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Local Life, Opinion

Focus: Black & White Navesink River Tidings

Gallery
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 →
Local Life

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

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Schools Scene

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 →
Local Life, Opinion

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 →
Local Life

Scene Around: Serenading Garfield

Serenading President Garfield on the Long Branch Boardwalk
Photos/Elaine Van Develde

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 …