Clifton Merchant Magazine - October 2005 by Clifton Merchant Magazine

FRONT COVER

Inside Front Cover

tHE apprEHEnSiVE patiEnt

pollEr DEntal Group

DEntal CarE For CoWarDS

DEntiStry WHilE you SlEEp

629 Clifton Ave • Clifton

470 Clifton Ave • Clifton

973-777-7364

973-546-6977

459 Chestnut St • Union

908-686-5868 • Brand New Facility • Tooth Whitening & Bleaching • Implants & Crowns • Dentures & Repairs • Oral Surgery & Periodontics • Root Canals • Braces & Invisalign Braces • Porcelain Veneers as seen on TV Hours: Mon-Fri 9aM-8pM • Saturday 9aM-3pM Emergencies Seen Same Day Dr. Michael Auyob, Spec. #5147 Orthodontist Dr. Cory Wanatick, Spec. #3888 Periodontist Dr. Andrew Maron, Spec. #3814 Oral Surgeon

CoMpliMEntary iMplant ConSultationS We Offer Special Attention For Our Senior Citizen Friends

SEConD opinionS WElCoME

1519

10 Years After Many Shared in Our Success • by Tom Hawrylko

am one lucky editor. Looking back over 10 years of magazines, I’ve had some great writers working for me: Jack DeVries, Rob Wahlers, Fran Hopkins, Joe Torelli, Daniel Wolfe, John Bendel and Chris Lawlor, to name a few of the folks that made my job look easy.

From there, our designers, most notably my good friend Fabian Calvo—who designed this month’s cover—have creatively composed those words, photographs and advertisements to create this ever evolving package of news called Clifton Merchant Magazine.

There’s more to team Tomahawk: our distributor Frank Burke—and in the past, people like Kim and Ralph West—put our magazine where you can find it, in what seems to be every store in Clifton. Back at home, my wife Cheryl keeps the business side of our publication running smooth, doing everything from billing to managing the subscriptions. But Cheryl’s greatest job has no description: she tones down my stuff when it needs to be and fires me up after I’ve been sacked. There are many others who have helped or continue to make Clifton Merchant Magazine look good. They include my oldest son Joseph, who works here now as an intern along with Alicia Feghhi, and artists like Jack Tulling and Andre Olave. Photographers Bill Clare and Jack Anderson are notable contributors. Bill is a can-do guy who has captured some great images. The funny thing about Jack’s photos is that he didn’t shoot them for us. His timeless photos of Cliftonites are from the heyday of the Herald News and they’ve found their way into my archives and onto these pages. Thanks to sports historian Lou Poles for his diligent fact checking and to Clifton Fireman Rich DeLotto, who did the initial research for our Vietnam Remembered edition published in May, 2000.

☛

In the name of progress, that’s the Clifton Theater being demolished on Jan. 19, 2001. My column, entitled ‘Changes’ challenged us all to envision Clifton Tomorrow.

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

Walgreening of Clifton Writing about issues such as veterans, history and sports became our trademark but a slow evolution was brewing at the magazine. By February, 2001 I gently began publically questioning how our elected leaders were planning for the future. The cover story of that edition was entitled ‘Changes’ and it showed the demolition of the Clifton Theater, the first step in what I dubbed the Walgreening of Clifton. “How old will you and your kids be in the year 2020?” I asked in that column. “Are we building a Clifton of tomorrow that they will want to stay and be a part of?” Covering topics such as diversity, overcrowded schools and municipal planning, I asked how Clifton politicians could have approved the construction of 650 units of housing on the former Shulton factory complex and not receive any developer’s give back. I invited readers to share their opinions. But we received little or no responses and that took the wind out of my sails for a few months. City Council elections were in May, 2002 and in the months prior we profiled the candidates.

The questions were not too tough and it became a walk in the park (some prefer to call it a beauty contest) for the six incumbents and newcomer Frank Gaccione (Councilman Les Herrschaft retired). But by

January, 2003, what began as gentle questioning had evolved into a loud challenge in which we urged Clifton’s elected representatives to take advantage of this new concept of Smart Growth (see page 68).

Thirty years after the end of the conflict, our May, 2000 edition would recreate the past and celebrate the lives of the Clifton men who died while in service during the Vietnam War.

16,000 MAGAZINES are distributed to hundreds of Clifton Merchants the first Friday of Every Month. SUBSCRIPTIONS PAGE 89 $15/year in Clifton $25/year out of town CALL 973-253-4400 entire contents copyright 2005 © tomahawk promotions 4

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Tom Hawrylko BUSINESS MANAGER Cheryl Hawrylko

Tomahawk Promotions 1288 Main Avenue Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011 973-253-4400 • tom.hawrylko@verizon.net

WRITERS Jack DeVries, Joe Torelli, Fran Hopkin, John Bendel, Robert Wahlers, Daniel Wolfe, Gary Anolik, Joe Hawrylko, Alicia Feghhi

Looking back to those editions, I see that Clifton Merchant Magazine did not simply evolve, it experienced a seismic shift. Our January, 2003 Outlook edition identified ‘Big Issues’ we would cover: Athenia Steel, Cambridge Crossings, the Master Plan, the need for a full time Zoning Officer and a full time Planning Officer, overcrowded schools... We moved safe and soft stories to the back of the magazine and became fair and frank in the front. I sensed that I was not the only one fed up with the lack of planning and over-development in Clifton. A lot had changed since February, 2001 when I asked for people’s opinions on the future of our city. One year later, residents were fed up. In February, 2002, we started our No More Housing campaign and over 1,300 people signed the petition and allowed us to publish their names to say, stop the residential building madness. That year, we also asked how a city as large as Clifton—which has experienced phenomenal growth— could continue to function without the leadership of a full time City Planner. To me, no full time Planner and the late Master Plan were the most vexing issues. Calling in Reinforcements On May 14, 2003, we invited Carlos Rodrigues—manager of plan implementation for the NJ Office of Smart Growth—to come to Clifton and see, firsthand, its old neighborhoods as well as the newer residential developments and to give his opinion on what the city’s Master Plan should focus on.

Writer Kevin Grasha and I gave him a tour of the city and a draft of the Master Plan obtained by Clifton Merchant Magazine. According to Mayor James Anzaldi, this was ‘essentially’ the final version—give or take a few changes—and once Rodrigues read it we interviewed him again for his perspective. Rodrigues said a city’s Master Plan should be a “launching pad for a series of public outreach opportunities,” where the public would take part in crafting the plan. “That’s not here,” he said. “Right now, it doesn’t give me a sense of

what the vision is for either the city as whole or the different neighborhoods. This is an inventory. It seems like the ‘plan’ part is missing.” He was also critical of the city for scheduling just one public hearing on the Master Plan for June, 2003, after it will almost be completely decided. “You want community input at the beginning,” he said. “If citizens can’t pick up the Master Plan and understand where their town is going, the document is not doing its job...and you’re likely not getting meaningful public participation to validate the planning process.”

☛

Our July, 1998 edition was a 300 year timeline of our community written by historian David Van Dillen with many great photos provided by Passaic’s historian Mark S. Auerbach. October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

AS THE SEASONS CHANGE SO MAY YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. When you need a real estate professional to fall back on, you can count on me. Please give me a call if you are thinking of selling or buying a home this season. I welcome the opportunity to serve you. PINA NAZARIO

“PICK PINA” for all your real estate needs!

Sales Associate 2002-04 NJ Circle of Excellence Direct (973) 594-4312 pina.nazario@cbmoves.com www.pinanazario.com

Don’t forget to change your clocks on Oct. 30

Coldwell Banker Welcomes 5 Agents! Ruben Garcia, Nicole Whitrock, Olga Orjuela, Mireya Bernal, Chuilin Lee

FREE PRE-APPROVALS 1-888-512-1173

Call or stop by to see any of our agents for a Market Analysis of your home!

789 Clifton Ave. Clifton, N.J. 07013

973-778-4500

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1128

© 2005 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated.

In Conclusion Getting the state’s planner here to tour Clifton, then read and comment on the Master Plan, was pretty cool. I look back on it as a major accomplishment. I remember saying that if a little publication could reach out and get some help from the state, then why aren’t our city’s leaders reaching out to do the same? In October, 2003, we hosted a Clifton Tomorrow meeting at the Moose Lodge on Main Ave. The meeting was in a roundtable format, designed to provide a different way for citizens to interact with the city’s leaders. Several elected and appointed officials showed up, as did about 40 citizens. Rather than having a designated ‘public comment’ time for fiveminute remarks, as is done at most municipal meetings, everyone could speak for the same amount of time, and the time limit on comments was loosely enforced. The Clifton Tomorrow meeting is something we need to do again. The campaign for No More Housing wasn’t the last issue we embraced. Over a short period in 2004, some 3,500 names were published in our magazine urging the Board of Education to put Latteri Park on the ballot. So much for the power of the press. But just last month, after we published a photo and a story about Alvin Kipnis and Teddy Harsaghy asking why the two new Commerce Bank branches in Clifton didn’t fly American flags, our new friends at Commerce put up a flag pole in time for their grand opening.

So ten years after, where does this lead us? My future goals for Clifton Merchant Magazine are to evolve with our community, to report on the changes we all see and to continue to be a fair, frank and independent voice. With the help of my writers and the support of our advertisers, I hope to publish more pages annually so that we can continue to give you that unique mix of history, current affairs and when appropriate, our opinions on the topics and issues which confront our hometown.

So thanks to all of you for reading, for encouraging, for keeping me motivated. I look to you folks for the attaboys, and I can handle your criticism too. And remember, we always welcome your opinions, even if we are on different sides of the issue. Finally, none of this could have ever happened without my advertisers. Their ongoing support has allowed me to continue this magazine as an independent publisher in a very competitive environment and for that, I am truly grateful. I am indeed one lucky editor.

Our October, 2001 edition was dedicated to those Cliftonites who perished in the attack on 9/11 and asked for ‘God’s guidance for our world so that we may again find peace and safety.’ October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

In The Beginning... I By Robert Wahlers

still remember that day 10 years ago when Tom Hawrylko burst into the office. His eyes gleamed and he sported a Cheshire Cat-like grin. He waved a piece of paper at me. I looked at it. It was the name of a business owner on Main Avenue. “I need you to call this person right away and get some information about the Street Fair,” Tom said, and then he whipped around and started for the door. “You mean drop everything else?” I shouted out to him. “What about –” “Yes!” “What’s going on? Where are you going?” Hey, how many words do we need? Are you coming back?” Tom was already running down the stairs. “I’ll call you,” he yelled back. He did, in about 15 minutes, and he gave me the name of another business owner on Main Avenue that he wanted me to interview in connection with the upcoming Main Mall Street Fair, scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 1995. I didn't know it yet, but I had just witnessed the frenetic birth of Tom's ‘love child.’ He would name it Clifton Merchant Magazine. I had met Tom two years before when I applied to an advertisement he had placed for a staff writer. His hometown marketing company, Tomahawk Promotions, had grown enough that he could afford to take 8

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

a big leap and hire his first full-time writer. Tom and I hit it off right away, probably because we had similar backgrounds and interests. We had both cut our journalistic teeth grinding out features and hard news stories for weekly newspapers. We also shared a passion for writing and for some madden-

Vol. 1 Issue 1, October 1995

ing reason, we had a knack for doing our best work under the deadline gun. During our slow times, which Tom of course hated, he would sometimes speak to me about his long-time dream of creating an independent monthly publication that would tell the Clifton story in ways that a weekly newspaper couldn’t.

Like any ambitious and creative business idea, Tom knew that, to be successful, he needed to make a huge investment in time, in money, in courage, and in persistence. Tom also needed the right launching pad. Tom found the place to push the go button on his dream when Paul Epstein, who at the time was president of what was then known as the Main Mall Business Association, asked for assistance in marketing the Street Fair. Most likely, it was Paul’s name and phone number on that piece of paper that Tom waved so excitedly at me all those years ago. As Tom explained in his first column, the premiere edition of Clifton Merchant would focus on Main Mall and the positive changes being made there, ‘an area of Clifton that really does need some tender loving care,’ he wrote. Upon publication of the October 1995 edition, Tom received positive feedback from many of the businesses profiled in that first edition, which included mini-feature stories on J.O. Grand, Epstein’s, Shereed’s, the Belly Buster and others. By this time, Tom had perfected the art of the advertorial—a creative mix of advertising and editorial writing that promotes a product or service in an informal, chatty way, avoiding the ‘hard sell’ at all costs. Tom then passed on that knowledge and skill to me.

Shop Clifton First! With the holiday shopping season in high gear, the November 1995 and December 1995 issues continued the theme of informing residents more about local businesses, encouraging readers to Think Clifton First! when it came to their holiday shopping needs, whether it was Main Avenue, Botany Village, Styertowne or other business districts in the city. That message soon evolved into the slogan, Shop Clifton First! which has a lot better ring to it. We also tried to capture the true spirit of the season as well, which is why Tom embraced a piece of creative writing I did called The Walk. Keeping the main focus on Clifton businesses, however, helped Tom to build support and increase adverting revenue. It was his only hope for keeping the fledgling magazine afloat. Providing invaluable support at this critical juncture

☛

The Walk

by Robert Wahlers

n Christmas Eve, after the stores are closed and most everyone is in bed, I walk. Nowhere in particular. I just enjoy the quiet streets and the memories. My grandmother, sitting in an easy chair on Christmas Eve, sipping a hot toddy, then later getting up and doing an Irish jig. What’s a hot toddy anyway, grandma? During the walk, I see my father, looking a lot younger than the very last time I saw him. He’s coming through the front door with a Christmas tree trailing behind him, pine needles in his hair, laughing. There’s my daughter, all of two days old on her first Christmas. We bring her home and place her underneath the tree. You done real good this Vol. 1 Issue 3, December 1995 year, Santa. I see the smile of a nephew, feel the hug of a former love, smell a turkey roasting. The wind picks up now, freezing all senses for a moment. It’s all there, all the memories, and then it’s gone. Until the next walk on Christmas Eve.

Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. commends Clifton Merchant Magazine on 10 years of service to our community. Our offices are located at: Main District Office: Robert A. Roe Building, 200 Federal Plaza Suite 500 Paterson, New Jersey 07505 Phone (973) 523-5152 Passaic Office: 165 Prospect Street Passaic, New Jersey 07055 Phone (973) 472-4510 Bloomfield Office: Bloomfield Municipal Plaza, Room 200A Town Hall Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003 Phone (973) 680-1361 Washington, D.C. Office: 2464 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone (202) 225-5751 Paid for by Pascrell for Congress, Inc. C. Pagano, Treasurer 1096

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Robert Wahlers

Back then, Tom’s base was a second floor office ‘suite’ located above the Clifton Camera store, at the intersection of Main and Clifton Avenues. The same spot once housed the offices of the late Clifton judges, Harry Peterson and Harry Fengya. We didn’t have email or the Internet back then. I worked in one

office, clanging and banging the keyboards, churning out articles as fast as I could. I had to be fast, because Tom was in the next office, designing the pages on a mammoth and ancient Macintosh. If that thing hadn’t exploded one night, before deadline, of course, it would be now be on display at the Smithsonian. If Tom got ahead in the creative race, he would change hats and write a few articles, too. “Come on, Robby,” he would urge. “I have to take all of this to the printer at 9 tomorrow morning.” I looked at the clock. It was nearly 10 pm. “We’ll make it,” I reassured him. If our primitive computer networking system malfunctioned, I would load my written articles onto a floppy disk and hand them to Tom. As I said, we were just hearing about the wonders of email, so we depended on getting a lot of our background information via fax. 1176

was the third member of the Clifton Merchant team back then: Bernie Schraer, a short, stocky, raspyvoiced veteran of the daily newspaper advertising wars who had been downsized out of his job a few years short of retirement. Bernie needed to prove he wasn’t finished yet, though. And he made his point when he accepted Tom’s challenge. Faced with the unenviable challenge of convincing business owners to place advertisements in a publication that most had never seen or heard of, Bernie nonetheless brought in some critical advertising commitments back then, causing Tom to shake his head in wonder, followed by a whoop of joy. Clifton Merchant would live on... at least for another month... Bernie has since retired and moved to Florida. Tom was out there selling ads, too, but as publication day neared, both of us put in some long nights of creative frenzy.

We Sell More Because We Do More

791 PASSAIC AVE. CLIFTON • 973-779-1900

For the Month of JULY 2005: TOP PRODUCER

TOP LISTER

Dragan Blagojevic

Federico “Tony” Sanchez

Call Tony and Dragan for all your Real Estate needs. 973-779-1900. Ask about our Gold Services!

Real Estate Sales: Sales positions available in extremely active Clifton Office. Great Location! Great Training! Call Carlo Siracusa or Tony Sanchez for an interview. 973-779-1900 10

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

SOLD Weichert

Realtors

It was the kind of contraption that you had to load with a roll of glossy paper, which would curl up as soon as the fax machine spit it out. The fax seemed to ring constantly on deadline day, bringing us long-promised information that we needed so we could complete our articles. Intoxicated with the thrill of it all, Tom would often yell, Incoming! whenever the fax machine started making noises.

Creating a Theme After a two-month hiatus to regroup and get to know his family again, including his newborn daughter, Carly Rose, Tom began planning themed editions, many of which have become a tradition and much anticipated by readers. The May 1996 edition, for instance, was the first to include the names of all of the Cliftonites who died while serving their country during wartime.

Tom and I also wanted to give a respectful salute to the veterans who had returned home safely to Clifton. The May 1996 issue included stories about Lester Herrschaft’s amazing, coincidental meeting with his brother at an Army hospital in France, where both were recuperating from wounds suffered on separate battlefields in 1944. I remember Clifton resident Al Ferguson visiting

☛

Vol. 2 Issue 4, June 1996 Vol. 2 Issue 1, March 1996

Vol. 2 Issue 5, July 1996

Vol. 3 Issue 7, July 1997

We’ll make your smile

Whiter & Brighter in about an hour

for only $485. (Reg. $725) Dr. Norman Sutta and Staff

as seen on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” Full Service Dental Office • Serving Clifton for 25 years

Dental Health Associates of Clifton 716 Broad Street • Clifton

973-778-5006

for children & grown-ups

Pediatric Dentistry • Endodontics Periodontics • Prosthetics Bonding Oral Surgery • Cosmetic Dentistry 1745

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Vol. 2 Issue 8, September 1996

Vol. 2 Issue 5, May 1997 Vol. 1 Issue 2, November 1995

Because half of Paul’s body had been left paralyzed from cerebral palsy, he practically had to drag himself up the long flight of stairs to get to our office above the Clifton Camera Store. our office to talk about his experiences during the Korean War. We told more veteran stories in the May 1997 issue, and Tom always praised me for the way I crafted them. Good writing is easy, I told him, when you have a great story to tell. But I wished that there wouldn’t be any stories for future generations to tell. I’m still waiting for that wish to come true. A few years later, Tom hired me as a freelance writer to help him with an ambitious project. (We had parted company by then so I could pursue a few career dreams of my own). Vietnam Remembered, published in May 2000, celebrated the lives of the Clifton men who died while serving in the Vietnam War. I consider it the most important piece of writing I’ve ever done. That issue had special meaning for me because my older brother is a Vietnam Veteran. If you’re a Vietnam Vet reading this, permit me to say to you: ‘thank you and welcome home.’ 12

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

‘We’ll Do It Right’ Another intriguing, and educational experience was working on the God and How We Worship issue in March 1997. I remember expressing my concerns to Tom when he presented his latest theme. “We’re going to do a whole issue on religion? That could be very controversial if we don’t do it right,” I

Vol. 3 Issue 3, March 1996

Vol. 2 Issue 9, October 1996

said, thinking, “What’s next, sex and politics?” This was a year before Bill and Monica became an item. “Then we’ll do it right,” Tom said with confidence. His willingness to tackle subjects like this led to the magazine being more widely read and respected. During an interview I did for that issue with the late Samir Tahhan, the general manager of Al Itidal, an Arabic-English newspaper published in Clifton, we spoke about how Muslims must strive to overcome the terrorist stereotype. Ironically, that interview took place at the halfway point between the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the events of September 11, 2001. In early summer 1996, Tom asked me to visit Clifton High School and ask students to talk about their favorite teacher. We also did full-length features on a couple of students. This theme has since grown into the annual graduation issue, which gives many high school seniors an opportunity to voice an opinion or share a favorite memory.

☛

Paul Wunsch: Answering the Call

Originally published in September, 1996 Story by Robert Wahlers

n 1938, there were no handicapped parking spaces, close-captioning for the hearing impaired or Special Olympics. Back in those pre-politically correct days, it wasn’t easy being accepted for who you were. But all Paul Wunsch wanted was a chance to show what he could do and to earn a living. Yet it was difficult for a young man with cerebral palsy to get a job, no matter how intelligent he was. So Wunsch began writing his own version of the American Success Story. He created his own job by starting a radio repair service in Clifton, a skill he taught himself by reading books on the subject. Wunsch said he first became hooked on radios when he was 15. “I had a neighbor who was a ham radio operator,” Wunsch recalled. “One day, he asked me if I would like to see the radio station he had in his house.” Fascinated by the fact that his neighbor had the ability to talk with people all over the world through the power of wireless communication, Wunsch began reading, studying, practicing and basically breathing radio. When he was sure he had the skills to be a radio operator, he visited the Federal Communications Commission office in New York to take the license test. “I had to wait a few weeks to find out if I passed because the completed tests were sent to Washington DC. The happiest day of my life was July 6, 1938. That’s when I received my license from the FCC,” he said. Another milestone occurred in January of that year, when Wunsch opened his Clifton Radio Service.

He operated Clifton Radio Service from 1938 until January, 1979, when he retired. During the late 1940s, he attended a trade school in New York to learn how to repair television sets, but he quickly pointed out: “When they came out with the color TVs, I learned how to service them on my own.” During World War II, he and other members of the now defunct Clifton Radio Club set up the Clifton Ham Radio Station, which had the call letters WKKQ. The communication system allowed Clifton’s Civil Defense to be in contact with eight radio cars that patrolled the city. Members of the radio club also contributed to civil defense by repairing equipment for the War Emergency Radio Service. The radio station was located in the Clifton City Hall Annex, at Clifton Ave. and First St. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Wunsch travelled to many far-flung lands that he had first contacted through radio. He did this by crossing oceans and seas on freighters, taking his ham radio license with him and receiving permission to operate the ship’s radio. He visited numerous countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America during this period. Wunsch, who celebrated his 78th birthday on Sept. 10, 1996, beamed with pride when he discussed his ham radio license. He pointed out that in 1994, the FCC renewed his license through the year 2004. But that’s not surprising. He answered the call for radio nearly 60 years ago. Now, Paul Wunsch is a radio operator for life. 1040

Junction of Routes 3 & 46, Clifton

973-779-7000 www.fetteford.com October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

An Inspirational Story One of the most poignant moments occurred shortly after that when an early fan of the magazine visited our office. Our admirer was long-time Clifton resident Paul Wunsch, and we knew he was sincere because of the effort he had made to visit us. Because half of Paul’s body had been left paralyzed from cerebral

Think Clifton First! was the right concept but it just didn’t have that ring. The slogan soon evolved into Shop Clifton First! which is now used on our cover every December. palsy, he practically had to drag himself up the long flight of stairs to get to our office. Tom and I both took the time to engage him in conversation.

Vol. 4 Issue 12, December 1998

The ensuing interview I did with Paul to learn more about his life experiences was probably my most difficult because of Paul’s speech impediment. But the extra effort paid off, and Paul’s story, in my opinion, remains one of the most inspiring ones ever to be told on the pages of Clifton Merchant. These are just a few of my scattered memories from the somewhat ancient times of Clifton Merchant Magazine. I wish I could tell you more, but Tom just called again to remind me that he was up on deadline and that the clock was ticking. “We’ll make it,” I reassured him. And so we did.

Vol. 2 Issue 10, November 1996 14

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

After five years with us, Rob went to work for a national newsletter firm. He still occasionally writes for Clifton Merchant Magazine and you will often see his byline in the Star Ledger.

Love of Community Shapes Publication On August 29, 1997, The Record published this ‘Business Q&A’. The story gives some insight into the start-up of Clifton Merchant Magazine and provided some legitimacy to the then-fledgling publication. Story by Olia Sileo Photo by Peter Monsees

homas A. Hawrylko Sr. is making a splash in the world of custom publications, The Record reported on its August 29, 1997, business page. A former marketing director, publicist, and sales promotion advertiser, Hawrylko founded Tomahawk Promotions in 1991. The company, based in Clifton, offers editorial, production and printing work for a variety of niche publications. Its output has included the Ukrainian-American Veterans Journal; Path Neighbors, a community-relations magazine for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey; and the Paterson Healthy Heart Newsletter, which offers health tips to Paterson residents in English, Spanish, and Arabic. In 1995, Hawrylko created his specialized publication, the Clifton Merchant, a town magazine mixing business ads, shopping guides and down-home features. Keeping advertisers interested, he says, is a challenge. Q. What made you start the Clifton Merchant? A. In 1981, I was the first editor of Dateline Clifton, the weekly town newspaper published by another company. I fell in love with Clifton and became very involved with the community. I saw it as a progressive town. The next year, I became a resident.

After about 1 1/2 years with Dateline, I went to work for a sales promotion agency in New York. I always wanted my own publication but didn’t think I was focused enough or mature enough to handle it. But I kept seeing these niche publications pop up, whether it was a parenting guide, a family publication, or whatever. Finally, I got some people to support me with their advertising. The Main Mall Business Association sponsored the first edition of the Clifton Merchant, which came out in October 1995. Cheryl, my wife, is from Clifton. The first issue of the Clifton Merchant coincided with the birth of our fourth child. We kept our expenses low for the magazine, worked around the clock, and timed its debut to the association’s annual street fair. Everything in the first issue focused around the street fair. Instead of straight ads, we used primarily ‘good news’ features about the businesses in Downtown Clifton. Q. Initially, was it difficult to get people interested in the Clifton Merchant? A. Yes—and it still is, in a sense. It’s always a challenge to get advertisers interested because there are so many media options today—everything from the Internet to local cable television to telephone sales.

☛

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

We’re fighting for all those dollars. I think if I was around 20 or 30 years ago—when there weren’t so many “Wow! (media) options and Clifton was booming in a different kind of way—I would have been a millionaire. Q. How is the magazine distributed? A. It is mailed to about 31,000 homes in Clifton, as part of a direct-mail package where the postage is shared by everyone using the package. Q. Your first issue was 24 pages, which seems pretty substantial. Did you plan to start out that way? A. Yes, we wanted it to have a bit of girth because we realized that if we made it too small, it would get lost. We had to get to that size to make money. I want everything I do to make money. I try not to do things that don’t make money. Q. Is the magazine is making money now? A. I’m not making what I need to be making for the time and effort put in. Luckily, I don’t have to pay myself on an hourly basis. My biggest problem is that I need to get more advertisers and I need to be out there more, selling advertising space. Still, with the whole package of things that we do, it pays enough to make a living and it pays for a full-time staffer. We are part of the economy in Clifton, and I’m proud to say that. I think the magazine has a personable tone, and I make it a point to cover niches that nobody else deals with, such as the edition on veterans and the editions dealing with Clifton’s history and how people in town worship.

I want to put a Wow! factor into it every month that will make people say What is Tomahawk doing this month?”

Q. What are your goals for the magazine? A. From an editorial perspective, I want to continue

publisher, editor, and sometimes-writer for the Clifton Merchant. How do you find the time? A. I’m a high-energy person. Put a deadline in front of me, and I will meet it. It’s that editorial approach to life. I’m better off having deadlines than not having them. I find the time because this is not just a job, it’s my life adventure.

covering issues that are important to the community, that make people think, that have a personal interest to me, and that the typical newspaper would not cover. And I want to do it in an in-depth style. The size of the product will stay the same, but we are planning to put a 1011

FROM

LER PETER EAG

glossier, magazine-wrap finish to the Clifton Merchant. We have plans to increase advertising by changing the quality to a true magazine. We think that will give it a little more value, a better look, and a nicer finish. Q. Are you planning any changes to the magazine? A. Well, I want to put a Wow! factor into it every month

that will make people say, “Wow! What is Tomahawk doing this month?” For instance, a while ago, in cooperation with our advertisers at Skater’s World Roller Rink in Wayne, we sponsored a skating night for Clifton kids. Everyone got in for free, got free skate rentals and a free soda. Wow! That’s added-value promotion. That’s why we call ourselves Tomahawk Promotions, not Tomahawk Advertising. I try to look beyond the traditional passive-advertising way of doing things and try to make it active advertising. Q. How has the magazine changed since its inception? A. The editorial of the product has become more

mature. In the beginning, it was all advertiser-friendly kind of information. Now, we’re looking at voids in the community or issues that need to be discussed. For instance, the religion issue or the veterans issue. We try to think things out and try to be total in our coverage. Q. Besides all your other business interests, you are the

005 October, 2

g best ity in sendin n u m m o c Clifton gazine. erchant Ma h the entire it M w n o in ft jo li C e W success to continued d n a s e h is w Sincerely,

, n Residents Dear Clifto

Paid For By Peter Eagler for Assembly 32 Greendale Avenue Clifton, NJ 07013

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

gler Peter C. Ea

Federal Mortgage Offers Senior Citizens A Reverse Mortgage

or some 32 years now, Anthony A. Accavallo, shown here, has been helping make the American Dream become a reality, right here in Clifton. As President of Federal Mortgage & Investment Corp. at 1111 Clifton Ave., Clifton, he and his firm have written millions of dollars worth of mortgages which have allowed people to purchase homes. And while that work has been fulfilling, Accavallo said he is getting his greatest satisfaction these days by helping senior citizens with reverse mortgages. A reverse mortgage is a special kind of mortgage loan for seniors. “It is a safe, easy way to turn your home equity into tax-free cash,” he continued. “Unlike a home equity loan, you do not

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

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

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

Federal Mortgage & Investment Corp. (Not a Government Agency) Licensed Mortgage Banker, State of NJ Dept of Banking and Insurance, Dept. of Banking NY, CT, MA and MD.

1111 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07013

1-800-788-1184

www.federalmtg.com

We’re much more than Reverse Mortgages… SEE PAGE 19

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Glossy & Color By Tom Hawrylko

t took me a while to figure out how to get our ancient computers to create a glossy, magazine style publication, but by October, 1997 I did it and early in the month it came out. That ‘first’ edition focused on teens and our writer, Debra Burgan, surveyed about a 100 of them. The 36 page magazine offered comments by teens (and many of their photos) as they responded to questions such as: ‘What concerns do you have about school? How do you stay focused on your personal goals? Who is your role model?’ It was a good start and in the following edition, Burgan conducted another survey, this time of adults, soliciting their opinions on the role of the Passaic County Freeholders, the New Jersey Assembly and Senate, as it relates to Clifton.

Our first color magazine appeared in October, 1997 (above) but when we put Mayor Jim Anzaldi on the cover the following month, people began to notice.

Our November, 1997 cover featured Mayor Jim Anzaldi with the words: This Man Wants You to Vote! Anzaldi wasn’t a candidate—nor did he offer any endorsements—but his

letter within the magazine reminded Cliftonites that our city had 37,772 voters and the ability to have a big impact on the elections. (Also note the change in our masthead.)

Congratulations Tomahawk on 10 Years of Clifton Merchant Magazine!

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Federal Mortgage & Investment Corp. (Not a Government Agency) 1111 CLIFTON AVENUE, CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY 07013

We’re much more than Reverse Mortgages… Purchase • Refinance Debt Consolidation • Fixed or Adjustable Rate Mortgages

• 2nd mortgage/100% LTV (Loan to value)

• Income or no income verification

• Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC)

• Asset or no asset verification

• Payment Options ARMS

• Good or poor credit

• Construction Loans

• Bridge Loans

• Reverse Mortgage Loans

• FHA Loans

Full Service Mortgage Banker/ Direct Lender

Satisfying customers for over 30 years.

CL REAL IFTON E AGEN STATE TS! We w i

cus ll give y specitomers ve our al att r entio y n!

Our experienced loan officers are ready to help you with all your mortgage needs!

Bob Lions

Pat Ricci

Ben Weingerten

Frank Francese

Nanci Pataco

Call us Now at 1-800-788-1184 www.federalmtg.com Licensed Mortgage Banker, State of NJ Dept of Banking and Insurance, Dept. of Banking NY, CT, MA and MD.

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Hometown Thoughts

s a kid growing up in the Lakeview section of Clifton, attending St. Brendan’s School and later Christopher Columbus and Clifton High, sports was my obsession. I played football, baseball, and basketball (not particularly well), drew pictures of my favorite players, and wallpapered my room with photos from Sport and Sports Illustrated magazines.

I loved pro and college ball, but— as strange as this might sound—didn’t care as much about CHS sports. Clifton School Stadium was blocks away and across the railroad tracks from my Trenton Ave. home, and I needed two bus rides to get to the high school. Writing for Clifton Merchant Magazine during this past decade gave me a second chance to learn what was special about sports in

Please Take One

Free!

George Telesh ...the best

Mustang running back ever? Story by Jack De Vries on page 28

Remember To Shop Clifton First! 20

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

by Jack De Vries

my old hometown. It gave me an opportunity to ask questions about stories I’d heard and discover more about the games and the people who played them. For one story, I stood at Bill DeGraaf’s grave, and then tried to reconstruct his life from the people who were still in awe of his magical athletic talent. I heard about Bobby Boettcher crossing the goal line, rising from the ground with chalk across his midsection… and having his touchdown for Clifton waved off in the Oyster Bowl. And I found out how Garey Taylor got the chance to make his famous game-winning run from team manager Dan Swaluk, who heard the debate between Coach Bill Vander Closter and assistant Emil Chaky about the play call. I listened to Coach John Kostisin talk about Mustang basketball, a sport nobody from Clifton loved more, and how his players would break into to gyms—not to steal, but to play. I listened as Harry Murtha described what football was like at Wessington’s Stadium, and Lou Poles talk about every sport and countless fields and courts, dazzling me with an encyclopedic memory of athletes and games. Bob Potts spoke with me about baseball—a sandlot lifer describing the summer game and the times at Nash Park. Knowing his Phillies are now only a memory is sad. Teams can’t live forever, but the Phillies tried. Potts is Clifton’s Ray Kinsella—he built it and they came. I met a real life hero, Rich Hoogstraten, a former Clifton quarterback who won a Silver Star

☛

Even at an early age Coldwell Banker Realtors like Associate Bill Brady (pictured below at the Clifton Boys Club back in the day) were trained to be on the cutting edge of providing great service and savings! While the classic photo below is a hoot, Bill Brady has a specific business philosophy he practices daily: To market properties utilizing sound planning, professional ethics, persuasive skills, and a strong company support system. A Licensed Realtor since 1985, this life-long Clifton resident is a consistent multi-million dollar producer and is a full time professional. With two decades of service in the Passaic, Bergen and Essex market, Bill is knowledgeable in all aspects of real estateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;residential, commercial and investment properties.

Bill Brady

Sales Associate Call Direct: 973-778-3322 wbrady@coldwellbanker.com

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 789 Clifton Ave. Clifton 1749

973-778-4500 October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

in Vietnam for risking his life to drag others to safety. He’s called ‘Dutch’ Hoogstraten now, and he loves Clifton as much as anyone, even more so that he’s moved far away. Those stories might not seem too important to an outsider, but once you lived here, you understand. What I’ll be forever thankful for was getting to know that giant of a man, Coach Joe Grecco. I never knew just how great he was… until I asked others about the affect he had on their lives. His life story jumped off the page, one of the easiest I’ve ever written. If our Clifton Merchant article reminded people of Grecco’s greatness and prompted others to act to name the Clifton School Stadium field in his honor before he died, then we accomplished a lot. But it pales in comparison to what Grecco did. He built a city through football, gave a town an identity, made Clifton a special place. And he touched and improved lives.

1525

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Jack De Vries

I also interviewed my old gym teacher Bill Vander Closter about continuing Grecco’s work on the gridiron. Vandy is battling cancer and not about to lose. I’ll never forget how nice he treated me long before I was a writer—including letting me bring the footballs in that day in 1974 when the great Gale Sayers was in Clifton to recruit Mustang running back Jimmy Jenkins.

Vandy laughed when I dropped the balls on the floor as one of the players I had taped on my bedroom wall came to life and said hello. Finally, I’ve had a great run with my friend Tom Hawrylko. Though you might not always agree with Tom, no one cares more about the city than he does. This is his hometown and he only wants the best for it. And if it means ruffling feathers and tweaking politicians, so be it. Tomahawk is fighting for everyone. The story you’re about to read put Clifton Merchant on the map for sports history—a tale about a man I never saw play, but whose name was spoken with respect by those who did. It remains one of the best stories I’ve written. The story about George Telesh made people talk, debate, and wait for the next magazine to see what we’d come up with next. And, thankfully, they’re still waiting every month. Thanks for reading.

Serving the Clifton Real Estate Market Since 1991!

Felipe Ceballos

Pat Contini

Doreen Delancy-Williams

REALTOR-ASSOCIATE

SALES-ASSOCIATE

Joseph Fazio, Jr. SALES-ASSOCIATE

SALES-ASSOCIATE

Abdul Hamdan

Irena Kapitula

SALES-ASSOCIATE

BROKER-ASSOCIATE

Wojciech “Voytek” Krakowiak

Ana Cristina Molina

Mohammed Othman

SALES-ASSOCIATE

Wafa Othman

Frances Rosado

Walter Vega

BROKER/OWNER

SALES-ASSOCIATE

BROKER-ASSOCIATE

Agnes Zienkiewicz

Thinking of buying or selling a home...

SALES-ASSOCIATE

Call Our Full-Time Agents for Full-Time Results! 825 Allwood Road • Clifton •

973-773-4000 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1604

Football, Family & Freedom Originally published in November, 1998 Story by Jack De Vries

A great Mustang running back’s legacy goes beyond football

top George Telesh! Montclair High School football coach Clary Anderson pounded those words into his players’ heads during the week leading up to the Clifton game. Each time he drew Xs and Os on the blackboard, a ‘T’ for ‘Telesh’ was drawn inside one of the Os. Stop the great senior fullback and the Mustangs were done. In 1956, the Mounties had done just that. Before 16,400 fans, Montclair pinched the middle of its line and gang-tackled the mighty Telesh, leaving Clifton School Stadium with a 19-7 win. The defeat ruined Clifton’s season—the school’s only loss against eight victories. By the following November, both schools were again undefeated, but the Mounties had not lost in 37 straight contests, their last defeat coming in 1953. Montclair had also beaten Clifton every season since 1947. This year’s game would be played in the not-so-friendly confines of Montclair’s Woodman Field, before 14,000 fans—a turf war that polarized the cities. Throughout his young life, Telesh had been an unstoppable force. He had lived through war, poverty, and death. He had been chased, starved, and relocated. By the time he was 10, he had moved across an ocean to a strange new land, so different from the one he knew.

☛

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

There for

INSURANCE, too. You’ve trusted State Farm® with your car and home, you can count on us with life insurance, too. When you’re ready, give us a call. For more information, visit your Clifton State Farm Agents for your insurance and financial needs.

Providing Insurance and Financial Services Thomas Tobin, Agent 1033 Clifton Avenue Clifton, NJ 07013 Bus: 973-779-4248 thomas.tobin.icgi@statefarm.com

Bill G. Eljouzi, Agent 178 Lakeview Avenue Clifton, NJ 07011 Bus: 973-478-9500 bill.eljouzi.hg5e@statefarm.com

State Farm Bank Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in NY or WI) • State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) • Home Offices: Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com®

1724

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Some of the 1956 Mustangs, from left top row: Jack Kievit, Larry Kolk, Roger Fardin, George Telesh and Paul Pulichino. From left in front: Nick Russo, Bob Smith, Dick Moran, Bill Farkas and Leroy Collins. Missing: Neil Maat and Dave Bosson.

Nothing had ever slowed him for long. Montclair would not stop him again. On November 17, 1957, behind a rock-solid defense and lethal offense, the Mustangs pounded the Mounties, 26-0. Telesh was the best player on the field that day, scoring three touchdowns, kicking two extra points, and rushing for 200 yards. During the game, Clifton fans held up a huge sign proclaiming ‘Telesh for Mayor.’ After the victory, they went wild—swarming the field and ripping down the Montclair goal posts, despite police objections. There were fights in the parking area and Mustang rooters

blasted their horns through the streets, trumpeting their win. When the team returned to Clifton Stadium, more than 2,000 fans greeted them. Was this the best moment of Telesh’s life? When asked about it by a newspaper reporter, Telesh replied: “This is my second greatest thrill. My greatest wish came true Wednesday when I was naturalized an American citizen. Too many youngsters don’t realize what a great country this is.” Fans will always debate who Clifton’s greatest running back was. Stars like Bobby Boettcher, Walt Semon, Ed Sanicki, and Mark Winkler have their supporters.

☛

Prompt, Professional, Dependable Title Service Throughout New Jersey

titleagencyofnjinc.COM

WWW.

374 Clifton Ave • Clifton

(973) 253-2399 • (800) 61-TITLE agents for Chicago

Title, First American Title & United General Title

Title Agency of New Jersey, Inc. 1441

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

David Santosuosso,

President •

Patrick Santosuosso,

Vice-President

ATHENIA MASON SUPPLY AMERICA’S #1 MASON SUPPLY. Come visit us for all of your mason materials. Our Professional Staff are always there to assist you with any questions you have. Belgium Block Block Bluestone Brick Cement Chimney Caps Cultured Stone Durowal Flue Gravel Hand Tools Limestone

Chloride Natural Stone Veneer Pavers Power Tools Rebar Reinforcing wire Rock Salt Salt Hay Sand Sonotubes Wall Stone Etc.

T H EN I A

M A S O N S U P P LY

973.253.0570

GET READY. WINTER’S COMING. VISIT US FOR ICE CONTROL PRODUCTS.

From Lakeview Ave • Enter on Mina Ave • Exit on Rosalie Ave October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Others point to Jim Jenkins, Paul Fego, Gary Shenton, and, most recently, Joe Haro. But no runner ever endured what George Telesh did just to play for the Clifton High School Mustangs.

American Journey When he turned five, Telesh and his family were on the run. “I was born on June 11, 1939, in the city of Pinsk, which was then considered part of Poland,” says Telesh, who now lives in Florida. “My family and I were ‘White Russians.’ Today, it is part of a country called Belarus—‘Bela’ in Russian meaning ‘white.’” Telesh’s father was a missionary. He had visited Passaic in 1919, but returned to Pinsk, married, and began raising his nine children. The elder Telesh wanted to move his family to the U.S., but was prevented by the start of WWII. German troops advanced thorough Eastern Europe and occupied

The 1954 Black Hawks School 13 soccer team. Telesh is fourth from left rear.

Pinsk. But as the war dragged on, the Nazis were forced to retreat as the Russian Army began its advance toward Germany. “With the Bolsheviks coming back in,” Telesh

When you go to a Podiatrist… You Expect Three Things: 1: Friendly Competent Treatment. 2: The Doctor to Listen to You. 3: Your Feet & Ankles to Feel Better.

explains, “we made the decision to leave with the Germans. Stalin had executed thousand of White Russians because they’d fought against his communist regime. So Specializing in Medical & Surgical Foot & Ankle Correction

Achieve this & more with Dr. Miller & his staff.

Our Services Include Treatment of: • Bunions • Hammertoes • Ingrown Toe Nails • Sports Injuries • • Arch Pains • Fractures • Skin Conditions • Foot Deformities • • Dancer’s Feet • Ankle Sprains • Arthritis • Corns • Laser Surgery • • Pediatrics • Heel Pain • Endoscopic Heel Surgery •

A FFILIATED F OOT & A NKLE S PECIALISTS OF C LIFTON Dr. Jeffrey Miller, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S* 1117 Route 46 East • Clifton • 973-365-2208 Easily Accessible from Route 46, GSP & Route 3 www.affiliatedfootandanklespecialist.com *Diplomate American Board of Podiatric Surgery Board of Certified in Foot & Ankle Surgery 1630

NEW: Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Heel Pain 28

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

we went to Hamburg (Germany) near the end of 1944.” The Nazis cared little for refugees. Telesh and his family worked in a labor camp, living in a shanty under the shadow of bombed-out buildings. It was there that his father died of pneumonia. The son almost followed. The Nazis refused to feed young George or any other child under 10, saying they were too small to work. To keep Telesh alive, his mother shared her meager rations until they were liberated. The family spent the next five years in displaced persons camps in Germany. In 1949, the day before Thanksgiving, they finally made it to America, settling in Clifton.

A Desire to Excel Because he spoke almost no English, Telesh used sports to ‘cave in the walls’ between him and his School 13 classmates. “In the seventh grade,” he remembers, “I organized a soccer team, called the ‘Black Hawks.’ The fellow who sponsored us was a tugboat captain, and the only jerseys we could get said ‘Coast Artillery.’” On the advice of his brother-in-law, he tried out for Clifton’s freshman football team in 1954 with a dream of earning a college scholarship. Telesh arrived at tryouts in dungarees—and beat all but teammate Larry Kolk in a footrace. Both were picked as running backs. Telesh credits soccer in aiding his football career. “It helped me tremendously, especially in getting by an opponent. In soccer, you dribbled the ball with your feet; in football, you held it in your hand. “Football came relatively easy to me,” he continues, “but I wasn’t polished. When I got through the line, I didn’t know which way to go—I didn’t have the grasp of it until the end of my sophomore year. Then I made a couple of breakaway runs and thought, ‘This is the way it’s done.’ Then there was no stopping me.”

☛

Telesh also excelled at track while at CHS.

The biggest accident could be your choice of attorney. Jack Corradino. The someone who cares. Professional Care. Corradino Law Offices • Casey Building 935 Allwood Road • Suite 240 • Clifton 973-574-1200 • www.corradinolaw.com 1684

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Order Now...Ship Later. Delivered to Your Door

1578 Main Ave. Clifton, NJ 07011 • 973-340-0628

Gift Giving Ideas For All Occasions A Fine Selection of Italian Specialty Foods, Baskets, Cookies, Pastries and Platters

You Can Always Count On Corrado’s for All Your Gift Giving Ideas

1672

www.corradosmarket.com For Ordering Information Call Toll–Free 1-800-232-6758 or Local 973-340-0628 We accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Mac, & Nyce • We ship UPS, FedEx & Messenger (Shipping Additional) Corrado’s may substitute any product(s) for equal or higher product value due to availability,

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

After winning the starting fullback job late in 1955, Telesh began creating his legend. In 1956, he led CHS to an 8-1 mark and the Passaic Valley Conference championship. Telesh also took the state’s scoring honors, totaling 155 points, including 37 in a 61-0 rout of Eastside. For the season, the 5’11’’, 170pound back scored 20 touchdowns and kicked 35 extra points. “In my freshman and sophomore years,” Telesh remembers. “I’d be nervous as a chicken, but in my junior and senior years, I could fall asleep before the game.” In 1957, with every opposing defense keyed to stop him, the Mustang co-captain scored 129 points and rushed for an incredible 2,747 yards on 272 carries. Clifton tied Montclair and Bloomfield for New Jersey State Championship honors. “He would find a hole where none existed,” remembers former Clifton star Walt

Semon, then Telesh’s backfield coach. “George was so quick getting through the line that sometimes the other kids didn’t realize he was already gone.” Along with being named AllState, Telesh was a Scholastic, Sporting News, and Teen Magazine All-American selection. During his junior and senior years, he carried 492 times for 4,727 yards. Telesh was president of the student council in his freshman and senior years, class president in his junior

year, and maintained an A-B grade average. He thought nothing of helping the band raise funds for a trip to the 1959 Rose Bowl by waxing cars. And, as a senior, Telesh really did get to become Clifton’s ‘mayor,’ serving during Youth Week. “When you come from having absolutely nothing,” Telesh says of his achievements, “then come here and all these opportunities are available, it was like being in a candy store.”

☛

HOT G RILL

Since 1961

e’ve been dedicated to serving the community for 44 years and will continue improving our service, atmosphere & food. We appreciate your patronage and pledge to make Hot Grill a truly enjoyable dining experience!

669 LEXINGTON AVE.

973-772-6000

9 AM—1 AM/FRI & SAT TILL 2 WWW.THEHOTGRILL.COM

1037

Dominick & Carmen

1767

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR A.R.T.? If you suffer from pain, then the answer is YES!! A.R.T., or Active Release Technique, is a revolutionary treatment designed to rid the body of scar tissue, or what doctors like to call adhesions. These adhesions form in the muscles and prevent proper movement while causing great pain. They are responsible for most of the neck and lower back problems we see today. They are also the major contributor to nerve entrapments as seen in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Sciatica.

STOP SUFFERING NEEDLESSLY!! Come see how A.R.T. can help you. Experience the treatment with proven results. CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

TOTAL BODY HIROPRACTIC 1135 Clifton Ave • Clifton •

MOST MAJOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED

973-777-2536

Dr. Kevin Toss

Clifton’s Sports Chiropractor and ART provider

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Telesh also credits his coach, Joe Grecco, for his success. “Coach Grecco was my mentor,” he says. “His football players will tell you he set the tone for our lives. We respected him, he was no-nonsense, and he was fair.” Grecco also made playing the games a joy. “I hated the practices,” Telesh adds. “Coach would run us till we dropped. The games were a snap.” With his grades and athletic ability, Telesh was one of the most sought-after athletes in the nation, fielding 60 scholarship offers. But instead of joining a bigger football school, Telesh chose the Ivy League’s Cornell University. He wanted to become a doctor.

Success in Life At Cornell, Telesh had a successful, yet injury-ridden, career. Midway through his junior year, he injured his left knee, ending his season. In the second game of his senior season after scoring three touchdowns in the opener against Colgate, he injured his right knee, tearing ligaments. Doctors told him his football career was over. Telesh said he’d be back. By season’s end, he was. Telesh led Cornell to two final victories, rushing for 91 yards against Dartmouth, and then scoring two touchdowns against Penn in a 310 win. After the season, he received the ‘Pop Warner Trophy’ as Cornell’s MVP and was a second team AllIvy League selection.

2 Free Games & Shoe Rental

Subject to availability of lanes. One coupon per person per visit. Not valid for league or tournament play or with other offers. No cash value. Manager reserves all rights. Expires 12/31/2005.

Garden Palace Lanes Michael Sanders General Manager 1006

a division of Nationwide Bowling

973-478-5750

42 Lakeview Ave., Clifton, NJ 07011

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Telesh logged some flying time while in the US Navy.

After graduating in 1962, Telesh received his M.D. degree in 1967 from Cornell Medical College. He joined the Navy soon after and completed his internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. Telesh then entered the space program, hoping to be an astronaut. But when budget cuts limited future missions, he left the program and continued his medical career, rising to the rank of captain and medical director of the U.S. Naval Hospital in Orlando, Fla. Today, Telesh lives in Orlando with wife Madelyn and their four children. He now serves as chief of Orthopedic Surgery of the Florida Health Care Plans. But despite the distance and the years from his adopted hometown, Clifton ties remain a big part of his life. “I still keep in touch with my teammates,” says Telesh. “Pete Lehr lives near Tampa, and we still see each other. Ernie Niederer, who was a man or iron when we played, has come down from Clifton to see me for the last 18 years. Larry Kolk is in Tallahassee and we see each other once in a while. And Bob Gursky’s in Totowa. I don’t see Dave Bosson or Roger Fardin that much, but they remain friends. And I have other good friends who were not on the team that I still talk to, like Dave Giovacco and Mike Novak.” Who was the greatest running back in CHS history? The debate goes on. But there is no doubt George Telesh made Clifton proud.

WANTED 30 PEOPLE

WITH HEARING LOSS... Show Your Family You Love Them, By Improving Your Hearing!

We are only taking 30 people for this RISK FREE Trial Offer DON’T BE LEFT OUT! Offer Ends 10/31/05

Now Clinically Proven to Automatically Improve Speech Understanding In Noise!* • Automatically Maximizes Listening Comfort & Speech Intelligibility • Processes Sound in 15 Channels - to deal with specific problems • Revolutionary Diva Noise Reduction - to help reduce noise that interferes with speech • Diva Locator Beamforming Directional Microphones - to focus on hearing what is in front of you • Feedback Reduction Circuitry - tackles annoying whistling Schedule an appointment for a FREE check of your hearing to see if you or a loved one qualifies, but hurry, this offer ends 10/31/05. *Details of the clinical studies are available upon request: Individual results may vary.

“If I had to fit my mother with a hearing aid, this is the one she would get!”

EARING FREE H ING SCREEN

PAT DAVID BIONDI, M.A., CCC-A AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING AID SERVICES

642 Broad St. Clifton • 973-777-5335

60 D RISK FR AY EE TRIA L

NJ Audiology License #290 • NJ Supervising Hearing Aid Dispensing License #492 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

A Writer’s Story

by Joseph R. Torelli

hen my wife told me she knew a guy who was looking for someone to write for a monthly magazine covering Clifton, I just shrugged my shoulders. Sure, I had a degree in English and had always wanted to write professionally, but I was just beginning to enjoy the new-found freedom I had, thanks to an early retirement package offered by my company.

“Some other time,” I told her when she suggested I give him a call. “Maybe next week or next month.” But she knew better. By “coincidence” (as she still insists) we ran into Tom Hawrylko at a Mustang football game a few weeks later. He turned out to be the guy she told me about, and after she introduced us, it became apparent that she had told Tom something about me, as well.

Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2002 34

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Shortly after, I agreed to give him a call when he suggested it, just to see if he had anything I might be interested in. That was four years ago. I’ve since written nearly 100 articles and interviewed dozens of local office-seekers for Tom’s Clifton Merchant Magazine, one of the most unique publications I’ve ever seen. I guess you could say he had something to interest me. And what a terrific four years it has been. I’ve learned more about this incredible city and its history than I could possibly have imagined when I moved here 33 years ago. And along the way, I got to meet and tell the stories of some truly remarkable people who continue to make Clifton one of the best places— anywhere—in which to live. I’ve written about the brave men and women in Clifton’s police and fire departments who protect our lives and property every day. In numerous editions, I’ve solicited the opinions and reported on the dedicated people who represent us in state and local government. And I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many teachers, school administrators and board of education members who, despite what some people think, care deeply about the welfare and education of our children. But the best part of my experience has been meeting and getting to know the “real” people of Clifton—the every-day folks who lead far less-heralded lives, but whose stories are no less fascinating and compelling.

☛

Heart Disease... ...of any type can be alarming but much of the worry and concern can be eliminated.

How?

By selecting the highest qualified physicians who then select the finest resource, the Eastern Heart Institute at PBI Regional Medical Center.

Take heart with our heart experts. Technological development and innovations in cardiac care have made the therapeutic options available to patients with cardiac ailments very confusing. Many patients ask themselves, friends, and family, “What is the best treatment for my disease?” and “Where can I go for testing and procedures where they are familiar with my health problems, and understand my concerns?” As Chief of Cardiac Surgery, I appreciate this dilemma. Your physician is the one most qualified to help you make these decisions. It is therefore crucial for patients to have confidence in their physician and the Chief of Cardiology hospital they choose. I also recognize the importance of the cardiac Dr. Raj Kaushik care package being offered to each patient; that this package be comprehensive and tailored to suit individual needs. Here at PBI Regional Medical Center, our exemplary team of cardiologists and electrophysiologists are dedicated to providing the most appropriate care for each patient, using the latest technology in therapeutic options. Should it be determined that a patient is not a candidate for catheter-based therapy, we offer “beating heart” bypass surgery, as well as minimally invasive valve repair/replacement, and arrhythmia surgery. PBI Regional Medical Center is more than doctors and tests. Everyone shares in the caring. Our community of professionals is here to serve you. Our doors are always open. We are right here in your neighborhood, whenever you need us. When you want the best—it’s right here—close to home.

Give your Heart to Someone You Can Trust. For a list of our expert EHI medical staff, call 973-365-4626

1687

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

They are hardly ordinary folks, these Cliftonites. They are the people who built this city’s rich tradition of service and achievement which began many years before its incorporation in 1917. They are the outstanding students, professional athletes, Academy and Emmy Award winners, business executives, doctors, attorneys, and other professionals who were born here, or who got their start in Clifton’s schools. They are the hard working immigrants, many who overcame incredible odds, to make Clifton their home. They are the dedicated tradesmen and merchants who serve the city from their shops and stores in Botany Village, Downtown Clifton, Delawanna, and along Market Street and Van Houten Avenue. They are the citizens who attend town meetings to make sure their voices are heard in matters of vital importance to the city. And most impressively, they are the heroes and veterans who sacrificed more than most of us can imagine for the freedoms that make America so great. It is nearly impossible to pick a favorite story from among so many. But since this is a special anniversary issue of Clifton Merchant, and since the boss requested it, I’ve put together a short list of the features I’ve written that have meant the most to me over the past four years. They include, in no particular order:

Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2002

Celebrating

Shook Funeral Home,Inc.

50 Years of Service, Still Proudly Family Owned & Operated 639 Van Houten Ave. • Clifton 973-471-9620

486 Pompton Ave. • Cedar Grove 973-239-1489

Joseph M. Shook, Sr.

Joseph Shook, Jr.

President, NJ Lic.#2134

Manager, NJ Lic.#3612

Nancy Shook Garretson Director, NJ Lic.#3657

Wendy Shook DiGerolamo Director, NJ Lic.#3593

Rocco DiGerolamo Director, NJ Lic.#3592

1269

Roy B. Garretson Manager, NJ Lic.#3550

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Joseph R. Torelli

Loves Music—and Clifton (Dec., 2001)—the story of director Bob Morgan and the history of the Mustang Marching Band. Van Houten Avenue—the Heart of Clifton (Aug. 2002)—a history of one of Clifton’s most colorful neighborhoods and the people and merchants who live and work along its main thoroughfare.

It has been a terrific four years. I am grateful to Tom for giving me the opportunity to share these stories, and for you, the people who read them. And finally, I should really say thank you to my wife Pat, who, after all, did know better. 1337

Beers, Burgers and Bull (March 2003)—the tale of a loosely organized brigade of retired Clifton firefighters who meet regularly for both the camaraderie and the chance to help their firefighting brothers who are less fortunate than they. A Ride in Squad Car 13 (May 2002)—where I describe the experience of riding with one of Clifton’s finest as he patrolled the city on a typical evening shift. In that same issue I described the working life of one of Clifton’s deputy fire chiefs and my experience of riding along with him to a house fire. If I absolutely have to list a favorite, then it has to be the package I wrote for the July 2002 issue. In it, we told the stories of immigrants who have made Clifton their home, and the incredible volunteers at St. Mary’s Hospital who teach English to these newcomers and tutor them as they prepare to become American citizens.

FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEWS COLLEGE 529 PLANS TAX-FREE BONDS RETIREMENT PLANNING

Cy Yannarelli, CFP 730 Broad Street Clifton, NJ 07013

973-777-9620 Open 8 AM - 6 PM Sat. 9-1 www.edwardjones.com

Hunting • Fishing • Outdoor

1587

With our knowledgeable staff and large inventory, we have what every outdoorsperson needs.

Binoculars • Pocket Knives • Rods & Reels Tackle Boxes • Guns & Ammo • Safes & Cases

S. MELTZER & SONS. INC. S P O R T I N G G O O D S 118-120 Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ 973.478.7647 • www.meltzers.com Established 1914

$ Great Selection of Carhartt Clothing! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

OFF Dunham Boots Plus get a FREE bottle of Camp Dry Fabric Protection

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Living The American Dream Originally published in July, 2002

By Joe Torelli

t takes courage to leave home forever. Whether searching for adventure, seeking new opportunity or fleeing from oppression and poverty, fear is always present when one abandons the familiar for the unknown. Yet people from all over the world continually leave their homes to start a new life in the United States—to live what they perceive to be—and what generations have called—The American Dream. What does it mean today to live The American Dream? The answers are nearly as numerous and varied as the number of people who are asked.

“Every American should be grateful for every immigrant who chooses this country for his or her new home...” –former US Representative Peter Rodino, Jr. To some, The American Dream is a grand one: the opportunity to pursue and achieve fame and fortune beyond anything imagined; to others, it is as simple as having the freedom to express their views openly, unburdened by the threat of government intrusion. Since its founding, America has invited immigrants from all over the world to pursue their dreams here—asking nothing in return except that all who accept the invitation strive to support themselves independently and live in peace with their neighbors. More than 60 million people have immigrated to America in the last 180 years, and most have

☛

Senior Health Partners B OARD C ERTIFIED Cheng-An Mao, MD

Michael P. Lewko, MD Geriatrics-Rheumatology

Geriatrics-Family Medicine Acupuncture

Gamil Makar, MD Geriatrics-Family Medicine

1527

716 Broad St., 1st Fl., Clifton • 973.754.4152 Geriatric Assessment • Aging Wellness • Home Care

Specializing in Arthritis, Rheumatism, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Dr. Mao

Dr. Lewko

Dr. Makar

Vinyl Siding, Roofing and Insulated Windows Here’s what some customers have to say about us and our services... u, your e to thank yo We would lik e gorssistant for th a is h d n a son sunporch. done to our geous work us. lutely fabulo It looks abso and hbors, family All our neig w great t get over ho o n n a c s d n frie ole house make the wh the windows ble! and finally usa t n re e iff d k— loo at we ly happy th We are tru job and to do the u yo se o o ch again for inly call you would certa r anyone rk for us or fo o w re tu fu y an dation. a recommen who asks for h Aquino Tom and Tris

Affordable Now... Affordable for Life! Thank you for good work and a friendly attitude. We appreciate working with you. Erwin and Pat O’Grady

Offering virtually seamless 25-foot length vinyl siding, Ultra Maxx insulated windows and lifetime roofing products, all installed and Guaranteed for Life by the Federle Family!

Thanks for yo ur very profe ssional service. I now h ave a beau tif u l n e w roof that will hopefully last me 30 ye a rs . I will always consider it a stroke of luc k o n my part that I discovered your compa n y. After speakin g to several ro ofers, it was a wonderful su rprise to mee t so meone who gave value fo r money spe nt. You must be proud to be part of such honest and p a rofessional o rganization. can be cert Yo u ain that I will pass your na onto family a me nd friends. Thanks, Jim fo r a great job ! Maxine Cob en

Meet the Federle Family Jim, John, Sal & Ron

HOME SERVICES

1368

Call Affordable Now... ...Affordable For Life!

72 St. James Place • Clifton • 973.473.4830 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

gone far beyond that simple request, contributing their labor, intellect, and even their lives, for the nation that welcomed them so graciously and provided them with so much opportunity. Clifton is fortunate to have been chosen as the new home for so many of these émigrés. From the early German and Dutch farmers who worked our rich soil, to the Eastern Europeans who established their own businesses or toiled in our factories, to today’s Hispanic, Asian, and Middle-Eastern immigrants who bring their special skills and untiring work ethics to our city, Clifton continues to be embraced as a city of opportunity. However, in the 10 months that have passed since the horrific attacks of 9/11, many of us in Clifton are more wary of today’s immigrants than we were their predecessors.

We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity, do Ordain and Establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Restore Lost Teeth With Implants... ...no more embarrassing loose dentures. Improve your appearance and self-confidence. • • • • •

Same day emergency visit Crowns and fixed bridges All surgical procedures Removable dentures We speak Russian, Ukrainian, Polish • Cosmetic fillings • Gum treatment • Implants

at Prestige Dental

We can treat the following disorders:

• Depression Marina Doktorman, M.S., L.Ac. • Cosmetic Acupuncture Board Certified Diplomat (Facial Rejuvenation) Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine • Headaches • Migraines • Back, Neck, Shoulder, Knee and Joint Pain • Gynecological Disorders (Infertility, PMS, Cramps, Menopausal Symptoms)

PRESTIGE DENTAL

Acupuncture is Now covered by most Insurance Companies.

849-859 Clifton Ave.

Call for Your FREE consultation

(across from City Hall)

973-778-0013

Relief Acupuncture P.C. • 849-859 Clifton Ave, Clifton Located within Prestige Dental Offices

Dr. Edward Doktorman,D.D.S.

1312

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Acupuncture Services Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine in which fine needles are placed at 12 main meridians in the body through which energy flows. These fine needles unblock the obstructions and restore regular flow to the body.

Our other services include:

To a degree, that is understandable. But even as we exercise more prudence we may want to keep in mind the words of Peter W. Rodino, Jr., former US Representative from Newark: “Every American should be grateful for every immigrant who chooses this country for his or her new home…too many (of us) have forgotten: immigrants renew our country by renewing themselves.” The following article features the stories of some Clifton residents who are either immigrants seeking citizenship, immigrants who have attained that treasured prize, or individuals who devote themselves to helping immigrants become American citizens. Together, they all “renew our country,” as they pursue their own visions and versions of The American Dream.

973-778-0013

1312

Preparing for Citizenship Originally published in July, 2002

By Joe Torelli

“I guarantee you if you cooperate with your teachers and work hard, you will know everything you need to know to pass the citizenship exam.” With that bold and inspiring statement, Sister Peggy Nulty greeted 65 immigrants to the first in a series of 12, 3-hour citizen preparation classes being held at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic. The eager students, all legal residents of the US, smiled broadly when Nulty made her guarantee. They had good reason to smile. Since its inception in 1997, 95% of the 367 students who have completed the preparation course passed the INS’ citizenship test on their first try. That’s a remarkable record by any standard. Then again, Sister Peggy is a remarkable woman. Nulty has been a member of the Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity order for more than 40 years and is director of the St. Mary’s Community Relations department that oversees the citizenship preparation classes. Sister Peggy Nulty, right, with Luz Flores one of the first grads of the program, who became a Community Health Educator for St. Mary’s Hospital.

Colombian immigrant Zamira Luque, left, with Coordinator of Volunteer Services Sister Joan Sullivan and tutor Kevin Wright at review session before Luque’s INS exam.

Instructors, volunteer tutors, support staff, and students alike all agree that her leadership, dedication, and compassion are the keys to the program’s success. One need watch her in front of the classroom for only a few minutes to see that she is a dynamic leader whose unabashed enthusiasm touches everyone. “Sister Peggy’s enthusiasm is contagious,” said Mary Seczawinski, a volunteer tutor. “In addition to being so incredibly energetic and positive, she is a tremendous administrator who keeps impeccable records. And that’s vitally important when seeking program funding.” Initiated as part of “Project Citizenship,” a program organized in response to the1996 welfare reform legislation that denied benefits to non-citizens, the classes are offered free of charge to immigrants. Initially funded by a federal block grant, they are now underwritten by the Sisters of Charity, the organization that founded the hospital in 1895, and by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

☛

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Less Work. More Life. ™ TimberTech is a revolutionary alternative to wood that turns recycled wood and polymers into strong, moisture-resistant decking that you’ll never have to seal, stain or paint. TimberTech’s Less Work More Life™ promise means you’ll spend more time enjoying your deck and doing the things you want to do.

Tongue-and-Groove Plank • Provides fastener free surface • Offers 11% more coverage than lumber • Brushed surface provides the look of wood • Available in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths

5/4 Plank • Installs like traditional wood plank • Will not sag like other alternative decking • Highest quality material in the industry • Available in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths

2 x 6 Plank • Installs like traditional wood planks • Engineered for maximum strength to weight • Brushed surface provides the look of wood • Available in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths

Whether it’s around your Clifton home or at your weekend getaway, K&S and TimberTech can help you build a maintenance-free deck. K&S is a Stocking Dealer and that means we’ll have what you need in stock and at the best price.

Ornamental Railing System • Attractive “bread loaf” top rail styling • Complete with post covers and post caps • Precut baluster kits available • Available in 6’ and 8’ kits

TimberTech comes in • Redwood • Grey • Cedar

BUILDING SUPPLY INC.

236 COLFAX AVE • CLIFTON

973.473.3118 1194

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Premium Siding

At the intersection of beauty and economy... ...you’ll discover a carefree Brentwood home. Brentwood siding offers the benefit of Mastic premiumdesigned performance at a savings that will make your home’s exterior one of the smartest investments on the block. With long-lasting Brentwood siding, maintenance is a thing of the past. Made of advanced compounds and resins, scratches disappear, colors stay fast, and the weather rolls right off, season after season.

For more information, visit us or go to http://www.mastic.com/brentwood.asp

BUILDING SUPPLY INC.

236 COLFAX AVE • CLIFTON

973.473.3118 1194

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

completing the N-400 The charismatic application form and Nulty prefers to remain “Many of our students follow-up with us offers guidance with all out of the spotlight, after they’ve become citizens.” steps of the process. directing attention The St. Mary’s course instead to her staff and The follow-up review often is a model that others now follow. students. Nonetheless, she concedes mimics the citizenship test. It is However, Nulty said that it is the that it was she who designed the 36especially useful since it can take students who are most responsible hour program with unique features from 12-18 months for an INS for the program’s success. aimed at eliminating many of the exam to be scheduled after an pitfalls that cause immigrants to fail “Many of our students have chilimmigrant submits the application. their INS citizenship examination. dren and more than one job, so The St. Mary’s program also “The examination is almost coming here straight from work for offers immigrants assistance with entirely oral,” she said, “and that three hours a night, twice a week means understanding and speaking English well is paramount for success. We test each applicant’s English and group them into one of three classrooms based on their ability. We find students are less apt to feel self-conscious and more likely to participate and learn.” The program also offers a tutorial review class to students just prior to their INS examination. Nulty explained; “Many of our students follow-up with us after they’ve become citizens. They share their INS experiences with us and we use that to supplement the information in the one-on-one reviews which are all conducted by Clifton students and Colombian natives Adiela Mejia and Esther Lopez, left and center, with fellow student Janina Slaczka, who emigrated from Poland. our most experienced tutors.”

G reat Scott Scott!

COMPLETE UNDERCAR CARE

with this ad only • in-stock items only 44

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

6 OFF

RT. 46 EAST TRENTON AVE.

Get your best deal!

973-772-3626 OLD SCOTT TIRE

TRIMBLE AUTO BODY

TRIMBLE AVE.

✪ NEW SCOTT TIRE

HOWD AVE.

• Tires • Radiators • Brakes • Alternators • Alignment • Batteries • Struts & Shocks & Much, Much More…

216 Trimble Ave • Clifton 1354

Brian is really crying now. He’s moved to his back building and he’s afraid no one can find him. Here’s a map to help you out.

“We would not be serving our students well if we taught in any language but English.”

Peruvian natives and Cliftonites Ysaac Mendoza and Jorge Neira, and at center, Maryhen Diaz, who hails from Colombia and also now lives in Clifton.

for six weeks, is a real sacrifice,” she said. “For many of them, the opportunity to take this citizenship preparation class came after several years of day to day survival struggles with low or very limited incomes and no time to study. But they are so intent on becoming American citizens that we rarely

hear anyone complain.” One area that has troubled some people who are familiar with the program, however, is the exclusive use of English in St. Mary’s classrooms. But Nulty is unyielding on the subject. “The INS examination is entirely in English,” she explained. “That requirement pushes people who

want to become citizens to learn the language. We would not be serving our students well if we taught in any language but English.” St. Mary’s has sponsored an ESL program since 1994 and many in the citizenship preparation classes are graduates of that program, or of similar ESL programs offered throughout the region. Some students in the St. Mary’s program agree with Nulty’s position. Ysaac Mendoza, a Peruvian immigrant who has lived in Clifton for six years said, “The whole country must have one language to be united. Everyone must learn English.”

☛

French Toast Festival!

Come Hungry.

~ Our ever popular Stuffed French Toast ~ ~ Seasonal favorite Cinnamon Swirl ~ ~ Our original Classic French Toast ~

Leave Happy.™

Celebrate with three great choices

680 Rt. 3 West Clifton, NJ 973-471-7717 www.ihop.com

1286

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1286

425 Paramus Road • Paramus, NJ, 07652

201.445.4466 www.paramuscatholic.org

Discover Why Paramus Catholic has become the High School of Choice for a Growing Number of Clifton Families. • Class of 2005 earned over $15,000,000 in scholarships/grants • Small class size (average under 25; no class more than 30) • 115 courses including 13 AP level and new courses in Marine Biology, AP Italian, and AP Human Geography • New television studio wired for digital production • New air bubble over tennis courts for winter activities • Wireless laptop access in classrooms, many with new electronic boards • A scenic campus of woods, waters and fields • The variety of opportunities of a large school, with a commitment to personal attention and individual needs

1318

Please visit us at our

OPEN HOUSE Wednesday October 19 7 - 9 pm 1318

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Bertha Rodriguez, a Clifton resident who came to America in 1993 from Peru, agreed. “I find it hard to read and speak English but I knew that I had to in order to get ahead. Even though I have two children and worked more than one job, I made the time to take ESL at Passaic County Community College.” Nulty’s view on the INS English-only rule is pragmatic and she designed the citizenship prep course accordingly. But she is critical of the subjective way in which INS examiners administer the test. There is a list of 100 questions that the examiners use and INS agents rarely deviate from the list. However, Nulty said that the agents are inconsistent and unpredictable about the number of questions they ask. “Our students have told us that some examiners ask as many as 15-20 questions, while others ask only three,” she said. “That, plus the fact that immigrants have to wait so long to have their inter-

Instructor Theresa Call, left, with Ysrael Sanchez who was born in the Dominican Republic and is a 2002 CHS grad and Bertha Rodriguez, a native of Peru.

view after submitting their paperwork, makes the process more difficult than it should be.” A little more than three years have gone by since we published this story. Sister Peggy Nulty recently informed us that nearly 200 more students have now been granted US citizenship after gradu-

Law Office of

ating from the program, bringing the total to 347 since its inception. “The tutorial review we offer each student just before they take the exam is still the key ingredient to their success,” she said. For more information on this program at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, call 973-470-3535.

Screened Top Soil

Carl G. Zoecklein

MIKULA

737 Broad St. • 973.777.3111 After 27 years as a police officer. attorney Carl Zoecklein’s law practice offers a variety of services. He is pictured with his real estate staff Yahaira Perez and Jessica Serrano. ~ Se Habla Espanol.

CONTRACTING, INC. Excavating Contractor Since 1946 Dennis Mikula 630 Route 46 W • Clifton 973-478-4769 • 973-772-1684 • Excavating Service • Tank Removal • Demolition • Fill Dirt • Top Soil

1416

1591

Real Estate • Municipal Court October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

As Clifton Grows, So Do We... S Originally published in October, 1998 Story by Tom Hawrylko

ay hello to your neighbors. Some you may know and others you may be meeting for the first time, but they are all part of the every changing Clifton family. Many Faces, One Family was the theme of the October, 1998 edition, a two part project which sought to explain and document Clifton’s changing ethnicity. In addition to our monthly magazine, we also published an advertising-free tabloid newspaper with large, wonderful photos taken by W.D. Clare. The publication was underwritten by the Passaic County Cultural & Heritage Council. Many Faces, One Family Week was October 3-10, 1998 and it was an awareness campaign initiated by former Governor Whitman to celebrate the diversity of New Jersey. The effort called for individuals and groups to take the time to gain a greater understanding of one another, in whatever way possible. We at Clifton Merchant Magazine and Tomahawk Promotions hoped our monthly magazine and the tabloid newspaper would help to illustrate that despite our differences, we here in Clifton—no matter what our nation of origin—share many goals and ideals. The project remains one of my favorites as it sought to break down barriers and stereotypes to open dialog. The October edition featured stories about new and established residents, telling the personal experiences of many individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. 48

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Diversity and the changing faces of Clifton were the topics of the October, 1998 edition. Pictured on the cover were from left, Luisa Castillo who is Filipino, Rich Smith an African-American, John Pogorelec, sr., a Slovakian, Sohail Mohammed, a Muslim from India, and at center, Sophia Constandinou, who is of Greek ancestry.

As a companion to Clifton Merchant, we presented the photo essay of our community, (the cover is at right) shot by my old friend and favorite lensman, Bill Clare. Another goal of the two part project was to illustrate and reiterate that to many of us, Clifton has been and continues to this day to be a city of opportunity. For me, the Clifton journey began in 1980 when I moved up here after a stint in the US Navy and after growing up in a good Ukrainian, Hungarian and Puerto Rican neighborhood in the very diverse city of Perth Amboy. Looking back on my move to Clifton, I often joke that I married an Italian family. My wife Cheryl’s maiden name is Angello and I soon learned many new traditions, tasted and enjoyed a delicious menu of foods and even joined UNICO, an Italian American civic organization. Since our marriage in 1981, Cheryl and I have achieved many things in Clifton, including raising a family of four and starting a business. I wish the same good fortune and the many friendships I have experienced in Clifton upon all of you. Finally, I ask that no matter your race, creed or color, be a part of Clifton and volunteer and participate to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family. Please turn the page for some photos from this project. At right, Katherine Ardiff, who was born in Ireland and came to America in 1987, is pictured with her daughters, Katherine and Lindsay, on the cover of our Many Faces tabloid in October, 1998.

Fall Service Blowouts! Install Sprinklers for Your Fall Plantings

Brian Kulesa 973-777-7188 NJ Licensed

IRRIGATION, INC. UNDERGROUND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS S E R V I C E A N D I N S TA L L AT I O N R ESIDENTIAL • C OMMERCIAL • ATHLETIC F IELDS October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1238

Worshipping in Clifton

TENAFLY ENAFLY PEDIATRICS EDIATRICS 1135 Broad St., Suite 208 • Clifton • 973-471-8600 Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm Wednesday 8:30 am – 8:30 pm (for check-ups, too!) Sunday 9 am – 12 noon • www.tenaflypediatrics.com

Originally published in October, 1998. Photos by W.D. Clare

Dr. Joanne Aranoff

Dr. Robert Jawetz

Dr. David Wisotsky

R 1143

Dr. Maury Buchalter

We welcome new patients in Clifton and our other locations! Tenafly 32 Franklin St 201-569-2400

Fort Lee 301 Bridge Plaza N. 201-592-8787

Paramus 26 Park Place 201-262-1140

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Oakland 3 Post Road 201-651-0404

eligion is a favorite theme of Clifton Merchant Magazine and for the Many Faces project, we wanted to show how people worship in our city. From top left, Rev. Dimitri Oselinsky is the pastor of the Assumption of Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Athenia. Above, the late Rabbi Eugene Markovitz who led the Clifton Jewish Center on Delaware Ave. for decades. Top facing page in traditional Islamic prayer are Abdallah, Mohamed and Hannah Abuhmoud and their grandmother Fazieh Barakat. Facing page left, Rev. Victor J. Mazza, pastor of St. Paul Church on the corner of Union Ave. and Second St. And at right, Rev. Davis Ellis (wearing the tie) at the former Crossroads Free Methodist Church on Madison Ave.

October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

Originally published In November 2003 Story by Daniel Wolfe

The Prologue Since 6:30 in the morning, Vinnie C. has been sitting in his car with a pair of binoculars. He’s been sitting here, parked on a suburban Clifton street, binoculars in hand and badge at his side, for over an hour. Vinnie is Clifton School’s first and only full-time residency investigator; he’s a key player in determining which students are illegally attending Clifton schools who may live in neighboring towns. And this October morning, it’s the the house across the street that has caught Vinnie’s attention. The schools suspect that this home has been falsely listed as one student’s home, and that no student actually lives here. It’s Vinnie’s job to determine if there is any merit to this suspicion. Over the past hour, several neighbors have left with their kids for school, but no one has left from the house under Vinnie’s surveillance. In five more minutes, any kid living there will be late for his or her first class. “There’s no activity here at all,” Vinnie said, somewhat amazed. “Not one light on in the house.” Usually, he said, even if it’s not a child’s true residence, lights go on when someone has to go to the bathroom or make breakfast. But here, there wasn’t even that. Vinnie took out the printed summary of the case he was investigating. He already had a Paterson address where the child might be living. If this is the case, and the Clifton house is a decoy, then the child will likely be removed from Clifton schools, and the parents could be sued for back tuition. Finally, Vinnie decided that enough time was spent on surveillance. It was time to get personal. Vinnie got out of the car and approached the house. As he rang the doorbell, a transformation took place. No longer the shrewd, experienced investigator, he had now become TV’s Lt. Columbo, fumbling through papers and asking simple questions he should have already known the answer to. It was an effective strategy.

☛

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Now a Cliftonite

n 2003, I received my master’s degree in journalism from Boston University and was, as Tom put it, ‘looking for a place to land.’ and so Clifton Merchant Magazine was the location. Though at the time I was not yet a Cliftonite, I soon discovered the wonders of my current hometown. I hiked on Garrett Mountain. I toured the factories where the city crafts hand-made leather firefighter helmets and dyes the lace for Victoria’s Secret undergarments. I visited a River Rd. house so remote that it has no garbage pickup. I ate lunch with the ducks at Morris Canal Park. I heard tales of Willy Zawisha, the young man whose letters kept many CHS grads connected after they shipped off to fight in World War II. And just once—though I am ashamed to admit it—I actually thought that attending a Board of Education meeting was a fun way to spend an evening. Back then, I would have been shocked to learn that construction on a new school hasn’t yet begun. In late 2003, the ‘Case for School Space’ debate was already superheated and students had long referred to the CHS hallways as ‘the

The FAMOUS Lexington Ave. Pirogi Shop is BACK!

16 Varieties! • Potatoes & Cheese • Potato • Sauerkraut • Pot Cheese • Mushroom • Pot Cheese & Potato • Broccoli • Spinach

mosh pit’ for their overcrowding And the schools’ population was expected to grow by nearly a thousand in the next five years. In public meetings, some asserted that the schools’ overpopulation stemmed from the illegal students— children who live in neighboring towns but attend Clifton schools. Illegal students were certainly an issue—at the time, the schools’ investigators removed roughly 15 students a year and at least 70 more left before the investigations concluded—but the numbers were far too small to be a major contributing factor to school crowding. To find out what was being done to address the problem, the Board of Education allowed me to spend a day with Clifton’s Columbo. That was the nickname (and the title of the story) I gave the schools’ first full-time residency investigator after seeing him transform himself from a perceptive sleuth to a fumbling pest—much like TV’s Lt. Columbo—as he conducted an interview with a deceptive parent. To this day, I still don’t think he sleeps. At dawn, he had to be at Clifton addresses to see whether kids left for school from the addresses the school had on record.

by Daniel Wolfe

Next he went to see them at school. Then he had to return to their homeat night, to confirm they returned. The article originally ran as part of a package of stories in November that dealt with the school overcrowding issue. It was, of course, a bigger issue than illegal students—the schools’ population was rising alongside the city’s population, and there was no way to turn back the clock. But to the extent that illegal students were clogging the system, Clifton’s Columbo was there, dawn to dusk, to set things right.

Clifton’s New

Benjamin Moore Dealer!

Able Hardware 745 Van Houten Ave.

973.773.4997 Mon.-Fri. till 7pm Sat. till 5pm

1232

There’s nothing like the taste of food made by experts!

PIROGI DINNERS

HOMEMADE PIROGI

• Pizza • Prune • Cabbage 1295 Main Ave. • Clifton • Blueberry NEW! Hot Empanadas! • Apple • Meat Mon - Fri 8 - 6 • Sat 10 - 4 • Apricot & Cheese www.HomemadePirogi.com • Broccoli & Spinach With Pirogi this good, it doesn’t pay to make them at home.

973.340.0340

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1311

When the conversation finished and Vinnie left the property, he was smiling. He knew the hour he spent in his car was not wasted. The parent had lied to him, claiming that the child left for school 10 minutes ago, but Vinnie knew better. Even if the parent was an hour off, Vinnie knew the truth. The parent also said something that could help Vinnie resolve another case. It was a productive morning, and there was still time to visit one more house before the school day began.

When most of Clifton was still on its way to work, Vinnie had new information on three of the families he was investigating. One was likely a nonresident, one was definitely a Clifton resident, and one could still go either way. So began an ordinary workday for Clifton’s Columbo. Elsewhere, three other part-time investigators have been gathering information on similar cases. At 8:30, Vinnie’s day is far from over. Although the parent he interviewed said the child had left, Vinnie

100% FINANCING TO QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS OUR GOAL... everyday low prices-high satisfaction

ADDITIONS 2ND STORIES MAJOR RENOVATIONS

973-633-7777 201-343-7383 269 Passaic St • Hackensack, NJ

1-800-676-GTFM

ONE STOP CONTRACTORS

DESIGN • BUDGET • BUILD

1773

will check attendance records. It’s a standard procedure, since there are other reasons a student may not have left home, such as illness or vacation. But in most cases, it’s a bad sign when a student never leaves the Clifton address being investigated, yet still shows up at school. Later, Vinnie would meet with the principals and vice principals who often provide detailed leads for new cases. Then, 12 hours after his investigations began, Vinnie would return to some of the homes at night for more interviews and surveillance. From the 156 investigations already initiated in 2003, Vinnie and his colleagues discovered 23 illegal students. In addition, seven left while still under investigation. Vinnie said the parents sometimes transfer their children out of Clifton schools as soon as they’re discovered, hoping to avoid legal action. The rest of the investigations are either still ongoing, or have determined that their subjects are legal students.

817 Clifton Ave • 973-773-8061

Since 1957, we’ve serviced all your automotive needs. Our complete auto care includes: • • • • • • •

NJ State Emissions Repair Facility NJ State Inspection 4 Wheel Alignment Brakes Shocks Exhaust Computerized Diagnostics

Jim & Andy 1728

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Although he is the only investigator who works full-time, Vinnie is not alone. His team spans all of Clifton. The $100 bounty offered for useful leads on the tip line (973473-1444) has attracted a handful of regular—and reliable—sources. But most of the callers, Vinnie noted, don’t ask for the bounty. He also works with three parttime investigators, as well as his supervisor, and the administrators, teachers, and counselors at the schools. Vinnie meets with the administrators regularly. CHS Principal William Cannici, for example, receives information from faculty and passes it on to Vinnie and his colleagues. Although Vinnie remains invisible to the students (as an investigator, it helps not to be recognized), he is by no means distant. “I’m a phone call away,” he said, noting that he checks the tip line more often than he answers his office phone.

What is an illegal student? Students must have a valid Clifton address, and live at that address with their legal guardian. Students who live in other municipalities are considered illegal, as their parents don’t pay the taxes that support Clifton schools. After an illegal student is ejected, Clifton may sue the parents for owed tuition money to pay for the otherwise unfunded education.

The Feature Presentation School Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice and Vinnie are deliberately vague about how they get information (they don’t want to give away their secrets), but they are eager to share the results. In 2002, 644 investigations were conducted. Of those, 73 students were ejected and 16 left while under investigation. The remainder, after investigation, were found to belong in the system.

Two Clifton residents

The year before that, 633 investigations were conducted, 70 students were ejected, and 14 left on their own. “Other districts look at us and ask our advice on how we do things,” Vinnie said. Clifton schools were the first in New Jersey to offer a bounty. Clifton has had a full-time investigator since 2001, and the tip line receives up to 30 calls each week. But sometimes, a case appears that sidesteps the whole process. With a chuckle, Vinnie remembered a teenager who was interviewed for the Herald News’ ‘Meet Your Neighbors’ section. “The boy said he was 17 years old, hometown was Paterson, and occupation was Clifton High School student.” Of course, Vinnie needed more proof, but it wasn’t hard to find. “I rang the bell in Paterson, and they answered the door in Paterson,” he said. After that, the student was removed. Other times, the evidence may not be printed for all the world to see, but it’s still obvious.

☛

Joanna Wisotsky, P.A. and Katy Belov, M.D.

1123

The Credits

...are the newest members of the medical staff at Immedicenter. Along with the rest of our team, Joanna Wisotsky, P.A. and Katy Belov, M.D. will offer their community both family medicine and industrial medicine during hours convenient for you.

• Open Everyday 8 am - 10 pm • Walk in Medical Care Including Sat, Sun & Holidays

1355 Broad St • Clifton • 973.778.5566

• Weekday Appointments Available

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

“Sometimes,” Vinnie said, “It’s phones being disconnected. (The schools) can’t make contact with the parents. There’s returned mail.” Decoy addresses and phone numbers reveal themselves quickly. But occasionally, these clues lead to tough decisions for school administrators. “We think of this as a very black and white piece, but in fact, it’s not so very black and white,” Rice said. The rule of thumb when investigating students is: where does the legal guardian live? If a child is living with parents in another town, it’s a clear decision. But if a child is living with a relative in Clifton, but the legal guardian is elsewhere, the system has just targeted someone who’s a Clifton taxpayer, and therefore paying tuition. “This is not easy stuff,” Rice said. Rice has a seemingly endless list of examples where the decision is not obvious. One example deals with illegal housing, a parallel issue which many people have said contributes to the problem of illegal students. Again, the relationship isn’t black and white. “Our responsibility is to educate every child living in Clifton who is a resident of Clifton,” Rice said. “Illegally housed children are most often residents of Clifton. Mom and dad live there, mom and dad are the guardians.”

“Our responsibility is to educate every child living in Clifton who is a resident of Clifton. Illegally housed children are most often residents of Clifton.” School Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice

An illegal dwelling is, for example, a second family living in the basement of a one-family home. It’s a city issue and a zoning issue, and while the city shares information with the schools, this information doesn’t always result in a student’s removal, since there is no other municipality that the student can legally turn to for his or her education. “It’s our responsibility to educate them whether they’re in a home of twenty families or two,” Rice said. “It’s our responsibility. This is a process that favors the kid at the expense of the district and/or the taxpayer.” But even though some of the investigations become riddles with no clear answer, they aren’t all so challenging. “Many of the cases are clear-cut,” Rice said. “Vinnie does a great job.”

New After School Pr ogram! Infant & Toddler Program Nursery Program • Day Care • School Age A

1170

10% OF F

Sibling Discount

WEE CARE

CHILD CARE CENTER Melissa Jaycox, Director First Presbyterian Church 303 Maplewood Ave. Clifton • 973.523.7704

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

The Epilogue At ‘The Case For Space,’ a recent public meeting where citizens were invited to speak on the issue of school overcrowding, several suggested that the problem stems, at least in part, from illegal students. One man even announced that he’s followed students home from school to see where they go, implying that this was all it took to discover an illegal student. Vinnie said this isn’t the best approach. Kids have family situations where they may visit a relative or a divorced parent before they are able to go home. Or, even simpler, a student could just go to another town to visit a friend after school. More important than where a student goes after school is where the same student wakes up in the morning. “A lot of activity happens between 6:30 and 8:30 in the morning,” Vinnie said. It happens even earlier if he’s investigating a student who participates in the high school’s Zero Period, which begins at 7 am. Even these early hours of surveillance aren’t enough. In one recent

ERTELLI’S

FINE WINE

case, a house Vinnie monitored proved to not be a family’s proper Clifton address—no one ever left for school. But a neighbor told him the family moved across Clifton. In the end, Vinnie checked and found a second Clifton address for that family, implying that the kids are legal, but the investigation isn’t over yet. “They’ve got to come in and do a change of address,” Vinnie said. “Then we’ve got to follow it up and make sure it’s the right address.”

In the past, Rice has compared the problem of illegal students to getting blood from a stone. Although each year, due to the investigators and the cooperative efforts of the entire school system and Clifton community, over 70 illegal students are removed from the system, most of the students investigated were found to belong here. Rice added the best way for a citizen to help remove illegal students is to use the tip line: 973-473-1444.

Doctor, what is...

Sinusitis? • Acute bacterial sinusitis is an infection of the sinus cavities which is caused by bacteria. It is usually preceded by a cold, allergy attack, or irritation by environmental pollutants. • However, unlike a normal cold, sinus infections require doctor attention to cure the infection and prevent future complications. • Many patients do not even realize they have sinusitis, as it is very similar to having a cold or an allergy attack. Experts estimate that 37 million a year in America are afflicted with sinusitis, with many more who never have it properly identified. • Some symptoms of sinusitis include facial pain, nasal congestion, pain in teeth, bad breath, coughing, and nasal discharge. If you have three or more of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor for an appointment.

BEER & LIQUOR

Styertowne Shopping Center 1045 Bloomfield Avenue Clifton, NJ

973.779.0199 www.bertelli.com winemaster@bertelli.com

Ear, Nose & Throat

Ear, Nose, & Throat Center of New Jersey

of New Jersey

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

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

ArmorTec, a surface that will look like new even after years of wear.

Clifton home, Athenia Mason proudly offers Cambridge Pavingstones with

From your poolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terrace to the drive and stairs leading to the front of your

From Patios & Pools to Driveways & Walkways...

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

From Lakeview Ave • Enter on Mina Ave • Exit on Rosalie Ave

973.253.0570

M A S O N S U P P LY

T H EN I A

1041

From Babka... to the Board... I by Fran Hopkins

don’t know about you, but my memories of my Clifton childhood are dominated by baked goods…the indescribably heavenly fragrance of rye bread just out of the oven…the comforting richness of a plump shiny cheese Danish…the unforgettable tastes and smells of delightful creations bursting with cinnamon and nuts and apples and more exotic fillings like poppyseed and prune (lekvar). I loved the way butter (real butter, of course) would melt and trickle all over a soft, warm onion roll, and I

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

still think about how much I adored those sweet round cheese-filled buns, iced to perfection. Do you know how good a cruller smells when it’s just out of the fryer? And was there anything better than a toasted buttered slice of paska (babka)? Not that I knew of! Before you think I have some kind of food fetish, you should know that I virtually grew up at Kohout’s Bakery on Lakeview Ave. My grandparents, Bohumil (called Barney) and Frances Tintera Kohout, unbelievably hardworking

Fran Hopkins

October is Spinal Health Month: Yes, it’s time for a chiropractor.

The Kohout girls, circa 1957, from left, Josephine, Emily and Helen, who still lives in Clifton, with their mother, Frances.

Czech immigrants who met and married here, bought property on Lakeview Avenue in the 1920s and lived above the bakery they built there. I never knew my grandfather, but I know that he learned his trade from his brother in Garfield; Kohout’s Bakery still thrives there. I guess it never crossed the minds of the four Kohout children to leave Clifton. My Uncle Frank continued the bakery business and my mother Josephine and her sisters, Emily and Helen, all moved to Greenlawn Avenue; admittedly on the other side of Clifton from Lakeview, but still Clifton. My other grandparents, Walter and Josephine Filka Fleischer, lived in Clifton too. Walter immigrated to Clifton from Germany, where he met and married my other Czech grandma, Josephine. They settled in a nice house on Clinton Avenue and raised three children: Elsie, Helen and my father, Walter. Mom was a teacher at School 11 and met my Dad thanks to an introduction by Dad’s sister, my Aunt Elsie Fleischer (later Fernandi).

☛

Feeling like good posture is just beyond your reach? Your doctor of chiropractic can help. Years of specialized training mean that your chiropractor will take a natural hands-on approach to bringing your spine–and your whole body–back into balance. All without drugs or surgery. So the next time your activities have you feeling the effects, remember: Yes, it’s time for a chiropractor. Call for your complimentary consultation today.

Clifton Chiropractic & Physical Therapy 248 Edison St., corner of Valley Rd., Bobbink Center

973-742-3400 We care for your health,

Naturally! 1010

Siblings Dr. Suzi Schulman & Dr. Jeffrey Schulman October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Have a Safe & Happy Halloween

Gina Yarrish PRESIDENT/BROKER Member of Million Dollar Sales Club

Anniversary Wishes to Clifton Merchant Magazine Aggressive, Full-Service, Real Estate Agency... Investment Rentals/Sales Residential Appraisals Commercial Estate Sales Building Management Services

Mery D. Ygarza

Wally Velechko

Juan G. Lopez

S A L E S A S S O C I AT E

S A L E S A S S O C I AT E , To p P r o d u c e r

S A L E S A S S O C I AT E

REAL ESTATE • MANAGEMENT • APPRAISALS

Krystyna Bladek

Mike La Corte

Slavik Niemynski

604 Van Houten Avenue • Clifton • 973.773.0802

S A L E S A S S O C I AT E

APPRAISALS

S A L E S A S S O C I AT E

LA CORTE AGENCY 62

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Aunt Elsie was also a School 11 teacher and eventually became principal of School 1. My father, too, had no desire to leave the city of his birth (inexplicably to me, though, his sisters relocated to Wayne). So with Clifton roots almost a century deep and the fact that, since I haven’t quite hit the big 5-0, I can still truthfully proclaim that I’ve spent more than half my life in this town, I’m ready to match my Clifton credentials against anyone’s. All of this is to explain why it caught my eye when I saw Tom’s ad, in the late summer of 2000, for a writer for a magazine about Clifton. At that point, life was no longer about cream pies and crumb buns. My husband and mother had died, I was raising a little boy on my own, and I’d left my two-decade career at Prudential to start over—at what, I wasn’t sure. I was doing part-time public relations work for a nearby school district when Tom hired me. My work in Clifton forced me to step back a little and look at my hometown in a less sentimental, more critical way. Since I was working in school communications and was familiar with school issues, Tom asked me to write about the Searching for a School Site in the January 2001 issue, an extensive overview of issues and opposition surrounding the proposed School 17 on the site of the former Little Weasel Brook Park. Although the efforts of the neighbors who opposed taking of the park failed, the precedent was set for future opposition to proposed school sites. In September 2003 I had the pleasure to write Reunite, Rededicate, Remember, a story about Paul VI Regional High School, my alma mater, which the Paterson Diocese unfortunately closed in 1990. I was working with the Paul VI Reunion Committee and asked Tom if I could write a Paul VI story as a way of letting the Merchant’s readers (and their far-flung families) know about our upcoming all-school reunion.

Editor’s Note: The synopsis on the following pages of the School 17 story from 2001 and the creative and opinionated introduction to Fran’s 2004 story on the indecisiveness of siting another school at either Athenia Steel and Latteri Park captures the frustration level of many who have followed the ongoing Case for School Space. Due to limited space, we could not publish the entire articles. For more current info on the Case for School Space, see columnist John Bendel’s story on page 100.

☛

The story focused on Paul VI grads who’d remained in Clifton. It was especially enjoyable for me to learn how many were still in town and active in public service. The best part, though, was how intensely emotional we all seemed to feel about our old school. In April 2004 I returned to the Merchant for a year to focus on Clifton schools issues. I was fascinated and continually surprised by the inner workings of the Board of Education, the interrelationship of the Board and City Council, and the sheer politics of it all (which I’d naively thought couldn’t be involved in education decisions). Here again, Tom helped me shed my rose-colored glasses to get a clearer picture of what was really happening—and why. If I had to choose one ‘favorite’ among my school-related stories—actually, among all my stories—it would have to be the one in the October 2004 issue entitled It’s Athenia!...or Latteri…or… That story, for me, epitomized Clifton’s convoluted and sometimes incomprehensible school site selection process. After closely following developments for six months (and knowing that the process had begun some three years earlier), I felt genuinely stunned that there was still no decision about where to build a 1700-student grades 8-9 school. I think my incredulity, my sense of “I can’t believe what I’m writing,” bubbled through that story.

Dr. David A. Testa Board Certified • Family Practice Medicare and most insurances accepted. Welcoming new patients!

524 Clifton Ave • Clifton • 973-478-3556 HOURS: MON 9:00-4 • TUES 2-7:30 • THURS 12-6 • FRI 8-12 • SAT 8-12 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1705

Searching for a School Site This story by Fran Hopkins was originally published in January, 2001. A synopsis is printed below. There was one thing to which many in Clifton seemed to agree about between 1999 and 2001: Botany and Lakeview needed another elementary building. Schools 11 and 12 housed about 1,200 students, a total of about 30 percent of Clifton’s K-5 population. These two schools serve the burgeoning East Clifton, Botany, Lakeview areas, which continues to attract a growing number of families because of its affordable, often multiple, housing. To many, the need for another school in this area was obvious. Both facilities were seriously overcrowded then, with 747 students at School 2 and 448 at School 11. While the overcrowding may be obvious, a site for a facility was not.

To solve the problem, the Board of Education put a ballot question before the public in 1999: Should $1.6 million left over from adding wings to Woodrow Wilson and Clifton High be used to buy the New York Sash & Door property for use as a school site? Voters approved this and efforts began by the Board to purchase the property. By June, 1999, the Board was in contract to purchase New York Sash & Door, off Lakeview Ave. with the proviso that the owners complete environmental clean-up prior to closing. After extending the closing date several times to allow the owners to complete the agreed-upon remediation, the Board terminated the contract on May 20, 2000.

In 2001, residents opposed to building the elementary school in Little Weasel Brook Park said the property was too small to meet the needs of the school as planned. From left, Carl Rossi, Frank Horvath, Sheila Rossi, Helen Babylak and Lee Gronka. 64

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Vol. 7, Issue 1, January 2001.

Five other sites were studied by a School Board Committee and all would have required condemnation of homes or businesses. Then, a $1 gift appeared from Passaic County officials: purchase Lower Weasel Brook Park, located between Central and Lexington Aves. Passaic County, which basically neglected the property for years, wanted to get rid of the 3.6 acre park and found a ready buyer in Clifton. Board and Council members embraced the idea but people living near the property did not. “They say the park isn’t used,” said Carl Rossi, who then resided on the adjacent Russell St. “It is used. People walk their dogs, kids play in the park. In the summer, they play basketball and soccer on the little bit of grass there. Older people go there. It is used by the neighborhood.” They petitioned politicians at the city and county levels and suggested the proposed school be constructed on four acres of nearby Nash Park, but their opinions were disregarded. On Dec. 11, 2001, Clifton voters, by a 3 to 2 margin, approved an $8 million bond; construction of the first new Clifton school since the 1950’s began the following year.

A Local Park. Tight Streets. Neighborhood Opposition. Sound Familiar? In 2000 and 2001, Carl Rossi was a member of a group of Lakeview and Botany residents who opposed the Board of Education’s plan to build a school in the Passaic County-owned park, Lower Weasel Brook. Residents didn’t want to lose the 3.6 acre park because they had little open space. They also expressed concerns about Central Ave. traffic. The group made headlines but lost the fight. Today, School 17, a grades K-5 elementary facility which opened in Sept., 2004, exists on that former park. Rossi moved across town soon after the voters approved the project. In an interview published in 2004, during the ongoing efforts to site a school cross town on the Board-owned Latteri Park in Rosemawr, Rossi recalled the resident’s efforts to save the Botany park and pondered the similar scenarios. “We had 300 people sign our petition,” said Rossi. But the politicians paid no heed. He offered a theory as to why Board and Council members responded to the voices of the Rosemawr residents and not those from Botany. “Latteri is more affluent,” he surmised of the Rosemawr residents and their successful effort to thwart the use of Latteri Park for a school. “People there are more involved in politics. They (the politicians) got to use the same criteria that they used in Botany Village.”

This column was originally started by our founder, the late Murray Blumenfeld. In his spirit, we continue its publication.

ctober… time to embrace a new refreshing season ~ filled with cool days and nights and the beautiful jewel-like colors of falling leaves. It seems as if fashion and jewelry have also taken on the gorgeous colors of the fall season. Color is certainly evident in the merchandise we are now receiving. One of our new designers - Sara Blaine - incorporates brightly colored semi-precious faceted beads and pearls in unsurpassed designs. Her ability to mix unique colors sets her apart from other designers. International award winning designer William Schraft has created an exciting new "Retro" style collection blending bold contemporary design with delicate antique vintage detail. This is accomplished with a combination of sterling silver and 18kt yellow gold, which is used to create beautiful inlaid Victorian filigree sections. The results are breathtaking. For all the early holiday shoppers the new Swarovski 2005 ornament has arrived. For the second year in a row - Swarovski has been commissioned to design the star that tops the tree in Rockefeller Plaza. It's as dazzling as ever and certainly has us thinking about another holiday season. Now for some news about timepieces! Ebel's newest offering is actually an update of an old classic. The original classic wave is back in town. The band is so soft and pliable it's a pleasure to wear on your wrist. Rolex continues to make subtle changes to its design. New dials and new colors have been added to the line. One of the biggest transitions is the gradual changeover from visible to hidden clasps. This makes the band look like a bracelet. Eventually all bands will be made like this. The birthstone for October is Opal. Legend and lore: Opal was thought to prevent disease and strengthen sight. The ancient Greeks felt that the opal gave foresight and the gift of prophecy to the wearer. To the Romans, opal was the symbol of hope and purity. Have an OUTSTANDING OCTOBER and we'll talk to you next month.

Copiers, Printers & Fax Machines For All Your Printing/Copying Needs Business Cards • Envelopes Letterheads • Typesetting & More Call Victor Terranova Today!

973.478.6180 1642

JEWELERS RICHFIELD SHOPPING CENTER 1354 CLIFTON AVE • CLIFTON • 973.777.4329 www.morrelyons.com October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1295

It’s Athenia!... or Latteri...or... This story by Fran Hopkins was originally published in October, 2004. Her introduction is printed below. Pretend for a moment that you are a member of the Board of Education for the Anytown School District. Your Board has been charged with the responsibility of selecting a site for a new school. Anytown’s student population is burgeoning and a new school for 1,700 eighth and ninth graders is needed badly. So you ask for volunteers from the community to study many possible school sites and to make recommendations to you. People come forward, eager to participate in the process. Your Committee proposes a two-site solution. You adopt one of their site recommendations but not the other. The other property, although you’ve owned it for half a century, is being used as a city park, and Anytown’s City Council has informed you that it won’t support you in your desire to use your own property to meet the needs of the city’s schoolchildren. Admittedly, some of you don’t like the idea of taking back the park either. So a majority of you vote to postpone a decision while you explore other possible sites. A full year passes. Other sites have been explored and rejected and the choice has been narrowed down to two: the Board’s own park property and a piece of Anytown’s property, one that’s contaminated because a factory once operated there. Experts advise you that the Board’s property requires minor, inexpensive cleanup that won’t interfere with the timely construction of a new school. On the other hand, those same experts tell you that no one knows what Anytown’s property is contaminated with. No one knows how long it will take to determine what it’s contaminated with. No one knows how long it will take to clean up the property. And no one knows what it will cost to clean it up. Remember, you’re on the Anytown Board of Education. A decision is urgently needed now. It’s your responsibility, your duty, to make the choice that’s in the best interests of Anytown’s public school students. That’s why you were elected. Anytown has put its faith in you to do the right thing. So which of these two properties do you choose? If this decision is anything but a no-brainer for you, then you must be a member of the majority on the Clifton Board of Education. For after all, if you sweep away all the politics and all the red herrings and all the delays and all the false starts and stops, the choice becomes glaringly simple. But the decision process, as the ever evolving story still today illustrates, has become anything but simple... 66

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

How Will Our Schools Grow? Guest columnist Ellen Corbo penned this for our January, 2002 edition. An important development for Clifton in 2002 is the construction of a new school in Botany. Voters approved an $8 million bond issue in Dec. 2001 that will fund construction of the city’s first new school since the 1950s. The vote allows the Board of Education to proceed this year with plans to erect a $20 million elementary facility on the site of Lower Weasel Brook Park. Related to that vote are long-range needs facing Clifton Public Schools. To begin to address these issues, the Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, created a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in April, 2001. The group is made up of a cross-section of residents, none of whom are elected officials. The CAC met for the first time in early December, and again just before Christmas, 2001. Deputy Fire Chief Tom Lyons was elected President. The CAC’s charge is to “provide recommendations to the Board of Education to establish a plan addressing the facility needs of the middle and high schools”. Those recommendations will be presented to the Board before the end of 2002. This is an important task at a crucial time in our city’s history. As senior citizens relocate, their homes are being filled by families with children and, as a result, our school population is growing. Providing proper facilities in which to educate the growing school population is important to Clifton’s reputation and future. The good people of our city have always recognized this, as evidenced by their continued approval of referenda relating to the upgrading and construction of our schools. Now it is time to address what will hopefully be the last major piece of the school facilities plan for the foreseeable future—overcrowding at the middle and high schools. Do we build a third middle school and another addition to the high school? Or do we, instead, build a central ‘junior high’ for 8th and 9th graders?

Ellen and Steve Corbo with their children Stacey and Michael in 2002. She served as co-chair of the CAC. After their 2002 study was not addressed by the former superintendent, the group reconvened and in Sept. 2003, recommended schools be built at 290 Brighton Rd. and on the Board-owned Latteri Park in Rosemawr.

This may alleviate problems by moving the 8th grades from middle schools and the 9th grade “back”. Perhaps there is another, better option, one which the CAC has not yet considered? Next, where should any new school or schools be located? Finally, can we approve a plan quickly enough to benefit from the remaining state funds for new school construction? The CAC has divided itself into a Site Committee, to address potential locations, and the Grade Structure Committee, to address whether to restructure the housing of the various grades. The Structure Committee is developing a questionnaire for residents for their input. Their opinions should be considered right now, in the beginning, since the decision will be up to residents, in the end. Over the coming months, you’ll be reading more about the CAC and its efforts to keep a focus on Clifton’s future. October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Smart Growth Focused on Clifton Tomorrow • by Tom Hawrylko

lifton Merchant Magazine is a business which serves a diverse purpose, I stated in my January 2003 column, which introduced the concept of Smart Growth and discussed the Future of Clifton. “While much of what we publish is designed to entertain our readers, an important part of our mission is to keep the community informed and provide a forum for public opinion.” In that spirit, Clifton Merchant Magazine began a discussion on the future of our community. “We remind you,” I continued, “that no one individual or organization has a monopoly on ideas for the future of our city. Your comments are always welcomed here.” So began the why era for Clifton Merchant Magazine. Why did the City Council change the zoning on the former Shulton property on Colfax Ave. to allow the construction of 637 condos? And why was the City Council in discussions with Towne & Country Developers—the same people who designed the Cambridge Crossings on Colfax Ave.—to build 500 more units of high rise housing on Dundee Island on the Passaic River? No More Housing! Thus, in February 2003, we asked residents to join with us in petitioning the Mayor and City Council, asking for an immediate moratorium on the construction of any new residential buildings within the City. “It is time to stop building housing in Clifton. In simple terms–– more homes equals more people. More people will only add to the 68

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

congestion of our already overburdened schools, neighborhoods, roads and services. “What this city needs now is an intelligent Master Plan, one which offers a strategy for attracting industry, creating jobs and dealing with the changing demographics and growing social and educational issues yet to come.”

Our cover featured dozens of Cliftonites at a proposed development on Grove St. Writer Kevin Grasha reported it: “When C&L Developers purchased a little more than two-anda-half acres of land on Grove St. last year, intending to build 17 townhouses on the property, they could not have anticipated the furor the seemingly small project would create.”

Where did the Mayor and Council stand on the big issues facing Clifton in 2003? Our March edition gave them a chance to state their positions, and we published their verbatim responses.

Indeed, some 125 residents of the neighborhood where the townhouses would be located were determined to stop it. They organized opposition against the proposed development and hired an attorney, James V. Segreto, who had extensive experience in land use cases. “You can tell by the fact that I’ve got 125 clients what the sense of outrage is in the neighborhood,” Segreto said. C&L was represented by Frank Carlet, a Clifton attorney who fronted for many developers on zoning matters. C&L’s proposal called for three buildings containing clusters of multiple townhouses, constructed in an area zoned for single-family houses. Their plan required a use variance and thus, the case needed to appear before the zoning board. Diane Kashey, who still lives on Grove St., said the development would not fit the character of the neighborhood, a well-manicured, family-oriented suburban landscape of houses, trees and sprawling green lawns. “People are going to be out in their backyards, looking over at what is essentially the back of an apartment building,” she said. “This is not that kind of a community.”

Bill Sichel, a long time resident of Rutgers St., saw an even larger issue: Too much land is being sold to out-of-town developers who have no interest in the quality of life in the neighborhood or in Clifton as a whole, “whose interests are predom-

inated by their gluttonous financial desires.” Over a year later, after months of hearings, Carlet changed the application and a compromise was reached: eight single family homes have been constructed on the former Grove St. farm.

99¢

1779

1367 Clifton Ave., Clifton Richfield Shopping Center 973-779-TCBY (8229) Daily Flavors: 973-779-3176 Store Hours: Sun. - Thurs. 11 am - 10 pm Friday & Saturday 11 am - 11 pm

☛ Waffle Cone Wednesdays

SOFT SERVE ONLY. Through October. Small Size. Toppings and dips additional. Not valid with any other offer. Larger size waffle cones availbale on discount. No coupon necessary. Smiles free. The Smart Choice.

$3 OFF Any

Cake Or Deep Dish Pie

Valid in Clifton and Fair Lawn. Expires 11/30/05. Limit one coupon per person. Not valid with any other offer or promotion.

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1,000 Signatures... and Growing... Over the first four months of 2003, some 1,300 residents signed our petition asking the City Council to Stand up to Sprawl. Mostly, as reported in a series of letters and interviews we conducted, residents made it clear they were concerned that over-development was out of control and had a negative impact on their quality of life. The ever growing list and call for action was addressed by city officials.

As unbelievable as it sounds today, in May 2003, Town & Country Developers, the City Council and the owner of Dundee Island, located at the Garfield and Clifton border, were in discussions to build 540 condos on that property.

On May 20, 2003, before its regular meeting, the City Council gave me a half hour to present the petitions we collected calling for a moratorium on the construction of new residential buildings. At the meeting, Municipal Attorney Gerald Friend said that—based on an analysis written in 1987 by City Legal Assistant Leon Klein— under New Jersey law, a moratorium on housing is not permissible, except in cases where “a clear imminent danger to the health of the inhabitants of the municipality exists.” In short, the Council said until Governor McGreevey puts some muscle into the Smart Growth proposals he introduced in January, 2003, the city in many ways is helpless. While I agreed we needed more help from the state, I also reiterated that the city needed full-time professional leadership to shape a vision for Clifton. For too many years, a handfuls of consultants were handling all aspects of planning in the city on a project by project basis and it became apparent to many residents that one of the greatest weaknesses of our city is that no one individual is in charge of planning. About a year later, in July, 2004, Dennis J. Kirwan, a former West Milford Councilman, was hired as a full time Clifton City Planner. Why Not Just Say No? What happened soon after the May 20, 2003 presentation of the petitions baffled, angered and charged up many. At the next Council meeting on June 4, 2003, “The City Council (in a 4-2 split) voted to pursue a study to build townhouses straddling the Passaic-Clifton border, despite months of anti-development outcry in the community,” the Herald & News reported. The June 6 story in the Herald continued: “In a presentation Wednesday night that did not appear on the presentation schedule and was not in the municipal agenda, representatives of the developer K. Hovnanian proposed a 6.4-acre development between Route 21 and the Passaic River... The study approval comes on the heels of a contrary presentation two weeks ago.”

☛

WHOLE BODY SCAN $700 DON’T WAIT UNTIL THERE’S A PROBLEM • High Speed, Multi CT Scanner • Ultrasound

• X-Ray • Bone Densitometry

Immediate Mammography Appointments

1777

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

CLIFTON RADIOLOGISTS LLC. Clifton Health Center, 3rd floor 973-778-0201 1117 Route 46 E. Clifton, Suite 306

Styertowne S H O P P I N G

C E N T E R

Welcomes

Opening Soon Use This Directory of Stores When Shopping... GNC 973-779-1500 CVS Pharmacy 973-778-7630 The Chiropractic Center at Styertowne 973-777-6995 Exchange Florist 973-594-0700 Dollar Tree 973-249-7530 ACME 973-594-0590 Atlanta Bread Company 973-777-2211 Bertelli’s Liquors 973-779-0199 The Season’s Fine Chinese Cuisine 973-777-8073 Taste of Tuscany 973-916-0700 Styertowne Bakery 973-777-6193 Dunkin Donuts & Baskin Robbins 973-473-9631

Odd Job 973-594-0900

US Post Office 973-473-4946

Pet Stuff 973-778-1617

Valley National Bank 973-777-6283

Alice’s Cards & Gifts 973-773-2422

Cleaners 2000 973-614-1400

Fascination 973-473-6105 Antonio’s Hair Stylist 973-472-1011

Dress Barn 973-249-0322 The Men’s Gallery 973-777-4700

Kim’s Nail Salon 973-471-8118

Corbo Jewelers 973-777-1635

AC Moore 973-470-8885

Shereeds Ladies & Mens Clothing 973-773-1673

Coconuts 973-778-8759

The Shoe Doctor 973-777-4700

The Artisan’s Touch 973-471-0001

Marty’s Shoes 973-471-4140

Footnotes Bookstore 973-779-6122

The New Brava For Women 973-777-1385

Kid City 973-614-1111

The Shoe Gallery 973-777-4700

Retail Space Available. Call 973-591-5222 for info.

1086

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

The Silent Protest What confounded me and others, including those who attended a June 17, 2003, City Council meeting to stage a silent protest in reaction to the four members who voted to do the study, is this: Didn’t the Mayor and Council hear us? Or see the 1,300 petitions for No More Housing? Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to Just Say No to K. Hovnanian? They could have instructed the developer to ‘come back in a year... we’re still working on our Master Plan and maybe right now is not the best time to rezone yet another industrial tract to accommodate residential development.’ To make readers aware of which Council members supported the K. Hovnanian project, we designed the cover to the right. My column in that edition reiterated my position: No More Housing does not mean we want to stop sales of existing homes. Instead, it asked city officials to take a year to analyze the impact of our city’s current growth spurt. We need political leaders to enforce current zoning laws and to say no to developers who want to change them.

“Talking to K. Hovnanian today,” I wrote in July, 2003, “about rezoning more commercial land to build high density residential housing is not the right thing to do. Over 1,000 townhomes and condos have recently been added to our city. More

homes equals more people. More people will add to the congestion of our already overburdened schools, neighborhoods, roads and services. No More Housing means no thanks developers, not now. Clifton will call you when we’re ready.”

Did Mayor Anzaldi and Council members Kolodziej, Kowal and Welsh flip-flop on their position on residential development, our July 2003 edition asked. Fair question, I figured.

GIANT PEST CONTROL 3-5 Village Square East Botany Village, Clifton

973.546.8410 giantpest@aol.com

Giant Will Blitz Your Bugs! 72

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1219

C.Genardi Contracting Inc • Clifton

973-

772-8451

R OOFING • S IDING S EAMLESS G UTTERS A DDITIONS & A LTERATIONS

At the June 17, 2003 City Council meeting in which the city’s Master Plan was introduced, the above residents staged a silent protest. Top from left, Denise Kashey, Walter Hrycykowian, Joe Mathias, Dawn Kaiser, Beverly Cholewczynski, Mike Gimon, Lois Weinbrock, Leslie Kashey and Irene Jarosewich. Bottom from left, Fabian Calvo, Bill and Lisa Fisbeck, Bob DeLiberto, John DeGraff and Bill Sichel. Missing from photo is Tom Hawrylko.

Did that happen? Yes and no. Residential development slowed when the Council rewrote the density ordinance to eight units per acre, as opposed to the 20 per acre at Cambridge Crossings. Today, Frank Carlet and his clients are instead ripping down old industrial buildings to build more retail, bringing with it traffic and low paying jobs.

And Clifton’s Master Plan? A consultant finally completed it but the document didn’t even recognize there was a place called Acquackanonk Gardens, a current battleground for land usage in 2005. Looking back, I believe developers and lawyers have directed Clifton’s planning process and we tried our best to tell that truth.

Clifton’s best kept secret of excellence in education...

S A C R E D H E A RT S C H O O L 43 Clifton Ave. Clifton • 973-546-4695

call for information or visit our website at www.sacredheartclifton.com

Pre-School to 8th Grade • Middle States Accredited • Hot Lunch Program • Modern Air Conditioned Facilities • State of the Art Computer Labs • Summer Camp 1154

• State Certified Child Care (all year round, 6:30 am- 6 pm) • Full Day Kindergarten • Full Day Pre Kindergarten–Pre-School

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Welcome... The City of Paterson and the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) welcomes you to visit and see our completed renovation of the historic Paterson Farmers Market. Meet Our Farmers...

Rolling T’s of New Hampton, NY

Adickes Farm Bader Farm Borinski Farm Breezy Valley Farm Dagelle Farm Don Donohoe Farms Farms View Healthway Farm Hurley Farm Paul Donoho Farms Ricky’s Produce Rolling T’s Schultheis Farm Sekulovski Farm Selle Farm Sleepy Hills Orchard Windy Maples Farm

Dagelle Farm of Florida, NY

Apples Bader Farm of Pine Brook, NJ

Farms View of Wayne, NJ

Paul Donoho Farms of Mardela Springs, MD

Breezy Valley Farm of Newburg, PA

Pumpkins

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Ricky’s Produce of New Hampton, NY

Cornstalks

Paterson Farmers Market East Railway Ave., Paterson • Open 7am-6pm • 973-742-1019

Produce, Meats & Nuts For Your Holiday Festivities

Healthway Farm Milton, NY

Hurley Farm Warwick, NY

Adickes Farm of Glen Gardener, NJ

Sekulovski Farm West Caldwell, NJ

Selle Farm Wrightstown, NJ

Meet Our Merchants... AG&S Beef and Beyond El Campesino Farmers Market *

El Rancho International* Farmers Deli II Fruti Mex Jerusalem Halal Meat Seasonal Walk Spinella Garden Center Spinella Produce Eastern Grocery *open till 9pm

Sleepy Hills Orchard of Johnson, NY

We Also Carry... Dried Fruit Spices & Herbs Fresh Fruit & Produce Roasted Nuts Tropical Specialty Items Meats & Halal Meats Chicken • Grocery Items Cold Cuts • Sandwiches Grilled Items Seasonal Plants * Wine Grapes

Windy Maples Farm Middletown, NY

Mums

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

They Are Both 10 Carly Rose and The Merchant • by Cheryl Hawrylko

hat’s my baby pictured on the cover of last November’s Clifton Merchant Magazine. Carly Rose, our fourth child, was born in 1995, on my birthday, September 12. I knew that our lives would be changed dramatically that year. Adding a newborn to a household already bustling with the activities of our then 5, 8 and 10 year old children all but guaranteed us a run for our money. I had no clue, however, that there soon would be another new arrival in our midst. I’ll give Tom this... he did wait until about a week after the baby’s birth before announcing to me that he had decided we would be publishing a new, monthly magazine about our town. The name? Clifton Merchant. The first edition was to come out in October. “This October??” I asked in disbelief. I was simultaneously excited, scared and overwhelmed; not unlike first time motherhood. Tom, on the other hand, was elated and as enthusiastic as ever. And that is how I remember our journey beginning–with Carly and Clifton Merchant both coming to be in September of 1995. To be honest, much of the early months of publication are a blur. Our lives were filled with deadlines, play-dates, school activities and hours on end at the soccer field. Yet through the whirlwind, little by little, both Carly and our magazine grew; each taking baby steps forward and trying to find their balance on wobbly legs. 76

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

There were definitely some shaky times early on. Luckily, other aspects of Tomahawk Promotions saw us through, and allowed Tom to persevere with the magazine. True to form, he succeeded in making it the unique and respected publication it is today. Much like raising our family, it’s been an adventure that I’m glad we’ve taken together.

We’ve weathered growing pains and celebrated milestones. We’ve shared in both the occasional disappointments and the numerous achievements. And we’ve certainly learned a lot about life along the way. I’m very proud of Clifton Merchant Magazine. To me, its like a time capsule—a monthly glimpse into the essence of life in this city.

It entertains and informs. It gets people talking. And at its very best, it motivates. I’m also very proud of Tom (or Tomahawk as he is more commonly known). While we rely on the talents of many to put together each edition, Tom is Clifton Merchant Magazine. He is passionate about what he does, and passionate about the town that we’ve chosen to to call home to both our business and our family. He has and will continue to be an advocate for fair and efficient government and good schools. His concern for the future of Clifton is genuine, and I believe that can be seen in each edition. Readers will often approach me with compliments, comments and story suggestions while I run various errands around town. Many say they are surprised at just how much information we get into each edition. Or they will ask “how did Tom know that?” or “where did Tom dig that up?” I smile. Tom is a wealth of information when it comes to Clifton. People also comment on Tom’s ability to be at so many different places in one day. I agree; for one guy, he certainly does get around. In the warmer weather you may see him wearing his pith helmet, driving around in ‘that weird car’, his yellow 1973 Volkswagen Thing. But usually, he’s on his beloved bike, camera stuffed into in his pocket, bypassing traffic and making it across town in record time. “I’ve got a photo to shoot in Athenia, and then an interview in Allwood. See ya later,” he yells while peddling off. Such is life with Tomahawk. These days, however, there’s another Hawrylko minding things back at the office while Tom’s out and about. I’m proud to say our son Joe, a 2003 CHS graduate, has become an integral part of the Clifton Merchant team. Over the last year, he’s been writing stories, attending meetings of various boards, growing and learning more about the business (and civic affairs in Clifton) while attending college. 1272

In addition to running the business end of Tomahawk, Cheryl Hawrylko can write some interesting stuff, as her May, 2005 satirical take on the school site selection process illustrated.

It’s funny: people I don’t know will sometimes come up to me to wish me a happy birthday, or tell me how big my kids have gotten. When I look perplexed, they say Oh, I feel like I’ve known you for years. I read The Merchant. I guess our annual family photo in each December edition does mark the passage of time. My gratitude to our many readers for their continued interest in our publication. And my sincere thanks to our advertisers, whose support continues to make our magazine possible. Yes, that’s my baby on the cover of Clifton Merchant. They’re both 10 now, and my, how they’ve grown. Here’s to the next 10 years.

Mario’s RESTAURANT

710 Van Houten Ave. Clifton • 777-1559

Celebrating 60 years of service Voted #1 Pizza by NJ Monthly Magazine PRIVATE PARTY ROOMS AVAILABLE

Congratulations on a Decade of Clifton Merchant Magazine October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

BUILDING SUPPLY INC.

236 COLFAX AVE • CLIFTON

973.473.3118 78

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Come out and show your support!

Clifton’s Veterans Parade Sunday, November 6, 2 pm Parade steps off from Main Ave. and Sylvan Ave., and continues to the Veterans War Memorial in Main Memorial Park where a ceremony will be conducted.

Attend • Participate For more information call Co-Chairmen Keith Oakley at 973-777-0264 John Biegel at 973-471-8828 1266

construction

Slavco inc.

• • • • •

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONAL MUNICIPAL

164 Getty Ave. Clifton 973-478-4848 • Fax 973-478-7877

ASBESTOS REMOVAL • DEMOLITION • INSPECTIONS • REMOVAL • Encapsulation • Re-Insulation Free Estimates & Consultation October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

send Clifton business news to Tom.Hawrylko@verizon.net

The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is again hosting its annual Halloween giveaway. Kids under 10 years of age should color an illustration (just like the one above) which will be found in the Clifton FMBA Local 21 Fire Safety Activity Book and bring it to Coldwell Banker, 789 Clifton Ave., to redeem it for a free pumpkin and trick or treat bag, while supply lasts. Call 973-778-4500 for details. For more info on the Clifton Fire Safety Coloring book, turn to page 90.

Clifton Rotarian Michael Kurzer providing dictionaries to third graders at School 3.

Clifton Rotary Club members distributed over 800 dictionaries to third grade students in the 14 Clifton Public Elementary Schools this fall. Club President Dr. Jeff Schulman of Clifton Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, reported that more than 1.8 million dictionaries have been given to school kids worldwide as part of Rotary Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literacy program. The Boys & Girls Club of Clifton 34th Annual Golf Classic, which was on Aug. 1, is a major fundraiser which helps the club to provide quality and affordable programs for 4,000 children yearly, more than 600 on a daily basis. Over 160 golfers teed off and then enjoyed a cocktail Bob Rittereiser made the Hole in One in the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton 34th Annual Golf Classic at the Upper Montclair Country Club on Aug. 1 His prize was a Ford reception on the terrace of the Upper Five Hundred ponied up by Fette Ford. He is shown being given the keys to the new Montclair Country Club. For info sedan by Club President Frank Calise and Executive Director Dolores Colucci. on the club, call 973-773-0966 80

October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

Quiznos Sub has opened its first location in Clifton with a franchise in Botany Plaza, near the entrance to Route 21. All of Quiznos’ sandwiches are served toasted, though they can still be sold cold at the customer’s request. The most popular are the Classic Italian, the Mesquite Chicken with Bacon, the Black Angus, the Smoked Turkey, the Chicken Carbonara, and the Honey Bacon Club. As of 2005 Quiznos has become the second largest submarine sandwich shop chain in North America, passing the older and slower-growing Blimpie, though still a fraction of the size of Subway.

a division of Nationwide Bowling

Discount Liquor

QUIZNOS SUB

GNC

➪

Dollar Store

Pathmark

➪

General Manager 1006

Directions

➪

Garden Palace Michael Sanders Lanes

Botany Plaza

opening in 83 Ackerman Ave. Clifton 973-772-0406 ➪

Subject to availability of lanes. One coupon per person per visit. Not valid for league or tournament play or with other offers. No cash value. Manager reserves all rights. Expires 12/31/2005.

1 OFF ANY REGULAR SUB

쏴

2 Free Games & Shoe Rental

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1782

Family Atmosphere 90 years of Catholic Education, right on Main Avenue Story by Michael Wojcik • Photos by Joe Gigli St. Paul School celebrated 90 years of educating young Catholics in a “family atmosphere” in September with a “special delivery” from United Parcel Service—a new $25,000 language lab, equipped with 25 computers. Dedicated by Father Victor Mazza, St. Paul’s pastor, and funded by a UPS Foundation grant, the lab will benefit both the school students and the community. The computers and other equipment will be used for schoolwork and beginning this month for the start of English-as-a-Second-Language classes for Clifton residents. The dedication of the lab fit snugly within a busy 90th anniversary weekend for St. Paul’s, which also included a Mass on the morning of Sept. 18 and a reception in the school in the afternoon that attracted 145 people, mostly alumni. Among them were two sisters and the school’s oldest living graduates, Emily Whitcomb, 91, and Cecilia Nestler, 94. “Excited” about St. Paul’s 90th anniversary, Nestler remembered that she and her sister Emily walked to school from their home on Barkley Avenue in Clifton’s Middle Village. She also recalls attending classes in the convent, which then housed two grades in one room. She started at St. Paul in fifth grade in 1922 and was a graduate of the Class of 1925, in which the “girls outnumbered the boys. I remember eighth grade with Sister Agnes as teacher and principal,” said Nestler with a smile. “She was strict.” 82

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Nestler, a widow with three children, now lives in Lincoln Park. Emily has two children and together, they have 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. “To this day, I keep in touch with my classmates who went on to Clifton High School.” “This anniversary is a significant milestone in Catholic education,” Christine Ross, principal, said. “Ninety years is a long time, starting with classes at St. Paul’s held in the church basement to the language lab now. We’ve come a long way, but we have stayed true to the school’s original mission to educate children in the Catholic faith.” Attesting to the school’s “family atmosphere,” many of today’s 19 lay staff members are parents of St. Paul’s students or graduates. In one family, three generations have attended, the youngest now in kindergarten, Ross said.

High academic standards are another reason for its success, said Ross. For instance, an independent accreditation evaluation recently awarded the school a Best Practice citation for its art program. St. Paul’s last year piloted a new social studies series and a challenging math, science and reading series. The school also has incorporated the Full Optional Science System, adding Life and Physical Science Kits for first-to-sixth grade,. The school offers kindergartenthrough-eighth-grade instruction, which includes art, physical education, technology music and world language. St. Paul’s offers the extracurricular activities such as basketball, cheerleading, student council, journalism, mock trial and gifted/talented programs. The school also offers before-and after-school care and hot lunch daily, Ross said.

“I like the small environment with smaller classes,” said eighth-grader Kristi Pampinto, a St. Paul’s student since kindergarten, who has 20 students in her class. Her older sister is a graduate of the school. “All my friends are here,” she said smiling. St. Paul’s school was founded in 1916, two years after St. Paul Parish of Acquackanonk was formed. Father Paul Guterl, St. Paul’s first pastor, had purchased a farmhouse next door to the church on Second Street for a convent. He then invited the Sisters of Charity to staff and start the which they did in the convent basement in September, 1916. The school graduated its first class in During St. Paul School’s anniversary Mass on Sept. 18, alumni hold hands during 1918: a girl and four boys. the Our Father. They include Cecilia Nestler (center), class of 1925 and Emily As the parish grew, it purchased Whitcomb, class of 1927. to her left, who are sisters. the corner lot at Main and Today, St. Paul’s carries on its aca- said. “When the need arises, they are Washington avenues, where the cur- demic traditions with staffers such as there. They are equipped with the rent school was completed in 1922. Vice Principal Diana Shagawat, tools to be successful in life and acaThe building has hosted many parish whose two children Patricia, 33 and demically and spiritually.” functions over the years and served David, 31, were graduated from the Reprinted with permission of as a temporary church during the school. “They are young people, but the Beacon, newspaper of the Paterson Diocese demolition of the old wooden church. they put their faith into practice,” she

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

Restaurant & Pizzeria Dine-in • Take-Out Local Delivery Visit Our Website for Daily & Weekly Specials

Open 7 Days

973-340-3900 Fax 973-340-3343 1281 Main Ave. • Downtown Clifton For each large pie sold $1 will be donated to the American Red Cross Association to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina 1787

WWW.BELAMORERESTAURANTPIZZERIA.COM October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

From Clif ton to the Hotel C alifornia Win a Guitar signed by Joe Walsh & The Eagles Bowen and Sage Walsh are serious Marching Mustang trumpet players with some awesome musical connections. From their great-grandmother to their cousins and uncles, music is in their blood. Great-grandma Harriet Bowen was a music educator in Wichita, Kansas. Grandmother Helen Walsh majored in music at Northwestern University and worked playing piano for several dance schools including the New Jersey Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre, as well as Montclair State University up until her death in 1997. Their dad’s cousin is the principal String Bassist for the Malaysian Symphony Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur.

Marching Mustangs Bowen (at left) and Sage Walsh with their dad Frank and their uncle Joe holding the guitar to be raffled off.

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

The twins hope to make musical performance their career some day, too, just like their uncle Joe. That’s uncle Joe Walsh of the Eagles. No, not the football team, the other Eagles. The band that brought us Desperado, Life In The Fast Lane, and Hotel California. Thanks to their uncle and their parents, Frank and Karen, the Walsh family is providing a raffle item which they hope will raise some money for the Marching Mustangs. It’s a brand new Takamine acoustic guitar signed by all four Eagles: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmidt and, of course,

Joe Walsh. And now through Thanksgiving Day, the Mustang Band Parent Association will be selling $5 tickets at CHS football games, beginning with the Oct. 14 home game with Montclair. Tickets are also available through the mail. Send checks to CHS PTSA Mustang Band Committee and mail to Steven Smith, President, CHS Mustang Band Parents Association, 14 Rutgers Pl., Clifton, 07013. Checks must be postmarked by Nov. 18 and the winner will be drawn at halftime of the Thanksgiving Day game. The winner need not be present for the drawing.

in memory of the

Original

Fighting Mustang As the coach of the Fighting Mustangs, Dr. Joseph Grecco was known for his booming voice, inspiring halftime speeches, and winning football program. The players who were part of his teams during the forties, fifties, and sixties remember him for an added reason: Coach Grecco wanted to be sure they studied equally as hard and often checked their report cards. Besides excellence on the football field, Coach Grecco demanded effort in the classroom. The former scholar-athlete at Upsala College saw his players’ path to success paved by the lessons learned on the gridiron and continuing education. To honor Coach Grecco’s legacy, a group of former players and friends, including Sarah and Fred Lombardo, Al Mardirossian, jr., Bob Papa, and Lou Poles, have established the Joseph Grecco Scholarship Fund, which will be awarded annually to one Clifton High football scholar-athlete. The 2005 recipient was Fighting Mustang Joe Hathaway, who now attends Yale. The Joseph Grecco Scholarship Fund’s second annual beefsteak is on Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton on Colfax Ave. Proceeds provide scholarships to CHS athletes. Tickets are $35 and should be purchased before Nov. 4. For information, contact Roger Fardin at 201-310-5558 or Sarah and Fred Lombardo at 973-478-2478.

ALLWOOD PLAY AND LEARN LLC

1074

Open 9am to 3pm Sept. - June

Where learning begins and the fun never ends

Classes for 2 1/2, 3 & 4 year olds

Fall Registration Now in Progress! 94 Chelsea Road • 973-779-4844

1102 Main Ave • Clifton • 973-779-5885 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1275

CHS at 100

Design contest for Mustangs 100 Years of Excellence: Clifton High School marks its 100th anniversary this year. CHS was originally founded in 1905 on the upper floors of the long gone School 10, which was an old wooden structure at the corner of First and Clifton Aves. By 1926, a new high school was built on Piaget Ave. to accommodate the growing population. This facility would eventually become Christopher Columbus Middle School in 1962

when the current CHS building was dedicated on Colfax Ave. In order to commemorate this milestone, there will be an open competition to CHS students to design a seal to be used in the yearbook, as well as all CHS letterhead, shirts and other memorabilia. The seal must include “19052005, 100 Years of Excellence, Clifton High School, Clifton, NJ.” The rest is left to the designer. The

Some Clifton Sagabits, seated from left Tony ‘Yiggs’ Romaglia and Bob Motta. Standing, left: Wally DeVries, Joe Menegus, Mickey McFadden, John Filipone.

Clifton Sagabits 28th Reunion: Sure they sag a bit more every month but these old school Mustangs are ready for their annual reunion, this year on Oct. 27 at 6:30 pm. The gathering will be held at the VFW Hall on Valley Rd. and any and all from the community are invited to join in the food and camaraderie. If you’re sagging a bit, but your invitation was lost in the mail, you can still reserve a seat by mailing your name, address, and $40 fee, made payable to Bob Motta, Treasurer, 22 Larkspur Lane, Clifton, NJ 07013.

winning design will be selected by a panel of four CHS staff members and four students. The deadline is Oct. 14. In addition to the accolades, the winner will receive the 2006 year book free of charge. The Rotunda, the CHS yearbook, will see change this year. The page count will be expanded to 352 to fit in all the underclassmen photos with the seniors. The yearbook will also be completely in color. To offset these costs, ads will be available for purchase. This year’s Rotunda is $80, but if you order before Dec. 31, it is $75. For more info, call CHS Yearbook Coordinator Gary Kopko at 973-470-2312. Members of the Clifton and Passaic Optimist Clubs want you to get to know your neighbors and be a Friend of Youth. Come to the Clifton Passaic Optimist Clubs Frank Fest, on Wed., Nov. 16, 6:30 pm at the Clifton Rec Building, 1232 Main Ave. While youth are admitted free, adults admission is $10. The Frank Fest Hot Dog Night is an event which celebrates the sports rivalry between our two towns and serves as a warm-up to the MustangIndian Thanksgiving football game, which is at Clifton Stadium this year. In addition to sponsoring the Frank Fest, the clubs also present the Optimist Club Trophy to the winning team on Thanksgiving. For tickets or info, call Clifton Optimists Tom Hawrylko at 973253-4400, Joe Bionci at 973-4721707 or Bill Bate at 973-881-4771.

Gambling Problem? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR VISIT WWW.800GAMBLER.ORG 86

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Each of the American flags, as well as state flags and banners which represent the Armed Services, are sponsored in memory of a veteran. Flags are three by five feet and stand on a 10-foot pole with a brass name plate. For more information, or to sponsor a flag, which cost $100, see Debbie Oliver at the Clifton Recreation office in City Hall or call co-chairs John Biegel Jr. at 973-471-8828 or Keith Oakley at 973-777-0264.

1762

Delicious Fruit Design

Berry Chocolate Bouquet®

Clifton’s Avenue of Flags on the grounds of the municipal campus now has about 875 flags and will be displayed next on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11. Set up and break down is done by volunteers at dawn and dusk. After that, it’s up again on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Those interested in volunteering in the morning should be on the grounds of city hall by 7 am or at dusk, which is about 4 pm.

$2 * Restrictions apply.

Franchises Available. Call (203) 407-8777

FF O

S! R ad. s.

E s t D hi duc R ion tlect praoys. 05

O nt n se olid 30/ N me valid oding hes 11/ 05 0 O t lu ir s on c p Ju Coup Exffer ex O

3 11 CM L C

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

They Light Up Lives

October is a phenomenal month for a new city organization marking an anniversary. The Phenomenal Grandmothers is a local charter of the National Federation of Grandmothers Clubs in America. Their mission is to serve ill and less-fortunate children and adults, especially during the holidays. There are 67 clubs in America, and from Clifton to Honolulu, members put smiles on those they meet. Each member has discovered how “phenomenal they are and accepted the responsibility to live up to the name we chose as our own,” said President Colleen Murray. Their motto: We Light Up Lives.

“We go in areas where needs must be met, and we make things fun for those who need their lives lit up,” said coordinator Jane Nagel. “The children light up our lives while we light up their lives.” The Grandmothers have taken their hugs and services to many Passaic County schools, centers and programs. In addition to donating Easter baskets and other gifts to the Developmental Center in Totowa and other groups, the Grandmothers also donated 60 teddy bears to the Record’s “Bear Hug Program.” The Grandmothers also give gifts that are not seen but felt through the heart: care, love, hope and life.

JK REALTY

Call Rikki & Trina to help you. Where do we list & sell? Everywhere, including ABOVE & BEYOND!

973-472-7000

270 Colfax Ave. • Clifton JKRealty.com • RikkiDiMaria.com rikkirealtor@aol.com • trinab@lycos.com

Over 25 years of combined experience.

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS! (WHEN

LISTING YOUR PROPERTY)

1317

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

by Alicia Feghhi

“We all have had individual moments where children have touched our hearts, whether it be a kiss on the cheek or a simple thank you,” said Murray. The mayor and council will proclaim Oct. 9 “Honor Grandmother Sunday,” noting the group’s service and dedication to Clifton. Murray also expects leaders of some churches and synagogues to discuss the role of grandmothers in their sermons throughout the month, To help others honor a grandma on Oct. 9, look for Phenomenal Grandmothers who will sell their symbol, the yellow chrysanthemum, at supermarkets at a low cost for people to give to grandmothers or special, loving woman in their lives The Clifton Memorial Library this month will also offer a first year retrospective of the group with a display in the lobby. New members are encouraged to join. Qualifications? You must be a grandmother or grandmother-to-be. The Clifton Chapter meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 at the Piaget Ave. library. For info: 973-253-9579.

which did you miss?

subscribe!

Subscribe To Clifton Merchant Have Clifton Merchant Magazine Mailed To Your Home. $15/YEAR

WITHIN

CLIFTON • $25

FOR

YEARS—OUT OF TOWN

$25

PER YEAR

• $40

FOR

YEARS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________________________________________State: ______________________

1788

Zip: __________________________________________________________________Phone: ______________________

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS TO TOMAHAWK PROMOTIONS, 1288 MAIN AVE., CLIFTON, NJ 07011 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Use Candles With Care Clifton’s FMBA Local #21, working with Tomahawk Promotions and Clifton Merchant Magazine, are proud to present this year’s fire safety coloring book. This year’s theme is Use Candles With Care!!! 10,000 copies of the 36 page activity and coloring book will be distributed by Clifton Firefighters to kids in grades 3 and below at our public and private elementary schools, thanks to the support of the sponsors listed below. Also, on Oct. 30, be sure to turn back your clocks for Daylight Savings Time and to check your smoke detector batteries and perform other fire safety checks in the home. For more on fire safety, call 973-470-5801. 1439

Thank to our sponsors: Clifton FMBA Local #21 The Apprehensive Patient We’re your kind of place for a fiendishly good time

Poller Dental Group

and we’re decorated for maximum family fun! Groups & Churches Welcome

• • • • • • • • • • •

Mechanical Monsters Ghouls, Shrunken Heads Decorations Scarecrows Pumpkin People Clay Pumpkins Painted Face Pumpkins Indian Corn Gourds, Corn Stalks Fall Wreaths, Straw Flowers Carving Kits, Paint Sets

ENJOY FRESH CIDER, CRISP APPLES, JELLY & CARAMEL APPLES BALLOON CLOWN – CALL FOR DETAILS

Face Painting All October weekends • 11am-4 pm

Cafe Bustelo THOUSANDS OF HARDY MUMS FRESH DUG SHRUBS FLOWERING CABBAGE & KALE ICICLE PANSIES JAMS & JELLIES FARM FRESH PRODUCE FRESH BAKED PIES & SPECIALTY BREADS

Tenafly Pediatrics Anthony D’Elia, Esq., Shook Funeral Home Wee Care Child Care Center

ANIMATED SPOOKY DISPLAYS

The Optimist Club of Clifton Clifton’s IHOP Restaurant Pony Rides

October 8-9 • 11am - 4 pm October 15-16 • 11am - 4 pm

Menconi Music Studio Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS

Fette Ford’s New Ford Explorer

“Quality products with generations of service”

Clifton PBA Local 36

Mon–Fri—8AM–7PM, SAT & Sun 8AM–6PM

Thomas P. De Vita, Esq.

VISA, MC, AMEX, DISCOVER

lots of free parking 1139 VAN HOUTEN AVE • CLIFTON • 973.777.7535 WWW.RICHFIELDFARMS.COM 90

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

For a free copy of the coloring book, call the Clifton Fire Department at 973-470-5801.

Helping Katrina Victims

urricane Katrina has ripped apart thousands of lives in the Gulf Coast, and Clifton area residents are responding. Last week, Deputy Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy led a team of Clifton firefighters along with two emergency response vehicles to New Orleans to help with the decontamination and cleanup. Throughout September, the Fire Department was collecting everything from clothing to water and essentials, which were shipped to the area. Others are helping out in many creative ways. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School third graders held an ice pop sale at the Passaic school and the Self Reliance (NJ) Federal Credit Union on Allwood Rd., matched funds raised. A $414 check was sent to the Deputy Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy accepts a donation from Marie Benfante of the American Red Cross. Clifton Brownie Girl Scout Troop Women’s Club of Allwood to be shipped to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. She was many of the hundreds of Cliftonites who have responded with donations. #45 collected 180 cases of bottled water and 86 gallons of water from the American Red Cross. Across Mardi Gras beads. for info, visit city patrons of Brookdale ShopRite and town, for every large pie sold at Bel hall or call 973-470-5956. Clifton’s Acme Supermarket. The Amore Pizzeria on Main Ave. this While the waters have receded the troop also shipped 17 blankets. month, they’ll donate a $1 to the region is far from normal and the Many local companies have American Red Cross. needs of resident have evolved. planned fundraising this month. Cash donations are now preferClifton’s Recreation Department On Oct. 20, Mario’s Restaurant and the Clifton Avenue of Flags are able. For info, call the American Red on Van Houten Ave., will donate 30 accepting $5 checks to the American Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW or visit percent of the day’s total proceeds to Red Cross. Donors will receive www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Dayton Homemade Chocolates 110A MARKET STREET • CLIFTON • 973.574.O444

and

LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM STYERTOWNE • VISA/MASTERCARD ACCEPTED • MAIL ORDER AVAILABLE

“YOUR HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE HEADQUARTERS” Place Corporate Orders by Nov. 10th, 2005 & Save • Call for Details We offer a large variety of:

• Assorted Milk, Dark & Sugar-Free Chocolates • Country Fresh Fudge

• Gourmet Gift Baskets • Old Fashioned Candies • Chocolate Novelties

Gift Baskets

Part y fa v for a ors occa ll s ava ions ilab le!

• Greeting Cards • Party Favors • Jelly BellyTM Jelly Beans

20 $ 1433

OFF

“Your Party Favor Order”

$50 or more. Limit one coupon per person.Cannot be combined with other offers. Exp. 12/31/05

One Purchase of $20 or more

Limit one coupon per person. OFFCannot be combined with other offers. Exp. 11/30/05.

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Joel Robertson of the Action Theatre and Trevor Braun with his mom, Stacey.

Action Theatre Conservatory in Downtown Clifton offers classes in acting, musical theatre and dance and has added a course in stand-up comedy, taught by Rich Carucci. ATC is also hosting a monthly comedy night at Giorgio’s Restaurant, on Van Houten Ave. The next gig is Oct. 20 at 8 pm and ATC founder Joel Robertson will headline. Giorgio’s offers a set price menu on these evenings. Call 973-772-6998. Trevor Braun is a 7-year-old who is seeing his theatrical dreams come alive eight shows a week. He’s starring in Beauty and the Beast at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in NYC as Chip. In this lavish stage adaptation of the animated Walt Disney film, he performs as a singing teacup. While Trevor, his sister Toni and his parents are now Fairlawn residents, they have Clifton roots. Their mom Stacey is a Clifton native who first performed at the Y in Clifton with the Center Stage Players and that’s where Trevor got his start. Trevor is currently in 2nd grade where he is a straight A student. His favorite subjects in school, not surprisingly, are music and art. 92

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

TLC—Theater League of Clifton, hosts a Costume Party on Oct. 29 at 7 pm at Johnny’s Bar & Grill in Botany Village. Tickets are $35 and include a buffet with drinks. There’ll be a DJ and a costume contest. For info, call 973-253-0087, The group will also present A TLC Holiday Event on Dec. 3-11 on the stage of School 3, Washington Ave., directed by Barbara Novak and Kathleen Kellaigh. Volunteers are needed for backstage and house crew. For details: 973-772-6998.

The New Jersey Festival of Hungarian Culture concludes with a performance by Kodaly on Oct. 15 at the Lambert Castle on Valley Rd., at the Clifton Paterson border. The string quartet from Budapest will perform classical works by Hungarian composers. A display of art and cultural items of American Guests are invited afterwards to a Hungarian Gulyas party. Hungarian staple foods will be prepared in a cattle as it was done by gulyas or herdsmen. Info: 973-247-0085 ext. 200. The Italian flag will be raised at Clifton City Hall on Oct. 10 at 6 pm to commemorate Columbus Day. The Italian Arts Cultural Workshop for Children ages 3-8 will be on Fridays starting Oct. 14 until Nov. 4 from 4 to 5 pm at the Clifton Arts Center. Cultural Arts instructors Terry Fierro and MaryLou Romano will feature Italian language, music, culture, customs and art in this four-week session. Pre-registration is required. It is $5 per session. A French cultural arts workshop will also be conducted. For info and details on these programs, call 973-472-5499.

From Budapest to the Paterson Clifton border, the Kodaly Quartet.

Patriotism and faith in God are the foundation of the St. Philip of the Apostle Council 11671 Knights of Columbus. Members are asking everyone in the state to fly their flags at home all year round, especially on patriotic dates such as Columbus Day, Oct. 12 and United Nations Day, Oct. 24. St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic is offering free Having A Baby classes. (two classes of 2 1/2 hrs. each). Classes are given in English or Spanish.. All classes are by appointment. St. Mary’s also offers free blood pressure clinics weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays at three locations. To register for either program, call 973-470-3000 ext. 3928. Hearing Aid Awareness Week is Oct. 23 to 29 and the Clifton Health Department will be hosts a free screening on Oct. 20,from 12:30 to Clifton Special Police Officer Frank 3:30 pm. Pat David Biondi, M.A., Robinson retired after about four CCC-A from Audiology & Hearing, decades of service. on Broad St. will conduct the screenThe Walk for the Cure for Juvenile Diabetes held at Berkley College on Oct. 2, was a great success for the Hannah Banana’s team led by Clifton’s 8 year old Hannah Anolik and her mother Ellen, raising in the vicinity of $2500.

Hannah Banana Anolik , at left, and a friend at the Oct. 2 Walk for the Cure for Juvenile Diabetes.

ing. It will be held at the Health Department Clinic, 900 Clifton Ave., 2nd floor, and is by appointment only. This screening is open to Clifton residents only. Call the Clifton Health Department at 973470-5758 to make an appointment. Space is limited, so make your appointment today.

Relaxing... Soothing... Calming JAPANESE CUISINE

433 Piaget Avenue Route 46 East • Clifton 973•253•7979 OPEN 7 DAYS 1784

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

13 Sebago St. Clifton, NJ 07013 Tel: (973) 471-7171 Fax: (973) 471-7172 www.blesingsflooring.com If you have any questions about hardwood flooring, give us a call for a free consultation and estimate or visit us at www.blesingsflooring.com. 1216

October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

from

C a d o r e. .t.o C l i f t o n

...our city’s Alpine Italian Heritage

tarting in about 1880 and continuing into the early part of the 20th century, a sizeable number of Northern Italians immigrated to America. One particular group from the Cadore region of Italy settled in the Clifton area. They were called the Cadorin. Cadore is a region comprised of three valleys in the Dolomite Mountains north of Venice, stretching to the Austrian border. Cadore starts at Pieve di Cadore (birthplace of the famous painter Titian) and proceeding northward includes, among other towns, Valle di Cadore, Borca di Cadore, San Vito di Cadore, ending with the “Jewel of the Dolomites”, Cortina D’Ampezzo (home of the 1956 Winter Olympics). It is spectacular, rugged, beautiful country. The Dolomites, huge mountains composed calcium and magnesium carbonates, mixed with limestone, are famous throughout the world for their jagged shapes and rose color. Cadore also has an interesting history. Largely independent and self-governing, in 1420 it allied itself with the Republic of Venice.

The powerful Navy of Venice was built from and supported by the lumber of Cadore. The alliance between Venice and Cadore hit rocky times when Austria invaded in the early 1500’s and seized Cortina D’Ampezzo; the Cadorin were left to defend themselves. By the end of the 19th century, as beautiful as it was, Cadore was unfortunately a very difficult place in which to live. The population had outgrown the ability of the land to support its people. In search of opportunity for education and a means of livelihood, these courageous people, like all other immigrants past and present, uprooted themselves from the land of their birth and their families and headed to America. The Cadorin who came to Clifton found work in the large textile factories in this area (Botany, Samuel Hird, Forstmann). Many of the men were carpenters. They were hard-working, stoic, honest people. While they kept their heritage, nevertheless they created institutions which benefited themselves and the community.

Cadore starts at Pieve di Cadore and proceeds north, ending with the “Jewel of the Dolomites”, –Cortina D’Ampezzo.

☛

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Sacred Heart Church and the Italian American Co-op (Cooperative Association) in the heart of Botany Village were founded and became part of their daily lives. Since the children of these immigrants had educational opportunity, many of them became prominent citizens of Clifton. Some of them are Dr. Aldo W. Sala, a much-loved and learned physician, Dr. Marius Poles, Dr. Erminigildo Calligaro, Fred DeVido, an attorney who served as Mayor of the City of Clifton from 1950 to 1954, as well as, Kenneth DeGhetto, former Chairman of the Board of Foster Wheeler Corporation. Others included the famous LA Rams Super Bowl Coach Coach Ray Malavasi, Simon Belli, president of Belli Construction Corporation, and A. William Sala, Jr. (son of Dr. Aldo W. Sala), a well-known zoning attorney, to name a few.

Eileen Debesis, her sister Rita Foti and Bill Sala at last year’s Dolomiti dinner.

The roster of surnames of these decent and honorable people are part of the fabric of Clifton: Belli, Calligaro, Cesaletti, DaGiau, DelFavero, DeGhetto, DeLotto, DeLuca, DeSandre, Egatz, Fiori, Galeazzi, Giustina, Menegus, Ossi, Palatini, Pampanin, Perini, Pordon, Sala and Tamburin, among others. The Dolomiti dinner, held annually at Mario’s Restaurant in early October, is the annual event where all of the descendants of the original

immigrants get together. There are programs about the history of that region, and the unique, spoken dialect is kept alive. Interestingly, Cadore is now an affluent, tourist region visited by people from all over the world. It is also one of the largest eyeglass manufacturing centers in that industry. The Cadorin have done well, and, thankfully, so have the Cadorin who came to Clifton to write their own chapter of the American Dream.

Can you find the Cadorin in this photo of the Clifton Buffalos in Nash Park, fall 1944?. Top Row: Coach Charley Triola, Walter Shenton, Art Conrad, Ed Farley, John Fitzgerald, Harry Fichtner, Rudy Turrin, Floyd Zanetti, Enzo Mazzer. Middle Row: John Murphy, Enzo Balduini, Ray Malavasi, Victor De Luca, Jordan Serafin, Don Hagedorn. Bottom Row: Mario De Luca, Bill Beverage, Leroy Belli, Julius Tibolla, Adolph Frinko, Ziggy Fisher, John Chiamolera. Photo courtesy of James J. Marrocco. 96

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

FETTE FORD/KIA

SUPER SERVICE SPECIALS! TIRE ROTATION & LUBE, OIL & FILTER *

NOW

Expires November 15, 2005

• CHANGE OIL, FILTER, LUBRICATE CHASSIS • CHECK ALL TIRE PRESSURE • TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS

FETTE FORD

*Up To F250 - Diesels Extra. Applies To Ford Makes Only. Taxes Extra.Coupon Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offer.

FORD MOTORCRAFT BATTERY

NOW

Expires November 15, 2005

BRAKE INSPECTION

NOW

Expires November 15, 2005

INSPECT THE FOLLOWING:

• BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL • CALIPER OPERATION • ROTORS • DRUMS • HOSES • CONNECTIONS • PARKING BRAKE ROTATE & INSPECT 4 TIRES

FETTE FORD

*Dual Rear Vehicles Extra. Taxes Extra. See Service Advisor For Details. Coupon Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offer.

FORD KEYLESS ENTRY KEYPAD *

NOW

Expires November 15, 2005

• TESTED TOUGH PLUS • 84 MONTH TOTAL LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD • AVAILABLE TOP OR SIDE TERMINALS • FACTORY APPROVED

• ALLOWS VEHICLES TO BE UNLOCKED WITHOUT KEYS OR TRANSMITTER • CONVENIENT - NO MORE LOCKOUTS • BACKLIT DISPLAY • PROGRAMMABLE ACCESS CODE • EASY TO INSTALL • FITS MOST FORD-LINCOLN-MERCURY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY REMOTE ENTRY

*Taxes Extra. Coupon Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offer.

FETTE FORD

MOTORCRAFT PREMIUM WIPER BLADES

NOW

*PER

PAIR

Expires November 15, 2005

• NATURAL RUBBER EDGE • STEEL CONSTRUCTED SUPERSTRUCTURE • OEM GENUINE FORD • EASY TO INSTALL

FETTE FORD

*Taxes Extra. Coupon Cannot Be Combined With Any Other Offer.

EVERYDAY LOWEST PRICES...* GUARANTEED! ON ALL NAME-BRAND TIRES WE SELL - INCLUDING GOODYEAR, CONTINENTAL, MICHELIN AND MORE. Expires November 15, 2005

FETTE FORD

*Requires presentation of competitor’s current price ad on name-brand tires sold by Dealership within 30 days of purchase. See Service Advisor for details. Taxes Extra. Offer Valid With Coupon.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY! OPEN SATURDAY 8AM-4:30PM!

FACTORY AUTHORIZED WARRANTY WORK ON FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY & KIA VEHICLES

Get Ready For...

At The Junction Of Rts. 3 & 46 In Clifton

973.779.7000

Se Habla Español SHOWROOM HOURS: Monday Thru Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-7:30pm SERVICE HOURS: Monday Thru Saturday 8am-4:30pm October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Halloween Parade Octoner 23, 12:45 pm along Lakeview Ave. Register in advance or by 12:15 the day of. HarvestFest follows ‘ti 4:30 at Nash Park No rain date Info: 973-470-5956

t’s a slice out of the past, a reminder of our community’s once rural history. It’s called HarvestFest and its name usually means a time to celebrate the fruits of spring and summer labor. It’s also a gathering to mark the season of color, a chance to enjoy the company of neighbors before the winter winds come. Clifton’s Oct. 23 HarvestFest—held at Nash Park, right after the Halloween Parade, which steps off at 12:45 from Lakeview Ave. at Fifth St—transforms the Nash Park grounds into an autumn wonderland, especially perfect for families with kids of any age. One of the great things about the festival are the prices, which are definitely out of the past. Most of the games and booths charge a dime to participate, and the rides, like the moon walk and trackless truck ride, cost 50 cents. The festival also features games like a ring and coin toss, a “bug pick,’ a treasure chest, and a great petting zoo. Bakers may want to enter the “Apple Pie Bake-off.” With dozens of entries each year, this event is a favorite of visitors to the HarvestFest. Plus, there are always a number of other surprises visitors will enjoy...

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

The Parade Marches On... The event leading up to the HarvestFest is a Clifton institution, inspiring memories in many generations. Every past and present marcher has a story to tell, and they go back to 1948 when the Halloween Parade began. While many past marchers remember the Halloween Parade taking place at night, this is a kid-friendly daytime affair, starting at 12:15 p.m. For many marchers and watchers, the stars of the Halloween Parade remain the music makers. Every year, the Mustang Marching Band parades in outrageous costumes and always seems to outdo their performance from last year. Once the band passes, parade watchers are often wowed by the hundreds of costumes and small floats of their friends and neighbors, although, it can be difficult to figure out who is who under the costumes. New categories this year include pets, families & floats, teens, adults and groups of six or more. Come and be part of the Clifton Halloween Parade & HarvestFest. Bring family and friends and show up in costume, or as a spectator. Volunteers are also needed. Pre-registration is recommended. Call 973-470-5956 for details.

Doreen Delivers Dreams! Don’t Fall Behind... ...in finding your dream home, ...leave it to Doreen,

it’s that Easy! “Congratulations Tom & the Merchant – I remember you when you were with the Clifton Dateline, way back when.”

Doreen

Delancy-Williams

SALES ASSOCIATE

Clifton – 10 room Victorian Colonial with Lemonade Porch $439,900 - Make this your new Home for the Holidays!

973-773-4000 ext 20 cell 973-760-2986 home 973-777-4305

e-mail: DoreenD@Remax.net 1744

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

School vs. Dollars: Showdown @ 290 Columnist John Bendel considers the last-minute attack on a much-needed Clifton High School Annex planned at 290 Brighton Rd. Let’s do a timeline. Clifton schools are overcrowded. The school board has to add facilities, but finds itself stymied at each turn. Neighborhood objections push one option after another off the table. Then the board finds a former industrial building at 290 Brighton Road in a commercial zone. We’re not talking about giant coal furnaces or car crushers. It’s a pleasant area just across Brighton Road from a nice residential neighborhood. The board foresees crossing children in front of the new school so they will walk on those residential sidewalks. The board buys the property to convert the building into a high school annex for 500 ninth graders. Looking forward, the board also plans to condemn two adjacent properties for a second phase of construction—a facility for 1,600 students. But the 500 student annex comes first. In a December, 2004 ballot, voters approve a ninth grade annex at 290 Brighton Rd. and authorize the $15.1 million it will cost. It’s hardly

a close vote; the tally is 3,901 to 1,441. But critics say voters are unaware of a looming variance issue. And the approval is only for the 500 student annex. A school annex at 290 Brighton doesn’t commit Clifton to the rest of the board’s plan. Nevertheless, opposition to the annex remains after the vote. One objection is general – the idea of removing commercially zoned property from the tax rolls. A more specific concern involves the future of 310 and 330 Brighton Rd. Those properties lie between the proposed annex and Van Ness Plastic Molding Co., Inc., a Clifton taxpayer and employer at 400 Brighton Rd. Van Ness already owns 330 Brighton Rd. and wants to expand the plant’s parking there by 98 spaces, but that property is part of the school board’s extended plan and the board has the power to acquire the property through condemnation. After the December vote, Van Ness learns that the school board will need a use variance to put a school on commercially zoned property.

Construction is set to begin. Contracts are signed, the clock is running. Delay now could cost serious taxpayer dollars. Perhaps worse, 500 kids set to attend the new Clifton High School annex in Sept. 2006 would remain in the even more crowded high school. 100 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Clifton’s City Planner Dennis Kirwan

Here is an opportunity to stop the entire Brighton Rd. project. If the zoning board denies a variance for 290 Brighton, further school board plans could be dead for all practical purposes. On the other hand, a variance for 290 Brighton Rd. could be precedent for 310 and 330. Van Ness decides to fight the variance. On the company’s side are those who oppose losing the tax revenue potential of any commercially zoned property. Company owner William Van Ness also hires The Marcus Group, a Secaucus-based public affairs firm. Alan Marcus, the company president, is a man of widely acknowledged influence.

1273

In fact, in a 1996 editorial criticizing the hand-picked competition for a $4 million contract from the Whitman administration, the StarLedger noted that the “winner happened to be the most politically connected of all, the Marcus Group of Republican loyalist Alan Marcus.” Marcus is a high-profile, quotable guy. His best quip, if I may digress for a moment, was aimed at an indecisive party in one dispute or another. Marcus told the fence-sitter: “You can’t sit on two toilets at the same time.” Love that one. I first heard it in Marcus’s Secaucus office in 1993 during an employment interview. While I sat there, Marcus took phone calls in which he either oozed charm for clients or snarled at the hired help. Don’t recall if the job was ever actually offered, but starvation would have been an attractive alternative. Marcus is renowned (or infamous, depending on your point of view) for winning the fights he takes on. He’s good at what he does. Real good. Okay, back to the time line. The 290 Brighton Road annex has been in the works and the newspapers for at least seven months. Nevertheless, on Aug. 29, Clifton City Planner Dennis Kirwan sends a letter to the N.J. Education Dept., which has already approved plans for the annex. Kirwan advises the agency that a use variance is required and that the Clifton School Board has not yet submitted an application. But Kirwan doesn’t stop there. “This project is not consistent with our Master Plan and not consistent with the state Development and Redevelopment Plan for Metropolitan Planning Area 1,”

☛

1273

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

101

Kirwan writes, noting that plans for the annex had never been submitted and that his office’s initial review “revealed several basic design flaws.” Kirwan’s letter on official City of Clifton stationery is copied to the city manager, city engineer, zoning officer, Zoning Board of Adjustment attorney, Education Dept. county manager and Frank Carlet Esq. Who’s Frank Carlet Esq.? He’s an attorney representing Van Ness Plastics. Not copied: anyone connected with the Clifton Board of Education. Clifton School Board president Joe Kolodziej gets a phone call from Herald News reporter Brian Spadora, who asks for a reaction to the letter. Kolodziej’s reaction: what letter? Construction is set to begin. Contracts are signed, the clock is running. Delay now could cost serious tax payer

dollars. Perhaps worse, 500 kids set to attend the new school annex in Sept. 2006 would remain in the even more crowded high school. Kolodziej is cheesed. He provides Spadora with some choice quotes about Clifton’s elected government, at least part of which he believes is working behind the scenes to kill the entire Brighton Road project. The Kirwan letter and Kolodziej's comments hit the street on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The following Tuesday at the regular Clifton Council meeting, Councilmen Frank Gaccione, Steve Hatala, Stefan Tatarenko and Ed Welsh express various levels of outrage at Kolodziej. On Sept. 21, the Clifton Board of Education goes before the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but there is no decision and the hearing is carried to the next meeting set for Sept. 28.

Joe K. Called It A Spade At their September 6 meeting, some Clifton dent, demanded a retraction saying that if one was not Council members huffed and puffed over comments forthcoming or if Kolodziej did not make a statement made by School Board President Joe Kolodziej that specifically excluding him from any alleged attempt to overturn an election, he, Hatala, would appeared in the Herald News and The consider legal action. Record on Aug. 30. Three weeks later, Hatala had not forKolodziej had just learned—from a gotten his demand or his threat. Herald News reporter—that City Planner “It’s still an open option. I have not Dennis Kirwan had written to the State heard anything,” he said. “I’m in the Education Department asking the agency process now of doing a letter to the to stop the Clifton School Board’s project (school) board and I’m going to put a at 290 Brighton Rd.. timeline in it and we’ll see what happens. Kolodziej accused some city officials of Having been a (school) board president, “trying to overturn an election” and went sometimes you say something you wish on to say “I think the mayor (Jim Anzaldi) John Bendel you could take back. I’m hoping that’s and the majority of the council have never what the case is here. been supportive of education in the community.” “We have 11,000 kids in overcrowded schools,” Ouch. Councilman Frank Gaccione called Kolodziej’s Hatala continued. “Something’s got to give here. The published remarks “a personal affront.” Councilman public already said ‘we want the building.’ That to Stefan Tatarenko called them “wrong” and “not me’s the bottom line. Whatever the issue is, go fix it so the board can start constructing the school the pubappropriate.” “To respond would be a waste of my precious lic said they wanted there. That to me’s the bottom line. This is a major issue.” breath,” said Councilman Ed Welsh. But Joe Kolodziej wasn’t in a conciliatory mood. Precious breath? What style. But it was Councilman Steve Hatala who clearly Reached by phone, Kolodziej repeated one of his charges with only the slightest adjustment. was the most outraged. “There were actions taken by city hall that seem to “Council trying to overturn an election?” he said. be an attempt to overturn an election,” he said. “I want proof, not innuendo.” This time, Kolodziej emphasized “seem to be.” Hatala, a former school board member and presi102 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

At about this time, the N.J. Education Dept. dismisses all the claims in the Aug. 29 Kirwan letter that brought this fight to public attention. The state says the Clifton board fulfilled all legal requirements and more or less tells Kirwan to take a hike. “He (Kirwan) is providing a statutory review that’s required,” Greco explained. “As our full time planner, he is doing what he’s required to do. We understand the intent (of the school board) is to provide added school space very needed in the com-

☛

D3 Dancenter

1716

At that meeting, a new opponent shows up—ProLogis, an international real estate corporation that owns the commercial property at 230 Brighton Rd., on the south side of the proposed school site. ProLogis based in Aurora, Colo., is the world’s largest industrial real estate investment trust with vast holdings in North America, Asia and Europe. At about this time, the N.J. Education Dept. dismisses all the claims in Kirwan’s letter of Aug. 29 that brought this fight to public attention. The state says the Clifton Board of Education fulfilled all legal requirements and more or less tells Kirwan to take a hike. Which brings us back to that Kirwan letter. (Dennis Kirwan said he was not authorized to speak to the press, referring questions to City Manager Al Greco.)

munity. But that doesn’t eliminate the appropriate review by the appropriate board. We can’t just say, gee, they want to put a school in the middle of a cemetery,” he continued. Greco said Kirwan’s letter should have been copied to the Clifton Board of Education, but the omission was not deliberate. “In hindsight, if I had looked at the cc’s on the letter I would have said, why don’t we send it to the board of education? To be honest, I didn’t look at the bottom of the list on the second page,” Greco admitted, adding that the city is trying to cooperate.

“Home of the Award Winning D3 Junior Dance Troupe”

It’s Not Too Late to Register!!! Ballet • Tap • Jazz• Hip Hop • Acrobatics Modern • Cheer Dance• Belly Dancing • Yoga

Classes for ages 21/2 thru adult

1355

• Discount on multiple classes

BUY • SELL • LOCATE APPRAISE • CONSIGN

• Fun-filled birthday parties

Corvettes In Stock Clifton Area Location

973-980-4312

605 Van Houten Ave • 973-773-9997 MEMBER ELITE DANCE FORUM & PROFESSIONAL DANCE TEACHERS ASSOC. October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

103

“The board (of adjustment) is trying to help. They cleared their calendar. The board agreed to have a special hearing and the general fees that are due were waived by the board of adjustment. “Could it have gone smoother?” Greco asked rhetorically. “I think it could have.” No doubt. Let’s accept that Kirwan inadvertently omitted the Clifton Board of Education from the copy list on his famous letter. The inclusion of an attorney for Van Ness was no accident. And now there’s a mantra – what public relations practitioners call a “message.” In a Sept. 14 letter to the Clifton Zoning Board of Adjustment opposing the variance, Kirwan leans heavily on the subject of safety. “The proposed use for this application is for a school, which is incompatible to the surrounding areas,” Kirwan writes, also saying “the biggest concern of this office is the health, safety and welfare of every student in this facility.” You hear it at Clifton Council meetings. I hear it in a phone conversation with Tom O’Neill, a lobbyist and VP with The Marcus Group. I ask why they are opposing the annex at 290 Brighton Rd. “We’re opposing the school on safety grounds,” he says. “It’s in an industrial area and not safe for kids.” When I call O’Neill a second time, I’m put through to Tom Kilkenny, another Marcus VP who is also on the Van Ness case. I ask if The Marcus Group has been in contact with the Clifton Council. He says no. I ask if Marcus has reached out to ProLogis. He says no. So I ask how the company is helping Van Ness with 290 Brighton Rd. “We’re working on this in terms of community outreach and contacting the neighbors and developing a message.” I ask what the message is.

Gentle, Effective Pain Relief from:

Clearly Alan Marcus can be candid when he wants to. So I’ll be candid: A manufacturer, an international real estate corporation and a wellconnected PR firm are trying to stop a school from being built in Clifton. It’s a school, not another Cambridge Crossings with 630 more condos. “Well, it’s… you know…,” Kilkenny chuckles uncomfortably. “You said you spoke to Tom O’Neill?” I say yes, adding that O’Neill said they opposed the variance on safety grounds. “Yeah, that’s kind of it,” says Kilkenny. Kind of it? Last year Alan Marcus, O’Neill and Kilkenny’s boss, made waves when he told New York Magazine that “in New Jersey, you contribute money not for access but results. Anybody who doesn't admit that is lying.” Clearly Alan can be candid when he wants to be. So I’ll be candid: A manufacturer, an international real estate corporation and a well-connected PR firm are trying to stop a school from being built in Clifton. It’s a school, not a nuclear generator, not a fireworks factory, not another Cambridge Crossing with 630 more condos. But they can’t say that’s what they’re doing, so they say it’s for the safety of the kids. Now there’s a message that will surely convince anyone who believes that manufacturers, real estate corporations and PR fog makers care more about Clifton kids than the Clifton Board of Education. It may even convince people who have never actually seen 290 Brighton Rd. Tell us, Alan, isn’t that really “kind of it?” To contact John Bendel go to www.johnbendel.com.

1199 MAIN AVENUE • DOWNTOWN CLIFTON 973-772-6425 DR. LENNY KRUGLYAK CHIROPRACTOR

• Headaches • Lower Back Pain • Neck & Back Pain • Sciatica/Leg Pain • Shoulder & Arm Pain • Disc Problems • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Muscle & Joint Pain Sports, Auto & Work-Related Injuries Most Insurance Plans Accepted • Emergency Service Available Convenient Office Hours by Appt. 104 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1759

Clifton Merchant Magazine

Letters to the I am concerned about New Jersey’s and Clifton’s elections. An overriding issue that clouds these elections is rising property taxes. No candidates are talking about how to reduce the tax, or make it equitable. Likewise, no candidates are tackling the ever-growing issue of our government’s employee benefits. State employees have negotiated contracts which provide thousands of employees with exceptional health and retirement benefits. Fully paid medical benefits and early retirement packages are two. The problem that New Jersey has is that it cannot afford these benefits. It’s not that the employees do not deserve them. It’s just that the money is not there to pay for it. Last year the State’s Pension and Health Care package needed $1.4 billion dollars to pay for the benefits promised to government employees. Only $195 million was sent in. That’s not all; the trust was under funded by $5.5 billion to begin the year. This must be rectified in five years. The benefit packages were not a problem in past years, because investments in the funds were earning enough money. Medical cost were reasonable. A cash contribution was not required. But now cash is needed, and New Jersey’s 21 counties and cities like Clifton are going to have to foot most of the bill.

Politicians should stop making the School System equivalent to the evil empire...and come up with solutions. Taxpayers need relief and the current system needs to change. Politicians need to negotiate new contracts with employees at all levels of government. Newly hired employees will have to pay for their insurance benefits. And the candidates for governor need to stop talking about refunds while a mushroom cloud of tax increases is on the horizon. Here in Clifton, politicians need to be bold leaders and deal with this ongoing mess regarding the Case for School Space and the Clifton School System. Great schools will make Clifton a great community.

1288 Main Ave. Clifton 07011 Tom.Hawrylko@Verizon.Net

Editor

Forging solutions to rising property taxes, building a new school and taming the spiraling cost of benefits for government employees are thorny issues. If politicians deal with this head on, I can guarantee they won’t be popular but they will emerge as leaders. Thus, they might as well start being unpopular right now and tell the truth instead of waiting for the hammer to hit. My sense is residents from every neighborhood in our city are tired of politicians who have deflected the issues and are making the Clifton School System equivalent to the evil empire. Stop the finger pointing, talk frankly, be leaders and come up with some real solutions. Gary Anolik

Use Main Memorial by Helen or Latteri Park Berkenbush Why put Clifton businesses out when free property is available? It does seem strange that some on the City Council and Board of Education should decide that the Brighton Rd. set of ratables are expendable. For years, we’ve heard politicians bemoaning the loss of taxes and jobs. That all seems to have evaporated. Why are these industries now disposable? What is more baffling is that we have property owned by the City or the Board of Ed where a school could be built, for free and without a problem. Just up the road, there’s Latteri Park, owned by the Board of Education. Across town on Main Ave., there is Main Memorial Park, right next to Christopher Columbus Middle School. Both are owned by us citizens and taxpayers, and would cost nothing to purchase. If people say they are losing a park, I want to remind them that the City Council is replacing it with their long-promised park on the former Athenia Steel site on Clifton Ave. Finally, this City Council should never live down the mess they created on the former Shulton factory site where Cambridge Crossings exists today. Clifton needs fresh ideas on use of land—enough blind and meaningless debates that have taken place! October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

105

What a truly wonderful article — one that the coach and our family will treasure always. Bill was so pleased with the wonderful story in the September edition. He is truly fortunate to have received this tribute and recognition during his lifetime and we are so happy for him. Jack DeVries did a superb job. As you predicted, he has been inundated with calls from Cliftonites who have left the area, from as far away as Arizona, Nevada, Virginia, North Carolina, and other states. Amazingly, we also heard from a former Clifton neighbor of mine I grew up with who we lost touch with 25 years ago. He has received many cards and letters, one from a friend’s daughter who too has gone through chemo treatments. It has been a most heartwarming experience for our entire family and we have you to thank. Seems even though people leave Clifton their hearts always remain in their hometown. Bill’s spirits are soaring and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. He is recovering steadily from the chemo and feeling better, though still a bit weak, but we are truly encouraged. All the love and support we have been receiving from family and friends have been so uplifting. We are truly blessed. Thank you Gilda Vander Closter, Franklin

106 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

at the Van Houten Avenue

Street Fair Sunday, September 18, 2005

Advertising Sponsored by:

POGORELEC LAW OFFICES 840 Van Houten Ave • Clifton • 973-778-1604 John D. Pogorelec Sr. • John D. Pogorelec Jr.

1776

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

107

New Jersey Music and Arts presents Fall Fest on Oct. 30 at 5 pm at the Woodrow Wilson Middle School auditorium on Van Houten Ave. The show is a celebration and showcase of the arts with a diverse cast of performers in a variety of genres. There is a free pre-performance lecture The Arts and the XXI Century at 4 pm. Admission to the Fall Fest is $10. Performers include the One Heart Dancers, Mr. Sparkle Band, dancer HyoJeong Williams, the New Hope Players and jazz performances by Deborah Latz Jazz Quarteta and Madi Portes, plus an art exhibit by Stephen Sprague. For info, call 973-272-3255.

1385

hair nails color

Call Jill at 973.365.0220 to make an appointment. 88 Market Street, Clifton

The Garden State Opera presents a double bill at the Woodrow Wilson Middle School auditorium on Nov. 20 at 5 pm. The operas are: Bastian and Bastienne, by Mozart, the quarrel of two young shepherd lovers that ends in reconciliation. The second is Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini, the mysterious tale of Sister Angelica, with its story of a dark family secret revealed and the final moving redemption, set in a convent in Italy at the end of the 17th century. The operas will be sang in the original language with projected titles in English. The shows are fully staged

with orchestra and the executive director is Clifton resident Franceso Santelli. He is the founder of the GSO and the NJMA performing arts series, which was founded in 1998 and is based in Clifton. Tickets for the opera performances are $20. Discounts are available for senior citizens and students. This project is funded, in part, by the Passaic County Cultural & Heritage Council, through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of the State. For tickets, call 973-272-3255. A free lecture on the operas begins at 4 pm.

Justin Peterson

B.M., Simpson College M.M., University of Kansas

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for those who are, or wish to become, serious singers.

1651

Menconi Music Studio Welcomes Our Newest Faculty Member.

Soprano Majorie Leake is the lead and Olga Andronikova, at right, is the mezzosoprano in the opera Suor Angelica which will be performed in Clifton on Nov. 20.

108 October 2005 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

Who said Halloween is just for kids? Join TLC for an evening of laughter and some... fundraising!!!

Theater League of Clifton TLC

Halloween Costume Party Fundraiser When: Saturday, October 29, 2005, 7 pm Where: Johnny’s Bar & Grill 110 Ackerman Ave., Clifton (Botany Village) Private Room, Side Entrance

Tickets: $35 per person Please make your check payable to: Theater League of Clifton Your donation/admission price includes

Buffet dinner • Unlimited beer, wine & soda Costume Contest with prizes • DJ/Dancing • There will also be a 50/50 • Raffle Prizes • Mail checks to: TLC, c/o Cheryl Hawrylko, 242 Washington Ave, Clifton, NJ 07011 Tickets will not be mailed - Guest Check-in at the Door. For additional information e-mail chawk6072@aol.com or call Cheryl Hawrylko 973-253-0087 or Brian Grace 917-386-7760 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

109

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Renee Kimiko Angello and her brother Jeffrey Joseph who both turn 4 on 10/4.

FREE SUNDAE Buy One Ice Cream or Yogurt Sundae, Get Another

FREE With This Coupon Coupons May Not Be Combined.

There’s a new driver on the road on 10/17: Michelle Dabal, at left, turns 17. Former Cliftonites Paul (CHS ‘76) and Mary Anne Fego (who reside in Plano, Texas) announce that their daughter Christine wed David Martin on June 25. The newlyweds will reside in Durham, NC.

Anthony Shackil . . . . . .10/11 Linda Triolo . . . . . . . . . .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 Rachel Pong . . . . . . . . .10/16 Michelle Dabal . . . . . . .10/17 Devin DeVries . . . . . . . .10/18 Matthew Fabiano . . . .10/18 Jamie Norris . . . . . . . . . .10/18

Benjamin Brody . . . . . .10/19 Brian James Grace . . .10/19 Kristen A. Hariton . . . . .10/19

Congratulations to Barbara and Orest Luzniak who celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary on 10/11.

Congratulations to Clifton resident Christine Canavan and US Army Captain Michael E. Jones, who wed on Sept. 4 at the Catholic Chapel in West Point.

2 00 OFF

Any Size Ice Cream Cakes Coupons May Not Be Combined.

Gelotti HOME MADE ICE CREAM

ITALIAN ICES • SOFT ICE CREAM SHERBERT • YOGURT • CAKE • GELATO

194 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell • 973-403-9968 –– 2 Union Ave., Paterson • 973-595-1647

110 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

1380

Sarah Bekheet . . . . . . . .10/1 Awilda Gorman . . . . . . .10/3 Ashley Messick . . . . . . . .10/3 Charlene Rivera . . . . . . .10/3 Grace Robol . . . . . . . . . .10/3 Frank Antoniello . . . . . . .10/4 John Brock Jr. . . . . . . . . .10/4 Kayla Galka . . . . . . . . . .10/4 Lisa Junda . . . . . . . . . . . .10/4 Alan Merena . . . . . . . . . .10/4 Bruce Merena . . . . . . . . .10/4 Gary DeBoer . . . . . . . . . .10/5 Rosalie D. Konopinski . . .10/5 Gene D’Amico . . . . . . . .10/6 Nicole Nettleton . . . . . . .10/6 Christopher Phillips . . . . .10/7 Jilian Fueshko . . . . . . . . .10/8 Nick Kacmarcik . . . . . . .10/8 Eileen Patterson . . . . . .10/11

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

We Don’t Sell Parts… …We Sell Service Bob and Zita Motta marked their 50th anniversary on Sept. 24 with a liturgy at St. Paul Church followed by a celebration at their home on Larkspur Rd. (The sign says it all...)

Rocky S. Angello . . . . . . 10/20 Joan Bednarski . . . . . . .10/20 Jean Chiariello . . . . . . .10/20 Lea Dziuba . . . . . . . . . .10/20 Patrick M. Doremus Jr. . .10/21 Eugene Osmak . . . . . . .10/21 Katelyn Smith . . . . . . . .10/21 Daniel Atoche . . . . . . .10/23 John Bross . . . . . . . . . . .10/23 Allison Beirne . . . . . . . . .10/24 Sandra Kuruc . . . . . . . .10/24 Heather Sito . . . . . . . . .10/24 Paul G. Andrikanich . . .10/25 Matthew McGuire . . . .10/26 Kristofer Scotto . . . . . . .10/27 Nicole Keller . . . . . . . . .10/28 Ashley Gretina . . . . . . .10/29 Lindsay Berberich . . . . .10/30 Raymond Romanski . . .10/31 Josef Schmidt . . . . . . . .10/31

Machine Shop On Location No Order Too Large Or Small FREE DELIVERY

Two Stores In Clifton 973-473-1997

973-473-4999

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

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

Our Other Locations: 201.843.8040

201-845-8353

136 Essex St • Rochelle Park Open Sundays

101 Route 46 West • Saddle Brook Open Sundays

201.391.3333

973-857-2600

5 Hawthorne Ave • Park Ridge New Location

614 Pompton Ave • Cedar Grove New Location

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

973.338.9292 1278 Broad St • Bloomfield New Location

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

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

59th Anniversary! Joseph and Eleanor Shook mark the anniversary Oct. 26!

Visit us in Athenia: 802 Van Houten Ave • 973-473-1997 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

111

1274

Heroin is a bigger problem in Clifton than most would like to admit. “I love Clifton and it’s not popular to say, but heroin is a growing epidemic here,” claimed Angela Swan, who is in her 20th year as president of the non-profit volunteer foundation CASA (Clifton Against Substance Abuse). “Many in public office tend to downplay the growing popularity of the drug,” continued Swan. Proof of the abuse is that there have been three major heroin busts in Clifton over the past year. Heroin use amongst teens and adults is real and it won’t go away. Swan said users are buying high quality potent dope, which can be easily purchased in and around Clifton. So how are teenagers using heroin? “They are sniffing it, not injecting it,” said Swan. CASA is a volunteer group which seeks to deal with drug abuse and a variety of issues in the community. October is drug awareness month and CASA sponsored a poster contest and is conducting an awareness campaign to make people of all ages aware of the issues. CASA is also hosting a dinner on Oct. 11 at 6 pm at the Mountainside Inn where the speaker is Joan MacMullen, a Wayne school teacher who will talk about the death of her son from a heroin overdose.

Sarge Painting

Talk Drugs Out Heroin Use Called a Growing Epidemic by Alicia Feghhi and Tom Hawrylko

According to the information provided by CASA, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported that about 55 percent of the patients in Passaic County drug treatment centers are there for heroin addiction. Also: • There are 100,000 heroin users in New Jersey • There is a 450% increase in heroin use amongst kids, ages 12 to 17 • NJ has the highest rate of emergency room visits which have been caused by drug overdoses and death • NJ, and especially the northern suburbs, has the most readily available, inexpensive and purest heroin in America • 10% of high school seniors have used Oxycontin and Percodan, two gateway drugs which can often lead to heroin use CASA urges parents to Talk Drugs Out at Home... • Be frank about drug use and realize that it is available • Let children know that drugs are off limits • Be a parent, not a friend Swan wants adults to bring their teenage kids to the dinner so that both parents and children can hear MacMullen tell the truth about drug use in suburban towns like Clifton. There is no charge for the dinner but reservations are required. Call Swan at 973-471-6100 ext. 115. Almost 20 years ago, Swan said she lived the horrors of drug abuse from someone close to her. That’s why she continues to chair CASA, some two decades after she founded Bob Sandri 973-773-0280

the group with then Clifton High School counselor Peter Lo Re. “I made a pact with God and said if you will save him, I’ll do this,” said Swan, explaining as to why she remains at the helm of the group. One final note: CASA is a volunteer organization which seeks to coordinate the resources within Clifton. While Swan will discuss issues, more info on abuse prevention is available from the Clifton Health Dept. at 973-470-5765.

R.F. K NAPP C ONSTRUCTION R OOFING • S IDING • G UTTERS • L EADERS

973- 777-1699 • 14 Pilgrim Dr.• Clifton

10OFF Any Paint-Work

–R ESIDENTIAL O NLY –

112 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

•Powerwashing •Spackling •Fully Insured

1301

•Decks Cleaned/Sealed •Gutter Cleaning •Exterior/Interior

FREE ESTIMATES • OVER 40

YEARS

• FULLY INSURED

The Annual Elmer Goetschius Fish ‘N’ Chips dinner, hosted by the First Presbyterian Church, 303 Maplewood Ave., is on Nov. 11 from 5 to 7 pm. Tickets are $11 and $6.50 for kids. For info, call 973-423-1272. The Third Annual Fall Golf Outing, sponsored by the Ukrainian-American Youth Association CYM is on Oct. 22 at the Farmstead Golf and Country Club in Lafayette. Participants are welcomed to donate items, gift certificates or may be a tee sponsor. There will be awards, raffle prizes, refreshments and lunch. A buffet at the Ukrainian Center on 240 Hope Ave., in Passaic follows. Foursomes are $500. For info, call or write George Bukalo 973-253-5640, bukalo@optonline.net or Roman Andrach 201-739-8000, randrach@optonline.net. St. Brendan School will host an evening Open House on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 pm. St. Brendan’s is at 154 East 1st St. on the corner of Crooks and Lakeview Aves., and offers grades PreK-8, optional all day PreK and K, before and after care, hot lunch, Smartboard technology, sports, language, art and music. New Options to Pay for College Costs is the theme of a free info session at Clifton High School for parents of college-bound students. CHS and the Educational Funding Consultants will present the meeting on Oct. 25 at 7 pm. For more details, call 866-597-3322 or edy@educationfundinggroup.com.

St. Peter’s Haven needs volunteers for sorting and bagging food for their Thanksgiving baskets program on Nov. 16, from 10 am to noon, and 6 to 8 pm in the parish hall, 386 Clifton Ave. Contributions are always needed, either cash or food. Deliver non-perishable food from Nov. 7 to 10, between 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Complete turkey baskets with perishable food can be delivered to the parish hall on Nov. 20 from 1 to 3 pm. The baskets will be distributed on Nov. 21 from 10 am to noon and from 6 to 7 pm in the parish hall. For info, call the Haven office at 973-546-3406 and ask for Ann.

A Properly Running Transmission Can Improve Gas Mileage • Add Life to Your Vehicle • Save Your Hard Earned Bucks FREE External Diagnostics includes state-of-the-art computer scanning & road test. World Automotive Transmission II 810 Clifton Avenue • Clifton Automatic • Standard • 4x4’s Clutches • Differentials Foreign • Domestic

973-471-5505

$ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REBUILDERS ASSOCIATION

1764

3 Year/ 36,000 Mile Nationwide Warranty

Since 1953

Transmission Fuild Power Flush Special

with this coupon• Exp 10/31/05

October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

113

St. Peter’s Haven will recognize and remember friends and advocates with the annual Donald J. Fischer Service Awards on Oct. 27 at The Brownstone in Paterson. Rev. Hank Dwyer, the former pastor of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, (at right) will be posthumously honored for his leadership at the Clifton Ave. parish and his tireless advocacy for the hungry and the homeless through St. Peter’s Haven. Dwyer passed away on March 24 at the age of 58 and his legacy as a colorful liberal who made many diverse friends, earned and gave respect and accomplished much in a variety of ways will forever be etched in Clifton’s history. Blues advocate and ardent fundraiser for The Haven, John Muller, will also be recognized. Muller had worked with Dwyer on making the immensely popular Blues Cruise into a major fundraiser. The summer’s evening cruise featuring music, food and friendship, served aboard the historic A.J. Meerwald as it sails the Hudson River, remains a favorite event. Members of the Clifton Rotary Club, to which Rev. Dwyer belonged, will also be honored for their ongoing food drives and fundraising efforts which have benefitted St. Peter’s Haven. Doors open at 6:30 pm and tickets are $35. Ticket orders must be received by Oct. 14. Call 973-546-3406.

Dr. David R. Moore, Chiropractor Dr. Moore uses Surface Electromyography (sEMG) to detect levels of muscle tension associated with Vertebral Subluxation. This computerized spinal examination provides qualitative and quantitative data used to determine levels of the nervous system that are reducing the body's ability to maintain optimal health. Call our office so you and your family can have your spine checked, (973) 253-7005.

Mon • Wed • Fri Chiropractic Health Center 241 Crooks Ave • Clifton • 973.253.7005 Tue • Thu • Sat Elmwood Park Athletic Club 690 River Dr • Elmwood Park • 201.794.0155

1576

www.fitspine.net www.fitspine.net

114 October 2005 • Clifton Merchant

Inside Back Cover

East Ridgelawn Cemetery... ...invites you to visit our Mausoleum on Main Avenue to see the inspirational art adorning our new building. Within the Mausoleum, our artist has painted a serene and peaceful view, entitled ‘Eden’, where visitors can pause to celebrate the lives of those who have passed.

At the Mausoleum... Visits are unlimited and unaffected by the weather. Crypts are located in the building and convenient for elderly and handicapped. Mausoleum entombment provides greater Peace of Mind & Security. • non-sectarian • niches

• mausoleum • garden graves

monumental graves • no obligation pre-need counseling financing available one-year at no interest on easy monthly plans

East Ridgelawn Cemetery 255 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07014 for more information with no obligation call: 1540

973.777.1920

BACK COVER

Tomahawk Promotions 1288 main Avenue Clifton, nJ 07011

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID ClifTon, nJ PeRmiT no. 1185

NICK TSELEPIS Broker/Owner

TOP?1% REALTORS Direct Line: 973-340-1107 SELLING? CALL NICK AND START PACKING!

Buy or Sell A Home With Us & Use This Truck!

Call Toll Free

877-833-2365

102 Cambr i dge Ct .

Free Report #1

How to Sell Your Home at the Highesr Possible Price To hear a brief recorded message call

1-800-613-4059 ID# 2043 You can call 24/7

Free Report #2

Sellers Beware Avoid 11 Mistakes that Could Cost You Thousands of Dollas

Clifton

$599,000 Clifton

$299,000 Clifton

STORE + BUILDING

WELL KEPT COLONIAL

Take over this long established Store in the Center of Clifton. Along with a 2-story building which includes the store, 5 room apartment for rent and a loft, nice size property with parking. Ask for Nick. CALL 877-833-2365

Features Living Room, formal Dining Room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms plus 1 large bedroom in attic. 11/2 baths. Full partially finished bsmnt with laundry area. CALL 877-833-2365

$359,900

CONDO/GATED COMMUNITY Cambridge Heights off Main Ave. Barrister model, LR, DR, KIT, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths + loft. C/A 2nd floor unit w/deck. Excellent conditions. CALL 877-833-2365

20 Cant er bur y Ct .

To hear a brief recorded message call 1-800-613-4059 ID# 2053 You can call 24/7

Clifton Free Report #3

How to Hire the Right Agent

13 Things You Must Do to Get the Most $ From the Sale of Your Home To hear a brief recorded message call 1-800-613-4059 ID# 2033

$359,900 Clifton

$380,111 Clifton

MOVE IN CONDITION

WELL KEPT HOME

New kitchen, new furnace, new windows and much more, fin. Bsmnt, with bath near NY trans. 3 bedrooms, 1 full bath and 2 half baths. Ask for Maria Carrera CALL 877-833-2365

Features 3 bedrooms, full bath,

$490,000

CALL 877-833-2365

LOVELY LARGE SPLIT LEVEL Well maintained, large Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Modern Eat In Kitchen, 3 bdrms, family room + rec room with wet bar. 2.5 baths. 3 car garage. CALL 877-833-2365

370 Fenl on Bl vd.

32 Ki ngsl and Ave

Dining Room, Eat In Kitchen, Living Room, Powder Room. Ask for Tom/Peggy Lubanski

You can call 24/7

Free Report #4

How to Buy Your 1st Home the Easy Way! and Avoid the 10 Most Common Mistakes To hear a brief recorded message call

1-800-613-4059 ID# 2013 You can call 24/7

Visit us online at:

Clifton

$325,219 Clifton

$374,900 Clifton

1 FAMILY HOME

Expanded Cape

Total renovated on the inside with central A/C, 2 full baths. This home is perfect for the first time buyer or young family, near grade school and transportation. Ask for Nina Robayo. CALL 877-833-2365

Super Sized Cape w/lrg rooms. Kit with dining area, 2 bedrooms, office area, large family room. 2 bedrooms on 2nd floor, fin bsmnt. with summer kit, drive + garage. CALL 877-833-2365

$649,000

MARVELOUS 2 FAMILY IN CUL-DE-SAC STREET. Walking distance from Clifton Commons. Approx 20 years old. Modern and Spacious Home. Not a Drive Buy. Ask for Angela C. CALL 877-833-2365