Clifton Merchant Magazine - January 2010

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629 Clifton Ave • Clifton

973-777-7364459 Chestnut St • U

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January 2010_cover TEMPLATE 12/29/09 3:11 PM

Clifton Merchant Magazine is published the first Friday of every month at 1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton • 973-253-4400

January 2010 • Clifton Merchant 4

Clifton is a community of entrepreneurs. From barber shops like TheHair Place and owner Vinnie Gulardo with one or two employees to cornerbars and neighborhood pubs which employ dozens, we small business own-ers are the engine of the economy. Our payroll and hard-earned profits cre-ate jobs, support families, sponsor local youth sports teams, purchase goodsand services from other small businesses, and are at the heart of Clifton.

Even today in these tough times, the Small Business Administration reportsthat more than half of the Americans who are employed either own or work fora small business. “Small businesses have created 64 percent of the private sec-tor jobs over the past 15 years,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said in aDec. 14 speech. “And it is our entrepreneurs and small business owners thatwill drive America’s ability to innovate and stay competitive across the globe.”

Small Businesses:The Engine of Our Economy in

At left, Vinnie Gulardo who is pictured on the cover of this month’s magazine. His shop, The Hair Place, is a landmarkat the intersection of Clifton Ave. and Clifton Blvd. Above, Leslie Fernandez of BlackFlag Shoppe on Lakeview Ave.

By Editor & Publisher Tom Hawrylko

Thanks to our readers and advertisers, I’m proud to announce thatwe have two milestones this year. In March of 1990, my wife and Ibegan Tomahawk Promotions. Five years later, in October, 1995,we published the first edition of Clifton Merchant Magazine.

16,000 Magazinesare distributed to

hundreds of CliftonMerchants on the firstFriday of every month.

~Subscribe Page 76~$27 per year

$45 for 2 years

Call 973-253-4400

Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko

Graphic DesignerRich McCoyStaff WriterJoe Hawrylko

Contributing WritersIrene Jarosewich, CarolLeonard, Rich DeLotto,Don Lotz, Jack DeVries© 2010 Tomahawk Promotions

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011


From left, Fred Barnes of Dingo’s Den, who is President of the Clifton Licensed Beverage Association, with Rob Corujoof Pub 46 and Joe Barcellona of Bliss Lounge. Pictured at right, Mike Rogers of Signarama on Van Houten Ave.

Contact Clifton Zoning Officer Dan Howell first (973-470-5808) to make sure the building you wouldlike to use is zoned for the type of business you plan. Call the Office of Planning (973-470-5909) to discusswhether or not your proposal is appropriate andconsistent with Clifton’s Master Plan.Fill out an application for a Certificate of BusinessCompliance, available at the Building Department(973-470-5809). This will trigger a series of forms, callsand inspections from various departments: building,signange, electrical, plumbing, fire, zoning, health andHazmat. Fee for the CBC is $175.If you are opening a establishment of any kindwhich handles food, you will need to visit the HealthDepartment (973-470-5758) to pick up its nine-step listof procedures and attend food handling classes.Learn about city, state and federal grantopportunities, incentives and the city’s two SpecialImprovement Districts, by turning to our Industry &Business Resources & Advocates guide on page 47.

Steps For Opening A Business

Mike Rogers of Clifton Signarama loves the churn of theeconomy. His franchised company, which just purchased anew building on Van Houten Ave., designs, manufacturesand installs signs. “This economy has been good to us,”admitted Rogers. “As new businesses open, we’re there,” hesaid, noting the start-ups need signage to brand their image.“We’re competitive, have a national reputation but are alocally-owned business,” said Rogers. “That’s our niche.”

Clifton Merchant Magazine is proud to document thestruggles and successes of fellow small business owners—it’s an ongoing story we’ll continue to share with you.

In Clifton, small businesses innovate, stay competitiveand drive the engine of the economy in diverse ways.

Take Leslie Fernandez who two years ago opened askateboard store on Lakeview Ave. She, her husbandOmar and their young employees dressed the place upwith skaterwear and accessories, make custom and one-of-a-kind shop boards and created a cool, inviting place. Theresult? BlackFlag Shoppe has become a regional destina-tion store. “We’re all about shop local,” said Leslie. “Wewant to keep that circle of commerce going.”

Neighborhood taverns and pubs are traditional smallbusinesses. But with the proliferation of national chainrestaurants and their endless advertising budgets, the oldcorner taverns are losing ground. Some have evenclosed. That’s why decades ago the Clifton LicensedBeverage Association (CLBA) was formed.

Today, Fred Barnes of Dingo’s Den is the president.He said that with about 70 license holders, hundreds ofemployees and thousands of customers, tavern ownersare positioned to have a voice in local and regional poli-tics and must be a stronger advocate for their businesses.

“City officials are too quick to come down on ourneighborhood bars for infractions. Like giving us a hardtime about entertainment licenses. And they are a littletoo easy to grant these chains most anything they want,”said Barnes. As an example, he cited zoning variancesbeing granted so that liquor licenses can be awarded tonew chain restaurants at the Promenade Shops on Rt. 3.

On Jan. 19, at 2:30 pm at Pub 46, Barnes said tavernowners will meet to discuss issues such as closing timesand entertainment licenses and how the tavern owners canhave an impact on the May City Council elections. “Wewant our voices to be heard and our businesses to stayviable,” he said. “We want our place at the table.”


What a great December maga-zine one of the best, if not biggest,yet! The human interest featuresand the support you give to our cityis amazing. Your dedication totelling our city’s story is a credit toyour desire to give Clifton theboost it needs. Clifton Merchanthas become the one single sourcethe city has to spread the goodnews of our past, present andfuture. We hope 2010 is good toyou and those you hold dear.

Helen & Roy Berkenbush, Clifton

History of Santa’s Tour deClifton: How nice it was to readabout all the celebrations throughout the city. Your staff did such agood job collecting that informa-tion. I especially enjoyed the storyof how our Christmas Eve Santastill travels the streets of our town.I remember how my childrenlooked forward to the fire truck and

back then how they stopped andgave out candy canes. Although mychildren are grown, I still enjoyseeing the float and fire truck asthey come through Allwood. It iswonderful that Mayor Anzaldi, theFire and Police Departments andthe Christmas Committee continueto bring smiles to the citizens everyDecember 24.

Chris Liszner, Clifton

Remembering Steve Paul Pados:The November issue of CliftonMerchant carried the tragic story ofthe Nov. 5, 1961 military plane crashwhich took the lives of seven Cliftonresidents who had just been draftedinto the Army. The names of theseman were eventually engraved ontothe Clifton War Monument. However,by simple error, one man was notincluded. His name was Steven PaulPados. Born 1938, Steve was raisedin the Lakeview section, residing on

East. 1st St. He attended School 11before graduating from Pope Pius XIIHigh School in 1956. He was aparishioner of St. Brendan’s Churchwhere he was an Eagle Scout afterhigh school. He attended SyracuseUniversity for one year before takinga job with a Clifton printing company.Steve loved hunting, fishing, sky div-ing and auto racing. However, helived in Wayne shortly before beingdrafted and because of his Wayneaddress, his name was not engravedon the Main Ave. Monument.

Rich DeLotto, Clifton

Hard work pays off: This month’smagazine was excellent. Thankyou for the hard work and all theeffort that goes into each magazine.

Ruth Messineo, Clifton

Thank you all for your contributions.Find more letters on page 78.

Clifton Merchant Magazine1288 Main Ave. Clifton 07011

[email protected]

to theEditor

2010

Corrections: On page 101 of ourDecember edition, we reported thatneither CHS bowling team reachedcounties. The Mustang girls actuallywon their 10th consecutive PassaicCounty tournament in 2008.

Also, if you wish to contribute to theJulia Rose Young Trust, mailchecks in that name to KBK WealthManagement, LLC, Attention:Michael Kessler, 28 West 44th St.,Suite 1200, New York, NY 10036.


January 2009 Mountain Development Corp’s 100 Delawanna Ave. Office Tower...fully leased & going green—positive economic news to start the year.

Pope John II Schoolto Close in June, ‘09

iting declining enrollment and rising debt,the Paterson Diocesan on Jan. 14 announcedthat Pope John Paul II School on ValleyRd. will close in June, affecting 588

elementary students. The news sparked speculationfrom Clifton officials about the property’s future use.

CIn the past, Board and Council members dis-cussed buying or leasing the building andgrounds to possibly use as a third middle school.However, that never came to fruition due todepleted funds and the completion of theBrighton Rd. Annex. The decision to close theschool also leaves the Clifton Stallions SoccerClub hanging in limbo as recreation and travel-ing teams utilize the field behind Pope John II.

From left, Mountain Development Corp. PresidentMichael A. Seeve and Director of AcquisitionsWilliam Martini, and Telx Vice President ofProduct Development and Engineering RoseKlimovic. Automated Logic, Telx and EK Successare moving into the seven-story MountainTechnology Center at 100 Delawanna Ave.


Richfield Village apartment residents voiced displeas-ure with management’s lack of response as commuterstaking buses and trains continued to park in private spotsreserved for tenants. Management said the problem wasrooted in the fact that the state was charging commuters topark in a nearby lot, leading them to flood the apartmentcomplex’s lot. The city, meanwhile, said it could regulateparking on public streets, but not in residential lots.

A state program to track and respond to shootingsexpanded to Clifton. Operation CeaseFire New Jersey, aprogram to help decrease violence caused by firearms,works with local law enforcement. CeaseFire helpspolice departments focus on investigating and preventingnon-fatal incidents that can lead to larger crimes.

Al DuBois, the city’s recycling coordinator, spoke toClifton High School students on Jan. 22 in MariettaSteransak’s environmental science class. He told themhow the city’s trash is shipped 300 miles to a Pittsburghlandfill and how selling recyclable items garnered morethan $500,000 for Clifton in 2008.

Silvy Perincheril continued her recovery from thegun shot wound to the head she suffered on Nov. 23,2008, when Joseph “Sanish” Pallipurath, 28, ofSacramento, Calif. allegedly opened fire at St. Thomas

Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church on Third St. The 49-year-old Hawthorne woman recovered from a medical-ly induced coma and began intensive rehabilitation toregain movement in her arms and legs. Pallipurath’sestranged wife, Reshma James, 24, and Dennis JohnMalloosseril, 23, were killed during the shooting.

The Environmental Protection Agency began remov-ing 1,500 drums of chemicals that were left at a storagefacility on 2 Peekay Dr.in Delawanna. The city saidAbrachem Group, a chemical repackaging company,abandoned the drums when they relocated to Belleville.

Miles Technologies on Main Ave. helped donate a$10,000 customized bathroom to Robert Clark, aVietnam veteran from Clifton. The Air Force vet is par-alyzed from the waist down, so his new bathroom wasmade to his specifications.

At 10 pm on Jan. 11, two 18-year olds stopped at theExxon gas station on Rt. 46 West and found the attendantlying face down on the ground, bleeding profusely fromhis head and neck. A woman was standing above himand speaking a foreign language. Then, a man with abandanna covering his face approached and took theirphones. As the two teens fled the scene, a shot was firedand a bullet was lodged in the dashboard of the car.

January newsmakers, from left: John Fette of Fette Ford on added Infiniti to his car line up, which also includes Kia. EdHolster retires from the Clifton Police Department after 39 years on the job. Anthony Marinaro renovated 310 Kuller Rd.L. Robert Lieb, Chair and CEO of Mountain Development Corp. City Recycling Coordinator Al DuBois.

On Jan. 17, theCHS girls bowlingteam won thePassaic Countytitle. From left,MustangsElena Mauro,Sonja Shirak,Coach BrianSmall, NatashaCasado, AshleyBrandecker andKortney Casperino.

February 2009 John & Tillie Seyka shared their love story, as did eight other Cliftoncouples who offered their take on how to make love & marriage work.

The city considered two proposals for the site. The firstproposal came from Regan Development Corporation outof Ardsley, NY and included a six-unit building with threethree-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apart-ments for people with special needs. The second was pro-posed by the New Jersey Community DevelopmentCorporation of Paterson. It called for 10 one-bedroomapartments for homeless veterans. The building was pur-chased by Clifton in April 2007 for $415,000. The cityalready owned the land on which it sits.

Demolition of the old Broad St. Stop & Shop wasalready underway when a ground breaking ceremonywas held on Feb. 10. The new 55,000 sq. ft. supermar-ket is to double the size of the old one built in 1957.

A new Mandee store on Rt. 3 opened Feb. 13 withCHS Class of 2001 grad Saedah Salhia serving as gen-eral manager. The 7,000 sq. ft. store was designed byTricarico Architecture and Design PC. It includes afull-size runway, a theme that the franchise aims toinclude in every new location.

Nina’s Salon, on Valley Rd., owned by Nina andFrank Corradino, marked its 20th anniversary with areception and ribbon cutting on Feb. 14.

Peruvian restaurant Aji Limon opened on Main Ave.Feb. 25. The 2,400 sq. ft. eatery, owned by NorthBergen residents Edgar and Clari Aranda, offers servicefor 83 people at 26 tables. It serves lunch and dinner.

The Clifton Family Super Bowl Party attracted about300 people to a fun-filled family event thanks to CliftonAgainst Substance Abuse (CASA), the Boys & GirlsClub, Clifton Merchant Magazine and a host of othersponsors. The 12th annual event is set for Feb. 7, 2010.

Cliftonite Amy Siegel won the Simply ManischewitzCook-Off held on Feb. 13 in New York City. Herrecipe for Falafel Sliders earned her a state-of-the-artGE Profile Stainless Steel Kitchen, a $5,000 checkfrom Manischewitz and other goodies. She hadreached the semi-finals in 2007.

COAH-eligibleHousing in Botany?

he former American Legion Post 347 siteon Lake Ave. in Botany Village wasconsidered for COAH-eligible lowincome housing by city officials. The

abandoned and dilapidated property has been undercity care since 2007.

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The new Mandee store on Rt. 3 opened on Feb. 13. Fromleft, District Manager Vicki Barrett, Assistant BuyerJenny Mandelbaum, Chair and CEO Ken Mandelbaumand store General Manager Saedah Salhia.



Dr. Cecily Lesko of North Jersey Eye Associates onClifton Ave. was named to the Board of Governors ofthe NJ Academy of Ophthalmology. The organizationpromotes eye health through education and governmentaction. Lesko has been working at her father’s practicefor 15 years. Dr. William Lesko has been in Clifton formore than four decades.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Systems named SisterRosemary Smith, S.C., the new Chairperson of the Boardof Trustees. Smith, a Sister of Charity, previously servedas Assistant General Superior for her congregation.

A Feb. 11 legislation by President Barack Obamastalled the switch from analog to digital cable for all UStelevisions. Clifonites who do not yet have digital cablemust comply by the new mandate date of June 12.

School 14 4th grader Amanda Rosado donated three pony-tails to Locks of Love on Feb. 27 at Guy Anthony Salon.

1975 CHS grad Jayne Modean, who went on to a suc-cessful modeling and acting career, was profiled in Feb.

Some of the Clifton couples profiled in the February edition: Jay Moormann & Tammy Csaszar with their daughterKatie, Brian Reilly and Krystyna Zarebczan , Roberta Brashear and Randy Kaulfers and John and Arlene Bross.

However, the closure of the Dumont Ave. firehouse andthe layoffs were temporary. The cuts came due tolimitations on city spending because of the state’s fourpercent tax increase cap. Under the law, the city couldonly raise its expenses by $3.7 million in the 2009budget, but that figure was closer to $7 million at theend of 2008. Over the next two months, the FMBA andcity officials would negotiate to forge a deal to save thefire fighter jobs and keep salaries in line.

Hoffman-La Roche continued to consolidateactivities. The Swiss drugmaker located on Rt. 3 nearthe Nutley border announced that it planned to cut more

than 1,500 jobs in New Jersey and move majoroperations to the west coast as part of a $46.8 billiondeal to take over biotech giant Genentech. Withmanufacturing scheduled to close by the middle of2010 at the Rt. 3 facility, as many as 400 workers in thatdepartment could be affected.

The city announced that it would seek a new roundof bids to lease the former Schultheis Farm after itreceived only one offer. Officials also decreased thebid threshold on the five-acre property on Grove St.,which includes a three-bedroom house. Clifton boughtthe farm from the Schultheis family in 2005 for $4.25

million before receiving grants from the stateGreen Acres Open Space Trust Fund and thePassaic County Open Space and HistoricalPreservation Trust Fund to help offset the cost.

The Paterson Great Falls were designated aNational Historic Park when President BarackObama signed a legislative package on March 30that included that distinction. Rep. Bill PascrellJr. had been working towards that for years.

CCMS teacher Theresa Evans received theClean Communities Award on March 12 for herwork to beautify the school grounds. The crown-ing achievement was the Diversity Garden, whichis adjacent to the cafeteria entrance near the stadi-um. Evans also received the Presidential VolunteerService Award from the United States Departmentof the Interior’s Take Pride in America Program.

March 2009 Cancer survivor and WWMS counselor Peter Salzano and othersshared their stories of overcoming the odds & beating various illnesses.

Fire Station No. 2Closed; 12 lose jobs

he percolating problems from a budgetshortfall finally culminated with the clos-ing of the Albion fire house and layoffs of12 Clifton Firefighters on March 7. The

action came after several weeks of negotiationbetween the city and the FMBA Local 21.

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CCMS teacher Theresa Evans was honored for her work inkeeping the school green. Pictured from left, CCMS staff mem-bers Dominick D’Andrea, Bede Klein, Evans and Ted Melnick.



City chiropractors Terry Watts and James Hubertfoiled a robbery attempt on March 9. Upon seeing ascreaming 62-year-old female running after a 20-year-old male on Allwood Rd., the duo sprung into action,tackling Sean Ryan of Belleville and holding him thereuntil police showed up.

On March 22, Clifton Police Officer Ryan Maloneyarrested the suspected “Bonnie & Clyde” pair thoughtto have robbed a number of local stores. Leon Rene,32, and Maria Cruz, 29, of Hilton Ave. told authoritiesthey went on the spree to feed a large heroin addiction.

The 20th annual CHS Distinguished AcademicAwards Dinner is on March 30 at the WestmountCountry Club in Woodland Park. The event recognizesstudents, regardless of what level courses they are tak-ing, who have maintained a 90 or better average for theschool year and are invited as guests of honor.

The Police UnityTour Spaghetti Dinneron March 29 at the Boys& Girls Club was agreat success, thanks tofamily and friends. TheClifton PBA thankedthose who donatedgoods and services,including, the father andson team of Neil’s Pizza& Restaurant of Harding Ave. (pictured) for homemademarinara sauce, musical entertainment by Brookwood,Barilla for providing the pasta, Bloomfield residentLouis Sasso for donating 50 pounds of pasta and 16pounds of sauce, and Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts andArmando’s Bakery for supplying the desserts.

Boys & Girls Club of Clifton executive director Bob Foster (second from left) is able to still play basketball todaythanks to the help he received from his doctors, from left, John Cubero, Jeffrey Miller and Daniel Rice and others.Susan Hojnacki and Gaetano LoSauro (better known as Guy Anthony) both had breast cancer. Dr. Michael Basistacelebrated the 25th anniversary of the ImmediCenter, which is on Broad St.

Also in the March edition was a story about Babe Ruth and his Jan. 2, 1921 game with the Powers Five, one of theleading basketball teams of the barnstorming era. Ruth needed to raise some quick cash after a gambling trip toHavana. Team members which called Passaic home were Bennie Borgmann, Bobby Reynics, a Passaic Police Officer andArt Powers, who later coached Clifton baseball players. Also on the team were Jack, Ralph and Charlie Powers.


April 2009 Senior Lady Mustangs pitcher Monica Barhorst put on her gamefaceto help us preview the CHS Spring Sports and roundup of Winter teams.

City residents indicated a desire for change on April 21when two newcomers led all vote-getters in the Board ofEducation election. Joe Yeamans and Jim Daley wereelected to three-year terms along with running mate andincumbent Michael Paitchell. Failing to win electionwere Jack Houston, Carlo Santelli and incumbentsMichael Urciuoli, the former board president, and LizzGagnon. Residents also voted down a $114 million taxlevy, a 6.2 percent increase over the previous year.

Passaic County Freeholders introduced a $395 million2009 budget on April 14 that increased taxes $44 forClifton residents. Overall spending decreased $10million from 2008, which was mainly attributed to thefact that the Passaic County Juvenile Detention Centerwas closed on April 10 and those inmate are now housedin the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.

Governor Jon Corzine’s proposed 2010 budget fea-tured a cut of $31.2 million in aid to municipalities.Clifton officials must look to make up that anticipatedrevenus, as the city expects to be out of some $300,000.

The second annual Beers Not Tears—JamesAmoruso Memorial Scholarship Benefit was held at theShannon Rose in Clifton Commons on April 18. Morethan $9,000 was raised and two $2,500 scholarshipswere given to a male and female CHS student.Amoruso, 25, died in a car accident on April 15, 2007.The 2000 CHS grad worked as a juvenile probationofficer in Dover, Delaware.

The CHS Conservation Club held Car-Ban Day onApril 22, also known as Earth Day. The club asked stu-dents and faculty to reduce the carbon footprint by usingmass transit, walking, biking or carpooling to school.

CHS senior Alyssa Robinson was named Youth ofthe Year at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton on April20. Classmates Kristen Sabestinas, Stephanie Chavezand Donnalayha Cook also received awards, along with13-year-olds Eric James and Kyiana A. Vargas.

Clifton residents Sheryll Franko, Fred Henry, BrianLoPinto and Mayank Patel took home honors at thePassaic County Film Festival, held on April 23.

Turnover on the BOEwith Two New Faces

ichael Paitchell was the only one ofthree incumbents to retain his seat inthe April 21 election. He placed thirdbehind ticket-mates Joe Yeamans and

Jim Daley in a race that saw 21 year old CarloSantelli place ahead of two incumbents.

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Challengers Jim Daley and Joe Yeamans, along with incumbent Michael Paitchell, won the Board election. Lizz Gagnon andMike Urciouli were unsuccessful in their bids to be reelected. Also pictured are candidates Jack Houten and Carlo Santelli.


Brothers Don and Rich Knapp

We are the sons of the founder of

R.F. Knapp Construction, a family

owned business founded in Clifton

nearly 50 years ago. Since the beginning,

we have been using Alcoa Siding prod-

ucts as well as GAF and Owens-Corning.

We specialize in roofing, siding, gutters,

leaders and windows. Give us a call and

we will gladly set-up an appointment to

discuss your job needs and go over a

complete written estimate.

We now doGutter Cleaning• Roofing • Siding • Gutters & Leaders • Windows

Top left, the late Stanley E. Jakubczykand his wife Wanda, their son Stanleyand son in law John Mieczkowski in1978. At age 89, and pictured center,right, Wanda still works in the VanHouten Ave. which celebrated 50 years ofbusiness. Left, the second annual BeersNot Tears—James Amoruso MemorialScholarship Benefit was held on April 18.Right, Rev. Cheryl Kincaid of the FirstPresbyterian Church and Rev. Peter DeFranco of St. Peter’s Episcopal Churchobserve the Good Friday Cross Walkwhich was on April 10, and held on theproperty surrounding city hall.


May 2009 Passaic County Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Prevention, housed in a historic barn on the city hall campus, marks its 25th anniversary.

Under the deal, the city saved $600,000, including salarysavings accrued during the layoffs. In May and October,when there were three pay periods, 42 hours of pre-taxpay was deducted from a bi-weekly check for eachfirefighter. FMBA members also received a promisethere will be no layoffs for a year.

The Passaic County Council on Alcoholism and DrugAbuse Prevention celebrated its 25th anniversary on May25. Located in the Clifton Municipal Complex at 880Clifton Ave., the Council is a private, not-for-profit organ-ization that provides information, assessment and referral.

Clifton native Brian James Grace starred in the playLa Cage aux Folles at the Barn Theater in Montville inlate May and early June. The CHS Class of 1976 alumhas acted all across the Northeast and Midwest, fromMaine to Michigan.

The Conservatory, a dramatic series written byteenagers at the Action Theatre Conservatory inDowntown Clifton, premiered on Cablevision channel76. ATC held a Gala Benefit on May 6 at the ValleyRegency on Valley Rd. to raise money to pay for theexpensive equipment used during shooting.

Memorial Day services were held on May 25. Tapswere played, wreaths were placed and ceremonies tocommemorate those who died while in service to ournation were held throughout Clifton.

The Clifton Optimist Club Awards were held on May17 at the Boys & Girls Club. Friend of Youth recipientswere Jennifer A. Miller, Mary Fischer, Tom CorradinoSr. and Jr. and Joe Jeffers. Stanley Zwier CommunityService recipients were Helen Sanders and the Nikischerfamily and the Judge Joseph Salerno Respect for LawAward went to the Gang Related Task Force of the CPDand Passaic County Sheriff’s Dept.

Clifton police officers once again took part in thePolice Unity Tour bike ride to Washington D.C. fromMay 9 to 12. The purpose of the 300-mile trek is to raiseawareness of the officers killed in the line of duty andmoney for a national memorial. Clifton raised $17,000.For more information, visit policeunitytour.com.

Station No. 2 Re-Opens & Firefighters Return

dozen laid-off firefighters returned to workas Fire Station No. 2 was brought back online on May 10. The Firemen’s MutualBenevolent Association Local 21 ratified a

contract on April 20, and the Council approved toreturn the table of organization from 128 to 140.

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Lt. John W. Layton, a WWII Liberator Bomber who was KIA ina mission over France and US Army/Spec. Forces CaptainMichael Tarlavsky, KIA in Iraq in 2004, were among the RollCall of Honored Dead remembered on Memorial Day, May 25.


Excessive high heel wear will lead to neuromas,hammer & claw toes, bunions or bone spurs. The solution?Wear higher versions only briefly, use insoles and as alast resort, consider minimally invasive surgery.


Officer Carmen Bermudez was named Officer ofthe Year. The award is historical in that she was thefirst female to receive the honor. A Juvenile BureauDetective, Bermudez joined the Clifton PD in 2005.

May 16 Relay for Life was at Clifton Stadium.Capalbo Gift Baskets, a Nutley landmark since

1906, merged with winebasket.com and relocated toshowrooms and warehouses on Walnut St. in Athenia.

Twins Jessica and Nicole Alexander competed inSchool 13’s Spelling Bee, besting all competitorsuntil the final round. Nicole took home the tophonor.

Teenager Chris Tietjen served as mayor in the 55thAnnual Youth Week, as students from Clifton schools

learned about government by working with variouscity officials for the day.

After a lengthy joint meeting, the Board of Ed andCity Council agree upon $1 million in budget cuts tothe school budget which was voted down last month.Prior to the meetings, there were rumors of programcuts for arts, music and sports, as well as layoffs, butthe savings were found elsewhere.

Clifton is engulfed in the H1N1 Swine Flu scare,as a child from a local elementary school is diagnosedwith the disease. The city was awarded a $263,000grant from state and federal sources to repair andreplace sidewalks on Van Houten Ave, from CliftonAve. to the Garden State Parkway.

Brian James Grace in La Cage aux Folles, Paige Sofia Sciarrino who wrote and performed in the ATC production of TheConservatory, Clifton Officer of the Year Carmen Bermudez (2005 file photo), veteran, Passaic Police Sergeant andPolice Unity Tour logistics coordinator Jed Jedrejczyk and CCMS math teacher and Locks of Love organizer Kim Dreher.


JJuunnee 2009

Rain Delayed, did notDampen Graduation

ed by Valedictorian Marianna Atiya andSalutatorian Sijun Yang, 750 CHS seniorswalked on the football field for the lasttime as they received their diplomas on

June 26. In 10 years, we’ll meet these grads againwhen we ask, Where are these Mustangs now?

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Fundraisers like the PromFashion show, pictured, help thesenior class raise money to helppay for Project Graduation.The safe, all night party is heldin a nearby resort followingCommencement. See page 71for info on this year’s event.

80 Pages of Stories, Comments & Photos Showcasing the Class of 2009as the Mustang Grads tell us about their achievements, hopes and dreams...


July 2009 Mustangs from the Classes of 1949, 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 & 1999 are found inClifton and across the globe—their life stories after CHS are told in our July edition.

Clifton bought the property from PB Main, LLC ofFranklin Lakes for $225,000. City Manager Al Grecosaid it was paid for by a revolving loan fund and the MainAvenue Special Improvement District’s Parking Trust.

On July 30, Marcia Sladich, 51, of Clifton, pleadedguilty before US District Judge Katharine S. Hayden inNewark to mail fraud in connection with a real estatescheme she orchestrated and operated from 2004 to Dec.2007. The Ponzi scheme raised more than $15 millionfrom hundreds of investors.

Sladich told investors that their money would be invest-ed in real estate in the US and overseas through her com-pany, Kay Services LLC. She promised clients a 100 per-

cent return within a year in a risk free investment.Investors were offered with bonuses for new recruits. Noinvestments were ever made. Sladich paid existinginvestors with new investor money and used remainingfunds to purchase real estate and for personal expenses.

Under federal guidelines, Sladich faces 63 months to78 months in prison when she is sentenced on Nov. 24.

Clifton Adult Evening School on Colfax Ave. changedits name on July 1 to Clifton Community School.

Run under the auspices of the Clifton Board ofEducation, the school, which opened in 1964, has alwaysserved adult continuing education, but the name changecame about when it added before and after school child

care at Schools 2 and 13. Director John P. Lopez said the

name change reflects the evolving rolethe non-credit school offers, from seri-ous academic pursuits to offerings inthe arts. He added a children’s campis in the works for summer 2010.

Parrish Durham, a WWMS sixth-grader, won the 10-11-year-old boysblack belt middle weight division atthe 29th annual Junior OlympicsTaekwondo National Championshipsin Austin, Tx. He is coached by hisfather, Elliot, of Quality Martial Artson Van Houten Ave.

City Purchases Lotin Downtown Clifton

n an ongoing effort to improve the DowntownClifton Commercial District, the City ofClifton purchased the vacant lot at 24 PutnamPlace, which is near the Washington and Main

Aves. intersection, with the intention of turning it intoa municipal parking lot.

I


Attorney Frank Carlet plans to sue the city after thePlanning Board refuses to hear the application for hisclient, the Congregation Shomrei Torah of Passaic-Clifton.The Congregation seeks to build a synagogue and ritualbathing house at 360 Dwasline Rd., which is in a largeresidential area. The Planning Board contends that theplans did not meet the conditional use requirements forparking and that it should be sent to the Zoning Board.

The City of Clifton, as one of the government agenciesdefrauded in a payroll tax scam, must find a way to

recoup the $900,000 that was lost or pass the costs on totaxpayers. Ameripay, which had done the city’s payrollsince 2004, withheld money from paychecks but neverforwarded the money.

The Famous Midtown Grill celebrates 50 years ofservice in Downtown Clifton.

School 16 on Grove St. is the setting for a nationaltelevision commercial for the retail chain store Target.

Clifton is awarded $380,036 in funding through thefederal stimulus for neighborhood revitalization.

Old Mustangs, from left top: Basil Surgent, Paula Orlovsky, Jeffrey Gold, Charlotte Klein, Jessica Sherman, Jen Carlo.Bottom: Catherine Martinelli, Charles Oremland, Susan Sample, Chuck Ranges, George Kwiecinski, Chris Luczun.

1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999

August 2009

The lawyer for Joseph Pallipurath, the Californianaccused of killing two people and severely injuring a thirdduring a shooting spree inside a city church in November2008, announced his client will use an insanity defense.Attorney Harley Briete told Judge Marilyn C. Clark thatPallipurath cannot afford to pay for expert witnesses.

A court hearing regarding the changing of the Boardof Education’s legal representation was held on Aug. 11by Judge Rothstadt. A committee will be formed torecommend a permanent choice in a month. The Boardwas split 5 to 4 on attorney Angelo Bisciglie. The cruxof the case was to determine if removal of the legal rep-

Gloria Kolodziej WillNot Seek Re-election

ouncilwoman Gloria Kolodziej will not runin the May 2010 City Council election.Kolodziej, after finishing her late husbandJoseph’s Council term, was first elected in

1982, when she placed first and was named mayor. In1986, she earned a second term as mayor in a landslide.

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ExpertBathroom

Remodeling!

In what will be an annual summertime edition, the musical history of Cliftonis documented & widely circulated, so send info on your favorite band, ASAP!

In another of the many amazing facts uncovered in our August rock and rolledition, it was noted that Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells had their albumcover shot (above) in the Clifton Boys Club in 1971, thanks to Joe Dera.


resentation requires a majority or supermajority. The former attorney wasClifton resident Anthony D’Elia.

The Board of Educationunanimously accepts a $20,000donation from Aramark, the schooldistrict’s food service company, whichwill go towards the purchase of a newscoreboard. Commissioner MichaelPaitchell vows to search for funding ordonations to upgrade to a largerscoreboard. The Board also informallytalked about a proposal for field turf,which was championed byCommissioner Norm Tahan.

After a few weeks of rumors whichled to his resignation, WoodrowWilson Middle School PrincipalWilliam Hahn will return to his job inSept. after the Board of Educationlooked into a potential conflict ofinterest regarding nepotism. Hisdaughter-in-law, Kimberly Fucetola,has taught at WWMS for the past nineyears. She married Hahn’s son aboutfive years ago but the Board stated itssupport for his professionalism.


Clifton observed the NationalNight out Against Crime on Aug. 5.It was also announced that the JohnSamra Memorial 5k Run/Walkwould be held on Oct. 11. Samrawas a Clifton motorcycle cop whowas tragically killed in the line ofduty in 2003.

City officials are still tacklingthe municipal budget, which was$67,831,835. Clifton had appliedfor extraordinary aid from the state,but had yet to receive a response.

News breaks of McDonald’splans to purchase the Jubilee Dineron Allwood Rd. The owner of thediner wanted to sell because ofdeclining health. Almost immedi-ately, local residents began tocome out against the proposal.

They started as a favorite at theBattle of the Bands at Pope Paul VIback in the ’60s and ’70s. Fromthere, Godspeed went on to someregional success, and beyond. Thelineup included Jack Ciminello,Gary Seitz, Terry Hill and Jeff Seitz.

Larry Packer (CHS ‘66) performed with Jimi Hendrix, the Catholic Girls (Gail Petersen, Roxy Andersen and CHS ‘67grad Doreen Holmes), Connections owner Kevin Potter (CHS ‘77) and his wife, Janine, rock & roll publicist Joseph Dera(CHS ‘70) with David Bowie. Bottom of page, The Allupons, Annamaria Chilimintris (CHS ‘03), Joe Pollaro, BrianKennedy (CHS ‘03), Angel Santana (CHS ‘03) and Andrew Spain.

They were Marching Mustangs, from left, our guide to the Rockin’ Sixties,Charlie Frick (CHS ‘68), French Horn Master Ben Brody (CHS ‘04) TrombonistJohn Lebitsch (CHS ‘93) and Trombonist Mike Soprano (CHS ‘97).

The Allupons, the Clifton indieband profiled in August (with theirleader Brian Kennedy on the cover),will unveil their new website onJan. 11 at www.theallupons.com.The first single, ‘Over Again’, willbe released on Feb. 3 through mp3or CD. The band is also expected toannounce a finalized date for theiralbum, which is due out in March.It will be available in digital and CDformats, with a deluxe edition con-taining additional artwork, lyricsand more. All packaging productswill be 100 percent recycled.


The Allupons


September 2009

It is speculated that the economy is a major factor in theenrollment spike. Some regional private or parochialschools have closed and some parents, looking to cutexpenses in the recession, have pulled out their childfrom those schools in favor of a free public education.Without the Brighton Rd. Annex, which opened in timefor the 2009-2010 school year and accepted some 500students—about half of the freshman class—CliftonHigh School might have been dangerously overcrowded.

Violent crime drops in Clifton, while non-violentcrimes rose. According to Clifton Police, there were 200violent crimes in 2009, which is 23 less than the prioryear. There were 1,978 non-violent crimes, an increaseof 63, five murders and nine rapes, compared with nomurders and five rapes in 2007. CPD responded to 84robberies, a drop from 84. Aggressive assault dropped to102 from 110. Burglaries dropped to 299 from 389.There was an increase in larceny, from 1,324 to 1,484.

Clifton’s Ninth GradeEnrollment Increases

he 2009 Clifton Public Schools studentenrollment figures are released and theninth grade class increased by nearly 25percent over the previous year. In 2008,

there were 811 freshman, and the census for thecurrent year is 1,035, an increase of 224 students.

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Downtown Clifton now has two coffee houses, one of which is also abookstore. Cafe Latte opened its doors for business at 1241 Main Ave.Patrons also attend open mic sessions there on Tuesday nights. Aboveright, at Main and Clifton Aves., ANT Bookstore sells reading mate-rials, accessories and offers visitors a large full-service cafe.

Tight End Nick Van Winkle, Drum Major Nick Lichtenberger & MustangCheerleader Alexa Perez help preview the Fall Season of CHS Sports.


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September stories: Sandy Grazioso whose sons Tom and John died in the WTC terror attacks of 9/11; Glenn Carlson, a pas-senger aboard US Airways Flight 1549 which landed in the Hudson River on Jan. 15; glider pilot Bill Taylor; Passaic Rivermotor boating advocate Ed Marchese and ‘03 CHS grad Lance Dearing who served two tours in Iraq as a Navy Green-SideCorpsman. Below, tellers Tim Bray and Ashley Rebyak at the Sept. 16 grand opening of The Provident Bank on Lexington Ave.

Deluxe Cleaners on Main Ave. offers free a dry cleaning for aninterview outfit to any customer who is currently unemployed.

The municipal budget of $67.3 million is approved and owners ofan average assessed home of $177,00 can expect a tax hike of $248.The figure is an increase of about $5 million and the city was grantedmore than $4 million in tax levy cap waivers by the NJ Dept. ofCommunity Affairs Local Finance Board. Clifton was also awarded$550,00 in extraordinary aid.

Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. hosts an open forum on healthcare atMontclair State. Outside of the packed auditorium, opponents verbal-ly clashed with supporters, including many local Tea Party members.

City resident Charlie D’Angelo, 90, makes the Guiness Book ofWorld Records for the longest time served as an ice cream truckdriver, doing his routes through Clifton for the past 30 years.


October 2009

The meeting was called after the district distributed asurvey by giving it to students to take home to parents,rather than doing a mailing. The meeting was callingjust a few days after the surveys were collected. Some50 people attended the meeting, with all but three speak-ers coming out against the proposal. School administra-tors and Board members listened to the opinions andpromised to have more forums in the near future.

On Oct. 3, a Volunteer Fire Department Band fromNadarzyn, Poland came to America to march in thePulaski Day Parade, at the invite of Peter Eagler. Beforestepping off at the NYC parade, Clifton Deputy FireChief Henry Cholewczynski gave the visiting brigade atour of Station No. 5 on Brighton Rd. where they viewed

equipment and went up in the engine ladders. Fromthere, the Poles went to City Hall where they performedthe Polish national anthem and other songs during a flagraising. Next stop was Athenia, where at St. John KantyChurch, they attended liturgy, performed once again andand were then treated to a buffet.

On Oct. 10, the Board of Education publicly unveiled theninth grade CHS Annex at 290 Brighton Rd. The schoolhad opened for the start of the year, but this was the firsttime that it was opened to members of the public. Whiletours wer eoffered to the public, a ribbon cutting ceremonywas held. Among those in attendance were CommissionerKim Renta, Commissioner John Traier, CouncilwomanGloria Kolodziej, Commissioner Jim St. Clair,

Public School UniformOpen Forum at CHS

n Oct. 15, about 50 parents of CliftonSchool students braved the rainy, coldweather to attend a forum on schooluniforms. The concept had been brought up

the previous year by a parents advisory committee andofficials wanted to get public input on the proposal.

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While the CHS Annex at 290 Brighton Rd. opened in September to students, officials cut the ribbon on Oct. 10.

The Butterflies on our cover, Julia and Samantha Berkenbosch, remindedreaders to attend the annual Halloween Parade and HarvestFest on Oct. 25.


Commissioner Norm Tahan, SuperintendentRich Tardalo, Councilman Peter Eagler, CHSPrincipal Jimmie Warren, Commissioner JoeYeamans, Councilman Frank Fusco,Commissioner Mike Paitchell, formerCommissioner Joe Kolodziej, CommissionerPaul Graupe, Board President Jim Daley andAnnex Vice Principal John Lopez.

For the third consecutive year, Clifton’sMarching Mustangs, led by director BobMorgan and Drum Major Nick Lichtenberger,performed in the 65th Annual Columbus DayParade in New York City on Oct. 12.Arrangements were made by members ofthe Clifton Passaic Chapter of UNICO.

Towards the end of the month, after weeksof rumors, school officials publicly stated thatthe newly opened CHS Annex had a numberof small leaks in its roof. The flat top style ofroof is prone to leaks, and the warranty on theroof had expired prior to the opening of thefacility, BOE officials noted. After beingapproved for purchase by voters in Dec. 2004,construction was delayed due to a year-and-a-half of public hearings at the Zoning Board ofAdjustment and legal challenges by BrightonRd. neighbor Van Ness Plastics.

We profiled business owners, from top left: Alam Abdelaziz, Main Ave.Sprint Store; Ernie Seferagic, Therapeutic Healing Center; BlancaAndia, El Fogon Restaurant; Noel Coronel, NOC Autobody and RalphBartnik, Clifton Building Supply and middle, Papaya King franchiseeFrank Corradino. October features also included Tony Portaro, founderof the heavy metal band Whiplash and Jeff Weingarten of the Clifton TeaParty. Bottom: Burn patient Julia Young, Roland ‘Rip’Van Winkle of theClifton Masons and Shriners, and Broadway actress Lauren Mufson.

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November 2009 1998 CHS grad Jon Seda is cast as WWII Marine Gunnery SergeantJohn Basilone in a big budget HBO movie to broadcast in April, 2010.

The plans include: a $2 million replacement of win-dows and exterior doors at CCMS, $860,655 for allwindows at School 16, $573,400 for new translucentpanels at WWMS, $908,140 for new windows andexterior doors at School 14, a new HVAC ventilationdistributor and upgrades of the light and sound systemat the CHS auditorium for $2,639,317 and an air condi-tioning unit in the CHS K-3 lunch room for $293,949.The total cost of the seven projects is $,7,54,781, butthe actual cost to taxpayers is roughly $4.6 million. Itwill appear as a referendum on the April 2010 election.

And at a Nov. meeting, Board members—who ulti-mately would vote to decide if the school uniform planwould be implemented—noted the vehement opposi-tion at October’s open forum—and, after discussingpriorities, tabled the idea for the foreseeable future.

In the 10th annual Optimist Cup between theMustangs and Indians, held at Clifton Stadium onThanksgiving Day, Clifton won 7-0. Sponsored byOptimist Club members of the two cities, the Cup—along with four MVP trophies are awarded on the field atthe conclusion of the contest. The Mustangs now have a41-35-5 lead in the series, which dates to 1923. In a prel-ude to the game, the Optimists also held a Hot Dog Nighta week before the game, on Nov. 17, in which cheerlead-ers, marching band members, football players—as wellas the girls volleyball teams—meet so that they get toknow each other as competitors and neighbors.

The Mustangs Boys Soccer Team (19-6-1) went to theGroup 4 State Finals at The College of New Jersey inEwing on Nov. 20 as a favorite, having posted 16shutouts, including all four of the state playoff games.Most of the first 20 minutes was spent in Toms RiverSouth’s end but Clifton could muster few serious scoringthreats.“We played pretty well defensively,” Clifton coachJoe Vespignani told the Star Ledger after the 1-0 loss.“They capitalized. Overall, we didn’t play our game. Wetried to get too fancy in the first half.” The Mustangs werein their third straight Group 4 final, tying Manalapan, 1-1,in 2007 and losing to Rancocas Valley 2-0 a year ago.

The city received $4,267,948 in state and federal grantsearmarked for infrastructure repair. The NJ Dept. ofTransportation allocated $320,948 for Day St. and$232,000 for John St. repairs and $249,000 and $200,000respectively, for sidewalk and curb repairs on Valley Rd.and Delawanna Ave. Lakeview Ave. will benefit from a$266,000 grant for streetscape improvements.

The DEP awarded $2.4 million in Green Acres fundsfor Athenia (Steel) Park while Schultheis Farm received$600,000 and $500,000 from the Passaic County OpenSpace/Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The HealthDept. received $181,836 for influenza preparedness and$39,124 for public health priority funding. Clifton’s FireDept. received $120,000 for personal escape systemsand $20,905 for hazardous material training while thePolice Dept. received $111,000 for crime prevention.

Mustangs 7, Indians 0in 10th Optimist Cup

lifton schools captured much of the head-lines in the month of November. One ofthe most important stories was the stateannouncing that it would pick up 40 per-

cent of repair costs for various projects around thedistrict that would be on a referendum.

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Mayor James Anzaldi was named Presidentof the League of Municipalities. AssemblymanTom Giblin pledges 10 cents for every politicalsign dropped off at his Clifton office. He col-lects over 11,000 signs and donates $1,100 toEva’s Village in Paterson.

US Army Vietnam Veteran and retiredClifton Police Officer Joe Tuzzolino was theGrand Marshal of the Nov. 8 Veterans Parade.

Vincent Colavitti, a Class II Special PoliceOfficer, plans to call it a career at the end ofthe year after serving on the force for 30 years.

Above, on Nov. 25, teachers at School 13 on Van Houten Ave. picketed before class to let residents know that they have beenworking without a contract since June 30, which is still unresolved. Below, Clifton Firefighters, FMBA 21 members andfriends hosted the 15th annual Thanksgiving Day luncheon for residents in need, thanks to Baskingers and Clifton IHOP.

Stefan Tatarenko, at right, who served on both theBoard of Education and City Council, died Nov. 12.


Republican Kristin Corrado, aformer assistant counsel to thegovernor, led a Nov. 3 Republicanupset in Passaic County politicswhen she defeated DemocraticWoodland Park Councilman KeithKazmark by a 52%-48% margin.Republicans also reclaimed threeFreeholder posts which were inthe Democrat’s control since2004. The tally is listed below:

New Jersey Governor:R-Chris Christie: 1,174,445D-Jon Corzine: 1,087,731I-Chris Daggett: 139,579

34th Assembly District:D-Sheila Oliver: 29,522D-Thomas Giblin: 29,003R-Michael Mecca III: 12,625R-Matthew Tyahla: 11,669

Passaic County FreeholderR-Michael Marotta: 47,829R-Edward O’Connell: 47,594R-Deborah Ciambrone: 46,846D-Tahesha Way: 45,610D-Evangeline Gomez: 45,473D-Domenick Stampone: 45,224

Passaic County ClerkR-Kristin Corrado: 49,399D-Keith Kazmark: 46,081

Election Results


December 2009

In mid-December, the DPW supervisors met with theCouncil’s Restructuring Committee to share their viewson how to more effectively run that often fiery city depart-ment. Shannon was not at the meeting.

“For the first time,” Municipal Recycling CoordinatorAlfred DuBois wrote in an email after the meeting, “therewere many productive ideas exchanged that if imple-mented will be rewarding and profitable for the City.(But) I have concerns about comments on leadership atthe DPW – where was the consultant during the restruc-turing meeting? How many Department meetings has hecalled in the past eight months? Was he at the snow storm

last week? If leadership is lacking – who is running theDepartment for the past eight months? The DPW super-visors are grateful for the Restructuring committee tohave listened to us and to consider our recommenda-tions,” DuBois continued. “We hope to work with thecommittee and administration to accomplish these goals.”

In a follow up interview, DuBois promised:“If the citygives us one year to run the Department and allows us toreorganize with the cooperation of the City Manager—and provides the table of organization, the budget and themyriad of contracts we recommend—we could showthem a savings of approximately $1.5 million.”

$1.5 Million in Savings,Say DPW Supervisors

ince April, the Clifton Department of PublicWorks has been managed by consultant TomShannon. City Council members said his jobwas to analyze the agency and make recom-

mendation on how best to restructure the agency. But hisrole there has not been welcomed by the rank and file.

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Santa was serenaded by a student from the Menconi Music Studio at Lakeview’s Dec. 1 tree lighting. At the AmericanLegion Post 347 Christmas party, members honored an active duty Navy officer and delivered gifts to hospitalized vet-erans. At right, Pat Collucci and Angela Jones with food donated by their family members. In lieu of gifts for adults attheir annual party, guest brought canned goods which were then delivered to St. Peters Haven, Clifton’s Food Bank.

Santa’s Christmas Eve Tour, Holiday Memories & Traditions & FourMustang Soccer Players herald in the Season of Giving & Sharing.


Other budgetary woes were news in Dec., as state aidfor NJ municipalities are frozen. Already weathering ashortfall and layoffs earlier this year, Clifton must nowfind a way to make up a difference of $232,985. Thefunding was expected at the start of the month and neverarrived. Mayor James Anzaldi, now the President of theNJ League of Municipalities, publicly wondered if the

League would consider alawsuit against the state. Aswe went to print, there hasbeen no word on whether or not the state will send thataid. The 2009 Clifton budget is $102.8 million. Stateofficials signed off on budget adaptations which includ-ed aid, which would hold them accountable.

DPW crews were steps ahead of the Dec. 19 snowstorm, salting the ground before flurriesbegan and plowing it away through the night, completing the task some 12 hours later, on Dec.20. Pictured are some of the workers who made it happen, behind the scenes and on thestreets, including, at right, Giuseppe “Pepe the Plower” Mannina.


For the past 39 years, Santa has made hisChristmas Eve tour of Clifton on a floatprovided by the DeVito family of Bond ParadeFloat and led by a procession of wailingemergency vehicles manned by a team ofvolunteer elves—these photos prove it!


The economic engine that drives Cliftoncontinued to evolve in 2009 and it’s a trend thatwill continue well into the next decade.

The manufacturing and industrial base thatwas the backbone of Clifton for so longcontinues to erode. The companies replacingthese giants tend to be small to medium sizedbusinesses that are geared towards serving theneeds of city residents.

Economic Development Director HarrySwanson said that this trend has been going on inthe later part of the decade, and will continue in2010 and beyond.

“We’ve had our best success in businesses thatcater to a residential community,” he explained.“Professional services, medical services, retailand so on.”

Although the actual number of new projectshad dropped due to the recession, the trend is stillevident in the smaller sample size.

The recently completed Super Stop & Shop atBroad St. and Allwood Rd. is perhaps the topproject from 2009. Proposed renovations andadditions to Plaza 46 (Van Houten Ave. and Rt.46) and the Lakeview Shopping Center(Lakeview Ave., next to Garden Palace Lanes)are two more major projects on the horizon thatwill cater to local consumers.

Top: This three building complex was once ofthe headquarters of Linens N’Things. Center:On Route 3, the recently completed PromenadeShops are undergoing renovations to fit an LAFitness gym Bottom: Rick’s is slated tobecome a Walgreens, pending approval.

CCoommmmeerrcciiaallDDeevveellooppmmeenntt

Story by Joe Hawrylko

Growth ContinuesDespite the Recession


BloomingdaleCliftonHaledonHawthorneLittle FallsNorth HaledonPassaicPaterson

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Deborah Ciambrone • Terry Duffy • Greyson Hannigan, Esq. • Bruce James Pat Lepore • Michael Marotta • Edward O’Connell

For information on how your company can secure a great location and low cost financingfor your expansion in Passaic County, New Jersey, write or call

Deborah Hoffman, Director of Economic Development, at 973-569-4720 or [email protected].

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Developers are allocating resources towards thesetypes of projects, which to some degree have offset theaffects of the recession.

“With all the erosion that we’ve had and the econo-my, Clifton has come out strong,” said Swanson. “Thebiggest weakness is unemployment.”

The city’s unemployment figure mirrors the nationalnumber, which hovers just under 10 percent. However,that number has been rising steadily.

In Oct. 2007, Clifton mirrored the national averageat 4.1 percent. By the time the recession had taken holdin Dec. 2008, unemployment shot up to 8.8 percent.

One way the cityis helping residentssecure employmentis through theClifton Job MatchProgram. For over 20 years, the program acts as aresource by collecting resumes and trying to matchskills of residents with companies registered with theNorth Jersey Chamber of Commerce. The program isheaded by Donna Sidoti of the Office of CommunityDevelopment. Companies are given a list four to fivetimes a year of residents. Enrollment figures have fol-lowed the economy and can be indicative of a trend.

“Last quarter, there was probably an increase of 25percent,” she said. This quarter, I’m not seeing thatmuch of an increase.”

Reducing the unemployment rate and sustaining thecity’s tax base are the top two challenges for 2010.

“We’ve been successful in attracting [business own-ers]. Our problem is business retention,” saidSwanson. “A good number frankly can’t make it finan-cially and can’t ride out the storm. That’s why ShopClifton First ought to be our battlecry and Hire CliftonFirst should be our second battlecry.”

Currently Underway

INTERNATIONAL DELIGHTSNew to Clifton is International Delights, a Long Island-based supplier of upscale breakfast pastries. The com-pany is progressing with construction at its newBrighton Rd. location. International Delights is a majorwholesaler for hotels, restaurants and food establish-ments.

“They doubled the size of the building,” saidEconomic Development Director Harry Swanson. “It’s

over 200,000 sq. ft. They’removing administrative offices,warehousing and distribution.They’re taking the whole LongIsland operation and moving it toClifton.”

Construction has been ongoing during the year andSwanson believes that the building will be fully opera-tional sometime in the summer of 2010.

CREDIT SUISSE/ ’DATA CENTER’At the corner of Allwood Rd. and Main Ave. in

Delawanna, Russo Development continues work on alarge project that will replace the former AutomatedData Processing site.

“Russo Development continues and will continuewell into the year 2010 with a very high tech, modernoffice building with electronic data transmission as itsbase,” said Swanson.

According to a report in The Record, the unnamedtenant is Credit Suisse Bank, which is a giant,international investment firm.

City officials and representatives for RussoDevelopment have been mum about details for theproject. Data centers such as this proposed

“...Shop Clifton First ought to be ourbattlecry and Hire Clifton First shouldbe our second battlecry.”


Too Late! Now Open as ...

El Dorado Restaurant & Lounge255 Parker Ave. • 973-246-1856


project serve as back up officesshould a major disaster happen inManhattan.

The property has been razed and iscurrently fenced off from the public. Aconstruction time table has not beencompleted yet, but city officials closeto the project have speculated that alease agreement is imminent.

BELLIN’S SWIM CLUBThe former Bellin’s Swim Club, as

well as the adjacent Teddy’sRestaurant, is now history. The entireproperty that straddles the Passaic bor-der on Main Ave. has now been leveledand developer Peter Evgenikos willbegin construction on what will be athree story mixed-use complex.

The project had been on the table fora number of years, tangible resultswere finally made towards the end ofthe summer, when crews started razingthe property. The plans call for 25,000sq. ft. of retail space on the first floorand 28 units of senior housing splitover the top two stories. There willalso be an underground parking garagethat will be connected to the housing.

The underground lot will require anaccess key and will house 60 spots.There will be 171 total parking spaces,and eight will be set aside for thosewith special needs.

Top: International Delights willrelocate operations from Long Islandto Brighton Rd. The breakfast pastrysupplier is expected to be open in thesummer. Middle: GlaxoSmithKlein,an international toothpastemanufacturer, continues withexpansion plans on Industrial Eastin Delawanna. Bottom: ThePaterson Diocese announced theclosing of Pope John Paul II in Jan.2009. Passaic County TechnicalInstitute is rumored to be seeking alease. The two fields behind theschool are currently used by theClifton Stallions Soccer Club.

In our October edition, we reportedon plan modifications for a smallrestaurant and cafe further back onthe property. That building has alsobeen approved by the city.

That same edition also detailed aproposal for secondary access off ofGetty or Hadley Aves. Because of astate project on Weasel Brook, whichruns underneath the project, access toGetty Ave. was impossible, so anadditional point of access on HadleyAve. has been approved.

Swanson expects the project tocontinue throughout 2010.

GLAXOSMITHKLEINGlaxoSmithKlein is continuing

with a major renovation to itsexisting building at Industrial South,just off Bloomfield Ave.

“They have added to theadministrative and office functions tofree up floor space in theirmanufacturing operation,” saidSwanson. They are putting in new

toothpaste packaging machinery.” The economic developer noted thatGSK supplies manufactures and packages AquaFresh toothpaste here inClifton and then ships it to Japan, Canada, Europe and other locationsinternationally. GSK is headquartered in London.

“The fact that they are spending a sizable amount of money to improvemeans they have confidence in Clifton,” said Swanson.

RT. 3 PROMENADE SHOPSConstruction is underway at the Promenade, which is between Route 3West and Allwood Rd., for what will be a large LA Fitness center.Existing, yet vacant space at the end of the complex, which opened in Dec.2008, is being renovated to accommodate the fitness center. “There’sgoing to be 40,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 15,000 sq. ft. on themezzanine,” explained Frank Carlet, the attorney representing thedeveloper. “There will be a basketball court, racketball, the whole bit.”

In addition to the visible construction, other plans are in motion for thePromenade Shops. A yet-unnamed bank has been approved by the city inthe existing complex. Approval has also been granted for a separatebuilding near Allwood Rd. that would house an upscale restaurant. Carletsaid that it would likely be a steakhouse, but declined comment furthersince the lease has not been signed as of print.

Carlet said his client has a contract in place to acquire the Falls ViewGrill, long a landmark on Rt. 3 West originally called the Red Chimney(see page 78), but the sale in contingent on approvals from the state.

“We’re waiting to hear from the New Jersey Department ofTransportation,” he explained. “We have approval from the city.”

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GAS STATION AT CLIFTON ANDVAN HOUTEN AVES.It had long been an eyesore directlyacross from City Hall. But aftermany years of vacancy, construction isgoing on at this property.

“They’re putting new tanks in,”said Dan Howell. “It’s just going toopen as a gas station again.”

The zoning officer was not surewhich gas company would take overthe station. Excavation has begun andthe property has been fenced off aswork continues. There is no timetablefor completion.

On The HorizonPOPE JOHN PAUL II SCHOOLThe Diocese of Paterson announcedat the beginning of 2009 that theschool would be shutting its doors forgood. The property had previouslybeen reviewed by the Board ofEducation as a potential site for anew Clifton school. However, thecompletion of the Brighton Rd.Annex and a lack of funds pre-

The Clifton Office of Economic Development assists businesses relocat-ing to or reinvesting in Clifton. Director Harry Swanson should be your firstcall as he is essentially the city’s business ombudsman. Call 973-470-5200.

The Clifton Revolving Loan Program is a vehicle that the finance depart-ment uses to provide loans to businesses. Working with various banks,the city helps businesses that qualify to get a low cost, long term loan for2 percent under prime. Call City Treasurer Kim Kientz at 973-470-5789.

The Downtown Economic Development Group oversees the SpecialImprovement District (SID) along Main Ave. from the Passaic border to PiagetAve. The group collects an extra tax matched by city and state funds whichis reinvested in the area. For info, call Angela Montague at 973-253-1455.

The Historic Botany Village SID is an advocate in Clifton’s oldest neigh-borhood, which includes Botany Plaza. This fund finances programs inBotany, located off of Clifton Ave., near Garfield. For info, call the CliftonHistoric Botany District President John Penkalski at 973-546-9813 orVPJoe Nikischer at 973-546-8787 or go to www.historicbotany.com.

The Passaic County Office of Economic Development is an advocatefor companies in the county’s 16 communities. To discuss large scale realestate projects, finding info on energy initiatives and cost saving trainingprograms—or most any issue as it relates to Passaic County businessand industry—call Director Deborah Hoffman at 973-569-4720.

The North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce is an advocate forbusiness and industry and hosts networking events, and often arrangesmeetings to address specific topics. To find out more and for details on mem-bership, go to njrcc.org, or call Director Gloria Martini at 973-470-9300.

Industry & Business Resources & Advocates


vented the district from taking anyaction once the school closed.Instead, another educational facili-ty may come in.

City officials, speaking anony-mously, have claimed that PassaicCounty Technical Institute is cur-rently in talks with the Diocese topurchase or lease the school build-ing, as well as the fields behind it.Diocese spokesperson RichSokerka stated that nothing wasfinalized at the time of print.

The sale or lease of the propertycould potentially mean big changesfor the Clifton Stallions SoccerClub. Currently, the traveling teamand the boys recreation league uti-lize the fields behind the school forpractice and games. Currently, thegirls teams play games at RobinHood Park. There are not manyopen fields for soccer in Clifton, sofinding a new spot for games wouldprove difficult. “Both the city andthe Diocese are very receptive to

continuing the relationship andallowing us to utilize the facilitieson weekends,” said Bob D’Arco, aBoard member for 13 years withthe Stallions. However, dependingon the progress on another proper-ty, the Stallions might not need toutilize Pope John Paul II.

D’Arco noted that the Councilpassed a resolution for AtheniaSteel plans. “There’s at least twosoccer fields that we will be able toutilize there,” he said. “Accordingto [City Manager] Al Greco andalso Mayor [James] Anzaldi,they’re very hopeful that they canbegin the project and cutting outthe road. Both told me they see noreason why this can’t happen fornext fall.”

LAKEVIEW SHOPPING CENTERAldi Supermarket, an economy

supermarket with strong roots inNew York state, will be a 14,000 sq.ft. addition in the LakeviewShopping Center, near Clifton Ave.


“It’s answering the need orconstant requests of the residentsfrom that neighborhood,” saidSwanson, noting the center will benext to Garden Palace “It has goneall the way through the approvalprocess. It is a done deal. The curbcuts are in place.” Preliminaryexcavation has already started andSwanson believes that it may beopen by the third quarter of 2010.

PLAZA 46Plaza 46, the large shopping

center across the street fromWoodrow Wilson Middle Schoolon Van Houten Ave., is slated formassive renovations in 2010.Levin Management Corporationhas unveiled a proposal tomodernize the entire center and addadditional retail space.

As a part of the plan, ValleyNational Bank will relocate to a newfootprint on the property, which willplace it closer to Rt. 46. The newValley National Bank building isexpected to be about 4,000 sq. ft. andwill feature a drivethru.

A 15,700 sq. ft. retail buildingwill be constructed where ValleyNational currently sits. The newbuilding will extend well beyondthat footprint, said Swanson, andonto the parking lot that is adjacentto the Clifton Savings Bankheadquarters property.

“They (Levin) are doing it onspeculation, which is interesting tonote because most contractors won’t[build without contracted tenants],”said Swanson, adding that he expectsthe expanded project will bewelcomed by existing tenants at thestrip center. “Levin has shown faithin that the economy is coming backand that Clifton is the place to be.”

The proposal was not approved asof print, according to Swanson, butLevin will likely complete theprocess in early 2010.

RICK’S AMERICAN PUBAfter several years of rumors, itseems that this local pub will finallybe shutting its doors for good in2010. According to Dan Howell, aWalgreens with a drivethru has beenapproved by the Planning Board.The building will be set further backon the property than Rick’s currentlyis. The Planning Board granted anapproval with the condition that thefacilities would only be open forlimited hours. “I think they’reappealing the stipulation of limited

hours,” added Howell. No buildingpermit has been approved as of yet,and construction is unlikely until theissue regarding the hours is resolved.

TD BANK NORTH According to Swanson, the formerbank property on Paulison Ave. (oneof two in Clifton) was purchased bya group of physicians. While noplans have been presented yet,Howell anticipates that the buildingwill be gutted and renovated to betterfit the needs of a medical center.

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“I know, I know, a lot of people are worried, butthe high inventory is not that scary. You have toremember, Clifton’s a big town – close to 80,000 peo-ple. Yes, we have a big inventory, probably biggerthan ever before, but there are good reasons for that,”said Irena Kapitula, a broker with RE/MAX RealtyProfessionals in Clifton.

Kapitula is OK with the numbers. She ticks off theincentives motivating both buyers and sellers that havespurred the large inventory: low interest rates onmortgages, first-time homebuyer federal tax credit of upto $8,000 now extended through April, a new tax creditof up to $6,500 towards the purchase of a new home forthose who have lived in their current house for fiveconsecutive years within the past eight, and most of all,

affordable home prices. In Clifton, the federal

government incentivesare working and for qual-ified buyers, “this is thebest market in years. Forcomparison,” Kapitula

continued, “in 2007, the last real estate high year, 621 sin-gle-family and 107 multi-family homes were sold inClifton. Now we’re in a recession, yet, in Clifton, in 2009,by December 16 we had sold and closed on 472 single-family and 99 multi-family homes – that’s pretty good.”

Incentives for buyers can also be incentives forsellers. According to broker Nick Tselepis, owner ofNicholas Real Estate Agency, it is important to look atboth sides of the equation. Usually sellers are alsobuyers, retiring couples that want to downsize, growing

families need more space, “so forpeople who have equity in theircurrent homes, it’s fine, you sellcheaper, but you also buy cheaper.”

Tselepis, who has been in real estatefor 33 years, offers this perspective,“The situation in Clifton does notrepresent other areas of the country –towns in states like Florida, Texas,Nevada, which are in a very, very badposition. No, no, no. That’s notClifton. There are very fewforeclosures here. In the best of times,in the worst of times, Clifton is prettymuch stable. Clifton is solid.”

Still, the numbers are striking. In December 2009, the residential

listings in Clifton includedapproximately 400 homes – about 280single-family and 110 multi-family. Inlate 2006, total residential listings inClifton included less than 100. That’s afour-fold increase in availableinventory in three years.

Though the resale market is stillgood in Clifton, inventory is movingmore slowly than in recent years andhas backed up concedes Carlton Chi, arealtor with Weichert’s Clifton office.The reasons are many, he said, but top-ping the list is buyer difficulty inobtaining financing.

While running errands around Clifton one Saturday in

mid-December, an awfully large number of homes appeared to

be on the market. Ten minutes of random driving through the

streets of Delawanna, Rosemawr and Allwood turned up 21

“For Sale” signs. Twenty-one. That was a bit unsettling.

Story by Irene Jarosewich

ResidentialReal Estate

In the past few years, theprice of homes in the UnitedStates has dropped anaverage of 25%.

Address: 632 Grove StreetDays on the market: 76Listing Price: $429,000by Nicholas Real Estate Agency


Tselepis concurs: “The biggest problem today is thatbanks did a complete 180 – they flipped from givingmoney away to anyone who had a pulse to being very, veryinvestigative, choosy, picky, much more difficult.”

Chi sees buyer resentment: “The government offersincentives to buyers, but lenders are making it difficult forpeople to buy a house. It’s a circle, there is money to belent, but the criteria are tougher, the FICO score needs to behigh, above 650, and buyers are angry.

“Current buyers are well informed, able to purchase.They see banks as having caused the original problem, thebanks have been bailed out, yet continue to cause the prob-lem. Buyers interpret this as bank greed. Yes, the numberof mortgage applications is up from last year, but weshould be counting the number actually approved. ”

After financing delays, realtors in Clifton see short salesas a key reason for increased inventory. Ashort sale is whena homeowner owes more on a mortgage than the price forwhich the house is selling. In the past few years, the price ofhomes in the United States has dropped an average of 25%.

Clifton is no exception. According to Tselepis, a house thatsold for $400,000 at the high point in October 2006, wouldprobably close at about $300,000 now.

“In 2005, 2006, prices were high,” said Kapitula, “andlenders gave out large mortgages, requiring very littlemoney down. It was crazy and we are seeing theconsequences now. If someone selling a houses owes$350,000 on their mortgage and they can sell for only$300,000 – that’s a short sale. And Clifton does have alarge number of short sales pending. In 2005, 2006people received interest only mortgages, or bought high-priced homes with zero-down. Now those three, four,five-year ARMs are kicking in and homeowners realizethat they are not going to be able to keep making theincreased payments. So they’re hoping to get out.”

However, for each short sale to go through, the originallender needs to agree to the sale of the house at the loweredvalue and provide new terms for the remainder of themortgage. This process is not quick, since mortgage lenderseverywhere are swamped with short sale requests.

Address: 506 Mt. ProspectDays on the market: 84Listing Price: $695,000by JK Realty

Address: 82 Huron AvenueDays on the market: 260Listing Price: $299,900by Coldwell Banker

Address: 8 Liberty StreetDays on the market: 243Listing Price: $335,900by Century 21/Van Der Wende Assocs.

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Address: 632 Bloomfield AvenueDays on the market: 139Listing Price: $329,000by Century 21 Elite Realty

Address: 310 Pershing RoadDays on the market: 45 Listing Price: $379,900by Castle Realty Group, Inc.

Address: 1122 Van Houten AvenueDays on the market: 71 Listing Price: $401,900by La Corte Agency

Getting the price right, said Chi, is another reason theturnover is slower. An owner may want, or even need, tosell and understands that home prices have dropped, butcan’t accept it for their own home. “Understanding is notacceptance,” he said, “and tens of thousands of dollars isa lot of money. People resist lowering the sale price. Sothe house sits.”

The sellers aren’t the only ones that sometimes have ahard time getting the price right. “It’s definitely a buyer’smarket,” said Coldwell Banker sales associate FulviaGonzalez during an open house in Cambridge Crossingson Colfax Avenue, “but some buyers are unrealistic.They want a $350,000 home for $280,000. That’s notgoing to happen. There is a market bottom and prices arefair in Clifton. For buyers considering Clifton, this is agreat time to buy and hold.”

At another openhouse, this one in DutchHill, Alma Billings, asales representative withWeichert has seen housesmove in matter of days,when priced right. Even a

bidding war. “It’s better to price lower and attract buyersthan price higher and attract no buyers,” she said, notingthat a recent Weichert listing in Clifton at $515,000 soldfor $525,000 after two buyers put in offers.

Because of the incentives and prices, this may be agood market for motivated buyers and investors, notedBillings, but less so for sellers. “One of the main reasonsI see in Clifton for homes being put on the market isfinancial strain, a pre-preemptive move. People are suf-fering from a loss of income. Not necessarily a loss of a

job, but loss of income. They’ve had togo part-time, their hours have been cut,commissions aren’t being paid, smallbusiness owners see a decrease in rev-enue, so they need to sell their home.”

“People are dipping into savings topay their mortgages,” said Chi, “andthey want to get ahead of the downhillcurve. In Clifton, I’m not hearing peo-ple say ‘I want to sell because I want toupgrade’- I’m hearing people say thatthey feel financial insecurity. If theybought before 2004, then they are prob-ably OK. They have some equity andwill probably make money on theirhome if they need to sell now. It’s thosethat bought in the past five years andneed to sell that are hurting the most.”

And the buyers for properties on saleare out there, according to WilliamButtner of REMAX Village SquareRealtors in Montclair. He often showsClifton homes, most recently to first-time homebuyers and predicts a “springboom” for real estate in this city.“Clifton has a lot of good properties, theprices are right, the taxes are lower thanin surrounding areas, and it’s a greattown with great neighborhoods.”

Kapitula agrees. “Clifton is a greatplace to call home. We are close to NewYork City, it’s super easy to commutefrom here. We are close to everything,

I’m not hearing people say‘I want to sell because I wantto upgrade,’ – I’m hearingpeople say that they feelfinancial insecurity.


universities, sports facilities, recreation, great shopping,major roads. We’re a central location, a great location, anhour to the mountains, an hour to the shore. This locationis convenient and saves time, and this is important to buy-ers. Even though people complain a lot, we have goodschools with many excellent teachers. We’re good foryoung families. Not every town offers what Clifton offers.Owning in Clifton is a good deal.”

Kapitula and Chi see more and more buyers from NewYork. “Buyers from New York are easy,” said Chi, “theylove Clifton’s location and our home prices are lower thanin New York. They come in and see the space of anaverage house in Clifton and say ‘Wow!’ If you can getthem past the taxes, they’re usually hooked.”

Kapitula feels that it will take about a year to reduce theinventory in Clifton, that’s when most of the short saleswill be over. Tselepis believes it is too early to tell what willhappen after the incentives end May 1, but he’s expectingmore stability with regard to the job market and unemploy-ment, along with overall improvement in the economy tofuel home purchases.

Chi is suspicious that the fear of financial insecurity isstill deep and that the confidence and psychology of homeownership has been badly shaken during this economiccrisis. Buttner is matter-of-fact: “We’re going back tobasics, returning to a more traditional real estate market,something we haven’t seen for a while, a market minus thefrenzy. The pre-high basics, if you recall, were prettysimple: the house had to be priced right; be in decent shape,and location, location, location.”

Address: 30 Dumont AvenueDays on the market: 130Listing Price: $299.000by RE/MAX Realty Professionals

Address: 338 Mt. Prospect AvenueDays on the market: 52Listing Price: $339.000by Prudential Pica Realtors

Address: 17 Lenox AvenueDays on the market: 48 Listing Price: $449,900by Latorraca Realtors

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The New Math of Home Mortgages For the past decade, traveling the road of mortgage approval

was one green light after another. Twenty percent down?

Fuggadaboutit! Zero is OK. Two, four, six, eight – what do we

appreciate? ARMs! Income verification? No thanks! Just

write the number on a piece of paper. All well and good until

the Great Mortgage Crash of 2008. Story by Irene Jarosewich

Now it’s FICO scores of 650 or higher, at least 5%down, itemized bank statements, several years worth ofincome tax returns, along with a nice cushion of savingsto be seriously considered for a decent rate.

For those old enough to remember, the current mortgagecrisis is reminiscent of an older one, the savings and loanscrisis of the 1980s. Back then, in an attempt to inject pri-vate investment capital into the economy, federal regulatorsloosened restrictions on the fiscally conservative S&Lindustry. This led to a lending frenzy and bad loans endedup breaking the backs of many S&Ls across the country.

The S&L, a familiar neighborhood entity, once a cor-nerstone of local mortgage lending, faded away. For thelenders that remained, which included ever larger, con-solidated banks, home mortgages often were not a lend-ing priority, especially after stricter regulations were

put into place. In the late 1990s, fed-

eral regulations forlenders were loosenedonce again. But unfortu-nately, another lendingfrenzy accompanied by a

healthy dose of greed was the result. Within a decade, thelarge numbers of bad loans brought the nation to the edgeof an economic abyss.

To help abate the mortgage crisis, behemoth banks suchas JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup began to receive gov-ernment bailouts, as did some simply large banks such asWayne-based Valley National (which in the last week ofDecember paid back its debt to the government). Alsobailed out were investment firms such as Goldman Sachsto which the large lenders sold their mortgages.

Amid the upheaval, banks that didnot indulge in risky bad behavior heldfast. One regional bank that serves allof New Jersey, Clifton Savings Bank,has almost no bad loans in its portfolio.

“That’s because we always loanonly to qualified borrowers,” said JohnA. Celentano, Board Chair of CSB.“We don’t sell our loans to make aquick buck. Since we keep all the loanswe originate, we make sure that ourborrowers can afford to repay what welend them.”

Stephen A. Hoogerhyde, the execu-tive vice president and chief lendingofficer of Clifton Savings Bank, notedthat this crisis results from the distinctdifference in the mortgage lendingpractices between community banks,such as CSB, and those of large lendersthat had looser standards for borrowersand assumed little responsibility for theconsequences of bad lending.

“I don’t know that we’re that uniquecompared to other community banks,but we definitely are different fromlarge lenders. Large lenders are what Icall transaction-focused. They processa loan and then sell it. We are relation-ship-focused, we’re going to be livingwith this loan to the end.”

Hoogerhyde thinks that criticismfrom realtors and borrowers that creditis now too tight probably has somemerit, and “maybe the pendulum hasswung a bit too far the other way.” Butthen he added that other lenders “shouldhave upheld the higher standards in thefirst place” and probably the currentmess could have been avoided.

Besides more stringent requirementsfor borrowers, Hoogerhyde offers sev-eral other reasons for tighter credit:

A public website reportsthat Clifton has about40 foreclosures and 690properties in pre-foreclosure.

increased federal bank regulations, as well as mortgageinsurance companies that cut back on what they are will-ing to insure, no longer insuring home purchases withonly 3%, or even 5% down.

Though indeed there is increased federal regulation,in a speech in mid-December, President Obama, whoapproved the bank bailouts, lashed out at the “fat catbankers who still don’t get it.” He told bankers to getused to increased regulation and rejected using this as anexcuse for banks to slow down lending. The banks aresupposed to use bailout money to help borrowers, notkeep it for themselves, he pointed out.

Attorney Carl Zoecklein sees the slow down everyday. His clients include those particularly hard-hit,clients who qualify for a mortgage loan modifications toforestall foreclosure or who seek to expedite a short saleof their house. Job loss and the economic crisis has hitacross all income brackets in Clifton, he said and “whilethe government has been helping the banks, the trickle-down effect from the banks does not seem to be helpingthose that need loan modifications. Lenders could be,and should be, doing a lot more to expedite the process.”

The owner of Century 21/ACV Real Estate in Clifton,Zoecklein confirms realtor complaints of prolongedbank delays and a paper shuffle. “As an attorney, I’mseeing a lot of confusion, delays, bank claims that paper-work was never received. Some lenders receive our doc-uments, turn around, and are ready the next day; otherstake up to nine months to complete a modification. I’mnot sure what’s going on, but it definitely doesn’t makesense.”

He does fewer loan modifications with communitybanks than with large lenders, since community bankswere more diligent in their lending practices all along.“A lot of the lenders gave you a mortgage simply if youwere breathing,” said Zoecklein. “It was very irresponsi-ble. Extremely irresponsible.”

William Buttner of REMAX/Village Square Realtorsin Montclair is also frustrated with the mortgageapproval process. He thinks large lenders are not terriblymotivated to expedite the paperwork around short sales,in particular. Whether a short sale, when they homeown-er wants to sell a house for less than the mortgage, or aforeclosure, the process still costs the bank money.

Though lenders may be overwhelmed with paperworknow, he also thinks that since large lenders do not knowborrowers personally, there is no sense of urgency. Thelong turnaround time on paperwork keeps investors fromlooking at homes undergoing a short sale, narrowing thepool of buyers, said Buttner.

It’s quicker for investors to wait for foreclosures, hesaid, because that’s when banks really do have to unloadproperties. With a narrowed pool of buyers, both sellersand realtors take a hit.

It is difficult to get an accurate count about the num-ber of actual foreclosures in Clifton, Hoogerhyde noted,since in New Jersey, the process of foreclosure can takeup to a year. For Clifton, he believes that the numbersoffered by a public website of about 40 foreclosures and690 properties in pre-foreclosure is probably accurate.

Every other Tuesday, the Passaic County Sheriff holdsa sale of foreclosed properties from around the entirecounty, and each month several hundred properties arelisted. Many are repeat listings, but even taking that factinto account, the numbers are high – approximately1,500 foreclosures in Passaic County in 2009.

Hoogerhyde, who has been in the mortgage businessfor 33 years, is cautious about the future. “Unlessemployment goes up, people will be unwilling to take ona mortgage. 2010 could be a rough year. The uncertaintyis more distressing than anything else.” And even thoughthis is a buyer’s market, Zoecklein isn’t seeing the buy-ers. “Several years ago I was doing 400 real estate clos-ings a year. This year it was 70.”


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Amos Kaune had just moved to Miami fromClifton, getting a job as a bartender at the CollinsTerrace Hotel. It was winter, and Florida’s weathersuited him just fine. All he needed were customers tocome in, have a drink, and leave something for his tipcup behind the bar.

To make the place seem busy to the people walkingby, Kaune would empty quarters out of the jukeboxand pump them back in, picking a random bunch ofsongs to play. There was one song he would pick overand over—Erroll Garner’s Misty—Kaune had neverheard anything like it. There was just something aboutthe song, something that stirred in his soul.

This was jazz, and Amos was hooked.“It was a beautiful tune,” Kaune says, “the way

Erroll Garner played it—his whole approach. I was sotaken by it, that when I got back to Jersey, the firstthing I did was buy the album.”

1949 CHS grad Amos Kaune is a modest guy. He’d be hard pressed to allow a writer to call him the godfather of jazz but what he did for that original American art form is legendary. He put asmall jazz club named Gulliver’s in what was thenWest Paterson on the map with visitors like (left) RoyEldridge, Mercer Ellington and helped scores of lesserknown musicians get their start in the business.

He Played Misty and His Life Changed Forever

Story by Jack DeVries

Originally published Feb. 2002 • One of our favorite stories to celebrate our 15th!


Returning to Clifton, Kaune met his future wife Pat,and they began dating. One of their special nights outwas seeing Garner perform at Carnegie Hall. “It wasthe first time I’d ever been to a concert in my life,”Kaune says.

From that night on, Amos never stopped listening tolive jazz. It would become his passion, the music he’ddedicate his life to. Pat would become his partner,financier, and supporter of his dreams through their 50years of married life. “We made a pretty good team,”Kaune says. “Still do.”

While his nights end a bit earlier these days, and helistens to music only as a fan now, the passion still burnsfor the jazz man from Clifton. And this is his story.

BeginningsAmos Kaune was born in Passaic in 1931. His

family moved to Clifton in 1934, and he grew up onClinton Ave. near Weasel Brook Park. Like many kids,the park became the center of his existence. “I lovedboxing and football,” he says, “but I didn’t play ball forClifton High—I was too small.”

But he did yearn to become a boxer. After graduatingfrom Clifton High in 1949, he took odd jobs, like workingin a cotton mill, while he pursued his dream.

In 1960, Amos Kaune purchased his first tavern, the CliftonTap Room, at the corner of Kulik and Lexington Aves.


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He began training in Skillman’s Gym in New York City, “the HarvardUniversity of boxing at the time,” as he calls it, and sparring with fighters likeDick Wagner, Chico Vejar, and Patty Young.

“One of the traps of boxing,” says Kaune, who has since changed hisopinion of the sport, “is you think you’re going to become somebody, acontender, whether you have talent or not. That’s what I believed. I neverdecided boxing wasn’t for me—it just evolved that way.”

Luckily, his next career was waiting. He started bartending at age 23 atthe old Frank Alberta’s Restaurant, near the Passaic River in the earlyfifties. “It was the center of politics in Clifton, the center of everything. Iliked working for Frank—he was a character.” He also liked his newbusiness. Outside of a brief move to Florida, Kaune became a fixture“behind the stick” at area restaurants and nightclubs.

Amos Kaune receiving an awardfor his work in the jazz industry.


“I liked the restaurant business,” he says of his timetending bar. “You made pretty good money, and youwere out—it wasn’t like going to work. You were alsowith people.”

It was at Frank Alberta’s in 1956 where he met Pat.“A older customer who knew Pat from her job in the

doctor’s office thought we’d make a great couple,”Kaune says. “He brought her in specifically to meet me.We hit it off and began going out.”

Later in 1956, Amos left Frank Alberta’s to takeover the bar and snack bar concession at the CopakeLake Country Club in Craryville, N.Y., with friendHarry Burns (future owner of the old Burns CountyInn on Valley Road). It was a big operation, and hegained valuable experience. He returned to Clifton inthe fall of 1958 ready for his next career move.

Nothing could have prepared him for what wouldhappen next.

Fateful EveningOn October 4, 1958, Amos and Pat drove to

Manhattan to see the movie, Around the World in 80Days. They rode in Kaune’s Ford Mainliner, whichhe’d bought new for $1,800 in 1955.

After enjoying the movie, the couple drove backtoward Clifton along Route 3. They were crossing overthe Hackensack River when their lives nearly ended.

“On the bridge, five lanes were regulated by lights,”Kaune remembers. “At that hour, three lanes were goingwest, two lanes were moving east. At the crest of thebridge, some drunk in a Cadillac convertible crossed overtwo lanes and plowed into us head on.”

Pat seemed to be the most seriously injured in theaccident. She received Last Rites and remainedunconscious for days, suffering a brain concussion andbroken ankle. When Pat awakened, her recovery wasswift and she returned to her job in five weeks.

The driver who caused the accident also recoveredquickly. “The old bit about God protecting drunks heldtrue,” Kaune says. “He ended up with only a broken noseand a broken rib.” While Amos suffered only a quarter sizemark on his knee, his internal injuries were far more serious.

“My femur was forced up, shattering my pelvis,” hesays. “I spent the winter in North Hudson Hospital inUnion City—one horrible place. No one walked in therevoluntarily for an operation; you had to be carted in orscraped off a highway somewhere.”

“In my ward—we had guys who were prisoners withguards standing over them. There were crazy people whoshould’ve been in an institution. As grim as it was, it wasan interesting place—something was always going on. Notthe way you want to be entertained, but it made the timepass quickly. I came out on Valentines Day 1959.”


The Clifton Tap RoomAfter coming out of the hospital, Kaune sold fire

warning systems while he regained his strength. In April1960, he moved from restaurant employee to owner,opening the Clifton Tap Room at the corner of Kulik St.and Lexington Ave.

“I wanted it to become a neighborhood restaurant,” hesays. “It was across the street from the Jacques WolfeChemical Plant, and I knew a lot of people who workedthere from Frank Alberta’s. I figured we’d have a goodlunch business. But the day we opened, the plantclosed—I’d been out of action so long, I hadn’t heard itwas coming.”

During the first two years, the Clifton Tap Roomlimped along, barely surviving by selling pizzas. “Pathad her regular job working for Dr. Jack Sall,” saysKaune. “It was also her job to support the restaurant.”

On a snowy night in 1962, Kaune decided to trustjazz. Leaving his restaurant with Herald-News reporterHarry Vander Berg behind the bar, he drove to acoffeehouse in Teaneck called the Outer Limits wherethe Vince Benedetti Trio was performing. He hired themon the spot. By February, the Clifton Tap Room hadbecome the city’s leading jazz club. Other acts followed.The Cinderella Brothers performed there, as did theMike Melillo trio, featuring Melillo on piano, Ron Naspoon bass, and Herb Fischer on drums.

“Jazz was at a real low point then,” Kaune says.“This was when the Beatles were starting. Only four orfive clubs in New York ran with jazz—mainstays likethe Village Gate, the Village Vanguard, the Half Note,Five Spot, and Birdland.

“Because things were so terrible, I could pick out aname, find out the guy’s number, and hire him to do aMonday night. I’d call guys on the kitchen phone atBirdland while they were appearing and get them toplay in my club.”

Soon, the Clifton Tap Room was featuring some ofthe biggest names in jazz.

“Vinnie Burke, one of the most important bassplayers in the history of jazz in New Jersey, playedthere,” says Kaune. “So did Zoot Sims, Al Kohn, andColeman Hawkins, one of the greatest tenor saxplayers ever. When he died, Time magazine calledhim the ‘father of the saxophone.’

“We also had Ben Webster, Freddy Hubbard, FatJones, and Sonny Rollins—in my opinion, the greatestmusician alive. It was an experience to hear his sax—like a train roaring through the place.”

While the names got bigger, the Clifton Tap Room’sprofits did not. “We pioneered deficit spending,” Kaunelaughs. “We kept bringing in bigger groups, whichbrought in more money, which went to pay last week’sbills. The bills got bigger as the names got bigger.”

In January 1965, Kaune suffered another setbackwhen he fell on a snowy Passaic street, breaking hiship. “In June,” Kaune says, “our landlord, JohnSchlacter, a plumbing contractor, got tired of waitingfor the rent—at one point we thought we’d be lockedout. When I knew there was no hope in catching upwith the old debts, I told him I’d sell the place and givehim the down payment. And that’s what happened.John was a decent enough guy to see us through.”

Gulliver’s Big RunAfter selling the business and recovering from his

fall, Kaune began working as a bartender at places likethe Clifton Pub on Allwood Rd., Hollar’s on Hazel St.,and the Tides in Haledon. As he got stronger, he beganworking harder, sometimes bartending at two or threedifferent places in a week, putting aside money for hisnext jazz club.


On Thanksgiving Day in 1969, hefound it in a historic West Paterson build-ing on McBride Ave., then called theRiverview Restaurant. The site had beenthe halfway point on the old trolley linefrom Paterson to Singac. The Morris Canalonce ran in back, and scenes from the Perilsof Pauline had been filmed nearby.

Amos would make history of his own.His new jazz club would be calledGulliver’s, taking the name from the bookGulliver’s Travels because he loved theway it sounded. “We made money from thefirst day we opened,” he says. “Everythingworked out there.”

Opening in 1970, Gulliver’s featuredlounge tables cut from an old shuffleboardgame and an atmosphere that was different from any areaclub. Patrons were expected to keep quiet while the musi-cians played, and Gulliver’s swayed in a collective appre-ciation of sound. Amos held court, welcoming patronswith a constant smile and listening to every magical note.

“I had all the fun,” he says. “Pat did the hard work.While I was out front with the people and the musicians,

she was often in the back, doing the book-keeping, the work that wasn’t a lot of fun.”

Like the Clifton Tap Room, Gulliver’sfeatured a constant stream of jazz talent.Musicians like Paterson’s Bucky Pizzarelli,Jim Hall, and Joe Morello, the drummerfrom Dave Brubeck’s band, played there, asdid Art Farmer, Ron Carter, MaxineSullivan, guitarist Joe Pass, and drummerRoy Haynes.

“Marlene Ver Planck from Clifton,probably the ‘queen for the jingle singers,’sang at Gulliver’s,” says Kaune. “We alsohad Willie “the Lion” Smith, from Newark,who went back to the Harlem Stride Pianodays; Teddy Wilson, guy who broke thecolor line in jazz with Bennie Goodman’s

band; and Mary Lou Williams, still considered thepreeminent female jazz piano player.

“Others included Betty Carter, a great jazz singer, andJackie Cain and Roy Kral, a great vocal group.

Another musician Kaune enjoyed was guitarist HarryLeahey. “Harry was a legend,” he says. “So many greatjazz musicians have no concern at all if they ever

Opening in 1970, Gulliver’s featured lounge tables cut from an old shuffleboard game...and an atmosphere (that’s the logo below) that was different from any area club.


get known, they just play—that was HarryLeahey. Les Paul came in as a customer andwas so taken by Harry’s playing, I couldn’t gethim to leave after closing.”

The only setback for Kaune in the 13 yearshe owned Gulliver’s was opening his KidMcCoy jazz club at the corner of Madison andMain in Clifton. “That was a total loser,” he saysof the two-year flop. “We lost money every day,even worse than the Clifton Tap Room.”

Jazz musicians appreciated Kaune’s efforts.Sam Jones recorded a tune called “One forAmos” and performed the song all over, includ-ing at Carnegie Hall. Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli,father of John Pizzarelli of the Foxwoods’ TVcommercial fame, says Kaune’s value to the jazzcommunity was immeasurable.

“Amos kept jazz going in this area,” saysPizzarelli. “He kept everybody working. He alsobrought in the biggest names in jazz to perform inNew Jersey. Gulliver’s was just perfect. It was areal jazz club—you could even get a great hamburgerthere. And there was never a big cover charge to get inlike New York. “As a person, Amos is a first-classindividual. He and Pat are two fine people.”

Melody ChangesAfter 13 years in West Paterson, Kaune sold Gulliver’s

and began searching for a bigger place. “We were gettingdangerously overcrowded,” he explains. “Plus, I got anoffer for the place I couldn’t turn down.”

In 1986, Kaune opened a new Gulliver’s in LincolnPark. While it was bigger, it could not top the success ofthe West Paterson location. Still, it attracted big namegroups like the Duke Ellington Band led by son MercerEllington, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Wayne Shorter ofWeather Report, along with acts from the old Gulliver’s.“Amos ran a tight ship. Everything was well done,” says

singer Roy Kral. His vocal partner and wife of 52 yearsJackie Cain agrees, “Amos is an unassuming but charm-ing man who had the ability to run a great club.”

After three years, Kaune sold the new Gulliver’s for aprofit and moved on. From 1992 to 1995, he worked atTrumpets for friend and owner Emily Wingert, bookingacts at the Montclair club like Etta Jones and WyntonMarsalis. When Trumpets closed, he retired from themusic and restaurant business.

Kaune still loves to listen to live jazz and Oliver Lake’sGroup, featuring vocalist Judy Bady, is a current favorite.In 2002, he was honored by the club, selected as a chartermember of their New Jersey Jazz Hall of Fame. Thoughhe still hates New Jersey winters, Kaune continues tospend time at his home near Clifton Stadium, attendingmass when he can at Holy Trinity Church in Passaic andspending time with friends.

In 2002, Amos and Pat Kaune, with friends Ed and MargeSchweighardt in the Corral, when this story original appeared. WhileAmos never smoked, today he has Emphysema and does not getaround as much as he did.


classes begin

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Classes are held at Clifton High School

Registration

2010Monday & Thursday

Feb 8 & 116-9pm

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Rosemarie Harvey didn’t come home a million-aire from her recent appearance on the syndicatedWABC-TV game show, Who Wants to Be aMillionaire, but the spunky 79 year-old had a blast.

“I felt like a rock star,” she said. And, the not-too-shabby $50,000 prize that she

did win—even after the IRS takes its cut—willfinance the downstairs bathroom that she’s beenwanting for a long time.

Rosemarie’s road to fame started with an e-mailfrom her friend, Shelley, who encouraged her to goto the show’s web site to apply for an audition.

It was the second time that Rosemarie, picturedabove with host Meredith Viera, took her longtimefriend’s dare to be on a TV game show. In 1991, shewon $13,000 during an appearance on Trump Card,a short-lived show filmed at Trump Castle (nowcalled Trump Marina) casino in Atlantic City.

On January 6, Rosemarie Harvey won $50,000 on the TVshow Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Recently, we had achance to sit and chat with Rosemarie about her experiences onnational TV, here in Clifton and her adventures elsewhere.With a life so full of riches, who needs a million dollars?

Far Richer Than

a Millionaire

Story by Carol Leonard



Rosemarie hadn’t watched Who Wants to Be aMillionaire much since it moved from its prime timeevening time slot to its current 12:30 pm schedule onChannel 7, but she decided to give it a shot.

After completing an online questionnaire, shereceived an invitation last June to come to New York tocompete for a chance to be inthe contestant pool.

Of the 170 people who tookthe qualifying test that day, only18, including Rosemarie,passed. “We had 10 minutes toanswer 30 multiple choice questions,” she said. “I wasa terrible student in school, but I’m a great test-taker.”

After making her way through the rest of the screen-ing process, Rosemarie received a phone call severalweeks later inviting her to a taping of the show onSeptember 9, 2009.

“Wow, 9/9/09, I figured that must be an omen, so Iimmediately started a novena,” she said. “When theycalled me back with a new date, I thought, oh what thehell, I already did my novena.”

Rosemarie was accompanied to the taping of theshow, which aired this Jan 6, by her daughter Harriettand Joe, Rosemarie’s longtime companion.

Her son David and son-in-law Ted both stayed hometo be ready if she needed either of them as a Phone a

Friend. Also standing by the phone at his home inFlorida was her ex-husband Jack, who served as herthird designated Phone a Friend.

Excited about an opportunity to sit in “the hot seat”opposite show host Meredith Viera, Rosemarie dyedher hair pink for the occasion, something she usually

waits until February todo to help get her out ofthe winter doldrums.

Rosemarie breezedthrough the first fewquestions before using

her Ask the Audience lifeline on the $12,500 question.She used up her remaining three lifelines, Ask theExpert, Phone A Friend and Double Dip, to correctlyanswer the $25,000 question. She answered the$50,000 question correctly on her own.

“They blew me out of the water on the $100,000question,” she said. “If only I had been a better studentin school.”

From the category, The Highest Office, the $100,000question was: Only two men are said to have rununopposed for the presidency of the United States,George Washington and whom?

Out of lifelines and unsure of the answer, Rosemariedecided to walk away with a guaranteed $50,000. Thecorrect answer was James Monroe.

“I want to show my peers... toget out there... be brave and

adventurous. Life is too short.”

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If she had guessed incorrectly on the $100,000 ques-tion, her prize money would have reverted back to$25,000. More important than her cash winnings,Rosemarie hopes that her appearance on the show setan example for her peers.

“Too many people my age buy into certain ways ofbehaving,” she said. “Many young people think ofolder people as too old to do anything for themselvesanymore. They think we’re all Alzheimer’s patients andthey make concessions for us. Now, that’s a crock.

“I want to show my peers that they can take risks. Iwant them to get out there and be brave andadventurous. Life is too short.”

If anyone is aware how short life can be, it’sRosemarie. The almost octogenarian beat cancer twice,once as a child and again in middle age. She also livedthrough a tumultuous home life as a youngster, andfought her way out of several bouts of severe depres-sion over her lifetime.

All of these experiences helped make her who she istoday, she said “I see myself as incredibly strong.”

A feisty self-described political liberal who grew upin the Bronx and served six years in the Naval AirReserve during the Korean War, Rosemarie wasinvolved in the civil rights and anti-war movements ofthe 1960s and 70s. One of her favorite memories wasriding the train from Penn Station to Washington, D.C.,

in August 1963 to hear the late Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. deliver his historic I have a Dream speech.

“I was seven months pregnant with my son at thetime and everyone thought I was crazy,” she said.

A feminist ahead of her time, Rosemarie was oncedisciplined during the early years of her employment atwhat was then the New Jersey Bell Telephone Companyfor wearing seamless stockings to work. “I guess youcan say I have a rebellious nature,” she said.

Rosemarie values her friendships, many of whichwere formed as a longtime parishioner of St. John’sEpiscopal Church in Passaic, where she serves as a vol-unteer part-time administrator.

“My kids still love me, so I guess I did a good jobwith them,” she said.

She enjoys the love and companionship of Joe, whomoved in with her four years ago, and she maintains afriendship with her ex-husband Jack, to whom she wasmarried for 23 years. “We e-mail each other every day,”she said.

Rosemarie said she will always cherish the hand-written note she received in the mail from MeredithViera after taping her appearance on the show. “Youreally showed those young ‘uns how to play the game,”Meredith wrote.

With Rosemarie Harvey’s life so full of riches, whoneeds a million dollars?


By 2020, Luis Urdanivia expects to be a physician and return to Peru.There, the Clifton High School Student of the Month plans on assisting thepoor in his country of birth as a member of Doctors Without Boundaries, a sec-ular organization that provides health care to those who cannot afford it.

The CHS senior’s college of choice is the University of Vermont,because of its medical program and the change of lifestyle movingto a new state offers. He is awaiting to see what scholarshipsare offered before committing.

“It depends on how much it’s going to cost me,”said Urdanivia. “If it’s too much, I’ll wind upgoing to Rutgers, New Brunswick.”

Urdanivia’s activities at CHS include enroll-ment in English AP and Advanced Biology AP.He is a three year member of the ConservationClub. Urdanivia is also on the Ultimate FrisbeeTeam and enjoys playing guitar.

To prepare for college, Urdanivia enrolled ina EMT program at Passaic County CommunityCollege, which was offered through CHS.“Theyhave their own safety school in Wayne,” he explained. Tobecome certified, a student must complete 120 hours in theclassroom. Urdanivia is currently awaiting the results of the state certifica-tion test. “I’ve been going for eight hours on Saturdays and Sundays.”

His decision to enter the medical field is based on his memories fromLima, the capital city of Peru. He was born there in 1992 and came to the USin 1994, but has visited a number of times.

Lima, a major South American city of nearly 7.6 million, has a large slumlocated at the base of the hills near the outskirts of the city. Urdanivia vividlyrecalled the small, dirty shacks that house some of Lima’s poorest residents.

“The poverty there isn’t like it is here,” explained the soft-spoken BotanyVillage resident. “You can see it out in the streets. They live there withoutanything. They would come over to the city and beg for food.”

Urdanivia recalled how Peruvian doctors would make regular trips to theslums to care for the children of impoverished families. That memory, com-bined with his exposure to sciences at a young age from his parents, Luis andNorma, who worked as chemists in Peru, inspired him to become a physician.

Urdanivia’s interest in medicine was also cultivated while at CHS.“Mrs.(Irene) Dutch—I had her for biology,” he said when asked to name a mentorfrom the classrooms of CHS. Dutch is also the Conservation Club advisor.“She always encouraged me to do better, to try and learn more.”

Wherever he decides to attend college, Urdanivia will be coming in as a stu-dent with a specific life goal in mind. His dream of returning to Peru as a mem-ber of Doctors Without Borders will motivate him throughout his post-highschool education. But before he heads back to Peru, Urdanivia must brush upon his Spanish, which he admits isn’t perfect yet. “It’s kind of broken Spanish,”he laughed. “I understand it fully, but talking, not so much.”

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CHS Student of the MonthStory by Joe Hawrylko

Paramus Catholic Senior andCliftonite David Najem has beennamed to the First Team AdidasAll-American by the NationalSoccer Coaches’ Association ofAmerica. The Paladin midfielder,will be honored at a luncheon inPhiladelphia on Jan. 16.

The two year captain of thePaladins was named the NBIALplayer of the year and to the All-

Bergen County First Team for hispart in leading the Paladins to theirshare of the NBIAL crown this sea-son. Najem finished his careerwith 54 goals and 38 assists, andhis team went 52-20-4 in that span.

Off the field, he is a four-yearAquinas Scholar and member of theNational Honor Society. Najem is aalso member of the InternationalLanguage Honor Society and speaks

Russian, Spanish and Farsi. He vol-unteers as a soccer coach at theClifton Boys & Girls club. Najemhas been accepted to ColumbiaUniversity, where he will play soccerbut is yet undeclared in his are a ofstudy. For info about PC, go towww.paramuscatholic.org.


Paladin is Adidas All-American


The CHS Marching Mustangs, the “Showband of theNortheast,” will perform at the annual Carnaval deQuébec in Feb. 10-15. Directed by Robert D. Morganand led in march by CHS senior Drum Major NickLichtenberger, students, directors and chaperones willtravel by bus to Quebec City, Canada, to march in theparade and take in the sites. Individuals or groups inter-ested in making donations to support the band’s tripshould call coordinator Thomas Meyer, at 973-272-8695.Details are at www.cliftonmustangband.com.

The Marching Mustang Band Beefsteak is on Jan. 8at the Boys & Girls Club, 181 Colfax Ave., at 6 pm. Theevent is a major fundraiser for the band and its scholar-ship fund. Buy tickets at www.cliftonmustangband.comor call Larry Grasso at 862-849-6011.

The CHS Swim Team Beefsteak &Tricky Tray is onJan 16 from 7 to 11 pm at the Athenia Veteran’s Hall,147 Huron Ave. Tickets are $40 and include dinner,beer, soda and dessert. Call 973-471-2741.

The Mustang Ice Hockey Booster Club Beefsteak ison Jan 22 at 6 pm at the Boys & Girls Club on ColfaxAve. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children 12and under. Info, call 973-272-3386 or 973-523-6419.

A Grocery Auction to benefit St. Brendan School is onJan. 17 from 1 to 5 pm in the school gym, 154 E. 1st St.at Lakeview Ave. Admission is $10 and includes a sheetof prize tickets. Call 973-772-1149 or 973-820-5523.

SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, 218 Ackerman Ave.,will hold its annual Fish & Chips Dinner on March 5 at5:30 pm. Tickets are $12 and includes cake and coffee.Take out is available. There will also be a raffle. Call973-777-9617 or 973-772-8806.

The CHS PTSA Tricky Tray and Prom Fashion Showis on March 10 at The Venetian in Garfield. Funds raisedat this first-of-its-kind combined event benefit ProjectGraduation. For the fashion show, CHS Class of 2010seniors will showcase outfits from Downtown Cliftonmerchants La Faye/Angelica Fashions and DeluxeFormal Wear. Prior to this combined event, the fashionshow was held at CHS for nearly two decades.Admission is $40. Individuals and businesses who wouldlike to provide prizes or make a donation, call ProjectGraduation Chair Maryann Cornett at 973-779-5678.

The Marching Mustang Band will represent Clifton at the Carnaval de Québec in Feb., as they did in Feb. 2000, at left.To contribute to offset their expenses, go to www.cliftonmustangband.com or call Tom Meyer at 973-272-8695.

The Clifton Community Band seeks experienced musi-cians for its classical concert band. Founded in 2002 bydirector Bob Morgan (above), the Band includes brass,woodwinds and percussion and features musicians rang-ing in age from 15 to 73. There are no registration fees.Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm, Nov.through July in the CHS Band room at 333 Colfax Ave.For info, write Alan Paris at [email protected].


Worth over $500No monetary value. Winner has option of male or female bicycle.

Proceeds benefit Clifton PBA members who participate in the2010 Police Unity Tour. This 300 mile bicycle ride leaves NJ onMay 8 to raise awareness of police officers who have died in theline of duty and to raise funds for the National Law EnforcementOfficers Memorial. For tickets, call Clifton Police Officer JohnKavakich at 973-470-5897, or [email protected] call Tom Hawrylko at 973-253-4400.

MSRP of $5849 No monetaryvalue. Winner responsible for all taxes and fees.

Both Drawings to be held on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 8 pm at the Clifton PBA 36 Unity Tour Pasta Dinner

Diana Nikolowski, a CHS 2002grad, has passed the NJ Bar Exam

and was swornin as an attor-ney at law onNov. 13. Sheis now anassociate withthe Bellevillelaw firmof Gaccione,Pomaco &

Malanga, P.C. Nikolowski letteredin basketball and softball at CHS.She graduated from WilliamPaterson University magna cumlaude in 2006 and attended RutgersLaw School, Newark, where shegraduated cum laude this past May. St. Philip the Apostle Knights ofColumbus in conjunction withRegina Mundi Council and LaNeves, hosted a Christmas dinnerparty at La Neves Restaurant inHaledon on Dec. 7 for the partici-pants of Project Youth Haven. All25 youths also received a personalgift from both councils. ProjectYouth Haven is an emergencyshelter and group home for home-less and abused youth, ages 11 to17, in the Paterson Diocese.Although Youth Haven is fundedthrough government agencies, itssuccess depends on the efforts ofcommunity members and organi-zations. To make a tax deductiblecontribution, call 973-881-1611,24 hours a day, 7 days a week..

Clifton Toastmasters is a non-profit public speaking and leader-ship group which meets at theClifton Library, 292 Piaget Ave.Upcoming meetings, at 7 pm, areon Jan. 12 and 26, Feb. 9 and 23,March 9, 23 and 30 and April 13and 27. Guests are free. For infor-mation, call 973-420-4148 or [email protected].


The 2010 Passaic County FilmFestival is on April 17 at the officesof the Passaic County EconomicDevelopment Department, 930Riverview Dr., Totowa. TheFestival is a showcase for highschool and university students aswell as independent filmmakerswho live, attend school or practicetheir art within the county. Thereare various categories of competi-tion; deadline is Jan. 29. For infocall 973-569-4720, write [email protected] or go towww.passaiccountynj.org/film.

The Clifton Stamp Society willmeet at 6:30 pm in room 3 at theCommunity Recreation Center,1232 Main Ave. on Jan. 19, Feb. 1,March 1, 15 and 29. To find outmore about the club, call PresidentThomas Stidl at 973-471-7872 orgo to www.cliftonnj.org/stamp.

The Clifton Stallions’ Bulldogs U-12 Traveling Team (below, right)took home the fourth flight champi-onship in the Morris County YouthSoccer League with a 7-1-2 record.The team also played in three tour-naments, highlighted by the upset ofthe second flight West OrangeGunners, which propelled theBulldogs to the semifinals in theLeague Cup. The team, coached byFrank Salensky, featured only fivereturning players. Debbie Irwin isthe assistant coach and manager,and Gareth Chitticks is the trainer.Players include Frankie Salensky,Jose Rodriguez, Nishant Shastri,Gregory Irwin, Jaron Aiello, YunusAkbulut, Denilson DeLas Casas,Nick Martinez, Jahi McDonald,Felix Melo, Johnnie Olgun, IshmailOlgun, Kacper Stefaniak, FredyTalavera, Nolan Van Rye and PawelWolosz. The team celebrated withdinner at Mario’s. For info on theStallions: www.cliftonstallions.org.

North Jersey Federal Credit Union encourages its members to volunteer inOperation Share & Care programs and give back to the community. Above,they provided toys to boys and girls at Eva’s Village in Paterson.

Jessica Van Wie, a fourth grader at St. Brendan School was a winner in the 2010Calendar Contest sponsored by the Passaic County Clerk. Her art depicted thePaterson Farmers Market. Queen of Peace Senior Andrew Suscreba led his teamto the State sectional and was named a North Jersey Bowler to Watch.

Generations of Cliftonites have passed throughthe Boys & Girls Club and it will take the supportof those past members to keep things moving for-ward, said Board of Trustee member Cindy DeVos.

She served as the 2009 Chair of the It JustTakes One campaign which raises operating fundsfor the Clubs’ after-school programs and servicesfor youth, ages 6-18. Money raised allows kids toattend summer camp and provides quality afterschool programs: homework help, computer skillstraining, career exploration, arts and crafts, fitnessand sports, and character and leadership programs.

Cocktails for a Cause: The Young Business Professionals or YBP of the NorthJersey Regional Chamber of Commerce raised $1,270 for The Club on Nov. 16 atthe Water Bar in Bliss Lounge. With kids in front, adults from left: Gloria Martini,Elaine Robertazzi, Bob Foster, Cindy DeVos, Brian Guravage and Ori Segall.

Boys Club Penny Carnival 1964:Tom Di Donna offered this blastfrom the past. From left, rear:Steve Sniezek, Joe Dera, JohnGlowacki, Roy Brunett, JackMarshall, Bob Wiegel. Front:unidentified, Danny O’Brien,Tom Di Donna, Gary DaGiau,Chris Olsen and unidentified.

The Boys & Girls Club ofClifton, founded in 1947, is a non-profit, privately-funded 501{c}{3}organization and depends on pri-vate donations and volunteers toaccomplish its mission. The Clubsannually serve some 5,002 youth.

To make a donation or to vol-unteer, contact the Boys & GirlsClub Executive Director BobFoster at 973-773-0966 or findout more at bgcclifton.org.

Bring a Canned Good / Non-Perishable Item —and a Towel & Your Bathing Suit—to the Boys & Girls Club on Super Bowl Sunday.No Ticket — Help us help St. Peter’s Haven by Bringing a Donation.

Super Bowl Family DaySun., Feb. 7, 5 pmSun., Feb. 7, 5 pm

Play Super Double Bingo onJan. 15 and you’ll help theB&G Club raise money withyour admission. Guaranteedcash payout is $6,000. Enterbefore Jan. 15 and admission is$30; it’s $40 day at the door.Hand held computers are avail-able. Seating starts at 5 pm andthe Early Bird Round is at 6:45pm. For info, call Joe Holmesat 973-773-0966 x21.

Family Swim 5:30-7 • Open Gym 7-9• Pizza, Hot Dogs, Soda New Canned Goods Only, Please •Info 973-773-0966

12th


Jeff Labriola Barbara Watterston Capt. Robert Rowan Jack Kuepfer

Optimist Awards 2010

The 2010 Clifton Optimist Award Winners will befeted on May 2 at 4 pm at a dinner to be held at theClifton Recreation Center, 1232 Main Ave. Tickets are$32.50 and can be purchased by calling Optimist Clubmembers Tom Hawrylko at 973-253-4400 or TedMunley at 973-473-2200, ext. 112. Honorees include:

CCMS art teacher Jeff Labriola who will receive theClub’s highest honor—Friend of Youth. Labriola, CHS‘97, is an art teacher at CCMS, where he created the arthomeroom and art club and volunteers to produce the8th grade farewell dance. He is also the foundingPresident of the Clifton Arts Center, a volunteer post hestill holds today, in the CAC’s 10th year.

Barbara Watterston, the Director of the CliftonBeautification Committee, will receive the StanleyZwier Community Service Award. Watterston haschaired the Committee since its inception in 1990 andis responsible for the work done to the City Hall cam-pus, including soliciting funds and arranging for volun-teer efforts. Watterston next plans to bring some greento the new CHS Annex at 290 Brighton Rd.

Police Captain Robert Rowan will receive the JudgeJoseph J. Salerno Respect for Law Award. Now Chiefof the Detective Bureau, Rowan began as a patrolmanin 1974 and has served in virtually every division ofthe CPD. He has held his current position since 2002.

Say the words Morris Canal and the name JackKuepfer comes next—he is the recipient of the newestrecognition—the Optimist Lifetime Achievement Award.At age 89, Kuepfer attends to the historic site daily in aneffort to restore, maintain and beautify the park. Lookfor profiles on these honorees in the following months.

Clifton Super Bowl Family DayBe a Sponsor of this Alcohol-Free Party on Feb 7th

$100 Checks should be made payable to: Boys & Girls Club of Clifton

note: Super Bowl PartyMail to: Clifton Merchant Magazine1288 Main Ave. Clifton, NJ 07011

Questions regarding donations? Call Tom Hawrylko @ 973-253-4400

21 Club


To date, our 21 Club Sponsors include:1) Jim & Rita Haraka & Family2) Passaic County Surrogate Bill Bate3) Steve & Ellen Corbo & Family4) Optimist Club of Clifton5) Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin6) In memory of Florence, George H. Trinkle, Sr.

& George H. Trinkle III7) Barbara Dougherty

in memory of Henry Dougherty8) Clifton Police PBA Local 369) Clifton Firefighters FMBA Local 21

Please Contribute $100

and Become a

21 Club Sponsor!


There will be at least one new faceon the City Council this year, withGloria Kolodziej declaring that shewill not seek re-election on May 11.Seven four year terms will be atstake, and there is the potential for amajor change in power, much like the2006 Council elections.

To be eligible, candidates mustrequest petitions from the City Clerkand return by March 18 with a mini-mum of 438 signatures of Clifton vot-ers—one percent of registered votersfrom the last general election. A cit-izen can only sign seven petitions,one for each open seat.

Mayor James Anzaldi, who is thelongest tenured Council member, hasyet to formally request a petition torun. As of print, the only incumbents who have takenpetitions from the City Clerk have been Peter Eagler,Steve Hatala and Frank Fusco.

Challengers who have filed paperwork include DanielBrown, Mary Sadrakula, Dave D’Arco, Joan Salensky,Steve Schwartz, Andrew White, Anthony Genchi, SusanSia and Steve Goldberg. George Silva and RoyNoonberg, who both ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 CityCouncil election, have also pulled petitions.

In that May 9, 2006 City Council election, Cliftonvoters demanded change, removing four incumbentsfrom office: the late Stefan Tatarenko, Edward Welsh,Donald Kowal and Frank Gaccione.

Perhaps the biggest election day surprise was the sec-ond place finish of Antonio Latona, a Clifton firefighterwith no previous political experience. Anzaldi, Clifton’s

mayor since 1990, was expected towin the position by a sizable mar-gin. Under Clifton’s form of gov-ernment, the mayor is not electeddirectly by the voters. Traditionally,the candidate with the highestamount of votes is named mayor.

Throughout the race, the eligibili-ty of Latona was called into question,due to a conflict of interest, since theCouncil has authority over the CFD.Ultimately, a court forced Latona toresign. The Council, faced with theoption of leaving the seat vacant untila special election in Nov. 2007 orappointing an interim until that date,chose to review 12 applicants for theopening. The Council selected MattWard, the eighth place finisher.

A dissenting vote came from Kolodziej, who chooseJoAnne MacBeth, citing the need for diversity. FrankFusco abstained, saying he was committed to appointingsomeone who pledged not to run in the special election,which was to be held a year later. In Nov. 2007, voterselected Ward to finish the remainder of the term.

Three years later, many of the same issues still plaguethe city. Candidates must find a way to promote responsi-ble, ratable-generating developments while maintainingquality of life. The Athenia Steel Park, despite recentlybeing on the agenda in City Council meetings, still onlyexists on paper. And now, more than ever, the Councilmust find ways to do more with less, with the economyforcing financial aid and budget shortfalls.

In the coming months, Clifton Merchant will feature in-depth interviews with each candidate.

2006 City CouncilElection Results

*James AnzaldiAntonio LatonaPeter C. EaglerJoseph Cupoli*Gloria J. Kolodziej*Steven Hatala, Jr.Frank C. Fusco

Matthew J. Ward*Stefan Tatarenko Roy NoonburgJoseph W. Chidiac*Edward Welsh*Donald R. Kowal George J. Silva*Frank Gaccione Alam Abdelaziz

3,7033,5833,5773,3973,1363,0373,0292,8871,397

5,9115,6595,5144,7934,4453,8643,786

2010 City Council Election

* incumbent

By Joe Hawrylko

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________________State:_________________________________________

Zip:______________________Phone:_____________________________________________

Email:________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS TO TOMAHAWK PROMOTIONS, 1288 MAIN AVE., CLIFTON, NJ 07011

Have Clifton Merchant Mailed.$27/YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Sorry but due to problems with Bulk Mail Delivery

we no longer offer a $16 rate for Clifton Subscribers.


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Red Chimney Memories: ManyClifton teens like me got their first jobexperience working for Ron Trella atthe Red Chimney on Rt. 3 (now sadlythe Falls View Grill). Ron gave us agreat job where we could eat for free,drink beer in moderation, meet girlsand hang out with our friends—all thewhile getting paid.

At age 19, I was a night managergiven the responsibility for thousands ofdollars, a crew of workers and a streamof customers from Giants Stadium orthe race track. Looking back, that man-agerial experience shaped the future ofmy business career. We had a nickname for the place—the ‘Ginder.’ We developed our own code language toalert co-workers to a good looking girl on the way in.

We used ‘restaurant-speak’ to call our orders from thecounter to the cooks. You learned to add up complexorders in your head—and to not forget the sales tax. Andwe did some crazy stuff there, too.

I remember Tommy White would take all of thefrozen French fries out of the fridge under the counterand then force his whole body into this space. Wewould then send a rookie bus boy to ‘get some fries’and Tommy would pop out of the fridge and scare thekid half to death. And of course, becoming an expert insnapping a towel was the only way to survive goinghome with welts on your arms and thighs.

Tom Lawrence, CHS 1980Asbury Township

My best memories of Ginderville were the pranksplayed on rookie employees. I remember the veteransgiving a bucket to one guy and sending him to thenearby gas station to fetch a bucket of steam, claimingwe ran out. He came back pretty embarrassed.

Another prank almost got me. We had a ‘bottlechute’ in the counter that led down to a garbage can inthe basement to discard of used bottles. Somebody toldme something was stuck in there and to go down andlook up it to see if I could find the problem.

The moment I stuck my head in there, I saw a bucketof water pouring down at me. I pulled back just in timefor it to splatter all over the floor. Those were fun times!

Ted Kalinka, CHS 1980Franklin Park


Ed. Note: Soon the Red Chimney/Falls View Grill may behistory. The developers of the Promenade Shops at Cliftonare negotiating a deal to purchase and raze the structure.

They are not sure where it got the nickname ‘Ginderville’ but the former RedChimney on Route 3 still serves up plenty of memories for those who workedthere. This 1975 postcard, and these comments, came from two of those ‘boys.’

Letters to the

Editor


Wine, food, music, cigars. That’s whatyou’ll enjoy at the 11th AnnualWinemaking Competition presented byCorrado’s on Jan 29 at 6 pm at TheVenetian in Garfield. Hundreds of ama-teur vintners enter their best bottles forreview and recognition. Sample from anendless selection of wine and mangia thenight away. Admission is $89 ticket;reserve a table of 10 at $79 per person.Enter your homemade wine until Jan 20.Call Jimmy Corrado (at right) at 973-340-0848 or go to www.corradosmarket.com.

Joey Barcellona opens the doors of his Bliss Lounge onAllwood Rd. on Friday, Jan. 22 from 4 to 10 pm in abenefit for the members of the Clifton Police Unity Tour.The crew (at left) will ride bicycles from Clifton toWashington, DC on May 9-12 to bring awareness to offi-cer killed in the line of duty and to raise funds for anational monument. There will be raffles, drink specials,prizes and more. Go to blisslounge.net for info.


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Shaun LaGala . . . . . . . . . . .1/1Becca Potocki . . . . . . . . . . .1/1Connie Zangara . . . . . . . . . .1/1Chrissy Cetinich . . . . . . . . . .1/2Matthew Delaney . . . . . . . . .1/2Amanda Esposito . . . . . . . . .1/2Kristin Reilly . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/2Steven Hrina . . . . . . . . . . . .1/3Rosalie Konopinski . . . . . . .1/3Ray Krenc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/3Emily Zawicki . . . . . . . . . . . .1/3Mohamad Bekheet . . . . . . . .1/5Missy Fazio . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/5Alexander Ortiz . . . . . . . . . .1/5Vicky Petrovic . . . . . . . . . . .1/5Jeremy Delaney . . . . . . . . . .1/6Gay Eaclie . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/6Larry Homsany . . . . . . . . . . .1/8Amanda Curtiss . . . . . . . . . .1/9Ariana Hryckowian . . . . . . . .1/9

Joseph Perzely . . . . . . . . . .1/9Fatma Bekheet . . . . . . . . . .1/10Ronald Calo . . . . . . . . . . . .1/10Richie DeMarco . . . . . . . . .1/10Katy Sokolik . . . . . . . . . . . .1/11Nicole Unis . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/11Megan Duffy . . . . . . . . . . . .1/12Daisy Colman . . . . . . . . . . .1/13Joe Musleh . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/14Mark Stuart . . . . . . . . . . . .1/14Kyle Santiago . . . . . . . . . . .1/15Susan Hernandez . . . . . . .1/16Jennifer Montanile . . . . . . .1/16Steve Nikithser, Jr. . . . . . . .1/16Matthew Soprano . . . . . . . .1/16Anna Tatarenko . . . . . . . . .1/17Kim Barilari . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/18Erica Pangilinan . . . . . . . . .1/19Lindsay Dueben . . . . . . . . .1/20Luke Falzo . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/20

Payton Bogatch . . . . . . . . .1/21Douglas Ciallella . . . . . . . .1/21Matthew Gorun . . . . . . . . .1/21Daniel Shackil . . . . . . . . . .1/22Evelyn Montague . . . . . . . .1/23Catherine Coloccia . . . . . . .1/24Greg Collucci . . . . . . . . . . .1/24

Birthdays & Celebrations!send us your dates and names... [email protected]

Happy Birthday toSusan Angello on Jan. 25

Happy Birthday to our nieceCindy Hawrylko on Jan. 22

Steven Katsack had a great first Christmas,reports his babunya, Vera Czyrniansky,

the world famous bartender at the Ukrainian Center in Passaic!


Carlos & Dayana Sotambacelebrated their second anniversary on Dec. 6!

Skyler De Santisturns 5 on Jan. 17

Jamie Mikolajczyk . . . . . . .1/24Larissa Unis . . . . . . . . . . . .1/24Robert Duffy . . . . . . . . . . . .1/25Ashley Gagnon . . . . . . . . .1/25Debbi Koch . . . . . . . . . . . .1/26Michelle Nahass . . . . . . . . .1/26Karen Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/26Gianna Caramucci . . . . . . .1/27Nicholas Grippo . . . . . . . . .1/27Scott Crawford . . . . . . . . . .1/28Patrick Ferrara III . . . . . . . .1/28Robert C. Henn . . . . . . . . .1/28Stephanie Smith . . . . . . . . .1/28Laura Kuruc . . . . . . . . . . . .1/30Sean Sabo . . . . . . . . . . . . .1/30Evangeline Joy Kohler . . . .1/31Jessica Sonn . . . . . . . . . . .1/31

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Donna Chipura celebrates a birthday on Jan. 30,

reports Ken & Miss Molly!


The Fifth Annual CCMS Cut-A-Thon is on Jan 25 at the school media center. If you have a ponytail that is10 inches or longer, you can donate hair so a child undergoing chemotherapy, suffering from alopecia areata,or recuperating from scalp burns can receive a wig and look more like themselves. Stylists from Salon Ilonaon Clifton Ave., will do the free cuts and package the hair, which goes to Locks of Love(www.locksoflove.org). Those donating 10 inches of hair receive a free cut, food, drinks and a gift, courtesyof Leandros, Baskingers, Goldberg’s Bagels, the Yasin family and Barry’s Bagels. Call or email CCMSteacher and coordinator Kim Dreher at [email protected] or 973-769-0500. Pictured above at last June’sevent are stylists holding the locks of School 15 fifth grader Lupa Flores who donated five 24 inch braids. Thepublic can participate but a cutting requires a scheduled reservation, so be sure to call Kim Dreher in advance.

January 2010_cover TEMPLATE 12/29/09 3:12 PM Page 3

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January 2010_cover TEMPLATE 12/29/09 3:12 PM Page 4

Clifton Merchant Magazine - January 2010

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