Tag Archives: Rumson

Focus: Signs of Spring; Renewed Hope

Spring. It’s been long-awaited and it’s here. With it come signs of hope, growth, rebirth and fertility that was stifled by winter’s frozen grip. Stagnated.

Buds are beginning to bloom in sparse trees along the riverscape. Garden perennials are popping up with the sun. Bulbs about to pop with life are peering through remnants of the dead of winter. Abandoned laid eggs lie still in a half-made shriveled flower pot nest that a mourning dove ironically cast aside on the last cold day.

All comes back … to grow. To bring life and warmth back to the sparse riverscape, the yard, the flower pot nesting spot.

Sun up, signs of spring out. Take notice and soak it all up with the sun. Hope is here.

Take a look at our snapshots of little signs of spring above and take it all in.

**And don’t forget to click on one image in the gallery to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!**

Interesting tidbit: Did you know that mourning doves have a habit of being terrible nest makers, but fabulous parents? True story. Ironic.

Here’s this week’s weather outlook for the Rumson-Fair Haven area from the National Weather Service …

In Memoriam: Rumsonite, First Aid Squad Member, RFH 2015 Grad, RJ Croce, 24

Rumsonite. First Aid Squad member and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate, Ronald “RJ” Anthony Croce passed away suddenly at home on March 14.  He was 24.

Born in Red Bank on Aug, 1, 1997.  RJ grew up in Union Beach and settled in Rumson in 2006. He graduated from RFH in the Class of 2015.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Rumsonite, First Aid Squad Member, RFH 2015 Grad, RJ Croce, 24

Focus: Taking the Dank Away with River Daze

It’s been downright dank lately. But no matter how the dank sticks in your cranky craw, there’s nothing like a little river time to ease the shrill chill from the bones.

Even when it’s clouded, the view of the Navesink always offers a promise of light and the warm embrace of home. It’s pretty ducky for the ducks, no matter what, it seems. They have the right idea. Reveling in every ripple, every lap of low tide, every grain of damp sand is inviting solace — the terminal homecoming.

The scene may vary with time and vantage point, but for a Rumson-Fair Haven kid at heart, the river is that lifetime friend who never ages, whose loyalty never wanes. It’s always there, waving to you from the shore, letting you know that the chill and gray will go away. You are home. Always. Welcomed.

Remember, cozy up to that waving childhood friend, and wait for the sun to shine again.

Relive some river daze and solace by taking a look at this week’s gallery of the Navesink by Barnacle Bill’s and check out when the sun’s coming out in the weekend weather forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service … (CLICK one photo in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!)

Retro Junior Irish Sweater Parading

The first Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Irish sweater girls
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Well, it’s not as retro as the RFHers’ Irish Sweater Society pic in the Register from 1980, but looking back to the first Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it looks like at least one marching group followed suit — in a much less mischievous way, of course.

Continue reading Retro Junior Irish Sweater Parading

Focus: Rumson Light in Hazy Winter Darkness

Press “Play.” Sometimes light peering through stark, hazy darkness is a beacon to play time that’s drawing near. It can transport a daydreamer to past play, too. Warmth. Vision. Clarity. Contentment.

The pin spotlights scream silence — peace. They remind: There is a light to follow forward and back. Each spot shines a light on one memory at a time, bringing focus to the haze, bringing back the warmth. Each spot draws us to a brighter tomorrow, too. Each reminds: There’s a way out of the dark haze, forward or rewind. Either takes us back to the same place. Home.

When two iconic playtime scenes — an otherwise bustling iconic Victory Park or Barnacle Bill’s gathering haven — are somber and still, it’s then that one can see the power of place clearly. Feel it deeply. The more stark, the more profound. The more simple, the more black and white, the love of home.

Get lost in the light to find your own way home.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro only (CLICK on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

And lighter days are coming to the area. Here’s the week’s weather forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service, for the Rumson-Fair Haven area …

Scene Around: Rumson Police Chief Reigns as Top Plunge Donor

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside 2022
Photo/Rumson PD

Hail to the chief! He’s taken the plunge and triumphed again.

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson dove into the icy ocean waters of Seaside on Saturday and emerged the plunge’s top donor once again to benefit his cause — Special Olympics New Jersey.

“Chief Paterson would like to thank all of the generous donors, along with friends and supporters, who reached out to wish (him) Scott well with yesterday’s Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge,” a Sunday post on the Rumson Police Department Facebook page said. “It was down to the wire, but we’re happy to report that Scott was able to regain his #1 spot as highest individual fundraiser for another year. He could not have done it without the support of all you!”

The chief solely ended up with a total of $41,337 raised for his cause. He plunged with the Little Silver Crocs team once again. The largest of the final hour donations was from Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade at $1,005. So, in the end, Paterson ended up top donor for what may have been his final plunge.

As a whole, the 2022 Plunge at Seaside garnered $1,935,180, surpassing its goal. The goal was $1.8 million.

Congrats, Chief!

Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at a previous Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside
Photo/Rumson PD