Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: 50 Hot Dog Salute

Chris Brenner serving hot dogs at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair Photo/courtesy of Chris Brenner
Chris Brenner serving hot dogs at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Photo/courtesy of Chris Brenner

The following is an opinion piece, a tribute, about the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair by Fair Haven resident, Rumson native and 1983 RFH grad Chris Brenner …

In late August of 1965, I came into the world at Riverview Hospital. We lived in Rumson; and, no doubt, on my first ride home in our blue VW Beetle, I went right by the Fair Haven firehouse, which surely was hosting the annual Fireman’s Fair at the time. I sadly didn’t make that ’65 fair. Too busy learning to breathe and see, and all of that.

Continue reading Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: 50 Hot Dog Salute

Prosecutor: Missing Woman Found Dead, Buried; Two Face Murder Charges

The prosecutors in Monmouth and Union counties jointly announced on Wednesday that an area man and woman have been charged with the murder of a Union County woman who went missing in March and was found, after an extensive search and investigation, to have been killed and buried in Long Branch.

Detectives on the night of Aug. 16 discovered the body of Tyrita R. Julius, 41, who has been missing since March 8, the authorities said.

Continue reading Prosecutor: Missing Woman Found Dead, Buried; Two Face Murder Charges

Retro Olympic Silver Medalist Connor Jaeger

After the Olympian parade for Connor Jaeger in 2012 at the Fair Haven Firehouse Photo/Elaine Van Develde
After the Olympian parade for Connor Jaeger in 2012 at the Fair Haven Firehouse
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Yes, Fair Haven-raised Connor Jaeger did it! In his second quest for an Olympic medal, he came in second in the 1,500-meter freestyle swim in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, making history as the fastest Team U.S.A. swimmer in the event.

It was only four years ago when Jaeger swam in London and placed sixth in the same event. When he came home to Fair Haven, there was a parade and he signed autographs for some very excited young fans.

There are no plans as of yet for a re-do of that in the borough. It depends on his wishes, officials have said.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back four years when Jaeger came home from London to a thrilled community. His family was there. Even his family dog was there.

Jaeger family dog in 2012 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Jaeger family dog in 2012
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Who knows the name of the Jaeger family dog?

— Elaine Van Develde

Living the Dream: Jim Scanlon’s Secret Life as an Author, Songwriter


By Elaine Van Develde

His mission is one that is being undertaken all in fun — a global sort of fun — but he’s not kidding around. And he’ll tell you it’s not all about him, either.

He’s native Fair Havenite Jim Scanlon. He wrote a book that was just recently published on July 14. It’s a “social commentary wrapped in a fairy tale,” as he calls it.  He wrote music to accompany the book, aptly titled The Musical Adventure of ‘One-Shot’ Billy, for entertainment value and, more importantly, resonance, he says.

Why? “I didn’t want it to be a documentary,” the now-Little Silver resident said chatting recently in his hometown, which has a striking metaphorical role in the book. “Documentary style, more dry, is not an effective way, in my mind, to get the message out.”

The message is all about Mother Nature being pushed aside, he said. There’s Mother Nature and her three sons who manage the departments of Synchronicity, Ebb and Flow and, most importantly, Human Resources. They comprise Earth Management Systems (EMS). Get it?

The youngest son, One-Shot Billy, or Cupid, manages the humans. “It’s about who the sons are as related to her (Mother Nature) and how we found ourselves on a planet that’s sorta misaligned right now,” Scanlon said. “So, therein lies the irony of the EMS, right? The forces of nature applied their concepts and what they’re dealing with and put it right into a small town — Fair Haven. I know. I know. I was born and raised in Fair Haven. But, it’s truly a metaphor. It’s just the perfect name no matter how you look at it. I looked everywhere for a name of a town, and all I had to do was look right down at my feet. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to change the name, but it just didn’t work.”

And there are more coincidental names tied to Fair Haven in the story. Woods, dubbed Sickles, are threatened by development. But, never mind that (even though the name is fitting) Scanlon says, it’s about a much bigger picture that happens to be set in this microcosm of a small town.

The goal of the story that Scanlon says gives the forces of nature a right to express themselves: Really, in the end, the aim is to make the book’s protagonist, One-Shot Billy, or Cupid, come to life, Scanlon said. “He’s got his own life, but, at the end of the day, he learns his lesson” as the youngest of the three brothers and director of Human Resources for EMS.

And there are a lot of lessons to be learned, primarily about the givers and takers of the planet Earth, and “they’re all learned in an entertaining way with the songs,” said Scanlon, a longtime commercial real estate professional who has led a double life of status quo team corporate work by day and solitary writing and playing the guitar many a late night.

In fact, the idea for One-Shot Billy and his family grew out of a song Scanlon wrote in the wee hours of his creative solitude years back.

“A line in this song I wrote for my friend, also a musician, Ricky Eldridge, for Christmas one year drove me to the story,” he said.

It goes like this …

“Inspiration running high, a dead man rose and touched the sky. And even tho no witness spoke, the words spread of a holy ghost. Mother Nature pushed aside held the hand of Father Time. Everyone was so surprised a savior had arose.”

So, Scanlon, years later, came up with this mythical family that he wanted to introduce to everyone with music and a message on paper.

But a book? Why a book now? Why a book with downloadable songs rather than full-scale musical? Why not just music?

“Two reasons: I have a daughter; and, I wanted to put something on the planet to put perspective into things,” he said. “My daughter, Holly, is 13 years old and, at the end of the day, as she gets older it’s a matter of her understanding the concept of givers and takers. And I would like the world to be a better place for her. Why a book? Because if I dropped it on the ground, no cover, nothing, I hope someone would say, ‘Wow, you should read this!’ If all else failed, with a book, I could just drop it on the ground and walk away and hope its message spreads.

“I would also hope that people would want to help the story. It was written to do all the right things. It’s not some holier than thou piece. It’s designed to make me a better person, too. And it’s done in a fun way.”

Bottom line, too, he said, is that the music moves the story along and gives it its own life. There are 11 songs in the story.

And for the music, Scanlon went all out — and all the way to the Nashville, Tennessee. He contacted a friend from college (Rutgers) who had become an entertainment attorney.

Before long, he was in Nashville being introduced to principals at Major Bob Music, Garth Brooks’ production company, and lining up singers and studio time.

He went bach and forth to Nashville for several months and ended up with songs recorded and set for publication/online download. Lewis Lea and Shannon Labrie do most of the singing.

And, back home in status quo suburbia, life was still the same on the surface — until the book came out and so did Scanlon’s secret life.

“No one ever really knew I wrote songs and played guitar,” he said. “I never told anyone, except my brothers, who played with me, and my closest friends. But that’s what I’ve been doing all this time. I taught myself how to play guitar. I just wrote to write because I just had a passion to write.”

Now he’s taking his passion one step further. “I want this book and music to carry the message along until this guy One-Shot Billy comes to life.” The giver.

Takers anyone?

You can purchase The Musical Adventures of One-Shot Billy by clicking here.

Special Delivery for Fair Haven Fire Chief

There’s been a special delivery of an official sort of third-generation Fair Havenite — and just in time for the fair!

Fair Haven Fire Department Chief Michael Wiehl and wife Gloria announced the birth of their first child, Abigail Rose, at 8:57 p.m. on Aug. 13.

Abigail Rose Weihl Photo/Facebook screenshot
Abigail Rose Wiehl
Photo/Facebook screenshot
Abigail Rose Weihl Photo/Facebook screenshot
Abigail Rose Wiehl
Photo/Facebook screenshot

Abigail weighed in at 6-pounds, 12 ounces and “everyone is happy and healthy,” Gloria said to Facebook friends.

Grandma and Grandpa, Bonnie and Jeff Wiehl are thrilled.

Michael Wiehl is a third-generation native Fair Havenite, the grandson of Cora and Bill Kacen, longtime fire department members.

Homefront RFH Olympian Cheer to Jaeger’s Silver

“This Silver Medal is nothing but a pebble found on the mountain that is the history of United States Olympic success. I feel so blessed to have contributed to what was one of the greatest Olympic team performances of all time. I still can’t believe I’m coming home with a Silver ? #rio2016?? #gousa??” ~ Olympian Connor Jaeger / 2016 Silver Medal Winner/ Men’s 1,500-Meter Freestyle

He did it and set a record to boot! RFH 2010 graduate, Fair Haven-raised Connor Jaeger won the silver medal, placing second in the world, in the 2016 Summer Olympics men’s 1,500-meter freestyle swim in Rio de Janeiro.

And on top of winning the silver — his first medal after coming in sixth in the same category four years ago in London — Jeager came in at a Team USA record-breaking time of 14:39.48.

And Jaeger was cheered on from afar at his alma mater, 2000 Olympics bronze medal 200-meter individual medley swim winner Tom Wilkens on site to lend support to a fellow swimmer and let some of the kids try on his medal for fun. Wilkens, a CBA grad, is from Middletown. There was a parade to honor him when he won.

Jaeger is the son of Fair Haven Councilman Eric Jaeger and wife, Bernadette. He has a sister, Dana.

Check out the photos for a glimpse into the eve at RFH.

Congrats, again, Connor Jaeger!

— Elaine Van Develde

RFH to Cheer on Olympian Connor Jaeger

Saturday night’s the night to cheer on Fair Haven-raised Olympian Connor Jaeger at none other than his alma mater, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH).

Jaeger, who came in first in two swimming categories’ trials (400- and 1,500-meter freestyle), will be going for the gold in Rio de Janeiro in the 1,500 category on Saturday night.

He placed fifth in the 400 in Rio a couple of weeks ago.

All are invited to gather, watch and cheer Jaeger on at RFH’s auditorium at 7 p.m.

This is Jaeger’s second round at the Olympics. He competed four years ago and came in sixth in the 1,500.

Go Connor!

 

Sea Bright DWI Checkpoint

Sea Bright police, in conjunction with the Monmouth County DWI Task Force, will hold a DWI checkpoint late Friday night into Saturday morning in Sea Bright.

Vehicles will be directed from the northbound lanes of Ocean Avenue into the Sea Bright Borough Parking Lot from 11 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday where drivers’ sobriety will be gauged, according to the Task Force.

 

Retro Lock, Stock & Barrel Dinner & Waitresses

It’s too hot to cook, right?

Well, back in the day, decades ago, you could go on over to Lock, Stock & Barrel in Fair Haven, where Nauvoo Grill Club now sits, for a  $3.50 prime rib dinner. Yes, you read that right. See?

Screen Shot 2016-08-11 at 6.01.11 PM

Check out the ad from probably the early 1970s. While school was in, kids would walk over from what was then Willow Street School (now Viola L. Sickles) during lunch hour for a huge burger, fries, a salad and a cherry coke — all for less than $1. True hometown story. Oh, then the kids walked over to the penny candy store down the street for a few Red Hot Dollars, Swedish Fish and a candy necklace.

Many of the Lock, Stock waitresses were Fair Haven moms, some of them Fair Haven Fire Company Ladies’ Auxiliary members.

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day, courtesy of native Fair Havenite Evie Connor Kelly, is a look back at those ladies all dressed up and performing a Lock Stock waitressing spoof at a fire company event and a look at a menu.

Prime rib and a song and dance, anyone? Remember these ladies? They knew all the kids.