Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time is a time for celebrating home, coming back home, connecting and holding connections strong.
Focus: Fair Times of Reuniting and Fun
All posts by Elaine Van Develde
Prosecutor: Cop Charged with $16.5K Theft Stemming from Failure to Perform Duties
An area police officer has been charged with theft in connection with instances of failing to leave his home or respond to calls for service while he was supposed to be on duty, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.
Prosecutor: Ex-Cop Sentenced for Lying About Criminal Past in Seeking Police Employment
A former police officer has lost his job, been sentenced to probation and has been permanently banned from public office anywhere in NJ for lying about his criminal history and termination from a prior job in law enforcement while seeking and obtaining police employment in the state, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.
Retro Fair Springsteen Sighting
Photo/Elaine Van Develde originally for the long-defunct Courier
A reprise, because everyone’s always talking about former longtime Rumsonite, Bruce Springsteen; and, every fair has its surprises, stars and, well, photo bombers …
Seemingly everyone knows that Bruce Springsteen until recent years made Rumson his primary home. The Boss was always known as a big fan and frequenter of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Over the years, he’s been seen countless times casually roaming the grounds — though more often when his kids were little.
Prosecutor: 23-Year-Old Woman Arrested on Vehicular Homicide and Related Charges in March Fatal Accident
An area 23-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and related offenses in connection with a three-vehicle crash in March that left one person dead and another injured, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and Wall Township Police Chief Sean O’Halloran jointly announced on Wednesday.
Retro Fair Grab Bagging Balloon Lady & Buds
Photo/FHFD
For decades there was what was referred to as The Grab Bag Booth at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. The booth was there for kids to get consolation prizes, featuring, of course, real brown paper grab bags full of goodies, that parents could buy if they didn’t win at the wheel games of chance. And there were balloons … and some fair ladies to keep the fair goodness going strong.
The Grab Bag Booth is now gone from the midway. At one point, for many years, my mom, Sally Van Develde was the chairwoman of the booth. This piece is an annual reprise to honor the booth’s goodness, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and those things that never disappear like helium balloons into the dark sky … Memories of a special lady — my mom.
Growing up in Fair Haven with parents in the fire company, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time meant time spent inflating punch balls during the day and helium balloons at night.
Prosecutor: Area Man Convicted of 10-Year Aggravated Sexual Assault of Child
An area man has been convicted of the aggravated sexual assault for more than a decade of a child from the age of 4 to 15, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Tuesday.
Steeping in Fair Memories: Cooking Up Firemen’s Fair Goodness
The following piece was originally published on Aug. 27, 2015. It’s fair time again, so it’s time to take a look back at how things were and are done a pivotal place at the fair — the kitchen and dining room.
By Elaine Van Develde
Someone’s in the kitchen at Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair grounds.
And while they may have, at one point another been with someone named Dinah, as the old ditty goes, it’s a definite they’ve been with someone named Mike, Dale, Sue (x2), Raquel, Ethel (x2), Mary, Anne, Amanda, Skippy, Hodgie, Mary Ellen, Joe, Evie, and, oh, yeah, Andy and a few others.
And they certainly haven’t been strummin’ on any ol’ banjo. They’ve been way too busy — cutting, peeling, filling, flouring, husking and just plain cooking.
Except there’s nothing plain about what’s cooking in the fair kitchen, who’s cooking it, when, where, why or how.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
In Memoriam: Little Silver Resident, Longtime Coach, Barry Rizzo Sr., 94
Little Silver resident, Barry Henry Rizzo Sr., passed away peacefully on Aug. 30, surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was 94.
Prosecutor: Former Teacher Gets 12 Years for Aggravated Sexual Assault of Student
A former teacher has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison for the aggravated sexual assault of a teenage student, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Monday.
In Memoriam: Longtime Rumsonite, Land Conservationist, Community ‘Visionary,’ Dick Mercer Jr., 95
Longtime Rumsonite Henry Dickson “Dick” Mercer Jr. passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 24. He was 95.
Remembering My Fair Daddy
The following piece was originally published on Aug. 31, 2015. It is being re-run, with changes only in the amount of years that have passed, in memory of my father, Bill Van Develde, former longtime Fair Haven Fire Company member, president and captain of the Fire Police and chairman of the Stock Room at the fair, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 30, 1983. RIP, Dad. You are missed. Thank you for all the embarrassing moments that I didn’t appreciate enough. Thank you for making Fair Haven my home. Thank you for being a real dad. See you on the fair grounds …
Photo/FHFD booklet
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s been 43 years, but I can still see his face and that kooky Brylcreemed hairdo. I can still hear his crazy belly laugh and that signature “Take ‘er easy, buddy!” I can still see him slapping kids on the back, forever clutching his trusty clipboard, pencil perched behind his ear, sweat on the brow and finger wagging.
Continue reading Remembering My Fair Daddy
You must be logged in to post a comment.