It’s a tradition. Every year, Rumsonites gather, socialize, listen to some music by the Deane-Porter Third Grade Chorus and Tim McLoone & The Shirleys, dance a little, drink a little hot cocoa, nibble on some homemade cookies and celebrate the start of the holiday season with the tree lighting at Victory Park.
The tradition continued on Sunday evening. Spirits were high and all seemed to have a festive time.
Take a look … (and don’t forget to CLICK to ENLARGE!)
— Elaine Van Develde
What would the first weekend in December in the Rumson-Fair Haven area be without tree lightings and Santa visits?
Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: Santa Comes to Rumson, Fair Haven
Saturday is the day for honoring veterans — the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour. That’s how the tradition goes.
It was the year that Halloween wasn’t. It was 2012 and Superstorm Sandy had pummeled the Jersey Shore. It decimated Sea Bright and destroyed low lying parts of Rumson. Fair Haven was a bit war torn and powerless.
Beach cabanas landed like Dorothy’s house to the Witch of the East on West Park lawns. Boats were hoisted by surging water onto dock tops and back yards. Gunning Island, in the Shrewsbury River, was loaded with the moored belongings of Sea Bright and Rumson people. Trees were downed. Transformers exploded.
Sea Bright residents were homeless. The beach was in the road. Sea Bright Rising began with some good-hearted burger flipping by Woody’s owner Chris Wood and chef Onofrio Moscato. The U.S. Army National Guard was parked in the Sea Bright municipal lot. There was no electricity.
There was a curfew. At nightfall, people scurried back into their homes, if there was anything left to go home to, like moles burrowing into cold, still night. Things were awfully dark. And Halloween was cancelled. There was no treat in Sandy’s trickery, just in the kindness of those who were good neighbors.
Take a look back … (and click to enlarge).
— Elaine Van Develde
Photos/Elaine Van Develde
She might have hated all this attention. Then again, maybe not. It’s a pretty sure bet that it would have at least cracked a smile on her face, perhaps followed by an eye roll and a wise crack. Sister Chris told me that during the end of her battle with cancer, Kit Rowett (White) was enjoying reconnecting with friends on Facebook and remembering good times with old friends and family.
Continue reading Retro Remembrance: Rumson Jersey Girl Kit Rowett
A memorial service and celebration of Pierce Jarck’s life have been set for Friday. Pierce’s loved ones have released the following memorial piece via Thompson Memorial Home … Rest In Peace, Pierce. You are remembered and cherished …
Continue reading In Memorium: Peter Carl ‘Pierce’ Jarck, Jr.
Concerning a tragic Sunday morning incident at a Ridge Road home, Rumson police said on Tuesday that they are trying to “quell rumors, many of which are wildly inaccurate.”
Continue reading Rumson Police Set Record Straight on Sunday Tragedy
Lifetime Rumson resident Katherine “Betty” Burgess O’Gorman passed away peacefully at home in Rumson on Oct. 13. She was 90.
Continue reading Memorial Set for Lifetime Rumson Resident, Library Patron, ‘Betty’ O’Gorman
Memorial services are set to begin on Friday for well-known Rumsonite, real estate agent and avid volunteer Janet “Jan” Esposito Kaiser, who passed away on Oct. 10.
Continue reading In Memorium: Rumsonite, Real Estate Agent, Avid Volunteer, Jan Kaiser
It’s unseasonably warm. The Navesink River is drenched in sun. And the seagulls are soaking what may just be the last summery fall day all up.
Students in first through third grade at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven poised themselves with a pose for peace in honor of World Peace Day recently. Continue reading Fair Haven: Sickles Students Pose for Peace
Former Rumsonite and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Home and School Association president Maria T. “Jill” Brenner passed away on Sept. 26 at her Red Bank home. She was 86.
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