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News

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge & Channel Closure Travel Alert

Construction of the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge remains on the same 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. work schedule through Friday, weather permitting. There is also an alert about the Shrewsbury River channel closure due to the work.

Continue reading Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge & Channel Closure Travel Alert →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady

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A reprise in honor of those folks who used to be in charge of keeping the kids safe on their walk to school. Remember when everyone walked to school?

It was a time when kids had to walk the … rope.

The first day of school, last week, was commemorated with a look back to that first day in 1965 in Fair Haven.

It was the very first day of school — for kindergarteners. It was also a finale year. That class was the last of all that walked on a rope to the Youth Center (now Fair Haven Community Center downstairs and the police station upstairs).

While classmates were remembered, the identity of the official lady tugging that rope was not.

So, as an ode to that woman, who was eventually remembered as Mary McDaniel, the Retro Pic of the Day is another look, from the archives of the Red Bank Register, of that kindergarten class walk, headed by Mc Daniel.

Continue reading Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro Back-to-School Walking the Rope

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Our annual back-to-school Fair Haven rope walk reprise …

“But I don’t wanna walk on the rope next to her!” I cried from under my fresh-cut kindergarten bangs. “I wanna walk on the rope next to Pam!”

Pam was my neighbor. She was my best buddy.

It was 1965. It was the ’60s. The memories are there, but fuzzy. I can sill see it — with my reading glasses, of course. One thing’s for sure: Our Fair Haven kindergarten class was the last to have its first year of school at what was called the Youth Center, now the Fair Haven Police Station and Community Center on Fisk Street.

We kindergarteners were also the last to be tugged down the street on a rope, yes a rope, headed by an official-looking police-type lady.

Continue reading Retro Back-to-School Walking the Rope →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro First Day of School Girls

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First day of kindergarten in Fair Haven 1965
Photo/Sally Van Develde

A back-to-school reprise … 

Knock-kneed, nervous and all dressed up with somewhere to go, this gaggle Fair Haven neighborhood girls of 1965 lined up so their moms could get that classic first-day-of-kindergarten shot. And there wasn’t a smile among them.

Continue reading Retro First Day of School Girls →
News

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Alert; Channel Closure Update

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge replacement construction activity continues this week with no work on Labor Day. Work will proceed Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. The channel closure postponement has been announced by Monmouth County officials.

Waterway Information

The upcoming channel closure in the Shrewsbury River has been postponed to Monday, Sept. 16, starting at 6 a.m..

The details …

  • From 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, the navigational channel under the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge will be completely closed to all marine traffic.
  • The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has jurisdiction over the navigational channel and has granted permission for upcoming full and partial closures needed for installation of the two new bridge spans.
  • The channel under the bridge will be open at full width (75 feet) to marine vessels on Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22.
  • Please see the Updated Public Notice for all full and half closure dates. Monmouth County must comply with the dates approved by the USCG.
  • Dates are subject to change based on weather conditions and production factors.

Roadway and Sidewalk Information

  • Access to Old Rumson Road from Rumson Road (CR 520) has been reconfigured to improve sight distance and reduce conflict points associated with temporary conditions. (Note: This reconfigured traffic pattern is a temporary condition and will be evaluated by Monmouth County and Rumson Borough over the coming months as to how it is functioning and if permanent modifications to the original design may be needed.)
  • The south side (eastbound) sidewalk of the bridge is closed.
  • All roadway and sidewalk travelers should be aware of construction and delivery vehicles entering and exiting the work areas on both sides of Rumson Road in Rumson and on the southbound side of Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright.
  • Temporary delays are possible on any contractor work day due to movement of construction vehicles and equipment.

— Photos/Nick Lencyzk

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Local Life, Opinion

Fair Remembrance: All’s Fair in the Middle

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Our annual reprise about what it really means to experience all that’s fair for a Fair Haven kid …

There are a lot of significant beginnings and endings this time of the year. The end of summer. The beginning of locals’ summer. The start of school — new chapters and first days.

But, what about the middle? The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has always brought me, and many a “fair” kid, back to that middle haven. It’s home.

Continue reading Fair Remembrance: All’s Fair in the Middle →
Local Life

Remembering My Fair Daddy

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The following piece was originally published on Aug. 31, 2015. It is being re-run, with changes only in the amount of years that have passed, in memory of my father, Bill Van Develde, former longtime Fair Haven Fire Company member, president and captain of the Fire Police and chairman of the Stock Room at the fair, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 30, 1983. RIP, Dad. You are missed. Thank you for all the embarrassing moments that I didn’t appreciate enough. Thank you for making Fair Haven my home. Thank you for being a real dad. See you on the fair grounds …

Retro Fair Haven Firemen's Fair stock room days in the 1970s Photo/FHFD booklet
Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair stock room days in the 1970s
Photo/FHFD booklet

By Elaine Van Develde

It’s been 41 years, but I can still see his face and that kooky Brylcreemed hairdo. I can still hear his crazy belly laugh and that signature “Take ‘er easy, buddy!” I can still see him slapping kids on the back, forever clutching his trusty clipboard, pencil perched behind his ear, sweat on the brow and finger wagging.

Continue reading Remembering My Fair Daddy →
Local Life

Retro Rumson Firemen’s Fair Moment

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Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair 2015 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2015
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Reprise in honor of Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair week and Firemen’s Night, or Firefighters’ Night, which was last night …

Well, the fair is on and nothing has stopped it yet.

A tradition within the fair tradition is Firemen’s Night. Fire departments from across the state flock to the fair, most with reps riding into town on their towns’ fire trucks. It happens annually on Wednesday night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse into Firemen’s Night 2015 with a photo of guys and gals from the neighboring Rumson Fire Department.

A big thank you to all our volunteer firefighters.

Recognize anyone in this crew?  Have you thanked a firefighter today?

These daily stories, photos, looks back and tributes on R-FH Retro are brought to you courtesy of supporters. If you like R-FH Retro, keep the site going by sponsoring more. Click here to donate any amount you wish. Contact me for an ad or sponsorship at [email protected]. Thank you!

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