Red Bank Primary School will have a new principal in September, and she’s a tweeter.

The district board of ed approved the selection of Erin Mulligan-Pierre, right, Tuesday night to replace Rick Cohen, said Superintendent Laura Morana.

The two-school district will also have a new business administrator, replacing Annie Darrow, who recently took a job with the Howell school district.

Now working as the director of curriculum in the pre-K-to-12 Keyport district, Mulligan-Pierre is scheduled to start work July 1 at an annual salary of $108,000, said Morana.

Cohen left the district in March after six years as principal to become director of curriculum in Metuchen.

Mulligan-Pierre was one of 67 candidates for the job, 10 of whom were interviewed by a selection committee comprised of primary school teachers and staff, the PTO president administrators.

The names of the top three candidates were sent to Morana, who said she was pleased to recognize one. She said she had met Mulligan-Pierre at a conference a year ago, and the South Amboy resident had in recent months visited the primary school to see some Red Bank initiatives in action.

The job of principal, Morana said, “is not the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago.

“You have to come in, with the set of expectations that are in place, having the self-confidence that ‘I am capable of leading the school in a way to produce the desired student outcomes,’” she said.

Mulligan-Pierre posted a tweet on Thursday night linking to an Asbury Park Press article about her selection with a comment, “Hey! That’s me!”

The school board also named Debra Pappagallo as business administrator and board secretary, effective July 15 or sooner.

Pappagallo joins the district from Red Bank Regional, where she has more than ten years of experience as an assistant business administrator.

By DANIELLE TEPPER

As Olivia Mullen knows, the works of William Shakespeare are a fundamental component of any acting student’s growth as a performer. The Red Bank Catholic junior has shared passions for drama and music, and to her ear, Shakespeare embodies both.

“Shakespeare’s work is beautiful,” she told redbankgreen this week. “It comes to me almost like a song. I’m not nervous performing it.”

Mullen’s heartfelt appreciation of the Bard of Avon won her a spot in the 29th annual English-Speaking Union‘s National Shakespeare Competition held in New York last month.

Each year, high school teachers across the country select two students from their theater classes to audition. In Monmouth County, 15 schools were represented at the regional branch competition at Brookdale Community College, where Mullen took first place.

“I didn’t even expect to be chosen to compete,” said Mullen, 17, of Middletown. “And then I wound up going to New York.”

All the competitors were put up in the International Student Center for a one-night stay, during which they were treated to an acting workshop at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

“That night, everyone just wanted to talk,” said Mullen. “We were sleeping nine to a room with bunk beds, and everyone was so interested because we were all from different places, but we had a 5 a.m. wake-up call. It was exhausting, but amazing.”

At the semi-finals, held at Lincoln Center on April 23, each student performed a monologue and a sonnet of their choosing. Mullen went with Sonnet 36.

“I picked a sonnet that wasn’t recommended because it’s a bit tricky and complex,” said Mullen. “But I’m glad I chose 36 because no one else did it, and there were a lot of repeats.”

While she may not have won the grand prize (a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’s Young Actors Summer School in London), Mullen said the entire experience had a significant impact on her future plans.

“I’m definitely going to pursue acting, and most schools want some background in Shakespeare,” she said. “It’s a hard skill to acquire, but it’s important to appreciate it.”

Mullen has been researching Carnegie Mellon’s musical theater program as well as the drama program at Juilliard, and said she’s open to either.

“I have a passion for both, so I’d be happy either way,” she said.

Military uniforms on display at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Lincroft, where tonight’s recruiting event takes place. (Click to enlarge)

By DANIELLE TEPPER

It’s an easily overlooked branch of the military, but the Civil Air Patrol, founded on the eve of Pearl Harbor, is still keeping its eyes to the ground and sky for the safety of Americans on their home turf.

Tonight, potential cadets aged 12 to 20 are invited to get a taste of Civil Air Patrol life at an open house at the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center in Lincroft.

Hosted by the Bayshore Composite Squadron, the event aims to give curious youngsters and their parents insight into the different aspects of what the program offers, from classes in physical training and aviation to search-and-rescue.

Captain Robert Cartwright, squadron commander, says that the program is the perfect way for adolescents to get a feel for the military and decide if it is a life path they want to take in the future.

“They take moral leadership and aerospace classes and essentially decide from here whether or not this is something they’d like to pursue,” Cartwright said. “But we don’t push the military. Moms don’t have to be afraid that we’re going to have their kid enlisted by the time they graduate high school. We simply guide them if they show an interest.”

Cadets do wear Air Force uniforms. CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, providing emergency response and “diverse aviation and ground services” in support of localities, according to its website. It “handles 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions, with approximately 75 lives saved each year,” its commander writes.

Each cadet starts out as an Airman Basic and takes tests to get promoted all the way to Cadet Colonel, at which point he or she is authorized to teach classes.

“It adds discipline and structure in their lives, and teaches them self-confidence,” said Cartwright. “They learn military customs and courtesies, and it gives them focus. The shyest kids can end up running the show. They just come right out of their shell and it’s really awesome to see how the kids mature when they’re here.

“When you’re in this a long time and you see so many kids come through, you really see how it changes their life,” he said.

Tonight’s open house is the first of its kind, but if it’s successful, there may possibly be more in the future, Cartwright said.

The event is from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center at Newman Springs Road and Half Mile Road in Lincroft. And for those who miss it, CAP holds meetings every Wednesday at 7 p.m. that give a brief overview. This open house will be more in-depth, however.

Fun Facts:

The CAP was founded one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

CAP pilots flew over a half-million hours, were credited with sinking two enemy submarines, and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during WWII.

The first involved a stop of a vehicle on Shrewsbury Drive near Osprey Lane for speeding at about 10:20 p.m, said Chief Richard Tobias.

Lieutenant Scott Paterson and Patrolman Anthony Ciambrone approached the vehicle and saw, in plain view, open containers of alcohol, Tobias said.

The driver, 18-year-old Michael Alonzo, of Crabapple Lane in Rumson, was arrested and charged with underage
driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and possessing an open container in a motor vehicle. He was also charged with providing alcohol to underage persons.

Four of Alonzo’s five passengers were also charged with possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in a car: Sachi and Luke Bahra, both 18, of Washington Avenue, Rumson; Michael Nociolo, 18, Forrest Avenue, Fair Haven; and Brian Truex, 18, Forman Street, Fair Haven.

A 17-year-old juvenile was released to the custody of a parent, Tobias said.

In the second incident, Ciambrone was on patrol at about 11 p.m. Sunday when he saw a motorcyclist fall off his bike as he headed east on Rumson Road near Ward Avenue, Tobias said.

Rudolph Kastner of Paradise Trailer Park, Highlands, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit breath samples, driving while revoked, driving without a license, and reckless driving. In addition, he was arrested on multiple warrants out of the Borough of Highlands, Tobias said.

Kastner was transported to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, for injuries sustained during the accident.

Court dates in both incidents were scheduled for May 23.

Theft occurring on 4-1-12 at Bodman Place. Victim reported that unknown person(s) stole her I phone while she was working. Sgt. Robert Gannon.

Theft occurring on 4-1-12 at Broad St.—restaurant. Victim reported that his Sprint Cellular telephone was stolen from table where he was seated. Ptl. Stan Balmer

Theft occurring at Broad Street on 4-3-12. Victim reported that male subject shoplifted two newspapers and left without paying for same. Lt. Michael Clay.

Theft occurring between 4-2-12 and 4-3-12 at Catherine St. Victim reported that unknown person(s) stole a Charbroil four-burner gas grill from rear yard of residence. Sgt. Robert Kennedy.

Criminal Mischief occurring on 4-4-12 at Shrewsbury Ave. Victim reported that unknown subject(s) slashed tire on parked vehicle. Ptl. Stan Balmer

Criminal mischief occurring on 4-5-12 at Morford Place parking lot. Unknown person(s) purposely kicked over a motorcycle which damaged the handle bar and tail pipe. Ptl. Matthew Ehrenreich.

Criminal Mischief occurring at S. Pearl St. between 3-30-12 and 4-6-12. Victim reported that unknown subject(s) damaged fence in yard by kicking same. Ptl. Jonathan Quispe.

ARRESTS: 3 Contempt of Court

OTHER ARRESTS:

Desmond Hodges, age 21 male of Ocean NJ was arrested on 4-6-12 in the area of Monmouth St. for Contempt of Court by Ptl. Jonathan Quispe.

A male juvenile age 13 of Red Bank was arrested on 4-6-12 in the area of W. Front St. for Skateboarding Offense by Ptl. John Camarca.

Edward Chick, age 80 male of Red Bank was arrested on 4-3-12 in the area of Broad St. for Theft by Ptl. Dawn Shields.

Michael Naranjo, age 19 male of Port Monmouth was arrested on 4-3-12 in the area of Monmouth St. for COC by Ptl. Nicholas Maletto.

John Scoras, age 26 male of Red Bank was arrested on 4-3-12 in the area of Spring St. for DWI by Ptl. James DePonte.

Charles Wilson, age 25 male of Red Bank was arrested on 4-1-12 in the area of Shrewsbury Ave. for , Resisting Arrest, Obstructing the Administration of Law, Poss. of CDS marijuana and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia by Ptl. Matthew Ehrenreich.

Erskine Crank, age 59 male of Red Bank was arrested on 4-1-12 in the area of W. Westside Ave. for COC by Ptl. Patrick Kennedy.

Daniel Cancel, age 35 male of Red Bank was arrested on 3-30-12 in the area of E. Newman Springs Rd. for Simple Assault by Ptl. Matthew Ehrenreich.

By JOHN T. WARD

Sixteen months after the debut of an artificial-turf football field at Count Basie Fields, Red Bank officials are planning to ramp up the facility’s ongoing modernization this year.

A final vote by the borough council on a $1.6 million bond ordinance scheduled for next week is expected to clear the way for the $2.1 million project, which would add a synthetic-turf little league/softball field and a baseball field overlain with a multiuse field marked for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer play.

The fields, all under existing lights, would complement the $900,000 stadium football and soccer field that debuted in late 2010. Three grass fields for baseball at the facility’s southern end would remain as natural turf.

When completed, by the end of the year or early next year, “all the fields with lights will have artificial turf, to extend the hours they can be utilized,” borough Engineer Christine Ballard, of T&M Associates, tells redbankgreen.

Ballard said a $250,000 Monmouth County Open Spaces Grant and a $171,000 Community Development Block Grant have already been secured, the second primarily to cover the cost of a Americans With Disability-compliant path and a restrooms.

Town officials hope to hear this summer on two additional grants: a $558,000 one from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and a $60,000 grant from Baseball America, a private sector source.

By then, construction is expected to be underway.

Ballard said she was unsure if Red Bank Catholic, which contributed to the stadium field replacement as a long-term tenant for football practice and home games, was contributing to this phase of the project. Borough Administrator Stanley Sickels could not be reached for comment.

Here’s the bond ordinance: 2012-4

Wednesday was the first day of the outdoor season for members of RFH Rowing, the sculling crews of Rumson and Fair Haven teens. 

The kids spent the session on dry land, at the club’s home next to Rumson’s Victory Park, where they rigged shells with oarlocks and other equipment – duties they’re required to perform before and after away races. “It teaches them responsibility,” said assistant coach Dan Murphy. “They take ownership of their boats.” (Click to enlarge)

Delores Martin, mother of point guard Asim Jules, cheers on Red Bank Regional in its NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II showdown against Rumson-Fair Haven Tuesday night.

Bulldog senior JJ Conklin scored a career-high 22 points as R-FH won at home, 47-39, and advanced to the second round of state playoffs at Ewing Thursday night. (Photos by Stacie Fanelli. Click to enlarge)

The event card included races for age groups ranging from eighth graders to masters, and featured an appearance by Craig Slater, a Ranney School senior who is lined up to row (on water) at Harvard beginning in the fall.