& Pompton Plains
IT’S ALWAYS ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT GRASSHOPPER TOO A COACH’S LEGACY RUTH KELLETT HERE COMES THE SUN REFLECTIONS FROM NURSE SANDY TAYLOR
BikesHankby Henry Struble
March into Spring
You’re in for a treat if you love pierogies as much as I do! Stefan’s Pierogi Kitchen features homemade polish food and pierogies right here in town. Be sure to check them out—the perfect comfort food as we finish up the last bits of winter. I am especially excited to share this month’s cover story featuring Hank Struble Jr., Citizen of the Year, also known for his Bikes by Hank business. What perfect timing to celebrate him, as he recently also received the prestigious Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year award. Read on to learn more about this amazing young man and how it all started.
We also celebrate and honor the life of Ruth Kellett, a beloved coach and teacher for many years who was loved by so many. We share the amazing dedication of the PTHS gym in her loving memory.
It’s hard to believe that we are five years post-COVID-19. As a community, so many of us rallied together to support one another. We are blessed to hear the story of local resident Sandy Taylor, one of many special nurses at Chilton Medical Center who took care of us.
It’s the perfect time of year to check out Grasshopper Too, where it’s always hopping and Irish fare is served year-round. Mark your calendar now and be sure to stop in for their St. Patrick’s Day festivities and delicious food.
We are delighted to feature our newest business here in town, the Back Nine—the perfect indoor spot to improve your swing, work with a pro and get ready for the upcoming spring season on the links.
Lastly, be sure to enjoy this month’s Photo Op featuring spectacular crocus, one of my favorite first signs of spring, beautifully captured by Maureen Brain.
I’m excited for spring and all that is coming in our future issues. Be sure to reach out with your stories, photos and ideas @pequannockmagazine. com. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @pequannockmagazine to stay in the know. We are a magazine for and about you.
Donna Fillweber Publisher
Pequannock & Pompton Plains MAGAZINE
Editor & Publisher
Donna Fillweber
Writers
Donna Del Moro
Antonietta Henry
Dan Piccoli
Dana Regan
Mary Shumeyko
Photographers
Antonietta Henry
Dan Piccoli
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman
Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
VP, Group Publisher, Regional
Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy
Maria Regan
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Art Director
Rosemary O’Connell
Executive Editor
Richard Laliberte
Associate Editor
Sophia Carlisle
Advertising Services Director
Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer
Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager
Fern Meshulam
Advertising Production Associate
Griff Dowden
Pequannock & Pompton Plains Magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pequannock Township, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2025 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAN PICCOLI
Around Town
CELEBRATE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Have fun saluting all the things we love about the Pequannock Township Public Library at these events tied to National Library Week (April 7 to 13).
Library Fest
Come to the library’s first-ever Library Fest! Meet local authors, browse local vendors, listen to some great music and spend the day with our library team. The event will feature crafts, games, prizes and more!
Saturday, April 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This event is being held rain or shine.
An Evening with a Rockette
Join the library for an evening with Sandy Lachenauer, an inspiration for 2023 novel “The Spectacular” by Fiona Davis. The novel is a gripping historical drama set in Radio City Music Hall.
Lachenauer was a Rockette from to 1963 and shared insider information about Radio City with Davis. Hosted members of the Pequannock Library Book Club, the evening with Lachenauer offers an opportunity to learn more about her experiences and contributions to the novel.
Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
Join us and members of the Pequannock Library Book Club for an evening with Sandy to learn more about her past as a Rockette and her contribution to this amazing
Register online at pequannocklibrary.org
SANDY LACHENAUER SANDY LACHENAUER
Sandy is noted as the inspiration for the by Fiona Davis. is a gripping historical drama set in one of NYC’s glittering landmarks, Radio City Music Hall. In 2021, Lachenauer contacted Davis through her website suggesting the location and sharing information about the glamorous location that only a former Rockette would know! Lachenauer was a Rockette from 1959-1963.
novel!
PEQUANNOCK LIBRARY BOOK CLUB PRESENTS
FEATURING
HELP REVIVE OUR RIVERBANKS
Attention Pequannock residents: Mayor John Driesse and the Pequannock Environmental Commission invite you to to volunteer for the annual cleanup of the community’s streams and riverbanks that—due to periodic high water levels—have accumulated litter and debris.
Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., conditions permitting
Please donate as much time as you can. No need to commit to the entire four hours—whatever time you can give will help!
Please report to the Senior House adjacent to Town Hall, at 9 a.m. (until noon).
Volunteers will be deployed to designated cleanup areas.
Parking will be available at the cleanup areas.
Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a supervising adult. Wear proper attire for working in overgrown, wooded areas. A limited supply of gloves is available; please try to bring your own. Garbage bags will be provided.
To sign up to be a volunteer, visit the municipal building Parks and Recreation office; call 973-835-5700, ext. 145; or e-mail ptec@peqtwp.org or rsteinthal@peqtwp.org.
Pre-registration is not required but will help with logistics. Spend a few hours helping to beautify our community. Volunteer today!
Pierogi Passion
Stefan’s Pierogi Kitchen offers old-world Polish specialties made using traditional recipes and fresh ingredients.
BY MARY SHUMEYKO
Stepping into Stefan’s Pierogi Kitchen is like taking a walk in Poland’s favorite food scene. With simple ingredients and traditional recipes, Stefan’s recreates dishes from the old country and prepares them fresh every week.
Owners Mario and Lisa Bochna use locally sourced produce, usually obtained from farmers markets where they also participate. Loyal to his Polish heritage, Mario follows steps that his parents,
Jawiga and Stefan, taught him when he first came to the U.S. Back in Poland, Jawiga cooked and Stefan prepared meats.
In 1982, Mario and Lisa opened their first shop in Botany Village, a section of Clifton that had a large Polish population. Soon after, they began selling products at farmers markets a s well. Ten years ago, Pequannock was fortunate to have them open their kitchen here in town.
Left: Co-owner Mario Bochna with some favorites. Right: Co-owner Lisa Bochna with fresh products ready for sale.
Homemade and Authentic
Stefan’s Pierogi Kitchen is a hidden gem in the center of Pompton Plains. Open only one day each week, it offers authentic, homemade Polish food, including—and especially—its many flavors of pierogi.
Other favorites include stuffed cabbage, smoked meats, Polish soups, farmers market salads, sauerkraut and condiments such as the establishment’s original wholegrain mustard.
Prepared buttered onions are available, offering a time-saving step when serving pierogi at home. Many dishes include Stefan’s Pure Blends, a natural all-purpose seasoning mix that’s also for sale.
Preparation, cooking and packaging are all done in the couple’s storefront facility and stored for fresh sales.
Popular items at the shop include (right) stuffed cabbage along with various types of pierogi.
LOCAL TASTES
A Moveable Feast
In addition to its once-a-week open hours, the movable kitchen can be found on weekends at farmers markets in Denville, Montclair, Summit and West Windsor.
Lisa and Mario return to Poland in January and February for family time and traditional inspiration. But, as Lisa promises, “It’s a local business. We stay in touch with our customers and always answer our texts and phone calls.”
Indeed, while we chatted, a customer came in and proclaimed, “This is the most important store in the world!”
So plan ahead for when this delightful place has open hours. Follow Stefan’s Pierogi Kitchen on Facebook or Instagram, and enjoy authentic food from the old country. Smacznego!
Mary Shumeyko is a retired Pequannock teacher who helps at her church and the Pequannock Library. Traveling, running, reading and spending time with family fill her free time.
Kielbasa is available in many varieties. Pierogi flavors include classic cheese, farmers cheese, mushroom, meat, sauerkraut, blueberry and strawberry.
Hometown Hero
Fixing and reselling used bikes led Henry Struble to found Bikes by Hank—and fund a range of charities.
When Henry “Hank” Struble was just a boy in 2018, his grandfather spotted a Mongoose mountain bike being thrown away and brought it over for Henry to tinker with. Tinkering and fixing things was something Henry learned from his dad, and together they repaired the bike.
This flagship bike launched a charity that blossomed into something that none of the Strubles could ever have imagined.
After fixing up that first bike, Henry was able to sell it. He came to realize that this was a great way to make money. “I began learning how to fix bikes with my dad, [who had been a mechanic in high school], Henry says. “We would
BY ANTONIETTA HENRY
also look up tutorials online.”
“A lot of the learning came from basic trial and error,” adds dad Gary.
Henry, Gary and Henry’s mom, Pam, began searching for old, inexpensive bikes to buy and repair for resale, and a business started to grow.
One day, they received a bike donation. “The first donation was a Powerlite chrome BMX,” says Henry. It was then that he decided he wanted to start giving back. He sold the bike and donated the $100 profit to the Wounded Warrior Project on Memorial Day in 2018.
This started a bigger following online for the Bikes by Hank Facebook page. Henry even appeared on Channel 7 news
for a “Be Kind” segment that highlighted Bikes by Hank.
Henry set a goal to have a sale every month of the summer. People started to drop off bikes at the family home for him to fix and sell.
“We would come home and find a bike out front, and this would happen often,” says Pam with a chuckle. Regular front-yard sales events became so popular that locals would line up at the home before starting time.
Sales could average 30 bikes, and sometimes as many as 50! Business continued to grow, as did profits.
“Henry realized he didn’t need so much money at his young age,” says Pam. In turn, Henry continued to give back.
Henry Struble (opposite page) puts finishing touches on bicycles for one of his periodic community bike sales. A familiar sight (above) on the Struble property: Dozens of bicycles are arrayed for sales that benefit a wide variety of charities.
A Wide Impact
Over the years, Bikes by Hank has donated over $25,000 to various charities, including the Wounded Warrior Project, Wayne Animal Shelter, Homeless Solutions, Pequannock Fire Departments 1 and 2, Pequannock Boys and Girls Club, Chilton Hospital, Pequannock First Responders, Pequannock Food Pantry, Samaritan’s Purse, New City Kids in Paterson, a local boy recovering from a brain injury, Paws Crossed Animal Shelter, Newbridge Services, St. Jude, Ocean Conservancy, Love for Luca, the Russo Family, Holy Spirit School, Pequannock Library, a Hackettstown high school senior, Mission of Hope OLGC, Bikes to Ghana, the Robertson family of Pequannock and local chapters of the American Legion and VFW. (Both veterans organizations have been very supportive of Henry, says the family.)
“It’s been wonderful to see the effect that generosity has had on Henry, the community and us as a family,” says Gary.
“I never imagined when Henry fixed and sold his first bike back in 2018 that he would still be doing this in 2025, or all that it has done for him,” Pam adds. “He has learned so many life lessons from this—how to communicate, how to meet a deadline, how to persevere and, of course, the importance and value of giving back to the community.”
In addition to running his own charity, Henry volunteers with Night to Shine, the celebrations that honor and value people with special needs.
Henry would like to give a shoutout to Bicycle Tech in Lincoln Park. “The shop has supported the charity so much,” he says.
“In the last six years, [shop proprietors] have donated trade-in
bikes and parts, and have offered sound advice to Henry,” says Gary.
Accolades and Thanks
Although Henry doesn’t run his operation for the accolades, he certainly has accrued special recognition over the years.
In 2023, he was awarded the Service above Self award from the Pequannock UNICO group. He was the inaugural 2024 Jr. Citizen of the Year for Pequannock Township and was honored in the annual Memorial Day parade. Henry was also chosen to light the tree at the Pequannock 2024 tree lighting and was named one of Mikie Sherill’s NJ-11’s 2024 Holiday Heroes.
The most recent honor came in January, when Henry was named the Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year. One of seven finalists from 114 high schools, Henry was given the
Henry Struble displays a throwback photo of himself on a bike as a child.
award at MetLife Stadium on January 7 for the Super Football Conference’s annual community service award. In addition to scholarship money and a personalized jersey, Henry was awarded two tickets to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, which he planned to attend with his dad.
Henry credits Pequannock councilman David Kohle for support leading up to this award. “Mr. Kohle has always been a big supporter of Bikes by Hank,” Henry says. “He has been there since one of my first sales.”
Gary describes the award experience as inspiring. “The Jets organization does a great job; we were able to hear stories of what other finalists were doing—all amazing things,” he says. “You see the good that happens when people give back.”
“This has been such an integral part of who Henry is for so long,” says Pam. “Everyone says we raised him right, but we can’t take the credit; he has so much of this in himself.”
The family loves that some bikes have been through the process more than once. They have seen bikes repaired and sold, then come back after those children outgrew them, only to be repaired and sold again, multiplying charitable donations from the same bike.
Preparing for the Future
In addition to his work with Bikes by Hank, Henry is an athlete. A center/defensive lineman for the Pequannock Township High School football team, he also specializes in discus and shot put in track and field. He plans to pursue track-and-field goals in college as he works toward a career in engineering or construction management.
As Henry gets ready to move on to the next stage in life, he would like to see his charity continue. The family is hopeful another will follow in the footsteps of Bikes by Hank, as it’s been such a rewarding experience.
In his free time, Henry enjoys working
out and training for sports, hanging out with friends, helping his dad work on their old trucks and rooting for his favorite football team, the Lions. He enjoys spending time with his parents and older twin sisters, Josie and Brooke. Two of his biggest fans are his dogs, Maisie and Auggie. Henry is grateful for all of the encouragement. “I just want to thank the people of Pequannock for making Bikes by Hank possible,” he says. “The sheer amount of support I’ve received and money I’ve been able to raise is nothing short of incredible, and all of it can be attributed to this community. It is the heart and soul of Bikes by Hank, and I hope that the culture of generosity and kindness only continues to grow as I go off to college. Thank you, Pequannock, for a remarkable six years.”
Antonietta Henry is a wife, mother of four and owner of Antonietta Henry Photography in Pompton Plains. She enjoys living and working in our beautiful township!
Henry enjoys time with his loving dogs. Maisie kisses his face while Auggie goes in for a snuggle.
True Irish
Grasshopper Too Irish Pub & Restaurant draws on deep roots in the Fitzpatrick family—and in the Emerald Isle.
BY DAN PICCOLI
Grasshopper Too Irish Pub & Restaurant, located in Wayne, has been a beloved local institution since 1988. Owned and operated by Tom Fitzpatrick and his family, the pub offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere with a mix of traditional Irish dishes and classic American favorites.
The story behind the Grasshopper’s success is deeply rooted in the Fitzpatrick family’s journey, starting with Tom’s parents, Eddie and Josephine, who immigrated from Ireland in the 1950s.
They first settled down in the Bronx and, in the mid‘70s, entered the restaurant business, first with a bar in the Bronx and later with a restaurant in Manhattan.
After many successful years in the United States, the family decided to move back to Ireland. So, in 1977, the parents packed up their five children—three boys
and two girls—to take on a life of local farming.
After six years in Ireland, they returned to the U.S., where the family resettled in New Jersey, in Cedar Grove. That is when Eddie decided to get back into the restaurant business, with one condition: that family members commit to helping out with the business.
The family agreed.
And so it began: The first Grasshopper restaurant was founded in Cedar Grove. After expanding to Wayne, the family continued to grow their restaurant footprint with additional locations in Morristown and Newfoundland/ West Milford.
What started as a small family business has become a staple in several communities, with the Wayne location celebrating its 37th year in 2025.
Grasshopper Too proprietor Tom Fitzpatrick ready to enjoy a pint of Guinness. Inset: Parents Josephine and Eddie Fitzpatrick first immigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s.
Located in the Mountain View section of Wayne, Grasshopper Too marks 37 consecutive years at this location, convenient from Routes 23, 46, 80 and 202, with plenty of parking.
Grasshopper Too seats up to 30 customers at the bar and 100 in the dining room, and is often packed with regulars and newcomers enjoying its atmosphere, food and libations.
The
Always Hopping
The name of the restaurant originated with a pub in Ireland, aptly named the Grasshopper. Eddie thought it was a catchy and clever name; he would say, “It’s always hopping at the Grasshopper,” and the rest is history.
Maintaining the siblings’ ongoing commitment to their dad and mom, all operations are owned and managed by a Fitzpatrick.
Tom and his wife, Patricia, and their children, Tommy and Bridgett, live in Wayne, where Tommy enjoys being a bartender at Grasshopper Too, adding to
the multigenerational involvement.
What makes Tom most proud of what they have created is how the customers have become part of the Fitzpatrick extended family.
“Being a part of the community for 37 years, we have built a wonderful clientele, with many regular customers,” Tom says. “We are proud of the friendly, Ireland-pub-like feel you get when you are here. Everyone is welcoming and knows one another. It is special to be a part of the experience.”
Tom goes on to share a heartfelt episode. “When our dad passed away in 2020, the outpouring of support was beyond imaginable,” he says. “So many folks who
knew our dad and had been a part of the Grasshopper family showed up to pay their respects. It speaks volumes to the impact our dad made not only in the community but also in towns where we have Grasshopper establishments. It was a real testament to our dad.”
The pub also stands out for its lively atmosphere and regular events, including live music, DJs, trivia, bingo, karaoke and sporting events broadcast from its 24 HD televisions.
Not surprisingly, St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal at an Irish pub. The staff of 20-plus, including Nicole Siwek, tenured floor manager, and Tom’s Aunt Rita are on hand
Traditional Irish foods at Grasshopper Too include (clockwise from bottom) corned beef and cabbage; shepherd’s pie; fish and chips; and bangers and mash.
The restaurant’s emblematic grasshopper with a classic pint of Guinness.
to support the large crowds, with live Irish music, sing-alongs and classic Irish dishes.
Celebrating St. Patrick
The events are rooted in history. Celebrated annually on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day marks the anniversary of the saint’s death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.
On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance,
drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is a globally celebrated day on which we enjoy the Irish celebration.
Looking ahead, Grasshopper Too is planning an expansion, adding a Floridastyle sunroom to enhance the restaurant’s space and atmosphere further. Tom’s dedication to quality food and community involvement remains at the core of the pub and restaurant’s success.
If you visit, you might hear Tom called Jethro, Tom’s nickname. The story goes that one day when Tom first started working at Grasshopper in the kitchen, the bar and
restaurant were packed and staff was short, so they needed help out front. Tom was asked to tend bar.
Not prepared for front-end service, Tom was in his flannel shirt, jeans and sneakers, prompting a regular patron to say, “Boy, you look just like Jethro,” a well-known hillbilly character—and the name stuck.
“We offer quality products, where everything is made on premises, at a reasonable price,” Tom summarizes. “Once you come in, you will always come back.”
Dan Piccoli is a regular contributor to Pequannock & Pompton Plains magazine and is the owner of 4 Shore Photography LLC.
Members of the Grasshopper Too team include (from left) John Connelly, Alberto Perez, Tom Fitzpatrick and Pablo Hernandez.
The Grasshopper Too menu offers more than Irish food, including favorites such as (clockwise from bottom left, with accompanying sides) surf and turf; Cobb salad with blackened shrimp; penne a la vodka; and grilled shrimp and ribeye steak.
Honoring Ruth Kellett
A beloved coach’s legacy lives on in the newly named gymnasium at Pequannock Township High School.
The last picture taken of Ruth Kellett speaks volumes about her love of sports, particularly golf.
She putts alone on the green at Sunset Golf Course, where she spent many hours coaching students and, more informally, playing with A League of Our Own, a group of women who have been golfing together for 20-plus years. Just a couple of days later, in September 2022, Kellett died after a fall near
BY DONNA DEL MORO
her home on Mountain Avenue. While most people may remember Kellett as a pioneering coach, teacher and athletic director for Pequannock schools, they may be unaware that her legacy continued for many years after retirement right up until that final day on the links.
At a dedication ceremony in December, many former students, family members, colleagues and
fellow golfers listened as the district’s administrators named the high school gymnasium after Kellett. They called her a trailblazer for women’s sports who not only honorably achieved many firsts— including first woman to coach a boys basketball team and one of the first female athletic directors in the state—but also became a champion for equality in sports.
Leading by Example
“It’s no small matter to name a facility in honor of an individual,” said Michael Portas, superintendent of schools, before a packed gymnasium at the ceremony. “This recognition is fitting, as Coach Kellett was no small person.” Kellett broke barriers and modeled courage and determination for the entire community, Portas said.
“As a young teacher, I was looking for role models who took pride in the blue and gold, loved their job and showed it,” said Principal Richard Hayzler. “Ruth was one of those people.”
Kellett’s husband, Dave, said that Ruth’s long-standing involvement with local,
county and state sports has impacted many people, male and female alike. He remembered Ruth’s philosophy on life: “Dive in. Work as hard as you can; love and enjoy what you are doing; have fun—and win.” Kellett added that he and his wife loved playing sports and that their marriage was strengthened by it.
“Many people have benefited from her bravery,” Dave Kellett says. “The evening of the dedication happened because of the living example she has instilled in her players and students.”
Peggy Bionde, one of Kellett’s basketball players, a fellow golfer and a retired Pequannock physical education teacher and
girls basketball coach, played a key role in the efforts to dedicate the gym to Kellett.
“Talking with Ruth into my adult years and listening to other coaches in the area share stories about her motivated me to have the gymnasium named after her,” Bionde says—“not only for her coaching, but mostly for the trailblazing efforts to make things equal for girls who wanted to play sports.”
The theme of the evening was past, present and future Lady Panthers, so past players coached by Kellett, a present basketball team member and a future PTHS player from the middle school unveiled the sign.
Attendees at the ceremony unveiling and dedicating the Ruth Kellett Gymnasium name included members of Kellett’s extended family.
More than a Coach
During Kellett’s tenure, she coached girls and boys basketball, softball and boys golf. Under her leadership, teams won numerous tournaments, including division and county championships (girls basketball) and a state sectional championship in softball.
She was named coach of the year four years in a row for boys golf. She started the Morris County Tournament for girls basketball and was named athletic director of the year in 1987.
Students enrolled in her PE classes at Stephen J. Gerace Elementary School, where she ended her career, developed a list of Kellett memories. These included being among the first to teach the wildly popular 1990s dance, the Macarena, and establishing a Golden Sneaker Award.
“It was given to the best-behaved class every Friday,” said Jessica Sanson O’Connor. “It was coveted,” she added, noting that the award would hang on that classroom’s door
for the week. O’Connor remembered Kellett dressing as Frankenstein on Halloween and playing the Monster Mash.
For former basketball players who golfed with Kellett weekly at Sunset, she became more than a coach; she became a friend.
“I remember thinking this over and over when she would give me golf tips,” said Bionde: “A coach may retire, but their heart and soul stay with teaching.” Bionde added that Kellett taught her the love of golf as a beautiful game regardless of how good or bad one plays.
A Calm Competitor
Amy Mueller, who played on Kellett’s basketball team in the 1970s and golfed alongside her for many years, said Kellett joked that while Mueller might outdrive her, she would never outputt her! “She always said to look at the back of the cup and check out how the grass grows around the green,” Mueller recalled.
For those who did not play on Kellett’s teams in the 1970s and 1980s, the coach quietly taught the nuances of golf, frequently offering to meet players at the driving range between weekly rounds.
Though somewhat new to the league, Sharon Pastore praised Kellett’s confidence and sportsmanship. “On the rare occasion she hit an errant shot, she just laughed and shrugged it off,” Pastore recalled. “It was her calm demeanor and laser focus that impressed me.”
“She loved our group’s after-golf spot at Frank’s restaurant in Lincoln Park, but she hated garlic,” said Geri Maturo, one of the founding members of A League of Our Own.
“She referred to herself as Nancy Lopez on the golf course—a title she deserved—and inevitably knew how to fix you on the golf course when you needed fixing.”
Donna Del Moro is a freelance writer who has lived in Pequannock for 34 years.
Speakers at the event included (above, from left) Michael Portas, superintendent; Peggy Bionde; and Brian Silipena, athletic director. Opposite page: Rich Hayzler, principal (top) speaks after the namesake sign was unveiled (bottom) by Peggy Bionde (at podium) and (from left) Nancy Scacco, Julia Holzli, Nancy Phillips Bergen and Alison Pomroy.
‘A Time I Will Never Forget’
Five years later, nurse Sandy Taylor looks back on the trauma, resilience and inspiration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BY ANTONIETTA HENRY
It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since one of the toughest times in world history, the COVID-19 pandemic. A bright spot for so many struggling during those times were our healthcare workers. Steadfast in providing the community with the very best care, nurse Sandy Taylor, a Pequannock Township resident since 2001, is one of the heroes who shared her story with us.
Taylor grew up in Clifton and took an early interest in healthcare. In high school, she started a half-day work study for nursing through Passaic General Hospital. Similar to the Allied Health program at Pequannock Township High School, she loved the hands-on experience.
Taylor went on to earn her BSN in nursing at New Jersey’s Bloomfield College and, upon graduating, worked at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, followed by time as a traveling nurse.
“When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I decided to find a more permanent job and began working at Chilton Hospital [Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains] with the IMCU [Intermediate Care Unit], specializing in stroke and telemetry,” says Taylor.
She loved the work and stability.
“Expecting a baby, I needed to be in one place, and this was the perfect fit for me,” she says. Nothing would have predicted what was to come over a decade later.
Nurse Sandy Taylor on the grounds of Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains.
Unforeseen Challenges
Although she was well aware of COVID-19 at the start of the outbreak, the gravity of the situation did not hit until one day in March 2020.
Taylor remembers the exact moment she learned of the shutdown. “I was in the mall shopping with my daughter for her eighth grade dance dress,” she says. “A voice came over the intercom that the mall was closing in one hour due to quarantine. That’s when it became real.”
Like many, she expected restrictions to be short-term. “I thought, ‘OK, we have to do this for two weeks,’” she says. “Little did I know how long it would be.”
Her work at the hospital was changing quickly. COVID patients were very sick, and wearing PPE (personal protective
equipment) was mandatory. “Chilton always provided us with what we needed to stay safe,” says Taylor.
Medical staff worked long hours in full PPE when caring for COVID patients, and N95 masks had to be worn the entire 12-hour-plus shift.
Caring for patients in isolation was challenging. “Patients and their families were scared,” she says. Like countless others in her field, Taylor would FaceTime with family members of her patients on iPads due to visitation restrictions.
“You had to make tough phone calls to families to explain the progress or regression of patients,” says Taylor. Healthcare workers were thrown into difficult situations they had never experienced before.
Top: Taylor stands with appreciative signage in front of Chilton Medical Center. Above: During the COVID-19 pandemic, signs of thanks hanging on the fences of Pequannock Township High School greeted healthcare workers from Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains.
Stress and Isolation
“One of the most shocking things about COVID in those early days was how quickly patients would decline,” says Taylor. “I could be assisting a patient walk to the bathroom in the morning, and by evening they were gone.”
The great loss and stress of the time was tough for healthcare workers, and they often leaned on each other. “Often, you would stay at the end of a long shift to help or offer emotional support,” Taylor says.
Coworkers became like family, even working on days they weren’t scheduled in order to help with the shortages. Being together also helped with the isolation felt at home.
“We were all so isolated at home; we didn’t want to infect our family members,” says Taylor. Some coworkers slept in hotels and campers beside their houses.
Taylor’s two daughters (who were in elementary and middle school at the time) stayed at their father’s home to be extra careful. “I would visit with them outdoors, and we would go on hikes together,” says Taylor.
The family dog went with the kids, so Taylor often was coming home to a completely empty house. “The days you were off, you were home alone,” she says. “It was a very lonely and scary time.” Taylor filled her time hiking and working on house projects
like refinishing and painting her bedroom furniture.
Sources of Inspiration
Taylor recalls moments on duty when she would recognize patients. “I had a patient with a familiar last name and realized that I knew her daughter,” says Taylor. “I had to call her in those early weeks of the pandemic and tell her how weak and lethargic her mother was, not knowing if the mother would pull through.” Thankfully, the patient did make a full recovery and was one of the happy endings.
Recovery stories were a constant inspiration to Taylor. “I loved when patients came off ventilators and the hospital would play ‘Here Comes the Sun,’” she says. “ We would have clap-outs when patients went home. Those were the uplifting moments.”
Another remarkable memory was the support from the community. “The town embraced everyone with so many donations of food, gifts and cards,” she says. “There was even a parade of first-responder trucks at the hospital. The outpouring of love was so special.”
Taylor was grateful for women who crocheted ear covers to keep sore ears pain-free when wearing masks, as well as for all the letters and items dropped at her home by friends and family.
“The people of Pequannock Township were amazing,” she says. “Deliveries of bagels,
Taylor in full personal protective equipment in 2020 during her time caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.
lunch, dinners, gift cards—it was overwhelming support.”
Decorated signs along the Pequannock Township High School fence thanked healthcare heroes for their work. The signs were a welcome view when staff would come and go from their shifts. “All of the staff were so touched by the support,” Taylor says.
In all of her time working with patients, Taylor never contracted COVID. It wasn’t until 2021 that she caught it, outside of work.
“For a long time after things got better, there was a lingering fear that people would start to get very sick again,” she says. “It’s a time I will never forget.”
A Normal Life
For the last two years, Taylor has been working as an occupational medicine nurse at Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center.
She has two beautiful daughters: Madelyn, a college freshman, and Olivia, a sophomore at PTHS. Both girls are pursuing careers in healthcare. Madelyn is earning her degree as a physician’s assistant at King’s College, and Olivia is part of the Allied Health Academy at PTHS with plans to become a CRNA. They all love a spirited blue-eyed pomsky pup named Sky.
In her spare time, Taylor enjoys hiking, working out, attending country music concerts and following local
band Country Comfort. She also loves trying new restaurants and going on travel adventures with her daughters. Hiking to the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park in Utah with her girls this past summer was one of her greatest personal travel achievements. Looking back at the pandemic now, the lyrics to “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles seem even more poignant. It certainly does feel like years since it’s been here, but we will forever be grateful to Taylor and all our healthcare heroes for their unwavering care then and beyond.
Antonietta Henry is a wife, mother of four and owner of
Antonietta Henry Photography in Pompton Plains.
For Taylor, Chilton Medical Center, where she still works, is a place full of memories from her days working during the pandemic.
Nurturing Love of the Links
Russell and Maria Bowen turned a passion into a business with their Back Nine indoor golf franchise.
BY DANA REGAN
Arnold Palmer once said, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is, at the same time, rewarding and maddening—and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” Recently, like-minded local golfers have discovered a place to drive,
chip and putt their way through even the harshest New Jersey winter. A few months ago, Russell and Maria Bowen of Wayne opened a Back Nine indoor golf franchise right in Pompton Plains. Their Route 23 location is the first in the state and is already breaking records for its exponential growth. After fostering his love of golf
while he was working in the corporate world for 30 years, Russell Bowen decided on a career change. Remembering his father’s love of golf and watching his youngest son play at PCTI, Russell felt led to turn his hobby into a profession. He wanted to bring his fondness for the sport with him as he paved a new path.
Advanced Simulators
With the help of his family and head pro Nick Driver, Back Nine is one of 60 locations nationwide where golfers of all ages play and train their way to a better game. Back Nine consists of five Full Swing golf simulators. These simulators are Tiger Woodsapproved and also used in the TGL, Tiger Woods’ new indoor golf league. These simulators are the best on the market and provide golfers
with a driving range, target range, short-game area and a place for chipping and putting. Golfers can personalize their experience by choosing from a selection of 70 PGA Tour courses.
In addition, patrons have a choice of booking public tee times or becoming members at a few different membership levels. Membership consists of a monthly fee and may give the member unlimited 24/7 access to the venue and simulators.
and Russell
their son, Lucas) opened the first Back Nine franchise in New Jersey as Russell pivoted from a 30-year career in the corporate world toward a new venture that taps into a family passion.
Below: The indoor space accommodates a variety of uses, including golf leagues, gatherings of friends and skillbuilding practices for local high school golf teams.
Left: Maria
Bowen (with
Expansive Options
Back Nine offers more than an amazing virtual golf experience. It also offers adult golf lessons as well as golf lessons for children of all ages.
Customers can play as part of both individual and team leagues. Furthermore, friends can gather at Back Nine to play golf and other games, all while bringing in their own food and drink.
Tabletops and mini-fridges are available for use. Local high school golf teams also use the space to practice and refine skills. The future is bright for the Bowens. Very soon they plan to
add two more simulator rooms, which will provide multisport options as well as a place for additional events such as children’s birthday parties!
Whether you want to learn to play golf, improve your swing, avoid the winter blues or sponsor a group event, Back Nine welcomes you. Birdies and bogeys are all part of the game, so pick up your ball and club, and drive on over.
Dana Regan is happily married with four children and a beautiful new daughterin-law. Her family, friends, career as an educator and adorable dog, Jax, keep her busy and smiling.
Left: The Bowens show off an area featuring a Full Swing golf simulator— a high-end technology that lets users play virtually any type of stroke on a wide selection of courses.
Below: Nick Driver (left) is the Back Nine head pro. He manages the facility together with owner Russell Bowen.
Full Day 7AM-6:30PM
$855/month
School Day 8:30AM-3:30PM
$660/month
Early Open 7AM-8:30AM
$150 add on
Extended Day 3:30pm6:30PM
$150 add on
A Hint of Spring
The crocus is a vibrant beacon signaling that spring is about to burst forth once again, as captured by this image taken in town by photographer Maureen Brain.
