Fair Haven’s newly-elected council members as Knollwood Class Flirts Photo/Knollwood School Yearbook, screenshot from council candidates’ Facebook page
From class flirts to council members. That’s the path on which life has taken Fair Haven’s newly-elected Borough Council members Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.
Political season has been in full swing; and things in Fair Haven’s Borough Council campaigning have been quite cordial. In fact, the four candidates debated in a very diplomatic, respectful way. And three have answered questionnaires with excellent, well-thought-out answers to some very detailed questions about Fair Haven and critical issues. Some bi-partisan kudos and pats on the back we also given in the process.
These candidates have taken the silly out of silly season and given residents cause to believe that all is fair in this political haven.
But, let’s take the focus off local politics of today for the evening and step back in time to the 1970s and politics as it was with RFH students and teachers.
Witchy RFH women on Halloween of 1977 Bonnie Werner and Sue Brower Photo/George Day
Call it Halloween buddy system brooming. Remember the old buddy system? Trick or treating with a buddy to stay safe. Ever apply that theory in high school tricks with the only treat being the friendship and good ride through it all together?
Well, this gruesome twosome of best buds applied the system for some double trouble all in good ghoulish fun. Now that’s a special brand of mischief. You could say they were headed every witch way on this Halloween in the late 1970s, except to class.
The two would be Sue Brower and Bonnie Werner of the RFH Class of ’78.
So the double-dose Retro Pic(s) of the (George) Day feature them at their Halloween best.
An RFH ghostly gathering on Halloween in 1977 Photo/George Day
A Halloween reprise to honor the season of the ghost …
Scary season has set in. People in the Rumson-Fair Haven area aren’t just out raking leaves, either. They’re haunting up their homes, crafting costumes and getting into the spirit. So, why not add a little extra retro spooking from RFH students of the past?
BOO … who or what? It was all in the haunt for RFHers back in the 1970s. They started getting the Halloween party going early on and ended up with a pretty festive feast of ghouls on the grounds of the high school and, yes, beyond.
Some are creepy. Some kooky. Some mysterious. Some spooky. And some, as the Addams Family theme song goes, are “altogether ooky.” That is how Halloween decorations around the towns in Rumson and Fair Haven can be described.
But to see for yourself is to know the thriller factor of it all. So, a good drive-boo (or by), or two or three, of local haunts is always in order on such a “holiday.” The Halloween spirit, or spirits, seem to have moved residents — or at least jarred them a bit. Good ghoul! Now, that’s the All Hallows spirit!
Take a look at the latest and most diabolical decorations we spied and tell us about the best haunters in your ‘hood for Halloween!
To talk to anyone who considers the Rumson-Fair Haven area home, from their own back yard to far away places, a peek into the day’s end at the river is a home embrace. A hug. Comfort. So it’s been said. So it’s been felt.
So, if you can’t get down by the river tonight, here’s a hug, or 20, from the end of your road to home. (And, don’t forget to click to enlarge to get the whole hug picture.)
2014 Fair Haven Halloween Parade Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A new tradition in Fair Haven precedes a very old one on Saturday when the borough’s Halloween Egg Hunt (of all things) gets things literally rolling in Sportsman’s Field at 10:30 a.m.before the Halloween Parade at 11.
Egg hunts are typically called the “quickest” events in borough history, as kids gather behind a designated, cordoned-off line and are let loose with one signal to scramble all over the field and gather Halloween eggs filled with prizes. Yes, Halloween eggs. No Easter bunny involved.
Immediately following that, across the street at Knollwood School, the lineup for the parade begins. The parade follows the usual route down Hance Road, onto River and then on to the Fair Haven Firehouse grounds for treats, prizes and a little spooktacular (or something like that) fun.
See you around the towns!
2014 Fair Haven Halloween Parade Photo/Elaine Van Develde
In case you haven’t seen this one before and in honor of football season … a reprise …
RFH football team of the past Photo/RFH
Do we have a cheer for RFH football? Yes, football season has kicked into high gear at RFH, so let’s take a moment to tackle this handsome team of players of an unknown year as well as the issue of name and uniform style.
Is it all in a name or uniform? Certainly not. It’s all about the game and how it’s played, of course. But, there are some quirks worth taking the ball and running with for a bit. No harm, no fumble. Just fun.
Riverwalk at dusk by the Fair Haven Dock Photo/Elaine Van Develde
It’s a fall Sunday. It’s a day’s end. The start of a new week. The hush of the lapping river soothes. Dusk dances in the river’s reflections. It’s riverwalk daze at the Fair Haven Dock. A silent call to the comfort of home.
Everything is always alright in that riverwalk moment. There are many like it for a Fair Havenite — drenched in riverfront peace. Childhood laughing and splashing dancing in the mind. The cadence of it that soothes. It never gets old. It’s new with each step, each flicker in the tide, each lull in every water lap, each heartbeat that pulses home.
Take a look. Dive into the silence, the memories, each moment down by the river. Inhale home.
— Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven riverwalk at dusk Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Ripples of light dancing from Fair Haven Dock Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Juniors of the RFH Class of ’79 lounge in the Junior Lounge Photo/George Day
Some moments are meant for just lounging … like the persistent foul fall weather of the past few days. There was a place for that for juniors at RFH back in the day.
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