News
Town Pride On Parade As Red Bank Celebrates Centennial
By John Burton
RED BANK - Following a terrible weather day on Friday, Mother Nature smiled on the Red Bank Centennial Parade and Picnic on Saturday The weather was warm and sunny as elected officials, police, fire fighters, politicians and numerous community groups converged on Globe Court to participate in the parade.
Led by mounted officers from the Asbury Park Police department, the parade included borough employees and elected officials, past and present, as well as candidates for various offices.
Councilman Michael DuPont traveled with former Democratic mayors Edward J. McKenna Jr. and Benedict Nicosia, while Democratic Councilman Arthur V. Murphy III joined fellow Democrat, Councilwoman Sharon Lee, Republican former Mayor Michael Arnone and retired state Supreme Court Justice Daniel J. O'Hern on one of the borough's fire trucks.
Councilwoman Mary-Grace Cangemi, a Republican up for election this year, shared a ride in a convertible with fellow Republican Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, a family friend. And her fellow Republican Councilmember John P. Curley, who is running for county freeholder, drove a shiny convertible with his running mate, Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, in the passenger seat.
"It's a rental," Curley proclaimed when complimented on his ride.
Mayor Pasquale Menna traveled with fellow Democrat U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), smiling and waving.
Area mayors, including Eatontown's Gerald J. Tarantolo, Rumson's John Ekdahl and Fair Haven's Michael Halfacre, joined in the procession, along with state Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12), a borough resident, and her Assembly colleagues Delcan J. O'Scanlon Jr., Little Silver, and Caroline Casagrande, Colts Neck, (both R-12).
The politicians were followed by members of the volunteer fire department; Riverview Medical Center; the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey; the Two River Theater Company; the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce, eastern branch; area churches; and fire companies from neighboring communities, including Tinton Falls and Middletown.
Bands from area schools and the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch, in their kilts and traditional Scottish Highlands garb, provided the musical accompaniment. The nearly two-mile long parade route traveled through the community's east and west sides, as it wound its way from Globe Court to West Front Street, to Broad Street, and west on Monmouth, south on Bridge Avenue and east on Drs. James Parker Boulevard and to its terminus at Count Basie Field, where a community-wide picnic was held.
The number of spectators along the parade route was not spectacular but enthusiastic.
"Are you loving this?" asked an obviously delighted and effusive Councilwoman Lee as the parade prepared to start.
"Men in skirts," she observed of the Atlantic Watch members. "What more could I want?"
Vincent Costigan was standing outside No Joe's Cafe, 51 Broad Street watching the parade. "It's a beautiful parade," said Costigan, who has lived on Broad Street for 22 years. "A lot of participants."
However, "I'm disappointed with the crowd," he said. "It seemed like there were more people in the parade than watching it."
Whether it was the weather, community spirit or the food, the picnic was well attended.
With food provided by Super Foodtown owner Joseph Azzolina and much of the entertainment by borough school musical groups and others, it appeared all proclaimed it a success.
Pallone in his public comments noted that whenever he tells people he is from the Jersey Shore, "They always ask about Red Bank."
Burry noted the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders officially proclaimed the day as Red Bank's.
"We have other towns," in the county, Burry said, as a glib aside. "But most want to be Red Bank."
Kal Ghosh, and his six-year-old son Indy, said they were having a good time. "Wonderful," Ghosh said, "great band, good food."
"It's a great day, a Red Bank day," Menna said as the afternoon wound down.
He and Councilwoman Kathy Horgan acknowledged that when talking earlier both thought it might be a good idea to do something like this every year. "I think it's great. It unites the community," Horgan said.
"And you know what?" she added. "Everybody loves a parade."
Superintendent of Schools Laura Morana concurred with the success of the day and the hope for future similar events. "My recommendation for the next parade," she offered, "would be to shorten the route."
Sunday's events, a parade of boats from different eras, and a display of some antique crafts, unfortunately did not benefit from as good weather. The rain did hold off until after the boats passed Marine Park before the heavy rainfall.
But those who came to Marine Park and got a chance to see some antique crafts and newer ones, including the display of a vintage iceboat, long represented on the borough's emblem, said they were having a fine time.
"I come to Red Bank all the time," said Marion Miller, Long Branch. "But I was anxious to see the boats.'
"It's a nice outing, and we love the water," contributed Denise Silver, also of Long Branch, Miller's friend.
"We're having a good day," said Natalie Nase, Point Pleasant, who came with her two sons, Andrew, 7, and Brad, 3.
Nase's father brought his antique boat to the event, which was another factor for the Nase family.
"We do things not just on land here in Red Bank," Menna touted on Saturday. "But on the sea as well."
The events were in celebration of the borough's incorporation as an independent borough, after being part of the greater Shrewsbury Township.
For centuries, the area waterways served as highways and market routes, bringing produce from Monmouth County farms to New York City. "Red Bank was born on the river," Menna told the audience on Sunday. "Water is the source of life."
