We need to maintain lifestyles for  Grovarian residents this season. Paul Goldfinger photograph 2019.

COVID-19 infection rates are soaring in the Garden State, so we believe it best to cancel the May 8 Blogfinger-sponsored Town-Wide Yard Sale.

A lesser reason is that there is very little enthusiasm now for even such a small scale event as judged by the number of participants to date  (just 5).

An elderly  neighbor, walking his dog by the park today, told me that he is “tired” of his pandemic lifestyle. He seemed gloomy.

But we all can contribute towards steering our town in the right direction as recovery occurs in the face of ongoing risk.

We believe that yard sales, done locally as  “neighborhood curbside sales,” can be safe, and we showed that last October with 3 families.  So if any of you want to organize a yard sale at any time this season, we offer you publicity on Blogfinger.  Just send us your information:  name, address, cross street,  dates, times, items for sale, etc.  Blogfinger@verizon.net.

It’s important to maintain safe small-scale happenings this season for our residents in order to help  keep the spirit of our community alive.   We want to keep  the quality and comfort of small town America alive here in the Grove.  This is a town where our neighborhoods offer safety and joy, while unbridled tourism just brings us chaos and risk.

Giant events like the huge flea market should be cancelled.  Large scale tourist events should be discouraged by the Township while OG residents continue breathing life, masked and distanced as needed, into our town, onto our porches, at our parks, at our beachfront, on our bikes, and in conversation with our neighbors and guests.  Downtown shops would do fine without hustling large numbers of outsiders into our midst during the most desirable and risky time of the year.

Paul McCartney