In Spring Lake they know how to amuse tourists unlike the mega-events in OG.  Paul Goldfinger photo.

Paul Goldfinger,   Editor Blogfinger.net

Consider this comment made on Facebook by a resident of Ocean Grove. We’lll call her “Alberta.”

Alberta:  “When I bought here the CMA was a kinder and gentler entity. I loved the Mayberry-ish feel of the town, its Victorian, the diversity of the Grove including the gay population and the generally small town feel.  I am open-minded and friendly to all religious folk, especially those who afford me the same consideration.”    Note the past sense in her first sentence.

She was concerned  as she went on to say that some of the changes worry her as a Jewish citizen.

During the large forum about parking which was recently held at the Arts Center, over 40 people went to the microphone to offer brief comments.   I heard most of them.  Some said that the town was changing and not in a friendly way.

The idea of a changing community due to CMA aggressiveness lately seems to be a validated opinion, one of which the CMA has refused to seriously worry about.

Penny says, “When we first bought here in 1998, one of the reasons we chose the Grove was because of the Camp Meeting and its programs.  We liked the sense of spirituality, so we often went to the Great Auditorium, enjoyed the bells ringing and found the spectacle of the Live Nativity to be fun.  And we attended other events as well, but not the religious services.

We are not Christian, but we knew about the CMA before we bought.  It did not worry us, even though outsiders said, “You bought where?”

But in recent years we have experienced an uncomfortable change in town due to the CMA’s aggressive programs and visible religious propaganda in public places. We don’t like how they dismiss the secular community of residents.”

Blogfinger:  Another area of concern which we have expressed on Blogfinger, but has not been recognized so far is about the large tourist presence in season, much of which is promoted by the CMA,  the Chamber of Commercials and Asbury Park.

These crowds cause tourist glut and parking problems in the Grove. That affects residential quality of life which no organized group in town worries about.     Consider that Ocean Grove is the worst town around in terms of drowning its citizens with mega events on prime Saturdays.  Where are the Neptunites on this?   Oh, I know, none of these Grovarian problems affect those Neptuners, and we have no representation on that 5 person anti-Ocean Grove board.  Let’s rent a guillotine.  (A modest proposal!)

Jersey Shore towns around here which allow mega-events:  almost none.

Bradley Beach:  one: Memorial Day (They will not have a mega event to compromise their residents during July or August.)

Belmar one parade–one hour then go home.

Asbury Park:  a few parades and one huge rock concert on the beach. They have a seafood event.

Ocean Grove:  Bridgefest, tw0 giant flea markets, one giant craft market, one huge parade, Camp Meeting week, 2 car shows and a harvest festival  that close streets–and the regular spillover from Asbury which clog our streets–such as the St Patrick’s parade last Sunday,  The CMA promotes over 100 events each summer causing an almost constant religious atmosphere around the Grove.

Most shore towns have small events such as the Saturday night movies in Riley Park, Bradley Beach.  We have few of that sort of event here, designed for the residents.  Who benefits from those large money making events?  Not the tax paying residents, and the CMA is responsible in one way or another for all of those crowded events.

This is from the OGHOA:  They have consistently failed to face up to these worrisome challenges.  Below, from their web site, indicates that  they will hide under their beds waiting for Neptune United to jump in:

“As 2023 wore on, there were growing controversies over whether the Camp Meeting was becoming more aggressive in the outward expansion of its religious mission (witness the pier in the shape of a cross and crosses on beach badges), and whether the Camp Meeting was becoming increasingly unresponsive to the concerns of the non-Methodist and secular community in Ocean Grove. A new group in town – Neptune United — was formed to focus intensely on these issues.”

What do the Home Groaners care about?   Read their web site and you will find a variety of useful information, but when it comes to saving our town, solving parking, and blocking the North End plan, they are ineffective.  And they want tax exempt status—-why should they get that? They should pay taxes.  Next the CMA will want to be tax exempt.

Oh well.   Let’s change some street names around here.  How about Green Dolphin Street?    Or let’s bring more secular  music to town.   Here is Richard Benjamin and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra playing

“On the Jersey Shore:”  By local composer and concertmaster.  Arthur Pryor. 1904

or Benny Goodman.  “On the Alamo”  from the movie The War.