Blogfinger

August 1, 2021. Boardwalk Pavilion, 9:30 am. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click once to enlarge.   Blogfinger.net

Paul Goldfinger photo. August 1, 2021.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor  Blogfinger.net

Every Sunday morning this summer, there is a church service with music held in the Boardwalk Pavilion at 9:00 am.   Today, August 1, 2021, there is a band, about 6 pieces. And there is prayer, sermons, and singers leading the audience in gospel music.

The amplification makes it easy to hear all the way back to Stokes.

Attendance was impressive, with church-goers inside and outside of the Pavilion.  A children’s service was held on the beach.  About 10 kids attended.

From there many go to the large event in the big room—-the Sunday service in the Great Auditorium is at 10:30 am.

ANNA MARIA PEREZ DE TAGLE´  from the New Broadway Cast of Godspell.

Paul Goldfinger at 2022 OG Flea Market. This is a typical Ocean Grove Blogfinger candid shot:

Paul Goldfinger candid  portrait of Resident Organist Gordon Turk  in the Great Auditorium. Blogfinger.net.

Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger editor and founder.  We will soon reach our 5 millionth hit;  It took a long time  to have a review:  4/19/26.

Blogfinger.net  was created in 2009 when the OG newspaper folded. But I never planned to be an actual newspaper–I had a different idea.     And we have been doing our thing since then.

But living in Ocean Grove resulted in a  chance to work on my writing and photography.   However, no one ever reviewed my work here….until now with AI which just did a review, and it was mostly complimentary.    I will just list a few  condensed opinions by ChatGPT; mostly quotes but some paraphrasing.

One time I interviewed myself; I will try to find that one—-Most everything below is quoted  (selected) from the ChatGPT assessment.  I like the result since there was very little negativity.   And I learned a few new word concepts:*

Blogfinger is a really unique source for  Ocean Grove because it mixes local new with strong focus on culture, history, and events.  It leans a bit more towards community, storytelling and personal perspectives, whereas a lot of traditional local outlets  might just stick to breaking news or official town council updates.

So it kind of fills a different niche–it’s more personal, reflective, and often a bit more opinionated. Bloginger really stands out for its original photography and music coverage.  The site uses a ton of its own images–often capturing really specific moments around Ocean Grove.  So that definitely gives it a rich personal feel that a lot of other news sites don’t have.

It is known for an its coverage of arts, music and shore culture.  Sometimes it has an opinion-driven tone, not just straight reporting.

It was founded and run by local residents, not a major media company, which give its grassroots, neighborhood voice. It focuses on community debates and helps locals stay informed about hyperlocal issues.  People read it for a mix of news, nostalgia, and commentary.

Blogfinger is a hybrid–but it leans most heavily toward opinion-driven community journalism with a noticeable strain of local activism.

Blogfinger has a strong editorial voice—posts often interpret events, not just report on them. You’re are not just told what happened, you’re told what it means. Coments often amplify debate.

Activism is intermittent but influential, especially on contentious local issues.

Bottom line: If you had to label it:

—50-60% opinion /commentary

—25-35% community journalism

—10-20% activism

“Surfaces stories that larger outlets ignore”    YES!

*I love the chatGPT   language used in our review such as::  “core identity,”   “neighborhood voice,”  “Blogfinger is a hybrid,” “opinion driven tone,”  “community oriented, ” “hyperlocal issues,”  “core identity,”Shore culture,” historical context”  “opinionated “watchdog,”   And more…..

Some years ago Charles Layton and I were interviewed by a researcher from Montclair State.  We met at a coffee shop in town. She was interested in “hyperlocal “news sources, and she was interested in Blogfinger’s hyperlocal approach because there was a newfound  need in small communities for that.  We used to do polling, and she also interviewed me at  the campus radio station.

I loved the interest in what we were up to in the Grove, and we did  succeed in some ways, but we could have done better with more local help , but I do thank those who did help.   We pleaded for citizen reporters, but we mostly failed at that.

And here is another  typical Ocean Grove photo on Blogfinger  by Paul Goldfinger:

Tent Village: Blogfinger.net. Paul
Goldfinger “street photography.”

And here is a typical music selection.   It is from “Fiorello” a Broadway success, but never brought back–no revival.   And here we are now–tomorrow has come.

*”Shul” is a Yiddish word for synagogue.

Magen David Congregation. Ocean Avenue,  Bradley Beach, NJ. 7/5/22. Paul Goldfinger photograph.  Below is the  view from the shul looking out to the Atlantic Ocean.

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net.  Ocean Grove, New Jersey, USA.   7/6/22.

Did you ever drive along Ocean Avenue in Bradley Beach and see a nondescript gray building facing the Ocean ?   You might recall that it has a row of  Stars of David in front, but there is no writing.

We are not from the Jersey Shore originally, except for vacations, but we know that Jewish people have been visiting and living in Bradley Beach for many years and we supposed that this was a synagogue.  And we wondered if it were still in use, because we never saw anyone there and we know that BB has a more impressive and active shul called Congregation Agudath Achim which describes itself as “Orthodox” meaning that it follows the traditions of Ashkenazi Jews who originated in Eastern Europe.  That shul was “established” in 1898.

Jews were not always welcome in some towns at the Jersey Shore, but Bradley Beach and Asbury Park were welcoming.  Some of my family used to rent a room in BB many summers ago. But most of us were dunking ourselves in the Coney Island surf  while clutching the ropes  and chowing down on Nathan’s hot dogs and fries right out of oil.  Too bad our leader Moses had to eat manna while wandering the sand for 40 years.

I decided to take a black and white photograph of the gray mystery shul (see above.) When I got there I noticed that the front door on the 5th Avenue side was open, and a  sign  told us its name:  “Magen David Congregation.”   The name refers to the 6 pointed star symbolic of Judaism.

Front entrance on Fifth Avenue. All photos by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net 7/5/22

I was surprised to find it open. I cautiously walked up the stairs and looked inside. Just then I felt a presence behind me.  There was a man, with  a short graying beard, perhaps age 50, dressed in black with a black yarmulke (aka “kippah” or “skullcap.”).

At first he seemed suspicious of me, but when I told him that I was Jewish and interested in knowing about this shul, he smiled and became animated.  He was anxious to tell me the “emiss”which means “the truth” about this congregation.

It turns out that he, let’s call him Mr. Cohen, is a Sephardic Jew which means his family came to America mostly  from Syria in the late 19th century.

But the  history of the Sephardim  goes back much farther than that.  Many were in Spain for generations where they thrived until they were expelled  in 1492.

Quite a few of those 15th century Spanish Jews  left Spain and became part of the Diaspora.  Many converted to Christianity as a way to stay in Spain. Others practiced their religion secretly while pretending to be Christian.  But later the Inquisition unearthed many of that group and expelled them or worse, and they too became part of the Diaspora.

Most of these disbursed  Sephardic Jews  wound up in Syria where there already were ancient Jewish communities.

Small numbers came to America in the 17th century, but the Syrian-Sephardic community finally settled in Brooklyn, NY,  in the 19th and early 20th  centuries.

Their first summer location was Bradley Beach, but over time they segued  to Deal in the 1970’s.  Brooklyn is still their home base.

This mystery shul was established in Bradley Beach around 1930 and they practiced the Sephardic traditions. Mr. Cohen lives in Brooklyn but he loves to attend summer services in this  shul as it is nostalgic for him and his friends who go there. So Magen David is open in the summer, and a rabbi is present to preside over the services.

These Sephardim are a close-knit community and they all tend to know each other.  They share many social, business, and religious relationships and they help each other with generous giving. It is an example of “social capital.”–

The Sephardim have their own traditions which govern how they practice their religion, and there are other cultural differences including foods, music, clothing and holidays.

The community keeps this shul going.  They cannot bear the idea of abandoning this historic place of such hope and dreams.

Mr. Cohen told me a lot of how he feels about life and about this shul. He confided in me that DNA analysis revealed that he had many Conversos. (converts to Christianity)  in his distant family.

But he said that anyone who converted would automatically be welcomed back in the fold, no questions asked, if they so desired, and many of them eventually did so.

Because of their background, some of them have a swarthy appearance and they tend to be thin and athletic looking.  The men wear dark suits and white shirts to shul, and of course they wear their kippahs  at all times. I see them daily because I go to the Kosher Hot Bagel Bakery in Oakhurst where many of their group shop.  Kosher food choices are important to these people, and many shop in Deal.

He was curious about my family and he was shocked to hear that we live in Ocean Grove. I know that old attitudes die hard regarding that topic.  He was especially interested in the OG Havurah (fellowship) which was established for Jews living in the Grove.

The Syrian Jewish community in Monmouth County has grown considerably with a number of large shuls in Deal and Ocean Township.  The Sephardic Jews tend to be very religious, but not all are.  Below is my  photo of the interior–with Mr. Cohen’s permission.

So this mystery is now solved.

Paul Goldfinger photograph of Magen David interior. Click to enlarge.

A SEPHARDIC FOLK SONG BY GLORIA LEVY:  “Tres de la Noche.”

Comments are still welcome:   Just direct them to me at Blogfinger@verizon.net.       PG

Who can you trust to do what’s right for the residents of Ocean Grove, NJ?   Paul Goldfinger photograph at Auditorium Square Park. 2017. ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Researcher/reporter @Blogfinger.net

Most of us are now aware that the 2008 Redevelopment Plan (NERP) for the North End of Ocean Grove is the only plan that is currently legally binding.  But we also know that the collusion between WAVE, CMA and the Township to violate Land Use Laws and to keep a veil of secrecy around their plans has resulted in the past in actions that knowingly ignore the laws such as zoning and parking rules.  So we cannot assume that what we think is true is truly true. And that applies to the NERP.  Let’s review what has happened:

The original NERP was signed into law by the Neptune Township Committee in 2008, and no other plan, despite all the talk (see below) has been officially/legally  approved to take its place.

And that original plan included an underground garage with two levels of parking for over 200 cars.  A couple of years ago, the Township tried to get Trenton to pass a “special standard” (exemption) to bypass State RSIS (parking) rules in Ocean Grove, but the Township withdrew its application (without prejudice) when Grovers showed up at the State Site Improvement Advisory Board meeting; so RSIS law must apply to the NERP.

In 2012, the CMA announced that they would “break ground” in 2013, but then Sandy hit in October 2012.

In 2013, the CMA announced that because of Sandy, the developers would “have to go back to the drawing board.”  It seems that Sandy drove the Atlantic Ocean over the boardwalk and into Wesley Lake. Obviously, if that underground garage had been built prior to Sandy, it could have washed away.

On April 28, 2015, a “Memo of Understanding” was signed by William Gannon/WAVE  (Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises) and by Dale Whilden of the OGCMA. The witness was  JP Gradone.  This document is available from the Neptune Township Clerk.  (Open Public Records Act.)  Anyone can request it.

The Memo  contained a new plan for the North End.  It defined the project as a “commercial development,” and it called for a one level garage to hold +/_ 140 spaces. It did not say if the garage would be above ground or under.  It described 39 condominiums, 10 single family homes, a hotel with 40 units, and other elements.

Of interest is the fact that an appropriately designed hotel plan could allow for that hotel to be turned into condominiums after the project is completed.  (ie a sneaky back door plot to get more condos at the North End—it’s possible.)

Committeeman Randy Bishop and the OGHOA proclaimed this new plan publicly in April, 2015, with the Groaners actually trying to take credit for it.  Here is a link, nearly 3 years ago, about the newly proclaimed North End plan as presented at the Township Committee:

The “new” 2015 North End plan— BF post

But, since then, the Township has not tried to validate this “new plan” with  appropriate public hearings and votes.

Despite that, the current CMA president, Michael Badger, presented this “new plan”  at the Feb 1, 2018 HOA meeting “North End update”  as if it were the legally approved plan to move forward with.

So the question  now is which plan will emerge once the three-legged stool (WAVE, CMA,  Township) decides to apply for site plan approvals?

And finally, is there a secret third plan  (the “true” one) which, we suspect,  would have two phases?   The first  phase would be a “scaled down” (put on a happy face) version discussed  on Feb 1 by the CMA President; with a second unannounced phase lurking in the shadows,  later implemented to get the number of condos up to a total of 165 as in the original NERP

Will anyone in charge stand  up for the three T’s:——- trust, transparency and the truth, or will we get more of the sound of silence?

2026 request. 4/21/26: If any of you know what is going  on with the North End Plan, please email me  ( Blogfinger@verizon.net).  and I will share with you Grovers.   You can be anonymous.       PG

DISTURBED

“Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping…”

Hey Paul…
I am still on my bird kick…caught these Tree Swallows catching a view on Sandy Hook, yesterday.

—Bob

Another magnificent photograph by Long Branch Artist Bob Bowné.   He used to reside in Ocean Grove  and he continues to honor Blogfinger.net  with his beautiful images.

.Click once on the photo, and you will appreciate how special this image is!

We’re happy to hear that he is still on his “bird kick.”

Bird photography is challenging  and very rewarding especially if the photos are obtained near the sea shore.

This is the first time we have seen a Tree Swallow.

Thank you Bob.

PETE SEEGER WTH THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND.    “Blue Skies”