All posts by Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Opinion

Fair Reflections: An Ode to Opening Night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair

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Our annual reprise in celebration of opening night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and how all the scents and sights the night before flood a Fair Haven kid’s mind with memories of the fairest kind. This year, this reprise is dedicated to my little sister. May life be forever fair in our haven of priceless memories …

All’s fair. The night before. The decades later. It’s something a Fair Haven kid will always see … a shooting star that they grabbed and tucked away in their heart, holding onto the glistening, magical light.

The night is still. A light is on. Trucks are out of the bays. Cartoony faces and ghosts in empty seats on unassembled carnival rides stare back in the dark. Someone’s cooking at the Fair Haven firehouse. It’s fair time.

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Local Life, Opinion

Grow with Grace: Fair Time is Fall Veggie Time

When the tents go up in front of the firehouse, the excitement of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair is always tempered with a little end-of-summer blues. If you’re a gardener, you may feel as though you’re headed toward the end of the season, too.

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Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Three Juveniles Charged in Connection with July Murder

Three juveniles are facing charges stemming from a July murder. One is facing the murder and associated charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced.

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Local Life, Opinion

Old News: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and its Flying Geraldos, 10-Cent Charleston Dances, Ponies, Carousels & Spin Art

The Charleston, flying trapeze artists, the Zipper or not, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has been an end-of-summer tradition since its inception in 1921. That’s 105 years ago. Yes, some things never change — like the fair’s core of community legacy.

Yes, legacy. It’s a concept that those lacking a sense of community and connection in their souls just don’t get. Their loss. And it’s a big one.

Continue reading Old News: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and its Flying Geraldos, 10-Cent Charleston Dances, Ponies, Carousels & Spin Art →
Local Life

Retro Wheel of Fair Fortune

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Manning a Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair game of chance booth in the 1960s
Photo/FHFD

Reprise, because the countdown to Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time has begun! Yes, there are games of chance at the fair, but most would agree that everyone’s a winner with the fair and its cache of memories for any area-raised kid. Spin …

“Round and round she goes; and, where she stops, nobody knows.”

That usual was the sing-song mantra echoed through the grounds of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair back in the day. It was emanating from the guys manning the game of chance booths that still line the grounds — the loud ticking of the wheel with the spin, numbers going round and round, fingers crossed, breath held … until they stopped on that winning number. “Aaaaaand we have a WINNER!” Woohoo!

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Crime, News, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Area Man Gets 40 Years for 2023 Attempted Sexual Assault, Robbery

An area man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison in connection with a 2023 attempted sexual assault and robbery, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Monday.

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Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Candy Apple Daze

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Candy, Ray and Marion Bennett tend to the candy apples at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair circa 1979 Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly
Candy, Ray and Marion Bennett tend to the candy apples at the
Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1969
Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly

It’s Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time! With the fair, of course, comes goodies. Confections. Fair food. One favorite that hasn’t made a comeback is the candy apple. So, we look back and reminisce about a fair treat and tradition gone with this “back by popular demand” reprise and a little addition …

How do you like them apples? If the name fits, you know … And it did. She may not have been the actual boss lady of the booth, but perhaps we could call her the Big Dipper? I mean, who better to one of those at the helm the candy apple operation at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair than a woman named Candy — Candy Bennett?

The Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to fair days in 1969 with yet another fair family affair at another booth — the candy apple booth (a corner of the Outback, or what used to be called just the hot dog booth).

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Obituaries

In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite, ’73 RFH Grad, Photographer, Musician, Ed Brett, 71

Edward "Ed" L. Brett

Longtime Fair Havenite, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate, photographer, musician and passionate preserver of local and family history, Edward “Ed” Lester Brett, passed away on July 20. He was 71. A memorial service is now set for Aug. 30.

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