Chips off the old block. Embury blockers.
Block party version 2 Donna Fox is right front with big smile; Dave Matteo is with the shades and dark blue T shirt.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
Ocean Grove hasn’t developed a town-wide culture among residents, and there are reasons for that.
Mostly it is a town of neighborhoods, and more accurately, a town of blocks. Some block residents have become friends, but that may be be an uphill climb as there are second homers, people who move away, and renters, and so it’s not like the old days when multiple generations stayed and cemented relationships.
There are some OG families that have been here for one generation after another, and they form networks and seldom are friendly with newbies.
Sometimes neighbors form social connections and they may have regular house or porch parties, but such schemes tend to fade away. And there are the block parties which are often connected to holidays, and they may last for a few years, but ultimately they lose their way.
On Mt. Hermon Way we used to have yearly block parties encompassing about 3 consecutive blocks, and there were house parties—recurrent and taking turns. But all of that has mostly vanished, partly because so many have moved away, folks get older, and residents seek more privacy.
Block friends: That’s where solid friendships may crystallize.
Which brings us to this particular block on Embury where residents roped off an entire block today to enjoy the emergence of sunshine and each other’s company.
When I arrived they were having a good time eating, laughing and talking. I’m told that they often have such social events.
It seems that these Emburians enjoy each other, so block parties are not unusual for them. I stumbled upon this event as I rode my bike into the festivities. I got a warm welcome as I stopped to take a picture. One woman rushed over to me and asked, “Are you from the Coaster?” I’m thinking, “OMG do I look that dopey?”
Anyhow, I had some laughs with the cast of characters over there. I knew Donna Fox, the author of Jersey Girl and Dave Matteo from On-Site Computers. Some others I knew from carousing around town. Hank walks his dog by my house.
So the group insisted on a group shot; it was a bit like herding cats, but we got the shot. Somebody even took my picture, which was a switch.
It was time for me to say goodby and head home, which is not far from the party location. Maybe some more OG blocks should jump on the Groverican bandwagon.
DICK HYMAN from the Woody Allen movie “Everyone Says I Love You.”