Clifton Merchant Magazine - November 2010

Clifton Merchant Magazine • Volume 14 • Issue 7 • July 3, 2009

629 Clifton Ave • Clifton

973-777-7364459 Chestnut St • U

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

November 2010 • Clifton Merchant 4

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are distributed tohundreds of Clifton

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Call 973-253-4400

Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko

Graphic Designer

Michael Strong

Staff Writer

Joe Hawrylko

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

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011

Jesse Hastings and Joe Hawrylko have been at it foryears. And recently, Joe’s brother Tom joined their

ranks. These three twenty-somethings, who have no

kids nor nephews on the Hawks and the Tomahawks, the

two teams pictured above, are volunteer coaches in the

Clifton Stallions Recreational Soccer League.

Since 2005, Jesse and Joe, who both played soccer

as Mustangs at CHS, run two weekly practices to pre-

pare for the Saturday games, which are at 9 or 10 am.

At the end of the season, these young guys reach into

their own pockets and host a pizza party or take the

team to a movie—sometimes doing both.

Last year, Joe’s brother Tom found the time to get

involved and began to assist them. This fall, along with

Paul Boyko, Tom took ownership of a team of his own

and is having a great time. These young coaches invest

five or six hours a week, calling parents, meeting with

league officials and instructing a dozen or so sixth

through eighth graders about the finer points of the

friendly, yet competitive game.

Volunteers are always needed in the Clifton Stallions,

as well as other leagues in town. And you don’t have to

be a coach. Pitch in at the fieldhouse or help organize a

much needed fundraiser. Learn more about volunteering

with the league at cliftonstallions.org.

By Tom Hawrylko

At the center, three young volunteer coaches: Jesse Hastings, Joe Hawrylko and his brother Tom.

Volunteers always needed...


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Clifton Merchant Magazine1288 Main Ave. Clifton 07011

[email protected]

to theEditor

2010

Mustang Coaches Joe Grecco and Bill Vander Closter.

Hall of Famer: I was among the

Class of 2010 inducted into the

Clifton Athletic Hall of Fame—what

a great honor! Thanks to the Hall

Committee, the Board of Education,

Lou Poles, Frank and Flo Calise and

especially the great athletes I was

privileged to compete with. Go

Mustangs! My only regret was

leaving the affair before the last three

inductees were introduced due to my

daughter becoming ill.

Ed Curreri Class of 1961 [email protected]

October’s fantasy football story by

Jack DeVries which squared the 1946

Mustangs under Coach Joe Grecco

(left) and the powerhouse 1973 squad

led by Coach Bill Vander Closter

made fans scratch their heads from

Clifton to Texas. That’s where Craig

Chananie attended a wedding and, he

said, some old Mustangs debated the

story outcome over cocktails.


My family and I were more than surprised when wediscovered our triplet boys and niece on the October

cover. Your photographer did an incredible job capturing

them enjoying the spirit of Halloween, the excitement of

the parade and the festivities of the HarvestFest.

Your graphic artist did an amazing job by adding the

Emerald City, poppy fields, and of course, the yellow

brick road. As a former teacher, all I can say is A+!

Believe it or not, the four children still often watch

The Wizard of Oz and jump at the chance to wear their

costumes and perform. They know their songs and

parts well and love to re-enact scenes from the movie.

Last year’s festivities brought together many of our

family members and we all marched in the parade. My

brother, sister and I grew up in Clifton and know the

HarvestFest Parade is a long-standing tradition. That

being said, imagine our pride when our children were

first place winners in the Family/Floats category.

Surprises don’t come along very often but when they

do, it is extremely important to thank those responsible.

This cover and these pictures will be treasured always,

framed in our homes and forever in our hearts. Thank

you for this wonderful memory, and thanks to you and

your staff for the pride you take in your work. Jody Vaccaro

Wayne

Last month’s cover photo was taken by Derek Teixeira.

I spent some of the best years of my life at theClifton Boys Club, first as a gym rat, then cleaning

ashtrays at the bingo hall and finally two years as gym

director. So many great memories... but the October

story about Tom DiDonna brought to mind what was

one of the top moments for the athletic year of 1972.

The Clifton basketball team, with about a 500

record, went cross town to top ranked arch rival Paul

VI, ranked number 1 with 15 or so wins. Both teams

had kids who played together at the Boys Club and in

the park summer leagues. It was a game Clifton had

to win and nobody gave us a chance.

Bottom line: An air ball from Mike Will hit off the

referee and bounced to an opportunistic Mustang

who laid it in to put Clifton ahead in the last minute.

Two foul shots by Pete Cannizzo in the closing

seconds secured the victory. After the game, an

underclassmen took the words to Don McLean’s

American Pie and changed it to these words:

And the three men I admired the most, Wash,Moran and Joe Bigos, they took the last train to thecoast, the Day the Patriots died!

Joe BarrieOwings Mills, MD

[email protected]


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When I was a boy, my younger brother rushedinto the house and said, “Look what I found on

the driveway!” and he opened his hand and there, on

the flat of his palm, was an Indian arrow head.

“Is it real?” I asked.

My father looked at it and said, “Yes, it is. The real

thing. See how the edges are chipped away?”

Indians? Indians in New Jersey? Indians on my

driveway? I, like everyone else, learned about the

Lenni Lenape Indians in grammar school. There were

three tribes in New Jersey: the people of the stone

country to the north, the people who lived down river

in the south, and the people of the ocean.

We were told in our school days that the pilgrims

survived their first winter in the 1600’s because the

Massachusetts Indians helped the Europeans with

farming and shelter, and so today we have the heritage

of Thanksgiving, the sharing of the harvest with assur-

ance that we will survive another winter.

An entire civilization disappeared when the colonist

poured into America in the 17th and 18th centuries, and

little remains: broken arrow heads, and grainy photo-

graphs in history books. The Morris County Museum

preserves beautiful American Indian headdresses, deer-

skin skirts, beaded clothes, and models of Indian

lodges.

I was an American Indian for about a week. My

older brother had this idea that we could make tepees

with long sticks from the mock orange bush and weave

in strands of grass and clumps of leaves. We built two

just at the edge of the woods on my father’s property.

We had a difficult time staking the sticks in a circle, and

trying to tie the sticks at the top.

We found clay at the bottom of a small stream


Thanksgiving...By Christopher de Vinck

Thanksgiving...


that wiggled through the woods, and with just the right

amount of squeezing and kneading, we wrung the water

from the clay and turned it into a pliable consistency. I

made my Indian bowl the size of a cupcake. I held a

lump of clay in my hand, rolled it into a ball, squeezed

it to the size of a doughnut, and then I pressed my

thumb in the middle, and there it was, my bowl.

We baked our clay pots in an Indian camp fire my

brother constructed: a ring of stones surrounding a

small pit. I will always remember the glee I felt when I

pulled out my baked pot: warm and solid. I ran to the

house, dug out a few bottles of model ship building

paint, and a brush and I ran back outside, waving the

paint above my head.

I remember carefully painting alternating strips

down the side of the bowl: yellow, red, green and blue.

I was the new Indian artist.

We no longer find much evidence of the America

Indian here in New Jersey. At Thanksgiving we see

images of pilgrims and Indians sharing a sumptuous

meal. Boys pretend they are Indians building teepees

with grass and sticks, and make clay pots with painted

strips.

We need to remember the estimated 15,000 Lenni

Lenape people who lived in New Jersey when the pil-

grims arrived. They cultivated potatoes, corn, beans,

squash, ate salmon and bear. They believed their God

pushed up a turtle from the Atlantic which formed the

island of North America, and they believed that their

ancestors emerged from an oak tree that grew from the

turtle’s back.

Hannah, the last living Lenni Lenape, lived in

Chester County. She was born in 1730, grew herbs, was

a famous healer in her region, and died in 1802.

This Thanksgiving let us remember the spirit of the

America Indian, they who believed that “we must walk

lightly in spring because that is when Mother Earth is

pregnant.” Let us give thanks to tribes of men and

women who saved the lives of the first pilgrims.

And let us sit at our Thanksgiving tables and do as

the America Indians suggested over four hundred years

ago: “Before eating, always take a little time to thank

the food.”

Dr. Christopher de Vinck, a graduate from Teachers College,

Columbia University, is the Language Arts Supervisor at

Clifton High School; an adjunct professor of English

Education at Montclair State

University, and the author of 12 books.

His best know work is The Power of the

Powerless (Crossroad Books) a book

on the struggles and joys of loving his

severely disabled brother. This essay is

from his upcoming book ‘Moments of

Grace: Days of a Faith Filled

Dreamer,’ to be published next Spring.

Let us remember the spirit of theAmerican Indian, they who believed that

‘we must walk lightly in spring because this is when Mother Earth is pregnant.’

Veterans Parade: November 7th 2pm • From Main & Sylvan Aves. to War Monument in Main Memorial Park


Saluting OurHeroes from the 38th Parallel

When you turn this page, you’ll read more about John Finley

and the US Marines pictured behind him. He took the photo

of his comrades after they spend a cold and frozen winter in 1950

fighting bravely to defend the Chosin Reservor. As brutal and bloody

as the conflict in Korea was, it has been for decades refered to as The

Forgotten War. But here in Clifton, we don’t forget. Those who

defended our country during the Korean War—as well as others who

served during conflict and peace—will be honored in the city’s annu-

al Veterans Parade, which takes place on Sunday, Nov. 7.

By Joe Hawrylko


Even a half century later, John Finley still gri-

maces when asked to recall the details of his year

spent at the 38th Parallel in the Korean War.

The brutal cold at the Chosin

Reservoir. The shallow foxholes

that served as a temporary housing

for a some 30,000 American

Marines. The deadly abyss of the

night, only cut short by a piercing

whistle, signifying that several

thousand angry Chinese and

Korean soldiers were about to

emerge from the blackness.

“When it was night, you prayed

for daytime,” recalled Finley, as he

leaned back in his recliner in his

modest home off Grove St. “The

Chinese would only attack at night.

They had bugles and whistles they

used to coordinate attacks. It was

an eerie feeling.”

Worse yet was when Finley and

his fellow soldiers would try to

advance under the cover of darkness, trying to inch

their way back to safety. “We would be told to get ready

to move. We got up, held hands and moved forward,”

he recalled. “It was night—pitch black. We held each

other’s hands like vice grips.”

It’s called The Forgotten War by some, but you don’t

need to ask Finley if that’s the name he uses for the

conflict. You can see it on his face—what happened

there, you can’t forget.

As much as the memories of Korea still haunt him,

Finley admits that he willingly enlisted at a recruitment

office with five of his buddies from Paterson in the

Summer of 1948.

“I was 18 then. We were all gung ho, everyone still

had that patriotic spirit,” said Finley.

America was still high off of its victory in World

War II, and service in the name of country was seen as

honorable and relatively safe at the time. It beat getting

drafted and stuck in the bottom of some Navy ship.

Papers signed and stamped, Finley boarded a bus for

Newark on July 12, 1948, then caught a train bound for

US Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island. After complet-

ing his basic training, he was sent to Barbor’s Point in

Hawaii in the Fall of that year.

Out there, Finley’s greatest threat was a bad case of

sun poisoning, or maybe boredom while on guard

detail. He could have been a part of the occupying

forces in Japan, Allied Germany or

any of the other countries still in

disarray from WWII, but Finley

lucked out with two years in a

tropical paradise.

“Little did I know what was

going to happen,” he laughed soft-

ly. It’s funny how you can always

recall all of the minute details on a

day that your life changed.

“It was a Sunday, June 25,

1950. I was in the rec room at

base and the TV news said that

North Korea had invaded the

South,” said Finley. “We didn’t

even know where the hell Korea

was, but we’d soon find out.”

War had just broken out at the

38th Parallel, and Finley was one of

several hundred thousand American

troops that would eventually set foot in the Asian country

as a part of a police action by the United Nations (UN).

Within days, Marines from Finley’s base, Guam,

Japan and other Pacific camps were rounded up to

make the 1st Division, and then flown to Japan for stag-

ing in August.

On Sept. 15, 1950, troops under the direction of

Army General Douglas MacArthur, invaded North

Korea-controlled territory in a daring amphibious

assault at Inchon. Tactically, the Americans were try-

ing to cut off the supply route to the North Korean

troops that had pushed farther down south.

Finley’s war began here, when touched down not

long after the initial waves stormed the beach.

“At first, it was like, what the hell am I doing here,”

he recalled. “But once you get shot at, you get accus-

tomed to it.”

Inchon was secured quickly, and Finley, along with

the 1st Division, moved on to the capital city of Seoul.

After many grueling days of bloody urban combat, the

South Korean capital was declared liberated by the

Americans on Sept. 25.

“At that time, there were so many rumors that other sol-

diers were telling you that they heard,” said Finley.


John Finley after USMC boot camp.


“[Military brass] never told you where

you were going until you got there.”

It turned out that the 1st

Division would head back to the

boats, which transported the

troops to Wonsan in enemy-con-

trolled North Korea. The plan

was to fight inward and meet up

with troops already occupying

land near the Chosin Reservoir.

The Marines had no idea what

awaited them in the hills over-

looking the water.

“The Army and the South

Koreans were already up there,” he

said. “That’s when all the crap hit

the fan because that’s when the

Chinese intervened.”

Holding the lower lying ground

near the water, the Americans were

encircled by six divisions from the

Chinese army. The enemy attackers

had come from the mountain and in

the process, the escape route—a

treacherous, narrow road way that

stretched 78 miles to Hungnam—

was cut off.

With limited supplies and no

shelter from the brutal weather con-

ditions, the Americans only had one

option: Battle their way out.

“We joked that it was a ‘Retreat

Ho!’ because we were fighting in the

direction that we had come from,”

said Finley.

A total of 30,000 UN troops

engaged some 60,000 Chinese sol-

diers in a brutal battle that stretched

from Nov. 27 to Dec 13. As danger-

ous as the constant Chinese attacks

were, the extreme winter conditions

that reduced the area around Chosin

to a frozen tundra, could kill you

just as quickly.

“Everybody got frostbite there,”

said Finley. “We didn’t even have

our winter gear with us yet. It was

always 30-40 below zero. The

water canteens, they would burst

because the water in it would

freeze. Your guns would jam up.

You slept with your gun by your

body to keep it warm. You were

fighting the weather, that was

enemy number one.”

Even once the cold weather sup-

plies came, they were of little use in

the extreme temperatures. Each UN

soldier was given two pairs of boot

inserts, which were to be rotated to

keep the feet dry. But with the con-

stant action, the wearer would sweat

and the socks would freeze.

“They were Mickey Mouse

boots,” scoffed Finley, who suffered

from frostbite in his feet and legs.

Over 7,000 UN troops were listed as

non-battle casualties at Chosin.

“It was freezing cold up there.

Ditches were your home for a while,

but they were so hard to dig because

it was frozen out,” said Finley, who

was discharged in 1952. The entire

1st Marine Division received a

Presidential Citation after the

Americans returned home.

“We even had Thanksgiving din-

ner right in our foxholes,” he added.

After returning home, he married

his wife, Ethel, on Sept. 19, 1953,

and went to work in construction and

later as a custodian at Christopher

Columbus Middle School.

To this day, he meets up every

other year with his former com-

rades, dubbed The Chosin Few, to

somberly celebrate their safe return.

“It was just unbelieveable,” said

Finley. “I try not to think about it.”

USMC Reserve Lt. William Kullerwas reported Killed in Action in

Korea in July 7, 1951. The 37 year

old Marine had previously served in

WWII after temporarily suspending

his studies at the Georgia Institute of

Technology, where he graduated

from in June 1949.

According to his cousin, Bill

Frisch of Clifton, Kuller was

downed by sniper fire while return-

ing from his last patrol of the day.

This information was relayed to

Kuller’s wife, Gloria, by a soldier

that was with the Cliftonite at the

time of his passing.

Kuller, a second lieutenant, was

recalled to active duty in October of 1950 and was only in Korea for two

months when he was shot. The Cliftonite was working as an engineer

prior to being called to duty at the 38th Parallel.

“He went to Korea as a Marine engineer, but things were so bad that

when they got there, they turned everybody into infantry,” said Frisch.

After his passing, the City of Clifton honored Kuller, a lifelong resident

who attended School 13 and CHS, by naming the long industrial road that

stretches between Hazel and Paulison Aves. after him.

USMC 2nd Lt William Kuller



Tom Genuardi didn’t see any

combat action while serving

during the Korean War, but his

work in outlying bases provided

critical landing, refueling and stag-

ing locations to support the work of

armed troops.

Genuardi played a pivotal role as

a Navy SeaBee—the nickname

given to the Navy Construction

Battalions—and was stationed in

the Philipines, not far from the

Chinese border.

Like many kids who graduated

high school some five decades ago,

Genuardi went down to the recruit-

ing station in the Passaic Post

Office and signed his life over to

Uncle Sam in August of 1952.

“That was the thing to do when

we were kids, like joining the

Moose of the Elks today,” said the

1950 Passaic High grad.

Looking back, he laughs at his

boyhood patriotism but has no

regrets. “It was a lousy era, the

whole world was at war. It was us

against them. But yeah, I guess

everybody was doing it and I

signed up too.”

Genuardi was shipped out for

basic training in Bambridge,

Maryland, where he remained for

16 weeks. Originally, he wanted to

be a normal seaman in the Navy,

but the military had different plans

for Genuardi.

“They made me an offer that I

couldn’t refuse,” he laughed. “I

was a carpenter apprentice, and I

had no intention of going into the

Making Way for MarinesSeaBee Tom Genuardi Built Landing Strips & Roads

By Joe Hawrylko

Tom Genuardi as a SeaBee back during the Korean War and today. His Navy training led to a career as a carpenter.


SeaBees. I wanted to get into the regularly Navy, but

according to them, if I didn’t go into the SeaBees, my

first three months would be as a mess cook and you

definitely don’t want to do that.”

Genuardi was sent to Port Hueneme, California for

SeaBee training. After that was completed, he was

shipped out to the Philipines to help build a camp that

was situated some 60 miles outside of Manilla.

“Things were heating up with China too, so they

needed a base that was far enough away from China,

but within range of our B29s,” explained Genuardi.

“We built that strip strictly so we could have first

strike capability in case we went to war with China,” he

added. “We’d have plenty of time to send our fighters

in to defend us and send out B29s to bomb the crap out

of them.”

However, building a base was not that simple. The

landscape required the SeaBees to essentially shape the

earth to their needs. Luckily, Genuardi and the other

SeaBees had a variety of machinery at their disposal.

Contractors would loan out machinery and tools for

field trials, allowing the military to excavate the earth

needed to make the airfield.

“The bomber strips had to be like 2.5 miles long. The

fighter strips needed less.... but because of the prevailing

winds, there was a mountain in the way,” said Genuardi,

who was a demolitions expert. “So they took 500 feet

off of the mountain and dumped it into the bay.”

After about a year, Genaurdi was placed on motor-

pool duty, where he supervised the swimming pool for

the WAVEs—Women Accepted for Volunteer

Emergency Service. He spent the final few months of

his service in that capacity before returning home in

June of 1954.

Genuardi considered re-enlisting but decided to

return to civilian life. He worked as a union carpen-

ter for over 40 years, and was a Clifton Special Police

Officer for 36 years. Genuardi has been married to his

wife, Mary, for 54 years and has three children, four

grandchildren and one great grandson.

973-772-8451Roofing • SidingSeamless Gutters

Additions • Alterations

“Forget eating white rice,” laughed US Army vet-

eran Bob Cirkus. “To this day, I still am not a fan

of white rice. Or any Oriental food. And if there was a

backfire of a car, I’ve been known to jump into the bush-

es—That only happened once though.”

A year in the Vietnamese jungle will have a profound

effect on even the most battle hardened of soldiers—

much less a 21 year old kid. The mental scarring from

such an experience can manifest itself in countless ways.

Some spend many dark years

haunted by terrible dreams and

flashbacks. Others might have

gotten away a peculiar but innocu-

ous habit of smoking a cigarette

with a hand covering the cherry—

what savvy soldiers did in the jun-

gle at night to avoid detection

from Vietcong sharpshooters.

Considering the stuff that

Cirkus saw in country from 1966

to 1967, not being able to stomach

exotic food is, relatively speaking,

making it out pretty well.

But his time in the jungle did

leave him with some lasting men-

tal scars that aren’t quite as

humorous. Leaning forward in

his chair, his bearded face sudden-

ly turned serious.

“Just sitting down with an Oriental... that took many

years before I could do that again,” explained Cirkus. “If

I ever got into an area with too many people. I’d move

away. I had problems dealing with that. You never had

mass groups of people in Vietnam. Even though you’re

only in the jungle for a year, the impact of living in a com-

bat zone takes a toll on you.”

It was June of 1965 when the government pulled

Cirkus’ lottery number He was being assigned to the

Army, and given the political climate at the time, he knew

that meant he was bound for Vietnam.

Two years prior in 1963, President Lyndon B.

Johnson announced his intentions to increase the

American presence in the Southeast Asian country. The

numbers ballooned from just a few thousand advisors

and observers in the early 60s to nearly 200,000 troops

by the end of 1965.

In preparation for deployment, Cirkus distanced himself

from others to soften the blow if he didn’t come home.

“I already met my wife, Carol, and we had gotten

engaged,” he recalled. Carol

passed away in December after 42

years of marriage. “When I got

my greetings and salutations from

Uncle Sam, I basically called off

the wedding and the engagement

because of the fact that Vietnam

was building up. I didn’t want to

leave a widow before I left a

wife.”

Though he did write to his

fiance while in training at Fort

Dix, NJ, contact became less fre-

quent when Cirkus was shipped to

Fort Knox, KT for additional

training to repair mounted turret

guns on vehicles.

When New Years rolled around

in 1966, Cirkus was on a ship

bound for Vietnam with the 25th

Infantry. By that time, letters had become infrequent—

and that was probably for the better.

“Your family back home, your fiance... it’s all on your

mind all the time, but you have to face reality,” said

Cirkus. “Even though you’re thinking of them, you have

to worry about doing your job and what was around you.”

The 25th was stationed in the highlands of Pleiku, a

vital military supply logistics corridor. Though trained to

repair machine gun turrets, Cirkus quickly learned


A Year in a War Zone

Bob Cirkus in Vietnam in 1966.


Bob Cirkus Became a Lifetime Advocate for VeteransBy Joe Hawrylko


A Year in a War ZoneVeterans Parade: November 7th 2pm • From Main & Sylvan Aves. to War Monument in Main Memorial Park

Salute Our Vets • Sunday Nov. 7, 2 pmClifton Veterans Parade East Ridgelawn Cemetery also invites you to visit our Mausoleum on Main Avenue to

pause, reflect and remember the lives of those who have passed. Visits are unlimited and

unaffected by the weather. Crypts are located in the building and convenient for elderly

and handicapped. Mausoleum entombment provides greater Peace of Mind & Security.

• niches• mausoleum

• garden graves• non-sectarian

• monumental graves• no obligation pre-need counseling

• financing available one-year at no interest on easy monthly plans

East Ridgelawn Cemetery255 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07014

for more information with no obligation call:

973-777-1920

Once again we are

proud to help spread

the word and remind

residents to stand along

Main Avenue on Nov. 7

near Main Memorial Park

to Salute our Veterans.


that a successful soldier needs to develop key skills not

taught in basic training to get by in the jungle.

“Once you have knowledge of some stuff, if you get

the books and the right tools you can repair anything,” he

said. “Anything that fired a bullet, I repaired. If I could-

n’t repair it, it didn’t get fixed.”

Cirkus worked on everything from a standard issue

M1911 pistols to a 175 inch track Howitzer, a mobile

artillery cannon with a range of more that 30 km. But no

single item gave Cirkus more trouble than the M-16.

“The M-16 was basically a brand new weapon, which

we called the Matel toy because of the fact it would jam

up a lot,” he explained. “It wasn’t meant to be put in that

environment. You were either in mud or you were in

dust. There was no in between.”

As a result, many servicemen tried to get their hands

on alternative means of defense, like the old M-14s,

enemy rifles or shotguns.

“The pointmen used to use sawed off shotguns and it

was a ‘military issued’ type situation,” recalled Cirkus.

“It got to the point where if one had to get fixed it wasn’t

replaced, so what I used to do was if I couldn’t fix one,

I’d confiscate it and use it for parts on others. I literally

had guys cry to me.”

He didn’t say anything at the time, but secretly, Cirkus

understood, even sympathized, with those who shed tears

before him. A powerful weapon like a shotgun

Bob Cirkus, far right, helping raise funds for the familiesof deployed Guardsmen. At left is former NationalCommander of the Jewish War Veterans, Dan Weiss andBrigadier General Glen Reath.



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“Diabetic peripheral neuropathy isnot only painful but dangerous,”says Graziano, a Fellow of theAmerican College of Foot and AnkleSurgeons with offices in Clifton. “It's aleading contributor to foot ulcers inpeople with diabetes."

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saved lives in the bush. Even at his camp, where Cirkus

spent most of his time doing repairs, danger lurked nearby.

“One day, I was standing on the Pleiku motorpool area,

all the sudden there was a gunshot and a guy took a sniper’s

shot in the palm of his hand,” he recalled. “There was no

such thing as a front line over there.”

That was a fact of life in the jungle that Cirkus learned

very quickly upon being stationed at Pleiku. The

Vietcong had the homefield advantage. This was their

territory, and the natives had no qualms about using

relentless guerrilla warfare to physically and mentally

exhaust the Americans.

“[The base] was built in a peanut field, but yet there

was tunnels all running underneath it, but at the time, they

[American commanders] didn’t know about it,” he said.

“A North Vietnamese would be in a hole for a couple

days, pop his head out to take a shot and spend a few

more days hiding in that hole and then he’d try to get

away.”

Trouble found you ever if you didn’t look for it at

times. And though he didn’t regularly patrol the jungle

like other GIs, Cirkus would occasionally have to venture

up to a forward position for emergency repairs. Luckily,

the Army supplied him well.

At his disposal were a Jeep, a three quarter (pick-up

truck), a deuce and a half (dump truck) and a helicopter.

And each war machine came heavily armed: The Jeep

had 50 and 60 caliber machine guns, and the three quar-

ter and the deuce and a half both had two sets of each gun.

“I was well prepared,” Cirkus said of his time riding

shotgun through the jungle. “I used to go to Cam Ranh

periodically to pick up supplies. Whenever I used to

appear at the convoy, the MP would ask me to take the

lead, mainly because of all the armor I had.”

Back HomeAfter almost a year in the jungle, Cirkus returned to the

United States in February 1967. Though the war was

already underway for nearly a decade by the time he

deployed, Vietnam was just starting to reach its apex

when Cirkus was being sent home.

Public opinion on the police action in Vietnam com-

pletely flipped, with more and more people calling for an

end to the conflict. The nation was in the midst of unrest.

Hippies protested Vietnam on college campuses, while

Civil Rights activists took to the streets.

Cirkus, stationed in Ft. Hood, TX prior to his June

1967 discharge, recalled how much the country had

changed in the span of a year.

“My discharge date was Monday and it was the

Saturday before. I was sitting there, watching the news

and I look up at the TV and there’s tanks blocking off the

Garden State Parkway going into Newark,”


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saved lives in the bush. Even at his camp, where Cirkus

spent most of his time doing repairs, danger lurked nearby.

“One day, I was standing on the Pleiku motorpool area,

all the sudden there was a gunshot and a guy took a sniper’s

shot in the palm of his hand,” he recalled. “There was no

such thing as a front line over there.”

That was a fact of life in the jungle that Cirkus learned

very quickly upon being stationed at Pleiku. The

Vietcong had the homefield advantage. This was their

territory, and the natives had no qualms about using

relentless guerrilla warfare to physically and mentally

exhaust the Americans.

“[The base] was built in a peanut field, but yet there

was tunnels all running underneath it, but at the time, they

[American commanders] didn’t know about it,” he said.

“A North Vietnamese would be in a hole for a couple

days, pop his head out to take a shot and spend a few

more days hiding in that hole and then he’d try to get

away.”

Trouble found you ever if you didn’t look for it at

times. And though he didn’t regularly patrol the jungle

like other GIs, Cirkus would occasionally have to venture

up to a forward position for emergency repairs. Luckily,

the Army supplied him well.

At his disposal were a Jeep, a three quarter (pick-up

truck), a deuce and a half (dump truck) and a helicopter.

And each war machine came heavily armed: The Jeep

had 50 and 60 caliber machine guns, and the three quar-

ter and the deuce and a half both had two sets of each gun.

“I was well prepared,” Cirkus said of his time riding

shotgun through the jungle. “I used to go to Cam Ranh

periodically to pick up supplies. Whenever I used to

appear at the convoy, the MP would ask me to take the

lead, mainly because of all the armor I had.”

Back HomeAfter almost a year in the jungle, Cirkus returned to the

United States in February 1967. Though the war was

already underway for nearly a decade by the time he

deployed, Vietnam was just starting to reach its apex

when Cirkus was being sent home.

Public opinion on the police action in Vietnam com-

pletely flipped, with more and more people calling for an

end to the conflict. The nation was in the midst of unrest.

Hippies protested Vietnam on college campuses, while

Civil Rights activists took to the streets.

Cirkus, stationed in Ft. Hood, TX prior to his June

1967 discharge, recalled how much the country had

changed in the span of a year.

“My discharge date was Monday and it was the

Saturday before. I was sitting there, watching the news

and I look up at the TV and there’s tanks blocking off the

Garden State Parkway going into Newark,”

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recalled Cirkus. “A lot of the guys knew I was from

Jersey and I was just like, ‘Holy Christ, I was in a com-

bat zone and I come back to this?’”

He had no idea just how bad things had become at home.

“I got off the plane and my mother and father had just

met me. We were walking through LaGuardia Airport

and these two college boys approach me,” he recalled. “I

was still wearing basically my jungle fatigues and he

says, ‘Wow, did you just come back from Vietnam?

Wow, are you one of them f---ing baby killers?’ And then

he spit on me.”

Cops intervened before Cirkus could act, but the inci-

dent was forever etched in his memory with the other ter-

rible things he experienced due to Vietnam.

“People would welcome me with open arms and other

people would pass comments—’How can you do this?’

said Cirkus. “It’s my country. Right or wrong, I’m going

to stand behind it.”

The reception that the returning soldier received after

Vietnam is part of the reason he remains so involved in

veteran affairs.

Cirkus is a member of the Epithian Order, the Jewish

War Veterans Post 47 and is Past State Commander of the

Jewish War Veterans, where he has held a number of

national posts as well. The Cliftonite is also affiliated

with VFW 6487, the American Legion Vets Post 30,

Vietnam Vets of America Chapter 800, Jewish Memorial

Chapter Clifton, and he is on the Veterans Advisory

Board at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans

Cemetery in Wrightstown.

“I was also affiliated with the Catholic War Vets—

Yeah, I got in there, too,” he laughed.

Cirkus explained how he uses his influental positions to

create awareness and recalled an interview he did with

Channel 4 Philadelphia as the State Commander of the

Jewish War Vets some years back. The journalist, who was

perplexed that Cirkus was on hand to meet the soldiers

despite not knowing any personally, asked the Cliftonite to

the treatment of today’s soldiers with the reception that he

received upon returning home from Vietnam.

“I felt like I stood there for about an hour and at that

time, I turned to her and said, ‘You know what, it’s all

about them and not us,’” recalled Cirkus. “And then we

walked away. The only thing I can say as a Vietnam

Veteran—and probably any other Vietnam Vet will tell

you the same thing—we’re never going to let what hap-

pened to us happen to any other military personnel. We

will never let society ever forget the solider.”



recalled Cirkus. “A lot of the guys knew I was from

Jersey and I was just like, ‘Holy Christ, I was in a com-

bat zone and I come back to this?’”

He had no idea just how bad things had become at home.

“I got off the plane and my mother and father had just

met me. We were walking through LaGuardia Airport

and these two college boys approach me,” he recalled. “I

was still wearing basically my jungle fatigues and he

says, ‘Wow, did you just come back from Vietnam?

Wow, are you one of them f---ing baby killers?’ And then

he spit on me.”

Cops intervened before Cirkus could act, but the inci-

dent was forever etched in his memory with the other ter-

rible things he experienced due to Vietnam.

“People would welcome me with open arms and other

people would pass comments—’How can you do this?’

said Cirkus. “It’s my country. Right or wrong, I’m going

to stand behind it.”

The reception that the returning soldier received after

Vietnam is part of the reason he remains so involved in

veteran affairs.

Cirkus is a member of the Epithian Order, the Jewish

War Veterans Post 47 and is Past State Commander of the

Jewish War Veterans, where he has held a number of

national posts as well. The Cliftonite is also affiliated

with VFW 6487, the American Legion Vets Post 30,

Vietnam Vets of America Chapter 800, Jewish Memorial

Chapter Clifton, and he is on the Veterans Advisory

Board at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans

Cemetery in Wrightstown.

“I was also affiliated with the Catholic War Vets—

Yeah, I got in there, too,” he laughed.

Cirkus explained how he uses his influental positions to

create awareness and recalled an interview he did with

Channel 4 Philadelphia as the State Commander of the

Jewish War Vets some years back. The journalist, who was

perplexed that Cirkus was on hand to meet the soldiers

despite not knowing any personally, asked the Cliftonite to

the treatment of today’s soldiers with the reception that he

received upon returning home from Vietnam.

“I felt like I stood there for about an hour and at that

time, I turned to her and said, ‘You know what, it’s all

about them and not us,’” recalled Cirkus. “And then we

walked away. The only thing I can say as a Vietnam

Veteran—and probably any other Vietnam Vet will tell

you the same thing—we’re never going to let what hap-

pened to us happen to any other military personnel. We

will never let society ever forget the solider.”

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As Veteran’s Day approaches,I remember my Uncle Sal

Sperlazzi. Like so many of his

Greatest Generation, Sal served

during World War II, joining the

U.S. Navy at age 29. When he left

for the Pacific, he was an expectant

father awaiting his first son Robert,

a future Passaic teacher.

Uncle Sal died last year at the

age of 95. As these World War II

veterans leave us, we must remem-

ber the supreme sacrifices they

made. We enjoy our

freedom today

because of these brave

men and women.

Sal, who once

worked at the Doherty

Silk Mill and managed

boxers, was a “humble

hero.” He was a sailor

who couldn’t swim

and was usually sea-

sick. Working in the

engine room of his

beloved USS Tallulah – a fleet oiler

that would earn seven battle stars in

WWII – Sal would race to the

ship’s deck when Japanese planes

attacked.

His job was to wear big asbestos

gloves and catch the shells of the

anti-aircraft guns firing at the sky.

“I only missed once,” he said, “my

first shell. But I never missed

again.”

In 1944, American military lead-

ers planned to drive

through the central

Pacific, right to

Japan’s doorstep.

Key to their plan was

the capture of the Mariana Islands,

which meant occupying Saipan and

neighboring Tinian, and recaptur-

ing Guam. These islands were crit-

ical to their strategy; needed air

strips could be built and enable the

Air Corp to fly their new long-

range bomber, the B-29

Superfortress, directly to Japan.

Previous invasions had been

against coral atolls – small and

about a dozen feet above sea level.

In contrast, the Marianas were large

and volcanic with mountainous

interiors. Formidable enemy

defenses were entrenched.

Bombardment by our ships and

massive air strikes would support

the invasion.

On June 15, 1944, it began. It

was a costly battle – American

casualties numbered 24,000 killed

by the campaign’s end in August.

My “humble hero” Sal Sperlazzi

was there. He spoke of watching

the shelling of Guam from the

Tallulah’s deck (“It resembled fire-

works,” he said) and witnessing a

Kamikaze plane shot out of the sky

By Adeline De Vries

Uncle Sal was an Everyman

Uncle Sal Sperlazzi found a little time for R&R (rest & relaxation)during WWII. Above, Sal with his niece, Adeline, who is also themom to frequent Clifton Merchant contributor, Jack De Vries.

A Humble Hero from the Greatest Generation



As Veteran’s Day approaches,I remember my Uncle Sal

Sperlazzi. Like so many of his

Greatest Generation, Sal served

during World War II, joining the

U.S. Navy at age 29. When he left

for the Pacific, he was an expectant

father awaiting his first son Robert,

a future Passaic teacher.

Uncle Sal died last year at the

age of 95. As these World War II

veterans leave us, we must remem-

ber the supreme sacrifices they

made. We enjoy our

freedom today

because of these brave

men and women.

Sal, who once

worked at the Doherty

Silk Mill and managed

boxers, was a “humble

hero.” He was a sailor

who couldn’t swim

and was usually sea-

sick. Working in the

engine room of his

beloved USS Tallulah – a fleet oiler

that would earn seven battle stars in

WWII – Sal would race to the

ship’s deck when Japanese planes

attacked.

His job was to wear big asbestos

gloves and catch the shells of the

anti-aircraft guns firing at the sky.

“I only missed once,” he said, “my

first shell. But I never missed

again.”

In 1944, American military lead-

ers planned to drive

through the central

Pacific, right to

Japan’s doorstep.

Key to their plan was

the capture of the Mariana Islands,

which meant occupying Saipan and

neighboring Tinian, and recaptur-

ing Guam. These islands were crit-

ical to their strategy; needed air

strips could be built and enable the

Air Corp to fly their new long-

range bomber, the B-29

Superfortress, directly to Japan.

Previous invasions had been

against coral atolls – small and

about a dozen feet above sea level.

In contrast, the Marianas were large

and volcanic with mountainous

interiors. Formidable enemy

defenses were entrenched.

Bombardment by our ships and

massive air strikes would support

the invasion.

On June 15, 1944, it began. It

was a costly battle – American

casualties numbered 24,000 killed

by the campaign’s end in August.

My “humble hero” Sal Sperlazzi

was there. He spoke of watching

the shelling of Guam from the

Tallulah’s deck (“It resembled fire-

works,” he said) and witnessing a

Kamikaze plane shot out of the sky

before it hit a ship. Each

morning, Sal served at his

station, catching hot shells

during battle as the large

guns ejected their hot cas-

ings.

But a more nerve-wrack-

ing time for him would

come later. Below in the

engine room of the oil-filled

vessel, Sal would listen to

the thunder of battle, know-

ing one well-aimed strike

would bring a fiery death.

Saipan was secured on July 9, 1944. Within two

weeks, army units and Marines stormed ashore at

Guam, then Tinian. Immediately, military engineers

leveled the northern half of the island and built the

bases for the B-29s. In August 1945 from one of these

fields, a Superfortress took off on a secret mission to

Hiroshima, ushering in the Atomic age and hastening

the end of World War II.

On Veteran’s Day, I remember Uncle Sal and all the

other veterans. Each contributed to our standard of liv-

ing and freedom today. They courageously did their

jobs and many never came home.

“Hero,” as defined by Daniel Webster, is one who is

“endowed with great strength, a champion, a man

admired for his achievements and noble qualities, one

who shows great courage and is self-sacrificing.”

We owe all our heroes a debt of gratitude.Uncle Sal was an EverymanVeterans Parade: November 7th 2pm • From Main & Sylvan Aves. to War Monument in Main Memorial Park

Melanie Ciaffi


On the battlefield, an air evac-uation is the difference

between life and death for a

wounded soldier. But James

Marrocco of Marrocco Memorial

Chapel sent us a note and these

photos to let us know that the prac-

tice was innovated by his uncle, a

Paterson physician.

Fight surgeon Major William A.

Marrocco of the 27th

Bombardment Group perfected his

system while stationed at Bataan

and New Guinea during World War

II. The concept eventually evolved

into the helicopter medivac, which

was popularized in Vietnam and is


Medical Innovations at WarMedivac Techniquesby William Marrocco


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used around the world today.

As a civilian, Marrocco was a

physician in Paterson who

answered the call to arms in the

Fall of 1941. After his officer

training, he was shipped out to the

Philippines in November.

The air lifts were first planned

at Archer Field in Brisbane,

Australia, the home of the Fifth

Air Force. Receiving troops from

the nearby island combat zones,

Marrocco first learned by trial and

error. He later enlisted the help of

General Douglas MacArthur to get

around military bureaucracy.

This allowed Marrocco to coor-

dinate so that last planes exiting

the battlefield would have room

for the first few wounded.

Eventually, Marrocco managed to

get dedicated flights from the bat-

tlefield for wounded troops, com-

plete with on-flight medical staff.

He also perfected medical supply

drops, which originally were

stored in empty ammunition con-

tainers and dropped from planes

flying over the combat area.

Marrocco eventually took flight

surgeon courses so he could join in

on medivac operations. He also

saw ground action, suffering

minor shrapnel wounds while sta-

tioned at Java.

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Medical Innovations at War


Story by Joe Hawrylko

“Iwas drafted right on mybirthday, June 25, 1941,”

said Jim Scangarello, as he sat at his

kitchen table in his Dutch Hill

home. Though he now gets a

chuckle at his bad luck some seven

decades ago, the Cliftonite wasn’t

so humored when Uncle Sam came

calling.

“That was a terrible day. I was

with my girlfriend (and later, his

wife), Angelina,” said Scangarello,

who served in the Army. “I was

crying because I didn’t want to

leave home. She was my girlfriend.

I wanted to stay home with her.”

But with Europe rapidly losing

ground to Axis Forces, it became

obvious that America would even-

tually enter the conflict.

Scangarello left his job at Bright

Star Battery, where he had worked

since dropping out of Clifton High

School to support his family during

The Depression, and prepared for

his new life.

“I got on a bus at Broad St., by

where the fire house is,” he

recalled. “We went to Newark to

some armory, and there was about a

1,000 guys.”

As he was processed, an officer

pulled him aside and instructed him

to head towards the front of the

room: “They called me up front .”

Scangarello continued. “and every-

one yells, ‘Happy Birthday!’”

It was a brief, light-hearted

moment in an otherwise gloomy

time for Scangarello. In total, his

family sent three sons—Jim, his

twin, Peter, and Tom—off to fight

the Axis Powers. Peter served in a

tank unit in General Patton’s Army

in France, and Tom flew Air Force

B-17s on bombing runs over

Italian-controlled Africa.

Scangarello’s soon-to-be wife

also had family in service.

Angelina’s brother, US Army 2nd

Lt. Stephen Messineo, was killed in

action on Feb. 18, 1944 in Italy, on

the Anzio Beachhead.

The Army first shipped out

Scangarello to Port Eustis, Virginia

for basic, and then to Florida for

barrage balloon training. “They

were like really big balloons, like a

giant airship,” explained the

Cliftonite. Barrage balloons were

a short-lived means of anti air

defense. In the early years of World

War II, most precision strikes were

carried out by dive bombers.

To counter this, massive balloons

are tethered with numerous long,

metal cables and floated up to 5,000

feet. Pilots must either risk being

downed by the cables or go higher

up, into the range of flak cannons.

This was the primary means of

anti air defense at the Panama

Canal, where Scangarello was sta-

tioned in 1941 after completing his

training. The waterway was a vital

gateway for US warships, shaving

weeks off of travel by making it no

longer necessary to sail around the

bottom of South America, known as

Tierra Del Fuego.

By Joe Hawrylko

Jim Scangarello (above left and pictured today on the next page) with his brothersin 1942. Jim joined the Army, while his twin brother, Peter now deceased, (middle)served in a tank unit under General Patton’s command in France. Tom enlisted inthe Air Force, participating in B-17 bombing runs over Italian-controlled Africa.


Official 24th SalutationJim Scangarello Received Greetings and a Song in 1941

Though it was feared that Japan might progress to

Hawaii and beyond after Pearl Harbor, the heart of the

Axis fleet never reached the Americas.

“No one came there. It was pretty safe there,” recalled

Scangarello. As the Americans entered the war following

Pearl Harbor, the tides began to change and the Allies

went on the offensive.

The US military determined that an attack on Panama

was not a realistic threat and sent Scangarello, along with

the rest of the troops at the Canal, in for re-training. The

Cliftonite learned to be a pole climber, helping rebuild

downed lines of communications in Europe towards the

end of the war in October of 1944.

“I went to France. We landed on Omaha Beach, but

there were already way ahead of us,” he recalled. The

Allies stormed France in June of that year in a series of

beach invasions. They moved east in a string of victories.

“The Nazis would retreat and damage everything, and we

had to fix it up.”

Though not directly involved in front line action,

Scangarello’s duties were vital to American success in

Europe, as it re-opened communication lines over the con-

tinent. He served in that capacity until his discharge in

the Fall of 1945.

“I never fired a pistol or a rifle or nothing,” said

Scangarello. “I was just lucky, that’s all.”




Honored for His ServiceNational Guardsman Rich Ashton Still Front & Center

By Carol Leonard

Whether it’s a design and layout job for a payingclient or a voluntary project for the Clifton

Arts Center, Rich Ashton is the kind of guy who puts

his heart and soul into everything he does.

For the past 20 years or more, Ashton has given count-

less hours of his time and talents to various community

organizations in Clifton, from the Little League to the arts

center and, more recently, the Athenia Vets. He also

serves on the crew of volunteers who put up and take

down thousands of American flags around city hall for

the Avenue of Flags display on Veterans Day, Memorial

Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

A native of Paterson, Ashton moved with his family

to Clifton when he was 14 years-old and graduated

from Clifton High School in 1969.

He recalls his childhood days as

being filled with playing sandlot

baseball and other games with his

pals from the neighborhood where

he grew up.

“We’d play outside all day until

the street lights came on, and then

it was time to go home,” he said.

Ashton also knew that he had a

propensity for art from a very

young age. “When I was a kid, I

always like to draw,” he said.

“When I saw something that I

liked, I’d sit down and draw it. All

I knew is that I wanted to draw pic-

tures.”

Following high school, Ashton’s artistic talents won

him a partial scholarship to the Newark School of Fine

and Industrial Arts. He also completed course work at

the Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts

in New York City.

Like many young men of his generation, Ashton

came of age at the height of the Vietnam War.

Although he could have taken a student

deferment from the military draft, he

decided instead to join the Army National

Guard, taking a leave of absence from his

studies for six months to attend basic

training. He returned to complete his

course work, while serving his country in

the National Guard for six years.

Ashton spent the early part of his graphic arts career

working for a number of different employers, including

print shops, advertising agencies and an art studio. In

1982 he started his own business, Ashton Art & Design,

which he continues to operate out of his house.

He and his wife Dot have lived in their Allwood home

for 32 years, raising three children, Lauren, 31; Richie, 28;

and Kim, 24. They also have two grandchildren.

Rich Ashton above with the logo hedesigned for the Clifton Art Center and as

a National Guardsman in 1970.

His involvement in volunteer activities in town began

when his son played baseball with Southern Division

Little League and he offered to help as an assistant

coach. He later served two years as vice president and

two years as president of the league, overseeing

fundraising and construction of a batting cage and a

new clubhouse at the league’s Mount Prospect Park

headquarters.

As his son moved on to play Babe Ruth and

American Legion baseball, Ashton got involved in

those programs as well, and he served as president of

the Clifton Athletic Association for several years when

his daughter was active playing softball.

Ashton stayed on as a volunteer for the Clifton youth

sports programs well beyond the years of his kids’

involvement. In fact, he continued to design the cover

for the Little League’s opening day program until just

last year.

He got involved with the Clifton Art Center 10 years

ago after winning a logo design contest before the cen-

ter first opened in 2000. The logo, which has become

the “image” of the arts center, incorporates a sketch

Ashton did of the front roofline of the old federal quar-

antine barn at the rear of the City Hall complex, which

now houses the center.

“I thought it was a great idea for the community to

have an arts center,” Ashton said. “It provides a won-

derful opportunity for students from the high school

and local artists to show their work for the residents

to enjoy. Without the volunteers, there would be no

Arts Center.”

Ashton served two years on the Art Center’s advisory

board, and he continues to volunteer his time to design

every post card, banner, poster and other graphic materi-

als that advertise the center’s shows and events.

“He’s an all-around good guy and a true friend of the

arts center,” said Board of Trustees President Jeff

Labriola. “Anytime we call him, he’s always there to

help.”

Ashton was honored for his contributions to the suc-

cess of the Clifton Arts Center at the center’s 10th

Anniversary Gala on Oct. 17.

In recent years, he has added the Athenia Veterans

organization to his list of volunteer activities, develop-

ing a Web site for the group and helping to initiate a

quarterly newsletter for which he does all the design

and layout.

Ashton is as meticulous in the work he does as a vol-

unteer as he is when working for one of his business

clients. “It’s a matter of pride,” he said. “Whether

you’re getting paid for something or doing it because

you just want to help out, it’s still a part of you. It’s who

you are as a person.”

Rich Ashton is a true gem of the Clifton community.



To most Navy recruits, being stationed aboard a sub-

marine probably doesn’t sound too appealing.

Cramped quarters, months spent thousands of feet under

water, essentially isolated from human contact except for

those aboard the sub as well.

But Joe Imperato was fascinated with those sleek,

technology-laden war vessels that likely haunt the

dreams of claustrophobics everywhere.

So enamored was he that in 1979, Imperato, then just

a 17 year old boy months removed from his high school

graduation, enlisted with the Naval Reserves and volun-

teered for submarine duty. “It was the cutting edge tech-

nology,” he explained. “We know more about outer

space than we do our own oceans, so a submarine is just

jam packed with technology.”

Imperato was initially stationed on the USS Harold J.

Ellison DD8-64, a destroyer, for a ten month stint.

Afterwards, he was placed on active duty and assigned to

the USS Francis Scott Key, a nuclear submarine, in 1980.

During his first patrol, Imperato was a non-designated sea-

man, and generally handled any tasks that were assigned.

“I worked in the galley, sent messages, steered the

ship,” he explained of the variety of duties a young sea-

man would attend to. “I did what all junior people do.”

Due to having a little experience as an electrician, the

Navy wanted him to become a phoneman. Imperato

was a non-designated seaman, which means he essential-

ly could be assigned to any duty aboard the submarine.

The opportunity allowed him to experience a number

of different positions. Imperato ultimately decided on

being a radioman and passed the required test despite not

attending any courses. He went on to spent 12 years in

service, most of it aboard submarines as a radioman. In

total, he served aboard six subs.

Most often, his vessels covered target packages, act-

ing as America’s nuclear deterrent against a Russian

strike. “I was the guy who’d take the message that said

launch the missile and decipher it,” said Imperato.

Though his role on each vessel was essentially the

same, the atmosphere aboard each sub is entirely

dependent on the makeup of

its crew.

“You have to breed rapid

comradery with people. It’s

not like on a ship. If someone

doesn’t do their job, there

could be a casualty,” said Imperato. “Everybody realizes

you have to depend on everyone else doing their job.”

Though he intended to go career, the Cliftonite retired

in 1991 due to an injury that he did not disclose.

However, Imperato is still active in local and regional

veteran affairs groups, having twice served as the

Commander of Post 8 in Clifton and as the Passaic

County Commander for the American Legion.

Imperato still looks back fondly on his Naval career.

He said his favorite submarine was the USS Andrew

Jackson, a ship he looks back on with fondness.

“The Andrew Jackson wasn’t a crew. It was a fami-

ly,” said Imperato. “It was the quality of people at that

time. They were really a terrific crew, a family.”

“If you saw a pair of shoes underneath a bathroom

stall, you knew whose they were,” said Imperato. “The

first five years of my marriage, I spent more time with

my shipmates than my wife.”


The SubmarinerJoe Imperato Served Underseas During the Cold War

By Joe Hawrylko


Ever since he was a young child, Aneudi Diaz was

enamored with the military. Now he’s on the path

to becoming a United States Marine Officer.

“I just wanted to try something new in life and I

always had that dream,” said the 2004 CHS graduate,

who is the first in his family to join the service.

Diaz, currently in the Reserves and working

towards getting his Bachelor’s degree to become an

officer, first began seriously considering enlisting

while in high school.

“It’s the kind of lifestyle I want to live,” he

explained. “Not to sound crazy, but even when I was

little, it was interesting. When I was small, I had all

the GI Joes and watched the cartoons... then in high

school, I really learned about it and went to the

recruiter’s office.”

“Most of my friends are in the Marines. They were

there even before I went,” Diaz continued.. “That

really helped me out because that was the one branch

I could ask about and learn what was really going on.”

Then just 18 years old, he was ready to enlist but

was unable to pass the tests required to become a

Marine. Instead, Diaz headed back to school, receiv-

ing his Associate’s in criminal justice at Berkeley

College in 2008.

But even after graduating, he still had the urge to

become a Marine, and enlisted in the reserve in

January of this year.

After enlisting, Diaz

was shipped to Paris

Island for boot, in what

he calls the most physi-

cally and mentally chal-

lenging event in his life.

“You’re not going to

want to be there, you’re

going to be stressed out, you’re going to be

depressed,” he explained. The ordeal forced him to

rise up against adversity and become a leader. “But

at the end, when you graduate, you’re going to be

like, that’s why that branch is considered the best of

them all.”

After nearly eight months, Diaz completed his

training on Aug. 15. “Right now, I’m working

towards being an officer,” said Diaz. He plans to

head back to school to earn his Bachelor’s degree as

required by the Marines.

Diaz, who has lived in Clifton since emigrating to

the United States from the Dominican Republic in

1996, said he’s considering a Marine career, either as

a reservist or on active duty. He views his service as

a patriotic duty to the United States.

“It’s a new country, you go to be thankful for what

you have,” he said. “I wouldn’t have accomplished

things like this in the Dominican Republic. This is

my way to pay back America.”

We Salute Our Veterans!Assemblyman Thomas P. GiblinState of New Jersey1333 Broad St., Clifton, NJ 07013office: 973-779-3125www.assemblymangiblin.comView The Giblin Report on Thursdays at 9 pm, Channel 76


A Patriotic Duty By Joe Hawrylko

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Even without ever physically engaging the enemy,deployment can be mentally exhausting. Uprooted

from home and dropped in a foreign country halfway

across the globe, loneliness is a fact of life for soldiers.

That’s why National Guard Sgt. Alberto Perez is so

grateful to have had the support of Mayor James Anzaldi

and his fellow Cliftonites during his tour of duty in Iraq

this past year. “Right before I went over there, I bumped

into the mayor at city hall,” he recalled, a DPW worker

who has lived in Clifton for 17 years. “He goes to me,

‘When you get there, make sure you send me a letter or

card so we can take care of you.’”

Perez, who joined at 17 years old, spent nearly three

decades in the Guard and never entered a warzone. He

joined to help in domestic disasters—Perez was activat-

ed to help with flooding following Hurricane Floyd in

1999 and in the aftermath of 9/11.

But with the government dipping into its reserve pool

the New Jersey Guard was activated in 2008, and Perez

given his orders to head to Iraq. Once there, he wrote to

Anzaldi as instructed and waited.

A couple weeks later, Perez, who worked as a Military

Police guard in a jail, left his shift to find a gift from

home waiting for him at command. He lugged the pack-

age on a ten minute hike back to his quarters, eager to see

who sent him something.

“I got this big box that I carried back to my room after

a long, 12 hour shift,” recalled Perez. “I’m a man, I’ve

got feelings. There were tears coming out of my eyes,

that someone cared about us all the way over here.

Anzaldi had sent a care package from City Hall con-

taining goods that Perez had requested for his squad.

The gesture touched the Cliftonite—besides family, why

would anyone else care? Perez figured that he’d spend

his ten months in country lonely and homesick.

“Especially Guardsmen, we’re part-timers. We get

lonely—I’ve never experienced it like that before,” he

explained. “I can tell you I felt lonely man. But Mayor

Anzaldi, right away he answered. And every two weeks,

he sent me a post card—it never failed. I got them all

back at my house.”

Not long after the mayor began keeping regular con-

tact with Perez, other people began writing. American

Legion Post 8 frequently supported Perez and his troops,

and the children at St. Andrews and School 11 kept reg-

ular contact as well.

“We flew the New Jersey flag in our combat zone in

honor of the mayor and what he did for our soldiers,”

Perez said proudly. “We also flew one for St. Andrews,

the kids at School 11 and Post 8.”

The Cliftonite said support from his friends back

home and his faith are what brought him back to his fam-

ily at the end of 2009.

“That’s what kept me strong, sharing the gospel with

the kids—well, I called the soliders [also in his guard

unit] kids,” laughed Perez. “Those were times I will

never forget. They just found me real calm, and I’d just

share my faith with them. God forbid something hap-

pens to me, I know where I’m going.”

When the Cliftonite finally came home, Anzaldi was

the first person he went to after greeting family. “I shook

his hand and hugged him when I got back,” said Perez.

“I don’t care who likes him. who doesn’t. But this just

shows... it just shows what kind of guy he is.”


Mail Call in Saddam’s PalaceBy Joe Hawrylko


Albert Andrezzi isn’t the kind of guy who likes tosit around alone at home watching TV.The World

War II veteran, who will turn 89 in January, would much

rather be at his crossing guard post on Lexington Ave. in

front of School 17 or helping the nurses on 6 West in his

volunteer role at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Andrezzi was born and raised in Paterson during the

days of the Great Depression, so he knows what its like

to have to work hard to make ends meet.

He left school after eighth grade to help support his

family, which included nine brothers and sisters.

“I took whatever menial jobs I could find,” he said.

At age 20, Andrezzi was drafted into the military. A

newlywed at the time with a pregnant wife, he was

shipped overseas following basic training shortly after his

first son was born in 1943.

Andrezzi spent nearly three years overseas during the

war, first in England and later in Belgium, France and

Czechoslovakia, serving in General Patton’s Third Army.

“It was a rough time,” he painfully recalled. “I’ve seen

my share of war. I was in five major battles. Our job was

to get prisoners and interrogate them.”

Andrezzi said that serving in the military helped shape

him as a man and prepared him to take care of himself,

but he doesn’t hesitate to express his disdain for war.

“I think it’s unnecessary. Killing each other, for what?

It’s such a waste of humanity. We should just learn to get

along instead of fighting.”

After returning from the war to his wife and young

son, Andrezzi worked as a roofer for a number of years

before taking a job as a mill operator at the Curtiss-

Wright plant in Wood-Ridge, where he worked for 34

years. He and his wife May went on to have three more

children and the family moved to Clifton in 1970. At age

62, Andrezzi was forced to take early retirement when

Curtiss-Wright shut down its Wood-Ridge plant.

“It’s not easy living on Social Security,” he said.

He babysat for his daughter’s children for a while

before taking a part-time job as a crossing guard, a posi-

tion he has held for 25 years.

Veteran & VolunteerAt 89, Albert Andrezzi is also a School Crossing Guard

Story & Photos by Carol Leonard



r d


Andrezzi was assigned to the School

12 neighborhood until School 17 opened

in 2004 and his post was moved to

Lexington Ave. He works from 8-9:30

a.m. for the opening of school, and

returns from 2:30-3:40 p.m. when school

lets out.

His face lights up with a big smile

when he talks of his work as a crossing

guard. “I like that a lot, crossing my lit-

tle children,” he said. “I’ve adopted all of

them.”

Over the years, Andrezzi has watched

many of his charges grow up, and he

enjoys seeing them again after they’ve gone on to middle

school and high school.

“It makes me feel good when they stop and tell me that

I used to cross them when they were little,” he said. “I

have one little boy that I cross now and I used to cross his

father when he was a boy.”

Andrezzi said that he misses his work as a crossing

guard over the summer breaks and looks forward to the

start of the new school year every September.

He got involved as a volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital in

2005 after his wife passed away. “We were married for 65

years,” he said. “That’s a long time to be with someone

and I didn’t want to be home alone by

myself all the time.”

Andrezzi does an early evening volun-

teer shift on Tuesday and Thursday, and a

late morning shift on Wednesday after

leaving his crossing guard post. He

spends his time on the 6 West unit, bring-

ing water to the patients, taking speci-

mens to the lab, picking up prescriptions

from the pharmacy and assisting nurses

with errands.

“A lot of the patients are elderly and I

like to help them out,” he said. “If I see

that they need something, I’ll go and tell

one of the nurses for them.”

Even when he’s not at his crossing guard job or at the

hospital, Andrezzi likes to stay active.

“I’m always doing something,” he said. “I take walks

in the park. I’m always trying to be busy. That’s what

keeps me going.” Very often, you can find Andrezzi with

his friends Dennis and John Orlovsky at their Gulf Service

Station on the corner of Lakeview and Piaget avenues,

which is a short walk from his home.

“I go down there and hang around,” he said. “I help

them clean up. Sometimes on Sunday we go out together.”

Andrezzi is also grateful for the love and support of his


four children, Robert, Michael, Judy and Nancy. “They

take good care of me and watch over me,” he said.

“Mostly every night I’m by one of my daughters.”

Counting them on his fingers, he said he has 14 grand-

children and 10 great-grandchildren, although he won’t

swear to the accuracy of those numbers. “There’s so many

of them that I lose track,” he chuckled. “When we all get

together, we must have about 50-60 people in the room.”

Andrezzi has no plans to slow down any time soon,

and his advice to those who want to live as long a life

as he has is simple: “Don’t sit around for hours in front

of the TV. Get out and do something – anything.”

At St. Mary’s Hospital, he’s the center of the staff attention but at School 17, he keeps his eyes on his charges and traffic.


Pay it forward. That’s the logic thatNazaree Jones, an eighth grader at

St. Clare School on Allwood Rd., had in

mind when she volunteered to sweep the

streets of Passaic. Repaying a good deed

by doing another is what drives volun-

teering, a point she stressed to the 300

donors at the 29th annual awards dinner for

the Tri-County Scholarship Fund on Oct.

12 at Hilton Parsippany.

The program is affiliated with the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson and

provides tuition to children from econom-

ically challenged families in kindergarten

to 12th grade to attend private and

parochial schools in Morris, Sussex and

Passaic Counties.

“I am lucky to have the opportunities

that my parents never had when they

attended school in Passaic,” the diminutive

13 year old told the audience. “This oppor-

tunity and my family have played an impor-

tant role by guiding me on how to give back

to my community.”

By Tom Hawrylko

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Jones decided to start by pitching

in to clean the streets of Passaic.

“During this past summer, I vol-

unteered with members of the

Passaic High School Environmental

Science Club and Team Blanco, in

an effort to bring awareness on the

importance of volunteering for our

community,” she explained. “I also

wanted to make my neighborhood a

cleaner and more beautiful place to

live. I didn’t know exactly what the

day would bring, but I encouraged

my friends to join me and we all

had a good time.

“I realized how so little of my

time can actually make a big

impact,” Jones said. “The experi-

ence was fun, so I am going to vol-

unteer in any other way I can. I

really would like to volunteer in a

local hospital and read books to sick

children in honor of my cousin that

passed away from Leukemia. I feel

pleasure in being able to help others

as I am being helped.”

Looking to her future, Jones said

she would like to someday work in

the medical field so she can help oth-

ers. Of course she has to first attend

high school and college but the St.

Clare student has some plans to pay

it forward post college graduation.

“When I become a very success-

ful person, I will create my own pri-

vate scholarships for kids like

myself,” she said. “I think everyone

deserves equal opportunities in life

and a chance to better themselves.”

The Tri-County Scholarship

Fund was founded in 1981 through

the leadership of Edward L.

Hennessy, Jr. and Bishop Emeritus

Frank J. Rodimer to give students in

poorer communities an educational

choice.

Since that time three decades

ago, more than 27,000 scholarships

have been awarded. Families in the

lowest income levels are able to

choose safe educational opportuni-

ties for their children in schools that

offer a sense of family and a disci-

plined learning environment. The

children that receive Tri-County aid

thrive in the private and parochial

schools and show above-average

standardized test scores.

In the past two years, Tri-County

awarded more than $1.8 million to

1,100 students. The average income

of the families receiving Tri-County

assistance was $25,000.

The Fund is governed by a

diverse group of business leaders

who understand that the education

of our children in the inner cities is

a positive investment that will

affect individuals and the communi-

ty as a whole in a profound way.

St. Clare Principal Sr. Joseph

Nelinda said the support of the Tri-

County Scholarship Fund is greatly

appreciated by the families of the

students and the adminstration of

the schools they attend for it allows

Catholic Schools to stay strong in a

tough economy.


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As people begin to shuffle in tothe Boys and Girls Club

bingo hall off of Colfax Ave, Alice

Hener walks in and heads back to

the little room in the back to distrib-

ute the paper gamecards as she’s

done every Thursday and Saturday

afternoon for the past 20 years.

That kind of longevity is impres-

sive in a paid job, but the number is

even more poignant when you learn

that Hener, 86, hasn’t collected a

dime for her services. She’s the

type of person who volunteers her

time and expects nothing in return.

She just likes pitching in and mak-

ing friends along the way.

“The people are nice to me here

and I really appreciate it,” smiled

Hener. It only takes a couple hours

of her time per week, but this small

act of volunteering goes a long way

towards supporting the Club. Her

bright and bubbly personality also

helps too..

As she walks in, the patrons

greet Alice, as she prefers.

Everyone from the bingo players

to the cooks in the kitchen know

her. If you’ve sat and heard the

numbers get called at the Boys &

Girls Club, you’ve met Alice.

By Joe Hawrylko

Bingo!She Wins!



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Prior to the start, she sits behind

the counter of the sheet room far in

the back corner of the hall. Hener

is there to collect money for the

paper bingo sheets and keeps an

eye on the lockbox.

“Once everyone gets in, pays

and gets a sheet, they start bingo

and I go home,” she explained.

“I think I’ve only played bingo

once over the years,” Hener

laughed. “I can’t just sit there and

play the table like that.”

Though her role is relatively

minor, Hener’s contributions are

very much appreciated.

“Alice is just a great lady, she’s

been with us for years,” said Bob

Foster, Executive Director of the

Club, who noted that bingo accounts

for about 30 percent of fundraising

for the B&GC. “Volunteers like her

are why it works.”

Hener first got involved at the

Club around 20 years ago, not long

after her husband of 45 years,

Elmer C. Hener, passed away.

“It really just started as some-

thing to get me out of the house,”

she said. But she kept on coming

back because she enjoys the compa-

ny of the people and because

Hener’s always been one to pitch in

for a good cause.

The Cliftonite has long been

involved with volunteering, having

started a half century ago with the

Boy Scouts.

“My husband was already on the

Council and they were on the way to

becoming Eagle Scouts, so I became

den mother,” she said.

Eventually, her boys, Robert and

Donald, grew up and moved on, but

Hener stayed involved, eventually

working for the Scouts.

“I did it when they were in

Clifton, and then the two combined

and moved to Wayne. They’re now

in Oakland,” she said. Hener

worked for the Boy Scouts of

America for over 50 years, a mile-

stone that the organization recog-

nized with a certificate a while back.

Even though she’s long since

retired, Hener is still active as the

assistant scoutmaster for Troop 15, a

group of 21 disabled scouts based out

of St John’s Evangelical Lutheran

Church on Broad St.

“It’s just an easy way to stay

involved in your community,” she said.

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There are few things in Clifton that bring our com-

munity together more than our fabulous high

school sports and arts programs. Who can forget that

Championship Mustang Football Game at Giants

Stadium in 2006? Or, the pride we all feel each and

every time we see our Mustang Band perform?

It was that love of the very best of Clifton’s schools

that prompted a group of parents and alumni to form the

organization known as Mustang Pride, Inc. Mustang

Pride is a recognized 501C3 charity which focuses on

providing some of the extras that our school budgets can

no longer support. Rather than further burdening the

Clifton taxpayers, Mustang Pride intends to solicit cor-

porate donations and grants to reach its goals.

While there are many worthy projects that need and

deserve attention, Mustang Pride has chosen its first two

Mustang Pride Walk-a-Thon Brings CliftonitesTogether!

Gary Anolik, Co-President; Kim Renta, Secretary; Gerard Scorziello, Treasurer; Gloria Kolodziej, Honorary Walk-a-Thon Chairperson; Jennie Sekanics, Mustang Pride Student Representative and AnnMarie Genneken, Co-President.

By Kim Renta


projects to honor our legendary sports and arts pro-

grams. The group hopes to supplement money already

available with the Clifton Board of Education to

upgrade the auditorium at CHS, making it the perform-

ing arts showcase it can truly be. In addition, Mustang

Pride will raise the funds needed to install artificial turf

at Clifton Stadium. Both of these projects will not only

benefit our students and community for years to come,

but also have the potential to generate significant rental

income for the Clifton School District.

The first community fundraising event is a Walk-a-

thon being held on Saturday, November 27th at Main

Memorial Park and Clifton Stadium. This event is

bringing together all types of Cliftonites, from Mayor

Anzaldi, to Board of Education President Jim Daley,

from 2009 State Pole Vaulting Champion and current

Yale freshmen Emily Urciuoli, to Doretta Halpern

whose late father was the revered principal of CHS from

1962 to 1988. These people, and many others from all

generations, all neighborhoods and many graduating

classes, will join Honorary Walk-a-thon Chairperson,

Gloria Kolodziej as we walk in support of our schools.

It’s the first step in what Mustang Pride hopes will be

a long-standing Clifton tradition. Even after the initial

goals are reached and the projects are completed,

Mustang Pride will move on to other endeavors to

enhance the academic, sport, art and social experiences

of Clifton’s students. To be a participant in the Walk-a-

thon or to volunteer, please contact Mustang Pride at

www.cliftonmustangpride.com.

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In today’s business climate it is rare to find someonewho has worked at the same place for his or herentire career. That is, of course, unless your name is

Lorraine Greaves. The lifelong Clifton resident has

served as director of the Volunteer Department at what is

now St. Mary’s Hospital on the Boulevard in Passaic for

more than 40 years.

During that time, Greaves has worked under six

different administrators and has seen the hospital’s name

change four times, as it was taken over by Atlantic Health

Systems, Passaic Beth Israel Hospital and, most recently,

St. Mary’s Hospital. What hasn’t changed is Greaves’

dedication to her unpaid staff of volunteers who touch the

lives of thousands of patients and visitors each year, as

well as provide valuable support services in various

departments of the non-profit healthcare facility.

With a degree in human development from Rutgers

University, Greaves began her career at what was then

Passaic General Hospital in 1966 as assistant director of

personnel and public relations. Several years later, she

was asked to create a volunteer program for the 350-bed

community hospital.

“I started out with a handful of volunteers that I recruited

through church groups and the county’s RSVP (Retired

Senior Volunteer Program),” she said. “That number grew

as I went out and spoke to more groups and the word spread

that we were looking for volunteers.”

Today, Greaves’ department includes more than 150

volunteers, from 14 to 90 years-old. Many of them are

from Clifton, including husband and wife team Joe

and Marie Patti (facing page). Both in their 80s

and married for 56 years, the Pattis have been

hospital volunteers for more than 10 years. Joe

volunteers three days a week, working at the

information desk one day, helping out in the

Nutrition Department another and

transporting patients from

the surgical recovery room

on the third. Marie comes in two days, making follow-up

phone calls on discharged emergency room patients.

“We’ve available for whatever they need us for,” Joe

said. “You have to stay busy; it’s what keeps you alive.”

Once a month, Greaves conducts an orientation

program for new volunteers. The mandatory four-hour

session includes a tour of every department,

demonstrations on how to enter and conduct oneself in a

patient’s room, use of a fire extinguisher and other safety

issues, as well as wheelchair training and practice in

feeding patients. For the latter, Greaves has the new

recruits practice by feeding each other cups of Jello.

Following orientation, Greaves allows the volunteers to

choose the type of work they want. She uses her

observation of their skills and personalities to help guide

them into the areas she feels they will be happiest. Some

people decide that they would rather be in a non-patient

area, such as medical records or central sterile supply;

others prefer direct contact

with patients or visitors.

You Can Call ThemProfessional Volunteers


Photos and story by Carol Leonard

Volunteers Becky Martin and Joan Angle with Director of Volunteers Lorraine Greaves.



“I always tell them that they should

try something for at least three times

to see if they like it,” she said. “If they

don’t, they can always change to

something else. The important thing is

that, when they leave the building, I

want them to feel good about

themselves and want to come back.”

Volunteers work four-hour shifts,

one to three days a week, depending

upon their interests and the amount of

time they have to offer. During the

school year, many of the teenage

volunteers are only available to work a

two-hour shift in the evening and

Greaves allows them that flexibility.

According to Greaves, it’s a mixed

bag of circumstances that attract

volunteers. While many are older retirees, like the Pattis,

who want to keep busy and meet new people, others are

younger adults who just want to give something back to

the community. Some are former patients or retired

employees, such as Becky Martin of Clifton, who wanted

to continue her relationship with the hospital.

Martin, 81, is a graduate of the old Passaic General

Hospital School of Nursing and worked at the hospital as

an operating room (OR) nurse for 40 years. After retiring,

she returned as a volunteer three days a week.

Among her assignments, she works outside the OR,

keeping family members up to date when their loved ones

are in surgery. As a former OR nurse, she is able to

reassure family members if there is an unexpected delay

during the surgery or when the patient is moved into the

recovery room. “They’re very appreciative of what I do

and that makes me feel good,” Martin said.

Cliftonite Joan Angle knew that sitting around at home

wouldn’t be a good thing for her after she retired as an

administrative assistant for the NJ State Crime Lab. She

works escorting visitors to the right department or patient

floor. “I enjoy being with people and I feel helpful and

needed,” she said. “It’s also good exercise.”

In recent years, Greaves has gotten more volunteers

from among the ranks of the unemployed, who want

something meaningful to do as they continue to look for

a job. Some use their volunteer experience as an

internship while training for a new career. Occasionally,

volunteers are hired for paid employment openings at the

hospital. “This past year, the hospital hired four of our

volunteers,” Greaves proudly said.

Once a year, on the Saturday

before Thanksgiving, the hospital

honors all of its volunteers for their

service at the annual Volunteer

Awards Breakfast, and gives special

recognition to those who have given

100 hour or more of service during

the year.

During her tenure at the hospital,

Greaves has had some volunteers stay

on as long as 20 years or more and, in

some cases, has even seen the children

of volunteers become volunteers

themselves as teenagers or adults.

“Not everybody stays that long,

though,” she said. “For some, their life

has taken some kind of turnaround

and they need something for a while,

and then they leave. Older people get sick and can’t come

anymore. Teenagers move on to college or other interests.

That’s just the way it is, and that’s ok, too.”

Greaves, who declined to give her exact age, simply

stating “I’m up there,” isn’t saying yet when she plans to

retire. But when she does, she’ll likely become a

volunteer. To learn more about volunteering at St. Mary’s

Hospital, call Lorraine Greaves at 973-365-4549.


LeTip of Clifton meets Wednesday Mornings at IHOP

LeTip of Clifton is an organization

of men and women whose purpose

is the exchange of business tips and

referrals. They do that at special

events—such as a cocktail party at

Sophia’s Restaurant in late

October—and at weekly breakfast

meetings on Wednesdays at 7:01

am at IHOP on Route 3 West.

The concept of LeTip is that each

business category is represented by

one member—in short, there is just

one realtor, one insurance broker,

one printer, and so forth.

Jay Stack, owner of IGM Creative

Group, noted the Clifton LeTip has

27 members. “Within six months

from now we hope to double our size

and have a substantial amount of

business offered to our members

through tips given from one member

to another,” he explained.

Potential members are invited to

the first two meetings for free.

Dues are split two ways—there is a

$325 fee paid to the national organ-

ization and a one time $75 mem-

bership charge to the Clifton chap-

ter. For info, call President Hugo

X. Carvajal at 201-362-3581 or go

to www.Letipofclifton.com.

Capalbo’s Gift Baskets Relocates to Allwood Rd.

After half a century in Nutley,Capalbo’s Gift Baskets has moved to

Clifton. Located on 350 Allwood

Rd., across from the Promenade

Shops, the new store is filled with the

fresh fruit and gourmet baskets for

which Capalbo’s has long been

famous. In addition to the fruit and

cookie baskets, Capalbo’s also offers

wine baskets, too. For more details

go to www.CapalbosOnline.com or

call 973-667-6262.

Dentist Louis Vita offers TMJ Seminar for Hygienists

Louis R. Vita, DDS, of the Vita

Head Neck & Facial Pain Relief

Center in Clifton, will conduct a

workshop for dental hygienists to

help them detect symptoms of TMJ

or Temporomandibular Joint disor-

der. The free event is at the Regency

House Hotel in Pompton Plains on

Nov. 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Participants will receive two

Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Light refreshments will be served

during Dr. Vita’s illustrated presenta-

tion. Reservations required; for

details, call 201-394-4351 or email

[email protected].

Clifton LeTip members Jay Stack of IGM Creative Group, Dr. Christa M.D’Amato of Atlas Chiropractic & Rehab Center, Denise Dotoli of TLCRestoration, Inc. and Hugo Carvajal of Emerald Financial Resources. Thegroup seeks new members and meets every Wednesday at IHOP at 7 am.

The City of Clifton received a

$212,000 state grant as a result of

businesses and residential refuse

that has been redirected from land-

fills and into the recycling system.

Clifton Recycling Coordinator Al

DuBois (inset) said the city is the

4th largest grant recipient in New

Jersey. The funds are dedicated to

help promote and continue the city’s

recycling efforts. In addition to the

grants, the city in 2009 generated

about $368,000 in revenue from the

sale of recycling materials.


Conservative and stable, credit unions have been

the wallflower of financial institutions for the past

several decades as flashy mortgage brokers and large

glitzy banks lured in customers. However, the recent

shenanigans of the nation’s banks has led consumers to

consider the benefits of using credit unions once again.

During the past several years, the popularity of credit

unions has been on the increase and membership has

risen from 87 million five years ago to 92 million mem-

bers nationwide today. Amidst the bleakness of the eco-

nomic crisis, everyone from personal financial managers

to national economic advisors are becoming credit union

advocates, pointing to the generally lower cost of credit

unions to the consumer, as

well as the greater financial

security they offer.

Lourdes Cortez, presi-

dent and CEO of North

Jersey Federal Credit Union

(NJFCU), couldn’t be hap-

pier. She offers another

benefit of credit unions, this

one a bit more philosophi-

cal. “Credit unions, funda-

mentally, are about people

helping people, providing

service to our members and

our communities. Credit

unions are not simply finan-

cial institutions.”

A bank, she explains,

makes money for only a

select group of owners or

investors and part of the

profit comes from higher

banks fees on such services

as ATM transactions and checking, as well as by offering

lower rates on consumer savings. So the convenience of

banks—easy access to money machines and branches on

every corner—comes at a cost to the consumer.

Credit unions, on the other hand, are set up as not-for-

profits owned by the account holders. Earnings are

returned to account holders, known as members, in the

form of lower loan rates, higher interest paid on savings,

free financial counseling and lower fees. Another benefit

is the support credit union return to their ‘community’ in

terms of donations to certain causes and charities.

As the winner of the 2010 “New Jersey Credit Union

of the Year” Award, NJFCU, with headquarters in

Totowa, exemplifies the kind of customer service and

community commitment that credit unions provide. “We

received our award for the innovative approaches that

allow our members to make better use of their money,”

said Cortez, noting that the recognition mirror’s NJFCU’s

motto of “Above and Beyond Banking.”

Cortez, who grew up in Paterson and came up through

the working ranks of NJFCU, is passionate about her

credit union’s community

involvement. Personal

financial education is a

large element of NJFCU’s

outreach to its members and

community, and she

encourages staff to do com-

munity service, for which

they receive comp time.

She is particularly proud

of a student-run branch of

the credit union that will

open in Paterson’s John F.

Kennedy High School next

year and hopes to get

approval for a similar pro-

gram someday in Clifton.

Of NJFCU’s 31,000

members in North Jersey,

more than 1,500 Cliftonites

are account holders with the

credit union. One of the

services that NJFCU pro-

vides to members is a cleverly designed mobile banking

unit—the Green Machine—a branch on wheels, really.

The Green Machine arrives every Friday afternoon at

St. Mary’s Hospital, making it simple for members to

deposit checks, withdraw cash, open accounts, transfer

funds directly outside their place of work. Credit unions

serve a defined field of membership. Eligibility to join a

credit union can be based on affiliations with an

Wallflowers of Banking?Credit Unions growing segment of industry By Irene Jarosewich

Marzena Fernandes branch manager of the Polish andSlavic Federal Credit Union with a customer.

f

employer, such as postal workers or public school teach-

ers, ethnic heritage, even religion. Some credit unions

memberships are based on a geographic area, such as

NJFCU, which serves 31,000 members throughout North

Jersey. Their service area generates assets of more than

$183 million.

Two other credit unions have an extensive member-

ship base in Clifton, the Self-Reliance (NJ) Ukrainian

Federal Credit Union, with more than 3,000 members in

the Clifton/Passaic area, and the Polish and Slavic

Federal Credit Union (PSFCU) with more than 8,000

members in Clifton—that’s almost 10 percent of the

city’s population.

Established in 1976 in Brooklyn, the Polish and Slavic

Federal Credit Union began to offer immigrants great

rates on mortgages to purchase and renovate homes in

Greenpoint. This strategy of helping immigrants, notes

Martyna Florczak, PSFCU Communications and

Community Marketing Specialist, resulted in bringing

prosperity to an underdeveloped neighborhood. Today

the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn is the one of

the most sought-after real estate markets in the New York

City area, she claimed. In general, she added, wherever

PSFCU opened a branch, new businesses would spring

up around it, reviving local economies.

PSFCU’s Clifton branch on Clifton Ave. opened in

September 1996. As part of its community outreach,

PSFCU just launched the Youth Advantage program, the

goal of which is to teach young people how to manage

their finances. However, the program managers also

hope that this financial education will trickle up to the

children’s parents. The parents, according to Florczak,

often are not financially educated, likely as a result of

being first generation immigrants from Europe, unfa-

miliar with language and American financial institutions

and processes.

PSFCU, a single credit union with a network of

branches in New York, New Jersey and Illinois, has

over one billion dollars in assets and is the largest

Polish financial institution outside of Poland, as well as

the largest single ethnic credit union in the United

States. PSFCU members choose to help support Polish

supplementary schools in the US, schools that help

children of Polish immigrants retain their heritage. In

turn, PSFCU also offers high school and college stu-

dents scholarships. In the past 10 years, PSFCU has

given out more than $1.2 million to support the educa-

tion of young credit union members.

The credit union and cooperative movement began in

the middle of the 19th century in England, quickly caught

on in Germany and then spread throughout northern and

eastern European countries. In the first decades of the

20th century, intellectuals from the territories of western

Ukraine, who were studying abroad in Europe, began to

bring home the idea of cooperatives and in the 1920s,

with strong support from the Ukrainian Catholic Church,

a network of credit unions and cooperatives took root in

Ukraine. This tradition of self-help and self-reliance was

carried on as immigrants from Ukraine came to the

United States after WWII.

Clifton’s Ukrainian credit union, Self-Reliance (NJ)

Federal Credit Union, with headquarters on Allwood

Road, and a branch in Passaic, is part of a network of

more than 25 independent Ukrainian credit unions

The Self Reliance (NJ) Federal Credit Union made a $10,000 donation to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in cel-ebration of its centennial. Pictured from left is SRFCU Board member Dr. Michael Lewko, Fr. Andrij Dudkevych, BoardPresident Ken Wanio, Vice President in Charge of Operations Jaroslaw Fedun and CEO Val Bogattchouk.



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in the United States and Canada

with combined assets of 2.2 billion

dollars in 2009. The chief executive

officer of Clifton’s Ukrainian credit

union, Val Bogattchouk, notes the

importance of ethnic credit unions

in educating immigrants about

financial responsibilities and oppor-

tunities in America. A key function

of Self-Reliance is to offer services

in the Ukrainian language.

Though some banks offer bi-lin-

gual speakers to help clients, ethnic

credit unions such as PSFCU and

Self Reliance that provide all finan-

cial services in an immigrants native

language help reduce the stress of

assimilation, reduce the risk of

grave financial mistakes and open

possibilities that immigrants proba-

bly would not receive through tradi-

tional banks, such as obtaining small

business loans with low collateral.

Self-Reliance, which celebrated

its 50th anniversary last year, has

donated about $750,000 during the

past ten years in support of educa-

tion, youth organizations, sports

events and publications for its mem-

bers and the local community.

SRFCU recently provided a

donation to mark the 100th anniver-

sary of St. Nicholas Ukrainian

Catholic Church, which many of its

members attend. Another proud

moment during the history of Self-

Reliance was the support its board

of directors and members offered

Ukraine following the collapse of

the Soviet Union.

Lourdes Cortez sees a brighter

future for credit unions. “For

decades, we haven’t been telling our

story very well,” she commented,

though that is changing now.

NJFCU, which was established in

1936, has grown progressively every

year since its inception, and unlike

most major banks in existence today,

has never been bought out, closed

down, merged, TARPed, taken over,

re-organized, or rearranged.

Stability, longevity, financially

conservative accountability and com-

munity service is a winning combi-

nation, she believes, that will contin-

ue to bring people around to switch-

ing to a credit union.


Santa arrives in

Downtown Clifton

Traditional Tree Lighting on FridayDec. 3, 7 pm • cor. of Clifton Avenue & First Street

Holiday Party on Saturday! Dec 4, 11 am to 2 pm at the

Clifton Rec Center, 1232 Main AvenueBring Your Camera & Take

A Photo with Santa!

Downtown Clifton Economic Development Group announces...

sponsored by

Info: 973-253-1455 • www.downtownclifton.com

Enter to Win

a boy’s or

girl’s bike

On October 4, the New Jersey CreditUnion League named North JerseyFederal Credit Union the winner of the2010 Credit Union of the Year Award.Pictured is NJFCU President LourdesCortes accepting the award.


WWW.CORRADOSMARKET.COM

EverythingFor Your Pet!

Next to Corrado’s Garden Center600 Getty Avenue, Clifton(973) 859-2599

�

�

WE DELIVER!

SUN-WED 9AM-8PMTHUR-SAT 9AM-9PM

New Location Now Open! 201 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, NJ

New Location Now Open! 201 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, NJ

The late James Corrado (inset) must be lookingdown proudly on what his kids and grand-

kids have accomplished since he opened theflagship Corrado’s Family Affair on Main Ave.in 1975. Just last year, the family opened asecond supermarket in the Point ViewShopping Plaza in Wayne. But their mostrecent and unique addition here in Clifton isthe Pet Market on Getty Ave. across the park-ing lot from the Garden Center.

Open 7 days and neatly organized from wall to wall,the super-sized Pet Market is animal friendly,loaded with great merchandise and staffed byknowledgeable people. And deals? Pick up a100 count box of Wee Wee Pads for $24.99,great for housebreaking a puppy. How about a 44 lb bag of Iams premium

foods for dogs and cats at just $32.99? Theseare prices and deals you won’t find in any

national chain store or wholesale club.

The Corrado family businesses include the Pet Market and the Garden Center, both in the mall on Getty Ave.


On a recent visit, premiumfood brands were $3 to $7 cheap-er than most any place else andyou will find most every brandname food found in supermar-kets. Shop the price for Alpo,Purina, Fancy Feast, Friskies andyou’ll find bargains. Plus, premi-um lines like Iams, Eukenuba,Science Diet, Newman’s Own andothers are offered in varying sizesand at great prices as well.

HEALTH & BEAUTY ITEMSPurchasing FRONTLINE® Plus

for Dogs, vitamins or heart wormmedicine? Corrado’s Pet Marketis certain to be competitive onthose items too. Healthcare andbeauty supplies, from shampoosand conditioners to toe nail clip-pers and all types of merchan-dise for grooming your animal,are also offered. Now, shoppers will be able to

drop their dog or cat off at thePet Market for ProfessionalGrooming while they fill theirgrocery list at the supermarket orthe Garden Center, both a shortwalk away.

CLOTHING & LEATHERSweaters, pajamas, boots, hol-

iday themed outfits ... for holdingoff the cold or just having fun,your pampered pet can be outfit-ted royally here. This comingweek, a new line of WilsonLeather collars, harnesses, chok-ers and leashes will be intro-duced and Corrado’s Pet Marketwill have the complete line—at agreat price!

FISH, REPTILES, BIRDS...Gift giving time is here and

Corrado’s Pet Market offersaquarium kits, habitats for littlecreatures, hermit crab shells andsets, bird cages and other itemsthat make great Christmas gifts.So bring your pet and take atour—and be sure to ask for afree gift. As one manager said: Everyone

that visits becomes a repeat customer!

Corrado’s Garden Center offers itemsfor Christmas and Thanksgiving!

1578 Main Ave

Clifton, NJ

07011

Order Now... Ship LaterDelivered to Your Door

1-800-232-6758 1-973-340-0628

www.corradosmarket.com


Several hundred costumed residentstook to the streets on Oct. 24 for theannual Harvestfest Parade, whichran along Lakeview Ave. and intoNash Park. The participants fea-tured here enjoyed as afternoon ofgames, fresh air and food (even anapple pie baking contest!) and fun.Photos by A.J. Sartor.

503 Paulison Ave., (973) 471-0868

celebrate theseason

• Whole Turkey, Pernil, Ham, or Beef or Vegetable Lasagna• 1/2 Tray of Rice with Gandules or with Vegetables• 1/2 Tray of Potatoes, Macaroni, or Sweet Potatoes

• 1/2 Tray of Garden Salad• 1 Pack of Dinner Rolls• 1 2-liter Bottle Cold Soda• 1 Bottle of Sparkling Cider• 1 10-inch Store Baked Pie

(Assorted)

$69.99 Serves 10 to 12 PeopleOffer good through 12/31/2010

Your time is valuable. Enjoy it with your family and friends. Let us prepare everything from your party platters to

a complete holiday dinner! We’ll even cater your affair.

Holiday Dinner Menu



We Are Open During Highway Construction!


Our club swimming pool & party room is available to groups and families

For info, call Aquatics Dept.973-773-2697 ext. 31

Boys & Girls Club of Clifton

25 Kids$225

25 Kids$225


www.patersonfarmersmarket.com

Paterson Farmers Market449 East Railway Ave., Paterson10 Retail Stores Daily: 7am-8pm

973-742-1019

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Flat Red Onions

Potatoes • Peppers

Corn • Squash

Seasonal Fruit

& much more!

Always Farm Fresh, For Your Thanksgiving Holiday


* Rents are government subsidized. Tenant rental portion is based on annual income. Admission is based on a waiting list. If you have a disability & need assistance with the application process, please call Linda Emr at 973-253-5311.

Enjoy Affordable*Independent Living for Seniors at theMiriam Apartments at Daughters of Miriam Center/The Gallen InstituteA Jewish continuum of care campus at 127-135 Hazel St., Clifton, NJ 07011 973-253-5310 • www.daughtersofmiriamcenter.org

In a beautiful, suburban setting experience privacy in your onebedroom or studio apartment with supportive services whileremaining independent with dignity. The Miriam Apartments,

located on the 13-acre campus of Daughters of Miriam Center/TheGallen Institute, are available to seniors age 62 and over and/orpersons with mobility impairments. Independent living at theapartments is just one facet of the continuum of care offered atDaughters of Miriam Center. Whatever your needs might be–inde-pendent living, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing care–the Centeroffers it all, in a Jewish environment, in one location.

• Medical Services• Registered Nurse: M-F• Healthcare Counseling• Recreational Activities

• Social Services• 24 Hour Security• Housekeeping• Kosher Dinner Meal

• Transportation Assistance

• Beauty Parlor

• Library on premise

• Shabbat Elevators

• Rabbi & Synagogue on-site

Apartment Features:

You’re a Neighbor,Not a Number.

TomTobinAgency.com BillEljouzi.com


Light a Candle for Those WhoHave Passed: Marrocco Memorial

Chapel on Colfax Ave. hosts its

Holiday Remembrance Service on

Dec. 9 at 7 pm to assist those who

have experienced the death of a

family member or friend. The serv-

ice begins with a video tribute, a

candle lighting ceremony and a

short talk about loss. After the hour

presentation, there is a reception and

a chance to talk informally. All are

welcomed to attend the free pro-

gram. Reservations requested but

not required. Call 973-249-6111.

Paramus Catholic High School’sathletic fields are usually filled with

school spirit, competition, pride and

fun. But on Nov. 7 and 8, thing get

a little more serious. The field

becomes a Tent City where over 75

PC students will live as the homeless

live. This is the fourth year students

will participate in PC’s Tent City,

where high schoolers will experi-

ence the lack of shelter and daily

comforts they are used to. Students

are permitted to bring only the

clothes on their backs, a large card-

board box and one large tarp. They

will eat only what is provided to

them by the local community, and

they will only use blankets, coats,

and sleeping bags that have been

donated. Students are not permitted

to bring toiletries, cell phones, or any

electronic devices and will create

their homes from the items they

bring. The day will continue with a

series of witness talks, prayers, and

activities, such as preparing meals

for local homeless shelters. Students

will receive a simple lunch and din-

ner, served soup kitchen style. They

will sleep outside in their boxes,

regardless of the weather conditions.

Tent City kicks off PC’s

Thanksgiving Food Drive. For

details, call 201-445-4466.

St. Brendan School hosts a Grocery

Auction on Nov. 14 from 1 - 5 pm in

the school gym at the corner of

Lakeview and Crooks Aves. The $10

admission includes one sheet of

prize tickets. For advance tickets,

call 973-772-1149 or 973-820-5523.

St. Mary Protectress UkrainianOrthodox Church on Washington

Ave., offers a homemade stuffed cab-

bage sale on Nov. 20 from 10 am to 2

pm. The ground beef and rice stuffed

treats are priced at six for $9 or 12 for

$18. Place orders by phone on the

church’s answering machine at 973-

546-2473 by Nov. 15. Leave a name

and phone number for confirmation.

Is there a home in your area that isbeautifully maintained and land-scaped and really makes the neigh-

borhood special? Nominate it for a

Clifton Beautification Award. Call

973-279-5174 or send the address to

the Clifton Beautification Committee

at [email protected]. The

homeowner will be notified and the

award will be presented at a City

Council meeting in spring. The

Awards are presented yearly so nom-

inations can be made anytime.


THE SOFTESTBERBER EVER!Our Berber...• will not unravel• will not permanently stain• will not fade or fuzz

Family Owned since 1927

John Samra was a Clifton motorcycle officer who

died in the line of duty on Nov. 21, 2003. To keep his

memory alive, a scholarship fund was established in his

name and events such as the John Samra Memorial 5K on

Oct. 24 help fund it. Presented by the Clifton PBA and

supported by the Clifton Roadrunners, participants includ-

ed newcomers, youth, competitive runners and seniors

who are pictured above. Alicia Feghhi was the first place

female winner (pictured left) with a time of 23 minutes

and 14 seconds, while first place male winner Hector

Rivera (at right) set a new course record with his time of

16:06. The next road race in our city is The CliftonStampede on Nov. 21. For details, call 973-470-5958.

For all things related to running in Clifton and northern

New Jersey, call Clifton Roadrunners President Barbara

Tupper at 201-991-8106 go to cliftonroadrunners.com.

John SamraMemorial5K Race

Photos by A. J. Sartor


Project Graduation 2011 is months away, but the

planning has already started. Chair Mary Ann Cornett

has scheduled a meeting on Nov. 8 to discuss the Prom

Fashion Show, which is annually one of the school’s

biggest fundraisers. Funds from the event will benefit

Project Graduation, a drug and alcohol free event for

seniors after they walk the field. The meeting will con-

cern the date, price and location for the Prom Fashion

Show. For information, call 973-779-5678.

Blue State Productions, theater in residence at St. Peter’s

Episcopal Church on Clifton Ave., Clifton, announced it

will present the Tony Award winning Broadway drama

Having Our SayFeb. 11-26 as part of Black History Month.

This will be followed by the musical Godspell in April.

Auditions for Having Our Say are Dec. 3 and 4. Godspellauditions are Jan. 7 and 8. Volunteers for behind the scenes

work are also needed. No pay, non-equity. Call 973-472-

9445 or email [email protected] for more details.

The CHS Class of 2000 will celebrate 10 years on

Nov. 26 from 7 to 11 pm at 3 East, 217 Rt. 3, Secaucus.

3 East co-owner, Frank Ponte, a CHS Class of 2000

alum, will offer an open bar and food for $65, payable

at the door—no reservations. Call 201-210-2094 or

visit www.3eastbarandgrill.com.

Art In Bloom is an exhibit and sale of floral and

nature’s landscape designs in various media such as oil,

pastels, watercolors and mixed-media. The exhibit is at

the Clifton Arts Center and will feature the work of

Sandy Askey-Adams, Jill S. Balsam, Christine

Calandra, Clifton’s Janet Golabek and Lisa Palombo.

The exhibit will be displayed Nov. 10 through Dec. 18.

A reception open to the public is on Nov. 13 from 1 to 4

pm. The Clifton Arts Center Gallery hours are

Wednesday through Saturday 1 to 4 pm. Group tours are

available by appointment. Admission is $3. For more

information check the website at: www.cliftonnj.org.

On Oct. 23, members of the Hungarian community, led by Father Laszlo Vas (St. Stephen’s R.C. Magyar Church, Passaic)and Reverend Jozsef Vasarhelyi (Hungarian Reform Church, Passaic) and city officials raise the national flag at City Hall.The date commemorates the 1956 uprising againist Communist rule in the capital city of Budapest. Photo by László Kerkay.


The 16th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. JazzFestival & Dinner is on Jan. 15 at the Church of the

Assumption, 35 Orange Ave. Produced by Seifullah Ali

Shabazz, performers include Jazzy Bear and Friends,

Arnetta Johnson & Subito Sound, Mark Turner, Bridge

Johnson and doo wop bands Quiet Storm and Choice.

Dinner is at 6 pm. Tickets are $35 or $40 at the door.

For more information, call 973-478-4124.

The Silver Starlight Orchestra will play a USO-type

program of big band sounds, patriotic music and tunes

from World War II at the 13th Annual Salute To

Veterans Concert. Held on Nov. 23 at John F. Kennedy

Auditorium in CHS. Doors open at 6 pm and the show

starts at 7. Call the Clifton Rec Dept. at 973-470-5958.

Veterans from the six branches of services should

bring military nostalgia to share memories and artifacts

in a display area prior to the show. All guests are

encouraged to come in uniform or dress in patriotic

attire. The evening begins with a grand entrance of

flags. The night concludes with a USO Canteen in the

school’s cafeteria.

Admission is free but donations of canned goods or

cash contributions for Thanksgiving baskets are accept-

ed. Bring a non-perishable food item as ‘admission’ to

the concert. The series is produced by Bob Obser and

the Clifton Rec. Dept. and is funded in part by the

Passaic County Cultural & Heritage Council at PCCC

through a grant from the NJ State Council on the Arts.

The Quiet Storm, a doo wop band from Philadelphia, will be among six groups performing at the 16th annual Martin LutherKing Jazz Festival & Dinner on Jan. 15 at the Church of the Assumption. At right, the Silver Starlight Orchestra performsat Clifton High School in a Salute to Veterans hosted by the Clifton Rec Department on Nov. 23.

Get details about PCCC’s affordable tuition,financial aid options, and flexible day, evening,

weekend, or online schedules at Passaic County

Community College’s open house on Nov. 13 from

10 am to 1 pm at the main campus in Paterson.

PCCC offers more than 60 academic programs at

locations in Passaic, Paterson, Wanaque and Wayne.

Plus, adults who have some college credits but never

completed their degree should ask about DARC, a

program that makes it easier than ever to finish your

college education. To attend, RSVP and find out

more at wwwpccc.edu/openhouse. Walk-ins are also

welcome. Spring classes start in January; download

an application at www.pccc.edu/applytoday. Call

973-684-6868 for more info or with any questions.

Clifton author Glory Read reminds readers that some 5.3 mil-lion Americans live with Alzheimer’s Disease. She knows firsthand the impact it has. Her late husband Phil is the subject ofher book ‘Everything Will Be Alright: an Alzheimer’s Memoir.’To contact the author write to [email protected].


Bringing Out the Best in Kids is the mission and

vision of the Optimist Clubs of Passaic and Clifton.

That’s why before the annual Optimist Cup

Thanksgiving Game between the Indians and

Mustangs, members sponsor a Hot Dog Night. Held on

Thurs., Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm—this year at the Athenia

Veterans Hall on Huron Ave.—the event celebrates the

tradition of an 82-game rivalry between the two high

schools, which spans 87 years.

And it’s just not the gridiron rivalry being celebrat-

ed that night. Two girls volleyball teams, both squads

of cheerleaders and members of both marching bands

will attend. A tradition for over the past decade, all kids

eat for free and that’s why Optimist Club members seek

the community’s support.

The public is invited—tickets are $10—and we ask

parents, community leaders and adults to purchase tick-

ets, even if you can’t attend. Remember we need to

feed some 200 kids who we don’t charge—so your

donation would be appreciated.

At the hot dog dinner, a student from each team will

speak about their experience on and off the field and what

the rivalry means to them and their teammates. As

Optimists, we hope that the Hot Dog Night makes the

world a little gentler, as kids from the two towns get to

know each other as competitors and neighbors.

For tickets, contact Clifton Merchant Magazine edi-

tor and publisher Tom Hawrylko at 973-253-4400, Ted

Munley at Clifton Savings Bank at 973-473-2200, ext.

112 or Passaic HS VP John Ciuppa at 973-470-5602.

Mustangs, Indians and the Optimist Cup trophy, which will be awarded Thanksgiving Day at Boverini Stadium, Passaic.Clifton players: Thomas Trommelen (78), Max Egyed (8), David Ricca (54), Joe Chiavetta (21), Angelo Minuche (34).Passaic players: Delreese Delgado (51) Santos Arroyo (37), Juan Anziani (53), Angel Santana (11), Andre Dixon (5).

HOT DOG NIGHTHOT DOG NIGHTHOT DOG NIGHTP

The Optimist Clubs of Clifton & Passaic present... The Optimist Clubs of Clifton & Passaic present...


1923 . . .Clifton 12 ......Passaic 7

1924 . . .Passaic 23 ......Clifton 0

1925 . . .Passaic 21 ......Clifton 6

1926 . . .Passaic 21 ......Clifton 6

1927 . . .Passaic 13 ......Clifton 0

1928 . . .Passaic 24 ......Clifton 0

1929 . . .Passaic 24 ......Clifton 0

1930 . . .Passaic 26 ......Clifton 0

1931 . . .Passaic 7 ........Clifton 0

1932 . . .Passaic 26 ......Clifton 7

1933 . . .Clifton 7 ........Passaic 6

1934 . . .Passaic 26 ......Clifton 0

1935 . . .Passaic 6 ........Clifton 0

1936 . . .Passaic 34 ....Clifton 14

1937 . . .Passaic 6 ........Clifton 0

1938 . . .Passaic 19 ......Clifton 6

1939 . . .Passaic 31 ......Clifton 6

1940 . . .Passaic 13 ......Clifton 6

1941 . . .Passaic 0 ........Clifton 0

1942 . . .Passaic 19 ......Clifton 0

1943 . . .Clifton 12 ......Passaic 6

1944 . . .Clifton 26 ......Passaic 6

1945 . . .Clifton 6 ........Passaic 0

1946 . . .Clifton 26 ....Passaic 14

1947 . . .Clifton 32 ......Passaic 0

1948 . . .Clifton 7 ........Passaic 7

1949 . . .Clifton 12 ......Passaic 0

1950 . . .Passaic 20 ......Clifton 7

1951 . . .Clifton 26 ......Passaic 6



1954 . . .Passaic 7 ........Clifton 6

1955 . . .Passaic 7 ........Clifton 0

1956 . . .Clifton 48 ......Passaic 0

1958 . . .Clifton 40 ......Passaic 7


1960 . . .Clifton 28 ......Passaic 6

1961 . . .Clifton 35 ......Passaic 7

1962 . . .Clifton 31 ......Passaic 6

1963 . . .Clifton 50 ......Passaic 0

1964 . . .Passaic 27 ......Clifton 0


1966 . . .Clifton 7 ........Passaic 0

1967 . . .Passaic 7 ........Clifton 7


1969 . . .Clifton 40 ......Passaic 0

1970 . . .Clifton 49 ......Passaic 0


1972 . . .Clifton 35 ......Passaic 6


1974 . . .Clifton 47 ......Passaic 6

1976 . . .Clifton 28 ......Passaic 6

1981 . . .Passaic 20 ......Clifton 3

1982 . . .Passaic 33 ......Clifton 0

1983 . . .Passaic 20 ......Clifton 7

1984 . .Clifton 16 ......Passaic 0

1985 . .Passaic 28 ......Clifton 7

1986 . .Passaic 21 ......Clifton 8



1989 . . .Passaic 22 ......Clifton 0

1990 . . .Passaic 14 ......Clifton 7



1993 . . .Passaic 0 ........Clifton 0

1994 . . .Passaic 12 ......Clifton 7

1995 . . .Passaic 21 ......Clifton 7

1996 . . .Clifton 23 ......Passaic 6


1998 . . .Passaic 25 ......Clifton 0

1999 . . .Passaic 20 ......Clifton 7




2003 . . .Clifton 17 ......Passaic 0

2004 . . .Clifton 48 ......Passaic 0

2005 . . .Clifton 7 ........Passaic 6



2008 . . .Clifton 28 ......Passaic 0

2009 . . .Clifton 7.........Passaic 0

Passaic vs. Clifton

1923 2009

INDIANS35 Wins41 Loses5 Ties

MUSTANGS41 Wins35 Loses5 Ties

Happy Thanksgivingand many thanks foryour continued support

Surrogate Bill Bate


The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee

William’s first successful play, will

be produced by CHS teacher Dave

Arts with performances on Nov. 19

at 7:30 pm and Nov. 21 at 2 pm.

The play focuses on Tom

Wingfield, his mother, Amanda and

his sister, Laura, who are left to

fend for themselves in a small

apartment in St. Louis, MO, when

his abusive and alcoholic father

abandons them.

Tom imagines escaping from his

drab existence, Amanda dreams of

the deep south of her idealized

girlhood, while Laura (a physical

handicap replacing her real-life

mental illness) lives in the isolated

world of her glass ornament

collection. This fragile balance is

shattered when Jim, an emissary

from the real world, enters their lives.

The actors are four CHS stage

veterans, all seniors. The include

Mike Sunbury as Tom, in his fourth

CHS production. Sarah Robertson,

who won a state award for her

portrayal of Linda Loman in Death of

a Salesmen, is cast as Amanda. Laura

will be performed by Paige Sciarrino,

who was one of just 26 applicants

accepted to the Rutgers Summer

Acting Conservatory. Kurt Irizarry,

another familiar face of the CHS

stage but who expects to have a career

backstage, has been cast as Jim.

The set for The Glass Menagerie

was designed by Julie Chrobak and

will be constructed by Ken Kida,

and the CHS Stage-Craft Club. For

information and tickets, call CHS

at 973-470-2312.

Mike Sunbury, Kurt Irizarry, PaigeSciarrino and Sarah Robertson are theensemble for The Glass Menagerie.

Tennessee Williams on the JFK Stage


You’d have to look hard to find amore involved person at Clifton

High School than Melanie Ciappi.

The senior who was named student

of the month, constantly volunteers

her time for numerous causes, both in

and out of school.

“I like helping people and being

on my feet all day,” explained

Ciappi. One of the first programs

she became involved with was stage

crew, which helps coordinate and set

up all of the school’s performances.

As a sophomore, Ciappi initially tried

out for the play, but switched to stage

crew after Mrs. Eisenmenger

recruited her as a stage manager for

musicals.

“At stage crew, I’m always on my

feet, always doing something or

trying to help this person or painting

or building,” Ciappi said. “There’s

always something to do. I like that.”

She did her first musical that year,

Rent, and stage crew has become a

passion since. “There’s definitely no

doubt about it, I want to do stage

crew in college,” said Ciappi. The

senior said that she made sure that

ever school she considered had a

theater department. She is currently

leaning towards Rutgers, where

Ciappi wants to study nursing.

Besides stage crew, Ciappi has

taken on other leadership roles in

school. She is currently president of

the ERASE (End Racism and

Sexism Everywhere) Club at CHS.

“We raise awareness of everyone

in our school. We have so much

diversity, so we have to bring

attention to everyone else’s needs,”

said Ciappi.

“We have a day of silence, where

no one talks for the day at all,” she

said. “It’s to protest for the people

who get harassed for their race,

gender or anything, but don’t speak

out of the threat of violence. It’s a

vow to them.”

One of her more recent interests

has been supporting the American

Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Ciappi raised over $1,000 for the

group following the passing of her

brother, Michael, took his own life

last year. In the months since then,

she has learned to look past the

tragedy and find a positive way to

continue his legacy.

“In May, I have suicide awareness

month,” said Ciappi, who will do a

presentation to her peers. “I also

want to do little bookmarks for every

student, with five signs you’d notice

in your friends.”

With her efforts, her brother’s

spirit will continue to live on.

“April 15, once that happened, I

started becoming involved,” she

continued. “I want to raise

awareness, not just in school, but

everywhere.

CHS Student of the Month By Joe Hawrylko


Sitting in his office at Clifton High School lastspring, Robert D. Morgan reviewed musical arrange-

ments for the Mustang Marching Band’s fall 2010 cam-

paign. Morgan, the director of band, along with his assis-

tant directors Lauren Chen and Matt Brody, decided on a

1960s Motown theme, which has been presented during

this season’s halftime performances during football

games at Clifton Stadium.

Each year, ever since Morgan became director in 1972,

the process to select the band’s seasonal repertoire begins

much the same way—the starting point in the Mustang

Band’s development as the “Pride of Clifton” and the

“Showband of the Northeast.” Over the years, the atten-

tion to detail, along with the dedication of students, has

yielded the band’s well-deserved reputation for excel-

lence—inside and outside of Clifton. It’s a cumulative

performance legacy that will be celebrated when the band

marks its 75th anniversary in 2013.

Guided by Morgan, the Mustang Band, in effect, rein-

vents itself each school year, creating new programs

while remaining true to its guiding traditions. The spec-

trum of music available for consideration spans work by

John Phillips Sousa to pop tunes by The Beatles, reinter-

preted to fit a marching band format. In years past,

Morgan often would write arrangements himself.

“We review the new music that comes out each

spring for marching bands,” Morgan said, referring to

scores offered by a half-dozen publishing houses. Ideas

for seasonal programs can be hatched in a variety of

ways: during conversations with musical colleagues;

enjoying a cup of coffee with his wife, Michele (who

coaches the band’s majorettes); hearing a familiar tune

on the radio; or the proverbial artistic inspirational jolt

in the middle of the night.

While music is the foundation, developing the band’s

program involves other key elements that are woven

together to create a complete performance package.

“We’re trying to tell a story during halftime,” he

explained. “There’s a theme behind the music and the

marching that ties everything together.”

The announcer’s script is an integral part of the

show; the narrative that connects one song to another

and describes the band’s marching formations. Music

often is selected to showcase the routines of the

majorettes. The band’s formations on the field are

images symbolizing the theme of a particular song. For

example, the highlight formation this season features

the iconic “heart pierced by an arrow,” a familiar, sen-

Keeping those Mustangs...Marching — not Colliding!

Photos and Story by Michael C. Gabriele

Keeping those Mustangs...Marching — not Colliding!


timental design carved into millions of trees, which

represents the lyrics to the Sam Cooke 1960s hit

“Cupid.” (“Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your

arrow go, straight to my lover’s heart for me.”)

When a halftime show clicks, when all the elements

come together and the

band nails a perform-

ance, the audience

cheers and the band

director smiles.

However, a seamless

effort, by design, hides

the underlying mechan-

ics of the program—the

complexities that go

into crafting a show.

Morgan and his

assistants orchestrate

the positioning of

musicians on the field,

aligning band members

to create a “centered”

sound that spotlights

the timbre of each

instrument, depending on the arrangement of each

song. When the marching musicians do their quick

turns, there is both an audio and visual effect for the

audience—the change of direction alters the sound of

woodwind and brass sections while the shift in the front

and back colors of uniforms is intended to add sparkle

and catch the eye of the crowd.

And then there’s the

marching.

Precision marching

is the signature element

that defines a Mustang

Band performance. It

also is the most

demanding skill for stu-

dents to learn, requiring

athletic talent, the abili-

ty to visualize “on-the-

field” geometry, and a

strong sense of rhythm.

The marching is done in

a Big Ten college band

style, an aspect of musi-

cianship near and dear

to the heart of Morgan,

who is a 1971 graduate

of the University of Iowa. The band’s marching expertise

is a living legacy that dates back to the group’s

A field chart illustrates formations plus individual positions and locations of all band members in a particular drill. Pictured here is the field chart for theTemptations’ hit tune “Get ready.”


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founder, James Moscati in the 1930s and 1940s, contin-

ued by Stanley Opalach and Saul Kay in the 1950s and

1960s, and further enhanced during Morgan’s tenure.

Over the years, the tradition of precision marching has

come to distinguish the Clifton unit from other high

school bands. The difference is evident at the annual

North New Jersey Band Festival, the 64th version of

which was hosted by Montclair State University on Oct.

24. While the Mustangs carry the torch of precision

marching, other Garden State high school bands have

gravitated towards an emphasis on flags, spinning rifles

and swords, and eclectic, glamorous sideline orchestra-

tions that include electric guitars, keyboards and diverse

percussion stations. And instead of traditional marching

patterns, most other schools have opted for side-to-side,

forward-and-back roll steps.

“Yeah, we’re a dinosaur, but that’s OK,” Morgan con-

fessed, flashing a wry smile and leaving no doubt as to

which style of marching he prefers.

Mustang Band members are required to master the

fundamentals of a proper knee lift and a 22.5-inch for-

ward step—eight steps every five yards. The leg lift and

step involves picking up the knee and pointing the foot,

so the toe becomes a shock absorber (the toe lands first,

then the heel). It is an unnatural motion; in the typical

walking step, it’s the heel that hit the ground first.

Drills are mapped out on a math grid sheet, with each

grid box representing four steps. Band members memo-

rize the geometric patterns on the grid, translating them to

steps on the field. They also know the various calls and

signals from the drum major and utilize the end zone

lines, the sidelines and the 50-yard line as reference

points to frame formations.

“You have to keep the (formation) geometry going.

There are lots of moving parts and quick turns. The band

needs to maintain that 22.5-inch step. But when it works,

it’s like gears meshing,” he said, interlocking his fingers

to demonstrate his point.

Morgan, indeed, knows “the drill.” A 1966 graduate of

Clifton High School, he was a trumpet player during his

years in the Mustang Band. He achieved the rank of mas-

ter sergeant in his junior and senior years, equivalent to

the current rank of quartermaster. For the band director,

each season is a full-circle moment, as today’s students

are marching, quite literally, in his footsteps.

“I feel for the kids. It’s tough. I know what they’re

going through. I used to be the guy who played the trum-

pet solo during the ‘Call to the Colors’ in the pregame

show. Mr. Kay was a tough taskmaster. He brought the

band to a new level. When I became the director, I

brought it to another level.”

(Michael C. Gabriele is the publicity chairman for the CliftonMustang Band Parents Association and a member of the advi-sory board of the Clifton Arts Center.)

Robert Morgan, pictured in the band room at CliftonHigh School, has set the tempo and tone for theMustang Band since 1972.

J J J

J


Jazzlyn Caba ....................11/1Robyn Jo Paci ....................11/2Thomas Scancarella ...........11/2Kelly Tierney......................11/3Lance Dearing ...................11/4Andrew Seitz.....................11/4Victoria Krzysztofczyk ........11/5 Tanya Ressetar...................11/5Joe Angello .......................11/6Nicole Lorraine Bonin.........11/6Martha Derendal ...............11/6

Danielle Osellame..............11/6Kristen Soltis ......................11/6James Ball .........................11/7Kevin Lord .........................11/7Francine Anderson.............11/8Ray Konopinski..................11/8Marie Sanzo .....................11/8Donna Camp.....................11/9Brandy Stiles ...................11/10Tom Szieber ....................11/10Stacey Van Blarcom Takacs ...11/10

Joseph Franek III ..............11/11Laura Gasior ...................11/12

Joe Angello is 51 on Nov. 6 while Joe & Sue celebrate their 11th Anniversary on Nov. 14. Nicole Mokray

hits double digits—she turns10 on Nov. 7. Congrats Catherine & Christopher Mendez who wed Sept. 26.

Birthdays & CelebrationsSend dates & [email protected]

Belated Congratulations to Mary Jane & Andy Varga who celebrated their 48th Wedding Anniversary on October 26.

Happy Birthday to Amanda Grace Feiner

who will be 23 on November 29.

Our club swimming pool & party room is available to groups and families

25 Kids$225

For info, call Aquatics Dept. 973-773-2697

ext. 31 Boys & Girls Club of Clifton

25 Kids$225

Happy Birthday to Nancy Hawrylko who will

turn 25 on Nov.19.


1036

Geraldine Ball ...................11/13Patricia Franek...................11/13Robert Paci ........................11/13Gregory Chase..................11/15Matthew Phillips.................11/16Anthony Wrobel ................11/16Marilyn Velez.....................11/18Joseph Tyler .......................11/19Joseph Guerra ...................11/20Jon Whiting .......................11/21Andreas Dimitratos.............11/22Katerina Dimitratos.............11/22Margaret Egner .................11/22Eileen Fierro ......................11/25Crystal Lanham..................11/25Rachel Prehodka-Spindel.....11/25Kristen Bridda ....................11/26Jessi Cholewczynski............11/26Dillon Curtiss......................11/26Bethany Havriliak...............11/26Kelly Moran.......................11/27Sami Suaifan .....................11/28Christopher Seitz................11/29Kaitlyn Graham .................11/30Barbara Luzniak.................11/30

Carolina Kazer is 93 on Nov. 29& is pictured with her son Skip.


The Tradition Continues... No matter what the state of the

economy is, Kevin O’Neil and

Joe Argieri will make sure that the

16th Annual Thanksgiving Day

feast goes off without a hitch.

Working with FMBA Local 21

members and Clifton Firefighters,

the Route 3 IHOP and Baskinger’s

Catering have donated all of the

goods necessary to host a free

Thanksgiving Day dinner to resi-

dents who might otherwise be hav-

ing theirs alone, or who might not

be able to afford one at all.

This annual feast, started by for-

mer Deputy Chief Tom Lyons in

1994 thanks to the generosity of

IHOP and Baskinger’s Catering,

begins at 11:30 am on Nov. 25 at

the Senior Citizen Center,

behind City Hall at 900

Clifton Ave.

Seating is limited to

the first 150 residents

who respond before

Nov. 12. To reserve a

seat, or for details, call

Ann Marie Lancaster at

973-470-5802.

Kevin O’Neil of IHOP,

Clifton Firefighter Tony Latona,

CFD Deputy Chief George Spies

and Joe Argieri of Baskinger’s.

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Clifton, NJ 07011

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Clifton Merchant Magazine - November 2010

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Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - November 2010