Category Archives: Opinion

Editorials, letters to the editor and other articles reflecting on iconic people, places and traditions related to them in the area.

Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Beach Girls

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An almost winter reprise in honor of unseasonably warm weather and RFH times … Really. What’s better than some RFH girls on the … stage.

On the cusp of winter, a waft of warm air has blown in. With it came memories of beached days — staged ones, at least, with some RFH beach girls (and boys?).

Continue reading Retro RFH Beach Girls →
Local Life, Opinion

Focus: Through the … Barnacle’s Wreath

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Perspective. It’s all about perspective, especially when it comes to a familiar riverfront scene in Rumson. No matter what way you look at it, it’ll light you up from inside.

So focusing on the sunset view from one simple holiday vantage point offers a closer look at being home for the holidays. Staying there, always in the heart.

This time, sitting at a high-top with a Barnacle Bill’s view through a wreath wraps it up — the gift. Sun down, lights up, the reflection is all about home and the little glints we will never miss if we keep the memories alive through our lone perspective — our view.

The flicker of even one light on a wreath’s full circle lens mesmerizes. It smiles and winks back with a bright flash. A glimmer of a memory gleams. It warms. It never blinds.

Seeing the light often means looking back, focusing on that one teensy, mammoth view of one moment in time.

Once upon a time, the best of teenage girlfriends guffawed over bad engagement pictures in the paper and awful boys. They nursed some coffee and a basket of fried zucchini sticks, satiated by the salty company. Shelling peanuts and rolling them in sea salt on their crumpled paper placemats, they mused about one day missing their misadventures, about coming home after college, about coming back to their table, to their time. They always came back, even when they could no longer sit together. One left at the table, the two still came back with the flash. The view focused, full circle, bright, never lost on either of them.

Look for yours … (click, enlarge, scroll) through the … wreath.

— Photos & reflective piece/Elaine Van Develde

There’s some light in the weekend weather forecast. Here it is, from the National Weather Service. Shine on, view …

Local Life, Opinion

Reflection: A Fall for the River Ripple Effect

Call it a fall for reflective river time. The effects are far-reaching, staying with you wherever you go, each ripple always reaching out past the reflection to bring you home.

River reflection. Ripple effect. It’s all about taking a closer look. Noticing the little things. The mirror image. The slightest crimp in the freeze frame that emanates from the wind’s whisper. It’s hushed secret-telling.

But it’s no secret. The pilings are anchored home. Each curl that you can see in the reflection’s blur will eventually reach the shore, bringing with it the focus in that reflective microcosm of change.

It’s what keeps us all studying that one mesmerizing ripple that reached us. The one that always latches onto our toes in the sand. The one that moves back out and in with the tide. The one that brings us back home and keeps us there in the ruffled clarity of what really matters. Where it all came from — the center. Home.

All it takes is one ripple to seek you out and find you, warmed by a crisp fall moment on the banks of the river in Fair Haven.

Take a look at the photo gallery above to remember what brings you back. (And click to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

It’s always river time, but fall river days are dwindling. Here’s what’s in store for the next week’s fall weather from the National Weather Service …

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Santa Trauma II

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The Harvey boys' visit to Santa at the Fair Haven Firehouse 2015 Photo/Paula Harvey
The Harvey boys’ visit to Santa at the Fair Haven Firehouse 2015
Photo/Paula Harvey

The following miserable children with Santa photo and narrative was originally posted in 2015. We just can’t resist featuring this classic again. Meet (or re-meet) the Harvey kids … 

The search continues for Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s miserable children with Santa photos.

Continue reading Retro Santa Trauma II →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Show Time: Oz Wizadry

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Show time is tomorrow for the RFH Tower Players’ fall production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow back on the stage at the high school. In honor of opening night curtain and returning to the stage, we offer a look back at a trip down the RFH Yellow Brick Road to Oz and some staged wizardry of the early 1970s at RFH.

I have a feeling we’re not in Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) anymore …

Continue reading Retro RFH Show Time: Oz Wizadry →
Obituaries, Opinion

In Memoriam: Remembering Former Newspaper Ad Sales Rep Susan Wilson, 68

“Susan was a free spirited and fun loving woman, with an infectious laugh and mischievous personality.”

That’s what loved ones said about Red Bank resident, former local newspapers’ ad sales rep, flight attendant and substitute teacher, Susan J. Wilson, 68, who passed away at her home on Nov. 2.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Remembering Former Newspaper Ad Sales Rep Susan Wilson, 68 →
Local Life, Opinion

Old News: Politics, ‘Hootch,’ Hallowe’en, Hoopla & Pranksters

Woolworth’s Halloween costume ad of 1975/Red Bank Register

Living in the past. Sometimes you just have to live a little … in the past. It’s an eye-opening, or -stabbing, thing. Nothing wrong with a clearer view or jab.

Yet, when someone is told they’re living in the past, it’s usually considered somewhat of an insult. It implies that the person is paralyzed, incapable of moving forward. Not always true, especially when it comes to old news.

Continue reading Old News: Politics, ‘Hootch,’ Hallowe’en, Hoopla & Pranksters →
Local Life, Opinion

Focus: Benched at the River

Photos/Elaine Van Develde

Benched. It implies punishment of sorts. Not when you’re parked on a time capsuled bench at the river on the Fair Haven Dock.

And when the daytime sun drenches the seat you pick, all that’s wrong with anyone’s world seems to melt through the cracks, lifting the light in the spirit to meet the one in the sky.

Call it high hopes. The soaring, soothing warmth of it all just doesn’t reach higher heights, as long as benched time is river time … soaking it up. Diving back into time, sopping up the comfort of those feelings linked to the memories down by the river. Not a bad one there. Benched.

(Click on one of the photos above to enlarge and scroll. Remember and enjoy!)

There will be lots of sun to sop up on a riverfront seat this week. Here’s the weather forecast for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from the National Weather Service.

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Local Life, Opinion

Retro RFH Halloween: Some Bunnies & Ghouls

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RFH Halloween of 1977 with a gaggle of girls Photo/George Day
RFH Halloween of 1977 with a gaggle of girls
Photo/George Day

Reprise … Just because it’s that time of the year and it’s a classic shot … 

Some bunny got dressed for RFH Halloween 1977 — or a few bunnies and other assorted suspicious characters, that is.

The Halloween spirit was in the air, that’s for sure. And this senior gaggle of girls embodied it. From controversial, yet timely and popular, Playboy bunny costumes, to Raggedy Ann, a ghost, a cat, a gypsy and whatever else, they were parading and pleased with their choices.

Then they benched themselves for a little haunting respite and pose. But, surely, knowing this crew, there was some mischievous haunting to come. They weren’t done.

Continue reading Retro RFH Halloween: Some Bunnies & Ghouls →