A ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect in September, 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank stores will be barred from giving customers plastic bags and styrofoam food containers under an ordinance adopted by the council Wednesday night.
The ban was approved without any opposition voiced, though supermarket executive lamented that such laws are being adopted town-by-town, rather than at the state level.
Ex-mayor Ed McKenna with former councilman Tom Hintelmann at Democratic headquarters on election night last November. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
An ordinance that would name a downtown alleyway for former Red Bank mayor Ed McKenna drew both criticism and support at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
Two years after borough officials shut down construction over safety issues, signs of life have been stirring around a downtown Red Bank building project.
What’s Going On Here? Read on…
JCP&L reported between 100 and 500 customers in Red Bank had no electrical service Monday morning, more than 12 hours after a disruption caused by an accident on Catherine Street.
A report that a tour bus, attempting to turn around on Shrewsbury Avenue, backed into a utility pole could not be immediately confirmed. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
The sidewalk along the south side of White Street, at left, would be removed to allow for head-in angled parking on that side. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
An old-school approach to parking may soon return to one street in downtown Red Bank: angled parking.
The borough council informally agreed last week to remake a portion of White Street for angled parking on one side.
A trio of groundhogs dined on the riverfront lawn outside the Red Bank Public Library last Thursday evening.
Weatherwise, it may feel like ‘Groundhog Day‘ for a stretch of the coming week. According to the National Weather Service, there’s a chance of heavy rains with localized flooding on the afternoons of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And even when it’s not raining, it’ll be hot and muggy, with peak temperatures in the high 80s.
See the extended forecast below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.) Read More
A proposal would have allowed food trucks to operate on underused property outside the downtown, including the vacant gas station at Riverside and Bridge avenues. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A push to end Red Bank’s ban on food trucks ran out of gas Wednesday night.
Over the objections of one of their colleagues, council members sided with owners of brick-and-mortar restaurants, who say trucks would unfairly undermine them while rewarding other property owners for neglect.
The town-owned alleyway off Boat Club Court would be renamed for ex-mayor Ed McKenna, seen below at a zoning board meeting in March. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
An alleyway in downtown Red Bank will be named in honor of former mayor Ed McKenna, the borough council informally agreed Wednesday night.
The nameless alley, off Boat Club Court, runs between a row of stores fronting on West Front Street and a vacant lot that’s slated to become home to a new 10-unit luxury condo project.
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.
CBD For Life plans to open in the former Katsin’s Drugs at 192 Shrewsbury Avenue. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A high-profile Red Bank building that’s been vacant for 15 years has been cleared for a new tenant: a seller of trendy CBD-based health and beauty products, redbankgreen has learned.
Caution tape and notices at the entrance to the community garden on Marion Street Monday morning. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank has shut down its sole community garden out of “an abundance of caution” over possible lead contamination, the borough government announced Monday.
The parent company of OceanFirst Bank plans to absorb two smaller banking operations, it announced Friday.
The Greater Red Bank Green could be in for some “severe” weather Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Storms arriving after 2 p.m. “will be capable of producing damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, and heavy rainfall that could lead to localized flash flooding,” the agency warned early Monday.
Meantime, after a sunny and relatively cool weekend, the workweek begins Monday with sunshine and a daytime high temperature of 86 degrees. Check out the extended forecast below. (National Weather Service image. Click to enlarge.) Read More
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.
A MONOC helicopter paid a visit, hundreds of burgers were served and police Chief Darren McConnell got dunked repeatedly as Red Bank police hosted their annual National Night Out Against Crime community barbecue Tuesday night.
For the first time since its inception, the event was held at Count Basie Fields rather than the borough hall parking lot. The change of venue brought in dozens of games and safety demonstrations, created a carnival atmosphere and prompted many to comment that the location was ideal.
“This is our crown jewel,” Councilman Michael Ballard told redbankgreen. “Why wouldn’t we have it here?”
Officials credited Patrolwoman Dawn Shields for organizing the event, an effort that included wrangling up donations of food and sponsors.
Check out redbankgreen’s photos below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
A rendering shows the Riverside Avenue facade of the proposed apartment project. (Rendering by MVMK Architecture. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Like many motorists, a traffic engineer for one of the largest development plans in Red Bank history found himself confronting an intersection likened to “Russian roulette” Monday night. Read More
A taco restaurant plans to open in the long-vacant building now getting a facelift at the corner of Broad and East Front streets. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A taco restaurant and a men’s clothing shop may be opening within doors of each other in downtown Red Bank.
Read all about them and more in this dead-of-summer edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn.
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for June and July, 2019. This information is unedited. For additional information, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: A street sign at the intersection of Monmouth St and Drummond Pl was reported to be damaged and is estimated to be $100.00. Ptl. Ashon Lovick.
Andrew Hill was a 26-year-old second lieutenant at the Westside Hose Company when he was killed. (Photo from Facebook. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The admitted killer of Red Bank firefighter Andrew Hill has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the crime, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office reported Friday.
Red Bank’s pre-K-8 school district was among 11 from across New Jersey honored this week by the state Department of Education as “most improved” in terms of student performance.
The plan called for remodeling the gas station and replacing the car wash, at left above, with a drive-thru Dunkin’ shop. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A plan to create a Dunkin’ coffee shop in Red Bank for Parkway-bound commuters is dead.
A lawyer for the owner of the Shell gas station at Newman Springs Road and Shrewsbury Avenue tells redbankgreen the proposal has been withdrawn.
A rainbow, as seen from the Community YMCA in Red Bank, followed a summer drenching Wednesday afternoon.
August gets underway Thursday mostly sunny, with a high near 83 degrees on the Greater Red Bank Green, according to the National Weather Service.
See the extended forecast below. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge.) Read More
Thunderstorms dropped heavy rain on the Greater Red Bank Green Wednesday afternoon, setting off fire alarms and leaving wide puddles for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate.
The closing hours of July, 2019, appeared to be equally soggy, with thunderstorms likely through 11 p.m., some of them severe, according to the National Weather Service. Check out the extended forecast below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
The recently restored T. Thomas Fortune House in Red Bank has earned a new distinction: it’s been named a National Historic Site in Journalism by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Borough resident Karla Ortega, left, translated remarks by Lieutenant Juan Sardo into Spanish as Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, right, looked on at last week’s council meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
In what may be a first in New Jersey, Red Bank police will be able to draw on a team of local volunteers to help them bridge language divides in dealing with the public.
A new program championed by first-term Councilwoman Kate Triggiano will make volunteer interpreters available to help police in their normal duties as well as at community events, she said.