By Alison Bitterly
DURING A NOVEMBER 14 general council meeting, resident Michel Berger was honored for his long-time dedication to the Fair Haven community. Mayor Michael Halfacre read a proclamation detailing the numerous ways in which Berger has contributed to the town and thanked him for his continuing service and commitment.
Berger moved to Fair Haven with his family 25 years ago. He has been deeply involved in Fair Haven since then, passionately taking a leadership role in school activities, fundraisers, and local business. For instance, he is the President of the Fair Haven Business Association and been involved in events such as the town’s Holiday Tree Lighting and Town-Wide Yard Sale. As Mayor Halfacre declared in his proclamation, Berger has made “remarkable strides to meet the unique needs of businesses” in the borough.
Berger has also worked as the Chair of the Tour de Fair Haven—a cycling race that has attracted athletes from areas throughout the northeast and has become the second largest in the state in merely three years. The third annual race was held this past September; proceeds were donated to Fair Haven’s Centennial Celebration, which will take place in 2012.
Berger considers his involvement in the community to be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, saying: “It was an eye opener to work with our local mom-and-pop business owners and to listen to their concerns… Being a part of Fair Haven and helping out to preserve Fair Haven’s quant feel is a great feeling.”
He encourages others to take part in helping out the community, saying that from his experience, once people make the initial decision to get involved they are hooked. “I am amazed to see how willing people are to volunteer in Fair Haven,” Berger said. “A real sense of camaraderie gets established.”
