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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Vote For Change on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 commentary by Tom and Cheryl Hawrylko

George Silva

Frank Fusco

Matt Ward

Tony Latona

Joe Cupoli

Peter Eagler Alam Abdelaziz, Roy Noonburg

No No No Response Response Response Steve Hatala Gloria Kolodziej Don Kowal

Joe Chidiac

ince our inception in 1995, Clifton Merchant Magazine has always been an advocate of community involvement and has strongly encouraged voter participation in all municipal elections. To assist our readers in making informed decisions at the polls, it has been our tradition to interview candidates so that they may tell more about themselves and their positions. We began our coverage of the upcoming May 9 City Council race back in August, 2005, by publishing profiles of the challengers. Additional interviews appeared in the following months and coverage continues in this edition with writer Fran Hopkins’ profiles of the remaining candidates for Council. It will be an interesting election, no doubt, as 16 candidates (pictured above) are vying for seven seats. 16,000 MAGAZINES are distributed to hundreds of Clifton Merchants the first Friday of Every Month. SUBSCRIPTIONS PAGE 55 $15/year in Clifton $25/year out of town CALL 973-253-4400 entire contents copyright 2006 © tomahawk promotions

Jim Anzaldi Stefan Tatarenko Ed Welsh

Frank Gaccione

Despite the fact that they want you to vote for them, three of the incumbent Council members have nothing to say... But wait, what’s wrong with this picture? Despite the fact that they want you to vote for them, three of the incumbent Council members have nothing to say. Well... at least not to to Clifton Merchant. They refuse to speak with us.

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EDITOR & PUBLISHER Tom Hawrylko BUSINESS MANAGER Cheryl Hawrylko GRAPHIC ARTISTS Mary Lalama, Fabian Calvo WRITERS: Jack DeVries, Cheryl Hawrylko, Joe Torelli, John Bendel, Robert Wahlers, Gary Anolik, Joe Hawrylko, Alicia Feghhi

Clifton Merchant Magazine is published monthly at 1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton • 973-253-4400

Why? Perhaps we are too independent or we would have asked them to address issues. Don’t know. But Frank Gaccione apparently had his mind made up at least two months ago when we were writing about campaign spending limits and he did not return our phone calls. When I ran into him after deadline, he said he wouldn’t be conducting an interview with this magazine. Ed Welsh, who, as usual, was at Frank’s side on that day, was asked if he would be doing an interview with us. He said that he would make up his mind when the time came. Welsh must have made his decision, since he did not return our reporter’s repeated phone calls. And Stefan Tatarenko, in a recent conversation, was a little more direct: “I really believe the Merchant has been bashing the Council for all these months, maybe years, and I am not happy with that. I am not going to interview with the Merchant.” I guess he’s not referring to the years (1998 and 2002) when I helped Stefan with his campaigns. Oh well, so much for talking issues. Speaking of campaign help, there have been grumblings of our involvement in challenger Joe Cupoli’s campaign. We’d like to set the record straight. Yes, Joe is a good friend, yes we support him in his run for Council and yes my wife Cheryl is his campaign treasurer. In fact we applaud Joe and all the challengers for stepping up. Change is a good thing. Like all of you, we are entitled to our opinions. When voicing them, they will never be published anonymously, and within these pages, they will always be clearly labeled as commentary, or opinion, along with our

Yes, Joe Cupoli is a good friend, yes we support him in his run for Council and yes Cheryl is his treasurer... Change is a good thing. names. Our reporting, on the other hand, will continue to be done in a fair and frank voice. Clifton Merchant Magazine is a business which serves a diverse purpose. While much of what we publish is designed to entertain readers, an important part of our evolving mission is to keep our community informed and provide a forum for public opinion. In that spirit, our opinion pages will always be lively as we believe that no one individual or organization has a monopoly on ideas for the future of Clifton. Your comments are welcomed here, just be sure to sign your name. The rest of our magazine will feature topics, stories and photos no other publication could possibly cover. In short, Clifton Merchant Magazine will continue to be an advocate for good schools, and efficient, responsive and fair government. In that spirit, we do believe that new ideas and political leaders are needed in Clifton. It is time for change. Send your comments to tomhawrylko@optonline.net.

School Board Elections April 18th • Polls Open 1:30 PM - 9 PM

Vote Yes for Kids

o matter if you support candidates 1-2-6, 3-4-5 or any combintion in between, in this year’s Board of Education election (see pages 32-40), on April 18, please vote yes for the School Budget. Let’s not have our kids suffer while we wage a venomous squabble over a school site. Over the past three years, Clifton Schools have gained momentum by passing budgets. Class size has decreased and full day kindergarten has been added in many but not all of our elementary schools. If approved, this year’s budget will cost the average homeowner about $112 more per year and add full day kindergarten in three more schools. Get past the politics and the division and do the right thing. Please vote yes for the budget. Do it for Clifton’s kids. 4

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

An Issue for Discussion: Form of Government

Under the current system of government, the City Council consists of seven members who are elected every four years on an at-large basis, in non-partisan elections. Council members, at their first organizational meeting, then select a Mayor from within their own ranks. The Mayor has no separate policy-making power. Mayoral duties are limited mainly to presiding over and voting at council meetings and A map of Clifton. Although the seven at-large City Council members live through- making appointments to a number out town, none reside among the residents of Delawanna, Dutch Hill, of municipal boards and commisClifton Center, Albion, Botany or Lakeview. sions (see page 30). Administrative responsibilities are vested in the City Manager who Mayor James Anzaldi is hired by the Council. Botany/Lakeview The City Manager is Clifton’s chief executive, charged with runEd Welsh ning day-to-day operations, preparClifton Center ing and administering the annual budget, organizing and staffing municipal departments, and impleHazel Albion menting the laws and policies estabDutch Hill lished by the council. In theory, the Council functions strictly as a legislative and poliDon Kowal cy-making body and is prohibAthenia/Richfield ited by law from interferGloria ing with the administraKolodziej tive duties of the Frank Gaccione City Manager.

ity Council candidate Matt Ward, a former member of both the Planning Board and the Board of Education, is advocating abandoning the current CouncilManager system in favor of a Mayor-Council form of government. The city operated under the Mayor-Council system of government from the time it was incorporated in 1917 until voters opted for a change in 1934.

Ward said he believes it is now time to return the chief executive’s responsibilities to a Mayor elected directly by the voters rather than continuing to vest them in a manager appointed by the City Council. He also proposes transforming the Council from one comprised solely of at-large members to one that combines at-large members with those representing specific districts, or wards.

Stefan Tatarenko

Steve Hatala

Delawanna Montclair Heights /Greglawn

Allwood/Rosemawr

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Is He for Change or Status Quo?

hy would Peter Eagler, already an experienced political officeholder at both the county and state levels, be interested in a run for Clifton City Council? In fact, he’s done that too, having served on the Council from 1990-2002. “People have been coming to me, three to five people a day, asking me, ‘Are you running? We need you back,’’ Eagler said. “Many people are not happy with the current Council. They feel that there’s too much fighting and that nothing’s getting accomplished.” By contrast, Eagler believes that his is a record of accomplishment for Clifton. For example, as a state Assemblyman, Eagler said that he was instrumental in securing an annual state grant for capital improvements for school districts like Clifton that are surrounded by Abbott districts. Clifton received $3.3 million this year and will receive an additional 10% each year as a result. When he served as a councilman, Eagler arranged for the city to lease the field behind John Paul II Elementary School from the Diocese of Paterson for use by the Clifton Stallions soccer team. “I have a record of giving service to the community, of solving problems,” Eagler said. At the moment, Eagler’s holding neither county nor state office. Although he was a Passaic County Freeholder for three terms, including two one-year terms as its president, Eagler decided early last year not to seek a fourth term, banking instead on a third bid for Assemblyman from the 34th District. (The 34th District includes Clifton, West Paterson, East Orange, Montclair and Glen Ridge.) Subsequently, however, Eagler could not get support in Essex County and he lost the nomination. While acknowledging his continuing desire for higher office—“If an opportunity arises for higher office, I will run,” Eagler said and promised to complete his Council term if he does attain such an office. Besides, Eagler’s a seasoned dual officeholder.

His Freeholder and Assembly terms overlapped and, for six months in 2002, Eagler actually held three offices while completing his third term on the City Council. Eagler expanded upon the reasons for his Council run. “I’m sure that the current Council is doing the best they can, but a new attitude is needed in City Hall,” he said. “People perceive a lack of dedication on the Council’s part. They’re losing confidence in the Council. They aren’t planning to support the same seven candidates,” he said. “Services in Clifton are deteriorating,” Eagler asserted. “The parks are not being cleaned unless people call to complain. Last year, there was no overtime in the budget and no additional employees were hired to pick up leaves. So they piled up in the streets.” Eagler said that he’d do a number of things differently if he’s elected. “Clifton can work harder to eliminate the problem of illegal dwellings,” Eagler said. “In Garfield, you need a permit to park in certain neighborhoods, which you have to go to City Hall to get. If you don’t have a permit, you’ll get a ticket, which you have to go to City Hall to pay. Either way, you have to document where you live.

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

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“Passaic does unannounced house-to-house inspections for illegal dwellings,” Eagler continued. “In Clifton, we send a letter with the date of the inspection, so people have notice and they clear out before the inspection.” Eagler also thinks that much more can be done for Clifton’s senior citizens. While 20-25% of Clifton’s residents are seniors, he said, only about 100 seniors a day use the current senior center in the small barn on the city hall grounds; yet 260 Clifton seniors go to Garfield for their seniors’ programs. He’d also do more to ensure that all eligible seniors are aware of the state property tax freeze program that’s available to those at certain income levels. “About 3000 Clifton seniors are in the program now, but I’m sure more are eligible,” Eagler said. Eagler envisions some changes in Clifton’s form of government. “I think we should directly elect the mayor,” Eagler said. “Clifton is one of the 15 largest cities in the state and probably the only one that doesn’t elect the mayor.” He supports the creation of a charter study committee to consider possible changes to Clifton’s government. “I’d like to put this on a ballot to see if Clifton residents want a committee formed to study this. After the committee presents its conclusions, the people can vote it up or down.” At right, Joe & Jacqui with their kids Julie-Anne, Joseph, and Jake at front.

Eagler envisions some changes in Clifton’s form of government. “I think we should directly elect the mayor.” Term limits, however, don’t interest Eagler. “Every time there’s an election, there’s an opportunity for term limits,” Eagler said. Although he doesn’t oppose campaign spending limits, a “gentleman’s agreement” among office-seekers would be unenforceable; “legally, you can’t tell me what to do with my own money,” Eagler said, adding, “Challengers need to spend more money.” Why should Cliftonites vote for Eagler? “I won’t need any on-the-job training,” Eagler said, a reference to his 12 previous years on the Council. “I stand for three things: accountability, responsibility, and accessibility. I’m not afraid to take on an issue.” “The city is at a crossroads,” Eagler said. “People think that the ‘wheels are coming off the bus’ between the rising taxes, people leaving, the decline in services, and Council infighting. They don’t see anything happening to keep people staying here.”

On May 9, Vote #13

Joe Cupoli for Council • Stop the Overdevelopment, Plan the Re-development • Represent ALL areas of Clifton • Bridge the GAP between City Council & the Board of Ed. • Manage our City Services to improve our QUALITY OF LIFE what do you think? e-mail me

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Got Involved To Give Back

n Clifton, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, about 1 in 4 residents describes him- or herself as nonwhite, about 1 in 2 is female and the median age is just under 39. Given these facts, it’s striking to note how unrepresentative the City Council is, at least in a demographic sense, of its constituency.. Alam Abdelaziz wants to help change that. “Clifton has been good to us,” Abdelaziz said, defining “us” as “minorities” when asked for clarification. “Now it’s time for us to get involved, to give something back.” Abdelaziz moved from Paterson to Clifton in 1993, a year after he and his family came to the U.S. from Palestine. He’s proud to note that he became a U.S. citizen six months after his arrival in the States. “I was 17,” he said. “Becoming a U.S. citizen meant a lot to me.” He graduated from CHS in 1994 and is active today in several careers: he’s a realtor with The Winning Team Realty in the Athenia section, works as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for a private company in Paramus, and invests in real estate. He’s 30 years old and lives in Botany Village. Other members of his family in Clifton include his father, two sisters, two nephews and a niece. When asked why he decided to run for a seat on the Council, Abdelaziz said, “People want a better life – that’s why they move to Clifton. The schools have been great, the education has been wonderful; it’s safe, it’s a clean town. “These things are very important to a lot of people,” he said. “So we want to help make Clifton even better in the future.” Abdelaziz discussed some of the areas in which he’d like to see improvements. “The most important issue for Clifton is the school system,” he said. “The Board of Education has been talking about a new school; even the Council has been talking about it. Crowded schools are an issue that hopefully will be solved in the next year or two.

“But the Board needs to focus more on the quality of our kids’ education to make sure that our kids are getting the education they deserve,” he said. Another issue for Abdelaziz is controlling taxes. “They’re almost double what they were five or six years ago,” he said. If he’s elected, Abdelaziz intends to find more grant money for the city and will focus on stabilizing taxes. “I think that we first need to look at our revenue, and then figure out the budget, instead of the other way around,” he said. “We need more discipline when we plan the budget.” Abdelaziz would also like to see more done for the city’s senior citizens. “They could use more help,” he said. “They’re not aware of all the services and programs that are out there for them.” This isn’t unique to Clifton seniors, he said; he’d just like to see more effective communication about the various tax breaks that may be available to them from the state. These breaks could mean the difference between being able to afford to stay in Clifton or being forced to move out. “If they get pushed out because of taxes, young families with kids will take their place, and that will mean more school taxes,” he said.

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Abdelaziz estimated that there are only about 1,200 registered Arabic voters in Clifton... as a result, “We’ve registered about 150 since I started my campaign.” “On the one hand, experience is good,” he said. “But on the other hand, we need to give new people with new ideas a chance too.” Abdelaziz explained why Clifton voters should support his run for the Council. “I’m 30 years old,” he said. “I have a lot of energy. I also understand different cultures. Diversity on the Council will help everyone; it will help us all understand each other better. I’ll work for a more united Clifton. “I’ll do my best for Clifton. I want to say ‘thank you’ for all the good things that Clifton has done for us,” he said. “Hopefully, we can make Clifton a better place for everybody.” 1176

The subject of crime is on Abdelaziz’s agenda too. “In Clifton, thanks to the police department, the crime rate is nothing compared to other towns around us,” he said. “Still, we could do better. In Botany Village, we’ve had a few incidents – robberies, car thefts. I want to focus on this.” He’d work for an “increased police presence” in the area and would like to see Botany implement a Neighborhood Watch program. Abdelaziz described his efforts to encourage the city’s Arabic population to participate more actively in Clifton life. “There are a lot of Arabs and Muslims in Clifton now,” he said. “And they’re all over the city, not just in one section, like in some other towns.” However, Abdelaziz estimated that there are only about 1,200 registered Arabic voters in Clifton... as a result, “We’ve registered about 150 since I started my campaign,” he said. He’s now working on the next step: the establishment of an Arabic Voter Committee “to get Arabs more involved in the community.” On the election topics of spending and term limits, Abdelaziz supports a spending limit, although he’d set it on the high side – “no more than $50,000” – because “newcomers have to spend more to get their names out, to be able to compete with the incumbents.” A limit of no more than three terms on the Council seems appropriate to him too.

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Kowal Seeks His Fifth Term

ith the goal of “keeping Clifton Clifton,” Don Kowal described the city he hopes to see in 2010 and outlined what needs to be done between now and then to accomplish this. “I’d love for Clifton to be a place that has preserved as much open space as possible, that’s safe to live in, that has recreation and activities for its youth, and where it’s economically feasible for all to live, both new families and our seniors; a place that has abated its spiraling tax costs,” said Kowal, who’s seeking his fifth Council term. He has no shortage of ideas for achieving this vision. “We’ve had enough expansion,” Kowal said. “I am not in favor of the conversion of industrial properties into residential; I’d like them to be used either for open space or kept industrial or commercial. We should lure in the service industries. I don’t want to see any more shopping malls.” Something else that Kowal doesn’t want to see more of is big housing developments. “They’re wonderful for the builder,” he said. “They take Clifton’s money and they walk away. But what are they building? As far as I’m concerned, they’re just building tomorrow’s slums. Personally, I want to see it stopped.” Rising taxes are of particular concern to Kowal, but the city can take steps to restrain their growth. “We can’t cut services much further back,” Kowal said. “But we can successfully manage our city departments. Overtime costs have hurt the city. By maintain-

ing staff at the table of organization (i.e., at the number of staff allocated to each department), we can reduce overtime expenses.” Overtime can also be reduced by simply maintaining the sewer system, Kowal said. He explained that 7080% of overtime in the Department of Public Works (DPW) is the result of sewer blockages that occur on weekends. “If we successfully maintained our sewer system,” he said, “we’d drastically cut back on blockages and save money.” Illegal residences are another challenge, Kowal said. “We get a tremendous number of complaints about illegal housing. Why are these things allowed to exist?” he questioned.

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Kowal said that recent Council actions were directed specifically at this problem. “We just upgraded our housing ordinances to curb illegal apartments with the maximum fines allowed by law,” he said. “Another thing we’ve done is this: let’s say you live in an illegal apartment. The best thing a person living in that apartment can do is turn in his landlord. How could that benefit the illegal occupant? “Under the new law,” Kowal continued, “that landlord is responsible for that occupant’s relocation costs. He’s responsible for that person’s rent at his new address for six months. And if an illegal student is involved, the landlord is responsible for reimbursing the Board of Education. “We’ve now put in place the ordinances to stamp out illegal housing,” Kowal said. “We have the dog that bites. Now we have to let it out of the cage.” In Kowal’s view, “letting the dog out of the cage” means hiring more inspection staff to enforce the laws. “Clifton’s a wonderful town,” Kowal said. “We can’t control who our neighbors are, but one thing we can do is make sure that the people who live next door to us maintain the standard of living and the quality of life we expect from neighbors in the city of Clifton. (The Council’s) job is to make sure that we have the staff to do this.” Kowal discussed the city’s current form of government and said that he supports a study to consider a possible change. “Under our form of government, the

Council is responsible for setting the budget, the table of organization for each department, and city policy,” Kowal said. “Councilmen are not supposed to go to city hall and talk to an employee. We’re not supposed to call the DPW. I think that everybody (on the Council) wants to do the right thing, but it’s the city manager who’s supposed to do the doing.” Kowal also said that, if voters favor it, he’d support a ward form of government. “I think it would put a little more responsibility on the individual councilman.” He’d prefer staggered Council terms and supports term limits. Kowal would also like to see the position of mayor rotated, with a limit of two terms in a row as mayor, followed by two terms “off” from being mayor, before that person could be mayor again. Commenting on Clifton’s school space issues, Kowal said, “I believe that a school is needed; there is overcrowding. But I really don’t think (the Council) should be involved in the Board’s policymaking.” Kowal said that voters should support his quest for a fifth Council term for several reasons. “I think people should reelect me because I know my job, I know what I’m to do, I understand that Clifton is undergoing a metamorphosis,” he said. “It is the need to manage that change for Clifton’s betterment that I want to get across to people: that I can do it, that I am doing it, and that I will do it, within the parameters of my elected office.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Another Term Makes it Three

teve Hatala hopes to be part of the team that will shepherd Clifton from this decade into the next. That’s because he believes that, over the next few years, how well Clifton manages the issues it faces will set the course for the city’s future. “Clifton is a city in transition,” Hatala said. “We have an opportunity right now, if we can address the housing, the ratable base, the services, to position ourselves so that Clifton remains an attractive community.” Along with the challenges that confront any maturing city, Clifton is also undergoing significant cultural change, Hatala noted. “We have people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, families with children, moving into the community. By 2010, I envision a Clifton that’s come together to upgrade and improve our city.” Among the difficulties, not only for Clifton but statewide, is the redevelopment of old manufacturing plants, Hatala said. “When owners want to sell these properties, what happens?” he asked. “Clifton is so advantageously located near New York City that everybody wants to build housing. “But do we want large-scale housing development anymore? Not really,” Hatala continued. Instead, “We try to get stable ratables, ones that create job opportunities for the community; not only as primary employment, but for second incomes and for high school and college kids,” he said. “We try to bring in the best ratables that we can, but it’s not perfect.” Hatala chairs the city’s Economic Development Committee and pointed to Clifton’s successes in this area. “At one time, the (commercial) vacancy rate was over 15%. Now it’s a little less than 5%. We’ve renovated buildings, helped bankrupt companies stay afloat, we’ve done façade programs. “And when you talk about economic development, it’s not just industry,” Hatala said. “How many homes did we renovate with our CHIP (Clifton Housing Improvement Program) program to make the neighborhoods look nicer and bring up property values?” He also praised the accomplishments of both the Main Ave. and Botany 14

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Village Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) in transforming their neighborhoods. Hatala said that the Economic Development Committee has asked the planning board to create a redevelopment plan for Lexington Ave. “Not only Lexington, but from Nash Park into sections of Botany toward the Passaic border,” Hatala said. “[City planner] Dennis Kirwan has been working on a plan; he’s gone out into the neighborhoods. We have ideas, but we want to know what business owners and residents would like to see.” We asked Hatala for his thoughts about the city’s council-manager form of government. “What’s the downside to the form of government we have now? You haven’t seen any improprieties with this City Council or with any City Council in the past,” Hatala said. “I like this form of government because I have to be concerned about every part of the city.” In fact, the ward form of government can make things more political, Hatala believes. “One of the things I’ve seen with ward government is that all of a sudden, you polarize a city. If I’m in a ward, I’m going to worry about my ward. You’re going to get four people to get together, and you’re going to have a political block.” Hatala doesn’t see the need for term limits. “Iif you’re not doing your job, the public will limit your term for you.”

Hatala views Clifton’s school issues as city issues too. “The town is getting younger,” he said. “That’s why the Council needs to work closely with the school board. We need to keep our school system vibrant and attractive to young couples.” A former school board commissioner, Hatala knows what the job is like. “It’s tough. They have their work cut out for them. I support their going forward and doing what they were elected to do and that’s to choose a school site so that the electorate can decide.” Concerning the status of police and firefighter contracts, Hatala said that contracts with the two police groups—superior officers and rank and file—are settled. The firefighters’ contract is in place, but is up for renewal later this year, he said, adding, “(The city) will start to talk with the firefighters after the (Council} election to see what we can iron out before the contract expires.” Hatala was asked for an update on the implementation of recommendations made after a management study of the fire department. “The deputy chief position was put back. We renovated an existing firehouse with some equipment. We’re in the process of establishing an emergency management facility,” he said. About other recommendations—the addition of a third ambulance and the consolidation of firehouses— Hatala said, “We have continually asked the chief for a recommendation about a third ambulance. He hasn’t

Re-Elect

“We have continually asked the chief for recommendation about a third ambulance. He hasn’t made one. We haven’t heard from him about consolidating firehouses either.” made one. We haven’t heard from him about consolidating firehouses either,” Hatala said. “The Council acts on recommendations from the chief through the city manager.” We asked Hatala about efforts to increase city workers’ contributions to their benefits. “One union’s new employees do contribute toward their benefits; but with the unions that have binding arbitration [police and firefighters], we haven’t been successful. It then becomes very difficult to go to everybody else and ask for what we haven’t been able to get from those groups. Every year we look to increase contributions, deductibles, copays, but it’s difficult; it’s not like private industry. But we do try,” he said.

Joe Kolodziej to Clifton’s

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Political Newbie, Not a City Rookie

lthough he’s a newcomer when it comes to politics, City Council challenger Roy Noonburg is hardly a rookie when it comes to familiarity with Clifton’s people, neighborhoods and institutions. “I’ve been involved in the city for 25 years,” said Noonburg, who retired in July 2004 from a quarter-century career as an officer with the Clifton Police Department. He’s also a licensed funeral director, a profession he practiced during his law enforcement years and which he continues to practice today. As a police officer, Noonburg served the city’s young people by originating, coordinating and teaching the department’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. During the 1990s, he said, “I taught DARE in 21 schools at once.” Before that, he was a supervisor for the department’s “Operation Second Chance” program, which redirected kids who broke windows or wrote on walls into community service and away from the court system. About his career choices, Noonburg said, “I’ve always been service-oriented.” So continuing his service to Clifton, but in a different capacity, feels like a logical next step to him. Noonburg is convinced that it’s time for a change in the city’s political scene. “We need some new, creative ideas,” Noonburg said. “I’ve talked to many people; a lot of people are talking about the need for change. My philosophy is, change is good.” While stating about the current Council, “I have nothing against any of them – they have given their all for the town,” the father of three explained where he thinks change is needed. “I’m very concerned about the city’s infrastructure – roads, sewers,” Noonburg said. As an example, he mentioned the problem of frequent sewer blockages. “Two or three times a year, the sewer’s clogged because of tree roots in the sewer. But the city doesn’t want to take down the trees,” he said. Noonburg would remove the trees. 16

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Something else he’d change once he is elected, Noonburg said, is what he views as excessive reliance by the city on “outside experts.” “There are a lot of talented people in the city. We don’t utilize our own people enough.” In general, Noonburg believes that there are “too many studies, but not enough solutions.” Noonburg cites illegal housing as a problem for the city and doesn’t believe that action is consistently taken when such housing is identified. “The police and firefighters go on calls and discover illegal basement and attic apartments. We write it up and give it to the housing department. They’re very busy…we’re not all working together,” he said. In general, Noonburg thinks that there are “communications issues” among the city’s elected officials and administration. “We’re very quick to condemn, but no one’s coming up with solutions,” Noonburg said. “We need more communication – sitting down and talking. There’s too much petty politics.” He’s particularly disturbed by the “fingerpointing” he’s observed between the Council and the Board of Education during the search for a school site. “People are so disgusted,” he said. “We need a new school.”

City services are an area in which Noonburg believes that more “focus” is needed. “We want the DPW (Department of Public Works) to work in the parks, on the streets. They’re not even picking up leaves. They came to pick up the leaves after the snow fell,” he said. “They work hard, but I don’t think the DPW has enough people.” Noonburg also wants to ensure that the city gets “more bang for its buck.” About taxes, he said, “We need to utilize the taxes we collect—we collect a lot of taxes—more efficiently.” In addition, if he’s elected, Noonburg will work to see that the city pursues more county and state grants. On topics related to the Council races – campaign spending and term limits – Noonburg has definite opinions. “There should be spending limits,” he said. “That would give new people more opportunity. I can’t go out and spend $30,000 for a $4000-a-year job.” He’s also strongly in favor of term limits, asking rhetorically, “Do you really want a mayor who’s been there for 30 years?” That’s why Noonburg thinks that it’s time for a change. Referring again to the incumbents, he said, “I respect them all, but I think we need some change. Maybe my voice or someone else’s will be part of that change.” “I don’t need the mayor’s head on a platter,” Noonburg said. “I think he’s a good guy. But I’m a voice for change, whether it’s one or two people or the whole Council. We’ve gotten to this point with these

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Noonburg is disturbed by the “fingerpointing” he’s observed between the Council and the Board during the search for a school site. “People are so disgusted,” he said. “We need a new school.” Councilmembers; maybe we could do something else with different people. They’re good, but there might be better out there.” Noonburg explained why voters should support his Council bid. “I’m a very hard-working person,” he said. “I would work many, many hours for the city to get solutions. I’m very dedicated….I’m not afraid of taking on anybody. I take pride in the town. But Clifton’s changing, and I’m excited about being part of that change. This is our Clifton – it’s not my Clifton,” Noonburg said. “That’s the type of fighter they’d have if they vote for me.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Quarter Century on the Council

ou would think that, after a quarter century on the City Council, Gloria Kolodziej would be out of steam. You would be wrong. Kolodziej remains energized and optimistic about the city’s future. In fact, she believes that the next four years must be ones of action, not talk, if the city is to become the Clifton she envisions in 2010. “By 2010, I think we should certainly have put behind us the idea of identifying the city’s problems,” Kolodziej said. “We know what they are. Where I think this Council has failed is that we have not devised a workable plan to address them. “In the next four years, if the majority of the Council puts its mind to putting a plan of action in place, then by 2010 we should have addressed most of the problems that have been identified,” she said. Taxes, Kolodziej believes, are uppermost in residents’ minds. “People say to me, ‘Why do our taxes keep going up if we have all this development going on?’ Because every time we have more development, we need more police, more firefighters. How do you stay ahead? You don’t. “This idea of ratables, ratables, ratables, only creates a vicious cycle,” Kolodziej said. “OK, I have ratables, but now I also need more firehouses, police officers, DPW workers, I need, I need, I need, and we don’t have the ability to recoup those costs.” Kolodziej recognizes that her stance on overdevelopment doesn’t sit well with developers in town, but that’s fine with her. “My constituency feels that they’ve been sold out to developers,” she said. She gave an example. “I was the only one to vote against lifting a deed restriction on the mountain that many Councils over the years have respected. Now we have two houses going up on Valley Rd. because this Council lifted the deed restriction. I was told that they had to lift the restriction because we need ratables. Now you’re going to tell me that two houses are going to make a big difference?” 18

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Also draining taxpayers’ wallets are the costs of city workers’ employee benefits. “Most of our budget— 67%—goes into salaries and benefits for city employees, far outstripping the private sector, where wages are being frozen or cut,” Kolodziej explained. The entire budgeting process needs to be revamped, Kolodziej said. “For years we’ve talked about zerobased budgeting, privatization, shared services. The time for talking is past. The new Council will have to hit the ground running with their sleeves rolled up and they’re going to have to get to work on July 2, the day after the swearing in.” Kolodziej is also troubled by what she observes as a growing inability among both Council members and residents to “disagree agreeably.” “People’s frustration levels have reached an all-time high. We no longer listen,” Kolodziej said. “It’s easier to participate in character assassination or lies or innuendo or worse yet, to fan the flames of prejudice and bigotry. That’s never been acceptable in this city before and by 2010, I would expect that all of that should be gone.” Kolodziej believes that the city’s council-manager government would be working better if it weren’t being “totally diluted.”

“I believe that the beauty of this form is that the Council is supposed to set policy, then step aside. The professional city manager is supposed to integrate that policy into the day-to-day workings of government. “In my opinion, there are Council members who have overstepped their bounds and are interfering too much in the day-to-day workings of the government,” Kolodziej said. “So until we restore the integrity of this form of government, it would be difficult for me to say it doesn’t work. If it’s done the way it should be, it can work.” She thinks that direct election of the mayor “makes sense” and “loves” the idea of staggered elections. However, “I have to laugh at the idea of term limits,” Kolodziej said. “An elected official is only as good as the people they represent. When the public thinks that I no longer have anything to offer, I will gladly take my walking papers.” On the issue of adding a third ambulance to the city’s fleet, Kolodziej said, “One of the initiatives we hope to take in this year’s budget is to put a third ambulance into service. We’re working on how to make it happen.” Clifton’s school space issues will be resolved soon, Kolodziej believes. “If we’re going to pass a referendum and give kids relief, we’re going to have to put aside personal desires and get a win-win solution for as many segments of our population as we can.” In the meantime, the Council has begun the process of applying

“...there are Council members who have overstepped their bounds and are interfering too much in the day-to-day workings of the government. So until we restore the integrity of this form of government, it will be difficult for me to say it doesn’t work.” for Green Acres funding to purchase Latteri Park from the Board of Education. “Saving open space and parks is a priority with me,” Kolodziej said. About the May election, Kolodziej is philosophical. “I know that, in certain circles, I’m viewed as the problem,” Kolodziej said. “But that’s what an election is all about. I just need to know how many people still value what I value: balance, fairness and compassion.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Shop &Compare Asks Chidiac

oe Chidiac, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, doesn’t like what’s happening in the city. “Pride and morale are down in the fire department, the DPW (Department of Public Works), and the police,” said Chidiac, a Federal employee affiliated with the Newark Division of the Postal Inspection Service who works as a postal police officer at the NJ International and Bulk Mail Center in Jersey City. According to Chidiac, what’s discouraging these city employees, as well as Clifton residents in general, is their perception that, when it comes to city government, favoritism and preferences are the rule. It’s their feeling, claimed Chidiac, that everything— from your crossing guard assignment to when your street gets paved to getting elected to the Council or Board of Education— depends on who you know and/or where you live. “The DPW, the police, fire, city hall workers get blamed for things, but they don’t make the equipment and manpower decisions,” Chidiac said, citing factors that affect morale. “Why do some roads get paved and others don’t? Why do some areas look bad and others are so wellmaintained?” Chidiac asked rhetorically. “The nicer areas—where Council people live—get more and better services. They take care of their own. “There can’t be ticket fixing, there can’t be trying to get people off jury duty,” Chidiac said. “There’s a right and a wrong way to do things; let’s do what’s right. “I’m for fairness, not favoritism,” he added. A seat on the City Council, he believes, “should be about what you know, and votes; not about who you know, and money. It’s about what you want to do, not what you want to be.” As a postal police officer, Chidiac is assigned to prevention of both internal and external theft at the Mail Center, through which such pilfer-prone shipments as gold, coins, checks, medicines, and credit cards routinely pass. During 10 of his years with the postal police, Chidiac also worked security for Passaic County Vocational-Technical High School in Wayne. 20

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Chidiac wants to utilize his professional skills and experience to increase the safety and security of Clifton. “This is a very serious agenda to me,” Chidiac said. For example, he’s concerned that critical expenditures, particularly in the fire and police departments, have been postponed. “We should have the best fire equipment, the best police equipment,” he said. “We need to be prepared.” If he’s elected, Chidiac will immediately seek to 1) inventory equipment and manpower in all city departments; 2) review the results of that inventory; and 3) ensure accountability by those responsible for these areas. In general, Chidiac believes that the city could be safer and more secure in a number of areas. He worries that the current ambulance fleet (only two are in service as of this writing) may be inadequate to meet the needs of senior citizens for emergency services. “We’re a growing population and a ‘growing older’ population – with no hospital. “We need to increase safety and security for children and seniors,” Chidiac said. For kids, he would take a number of steps: “The parks have to be childproofed and safety-proofed; we need railings around them and padding on the fences. They should be cleaner.”

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Chidiac cited other examples too. “At gas stations there are lots of used cars and debris. There’s more rubbish and more buildings are being let go. And three or four times, I’ve seen people walking around with bottles of alcohol.” His own van, Chidiac said, was vandalized right in front of his house. “Letting things go says ‘We don’t care and that’s acceptable,’” Chidiac said. “It’s a quality of life issue.” Chidiac said that more authority and control must be exerted at CHS to ensure the continued safety of the school environment. “There should be an assembly at the beginning of the school year,” he said. “It could be a talk by the mayor, with two cops. Start with the freshmen!” Authorities should use these assemblies to establish the ground rules early on, Chidiac believes, for acceptable and unacceptable behavior. “There are drugs and alcohol at the high school,” Chidiac asserted. “What’s it going to take for parents to get up in arms? A rape in the high school like in Glen Ridge?” That’s why the city, Chidiac believes, needs a new Council. “A new broom sweeps clean,” he said. “The city needs leadership.” About the current Council, Chidiac said, “All of them have good in them; there isn’t anybody bad. But are these people ‘movers and shakers’? Are they leaders?”

“Why do some roads get paved and others don’t? The nicer areas—where Council people live— get more and better services,”claimed Chidiac. Chidiac’s run for the Council is actually his second, having made an unsuccessful attempt in 1982. He prides himself on the fact that he is accepting no campaign contributions. “I’ll be spending about $4000$6000 of my own money,” he said. He also supports a limit on the number of Council terms one person may serve because “there are so many people with so many ideas, with new energy and new approaches.” Voters, Chidiac said, should elect him to the Council for a number of reasons. “I’m a no-nonsense candidate with a serious agenda. I answer to a higher authority. I offer trust and integrity,” he said. “I hope that voters will shop and compare, that they’ll look at qualifications and experience and separate them from the politics.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Seventh Term A Sure Thing?

o Jim Anzaldi’s way of thinking, length of service in government matters. Anzaldi views his 24 years on the Council (including 16 as Mayor) as an advantage. In a wide-ranging two-hour-plus interview, the Mayor illustrated his point with a Cliftonbased anecdote. “Sometimes longevity in government is very good; it builds relationships with people in large corporations like IT&T,” Anzaldi said. Several years ago, IT&T intended to leave Clifton. The company had sold its property here and found a new location outside the city. When that deal fell through, however, IT&T had no place to go. Anzaldi’s long-term acquaintance with the president of IT&T’s Clifton location enabled them to devise a solution that kept IT&T in town. “Sometimes you’re able to have a relationship where somebody can pick up the phone and say, ‘What do you think about this?’ It happened to be Hank Drisse (president of IT&T’s Clifton office).” As a result, a plan was developed whereby IT&T was able to buy back part of its property and remain in Clifton. “That was a big win for us,” Anzaldi said. It’s not difficult, then, to guess Anzaldi’s position on term limits for Council members. “Term limits are made by the people, especially local government,” he said. “It’s not a detriment, it’s a plus to have a longterm congressman, assemblyman, or state senator. People become more influential because they’ve been there longer. “I think people can term limit you if they want to. They did it to me one time!” he laughed, referring to his defeat in 1982 after his initial election in 1978. We asked Anzaldi what he foresees for the Clifton of 2010. “Four years from now, I think the problems with the schools will be settled,” he said. “I envision that we’ll have more properties that are preserved for the future. We’ll probably be greener because of a huge tree-planting program that’s been going on. We’ll have more road building, curbs where needed, sewer repairs.

Neighborhood improvement programs will continue. There’ll be the continuation of the park improvement program.” Anzaldi also expects there to be another Special Improvement District (SID). “Probably the right place for the next SID would be Market St. or Van Houten Ave.,” he said. Clifton’s top challenge, Anzaldi believes, will be taxes. “We’ve lost ratables because of the industrial base loss,” he said. “But in the last four years, there’s been a lot of building, a huge amount of ratables that have offset the loss of ratables in the industrial sector. But I don’t think there’s a whole lot more places to build.” Asked if new businesses and housing don’t also lead to tax increases by creating the need for more services, Anzaldi said, “There’s some truth to that and some fallacy to that. “The truth is, a place like Clifton Commons, when they built the Target store, they gave us money for an extra policeman for five years. The theater has an offduty police officer on busy nights and during the Christmas season that they pay for themselves. During busy seasons, county sheriff’s officers are assigned to the Commons,” Anzaldi said.

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As for housing’s impact, he said that most of the city’s new housing doesn’t affect school space needs because the units have only one or two bedrooms. “At River Walk, there’s 240 units and seven children,” he stated. “In Cambridge Crossings, there are 10 in there right now that go to the public schools.” Providing needed city services while minimizing their tax impact is required because of the state’s caps on municipal spending, Anzaldi said. “People say, ‘Put on more people in the DPW (Department of Public Works), the fire department, the police department,’ but you can only spend so much without special permission (to exceed the caps).” About the problem of illegal housing, Anzaldi said, “There’s no tolerance here for it. Last year, $250,000 in fines were collected from people doing work without permits.” He sees little risk that the problem will lead to the deterioration of Clifton’s older neighborhoods. “It can only happen if we allow it to happen,” he said. A study of Clifton’s form of government and possible changes were discussed. “The council-manager government has been good for Clifton,” Anzaldi said. “Clifton has been scandal-free. It’s nonpartisan. There’s no patronage.” He sees no need to switch to ward-type representation. “You hear, ‘we should have wards,’ but if you look at where Councilpeople live now, they’re pretty much spread around the community,” Anzaldi observed.

“You hear, we should have wards,’ but if you look at where Council people live now, they’re pretty much spread around the community,” He’s against staggering Council elections—wherein different Council members would run for four year terms every two years—because of the expense: “Elections every two years would only cost taxpayers more money.” “Any time there’s a proposal to do some kind of study, I would never be against it,” Anzaldi said. “My personal opinion is that this form of government has been successful for Clifton. But you can make it better, you can call for new ideas.” Assessing his prospects for reelection next month, Anzaldi said, “I have no fear of putting my future in the people’s hands, no fear at all.” He’s also optimistic about Clifton’s future. “Do we have problems? Every town does,” Anzaldi said. “But the positives are so good here. It’s the best place in the world.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Is Les On Track?

es Herrschaft, the former three term City Councilman, Board of Education Commissioner and godfather to many of Clifton’s current politicians, is pictured here in an old campaign photo with his

long gone mutt Baby. These days, Herrschaft, 80, is much thinner and not as active as he once was but still has a voice in politics. He says he wants to keep Clifton on track, just like his old campaign slogan.

By Tom Hawrylko

For the past two City Council elections, Les has handicapped the race and compiled some good percentages. In a recent interview, Herrschaft offered his card for the May 9 Council race in which seven incumbents and nine challengers vie for seven seats. Herrschaft, first elected in 1986, then again in ‘90 and ‘94 before stepping down in 1998, also offered some other nuggets in our discussion.

Les Handicaps the

‘06 Council Election Here is how Les picked them, noting: “The way I lined them up does not mean the position they will place.” He also decided not to offer comments on all candidates. James Anzaldi: Very popular... ready to go. Ed Welsh: I like him... but he has problems... Gloria Kolodziej: Great lady, always a winner. Steve Hatala: Just watch him move up. Stefan Tatarenko: Real gentlemen ...has to work hard. Don Kowal: Good luck... he will be in there. Frank Gaccione: Great person, but that freeholder race will hurt him. Has problems. Peter Eagler: Quality candidate. I served with him. Matt Ward: Dark horse. Anthony Latona: Looks good. Joe Cupoli: Watch him place. 28

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

What challengers do you like? “Matt Ward can win... he’s a dark horse. He ran that Clifton Taxpayers Association, he ran for Council before.... old timers know him... he’s got support. He’s a smart kid... this might be his time.” And who else? “Your friend Joe Cupoli. He became known from the school issue. He speaks well... nice family, owns a Clifton business. And the fireman. (Tony Latona). It’s going to be close.” Who is going to be Mayor? (ed. note: voters select seven candidates and by tradition, high vote getter is named Mayor by the Council colleagues). “Hatala is moving up... but if I had to pick today I’d say Jimmy (Anzaldi). I sat in his office for a half hour and 15 citizens came in. That means a lot. But ballot position means everything. Welsh got the number 1 slot and Jimmy is 16. First and last. That’s good for a couple of hundred votes for each of them.”

Herrschaft wanted to make his comments known regarding the Zoning Board’s denial of the School Board’s application for a 500 student school at 290 Brighton Rd. “The process was a charade, right from the start. For months it was done. They (commissioners) all had prepared statements. The voters spoke. It should have been approved. The point is the Board of Adjustment talked about not losing commercial space. The fact is that building was empty and the other Mayer building is now for sale. Look down the road. Globe Products... empty. The Pfizer plant... empty. The Fischer Stevens building has 80,000 square feet for rent. For God’s sake, you have about 250,000 empty square feet in that area. This little school would not have hurt anyone. Their decision will be overturned. The judge is going to look at all that empty industrial space and the overcrowded schools and overturn it.”

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Peter Eagler looks like a winner. If he’s in one of the incumbents is out; who’s going to come up short? “Eagler will definitely get in. In fact, he’ll be in the top four. Tatarenko, Welsh and Gaccione are weak. But watch Gaccione. He knows how to raise cash and he’ll spend a lot of money to win. What did he spend last time..$53,000?” Why are these three weak? “People... parents are dissatisfied with what is going on with the schools. Gaccione and Welsh came out hard against that new school. They campaigned against it. It’s a good chance parents and teachers will vote against them.” Why is Tatarenko weak? “He’s tied in with Gaccione and Welsh. Tatarenko campaigns with them. He’s lost a lot of his base.” So you see three seats open? “The last three positions are going to be like a horse race, neck and neck. A few votes will make the difference and you got a lot of good candidates.”

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2006 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

How Clifton Government is Designed to Function 7-Member City Council Develops Overall Policy (Elected every four years, Political )

It is the role of the Council to establish policy and direct the City Manager to fulfill those wishes.

By theory and law, this is how it works. But in reality, politics shape the day-to-day dynamics and breaks in this chain of command frequently occur.

Approximately 20

Boards Commissions Committees

City Manager Implements Policy and Oversees Day to Day Administration (Appointed Non-Political, Professional)

It is the role of the City Manager to fulfill Council directives through the management and deployment of the departments & workforce.

Engineering & Regulatory Affairs

Fire Department

Human Services Department

(Political Appointees) With the exception of the Zoning & Planning Boards, which are autonomous, these groups are advisory.

Municipal Court & Admin. Public Works Department

Finance Department

City of Clifton Workforce Facts F/T Permanent Employees: 522 P/T and Seasonal Employees: 117

Police Department

Legal Department

Note: While funded by the city, the Clifton Public Library functions as an autonomous body, with its own staff, employees and budget.

Proud to represent Clifton... Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin State of New Jersey 1333 Broad St., Clifton, NJ 07013 Call my Clifton office: 973-779-3125 1814

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or some 33 years now, Anthony A. Accavallo, shown here, has been helping make the American Dream become a reality, right here in Clifton. As President of Federal Mortgage & Investment Corp. at 1111 Clifton Ave., Clifton, he and his firm have written millions of dollars worth of mortgages which have allowed people to purchase homes. And while that work has been fulfilling, Accavallo said he is getting his greatest satisfaction these days by helping senior citizens with reverse mortgages. A reverse mortgage is a special kind of mortgage loan for seniors. “It is a safe, easy way to turn your home equity into tax-free cash,” he continued. “Unlike a home equity loan, you do not

have to make monthly payments. Instead, a reverse mortgage pays you. More importantly, you do not have to repay the loan for as long as you live in the house. It’s a great way to keep your home and get money from it at the same time.” The name “reverse mortgage” describes exactly what the mortgage is — it is the exact opposite of a conventional mortgage. That is, with a conventional mortgage the borrower pays the lender but with a reverse mortgage, the lender pays the borrower. In the past, a senior citizen in need of money would have to take out a loan against their house and immediately start making monthly payments again or sell their home. But a reverse mortgage allows seniors to borrow against the equity they

How do I qualify for a Reverse Mortgage? It’s simple. You and your co-borrower must be at least 62 years old. You must own your home free and clear or have just a small balance on your existing mortgage. Best of all, there are no income or credit requirements to satisfy. How can I receive my money? You can receive it in several ways: •Equal monthly payments as long as you live in your home •Equal monthly payments for a certain period of time •As a line of credit you can draw upon as needed, for whatever reasons •As a lump sum draw at closing •A combination of the above, to meet your requirements. When must I repay the loan? You must repay the loan if you no longer live in your home. In the event of your death, your heirs can choose to repay the loan and keep the house or sell the house and repay the loan, What are interest rate charges & fees? •An adjustable rate of interest is charged on reverse mortgages •Closing costs are typical for any mortgage closing and all may be financed •No out-of-pocket expenses at closing Are Reverse Mortgages safe? •Yes, FHA and FannieMae guarantee the payments you receive •FHA and FannieMae also guarantee you will never owe more than your house is worth — no debt left on estate

already have in their home... and they never have to make a monthly payment. Each reverse mortgage candidate is required to attend a free counseling session with a local independent housing agency approved by FHA (Federal Housing Administration). Candidates are encouraged to bring other family members with them to help in the decision-making process. “This process ensures that the borrower understands the program fully and aides them in determining whether or not a reverse mortgage is for them,” said Accavallo.

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‘06 Clifton Board of Education Candidates ––––––––––– Story by Joseph R. Torelli –––––––––––

his year’s school board elections on April 18th are shaping up to be as important as any in Clifton’s history. The overcrowding issue that has plagued CHS and the two middle schools for the past 10 years has spilled over into a contentious public squabble between Board commissioners, City Council members and Clifton voters. We asked the six candidates who are seeking the three open seats on the school board for a definitive plan to solve the overcrowding problem. We also asked them what else they hope to accomplish if they are elected to the three-year terms. The six candidates are incumbents Lizz Gagnon, Joseph Kolodziej and James Smith, who are being challenged by newcomers Michael Paitchell, Julie Skolnik, and Michael Urciuoli. In addition to filling three Board vacancies, voters will decide whether or not to approve a $126 million budget for the 2005-2006 school year. If they say yes, the school budget will add $112 in property taxes to the average homeowner’s annual bill. School officials attribute the relatively low tax increase to special Abbott Rim funding from the state, health benefit savings and cost avoidance initiatives aimed at trimming energy expenses. On the following pages are the candidates’ responses to our two questions...

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Lizz Gagnon has served on the Board for ten years. She has a daughter attending CHS and a son who graduated in 2003. “Expanding elementary schools, as some of my opponents seem to favor, is a band-aid approach to the overcrowding problem. We need a middle school and Latteri Park is the only real viable solution. Everywhere I go in Clifton, the voters are saying to me that they want the ability to vote on using the park for a school, and that they don’t want to pay for land they don’t need. We’re desperate for a school. They put me in office to represent them, and who am I to say no? “The stalling tactics employed by some Board members are extremely aggravating…they don’t want a Latteri referendum.

“The stalling tactics by some Board members are extremely aggravating... they don’t want a Latteri (Park) referendum.” –Commissioner Lizz Gagnon Special

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“I believe we should move the 6th grade back into the elementary schools by building additions on the existing facilities that can support construction.” –Board President Joseph Kolodziej

“I’m interested in the gang problem in our schools,” Gagnon continued. “Security has to be tighter because protecting our students is paramount. Gangs from other towns are coming in and fighting with our kids. We don’t have a big problem now, but we need to nip this trend in the bud. The police are doing a great job and keeping the Board informed.” Joseph Kolodziej is currently the President of the Board of Education. He also has served two terms as VicePresident during his seven years as a commissioner. “I believe we should move the 6th grade back into to the elementary schools by building additions on the existing facili-

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ties that can support construction. We can also rent additional outside facilities and, if necessary, renovate School 6. WWMS, CCMS and a refurbished 290 Brighton Rd. building could then accommodate moving the 9th grade out of the high school. “We should also look at the old Capitol Soap property across from CHS that sits on 3-4 acres. That land could support administrative facilities if School 6 is retrofitted for classroom use and can also provide additional parking for CHS. “Clearly, I’d like to continue the work of the last four years which has seen an increase in the CHS graduation rate, better test scores across the district at all grade levels, and more cooperative educational programs and internships for our students. “Because of Board initiatives, it is now possible for CHS students to graduate with nearly enough credits for one full year of college. I will continue to shepherd the Board in the same direction which includes expanding full-day kindergarten to all schools. Michael Paitchell has two children, both of whom graduated from Clifton High School.

“I am committed to having a middle school with a smaller park built on the Latteri site as soon as possible.” –Challenger Michael Paitchell

“I am committed to having a middle school with a smaller park built on the Latteri site as soon as possible. I also plan to aggressively speed up the identification and removal of illegal students in Clifton Schools; however, even with this reduction we will need to build another middle or junior high school. “For years, the proposed site has been deliberately shuffled around, and the vast majority of Clifton voters have been blocked from getting the school built on the one site in the city that happens to be in the correct geographic location for local students to attend and for bussing others. It is also on land large enough to hold a logically planned school and that is not in need of toxic waste cleanup. I will address and improve the curriculum in the Math, Science and Applied Technology (SHOP) courses in the Clifton schools. Clifton has fallen way behind in these areas. Inadequate attention has been given to them.”

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Julie Skolnik has lived in Clifton for nearly four years. She has one son who attends 1st grade at School 9. “As a Board member, I will encourage my colleagues to investigate ways to expand our existing structures - most likely at the elementary level - along with restructuring the grade system. Expansion of some existing elementary school facilities, along with the use of 290 Brighton Rd., should help us to solve overcrowding. I fully support the 500 student school at 290 Brighton and I supported the referendum to expand to 310 and 330 Brighton Rd. as well. “I will advocate for Clifton’s children and families and work to ensure safety in our schools. I remain steadfast in my commitment to provide the highest educational standards so all students have an equal opportunity to

“Expansion of some existing elementary school facilities, along with the use of 290 Brighton Rd., should help to solve overcrowding.” –Challenger Julie Skolnik

“Looking at expanding existing buildings... It’s not an ideal choice but without other land available, I think it must be looked at again.” –Commissioner James Smith

be successful. As a special education teacher in Passaic, I know the issues facing working families with schoolaged children and I will work to resolve them. “I’d also like to see the daily educational experience incorporate more physical activities related to academics. Daily classroom life is too sedentary. Students need to be stimulated; they’re not test-taking robots. I want for all children of Clifton the same things that I want for my own child.” James Smith is an elementary school teacher at St. Andrew’s School and has been a Commissioner for 12 years. “The overcrowding issue was on the table even before I was first elected. Looking at expanding existing buildings, like we did at the high school, WWMS and School 12, is an

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“The Board has made mistakes by eliminating potential solutions to overcrowding before solving the problem. Utilizing Board-owned property is the best solution.” –Challenger Michael Urciuoli

area we should study more closely. It’s not an ideal choice, but without other land available, I think it must be looked at again. “Two years ago, we looked at Capitol Soap across from CHS, but only for additional parking. We should look at it again in terms of building. We’d probably have to change the grade structure if we expanded elementary school buildings. I’m not really in favor of that, but we’re running out of options. I will continue the leadership I’ve shown over the years in supporting the administration’s efforts to increase test scores, add new supervisors, and revamp curricula and textbooks. I learned how much control we, as commissioners, don’t have. So much of what we do is mandated by the state. That strains our ability to control the budget. Most of the budget is contractual; the rest is primarily mandates, but I’ll support those things we can control that don’t have a negative effect on students.” Michael Urciuoli is a lawyer who has lived in town for 18 years and has two children attending Clifton public schools. “There’s no other way around the overcrowding problem than to find additional space, whether through rentals or construction. I support increasing the number of CHS students who pursue offsite educational opportunities, as well, such as the successful program at Montclair State. We also must create additional internships, and provide more off-campus industrial and technical courses to prepare students for the real world. “This Board has made mistakes by eliminating potential solutions to overcrowding before solving the problem. They need to allow these potential solutions to come before voters. Utilizing Board-owned property is the best solution. I’d love to see us take a distressed property, turn it around and use it for a school; but I don’t think we have the time. “There is too much acrimony on the Board. As an attorney, I know how to negotiate to achieve compromise and consensus. There are many pressing issues besides overcrowding that need the attention of a unified Board. You don’t have to be disagreeable to disagree. We can have differences of opinions, but in the end, I will make it my priority to work with my Board colleagues to do what’s best for our students and the entire city.”

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Continuing the Progress for Clifton Children by Michael F. Rice, Ph.D. Superintendent, Clifton Public Schools

aving successfully lobbied for $3.3 million in annual state Abbott Rim funds last summer, the Board of Education has produced a 2006-07 budget that expands full-day kindergarten, replaces outdated technology and repairs schools that are 74 years old on average, all with the lowest local schools tax increase in eight years. If approved by Clifton voters on April 18, the schools’ budget would expand full-day kindergarten from five to eight elementary schools, with the addition of Schools 5, 8, and 12. Consistent with its five-year strategic plan, the Board of Education is working to implement full-day kindergarten in all elementary schools, within the constraints of the state’s two-year-old school budget law, its own operating budget and elementary space limitations. With the help of Clifton voters, the Board began its implementation of full-day kindergarten in the 20042005 school year, intent on joining the 21 of 26 school districts surrounding Clifton that already have full-day kindergarten. The 2006-07 budget also replaces outdated technology, including servers, PCs, and software, at a number of schools. These elements need to remain current to continue to provide Clifton students with the knowledge necessary to compete both in a college environment and in an increasingly global marketplace, again consistent

with the Board’s five-year strategic plan. Clifton voters supported the Board of Education’s PROJECT 2000 referendum in 1997. The 2006-07 budget also addresses a number of building projects in Clifton’s aging school buildings. Projects include a complete renovation of the high school auditorium; replacement of high school gymnasium bleachers and the beginning of high school locker replacement; the replacement of some of the windows at a number of schools, including Schools 2, 3, 5 and 8, and the high school; the replacement of a School 15 boiler; and the upgrading of restrooms at the stadium.

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The Board’s budget also includes some masonry work at School 4 and at Woodrow Wilson; the replacement of the Christopher Columbus toilet partitions and irreparable clock system; the replacement of the wheelchair lift at Woodrow Wilson; and necessary site work at Schools 9, 11 and 15. The Board plans to complete these building projects, consistent with the Board strategic plan goal of maintaining our aging buildings to the extent that we are able, solely with state Abbott Rim funds. Last spring, the Board of Education intensified its lobbying effort with the state legislature for Abbott Rim funds. The Board had long argued that its proximity to three Abbott districts—Paterson, Passaic and Garfield—merited consideration for additional state funding. Abbott districts receive substantial state funds to address their challenging demographics, and our Board of Education made the case that Clifton’s demographics required additional funds as well. With the help of its state legislators—Senator Nia Gill, Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver and former Assemblyman Peter Eagler—Clifton was able to secure $3.3 million in annual Abbott Rim funds. In the last three years, the Board has approved a number of new programs: the Senior-Year Options Program, which enables eligible high school seniors to take cred-

“Given the successful lobbying for state Abbott Rim funds, the Board of Education is able to move forward with full-day kindergarten, instructional technology, and building repairs, all for the lowest local tax increase in eight years… These elements will help continue the improvements in student achievement that the Board has generated in the last three years.” –Clifton Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice

it-bearing courses at Montclair State University or Passaic County Community College, or to participate in career internships; fifth grade financial education; fullday kindergarten; and additional college-level Advanced Placement (AP) courses. It has raised TerraNova total battery scores to their highest levels of the last four years in all four grades (Grades 2, 5, 6 and 7) that the tests have been given throughout this period.

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School Board Elections April 18th • Polls Open 1:30 PM - 9 PM The Board has raised state math test results during this period at all three levels, elementary, middle and high school, with the increase on NJASK 4 being a whopping 22 percent. Eighty-eight (88) percent more students are taking college-level AP courses, and 98 percent more AP courses are being taken. In the last three years, student results on AP tests have improved as well. All of these achievement gains are the accomplishments of students and educators, working together. They are also the result, in part, of the support of parents and the Clifton community. As I have noted many times in the past, communities rise and fall on their support of their schools. The Clifton community has supported the last three budgets. In so doing, it has helped to complete the addition of full-time basic skills instructors and full-time nurses at all elementary schools. It has provided funding to expand the implementation of full-day kindergarten and the staff professional development and student opportunities in the district. It has allowed us to expand our already outstanding strings For Home, Office, or Industry, call Clifton’s Trane Team: Rich DeMarco and Craig Carlson.

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program in the district. It has helped us maintain our aging school buildings. Given the successful lobbying for state Abbott Rim funds, the Board of Education is able to move forward with full-day kindergarten, instructional technology and building repairs, all for the lowest local tax increase in eight years. The increase for the average property taxpayer under this budget would be $113, roughly half the increase for the average taxpayer in Wayne ($224) and less than that estimated in most surrounding Passaic County school districts. These elements will help continue the improvements in student achievement that the Board has generated in the last three years. As many of you are aware, the Clifton Board of Education spends less in total cost per student and less in administrative cost per student than any other K-12 district in Passaic County. The Clifton Public Schools remain an outstanding investment, as do our Clifton children. Our partnership with you, for the benefit of our children, continues. Please vote on April 18.

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Commentary by John Bendel

Scapegoat Time in Clifton Politics

Those people resent the way Clifton very time I come home from is changing, but it’s changing anyway. Clifton lately, my stomach is They can’t stop it. Ironically backin a knot and I can’t fall ward-looking policies and campaigns asleep. It’s hard to watch against smart, talented people like Dr. what this terrific city is doing to itself. Rice only increase the rate of change. What began as an effort to stop conMany thinking middle-class families struction of a school on Brighton Road would rather not see their kids in has exploded into an ugly crusade for Clifton public schools. the head of Dr. Michael Rice. Both sides in the Great School Site Presumably responsible people are Debate have legitimate concerns, but claiming that he—Rice, personally— those concerns are not of equal is dividing Clifton. importance. Both sides have the interOn the contrary, the people making ests of the city at heart, but how big those charges, the people who sprung are their respective hearts? I’d like to into action to stop the school at 290 say that both sides are right, but it Brighton Rd. are the dividers. Dr. Rice simply isn’t true. is trying to solve Clifton’s problems; Michael F. Rice Clifton’s problem is overcrowding they’re trying to stop him. It’s called in Clifton schools, especially in the high school. The obstructionism. Rice’s “crime” is trying to relieve the criminal over- problem is thousands of city kids are being shortcrowding in Clifton schools. He hasn’t flinched from changed day by day, semester by semester, year by year. politicians trying to derail whatever school option hap- Overcrowding and the debates raging around it take a pens to be on the docket. Rice ignores special interests serious toll on the city. It’s desirability as a place to live that work against a new school, keeping his eyes on the and raise a family is on the decline. A privately-funded, professional public affairs camprize – the children and the school. He’s smart, he’s dedicated, and he treats all people equally. That’s particular- paign has polarized the city, and now some people wonder how the school board could possibly have ly galling for some of his enemies.

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Leadership, Ed Welsh Style

“Clifton deserves filet mignon but instead they get Rice.” –Clifton City Councilman Ed Welsh

That was enough for Frank Gaccione, who voted for it. Stefan Tatarenko brought an interesting perspective to the motion. The council can’t make school board policy, so it’s only a recommendation, he said. Tatarenko voted in favor. Mayor Jim Anzaldi reiterated Tatarenko’s take on the motion and voted to approve. After all, it’s antidrug and only a recommendation. How could you vote against it? But Steve Hatala, Gloria Kolodziej and Don Kowal did just that. I cheer them and so should Clifton voters. The recommended policy may be a great idea, but how could the four who approved it possibly know that? It wasn’t really discussed and seemed to be new to all but Ed Welsh. Could Frank, Stefan and Jim have voted on more than a hunch? If the only consequence of the rec-

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ommended policy was to ferret out drug users, that would be one thing. But such a serious policy will surely have other impacts. For example it will steer some drug users—even first time experimenters—away from extra curricular activities. As a result, those kids would lose contact with the coaches and special activities teachers who often develop trusting relationships with kids. Youth drug problems are only solved one kid at a time. Drug testing, random or mandatory, should be a serious, well-considered step, not a reflex reaction. Then there’s the idea expressed by Stefan and Jim that non-binding recommendations are no big deal. After all, they were only asking their colleagues on the Clifton School Board to consider an idea. For the sake of their own credibility they should have considered —John Bendel it themselves.

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he quote highlighted at right is how Councilman Ed Welsh began an attack on Dr. Michael Rice at the March 21 Clifton Council meeting. Clever eh? But Ed had assumed his leadership role even before he took aim at the schools superintendent. Ed proposed a new anti-drug policy for Clifton schools. Ed wanted Clifton’s City Council to recommend that the School Board require any student involved in extracurricular activities be subject to random drug testing. The policy would apply to everything from the football team to the chess club. It’s already school policy in Pequannock, said Ed, who put his proposal in the form of a motion. With virtually no discussion, the resolution passed on a 4 to 3 vote. So now the Clifton Council is on record officially asking the Clifton School Board to institute a drug testing policy for kids in extra curricular activities. Why? Apparently because Ed Welsh said it’s a good idea and, hey, Pequannock is doing it. What else do you need to know?

gone ahead with construction plans when the zoning variance had not yet been granted. What on earth were they thinking? Well, they were thinking of education. They were thinking of children. They were thinking they were on the same team as the City Council and its appointed boards. Moving ahead aggressively made all the sense in the world. They weren’t awaiting approval from D.C. or the mother planet. They only needed the approval of fellow Cliftonites who surely understood what was at stake. Approval seemed a reasonable assumption considering the lack of major opposition to the December 2004 referendum that approved the school. Somehow, between that election and the Board of Adjustment hearings, industrial property in Clifton took on the sacred nature of a shrine.

But the truth is that a school is unmistakably a beneficial use of 290 Brighton Rd.. And the school would be opening this September but for the interference of politicians and the eventual length of the hearing process itself—totally attributable to William Van Ness. Van Ness and the “professionals” he paid tried to make up in sheer volume what his case against the variance lacked in substance. Now those who fought hardest to stop what Clifton needs most – and these people are the real dividers in this city—are attacking the people trying desperately to meet that need. On one side of this regrettable divide you have a majority of the school board, a very capable superintendent, and a terrific faculty and staff. You have the New Jersey Department of Education, which closely monitors schools in the state. You have many parents of school age children and many children

themselves who could care less where a new school is built; they just want it done. Children truly come first with these people. Educators and parents by definition are about children, not just their education but the quality of their lives and above all their safety. On the other side you have William Van Ness, a wealthy businessman who wouldn’t live in Clifton on a cosmic bet, and his public affairs firm whose web site lists its staff under the heading “professionals,”—what people who do ugly things for a living like to call themselves. If you believe these guys have the safety of Clifton’s children at heart, if you believe the education of Clifton’s children factors into their strategy at all, I’ll forward you an email from a Nigerian zillionaire who’ll give you $1,000 if you’ll just do him one little favor.

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Then there are those Cliftonites who believe it’s less important to build a school than to protect ratable properties. They may be people I would trust with a key to my house. But in this case, they’re simply wrong. Then you have that portion of any population whose politics are defined less by actual values than by whom they hate. Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton, Donald Rumsfeld and Ted Kennedy are popular objects for such rancor. These people have decided they hate Dr. Michael Rice. They’re quite proud of themselves in this regard and they will not be dissuaded. So what’s to be done? From where I sit, the first item that needs to be addressed is the issue of Latteri Park. For the sake of the city, it needs to be resolved. The arguments against using Latteri Park as a school site are substantial. But so are arguments for it. Whether or not you think it should be, the Latteri Park issue is front and center right now. If the School Board and City Council act to take that option off the table, an already bitter atmosphere will worsen. Clifton doesn’t need that. Clifton does need an up or down vote on Latteri Park. Next come elections. We consistently supported school board efforts to build a new school wherever the site. We supported the December 2004 referendum to build a satellite school at 290 Brighton Road. We supported efforts to get the necessary variance.

Whether or not you think it should be, the Latteri Park issue is front and center right now. If the School Board and City Council act to take that option off the table, an already bitter atmosphere will worsen. Clifton doesn’t need that. What Clifton does need is an up or down vote on Latteri Park. We supported the larger effort to buy more land on Brighton Road and build a large new high school. We continue to support the school board’s appeal of the unfortunate decision of the board of adjustment. Despite that, however, it is clear that the school board’s Brighton Road strategy has not worked. We need a revitalized school board with ideas, energy, and the strength to face down inevitable opposition. Meanwhile, I offer Dr. Rice and his fans my support for what little it’s worth, and I’ll try to get a good night’s sleep before my next trip to Clifton.

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March 16 Zoning Board meeting

Ratables vs. Kids: in Clifton, Kids Lose Commentary by John Bendel

he last meeting in the 290 Brighton Rd. school application finally arrived on March 16. That meeting dragged on much like the series of hearings themselves had. Will Van Ness and ProLogis were throwing everything they could buy at the school board’s application to build a 500-student satellite school. The hearings ran from late summer through the holidays and well into March, almost into spring. The final vote didn’t begin until that Thursday until 10 pm. I was surprised to see that so many supporters of the 290 Brighton Road school were still there, still holding their “We said to built it!” signs. But as Commissioner Farinella spoke in support of his vote to deny the school board application, it was

Paul Graupe: Against the school. No surprise. Graupe asked more questions than anyone else and telegraphed his opposition from the outset. 50

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Steven Abill: For the school. It wasn’t a complicated question for Abill, who clearly saw the greater good the school would provide.

Frank Farinella: Against the school. Farinella commented that the attempt to site a school at 290 Brighton Rd. “boggles the mind.”

clear the cause was lost – at least before this board. People rose and began shuffling out. In the end only two commissioners voted to grant the needed variance, Commissioners Abill and Macko.

Commissioners Varcadipane, Graupe, Lataro, Farinella and Veliky voted to deny. After Board chair Nick Veliky spoke, adding his voice to the majority, the room began to empty. “Shame on you!” someone shouted. It was another in a string of bad days for Clifton. In January, the plan to build a much larger new school on Brighton Road was voted down at the polls. Now, the 500-student satellite school approved by the same electorate in 2004 had been stopped by the Clifton Zoning Board of Adjustment. Shame indeed. It was clear from the outset that it wouldn’t be clear sailing for the school board’s application. Commissioner Graupe questioned the application more aggressively than the lawyers for either Van Ness

Steve Lataro: Against the school. Lataro nervously read a prepared statement supporting denial of the application.

or ProLogis. Nick Veliky faulted the application in his publication, and it was obvious that some in city hall were doing their best to stop the project. In the beginning school board attorney Tony D’Elia objected to irrelevant and repetitive questions. Almost all of his objections were sustained. But soon, the objections stopped and the hearings took on the plodding pace that came to characterize them. Van Ness and ProLogis produced one paid witness after another. D’Elia dealt with each in turn, discrediting testimony as he went. Some referred to Brighton Road as if it were a busy Interstate. Kids would choke on diesel fumes. Industrial noise would make learning impossible. Clifton’s industrial redoubt will have been breached; her industries would all flee. It was nonsense—all of it. But no one has the power to wave his arm and stop the semi-judicial work of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. So the hearings went on – 17 in all – while Van Ness and ProLogis heaped testimony on testimony looking to the court case to follow. The idea: give the judge as many opportunities as possible to find in their favor.

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Nicholas Veliky: Against the school. Veliky wasn’t smiling a little later when he cast the last vote for the resolution denying the application to build a 500 student school at 290 Brighton Rd.

Of course, that’s my opinion. The opposition saw things differently, and just as passionately. The opposition summation by the Van Ness lawyer was tedious. It was supported by exhibits, charts and such, placed on easels for the commissioners. The ProLogis lawyer while feisty made a most curious reference. Building the school, she said, would necessitate the removal of trees and greenery – this in the district that had been depicted as heavily industrial. There was anger in the room on both sides as the commissioners spoke in support of their votes.

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Steve Macko: For the school. No surprise. About halfway through the tedious, 17-meeting ordeal, he momentarily lost patience and noted that kids have long attended schools surrounded by commercial building and trucks.

But there were no serious disruptions. School supporters cheered after Abill voted to grant the application. Veliky used his gavel and correctly warned attendees to behave. That was the last significant outburst. The actual motion to deny the application stood logic on its head. A no vote was in favor of the school, a yes vote against. Commissioner Steve Lataro, clearly agitated, got ahead of things. He asked to read a prepared statement to which he later referred when he actually voted. Among other things, Lataro said that school attorney Tony D’Elia had made the hearings political, though Lataro did not elaborate. He said the school board had not done due diligence before buying the property at 290 Brighton Road. He talked about diesel fumes and proposed school windows that could not be opened. Lataro voted yes to deny the application. Also voting against the application was Commissioner James Varcadipane. He too read from a lengthy prepared statement, some of it quoting property law, in support of his vote.

Commissioner Steve Abill voted against the resolution, in favor of the application. Abill said he would like to know what all Van Ness’s paid witnesses would say “if they were paid by the other side.” Commissioner Macko agreed with Abill, voting no, in favor of the school. He dismissed objections to the industrial nature of the site, pointing out that there was a residential neighborhood just across Brighton Road. Then an angry Macko addressed Will Van Ness: “You don’t even live in Clifton,” he said. Commissioner Graupe was next. There had never been any doubt where he stood. Leaning into the microphone and sounding much like James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, Graupe reiterated safety concerns. Probably more to the point, he said, Clifton “cannot afford to lose any more industrial property.” Commissioner Frank Farinella supported the resolution denying the application, adding more than once that the very idea of building a school at 290 Brighton Road “boggled his mind.” He recited his reasons for denial to the backs of people leaving the room in disgust. Commissioner Veliky voted against the school before a smaller crowd. He made his disdain clear. The whole fiasco was the fault of the school board, at least those on that board who supported the idea of Brighton Road for a school. So now, as expected, the school board will appeal the Zoning Board of Adjustment ruling to the Passaic County Superior Court in Paterson. The battle will be fought over again in a courtroom. According to school board attorney Tony D’Elia, the Board of Adjustment’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious.”

James Varcadipane: Against the school. Varcadipane read a very long prepared statement rarely looking up.

The case will go to the assignment judge, who might take the case himself or assign it to another judge. The judge who gets the case will review the transcripts and exhibits, then schedule a conference with the school board attorney and objectors. This can take some time. D’Elia said he wouldn’t expect a ruling until late summer at the very earliest. That means even a September 2007 opening date may be out of reach. Clifton’s school overcrowding nightmare could extend into 2008, or even the end of the decade.

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Clifton Merchant Magazine 1288 Main Ave. Clifton 07011 Tomhawrylko@optonline.net

Letters to the Editor

(note new address)

Sorry Tom, but I do not believe that the battle for a new school on Brighton Rd. was lost because of the opposition waged by Van Ness Plastics. I believe that we citizens lost that battle back in the late 80’s when the problems we are now facing first surfaced. If the citizenry approved the expansion of School 12 on It has been a strange year without our friend Rev. Hank Dwyer, the rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from Dec. 13, 1998 until his death on March 24, a year ago. An incredible person who made such an impact on the world, Hank was loyal to his family and to his friends, and was a crusader for human rights and dignities. Hank had a mischievous Irish sense of humor, loved the New York Yankees and carried a torch for the American Blues, a genre of music which he enjoyed so much. We miss Hank’s passion, strength, sly winks and his marvelous sermons, complete with his Yankee vestments. Most of all, we miss his infectious passion for life. Hank was the Everyman—the beloved parish leader who was also the director of St. Peter’s Haven, Clifton’s homeless shelter and food pantry. While his death leaves a void in our community, we can keep Rev. Hank Dwyer’s fierce dedication to social causes alive through our own works and deeds. One way to do so is to send donations or bring gifts of non-perishable food to St. Peter’s Haven, 380 Clifton Ave., Clifton, NJ 07011. John Muller

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Clifton Ave. back in 1988, would there have been a need for School 17? But, that was in the past, as is the lost referendum on the former Shulton property, now Cambridge Crossings. I think it’s not Van Ness, rather it is the lack of city-wide long-range planning that is at the heart of the problem. Back to the issue at hand: the need for a 500-student school suddenly grew to a need for a 1,700-student school and, incidentally, with a rush to complete construction. Crowding is the cry. Yet there seems to be a modicum of a solution if an additional walkway were to be built at the high school. Additionally, the former Athenia Steel site would be the ideal location for a school as it is closest to CHS and therefore students would have the possibility of traveling between buildings for instruction. One final note: while I love the historical sports stories by Jack DeVries, since when is Sperling Park (CM March, pg. 55) in Athenia? When I weeded and picked beans on those farms, I know I was in Richfield. Henry De Vos (ed. note: the writer served as an appointed Board of Education commissioner from 1984 to 1990.)

Board of Education members should be ashamed of themselves. How dare they have a referendum this past January for yet another school on Brighton Rd. when they had not yet received a use variance for the 290 Brighton Rd. project? What did this mess cost taxpayers? I estimate it to be well over $100,000. And how much more will the Board’s appeal cost taxpayers? What is happening to this city? We must vote out the people who are wasting our time and money. It’s about time we think about our children and grandchildren. Why doesn’t the Board of Education and City Council pay attention to the wishes of the citizens? Joyce P. Sunshine

As a former Cliftonite, it saddens me that the so-called ‘Case for School Space’ has not made any headway since my girls were in CHS—and they graduated in 1995 and 1998. Thank you for keeping all of us well informed in a fair and balanced way. Mary Scilla, Kinnelon

Clifton... a City That Cares... or at least that’s what the signs say as you enter our community. Obviously the caring gets lost when it comes to our children. Those in decision making seats certainly seem to care about industry and retail development, allowing the same to occupy every available space within the city. What bitter disappointment I felt following the March 16 denial by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. My grandchildren are fourth generation attending the Clifton school system and within the next few years will be affected by this outrageous rejection of the district’s attempt to alleviate the overcrowding at the high school. The members of this appointed board that voted “no” should be so ashamed of themselves. Their votes have shown the entire community that what matters most in Clifton is industry, retail development and, oh yes, I forgot to mention condos and townhouses, but not our children.

Martin Bania, CHS ‘64, a Denver-based engineer with Union Pacific Railroads, pictured here 110 miles west of Denver at the end of the Gore Canyon, writes: “Although I’m 2,000 miles away, your magazine brings me back home to Clifton, every month. Thanks from the Colorado Rockies.”

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We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those who participated in the Rockin’ for Ryan benefit fundraiser held at the Boys & Girls Club on Jan. 29. We would like to especially thank Lizz and Bill Gagnon, Steve Hatala, Kelly Eckart, Norman Tahan and Tony Latona for organizing the event. Other thanks are in order for those who offered their time or provided services, including Agamie’s Deli,

Wine Country Liquors, The Accents, DJ Rocky Notali, Pete DeLorenzo, and the members of the Clifton Moose Lodge, Chapters 657 and 941. Our son Ryan, (pictured at left) also received lovely cards, each with a penny in it from the kindergarten students at St. Phillips School. Finally, thanks to all the residents and business owners who came out and contributed to the fund. Rich and Kathy Klein

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send your letters to: tomhawrylko@optonline.net The time has come for us—the voters—to get rid of any and all of our Board of Education and City Council members who have done nothing more than cost us money and waste time in regards to the schools. The elected politicians are supposed to listen to our wishes but they do not even pretend to do so. Have they really bothered to look at options other than Brighton Rd? Or are they just dead set on having their own way, at whatever cost to us and the children? It appears to me that, with all the time that has been wasted on putting or not putting a school on Brighton Rd., by the time a decision is made and a school is built, the enrollment in our schools will probably go back down and we will no longer need as many schools and we will be closing one or more of them. After all, wasn’t that the position we were in just a few years ago? About 30 years ago, I purchased my home in Clifton and was proud to become a Clifton homeowner. However, there is no longer any pride in our city. Our latest battles with the Board of Education are enough to send us—voters and residents—over the edge. They have wasted a great deal of our tax dollars and continue to do so. I and many others who feel as I do are tired of seeing our tax dollars wasted on the appeal process. Esther Fernandez

Your historical sports stories are wonderful. I was especially delighted to again read the stories about the Doherty Oval, Babe Ruth and his visits to the Doherty home near Third St. and Washington Ave. I lived at that residence from about 1943 to 1961. During 1961, my wife, the former Beverly Rubsamen (CHS’55) and I, with our baby daughter, moved into the apartment above the detached garage pictured on page 45 of last month’s issue. We were aware of the historical significance and mentioned the story to many of our friends. Keep up this unique service to your community. Tom Sabatini, Brandon, VT CHS Class of ‘56

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April 2006 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

Pictured are members of the 2006 Boy’s volleyball team. Top row, from left: Mateusz Paluch, Omar Zevallos, Daniel Sorber, Matthew Tietjen and John Acosta. Middle row: Michael Hwang, Christopher Seitz and Ed Colon and in the bottom row is Jonathan Prado, Ravi Desai, Anup Patel and Risto Nikolic. Is this the year that the boys finally capture the elusive State Title?

he 2006 Clifton Boy’s Volleyball team has a lot of new faces, but the same goals as past years—attaining League, County and State Championships. Following the 2005 campaign, where the Mustangs accomplished two of those goals and lost in the third game of the State Finals, this young team has a great deal to aspire to. Although a number of these players have yet to play in a Varsity match, they have a great deal of practice and court time which will help them improve as the season goes on. 60

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Senior returnees Michael Hwang, Mateusz Paluch and Elvis Cabrera provide this team with great play and solid leadership. Paluch and Cabrera team up to be one of the most devastating middle combos in the state this year. New seniors to the varsity team Risto Nikolic, Kris Jurgowski and Ravi Desai will provide specialty play which will be a great benefit to this team. Juniors Daniel Sorber, Jonathan Prado, Christopher Seitz and Matthew Tietjen have all excelled at the JV level and

CHS Boys

Volleyball Apr 3 Apr 5 Apr 8 Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 15 Apr 17 Apr 19 Apr 20 Apr 21 Apr 24 Apr 26 Apr 27 Apr 29 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 8 May 11 May 15 May 17 May 18 May 19 May 22 May 24

Bloomfield 4:00 pm at Hackensack 4:00 pm Clifton Tournament 9:00 am at Passaic 4:00 pm Eastside Paterson 4:00 pm at Eastern Tournament 9:00 am Belleville 4:00 pm at Don Bosco Prep 4:00 pm Montclair 4:00 pm Bridgewater 4:30 pm at Teaneck 4:00 pm Kennedy 4:00 pm Barringer 4:00 pm at Eastern 10:00 am at Bloomfield 4:00 pm at Fairlawn 4:00 pm Hackensack 4:00 pm Passaic 4:00 pm at Belleville 4:00 pm Don Bosco Prep 4:00 pm at Montclair 4:00 pm Teaneck 4:00 pm at Eastside Paterson 4:00 pm at Kennedy 4:00 pm at Barringer 4:00 pm

have been playing continuously since the end of last season. Sophomores Ed Colon and Anup Patel move from solid players at the freshmen level last season to important Varsity contributors this year. Freshman newcomers John Acosta and Omar Zevallos add a great deal of height and athleticism to one of the biggest lineups in the state. The team’s biggest obstacle is learning coach Michael Doktor’s game plan and being able to implement it quickly.

“The varsity level moves at a quick pace,” said Coach Doktor “Players have very little time to make adjustments, so discipline and understanding of the game make good players great.” This team has an enormous amount of potential and needs to work as a team to reach that potential and that elusive state title, he added. After almost capturing the championship last year, could this be the season the Mustangs finally go the distance?

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The 2006 Mustang baseball team. Back row, from left: John Tejada, Aldrich Perez, Anthony Yelovich, Matt Shumko, Matt Barrett and Mike Vinciguerra. Sergio Irizarry, Pete Movilla, Pat Erico and Kevin Weiss. The Mustangs are under the guidance of first year head coach Angelo Intile, who has over 25 years of experience within the Clifton baseball program.

espite a successful spring after going 12-7 last year, 2006 promises to be a season of change for the Mustangs. The departure long time head coach Rich BelBruno, coupled with the loss of several key starters on Varsity could be the makings of a long 2006 campaign. However, the perfect successor to BelBruno has already been located. With over 25 years in the Clifton baseball program, new head coach Angelo Intile inherits a team that retained just two regular starters. Mike Vinciguerra and Pat Erico, the only seniors with Varsity experience, will be the leaders without question. Vinciguerra, a shortstop who batted .361 in 2005, will also return as the Mustang’s top hurler. Erico, who batted .280 while playing third base last

year, has shifted to second base, where Intile figures he will be a better asset to the team. The rest of the team consists of many juniors who played together on the JV squad but did not see much time on Varsity. This has resulted in a bevy of position battles across the roster. The Mustang’s inexperience could effect their play this season. “We have a young team, it depends on how much we learn as we play,” said Intile. “If our pitching holds well and we play good defense, we will be in most games.” Behind home, there is a duel to find the number one catcher. Senior Sergio Irizarry currently holds a slight lead over junior Johnathan Satokwski for the starter’s spot, but nothing is for certain just yet. At first, juniors Mike Urcuoli and Ryan Gourney will look to prove

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

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CHS Boys

Baseball Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr

1 5 7 8 10 13 17 18

Apr 20 Apr 21 Apr 24 Apr 25 Apr 26 Apr 28 May 1 May 3 May 5 May 8 May 10 May 12 May 15 May 18 May 22

at Bloomfield at Barringer at Kennedy Wallkill Valley Bergen Catholic at Passaic Eastside Paterson Montclair at Cooperstown PV at Jackal Stadium Teaneck University HS at Don Bosco Prep at Nutley at Ridgewood Kennedy at Belleville at St. Joseph Barringer Montclair Passaic at Eastside Paterson Hackensack Paramus

3:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 1:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00pm 4:30 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00

pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

themselves as a true starter. Also figuring to be in the mix for the position will be first year senior Matt Barrett. Although Vinciguerra is definitely the starter at short stop, his duties as the top pitcher require him to have an adept back up when he is on the mound. Stepping up will be sophomore Ryan Akers, who has proven himself as more than capable to fill the senior’s shoes. Rounding out the infield at third is junior Mike Huk. Senior Kevin Weiss will challenge] him for time. While the infield seems to have a tone of uncertainty regarding starters, the outfield seems a little bit more definite. At left field, sophomore Kyle Terry will get the nod. He will be backed by first year senior Anthony Yelovich. Marc Ortiz, another sophomore, will be shagging balls in center field. He will have senior Pete Movilla as his back up this season.

At right field, senior Aldrich Perez was the winner of the position battle with junior Thomas Lesceh. On the mound, the top pitchers behind Vinciguerra will be junior Gabriel Moreta and Ortiz. The positions behind these three will be determined as the season goes on, however, in the hunt for time at pitcher is Gorney, Urcuoli, Ackers, Lesch, Weiss and first year senior John Tejada. Batting DH this year will be senior Matt Shumko. A new feature this year is the addition of games at venues, such as the legendary Cooperstown. These extra games was due to the work of Intile, who organized a booster club to fund such special events. “I had the privilege of playing in minor league parks in college,” he said. “I hope that these kids go on to play in college but if they don’t, this is their chance to play in nice stadiums like Cooperstown.”

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First year head coach Cara Boseksi takes over the Lady Mustangs, who are pictured above. Top row, from left: Jane Martinez, Amanda Caparso, Ashley Terhune, Deanna Giordano, Kim Lope, Allison Termyna and Jaclyn Saltamachia. Bottom row from left: Merideth McGinley, Jill Leonard, Kim Ferrara, Jessica Perez, Tiffany Marin, Jenny Sichel, Jamie Davella and JennaLynn Pizzimenti.

irst year head coach Cara Boseksi inherits a talent laden squad that went 21-6 in 2005. With returning star senior Brianne Moore and a slew of other players, Boseksi, an assistant coach last year, has a team with the potential to make a deep playoff run. However, one thing you won’t get out of her is

speculation into just how far this team could go in 2006. “We really have to take one game at a time,” said Boseksi. “You can’t read chapter 30 if you don’t read the other 29.” Although their coach remains quiet, the Mustang’s past performance speaks for itself.

The Lady Stangs returned from their annual Florida trip with a record of 4-3-1 against national competition. The intense competition in Florida is where the play of athletes can determine who will be a starter this season and who will have a break out year. One of

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CHS Girls

Softball Apr 1

Bloomfield

3:00 pm

Apr 5

Barringer

4:00 pm

Apr 7

Kennedy

4:00 pm

Apr 12

at Montclair

4:00 pm

Apr 13

Passaic

4:00 pm

Apr 17

at Eastside Paterson

4:00 pm

Apr 19

Holy Angels

4:00 pm

Apr 21

at Teaneck

4:00 pm

Apr 22

Clifton Classic

Apr 26

Nutley

Apr 28

Ridgewood

4:00 pm

May 1

at Kennedy

4:00 pm

May 3

Belleville

4:00 pm

May 5

IHA

4:00 pm

May 8

at Barringer

4:00 pm

May 10

Montclair

4:00 pm

May 12

at Passaic

4:00 pm

May 15

Eastside Paterson

4:00 pm

May 17

at Paramus Catholic

4:00 pm

May 18

at Hackensack

4:00 pm

May 22

at Paramus

4:00 pm

5:30 & 7:00 pm 4:00 pm

those players is junior pitcher Deanna Giordano, who Boseksi said was simply dominating in spring training. Combined with Moore, the Mustang’s ace, they two form an imposing duo on the mound that few teams can match. Behind them is a very solid team with experience and depth throughout. Behind the plate is junior Jill Leonard, who enters her first season as a starter behind the plate. She played Varsity at first base in 2005. Around the diamond, senior Jennalynn Pizzimenti will handle the duties at first base and fellow junior Merideth McGinley will hold down second. At shortstop will be another junior, Jessica Perez, and rounding out the infield at third is Amanda Caparso, also a junior. While the infield is made up of mostly younger players, the out-

field is much different, with two seniors leading the way. Ashley Terhune, an experienced Varsity starter, will return to right field. She will be playing opposite Jamie Davella, who resides in left field. A pleasant surprise this year has been the play of sophomore Kim Lope, who has performed well enough to snag the starting spot in center field. Although the starting field has been pretty much laid out, Boseksi advised that with so much depth on this squad, no player has a true lock on a position. With each girl pushing one another to do their best, the Lady Mustangs should once again be a top contender this spring. “Our team is solid, everyone has a part,” she said. “The girls work really well together. I think it is important they are like that because it gives them motivation to play for each other.”

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The Mustangs boys tennis team. Which one of these guys will step up to be Coach Bobby’s top player this year? From left: Tino Bido, Zach Ontell, Smarth Shah, John Salierno, Brian Barberra, Anthony Vinci, Erald Bido and Jeff Laux.

oming into the 2006, the CHS tennis team faces some uncertainty. After posting a 17-5 mark in the previous season, the Mustangs graduated a core group of seniors, bringing in to question the depth of the team’s roster. Their departure leaves many holes in the starting line up that Coach Andrea Bobby, who enters her 17th season, says will be determined by position battles between team members. League rules allow for five singles players and two doubles teams and athletes cannot participate in both events. “We have been trying out doubles teams,” confirmed Bobby. “The scrims we have scheduled before the season will give us insight into what we have to work with.” Junior Zach Ontell is the only Mustang with a lock on a position. Bobby said that Ontell, who plays year round at the Clifton Racket Club where he works, will be counted on as the go to guy when they 66

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

need a win. The Racket Club also opened their gym to the rest of the team when the weather did not permit them to practice outside. The other Mustangs who will be vying for playing time consist of many relatively inexperienced players who saw some time last year but were not been full time starters. Seemingly distancing himself the pack for the number two spot is senior John Salierno. After sitting out his sophomore year due to health issues, Salierno bounced back in his junior year and expected by his coach to be a team leader. Also in contention are Erald and Tino Bido. The junior twins have had a strong preseason and will surely be in the mix when the roster is finalized. Bobby also expects seniors Smarth Shah and Brian Barberra to be in the hunt. Juniors Anthony Vinci and May-Ank Patel could also get some Varsity time this spring.

CHS Boys

Tennis Apr 1 Apr 6 Apr 7 Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr 17 Apr 19 Apr 21 Apr 26 Apr 28 May 1 May 3 May 5 May 8 May 10 May 12 May 15 May 17 May 18 May 22

at Bloomfield at Barringer at Kennedy Bergen Catholic Montclair at Passaic Eastside Paterson at Don Bosco Prep Teaneck at Nutley Ridgewood Kennedy at Belleville at St. Joseph Barringer at Montclair Passaic at Eastside Paterson Paramus Catholic Hackensack Paramus

3:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm

Since a majority of the team is comprised of unseasoned JV players who lack Varsity experience, projecting the Mustang’s fortunes is difficult, said Bobby. Getting a few matches under their collective belts will go a long way to determining the type of season the Mustangs will have.

onsidering the accolades Coach John Pontes’ teams have received over the last 21 years, his 2005 record of 4-4 might be considered slightly disappointing. However, in the nothing comes easy—especially when you are the reigning winter champion and have the whole league gunning for you. “This season will be difficult,” said Pontes. “Our league is loaded and since we won indoors, everyone will be looking for us.” With around 55 boys trying out, many of whom are returning athletes with honors, Pontes will have a large arsenal at his disposal. Senior Steven Klett, one of the top runners in the county, will set the pace for the distance squad. Joining him is fellow senior Sunny Kasabwala, who Pontes said is one of the most dedicated athletes on the team. The coach said that he expects Kasabwala to be a role model for his younger teammates.

☛

Pictured above are seniors on the 2006 Boys Track Team. From left: Steven Klett, Sunny Kasabwala, Matt Haley, David Chin and Darren Farinas. These five runners are expected to lead the Mustangs as they seek to improve over their 4-4 mark last year.

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While the senior class already provides an excellent distance group, Pontes said that his juniors are the squad that will field the most formidable athletes, due to their combination of skill and depth. Led by Alex Anolik, an outstanding runner who has been turning heads since his freshman year, Pontes expects the junior class to be a lock to score points in meets. Anolik will receive support from classmates

Chris Bienkienciwz and Mike Tanyan, two other solid distance runners who will see plenty of time. Pontes added that Ryan Gabel has been a pleasant surprise thus far. The sophomore has stepped his game up and will be a part of the distance squad in meets this year. Leading the sprinters are senior Ken Baison, who also happens to be the Mustang’s top long jumper and David Chin. One athlete setting him-

CHS

Track Coed Varsity Apr 1 at Kearney Relays Apr 4 at BC/DBP/IHA Apr 8 at Passaic C. Relays Apr 11 Kennedy/Barringer

9:00 am 4:00 pm 9:00 am 4:00 pm

Apr 18 Apr 25 Apr 29 May 6 May 13 May 17 May 18 May 24 May 25 Jun 2 Jun 3 Jun 7

4:00 pm 4:00 pm TBA TBA TBA 3:30 pm 3:30 pm TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

at Passaic/Montclair Eastside Paterson at Invitational Relays at Bernards at NNJIL Champs at Passaic C. Champs at Passaic C. Champs at NJSIAA Sectionals at NJSIAA Sectionals at NJSIAA Groups at NJSIAA Groups at Meet of Champs

self apart is junior Justin Perez, who, Pontes said, will be a key contributor. Rounding out the other events are senior hurdlers Bilal Mian, who is also a jumper, and Darren Farinas. Senior Matt Haley will also be counted on in the long, triple and high jump. Junior Bowen Hu will be in the mix too. The throwers are led Mike Fego and Ray Dogum. “We have a young team with a big freshman class,” said Pontes on this season’s outlook. “They have a lot of enthusiasm. They are out there every day and show a lot of promise for the future.” New girls track head coach Andy Piotrowski takes over a team that had an outstanding 2005 season, going 5-2 while earning the league championship. The scary thing about the team this year is that they aren’t rebuilding—they are reloading. “We are trying to go undefeated this year,” said Piotrowski, who was an assistant coach for the boys for the past six years. “We have a solid, young team with coverage in every event.” 68

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

While that statement might come off as brash, with the potential this talent-laden squad has, it is definitely a possible outcome at the end of the season. Upon closer review, it becomes apparent that Piotrowski is true to his word—the Stangs’ has solid depth across both the track and field. However, with a team that relies heavily on underclassmen, the Mustangs will be in need of bonafide leaders to provide experience and maturity. Luckily for the girls, there is no shortage on that in the 2006 edition of the girls track team. Senior Connie Musleh provides a great role model for athletes on the field. Musleh, who won the indoor shot put this year, is one of the top competitors for her event in the county and will be looking to take home another title this spring. In sprints, look for senior Marissa Ross, who runs the 100 and the 200, to guide a young group of runners this year. Although not running this in her final season due to a severe ankle injury, senior Becky Weiss has opted to remain on the team as a manager and her presence will surely be a moral boost to the team. Piotrowski said her injury is a huge loss and will leave a large void that must be filled. As luck would have it, the Stangs’ have just the person to fill the role. Sophomore Kristen Venning, who

Some of the seniors from the Girls Track Team. Top row, from left: Marissa Ross, Rebecca Weiss and Connie Musleh. Below them, from the left, is Megan White, C.J. Zoccali and Diane Szaflarski. With a strong returning squad, the girls are an early favorite to repeat as League Champs.

runs in the 100, 200 and 400, will step in to fill Weiss’ shoes. Piotrowski said that Venning is one of the best sprinters to come out of the Clifton program in a while. Junior Jasmine Adams, who is also a lock for a position on the relay team, will also be counted on to pick up the slack. Another young star to look out for is Michelle Telofski. The sophomore had a breakout season in the winter, where she was the pole vault County Champ. Even with the talent spread around the team this year, it would seem that the distance squad is the strong point

of the Mustangs. The trio of seniors Diane Szaflarski, C.J. Zoccali and Megan White are poised to continue to dominate distance events. Szaflarski has been running solid and Piotrowski expects her to be a top contributor again this season. After going over his depth chart once again, Piotrowski reiterated his lofty expectations for his team. “We will have another stellar season,” reassured Piotrowski. “Our girls work hard and we expect to break records and hopefully finish as champs.”

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Under the guidance of second year Coach Brian Armstrong, the Mustangs Lacrosse team hopes to aim for their first playoff berth in nearly a decade. Pictured from left is Pat Ferry, Sean Yip, Matt Meade, Jorge Mendoza, Anthony Shackil, Dan Burns, Frank DeLorenzo, Tony Nunno, Brian Salonga, Corey Bleaken, Enrique Percino and Adam Murray.

oming off of his first season as head coach of Mustang boys lacrosse, in which they went 4-10, Brian Armstrong thinks the future is bright for his young team despite their lackluster performance in ‘05. While graduation stripped the Stangs’ of their most experienced midfielders, the replacements at Armstrong’s disposal are mostly juniors and seniors that may have not played full time last year but do understand his system. Now with a full year under their belts, there is not much of learning for the team, and their play should reflect that.

Running the midfield will be seniors Anthony Shackil and Frank DeLorenzo, both who saw time last year on Varsity. Supporting them will be a large group of juniors—the core of the team this year—which includes Rob Johnson, Omar Saleh, Brett Vitilaro and Jeff Dingman. Several other juniors could get playing time this season as well. “We have a ton of athletes,” said Armstrong, who credits his assistant coaches for the team’s growth. “It is just a matter of developing them into lacrosse players. That’s what I find exciting.”

In 2006, the strength of the Mustangs lies with the long poles, which was the only facet of the team that was not hit that hard by graduation. Returning seniors Adam Murray, Pat Ferry, Matt Meade and Jorge Mendoza will keep the crease clear for the goaltending duo of Chris Donini and Corey Bleaken. Both goalies also starred in winter sports, with Donini just wrapping up the ice hockey season in net and Bleaken taking home the bronze at the State Wrestling Tournament. Junior Jimmy Hamadi could also steal a few games in between the

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CHS Boys

Lax Apr 1 Apr 3 Apr 6 Apr 8 Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr 18 Apr 21 Apr 25 Apr 28 May 1 May 5 May 9 May 13 May 16

at Indian Hills Ridgewood at Montclair at Bergen Catholic at Wayne Valley DePaul at Boonton at MKA St. Joseph at Madison at Nutley Don Bosco Prep at Sparta at Paramus Catholic at Blair at Millburn

2:30 pm 4:15 pm 4:00 pm 11:00 am 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 2:00 pm 4:00 pm

pipes from his senior teammates should he prove himself in preseason. Armstrong confirmed that there will certainly be a position battle for starting goalie, which will most likely not be decided until the first regular season game.

At attack, the Stangs’ return some seasoned veterans in seniors Tony Nunno, Sean Yip and Dan Burns. Nunno was the Mustang goals leader last year and will be expected to head up the scoring barrage. Junior Tim Jacobus, who has looked good in preseason, could usurp a starting spot from one of the seniors should they not perform up to par. As it is with every sport, Clifton plays in a very challenging league due to the school’s population, which stands at over 3,400 students. 1817

The Stangs’ will face their toughest competition in the first half of the season but the schedule still provides many strong clubs in the second half as well. Still, Armstrong is convinced that his boys’ will be in the thick of it by May 15, the cutoff for the State Playoffs, where a .500 record guarantees a berth. “We like playing powerhouse teams, it helps us build our skills up,” said Armstrong. “We will gel as the season goes on, it will happen—I know it.”

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CHS Girls

Lax Some of the girls from the inaugural Lady Mustangs lacrosse team. From left: Basia Kwiatkowski, Stephanie Valdivia, Shannon McCracken, Justine Jensen, Kaitlyn Dinzes, Apr 8 Katie Pawlik, Arielle Saltzman, Charlene Lopez, Jackie Purisima and Teila Krahn. Apr 17

eginning this spring, CHS sports junkies will have a new team to watch: the Lady Mustangs lacrosse team. The first year program, which has a Varsity and JV team, was started by CHS Athletic Director Rick LaDuke. Chosen to be the first coach of the program is Dan Chilowicz, who has had plenty of coaching experience both in lacrosse and in other sports. He has a history of starting up new teams and developing them into contenders. “Rick LaDuke asked me to coach,” said Chilowicz, a former Coach of the Year in soccer. “I thought what a great opportunity to enfranchise girls who have never played the fastest growing sport in America before.” With a team that has no lacrosse experience at all, the Mustangs will have to rely on their athleticism and their ability to learn the game on the run. To give the team an identity

and a source of leadership, Chilowicz named captains who have shown a grasp for the game. Seniors Kaitlyn Dinzes and Shannon McCracken have been selected to guide the team through their inaugural season. “For many of these girls, this is the last sport they will play in high school,” said Chilowicz. “It’s a chance for them to have a little fun before they graduate.” It is also an opportunity for them to help define the future of the program. Sophomore Charlene Lopez was chosen as a third captain and will be a key player as the Lady Mustangs continue to develop over this season and the next. Looking ahead at the bigger picture, Chilowicz acknowledged that for the program to truly flourish, Clifton must generate interest and build a feeder program similar to that of soccer, football and other

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popular sports. He took the first step by donating 30 girls lacrosse sticks to the Boys & Girls Club to start a youth program. Now, Chilowicz is ask for volunteers to step up and help coach. “Everyone has jumped on board and been very supportive,” he said, adding that boys lacrosse head coach Brian Armstrong and his staff have been very helpful. “The administration and students have been very gung-ho.” To volunteer or coach in the girls lacrosse feeder program, contact Dan Chilowicz at 973-696-0569 or email dachil@aol.com. April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Ask your Clifton Neighbors why they chose Paramus Catholic.

or families in Clifton, there are many options where to send your children for their education. To give an example of the opportunities available at Paramus Catholic, here are the stories of four Seniors who live in Clifton who chose PC as their high school. Senior Elizabeth Drozdowski is a four year soccer standout with first-team All League

PC Seniors Elizabeth Drozdowski & Christine Aguilera

honors. In addition to being an exceptional athlete, Drozdowski is an Aquinas Scholar and is a member of the National and International Language Honor Societies. She also is a NJ Bloustein awardee who scored 2080 on her SAT. In her spare time, she volunteers at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Clifton. Although undecided about where to further pursue her education, Drozdowski plans to study either Communications or International Relations at one of the competitive colleges which are offering her scholarships. Christine Aguilera’s portfolio is full of achievements. She is an Aquinas Scholar at PC, which requires that a student maintain a 90 average annually while taking the most advanced of PC’s 115 different courses. Aguilera is also a member of the National Honor Society (scoring 1960 on the SAT) and the Spanish International Honor Society. She also volunteers her time at various groups and places, such as Habitat 4 Humanity, which builds homes for those who cannot afford them, and Midnight Run, which distributes food and clothes to the homeless in New York City. She also helps at St. Agatha’s Field Day, as a role model for young orphans and at Camp Snowflake, where she works with mentally disabled patients. She has been accepted to numerous colleges, including Cornell, Boston College and NYU, as well as Rutgers and The College of New Jersey to which she has been awarded full four year scholarships. Aguilera has not decided where she will attend, although she will study psychology.

www.paramuscatholic.org 74

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Chris Perro is also an Aquinas Scholar. He is a Bloustein awardee who scored 1900 on his SAT. Aside from academics, Perro’s interests are religious. He serves on Campus Ministry, where he is a retreat leader. Perro is also an Eucharistic Minister and a Catechist for Confirmation. In addition, he volunteers his time at Clifton Safety Town in the summer, where he is track leader. Perro will be studying Engineering at Manhattan College where he received a substantial four year scholarship. For Salvatore Farino, his experience at PC has been diverse. Academically, he has challenged himself with several of PC’s 12 AP courses, while holding his position as Student Body Vice President. Farino was also involved in track and wrestling. He also is active in Campus Ministry as a retreat leader, Eucharistic Minister, Confirmation Catechist, and altar server. In his hometown of Clifton, Farino volunteers his time at Safety Town and is also a proud Eagle Scout and Assistant Scout Master of Troop 23. Farino will be attending the United States Air Force Academy, for which he just received an appointment by Congressman Bill Pascrell.

PC Seniors Chris Perro & Salvatore Farino

FULL LIST OF CLIFTON PC SENIORS Christine Aguilera Lesley Allen Samuel Arana Michael Bracke Robert Csigi Rickin Desai

Elizabeth Drozdowski Salvatore Farino Cindy Gonzales Vanessa Guerrero Meaghan Handel Jessica Kovacs Ahmet Kulaksiz

Adonis Malachowski Samantha Martinelli Jennifer Montanile Christopher Perro Alexandra Sartoga Valerie Wiley

40 CLIFTON STUDENTS ARE REGISTERED FOR THE CLASS OF 2010

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425 Paramus Road Paramus, NJ 201.445.4466 • www.paramuscatholic.org April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

CHS From left: Kevin McDonald, Barry espite going 14-8 in 2005, CHS Tsouhnikas, Dan Faller, Brian Bartok, golf head coach Chad Cole was Frank Vogas, Mike Cetinich, Rob not expecting to be in the hunt for a Meyer, Andrew Hlavaty, Anthony league crown this season after graduWrobel and John Butas.

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ating his top three duffers. Although the incoming freshman class does have talent, he believed that they would be at least a year away from fielding a competitive squad. However, after a just a few outings on the links in the preseason, Cole conceded that he was wrong about his team. “These kid really worked hard on their games over the summer and have improved quite a bit,” he said. “We could be in competition for the league title.” This year’s top golfer will be Brian Bartok, a senior who has been consistently breaking 40. “He will play a big leadership role with all the rookies we have,” The coach said of Bartok. “He played Varsity last year and I hope he can help some kids along. He has also improved himself quite a bit.” While Bartok has the top spot secured, behind him is a three-way battle for the number two slot. Junior Anthony Wroble and sopho-

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mores Andrew Hlavaty and Rob Meyer will have to bring their top games to the links in the preseason if they want to have sole possession of second place on the depth chart. Other golfers who will have an opportunity to see some action will be senior Joe DeSomma and juniors John Butas and Frank Vogas. The Mustangs face the staunchest competition of the season early, starting with perennial powerhouses Bergen Catholic and Ridgewood. However, after dueling the two formidable squads, the Stangs’ square off against other schools that will be more on their level. “We will be respectable this year,” concluded Cole. “I’m happy with the progress we have made.”

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CHS Academic Award Winners By Joseph Hawrylko

or over 550 CHS students, April 11 will be an evening to remember as they are honored at the Academic Awards Dinner at the Westmont Country Club in West Paterson. Guest speaker for the night will be Jihea Hong-Park, a CHS ‘97 grad. She is a talented concert pianist who attends The Julliard School in New York City. To receive the Distinguished Academic Award, a student must maintain a 90 average or above. Freshman must uphold this grade for the first two marking periods; upperclassman must maintain it for three of the last four. Students from every academic level may be recognized, from those with special needs to those in advanced courses. “This year will be one of the largest dinners ever,” said Vice Principal Sue Peters, who is in charge of the event. “I consider it the highlight of the academic year.” Many of the students who will receive awards will be returning for the fourth consecutive year. They will be rewarded with a special pin for their achievement, which their parents will place on them. To put a face on the CHS scholars that will be receiving the awards, we have chosen four students from different backgrounds to exemplify the diversity in the school. Ken Biason, like many of those being honored, is an outstanding athlete, as well an excellent student. In his three years on the track team, Biason received Second Team AllCounty and Honorable Mention All-League honors in 2005 and in 2006 he was named to the First Team All-League. 78

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Some of Clifton’s four year Academic Awards recipients, from left, Ken Biason, Christina Atiya, Stephanie colangelo and Michael Garbrandt.

In the classroom, Biason set out to challenge himself, taking AP courses in Biology, Psychology and English. Even with the extra workload, Biason, who attended St. Paul School, was still able to maintain a high enough average to be accepted into the National Honor Society and attain a top-20 class ranking. “This award means a lot to me because it takes a great deal of effort and time,” he said of his achievements. “You have to maintain you grades all four marking periods for four years. I think that it’s an amazing accomplishment.” Biason plans to attend Rutgers New Brunswick in the fall for either Pre-Med or Pharmacy. Christina Atiya believes her life’s success is due to the joy she gets from learning.

“I find studying a good way to gain knowledge,” she said. “Every time I take an AP class, I find myself learning more and more and I really enjoy the experience of learning challenging material.” Atiya spends her spare time in various clubs relevant to her interests. The CHS Valedictorian lists her in school activities as the Academic Decathlon, Botany Club, Math and Science Leagues and Knights of Pythagoras. Atiya is also the President of the Spanish Club and is the editor-in-chief of the Clifton Hub, the school paper. While that may seem like plenty to keep occupied, Atiya, who loves to read fictional novels almost as much as she loves Star Trek, also volunteers her time at various places including St. Mary’s Hospital, the

Clifton Public Library, Hamilton House Museum and the Egyptian Coptic Christian Education Center at her church, which plays a very important role in her life. She also still finds time to do paid work, tutoring kids for English and Math at the Kumon Learning Centers. Atiya plans to continue her studies at Columbia University in the fall, majoring in Biology. The key to Michael Garbrandt’s success, he says, was a choice that he made in eighth grade. “My parents told me I could go to any high school I chose,” he said. “I could have gone to a Catholic or Private school, but I chose CHS. Looking back, I think that I made a good choice.” Garbrandt said that CHS taught him that he could achieve success himself. It also opened the door to many new opportunities, such as the many different sports programs. Garbrandt plays on the first line for the ice hockey team, an experience that was invaluable to him. “The

“My parents told me I could go to any high school I chose,” said Micheal Garbrandt, who achieved much both on the sports field and in the classroom. “I could have gone to a Catholic or private school, but I chose CHS. Looking back, I think that I made a good choice.” coaches and my teammates inspired me to never quit,” he said. “They always pushed me to be better,” The most important thing to Garbrandt is the relationships that he has developed with faculty and students. He added that the school spirit at CHS is an incredible experience. Although he has not decided on a college, Garbrandt plans on studying automotive technology. Stephanie Colangelo said that being persistent and always challenging herself is what allowed her to achieve such high marks. The honors courses that she enrolled in took diligent work, however, in the end her hard work was rewarded with her being named to the National Honor Society.

Keeping herself busy throughout the year is also important to Colangelo, who is an aspiring dancer. In addition to dancing, which she has done since she was four years old, she stays involved in school through the talent show and the annual Christmas shows. Colangelo has also been the captain of the gymnastics team for the past two years. “I look at the award as a visible accomplishment,” she explained. “It is something I can look back upon and that say that I did my best in high school.” Colangelo plans to attent Montclair State University in the fall with a double major in Dance and Elementary Education.

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CHS Principal Bill Cannici, who retires this June after a 40-year career in education, learned the power of following your dreams early in life. As a boy, Cannici wanted to become an artist, a passion evidenced by the murals and sculptures that grace Clifton High School. At age 12, he read an autobiography about his hero, artist Norman Rockwell, and decided to seek the great man out for advice. By knocking on his front door. In the 1950s, Rockwell worked in a studio in Stockbridge, Mass., close to where Cannici spent summers with relatives. Rockwell’s studio was in the downtown section of town, and Cannici’s book had a picture of the studio, letting him

A photo of Norman Rockwell taken by a 12-year-old Bill Cannici.

know exactly where it was. “I walked up the steps and rang the doorbell,” Cannici remembers. “A tall, thin man came out. Looking up,

“I never forgot how Norman Rockwell treated me. Most people want to help others— sometimes all you have to do is ask. By knocking on that door, it convinced me to follow my dreams, to keep reaching for them. That’s something I tried to teach my students.” 80

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

I could see he had a prominent Adam’s apple. On his easel, he was working on a painting that would become a cover for the Saturday Evening Post.” What happened next would influence Cannici for the rest of his life. “I was just a kid,” he says, “and he was working. He could have told me to go away—but he didn’t. He was warm, invited me in, and showed me his work. He signed my copy of his Four Freedoms in that famous block signature of his. I even took a picture of him with my Brownie Hawkeye camera.

he will not be there to greet them. “I never forgot how Norman Though his passion for educaRockwell treated me. Most people tion still burns, he’s decided to do want to help others—sometimes all other things with his life. you have to do is ask. By knocking Surrounded by his office full on that door, it convinced me to folof memories, in the school he low my dreams, to keep reaching for loves, he sighs, “I decided it was them. That’s something I tried to time.” teach my students.” In the Blood Though his thoughts of an art Because of his father’s career, career faded, Cannici always many might have predicted remembered meeting America’s Cannici would end up in educamost beloved artist. tion, but his path wasn’t always As a teacher, he encouraged stuthat clear. dents to write letters to famous peoThe office is a clue. Cannici ple, asking questions about what they will tell you its museum appearwere studying in school. Many ance puts students at ease— wrote back. Responses came to The 1961 Passaic High School grad. they’re more likely to open up to Clifton High from people like Margaret Mead and J. Edgar Hoover. “I wanted my stu- him after talking about his knight’s helmet or the dents to see that if you believe in yourself, you can be Harley Davidson motorcycle gas tank. But the objects successful,” he says. “And when my students became and artwork also say much about the man. There are framed posters honoring Monet and successful, like the people they contacted, it was their Einstein. Articles about Clifton Mustangs sports teams job to pass their success on to others.” For 40 years, Bill Cannici—the son of an educator are carefully clipped from newspapers and taped to a and ex-Marine turned teacher—has been passing along door behind his desk. Every space is crammed with his personal success for generations of Clifton children. memories and interests—a train tucked in a bookcase, a Next September will mark the first time in four decades Civil War horse in another.

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Though Cannici defines himself as a teacher and administrator, his office suggests he’s more a champion of the human spirit. And this is where he nurtures that spirit—this school, his life’s work, is what gives kids a fighting chance to succeed. William Cannici was born in Passaic and lived at 212 Howard Ave., near Third Ward Park. His father Peter—ironically a Clifton High graduate who later became principal at Passaic High School— started as a biology teacher in the city. The elder Cannici would also serve as superintendent of Passaic schools. His mother Caroline met Peter in her hometown of Pittsfield in western Massachusetts. After getting married, they moved to Passaic and raised two sons: Bob, a former mayor in Rochelle Park, and Bill, two years later. Both would go on to Passaic High while their father was principal. “My brother used to see him in the hallways,” Cannici recalls, “and call him ‘Dad.’ I’d see him and say, ‘Hey, Mr. Cannici.’ I put a different spin on it—I wanted to be one of the kids.

“My father was a damn good teacher and highly regarded in the community. Today, I still get compliments about him from Clifton people who went to school in Passaic.” Cannici says he was a B-, C+ student. Unsure of what he wanted to do with his life, he applied to his father’s alma mater, Tusculum College, and was accepted. “It was like a movie set,” Cannici describes the small Tennessee school,” with the mountains in the background. It was beautiful, and I decided to go there.” He spent two years at the school, gaining a love for education. He began to achieve high grades, motivated by his professors, especially Dr. Schroeder, a 77-year-old teacher who taught various sociology courses. “He was stimulating, just fantastic,” Cannici says. “He really turned me around. “I was inspired by dynamic teaching. Profs like Dr. Schroeder taught from the gut, taught with passion—qualities I wanted in myself as a teacher and the teachers in this high school. You shouldn’t be a teacher if you don’t love the kids and your material, and have the ability to marry them together.”

Though at peace with his retirement decision, Bill Cannici knows he’s leaving behind unfinished business. School overcrowding is always on his mind, and he worries about students, teachers and vice principals “going down” in the crush of hallway traffic and being injured. He’s also worried about the rift that’s developed over the new school debate.

USMC Boot Camp, 1965.

Deciding to get a diploma from a larger school, Cannici transferred to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (he would graduate with a degree in social sciences). When he began student-teaching, he found his life’s calling. “I taught in a little town in the mountains called Clinton,” he says. “The school had been blown up few years before by the Klu Klux Klan because they decided to integrate. The only part of the building that survived was the auditorium, and the new high school was built around it.” The story of the high school’s integration and destruction was later featured on the CBS TV program, See It Now, hosted by Edward R. Murrow. The show stirred the bitter feelings that remained in town, creating an atmosphere Cannici describes as “on the edge.” “But that high school,” he says, “turned me on to education. I got in front of a classroom and it was thrilling. I remember preparing for hours and hours, not because I had to, but because I wanted to.”

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Cannici also remembers the corporal punishment doled out to misbehaving students. “They didn’t suspend kids,” he says, “they paddled them. Only one person did it—the principal, Mr. Human, whose name was ironic for what he did. He was a nice older gentleman, who would take the kids in his office and whack them with a paddle for whatever they did. And then it was over.” On the day he left Clinton, he remembers going to the bus stop and students waving out the school windows, saying good bye to “Mr. C.” “It was that experience that convinced me to go into teaching.” But before making the jump to fulltime teacher, Cannici joined the U.S. Marines in 1965. “I think I was inspired by the old John Wayne war movies, or a bit brainwashed. But I believe in the Corp, and if we had been activated (to serve in Vietnam),

there’s no outfit I’d rather be with.” Cannici served in G Company, a reserve outfit based at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County. “G Company was a ‘grunt outfit,’ the infantry and, obviously, I have short legs. Everything was running, forced march—things I absolutely hated to do. But you had to do it.” Cannici did his 11 week boot camp at Parris Island, the legendary Marine training ground.

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Bill Cannici at the helm of Clifton’s teachers strike in 1973.

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“It was brutal—like nothing else,” he says. “If you did something wrong, the reaction was physical. At the rifle range, if you shot a ‘Maggie’s Drawer,” which is a miss, they’d say, ‘Drop your rifle, private.’ After you dropped it, they’d rabbit punch you and you had to come back up and fire again. “It was very physical, but all that’s changed now,” he recalls. “Still, it was a helluva experience.”

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CHS Psychology teacher Bill Cannici.

After his six-month active duty, Cannici went to Clifton, not Passaic, and got a teaching job at the high school. “I wanted to make it on my own,” he says about applying first at Clifton, “not through my father.” For the next 15 years, he would teach at Clifton High, becoming one of the first teachers in the state certified to teach psychology and later writing the school’s anthropology course, still used today.

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Cannici felt at home in the classroom immediately. “A good teacher is not a clock-watcher,” he says. “I saw it as five shows a day, 180 days a year—and I enjoyed it.” Passaic Special Education teacher Elaine Potkalesky, one of Cannici’s first students at Clifton, remembers Cannici taking over from an older teacher and injecting his classes with enthusiasm. “He was a talented teacher,” she says, “and it was obvious he cared a lot about the material.” Using magic and juggling to illustrate his lectures, the young educator fired up his students about school. He became known for “Gluck,” a duck he trained to play the piano. “We also conditioned the duck to play ping pong, hitting the ball back to us with a paddle held in its beak and conducted other conditioning experiments.” He learned a variety of things about his craft during his first few years. “At first,” he remembers, “I taught to please the kids and became oversensitive about how they’d react or if they said anything critical. I didn’t realize that a kid could have a bad day. Some kids were going through things like a divorce at home.

The famous Gluck the Duck with an unidentified student from back in the day. 86

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Bill and his wife to be Lorraine, back in the 70’s.

“After the third year, I changed my philosophy and began to teach to please myself. As a result, I won more kids over because I was more relaxed. My enthusiasm for teaching increased even more.” Cannici had many memorable experiences. As president of the Clifton Teachers Association, he led the first and only Clifton teacher’s strike in 1973. The two-day work action brought much media attention… and threats to Cannici. “It was very difficult,” he says, “something nobody wanted but had to be done. I was extremely proud of our teachers.” Another memorable experience was landing in the middle of a bank robbery at the former Midlantic Bank on Clifton Ave. At the bank before the first official day of school, Cannici got into a conversation with a teller and former student about her classes at Montclair State. As he was leaving, three gunmen raced into the bank, demanding money. One gunman pointed a 38 caliber pistol at Cannici as the others gathered money from behind the counter. “The muzzle of the man’s gun was moving, so I knew he was nervous,” Cannici says. “I slowly moved my body sideways so there would be some bone between me and the bullet in case the gun went off.

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“When the bank robbers left, the Clifton Police arrived and shots were fired. The girls in the bank were hysterical, and I did my best to calm them down.” When Cannici got to school, none of his fellow teachers believed his robbery story. “Not until they read about in the paper the next day,” he laughs. A Lead Teacher In 1981, Cannici became vice principal for both Christopher Columbus and Woodrow Wilson Junior High. Five years later, he became vice principal at the high school, a position he would hold for the next 17 years. While Cannici missed the classroom, he saw his administration job as that of a “lead teacher.” “I began teaching in a different way,” he says, “at faculty, student council, and board of education meetings.” In 1995, Cannici believed he was ready for his ultimate role: Clifton Directions: Route 3 to Bloomfield Ave Exit. Make right at Bloomfield Ave. Go halfway around Allwood Circle and continue on Bloomfield Ave. We are located just past the Home Depot.

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High School principal. But it wasn’t to be. “First time I apply, I don’t get it,” he says. “I’m extremely upset— I thought I deserved it.” To take his mind off not getting the job, Cannici drove to Paramus Park Mall. A small rock paperweight with an inscribed wording caught his eye. “It was $15 and way

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Bill with his sons Bill and Matt in 1984. 1671

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overpriced. It didn’t matter—I bought it. The words on it say: ‘Never, Never Quit.’ It stopped me from feeling sorry for myself and I snapped out of it. “Three years later, the principal’s job opens again and I have a different philosophy. I go for it whole hog. Instead of saying ‘if I get

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Other initiatives Cannici championed are increasing the number of advance placement courses and helping students earn college credits from Montclair State University and Passaic County Community College. This year, 100 students are taking advantage of the oppor-

tunity, a number Cannici predicts will rise. “We pay 40 percent of the tuition,” he says, “and kids take college courses with other college students taught by real professors. And they earn credits they can take with them after the graduate from Clifton High.”

☛

Bill’s late father, Pete, the Principal of Passaic High School who also served as Passaic Schools Superintendent.

the job’ during the interview, I say ‘when I get the job...’ And I’ll be dammed but I get it.” As Clifton High’s principal, Cannici began instituting new initiatives. Like he had done as a teacher, he encouraged students to paint murals in the hallways, seeing the school as a canvas. “We have tremendous talent,” he says, “and the murals deinstitutionalize the institution.” He also brought sculpture pieces to the school grounds, along with a waterfall and gazebo—donated by a woman who won it on the TV show The Price Is Right. Eagle scouts built benches near the gazebo, making it a place where teachers could hold class on hot days. “Aesthetically,” he says, “we’ve created a more college-type of environment.” To cope with Clifton’s growing school population, he implemented an early start program for deserving upperclassman, letting them begin classes at 7 am and dismissing them just past noon without a lunch—a privilege they must earn. Eighthundred Clifton students now participate in the program.

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Cannici also instituted programs where students can study to become EMTs or pursue an internship in many different fields. “If you’re devoted to school,” he says, “it will pay off before you graduate. A kid can’t lose.” Though he loves his role, Cannici admits the job comes with unique pressures. Because of the school’s size, his job is one of the most difficult principal positions in New Jersey. “I make major decisions that affect kids’ futures—no question about it. But I always believe in the kids. Most kids will turn around—you just can’t predict when. Even when the kid’s been in trouble with the police, you must believe in the kid—most are going to come through.” However, there are some that never do. “I’ve had kids dead at 17, many more times than I care to remember, from drugs and alcohol behind the wheel. While we must always believe in kids, sometimes we don’t catch them in time. They’re not buying what we’re selling.” He believes parents can make a tremendous difference in their child’s life. “Unfortunately, some parents let things go—things like curfew and who their child hangs out with. Knowing about your kid is so important. “As a parent (Cannici and wife Lorraine, a former Clifton teacher, have two sons, Billy and Matt), I lay down parameters. I wanted my kids involved in a sport—their choice, and an activity, again their choice. And I want productivity, which means good grades.”

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Though at peace with his retirement decision, Cannici knows he’s leaving behind unfinished business. School overcrowding

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is always on his mind, and he worries about students, teachers, and vice principals “going down” in the crush of hallway traffic and being injured. “We were criticized the other night at a planning board meeting. Someone said, ‘Look at them, Clifton High School, despite all this stuff, their test scores are going up.’ Test scores go up because we have a great staff here. Over-crowing is counter-productive to education.”

Using magic and juggling to illustrate his lectures, the young educator fired up his students about school... he became known for ‘Gluck’, a duck Bill Cannici trained to play the piano... He’s also worried about the rift that’s developed over the new school debate. “There is vile bile between good people… and it’s a shame,” he says. “Good intelligent Cliftonites are at each other’s throats, and I’d like to do something to help them get together.” To those Cliftonites, he says, “In Clifton, we’re ‘site poor.’ There’s no ideal site—everyone’s not going to agree on any one of them. So get together— agree to disagree—but come up with a compromise. Put it to the voters—the voters should have the right to decide on something. “Don’t talk about Globe, don’t talk about Athenia Steel, which are polluted—we’re not putting kids there. We have to talk about available properties of which there are very few. I understand why people want to fight for their park—I do. But we need a solution.” Clifton’s changing population is another issue Cannici copes with, a change he believes is good for his school and community. “Cultural diversity adds a wealth of background to your school population,” he says. “It’s a tremendous advantage. It reflects society—especially we who live in the great megalopolis of New York.

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We’re richer for the diversity. When I went to school in Passaic, it was far more diverse than Clifton High School. I grew from that.” About his diverse student population, he says, “The kids are overwhelmingly are wonderful. They realize the way to grow up in society is through education—they get that.” However, Cannici also believes today’s students must deal with unique pressures. “It’s harder for kids today to achieve, than say 1974. Divorce, early marriage, and various diseases are more in the population. Kids are getting in trouble because they’re more mobile. Kids are in gangs, which we didn’t have in the seventies. “The philosophy here is this: We’re in neutral territory. Don’t mess around with gangs here, don’t recruit, and don’t become violent. I have a hell of a lot of power behind me and I’ll use every inch of that power if I have a problem with you. I have state law on my side, board policy on my side—don’t interfere with a teacher’s inalienable right to teach, which is sacred. I also want every student to show respect. “With those two things understood, we have so many resources to help students. Last year’s graduating class received $7.5 million

Lorraine and Bill in a current photo with their two sons, Billy and Matt.

in scholarships. I want to surpass it this year.” Says Clifton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Rice: “Bill is an enthusiastic advocate for children. He loves the high school and he loves the students. He can still stay on as principal—I’d be delighted if he did. But he’s made his decision and we have to find someone else to move us along. “Good high school principals are not a dime a dozen,” said Rice “They’re increasingly rare individuals, like Bill. As a principal, not everybody will love you—if they did, you wouldn’t be doing your job. “I wish him well.”

As far as his legacy at Clifton High School, Bill Cannici wants to be remembered for “making this the most vibrant education community I could, hiring talented teachers and giving them a great place to teach. Because the better the teacher, the better it is for the kids.” 94

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Next Phase Cannici says when he finally retires, he has plans to get him through his adjustment period. This July, he’ll journey to Shanghai where son Billy will be completing a course in international law as part of his law school studies. The Cannicis will then visit other cities, like Bejing or Tokyo, or maybe make a stop in Vietnam. He also wants to pass on his success, like he taught others to do, by teaching graduate courses in school administration at Montclair State, near his home in Glen Ridge, or Stetson University in Florida, where he and Lorraine have a winter home. As far as his legacy, Cannici wants to be remembered for “making this the most vibrant education community I could, hiring talented teachers, and giving them a great place to teach. Because the better the teacher, the better it is for kids. “When Admiral Nimitz immortalized the Marines who fought at Iwo Jima, he said, ‘Uncommon valor was a common virtue.’ I like to think at CHS, ‘Uncommon teaching is a common gift.’”

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CHS 2006 Athletic Hall of Fame Installation Luncheon on April 23 at the Brownstone

Eugene Pami Class of 1951

Natalie Popowicz Class of 1999

Joseph Haro Class of 1998

Dana Devito Class of 1994

Robert Krzanowski Class of 1986

Stacy Veech Class of 1997

Wrestling Coach Stephen LePage 1983-1986

Kimberly Ziolkowski-Kiseloski Class of 1992

George Pasterchick Class of 1949

April 2006 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

The 1953 CHS Track Lettermen pictured above, (as well as the 1952 and 1954 track and field teams—all of which went on to be PVC League Champs) along with those individuals pictured on the facing page and the legendary 1959 Fighting Mustangs—NJ State Football

Champs—will be inducted to the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame at a luncheon at the Brownstone on April 23 at noon. For tickets ($35), call CHS Athletic Director Rick LaDuke at 973-470-2280 or to place an ad in the journal for the event, call Jack Whiting at 973-478-8668.

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April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

CliftonMidgetLeague by Joe Hawrylko any people have never received a telegram, now considered a very outdated method of communication. To put the age of the Clifton Midget League in perspective, we reprinted the telegram New Jersey Governor Robert Meyner forwarded to the CML when he “sent his regrets” for not being able to attend the group’s fundraiser dinner on Nov. 27, 1956. Founded in 1953 as an independent baseball little league by the late Henry ‘Hooks’ Brower (at left) and his wife, Eva, the Clifton Midget League was designed with the premise that all kids who enrolled would participate, regardless of ability. In addition to basketball and baseball leagues that are currently offered, the CML introduced thousands of Clifton kids to bowling, cheerleading and football—all of which originated under Hook’s leadership. Based in Albion Park, off of Maplewood Ave., the CML is rich with history. Countless youths have passed through the many leagues at the neighborhood park. Athletes from the 1960’s will surely remember The Clifton Midget Leaguer, the league’s official newspaper which was circulated to 1,400 homes around the city.

The Leaguer offered sports related news, scores of games, fundraiser information and anything else that pertained to the CML. Other generations of CML athletes also have many fond memories of the league. Those that are in college now will remember when Hooks was honored with the renaming of the baseball diamond in the corner of the park as Brower Field in 1997. The field was a testament to his life-long dedication to baseball and volunteering for kid’s recreation. It was also a final goodbye for some, as Hooks passed away the following year. For the almost 300 athletes from all over Clifton who are currently in CML baseball, the future looks promising, as the league continues to grow.

☛

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

On this and the page prior, some of the CML teams through the years.

CML President Brian Murphy and Baseball Commissioner Stephen Shukaitis along with the Board of Directors members and past President Nick Mangone, Vice President Ken Barilari, Treasure Deana Shukaitis, Secretary John Soto, Trustees Kevin Lord, Mark Garruto, Stuart Brody and Ken Ingwersen recently approved the merger with the Cal Ripken Baseball program. Although the league had operated independently for near 50 years, joining the new baseball program offers

kids the opportunity to compete in district and regional tournaments at the end of the season. The annual opening day parade on April 8 at 10 am begins at the Masonic Lodge on Van Houten Ave. and ends at Albion Park. Former CML members are being encouraged to submit memorabilia, photos and comments from their playing days for the website. for info, visit www.eteamz.active.com/cmlbaseball/ or call Nick Mangone at 973-684-1180.

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RubberSouls

ubber Souls, pictured above, return to Joey’s in Clifton on Sunday May 21st along with Brookwood, DJ Lugghead and The Flying Muller Brother to do another UNICO benefit. Expect a rollicking good time for six hours. After appearing as a 2 piece acoustic rock-duo for benefits for the Waldorf School and for UNICO in 2004, Rubber Souls added punch and vibe when Clifton drummer Tommy Mulligan and bass guitarist Michael Ward joined guitarists Jerry Santucci and Jan Larsen for last

year’s UNICO benefit at Joey’s. Since then the band has performed at benefits, clubs and private parties. Rubber Souls is collage of musical talent with diverse roots and backgrounds, ranging from the shores of Denmark to the cliffs of Clifton. This band will please most rock music palates as they perform tunes from America to ZZ Top including Beatles, Stones, Rockpile, Skynard and more. The four “Souls” are Jerry Santucci (guitar, sitar, harp and vocals), Michael Ward (bass guitar

and vocals), Tommy Mulligan (drums and percussion) and Jan Larsen (guitar and vocals). Jerry Santucci is a multifaceted musician with a keen sense of harmonies who grew up playing in various Beatles inspired bands in New Jersey as well as performing solo in Café settings. Tommy Mulligan gained his rhythmic feel and tempo in local bands, like Fester and The Spark and is equally comfortable laying down the beat to Rush and Ringo. Michael Ward is a well know name in CBGB’s and on the rest of New York City’s club scene, where he has performed with Surface, Knowhere, Chemical Wedding and other original rock acts. Jan Larsen earned his musical spurs performing British inspired rock in Danish rock bands Firewood and Tracks before settling down in Clifton. In Rubber Souls they unite their talents to create an uplifting performance of great songs. If you like rock, Rubber Souls will get your night rolling at 6 pm on May 21 at Joey’s. For tickets, call Joeys at 973-773-2110 or David D’Arco t 973-417-0731.

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The Clifton Jr. Mustangs Wrestling squad ended their season on a high note, with over 20 Clifton boys taking home medals at the Northern New Jersey Junior Wrestling League Tournament at Pequannock High School. In the other end of season tournament, the traveling team took home third place at the Passaic County Youth Wrestling League Tournament. The Jr. Mustangs Wrestling Program is open to all Clifton stu-

dents from first to eighth grade. Weight classes begin at 45 pounds and increase at 5-pound intervals, with age divisions separated by two-year intervals. Coaches are Jack Whiting, Tony Santorelli, Maurice Marsilla and Chris Botta. Registration for next season begins in November. Practices are held in the Clifton High School upper gym. For more info on registration, call Jack Whiting at 973-478-8668.

Join us on our Journey! Who hasn't taken the journey with Judy Garland as Dorothy as she makes her way down the yellow brick road in ‘The Wizard of Oz?’ Or the trek with Moses to the top of Mount Sinai in Cecil B. DeMille's ‘The 10 Commandments.’ The Christian season of Lent and is all about journeys -- not unlike those of Dorothy and Moses -- taking us to the resurrection on Easter Day. What you might not know is that actress Judy Garland and director Cecil B. DeMille were also Episcopalians. They were in good company: So too were George Washington; Betsy Ross, the famed flag maker; Natalie Cole, daughter of vocalist Nat ‘King’ Cole; Buzz Aldrin, who stepped on the Moon right after Neil Armstrong in 1969, and Clifton’s first mayor, Clarence Finkle. Come join St. Peter’s Episcopal Church -Clifton’s only Episcopal parish -- as its marks the joy of Easter.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

380 Clifton Ave. Sunday services at 8 and 10:15 a.m.; Sunday School at 9 a.m. • 973-546-5020 102 April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

School 15 HSA hosts a Tricky Tray on April 19 at 6 pm at the Wayne Manor. The $30 ticket includes dinner and a sheet of main prize tickets. Donations are still being accepted. Call Nancy Delaney at 973-9515024 for tickets or info. School 16 hosts a Tricky Tray on April 19 at the Valley Regency at 6 pm. Tickets are $38 and must be purchased in advance. Dinner is included. Call 973-744-6855.

CHS Principal Bill Cannici will be feted at a retirement dinner at 6 pm on May 16 at The Venetian in Garfield. Tickets are $55 for dinner and a gift; there will be a cash bar. Checks should be made payable to the Clifton Board of Education Internal Fund and delivered or mailed by April 30 to Angela Macchiarelli at Clifton High School, Colfax Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013.

The Clifton Boys & Girls Club is once again offering juniors from Clifton High School the opportunity to research future job options by participating in the Career Exploration Day program, which is on May 11. The goal is to have students shadow career professionals in the work environment to get an introduction to a possible career. If you wish to help some students by offering your time as a volunteer career professional on May 11, call Debra Lesnick at 973-773-2697, ext. 20.

The Phenomenal Grandmothers seek plush toys appropriate for Easter baskets. Checks are also being accepted and can be sent to Colleen Murray, President, 184 Randolph Ave., Clifton, 07011. Earmark the checks for “Easter baskets.” The group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Main Memorial Library, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Info: 973-473-6693.

A Beefsteak Fundraiser for William Maurer is on May 12 at the Boys & Girls Club. Maurer, at left, has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cell. Doors open at 7 pm and music will be provided by DJ Lou of Star Entertainment. The $50 donation will benefit the William Maurer Fund. Donations can also be dropped off at Hot Bagels Abroad, 859 Clifton Ave. For tickets or more info, call Danielle Beazley at 973-812-6653 or Tom Gunderman at 973-772-2248.

17th Annual Presentation Palm Sunday April 9th at 4 pm Tuesday, April 11 thru Good Friday, April 14 at 8 pm Felician College Auditorium 262 So. Main St. • Lodi, NJ

FREE ADMISSION No Tickets Required, although Reserved and Group Seating is Available by calling 201-288-4139 ext 13 Due to the intensity of this program, no children under age 8 will be admitted. A Free-Will Offering will be taken

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” ~ John 3:16

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103

Chef Peter Bakarich and others affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 3 at the United Reformed Church of Clifton and Passaic host their Annual Spaghetti Dinner on April 29 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall, corner of Clifton Ave. and First St. Tickets are $7 or $4 for kids under 12. Purchase of tickets before the dinner preferred but tickets will be available at the door. For tickets, call Bakarich at work 201-587-9004, at home 973-340-3395 or Scoutmaster Keith Oakley at 973-777-0264.

Brian Dunphy and Daniel Walsh recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 12, affiliated with St. James Church in Montclair. For his project, Dunphy developed an oral history about a group of 14 Navy veterans. His work was donated to the Veterans’ Oral History Project and the Battleship New Jersey Museum. Walshs’ Eagle Scout project was the construction of a railroad-type trestle bridge over a stream in Camp Glen Gray in Oakland which took 135 hours to build. Hikers can see the bridge on the camp’s Yellow Trail. Peter Eagler has a way with baking and his treats of nut, poppy seed and apricot rolls, as well as butter cookies, babkas and rice cakes, will be featured in an Easter Bake Sale sponsored by his parish, the Holy Apostles Church in Saddle Brook, on April 8 from 2 to 4 pm. For orders, call 973-949-4631 or 201-845-7259. Bob and Donna Sidoti, as well as their three children, are among the large cast which perform in The Jesus Story, a riveting musical drama, professionally staged at Felician College, 262 So. Main St., Lodi. Produced by the Bible Baptist Church Drama Ministries, the play, which tells the story of the passion of Jesus Christ as he faces his crucifixion, is now in its 17th year. Showtimes are on April 9 at 4 pm and on April 11, 12, 13 and 14, all of which start at 8 pm. Although tickets are not required, seats are limited and can be ordered in advance with a $10 donation per seat. Call 201-288-4139, ext. 11.

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This column was originally started by our founder, the late Murray Blumenfeld. In his spirit, we continue its publication. We’re devoting this column to April’s birthstone, “Diamond.” The majority of diamonds we sell come with GIA certificates. The GIA is the highest authority on diamonds. When they appraise a diamond and put their seal on the report you know what you’re getting. Here is an explanation to help you understand GIA certificates.

That’s Katie Webb, McGruff the Crime Dog and an unidentified individual at last year’s Child Health & Safety Fair.

The 17th Annual Child Health & Safety Fair is on May 13 from10 am until 2 pm at School 16 on Grove St. The fair is to be held both indoors and outdoors with groups providing health and safety demonstrations and screenings to kids and parents. In addition, information about summer recreation programs for children will be offered. The annual event is presented by the Clifton Fire Department in cooperation with the Clifton Public School. Free admission. Organizations which would like to participate by providing a display or interactive activity should contact Deputy Fire Chief Tom Lyons at 973-616-2570 or via FMBA21@aol.com. How would you react in an emergency situation? To help give individual skills on how to react appropriately to a sudden illness, head and spinal injuries, or a simple fall, the American Red Cross is hosting a First Aid Rally on April 12 at 6 pm at the Clifton Rec Center on Main Ave. There is a $15 fee. To register, call Clifton Recreation at 973-470-5958.

Color - The color chart starts with the letter D and goes all the way to Z. K thru Z are varying shades of yellow. D,E,& F are colorless and considered the best color grades and naturally the most expensive. G,H,I & J are near colorless and this area tends to be the most popular. Clarity - This pertains to the amount of flaws, called inclusions, in the diamond. Flawless is the best followed by Internally Flawless. Next comes VVS1 and VVS2. VVS stands for Very Very Slight inclusions. Then comes VS1 and VS2. VS stands for Very Slight inclusions. Next comes SI1 and SI2 which stand for Slightly Included. Imperfect stones are the last clarity grade where the inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Cut - This part of the description of a diamond is based on mathematical formulas that affect the way light is refracted inside the diamond and reflected back to your eye. It is described on the appraisal as Depth percentage and Table percentage. Girdle - This is the edge of the diamond. More of a descriptive device than anything else, anywhere from Thin to Thick is OK. When a diamond is described as Extremely Thin or Extremely Thick, those are stones we choose not to consider. Culet - This is the point at the bottom of the diamond. No culet or a small culet are the most common and with technology in cutting today there are not many described larger than that. Polish & Symmetry are self explanatory. The majority of stones are described with Good Polish and Good Symmetry. There are some stones that are described as Very Good and even some that are graded Excellent.

In closing, March 8 marked two years since Morre's passing. To all our wonderful customers—we want to thank you for all your continued support and for helping us keep Morre's vision alive. We still feel his presence everywhere and this brings us great comfort. He will forever remain in our hearts. Have an “Amazing April.” Talk to you again next month.

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Retirement at Fritz Reuter...

aking the decision to leave one’s home is tough. However, if one decides to move into a retirement community and then finds out that in the future, they require nursing care.... another move to a nursing home is devastating. One move to Fritz Reuter is all that it will ever take and you’re taken care of for your entire life. Isn’t that what you or your loved one deserves? Located in North Bergen, New Jersey with over 108 years of experience speaks for itself. Fritz Reuter was founded as a retirement home for people of German descent in 1897. “The majority of our present residents still share that European background,” says Noreen Wendt. “In addition to attracting people of German descent, many of our residents have Italian, Hungarian, Polish, Swiss, Irish, Yugoslavian, Prussian and Lithuanian roots, which is an excellent starting point from which to build their friendships. Our residents have worked hard all their lives, saved their money, or sold their homes to move here, because they enjoy the European atmosphere we’ve captured and they fit right in”. The facility offers three levels of living, all under one roof which means there’s never the need to make another move into another facility if additional care is ever needed. “We think that offers great peace of mind,” says Wendt.

Fritz Reuter offers activity rooms featuring computers, crafts and other amenities. “We are a not-for-profit organization, offering the highest quality of care without a high price and never charging extra for temporary and full time nursing care if and when needed,” she continued, noting readers are invited to tour the facility and see for themselves. Classic European atmosphere is visible in all of the levels of care..... independent living apartments, residential 1 or 2 room suites and a fully staffed skilled nursing facility. “Residents feel safe about their future here, because they know that, no matter what direction their health takes, we will always be there for them,” says Wendt. “They will never be asked to leave our community to go into a nursing home.”

“We are a not-for-profit organization, offering the highest quality of care without a high price and never charging extra for temporary and full time nursing care if and when needed.” 106 April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Fritz Reuter has healthcare alliances with local hospitals and there is a staff medical director, and a podiatrist, dentist and physical therapist visits regularly. On site are two beauty parlors, two dining rooms, banking facility, toning equipment, billiards and a community room, arts & crafts, chapel, greenhouse, library, shuffleboard and a solarium with a pond. One may chose to live in the independent apartments or start out in the in the residential facility where three meals daily are served daily and all laundry, housekeeping, and medical is provided at no extra charge. Residents can drop their secondary health insurance when they move from the independent apartments or start out in this level. “We pay their medical bills and the same is true when and if they ever require permanent skilled nursing care,” said Wendt. “Guaranteed life care is what we’re all about.”

April 2006 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

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Not A Happy Neighbor by Joe Hawrylko

n 2003, when Hillman St. resident David Kidd first attended the Zoning Board meetings regarding plans for the old Firestone building at 1300 Main Ave., next to his home, he believed that his new neighbor would be a nice addition to Downtown Clifton. When Frank Carlet, the lawyer for the property owner, presented the developer’s proposal for the site, Kidd thought that he was getting a fair shake and agreed to the plans. However, three years later, construction has stopped and started often, the new building at 1300 Main Ave. remains unoccupied and the rear yard of the property—the side facing Kidd’s well maintained home—still looks like a construction site. Kidd said that many of the items he agreed to remain unfulfilled and in short, he’s not a happy neighbor.

Hillman St. resident David Kidd, standing in the unfinished parking lot facing his home, lives to the rear of this building at 1300 Main Ave.

For instance, the plans for 1300 Main Ave. called for a lot that was level with his, with lights facing away from Kidd’s house. It also called for a six foot privacy fence, which Kidd claimed that Carlet promised before the Zoning Board that Kidd could select. By walking down Hillman St. today, it is evident that promises made in 2003 differ from today’s reality. Most notable is the height difference between the two properties—almost a full two feet. The new building’s property was dug

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Back in 2002, the former Firestone building at the corner of Main and Hillman.

down so that there would be a more subtle transfer between the road and the parking lot. The result is a mess along the border line—with debris and bricks strewn about. That fence is the same old, metal one that was there in 2003, not the promised privacy fence. The lights, while not yet erected, were placed on the opposite end of the parking lot—they’ll shine directly at Kidd’s home. To try and remedy the situation, Kidd has spoken to the property owner who promised it would be resolved but nothing has changed. He contacted various city departments however, the individual he was in contact with has since left and the matter remains in limbo. City Manager Al Greco said that any agreements made at the Zoning Board would be up to the Zoning Officer to enforce but he was not available as we went to press. Kidd said the 1300 Main Ave. project has also impacted others. When the home which was once on the parking lot was demolished, a massive dust cloud carrying asbestos disbursed in the area. Then, this past summer, Kidd claimed that several residents complained when an oil tank was dug up and left to drain on the edge of the property. The stench made it unbearable to go out in the humid weather for neighbors, he said.

Kidd is clearly frustrated. He has been making improvements to his home and yard, only to have the unfinished construction deteriorate the value of his property. All Kidd wants is for the developer to finish the project as it was originally agreed upon and to clean up the lot so that he can once again have privacy in his yard. “You think that three years is enough time to finish this,” said Kidd. “Just give me my fence and get it done.”

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Dr. Oliver S. Youssef MD, FACS Dr. Jan S. Youssef, MD 925 Clifton Ave. • Suite 203 We can help you cure your illness, 973-773-9250 from Snoring to Ear Aches. 1746

April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

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Happy Birthday!

Visit us in Downtown Clifton: 1103 Main Ave • 973-473-4999

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Timothy Hayes . . . . . . . .4/1 Hetal Patel . . . . . . . . . . .4/1 Raymond DeDios . . . . .4/3 Carl DiGisi . . . . . . . . . . . .4/3 Eric Homsany . . . . . . . . .4/3 Matt Sagui . . . . . . . . . . .4/3 Joey Scotto . . . . . . . . . .4/4 Bo Franko . . . . . . . . . . . .4/5 Wafa Othman . . . . . . . .4/5 Mark Peterson . . . . . . . .4/5 Happy 21st Birthday to Daniel Leigh Magaster, 4/7/85-10/16/03

Two Stores In Clifton 973-473-1997

973-473-4999

802 Van Houten Ave • Clifton Mon-Fri 8-6pm • Sat 8-5pm • Sun 9-1pm

1103 Main Ave • Downtown Clifton Mon-Fri 8-6pm • Sat 8-5pm • Sun Closed

Our Other Locations: 201.843.8040

201-845-8353

136 Essex St • Rochelle Park Open Sundays

101 Route 46 West • Saddle Brook Open Sundays

201.391.3333

973-857-2600

5 Hawthorne Ave • Park Ridge New Location

614 Pompton Ave • Cedar Grove New Location

201. 261.0411 59A E. Ridgewood Ave • Paramus New Location

973.338.9292 1278 Broad St • Bloomfield New Location

Happy Birthday! Jillian Mangone celebrates her 10th birthday on April 26.

973-694-2228 1168 Hamburg Turnpike • Wayne New Location

973-423-1700 93 Goffle Rd • Hawthorne New Location 1036

Visit us in Athenia: 802 Van Houten Ave • 973-473-1997 110 April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

Newlyweds! Kellie C. Patterson and Joseph A. Torelli were married on March 25.

Birthdays & Celebrations! Bob Tanis . . . . . . . . . . . .4/5 Joe Franek . . . . . . . . . . .4/6 Jessica Mondelli . . . . . .4/6 Luke Kulesa . . . . . . . . . .4/7 Patricia Colman . . . . . .4/8 Sheryll Franko . . . . . . . . .4/8 Jackie Henderson . . . . .4/8 Emma Gretina . . . . . . . .4/9 Brian Firstmeyer . . . . . .4/11 Leila Gasior (woof!) . .4/11 Felipe Rivera . . . . . . . .4/11 Erin Smith . . . . . . . . . . .4/11 Debbie Tucker . . . . . . .4/11 Josh Ontell . . . . . . . . . .4/13 Lisa Kulesa . . . . . . . . . .4/15 Adam Pienciak . . . . . .4/15 Robert Monzo . . . . . . .4/16 Linda Humphrey . . . . .4/17 Peter Fierro . . . . . . . . . .4/18 Jason Dubnoff . . . . . . .4/19 Bryan Rodriguez . . . . .4/19 Alicia Rose Aste . . . . . .4/22 Lori Hart . . . . . . . . . . . .4/22 Alyssa Tucker . . . . . . . .4/22 Danny Gorun . . . . . . . .4/23

Peter & Eileen Fierro celebrate their 30th anniverasry on April 18 (the same day Pete turns 66)

Birthday Brothers: the Hawrylko boys will party this month... Tom Jr. turns 19 on April 16 while Joe will be 21 on April 27. Their pup, Bob Marley, turned 2 on April 4.

The Fifth Genardi! Corey, Michele, Ava and Gia welcome Bianca Eda Genardi who was born March 2, 2006, weighing in at 7 lbs, 2 ounces.

John Pogorelec, Jr. . . .4/23 Marc Scancarella . . . .4/23 Katie Michelotti . . . . . .4/25 Brianna A. Pastore . . .4/25 Stephanie Magaster . .4/26 Daniel Ricca . . . . . . . .4/26 Elise Termyna . . . . . . . .4/26 Look whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turning 40... Donna Mangone, 4/7 Lt. Jeff Camp (CPD), 4/20

Michael Press . . . . . . . .4/27 April Graham . . . . . . . .4/28 Paul Colman . . . . . . . .4/29 Heather Halasz . . . . . .4/29 Christine Klein . . . . . . .4/29 Wedding Anniversaries... Joe & Darlene Franek .4/6 celebrating on 4/28... John & Donna Hawrylko Charlie & Frances Stek

Egon & Shirley Kot celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 15.

Richard & Tracey DeMarco will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on April 12th. April 2006 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

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A neighbor you can count on. With the best doctors in the neighborhood Doctors you can count on.

Best wishes to the PBIRMC Medical Staff In celebration of National Doctors’ Day

350 Boulevard, between Broadway and Oak Streets, in Passaic Main Number: (973) 365-4300 Emergency: (973) 365-4489

Member Beth Israel Health System 1687

112 April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

The American Hungarian Folk Museum, at the Reid Library on Third St. in Passaic, marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most important events in the European nation’s history and culture—the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The uprising is of political significance as it was a precursor to the downfall of Communism and it initiated various social, artistic and cultural changes in Hungary and Europe. The Museum, in two rooms on the second floor of the public library, features an eclectic collection of artifacts of Hungarian history and culture. The goal is to keep and preserve the Hungarian culture and folklore. Hungarians marked the 1848 peaceful revolution and Independence of this European nation with a flag raising on March 15 at 10 am at Clifton City Hall.

Working with the America Liszt Society, the Museum presents a piano concert featuring Balázs Szokolay, one of Hungary’s best pianists, with Gergely Szokolay, also a noted pianist, chamber player and conductor from Hungary, on April 7 at 7:30 pm at Lambert Castle, on April 8 at 7:30 at the Klavierhaus Concert Hall in NYC and on April 9 at 5 pm at the Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick. Tickets are $15 or $10 for students and seniors. For tickets and info, call 973-478-5926, 201-836-4869 or email Magyar@magyar.org

Hungarian Reformed Federation of America is proud to serve Our Community. We are a Fraternal Life Insurance Society offering financial protection and cultural preservation to the Hungarian-American community for over 100 years.

• Term Insurance • Whole Life Insurance • Children’s Insurance

• Tax-Deferred Annuities • Student Aid • Cultural Activities

Home Office: 888-567-7884 • www.HRFA.org April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

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Local Representative: Ted Harsaghy, Branch Mgr. • 973-340-9075

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The Clifton Bunny Bash! Come meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy breakfast at the Hot Grill (fee) on April 15 beginning at 7:30 am. After you eat, head over to Nash Park, where there will be plenty for kids of all ages to do. At 9 am sharp, kids will be sent out in three age categories for an Easter egg hunt. Each child is entitled to one egg only. Except for the 3 to 5 year old age group, parents are not permitted to help out. At 10:30 am, your pooch can get involved, with their own egg hunt. Dogs must be licensed with the city and be able to calmly interact with other dogs and people. There'll also be a visit to Mrs. Bunny’s Playground, as well as the Bunny Bounce, a Bunny Hop, a Bunny Beauty Parlor and other Easter-themed events. For more info, call the Rec Department at 973-470-5958. Heidi Lynn Avron may have set a record back in April 2002 with 368 Bunny Hops in five minutes!

Dr. David R. Moore, Chiropractor Dr. Moore’s patient of the month is Kristian Diaz a long time patient who maintains his health with regular spinal check-ups.

Coming this Spring Big changes for our office... Mon • Wed • Fri Chiropractic Health Center 241 Crooks Ave • Clifton • 973.253.7005

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114 April 2006 • Clifton Merchant

All County Real Estate 326 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07011

973-916-9900 Mike Bocu, Broker of Record mike@c21allcounty.com

CLIFTON: Move-In condition Ranch renovated in 2005 offers 3 BR, EIK, w/ CT, new BA , H/W floors, & summer kitchen in basement. $369,900.

CLIFTON: All brick ranch in Allwood section of Clifton offers 3 BR, LR w/ fireplace, DR, Office, KIT, and C/A. $392,000.

CLIFTON: This large 2 family home offers 6+6 and is conveniently located near schools, transportation and shopping. $399,900.

CLIFTON: Immaculate 2 family w/ 2 BR on each floor and 2 in the fnshd attic, 3 BA. You do not have to do a thing...just move in. $529,000

CLIFTON: Botany Village Square Mall. 2-four family homes. +2 offices on 1st floor (1600sf Doctor's office & 1600sf Tae Kwon Do office).+8 units. Excelle. Invest. $1,395,000

CLIFTON: Large 2 family home offers 7+5 w/ finished basement, enclosed porch, large back patio with stone pavers. $584,900

WEST PATERSON: MOVE IN CONDITION! New EIK w/ceramic tile, finished basement, new large deck, above-ground pool, & garage. $359,900.

PATERSON: Perfect for first time buyers. A mother daughter. Renovated, finished basement, 3 BA, ceramic tile, new siding. $279,000

WAYNE: True move-in condition Ranch. 2004 Renovation. 4 BR's, large LR, new EIK, full bsmt & large deck w/fenced in yard. Parking for 4 cars. $349,900

WAYNE: Very nice 2 bedroom home with updated kitchen, located in quiet neighborhood. Full basement. Deck, & fenced property. $259,900.

WAYNE: Prestigious Pointe View Estates. Lake Front colonial.4 BRs, 2.2 baths. New high energy HVAC. Too many features to list. $679,000

BUTLER: Updated Ranch offers 4 BR, new KIT, finished basement, H/W floors and garage. $429,900.

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CLIFTON

$589,900

BE PART OF THE HISTORY! Charming Brownstone Victorian Farm House. Possibly one of the oldest houses in Clifton built in 1693 however updated. Features 7 rooms, 3 bdrms, 2_baths, 2 car garage w/driveway space for 8 cars. CALL 877-833-2365

CLIFTON

$499,900

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CLIFTON

$379,900

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CLIFTON

$459,900

STORE PLUS APARTMENT 1st floor consists of commercial space. Newly remodeled, was a salon. 2nd floor apartment consisting of LR. Kitchen, 2 bdrm, and bath, with extra bedrooms on 3rd floor. Storage rooms behind salon. CALL 877-833-2365

CLIFTON

$339,900

GREAT 1 FAMILY HOME! Spacious LR with skylight & woodburning stove, open dining room, eat-kitchen w/ moveable island, 2 full baths, walk-up attic, newer above ground pool, back porch. Ask for Carol Lopez CALL 877-833-2365

CLIFTON

$329,900

LOVELY COLONIAL Situated in Lakeview. Features 3 bdrms, Fin. Partially bsmnt, EIK, privacy fence, storm door, storm window, and all appliances included. Ask for Nancy Rodriguez CALL 877-833-2365

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CLIFTON

$385,000

A HUGE CHARMING COLONIAL Features LR with F/place, DR, EIK. Above Ground Pool. Fin basement. Family room. Central Heat. Huge property. Ask for Bobby Persaud CALL 877-833-2365

CLIFTON

$399,900

LOVELY 2 FAMILY HOME Do not hesitate! Features 4 bdrms, 2 full baths, Fin Partially basement. LR, DR and EIK on each floor. Includes attic with 2 bdrms. Ask for Ramon Ramirez CALL 877-833-2365

CLIFTON

$529,900

LOVELY 2 FAMILY HOME Do not hesitate! Features 4 bdrms, 2 full baths, Fin Partially basement. LR, DR and EIK on each floor. Includes attic with 2 bdrms. Ask for Ramon Ramirez CALL 877-833-2365