Photos by Kathy Robbins … Slideshow by Elaine Van Develde
A reprise celebrating Fair Haven Fire Department Installation Dinners of the past with good line officers and department members of the past, many now gone, because the department reprised its traditional Installation Dinner over the weekend. Look back with us and remember the faces of those who served and leave behind a strong legacy to help.
It’s an honored, good-time tradition. The Fair Haven Fire Department recently had its Installation Dinner. Every New Year, new line officers are officially installed and honored and outgoing officers and members are honored in a thank you dinner dance.
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.
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.
Santa comes to the Connor-Kelly home in Fair Haven circa 1980s Photo/Connor-Kelly family
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.
Rumson-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.
The 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.
2015 FHFD Spaghetti Dinner Photo/Elaine Van Develde
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!
Dr. John Movelle and wife Betty circa 2001 Photo/Kathy Robbins
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.
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.
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.
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