POLLER DENTAL GROUP
My Mowimy Po Polsku (Dentystka)
THE APPREHENSIVE PATIENT
EXP 6-15-12
973-546-6977
470 Clifton Ave • Clifton
DENTISTRY WHILE YOU SLEEP
Smile Makeover
EXP 6-15-12
$119 per month based on credit approval and 60 month financing through GE capital for a total of $5,000.
For as low as $119 per month you can have a new smile
DENTAL CARE FOR COWARDS
908-686-5868
629 Clifton Ave • Clifton 459 Chestnut St • Union
973-777-7364
EXP 6-15-12
Follow The Apprehensive Patient of Clifton and Poller Dental Group on
The Fette Family is Bullish about Clifton, Our Hometown. Founder Henry Fette would be proud of our new Infiniti building going up at the intersection of Routes 3 and 46. Henry was a showman and always proud to promote and invest in Clifton, our hometown. Three decades ago when he and his son Larry purchased the former Bowlero building, it was a sign that the Fette Family is here to stay. Today, third generation owner John Fette said he and his family are proud to grow with and invest in Clifton... our hometown.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
5
Table of Contents
What’s Inside? 10 Daffodils for my Mom Chris de Vinck’s Mother’s Day Essay
12 Our Honored Dead Roll Call of Cliftonites Killed in Action
22 Matt Lalumia, USMC At 72, Clifton Roadrunner, Marathoner
26 Ryan Gable, USMC Behind the Wheel of a 70 Ton Tank
28 Lou Barbato, US Army Mountainside Man Grew up in ‘66 Killed in Action during Vietnam: Donald Scott, Richard Corcoran. Donald Cambell, William Sipos, Bohdan Kowal, Lewis C. Grove. See complete list pages 12-21.
12 32 Victor Carucci, KIA, 11/22/44 Buried in Ardennes Cemetery, Belgium
36 Tony Latona, USAF & Guard Clifton Firefighter, Military Lifer
40
40 Mark Scarpa, US Army 2008 CHS Grad Served in South Korea
44 Military & Marriage Diana and Kevin Beagin
52 Phil Sharkey, USMC Canadian Native Served in Vietnam 6 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
66 Hope Reformed Church A Century of Service at Burgess Place
74
70 Teacher of the Month Rich Alberghini at CHS Auto Shop
76
76 Bubbles for Autism April 18 Celebration at School 14
84 Senior on the Move Florri Santosousso is the Spirit of Clifton
r
26
88 Student of the Month CHS Senior Jocelyn Lee
92 Wear Purple to Fight Cancer Relay For Life is Painting the Town
88
84
50
16,000 Magazines
are distributed to hundreds of Clifton Merchants on the first Friday of every month. Subscribe Page 69
1288 Main Avenue Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011
$27 per year $45 for 2 years Call 973-253-4400 Š 2012 Tomahawk Promotions
Editor & Publisher Tom Hawrylko Business Manager Cheryl Hawrylko Graphic Designer Ken Peterson Staff Writer Joe Hawrylko Contributing Writers Irene Jarosewich, Carol Leonard, Rich DeLotto, Don Lotz, Jack DeVries
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
7
From the Editor
Avenue Flags 1,410 AND STILL COUNTING By Tom Hawrylko
8 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
s On May 28, Clifton’s Avenue of Flags, which is on the grounds of the municipal campus, will feature some 1,410 red, white and blue banners from sun up to sun down. Each American flag is sponsored in memory of a living or deceased veteran. Flags are three by five feet and stand on a 10-foot pole with a brass name plate. Walk the grounds and see the flags on Memorial Day, as well as Flag Day, July 4, Labor Day and Veterans Day. The set up and break down is done by volunteers at dawn and dusk, some of whom are in a 2004 file photo. The Avenue of Flags began in 2002 when founder Walt Pruiksma floated the idea to a group of old soldiers and sailors. By Veterans Day that year, 300 or so flags dressed the grounds of city hall. Today, as our cover proclaims, some 1,410 flags will decorate the roads around city hall and it is called the largest exhibit of Old Glory east of the Mississippi River. Volunteer guides and maps help donors to where their sponsored flag is displayed. Volunteers are always needed and there is always room to honor another veteran. To sponsor an American flag, which costs $100, visit Debbie Oliver at Clifton Recreation on the second floor of city hall or call Avenue of Flags Chair John Biegel Jr. at 973-519-0858. Clifton Merchant • May 2012
9
Moments of Grace
Daffodils for My Mom Essay by Chris de Vinck One April long ago when I was a boy, before I reached the age when I ached for spring, my mother asked me to go into the yard and pick some daffodils for the dinner table. Such ideas seemed to part of my daily life as a child: “Why don’t you find some raspberries?” “Chrissy, let’s go catch some lizards in the pond.” “Why don’t we try and sell lilacs?” “Anyone want to bake potatoes in the woods.” “Do I need the clippers?” “No, Chris,” my mother said. “Just snap the flowers gently from the bottom of the stems.” I walked through the kitchen, held the leafembossed doorknob, pulled the door open, walked onto the porch, down the wood steps, and onto the grass. I liked the back yard. Pine trees lined the left side, a wall of mountain laurel lined the right. I felt protected between the two walls of green. The grass was always thick and wild. It is easy to be sidetracked from the task at hand. I was asked to gather daffodils, but already I was nearly lost among the aroma of moist earth and the active squirrel running tail up into the woods, annoyed that I interrupted his snack at the bird feeder. Each time I looked in another direction there was something else to admire: the maple tree dressed in new leaves, ants running across the red and gray flagstones; Moses, my black cat stretched like taffy on the grass under the spring sun. It is easy to forget the responsibilities of a given task 10 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
when we are surrounded with images of delight and beauty, each one a distraction. “Chrissy, whatcha doin’?” my sister Maria called out from the upstairs window. “I’m getting flowers.” I walked down the steps of concrete and stone, past the serious iris plants, past the rose trellis, until I stood before the long, thin plot of fresh daffodils. I leaned forward like Ferdinand the Bull and sm-e-l-l-e-d the flowers. Such hints of promise and hope. I pulled up one daffodil from the base of its stalk. I pulled another one, and another and another. Five. Ten. Twenty. A bunch for one hand, and then for the other. When I was finished, I must have had fifty or sixty flowers. I picked them all! “Christopher!” my mother called out with delight from behind my back. I didn’t realize that she had joined me in the garden. “I’m finished. I got them all.” My mother began to laugh. I will always remember the laughter of my mother: full, loud, infectious, and easily sparked. Of course at the time I didn’t realize that she was laughing with glee and puzzlement because she only wanted six or seven flowers for the dinner table. I would have picked all of Holland. The daffodils began to ooze at the stems. My mother grabbed a bunch and held it at arm’s length, and so I held my bunch at arm’s length, and the two of us walked back toward the house laughing, laughing and
c
T I d a l
i
carrying our flames of spring before us. My father is 100 and my mother is 90 years old. They live in the same house where I grew up, and when I brought my mother a few daffodils from the same garden into the kitchen a few days ago my mother looked at me and I looked at her, and then we both began to laugh. Happy Mother’s Day, mom and thank you for teaching me the secrets of happiness. This essay was excerpted from Dr. Christopher de Vinck’s 1994 book Songs of Innocence and Experience. Chris is the Language Arts Supervisor at CHS and the author of 13 books. His best known work is The Power of the Powerless a frank reflection on the struggles and joys of loving his severely disabled brother. To order his most recent work, Moments of Grace, call 1-800-218-1903 or look for it in bookstores or online.
Book Early!!! Specializing in Communions & Graduations
Complete Drop-Off Buffet 4 Hot Entrees, Potato, Vegetables, Rolls, Butter & Tossed Garden Salad
11
$
95
Min 25 People + Tax/Person (Paper Goods Extra)
Call for Our Complete Menu
Also Available, Individual Pan Items! PLUSFREE
10% Off
with this advertisement
DELIVERY (10 Mile Radius)
Lakeview Bakery 308 Lakeview Ave. Clifton • 973-772-3837 • Se Habla Español
Lakeviewbakeryonline.com
for Mom, Flowers
&
Chocolates! Custom Made Wedding Cakes & Engagement Cakes, Birthday Cakes, Sweet 16 Cakes, Baby Shower Cakes Clifton Merchant • May 2012
11
MEMORIAL DAY 11 AM SERVICES
AT
MAY 28, 2012
WAR MONUMENT, MAIN MEMORIAL PARK
The unmarked graves of those killed in Korea was photographed by Joseph Bellanca in 1953. Bellanca, who grew up in Botany Village, was an award winning photojournalist who we profiled in our April edition. The 1948 CHS grad now lives in Passaic and some of his photos are part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. On the following pages, the names of Cliftonites killed during war are listed under the wars in which they perished, in a tribute to the Fallen.
1333 Broad St. • 973-779-3125
View The Giblin Report Thursdays at 8:30 pm, Cablevision Ch. 77 Check with your Cable Provider for Other Listings 12 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
M
This Memorial Day...
We Salute America’s Veterans East Ridgelawn Cemetery invites you to visit our Mausoleum on Main Avenue to pause, reflect and remember the lives of those who have passed. Visits are unlimited and unaffected by the weather. Crypts are located in the building and convenient for elderly and handicapped. Mausoleum entombment provides greater Peace of Mind & Security.
East Ridgelawn Cemetery 255 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07014 for more information with no obligation call:
973-777-1920
• niches • mausoleum • garden graves • non-sectarian • monumental graves • no obligation pre-need counseling • financing available one-year at no interest on easy monthly plans Clifton Merchant • May 2012
13
REMEMBERING OUR World War One
HONORED DEAD
Jurgen Dykstra Seraphin Fiori Ralph Gallasso Otto Geipel Mayo Giustina Peter Horoschak Emilio Lazzerin Joseph Liechty Jacob Morf, Jr.
Louis Ablezer Andrew Blahut Timothy Condon John Crozier Orrie De Groot Olivo De Luca Italo De Mattia August De Rose
The memory will live forever. Over the past year, we have had the privilege of serving the families of many veterans. In recognition of the service these veterans rendered to their country, we would like to show our appreciation this Memorial Day. In memory of their lives and their service, we recall...
• Angelo Attenello • Joseph BelBruno • Michael Bilas • Anthony Bordonaro • Salvatore Calabrese • Ronald P. Carline • Frank De Lauro
• Frank De Stefano • Angelo Guerra • Thomas Jenkins • Fred V. Lombardo • James Scullion • Gerard J. Sommers • Stanley Wax • Lloyd M. Whiting
470 Colfax Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 (corner of Broad St.)
973-249-6111
James J. Marrocco
CFSP, CPC
Manager, NJ Lic No. 3320
W W W. M A R R O C C O S . C O M
14 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Michael A. Waller Director
William Morf Edwin C. Peterson Robert H. Roat Alfred Sifferlen James R. Stone Carmelo Uricchio Angelo Varetoni Michael Vernarec Cornelius Visbeck Ignatius Wusching Bertie Zanetti Otto B. Zanetti
The poppy, still associated with Memorial Day, was inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces in 1915 before the United States entered World War I. Selling replicas of the original Flanders’ poppy originated in some of the allied countries immediately after the Armistice. Disabled veterans make these artificial flowers, and earn a small income after their work is sold by members of local veterans posts on Memorial Day.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
15
REMEMBERING OUR World War Two Joseph Sperling Charles Peterson Thomas Donnellan Jerry Toth Frank Lennon Joseph Carboy Julius Weisfeld Edward Ladwik Israel Rabkin Peter Pagnillo Harold Weeks William Weeks Salvatore Favata Herman Adams Edward Kostecki Charles Hooyman, Jr. Salvatore Michelli Richard Novak James Potter
HONORED DEAD Charles Lotz Joseph Prebol Walter Nazar Benedict Vital Thaddeus Bukowski Leo Grossman Michael Kashey Stephen Messineo John Janek John Yanick Herbert Gibb William Nalesnik Joseph Sowma Bronislaus Pitak Harry Tamboer John Olear John Koropchak Joseph Nugent Steven Gombocs Thomas Gula
Adam Liptak John Van Kirk Carlyle Malmstrom Francis Gormley Charles Stanchak Joseph Ladwik Karl Germelmann Robert Stevens Albert Tau William Scott Benjamin Puzio James Van Ness Gregory Jahn Nicholas Stanchak Frank Smith, Jr Carl Bredahl Donald Yahn Joseph Belli Edwin Kalinka Stanley Swift
Proudly Serving Assembly District 34... Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair
Be sure to visit Clifton’s Avenue of Flags this Memorial Day, May 28, from 6am-7pm.
The Honorable
Sheila Y. Oliver
Speaker of New Jersey
15-33 Halsted St., Suite 202 East Orange, NJ 07018 973-395-1166 • AswOliver@njleg.org paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver
16 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
17
REMEMBERING OUR World War Two Raymond Curley Harry Earnshaw James Henry John Layton Charles Messineo Joseph Petruska Bogert Terpstra John Kotulick Peter Vroeginday Michael Sobol Donald Sang Andew Sanko George Zeim, Jr. Robert Van Liere Vernon Broseman Harold O’Keefe Edward Palffy Dennis Szabaday Lewis Cosmano
18 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Stanley Scott, Jr. Charles Hulyo, Jr. Arnold Hutton Frank Barth John Kanyo Bryce Leighty Joseph Bertneskie Samuel Bychek Louis Netto David Ward Edward Rembisz Lawrence Zanetti Alfred Jones Stephen Blondek John Bulyn Gerhard Kaden William Lawrence Robert Doherty Samuel Guglielmo Robert Parker
HONORED DEAD Joseph Molson Stephen Kucha James De Biase Dominick Gianni Manuel Marcos Nicholas Palko William Slyboom Herman Teubner Thomas Commiciotto Stephen Surgent Albert Bertneskie Charles Gash Peter Jacklin Peter Shraga,Jr. John Aspesi Micheal Ladyczka Edward Marchese Robert Stephan Roelof Holster, Jr. Alex Hossack
Siber Speer Frank Klimock Salvatore Procopio Harry Breen Gordon Tomea, Jr. Douglas Gleeson Fred Hazekamp Harold Roy Andrew Servas, Jr. Francis Alesso Walter Bobzin Vincent Lazzaro John Op’t Hof Joseph Sondey John Zier Peter Hellrigel Steve Luka Arthur Vanden Bree Harold Baker Hans Fester Patrick Conklin John Thompson Thomas Dutton, Jr. Harold Ferris, Jr.
Donald Freda Joseph Guerra Edward Hornbeck William Hromniak Stephen Petrilak Wayne Wells Vincent Montalbano James Miles Louis Kloss Andrew Kacmarcik John Hallam Anthony Leanza William Sieper Sylvester Cancellieri George Worschak Frank Urrichio Andrew Marchincak Carl Anderson George Holmes Edward Stadtmauer Kermit Goss George Huemmer Alexander Yewko Emil Chaplin
John Hushler Edgar Coury Robert Hubinger Wilbur Lee Vito Venezia Joseph Russin Ernest Yedlick Charles Cannizzo Michael Barbero Joseph Palagano William Hadrys Joseph Hoffer, Jr. Joseph Piccolo John Robinson Frank Torkos Arthur Mayer Edward Jaskot George Russell Frank Groseibl Richard Van Vliet Benjamin Boyko Harry Carline Paul Domino John Fusiak
f the Art
Come See Our New Facility
Come See Our New Facility
L
LEVELS OF CARE
CLINICAL PROGRAMS
• • • • •
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementias • Neurological Disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis • Mental Health • Respiratory: including Ventilator Dependent & Tracheostomy Care • Peritoneal Dialysis
Sub-acute Care and Rehabilitation Long-term Skilled Nursing Care Hospice, including Inpatient Respite Special Care Behavior Management Licensed by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
Providing quality care for over 80 years
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
19
REMEMBERING OUR World War Two Louis Ritz William Niader Alfred Aiple Mario Taverna Sebastian De Lotto Matthew Bartnowski John Bogert Joseph Collura Matthew Daniels James Doland, Jr. Walter Dolginko Peter Konapaka Alfred Masseroni Charles Merlo Stephen Miskevich John Ptasienski Leo Schmidt Robert Teichman
Louis Vuoncino Richard Vecellio Robert Hegmann Ernest Triemer
HONORED DEAD John Peterson Richard Vander Laan, Jr. Stephan Kucha ‘Gigito’ Netto
Memorial Day Weekend Ceremonies Sunday, May 27 • 7 pm - Volunteers decorate the area around the War Monument in Main Memorial Park with American Flags Monday, May 28 • 6 am - Avenue of Flags Set-up at City Hall • 8:15 am - Fire Dept. Memorial at the Brighton Rd. Firehouse • 9 am - Memorial Day Parade, Hepburn Rd. • 9:30 am - Allwood Memorial at Chelsea Park • 11 am - City Wide Memorial Service at Main Memorial Park • Noon - Military Order of Purple Hearts at the Clifton Library • 12:30 pm - Post 347 Memorial at the Clifton Rec Center • 2 pm - Athenia Veterans Memorial on Huron Ave. • 6 pm - Avenue of Flags Take Down at City Hall
God Bless Our Veterans • God Bless America
Clifton Memorial Post 347
American Legion
Commander Michael Gimon • Past Commander Lou Poles
We Recall the Post Members who Died this past year... • Angello J. Attenello • Frank De Lauro • Angelo Guerra • Fred V. Lombardo 20 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
• William M. Masley • Matthew Millerferli • Roger P. Noakes • Walter E. Stefanacci
Korean War Donald Frost Ernest Haussler William Kuller Joseph Amato Herbert Demarest George Fornelius Edward Luisser Reynold Campbell Louis Le Ster Dennis Dyt Raymond Halendwany John Crawbuck Ernest Hagbery William Gould Edward Flanagan William Snyder
Allen Hiller Arthur Grundman Donald Brannon
Vietnam War Alfred Pino Thomas Dando William Sipos Bohdan Kowal Robert Kruger, Jr. Bruce McFadyen Carrol Wilke Keith Perrelli William Zalewski Louis Grove Clifford Jones, Jr. George McClelland
US Army/Special Forces Captain Michael Tarlavsky was killed in Najaf, Iraq on Aug. 12, 2004 and buried with honors in Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 24. Tarlavsky, CHS Class of ‘92, was captain of the Swim Team and enlisted in the Army in 1996. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star. He is survived by his wife Tricia, their son Joseph, his parents Yury and Rimma and a sister, Elina. The Veterans Alliance engraved his name on the Main Avenue War Memorial in 2004— the first name added in 34 years.
Richard Corcoran John Bilenski Donald Campbell James Strangeway, Jr. Donald Scott Howard Van Vliet Frank Moorman Robert Prete Guyler Tulp Nicholas Cerrato Edward Deitman Richard Cyran Leszek Kulaczkowski William Malcolm Leonard Bird John France Stephen Stefaniak Jr.
Nov. 8, 1961 Plane Crash Robert De Vogel Vernon Griggs Robert Marositz Robert Rinaldi Raymond Shamberger Harold Skoglund Willis Van Ess, Jr. Our goal is to list each name accurately and without omission. If you feel there is an error, please write to us with the correction. See page 7 for our address. Thank you.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
21
Clifton
Veterans
The Search for Closure Frank Carucci Tells his Brother Victor’s Story By Joe Hawrylko On November 22, 1944, Victor Carucci died as a prisoner of war while under the watch of German troops. His remains are buried in Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium, alongside thousands of other war dead from World War II. For more than six decades, that was essentially all that Frank Carucci knew about his older brother’s passing. The questions surrounding his death plagued him for years, until his grandson, Michael Carucci, took it upon himself to uncover the truth in 2004. “When people are captured, you get many different points, this happened, that happened,” explained Frank, a Lyndhurst native who has lived in Clifton for 33 years. “Did the Germans shoot them? Kill them? There were all kinds of reports.” Frank’s knowledge of his brother’s time in Europe was culled from letters and a few connections with people who had served with him.
Victor Carucci, at left, who died as a Nazi POW in WWII. Also on the page is the flag that Mary Carucci flew outside of her house in honor of her three sons that served in WWII: Joe, Pat and Vic.
22 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Victor Carucci low who had Victor Carucci died while in a German POW was drafted in instincts... The good camp on Nov. 22, 1944. For more than half a January 1942 and Lord put us here for a was a machine gunreason, and his reason century, his family, led by brother Frank ner in the 45th was to fight for counCarucci, tried to find out the circumstances Division, 157th try and he never comsurrounding his capture and passing. Frank’s Infantry Regiment. plained.” grandson, Michael, cracked the case after conHe was one of three The 45th was ducting a search that began in 2004. Carucci boys who shipped out to North served. Their mothAfrica in late 1943 but er, Mary, flew a red flag with three stars (pictured on the Victor did not participate in that campaign, instead facing page) in honor of Vic and brothers Joe and Pat, preparing for the assault on Italy. who also served.Frank, the youngest of the six Carucci He fought in Sicily, then Italy, going into Cassino. boys, was just 14 years old at the time that his second Then the unit was brought together for a rest and moved oldest brother died. on to Anzio. “This man probably could have gone on to college It was there that Victor was captured by the Germans and done well for himself,” said Frank, a third generation on Feb. 23, 1944. He passed away as a POW on Nov. 22 Italian-American. “He was probably the smartest out of of that same year. The Carucci family had tried in the our family.” past to find out more information about Victor, his “You see it all in front of you happening... there are doings in Europe, and what happened in the POW camp, some things you look back for a long time,” he continbut gained little perspective. In the 80s, one veteran ued. “He knew he wouldn’t come back. He told friends claimed that Victor was shot by a German officer, but the he didn’t know when he would come back. He was a felCaruccis doubted his claims.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
23
It was not until Frank’s war. Knew he died in the grandson Michael became war,” he continued. involved did the family “That trip certainly learn anything new. “My piqued my interest. My grandson was the one who grandfather would describe found out what haphis brother Victor very pened,” explained Frank. fondly.. he was intelligent, “Everyone who loses just different. He was spesomeone likes closure.” cial in the family and some“It was my sophomore times my grandfather would year of high school that compare him to me.” my father brought me to Michael began searching Ardennes Cemetery,” in earnest in 2004, while The gravesite at Ardennes American Cemetery, in Belgium, said Michael Carucci, a completing his studies at where Victor is buried and where his brother Frank would 2001 Queen of Peace NYU. After spending some like to have his remains interred. High School graduate. time on the internet search“It was an excellent experience. I got to see the memoing for information about Victor’s unit, Michael found a rial service that they hold there every Memorial Day. It contact for a man, Al Panebianco, who was in charge of was a solemn, yet profound experience for me and I an association for the 157th Infantry Regiment. was really glad that my grandfather was generous Panebianco supplied him with a list of about 70 members enough to bring me along with him.” of the 45th and 157th who may have known Victor and “Prior to that I knew little. I knew he fought in the were still living.
24 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Also included in the report was a page from the Red “I got a picture of my uncle in uniform and wrote a letCross that listed two witnesses to his death. One was ter to every single person on those lists and basically introRobert Aidala, whose name was on the pants that Victor duced who I was,” he said. “I was really surprised by the was wearing when he was buried in 1944. responses. That was probably the most gratifying part.” In August of 2004, a little less than 60 years after One of the individuals that Michael had contacted was Victor’s passing, the Caruccis traveled to upstate New an officer from Texas, who was at Anzio when the Nazis York to speak with Robert Aidala. overran the town. “We met him at this Burger King in town and he says “On that day, the Germans were going to wipe them all to my grandfather, ‘You look out,” recalled Frank. “My like Victor,’” said Michael. “I grandson had contacted some was really glad that my grandin Texas—a Captain—who father got a chance to meet him. believed he gave him up with It was a really rewarding expe70 other people.” rience and process. This whole Michael said that he thing gave me a lot more apprereceived many responses ciation for WWII veterans, from Veterans or their widespecially prisoners of war.” ows, some giving valuable “He said, ‘I want you to information, while many othknow one thing: don’t chase it ers simply wished him luck anymore,’” recalled Frank. “‘I on his quest. One even was with your brother in the mailed the 45th’s book. beet field and he keeled over.’” However, the turning point The veteran said that Vic, in the search was when who had was wounded when Panebianco also advised Michael Carucci with his grandfather Frank Carucci. captured, had died of malnourMichael to acquire an ishment, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) from the milAidala was part of the crew that had buried him in the itary to learn more information about his great uncle. back of a Polish church. At the end of the war, the man This file ultimately provided the most background during was able to direct the US military to the site to recover the the search. remains, which the family chose to have buried in the “Basically it had records on his burial, cause of death, Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. “When I die, which was heart failure,” Michael recalled. “It also had that’s where I will be,” he said. “I’ve been there 10 times that he was buried in Kessburg. Some records say that or more. It’s beautiful.” was Poland, some say Germany.”
Honor Our Veterans! God Bless America! Passaic County Clerk
Kristin Corrado Clifton Merchant • May 2012
25
Clifton
Veterans
Ryan Gabel now a Short Timer CHS ‘08 Grad Now USMC Lance Corporal By Joe Hawrylko Ryan Gabel’s experience in the United States Marines has been overwhelmingly positive. The Cliftonite enlisted on May 18, 2009, roughly one year after graduating from Clifton High School. “I was just working before I joined,” said Gabel. “It was something I had been thinking about, but my
Once in the USMC, he became focused. “I like the camaraderie, I like helping people out,” he said. “Tanks had always interested me a lot and I always liked the idea of fighting for my country.” In May 2009, Gabel shipped out for three months of boot at Parris Island.
Above, Ryan Gabel poses with the M1A1 tank that he is a gunner on. At right, Gabel with his wife, Jessica. On facing page is Gabel’s graduation photo from the 2008 Clifton High School yearbook.
parents wanted me to hold off for a bit before I went out and joined.” Gabel was always a do it yourselfer. Self motivated, he and his brother David ran a DJ company where they provided sound systems for events. He also worked at various jobs in the community, from dishing out ice cream to working retail. 26 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“It lived up to a lot of the expectations and things I was told about it,” he recalled of his early days in service. “Some of it, not so much, but it was definitely tough. Mentally tough, more than anything.” Following boot, he was transfered to Fort Knox, Kentucky for three months of training to become a tank
e
s
f
gunner. We were then assigned to Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina where Gabel waited for one year before getting deployed to Afghanistan in July 2011. “I was told a lot before I enlisted about how if you go in now, you’re pretty much going to go (to Afghanistan or Iraq),” he said. “But I was fine with that.” “When I got there, it took a year or so to be called, and by that time, I was ready for it,” Gabel continued. “It’s something you work to do. Everything else is kind of just a gray area.” “It was definitely an experience, that’s for sure,” Gabel said of his tour of combat duty. “I mean, there are not many words that can explain it... I try to look at it as, it was a job and I went over there and did what I had to do.”
“I feel like our unit actually made a difference,” he continued. “We did a lot of clearing routes so that other convoys could move through and get supplies to the people that needed it.” Gabel is once again stateside at Camp Lejeune, and has a little more than a year remaining on his contract. “It’s a really tough decision (on whether or not to go for a career),” he said. “Can I leave the job that definitely pays me every month? I absolutely enjoy it.” “It’s definitely helped me grow up. I’m more responsible now... you’ve got to be when you work with a 70 ton vehicle,” he said. “I have a wife (Jessica) and a dog and a house. Without the skills that the Marine Corps helped me accomplish, I wouldn’t have any of those things.”
I y
, k Clifton Merchant • May 2012
27
Clifton
Veterans
The Army Made Him a Man Lou Barbato, US Army, 1966 to 1968 By Joe Hawrylko In 1966, Lou Barbato was still just a kid fresh out of Eastside High School. In October of that same year, Uncle Sam came calling and he was drafted into the United States Army at the height of the Cold War, just as Vietnam was beginning to heat up. “I was drafted two months after I turned 19. I was just out of high school,” he said. Barbato was entering the military at a time of great turmoil. The conflict in Vietnam was quickly heating up, and tensions between the United States and Russia were rapidly escalating in the Cold War. As a young recruit, Barbato could potentially land at several locations around the world, or even a war zone. “You had no idea where they would put you,” he recalled. “I had a lot of classmates go to Vietnam. Quite a few of my classmates were killed.” The decision wouldn’t be revealed until well after training was completed. Barbato attended basic at Fort Stuart, Georgia. The United States had drafted so many recruits that month that Fort Stuart was one of several new locations opened up specifically to deal with the influx. Following that, Barbato was shipped out to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for advanced artillery 28 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Lou Barbato, the second generation owner of The Mountainside Inn, served in the Army from 1966 to 1968 and was on hand for the Baltimore Riots in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
training for one year. In 1968, he was transfered to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. “And then Martin Luther King was shot,” he recalled. The assassination on April 4, 1968 triggered riots in major cities
across the country, which resulted in National Guard and federal troops being deployed. “They told us we’re going to Washington and we came in through Andrews Air Force Base. We sat around for half a day
There are about 12,000 podiatrists in the United States, according to the Department of Labor, and Clifton podiatrist Thomas Graziano is one of only six who hold both a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
As a foot and ankle specialist, my main goal for all my patients is to find caring solutions that last a lifetime. I won't just treat the symptom; I'll strive to correct the problem... Permanently. When you combine effective treatments with my genuine concern for your well-being, that's a powerful combination. -Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM, FACFAS BUNIONS
Before
After
One patient returned to an active tennis schedule following surgery for severe bunions—on both feet. “The pain was so bad she couldn’t walk normally, wear decent looking shoes—much less play tennis,” said Dr. Graziano. “After the surgery, she’s playing tennis and regretting waiting so long to have the surgery done.” Clifton Merchant • May 2012
29
and then a bus pulled up and told us we’re going to Baltimore,” recalled Barbato. “I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, what was going to happen. We had seen it on the news, but when we got there I just saw the after effects.” By the time that Barbato had arrived, most of the actual looting and rioting had already taken place. “They destroyed quite a bit in Baltimore,” he recalled. “A lot of businesses couldn’t open. I do remember one deli cooking all this extra food and handing it out to people and soliders, giving them whatever they wanted. It was going to go bad otherwise.” “They really didn’t want us intervening... it was much more a show of force. We took our bayonets off our rifles. We carried 40 rounds of ammunition and they told us those better come back without one missing,” Barbato continued. “We slept in the Baltimore City Zoo for about a week in tents and then we patrolled the streets. There was a lot of looting, but about 90 percent of the people where were very happy to see us.” After a few weeks, Barbato returned to Fort Bragg and was later discharged. The second generation owner of The Mountainside Inn on Hazel St. looks back fondly on his time in the service. “I was a young punk kid going in and came back a man,” he said. “I had a totally different attitude about working and life itself. It wouldn’t hurt ot have every kid go in for a year to grow up, learn discipline and respect.” 30 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
f
m
f f
Schedule your surgery at Clifton Surgery Center. We are a three room state of the art, nationally accredited, physician owned facility. Smaller and more service oriented than hospitals, patients and their families benefit from the convenience and lower cost. PODIATRY Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD 1033 Clifton, Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-3344 Jeffrey Miller, DPM 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-365-2208 Eugene A. Batelli, DPM 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-365-2208 Zina Cappiello, DPM 886 Pompton Ave, Suite A-1 Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 973-857-1184 Glenn Haber, DPM 140 Grand Ave. Englewood, NJ 07631 201-569-0212
Call your physician about scheduling your surgery at Clifton Surgery Center. Matthew Welch, DPM 6506 Park Ave. West New York, NJ 07093 201-662-1122 Anas Khoury, DPM 235 Main Ave. Passaic, NJ 07066 973-473-6665
PAIN MANAGEMENT Ladislav Habina, MD 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-357-8228 Kazimierz Szczech, MD 1033 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-4400
John Mc Evoy, DPM 152 Lakeview Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-340-8970
Binod Sinha, MD 1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor Clifton, NJ 07013 973-777-5444
Kevin Healey, DPM 152 Lakeview Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-340-8970
Todd Koppel, MD 721 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-473-5752
ENDOSCOPY
UROLOGY
Piotr Huskowski, MD 1005 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013
Daniel Rice, MD 1001 Clifton, Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-779-7231
973-778-7882
CHIROPRACTIC Michael Gaccione, DC 26 Clinton St. Newark, NJ 07012 973-624-4000 Terry Mc Sweeney, DC 600 Mount Prospect Ave. Newark, NJ 07104 973-485-2332
ENT Stephen Abrams, MD 1070 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-773-9880
ORTHOPEDICS Kent Lerner, MD 17 Jauncey Ave. North Arlington, NJ 07031 201-991-9019
OPHTHALMOLOGY Charles Crowley, MD 1033 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-472-6405
GENERAL SURGERY Kevin Buckley, MD 1100 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-778-0100 Edwin Kane, MD 1100 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013 973-778-0100 Ramon Silen, MD 1117 Route 46 East, Suite 301 Clifton, NJ 07013 973-779-4242
Meet some of our Physicians...
Charles Crowley, MD
Dr. Daniel Rice, MD
Dr. Zina Cappiello
Dr. Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD
Ophthalmology
Urology
Podiatry
Podiatry Clifton Merchant • May 2012
31
Clifton
Veterans
Grunt now a Clifton Roadrunner Life & Still Running, USMC Matt Lalumia By Joe Hawrylko At the tail end of 1999, Matt Lalumia was facing the biggest challenge of his life: a battle with prostate cancer. Doctors determined that the best course of action was to remove the offending gland, which would take place on his 60th birthday on Dec. 13. But rather than be concerned with further complications, Lalumia, a former Marine and longtime member of the Clifton Roadrunner could only focus on one thing: getting back to running. “The doctor says before the surgery, ‘I want you to be able to walk a mile,’” he laughed. “A mile? What are you talking about? I just ran a marathon! And three months later I ran a half marathon and got second place.” Lalumia’s connection with running stretches back to August of 1978, after speaking with an old buddy from the Marine who became overweight and got himself into shape by jogging with coworkers. “The Roadrunners formed in 1978 and I picked it out of a newspaper,” he recalled. “The guys used to meet at Gus’ Tavern on Van Houten Ave.” Lalumia began going on runs with members and started to develop an interest in the sport. He became totally dedicated to it after starting to run the Cedar Grove Reservoir. “It was 2.3 miles around and it was ran by marathon runners,” said Lalumia, recalling how intimidating it was to begin that route with so many other talented runners. “By then, I was really hooked.” After three years of training and building up courage, Lalumia ran his first marathon in New York City in 1981, posting a respectable time of 3:36. His second race was in Montreal, after traveling to Canada with the Clifton Roadrunners. Lalumia then returned to the New York City Marathon in 1982, and posted his best time ever in his third marathon, completing in 3:03:45. That same year, he also ran the Boston Marathon, finishing with a 3:07. 32 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Lalumia after completing the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon. He placed first in the 70 to 74 age bracket.
In total, Lalumia has participated in 29 marathons, including 14 at the Wineglass Marathon in Finger Lakes, NY. He also participated in the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996. The Cliftonite has also ran four Marine Corps Marathons in remembrance of his time in the military. Lalumia, who served from 1958 to 1962, was trained in aviation electronics and spent time overseas at an airbase in Japan during the height of the Cold War. In 1960, he participated in Operation Blue Star, a top secret mission to build an air base in Formosa (Taiwan). After returning home, he was assigned to
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
33
Virginia Beach and was discharged in 1962 as a corporal. Lalumia’s best finish in the Marine Corps Marathon was in 2010, when he earned first place in the 70 to 74 age bracket. “There was 32 people in that group and I was the only one to break four hours,” he said. Lalumia also placed in the top 4000. The 72 year old currently runs three times a week, for a total between 20 and 25 miles. When preparing for a marathon, Lalumia spends three months running 30 to 40 miles a week. Lalumia is still active with the Clifton Roadrunners, and competes with the senior team, which runs races across the United States. In 2011, the group participated in four races, winning three and placing second in another while scoring more points than any other 70s team. The squad came in first in the NJ Grand Prix and first in the National Grand Prix. In addition to running with the Club, Lalumia assists in putting together the Roadrunner newsletter,
34 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
which he uses as a platform to talk about his battle with prostate caner, and to advocate regular checkups. “After one of the Wineglass Marathons (Oct. 1999), I was 59 and ran 3:18—one of my fastest times and medaled,” he recalled. “You think you’re indestructible.” However, a few days after the race, Lalumia’s wife, Vivian, convinced him to go for his regular check up, and doctors soon discovered that he had prostate cancer. After a surprise party the night before, Lalumia went under the knife on his birthday on Dec. 13, 1999. Within weeks, he slowly began walking around the blocks before progressing to his old runs. Three months later, Lalumia ran a half marathon. “You’ve got to keep a positive mindset,” he said. Following recovery, Lalumia became an advocate for early detection of prostate cancer. “I put in things in the Road Runner newsletter about getting tested all the time. Two people had it and survived,” he said. “I’m very proud to talk to people and that I saved some lives.”
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
35
Clifton
Veterans
A Life of Service Tony Latona, Firefighter, Air Force Vet, Guardsman By Joe Hawrylko Tony Latona’s decision to join the Air Force after graduating Clifton High School in 1992 has been prosperous. It led him to firefighting, the job that he’s always loved, and he’s spent 20 years in the military, both as an active Air Force recruit, and a lengthy career in the New York National Guard. “I knew that spring before I graduated that I was going through the motions and talking to a recruiter,” said Latona. The selling point for him was realizing that the Air Force had firefighter jobs. “For me, it came down to I want to be a fireman and that as kind of the reason. I don’t have a military family or anything like that. Some friends went off to college and I went off to Air Force boot camp.” The Cliftonite went to boot in San Antonio, Texas, and then to Illinois for the fire academy before being assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Latona spent three years in Europe, and went on several deployments to Rwanda, Uganda and Spain while on active duty. “You’re still armed, but you did humanitarian work, that kind of thing,” he said. “I told people it’s like being a combat firefighter.” 36 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Latona almost ended up in Bosnia, but plans changed and he ended up in Rwanda in 1994, where a devastating genocide had taken place. “It was still going on when I got there. Days before we got there, the Canadians took over the air traffic control tower,” he recalled. “You could still see the hallways all bloodied up. They were telling us when we got there that all the people inside got hacked up.” Latona spent four months in Rwanda, and then spent one year in Florida at Herbert Field, just outside of Panama City before being discharged in 1996. “It totally changes your perspective on life, just those four years of growing up,” he said. “The responsibility that was put on you at such a young age... you kind of grow up faster than the average 18 to 21 year old. The same thing, going to Rwanda, that experience, with no food, no running water, no hot showers, just changed your life perspective. You realize how lucky we are, how good we have it.” After returning home to Clifton, Latona began preparing for the civil service exams. However, still feeling that he had more to give to his country, the Cliftonite joined the 105th Stewart Air National Guard (NY) in 1997.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
37
“That was that system, and meant kind of middle that Latona would be ground between heading to a warzone still being in the near future. involved in the “The days of a service, but being weekend a month, back home, clostwo weeks a sumer er to family,” are long gone,” he e x p l a i n e d said. “9/11 changed Latona. In the all that.” guard, he went Previously, they on deployments would only be used to in Kuwait and fill bases while active Saudia Arabia in duty forces were out. 2000. “It was Since 9/11, still the Saddam Guardsmen are days,” he said. trained alongside “They’d just kind active duty members, of throw a couple and are expected to bombs every many of the same once in a while, duties in a warzone. Top right of this photo is Latona in Iraq in 2005. He is pictured with and then he’d That training was other members of the 105th Stewart Air National Guard out of New put men on the beneficial when he York. Latona recalled how the photographer’s camera, which was set border.” was deployed to Iraq to New York time, coincidently had a timestamp of 9:11. In February in May of 2005, 2001, Latona was hired by the Clifton Fire spending Memorial Day in country. Department. That same year, he would be with the “I guess I was around a while by then. It’s different. CFD at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. By the time I went to Iraq, I had 14 years of deployThat day, and the war with Iraq and Afghanistan that ment experience,” said Latona, now a Master Sergeant. followed, completely changed the Guard’s deployment “You can see the difference compared with the 18 year
Delicious Pirogies just like Mom used to make! Varieties Come to The Famous & Original (from Lexington Ave)...
HOMEMADE PIROGI
M-F 8 - 6 Sat 10 - 4 1295 Main Ave • Downtown Clifton Across from DeLuxe Cleaners
973.340.0340
WWW.HOMEMADEPIROGI.COM
• Potatoes & Cheese • Potato • Sauerkraut • Pot Cheese • Mushroom • Pot Cheese & Potato • Broccoli • Spinach • Pizza • Apple • Prune • Cabbage • Apricot & Cheese • Broccoli & Spinach
NEW! Great for Parties... Hot, Homemade Empanadas! 38 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
old kid who joined the Guard and went away.” “Being a firefighter, obviously you’re trained. You’re used to dealing with stress and being in those types of environments that make other people nervous,” he continued. “You tend to be more cool, calm and collected. An open wound would freak out one person, but for a firefighter, you’ve dealt with a lot of that or worse.” Latona said one of the most stressful things about deployment is preparing to away for as long as a year. “It’s a lot of prep time, getting your finances in order... if you have kids, getting child care,” he said. “It’s a big responsibility... just time consuming. I’ve got to think of everything that’s going to happen in my life the next six to twelve months and take care of it in two weeks before I leave.” Once he landed in Iraq, Latona focused on the task at hand, which he said was easy considering the circumstances. “Living so close to New York City, being involved with 9/11... we went with the Clifton Fire Department to Ground Zero,” he recalled. “To be in Iraq, you see a difference between a New York or New Jersey military person serving. It was more personal for us because we all lost friends, families and neighbors in 9/11.” “It changes your perspective in the sense of the best analogy I use is when you turn on the news at home and all you see on the news for half an hour is all the worst things that happened in New Jersey. Meanwhile, all these good things happen,” he said. “It was almost
the same thing over there with the whole media thing. There’s so many positive things going on.” While he described the overall experience as positive, Latona was happy to return home in October of 2005. “I remember that first day, mentally saying to myself, wow, yesterday I was in the middle of Iraq and here I am, 48 hours later and I’m sitting in front of my house,” he recalled. “The Army and the Marines, their adjustment is night and day. We’re more second line defense, closer to the base. We’re not going down town, seeing street to street combat for the most part.” In Clifton, Latona is extremely active in veteran affairs, specifically the Knights of Columbus Tank Pull, which is on June 24 at Eddie Mayo Field on Clifton Ave. “Clifton is very pro-veteran... There are a lot of things in Clifton that are supportive of veterans and the military, and I try to stay involved. The first two years we did it, we raised $250,000 for Wounded Warriors,” added Latona. “We went from about 10 teams the first year to 20 teams the second year. There’s going to be over 30 teams this year.” Latona, who marks his 20th year in the military in 2012, looks back fondly on his experiences in the Air Force and Guard. “For me, I enjoy it. You’re helping people, you’re going places and you’re making a difference,” said Latona. “It’s what I always wanted to do and I get to continue to do that so I plan on sticking around for a while.”
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
39
Clifton
Veterans
Mark Scarpa, US Army Served as a MP in South Korea By Joe Hawrylko basic and then training to After graduating from become a military police Clifton High School in officer. On July 13, 2009, 2008, Mark Scarpa tried he was shipped out to his hand at college, but Seoul, Korea, where he after deciding it wasn’t was attached to the 142nd for him, he began looking Military Police Company, for new opportunities and 94th Military Police found a calling in the Battalion. Army. “Over there, military “I went to college police were like regular maybe two months. I cops,” explained Scarpa, didn’t really like it, it who added that he picked wasn’t for me,” he said. up a few Korean phrases “I wanted to go do somealong the way. “We work thing else and wound up the roads, drive around joining the Army. I was and respond to calls. in ROTC for three years We worked with the and I always had an interKorean Police and est in it. After seeing Korean Army and I what college was all learned a lot.” about, I wanted to do “When North something else with my Korea sunk that life.” South Korean ship, Enlisting was somethey recalled all of thing that Scarpa had us and we had to always considered due to check all of our gear his family’s history. Cliftonite Mark Scarpa, a 2008 CHS grad, was stationed in South Korea while serving in and all this craziness. It “A lot of my family has the Army. was pretty wild,” he been in the military. I just added. wanted to serve and feel Scarpa said his time in Korea gave him a more like I did my part,” he said. “My mother, Monika worldly perspective on life. Skidmore, did operations and intelligence in Germany. “I can’t even compare it to anything else. I was 18 My uncle, Eric Hollinger, he was an MP too. My step years old, just pretty much out of high school with a litdad is a cop in Clifton and that’s why I wanted to be a tle bit of college,” he said. “And I was in a foreign MP. My grandpa, Frank Hollinger, he was in the country for the first time ever, and in the military. It was infantry around the time of Korea but didn’t go.” an incredible experience.” Scarpa shipped out to basic in January 2009 at Fort Scarpa returned from Korea in July 2010, and Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he spent six months in 40 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
NBA, NHL Playoffs Satellite TV 60 Inch HD TV plus 8 more Tubes!
Burgers to Pirogies & more! 50¢ Wings $1 Domestic Drafts and More!
f
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
41
Looking For Allwood Bicycles?
We’ve Moved & It’s Now...
8 Franklin Pl., Rutherford • 201-636-2355
www.TheBikePath.biz
42 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
was sent to Ft. Drum, New York, where he was attached to the 10th Mountain Division, 563rd Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion. “It wasn’t so much regular police stuff, but working at the company, training to deploy to go to Afghanistan,” said Scarpa. “We maintained our equipment, we were in the field a lot, going to ranges and shooting.” The Cliftonite was discharged on Feb. 24, 2012, with the rank of specialist. He is currently employed as a mechanic at Atlantic Forklift of Clifton. “Now that I’m out of the military, I look back and there are some times that I miss it, and sometimes I go wow, it’s really good to be out,” said Scarpa. “But overall I feel I learned a lot and really feel that it gave me a good work ethic and made me really disciplined.” “I used to be a really messy person and now instead I’m always cleaning stuff, always trying to tidy up,” he said. “I can’t really explain it. It’s a sense of urgency to get as much done as fast as possible. I’ve only been out for a little while but I’m always hustling and bustling.”
You’ll Love Shopping Here for Mother’s Day!
Clifton Exchange Florist Fresh Bouquets to go
Largo House Massage • Nails • Body Treatment
Shereeds Men’s & Women’s Clothing & Accessories
ACME (973) 594-0590 AC Moore (973) 470-8885 Antonio’s Hair Stylist (973) 472-1011 Avant Garde Salon (973) 778-0557 Bertelli’s Liquors (973) 779-0199 Chiropractic Center at Styertowne (973) 777-6995 Cleaners 2000 (973) 614-1400 F.Y.E. (973) 778-8759 Corbo Jewelers (973) 777-1635 Crystal Optics (973) 594-0020 CVS Pharmacy (973) 778-7630 Dollar Tree (973) 249-7530 Dress Barn (973) 249-0233 Dunkin Donuts & Baskin Robbins (973) 473-9631 Exchange Florist (973) 594-0700 Footnotes Bookstore (973) 779-6122 GNC (973) 779-1500 Kid City (973) 614-1111 Kim’s Nail Salon (973) 471-8118 Largo House Nail & Spa (973) 777-9784 Lucille Roberts (973) 249-2966 Moda Shoes & Co. (973) 777-4700 Modells (973) 779-5253 Muscle Maker Grill (862) 899-7111 The Season’s Fine Chinese Cuisine (973) 777-8073 Radio Shack (973) 777-7931 Shereeds Ladies & Mens Clothing (973) 773-1673 Styertowne Bakery (973) 777-6193 Subway (973) 685-9992 Taste of Tuscany (973) 916-0700 US Post Office (973) 473-4946 Valley National Bank (973) 777-6283
Offices at Styertowne
Corbo Jewelers Gold • Silver • Precious Metals & Gems
• Heat & A/C • Electric • Daily Janitorial • Free Parking • 24 Hour Access • Elevator
Available 700 Sq. Feet & Up: Your monthly lease in our office suites on the 2nd floor include the amenities at the right plus easy access to Route 3 and Express Bus Service to NYC. On the ground floor, you are steps from great restaurants, shopping, banking and the Post Office. Call Jamie Wohr: 973-591-5222
x 16
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
43
Clifton
Veterans
Marriage and the Navy Military Life Suits Young Clifton Couple By Carol Leonard In looking back, she also realized how much his As a high school student, Diana (Haring) Beagin envifriends looked up to him and that may have been another sioned herself becoming a physical therapist. Six years factor that drew her to him. After graduation in 2006, the later, the 24 year-old Clifton native is a Navy wife statwo high school sweethearts went to different tioned in Virginia Beach, experiencing both the joys colleges, Diana to Ramapo College, where she and challenges of military life. majored in biology, and Kevin to William Her husband, Kevin Beagin, who was Paterson University to study criminal justice. also raised in Clifton, is an aviation electriNeither completed a degree. cian deployed aboard the USS Enterprise Kevin had his sights set on becoming a fire somewhere in the Middle East, where he fighter, so after a year-and-a-half at WPU, he works on Super Hornet jet fighters. left school and decided to take For security reasons, the Navy doesthe fire fighter test. He scored n’t disclose the destination of its ships, well enough to be placed on even to spouses. “I have an idea the recruitment list for a numwhere they were going, but I ber of towns, including don’t know exactly where Clifton. In the meantime, he he is,” Beagin said. “That’s worked at several part-time the difficult part.” jobs, hoping that someWhile growing up, the thing would come through couple lived on opposite for him. sides of town, Diana near Diana continued on in Corrado’s market, where school for another semester, she attended School 4, but finally realized that her and Kevin, also 24, in the dream of becoming a Allwood area, where he physical therapist wasn’t was enrolled at St. Clare’s for her. “I hated school School. and it just wasn’t what I She went on to wanted,” she said. Christopher Columbus After working for a Middle School and while at The Clifton Little Clifton High School, School, Diana decided to while he attended St. enroll at The Institute for Mary’s High School in Culinary Education in New Rutherford. They met Homecoming for Diana and Kevin Beagin on the docks in York City. through mutual friends Norfalk after his returning from an 8 month deployment. Preparing food was during the summer something that she had been doing for a long time. Her before their junior year and have been together ever since. parents have owned Mary Ann’s Deli across from the Beagin said she was attracted to her then future husBoard of Education building on Clifton Ave. for over 30 band because of his easy-going, fun-loving ways. “He years, and she would often help out in the store. always made me want to be around him,” she said. 44 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“I really enjoyed it and realized it was something that I could be happy doing,” she said. While Diana was making plans to become a pastry chef, Kevin couldn’t wait any longer for a fire fighter position to open up for him, so, at age 21, he joined the Navy. “The military was always in his head,” Beagin said. “He had been talking to recruiters starting in his senior year of high school. Since he couldn’t attain what he wanted, he decided to sign up.” Kevin was sent to Panama City, Florida, where he originally was in training for a bomb squad position. A medical problem that he experienced, however, disqualified him for that type of work, so he was transferred into the area of aviation electronics. Diana completed her nine-month culinary school program and landed a job at the Union Square Café in the city, where she had done her internship.
The couple became engaged and was planning a traditional wedding, when they up and eloped. “We decided that a big wedding just wasn’t for us,” Beagin said. They went all alone to the courthouse in Panama City and were married by a judge. “We called some friends afterwards and met them at TGI Fridays for a beer to celebrate,” she said. While Beagin’s parents were somewhat disappointed that they missed the wedding, they were okay with the couple’s decision. “They love Kevin, they always have,” she said. Following his stint in Panama City, Kevin was sent to Pensacola for five months. “It was right after the oil spill,” Beagin said. “It was so sad to watch the cleanup. There was oil all over the beach.” A year-and-a-half ago, the couple was transferred again to their current home in Virginia Beach. Kevin was sent out on his first deployment last
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
45
April. Fortunately, it was only for three months and he returned in July. “It was actually a six month deployment for the ship, but Kevin was still in training for the first three months, so he only had to go out for the last three months,” Beagin explained. In March, Kevin shipped out again, this time for at least seven to nine months. Diana isn’t sure just when he will be returning. “We literally find out only about three days before they come back,” she said. Correspondence with the sailors is by e-mail only and can be sporadic. There are no personal computers on board, only the limited number of ship’s computers, so the crew must share their use. And, the computers don’t have access to Skype or any other video conferencing programs, so Diana will not get to see Kevin at all until he returns home. Sometimes she doesn’t hear from him for several weeks at a time. “That can be tough,” she said. “They work long days and I know that he’s working his butt off, so I just have to deal with it. I know that, unless someone comes knocking on my door, he’s fine.” Aside from missing her husband, one of Diana’s
46 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
biggest challenges has been trying to find employment. “A lot of places just don’t want to hire military spouses because they know that we may not be here that long,” she said. With the summer season coming soon, she is hoping that some opportunities will develop in the resort area, even if it’s just temporary. She said that she is getting by okay on Kevin’s modest salary and housing allowance. “I know I need to watch what I spend, but my mother taught me to be frugal,” she said. “Kevin is, too, so we make it work.” Diana’s family wishes that she would come home to live while Kevin is deployed, but she declined the offer. “My life is here,” she said. “We have an apartment and friends, and our two dogs who keep me company. I don’t want to pick up my life every time he goes away.” Diana said that she has a lot of military family acquaintances and a small circle of good friends. The husband of her best friend, Jessie, is also away on the same ship as Kevin. “We’re always there for each other,” she said. “It’s nice to know that if I need to talk to someone at 11 o’clock at night I can call her and I don’t need to explain why.”
680 Rt. 3 West
973-471-7717 Diana often baby sits for Jessie’s two-year-old and the children of her other friends. “We’re the only ones of our friends who don’t have kids yet,” she said. Another challenge that Diana and other military spouses face is getting to know their husband or wife again when they return home from deployment. “It’s like meeting someone all over again,” she said. “Things change and people change over the time you’re apart.” When Kevin came home after his first deployment, Diana noticed that there were little things that would bother her. “He was always shoveling food in his mouth because he was so used to having to eat so fast,” she said. “I had to tell him to slow down and relax, and eat like a normal person.” When Kevin returns from his latest deployment, the couple will have another decision to discuss. Kevin’s contract with the Navy is up in July 2013, so he will have to decide if he wants to re-enlist. “It’s not automatic that you get back in,” Beagin said. “Re-enlistment is competitive. They evaluate you as a sailor and take into consideration if you’ve been advancing in your job. Right now, it’s up in the air.” She explained that Kevin would like to change jobs if he stays in the Navy, but he is not sure yet what else he would like to do. Right now he is trying to learn Russian so he can study cryptology, the science of secure communications. Beagin is open to the possibility of raising children as a military family if Kevin re-enlists in the Navy. “It’s a tough life,” she said, “but they (military kids) learn so much more. They learn to stand up for themselves, be independent and cope with their feelings.” As the U.S. involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winds down, Beagin hopes that people will remember that our military men and women will still be out there serving their country. “Most people don’t know anyone in the military,” she said. “They need to be aware that not everyone in the military is in a combat role.” Beagin said she has no regrets of the choices that she and Kevin made to get married so young and get involved in a military life. “We’ve been together for six years and we’re kind of like old souls,” she said. “We felt that we were ready for marriage and the lifestyle we chose. We’ve made some sacrifices, but it’s our life. We enjoy it and we love each other.”
www.ihop.com enter from Allwood Rd.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
47
Clifton
Veterans
Guard, Recently Deployed Oscar Buonafina Leaves Behind Family & Business By Joe Hawrylko US Army Reserve Sergeant Oscar Buonafina knows what it’s like to be called to active duty, having been deployed for a year long tour in Iraq in 2009. But the 32 year old has once again leaving behind his family, business, Buonafina Plumbing and heating, and civilian life, this time for a 10 month deployment to Afghanistan. In the beginning of March, Buonafina got the call from a superior about going on another tour, and two weeks later, he was packing his bags on March 15, as his wife, Jackie, and three children, sat and watched. After spending that day together, Jackie and her husband drove to JFK Airport on March 16, headed for Fort Benning, Georgia. Buonafina was then sent to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, where he will assist the 310th Military Police Battalion. While her husband is away, Jackie will remain busy managing the Hugs from Home Foundation, a non-profit which she founded in 2009 during Oscar’s deployment. The group raises funds to send care packages to soldiers overseas. The Hugs from Home Foundation held a fundraiser at the Harp ‘n Bard pub on Lakeview Ave. on April 27. For more information about the Foundation, call Jackie Buonafina at her store, Just Beautiful Boutique, at 973-340-0680. Jackie and Oscar Buonafina in a recent photograph.
48 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
49
Clifton
Veterans
Bill Van Eck on the Front Lines His Big Guns Had A Range of Over 20 Miles By Tom Hawrylko As a member of the C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery in the fall of 1965, Bill Van Eck, shown at right, fired some of the biggest guns in Vietnam. But one of his most memorable days “in country” occurred when he and his comrades took up small arms to save the life of an officer caught in an ambush sometime during January 1966. “I was in the command post talking to the company clerk, who was a buddy of mine,” he said. “A sergeant ran in, all upset, telling us that he needed help. His outfit had been ambushed up the road and the infantry commander, Captain Fritz, had been thrown out of his jeep and knocked unconscious.” Van Eck and about 15 others jumped into an armored personal carrier and raced to the scene. While he and others took up defensive positions to give covering fire, the officer was pulled to safety. “I never found out if he survived or not,” said Van Eck. In terms of his artillery experiences, Van Eck said his unit was the first to shoot the 36-foot barrel, 175mm artillery guns, which had a range of over 20 miles. Working so close to the big guns of Vietnam, which dispersed more than 100 pounds of explosives per round, eventually resulted in Van Eck being classified as legally deaf in both ears. 50 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Back in ‘Nam, Bill Van Eck circa 1965 and inset today.
“They’re dinosaurs now. You’ll find them in museums,” said Van Eck, who graduated Passaic High School in 1961. After being discharged, Van Eck worked as a chemical operator at the Giuvadan plant and moved to Clifton in 1966. He was later employed by the head custodian at the West Essex Regional High School until retiring in 2009. The 70 year old is married to his wife,
Mary, and has two kids and two grandkids. These days, he’s active in local veterans affairs as a member of American Legion 347 and VFW 6487. Van Eck, who lives in Lakeview, has also been active with the Avenue of Flags for seven years, where he handles daily maintenance and works along side John Biegel. “He’ll be the boss there until he dies,” laughed Van Eck.
John Beigel, USMC Korean Vet, Avenue of Flags Chair John Biegel Jr., was an active member of the Marine Corps from 1952 to 1955, but his affiliation with the military goes well beyond three years. There are few that are more involved in local veteran affairs than Biegel, who was stationed in Japan at Atsugi Naval Air Base with the 1st Marine Air Wing and worked as an MP and cook. “I’ve been serving for over 50 years now,” he said. Biegel, who had a 30 year career at Athenia Steel, has been a commander at three posts: the Athenia Veterans, American Legion Post 8, and currently VFW 6487. He was also a vice commander in the New Jersey American Legion, and also served on the district executive committee for three years. Biegel has been affiliated with the local Veterans Parades since 1989. The Cliftonite is also the chair of the Avenue of Flags, and is coordinating a ceremony for the 10 year anniversary for the program this fall. “I just enjoy what I do, period,” said Biegel, who has two children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
51
Clifton
Veterans
Canadian Volunteer Marine Phil Sharkey Went South During ‘Nam By Joe Hawrylko In 1963, most people crossing the American-Canadian border were heading north to avoid the draft. Phil Sharkey, then 17 years old, was doing just the opposite: leaving behind his family and their farm to come to the United States, knowing full well that it meant he would be drafted. “I was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, about 10 miles from the American border of Maine,” he recalled. “I came to Connecticut to live with my brother for a while. I couldn’t get a job because I was underage. Then I came down to New Jersey, where my uncle lived. He was also a Canadian who served in the American Army, along with his brother, in WWII.” “When I crossed the border, you had to sign for the draft. You were going to be drafted no matter what,” said Sharkey, who came over on May 5, 1963. “I spent two years working as a longshoreman and then when I became 19, that was the time you had to make a decision.” Rather than wait for his number to be called, Sharkey decided to join the Marines and was shipped out to Parris Island on April 15, 1965. After 16 weeks of training, he was sent to Camp Lejeune for a month. Sharkey was then shipped to Camp Pendleton, where he was attached to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, and sent to Vietnam in October of 1965. 52 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Phil Sharkey, a native of Canada, came to the US in 1963 and served in Vietnam with the Marines.
“Half of the 3rd Marines went by ship, the other half went by plane,” he said. “I went by plane. The other guys went to Hawaii. That’s the base of the 3rd Marines.” Sharkey ultimately ended up at Da Nang Air Base. “There was no real thoughts til you got there and you landed and
smelt the place,” he said. “You open up the door and that nasty, sweaty sewage. Then I spent a week on the runway at Da Nang waiting to go to my company because my company already got there.” Once he was hooked up with his company, Sharkey was sent
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
53
Above are pictures of Sharkey while in Vietnam. At left is a photo of him at Parris Island in 1968, where he was serving as a rifle marksmen instructor.
out into the jungle. “From there, it was patrols, ambushes, living in the jungle, living with the bugs and the leeches, no showers, no nothing, for weeks on end,” he said. “We actually liked being out in the jungle rather than the back in the rear under the tents. You had more freedom up there.” In addition to patrols, another part of the routine was living in villages with locals for days or weeks at a time. 54 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
“You don’t know who you are protecting. It’s like Afghanistan now, they don’t appreciate you there,” he said. “Some villagers were good people, but sometimes you’d have Vietcongs among you too.” Sharkey recalled a time that people from his unit were playing basketball with villagers during the day, only to find those same individuals attempting to set up booby traps later on that night. “We always tried to not stay in the same place at any given time. Always move around,” said Sharkey. “Their tactics were to injure you, not to kill you. They would rather see you get injured just like in Iraq. They want to blow you up and send you home all screwed up to say ‘look what we can do.’” While the ambushes, booby traps and skirmishes took a toll mentally, the harsh and unpredictable weather and elements of Vietnam were also difficult to deal with. “When the monsoons came, that was the worst time. It rained for days and months and it would never get dry. You would see sunlight and then five minutes later, downpour. Then it clears up, dries out and rains again,” he said. “My legs were all rotted here down. There’s no
hair on my legs. You had constant leeches on your body, eating you. It was 130 degrees out, then it drops down in the night time and you’d be shivering and shaking with wet clothes on.” Though he primarily was on patrols, Sharkey did participate in larger skirmishes, including the Battle of Khe Sanh. He arrived there in October of 1966. “I went from Private 1st Class to Platoon Sgt. in Khe Sanh because they were in a rotation and needed someone to fill it,” he said. “We also ran patrols into Laos but we’re not supposed to say that. Everyone denies that, we weren’t there, but we were way up in there.” Sharkey returned to the US in 1967. “When I came back to California and landed at Camp Pendleton, they told us to take off our uniforms, wear civilian clothes, get on a plane, shut up and go home,” said Sharkey. “When I landed at JFK, my uncle picked me up and started yelling at me, ‘Where is your uniform?’ He was angry because he was in WWII.” Sharkey was then sent to Parris Island, where he served as a rifle marksmen instructor for 18 months. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1968.
Sharkey returned to Fairlawn after the war, and became a United States Citizen in 1972. He worked as a longshoreman for a short time after his discharge before becoming a carpenter. Sharkey moved to Clifton 30 years ago, and locals might recognize him as the former owner of Fatso’s Bar, which was located on Van Houten Ave., near Major St. Sharkey, who is active in the Athenia Veterans, looks back on his service time fondly. “I look at it as a positive. I liked the camaraderie. I’m glad I did it, but there are certain things... I think the government should take care of us in a better way,” he said. “I swear I have agent orange. My body has all sorts of scales and scabs. When I came back, I had worms in my stomach. The first 15 or 20 years, I always had running sores all over my body and even had my face stripped because I had sores on the side of my face.” “But the guys... you’re all so clicked together in the Marines. Nobody gets left behind. You’re dead, they drag you along with them,” Sharkey added. “You know the guy beside you is going to take care of you. Whether you’re shot, you’re dead, you’re coming back with them.”
WEE CARE C HILD CARE CENTER
Register Now! Summer Camp & Kindergarten Give Us A Call Today!
Accepting Children from Birth to Age 12
0 1 S
% OFF
IBLING
DISCOUNT 1170
• Open 7 am to 6 pm • Weekly Chapel • 16 Teachers & Aides — Many here over 20 years!
• After-School Pick-Up at School 5 • When public schools are closed, we’re open!
Jennifer Henkel, Director • First Presbyterian Church 303 Maplewood Avenue, Clifton • 973.523.7704 Clifton Merchant • May 2012
55
Clifton
Veterans
Traveling the World Nick Benigno served in the Air Force By Joe Hawrylko Enlisting in the United States Military had always been a goal for Nick Benigno. However, the 2003 graduate of Clifton High School, waited more than three years before joining up, and today, he’s much happier for the experience.. “I wanted to do it right out of high school,” he said. “I tried college first and after ay ear or two it just wasn’t something I was into. I was working for a while too and that didn’t work out either. I just said to myself, let me try the service, and I finally got to do what I’ve always wanted to do.” After weighing his options in the recruitment office, Benigno decided on the Air Force. “I always liked air planes,” he said. “So I trained to be an aircraft mechanic. I was always good with my hands, always tinkering with cars and stuff, so I figured why not be a mechanic.” In March 2006, Benigno was shipped out to San Antonio, Texas for training. He would then be stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, from July 2006 to Feb. 2009 as a part of the 7th Component Maintenance Squadron with Texas. Later that year, he was transfered to Okinawa, Japan, and assigned to the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron. “I really love to travel. The travel in the Air Force was so great. Every six months, I was somewhere 56 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Nick Benigno in Iraq and at right with his bride to be, Michele.
new,” he said. “Hawaii, the Philipines, Korea, Japan, Ireland, Germany... mostly the travel that I enjoy. You get to experience different cultures. I just enjoyed doing what I wanted to do when I was single and running around.” In 2009, Benigno volunteered for duty in Iraq, staying in the country from July to October. “In Iraq, that wasn’t my primary career field. It was a volunteer thing. I wanted the experience and I just jumped in head first as soon as they offered it,” he said. “I was
basically like a security guard. We did base protection and escorted third party nationals.” “It was still pretty bad in 2009. Every day we had rocket attacks, gun fire and everything else,” continued Benigno. “My parents supported me when I wanted to sign up, but were kind of hesitant when I went to Iraq... but I don’t think that anyones parents would have wanted their kid to go there.” The Cliftonite was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant
Flowers, Cards, Cakes & Cupcakes... we have all you’ll need for
Mother’s Day, May 13!
• Fresh Flower Arrangements • Silk Flower Arrangements • Table Floral Arrangements • Custom Arrangements
• Cut Flowers • Balloon Boquets • Outdoor Plants • Indoor Plants • Fresh Flowers • Roses & more
plus... • Cards • Cakes • Candies • Pastries
Paulison Avenue ShopRite 503 Paulison Ave., 973-471-0868 7 am to Midnight • 7 Days A Week
Cuellar Family Markets Clifton Merchant • May 2012
57
in May 2011, and currently works at BASF as an R&D technician. Benigno is once again living in Clifton, but is currently searching for a home with his fiance, Michele. The two were engaged this February and will be married next year.
“I did my time and got out. I’m still a reservist for two years,” he added, and then noted of his co-workers at his workplace: “Everyone here has been real supportive. People find out that I’m a vet and immediately say thank you. It’s a good feeling that people appreciate our service. People around here are really great.”
Established 1914
Once You Shop Meltzer, You’ll Go Nowhere Else Sir!
It’s May! Bass are Biting!
Feel Safe, Buy Mace! At home or when hiking, starting at $9.99 Triple Action • Pepper Guard For electric motors we now stock
Bring us your
Meltzer’s now offers LIVE BAIT! • Shiners • Fatheads • Worms
Empty Fishing Spools...
we’ll fill them with your Line of Choice!
Are You Ready
for Fishing Season? Knowledgeable Staff Real Fishermen—Free Advice
Stack-On Strong Box Personal Safes are Constructed of Solid Steel, with Pry Resistant Plate Steel Doors, Steel Live Action Locking Bolts and Concealed Hinges to Provide Greater Security. Safes have pre-drilled holes for mounting to the floor or a shelf, fastening hardware is included.
Everything Your Outdoorsperson Needs & Wants! • Worms • Waders/Hip Boots • Salmon Eggs • Rainwear • Rods & Reels • Pocket Knives • Lures & Accessories • Beginners to Pros! • Tackle Boxes • Freshwater & Salt • Agent for NJ State fighing & hunting licenses
Great Selection of New & Used Guns, Ammo, Safes 58 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
From left, Knights of Columbus members Ray Lill, Chair John Hughes, Carlos Roco and Tony Latona.
he Knights of Columbus 0645 Tank Pull is once again right around the corner. On June 24, teams of up to 20 individuals will compete will do their best to haul an 80,000 pound vehicle for charity. The event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm at Oak Ridge Park on Clifton Ave. The Knights will donate all funds to charity. In the first two years, $250,000 was raised, with $175,000 going directly to the Wounded Warrior Project. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $75.
T
Spaces are still open for team registration. Approximately 30 squads will be competing on June 24. In addition to the main event, there will be a large classic car show, games food, blow up rides, face painting and a military jiffy team demonstration. Kayla’s Krew, a local group from Clifton, will perform at half time. Closing ceremonies will be at 3 pm. To see how you can help out, call 973-600-3131, visit www.tankpullkofc.org, or look up Clifton Tank Pull on facebook.
Call Now! Season-Low Pricing on New Installs! Clifton Merchant • May 2012
59
Arts & Music The Clifton Community Band performs its Eleventh Annual Lollipops & Roses Concert on May 20 at 2 pm in the CHS Auditorium, Colfax Ave. Tickets are $7; children under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit the Clifton Education Foundation and Clifton Community Band. For tickets, call 973-777-1781 or go to CliftonBand@optonline.net. The Theater League of Clifton presents California Suite, the popular play written by the award-winning Neil Simon. Cast features Dave Arts, Peggy Cioce, Luis Encarnacion, Beth Margey, Susan McDonald, Danielle Petrucelli, Jack Pignatello, Chris Robertson, Geoff Waumans and Irene Yalicki. Performance are May 11, 12, 13 and May 18, 19, 20 at a new venue, the Theresa Aprea Theater, Scoles Ave., Clifton. Call 973-928-7668 or go to www.theaterleagueofclifton.com. The New Jersey State Opera presents Gioachino Rossini’s classic The Barber of Seville, fully staged with orchestra on June 1, 3, 8 and 10, at the Aprea Theater on Scoles Ave, which is in the former YW/YMCA. Tickets range from $45 to $60. Go to njstateopera.org or call 973-928-5650. The Annual Senior Citizen Art Exhibition is on June 1-22 at the Passaic County Senior Services Office, 930 Riverview Dr., Suite 200, Totowa. Artwork will be received from May 29 through May 31, from 9 am to 4 pm. There will be a reception and an awards ceremony on June 22 at 2 pm. For info, call 973-569-4060. 60 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Eugenia Gore’s Collage Going Green is among the pieces in the CAA Show.
The Clifton Association of Artists summer exhibit is Homage to Nature and will be held at the NJ Meadowlands Commission Flyway Gallery in Lyndhurst. The exhibit will run from June 4 through August 3. Open to all artists with work related to an environmental theme, two show ready paintings no larger than 28” by 28” may be entered. A non-member fee of $25
is required. Register by May 15. Delivery of art work will be 10 am to noon on June 3. A reception will be held on June 9, noon to 2 pm. Gallery viewing hours are from 8 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm weekends. on Saturday and Sunday. Annual CAA membership is $20 and offers privileges and vendor discounts. Call 973-773-9721 or carol@parallaxdesign.com.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
61
Arts & Music
St. Nick’s Jazz Night Celebrates Life of Bob Hrubec
On Friday June 1 at 8 pm Jazz Night at St. Nick’s Music Gallery will also be a music tribute to Bob Hrubec cherished member of St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church parish who passed away suddenly on March 24.
62 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Bob was 68 and a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who obtained a Masters degree and Ph.D. of Metallurgical Engineering at Rensselaer in 1971. He is survived by his wife Oksana and three sons, Michael, Robert and Andrew, as well as his siblings, Marion Hrubec, Barbara Byczkowski and Thomas Hrubec. Retired for just about three years, Bob upped his volunteer time at St. Nick’s. A long time Trustee, Bob was a pillar of the Ukrainian community, as hundreds of parishioners and friends attended his funeral services in testimony to his selflessness and dedication.
St. Nick’s Music Gallery is a new venue within the parish hall of St. Nicholas UCC, 212 President St. in Passaic. Performing on June 1 will be Yuri Turchyn’s Grupo Yuri and Askold Buk & Company. Turchyn’s music is a blend of Latin and World jazz styles that weave wonderful melodies. Askold Buk & Company play groove-oriented instrumental Rhythm & Blues and Jazz. Reserved tickets are $20. For info, call 973-778-9734 or go to stnicholasucc@gmail.com. Doors open at 7 pm. There will be food and refreshment for sale and there is free parking available on site.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
63
Business & Commerce
Weekly Meetings to Mix & Do Business Photos By Tom Hawrylko For employees and entrepreneurs interested in expanding their networking reach, it may pay to become a member of LeTip of Clifton. On April 25 at 7 am, the business organization held a breakfast mixer at Pizzeria Uno, Rt. 3. Some 45 business owners—from contractors and blue collar types to those in corporate suits—mixed it up. The purpose is to network, share leads, talk about their businesses and exchange business cards. LeTip was founded in 1978 and today has 525 chapters throughout North America. LeTip of Clifton members meet every Wednesday morning at the Allwood Diner to keep the network going. For info about the LeTip of Clifton and membership fees and info, visit www.letipofclifton.com. Top, from left: Derek Damiano, Techno Title and Dr. Christa M. D’Amato, Atlas Chiropractic & Rehab Center. Middle: Oylum Seker, The Provident Bank and Kim Randion, Castle Realty. Bottom: LeTip President Jay Stack, IGM Creative Group. Kimberley Keef Pisolkar, Achieve It, James DellaVecchia, Emerald Financial Resources, Sonia Giordano, DMD and Gregory Tarris, Aflac.
64 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
of Clifton Top left from left: Hugo X. Carvajal, Emerald Financial Resources and Rich Traupmann, R. Traupmann HVAV, Tzvi Mayfield, Information Technologies. Top right: Rolando Orguiera, RO's Electric Service, Inc, Guest, Joseph Ferrer, CPA, Marchionda & Ferrer, P.A. At left is Duncan Wheatley, Safari Telecom, Bill Carucci, Residential Home Mortgage Corporation and Kyle Siegfried, Paychex.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
65
Hope Church
Celebrating 100 Years of God’s Faithfulness
From left, Deacon David Webb, Deacon Daniel Morovan, Elders Peter Mierop, Pastor Eric Farrar, Deacon John Brown, Edler Attila Havassy and Edler Bong Bunagan. They are pictured in front of Hope Reformed Church, 308 Burgess Pl.
For many old timers in the community, when one mentions Hope Reformed Church, Pastor Ned Suffern comes to mind. The tall pastor with the booming voice served the community from March 1993 to April 2007 and was the most visible in a long line of strong leaders at the Dutch Reformed Church, which is located at the corners of Third St. and Burgess Pl. Suffern will return to celebrate Hope Reformed Church’s centennial celebration on June 2 when he will be the key note speaker at a luncheon at The Mountainside Inn from 1 to 5 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under. 66 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Then on June 3, there will be a service starting at 10:45 am, delivered by Reverend John Nyitray, Pastor of the church from 1986 to 1992. To participate in the celebration or to attend an event, call Jana Terpstrat 973-777-7571 or Celia Bunagan at 973-472-4935. The history of the Dutch Hill congregation dates back to January 7, 1912 when it began as the Holland Reformed Church of Clifton. Reverend A.J. Vanden Heuvel was the first Pastor and oversaw the purchasing of the current property on Dec. 12, 1914. The building was completed and dedicated on Feb. 15, 1915.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
67
Hope Church
From left, Rev. Paul B. Caley, Rev. A. J. Vanden Heuvel, Pastor John Nyitray and Pastor Edward Suffern.
On Dec. 8, 1925, with Reverend John Weibenga at the held of the parish, Holland Reformed Church completed payments on its mortgage and the paperwork was burned in a traditional ceremony. Growing with Clifton, the congregation saw numerous improvements. Repairs to the facility were made, and the pipe organ was purchased in 1936 for $1,150. The following year, new hymn books were purchased,
founder of e are the sons of the , a family R.F. Knapp Construction ed in Clifton owned business found the beginning, nearly 50 years ago. Since Siding prodwe have been using Alcoa ens-Corning. ucts as well as GAF and Ow ing, gutters, We specialize in roofing, sid e us a call and leaders and windows. Giv appointment to we will gladly set-up an and go over a discuss your job needs . complete written estimate
and in 1938, an adult bible class was organized. On April 17, 1940, the congregation celebrated the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the church building. Improvements continued with new windows, and a new church entrance and choir platform. In 1943, Rev. Gerard M. Van Pernis took a leave of absence to return to Holland and serve with the Dutch Marines. The Sunday School flew a service flag in his
1301
W
Brothers Don and Rich Knapp
• Roofing • Siding • Gutters & Leaders • Windows 68 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
We now do Gutter Cleaning
History of the Pastors A.J. Vanden Heuvel (January 1912 - June 1914), J. H.E. Te Grootenhuis (May 1915 - September 1919), John Weibenga (October 1920 - September 1926), P.A.J. Bouma (November 1926 – May 1931), Edward Van Farrowe (November 1932 - April 1934), Gerard M. Van Pernis, (February 1935 - September 1953), Clarence Werkema (June 1954 - February 1959), Paul B Caley (January 1960 - 1969), Patrick Vostello (1969 - 1974), Arnold Kress (1974 - 1978), Steve Sickler (1978 - 1984), John Nyitray (1986 - 1992), Edward Suffern (March 1993 April 2007), Steve Woltres (July 2007 - January 2010), Pastor Eric Farrar (September 2010 - present). honor, and the parish later observed V-E Day at the end of the war. In 1950, the congregation changed its name, adopting the title of Hope Reformed Church. Later on in the decade, the Clifton parish began holding Spanish services in 1957, decades before the trend of other parishes doing the same. Hope Reformed Church celebrated 50 years with a three day ceremony from May 6 to 8 in 1962. Reverend Gerard Van Pernis and Dr. Marion DeVelder coordinated the activities. The parish initiated the Miracle Sunday Project on April 13, 1980, with the goal of raising $15,000 for needed repairs. A total of $16,000 was donated, and the following year
the church kitchen was renovated. Later on that decade, Hope Reformed celebrated 75 years from June 5 to 7 in 1987.
In March, 1993, Hope Church welcomed Rev. Edward Suffern. Known as Ned to the parishioners, Suffern became a popular and wellliked face of the community Starting in 1994, he oversaw the Rebuilding Hope campaign to solicit donations for a new roof, sidewalks, exterior painting, sound system and air conditioning. Ned left in 2007 and was replaced by Rev. Steve Wolters, who served for three years. Pastor Eric Farrar came on in September 2010 and has been at the helm of Hope Reformed Church ever since.
Have Clifton Merchant Mailed. $27/YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Mailed via first class to your home.
Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________State:____________________________________ Zip:______________________Phone:_____________________________________________ Email:________________________________________________________________________ PLEASE MAKE CHECKS TO TOMAHAWK PROMOTIONS, 1288 MAIN AVE., CLIFTON, NJ 07011 Clifton Merchant • May 2012
69
Industrial Education
An out of use Clifton Police cruiser is the focus of training at CHS with Rich Alberghini at the helm.
Enthusiastic New Teacher & a Focus on the Practical Arts About six years ago, after experiencing a There’s a new man in charge of the Clifton series of what he called life changing High School auto shop this year, and he is events, Alberghini made another career giving his students a whole new permove back into education. spective on what it means to take His preference was to teach auto good care of their cars. shop again, but the number of job Rich Alberghini came to Clifton in openings in the subject is very limSeptember with 30 years of experiited. Only a handful of public school ence running an auto repair and used districts in the state still offer the procar sales business. The Jersey City Story & Photos by gram, so he accepted a position teachnative is a graduate of what was then Carol Leonard ing technology in a middle school in Montclair State College, where he received South Jersey. a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education. Although he enjoyed teaching classes in electricity, He went on to teach auto shop classes for four years at drafting and aeronautics, Alberghini continued to keep Ferris High School in Jersey City before deciding to his eyes open for an auto shop position. Meanwhile, up make a career change. “I always loved cars and working here in Clifton last year, longtime auto shop on cars, so I decided to pursue the business,” he said.
CHS Auto Shop
70 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
WEEKEND SPECIAL
12
12 499
BAGELS
99
$
W’KEND EARLY BIRD
! !
1/4 lb Sliced Nova, 6 Bagels, plus 1/2 lb Cream Cheese
$
Sat & Sun Only 5am10am
!
!
WEEKLY SPECIALS
61/2BAGELS 121/2BAGELS lb. Cream Cheese lb. Cream Cheese & 1/2 lb. Butter
8
$
& 1/2 lb. Butter
13
$
75
! ! !
!
75 ! !
GOOD ANYTIME
3 FREE 2 OFF FREE 3 3 BAGELS w/Purchase of 1/2 lb. Specialty
$
Any Purchase of $10 or more
Cream Cheese or Any Salad !
!
!
!
INFLATION BUSTER
1 DOZEN BAGELS $ 99
Mon thru Fri (after 3PM)
BAGELS
when you buy Six Bagels $ !
!
!
!
4
80
s
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
71
Industrial Education teacher Joe Walsh was getting ready to retire. Richard Manfready, the school district’s supervisor of career and technical education was intent on keeping the program going if he could recruit a teacher to fill Walsh’s shoes. “There just aren’t that many people around anymore who are qualified to teach it,” Manfready said. A number of years ago, the state Department of Education eliminated the industrial arts teacher certification program and replaced it with a certification in technology education. Although the latter curriculum is somewhat similar to the industrial arts program, the emphasis is on preparation to teach more computer and technologybased courses, such as engineering graphics and digital graphic design. Alberghini was one of four candidates interviewed for the auto shop position. Manfready said he was impressed with his background, not only in education, but his practical experience in the automotive business. With input from Alberghini on what was needed to enhance the program, Manfready received approval from the superintendent of schools to purchase some new equipment for the auto shop. Included in the upgrade – the first since the shop opened with the school in the early 1960s – were new lifts, a tire machine, a wheel balancer and an air conditioning recycling machine. “We purchased some new hand tools and cabinets, repainted and did an overall cleanup of the entire shop,” Manfready said. “Everyone wants this program to succeed and they’ve been very supportive, from 72 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
administration to the Maintenance Department. They’ve helped us with whatever we needed.” Alberghini also took the initiative to contact Clifton’s new city manager, Matthew Watkins, to see if he could get a donation of an out-of-service city vehicle that he could permanently use as a teaching tool in the shop. With Watkin’s assistance, the DPW came up with two cars, an old police cruiser and a Ford Taurus
station wagon, which were turned over, with the Board of Education’s approval, to the school district. Alberghini teaches five classes a day in the auto shop. There are two levels of courses offered in the high school curriculum guide, Automotive Technology as the first-year class and Power Mechanics for those who choose a second year of the program. This year, however, Alberghini wants to be certain that all of his students are up to snuff on their knowledge and skills, so he is covering much of the same materials in all of his classes. “I want to make sure that everyone has a thorough understanding of all the systems of the car
before we go on to advanced work,” he said. One of the first areas he covered in the beginning of the year was tools and safety. This included identification and use of each tool. Other topics covered are the cooling system, the electrical system, brakes, lubrication and maintenance. The students also learn how to install new windshield wipers and how to change a tire. “They all want to come in here right away and just spin a wrench, but you can’t really fix anything unless you know how it works,” he said. “I’m also very big on having respect for the tools and equipment. I tell them, work clean, work smart and work responsibly.” In addition to the two donated municipal vehicles, Alberghini allows the students to bring in their own cars to work on. They must first fill out a form to indicate what the problem is and every Friday is shop day. “We operate it like a real auto repair shop,” he said. Although Alberghini enjoys light-hearted conversation and joking with his students, he is also a no-nonsense kind of guy when it comes to conduct and showing up to class. “I tell them, don’t be wandering in here whenever you feel like it,” he said. “Come on time and be ready to work.” The auto shop electives can be used by students to
fulfill the state’s requirement for a year of what is termed in the core curriculum content standards as “practical arts.” Other courses that meet the requirement include classes in cooking and parenting as well as some of the business and computer courses that the school offers under Manfready’s supervision. In the past Clifton also offered electives in wood shop and metal shop, but, like most other non-vocational school districts, it phased-out both of these programs a number of years ago. With the ever-increasing academic course requirements imposed by the state, students today have many fewer opportunities in their schedules for free electives than was allowed when most of today’s parents and grandparents attended school. As Manfready pointed out, there is also a scarcity of teachers certified to teach the more traditional shop classes. The College of New Jersey is the only state college or university to offer a certification program in technology education. Manfready is thrilled that he was able to find someone of the caliber of Alberghini to continue the auto shop program. “It’s an important life skill and a different kind of alternative for some kids,” he said. “For many it will save them the expense of having to
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
73
Industrial Education pay a mechanic to work on their cars.” It’s not hands-on right away in Alberghini’s class. First he uses a SmartBoard to show his students videos of what they will be working on and he encourages them to go on the computer to find diagrams that they might need. He uses a problem-solving approach. “I don’t give them the answers,” he said. “I want to get them thinking. They need to learn to figure things out on their own.” The most enjoyable part of his job, Alberghini says, is seeing his students’ faces light up when they realize what they’ve learned. One day, a student came into class and announced that he had just fixed a flat tire on his way to school. “You should have seen the look on his face,” Alberghini said. “He was so proud of himself.” On another occasion, a girl asked to bring her car in because the steering wheel was shaking when she drove. “When the car was put up on the lift, we found that the lug nuts were loose,” Alberghini said. “Apparently whoever had worked on her car when it was last repaired hadn’t tightened them. But she realized from the discussions that we’d had in class that something was wrong.”
74 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Although the auto shop program is not specifically intended to be a stepping stone toward a career in the industry, about 20 of Alberghini’s students have expressed an interest in pursuing further training in the field after graduation. At no expense to the school district, Alberghini arranged three field trips this year to schools that offer auto mechanics training, Lincoln Technical Institute in Mahway, Lincoln Tech’s diesel mechanics program in South Plainfield and Universal Technical Institute in Exton, Pennsylvania. The schools all paid for transportation and lunch for the students. “It was an opportunity for them to see equipment that they’ve never seen before and it exposed them to what’s out there for higher levels of training if they’re interested,” he said. As his first year in Clifton winds down, Alberghini is pleased with what he has accomplished and is excited for the future. “It’s going to get even better,” he said. Manfready, meanwhile, is hoping that he will be able to accommodate the number of students who have expressed an interest in the program for next year. “It seems like everyone wants to take auto shop,” he said.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
75
Autism Speaks
On April 19, students from Cheryl Bender’s first grade class at School 5 stopped by School 14 to visit with Ilene Platkin’s pre schoolers to observe Autism Month, which took place in April. The students began the morning by sitting in a circle and learning sign language. Afterwards, students demonstrated their new skills by communicating with each other while enjoying snacks. Following the break, the entire school—
76 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
356 students, over 95 staff members, and 40 Head Start children—gathered on the playground to participate in School 14’s Annual Bubbles for Autism event. Principal Dr. David Montroni gave a brief speech, followed by the pledge of allegiance and the reciting of the School 14 mantra: ‘Good, Better, Best, Never let it rest, ‘Till your good is Better, and your Better is BEST.’ Lunch was held and then students spent the rest of the afternoon building on their friendships on the playground.
Good Neighbors, Great Rates
772-8451
973Roofing • Siding Seamless Gutters Additions • Alterations
Thomas Tobin 973-779-4248
Bill G. Eljouzi 973-478-9500 Clifton Merchant • May 2012
77
Clifton Library
From left is Barb Farrell, Cheryl Conselyea and Gloria Abero pictured at the Main Memorial Library on Piaget Ave.
There are two new faces in the Children’s Room at the Clifton Memorial Library. Gloria Abero, the new children’s librarian, and Barb Farrell Swenson, supervising librarian for youth services, have joined a veteran staff that includes librarian Vivian Ungeleider at the Allwood Branch and Mimi
78 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Moncrief and Cheryl Conselyea at the Main Branch. The library has also updated its event schedule to include bilingual story hours in English/Spanish and English/Polish for toddlers and preschoolers. Family story time on Monday evenings can still be enjoyed by all.
In addition, youngsters will enjoy an unstructured play hour on Wednesday mornings. Older children can sign up for after school programs including origami classes, science classes, craft club and book discussions. The library is also planning to include events for Lego programs and reading to therapy dogs. The library’s summer reading program will kick off on June 18th and run through the first week in August. The staff will assist children in finding any books they will, and will award weekly incentives and prizes for their dedication to reading over the summer months. View a full calender at www.cliftonpl.org. The library also seeks sponsors to help promote early literacy, and access to additional programs, call 973-772-5500, ext. 3020.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
79
Events & Briefs SS. Cyril & Methodius Church is preparing for its Centennial Celebration which begins on Oct. 21. For details, call 973-470-5732. Fish & Chips Dinner at the Allwood Community Church, corner of Chelsea and Merrill Rds. is at 5:30 pm on June 2. Tickets are $13 ($7 kids under 10). Dinner includes coffee, tea, water and desert. Take out available. For info, call 973-471-8019. Odette and Noel Coronel of NOC Autobody on Van Houten Ave. are again offering a $500 scholarship to a high school senior with an established Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger Syndrome diagnosis who will be attending an accredited institution of higher education. Eligible individuals must be accepted to or enrolled on at least a part time basis or be working toward certification or accreditation in a particular field. To qualify, applicants must fill out an application form which must include an essay and other information. To get an application, call or visit their shop at 574 Van Houten Ave. in the Athenia section. Deadline is May 31 and the winner will be notified the week of June 11. For info and details, go to www.nocauto.com.
July 8, 1956: Bishop James A. McNulty at the laying of the cornerstone and the blessing of the new S. S. Cyril and Methodius Church on Ackermann Ave.
The Clifton Stamp Society, Inc. meets at the Community Recreation Center, 1232 Main Ave., Clifton in meeting room 3 at 6:30 pm on May 7 and 21, June 4 and 18. Info, go to www.cliftonnj.org/stamp.
The Clifton Democratic Club hosts Councilman Peter Eagler as speaker at the May 14 club meeting. He will discuss issues pertinent to city, followed by an open forum. The meeting is at 7 pm at the Allwood Library. New members are welcome. Call Club President John D. Pogorelec, Jr. at 973-778-1604. The Ladies Auxiliary of the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton hosts its 5th annual Tricky Tray on May 11. Proceeds go directly to the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton and the 5,000 youth served annually. Call 973773-2697 ext 43 to help.
80 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 380 Clifton Ave., will host Market Fair, a sale of items and collectables, on Saturdays, 8 am to 4 pm, on May 5 and 19. Vendors space is $25. For info, call 973-546-5020 or email carlgin@yahoo.com. The Leisure Club of St. Paul’s meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 pm. in the church hall. Anyone age 55 and up is welcome to join and participate in all trips and events. The next event is a trip to Camp Hope on May 23 and June 6. For information, call 973-546-7690. The Coalition for Brain Injury Research holds its annual beefsteak fundraiser on June 8, 6:30 pm at the Athenia Veterans Hall, 147 Huron Ave. Tickets are $45 and includes beer wine and soda as well as food and entertainment by Uncle Floyd, silent auctions and 50/50 raffles are planned. Proceeds will benefit the search for a brain injury cure. Call Dennis Benigno at 973-632-2066. Passaic County Community College won the 2012 Diana Hacker TYCA Outstanding Programs in English Award for improving language learning. PCCC’s Increasing Achievement & Program Completion through Curriculum Reform, the Title V Writing Initiative, was the selected program that earned the award. The Writing Initiative was established through a five year, $2.5 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Hispanic Serving Institutions Program. For info, visit www.pccc.edu/home/initiative.
20
% S
EnIOR CITIzEnS DISCOunT
- Full Service Shop, All Makes & Models - Specializing In Engine Replacement - Deep Discounted Fleet Rates
Pick Your Specials! $20 *Cash Discount or 10% off labor
FREE
*Anco Wiper Blades & Installation Most vehicles
$40 OFF
FREE
Any Front and Rear Brake Job
Tire Rotation, Brake Check & Adjustment
FREE
*Oil Change, Filter & Lube (up to 6 quarts) Most vehicles
FREE
Labor & Clamps on Exhaust Replacement (from converter back) ($40 to $70 value)
*Valid with repair bill over $125 - 1 discount special /vehicle/visit. Cannot be combined with other offers.
FREE Timing Belt with Timing Belt & Water Pump Replacement (Recommended at 60/90,000 miles)
FREE
Computerized wheel alignment with purchase & installation of 4 shocks and/or struts
(Up to a $70 value)
$200 OFF
Any Transmission or Engine replacement/rebuilt units Plus all fluids included
Pick-up & Delivery Available
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
81
Events & Briefs Dollars for Scholars is a live Telethon on May 11, 6 to 10 pm at City Hall. The event, which will benefit Clifton High School’s senior scholarship, will be broadcast live on Channel 77/40. Donors will be invited to come on tv and say a few words. There will be live entertainment and bids on donated merchandise. To provide merchandise for giveaway or to discuss how to make a donation, call Steven Hatala at 862-7788444 or Keith Bassford at 973-418-8032. The Passaic County Clerk’s Office and Department of Veterans’ Affairs offers free Veterans Identification Cards on May 12 and 23. The ID cards give veterans the ability to receive discounts or benefits offered by stores and restaurants. To get a card, veteran must present a copy of their DD214 Military Discharge along with proof of identity. They can also register their DD-214 discharge papers with the Passaic County Clerk’s Office. Registering affords the veteran the security of knowing that his/her records are permanently recorded. There is no fee for the ID cards; call Debbie Andriani at 973-881-4788 to schedule an appointment or more details.
Think September! Register now Full-day Kindergarten
Summer Camp
A Place to Learn, Grow & Have Fun! - We’ve Moved! 66 Mt. Prospect Ave. Clifton 973-472-4912 www.newbairnschool.com 82 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
CHS Senior Monika Miazga recently took home a full scholarship. She is pictured with Girls CHS Track Coach Mike Rodgers, Clifton’s Athletic Director Rick Handchen and CHS Track Head Coach Pontes.
Mustang Monika Miazga will attend St. Peter’s College in Jersey City after accepting a full athletic scholarship due to her exploits in track & field. Miazga, who was coached by John Pontes and Mike Rogers, is an eight time 1st Team All-County honoree, and holds six school record—four indoor, two outdoor. The family of the late John Albert Greco, Clifton public school teacher and lacrosse coach at Montclair State University, will walk in the June 24 Meadowlands Heart Walk in his memory and invites Cliftonites to join. The CCMS teacher and lacrosse coach at Montclair State University died Nov. 4, 2010 of a heart attack. “My brother was amazing,” said Elizabeth Greco. “He devoted most of his life to teaching, coaching, and family. He was so passionate about sports, coaching, and life in general that we decided to join the American Heart Association’s Meadowlands Heart Walk to raise funds to benefit research and increase knowledge about cardiovascular disease. It can take the life of a healthy, young man in his thirties.” To participate, or for more info call 609-223-3771.
The Clifton Red Hawks 12u, Traveling Baseball Team took first place in the 2012 Scott Durning Pre-Season Tournament. Pictured front left: Michael Algieri, Kyle Lesler, Anthony Algieri, Michael Lesler, Daniel McLaughlin, Anthony Delgado. Middle: Douglas Edert, Jacob Abill, Justin Russo. Back: Coach Edgar Ruiz, Michael McLaughlin Jr, Michael Lesler, Estaban Gomez, Rob Algieri, Trevor Rokosny, Coach Tommy Fenelon, Marty Higgins, Matthew Goehrig and Ethan Ruiz.
The Clifton Mustang Band Alumni Association and the Clifton Community Band present Imperial Brass on June 9 at the CHS JFK Auditorium. The 35 person orchestra offers a repertoire of Broadway, brass, pop and jazz. Funds will benefit the current CHS band college scholarship fund. Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/college students, $5 for public school students. Tickets at the door or write osumb17@aol.com.
The Relay for Life of Clifton and the Clifton Recreation Department sponsor a Bark For Life Pooch Party. The event is at the Clifton Skate Zone 85 Third St. on May 6 from 2 to 5 pm. Bring your dog for a leash-free play areas, contest, games, educational sessions, vendors, fun and food. Dogs must licensed, free from ticks and fleas and be able to interact calmly with other dogs. Owners must accompany their dogs. Fee / info: 973-470-5958.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
83
Senior on the Move
Florri Santosousso Stirs Up the Crowd at Clifton Senior Center By Carol Leonard At age 81 Florri Santosousso still enjoys grabbing the mic and belting out a tune during holiday parties at the Clifton Senior Citizens Center. Although she gave up aspirations of becoming a professional singer when she got married and started raising a family nearly 60 years ago, the spunky grandmother of five still has what it takes to get the crowd going. Entertainer is just one of the many roles Santosousso plays at the Senior Barn on the grounds of City Hall, where she has been a volunteer for 12 years. She serves as a receptionist, greeting the patrons as they arrive, taking reservations and collecting the nominal fee for the lunches that Florri Santosousso back in 1985 with her late husband Joe. are served every weekday at the center. Santosousso also helps out serving coffee and Although she had a boyfriend at the time, she said Joe tea to the less mobile seniors and always lends an ear to kept pursuing her. “He even showed up at my door one those who want to discuss a problem or share good news. day and when I asked what he was doing here, he said he Born and raised in the Ozone Park section of came to see my mother. I said yea right, and I finally Queens, NY, and later moved with her family to decided to go out with him.” Richmond Hills. While attending parochial school, she One of Joe’s friends knew someone who did bookings started singing in the choir and so impressed the nuns at the now-defunct Meadowbrook Dinner Theater in with her talent that one of them suggested that she purCedar Grove and he was able to get Santosousso some sue a singing career. “Sr. Cecelia told my father that I singing engagements at the hall. should take lessons,” she said. She was 20 and Joe was 22 when they got married and At age 16 she started working with a voice coach and settled in Clifton. They bought their first home on eventually landed some performances, including an Fordham Rd. after Joe got out of the service following appearance on the old Morey Amsterdam Show and Sing the Korean War. He went on to achieve a law degree and for Your Supper. She also tried out for the Arthur worked for the Chicago Title Insurance Company before Godfrey Show. starting his own business, the Title Agency of New After graduating from high school, Santosousso took Jersey, some years later. a job as a typist and stenographer with the Home Although she still had dreams of a singing career, Insurance Company, while continuing her singing sideSantosousso said she was content with her married life line. She met her late husband, Joe, through her cousin, and the thought of raising a family. The couple had two who lived in New Jersey. children, David, now 56, and Donna, 51. 84 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
85
Senior on the Move While her kids were growing up, she got involved as Santosousso remembers telling Keemss that if she ever a volunteer in the lunchroom at School 5 and later was needed volunteer help to get in touch with her. hired to run the program. Altogether, as a volunteer and Keemss was one of the first people to show up at the paid employee, she spent 25 years working in the lunchfuneral home to offer her condolences when Joe passed room at the Albion neighaway. A few weeks later, borhood school, where she she called Santosousso to was everyone’s mom and suggest that she come grandma. She still enjoys apply for a staff opening at running into many of the the center. “I decided to hundreds of kids, now all take her up on her offer, grown up, who came but I told her I just wanted through her lunch line durto be a volunteer and work ing those years. when I could,” In 1999, after 47 years Santosousso said. “I’ve of marriage, Santosousso been here ever since.” lost her sweet Joe to a rupSantosousso rarely tured aortic abdominal misses a shift at the senior Dave & Donna with their mother on her 80th birthday. aneurysm at the age of 69. center, working every “It happened so fast, within just a few weeks,” she Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. said. “After it was all over I knew I couldn’t just sit “I just love it,” she said. “I’ve made friends with so around alone in the house all the time.” many wonderful people here, including the staff. When I Prior to Joe’s death, the couple had decided to go get home, I feel that I’ve accomplished something, and check out what was then the new senior center. On their with all that I’ve been blessed, I feel like I’m giving visit, they met Gloria Keemss, the center’s director, and something back.”
86 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Aside from her regular volunteer role at the center, Santosousso has served for the past three years as president of the seniors club, a position she said Keemss talked her into taking. Her job involves making all the arrangements for holiday parties and trips. She also represents the center on the city’s Senior Citizen Advisory Council. The group includes representatives from other senior citizen organizations in town. Three days a week after leaving the senior center, Santosousso goes home to prepare lunch for her “boys,” as she calls them. This includes her son, David, and grandsons Patrick and Michael. David had worked with his dad at the title agency, now on Clifton Ave., and most days the two would have lunch together at home. After Joe’s death, Santosousso wanted David to take over the business with his son Patrick. “David and Patrick come on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Michael usually joins me on Thursdays,” she said. And it’s not just sandwiches that Santosousso serves up for her “boys.” On a recent Tuesday afternoon, David and Patrick chowed down on beef vegetable soup, Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes, cantaloupe and homemade oatmeal cookies. Santosousso continues to do all the cleaning in the home she had shared with her husband, and she also enjoys tending to her beautiful flower garden and hosting holiday gatherings with the whole family. Aside from the company and companionship she gets at the senior center, she says that the job also keeps her mind active and that’s important to her.
“When I go in there, I know there are things I have to do,” she said. “I count money everyday and I have to keep my paperwork straight with the lunch reservations. I know the names of everyone who comes to the center. I can go table by table and tell you who they are, even the new people.” Staying active and involved with people is also very important for
you as you age, Santosousso says, because it helps you put your own problems in perspective. “Whatever tragedies you’ve had in your life, it’s not just you,” she said. “When you talk with other people, you realize that everyone has a story. Everyone’s in the same boat. If you get it out by talking to other people, it’s a lot easier. You need to do whatever you can to be happy.”
Let’ s Do Lunch! nd
2Tuesday Series @ the
Boys & Girls Club
Join us at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am for a new topic of interest!
Hosted by: Dante P. Liberti, CFP ®
Tuesday May 8, 2012 Intro to Medicare
Guest Speaker: Kevin Hutnik Dont forget it’s the 2nd Tuesday at 11:30 am
Tuesday June 12, 2012
Will Gas Prices Ever Go Down? Guest Speaker: Timothy Jennings, CFP®
Complimentary lunch is provided
Free Lunch but Suggested Donation: $5 To benefit the B&G Club of Clifton. Make check to the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton
Please RSVP Dante Liberti at 732-734-0053
so we have enough good food for everyone!
Securities offered through Securities America, Inc-Member FINRA &SIPC. Dynasty Advisors, LLC, and the Securities America companies are not affiliated entities. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Representatives of Securities America do not give legal advice.
Clifton Merchant • May 2012
87
Clifton Mustangs
Future Physical Therapist Jocelyn Lee, Student of the Month By Joe Hawrylko Jocelyn Lee’s strong work ethic has allowed her to excel in school, and she credits her success to the support she has at home from her parents, Jose and Luz. Knowing that she would be the second in her family to attend college is something that has motivated Lee throughout her life. “Ever since I was a kid, I took my studies seriously,” she said. “I never liked getting low grades. It would make me really upset to see 70s or even low 80s.” Lee’s parents are also her inspiration for college. The Student of the Month is considering a career in physical therapy after watching her parents go through their own experiences with workers in that field. “My parents both got into accidents about five years ago and I began going to physical therapy sessions with them and I thought it was pretty cool,” recalled Lee. “Both accidents happened about three months apart.” Jocelyn Lee is the Clifton High School Student of the Month.
High school seniors! We want to hear from you... Our June edition will feature stories about graduates, and their responses to our survey. Pick up one at your school office or by adding Clifton Merchant on facebook. Email your responses with a non-proof grad photo to tomahawkwriter@optonline.net.
88 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Her marks at Clifton High School earned her acceptances into Fairleigh Dickinson University, William Paterson University and Caldwell College. Lee, who is of Dominican and Chinese heritage, is taking Spanish AP this year and speaks the language fluently at home. The CHS Student of the Month is in her second year of English hon-
ors, and took honors history as a junior. Lee is also a three year member of the Key Club , and enjoys volunteering. “We did a clean up in the beginning of the year at Dundee Island,” she recalled. “And I also helped in the costume parade.” The Student of the Month said that she has been motivated to complete her goals in school and life by
a r d
” n
d y
several inspirational figures. “Orly Saddik, she’s very different from other teachers. She’ll teach us about things, not only about the class, but in the real world,” said Lee. “She just makes the class really interesting. English is usually just reading, but I really enjoy it.” Lee also mentioned two additional teachers from Clifton High who made her four year stay at the
school memorable. “Paul Hlat (whom she had for freshman history), he always made class fun,” she added. “History was always like, why are we learning about this, but he would throw in random thing sin there and it would be fun.” “Nick Vancheri, he made us do these really cool group projects,” she said. “I actually learned a lot from his class.”
Most influential to Lee are her parents, who she looks to for guidance and support in school and in life. “My mom came to this country when she was 20 something and was never able to attend college, and neither was my father,” said Lee. “We live a pretty good life, I think. They work pretty hard to keep us living stable and I really look up to them.”
Project Graduation is just around the corner and volunteers and donations are still needed. Project Graduation is an annual drug and alcohol free chaperoned event held on overnight after graduation on June 25. Thanks to proceeds from the Prom Fashion Show, the PTSA has lowered the ticket cost from $80 to $50. The event was made possible due to help from Deluxe Formal Wear, Unique Designs by Viki, Just Beautiful Boutique, Guy Anthony Salon, Sante Fe Salon, Hair Expressions Salon, Hair Spa Salon, Nina's Salon, Infatuation Salon, Salon Plus Salon, and Hair Craft Salon, all of Clifton and Vesa Dresses in Nutley, Group USA in Secaucus, and The Red Carpet in Wayne, The next Project Graduation meeting will be May 14. At least 42 chaperones are needed to supplement staff and police officers. The event starts at 9:30 pm and runs overnight. Students can sign up for Project Graduation at paperlesspto.com. Call Maryann Cornett at 973-779-5678. Clifton Merchant • May 2012
89
Birthdays & Celebrations - May 2012
Birthday wishes to Glory Read who turns 87 on May 8. Rocco Locantore & Graziella Spinella will wed on May 12. Gia Camille Genardi turns 12 on May 2! Rory Houston will be 15 on May 8. Happy 40th Birthday to Lou DeStefano on May 2.
Birthdays & Celebrations
Send dates & names...tomhawrylko@optonline.net Mike Szwec ..................... Samantha Cruz ................ Jessica Perez .................... Jordan Lynn Bykowsky ....... Maria DeGraaf ................ Julia Komarczyk................ Margie Maloney............... Thomas Zangara .............. John Anderson Jr............... Spencer Flynn................... Russell Courtney ............... Dolores Hatala ................. Vanessa Laine Montesano..
5/1 5/2 5/2 5/3 5/3 5/3 5/3 5/3 5/4 5/4 5/6 5/6 5/6
90 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
Mary Domyon .................. Margie Hatala.................. Dorothy Alburo................. Terry Capilli ..................... Alexandra Homsany ......... Rory Houston ................... Frank Lo Gioco................. David Peter Mosciszko ...... Matthew Nagy ................. Hector Perez .................... Christine Siluk .................. Thomas Steranko .............. Petey Pathos.....................
5/7 5/7 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/8 5/9
Ray Zang......................... 5/9 Joe Gore........................ 5/10 Gianna Carmela Musleh . 5/10 Rebecca DeChellis .......... 5/11 Brandon Gorny .............. 5/11 Jessica Camp ................. 5/12 Joe De Liberto ................ 5/12 Michael Lonison.............. 5/12 Donna De Liberto............ 5/13 Jeff Reilly ....................... 5/13 Michael Zawicki ............. 5/13 Chuck Amucka ............... 5/14 Alice De Liberto .............. 5/14 Dorothy Brown ............... 5/15 Earl Grosser Jr. ............... 5/15 Victoria Leja ................... 5/15 Fred Gurtman................. 5/16 Mark McGuire................ 5/16 Rosemary Canavan......... 5/17 John Hawrylko ............... 5/17 Vick Ascencio................. 5/18 Jamie Antal .................... 5/18 Michele D’Amico ............ 5/18 Walter Hryckowian ......... 5/18 Mariana Pineda ............. 5/18 Becky Kuter .................... 5/19 Jennifer Mulick ............... 5/20 Ken Bender .................... 5/21 Joe Murolo..................... 5/21 Matthew Palladino .......... 5/21
Kage Lord .................... Danah Alburo .............. Jessica Bielen ............... MaryEllen Krattinger ..... Michele Perez .............. Donald Lopuzzo ........... Michael Santosuosso..... Brittney Abell................ Olivia Hryckowian........ Connie Paladino........... Derek Bykowsky ........... Alyssa Dalbo................ Kaylee Pinter ................
5/22 5/23 5/23 5/23 5/23 5/24 5/24 5/25 5/25 5/25 5/26 5/26 5/26
Marcin & Kathy Krynski celebrated their 10th anniversary on May 1. Jonathan Rideg............. Fred Antes ................... Steve Bielen ................. Kyle J. Magaster........... David J. Ricca .............. Anthony Alcalde ........... Valerie Gancarz ........... Anthony DeSomma ....... Rachel Gergats............. Christopher Ramirez...... Christopher Smith ......... Logan Thompson...........
5/26 5/27 5/27 5/27 5/28 5/29 5/29 5/30 5/31 5/31 5/31 5/31 Clifton Merchant • May 2012
91
Purple Strands The Relay for Life of Clifton plans to Paint the Town Purple during May with a campaign against cancer. Look for signs, ribbons and banners to help promote the June 2-3 Relay for Life. Local hair salons are supporting the campaign by weaving purple hair strands or feathers in the hair of those who would like to show their support. Strands are $5 or two for $8. Proceeds will benefit the Relay for Life Clifton. Participating salons are: Hair Expressions 973-365-2513 Hair Works 973-340-4200 Infatuation 973-365-0220 Sante Fe 973-473-4050 Relay for Life Clifton is an overnight event with a carnival theme at Clifton Stadium. Individuals and organizations are asked to organize people who pledge to ‘camp out’ on that night to raise funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. Many who participate do it for the memory of a loved one or celebrate the lives of those who beat cancer. Relay for Life begins on June 2 at 2 pm and concludes on June 3 at 6 am. To learn more about the event in Clifton, to make a donation, raise funds or participate, go to www.relayforlife.org/cliftonnj. To get involved in the Paint the Town Purple campaign, call Chris Liszner at 973-650-2719.
92 May 2012 • Clifton Merchant
At his Market St. salon, Infatuation owner Joe Hanrahan with his daughter, Kelly, helping to promote Relay for Life and May’s Paint the Town Purple campaign.
Tomahawk Promotions 1288 main avenue Clifton, NJ 07011
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PA I D Phila Pa 191 PeRmiT No. 6438