Category Archives: Local Life

A look, in photos, of latest area events, local everyday people and places.

Local Life

Scene Around: Fair Still Cookin’

Fair kitchen is open
Photo/FHFD

Well, the word is official. After a few great weather days, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has been rained out due to Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation.

That means that the rides and other attractions will be shut down for the evening. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the kitchen is open, volunteers are cooking and people are invited to grab a seat in the dining room for fair food or hit the take-out window to bring some home and brighten the dank day with a little of the fair’s finest comfort.

As the sign on the firehouse says, “Only dining room is open tonight — 6-10 p.m.”

All’s fair!

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Carousel Girl

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Riding on the merry go 'round at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair circa 1990s. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Riding on the merry go ’round at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1990s.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

More than a couple of decades ago, a little girl got on the carousel at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and took a ride.

She was beaming and waving as she rode ’round and ’round. The moment was captured in a black-and-white photo.

It’s a classic fair moment that says a lot about the month’s end more than century-old tradition for which preparations are underway.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors this little girl’s ride on the merry go ’round and many other fair moments like it.

The little girl would be in her twenties now. Anyone recognize her?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro River Ratting

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The following Retro Pic of the Day, an annual ode to summer riverfront life in the area, was originally posted on Aug. 1, 2016. Take a look back with us again … 

A 1976 River Rats crew
Photo/courtesy Marc Edelman, Facebook

Summers in the Rumson-Fair Haven area are rife with river-oriented activities that have become tradition.

River Rats’ sailing “camp” is no exception. OK, nobody was camping. It was more like a little club. Still is.

It’s been a sort of rite of living on the Navesink passage for decades — since 1955. Kids learn how to boat and do a lot of summer fun bonding in the process.

Continue reading Retro River Ratting →

Local Life

Simple Summer: Val’s Manager, Music,Buds & Birthdays

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Val’s Tavern manager Kevin Feehan takes a break with a buddy from performing on his birthday last weekend at Ron’s West End Pub.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Nothing says good simple summer times like a sunny day, a serenade by a familiar local face and just plain fun with friends. Oh, and a couple of coincidental birthdays, to boot.

Continue reading Simple Summer: Val’s Manager, Music,Buds & Birthdays →

Local Life

Retro Rides of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair

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A Fair Haven Firemen's Fair ride perspective from the 1990s Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair ride perspective from the 1990s
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s that time. They’re setting up for the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. And before you know it, Majestic Midways will come rolling into town with the rides.

Some have been fair staples for decades — like the Zipper and the ferris wheel. Some are still terrifying to adults — never mind the childhood chicken terrors from the thought of being dared to ride anything but the stationary chair on the merry go ’round.

OK, so that’s a little pathetic. Hey, sometimes you just want to spare onlookers from some scenes that just wouldn’t be pretty — like a full-grown middle-aged person ill, in tears and hanging upside down at the top of a ride.

But we digress …

The Retro Pic of the Day hones in on two classic fair rides from the 1990s. We know one is the ferris wheel. And it looks like the same one. What about the other?

Know what ride that is? What’s your favorite? Least favorite.

We vote Zipper on least. Still, it’s some sort of odd comfort to see it again every year.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Honoring Fair Haven’s Megan Douty, World Cup Lax Champ

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Fair Havenite Megan Douty wiped away a few tears, smiled and told a capacity crowd at Monday’s Borough Council meeting, “I’m just so honored” as she accepted a proclamation honoring her for being a Team U.S.A. World Cup champ.

Flanked by family, friends, fans and old high school lax team girls, Douty expressed gratitude to her hometown and posed for some photos.

Douty, a 2011 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate and 2015 graduate of The University of Maryland, was part of the U.S.A. Lacrosse Team that beat Canada, getting the gold in an undefeated 2017 season.

Douty has participated in the U.S.A. program for the past three years. She was then selected for the 2017 U.S. World Cup Team.

While Douty was a student at RFH, she was known as a star athlete on the high school’s lacrosse team. As a Terrapin at University of Maryand, she became known as one of the top lacrosse defenders in the country who earned all-American status in 2014 and 2015.

“It was a great honor for the Borough of Fair Haven to have one of its residents, Megan Douty, represent the United States of America and Fair Haven,” the proclamation said, designating Aug. 7, 2017 as Megan Douty Day in Fair Haven.

Congrats, Megan!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Simple Fair Haven Buddy Times

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A bunch of boys. A bag of Cheetos. Dirt-eating grins. Pranks. Pull the ol’ finger. The little things are what made these guys smile — and wipe their pants with orange-stained Cheeto hands.

Continue reading Retro Simple Fair Haven Buddy Times →

Local Life

Fair Haven Cop Getting a Shave for a Good Cause

Fair Haven Police Cpl. John Waltz isn’t getting a shave and a haircut, he’s getting a haircut that’s a shave for a good cause. And he and several other people kids look up to as community role models are getting the shave on Saturday at what has been dubbed Shave a Hero.

It’s all being done in the name of funding for childhood cancer and providing assistance to affected families in need. The Middletown Fire Department has collaborated with Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer for the family-friendly fundraising event during which the main attraction will be watching those thought of as “big” heroes (firefighters, police officers, school principals and community kids looking to help) having their heads shaved by little heroes — childhood cancer survivors.

The event will be held, rain or shine, on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Community Firehouse Station #4 at 75 Appleton Avenue in the Leonardo section of Middletown.

In addition to the main attraction — the big shave — there will be be food, games, music, face painting and more.

The story of Infinite Love … 

Seven-year-old Natalie Grace Gorsegner was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in August of 2012. She underwent over two years of aggressive chemotherapy and has been in remission since November of 2014.

While the Gorsegners are grateful for their daughter’s survival, they know all too well that many families do not share their same good fortune as childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States; and, funding has been extremely limited. In more than 25 years, only three new drugs have been developed for any type of childhood cancer, organizers said statistics show.

Through their grassroots foundation, Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, the Gorsegner’s have made it their mission to continue the fight against childhood cancer, mainly seeking research support, but also helping the families of young fighters both emotionally and financially.

In the past four years, the foundation has awarded more than half a million dollars in research grants to some of the nation’s top leading research facilities and hospitals. Funds have come from individual, business and group donors.

** Food/beverage bands will be sold $20/person, food/water bands will be $10/person and kids 12 and under eat for FREE (no advance sales). Any shavee who raises/donates $20 or more will automatically receive one food/beverage band.**

 

Local Life

Focus: It’s Another Fair Haven Dock Sunset

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Yes, it’s been done many times … Sunset photos at the Fair Haven Dock.

But no two sunsets are ever the exact same. And no feeling each time you stand there, stroll down the dock or on the beach and take it all in is exactly the same.

From one perspective at least, tonight’s setting was about color, clouds and content chatter among fishermen.

Good night, Fair Haven …

— Elaine Van Develde

(Don’t forget to click to enlarge!)