r/MonmouthCounty

Hello and TIA for your local perspective!

Our family has been vacationing in the Bradley Beach/Avon-By-The-Sea area for decades now and we are getting serious about purchasing a property. We know beach block homes are enormously out of reach financially and are working with a budget in the ballpark of $1-1.5m. We have been touring and are seriously considering a new townhome development being built on Main Street right at the Avon/Bradley beach border, it has a view of Sylvan Lake. We are aware there are pros and cons to this type of purchase, and I'm curious to hear your own pros and cons as locals. Like, am I going to smell the Nylabone factory? Is this area near the tracks secretly sketchy? What are we missing? Thank you!!

Pros:

- New build, can customize, will avoid problems with the many century+ homes in the area

- Not in a flood zone, flood insurance not needed

- Comes with an EV golf cart

- View is of the lake and surrounding homes, nice "porch"

- Right size and price for our family, the new build means many comfortable amenities not found in other homes

- Walkable to Main street restaurants/cafes

Cons:

- Not beach "walkable", but certainly bike/golf-cartable.

- Train is literally right behind home. Developer insists soundproofing is strong and invited us to be in the home when the train passes.

- Avon seems to have some kind of DPW/beach storage facility nearby, we can't tell if this will be disruptive or not.

- Run down warehouses to the right are supposedly purchased and also becoming townhomes, but for now are an eyesore. Large cell phone (?) tower to the left.

- Main street right in front of you and no real yard- may be concerning with small kids? Nowhere to play outside.

- No outdoor shower, which is a beach luxury I love.

Is there any groups for females in there 20’s to meet ppl and make friends? Lowkey just rlly wanting a sense of community & find it hard to meet people here.

Hi all! We're looking into remodeling our kitchen in Monmouth County and are just starting to price things out. Ideally looking for a company that does everything soup to nuts in one (in-house architect, etc). If you've worked with a contractor or remodeling company that you would recommend, I'd really appreciate any suggestions and feedback. Thanks!

As the title says, I've been looking for Persimmon lately. I tried one a few months ago from Hmart and loved it but don't want to drive back up north without knowing if they even have it anymore. Has anyone seen them lately and in which stores? Thank you!

Hi all,
Looking for a new pediatrician for my kids. What’s your recommendation? Willing to drive.
Also, where do your kids get their labs done?

I’ve lived here my whole life, and have had verizon cell service for most of it. It the past year, service seems to be getting worse. Is anyone else experiencing issues?

I am looking on moving back to Monmouth county and noticed there are more houses for sale in Freehold and the prices aren’t bad for Monmouth county! Does anyone have any incite of why the prices may be lower there? What’s your opinion on freehold? What are some things you like about freehold? Is it a pain to get to the beach from there or the city?

Hello yinz! I’m coming back to the shore for a long weekend to reconnect with friends and family. I have no idea what good restaurants are around though. Any suggestions in the red bank/highlands/middletown areas? Very option to different types of food. Thanks!

Every time I’m in either of these towns it seems like everyone has the thickest NY accents… and the traffic on roads like RT 9 and the 520/Tennent intersection is as bad as hylan boulevard and the Staten Island expressway most of the time

Long Story short is I need a decent estate Lawyer in the Freehold Area. I am trying to help my mother get her will worked up but I live in North Jersey and I'd rather not just rely on a google search. Anyone happen to know of a decent lawyer I could use?

I and several other folks witnessed ICE agents -- 5 of them in 3 unmarked cars, two sedans and one SUV -- take two men this morning at around 9am in Bradley Beach. The men were in a black pickup truck leaving the gas station at Evergreen and Main Street when the ICE cars blocked them in. The men then ran around the block into a dead-end on 3rd Ave where they were caught, cuffed, and put into the ICE cars.

I've reported the incident to the NJ Attorney General Office, who has a portal to report Federal Agent Misconduct in Immigration Enforcement: https://www.njoag.gov/portal/

I encourage everyone else to do the same if they see more activity in the area.

From Seastreak:

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. – Ferry operator Seastreak has been informed by Monmouth County that New York Waterway has been selected as the operator of the Belford ferry service beginning in September.
 
While Seastreak is disappointed with the outcome of the County's solicitation, the company respects the County's decision and appreciates the positive working relationship it has enjoyed with Monmouth County and its staff over the past several years. Seastreak is grateful for the opportunity to have served Belford passengers and hopes to work with the County again in the future.
 
Seastreak assumed operation of the Belford service in December 2022 while the region was still emerging from the challenges of the COVID era. Since that time, the company has invested heavily in vessels, customer amenities, terminal operations, a shuttle bus network connecting Belford, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands, and an industry-leading digital ticketing platform. Seastreak introduced digital trip cards, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet integration, and RFID tap-and-go boarding technology, creating a best-in-class ticketing and boarding process. Customers can purchase tickets digitally in seconds, store them on their mobile devices or trip cards, and board with a simple tap. Together, these investments have helped drive strong ridership growth while further enhancing the premium service customers have come to value.
 
One of the key benefits riders have come to appreciate is the flexibility of being part of the broader Seastreak network. With service operating from Belford, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands, customers have access to as many as 27 weekday departures to and from Manhattan. Seastreak has also invested in a dedicated shuttle bus network connecting all three terminals, making it possible for customers to leave their car at one terminal, board from another, and still get back home with ease. Whether someone travels regularly or only occasionally, that flexibility provides riders with more options and greater convenience than a traditional single-terminal operation.
 
Seastreak's shuttle network connecting Belford, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands generated strong ridership and consistently positive customer feedback, demonstrating the value of providing customers with access to all three terminals. Many commuters have come to rely on the flexibility of traveling through Belford, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands, giving them additional departure options and the ability to connect between terminals using Seastreak's shuttle network. As a result of the County's decision, Seastreak will no longer be able to offer that same integrated service to Belford riders following the transition of the route.
 
Seastreak looks forward to learning more about the County's evaluation and scoring process and understanding the factors that led to the County's decision. The company submitted a strong proposal and sought to demonstrate the value of its approach through strong ridership growth, positive customer testimonials, and a consistent commitment to providing safe, reliable, customer-focused service for Monmouth County commuters.
 
Looking ahead, Seastreak remains fully committed to serving Monmouth County commuters and plans to introduce service between Atlantic Highlands and Brookfield Place, creating an additional direct Lower Manhattan option for customers. The company will continue operating its established services from Atlantic Highlands and Highlands with its fleet of modern 505-passenger and 600-passenger high-speed ferries, among the most comfortable and luxurious passenger vessels in the industry.
 
"While we are disappointed by Monmouth County's decision, our focus remains on our customers and on continuing to deliver the premium service they have come to expect from Seastreak," said James D. Barker, President of Seastreak Ferries. "We thank the thousands of passengers who chose to ride with us from Belford over the years and appreciate the trust that they placed in our team. We look forward to continuing to serve those customers from Atlantic Highlands and Highlands with the same reliable, premium, high-speed transportation experience that has defined Seastreak for decades."
 
Seastreak remains committed to providing the exceptional level of service customers have come to know and expect and looks forward to welcoming Belford riders aboard its Atlantic Highlands and Highlands services for many years to come.
 
For schedules and service updates, please visit Seastreak.com. Seastreak will provide more information about the transition in the coming weeks. Please look out for additional updates.
 
About Seastreak Ferries
 
Headquartered in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Seastreak is a privately owned ferry operator providing high-speed passenger ferry service throughout the Northeast. The company serves communities in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, connecting customers to New York City, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and other destinations. With a modern fleet and a focus on reducing travel times, reliability, and customer comfort, Seastreak provides a premium transportation experience designed to get passengers where they are going quickly, comfortably, and dependably.

We moved here 3 years ago and still haven’t found our nearby go-to. We love Patsy’s and Razza, but also love a great crisp NY slice. We’ve tried the following, and while some have had their merits, none has called us back:

Valentinos in Belford
Sally Boy’s in Red Bank (the best of these but a bit too far)
Corbo and Sons in Holmdel
Pomodoro Rosso in Atlantic Highlands
Panko in Middletown
Rosie’s in Middletown
Zoni’s in Middletown
Toscanella in Middletown

Would love to get some new recommendations to try!

Hi everyone! I am looking for a small-medium sized event space for my father in laws 65th birthday.

Ideally, we would love to be able to use some sort of gallery space as he has collected various art pieces over the course of his life and we would like to showcase some of his collection. The event could also be used as an opportunity for the gallery itself to show some of their works as well.

About 50-60 ppl and we were hoping to have catering for apps/small bites/bar situation.

Thanks in advance!

Anyone follow this guy on Instagram? https://www.instagram.com/fathertimefishing

Does anyone have any idea what the whole problem is in oceanport or with this guy and the local administration?

Where are the best spots around Monmouth County to watch??

I’m in an uber en route to the airport and I see this red bird on the side of the highway in the grass area. Does not seem native or like any bird I’ve ever seen in person. Do I call someone or just let it be?