People come from beyond NJ to clean city creek

Long Branch —

A cleanup of the Manahassett Creek in North Long Branch was conducted by a group of nine volunteers on Saturday Dec. 8 as a part of a Clean Ocean Action project to help restore the New Jersey/New York areas damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Known as “Waves of Action,” this long term volunteer initiative was formed to help communities and millions of citizens devastated on Oct. 29. Over 40 projects like this one were held simultaneously at various sites from Cape May, New Jersey to Hampton Bays, New York..
Volunteer Anne Louis, of Cedar Grove, NJ, said “My hometown was not really damaged by the storm, so I thought I could make a contribution to help restore another town.” She was joined by her daughter Julia, a high school junior, who used the opportunity fo fullfill her school’s yearly requirement of providing community service hours.
A group of five Glen Rock, NJ Class of 2003 friends banded together to help the cause. Melissa Petersson, of Philadelphia, Rose Anna Monroe of Jersey City, Aja Deodato Kuczma of Hoboken, and Andrea Giese and Becky Beard of New York City all made long trips to volunteer.
“We were all home (Glen Rock) for Thanksgiving and talked about things we could do to help out,” said Petersson. “Some of our friends did a similar project on Staten Island, so after I found the Clean Ocean Action website, we picked out a project. We all wanted to help others and would be interested in future projects as well.”
The group was inspired by 84-year-old Alice Jennings of North Long Branch, who was there to lend a hand and provide some inspirational stories about the area’s history.
Project Director John Knodel of Eatontown came up with the idea of the Manahassett Creek cleanup.
“On the day after the storm, I saw the damage created by flooding along Jeraloman Ave and surrounding streets in North Long Branch. People were hauling out debris and belongings to the curb and pumping out their houses. A huge sycamore tree crashed through the roof of an Atlantic Ave. home. Garbage was everywhere. The creek was clogged up with downed trees and branches.
“This devastation and despair needed help. Our group of wonderful and caring volunteers, along with Clean Ocean Action’s guidance, not only helped the Manahassett Creek area, but touched the lives in many communities within a 100 mile radius. A special thanks goes out to everyone who volunteered at all 40 sites on Dec 8,”

Knodel said.
For more information, visit www.ForTheShore.org. Future recovery days are being planned to provide assistance.