Tag Archives: feature

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel & Construction Advisory

In light of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Bridge replacement activity schedule has been altered. Work will continue during the usual 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. hours on different days this week, weather permitting:

  • Saturday, June 28
  • Monday, June 30 through Thursday, July 3
  • Monday, July 7

Specific construction activities planned for the week are listed below the travel advisory information.

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Retro Rumson Barn Summer Showtime

Reprise from 2016, just because we think more people need to remember summer theater fun at the old classic — The Barn Theatre …

Summer is in full swing. School’s out and kids are embarking on summer activities. The weekend is here. So is summer theater.

In fact, The Premier Theater Company is opening its production of The Prom tonight. And back in the 1970s, some RFH teens were acting out … in summer theater at The Barn Theatre in Rumson.

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Scene Around: Forrestdale’s Tidal Wave of Fun and Funds

Cindy Zipf was on home turf when she congratulated Rumson’s Forrestdale School students for raising more than $30,000 to benefit local charities — one of those non-profits being Clean Ocean Action for which Zipf is the executive director.

A Rumson-raised RFH graduate, Zipf was back home not only for congratulatory purposes, but to accept the $11,750 check for Clean Ocean Action’s longtime cause of keeping the ocean healthy with thriving marine life.

“Waves of thanks to the super savvy seventh graders, Mrs. Jennifer Brown — Grade 7 ELA & Team Leader at Forrestdale School — the seventh grade staff team, and the staff and administration for your dedication and commitment to your local communities!” a released statement from Clean Ocean Action said.

The fundraiser originally involved seventh graders at Forrestdale planning to walk from Sandy Hook back to Forrestdale, raising money via sponsors. But, when the stormy weather made the walk impossible, the Forrestdale Class of 2026 changed their fundraising plan to a series of activities in the gym that got all involved and earning for local nonprofits.

“It was an incredible event and the tenacity of the students to meet their goals no matter the challenge or the weather was inspirational!” the release added.

— Photos/Clean Ocean Action

Retro RFH Girls’ Summer Ride

RFH girls' ride into the summer of '78 ... Stephanie DeSesa, Elaine Van Develde, Debbie Humbert and Daryl Cooper Ley Photo/Elaine Van Develde
RFH girls’ ride into the summer of ’78 … Stephanie DeSesa, Elaine Van Develde, Debbie Humbert and Daryl Cooper Ley
Photo/Suzan Cooper

Sun up! When you’re scorched from a heatwave like this week’s, it’s time to let the sun bring on warm memories instead. There’s nothing quite like a summer drive in a classic car with the top down, especially when it’s the summer of senior year. So, we’re re-running this piece just because the sun needs to shine on friendships and good times like these. There’s nothing quite as warm. Put the top down and take a drive back with us again … 

The drive is all the better if it’s made with best friends. So, as a continuing ode to summer fun of the past at the hands of RFH teens, the Retro Pic of the Day encapsulates the whole idea — best friends, a cool ride and warm memories.

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Retro River Rats’ Smooth Summer Sail

River Rats of the 1970s Photo/Marc Edelman
River Rats of 1975
Photo/Marc Edelman

A River Rats reprise to mark the official start of summer …

It’s smooth sailing into summer — maybe a bit too smooth … right into that heat. But back in 1975, the river road could be a bit rocky. At least one little river rat had to patch up a Blue Jay with bubble gum. Rats! That would be little Claire Hurd. Sailing rats all learned how to improvise, for sure. They also learned how to tie a square not like a real sailor.

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Focus: Fair Haven Day Fun

The sun shone brightly on a festive Fair Haven Day Saturday.

All gathered in Fair Haven Fields for the annual birthday bash for the borough in the spirit of community, organized and sponsored by the non-profit Foundation of Fair Haven. The fields were flush with friends, family, volunteers, music, games, food, drink and even a stilted juggler — all celebrating Fair Haven and some togetherness.

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Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel, Construction Advisory

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge replacement activity is on its status quo construction hours schedule, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday, weather permitting, with a schedule of the new bridge span openings in effect. The precise construction that is scheduled is listed below. Shrewsbury River travel advisory information is also included. 

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Fair Haven Day: A Community Summer Birthday Bash Set for Saturday

It’s Fair Haven’s 113th birthday. And, while the birthday is not a milestone, the borough is being celebrated on, or around, every birthday since its 100th. The birthday bash, also marking the start of summer, billed as a community togetherness day, is called Fair Haven Day. And it’s tomorrow — Saturday.

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Retro RFH Graduation: The Daisy Chain Girl

RFH 1978 graduation in front of the high school, replete with daisy chain
Photo/Daryl Cooper Ley

The following was originally posted in May of 2017. It is being re-run in honor of graduation, time honored traditions of the past, and this RFH Daisy Chain girl of ’78, who passed away in February of 2018 — Daryl Cooper Ley.

In high school social circles, it was considered a popularity status symbol to be chosen for the chain. Daryl wasn’t all too thrilled about it at the time. It had confirmed what only her closest friends knew — that she was cool. It was often repeated to her. “I didn’t think so,” was always her answer. Sorry, Dar. We win. Got the last word. You were. RIP, Dar. You are remembered … in our hearts, souls and print, like it or not! Love you forever more. Oh, she would kill me

It was considered a privilege and honor. They were chosen from the junior class at RFH to serve as the debutante-like ushers for the graduating class. All dressed in white and supposedly gracefully toting a chain of daisies, the Daisy Chain girls were a fixture of high school finery at graduations in the 1970s.

The origins of the somewhat upper-crust tradition date back to the 1900s, but this Retro Pic of the Day was snapped in 1978.

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Retro RFH Graduation Traditions

Our annual RFH graduation reprise in honor of the RFH Class of 2025 … Congrats!

RFH graduation ’79 Photo/George Day

RFHers did the graduation walk on Wednesday. And it’s a walk that has veered off onto different paths over the years — but always to Pomp & Circumstance.

Wow. So much has changed, yet stayed the same. The venue has gone from the RFH Borden Stadium to the front lawn to the Borden Stadium (when the stadium was being renovated) and the football field again to the RFH auditorium and mixed up and around over the years. Now it’s at the Monmouth University. And in pandemic times, the venue was outside, masked and virtual. And, again, back to Monmouth. 

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Retro RFH ’60s Daisy Chain Gang

RFH Class of 1965 graduation Daisy Chain
Photo/courtesy of Kim Christman

In honor of RFH graduation … Reprise of a classic originally posted in June of 2022 …

That’s the sight of the girls working on the Daisy Chain gang! When it comes to RFH graduation traditions gone, the Daisy Chain is a classic, well-remembered one. So are the links in the chain — the girls, not so much the flowers.

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