Tag Archives: Sea Bright

Local Life, News

Joaquin Watch: Retro R-FH Area Post-Sandy

With Joaquin winding its way northeast, Rumson-Fair Haven area residents are hoping it the predicted path will stay on course and not become reminiscent of Hurricane Sandy’s wrath.

Despite the lack of similarities in storms, officials area urging preparedness with a since-Sandy “better-be-safe-than-sorry” mindset.

So, as a reminder that we made it through the worst in a storm, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is taking a look back at the post-Sandy scene in Rumson, Fair Haven and Sea Bright.

For the latest from the National Weather Service, click here.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Locals’ Summer: Sea Bright Beaching

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They call it locals’ summer for a reason.

Sometimes the shore area roads are so congested with out-of-towners in the summer that its hard to even get to the beach with a buddy, even on a street where one lives.

Well, local summer has started, beaches are more sparse, buddies are back together and there’s some quiet solo solace on the shores of Sea Bright.

Take a look.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Sea Bright Still Rising & Razing

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Everything’s still coming up — and down — in Sea Bright.

It’s been nearly three years since Hurricane Sandy just about leveled  the peninsula town.

Since then, homes and businesses have been rebuilt, raised and razed. And, just recently, there have been some more changes to the landscape with more raising and razing.

Some homes are just now being lifted and revamped; and the old firehouse and police station are gone, leaving a clear view from Ocean Avenue to the ocean.

Take a look at some before and after photos of the same scenes.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Sea Bright: The Gulls on the Beach

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The weather has been so season-appropriate that it almost looks like the seagulls have been dancing on the beach.

OK, maybe not dancing, but they’re seemingly sunning and hopping along — happily. OK, maybe they just see something good to eat and are anticipating a good grab and gobble.

Whatever the case may be, the gulls on the beach in Sea Bright are hanging out pretty close to humans.

Take a look at this human’s eye view.

— Elaine Van Develde

News

Report: Teen Dies After Being Pulled from Sea Bright Rip Tide

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The teen who was pulled out of a Sea Bright rip tide Monday, revived with a light pulse and brought to Monmouth Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition, has died.

Sea Bright Police Chief told nj.com that Kevin Searfoss, 18, of Rockaway, died at the hospital at about 11 p.m. on Monday.

Searfoss was one of two swimmers of a group not from the area who was pulled out of the ocean at an unprotected section of the beach where red rip tide warning flags were posted, according to Sea Bright Fire Rescue.

The other swimmer pulled from the water walked away unscathed without need of any medical attention. Searfoss had been submerged for about 15 minutes.

When he was initially pulled from the ocean, he was given CPR and brought to the hospital with a weak pulse. That was roughly around noon.

News

Sea Bright: Rip Tide Victim Pulled From Water, Had Pulse

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The sirens and bustle of emergency response teams that people saw and heard in Sea Bright this afternoon were the bi-product of a water rescue, the victim of which was reported to have still had a pulse when transported to the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.

Early in the afternoon, just after noon, Sea Bright Ocean Rescue and emergency response teams from stations 43 and 33 were “dispatched to the dispatched to the south beach section of town for a reported water rescue,” a post on Sea Bright Fire Rescue Facebook page said.

“Chiefs Olenhaus and Murphy arrived on scene within a minute of dispatch and transmitted a Code X for a confirmed submerged swimmer.”

The teen boy had been swimming with another (who was pulled out of the water unscathed) in an unguarded area of the beach marked with red flags signaling dangerous rip tides, according to onlookers at nearby Driftwood Beach Club.

The rescue crews searched the water and quickly located the victim, who was brought to shore and given CPR, the Facebook post said.

“At the time of transfer of care to the hospital the victim had a pulse,” the post said.

He was listed in critical condition at Monmouth Medical Center as of 3 p.m..

 

 

Local Life

Simple Summer: Swimming Buddies & an Award

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There’s nothing quite like a buddy, a couple of missing front teeth and an award to make a summer complete.

It’s a simple concept. And, Annabelle (Annie) Costello personifies the three-in-one bonus as the Simple Summer feature photo(s) of the week.

The pint-sized Fair Havenite won Most Valuable Player award for her swim team at Ship Ahoy Beach Club in Sea Bright recently.

To get that kind of award, it takes a lot of teamwork, practice and, yes, plain old summer kid fun with pals. And Annie and her pal worked and played hard, as evidenced by their smiles of sheer happiness to just hang together.

Congrats, Annie!

Local Life

Christmas in July in Sea Bright

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Sunday was Christmas … in July … in Sea Bright.

If you wandered into the municipal parking lot in the borough, you’d see and hear evidence of the event — you’d hear the music and see the giant polar-themed inflatable slides and candy-centric bouncy house.

And what would Christmas in July be without Mr. and Mrs. Claus? Well, probably just a Christmas without the Clauses. But, they were there — a summery Hawiian version of the couple, that is.

Some wandered onto the beach and a few bopped on the boardwalk to the festive DJ tunes blasting.

Take a look.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Chillin’ With Donovan’s

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There are a couple of things people in the Rumson-Fair Haven area couldn’t wait for after a long, snowy winter — summer and the reopening of Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.

Well, both have happened. In fact, Monday was the hottest day of the summer yet, according to National Weather Service stats. And Donovan’s Tiki bar is back on the beach.

So, just to cool you down a little and serve as a gratitude nudge, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offer a glimpse back to a cool snowfall on what was left of Donovan’s (which was pretty much flattened buildings and the Tiki hut) the winter after Hurricane Sandy’s devastation of the iconic place.

The sky had an orange hue that day that seemed to paint it with hope. It made snow look invitingly warm and for what was a chilling scene for Donovan’s devotees.

Well, it’s back and sporting the literal sign of the undaunted “Sandy Who?”

Donovan’s has brought a lot of friends and couples together over the years. It’s a tradition, really, for Rumson-Fair Haven area people. Did you meet your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, BFF or some other significant other or others in your life at Donovan’s? Yes? Of course, yes!

Tell us your story and send us your Donovan’s pics or email us at [email protected]. We’re putting together a Donovan’s Connection slideshow.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

A Palmy Friday in Sea Bright

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They seem to be showing up everywhere. Palm trees.

No, it’s not Florida or the Caribbean. It’s Sea Bright. Maybe it’s because the skies are clearer lately that it’s more noticeable somehow, but it seems awfully palmy in Sea Bright — not that there’s anything wrong with that, as the Seinfeld saying goes.

The transplanted palms have actually been a trend on area beaches for some time now. Still, they just seemed to stick out like a sore palm (OK, corny) on Friday. Sore seems to be the right word, since they seem a bit unhealthy. And there are no coconuts!

Take a look. Do you like them or do you think Jersey should stick with a more native planting?