Tag Archives: feature

Local Life

Retro Youth Center P.M. Kindergarten Class Act

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Fair Haven afternoon Kindergarten Class of 1965

Our annual back-to-school reprise all about those first days of school along with some who, what, when and boogeyman parts … Take this little trip back in time with us to remember Fair Haven’s kindergarten days of yesteryear …

It was a real first and last class act of 1965 — the kindergarten class that was the last to get its first lessons learned in school at what was the Youth Center in Fair Haven. You know. It’s the police station now.

Back in the day — OK, waaaaay back in the day — there was a third school in Fair Haven for kindergarten, you see. It was the Youth Center. That was also way before preschool. People now know it better as the Fair Haven Police Station and by its newly adopted name that hasn’t quite caught on yet, and may never for “older” folks still in town — Fair Haven Community Center. Phooey to that. Some things just need to keep a name for nostalgic purposes alone. Besides, the youth part soothes us old codgers.

That and it’s just a matter of what sounds like home to you. For instance, my very nice grandmother, a Matawan native, was pretty hostile about the “new” Aberdeen split and name. Paid it no mind. And if forced, said it with “blah, blah, blah” contempt. Back to the Community Center … There, I said it.

Continue reading Retro Youth Center P.M. Kindergarten Class Act →
News

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Channel Closure and Traffic Alert Updates

Construction of the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge remains on the same 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. work schedule through Friday, weather permitting. The major alert for waterborne travel is that the full channel closure is in effect this week through Friday; and, there will be temporary traffic shifts in Sea Bright.

Continue reading Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Channel Closure and Traffic Alert Updates →
Opinion

9/11: Day’s End Reflection, 23 Years Later

The following piece, with a few changes as time goes on, is published annually on 9/11 as a testament to never forgetting … 
 
It was a beautiful Tuesday. The sun was smiling with a crisp warmth. The air was a snappy fresh. The coffee even tasted especially good.
 
I remember. Most of us remember where we were on Sept. 11, 2001 at 8:46 a.m.. I know I do. I also remember how everything went from bright, crisp, fragrant and optimistic to dark, dank, acrid and fearful in one second. I remember how it wasn’t about us observers, storytellers. It was about them — the victims, their loved ones, their message.
 
For me, a professional observer, a professional storyteller, thankfully close enough, yet far enough, yes, it was so very much about them — painfully so. I wasn’t one of them. I was lucky. I was grateful. I watched. I listened intently. They shared.
 
I was a reporter living in Fair Haven and covering Middletown. On what started out as a typical day, they ended up unwittingly, graciously, lighting a less traveled path for me. For many.
 
It’s this one storyteller’s perspective.
 
Through this one fortunate observer’s eyes and heart, it went like this …
Continue reading 9/11: Day’s End Reflection, 23 Years Later →
News

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge & Channel Closure Travel Alert

Construction of the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge remains on the same 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. work schedule through Friday, weather permitting. There is also an alert about the Shrewsbury River channel closure due to the work.

Continue reading Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge & Channel Closure Travel Alert →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady

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A reprise in honor of those folks who used to be in charge of keeping the kids safe on their walk to school. Remember when everyone walked to school?

It was a time when kids had to walk the … rope.

The first day of school, last week, was commemorated with a look back to that first day in 1965 in Fair Haven.

It was the very first day of school — for kindergarteners. It was also a finale year. That class was the last of all that walked on a rope to the Youth Center (now Fair Haven Community Center downstairs and the police station upstairs).

While classmates were remembered, the identity of the official lady tugging that rope was not.

So, as an ode to that woman, who was eventually remembered as Mary McDaniel, the Retro Pic of the Day is another look, from the archives of the Red Bank Register, of that kindergarten class walk, headed by Mc Daniel.

Continue reading Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro Back-to-School Walking the Rope

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Our annual back-to-school Fair Haven rope walk reprise …

“But I don’t wanna walk on the rope next to her!” I cried from under my fresh-cut kindergarten bangs. “I wanna walk on the rope next to Pam!”

Pam was my neighbor. She was my best buddy.

It was 1965. It was the ’60s. The memories are there, but fuzzy. I can sill see it — with my reading glasses, of course. One thing’s for sure: Our Fair Haven kindergarten class was the last to have its first year of school at what was called the Youth Center, now the Fair Haven Police Station and Community Center on Fisk Street.

We kindergarteners were also the last to be tugged down the street on a rope, yes a rope, headed by an official-looking police-type lady.

Continue reading Retro Back-to-School Walking the Rope →
Local Life, Opinion

Retro First Day of School Girls

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First day of kindergarten in Fair Haven 1965
Photo/Sally Van Develde

A back-to-school reprise … 

Knock-kneed, nervous and all dressed up with somewhere to go, this gaggle Fair Haven neighborhood girls of 1965 lined up so their moms could get that classic first-day-of-kindergarten shot. And there wasn’t a smile among them.

Continue reading Retro First Day of School Girls →
News

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Travel Alert; Channel Closure Update

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge replacement construction activity continues this week with no work on Labor Day. Work will proceed Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. The channel closure postponement has been announced by Monmouth County officials.

Waterway Information

The upcoming channel closure in the Shrewsbury River has been postponed to Monday, Sept. 16, starting at 6 a.m..

The details …

  • From 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, the navigational channel under the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge will be completely closed to all marine traffic.
  • The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has jurisdiction over the navigational channel and has granted permission for upcoming full and partial closures needed for installation of the two new bridge spans.
  • The channel under the bridge will be open at full width (75 feet) to marine vessels on Saturday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 22.
  • Please see the Updated Public Notice for all full and half closure dates. Monmouth County must comply with the dates approved by the USCG.
  • Dates are subject to change based on weather conditions and production factors.

Roadway and Sidewalk Information

  • Access to Old Rumson Road from Rumson Road (CR 520) has been reconfigured to improve sight distance and reduce conflict points associated with temporary conditions. (Note: This reconfigured traffic pattern is a temporary condition and will be evaluated by Monmouth County and Rumson Borough over the coming months as to how it is functioning and if permanent modifications to the original design may be needed.)
  • The south side (eastbound) sidewalk of the bridge is closed.
  • All roadway and sidewalk travelers should be aware of construction and delivery vehicles entering and exiting the work areas on both sides of Rumson Road in Rumson and on the southbound side of Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright.
  • Temporary delays are possible on any contractor work day due to movement of construction vehicles and equipment.

— Photos/Nick Lencyzk

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