
FRANKIE LYMON and the Teenagers. From the film American Graffiti.
Posted in Ocean Grove beachfront, Ocean Grove events, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, tagged Ocean Grove wedding photoshoot on October 3, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography portraits, Photography: girls in summer clothes, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery on June 19, 2019| Leave a Comment »
KATHRYN GRAYSON. Original Cast Album of the movie Kiss Me Kate.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography the other side of Asbury Park, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, Wesley Lake in Ocean Grove, tagged Asbury Park development along Wesley Lake, Citizens for Wesley Lake, WES on November 13, 2016| 3 Comments »
This storm sewer in AP faces Wesley Lake*. On it (see below) the inscription says “Drains to Lake.” Note the existing condos, the condos under construction, and the field waiting for more condos. Blogfinger photo. 11/11/16 © Click to enlarge.
Storm sewer in Asbury Park opposite Wesley Lake. There is a relief of a fish. How ironic! Such drains are found all around that southern AP area including the commercial districts at Cookman Avenue and on Main Street where the sewers say, “Drains to Waterways.” “Waterways” can only mean Wesley Lake—and then to the ocean. Blogfinger photo. 11/11/16 ©
View towards OG from A. Park’s Lake Avenue. Blogfinger photo. 11/11/16 © Click to park your car; or go to Ocean Grove and park for free.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger and Jack Bredin, Reporter and Researcher @Blogfinger’’
Question: What have we learned since Part 1?
Answer: There may be some hope to save Wesley Lake as long as there are dedicated citizens like Patricia (Tee) Lesinski, a member of the Wesley Lake Commission, and Keith Fiori, a Board member of “Friends and Citizens for Wesley Lake.”
But Tee and Keith, along with the other committed volunteers working towards the rehabilitation of the Lake, are in an uphill battle, until fish start making campaign contributions to environmentally interested political candidates.
Or when more concerned citizens start showing up at meetings as suggested by Tee and Keith. The world is run by people who attend meetings and share their concerns on the record. While most of us were at home watching “Dancing With the Stars,” the politicians were “Dancing With the Developers,” and giving away Wesley Lake.
What can be done short of an investigation by the NJ State Attorney General?
Official Neptune Tax Map. The new name of Wesley Lake is “Wesley Detention/Retention Basin.” Click to read the name.
First, we must insist that the Neptune Township Committee explain the Wesley Lake name change as seen on the current Tax Map (above.) That change was made without a formal resolution at the Committee. That new name suggests that the Lake is to become a municipal facility with some sort of mechanism to clean Lake water and deal with the runoff from the OG North End Redevelopment. Or is the name change a hoax or smokescreen to deceive those who would approve the NERP?
The Tax Map is the official map, and all other Municipal, Commission, County, State DEP and Green Acre maps that identify the Lake must be consistent with the Neptune Township Tax Map, or the Committee must change the name back from “Wesley Detention/Retention Basin” to “Wesley Lake”—a name which it has had for nearly 150 years.
Then, as a start, Blogfinger has suggested that the Master Plans and Redevelopment Plans in both Asbury Park and Ocean Grove be revisited and reviewed to address the street-water run-off that flows into Wesley Lake. The dirty-water run-off into the Lake, mostly from AP, is the main source of pollution in the Lake.
In the photograph on top*, you can see a large empty lot where rainwater simply soaks into the ground, not into the Lake. But that property will be developed, and all that water run-off will be added to the flow into the Lake. The southern area of AP is replete with condominiums, high rises, paved parking lots, roads, and curbs which guide water to sewers. This drainage area includes the dense commercial blocks around Cookman Avenue and on Main Street. And the development of AP is still active with new and planned construction which creates additional run-off into the Lake.
Treating the Lake pollution with chemicals and having periodic dredging and cleanups is just “kicking the cans down the road.” If the amount of dirty water keeps running into the Lake in increasing amounts with each new development, then the situation will keep getting worse. And that spotlight will shine on Ocean Grove if the North End plan gets going as currently designed.
Clearly, dealing with the dirty water before it reaches the Lake and restoring the estuary are two significant ways to solve much of the problem and will greatly reduce the need for Lake chemicals, cleanups and dredging. And it will bring back natural life to Wesley Lake and reduce pouring dirty water into the Ocean.
Maybe Ocean Grove could once again have Illumination Night on the Lake along with boating, fishing and other recreational activities which can improve life styles in town and bring back the historic waterway that we had over 100 years ago.
JOHN WILLIAMS and the BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA:
Posted in Ocean Grove events, Photography Nights in Ocean Grove, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography: Jersey Shore Gallery, tagged Ocean Grove emergency on July 22, 2016| Leave a Comment »
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger:
Ocean Grove. 10:45 pm on Thursday night, July 21, 2016. A full moon lit up the downtown. It was a warm and humid night. The quiet was broken by the sound of sirens, as emergency units and personnell roared into town from Ocean Grove and Neptune Township.
A resident of the Wyndrift Apartments at 54 Main Avenue smelled gas and called 911. Firemen arrived and evacuated the building. The tenants sat in front of their building as the firemen milled about. Finally someone suggested that they cross the street. The gas company was on the scene, investigating.
Even though it was a warm night, the tenants clumped together on the sidewalk. They weren’t’ panicky or in any danger, but they seemed to feel safest together. There were adults, children, a baby and some dogs. They were all right, and that was the best news.
The problem was getting solved, some emergency vehicles drove away, and calm prevailed—a welcome feeling for a town that has known some awful fires in recent years.
I spoke to a few firemen. They were chatting softly among themselves. They saw my press pass and my camera, so they answered a few questions, but they were not feeling talkative. However it made no difference; you could see that once again the town was protected by volunteers who are always ready to do their duty.
DON APIAZU and the Havana Casino Orchestra “Amor Sincere” (True Love)
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Activity, Ocean Grove events, Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photographic Gallery: New Jersey, Photographic Gallery: Ocean Grove, Photographs by Blogfinger, Photography at The Jersey Shore, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography: Faces at the Shore, Photography: Ocean Grove portraits, tagged craft show in Ocean Grove, craft show photo gallery in Ocean Grove on June 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Bring your dog to the show—34th Annual Craft Show in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. All photographs by Paul Goldfinger, Blogfinger.net © Click all images to enlarge.
For the second year, Alison and Mark Mitchell, two tenters, were organizing the event. They were buzzing around the venue in their bright green shirts making sure that all was well and that no phony-baloneys were lurking about such as anyone importing Chinese-made stuff.
Alison and Mark were on the scene at 5:30 with the traffic crew, bringing them hot coffee and donuts. Crafters received 30 minutes to unload their displays. We caught up with the dynamic duo at 10:00 am, as they flitted around the show looking to plug leaks, fix cracks and calm nerves.
Alison Mitchell organized the show with husband Mark. This mother of 3 lives in an OG tent and she was totally calm amidst the tumult. Mark has been coming to the Grove all his life, and Alison said that they are doing this volunteer job because they “love the Grove..” ©
Since all of you are familiar with scenes of craft shows on the Pathway, we concentrated on portraits of some of the artists.
This lovely crafter was demonstrating her collapsible hula-hoop. Her technique was poetry-in-motion, to say the least. Blogfinger.net © 6/18/16
The Hofman sisters from Atlantic Highlands were selling “Vintage china with a new purpose.” Nancy, (L to R), Cindy, Penny and Sally. TeaTimeTiers@aol.com.© Eileen bought one for her garden. Blogfinger.net. 6/18/16.
Posted in Ocean Grove Gallery, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography: Ocean Grove Gallery, tagged Klezmonauts on Blogfinger, Ocean Grove bush man on December 11, 2015| 2 Comments »
Posted in Photography by Paul Goldfinger, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, Photography: Ocean Grove portraits, Photos from the Great Auditorium, tagged Ocean Grove portrait, Police Memorial Service in Ocean Grove 2015, West Winsdor Plainsboro choral groups on May 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Photographs by Jean Bredin, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, tagged the Gettysburg Address on Blogfinger by Johnny Cash on May 23, 2015| 3 Comments »
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Music from the movies, Photography Ocean Grove photo news, tagged Harry Nilsson on Blogfinger, Lily and Sly on Blogfinger, Main Avenue news, Surf and skate shop in Ocean Grove, West Chester University of Pennsylvania on April 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Let’s trade: one lawyer for a surf and skate shop at 53 Main Ave. What would you prefer: surf, skate, or testify? Blogfinger photo April 25, 2015. ©
Honor students from West Chester University of Pennsylvania take a break in OG . The jerseys are their “visit Jersey” uniforms. The school was founded in 1871. These kids don’t look that old. Paul Goldfinger photo© Click to make them larger.
HARRY NILSSON: Who can talk faster–a gaggle of West Chester University students or one lawyer? Here is “Everybody’s Talkin'” from Midnight Cowboy.