Ray Huizenga of OG. Portrait by Paul Goldfinger. June, 2024. Main Avenue. Looking a bit like Ray Charles.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD Editor, Blogfinger.net. 2024 re-post
Ray Huizenga is a resident and businessman who has been an important figure in town for about 50 years. He founded the Ocean Grove Realty Co. in 1979, and that eventually became Century 21 Coastal.
He also is one of the founders of the OG Chamber of Commerce which grew out of the Jersey Shore Chamber. He says that the founding of the Chamber was to create an organization run by volunteers. This remembrance came out when we were discussing the big money events in town and the expenses of the organization.
The NY Times wrote about the Grove and they were particularly interested in the worrisome increase in house prices and property taxes at about 2005.
Ray was interviewed then by the Times and was reported to say, ”They’re treating us like we’re another country,” Mr. Huizenga said, adding that his own house had nearly tripled in value. ”If we are not going to be fairly taxed, then we may be better off creating our own town.”
The idea of secession has reappeared at various times in the town’s history.
Ray has been a keen observer of events in the Grove, and when asked, he may share his opinions. He gets ideas.
M. WARD. From the HBO series Girls.