Why Residents Love Fair Haven

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By Anastasia Millicker

As Fair Haven celebrates its centennial year, The Two River Times™ asked residents and business owners what they liked best about their hometown. From food to family, they echoed the town’s proximity to the beach and the sense of community.
“I have lived here for 62 years. Everything is in walking distance. My doctors are right here, my dentist, everything is right here. For the 62 years I’ve lived here, I’ve been happy.”
Lucile Herr, 88, Grange Avenue resident
“I have grown up here and it’s a beautiful place to live. It’s in a great location where everything is close and it’s great being near the beach and parks. It’s also a safe neighborhood.”
C.J. Singer, 25, River Road resident and Bike Haven employee
“[I like] my friends here. [I go to school here]. I have good teachers.”
Charlie Theodore, 7, Park Avenue resident
“It’s definitely the community. This is our first year here. We moved here from California. People really seem to care about each other.”
Claire Theodore, 39, Park Avenue resident
“I have lived here for over 50 years. I like that I get to walk everywhere with my neighbor. I raised my kids here. The school system was good, very good. I can’t complain. It’s a school system. Did we have one or two bad teachers? Yes, but everybody does… What I like least about Fair Haven is that you have to pass through Red Bank to get anywhere like the parkway and such.”
Debby Green, 72, Grange Avenue resident
“It’s a family town. I like that you know everybody and they know everyone. You could go down the street and be stopped with a friendly greeting. Fair Haven is a great community.”
Gianna Maita, 19, Buttonwood Drive resident, Rumson-Fair Haven graduate, and a J. Rooster’s waitress
“Everything I need is right here. It’s a really nice neighborhood. It definitely has a community feeling. I moved here 40 years ago when I started working for Bell Labs in Holmdel. Now I’m retired and building and restoring boats in Fair Haven.”
Dick Muise, 68, Lake Avenue resident, Two River Boat Works owner
“People here are particularly nice. The restaurants and the services here are so nice… I lived here for 65 years… Not a lot has changed. New families move in and raise their kids here then move out and new families move in. This town appeals to a lot of new families and it’s a great place to raise a family.”
Marie Knapp, 85, Woodland Avenue resident
“It’s so aesthetically pleasing to look at, everywhere you look and the people here are so kind. One day I was out here [the Acme on River Road] and it was a particularly windy day and there was a grocery cart headed toward someone’s car. This guy, whose car it didn’t belong to, ran across the parking lot after the cart… That guy made the extra effort and people here do take the extra effort. People really do care.”
Joan Hall, 68, Clay Street resident
“Fair Haven has a good feeling to it and has good people plus the beach is right around the corner. I grew up here. I learned to cook here and started my culinary career 30 years ago here. I used to work in Corner Room in Fair Haven and learned to cook there. Then I worked in Fairwinds Deli in Fair Haven… I got my start here. Fair Haven is a great place full of old friends and good foods.”
Dave Kearns, 41, co-owner of J. Rooster’s in Fair Haven and a former Fair Haven resident