a. Blogfinger stats: On Labor Day we had 700 hits–a large number for a holiday. There were visitors from 11 countries including Norway, Australia, Nigeria and Israel.
b. Senator Gopal. (our NJ Senator in Trenton) posted this on Twitter 9/6/22 regarding Piergate in OG:
“Many residents of Ocean Grove
have reached out to me concerned
about the OG CMA’s potential
construction of a cross-shaped
pier.
“I am strongly urging the CMA
to meet with residents, hear their
concerns, & construct a pier that
will be inclusive of all residents of
OG and Nep Twp.”
Editor’s note: Did you notice that the Senator is “urging” an “inclusive pier” for all residents of OG and Neptune.
This is the second time recently where OG concerns have been shared with Neptune. The last time was when Michael Badger. (Pres. CMA) decided that OG residents were elitists and that any plans for our beachfront should make sure that Neptuners were not excluded by us.
It’s funny how this theme is becoming visible lately. It suggests that any decisions, for example about parking in the Grove, will have to be inclusive of Neptuners. In general, Neptuners are not interested in the Grove, and visa versa. Is this some sort of social engineering? Grovers need to be aware of such creeping influences designed for political gains.
c. “The tents are being vacated. We obtained this photo on Labor Day night.
Paul Goldfinger photo. 9/5/22 Tent Village. Click to enlarge.
d. Yogagate: There was talk of appealing to the ACLU regarding some Constitutional complaints against the CMA, but so far no news is no news that’s fit to print.
e. There was a recital last night, Labor Day, in the Great Auditorium. It featured bass-baritone Kevin Short who has been performing in the Great Auditorium for 36 years, so it was a treat for the OG audience to hear him again, and he was with his good friends Gordon Turk (organ) and Jason Tramm. (MC). They performed a variety of pieces including Old Man River from Showboat–a crowd pleaser.
There was no program, and the concert lasted about one hour. The tickets were a bargain at $14.00, and the program was a treat. Gordon Turk got everyone’s attention as he cranked up the Hope Jones organ and let it rip through this great old wooden building with the famous acoustics.
In order to stay in good with the gods of the calendar, Mr. Short performed Kurt Weil’s “September Song:” Blogfinger video below.
The Auditorium organ was purchased at a supposed discount in return for having, “Hope-Jones Organ Co. Elmira, N. Y.” emblazoned in gold on the base of the central display pipes. This ceased to appear on postcards in the 1920s.
While the company went out of business in 1910 and the present instrument is mostly not Hope-Jones, I feel it would be a nice historical touch if the name were restored.
It also had some now vanished “U”-shaped wooden ornaments running along the slanting tops of the pipe screens.