Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect (R-FH Retro) is a hyperlocal news website dedicated to the Rumson-Fair Haven area, its people and history with a unique twist — the perspective of a 54-year resident with an award-winning journalistic background. 

Daily, news, features, photo galleries, event coverage and retrospective opinion pieces, dubbed Retro Pics of the Day, are offered to the site's readership for free. 

A coffee table book featuring iconic spots, people and photos of this peninsula utopia I called home for more than half a century is also now in the works. It will also offer a unique reading twist. 

R-FH Retro was created out of pure love of home and is dedicated to the memory of my parents, Sally and Bill Van Develde. They brought their family to Fair Haven decades ago and harbored a deep love of the community until their deaths. 

It is my wish, as it would be that of my parents, to continue to bring free daily news, features, photo galleries, memorial tributes and unique pieces to readers. Help is needed to make that happen, though; and, our local businesses are not opting to advertise with hyperlocal news organizations, as they did in the past.

Equipment needs continuous updating. The site needs to be maintained. Daily expenses to keep the site running 24/7 must be paid. This staff of ONE needs a little community help to get by and continue bringing R-FH Retro to you every single day. The site, in its more 10-year existence, has never made anywhere near a profit. And the deficit is growing as the site gets more popular by the day.

Now, more than ever, hyperlocal news at the hands of true professional journalists is disappearing. Two hyperlocal sites have closed in the past few years. Though, neither was dedicated to the Rumson-Fair Haven area. Another has cut off coverage of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Print monthly and weekly newspapers and magazines do NOT concentrate on this area exclusively, nor do they have the background to cover the area so with first-hand knowledge — 54 years as a resident with decades' worth of journalism experience. That's a long time — more than half a century.

There are copycats, trying to mimic some of R-FH Retro's unique features, yet the writers' and publishers' background just doesn't cut it.

The savings used to create and maintain R-FH Retro dried up in the first year. This Fair Haven girl wants to keep this truly hyperlocal, unique news and feature website going strong, but funding is necessary. 

So, in the interest of striking a balance between modesty and "a publisher's got to live on more than love alone," I have decided that leaving the "help" up to those who can and want to by asking to "buy me a cup of coffee" is a nice solution. 

With a click, you can help keep the site going. The donation amount is up to you. Times are, indeed, tough; and any amount is truly appreciated, even if it's $5. 

Donations of $75 per month will get the patron a Silver Sponsor membership with an ad on the site in a stationary position on the right sidebar with a link of their choice.

Contact me about a full-fledged ad with very high visibility on the site. R-FH Retro is seen by more than 30,000 viewers/readers per month. Exposure is great for any advertiser, especially those in the area.

I wholeheartedly support small local businesses. Our ads are simple with lots of visibility at a price more reasonable than anywhere. Contact me about an ad that truly meets small business needs. 

Help R-FH Retro help you. Keep it casual with love. Buy me a cup of coffee. Tell me your story. 

With love of home and words, 

Elaine Van Develde

R-FH Retro publisher/founding editor