We could stay in an Airbnb. We won’t have to worry about parking. Cartoon by Sue Gioulis. Special to Blogfinger.net.

a.   Asbury Sunset Avenue Farmers Market re-opens for the season on Saturday, June 23.  It is at the intersection with Main Street (Rt71), and you can park on both sides of Main St.  They have very good selections including a baker from Paterson with authentic Italian breads and more.  There are other interesting goods such as flowers,  besides the produce.  This is not a flea market!  This is a real hometown farmers market, indigenous to the “Garden State.”   We all should support it.

Cindy Bell, Professor of Music at Hofstra University is a guest conductor at the Choir Festival. She has roots in Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photograph ©. Great Auditorium.   Blogfinger.net

b. Mark your calendar for the 64th Annual Choir Festival on Sunday, July 8, 2018, 7:00  pm   There will be a massed choir of 1,000 voices, a brass ensemble, Gordon Turk on the organ, Jason Tramm conducting, and including 6 guests conductors, 2 of  which are famous nationwide.   Guest soloists include Monica Ziglar, Katherine Pracht, Ronald Naldi and Justin Beck.  Be sure to check the program to be sure that the music selections will appeal to you.  All of the program is religious based.  The event is free, but there will be a collection.

We heard from an old friend, Jeff Evans, who said,  ” I am happy to report that I’m coming up from my home (in Frisco TX) this year to sing Choir Festival.   It will be my 29th to sing, 30th to attend.  I’ve sung in some great choirs and had some wonderful choral experiences but I’m not sure there is anything  quite like Choir Festival anywhere.”

c. Blog stats.  June 19, 2018:  1,429 visits.  Most popular topics:  break-in in town, Wassup, and Airbnb short term rentals.    Among the foreign countries (8) are Denmark, Japan,  Switzerland, and India.

d.  The latest new name for the big medical center down the road is Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Here is their web site:    www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/jersey-shore-university-medical-center/

The new HOPE Tower at 19 Davis Avenue offers “physician offices,, a state-of-the-art cancer center, imaging services, research and medical education programs and a modern venue for community lectures and events.  Next door is a garage with more than 1,500 parking spaces which connects directly to the HOPE Tower on the first floor. ”

If any of your health providers and/or services are moving to the Tower, you should receive a letter.  We heard from the Medical Group which will be at that new location effective July 5. All phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

They’ve come a long way since their days as a community hospital  (Fitkin)     In 2003, Jersey Shore became Jersey Shore University Medical Center, designating its new status as a university hospital affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey — Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Phil Smith performs in the Great Auditorium. 2011 Blogfinger photo. ©

e.    For a world class music experience, don’t miss the Summer Stars on July 5 in the Great Auditorium.  The Imperial Brass features famous brass musicians from  a variety of sources under the umbrella of Ocean Grover Phil Smith, formerly principal trumpet at the NY Philharmonic Orchestra.

It’s always amazing to me how such concerts fail to attract huge crowds, but let’s  at least get a good turnout from OG.  The tickets are sold at an unbelievably low price of about $14.00 each, and you can order them online at Oceangrove.org, or call, or go to the box office. Thanks to the OGCMA for making such wonderful musical events possible.