RED BANK: HOBBYMASTERS CLOSING
Hobbymasters, a gamers’ paradise for four decades in downtown Red Bank, is calling it quits.
What’s Going On Here? Read on.
RED BANK: BELLHAVEN OIL TANK YANKED
A sign alerting the public to an environmental cleanup appeared at Red Bank’s Bellhaven Natural Area a few weeks ago.
What’s Going On Here? Read on.
SHREWSBURY: CRIMES AND ARRESTS
Crime and arrest reports, unedited, as provided by the Shrewsbury Police Department for the period of February 1 to February 14, 2020. For additional information, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
CRIMES
Report of Theft in the area of Trafford Street on 2/2/20. Victim reports sending payment for items never received. Ptl. Derek Myers investigating.
RED BANK: FIRINGS ANGER CHARTER PARENTS
Alison Weiler and Nicole Navarrete, center, speak with well-wishers Tuesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank Charter School parents packed a board meeting Tuesday night to protest the firings of two teachers who briefly left a sleeping child behind during a fire drill earlier this month.
RED BANK: FORTUNE SETS ‘BASIE 2020’ SKED
Images of William ‘Count’ Basie on display at the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center last week. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, built to honor a pioneering African-American journalist with Red Bank ties, plans to spotlight the borough-born musical giant William ‘Count’ Basie through 2020.
The occasion is the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Count Basie Orchestra, which is still touring 36 years after its founder’s death.
RED BANK: WARM, SUNNY WASHINGTON’S DAY
The workweek that inaugurates Monday with Washington’s Birthday starts off sunny and warm but will end much colder, according to the National Weather Service.
Check out the extended forecast below. (Weather.gov image. Click to enlarge.) Read More
RED BANK: STREET AND LOT CHANGES AIRED
Judy and Bill Fraser of Elm Place examine schematics of the White Street plans at borough hall. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Details of a planned makeover of White Street in Red Bank got a positive reception at a public input session Thursday evening.
Officials also offered the first public insights into the future of the adjoining municipal parking lot since a push for massive private development on the site imploded two years ago.
RED BANK: WEEKEND WEATHER NOT TOO FOUL
A seagulls and waterfowl made the most of foul weather on the Navesink River off Red Bank Thursday.
Beginning Friday, the Greater Red Bank Green is in for a string of partly-to-mostly sunny days through Monday, Washington’s Birthday. Peak daytime temperatures Friday and Saturday will be colder than we’ve seen recently, but rise Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Check out the extended forecast below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.) Read More
RED BANK: BREEZEWAY TO A ‘RETREAT’
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A sizable structure has begun rising at the corner of Worthley Place and Marion Street in Red Bank, on the site of a crumbling old house.
What’s Going On Here? Click ‘read more’ for the answer. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
RED BANK: BIAS LAWSUIT SETTLED FOR $175K
Memone Crystian with Red Bank Little Leaguers in 2010. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A lawsuit claiming racism and gender discrimination against a former director of Red Bank’s parks and rec department will be settled for $175,000.
RED BANK: BOARD SUED OVER TWO DECISIONS
The owners of the Colony House apartments, at right, claim the plan for the VNA site, at left, violates their property rights. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two months after approving one of the largest development projects in Red Bank history, the borough planning board has been sued over the decision, redbankgreen has learned.
The suit arrives as the board is defending itself in a lawsuit concerning a proposed Hampton Inn just across the street.
RED BANK: OILY MESS NEAR EASTSIDE PARK
A two-truck accident Tuesday afternoon left an oily mess alongside Eastside Park in Red Bank, where new restrooms are being installed.
RED BANK: CRIMES AND ARRESTS
The crime and arrest reports below for the month of January, 2020, were provided by the Red Bank Police Department. This information is unedited. For additional information, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
CRIMES
Theft: In the area of Monmouth St on 01/05/2020 it was reported an unlocked bicycle was stolen from the rear of a building. The victim described the bike as a black electric bike with large black tires and a red and black seat. The bike is estimated to be worth $1,500.00. Surveillence video shows a white male wearing a plaid shirt in his late 30’s early 40’s and short beard driving away on the bike. Ptl. Taylor Doremus.
RED BANK: STALLS READY TO BE INSTALLED
Plumbing-equipped prefab building modules and a crane were onsite at Eastside Park in Red Bank Tuesday morning.
What’s Going On Here? Read on.
RED BANK: BRUNCH, AND MORE, IN CHURN
Brunch opened last week at 20 Broad Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Eaters have a fresh new option for breakfast and lunch in downtown Red Bank.
Read all about chef Ray Tutella’s venture and other business comings and goings in this edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn.
RED BANK: BALLOONS, TRAFFIC ON AGENDA
The study is to examine traffic and on-street parking downtown. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Expect the Red Bank council to initiate a proposed ban on mass balloon releases at its next regular meeting Wednesday night.
Also on deck: the award of a contract for a traffic study.
RED BANK: DAMP START TO WORKWEEK
Little Silver Creek at the foot of Prospect Avenue in Little Silver mirrored a painterly sky Sunday afternoon.
Another workweek begins on a damp note, with a high chance of rain Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Check out the extended forecast for the Greater Red Bank Green below. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge.)
MAN CHARGED IN THREE JOGGER ASSAULTS
By JOHN T. WARD
Little Silver police have charged a Red Bank man with assaulting a female jogger Sunday morning.
Authorities allege he’s the same guy who knocked a Red Bank jogger to the ground last month, and attacked another in a similar manner five months ago.
RED BANK: APARTMENT REVIEW BEGINS
An elevation showing the Monmouth Street side of the proposed Salerno project. (Rendering by SOME Architects. Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[UPDATE: The February 20 hearing for this project has been rescheduled at applicant’s request. No new date yet.]
By JOHN T. WARD
A proposed 59-unit apartment project should be allowed to exceed Red Bank’s height and density limits based on the objectives of the borough’s master plan, its architect testified Thursday night.
RED BANK: DREARY, DAMP, AND NOW, WINDY
A pair of deer seen wandering Locust Avenue in Red Bank near the Bellhaven wetlands Thursday afternoon.
A string of wet, dreary days continued with heavy fog Friday morning, along with a National Weather Service warning of possible strong winds through 7 p.m., with gusts up to 60 miles per hour. Sunshine was expected to return Saturday.
Check out the extended forecast below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
RED BANK: WHITE STREET MAKEOVER ON DECK
The sidewalk along the south side of White Street would be removed to allow for angled parking on that side. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
As Red Bank officials get ready to remake a downtown block for angled parking, they’re asking the public for input on additional aspects of the plan.
RED BANK: STOP LEADS TO DRUG BUST
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police found a stash of illegal drugs in an Aberdeen man’s car following a traffic stop Tuesday, redbankgreen has learned.
Separately, a Morris County woman is facing charges she assaulted three borough cops.
RED BANK: APARTMENT PLAN UP FOR REVIEW
A rendering of the Monmouth Street side of the project proposed for the Monmouth Street site, below. (Rendering by SOME Architects. Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
On the Red Bank zoning board’s agenda Thursday night: a 59-unit apartment project proposed for the onetime site of Clarence Clemons‘ Big Man’s West rock venue.
Also up for review: a restaurant instead of a laundromat on Shrewsbury Avenue.
RED BANK: TRAFFIC STUDY ON AGENDA
A proposed study is expected to track traffic at 19 downtown intersections, including Broad and West Front streets, above. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A study of downtown traffic is up for discussion at the Red Bank council’s workshop session Wednesday evening.
The data to be gathered is expected to be useful for future parking, pedestrian and other initiatives, borough Business Administrator Ziad Shehady tells redbankgreen.
RED BANK: SHELL GETS SHOP OK ON THIRD TRY
The car wash at left is to be replaced by a convenience store. (April, 2019 photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
After a favorable zoning change last year, Red Bank’s lone Shell station won approval to add a convenience store Monday night.
A neighbor called the proposal “lipstick on a pig.” The planning board’s chairman called it “a better pig.”