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Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Grab Bagging Balloon Lady & Buds

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Sally Van Develde selling balloons at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair Grab Bag Booth
Sally Van Develde selling balloons at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Grab Bag Booth
Photo/FHFD

For decades there was what was referred to as The Grab Bag Booth at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. The booth was there for kids to get consolation prizes, featuring, of course, real brown paper grab bags full of goodies, that parents could buy if they didn’t win at the wheel games of chance. And there were balloons … and some fair ladies to keep the fair goodness going strong.

The Grab Bag Booth is now gone from the midway. At one point, for many years, my mom, Sally Van Develde was the chairwoman of the booth. This piece is an annual reprise to honor the booth’s goodness, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and those things that never disappear like helium balloons into the dark sky … Memories of a special lady — my mom.

Growing up in Fair Haven with parents in the fire company, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time meant time spent inflating punch balls during the day and helium balloons at night.

Continue reading Retro Fair Grab Bagging Balloon Lady & Buds →
Obituaries, Opinion

Remembering, Embracing Her Light: 1982 RFH Grad Terri Rowett, 57

My little sister Terri was a light. Sometimes she burned bright and brilliant; other times she merely sparkled … As she traveled, explored, and embraced her worlds, Terri connected with people for a moment or a lifetime; once she made a connection, she cherished it. My heart is broken. I will miss her desperately. ~ Chris Rowett Peter

A light. Always glistening. Shining. Lighting the way to welcome every connection in her universe. Wrapping each in a tight hug of warm, ferocious illumination.

That’s how Rumson-raised Teresa Ann Rowett, better known as Terri or TT, was seen. The youngest of five sisters and one brother, the third sister to pass away, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Class of 1982 graduate died suddenly at Shore Point Health in Port Charlotte, on Aug. 22. She was 57. Her life was celebrated on Sunday.

This is how she is remembered …

Continue reading Remembering, Embracing Her Light: 1982 RFH Grad Terri Rowett, 57 →
Local Life

Focus: Fair Opening Faces & Moments

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All was fair for sure as the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair opened this past weekend.

This summer marked the first time since pandemic times that there was a full return to fair normalcy with the reopening of the famous dining room and full-on fair sit-down feasting service.

Most of all, there was feasting on full-on fun, tradition and reuniting. That’s because all’s always fair at the end of the summer in Fair Haven.

Take a look at the photo slideshow and photo gallery below to get a glimpse into those fair opening moments … (Click on one photo in the gallery to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

— Photos/courtesy of Fair Haven Fire Department Media

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Local Life

Scene Around: Fair Haven Baby Celebrity Jam

Fair Haven’s Ruby Dowling was showcased for her first birthday on the TODAY Show for Smucker’s
Photo/Sceeenshot of TV

It’s pretty sweet and it’s her mom’s jam. But now one little Fair Haven girl is a bit of a celebrity stuck in that joyous birthday jam. And she’s all smiles and clueless about the fame.

Continue reading Scene Around: Fair Haven Baby Celebrity Jam →
Local Life

Scene Around: Fishing for Summer Fun & Education

They went fishing for a fun day and reeled in the biggest of catches — a fun, educational day.

On Wednesday, Aug. 10, Immediate Care Medical Walk-In hosted its 7th Annual Kids Fishing Trip.

About 60 children and adults from community organizations Father Time, Frances Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex County enjoyed a day of fishing at the Immediate Care Walk-In of Red Bank’s 7th Annual Kids’ Fishing Trip.

A 75-foot charter boat left out of Atlantic Highlands guided by Captain Mike and deckhands, Dee, Zack, and Sissy.

During the excursion, the Immediate Care team showed the kids how to bait their rods, cast and reel in when they got a bite. Members of American Littoral Society, the environmental group headquartered at Sandy Hook, also joined the event to teach the children about the different species of fish and which are tagged and returned to sea due to size.

There was breakfast and lunch at sea and a day full of fluke fishing, learning, fun, prizes and gifts.

— Photos/Immediate Care

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Local Life

Simple Summer: Jazzing it Up in the Park

There’s nothing simpler or more fun than some sweet summertime dancing to the beat of a band in a park — or your own drummer, for that matter.

It’s all golden summer fun when there’s a little dancing to the ever-so-popular band Line Drive at Jazz in the Park in Red Bank. And last Thursday night there was dancing, a lot of it spearheaded by one person literally doing the dancing to the beat of her own drummer, actually. That would be Lucille LoSapio (center in the featured photo) who was literally dancing to the beat of her own drummer — her husband, Gary Dates, longtime drummer with Line Drive.

Line Drive is in revival mode and playing all over the place again. Aside from some other dancing divas in the park, there was one who got a special birthday serenade. That would be the Red Bank Recreation girl at the entrance. Know her? She got the crowd spirited from the start at the entrance.

Jose Loo, Line Drive’s forever lead vocalist, now also on the keyboard, sang to the birthday girl (appropriately vested for the job) and the crowd joined in.

Solid gold? Why, yes, all that jazzy dancing, easy listening and riverfront scenery sure is. No need to complicate the simplest of summer spendor in a day when you could be dancing … yeah!

Take a look at the above photo gallery for a glimpse into the Jazz in the Park fun. (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)

Jazz in the Park at Riverside Garden Park on Front Street in Red Bank will feature the Stephane Wremble Trio this Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.. Line Drive will be appearing at Triumph Brewing in Red Bank on Friday. Click here for more on Line Drive updates.

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Fire Company Picnic Pack Fun

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A gathering of Fair Haven Fire Department folks of the past. Photo/FHFD Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly
A gathering of Fair Haven Fire Department folks of the past.
Photo/FHFD Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly

On the cusp of Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, thoughts turn to the longtime members of the fire company who have made it happen every single year for more than a century.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Fire Company Picnic Pack Fun →
Local Life

Focus: Setting Sail from the Fair Haven Dock

The weather outside is a lot less frightful. Looks like we’re setting sail for a little summer cruise into more comfortable days in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

And there’s nothing to soothe the soul better than some smooth sailing river time.

Sails up. Sail on. And exhale …

Be sure to click on one photo to enlarge, scroll and enjoy the view!

Here’s the better outlook weather forecast from the National Weather Service heading into the weekend for the Rumson-Fair Haven area …

Local Life

Focus: RFH Class of ’77 Reunites in 45th

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Well, the post-pandemic Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) reunions have been revived — with gusto.

There was a 39th recently. And the RFH Class of ’77 just celebrated its 45th. And by the looks of things, it was a festive night on July 30 at Salt Creek Grille for the main event. Of course, in the surrounding nights, there were some visits to other local RFHers’ haunts, like Barnacle Bill’s, for tradition’s sake.

Organizer Ed Apy sent some snapshots of many stellar moments.

Take a look at the photo gallery below (CLICK on one photo to enlarge and scroll!) for a glimpse into the night of reuniting …

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