RED BANK: FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS
A program of free breakfasts and lunches for Red Bank students got underway Monday, along with school closures and other efforts to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
VIRUS UPDATE: COUNTY REPORTS 14 CASES
By JOHN T. WARD
Monmouth County officials reported two additional ‘positive’ cases of COVID-19 Monday as the number statewide nearly doubled overnight.
VIRUS UPDATE: YMCA SEEKS TO LIMIT SPREAD
The organization says its procedures “will continue to evolve” along with news about the coronavirus. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
[See update below]
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s YMCA is asking members whose children attend schools that have closed due to coronavirus concerns not to visit the facility.
Here’s a quick overview of precautionary measures being taken on the Greater Red Bank Green in light of COVID-19:
LITTLE SILVER: BUSY MONTH FOR RBR’S VPA
By JULIE MEROLA
The various programs of the Visual Performing Arts academies had a packed winter filled with activities at Red Bank Regional High School, as well as around Monmouth County.
LITTLE SILVER: RBR HONORS SCHOLARS
RBR students gathered at the recent awards program, where they were awarded varsity letters for scholarship.
At Red Bank Regional, Varsity Letters are awarded for scholarship as well as athletic achievement.
The Red Bank Regional Board of Education recently honored over 70 students for academic distinction. The largest number of honorees received an RBR Academic Letter, similar to the Varsity Letter given to student-athletes.
LITTLE SILVER: RBR DIGS IN FOR EXPANSION
Construction fences, heavy machinery and plywood-covered windows have appeared on the campus of Red Bank Regional High School in Little Silver in recent weeks.
What’s Going On Here? Read on…
RED BANK: LOWERY FUNERAL AWASH IN BLUE
State Police officers were among the hundreds of worshippers, clerics and law enforcement personnel who packed St. James Church in Red Bank Thursday morning for the funeral mass of Monsignor Philip A. Lowery.
Lowery, who led St. James Church in Red Bank for three decades, died last Thursday. He was 70 years old.
In recognition of his 23 years of service as Head of Chaplains for the New Jersey State Police, the service drew a large contingent of blue uniforms, as well as a giant U.S. flag over Broad Street. Even members of the clergy couldn’t resist the urge to take photos of it.
On Wednesday, Governor Phil Murphy, who was expected to attend the service, ordered flags be lowered to half-staff Thursday in Lowery’s honor. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
RED BANK: MONSIGNOR LOWERY DIES AT 70
Monsignor Philip A. Lowery, who led St. James Church in Red Bank for three decades, died early Thursday morning. He was 70 years old.
Lowery’s death was announced on the Red Bank Catholic High School Facebook page. Mayor Pasquale Menna told redbankgreen that his death occurred at 12:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving at Riverview Medical Center.
RED BANK: SCHOOL REFERENDUM PASSES
By a 2 to 1 margin, Red Bank voters approved a $6.75 million building-repair referendum on Tuesday’s ballot, according to the Monmouth County Clerk’s website.
RED BANK: REFERENDUM Q&A SCHEDULED
Red Bank voters, faced with a $6.75 million ballot question in November, will get their first chance to grill Superintendent Jared Rumage on the issue Thursday night.
RED BANK: $6.75M REFERENDUM PLANNED
Red Bank Primary School, with a newly completed fire access road at left, would get a new roof if the November 5 measure passes. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A referendum on $6.75 million worth of school improvements will be on the ballot for Red Bank voters in November, under a plan approved by the board of education Tuesday night.
The project won’t increase property tax bills, officials said.
LITTLE SILVER: Q&A WITH NEW RBR PRINCIPAL
New RBR Principal Julius Clark in downtown Red Bank last month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Many students at Red Bank Regional High School will recognize the new principal when they arrive at the Little Silver institution next month.
Completing a loop of sorts, Julius Clark returns to the area where he worked for 13 before departing for what turned out to be a one-year stay at a district in Mercer County.
RED BANK: ALTERNATE-SIDE PLAN REVISED
Borough officials say streets with one-side-only parking, including Spring Street, above, will allow parking on the other side during street sweeping. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
After a number of complaints were raised, a proposed alternate-side parking ordinance for Red Bank will be revised to make the system monthly rather than weekly.
RED BANK: COUNCIL LAUDS PRINCIPAL CLAY
The Red Bank council meeting Wednesday night began with an ending: a sendoff for Risa Clay, who’s retiring this summer as principal of Red Bank Regional High School.
RED BANK: PARKING, NEWS RACKS AND MORE
News boxes outside the Post Office on Broad Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s borough council is expected to introduce an ordinance Wednesday requiring alternate-side parking throughout town.
Also on the agenda: a law to regulate news racks, and honors for an educator who is retiring.
LITTLE SILVER: SPORTS CUTS SPARK OUTRAGE
Heavy turnout forced the relocation of the RBR board meeting to the media center, above. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank Regional students and parents packed a board of ed meeting Wednesday night in a bid to save the ice hockey and golf programs from a budgetary axe.
With a preliminary spending plan calling for a 6.5-percent tax increase, board members defended the cuts as necessary before parents appeared to coalesce around a plan to save the sports through outside fundraisers.
LITTLE SIVER: RBR TEACHERS BLAST MOORE
Superintendent Lou Moore at Wednesday’s RBR board meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The union representing teachers at Red Bank Regional accused Superintendent Lou Moore Wednesday night of running the three-town high school district with an “authoritarian” approach and a “general lack of integrity.”
The bombshell accusations were made at a board of ed meeting hours after the Red Bank Regional Education Association’s members “overwhelmingly” cast a no-confidence vote against Moore, said math teacher Sunny Lenhard.
RBR: FORUM ADDRESSES IMMIGRATION CRISIS
Immigrant advocates Brenda Codallos, left, and Itzel Perez listen as attorney Michele Alcalde speaks at RBR Thursday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The political conflicts that rage over immigration will eventually be settled by today’s young people, who overwhelmingly believe immigrants are good for America, a guest speaker at Red Bank Regional High said Thursday.
Until then, however, the fears of immigration opponents must be met with data that demonstrates the economic benefits of immigration, he and others said.
LITTLE SILVER: STUDENT CHARGED FOR THREAT
Little Silver and Red Bank police investigated an apparent implied threat of violence at Red Bank Regional High School Sunday night before concluding there was no actual danger, they said Monday.
RED BANK REGIONAL: REFERENDUM PASSES
Referendum supporters cheer the results at the RBR board of ed office Tuesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Voters in three towns gave overwhelming support Tuesday to a referendum on $17.3 million worth of capital improvements to Red Bank Regional High School.
RED BANK REGIONAL: $17.3M PLAN ON BALLOT
The referendum includes $2.3 million for the installation of artificial turf and other improvements at the RBR football field. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Voters in Little Silver, Red Bank and Shrewsbury will decide a referendum on $17.3 million worth of capital improvements to Red Bank Regional High School Tuesday.
RBR: REFERENDUM INFO PUSH LAUNCHED
Red Bank Regional would get 10 new classrooms, a new roof, a turf field and other upgrades under the $17.3 million proposal. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Red Bank Regional High board of ed kicked off an information campaign Wednesday night with a dire message: if a proposed $17.3 million capital plan fails at the ballot box in December, taxpayers in three towns may be in for a tax shock. Read More
RBR, LOCAL DISTRICT TO HOST FORUMS
Red Bank Regional needs a new roof and more classroom space, officials say. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank Regional High and the Red Bank school district each plan to host future-oriented public information sessions in coming days.
For RBR, the focus is a $17.9 million capital plan up for approval by voters in the sending towns of Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury.
For Red Bank, it’s about a strategic plan to make the two-school district “best in America.”
RED BANK REGIONAL: $17.9M PLAN ON BALLOT
Frank Neary, who heads RBR’s finance committee, addressing the audience at the council meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Voters in Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury are scheduled to decide the fate of a $17.9 million capital plan for their shared high school later this year.
On Wednesday night, two Red Bank Regional High officials told an audience at the borough council meeting that a December 11 referendum is, in part, critical to maintaining a cash cow: tuition paid by non-district students.
RUMSON: ‘RIVAL’ TEENS UNITE TO SAVE LIVES
The student leaders behind the Ridge Road Run 5K, as seen on Ridge Road, are (left to right): RBR senior Michael Eulner, Shrewsbury; sophomore Claudia Kelly, Little Silver; senior Thomas Lloyd, Shrewsbury; RFH senior Ellie Gibney, Fair Haven; RBC senior Lily Salcedo; RFH senior Teddy Sourlis, Rumson; and RBC senior Courtney Carroll, Middletown.
[Press release from Red Bank Regional]
The sports rivalries among three Two River schools are legendary. It is always a super sweet victory when the Red Bank Regional (RBR) Buccaneers can defeat Red Bank Catholic (RBC) Caseys or Rumson Fair Haven’s (RFH) Bulldawgs, and vice versa for all three teams, two of which are located on Ridge Road, and the other not too far away.
However, seven students from all three schools have recently collaborated to use that rivalry to generate a very positive event.