POLLER DENTAL GROUP
My Mowimy Po Polsku (Dentystka)
THE APPREHENSIVE PATIENT
EXP 5-15-12
973-546-6977
470 Clifton Ave • Clifton
DENTISTRY WHILE YOU SLEEP
Smile Makeover
EXP 5-15-12
$119 per month based on credit approval and 60 month financing through GE capital for a total of $5,000.
For as low as $119 per month you can have a new smile
DENTAL CARE FOR COWARDS
908-686-5868
629 Clifton Ave • Clifton 459 Chestnut St • Union
973-777-7364
EXP 5-15-12
Follow The Apprehensive Patient of Clifton and Poller Dental Group on
POLLER DENTAL GROUP
My Mowimy Po Polsku (Dentystka)
THE APPREHENSIVE PATIENT
EXP 5-15-12
973-546-6977
470 Clifton Ave • Clifton
DENTISTRY WHILE YOU SLEEP
Smile Makeover
EXP 5-15-12
$119 per month based on credit approval and 60 month financing through GE capital for a total of $5,000.
For as low as $119 per month you can have a new smile
DENTAL CARE FOR COWARDS
908-686-5868
629 Clifton Ave • Clifton 459 Chestnut St • Union
973-777-7364
EXP 5-15-12
Follow The Apprehensive Patient of Clifton and Poller Dental Group on
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
3
Easter Tradition
Story and photo by Tom Hawrylko
Dolores Vargas, Fe Wakkary, Doris McFarlane and Father Robert Wisniefski, administrator of St. George and St. Brendan parishes. They are pictured in St. George Church on Getty Ave. in Paterson where the ladies begin an annual tradition of visiting area churches on Holy Thursday as part of their Easter religious journey.
For Fe Wakkary, Holy Thursday, which was April 5, is a time to share a great Christian tradition. For decades, she has visited 14 churches on that day where she meditates on the 14 Stations of the Cross. “If I could make it to 15 churches, another for the resurrection, I would,” said Wakkary, who brought this tradition with her when she came to the United States from the Philippines in 1983. The resurrection she speaks of is that Jesus Christ who died on the cross on Good Friday and three days later rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures... “He ascended into heaven,” the Nicene Creed, a prayer of the profession of faith, continues “and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory, to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” 4 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
At the crux of Christianity and at the base of the religion is the belief in Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. After he left the tomb, Christ once again walked Jerusalem and spoke with his followers, among them, Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas, known for questioning Jesus’ resurrection. By accepting the resurrection miracle and adhering to and practicing the principles of the faith, one will, after death, achieve life everlasting in heaven. To achieve that, however, takes getting through this life in a Christ-like manner. Thus, the goal with the Holy Thursday visits, Wakkary explained, is to make a spiritual pilgrimage and experience Christ’s sufferings and death. The hope of everlasting life helps believers to go forth and do good deeds year round.
The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy For them, the evening begins with a 7 pm liturgy and Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating in afterwards, when the lights are dimmed and before they Rome, where early pilgrims visited the seven major basilgo on to six others churches, they spend time in St. icas as penance. George’s in silence with the Holy Sacrament. Wakkary and others, including Doris McFarlane and “To share in Christ’s pain, his anguish... to share in his Dolores Vargas, begin their Holy Thursday pilgrimage at struggle, knowing what he was to face the next day... it is St. George Roman Catholic Parish on Getty Ave. in such a warm and rich tradition,” continued McFarlane. Paterson, which is their home parish. Readers may recognize her from the years she has been Father Robert Wisniejski is working at the Boys & Girls the administrator of the Club of Clifton in adminis“My personal feeling,” said Doris Church and St. Brendan’s on tration. “It’s almost like we McFarlane, “is that we are taking the Lakeview Ave. in Clifton. are there with Jesus.” role of the Apostles who were asked to He proudly adds a little This is the 14th year history to the tradition. “Jesus McFarlane has toured seven stay up with Jesus as he prayed in the instituted the priesthood on churches. Fellow pilgrim Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday Holy Thursday,” he Dolores Vargas has conthe night before his crucifixion.” explained. The seven is symducted her Holy Thursday bolic of the historical seven visitations for 20 years now. deacons of Rome, whose responsibility it was to minister Annually, they agreed, they see many of the same faithful to the poor in their region of the city. The first seven deain their visits. Most groups are three or four people, basicons in the Church were the seven assistants ordained by cally a car load. the Apostles to minister to the poor and thus the begin“Spiritually, it is very rewarding, very much walking ning of what we know now as the priesthood. the foot steps of Jesus,” she said. “I look forward to it, As illustrated by Wakkary and her Filipino tradition, year after year, and yes, it is a pilgrimage.” the pilgrimage has many origins. Among the Clifton churches they stop in to pray at Vargas and McFarlane are perhaps a little less ambiinclude Sacred Heart in Botany, St. Paul’s in Downtown tious but no less religious than Wakkary. They set their Clifton and St. Philip’s on Valley Rd. “Over the years, goal on seven churches, in a twist on another Catholic trawe’ve also been to St. John Kanty and St. Brendan. dition. The seven is symbolic of the seven short phrases Because not all churches stay open late, we sometimes that Jesus uttered on Calvary as he was about to die on have gone out of town, too,” McFarlane said. Good Friday. To Vargas and McFarlane, this serves as an This year, as we went to press before Holy Thursday, excellent holy week meditation. the ending point for their tour was still in question. “We “My personal feeling is that we are taking the role of used to end at Holy Face Monastery because it was the Apostles who were asked to stay up with Jesus as he opened late but they are renovating it so we are redirectprayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday ing where we finish,” she said with a smile. Where will the night before his crucifixion,” she explained. they complete their journey? Only God knows. 16,000 Magazines
are distributed to hundreds of Clifton Merchants on the first Friday of every month. Subscribe Page 73
1288 Main Avenue Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011
$27 per year $45 for 2 years Call 973-253-4400 © 2012 Tomahawk Promotions
Editor & Publisher Tom Hawrylko Business Manager Cheryl Hawrylko Graphic Designer Ken Peterson Staff Writer Joe Hawrylko Contributing Writers Irene Jarosewich, Carol Leonard, Rich DeLotto, Don Lotz, Jack DeVries
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
5
With Great Pride, We Recognize the Clifton Office’s Highest Achievers. 2011 Weichert Executive’s Club
Alma Billings
Mary Pat Holt
Lesia Wirstiuk
NJAR ® Circle of Excellence Sales Award ® 2011 - Bronze Weichert
NJAR ® Circle of Excellence Sales Award ® 2011 - Bronze Weichert
NJAR ® Circle of Excellence Sales Award ® 2011 - Bronze Weichert
Sales Club, Marketed Club
Sales Club, Marketed Club
Sales Club, Marketed Club
2011 Weichert Director’s Club
Daniel ‘Dan’ Brozyna Weichert Sales Club Marketed Club
Tania Hernandez Faria Weichert Sales Club
Gregorio ‘Greg’ Manalo Weichert Sales Club
Marsha Ryaboy Weichert Sales Club Marketed Club
Ellen Weiner Weichert Sales Club Marketed Club
Here are some of our current homes on the market....
CLIFTON Well kept, 4BR Bi-Level with EIK, FDR, Family Room with sliders to patio & pool, C/A & 2 car garage. MLS: 2816660 $335,000
6 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
CLIFTON Great curb appeal! This large, updtd Col features a LR w/frpl, FDR, updtd kit, finbsmt & 1 car gar. MLS: 2924160 $324,900
CLIFTON This large, 2 Family home features 4BRs, 3FBAS, finished basement, 2 car gar & private back yard. MLS: 2925171 $325,000
January 2012 Award Winners
.
b
Carlito Chi
Top Lister
Alma Billings
Alma Billings
Top Producer
Top Sales
Daniel ‘Dan’ Brozyna
Agent of the Month
Arthur “Artie” A. Rubin
Weichert Pride
February 2012 Award Winners
Alma Billings
Top Lister
Carlito Chi
Carlito Chi
Top Producer
Top Sales
Jayne Urgo
Agent of the Month
Eduardo Rosas
Weichert Pride
More great Clifton homes to see...
CLIFTON Just Reduced! This bright & airy 2nd flr unit features 2FBAs, FDR, new EIK, deck & in unit laundry. MLS: 2913283 $259,900
CLIFTON This rare, Richfield, 2 Family offers 5BRs, 2FBAs, 3 car garage, sep utils, new hd flrs & full bsmt. MLS: 2913425 $395,000
CLIFTON This spacious, remodeled Ranch offers an open flr plan w/large LR, DR, EIK, fin bsmt & 1 car garage. MLS: 2877890 $369,000
CLIFTON This 3BR Cape features a large LR, updtd kit w/ss appls, FDR, updtd Bath, 3 Season Room & 1 car gar. MLS: 2911420 $259,900
CLIFTON 4BR Raised Ranch with FDR, frpl, huge Family Room, 3FBAs, finished basement and wrap around deck. MLS 2900924 $449,900
CLIFTON Great 4BR, 2FBA Exp Cape featuring LR, DR, kitchen w/breakfast bar, Family Rm, bsmt and 1 car gar. MLS 2916242. $329,000
Tony Sanchez, Manager
If you’re interested in a career in real estate, call me at 973-779-1900(office) 973-801-9497(cell) tsanchez@weichertrealtors.net Clifton Merchant • April 2012
7
Clifton Mystery
Joseph Bellanca, Photographer At 81, Alive, Well and Happy By Joe Hawrylko The talents of Joseph Bellanca go far beyond the collection of mysterious photos that we presented in the March edition of the Clifton Merchant. At the peak of his career, this Botany Village native had his works on exhibition on several occasions at the Museum of Modern Art. In fact his talent is so unique, Bellanca photos are part of MoMA’s permanent collection. And, thanks to the dozens of readers who helped us with our search, we’ve located Bellanca. The 81 year old currently resides at the Hamilton Plaza Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Passaic. Milagros Negron, the Recreation Director at the Center, reached out after reading the story, and helped set up a meeting with Bellanca in early March. And after that conversation and from numerous letters, calls and emails from readers, we present here his interesting life story. Born in Passaic on July 7, 1930, Bellanca was raised in Botany Village, fell in love with photography during his teenage years and attended the School of Modern Photography in New York. “It was a good profession at that time,” he recalled of those early years. “At school, it was all veterans who had returned from the war. I was the youngest kid there. And then I decided to explore the world and life with my camera.” 8 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Above, Joseph Bellanca as he appears today. At left is his photo from the Clifton High School Class of 1948 Yearbook. By age 20, Bellanca had his photographs exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.
Bellanca, who graduated from Clifton High School in June of 1948, achieved success early on in the Big Apple. By 1950, at the age of 20, he had his first piece on display at the Museum of Modern Art: ‘Untitled’, a black and white shot of men with warped faces carrying a casket dur-
ing a funeral, which is in the MoMA permanent collection. “With that photograph, I was experimenting a lot in the dark room,” he explained of his craft. His work evolved much over those early years and his services were in great demand. “It is intensely black and white and spooky.”
as E ast
Happy Easter and Joyous Passover
dge gelawn Rididgelawn
C E M E T E R Y
FFor or inf information o ormation with no obliga obligation tion call: call:
973-777-1920 255 M Main ain A Avenue, venue, C Clifton lifton
• • • • • • •
S
niches mausoleum garden graves non-sectarian monumental graves pre-need counseling new prime plots facing East
ituated on 80 acres, East Ridgelawn Cemetery invites you to visit
our Mausoleum on Main Avenue to pause, reflect and remember the lives of those who have passed. Visits are unlimited and unaffected by the weather. Crypts are located in the building and convenient for the elderly and handicapped. Mausoleum entombment provides greater Peace of Mind & Security.
Our Cremation Scattering Garden
Financing available one-year at no interest on easy monthly plans Clifton Merchant • April 2012
9
Clifton Mystery Bellanca also has two other pieces in the MoMA permanent collection: ‘Man of the Planets’, 1963, and ‘A Special Place’, 1964. Both were gifted by the Clifton artist. “At one point, I had more color photographs on display in MoMA than any other photographer,” Bellanca claimed proudly. “That was my favorite memory.” ‘A Special Place’ appeared in the exhibit, Mirrors and Windows: American Photography Since 1960, which was on display from July 27 through Oct. 2, 1978. Many of the press releases announcing these exhibits and others can still be found on the Museum’s website at moma.org. Bellanca’s work was not just limited to the confines of the Museum of Modern Art. Before the age of 21, he had work appearing in numerous high profile publications: Vogue, Modern Photography, Pageant, Jubilee, Esquire, Theater Arts and more. “I worked in New York and photographed a lot of stars,” explained Bellanca, who noted (as did other readers) that the photo of the individual on page 76 of the March Clifton Merchant is of actor Barry Sullivan. “That’s a toupee that Barry was wearing!”
Two photos from Bellanca’s experimental phase. Above, A Special Place, 1964, Collage of gelatin silver prints on board, 17 1/16 x 9 5/8" (43.3 x 24.5 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of the photographer. At right, Untitled, c.1950. Gelatin silver print, 9 1/4 x 7 3/8" (23.8 x 18.8 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Purchased by the museum.
Bellanca’s photographic art appeared in three separate exhibitions at MoMA: Photographs by 51 American Photographers, from Aug. 2 through Sept. 17, Then and Now, from Aug. 5 to 18, 1952, Photographs from the Museum Collection, on display from Nov. 26, 1958, to Jan. 18, 1959. 10 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
An excerpt from the June 1950 Vogue article on Bellanca.
While staking a claim for himself in the City, Bellanca continued to live on Parker Ave. in Botany Village with his parents Joe Sr. and Francis. “I lived between a chicken market and a dry cleaners,” he recalled and said with a laugh: “You’d open one window and get a smell of the chicken market. At the other you’d get a face full of steam.” Bellanca’s career in the Big Apple was temporarily put on hold when enlisted in the United States Army in 1951. Working as an Army photojournalist, he spent 1953 and 1954 in Korea on photographic duty with combat engineers. Many of these pictures ended up in spreads in the NY Times Magazine, Vogue and MoMA. Bellanca, who traveled to Japan while on R&R in Korea, also did pen and ink cartoons for Stars and Stripes while on duty. Back in the States in 1954, Bellanca resumed his successful career, eventually spending more than two years living and working in New York City. He worked in the movie and Broadway worlds, spending time with and taking photos of some of the era’s stars. “Chita Rivera! I used to go get Communion with her,” smiled Bellanca, commenting on the dancer’s legendary gams.
NJ Arthritis Osteoporosis Center and an nd
871 Allwood Rd Rd., Clifton
973.405.5163 Michael P. Lewko, MD FACR, AGSF njarthritiscenter.com
Our office has easy Accessibility.
Arthritis • Rheumatism • Osteoporosis Aging Wellness • Functional Improvement Clifton Merchant • April 2012
11
Clifton Mystery At bottom left is Gloria Turba, Joseph Bellanca and Francine Ferlise. Ferlise’s parents were friends, and her dad was Bellanca’s godfather. Ferlise assisted us in our search for the Clifton artist, and was reunited with him in March, when they took this photo. Top left is from 1947 with Philamena D’Amico, Grace D’Amico, Palma Ferlise (Francine’s mother), Francis Bellanca (Joe’s mother) and Francis Capozza. Below is Joseph Bellanca Sr., Joseph Jr. and Michael Ferlise, father of Francine Ferlise.
Such was the day of the young, emerging artiste... Featured at MoMA and touted in top magazines, he developed a relationship with MoMa’s Edward Steichen who arranged for the Cliftonite to meet his idol, Alfred Stieglitz. He unsuccessfully tried to become an assistant to the great photographer. “Alfred Stieglitz was the father of photography,” Bellanca said recently, still with awe. Bellanca took on other business endeavors. In 1958, he opened his own studio, Grand Central Palace, and his work was published frequently on the pages of Life, Look, Time Esquire as well as New Yorker. He was also in demand by advertising studios and others. Bellanca also published a magazine called Tropical Fish World, after picking up an interest in aquariums. “I bought a lot of pictures from this German photographer, Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod. He was king of the tropical fish world,” he explained. Another accomplishment was when Bellanca had an exhibit of his photos from Korea at the US State Department. “It then went to Europe and around the world,” he recalled. “That was a great honor.” 12 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
In his matter of fact manner, Bellanca forgot to mention that in 1964 he authored New Ways in Photography, a 112 page book detailing the different disciplines in his field. He received $2,500, which had a print run of 125,000 and can still be found online. “You better believe that was a lot of money then,” he said. Bellanca’s story also has a happy ending. After locating him, he reunited with Cliftonite Francine Ferlise, who lost touch with Joe many years ago. She was one of many tipsters to help us in our search. Silvia Hart was the first to reach out: “My mom, Angelica Salvi, was friendly with his mom so occasionally we’d and visit,” she recalled, adding that the Bellancas were parishioners at Sacred Heart Church. “They lived diagonally from the old movie house called The Strand on Parker Ave., next to the poultry market, Kastan’s. All of that is since gone from Botany.” So to the many folks who helped us bring this Clifton Mystery full circle—Ann Simpson, Francine Ferlise, Silvia Hart, Rich DeLotto, Philip Read, Rosanne Zisa, Milagros Negron—we offer our thanks. Please excuse us if we omitted any other callers or writers.
Schedule your surgery at Clifton Surgery Center. We are a three room state of the art, nationally accredited, physician owned facility. Smaller and more service oriented than hospitals, patients and their families benefit from the convenience and lower cost. PODIATRY Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD 1033 Clifton, Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-3344 Jeffrey Miller, DPM 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-365-2208 Eugene A. Batelli, DPM 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-365-2208 Zina Cappiello, DPM 886 Pompton Ave, Suite A-1 Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 973-857-1184 Glenn Haber, DPM 140 Grand Ave. Englewood, NJ 07631 201-569-0212
Call your physician about scheduling your surgery at Clifton Surgery Center. Matthew Welch, DPM 6506 Park Ave. West New York, NJ 07093 201-662-1122 Anas Khoury, DPM 235 Main Ave. Passaic, NJ 07066 973-473-6665
PAIN MANAGEMENT Ladislav Habina, MD 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-357-8228 Kazimierz Szczech, MD 1033 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-4400
John Mc Evoy, DPM 152 Lakeview Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-340-8970
Binod Sinha, MD 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-777-5444
Kevin Healey, DPM 152 Lakeview Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-340-8970
Todd Koppel, MD 721 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-5752
ENDOSCOPY
UROLOGY
Piotr Huskowski, MD 1005 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013
Daniel Rice, MD 1001 Clifton, Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-779-7231
973-778-7882
CHIROPRACTIC Michael Gaccione, DC 26 Clinton St. Newark, NJ 07012 973-624-4000 Terry Mc Sweeney, DC 600 Mount Prospect Ave. Newark, NJ 07104 973-485-2332
ENT Stephen Abrams, MD 1070 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-773-9880
ORTHOPEDICS Kent Lerner, MD 17 Jauncey Ave. North Arlington, NJ 07031 201-991-9019
OPHTHALMOLOGY Charles Crowley, MD 1033 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-472-6405
GENERAL SURGERY Kevin Buckley, MD 1100 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-778-0100 Edwin Kane, MD 1100 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-778-0100 Ramon Silen, MD 1117 Route 46 East, Suite 301 Clifton, NJ 07013 973-779-4242
Meet some of our Physicians...
Dr. Kevin Buckley
Dr. Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Miller, DPM
Dr. Kazimierz Szczech
General Surgery
Podiatry
Podiatry
Pain Management Clifton Merchant • April 2012
13
Made in Clifton
The Toll Tale of Clifton Meta-Lite builds toll & parking booths, jail cells & more By Joe Hawrylko Next time you toss some change in the bucket on the Garden State Parkway, the New York State Thruway or any other highway across the country, take a look at the toll booth you pass through. It just might have been Made in Clifton. Ok, not the best example because we now cruise through toll booths under the watchful eyes of EZ Pass. But we figured more readers may relate to passing through a toll booth then entering a jail cell, another handy item this Clifton company manufacturers. Meta-Lite, on Entin Rd. in Delawanna just off of Rt. 21, has been constructing toll booths for transportation authorities across the nation for 30 years. The company has been doing business with the New Jersey Turnpike and other state highway authorities for two decades. “We pretty much do all different types of public transportation, as well as public institutions. And yes, we also do jail cells,” said Mike Coppola, 39, head of sales and marketing at Meta-Lite. 14 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Located in a 30,000 square foot building in Delawanna, Meta-Lite was purchased by Coppola’s father, Gene, in October of 1978. “He was working for my uncle (Carl, who built jails for municipalities) and saw this place in Hasbrouck Heights and bought it,” said Coppola. “At that point, it was lighting fixture and mail chutes.” Shortly after the purchase, Meta-Lite left those less lucrative fields and began focusing on building toll booths in 1980. The first contract was for the New York State Thruway, which called for 80 units. The successful job bolstered the company’s reputation and today, Meta-Lite is one of just a half dozen manufacturers nation wide that design and build toll booths. “We’ve done jobs for more than a dozen states,” said Coppola. That includes New Jersey, New York, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Texas, California and more. Order sizes can vary between a dozen to as many as 100, as was the case for a job in Texas.
Locally, Meta-Lite manufactured the last batch of tolls for the Garden State Parkway. Across the continental United States, the firm has designed and built other toll booths, which after you turn the page, you may agree are much better looking. However, technology and changes to toll roads have radically changed the consumer side of the toll road industry. There are less human collectors than ever before, with authorities opting to go with pay systems, such as EZ Pass. A number of highways—including the Garden State Parkway—have began implementing large overhanging scanners instead of booths to track drivers. Some states have opted to get rid of tolls all together. How does this affect the company’s bottom line?
Sensing change, Meta-Lite invested into other fields, which keep the 20 shop employees busy during their regular shifts. For instance, the company manufactures a variety of metal enclosures, including ticket collection booths, parking huts, smoking enclosures and other custom made products. “Pretty much everything we do here is custom,” explained Coppola. In addition to the shop workers, there are an additional 10 employees in sales, management and engineering, bringing the total to 30. And because of the attacks on September 11, MetaLite has experienced a boom in orders for reinforced, bullet proof guard booths for universities, transit authorities and military instillations.
1333 Broad St. • 973-779-3125
View The Giblin Report Thursdays at 8:30 pm, Cablevision Ch. 76 Check with your Cable Provider for Other Listings Clifton Merchant • April 2012
15
Made in Clifton Coppola said that jail cells now account for a large portion of businesses. His dad, Gene Coppola, owner of Meta-Lite, said that the company has remained in New Jersey despite all of the challenges facing the business. Like most manufacturers, added expenses in the form of taxes and laws with exorbitant fees create a burden that sometimes makes it hard to justify doing business in the Garden State. “But, we are close to the action in New York City, and we’re close to the action in the transit hub,” explained the elder Coppola. This advantage manifests in business opportunities on the subways for New York City and the tri-state region. Meta-lite specializes in crafting ornate, wave and medallion dividing gates, turnstiles and railings. “The New York system is so large, there’s always something to do there,” explained Mike Coppola. “We’re the
16 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Booths made by Meta-Lite in Clifton, can be found on the San Joaquin Valley exit on Rt. 73 in California. Meta-Lite built them in Clifton and shipped and installed 26 of these stainless steel booths. Previous page are some of the workers at Meta-Lite, located in Delawanna.
supplier for 90 percent of the fencing in the subway to the Authority or contractors.” Coppola said that Meta-Lite’s success is due in part to their craftsmanship and their penchant for using high quality materials. “We love stainlesss steel. It’s harder to work with and much more costly,” he said. “But it lasts a lot longer. And it’s a lot harder than metal, steel or aluminum.” Coppola said that employees are trained to install jobs on site, and will do so depending on the terms of a contract. Meta-Lite also handles maintenance on all products that are manufactured in their building. “One thing we try to do here is train guys to do everything,” he explained. “The polishers can do the welding, and so on. We get them training and have them more
diversified. It’s better for us and better for our employees. They get more money.” While the toll booth industry may be slowing down in the future as states head away from that type of business, Coppola expects his company’s work with municipalities and other public institutions to continue to grow.
“Public transportation, there’s always going to be more train stations and other things,” he said. “That’s never going to slow down.” Coppola, who attends trade shows across the country, believes there are several untapped markets for Meta-Lite. “If I can bid it and I can build it, I can get it on a truck and I can get it out there,” he said.
Proudly Serving Assembly District 34... Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair
It is a pleasure to read of the many Clifton manufacturing firms serving our community. Read about other products Made in New Jersey at www.njmep.org.
The Honorable
Sheila Y. Oliver Speaker of New Jersey 15-33 Halsted St., Suite 202 East Orange, NJ 07018 973-395-1166 • AswOliver@njleg.org paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
17
Made in Clifton
Doing the Heavy Lifting Electrolift Helps Keep Manufacturing Alive By Joe Hawrylko
For companies in manufacturing, transporting heavy loads, be it raw materials or the finished product, is an integral part of any business in the field. Electrolift, located on Sargent Ave. in Clifton, is the company that supplies manufacturers across the United States with the tools necessary to complete any job, big or small. Well known companies like General Electric, John Deere, Sikorsky Aircraft and more utilize Electrolift wire rope hoists to aid in everything from product assembly to transportation. “90 percent of the companies we do business with are in manufacturing,” explained Steve Pilione, sales manager for Electrolift, and a graduate of the Clifton High School Class of 1986. “It’s to move heavy loads up and down and horizontally back and forth.” The history of the company trances back to 1932, when the East Paterson Machine Shop was founded by a group of five machinists. One of these founders was Luis Puzio, grandfather of current owner Debbie Rechtschaffer, a Class of ‘88 CHS grad. “Her grandfather was the last living partner and became the full owner of East Paterson Machine Shop,” explained Pilione. Electrolift and the EPMC were separate entities that maintained a working relationship. In 1954, both companies moved into a custom made build18 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Top left: A photo taken shortly after the completion of the Sargent Ave. building in 1954. Top right: Steve Pilione, a 1986 graduate of CHS, is the sales and marketing manager of Electrolift. He is pictured with owner, Debbie Rechtschaffer, a CHS ‘88 grad. Above is an undated historic photo of a welder at the plant.
ing on Sargeant Ave., where they’ve remained to this day. Puzio was involved with the EPMC until retiring in the late 70s. His son, David Erenstoft, succeeded him as President in 1981, and bought out Electrolift that same year. The companies continued to run under separate names until the 90s. However, the old East Paterson Machine Shop sign can still be found on the side of the building. The current generation of ownership came into the company in the 90s. Pilione, whose wife, Julie, is a cousin of Rechtschaffer, has been with Electrolift since 1993, while his cousin-in-law began working with her father in 1992. “I grew up here going, ‘Dad, can I work here?’ ‘No, you’re a girl,’” Rechtschaffer laughed. She received her degree in communications from Rutgers, and began working full time for the family business following graduation. She also began studying engineering at NJIT, but instead opted for an on the job education. Over the years, Rechtschaffer has spent time working in purchasing, shipping and engineering. “Two years ago, I moved my desk onto the
Above, Jan Seinicki works on a lift on the shop floor.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
19
Made in Clifton shop floor,” she explained. “I manage the shop foremen. I’ve kind of turned into a more operation director.” Pilione also received a similar type of apprenticeship. “Right after I got married to Julie, my mother-in-law asked me if I wanted to work here,” he recalled. Pilione began in the machine shop and moved onto assembly before migrating upstairs to sales in 1995, where he’s been ever since. Together, Rechtschaffer and Pilione have formed a dynamic duo at the helm of Electrolift, constantly putting money back into the company while weathering the peaks and valleys of the volatile economy. “There have been a couple recessions in the 2000s,” explained Pilione, who added that the company did not lay off anyone due to the economy. “From 2001 to 2007, it was tough. Then it got better, but then industry itself went south.” “Up until recently, manufacturing was mostly in the Mid-West and the South, but the Mid-West got hammered,” he continued. “People complain about the bail out, but a lot of other companies (not in the auto manufacturing) feed off of that.” However, as the economy stabled, Electrolift rebounded to new heights in the past three years
20 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“In 2009, we had our best year actually” explained Rechtschaffer. Since then, Electrolift’s business has continued to climb. Already a major supplier across to manufacturers across the United States, the company has seen an expansion of sales for scoreboard lifts at arenas. “We’re at MSG, the IZOD Center,” explained Pilione. Last year, Electrolift installed a lift in Shanghai, China for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. Pilione flew out with an engineer to help oversee the installation, spending five days. “That was quite the trip out there.” Domestically, Electrolift continued its good fortunes in manufacturing supply as well. In 2011, the company fielded its biggest order ever, creating 43 lifts for a manufacturing plant in Buffalo that was undergoing a massive expansion. “We had people brought in for the spike of the big job,” recalled Rechtschaffer. Electrolift has 28 employees throughout the company. Shop workers are on a Monday to Friday shift, with overtime as needed. “We ended up retaining six people.” Rechtschaffer added that the company regularly spends money on continued training for its
d
o s n
d n e -
s
, o
g a e
y
Your Monthly fee includes: • Heat & A/C • Electric • Daily Janitorial • Free Parking • 24 Hour Access • NJ Transit Express Bus to NYC at our door plus easy access to Route 3.
Short Term Leases Available
Call Jamie Wohr 973-591-5222 x16
Styertowne Shopping Center on Bloomfield Ave. at Route 3 offers full service office suites on the second floor. On the ground floor, you are steps from great restaurants, shopping, banking & Post Office. This Suite is partially furnished & newly renovated.
This Office w/Desk & Conference Table, Reception Area & 2nd Smaller Office + lots of Storage... 665 Sq. Ft. is just $600 / Month Clifton Merchant • April 2012
21
Made in Clifton employees. Electrolift also works with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, seeking out ways to optimize the output of the facility.
22 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“Steve and I have gone to Washington D.C. to lobby Congress for more funding with Congressman Bill Pascrell,” Rechtschaffer explained of her advocacy.
Because of recent success, Rechtschaffer has been putting money back into her company, essentially investing in her future, the future of her employees and the community. Restorations of 15,000 square feet of office space in the building were completed this past month. Several local companies were called in for work: A&S Contractors handled the overall restorations. Windows and more were purchased from their neighbors at the nearby Window Depot. Abby Business Systems, a Cliftonbased IT company, helped set up new software. “We’ve been reinvesting and updating a lot of processes along the way,” said Rechtschaffer. Expect Electrolift to be a part of the Clifton manufacturing scene for a long time to come.
f
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
23
Made in Clifton
Newark Wire Cloth Company One year ago, Newark Wire Cloth Company celebrated the 100th anniversary. Founded in 1911 by John C. Campbell, this Clifton manufacturer creates a variety of wire cloth products for use in markets such as food, pharmaceutical, automotive, medical, and even aerospace. The company is now headed by the fourth generation of Campbells in brothers Rick and Jim, who serve as President and Vice President.
24 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
680 Rt. 3 West At first glance, it’s hard to guess the end use of the products manufactured at Clifton’s Newark Wire Cloth Company. Across the entire shop floor are several different types and sizes of wire cloth in varying states of completion. But what is made here are items which serve a vital role in a number of industries: small sensors in aerospace applications to many different types of sieves and strainers for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Even Girl Scout cookies somehow have a start using wire cloth strainers manufactured at 160 Fornelius Ave. Newark Wire Cloth Company was founded in 1911 in the so called Brick City by John C. Campbell. Brothers Rick and Jim Campbell, the fourth generation owners, have been at the helm since 1986. After initially taking over, the brothers soon ran into trouble. Ground contamination at the old factory in their name sake city left Newark Wire with a sizeable bill from the DEP. To cover the massive costs, they began looking for new revenue streams. That led to a short lived but lucrative relationship with Ford Motors. “I guess sometimes you get lucky once in a while,” laughed Rick, President of Newark Wire Cloth Company. “Ford had side air bags in the Lincoln Continental and we supplied the wire cloth. It diffuses the gas so that the bag doesn’t explode.” That relationship continued until about 1993, when changes in the industry led to Newark Wire Cloth discontinuing their role in the manufacturing of parts for airbags.
973-471-7717 www.ihop.com enter from Allwood Rd.
The chocolate in delicious Girl Scout cookies first flow through screens manufactured at Clifton’s Newark Wire Cloth Company. Clifton Merchant • April 2012
25
Made in Clifton “Stainless steel was our forte, but then they changed to carbon steel and moved it offshore,” Rick explained. Newark Wire came to Clifton in 2005 after losing property in an eminent domain suit. “We’re still involved a little bit today, but now supply to a middle man.” However, despite the decline of one end of the business, Newark Wire continued to maintain relationships in the fields of aerospace, pharmaceuRick Campbell, President, brother Jim Campbell, Vice President and Bob Lucki, tical, food, chemical, automoVice President. The three partners have been together since Lucki came on board tive, medical, environmental as Vice President in 2005. Newark Wire has been in Clifton since 2005. and more. Newark Wire is ISO These certifications and in house capabilities procertified, and is also approved for aerospace work in vide Newark Wire with a distinct advantage over comthe form of AS9100 and NADCAP certifications. petitors. “We’re not married to one industry, which To accommodate its diverse customers, Newark helps us without a doubt. Since the downturn with the Wire’s 30,000 square foot building is large enough to recession, we’ve since rebounded to pre-recession levinclude a wide variety of machines for welding, solels,” explained Rick. “We gravitate more towards dering braising and polishing, and also features an ondemand in quality.” site machine shop.
26 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
We’ll Mail Your Easter Order!
h e s
• Holiday Hams & other Traditional Easter Foods • Pork, Beef, Cheese & Meat Products • Home Style Smoked Bacon & Smoked Sausages • We make our own Salami & offer many fine Imports
We now bake Homemade Hungarian Rétes Rétes, or Strudel, is one of Hungary’s most renowned dishes. We bake it like in the old days and offer it to you in Lekvar, Poppyseed, Sour Cherry, Apple. Apricot or Cheese. Our cases are filled with fresh Poppyseed, Lekvar, Apricot and other Hungarian Spices!
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
27
Made in Clifton Newark Wire does business across North America, place orders, significantly reducing turn around time. but primarily works in the Northeast. These finished goods, along with several tons of raw “We’ve learned to stick to wire cloth rolls and other our niche,” he added. “We materials take up a significan be successful if we just cant portion of the shop stick to our core business.” floor. Materials and finThere are 29 employees ished goods are organized total, with 14 working on the via a color coded system shop floor. Regular shifts are for easy tracking within Monday through Friday, with the shop. overtime as needed. “We have a good staff “There is cross training, here. Everyone is like but most guys have been family,” explained Rick. here a while,” said Rick. “If we hit a certain sales “We’ve got one guy who has quota, we buy everyone been here for 40 years. You lunch, not just people in get more bang for your buck the office. I think we run a when you hire and keep pretty fair company. Tim Brenner, production supervisor with experienced workers. When We’re all in this together.” Mike Sanders, maintenance mechanic. you hire a new guy, you have That mentality is what to train them.” has helped brothers Rick and Jim, and their third While Newark Wire often does custom work, they ‘brother’, Vice President Bob Lucki, remain successful. do carry a line up of high demand pre-fabricated prod“It’s nice to have good partners,” said Rick. “It ucts for clients who have large contracts or constantly gives you a sounding board to relay off of.”
28 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
29
Invented in Clifton
, 9 9 . 9 $ At
s ’ a m o o T l l i Can B h Turtle s u r b h Toot ? y y l l l a F Re ORDER YOURS TODAY! By Joe Hawrylko Don’t kiss anyone who doesn’t use a Toothbrush Turtle! That’s a bit of free advice from Bill Tooma, but if you want his revolutionary product, you’re going to have to shell out a little dough—$9.99, to be exact. The Woodland Ave. resident is the brains behind the Toothbrush Turtle, a fist-sized plastic bubble dome that gets attached to the wall or cabinet in your bathroom and holds up to four brushes of any size in a sanitary environment. What’s the need for such a product? The next time you place your wet toothbrush on the counter, think about what it is exposed to during the course of the day: facial and body hair, cleaning products, perfumes, unsanitary airborne particles from a flushed toilet, air fresheners to cover up that smell... “Your toilet has a cover. Your toothpaste has a cover. Dental floss has a cover. Your razor has a cover,” exclaimed Tooma. “The only thing that doesn’t have a cover is your toothbrush holder.” If this sounds rehearsed, that’s because it is. Not only an inventor, Tooma is a master salesman, ready to peddle his product at fairs, exhibitions, or anyone who will lend them his ear on the street for a few minutes. 30 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
31
Invented in Clifton He’s even got a prop bathroom that he can whip together in 15 minutes for demonstrations. Tooma’s sales background comes from his time with IBM, where he was a business partner—essentially a marketing agent. He currently is self employed and travels extensively and remains at job sites for weeks at a time as a software consultant. But since coming up with the idea for the Toothbrush Turtle while on a business trip in 1995, Tooma has spent every second of his free time perfecting, promoting and pushing his revolutionary product. He recalls the epiphany of the invention: “I was staying at the Best Western in Wilsburry, PA. I asked the front desk girl—I still remember her name—Roxanne—if they could provide a tooth brush holder because I was going to be there longer than I had thought. She said, ‘Sorry, we can’t give you anything because it’s a sanitary issue and the house keepers are already overwhelmed with what they do on their daily routine.’” “Then,” Tooma continued. “she actually came out and said, why don’t you come up with something? That’s what started my whole dilemma. It set my wheels running really hard.”
32 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
A few weeks later back in Clifton, he entered an agreement with Rapid Prototyping in Ohio, and began drafting up ideas. However, it was Tooma’s son, William Joseph, then at age 10, who inspired his father. “My son started the prototype by buying one of those 50 cent toys at the supermarket, from like a gumball machine... One of those little plastic containers where you pop it and it opens,” he said. “I look at it and I go whoaaaa...” “Then, I said to him, ‘here’s a dollar, go get two more.’ He goes to me, ‘Are you feeling alright dad?’” Back at home, he goes into the workshop. “I put a hole in the bottom of the piece and took the stem from the toy and screwed it into the back of the bottom piece,” explained Tooma. “Then I stapled the top to the bottom so you have a swivel. Next day, I’m sending the Toothpaste Turtle to the engineers.” Early versions had two holes instead of four, and brushes could only be placed by opening the container. The most radical change was when Tooma added partitions to prevent the brushes from touching each other. “When the engineer saw that, he said, ‘Oh my God, you just changed the toothbrush holder industry to another level that will never go away.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
33
Invented in Clifton Six prototypes, a few years and more than a dozen patents later, Tooma’s bright idea was finally starting to become reality. But the effort, hours and money needed to just get a prototype began to mount. “I figured it would cost about $8,000 the most just to get this done as far as getting the prototype and going to someone, saying hey look, it is a disposable toothbrush holder for hotels, and then, bam!, they buying it,” said Tooma. “But it didn’t work that way.” Inventing, developing and patenting the Toothbrush Turtle was easy compared with breaking into the commercial market, proved to be the most challenging and more costly task. In 2002, Tooma traveled to London for the hotel expo, Hotelympia so he could meet buyers in the hospitality and lodging industry. Though well received, experts noted a flaw with the Toothbrush Turtle. “In order to have consumers desire for missing items when they are on the road, they need to have that item at their homes,” Tooma recalled being told. This led to developing two Toothbrush Turtles: a permanent version for use at home, and a smaller disposable product for the lodging industry. In 2004, Tooma had his first run of Toothbrush Turtle home version manufactured: 10,000 in white and 10,000 in beige. Since then, he has sampled or sold The Toothbrush Turtle at consumer shows and trade events and it is always well received. Feedback from consumers led to him revising his marketing strategy. “It’s not just for hotels or homes,” he explained, sounding a bit like the lyrical Once-ler, the character in the Lorax of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale. “It’s for RVs. Rental RVs. Boats. Cruise liners. College students... Everyone needs a Toothbrush Turtle.”
Tooma sees the US military as his biggest market. “Think about this... 5,000 crew members on an aircraft carrier... guys over in Afghanistan... don’t they deserve a clean environment for their toothbrushes?” He hopes to find an advocate to get him selling to the military. “That depends on our guy, Mr. Bill Pascrell,” he said, claiming: “Congressmen are the only ones who are an agent for the federal government.” On the retail front, Tooma focused his selling on New Jersey based Bed Bath & Beyond. He had made inroads with the home goods retailer in 2004, after his first line was manufactured, but a defect with the taping cancelled the deal. A new and improved Toothbrush Turtle emerged from the drawing board. “I dropped off information to the CEO in Union three months ago. I’ve not heard anything back yet,” said Tooma, hopeful the Toothbrush Turtle is under review. “Corporate is still evaluating the product.” His son William Joseph Tooma—the instigator of sorts for the Toothbrush Turtle—is now 28 and a film maker, writer and professor. See the commercial and more information at www.toothbrushturtle.com Over the coming months, Tooma is taking the marketing of Toothbrush Turtle to the streets. Look for him at the Meadowlands Flea Market and other local expos. “And I’d really love the Board of Education to have students sell Toothbrush Turtles instead of candy for fundraisers during the year,” he suggested. Tooma has a beneficial vision for his product. “In 10 years, I see this product in every household. Not just in the US, but in the world. And not just for profit but because it works,” Tooma said with pride. “I want to show people this product is going to be like the toothbrush—something that you use every day.”
We Keep the Fleet on the Street Proud to serve the Clifton, Passaic & Nutley Police & Fire Departments
• • • •
Domestics/Foreign Automatic/Manual Commercial Fleets Differentials, Clutches
45 Atlantic Way (790 Bloomfield Ave)
• • • •
Light/Medium Trucks Antiques & Classics 4 Wheel Drive Service A/C Systems & more
Call 973-472-2075 ask for Mark or Brian
Present this ad and save $100 off any overhaul 34 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
The Weather is Great for Backyard BBQ!
Butchers Albert Hidalgo & Joseph Szurlej
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
35
Industrial Education
Future Tool & Die Makers? Clifton Students tour HK Metal Craft
Clifton students at HK Metal Craft in a tour to find out more about careers in manufacturing.
Some 75 students from Clifton High School and the city’s middle schools visited HK Metal Craft last June to tour the 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing company. The goal was to see what type of jobs are available to students who are seeking an alternative to college, specialized training or the military following graduation. The trip was organized by Michael Paitchell, a Board of Education commissioner and engineer who has long been a proponent of returning shop classes to CHS. “Most kids today... they’re being sent to college without any idea that there are alternative routes to getting employment—and alternative routes to continuing education,” added Raymond Hopp, President and CEO of HK Metal Craft, a 51-year-old company in Lodi that manufactures high precision metal stampings, springs, gaskets, washers and other specialty metal materials. With the increasing price of higher education, why send kids off to a four year college to find themselves? “In the next 20 years, a half million jobs in the tool and die and machining job field will be created or become vacant in New Jersey,” Hopp explained to the students. “We will provide you with an education, get you going to community college to get an Associate degree as part of a training program and part of the education requirements of the apprenticeship program.” 36 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Hopp was frank in his reasons for hoping to recruit high school grads to his business and the industry. “Eighty-two percent of our workforce is 52 and older, and they’ll be retiring in the next ten years. If we don’t replace them, we will go out of business,” he said. Tool and die makers build the forms and molds that create parts used to make larger products. “A tool maker, working full time, having gone through the apprenticeship, makes some place around $70,000 a year depending on how much overtime they do. The base wage is $50,000 to $55,000. Our guys now are making about $55,000 or $60,000.” And for ambitious students who may think that manufacturing jobs are a dead end where they may spend the next 30 years standing on a shop floor? “The career path for the tool and die maker who is so inclined, they could become a part or machine designer and eventually go on to be an engineer or possibly the head of engineering for a company,” explained Hopp, adding this path does not necessarily require a return to college. “There are a lot of practically trained engineers. Our chief engineer does not have a four year college degree, but started as a tool and die maker,” Hopp explained on the tour. “There is a lot of credit given to what you can do and what you've learned.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
37
Clifton History
THE EVOLUTION OF Since 1894
NASH PARK
Nash Park has evolved much since 1894 when the area was ‘The Aquatic Gardens at Clifton.’ Below is an illustration promoting the American Beauty Rose developed by park namesake Scotto Nash. Above is Henry Marrocco in 1958 during the Boys Scouts of America Aheka Council Camporee. See page 44 for the latest news about this jewel of Clifton.
O
n Saturday, Aug. 25, 1894, Passaic City Herald readers couldn’t fail to notice an enticing news item featured on the front page. The “Tropical Wonders of Mr. Nash’s Aquatic Gardens at Clifton” were outlined and the public received an open invitation to see “...night flowers bursting out in all their glory.” Nowadays, Nash Park occupies the Lexington Ave. site where a century ago Scotto Clark Nash grew the deep pink, 50petal long-stemmed roses that earned Acquackanonk Township the sobriquet “Home of the American Beauty Rose.” S T O RY
BY
38 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Nash was born in Pittsfield, Mass., on Nov. 5, 1841, moved to Brooklyn, and 28 years later settled with his wife, Alice and son, George, in the farm community of Acquackanonk, now Clifton. At the time, Nash and his brother, Duane, operated a business in New York manufacturing farm machinery. They expanded and opened a branch in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Nash and his family lived in the Keystone State for a time. The business was dissolved in 1887 and he returned to Clifton, investing in real estate. In a masterful biography published in 1976, Clifton historian William J.
E . A . S M Y K , PA S S A I C C O U N T Y H I S T O R I A N
When we purchased our landmark Pharmacy in 1979, we made a commitment to be community-friendly and independent. Thanks to our hard work, great employees and decades of loyal customers, we remain that way. As we enter a new year, we invite you to visit our store to ask a question, fill a prescription, purchase a card, a bouquet of balloons or a fine gift. We and our staff are here Monday to Saturday to help.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
39
Clifton History
Thanks to the late Bob Potts, the Clifton Phillies called Nash Park home for years.
Wurst traced Nash’s astonishing career. He noted that the future rose grower was a devoted naturalist and voracious reader as well. Nash collected rare books: his library reflected eclectic tastes and, as Wurst indicated, the shelves contained “books running the gamut from art history to science.” Nash had capital available from previous business ventures, so he decided to turn his fascination with flowering plants into a profitable business. Eventually, the Nash holdings in Clifton near the Passaic River comprised more than 17 acres. A 12-room mansion completed the picture. Directly behind the house, Nash built 10 hothouses, each 100-feet long. In 1894, the glass-enclosed structures held 14,000 of Nash’s prized American Beauty roses. On a portion of the property, a disagreeable swamp offended Nash’s sensibilities. Gradually, he
40 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
reclaimed the mosquito-infested area at the cost of several thousand dollars and created a sunken garden for tropical plants. Nash installed steam pipes that traversed the garden and connected to a boiler so the proper temperatures could be maintained. Although “Nash’s Pond” was operating by spring, 1892, the water garden was still a hobby. But the successful rose connoisseur had a good sense of what would turn a profit. In 1894, Nash and William Tricker (an Englishman who came to the U.S. nine years earlier) formed a partnership to raise and market aquatic plants. “Tricker and Co.” transformed the Clifton pond into the celebrated and soon nationally known aquatic garden. Tricker skillfully hybridized different varieties of water lilies and the results were amazing.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
41
Clifton History
It appears the Victoria Regia supports Emma Porter Nash but there is a board beneath her feet. In 1894, Scotto Nash opened an aquatic and tropical garden at Dundee Lake and Lexington Ave., approximately across from today’s Hot Grill.
But it was the huge water lily called “Victoria Regia” that captivated the public and caused newspapers such as the Herald to enthuse over the plant’s exotic beauty. Native to the Amazon, the Regia had handsome, padlike leaves that were a brilliant, deep green. The underside was a vivid crimson. When opened, the flowers of Victoria Regia measured nearly 12 inches and the petals of pure white graduated to shades of rose and red. The leaves were huge—six feet in diameter—floating on the pond’s surface, they resembled large green rafts. Local residents often gathered at the pond’s edge at sunset during the summer months to see the day flowers closing and the night ones opening. Nash reveled in the publicity his plants brought, and when people visited the gardens he was often available to answer questions. When Mrs. G.D. Rogert of Garfield heard about the huge plants she hurried over to the gardens on Aug. 28, 1894, and according to the next day’s Herald “...went wild on what she saw at the 42 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton gardens.” Her husband “really had to drag her away…” When Nash announced he would photograph his children standing on the giant water lily, the event made page one of Aug. 27th’s Herald. The plant probably could have supported the weight of a child unaided, but not an adult. When Emma Porter Nash, the rose-grower’s daughter, was photographed in 1894, it appears a board was placed beneath her feet. Nash’s biographer believes the aquatic gardens were irreparably damaged by the area floods of 1902 and 1903, and the delicate tropical plants probably did not survive. Scotto Nash continued to cultivate roses until 1909 when he retired and spent his declining years managing real estate. A quiet, genial man with a long flowing beard, Nash died of pneumonia on April 22, 1920. His name is immortalized by Nash Park. It was dedicated by Clifton Mayor Fred C. deVido on Sept. 14, 1950.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
43
Remembering Bob Potts
Play Ball! at Nash Park, call it
Bob Potts Field On April 29, the late and legendary Bob Potts will be honored with a ceremony at Nash Park. It is a fitting tribute to Clifton’s Mr. Baseball. Over the years and up until his death in 2007, Potts nurtured many baseball programs and players. His Phillies and Silk Sox teams played 35 seasons at Nash Park. One of the things Bob was most proud of was that seven players from his Phillies teams made it to the major leagues. He was an employee of Clifton 44 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Recreation where he administered sports programs for 17 years before his retirement in Aug., 2003. That’s where the story on the facing page picks up. Prior to the dedication—and to help make it a celebration—Clifton Rec Director Debbie Oliver is asking those who would like to share photos, memories or stories about Bob in Clifton Rec, Clifton Phillies, Silk Soxs or of Nash Park to call 973-470-5958 or write her at doliver@cliftonnj.org.
n August 1, 2003 Clifton’s “Mr. Baseball” retired from his job at the Recreation Department, where he has administered the city’s sports programs for the past 17 years. “I’ve been very fortunate to have two careers that I loved,” Potts says. “I worked over 30 years for the Paterson Evening News. When that job ended, I was fortunate to walk into this job. But now it’s time to go. I’ve worked for over 50 years—you know in your heart when it’s time.” Don’t expect Potts to retire to some South Jersey senior citizen hideaway. He’ll continue to run his team, the Clifton Silk Sox, be active in the Babe Ruth League, and turn up at diamonds throughout the area, watching his beloved game. Though he’s lived in Fair Lawn throughout most of his life, Potts considers Clifton a second home. “The
city’s been very good to me,” he says. “I have many friends here.” Potts grew up in North Bergen and Fair Lawn, and played for the Fair Lawn High School baseball team. He was a first baseman and number three pitcher for the Cutters from 1952 to 1954. The team’s number one hurler was future major leaguer, Ron Perranoski. Fair Lawn coach Virgil Sasso recognized Potts’ talent was not just as a player. “I knew a lot about baseball,” Potts remembers. “So he also made me third base coach.” After his graduation, the town approached Potts about restarting and managing the Fair Lawn BBCs, a semi-pro team that had recently folded. “I took the job,” Potts says. “We re-formed the team with guys I graduated with and younger players. And we held our own.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
45
Remembering Bob Potts 1959, we moved there and became the Paterson Phillies, playing there until 1967.” Marmo signed many of Potts’ players for the Philadelphia organization—but one did get away. “I wanted Ben to sign my old teammate, Ron Perranoski,” Potts remarks, “but unfortunately the Chicago Cubs got him first.” Perranoski pitched 13 years in the majors, compiling a 79-74 record with 179 saves. While the Paterson Phillies enjoyed success against former big leaguers like Clifton’s Ed Sanicki, West Orange’s Gus Keriazakos, and the Dodgers’ Joe Black, they could not compete with the new demands placed on Eastside Park. By the mid1960s, soccer was squeezing baseball Clifton Phillies being welcomed to Clifton in 1968. From left Clifton Rec Director out. Walter Sidor (a former All–State pitcher at CHS), Bob Potts and Clifton Mayor After the semi-pro Clifton Dodgers Joseph Vanecek. folded in 1968, Clifton Recreation Potts managed the team and played part-time, receivDepartment Superintendent Walt Sidor asked Potts to ing no pay. In 1955, Fair Lawn joined the Passaic bring his Phillies to Nash Park. After meeting with County League and won the league’s championship the Mayor Joe Vanecek, Potts agreed. next two years. At one time, the Phillies were the oldest active and In 1957, Fair Lawn jumped to the North Jersey successful semi-pro team in New Jersey. Lasting 45 League at the urging of writer and part-time Philadelphia years, they had over 1,500 victories—winning 32 assortPhillies scout Ben Marmo. When Marmo’s own semied league and division titles, and the 1959 state champipro team, Uncle Sam’s Shoes, folded, he gave Potts’ Fair onship. Lawn team their home field to use. “Through all those years,” Potts says, “we got great “At that time,” Potts recalls, “Eastside Park in support from the Clifton mayors, council people, the Paterson was the top location for semi-pro baseball. In recreation department, and local fans.”
Happy Easter from Pogorelec law offices John D. Pogorelec, sr. - John D. Pogorelec, Jr. 840 Van Houten ave. • clifton, NJ 07013
concentrating in the areas of... real estate, elder/Medicaid law, wills & estates, landlord/Tenant
46 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Tel: 973-778-1604 • fax: 973-778-0334
1206
John D. Pogorelec, Jr.
In 1972, Potts’s career with the Phillies almost ended. A change of hours at the Paterson Evening News (where he worked as a pressman) made getting to Nash Park by game time impossible. “We had an outstanding centerfielder who told me, ‘Don’t worry, Bob. I’ll take everything until you get here.’ That was Len Coleman, former National League president. He played centerfield for us for nine seasons, and would come to see us whenever he Bob Potts was named National Amateur Baseball Manager of the Year for the 1987 season. was in town.” Also shown is Willie Banks, the St. Anthony H.S. baseball player ranked #1 in the nation and Other star players include Dick Case, executive director of U.S. Baseball. 1975 National League Rookie Clifton also produced some great native talent. of the Year John “the Count” Montefusco, the Chicago “Pat Grady was one of my greatest players,” Potts Cub’s Willie Prall, and Frank MacCormack, who pitched says. “We won three straight championships with him in for Seattle and Detroit. “I’ve had about 90 players signed the outfield. Dan Sinisi was another. Years ago, from my team into pro ball,” Potts says.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
47
Remembering Bob Potts
Some who played for Bob Potts include: Willie Prall, John “The Count” Montefusco, Jim Bouton, Eddie Sanicki, Len Coleman
Good Neighbors, Great Rates
Thomas Tobin 973-779-4248
Bill G. Eljouzi 973-478-9500
Kenneth P. Kievit 1948 - 2012 All of us at Athenia Mason Supply and his friends and family both here in Clifton and in Hardyston mourn the passing of Ken. 48 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Dennis Cesar was one of my all-time best outfielders. Another of Potts’ favorite ex-players is former Clifton High coach Paul Pignatello. In March 2000, Potts folded the Phillies. A broken ankle suffered when he fell on the ice that winter limited his mobility, and the cost of running the team and lack of commitment by many Met League players influenced his decision. For the next two seasons, Potts ran the Clifton Babe Ruth League—but couldn’t shake his desire to run his own team. Last year, he formed the Clifton Silk Sox, in tribute to the famous Doherty Silk Sox team that played during the twenties. The old Silk Sox regularly beat major league and Negro League teams on its home field behind the Main Ave. mill. “I always read about the Silk Sox,” Potts says, “and talked to some of their old players, like the late Bennie Borgmann, about those days. Naming my team after the Silk Sox was a way to remember them.” Potts’ Silk Sox are part of the I-80 Wood Bat League and play their home games at Nash Park. He spends $3,000 out of his own pocket outfitting the team and buying equipment. “We don’t even pass the hat anymore,” he says, “because there aren’t too many fans there.” Despite the low attendance, Potts will continue to lead his team, guiding talent he sees as just a few notches below the Met League. The Silk Sox are filled with players in their twenties, united by the love of the game and who play for a local legend. “The team keeps me going, keeps my mind active,” Potts says. “To survive in baseball, you have to change with the times. I have friends who are old-timers who say the game was better in their day. It wasn’t better—just different—that’s what you have to realize.”
n
n d -
e s n d t d
d e e
e s d
, e , e r r
� e y t Clifton Merchant • April 2012
49
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
CHS
Front row, from left: Joseph DeJesus, Cory Pollina, Tyler Lavin, Erick Femeras, Adnan Pjetrovic, Chris DiFalco and Anthoy Fusoni. Back: Luis Ramos, Ryan Hariton, Patrick Ferrara, Roberto Mendoza, Jimmy Lavin, Thomas Hanle and Jokeldy Hernandez.
C
lifton posted a 10-14 record in 2011 with a squad that was primarily inexperienced juniors. But with most of those players returning for this coming campaign, head coach Joe Rivera feels that the Mustangs are poised to be much better. “Last year we didn’t have returning starters and had a young team,” he explained. “But I’ve got my top four hitters coming back. I would definitely say hitting is our strength. In our four scrimmages, we averaged 10 runs a game.” Senior catcher Adnan Pjetrovic will return to the clean up role this year after collecting Second Team All-County honors in 2011. For the second year in a row, he will be the 50 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Mustang captain. Senior Ryan Hariton is the second captain and lead off hitter for the Mustangs. He will play shortstop in the field. Jimmy Lavin, the senior second baseman, will bat second in the order. Both Hariton and Lavin are returning starters. Erick Ferreras, a junior, began the 2011 campaign with the JV squad but ended up getting some time with Varsity and sticking after Rivera saw some stellar performances against top clubs. “He’s honestly the best hitter that I’ve coached,” said coach. Ferreras bats third and plays third base. “He started midway last year and we brought him up and he was just carrying the ball. I had to keep him in
Baseball March 31 at Paramus
11 am
April 2 Don Bosco
4 pm
April 4 at Passaic
4 pm
April 5 Eastside April 7 at Kearny
4 pm 11 am
April 9 at Wayne Hill
4 pm
April 11 J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
April 13 at Passaic Cty Tech
Noon
April 16 Bergen Tech
4 pm
April 18 at Wayne Valley
4 pm
April 20 at Don Bosco
4 pm
April 23 Passaic
4 pm
April 24 Montclair
4 pm
April 25 Elizabeth
4 pm
April 27 at Eastside
4 pm
April 30 Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
May 2 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 3 at Union
4 pm
May 4 at J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
May 5 at Ridgewood May 7 Lakeland
11 am 4:15 pm
May 9 West Milford
4 pm
May 11 at Teaneck
4 pm
May 18 at Paramus
4 pm
S
the lineup as a sophomore. I’ve been getting letters from D1 schools for him.” Rivera said only the top four hitters are locked into position, and that anything after can change. Junior Chris DiFalco, who played JV in 2011, will man first base and fifth in the batting order. Junior right fielder Anthony Fusoni is slotted in at the sixth batting position. Other field players include Senior Pat Ferrara at centerfield, and senior Joe deJesus at left field. Sophomore Tyler Lavin and junior Corey Pollina will serve as the DH. Senior Jokeldy Hernandez is a utility player for the infield. Junior Roberto Mendoza will fill in outfield positions when one of the Mustangs comes in to pitch. While the Mustangs will return several key bats, pitching will come down to some skilled but inexperienced players. “I really didn’t have any returning starting pitchers from last year,” said Rivera. “Pat (Ferrara) and Joe (deJesus) were in the bullpen from last year but that was it.” Those two Mustangs could be coming into the rotation this year. Rivera expects his ace in 2012 to be junior Tom Hanle, who was on JV last season. Number two
in the rotation will be sophomore Louie Ramos. Joe deJesus and Tyler Lavin will battle it out for the next two spots in the rotation. Corey Pollina will be the reliever. “They’re all pretty good, but inexperienced at the Varsity level,” explained Rivera. “They did play over the summer in a U-19 league and did pretty well. I definitely see us doing pretty well this year again. We’ve got our top four hitters returning and young pitchers, but they’re very good and they throw strikes. I think we’re going to do really well.”
Call Now! Season-Low Pricing on New Installs!
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
51
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
Front from left: Dylan Amico, Heather Ranges, Janine Giordano, Christina Hlvaty, Callie Shanahan, Meghan Fahy, Renee Korczynski. Back: Jessica Schama, Amanda Marakovitz, Kayla Meneghin, Jenn Chupick, Lexi Balkjy, Kelly Young, Allison Hoey
T
he Lady Mustangs had an excellent season in 2011 but came up just a little short. The Clifton squad lost in the County finals to West Milford, and bowed out of the first round of the state tournament after going 15-9 in the regular season. “Last year was a great year,” said head coach Sal Anzaldi. “I don’t know many teams that would complain about going to the County Championship game. We had one bad inning, gave up six runs and it is tough to recover from that.” Of that squad, seven Varsity players will return, including both talented pitchers, senior Callie Shanahan and junior Amanda Marakovitz. Coach Anzaldi indicated that the two will be splitting starts. 52 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Also returning is senior Renee Korczynski, whose skills allow her to play anywhere in the field. After starting at first last year, Korczynski will likely play outfield and bat at the four or five spot in the lineup. Kayla Meneghin, an All-County selection in 2011, was described as a terrific defensive outfielder by Anzaldi and will bat in the two or three slot. Senior Kelly Young will be in at right field. Classmates Christina Hlavaty and Lexi Balkjy will also be in the outfield mix. Junior Heather Rangers will start for the second year in a row, lining up at center field. “She possesses tremendous speed,” said Anzaldi. “If we can get her to consistently put the ball on the ground, she can beat a lot of things out.”
CHS
Softball April 2 at Immaculate Heart
4 pm
April 4 Passaic
4 pm
April 5 at Eastside April 7 at Wallkill Valley
4 pm 3:30 pm
April 9 Wayne Hills
4 pm
April 11 at J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
April 12 at Cedar Grove
4 pm
April 13 Passaic Cty Tech
10 am
April 14 at Passaic Valley
7:30 pm
April 16 at Bergen Cty Tech
4 pm
April 17 Kearny
4 pm
April 18 Wayne Valley
4 pm
April 20 Immaculate Heart
4 pm
April 21 Pope John XXIII (tourny) 5 pm April 21 Sparta (tourny)
7 pm
April 23 at Passaic
4 pm
April 24 at Caldwell April 27 Eastside
4:15 pm 4 pm
April 30 at Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
May 1 at St. Dominic
4 pm
May 2 Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 4 J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
May 7 at Lakeland
4 pm
May 9 at West Milford
4 pm
S
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
53
Mustang Sports Senior Janine Giordano is another returning player. She will be at third base, and likely second in the batting order. Sophomore Brittney Meneghin is slotted in for second base. “First base remains a position that we will take a hard look at,” said Anzaldi.
Senior shortstop Meghan Fahy will be one of the top players for the Lady Mustang infield. “She’s probably going to be our leadoff hitter,” said Anzaldi. “She’s a tremendous team player and the kid actually does whatever she has to for the benefit of the team.”
3 w
WEEKEND SPECIAL
99
12
$
W’KEND EARLY BIRD
12 499
BAGELS
! !
1/4 lb Sliced Nova, 6 Bagels, plus 1/2 lb Cream Cheese
$
Sat & Sun Only 5am10am
!
!
WEEKLY SPECIALS
61/2BAGELS 121/2BAGELS lb. Cream Cheese lb. Cream Cheese & 1/2 lb. Butter
8
$
& 1/2 lb. Butter
13
$
75
! ! !
!
75 ! !
GOOD ANYTIME
3 FREE 2 OFF FREE 3 3 BAGELS w/Purchase of 1/2 lb. Specialty
$
Any Purchase of $10 or more
Cream Cheese or Any Salad
!
!
!
!
INFLATION BUSTER
1 DOZEN BAGELS $ 99
Mon thru Fri (after 3PM)
!
!
BAGELS
when you buy Six Bagels $ !
!
54 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
4
80
Junior Jen Chupick and senior Allison Hoey are in a competition ! for the position. W Dylan Amico will be the new catcher. Anzaldi added that she ‘has a cannon for an arm’ and will be throwing out many runners. “I think the strength of the team is that its a group of kids that all really get along with each other,” said coach. “They have a lot of good times playing softball. If we can get some good pitching, timely hitting and good D, we should be able to win a lot of games.” “We had a rough preseason, just giving up too many runs,” continued Anzaldi. “We have to get much better defensively and become much more aggressive with our bats. If those things happen, we should be ok.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
55
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
CHS
Track Front from left: Ryan Dziuba, Chirag Desai, Jillian Swisher, Michael Czerhoniak, Miguel Garcia and Kimberly Douglass. Rear, from left: Shianne Nevers, Fabian Rodriguez, Keyra Krauss.
H
ead coach John Pontes is anticipates a rebuilding season after the Mustangs placed third in the league and eighth in the county. “We graduated quite a few,” explained the coach. Clifton went 2-2 in dual meets for the boys in 2011 and lost top runner Dan Green. Pontes will rely on some well established Mustangs to score points this coming year. Leading that pack will be Jessie Boria, a junior in his third year of Varsity. He will run the 1,800 and 3,200. Distance will be the team strength, bolstered by seniors Ryan Dziuba (800), David Monclova (800 and 1,600), Vedanta Nayak (all distance events), junior Darren Malysa (3,200 and 1,600) and sophomore Justin Tanayan (1,600 and 800). In throws will be seniors Aaron 56 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Arias and Kostyantyn Bloshko. “(Kostyantyn) is new to us this year and is doing very well in the shotput and discuss,” added Pontes. Royce Deleon, a junior, will be a leader in jumps and hurdles. Others in those events include senior Fabian Rodriguez (polevault and hurdles), junior Mike Hardy (high jump, 400 and 100 hurdles) and sophomore Dwyer Halliburton. “We can put (Halliburton) just about anywhere,” said Pontes. “We have 79 kids all together this year, which is bigger than usual. There’s a lot of underclassmen, sophomore and freshman, that are new and they’ll come along,” he continued. “We’re kind of in a rebuilding year. There’s four events we’re really strong in. Unfortunately there’s about 13 events.” The girls squad finished their
April 3 at Eastside
4 pm
April 7 at Passaic Valley
9 am
April 9 Passaic
4 pm
April 17 at J. F. Kennedy April 21 at Old Bridge
4 pm 8:30 am
April 28 at Randolph
9 am
May 1 Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
May 7 at Wayne Valley
3:30 pm
May 10 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 11 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 15 at Passaic Valley
3:30 pm
May 16 at Pascack Valley
3:30 pm
May 25 at Randolph
4 pm
May 26 at Randolph
10 am
June 1 at Old Bridge
4 pm
June 2 at Old Bridge
10 am
June 7 at Old Bridge
4 pm
2011 season with a 3-1 record in dual meets, and faces a staunch task in besting PCTI. Clifton’s rival took the county crown, while the Mustangs finished second in both the league and county. “PCTI has been pretty dominant and they will be for a few years,” said head coach Mike Rogers, who
S
Front from left: Jocelyn Lee, Raul Letona, Kostyantyn Bloshko and David Monclova. Rear from left: Veronica Medina, Layal Helwani, Vedanta Nayak and Kevin Lo.
takes over for Flo Calise after serving as assistant. Among the key returners for Clifton will be senior Monika Miazga and junior Gabby Gonzaga. “Monika is one of the best sprinters in Passaic County and North Jersey,” said Rogers. “Gabby was 1st Team All-County in the mile and will run all distance events.” Senior Shianne Nevers was one
of the top point scorers and will return in hurdles and jumps. Junior Nicole Buttel is perhaps the best all around Mustang, and will compete in pole vault, hurdles and jumps. Seniors Annette Malysa will lead the Mustangs in the 3,200, and classmate Jillian Swisher will also contribute in distance events. Rogers also expects junior Yuria
Yuasa to rebound from injury struggles this season. Senior Kim Douglass is a newcomer who looks to make an impact in several events. Sophomore Cassidy Cardone will be a top performer in hurdles and the 400. “I think we can be competitive against PCTI,” said Rogers. “We at least want to have another winning record in dual meets.”
Delicious Pirogies just like Mom used to make! Come to The Famous & Original (from Lexington Ave)...
HOMEMADE PIROGI
M-F 8 - 6 Sat 10 - 4 1295 Main Ave • Downtown Clifton Across from DeLuxe Cleaners
973.340.0340
WWW.HOMEMADEPIROGI.COM
Varieties • Potatoes & Cheese • Potato • Sauerkraut • Pot Cheese • Mushroom • Pot Cheese & Potato • Broccoli • Spinach • Pizza • Apple • Prune • Cabbage • Apricot & Cheese • Broccoli & Spinach
NEW! Great for Parties... Hot, Homemade Empanadas! Clifton Merchant • April 2012
57
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
The varsity lax squad includes RJ Rossi, Mike Naideck, Mike Duesler, Kristi Martiko, Mark Surgent, Joe Cupoli, Harry Litchfield, Eddy Borthwick, Joe Rapuano, Tom Cotroneo, Matt Melnik, Chris Rosado, Branden Morales and Zac Wohr.
C
lifton lacrosse had another successful season, making the playoffs for a fourth straight year. However, the Mustangs were once again bounced from the state tournament in the first round. Coach George Cowan hopes that his club can take the leap forward this year and earn its first playoff win in over a decade. But for that to happen, Clifton will need to overcome the graduation of key players, injuries and a tough schedule. “We’re playing St. Peter’s Prep, MKA, Caldwell, Milburn, Glenridge... we’re playing a lot of tough teams,” said Cowan. Clifton went 8-9 last year. “We’re bringing back a few guys, but we graduated 58 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
most of our starting D. We lost one or two guys offensively—a big loss was Bryan Yip—but we’ve got a couple of young guys who are really stepping up.” Leading the Mustangs offensively will be Thomas Cotroneo, a junior midfielder who netted over 30 goals last year while collecting Second Team All-County honors. “He plays a full 48 minutes for us and his stick skills have really progressed,” said coach. “He starts off as first line mid and when I call twos, he goes to attack and the guys on attack go to midfield.” Junior lefty Mark Surgent, who was named to the Second Team All-County and All-League teams, potted 42 goals. He will start at
CHS Boys
Lacrosse March 31 at DePaul
2 pm
April 2 at Verona
4 pm
April 5 Morristown
4 pm
April 9 at Columbia April 14 Arthur L. Johnson
4 pm 11 am
April 16 at Cranford
4:30 pm
April 17 at Caldwell
4 pm
April 19 at Montclair Kimberly April 21 Randolph
4 pm 11 am
April 24 St. Peter’s Prep
4 pm
April 27 at Millburn
4 pm
April 30 Glen Ridge
4 pm
May 4 Hanover Park May 7 at Vernon Twnsp May 11 Morristown
4 pm 4:30 pm 4 pm
May 14 Fair Lawn
7 pm
May 17 Nutley
7 pm
S
attack and shift to midfield for shifts. Other attackers are senior Joe Rapuano and juniors Chris Rosado and Matt Melnik. Middies include seniors Eddie Bortchwick and Brandon Morales. In defense, Thomas Russo is the best all around pole, but will miss significant time due to a torn meniscus. Starters should be junior Kevin Dziuba, sophomore Brendan Schreiber and junior Joseph Cupoli. Other poles include junior Michael Duesler, who can also run midfield as a short stick, and seniors RJ Rossi and Kristi Martiko. In the cage will be Harry Litchfield, a junior who became the full time starter for Varsity down the stretch last year. “We’re a tight knit group of guys and they seem to do anything for each other. They’ve got a lot of heart,” said Cowan. “On paper our outside, we may not be the biggest team, but they’re running the full 48 minutes— not a lot of teams would try that. They’re true Clifton guys and never give up. I think that will take us a long way this season.”
Book Early!!! Specializing in Communions & Graduations
Complete Drop-Off Buffet 4 Hot Entrees, Potato, Vegetables, Rolls, Butter & Tossed Garden Salad
11
$
95
Min 25 People + Tax/Person (Paper Goods Extra)
Call for Our Complete Menu
Also Available, Individual Pan Items!
10% Off
with this ad
Lakeview Bakery 308 Lakeview Ave. Clifton • 973-772-3837 • Se Habla Español
Lakeviewbakeryonline.com
Custom Made Sweet 16 Cakes & Engagement Cakes, Birthday Cakes, Sweet 16 Cakes, Baby Shower Cakes Clifton Merchant • April 2012
59
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
CHS Girls
Rear, from left: Sasha Sanchez, Jazmine Perdomo, Samantha Pedraza, Laura Jaramillo, Lauren Rossi, Natasha Glenn. Front: Ryan Amico, Gina LoBue, Carly Padula, Marina Rodriguez.
T
he Lady Mustangs returned from their annual trip to Florida at the end of March with much more experience. Head coach Amanda Gryszkin believes that extra preseason work will help Clifton improve upon its 3-12 record from 2011. “We graduated some of our defense and our goalie, so I have a lot to replace,” said the coach. “I have eight seniors and half of them played Varsity last year. Are we young? No. Are we inexperienced? Yes. But it is coming together.” Clifton’s strength this season will be on offense, with the top four scorers returning in Jazmine Perdomo, Jackie Burgan, Marina Rodriguez and Victoria Vail. 60 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Senior middie Jazmine Perdomo is the returning top goal scorer, after potting 30 in 2011 for the Lady Mustangs. Gryszkin is counting on Perdomo to work closely with fellow senior midfielder Marina Rodriguez, who netted 16 goals to go along with 20 assists. Senior Sam Pedraza also returns to the midfield. She put up 20 points last season, with 13 goals. Senior Carly Padula will be defensive middie, and her classmate Laura Jaramillo, will also see time as well. Junior Jackie Burgan was the second leading scorer last season, with 20 goals and 17 assists. Gryszkin will count on her to lead the attack, along with junior Victoria Vail (22g, 10a) who can
Lacrosse March 31 DePaul
1 pm
April 2 Bergen Cty Tech
4 pm
April 4 at Pascack Hills
4 pm
April 10 Dwight Englewood
4 pm
April 12 at Fair Lawn
4 pm
April 16 N-Valley-Old Tappan
4 pm
April 20 Demarest April 21 at Waldwick April 24 Pascack Valley April 26 at Wayne Valley April 28 at Warren Hills
4 pm 10 am 4 pm 4 pm 11 am
April 30 at Holy Angels
4 pm
May 2 River Dell
4 pm
May 5 Morris Hills May 7 Lakeland
2 pm 4:15 pm
May 11 at Paramus
6 pm
May 14 at South Plainfield
4 pm
play up front and in the midfield. The coach also anticipates seniors Lauren Rossi and Sasha Sanchez, as well as sophomore Rebecca Brand to contribute as well.
S
Defensively, Gryszkin returns two senior starters: Ryan Amico and Gina LoBue, who will be expected to shoulder the load while sophomore Jen Koppers and junior Katie Brody get up to speed. Seniors Megan Ortiz and Natasha Glenn will also contribute. In the cage will be junior Michelle Shackil, who is new to the position but already doing well. “We need her to step up and keep us in games,” said Gryszkin. “I have high expectations for them—I guess you always do as coach—but it is a matter of what they do on the field.”
973-772-8451 Roofing • Siding Seamless Gutters Additions • Alterations
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
61
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
CHS Boys
Volleyball March 31 at Passaic Valley
Front, from left: Avi Sojitra, Chang Mansur and Pavan Patel. Middle: Prem Patel, Matt Hader, Tim Kliks, Kyle Zwiazek and Rex Cavassa. Rear: Ankit Desai, Freddy Perez, Emil Feratovic, Lawrence Rodriguez and Adit Desai.
W
hile a 14-11 season would be very solid for any team, it marked a slight down year for the Mustangs, who posted 19 wins in 2011. However, head coach Mike Doktor returns a majority of his team from that year and many are now seniors. “I think we can have a pretty decent team this year,” he said. “We still have the same goals as always: win the league, the counties and the state. The county is definitely a possibility. We’re one 62 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
of the top three or four in Passaic County.” But though the team is skilled and seasoned, Doktor sees his squad’s faults as well. “We don’t have a lot of margin for error. We’re not the most athletic group,” he said. “But we are an intelligent group. They just have to get used to everything that we do.” Doktor will rely heavily on a returning core of Mustangs from last year’s campaign.
9 am
April 2 Don Bosco
4 pm
April 4 at Passaic
4 pm
April 9 Eastside
4 pm
April 11 at Wayne Hills
4 pm
April 13 J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
April 16 at Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
April 17 Bergen Cty Tech
4:30 pm
April 20 at Wayne Valley
4 pm
April 23 at Don Bosco
4 pm
April 25 Passaic
4 pm
April 30 at Eastside
4 pm
May 2 Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
May 4 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 7 at J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
May 9 Lakeland
4 pm
May 11 Bergen Catholic
4 pm
May 14 at Garfield
4 pm
May 17 at Belleville
4 pm
S
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
63
Mustang Sports Looking For Allwood Bicycles?
We’ve Moved & It’s Now...
8 Franklin Pl., Rutherford • 201-636-2355
www.TheBikePath.biz
Senior Freddy Perez, who started as an opposite hitter in 2011, will see an increased role for the Mustangs in 2012. “This year, he’s going to play as an outside hitter, setter, middle hitter... we’re going to use him everywhere,” said Doktor. Senior Kyle Zwiazek will also return to his position as an outside hitter. “He’s got a lot of responsibility for us as both a hitter and a passer,” explained coach. “We’re expecting a lot out of him.” Senior Chang Mansur is another returning starter for the Mustangs, playing libero. “He’s a solid player and stepped up for us last year,” said Doktor. “He reads the court very good and understands what is going on.” Senior Emil Feratovic will once again serve as the Mustang middle hitter. “He brings a lot of experience to the front row,” said coach. Other Mustangs who will be counted on in 2012 include senior Avi Sojitra, a defensive specialist, and senior Prem Patel, a setter. “We can be very solid this year,” said Doktor. “They should gel over the course of the season. They have a lot of upside.”
WEE CARE C HILD CARE CENTER
Register Now! Summer Camp & Kindergarten Give Us A Call Today!
Accepting Children from Birth to Age 12
0 1 S
% OFF
IBLING T
DISCOUN
1170
• Open 7 am to 6 pm • Weekly Chapel • 16 Teachers & Aides — Many here over 20 years!
• After-School Pick-Up at School 5 • When public schools are closed, we’re open!
Jennifer Henkel, Director • First Presbyterian Church 303 Maplewood Avenue, Clifton • 973.523.7704
64 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS Tennis CHS
April 2 Don Bosco
4 pm
April 4 at Passaic
4 pm
April 5 Eastside
4 pm
April 9 at Wayne Hills
4 pm
April 11 J. F. Kennedy April 13 at Passaic Cty Tech
Shilpan Chokshi, Mihai Solotchi, Szymon Kutyla, Peter Chudolij, Jefferson Rangga.
T
he rebuilding year paid off and Clifton is now poised for its best season ever on the courts after losing just one player from the second doubles pairing on a squad that went 10-5 last season. Sophomore Richard Rangga, who plays year round, completed his regular season with a 19-1 record, and was bounced in the second round of the state tournament. “He’s even better this year,” said head coach Andrea Bobby. “He’s spent the entire offseason playing and will have another great year.” Peter Chudolij, a junior, is the second singles player and classmate Mihai Soltchi is the third.
4 pm 10 am
April 16 Bergen Catholic
4 pm
April 18 at Wayne Valley
4 pm
April 20 at Don Bosco
4 pm
April 23 Passaic
4 pm
April 27 at Eastside
4 pm
April 30 Passaic Cty Tech
4 pm
May 2 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
May 4 at J. F. Kennedy
4 pm
May 7 Lakeland
4 pm
May 9 West Milford
4 pm
Shilpan Chokshi is the senior captain and will be on the first doubles team after playing third singles the past two years. He was a county finalist in that category two years ago. Junior Jefferson Rangga joins him in the first pairing. The second pairing will be Szymon Kutyla, a junior, and sophomore standout Justin Purdy. “Justin really rounds out the lineup and gives me a good second team,” said Bobby. “Overall, this is an awesome team. The comradery... it’s a dream for a coach, with the ability they have and the fun they have. It’s the best team in my 25 years that I’ve been coaching here.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
65
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS CHS
Front from left: Derrick Rodriguez, Evan Dunn, Sarah Scrudato, Dave Jackiewicz, Eric Lux and Nick Flaherty. Rear: Gabe Larkey, Derek Leeshock, Jacob Sheets, Anthony Sanchez and David Korty.
D
on’t be surprised if Clifton is a serious contender this year. The Mustangs went 14-9 in 2011, but more importantly, head coach Chad Cole didn’t lose a single player this offseason. In fact, the 2012 team added some experienced duffers.
Benjamin Moore Paints and much more...
Able Hardware 745 Van Houten Ave.
973.773.4997 Mon.-Fri. till 7pm Sat. till 5pm
1232
66 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“We have the whole team returning. No one graduated for us,” said coach. “We have two new kids that are going to start making an immediate impact, so we will be better than last year.” Derek Leeshock, a senior, will still be Cole’s go to duffer, returning to his number one position for the Mustangs. Number two is junior Eric Lux, and three will be senior Sarah Scrudato. Fourth will be sophomore Gabriel Larkey. “He played golf before, but he decided to play baseball last year,” added Cole. The other newcomer will be sophomore David Korty, who, like Larkey, has experience but did not try out for the team in 2011. Junior David Jackiewicz joined last year and after a year’s worth of play time could end up contributing more in 2012. Other Mustang duffers include senior Jacob Sheets,
Golf April 2 at PCTI
4 pm
April 4 at Eastside
4 pm
April 16 at Warren Hills
4 pm
April 17 at John F. Kennedy
4 pm
April 18 at Passaic Valley
4 pm
April 20 at Ridgewood April 23 Bloomfield
4:30 pm 4 pm
April 24 at Passaic Valley/Eastside 4 pm May 1 at Passaic/Wayne Valley/ JFK/Becton 4 pm May 2 at West Milford
4 pm
May 7 TBA
4 pm
May 8 at Wayne Hills/West Milford/ DePaul Catholic 4 pm May 10 TBA May 14 State Championship
4 pm TBA
May 15 at Lakeland/Hawthorne Christian Academy 4 pm May 15 State Championship May 16 TBD
TBA 4 pm
juniors Anthony Sanchez, Derrick Rodriguez and Evan Dunn, and sophomore Nick Flaherty. “Our first match is probably the most important,” said Cole. “We actually shared the league title with PCTI last year and they haven’t lost anybody.”
S
k
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
67
Moments of Grace
TheTale of
Charlie
Feigned
Friend Essay by Chris de Vinck
When I went to college I kept up a correspondence with my parents, with a few friends from high school, and with Rosie, my childhood babysitter, who was, in my mind, my American grandmother. My father’s parents died before I was born. But Rosie was as close to a grandmother as anyone could expect. She remembered my birthday, had a house filled with grandmother smells of flowers and perfume, expected me to come and rake her leaves in the fall and dig out her sidewalk after a winter storm. During my lonely college years, my correspondence was a link to what I loved and what I hoped to someday re-create for myself, which I never did. Times of youth cannot be lived again. Things will never be as bright or as tall or as dramatic as they were when a boy of eight watched the late afternoon’s sun illuminate the tips of the summer maple trees. But I did love Rosie, and although my days of sitting on her porch and listening to her stories of riding the trolleys in New York were gone, I could still write and tell her what she meant to me as a child and now as a young man lost in a world he was not yet prepared to understand. 68 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
After six months of correspondence, Rosie wrote to say how much she still enjoyed receiving letters, and did I know anyone in my dorm who might like to “pick up a correspondence with an old gal who could still type seventy-five words a minute?” I didn’t dare ask anyone on my floor if he would like to send Rosie letters. Most people in my dorm were interested in either the next basketball game or the next drink. So I invented Charlie. What harm could it do, I thought, if Rosie received a letter from a new friend now and again, which I could easily create? I always corresponded in longhand, so I had “Charlie” type his letters to Rosie. Charlie was bright, full of energy. He knew how to dazzle the girls; he enjoyed long walks through the Allegheny Mountains, drove a Jeep, and sang baritone in the barbershop quartet. Every two weeks Charlie wrote Rosie a letter. She loved him, thought he had a terrific sense of humor, was flattered that he took such an interest in her African violet collection.
d
During my Easter vacation, when I visited Rosie, she said she hoped that Charlie would be able to come and see her over the summer. I told her Charlie lived in Hawaii. I was caught up in a lie that I thought was simply an innocent way to please a lonely old woman. After two years, I had developed a long, involved relationship between Charlie and Rosie. I had to keep notes, reminding myself that Charlie had two sisters, a mother who worked in a chemical lab, and a father who hated television and played the organ. Charlie sent Rosie birthday cards and a box of chocolates on Christmas, and he told her about this girl he loved. I’d have Charlie ask eighty-year-old Rosie about her life, and she’d send back long, wonderful letters describing Sunday picnics, Pete the parrot, who had sat on the trolley conductor’s shoulder, and how she used to win all the pinochle games over at the firehouse. I made the mistake of saying that Charlie loved pinochle, so I had to learn all the rules of the game so Charlie could have a good laugh over a few of his most famous games. Rosie laughed too.
Finally I transferred out of my first college. Rosie became ill. During one of my last visits before she died, she asked me what ever happened to that nice young man. “He joined the Army, Rosie, then I lost track of him.” Rosie liked that. Her son was a former Marine. “When you see Charlie someday, tell him I love him very much.” I took Rosie’s old hand and pressed it against my cheek. “He loves you very much too.” This essay was excerpted from Dr. Christopher de Vinck’s 1994 book Songs of Innocence and Experience. Chris is the Language Arts Supervisor at CHS and the author of 13 books. His best known work is The Power of the Powerless a frank reflection on the struggles and joys of loving his severely disabled brother. To order his most recent work, Moments of Grace, call 1800-218-1903 or look for it in bookstores or online.
o d k l
e e t founder of e are the sons of the , a family R.F. Knapp Construction ed in Clifton owned business found the beginning, nearly 50 years ago. Since Siding prodwe have been using Alcoa ens-Corning. ucts as well as GAF and Ow ing, gutters, We specialize in roofing, sid e us a call and leaders and windows. Giv appointment to we will gladly set-up an and go over a discuss your job needs . complete written estimate
1301
W
Brothers Don and Rich Knapp
• Roofing • Siding • Gutters & Leaders • Windows
We now do Gutter Cleaning
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
69
Events & Briefs Donald Golabek is quite the angler—and he’s got the official paperwork to prove it. This March, the 75 year old from Union Ave. received certificates from the NJ Skillful Angler Awards Program for two catches he landed in April of 2011 at Round Valley Reservoir, Clinton Township. On April 7, while on his 17 foot boat, IBFishingBros, Golabek landed an 8 pound, 8 ounce rainbow trout, measuring 28 inches. Two days later, Golabek returned to the same spot and landed an 8 pound, 4 ounce brown trout, coming in at 27 inches. Golabek’s brother, Michael, 77, of East Rutherford, also snagged a 28 inch, 8 pound, 4 ounce brown trout while fishing with his sibling on April 26 at their favorite spot. What’s their secret to being government certified? He won’t tell. But to get started, he suggests: “Once you shop Meltzer, you’ll go nowhere else, sir.” The Friends of the Animal Shelter’s Spring Holiday Tree is near the shelter behind City Hall. Through May 6, a $5 donation will allow you to put your pet’s name on an egg that will be hung on the tree. On April 7 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Shelter they will host a bake sale. Their big fundraiser is a beefsteak and tricky tray on April 27 at 7 pm at the Boys & Girls Club. Tickets are $60, or $55 per for a table of eight. For info, visit www.cliftonanimalshelter.com or call 973-470-5936. Traditional Easter bread or Pascha, is hand made and for sale April 7, from 11 am to 4 pm, at Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 635 Broad St. School 5 HASA’s Beefsteak is April 18 from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at The Brownstone. Tickets are $45. Cash bar. Call Susann Leishman at 973-881-0321 or Danielle Petti at 973-653-5795 or dani12170@optonline.net. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 380 Clifton Ave., hosts Market Fair, on April 21, and May 5 and 19, from 8 am to 4 pm. Vendors welcomed; space is $25. Free admission. Call 973-546-5020 or email carlgin@yahoo.com. The Learning Center for Exceptional Children, 199 Scoles Ave., hosts a Casino Night on May 5, 7 pm. The not-for-profit school was established in 1978 and today services 90 special needs students, ages 3 to 21. There is also an advanced curriculum for pre-k through 8th grade. Info: 973-478-4899. 70 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Dan Golabek with another prize winning trout. The 2012 NJ Trout Season officially opens at 8 am on April 7. For a license, call Meltzer’s at 973-478-7647.
The Clifton Jewish Center, 18 Delaware St., hosts an indoor arts and craft show on April 22 at 9:30 am. Vendors are still being accepted. Call 973-772-3131. The Women of the United Reformed Church of Clifton and Passaic will host a beefsteak dinner on April 14 at the church hall, 352 Clifton Ave., at 6:30 pm. Advanced tickets are $35. Call 973-365-1666. A Rock ‘n Roll Rally to re-elect Congressman Bill Pascrell is April 15, 6 pm at Bliss Lounge, Allwood Rd. Tickets are $10. Call Lauren Murphy at 201-893-0473. The Red Knights Comedy Night is on April 28 at 7 pm at the West Paterson Firehouse, Woodland Park. Tickets are $25 and proceeds will benefit The David Nicholas Foundation. Call Woody Campbell at 973-229-7603. The Mental Health Clinic of Passaic hosts a beefsteak and tricky tray on May 3 at 6 pm at The Brownstone. Tickets are $50. Proceeds support MHC’s specialized children’s programs. The Clinic is at 1451 Van Houten Ave. Call 973-473-2775 or visit www.mhcp.org.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
71
Events & Briefs Cliftonites Kristina Evans, Izabela Grzebyk, Radhi Patel and Natalie Rebisz were among the 60 Paramus Catholic High School students and nine chaperones, led by PC President, James P. Vail, who toured Europe during spring break. They visited historical sites in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. More about PC, call 201-445-4466 or visit www.paramuscatholic.com.
Boy Scout Troop 40 held its 35th annual spaghetti dinner at St. Brendan’s Church on March 3 for members of the troop and their guests. The feast was cooked up by Eagle Scouts Mario Vitolo and Ken Rose, with Scoutmaster John Farrell. The troop meets Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm at St. Brendan’s Church, 154 East 1st St. To join, call Farrell at 201-306-7894.
Kids For Less opened a superstore on March 24 at 550 Getty Ave., within the James Corrado complex. Mayor Jim Anzaldi cut the ribbon, with, from left: Edwin Honuret, Juan Duran and Maury Blanco. Next to the mayor are property owners and managers Jimmy Corrado and Jerry Corrado, Jr.
Registration for the 2012 Clifton Junior Mustangs Football Team will be held on May 2 at Zelenka Park, 14 Carol St., from 6 to 7:30 pm. Age groups are 7 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 14 (135 pounds and heavyweight divisions). Workouts start in May and mandatory practices begin in August. To register and for fees and more details visit www.cliftonjrfootball.com. Clifton Cares, the group which mails aid packages to troops overseas, will benefit from the 2nd Liberty Auto Car Care Fair on April 21, at 1196 Main Ave., from 9 am to 4 pm. Drivers bring vehicles for a free check up and will be asked to support Clifton Cares by making a donation to pay for mailing packages. It costs $13.45 to ship a parcel to a service person in Afghanistan. Make checks to Lizz Gagnon (memo: Clifton Cares) and mail to Lizz Gagnon, c/o City of Clifton, Tax Collector, 900 Clifton Ave., Clifton, 07012. For info, call Jovanna Silver at 973 754-9355 or Chris Liszner at 973-650-2719.
Cheryl Bender’s first grade class at School 5 was one of many in the district to observe Dr. Suess’ birthday on March 2 with Read Across America day. Bender helped coordinate School 5’s event, and many community leaders came to read. Assistant Superintendent of Schools Mark Tietjen visited the class and read a selection from a Dr. Suess book.
72 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Passaic County Film Festival 2012 held on April 14 will showcase 26 of the 75 films submitted in five categories: film shorts, documentaries, PSA, music videos, and independent film/university students. The 8th annual event begins at 10 am at the Fabian 8 Cinema in Center City Mall in historic downtown Paterson. Film projects created by students and independent filmmakers who live, attend school, or work in Passaic County will be screened. The public is invited to this free event. In addition to awards in each of the categories above, this year a grand prize winner will be named. Free parking in the adjacent lot. Films are rated “G.” Call 973-569-4720 or write to film@passaiccountynj.org or get more details and information at www.passaiccountynj.org/film. Clifton Rec Dept.’s Daddy Daughter Date Night is at the Community Recreation Center on April 20, at 6 pm. Daughters and dads enjoy dinner, followed by music, games and dancing. There is the option for a photo for a fee. Pre-registered couples are $5; at the door it’s $10. Additional daughters are $2. Call 973-470-5956.
Coalition for Brain Injury Research’s beefsteak fundraiser is June 8, 6:30 pm at the Athenia Veterans Hall with entertainment by Uncle Floyd. Tickets are $45 and includes beer, wine, soda and food. Proceeds benefit the search for a brain injury cure. Contact Dennis Benigno at 973-632-2066.
Noel R. Coronel of NOC Autobody and Telep Towing on Van Houten Ave. received the Order of Towman from American Towman Magazine. He and his wife Odette were honored for their community service.
The Passaic County Community College Career and Job Fair is April 19 from 9 am to 1 pm at the main campus, Paterson. Attendees should bring 20 resumes and be prepared to be interviewed. For info, call 973-684-5524. PCCC will also have an open house for prospective students on April 21 from 10 am to noon at the Main Campus. For more info, visit www.pccc.edu/applytoday.
Team Awesome, a group in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Clifton on June 2, will host a fundraiser at the Rock Bar, 414 Main Ave., on April 7 from 8:30 pm to 1 am. Entrance is $10. Visit www.relayforlife.org/cliftonnj and click on fundraisers. The Leisure Club of St. Paul’s meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 pm. in the church hall, 231 Second St. Membership is open to all age 55 and up. Call 973-546-7690. The Theater League of Clifton presents California Suite, the play written by the award-winning Neil Simon. Performance dates are May 11, 12, 13 and May 18, 19, 20 in Clifton. Call 973-928-7668 or go to www.theaterleagueofclifton.com.
Have Clifton Merchant Mailed. $27/YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Mailed via first class to your home.
Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________State:____________________________________ Zip:______________________Phone:_____________________________________________ Email:________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE MAKE CHECKS TO TOMAHAWK PROMOTIONS, 1288 MAIN AVE., CLIFTON, NJ 07011 Clifton Merchant • April 2012
73
w U o e C D b N j c s t s M w p C C 0
Events & Briefs The Art of Membership, a competition of words or art to celebrate the North Jersey Federal Credit Union, is now open. Entries will be judged in three age categories: under 14, 14 to 21, and 21 and over. There is no limit on pieces entered or medium used, and all submissions must be rated PG. Deadline is April 19; winning entries will be displayed from April 19 to May 3 at the NJFCU Totowa lobby at 711 Union Blvd., and from May 4 to 19 at the Paterson branch, 126 Market St. Visit www.njfcu.org.
A discussion about America’s 44 presidents will be held on April 11 at 7 pm at the Lambert Castle Museum, with guest speaker Stephen R. Bumball, a historian and collector. He will tell of some of the more unusual items from his US President’s collection and offer advice on how to start a collection. Bumball will also identify and appraise items. Tickets are $5. The Museum is on Valley Rd. at the Clifton/Paterson border. For more info, call 973-247-0085 or visit lambertcastle.org.
How Can You Help? ATTEND A FUNDRAISER: April 17, 2012 • 5 - 10pm
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in The Promendade May 6, 2012 • 4 - 8pm
Pasta Dinner at The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton BUY A RAFFLE TICKET:
Win a TV or a Bike
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION: Officer John Kavakich 973-470-5897 or Tom Hawrylko 973-253-4400
2012 Clifton Police Unity Tour Members Bicyclists: Andrew Alvarez Robert Bais Randy Colondres Richard DiBello Brain Fopma Tom Hawrylko Daniel Ishak John Kavakich Charles Kazimir Motors: Darren Brodie Derek Fogg Gary Giardina Vincent LaRosa
74 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Support: William Frank Gary Giardina Jr. Michael McLaughlin
SS Cyril & Methodius Church, Ackerman Ave., is preparing for its Centennial which begins with liturgy on Oct. 21, and concludes on Oct. 20, 2013 with a mass by Bishop Seratelli and a banquet. Call 973-470-5732. The Clifton Democratic Club meets on April 9 at 7 pm at the Allwood Library. Topics include June’s Congressional primary between Reps. Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman and November’s presidential election. Call John Pogorelec, Jr., Esq., at 973-778-1604. The Young at Heart Senior Social Club holds meetings the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church, Maplewood Ave., at 11 am. Call 973-779-5581. The Clifton Mustang Band Alumni Association and the Clifton Community Band present Imperial Brass on June 9 at the CHS JFK Auditorium. The 35 person orchestra offers a repertoire of Broadway, brass, pop and jazz. Funds will benefit the current CHS band college scholarship fund. Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/college students, $5 for public school students. Tickets at the door or write osumb17@aol.com.
1959 Fighting Mustang Gene Cleirbaut is off the field with this maroon-and-gray Mustang floral arrangement.
The 1959 Fighting Mustangs recently lost an integral member of that legendary state championship football team. Gene Cleirbaut, 70, starting right tackle and defensive end, died Jan. 3, 2012. At his wake in Toms River, a group of Gene’s teammates honored his memory as only Mustangs could: with a unique floral arrangement that depicted a running Mustang and a football helmet with Gene’s #9 on it. In addition to his teammates, Gene leaves his widow, Mary; son, James, and daughter, Kathleen; five grandchildren and two brothers and two sisters.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
75
Clifton Mustangs
Student of the Month College Bound, Freddy Perez is First in Family By Joe Hawrylko Freddy Perez has a lot of talent, and a big heart. The Clifton High School Student of the Month has a passion for volleyball, art and dance, and one day aspires to work in health adminstration, hopefully bringing medical care to impoverished children across the globe. “I had a project in my junior year with Miss Anderson (his English teacher), where she said that everyone was supposed to volunteer for a month,” he recalled of the motivation Perez has also volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital. But he needed a change. “I just decided, why not try the Art Center knowing that I had a background in art since middle school.” Perez, who first became interested in art in the fifth grade during the TaG program, said his passion was sparked by Mr. Labriola at CCMS. “He was the president of the Clifton Art Center, so it was more like I kind of owed him some type of service for everything he taught me over the years at the middle school,” explained Perez, who enjoys still lifes and working with pastels and oils. “He’s an outstanding teacher and a great role model. He was very passionate about what he taught,” recalled Perez. “The way he was able to express those ideas to his students is what really captivated me.” Another one of Perez’s passions is dance. “Ball room dancing, that’s a huge thing,” he laughed. “I watch a lot of Spanish TV shows that have ball room dancing and just said, gosh, I want to do that. I went two weeks ago 76 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
to an instructor for the first time with my girlfriend, Julia Hegarty. That was a lot of fun.” The couple met last year at RILA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. For this program, 50 students are nominated, and only five are selected to go. Perez has also attended Boy State and the Emerging Young Leaders program. “I have an altruistic side. I’m very passionate about helping out, especially after attending RILA,” explained Perez. “It was very mind opening. It gave me the mentality to not only focus on my community, but the world. As ambitious as that sounds, I want to help out all different areas.” Perez, whose parents hail from Cuatla, Morelos in Mexico, returns to see family every two years. He said he has seen first hand the impact poverty has on school aged children, and that motivates him in his studies. “I’m going to be the first one going to college in my family,” explained Perez, who is a first generation Mexican-American. He plans on studying health adminstration, and is awaiting scholarship money before deciding on attending one of five schools: Drexel, Penn State, Scranton, Seton Hall or Rutgers. “Staying nearby family, that is a top priority.” “They’ve helped me become the person that I am today,” he continued. Perez’s parents are Estela Herrera and Manuel Perez. “They’ve been my role models ever since I can remember. Being that I am the first person going to college in my family, I want to make them proud of me.”
At left, Certified Financial Planner Dante Liberti is hosting a series of free luncheons on various topic. On March 13, the issue was planning for college. Attending the seminar was Ann Schnackenberg and Chuck Drawbaugh, president of College Funding Associates. Washington Ave. resident Schnackenberg said she has a grade schooler but she and her husband are plotting a strategy for funding now. The sessions are free. See ad below for more details.
t , a
r h r s y
y g
t r d d e s e t
n d l
y n h y
m
n
Dante Liberti’s Let’s Do Lunch series kicked off on March 13 at the Boys & Girls Club on Colfax Ave. Guests were treated to a complimentary lunch while speaker Chuck Drawbugh, President of College Funding Associates, LLC, held court and spoke about financing options for education. Attendees were given a folder containing a wealth of information and facts about what can be a costly and complicated process. The discussion, lasting roughly an hour, touched on many important topics concerning college education funding, and Drawbugh stuck around after to chat with guests and answer more specific questions. It was the first of what will be many interesting discussions at the Club. Held the second Tuesday of each month, Liberti’s Let’s Do Lunch series will cover a wide range of topics. This month’s lunch will focus on Medicaid Planning. As always, meeting time is 11:30 am and includes complimentary lunch. Suggested donation is $5. To attend, call Dante at 732-734-0053.
Let’ s Do Lunch! nd
2Tuesday Series @ the
Boys & Girls Club
Join us at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am for a new topic of interest!
Hosted by: Dante P. Liberti, CFP ® Tuesday April 10, 2012 Medicaid Planning
Guest Speaker: Vincent Macri Certified Elder Law Attorney
Dont forget it’s the 2nd Tuesday at 11:30 am
Tuesday May 8, 2012 Intro to Medicare Guest Speaker: Kevin Hutnik
Tuesday June 12, 2012
Will Gas Prices Ever Go Down? Guest Speaker: Timothy Jennings, CFP®
Complimentary lunch is provided
Free Lunch but Suggested Donation: $5 To benefit the B&G Club of Clifton. Make check to the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton
Please RSVP Dante Liberti at 732-734-0053
so we have enough good food for everyone!
Securities offered through Securities America, Inc-Member FINRA &SIPC. Dynasty Advisors, LLC, and the Securities America companies are not affiliated entities. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Representatives of Securities America do not give legal advice.
Clifton Merchant • April 2012
77
Clifton Mustangs
HELPING OTHERS By Joe Hawrylko
Student of the Month Rachel Ventrella and her family are all involved with the Relay For Life. They are pictured here in the 2010 event at the Clifton Stadium. From left is her father, Ralph, cousin, Michelle Rossi DeHaven, cousin Michael Rossi, her late aunt Mary Rossi, cousin Nicole Rossi, Rachel Ventrella and her mother, Nancy.
Student of the Month Rachel Ventrella has always been about helping others in need. From a young age, she’s been involved with the Relay for Life charity, and hopes to one day have a career in deaf education. “I’ve been doing the Relay since I was at least five years old,” she recalled. “My cousin, Michael Rossi, I don’t know how he got involved but one day he came home and said we’re all doing the Relay.” Over the last four years, Ventrella has become much more involved with the cancer charity, following the passing of her aunt, Mary Rossi, in 2010. Mary Rossi defeated breast cancer in 2009, but was diagnosed with liver cancer a year later. For the past four years, she has served on the committee with her two cousins, Michelle Rossi DeHaven and Nicole Rossi, as a part of the event chair. “Basically, we meet a couple times a year and come up with different activities to do during the Relay,” she said. “It’s a 14 hour event, so we need activities and Editor note: Last month we published this article on Rachel Ventrella with typos in the article which changed the story’s context. We apologize for this error. Above is the corrected article in its entirety.
78 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
games to make it more fun. Noise maker laps, beach ball laps, stuff like that.” Beyond her involvement with the Relay For Life, Ventrella’s free time is mostly consumed by her job at the Allwood Library, where she works as a page three days a week, and by her academics. The Student of the Month is a member of the National Honor Society, and strives to achieve excellence in the classroom. “I’m doing the Students at MSU program and took two courses last semester and will take another two this semester,” she explained. Ventrella studied Greek mythology and speech, and will take intro to European civilization and intro to music this Spring. “I love it. I really like it a lot,” said Ventrella, who plans on attending Montclair State to study deaf education. “I took sign language for the past two years with Mrs. Lesler,” explained Ventrella. Lesler has aided the student in researching schools and careers. “She makes it fun and interesting. She’s been helping me by telling me what she thinks would interest me and what she thinks I would be good at.” Ventrella said her cousin, Nicole, was the one who sparked the interest in sign language.
h
“When I was younger, she used to teach me the abcs and everything,” she recalled. “I thought it was really cool, and wanted to learn more. My cousins and I grew up in the same house together and I’m an only child. They’re like my siblings.” Ventrella said that MSU does not have deaf education, so her plan would be to study speech and audiology, and
possibly pursue an audiology doctorate at the school. While ambitious, Ventrella is confident in her own skills, and that she will have the support of her parents. “My parents always pushed me to do my best in everything I did. They’ve always helped me with anything I needed help with and have always been there for me.”
Established 1914
Once You Shop Meltzer, You’ll Go Nowhere Else Sir!
Opening Day Saturday April 7 Are You Ready for Trout Season? • Knowledgeable Staff—Real Fishermen—Free Advice • Everything Your Outdoorsperson Needs & Wants! • Agent for NJ State fishing & hunting licenses
t
d
k
Meltzer’s now offers LIVE BAIT! • Shiners • Fatheads • Worms
• Waders • Rainwear • Pocket Knives • Beginners to Pros! • Freshwater & Salt
2012
k n
h
• Worms • Salmon Eggs • Rods & Reels • Lures & Accessories • Tackle Boxes • Hip Boots
Stack-On Strong Box Personal Safes are Constructed of Solid Steel, with Pry Resistant Plate Steel Doors, Steel Live Action Locking Bolts and Concealed Hinges to Provide Greater Security. Safes have pre-drilled holes for mounting to the floor or a shelf, fastening hardware is included.
Fishing Tackle on sale in store come in now to our fishing department to see the 2012 line
Great Selection of New & Used Guns, Ammo, Safes Clifton Merchant • April 2012
79
Birthdays & Celebrations - April 2012
Charlie & Frances Stek celebrate their 66th anniversary April 28. Joe Hawrylko will be 27 on April 27. Alexander John Mosciszko turns 8 on April 14. Tom Hawrylko Jr. is 25 on April 16.
Birthdays & Celebrations
Send dates & names...tomhawrylko@optonline.net Karen Goldey..................... Timothy Hayes .................... Hetal Patel.......................... Karen Schwartz .................. Raymond DeDios ................ Carl DiGisi ......................... Eric Homsany ..................... Kevin John Lord .................. Joey Scotto ......................... Bo Franko .......................... Sabrina Greco.................... Wafa Othman .................... Mark Peterson ....................
4/1 4/1 4/1 4/1 4/3 4/3 4/3 4/3 4/4 4/5 4/5 4/5 4/5
80 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Bob Tanis ........................... 4/5 Joe Franek.......................... 4/6 Sharon J. Koribanics ........... 4/6 Jessica Mondelli.................. 4/6 Luke Kulesa ........................ 4/7 Donna Mangone ................ 4/7 Patricia Colman .................. 4/8 Sheryll Franko .................... 4/8 Jackie Henderson................ 4/8 Jeff Murcko......................... 4/8 Emma Gretina .................... 4/9 Kathy Krisinski .................... 4/9 Brian Firstmeyer ................ 4/11
Leila Gasior...................... 4/11 Corky Holms .................... 4/11 Felipe Rivera .................... 4/11 Erin Smith......................... 4/11 Debbie Tucker .................. 4/11 Doreen Delancy-Williams... 4/12 Josh Ontell ....................... 4/13 Lisa Kulesa ....................... 4/15 Adam Pienciak ................. 4/15 Robert Monzo .................. 4/16 Linda Humphrey ............... 4/17 Joseph P. Koribanics.......... 4/17 Peter Fierro....................... 4/18 Jason Dubnoff................... 4/19 Bryan Rodriguez............... 4/19 John Anderson.................. 4/20 Jeff Camp......................... 4/20 Alicia Rose Aste................ 4/22 Lori Hart........................... 4/22 Michael R. Tresca ............. 4/22 Alyssa Tucker.................... 4/22 Bobby Ventimiglia............. 4/22 Danny Gorun ................... 4/23 John Pogorelec, Jr. ............ 4/23 Marc Scancarella ............. 4/23 Katie Michelotti................. 4/25 Brianna A. Pastore............ 4/25 Klondike Tresca ................ 4/25 Buddy Czyzewski ............. 4/26 Stephanie Magaster.......... 4/26
Happy 6th Birthday to Damian Calvo on April 13. Jillian Mangone ............. 4/26 Daniel Ricca .................. 4/26 Elise Termyna................. 4/26 Mike Grimaldi ............... 4/27 Michael Press................. 4/27 April Graham ................ 4/28 Stephen Camp, Jr........... 4/29 Paul Colman .................. 4/29 Heather Halasz.............. 4/29 Christine Klein................ 4/29 Happy Anniversary to: Peter & Eileen Fierro ....... 4/18 John & Donna Hawrylko .. 4/28
Randy Daniel Colondres turns 4 on April 17. Clifton Merchant • April 2012
81
Locks of Love CHS January Class of 1952 hosts a 60th Class on May 4 at 9:30 am at Mountainside Inn. After coffee, a bus will take alumni to tour the ‘old’ CHS (which is now CCMS) as well as the new High School. After the tour, the class will return for a hot buffet at Mountainside Inn. Cost is $50 with entertainment by Peter Lieberman until 5 pm. Call Ed Kutzlieb at 732-736-1048 or contact Jean Ryan Kardux at 973-839-2046 or email jrkardux@aol.com. CHS Class of ‘82 will hold a 30th reunion on June 9, at Jenkinson’s in Point Pleasant Beach. Tickets are $85. For info, look up “The 30th is Here: CHS Class of ‘82 Reunion” on Facebook, or contact Colleen Cussick and Maria (Di Piazza) Colgero at cliftonhs82@gmail.com. Where are those Mustangs now? This summer, we will be writing about alum who graduated CHS in 2002, 1992, 1982, 1972, 1962, 1952 and 1942. If you know a tale about an interesting grad from those classes, write us at tomhawrylko@optonline.net. Clifton teachers are still without a contract and they will demonstrate on April 18 in front of the Clifton Ave. Board Of Education building at 4:30 pm. The goal is to let the BOE Commissioners who will attend that night’s meeting and the public know that Clifton teachers have been working without a contract for three years and counting.
82 April 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Sixth grade CCMS students Nina Cordero and Aseeal Yasin are among the students, teachers and residents expected to have their hair cut on May 21 in the 7th Annual Locks of Love Cut-a-thon. Also pictured are teachers Lisa Poggi, Jennifer Bergmann and Kim (Carline) Dreher who coordinates the program. Want to donate 10 inches of hair? Schedule a free cut by contacting Dreher at kad30506@yahoo.com or call her at 973-769-0500.
Tomahawk Promotions 1288 main avenue Clifton, NJ 07011
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PA I D Phila Pa 191 PeRmiT No. 6438