Blogfinger

The New Yorker August 27, 2018.

The Anatomy Lesson by Rembrandt. 17th century.

SHE AND HIM    “Teach Me Tonight”

This was the only patriotic message I saw today., and it was outstanding. OG. 7/6/24

Visitors from northern Virginia enjoyed the festivities Paul Goldfinger photo. 7/6/24

This family arrived early. The parade started late. Paul Goldfinger photo. Today was a family event.

All photos Blogfinger.net. 7/6/24. Click once  to enlarge.   Paul Goldfinger photos.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor,  Blogfinger.net.   7/6/24. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA.

The 4th of July holiday celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.

Parades are held all over the country on July 4, not July 6.

Our July 6 parade is a happy review of all the components that make up Ocean Grove  including the Camp Meeting Association, businesses, politicians, organizations, Chamber and  Fire Department.

But what’s missing: patriotism, a real marching band, active military, kids groups  (sports, scouts), Neptune Flyers Band, Neptune High ROTC, viewers from all over Neptune, equestrians, police, historic recreations. and mention of the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence.

Can we improve on this event?

JULY 6 GALLERY:

Ladies Auxiliary. Root beer lollies.

OG lifeguards. Who  do you prefer if you are drowning?   PG

Jean Bredin photo.  “Clowning around.”

Eileen Goldfinger photo.   Crazy car.

Neptune American Legion Color Guard. Blogfinger.net

Neptune American Legion Color Guard. Blogfinger.net

US COAST GUARD BAND   “Semper Paratus”

Paul Goldfinger still photo from the disaster movie “Titanic.”  Right before it sunk to the bottom.

ROYAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:

Eileen Goldfinger’s garden on Delaware Avenue. The meat and potatoes are in the back yard. Take a peak. Paul Goldfinger photo. 6/2026 Tie your horse on the historic hitching post.  Let’s have more diversity in this town.

“Address Unknown”.   The Ink Spots.

Ocean Grove boardwalk 2022. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click to enlarge.  Blogfinger.net

Teens at Days. Ocean Grove. 7/22. Blogfinger photo.

Independence Day Parade. Ocean Grove. 2022. Paul Goldfinger photo.  Click once to enlarge.

Paul Goldfinger, MD.   Editor Blogfinger.net.  2022 re-post.

The first time I saw Ocean Grove  was when  I visited Neptune Hospital many years ago for a medical conference. I drove to the beach. It was in the winter, and everything looked grey. I wondered if the town had been abandoned.  I thought, “Who would live in such a place?”   I didn’t even get out of my car.

Years later, when we moved here, first in 1998, we found Ocean Grove to actually be a  dreary place.  People often called it “Ocean Grave.”

We came for a variety reasons, but I initially noticed that there were few children, teenagers, young couples, and college age kids, and that made this town different from other Jersey Shore towns where my friends and I caroused each summer, having grown up in North Jersey, frequenting Seaside Heights.

One reason we took a chance on the Grove was that we saw that the town was changing  and we expected that it would continue in a direction that we would like.

And now its outlook continues to improve and come to life partly because of those young people whose presence in the Grove becomes more evident.  I call it “The OG Underground.”

Another big reason for a better prognosis  is Asbury Park:

Bonney Read restaurant on Cookman Avenue in A. Park. OG newbies love to go there for the food, music, bar scene and lively character.  Paul Goldfinger photo. July, 2022..

However, I do wonder about OG’s future.  It is absent a functioning master plan, and there is no strong sense of community among the secular residents who own most of the homes here and those who are renters. It is more about individual neighborhoods, and that’s glorious, but they don’t come together politically  as one voice.

Neptune Township shows little interest in us except for collecting taxes, providing essential services  and conspiring with developers.   They call us their “Historic District,  but that ‘s baloney.  And look what they’re bringing us at the North End.

Meanwhile the Camp Meeting Association has continued its grand  plan to expand a religious prevalence here both in-season and year round,  They want to change the character of the town.

But I do see some potential strength in the new second homers and  year- round residents who  offer the possibility of a strong  activist generation in the Grove;   shades of Herb Herbst and his Grovarian warriors.

FRANK SINATRA:

Little Noah loves the snow. He refused to come in until he ran his mower.  His namesake dealt with a flood. Blogfinger photo. 2/1/21   ©

THE WHITES—-from  the movie O Brother Where Art Thou:

Paul Goldfinger photo. October 31, 2022. Ocean Grove, NJ. Blogfinger.net Click to enlarge.

PARAVI:  “Suspicious Minds”