Mayor Billy Portman with Governor Phil Murphy at the ceremony. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy helped launch a new era in Red Bank government, swearing in Billy Portman for his first full term as mayor Saturday.
At an open-air ceremony held outside borough hall, Murphy also mildly roasted Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, the local Democratic party chair who helped engineer the change.
Two new retail tenants will be coming to the building at the corner of Broad and Monmouth streets, says the landlord. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
One of downtown Red Bank’s landmark buildings appears on the verge of filling two retail vacancies, redbankgreen‘s Retail Churn has learned.
Also in this edition of Churn: a restaurant is now dual-branded; an Italian ice shop opens; and a smoke shop plans to replace a “sip-and-paint” studio.
Smoke from forest fires raging in Canada affected the Greater Red Bank Green for the second time in a month, laying a haze over the Navesink River early Friday morning.
The smoke, which has traveled as far as Europe, is expected to be less intense than the local smothering of June 7, but air quality still “may approach or exceed unhealthy standards,” according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Combined with high temperatures, that could make for especially uncomfortable conditions outdoors.
Here’s the weather forecast for the weekend and beyond from the National Weather Service. (Reader photo. Click to enlarge.)
Attendees standing for the flag salute at Wednesday’s council session. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s 115-year-long “borough” government era came to a muted, low-key end Wednesday night with a council session free of the infighting that marked the last five.
Gracious words, in fact, were exchanged.
Borough hall will host two mayor-and-council meetings within four days this week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Three days before initiating a new municipal structure, Red Bank mayor’s and council will conduct their final business session under New Jersey’s “borough” form of government Wednesday evening.
Nothing on the agenda suggests indoor fireworks, but as 115 years of history suggests, anything can happen.
With little more than a week to go before an overhaul of Red Bank’s government begins, the incoming mayor and council are still seeking volunteers for boards and committees.
An umbrella came in handy as rain fell on White Street in Red Bank shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday.
The rain signaled an inauspicious start for the summer 2023, which began Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, there’s not much sunshine in near-term forecast for the Greater Red Bank Green, and an elevated chance of rain will linger through the coming weekend.
Check out the detailed outlook below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Ben Forest addressing the board of education Tuesday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s school district said goodbye to a longtime board of education member Tuesday night – and welcomed a new one.
The Pride flag flying at Red Bank borough hall earlier this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
While other locales have their knickers in a twist over LGBTQ issues, Red Bank is going all-in with a “family friendly” drag queen event in celebration of Pride month.
Red Bank police Chief Darren McConnell on Broad Street after the Red Bank Classic 5K Saturday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Darren McConnell, Red Bank’s police chief and interim administrator, plans to retire next month, he told redbankgreen Saturday.
McConnell’s exit means the incoming mayor and council will now have to fill the top two administrative jobs at borough hall while implementing a new “council-manager” form of government approved in a voter referendum last November.
And there’s an outside chance McConnell could return as the manager.
Eric Jones Jr., above, kicked off Red Bank’s third annual Juneteenth celebration with a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in Johnny Jazz Park Sunday.
Sunny skies and cool temperatures provided ideal conditions for more than 1,100 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers who participated in the fourth edition annual Red Bank Classic 5K Saturday.
Check out redbankgreen’s favorite photos from the event below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
Juneteenth marchers on Shrewsbury Avenue in 2021. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
Red Bankers are set to commemorate the federal and New Jersey state holiday of Juneteenth with an afternoon of activities Sunday.
The annual Red Bank Classic 5K is scheduled to return Saturday with a new course, and, possibly, rain and puddles.
The Red Bank Middle School class of 2019 was well represented in the RBR class of 2023. (Click to enlarge.)
Press release by the Red Bank Borough Public Schools
Red Bank Regional High School celebrated its Senior Awards recognition ceremony on June 7, and the Red Bank Middle School Class of 2019 received numerous awards and scholarships.
This group of students truly represented our “Best in America” mentality by achieving recognition in various award categories, including academic, athletics, arts, and community service.
An aerial view of the Red Bank Senior Center property, located at 80 Shrewsbury Avenue. (Photo from Google Maps. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Following what one critic called “the old switcheroo,” Red Bank’s soon-to-be-unseated council pushed through a measure to include the Senior Center property in a state conservation program Wednesday night.
The 11th-hour, unadvertised move was opposed by Mayor Billy Portman and at least four members of the council that’s slated to take office July 1, setting the stage for possible reversal.
Twin fawns spent a sun-dappled afternoon in adjoining backyards on Madison Avenue in Red Bank Monday, watching other wildlife and awaiting the return of their mother.
The Senior Center as seen last August. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
After a failed attempt to preserve part of the Red Bank Senior Center property by subdividing it, the council will try another approach Wednesday night.
A BMW stolen in Fair Haven landed on its front grill after a predawn crash in Red Bank Sunday.
According to Captain Mike Frazee, borough police were alerted to a possible crash on the Senator Joseph Kyrillos Bridge, West Front Street, shortly before 4:30 a.m.
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for May, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: On 05/01/2023 a patrol unit took a report of theft. In the area of Spring St., the victim reported the theft of an engagement ring from a residence. The ring was valued at $2500.00. Ptl. Piero Vescio.
Criminal Mischief: On 05/02/2023 a patrol unit reported graffiti on a stop sign in the area of Maple Av. Ptl. Ashon Lovick.
Smoke from distant forest fires smothered Red Bank and much of the Northeastern United States in an otherworldly haze Wednesday.
Funneled south from Canada, the smoke turned the air “very unhealthy,” according to the federal Environmental Protection Administration’s AirNow website. That designation continued Thursday morning.
Check out the forecast below, as well as redbankgreen‘s photos of the eerie atmosphere. (Photos by John T. Ward and Max Saltman. Click to enlarge.)
With a smell of burning wood, a smoky haze from Canadian wildfires is expected to blanket the Northeastern United States Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Conditions were expected to worsen in the afternoon, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued
a code orange air quality alert for Monmouth County, according to the NWS.
An aerial view of the Senior Center property. (Photo from Google Maps. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s planning board rejected a proposed subdivision of the borough’s riverfront Senior Center property Monday night.
Board members said the plan would cede too much control of the riverfront site to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, when other conservation tools would not.
The borough has been “flooded” with requests for bodycam video of DWI arrests, said the police chief. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Red Bank council rejected, without comment, a police department request to set fees for providing bodycam videos sought by the public Wednesday night.
Adoption would have helped cops reduce a “flood” of demands from requesters who simply want to monetize footage on social media, said Chief Darren McConnell. More →
A determined sunbather found a garage at the Madison Commons condos on South Street in Red Bank provided adequate exposure earlier this week.
Nature, however, appears to be less than fully committed to providing sunshine for the first weekend of June, according to the National Weather Service. Check out the extended forecast for the Greater Red Bank Green below. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)