“Such a picture perfect spot, isn’t it?” a woman going to dinner at Barnacle Bill’s said Wednesday as dusk hit the banks of the Navesink River in Rumson. “Beautiful.”
She smiled, nodded and added, “We’re so lucky to have this …”
Yes, we are. The gulls flocked to the dock and little swath of beach at the spot. They seemed to be having a meeting.
All present. All savoring home.
Take a look … (Click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
“Don’t you make me pull this car over, Sun!”
Well, it made me and quite a few others do it. It was a traffic stopper again — the sunset from the Eventide docks in Sea Bright overlooking Rumson on Friday night.
And, to coin the singular of another saying, the exclamation for the traffic stopper could be summed up as one “great ball of fire!”
As the biblical origination of the phrase indicates, implying the presence of God (nature, or whatever being one believes in) as fire, it could also haven been seen as a religious environmental experience.
Blazing and ducking very quickly behind Gunning Island in Rumson, the sight of the sunset was blindingly beautiful — again.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
It was hauntingly comforting — the icy, howling wind and the stark hues of black and blue along the Navesink River in Fair Haven Wednesday at dusk.
The wind whistled, beckoned, and the air cut like jagged-edged glass. It was a solitary, striking scene. Black branches jutting across a blue sky and seascape.
It was all so cold and clear-cut, yet still warm like a cup of cocoa. It’s home.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
Rumson-Fair Haven area folks started their day with a dusting of snow.
The National Weather Service’s forecast for the area calls for some more snow and possibly sleet before 3 p.m. There’s a chance of rain later with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees.
Tomorrow’s forecast: Mostly cloudy with a high temperature of about 45 degrees.
In the meantime, the snow was untouched on the Fair Haven Dock, offering a snow dusted picturesque view.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
It was a sizzling orange ball of fire — a good night beacon ducking down below Gunning Island. The sunset in Sea Bright on Saturday called out to people like a Siren.
They pulled over into at Eventide’s parking lot to catch a glimpse with the lens as the ball of fire bid goodnight and ducked behind the island, melting into the Shrewsbury River.
Take a look …
— Elaine Van Develde
What started out being dubbed the Million Women March turned Women’s March on Washington ended up evolving into marches of the same ilk all over the country on Saturday.
The marches, while many were called non-partisan, were intentionally set on the day after the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States — Donald Trump. They were deemed a collective stand-up-and-march cross country show of support for women’s rights as hard-earned, strong and everlasting ones not to be trifled with by the new administration. Some area women did not share those feelings and said so on social media.
Nonetheless, from Asbury Park to Red Bank to New York to North and South Carolina and to Washington, D.C., many Rumson-Fair Haven area women (and men) of the past and present went to take part and peacefully say their peace on the subject among masses.
Many from the area shared snapshots of their day on Facebook.
Take a look …
Photos/Eileen Hershenov, Bonnie Werner-Swart, Jenifer Weber-Zeller, Monica Sheehan, Kate Grady, Robin Ens Wilkins, Anne Toronto McNamara, Tara Connelly, Connie Heath Thibeault, Rossi, Lisa Ericson, Mary Beth Gibson
Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde
It’s been more than five years since Superstorm Sandy tossed and flattened the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.
In the aftermath of the storm in which the Atlantic Ocean met the Shrewsbury River over the small peninsula town, all that was left of Donovan’s was a tossed building, a shell of the main bar, restaurant equipment, torn up pavement and wood — lots of wood — in scattered piles. What remained of its sign were the letters D O … found on the ground by Mayor Dina Long.
The letters became symbolic of the can-do attitude Sea Bright residents and business owners embodied in the tough months, even years, of rebuilding ahead.
There was a year without Donovan’s. Then there were a few years of an open Tiki bar on the beach.
Now Donovan’s is coming back — bigger, higher and stronger — for its first summer as a rebuilt area legend.
Take a look at the progress so far …
— Elaine Van Develde
Then came the thaw …
After a warmer winter’s day, as nightfall hit along the Navesink riverbanks in Rumson, the sand slurped up the snow, the icy river waters dissolved, and the ducks glided across their glassy path.
Reflections in shades of grey gripped the low tide. Serenity seeped into the shoreline.
See for yourself …
— Elaine Van Develde
With the advent of the new year, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect offers a look back at the top photos of iconic spots in the Rumson-Fair Haven area of 2016.
Happy New Year … Take a look and enjoy!
— Elaine Van Develde
It’s a first day of the new year tradition.
Fire and first aid companies reorganize, naming new line officers. And festivities take hold at fire houses all over.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect made it to Fair Haven where there were a lot of familiar faces from all around the area — and a few reunions of RFHers.
Take a look …
And congratulations to the new line officers! They are:
Fire Company
Tim Morrissey, chief; Matt DePonti, deputy chief; Christopher Schrank, first assistant; Matthew Bufano, second assistant.
First Aid
Kim Ambrose, captain; Katy Frissora, first lieutenant; Daniel Kane, second lieutenant.
— Elaine Van Develde
As 2017 approaches, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect takes a look back at the people of 2016.
There were lots of major events, small gatherings and just plain priceless moments among Rumson-Fair Haven area friends, family and colleagues in 2016. We were there to capture them with our lens. So were you.
Take a look back with us at some of those moments with those people in 2016 … (Don’t forget to click the lower right icon to enlarge! And stay tuned for Part II). Enjoy!)
Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of the R-FH Retro family!
— Elaine Van Develde
The holiday stage was set and the tone was a rich, festive one in Rumson’s Victory Park on Sunday as the holidays were kicked off with the annual borough tree lighting.
Tim McLoone and the Shirleys and the Deane-Porter third graders set the musical pace and mood for the night as Rumsonites gathered to celebrate the start of the season with some song, dance, snacks, socializing and Santa.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect was there to capture many festive moments of the night. Take a look at the 50 glimpses into the night we caught with our lens.
Cheers to plenty of holiday cheer here! (Be sure to scroll all the way down. There are 50 photos. Click to enlarge.)
— Elaine Van Develde
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