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Local Life

Scene Around: Where’s the Fire, Santa?

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Where’s the fire, Santa? Or were you just out for a joy ride on the big white truck? Prospective answers are questionable in the face of the Santa sighting on Friday in Fair Haven.

The answers? Well, they say that once a year, Santa parks his reindeer-drawn sleigh at the Fair Haven Firehouse and hitches a ride on the flashing, blaring firetruck to greet all the good boys and girls in town and kick off holiday festivities and a tree lighting.

Everyone accepts it as fact. And considering the joyous holiday mayhem overriding usual inquiring little minds that won’t quit, no kid ever really wondered why he couldn’t just ride that sleigh a few blocks down the street. I mean, he had already made it all the way from that North Pole. What’s a few blocks more? Something’s elfin-like mysterious about this firehouse/fire truck affinity of ol’ Saint Nick’s.

Then there’s his obvious friendship with the firefighters (ahem, as witnessed in the featured photo). Hmmmmm …

Yeah, yeah, he sees and knows all. But, what’s the Santa deal with being sleighed by all things fire company?

OK. Suspicions of decades’ long Santa and his magic firefighter connection pretty much point to one thing: In his spare time, Santa’s a fireman. Well, he’s at least a firemen groupie.

My mother always told me that the firehouse and firetruck Santa we saw around town before Christmas was an elf subbing for the real deal. Na. Sorry, Mom. I think the other deduction is more on target. Ho, no? Ho, yes!

And, hey, kids, should the suspicion be true, it’s a double the Santa pleasure for you. Let’s face it, between the trucks, the firehouse, the reindeer, the suits (fire and red) and the lights, sirens and action, there’s nothing more magical.

Oh, right. There’s the volunteer spirit and smile. Wait. Does Santa stay at the firehouse until it’s time for more of those traditional photos there? Molly Pitcher? Hmmmm …

Cheers to the Santa spirit! And thanks to the fire company elves for capturing the moments.

— Photos/FHFD media

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Local Life

Focus: Fall for a River Anchor of Warmth

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Whatever anchors your heart and floats your boat — like a crisp, sun-kissed fall day down by the river in Fair Haven.

Doesn’t matter if the boat floats. The heart fits. And it’s always anchored at the river for the soul of a Rumson-Fair Haven area kid. No matter what, when the sun’s rays warm the chill in the fall air, it’s always a reminder of what berths and soothes while cradling the heart in the warm embrace of a lapping tide down by the river.

It’s a toasty harbor, whether or not the sails are set. The boat, the heart, knows where home is — and it snuggles in, as the cold disappears with a memory and a dream of what there is “no place like.”

The sun is due to cast its rays this week, shining on the best of pre-winter moments …

Here’s the weather forecast for this week, courtesy of the National Weather Service:

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Local Life, Schools Scene

Scene Around: Caroling with RFH’s Tower Singers

RFH Tower Singers breaking from caroling on Saturday
Photo/RFH PAS

They were unmasked, on key and merrily singing their way into the holiday season.

Donning school signature purple and season-appropriate Santa hats, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Singers caroled their way from Rumson to Red Bank, with four stopping points along the way and high-pitch Christmas spirit to spread.

Continue reading Scene Around: Caroling with RFH’s Tower Singers →
Local Life, Police and Fire

Scene Around: Two RFH Grads in a Sheriff’s Office Pod

It’s not every day that you see two Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduates, Fair Haven- and Rumson-raised law enforcement officers, side-by-side at a Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office swearing-in. Just today.

Continue reading Scene Around: Two RFH Grads in a Sheriff’s Office Pod →
Local Life

Retro Thanksgiving Meal Deals

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Reprise! Just because it’s pretty fun to look back with us again at just what it used to cost to shop for the feast … Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Oh, it’s that time — when people were out gobbling up final hour deals on their Thanksgiving meal ingredients.

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day take us back to one supermarket of the past, another old standard, and turkey dinner deals of the 1960s or 70s? Guess what year these Red Bank Register ads were published.

Remember Finast? Remember where it was? Well, the store’s turkey day sale involved the bird at 49 cents a pound or a beef roast for 98.

And how about this Foodtown ad? The offer there was the same for the Thanksgiving bird — 49 cents per pound. Though the Foodtown roast was $1.09. And how about those nuts at 39 cents? If only the price of nuts wasn’t so nuts nowadays. Bacon, too. When was the last time you saw bacon sold for 69 cents per 1lb package?

A long time ago, that’s when. For the food prices of yesteryear we give thanks — or a little cry.

How much did you pay per pound for your bird this year?

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Local Life

Scene Around: State Champ Bulldog Bliss

Jenny and Nick Costello celebrate the RFH Varsity Football state championship winning moment
Photo/courtesy of Jenny Costello

It’s double the RFH pride when the Bulldogs win the varsity state football championship, you’re a player and your cheering section is headed by your RFH grad mom.

Of course, moms are number one fans; but, the RFH connection between this mother and son just makes this on-the-field capture all the more Bulldog meaningful. That’s because the moment is one between 1993 grad Jenny Jones Costello and son Nick, an RFH senior and linebacker for the team.

Yes, by now, most know that the RFH Varsity Football team won the state championship with Friday night’s playoff win against Hazlet’s Raritan High School 34-27, making them the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 champions.

Those winning two-generation RFH smiles say it all.

Congratulations Bulldogs! Cheers!