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Pictured with Governor Christie (center) are: (L-R) Neptune Township Mayor Eric Houghtaling; OGCMA’s Karen Adams, Robin Brown, Bobbie Kehoe, Karen Voorhees OGCMA COO Ralph del Campo; Together Committee members Connie Ogden and Carol Whilden; OGCMA’s Vicki Bacolo, Linda Szabo; and Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop. (Photo Courtesy Neptune Township Police Department)

On Tuesday, May 21, Governor Christie surveyed the progress on the Ocean Grove beaches and boardwalk by helicopter en route to the NJ Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Great Auditorium. Christie paused to encourage representatives of the TOGETHER Campaign, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association’s fund-raising drive to restore Ocean Grove’s boardwalk and beachfront. The Governor reassured the group that he was fighting for Ocean Grove at the federal level –  referring to the FEMA decision that is currently being appealed by OGCMA. Ocean Grove was denied FEMA funding because of its non-profit status and a classification of the boardwalk as being “recreational”.

The community of Ocean Grove and the Camp Meeting Association continue to be optimistic about the appeal as well as other funding for beach and boardwalk repairs. Even if FEMA funding does come through, $750,000 will still be needed for improvements. The Together Campaign is energetically pursuing its mission and capital campaign by selling t-shirts, planning events, concerts, and picnics. For more information, visit www.together.og.com.

—-press release courtesy of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association