See 2021 Uplifting Stories That Made Hackettstown A Special Place

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Now that 2021 is in the rearview mirror, it’s a good time to look back at what was positive about it.

While Ida, COVID and pandemic problems caused heartache for many, there were glimmering moments sprinkled throughout the year that took the spotlight from the difficulties.

Read some of them below and stay tuned to Patch in 2022 for more. Hit the “follow” button on Hackettstown Patch here if you haven’t already, to read Hackettstown's stories in the coming year and beyond and the “like” button here to stay connected on Facebook.

Hackettstown Pretzel Company Customer Pays It Forward - Being the new kid on the block in any workplace is rarely easy, with one first day especially hard for a Hackettstown employee who dealt with an irate customer. That all turned around when another customer learned of the new employee's angst over the negative exchange and made up for it. It all started with a social media post from the Philly Pretzel Factory on 150 Mountain Avenue in Hackettstown, a post from shop owners Erica and Carl Boos, sternly headlined, "Be Nice," after one customer berated their new employee. Another customer, however, turned things around with a gift and special advice for the employee, which made a world of difference.

Street Dedicated To Beloved Pastor In Hackettstown - A new street sign in Hackettstown was dedicated in 2021 to Trinity United Methodist Church's pastor who left his mark on the town, with a segment of East Moore Street from Main Street to Maple Avenue, given as a special honor in his memory. Drivers now see a blue sign atop of the Main Street sign, with white crosses flanking Rev. Frank Fowler's name, that is now called "Rev. Frank Fowler Way."Fowler, who died following an illness at the age of 72 on May 21, was known throughout the town not only as a longtime resident, but a cherished husband to wife Karen; father to children Faith, Angela and Christina, as well as stepfather to Savannah and Emily; and friend to many.

Hackettstown Police Reflect On Life Of K9 Jada A Year Later - She left an impact on the Hackettstown community as a whole while she served with the Hackettstown Police Department. People continued to remember K9 Jada on the one-year anniversary of her passing, after she suffered a medical emergency on the job that she loved, with one of the people who she loved the most, her handler Officer Christopher Laver. "Her spirit of service is alive today and always will be," the Hackettstown Police Department wrote in a special one-year anniversary tribute to Jada on Aug. 19.

Hackettstown High School Athlete Is 'Heart Of A Giant' Nominee - Anthony Edwards was recognized for his perseverance in recovering from a complex sports injury, as well as his positive attitude on the field at Hackettstown High School. He was one of the nominees chosen for the sixth week in the 2021 Heart of a Giant Award, a special award from the New York Giants and Hospital for Special Surgery to recognize high school players from the tri-state area, picked by their coaches for "commitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication," according to the organization. He was nominated for how he pushed through recovery after breaking his elbow during his freshman football season, after an infection struck him after surgery that resulted in 10 more surgeries and hospitalizations for over 33 days.

2 Kittens Rescued From 'Purring' Engine In Hackettstown - These kittens literally gave the "purr" to the engine of a vehicle they were found in. As the QuickChek was being constructed, workers there heard meowing coming from one of the vehicles they had towed in and to their surprise, pulled out a pair of grey, fuzzy kittens. Originally from the Freehold area, Hackettstown Police ushered the small cats to the group Common Sense for Animals, for further care.

Have an upbeat and inspiring adventure of your own to tell in 2022? Reach out to me at jennifer.miller@patch.com to share your story.