Galleries

Focus: Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Winners

Drum roll please … for, perhaps, the little drummer nutcracker boys on the front porch of the first-place winner of the first Fair Haven Holiday House Decoration Contest — the Ruscignos at 39 Parker Avenue.

Ben, Maria and Rocco Ruscigno added some special touches this year, they said. They collected PJs for ill children and their families at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in an effort to give back the kindness they received when Rocco was ill one year. In an effort to make the drop-off spot as festive and easy to find as possible, spirits soared and their house got the deluxe decoration treatment. Maria announced that they dropped off “100 pairs of brand new pajamas” to Jersey Shore. She thanked all for the donations.

Congratulations to the Ruscignos!

Second place went to the family at 11 Country Lane with the beautiful array of white lights. If you’ve done your holiday lights drive with due diligence every year, you’ve surely seen and admired the display here.

And third place went to the folks at 77 Poplar Ave., whose home is adorned with lots of festive multicolored lights and decorations year after year.

All the entries were drive-by worthy. Take a ride around the borough to see for yourself. There were 13 that were entered in the contest. In the meantime, take a look at some photos of the winners. And don’t forget to click to enlarge!

Lighting Up the Holidays in Fair Haven

 

Remember the old Sunday night drive to check out all the Christmas lights when you were a kid?

Well, it doesn’t have to be a Sunday night. Any night is a good one for the drive around to look at the lights.

We took a little night drive in Fair Haven. The only thing that was missing was the ol’ “Ooooo … ahhhh” and the backseat sibling quibbling to Dad’s, “Girls! If I have to pull this car over!”

This is what we saw. And it’s just a sampling. Fair Haven is quite festive. In fact, the borough, starting tomorrow, is having it’s first holiday decoration contest. Check out the informational flyer below …

Know of any great decorations? Let us know where they are, too. We’ll make sure everyone gets to take the pre-Christmas drive with us.

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Santa Comes to Fair Haven

Santa Claus came to Fair Haven on Friday. Well, he rode down the street in the firetruck to the annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll, after arriving from the North Pole, of course. Something like that. 

Tradition is the cornerstone of the 1.4-square-mile borough. It prevailed on a chilly Friday evening laced with a community spirit of comfort and warmth. Nestled in a time-honored corner at Memorial Park, young helpers helped, officials officiated, families flocked, friends got festive and, once again, Santa came to town. 

Take a look at the smiles and get a glimpse into what transpired … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)

Happy holidays!

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Gulls’ Paradise on the Rumson Riverfront

The days have been dank on the banks of the Navesink River.

Yet, sea gulls seem to always seem to settle into a bit of hovering and hanging out at Victory Park in Rumson.

Year after year, damp days or not, they always come back home, lie many this time of year.

It’s another familiar scene down by the river. You’ve seen it before. Take a look again … It never gets old.

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Favorite Halloween Haunts

It’s beginning to look a lot like Halloween. That’s because it is.

So, everywhere in the Rumson-Fair Haven area there are reminders of the spooky season. Over the years, people have outdone decorations of the past and, in some cases, never managed to measure up to those unforgettable houses many of us visited as a kid.

So, to set the mood for the day, take a look back at some the finest Rumson-Fair Haven Halloween sightings. Your favorite? What tops these haunts? Your house? Send us a photo, if you dare!

Happy Halloween! (And don’t forget to click to enlarge and scroll!)

— Photos/Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Falling for a Riverfront Fall

Crisp air, bright sun and reflections of riverfront life are all it takes to fall for the Rumson-Fair Haven area in autumn.

The scene just doesn’t get any more comforting. It seems to always reach out and embrace the local soul. And it never gets old.

Get a glimpse. Take it in.

— Elaine Van Develde