Blogfinger

Nocturnal shadows go in both directions through the Casino “Breezeway.”   Ocean Grove is a presence that should be mentioned in discussing the importance of the Casino.    Check out Blogfinger.net for our recent coverage of this point.  Paul Goldfinger photograph.  2022.

By Paul Goldfinger,    Editor, Blogfinger.net.  Ocean Grove blog nation.   USA  3/18/26.

a. There is a report that Asbury Park has engaged a former NJ Supreme Court justice to look over the current situation regarding legalities related to former agreements involving Asbury and  current organizations which  have been working on plans for the AP oceanfront including the Casino.

b. Repairs on the Casino roof have been completed.  Inspections of the work are pending.  But even those repairs will not allow the Casino “Breezeway” to reopen, but the outdoor roundabout on the ocean side may open again.

c. We have just covered the recent opinions by Neptune lawyer Thomas De Seno.  Just scroll down.

d.  There is a post about the Casino in a publication called TAPinto.net.     Today they discuss roof repairs at the Casino, and they report that  “inspection is pending before the  pedestrian pathway may reopen.”

As some of you know,  we at Blogfinger.net, have recently questioned why all these Casino discussions fail to mention Ocean Grove which abuts on the southern border of  Asbury Park and offers access to those who come and go into the breezeway.

Here is a quote from the “TAPinto.net“ site:     “The breezeway, which historically connected the boardwalk to Ocean Avenue beneath the Casino Building, has been closed due to ongoing structural concerns and safety considerations. For decades, the breezeway served as a heavily used pedestrian corridor linking the boardwalk and beach with downtown Asbury Park, making its closure particularly noticeable for residents and visitors accustomed to using the passage.”    Does this make sense?

And there  is more, so consider this, “The application to demolish the Casino sparked renewed concern among preservation  advocates and residents who worry about the deterioration of the building and the potential loss of historic architectural elements that many consider part of Asbury Park’s identity.”

So all of a sudden there is concern about the Casino’s history after years of ignoring AP’s architectural history.  But what about Ocean Grove which is adjacent to the Casino and which is devoted to historic preservation on our side of the broken building.  Do you think that OG’s historic elements, including our presence on the State and National Historic registers,  might be considered in this discussion.  After all we are about to start developing  our North End where many meetings have been devoted to historic preservation.

And yet this TAPinto reporter  cannot even mention the presence of Ocean Grove when they discuss the Casino’s “pedestrian corridor which links the Casino with Asbury’s beach and downtown.”   Did he even take a walk over there or look at some of the Casino photographs regularly shown on Ocean Grove’s Blogfinger.net?

Here is a Blogfinger post that discusses changing demographics in the Grove.

OG demographics should be part of this Casino discussion.

JANE MONHEIT

Comments via “comment” button below or to our email:   Blogfinger@verizon.net

Zombie walk. 10/4/14. Asbury Park boards. Paul Goldfinger photo.  Click once to enlarge.

“Ballad of the Three Amigos.”

Paul Goldfinger photo.  Click once to enlarge.

The Ronettes:

Paul Goldfinger photo on the Casino bypass. It came in handy to go to and from the Zombies. Blogfinger.net. Asbury Park made this happen.  10/7/23. Click to enlarge.

PAUL McCARTNEY:

Nocturnal Grover girls on the OG boards nearing the south entrance to the Casino.   Night was always a popular time for coming and going via the Casino. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger. net     8/21

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net.    (Ocean Grove, USA)

A Neptune lawyer,  Thomas De Seno, Esq. has posted an exposé.  (see link below) alleging that the people of Asbury Park have ben rendered impotent regarding the development of the City’s waterfront due to dominance by big money companies such as Madison Marquette, iStar, Capital Guidance, international private equity firms, and real estate/banking interests.

He alleges that the caring people  of A. Park have been squeezed and intimidated by these moneyed interests so that those who should be designing their town’s future  such as artists , musicians, Chamber of Commerce, boardwalk businesses,  charities, Historical Society, local media, the LGBTQ+ community, and the City Council  have no power.

In many cases he says that  those AP “usuals”  owe allegiance to the big bosses–relationships which inhibit  those who love their city.

On Blogfinger we have recently been publishing our views of what is going on regarding the plight of the Casino,  especially  as it pertains to Ocean Grove which is located just  to the south of the Casino and which is never mentioned by the Asburian talking heads.

And we also have described the Asburian noisemakers which of late have been rightly pushing for repair and rebuilding the Casino.

De Seno says that “Something new is happening as evidenced by a petition in A. Park signed by 7,500 people to ‘save the Casino.'”

He says that there will by an “informational” at the high school “where the redevelopment attorney will update the community on the Waterfront.”  He says that the usual vocal citizens are muzzled, so others must speak up about “retain the Casino.”

He also says that “it won’t cost Asbury Park much money to sue to retake the Casino.”

To read his long dissertation go to desenolaw.com.

DeSeno and A. Park

“Back Down South.”        By the Kings of Leon

Eileen; age 4.  Brooklyn, New York. Photo by Bernard Harkavy, Eileen’s Dad.

By Paul Goldfinger,  Editor, Blogfinger.net.

I grew up in a household filled with music, especially Broadway show tunes.   Since Broadway shows often were about stories,  I listened carefully to lyrics.

When I was perhaps in 4th  grade, I was friends with a little girl who lived up the block from my grandparents in Bayonne, NJ.  I don’t recall her name, but when I listened carefully to the lyrics of this song from Annie Get Your Gun, I actually wondered if I would one day get married, and who would that girl be.  And might it be that little girl from up the street?

I didn’t understand some of the lyrics, especially about “purring like a kitten.”

I thought that perhaps there was some girl out there whom I could really like a lot.

That song had always made me wonder.

Much later I met Eileen on a blind date.  And then I knew…..

From Annie Get Your Gun:  “The Girl That I Marry” Howard Keel singer;  Irving Berlin composer.

Click on one photo and then follow the small arrows.    (Very small)

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net.    Ocean Grove,  NJ.   This is  why we are the “Garden State.”   Jersey tomatoes are now peaking.  Try Matt’s in Belmar for  those.

This market is on Sundays at Press Plaza. It is open from May through November.

When you walk across Wesley Lake via  the New Jersey Avenue bridge from Ocean Grove, you will see this farmers market straight ahead.

It is a sophisticated market with a fascinating variety of items for sale.  It was well attended, and lines formed at a number of stands, especially for breads.

It is a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning.  I saw about 6 Grovers besides a  few who were heading back to the Grove as I walked over.

John Pizzarelli is a Jersey guy:

Stalingrad fell in 1943,and the German soldiers were frozen, hungry and hopelessly lost. Pau Gloldfinger still image from the Netflix doc.

From the soundtrack of All Quiet On the Western Front.

Paul Goldfinger, photo. 6/24. Ocean Twp, NJ. Blogfinger.net Click once to enlarge.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net.

FRANK SINATRA:   From the movie soundtrack of What Women Want.

At the Town-Wide Yard sale last weekend, quite a few  women came to our sale, so I took the opportunity to conduct a mini-survey. I asked , “Do you mind if I refer to you as ‘girls’ ?     They all said that it’s fine.

Ocean Grove beach after 4:30 when folks can enjoy the beach for free. Paul Goldfinger photo.   Click to enlarge.

HMS PINAFORE  BY GILBERT AND SULLIVAN:  “When I Was a Lad.” This could be a theme song for the Neptune Comedy.