LINCROFT: BCC TO GRADUATE OVER 2,100

Press release from Brookdale Community College

On May 12, Brookdale Community College will honor four outstanding local residents and more than 2,100 local students, during the college’s 47th annual commencement ceremony on the Lincroft campus.

A total of 2,141 students are expected to graduate from Brookdale this year, with diplomas handed out during two ceremonies (at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) inside the Robert J. Collins Arena. The graduating class of 2017 earned a total of 2,159 degrees, and includes 30 students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Select graduates will also be presented with the college’s 2016-17 Outstanding Student Award.

April 19, 2017 - 5:01 am | Comments ()

LINCROFT: LEGENDS IN BRONZE, AT BCC

A sculpture of Early Lloyd, the NBA’s first African American basketball player, is featured in the Brookdale Community College “Historic Pillars in Bronze” exhibit of works by Brian Hanlon (pictured below, with a sculpture he created for the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel). (Photos courtesy Brookdale Community College, Brian Hanlon)

Press release from Brookdale Community College

Their numbers include the famed baseball player/ philosopher Yogi Berra, the civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, pioneer pro basketball player Early Lloyd, and women’s lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who died tragically in 2010. Beginning with a free public-invited reception on the evening of Thursday, January 26, these and other larger-than-life figures (some more than seven feet tall) will be present and accounted for, as the Center for Visual Arts (CVA) gallery at Brookdale Community College hosts an opening reception for the exhibit “Historic Pillars in Bronze.”

The more than two dozen sculptures are the work of nationally acclaimed sculptor Brian Hanlon, and represent a sampling of the more than 300 public art pieces that the Toms River resident has created for schools, universities, churches, memorial foundations and other organizations throughout his career.

January 23, 2017 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: CLINTON COATTAILS HELPED DEMS

Hillary Clinton won every district in Red Bank but the fifth, lifting the party’s entire ticket. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

She lost at the national level, but Hillary Clinton won Red Bank, and her coattails helped Democrats pull even with Republicans on the borough council Tuesday night, election returns tallied by the Monmouth County Clerk show.

Clinton captured all but one of the but one of Red Bank’s nine voting districts — the fifth — topping president-elect Donald Trump townwide, 2,633 to 1,510. (The figures don’t include mail-in ballots, said borough clerk Pam Borghi.)

November 11, 2016 - 6:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DEMS WIN, GAIN COUNCIL PARITY

Erik Yngstrom at Democratic headquarters as the party’s local victory became clear. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Knocked from their perch a year ago, Red Bank Democrats gained parity with Republicans on the borough council Tuesday night, as incumbent Kathy Horgan and newcomer Erik Yngstrom routed three other candidates, according to preliminary results.

The clearest loser in the race was incumbent Cindy Burnham, who ran a distant fifth three years after she broke a seven-year Democratic lock on the governing body.

November 8, 2016 - 10:04 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: CANDIDATES AGREE, MINUS TWO

Incumbents Kathy Horgan, a Democrat, and Cindy Burnham, running as an independent, at Wednesday night’s event at the Pilgrim Baptist Church. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Republican candidates for Red Bank council sent emissaries who watched from the sidelines at a community event Wednesday night.

First-time GOP candidates Brian Hanlon and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell disputed the circumstances under which the event, billed as a “community conversation,” came together, leaving them unable to attend, they told redbankgreen. Their expected absence had been termed an “insult” by one of the event’s organizers.

But the event itself turned out not to be as partisan as GOP chairman Mike Clancy had feared, he said afterward.

November 4, 2016 - 11:10 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: ZIPPRICH ZAPPED ON ‘ORAL’ TWEET

Councilman Ed Zipprich said there was “no sexual innuendo” in his tweet Trump running mate Pence. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Republicans on Wednesday accused Democratic councilman and party chairman Ed Zipprich of making a not-so-veiled and “bigoted” reference to oral sex about GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence last month.

During the October 4 vice presidential debate between Pence and Democratic nominee Tim Kaine, Zipprich asked on Twitter, “did #mikepence just say he spends time on his knees every day?”

November 3, 2016 - 6:06 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PORTER TEES UP GOP FOR ‘INSULT’

Reverend Terrence Porter said Wednesday’s event is intended as a nonpartisan opportunity for voters to see the candidates as individuals. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The pastor of Red Bank’s Pilgrim Baptist Church lashed out Monday at borough Republicans, who he said had “insulted” African-American voters in avoiding a candidates’ event planned for Wednesday night at the church.

Reverend Terrence Porter teed up both the current and former GOP chairmen Sean DiSomma for what Porter said was groundless politicizing of an event that was envisioned as nonpartisan from the get-go.

“I’ve never been so disappointed in my experience in Red Bank,” Porter told redbankgreen. Read More »

October 31, 2016 - 6:29 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: CANDIDATES TO FACE OFF AGAIN

[UPDATE: GOP Chairman Mike Clancy says Hanlon and O’Bosky Colwell did NOT agree to participate, citing prior engagements.]

With the race entering its final week, the five candidates for Red Bank council in next week’s election have agreed to square off a second time.

October 31, 2016 - 12:44 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GOP PAIR SETS “ACTION PLAN”

Republican council candidates Kellie O’Bosky Colwell and Brian Hanlon listen as Councilwoman Cindy Burnham speaks at Candidate’s Night on October 18. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

“Tired of hearing politicians make vague promises at election time” only to ignore them afterward, the two Republican candidates for Red Bank council unveiled a “six-month action plan” Monday that calls for a freeze on department heads’ salaries and a study of the water utility.

In their plan, first-time candidates Brian Hanlon and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell pledge they won’t seek re-election if they “do not deliver on their promises.”

October 24, 2016 - 9:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: SCAVONE FACT-CHECKS BURNHAM

Council President Cindy Burnham at the West Side Community Group’s candidate’s forum Tuesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank RiverCenter went on the offensive Wednesday in response to a call by incumbent Councilwoman Cindy Burnham for its elimination.

A day after Burnham, a former Republican seeking re-election as an independent, told an audience that “we need to get rid of RiverCenter,” the autonomous entity’s executive director wrote letter that challenged her on several points, including the sum it collects from downtown property owners.

October 20, 2016 - 7:29 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: COUNCIL CANDIDATES FACE OFF

Republican council candidates Kellie O’Bosky-Colwell and Brian Hanlon at the West Side Community Group’s Candidate’s Night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank residents brought concerns about property taxes, water costs, downtown development, parks and more to a forum that featured all five contenders for two borough council seats Tuesday night.

In a wide-ranging, two-hour question-and-answer session marked by minimal friction among candidates, incumbent Cindy Burnham, a former Republican now running as an independent, touted her “no” votes on a long series of spending bills while three-term Democratic incumbent Kathy Horgan defended tax increases.

Meanwhile, a trio of first-time candidates — Brian Hanlon, Kellie O’Bosky-Colwell and Erik Yngstrom — staked out positions on the arts, parks and schools at an event that drew about 100 to the River Street Commons senior housing facility.

October 19, 2016 - 8:26 am | Comments ()

RED BANK COUNCIL Q&A: BURNHAM

Cindy Burnham, independent. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

One year after Republicans narrowly displaced Democrats as the controlling party in Red Bank government, ending a 25-year reign, voters return to the polls on November 8 with five candidates to choose from for two council seats.

All five candidates have indicated they’ll participate in the West Side Community Group’s annual candidates’ forum at the River Street Commons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18. For more information about the event, take it here.

To help voters compare the contenders in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Cindy Burnham had to say in response.

October 17, 2016 - 8:28 am | Comments ()

RED BANK COUNCIL Q&A: HANLON

Brian Hanlon, Republican. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

One year after Republicans narrowly displaced Democrats as the controlling party in Red Bank government, ending a 25-year reign, voters return to the polls on November 8 with five candidates to choose from for two council seats.

All five candidates have indicated they’ll participate in the West Side Community Group’s annual candidates’ forum at the River Street Commons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18. For more information about the event, take it here.

To help voters compare the contenders in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Brian Hanlon had to say in response.

October 17, 2016 - 8:28 am | Comments ()

RED BANK COUNCIL Q&A: HORGAN

Kathy Horgan, Democrat. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

One year after Republicans narrowly displaced Democrats as the controlling party in Red Bank government, ending a 25-year reign, voters return to the polls on November 8 with five candidates to choose from for two council seats.

All five candidates have indicated they’ll participate in the West Side Community Group’s annual candidates’ forum at the River Street Commons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18. For more information about the event, take it here.

To help voters compare the contenders in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Kathy Horgan had to say in response.

October 17, 2016 - 8:28 am | Comments ()

RED BANK COUNCIL Q&A: O’BOSKY-COLWELL

Kellie O’Bosky-Colwell, Republican. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

One year after Republicans narrowly displaced Democrats as the controlling party in Red Bank government, ending a 25-year reign, voters return to the polls on November 8 with five candidates to choose from for two council seats.

All five candidates have indicated they’ll participate in the West Side Community Group’s annual candidates’ forum at the River Street Commons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18. For more information about the event, take it here.

To help voters compare the contenders in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Kellie O’Bosky-Colwell had to say in response.

October 17, 2016 - 8:28 am | Comments ()

RED BANK COUNCIL Q&A: YNGSTROM

Erik Yngstrom, Democrat. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

One year after Republicans narrowly displaced Democrats as the controlling party in Red Bank government, ending a 25-year reign, voters return to the polls on November 8 with five candidates to choose from for two council seats: one now held by a Democrat, the other by a former Republican-turned-independent.

All five candidates have indicated they’ll participate in the West Side Community Group’s annual candidates’ forum at the River Street Commons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18. For more information about the event, take it here.

To help voters compare the contenders in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Erik Yngstrom had to say in response.

October 17, 2016 - 8:27 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO FACE OFF

Continuing a tradition now in its 20th year, candidates for office in Red Bank are scheduled to face off and answer audience questions Tuesday night.

Hosted by the West Side Community Group and moderated by group president Amy Goldsmith, this year’s edition features all five candidates for two three-year terms on the borough council.

Read More »

October 13, 2016 - 9:49 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: GOP TIES RIVER WOES TO SEWER

Council candidate Kellie O’Bosky Colwell says the borough sewer needs an “overhaul” in light of reported bacteria levels in the Navesink. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Calling for an “emergency” weekend council meeting, the two Republican candidates for Red Bank council suggested Friday that poor upkeep of the borough sewer system was to blame for elevated levels of harmful bacteria in the Navesink River.

The meeting didn’t happen, and it’s not clear who, if anyone, candidates Kellie O’Bosky Colwell and Brian Hanlon asked to schedule one.

Meantime, incumbent Councilwoman Cindy Burnham, a former Republican now running as an independent, blasted the pair for “egregious” politicizing of the issue.

August 15, 2016 - 9:36 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DI SOMMA QUITS AS GOP CHAIR

Sean Di Somma, right, with successful council candidates Mark Taylor, left, and Mike Whelan last November. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

HOT-TOPIC_03 Sean Di Somma won’t be staying on as Red Bank Republican chairman after all, according to a published report.

Di Somma informed Monmouth County GOP officials by email Thursday that he won’t seek a second term, which was to have begun this month, according to the report by More Monmouth Musings, a conservative publication based in Highlands.

MMM’s Art Gallagher reports that Michael Clancy, whose failed Red Bank board of education candidacy last fall was studded with controversy over his eligibility to run as well as his positions, is hoping to succeed Di Somma.

June 16, 2016 - 1:54 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: BURNHAM BEGINS RE-ELECTION BID

Having been denied a return spot on the Republican ticket, Red Bank Council President Cindy Burnham, seen at center right, hosted an open party at her Wallace Street home to kick off her re-election campaign as an independent Sunday night.

“It’s not a fundraiser — it’s a friend-raiser,” Burnham said, quoting one of her daughters, as about two dozen partygoers mingled in chilly weather in her garage and driveway while a live band played. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

May 16, 2016 - 5:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BURNHAM PLANS NO-TIES PARTY

Council President Cindy Burnham, seen here at her 2014 swearing-in with state Senator Jen Beck at left, plans an independent run for a second term. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

You might call it the “no-party-ties party” when Red Bank Council President Cindy Burnham launches her independent run for re-election next month with a bash that she says is open to all borough residents.

After licking her wounds about being dumped from the 2016 Republican ticket on Sunday, Burnham confirmed Thursday that she’ll mount a solo run, one based on her record as an activist and “the voice of reason” on the governing body.

And she’s kicking it off with a party at her home that will feature a live band — Kül d’Sack — and free food, by Greek Eats.

“If there’s on thing I know how to do, it’s throw a party,” she told redbankgreen.

April 8, 2016 - 12:01 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DI SOMMA TO STAY AS GOP CHAIR

Sean Di Somma on election night 2015. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

HOT-TOPIC_03 Sean Di Somma, whose first two years as Red Bank Republican chairman have been marked by both the party’s resurgence and bitter infighting, will stay on in the post, he tells redbankgreen.

Though he said he had told party loyalists on Sunday that he would forego a second term in order to devote more time to his wife and infant daughter, Di Somma said Wednesday that calls by “internet trolls” and “local Democrats” for his resignation convinced him to stay for a second term, which begins in June, and through the November election.

April 6, 2016 - 10:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BURNHAM “STILL MULLING”

Council President Cindy Burnham, seen here in January with fire police volunteer Carl Colmorgen, says she’ll announce her plans later this week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Contrary to a published report, Red Bank Council President Cindy Burnham says she still hasn’t made up her mind whether to seek a second term as an independent.

One day after she was left off the 2016 Republican ticket, Burnham told redbankgreen that she’ll announce on Thursday whether she’s running and will fly solo in her quest.

April 4, 2016 - 3:38 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GOP DUMPS BURNHAM

Council President Cindy Burnham said she’s undecided whether she’ll seek re-election. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

She may have broken the Democrats’ lock on Red Bank government, but that wasn’t enough for the party she rode in with.

Heading into her first re-election campaign, Councilwoman Cindy Burnham was dropped from the 2016 Republican ticket Sunday.

April 4, 2016 - 6:49 am | Comments ()

CHURN: JEWELERY & CLOTHING SHOPS OPEN

Jeweler Evan Piscitelli in his new Red Bank shop, Thrill Her Diamonds. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

This edition of Retail Churn offers a belated welcome to a jewelry store that opened in downtown Red Bank in December.

Also in this Churn: a new women’s clothing boutique; a new stock brokerage; and an update on the Red Bank Walgreens.

February 24, 2015 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

1 2