Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Table of Contents
What’s Inside? 12 Maroon & Gray Pride Tradition Kept The Fierro’s in Clifton
24 First Muslim Candidate Alam Abdelaziz ran for Council in ‘06
26 Youth Ponders Youth 20-Year-Old Questions Today’s Kids
28 He Moved From Wayne Advocate, Tour Guide Marty Coleman
32 Still a Clifton Cheerleader Beverly Lacsina Loves Her Town
38 Disappointed on Mt. Prospect Gary Perino has a Few Suggestions
44 Born in Her Lakeview Home 92 Coach Joe Grecco
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4 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Editor & Publisher Tom Hawrylko Business Manager Gabriella Marriello Graphic Designer Ken Peterson Contributing Writers Irene Jarosewich Domenick Reda Carol Leonard Michael Gabriele
50 Why Clifton Works Political Leaders Give Their Reasons
64 Three Made In Clifton Firms Work Locally, They Compete Globally
74 The Clifton Ave. Cobbler Kerimov, a Student of Shoemaking
88 Made the Cover at Berkeley David Osorio Turned It Around
98 Boy’s Club’s Taste of Clifton 34 Restaurants Serve Up for Charity Visit cliftonmerchant.com for current & past issues
Halloween Parade 80
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Residents discuss the Push, the Pull & the Struggle to Nourish & Grow Our Community
Reporting by Mariel Vazquez, Domenick Reda, Tom Hawrylko
Did you ever stop to think about what makes Clifton a good place to live? On the other hand, it may be you don’t think you reside in a good community. If you don’t think so, what is it about the community you don’t like? Is it the people, the traffic and congestion, the housing, the services, a combination—what is it? That is the goal with this month’s magazine, to ask questions and report on what our neighbors perceive to be at the soul of Clifton. The efforts of residents to improve their community has a long tradition in our hometown and we hope by having interviewed dozens of our neighbors, we may have begun a new conversation. As our magazine, about to enter its 20th year of publication in 2015, evolves with Clifton, we hope to be at the center of this discussion. How can we as residents nourish and grow our neighborhoods, schools and commercial districts? What is your opinion? Feel free to contact us with your suggestions on how we can continue this conversation to help our hometown evolve. 6 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
COMMENTS “This is a great town for anyone on the move. The accessibility to major highways is great. Then there is the convenience to anywhere. But from Montclair Heights to Botany Village, Clifton can be two different towns. Down in Lakeview where my family and I love, safety and security are our major concerns.”
Bob Noll
20 Year Resident Bruce James 25 Year Resident
Our schools and groups like CASA and the HSAs. Look at the baseball and sports leagues. They are advocates. They are involved and they make their voices heard. Community involvement is one of our greatest asests and it is very strong. The band? That’s more like a big cult and a great family. I have to say the transition is working there. And Cliftonites also appreciate our history and tradition. Put that all together and that is what makes our community great.
“Clifton is a move up community and it remains that today because this town is still vibrant and still on the rise,” said Bruce James, a Delawanna resident who is also up for reelection as a Passaic County Freeholder. “It’s probably the most convenient place to live in Passaic County. If you work in New York, you have options as a commuter. And if you work anywhere in the state and have to drive, it seems every major highway crosses here. “Yes Clifton is large but being large it has many assets—the arts and community theaters, great schools and despite us losing some over the years, there are still well paying jobs and many small businesses.”
‘ Judy Bassford 28 Year Resident
8 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Rich DeLotto
Lifelong Resident
Retired Clifton Firefighter Rich DeLotto is also a historian so he puts things in perspective. “The soul of ‘Clifton Yesteryear’ was the blue collar guys that worked for $3,000 a year, bought two family homes, raised their families and contributed to our community,” he said. “They lived in Athenia, worked in the Botany Mills, took a bus to work or walked or biked. Those days you could walk to the Clifton Theater and go out to eat and feel safe.” But back in the 1980’s decision were made by city leaders that had big repercussions. “The shift of city hall and the police department from Main Ave. to its present location has changed Downtown Clifton forever. It was a bad move. “Today’s heart and soul of our community still remains the churches, our houses of worship,” continued DeLotto. “The Boys Club and all they do for our kids... our Rec Dept with events like the Albion Camp Out and the Sunday Summer music series still keeps a sense of community. And while Clifton football is pretty much defunct, we still have the greatest band on the East Coast.”
With Great Pride, We Recognize the Clifton Office’s Highest Achievers. July 2014 Award Winners
Lesia Wirstiuk
Top Lister
Susan McFarlane
Top Sales
Lesia Wirstiuk
Top Producer
Eduardo Zelaya
Agent of the Month
Mary Jean Cetinich
Weichert Pride
August 2014 Award Winners
Alma Billings
Top Lister
Lesia Wirstiuk
Hilda Ferro
Top Sales
Top Producer
Lesia Wirstiuk
Agent of the Month
Kathleen Perow
Weichert Pride
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9
Community
COMMENTS
“Everything that I need is close by—stores, grocery stores, my friends. It’s where I live and went to school so I’m comfortable here. It’s home. Maybe if there were more things to do. All there really is (for entertainment) are movies or stores. If there were maybe rock climbing or mini-golfing. All the fun things to do are far away. Clifton is kind of quiet in a way.” Karin Jara
10 Year Resident
Robyn Urbanowycz 9 Year Resident Community involvement or the lack of it is what concerns Robyn Urbanowycz these days. “I wish more parents in Clifton would be involved in their kids’ education and in helping out in our schools. I’m involved at Woodrow Wilson with the HSA. but being President of the HSA (School 14), it was hard to get parents involved in their children’s education. I wish more people would take the time to involve themselves in their children’s lives and our community.” The 39 year old resident of Springdale Ave. feels Clifton is a safe town. “We live in a great community and we have lots of friends. Our kids can go outside and play and we are not overly worried. We met a lot of people through the schools and we’re involved in our neighborhood,” she said. “We moved here nine years ago. We just happened to find a house close to family and we stay because we have incredible neighbors.”
10 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Jane Cutar
14 Year Resident
“What made us move here was the proximity to Manhattan where I worked,” said Jane Cutar, 73 and now retired, who lives on Passaic Ave. near Nutley. “Taxes were reasonable and they still are. Shopping and church are close. There’s not much I dislike. But the inability of members of town hall to see a resident’s point of view is my major disappointment. When the sewers overflowed into my basement they blamed it on the storm and I had proof it wasn’t the storm, it was the sewage. They refused to make any payment or investigate. I wrote, phoned, made calls to their insurance company. They weren’t interested in investigating it.”
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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FIGHTING MUSTANGS
The Fierro family wanted to move up but not out of Clifton Story By Domenick Reda There are many reasons why people stay in Clifton. For some, it’s location, for others it is career. For Bob Fierro and his family, the choice to stay came about his son’s desire to be a Fighting Mustang. Nine years ago, with Downtown Clifton where they lived becoming more overcrowded, Fierro and his wife Diana were considering a move. “We always had a special place in our hearts for Clifton,” Fierro said. “But the city was changing and we were just weighing our options.” So in 2005 as the couple began exploring “options” they took something else into consideration; the importance of family and the lure of Mustang pride. “We were thinking about Bergen County, or dare I say, 12 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Wayne,” Fierro recalled. “But my son Brian wanted to stay here.” And the youngest Fierro ultimately got his wish. “He said, ‘I don’t want to move out of Clifton, I want to stay,’” Fierro recalled. “He wanted to be a Mustang. And we found a place we liked, so we stayed.” With that, the Fierros moved from their Barrington Ave. digs to their current residence on Pearl Brook Drive in the Montclair Heights section. “The old timers referred to it as Skunk Hollow,” Fierro said. The next year, Brian, a defensive end/offensive tackle, was part of the Fighting Mustang team that made history and won the state sectionals.
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Clifton Traditions It was a big time for the kids and the community. On Dec. 2, 2006, Coach Ron Anello and his players gave the city a memory it would treasure as the cavernous Giants Stadium became ‘East Clifton’ when the Mustangs beat Paterson Eastside 26-0. That Mustang pride was something Brian learned at a young age. “When he was a kid, we volunteered and helped run the Junior Mustangs,” Fierro explained. “I mainly helped with some administrative duties, but we had a lot of great volunteers... people who really cared.” Fierro said it was around that time many area Catholic schools were trying to recruit or “cherry pick” the junior high school students away from CHS. “One time we were at a game in Wayne and some of the kids were approached by a coach from DePaul High School. But a group of us parents wanted to keep the kids together,” Fierro remembered. “We knew one way to save the high school program was to keep a good nucleus.” Fierro and the other parents also knew it was important to encourage the kids and that motivation came in various ways, from taking them to Clifton Stadium to see the big kids play to little incentives. “We had an iron man trophy for players who never missed any practices or games,” he said. “And we, as adult volunteers tried to do the same. We even scheduled vacations around the games.” Fierro, 51, grew up in South Paterson, before moving to Clifton in 1983 when, with the help of his grandfather, he bought a “fixer upper” on Barrington Ave. He married Diana the next year and the couple eventually started a family. They now have two sons, Richard, 29 and Brian, 26. At 13, Fierro was attending St. George Catholic School on Michigan Ave. “It’s not a school anymore,” he said. “I’m not sure what will take its place there.” His family church was St. George’s Parish, across the street from the school in the South Paterson neighborhood. It was there he met Diana. “They had something called US Kids,” he explained. “It was geared toward keeping teenagers grounded. The two of us liked each other from the start, but we did not start dating seriously until high school.” “I was going to Passaic Tech in Wayne and she was going to Newman Prep.,” he recalled. “She was one grade ahead of me.” 14 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Fierro can weave a story and is good at the details. Fierro often recalls the “good old days” with many of his longtime buddies at his favorite hangouts like DeFeo’s on Market St. or Henry’s on Van Houten Ave. “One of the benefits of living in Clifton is the availability of different kinds of foods and places to eat,” Fierro said. “I like Clifton for a lot of reasons.” During the more than 30 years he has lived in the city Fierro, who owns a used car lot called Fierro Motors in Paterson, has seen a lot of change. “It’s a lot more crowded now,” he said. “A lot of people don’t like it, but it’s going to happen. You have to accept it.” Fierro remembers Clifton from the days before he was a resident and how fewer people inhabited Clifton’s neighborhoods and occupied its streets. “When I used to go to my grandmother’s house on Crooks Ave. in the late 60s, you didn’t see all the litter you see now,” he said. “When I first moved To Barrington Ave., you could make a right at that stop sign without any traffic coming. You can’t always do that now. But my attitude; it is what it is.” On this particular morning Fierro is sharing breakfast with eight other guys, most of whom he has known for decades. “We also get together for dinner about once a week for the last four or five years,” he said. “Usually it will be anywhere between four to 14 guys. We chew the fat. I like to antagonize some of the guys.” Sometimes Fierro and the other guys get together for dinner outside of Clifton, sometimes traveling as far as the Jersey Shore, but always knowing there is nowhere they would rather live than Clifton. They all share an emotional bond to the city and a want to see it continue to prosper. “The growing population is good for business,” Fierro said. “You want traffic if you have prospective clients. There is a segment of the population that doesn’t like the changes, but it’s going to happen. It’s inevitable.” And who better to speak about those changes than those who have been residents for decades? “Some of them are in their 70s and 80s,” Fierro said of his coffee and dining crew. “I wish we could record everything they are saying, because when they’re gone the stories will be gone with them.”
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Community
COMMENTS
Lou DeStefano
Lifelong Resident
It’s a mix of things that makes a city work, said Lou DeStefano. But he cited great dining options and a place to relax and have a smoke as one benefit of living here. To enjoy an evening out, he goes to Shannon Rose in Clifton Commons or Jamie’s near the Allwood Circle. “They have a cigar bar,” he explained. “One of the few restaurants where you can still smoke.” DeStefano, his wife Maureen and their three kids live in Rosemawr off Passaic Ave. He made a point to say his 10 year old daughter Victoria enjoys seeing the crowds and the attractions at community events like the Van Houten Avenue Street Fair. “It showcases our diversity,” he said. Overall, he considers himself a Clifton booster as the 42 year old grew up here and graduated CHS in 1990. He thinks politics stays out of the day to day governing of the city thanks to having a full time city manager. But there are some things he would like to see changed. “I wish they would not elect all seven council members at once,” he said, adding that having veteran politicians on the dais is a good thing. “They should stagger the elections to vote for different seats in different years.” His biggest concern for his hometown’s future is what will develop across the highway on Route 3 West. “It will be interesting to see what they put on the Hoffman La Roche property,” he said of the now shuttered pharmaceutical plant. “I would like to see a hotel or convention center there. We could also use a community pool, something that offered some more recreation for all the residents.” DeStefano, who is a freight logistics broker for GenPro in Rutherford, cites the heavy vehcile traffic not only on the highways but also city streets as a negative but accepts that is part of living in one of New Jersey’s largest cities. 16 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Dana McCarrick
14-Year Resident
Dana McCarrick’s love for Clifton is something that grew over time. “We moved here because the house and neighborhood were desirable,” recalled the 14-year resident of Gould Terrace, who grew up in Belleville. “My sister lived here so we considered it. Then we liked the house. Then we liked the neighborhood.” McCarrick, 47, and her husband Charles soon discovered the Montclair Heights neighborhood was where they wanted to start a family. The couple has two sons who attend School 16; Gerald, 12 and Ian, 9. “The grammar school is one of the best in town,” she said of the Grove St. school. Today Dana and her husband volunteer with many youth related programs, including rec soccer and lacrosse. The McCarricks are also volunteers with Cub Scout Pack 74 at First Presbyterian Church on Maplewood Ave. She thinks Clifton Rec is tops. “There’s soccer, softball, cheerleading, football, basketball for boys, lacrosse for girls, even programs for kids 3 to 5 years old. Kids after 9th grade can become junior counselors, which is great,” she said. “The summer camp program even offers things outside of sports, like rocket building programs and science.” McCarrick does agree with those who say the high school is overcrowded, but added it offers “opportunities for kids to go different ways” because of its size, variety of academic and athletic programs and after school activities. “Clifton is big,” she said. “The fact that it’s big is good and bad. I think the city should crack down on multiple families living in homes because it causes the overcrowding in schools. But that’s in a lot of big places. That’s a tough one. I know they’re working on it, but big cities are going to be congested. And there is going to be a lot of traffic.” One thing McCarrick appreciates is the way emergency services handles big city issues. “We have residents from border towns coming in,” she said. “But our cops do a great job of controlling gang-related issues. They are on top of that.” Despite her tough talk, McCarrick has a fun loving side too, falling in line with her volunteer work with youth programs. For 27 years, McCarrick has made children laugh at birthdays and other events as Squeaky the Clown.
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
COMMENTS Kim Renta, 52, who works in Kim Renta Lifelong Resident financial marketing as a copywriter, and her husband, Gerard Scorziello, are both lifelong residents of Clifton. Although they both graduated Clifton High School in 1980, they didn’t meet until a graduation party. “Clifton High School is so large, you can go to the school and not meet everyone,” she said. “We literally met right after graduation.” They have been married for 25 years and have a son (a CHS freshman) and daughter (a freshman at Rutgers University) who are both products of the Clifton school system. Kim Renta and her husband Gerard Scorziello with their two kids Kevin and Katie. Renta grew up on Oak Ridge Renta said a big part of the beat of Clifton is the high Rd. near Eddie Mayo Field. She has lived on Pershing stepping Marching Mustangs Rd. with her family for the past 20 years. “Kids and parents, everyone that goes to CHS love Despite often hearing criticism to the contrary, Renta what the band does nad the traditions it keeps and helps believes Clifton’s size and its diversity are its strength. nurture,” she said. “The schools get a very bad rap,” she said. “Our kids Renta also said she appreciates Clifton’s “top notch” have had nothing but a spectacular experience from fire and police departments who are quick to respond Kindergarten right through to high school. Yes, the during emergencies. classes are a little overcrowded, but I think the size and The all volunteer Clifton Animal Shelter, located on diversity prepare kids for what they are going to expethe grounds of City Hall, provides a great service. “The rience when they get out into the real world. We are people there do amazing work,” she said. “They are so embracing diversity, which is a good thing.” dedicated.” She said the size of CHS also provides a large and Renta and her husband take advantage of all of expansive college prep programs which also readies Clifton’s “different ethnic foods” every Friday when students for life beyond their first 18 years. they enjoy date night. “We love Dalto’s on Market St. But she said the true heart and soul of Clifton is its They have great Italian food.” similarity to towns from decades gone by when kids “It’s something we enjoy doing,” she said. “It’s could play tag and ride their bikes on the street while something all married couples should do.” parents sit outside on porches. Renta said one thing she would like to see change is “People who have moved out of Clifton tell me they how the city markets itself, especially compared to don’t find that in their new community,” she said. “It’s neighboring Montclair. a little different now from when I was a kid, but you “We should take better advantage of our strategic still get the same sense of community. I definitely still location,” she said. “Our geographic location is one of see it. It’s one of the reasons why we have stayed in the best things about us.” Clifton because of the sense of old time neighborhood.” 18 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
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Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
COMMENTS “I love that the City of Clifton is my home. For me, I’ve never known anything more diverse. I love diversity and I love that Clifton exemplifies it. I also love that in my classroom, I can talk about real issues in life, such as race, and my students can relate. They experience life as part of CHS, and that is what I love about Clifton.”
Brittany Gaccione
Lifelong Resident
“People are what makes our town so great,” said 62 year-old Steve Ginefra. “I worked as a music director for 14 years at St. Andrew’s Church and seven years at St. Brendan’s and made many lifelong friend. That’s the advantage of living and working in town.” The Grove St. resident went on to add: “Clifton is a conveniently located city. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping opportunities. I came to this place because of its location. What I don’t like is that it’s not as safe as it was twenty years ago, and unfortunately, the schools seem overcrowded.”
Steve Ginefra
20 Year Resident
“As a business owner in Clifton and a lifetime resident I’ve grown to love and appreciate Clifton more and more with age. It is not very common you find such a big city that still maintains so many small town family values. I love the fact that my personal and professional network is primarily friends, neighbors and fellow business owners that I’ve known my entire life. Another one of my favorite things about Clifton is that it is still a city that cares, which I see firsthand by the folks I volunteer with at the Clifton Stallions, who have helped that organization grow so much over the past 20 years. I suppose the saying stays true: as Clifton grows, so do we.”
Tom Hawrylko Jr. Lifelong Resident “I really love the diversity in Clifton. I’ve grown to know many people from all walks of life in this town. I think it makes me a better person. I find that you do not need to leave Clifton if you want to experience different cultures,” said Stuart who lives in Downtown Clifton. “You can go to unique Arabic restaurants down along Main Avenue, or you can just as easily get authentic and delicious Italian food on Piaget.”
“I like a lot of things about our city. I like the access we have to just about anywhere thanks to all the highways. I love all the great restaurants we call our own—I love being able to choose between Rutt’s Hut and Hot Grill. And I love being able to go to a place like Rifle Camp Park and see the entire city from a single spot. And most of all, I love that there are so many places in town that you can go and always run into someone you know.”
Mark Stuart
Jess Giganti
Lifelong Resident
20 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Lifelong Resident
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
21
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Community
COMMENTS
Alam Abdelaziz
21-Year Resident
For Alam Abdelaziz, Clifton has become much more than just his home; it is his land of opportunity. “Where else can you be a young guy, run for the city council, and be welcomed by so many people and helped by so many candidates?” explained Abdelaziz a 21-year resident of the city. Abdelaziz, who came here as a teenager from Palestine, and graduated CHS in 1994, was the first Muslim American to run for Clifton City Council. That was back in 2006. From the start, he knew he would be a long shot. But he gave it his best and tried to learn the issues of the community. And he made known his own positions and how he’d be an advocate if elected. His can-do attitude and friendly personality was noticed by many, including his opponents. “They shared information. They invited me to events. They showed me that we can work together to build a better community,” he recalled of his fellow candidates. In a field of 16, he came in 15th. But the loss did not embitter him. In fact, the lessons learned on the campaign trail and the ‘education’ he learned in the months that followed inspired him to stay involved in his hometown. The welcoming spirit shown to him by Cliftonites is something which resonates in his soul today. As an entrepreneur, it is what he most appreciates about the country he now calls home and the city that has helped shape him into the person he is today. “I was only 30 and English was my second language,” he said of his campaign two election cycles ago. “But all the candidates were respectful and helped me out.” Looking back at the campaign eight years ago, Abdelaziz realizes how much the experience helped form his opinion on Clifton as a community. “It taught me a lot about our city and that we can work together and make a better community,” he recalled. “It does not matter where you are from. You will always feel welcomed here.” 24 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Since moving to Clifton in 1993, Abdelaziz has accomplished much. He has embodied the true meaning of an American dream and what it is to be an entrepreneur. Abdelaziz began a cell phone company in Downtown Clifton and has been a Realtor for over a decade. Although single, Abdelaziz owns his own home on Van Cleve Ave. near School 12. What has changed in those eight years? Has Clifton evolved and does he consider it a progressive community? “We haven’t lost the good things,” said Abdelaziz, who has nine brothers and sisters, many of whom also own businesses in Clifton. “You can open a business with confidence here. It’s a move up community from Paterson and Passaic.” Abdelaziz said Clifton’s desirable geographic location also makes it a great place to live and work or invest. “Clifton’s real estate is still solid and offers good value and return,” he said. “Resale is high. There is a lot of demand for Clifton real estate.” Always on the move, Abdelaziz is also a certified EMT and a dispatcher for an ambulance company. He also has high regards for public safety officers. “Clifton has great police and fire,” he said. As far as the educational system, Abdelaziz said “the high school is especially large, but it works and offers great opportunities for those that apply themselves.” Today Abdelaziz, enlightened by his experience here, is making his path in life and Clifton is helping him achieve that journey. Now he wants to give back to the city that has been so good to him and its growing diverse population. “It’s all about understanding one another,” he said. “Clifton is welcoming and it is more mixed than when I moved here.” In 2008, Abdelaziz ran on a platform that included not only controlling taxes and term limits, but fostering new ideas and a better understanding among Clifton’s varied ethnic and cultural groups. Because the city has lived up to his expectations, he believes in its future, regardless of whether he is among its future lawmakers. “You never say ‘no,’” Abdelaziz responded when asked if he ever will run for elected office again. “That’s the great thing about America; you can do whatever you want and when you want to.”
St. Mary High School 64 Chestnut St., Rutherford, NJ 07070 201-933-5220 • www.stmaryhs.org
Open House Tues. Oct 28
7:00pm-9:00pm
Become a St. Mary Gael We’re St. Mary High School, The Gaels, and we proudly term ourselves
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Yet our football program is highly rated and our academic programs are top notch. If you’re looking for a unique high school experience, consider our Gael For a Day program. Prospective students spend a day ‘shadowing’ a Gael throughout an ‘average’ school day at St. Mary. To schedule a time, call Mr. John Taormina, our Admissions Director, at 201-933-5220, x220. From left: Sophomore Kyle Thullner attended Woodrow Wilson MS. Senior Guy Madsen attended St. Clare School, Senior Justin Gentile attended St. Andrew. Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
COMMENTS
Fabian Rodriguez When he and his family moved to Clifton, Fabian Rodriguez thought he left it all behind; the cursing, the disrespect, the bad manners. The 20-year-old Botany Village resident sees all of that creeping back into his life, and he doesn’t like it. “My mother originally moved here because she thought the schools were better, and that it was safer than Paterson or Passaic,” said the 11-year resident of Russell St. The 2012 CHS grad who now studies business administration at Passaic County Community College said the changing values of ‘kids today’ has soured his outlook on the city. “I don’t really like Clifton because I feel that since moving here we’ve been getting more people in from other areas,” Rodriguez said. “The stuff kids say nowadays is ridiculous. At such an early age they shouldn’t be exposed to some of the things they’re exposed to.”
26 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Rodriguez witnessed the behavior when he was a 11 Year Resident Clifton Rec counselor for Summer Days in the Park. “I supervised kids in seventh, eighth, and ninth grade, and they cursed so much,” he recalled. “And they’re all about social media. The things they post make you wonder who is teaching them. I don’t know if that’s part of their generation’s culture, or if Clifton is to blame.” As far as his four years in CHS, Rodriguez noted something even worse—students who slacked off still managed to pass. “You have all these other kids putting in so much work for the same grades,” he said. “When it comes to education, we’re not hard enough on kids. Standards in the Clifton schools are too low.” But despite his criticism, Rodriguez sees a lot to be hopeful about in Clifton and remains positive about how its varied population will get along in years to come. “What I’ve always liked about Clifton was the diversity and the different mixes of culture,” he said. “I always felt that was a good thing because kids should be exposed to other cultures at young ages so when they go out into the real world it’s not a culture shock for them.”
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COMMENTS
Marty Coleman 12 Year Resident Cliftonites fed up with the congestion and problems, perceived or tangible, often talk about pulling up stakes and moving westward into Wayne. But Marty Coleman did the exact opposite. After spending his youth in Wayne, he decided to leave his hometown and establish his roots as a Mustang. “I have a unique perspective because I was born and raised in Wayne,” said Coleman, 40, a 12-year resident of Clifton. “Some of my neighbors make fun of me because a lot of people move from Clifton to Wayne. But I did the opposite. And I don’t regret the move one bit.” Coleman, who lives on Merrill Rd. with his wife Christine and their three children who range in age from 4 to 9, not only moved here, he took ownership. They bought a home, started a business and are involved in School 9 and the Allwood Play & Learn pre-school. Coleman spends most of his volunteer time with the Clifton Elks. There he chairs the Special Children’s Committee which supports the North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency (NJEDDA) on Main Ave., formerly the Passaic County Elks C.P. Center. His efforts and dedication were noticed by his peers and he was named Elk of the Year in 2013. In addition to running his Clifton-based telecommunications consulting firm, the high-energy, talkative and vivacious Coleman is also a tour guide. “I’m a member of the NYC Historical Society and I give tours of New York and northern New Jersey so one of the things I love about Clifton is its location,” he said. “It’s right in between all of the major highways. It’s right next to the city. Property taxes are cheaper than a lot of the surrounding areas like Wayne and Essex and Bergen counties.” Coleman meets people from all walks of life and he says what he sees as the greatest attributes of his adopted hometown is that its people and neighborhoods are down-to-earth. “People here are less pretentious—nicer,” he said as he continued his comparison to Wayne. “It’s socioeconomically diverse. Not being from here, I see Clifton differently than the people who are.” Mon-Fri till 6:30 pm He does have at least one critical observation to share: Sat till 5 pm “Many residents seem to enjoy cutting down trees,” Coleman noted with dismay. “Rich towns all have tons of trees and poor towns don’t. I’m shocked and amazed when I see trees coming down everywhere. They add privacy and beauty to an area. Unless it’s an extreme case, there’s no reason to cut down trees.” So despite what some might believe, Coleman says Clifton’s grass is green enough for him. “You don’t have to leave Clifton; it has everything you need,” he said. “There are plenty of parks for the kids and great restaurants for everyone to enjoy. There is so much wonderful history right here.” 28 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
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“My favorite thing about Clifton is that it possesses elements of a small town, as well as a big city. There is definitely a camaraderie between Cliftonites, and there's always an instant bond when you meet someone and find out that they, too, are from Clifton. At the same time, there is always action in town, always something going on. Sometimes, I think people mistake the fast-paced nature of the city for chaos, but I believe it is just a characteristic of a city with a lot happening.” Tom Szieber Kim Platt
Lifetime Resident
20 Year Resident
Kim Platt believes in quanity and quality when it comes to what makes Clifton tick. “I love that Clifton is diverse because I’d rather be surrounded by more than one ethnicity,” she said. “I also like that Clifton is big because you meet new people. I like the parks and the fact that you can go to different parts of town and not feel stuck in the same place.” Platt said there is not much she dislikes about Clifton, but noted one complaint about the high school. “The curriculum combines general and college prep classes in hopes of pushing kids to work harder, but it really decreases the level of incentive in those courses,” she said. “I believe sometimes teachers just pass kids through.” Platt also loves that there is so much to do in town. “People say that Clifton is boring but we have everything,” she said. “If you get bored here, you’ll get bored somewhere else. I feel like Clifton has it all. I can look around at all the convenience stores and say, ‘I have that.’” 30 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Gary Sauerborn
20 Year Resident
For Gary Sauerborn, it’s the fact that he can live in a nice neighborhood and avoid exorbitant taxes he sees in nearby communities that makes Clifton special. “Generally speaking I do like Clifton,” he explained. “We live over in Montclair Heights, where people live to avoid the high taxes in Montclair.” Sauerborn, for the most part, likes the educational system. “My children were very involved in school,” he explained. “I was worried at first about the diversity of the area, and I heard things about the school system that worried me, but it all turned out to be fine. It doesnt have to do with the school it’s all about you. My daughter Michelle is now a French teacher in West Milford.” But he said there are things related to taxes and the schools that he doesn’t like. “I seem to run into a lot more jerks and rude people than I used to, and I don’t think Clifton is going to change,” said Sauerborn, 62. “But my biggest fear is the taxes. When I bought my house, my taxes were $6,000, now they’re $13,000, and it’s all being eaten up by the educational system. The schools are enormous. I’m worried I wont get to stay here. I don’t want to start off in a new town where I don’t know anyone.”
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Rachel Gutierrez 8 Year Resident
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As a young woman living in New Jersey’s 11th largest city, Rachel Gutierrez, appreciates how much is available to her in Clifton. “It’s very convenient for me since there is a variety of transportation into New York City and surrounding towns,” said Gutierrez, 20, a resident of Barkley Ave. since 2006. “There’s a little bit of everything here.” But Gutierrez said she wishes there were more police in certain areas. “Recently my purse was stolen from my car and I’m fairly certain there were witnesses, but no one looks out for each other anymore,” she said. “There’s also a lack of community police watch. I feel that Clifton cops don’t patrol the most populated areas enough, like Highland Ave. or Main Ave. You see them on Valley Rd. and Grove St., but not downtown.” She would also like to see better jobs and art programs made available to people of all ages. “Many don’t even know about the Clifton Arts Center,” she said. “It’s sad to say, but it isn’t an inspiring place to live. When I think of Clifton, I think about traffic and potholes.” 32 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Beverly Lacsina Lifetime Resident
Beverly Lascina is a real Clifton cheerleader. In fact, she was an actual cheerleader for the majority of her time while she attended Clifton Schools. Not only does Lascina have a background in cheering, but she enthusiastically lauds the city she loves every chance she gets. “The people of Clifton are what create the soul of this city and why I really love the town so much,” said Lascina, 24, a resident of the Allwood section who is a student at Rutgers, New Brunswick. “I have met some of the most interesting and amazing people in my life growing up here in Clifton.” Lascina said what she really appreciates about Cliftonites is the way they stick together throughout the years. “People from Clifton have a lot of heart and soul, which really brings about a level of camaraderie that only Cliftonites have,” she said. “You don't always realize it as a kid, but you end up meeting friends that will be in your life forever. You go through life-changing moments with people and you know that everyone around you just gets it.” When it comes to life-changing moments, Luscina exclaims “it's what we experience as we grow up with our friends” that defines those moments over a lifetime. “We move from grade to grade with each other, experience successes together, and even misfortunes, but you know that you are never alone because you know that others are experiencing these moments with you,” she explained. “On the other hand, we also get to be part of really memorable moments like when our football team won the State Championships a few years ago.” Clifton’s tradition of excellence in sports is something Lascina experienced first hand. “I was a cheerleader in Clifton for eight years and throughout that time I learned what it was like to be part of a community through traditions that were taught to us and passed down through many generations,” she explained. “It’s the tradition that really keeps the heart and soul of Clifton alive.” And Lascina said the influence of Clifton goes beyond its borders. “For example, I work in a restaurant in New Brunswick and one of my regular customers is from Clifton,” she explained. “He went to the same elementary school as I did, School 9. We were able to remember the school song and sang it together. It’s moments like that remind me of how important tradition is in our town and how it brings a level of connection between you and another person no matter where you find yourself down the road.”
Joseph M. Shook, Sr., Founder 1924 - 2008
Nancy Shook Garretson, President NJ Lic. No. 3657
Thomas J. Garretson, Director NJ Lic. No. 4988
Roy B. Garretson, Manager NJ Lic. No. 3550
Kevin V. White, Director NJ Lic. No. 4964
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COMMENTS
Rebecca Hennessy
7 year Resident
Recent CHS grads like Rebecca Hennessy appreciate the civic pride and participation she sees. “Clifton gets the whole community involved,” said Hennessy, a four-year resident of Cutler St. who previously resided on Mayer Dr. “There are carnivals and street fairs, the fireworks at Main Memorial and the farmer’s market at Jubilee Park. Clifton has fun, family-oriented things, which is awesome.” The 20 year old notes benefits to living in a larger city. “I like that Clifton is so big,” she said. “I used to live in Bogota, next to Hackensack. It was so small. I enjoy the ‘big-city’ feel, but I like that Clifton is still very much suburban.” However Hennessey saw some things she did not like during her time at CHS. “The high school needs a better educational system,” she said. “It’s not so much the teachers, as it is the kids. They psyche you out, and most of them are from Paterson or Passaic, so they treat the school like they still live there.” But Hennessy wishes there was more to do at night for people her age. “I don’t want to go to Bliss,” she
said. “There needs to be a place to just hang out or dance. There should be a place to be comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt, year-round, not Dunkin Donuts.”
Alexi Velasquez
15 year Resident
Diversity is the real strength of Clifton, its heart and soul, according to Alexi Velasquez. “We have such a great mix of people,” she said, then citing location as another asset. “I live off of Valley Rd., which has easy access to most major highways, and the NJ Transit Bus that goes into New York City runs here. The diversity definitely makes Clifton an easier place to live, and I think that it makes it welcoming to everyone.” But at 19, Velasquez remembers how overcrowded the high school seemed. “I really think we could use another high school or something,” she said. “We could use more funding or better programs for the performing arts. Also, some sort of air conditioning system would be nice at the high school, especially for the amount of students in the school.” Velasquez also wishes there was more to do in town for young people like herself. “Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing to do here,” she said. “Other than that I really don’t have many complaints about Clifton.”
Ken Ingerwen Lif-long Resident “What kept me here is the people I know—they are excellent,” explained Ken Ingerwen who lives in Richfield with his wife Suzanne and daughters Kirsten, 19, and Megan, 17. “My wife and I still have friends from when we were kids and that’s one of the big reasons as to why we stay. My brother and his family live here in town, as well. If you have friends and family, why move?” The 1982 CHS grad who is also a tradesman was asked if he sees progress in town. “The new stadium is going to be beautiful. One complaint I have is about the fields in town. Athenia Steel Park is fantastic but it is limited to soccer and lacrosse. But for softball, we have Main Memorial and it is just over used. In terms of city services, one year we yell at DPW about the plowing and the next year we tell them they did a good job, so it varies from year to year. Picking up plastic curbside is a very positive thing. So there are definitely innovations and progress being made.” 34 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
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“I graduated CHS in 2010 and the sports teams made our city cohesive. Clifton has great parks and resources like the Boys & Girls Club. I have been a member there since first grade and now as an adult, I help raise money or volunteer so I am basically continuing the cycle. I live in Maple Valley and it is peaceful and very family orientated. Hot Grill makes our town...so does Jumbos!” Kristine Dehais
12 Year Resident
Lucy Lee
Jeff Labriola
Stacey Vercellino
7 Year Resident
35 Year Resident
8 Year Resident
A resident of Madison Ave., Lucy Lee is one of the many residents dissatisfied with Clifton’s tax rates. “I don’t like the frequency with which taxes are being raised,” she said. “Since I moved here the taxes have quadrupled.” Lee said the lack of options for younger people is just one example. of what could be better. “There is nothing for the kids to do at night,” she said. “There needs to be a place that they can go to hang out.” But Lee said for her, the quiet atmosphere works and makes her want to stay. “It’s a tranquil place,” she said. Lucy’s main reason for staying in Clifton? “It’s a tranquil place.” 36 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Jeff Labriola, a 35-year resident of Clifton, said the children represent the city’s future hope. “The youth are Clifton’s greatest asset and our biggest challenges,” said Labriola, an art teacher at CCMS who is also on the Clifton Arts Center board. “Many come from diverse backgrounds and face a multitude of challenges, but the kids overcome them and take advantage of what the Clifton school system and community have to offer.” Labriola said if change is the problem, growth is the solution. “We have to figure out what we’re doing moving forward as a community in a time of great cultural and technicological advances.”
Stacey Vercellino, 20, moved to Clifton eight years ago and has embraced her new home. “Having moved here from Union City, I learned to really like it here,” said the Rutherford Blvd resident. “I moved from a place where I had lived my whole life but I still like Clifton better.” Vercellino graduated CHS in 2012 and “There’s just something better about living in my own house and being in a suburban area,” she said. “At CCMS and CHS, I made some great friends who I still keep in contact with to this day. But there’s not much to do here. But overall Clifton is a place I enjoy living in.”
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Gary Perino 61-Year Resident Gary Perino, who has lived all of his 61 years in Clifton, has seen so many changes to the city he always loved. Perino says geographically, you can’t beat Clifton, but believes increasing taxes and a lack of pride in ownership are diminishing the city. “There are some people in town that still really care about Clifton and the quality of life we live,” Perino noted. “But those numbers are quickly decreasing. What defines the heart and soul of Clifton for Perino? For the Mt. Prospect Ave. resident, who lives there with his wife Debra, he looks fondly back on the old days. “I can tell you that the soul of the old Clifton was being part of a safe community with affordable taxes and a strong school system,” he said. “Today, our police and fire personnel do an outstanding job to keep Clifton safe, but the other two issues need remedial attention.” Perino is hopeful when he see residents rallying to help one another. “It is refreshing to still hear about things like kids raising money for a friend with cancer,” he said. But Perino wishes the city would be more attentive when it comes to quality of life issues.
“On the municipal side, we need more responsiveness when someone calls city hall with a complaint or an issue,” he said. “They need to be treated with respect and attentiveness. Believe it or not, we are Clifton’s customers. There is no follow up. All you seem to get is attitude, excuses and inaction.” Perino cited a recent example to substantiate his claim.
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COMMENTS “Over a year ago, I asked for a delayed light sign at the intersection of Mt. Prospect and Van Houten; still nothing,” he said. “Think about it; this was a simple request to improve safety and there was no response.” Perino thought of another time when he wishes the City of Clifton was more responsive. “Several years ago someone was running a construction business in the neighborhood,” he recalled. “There was a lot of noise. There were dump trucks, Bobcats and trailers parked overnight. Despite many calls to city hall, nothing seemed to get done. To get things done, you literally have to do it yourself or hire an attorney at your expense before the city responds.” Perino said issues like that could drive long time residents away from the city. “Whether real or perceived, it seems like the city wants you to just go away or look the other way, instead of solving problems,” he said. “It wasn’t always like that. I think that some other towns actually do it better, because they take a more aggressive approach to fixing and solving issues. They don’t just hope it goes away.” Perino remains hopeful, but still skeptical.
40 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
“Firstly, Clifton needs to be operated more like a business, instead of a municipal bureaucracy,” he said. “We need accountability standards. Former Councilman Joe Cupoli had it right. He talked about this publicly.” Perino wants to see a plethora of changes to Passaic County, which also incurs his wrath. “The county government needs to be put in its place,” Perino said. “Clifton is the largest contributor to the county budget, but we get very little return on our investment. Clifton needs to have a strong, tireless voice and an aggressive attitude to deal with county government.” Perino calls the present county government “ineffective and inefficient” and says that needs to change. “Just think about the Allwood roundabout debacle,” he noted. “And look at Clifton’s decaying county road network. Why do we need county roads? Are towns not capable of handling the roads which run through each community? And then there is the recent approvals for new shopping centers. And the list goes on from there.” Despite the gloom, Perino sees much room for improvement in the future. “Hopefully, with our new city manager, this will all change,” Perino said. “Home owners and business owners also need to take more pride in ownership with their properties. Grass needs to be mowed, hedges trimmed, snow removed from sidewalks on a timely basis, trash picked up and yards cleaned up.” Perino admits he does not know if enough change can happen to make Clifton better. “I’m not so sure that Clifton is working,” he said. “It’s more like someone doing the dead man’s float. Nothing seems to get done.” Perino said geography is not among the problems. “It’s all about location,” Perino said. “In Clifton, you’re only a short drive away from anything you need.” The Perinos have four children–Carla, Ashley, Alyssa and Dominick–who are all PCTI graduates and are currently working college students. Perino criticizes Clifton as if he was talking about something familiar, as if to say, we can criticize our community, because it is our community. And in doing so, he does take a certain amount of pride in its history and the legacy his family has built in the city. “I live in the Allwood section which used to be the pride of Clifton,” Perino said. “Three generations of my family lived here.”
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Rosemary Baran Lifelong Resident For Rosemary Baran, 53, it’s the people living in Clifton who make up the soul of her great city. “Clifton residents embody a certain sense of pride for the city,” explained Baran, a human resources professional who lives in Allwood with her husband and teenage daughter. “Whether it be a family here for many generations or newcomers to the city, the feeling,
thoughts and actions of Clifton are defined by its people.” Baran said Clifton’s strength, and what makes it stand apart from other communities, is its ability to roll with the punches. “We are resilient, passionate, and generous,” she said. “The soul does need to recognize that things are changing and may never be the same, but the soul needs to adapt new ideas and ways of thinking.”
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At Clifton’s core is strength, security—and a real estate mantra. “The police and fire departments are great in Clifton although they need more staff,” she said, continuing: “Our geographic location is another selling feature. And compared to other communities, our taxes are favorable too.” Barandoes not like the city’s congestion and density, but accepts it as a trade off for living near NYC in a city that has so much to do. “It is a trade off for all the conveniences of shopping and restaurants,” she said. “I also like the Hamilton House art museum.” But Baran said there are a few things she would like to see change in town. “The infrastructure of the roads and sewers needs improvement, as well as the quality of life in many areas,” she noted. “Also, a city this size should have a recreation center for its residents, like a pool or sports complex.” Baran also listed “the technology of the city website” as something she would like to see improve. “Most city websites are more advanced and they post all the meetings for anyone to see at any time,” she said. “They should also put Channel 77 live online, 24/7 and 365 days a year so its accessible to residents.” Baran loves how the city celebrates its history, honors the senior citizens and veterans and keeps Americana values with the Avenue of Flags. “It’s the many volunteers and residents of Clifton who care and make it all work,” she said.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Paul R. Santos, a fine general dentist, as an associate. After moving from the Philippines, Dr. Santos completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Rutgers University. Working as a Chemist he went back to
the University, graduated Rutgers School of Dentistry and was in the Prosthodontic Honor Society. With Dr. Santos and our team, I am enthusiastic as to this new direction that our 66 year old practice is taking to better address Clifton’s dental needs.
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Karen Molner Lifetime Booster!
COMMENTS
Joan Sanford Born in Lakeview Clifton has certainly evolved over the decades, just ask Joan Sanford of Dutch Hill. “I was born at my home in Lakeview,” said the retired teacher, who, when asked her age, suggests readers try and do the math. “I’ve traveled to many, many places and enjoyed many, many experiences, but I love Clifton, it’s my hometown.” Since 1987, she has lived in Dutch Hill and is a member of the Dutch Hill Residents Association, an advocacy group for the neighborhood bounded by Paulison and Main Aves., from Clifton Ave to the Passaic border. Members run two annual flea markets, host forums for BOE and Council candidates and raise funds to award scholarships to graduating CHS seniors. Arts and culture in Clifton have helped the evolution of our city over the last half century, said Sanford. “I’m very glad that Clifton has become a cultural center. The director of the Garden State Opera, Francesco Santelli, lives in Dutch Hill, and the group is based here. We have the Arts Center and Sculpture Park, the Theater League of Clifton, St. Peter’s Church has Bluestate Productions... the Action Theater Conservatory on Union Ave. It’s wonderful what has grown here.”
Alexis Budhi
Karen Molner is in love with her hometown and her husband of 35 years, Michael. “We love the football games and we can’t wait for the stadium. We love the plays at the high school. We are just really happy we stayed here. A lot of towns give up on the arts, but not Clifton. It has changed so much over the years, but still has traditions. It’s a community that really supports the elderly. It’s a town you can grow in, from elementary to high school, leave, and come back to raise a family. I think we’ll live here until our last breath on Earth.” The 55 year old is a Delawanna Ave. resident who has lived in Clifton her entire life. She and her husband met at CHS before graduating in 1977. She concluded: “I’ve lived here my whole life,” she said. “I love that it’s next to New York City. I love the diversity of the city, I love the arts center and listening to the community band and the Mustang Marching Band.” “What I don’t see anymore are people sitting on their porches saying hi to others,” lamented Sanford who retired from teaching in the Little Falls school system. “What I’m noticing is that a lot of people attach porches to their houses and don’t use them. TV’s and computers are ok, but they take away from real interaction.”
16 Year Resident Alexis Budhi now attends Rutgers University in New Brunswick but has lived on Rowland Ave. for as long as she can remember. The 20 year old fondly shares her experience in CHS: “I didn’t get into the Clifton Public School system until high school, but I wonder how I might have turned out if I had come up through the elementary grades. I look at my little brother and I see how much attending Clifton Schools since 5th grade has allowed him to build up his network of friends and become more active in terms of extracurricular activities.” Like anything else, Beudhi says her alma mater at CHS needs some maintenance adn care. “Crowding in the hallways and ventilation in gym locker rooms, for instance. A lot of people I know have gone through and left Clifton High School hating it, but I honestly truly miss my years there. I miss the relationship we students had with our teachers, especially with teachers like Dr. Greenwald and Mr. Henry, to name two, who truly cared about our futures.” Pondering the future, Clifton is number one on Budhi’s list of places to live. “I may actually be one of those few people that wouldn’t mind staying in Clifton for the rest of my life if given the choice.”
44 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
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AUTUMN MEANS CHECK GUTTERS & ROOF With autumn now official and snowy and icy weather only weeks away, Corey Genardi of C. Genardi Contracting Inc. said homeowners often overlook rain gutters because they often function on their own. “A home without a good gutter system will have water running down the side of the house or it will cause water to run underneath the shingles,” he said. “Without gutters, waters will collect around your home and with colder weather here, it will turn into ice. With the thaw, the water will seep into your basement.” Genardi installs seamless gutters which eliminates the possibility of leaks, protects the beauty of your home and landscaping and will be formed at your home for exact measurements. “We complete our jobs in a day and offer most any color to choose from,” he said. “Seamless gutters will complement your home.” Genardi also installs Weather Watch Leak Barriers which create a watertight seal to keep water and ice from the vulnerable areas of the home—eaves and rakes, around chimney and in valleys. “It prevents water damming in your gutters from wind driven rain or where ice collects,” he concluded.
Seamless Gutters are stronger... adding roof flashing will keep water flowing into the gutters where it belongs. Based in Clifton, the family-run and owned business was started in the late 1960’s by Corey’s father Ronald. “I was pretty much born into it,” said Genardi. “And I have installed most every type of roof there is.” Genardi uses superior products such as GAF and offers a variety of roofs for every type of home and at every price—choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and modified rubber systems for flat roofs. Asphalt shingles, the most affordable, are available in a dozen or so different colors both solid and blended. Using GAF products, Genardi said the roofs he installs are guaranteed for 20, or in some cases 30 years, making them an excellent value. Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
Sue Ellen Lian 17 Year Resident
COMMENTS
Fiorella Flores 22 Year Resident When her mother passed away in October, 2004, the people and resources of Clifton was there to support Fiorella Flores. “I needed a distraction and CHS provided that for me. The only way for me to get involved was to join clubs like choir, band, SCCLA, DARE. Even the people at the library helped. There were tutors— I loved my tutor there. My time at CHS was great.” Now 24, and a Case Manager for Catholic Families and Community Services Foster Care Program in Passaic, Fiorella recalls the help she received and notices how things have changed. “Today clubs in schools are more expensive and less accessible. They ask for money, which a lot of kids just don’t have,” said Flores who has lived on Lake Ave. in Botany Village, Piaget Ave., Lexington Ave., and Hazel St. She said more has to be done by faculty and teachers to keep kids involved. “Back then, the teachers were on top of the kids. Today it looks like school officials don’t push them anymore. I have a client who just started at CHS. She doesn’t speak English and she isn’t being pushed. I think the parents also have a big role to contribute but the teachers have them most of the day.” Flores opines on ways that Clifton can improve: “Clifton doesn’t have enough street lights on streets like Allwood Ave. and Broad St. When I was commuting from PCCC, the only transportation I had was the bus, and coming home at night, it was dark!”
At just 20, Sue Ellen Lian, a resident of Athenia enjoys the convenience of living in a large city. “I like that everything is close by, but at the same time, Clifton is really big,” said Lian, a resident of Mahar Dr. for 17 years before moving to Van Houten Ave. who offered this comparison. “I can walk from my house to 7/11 in five minutes, and just driving through Clifton is only 20 or 30 minutes.” Lian said she doesn’t like the congestion in Clifton, caused in large part by endless road construction, but added she will take the bad with the good. “I dislike it because there seems to be no progress being made. I feel bad for my tires.” But Lian believes Clifton’s diversity is its real strength. “It’s nice to find different faces and experiences. The supermarkets are awesome too. There’s a lot of product variation in them. ShopRite on Paulison Ave. sells food from all over the world. You won’t necessarily find that in other towns.”
Jocelyn Lee 7 Year Resident 20 year old Jocelyn Lee keeps it short when asked her opinion of her hometown “It’s quiet and peaceful, and I like that,” said the William Paterson University student who resides in Downtown Clifton. She has one major issue which she hopes can be addressed. “The roads are very bad,” she said. “I’m going to have to change my tires in a year. And I just got my car.”
Oscar G. Buonafina Sales Associate 36 Preakness Shopping Center Hamburg Turnpike Wayne, NJ 07470 T: 973-686-0404 Cell: 201-625-5549 sgtbuonafina@yahoo.com
46 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Passaic-$275,000. Updated kitchen & bathrooms, very large rooms and high ceilings. New boiler. Updated electrical. Blown insulation w/vinyl windows. MLS#: 3144775
Passaic-$190,000. Complete interior rehab needed. Cash or 203k purchase required. NOT a short sale! MLS#: 3161092
Affordable for Life!
Jerry Zecker is pictured with his grandkids, Colin and Henry Nash, in front of their parent’s home at 105 McCosh Rd. Affordable had done work on Zecker's home at 55 McCosh. Jerry and his wife Arlene were so pleased by the service, they recommended the Federle family to do roofing, siding, gutters and leaders on the Nash home. Aviles 183 E 6th St. Roofing 2010 repeat customer
Derelitto 18 Arlington Ave. Kitchen 2008 Bathroom 2011 repeat customer
Ask any of these previous customers about the Federle Family & Affordable Home Services...
Wiles 73 Green Tree Rd. Windows 2012, Roofing 2013 repeat customer
Quinlan 14 Dalewood Rd. Porch Enc. 2003 Windows 2013 repeat customer
Studwell 229 E First St. Roofing 2013 Palumbo 34 Orchard Dr. Siding 2006 Roofing 2011 repeat customer
The Federle Family John, Ron, Jim & James
Tenney 47 New Brier Lane Windows 2001 Siding & Roofing 2013 repeat customer
Fierro 385 Hazel St. Siding 2009 Roofing 2013 repeat customer
140 Arlington Ave. • Clifton • 9 7 3 . 4 7 3 . 4 8 3 0 Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Community
COMMENTS
Justin Vercellino
8 Year Resident
“I’ve lived most of my young adult life in Clifton, and for the most part I have enjoyed my time here,” said Rutherford Blvd. resident Justin Vercellino. “One thing I never liked about the area I live in is the darkness. When I walk home at night there are no street lamps to illuminate the sidewalks. It’s dangerous to walk on ground that you can’t see clearly.” The 20 year old said during the winter, the snow poses a problem as well. He said he is amazed that residents with larger properties do not adequately shovel snow from their sidewalks. “I can’t stand it when it snows and some of the residents feel that shoveling in front of their homes is sufficient enough. It’s not. Those that have property
that wraps around the block should be responsible for shoveling around all their property.” Aside from those issues, Vercellino appreciates many other things that Clifton has to offer. “Clifton is convenient. The abundance of stores, the proximity to NYC, and the proximity to any mall that is less than 20 minutes away. There are many places to hang out: Clifton Commons, the Promenade Shops, and the parks around town. Public transit in Clifton is great because it usually only takes one bus to get anywhere in Clifton.” “Clifton has treated me so well over the years that I find that the pros outweigh the cons,” he continued. “Clifton is a good suburban town that is surround by a bad stigma due to the scandals at CHS. The actions at a high school shouldn’t dictate the image of the whole town.” 48 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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WHY
Former NYC mayor Ed Koch famously used to stroll the streets of his city regularly asking “How’m I doing?” No local politician to our knowledge does anything similar. Yet if you look at the source data for Clifton, we in fact betters most benchmarks in this state. We’re doing pretty well together, in other words. Perhaps it’s just that we’re overlooked. We don’t have an Ed Koch here, after all, who, love him or hate him, always exuded a certain kind of New Yorkish cockiness and aggressiveness. We don’t have a Bill De Blasio with a controversial past of left-wing ideology and support for such decidedly non-mainstream causes as the Sandinistas of Nicaragua. And we certainly don’t even have so wildly polarizing a figure on our political scene as Reverend Al Sharpton.
CLIFTON
WORKS
By Richard Szathmary
Heck, we can’t even cite in Clifton someplace where politicians prominently gather, even publicly rub shoulders with the press and plebs alike. No such venue exists. (And surely never has at least since the Herald-News moved to its berth on Garret Mountain and ceased its once pretty effective birddogging of life here.) Yet if you look at some of the data for Clifton, we actually look pretty good: Clifton in fact betters many economic and/or “quality of life” benchmarks in this state. We’re holding our own, in other words. The real question then, particularly in a dicey economy overall, is for how long Clifton can continue in this vein to hold its own? And if that is the case, is such a “holding pattern” even desirable? 50 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Candidates for elected offices from facing page top left: Mary Sandrkula, Joe Cupoli, Joe Yeamans, Lauren Murphy and Jim Anzaldi. This page: John Salierno, Peter Eagler, Kristin Corrado, Bill Gibson, Cory Booker, Claudia Chavez.
Upbeat News In 2010, the last year for which figures are currently available, Clifton had an amazing $1.4 billion in retail sales rung up at all its merchants’ businesses. This is compared to $13.5 billion for the entire state of NJ. Given that NJ is noted for being comprised of 565 municipalities (the small size and retail profile of many of those towns notwithstanding, including the likes of barely-double-figured-residents Teterboro), that’s an impressive stat. So for those who complain that the large retail establishments in places like Clifton Commons aren’t all that important, the data suggests how wrong they are. “Face it,” plain-talking current City Council candidate (and former deputy fire chief) Norm Tahan
observes, “the days of the mom-and-pop stores in Clifton are basically over. And no one is ever probably going to open up a new custom tailoring shop downtown again, either, although I’ve heard people say they’d sure like one. Those days are gone. We have to leverage what we have, what seems to work well here. So Clifton becomes a mixture of mom-and-pop operations and big national companies. That’s not bad.” Some companies think so much of the opportunities presented by Clifton that they in fact purposely premiere and enter the NY metro market here. The Shannon Rose/Spuntino’s complex (and Spuntino’s was first of its kind, let us remember) in Clifton Commons is one such example. The Counter chain’s new branch at River Front Center for
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#8 November 4th
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lmurphy711@yahoo.com paid for by Lauren Murphy for Clifton Council Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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CLIFTON Works “creatively constructed” burgers is similarly aimed. It says a lot for Clifton that companies express such faith in our community along Route 3. Clifton is also lucky enough to have something that, for example, neighboring Montclair lacks but national restaurant chains usually demand: available and affordable liquor licenses. That plus a Route 3 location is a powerful combo. And, by and large, we’re a gainfully employed local economy. The unemployment rate as of June of this year is 7%, compared with 7.8% for Passaic County overall. But that is, admittedly, a fair bit higher than the national rate of 6.2% for the month. Roche, Roche and More Roche “Let’s be honest,” Councilman Steve Hatala (who’s coincidentally chair of the City Council’s Economic Development Committee) says. “We’re one of the few cities in this state with positive ratable growth. Let’s also remain aware that for every dollar we gain from a ratable, 52% goes to the schools, 24% to the city and the other 24% to the county. So it’s never as much money as some people imagine.” Nevertheless, Mayor James Anzaldi optimistically
adds that “we continue to reinvent the wheel here in Clifton. And our economic prospects with rateable are excellent. Our vacancy rate in business has been very low. The challenge going forward is to maintain that.” One big reason for Anzaldi’s cheerfulness, as it happens, is that Clifton, with the local cessation of Hoffmann-La Roche’s (“Roche” et seq.) operations, has been given an awfully big new playground to gambol in, gussy up and, of course, redevelop. Hatala notes that at Roche’s giant campus, where thousands once worked, there are now no more than 50 people there, mostly security personnel.
paid for by Bill Gibson for City Council
52 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Candidates Norm Tahan, Bruce James, Judy Bassford, Jeff Camp, Lucy Danny, Bill Pascrell, Jeff Gardner, TJ Best and John Capo.
Every single person we spoke to for this story, by the way, mentioned without prompting the Route 3 campus of Roche and the glorious opportunities it presents Especially in a town which otherwise has virtually no open land left for development. This is our Klondike gold fields, our Camden Yards, even, maybe, our version of the Kimberly diamond mines. It is simply amazing that suddenly so much land is opening up in any North Jersey town, let alone Clifton in particular. But the Nutley Connection The only snag seems to be that Clifton will have to share all the redevelopment decisions with neighboring Nutley. And while Nutley and Clifton aren’t exactly Russia and Ukraine in terms of political amity...
54 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Still, opinions abound about the bounty that is the Roche plot. Bill Gibson, for example, the retired police officer running for a council seat this November, says that “Since we’re pretty much full everywhere else, I’d like to see something pretty high end in there.” He cites what adjacent Montclair is currently working on, a high-end national chain hotel, “but I’d like to see it paired with, say, a convention center for Clifton.”
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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Candidates Matt Grabowski, Beatrice Rybak Petrolle, Joe Kolodziej, Andy White, Arlene Agresti, Steve Hatala.
Clifton, however, lacks the, well, “fleshpots” traditionally associated with convention cities. (No, Dingo’s Den doesn’t count.) And this area’s experiences with the 2014 Super Bowl at Met Life Stadium don’t seem to indicate that we can even handle any event much larger than a cat show. “We’re fully developed in Clifton,” adds council candidate Joe Cupoli (who most recently ran unsuccessfully for a State Senate seat against the elusive Nia Gill, who for some reason never, ever seems to set foot in this part of her district), “so we’re never, ever going to have an opportunity like this. The challenge is to do something that can’t fail.” “Roche all by itself means things are looking good again for Clifton,” Steve Hatala says. “You ever hear the phrase “Until the neon lights go on again..?’ Well,
Roche is our neon lights. They’re going to be very bright.” But there’s a semi-catch. Rumor has it that smaller, far less diverse Nutley isn’t as necessarily opposed to strictly residential redevelopment of the Roche site as our local politicians uniformly claim to be. We will have to “talk” to Nutley about this possible disagreement. “That’s about all our current administration ever seems to do,” claims the gadfly-ish council candidate Joe Yeamans. “We may just need a new direction altogether with or without having to worry about what to do with Roche. It’s a great opportunity, sure. But how long is full utilization of it going to take? And let’s not use worrying about Roche as an excuse not to take on other things which equally importantly call for our attention.
HATALA • Leadership • Community Service • Experience • Director of Finance, Novartis Pharmaceuticals for 20 years–responsible for $15 billion in assets • Professor of Accounting, Seton Hall • Bachelors Degree, Accounting, Seton Hall Univ. • Masters Degree, Finance, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. • Chair, Clifton Economic Development Commission • Attracted 300 new businesses to Clifton • Helped create 2,000 new jobs for our community • Liaison, Historic Botany Village SID • Liaison, Advisory Board of Citizens for Disabilities • Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrew’s RC Church • Member of Clifton Moose, Clifton Elks • Past Grand Knight and Knight of the Year • 2002 Unico Man of the Year • Longtime Clifton Youth Baseball Coach
Paid for by Corrado for County Clerk, Lynann Dragone, Treasurer
56 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
From Clifton’s own Row Freeholder Bruce James.
A
All the Way
Dear Cliftonites,
For the past 9 years, I have enjoyed serving the people of Clifton and Passaic County as your Freeholder. Over those years I believe I have accomplished much as I have been part of the team that has stabilized taxes and provided expanded services. Because of those advances, we now have the best bond rating in the history of Passaic County. Plus, with consolidation and sharing of services, we have saved millions for taxpayers. We have doubled the amount of money for job training programs which benefit the unemployed, the underemployment and those seeking forst time employment. We have added youth training employment program and added expanded services for seniors and veterans. I am proud of my record and want to continue to serve my hometown of Clifton and Passaic County. I thank the voters of Clifton for giving me their trust and support in the past. On Nov. 4, I ask once again for your vote. Thank You, Bruce James
Paid for by Bruce James for Freeholder, Mukesh Tandya, Treasuer. Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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CLIFTON Works Signal Successes “Where on earth did people in Clifton go to the movies before Clifton Commons opened?,” Steve Hatala muses puckishly. Like it, hate it or simply ignore it in favor of other merchants, Clifton Commons is our retailing behemoth. And its arrival in town seems to have nurtured the possible “urban legend” that on weekends it becomes a draw for area gangbangers. Be that as it may, in 2000 there were 338 reported “automotive liberations” in Clifton (in, mind, an area where our major retail centers. A year later there were 408, and in 2002 432. By 2007, however, that number had dropped down again to 2012, the most current year for which stats are available), to 141. (Source: citydata.com/crime/crime-Clifton-New-Jersey.html) By contrast, and bear in mind that the ability of a local police force to respond so successfully and relatively quickly is an index of economic health, adjacent
58 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Paterson had in those same years auto theft numbers of 1331, a whopping 1679, 912 and 902, respectively. All in a city which lacks large retailing complexes and thus does not likely attract the late-model cars driven by shopping non-locals. Better yet, however, Clifton accomplishes comparatively more with (a very capable) less. Clifton has 1.7 police officers per 1000 residents, while the Jersey average is a much higher 3.32 officers per 1000 residents. Even the rate for perhaps the most heinous of crimes, murder, is relatively modest here in Clifton. In 2000 we reported one homicide, in 2005 2, in 2012 0. While Paterson had 17 in 2000, 20 in 2005 and bounced up to 21 in 2012.)
Paid for by the Passaic County Democratic Committee, Chairman John Currie Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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CLIFTON Works Clifton’s genuine safety regarding both persons and property is part and parcel of something else that becomes a distinct economic asset here: its “quality of life.” It’s an overworked, phrase sure, but for here it definitely works. And everyone we spoke to seemingly agrees that we’ve got a high version of it. “This is not a very transient town,” Norm Tahan says. “and for a very good reason. Even though we have some of the same problems as Scottsdale, Arizona and cities in Florida, we deal with those problems immediately. So people stay and stick out life here. Overall, I’m very happy here in Clifton. I try to convey that in my own political statements and campaign.” Jeff Camp, who’s running for a Board of Ed seat this November and serves as President of the Clifton Softball League, asserts that ‘Clifton’s got everything.” Mayor Anzaldi (as a caution, we’d naturally expect him to be upbeat, perhaps positively Candide-like), even claims nevertheless that, back in 2010 when he was president of the prestigious New Jersey League of Municipalities, “Clifton was looked at as if it was a miracle town. The word is out about what we’ve got here among my fellow mayors, I assure you.” Somewhat differently, Joe Cupoli, in a genuinely exultant tone, enthuses that “my kids get a ‘free scholarship’ to Clifton High School. Yes, you get out of Clifton High pretty much what you put into it, but the educational system alone in Clifton is a great place to start out from in life...And Clifton in general for our kids is a slice of what rhe real world has to offer.” Swiss Bankers Another economic plum for Clifton of late involves the respected investment bank Credit Suisse, which during the tech stocks boom of the 90’s was lead bank on many of the time’s top tech stock IPO’s. (And what is it with these Swiss-based companies? One, a pharmaceutical (Roche, of course), moves on, but another comes in. Clifton’s lucked out here.) Credit Suisse moved its data center for its domestic operations into a purpose-built structure on the site of the old ADP building in 2011. 60 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
And the happy result for Clifton, according to Steve Hatala, is “a ratable that’s twice the value of the two previous companies on that site combined.” It’s also the sort of ratable that Clifton’s politicians seem united in most wanting: a nice, clean (in several ways, including non-polluting) business which puts no further strain on Clifton’s infrastructure and municipal services. “Companies like Credit Suisse which come in establishing data centers, they usually want ‘double power’ to meet all their energy needs,” Anzaldi says. Because they can’t afford the possibility of outages. “Clifton has that kind of much more than adequate power supply. So we’d love to attract more data centers to town, and given our great access to New York via our highways and our convenient location, we think we will.” But there is still a minor fly in the ointment here. Data centers may not strain local resources, but by their very nature they also only call for relatively small staffs. (CS’s center supposedly only employs about 50 people; the actual number, according to the bank, is proprietary information.) So while Credit Suisse is very near the shops and restaurants of both River Front Center and Clifton Commons, those businesses probably don’t see much from CS in terms of ancillary business. Doubts About Downtown This one isn’t exactly a “fly.” It’s a lot larger than that. In the eyes of some, it’s a pterodactyl-sized issue. By which we mean Clifton’s ‘downtown’, not just the geographic area at Main and Clifton, but those other outlying area, Botany, Lakeview, Market St. and other smaller commercial districts.
Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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CLIFTON Works “The old one-family, one-car system is long gone,’ says council member Joe Kolodziej. “And because of that parking has become a big issue. Probably everywhere in Clifton but especially downtown.” Partly because of this situation, Clifton certainly lacks a shiny downtown with trendy shops and bustling restaurants. Ridgewood this ain’t. Hey, it’s not even Nutley, to the dismay of many.
Anzaldi sounds a note of reason when he offers, reasonably enough, that “Walgreen’s and CVS and similar chains have picked up some of the old five nd ten cent store business. Not all, maybe, but a lot.” But even this acknowledgement of today’s retailing reality doesn’t satisfy some. “Build it,” some insist, meaning a spanking new downtown, and “they” will come back.
Bring the family ffor or
Pizza and Pier Pierogies ogies in suppor t of
Cupoli ffor or Council! C Thursday y, October 9th 6:00PM to 8:30PM Athenia enia V Veter eteran’s Post 147 Huron Av Avenue, Clifton Pizza, pierogies, desser t and more!
Tickets: Tic kets: $10 Kids 10 & under under:: FREE! Make checks payable to: Elect Joe Cupoli • 71 Hackber r y Place, Clifton, NJ 07013 Want to help out? Email: JoeCupoli@gmail.com
Paid ffor or by Elect J Joe Cupoli, Rick Farfan, Treasurerr.
62 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Building Parking Garages & Authorities? One suggestion oft bruited about is that Clifton should in fact build parking garages downtown. And, in order to run them, create a Parking Authority. This has been offered up for debate by both Joe Kolodziej and council candidate Joe Yeamans. And it plainly entails the creating of a new group of municipal employees. Which, in these days of general governmental belt-tightening, might not be the wisest course of action. The idea of providing parking to save mom-and-pop stores (and it’d clearly be much too late to save, say, the Midtown Grill) is emotionally appealing. But may not make much economic sense in practice. The indefatigable Yeamans, however, has another idea for what is often termed “downtown” in its widest sense: a “transit village” which would be built surrounding Clifton’s train station. (Meaning specifically the one that is not in Delawanna near Rutt’s.) “Clifton has to be uplifted and to come into the modern era,” Yeamans maintains. “So I’m suggesting something like what Long Branch did with Pier Village. Something upscale, high-rises or town houses say, with upscale shops there for when people get off the train. “There’s a malaise in Clifton, a lackluster way to how things get done. I think a transit village might then be just the thing,” he continued. It should also be pointed out that Long Branch’s Pier Village, however visually attractive the final result, entailed the use of something the very title of which, let alone its application, remains anath-
ema in Clifton: the doctrine (some would say “thuggish tool”) of eminent domain. Additionally, any such creation would logically have to be accompanied by the publicization to home buyers and upscale renters alike of the image of Clifton as a bona fide “rail commuter’s town.” Montclair, Little Falls and even Bloomfield to some extent have established themselves in this fashion, not yet Clifton. Indeed, just talking to prospective home buyers who’ve been considering Clifton seems even to indicate to date that realtors (an occupation, let’s admit, famous for practitioners’’ willingness to say virtually anything in pursuit of a sale) don’t much push the idea of Clifton as a town fit for rail commuters. There aren’t even a whole lot of signs directing potential commuters to Clifton’s train station at this point. News Both Good And Bad Another council candidate, John Salierno (who is, in a sort of private joke between him and Yeamans, “yoked” with his friend’s candidacy), says Clifton “needs to assuage the angst of the elderly in particular. “Clifton is changing, yes,” he allows. “But not necessarily for the better.” He does not feel, for example, that its current economic direction by the City Council is all that wise. “If they keep on this path, we’ll eventually go bankrupt,” he says, raising the specter of such already-positioned cities as Detroit and both Stockton and Bakersfield, CA. “Nobody’s watching the store here” Salierno feels. (And don’t get him started on sewer fees, which he sees as fundamentally a disguised tax. Yet even Salierno, who wonders publicly if Clifton will even be able to hold its newest residents a short time down the road because of economic issues, sees much to admire in our city. Which, after all, is not only banded by major state high ways but also leads, often quickly enough if the traffic gods have been properly placated, to the most glittering neighboring American city of all. In Clifton (according to both 2010 census data and the respected website clrsearch.com), there are 31,005 “Private for Profit-Wage and Salary Workers,” a total of 80% of the city’s workforce. This is compared to 3,152,441 in Jersey as a whole, a percentage of 76.61%. Clifton might thus be interpreted as a virtual beehive of activity.
More refreshingly for the cost and budget-conscious, its 881 workers in state government are but 2.3% of our workforce, as opposed to a percentage of 4.67% of state workers in New Jersey’s workforce as a whole. We even have some 35 “unpaid family workers,” whatever nd whoever they are. (Teen-agers who resent having to do chores around the house?) More fascinatingly, in Clifton (again according to city-data.com) in 1997, only two “single-family new house construction building permits were issued, at an average cost per house of $126,000. In 1998, 9 such building permits were issued, but for buildings with an average cost (in what must have been dark economic times) of $96,000. And we double dog dare ya to find a house today which is being built for a similar price! But in 2011, and this is in a town which everyone seems to feel is fast running out of building lots, 49 permits were issued at an average cost of $145,000. Better yet, however, in 2012, while only 33 such permits were issued, they were for buildings with an average cost of $173,000. This is pretty good for any Jersey town. Not just for dear old Clifton. “You still have a lot of value in Clifton,” council aspirant Cupoli says. As those singlefamily home building permits certainly suggest. Good Times Ahead? Bad? Maybe Just Mediocre? Country singer-living legend Merle Haggard once famously and plaintively asked, 20 some years ago, “Are the good times really over?” We doubt it. At least we doubt it for Clifton. We could go on and on here about the income and racial data for Clifton and what it all means, but we’ll leave it for another time. Suffice, perhaps, that almost all of it sounds encouraging. Maybe not completely reassuring, but altogether encouraging. No worse than most places, better than quite a few. And if Clifton and Nutley can ever get their joint act together with regard to Roche’s abandoned campus maybe even better than that. So, yes, we’re doing alright. Especially if we have so many dedicated people running for both City Council and the Board of Education in Clifton. (Plus a few more candidates for Passaic County offices whom we just weren’t able to hook up with in time for the deadline for this article.) Besides, too (anyway for some of us), it all seems to pale against the necessity for our Fighting Mustangs to beat those Passaic Indians in the annual Thanksgiving football game. Clifton Merchant • October 2014 63
tates continues As the United S us covery, numero re ic m o n o ec g its lon ursue lifton bravely p C in e er h s ie ies unique compan g three compan in w o ll fo e h T rd rategies. ng; Erika Reco their business st ri ee in g n E & g Atlantic Castin e in distinct, at er p o l al profiled here— — et Gourm ent; and Pereg Baking Equipm
ator is mon denomin m o c e n o e h T e et segments. al markets. Th n o ti a different mark rn te in g in a ete in demand conomy finds e that they comp l a b lo g e th t strate tha stories demon tep of Clifton. rs o o d e th t a t welcome ma Stor y and Photos ele by Michael Gabri
Atlantic Casting & Engineering James E. Binns passionately described the efforts of Atlantic Casting & Engineering Corp., to successfully compete as a world-class foundry doing business in global markets. Binns, the company’s chief executive officer and a Clifton resident for more than 30 years, gave credit to his 150 employees, many of whom also reside in Clifton. “We compete with foundries operating throughout the United States and worldwide (countries such as France, China and Germany),” Binns said, touting the determination of his associates. “We drive productivity and pursue our business aggressively. We manage the cost dynamics of our business in order to make a fair profit. We’ve been successful and I’m very proud of our company. We know that we have to earn our reputation in this business every day.” Atlantic Casting & Engineering is a producer of pre64 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
cision investment castings, a manufacturing process used to create complex industrial parts such as turbine blades, gears, impellers and housings. The company has grown significantly during the last 10 years and Binns cited the efforts of his dedicated workforce and their commitment to quality and productivity, as well as the leadership of Brian McGrady, president, Greg Rohrbacker, vice president of sales and engineering, and Dan Lenino, vice president of quality and operations. The company’s efforts were acknowledged when Atlantic Casting & Engineering was awarded with the 2013 Aerospace Award from the Investment Casting Institute, an international trade association based in Montvale. The investment casting technique actually dates back more than 5,000 years to ancient civilizations in Egypt and Asia. The process involves an industrial
ceramic mold that receives molten metal (Atlantic Casting & Engineering typically uses engineered aluminum alloys). The ceramic mold is created by coating a solid wax pattern. Once the ceramic mold solidifies, the “invested” wax material is melted away, leaving a complex cavity that accurately captures the shape of the part to be casted. Hot metal fills the vacant ceramic mold. Once the metal hardens and cools, the ceramic mold is broken off, leaving the cast metal part, which then undergoes additional machining, finishing and assembly operations to create a finished part. Sixty percent of Atlantic Casting & Engineering’s annual sales come from parts produced for the commercial aerospace industry. Customers include Chicago-based Boeing Inc. and Airbus of Europe. A portion of the business also includes components for corporate jets, including customers such as Embraer of Brazil.
A machine operator at Atlantic Casting & Engineering holds a complex aircraft stator housing, an aluminum alloy part that includes stainless steel and ceramic inserts.
Proudly Serving Assembly District 34... Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair
It is a pleasure to read of the many Clifton manufacturing firms serving our community. Read about other products Made in New Jersey at www.njmep.org.
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Made in Clifton Like many American manufacturBinns said one of the company’s ing companies competing in global “signature” product lines involves markets, Binns acknowledged the supplying aluminum alloy steering competitive challenges the company columns used on the next-generation faces, but said Atlantic Casting & Boeing 787 jetliner. Engineering is growing its business About 25 percent of sales are garand adding new capacity. nered by supplying parts to major He also noted the fixed costs that defense contractors. The 15-percent come with the territory when doing balance of sales involves making business in New Jersey: high taxes, parts for various industrial sectors, energy and healthcare costs. such as impellers used for large com“We’re capable in this country of mercial air conditioning systems. having a vibrant manufacturing secA privately held company, tor,” he said. “We measure our qualAtlantic Casting & Engineering ity and productivity on a daily, annual sales are around $17 million. weekly and monthly basis.” In order to remain competitive, Binns said the company each year Erika Record Baking Equipment budgets up to $500,000 in capital Erika Record Baking Equipment spending to invest in the latest prois an international distributor of duction equipment, such as highPictured is the Erika Record medium to high-volume retail and speed machining centers. Divider/Rounder. The machine is commercial bakery equipment, Atlantic Casting & Engineering used for high-speed production of dough balls, which are used to founded in 1991 by Max Oehler. occupies two facilities on create bread and rolls. The Clifton headquarters, located Bloomfield Avenue: the casting at 37 Atlantic Way, is a 2,200 square foundry; and a facility for the busifoot distribution site, showroom and equipment testing ness office and machine shop. Binns represents the facility, which allows potential customers to sample third generation of family ownership of the Clifton machinery offered by the company. company. He assumed leadership of the company in the The Clifton company maintains a strong alliance late 1980s from his father George Binns. with Karl Schmidt Bäckereimaschinenfabrik GmbH in His grandfather, Ernest Binns—a tool and die maker Alfeld, Germany. from Liverpool, England—came to the United States in the late1930s and joined a group of engineers from Jon Cabral, a company spokesperson, said Clifton Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Corp. that launched the provides logistical advantages for the company. company in 1937. “Being in Clifton is a ‘big sell’ for us,” Cabral
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Made in Clifton said. “It’s a strategic location for our customer base in the metropolitan area and beyond.� Cabral described the various equipment product lines offered by Erika Record, a list that includes bread and roll production systems, confectionery depositors, cookie machines, divider/rounders, mixers, ovens, slicers, and sheeters. In essence, all of the machinery provides a function to bake and produce breads, rolls, pastries, pizza and cookies. Erika designs and builds its own equipment, and also distributes other product lines. In addition to selling new equipment, the company also refurbishes and rebuilds existing or used machinery. The company’s flagship product line is the Erika Record Divider/Rounder. The machine is offered in various models with different levels of automated features and production speeds and is designed for roll and bun production. Cabral explained the basic function as follows: A large vat of dough is first weighed into the desired portion. It is then evenly spread across a red rounding plate, in a circular fashion. Dough is then loaded into the machine for process-
ing, where a knife head lowers onto the dough and divides the one large piece of dough into smaller pieces. The machine then rounds the smaller pieces into perfectly formed dough balls. The size and shape of which can be tailored for various pastries and bread. A brief video of the machine’s functions can be viewed on the company website erikarecord.com. Cabral said that, in addition to offering world-class equipment, the company also provides customers with purchasing advice from experienced bakery professionals. “We sell world-class machines, but our real advantage is our sales consultants,� he said. “They’ve all worked as bakers in the food industry. They can advise our clients with the wisdom they’ve acquired from being in the business. We also have a highly skilled technical support staff.� Information posted on the company’s website echoed Cabral’s observations. “Our (sales) consultants include experienced bakers, from all different backgrounds, with experience ranging in scope from bakery shop owner to overseeing major production lines. Our team members have a combined total of over 100
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Made in Clifton years of baking industry experience. This includes being able to answer equipment and production related questions. Their expertise is provided as a complimentary part of the purchasing process.” As an active player in the global food industry, Erika Record attends and exhibits at major international trade shows. Much like manufacturing industries that encompass industrial materials such as metals and plastics, the highly competitive global food industry focuses on world-class technology, production methods and stateof-the-art equipment. Cabral said the company currently is making plans for staff members to attend the International Baking Association (IBA) trade fair for bakery confectionery and snacks, which will be held in Munich, Germany in September 2015. According to information posted on the IBA website, this gathering was first held in 1949 and attracts over 1,200 exhibitors and 70,000 attendees from more than 160 countries. Cabral said this is the world’s largest baking industry exposition. Erika Record also exhibits at the International Bakery Industry Expo (IBIE), held every three years in Las Vegas and sponsored by the American Bakers Association. The next IBIE conference will be held in October 2016. In addition, the company also attends select regional trade shows. Pereg Gourmet The first thing that hits you when you walk into the warehouse of Pereg Gourmet, located at 25 Styertowne Rd., is the lush, delicious, intoxicating aroma of aromatic spices. The facility houses tall shelves that hold hundreds of sacks, boxes and containers of herbs, rice,
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Along with serving as a distribution facility, the Clifton plant does some mixing and filling of spices. Pictured is a technician operating a vacuum/extrusion hopper, filling plastic jars with curry powder.
grains, seeds, nuts, bread crumbs and cooking oils. The various products are identified with labels from exotic ports of call: the Middle East, Asia, India and South America). It is, quite literally, a non-descript facility in Clifton that holds a global array of food products.
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Made in Clifton Pereg Gourmet is a family business that was founded in Israel (the area previously known as Palestine) in 1906. The company expanded to an operation in Flushing, NY, 10 years ago, and opened its Clifton plant in 2012. Brett Fuss, a marketing manager based in Flushing, said the company provides spices, herbs and other food products in bulk quantities for specialty markets (such as Fairway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe) as well as specialty food outlets and restaurants. Fuss noted that the company has enjoyed steady growth in recent years (he declined to provide annual sales figures) due to the vast consumer interest in allnatural food. North America is Pereg Gourmet’s biggest sales market, but the company also does a thriving business with international customers. “Yes, we consider ourselves to be part of the growing, international good-food movement,” Fuss stated. He noted most of the company’s product lines carry an
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all-natural, non-GMO (genetically modified organism) designation of purity. He said that, given the current consumer demand to know the source of food products, Pereg Gourmet aligns itself with many family farms to obtain raw ingredients. “The global supply chain for our products begins with farmers from around the world,” he said. All Pereg Gourmet products also carry Kosher certification. Quinoa (pronounced “KEEM-wah”), a nutritious grain from South America, is one of the company’s top-selling product lines, offered in a variety of forms, such as pastas, cereals and containers of the whole grain. Up until just a few years ago, quinoa—similar to rice in its application and preparation—was a littleknown food item; today it’s sought out by many consumers and is widely available in most supermarkets. Quinoa comes in a variety of colors, textures and flavors. For examples, inside the Clifton facility there were many sacks of red quinoa from Peru. Fuss said Pereg Gourmet distributes over 60 spices and herbs such as curry blends, cinnamon, coriander, turmeric, saffron, mint, cloves, cumin, all spice, black, white and red pepper, salt, anise, and four different versions of paprika that range from sweet, to smoked to spicy. Many of these products provide a distinctive flavor for Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian dishes—fish, vegetables and grilled meats. One of the company’s newest product lines, “Vahatar,” is a blend of herbs used to flavor pita bread served with olive oil. The company website (pereg-gourmet.com), posts recipes for using Pereg Gourmet ingredients and provides its business mission statement. “Pereg Gourmet understands that many of our customers follow special diets, whether for an allergy related illness or just simply to live a healthier lifestyle and avoid chronic illnesses. Our goal is to create a happy and healthy community. Food should make you feel good when you are eating it, confident in knowing you made a smart choice. Food should connect you to family, culture, community and the planet. Food should be uncomplicated—deliciously simple and straightforward. Food should be made with the highest quality ingredients.”
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KERIMOV THE COBBLER A Student of Shoemaking By Domenick Reda It’s a sunny late-summer day, and the mild-mannered looking architect turned cobbler is opening shop. Just three years ago Rovshan Kerimov could have only dreamed about a day like today. Kerimov, 48, who immigrated to the United States from Azerbaijan in 2011, owns and operates Kerimoff Shoes on Clifton Ave., near Third Ave. He purchased the establishment with money he saved honing his skills as a shoemaker, mostly in his native country. Two-and-a-half years ago when Kerimov bought the then General Shoe Repair, he renamed it Kerimoff Shoes, a slight variation on the family name which he called a matter of preference. “It just sounds better,” he said, with a distinct Eastern European accent. “When I bought the store it was very slow. Very slow.” Since then Kerimov has used his special set of skills to turn the business around. 74 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
Kerimov has two primary customers: those who prefer to keep their comfortable older items and restore it. Because of his skills, he also attracts people who can appreciate his ability to customize almost anything, including shoes, boots, jackets and handbags. “We are saving people money with repair, instead of them having to buy new shoes or other items,” he explained, and then smiled. “But we have the ability to custom create what people want as well.” It was back in Azerbaijan—a small country about the size of New Jersey which proclaimed its independence from the former Soviet Union in October 1991–when Kerimov began making and repairing shoes and forging his own kind of independence. But before he ever thought about being a shoemaker, his propensity for creating and restoring, led him to earn a master’s degree in architecture, which he studied in the former Soviet Republic.
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Kerimov The Cobbler “At the same time I was getting my degree, I had a friend who was a shoemaker,” he said of his path to being a cobbler. “He was having a lot of success.” Kerimov started watching his pal and eventually started working for him on a part-time basis. “I was an architectural student, but I soon became a student of shoemaking too,” he recalled. “I am an
architect by trade; shoemaking is my hobby.” That “hobby” soon became his career as he began taking more interest in the craft and started doing it on his own, making and repairing shoes, but also handbags, jackets and other materials, mainly leather. “I did everything,” he said. “I always liked working with my hands. And I know good leather.”
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His career change led to a successful 20-year business back in his homeland. Even early on, word spread fast about this new cobbler, and the certain panache he brought with him. Soon enough his ability to create fancy products, like fashionable dance shoes, garnered him exclusive clientele. His customers included not only dancers, but models, singers and public officials who only trusted the talented hands of Kerimov to help them look their best. Even the family members of Azerbaijan’s political leaders were coming to him. During that time the young entrepreneur already had one eye on his American dream. While raising two young children with his wife Vefa, Kerimov wanted more. Then one day in late Summer of 2011, he tried his luck at playing the lottery. “I played the Green Card Lottery and I won on the first try,” he said. “I have friends who have been playing for years and have never won. I guess it was meant to be.” The Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Program, created by the United States government, grants 50,000 green cards each year to people in countries that don’t normally send immigrants to the America. Applicants need at least a high school education and/or specific work training in a given field. Now it was off to the U.S. with his wife and two kids. Very quickly, the Kerimovs were packing their belongings and within weeks they arrived upon the eastern shores of America; the land they had heard so much about.
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Kerimov The Cobbler Despite a nice nest egg from having sold his shoe business in Azerbaijan, Kerimov needed to find work so he could continue to support his family. His first stop was Cliffside Park. More than 20 years earlier, some friends he knew from Ukraine had themselves immigrated to the area, so Kerimov already had some familiarity, through them. On his second day in America, armed with the confidence he had in his own ability and his good fortune, Kerimov was walking the streets of the town with his family when he spotted a small shoe repair store. “I found the place by luck,” he explained. “I walked inside the store with my family and met this Greek guy who owned the place. I told him about my background and I asked if he needed any help. He said ‘yes.’” Starting on a part-time basis, Kerimov worked there for nearly a year. But not everything was easy for the foreigner in his new surroundings. He was coming to a different country and starting over as a middle-aged man. “It was Sept. 25, 2011,” he recalled. “It was a new country. Everything was new.” For the first month in this new land, Kerimov and his family–his wife of now 25 years; his daughter Nazrir, now 20 and a student at Penn State, and son Afat, now 22, a student at Bergen Community College–lived with his old friends, until they found a modest house to rent, where the Kerimovs still reside today. During those early days he searched business listings in northern New Jersey for shoe repair stores that might be up for sale, when he found General Shoe Repair. Despite shoe repair being considered by many to be a somewhat antiquated art, and the presence of several other area shoe repair shops, Kerimov knew his unique
ability to turn something stale into fresh, would separate him from the other guys. And with the confidence in his own ability and knowing the additional services his business would offer, Kerimov has been able to craft his own niche in a community which has as much diversity as any in New Jersey. Above all, Kerimov knows there is still a need for good quality, custom accessories, something he believes he can do better than the competition. “Clifton has immigrants from Russia, Poland and many other countries,” he said. “And we have customers coming here from Hoboken, Hackensack, Manhattan and all over. Most of our business comes from word of mouth, not advertising. It’s still the best way.” Kerimoff Shoes is a small business, currently employing only one regular employee. Kerimov briefly had help from an apprentice and said he wouldn’t mind teaching the craft to others in the future. Besides leather restoration, stretching and dyeing, which can vary from shoes, jackets and handbags, to other accessories, such as items for cars and trucks, the store also tailors clothes. “I do the alterations,” said Aneta Strekowska, an immigrant from Poland who has worked for Kerimov for the past year as a part-time tailor. “We have many regular customers.” Kerimov’s children, although not really involved in the business, are working on their own American dream. Afat helps out when he can, but like his sister, his focus is college. But he still appreciates the unique talent his father possesses. “When he needs the help I’m here,” he said. “You can’t learn this at school.” See more on Facebook: search Kerimoff Shoes.
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A l o n g Ma i n Ave n u e i n t o Ma i n Me m o r i a l Pa rk Clifton’s Annual Halloween Parade & HarvestFest is Oct. 26, rain or shine. The parade is led by the famous Mustang Marching Band, floats and costumed characters of all ages.. Step off is 12:45 pm at Main and Madison Aves. It goes through Downtown Clifton to Main Memorial Park with judging there. HarvestFest continues there until 4:30 pm with games and rides costing between a quarter and a dollar, game booths, plus a midway of sorts with rides.
Enter the Apple Pie Bake-Off; participate in pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, shopping and more. Visit the Petting Zoo or take a journey on our hayride. Food prices will vary. Pre-purchase $5 bags of tokens with special pricing. Volunteers and vendors are always needed. For details to volunteer or to vend, visit Clifton Recreation, second floor of city hall. For info, call 973-470-5956. On these pages are photos from last year’s events...
Spooktacular Sweets Custom Made Wedding Cakes and Engagement Cakes, Birthday Cakes, Sweet 16 Cakes, Baby Shower Cakes
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Apple Pie Baking Contest The 16th Annual Apple Pie Baking Contest will be conducted at the HarvestFest. Register your pie at Main Memorial Park between 1 and 1:30 pm when judging will begin. Prizes are gift certificates to local grocery stores and will be awarded to bakers of the top three pies. Consolation gifts will be issued for all non-winning entries. Vendors are welcome for the festival. Call the Recreation Department for additional information at 973-470-5956.
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Community Support
Clifton FMBA Coat Drive Gearing up for a number of community events, members of Clifton FMBA 21 include FF Drew, FF Duran,. FF Cassidy (also FMBA 21 President) FF Turi who chairs the Food and Coat Drives, FF Gillespie, Lt. Cianciotto and Capt. Prezioso
For the 6th Annual Coat Drive, members of Clifton FMBA 21, the Firefighter’s Union, plan to collect and distribute more than 500 “gently used” winter coats to men, women and children in need. Firefighter Steve Turi chairs the annual event and said the need is clear, especially as the winter approaches. The effort has a number of partners who make it work and bring warmth to those in need. From this item and other stories in local newspapers, to donations of signs for the six firehouses by Sign-ARama on Van Houten Ave., there are many ways to get the word out. After the collection in underway, that is when the hard work begins. “Our friends at Deluxe Cleaners on Main Ave. in Downtown Clifton donates their laundering services before the coats are delivered to St. Peter’s Haven on Clifton Ave. in Clifton, and other charity organizations. The DeLora family has been a generous and hardworking partner with us,” said Turi. 86 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
In 2013 about 500 coats were collected. “We utilize the six firehouses in Clifton as collection points and residents can bring donations most anytime during the month,” said Turi. “This year we may use the help of other cleaners based on how many coats we bring in.” In past years, representative of local companies, churches, other houses of worship, schools and other organizations have helped to collect coats. Fire stations are at 69 First St; 7 Dumont Ave; 180 Maher Ave; 144 Main Ave; 51 Brighton Rd; and 1202 Van Houten Ave. Once this coat drive is complete, Turi said the FMBA in conjunction with members of PBA 36, the Clifton Police Department Union, will begin a Toys for Tots drive in November and December. “We believe that giving back to the community is part of our mission,” said Turi, speaking on behalf of the Clifton Firefighters. “We are proud to volunteer our time and help our town and the people here that may need a little extra help.”
At St. Peter’s Church, that’s Matthew Hollis holding Tyson after last year’s belssing. At right, Ann-Marie Lancaster with her cat Toby snuggled in a blanket. Lancaster is running a blanket campaign with the Clifton Aniaml Shelter.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will host its annual Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 5 at 2 pm, the day which follow the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. All creatures and their caretakers are welcome to attend the event at 380 Clifton Ave. The service consists of songs, readings, a brief talk and the blessing of each animal with its owner. The church has hosted animals as ordinary as cats, dogs, birds, fish, ferrets and rabbits. Animals that are more exotic have also been blessed, including snakes, spiders, iguanas, and lizards. If a pet cannot come to the church, feel free to bring a picture of the pet for a blessing. “St. Francis” will be at the church for people to take pictures of their pets with the saint. People can also take pictures of their pets at the shrine of St. Francis located at the front of the church. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church also has a St. Francis Memorial Garden. The Cremains of pets may be interred in the Garden with the request that a donation be made from the pet owner.
For details on the blessing or the Memorial Garden, call 973-546-5020 Tuesday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Oct. 5 also marks the Action against Hunger Food Drive. St. Peter’s hall will serve as a drop off point for food donations from noon to 4 pm. “We ask that people attending the Blessing of the Animals consider bringing a donation of food to help feed the hungry,” said Tara M. Fueshko. Food items needed include pasta, two-pound bags of rice, peanut butter, cold cereal, and canned tuna. “We also take dog and cat food,” she added. Ann-Marie Lancaster of the Clifton Fire Department is collecting handmade blankets to be used by ‘resident’ cats and dogs at the Clifton Animal Shelter. ”Animals can find security and warmth in a blanket,” she said. “Something as simple as a blanket can even ease anxiety or stress and bring comfort and joy to them.” Blankets can be dropped off at Clifton Fire Headquarters, the yellow house in the parking lot of City Hall. Call 973-470-5802 for details. Clifton Merchant • October 2014 87
Clifton Cover Boy
Once Lazy, now the Model Student, Davod Osorio Found ‘It’ at Berkeley Story by Tom Hawrylko David Osorio admits he was lazy. Never on the soccer pitch as a Stallion or a Mustang. And never as a worker. But as a student? Definitely. “I wasn’t dumb, just lazy,” said Osorio, reflecting on his academic past. Today, the 24 year old who lives with his mother Leonor in Clifton Center has a new approach to education and the opportunities it offers. Now a student at Berkeley College here in Clifton pursuing an associate’s degree in surgical technology, he was awarded $10,000 in scholarships from the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting and the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. He was selected based on academic achievement, volunteerism, career goals, financial need, instructor recommendations and professional goals. Officials at Berkeley was so impressed with Osorio winning the awards—and then they learned of his own personal story—that they made him the ‘cover boy’ for their brochure and also included his image on posters, putting him front and center as a model student. Osorio is thankful for the cash in the award as he pay the tuition at Berkeley. To make that happen and to keep on track for his 2015 graduation, he currently works three jobs. But it was not always that way for the native of Colombia who will turn 24 Oct. 8, at least not scholastically. “I could always learn, I just didn’t apply myself,” he explained. “I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to be ready.” Osorio chose a different path as a teenager. He was a great athlete, certainly a hustler on the soccer field—for the Clifton Stallions traveling program and as a Mustang at CHS where Coach Joe Vespignani named him Defender of the Year for 2008. That was the year the Mustangs made a magical run that ended one game too soon as Clifton (21-4-2) lost 2-0 to Rancocas Valley in the State Group 4 final on Nov. 21, 2008. “Don’t remind me. That loss still hurts,” said Osorio. 88 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
But as a student, it just wasn’t happening. School work was never a priority. Looking back, Osorio knew he had no one to blame but himself. “I finished almost dead last in the Class of ‘09,” he remembered, not so fondly. After high school, prior to being a student at Berkeley, he attended Bergen Community College. There he also did not apply himself, not really motivated nor focused on a career path. He dropped out and worked. Then he got his wake up call. Realizing how hard his mother was working to make ends meet, something clicked with Osorio. “She is my motivation. If I could be 10 percent of the person my mom is, then I’ll be a great guy. Seeing her work has motivated me. I want to make a better life for me and my mom.” Leonor is well known in Clifton as a waitress at La Riviera Trattoria on Piaget Ave. Following his mother’s lead, Osorio knew first and foremost he would first have to find a way to pay for school to get to that better life. “I work hard to pay for school,” he said.
Berkeley College student David Osorio of Clifton was awarded scholarships from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting and the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Osorio is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology at Berkeley College in Clifton. He is pictured on the facing page with his mom Lenore, the person he cites as his role model.
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Clifton Cover Boy His three jobs, all in Clifton, include mornings in the office at A1 Construction on Main Ave., afternoons as a peer tutor at Berkeley and weekends as a clerk at Wine Country on Rt. 46 East. And he is realizing his academic potential as well, with the great opportunity he has been given by Berkeley College. “Studying to be a Surgical Technologist has opened my eyes tremendously to the human body,” Osorio said. “I was fascinated when I started to learn the anatomy and the physiology of the body. I look forward to working as a surgical technologist because it’s an exciting field that allows you to help others.” “I am honored to get this scholarship,” said Osorio who maintains a 4.0 GPA at Berkeley and is set to graduate next June. With all the area hospitals and medical center, he expects to find work quickly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 30 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
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And while landing that first job in the medical industry sounds great, Osorio has long term goals that include more education. “I see it as a trajectory to becoming either a physician’s assistant for a medical doctor.” Looking back on his days of underachievement as a student, Osorio feels like a different person today, but he did take some fond memories with him. Despite his early struggles as a high school student, Osorio enjoyed his experience at CHS. Many of the people he met, mainly through athletics, set the building blocks for who he is today and who he will become in the future. As a Stallion it was coaches Don Knapp and Orlando Ramirez who motivated him to be a great soccer player. At CHS, it was Coach Vespignani. “I had a good time there,” Osorio said. “I love Clifton. It’s my town.” But above all his greatest influence has always been and is today, Leonor. “I needed to make it for my mom,” Osorio said. “She is my role model.”
Clifton FMBA Local 21 members and Tomahawk Promotions, publisher of this magazine, are proud to once again team up with our business community to publish a Fire Prevention Booklet for Kids. In October, Clifton Fire Safety officials will visit schools and talk to children but it is a discussion that must continue year round. Thanks again to our sponsors for their support and helping us to spread the word, at no cost to city taxpayers. • Apprehensive Patient & Poller Dental Group • Rainbow Montessori • State Farm Agents Tom Tobin & Bill G. Eljouzi • Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage • Joseph Lauritano Landscaping • New Bairn School • Mr. Cupcakes • Tenafly Pediatrics • Wee Care Child Care Center • Shook Funeral Home • IHOP Restaurant of Clifton • Carl G. Zoecklein, Esq. • P&A Auto Parts • Assemblyman Thomas Giblin • Members of Clifton PBA Local 36 • North Jersey Federal Credit Union • Athenia Veterans Post • Valley National Bank • Downtown Clifton Economic Development Group 10,000 copies of this coloring book are being distributed to students in Grade 3 and below. To get a free copy, or to arrange a school visit, call Fire Headquarters at 973-470-5801.
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Mustang History Building a City through Football...
Coach Joe Grecco... by Jack De Vries & Joe Hawrylko
During its infancy, Clifton was a city divided. To her residents, the only part that was recognized as ‘Clifton’ was the downtown area around Main Ave. Other citizens considered themselves part of Delawanna, Athenia, Botany, or Lakeview first, Cliftonites second. But that all changed with the arrival of the now legendary Fighting Mustang coach and teacher Joe Grecco. Taking over a downtrodden program in 1945, Grecco began building his team of high schoolers, whom he always referred to as men. The first year he had 17 players on his squad; by next season, there were 33. Wins became common and Grecco’s influence began spreading far beyond the gridiron and classroom. His persistence and commitment to success, especially in the classroom (he insisted on checking his players’ report cards), won over many parents, teachers, and students. In 1945, Clifton went 6-2-1 and subsequently with the wins, Grecco brought the residents of the city together. Soon, crowds of more than 10,000 would come to watch the Mustangs play. “We gave Clifton people,” Grecco said, “a feeling of community.” But this was only the start of his legacy. In 1946, Grecco would make Mustang history for the first time. Led by All-American runner Bobby Boettcher, the Mustangs flew out of the gate in 1946, stomping Paterson Central 19-0. More victories followed—including an incredible comeback at Nutley, where legend has it that after the coach’s fiery speech, the Mustangs broke down the field house door and beat Nutley, 18-13. Clifton finished undefeated and was invited to play in the “Oyster Bowl” against Granby High School in Norfolk, VA, although they lost on a controversial play. However, with their great season, the Mustangs had given Clifton an identity and a focal point. Stung by being called “the team without a stadium” at the Oyster Bowl (Clifton played its home games at Paterson’s Hinchliffe Stadium), the city built the Mustangs a $600,000 stadium. 92 October 2014 • Clifton Merchant
At the dedication of Joe Grecco field in 2003, Coaches Grecco and Vander Closter with former Fighting Mustangs.
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Mustang History In 1950, Clifton opened Clifton School Stadium with a 19-6 win over Dickinson in front of more than 10,000 roaring fans. Change wasn’t coming anymore—it was here. From now on, each fall Saturday afternoon, Cliftonites from every corner of town flooded into their new stadium to watch the Fighting Mustangs. Grecco’s record includes four undefeated seasons in 1946, 1957, 1959, and 1962; 12 state sectional championships; and three Newark News unofficial state titles. But what the record doesn’t show—which is even more important to the coach’s legacy—was the many players’ lives Grecco changed by guiding them on to college or simply setting the standard for excellence in their lives. Coach Joe Grecco’s coaching career ended in 1963 with a lifetime 137-38-3 record. He was selected as the New York News All-Star Coach in 1956, 1957, and 1962, and twice chosen as the UNICO “All-Star High School High School Football Coach in the Nation.” In 2000, he was chosen as The Record’s “All-Century Coach” from Passaic County. Just before his death on Dec. 18, 2003, the field at Clifton School Stadium was named in Coach Joe Grecco’s honor. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who helped build a city. The text of Coach Grecco’s speech follows:
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“My heartfelt thanks go to the Clifton Board of Education for naming this field with so many exciting memories in my honor. I have received many honors–local, state, and national–but this Clifton Mustang gridiron bearing my name, is a magnificent tribute that exceeds them all! I want to thank my Fighting Mustangs! Your deeds, on and off the gridiron, made this honor possible. Thanks to all of my assistant coaches, especially my right hand man, Bill Vander Closter, who is sharing this day with me. Also sharing this momentous day are the members of my family: my daughter Phyllis Borowski; my daughter Jo-Ann Klimek and her husband Chet; my granddaughter Kristin Mueller and her husband Greg; my granddaughter Karen Renaud and her husband Greg; my grandson Peter Klimek and his wife Tracy; my granddaughter Joie Walaas and her husband Arnt; and my eight great-grandchildren. As all coaches know, the ones who keep the family together during those hectic days are our wives. I want to thank Teresa, my wife of 62 years. Also, thanks go to our loyal Mustang Fans who inspired us to reach the very heights. I want to close by thanking My Lord and Savior, Jesus, for His love and guidance.”
Jaroslaw Fedun of Clifton’s Self Reliance Federal Credit Union (NJ) with Rep. Bill Pascrell. Mariya Shchur, Luke Lenczuk, Olya Shchur, Sofia Migalko, Olesya Hryvnyak, Marichka Migalko hold a Ukrainian banner with the slogan “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Her Heroes! Ukrainian soldiers we are proud of you! Ukrainian American constituents meet with Pascrell prior to the President of Ukraine’s address to a Joint Session of Congress. Dmitri Lenczuk at the rally.
Some 40 Ukrainian Americans from Clifton and Passaic traveled to Washington on Sept. 17 to advocate for increased humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. “Putin wants to destroy Ukrainian independence, to re-create a Russian empire. This war he started is not only a threat to Ukraine, but also a global threat,” said Maria Duplak, head of the local branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, organizers of the trip, along with the support of the Self Reliance (NJ) Federal Credit Union. The two-day Ukrainian Days event included visits to Members of Congress, an address by Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko to a Joint Session of Congress and a rally in front of the White House during President Poroshenko’s meeting with President Obama. During the rally, Rep. Bill Pascrell received a “Friend of Ukraine” award from the Ukrainian National Information Service.
According to UNIS Director Michael Sawkiw, “Congressman Pascrell has been a longtime supporter and friend to Ukrainian Americans. During recent months, in response to Russia’s unprecedented aggression against Ukraine, Congressman Pascrell has been among those leading the call for stronger US military aid and support to Ukraine. He has no illusion about Russia’s intentions, and for that we are grateful.” Clifton Merchant • October 2014
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In the Schools CHS senior Diamond Vaughan is conducting a coat drive for the second year in a row. The reason for her efforts are simple: it’s cold outside. Coats (new or gently used) will be collected during the week of October 27-31. There will also be donation boxes set up in each wing of CHS during that week. Coats will also be collected at the Homecoming Football Game on Oct. 31, at Clifton Stadium. “If you bring a coat to donate at the game, you will be able to get into the stadium for free. My goal is to collect 300 or more coats to give back to the unfortunate children and adults,” said the senior, pictured here, who expects to have a creeer in the field of social work after college. “I donate the coats to Daycare 100 in Paterson.” The public is also invited to support diamon’s campaign. To help out, call the CHS counseling office at 973-591-6831. Clifton High School offers prep courses for the Nov. 8 and Dec. 6 SATs, and the Oct. 15 and Oct. 18 PSATs. Course 102 meets on weeknights from 7 to 9 pm from Oct. 7 to Dec. 4. The package is $340. Registration forms are in the CHS main office, or at clifton.k12.nj.us. For more info, call Louise Iuele at 973-470-2310.
CHS Class of 1974 40 year reunion is 6 pm on Oct. 11, at the Bethwood. Call 973-818-7209, Fb at CHS 1974 Alumni Page or email CHS74reunion@optonline.net. Dennis Sprick, CHS 1974, performs ‘My Top 40 of 1967’ at 8 pm on Oct. 10 at School 3 auditorium, Washington Ave., as a prelude to the CHS 1974 reunion the next evening. Tickets are $20 at the door, cash only. Email theheartfultouch@yahoo.com. The CHS Class of 1984 30 year reunion is on Nov. 8 at the Parsippany Sheraton. Tickets are $89 for the buffet dinner, and there’s a cash bar. For further info go to: reunions-unlimited.com, or check out the CHS Class of 1984 Facebook page or email johnamoisonlaw.com. The CHS Class of 1994 20 year reunion is Nov. 29, 7 pm at the Empire Club, Little Ferry. Tickets are $80 and include dinner, open bar and entertainment. Details on the Clifton High School Class of 1994 Facebook group page. Or email apashman@gmail.com. The CHS Class of 2004 10 year reunion is at 7 pm on Nov. 28 at the Brownstone. Look for Clifton Class of 2004 on Fb or write to Class President Tom Garretson at shookfuneralhome@gmail.com
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Some 500 people enjoyed the second Taste of Clifton on Sept. 29. Staged as a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton and held in the Club’s Auditorium, reps from 34 restaurants and caterers and four liquor purveyors offered samples. Development Director John DeGraaf said some $20,000 was raised by admission fees and sponsors. The funds go to underwrite programming at the Club. To vend in the 2015 Taste of Clifton on Sept. 28, call DeGraaf at 973-773-0966 ext. 111. Photos from Monday’s event are on the following pages.
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Finding a Remedy for End-of-Summer Blues CAN BE THE PITS
By Charles Gamarekian
If a fire pit is just what the doctor ordered to cure your end-of-summer blues, you have a plethora of models to choose from at Athenia Mason Supply. They range from round and square designs for customary wood burning as well as with natural gas convenience. Caps for the wall units are also available in cast stone that resembles natural bluestone for stylish yet functional appeal. Rings for circular models from Cambridge come in both cast stone and granite. The capping, wall stones and pavers are color coordinated to blend together and integrate into a more expansive patio design. Don’t let design and installation costs frustrate you either. Cambridge offers a full line of pre-cut, prepackaged fire pit kits in addition to a fully assembled gas fire table. You can further enhance the ambience of a Cambridge gas fire pit and the fire table with optional glass fire beads, which are specially designed, oval shaped, linear beads that will reflect light and sparkle when the flame is lit.
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Their unique shape allows the flame to move freely between each bead to create a dancing, liquid-like display. Three different bead colors are available and can be mixed for a truly personalized visual effect. With solutions-based hardscape products to revitalize your outdoor lifestyle, don’t hesitate to begin with a simple fire pit on a 100 sq. ft. patio and add square footage and other amenities later such as perimeter walls, walls for casual seating, or columns as time and/or your budget permits. Outdoor rooms can include a kitchen, pizza oven and other lifestyle amenities. With Cambridge Products, any or all of this can be accomplished in phases without concern for matching colors, textures and styles in the final outcome. Now that you know the Rx, the versatility and damage control resulting from fluctuating climates make fire pits made of hardscape materials the ideal choice. Just think: You won’t have to store them away at the end of summer. Instead you will be free to use your fire pit ondemand for gatherings that let you enjoy fireside chats, grilling of meats and feel the warmth of an open fire.
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Birthdays & Celebrations - October 2014
Noel Coronel turns 10 on Oct 16. Happy Birthday to Jeffrey Joseph Angello and his sister Renee Kimiko who both turn 13 on Oct. 4. Best Wishes to George Hayek who celebrated his 88th birthday on Oct. 1. Rudy Zajak turned 100 on April 21. Maria Brendli turned 100 on 9/11 with friends and family by her side.
Birthdays & Celebrations
Send dates & names...tomhawrylko@optonline.net George Hayek .................10/1 Sarah Bekheet..................10/1 Melissa Szwec .................10/2 Awilda Gorman ...............10/3 Ashley Messick ................10/3 Christopher Papademetriou .10/3 Charlene Rivera ...............10/3 Grace Robol ....................10/3 Frank Antoniello ...............10/4
John Brock Jr....................10/4 Kimberly Ferrara ..............10/4 Kayla Galka ....................10/4 Lisa Junda........................10/4 Alan Merena ...................10/4 Bruce Merena ..................10/4 Villeroy Hard ...................10/5 Rosalie D. Konopinski .......10/5 Kyle Takacs......................10/5
Congratulations to Barbara & Orest Luzniak who celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary on Oct. 11.
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Gene D’Amico .................10/6 Nicole Nettleton...............10/6 Joseph Tahan ...................10/6 Cheryl Cafone .................10/7 Christopher Phillips ...........10/7 Jilian Fueshko...................10/8 Nick Kacmarcik ...............10/8 Kim Oeffler......................10/8 Michael Biondi...............10/10 Rich Montague...............10/10 Kyle Zlotkowski ..............10/10 Eileen Patterson..............10/11 Anthony Shackil .............10/11 Michael D. Rice .............10/12 Stepanie M. Palomba .......10/13 Kimberly Beirne..............10/14 Lil Geiger ......................10/14 Mary Anne Kowalczyk....10/14 Andrea Kovalcik.............10/15 Stephen Kovalcik............10/15 Marianne Meyer ............10/15 Noel Oliver ...................10/16 Noel Coronel.................10/16 Nicole Zlotkowski...........10/16 Nancy Hromchak ...........10/17 Devin DeVries ................10/18 Matthew Fabiano ...........10/18 Edward Holster, Sr..........10/18 Jamie Norris ..................10/18 Brian James Grace .........10/19 Kristen A. Hariton...........10/19 Rocky S. Angello (woof!)..10/20
Lillian “Lily” Grace Placko was born on Aug. 5 to parents Christine and William. Joan Bednarski...............10/20 Jean Chiariello ...............10/20 Lea Dziuba ....................10/20 Pactrick M. Doremus Jr. ....10/21 Eugene Osmak...............10/21 Nathaniel Santelli...........10/21 Katelyn Smith .................10/21 Jonathan Rossman ..........10/22 Toni Van Blarcom ...........10/22 Daniel Atoche ................10/23 Andrew J. “Dez“ Varga ........10/23 Allison Beirne.................10/24 Sandra Kuruc.................10/24 Heather Fierro................10/24 Paul G. Andrikanich .......10/25 Mildred Scrosia..............10/25 Matthew McGuire ..........10/26 Kristofer Scotto ...............10/27 Nicole Keller..................10/28 Ashley Gretina ...............10/29 Lindsay Berberich ...........10/30 Francesca Scrosia ..........10/30 Hadeel Aref...................10/31 Raymond Romanski ........10/31 Josef Schmidt .................10/31
Andy and Mary Jane Varga will celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary on October 26. Clifton Merchant • October 2014 105
October Edition The Clifton Democratic Club hosts a School Board Election candidates’ forum on Oct. 14, at 7 pm at Clifton City Hall. The event is open to the general public and will be moderated by Club President John D. Pogorelec, Jr., Esq. Anyone can submit a question for consideration that is based on public policy issues concerning education and administration in the school system and candidate will respond. The forum will be taped and aired on CATV. Call 973-778-1604. The 2014 General Election is on Nov. 4, with polling hours from 6 am to 8 pm. Registered voters from Passaic County who can’t get to the polls on Election Day may vote ahead of time in the Passaic County Clerk’s office, 401 Grand St., Room 130, Paterson Hours for in-person voting are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm, Saturday Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 9 am to 1 pm and Monday, Nov 3, 8:30 am to 3 pm on Nov. 3. Call 973-881-4127 with any questions. Editor’s Note: The Coalition for Brain Injury Research does not have a Walk-a-Thon on Oct. 10, as we reported in last monht’s magazine. Sorry for confusion. For more details, go to brainjurycure.org.
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St John Lutheran Church invites vendors to participate in the Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show on Nov. 22, from 9 am to 3 pm. Rent a table for $20 to showcase the specialty items you have available for sale to the public. The Bazaar is in the church hall at 140 Lexington Ave., Passaic. Call 973-779-1166 or 973-246-3246. The Clifton Veterans Day Parade steps off at 2 pm on Nov. 9. The parade is tentatively set to begin at Huron and Van Houten Aves. and continue through Athenia to Clifton City Hall and the Avenue of Flags. “Join us as a veteran or have your group march in the parade,” said Chair Keith Oakley. “We want scout troops and social organizations as part of the event. Our goal is to honor those who have served and by participating we do that as a community.” To participate, donate or for details, call Oakley at 201-774-6666 or write to him at oaknuts26@aol.com. The Paul VI Class of 1974 40th Reunion is Oct. 11 from 6 to 11 pm at Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill in Fairfield. Cost is $65. Find them on Fb at Paul VI Class of 1974 Reunion or write to lgeider@optonline.net.
Tomahawk Promotions 1288 main avenue Clifton, NJ 07011
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DEDICATION
Jim Anzaldi is a lifelong Clifton resident dedicated to our city and its people. He has been a special part of the city’s civic and charitable causes, helping people from all walks of life. He is an outstanding public official who is respected throughout the community.
Jim Anzaldi deserves our support and help on November 4.
RE-ELECT JIM ANZALDI PAID
FOR BY JIM
ANZALDI CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, 156 DAY ST. CLIFTON, NJ 07011