Every year, the day after Labor Day, it feels like we are getting our town back. It’s almost like magic, because it is so less congested—many hundreds of cars and people simply vanish.
It reminds me of the show Brigadoon where a small town in Scotland vanishes and then reappears, albeit, every one hundred years.
Here is a song from that original Broadway cast with Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, selected by Eileen who loves Brigadoon. “The Heather on the Hill.”
The show’s ensemble singing was top notch, and very moving. Photo by Mary Walton
By Charles Layton 2012. Editor, Blogfinger.net
The crowd at the Jersey Shore Arts Center on Saturday gave a warmly emotional reception to “Labor of Love,” JoAnn Robertozzi’s theatrical tribute to the 146 victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Quite a few people were wiping away tears during the musical finale, sung by actors playing some of the victims who, caught on the roof of the flaming building in lower Manhattan, were forced to jump to their deaths.
When one of the characters said, “I saw bodies flying from the building, like angels,” it was impossible not to be reminded of some of the most graphic photos of 9/11.
The bare-bones staging was helped a lot by photo images of the 1911 tragedy, projected on a screen. And even though the Arts Center’s acoustics are problematic, the singing was thrilling.
In the Q&A that followed the performance, the author, Robertozzi, told the audience she hoped to further develop “Labor of Love” into a fully staged play, to be entered in New York’s Fringe Festival. We wish her all good luck with that.
Because so many of the fire’s victims were Italian immigrant girls, a couple of the play’s songs were Italian standards from the period. Here is one of those songs, sung by Mario Lanza:
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Kaufmann residence in 1935 for a family from Philadelphia. It is a marvelous place to visit. Located in a woodsy area in Mill Run, southwest Pennsylvania, it has recently undergone restoration. Read about it. See link below.
When we went there, there were many photographers. It is considered one of the most important works of American architecture. We learned that Wright designed all the furniture inside and he even wanted to design the clothes for the lady of the house. Wikipedia on Falling Water
Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity. Ocean Grove beach. 8/27/14 By T. Stein of OG.
Paul Goldfinger Editor. Blogfinger.net
Every once in a while, Ocean Grovers have noticed nuns on the beach or the Fishing Pier. They wear white saris with blue stripes. I spotted them about a week ago walking through the parking lot of the JS Arts Center. Then T. Stein saw them on the beach on August 26.
She recognized that they are from Mother Teresa’s order, The Missionaries of Charity, a world-wide organization based in India.
Coincidentally, August 26 is Mother Teresa’s birthday. She was born in Macedonia, was a citizen of India, and a Roman Catholic nun. She also won the Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa died in 1997 at the age of 87. She was known for her work with the poorest of the poor and sickest of the sick. She ran homes for patients with leprosy as well as hospice-like institutions for the dying, diseased and homeless.
J.P. Gradone, COO of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association told Blogfinger that a representative of the Sisters contacted the CMA for permission for their nuns to visit the town and beaches of Ocean Grove. We don’t know why they chose OG, but we do know that they were attending a retreat somewhere in this area. In any case, they were welcomed to our town by the CMA.
AARON COPLAND: “Simple Gifts” from his work Apalachian Springs
Gertrude Lawrence (1898-1952) was a musical stage star–singer and actress. She was born in London. In 1923, she was introduced to American audiences when she became the first British female performer to star in a Broadway show. It was a musical review by Noel Coward called “London Calling.” Subsequently she was featured in two Gershwin shows including “Lady in the Dark.” The NY Times review called her “a goddess.” In 1951 she won the lead in the original cast of the” King and I” for which she won a Tony for “best actress.”
In 1933, she starred in a Cole Porter show called “Nymph Errant.” Wickipedia says, “The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual sophistication. The musical was produced in London in 1933 and received its US premiere in 1982.”
Today, I heard this Cole Porter song, “How Could We be Wrong?” by Gertrude Lawrence from “Nymph Errant” on the radio. I thought it was beautiful, and the host agreed, although he commented that the song sort of vanished over the years.
This is Gertrude Lawrence, but Maude Maggart has a current recording. —Paul Goldfinger
November 3, 2012. 5 days after Sandy. Ocean Grove, New Jersey. One of the first fishermen to return. By Paul Goldfinger. Click for full view. See the comments for some photographic notes.
New Jersey Ave bridge seen from the OG side. April, 2013. PG photo. Left click for full view.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.
This 2013 piece brought 50 comments. They are below.
Every night at midnight, the NTPD locks the gates on the OG side of those two bridges. At 5:00 a.m. the gates are opened. This policy has been in effect since 1995 and was initiated by Neptune Township as a method to stop high crime rates on the bridge and on both sides of the bridge. Many of those crimes were happening in the late evening and early morning hours. The police tried foot patrols, a police substation by the bridge, covert ops and decoys, but despite some arrests, the problems continued.
The top priority for the NTPD was to do the right thing from a public safety perspective. Soon after the gates/locks idea was implemented, there was, according to NTPD Chief Robert Adams, a “dramatic impact” on crime in that location, on both sides of the bridges.
The Lock
In 1995 some individuals complained about the idea,* especially from the AP side, who viewed the locks as keeping Asbury Park citizens out. Others said that the purpose of the gates was to prevent criminals from quickly escaping the Grove, but Chief Adams says that cutting off escapes was not the main mechanism.
Instead the benefit came mostly from reducing the number of criminals hanging around in those locations, something that would help both communities. In recent years, the police have received no complaints about the bridge closures.
Chief Adams says that his department is “constantly re-evaluating” all its policies . However, at this time, he believes that vast number of Grovers support the continued implementation of the bridge closures and he continues to place “public safety” as the main focus for police work in Neptune Township and specifically in Ocean Grove.
Editor’s Note: If you wish to comment on this topic, please tell us which side of the lake you live on. I think your comments will have more credibility if you do, especially if you say your name, but neither is required. —Paul
Frank S, in a comment on BF today said, “Since I am on a roll, here is another unrelated idea that also has historical precedent : Ocean Grove should secede from Neptune.”
Ocean Grove became part of Neptune Township in 1879 when Neptune was carved out of Ocean Township. But, despite that, Ocean Grove was, for most practical purposes, a separate town, although it’s home owners did pay property taxes to Neptune.
Frank S. is correct: There have been a number of times in the past when some citizens of Ocean Grove favored secession from Neptune. The closest they came to success was in 1920. Here is a portion of the Blogfinger Historical Timeline of Ocean Grove that covers that history:
1920. The Lessee Board is dissolved, and the Civic Betterment League is formed. Its goal is the creation of an independent Ocean Grove Borough. The CMA supports the idea, and the NJ Legislature passes an Ocean Grove Borough bill which creates an incorporated borough, apart from Neptune. Governor Edwards signs it into law, a referendum in town receives wide support, and local elections are held.
The new Borough of Ocean Grove operates for one year, but they retain the CMA “blue laws”. Opponents in town want things the old way and they form the “Lessees Association” They sue in State Supreme Court.
1921: The NJ Court of Errors and Appeals finds the Borough bill to be unconstitutional, because the Borough has allowed religious ordinances to stand. The Borough bill might have been upheld if the “blue laws” were discarded, but the CMA and its supporters refuse. The Borough is dissolved, and governance goes back to the CMA. This was not the first attempt to gain secular control of OG, but this one came the closest.
In 1980, the governance of Ocean Grove was turned over to Neptune Township because the CMA governance violated the law regarding separation of church and state. That was decided by the NJ Supreme Court.
If any of you want an emailed copy (free) of the BF Ocean Grove Timeline, just send a request to Blogfinger@verizon.net. Shipping and handling are free. Allow a while for delivery, and there will be no returns or exchanges. Note that this timeline is made in the USA.
4 asparagus, peeled and cut on the diagonal in ½ inch pieces
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon dry oregano
freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (grated)—optional
Pre heat the oven to 450 degrees.
Line the lower rack with tin foil to protect oven from drips.
Place a second rack in the middle of the oven. Use this rack to cook the pizza.
Spread the tomato sauce on the Boboli crust (or naan bread) with the back of a spoon so that it covers the entire crust. Layer the mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. Arrange the vegetables on the cheese. You can substitute any low fat toppings that you like such as soy pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, tuna or anchovies. Sprinkle the seasonings including the Parmigiano on top. Drizzle olive oil over the pizza.
Place the pizza in the oven.
Cook for 10 minutes.
Serves 2
DEAN MARTIN:
This recipe is adapted from “Prevention Does Work: A Guide to a Healthy Heart” (2011 4th edition , page 75 ) by Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC and Eileen Goldfinger, BA.
In this book, Eileen has created 34 original heart-healthy recipes which have been designed to be both delicious and easy to prepare. The book provides patient information about all aspects of prevention, with an emphasis on nutrition.
It can be obtained in paperback or hardcover at IUniverse.com or Amazon.com.
The famous Lions Chester Flea Market closed about 20 years ago. This image is from the Paul Goldfinger flea market photography exhibit at the Chester Public Library.
Carol Rizzo at the Law Enforcement Memorial Service, Great Auditorium. 5/24/16. Paul Goldfinger photo.
To the Editor @Blogfinger:
I was walking home from a movie in Asbury Park Friday night, June 3, just before midnight, when I bumped into Carol Rizzo on the OG side of the bridge. We talked for a few minutes, and while we were talking we witnessed a hit and run accident less than a block away.
A drunk driver smashed into a parked car and then took off eastbound on Asbury Ave, Ocean Grove.
What I saw next surprised me. Carol immediately ran after the car yelling to the driver to stop, while running she called 911 and when she caught up to the car she stood in front of the vehicle preventing him from leaving the scene until the police came and eventually arrested the driver.
Let me say, I don’t know Carol Rizzo; Friday night was the first time we spoke. What I saw that night was someone acting bravely, throwing themselves into harm’s way to protect our town.
At the time it seemed very dangerous and a little foolish to stand in front of a car with a drunk driver behind the wheel. But later I realized she was only concerned with getting this drunk off the roads and preventing more property damage —- and potentially much worse that night.
BRIAN SCHUBEL
Ocean Grove, NJ. June 5, 2016
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF LONDON: This theme music is called “Such Good Luck” from Downton Abbey. Soundtrack by John Lunn.
It’s for Carol Rizzo of OceanGrove who fortunately was present when others needed her courage.
Subsequently she became Mayor of Neptune Township.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net Re-post from 2012.
Here is a short movie, produced by documentary filmmaker David Layton in 2011. It’s offered in celebration (and, OK, self-congratulation) of our half-millionth visitor to Blogfinger. And also in tribute to a town we love.
It’s been 13 years since this movie was made by Charles Layton’s son David, a professional documentarian. 2011 was only two years since we began this experiment in small, small town journalism.
It was a great privilege for me to have Charles Layton and Mary Walton join the Blogfinger staff. They both had been professional journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer, and I learned so much from them.
Some years ago the Walton-Laytons moved back to the big city (Philadelphia.) They, of course, are irreplaceable, and that’s how it’s been here since they left, except, by February. 2025, Blogfinger has received nearly 5 million hits, and the Walton-Laytons left over 10 years ago.
