grove news
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Ocean Grove US-style OCEAN Grove in New Jersey is among the most gay- and lesbian-friendly municipalities in the USA, according to a new survey from a national pro-gay civil rights organisation. Eight Garden State (New Jersey) locations on the Human Rights Campaign’s second annual Municipal Equality Index scored an average 70 out of 100 points, meaning the state did better than much of the rest of the union. The index rated how inclusive local laws and government policies are toward sexual minorities. Trenton scored 57 points, Asbury Park scored 59 points, Paterson scored 60 points, Lambertville and Newark scored 76 points, New Brunswick and Ocean Grove in Neptune Township scored 77 points and Jersey City scored a perfect 100 points. The index looked at whether the cities had local nondiscrimination laws for employment and contractors, anti-bullying policies, LGBT liaisons on
their police force, gay or lesbian elected officials and whether city officials took public stances on matters of equality. The US example contrasts with St Peterburg in Russia. Melbourne City Council is one step closer to ending its sister city relationship with the city in protest over the Russian city's so-called 'gaypropaganda' laws. A motion by Greens councillor Cathy Oke was passed that will see councillors given a vote on whether to suspend the affiliation. Alternatively, if this vote fails, the council will instead use their influence to put greater pressure on St Petersburg to revoke the legislation. The Russian city's regional laws criminalise lesbianism, bisexualism, and transgenderism publicity. Milan and Venice have cancelled their relationship in objection and now Los Angeles and Melbourne are facing increasing pressure to do the same.
www.oceangrovevoice.com
DESTRUCTION: The boardwalk connecting Ocean Grove, NJ, to Asbury Park after Hurricane Sandy (pictured left) and now today (pictured right).
Tale of destruction and rebuilding
Twelve months ago the Voice’s Alan Barber made his first visit to Ocean Grove in the USA. Just weeks after Hurricane Sandy, our namesake, along with other towns along the Jersey Shore, were still in disarray. Here, he recounts both visits.
WHEN I visited last year, Ocean Grove’s boardwalk was ripped up as if a kid had just thrown a tantrum with a Scalectric set. The pier, which used to house a fisherman’s hut, was reduced to its ironwork skeletal frame. The hut was gone. Twisted buildings lay on their eves and sand was strewn a block back from the seafront. Last month I went back and stayed overnight and got the chance to look at how things had progressed since my last visit – especially being as the Grove had met obstacles to it gaining federal funding for repairs. The inn we had originally intended on staying in was undergoing refurbishments when we arrived but being off season an alternative – the Quaker Inn – was easily available. When I visited last year I was pretty impressed with how festive the main street looked bearing in mind what the area had been through – in particular considering places like Coney, Staten and Long Islands were still suffering blackouts and folk were dispossessed of their homes. This time around I was there for Halloween. No one does Halloween better than the Americans. We were close enough to the end of the summer season to enjoy the sunshine and busy vibe in town. Being a big beach fan (how could you not be living in our town?) I was keen to see what had been done. It was great to see a lot had been done and big sections
of the boardwalk had been repaired. You can walk out on the pier again. Lamposts were now straight, chairs upright and the fluttering flag looked more a decoration than a symbol of defiance. On the morning I woke in the Grove I donned a Relay for Life shirt for a jog around the town. Heading out in the dark but muggy morning, I ran along the beach road called Ocean Avenue and up along Broadway which straddles one of the little rivers that define most of the town boundaries along this way. The town ends less than a kilometre west along Broadway where it meets Main Street, the main highway that is shared by neighbouring towns Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. Suddenly you are out of the comfortable surrounds of Ocean Grove. The Grove is a compact, walled town, otherwise called God’s Square Mile because of its establishment by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. After trotting along Main Street for a section I turned back to run along the outside of the Grove. It is separated from the very different Asbury Park by Wesley Lake. Although Ocean Grove New Jersey is still a ‘dry town’ with the sale of alcohol strictly prohibited, BYO has been allowed in restaurants. The rules used to be stricter with the gates of the town locked at night and cars banned at weekends. Gates still exist on the bridges that connect the Grove and Asbury Park.
As it turned out, the run around Ocean Grove proved a bit short. I didn’t really realise how small it was until I did it. With a marathon to do in less than a week I needed to add on a few more kilometres. Instead of turning back along the Grove beachfront I went left along the Asbury boardwalk. Made famous by former resident Bruce Springsteen, and many others, this town is a more a party animal than its more-conservative neighbour. The boardwalk takes you past the location where president Obama spoke earlier this year, through the old amusement halls – made famous by Mickey Rourke in the Oscar-winning movie The Wrestler and within eyeshot of the legendary Stone Pony music venue – which has hosted stars on the way up such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Blondie and The Stray Cats. More-established performers have included Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren, the Boss and earlier this year our own Xavier Rudd. As I continued along the boardwalk it was good to see all the shops, arcades and ice-cream parlours that had been boarded up last year had been reopened for business again. It felt like an out of season resort but it didn’t feel like the scene of the apocolypse any more. Down on the shore everything’s alright. Or it will be soon.
REBUILDING: The Ocean Grove, NJ, pier after Hurricane Sandy (pictured left) and the way it is today (right).
Alan Barber and Dr Dale Whilden. The town ends at Deal chatted for a while in the Lake where it becomes street before he need to get Allenhurst. At that point back to his patients. I ran inland and back to Another meeting at the Main Street and back south town’s Great Auditorium towards Ocean Grove. revealed further The run was good in that connections to our town. it gave a better impression of There I met David Shotwell the two towns and showed Snr who had been over to how much has been done our town to stay with local since Sandy. CFA volunteer Morrie After breakfast and coffee Barry in the 1990s. In fact at the Barbaric Bean in another Australian Ocean Ocean Grove, I went to Grove firefighter, Matt complete some unfinished Fisher, was in the town a business. few weeks before me. Among the people I So far the town has raised wanted to meet was Dr a heap of money to do Dale Whilden, president repairs itself. The combined of Ocean Grove Camp forces of the Camp Meeting Meeting Association. Association and others who Last year fate ruled that care about their Grove have we wouldn’t meet. While I rallied to help fix the place was in Ocean Grove New up after Sandy. Jersey, Dale and his wife Hopefully next time I Carol were walking into the return to the area even Voice office in the Terrace. more will be achieved. It’s a Very bizarre. beautiful town that deserves In an attempt to rectify some TLC. I love the that, I tracked Dale down. balance between the Grove Dale runs a dental practice and Asbury Park. You get in Main Avenue. After a the opportunity to enjoy a brief wait we finally got to peaceful day on a beautiful coastal town followed by shake hands. Dale gave me a tour of his the lively nightlife of its very smart practice and we northerly neighbour.