Brought to you by the Chamber of Commercials and Neptune on the day before Halloween. 10/30/21
Grovers stop to say hello to neighbors. Perhaps you need a bee keeper or a smiling witch. Paul Goldfinger photo. 10/31/21.
A Hispanic family trick or treating at the OG North End. 10/31/21 Blogfinger photo.
Adults enjoy Halloween too. This was on Mt. Hermon Way at the Goldfinger home. ©
An African-American family trick or treats at OG North End. 10/31/21. Blogfinger photo
A Grover family on Halloween at the North End of OG. 10/31/21 Blogfinger
Witches fly from OG at the end of the holiday. Paul Goldfinger photo. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
The last census for OG (2020) showed 93.44% white, while in Asbury Park there are 40% white, 44% African American and 31% Hispanic.
So it is not surprising, in fact inevitable, that the North End of OG receives many minority trick or treaters. They don’t drive here, they walk here, usually with their families.
Usually we interact with Asbury Park by virtue of the restaurant and bar scene in and around Cookman. But that demographic is generally affluent, while Halloween gives us the opportunity to be acquainted with Asbury’s majority. (“The other side of Asbury” which we cover on Blogfinger.net)
OG has always been host to kids from A. Park on Halloween, and there may be some differences in those inputs depending on which part of OG is being considered.
Jean Bredin loves Halloween on Heck Avenue.
Heck Avenue had a busy day yesterday. Jean Bredin spent the day as a witch on her porch, but she gave out 300 bags of candy. The OG North end had a high percent of Asbury kids, but Jean saw quite a few on Heck as well. The North End had fewer tricksters than usual.
If you were a parent in Asbury wanting your kids to enjoy the happy holiday of Halloween, then you might want to visit the Grove.
There was a trick or treat event for small kids downtown on Oct 30, and perhaps that might have cut into the fun on Halloween.
From the perspective of Ocean Grovers, it is a wonderful event where kids come to town and visit us on our porches.
What happened last night on Mt. Hermon Way was hopefully a “one off.” We believe that the Grove will continue to be a welcoming place for kids, especially on Halloween, when they come to town with their families.
BARRY MANILOW
blogfinger.net 
I am a Vintage Trick or Treater.
Growing up in an apartment building in New York City was fun. You knocked on people’s doors and said ‘Anything for Halloween?’…You didn’t get candy, you got a nickel or pennies. I remember good and well the disappointment of nobody answering their door, and the thrill of getting a nickel when people were nice.
So, I sat on the porch til the cows came home, and slept like a log from all the fun and fresh air.
PS. The children were very polite, saying Thank You. And if they didn’t say thank you, their parents on the sidewalk reminded them to.
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Jean brings a lot of spirit to Heck Avenue. She ushers in each holiday with a beautiful porch display. Halloween is Jean’s favorite as she has the chance to bring smiles to 300 trick or treaters. Your spirit is greatly appreciated!
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