Ocean Grove Faces Reimbursement Issues With FEMA

From NJ Spotlight: 'While much of the Jersey Shore focuses on rebuilding boardwalks and beachfronts, Ocean Grove's unique status as a private nonprofit may delay or disallow funding'

State Rules Camp Meeting Association Violated Discrimination Laws

Ocean Grove organization in 2007 denied lesbian couple use of boardwalk pavilion for civil union

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated state discrimination laws in 2007 when it denied a same-sex couple’s application to hold a civil union ceremony at its boardwalk pavilion, a state agency said Tuesday. The association broke the state Law Against Discrimination when it refused to allow lesbians Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster to use the pavilion for their civil union ceremony, according to the director of the state Division on Civil Rights, Craig Sashihara. The association discriminated against the couple based on civil union status and sexual orientation, Sashihara concluded in the 16-page report. Sashihara upheld a decision reached in January by a judge with the state Office of Administrative Law. Bernstein and Paster …

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Judge: Ocean Grove Church Violated Law by Preventing Civil Union

Camp Meeting Association blocked same-sex couple from using pavilion in 2007

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated state discrimination laws when it denied a same-sex couple the use of its boardwalk pavilion for a civil union ceremony in 2007, a state administrative law judge ruled this week.  Ocean Grove residents Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Pastor were denied use of the pavilion, routinely rented to other members of the public, because hosting the ceremony would have been a violation of the Methodist group's religious convictions, the association's attorney said. Judge Solomon A. Metzger of the Office of Administrative Law ruled that the association breached its agreement with the state, which granted the pavilion a tax exempt status in exchange for making it available to the public on an equal  and …

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Ocean Grove: Quaint Beach Experience

Beach badges, lifeguard hours

Like most of its neighboring towns Ocean Grove has a boardwalk for people to enjoy the scenery but also brings a quiet peacefulness that sets it apart from the rest. If you are looking for something to do or somewhere to eat, the downtown area is just a few blocks from the boards. 

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History For Sale in Ocean Grove

Antique fans went home with memorabilia at competitive prices at annual Antique and Auction

On Friday, the Ocean Grove Historical Society held it's annual Antique Show and Auction at Youth Temple Auditorium in Ocean Grove to benefit its society. Over 300 bidders attended to bid on one and sometimes several of the 250 plus competitively priced items that were being auctioned off. For over 10 years, the event has been a hit in Ocean Grove featuring fine merchandise and memorabilia, according to Gail Shaffer, president of the Ocean Grove Historical Society. Widely supported by the town of Ocean Grove, donations and volunteers make the event possible. "Many of the items have been donated or are on consignment by people who asked us to auction them off," said Shaffer. Prior to the auction, a pre-auction where items were on display for…

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Camp Meeting Association Celebrates 142 Years

Camp Meeting Week offers spiritual birth, growth and renewal

The Camp Meeting Association in Ocean Grove is in the midst of its 142nd Annual Camp Meeting Week, a time of celebrating the camps anniversary. The 10 day long event began on the Camp Meeting Association’s founders day -- Friday, July 29. The celebration which includes events for spiritual birth, growth and renewal will conclude on Sunday, August 7. Founded in 1869, the Camp Meeting Association has been “God’s Square Mile at the Jersey Shore.” “The founders were from the big cities -- New York City, Philadelphia and Newark. They were looking for a place that people would want to go to get rejuvenated in their place with the Lord, so they set on a journey to establish what they called a Camp Meeting -- a place where they would set up camp, …

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Ocean Grove Lifeguard Tournament

Guards test skills in competition

Local lifeguards once again took to the surf to battle for bragging rights, this time in Ocean Grove. The tournament was held on Monday evening. While the home team made a strong showing, it was a dominant performance by Belmar late in the competition that would prove to be the deciding factor. Boat Paddle In and Out 1. Spring Lake 2. Sea Girt 3. Ocean Grove 4. Monmouth County Parks 5. Belmar 6. Asbury Park 7. Long Branch 8. Bradley Beach   Paddle Pick Up 1. Ocean Grove 2. Belmar 3. Monmouth County Parks 4. Asbury Park 5. Spring Lake 6. Bradley Beach 7. Long Branch 8. Sea Girt   Line Rescue 1. Bradley Beach 2. Long Branch 3. Monmouth County Parks 4. Ocean Grove 5. Asbury Park 6. Sea Girt 7. Spring Lake 8. Belmar   Kayak Relay 1. Belmar 2. …

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Beauty on Display in Ocean Grove Garden Tour

Fourth annual garden tour delights and inspires visitors with colorful summer gardens

Close to 100 garden enthusiasts drove and walked the streets of Ocean Grove July 29 to take part in the Historical Society of Ocean Grove’s Annual Garden Tour for the Angel of Victory Fund. Historical Society of Ocean Grove member MaryLou Strafaci, Ocean Grove, a chairperson for the garden tour, explained the selection process for the tour gardens starts roughly a year in advance. “I really just walk around Ocean Grove and look at gardens, and I walk around and talk to people about their garden.  I’m looking for the unusual.  Some of them aren’t ‘planted’ at all, but are in containers.  Some people call and recommend gardens in town – sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t,” she stated. The fourth annual tour featured 15 private …

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Ocean Grove Biathlon Competitors Face the Heat

Participants had fun as they competed in annual run, swim race

The heat didn't stop the nearly 150 participants who treaded the water and pounded the pavement and boards at the 31st Annual Ocean Grove Biathlon Saturday morning. The run and swim race which was founded 31 years ago is a very competitive race to the bigger runners but is open to anyone, according to event director Tina Duda who has been organizing the event for the past nine years. “It started out with just local Ocean Grovers running it and it has become bigger every year to the outskirts. A lot of the Jersey Shore Running Club people run it every year,” said Duda. Organized and punctual, Duda rounded participants for line up at 9 a.m. on Ocean Avenue in front of the Ocean Pavilion in Ocean Grove. After the National Anthem, the athletes…

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Visitors Get to Take Step Back in Time During Ocean Grove House Tour

Annual tour sponsored by Historical Society of Ocean Grove draws hundreds to town July 15

Several hundred visitors to Ocean Grove got to step back in time July 15 during the Historical Society of Ocean Grove’s house tour.  The 43rd annual tour featured seven private homes, two tents, the Sea Spray Inn, the Great Auditorium, Centennial Cottage, and the Historical Society of Ocean Grove Museum. “We’re very proud of our walking tours,” said Gail Shaffer, president of the 650-member historical society Shaffer.  “It gives people an overview of the history of this very interesting community.” According to her, the houses were recommended to the society for inclusion in the tour.  She also noted the fishing pier, which is private, was open for the tour.  People taking part in the self-guided tour were transported via a vintage trolley…

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