"See that, 518," Chew said with a smile as wide as one of the Hudson Lanes. "I got a 518. That's my name right there. See it?"
The Hudson Ability Bowling League has served handicapped adults, ages 18 and up, for the last 40 plus years, and Chew's is just one of the club's many inspirational stories.
The league meets every Saturday morning at the Bayonne bowling palace. Currently, 85 adults are participating. Need inspiration? Just watch Charles Petrowski of Jersey City head to the lanes. Petrowski requires a cane to walk and takes his time when it is his turn to bowl. He puts the ball on the floor to gain his balance, then lets loose with an obviously strong right arm.
Another undaunted woman needs a ramp to put the ball on, in order for it to gain enough momentum to make it down the lane. She may take a minute or two every time she bowls, but she positions the ramp just right in order to center the ball.
The smiles abound. Even when someone misses a spare attempt, they're genuinely happy. If someone makes a shot, they celebrate with arm pumps and body gyrations. It's all in good fun and they're all having a ball. Barbara Brett has been the recording secretary of the Hudson Ability Bowling League for the last 16 years, since her daughter, Lori, became a member.
"When Lori started bowling, someone asked me to be the secretary, so I said, 'Sure,' even though I didn't have a clue about bowling," Brett said. "I learned fast enough."
So it's Brett's job to make sure that the scores are right - although most of the bowlers keep their own scores - and that the standings are updated.
"They worry about the scores," Brett said. "Don't let them fool you. Some of them already know their scores and the standings before they bowl. They get their standing sheets and their scoring sheets every week, but they're aware of what's going on."
Started in 1960
The league started in 1960 and was the brainchild of the late Al Slootsky, a Bayonne businessman who was born with polio. He was the owner of the old Bayonne Lanes, which was located on 53rd Street and Avenue E. Slootsky, who walked with the aid of crutches, wanted to give disabled kids a chance to do something he wasn't able to do.
Over the years, dedicated people like the late Elliot Blum and the late Bernie Kozwith made sure the league continued, even after Bayonne Lanes closed. The league moved its home base to Hudson Lanes, where they have remained for the last 25 years.
"They have accommodated us so well, charging only nominal fees," Brett said. "Hudson Lanes have been great to us."
Slootsky also started the Bayonne Department of Parks Ability Camp, which enables the handicapped to attend classes during the day and work for the DPW in the afternoon. Many of the members of the league have jobs through the Ability Camp as well.
For the last 30 years, Charlie Fabyanski has served as the president of the league. He got involved in the league when his handicapped son, Kevin, became a member.
"I don't know what made me get involved," Fabyanski said. "I just did. Kevin wanted to bowl, so I came with him. And I was just willed into getting involved."
But Fabyanski's involvement with the Ability League led to further activities and involvement with organizations for the handicapped. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Milestone Group, an organization that has group homes for the handicapped throughout Hudson County. There are currently three Milestone homes in Jersey City, two in Kearny and one in North Bergen.
Fabyanski is also a member of the Bayonne Friends of the Handicapped, a group that raises funds to buy clothes and anything else that the handicapped members of the community might need.
"I've dedicated my life to helping the handicapped," Fabyanski said. "Anything that will help my son, I'm all for. I know my son enjoys himself, but I'm not doing it just to help my son. We're helping the bowlers, getting them out every week."
Brett said that the league is a blessing for the participants.
"There are so many kids who just sit at home and don't have any activity," Brett said. "That's a shame. They could be mingling with their peers and having a good time. I don't know what I would have done if we didn't have this league for Lori."
While the league runs from September through May, there is more to it than just bowling. They do raise funds that enable the members of the league to go on field trips, like one scheduled this week to see a Christmas show in Cedar Grove. They also go on a three-day trip to upstate New York in July, as well as a league picnic in July.
All from volunteers and donations
But everything about the Hudson Ability Bowling League is volunteer. The league does not receive any state funding for its activities. Everything is operated from donations.
But the focus of the organization is the bowling.
"It's really a cultured league, because it is very competitive," Fabyanski said. "They all take it very seriously." John Grutkowski may have moved to Hazlet, but that doesn't stop him from taking his brother, Robert, every Saturday to Hudson Lanes to bowl in the league.
"This league means the world to him," Grutkowski said. "He never wants to miss. Even when the weather is bad, he's asking me to take him. It's all he talks about for the days prior. If he loses, it ruins his Saturday. I have to take him to the movies or something. If there wasn't this league, he would be devastated."
Not only is the league important to Robert Grutkowski, but it means a lot to his caretaker as well.
"I have seen kids who haven't been kept active and it's so sad," John Grutkowski said. "They've done a great job for so many years. When you see the kids, it's hard to put into words how good it feels. It's a great feeling to see them smile."
Fabyanski agreed. That's all the salary he needs.
"It gives me so much energy," said Fabyanski, who is a senior citizen. "It makes my day. When they see me walking around town, they greet me and give me a hug. It's definitely a warm feeling. My only hopes is that more people would participate, because what will happen when Barbara and I go? But it's a good feeling to be able to still do it after all this time."
Brett said that she's hoping to recruit some younger people to get involved so she can eventually pass the torch and keep the league's flame burning for another 40 years.
"We're not going to be here forever," Brett said.
But hopefully, the league will be.
"It's all good, clean fun," Brett said. "We get some newcomers every year, so that's good. We're getting people from all over, through word of mouth. It's just so good to be able to offer this for them."
Those wanting more information can call Hudson Lanes at (201) 432-5900 during business hours.
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