RED BANK: A CUPFUL OF $$$ FOR LUNCH BREAK

Friendly competitors from Little Silver and Shrewsbury took part in the 15th annual White Road Cup game last Friday, with the flag football contest raising $10,000 for the borough-based nonprofit Lunch Break.

Press release from Culinary Communications

The recent Black Friday marked the 15th Anniversary of the White Road Cup, the annual flag-football fundraiser that pits players from Little Silver against their neighbors from Shrewsbury Borough.

First played in 2002, the event has grown to become a festive, well-attended community tradition, featuring contests for children, men, and women. These hard-fought games are exciting for all (and of course, bragging rights are important), but the true winner is Lunch Break. This year over $10,000 was raised for the organization, which helps to put food on the table for thousands of families in need (the charity flag football event raised $10,000 in 2015 as well).

November 29, 2016 - 5:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK HOSTS ‘WHITE ROAD CUP’ ON FRIDAY

It began as a friendly flag-football rivalry between communities based at either end of White Road’s east-west artery — a “symbol of bestowed superiority” in which “one town’s dream is realized while the other’s is pushed to a shattering state of sorrow.”

This Friday, November 25, “The White Road Cup” marks its milestone 15th anniversary with a series of games for children, women and men, hosted on the turf at Red Bank’s Count Basie Field.

Kicking off at 9 a.m. and continuing into the early afternoon, the match-ups between “The Shrewsbury Tigers” and “The Little Silver Warriors” will be generating the expected volume of “playful trash-talking” and passionate partisanship among spectators on the sidelines — as well as a substantial fundraising effort for a worthy community-based cause: the educational/vocational programs and charitable endeavors of Red Bank’s own Lunch Break.

November 23, 2016 - 5:01 am | Comments ()

ON THE GREEN: GOOD TIMES, GOOD CAUSES

Count Basie Field (above) is the setting for a day of “play ball” and picnicking organized by Lunch Break this Saturday…while Middletown’s New Monmouth Diner calls in the classic cars (below) for a Monday evening fundraiser.

From the files of redbankgreen‘s All Good section come several reminders that the season for doing good doesn’t take a vacation during these dwindling doggy days of summer — and that the mornings and evenings ahead continue to offer still more ways to walk, run, cruise, or even head-first slide into serving the greater good.

August 18, 2016 - 9:15 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: SHADE TO BE MADE IN PARKS

Lunchtime at Count Basie Fields, where a bit of shade is hard to find. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

It was pretty much roasting at Red Bank’s Count Basie Fields last Thursday morning as a dozen or so day campers huddled under a pop-up tent. On site supervisor Rose Sestito’s cellphone, the Weather Channel app registered a “feels like” reading of 100 degrees.

It was even hotter out on the rubberized artificial turf where the kids had just been playing, said a sweat-soaked counselor, cooling his heels inside the snack bar while a bunch of his colleagues crowed beneath the shade of rare tree on the sprawling facility’s grounds.

August 16, 2016 - 8:14 am | Comments ()

RBR ALUMNI GAME HELPS CURRENT ATHLETES

Left to right: Red Bank Regional coach and alumnus Jeff Mauro and RBR athletic director Del Dal Pra receive a check for $5,000 from former Buc footballer Jim Palumbo. Also displayed is an autographed photo montage of the players who took part in the school’s first Alumni Game.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

On May 14, 2016, Red Bank Regional High School held its first football Alumni Game at Count Basie Field — a contest that rematched the RBR players with their oldest rivals in the Shore Conference, Long Branch High School.

Over 2,000 people attended the match, making it the most well attended alumni game in recent history. While the game did not go well for the Bucs, who lost 24- 0, the current and future RBR athletes were the true winners, as $5,000 of the proceeds were donated to RBR for its new fitness room.

July 6, 2016 - 5:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: HUNDREDS ENJOY OLDTIMERS GAME

A running back for Red Bank Regional looked for daylight against Long Branch High in the first-ever alumni matchup of the longtime grid rivals held at Count Basie Fields in Red Bank Saturday.

The full-contact game, complete with veteran cheerleaders, drew a crowd of about 2,000, according to organizer Jeff Mauro, of OT Football, and resulted in no serious injuries, he said. Long Branch won, 24-0. Some of the proceeds are to go to the two schools’ football programs. (Photos by Trish Russoniello and John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

May 16, 2016 - 9:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: A CLASSIC RIVALRY REKINDLED

Former Red Bank Regional players prep for their first alumni football game against their oldest rival Long Branch, scheduled for May 14 at Count Basie Field.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

It’s considered the oldest football rivalry in the New Jersey Shore Conference — and on Saturday, May 14, alumni from Red Bank Regional High School will face off against their counterparts from Long Branch High School, in their first-ever Alumni Game.

Scheduled for kickoff at 4 p.m., the game will take place at the Count Basie turf field, located at 11 Henry Street in Red Bank. It’s a fitting bookend to a year marked by great athletic success for the current RBR team, which went undefeated and made it to the state championship for the first time in decades.

April 26, 2016 - 5:01 am | Comments ()

RED BANK REC GETS THE JUMP ON NEW SEASON

David Prown of Prown’s Home Improvement will be providing free equipment for young Red Bank residents who take part in the spring season sports programs of Red Bank Parks and Recreation, every Sunday from this weekend through the end of May. Read on for details. (2011 file photo by Dustin Racioppi)

For school-age kids, saying there’s “nothing to do” is no longer an option — not with Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Track and Field, Lacrosse, and Camp on the schedule for the coming months. And for those who say they’ve “got no gear” — well, it turns out that’s no longer an excuse either.

Even adults who are in need of working off some of that winter wonderweight will be hard pressed to find reasons why not, as Red Bank Recreation announces a full seasonal slate of programs for borough residents of all ages.

It’s a season that begins this weekend, with the March 29 start of Developmental Lacrosse League activities — to say nothing of the looming registration deadlines for several of the other programs and services offered. There’s still time for Red Bank boys and girls to join players from all local towns in a “Count Basix” Spring Lacrosse Clinic, designed for both beginners and more advanced players of one of America’s fastest growing youth sports. Coaches from United Lacrosse will be on hand at Count Basie Field on Henry Street for eight Saturday sessions that commence on Saturday morning and continue through May 24 — a “fun and energizing environment” that hosts sessions for players in grades 5 to 8 between 10 and 11:30 am, with grades K through 4 taking the field from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

Participants can bring their own equipment (helmet, stick, gloves, shoulder pads, arm/elbow pads and mouthpiece for boys; protective eyewear, stick and mouthpiece for girls) or it can be provided by the program. Cost for the Count Basix lacrosse clinic is $45-$55 for Red Bank residents depending on age group, and $150-$200 for non-residents. Call (732)530-2783 to get in on the action this weekend — and click READ MORE for the rundown on all other seasonal programs from Red Bank Rec.

Read More »

March 25, 2014 - 4:57 am | Comments ()

LAYING DOWN SOME RUBBER AT BASIE FIELDS

A spreader scatters crumb rubber on one of the new artificial-turf ballfields at Count Basie Fields in Red Bank as part of a $2.1 million makeover of the facility Wednesday.

At right, tons of the product, made from recycled tires, were lined up for distribution on the fields. Below, a sweeper works the crumbs into the carpet, where it provides cushioning and stabilizes blades of faux grass.

The project is expected to be completed in time for the start of spring sports in early April, says borough Engineer Christine Ballard. (Click to enlarge)
Read More »

January 10, 2013 - 10:39 am | Comments ()

CHARTER V. MIDDLE GIRLS: IT’S ALL DEFENSE

The girls of Red Bank Charter School and Red Bank Middle School fought to a scoreless tie, even after an overtime, in their second annual soccer matchup, held at Count Basie Fields Saturday. Later, the charter school’s boys topped their middle school counterparts, 3-1 under the lights. Students from the schools worked the play-by-play from the announcer’s booth.(Click to enlarge)

October 17, 2011 - 10:22 am | Comments ()

RBC RAISES KICK-IN ON BASIE FIELDS UPKEEP

Red Bank Catholic will pay more for its use of Count Basie Fields to help defray the cost of the turf upgrades. (Click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Red Bank Catholic‘s rent is going up.

The borough council Wednesday night voted to amend the parochial school’s annual lease of Count Basie Fields in order to help cover the $878,000 cost of a recent artificial turf job. Most of the cost $537,500 was covered by two grants, said borough Administrator Stanley Sickels said.

RBC will now pay $80,000 a year for use of the fields for the next 15 years, up from $55,000. It will also contribute $50,000 a year over the next three years into the field’s capital improvement fund, Sickels said.

Here’s the resolution on the agreement: 10-255draftresolution

Here’s a rundown of other happenings from Wednesday night’s council meeting:
Read More »

December 10, 2010 - 9:41 am | Comments ()

CROSSTOWN RIVALS MIX AT BASIE FIELDS

Scenes from the girls’ game between Red Bank Middle School and Red Bank Charter School Friday night. (Photos by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)

Soccer teams from Red Bank’s middle and charter schools faced off under the lights on the new artificial playing surface at Count Basie Field Friday night.

Here’s a recap from kids’ advocate David Prown:

The larger Red Bank Middle School won the inaugural girls Count Basie Cup soccer match 3-0 over the Red Bank Charter School.

Immediately following that game, the Middle School Boys nipped the Charter School 3-2 in a brilliantly hard fought game between friends.

November 8, 2010 - 8:54 am | Comments ()

WITH TURF JOB DONE, RED BANK WANTS MORE

Red Bank is going after grant money to fund more upgrades at Count Basie Field. Above, a rendering for a baseball and field hockey/soccer field. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Now that work is done at Count Basie’s football field, Red Bank is looking for more money for more turf.

The borough is submitting an Open Space grant application to Monmouth County, looking for up to $250,000, to lay down turf for a baseball and “multi-use” field.

“It will really give us a lot more flexibility,” borough engineer Christine Ballard said.

September 27, 2010 - 10:03 am | Comments ()

RBR TRIPS ON NEW FIELD IN HOME OPENER

A Matawan defender goes for a block on a punt by Red Bank Regional at Count Basie Field Thursday night. Below, fans cheering the Bucs. (Photos by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)

The outcome, from the local perspective, wasn’t desired, with the home team falling, 28-7, to the visiting Matawan Huskies.

But the Red Bank Regional Buccaneers played their first game under the lights on the new artificial field at Count Basie Field Thursday night to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd that waited out a rain delay for kickoff.

September 17, 2010 - 10:16 am | Comments ()

RB COUNCIL WRAP: NOTHIN’ DOIN’

A peek into the Red Bank council chambers, with the reflection of paperwork posted in the hallway. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Ah, summer stagnation.

The Red Bank council met Monday night, and the agenda was L-I-G-H-T light.

Here’s a recap of the evening’s non-titillation:

August 24, 2010 - 6:11 am | Comments ()

INSIDE DIRT: BASIE FIELD GETTING MAKEOVER

Heavy equipment regraded the soil inside the running track recently in preparation for artificial turf. (Click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

If you haven’t noticed, Count Basie Field is looking a lot more like the old Yankee Stadium and a lot less like the friendly home of Red Bank’s slew of sports teams.

“It’s a big dirt pile,” said Christine Ballard, borough engineer.

The good news is that it won’t be that way for too long, Ballard tells redbankgreen. And, unlike the Yankees’ replacement ballpark, Red Bank’s upgrade isn’t going to cost upwards of $1 billion.

Getting the artificial turf laid down at the borough’s biggest park is costing a pretty penny, though.

May 27, 2010 - 7:34 am | Comments ()

Red Bank Green

Serving Red Bank and Greater Red Bank, NJ

RED BANK: A CUPFUL OF $$$ FOR LUNCH BREAK

RED BANK HOSTS ‘WHITE ROAD CUP’ ON FRIDAY

RED BANK: SHADE TO BE MADE IN PARKS

RBR ALUMNI GAME HELPS CURRENT ATHLETES

RED BANK: HUNDREDS ENJOY OLDTIMERS GAME

RED BANK: A CLASSIC RIVALRY REKINDLED

RED BANK REC GETS THE JUMP ON NEW SEASON

LAYING DOWN SOME RUBBER AT BASIE FIELDS

CHARTER V. MIDDLE GIRLS: IT’S ALL DEFENSE

RBC RAISES KICK-IN ON BASIE FIELDS UPKEEP

CROSSTOWN RIVALS MIX AT BASIE FIELDS

WITH TURF JOB DONE, RED BANK WANTS MORE

RBR TRIPS ON NEW FIELD IN HOME OPENER

RB COUNCIL WRAP: NOTHIN’ DOIN’

INSIDE DIRT: BASIE FIELD GETTING MAKEOVER