Paul Goldfinger Editor Blogfinger.net
Last year we had to cancel because of COVID-19. But now we believe we can safely bring the 10th Annual Ocean Grove Yard-Sale back this spring: Saturday, June 18, 2022.
An official announcement will be posted here soon. Below are a few of our comments from last year (2021) when we had to cancel the 10th Annual.
March 24, 2021 by Blogfinger | Edit
Paul Goldfinger photograph 2020. These folks are Grovers going to a town-wide yard sale in the Grove.
OG Town-Wide Yard Sale. Blogfinger photo.
OG Town-Wide yard sale. Small town America. Blogfinger photo ©
An elderly neighbor, walking his dog by the park today, (3/21) told me that he is “tired” of his pandemic lifestyle. He seemed gloomy.
But we all can contribute now (2022) towards steering our town in the right direction as recovery occurs in the face of some ongoing risk. The event is outdoors, and there will be room to distance. We don’t think masks are needed, but they are welcomed. It is the Father’s Day weekend and there will be a craft show in town. Come early and find parking.
We believe that yard sales, done locally as “neighborhood curbside sales,” can be safe, and we showed that last October with a porch sale for 3 families.
But if any of you want to skip the Town-Wide and 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 events this season for our residents in order to help keep the spirit of our community alive. We want to maintain the quality and comfort of small-town America here in the Grove. This is a town where our neighborhoods offer safety and joy, while unbridled tourism just brings us chaos, anxiety, 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.
Our sale is basically for the residents of OG. We do minimal advertising, and the business people won’t place our fliers in their windows, and the Neptuners won’t allow us to post fliers on poles. It is great fun when neighbors socialize while visiting our curb and porch sales. Many ride bikes and many walk around with kids, dogs and husbands trailing behind.
Downtown shops would do fine without hustling large numbers of outsiders into our midst during the most desirable and risky times of the year.
Join us on June 18. I will add you to our list: Email to Blogfinger@verizon.net and tell me your name, cross street and address. Later we will ask for your list of sale items. We will only disclose your address and sale items. Names are encouraged but optional.
Paul McCartney: “Home.”
What is OG now ? A homogeneous rich person’s town lacking the character it once had. It is a nearby beach town for North Jersey , NY, and Philly folks.
Most folks do not know or care about its history or spirituality .
Frank This is what I asked for: “…. can you name any Jersey Shore town that has flea markets that bring in thousands of tourists to clog their streets and shut down the lives of residents ? Or religious events that also overwhelm this small town all summer long and beyond? ”
Did you find any that meet this criteria? We don’t need to get stuck on the name “STA” but rather it is good to talk about what OG is now about and what it could be about. Thanks, Paul
I did not miss YOUR point. We just disagree on just what small town America is – should be . Travel & leisure magazine is geared toward rich folks who can afford their suggested destinations so their definition of small town America is off base .
Small town America is NOT : High priced real estate which the average ordinary American can not afford, Seniors on social security who were born & raised in a town driven out by high taxes . Residents born & raised in a town who can not afford to stay in the town and therefore have to leave . Part time Summer – weekend residents. Folks who live here simply because of the beach who don’t care about the history & spirituality of the town .
Yes I can off the top of my head think of shore towns which have giant annual street fair/festivals: Wildwood,NJ and Redbank, NJ.
I contend that so called small town America is a myth/fantasy . OG has become a rich person’s alternative to LBI , Spring Lake, Avon, etc. A nearby beach town for North Jersey, New York, Philly folks.
Lets just agree to disagree.
Frank: The definition of “small town America” does vary, but I think you have missed the point. The cost of real estate has nothing to do with the idea of STA. Here is a link to what Travel and Leisure calls the best of STA:
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/best-small-towns-in-america
This definition includes some of the most wonderful towns, and many, such as Carmel, California and Kennebunkport, Maine, are havens for the rich. Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel, and the Bush family compound is in Kennebunkport. The list could also include many fine towns such as Mendham, NJ and Southhampton, NY (hardly a place of modest prices.)
My idea of STA with reference to Ocean Grove is a place with a census population of about 3,000. It has beautiful architecture and an ocean. Whether the populace contains a lot of second homers is irrelevant. It is the comfort and spirit of a place that mostly defines it.
No giant events occur in classic small town America unless they are held in open fields on the outskirts of town as in Rhinebeck NY where they have the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.
Rhinebeck has about the same census defined population (under 3,000) as OG. They have no giant events like we do. Here are what they do have in small town America (Rhinebeck):
Craft Shows
Antique Shows
The Sheep & Wool Festival and farmers markets with local products.
Livestock shows, specializing in local farms and local farmers
The popular Wine & Food Festival
See what I mean? For OG, Blogfinger has often mentioned the sorts of small town events which would suit the residents and promote joy and happiness in our neighborhoods such as porch concerts, street musicians, juried art shows, girl scout cookies, farmers markets, poetry readings, secular events for kids, lifeguard tournaments (which we do have), summer band concerts on the boards, etc etc. Let’s not be Coney Island, Seaside Heights, or Asbury Park.
And, by the way, can you name any Jersey Shore town that has flea markets that bring in thousands of tourists to clog their streets and shut down the lives of residents ? Or religious events that also overwhelm this small town all summer long and beyond?
Asbury Park has giant events, but at least theirs are based on music and it is a goal of that city to have big music and film events.
Our OG has been over-run by tourists to the point where the residents cannot fully enjoy their homes during the most desirable times of the year.
You mention that visitors sometime fall in love with the town, and that is true, but we don’t need giant flea markets to be discovered by the outside world.
A successful small town is one where the residents are the top priority and where life styles and values reflect who they are.
I have nothing against a small number of giant events, but like Bradley Beach, I believe that number should ideally be zero each year.
I agree somewhat with your anti tourism rants but:
Many a tourist has discovered OG while attending the flea market and various events in OG. Some then move here and become residents, renters, and homeowners as a result.
That parking is hard in OG is not entirely a bad thing either. Makes tourists have to walk thru town to their destination. In doing so they discover our beautiful homes, neighborhoods, and friendly folks.
OG is small-town America? Hardly . OG does not fulfill the myth of small-town America. Unaffordable – way way too expensive to be small town America. Too many non-full time summer – weekend folks to meet the definition.