What's hAPPening is a column about Asbury Park and Neptune. It spotlights upcoming events, meetings or locals making news. Bookmark this page for your regular updates. Have tips or suggestions? Email Austin Bogues at abogues@app.com.

Asbury Park talks race after Charlottesville

ASBURY PARK – More than 200 people gathered in the sanctuary at Second Baptist Church off Atkins Avenue to discuss race in America in the aftermath of the deadly Charlottesville white supremacist rally that roiled the nation Saturday.

The forum Tuesday evening was organized by The Racial Justice Project at Trinity. Attendees viewed a screening of "I am not your Negro", a 2016 film that examines race in America through the writings of James Baldwin.

"We need to have a true re-reading of what our history really is," said Dan Harris, a long-time community activist in Asbury Park, as you can see in the video above.

"Once we do that we can all lick our wounds and start to go forward." Harris said in the coming weeks he would help organize a march in Asbury to protest "hate and bigotry."

Pastor Warren Hall, of Deliverance Baptist Temple, encouraged attendees to honor the legacy of those who marched for civil rights. "Talk to the young people who are a generation or two behind you and let them know somebody went through something for you to be where you're at," he said.

Will Ocean Grove charge for parking?

OCEAN GROVE – There's discussion emerging again on curbing the number of people who park for free in Ocean Grove to get to Asbury Park. Ocean Grove doesn't charge for parking anywhere, but the township committee is eying some changes including parking permits.

Initially, the committee discussed the possibility of having a voter referendum this fall but Barbara Burns, president of the Ocean Grove Homeowner's Association said that now seems unlikely.

"I think we persuaded them that a referendum was probably not a good idea," Burns said. Instead, she said she would prefer to see a pilot parking program set up. She said some residents have been dismayed that as Asbury Park has seen increasing success, even national outlets have reported people walking from Ocean Grove to get to the Asbury Park beach. Parking slots are hot in demand in Asbury Park, as you can see in the video above. Burns said people are parking in Ocean Grove to get to the transit station in Asbury as well.

"In my view this is totally normal behavior," Burns said. "This doesn’t make anybody evil, we need to respond to the conditions that we find here and take some action."

Carol Rizzo, who sits on the Township Committee and lives in Ocean Grove, said improving the parking situation would be a top priority for Neptune.

"Our greatest successes in this area have come with the critical input of the residents, and their needs will continue to be the number one priority as discussions about permit parking progress," Rizzo said.

Asbury Park backs Paris Climate Agreement

Asbury Park Mayor John Moor is signing on with the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, which pledges to adopt, honor and uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

More than 300 city mayors have signed onto the agenda, which seeks to promote cutting carbon emissions in the spirit of the Paris Climate Agreement, which President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from earlier this spring.

“Asbury Park is a beach town, and one that has already felt the impact of climate change through increasingly destructive storms and shifts in weather patterns,” Moor said. “It’s necessary for all communities around the world to think seriously about what can be done to protect our planet, but it’s an immediate concern for cities like ours.” To get a better understanding of the impact of the Paris Climate Agreement, watch the video above.

In the pledge mayors say they will “…intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st-century clean energy economy.”

The Beach Bar named to top 25 Beach Bars in the USA



These days, the accolades and superlatives keep pouring into Asbury Park. The latest includes The Beach Bar located at Convention Hall being named one of the top 25 best beach bars in the U.S. by The Daily Meal.

This follows the city being named the coolest small town in America by Budget Travel magazine. The website Thrillist named Asbury Park one of the top 13 beach destinations for tourists to visit this summer.

No wonder the town has been jam-packed this summer, as you'll read further below.

Asbury Park gets Transit Village designation

Asbury Park was recently designated as a Transit Village municipality by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, making it eligible to apply for grant funding for transit station improvements.

The Transit Village area includes Memorial Drive and Main Street from Boston Way to Summerfield Avenue, extending from Bangs Avenue to Atkins Avenue along Springwood Avenue, according to a news release.

More:$1 billion rebirth: Changing face of Asbury Park

“A municipality can only be designated a Transit Village after performing the important visioning and planning work that sets the stage for redevelopment to occur,” Transportation Commissioner Richard T. Hammer said in a letter announcing the designation. “We applaud Asbury Park’s careful planning efforts and the proactive approach that has been taken with respect to redevelopment.”

Starting next year, Asbury Park can apply for DOT funding for improvement projects like way-finding signage, traffic calming measures, bicycle route signs and lanes and pedestrian paths.

2017 recipients received between $30,000 and $350,000 in grant funding.

“In a year full of good news for Asbury Park, this is the best so far,” said Mayor John Moor. “It’s the product of years of policy and dedication by Asbury Park staff, and I have to thank those who worked so hard to make this happen.”

“The Transportation Center is truly the heart of Asbury Park,” said City Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton. “By improving this area for those in a car, train, bus, on a bike, or on foot, we hope to improve Asbury Park for all, from East to West.”

Big crowds pour into Asbury Park for Independence Day

Asbury Park saw record breaking crowds this Fourth of July.

On Sunday, July 2, more than 20,000 people came to the beach, setting the single day record for beach badge sales according to Garrett Giberson Sr., beach utility manager for Asbury Park.

More:No fans of Christie's beach pics found on Asbury Park boardwalk

It was so packed on Tuesday that people were walking from the far end of the southwest side of the city to get to the beach. Check out a photo gallery of a day at the beach in Asbury Park below.

Other Shore towns reported doing well too, as state beaches and parks were shut down for three days due to a state budget impasse.

Garden State Equality backs Phil Murphy in Asbury Park

The state's largest LGBT advocacy group endorsed Phil Murphy's gubernatorial campaign on Wednesday. Garden State Equality executive director Christian Fuscarino said Murphy would be the first ally the LGBT community would have if in the governor's mansion if elected. You can check out the full video above this story of the press conference held on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

What's Happening is a column about Asbury Park and Neptune Township, that is updated throughout the week. It spotlights upcoming events, meetings or locals making news . Have tips or suggestions? Email Austin Bogues at abogues@app.com.