Memorial Day Remembrance: R-FH Area Vets Who Have Passed

This remembrance for Memorial Day is posted every year … 

Their faces are the faces at the core of a close-knit community.

They were neighbors, dads, and just plain friendly faces around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns. They were also veterans.

They served. They fought for freedom in World War II and the Korean War.

They lived their lives with hometown pride, honor and respect. They were founding fathers, friends. They were cornerstones of the sense of community that is the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

The gift of their legacies bears no upscale real estate market value. They passed along a love of country and community that is priceless.

Thank you, in a Memorial Day ode, to the veterans of the area who have passed. You are cherished, honored.

Take a look at some of their faces and remember.  Thank you to those vets who are still with us.

— Elaine Van Develde

— Ray Taylor photo/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro exclusively

— Photos, courtesy of families of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Scene Around: RFH Senior Pre-Prom Stylin’

Yes, they were all dressed up with a couple of places to go — a pre-prom party and the actual Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Senior Prom.

The proms of these days are not your ’60s, ’70s, ’80s or ’90s proms. And that makes sense, of course. These days, the pre-prom party is a show of its own. All the prom goers, with or without dates, and their families go to a host’s house to get their prom on sans any alcohol before the main event. The prom goers are even breathalyzed to ensure a safe, fun night.

This year the pre-prom party was at a home on Rumson Road. And, from what we hear and the looks of things, a banner time was had by all. Why not? All the elements of a good gathering were there: the place, the people, the mood and, of course, the fashion.

Speaking of fashion … The guys’ dress is a whole event unto itself this era. These days they sport anything from pretty formal to smart casual and pretty preppie shorts and dress sneakers, if there is such a thing — and there is. Gone are the days of polyester pastel tuxedoes with frilly shirts. Thank the fashion gods. Though, these guys sported an awful lot of preppie pastels. Very sharp and fitting for each boy’s personal taste and personality.

The girls? Well, they were fashionably gowned out and coiffed. Looks like long has remained fashion forward. In fact, it looks like red carpet time for these girls.

It’s been rolled out and rolled up. The party’s over, but the freeze frames remain. Until next year … Prom party on!

— Photos/Jenny Costello, Joanne Formisano and Chris Rodriguez

Prosecutor: Former Corrections Officer Gets 5 Years for In-Prison Drug Dealing Conspiracy

A former Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) officer has been sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to smuggle drugs into the jail to deal them to inmates, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Saturday.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Former Corrections Officer Gets 5 Years for In-Prison Drug Dealing Conspiracy

Prosecutor: Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Toddler’s Fatal Heroin/Fentanyl Overdose

An area woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of her 2-year-old son due to a drug overdose in January, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.  

Continue reading Prosecutor: Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Toddler’s Fatal Heroin/Fentanyl Overdose

In Memoriam: Fair Haven Native, Rumson High Grad, Parker Family Health Clinic Founder, Shirley Parker, 100

Fair Haven native Shirley Parker “peacefully and gracefully rose to her reward of everlasting life, surrounded by love, on May 21.” She had turned 100 on Jan. 17.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Fair Haven Native, Rumson High Grad, Parker Family Health Clinic Founder, Shirley Parker, 100

Prosecutor: Teen Charged with Vehicular Homicide, Assault by Auto in Fatal 2022 Accident

A teen has been charged in connection with a motor-vehicle collision that claimed the life of two juveniles and injured two others in Freehold Township last year, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Wednesday.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Teen Charged with Vehicular Homicide, Assault by Auto in Fatal 2022 Accident

Remembering 50-Year Fair Havenite Annette Allen with a Smile Back

“Annette was a selfless woman who could get along with anyone.” ~ her son, Brian Allen

I must have known her, he thought, oozing mom pride. “You may remember my mom,” he said. “She was a bigger lady with glasses always walking around town … When I show you pictures of her you will recognize her.”

Continue reading Remembering 50-Year Fair Havenite Annette Allen with a Smile Back

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