Tag Archives: Christmas

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Winners

Gallery

Drum roll please … for, perhaps, the little drummer nutcracker boys on the front porch of the first-place winner of the first Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Contest — the Ruscignos at 39 Parker Avenue.

Ben, Maria and Rocco Ruscigno added some special touches this year, they said. They collected PJs for ill children and their families at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in an effort to give back the kindness they received when Rocco was ill one year. In an effort to make the drop-off spot as festive and easy to find as possible, spirits soared and their house got the deluxe decoration treatment. Maria announced that they dropped off “100 pairs of brand new pajamas” to Jersey Shore. She thanked all for the donations.

Congratulations to the Ruscignos!

Second place went to the family at 11 Country Lane with the beautiful array of white lights. If you’ve done your holiday lights drive with due diligence every year, you’ve surely seen and admired the display here.

And third place went to the folks at 77 Poplar Ave., whose home is adorned with lots of festive multicolored lights and decorations year after year.

All the entries were drive-by worthy. Take a ride around the borough to see for yourself. There were 13 that were entered in the contest. In the meantime, take a look at some photos of the winners. And don’t forget to click to enlarge!

  • 39 Parker Ave.
  • 39 Parker Ave.
  • 11 Country Lane
  • 11 Country Lane
  • 11 Country Lane
  • 77 Poplar Ave.
  • 77 Poplar Ave.

Local Life

R-FH Area Weekend: Singing, Santa & Lights

It’s that kind of holiday-laced weekend again. And there are a couple of events in the area that will have you humming, ho-hoing or strung up, in a festive sense.

On Saturday, if you’d like to venture a bit out of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, there’s a holiday gift of song that awaits you … 

You are cordially invited to celebrate the holiday season with a festive after noon concert. Red Bank Area Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society will present RINGING IN THE HOLIDAYS — a fun concert of vocal harmonies — on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ocean Township High School Auditorium, 550 West Park Avenue, Oakhurst.

This is a merry group of harmonizing singers. You really have to see them to get your spirits soaring. 

The concert will feature traditional holiday favorites sung in 4-part harmony by the Chorus of the Atlantic — a group of male harmony singers under the direction of Craig J. Page.  

Also appearing on stage will be the Matinee Idles, a group of retired men that perform for area organizations in the afternoons.  The Matinee Idles will sing some favorites and share some laughter and good cheer, under the direction of Will McCain.

In addition, there will be some special guests … Ocean Chamber Choir from Ocean Township High School under the direction of Teddy Kernizan.

And Santa is rumored to show. 

Tickets are $18 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, free for children age 16 and younger.  Tickets are available at the door.  Please call ahead to buy your tickets and save $3 per ticket. Call 732-784-7343 and leave your name and phone number.

The Chorus of the Atlantic welcomes visitors to their rehearsals.  They meet Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 8, 2019 at the Red Bank Middle School, Harding Road, Red Bank.  

And on Sunday … 

Santa will park himself in a chair at the Fair Haven Firehouse from 1 to 3 p.m. to visit with all the good boys and girls around the towns and offer gifts and candy.

Word on the street is that Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick will also be seen riding around town in the fire truck from noon to 1 p.m. as a precursor to the classic holiday event. 

And all through the weekend and beyond …

Let your holiday decorations shine and be judged, as Fair Haven sets in motion its new festive decor contest. Which house is the most festive? Only residents know for sure. 

Local Life

Lighting Up the Holidays in Fair Haven

Gallery

 

Remember the old Sunday night drive to check out all the Christmas lights when you were a kid?

Well, it doesn’t have to be a Sunday night. Any night is a good one for the drive around to look at the lights.

We took a little night drive in Fair Haven. The only thing that was missing was the ol’ “Ooooo … ahhhh” and the backseat sibling quibbling to Dad’s, “Girls! If I have to pull this car over!”

This is what we saw. And it’s just a sampling. Fair Haven is quite festive. In fact, the borough, starting tomorrow, is having it’s first holiday decoration contest. Check out the informational flyer below …

Know of any great decorations? Let us know where they are, too. We’ll make sure everyone gets to take the pre-Christmas drive with us.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Santa Comes to Fair Haven

Gallery

Santa Claus came to Fair Haven on Friday. Well, he rode down the street in the firetruck to the annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll, after arriving from the North Pole, of course. Something like that. 

Tradition is the cornerstone of the 1.4-square-mile borough. It prevailed on a chilly Friday evening laced with a community spirit of comfort and warmth. Nestled in a time-honored corner at Memorial Park, young helpers helped, officials officiated, families flocked, friends got festive and, once again, Santa came to town. 

Take a look at the smiles and get a glimpse into what transpired … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)

Happy holidays!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Happy Holidays From R-FH Retro!

Video

The happiest of happy holidays from Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect!

Here’s a look at how some present and former R-FH area people celebrated …

Photos/R-FH Retro Facebook friends (Thanks to our Rumson-Fair Haven area friends for sharing your moments with us!)

Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Santa Claus Comes to Fair Haven

Gallery

Santa Claus came to Fair Haven on Friday night.

Hundreds of residents gathered to celebrate the seasonal kick-off at Memorial Park.

There was a December chill in the air, but spirits soaring and warm.

Take a glimpse into some highlights of the night … (Oh, and don’t forget to click on each photo to enlarge to full view!)

Cheers to the season!

— Elaine Van Develde 

Rumson Police and Fire Files

Rumson Police: Safeguarding Santa’s Gifts

In light of the holiday season and the onslaught of deliveries that usually come with it, Rumson police have some cautionary advice to safeguard your packages’ safe arrival.

In addition to just being mindful that an unattended package on a porch or stoop is a potential theft invite for unsavory Grinches, police, on their Facebook page, advise that you:

•  “Request a signature option when ordering an item so it will not be left unattended while the family is out;
• Request that the item be held at the shipping center for pickup;
• Tell a friend or a neighbor to keep an eye out and retrieve any packages for you while you are out.

“As always, report any suspicious persons or vehicles 24/7″ by calling the police station at 721-842-0500.”

Local Life, News

Tradition: Rumson’s Toy Drive

Leave a comment

By Elaine Van Develde

Santa Claus is coming to … the Rumson Department of Public Works.

That’s right. It’s that time of the year, on Friday and Saturday, when Rumson tradition takes hold and Santa, in the form of countless charitable elves, brings toys to the DPW garage on East River Road to bring a better Christmas to children in need.

But this is not just a toy drive. It’s an annual Rumson community tradition. It’s hosted by the DPW employees and the community as a whole, replete with holiday-appropriate hot chocolate, candy canes and yuletide company.

“It’s definitely turned into a big community event,” DPW organizer Mark Wellner said. “A lot of people stop down, bring the kids and socialize. We give the kids the candy canes and hot chocolate and there’s coffee for the adults. It’s really nice.”

Mayor John Ekdahl echoed the sentiment.

“The residents of Rumson are thrilled that the DPW department has for years taken upon themselves to run a Christmas toy drive,” the mayor said. “Different charities are chosen each year and the donated toys always find their way to the most needy children. The enthusiasm of the town is evident by the numbers of toys dropped off each year at the garages behind Borough Hall.”

This is the 15th year of the drive for which organizers usually set a goal of gathering at least 1,000 toys that will get funneled to the kids via Family & Children’s Services, Long Branch, and The Salvation Army, Red Bank.

And “this year we’re shooting for 1,200 or even more,” Wellner said. “We’re always trying to up that number and better ourselves to get more toys to the kids.”

Organizers ask that anyone wishing to donate bring a new, unwrapped gift to the DPW from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday and/or 9 a..m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.