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Local Life

Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Takes Plunge from Dock

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Fair Haven Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wiehl grew up in Fair Haven. In fact, he’s a third generation Fair Havenite.

And like so many other native Fair Havenites, he spent a lot of time down by the Navesink River at the Fair Haven Dock. He played there. He saw a lot of sunsets there. He likely did a lot of contemplating and soaking up of sun and scenery there.

And, most recently, he decided to make the iconic spot one that would mark a major milestone in his life. He got engaged and married there.

The engagement was three months ago and the wedding was Monday afternoon, officiated by Mayor Ben Lucarelli. So, we congratulate and honor Mike and his bride, Gloria Clark, in our Retro Pic(s) of the Day.

As Wiehl put it in Facebook posts, “Well, today’s the day I have been waiting for. Gloria Clark and I are spending the day together and then off to the fair haven dock to get married at 4pm! … 3 months ago the woman of my dreams said yes to marrying me. I am a lucky man …”

And so goes life as part of the Fair Haven family …

Congrats and much happiness to Mike and Gloria! 

Local Life

Retro River Time with a Gap Tyke Model

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Fair Havenite and Gap model Francesca romps down by the Navesink River in 2013 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Havenite and Gap model Francesca romps down by the Navesink River in 2013
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s almost summertime, and the livin’ is all about river time in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

That in mind, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the season with a look back a couple of years ago to a day of fun for one little Fair Haven girl — Francesca, who happens to be a Gap model — romping down by the Fair Haven Dock with her mom and dad.

The Navesink River shot that day back in 2013 was just a warm-up for work for the little one, who was set to strike a pose as soon as she saw the camera.

What’s your favorite riverfront spot?

 

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Remembrance of a Friend: RFH’s Suzanne Warren

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Suzanne Warren, RFH Class of 1993, died in 2004. Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello
Suzanne Warren, RFH Class of 1993, died in 2004.
Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello

By Elaine Van Develde

There’s nothing quite like having a friend to take the journey from childhood through adulthood with you.

It’s cherished time. And when the journey ends for one, it leaves the other to carry on with a weary, but enriched heart, for having had that time, and many milestones in between, with that person.

That friend for at least one Fair Havenite was Suzanne Warren (Cavigliano), honored in our Retro Pic of the Day.

Warren, a Class of 1993 RFH grad, who died 11 years ago, on June 4, 2004, is remembered by her forever friend Jenny (Jones) Costello, as “smart (so smart), funny and always the best dressed.”

Suzanne grew up on Briarwood Road, after coming from Indiana to live in Fair Haven in the third grade. She ended up becoming a social worker, yet, Costello said, cheated by death from being able to realize her full potential.

While her journey through adulthood was cut short, her friends still carry her spirit and many memories with them.

It’s a light, sweet load to tote on the rest of a friend’s journey.

RIP, Suzanne. You are remembered. Cherished.

Share your memories of Suzanne.

 

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Stoked Up Neighbors at Stokes

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By Elaine Van Develde

This little crew grew up together. And years later they ended up reliving a sixth grade tradition as adults.

They are Jenny Costello (Jones), Dwayne Reevey, now a Fair Haven police officer, and Andy Dougherty. The three lived on Parker Avenue in Fair Haven across and down the street from one another.

Their parents were all friends and they all had the Stokes experience as Fair Haven schools students. This time around, they were counselors, with Andy Dougherty pretty much running the show from the schools’ end.

Much has changed about the annual trip right after Memorial Day to learn and camp out in the state forrest, but some things never do change — like childhood friendships and memories that connect for a lifetime.

So, our Retro Pic of the Day captures just that. Call it a little time capsule.

Get in for a little trip back …

This editor not only took the trip, way back in the early 1970s, but was also CAT at Stokes. I forget what the anagram stood for, but CATs were RFH seniors who were chosen to take the trip as sort-of junior counselors.

The RFH administrators chose leaders, who had to have above a certain GPA and a expertise or talent in a specific area.

I, along with my acting compadre, Kevin Carpenter, were sent to entertain the kids. We had to spearhead the dancing (poor kids) — and, yes, there was square dancing (yikes) — sing songs around the campfire, like Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley (so uplifting) and tell stories about the Jersey Devil and scare the bejesus out of the kids.

We were a pretty well-behaved lot of semi-nerds, but we did like to have some fun that I’m confident would have gotten us banned nowadays — like raising one poor girl’s bra up on the flagpole for the morning wake-up bugle call and capsizing one another’s canoes.

Oh, there were more pranks, but the mention of them may tarnish some respectable RFH parents’ reputations, so I digress.

Did you go to Stokes? What was your favorite memory?

Local Life

Retro Rumson Sky After the Rain

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A retro look at Rumson and Gunning Island in the Shrewsbury River at sunset after a rainfall a couple of years ago Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A retro look at Rumson and Gunning Island in the Shrewsbury River at sunset after a rainfall a couple of years ago
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s been a bit dreary and rainy today.

So, to show everyone how the skies can brighten so quickly after the rain, the Retro Pic of the Day shows a sunset over the Shrewsbury River looking toward Rumson and Gunning Island after rainy weather two years ago.

Gunning Island is owned by the borough of Rumson. It is roughly 30 acres and is earmarked as preserved open space/ecosystem to never be developed.

Local Life

Retro Good Neighbor: Rumson’s Paul Hughes

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The Hughes family and Elaine Van Develde at closing day of an RFH show Photo/Luann Hughes
The Hughes family and Elaine Van Develde at closing day of an RFH show
Photo/Luann Hughes

We at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect continue with our ode to good neighbors in the Retro Pic of the Day.

Today we honor Paul Hughes (and family). It’s pretty simple why we are honoring Paul and family.

Not only has Hughes been a good friend since our days at RFH, he remains one.

Most recently, we attended the Rumson Memorial Day Parade and ceremony.

Our camera lost battery power. Well, just as we took the last shot on the camera, we heard a hearty and always positive “Hey!” from Paul and his family.

It only took one second to explain the situation before Paul quickly handed over his smart phone and told me to just go ahead and snap away any pics I needed to take.

I did, and so gratefully, and he emailed the photos to me so that Rumson could have a nice slideshow of its Memorial Day.

There are so many other things the Hughes family has done for me. But I digress to just say a simple “Thank you. You are appreciated.”

Now, that’s a good neighbor. And, I know, not just to me.

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Good Neighbor Ray Miller

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Ray Miller, the owner of the former Fair Haven Esso/Exxon passed away recently.

So, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect is honoring him as the Retro Pic (Slideshow) of the Day honoring good neighbors.

While he was known for his iconic caring curmudgeon-like personality, when Ray Miller smiled, it was real and he meant it.

Continue reading Retro Good Neighbor Ray Miller →

Local Life

A Retro Happy Birthday to Fair Haven’s Al Robbins

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Longtime Fair Havenite Al Robbins delivering fuel to Ray Miller's Esso station on River Road circa 1950s Photo/courtesy of Kathy Robbins
Longtime Fair Havenite Al Robbins delivering fuel to Ray Miller’s Esso station on River Road circa 1950s
Photo/courtesy of Kathy Robbins

Today would be former Fair Havenite and Fair Haven Fire Company member Al Robbins’ 96th birthday, so his daughter Kathy tells Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect.

So, to honor the longtime Fair Havenite and volunteer, we honor him in our Retro Pic of the Day.

According to his daughter, Kathy, the retro pic above is of Al delivering gas to Ray Miller’s Esso station on River Road back in the 1950s.

Al had a nickname: Baggie. Know why? Well, daughter Kathy says it’s because he was a kid, about 7 years old, when he started caddying at Rumson Country Club. Of course, he was tiny, so, she says, “all you could see when he caddied was the bag.”

This editor remembers Al from time with her family. The whole family was lots of fun. And, true to form in remembrance of Memorial Days past, a bunch of us, including the Robbins family, used to go camping every Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania Dutch Country at Oak Creek Camp.

Precious memories! Thanks for all you did for the community and this one child’s life memories. You were a good friend to all, Al Robbins! Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Local Life

Going Retro with 2015 Basie Award Winner Julia Mosby

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Julia Mosby and Ben Ley after “Miracle on 34th Street” performance at RFH. Photo/Barbara Mosby
Julia Mosby and Ben Ley after “Miracle on 34th Street” performance at RFH. Photo/Barbara Mosby

She won!

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School senior Julia Mosby on Wednesday night won as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama at the 10th Annual Basie Awards.

The awards celebrate the talent of Monmouth County high school students in various categories.

RFH was nominated for a total of 11 awards. Mosby was nominated for two: Outstanding Supporting Actress in both the Drama and Musical categories.

She won for her supporting role in the high school’s fall production of Miracle on 34th Street.

So, in our Retro Pic of the Day, we take you back to the closing day performance of that show with a photo of Mosby and friend Ben Ley, also an RFH grad, after the final performance.

Congrats, Julia!

Local Life

Retro Ode to Good Neighbor Chum Chandler

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Chum Chandler back in the day Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family
Chum Chandler back in the day
Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family

Well, once we published our first in a series of good (old) neighbors and asked for nominations, it didn’t take long to get an onslaught of nominations to feature  Fair Haven’s Chum Chandler as a shining example of neighborliness.

So, Chum is our Retro Pic of the Day good neighbor.

Chandler, who passed away not long ago, was a native Fair Havenite, RFH grad, local businessman, Fair Haven Fire Company lifetime member and just all-around quirky, personable character. Anyone who knew him would tell you that he embodied all that’s good in this slice of suburbia.

He was known as a tall order of tough pull-yourself-up-by-the- bootstraps love always ready to lend a hand, share a good joke, poke a little fun and spread his zest for life and, yes, the town that he loved.

The man who was known as a good neighbor to the entire borough also believed in paying it forward; and he did just that.

Thank you to neighbor Chum Chandler. People are paying your message forward.

 

 

Local Life, Opinion

Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood

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Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s spring. Block party time has come.

And, with the advent of that sort of celebration of a neighborhood, we at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect are taking a look back at good neighbors.

So, we’re kicking off what will be a daily ode with our Retro Pic of the Day honoring Ken Lockwood.

Lockwood lived in Fair Haven for 88 years, nearly as long as the borough’s existence. He moved to Fair Haven at the age of 2 and is now 93.

Continue reading Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood →

Local Life, Obituaries, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Exxon Icon Ray Miller

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Ray Miller at his Exxon station at the corner of River Road and Smith Street Photo/courtesy of Peggy Miller
Ray Miller at his Exxon station at the corner of River Road and Smith Street
Photo/courtesy of Peggy Miller

By Elaine Van Develde

Another Fair Haven icon has passed.

Ray Miller, a pioneer of Fair Haven small business and longtime community friend, died at 92 on Sunday.

So, we honor him today in our Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of his daughter Peggy.

This day-in-a-life shot gives a focused picture of the Ray Miller so many knew back in the day. Gravelly voice curmudgeon-like manner always at a “high test” premium, there were countless memorable  visits made by many a youngster and their parents to Ray Miller’s Exxon at the corner of River Road and Smith Street — even if you knew you might get a scolding.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Exxon Icon Ray Miller →