Sunset Saturday A. Park Farmers’ Market. Paul Goldfinger image. Blogfinger.net. Shangri-La Farm; NJ. 7/18/2016.
“Frosty the Snow Dog.” Paul Goldfinger photo. 7/18/2026. Sunset Market. A. Park. Blogfinger.net.
Sophie sells $6.00 pastries. Paul Goldfinger photo. 7/18/26. Blogfinger.net
Sunset Market. Jane. Paul Goldfinger photo. 7/18/26
Karen takes a break from the produce. Paul Goldfinger photo. 7/18/26
THE RASCALS: “A Beautiful Morning.”
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Rain begins. Saturday monrning. 7/18/26. Paul Goldfinger photo.
Leaving the boardwalk. 7/18/26. Paul Goldfnger photos. Bllogfinger.net
‘”Summertime Dream”. Eva. Katherine
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By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor @Blogfinger Reposted from 2011 on BF.
Nineteen years ago, when Tony Bennett appeared in the Great Auditorium for the first time, the tenor soloist in Ocean Grove, Ronald Naldi, was asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. He did so gladly because he is a great admirer of Mr. Bennett’s work. When Mr. Naldi learned that Tony Bennett was returning this season, he volunteered to sing the National Anthem again.
The audience of over 4,000 people was thrilled by Mr. Naldi’s performance. He was accompanied on the Hope-Jones organ by his 23 year old grandson Sean Gough of North Plainfield, New Jersey; his magnificent tenor voice resonated and soared through the massive wooden structure.
Ronald Naldi sings the National Anthem at the Bennett concert. Photo by Tracey James
Mr. Naldi is a professional singer with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and he has been the tenor soloist in Ocean Grove for the last 38 years. Several years ago he was honored by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association when they named him “Artist-In-Residence.”
Ronald Naldi was born in New Jersey. He is a member of the Italian-American Hall of Fame. During the summer, he and his wife spend weekends in their tent. He is a member and soloist with the Great Auditorium Choir and, when he is not in the Grove or traveling around the world, he lives in North Plainfield.
We discussed the acoustics in the GA with Mr. Naldi, who has appeared throughout the world in great opera houses. He said that the acoustics are “incredible” in the GA and he loves to sing in that “unique huge” building. He told us that he sings without amplification in the GA as do all the singers and musicians who perform the famous sacred and classical works that are staged regularly in Ocean Grove each summer. The only time they use a microphone is when a recording is being made. Performing in the Great Auditorium has been likened to playing inside a giant cello.
Ronald Naldi is a Blogfinger fan, and we were delighted and privileged to be able to speak to him. He has recorded four CD’s: two are of Neapolitan music while the other two contain songs composed by Maria Lombardo and Dennis Hyams—both from New Jersey.
This song, Santa Lucia, is from Mr. Naldi’s album “Torna a Surriento.” It is a traditional Neapolitan composition from the 19th century. If you were to take the boat ride into the “Blue Grotto” off the Isle of Capri, near Naples, the boatmen like to sing this song while they row around in circles inside the grotto. If you emerge through the small opening unscathed, you will have this song reverberating in your dizzy head for days.
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2025. The North End plan remains enmeshed in foggy lies. Paul Goldfinger photograph.
This re-post on 7/17/26 is by Blogfinger.net
RADIOHEAD. “Fog…(Again Again version)”
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An early detail of the OG North End. Library of Congress map of OG and A. Park 1881. No North End hotel. There is the Ross bathing pavilion located there, by the ocean. The North End is otherwise shown as a barren lot. Click to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor of Blogfinger.net. Latest post 7/17/2016. Our archive contains many articles about this topic. This is a sad ending.
This quote is from a 2006 “New Jersey Corporate Real Estate News Blog”. Title of this article is “Town Trustees OK Redevelopment Plans.”
The date is Thursday, March 30, 2006.
It says, “The trustees of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association have approved a plan by Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises LLC, or WAVE, to redevelop the site with a combination of a hotel, condos, retail, and other commercial space, a parking structure ad a pool. Now, the site I patently ready for redevelopment.”
According to Scott Rasmussen, president of OGCMA, “The approval culminates a several-year process during which some 50 developers showed interest in the project.”
“The project still has a way to go before ground can be broken, according to William Gannon, a local attorney who heads the WAVE partnership.”
“In the case of the WAVE partnership, the association has agreed to a 99 year renewable lease, the terms of which were not disclosed”
Gannon said that the “plans are still in the early stages, and the developer and local officials both say its design will be consistent with the community’s Victorian flavor.”
Editor: What the CMA said above: “50 developers showed interest in the project.” This sounds like nonsense…Where is the evidence that shows WAVE competing with other developers?
Editor’s note 1/25/2025: Here is a Blogfinger link about the earliest plans for the North End of OG:
Early CMA plans for the North End of Ocean Grove
From Guys and Dolls. “Sue Me.”
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Near the north end. 7:30 am. Light reflected off the dune grass. 6/29/23. Paul Goldfinger photo. click to enlarge.
JUNE CARTER CASH:
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Barbados. By Paul Goldfinger. Click once for full view. Published image.
SOUNDTRACK: Bob Marley with some Jamaican reggae: “Three Little Birds.”
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Great blue heron. Camelia River. Ft. Myers. Fla. 2019. Paul Goldfinger photo. 4 feet tall. Wingspan about 6 feet. Click tonce o enlarge this bird.
DON AZPIAZU AND THE HAVANA CASINO ORCHESTRA: “La Cachimba de San Juan”
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The Aurora as seen by OG artist Jack Bredin (oil on canvas, 2018)
From the Blogfinger Editorial Staff: 2018. Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor. Blogfinger.net
The Neptune Township Board of Adjustment awarded a use variance to the new owners of the Aurora to change the lot’s zoning from single family to a 4 family zone (“spot zoning.”)
This new zone still only allows one building on the lot. But it would allow the owner to put 4 condos in that one building as was described at the Board’s first hearing about the Aurora. A site plan was presented then which showed 2 units on each side, separated by a fire wall. The owner promised an admirable historic restoration of the exterior.
Why didn’t this Board insist on the single family zoning that was present when the owner bought the property? Do you think any promises were made to that owner, and who might have made those promises?
But now that the Board has given them this variance, they can have other options such as requesting a demolition permit to let them build 4 expensive single family houses, but that possibility could not happen without Bernie Haney, the Tax Assessor, subdividing the lot into 4 lots –a potentially illegal maneuver. However that sort of thing has occurred in the past in OG.
The HPC has not evaluated the project yet, but they will be interested only in the exterior plan. Given their past history (eg the Greek Temple, Mary’s Place, ugly condos) don’t expect much from them.
If you look at Jack’s painting of the Aurora, you will see what a fine (historic) building it is, but right behind it is an ugly condo where single family homes should have gone.
LEVON HELM from the Imus Ranch Record: (this is a Rolling Stones song)
Note:
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Ocean Grove. 2011. By Paul Goldfinger ©
THE FIREBIRDS:
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Ocean Grove. August 2025. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click once to enlarge
Peter, Paul and Mary: They used to appear in the Great Auditorium thanks to Shelly Belusar.
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Heroes Park. Ocean Grove. 7/13/26. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
From. 110 in the Shade. “Is it Really Me?”
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Paul Goldfinger. image. Ocean Grove, N.J. Photo appeared in a magazine “Maine Ahead.” The lead article was about Scott Rasmussen, OG pollster and former CMA President. One click to enlarge. 2022.
BEVERLY KENNEY
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