RED BANK: WATER LINES, CANNABIS ON AGENDA

Apr 25, 2023

A map used in a February presentation indicated that 366 properties were known to be served by lead water supply lines, with most others “unknown.” (Image by ENGenuity. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

At its final meeting before a history-making election, the Red Bank council will take up a big cost increase for removing lead water service lines.

Also on deck: adoption of a cannabis zoning law that the planning board said does not comply with the town’s Master Plan.

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April 25, 2023 - 8:05 am |

RED BANK: ‘CORRECTIVE ACTIONS’ ON AGENDA

Apr 12, 2022

The council has not yet resumed in-person meetings; Wednesday’s session will again be held via Zoom. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

“Corrective actions” to address deficiencies identified in an audit are on the Red Bank council’s agenda for Wednesday night.

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April 12, 2022 - 7:45 am |

RED BANK: ‘BOAT RAMP’ TO FUND CENTER FIX

Feb 22, 2022

A municipal boat ramp on the Navesink River was once envisioned for the north end of Maple Avenue, now a nature area called Maple Cove. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank officials boasted earlier this month that they’d “cobbled together” about $1 million from idle accounts to soften the impact on taxpayers of repairing the long-shuttered Senior Center.

It turns out a big chunk of that sum has been stuck in the borough’s sofa cushions for 30 years, designated for a never-built boat ramp, redbankgreen has learned.

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February 22, 2022 - 7:30 am |

RED BANK: $2M CENTER REPAIRS ON AGENDA

Feb 9, 2022

Almost $2 million in funding for repairs to Red Bank’s leak-damaged Senior Center is on the table when the borough council holds workshop and regular voting sessions Wednesday night.

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February 9, 2022 - 7:30 am |

RED BANK: BOROUGH MAY GET USED TESLA

Dec 14, 2021

Nancy and Phil Blackwood with the car they’ve offered to the town. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A fire-engine red Tesla sedan may become part of the Red Bank municipal fleet this week, pending the acceptance of a proposed donation by a borough couple.

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December 14, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: HURDLES FOR SKATEBOARD EVENT

Nov 11, 2021

An unidentified skateboarder in Riverside Gardens Park in 2011. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A proposed skateboarding event encountered early hurdles during the Red Bank council meeting Wednesday night.

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November 11, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: CENTER REPAIR PLANS TWEAKED

Oct 28, 2021

Phil Blackwood, at left, addressing architect Pradeep Kapoor during the first of two sessions Wednesday. Below, the Senior Center floor plan. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Repair plans for Red Bank’s long-shuttered Senior Center may get some final tweaks following a pair of public comment sessions held Wednesday.

Suggestions ranged from small (add a door buzzer) to large (dig a basement).

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October 28, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: CENTER REPAIR FORUMS SLATED

Oct 15, 2021

Red Bank officials have slated two sessions to solicit comments on plans for repairs to the long-closed Senior Center. 

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October 15, 2021 - 4:19 pm |

RED BANK: SENIORS MARK END OF SUMMER

Oct 11, 2021

Dozens of Red Bank senior citizens attended the borough Senior Center‘s annual end-of-summer cookout, hosted at the Westside Hose firehouse on Leighton Avenue Friday.

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October 11, 2021 - 6:30 am |

RED BANK: CENTER REPAIR FORUM(S) POSSIBLE

Oct 7, 2021

The Senior Center has been idle since a fire suppression system leak in January, 2019. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Six months after the Red Bank council agreed to repair the water-damaged Senior Center, a presentation – or two – is in the works to get public input on the plans.

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October 7, 2021 - 7:45 am |

FAIR HAVEN: LIMITS ON SPEED & 5G ENDORSED

Jul 13, 2021

A view east along River Road from 2016. Below, a 5G repeater atop a pole alongside Route 35 in Shrewsbury in 2018. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fair Haven’s council took two steps to slow things down on River Road Monday night.

One measure would reduce the vehicular speed limit on the road for the full width of town. Another would tap the brakes on an anticipated proliferation of wireless telecom infrastructure on utility poles along that road and and elsewhere in the borough.

The council also took action on upgrades to the historic Bicentennial Hall.

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July 13, 2021 - 7:57 am |

FAIR HAVEN: COUNCIL TO MEET IN-PERSON

Jun 25, 2021

A view of the Fair Haven council chamber in 2017. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

After 15 months of meeting via technology, the Fair Haven mayor and council plan to enter the post-pandemic era with an in-person meeting Monday night.

On the agenda: honors for three Eagle Scouts; a ban on cannabis businesses; discussion of 5G telecommunications and more.

Here’s the full agenda. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at borough hall, 748 River Road.

June 25, 2021 - 7:50 am |

RED BANK: AGENCY APPOINTEE SILENT

Jun 23, 2021

Cherron Rountree, bottom left, during the agency’s meeting Tuesday. (Zoom screengrab. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The prospective new manager of the Red Bank Redevelopment Agency appeared onscreen without introduction during its monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

Cherron Rountree, who now serves as township administrator in Holmdel, also did not speak, even as former council member Cindy Burnham said her appointment should be halted by a pending sexual harassment lawsuit in which Rountree is a defendant.

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June 23, 2021 - 7:58 am |

FAIR HAVEN: FIREMEN’S FAIR BACK ON TRACK

Jun 15, 2021

The fair will return in August, said Councilman Mike McCue. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The summer-ending food-and-fun extravaganza known as the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair will return in August, borough Councilman Mike McCue said Monday night.

That sparkler of news, another sign of the waning COVID-19 pandemic, came amid council action on the budget, cannabis, waterfront property and more.

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June 15, 2021 - 7:59 am |

RED BANK: AGENCY CALLS FOR $9.3M YARD

May 26, 2021

A Google Maps satellite view of the public works yard and adjoining property to the east, roughly outlined in red. (Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank should move quickly to bond for an overhauled public works facility, according to a recommendation adopted by the Redevelopment Agency Tuesday evening.

Estimated cost, including the acquisition of property adjacent to the Chestnut Street site: $9.3 million.

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May 26, 2021 - 7:45 am |

FAIR HAVEN: COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

May 25, 2021

Closed since early in the pandemic, Fair Haven’s borough hall and library will reopen June 7, administrator says. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A new council member, a call for budget cuts, a planned reopening of borough hall and a pandemic ponytail were among the topics at what might have been the last Fair Haven council meeting of the pandemic Monday night.

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May 25, 2021 - 12:45 pm |

RED BANK: COUNCIL INITIATES REBUILD

Apr 29, 2021

The Senior Center occupies a stand-alone building on Shrewsbury Avenue. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Red Bank council moved to jumpstart repairs to water-damaged Senior Center Wednesday night, one day after a recommendation by the Redevelopment Agency that it do so.

But even enroute to a unanimous vote, the measure churned up bitterness among the all-Democratic governing body.

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April 29, 2021 - 7:59 am |

RED BANK: SENIOR CENTER FIX-UP ADVANCES

Apr 27, 2021

The backyard of the mothballed Senior Center overlooking the upper Navesink River. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A proposal to repair Red Bank’s mothballed Senior Center without adding any new facilities won a Redevelopment Agency endorsement Tuesday evening.

The action could defuse one of the hottest issues in a contested Democratic race for two council seats just six weeks before a primary vote.

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April 27, 2021 - 6:50 pm |

RED BANK: NEW TOOTH SIGN OK’D

Mar 18, 2021

The tooth-shaped sign is used as a reference by locals when giving out driving directions. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

In less than half the time recommended for a good brushing, Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission OK’d the replacement of a dentist’s tooth-shaped sign Wednesday night.

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March 18, 2021 - 7:30 am |

RED BANK: BIG DOORS, BIG TOOTH ON AGENDA

Mar 17, 2021

26  West on the Navesink, above, and the nameless restaurant planned for 3-5 Broad Street, below, hope to install garage-style openings. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Two downtown Red Bank restaurants will seek permission to install garage-style front doors when the Historic Preservation Commission meets Wednesday night.

Also on the unusually busy agenda for the advisory body: a dentist needs a tooth pulled.

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March 17, 2021 - 7:40 am |

RED BANK: SPLASHY ‘STASH’ WINDOWS OK’D

Jan 21, 2021

A rendering shows the window clings that will cover one side of the vestibule of the new Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash. (Image by South Shore Sign Company. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

With filmmaker Kevin Smith deploying some characteristically colorful language, Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission endorsed splashy signage at the new home of Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash Wednesday night.

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January 21, 2021 - 7:30 am |

RED BANK: ‘STASH’ SIGNAGE UP FOR REVIEW

Jan 20, 2021

Filmmaker Kevin Smith  is in the process of relocating his store to 65 Broad Street, seen above in 2014. Below, illustrations filed with the HPC application. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission is slated to review plans for signage on three Broad Street businesses Wednesday night: a new pizzeria, a new juice bar, and the new home of Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash.

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January 20, 2021 - 7:40 am |

FAIR HAVEN: COUNCIL SPLITS ON FUNDING

Dec 15, 2020

Councilwoman Susan Sorensen working a booth at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair in 2013. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A divided council cleared financing to advance plans for new police and public works facilities in Fair Haven Monday night.

At its final session of 2020, the council also extended the employment of Theresa Casagrande as borough administrator and bid goodbye to Councilwoman Susan Sorensen.

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December 15, 2020 - 12:00 pm |

FAIR HAVEN: KICK DANCE STUDIO SET TO LEAP

Dec 4, 2020

The approval allows an upward expansion of the existing structure, seen below. (Rendering by Anthony Conduouris; photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A one-story dance studio in Fair Haven is set to make a grand jeté to a second floor following zoning board approval Thursday night.

Board Chairman Todd Lehder praised the Kick Dance Studios plan as a harbinger of the borough’s future. He was also the only board member to vote against it.

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December 4, 2020 - 9:10 am |

FAIR HAVEN: BUSY COUNCIL AGENDA SLATED

Oct 13, 2020

A plan for bike lanes would advance with a parking ban on the north side of River Road between Lake Avenue and Hance Road. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Parking, borough facilities and more will keep Fair Haven’s elected officials busy on their Zoom session Tuesday night.

Also on the agenda: a plan to terminate an “interlocal services” agreement under which Fair Haven disposes of Rumson’s collected yard brush.

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October 13, 2020 - 7:50 am |