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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 1979
Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair is one week away from its opening night. With the fair, of course, comes goodies. Confections. Fair food. One favorite that hasn’t made a comeback and won’t still 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 1979 with yet another fair family affair at another booth — the candy apple booth (or corner of the Out Back, or what used to be called just the hot dog booth).

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Local Life

Retro RFH Class of ’73 Reuniting & 50th Rev-Up

It’s summertime and the RFH reunions are revving up with a big “Cheers to the class!” — whichever it may be.

In fact, the RFH Class of ‘73 is celebrating half a century since graduation with its 50th reunion on the same night that the Class of ’78 is having its 45th — Aug. 26.

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News, Regional Interest

Making Waves: MU Study Finds Rain-Driven Pollution Plagues Ocean Surf Zones

Surfers at beaches where stormwater drainage pipes discharge into the ocean risk catching more than waves on a rainy day.

Monmouth University researchers studying the influence of weather and ocean conditions on microbial pollution found that within six to 24 hours of moderate rainfall, enterococcus bacteria levels exceeded state health safety standards about half the time at these beaches. While rain is a known driver of illness-causing microbial pollution at New Jersey beaches, this was the first peer-reviewed study to formally investigate the linkage.

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Local Life

Retro Happy Fair Haven Campers

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Happy campers at the Fair Haven campout in 2013 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Happy campers at the Fair Haven campout in 2013
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Fair Haven’s annual borough-wide campout may no longer be a summertime easy, sticky living event, but a first is always a warm memory. This one, back in 2013, was just plain piping hot.

Things got off to a steamy start, as the temps were high, humid and seemingly climbing. As of tent-pitching time, there were only two crews pitching in the Fair Haven Fields.

The helpers camped out at the campout entrance, told us they thought there’d be more campers joining in as the sun set and people parked themselves for the games and movie.

A few years ago, in 2013, it was a bit cooler out and the place was crawling with very happy, and pretty hysterically funny, campers. In fact, one of these little rascals turned man recently celebrated a birthday. Know who? Hey, get-togethers like this and childhood friends should always be celebrated, birthday or not.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is dedicated to some truly happy Fair Haven campers!

This crew, in particular, loved to pose for pics.

Recognize anyone? Birthday boy?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Regional Interest

Living the Dream: A Girl and Her ‘Oops a Daisy’ Horseplay

No horsing around. Sometimes it’s just all about a Monmouth County girl, her miniature horse and some big advice.

The girl? That’s 17-year-old incoming Freehold Township High School senior Dallas Blair, the new New Jersey Miss Agriculture USA 2024. The mini horse? That’s 8-year-old Daisy in the stable, or Chrome’s Oops a Daisy in shows. Her equine stage name, in other words.

And speaking of words, if you happened to see Daisy and Blair at the 4-H tent at Monmouth County Fair on Sunday or sometime last week, you may have not only been treated to a good showing. Blair may have horse-whispered her words of teen “love what you do” wisdom to you.

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Local Life

Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls

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The year was 1988. It was a decade past graduation, yet, The Hustle was still happening. So was Saturday Night Fever. And three besties had the fever getting set to dance to the tune of the RFH Class of ’78’s first reunion — the 10th in 1988.

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