Tag Archives: feature

Scene Around: Serenading Garfield

Sometimes when you’re looking for focus, you end up zooming in on a downright presidential moment.

It’s not every day that the lens happens to catch a little accordion music serenade of President Garfield’s statue on the Long Branch Boardwalk. What a classic moment made of the simplest of soothing pleasures — music. It looks like the president approves. I mean, he’s standing, frozen in amazement, you could say.

OK, so it’s not the Rumson-Fair Haven area, but it’s close enough when it’s a classic moment caught. Something like this takes you to the sunny side of a winter’s day. Yes, sometimes you just have to stop and listen for the music. That’s an executive order.

Anyone know what kind of accordion that is? It’s very old with exquisite detailing in the silver finish. If you had to guess, what song do you think he was or should have been playing?

While you’re pondering that, check out the weekend weather forecast from the National Weather Service …

Retro RFH Slam Dunk of a Cheer

The boys of RFH's cheerleading squad for the Student-Faculty Basketball Game in 1976. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
The boys of RFH’s cheerleading squad for the Student-Faculty Basketball Game in 1976.
Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

A double-dose reprise, because we all need a special kind of cheer right now … and this is a real slam dunk!

Yes, it’s basketball season at RFH. But, have you ever seen a lovelier bunch of cheerleaders?

Continue reading Retro RFH Slam Dunk of a Cheer

Scene Around: Townie Walk with Ray Taylor

The following story was originally posted on Sept. 10, 2021 … after a chat with Mr. Ray Taylor on is way to the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. With the very sad news today of Mr. Taylor’s passing, we are reprising it in his honor. As all in the area grapple with the death of this cornerstone of the borough and we struggle to pay the best of tributes to him in a story, this serves as a simple, happy reminder of what really matters. Rest In Peace, Mr. Taylor, the best of best friends to Fair Haven. We will always remember. Read on. Remember. Smile …

“I got to keep movin’!”

That’s the first thing that came out of 98-year-old Ray Taylor’s mouth when R-FH Retro ran into him doing his usual walking and savoring the smallest of moments in his Fair Haven hometown.

Continue reading Scene Around: Townie Walk with Ray Taylor

Focus: Docked & Chasing the Moon

Sometimes, the basics are the most meaningful. It’s pretty black-and-white. A night view from the Fair Haven Dock always anchors what really matters. It needs no color, no enhancement. Just the simple starkness, sky and moon.

Sometimes what really matters most is just finding the moon, taking in its night magic and chasing those beams. It’s far better than counting elusive sheep. Night time. River time. Best of times and sighs.

A real Goodnight Moon. Gaze and find in our river moon dance gallery.

(Click on one pic to enlarge, find the moon and scroll to the next. Enjoy!)

And while you’re moon gazing and chasing, check out the moody weekend R-FH area weather from the National Weather Service …

Remembering Sunshine: Fair Haven-Raised, RFH ’85 Grad, Kay Corson Zierold, 55

“One of the greatest, kindest, funniest, most loyal, honest, and definitely one of the loudest, stars has moved on …
Even the sun couldn’t stand to
face the day without her.”

Kitty McNally on her lifetime friend, Kay Corson Zierold

The sun looked for her. The horizon went dark. Its ball-of-fire compadre could no longer be found, shining, warming those close on Earth. That’s how the sudden death of one girl seemed to friends. That girl.

Continue reading Remembering Sunshine: Fair Haven-Raised, RFH ’85 Grad, Kay Corson Zierold, 55

In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite, Prominent Area Developer, Vincent J. Russo, 93

Former longtime Rumsonite, Forrestdale School wood shop teacher and prominent area developer, Vincent J. Russo, passed away peacefully at his Oceanport home, “in the care of his faithful caregiver of eight years, Kofi Kubi,” on Jan. 3. He was 93.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite, Prominent Area Developer, Vincent J. Russo, 93

Police Appreciation: Retro Rumson PD

Reprise in honor of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Appreciating Rumson police …

It wouldn’t be a true honoring of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day without taking a look back at Rumson police as well, belated as it may be. They call the area the Rumson-Fair Haven area for a reason — community.

Continue reading Police Appreciation: Retro Rumson PD

Police Appreciation: Retro Fair Haven PD

Fair Haven police of decades ago and a few years ago/Photos … FHPD

The following is a reprise of last year’s (Jan. 13) ode to Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which was Saturday, Jan. 9. In case you missed last year’s the sentiment is the same. A big thank you! Here’s to the Fair Haven officers.
Rumson PD will be featured tomorrow.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was Jan. 9. So, looks at Fair Haven police of the past and present were peppering social media.

Continue reading Police Appreciation: Retro Fair Haven PD

Focus: Down By the River 2021

River time is coveted time for Rumson-Fair Haven area people. Stealing away to capture its peace is a time-honored, often daily, tradition.

Here’s our window into what the river view brought us in 2021.

(Click on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy! Ahhhhh … river time!)

The most popular was the black-and-white “A Leg Up” — a testament to survival with a river view during pandemic times.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde exclusively for R-FH Retro

Continue reading Focus: Down By the River 2021