Nov. 4, 2012. (6 days after Sandy) Neighbors discuss the storm. Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photo © Blogfinger.net
TONY BENNETT AND K.D. LANG
Archive for the ‘Ocean Grove Sandy recovery’ Category
You can depend on me.
Posted in Ocean Grove events, Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove storm gallery, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography at The Jersey Shore, Photography Superstorm Sandy, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, tagged Ocean Grove after Sandy on May 23, 2021|
Boardwalk restoration–financing the complicated post-Sandy project in Ocean Grove, especially at the North End.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, tagged Ocean Grove Boardwalk repairs on May 5, 2018| 2 Comments »
OG boardwalk near Seaview Avenue, looking south towards the Pavilion. The long unfinished stretch is to be completed by Memorial Day. CMA funded territory. 5/2/18 © Blogfinger. Click to enlarge.
This shows the North End boards where TREX meets non-TREX—FEMA funded territory. Blogfinger photo. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger. Video by Blogfinger.
Regarding the current boardwalk project, we have communicated with the OGCMA and with FEMA, and here is a summary of our findings:
a. You may recall that the massive Sandy storm, in October, 2012, destroyed about 60% of the boards in Ocean Grove, primarily in the “middle beach” section. But damage occurred at the north and south ends as well.
From the OGCMA: “FEMA reimbursed a significant percentage of the cost to repair/replace only those sections of the boardwalk which were significantly damaged by Sandy.”
b. The South End boards were protected somewhat due to a pre-existing metal bulkhead that had been built after a 1992 nor’easter. But the CMA embarked on a reconstruction project near the beach offices and the connection to Bradley Beach.
c. Similarly, there was some damage at the North End, and a new bulkhead was built there after Sandy. The boards at the North End, by the White Whale building, which don’t match the TREX are, according to the CMA, not old boards. “They are newly installed wood, despite being of a different material than the other new portions of the boardwalk.”
North of Seaview Avenue (see photos above,) FEMA estimated and paid $494,650.80 for that work, but the CMA wound up spending $862, 542.13, and they paid for the balance.
d. The Middle Beach project was completed in 2014 with FEMA funds. The engineering and structural challenges were significant, as the CMA strived to rebuild a very strong boardwalk to withstand future storms.
f. From OGCMA: “The current project replacing boardwalk from the southern side of the Boardwalk Pavilion to Seaview Avenue is 100% financed by the OGCMA.” President Michael Badger says, “This replacement effort is not part of the FEMA reimbursement for super-storm Sandy. The demolition of the old section of the boardwalk, debris removal, surface grading, and construction involving structural components, decking, railing, steps, curbing, and other elements are being funded by the OGCMA (‘over $1 million’) without government reimbursement.”
FEMA has verified that this CMA statement is factual.
g. From FEMA: “In total, FEMA awarded $2,174,565.82 in public assistance funding to repair the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association boardwalk. These costs are from the cumulative total of three separate PA project worksheets addressing different areas of repair. Included in this total is $549,612.00 for the north section of the Boardwalk.”
h. At Blogfinger we have been interested in this subject since the storm and we posted many articles, more than any other media outlet, about the FEMA decisions vis a vis reimbursement to rebuild the Boardwalk and about construction and engineering details.
So many people from the OGCMA, State and Federal governments, and Neptune Township, participated in the difficult effort to obtain reimbursement for the Grove as other Jersey Shore communities did.
You can do Blogfinger searches by typing in key words at the upper right hand corner of our home page. The topic is very complicated.
BILLY JOEL “MOVING OUT”
Sandy 5th anniversary exhibit opens in Freehold. Blogfinger photographs of Ocean Grove featured.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove history by Blogfinger, Ocean Grove lifestyles, Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove storm gallery, tagged Monmouth County Historical Association, Sandy 5th anniversary exhibit., Sandy exhibit on November 4, 2017|
Monmouth County Historical Association presents their Sandy exhibit. A lifeguard stand sits outside. Eileen Goldfinger photo for Blogfinger. ©
Photo from the “Tracking Sandy: Monmouth County Remembers exhibit.”
The photograph above is the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright, by Mike McLaughlin. ©
The public is invited to view this Sandy exhibit at the Monmouth County Historical Association at 70 Court Street in Freehold, NJ. They are open from Tuesday through Saturday 10-4 until October, 2018. Parking is easy.
The exhibit is impressive, with slide shows, videos, oral history recordings, scientific explanations, and special displays. About 15 Blogfinger images by Paul Goldfinger were chosen largely because of our work in Ocean Grove. Most were seen in a slide show organized by towns. Another feature used 6 of our photos of volunteers at the OG beachfront. (see below)
One of our images was used large, (see below) depicting a Neptune Comitteeman, Randy Bishop, comforting a resident of Shark River who had to put out most of her first floor furniture and belongings to the curb. The residents were upset in large part because scavengers were showing up to take some of their curbside belongings. We will show some of our Shark River images from November 1, 2012.
This Blogfinger photograph was from the exhibit: Shark River. Committeeman Randy Bishop comforts a victim of the flooding. By Paul Goldfinger © Nov. 1, 2012.
Exhibit features 6 color photos of OG volunteers by Paul Goldfinger © Blogfinger.net
From the exhibit: Volunteers came from near and far. Nov. 3, 2012. Ocean Grove. By Paul Goldfinger Blogfinger.net© Click to enlarge.
CHRIS MARTIN (Coldplay) live from the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief—“Us Against the World”
Seeing the good with the bad. Bob Bowné of OG, professional photographer, was there during Sandy.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove storm gallery, Photograph by Bob Bowné on June 21, 2017|
Bob Bowné October 31, 2012. ©. Ocean front at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Special to Blogfinger.net
Ocean Grove was hit hard during Sandy losing most of our boardwalk and fishing pier. Bob Bowné photographed when Sandy carried away the Fishing Club and he took the most iconic image of that day. (link below)
These oceanfront Victorians took a beating but they survived as they probably did during many storms since the late 19th century. Ocean Grove was relatively lucky. It would be two years before the Boardwalk was partially rebuilt, and it is still not done. But you can’t hurry love:
PHIL COLLINS
Here’s a reminder from 2015 Blogfinger.
And a link to Bob Bowné’s iconic photograph from the day Sandy hit:
Remembering Sandy—a photo essay. 3rd anniversary on October 29, 2015. We will be revisiting that storm through photography. Send us your best shots.
Posted in Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, Ocean Grove storm gallery, October storm in Ocean Grove, tagged Remembering Sandy, Sandy 3rd Anniversary on October 1, 2015|
October 30, 2012. © Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net
“Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain”
GARY ALLAN “Every Storm Runs Out of Rain.”
Didja know? Large parts of our wooden boardwalk survived Sandy.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Hurricane Sandy funding in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Grove, Hurricane Sandy memories, Ocean Grove Sandy recovery, tagged Ocean Grove Boardwalk recovery, Wooden boardwalks in Ocean Grove on June 4, 2015| 5 Comments »
The South End wooden Boardwalk extends from about Heck Avenue to Bradley Beach. Note new flower beds, recently placed as an Eagle scout project. June 4, 2015. Blogfinger photo. ©
Repaired old wooden boardwalk just north of the Pavilion. 6/4/15 Blogfinger photo
For those of you who don’t walk the boards in OG very often, especially since Sandy hit in October 2012 and then since the ribbon cutting in July 2014, you might be surprised to find out that there are significant portions of the old boardwalk still intact to the north and to the south.
Areas of boardwalk that survived Sandy were protected by preexisting rubble and metal bulkheads. At the North End, the original boardwalk remains, with some repairs, extending from the Pavilion north to Sea View Avenue where it meets the asphalt path that extends to the Casino.
Wooden boardwalk meets asphalt at Sea View Avenue. (looking north) Blogfinger photo ©
Those areas of original wood boardwalk did require some repairs, and now they are a monument to history.
Sandy destroyed the Middle Beach area, and the region that had to be rebuilt extended north to the Pavilion and south around the beach offices. It was estimated at the time that 60% of the boardwalk was irretrievably damaged. The first part that was fixed was near the offices and the pier. The North End received a temporary asphalt path.
The severely damaged pier was repaired to a limited extent, and its recovery is enjoyed today, with wooden boards, on a daily basis, although there is no fishing at the OG Non-fishing Pier. Unfortunately, in an act of inconsistency and flip-flopping, FEMA refused to consider the pier as part of our Boardwalk Public Boulevard.
Once FEMA relief was approved and money raised by the Together Fund and by a Neptune bond offering, the new Trex Middle Beach Boardwalk was installed in 2014. It was built after careful attention to engineering challenges. The OG Camp Meeting Association deserves praise for doing the job right, and we must specifically admire the fortitude and resolve of Dale Whilden, Ralph del Campo and Bill Bailey—CMA officials.
Along with the new Trex boards, new cement access walkways, stairs and other related structures were put in place. Sand dune reconstruction was started, and now the new season has begun.
During the Memorial Day weekend, a delighted beach and boardwalk crowd enjoyed the reborn and still evolving Oceanfront.
The North End boardwalk work is on the launching pad, and Neptune Township has provided temporary funding until FEMA writes their check. That work will begin after the summer season when the asphalt trail will be replaced.
Major dune grass planting will be done this year. The CMA is seeking volunteers for that project.
South End island in the sun, adjacent to the Boardwalk, at Broadway. This “triangle” was saved by the Beautification Project after considerable Sandy damage. Ocean Grove beachfront. June 4, 2015. Blogfinger photo. ©
In some ways, the Sandy devastation made Ocean Grove better; and especially we must recall and admire the spirit of volunteers, citizens, contributors, OG organizations, fundraisers, and those politicians in Neptune, Trenton and Washington who helped in the recovery.
It is said that “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” That idea holds true in Ocean Grove.
SHIRLEY MACLAINE: Music by Cy Coleman; words by Dorothy Fields.