Spring Lake boardwalk . Bob Bowné took a right turn and wound up in Spring Lake. Nov. 21, 2015.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
Spring Lake is an exquisitely beautiful and classy town. There is no comparison to be made with Ocean Grove, but we can perhaps profit from seeing why they are so highly regarded.
For one thing, their governance is all about the residents. There is an active business district, but it is a residential community. The stores attract some tourism, but very little.
The shops are great. They even have April Cornell which was driven out of the Grove by a developer (Sackman) who had no interest in the nature of our town, and no one in the Grove fought for them. Spring Lake eagerly offered that beautiful shop a home.
S.L. does not have a single mega-event to force its people indoors to hide.
Parking is not a problem—ever. And they have found a simple measure to help their downtown: see the sign below—no meters.
3rd Avenue, downtown Spring Lake. Blogfinger.net photo. Nov. 7, 2020. 3 hour parking and then move….
They don’t lock their parks in Spring Lake. It is a welcoming place. In the center of downtown is a lovely park where kids, moms, dogs and others like to meet and greet. Look Ma—-no locks! Blogfinger.net photo 11/7/20.
This is OG’s Fireman’s Park. It is a disgusting disgrace! The barriers should be removed and the lock discarded. “Liberate Our Park!” Blogfinger photo. 11/7/20.
In S.L they love to have art around town. It celebrates beauty and lifts one’s spirits. They have a juried art show every spring. In recent years S.L. has exhibited Seward Johnson’s life-like citizens down town. Blogfinger.net. 11/7/20
Here’s a link to our coverage of the Seward Johnson exhibit there in 2016.
From Bob Bowné to Blogfinger: “I attached a photo I shot in Johnstown PA this weekend….ah…the industrial villages in the US are beat up.”
MAUDE MAGGART. Irving Berlin wrote this song “You Keep Coming Back Like a Song” from the 1946 movie Blue Skies, where it was introduced by Bing Crosby.
On Thanksgiving morning, the Rutherford High School marching band would arrive at Passaic High School stadium for the oldest high school football rivalry in New Jersey. We played the Thunderer for most of our half time shows. I was in the sax section where I kept one eye on the flute players and the other on the fringed Indians—the Passaic cheerleaders. What’s better on Thanksgiving than beautiful girls in leather.
Then, after the inevitable loss on the field, we consoled ourselves with the knowledge that our band was better; then it was back across the river and home for turkey.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger.net. Note: Please read the comments below.
Today a letter was posted in the Coaster (Nov. 22, 2017)from the new President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, Michael Badger. He did not send it to Blogfinger, so I am going by the Coaster version. As you recall, the CMA recently threatened to sue the Township if the permit parking plan was implemented.
But this letter, by Michael Badger, which quarrels with the plan, assumes the details of the plan when it has not yet been shared with the public. His aggressive and totally negative stance, it seems to me, is premature since the Township won’t present the plan until Nov. 27.
At that Township meeting at 6 pm Committeeman Carol Rizzo will present the proposal at a workshop session, however if you want to speak, you have to wait for the public portion, perhaps hours later, although the agenda doesn’t seem very long.
But Badger’s letter is, in of itself, obnoxious because many of its assertions are not based on any data or facts, and the straw men that he brings up are designed to alarm and distract us all.
Below is a point by point discussion by Blogfinger about most of what Badger says in his Coaster letter:
He opens with this message, “The plan will create more problems than existed originally.”
The motives of the CMA, in objecting to the plan, are disingenuous, because Badger never mentions that the CMA is worried about parking for their religious programming which is becoming progressively more active including a year round presence.
“The plan suffers from exclusivity.” He is upset that only OG residents could get a permit. Well, yes—that’s the point of it all.
“Turning away our neighbors is not the solution.” Fake news! No one would be turned away; but they may have to work a bit harder to find parking. And what “neighbors” is he referring to?
He is worried about the “expense.” He thinks that “$60-$90 for the first year, with renewal fees annually is cause for concern.” Is he really worried about the “expense?” So far no one else has even mentioned a price tag.
He is worried because some open permit spaces might sometimes result. He says that this is “inefficiency.” If the plan has been developed by experts, this should be a minimal issue.
He says, “The plan creates an unsustainable burden for the lodging community.” He is referring to hotels. This assertion is based on what? It sounds like fake news.
Policing this service is “a poor use of police time.” Since when is the CMA worried about that? If Neptune passes the plan they can figure how to enforce and finance the program just as they do for everything in Neptune.
A “significant source of the OG parking problem is the result of neighboring municipalities.” He seems to think that talking to Asbury Park will get results. He is clueless. They already have rejected the idea of helping us.
Here are some of the straw men: “The plan will hurt businesses; it will discourage visitors; it will be unsustainable for hotels; it will cost residents money; it will burden law enforcement; it will create more problems than existed originally; and the plan will be “bad for residents.” Yikes!!
And, the ultimate straw man: “The CMA vision is for Ocean Grove to be the seaside community which welcomes all generations. The proposed pilot program clashes with our welcoming vision.” But what about the vision of those who actually live in this town—the real community of Ocean Grove?
And another assertion that flies in the face of reality and gets the summer problem totally wrong: “Residents enjoy the shore 365 days a year. A year round parking restriction seeks to fix a problem which is acute only 10-12 weekends a year. Shouldn’t we share God’s beautiful ocean with others for at least the summer weekends?
BF: “What???”
We have covered what Badger said, including his bringing God into the discussion, but he forgot to notice that the residents/community of Ocean Grove, have a problem that needs fixing and that they deserve some help as well.
He has mentioned all the factions that might be affected by the plan except for those who actually live here, spend the most time here, pay taxes here, keep up our Victorian homes here (which the tourists love) and develop a life style here.
And he doesn’t accept any responsibility on the part of the CMA to do something themselves about parking for religious tourists.
January 25, 2025: This parking permit issue has been going on at least since 2017. This post gives those of you who are still engaged regarding this topic some perspective.
KELLI O’HARA: Original Broadway cast of Nice Work If You Can Get It. “But Not For Me.” A theme song for residents of OG.
On October 29, 2012, Bob Bowné, photographer, was at the Windamer during Sandy. It was from a high balcony on the left where he shot the iconic image which has been seen around the world. Here is a link:
Many of you are familiar with Bob Bowné’s photography, having seen some of his work on Blogfinger. Bob is a very innovative artist who likes vivid colors and fanciful subjects. He will be part of a group show at the Heaven Gallery on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. The show opens on May 10, from 7 pm-10 pm.
The gallery is just west of the Showroom Theatre and is a small venue above an antique shop. Make believe you are in Greenwich Village in the ’60’s or in Paris on the left bank. If you have never been to an art opening, this is a good chance to walk over and experience one. Maybe you will see something to hang in your Ocean Grove home besides the tax man.
In Bob’s photos above we see two women–different types of course, but the one on the left definitely must be distracting Randy from his donuts while the one on the right has her own disarming charm. Which one is Sam singing about?
SAM COOKE. To find the music player, click on comments below. Use the back button to come back.
