Galleries

Focus: Honoring Fair Haven’s Vets

Gallery November 11, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wouldn’t ever want to be anywhere else but here today,” Fair Haven’s second oldest living World War II and Korean War veteran Ray Taylor said with a teary-eyed smile as someone shook his hand and thanked him for his service. He then gently placed his decorated hat back on his head after holding it over his heart for The Pledge of Allegiance that began the Fair Haven Veterans Day service on Friday.

Memorial Park was filled beyond capacity with veterans, police, firemen, children, parents and officials who were there to pay homage to those who have served and still are serving.

The fall sun cast a warm glow on the patriotic spirit of the ceremony of honor.

Take a look … Thank you to our veterans.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Honoring Rumson’s Vets

Gallery November 11, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

The sun shone bright in Rumson’s Victory Park on Friday, casting a bright light of honor on the borough’s vets.

Homage was paid to all the living who served their country, those presently in service and those who have passed.

There was a call for respect — of them, the freedom of choice for which they fought, and for peace.

Thank you to all of our veterans. Take a peek into the Veterans Day 2016 moment in Rumson …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Rumson Halloween Fun

Gallery October 31, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

The weather and spirits were on the side of all the good ghouls who came to the grounds of Forrestdale School for Rumson’s Halloween parading and festivities.

Hundreds of costumed kids and families gathered for games, goodies and socializing.

Take a look (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!) … Oh, and Happy Halloween!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Trucktoberfest Fun

Gallery October 31, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Well, you could say the third time was a charm for the first annual Fair Haven Trucktoberfest.

The new, more family-friendly, sponsored by the non-profit Foundation of Fair Haven, had been put off twice before Saturday due to inclement weather.

But, Saturday it was this time. And the weather was fine and, by the looks of the faces and the mood, people were pleased.

Take a look (Don’t forget to click to enlarge!) …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Dusk at Fair Haven Dock

Gallery October 27, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

The fall air was crisp, the clouds clinging to it and the colors vivid. It was another dusk at the Fair Haven Dock.

The scene just doesn’t get old for most. The serenity. The stillness. The Navesink River resting at the end of the day.

You can almost hear the exhale.

Give a listen. Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Fair Haven Halloween Parade Fun

Gallery October 24, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Sunday was a great fall day for a Halloween parade — the Fair Haven Halloween Parade.

The longstanding tradition started many years ago … and continues in the same fashion: Costumed parading from Knollwood down Hance Road to River and the Fair Haven Firehouse for prizes, cider and donuts.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect could not be there this year. But, the site’s followers have offered their photos of the day, with a little before and after happenings captured.

Take a look …

Thanks to Susan Sorensen, Bonnie Wiehl and Jenny Costello for the photos!

Fair Haven Fire Chief Michael Wiehl's little blueberry girl Photo/Bonnie Wiehl — Fair Haven Fire Chief Michael Wiehl’s little blueberry girl
Photo/Bonnie Wiehl

Uncle Sam and Miss America Photo/Jenny Costello — Uncle Sam and Miss America
Photo/Jenny Costello

Fair Haven Firehouse round-up Photo/Susan Sorensen — Fair Haven Firehouse round-up
Photo/Susan Sorensen

Mayor Ben Lucarelli and incumbent councilmen Jonathan Peters and Rowland Wilhelm Photo/Susan Sorensen — Mayor Ben Lucarelli and incumbent councilmen Jonathan Peters and Rowland Wilhelm
Photo/Susan Sorensen

Fair Haven Firehouse Halloween Parade round-up Photo/Susan Sorensen — Fair Haven Firehouse Halloween Parade round-up
Photo/Susan Sorensen

Halloween fun at the Fair Haven Firehouse Photo/Susan Sorensen — Halloween fun at the Fair Haven Firehouse
Photo/Susan Sorensen

Local Life

Focus: Sea Bright Local Summer Revival

Gallery October 20, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Local summer snuck back into the Rumson-Fair Haven area Wednesday and made a grand appearance on Sea Bright Public Beach.

Sun beams cast a glow on many content beachgoers getting a good dose of rays on what may have been the last of those warm oceanfront days.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: FHFD Car Show

Gallery October 18, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

The sun was out and there was a lot of vintage car reflecting and showcasing at the 17th Annual Fair Haven Fire Police and Fire Department Auxiliary Car Show on Saturday afternoon.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect missed some crowning moments, but managed to get there to grab some photos to give a glimpse into the day.

Tom Kelly’s Dodge Dart got a prize (photo contributed by Evie Connor Kelly included below). We missed that moment, but arrived right after for some lingering chat and show’s end time.

Oh, and there was a birthday boy on the grounds. Happy Birthday, former Chief Dan Kane!

Take a look at some of the final moments of the day …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Pre-Loss: RFH Homecoming Carnival Fun

Gallery October 17, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) Bulldogs may have lost the homecoming game to St. John Vianney on Friday night, but even in the absence of homecoming queens and kings, festivities in the form of the new carnival tradition had students in a winning mood, unfazed by the impending knowing and unknowing losses of the court and the game.

Continue reading Pre-Loss: RFH Homecoming Carnival Fun →

Local Life

Focus: Nightfall River Reflections

Gallery October 12, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

You could call it falling for the Navesink River.

Wednesday night was one of those still, quiet fall nights down by the river at the Fair Haven Dock. It was in the air. It was on the water. Reflection. A lot of reflection. It’s easy to see and instinctively know why when it is also a place called home.

Take a moment to reflect … Good night, home.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Pets, Blessings; Lazy, Hazy West Park Sundaze

Gallery October 3, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Sometimes you just don’t get to the church on time … for the blessing of the pets.

That’s what happened on Sunday for some trying to make it to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi blessing of the pets at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in the West Park section of Rumson.

So, in the haze, sights were still seen to sum up a hazy, maybe not lazy, but a bit slow of a late Sunday afternoon in the area.

People seemed to be soaking up the West Park atmosphere with some simple fall stuff like walking the dogs (yes, someone else missed the event), goin’ fishin’ and just getting a glimpse of the river on a pensive kind of day.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: A Special Rumson Island

Gallery September 27, 2016 Elaine Van Develde

Sometimes you just need to escape to an island. And all you need to do is look out onto the Shrewsbury River to find one.

If you can’t get in your gondola and paddle over there, the 32-acre Gunning Island preserve, 20 acres of which has been owned by Rumson since 2007, is close enough to see from the banks of Rumson or Sea Bright. For RFHers, it holds a cache of party and young pleasure boating memories.

It now seems to beckon with a sigh of serenity and solitude in its wildlife preserve state.

Exhale and take in the memories with the scenery …

(Don’t forget to click to enlarge.)

— Elaine Van Develde