Galleries

Focus: NY Skyline View from a Sea Bright Beach

Before the rain … the views of the New York skyline from Sea Bright Public Beach were clear and colorful on a local summer day at the end of last week.

The city is roughly 20 miles away and on days like this it looks close enough to catch … an Uber to.

People who’ve seen this view have argued that it can’t possibly be New York. Well, it is. It’s been documented many times over. So, enjoy the view.

— Elaine Van Develde

p1020801 p1020799

Sea Bright’s Simple Local Summer

It’s that treasured time of the year for locals — local summer.

The weather is still prime for beaching it and the crowds are gone. It’s time for locals in the Rumson-Fair Haven area to get some of what’s left of the best of the sun, sand, surf and and solace in Sea Bright.

Get a glimpse into the local summer world … Take a look at our slideshow and photo gallery. Ahhhh. Enjoy.

— Elaine Van Develde

Continue reading Sea Bright’s Simple Local Summer

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Start

The scents, sights and sounds of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair are in the air.

The end-of-summer tradition in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, the largest community fair in the state, started on Friday night.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect did the usual stroll of the grounds on Saturday.

Here’s a glimpse into the night …

— Elaine Van Develde

Continue reading Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Start

Simple Summer: Crabbing & Catching a Sunset

It doesn’t get much more simple in the summer than hanging a cage filled with raw chicken bait over the side of the Fair Haven Dock, netting crabs and catching a prime sunset view in the mix.

That’s what this Simple Summer photo gallery is all about.

Sometimes, too, you run into a small business owner everyone in the area knows. Anyone know who this is pictured crabbing a few days ago?

Hint: He’s known for putting people in stitches.

— Elaine Van Develde

Rumson Crabbing & Recreating

Saturday evening was time to get crabby with Rumson police and join the Ninth Annual Rumson PBA Crab Tournament.

The event began at 6 p.m.; and, well, if you got there after 6, the parking lot at the Rumson Borough Boat Launch was pretty full, but no one was to be found on the water. They were likely already far enough out on the river to get those prime catches.

There were, however, some crabbers and others boating, jet skiing and just hanging around.

Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse into the evening. See anything somewhat crabby looking?

The results of the tournament will be posted when they become available.

In the meantime, enjoy the view!

Scene Around: Gull on the River Beach

Ever take a walk down by the river and feel like someone’s following you or even leading the way?

It happened today down on the beach by the Fair Haven Dock.

A lone seagull, seemingly having a little trouble with one of his legs, led the way taking a leisurely walk along the riverbank, picked on some food along the way, waded and tried to fly a little, but to no avail. He was getting around and eating and not fearful of humans.

So, he had a little company for his afternoon walk.

Good night and feel better, Mr. Fair Haven Livingston Seagull.

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: Fair Haven’s Night Out

National Night Out was Tuesday. Every year, the evening, celebrated on the first Tuesday in August in communities throughout the nation, is dedicated to raising awareness of community policing and fire and first aid emergency responders.

It is meant for people to have an opportunity to become better acquainted with the officers, fire fighters and first-aiders and their policies designed to protect and serve them. The night is all about doing so with fun, games, demonstrations, closer looks and socializing.

Here’s a glimpse into Fair Haven’s Night Out (Click on each photo to enlarge.)

— Elaine Van Develde

Iconic Spot Focus: River Rats & Doritos

While being a River Rat was a staple of summer life for many a Rumson-Fair Haven area rugrat, there were still those who didn’t sail into waterborne activity success. Some, instead, capsized inside at the thought of a wave taking the wind out of their little sails.

But, staying away from the banks of the Navesink was never even a flicker of a thought in an area youngster’s brain.

There was so much to do there — like wading, watching, feeling the sand between the toes and, well, having a heart-to-heart gabfest with a friend while fetching and freeing sand crabs and munching on a big bag of Doritos … tucked into a festive picnic basket, of course.

Yup. That’s was the summer scene for some. And it was more than enough. Sometimes, between Dorito chomping, sand, wading and chatting, the sunset would seem to creep up and those kids would realize that the River Rats had come to shore and gone home.

The walk home with that picnic basket, an empty bag and that buddy was the exhale for the night. The dream was a simple, sweet, well-lived one.

— Elaine Van Develde

Simple Summer: Fair Haven Campout

The concept doesn’t get any simpler for summer — a tent, some games, some snacks, some buddies, a movie and sleeping (sort of) under the stars far enough outside of your own back yard to call it an outing.

It’s what kids and parents gathered to do on Saturday in Fair Haven. It was the borough’s annual campout at Fair Haven Fields.

It was still steaming hot at tent pitching time — around 7 p.m..

The Fair Haven Recreation Department helpers were ready and curbside at the fields and set to inform campers about the rules and regs. And the concession stand was staffed. But, well, by 7:30 p.m., only two sets of campers had arrived.

The helpers anticipated that more would show when the movie started at 8:45 and they were ready!

This is how this simple summer night of new local tradition got started on Saturday. These guys in the featured photo were a little wilted from the humidity, but still smiling and energetic enough to kid around with each other a little. Though, one of them reflected that he thinks he always has a “reluctant gaze” when photographed. Hmmm. Can you guess which is the reluctant reflector?

If you have any photos of the campout after perhaps more campers arrived and more fun ensued or fewer campers looked “reluctant,” send them to us at [email protected] for our camp night slideshow for later. 

— Elaine Van Develde