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Retro RFH Presidents’ Day

Call it an RFH Presidents Day tribute. There have been many — high school class presidents. And each RFH class has had its way of voting for and honoring its presidents.

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Retro ‘Santa Slays Me’ Moments

It’s always a classic — that Santa and the happy, Christmas-loving kid photo that goes awry.

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Retro RFH Singers’ Song

It’s that time of the year when the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Tower Singers sing — in concert. The Tower Singers are singing this year, of course. There will be the usual high school winter concert. But, their first gig this year will be in touring fashion to the town next door, Red Bank, on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. at Garmany.

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Retro RFH Freshmen Show Folk

It’s that time of the RFH school year when the Tower Players are readying their fall production. This year it’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and curtain goes up three days from now.

Shows have always been a tradition at RFH — every high school, for that matter. There are usually two: a fall drama and a spring musical.

But, back in the 1970s, there was more. Seniors had an end-of-the-year variety show and, for a short stint, freshmen had a follies. And in the fall of 1974, all freshmen talent was pooled and the follies show went on.

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Retro Flirty Fair Haven Council Team

Fair Haven’s newly-elected council members as Knollwood Class Flirts
Photo/Knollwood School Yearbook, screenshot from council candidates’ Facebook page

From class flirts to council members. That’s the path on which life has taken Fair Haven’s newly-elected Borough Council members Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.

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Retro RFH Politics

RFH Political Club of 1974-75
Photo/RFH Yearbook

It’s the eve of elections.

Political season has been in full swing; and things in Fair Haven’s Borough Council campaigning have been quite cordial. In fact, the four candidates debated in a very diplomatic, respectful way. And three have answered questionnaires with excellent, well-thought-out answers to some very detailed questions about Fair Haven and critical issues. Some bi-partisan kudos and pats on the back we also given in the process.

These candidates have taken the silly out of silly season and given residents cause to believe that all is fair in this political haven.

But, let’s take the focus off local politics of today for the evening and step back in time to the 1970s and politics as it was with RFH students and teachers.

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Retro RFH Witchy Women’s Ride

Witchy RFH women on Halloween of 1977 Bonnie Werner and Sue Brower
Photo/George Day

Call it Halloween buddy system brooming. Remember the old buddy system? Trick or treating with a buddy to stay safe. Ever apply that theory in high school tricks with the only treat being the friendship and good ride through it all together?

Well, this gruesome twosome of best buds applied the system for some double trouble all in good ghoulish fun. Now that’s a special brand of mischief. You could say they were headed every witch way on this Halloween in the late 1970s, except to class.

The two would be Sue Brower and Bonnie Werner of the RFH Class of ’78.

So the double-dose Retro Pic(s) of the (George) Day feature them at their Halloween best.

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Looking Back: Donovan’s Sandy Demise

By Elaine Van Develde

Seven years ago it began. And when Superstorm Sandy stopped its swirling on the sliver of peninsula that is Sea Bright, it plopped the iconic Donovan’s Reef down in bits and pieces.

People of the Rumson-Fair Haven area mourned the loss to a relentless, remorseless Sandy. And when they were allowed to travel over the bridge into Sea Bright, many diehard loyalists of the tiki hut by the sea could be found just sitting and staring at what once was. They walked the sea wall looking for souvenir scraps reminiscent of their glory days at Donovan’s. They talked. They even cried.

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