RED BANK, NJ: The Navesink Maritime Heritage Association (NMHA), is inviting the public on a Seal and Bird Eco-Cruise to see the diverse animal life and migratory birds on a comfortable Seastreak boat.

According to Seastreak website, “Every winter, gray seals and harbor seals migrate to the NY/NJ Bight. Lucky for us, Sandy Hook is one of their favorite spots to visit.

Once we get a good look of the seals at Sandy Hook, the cruise will continue north towards Hoffman and Swinburne Islands where seals like to ‘haul out’ and sun themselves on the rocks.

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Finally, we will head towards the Verrazano Bridge – another reliable seal-watching location! Last season, we saw seals on 100% our Seal and Bird Eco-Cruises. This year, we hope to do the same!”

What: Navesink Maritime Heritage Association Seal and Bird Watch Eco-Cruise

Where: Seastreak Terminal, 326 Shore Drive, HIGHLANDS, NJ 07732

When: Saturday, February 10

Departure Time: 12:40pm (Promptly!)

Return Time: 3:10pm

Cost: Adults – $50, Children 12 and under – $30.00

Registration

Limited Seating!

Click HERE to register for this fun and educational cruise for all ages!

Note: Your ticket will be waiting for you at the NMHA desk at the Highlands Seastreak Teminal

Michael Humphreys, NMHA Secretary said, “Come aboard a comfortable and spacious Seastreak ferry with all amenities: heat, bathrooms, refreshments, ADA accessibility. Plus, Winter is the best time to see seals and migratory birds!”

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MONMOUTH COUNTY: Down a meandering driveway, with tiny new evergreens on one side growing among old large oak trees on the other, you happen upon The Monmouth County Parks System's recently purchased and breathtakingly beautiful, 17-acre waterfront estate. Located on the Navesink River, in the Locust section of Middletown, this visual gem boasts serpentine brick walls along the riverbank and a still sturdy pier that juts far out into the water for unparalleled views. The variety of flowering plants alone set the tone for the storied history that graced the grounds years ago.

Incredibly, this historically private property now has the county's attention and its intention is to make the conversion of the space into the reality of a public park.

"The Board of County Commissioners is proud to add this beautiful property to our Park System," said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone.

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The property located at 160 Hartshorne Rd. was reportedly purchased for $8.4 million. This new park will connect to Hartshorne Woods. The property boasts more than 1,300 feet of Navesink River frontage.

It was owned by the same family for generations, and the land had been on the market for some time. The property consists of a farmhouse with a wraparound porch, a lawn, a pier going into the river, and woods and marshlands. While the county bought the property, the Monmouth Conservation Foundation contributed $35,000 to the purchase.

This stretch of waterfront land is located next to Historic Portland Place, which was once a 200-acre farm. Later a summer home, Portland Place was owned by the Hartshorne family for most of its long history. Portland Place is closely interwoven with the early settlement of the Navesink Highlands, the Hartshorne family and the lands that are now Hartshorne Woods Park. Located on a magnificent site overlooking the Navesink River, the restored 18th century house, furnishings, art and exhibits help tell the story of the region’s history and the Hartshorne family legacy in Monmouth County.

Daniel Ward Seitz, a Hartshorne descendant, bequeathed Portland Place to the Monmouth County Parks System in 2008, ensuring its preservation for future generations and uniting historic Portland Place, with more than 800 acres of preserved lands in Hartshorne Woods Park.

"The Board is committed to land preservation and always seeking opportunities to expand upon our incredible parks. This property is an exciting addition to Hartshorne Woods and we look forward to our residents and visitors enjoying it for many years to come." Stated Arnone.

At 160 Hartshorne in Locust, the mist rolled in on a calm Sunday afternoon. Out on the water, fishermen plied their trade. As a goose swam by the sturdy dock, the serpentine brick walls hugged up against the riverbed. This storied property with locally famous roots is poised for greatness once again with the new rudder of Monmouth County Parks stewardship.

NEW JERSEY - The state of New Jersey says it is continuing its investigation into the sweeping deaths of fish in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers in Monmouth County as hundreds of dead Atlantic Menhaden continue to pile up in the Raritan Bay region. Similar die-offs have been reported since last fall in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York, officials said.

Recent tests conducted by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife have confirmed that the bacteria causing these widespread fish deaths is Vibrio anguillarum, one of numerous Vibrio species that commonly occur in saltwater environments. Previous coverage: Bacteria To Blame For Hundreds Of Dead Fish In Monmouth, NJ Says

In response to the widespread deaths, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife released a Frequently Asked Questions guide for state residents on Tuesday.

“To give some background, menhaden fish kills have been observed routinely almost every year during the spring-summer months in the Two Rivers Watershed. [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]'s investigations during these events indicated that hypoxia (lack of oxygen) was a factor causing these mortalities,” a representative from the Monmouth County-based Clean Ocean Action environmental group told Patch in an email.

“However, while summer fish kills due to lack of oxygen are well-known, in recent years COA and others have been questioning other causes because the menhaden were dying in the spring and some were seen spinning before death. COA has been discussing the phenomenon over the last couple years with the DEP. This year, similar fish kills are also occurring in the Hackensack and Raritan bays … Clean Ocean Action is aware of the impacts of nonpoint source runoff and climate change and we are committed to using sound science and research to support our pollution prevention efforts. That is why, we are voicing our concerns that dedicated federal/state funding should be made available immediately to investigate these fish kills.”

Subsequent testing by the DEP has indeed revealed that the Vibrio bacteria causes an infection impacting multiple organs of menhaden fish, including the brain. Neurologic signs can be seen in affected fish circling at the surface, swimming erratically or uncontrolled, and sometimes lethargic and unresponsive. However, despite the hundreds of reported dead fish spotted along the two rivers, officials maintain that the mortalities are nothing to be alarmed about.

“A recent stock assessment conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) reports that total biomass of the Atlantic Menhaden stock is over 4.5 million metric tons, or approximately 10 billion pounds,” reads a statement from the New Jersey Division of Wish and Wildlife. “Although the number of fish seen washing up on area beaches and waterways may appear alarming, the impact to the population as a whole has so far been negligible. The population model explicitly accounts for all sources of mortality, both natural (such as fish kills) and harvest. Menhaden mortalities have been reported as near annual events in the spring since the 1950s, though the numbers of fish impacted varies from year to year.”

There is also no evidence that other fish, birth or shellfish are being impacted by Vibrio and it is safe to eat other species that prey on menhaden, the DEP said. It is always advised to properly cook all fish or shellfish before consumption. While fish kills will eventually clear up if left alone, residents and business owners can wear protective equipment and bag and discard fish with other refuse. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is working with local officials to establish larger scale cleanup operations.

According to a statement, the DEP is currently working with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and other states in the region to better understand these mortalities as menhaden appear to be the only fish species affected by the bacteria, likely due to fluctuating water temperatures (which may suppress the fish's immune system combined with the dense schooling nature of these fish, which enhances bacteria transmission). Staff from the Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics have also been collaborating with partners from numerous fish health laboratories, such as Cornell University and the US Geological Service to identify and research the underlying cause of mortality.

The DEP also currently has three monitoring buoys deployed in the Raritan Bay/Two Rivers area to collect water quality data for numerous parameters including dissolved oxygen and temperature. One buoy is located in the Navesink River east of the Route 35 bridge, with the other two in Keansburg and Keyport. The buoys are expected to be in the water from May until October.

“Menhaden die-offs are expected to continue in the near term. The DEP will continue to provide information to local governments as appropriate and provide any public advice or advisories as necessary,” the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife said. “The fish will naturally decompose and become part of the nutrient cycle in affected waterways. Local governments, at their discretion may remove fish from their riverbanks.”

While the state continues to investigate, it is recommended that bathers avoid swimming in areas of active fish kills (there are no recreational bathing beaches on the Navesink or Shrewsbury rivers, but there are recreational bathing beaches on Raritan Bay). Anyone entering the water in an affected area should wash exposed skin and clothing thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the water. Locals in the area also need not worry about affected drinking water quality in the region.

"Fish kills occur naturally and generally do not cause any long-term effects on water quality," the Division of Fish and Wildlife said.

New Jersey's beach program, in partnership with the NJ Department of Health, county and local health departments will be monitoring recreational bathing beaches as the summer approaches. Pathogen testing will occur prior to Memorial Day to ensure water quality is within recreational bathing standards.

As with any wildlife, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recommends that people do not handle, collect, or consume any dead fish or those showing signs of disease. Fish die-offs can be reported at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).

UPDATED 5/26: The Navesink River Road Bridge will be open to traffic starting the Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend, Monmouth County Board of Commissioners Director Tom Arnone said.

The road and bridge will be open to vehicular traffic using temporary traffic signals controlling one direction of travel at a time, he said.

UPDATED 5/7: The last time Navesink River Road (County Route 12A) in Middletown was open to traffic was back in the summer of 2021. That opening was done to minimize disruptions during the busy summer season at the Jersey Shore.

Prior to that, the road was closed both completely and partially for work to replace the aging McClees Creek bridge. The project, however, experienced unexpected setbacks last year which caused construction on the new bridge to be delayed.

Since last fall, Navesink River Road has been completely closed to traffic at the bridge crossing. Since then, there haven't been many updates regarding this project other than the road remaining closed.

On top of this, there's also been water main work happening on River Road, which runs through Rumson, Fair Haven and Red Bank. Normally, River Road would serve as an alternate route for commuters in the area, but with road work happening there as well, traffic has been nothing short but longer and heavier than normal for many.

And it's not just those who regularly travel to this area or rely on it for their daily commute. Displaced traffic due to these closures have been causing increased delays in other parts of the area. One such spot is Chapel Hill Road, which intersects with Route 35 in Middletown north of Navesink River Road.

This has especially caused headaches for those who regularly use interchange 109 for the Garden State Parkway. Navesink River Road has long been a major commuting route in the area for those who use the Garden State Parkway, and the McClees Creek Bridge replacement has certainly made it harder for those trying to access that particular interchange.

Although most acknowledge the need to replace the aging bridge as critical, many are anxious for this project to finally be complete. And with unexpected delays hitting the project last year, many are wondering when the roadway might actually be open once again?

So far, the timetable that was set last fall hasn't changed. According to visitmonmouth.com's Monmouth County Division of Engineering page, "The road closure and detour are expected to remain in place until late Spring 2022 when the bridgework is scheduled to be completed."

However, it does appear the roadway may be open for the unofficial start of the summer season. According to The Monmouth Journal, Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone said he anticipates Navesink River Road "to be open by Memorial Day weekend."

So for now, it looks like those who rely on this particular stretch of the road won't be inconvenienced too much longer. Detours will hopefully be removed and traffic flow on surrounding roadways should return to normal once again soon.

The bridge project at McClees Creek should be wrapping up in the near future, with a reopening anticipated just in time for the big summer kickoff.

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RED BANK - Nestled behind a row of Front Street shops is a muddy square plot overlooking the Navesink River.

“The view is great,” Mayor Pasquale Menna said. “The property is not that beautiful.”

According to Menna, for 30 years, it was a “dirty, ramshackle parking lot.”

On Tuesday, developers from Denholtz Properties broke ground to start transforming it into a 10-unit condominium project called Southbank at the Navesink, two years after its approval.

Steven Denholtz, CEO of Denholtz Properties, said the waterfront residences are planned to be completed in 15 months and will cost over $1.5 million each.

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Denholtz said his company had just received approval from New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs to advertise and promote the property.

In a tight housing market, Denholtz said a couple of people have already expressed interest in buying a condo.

Denholtz Properties, which owns five commercial properties in Red Bank, is also building The Rail, a 57-unit apartment building with ground floor retail space, near Red Bank’s train station. Denholtz estimates that an apartment at The Rail will start at $2,500 per month. The Rail is scheduled to be completed in early 2022.

“We have a really strong desire to be more urban,” Denholtz said.

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Both residential projects come in a spate of new residential development in town. Shrewsbury Manor apartments, a two-story, 10-unit building, and Park Valley Development, which is building a four-story, 32-unit building, both won approval in August. A five-story, 210-unit building by Saxum Real Estate won approval in December 2019, but is mired in a dispute over a zoning designation — a dispute that could result in a huge tax break.

The million-dollar condominium and the market-rate apartments are courting two specific demographics according to Menna — entry-level young people and exit-level old people or those downgrading to a more manageable property.

“What keeps a downtown healthy and constantly vibrant is new housing stock. And this is a good project, which will put residential people in the heart of the downtown,” Menna said. “Red Bank needs new housing. Not everyone of the next generation wants a rambling Victorian house that was built in 1901. They don’t have the patience for it. They want something more akin to their generation.”

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Menna said such new development would bring more foot traffic into Red Bank and keep the borough economically viable.

The previous owner of the lot, K Hovnanian, had been approved to build a six-story, 24-unit apartment building in the early 2000s, but ultimately did not build on the lot, instead selling to Denholtz Properties.

Menna said he appreciated when developers “mold their application to the reality and still accomplish their goal.”

In a small town with an urban vibe, building height can be a concern among residents and borough officials. Menna said. “A development like this is not a massive development. It’s 10 units. … So, I’m not talking about 50-story high rises.”

Denholtz said Red Bank is “just a great place to be, a great place to live. The rivers, the water, the lifestyle. It’s a nice town.”

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.