Tag Archives: Fair Haven

From the Meeting Room, News

New Hires in Fair Haven

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By Elaine Van Develde

You may have noticed a couple of new faces in Fair Haven Borough Hall and around town.

That’s because in the past month, there have been two permanent new hires in the borough.

Jennifer Johnson has been appointed as the part-time administrative assistant for Engineering, Zoning, Code Enforcement, Public Works and Records Management.

Her pay is $15 an hour; and, she is to be working an average of 25 hours a week, or no more than 100 per month, according to the resolution, which was approved at the May 11 Borough Council meeting. The hiring was effective May 12.

In addition, Director of Engineering and Public Works Richard Gardella recommended Justin Herner be appointed as a part-time borough  seasonal laborer at $11 per hour. The recommendation was approved via resolution at the May 11 council meeting.

His hours for the job are not to exceed part-time limits, according to the resolution.

Schools Scene

Fair Haven Students’ Earth Day Contribution

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Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

They’re standard procedures at Viola L. Sickles and Knollwood schools in Fair Haven, but especially so when the students and staff are commemorating Earth Day — the day earmarked to honor the environment.

Fair Haven students were asked to reuse and recycle by donating their used books to the Book Recycling Project at Sickles School and the Student Council Book Drive at Knollwood School.

Continue reading Fair Haven Students’ Earth Day Contribution →

Local Life

Block Party Happiness in Fair Haven

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Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer and … block parties in Rumson-Fair Haven area towns.

Well, the folks on Parker Avenue in Fair Haven kicked off the season with some festive block partying on Saturday.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into some fun on a street full of oldies, second and third generation residents and newbies who say they moved there because of the longstanding appeal of the neighborhood where tradition is treasured.

Local Life

R-FH Area Memorial Day Events

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Monday is Memorial Day. It is not just a barbecue day, or the signal to the unofficial start of summer. It is a day of remembrance to those United States war veterans who have died in service to their country.

In the Rumson-Fair Haven area, many veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Viet Nam are still alive. They, community, family and friends gather annually on this day to pay homage to those whose lives were sacrificed in war.

Continue reading R-FH Area Memorial Day Events →

Local Life

A Retro Happy Birthday to Fair Haven’s Al Robbins

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Longtime Fair Havenite Al Robbins delivering fuel to Ray Miller's Esso station on River Road circa 1950s Photo/courtesy of Kathy Robbins
Longtime Fair Havenite Al Robbins delivering fuel to Ray Miller’s Esso station on River Road circa 1950s
Photo/courtesy of Kathy Robbins

Today would be former Fair Havenite and Fair Haven Fire Company member Al Robbins’ 96th birthday, so his daughter Kathy tells Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect.

So, to honor the longtime Fair Havenite and volunteer, we honor him in our Retro Pic of the Day.

According to his daughter, Kathy, the retro pic above is of Al delivering gas to Ray Miller’s Esso station on River Road back in the 1950s.

Al had a nickname: Baggie. Know why? Well, daughter Kathy says it’s because he was a kid, about 7 years old, when he started caddying at Rumson Country Club. Of course, he was tiny, so, she says, “all you could see when he caddied was the bag.”

This editor remembers Al from time with her family. The whole family was lots of fun. And, true to form in remembrance of Memorial Days past, a bunch of us, including the Robbins family, used to go camping every Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania Dutch Country at Oak Creek Camp.

Precious memories! Thanks for all you did for the community and this one child’s life memories. You were a good friend to all, Al Robbins! Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Local Life

Retro Good Neighbor Ray Taylor

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Fair Haven resident Ray Taylor at friend Chum Chandler's memorial service recently Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven resident Ray Taylor at friend Chum Chandler’s memorial service recently
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

You see him in every parade, at just about every event around town and always ready to lend a hand with a smile, respectful nod and gentlemanly demeanor.

He is lifetime Fair Havenite Ray Taylor and he has been unanimously nominated for Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s Retro Pic of the Day featuring good neighbors.

The veteran of World War II and the Korean War is in his 90s and has nothing but love for his hometown and its people.

Whenever he gets the chance, Taylor lets people know that he remembers those in the community who were pillars without pretense — good neighbors, volunteers and friends. He talks about them, offers his anecdotes on what each gave to the town he loves and encourages others to never forget, but to emulate them.

Teary eyed, he told children at the Veterans Day service in Fair Haven a couple of years ago that they are the future and that they should learn right away to “do your best for our beautiful community. I was raised here; and, if i die, I’ll die here.”

Thanks, Ray Taylor, for being a community role model and a good neighbor to all.

Obituaries

Services Set for Former Rumsonite, Fair Haven Dell’s Pharmacy Owner, Pauline Dell’Omo

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Former Rumsonite and Fair Haven Dell’s Pharmacy owner Pauline Graff Dell’Omo passed away at her Long Branch home on May 14 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 84.

Born in Long Branch, Pauline lived in Red Bank and Rumson before moving to Long Branch. A graduate of Red Bank High School and Monmouth College, Pauline and her husband Louis owned and operated Dell’s Pharmacy at 598 River Rd. in Fair Haven from 1953 to 1979.

After the pharmacy, she worked at United Counties Bank in Tinton Falls and Red Bank. She was also a badge checker during the summers at Spring Lake Beach.

Pauline is survived by: her daughter, Barbara Ann Dell’Omo of Wall Township, RN; and her son, Gregory G. Dell’Omo, of Pittsburgh, PA, Ph. D, president of Robert Morris University to assume presidency of Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ in August, and his wife Polly Evans Dell’Omo; five grandchildren, Lara B. Brooks, of Oakton, VA, Nicholas E. Dell’Omo, of Washington, DC, Vincent B. Dell’Omo, of Pittsburgh, PA, Jeffrey M. Dell’Omo, of Atlantic Highlands, and Robert H. Dell’Omo, of Atlantic Highlands; and two great-grandchildren, Amelia (Mila) C. Brooks and Vivienne D. Brooks.

She was predeceased by: her husband, Louis M. Dell’Omo; and son Michael L. Dell’Omo.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. , with a service being held during the visitation hours at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814.

— Obituary, courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home

Local Life

Retro Ode to Good Neighbor Chum Chandler

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Chum Chandler back in the day Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family
Chum Chandler back in the day
Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family

Well, once we published our first in a series of good (old) neighbors and asked for nominations, it didn’t take long to get an onslaught of nominations to feature  Fair Haven’s Chum Chandler as a shining example of neighborliness.

So, Chum is our Retro Pic of the Day good neighbor.

Chandler, who passed away not long ago, was a native Fair Havenite, RFH grad, local businessman, Fair Haven Fire Company lifetime member and just all-around quirky, personable character. Anyone who knew him would tell you that he embodied all that’s good in this slice of suburbia.

He was known as a tall order of tough pull-yourself-up-by-the- bootstraps love always ready to lend a hand, share a good joke, poke a little fun and spread his zest for life and, yes, the town that he loved.

The man who was known as a good neighbor to the entire borough also believed in paying it forward; and he did just that.

Thank you to neighbor Chum Chandler. People are paying your message forward.

 

 

Local Life, Opinion

Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood

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Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Ken Lockwood at his 90th birthday party in 2012
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s spring. Block party time has come.

And, with the advent of that sort of celebration of a neighborhood, we at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect are taking a look back at good neighbors.

So, we’re kicking off what will be a daily ode with our Retro Pic of the Day honoring Ken Lockwood.

Lockwood lived in Fair Haven for 88 years, nearly as long as the borough’s existence. He moved to Fair Haven at the age of 2 and is now 93.

Continue reading Rewind to Good Neighbor Ken Lockwood →

News

A Knollwood Elementary Flashback

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First grade with Mrs. Kamin at Knollwood in 1966 Photo/School picture
First grade with Mrs. Kamin at Knollwood in 1966
Photo/School picture

It all just seemed so simple then. Going to school and living in Fair Haven.

We were neighbors and friends. We walked and rode our bikes to school. And we couldn’t wait to find out who our teacher would be. We always found out in time to talk about it at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

So, back in 1966, a class of familiar community faces found out that they had Mrs. Kamin for first grade at Knollwood School.

That year was the beginning of a lot of longstanding friendships and neighborhood bonds. Treasured time.

Treasured time that warrants a look back in our Retro Pic of the Day and an anecdote about remembrance and gratitude. Remember where and how it all started and how lucky we all were to have had one another in our lives, many for a long time.

Mrs. Kamin still lives in Fair Haven. Some of these kids are grownups still living in town. Some have, sadly, passed. Some still have family here. Some are running businesses here and live one or a few towns away.

Recognize anyone? What did you learn from them or your time in that first grade class in Rumson or Fair Haven? What stuck with you most?