The “Hairy Balls Milkweed plant” is also known as Gomphocarpus physocarpus. It does grow in Ocean Grove (see above, from Eileen’s garden-) -It can attract butterflies. And if you make soup with it, you will find courage. Blogfinger photo. August 2022.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
What is a town? The Oxford Dictionary says: “A town is an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.”
In our country, a town is modeled as a democracy. In other words, in Ocean Grove, the Camp Meeting should have no power to go ahead with projects such as a Fitness Trail without running it by the citizens and local government.
That trail will impact the lives of all of us, so we should have some say and approval authority.
The CMA may own the land, but they don’t own the town.* (I don’t see them in the definition above) They should be required to get citizen approval represented by the Fabulous Five at the Mother Ship. Those troublesome characters ordinarily pay little attention to the life styles of Grovarians–those who live in this town. So now is when they should step up.
Just because the CMA owns the land doesn’t entitle them to run an ugly and dangerous trail from one end of the town to another. A Senator says that the OG trail will create more safety in neighboring towns just by imaginary extension. Do you buy that?
The OGHOA, needing a shot of testosterone, went along with Badger’s Baloney until yesterday when they announced the formation of a committee.
But they already know what’s wrong with this fitness plan, and while the committee is pontificating, Badger’s engineers are working on the details of that construction just as they handled the non- fishing pier without consultation with citizens or local government.
Do you think the CMA will respect the HOA committee?
So, instead of a committee, the Groaners need to get aggressive, flex some muscle, grow some milkweed, and just say NO!! to the CMA regarding the Fitness Trail–which really would be a dangerous bicycle/skateboard path and a waste of $.5 million.
I bet none of the Fabulous Five would be seen on that path.
BRUNO MARS: “Count on Me.”
*Do you remember the 1979 decision of the NJ Supreme Court in Trenton? They ruled that the CMA cannot engage in governance of Ocean Grove. Our representatives in Trenton who support this $500,000 giveaway of taxpayer dollars to a private religious group, as if the CMA were a town, should re-engage with that 1979 ruling.
2024 update: Evidently, this path to nowhere is a dead duck; at least for now.
RRS…..at the present time, the ‘Fitness Trail’ is only a ‘conceptual plan’.
Jack Bredin
The Coaster article mentioned the trail would be made of “Flexi-Pave” or similar material. Here is the manufacturer’s description:
“Flexi-Pave® is an amazing and unique product capable of supporting heavy vehicles. It is extremely porous and has the ability to clean the water that passes through. Some other noteworthy features include:
Made from recycled rubber, stone and a urethane binding agent. Capable of handling 4,000 inches of water per hour. Slip-resistant. Resistant to freeze-thaw.
Installs 1″, 1.5″, or 2″ thick.
We have 6 base colors which can be blended to offer 20+ color options.” [One of these is a reddish “cabernet” which would likely be rejected for obvious reasons.]
I would like to better understand what the fitness trail will encompass. Is it intended for joggers, bicyclists, dog walkers, in-line skaters, skateboarders? How wide will it be and how will it be surfaced? Will battery/electric bicycles and scooters be permitted? Will there be one lane in each direction? Will it be fenced in some manner?
And don’t forget the e-bikes which are multiplying like Canada geese around here. I tried one.
They are risky especially in the hands of a geezer who may not be able to react well to a sudden surge of speed triggered by the throttle sitting near your right hand. And they can get up to 30 mph, and you can pedal using the motorized pedal assist and you might be pedaling along looking at the scenery only to find yourself nearly flying.
Better keep those off the fitness trail. Make them go into the street where more hazards can be found around our windy little town where you might be distracted by a crazy little thing called love.
I would be curious to know how this might play out in terms of liability insurance. Speeding bikes and skateboards are more likely to have accidents. Then there are the noiseless electric scooters that can easily sneak up on people.