RED BANK: ONCE MORE ‘ROUND THE RIVER

Aug 10, 2016

Press release from Red Bank Council President Cindy Burnham

If you have always wanted to kayak or try to paddle board on the Navesink River, but never knew how to get to it, now is your chance! On Saturday, September 10, Red Bank residents and visitors will once again have the chance to demo a kayak, paddle board, rowing shell, or try a class in paddle board yoga — and all for free — at the 6th Paddle the Navesink Day.

Going on from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the event takes place at Maple Cove (foot of Maple Avenue), the only public access site in Red Bank where you can hand launch a small non motorized craft in the Navesink River.

Just West of Maple Cove is Navesink River Rowing, which will be holding an open house to offer people the chance to demo a rowing shell and get information regarding their adult and youth rowing programs.

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August 10, 2016 - 5:00 am |

A FASHION FOR LEARNING, AT RBR’S SOURCE

Feb 10, 2016

Working to plan the annual Andrew Kroon Memorial Fashion Show are (left to right) Rita Banfield, SOURCE intern Quinn Batcho, SOURCE Youth Development Specialist Regina Cochrane, Michelle Lane, SOURCE intern Salcia DeJesus, and SOURCE Director Suzanne Keller. Not pictured are committee members Anita Caamano, Linda Ensor, Beatriz Oesterheld, Rose Powers and Dede Rumph.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

Founded as a School-Based Youth Services Program whose mission is to remove all obstacles that impede students’ academic success, The SOURCE at Red Bank Regional High School has done much to make dreams come true for the young people of the community. Ten years ago, the foundation inaugurated another successful stepping-stone to connect qualifying Latino students with access to a college education, through the establishment of the Andrew Kroon Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Named in memory of the son of Mary Jane and Rick Kroon of Rumson (a noted environmentalist and global traveler who passed away in 2005 at age 24), and operating under the auspices of The SOURCE at Red Bank Regional (RBR), the Andrew Kroon scholarship is funded in part each year through a fashion show and gift auction event that presents its 2016 edition on the afternoon of Sunday, February 21.

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February 10, 2016 - 5:01 am |

RED BANK: TENNIS FANS MUSTER FOR COURTS

Nov 10, 2015

The tennis courts, overgrown with weeds since being swamped by Hurricane Sandy three years ago, got a sprucing-up from the borough last week. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

As expected, the Red Bank council derailed an ambitious plan for $3.5 million worth of private development on the site of the borough-owned red clay tennis courts in Marine Park Monday night.

Still, a roomful of frustrated tennis enthusiasts packed the council chambers, many of them holding paper signs urging the council to now restore the hurricane-damaged riverfront courts to playability.

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November 10, 2015 - 8:12 am |

RED BANK: MARINE PARK PROJECTS NIXED

Nov 3, 2015

The clay tennis courts at Marine Park as seen in August. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

All three private-sector proposals for the future of Red Bank’s hurricane-damaged Marine Park clay tennis courts should be rejected, a triumverate of borough council members is expected to say in a report next week.

The recommendation to the full council is being made in spite of the fact that one pitch, by startup Jetsun Enterprises, was far and away the winner on paper. But in the court of public opinion, it was over the line, Councilwoman Linda Schwabenbauer told redbankgreen on Monday.

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November 3, 2015 - 10:18 am |

RED BANK: BURNHAM BLASTS PARK DELAY

Sep 24, 2015

The clay tennis courts at Marine Park as seen last month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Five months after three proposals were submitted, the Red Bank council has yet to receive a recommendation on the future of the hurricane-damaged Marine Park clay tennis courts, and may not get one before election day.

That has Republican Councilwoman Cindy Burnham — who redbankgreen has learned was chastised behind closed doors by her colleagues for saying too much about the issue — ramping up her complaints that there’s something “fishy” going on.

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September 24, 2015 - 3:01 pm |

RED BANK: RIVER PADDLING UNDERWAY

Sep 12, 2015

Rowers, kayakers, canoers, standup paddlers and others gathered at Red Bank’s Maple Cove Saturday afternoon for the fifth edition of Paddle the Navesink Day. The free, get-aquainted-with-the-waterway event runs until 4 p.m., rain or shine. (Photo by Trish Russoniello. Click to enlarge)

September 12, 2015 - 1:29 pm |

RED BANK: COUNCIL GIRDS FOR POSSIBLE SUIT

Sep 10, 2015

The clay tennis courts at Marine Park as seen last month, above. Below, an architect’s depiction of the proposed Red Bank Harbor plan. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank’s mayor and council held a closed-door meeting Wednesday night to discuss potential litigation over the process that could lead to a makeover of the hurricane-damaged clay tennis courts in Marine Park.

Mayor Pasquale Menna told redbankgreen shortly beforehand that the topics to be discussed by the governing body in executive session included “possible litigation” concerning the tennis court site, though he declined to be more specific.

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September 10, 2015 - 11:49 am |

RED BANK: TAKE IT TO THE RIVER

Sep 7, 2015

Rowers, kayakers, canoers, standup paddlers and the just-plain-interested are invited to Maple Cove this Saturday, when Paddle the Navesink Day offers area residents a new perspective on Red Bank’s most beautiful asset and resource.

It’s about kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rowing, standup paddling. Actually, it’s about the history, culture, and ecology of the waterway from which a vibrant community took shape. Or perhaps more to the point, it’s about the opportunity to get acquainted — or to fall in love all over again — with the greater Red Bank Green’s most beautiful asset, resource, pride and joy.

When the event known as Paddle the Navesink Day returns for a fifth edition this Saturday, September 12, the rain-or-shine, late-summer “free community-wide celebration” will once again represent a unique convergence of local businesses, boating clubs and nonprofit organizations that’s hands-on, oars-in, and ready to make a believer of anyone who might have taken the river’s charms for granted.

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September 7, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK: JETSUN DEFENDS PROPOSAL

Aug 12, 2015

A rendering by architect Mike Simpson of the Red Bank Harbor proposal, as seen from the horseshoe marina at Marine Park. Below, Jetsun principals Doug Booton, Michael Hernandez and Anthony Jude Setaro at the Red Bank Mayor’s Charity Ball in May. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Jetsun Enterprises is not proposing a “Coney Island” in Marine Park, the startup developer said Tuesday night, in response to criticism by Red Bank Councilman Mike DuPont and comments posted on redbankgreen.

“Comparing our proposal to any large theme park such as Coney Island or Seaside is both illogical and irresponsible,” Jetsun said in a press release. “We are offering small recreational activities for families, not building rollercoasters and ferris wheels. We are extending the existing promenade, not constructing a boardwalk.” More →

August 12, 2015 - 8:00 am |

RED BANK: DUPONT ZAPS JETSUN PROPOSAL

Aug 11, 2015

The red clay courts, idled since Hurricane Sandy, as seen from the Monmouth Boat Club next door. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Councilman Mike DuPont has signaled he will oppose a proposal for a privately owned recreational center on the site of the borough’s riverfront tennis courts in Marine Park.

Calling the proposal, by Jetsun Enterprises, “10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag,” DuPont wrote in a letter that it “puts every imaginable use down at Marine Park with the exception of not having a ferris wheel” and could turn Red Bank into “Coney Island South.”

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August 11, 2015 - 7:00 am |

RED BANK: ACTION EXPECTED ON COURT PLANS

Jul 24, 2015

Wondering about the fate of Red Bank’s clay tennis courts in Marine Park, and whether they’ll be saved or replaced by either of two competing proposals to develop the waterfront site?

After nearly two months of silence, the borough parks and rec committee is expected to discuss the issue Monday night, when it could issue its non-binding recommendation to a trio of council members – Linda Schwabenbauer, Kathy Horgan and Ed Zipprich.

The councilmembers, in turn, are expected to meet Tuesday night in a closed session to “score” three proposals, one of which calls for keeping the courts, according to criteria set out in bids. They’ll also weigh comments made at a public forum held in May and afterward, said Schwabenbauer, who expects the committee to make a recommendation to the full governing body by the end of August, she said Wednesday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

July 24, 2015 - 2:00 pm |

RED BANK: TENNIS COURT IDEAS VOLLEYED

May 29, 2015

An exhibit showed the layout of the Jetsun proposal superimposed an aerial view of the park. Below, MPAC principals Phil Flego, Gayle Horvath and Sandy Talarico make their pitch. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

What should be done with the hurricane-damaged red clay tennis courts at Red Bank’s riverfront Marine Park?

For almost three hours Thursday night, area residents offered opinions and teased out details of three formal proposals: one that calls for restoring the courts with a $500,000 donation by a Locust resident, and two that envision real estate development of river-oriented activity centers.

Each had its advocates and opponents, and none appeared to have won the hearts of all 120 people in attendance.

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May 29, 2015 - 8:00 am |

RED BANK PUTTING COURT PLANS INTO PLAY

May 19, 2015

The courts haven’t been playable since they were swamped by the Navesink River during Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Three proposals for the future of Red Bank’s red clay tennis courts in Marine Park are scheduled for public airing later this month.

The borough council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, May 28, at the Red Bank Middle School for presentations of the three plans. Two of them include ambitious real estate development and river-oriented activities, while the third aims to keep the site as a tennis facility.

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May 19, 2015 - 9:30 am |

RED BANK: CLASSIC BOATHOUSE PROPOSED

Apr 16, 2015

A rendering of the proposed Marine Park Activity Center shows the existing Monmouth Boat Club at right. (Rendering by Katie Osepchuk. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

One of three proposed plans for the reuse Red Bank’s dormant clay tennis courts calls for the construction of a classic boathouse topped by a catering hall on the Navesink River in Marine Park.

The project, dubbed the Marine Park Activity Center, reflects the traditional river-oriented focus of two groups – Navesink River Rowing club and the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association – anchored by a structure similar to boathouses in West Windsor and Camden, its proponents said.

redbankgreen detailed another of the three plans, called Red Bank Harbor, on Wednesday. The third proposal consists solely of an individual’s offer to donate $500,000 to the borough for the restoration of the site as a red-clay tennis facility, redbankgreen has learned.

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April 16, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

LITTLE SILVER: RBR FASHION SHOW A GO

Jan 29, 2015

Planning the upcoming fashion show and luncheon to benefit the Latino Scholarship program at Red Bank Regional are Linda Ensor, RBR Source supervisor Suzanne Keller, Dede Rumph, Didi Friedman, Anita Camarano and Rose Powers.

Press release from Red Bank Regional High School

The Andrew Kroon Memorial Scholarship Fund, operating under the auspices of The SOURCE at Red Bank Regional High School, has been helping to make dreams come true for more than ten years. The program assists qualifying Latino students at RBR in affording their dream of college, and to benefit the scholarship, the foundation is sponsoring a fashion show and gift auction on Sunday, February 8.

Scheduled to run from from 12 to 3 pm at Buona Sera Ristorante in Red Bank, the event will spotlight fashions furnished by The Sport Spot in Shrewsbury and Posch Boutique in Rumson. Also featured will be a 50/50 raffle, raffle basket auction and coffee bar, as well as exquisite one-of-a kind jewelry by LeCharme.

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January 29, 2015 - 6:00 am |

PADDLE DAY MAKES A RETURN TO THE RIVER

Aug 31, 2011

A beginner gets acclimated with the water at last year’s inaugural Paddle the Navesink Day. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

Red Bank has its share of river-themed events. There’s Riverfest in June, a three-day bonanza of food and entertainment. There’s Kaboom Fireworks on the Navesink, one the nation’s largest pyrotechnics shows. Rowing and sailing regattas dot the calendar three seasons of the year, and there’s even the occasional iceboat race.

But only Paddle the Navesink Day encourages visitors who have no affiliation with boating clubs to actually get out onto, and into, our beautiful Navesink River in myriad ways, to satisfy myriad curiosities.

“Many people know about Red Bank, the shopping and dining, but they know very little about the water,” said Linda Ensor, who as part of Navesink River Rowing Club helps organize Paddle Day. “The Navesink River is really a gem, and it’s a very, very diverse body of water.”

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August 31, 2011 - 10:20 am |