Clifton Merchant Magazine - January 2016

Clifton Merchant • January 2016 3

January 2016 • Clifton Merchant4

Hanson & Ryan Tops in 2015Silver Winner, Best Agency to Work For

Family Business on the CourtReferees Kevin, Luis and Pastor Torres

FrancesaCon, Made in CliftonMongo Nation, Hazel Section Connected

CHS Students of the MonthThese Five Mustangs Are Celebrated

Table of Contents

What’s Inside?62

68

72

76

78

86

91

Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

© 2016 Tomahawk Promotions

Visit cliftonmagazine.comfor current & past issues

973-253-4400 • [email protected]

Art DirectorKen Peterson

Graphic DesignerAly Ibrahim

Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Editorial InternsAriana Puzzo Madison Molner

1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011

Douglas John Bowen,Jack De Vries, Joe Hawrylko

Irene Jarosewich, April Lewandowski

Contributing Writers

16,000 Magazinesare distributed to hundreds of

Clifton Merchants on the first

Friday of every month.

Subscribe Page 80

$27 / year / $45 for 2

Call 973-253-4400

For Clifton’s Next Century...Medical School to Open in 2017

Looking Forward to 2016Trending Issues in Our Hometown

P&A Now Part of CarQuestAnd the Nation’s Largest Coop MemberOn our cover, and find them in our pages:

Abrar Shahin, Sadie & Tony Sanchez, RayKar, John Fette, Kim Castellano, TaraBrundt, Matt Miazga, Jacqueline Turk,Ken Gensinger. In the sombrero, a staffmember from Clifton City Tavern MexicanCantina, Paul M. Aguggia and Julia Young.

Cliftonmagazine.com


January 2015: Mario Casabona, founder and

CEO of TechLaunch, seen on our cover, dis-

cussed how his Clifton firm invests in high tech

start ups and transform them into successful

enterprises. Among the items in our Project

Watch 2015, we told of plans to “Break the

Bottleneck” where Routes 46 West and 3 West

merge (and traffic sometimes collides) in less-

than-optimal order. We profiled the 33-year law

enforcement career of Passaic County Sheriff

Richard Berdnik (CHS 1978), and visited with

Seifullah Ali Shabazz, readying the 20th

Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Jazz Festival

which calls Clifton home.

“Location and availability ofclasses made it the best choice.I took classes at night so I could

keep working my day job.”

“The life of Dr. King is a goodcause to celebrate. People too oftenforget about the trials of Dr. Kingand the civil rights movement.”

- Matt Malaszuk,Hohokus School Student

- Seifullah Ali Shabazz,Concert Promoter

Five Mustangs advanced in the NJWrestling Tournament at West Milford High

School on Jan. 25. (Then) Junior Moe Farhan

took home a second-straight individual crown

and Clifton took fourth place. In 2016, the

Mustangs are one of the top teams in the

region. Farhan (145, 43-2, district and

regional champ) lost in the 2015 state

138 pound semifinals in AC to Kyle

Bierdumpfel of Don Bosco, 1-0. Others

include seniors Patrick DePasque (160)

and Tiberius Rizea (170), juniors

Anthony Tudda (126), James Murdoch

(132), Sean Yadimarco (152), Jacob Abill (285)

and sophomore Matthew DePasque (113).

In March, 2015, James Murdoch, Kareem Askew, Coach Dan Geleta, Patrick DePasque and Moe Farhan.

Bowling icon Chuck Pezzano passed away at the age of

86 on Jan. 23. Besides being a maverick on the lanes,

Pezzano dedicated himself to developing the sport and

the community around it. The longtime Albion resident

wrote articles for more than 100 publications, authored a

dozen books and wrote thousands of newspaper columns

about the sport and the people. Pezzano had four sons:

Chuck, Craig, Curt, and Clay, all of whom have rolled

300-point games. Sadly, on Aug. 10, his son Craig died

at the age of 57.

Christopher Columbus Middle School celebratedtheir progress as CHAMPS. A behavior support pro-

gram, CHAMPS works on a reward system that is trig-

gered when students are seen acting on school rules that

are posted throughout the building. Students receive

raffle tickets when noted for observing the rules and

winners are given the opportunity to receive a prize.

CCMS featured a multitude of CHAMPS activities

leading up to its 100th day of school milestone.

CCMS Principal Russell Petrocelli resigned in

January after two and a half years as principal.

Petrocelli was the fifth principal placed in CCMS since

2008. Parents have voiced their concerns about the

administrative instability at CCMS. Additionally, dis-

trict administration officials have tried to find an edu-

cator who is interested in maintaining the position for

the long-term. When asked about the fate of the

school’s CHAMPS program, Petrocelli said it is here to

stay. Petrocelli’s resignation took effect on March 15.

Clifton has held a “green” initiative for severaldecades with programs dating back to the mid-70s and

early 80s. The Board of Education adopted a resolution

to register the district for Sustainable New Jersey on

Jan. 20. Currently, 25 districts and 33 schools are reg-

istered with the program. The initiative will reduce

operating costs and free up money for the classroom as

it promotes the purchase of locally grown foods, school

gardens and an indoor air quality review.

We profiled Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnick and published a tribute to singer and proud Cliftonite FrankieRandall who died on Dec. 28, 2014. On Jan. 3, CHS Senior basketball player Kelly Douglas joined the 1,000 point club.The late Chuck Pezzano, a Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer. Ken Gensinger, Jr. and John Fette of the twoautomotive dealerships which bear their family names, discussed construction plans for Routes 3 and 46.

Last January, we reported that plans were in the making to create a brew pub or microbrewery at 1296 Van Houten Ave.Once home to Yakety Yak Cafe, then Charlie Browns and a Grimaldi’s Restaurant (at left) before going vacant for a abouta year, construction is now fully underway as developers and brothers Dean and Thomas Maroulakos said they expect thespot to open in late 2016. The two are experienced brew masters who also own Cowan’s Public on Centre Street in Nutley.


January 2015 in Review

Clifton Police and Fire added nine

new officers and firefighters. The

six officers, all of whom have mili-

tary experience, and three firefight-

ers, were sworn in on Jan. 21 in

separate ceremonies at city hall.

The new public safety officers did

not add to the table of organization,

but replaced those who had retired.

Seton Hall University andHackensack University MedicalCenter announced on Jan. 15 that

they had partnered up to turn the for-

mer Hoffman-La Roche campus

into the first New Jersey private

medical school built in 50 years.

The new grounds are expected to

open in 2017.

Governor Chris Christie declared a

state of emergency and travel ban on

Jan. 26. Residents stocked up on

food, salt, and gas in preparation for

the major blizzard that was sup-

posed to bury Clifton under two feet

of snow. But the blizzard never

came. New Jersey public schools

wasted a snow-day and freshly-

stocked salt barn was half-emptied.

Meteorologist Gary Szatkowski of

the National Weather Service in Mt.

Holly issued an apology on behalf

of the faulty weather reading.

Pictured above are some of the Mustang models who walked the runway forthe CHS Prom Fashion show to benefit the 2015 Project Graduation. Includedare CHS seniors Tayler Szabo, Kevin Lord, Rachel Plaskon, Matt Ferko,Karleigh Davila, Zoe Zschack, Alexia Maldonado.

Driscoll Foods announced plans to leave its 174 Delawanna

Ave. facility and move to a larger warehouse in Wayne. Driscoll,

which began in 1971 with one truck traveling within a 120-mile

radius of Clifton to stock restaurants, diners and schools, plans to

complete the move in the early part of 2017.

JEI Learning Center opened at 116 Market St. on Jan. 17. The

center’s purpose is to provide children with a high quality supple-

mentary education to ensure that all children can achieve academ-

ic success. JEI holds five programs, including Math, Reading &

Writing, Brain Safari, English and Problem Solving Math.

At the Jan. 2 organization of the Clifton City Council, from left, Peter Eagler,Joe Kolodziej, Mayor James Anzaldi, Lauren Murphy, Steve Hatala and BillGibson. Matt Grabowski was also elected for a second term but could notattend the ceremony due to illness.


January 2015 in Review

February 2015: Cupid

and serendipity com-

bined to bring Cemal

and Jacqueline Turk

together with a pizza

delivered to the wrong address. The result:

marriage (with three ceremonies!) and a

life together in Clifton. An altogether dif-

ferent love story chronicled the lives of

Sadie and Tony Sanchez, who tied the

knot after two decades of getting to know

you. Notching 60 years of wedded bliss:

the late Jim Haraka and Rita (Pascrell),

both CHS ’50. Also on the cover: Ashley

Parsons an online match maker.


Pictured from top left:Deborah and AnthonyGretina on their wed-ding day in 1980; to

their right is their eldestdaughter Ashley and

son-in-law Cristian withgrandaughter CatalinaMaurine Reyes; Jim andLaura Nicosia on theirwedding day with theirdaughter Jessica; Sadieand Tony Sanchez; Ritaand Jim Haraka, and Laura and Jim Louer.

Lights, Action and Relay for aCure was the theme on Feb. 7 as

teams dressed up and met at the

Senior Citizen Center to whip up

enthusiasm for the American Cancer

Society’s Relay for Life scheduled

for May 30. Guests were greeted by

Chair Kristen Hariton as Joanne

Bujnowski shared her story as a can-

cer survivor.

With the February dismissal ofhead coach Steve Covello and

staff, Clifton football was once

again at a turning point. The

Mustangs, coming off a 1-9 season,

their worst since 1999 (and one of

the worst in the school’s history),

will usher in a new era and the new

coach will have the difficult task of

turning around a team that was

largely non-competitive in 2014

(losing by approximately 27 points

per game).

Michael J. Evans was appointed a

Board of Education Commissioner

on Feb. 11. He’ll serve through the

end of the year to fill the seat held by

Wayne Demikoff who resigned in

Dec. 2014. Evans is a family matters

attorney. His wife, Theresa Evans, is

the principal of School 11. The cou-

ple have two children attending city

elementary schools

Route 46 was closed during themorning rush on Feb. 6 following

two explosions at AGL Welding

Supply at 600 Route 46. Delays

spread to the Garden State Parkway

near Exit 147. NJ Transit trains

were also halted in both directions

as a precaution. Clifton firefighters

arrived quickly to battle the three-

alarm blaze, which injured three

AGL employees, with one, Roberto

Silva, suffering severe burns. The

building's sprinkler system kept the

fire in check, Clifton Fire Chief

Vincent Colvatti Jr. said.

Governor Chris Christie appoint-ed Joseph Scancarella, 1955 CHS

grad and retired NJ Superior Court

judge, to be chair of the State

Commission of Investigation, an

independent agency that reports to

the legislature on matters of crime,

waste and corruption. Scancarella

served on the bench for 21 years.

Six Mustangs signed their letters to attend various colleges on Feb. 13. Fromleft top, Lady Mustangs Coach Konrad Kruczek with Nicole Rzekiec (MSU,Athletic Trainer); Meghan Sekanics (MSU, Communications); MarisaJaramilo (Iona College, Biology); Mark Glodova, (Rutgers Newark, PhysicalTherapy); Brian Pariona, (Berkeley College, Criminology); Lenny Contreras,(Berkeley College, Criminology), and Boys Coach Stan Lembryk.

Steve Covello, Michael J. Evans.


February 2015 in Review

CHS Sophomore Gabby Pangaromade it to the 2015 NJSIAA Girls

Bowling Individual Tournament at

Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick

on Feb. 18. Her scores were 194,

192, and 175 at Carolier. Then the

CHS girls’ bowling team finished

off the season with a 12-2 record.

Cliftonites Joseph Picciano andJames Parisi were two of the 140

athletes who participated in the NJ

Special Olympics regional bowling

competition for Passaic County

teams held in Wayne on Feb. 1.

Vincent Morris and his pool cuedazzled onlookers at CliftonBilliards in Downtown Clifton,

with an undefeated run culminating

in his being named winner of the

Tri-State Tour on Feb. 15 with an

undefeated run through a field of

23 players. Clifton Billiards was

Stop 27 on the 2014-2015 tour.

Edward Dexter received hisWorld War II Purple Heart and

other service medals 70 years after

the end of the war in Congressman

Bill Pascrell’s office on Feb. 24.

Dexter dropped out of CHS in 1942

and went to Paterson to enlist in the

Marines Corps at the age of 17. The

lifelong Cliftonite stormed South

Pacific beaches and Japanese

strongholds. He eventually came to

learn that the military had lost his

records. With some digging by

Pascrell’s Veteran Advocate Nancy

Everett, they were able to locate the

facts of Dexter’s war time record.

The result: the now 90-years-old

received the honors and medals he

had earned on the sands of the

South Pacific seven decades ago.

The City Council on Feb. 3approved the purchase of two

city-owned properties in Botany

Village by nonprofit entities. The

Council vote gave Community

Options Inc. and Start Easy Eagle

Development (SEED) Corp. the go-

ahead to redevelop the sites, one on

Arthur St. and the second on Lake

Ave., (pictured above on our cover

in Sept. 2008) as low and moder-

ate-income housing, to help Clifton

comply with Council on Affordable

Housing (COAH) obligations.

Matt Grabowski died on Feb. 25. The second term

Councilman was ill for about a year and a half with liver

cancer. Despite his prognosis, Grabowski, age 53,

worked hard at keeping all aspects of his life running

smoothly. In addition to his role on the City Council, he

was also a Coldwell Banker realtor, president of the

Athenia Business Association and lead singer of

Swingman and the Misfit-Mutts Band. Flags in the city

were lowered to half mast for 30 days in his honor. At

the end of that period, the other six City Council mem-

bers will choose an individual to fill the vacant seat.

Lolita Cruz and James A. Cavanaugh were honored at the 61st GiblinAssociation Cocktail Party on Feb. 22. They are pictured at center with ChairNadia N. Moses (left) and Tom Giblin. Founded by the late State Senator JohnGiblin in 1954, the Giblin Association supports civic, cultural and communityorganizations throughout the state. The standard-bearer of the GiblinAssociation is John’s son, Clifton’s Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin, also thePresident of the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council, AFL-CIO.


February 2015 in Review

March 2015:A bevy of A+ teachers graced our

March issue as former students — some of

them now teachers themselves — recalled with

gratitude the impact educators had on their

lives. Several teachers, in turn, recalled their

own trials and triumphs, as well as some

humorous moments in the classroom. We also

met former Cliftonite Father Steve Shafran

now a Ukrainian Catholic priest. Marking its

centennial, Immaculate Conception High

School, celebrated its role empowering women

from Clifton and beyond through college-prep

education and adherence to traditions.

Some of the teachers who were celebrated or the stu-dents who commented in our March edition from topleft: Bob Zschak, Gale Motaski, Fr. Steve Shafran,Kevin Ashworth, Sue Ellen Lian, Tony Orlando, ThomasP. DeVita, Diana McKenna, Mike Rogers, BeatriceRybak-Petrolle, Dean De Ghetto, Jean Czerniecki.


The teachers we remember are the teachers thatcare. Care not only about the subject they teach, but

care about us. That’s what Paul Lechthaler remem-

bers most about his Passaic High School English

teacher and Clifton resident Gale Motaski—or

Momma Mo as she was known to the students.

“She was strict but always fair. She took no guff,”

said Lechthaler, who grew in Dutch Hill but on the

Passaic side, making him an Indian. “Her lessons

were not just about English, but also about life.”

Our cover story about John Luciano, CHS 1985,

and Janice DeLorenzo is similar— in short, how one

teacher can change a kid’s world. ‘Miss D’ was in her

second year of teaching when they met.

Miss D could see that Luciano wasn’t a bad kid—

but a kid that came from bad circumstances. When

another teacher spoke negatively about Luciano, Miss

D wouldn’t tolerate it. Luciano never forgot that

advocacy and that is why for the last 30 years he has

roses delivered on Valentine’s Day to his favorite

teacher, the one that changed his world.

Opened in 1915 by the FelicianSisters, the all-girls Immaculate

Conception High School marked its

centennial in 2015. Clifton girls

(and their moms) who attended the

Lodi school were interviewed and

spoke of how an ICHS education

emphasizes core values, communi-

ty service, respect for human digni-

ty and personal growth.

Recreation Director DebbieOliver purchased Fort Lee’s aban-

doned skate park equipment on

March 17 for $65,000 to resurrect

Weasel Brook Park’s Skate Park.

Mayor Anzaldi commended Oliver

for her frugal buy as Fort Lee paid

$169,000 for the half-pipes, spine

transfers, handrails, stairsets, and

other items when they were new.

Inspired by Nature was the name

of the March exhibit at the Clifton

Arts Center. Presented by members

of the Clifton Association of Artists

or CAA, the goal was to illustrate

nature’s beauty can influence and

inspire most anyone to be an artist.

In Celebration of Spring, a pro-

gram of live jazz and art at the

Clifton Arts Center on March 15.

Mike Luipersbeck, a retired Clifton

police detective and jazz drummer,

pianist Peter Greco and bassist Ron

Naspo performed selections from

the Great American Songbook,

jazz, and Broadway. Located at 900

Clifton Ave., on the campus of the

municipal complex, patrons also

viewed original works by members

of the CAA and funds raised bene-

fited the Clifton Arts Center.

Clifton Recreation’s family bowling night at Garden Palace Lanes was onMarch 13. About 80 residents took over the alley for the night, participatingin laser light bowling, funky bowling, crafts, word search puzzles, coloringwhile enjoying pizza, soda and lots of candy.

Clifton’s Gina Zegler graduated Immaculate Conception HS in 1988 and her daughter Jacqueline will do the same in2016. Clifton’s IHOP served up free pancakes on March 3 as part of the National Pancake Day promotion to benefitChildren’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Get over to Allwood Rd. (with an empty belly!) on March 8 for the 2016 event.


March 2015 in Review

April 2015: Clifton’s 98th birthday on April

26 prompted a look back, and one inward,

as we chronicled the Nostalgia and History

of the city. Stretching back beyond Clifton’s

official incorporation in 1917, we offered a

timeline that began with the Lenni Lenape

and the Dutch settlers. Using illustrations

and some great facts, we worked our way up

to the April 14, 1926 dedication of Clifton

High School (now CCMS) on Piaget Ave.

FairylandAmusement Park

More than 110 years ago, Clifton (then

Acquackanonk) was home to one of the nation’s first

amusement parks. Fairyland Amusement Park was

located where the Garden State Parkway crosses over

Main Ave., near where Corrado’s stands today,

opened its doors for the first time on May 27, 1905.

This postcard was provided by Passaic Historian Mark

S. Auerbach, while our April cover included images of

Washington Rock on Garret Mountain, the Doherty

Oval, home of the Silk Sox from 1916 to 1927, and a

sculpture by Seward Johnson titled Keeping Up which

stood outside city hall from 2010 to 2013.


April 2015 in Review


Dr. Steven Gronowitz, MD, Dr. Matthew Grossman, MD,

Dr. Howard B. Baum, MD, Dr. Boris Reydel, MD

Dr. Andrew Boxer, MD, Dr. Natan Krohn, MD,

Dr. Bharat Dasani, MD, Dr. Janardhan Bollu, MD

Welcome Dr. Mathew Grossman to PremierColorectalCancer...

is the most

Preventable, Treatable & Beatable Cancer

if you...

Take Control& Act Early

If you’re age 50 or older,GET TESTED TODAY.


Jonathan Bender believed that the Clifton Masonic Lodge (some mem-

bers are pictured below) could take some risks as it approached 100 years

and maybe do things a bit differently. As the youngest Master in the histo-

ry of the lodge, he decided to try a more contemporary approach and hold

fundraisers that included all residents of Clifton, not just lodge members.

And so was born the Clifton Masonic Lodge First Annual Clifton Pizza

Contest, which was held on April 18 at the lodge’s building on Van Houten

Ave. Fourteen pizzerias from across the city brought their signature pies to

win over the discerning palettes of Clifton’s pizza-loving residents.

Among the highlights were Chicken Marsala Pizza (Julian’s Restaurant),

Eggplant Parm Pizza (Scotto’s Pizza), Bacon Pizza, aka “Family Favorite”

(Barilari’s Restaraunt) and the Grandma Pie (Angelo’s Pizzeria). However,

Ameti’s Pizza (that’s Pizza Man Sherif Ameti with Liz above) took the prize

with their signature Buffalo Chicken and Ranch Pizza. Angelo’s and Bruno’s

Pizza received second and third spots respectively.

The 2015 Clifton High SchoolFine Art Show, titled Juxtaposed,held at the Clifton Arts Center,celebrated diversity in art, includ-ing various styles, concepts,media, subject matter and designs.Teacher and curator KatherineKarcz said the theme recognizedthe diversity in culture, languageand religion found in Clifton, the11th largest municipality in thestate, as well as the school, whichwith more than 3,300 pupils, hasthe largest student body in a sin-gle facility among high schools inNew Jersey. The exhibit was upfrom April 8 to 25.



njarthritiscenter.comMichael P. Lewko, MD, FACR, AGSF with Irina Raklyar, MD, FACR

Arthritis • Rheumatism • OsteoporosisRheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Lupus

NJ ArthritisOsteoporosis & Center

Michael P. Lewko, MD LLC

973-405-5163

871 Allwood Rd., Clifton

We proudly speak English,Ukrainian, Polish, Spanishand Russian.



76 Boys & Girls Club Seahawksswam their way to a second place

title in the 2015 National Swimming

Championship in Florida, April 10 -

12. The Seahawks earned the team

spirit award but one swimmer who

stood out among the rest was Mya

Vargas. The 10-year-old Vargas took

first place in 10 events in the nation-

al competition: freestyle, back-

stroke, butterfly events and relays.

A four-alarm fire early April 16destroyed one house at 113 E. 6th

St., a two-family home, and heavily

damaged a neighboring home at

115 E. 6th, including the collapse of

an attic roof, according to Clifton

Fire Chief Vincent Colavitti.

With $10 million in upgrades, the

former GlaxoSmithKline manufac-

turing plant at 65 Industrial St., has

been transformed into a new single-

tenant industrial building. The mid

April announcement by Tulfra Real

Estate said work at the site includes

raising the roof of the 202,000

square-foot building to 27 feet, from

15 feet. The move would facilitate

28,000 square feet of new office

space. New lighting, sprinklers,

mechanical and electrical systems,

and a new exterior were also planned

for the 11-acre facility. Tulfra Real

Estate said the revamped property

would be “extremely functional and

appealing. There is very little com-

petition in the market for facilities in

that size range, and no space like it

currently available in the

Meadowlands market.” For decades,

GSK employed nearly 300 employ-

ees who manufactured and pack-

aged AquaFresh toothpaste here in

Clifton before the product shipped

to Japan, Canada and Europe.

New Jersey Micro ElectronicTesting Inc. (NJ MET) registered

as a corporate sponsor to aid the

American Red Cross during fiscal

year 2015. NJ MET Director Joseph

Federico said the goal was to help

military members and their fami-

lies, saying “a portion of proceeds

from testing and procurement proj-

ects will be presented to the

American Red Cross on Dec. 31,

2015.” Located on 1240 Main Ave.,

NJ MET conducts quality electron-

ic component screening and qualifi-

cation testing for commercial mili-

tary, aerospace, industrial, automo-

tive, and medical fields. The family

owned firm has been in Downtown

Clifton for decades.

Parents opposed to uniforms forelementary school children planned

to protest a May 18 presentation at

CHS. A subcommittee of the Board

said uniforms would allow students

to focus on their classes instead of

their clothes and reduce bullying.

The presentation included the

results of a survey given to elemen-

tary school parents, in which 78% of

parents answered ‘Yes’ to the state-

ment: ‘The Clifton School District

should adopt a Uniform Dress Code

Policy.’ The Board made attempts to

mandate uniforms in 2009 and

2012. On Sept. 25 the Board

approved a motion to disband the

uniform subcommittee, effectively

defeating the proposal.

The kids at Rainbow Montessori of Clifton had fun on April 17 in their

annual Hop-A-Thon to raise money for an organization called Healing the

Children, a non-profit that helps provide medical care to children all over

the world. The owners of Clifton’s Rainbow on Varretoni Pl. in Botany,

Jackie Alectoridis and Jane Maffucci, have been doing this fundraiser for

more than 25 years. They are both host parents for Healing the Children

and allow host families to attend the school while they are here tuition free.

This year Carlos from the Dominican Republic returned to once again live

with the Alectoridis family while he is fitted with prosthetic legs.

May 2015: Publishing the names of over 300

Cliftonites killed during the five recent wars

our nation has fought is a May tradition for

this magazine. It keeps their memories eter-

nal and shows appreciation to their friends

and families. Our cover also reminded read-

ers to visit the Avenue of Flags which deco-

rates the grounds of the city hall campus.

Also pictured is New Jersey’s Bugler, Robert

Krupinski, who plays the solemn final salute

of Taps for many vets. We also shared the

courageous story of how 18-year-old PFC

Robert Kruger gave his life so that his broth-

er Marines could live to fight another day.

From when he joined the Navy in 1973to his retirement as Clifton FireChief in 2010, the colorfullife of Joe Verderosa wasa good story toshare. While therewere many lessonalong life’s path,the stuff thatshaped him mostwas the hardwork hefound in theboiler roomof the USS Fox, aguided missile cruiser.

Pvt. Michael J. Columbus was the 308th name

to be inscribed on the War Monument in Main

Memorial Park. The family of Columbus, who

had served in WWII with the US Army’s 80th

Infantry Division, 317th Infantry Regiment, con-

tacted the Clifton Veterans Alliance after they

learned details of the late serviceman’s death. He

was officially declared dead on Sept. 27, 1944,

and is buried in the Lorraine American

Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France. He and other

Americans who died in service during war are

remembered across America at monuments, in

cemeteries and during solemn services dedicated

to our Fallen Veterans.


Michael Tarlavsky, killed in Iraq on Aug. 12, 2004; Sgt. George McClelland, killed in Vietnamon Feb. 25, 1968; Joseph Sperling, killed in WWII on Dec. 7, 1941; Bohdan Kowal, killed inVietnam on April 8, 1967; Robert Kruger, killed in Vietnam on May 3, 1967.

MAY 2015 in Review

From the solemn moments to the more carefree andenjoyable times, Clifton’s Relay for Life was held onMay 30 on the grounds of CHS. The goal of the 11thannual event was to celebrate the lives of survivors ofcancer and remember those who lost the battle. Some$62,000 was also raised for ongoing research by theAmerican Cancer Society to find a cure.

The 10th Locks of Love event at CCMS on May 18

was another success run by teacher Kim Dreher and

many others. Some 4,414 inches of hair were collected

and provided to the national organization which creates

wigs for children with illnesses. For those that want to

participate in the 2016 event, set the date of May 23.

Van Houten Lanes posted final scores and closed forgood on May 22. The 16-lane center was at 564 Van

Houten Ave. for 80 years. Numerous county tourna-

ments, bar tabs and league nights were enjoyed at the

alley. Bowling centers in New Jersey have declined

over the past 15 years from nearly 300 in operation to

about only 70 remaining. Patrons took to social media

to pay their respects and bemoan the loss.

745 Clifton students opted-out of 2015 PARCC testing,6.7 percent of students. This percentage meant that the

district did not meet the required 95 percent participation

rate under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). PARCC test-

ing has met with opposition from numerous parents over

the past year who question the value of the testing for

their child. However, falling below the required percent-

age could impact federal funding for the district.

The Wellness Resource Fair held on May 2 at the CliftonBoys & Girls Club attracted many providers such as ErikaCalvi, Director of Intensive Family Support Services, andRaja Salloum, Arab American Mental Health Clinician,from the Mental Health Association in Passaic County.

Clifton’s football head coaching vacancy was filledin May as long-time assistant coach Ralph Cinque

was confirmed as the 20th coach of the Mustangs.

Cinque, a CHS class of 1993 graduate, was a stand-

out running back for the Mustangs and joined Chet

Parlavecchio’s coaching staff in 2001. A Phys Ed

teacher at CHS, he remained continuously on the

Clifton staff through the coaching tenures of Ron

Anello and Steve Covello.


Joseph M. Shook, Sr., Founder1924 - 2008

Nancy Shook Garretson, PresidentNJ Lic. No. 3657

Roy B. Garretson, ManagerNJ Lic. No. 3550

Thomas J. Garretson, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4988

Kevin V. White, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4964

Shook Funeral Home remains an elegantfacility with three spacious chapels, acomfortable lounge and ample parking.Serving all faiths, Shook Funeral Homespecializes in pre-need and at-need funeralarrangements, cremation services andmemorial gatherings for all of NorthernNew Jersey. A funeral director is available24 hours a day, 365 days a year to answerany questions or requests for service.

Allow the Shook andGarretson families to honoryour loved one with respect

and dignity by calling

973-471-9620in your time of need.

www.shookfh.com


MAY 2015 in Review

On May 30, the 10th anniversary of the passing of

Stephen J. Menconi (above with daughter Annamaria in

May 2003), the Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra dedicat-

ed a performance of the Madonna del Sacro Monte Feastat Holy Face Monastery. “We remember fondly, the timeMr. Menconi dedicated to doing sound engineering forour orchestral performances, and we know how much heenjoyed the music,” said Kristine Massari, orchestrapresident. His daughter Annamaria has been a member ofthe orchestra since 1998, and plays mandola.


corner of Clifton & Getty Avenues

973-365-1267General Dentistry

Periodontal Care

Dentures Implants

Crowns

A Trusted Name inFamily Dentistry for

60 Years

St. Andrew the Apostle Gala and Awards was held at

the Brownstone on May 12. The fifth annual event

raises funds and honors individuals and organizations

for their community contributions. Pictured above

from left are Officers of the Knights of Columbus

Regina Mundi No. 3696: former Grand Knights Marty

Neville and Peter Kueken, current Deputy Grand

Knight Robert Bolletino and Outside Guard Ray

Cramer. The group, which has served Clifton since

1955, was honored for their advocacy of the Church.

Sister Regina Avard was recognized as the 2015

Distinguished Person—she is one of the five nuns who

opened the parish school on Mt. Prospect Ave. in 1953.

Clifton’s Rec Director Debbie Oliver was honored as a

leader who helps Cliftonites lead healthier and happier

lives through play!

June 2015: Which of these graduates on our

cover will be a physician or police officer?

Who among them will go on to great

achievements in college... or blossom later

in life? Our annual graduation edition cele-

brates the hopes and dreams, memories and

achievements of our city’s graduates.

Including seniors from CHS and local pri-

vate high schools, we survey the students,

write their stories and publish their photos.

The result is some 90 pages of kids telling

us about accomplishments during their first

12 years of education and their plans as they

embark on the next stage of their lives.

The annual Torch Run for Special Olympics NewJersey traversed Main Ave. on June 12 on its way to

Princeton for the annual competition. The photo above

was taken at the corner of Main and Washington Aves.,

where Clifton’s police officers who ran and carried the

torch, as well as those who escorted the runners on

motorcycles, met with Clifton’s Special Olympic team

members. Events such as the Torch Run are conducted

to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics

CHS Class of 2015 returned to Clifton Stadium for

commencement on June 26. Graduation in 2014 was

held at the Izod Center while re-construction at the stadi-

um was completed. Future grads will now enjoy the

fresh air—and no geese guava—as renovations included

an expansion of the field and the placement of synthetic

turf. Once Canadian Geese swam around Racy’s Pond

and fed on the natural grass on Joe Grecco Field—but

now the synthetic turf does nothing for them.


in Review

Nick Romanak was named the

2015 Passaic County Volleyball

Coach of the Year. He started as an

assistant to older brother Corey at

Bridgewater-Raritan and became

Clifton’s head coach in 2013.

St. Clare RC School closed on

June 30. Enrollment numbers for

the Allwood Rd. Catholic elemen-

tary school declined and subsidies

given by St. Clare Parish did not

eliminate the school’s growing

debt. Patrick Peace, director of the

Catholic Academy of Passaic

County, delivered the bad news at a

staff meeting on May 29.

Clifton’s Andrew Tatarenko was

promoted to borough administrator

in the Bergen County town of

Waldwick on June 9. Tatarenko,

whose appointment was supported

by Waldwick’s mayor and council,

has worked as the assistant borough

administrator since January, 2013.

Aside from his work as the grants

administrator, Tatarenko possesses

a background in public administra-

tion. Prior to working in Waldwick,

he served as the deputy city clerk

for Clifton for three years.

Former Governor Richard J.Codey was the speaker for the 30th

celebration of the Mental Health

Association in Passaic County on

June 10. MHAPC, as it is known, is

headquartered on Clifton Ave., and

provides mental health services for

those impacted by mental illness

with counseling, support services,

education and advocacy.

Judge Scott Bennion served

Clifton for 25 years. However,

Gov. Christie nominated Bennion

as a NJ Superior Court Judge the

week of June 14. Bennion, a life-

long resident, became Clifton’s

first legal assistant and served as

the city’s only municipal court

judge since 2001. Christie also

nominated Clifton attorney Vicki

Anne Citrino for a judgeship as

well. The appointments of Bennion

and Citrino were confirmed by the

NJ Senate on June 22.

CHS Senior Abrar Shahin wasvoted “Best Dressed” by theClass of 2015, inspired by herfashion sense tailored by herreligious beliefs. Shahin, 18, aMuslim, wears a hijab overher head, but said modestydoesn't have to be boring, anddeveloping a style shedescribed as "simple yet fun."

JUNE 2015

There could be a lot of swagger from these kids, but they are all down to earth.From conversations and emails with them, it is clear that the CHS 2015 Top10 played well and worked equally hard to academically excel, rising abovemore than 700 classmates. Four will attend Ivy League colleges and all arereceiving hefty academic scholarships, which should make their parentsextremely proud and extremely happy.


Directors Jackie Licata-Alectoridis & Jane Maffucci

The Montessori Method“Whoever touches the life of thechild touches the most sensitive

point of a whole, which has roots inthe most distant past and climbs

toward the infinite future.”

-Dr. Maria Montessori

22 Varettoni Pl., Clifton • 973-772-2330

1293 Broad St., Bloomfield • 973-338-8300

rainbowmontessori.com

Infants • Pre-School • Kindergarten • Full Day & Half Day


JUNE 2015 in Review

Clifton’s Liz Taranda was chosenas Purina’s 2015 Volunteer of theYear. As a member of the Friends of

the Shelter, the all-volunteer group

who help care for and find homes

for the cats and dogs housed at the

Clifton Animal Shelter, the group

received $25,000 in services to build

better lives for the animals.

The front office, new floors, new

windows and an improved visitation

area were just some of the changes

made at the shelter on the city hall

campus. “This gives adopters a bet-

ter experience and hopefully will

help the animals find more homes,”

explained Taranda. “Every animal

adopted from the shelter has seen a

vet, is up to date on vaccines and

spayed and neutered. This is a good

time to remind everyone to spay and

neuter your pets,” she added.

Despite the gift from Purina,

donations of food, bedding or cash

are ongoing, added Taranda. “They

can be done online, in person or via

the shelter’s Amazon Wish List.

Every penny donated goes to the

adorable faces of those animals in

need of a new home.” Learn more

about the services and see pets to

adopt at cliftonanimalshelter.com or

call 973-470-5936. The shelter is

open Monday to Friday from 6:30 to

8 pm, Sunday from noon to 4 pm.

CHS Senior Olivia Rosenberg (with Brian Torres) was among the recipients of the 2015 Fred Torres MemorialScholarships. Some volunteers at the Clifton Animal Shelter, from back left: Kelli Buckalew, Liz Taranda, Nancy Comito,Linda Gimon, Anna Proszowski. Seated: Rebecca DeSimone, Pam Sinatra, Michelle Cupo, Andy Bove.

A landmark since its founding in1965 by Ed Sudol (at center withtie), Colonial Pharmacy marked

its service milestone this past yearwith a some fanfare (just a banneractually) and this photo. Fromleft: owners Walter Diduch andWalter Voinov, his son Alex, andlong time pharmacist Clint Spaar.

36 January 2016 • Clifton Merchant

Jimmy Sturr returned to Passaic’s Third Ward Park onJuly 30 for his annual free concert. He is pictured at cen-ter with Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik and GregKomeshok. The former Passaic High Athletic Directo isthe producer of the show and its chief fundraiser.

Center stage for Music. The (former Garfield)

Cadets hosted a July 5 Drum Corps International

competition at Clifton Stadium. On July 11, the

Hawthorne Caballeros’ 51st Annual Grand Prix took

the field and presented eight drum and bugle corps in

competition and another six in exhibition. In 2016,

the Cabs, sponsored by American Legion Post 199 in

Hawthorne, will be in their 70th season of competi-

tion and are expected to return to Clifton. On Sunday

evenings in Main Memorial Park, the weekly concert

series opened on July 12 with Joey Arminio and the

Family, followed by the Clifton Community Band on

July 19 and Swingman and the Misfit-Mutts Band on

July 26. The series ran through Aug. 30.


July 2015: Look back at the year you gradu-

ated high school. Do you wonder what hap-

pened to your sweetheart? How about the big

jock or that quiet and kind kid who no one

really knew? That is what we do every July...

we track down Mustangs near and far, going

back in 10 year increments. The goal is tofind

out what these “kids” are up to today. So if

you graduated CHS in 2006, 1996, 1986,

1976, 1966, 1956 or 1946, contact us!


JULY 2015 in Review

July was a busy month for Tara Brundt and her husbandTom. At right, Cupcake Wars TV veteran and genreinnovator Johnny ‘Mr. Cupcakes’ Manganiotis and hisdad John ran a charity car show on July 26. Their sec-ond annual event raised funds for Jason & Justin’sJourney. Learn more at jasonandjustinsjourneyx2.com.

Top left, class of 2005: Tom Hawrylko, Jessica Russell, Joseph

Musleh; class of 1995: Rachel Deutsch, Michael Daniel Doktor,Mary Foukas; class of 1985: William Mocek, Theresa Najjar,Michael Skala; class of 1975: Barbara Larosa, Robert Genuardi;class of 1965: Cecilia Zwiazek, Joseph Spinosa: class of 1955:Joan Janowicz, Edward Szott; class of 1945: Dolores Fette,Harold “Mickey” McFadden.

Tara Brunt was named principal of St. Mary’s HighSchool in early July. The Clifton native has degrees in

education and education administration from Kean

Montclair State universities and nearly four decades of

experience in secondary education. Shas worked with

the Newark Archdiocese and Paterson Diocese and her

former positions include director of development at the

Academy of the Holy Angels and serving as principal

at the Academy of St. Aloysius.

Thomas Brunt was named Clifton Municipal Judgein a unanimous vote by the City Council on July 7.

Brunt is a familiar face in the Clifton court, serving as

the city’s prosecutor since 2008. Additionally, he

worked as a public defender, and subsequently as a

prosecutor, in Haledon. Brunt’s former position as

Clifton’s Prosecutor was to be filled by a prosecutor

from any of the surrounding towns until the the city

determined a formal successor.


JULY 2015 in Review

In a literal poetic twist of history, a

headstone was placed on the previ-

ously unmarked grave of Thaddeus

Marshall in East Ridgelawn

Cemetery on July 18. Marshall, who

lived on Elm St. in Rutherford, was

an elderly African-American man and

the muse for William Carlos

Williams’ poem, The RedWheelbarrow. Williams’ 16-word

poem features Marshall’s wheelbar-

row and white chickens. Williams, a

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, was also

an obstetrician at Passaic General

Hospital (now St. Mary’s Hospital in

Passaic) for more than 40 years. He

delivered an estimated 3,000 babies

from 1912 to 1955. The Meadowlands Museum in

Rutherford chose to honor Williams by hosting a reception

for his grown-up “babies” on July 29. Additionally, the

museum loaned medical equipment for the event from the

practices of Williams and his son, pediatrician William

Eric Williams.

Former Passaic Mayor Margie Semlerwas remembered

as devoted, honest and a force to be reckoned with—a

proud legacy. Semler died July

13, age 92, after battling pancre-

atic cancer for two years. Semler

served eight years as mayor of

Passaic, 15 years on the City

Council and six on the Passaic

school board. Her dedication to

Passaic was unparalleled and she

made herself recognizable by

reprimanding colleagues or local

politicians who reflected poorly

on the city. Additionally, Semler made her mark by

becoming the first woman elected to the Passaic City

Council in 1973. In 1993, Semler also became Passaic’s

first, and to date only, female mayor. Her two terms as

mayor and her accomplishments revealed determination

and a motivation to improve Passaic. Semler continues to

be remembered by her many supporters as “a champion

for her beloved city.”

Two Pathmarks in Clifton, one at the intersection of

Clifton and Paulison Aves., the other in Botany Village,

were among those to close their doors following A&P’s

filing for bankruptcy on July 20. Great Atlantic & Pacific

Tea Co. was once the largest food retailer in America.

However, the 156-year-old company became a regional

supermarket chain that struggled against younger and

more innovative competitors. The chain had filed for

bankruptcy in the past. Previously, unions accepted wage

and benefit cuts that were expected to be restored when

the company was again financially sound, which did not

happen. A&P panned to shutter 25 stores in 60 days and

complete the sales of its other locations by Oct. 30.

The closing of St. Clare School on Allwood Rd. in June

turned out to be a financial windfall for the parish. Plans

for a pre-school to open there in September were

announced by the Clifton Board of Education on July 1.

The agreement involved a lease that calls for payment of

$198,000 per year with a two percent annual increase over

the five-year term that began Sept. 1. The facility is named

the Clifton Early Learner Academy and School 8 Annex.

Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. on July 29 announced that

the Clifton Fire Department received a $1.7 million grant

from the Department of Homeland Security to hire 11 new

firefighters. In 2012, $1.3 million was given to the city

under the same program.

At East Ridgelawn Cemetary, Thaddeus Marshall was celebrated on July 18.


August 2015: In August, we dug up the true tale of when

big dinosaurs roamed the Garret Mountain ridge, from

Paterson right through to Washington’s Rock, a 600 foot

cropping used by General Washington to see when the

British were coming. Our August 2004 cover (right) helped

explain that when our landmark cliffs were being quarried

for the K. Hovnanian Four Seasons housing complex,

workers uncovered dinosaur prints that today are on display

at the NJ State Museum in Trenton. Last year, our running

timeline of Clifton history took readers from 1928 through

1949, with plenty of great photos and more true tales.

In August, readers read about, from left: 1943 Heisman Trophy winnerAngelo Bertelli, Coach Joe Grecco, George Bellin of the Clifton Swim Club,bowling center proprietor Yogi Berra, Eric Sudhalter of Van Houten Lanes,Joseph De Lora of DeLuxe Cleaners, 2015 Clifton Athletic Hall of FamerEmily Urciuoli and Marion D’Ettorre of Avato’s Department Store.

From a history of bowling centers (we are down to the

final 16 alleys with Garden Palace on Lakeview Ave.)

to a review of our city’s Tiki Culture when bamboo bars

and blowfish lights hung in three establishments, our

August history covered many topics. Readers also met

Ed Miedema, Bill Lemke, Mike Libin, Tom Jordan, Jeff

Grotsky, Tom Menegus, Bob Havasy, Dick Cattani and

Ken Donnelly who were inducted into the White Castle

Hall of Fame in 2002. We also introduced the 2015

Clifton Athletic Hall of Famers. (To see the line up and

photos of inductees, turn to page 52).

Councilman Matt Grabowski was memorialized as a

flagpole was dedicated in his honor in Zwier Park on

Aug. 17. The event was attended by family and friends,

as well as freeholders, the mayor and council members.

Christine Sienicki and her fellow Rockettes offered a

holiday season show preview on Aug. 13. The annual

Christmas in August per-

formance took place in front

of Radio City Music Hall to

promote the 2015 Christmas

Spectacular. Sienicki attend-

ed the now-closed St. Cyril

and Methodius over 20

years ago before graduating

from Queen of Peace High

School. She has been a

Rockette for 15 years.

Ariana Puzzo and Madison Molner were editorial interns at this magazine in the summer of 2015. At right, participantsin the Clifton Rec Dept.’s Family Campout on Aug. 21 in Albion Park on Maplewood Ave. Some 350 people pitched tents,enjoying campfires, songs and marshmallows. Below on right, Clifton’s Tiki long-gone landmarks: Lee’s Hawaiian Islanderon Piaget Ave., the Pu Pu Inn on Main Ave. and the Jade Fountain on River Rd.,

August 2015 in Review


Our September edition also featured some of the newsmen thatserved our city. Pictured above are brothers Seymour and GeorgeKroll with their dad Max Kroll of the Clifton Journal, which Maxpurchased in 1938. At right, Terry LaCorte with his dad, Gus, thefounder of The Clifton Leader, which began in 1926.


September 2015: That’s CMMpublisher Tom Hawrylko onhorseback (in 1983) on the cover aswe reached our 20th anniversary ofpublication. Pictured above is our firstedition—24 pages of advertorials.Thanks to loyal readers andadvertisers, we have come a long waysince. To commemorate our twodecades of publication, we presentedan exhibit of covers, photos andessays at the Clifton Arts Centerduring September.


“Clifton High prepares you for thereal world better than any privateschool ever could. I can meet alltypes of people and I love it.”

“A Catholic education grants methe opportunities to live the wordsof the Gospel, practice works ofmercy and live by the Golden Rule.”

- Matt Madrigal,CHS Class of 2017 President

- Christina Cramer,Paramus Catholic HS Class of 2019

At the Sept. 20 Car Show to benefit the Boys & Girls Club, Bob Foster andDon Knapp award a trophy to one of the exhibitors, at left.

At the Sept. 19 opening of the Clifton Storyteller exhibit at theClifton Arts Center, some current and former staff membersof Clifton Merchant Magazine. From left: Fabian Calvo, AlyIbrahim, Ken Peterson, Tom and Lori Hawrylko, Michael

Gabriele and John Bendel. At left, Ray Kar of TorosRestaurant on Hazel St., one of about 30 eateries at the Tasteof Clifton on Sept. 28, a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club.

September’s back-to-school coverage

began with photos and stories on a new

herd of Mustangs on our sports fields.

Christina Cramer of Paramus Catholic

explained why she received the Blessed

Teresa of Calcutta Award and CHS

Class President Matt Madrigal spoke of

plans for himself and classmates. We

also began our anti-hookah/e-cigs cam-

paign, telling teens and parents about

this dangerous trend.

Cliftonites lost on 9/11/01 were remem-

bered in an early morning ceremony at

city hall: Zuhtu Ibis Kyung Cho, Francis

Joseph Trombino, Ehtesham U. Raja,

Edward C. Murphy, Edgar H. Emery, Port

Authority Officer John Skala, brothers

John and Tim Grazioso.


Class of 2016

Pictured are some ofthe Clifton residentswho attend ParamusCatholic. Ask thesestudents and theirparents why theyhave made PC theirhigh school of choice.Please call or visit tolearn more about PC.

Class of 2017


Clifton graduates from the PC classes of 2014 & 2015earned over $6.5 million in scholarships!

• 140 courses, including 20 Advanced Placement

• STEM Program with over 40 courses

• New Music Conservatory • Marching Band• 80-member Orchestra• Vibrant Campus Ministry,

Retreat and Community Service Programs

• Numerous educational trips all over the nation

• Cost effective tuition for families

• Bus service

PC Offers...

Class of 2018

Class of 2019

Members of the PC classes of2014 and 2015 received over

$110 millionin scholarships and were

accepted into such prestigiousuniversities as: Boston College,Bucknell, Clemson, Colgate,Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke,Fairfield, Georgetown, NYU,Princeton, Purdue, RensselaerPolytechnic Institute, UCLA,UPenn, Michigan, andUniversity of Southern

California, among many others.


On Oct. 11, Mustang Athletic Hall of Fame inductees included Emily Urciuoli, Pete Lehr, Corey Bleaken, Mickey Soccol,Joe Hathaway, Mike Lombardo, Ken Kurnath. Teams being inducted were the 2001 Hockey Champs, the 2008 GirlsTrack Team and the 1986 Wrestling Squad. This was the first time new members had been inducted in five years. Below,the late Rabbi Eugene Markovitz of Clifton Jewish Center was recalled for his lessons in tolerance.

Mustang running back Bobby Boettcher in 1947 and quarter-back Ron Haraka in 1976. Both are on our October coverwith today’s QB Joe Santillo CHS, 2017.

October 2015: Clifton’s proud Mustang footballtradition, spanning the decades from 1950 untiltoday, was epitomized by our sepia-toned Octobercover photo, buttressed by input from threeFighting Mustangs themselves. A timeline of the1950s detailed the city’s boisterous post-war periodas development boomed and new citizens swelledthe city’s ranks. Featured within that period: theimpact of Shulton Inc., makers of Old Spice, andpharmaceutical powerhouse Pfizer.

October 2015 in Review

Pasquale Di Ianni was hon-

ored on Oct. 24 with the Garret

Mountain Boathouse being

named in his memory. An attor-

ney, Di Ianni’s had a lifelong

commitment to Passaic County

parks and historic sites. His

efforts included aiding the cre-

ation of the Great Falls National

Historical Park, approved by

President Obama in 2010, and

spearheading the Passaic County Fair, held each sum-

mer atop Garrett Mountain. The renovated boathouse,

constructed during the Great Depression, sits alongside

Barbour Pond. He died in 2013 at the age of 85.

William J. Bate was honored

on Oct. 27 as the courthouse

plaza in Paterson was dedicated

in his name. Bate, who passed in

2011 at the age of 76, was elect-

ed in 1966 to the Clifton

Council, subsequently serving

in the NJ Assembly and Senate,

and as judge of the Surrogate

Court in Passaic County. The

plaza, on Hamilton St. between Ward and Grand streets,

is surrounded by the justice complex, county offices,

and social services and private agencies. A plaque hon-

oring the Clifton Optimist is at the center of the plaza.

Christopher Columbus MiddleSchool’s 10th Annual DiversityDinner was on Oct. 9. Some 150

attended and saw the CCMS Step

Team perform before cuisines from

across the globe (prepared by fami-

lies) were shared. Volunteers from

Student Council, as well as the

Character and Builder’s Club and

the CCMS HSA made it all happen.

In total, some nine prizes were

awarded and one of the winners,

Andrew Potocki, is pictured.

Leandro Mendoza, 21, known as Leo, was fatallywounded Oct. 16 as he and another employee were

closing up the Lexington Liquors shop at 432 Lexington

Ave. A gang of up to four teenagers, at least one with a

gun, opened fire on the pair at about 2 am. The second

employee’s injuries were not serious. Police arrested

four suspects, three of them under age 18.

Police reported a woman was shot in the face andthroat at the Howard Johnson Inn on Route 3 Oct. 23,drawing a response from a SWAT team. A portion ofthe hotel was evacuated. The victim was taken to St.Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson.

Two Wells Fargo branches awarded two grants total-ing $2,000 to the Clifton Boys & Girls Club, part of thebank’s Community Connections program.

The Mustang Homecoming tradition continued on Oct. 17. At center, Homecoming Queen and King Jaclyn Hanrahan andOtto DeLeon with their court, from left: Olivia DeMuro and Patrick DePasque, Brittany Guzman and Jahi McDonald,Brittany Morales and Alejandro Joewono, and Aniah Whitmire and Bruno Frascola.



November 2015: Our cover feature cat-aloged the Journey of Julia Young andthe Cliftonite’s remarkable poise andresilience following a catastrophic bon-fire accident in March 2009. Young can-didly discussed the pain and the processof recovery — and the discomfort notonly to herself but to first responders,family, friends, and even casualacquaintances struggling to deal withher injuries and recovery. The trials andtriumphs of three Clifton veterans ofWorld War II, as they recalled them,were in tribute to America’s militarycorps. And a visit to Clifton SavingsBank with Chair Paul M. Aguggia pro-vided reassurance that a hometown sta-ple was positioned to help lead the cityto a bright future.

Lisa Galanti, Roman Diduch and Roxanne Cammilleri(above left) were among those sharing comments onwhy they are thankful. Julia Young, pictured here at age14 with father Jerry and mother Michele.

Charlie Frick, Norma Smith, William Weiss, KatrimGirgis, Bharat Rana and Latasha Caserlow-Lalla.


November 2015 in Review

Good Neighbors,Great Rates

Thomas Tobin973-779-4248

Bill G. Eljouzi973-478-9500

973-772-8451

At the heart of Athenia for 60 years, we profiled Shook Funeral Home and the people there. The family includes Thomasand Annelise Garretson, Roy and Nancy (seated) Garretson, Kevin White, Sandra Grazioso and Amanda (Garretson) Sardo.

The Fighting Mustangs drove past Passaic, 35-12, at home on ThanksgivingDay, Nov. 26. Clifton now leads the all-time Thanksgiving series, 47-36-5. Atright, WWII vet (and former newsman) George Kroll with his wife Lorraine.Clifton’s Billy and Lisa Meltzer closed their family sporting goods store onOutwater Lane in Garfield on Nov. 14 after 101 years. Bottom are WWII vetRay Yannetti and Clifton Bank’s Chair and CEO Paul M. Aguggia.

Roofing • Siding • Gutters Ventilation • Chimneys


Great memories were made at theClifton Boys & Girls Club and tokeep paying it forward, the Clubholds an Alumni Party everyNovember as it inducts some to theHall of Fame. A few that made thecut this year include, from top left,Ken Bucsko, Charles Bucsko,Felicia Barbosa, Peter Dones,Greg Schabel and Joe Dera.

Stephen Mihalovicserved our nation

during WWIIstrapped in the backof a US Navy DiveBomber. His life

story was told in theNovember edition.To his left are someof the other vetsseen at Clifton’sVeterans Paradealong Van HoutenAve. on Nov. 8.


December 2015:Our sleuths uncoveredSanta Claus’s annual Christmas Evelaunch point in Acquackanonk Gardens,and garnered photographic evidence ofClaus and family for our cover story.Santa consented to an in-depthinterview revealing some – but not all –of his life in Clifton as personified byPatrick M. Doremus, veteran employeeof Clifton’s DPW. Also found withinour pages was dozens of readers sharingtheir traditions and memories whileothers told how sharing and caring helpsthem get into the Christmas spirit.

The Student Development &Campus Life Department ofMontclair State Universityjoined with Assembly mem-bers Giblin and Oliver fortheir 2015 Toy Drive. Over300 toys and books werecollected and distributed.Pictured on Dec. 18 fromleft: Lolita Cruz, Dr. KarenPennington, AssemblymanThomas P. Giblin, JulieFleming, George Silvaand Emily Cordero.

Mayor Jim Anzaldi’sChristmas Party is athree-decades-oldtradition that drawshundreds to theValley Regency. Seenwith the mayor onDec. 14 were friendsand family of Ninaand Jim Marroccoand Frank and NinaCorradino.


Tim Andrelczyk was a grid ironstandout for Bergen Catholic,Class of 2015, and is now atAmerican International Collegein Springfield, MA. “I ended thefirst semester with a 3.8 GPAwith a major in Finance.Football wise I competed mybutt off and I was able to workin with the first team offenseas a freshman center.

When golfing legend StephenKozak died on Dec. 2 at age 94,

writer Joe Hawrylko said he recalled

the Delawanna resident for his bee

hives hidden along the rails as much

as being America’s oldest caddy.

Kozak, pictured above in 2010,

was also a veteran, serving with the

5th Marine Divisionin in both World

War II and Korea.

Born in 1921, Kozak grew up in

the same River Rd. house that his

parents, Mike and Julia, raised him in.

He attended School 8 but dropped

out of CHS in 1940 for a job at

Givaudan. “I did it just to make some

money for myself and the family,”

explained Kozak, who lived with his

parents, two brothers and two sisters.

“We weren’t rich. My dad used to

work at Waldrich. It used to be a silk

factory across the street.”

Kozak began as a caddy at the

Yantacaw Country Club and in 1940,

began also at the Upper Montclair

Country Club. Intrigued by the game

as both a player and a caddy, he

always dreamed off a career in golf.

“I just like doing it,” he said of his time

on the links. “It brings in a little money

and occupies my time for now.”


Kindness Matters with the Key Club of CHS. Now

through the end of January, the members of perhaps

the most active group at CHS, the Key Club, are

focused on trying to change the way students and

teachers interact. The goal is to make the school and

the community a kindler and gentler place to live,

work and study.

By selling T-shirts and bracelets, hosting bake sales

and doing fundraising, they also hope to raise $4,500.

If so, they will turn the funds over to Giggles, a group

that presents live shows to help ease the suffering of

pediatric patients at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital

in Paterson. Club advisor Jacqueline Turk said

Clifton just received a $2,000 grant through Key Club

International. “Our goal is to donate the full $4,500.

So far, we have $2100.”

Write to [email protected] to help out.

St. Philip the Apostle Knights of ColumbusCouncil 11671 presented Christmas checks to

Mayor Jim Anzaldi for the Veterans Parade and to

Lizz Gagnon of Clifton Cares, which helps supply

needed items to service personnel overseas. These

funds are part of the revenue generated by the annu-

al Tank Pull also run by Council 11671, (which will

be on June 19 on the Clifton Ave. Extension). Over

the five years of the Tank Pull, $750,000 in goods

and services have been donated to veterans causes.

T raditions & Memories

Sharing their traditions and memories, from top left: RickyBagoli, Lillianna Chuddolij, Fred Seidler, Bobby DeVito,Anna Mariano, Henrique Schulz, Tara Fueshko, SeifullahAli Shabazz, Josh Texidor, Kelly Williams, Norm Tahan,Michelle Shackil, Nina Sennert Klett.

CHS Key Clubbers from left: James Freyland, GabriellaSotelo, Sharmitha Yerneni, Tahmin Choudhury,Bayanne Waqqad with Pranathi Kandalai in front.


Varieties• Potatoes & Cheese• Potato • Sauerkraut• Pot Cheese• Mushroom• Pot Cheese & Potato• Broccoli• Spinach• Pizza • Apple• Prune • Cabbage• Apricot & Cheese• Broccoli & Spinach

HOMEMADEPIROGI

Come to The Famous & Original (from Lexington Ave)...

Call forHours

1295 Main Ave • Downtown Clifton 973.340.0340

WWW.HOMEMADEPIROGI.COM

Across from DeLuxe Cleaners

NEW! Great for Parties... Hot, Homemade Empanadas!

Don’t Wait Until Friday To Eat Pirogies!!!

December 2015 in Review

Getting ready for the June 19 Tank Pull, from left: C0-Chair Ray Lill,Mayor Jim Anzaldi, Lizz Gagnon of Clifton Cares, Co-Chair John Hughes.

Gloria Martini is Chair of the Boys& Girls Club Board while Bob Jaffejoined as the newest Board Trustee.

Gloria Martini was installed asPresident of the Board of Trustees of

the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton as

she heads up fundraising in 2016.

As President of the North Jersey

Chamber of Commerce from 2002

until she retired in 2012, Martini lead

the 500-member advocacy group.

Previously, she had over 25 years

experience in the healthcare field. She

also serves on the Hackensack

University Medical Center’s Board of

Governors and is Secretary / Treasurer

of the HUMC Foundation.

Other Trustees include Chair Brent

Rudnick; First VP Dante Liberti;

Second VP Richard Mariso; Treasurer

Cindy DeVos; Assistant Treasurer

Jeffrey T. Cupo, Secretary Lauren

Ricca; Assistant Secretary Thomas E.

Fieldhouse; Historian Keith Oakley,

and the newest Trustee is Robert Jaffe.

Lisa Brady Schmittgall was named Senior Vice

President and Chief Operating Officer at St.

Joseph’s Healthcare System. “She is joining the

healthcare system at a pivotal time as we position

our organization for continued stability and growth

in a quickly evolving healthcare industry,” said

Kevin J. Slavin, President and Chief Executive

Officer at St. Joseph’s Healthcare System.

With more than 3,000 babies delivered annually, St. Joe’s wants to

help parents celebrate. Next time you are driving down Route 80 East in

Paterson near Straight St., look up and catch a glimpse of one of the

recent newborns. The hospital’s digital Baby Billboard may have a baby

you know up in lights. To learn more about St. Joe’s Labor and Delivery,

and Mother/Baby unit, go to www.StJosephsHealth.org.


Construction is expected to begin this year on New

Jersey’s first new private medical school in more than

50 years, to be located on the site still owned by the

Roche Group along Route 3. Hackensack University

Health Network and Seton Hall University are equal

project partners. Their plan was officially announced in

June, with a goal of starting initial classes in 2017, also

Clifton’s 100th anniversary.

Six months earlier, press reports in January 2015

broke news for the planned partnership on the 116 acre

site. The list of active players expanded rapidly after

that, including the Roche Group, Clifton, Nutley, and

the state of New Jersey itself.

The medical school will be the first step leading to

economic development of the Roche site over a period

of 15 to 25 years, with a huge impact on the regional

New Jersey’s first medical school in 50 years willdeliver some much-needed economic medicine toClifton, and its neighbors, in time for our city’s cen-

tennial year celebration in 2017.

By Douglas John Bowen


economy, and a boost in particu-

lar to Clifton and Nutley, home

to the Roche Group’s campus.

Construction will begin with

the medical school as the project

anchor and expand incrementally

in future years. Total cost of the

project currently is estimated at

$100 million. Numerous

observers consider the project a

sound fiscal investment as the

region repositions itself econom-

ically in the years ahead.

Funding falling into placeIn November 2015, the New Jersey Economic

Development Authority approved $16.9 million in tax

credits to launch the private medical school, the first

such entity in nearly 60 years. Added to $10 million

from an anonymous donor, the NJEDA commitment

provides financial momentum.

The medical school will focus on primary care spe-

cialties in acute shortage, including internal medicine,

family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology.

By 2020, the nation will need 50,000 more physicians,

medical industry experts assert, including about 2,500

within New Jersey itself.

A Seton Hall press release noted the move would

“establish the only private Catholic school of medi-

cine currently in the state.” Though private and not a

public facility, the school would also be nonprofit, a

status that threatened to pose potential revenue

issues for both Clifton, in Passaic County, and its

neighbor Nutley, in Essex County.

In 1929, Hoffman-LaRoche broke ground for offices, research and manufacturingfacilities on the Clifton/Nutley border. An aerial photo of the current campus showsthe vastness of the campus. Above, the entrance gate in Clifton on Route 3.


However, the fiscal issue is being addressed, accord-

ing to Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi. “We’re waiting for

the medical school to develop a PILOT program

(Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) that we can agree to,” possi-

bly by the end of January, Anzaldi told Clifton Merchant

Magazine during an interview last month.

Both Nutley and Clifton are “pretty much in line

that we don’t want a ‘big box’ development,” Anzaldi

noted. “Our joint push is for a sort of corporate center,

something that’s similar to Roche in very general

terms, and we continue to work toward that idea.”

Both municipalities also continue to review site

plans. Clifton completed the rezoning process for its

portion of the proposal last month, according to

Anzaldi.

Some reuse of existing assetsThe mayor said the proposed school and related startup

would incorporate and revamp the most up-to-date

buildings in the Roche complex, including Building 76,

modernized just a few years ago. “As well, Buildings

123 and 123A are where the medical school and nurs-

ing school will go.Those are newer buildings.”

Suggested ancillary facilities for the school include

an R&D cluster, possibly a conference center and

hotel. The school itself initially will occupy only 14

acres of the overall site, varying by estimate at being

between 119 and 127 acres big.

Despite New Jersey’s legendary zealotry for “home

rule,” Anzaldi said Clifton and Nutley have cooperated

to great degree on this matter. “Our relationship has

been great. I’ve found, per my experience in the League

of Municipalities, that when there’s a common goal,

cities usually get along pretty well,” he said.

“The state has been, on this, in the forefront,”

Anzaldi added. “The governor and lieutenant governor,

and the legislative delegations of both parties, have

been helpful. They’ve done an excellent job.”

Princeton-based Real Estate Solutions Group and

New York-based EEK Architects were chosen by Clifton

and Nutley to oversee the redevelopment plan and

options. Roche still owns the property, so the corporation

is still involved with the development planning.

Roche wrapping up a long goodbyeFor Roche Group, it’s part of an end game entering its

ninth year, roughly 88 years after Hoffman-LaRoche

broke ground on its new plant in New Jersey, having

outgrown its New York offices.

The Clifton/Nutley site accommodated Roche’s

needs for 80 years, and one former employee remem-

bers her time there during the 1980s fondly.

“You had a feeling the company really cared about

you,” she recalled. Roche encouraged equal opportuni-

ty for women and “there was no discrimination whatso-

ever, and that was a big deal back in the ’80s,” she said.

But as the 1980s ended, the situation changed.

“When Valium went ‘off-patent,’ Roche anticipated

they’d have to lay off people for the first time in the

company’s history,” the ex-Roche veteran said.

Employees in Clifton and Nutley had no idea of the changes when Roche was named Fortune’s 2005 Top Best Companies.


One-Stop Career Center Board of Directors, Chair, Freeholder Bruce JamesTrustee Freeholder Hector Lora Trustee Rev. Randall Lassiter

Culinary Arts

Computer Science

Hire A Veteran

Vocational/Technical

One-Stop Many ServicesDirector of One-Stop Lauren Murphy

WIB Director Chris Irving200 Memorial Drive, Paterson, NJ 07505

973-340-3400 • pcwdc.org

EmployersJob Seekers

For employers, One-Stop can provide a vari-ety of Free Services & Custom Programs.

Call Lauren Murphy to discuss details &learn about incentives for

Passaic County Employers.973-340-3400 • Ext. 7223

Unemployed? Under Employed?Need Training?

GET ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESSCall or Visit the Passaic County One-Stop Career Center.973-340-3400 • Ext. 7335

or


Looking Forward

“I was part of the interview team. We ended

up laying off a lot of people, which changed the

whole tone and demeanor of the company. The

(severance) packages were very fair. But the

whole tone changed.”

In 2008 Roche acquired rival Genentech for

$43.7 billion. The newly merged company chose

Genentech’s San Francisco, location for its head-

quarters. In 2012 Roche announced in 2012 it

would close its Clifton/Nutley site.

Industry observers attribute that development, in

part, not to just the merger but also to the widespread

consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry in general,

which has affected New Jersey significantly. Roche

closed the campus in 2013, ending or disrupting the

careers of some 1,000 employees.

In 2013, Roche Group paid approximately $14 mil-

lion in property taxes each year at its New Jersey facil-

ity, with about $9 million going to Nutley, and almost

$5 million going to Clifton. Both municipalities

reduced their tax rates for Roche in 2014, apparently

anxious to avoid any tax appeal that Roche might file.

Hopes, concerns, and ‘high-end’ lemonadeThe redevelopment plan may ultimately create more

jobs and generate more property tax revenue for Clifton

and Nutley than the drug maker did, some business and

elected officials have said. But the timeline is a fairly

long one, stretching from 15 to 25 years depending on

the estimate.

Anzaldi sees the time frame as a positive, because it

fosters creativity and the ability to respond to problems

(and opportunities) as they arise. “I don’t think it’s all

going to happen overnight, but you want a positive rat-

able, and create good jobs, and not create quality-of-life

issues such as traffic congestion,” he said.

Quality-of-life issues include environmental con-

cerns. Last February 60 property owners adjacent to the

Roche site threatened to file a class-action lawsuit relat-

ed to leaks in sewer lines under the campus that may

have allowed contaminants into groundwater. A Roche

spokesman said it had supplied remediation reports to

the US Environmental Protection Agency and NJ

Environmental Protection Department, and “is in com-

pliance with all state and federal regulatory guidelines

and has already begun approved remediation on-site.”

Though proponents have expressed concerns over

future traffic congestion, little if any consideration of

potential passenger rail has been discussed. The site is

bisected by an active rail line, the Newark Branch, link-

ing Paterson, Clifton, and Nutley with points south, with

Newark-Penn Station on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

Anzaldi said he and the mayor of Nutley share the

concerns over remediation, traffic and all quality of life

matters. He asserted that all players are taking those

issues seriously, adding, “Anywhere you are in New

Jersey, you’re going to have some issues” of this type.

And the mayor reiterated the metaphor he employs

of turning a lemon into lemonade. “The school, I think,

in fact, will bring ‘high-end’ lemonade that’s good not

just for Clifton and Nutley, but for the region and

indeed for New Jersey as a whole.”

“It’s not about now, but

how it will impact things

many years in the future.

This will do that.”

Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban Seton Hall University President

“It’s a game-changer, not just for Hackensack,

but for the state of New Jersey to have this sort

of project that will create several hundred jobs

and spur economic development.”Robert C. Garrett, Hackensack University Health Network CEO

which meansTomahawk Jr. is trainedand nationally certifiedin restorative water drying methods by theInstitute of Inspection,Cleaning andRestoration Certification,also known as IICRC.

We Now Clean& Polish

Hardwood Floors

Before After



As Clifton heads into 2016 and the social media age,the question remains: can the district find a more effec-

tive way to open more efficient communication with

students, parents and residents?

In December 2015, several School 11 students

developed a plan to ‘bomb’ the high school in retalia-

tion for perceived bullying. Though the plan was pre-

dictably harmless, parents were not notified until going

to drop their children off the following day. Within

hours of the incident, the ‘bombing’ was already the

talk of the town... then the region... then it was on tv.

Next morning, news vans surrounded the school on

Lakeview and Merselis Ave., pushing parents for

answers, creating news hype and earning the School

Administration and Board of Education scrutiny.

Also on the schools front, and in a more positive

tone, CHS senior Kaity Assaf ended 2015 by presenting

the Board of Ed with a petition of more than 500 signa-

tures asking that the district adopt the Muslim holidays

of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as recognized school

holidays in coming years.

With an ever-growing Muslim population, this topic

will surely be discussed and perhaps even be resolved

in 2016. A resolution may also pose challenges. For

instance, how to implement these additional days off—

and when one consider the growing number of other

ethnicities and religions in our community—what gets

cut and what is added?

Another school topic which may resurface—the

never-ending debate about school uniforms—which

has surfaced at least three times over the past years.

Synagogues and sidewalksThe growing Orthodox Jewish community in

Rosemawr may likely again dominate headlines in

2016. The city began the new path of pursuing plans to

install sidewalks on Dwasline Rd., a busy through

Clifton was in the national spot-light far more often than normal in2015. It began on March 28 with a

fake hostage incident at Digital Press

Games on Rt. 46. A few issues and

incidents in Clifton Schools fol-

lowed. But it wasn’t all negative:

2015 CHS Grad Abrar Shahin, an

observant Muslim who wears a hijab,

was voted best dressed by her peers

and made headlines across the world.

By Joe Hawrylko

That’s Ken Gensinger and John Fette, both own andoperate car dealerships that bear their family names atthe interchange of Routes 3 & 46. Also pictured, unlike-ly allies: Mary Sadrakula and Mayor Jim Anzaldi.


street linking Allwood Rd. and

Brook Ave.

For nearly 15 years, the debate

has raged on, pitting long time res-

idents against a newer and growing

Orthodox Jewish population that

also calls the quiet neighborhood

home. There have been numerous

pedestrians struck by vehicles on

the road—some fatally.

At the end of 2015, the City

Council voted 4-2 (Lauren Murphy,

Joe Kolodziej, Ray Grabowski, and

Peter Eagler) to make use of

$240,000 in leftover money from

road resurfacing projects to put

towards sidewalks on the street.

However, the debate now focuses

on whether or not the Council can

move forward with those plans.

Redirecting funds for streetsMayor James Anzaldi, who

opposed the measure along with

Steve Hatala and Bill Gibson, ques-

tioned whether the money could be

legally redirected from its original

purpose. If not, the city would need

to put forth a vote for a separate

bond measure, which would require

five yes votes. That question or a

vote on the topics should be

resolved in 2016.

But even if that is approved, res-

idents intend to keep up the fight,

which could make it difficult to

acquire the private land necessary

for sidewalks. Opposition has char-

acterized the Council’s moves as

payback for the Orthodox commu-

nity’s support for several Council

members, and argue that the side-

walks should be paid for by those

residents who want them.

One of the most vocal opponents

of the sidewalks has been Mary

Sadrakula, a former Councilwoman

who founded and now heads the

Clifton Watchdog Group.

Clifton’s Hometown Plumber

• Faucet Repair & Installation• Drain Cleaning & Rooter Service• Sewer & Water Replacement• Sewer TV/Video Inspection• Boiler Repairs & Installations• Hot Water Heaters • Sump Pump Installation

Fully Licensed & Insured

EmergencyService Calls

24/7

Buonafina Plumbing & HeatingVeteran Owned & Clifton Based

973-340-2200 • www.buonafinaplumbing.comMaster Plumber Lic. # 12406 • Home Improvement Contractor # 13VH05704200

The Dwasline Rd. home proposed to become a 20,000 ft. synagogue.

A Rosemawr resident

herself, the former council-

woman has also opposed the

neighborhood’s other end-

less project, the proposed

Congregation Shomrei

Torah religious center. In

December 2015, the congre-

gation filed another suit

against Clifton’s Planning

Board, after more than a

decade of legal wrangling

and more than two dozen

planning board meetings.

Hotly contested for being

too large for the neighbor-

hood from the time it was

proposed, the latest action

stems from an August plan-

ning board meeting when it

seemed that the project

would finally be ok’ed.

However, the board instead approved a 7,000 sq ft

facility, saying that was in line with the aesthetics of the

neighborhood but well short of the 20,000 sq. ft. house

of worship originally proposed. The board argued that

the size change could still fit 124 worshipers, the maxi-

mum which was determined in a previous court battle.

The congregation’s legal counsel, attorney Frank

Carlet, filed a suit in an effort to get approval on the

Congregation’s original plans. In addition to seeking

approval, David Gross, the congregation’s president,

indicated that they would utilize the Religious Land Use

and Institutionalized Persons Act to attempt to recoup

legal costs incurred over a decade of battles.

Similar battle across townThe plight of the synagogue is similar to the battle

waged by members of the House of Fire Christian

Church on Grove St. This decade long battle by the city

was won by the congregants in 2014. It is interesting to

note that Frank Carlet was also legal counsel on this

project—as the attorney for neighbors opposed to thechurch. While work has slowed at the House of Fire,

construction may be completed this year. As far as the

Congregation Shomrei Torah? Stay tunned.

At the Route 3 and 46 interchange near Valley Rd.,

the NJ Department of Transportation should commence

Phase One of the $150 million project. The goal is to

create a safer interchange on a stretch of highway noto-

rious for being dangerous. From 2004 and 2014, there

were over 1,000 accidents on both sides of the merge.

The plans for this stage include a new access road,

and an overpass from MSU to Clove Rd. to be complet-

ed by summer 2017, and construction is not expected to

seriously impact traffic flow until the second phase in

2018, when work on the actual highway begins.

Initial work has already impacted Clifton residents

and businesses as the state has purchased land in antic-

ipation of the project. Corey and Michelle Genardi lost

a large section of their yard on Normandy Rd.

Gensinger Volkswagen and Fette Ford also straddle the

interchange, and while Fette lost some land, both deal-

ers anticipate construction traffic leading way to better

access to Rt. 3 once the project is completed in 2021.

At City Hall, Mayor James Anzaldi and volunteers

are preparing for Clifton’s centennial, which is April

26, 2017. A year worth of celebration is in store, with

a family dinner at the Clifton Boys & Girls Club kick-

ing off the party on April 26 of this year.

As Clifton plans for its centennial in 2017, here are members of the 75th anniversarycommittee in April, 1992 at the party at the Valley Regency, then still under construction.




Cliftonite Joseph S. Cupoli runs P&A Auto Parts.Simple statement.

Anything but simple reality.

With co-partner Billy Freedman, Cupoli on a daily

basis juggles a staff of 175 employees covering opera-

tions at 10 stores in three northeastern New Jersey coun-

ties, including two stores in Clifton — at 820 Van

Houten Ave. and 1103 Main Ave.

Together, the stores generate an average of $80,000 in

revenue daily. Customers range from individuals, trust-

ing P&A service over an auto dealership or local gas sta-

tion, to corporate and government fleet owners.

The revenue flow sounds impressive, until one fac-

tors in the costs and highly competitive nature of the

automotive aftermarket segment.

Cupoli is up to the challenge, exemplified by a com-

pany battlecry of “Whatever it takes.” Customer service,

to some eyes, may be taken to extremes, even to the

point of picking up a customer’s laundry or a cup of cof-

fee en route to a destination. Despite the big numbers,

this is still a please and thank you place of business.

Partners in progressCupoli, along with co-partners Billy Freedman, has

owned P&A since 2003, when they both purchased the

business from his father-in-law.

Freedman’s route to partnership was somewhat cir-

cuitous, and interesting, Cupoli said. “Billy started

working for us in 1989,” Cupoli recounted. “We had

only one store at the time. His goal was to inherit his

uncle’s store in Mahwah, but it became clear that was-

n’t going to happen. “My father-in-law, aware of all this,

said to Billy, ‘Let’s be partners on a store in Clifton’ that

we were evaluating,” Cupoli said. “That worked out, and

in fact Billy and my father-in-law eventually were part-

ners for three stores.

“Ironically, P&A was able to buy the original store in

Mahwah in 2013,” said Cupoli. “It’s been a strong addi-

tion.” Some doubt that partnerships can endure, and

Cupoli acknowledged that he and Freedman have differ-

ent approaches, insights, and at times even priorities.

“But our partnership works; we each respect the other’s

abilities and focus,” he asserted.

Joe Cupoli and Billy Freedmanwith some of the staff at their

Saddle Brook warehouse and store.

Of customers and a comfort zoneP&A’s website states, “The P & A ‘Point of View’ is

simply that people come first and everything else,

including auto parts, follows!” Cupoli, in an interview,

added to that, declaring, “I don’t love cars; I love busi-

ness. That surprises some people, but we’re in the busi-

ness of serving people.”

“We’re a big family here,” injected Operations

Manager Armando Soto. “We are committed to the cus-

tomer, to the company, to the community. We’re here

for them. And we are here because of them.”

Cupoli said proof of that can be found both in-house

among employees and in customer interaction on the

road, through the sincere use of words such as “please”

and “thank you.”

“It costs nothing, and buys so very much,” he said

emphatically. “It makes people feel good to say those

words; it makes people feel good to hear the words.”

Ample inventory backs up those words.

“We have a full supply of GM AC/Delco parts; we

have a full supply of Motorcraft parts” for Ford vehi-

cles, as well,” said Soto, a 15-year veteran at P&A.

Behind him are additional rows carrying stock from

various foreign car and truck manufacturers.

Gesturing to the expanse of warehouse shelves, he

said. “Our goal traditionally has been, ‘The right part in

30 minutes or less.’ We try real hard to adhere to that

standard.”

Novel offerings include a fully equipped machine

shop in P&A’s Saddle Brook location, “with a full-time

staff of two,” Cupoli said – something fewer and fewer

service centers offer today. The owner casually noted

that he has made it a point to experience every facet of

the operation himself, whether it be the machine shop,

customer service, warehouse operations, or delivery.

Soto pointed with pride to one of the company’s

newer capabilities: car body paint available by spray

can. The quality upgrade is significant, he said. “We’re

beyond the typical ‘touch-up’ applicator option,” he

said. “We can make the paint and them put it into a

spray can, using the car’s own paint code” and match-

ing it by computer. “We’re now your paint guy.”

Soto allowed that the paint service isn’t a driving

force for customers. But it is an attractive add-on

option for many of those customers, be they fleet own-

ers or individuals, requiring new brakes or air filters or

something else deemed more essential. “Every day, I’m

mixing paint,” he observed.

Liberty Tax Service at Richfield Shopping Center is doing dou-

ble duty for the Boys & Girls Club and Clifton residents. Now

through April 10, franchise owner

Mary Ann Hatala Bowen will make a

donation of $25 to the club and give

you $25 off your tax preparation

when you file your 2015 tax returns

through her office.

Liberty Tax-Allwood 1344 Clifton Ave. Richfield Center

(Next to Boston Market)Clifton NJ 07012 • 973-778-0700

Liberty Tax-Allwood wants you tosplit $50 with the Boys & Girls Club

Like us on Facebook Liberty Tax-Allwood

Valid through April 10, 2016



Cupoli said the success of serv-

ice diversity shouldn’t surprise

anyone if quality and expertise are

the foundation of business success.

“You don’t need to be the smartest

person; you just need to hire the

smartest people,” he asserted.

And perhaps also the most

adaptable. Though populated with

“old-timers” — Cupoli at one point

jovially singled out an employee

with the company for “only eight

years” — staff minds strive to think

young. That includes competence

with the newest phone and comput-

er apps relevant to the business.

One of those apps, Dayco,

allows P&A staff to identify a cus-

tomer’s car make and model by

license plate number, greatly expe-

diting the process of delivering the

right part of service, inside the shop

or out, Cupoli said, demonstrating

its speed and accuracy.

“Our guys don’t say ‘no’

because we have tabs open any-

where they are,” Soto added.

More parts, shorter shelf lifeP&A’s warehouse shelves in

Saddle Brook are more full than

ever, in part because “manufactur-

ers used to produce items that

would be viable for years — in

your 1978 Buick, 1979 Buick, 1980

Buick, and so forth.

That’s changed. Now manufac-

turers often update or change spec-

ifications as often as six months.

And to be competitive, P&A has to

have theat inventory ready.

“We used to sell 1,000 parts to

generate $30,000,” Cupoli said as

an example. “Now we have to sell

3,000 parts to generate the same

$30,000. And that time period will

continue to shrink.”

P&A’s Saddle Brook warehouse

totals at least 60,000 square feet.

It’s a cavernous space with high

ceilings, originally occupied by a

supplier of ammunition, then oper-

ated by New York Golf, which

offered an indoor driving range.

P&A converted the space through

sweat equity over a yearful of

Saturdays and off-days, Cupoli said

with pride.

“Our people built everything

ourselves,” with a core group of

about 10 staff members putting

together rows and rows of shelving,

reaching at least 20 feet in height,

into position “one piece at a time,”

Cupoli said.

Cupoli: Injectbusiness acumeninto government

Cliftonites — and for that mat-ter many throughout PassaicCounty — may know Joseph S.

Cupoli primarily for his involve-

ment in local politics. That

includes, most recently, cam-

paigning for Passaic County

Freeholder. Cupoli’s effort fell

short last November.

The dichotomy — business

owner and politician — might

seem severe, but Cupoli is able to

bridge the two. “My frustration

with government is that often it’s too big and too slow. In some ways, it’s

set up to fail.” The setup, in his view, includes overwhelming pressure

for government of all stripes to purchase the cheapest goods or services

through bidding, too often ignoring the longer-term, higher-quality

options. “The bidding process for governments doesn’t allow for quali-

ty,” while business interests are willing to evaluate quality and longevi-

ty far more often.

Some local communities do try to buck that trend, Cupoli noted, “and

you can sometimes succeed if a town or city issues exact specifications

that a quality option clearly offers.” But even then a knowledgeable local

official may have to clash with the local purchasing agent, fixated on cost

and nothing else.

Cupoli pointed out his concerns or objections are not an automatic

anti-government screed. Tax rates and regulations are obvious business

issues but less damaging than government’s ponderous pace. Otherwise,

he said, government actions impact upon P&A “very minimally.”

Nor has he given up on serving the public sector. When a visitor sug-

gested his recent campaign might have been his last, Cupoli quickly

quipped, “Who said I’ve given up?” That’s a can-do business attitude

that aptly can be applied to the public sector, too.

Republican Cupoli withDemocrat Lauren Murphyon our Oct. 2012 cover.


But if even the best inventory

stock isn’t always enough, P&A

will scour other sources to deliver

timely service and satisfaction. The

quality must measure up. But with

that standard established, “We’ll

send our people to Home Depot, if

necessary,” to make a quick pur-

chase to expedite service, Cupoli

said, adding, “We’ll buy from any-

body” that can offer a quality prod-

uct as quickly as possible.

Association adjustmentReluctantly, P&A recently

detached itself from Atlanta-based

National Automotive Parts

Association (NAPA), finding a new

home with Raleigh, N.C.-based

CarQuest.

“NAPA was never successful in

the Northeast market,” Cupoli

observed. “It didn’t have a viable

business model for a 10-store chain

in New Jersey. We’re not a single

store in Iowa. My labor costs are

different. My tax issues are differ-

ent. The environment, its impact on

cars and trucks, is different. But

NAPA didn’t acknowledge or react

to those differences; it didn’t seem

capable of helping us.”

P&A weighed a switch to

CarQuest at a time when the latter’s

own viability was an industry ques-

tion mark. But CarQuest acquired a

new parent, Advance Auto Parts,

Inc., giving CarQuest stability and

P&A chance to address key issues.

The switchover hasn’t been pain-

less nor without concerns. “NAPA

still has ‘tentacles’ into my cus-

tomer base after 12 years,” Cupoli

said. “That doesn’t go away quick-

ly. We have to reassure our cus-

tomers, one at a time, that we’re

here for them.”

Or as Soto phrases it: “At the end

of the day, we’re still P&A.”

The insurance professionals at Hanson & Ryan, the

Silver Winner of Insurance Journal’s 2015 Best Agency

to Work For – East Region, say every employee is appre-

ciated and valued, and is empowered in any way needed

for their personal growth and development.

Founded in 1876, Hanson & Ryan in Totowa, has

more than 30 staff members, providing commercial and

personal insurance including life and health to Clifton

and various northern New Jersey communities.

“In my career, I’ve never worked for a company

where I’ve felt more respected, trusted and appreciated,

than I do at Hanson & Ryan,” wrote one employee. “I

enjoy coming to work every day because I know that my

co-workers and my managers have my back. We’re a

team and we never forget that. When times get a little

hectic, we all pitch in to help each other out — whether

it’s during a natural disaster like Superstorm Sandy or

during a deep winter freeze in mid-January.”

“We delegate responsibilities to our associates, support theirdecision-making and try to provide them with all the educationand tools that they need to be successful. We encourage per-sonal initiative, a comfortable work environment and team

spirit,” Hanson & Ryan CEO Terry M. Ryan said. “This is agreat place to work because we invest in those principles,respect our people and create opportunities for all.”



“Everyone is treated equally and

fairly, regardless of their position

with the company. Hanson & Ryan

is not just an insurance agency, but a

family that I am thankful to be a part

of,” said another. “We provide supe-

rior service to all our clients. Our

clients are like our family as well.”

CEO Terry M. Ryan, a third-gener-

ation agency principal who’s been

working as an independent agent for

over 45 years, said being recognized

as a Best Agency to Work For is an

honor, an affirmation “that our associ-

ates truly believe in Hanson & Ryan.”

“We delegate responsibilities to

our associates, support their deci-

sion-making and try to provide them

with all the education and tools that

they need to be successful. We encourage personal ini-

tiative, a comfortable work environment and team spir-

it,” Ryan said. “This is a great place to work because we

invest in those principles, respect our people and create

opportunities for all.”

One employee wrote that H&R shows appreciation

for employees year round. “We have company apprecia-

tion days, whether they are at a baseball game, a tour bus

to our insured restaurants, or a volleyball tournament

with our carrier representatives.”

Employees take pride in community contributions.

The agency’s philanthropic efforts include a

Christmas toy and fund drive, charitable work and dona-

tions to Boys & Girls Clubs, St. Joseph’s Wayne

Hospital events, and other non-profit organizations.

Employees and the company continually participate

in events that have raised thousands of dollars for autism

awareness, multiple sclerosis, domestic abuse shelters

and needy families.

The agency also has “Jean Fridays” where employees

can donate $10 monthly and the collected funds are

given to local families in need.

“We have developed dedicated professionals who

understand our business and know that our commitment

to our clients and company-partners is the route to suc-

cess,” Ryan concluded. “Our strength comes from our

willingness to work hard for all the right reasons. Our

139-year reputation for professionalism, integrity and

commitment to the area communities makes us truly dis-

tinctive in the insurance industry.”

Clifton’s Rich DeLuca, at left, worked at Hanson & Ryan from 1978 until hisdeath in 2010. He is next to Dennis Quinn of Travelers Insurance and H&RCEO Terry Ryan, who is also pictured on the facing page in a recent photo.

Next time you’re in your comfortable chair at home, oron your favorite barstool, watching an NCAA basketball

game, pay some attention – and perhaps a little respect – to

the referees. It could be that Cliftonite Pastor Torres, or his

son, Luis – or at rare times, both! – are guiding the action.

Father and son are on the road, or in the air, or on the

court for large portions of the calendar year, leaving their

hometown behind for the love of the round ball on the

hardwood court. And another Torres family member, son

Kevin, keeps games orderly on area high school courts.

“We miss a lot of birthdays and family events,” said

Pastor Torres, 51, an Athenia resident since 1991. “You’re

an independent contractor.”



The family business is officiating with theTorres clan. At left is Luis, age 31 and CHS2002, center is Kevin, age 29 and CHS 2005,and at right is their dad Pastor.


Pastor Torres began his life as a basketball ref in

1998, as a spectator, watching Kevin in a youth game at

the Wayne Police Athletic League. “The scheduler was

complaining about ‘this guy not making it’ or ‘not

being responsible.’ I asked if perhaps I could fill the

void. The guy said, “‘If you have a shirt and the gear,

it’s $30 a game to run up and down the court.’

“I replied, ‘Sure, I’ll do it,’” Torres said. He acquired

a striped shirt and black pants, and painted his sneakers

black, per uniform code. “I got on the floor and I was

all over the place. I didn’t know what I was doing,”

Torres said with a smile.

“It’s easier to make a call as a fan. But I wanted to

learn, and got coaching and counsel – and weeks and

weeks of rules review and on-floor training.”

Pastor Torres broke in with two years of junior var-

sity and freshman basketball games, then “did varsity

(high school) for a couple years, in Passaic, Bergen,

and Essex counties,” Torres said.

A second son, Luis, also known as basketball star

Albert Torres, CHS 2002, launched his referee career in

2010, at the Clifton Boys & Girls Club. “I was terrified.

I had no clue about how to ref a game. It’s a lot differ-

ent being on the floor than just watching,” he pointed

out, recalling with a smile his own discomfort. He per-

severed, however, and during the next three years,

“Communication is the key” when refs deal withcoaches at any level, Pastor Torres said.

• Robert F. Obser in memory of

Jo his best friend of 59 years

• Rotary Club of Clifton

• Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin

• Boys & Girls Club Mens Club

• Memory of Florence, George H.

Trinkle, Jr. & George H. Trinkle III

• Barbara Dougherty

in memory of Henry Dougherty

• JSK Landscaping/The Bassfords

• Carlet, Garrison, Klein & Zaretsky

• The Fieldhouse Family

• Liberty Tax, Richfield Plaza

• Councilwoman Lauren E. Murphy

• St. Philips K of C 11671

Enjoy Pizza, Hot Dogs, Crafts,

Edible Art & Gym Activities…

Help support this program...

Super Bowl Pre-Game Kick-Off Party, Feb. 7

Call Tom Hawrylko @ 973-253-4400 to become a $100 Sponsor

Alcohol, gambling & tobacco-free event

1-4 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton

FREE Admission but please bring a canned food

donation to St. Peter’s Haven Food Bank

Thanks to our sponsors...


When Richard F. Knapp started his roofing businessin 1960, he wasn’t only constructing an umbrella ofprotection that would ensure the people of Clifton asolid home environment—he was laying a foundationof trust and honesty that hascontinued to serve our com-munity for generations.

“Richard was honest withthe people,” said DorothyKnapp, Richard’s widow. “Wealways stand behind ourwork. That’s the way Richardstarted it and the way mysons have done it. We’rekeeping up the honesty.”

Richard Knapp passedaway in 1991. That’s whenthe Knapp boys, Richardand Donald, took the reinsof the business. They hadbeen working with their father since their teens andknew how much quality and trust mattered.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when RichardM. Knapp succumbed to a short but valiant battlewith Pancreatic Cancer at age 50 in 2014. But as inthe past, the business continues on, serving thecommunity with Don and his mom moving forward.

Mrs. Knapp said people who had work done byKnapp Roofing decades ago are calling again forwork on either the same homes or new homes.That’s how a strong tradition of dependability is

built. What better testa-ment to the honesty of abusiness whose first pri-ority was and still is thebest interests of their cus-tomers than that?

“There was an older gen-tleman whose roof neededsome repairs,” recalled Mrs.Knapp. “His wife was bed-ridden. Richard didn’tcharge him. He told him tobuy his wife some flowers.That’s the kind of things hedid. He was well-liked. If aroof didn’t need to be done

he’d tell them. He didn’t push unnecessary work.”Donny Knapp carries on that legacy. “We proudly

remain a family business, started and still run bythe same family. We are committed to continue thereputation of our family name,” said Mrs. Knapp.“Donny is kind, respectable and fair to all peopleand we appreciate our customers.”


“I went to basketball camps during the sum-

mer, and that got pretty intense. At the end of

the summer of 2012 I got my first contract.”

Kevin Torres – who in a way was the cata-

lyst for launching a family tradition – keeps it

local as a referee at the high school level.

Grueling year-round grindBoth Pastor and Luis Torres are in superb

physical shape – and that matters. In some

ways, referees have to have better endurance,

and be more resilient, than the athletes they

monitor. “We don’t have timeouts, water

breaks and we’re constantly scrutinized. We get

a break at halftime. That’s it,” Pastor said.

Watching what one eats, staying in shape,

and loosening up before game time are defi-

nitely must-do items. “Hurt yourself and you

may have hurt your ability to ref games for the

year,” Torres said. For many refs working at

the collegiate level, “this is their full time job.”

That’s Luis and Kevin Torres near the flagwhile their dad Pastor is on the left, as seen inOct. 2006 when they lived in Lakeview.


Even before the season begins, “We get background

checks, physicals, have to take a 50-question test, and

go through rules questions. We go to meeting after

meeting and fly to NCAA meetings at wherever the

host city will be.” There are scrimmages. “All that,

before the games go live,” Pastor Torres said.

Son Luis Torres added, “My season starts at the end

of October and goes into March. Then I have maybe a

month to relax. I go to a camp in April, a camp in May,

two camps in June, and the whole month of July I’m

away three out of four weeks, traveling from

Pennsylvania to Tennessee to Washington, D.C. to

Maryland, just for example.”

“We joke that for referees, it’s a ‘summer of illusion,

winter of discontent.’ You’re waiting for that elusive

contract to come in the mail,” says the elder Torres.

“Your family life needs to be strong. Without my wife’s

support, it would be difficult to do this.”

Pre-game, game, postgame workPastor Torres currently refs NCAA Division 1

Women’s basketball, and “I’ve had the honor of going

to March Madness twice,” including refereeing a D1

championship game. “There are 1,200 to 1,300 officials

in the nation. Only 112 are selected” for March

Madness, Torres said. “So it’s quite an honor.”

Even avid basketball fans may not know the com-

plex pre-game preparations a team of referees pursues.

“One often has to meet with the media, certainly meet

with the table personnel, meet with your crew and dis-

cuss where each member will be, how we’ll position

ourselves,” Pastor Torres said.

“We also discuss the tendencies of each team and of

their coaches, and review guidelines prescribed by the

NCAA. We do all that for 1 ½ hours before game time.”

Then there’s the game, the work that’s visible, at

least in part, to spectators.

But the night’s work isn’t done, even if one can now

head for home or, just as often, the hotel on the road.

“Once the game is over, we have to write reports, we

have to review videos,” Pastor Torres said. “We have to

report to the supervisor weekly at the college level.”

Asked if coaches try to play one official against

another, or otherwise tamper with referee team coordi-

nation, Luis Torres stated; “It’s a constant.”

As for irate or agitated coaches, “The ref team will

discuss how to handle an agitated coach, and see if we

can talk him back down,” Pastor Torres said.


“But if we did something,” he

continues, “right or wrong, and

the coach gets angry and we

ignore him, it’s going to get

worse. In today’s world, you

must communicate with the

coaches. Communication is the

key.”

Luis Torres sometimes faces

another issue. “A lot of coaches

are older than I am, so there’s a

respect factor, certainly one I

defer to. When I first started,

some coaches tried to exploit

that. I’ll tell the coaches of any

decision I make that it’s a decision by the book. I’ll

never go wrong if it’s by the book.”

Over time, he added, “I’ve gotten a little more

respect. I’m a known commodity.”

“Officials are smarter, younger, faster, Internet

savvy. Luis is in that category,” said Pastor Torres with

some pride. “The sport is going to invest 20, 25 years

in them. Luis is in the right place right now.”

Father and son tandemThe “right place” has now included father and son

working together during the same game. “The first time

was two years ago in Philadelphia, Temple vs.

LaSalle,” Luis Torres said. “It’s a normal game other-

wise. But when I’m with my dad, the expectations

make me kind of nervous. I’m working with the man I

either want to be like, or surpass. It’s nerve-wracking,”

Then senior Albert Torres, who finished his career at CHS in 2002 with 1,081career points, Coach Pete Vasil and then sophmore Devon Moffatt, who just net-ted 1,003 career points and was on his way to smash the school’s scoring record.

DeLuxe Cleaners offers FREE eveningpick-up & delivery service to CliftonResidents on Mondays, Wednesdaysand Fridays between 6 and 8:30 pm.

Clifton Residents Try Our...After Hours Pick-Up & Delivery

$10 OFFYour 1st Pick-Up

3 piece minimum • No tips accepted!Incoming orders only. First time customers only.

Not valid with other discounts.

973-546-1105

Get details and more info at

www.deluxecleaners.com

1280 Main Ave., Clifton


and for the Temple/LaSalle game it took “until the sec-

ond half to calm down.”

But the father-son team has repeated the experience

successfully. “Last year, we had three games we

worked at together, including Bucknell vs. Army,

which was on CBS Sports,” Luis said. “It’s one of the

highlights of my career so far.”

Asked if he “went easy” on his son or put the pres-

sure on instead, Pastor Torres replied, “At one time I

was harder on him, but now he’s taken his own path. He

had to ref a children’s education game one time. Game

time was 11 am, and there were thousands of scream-

ing kids in a gym; the noise was pretty intense, incred-

ibly noisy.

“Luis worked the game as I watched, and kept it all

together. I was proud of him,” his father said.

Experience as a player has helped Luis referee effec-

tively. “I was a 1,000-point scorer in Clifton High

School in 2002, the year I graduated,” he said. (Luis

notched 1,081 points.) “We made it to the state finals

twice, in my junior and senior year.” He continued

playing in his college years, so “on the court, I actually

use my player instincts, as far as when the guard is

going to shoot before he actually shoots, for example. I

think as a player, I think as a guard, and it helps me

anticipate.”

Instructing the next generationThe basketball referees of tomorrow, beyond just

family, are part of Pastor Torres’ concern, advanced

through the group Officials Timeout. “Right now I train

and mentor a lot of officials and I also assign officials

to nine or 10 different towns. It’s part of giving back,

paying back,” Torres said. “I advise and consult with

new officials. And I’m an observer at different Division

1, 2, and 3 camps. I go out and recommend different

officials to supervisors. My doors are open; my phones

are constantly ringing.”

Within Officials Timeout, Torres also assists a refer-

ral program to refer officials to different supervisors.

“Obviously today because of the economy, a lot of

folks are going toward sports because sports pay the

bills,” he observed. “But it’s not an easy job. You real-

ly have to love the game – not necessarily the big stars

or the hype surrounding a player or event.”

And on the court itself, the safe haven? “Work hard;

be humble,” Pastor Torres advised. “For life as a refer-

ee, that’ll go a long way.”


If not, put on a grey wig, stethoscope headphones,and start yapping with a Diet Coke in hand. Then on

Jan. 23, head over to the Irving Plaza Ballroom in Union

Square and join the Mongo Nation for FrancesaCon3.

Ok, you really can dress as a civilian, said Clifton’s Ron

Haraka, co-creator of this celebration of all things Mike

Francesca, the sports radio personality who hosts Mike’sOn: Francesa on the FAN, during the afternoon drive slot

formerly occupied by Mike and the Mad Dog.“Fanatics in attendance can be seen dressing up like

Francesa (thus the grey wig, etc...) in addition to some

other wacky costumes of other sports media personali-

ties,” explained Haraka, 25 who graduated Seton Hall

Prep in 2008 before going on to Loyola University in

Maryland where he earned a degree in Writing in 2012.

“One guy even dressed up as a full Diet Coke can.”

Haraka said it is the members of Mongo Nation who

help make this day great, from drumming up hype year

round on Twitter to pitching in and offering feedback on

how to improve the event year in and year out.

Most importantly, Haraka continued, “FrancesaCon

has given us the opportunity to give back to a few char-

ities with which we have personal ties. Last year, a total

of $7,500 was contributed to the Children’s Network For

Hope, the Theodore Atlas Foundation, and the Coalition

for Brain Injury Research, which is Clifton-based and

run by the Benigno family of Hazel St.”

The radio host didn’t come to the 2014 event—but the

fans did. Last year saw a huge spike in public attention,

with the appearance of Francesa himself on the big day.

“He didn’t know much about it and he was very unsure,”

recalled Haraka. “But once he said he was coming in

FrancesaCon has grown to be huge. An invention of

Clifton’s Ron Haraka (above right) and his college pal

Michael Leboff, the Jan. 23 event is centered around

WFAN radio personality Mike Francesa (inset) and those

residents of the online world of Mongo Nation who gath-

er in Irving Plaza to honor their so-called Sports Pope.

Get the picture?


2015, it was like, This is the big time. I think

what convinced him was that one, it was for

charity, and two, that it was a success last year.”

“I’ve been doing this a long time and this is

the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” Francesa told

the crowd in 2015. “You’re all nuts. A thousand

people with nothing better to do. You should be

home watching basketball.”

The crowd, some dressed identically as the

sports show talk host, laughed and cheered

before a derogatory chant about Francesa’s

radio rival, Michael Kay, broke out.

For 2016, Haraka said Jerry and The

Newcomers, will perform throughout the day,

leading up to Francesca’s appearance. Also fea-

tured will be Mike and The Mad Dog imper-

sonators Bill Buchanan and Mike Benevento,

who will help to give away prizes, raffles and

manage a silent auctions. Francesca’s former

on-air partner is Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.

Official FrancesaCon merchandise will be

for sale and Haraka said there may even be a

few surprise guests to be announced. Tickets

are $20 to $30. Find out more on Twitter.

Dr. Michael Basista, Medical Director of Immedicenter

Immedicenter1355 Broad St. • Clifton • 973-778-5566www.immedicenter.com

To More Serious Ailments…We at Immedicenter are here for you, 365 days per year

• Monday - Friday 8am to 9pm

• Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm

• Walk-in Medical Care

• Weekday Appointments Available

From Aches & Pains...


Community NewsSt. John Lutheran Church’sThrift Shop is on Feb. 6, from 9:30

am to 1 pm, at 140 Lexington Ave.

Shoppers will find a generous sup-

ply of gently used winter clothing

as well as household items and toys

and games at low prices. For info,

call 973-779-1166.

The Young At Heart Senior Clubmeets the first and third Tuesday of

the month at the Fellowship hall of

the First Presbyterian Church on

Maplewood Ave. at noon.

Refreshments begin at 11 am.

Make new friends, play bingo and

travel. Call 973-779-5581 for info.

On New Years Eve, Billy Gibsongraduated Air Force Basic Training

at Lackland Air Force Base in San

Antonio, TX. After eight and a half

weeks of boot camp (Basic Military

Training), the 2015 CHS grad

enjoyed the company of his family at

the commencement. He will remain

at Lackland in Security Force Tech

School for the next few months

before receiving orders for the first

part of his four year enlistment.

US Airman Billy Gibson Call us at 973-253-4400

or email [email protected]

Of ThE MAp Of ClIfTON

10thADvErTIsE

in the EDITION


Not a safe alternative to cigarettesCigarette smoking among high schoolstudents is dropping—that’s the goodnews. But a new study published lastmonth in Pediatrics, the journal of theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, cautionshookah use among teens is rising dramati-cally

In a national study of high school seniors,18% of the 5,540 surveyed had used hookahat least once in the past 12 months.Hookahs are water pipes with a smokechamber, bowl, pipe and hose used tosmoke specially made flavored tobaccoappealing to youth. They’re often shared byusers in smoking sessions.

Youth and young adults often think theyare safer than smoking cigarettes. Buthookah smoking has many of the samehealth risks as cigarette smoking.

“It’s a serious mistake to think thathookah filters out harmful chemicals.Carbon monoxide, tar, nicotine, and othertoxic chemicals are still present in tobacco-based hookah smoke – and often at evenhigher levels than cigarettes,” said StanleyH. Weiss, MD, of the Essex-PassaicWellness Coalition (EPWC) and Professorof Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey MedicalSchool.

In fact, the Florida American LungAssociation has pointed out that a 40 to 45-minute session using a water pipe is theequivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes—twofull packs—at one sitting!

For truthful info on hookah and e-cigs,visit web.njms.rutgers.edu/EPWC.


Career training starts unexpectedlyFor senior Quinae Jones, impromptu training for her

nursing career came unbidden — and was most disrup-

tive to her academic life.

“In the fall of 2014, everything was going great until

my mom got sick and I missed many of days in school,”

Jones recalled. “It was my junior year and I realized that

I lost credit for every class because I was absent so

much; I was so scared and felt horrible. My guidance

counselor told I could apply for the Aspire program. At

first, I was so confused I had no clue. During the sum-

mer I went for an interview/meeting with staff from the

Aspire program; we spoke to see what I can do to get

my credits back. During the meeting I was told that I

could possibly be in Aspire for two years, which made

me sad because I wasn’t going to graduate with my

class but that changed and I was given the opportunity

to graduate,” she said.

At CHS Annex, “I had a goal: to work hard and not

miss a lot of school. I knew it was going to be a lot of

work but it would be worth it. A couple months into the

school year I was accepted to be a senior! Now I keep

up with my grades and I try my best not to be absent,”

despite continuing to care for her mother at home.

“My goal is to have a career in nursing, focusing on

working in Critical Care units,” she said. “I even see my

plans moving past just nursing school and later going to

law school to link the two professions, to help those in

need get the services and representation they deserve.”

Medicinal and musical blendingAaron Bloom also is eying a career in medicine, but

maybe with a bar of music on the side.

“My future goal is to go to Nursing school and

became a registered nurse. I also want to minor in music

if I can. From there, I may decide to go to Med School;

it’s still up in the air. Either way, be it as a nurse or a

doctor, I want to work in an Emergency Room, as the

cases rolled in tend to be a bit more interesting than your

average checkup,” the CHS North Wing senior said.

But CHS has honed his musical interests as well.

“This may sound corny, but the band program has

been my greatest experience in school. While many sub-

jects come easy to people, playing an instrument is

something that needs practice, and when you see the

results of your hard work, it’s very rewarding,” said

Bloom, who plays the trumpet.

“Throw in the trips to places like Florida to perform

in the Gator Bowl, and all the friends you meet, and you

get the icing on the cake,” Bloom said.

His ‘m&m’ mix mirrors the diversity at CHS.

“We live in a melting pot of ethnicities, interests,” he

said of his hometown. “You’re never truly alone, there’s

always someone in the school that shares your interests,

be it art, music, math, or even just playing the same

video games as you.”

Quinae Jones

Aaron Bloom

Each month Vice Principals from each wing of

Clifton High nominate select students to receive

recognition as a Student of the Month. Profiles for

this month are featured below.


Bloom is part of Boy Scout Troop 122

in Allwood, chartered to the Allwood

Community Church. “The students in

CHS helped me fund my Eagle Scout

project of building 22 PVC dog beds for

the Clifton Animal Shelter. Without the

donations of the many students, whether

it be a penny or $20, I would never have

reached the goal amount required to fund

the project,” he said.

Desire more than skin-deepCHS East Wing freshman Juliana

Loukachouk, is proudly Ukrainian-

American. She attended St. Nicholas

Ukrainian Catholic School in Passaic

where she is still involved in her parish.

Looking ahead after CHS, she wants to

get “my dermatology degree in college. I

always wanted to have a career that is

challenging and can help people, and I

believe dermatology covers both of

those characteristics,” she said.

Her interest in math, “my favorite

subject,” may prove useful for her

career goal. “Unlike other subjects, you

actually have to do the work to find the

answer, and there are multiple ways to

solve a problem. It can actually help me

in the future and is a very useful subject

that I can apply to many aspects in my

life,” Loukachouk said.

Outside school, “I am a member of

the Clifton Key Club, where I volunteer

to help people in need. I am also a

member of a Ukrainian-American

Youth Organization, where I learn

about Ukrainian history and traditions,”

Loukachouk said.

At college, reading, writing, volleyballThough senior Jamie Marchioni is col-

lege-bound, she’s chosen no major just

yet. But given her role as a Mustang on

the court, volleyball must be part of any

such journey.Jamie Marchioni

Students of the Month

Juliana Loukachouk


That’s of little surprise to her

classmates, given that the she was

CHS volleyball team captain this

year, as well as being named to

Second Team All County and First

Team All Division.

“I also have been part of North

Jersey Volleyball Club for the past

four years. I definitely plan to con-

tinue playing in college,” she said.

Outside of sports, Marchioni

served as class president in her jun-

ior year. Her leadership is also

reflected in her extra curricular

activities. In junior and senior

year, she was president of Student

Against Destructive Decisions.

“We think of ways to stop sub-

stance abuse in our school and are

peer leaders to whoever needs it.”

Marchioni explained.

Communications career eyedFrom playing clarinet as a

Marching Mustang to learning

more about our city’s history

through AP classes, Michelle Ardiff

said her four years at CHS have

been important in setting her course

in college for a career in some

aspect of communications.

The industry of Public Relations

interests her in that she believes she

can tell the public the good news of

a product or person.

She explained her take on the

trade: “You can help the person or

company you are working for

achieve their goals and in doing so

provide the public with an honest

image of whom you represent. I

hope to be involved in internships

possibly in New York City to help

further my education and enhance

my abilities by getting first hand

experience.

Involved and motivated, she

spent four years challenging herself

with honors, AP classes and extra

curricular activities. She was man-

ager of the Varsity Boys Lacrosse

Team, member of the CHS History

Club and Clifton Community Band.

History Teacher John Lesler had the

greatest influence on her education.

“He makes learning interesting

and fun, and gets his students

involved in discussions and

debates. He gives his students every

opportunity possible to succeed and

is always there for them even after

they leave his class or graduate.”

Her best CHS experience was the

band trip to Norfolk, Va. “It felt

great to be involved in things out-

side of our hometown and to give

Clifton a good name in other parts

of the country,” she said. “Clifton

has evolved and modernized with

the times but it still keeps its histo-

ry and past alive by preserving and

educating its citizens about the his-

tory and significant events that

have happened here.”

Michelle Ardiff


Arts & Entertainment

The 12th Passaic County FilmFestival is on April 23 at 10 am at the

Fabian Theater in Paterson’s Center

City Mall. Film entries are due on Jan.

29, 2016 and may be no more than 10

minutes in length. Filmmakers must

live, work, or attend school in Passaic

County. Categories of the competition

include general short film; public serv-

ice announcement; documentary; music

video and tourism, or eco-tourism; his-

tory short film. Awards for best film,

best short film that highlights mental

health awareness, and North Jersey

Federal Credit Union provides a $1,000

prize and selects a filmmaker to pro-

duce a video to help promote the servic-

es of the credit union. There is no cost to

enter a film or to attend the festival. For

rules, contact [email protected]

or visit passaiccountynj.org/film.

ATC Studios’ 2016 Young Playwrights Project is

open to middle and high school students and is accept-

ing short (10 minutes or under), one-act scripts that

reflect this year’s theme Behind the Mask. Scripts,

written for one to 10 actors, with simple tech require-

ments can be submitted to ATC as a .doc or .docx to

[email protected]. Deadline is March 15.

Scripts will be read and evaluated by professionals and

teachers. From all submissions, six to 12 will be select-

ed for public performance in June, then cast and pro-

duced through ATC. The audience and a panel of pro-

fessional theater judges will select three winners to be

featured on the internet. Guidelines and past winning

entries are at atcstudios.org. Located in Downtown

Clifton, ATC Studios has been training actors, singers

and dancers of all ages and in all medias since 1990.

The 21st annual Martin LutherKing Jr. Jazz Festival andDinner is Jan. 16 from 6 pm tomidnight at the Church of theAssumption, 35 Orange Ave.,Clifton. Featured performersare Jazzy Bear and Friends,Mark Turner and Jasphere,Mista B and The Boys (pic-tured), Choice, Madame PatTandy and her Jazz Ensembleand Sieedah Songbird and Trio.Tickets include dinner andshow, are $40 in advance,$45 at the door. Call SeifullahAli Shabazz at ShabazzProductions, 973-478-4124.

The Friends of the Clifton Public Library President Vivian Semeraro, sec-ond from right, presented a $3,100 check to Library Director CandiceBrown recently. Also pictured from left are Roberta Silverburg, JoanSanford, Joan Robertson, and Fran Warren. The work of the volunteer,non-profit 501c3 organization, raised the money through fund raisingefforts and a membership campaign. The money has been designated forthe continuation of the museum pass initiative and musical programs.

The Giggles Children’s Theater presents live shows to

pediatric patients at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in

Paterson. Shows are free and families in the community

are invited to attend. January shows: singer Veronica Cole

on Jan. 12 at 4 pm; Paterson’s Art in Motion dancers on

Jan. 14 at 4 pm; Singer Carl Martin on Jan. 19 at 4 pm; a

virtual field trip to Ghana, Africa with O’iada International

on Jan. 21 at 10:30 am; Grooves Unlimited Dance Team on

Jan. 26 at 6 pm; and Short Stories for Teens! by Angela and

Evelin from the Passaic Vicinage on Jan. 28 at 1:30 pm.

Call 973-754-4960 or [email protected] for info.

The Theater League of Clifton’s annual murder-mys-

tery dinner theater will be The Multiple Mystery Murder,by Kirk Woodward, features a cast of seven, yet to be

announced. With pratfalls, whodunits and audience par-

ticipation, performances are at Mario’s Restaurant, 710

Van Houten Ave. Tckets sell out quickly so hurry and

make reservations. Dinner and the show are included in

one price. Show dates are Feb. 26, 27, and 28, and March

4, 5, and 6. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8

pm; Sunday shows begin at 4 pm. Call 973-928-7668 or

go to theaterleagueofclifton.com to order.

At the Theater League of Clifton’s (TLC) 10th Anniversary Christmas Party, from left, Councilman Bill Gibson, JohnTraier, Barbara Novak, Councilman Ray Grabowski, David Oddo of Clifton Savings Bank, Stephanie Yoda, GloriaKolodziej, Mark Peterson, Tara Freifeld, Kathleen Kellaigh, Monique Balsamo, Maryann Irizarry, Elizabeth Eisenmenger.



Shaun LaGala .................... 1/1Marek Rzasa...................... 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 ..................... 1/3James Dohm....................... 1/4

Rich Peterson ...................... 1/4Mohamad Bekheet.............. 1/5Missy Fazio........................ 1/5Alexander Ortiz.................. 1/5Jeremy Delaney .................. 1/6Gay Eaclie ......................... 1/6Larry Homsany ................... 1/8Amanda Curtiss .................. 1/9Ariana Hryckowian............. 1/9Joseph Perzely .................... 1/9Fatma Bekheet .................. 1/10Ronald Calo..................... 1/10

Richie DeMarco................ 1/10Michael Gorny ................. 1/11Katy Sokolik ..................... 1/11Nicole Unis ...................... 1/11Megan Duffy .................... 1/12Daisy Colman................... 1/13Olivia Dohm..................... 1/13Rob Generalli ................... 1/14Joe Musleh ....................... 1/14Mark Stuart ...................... 1/14Kyle Santiago................... 1/15Susan Hernandez ............. 1/16

Ashley Jeffries is 30 on Jan. 25. Austin Blesing turns 10 on Jan.17. Vicky Petrovic will party on Jan. 5. Niece Cindy Hawrylko is25 Jan. 22. Skylar De Santis turns 11 Jan. 17. Patricia Fay Baranis 18 on Jan. 26. Happy 62nd Birthday to Bob Sandri on Jan. 6.Marek Rzasa turned 14 on Jan. 1 (sorry no photo!).

Birthdays & Celebrations - January 2016

Happy Birthday to...Send dates & [email protected]


Jennifer Montanile........... 1/16Matthew Soprano........... 1/16Anna Tatarenko .............. 1/17Kim Barilari .................... 1/18Erica Pangilinan ............. 1/19Lindsay Dueben.............. 1/20Luke Falzo...................... 1/20Payton Bogatch .............. 1/21Douglas Ciallella ............ 1/21Matthew Gorun .............. 1/21Daniel Shackil ................ 1/22Evelyn Montague............ 1/23Cheryl Vigh.................... 1/23Catherine Coloccia......... 1/24Greg Collucci................. 1/24

Elizabeth Fazio turned 2 onDec. 24 but we missed it!

Isabel Victoria Calvo celebratesher first birthday on Jan. 12.


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

Birthdays & Celebrations - January 2016

Angely Sotambo had her 4th birthdayon Jan. 26. Her mom Dayana (Dec. 7b-day) and dad Carlos (Dec. 21 b-day)the Cake Boss of Lakeview Bakery, cele-brated their 7th anniversary on Dec. 6.On New Years Day, Becca Potocki andAlyssa Phillhower share a birthday.

Tomahawk Promotions

1288 main avenue

Clifton, NJ 07011

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPhila Pa 191PeRmiT No. 7510

Clifton Merchant Magazine - January 2016

Documents

Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - January 2016