls full of solid hometown brick and mortar are now wobbly — crumbling with sorrow. One of the last of the borough’s icons has taken his final trek down Fair Haven’s River Road.

Continue reading Catching Fair Haven Rays: Remembering, Emulating Ray Taylor

Retro RFH Basketball Champs

RFH Boys Basketball of the 1970s Photo/George Day
RFH Boys Basketball of the 1970s
Photo/George Day

A slam dunk of a reprise to honor the great season RFH Boys Basketball is having … Go Bulldogs!

Yes, it’s basketball season. And there’s some championship playing going on with the RFH Boys Basketball team.

And while some things never change, including family names still involved in the sport at RFH, there are also many changes — like uniforms and, of course, the audience.

Continue reading Retro RFH Basketball Champs

Scene Around: Serenading Garfield

Sometimes when you’re looking for focus, you end up zooming in on a downright presidential moment.

It’s not every day that the lens happens to catch a little accordion music serenade of President Garfield’s statue on the Long Branch Boardwalk. What a classic moment made of the simplest of soothing pleasures — music. It looks like the president approves. I mean, he’s standing, frozen in amazement, you could say.

OK, so it’s not the Rumson-Fair Haven area, but it’s close enough when it’s a classic moment caught. Something like this takes you to the sunny side of a winter’s day. Yes, sometimes you just have to stop and listen for the music. That’s an executive order.

Anyone know what kind of accordion that is? It’s very old with exquisite detailing in the silver finish. If you had to guess, what song do you think he was or should have been playing?

While you’re pondering that, check out the weekend weather forecast from the National Weather Service …

Retro RFH Slam Dunk of a Cheer

The boys of RFH's cheerleading squad for the Student-Faculty Basketball Game in 1976. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
The boys of RFH’s cheerleading squad for the Student-Faculty Basketball Game in 1976.
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

A double-dose reprise, because we all need a special kind of cheer right now … and this is a real slam dunk!

Yes, it’s basketball season at RFH. But, have you ever seen a lovelier bunch of cheerleaders?

Continue reading Retro RFH Slam Dunk of a Cheer

Scene Around: Townie Walk with Ray Taylor

The following story was originally posted on Sept. 10, 2021 … after a chat with Mr. Ray Taylor on is way to the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. With the very sad news today of Mr. Taylor’s passing, we are reprising it in his honor. As all in the area grapple with the death of this cornerstone of the borough and we struggle to pay the best of tributes to him in a story, this serves as a simple, happy reminder of what really matters. Rest In Peace, Mr. Taylor, the best of best friends to Fair Haven. We will always remember. Read on. Remember. Smile …

“I got to keep movin’!”

That’s the first thing that came out of 98-year-old Ray Taylor’s mouth when R-FH Retro ran into him doing his usual walking and savoring the smallest of moments in his Fair Haven hometown.

Continue reading Scene Around: Townie Walk with Ray Taylor