67°F overcast clouds

RED BANK: FARMER DEFENDS PRODUCE TOSS

red bank farmers market kurt poehlerKurt Poehler at the Red Bank Farmer’s Market in May, 2020. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank njThe farmer who trigged a backlash over disposed produce at the Red Bank Farmer’s Market Sunday defended the practice as a normal result of sorting Wednesday.

In addition, an organization that puts surplus produce into the hands of those who need it backed him for donating carloads of fruit and vegetables weekly, including Sunday.

More →

RED BANK: MARKET REOPENS AS DRIVE-THRU

red bank farmers market red bank farmers marketThe Red Bank Farmer’s Market reopened Sunday, with some changes to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The foremost modification: the market is now temporarily a drive-thru only, with customers encouraged to pre-order their purchases.

Kurt Poehler, above, and his crew from Spring House Farms were ready with arrays of colorful fruits and vegetables.

More →

RED BANK: CRISIS DELAYS FARMERS’ MARKET

Mother’s Day is still five weeks away, but this year’s edition won’t be accompanied by the customary opening of the Red Bank Farmer’s Market.

George Sourlis, whose family-owned Galleria of Red Bank hosts the popular Sunday market, tells redbankgreen that this year’s start has been indefinitely postponed by the COVID-19 crisis. It will open once the pandemic has passed, he said.

The seasonal farmstand typically runs through November.  (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

RED BANK: COUNCIL DROPS REVERSE APPEALS

red bank nj oceanfirst hqThe OceanFirst Bank headquarters was the subject of a reverse appeal case settled Wednesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank njBombarded by criticism from the business community, the Red Bank council on Wednesday dropped a plan to pursue a new round of  “reverse appeals” against commercial properties it believed to be undertaxed.

But first, the council approved the settlement of an older reverse appeal that will boost the taxable value of a downtown building by 69 percent over three years. And battles over cases filed in 2018 continue.

More →

RED BANK: CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR FOR POT SHOP

red bank galleriaThe Galleria’s application indicated the business would be located in space now occupied by Siam Garden. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank njThree months after Red Bank changed its zoning laws to allow sales of medical marijuana, the borough has rejected its first application for a retail pot shop, officials said Wednesday night.

The denial appears to underscore one of the main problems such a business would have to navigate: limitations on their proximity to schools and parks.

More →

RFH: SOURLIS ENDS 30-YEAR WINNING CAREER

George-Sourlis-610x343 (1)Rumson-Fair Haven girls’ basketball coach George Sourlis, the Shore Conference’s all-time winningest coach, announced his retirement Wednesday. Sourlis ends his 30-year leadership of the Lady Bulldogs after five state championships, 14 sectional titles and a record of 653-198, including a 22-7 tally in his final season.

In an interview with NJ.com, Sourlis credited his players, assistant coaches and school administration for the team’s success, which he said has been “not because of George Sourlis and George Sourlis alone. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to withstand the test of time.” (Photo courtesy of Shore Sports Zone.)

RFH: SOURLIS, STANT MARK MILESTONES

Rumson-Fair Haven girls basketball coach George Sourlis became the Shore Conference’s all-time winningest coach Tuesday in a game that also saw Villanova-bound senior Grace Stant score her 1,000th career point. The 66-23 road win over Raritan was victory number 626 for Sourlis, who’s coached the Lady Bulldogs for 29 years, and moved his total past that of legendary CBA boys basketball coach Ed Wicelinski. Both milestones were celebrated on the hardwood, and Shore Sports Zone was there to capture it all.

FOR RFH COACH SOURLIS, A SWEET 600

sourlis600Rumson-Fair Haven Girls Basketball coach George Sourlis celebrates his recent milestone 600th career win, with wife Nikie and members of the RFH Lady Bulldogs. (HoopGroup)

Press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

George Sourlis, Head Coach for  Girls’ Basketball at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, reached a landmark on Friday, January 24 with his 600th win for the school. The Lady Dawgs prevailed over Holmdel High School in a Class A Central Division game, with a score of 44-38.

The RFH players celebrated the milestone win with balloons spelling out the number 600 and t-shirts imprinted with the number — as well as a commemorative basketball, which they presented to their coach.

Sourlis, who has more wins than any other girls’ coach in Shore Conference history, is currently in his 28th season at RFH. With Sourlis as Head Coach, the Lady Bulldogs have earned 14 Sectional State Titles (ten of them consecutive), 16 Shore Conference Division Titles, five State Group Titles, and five appearances in the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions.

More →

SUNDAY: MARKET ON YOUR CALENDAR

farmers-market1Red Bank’s popular farmers market makes its traditional Mother’s Day debut Sunday. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

It’s time to polish momma’s apple, locavores.

Red Bank’s ever-popular, always-growing open-air emporium, the Red Bank Farmers’ Market, returns to the blacktop of The Galleria on Mother’s Day for its 12th season of dishing out homegrown fruits, vegetables and miscellaneous wares.

More →