SHREWSBURY: YMCA NAMES BOARD MEMBERS

Jul 24, 2023

Diana Walters, left, and Heather Merrigan were among new appointees to the Y board of directors. (YMCA of Greater Monmouth County)

Press release from the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County

The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael A. Wright as its new board chairperson, and the addition of eight distinguished board members, including Heather Merrigan of Middletown and Diana Walters from Rumson.

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July 24, 2023 - 8:25 am |

LINCROFT: SHEEHAN TAKES BRONZE AT CBA

Dec 7, 2022

Tim Sheehan, at podium, with his brother, George III, and the new statue of their late father. (Photo by Larry Levanti/CBA. Click to enlarge)

Christian Brothers Academy press release

Over 60 years ago, Dr. George Sheehan Jr. believed in a vision for an all-boys, Catholic preparatory school in Monmouth County.

Together with Peter Fleming and John Henderson, he founded Christian Brothers
Academy in Lincroft, with help from the Brothers of the Christian Schools. A nationally-competitive running program soon followed thanks to Sheehan, and on December 4, his impact on CBA and the running tradition was symbolized with a larger-than-life statue on campus. More →

December 7, 2022 - 6:00 am |

RED BANK: DOWNTOWN BUILDING SOLD

Apr 6, 2022

One of downtown Red Bank’s most visible buildings has changed hands.

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April 6, 2022 - 4:15 pm |

RED BANK: LUXURY CAR RENTAL CLUB OK’D

Jul 16, 2021

The proposed luxury car rental showroom would occupy the storefront at 21 East Front Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Need a Lamborghini for a day? A luxury car club approved for space in downtown Red Bank Thursday night will rent you one for just $1,300 per.

Also OK’d by the zoning board: a personal training gym in a residential neighborhood.

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July 16, 2021 - 11:15 am |

SHREWSBURY: YMCA TAPS NAPPI FOR CHAIR

Jul 7, 2021

Ted Nappi, below, is a former member of the board of managers of the Y’s Red Bank facility, above.

[Press release from the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County]

The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Board of Directors recently appointed Colts Neck resident Ted Nappi as its new board chairman and chief volunteer officer.

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July 7, 2021 - 8:45 am |

RED BANK: MUMFORD SHRINKS PLAN AGAIN

Jul 7, 2021

The latest changes to plan for 234-240 Shrewsbury Avenue reduced the building to three stories, from four, shown below. (Renderings by Thomas J. Brennan Architects. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Developer Roger Mumford has again reduced the size of a proposed apartment building on Shrewsbury Avenue in Red Bank.

Whether the zoning board will hear the details at its July 15 meeting is unclear, however. Also on the ambitious agenda: a mixed-used project next door to the borough library; an “exotic car rental” business in a downtown office building; and a gym on residential property.

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July 7, 2021 - 6:30 am |

RED BANK: STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED; SEATING AT BARS & RESTAURANTS BANNED

Mar 15, 2020

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.

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March 15, 2020 - 8:30 pm |

RED BANK: FOOD, CLOTHES & MORE IN CHURN

Apr 3, 2018

JJ’s Delicasies, at 21 West Front Street, features a swirling logo on the sidewalk out front, thanks to a projector. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

In this edition of redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn, one of Red Bank’s hot vegan restaurants is building a separate takeout place, while a 24-hour gym, a barber shop and a cryotherapy spa all have plans to set up shop downtown.

Meantime, two businesses — a restaurant and a women’s clothing shop — have opened in recent days.

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April 3, 2018 - 9:10 am |

RED BANK REC HOSTS INTRO TO RUNNING

Mar 23, 2017

From East Side Park to Asbury Park, in a series of confidence-building, non-intimidating steps…as Red Bank Recreation invites “less-than-active adults” to a new Couch to 5K program of introductory running classes.

How do you get from couch potato to 5K? According to Red Bank Parks & Recreation director Charlie Hoffman, it’s not as epic a journey as it may seem…not if you sign up for a new series of introductory running classes that begin this coming Monday, March 27.

Offered for a second consecutive year, and designed “for those of us who have not been exercising very much in recent history and need a little motivation,” the Couch to 5K program is described as “very fun, positive and non-intimidating” — an activity that allows aspiring distance runners to work up to their goals in an atmosphere of encouragement, community and camaraderie.

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March 23, 2017 - 5:00 am |

RED BANK: A NEW ONE-ARMED PUSHUP CHAMP?

Oct 25, 2016

In a bid for Guinness World Records glory, Patrick Murray, a 28-year-old Matawan resident, came to the Underground Gym on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank Sunday hoping to beat the record for most one-armed pushups in one minute with a 40-pound load on his back.

A meditation coach and fitness trainer, Murray managed to rack up 40 pushups — even after self-deducting the first two, which he told redbankgreen were “not as perfect as I’d like.” Now, he’s hoping Guinness will certify his effort as besting the current record of 33, held since 2014 by Hiroyuki Gondou of Japan. (Click to enlarge)

October 25, 2016 - 10:10 am |

ON THE GREEN: FUN UNDER THE SUN & STARS

Aug 9, 2016

Outdoor movie screenings and canoe rentals highlight a week of outdoor offerings in local parks.

Pay no attention to those displays of back-to-school supplies, and put aside all thoughts of pre-season football, post-season baseball, and campaign-season roller derby. Yes, the summer of 2016 is still a thing (even at the Rio Olympics, where technically it’s winter), and the parks, beaches and portable stages of the Greater Red Bank Green still offer a plethora of open-air entertainments and recreational options in the coming days and nights — almost all of them free of charge.

It begins tonight, as Shore Flicks returns to Red Bank’s Riverside Gardens with an 8:15 p.m. screening of a truly golden oldie, 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz.” Bring a canned food donation with those folding chairs and beach towels, pick up some cooling seasonal treats from Gracie and the Dudes, and enjoy Dorothy and the Dudes as they once again undertake the screen’s most memorable road trip. Follow Shore Flicks on Facebook or Twitter for up-to-the-minute information on weather-related cancellations or other schedule changes (including a recently added batch of fishy features at Sea Bright’s Municipal Beach) — then take it around the bend for more fun beneath the sun and stars.

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August 9, 2016 - 8:30 am |

ON THE GREEN: SUMMER PARK ACTIVITIES

Jul 12, 2016

Yoga, Pilates and zumba share a Wednesday night rotation schedule in Riverside Gardens Park. Below, vocalist Layonne Holmes joins the New Standard for a free concert there Thursday night.

Whether you’re on stay-cation — or simply navigating your way through daily life here in on the Greater Red Bank Green — there’s no denying that July offers a fairly awesome menu of open-air entertainments and recreational options. We’ve got a rundown of outdoor events — mostly free of charge — designed to entice you out of the house in the coming midsummer nights and days.

It all starts tonight, July 12, as Shore Flicks returns to Red Bank’s Riverside Gardens with an 8:15 p.m. screening of the gleefully anarchic animation “Minions.” Bring a canned food donation with those folding chairs and beach towels, and enjoy some ice cream from the newly opened Gracie and the Dudes stand in the park. Take it to our redbankgreen roundup for details on the entire summer screening schedule and weather-related updates. Then take it around the bend for more fun and adventure beneath the summer sun and stars.

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July 12, 2016 - 7:00 am |

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? A SALAD FROM DEAN’S

Apr 15, 2016

Dean’s Market grab n’ go harvest salad with a cheerful raspberry vinaigrette. Jenna Rae Alexy, manager, seen below, has lost 100 pounds while working at the store… just saying. (Photos by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)

By SUSAN ERICSON

Popping into Dean’s Natural Food Market on Broad Street in Shrewsbury, PieHole finds the place swamped with hungry customers and a young but experienced staff hustling to fill juice orders and answer questions.

Attentive to her customers as well as the surfer-dude-healthy guys working the juice counter, manager Jenna Rae Alexy seems to know many of her customers by name. She also knows what they will order. More →

April 15, 2016 - 9:30 am |

RED BANK: CALLING COUCH POTATOS…

Mar 17, 2016

The George Sheehan Classic may have left town, but Red Bank residents looking to ease into a trot, or even a run, after a sedentary winter will get their chance in the form of a new offering from the borough parks and rec department.

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March 17, 2016 - 7:46 am |

RED BANK: JUICING UP WEST SIDE LOFTS

Feb 23, 2016

The West Side Lofts, as seen from West Front Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

In keeping with its resemblance to a stack of shipping containers, Red Bank’s West Side Lofts project is packing them in.

Since opening last spring, all 90 of its residential apartments have been leased. The West Elm furniture and housewares store has opened, taking one of two anchor spots. The second anchor, Triumph Brewing Company, is expected to open its restaurant in coming months.

And to close out the leasing spree, the project’s developer is bringing in two local small businesses, redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has learned: Freshica’s Juice Bar and Rumson Personal Fitness.

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February 23, 2016 - 2:15 pm |

RED BANK: OM ON THE RIVER

Jul 22, 2015

Red Bank’s Maple Cove on the Navesink River has become a gently bobbing yoga studio, weather and tides permitting. “The [stand-up paddle] boards are more stable than you might think,” says Lincroft resident Sally El-Sadek, owner of Bodhi Ama SUP Yoga, who offers classes, complete with water-safety instruction, four or five times a week, at $45 per class. “It’s all about finding that connection to nature, but at the same time, we want everyone to feel safe and secure.”

Bodhi Ama is slated to participate in the annual Paddle the Navesink Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 12. The event showcases the recreational and educational qualities of the waterway. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

July 22, 2015 - 8:31 am |

SEA BRIGHT: HEY, IT’S NOW OAR NEVER

Apr 9, 2015

Ilene Winters, below, plans to open her new fitness studio in a former auto repair shop next door to a Dunkin’ Donuts this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Ilene Winters spent about 20 years on Wall Street, and another decade involved in nonprofit work helping cancer patients and victims of Hurricane Sandy. Now, she says, it’s time to put another passion into play: physical fitness.

This month, Winters expects to open OAR Fitness & Endurance, a training studio, in a former auto repair shop in Sea Bright.

But her leap of faith requires her to tune out some potential downsides. Among them: the Shrewsbury River, just inches away from the building, and what it can do when the weather turns ugly.

“I’m just trying not to think about it,” she tells redbankgreen. More →

April 9, 2015 - 8:30 am |

ACCIDENTAL PHOTO: TRACKING THE WEATHER

Jan 6, 2015

Oh, the irony: Someone put an indoor ski machine out on the curb on Hubbard Avenue in Middletown just in time for the first snowfall of 2015.

The snow should end by 5 p.m. with an accummulation of less than two inches, the National Weather Service says. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

January 6, 2015 - 3:34 pm |

SEA BRIGHT: FISH EATERY NOW OPEN

Jul 2, 2014

The impressive comeback of the hurricane-damaged three-story building at 1054 Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright continues with the soft opening of last Thursday of Sea Bright Fish Company, a restaurant and fish market owned by four members of the Diomede family. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

July 2, 2014 - 5:29 am |

RED BANK: CYMCA OFFERS SWIM PROGRAM

Jun 9, 2014

Elliott Wright, Claudia Garcia, Anthony Burden and Hannah Ludwikowski leap into the pool at the Community YMCA as part of the Red Bank facility’s annual summer learn-to-swim program last week. At right, Treasure Woods, Anthony Burden and Hannah practice their kicks. The program offered free water safety instruction for all third-graders at Red Bank Primary and Charter Schools. (Photos by Dan Natale. Click to enlarge)

June 9, 2014 - 1:41 pm |

SEA BRIGHT: PUTTING A BUILDING BACK IN BIZ

May 30, 2014

Christina Galinas outside the Ocean Avenue building she brought back to life. Below, Katy Fraggos, who’s opening a dance-based workout studio on the third floor. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

There’s been no shortage of notable comebacks from Hurricane Sandy in Sea Bright, starting with the front-end loaders that tackled six feet of sand on Ocean Avenue a day after the storm.

The recovery marked a milestone six weeks later with the lightning-fast reopening of Bain’s Hardware, which like every other store and restaurant in this oceanfront town was knocked offline by Sandy. And since then, more than a dozen businesses, some of them new, have added to the downtown’s revival.

Nineteen months later, the saga continues, with the reopening in coming weeks of a three-story building that has lined up two tenants brand new to town: a seafood restaurant and a fitness studio.

BONUS: SEE THE PHOTO TOUR OF A BLOCK IN RECOVERY AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE

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May 30, 2014 - 2:00 pm |

RED BANK: WEEKDAY WORKOUTS IN THE PARK

May 19, 2014

Whether you make your home in Red Bank or make a living here, the free weekly Wednesday evening fitness classes at Riverside Gardens Park are an energizing alternative to rush-hour traffic. (Photo by Peter Lindner)

Yoga, Zumba, Tai Chi and Pilates are the order of the evening — in a setting that’s both attuned to relaxing riverside vistas and plugged into the energy of downtown Red Bank — as a new Wednesday evening series of free fitness classes continues at Riverside Gardens Park.

Conducted by instructors from the Community YMCA from 6 to 7 pm, the free outdoor sessions are presented in partnership with Red Bank Parks and Recreation and the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign — and they’re open to anyone who lives and/or works in the borough.

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May 19, 2014 - 6:14 am |

CYMCA OFFERS AFFORDABLE SWIM PROGRAM

May 7, 2014

The indoor pool at The Community YMCA’s Red Bank facility will be the scene for affordably priced, all-ages Learn to Swim programs, beginning June 23.

Press release from The Community YMCA

Swim season is fast approaching, and The Community YMCA is committed to helping children and adults feel safe and comfortable in and around water. The Y is pleased to offer Learn to Swim Week, a national YMCA initiative designed to introduce the aquatic environment to beginners, teach basic learn-to-swim skills and increase water safety awareness for families. The four and five-day programs are great for beginners of all ages, with little to no swimming ability.

The four-day water safety program runs from June 24-29, and the community program fee is $12 for the week. This program is for pre-school and youth ages 3-10. The five-day program is held from June 23-27, and the program fee is $15 for the week. The program includes lessons for all ages 6 months to adult.

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May 7, 2014 - 6:01 am |

RETAIL CHURN: BOOTS, FOOD AND FIT KIDS

Mar 7, 2014

After 14 years in Fair Haven, Dean Ross is ready to take on double the rent to sell shoes in Red Bank. (Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

This edition of Retail Churn reports on these developments:

• A Fair Haven shoe store specializing in Dr. Martens boots hopes to kick some butt in downtown Red Bank – and keep the lights on after other stores close.

• Two high-profile Broad Street restaurants have quietly gone idle.

• A fitness center for kids plans to open next month on Wallace Street.

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March 7, 2014 - 11:29 am |

WEEKEND: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, AND MORE

Nov 29, 2013

Above: Juke Joint Jonny brings the real-deal folk blues to a season-ending Steamy Night at the Woman’s Club…while below, the real live author Dave Cicirelli brings his FAKEBOOK saga home to the M’town Library. (click to enlarge)

Friday, November 29:

RED BANK: Black Friday is many things to many folks — but here in the area’s capital of Christmas and holiday hootenannies, it’s all about the Friday Night Lights, as the wondrous Wall of Sound that is Holiday Express flips the switch on a new season of events, activities and jinglebell commerce in downtown Red Bank. The annual free outdoor concert commences at 7 pm at Broad and Canal streets; take it here for our feature story with the details on tonight’s festivities (including the return run of the Santa Express train).

RED BANK: If the Town Lighting crowds aren’t your scene, habitual stay-at-homes can be both housebound and social — during the final installment of 2013 for Reckless Steamy Nights, the monthly series of intimate house party concerts presented by the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation inside the Woman’s Club of Red Bank (a.k.a. the old Anthony Reckless estate, Broad Street between Reckless and Leroy Place). Tonight between the hours of 8:30 and 11 pm, the JSJBF sends you out into the bracing chill of the holiday season, with warm fuzzy feelings kindled by Juke Joint Jonny, the Newark-native specialist in acoustic folk blues whose whiskey-stinging/ whiskey-smooth style can make an inviting roadhouse out of the most stately old manor. It’s a special “Dennis’ 60th Birthday Party,” and it’s BYOB, with a $10 donation requested at the door (proceeds benefit the JSJBF scholarship programs); call (732)933-1984 for more info.

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November 29, 2013 - 12:00 pm |