Galleries

Focus: Waiting for Santa in Rumson

Santa Claus, Tim McLoone & the Shirleys, school choruses and a lot of festivity came to Victory Park at the usual spot on Sunday for the resurrection of the annual tree lighting.

R-FH Retro got a good glimpse into the pre-show fun. Take a look … (And don’t forget to click on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

Focus: A Festive Ugly Christmas Sweater Soiree

“Thank God it’s F … ugly Christmas sweater time!” That could have been the mantra for at least one crew of holiday revelers on Friday night at Murphy’s Tavern in Rumson.

All dressed up with somewhere to go, donning their special attire, a partying bunch burst onto an otherwise quiet scene at the old speakeasy and got busy showing and telling about their fun and ugly Christmas sweaters. Call them fugly.

There was showcasing, socializing, lots of festiveness and prizes, too. We’re not sure who won, but a glimpse into the scene at the classic side door Rumson hangout offers an idea of who may have. It’s more fun to guess than to know. This way, everyone gets a good look at all the sweaters.

So, cheers to a little ho, ho, hooooocus pocus of the magical season. Check out the all warm and fuzzy holiday fun wrapped in some festive sweaters. (And don’t forget to CLICK on ONE photo in the upper gallery to enlarge and scroll through. Enjoy!)

Who’s the winner in your starry holiday eyes?

Focus: A Fall for River Time Sunscape

When the sun sops up the fall clouds so it can peer through for a little glimpse back to summer, it’s time for river time.

Rowing, strolling, sitting … any way is the best way to move forward and go back to that warm niche that always has a place for someone in its heart. The place where, no matter what, that sun always manages to peek through and shed light on all those little big things that matter most — one ray at a time.

Any way to move back to that light on those river times is the way to go. And they went. They always do. And they hold onto it for a rainy day.

The rainy days and chill are coming back. But there’s never a damper on Fair Haven river time.

— Elaine Van Develde

Take a look (CLICK on one photo above and scroll. Enjoy!). Here’s what’s coming in those rainy, colder days ahead, according to the National Weather Service …

Focus: Good RFH PAS Coffee House Times

Pumped up and piping hot, like a good, strong cup of java, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) musicians revived their live coffee house last night.

It was a time to sing, play and socialize in person once again after COVID-19 quashed the event last year.

Organized by RFH music teacher Zach Lorelli, with tech direction by Matt Leddin, the revival RFH Performing Arts Society (PAS) event was a success, by all accounts.

The program was full, artistic palettes were satiated and a surprise jam came at the end.

With Tobias Ramondo on drums and Luke LaGratta on guitar, Jackson Champeau sang.

RFH PAS is always looking to showcase new talent; and there will be an encore in the spring, so anyone interested in performing can contact Lorelli at RFH.

Check out the photos and slideshow above for a glimpse into the evening. CLICK on one photo in the gallery to enlarge and scroll for a closer look!

*Thanks to RFH PAS parent Joanne Mitchell Formisano for contributing the photos!*

Focus: Fair Haven Halloween Parading

A longstanding time-honored tradition made its comeback in Fair Haven on Sunday — the Halloween parade.

As always, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, historic characters and a host of other haunters of all ages marched their way down the usual parade route from Knollwood School to River Road to the firehouse, where the collection of festive creepers socialized and got prizes.

R-FH Retro caught up with the spirited trickers and treaters. Take a look at the photos in the below gallery for a glimpse into the day (AND don’t forget to CLICK to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!)

Happy haunting!

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro exclusively

Focus: Fall River Walk & Weather

Broody and blue-hued as the scene seems down by the river these days, there’s a toasty comfort in the fall breeze.

It whisks by and envelopes with a snug squeeze — one that whispers “You’re home.” Anyone who’s grown up with feet in wet sand on that Fair Haven beach slip, plucking shells that plop a time-honored magic into the palm of the hand, knows the spell cast.

The magic reminds — the sun always peer through the clouds offering that snuggle, that glow that lights the path back home.

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde (Click on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

That sun is coming this week. Here’s how and when, according to the National Weather Service …

Focus: Hazy Dock Daze & Tuesdays

The view from the Fair Haven Dock is a bit askew if you’re fast forwarding from a sunny Monday to a hazy Tuesday with The Carpenters’ 1971 song Rainy Days and Mondays burrowing a massive ear worm in your head.

So, just going along with an updated Hazy Days and Tuesdays doesn’t get rid of the tune, just the lyrics. And then there’s the view from the dock. It seldom, if ever, gets one down.

In fact, it seems like there’s always a giant yellow smiley face, just like the 70s, calling all, like a siren, to the end of the dock. It’s that terminal sign that sunnier days always return. So, in anticipation of the sun and solace of the timeless view from the dock, take a look (click on one pic to enlarge and scroll), soak it up and smile.

Sunny days topped with sprinkles on top are ahead, according to the National Weather Service …

Focus: Dawn of a New Week at the Dock

Oh, what a beautiful morning! The tune is an ear worm of background music for this scene that started the day and week today in Fair Haven. And it’s not Oklahoma, either. It’s the Fair Haven Dock at sunrise.

The serene scene never gets old. And while the focus may be honed in on the familiar scene in this utopia, it changes every so slightly with each ripple of water, each sigh of contentment with each capture.

This dawn of this new day in the Rumson-Fair Haven area was freeze framed in warmth by Fair Havenite Susan Culbert.

A snapshot of embracing calm. Ahhhhhh …

The week starts with a forecast of sunny skies and warmth through Wednesday and some thunder and rain toward the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Take a look …