Aloha! It’s Hawaiian for hello and goodbye, right?
Well, unfortunately, this year, after a successful first Tiki Haven last year, before the date even got here it was time to say “Aloha” to this year’s Tiki Haven, the fundraiser for future Fair Haven Days.
Yes, it’s still called Church Street. But, no, there’s no longer any church fronting River Road at the intersection of the namesake spot in Fair Haven.
A few months after Kolarsick Builders’ plan for a three-home subdivision was approved by the Planning Board, one home looks nearly complete, another is framed and a foundation is dug for a larger one slated to front River Road while the others front, well, Church Street.
The street always comprised a close knit neighborhood comprised of many who keep in touch or remain close friends. Some even still live on the street.
They’ve been wondering lately what the street where they lived looks like. Here it is, old time Church Street people.
And, no, there are no plans to change the name to House Street.
— Elaine Van Develde
The chill is in the air, signaling the time for the Tiki Haven Luau.
The tropical-themed event, designed to warm winter spirits and raise funds for future Fair Haven Days, is set for Saturday, Feb. 27 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus hall on Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven.
It will feature island-style food (pulled pork and fixins’ as a main dish), music, games (like the limbo, an outfit contest, a 50/50 and auctions with donated prizes from local businesses) and drink (beer, wine and sodas) for $50. A bar will be open and serving drinks not included in the admission price for cash.
“It looks like we may have started yet another wonderful tradition celebrating the Borough of Fair Haven that began with our 2012 Centennial Celebration with this new event,” Fair Haven Foundation President and Councilwoman Susan Sorensen said. “With winter in full swing, we all could use a bit of summer fun!”
So, get out your Hawaiian shirt, grass skirt, coconut top and lei — not necessarily in that order or all together — and order tickets now, the committee recommends.
See you in Hawaii — on the sunny shores of Knights of Columbus.
For tickets, contact Marie Noglows at [email protected] or purchase at Fair Haven Borough Hall.
The Fair Haven Fiske AME Chapel Soul Food Dinner was deemed a success after only a couple of hours — by 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, to be exact.
Oh, the folks at the church may have been a bit worn out by then, but they were still cooking in more ways than one. Even though the ribs sold out completely, chicken was still in the fryer and 66 dinners had been sold. The side dishes were “wiped out,” gone, they said.
It’s no wonder people clamor to feast on the food for this dinner. Sonia Reevey, forever congregant and Fair Havenite, told us the secret is that there is no secret other than good, old fashioned home-cooked food made from special family recipes. “Everyone makes their special dish,” she said. “That’s all. That’s all it takes. We all have something special to cook.”
The ribs, she said, went right away. We were told that the not-so-secret secret to that recipe was a dry rub left overnight in the fridge, then slow baking and special barbecue sauce.
Missed that special treat. But, there was plenty of chicken and the cooks insisted that we try it fresh out of the cast iron skillet. Delicious. Crispy and warm on the outside and moist on the inside. Simple. The seasoning and coating were simple. Nothing overdone.
Call it food fit for the nourishment of the soul. There’s nothing complicated about it. That’s been the recipe for everything at the chapel since the dawn of time in Fair Haven. Hometown comfort food and friends.
Take a look at the photo gallery for a glimpse into the day.
— Elaine Van Develde
Reports of tremors felt in southern and western New Jersey flooded social media at about 1:30 p.m.
Now, at about 3:30, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has reported on Twitter that the rumblings felt were likely not an earthquake but a sonic boom. Why was it felt at different times and, in some spots, multiple times? “A sonic boom travels through the air w/ the airplane so it arrives at different ground locations at different times,” USGS reported.
This editor felt it in Fair Haven while on the phone with a news contact for another story. It wasn’t major, but enough to startle and make the house rumble for a few seconds. It only happened once here.
Seconds later, while the news contact from a mile or two away in the same area did not feel the same quake, people started bombarding social media with reports of tremors. Most reported were felt in western Monmouth County and Ocean County and farther south.
No one else from the immediate area has said they felt any sort of tremor. Since, though, NJ State Police, on their Facebook page, has asked people to let them know where and when tremors were felt throughout the state.
Here’s their post:
“Have you felt the tremors?
We are hearing reports of tremors here in Jersey. For the record, we have not reported any seismic blasts anywhere in the State.
If you’ve felt the tremors today, let us know in the comments where and when. We’re working to confirm.”
While USGS has stood by the sonic boom theory, other sources have disagreed and the state police are still asking people to report any tremors from the afternoon.
Did you feel it?
By Elaine Van Develde
They personified RFH cool. They were the sibling team of Ben and Kate Hamilton.
That team was separated with the untimely death of Ben, a gentle, sunny embrace of community spirit and friendship for many, on Nov. 21, 2015.
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s time to talk about the fate of a 4.5-acre swath of open space in Fair Haven that borders and includes Schwenker’s Pond that was unofficially gifted to the borough last year.
Continue reading Up for Discussion in Fair Haven: Schwenker Open Space Developer’s Agreement
In one way or another, they were part of the lives of the people of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
Some were leaders. Some were in prominent positions. Some were just plain popular people — mainstays around the towns. Some retired. Some resigned. Some were promoted. Some passed away and left behind their community legacies. Some made small, significant contributions of kind words or bright smiles.
For whatever the reason, we remember them. They passed through our lives last year or a lot longer. They embodied the community. They are the Rumson-Fair Haven area faces of 2015.
— Elaine Van Develde
There was a lot happening in the way of events in the Rumson-Fair Haven area in 2015.
There was …
Take a look back with us! Don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge!
It’s status quo for the New Year. Towns reorganize. Newly-elected and/or re-elected officials are sworn in, professionals are appointed and re-appointed, emergency responder line officers are installed and volunteers are named to committees. It’s called reorganization.
It’s also usually status quo for towns to hold their annual reorganization ceremonies on New Year’s Day.
This year, there’s a slight change in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
While Rumson will still hold its annual reorganization at Bingham Hall, on Bingham Avenue, at 11:30 a.m., Fair Haven’s reorganization will be held, instead, on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall.
In Rumson, Mayor John Ekdahl will officially be sworn into his fourth four-year term as mayor. In addition, the emergency response line officers will be named and sworn in. And, Ekdahl will give his classic “looking back on 2015” speech.
In Fair Haven, incumbent councilmen Robert Marchese and Eric Jaeger will be sworn in to additional three-year terms. Fire Department and First Aid line officers will be sworn in. Residents and officials will also be named to various committees.
Click here for the full agenda of appointments.
When it comes to landscape scenery, there’s a lot to see in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect always tries to seize the moment in a photo when the scene presents itself — and it has countless times in 2015. How could it not? The area, surrounded by the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and nestled along the Atlantic Ocean, is enveloped with natural beauty.
So, here are the most picturesque scenes captured in the R-FH area in 2015. What a wondrous waterfront world …
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Festivus or just plain friends, family and community, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect wishes you a merry anything and everything!
— Elaine Van Develde
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