You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter There was an error while trying to send your request It is an unforgettable experience for foodies This year there will be a larger kids' section offering physical challenges and friendly competitions plus face painting and photo opportunities there will be live music performances and entertainment throughout the day including favorite local bands (Earth Monkeys The tented area on the grounds surrounding Russell Hall of historic Fort Monmouth will feature some of the hottest local restaurants independent eateries and food and beverage providers in the area Attendees can purchase and taste a variety of samplings from local and regional establishments Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/b... or $20 day of the event at the gate "We're excited to be back for year three and have made some changes we think people will love showcasing the diverse food scene and entrepreneurs in this area," says CW Events founder Renee Lam-Whiteman "We also really focused on creating a weekend that is great for the entire family This included adding more games that everyone will want to get involved in such as basketball hoop shoot and top-notch live band performances by Earth Monkeys At press time a current list of vendors includes: Sponsors of the Bougie Foodie Festival include: Riverwalk Center as one of the event’s main sponsors and owner of the location where the event will be held Riverwalk Center CEO Michael Abboud is donating 100% of the rent proceeds to Oceanport first responders Oceanport first responders have received $8,500 Boujee Foodie Con and its vendors will donate all available leftover food to local Monmouth County non-profit Lunch Break Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Click To View Entire Notice May 1, 2025 the Shore Regional High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame members L-R: Michael Gleason 2003, Russ Scalzo 1967, Wayne Jesel 1968, Walter J. O'Neill 1977, Alexis Tucci, Honorary, Kathy Perri 1978, Brian O'Brien 1983, and Dr. David LaPorta 1988. This story has been updated to add additional information a two-day outdoor food festival happening next month at Fort Monmouth in Oceanport which will feature more than two dozen food really focused on creating a weekend that is great for the entire family," co-organizer Melanie Carpenter of Monmouth Beach said in a news release "This included adding more games that everyone will want to get involved in such as and top-notch live band performances by  Earth Monkeys In addition to businesses selling smoothie bowls these restaurants and food trucks will attend: There is no charge for children younger than 10 Admission includes access to a shuttle that will bring attendees from parking areas on Irwin and Telegraph avenues to the festival Food samples will be available for purchase OCEANPORT -- New Jersey American Water is set to begin a $5.5 million project to replace over three miles of aging water main pipes in the Blackberry Bay neighborhood later this month which sits on a peninsula on the Shrewsbury River The company said it will upgrade aging water lines that were installed as far back as the 1960s with new 6-inch 8-inch and 12-inch ductile iron main lines The project also includes replacing fire hydrants and utility-owned service lines along the pipeline route Oceanport dining: At The Sauce Pizzeria, there are different sauces for different pies Oceanport: Students use creative carryalls for food drive benefitting Red Bank charity New Jersey American Water said the multimillion-dollar investment will continue to advance water service reliability and increase water flow for household consumption and fire protection in this community New Jersey American Water has contracted with Alpha Utility Contractors which will begin the work the week of April 28 and expects to be completed by the end of August The Borough Council is set to approve a resolution that will allow the contractor a start time of 7:30 a.m and allow workers to arrive on site at 7 a.m no machines will be started until the approved start time Particularly noisy operations will be scheduled after 8 a.m Tvrdik said many of the streets were recently paved and will be re-paved by American Water as they work is completed Impacted streetsComanche Drive from Monmouth Boulevard to Pocano AvenuePort Au Peck Avenue from Cayuga Avenue to Pocano AvenueThe entire length of Cayuga Avenue Seawaneka Avenue and Pocano Avenue.When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor the revamped cafe-style version of Perkins' classic sit-down restaurant the retail complex that's rising just off Oceanport Avenue at the former Fort Monmouth has the same comfort food that everybody knows and loves from Perkins but in a smaller quick-service model," said franchisee Anthony Degrande who along with his mother Lisa Dalton has signed on to bring the new Perkins concept to the Jersey Shore Perkins restaurants have all but disappeared at the Jersey Shore. Last year, Perkins American Food Co. closed a restaurant in Lacey leaving its Hazlet location as the only remaining in Monmouth County What's Going There? Wonder, opening in Middletown and more, lets you order from multiple restaurants at once "Perkins has been a staple for us," Degrande said "When we heard of the really early opportunity to get in with Perkins and bring it back Perkins announced the launch of Perkins Griddle & Go in September signing up franchisees and touting a menu that features breakfast classics like omelets eggs benedict — which guests can get as a bowl — classics and "Griddle Greats," such as French toast and buttermilk pancakes The new restaurant in Oceanport is 1,900 square feet but Perkins Griddle & Go is designed for people on the go The restaurant has digital menus and self-order kiosks everybody wants everything quick and fast," Degrande said customers who stay and eat will have their food brought to their table The Oceanport location will have a patio too for more space "We get Jersey Shore on the weekends," she said Dalton said Griddle & Go will have burgers and salads on the menu as well as healthy options and new bakery items "We did a tasting and the food was pretty outrageous," Dalton said "We have some great restaurants" in Monmouth County "and we're going to give them a run," she said Oceanport news: Shore Regional $51M referendum shot down by voters after Sea Bright fight Perkins Griddle & Go has a first-row seat in the revitalization of Fort Monmouth Netflix is in the process of closing on the purchase of 292 acres at the former Army base and developing 12 sound stages for its motion picture The site will be the company's East Coast production hub Developer Michael Abboud and his development partner, Chris Ilvento, owner of Ilvento Builders & Developers, are building the RiverWalk Center, a $25 million project on 12 acres at Parker's Creek on the Oceanport side of Fort Monmouth right along Oceanport Avenue What's Going There? Red Bank's Denholtz has created a $2B real estate empire; now they want to get bigger "We saw their passion for wanting to make not only a great retail plaza but they wanted to put Fort Monmouth back on the map as a destination place that you want to go," Degrande said "Once we saw their plan and saw their passion for their project it just aligned perfectly with exactly what we're doing by bringing Perkins back David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates OCEANPORT -- A borough family was displaced after a two-alarm fire destroyed their home in the Port-au-Peck neighborhood Saturday night The borough fire department was dispatched at 6:15 p.m following reports of smoke coming from a vent at a home on Port Au Peck Avenue but the blaze quickly engulfed the entire home A second alarm was called shortly thereafter One firefighter was injured after pulling a muscle manning a fire hose He was treated at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch but released after X-rays were negative Oceanport firefighters were assisted by crews from Eatontown Little Silver and the county fire marshal's office and it was hard to get them because of all the destruction," Gallo said The cause of the fire was not immediately known and remains under investigation from the Monmouth County Fire Marshal and an excavator was already on site on Saturday The family has been staying with other family members in town "It was total loss and devastation," he said Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering New Jersey local news transportation and a little bit of everything else Contact him at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter OCEANPORT ‑ While it's not lights, camera, action time yet, Netflix cleared the first of what'll be many planning board hurdles Tuesday when the borough approved the first phase of its motion picture television and broadcast studio campus named Netflix Studios at Fort Monmouth Netflix plans to build 12 sound stages at Fort Monmouth in phases The first four will be done in phase one at the McAfee Zone — which is 29 acres in the heart of the Mega Parcel that it's under contract to buy at the former military post Almost all of the McAfee Zone sits in Oceanport with the exception of two acres in Eatontown The approval was not without some haggling from board members as they negotiated with the streaming giant during the course of two board hearings over the size of studio identification numbers and the aesthetics of a wall that will surround the campus Netflix asked for variance relief to permit identification signs that will be located on the sound studios to be of a height of 12 feet whereas 10 feet is permitted by the zoning in the Mega Parcel Netflix asked for the larger signs for identification purposes in case of an emergency since studios don't have individual addresses Board member Darren Davis was persistent on keeping the size at 10 so as to reduce some of the visual impact of the studios on residents Davis won a compromise whereas Netflix got the 12 foot signs which will have the studio number on the outside but agreed to place them lower on the exterior Netflix also agreed to remove two exterior billboard signs Netflix at Fort Monmouth: Construction plans unveiled to public, studio seeks Oceanport OK The board didn't show as much dissent over a wall that will be built around the campus pre-cast concrete wall that is brick-stamped at the start of the studio campus fronting Avenue of Memories Davis asked for an all-red brick wall instead Netflix is still in the process of closing on the purchase of 292 acres of the Mega Parcel where it plans to build its East Coast studio production hub — a total investment of $850 million which will bring a little bit of Hollywood to the Shore is expected to be a multibillion dollar economic engine to the state the birthplace of the modern film industry More: Netflix will save this historic Fort Monmouth building for its movie studio campus As it moves through the phases it will have to go before the planning boards of the host towns. On Tuesday, Netflix got planning board approval from Oceanport for the McAfee Parcel, or Zone 7, where it will start. The Mega Parcel is divided into 12 zones but just 10 are being purchased by Netflix Netflix still needs to obtain approvals from the Eatontown Planning Board Freehold Soil and also New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said at the first board hearing earlier this month that the company wants to start construction on the McAfee Zone campus in the fourth quarter of 2025 While Netflix has not closed on the property yet it is permitted to do abatement and demolition activities prior to the closing per an agreement with the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority the state agency handling the fort's redevelopment Netflix at Fort Monmouth: Find out where the studios, helipad and hotels can go Netflix is eligible for a pool of $125 million in tax breaks at the McAfee Zone under the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act if it gets the required approvals and then occupies the studios for at least 10 years The zone sits almost entirely in Oceanport save for roughly two acres that are in Eatontown and contains a former bowling alley Netflix has already identified the bowling alley for demolition Two will stand alone and will be roughly 22,000 square feet each and 70 feet tall adjoined by a wall and will occupy 83,555 square feet and also stand 70 feet high All four sound stages will have elephant doors because they're big enough for an elephant to walk through Netflix will build two ancillary buildings — a 61,800-square-foot where the studio sets will be designed and built and a roughly 12,000-square-foot warehouse once home to the Army's Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate of the Communications Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center and an administrative building occupied now by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority More: As Hollywood and Netflix descend on NJ, they need more hotels like the Molly Pitcher Inn The McAfee and FMERA building is where actors and actresses will come in for makeup and hair and to read scripts Completing the campus here will be what Netflix calls base camps including RVs where actors can hang out between shoots The whole campus will be surrounded by an 8- to 10-foot pre-cast concrete wall one of which will be manned by a security guard Netflix will have the ability to film two productions at once at this campus once it's up and running While Falcon said the campus will be open "24/7," work hours will typically be from 5 a.m with occasional operations late into the evening and on weekends Most of the employees and cast will arrive between 5 a.m we are excited to continue partnering with local officials and the community to transform this historic space into a world-class production facility," a Netflix spokesperson told the press following Oceanport's approval When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com OCEANPORT -- The students rolled small wheelbarrows miniature shopping carts and doll strollers through the halls of Maple Place Middle School on Wednesday morning Others carried laundry baskets loaded with their books as well as cans and boxes of food It was part of the middle school's "Everything But a Backpack" event where Oceanport students and staff used their unusual carryalls to bring not just their usual books and supplies to school The donations were collected for Lunch Break in Red Bank a volunteer organization that serves meals and supplies basic groceries to needy families a seventh-grade teacher who helped to organize the event said the school community routinely collects more than 20 boxes and bags of food for the organization as a result of the one-day event The school has been holding the collection for three years not only want to continue to give back to the community we want the students to experience the difference they are making first hand," Lisotto said in an email Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years OCEANPORT - A car crashed into the front entrance of a restaurant Thursday morning leaving a hole in the front of Mia Restaurant on East Main Street in Oceanport Police at the scene said nobody was injured in the crash OCEANPORT - Netflix has an ask of the borough They want bigger stage identification numbers on the outside of the buildings than permitted And the borough wants to know exactly what they're in store for from Netflix looking to minimize the impact on their residents' quality of life while inviting a bit of Hollywood to town Netflix's future movie, film and television campus planned for the former Fort Monmouth has created a lot of buzz at the Shore The streaming giant is expected to be a multibillion dollar economic engine for the state but the reality of what daily life may actually look like in the two host towns came into a little more focus at the first of what will likely be many planning board hearings as Netflix builds out its campus in phases with sets being built on site and multiple productions taking place at once But the campuses should not generate the amount of traffic that the was there when it was an active military base Netflix intends to build 12 sound stages on the 292 acres of the Mega Parcel at Fort Monmouth that it's under contract to buy it will start with four at what's called the McAfee Parcel in its first phase of the campus build out said the company wants to start construction on the McAfee Studio Campus in the fourth quarter of 2025 History preserved: Netflix will save this historic Fort Monmouth building for its movie studio campus which sits almost entirely in Oceanport save for roughly two acres that are in the other host town of Eatontown Netflix wants approval to construct four sound stages All four sound stages will have what Falcon called "elephant doors" because they're big enough for an elephant to walk through Netflix wants to add two ancillary buildings — a 61,800-square-foot RiverWalk construction underway: Restaurants, brewery, racket courts come to Fort Monmouth Falcon said production will not be restricted by hours and the campus will operate "24/7." However Netflix stated in its application that work hours will typically be from 5 a.m Most of the employees and cast will arrive between 5 and 10 a.m Want to live next to Netflix? Fort Monmouth housing plans in the works Production may run late into the evening and sometimes keep employees past midnight require crews to have 12 hours off between shifts up to two productions could be on location the McAfee studio campus will generate approximately 107 vehicular trips during the weekday morning peak hour and 64 vehicular trips during the weekday evening peak hour said 90% of the traffic will be coming on and off from Route 35 but that most of the trucks entering the campus will be box trucks and utility vehicles pulling trailers He said very few 18-wheeled tractor-trailers will access the site Pehnke compared Netflix's anticipated traffic to a typical fort day in 2007 when 12,500 personnel entered the base in 11,418 vehicles only 6,000 of those vehicles went to the main campus east of Route 35 The rest went to the Charles Woods Area of the fort which is one of the main reasons Netflix chose the old fort grounds to be close to "top-notch talent," he said Another reason is access to hotel accommodations where they expect crews to stay over The more permanent Netflix employees he anticipates might relocate to the area Netflix and hotels: As Hollywood and Netflix descend on NJ, they need more hotels like the Molly Pitcher Inn One area that generated a lot of debate was Netflix's request for a variance to put up 12-foot identification numbers on the studios where only 10-foot signs are permitted Several board members expressed concern that they did not want residents to have to stare at large "We need to do whatever we can to ease the burden on residents," said board member Leslie Widdis One of the reasons Netflix is asking for the larger signs is for identification purposes in case of an emergency No decision was made on that as the meeting adjourned before all Netflix's professionals were heard is just about ready to welcome its first players located at the new RiverWalk Center at 850 Oceanport Ave. is expected to have its soft opening this week Co-founded by husband and wife team Peter and Jess Nicol Nicol New Jersey has four indoor pickleball courts three squash courts and two indoor padel courts Outdoor pickleball and padel courts are planned as well "I grew up playing a number of racket sports," said Peter Nicol "I played squash and tennis in the same place and it was affordable What's Going There? Oceanport will get the first of this new Perkins restaurant, unlike any you've ever seen a squash club in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen are poised to showcase padel at the Jersey Shore and give racket sports enthusiasts a place to play squash and indoor pickleball too who says it reminds him of his upbringing in Scotland "The whole community went to this place to socialize Kids would come play sports and do their homework and parents would be playing on another court while they hung around." the fastest-growing racket sport in the world originated in Mexico and uses a solid racket "It's the perfect combination between squash and tennis," said Rodrigo Magalhaes There are not many padel courts open to the public Pickleball coming to Bell Works: Fast-growing sport popping up in these Jersey Shore spots the facility will have a cafe and bar serving beer Customers can either buy a membership or come and pay to play "We want to make it like a community," Peter Nicol said mostly in New York City and four in New Jersey Nicol is the first business to open at RiverWalk Center the new retail plaza under construction along Oceanport Avenue Developer Michael Abboud and his development partner, Chris Ilvento, owner of Ilvento Builders & Developers, are building the $25 million project on 12 acres at Parker's Creek on the Oceanport side of Fort Monmouth RiverWalk construction underway: Restaurants, brewery, racket courts come to Fort Monmouth "There is such a vibe of strong community here," Jess Nicol said There's a demand for a place like Nicol New Jersey The Jersey Shore area has a "huge demographic of racket sports players." "There's tennis clubs and tennis courts everywhere," he said "There's that community who wants to play racket sports." Jess Nicol said they are connecting with area schools including the Ranney School in Tinton Falls that are interested in using Nicol's squash courts for their racket programs They also plan to offer summer programs and camps for young players at all skill levels Coaching also will play a major role at Nicol New Jersey "A big part of our business is our junior program," Jess Nicol said "Our ultimate mission is to get more people playing racket sports but it starts with kids and that is our history that is really how we built our business." 2024 at 1:23 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}How the entrance to Fort Monmouth will look once Netflix begins operations on site several Oceanport Planning Board members raised concerns about noise lighting and the overnight/outdoor filming Netflix said they may do at Fort Monmouth Netflix's presentation to the Board lasted nearly four hours; the public can watch it here Netflix assumed ownership of all of Fort Monmouth but the McAfee Parcel is where Netflix plans to build first with construction planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2025 This is according to Netflix senior project manager Kenneth Falcon who gave Tuesday's presentation to the Planning Board The McAfee Parcel is 45 acres bordered by Cheryl Avenue to the north Brewer Avenue to the west and Avenue of Memories along the south It butts up against the towns of Oceanport and Eatontown Netflix said it expects the McAfee Parcel will accommodate hundreds of actors and set crews at a time Netflix also said they could do outdoor filming on site "How do you go about controlling noise for that kind of filming?" asked one Planning Board member but how do you control noise for outdoor filming?" "We follow the noise ordinances of New Jersey or the local boroughs on whatever the noise ordinances for that specific location," replied Falcon Then Planning Board member Darren Davis said: "Everyone's under a little sticker shock on this The set times presented to us were 5 to 11 (meaning the town was told filming would primarily take place from 5 a.m to 11 p.m.) But now we've got a 24-hour facility .. there has to be some sort of limitations put in place." "It's being portrayed as something else than was originally stated," he told the Netflix spokesman directly Davis also suggested the towns of Oceanport and Eatontown limit the hours when Netflix can shoot outside The Netflix project manager responded that all filming done indoors is in a production set "There could be occasional filming outdoors we would have to comply with the noise ordinance of both the state and of the boroughs And I don't think that it's going to be on a frequent basis either," said Falcon The closest home sits 380 feet from the boundary line of the McAfee Parcel I don't think any sort of neighbor would know the difference whether there was filming outdoors or indoors," said Falcon they would have to comply with all the regulations There will be an 8-10 foot wall around the entire Netflix McAfee Parcel Security will be very tightly controlled and nobody will be allowed on Netflix property without permission to be there What Netflix plans to build first at Fort Monmouth: Netflix plans to build a total of four film stages on the McAfee Parcel: "If you've ever seen the 'Bridgerton' show there is a large 10,000-square-foot warehouse that they have just for her wigs," said Falcon Netflix needs approval from the Oceanport Planning Board on all of these proposals What Netflix is proposing is still in the public hearing process in Oceanport construction on all of this would not start until the end of 2025 Construction would last approximately one year from its start date Phil Murphy granted Netflix $125 million in tax breaks if they stay in the state and occupy the film studios for at least 10 years around-the-clock film studio at the former Monmouth Army base Multiple board members said they are worried about noise outdoor filming and intrusive lighting glaring into residents' homes — especially during the overnight filming Netflix says it intends to do on site 26 — the Tuesday before Thanksgiving — the Oceanport Planning Board gave its approval that construction can begin on the first round of Netflix film studios You can watch that Nov. 26 meeting here: https://www.gotostage.com/chan... This is the construction of the first four soundstages at Fort Monmouth Netflix said it was pleased to get the approval "The Oceanport Planning Board's approval of our site plan demonstrates that the community shares our enthusiasm for building a new studio in New Jersey," said a Netflix spokesperson in a statement released to the media last Tuesday the night the Planning Board vote was taken "This project will drive economic growth and create jobs in the state," he continued we are excited to continue partnering with local officials and the community to transform this historic space into a world-class production facility." These first four soundstages are "Phase 1A" of Netflix's larger plan to develop more than 200 acres of the Fort Monmouth property Netflix plans to turn Fort Monmouth into its East Coast filming headquarters and will build a total of 12 soundstages on site Phil Murphy say opening a film production studio will bring thousands of actor/actress make-up and editorial/writing jobs to this area which plunged into economic decay after the U.S The first four stages will be built on what is called the "McAfee Zone" or "McAfee Parcel." The McAfee Parcel is 45 acres bordered by Cheryl Avenue to the north The closest home sits 380 feet from the boundary line of the McAfee Zone There will be an 8-10 foot wall around the entire McAfee Parcel Nov. 15 Patch report: Noise, Overnight Filming From Netflix Worries Oceanport Planning Board the retail complex under construction on Parker's Creek at the former Fort Monmouth from a chicken restaurant and bagel shop to a brewery and squash courts "We want a place where people can come and loiter," developer Michael Abboud said "This is a place where you are going to grab a cup of coffee The project includes a historical remodel of Fort Monmouth's Allison Hall which formerly housed the Army's administrative offices was built in 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places adding he is in talks with a few local operators Fort Monmouth development: Want to live next to the Netflix movie studio? Fort Monmouth housing plans in the works 25,000-square-foot restaurant on the waterfront and four other standalone buildings totaling about 70,000 square feet of space for retail and other uses "It's just a place to come in and chill and just relax and enjoy," Abboud said a 20,000-square-foot racket facility with four indoor pickeball courts 1 squash player Peter Nicol and his wife Jess Nicol with customers who travel there from the Shore "Upon doing a lot of research and speaking to (customers from the area) it became apparent that is just a fantastic area for us," she said "The vision that he (Abboud) has had for that area the history of that space and then the actual location right on the water there … it was just a no brainer." Fort Monmouth history: From poison ivy and pigeons to Netflix TV production which has a location in Point Pleasant Beach Deadline gone: Fort Monmouth towns have more time to hand out liquor licenses Abboud said he is in talks with a bank and is seeking a breakfast restaurant too Plans also include a coffee shop and a national retailer 'House of Magic': Historian reveals inside story of Army at Fort Monmouth Since then, Fort Monmouth has garnered attention. Netflix is under contract to buy a 300-acre tract of land at the former Army post to build its East Coast television and movie production hub It has plans to build an $850 million production facility with 12 sound stages ancillary production spaces and back lots to make high-quality TV shows and movies It's great for the economy," Abboud said of Netflix 2024 at 3:27 pm ETSanders Pianos is located at 287 East Main Street (Sanders Pianos)Sanders Pianos will feature two exceptional piano lines: Estonia Pianos and Cristofori Pianos Sanders Pianos will also offer pre-owned acoustic and digital pianos former vice president of sales and marketing at Steinway & Sons (Sanders Pianos)(Sanders Pianos)(Sanders Pianos)OCEANPORT He said he opened Sanders Pianos to create "a world-class piano selection experience tailored to musicians of all levels." “I waited my entire career to build my ultimate retirement job surrounded by pianos and having fun with my customers while creating a world-class piano experience,” said Sanders my insight and expertise will guide you through the process of finding your perfect piano since I prefer to work with each client myself.” The showroom is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m Sanders worked for 15 years at Steinway & Sons and he has a wealth of experience in the piano industry including in their Concert & Artist division where he collaborated with some of the most iconic names in music He worked directly with Yoko Ono on The John Lennon Limited Edition Sanders Pianos will feature two exceptional piano lines: Estonia Pianos and Cristofori Pianos For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact Todd Sanders at todd@sanderspianos.com or visit www.sanderspianos.com Join 107.1 The Boss at Monmouth Park in Oceanport (175 Oceanport) from 12 PM to 2 PM for the Italian Festival and Wine Tasting at Monmouth Park Enjoy mouth-watering Italian favorites from over a dozen of the area’s top restaurants Pair your favorite dish with a sampling of great wines at our Italian wine tasting There will also be live music from the Madison Ave Band and your chance to win awesome 107.1 The Boss swag/prizes 2025 at 10:18 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)LITTLE SILVER state aid figures were released for New Jersey school districts The amount of aid districts receive from Trenton is very important as it helps districts prepare their budgets determine which classes and extracurricular to keep The money will be used for the upcoming 2025-'26 school year Here are the 2025-'26 figures for state aid for local school districts: Here are all the amounts in state aid New Jersey school districts will receive this year: https://www.nj.gov/education/s... You can search by town to find your town This will be the final budget Murphy will prepare in his time as New Jersey governor To make it more equitable as to how state aid is determined the state put a three percent cap on how much a district could lose and a six percent cap on how much more aid it could get The new 85-year lease on Monmouth Park provides a path forward for the development of 80 acres on the property part of a plan to maintain horse racing at the site The principals are the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority Darby is partnering with developer Morris Bailey on a Phase 1 buildout that includes 298 rental units of 55-and-up housing a 200-room hotel and a youth sports recreation area Oceanport Mayor Tom Tvrdik said the borough has requested scalebacks that have been agreed to the track is an economic driver for the area and then that closed and the impact was catastrophic to the area for many “Of course the town is concerned about the amount of traffic and development that is going on in the area as a whole but we do see there is a need for 55-and-up housing rentals The original proposal was almost 400 units and after coming in front of our planning board and council and hearing feedback We’re working hand-in-hand with the developers.” Darby was set up by Red Bank attorney Dennis Drazin and his family in 2012 to operate Monmouth Park for the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association when then-Gov Chris Christie privatized the administration of the state-owned racetracks and Morris wants to work with the town to try to create something special for Oceanport,” Drazin said MBD Development applied for a PILOT (Payments In Lieu Of Taxes) exemption from Oceanport but was turned down by the Borough Council an updated master plan that includes a 7,500 seat concert venue on the property is in the works “The biggest concern is more housing on that property and the developers have said there will not be residential in future phases," Tvrdik said "We don’t want to see the rest of the track become more housing So maybe putting something there to give the residents the confidence in them that they are going in a commercial avenue “What they’re doing is they are updating the development plan, and we share that right on our borough website. The last go around with the conceptual plan shows the hotel closer to Blu Grotto and put a little concert venue back in there.” More: Can these changes to Monmouth Park hotel, condo plan save the racetrack? Monmouth Park currently receives a $10 million annual purse subsidy from the state It’s part of a $20 million annual subsidy for the state’s racing industry with a bill extending the subsidies through 2029 on Gov * Long gone are the early days of leasing the track for $1-a-year The current annual ground rent for the track is $250,000 or five percent of Darby’s net operating profits While 5 percent of net operating profits isn’t much now it will be if the development begins turning a profit * The NJSEA gets 5 percent of Darby’s take of account wagering revenues Racing Commission annual report has Darby with account wagering revenues of $7.5 million * Darby must pay all Racing Commission fees which come to approximately $1.5 million annually and had previously been paid by the NJSEA Darby must pay the costs associated with the new Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority That number for Monmouth Park will be $1.7 million in 2024 * Darby must also pay $1.7 million over 10 years to the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority one of a number of environmental stipulations * Darby pays the property taxes to Oceanport *  Darby owns 50 percent of MBD Development LLC the racetrack receives 35 percent of MBD’s revenues for expenses the percentages shift until Darby and the racetrack each get 25 percent of MBD's revenues with those percentages in place for the remainder of the lease Darby and Monmouth Park get $2.5 million each with $500,000 of the track’s share going to purses The MBD deal stipulates that Bailey puts up all the money for construction and then gets his money back over time at an interest rate of 10 percent allowing revenues to flow to racing before he’s fully repaid *  There are a number of references to what happens if “there occurs a cessation of live racing because of governmental action.” If horse racing is banned by state or federal government the NJSEA would get Monmouth Park’s 25 percent share of the development *  The NJSEA renegotiated a higher ground lease based on the addition of sports betting which provides around $7 million annually for Monmouth Park and it can renegotiate the lease if additional gaming *  There are provisions for expansions of gaming one of which states the NJSEA will treat Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands equally when it comes to expansion *  The NJSEA gets office space and a parterre box at Monmouth Park Following a late July stop at the Oceanport pizzeria pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy awarded the restaurant an 8.1 out of 10 the type of pizza I (like)," he said before taking a bite More: Pizza, beer collaboration at Alternate Ending, Talula's honors Indian Independence Day Enger said he had hoped for a higher score "It's been a dream come true," he said of the effect of Portnoy's visit which led to a spike in business even before the review posted Thursday night The latter review hasn't yet been released his highest scores so far are Brooklyn Square in Jackson which received an 8.9 in 2020; Federici's Family Restaurant in Freehold Borough which received an 8.8 in 2020; and Nunzio's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant in Long Branch (now under new ownership) which earned an 8.6 in 2021 She would start working as seasonal help at Bamberger’s in Newark as a gift wrapper eventually working there full time and ending her career there after 40 years as the Head of Billing for Macy’s in 1947 and the two would move to Oceanport Irene loved to travel having taken trips throughout the US and Europe and even a cruise through the Panama Canal Irene also loved day trips to Atantic City and Monmouth Park Racetrack She was a 40-year member of the Oceanport Seniors Club where she was the head of booking their trips She loved playing cards and enjoyed her weekly card games with her senior group as well as her dear companion Sidney Lacher and his wife Brenda; her grandchildren Melissa Schulze and her husband Michael Jason and Scott; and her beloved great grandchildren Brooke December 30th from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Oceanport Seniors Club Your name will appear next to the candle you light.Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page It may not appear immediately once submitted Upload attachment  (Allowed file types: jpg and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" It looks as though you’ve already said that!' + ' Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page Thank you for leaving a condolence..Your comment has been submitted for moderation Irene McNish, 97, of Oceanport, passed away at her home on Monday, December 23rd. Irene was born and raised in Newark, NJ and graduated from Central High School.  She would start working as seasonal help at Bamberger’s in Newark as a gift wrapper eventually working there full time and ending her career there after 40 … Read More Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Designed and produced by ©document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); MKJ Marketing|Privacy Policy|Sitemap 2025 at 2:14 pm ETWhat the new auxiliary gymnasium could look like if the bond referendum passes (Shore Regional High School)What the new Shore Regional cafeteria could look like if the bond referendum passes (Shore Regional High School)What the new STEAM lab could look like if the bond referendum passes (Shore Regional High School)What the new media center could look like if the bond referendum passes (Shore Regional High School)WEST LONG BRANCH Sea Bright and West Long Branch will be asked if they approve raising taxes to pay for a series of big improvements to Shore Regional High School Shore Regional is asking voters to approve passing a $51-million bond (borrowing the money) to make improvements to the high school building and facilities (School districts borrow money to fund capital projects such as this one by issuing bonds.) the state of New Jersey will also contribute approximately $14 million in state aid to help fund the work The estimated average tax increase by town is: The original Shore Regional High School building was built in the early 1960s and the school district said it will spend the $51-million bond on: Shore Regional High School pulls students from four towns: Monmouth Beach Hear Shore Regional school board vice president Kara Burke-Manna talk about why she's voting "yes" on Tuesday to fund the upgrades: And hear from Shore Regional High School Principal Vincent DalliCardillo: "Right now our wrestlers practice in the cafeteria," he said Prior: Shore Regional Asks Voters To Approve $51Million Bond On March 11 (Feb Get great local news. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Firemen’s Service will be at 6:15 pm Buddy was born in Long Branch and raised in Wayside in 1956 and raised their young family in Oceanport Buddy was a Teamster for 47 years working for Campbell Concrete Duncan Thecker Associates and Clayton Concrete Buddy also spent 74 years in the fire department And was Fire Police well into his 80’s When his sons were young he was active cub scouts And after retiring he became a substitute crossing guard in Oceanport Buddy was predeceased by his granddaughter Shauna Brocklebank Adams; his wife Paddy and his Sister Betty Borden and her husband Bud Buddy is survived by his children Don & Terry Brocklebank; Matt & Nancy Brocklebank; his grandchildren Donald & Alissa Brocklebank Sherry & Matt Clark; Maggie &  Kevin Smith and Randi & Alex Golembowski; and his great-grandchildren Emily Also survived by many nieces and nephews and his sister in law and brother in law Neil & Tom Bonello please visit Buddy’s  page of tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com Clarence “Buddy” Brocklebank Sr., 90, passed away Tuesday, October 15th in Eatontown. Buddy was born in Long Branch and raised in Wayside. Buddy married the love of his life, Paddy, in 1956 and raised their young family in Oceanport. Buddy was a Teamster for 47 years working for Campbell Concrete, Duncan Thecker Associates and Clayton … Read More 2025 at 5:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here's how the new STEAM lab would have looked if the district had the money to make the upgrades (Shore Regional School District)WEST LONG BRANCH Sea Bright and West Long Branch — overwhelmingly voted against a request to raise taxes to make improvements to Shore Regional High School Shore Regional school district asked voters to approve borrowing a $51-million bond to make what the district said are much-needed facility improvements to the high school Property taxes would have slightly increased in all four towns; how much is below Voters said no. A total of 2,609 people voted Tuesday, and 81 percent of voters (2,116) rejected the proposal, with 18 percent (493 voters) saying yes. This is according to these unofficial vote results from the Monmouth County Clerk (See "Shore Regional Question") Some voters said that needs to be resolved before the district can borrow $51 million for school improvements Shore Regional’s school administration and the Board of Education will now consider how to move forward The district — from superintendent Lisa English to Shore Regional High School Principal Vincent DalliCardillo — had urged voters to approve the bond and the school district said it will spend the $51-million bond on upgrades to building security replacing the auditorium stage and gym floor STEAM lab and media center and resurfacing of the track and tennis courts “On behalf of the Board of Education and administration I extend my gratitude to residents for voting and taking time to learn about the bond proposal,” said English Tuesday night after the results of the vote came in “Our Board of Education will consider the election’s outcome and gather community feedback before discussing how to best proceed with addressing our district’s needs.” Mail-in ballots postmarked by March 11 and provisional ballots will be counted over the next several days and will be reported once the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office tallies and verifies the results Here's how much taxes would have gone up by town to pay for these school upgrades: Monday's report: $51M Bond Vote Tuesday For Towns That Send To Shore Regional Barstool Pizza Review - Bird Pizzeria (Charlotte, NC) presented by Rhoback Barstool Pizza Review - Zio Casual Italian (Charlotte, NC) Barstool Pizza Review - Sal's Pizza Factory (Charlotte, NC) Barstool Pizza Review - Geno D's Pizza (Charlotte, NC) Barstool Pizza Review - King of Fire Pizza (Charlotte, NC) with special guest Jason Willia... 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In order to activate the underutilized areas around Monmouth Park Racetrack and elevate the real estate around the park to its highest and best use Bailey and his team have been working closely with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NJTHA) the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) local community stakeholders and elected officials as well as Darby which recently entered into an 85-year lease agreement for the iconic Monmouth Park The culmination of Bailey's work – complemented by his years-long relationships with local and state officials and bolstered by his passion for the sport of horse racing – will transform surface parking lots to create a year-round destination for area residents and visitors alike Plans for the 80-acre site adjacent to the racetrack include the phased development of a 298-unit residential building and a youth sports community center to support future generations of young athletes the team is exploring a variety of entertainment options including music venues and experiential retail components "We are embarking on the next phase of a journey that began over a decade ago when we developed plans to reimagine and reinvent the Monmouth Park experience that has brought so much joy to generations of horse racing enthusiasts," said Morris Bailey "We have always been staunch advocates for returning the area to its rightful place as the premier destination for horse racing and family entertainment while including important components that serve the community at large our plans will create a vibrant lifestyle destination for future generations and will put the racetrack on a trajectory for enormous growth." Morris Bailey has been a leader in the revitalization of Atlantic City having repositioned the famous Resorts Casino Hotel He was among the first to embrace online gaming and sports betting in the United States strategically partnering with two of the largest digital gaming companies in the world Bailey's efforts in New Jersey have set the framework for expansion of online sports and gaming throughout the United States "Monmouth Park Racetrack is near and dear to my heart," continued Bailey "In order to ensure the success of this remarkable venue and sustain racing in New Jersey we are excited to infuse the surrounding area with our finely tuned development expertise by creating a lively destination to delight visitors Bailey is also Chairman of the Board of JEMB Realty which boasts a vast portfolio of office residential and hospitality assets across New York – including the development of One Willoughby Square a luxury rental development in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood – New Jersey Click here to join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest hotel news and trends Copyright © Hotel News Resource & Nevistas | All rights reserved biscuits and more in Wall since early 2024 which Kelleher anticipates will be ready in the spring followed by restaurants in Freehold Township's Towne Center Plaza on Elton Adelphia Road and Middletown's Kings Commons Shopping Center "It's been a long time in the making," Kelleher said of the new restaurants where the menu will be the same as in Wall More: Rosie's Pizza ready to open in Middletown as Point Pleasant Beach Pizzeria expands Broadway Hot & Honey Chicken offers chicken sandwiches "Everything is made from scratch in-house daily — nothing's bottled or packaged," Kelleher told The Asbury Park Press in 2023. More: Big Dogs, serving burgers, fries, shakes and more, opens in Toms River The new spots "are going to be significantly bigger than the one in Wall," said Kelleher adding that the restaurants will seat between 50 and 60 diners compared to 32 at the original location "That’s one of the things we realized (after opening in Wall) — we didn’t have enough seating," he said The location at Fort Monmouth will be the brand's headquarters and the Freehold Township and Middletown restaurants are franchises A location also is planned for Westfield (Union County) Go: 165 Elton Adelphia Road, Freehold Township; 1500 Route 35, Middletown; 700 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport; broadwaychicken.com. Open at 1861 Route 35