City street ceremoniously named after TV personality
Reveal of Wendy Williams Way will air on Friday's show
The Central Avenue street sign at the corner of Third Avenue in Asbury Park has been replaced.
A production crew from The Wendy Williams Show filmed a segment for Williams’ upcoming 50th birthday episode that unveiled a new street sign that reads “Wendy Williams Way.”
Williams, a TV personality and talk show host, grew up on Central Avenue in the city before she later moved to Ocean Township with her family.
One of the show’s producers, Dan Fitzpatrick, said he and other crew members were in talks with the city to have the street ceremoniously renamed as a gift for William’s 50th birthday.
Dozens of people crowded around the sign, shrouded in a purple cloth, and Asbury Park Mayor Myra Campbell announced, “On behalf of the City of Asbury Park, we would like to present Wendy Williams Way,” as the cloth was taken off.
Asbury Park firefighters were on the scene with city engines serving as the scene’s backdrop.
Residents, members of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, city officials and city administrators lined up to get in the frame.
Councilwoman Sue Henderson, who attended the same high school as Williams, said she is a great role model and Asbury Park success story.
“I think that is important to the community,” she said.
Director of Economic Development Tom Gilmour saw the filming as the city’s chance to get some national airtime.
“We’ll be on the national tube — and you can’t buy that kind of stuff,” said Gilmour.
Williams was not in attendance at the filming, which will be revealed to her during the 50th birthday extravaganza episode that airs Friday on New York’s Channel 9 at 4 p.m.
“I think she is going to cry her eyes out,” Fitzpatrick said, in regard to William’s reaction to the surprise taping and ceremonious renaming of the street in Asbury Park she grew up on.
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