Galleries

Local Life

Focus: The Donovan’s Rebuild

Gallery

When it comes to the rebuilding (and expansion) of the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright, things are looking up … and out.

It will be five years ago this October that the mainstay locals’ summer hangout and RFH reunion spot was tossed and flattened to bits by Superstorm Sandy.

So its rebuild has been a particularly long-awaited one by townies and Rumson-Fair Haven area folks.

The plan is for the new, improved and indestructible Donovan’s to be open for business by the start of the summer season.

Much progress has been made to date.

Take a look and see for yourself …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Shipping Out at Sunrise in Sea Bright

Gallery

You never know when your ship will come in, when you’ll catch a perfect view of a Sea Bright sunrise or both.

Well, Rumsonite and RFH Class of ’78 grad Doug Borden got a good dose of both this morning.

Headed over the Rumson/Sea Bright Bridge toward Sea Bright beach, he got a good glimpse of a glorious sunrise and, yes, a ship passing (or coming in for him, if you will).

Take a look at this longtime Rumson-Fair Haven area guy’s moment of sunrise gratitude …

Thanks Doug! Happy Monday, all!

Photos/Doug Borden

 

News

Focus: Barnacle’s and the Gulls

Gallery

“Such a picture perfect spot, isn’t it?” a woman going to dinner at Barnacle Bill’s said Wednesday as dusk hit the banks of the Navesink River in Rumson. “Beautiful.”

She smiled, nodded and added, “We’re so lucky to have this …”

Yes, we are. The gulls flocked to the dock and little swath of beach at the spot. They seemed to be having a meeting.

All present. All savoring home.

Take a look … (Click to enlarge!)

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Focus: Fiery Sunset Over a Rumson Island

Gallery

“Don’t you make me pull this car over, Sun!”

Well, it made me and quite a few others do it. It was a traffic stopper again — the sunset from the Eventide docks in Sea Bright overlooking Rumson on Friday night.

And, to coin the singular of another saying, the exclamation for the traffic stopper could be summed up as one “great ball of fire!”

As the biblical origination of the phrase indicates, implying the presence of God (nature, or whatever being one believes in) as fire, it could also haven been seen as a religious environmental experience.

Blazing and ducking very quickly behind Gunning Island in Rumson, the sight of the sunset was blindingly beautiful — again.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Focus: Black & Blue Branching Out by the River

Gallery

It was hauntingly comforting — the icy, howling wind and the stark hues of black and blue along the Navesink River in Fair Haven Wednesday at dusk.

The wind whistled, beckoned, and the air cut like jagged-edged glass.  It was a solitary, striking scene. Black branches jutting across a blue sky and seascape.

It was all so cold and clear-cut, yet still warm like a cup of cocoa. It’s home.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Focus: Snow Dust on the Dock

Gallery

Rumson-Fair Haven area folks started their day with a dusting of snow.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for the area calls for some more snow and possibly sleet before 3 p.m. There’s a chance of rain later with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees.

Tomorrow’s forecast: Mostly cloudy with a high temperature of about 45 degrees.

In the meantime, the snow was untouched on the Fair Haven Dock, offering a snow dusted picturesque view.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Scene Around: Fiery Sea Bright Sunset

Gallery

It was a sizzling orange ball of fire — a good night beacon ducking down below Gunning Island. The sunset in Sea Bright on Saturday called out to people like a Siren.

They pulled over into at Eventide’s  parking lot to catch a glimpse with the lens as the ball of fire bid goodnight and ducked behind the island, melting into the Shrewsbury River.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life, News

Focus: R-FH Area Women Marching

Gallery

What started out being dubbed the Million Women March turned Women’s March on Washington ended up evolving into marches of the same ilk all over the country on Saturday.

The marches, while many were called non-partisan, were intentionally set on the day after the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States — Donald Trump. They were deemed a collective stand-up-and-march cross country show of support for women’s rights as hard-earned, strong and everlasting ones not to be trifled with by the new administration. Some area women did not share those feelings and said so on social media.

Nonetheless, from Asbury Park to Red Bank to New York to North and South Carolina and to Washington, D.C., many Rumson-Fair Haven area women (and men) of the past and present went to take part and peacefully say their peace on the subject among masses.

Many from the area shared snapshots of their day on Facebook.

Take a look …

Photos/Eileen Hershenov, Bonnie Werner-Swart, Jenifer Weber-Zeller, Monica Sheehan, Kate Grady, Robin Ens Wilkins, Anne Toronto McNamara, Tara Connelly, Connie Heath Thibeault, Rossi, Lisa Ericson, Mary Beth Gibson

Slideshow/Elaine Van Develde

Business Buzz, Local Life

Focus: Bringing Donovan’s Reef Back

Gallery

It’s been more than five years since Superstorm Sandy tossed and flattened the iconic Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright.

In the aftermath of the storm in which the Atlantic Ocean met the Shrewsbury River over the small peninsula town, all that was left of Donovan’s was a tossed building, a shell of the main bar, restaurant equipment, torn up pavement and wood — lots of wood — in scattered piles. What remained of its sign were the letters D O … found on the ground by Mayor Dina Long.

The letters became symbolic of the can-do attitude Sea Bright residents and business owners embodied in the tough months, even years, of rebuilding ahead.

There was a year without Donovan’s. Then there were a few years of an open Tiki bar on the beach.

Now Donovan’s is coming back — bigger, higher and stronger — for its first summer as a rebuilt area legend.

Take a look at the progress so far …

— Elaine Van Develde