By JOHN T. WARD
A quiet final session of 2019 for the Red Bank council included the creation of a Census committee Wednesday night.
The 2020 Complete Count Committee‘s aim is to maximize resident participation in the federal government’s decennial Census and American Community Survey, said Human Relations Advisory Committee Chairman David Pascale, who will lead the effort.
George Bowden, right, with Historic Preservation Commission members Charles Nickerson and Michaela Ferrigine in 2016. Below, Bowden spearheaded the borough’s centennial celebration and parade in 2009.(Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
George Bowden, once dubbed “the Energizer bunny” of historic preservation in Red Bank, died at home in Middletown Sunday. He was 92 years old.
Galvanized into action in 2001, after the borough allowed the demolition of an old house on West Front Street, Bowden became a champion for old and neglected structures in town.
Not least of those was the T. Thomas Fortune House, which was resurrected from near-oblivion earlier this year, more than a decade after Bowden and others launched a campaign to save it.
The second snowfall of the season was underway before dawn Wednesday, but expected to end by midmorning on the Greater Red Bank Green, according to the National Weather Service.
An inch of accumulation was forecast, though with temperatures heading into the high 30s, it was not expected to have a considerable impact. Check out the extended forecast below. (NWS image. Click to enlarge.) Read More
The house at 85 Bank Street, where two men died and three others suffered apparent drug overdoses. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police on Monday had little new information to share after two men died and three others were hospitalized for apparent drug overdoses early Sunday.
Chief Darren McConnell said Monday he could not release the names of the victims, who were all found unresponsive in the house at 85 Bank Street. But one deceased victim has been identified to redbankgreen by his brother.
Faux snow in a walk-in globe and an artificial-ice skating rink turned a block of downtown Red Bank into a winter wonderland for kids Sunday afternoon.
The nip in the air and the wintry mood, however, will be washed away Monday. Expect rain through most of the day, with temperatures peaking in the mid-50s, according to the National Weather Service.
The wet conditions are forecast to continue through Wednesday. Check out the extended forecast below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
The deaths occurred at 85 Bank Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two men died and three others were hospitalized after apparently overdosing on opiates together in Red Bank early Sunday morning.
Chief Darren McConnell told redbankgreen that police were still sorting out the victims’ identities and other details of a “chaotic” scene in the small house at 85 Bank Street, where the activity occurred.
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for the month of November, 2019. This information is unedited. For additional information, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: In the area of Maple Ave on 11/02/19 it was reported a vehicle parked in a parking lot to a business had damage done to the rear bumper. The victim reported the damage was several hundred dollars. Ptl. Cevin Albert.
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.)
The cost of road rehabilitation work on Spring Street will be partially covered by a state grant. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank will get some of the $161.25 million in Municipal Aid Grants to be doled out for 2020 by the administration of Governor Phil Murphy, his office announced last week.
Other towns on the Greater Red Bank Green will also get slices of the pie.
Much as they did a year ago for Monmouth Street (above), student planners from Rutgers University’s Bloustein School will offer suggestions for improving Red Bank’s Shrewsbury Avenue corridor as well as the Navesink River waterfront next week.
Enjoying the first snowfall of the season, Jack Monroe of Red Bank had his hands full walking his dog, Finn, through the parking lot at Tower Hill Church Tuesday morning.
“He’s loving it,” said Monroe. “A half-hour walking is taking an hour because he keeps laying down in the snow.”
Finn won’t have long to enjoy it. With temperatures heading into the low 40s, by late afternoon, the snow was melting fast. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Saxum relocated the proposed pedestrian plaza shown in this rendering from the Riverside Avenue side of the project to the Bodman Place side. (Rendering by MVMK Architecture. Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
One of the largest development projects in Red Bank history won planning board approval Monday night.
The OK for 210 apartments at Riverside Avenue and Bodman Place requires developer Saxum Real Estate to seek state approval for a traffic light there. But the project can go ahead even if the request fails.
Recently returned for its second visit, a giant inflatable elf was in its native element as snow fell on downtown Red Bank Monday.
The 12-foot-tall Santa’s helper is perched atop the vacant former bank building at 55 Broad Street, owned by developer Saxum Real Estate. During the holiday season, the elf will “mysteriously move” among Saxum’s properties around New Jersey, the firm said in a press release.
On Tuesday, the elf will get to watch the two or three inches of accumulated snow melt away, as sunshine returns and temperatures peak in the low 40s, according to the National Weather Service. Check out the extended forecast below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Local high school students are invited to participate in the annual YMCA Dr. King essay contest.
The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is pleased to announce that the annual essay contest held in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial breakfast in January has been expanded to all students in Monmouth County.
Crisp weather provided an ideal setting for the unofficial start of the Christmas season in downtown Red Bank Friday night.
With Tim McLoone-led Holiday Express working its musical magic for the 27th time, several thousand kids and kids-at-heart crowded a stretch of Broad Street, singing along and counting down to the light-up of downtown trees.
Check out redbankgreen‘s photos below to see if you recognize any smiling faces underneath all those fun hats. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
A winter storm that’s expected to begin Monday and continue overnight could have modest effect on the Greater Red Bank Green, according to the National Weather Service.
Expect morning rain turning to sleet in the afternoon, with snow mixing in starting around 3 p.m. Overnight, the storm is expected to leave between one to four inches locally and end around 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Areas to the immediate west and north, however, will see heavier accumulations, with possible impacts on transportation.
Check out the extended forecast below. (NWS image. Click to enlarge.)
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.
Footings are ready for the installation of a prefab restroom building at Eastside Park. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A bond to fund parking improvements and the swearing-in of a new police officer headlined a relatively quiet session of the Red Bank council Wednesday night.
Here’s a wrap-up of the highlights:
The Catherine Street side of the new Brownstones townhouse project. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two new townhouse units on Red Bank’s West Side will be available for purchase at a fraction of their market value following a lottery next month.
Red Bank’s official Christmas tree has arrived in Riverside Gardens Park and will soon be trimmed in ornaments and lights.
The facade of Nest, at 32 Mechanic Street, the former Independent Engine firehouse. Below, Bottles by Sickles anchors an addition to the former Anderson Storage Building. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Two red brick buildings with deep roots in Red Bank have begun new lives in recent days – with assists from Brooklyn and Seattle.
One is the landmark Anderson Storage Building near the train station, where a wine shop owned by Sickles Market opened Sunday. And the former Independent Engine Company house on Mechanic Street is now home to a retail furniture store.
Thomas Register pilots a mini drone over a facsimile of Red Bank at Chopper Shopper. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A new business that combines gaming and retail promotion has flown into downtown Red Bank.
This edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has the eye-in-sky scoop.
Getting a jump on the Christmas season, Kristin Middleton of Ani Art Academy and a dozen other artists with Creative Red Bank painted holiday imagery on 48 downtown store windows over the weekend.
Weatherwise, seasonally cool autumn conditions prevail this week, starting with clouds and light rain Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Check out the extended forecast and additional photos below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Mayor Pasquale Menna and the Red Bank council honored the middle school girls’ and boys’ soccer squads Wednesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Press release from Red Bank Schools)
The Red Bank Middle School soccer teams are striving toward their school’s mission statement of B.I.A. (Best in America) by being B.I.L. (Best in League). For the first time ever, both soccer teams were able to win first place in the Jersey Shore Athletic League, in the same year, bringing great pride to their school and community. First year athletic director, Isaac Nathanson stated, “It’s simply amazing that both our teams were able to accomplish such a task. This shows tremendous growth in our athletic programs at the Red Bank Middle School.”
