Last night we had an Illumination Night celebration in Ocean Grove at Auditorium Square Park. It was a festive occasion, with live music, food, conversation, and lights all over.
Unlike the 2014 first modern edition, this was larger —attended by about 200 people. The event was sponsored by the Camp Meeting Association and implemented by the Hub management. It had been publicized by a Facebook campaign through the CMA.
It was a pleasant warm evening, and people were sitting about, eating and listening to music, or they were milling about socializing. There were quite a few children present. The theme of illumination was evident, and it seemed like a good time was had by most.
At one point, a sermon was delivered. This had not been advertised as a religious event.
When we helped Debby Cuddhy promote the first modern revival of Illumination Night (8/4/14) we wrote about the history of the event and its potential value as a community tradition of the sort that would offer a cozy get-together among OG neighbors. Deb produced such a happening at the Hub in 2014.
It was hoped that Illumination Night would join other traditional town-wide events that would appeal to everyone who lives here including the Fish and Chips dinner, July 4 parade, People’s Garden Tour, Woman’s Club projects, Auxiliary Bazaar, Town picnic, Ice Cream social, etc. The goal was to strengthen community bonds.
Our 2014 article on the subject spoke about a “festival of lights” and the idea that this would be a secular event to reflect the historic feel of the original 19th century versions, and Deb succeeded with that theme in 2014. Yesterday’s edition seems to have changed that vision somewhat.
From Grover 666: “Some people are morally handicapped: If they don’t have a phony handicapped sticker they reserve their own parking spot by putting an orange cone, a garbage can, or a chair on the street in front of their house.”
Editor’s note: This comment was originally posted in relation to non-handicapped individuals parking in handicapped spaces. But, three years ago, there was a related Blogfinger discussion on this subject as it pertains to holding regular spaces in the Grove. It is especially a problem after a snowstorm.
In our April, 2015 article about the Planning Board’s 2007 decision to recommend designating the North End property as an “area in need of redevelopment,” we mentioned some concerns about the validity of that ruling which would lead to the change in zoning that permitted condos, hotel, underground garage, etc. ( link to that important article:
Since then we have come up with some more information that sheds further doubt on the legality of the resolution.
We ask the question: Did the Planning Board have all the information necessary to make an informed decision when they recommended by resolution, Feb. 28, 2007, that the Township Committee designate the North End “an area in need of redevelopment?”
We believe that critical information was withheld from the Planning Board which may have changed their 2007 decision. Our new evidence suggests that the designation of “area in need of redevelopment ” should never have been recommended.
TIMELINE:
On February 1, 2006, WAVE applied to the New Jersey Secretary of State as an LLC (limited liability company). We believe that the sole purpose of forming that LLC was to develop the North End of Ocean Grove. This application, per se, is beyond reproach, but, and this is a big but, were visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads? Were they planning then on zoning changes at the North End? If so, that would be a problem.
Consider this quote: “In January 2007, Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises (WAVE) and the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association executed a Developers Agreement which set forth the terms by which WAVE and the OGCMA had agreed to proceed with WAVE’s proposal for the development of the site. Among other things, that Developers Agreement provided that WAVE and the OGCMA would serve as Co-redevelopers of the Subject Property.” This information was with-held from the Planning Board.
The 2007 quote above is from a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by WAVE and the OGCMA. It clearly shows that those two developers were planning in January 2007 to go ahead with WAVE’s North End Development Plan before the Planning Board ever took its vote and before the Township Committee adopted the NERP on March 24, 2008.
Note that they refer to themselves as “co-redevelopers.” That term can only mean that they were counting on receiving the special designation “area in need of redevelopment.”
On February 28, 2007, the Neptune Township Planning Board passed a resolution (07-12) recommending that the Township designate the North End “an area in need of redevelopment.”
On June 11, 2007, the Neptune Township Committee passed a resolution designating the North End “an area in need of redevelopment,”
On June 9, 2008, the Township Committee designated WAVE and the OGCMA as Co-Redevelopers.
On April 28, 2015, The OGCMA (the owner of Block (1) agreed to transfer control of Block (1) to WAVE by way of a 99 year master lease renewable in perpetuity.
ANALYSIS:
According to the New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, in the section defining “Determination of Need for Redevelopment,” there is a statement** (see below) that this special designation be made only if the area ” is not likely to be developed through the instrumentality of private capital. ” **
The timeline above clearly shows that the WAVE and OGCMA partnership had discussed and created plans for the North End development. Clearly they were ready, willing and able to take on that project and they were counting on the special designation.
So why did the Planning Board think that private developers could not do the job? If they had known that those private developers could do the project, they should not have approved the designation, but they did not have that information.
It is our belief that the CMA/WAVE partnership did not want anyone to know of their redevelopment plans in order to obtain the special designation which legally should not have been granted to them under NJ law. **
Unfortunately, there was no effective court challenge to the Planning Board/Township decision, and now the NERP is law under the special designation that they should never have been granted.
Who should have challenged the Township Committee’s Resolution designating the North End “an area in need of redevelopment?” The Home Owners Association, of course, but they were busy cheerleading for the Township Committee, who were “in the tank” with the yet to be named developers.
This history suggests a purposeful distortion of the legislative intent.
The Township Committee should rescind the “Redevelopment designation.” The high density zoning for Block (1) would then automatically revert back to single-family houses. The Committee can do that because there is no signed Re-developers Agreement.
After that, the developer would have the option to prepare site plans for single family homes or they could present their present plan to the Board of Adjustment.
This would correct all the mis-steps of the past, and the entire process would not have to start over again with WAVE’S new proposed plan.
** Determination of need for redevelopment (40A:12A-5). New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.
“Land that is owned by the municipality, the county, a local housing authority, redevelopment agency or redevelopment entity, or unimproved vacant land that has remained so for a period of ten years prior to adoption of the resolution, and that by reason of its location, remoteness, lack of means of access to developed sections or portions of the municipality, or topography, or nature of the soil, is not likely to be developed through the instrumentality of private capital.”
Ocean Grove sidewalk in front of a private home on Heck Ave. April 15, 2015. Citizen photographer Penny.
From Penny of OG:
The homeowners in town are responsible for their sidewalks, but many don’t repair them. What is the Township’s responsibility for the safety of its citizens who are at risk from broken sidewalks? Such walkways can be major hazards for pedestrians and even bike riders. Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to falls.
Are Neptune homeowners also responsible for their sidewalks?
Thanks.
Editor’s Note: Can you imagine walking your girl Sue back home one night from the Great Auditorium. It’s dark out and romantic along Heck Ave. A summer breeze enhances the mood, and so you try to steal a little kiss and you get powder all over your vest and in your eyes, and then KABOOM!
We hardly went to the beach this summer, so we said , “Let’s go.” It was a hot day with a strong sun. As we headed for the beach, a person returning, who is a doctor, said, “It’s dangerously hot down there. Be careful.” Since I know something about heat stroke, the doctor scared me. I said to Eileen, “Should we go on or make a U turn?” We decided to be brave and venture on. That turned out to be the best choice.
It was flea market day, and the beach was almost empty at 9:30 am. The badge checker told us that the water temperature was 68 degrees. She seemed to enjoy playing tour guide as she said to a lady who had just complained about the $8.00 charge, “We are having a flea market over there, and you can get fried oysters at the oyster festival. I don’t eat raw oysters.” The lady looked around for the oysters, but the badge checker (oops–I mean step guard) told her that the oysters were in Asbury Park.
It was low tide, so everybody was wading and nobody was swimming. Green flags were flying. It was perfect for taking toddlers for a morning walk in the one inch deep perfectly clear surf. Some people had nets and were trying to catch something by the rocks. When they found something they would form a circle and all of them would examine the discovery.
We set up our gear near the place where the beach drops down vertically due to low tide. Although it was hot, about 90 degrees, there was a pleasant breeze. I positioned the umbrella so we would share the shade. People spread out far from us, giving us a wide view of the ocean. A little while later, a lady with a chair plopped down right in front of us and started reading her book. She had so many spots to choose from. We rolled our eyes, but we didn’t want to move anything else. We wondered about people who are oblivious to their surroundings, but that was the end of that discussion. My diagnosis was passive aggressive or self absorbed. If I were a psychiatrist I would give her medicine.
We took a walk to the pier. “Eileen, stop worrying–no one will steal your stuff. We’re right in front of the lifeguards. Do you see anybody here who looks suspicious? ” She doubted my advice, but we walked on to the half-destroyed non-fishing pier. I wanted to see it from the wrong end.
But there were secret people under the non-fishing pier. It is dark there, and they are shadowy figures. Are they the walking/sitting dead? Who knows what they are up to? Looking west from the east end of the pier, you can see why they don’t allow boardwalkers to go to the end and see the ocean—it is, after all, a better ocean view than from the boardwalk. Right? . Even if you could get out to the end, you couldn’t catch a fish—especially at low tide. And if you caught one, would you eat it? Me? I like to go fishing at Wegmans.
The lifeguards seemed relaxed with most people in the water no higher than their knees. (I mean the waders’ knees, not the lifeguards’). A plane flew overhead with a banner promoting Trex decking. (A little late, perhaps?)
When we left a few hours later, the beach was starting to fill up. I stepped on the Trex boards and, uh oh, my feet were burning. The Trex does get hot on a hot day as some people had predicted pre-new boardwalk—-another reason not to go barefoot. But at least there are no splinters. My new sneakers made obnoxious squeaking noises walking on the Trex. But Eileen’s made no noise. It’s one of life’s great mysteries.
Walking back we encountered many cars searching for parking. The flea market was going strong, and there were porch sales intermittently trying to capitalize on the overflow. Judy on Mt. Hermon Way put out a bunch of furniture from a house up north that she was emptying and she sold all of it. Her secret: low prices and nice presentation. While we were talking to her, a car pulled up, the window rolled down, and the occupant said , “Where can we find a parking space around here?” The question was met with unrestrained laughter by all the people at Judy’s sale. I think the best strategy for the OG parking situation is to buy a parked car.
We finally got home. It was our second round trip to the beach front that day. “That was so nice; I’m glad we went; But it was time to go; Thank goodness for the breeze; Can you believe that bathing suit? Can you walk a little faster; watch out for that car. Boy, it’s good to get home. I need a cold drink. Let’s go again only when it’s cool.”
Wayne ("Ted") Bell (left), Cindy Bell, and Darrell Dufresne. Blogfinger photo.
By Paul Goldfinger
A delicate balance was precariously achieved today at History Day during a presentation sponsored by the Historical Society of Ocean Grove about the Great Auditorium. The three authors of a soon-to-be published book about that extraordinary building discussed a variety of fascinating facts that are not widely known about the GA, but they didn’t want to reveal too much; after all, they need to retain some secrets in order to tantalize those who would buy the book, perhaps in September. The tentative title of the long-awaited book—3 years in the preparation— is “The Great Auditorium: Ocean Grove’s Architectural Treasure.”
Cindy Bell, Darrell Dufresne and Wayne (“Ted”) Bell offered a lecture-slide show in the Community Room, and then Mr. Bell took the group over to the Great Auditorium to check out some of the structural and engineering features that are so interesting and mysterious.
Cindy told us about the fund raising efforts by Rev. Stokes and his associates that went right to the wire as far as paying off the building in time. No deficit spending for those 19th century Methodists. Darrell talked about strange features like the huge wooden pipes underground and the primitive and nonfunctional air conditioning system found under the floor. He shared the secret of how the ceiling light bulbs are changed and he discussed how that massive roof is supported.
Ted Bell conducts walking tour in the Great Auditorium. Photo by Eileen Goldfinger
During Ted’s GA tour, he was able to point out some fascinating facts about the installation of that huge Hope Jones organ (the 3rd largest organ in the northeast after Atlantic City and West Point.) One fact that leaked out has to do with the false impression that the GA is made totally of wood. The truth is that there is a steel framework that maintains the strength and rigidity of the building.
Steel buttresses and posts reinforce the GA to help support the roof. The pipes carry water in case of fire. P Goldfinger photo.
We all hope that Ted and his colleagues complete the book before the CMA decides to build a bigger tabernacle.
Until now, this blog has focused almost exclusively on Ocean Grove, to the exclusion of our big, bad neighbor across the pond. However, Asbury Park’s rebirth has been so astonishing that we can no longer ignore it. We find ourselves drawn irresistibly now to its vibrant boardwalk, its blossoming music and theater, its street life and its almost incomparable restaurant district. We know that many of you also feel this magnetic pull. And soon, Cookman Avenue (the one in Asbury) will provide us with a movie theater, relieving us of the need to drive to far-away Red Bank for high quality, first-run cinema. That will be the cherry on top of the sundae.
The most interesting parts of Asbury are such an easy walk for most of us Grovers that we are starting to think of them as our own turf — North Ocean Grove, if you will. Therefore, Blogfinger’s editors have decided to pay more attention.
The following story is one of many to come dealing with events, issues and places in Asbury that should be of interest to Grovers.
Paul Goldfinger, editor. (Quality of Life Department @Blogfinger)
We had posted a piece called “There’s Always Something” early in June. It was about a Grover who had a dilemma regarding what to do about noisy neighbors. Link to \”There\’s Always Something\” on June 3, 2011 There were 22 comments.
Now we received another comment for that article from a couple who are visiting in the Grove. The writer is using a pseudonym, but her complaint is interesting as we are hearing from the flip side, and her comment would be lost to view if it lands on that June post, so here it is:
“My hubby and I came down to Ocean Grove to visit my sister-in-law and her family. I’d like to say that everyone here is so warm and friendly, but after today I doubt we will ever come back here to visit. My husband is a professional bagpiper who played some wonderful sets late this morning out in a public park well away from everyone. While nearly everyone who passed by thoroughly enjoyed his music, there was one person who didn’t care for bagpipes and complained. Our two little dogs barked at 7:30 a.m. to go outside. A cranky old man across the way was very nasty to us complaining about the noise. I did apologize but feel very offended because we both are over 50, are not loud obnoxious people one bit, yet we’ve been treated like the “Snookie” crew.
These folks need to know when and where a REAL noise complaint should be made. We’ve been listening to organ music all day long since we arrived and that doesn’t seem to be a nuisance to anyone. I feel sorry for old crabby intolerant people who need something to complain about.”
Please join us for a showing of God’s Square Mile. It is a documentary film about Ocean Grove and how both sides view the controversy of the Camp Meeting Association’s denial of our application to use the boardwalk pavilion for our civil union ceremony. Luisa and I are featured throughout the film. Rachel Julkowski is a wonderful young woman who produced this very fine film. Please log on to the web site below to order tickets.
Harriet
(Ms. Harriet Bernstein is a resident of Ocean Grove)
“God’s Square Mile” tells the candid story of a town unwilling to compromise its beliefs in love, faith, or community. From the undeveloped sand dunes, scrub oak, and sea of the 1869 Jersey Shore to present day Ocean Grove, New Jersey’s billowing American flags and prohibition against the sale of alcohol, this film examines Ocean Grove’s work in cultivating a precarious balance between preserving its Christian heritage and embracing diversity. CAST: Harriet Bernstein, Luisa Paster, Reverend Dr. Richard Twidle, Reverend Scott Hoffman, Joseph Krimko, and Wayne T. Bell.
TRAILER:
Editor’s Note: The Garden State Film Festival will occur the first weekend in April. This film will probably be controversial and of great interest to Ocean Grovers.
“God’s Square Mile” is 35 minutes long and will be featured on April 2, along with several other films. Already it sounds much more stimulating than “Greta.” The word on the street is that it is a “tribute to the community of Ocean Grove.” We are hopeful.
Blogfinger will review this documentary, and Grovers who see the film will be able to comment on the blog. Thanks to Harriet for alerting us to this important event.
