Blogfinger

By Paul Goldfinger.  

RUBY BRAFF. (trumpet)  AND DICK HYMAN   (organ).     “America the Beautiful.”

Paul Goldfinger. Ft. Myers Fla  Jan 17, 2020.

AMY WINEHOUSE:

19th century trappers cross wilderness river. Still image by Paul Goldfinger from the movie Revenant.   Click once

Preservation Jazz Band:  “Precious Lord.”

July 1, 2010. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net

There was a time, even in the recent past, when the Great Auditorium could have a full house.   I’ve seen it with the Choir Festival, but that was perhaps over 10 years ago.

The photo above was probably a concert for Independence Day, but I am not sure.

In the last few years, a number of people have said that the CMA is having trouble getting large crowds to their Sunday services. I don’t have any data on that.  But the Choir Festival has not lately been attracting  as large an audience as the past.  This may be related to COVID.

But if any of you think that the CMA couldn’t fill up that magnificent room, just look at the picture above.

I know that the CMA is no longer interested in large secular concerts, but you can imagine Springsteen or others like him easily filling the hall and bringing in big returns for the CMA.

Maybe you think that this idea is one of those foolish things, but imagine Dylan here singing  from his Triplicate album”

Eileen Goldfinger and Paul are sponsoring the 15th  Annual Ocean Grove  2026 Town-Wide Yard Sale.  Eileen above.    Click once.     This photo is from June 7, 2025—last year’s sale.

Eileen and Paul in a land and time  far, far away.

OKLAHOMA—Gloria Graham.

This is a preliminary notice.  June looks like a quiet month for our 15th annual Town-Wide Yard Sale:   Saturday  June  27, 2016. 9 am-3 pm.   More details will be forthcoming.  We welcome any suggestions, but here is a list of some of what we plan:

We will maintain a post on our home page  (Blogfinger.net)—-see above,  where visitors or yard  sailers can obtain information.   As the date approaches we will  post a ” List”  of all  addresses including what items are for sale at each location.

We hope that sellers  will help us.    Flyers will be available soon  to use for that purpose.  Or sailers can create  flyers, banners or lawn signs.  Social media promotions will help. Bring kids to the sales which  are social events which visitors and Grovers will enjoy. Play music at your sale.  And come up with unique sale promotions. We will advertise in town and out. And if you have a clever flyer we may post it online.

Yard sailers  can sign up through  June 26, 2026.   Just email us at Blogfinger@verizon.net.  We will not post the items for sale until 1-2  weeks before the sales.  Please send us your name, address, email and  nearest cross street.  You can provide  your list later and in pieces.  Encourage neighbors and friends to join you in combining sales.  The more participants, the more successful the sales.

You can design your own sale, such as the hours.  Just let us know.

There will be no rain date.

You will need a Neptune “garage sale.”permit obtained at the Mother Ship for $5.00. Tell them that you are with the Town-Wide Yard Sale.

—This June there will be no “Art on the Porch” so we invite artists to show and sell their art work as part of our Town-Wide Yard-Sales.   Artists do not have to submit samples  or pay  to join in.  They can sell art as part of a  yard sale  or at a personal art sale,  alone on that date.   Just tell us your plans.

We welcome all art forms. I will be showing signed black and white photographs. See photo above .

—We invite  participants to sell Ocean Grove memorabilia, art,  photos, historic valuables, and ephemera like books, Camp Meeting objects  like annual CMA booklets  and postcards.  There are OG collectors in town.  OG beach badges are also collectibles.  I met a lady in Florida who wanted to buy by OG badge right off my hat.  And artists who sell OG scenics.

–If you are into crafts, try selling them.

You may have noticed that the OG Chamber of Commercials is trying to upgrade their  spring market, formerly known as a ” Flea Market.”  But their fancy-pants effort now will cause many people who love flea markets to stay home, but perhaps they will reappear at our Town-Wide sales where we love flea markets.

–Consider selling plant cuttings and plants.; after all, this is the “Garden State.”

–You can sell music:     vinyl records, CD’s and DVD’s, and there are many people who still use these formats;  Just keep prices low or research the values; especially of vinyl! Beware of  scams for vinyl. CD players are a good venue for kids.  You can sell or buy CD players still.

–Look for vintage anythings:  such as childrens’ books–there are collectors.  Antiques of all kinds are not so much in demand, but if you plan to sell some, be sure to get an idea of market prices. Some collect old cameras.

–Downsizing?    Consider ridding yourself of stuff including cheap items or even free items to help neighbors. And if you have leftovers, just load up you vehicle after hour sale and go to any of the many  charities near us.

–You can sell silver, especially sterling, but you are better off selling yours at specialty stores such as Belmar  and Bradley jewelers; and By-The-Sea Jewelry in Avon-By-The Sea. who will create custom jewelry.    Silver plate isn’t worth much.

–Get the kids  into photography..there are digital cameras for children, and it is a good entry into a new way to communicate, be artistic and creative.   Look for unused albums at our sales.

–Musical  instruments, especially old ones. You could sell a French horn, but don’t hurt yourself.

—Street musicians can set up at various sales.  We envision solo or small ensembles . Let us know if you want to perform. You can put out a hat like they do in New Orleans.

—Bring your dogs, cats,  and kids.

It will be a good chance to visit OG sites including the newly opened (scheduled for May)  Nagle’s  on Main Avenue, John and Cathy’s Italian Deli on Main,   the newly restored Fitzgerald Fountain at Founders’ Park,  Tent Village near the Great Auditorium,  and our beachfront/boardwalk  where thong bathing suits are in bloom.

Seeing the sights on the Ocean Grove beach. Paul Goldfinger photo taken from the pier.  Click once  and see who’s watching this photo-shoot.

“Fad0 Lisboa-Paris”.  For Brigette Bardot who recently  died.

If you want to contact us, try email:      Blogfinger@verizon.net

Paul Goldfinger photo. A happy camper at our sale..

“Me and you and a dog named “Boo.”   LOBO

By Eileen and Paul Goldfinger for Blogfinger.net.   Reporting from the OG Boardwalk Pavilion 8/16/25 with  videos and photographs.    Sponsored by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.

Here is a taste of the jazz selections  brought to us  by the US Navy Band jazz  ensemble.   Click once on still images to enlarge.     If you click on the lower right corner you will find a square.  Click on it for an enlargement .

All photographs by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. 8/16/25 Click once to enlarge.

I was kidding the tuba player about the absence of Sousa marches today, but he pointed to his instrument saying, “Well, this is a Sousaphone.”

The US Navy Band has musicians performing all around the world.  Today an ensemble of 8 highly talented players  appeared at the Boardwalk Pavilion.

All of their music, expertly and enthusiastically  presented, was exciting and entertaining, if not recognizable by the OG audience today.  The sailors  happily interacted with the Grovers who came to see them, and their music was mostly high energy jazz.

This group is on a tour of the Jersey Shore with us included.  They seemed to enjoy playing as much as we enjoyed hearing and seeing them.

I was in the Navy a long time ago, but my instrument was not musical–it was a stethoscope.  Today I got to chat with these sailors, and they loved interacting with the folks.  I shared with some of them the historic connections with John Phillip Sousa at Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.

Tenor saxs soloist. She was the only woman among this 8 “man” ensemble.

Musicians enjoyed socializing with the folks after the concert

Three of my uncles were in the Navy during WWII, but not all their stories were military.

The concert ended with a rousing performance of the Navy  theme song “Anchors Aweigh” which was written in 1907 and is still the most glorious theme of all the branches of our military.

This high-definition  recording is by the US Navy Band.

Another tune near the end was a Four Seasons hit, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,”   where the musicians led a surprise sing-along with the Grover crowd. Put your cursor at the lower right hand corner of the video and click on the square to enlarge.