Say “fromage.” August, 2014. Blogfinger on assignment at Le Bernardin.
Last November, the Oxford English Dictionary named “selfie” the “word of the year.” Most people take selfies to post on Facebook. In 2012, we were in a Vietnamese restaurant in Tampa when in walked Emeril Lagasse and a small retinue . Two young women sitting at a table with their husbands jumped up and intercepted him, gave him hugs, and insisted that he pose with them for selfies. He then moved on to the bar while the ladies sat down to immediately post the photos on Facebook. I thought it would be crass to take a photo of him, so I did not.
That’s my selfie story from Florida. But would this photo of me in a NY restaurant be considered a selfie? See the comments for the winning answer, one that does not involve smoke or mirrors.
The entrance to Ocean Grove at the intersection of Rt 71 and Main Avenue. The first impression. Blogfinger photo. May 16, 2014. Click on the image to get a good look.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Do you know of any town that people commonly call “beautiful” which has an entrance like this one that looks like the on-ramp for a route 1-9 truck route? Can you imagine Spring Lake allowing the use of their town’s entrance as a bill board jungle?
Our schlocky entrance at Main Avenue is in stark contrast to our Broadway entrance, which looks great.
This crummy-looking area contains a billboard for a baseball game in June; the pink-o-rama “paint the town pink” and renaming our town “Pink Grove” banners and bows which are a triumph of symbolism over substance; an ad for Meridian; an ugly olive banner that champions a politically-correct art event for women only; and the “arts center” signs that promote everything from A to Z. And the backdrop is the lovely backside of old Neptune High, the former home of the Scarlet Fliers whose current beautiful campus on Neptune Boulevard is devoid of public advertising. Finally, in the right lower corner is something that looks like a giant gray tombstone. (Will we have a cemetery there next?)
You won’t find anything like this in front of the Municipal Building (or at its rear end either) or at the Marina area at Shark River ; and let’s be sure to check the entrances to other residential areas in Neptune Township to see if the town fathers and mother permitted similar commercialization there.
This ugliness is the first impression that visitors to our town see. It’s not good for morale or property values in Ocean Grove. It sends a message that suggests a certain bleakness in the Grove which belies the truth of our town.
Why isn’t the Homeowners Association making a fuss about this? One of their main goals is to promote our property values. They are not dependable as promoters of our town. It’s fine to worry about derelict houses, but how about the derelict entrance to OG?
I suggest that we all write, call, or email our committeemen and tell them to do something about the transformation of our entrance way into a commercial advertising district instead of something a historic town on the National Register can be proud of.
If you go to the township web site Township web site you will find “contact us” and then you will find the township directory which has the Neptune municipal government phone extensions. If you click on the blue name of anyone there, you will get their email address and a ready-made email form suitable for mailing with no postage necessary.
The phone number is 732 988 5200. The address for regular mail or for visiting is 25 Neptune Boulevard.
email addresses of the Neptune Township Committee:
drmbrantley@neptunetownship.org (Dr Brantley is the mayor)
“Here’s a funny sight — does this homeowner really think we would be fooled into thinking that this is a driveway, not a curb? “ By Carol Livingstone of OG. Jan 23, 2014
ANNIE SIEGEL from her album Back in Blue: “Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid.”
The New York Times complimented the song, as well as the album’s title track, for recognizing “some nonstorybook sides of romance”, and further praised “True Love” for being “bouncy” and upbeat.[13] The song was nominated for a 2013 Teen Choice Award.
March 9, 2013. During wind storm, a temporary dune was breached between Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach. By Ted Aanensen–BF photo staff.
Bob Dylan: We recently posted this Dylan song as recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, but here is the Dylan version. It is an anthem of its time, and his spin feels much different that PP&M’s rendition:
Warsaw, Poland. Date uncertain. ? 1946. Photographer unknown.
By Paul Goldfinger
I picked up this photograph at a flea market a few years ago. There were pieces of paper stuck to the back, but some Polish writing was visible. My initial suspicion was that someone was murdered on the streets of Warsaw during or after World War II. I had read Jan Gross’s book called “Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland After Auschwitz.” That book documented attacks on Jews and others who tried to return to their homes in Poland after the war had ended. There also were deaths as Poles fought against the new Communist government, so not all the violence was based on anti-Semitism. Another issue was the high crime rate during that period. Poland was unstable after the war. They lost more of their citizens than any other country in Europe during WWII.
In studying the photograph, I was struck by the fresh grave that appeared to have been dug on a city street. A large cross had been placed in the dirt. There was no date. The clothes suggested the 1940’s, or maybe the 1930’s. Years later I was able to expose more of the writing and had it translated.
The location was Dabrowskiego Square in central Warsaw. The Polish person who looked at the image commented that you wouldn’t expect to find a grave in that location.
If any of you history buffs out there have an idea, please let us know. There is a story to be told about this picture.
If an American flag becomes worn, torn or faded, it should be disposed of properly. You can take it to a VFW post, an American Legion post, or a government office. Sometimes the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts will have collections. You can also take the flag to Kempton Flag Company at 2800 Ridgewood Road on Rt. 34 in Wall Township. Their number is 732 449 0880. They also sell new flags and all the accessories there.
It is permitted to wash a flag gently using mild soap and water. Some dry cleaners will clean your flag for free, especially in July. You also are allowed to repair a flag.
The traditional way to destroy a flag is to burn it. Usually the blue field is cut out, leaving two pieces of cloth — i.e., it is no longer a flag. If that is not done, it should be folded, ideally into a traditional triangle. Then it can be burned to ashes which are then buried.
— Paul Goldfinger
MUSICAL TRIBUTE: Sousa’s Semper Fidelis (always loyal) by the US Marine Band.
