Retro Close Santa Encounter

Little Evie Connor asks for a Christmas wish from Santa at the Fair Haven Firehouse circa the 1960s
Photo/Connor family

 

A reprise from Dec. 13, 2018, because everyone needs a little reminder of Santa time close up and personal … 

As if one classic 1960s snapshot of a Fair Haven kid perched on Santa’s lap wasn’t enough … Clearly it wasn’t.

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Retro Santa Firehouse Visit Times

It’s the year without close Santa encounters. Santa came to town, but not to the Fair Haven firehouse, as with every year since the dawn of most area kids’ time. We’re told there have been some other masked, distanced Santa visits in 2020 pandemic holiday times, but the laptop visit is out, so is the firehouse extravaganza. So, in honor of the traditional visit, whispers, close-up scary gander at that beard, promises of being good and gifts, our annual reprise takes everyone back to that firehouse visit … or wherever … with Ol’ Saint Nick …

It’s that time of the year when a longstanding Fair Haven tradition has taken hold — photos at the firehouse with Santa.

It’s another Fair Haven tradition you can always count on.

I remember …

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Scene Around: Baking Up Sweet Holidays with a Fair Haven Mom

There’s nothing sweeter than a traditional holiday bake-off between a longtime Fair Havenite and her daughter. Sugar coat that with a little dance, too, and call it a festive confection perfection. The sweetest.

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In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite, Fair Haven Business Owner, Hal Redden, 84

Former longtime Rumson resident and Fair Haven business owner Harral Redden passed away on Dec. 7 after a brief illness with leukemia. He was 84.

The longtime resident of Little Silver as well, was a graduate of Red Bank High School and Ursinus College, where he was a wrestler. Hal was also an insurance broker who owned the Redden Agency-Insurance in Fair Haven for more than 50 years.

Hal Redden … Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“Never a summer day went by when Hal was not at Sea Bright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club playing tennis or practicing on the ball machine, after maybe a bike ride to Sandy Hook and then to Sea Bright Beach Club for a swim and to read a book or newspaper.

“In the winter, early birds at New Shrewsbury Racquet Club, (he enjoyed a) 3-day-a-week gym workout and paddle tennis at Sea Bright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club, then lunch with his friends at the Root Beer & Checker Club. An avid sportsman, Hal completed the NYC and Boston Marathons.

“In addition to all his sports activities, he loved classical music, and writing poems for his family and friend’s special occasions.” 

Loved ones of Hal Redden in his obituary

Hal was predeceased by his parents Harral and Evelyn Schultz Redden.

He is survived by: his wife of 37 years, Bernadine “Sissie” Redden; brother, Barry (Deborah) Redden; nephew, Alex, and niece, Julianna Redden; sons, Stephen and Scott Redden; stepdaughters, Victoria (Leo) Cullen, Pamela Vallas, Christa (Richard) Lippert; grandchildren, Conrad, Justin and Hanna Lippert, Anais and Kai Cullen.

Due to COVID, a celebration of Hal’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lunch Break/Food Bank Red Bank www.lunchbreak.org.

— Edited obituary from loved ones via Thompson Memorial Home

Prosecutor: Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Heroin/Fentanyl Overdose Death

A 31-year-old area man pleaded guilty last Thursday to the first-degree crime of strict liability for drug-induced death in connection with a February overdose death, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said on Friday.

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