Lifetime Rumsonite, First Aid Squad member, former Fair Haven crossing guard and 34-year Fair Haven Fire Department member, Harvey Tilton Jr., passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Jan. 22. He was 89.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Lifetime Rumsonite, Former Fair Haven Crossing Guard, Harvey Tilton Jr., 89 
When it comes to volunteer fire department reorganizations of the New Year, while members usually know who’s up next and for what position on the line of officers, it’s all formalized with official oaths of office on New Year’s Day.
A classic reprise, just because … it’s Santa time!
Santa has begun making the rounds around the towns lately. You’ve likely seen him being whisked through the Rumson and Fair Haven neighborhoods on the firetruck over the weekend. It’s that time of the year.
Continue reading Retro Santa House CallRumson-raised longtime Fair Havenite, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) 1969 graduate and 37-year Fair Haven Fire Department member, Frank A. Scalzo, passed away on July 3.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Rumson-Raised Longtime Fair Havenite & Fire Co. Member, RFH ’69 Grad, Frank ScalzoThe mourning buntings are draped. The flag is at half staff. The marquee on the Fair Haven Firehouse announces the passing of 53-year Fire Department member, former chief and First Aider, Dwight Havens.
Dwight, a former longtime Fair Havenite and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate, more recently of Jonesborough, TN, passed away on Feb. 21, surrounded by his children. He was 74.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Former Fair Haven Fire Company Chief, Longtime Fair Havenite, Dwight Havens, 74
Bullseye! The guys of the Fair Haven Fire Department back in the 1960s hit it on a regular basis playing darts.
Continue reading Retro FHFD 1960s Darts Bullseye
There’s nothing quite like stirring the pot in the company of good friends.
Continue reading Retro FHFD Ladies’ Pot Stirring
What better way to take the chill out of the winter air than by kicking off the weekend with a little music at the hands of area musicians and finishing it with a homemade spaghetti dinner among community friends?
The soothing starts tonight with music by longtime Rumsonite and RFH grad, Kyle Ward and the Elk-Ward Duo at a new venue, the Long Branch Distillery, at the foot of Broadway from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Ward has been playing in the area for some time now, so this is a great time to catch up with him.
And, if a riverfront night of kicking back in traditional style and listening to local talent tickle the ivories is more your mojo, pianist Conor Quigley will be playing from 6 to 10 p.m. at the bar in The Molly Pitcher Inn.
And on Saturday in Fair Haven …
A real classic, down-home night is back! The now Angelo DePonti Memorial Spaghetti Dinner at the Fair Haven Firehouse from 5 to 8 p.m. upstairs. Spaghetti, meatballs and dessert will be served for a nominal fee to benefit the volunteer fire department.
The dinner is making its comeback from a pandemic hiatus and features, as always, the sauce and meatball recipes of former longtime Fire Company social member Angelo DePonti, who, for years, was there to concoct and oversee the making of the meals, stirring the pot and serving up some homemade sustenance with true love of community, a smile and a thumbs up.
The dinner, since DePonti’s death, has been dedicated to him. So, take a trip over and mangia to see what “That’s amore!” really means.
And the weekend is looking pretty tame, with a glint of sun showing some promise. Here’s the forecast. Enjoy!
With the new year’s reorganizations of governing bodies and fire company and first aid line officers, it’s about that time for what follows — the Fair Haven Fire Department’s longstanding traditional Installation Dinner.
Besides the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, it’s the fire company’s social event of the year blanketed in official business and fun.
It’s a time to thank the outgoing line officers and welcome the incoming, dance, eat and offer a few cheers for the coming year.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day, contributed by Kathy Robbins (and originally published in 2016), offers a look back at a popular Fair Haven doctor and his wife at the dinner.
Continue reading Retro Fire Department Installation Dining with an Iconic Doc
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
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
Haul out the garland. It’s that time of the year when all good organizations start the holiday partying.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Ladies’ Auxiliary Holiday Party Time
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