Braced for the worst, and recalling the devastation caused by the northeaster of 1992, the borough of Sea Bright evacuated all residents in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Irene Saturday. Even emergency personnel were ready to relocate to Rumson if things got as bad as forecast.

But less than 24 hours after what was supposed to have been the peak of a horrific storm, residents and business owners on the narrow spit of sand had one word to describe what they experienced when Irene, by then downgraded to a tropical storm, blew through: “lucky.”

Early Monday afternoon, redbankgreen retraced its steps of last Friday, this time to find out how the storm that inspired so much anxiety actually played out.

We began, as one must, at the beach…

Check out more videos at redbankgreen’s YouTube channel.

In conversation on a sweltering day a few weeks back, Steve Catania, owner of The Cheese Cave on Monmouth Street in Red Bank, casually mentioned what a nice, light, summer dinner cheese makes.

Really? Cheese for dinner, redbankgreen asked?

Absolutely, the cheese maven replied. A platter of cheese, plus a few nuts or pieces of fruit and perhaps a glass of wine, and you’re set with a simple and nutritious meal.

We were so intrigued that we asked Catania to make up a cheese dinner for us, and redbankgreen summer intern Stacie Fanelli videotaped the result. Enjoy. And be sure to check out the recent Star-Ledger Munchmobile visit to the Cheese Cave.

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Crusty Fungus is sort of a schizoid bunch.

As Billy Deyback and bandmate K2NUH, both of Middletown, cranked out cover songs and originals on Broad Street Thursday, redbankgreen stopped them simply to ask, what’s the name of your band?

The initial response was Crusty Fungus, but Deyback decided on the spot to change the name. He couldn’t think of a fresh one, so went with Billy Deyback and Friends.

Then we asked what kind of music Billy Deyback and Friends plays.

“I call it pop, but it’s very crusty,” Deyback said.

K2NUH chimed in, saying it’s more like gypsy punk.

“So, pop, crusty and gypsy punk,” Deyback said, then thought more. “Gypsy music or jazz pop. Or folk.”

Well, watch the video above to decide for yourself. Song’s called “Be Wrong.” Crusty Fungus, or Billy Deyback and Friends — whoever they are — can often be seen playing, if not on a sidewalk somewhere, at Jamian’s or Espresso Joe’s in Keyport, Deyback said.

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