Dedication cermony held at Long Branch’s Seaview Avenue Bridge for Sharmaine Patterson and Julia Wheeler

Long Branch, NJ – It was a long overdue battle, but with the help of the Concerned Citizens of Long Branch, two deserving community members were recognized.

Sharmaine Patterson and Julia Wheeler honored

On Saturday, October 8, a dedication ceremony was held at Seaview Avenue bridge to honor Sharmaine Patterson and Julia Wheeler for their contributions to the Long Branch community.

The pair, who chaired the grass roots organization, helped trail blaze the remediation of the gas plant site and Troutman’s creek, insuring the health and safety of the community.

Concerned Citizens was organized in 2002 after health issues were raised during the remediation of contamination in Long Branch’s soil and creeks. The neighborhood was centered on Long Branch, Seaview and Grant avenues.

Toxins were left behind by the Long Branch Manufactured Gas Plant that operated from the 1870s into the 1960s.

The group was instrumental in ensuring many of the past and current residents affected were monetarily compensated.

Wheeler passed away at age 77 in 2010. Patterson passed away in 2002 at age 52.

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