Dave Shotwell emerges from the Atlantic after a Thanksgiving dip. Ocean Grove, 2015. Blogfinger photo. © Click to enlarge and look for goosebumps.

Chico and the man, Grover Moe Demby, enjoy some Thanksgiving games. © Blogfinger photo ©

Quite a few folks in Ocean Grove were out today for a sunny nearly 70 degree Thanksgiving  day in the Grove.  This morning  there were a few people downtown on Main Avenue, walking around or having a coffee at the OG Bakery.

Two workers were operating heavy machinery at the 50 Main Avenue building site. That was an insensitive and disrespectful thing to do, especially when people were already downtown early on Thanksgiving, trying to enjoy small town America in the historic seaside village of Ocean Grove, a community with a unique personality and style that doesn’t normally include construction work on Thanksgiving morning.  Fortunately the workers  didn’t stay very long.

Downtown the OG Bakery was serving coffee and…..outside their tables were still set up.  Some people were on their feet watching the workers. The flower shop was open.

At the beachfront, folks were playing with their dogs by the water’s edge, and Dave Shotwell, a Grover, was taking a swim in the 50 degree frigid water. He didn’t spend much time in the surf, but he emerged refreshed, and he wasn’t even shivering. Evidently he has done this ritual in the past.  The boardwalkers were active, and we met some who were from out of town.

In Firemen’s Park, a spirited game of Wiffle ball was going on. (see below.)

ELLA FITZGERALD  with a big band: