There’s a new chief in town. Well, there’s a new chief, deputy chief, assistant chiefs, lieutenants, captains, president and vice president in the Fair Haven Fire Department’s fire company, first aid squad, auxiliary and water rescue.
Continue reading Scene Around: Swearing In Fair Haven Fire Department’s Line Officers 
It’s spooky and kooky Halloween party season.
And there’s nothing quite like a costume party full of festive, fun fiends who take full advantage of the season to say the devil made them do it when it comes to tricks and the sometimes questionable treat of their disguises.
Continue reading Retro Motley Firemen’s Halloween Party Crew 
Call it Fire Company No. 1 — number one as in first place winner.
Continue reading Scene Around: Fire Company Hose, Ladder & Spirit Win
Who’s who and what? Well, in Fair Haven, starting at the literal top of the list, the borough’s new administrator, Christopher York, started work on Monday.
Continue reading Names in Fair Haven News: New Administrator, Volunteers 
They were officers and gentlemen serving their small town as volunteer emergency responders. Yes, it’s that time. Reorganization time.
Oh, there are classic New Year’s Day celebrations to usher in the new line officers in the fire departments — fire company, fire police and first aid. There are new chiefs and officers. We’ll get to who they all are for 2023 in Fair Haven.
Continue reading Retro 70s Fair Haven Fire Department Officers’ Line-Up
It’s that time for firemen in the state of New Jersey — time to gather and go a little wild in Wildwood at the annual NJ Firemen’s Convention.
Continue reading Retro Firemen Getting Wild in Wildwood
Call it luck for some that the smallest of moments carry a ton of weight that embodies a world of light — community light.
Let me tell you about it, with a light heart full of gratitude … The last time I saw forever Fair Havenite and fireman Jim Butler was at his near lifelong friend’s funeral. That was last May.
Continue reading Remembering Fair Haven’s Jim Butler: The Light Weight in Community Family Matters
It was a banner weekend for the Fair Haven Fire Department.
The forever Fair Haven group of volunteer firefighters, first aid tenders and auxiliary helpers swept some awards at another company’s 150th anniversary on Saturday and the next day celebrated the old and new with its traditional Old Timers’ Day.
Fair Haven, with it’s unique white trucks, has always stood out at parades and celebrations. This past weekend it was at Freehold Fire Department’s 150th anniversary that the department shone bright with its sharp, gleaming white apparatus and membership.
The department garnered first-place awards for: Most Active Members Present; Best Appearing Command Vehicle; Best Appearing Pumper 6-15 Years; Best Appearing Ambulance; and Best Appearing Rescue (light or heavy). A second-place award was won for Best Appearing Motorized Antique.
Congratulations, FHFD!
Then, on Sunday, the crew gathered to celebrate fire company tradition with a blend of generations, the old and new, in Old Timers’ Day. This gathering of all that’s good in connecting through volunteering and friendship for the community is a tradition that dates way back.
There are casual contests, fun, food and fire department family bonding. This fire company kid vividly remembers a tug of war and egg toss miserably lost. There may have been a two-legged race with sister tossed in the failures somewhere. Yet, everyone wins with this fire company day.
Take a look at the above photos, courtesy of the FHFD, for a glimpse into the win and Old Timers’ Day Gathering. (Click on one to enlarge and scroll.) Cheers to FHFD tradition! And, who won the egg toss?
There’s another centenarian in Fair Haven known to give 100 percent to its community.
The Fair Haven Fire Department Auxiliary, formerly the Ladies’ Auxiliary, turned 100 years old on March 21, making the volunteer organization just nine years younger than Fair Haven itself.
Continue reading Fair Haven’s New Centenarian: The Fire Department’s Auxiliary
In the wake of a Fair Haven Fire Department award and reflection on the bond among its members through generations, thoughts turn to times when the bonds were forged.
Continue reading Retro FH Fire Company Family Time
Well, the Fair Haven Fire Department grounds were flush with oldies on Sunday — cars, trucks and some old-timers themselves.
The marquee on the Fair Haven Firehouse is once again blanketed in memorial buntings. Borough firemen and longtime residents are in mourning.
Sixty-year fire company member and deep-rooted resident Thomas Vetterl “passed away peacefully” on Oct. 19 in Florida where he had relocated in his retirement years, according to his obituary in the Palm Beach Post. He was 93.
Born in Paterson, he spent most of his life in Red Bank and Fair Haven, where he was a member of the Church of the Nativity.
A graduate of Red Bank High School in 1941, Thomas was a star athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball.
A U.S. Army World War II veteran, Thomas Vetterl served as a staff sergeant in the 112th Field Artillery Division of the New Jersey National Guard, according to his obituary.
After being honorably discharged, he became a civil service employee — a motor vehicle foreman in the HISA, CECOM section of Fort Monmouth, retiring in 1985 after a 35-year career.
He was an exempt member of the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 until his death.
Formerly, he was an active member of B.P.O.E. Lodge #233 in Red Bank, and the American Legion in Tequesta, FL.
He was known to love softball and was a member of Val’s Pal Softball Club in Rumson, and in Florida was a member of Jupiter Men’s Softball Association and Staying Alive Fitness Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
He was predeceased by his wife, the late Doris G. Vetterl, in 1987.
He is survived by: two sons, Thomas J., of Gilbert, AZ, and Robert D., of Wakefield, RI; and six grandchildren, Alison, Thomas, Robert, Kristen, Victoria and Justin.
A memorial celebration will be held Nov. 7 at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Fund.
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