Call it a howling success of a dog day of spring. Sunday was all about some bright sunshine washing away the pandemic fear. It was also about a bit less solitude, with NJ Gov. Phil Murphy opening the state’s parks.
Continue reading Scene Around: Socially Distanced Dog Days of Spring
As we continue to mourn the loss of the baseball season, among other athletics, due to COVID-19, thoughts, and a memory scroll on Facebook bring us back to the days of another kind of ballgame camaraderie — the softball league of the past.
Continue reading Retro Oceanfront Softball Team Home RunWith full plates of COVID-19 stress, area eateries’ are approaching the crisis with a plates-half-full and cups of comfort running over mentality. NJ Gov. Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home edict has prompted the closed for eat-in area delis, markets and restaurants to heap a good portion of help onto that stressed dinnerware — at a safe distance.
Continue reading Area Restaurateurs Filling Plates with Comfort Food During Covid-19 CrisisBy Elaine Van Develde
Seven years ago it began. And when Superstorm Sandy stopped its swirling on the sliver of peninsula that is Sea Bright, it plopped the iconic Donovan’s Reef down in bits and pieces.
People of the Rumson-Fair Haven area mourned the loss to a relentless, remorseless Sandy. And when they were allowed to travel over the bridge into Sea Bright, many diehard loyalists of the tiki hut by the sea could be found just sitting and staring at what once was. They walked the sea wall looking for souvenir scraps reminiscent of their glory days at Donovan’s. They talked. They even cried.
Continue reading Looking Back: Donovan’s Sandy DemiseStarting a locals’ summer weekend with the sun and a beach stroll was the way a couple of Rumson-Fair Haven area folks and four-legged friends got their jump start on Friday.
It’s the only way for locals when the sun, sand and surf beckon for a big shoreline hug. They walk, even romp with it — the rejuvenating solace of it all.
Fair Haven Councilwoman Susan Sorensen and Rumsonite Sue Hill Spakowski (and friends) were there in Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach to capture the moments and relish the start to, by all fair weather accounts, the perfect locals summer weekend. Sorensen caught the sunrise in Sea Bright and Spakowski’s best buddies (her dogs) caught the best of times “digging” the beach at Little Monmouth.
From the National Weather Service …
Skies will be clear and sunny with temperatures in the high 70s during the day and high 60s in the evenings all weekend.
Thanks to Sue and Susan for sharing the start of their day and a little beach motivation with all!
Have a locals’ summer moment you’d like to share? Send us your photos at evd@rfhretro.com … Enjoy the weekend!
A DWI checkpoint will be set in Sea Bright and running from Friday night to early Saturday morning, DWI Task Force Coordinator and Allenhurst Police Chief Michael Schneider announced.
Continue reading DWI CHeckpoint Set for Sea BrightThere will be a DWI checkpoint in Sea Bright Friday night through Saturday morning, Monmouth County DWI Task Force Coordinator and Allenhurst Police Chief Michael Schneider announced.
Continue reading DWI Checkpoint Set for Sea Bright
It’s officially summertime, and the livin’ is … adventurous for many RFH students. Most are known to hit the beach, clubs or public, in Sea Bright. And some look for a little adventure in venturing away from familiar, iconic turf, and onto another great Jersey adventure, so to speak.
Continue reading Retro RFHers’ Summer AdventureAn obituary isn’t long enough to relay all of the cool things a person got to accomplish in their lifetime. My mom got to travel all over the world … Had homes in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Dragged her four girls all over the country and Canada (sometimes kicking and screaming, because we didn’t know we were gonna do and see something cool). One time she asked us if we wanted to go see Chicago? We started moaning, so she went by herself. Turns out that she meant THE BAND CHICAGO! Which I loved … I had to listen from out side the stadium … but I learned to pay attention when plans where being made … Rest in Peace Mom!
Suzanne Robertson Tranfaglia ~ Remembering Mom Maryana
Longtime Fair Haven and Sea Bright resident Maryana Sheahan Robertson passed away on June 11 after a long illness. She was 80.
Known as a spirited adventurer and traveler with a passion for cultural immersion, Maryana was born in Cambridge MA. She graduated from Hopkinton High School there, where she played on the girls basketball team and was in glee club, in 1956. She then met her late husband James Robertson and they moved to Fair Haven and raised four daughters there. The Robertson couple lived in Fair Haven until 2000. Maryana then lived in Sea Bright until 2019.
To the Stokes trip students of the 1970s era, the Robertson parents may be remembered as the birding couple, leading kids through the woods with binoculars and teaching them about various species, their sounds and distinguishing characteristics.
At home, James was president of the Mommouth Wine Society and for years the two hosted wine tastings at their Fair Haven home. “They loved being close enough to NYC to go into the city every chance they could for dinner and a play or musical,” daughter Suzanne Robertson Tranfaglia said.
Maryana had a nursing degree from Brookdale Community College. In addition to her zest for adventure, travel and cultural immersion, she was known as a passionate animal lover who rescued many cats, dogs and even a duck. She loved spending home and travel time with family.
Predeceased by her husband, Maryana is survived by: her brother Paul Sheahan and wife Lydia, of Brooksville FL; her daughters and their spouses, Suzanne and George Tranfaglia, of Orlando, FL, Kathleen and Mike Grady, of Long Branch, Sheila and Joseph Eskridge, of Sea Bright, and Bonnie and John Travers, of PA.; and her grandchildren, Maria Tranfaglia, Ryan Eskridge, and Patrick and Christopher Travers.
A private memorial is being planned.
There’s nothing quite like that spring Siren-like call to the beach when the weather breaks, the sun shines and the spring fever peaks. That’s just how it was for a lot of people and pets on Saturday at Sea Bright public beach.
Continue reading Focus: Beached in Spring at Sea Bright
The following was originally posted in 2017 in remembrance of Keith McHeffey. It is being posted again as a reminder that the annual race to honor his memory and help others, The KDM 3-Mile Run, is set for Saturday.
He was raised in both Rumson and Fair Haven. He was an RFH graduate. He was a friend to many. He had a gift for making people laugh and love life. Then he lost his life in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was Keith McHeffey.
Continue reading A Time to Run: Remembering RFH’s Keith McHeffey
Photo/Facebook collection via Joanne DeStephano Garelli
It was teaming today — rain.
And in some parts of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, like Sea Bright, the precipitation and high tides were forecasted to bring the usual coastal flooding to Sea Bright — or pools of water taken to the street, at least.
So, in keeping with wishes for voluntary swimming (rather than doggie paddling across the street) and sunnier days, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to the mid-1970s a different kind of team — not teaming rain, but swim team(ing).
This is the old Peninsula House Swim Team. Check out those freestyle tans, toothy grins and suits. Remember Peninsula House, commonly dubbed P-House? It was a popular, affordable beach club to team up with RFH buds and join back in the day. Recognize any of the RFHers win this pic?
They’re all about the swim and sunny daze.
— Elaine Van Develde
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