LITTLE SILVER: TENNIS RETURNS, WITH LIMITS
After a shutdown over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, tennis play is returning to one tennis court on Rumson Road in Little Silver, and another in town. But there are rules…
RED BANK: PARKS SEE COMPLIANCE, IT SEEMS
Visitors to Marine Park appeared to be maintaining social distances Saturday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank parks reopened Saturday without any “significant issues,” police Chief Darren McConnell said Sunday night.
But redbankgreen‘s strolls through the facilities over the weekend prompted questions about whether behaviors said to slow the spread of COVID-19 could be realistically judged, let alone enforced.
RED BANK: ENFORCEMENT PLANNED IN PARKS
Barricades around Eastside Park, seen here on Thursday, had been removed by Friday morning. (Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
While police plan increased patrols, Red Bank will rely on public cooperation and reporting of violations as it reopens its parks Saturday, Mayor Pasquale Menna said Friday.
RED BANK: PARKS TO REOPEN SATURDAY
Following Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to reopen state and county parks, Red Bank’s parks will reopen too, the borough announced on its website late Wednesday.
VIRUS UPDATE: DEATH TOLL SOARS AGAIN
A temporary sign on River Road in Fair Haven as seen Tuesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
New Jersey’s loss of life from the COVID-19 soared past the 3,000 mark in recent days as another 351 residents were added to the ledger, Governor Phil Murphy reported Wednesday.
The fatalities, including more than 700 in recent days, was accompanied by evidence that “people are getting better and they are overcoming this illness,” said state health Commissioner Judy Persichilli.
VIRUS UPDATE: ‘WORST CASE’ REVISED DOWN
Observing social-distancing recommendations, well-spaced customers wait their turns to be admitted to the Bank of America branch on Broad Street in Red Bank Tuesday morning. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Three-hundred-sixty-five more New Jerseyans have died as a result of COVID-19, the largest increase reported in the month-old crisis, Governor Phil Murphy reported Tuesday.
The spike was reported as administration officials unveiled a dramatically improved worst-case scenario in coming weeks, based on data projections.
VIRUS UPDATE: POSITIVE SIGNS AMID BRACING
Governor Phil Murphy speaks at his Monday briefing, with a sign language interpreter seen in inset at left. (YouTube screengrab. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
More positive signs emerged in the COVID-19 crisis Monday even as New Jersey’s government braced for critically ill patients to soon swamp the state’s hospitals, officials said Monday.
The preparation included issuing triage guidance to hospitals for use in “last resort” scenarios, they said.
VIRUS UPDATE: LOCAL CASE GROWTH EASING
Firefighters, first aiders and police from 10 towns converged on Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank to cheer frontline healthcare workers Friday night. Check out the photo gallery here. (Video by Allan Bass. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Both Monmouth County and New Jersey saw further softening in new COVID-19 positive cases and other encouraging signs in the pandemic, government agencies reported Sunday.
At the same time, another 167 New Jersey residents died from the illness, including 8 in Monmouth County, according to the state health department’s COVID-19 web page.
VIRUS UPDATE: COUNTY CASE GROWTH SLOWS
A Hackensack Meridian Health ambulance in Red Bank earlier this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Monmouth County officials reported the smallest daily increase in COVID-19 positive cases in almost two weeks Saturday.
At the same time, another 251 New Jersey residents died from the illness, including 8 in Monmouth County, and nearly 3,600 more tested positive, Governor Phil Murphy said at his daily briefing.
VIRUS UPDATE: ‘HOPE’ CITED AS PEAK NEARS
Normally busy, Broad Street in Red Bank was almost people-free Wednesday evening. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[See UPDATE below]
By JOHN T. WARD
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy cited “glimmers of hope” in his daily update on the COVID-19 crisis Friday. Read More
VIRUS UPDATE: DEATH & INFECTION TOTALS UP
A masked woman leaving Surf Taco on Broad Street in Red Bank with a takeout order Wednesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[See CORRECTION and UPDATE below]
By JOHN T. WARD
The grim roster of COVID-19 deaths continued to grow as the Murphy Administration braced for a possible “surge” of hospitalizations, officials said Thursday.
More than 14,400 new patients could hit the healthcare system “over the next two to three days,” double the number currently hospitalized, said state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, citing a continually-updated projection.
RED BANK: PARKS SHUT DOWN & BARRICADED
Red Bank’s parks – including Riverside Gardens, above, and Marine Park, right – were off-limits to visitors Wednesday after borough workers erected barricades at their entrances.
VIRUS UPDATE: DEATHS SOAR AS CASES EASE
A woman with her face covered by a scarf speaks with a motorist on Elm Place in Red Bank Tuesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[See UPDATE below]
By JOHN T. WARD
An awful “paradox” was evident as deaths from COVID-19 soared and the number of new cases continued to ease in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy said Wednesday.
RED BANK: BOROUGH SHUTS DOWN PARKS
Riverside Gardens Park as seen last Saturday afternoon. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank officials plan to indefinitely close borough parks starting Wednesday.
VIRUS IMPACTS: BOROUGH RESCINDS ORDER
A sign on the door of the Welsh Farms convenience store on East Front Street in Red Bank. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
The following are dispatches from the Greater Red Bank Green as we settle into the widespread shutdowns and upheavals of everyday life prompted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Included: Red Bank’s emergency order; grab ‘n go meals for kids; Catholic Mass dispensations; liquor deliveries; a coffee shop’s open-door policy, and Fair Haven’s next council session.
RED BANK: STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED; SEATING AT BARS & RESTAURANTS BANNED
Customers gathered outside Catch 19 restaurant on Broad Street Sunday afternoon. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
[See clarification below]
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank officials declared a “local state of emergency” Sunday night in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, ordering bars, restaurants and other large facilities to cease operations at the end of the day Monday.
RED BANK: BOROUGH IN SHUTDOWN MODE
Public employees will continue working, but borough hall and other facilities will be closed to the public. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Public access to Red Bank’s borough government buildings will be halted starting Monday to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
In an announcement posted on the borough website Friday afternoon, the administration said all public employees will continue to work, serving the public by email. telephone and mail.
VIRUS IMPACTS: COUNTY HALTS ACCESS
The Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury will close, but county parks and golf courses will remain open, under the freeholder’s plan.
Monmouth County officials announced an eight-day shutdown of all public buildings starting Saturday to deal with the looming COVID-19 pandemic.
RED BANK: PATIO WORK UNDONE ON PARK JOB
There’s been yet another setback for the new restrooms at Eastside Park in Red Bank.
What now? Read on.
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: 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: PARK AWAITS PREFAB BUILDING
Picnic tables and pathways have been installed, but for the second time since it began in the spring, construction work at Eastside Park in Red Bank appeared to halt last month.
What’s Going On Here? Read on.
RED BANK: WAIT FOR RESTROOMS NEARS END
Construction work that began in the spring at Eastside Park in Red Bank appeared to stall last month.
What’s Going On Here? Read on.
RED BANK: BRANCH AVENUE DETOURS BEGIN
As regular commuters on Branch Avenue in Red Bank may have discovered, the road was closed to traffic Thursday morning.
RED BANK: ROAD AND PARK WORK UPDATED
Work underway on East Bergen Place last week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A messy road project in Red Bank will cost more and take longer to complete than originally anticipated, officials said last week.
Also, the borough plans to seek $250,000 in Monmouth County funding to cover half the cost of a series of improvements to borough parks.
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