RED BANK: RIVERVIEW DROPS MASK MANDATE
Reversing a policy revived a month ago, Red Bank’s Riverview Medical Center has dropped a mandate for mask-wearing to impede the spread of COVID-19, according to a published report.
RED BANK: RIVERVIEW REMANDATES MASKS
Red Bank’s Riverview Medical Center has revived its pandemic-era mask mandate for all staff and visitors “due to an increase in COVID-19 prevalence,” its owner announced Wednesday.
RED BANK: DISPLAY SPOTLIGHTS DRUG DEATHS
Purple flags outside Red Bank borough hall call attention to the dozens of drug overdose deaths in Monmouth County in the first three months of 2023, according to the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County.
The nonprofit organization says 52 municipalities in the county will host purple flag initiative displays leading up to International Overdose Awareness Day August 31. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
SHREWSBURY: YMCA NAMES BOARD MEMBERS
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.
MIDDLETOWN: RIVERFRONT PARK TO OPEN
In the works for more than eight years, Swimming River Park in the River Plaza section of Middletown is set to make its official debut Monday.
RED BANK: WEST SIDE LEAD PIPE PLAN OK’D
Eighty percent of Red Bank properties have an unknown type of water service line, according to ENGenuity. (Image by ENGenuity. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s West Side streets will soon be abuzz with street-opening backhoes as as the borough embarks on a massive, decade-long effort to identify and replace lead water lines.
FAIR HAVEN: BONE MARROW MATCH SOUGHT
Emersyn ‘Emmy’ Freund.
The family of a 15-year-old Fair Haven girl recently diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia has launched an effort to find a critical bone marrow match.
They’ll be holding a registry drive this week.
RED BANK: BASIE KICKS OFF ‘GIVING YEAR’
Each month, a different charitable organization will benefit from the Basie’s ticket sales under the yearlong program. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank has named Long Branch-based Shore House as the beneficiary of its first “Giving Year” giveaway.
The idea: to donate $1 from every event ticket sold during a specified month to a different charitable organization.
RED BANK: EXPANDED VNA CENTER TO OPEN
The Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey plans to open its new Community Health Center in Red Bank Tuesday, the organization announced last week.
LINCROFT: SHEEHAN TAKES BRONZE AT CBA
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 →
RED BANK: PARKER LAUNCHES ADDITION
A planned addition to the Parker Family Health Center. Below, founder Dr. Eugene Cheslock. (Rendering by SOME Architects; photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Not much larger than a typical single-family home, a planned addition to Red Bank’s Parker Family Health Center will significantly boost the free clinic’s caregiving capacity, officials said Thursday.
It will also provide the “summation” of a vision long held by center’s founder, he told a gathering at a groundbreaking ceremony.
RED BANK: VNA PLANS HEALTH CENTER MOVE
What’s Going On Here at the space formerly occupied by the Lambs & Wolves hair salon on Bridge Avenue in Red Bank?
LITTLE SILVER: ‘SOURCE’ IMPERILED AGAIN
Two years after avoiding budget cuts that threatened its existence, the school-based youth services program at Red Bank Regional High known as The Source is again facing “devastating” cuts, Superintendent Lou Moore told the school community Thursday.
RED BANK: MINORITIES AND HEALTH IN FOCUS
Parker Family Health Center executive director Suzy Dyer with clinic founder Dr. Eugene Cheslock during Wednesday’s discussion. (Photo from Zoom. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Despite progress in recent decades, minority group members are still impacted by “medical apartheid,” a health professional said at a Red Bank Public Library discussion Wednesday night.
Panelists and about two dozen viewers took stock of some healthcare challenges faced by the disenfranchised during the latest entry in the library’s ‘Let’s Talk About Race‘ series.
RED BANK: HOSPITALS TO KEEP CHILD CARE
Reversing a closure plan announced in July, Hackensack Meridian Health plans to continue providing child care services for employees at six New Jersey hospitals, including Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, according to a news report. More →
RED BANK: WALKING TOURS HIT THE BRICKS
Temporary sidewalk decals include a QR code that offers routes for Red Bank walking tours. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s Environmental Commission began a rollout this week of sidewalk markers downtown aimed at enhancing walkability in the central business district and beyond.
RED BANK: AC OUTAGE SHUTS RIVERVIEW ER
Riverview Medical Center’s emergency room entrance as seen in May, 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
See Update below.
By JOHN T. WARD
A malfunctioning air conditioning system prompted the temporary closure of the emergency room at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank Wednesday.
RED BANK: BROADWALK CONCERNS AIRED
A view of Broadwalk at lunchtime last October. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank merchants and residents pressed officials with concerns regarding a third season of Broadwalk at a community forum Wednesday night.
With less than a month to go before a disruptive streetscape makeover project wraps up, they called for efforts to address litter, traffic, speeding on residential streets and more.
RED BANK: BROAD STREET PROJECT NEARS END
Retractable bollards were installed on Mechanic Street near Broad Street Wednesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
See UPDATE below
By JOHN T. WARD
A messy, overdue and over-budget makeover of upper Broad Street in Red Bank is expected to conclude in late July, acting borough Administrator Darren McConnell said Wednesday.
The project, which began last November, marked a milestone with the installation this week of retractable hydraulic bollards that will enable quick closure of the street to vehicular traffic.
Still to be determined is when the Broadwalk dining promenade will return for a third, if abbreviated, season.
RED BANK: BUILDING SOLD, PHARMACY CLOSED
After six years in business, the Red Bank Family Pharmacy has ended operations. And the Broad Street building it which it operated has changed hands.
RED BANK: ASBESTOS FOUND AT BASIE PARK
Officials said the loose asbestos was limited to a boiler room and transformer room beneath the main grandstand. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s interim business administrator said Friday there is “no cause for concern” as the town moves forward with a plan to address recently discovered asbestos in an area beneath the grandstand at Count Basie Field.
RED BANK: GOP TRIO TO TRY AGAIN
Republican Chairman Jonathan Maciel Penney, seen here in 2019, will run for council in the June primary. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank Republican Brian Irwin, who dropped out of a council race two years ago, will seek his party’s endorsement as mayoral candidate in the June primary.
In addition, GOP Chairman Jonathan Maciel Penney will make his fourth attempt in four years for a council seat, joined for the second year in a row by Christine Stout.
RED BANK: CONVERSION TO OFFICE OK’D
A plan to expand and convert a Red Bank house to professional use obtained unanimous approval from the zoning board Thursday night.
RED BANK: DOWNTOWN BUILDING SOLD
One of downtown Red Bank’s most visible buildings has changed hands.
RED BANK: OFFICE CONVERSION ON AGENDA
A plan to convert a home to office use is slated to be reviewed by the Red Bank zoning board Thursday night. More →