Boring flea day in OG.  Hardly anyone is laughing.   June 03, 2023. Paul Goldfinger photograph. Blogfinger.net.

Paul Goldfinger reporting from the  Giant Flea Market 6/3/23

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The Giant Spring Flea Market. (Schlocktown USA) was held during a dreary day on the Ocean Pathway. It was promoted vigorously by Neptune Township,  the Chamber of Commercials,  and the Camp Meeting.  These 3 groups are in each others pockets.

The stench of self- interest rose over the land and over the out-of-town-crowd.   Only events that benefit the Grove  should be allowed here.  What good are events such as this? All that happens according to me is that they crowd out the enjoyment for those who live here and look forward to  summer.

None of these sponsoring factions  has any interest in elevating the Grove as a classy place with marvelous architecture, amazing diversity, fascinating history, a home for artists and the young OG Underground, accomplished musicians,  growing sophisticated  second home community,  and an educated populace.

And the Home Owners Assoc. keeps busy by avoiding these topics. Their last meeting was spent driving wedges between the CMA and the rest of us.   At least they could do something useful such as locating more public bathrooms and worthwhile restaurants in town.

Is Ocean Grove losing that loving feeling?  That’s what the CMA President said at his last meeting one week ago   He said, according to the Coastericans, “There is a very unhealthy feeling in Ocean Grove .”

Getting back to the Flea Market, the shlock factor was high. People were looking around for cheap goods to kvell over.  They were spending $15.00 for undercooked sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches.  Eating from food trucks seemed to be as much an activity as shopping. Eileen and her sister Hope went, but they came back with just a few children’s books.  I walked around with my camera and saw no one I knew or wanted to know and I found it to be depressing.

Yet a parking glut descended on the land like the Babylonians at Jerusalem in 587 BC.

Surely this town could do better for its citizens.  There is a desperate need for an organization to represent all the folks  in the Grove and to come up with a satisfying  blueprint for a united and improved OG of the future.

PATRICK RIGUELLE. from the album.  Songs From the Brill Building.