Tag Archives: feature

Filling Empty Bowls for the Hungry at RFH

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students are getting set to fill the pantries, bellies and empty food bowls of those in need.

The high school will host what has been dubbed the Empty Bowls fundraiser, benefitting the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Empty Bowls stands for the situation faced by local families struggling to put food on the table. The annual event is open to the public and features beautiful original artwork in the form of colorful bowls created by RFH ceramics students. For $10, people may purchase a handcrafted ceramic bowl filled with soup (and bread on the side) and the proceeds go to the Food Bank.

Event organizers are also requesting donations of canned foods for the Food Bank as well as new or gently used children’s books for donation to Bridge of Books.

Retro RFH Polar Bear Dudes

RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge. Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot
RFH Polar Bear Club after a plunge.
Photo/RFH Yearbook screenshot

With the announcement of Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson’s successful fundraising ($17,030 for Special Olympics New Jersey) culminating in the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights on Saturday, it seemed only right that we take you back to polar bear plunging guys of RFH back in the day — way back.

These guys actually had a high school club dedicated to the cause of, well, just plunging into icy cold water on a whim or for a thrill in the 1970s.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is dedicated to the winter chill, the plunge and the guys who made it a club.

Do you remember the RFH Polar Bear Club? Know any of these cold weather beachgoers? Was the club solely dedicated to the dive into icy water?

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Shipping Out at Sunrise in Sea Bright

You never know when your ship will come in, when you’ll catch a perfect view of a Sea Bright sunrise or both.

Well, Rumsonite and RFH Class of ’78 grad Doug Borden got a good dose of both this morning.

Headed over the Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge toward Sea Bright beach, he got a good glimpse of a glorious sunrise and, yes, a ship passing (or coming in for him, if you will).

Take a look at this longtime Rumson-Fair Haven area guy’s moment of sunrise gratitude …

Thanks Doug! Happy Monday, all!

Photos/Doug Borden

 

Rumsonite Luann Hughes: Irish Soda Bread Champ

Rumsonite Luann Hughes’ winning Irish soda bread
Photo/courtesy of Luann Hughes

Erin go Luann. She did it. Longtime Rumsonite Luann Hughes won herself a place in Rumson baking history with her first-place win in the  2017 Irish Soda Bread Contest at Oceanic Free Library.

The Thursday contest has become an area tradition and one of many prequels to the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Hughes, who hasn’t given up her ingredient secret, announced on Facebook her win and that she has become among the honorees who “get(s) to help carry the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day parade banner!!!”

She won third place last year. And in addition to the hometown baker prestige, not only did the first-place win this year come with the honor of toting the parade banner, but it also came with a festive four-leaf clover trophy.

Congrats, Luann Hughes! Will your secret ever be revealed?

Focus: Barnacle’s and the Gulls

“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

 

Rumson Police Chief to Plunge for Special Olympics

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson is taking the plunge again — The Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights.

And, once again, the chief’s dip into icy waters is all for the sake of  a good cause  — Special Olympics New Jersey.

No, it’s not Paterson’s first plunge. But, it was a first for his $15,000 fundraising goal.

And, with only a few days left, Paterson has surpassed his goal. As of today, he has raised $15,340 from 68 donors.

He is grateful; and there is still time to donate, as funds will be accepted until the day of the plunge.

“I want to thank each and everyone of you that helped me reach my goal of $15,000.00,” Chief Paterson said yesterday in a message on his fundraising page. “I sincerely appreciate your kindness and generosity and I promise to represent well …”

Learn more about Special Olympics by clicking here. To donate to the chief’s plunge for the olympics, click here.

Focus: Fiery Sunset Over a Rumson Island

“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

 

Rumson Police Report: Theft, DUI, Marijuana

The following January arrests were reported by Rumson police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

Arrests

 • Susan N. Ryerson, 62, of Oceanport, was arrested in the area of Rumson Road and Harding Lane on Jan. 28 and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and other motor vehicle offenses by Patrolman Grace Maggiulli.

• John F. Sullivan Jr. was arrested on Jan. 26 and charged with third-degree theft by Detective Sgt. Christopher Isherwood and Patrolman Cody Lovgren.

Sullivan was remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.

• Stephanie Koukounas, 27, of New York, was arrested in the area of Rumson Road and Buttonwood Lane on Jan. 26 and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana by Patrolman Michael Berger.

•  John P. Haskell, 27, of Texas, was arrested in the area of 74 Ridge Road on Jan. 21 and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and other motor vehicle offenses by Patrolman Richard Torres.

Contempt of Court

• S/O II Donald Morse arrested Brittany Maguire, 27, of Red Bank, was arrested on Jan. 21 on a contempt of court (COC) warrant by Special Officer II Donald Morse.

Maguire was released after posting $164 bail.

John P. Kennedy, 57, of Rumson, was arrested on Jan. 10 on a contempt of court (COC) warrant by Patrolman Donald Schneider.

Kennedy was released after posting $500 bail.