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Village of International Flags Botany Village is a melting pot of many Nationalities. Visitors see it in the people that live here, those who own businesses in our district or even the folks that shop here. Several years ago a survey was taken to determine where our residents have their roots. To reflect their origins, flags of many different Counties fly side by side with the American flag, along the streets of our business district. Take a walk through the Village and you’ll notice how the flags fly together in harmony—like those people who shop, live, own businesses or work in our Historic Village. Come enjoy the diversity of Clifton’s Historic Botany Village. From our modern shopping center to our historic storefronts, you’ll see why Botany Village is Clifton's most colorful neighborhood.

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

FROM the EDITOR

Like Yesterday W

hen word first arrived that a plane had struck the World Trade Center, the country went into a state of shock. As the second airliner slammed into the South Tower, followed shortly by another smashing a portion of the Pentagon, the country went into a state of panic—it was clear these were not accidents but part of a well calculated attack. Frightened, people did what they have done for centuries when faced with adversity: we prayed. At home, in houses of worship, even on the steps of City Hall, people turned to God. President Bush set the tone when he quoted the book of Psalms during his address to the nation on the evening of the attacks. People that have not been to religious services for ages suddenly had a reason to rely on God. At interfaith prayer services, such as Clifton’s Candlelight Vigil on Sept. 16, 2001, religious and political leaders stood side by side. The traditional wall between church and state seemed to have crumbled with the Twin Towers. With so many lives lost and all of us looking for comfort it is no wonder city officials decided an interfaith prayer service was needed. “We put the service together in less than 24 hours,” recalled Mayor Jim Anzaldi, “Everybody was so cooperative.” He added that Aakash Shah, a sophomore at Clifton High in 2001, was the catalyst to the evening. “He called with the idea; I liked it.” Once again, 10 years later on Sept. 11 at 4:30 pm, our city will hold a ceremony at city hall, this time at the 9/11 Memorial Garden.

There the lives of nine Cliftonites— Edgar H. Emery, Edward C. Murphy, Kyung ‘Kaccy’ Cho, Ethesham U. Raja, Zuhtu Ibis, Francis Joseph Trombino, John P. Skala and brothers Timothy and John Grazioso—will be recalled with the thousands of others who perished on that fateful day. Tom Hawrylko

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

LETTERS to the EDITOR Having loved and lived in Clifton forever, the articles published about it and growing up in it always fascinate me. That’s why Jack De Vries’ story ‘Growing Up Clifton’ in August was such a hit.

In June I met the real Joey— Bobby Diamond—at the Memphis Festival. He was reunited with Roger Mobley and Jimmy Baird. Bobby has been a successful attorney in California for decades and

Roger (Packy) was in law enforcement in Texas. I’ve since mailed your article to Bobby Diamond—he’ll enjoy it as he has the greatest sense of humor! Nancy Ressetar Clifton

Reunion edition brings back memories: Thank you so very much for the wonderful July issue. Having read through your magazine, I am so proud of the achievements of my fellow 1951 classmates and pleased to read about what they are currently doing. I thank you, too, for the portrayal of my courtship and marriage to Harold Geene (CHS 1952). It was and remains a fabulous time of my life and it was a beautiful story that you wrote. Again, many thanks. Hot Grill Manager Bill Doris (at right) was misidentified in this July photo with Joseph Padula, John Celentano and Robert Stier. We regret the error.

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Lois Fisher Geene, CHS 1951 Point Pleasant

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September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

MOMENTS of GRACE

The Promise of the Void By Christopher de Vinck

en years ago, a few days after the horrific attack on the World Trade Center, I was working in my office at CHS and one of my colleagues said, “Yesterday my 3-year-old grandson was stacking up his Lego blocks, and then he pretended that he crashed a plastic plane into the little building he just created.” How do we, as adults, explain to children the images of evil? Perhaps by doing what we have been doing since the beginning of our human existence: telling stories. Literature is filled with stories of courage, hope and dignity in the face of all that is lost.

Willa Cather’s Antonia maintained her sense of hope and goodness in the grip of the rugged and hostile prairies of Nebraska. John Steinbeck’s Ma Joad in the novel The Grapes of Wrath tried to keep her family together as they made their way through the Oklahoma dust bowl. Atticus Finch fought the club of racism as he defended Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. Another teacher later in the day said, as we stood in the hallway between classes, “My brother was on the 21st floor in 1 World Trade Center. After the jet crashed into the floors above him, he quickly left his office September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Today, ten years and began walking the attack, after the long down We say, dear children, “Do not be sad.” children will be stairwell. Soon enough, For in those words are the words of a human studying in their firemen, young men in and spiritual hope that there is a place of joy history books about their 20s, were making Sept. 11, 2001. Let their way up the stairs either in the memories of a life well-lived, or them read about a 20past him to tend to the in the promise of a life that is yet to come. year-old fireman who fire. My brother said rushed up the stairs of that he and the others the World Trade cheered the firemen as and said, ‘Clothes around the corner. Center because he thought that he they rushed upward. They were Food to the left. What do you might be able to save someone. running up to their deaths, and my have?’” Let the children of the future hear brother was running down to life.” “We said we had shovels. Within the story of a suburban couple who In the late afternoon one of my seconds, it seemed, an Army drove through the night with newly 10th grade teachers stepped into the Humvee pulled alongside our car, bought shovels in the hope that this office to get some books and said, and the shovels were immediately small act might make a difference in “I’m so tired.” transported from our car into the someone’s life. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” I green military vehicle, and a soldier Above all else, teach the children asked. “Well,” she said, “My quickly drove off towards the ruin of the story of the husband telling his husband and I were watching the the World Trade Center.” wife, “Do not be sad.” We will all go news, and the terrible shock of the For me, the most poignant story I to our deaths with lives lived, with buildings collapsing at 11 p.m., and heard in the aftermath of the terrorist regrets and joys, with sorrows and a city spokesman was saying they attacks ten years ago were the words victories. needed clothes, food and equipment. spoken between a husband and wife. So what do we say to those we My husband turned to me, and I to As reported in The New York Times, love when our lives are done, when him and we both knew that we had Lyzbeth Glick of Hewitt, N.J. spoke all else is left behind? We say, dear to do something, so we drove to a on a cell phone with her husband, children, “Do not be sad.” For in 24-hour Home Depot and bought Jeremy, as his plane was being those words are the words of a $700 worth of shovels. We loaded hijacked, aiming for the Pentagon. human and spiritual hope that there them up and drove through the Jeremy was telling his wife that he is a place of joy either in the Lincoln Tunnel to the Jacob Javits and some others were going to try to memories of a life well-lived, or in Center. overpower the terrorists. “He was a the promise of a life that is still yet “There were hundreds of people man who wouldn't let things to come. bringing things. A man stopped us happen,” Lyzbeth said. “He was a In the end, Ma Joad, Antonia, and Jeremy Glick of Hewitt, NJ., were hero for what he did, but he was a not deterred from the hope of joy hero for me because he told me not and goodness. Do not be sad. to be sad ...” Dr. Christopher de Vinck is the Language Arts Supervisor at CHS and the author of 13 books, his best known work is The Power of the Powerless a frank reflection on the struggles and joys of loving his severely disabled brother. This summer, Moments of Grace: Days of a Faith-Filled Dreamer was released and hailed for its wisdom. “Readers will find inspiration and hope in this accessible book,” wrote one reviewer. “It will strike a chord in these difficult times.” To order the book, call 1-800-218-1903 or look for it in bookstores or online. 10

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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Ten Years After

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Growing since 9/11 Story by Carol Leonard

The first graders in Nancy Maurer Muddell’s class at School 8 on Oak St. in Delawanna were getting to know one another that September day, 10 years ago. And then their daily routine became history. Since that time, Muddell has remained connected with a handful of those girls, who are now juniors at CHS. On the following pages, we find out more about them and Muddell’s reflections from a journal she has kept. She is hoping to publish a book in the future; it is tentatively entitled ‘And Still the Children Sing.’ September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After

9/11/01 As first graders in 2001, from left top, Amanda Marakovitz, Kinnery Chaudhari, Gabriela Punales. Bottom: Jenna Vallo, Melaina Oliveras, and Madison Molner, who was not available for the photo taken for the cover. 12

September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

September 11, 2001 began like any other Monday morning for Nancy Muddell. It was the first day of the first full week of the new school year for the veteran School 8 teacher, and she was looking forward to getting to know her new group of five and six year-old first graders. Back then, kindergarten was still a half-day program in the Clifton Public Schools, so first grade was the children’s initial experience with being in school all day. For many, it was an adjustment that took several weeks, but Muddell knew just how to help her little charges feel comfortable. One of the girls in her class, Amanda Marakovitz, was celebrating her birthday that day and Muddell had planned a snack-time observance, which would include having the class sing Happy Birthday. As usual, she would then present the birthday girl with a special goody bag. It was a routine that Muddell had been through for many years, and that fateful Monday was to be no different – until it was. She had just brought her students down to the media center for their weekly library period with the media specialist and was headed back to her classroom when Principal Janet Kolano pulled her aside to give her the

grave news. Two airplanes carrying terrorists had crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. “I had to have my principal repeat what she had just told me,” Muddell said. “I felt like an idiot, but my mind just couldn’t comprehend what she was telling me. This couldn’t be true, I thought. Why was this happening?” Once back in her classroom, Muddell turned on her radio and still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The first tower had collapsed to the ground. Shortly after, Muddell heard a faint rumble in the distance and, when she learned that the second tower had gone down, she surmised that was what she had heard. “What a strange feeling,” she said. “It was like watching a movie on TV, only this was real.” When her students’ library period was over, Muddell turned off her radio and went to pick up her class. “We were told not to say anything to our students because we were not sure how many parents might be working in the area of the disaster,” she said. “That was tough trying to conceal my feelings from them and still wanting to know what was going on.”

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Ten Years After Protecting the Children For Muddell and her teaching colleagues, Sept. 11, 2001, was probably the most difficult day of their teaching careers, presenting challenges in dealing with their students that they had never before experienced. “Here we were, just a few miles from the city where this was happening, but feeling closed out because we wanted to keep this tragic event from the children we were supposed to protect,” she said. Shortly after returning with her students to their classroom, Muddell remembers an eerie quiet outside followed later by the constant sound of sirens, nearby and far off in the distance. School 8 is located in the Delawanna section, not far from Route 3, so the occasional sound of sirens is not unusual. But after a while, the students began asking why there were so many sirens that day. “Maybe there was an accident,” she told them. “What else could I say?”

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Before the end of the morning, many parents, upset and frightened about the events that were unfolding, had already come to the school to sign out their children. Once again, Muddell had to keep the truth from others when they asked why so many of their classmates were leaving early. “I told them that maybe they had a doctor’s appointment,” she said, all the while feeling guilty for telling so many white lies to the children. At lunchtime, all the students in the school were told that they would have to stay indoors because it was still a little too humid outside to run around. Meanwhile, in the teacher’s room there was no laughter, no storytelling about who had done what over the weekend. Just a lot of chatter about the day’s events and what they had heard so far. Most spent the lunch period listening to updated news reports. “I don’t think anyone ate their lunches that day,” Muddell said. “There were too many stomachs tied up in knots and too many thoughts about what was

happening before our eyes.” For Muddell, it was worse than when she was a teenager in school hearing about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. “And no one ever thought anything would ever be more horrible than that,” she said. After lunch, most teachers returned to near empty classrooms, as well more than half of the students had been taken home by their parents. “By 1:30 I had only six children in my classroom,” Muddell said. “Six little innocents who once in a while would ask me why there were so many sirens on the highway.” Frazzled by the reality of the situation, Muddell tried to make the afternoon as normal as possible for her remaining students, even as she sensed their childlike awareness that something was terribly wrong. Amanda was one of the children remaining and Muddell decided to go on with the birthday celebration so as not to take away the one happy moment that such an otherwise terrible day would bring. “Little did she know,” Muddell said of Amanda, “that this tragedy would be

relived in everyone’s minds, including hers, on her birthday for the rest of her life.”

In Their Words...

Facing Reality

“When 9/11 occurred, the scary part was that my mom and dad were separated in their cars as the tunnel was shut down while they drove to their jobs. My mom was on the NY side and was stuck in the city for two days,” wrote Melaina Oliveras, pictured with her parents Victor and Olga in 2001. “My father was in the Guard so he was called up and he went to the disaster site to help. A few years later, he was sent to Iraq for a year. Mrs. Muddell always checked on how my family and I were doing. She made sure I was okay with his being in a not-so-safe place. She helped with the surprise at school when my dad came home on leave and showed up at an assembly program. “After leaving School 8, my friends and I stayed close with Mrs. Muddell. Our friendship grew to summer pool parties, birthday dinners, lunches, dinners out just for the fun of it, a Sweet 16 photo shoot, a sleepover, fun talks and conversations. Nancy Muddell is like a guardian or what we like to think of as “a second mom.” I am entirely grateful to have such a great teacher, role model, an overall great friend in my life.”

Once the school day ended and the staff was sure that every remaining child went home safely, many hung around to talk. Eventually, they went to the media center to view the latest reports on TV. “That’s when it became all too real,” Muddell said. “I couldn’t look. I just wanted to wait until I was safely home with my family before looking at reality. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that either, but I would feel safe.” When she finally left the building, Muddell sensed calmness around the school. There was no traffic and no children, just beautiful sunshine. It became hard for her to believe what had transpired on what was supposed to be an ordinary Monday in mid-September. As the week went on, she and the rest of the staff began to hear stories from around the school. One girl’s uncle is still missing, three other’s lost an

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After aunt and another child’s mother was stuck in New York Finding Uncle Joe City for two days, unable to contact her family, after the Madison’s Uncle Joe (Francis Joseph Trombino), Lincoln Tunnel was shut down. actually her great uncle, had worked for Brinks in New Others told of how they had overslept, took the day York City. He was a Korean War veteran and lifelong off or were sent to other offices that day, and how God Clifton resident, who attended School 8. must have been on their side. Ironically, he had survived the robbery of his Brinks The girl with the missing uncle, Madison Molner, truck in 1981 that left his and the girl whose partner dead and parents became Trombino’s arm nearly separated, Melaina blown off, as well as the Oliveras, were both in 1993 bombing at the Muddell’s class. World Trade Center. But Every day for the on Sept. 11, 2001, he was first few weeks not as fortunate; his following the tragedy, remains were finally Madison would come recovered near his into class and report Brinks truck just before that “Uncle Joe is still Christmas. missing.” That day Madison Melaina’s father came to school and was in the Army reported to her teacher Reserves and she and the class, “I have would talk about how good news, they found he had gone to the Uncle Joe. He is in scene to help. She Paradise, but now we would speak about know he is okay.” how she missed him, Muddell isn’t sure just but was proud of the how much each child, work he was doing. On 9/11/02, students planted a tree on Oak St. including Madison, Then, on Sept. 21, understood about what Madison told the class, the little girl had just announced. But a certain sense of “Uncle Joe is still missing, but we know where he is – in friendship and caring appeared on the faces of every Paradise.” student in the room that day, and it gave Muddell the “Whenever she would speak of this special person in hope for the future that she so desperately needed at her life, I would notice a tear trickle down from her eyes. that time. This time, tears filled my eyes. What do you say when Ever since Sept. 11, Uncle Joe’s picture, surrounded your heart is so touched by the innocence of this by stars and photos of the New York skyline that once sensitive child?” Muddell said she just stopped, took a was, adorned the front bulletin board in Muddell’s deep breath and told the girl: classroom. “Tonight, and every night, when you look up in the Madison told her teacher that it was okay if she sky, find the brightest star that sparkles and that will be wanted to take down the picture since Uncle Joe Uncle Joe watching over you.” 16

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After had been found. Muddell replied that she would keep the picture up on the board so that Uncle Joe could continue to watch over the class. With that, Madison gave Muddell a big hug. “I needed that,” Muddell said. “She was a little child, but with a big, big heart.” Throughout the fall and the rest of the school year, Muddell and the other teachers at School 8 tried to deal with the 9/11 tragedy by incorporating discussions and writing assignments about patriotism and what it meant to be a good American and a good person into their daily lessons.

The Angels Sing One afternoon in Muddell’s classroom, as the children drew and colored special Thank You cards for the Ground Zero rescuers, one by one the children began to sing, softly at first, then a little louder, as the whole class chimed in. The words to God Bless America, The StarSpangled Banner and You’re a Grand Old Flag

Soon after 9/11, the students were busy decorating plastic bags to ship items to Ground Zero..

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Ten Years After filled the air. “It was like angels’ voices appeared in my classroom,” Muddell said. “They hadn’t been told to sing. It was just something that they did on their own to express themselves. As I listened, I paid closer attention to the words we often sing from memory, but give little thought to.” The spontaneous singing sessions continued throughout the year, as Muddell’s students mastered the words to the songs much quicker than usual. Even The Star Spangled Banner flowed from their mouths as if they were seasoned choir singers. “And that’s a hard song for little kids to learn,” Muddell said. Every time Muddell listened to the impromptu singing from her “little angels,” her eyes filled with tears. “But they were tears of happiness, tears of joy and tears of hope,” she said. “These children helped restore the feelings I had been losing.” Muddell realized then that her students, among the youngest in the school, understood more than she had ever imagined. A year after the terrorist attack, on Sept. 11, 2002, the students and staff at School 20

In Their Words... “Sept. 11 is a special day for me,” Amanda Marakovitz recently wrote. “It is now known as a tragic day for our country, but it is my birthday and on that day in 2001 a bond began to grow. “Over the years I continue to think about that day and the chaos it caused. I remember being in first grade class having a good day – it was MY birthday – and all of a sudden my classmates started getting picked up by their parents. By the end of the day there were only a few kids left in my class. As more students began to leave, the teachers would stand outside of their classrooms talking to each other quietly so we could not hear. Mrs. Muddell could not tell us the truth because the kids in my class were only five and six yearsold. We had to wait until we got home from school to find out what was going on. “During our time at School 8, even after we moved on from first grade, our group of girls, along with Mrs. Muddell, did many things together. We helped out at Santa Breakfasts, we were all in Mrs. Muddell’s play, Sir Bookworm 2, and we were in her reading program, RAP. Even after leaving School 8, Mrs. Muddell kept our group together. “We get together and go out to eat for each other’s birthdays, and Mrs. Muddell also came to National Jr. Honor Society night at CCMS (Christopher Columbus Middle School) and our farewell dance. This past April, Mrs. Muddell took us for a photo shoot to celebrate all of our Sweet 16 birthdays. Somehow, Mrs. Muddell is always able to find the right time for us to get together. “Mrs. Muddell is an amazing woman, teacher, friend and, most importantly, a role model. She has made a huge impact on my life and I lover her with all my heart. Some friends may come and go, but I know that Mrs. Muddell and “her girls” will be together forever.”

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

8 joined the rest of the nation in paying tribute to the victims and fallen heroes. They assembled on the front lawn of the school, where a memorial tree had been planted. Members of Uncle Joe’s family were among those in attendance, as the children and adults joined in song in honoring the lost loved ones. The next year, on Sept. 11, 2003, the annual tribute continued, as the School 8 family gathered together on the front lawn to sing, once again, and honor the 9/11 victims.

The Wings of Life Back in the classroom an unanticipated event was taking place that would delight the teacher’s new class of first graders when they returned from the 9 am ceremony.

September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After The first of eight monarch butterflies had emerged from its chrysalis (the pupal stage of the life cycle of some insects undergoing transformation). It was a project that Muddell had introduced into her science curriculum. As the beautiful new butterfly, often considered to be a symbol of life, began to flap its wings, Muddell could tell that the creature was a male. “Now, you can look at this in several ways,” she said. “But we had just come from honoring the people who had died. We had just tied ribbons on the tree dedicated to Uncle Joe, and here was this male butterfly. Could it be, I thought.” In any case, Muddell considered this special surprise to be a sign of hope, as she watched her students’ excitement at its birth, right in their classroom. For three years in a row on 9/11, the same incident took place while she and the students were at the yearly memorial service outside. A new male monarch butterfly greeted Muddell and the students when they returned from the event.

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten years have passed since the horrendous day that changed the lives of all American citizens, particularly those of us in the New York metropolitan area who could see the towers burning. The little first graders from Muddell’s class that year are now juniors in high school, many starting to think about college and future careers. For Muddell, they were a special group and she continued to watch over them throughout their years at School 8. Some would come back to visit her after moving on to middle school and high school.

A Bond of Friendship Six of the girls in that class, including Amanda, Madison and Melaina, as well as Jenna Vallo, Kinnery Chaudhari and Gabriela Punales, remained very close friends with each other and with Muddell over the years. The girls and their former teacher often get together for dinners out and other special occasions such as

birthdays and holidays. Every August, they help Muddell set up her classroom for the new school year. In April, in honor of the girls each turning 16 this year, Muddell took them for a group photo shoot to celebrate both their milestone birthdays and their friendship. They also had a sleepover at Muddell’s home this summer. Now retired after 25 years of teaching, Muddell still wells up with tears when she talks about the days and months in school following 9/11. It was an experience she wishes she had never had to live through, but it is one that changed her in so many ways, including how she looks at life and death, friendship and compassion, and what it means to be an American. She also has learned to look at things just a little more through the eyes of a child, and she will always be grateful for her “little angels.”

In Their Words...

Chaudhari, writing her recollections while looking back with a perspective as a high school junior. “I would never have thought that something lifethreatening had happened no more than 20 miles away. “I remember how the other kids in my class were leaving one by one to go to their “doctor’s appointment,” and all I could think about was why I wasn’t being picked up. “Somehow I knew something was wrong that day. The look on my teacher’s face said it all. We later found out that Mrs. Muddell wasn’t allowed to tell us what had happened, so she made excuses about why most of the kids were leaving early. “Soon the day had passed and it was time to go home. On the school bus ride home I saw smoke in the sky and thought there must be a building on fire somewhere. When I came home, my mother sat me down on the couch and told me that there was a terrorist attack on the twin towers, I was too young to fully understand what had happened, but as the

It may be hard to believe that out of such a horrific tragedy as 9/11 something good could come. But hearing their comments, it seems that for a group of young girls and their former teacher, the emotional impact of that fateful day has created an inseparable bond that has lasted for a decade and may endure a lifetime. On some of the previous pages and on the this and the following pages, we’ve published excerpts of the recollections provided by the girls, who are now CHS juniors. Obviously, their memories come with some perspective and insight as they mature. Their comments also tell about their friendship with each other and the bond that was created with their teacher that year, Nancy Muddell.

Smoke in the Sky “It was supposed to be a regular day in first grade. You know, the basic day to day schedule. But that day was different. It was Sept. 11, 2001, and from the looks of it, it seemed pretty normal,” recalled Kinnery September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After days passed, I realized that many people had died that day. Things would never be the same. “Who would have thought that, from that day forward, a bond that was going to last a lifetime was beginning. The woman that was just my first grade teacher turned into another “mom,” and from then on we made our own little family.

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“Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into 10 years. From lunches to photo shoots, to sleepovers, we’ve done it all together with our former teacher, our “second mom.” Mrs. Muddell and my “sisters” will always have a special place in my heart.”

Preserving Uncle Joe’s Memory Madison Molner remembered: “The class was excited because it was Amanda’s birthday and we knew we would be getting a treat later in celebration. That morning I had the honor of taking the class library books back to the library. “When I walked into the library I saw the librarian and my art teacher watching the TV. On the screen was a news channel with the picture of a plane crashing into a building and fire everywhere. I thought nothing of it and wondered what the name of the “movie” they were watching was.

“Soon, kids in our class were getting pulled out of school early and those of us that were left were upset that we were still stuck in school. Later at lunch time it was my turn to leave. My mom picked me up and took me to my aunt’s house, where most of my family was. I still had no inkling as to what was going on except that Uncle Joe wasn’t back from work yet. “Well, we waited and waited on that September afternoon. It was now night and Uncle Joe had not come home. The next day I walked into class and told Mrs. Muddell that they hadn’t found Uncle Joe yet. Then the next day I had the same message, and the next day, same message. This went on for days, then weeks, then months. Just before Christmas, we received word they had recovered Uncle Joe’s remains near his Brinks truck. “Many months later, School 8 conducted a memorial service to honor Uncle Joe and all of those who lost their lives on 9/11 by dedicating a tree along with a plaque and pretty flowers.

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Ten Years After “Years later, I would walk or drive by school with my mom and we’d see Mrs. Muddell bent over beneath the tree planting new flowers, cleaning up the plaque, making certain everything was in order. Commitment to preserving a memory, year after year, is only done by a special person like Mrs. Muddell, who is dedicated to her students and community.”

To Share, To Listen, To Help “On 9/11, the thing I remember most is so many kids leaving school with their parents. As kids were leaving class, I was sitting there wondering why I was not getting picked up, why they were all leaving

The girls today, from left: Amanda Marakovitz, Melaina Oliveras, Kinnery Chaudhari, Gabriela Punales, Jenna Vallo.

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early,” Jenna Vallo commented. “With my classmates, I listened to Mrs. Muddell’s radio that was on softly, hearing “the second tower was hit,” and how upset Mrs. Muddell looked when she heard that. But she didn’t want us to know, she didn’t want us to be upset. “Over the years a group of us always stayed close. To this day we say that it is because of our amazing teacher, Mrs. Muddell and 9/11. It was a terrible day, but it brought us together in a way that no one will really fully understand. She kept us calm. We were together when it happened. We helped each other get past it, and we will continue to help each other as friends. “9/11 is Amanda’s birthday. We were going to have a party for her in class on 9/11, but everyone left school. That was sad. So now, instead of being upset on 9/11 every year, our group makes sure that we are happy for Amanda. We celebrate Amanda’s birthday and we celebrate our friendship. “Our “other mother,” Mrs. Muddell, taught us to be who we are today. She has shown us since first grade when she was our teacher that it’s good to care about others, to share, to listen and to help.”

remember a lot of kids leaving school early, and I was one of them. My mom picked up my brother and me. She ushered us into the house when we got home and just went to the basement to keep herself busy doing laundry, while the TV had the news on in the next room. I remember being scared and not wanting to be alone because I knew

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FAITH and the FUTURE

Casa Guadalupe A Franciscan Tradition, House of Discernment Offers Place for Those Considering Religious Vocation

Story & photo by Cecile San Agustin

Casa Guadalupe residents, from left: Diana Rivera, Bulay Minano, Judith Guzman, Holly Lawmaster, Kathleen Burke and Carmen Castrejon. Their story of faith begins on the following page. September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

FAITH and the FUTURE

For a group of women living in community at 737 Valley Rd., their desire to discern their vocation in life has led them to a place where contemplation of prayer and service may lead them to do the will of God.

asa Guadalupe, located in a house that formerly served as the Paterson Diocesan Office for Clergy Personnel and Vocations, is now a place of prayer and discernment for young ladies in the very early stages of a vocation to religious life, marriage or lay consecrated life. They live in community, have hours of prayer, serve the community and all the while they are working or studying full-time. While the property is owned by the diocese, the residents help pay the bills, buy their own groceries and maintain the house. The women come from diverse backgrounds and offer unique talents and range from the ages of 21 to 41. While they are different in many ways, they have one thing in common—to be totally committed to the will of God. “We all desire to pursue holiness,” said Holly Lawmaster, 37, a youth minister at St. Cecilia Church in Kearny, who is “house mother.” Living in community is beautiful and while it’s not always easy, it is a great opportunity to see our weaknesses. Every individual has a vocation.” The house offers a special environment for the women who have careers in law, the arts, business and the Church.

Because the concept of thier discernment is based on the Franciscan tradition, the women live very simply. For instance, there are three to a room. Even in these close quarters, the women aren’t bothered because they are always busy. In fact, visitors won’t even find a television in any of the rooms — and it’s not because they are staying away from this household staple but simply because they never have time to watch TV. For Kathleen Burke, a 21-year-old theater major at Drew University in Madison, the house has allowed her to listen and to trust God. “I like living here. The Holy Spirit moves gently in the house,” she said. “There’s no pressure to be any type of way. There is joy in trying to be holy.” Posted in the house is a chart for chores and a daily schedule that includes morning and evening prayer hours. The house has a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is present. Franciscan Father of the Renewal Agustino Torres of St. Michael’s Friary in Paterson is spiritual director for the women. Carmen Castrejon, 22, is from Alamo, Texas, and recently traveled to Honduras on a mission trip and is the younger sister of Father Torres. She called the house “a place of healing. We encourage each other and together we are able to openly discern and live our lives

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called to holiness.” As part of the community life, the women serve together to help the poor and pro-life ministries. Once a month, they also meet with other women to reflect and discuss the serious place discerning has in their lives. Casa Guadalupe began a few years ago in a house at Newark when Lawmaster served campus ministry for Rutgers University and NJIT. There she met Diana Reyes and Bulay Minano, who both attended NJIT and had the same desire to live in a place where they could discern their vocations. Eventually they moved to Harrison, which happened to be on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. and then to the Clifton house earlier this year in the spring. “Living here has more structure than the previous houses. It is very joyful being here,” said Reyes. “Each of us has something special to contribute.” Living in a house of discernment and serving together in community has led them to many different connections as they get to meet religious from different orders and leaders from various organizations. In fact, the women are in the process of making Casa Guadalupe a non-profit organization, which would allow them to serve the community in many different ways.

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Edward Spohrer, diocesan chancellor/delegate for religious vocations, has spent time with the women and had dinner at the residence said, she was “very touched by these women. “They have a willingness to pray in the process of discernment. They live a very simple, lifestyle – Franciscan tradition. Their Eucharistic life is so commendable as well,” she commented. The residents attend Mass at nearby St. Philip Church here, which is a short walk down the hill. They said they feel lucky to be so close to the church within walking distance. Because of the successful model of Casa Guadalupe here in Clifton, there is hope that another property can be found within the vast region of the Paterson Diocese for more young women who have the desire to experience the discernment process in this manner. Sister Mary Edward said, “I pray for them individually each day. I hope they will be able to continue to glorify God by their devotion, commitment and discernment in searching for God’s will in their lives.” This story was published in the Aug. 4th edition of The Beacon, newspaper of the Diocese of Paterson. It is reprinted with the permission of The Beacon.

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BACK to the EARTH

From left in Downtown Clifton selling their organic wares on a recent Friday, Alan Jordan, Sam Anderson, Lauren Shear, Alex Lemos and Josei Red Wing. At left, Lemos tends to corn at the former Schultheis Farm on Grove St.

From Ground to Market By Carol Leonard

lifton High School senior Alex Lemos has a new appreciation for the value of freshly grown fruits and vegetables. So do his classmates John Gonzalez and Josie Red Wing, and De Paul High School junior Alan Jordan.

September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

The four Clifton teens worked as interns this summer at the former Schultheis Farm on Grove Street. Using Green Acres funds, the old family farm was purchased by the city six years ago as part of an effort to maintain a portion of open space in an area once dominated by farmland. After efforts to find a farmer to work the land came up empty, Clifton Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula reached out to Jennifer Papa, executive director of City Green. The Wyckoff-based non-profit organization operates a community gardening program in Paterson’s Eastside Park as well as school gardening programs in several Bergen County schools. This spring, City Green entered into a five-year lease with Clifton, and in April began cultivating a one-acre plot on the five-acre farm. The organization is paying the city $1,000 a month to use the land and the farmhouse that sits at the front of the property. The summer interns started working on the farm on July 5 and completed their program on Aug. 19. They were paid $8 an hour for an average of 25-30 hours a week to help maintain and harvest the crops, which included corn, tomatoes, green beans, squash and watermelon, among other summertime favorites. Papa’s college age son, Sam Anderson, who serves as foreman for the farm, supervised the group, which also included several other high school interns from Paterson. Every Friday, the teens would help load up a truck with their pickings and head to the Clifton Farmers Market on the corner of First St. and Clifton Ave. to sell the fresh produce to the community. The leftovers that didn’t sell they brought to the food pantry at St. Peter’s Haven for distribution to needy families and to senior citizen homes for the residents to enjoy. They also got to bring home some of the fruits and vegetable to share with their own families. Red Wing and Jordan both had grown vegetables at home in the past in small backyard gardens, but for Lemos and Gonzalez working on the farm was their first experience with growing crops and enjoying their fresh taste right off the vine. Even the two home gardeners admitted that they learned much more than they knew before about the process of caring for the plants to get the best crop yield. “We learned about how and why to tie up the toma-

to plants and why you need to keep the crops free of weeds,” Jordan said. Gonzalez feels that the knowledge he gained this summer will help him with his plan to study civil engineering after high school. “I’ve learned so much about how to take care of the land and the soil,” he said. “Learning about land use is part of what I’ll study in college.” City Green uses organic farming techniques, which means that its crops are free of chemical pesticides and herbicides. “We use composting and natural methods of pest control, and we really work hard on building up the health of the soil,” Papa said. Organic crops generally have more nutrients than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables because they are grown in healthier, presticide-free soil. And, there is strong evidence that chemical pesticide residues, which in many cases cannot be totally washed off fruits and vegetables, have been linked to the development of some cancers. Papa feels that teaching the students about the value of organic gardening and farming methods is an important part of the educational component of the internship program. Lemos admits that before working on the farm he never gave a thought about the quality of his food. “Personally, I didn’t care what I ate,” he said. “I’ve changed my point of view. Now I know that organic is much better for you. These chemicals are killing the soil.” Red Wing echoed his sentiments and said she enjoys speaking to other people about the value of eating organic. During breaks in their farm duties, Papa sometimes gathered the interns together to talk with them about other aspects of nutrition, such as the dangers of consuming products containing a lot of high fructose corn syrup. The interns were very impressed by a film they watched that showed the plight of migrant farm workers who must wear face masks to protect themselves from inhaling pesticides when working in the fields of conventional, nonorganic farms. They also took a field trip to the American Labor Museum in Haledon to see an exhibit on migrant farm workers. “We want them to understand the bigger picture of sustainable agriculture and why we do what we September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

do here,” Papa said. “I think they’ve gained a new appreciation for farming and for the benefits of using organic methods.” The interns also attended weekly half-day youth development workshops sponsored by City Green through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, which focused on communication and leadership skills, goal setting and resume writing. Papa’s organization receives funding from a number of other foundations and organizations as well as from companies such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Food Market and UPS. They also received a grant to enable them to double the value of food stamps, so that if a customer Clifton resident Dot Lukas found the vegetables fresh and well priced. She also presents these at the farm market, they complemented Jonathan Gonzalez, a CHS senior and Taheen Singletary, a sencan purchase twice the amount of ior at East Side High School in Paterson for their help. The Downtown Clifton fresh market is open Fridays through Oct. 7. wholesome fresh produce. as well as in-kind donations, including supplies from “This gives them the incentive to use their food Dubnoff Paints of Clifton. She is also working with stamps for healthier food choices,” Papa said. United Way to line up volunteers do some of the work Her plans for the future at the former Schultheis in the house. Farm include developing about 30 plots of the land for Upon completion of the renovations, which will community gardens, which local residents will be able include the addition of a commercial kitchen, she plans to lease starting next spring. to move her organization’s headquarters into the farmShe hopes to add some fruit trees and a children’s house. garden, where she will host visits from families and The kitchen will be used to provide classes for field trips for school groups to tour and learn about the young children, teens and adults on the principles of principles of organic gardening and nutrition. cooking for healthy eating as well as techniques of food A roadside farm stand is another possibility for next preservation, including canning and freezing. “There’s year, where passersby can stop to purchase some of the a lot to be learned,” Papa said. freshly picked produce. For more information about City Green programs, Papa is also moving forward with a project to rehacontact Papa at 201-444-7514. bilitate the farmhouse, using funding she has received

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

MUSTANG MCGINLEY New CHS Principal Candid and Strong • by Carol Leonard or Michael McGinley, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The new principal at CHS believes that you should work hard for everything you get in life, and he hopes to instill this, among other values, in his students as school gets underway this month. “We need to teach kids the life lessons they’ll need as they go out into the real world,” he said. McGinley, who was chosen from among 40 candidates for the principal’s job, took over the reigns at CHS on July 1. He comes to Clifton following a three-year stint as principal of Garfield High School, where he oversaw development of a mandatory restructuring program that helped the school raise its academic performance under the federal No Child Left Behind law. The plan included a movement toward three thematic small learning communities within the school. He initiated a Student/Family Advocacy Program to help keep students on the path toward success in school and beyond by having all teachers and administrators meet regularly with an assigned small group of students. The advocates also reach out to parents and guardians to help improve communication between home and school. The 51 year-old long-time educator was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and immigrated to the US as a child with his seven brothers and sisters. His father was a plumber and worked for many years at the United Nations building in New York City. McGinley gives his dad credit for imparting upon him the strong work ethic and sense of responsibility that he has today. After growing up in Union City, McGinley went out on his own, paying his own way through Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University), where he majored in English.

While in college, he had no intention of becoming a teacher and worked for a while in public relations. Eventually, he realized that career wasn’t for him, so he decided to go back to earn his teaching certificate, while working as a substitute teacher and track coach at Union Hill High School. He spent seven and a half years teaching English at Central and West Side high schools in Newark. After getting his master’s degree in administration and supervision, McGinley landed a vice principal job at Fort Lee High School, where he handled discipline and other student management issues. He later was appointed principal of an elementary school in the district, but after two years in that position he missed being at the high school level. “I loved the elementary school kids, but I knew that my first love was high school,” he said. His preference was to be in a diverse setting where he could help kids who were struggling and needed extra attention. “When I was in high school, I hated it,” he admitted. “I didn’t like the clickiness and bullying. I was lucky because I was a successful athlete and I had a lot of brothers and sisters who watched out for me. But I was aware of the kids who got lost and that bothered me. High school shouldn’t be a torturous journey. It’s tough enough being a teenager.” McGinley is pleased with what he was able to accomplish in Garfield. “I’m proud that the district is now making AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) and that we were able to set up the framework and structure for the small learning communities,” he said. With a student population at CHS nearly three times that of Garfield, however, McGinley knows that challenges lie ahead for him. September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

M U S TA N G M c G i n l e y Among his priorities will be the enhancement of safety, especially in light of the alleged rape of a female student under a stairwell last spring. Following the arrest of a suspect, the outcome of that case is still pending. But it raised the concern of students, parents and the community and the new principal hopes to allay these fears. McGinley will be shifting staff duty assignments so that all doors and areas in the sprawling building will be monitored throughout the day. “No one is going to be sitting around,” he said, referring to teachers’ hall duties. “We’ll have more adults in the hallways and once the school day starts every door will be locked.” In addition, the Board has discussed installing additional security cameras in the building, which McGinley feels are a helpful deterrent to bad behavior. He also plans to enforce the school’s policy that forbids students to leave the building during lunch periods. Violation of that policy has been a concern over the years and has been a hot topic at Board meetings. Another bone of contention for McGinley is seeing students come to school inappropriately dressed. While visiting CHS before the end of last school year, he was troubled to see the sloppy attire and “lack of clothing” on some of the students. In Garfield, all students wear uniforms to school and, although McGinley is not advocating for such a policy here, he does plan to require students to adhere to a dress code. “They have to get ready for the real world,” he said. “In real life in the working world you can’t dress the way they dress. It wouldn’t be tolerated.” McGinley feels that students need to start moving in that direction with respect to clothing choices for school. Although he describes himself as a disciplinarian when it comes to rules, the new principal doesn’t feel that

punishment is always the answer. In consultation with his team of vice principals, he has made recommendations to the superintendent regarding proposed changes to some disciplinary policies. “My effectiveness is in my ability to make real connections,” he said. “Kids know when you care about them and they want to meet your expectations. I saw this in Newark, I saw this in Fort Lee and I saw it in Garfield.” McGinley said that it is important to de-escalate rather than escalate the situation when conflicts take place between students and teachers. He tries to impart this advice to students as another life lesson. “I ask them, when you get a job what do you think will happen if you get into an argument with your boss?” McGinley knows that in a school as large as CHS it is important for the four vice principals to all have input in his policy decisions. For this reason, he spent the first few weeks meeting with his administrative team to discuss a number of issues. “We spent an entire week on the vice principals’ duties and who should handle what based on their areas of expertise,” he said. The vice principals also made recommendations to McGinley regarding which teachers should be assigned to certain duties. Other topics included a review of discipline and attendance policies. McGinley, who usually arrives at school by 6 a.m., plans to be very visible to students, parents and the public. “I go to everything after school and in the evening, games, concerts, plays,” he said. When he took the principal’s job in Garfield, he moved to Nutley from West New York so that he would have a shorter commute to the school, and he’s pleased that his new residence is even closer to Clifton.

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

“I think it’s important to be out in the community,” he said. “It helps to quell the rumors and gets rid of the disconnect and false perceptions that people have of our students. We need to reach out more to communities within the community.” McGinley plans to do a principal’s newsletter, which he will have translated, along with all other major school documents, into Spanish and Arabic, the two most frequently spoken languages at home of district students. He speaks Spanish and hopes to use the services of staff members who speak Arabic and other languages to help overcome the language barriers that exist with some families. He also wants to make the schedule for parent conferences more flexible to accommodate the needs of parents and guardians who work either day or evening jobs. Regarding the political climate in New Jersey and across the country with respect to public school teachers’ salaries and benefits, McGinley commented, “We live in a time when educators are really not valued. If we know that’s happening, we need to make ourselves more valuable. Public education is the great equalizer. We need to make it clear to the public that we are not just teaching kids subjects, we are giving them the tools that they’ll need to succeed.”

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

FIGHTING MUSTANG Steve Covello Wants Clifton to be a Player’s First Choice • by Joe Hawrylko fter a program revival this past decade that culminated in a 2006 State Championship, the Fighting Mustangs have raised the expectations of the team to new heights. These aspirations are not expected to be diminished under new head coach Steve Covello, the former defensive coordinator for the now departed Ron Anello. “The whole coaching, teaching thing is just natural, something I really enjoy doing,” explained Covello, who started in Clifton as an assistant with Anello in 2004 before being promoted to defensive coordinator midway through the team’s 2006 championship season. Covello explained that he is cut from a similar cloth of his predecessor, hoping to win games thanks to a suffocating defense and hard nosed run game while helping his studentathletes prepare for life in college and beyond. “We preach accountability and responsibility. My primary focus for these kids after this is education and second, college football,” said Covello. “We want kids to go

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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Catholic HIGH SCHOOL 3DUDPXV 5RDG Ăˇ 3DUDPXV 1- _ ZZZ SDUDPXVFDWKROLF FRP Members of the PC Class of 2011 earned about $32 million in scholarships and grants and are attending such prestigious universities as: Bentley, Brandeis, Carnegie Mellon, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Fairfield, George Washington, Marquette, Notre Dame, NYU, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Villanova, and Yale. Clifton graduates earned over $1.5 million of these scholarships Some of PCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Graduates from the Class of 2011 and their college choices, including and grants. Valedictorian Damian Stobierski of Clifton, who is attending Yale University.

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FIGHTING Mustang

Carlton Palmer (1921)

Harry Steinmark (1924)

hile Clifton’s football legacy has been one of state championships and packed stadiums, it’s also been one of rocky fields, political bickering and disappointment. Eighteen coaches have lived through

Art Donnelly 1926-1934

Al Lesko (1935-1940)

those seasons, all leaving their mark on Clifton’s football history. Most are pictured here but we could not source photos for: Clifford S. Hurlburt (1922-1923) Steve Holster (1925)

Vic Dragon (1941-1944)

Joe Grecco (1945-1963)

Bill Vander Closter (1964-1979)

John Lischak (1980-1981)

Jack Jones (1982-1984)

Dennis Heck (1985-87)

Alex Kaplanovich (1988-1989)

John Iannucci (1990-1992)

James Kelly (1993-1997)

James D. Hill (1998)

Chet Parlavecchio (1999-2003)

Ron Anello (2004-2010)

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Coach Covello and his wife Angie with their girls: Maci Carmen, Olivia Grace and Gianna Faith.

on and play college ball, no matter what level. Some of my best friends in the world are people I played college ball with. Football provides structure and schedule. If you don’t have organizational skills, you’re going to be crushed and overwhelmed.” The coach believes that preparing his Mustangs to be well rounded adults will translate into on the field success as well. “We are stressing a code of conduct this year. It’s going to be based on behavior, attendance and class room performance,” he said. “When you walk down the hallways of CHS, you represent the team.” On the gridiron, Covello anticipates a similar playstyle to Anello’s, with a few tweaks to add additional wrinkles to the playbook. “We’re still going to be a ground and pound team,” said Covello. The runningback stable and ferocious defense have been Clifton trademarks since the revival. “We’re going to set up the pass with the run. We’re gong to be physical. We’re going to make you prepare for us. We’re going to give you a lot of different looks. We’re not making wholesale changes, but we want to make teams prepare for us a little differently.” Because of the similarity between styles and

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FIGHTING Mustang his decision to retain all of the coaching staff, Covello believes that the transition between coaches will be smooth. “I have a knowledgeable staff, and they’re loyal,” he said. “When I was given the job, people asked who are you going to hire? That was simple: the guys who have already been here for seven years. The first goal is surrounding yourself with loyal guys. You want them to be positive role models for the kids. I didn’t have to look too far.” The coach has also been doing some preparation on his own as well. Covello has been reading x, the biography of the New York Jets talented and boisterous head coach Rex Ryan for insight into the job. “I am not even a Jets fan. I’m a Dolphins fan actually,” he laughed. “But reading the book as a first year head coach, it’s great what he does. They like to have fun, and we like to have fun.” That’s something that Covello wants to stress in Clifton, which he believes will help create a bond between the players, and the players and coaches. “We’re like father figures on the team,” said Covello. “People don’t realize that arm around that kid goes a long way.”

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Creating a sense of trust in the program wil allow the team to better prepare for the upcoming season. Though positive, Covello knows that the ultimately lost out on a playoff bid last season due to early season losses, which is something Clifton cannot afford if Covello’s dream of a state championship is to be realized. “When you have the opportunity to walk through the tunnel at night at Giants Stadium, you want to get back there every year,” said coach. “You win one state championship and don’t win another after, people start to talk about it. But after last year (Clifton was 6-3 but missed the playoffs), we have nobody to blame but ourselves.” “The offense needs to prove itself. We beat ourselves last year,” he continued, while noting that he is optimistic due to the return of Patrick Ferrara, a four years tarter at quarterback. “Patrick is coming in again and he’s been working hard this summer. He’s a four year starter and we’re expecting a lot in terms of leadership. He has a strong grasp of our system.” “We’re 0-2 against PCTI,” added Covello. “We’re getting our kids ready for Sept. 9. We want them living for the day. We will be prepared and we want to win. What better way to send the message that you should have stayed in Clifton.”

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M U S TA N G Fu t b o l hough the team has only been around since the 60s, the CHS boys soccer squad has long been regarded one of the top programs in New Jersey thanks to talented players and excellent coaches. After nine successful years at the helm, departed head coach Joe Vespignani has earned his place alongside legends like Fernando Rossi and Severin Palydowycz in Mustang lore. Under Vespignani’s watch, Clifton went 170-38-8, decimating the opposition with 658 goals while giving up just 176. Clifton was crowned Group 4 State CoChamps in 2007, and returned to the State Finals again in 2008 and 2009. The three consecutive trips are an unmatched state record. Vespignani’s boys also won six Passaic County titles and seven league titles during his tenure. Clifton’s other coaches also had equally impressive resumes. Rossi finished with a 353-95-51 record, and Palydowycz was 93-14. Records for Angelo Izzo could not be compiled before deadline.

Joe Vespignani (2002-2010), the late Fernando Rossi (1978-2001), Angelo Izzo (1972-77), Severin Palydowycz (1964-1971).

We Are Open During Highway Construction! 44

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

MUSTANG FUTBOL Diverse & Strong, CHS Soccer Goal is for Growth • by Joe Hawrylko lfred Bido isn’t just the new soccer coach in Clifton. He’s the guy expected to replace head coach Joe Vespignani, who lived up the to the immense expectations created by his predecessors, the late legend Fernando Rossi, and the founding father Severin Palydowycz. The bar is already set high for the assistant turned head coach, and Bido is up to the challenge. “It’s a positive expectation. I consider it a positive atmosphere for me as a coach and for my coaching staff,” he said. “I think it’s a positive for all of the soccer program.” For Bido, who has more than two decades of semi pro coaching experience in his native country of Albania, the goal coming in is to simply continue to successful ways of Vespignani, whom the new coach considers a friend and mentor. “My goal as head coach is to continue the tradition of the past under head coach Rossi and Joe Vespignani,” he stated. “As time goes on, we need to improve, to see progress, every year. The Clifton soccer program to me is not only winning, but teaching the kids, education, learning manners, life skills and creating an exciting environment for education. We want to create professional student athletes.” “We’re looking to win the Passaic County Championship and the State Championship in group four. We’re going to fight for it, so you never know,” he continued. “The Clifton Boys Soccer Program, the potential exists in this town with its diversity and its passion for soccer from the young students and community of Clifton, to be one of the best programs in the country, not only the state of New Jersey. I am confident. It is not going to be easy. There’s high level competition in Group 4, but I consider this our destiny. It is our fight to be ranked one day in our near future.” The notion isn’t as far fetched as it seems. Clifton has had much success over recent years, making New Jersey soccer history by making it to the state finals three years in a row—2007 through 2009—with the Mustangs earning a Co-Championship with a draw in the 2007 state title game.

Alfred Bido replaces Joe Vespignani as head coach.

Bido, who joined the program in 2002 after Vespignani was hired, served as an assistant Varsity coach and JV coach during the run and said it serves as inspiration to the current squad. “The recent success we had was because Joe and I and the coaching staff, we all got experience in how to deal with a complete season, how to prepare the team in the preseason and how to manage the power of the team during the Passaic County Tournament and the State Final,” said Bido. “We always got into the best form around mid-October to mid-November.” The two coaches developed a bond which showed in their work. “From the beginning, he valued me a lot and I respected him. We got on the same page. He always told me, Fred, you are the tactician of the team, I am the head coach. You tell me what you see in the game, what is not going right and what we need to change,” September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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M U S TA N G Fu t b o l explained Bido. “It was a very good relationship. Joe is about 32. He is like my son, but also he’s my friend, a very, very great friend. He’s the best guy I’ve met in the United States and we’ve learned from each other. From him, I learned from his young age, for his passion that he had for the game.” Bido said he plans to make few modifications to how the program was run under Vespignani’s watch. The main changes will be tactical. The new coach said he would like to use different formations and players based on the opponent, and would like to settle on a smaller group of players used in games, a trend which started towards the end of Vespignani’s tenure in Clifton. “Joe sometimes had the opinion that we were going to have 24 players, so we’d try to play 24 players,” he said. “After a couple years, I said to Joe, if we want to be competitive, we need to stick with 16 players. They are supposed to dominate always, the starting line up.” And although Bido noted that the team regularly hits its stride just in time for championship season, the coach said it is his goal to open the season in top form to compete with other highly ranked schools. He referenced last season’s opening match against Don Bosco, which Clifton lost in the closing minutes, as an example of how a lack of fitness and tactical preparation can impact the game. When the teams squared off again a few weeks later, the Mustangs took Don Bosco to a 1-1 draw. “We’ve discuss that change with the boys. They know they will have to sacrifice time from summer, not going on vacation,” he said. “We are guys together that love this sport, love soccer, and love to represent Clifton. We want to represent on the highest level and win everything, but we need to win the first game against Don Bosco this season on Sept. 10 at home.” The coach said he’s counting on Mustang faithful to help cheer on the boys and usher in a new era in Clifton’s storied soccer program. “The fan base is important, whether it’s a few, 500 or 1,000 people,” he said. “They come out, not only in Clifton, but for big games that we have in the Passaic County Tournament. It’s a big factor. Emotionally, it gives the kids the support they need in their hearts.” “The potential exists in Clifton. It’s a big town, it’s diverse,” Bido added. “The Combination of skillful Latino soccer, combined with American soccer with tactical European soccer. I’m a traditional coach from Europe. I like that European approach to soccer.”

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Fighting Mustangs 2011

Fighting Mustangs Seniors from left front: Jason Ramsay, Tyler Holmes, Mo Ramadan, Sal Farhan, Ivan Cruz. Second row: Ryan White, Kevin Martinez, Tim Brown, Tyler Gonzalez, Luis Febles. Third row: Vinny Zirrito, Patrick Ferrara, Chris Rogers, Kevin Dela Cruz, Ryan Hariton, Dondre McClain.

he four year starter is a rare thing in high school football. Not only is there a huge physical gap between an average 14 year old and a 17 year old, but there’s the issue of maturity, something many kids don’t get the hang of until well after high school. A freshman quarterback with that type of potential is a prized possession to any coach. Steve Covello has been around the game long enough to know that. The new Mustang head coach may be at the helm of a runfirst, smash-mouth defensive team, but he understands the value of his quarterback, Pat Ferrara. Covello’s field general has honed his game over the past four years, and the coach believes that Ferrara has the talent, experience and mental toughness to return a team that just missed the playoffs in 2010 back to postseason glory.

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

CHS Fall Sports Preview All Stories by Joe Hawrylko big chunks of yards to keep the offense moving “We have very high expectations for him this year,” downfield. said Covello, who praised Ferrara’s work ethic and lead“He’s a very explosive running back. He had ership. something like 600 yards in our system last year,” said The presence of the veteran quarterback will particuCovello. “If he was our marquee back, he could have larly benefit the run game, which is the focal point of the had over 1,000 Mustangs yards. And he’s improved tremendously Mustang offense. Ferrara’s abilities from under center from last year.” will keep defenses from stacking the line against the Mustangs Also in the backfield mix are seniors Sal Farhan and rush, and have allowed Covello to implement some new Ryan Harrington. plays on the offensive side of the ball. Mustangs “(Harrington) is one of the better football players I’ve However, both the quarterback and the running game come across,” said Covello. Harrington is one of many can only be effective if the offensive line provides ample Cross Country two way players for the Mustangs in protection. Luckily for Covello, the 2011. “He’s just a real all purpose Mustangs in the trenches are battle Mustangs Mustangs guy.” tested as well, with many linemen At wideout, Clifton’s top threat will returning as starters in 2011. be Tyler Holmes, who returns for his Senior center Kevin Delacruz 7:00 pm second stint on Varsity. Senior Jason enters his second year at the heart of Sept 11 PCTI Sept 16 Teaneck 7:00 pm Mustangs Ramsey and junior Conrad Jackson the line for the Fighting Mustangs. 7:00 pm will fight for time behind the senior To the left, he is flanked by senior left Sept 23 @ Eastside @ Bergen Tech 2:00 pm Holmes. guard Chris Rogers, a three year Oct 1 Ridgewood 7:00 pm Defense once again figures to be a starter, and junior Chris Acevedo at Oct 9 Mustangs strength for Clifton in 2011. Covello tackle. On the right side of the line, Oct 14 Fair Lawn 7:00 pm plans on running 4-3 base defense senior Tyler Gonzales has earned the Oct 29 @ Kennedy 1:00 pm Gymnastics similar to last year’s squad, with some right guard position due to his Nov 4 @ Don Bosco Prep 7:00 pm added wrinkles to keep the opposition impressive camp, and senior Kevin Nov 24 Passaic 10:30 am Mustangs on its toes. Martinez will anchor down at tackle The line will be anchored by Kevin for the second year on Varsity. Lacrosse Martinez, Chris Acevedo and senior Ryan White at At tight end, senior Tim Brown returns for his second defensive end, while Chris Rogers and Tyler Gonzales, a campaign with the Varsity team as the starter. Behind senior will slotMustangs in at tackle. Senior Alex Tirado will him on the depth chart is senior Mo Ramadan, a versatile rotate in at bothBoys positions, and also figures to be in the athlete, who Covello plans to integrate into the offense Soccer mix on the offensive line as well. through two tight end sets as both a blocker and a Linebackers wil be led by senior Michael Naidack, a receiver. Both may appear in the game at the same time Mustangs two year starter at MLB. Outside linebackers include frequently due to their pass catching skills, and more Girls fellow senior Sal Farhan Soccer and junior Adam Linarejo, who importantly in Clifton’s offense, to help open up lanes played on Varsity in 2010. for the running backs. “Our whole secondary returns this year. That and our The backfield will once again be cluttered for the Mustangs defensive line are our strengths this year,” said Covello. Fighting Mustangs, with an impressive selection of McClain and Holmes will start at corner, with seniors runners that are able to either punish defenders or go Jayson Ramsey and Jim Scilone coming in as backups. right around them based on the situation. Ramadan and Harrington will be the safeties. Senior Michael Naidack will be the thunder out of the Mustangs “We’re looking to finish games this year,” said backfield, entering the game either as a runner or Covello. “We want to be in playoff position by week fullback, depending on the situation. His physical play five instead of playing the wish and hope game. We’ve will be complimented by junior Dondre McClain, who is perhaps the most dynamic of the group, able to rip off got no one to blame but ourselves.”

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Volleyball

Senior Cheerleaders Jazmine Perdomo, Laura Jaramillo, Kelsey McGinley, Katie Amoruso, Carina Davila and Jessica Geary.

For the CHS Cheerleaders, the season began in the first week of August, as the girls were practicing in Clifton, working on cheers that they will use to lead the fans at the football games this fall. As part of their pre-season preparation, the Mustangs attended Pine Forest Cheerleading Camp in Pennsylvania,

where they learned cheers, dances, and stunting skills. They also participated in team-building activities. The Mustangs received awards for cheer and dance and placed second in the cheer division of the camp championships. Freshman Christine Castillo won her level of the camp jump competition.

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Mustangs

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Lacrosse Back row, from left: Joel Hernandez, Jaime Montero, Brandan Guzman, Chris Komperda, Jacek Hasaj, Diego Cozar, Adam Pawlik and Jose Macedo. Front: Gerson Espinoza, Diego Espinoza, Ramiro Marquez, Anthony Atoche, Alejandro Hernandez and Kelvin Kote.

There’s a new face at the helm of the storied boys soccer team in 2011, but the expectations are the same for Clifton: Win it all. Head coach Fred Bido, an assistant and JV coach under previous head coach Joe Vespignani, sees a talented program that is just a few tweaks away from greatness. Getting there will be a matter of physical preparation and refining Clifton’s tactical approach to games. Bido’s squad will be led by senior captain Brendan Guzman, a four year starter who will anchor the stout Mustang backline as a sweeper. He will be backed by junior Matthew Miazga at stopper, and flanked by seniors Jose Macedo and Diego Espinoza. Senior Chris Komperda can play on the outside 52

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

or as a stopper, and will be utilized by Bido in both situations depending on the opponent. Other defensive players for the Mustangs include seniors Kelvin Kote, Humberto Vasquez and Alejandro Hernandez. Though traditionally a defensive squad, Clifton features dynamic talent in the midfield under Bido. Junior Danny Herrera is a three year starter for Varsity at center midfield, and should make for a potent combination with senior Jaime Montero, who will push the field forward from his attacking midfield position. Junior Jermaine Hernandez will once again start on the right side of the midfield, and will be joined by senior Diego Cozar. Other midfielders include seniors Ramiro

Mustangs Mustangs

Boys Boys Soccer Soccer Sept 10

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Sept 14

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Passaic

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Bergen Tech

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Marquez, Jacek Hasaj and Anthony Atoche. Sophomores Cesar Miranda and Jason Ibanez will also factor in for playing time. Continued on page 54

The 2011 Lady Mustangs varsity players. Back row from left: Sam Pedraza, Kim Douglas, Lexi Balkjy, Carly Padula, and Stephanie San Juan. Middle: Stephanie Pinto, Marina Rodriguez, Gina LoBue, and Marissa Fragapane. Front center: Arden Lembryk. Story starts on next page.

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Lacrosse CHS Fall Sports Preview Stan Lembryk’s Lady Mustangs keep on inching closer to their goal of a state championship with each passing season, having collected another round of League and County crown in a successful 2010 campaign that ended in the State Sectional semis. With the return of several key players, the head coach believes that Clifton will once again be in the thick of things at the end of Autumn. “It’s great to have so much success right off the bat again,” said Lembryk, who is in the third year of his second stint at the helm of the Lady Mustangs. “I attribute it to not only the very good players here, but the hard work of the team. The camaraderie, the sacrifice of the team. In the end, when you have that, you have success.” Sophomore Rachael Egyed (First team All-League, second team AllCounty) took over the starting position on Varsity in the 2010 season and enters this year as the incumbent. She will be vying for playing time over seniors Marina Rodriguez and Carly Padula. “We’re well balanced,” said Lembryk. “We’ve been one tough team to break down.” Leading the defense will be senior Sam Pedraza, who will play in the

Mustangs Mustangs

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Mustangs @ Eastside

Sept 17

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Sept 22

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Volleyball

center. “She’s one of the strongest defensive players in the area,” said Lembryk. Pedraza was named first team All-League in 2010. “Tenacity, leadership and skill. She’s a no nonsense player.” She will be joined in the heart of the defense by Danielle Celestine, a sophomore who locked down a Varsity starting position as a freshman in 2010. Other central defenders who will see playing time include senior Alexis Balkjy and junior Julia Ulczak. On the outside, the starters figure to be juniors Shannon Guzman and

Up front, Bido will utilize a combinate of seniors Adam Pawlik and Gerson Espinoza to generate offense. Much like the midfield, this combination can change based on the formation the coach uses in the game. Montero, Herrera or Hasaj could all end up seeing time at forward during the season. Junior Christopher Ugarte, who played on Varsity in 2010, will also factor in at attack. September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

4:00 pm

4:00 pm Girls Soccer

Boys Soccer, continued from page 52

12:00 pm

Katie Brody, with senior Stephanie Pinto pushing for time. Other defensemen in the mix include freshman standouts Meghan Sekaniks and Nicole Noncancio. The Mustang midfield will be orchestrated by senior Gina LoBue, a four year starter at centermid who collected first team All-League and second team All-County honors in 2010. Senior Marissa Fragapane joins LoBue in the midfield, and will be counted on to contribute greatly after earning first team AllLeague honors last year. Senior Kim Douglas, who first cracked the Varsity lineup as a sophomore, will play defensive mid. Freshman Mariana Jaramillo is also a projected starter in the midfield. Other contributors include senior Stephanie San Juan, juniors Annette Malysa, Victoria Vail, and freshmen Nicole Rzekiec and Marisa Ale. Up front,Mustangs Junior Delana Pasquale will be featured as the Cross Country attacking midfielder, tasked with pushing the ball up to Jennie Hornstra, Clifton’s talented senior striker who was named to the North 1 All-State team. “Win championships, that’s the mindset here,” said Lembryk. “We’ve got a great group of people here.”

In net will be senior Joel Hernandez, who served as backup on the Varsity squad in 2010. Junior Jonathan Diaz and sophomore Justin Purdy will back up the senior. “The offense will come naturally. We’ll score and win a lot of games,” said Bido. “But the key is set plays. The scrimmages have been tough, but they give us experience. It allows the players to be realistic about where they’re at right now. We’re on the right path.

T J S 5

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Golf Mustangs

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CHS Fall Sports Preview

Mustangs

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Girls Soccer

T w a w

Mustangs

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Volleyball Volleyball Back row from left is April DiAngelo, Christine Peskosky, Emily Guzman, Alex Travoric, Zeina Halwani and Kelly Young. Middle: Mel Poplawski, Mel Oliveras, Callie Shanahan, Renee Korczynski and Sara Douglass. Front: Julia Woolsey and Meghan Fahy.

Head coach Mike Doktor knows that Clifton’s from just a year ago could have been much better. But even though it was somewhat a disappointment in his eyes, the coach believes that the Lady Mustangs enter 2011 with many reasons to be optimistic. “We had four seniors last year, so it was a bit of a rebuilding season for us,” he said. ‘This year, we’ve got some extra experience. We’ve got a lot of returning players. We’re going to be very, very solid.” Junior Emily Guzman was a standout for the Lady Mustangs in 2010, collecting second team AllLeague honors as a middle hitter. She will again be expected to shoulder the load this coming season. Seniors Kelly Young and Zeina Halwani also return at the outside 56

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

hitter position, and classmate Meghan Fahy is back as the team defensive specialist. “We’re a strong team this year, with lots of depth, the most we’ve had in years,” added Doktor. “We’re four deep in each position.” However, two of the coach’s players to watch in 2011 were not on the club last season. Senior Alex Travoric recently came to America this past year, and at 6’1, will make her presence felt on the court. Standout freshman April DiAngelo is slated to make an immediate impact, as she is able to play any position on the court. “April has played since she was five or six. Two of her sisters played for me,” said Doktor. “She’s probably had more court time than any freshman ever.”

H c s s e t o a C c

Sept 9

@ IHA.

4:00 pm

Sept 12

Passaic

4:00 pm

Sept 14

@ Eastside

4:00 pm

Sept 16

Wayne Hills

4:00 pm

Sept 20

@ Kennedy

4:00 pm

Sept 22

@ PCTI

4:00 pm

Sept 23

@ Bergen Tech

4:00 pm

Sept 24

North Hunterdon

Sept 27

Wayne Valley

4:00 pm

Sept 30

Ridgewood

4:00 pm

Oct 1

Randolph

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Oct 3

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Oct 5

IHA

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Oct 6

@ Passaic

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Oct 13

Eastside

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Oct 15

@ Livingston

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Oct 18

@ PCTI

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Oct 20

Passaic Valley

4:00 pm

Oct 21

Kennedy

4:00 pm

Oct 25

@ Lakeland

4:00 pm

10:00 am

Buoyed by his new additions, Doktor is confident: “We’re definitely going to improve on 12-8.”

Football Mustangs

Golf Head coachMustangs Chad Cole has a challenge ahead of him this seaGymnastics son as he tries to replace the five starters he lost to graduation at the end of the 2010 season in which Mustangs the Mustangs went 6-12. Building Lacrosse off of his two returning starters and the enthusiasm of his girls, Cole believes that Clifton will be Mustangs competitive this season. Soccer “We lost Boys five of seven starters. There’s a lot of new girls here, but we’re not that inexperienced overMustangs all,” he said. “A lot of JV players Girls Soccer will move up. I love coaching this Mustangs Mustangs

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Sept 8

@ Passaic Mustangs

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Sept 12

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Sept 15

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@ Kennedy

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Sept 22

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Sept 23

@ Bergen Tech

Sept 27

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Oct 6

@ Passaic

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Oct 13

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Oct 18

@ PCTI

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Passaic Valley

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Kennedy

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Oct 24

@ Lakeland

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Oct 25

@ West Milord

4:00 pm

CHS Seniors in front, from left: Aalak Patel, Payal Handiwala, Vidhi Patel. In rear, juniors Hemakshi Mandania, Kayla Correa and Claudia Gonzalez.

4:00 pm Volleyball

Zalak Patel, and junior Kayla season, all the girls come off sumCorrea. Cole said that sophomore mer break and are excited to play.” Natasha Mendoza is the most Senior Payal Handiwala and experienced player and will likely junior Hemakshi Mandania are the lead the singles team. lone returners from Varsity, and “We’re going to be very comwill be counted on by coach to Mustangs petitive in our league,” he said. help acclimate the newcomers to “But we have to player the good the top squad. Cross Country teams out of it too. But we should They will be battling for singles be competitive.” slots with seniors Vidhi Patel and

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

CHS Fall Sports Preview

Back row from left is Raul Letona, Michael Czerhoniak, Chirag Desai, Ryan Dziuba and Vedanta Nayak. Front row is Miguel Garcia, Veronica Medina, Joseph Smeriglio, Gillian Swisher and Monica Miazga.

Clifton’s cross country squads keep on dominating the competition high atop Garret Mountain, with the girls going undefeated to the tune of a 7-0 record, while the boys ended the season with a 6-1 mark. Each squad won its league and division, and girls also came home to Clifton as County Champions.

In 2011, head coach John Pontes expects his teams to once again be competitive despite losing some key talent after the 2010 season. “We graduated a lot of talent on both sides,” explained Pontes, who praised the help of his assistant, Mike Rogers, a CHS history teacher and former state sectional

champion during his high school years at Garfield. “I think the boys are a little better than the girls right now at this point. We will be in the mix there somewhere though. We have a nice group.” The head coach will have numerous returning athletes at his disposal, but the key will be to

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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find runners to replace the departed talent. For the girls, Gabby Gonzaga will pace the squad. Pontes is expecting big things from the junior who is expected to lead the girls in scoring. “She’s by far our best runner,” he added. Her classmate, Yuaria Yuasa, is another returner, and will be counted on heavily in 2011. Senior captain Jillian Swisher, a four year Varsity member on the

For the boys, junior Jessie Boria cross country team, will also be leads the back. He has been a another leader for the Mustangs. mainstay on the Mustang cross Pontes also noted that he is country team since his freshman expecting good results from junior year. Ivonne Boria, a cousin of Jessie Senior Fabian Rodriguez and Boria, another top runner for the David Monclova also figure to be boys side. “They do all of my major contributors this season. recruiting,” laughed Pontes, Junior Darren Malysa will be whose teams have featured numercounted on more in what is his ous familial ties stretching back second year on the cross country generations. squad. Other runners include junior Senior Ryan Dziuba and Alexa Budhi and senior Monica Vedanta Nayak will captain the Miazga, who also excels in winter Mustangs 2011 boys team. Other contribuand spring track for Clifton. Cross Country tors include sophomores Jay Rana Pontes noted that senior and Justin Tanayan. Veronica Medina could surprise Overall, Pontes has high hopes competitors this fall on the mounfor 2011, and believes in the stutain. dent athletes that end up impress“She’s brand new to cross couning him every year. try,” he said. “She did spring for “The boys, if they gel and keep us and we saw a lot of potential.” healthy, can make some noise by The coach added that freshman counties,” he said. “If every coach Sophia Nedelcheva has impressed had kids who believe as they come during summer workouts and will to believe, the job is a gift.” be a factor in the fall.

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CHS Fall Sports Preview Head Coach Judy D’ArgenioSalsano expects a challenging 2011 season due to the relative inexperience of her squad which lost its few experienced seniors from last year. However, the longtime coach remains encouraged due to the raw potential she has seen in from newcomers in limited time thus far. “This has been the best preseason we’ve had here in a while, talent-wise,” said D’Argenio-Salsano. “There’s a lot of potential there, but little background in gymnastics. We have a lot of new kids who have never done Mustangs gymnastics before” The head coach said her team will be built around returning gymnasts, who she hopes to refine Mustangs into more well rounded competitorsCross during Country the pre-season. Coach D’Argenio-Salsano said she sees strength in her veterans. Mustangs The top returner will be junior Gabriella Cruz, who keyed the Mustangs on vault, bar and beam in 2010. She will be expected to Mustangs do the same this season, and to

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

Mustangs

Tennis

Back row, from left: Natacia Dymora, Tatyana Genoves and Gabriella Barcelona. Middle: Simone Stilley, Kaitlyn McCracken, Gabriella Cruz, Meghan Ortiz-Pacheco and Karina Rojas. Front: Emunah Lewis, Jalyn Adams, Bianca Green and Madeline Lora.

impart her knowledge on some of the younger gymnasts who are new to the sport. Junior Karina Rojas qualified for the state sectionals in floor in 2010. D’Argenio-Salsano expects that Rojas will once again lead the Mustangs in that category in 2011, and said she would like to see the junior become a more well rounded performer in this coming season.

Senior Kaitlyn McCracken is another gymnast that the coach is counting on score highly. “She’s an excellent dancer, has a lot of talent,” said D’Argenio-Salsano. “She’s got great leadership.” Junior Simone Stilley, who is recovering from injury, was a high ranked vaulter who will again contribute this year. “We’re going to be primarily upperclassmen this year,” said D’Argenio-Salsano.

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September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

CHS Fall Sports Preview

Marching Mustang seniors, Mike Tecza, Drum Major Christina Segura, Guelmy Neris, Candace Mariso, Lauren Scarfo, Norielle Mascardo, Allison Hoey, Darryl Baniaga, Nemesio Carmel Tusil, Stephanie Warren, Kim Platt, Lori Hart, Michelle Indarjit, Michael Sconzo, Ryan Van Soeten, Piotr Felusiak. At right, the large rookie class of freshmen and sophomores. 62

September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

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A N D I D A T E S

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Election Day November 8 September means that Election Day is just around the corner, and this year’s Freeholder race is particularly important based on the current makeup of the board. The Democrats, holding power for over a decade, currently own four of the seven seats and seek to retain control in an odd year election—meaning the race does not coincide with Presidential or gubernatorial elections.

Passaic County voters will elect two Freeholders to three-year terms. This month’s magazine includes profiles for each of the Freeholder candidates, who will be tasked with appropriating funds for county departments and services. In November, residents will also be asked to vote on two Assembly seats in the 34th District, as well as a replacement for the late surrogate, Bill Bate.

All Profiles by Joe Hawrylko rivals, the incumbent said the proof s is almost always the case is in the county’s bond ratings. with county government, “We’ve had two increase in our the main question for bond rating because of the way Clifton voters is whether or not the we’re handling things fiscity receives fair comcally,” he said. “Moody pensation based on the said we’re in the best taxes its residents conposition for a county in tribute. According to the state and in the city resident and incumnation.” bent Freeholder Bruce James said the county James, that answer is has been able to keep yes, and he plans to conwaste at a minimum while tinue to seek ways to still providing many usetrim taxes while ful services to residents. improving services if reHe is particularly proud of elected. Democrat Bruce James the Preakness Healthcare “I’m a Clifton resident Center in Wayne, which proand Clifton owner. I’m vides a number of Medicare beds, retired, like a lot of people,” he said. which are difficult to find in hospi“My income isn’t going up anymore, tals. Since the controversy over the just my bills. So when taxes go up, center’s construction costs, the faciliit’s a killer. I think that’s what most ty has been in frequent use, and is people are going through right now.” starting to pay for itself. James, who has served since “There’s a real severe shortage of 2005, said that he and his fellow long term beds for vets. A lot of these Freeholders have been actively seekpeople are coming back with trauing out excess from the budget to matic brain injuries and there just trim down annual increases. While aren’t beds,” he said. “They’ll wind this has been contested by political

up at a hospital for as long as they can, but it’s tragic, there just aren’t facilities. We have, at my insistence, a request to get approval from the Vets Adminstration to take on the vets.” James, who is also on the energy committee, helped oversee green initiatives at government buildings to save money. He’s also spearheaded a campaign to get municipalities to pool together their buying power to go out to bid for commodities such as electric and gas, which has resulted in a large savings. “Last year, every town was paying a tariff rate, the highest rate you can pay,” he said. “We went out to market, hired a consultant firm. The county and all municipalities saved a significant amount. We’re going out for natural gas now, offering it to Board of Ed and municipalities.” James was also involved in the consolidation of the detention center. “We saved $11 million on consolidation. Not every kid should be in the shelter, but we had no alternate program. Now a lot of kids are September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

A N D I D A T E S

on home detention,” he said. “We consolidated. It was easy $600 a day per resident, but now it’s $175 a day per resident.” “We cut spending well over $20 million—I don’t remember the exact number,” he continued. “Passaic County, when you look at the average income, has the highest taxes in the nation. Property taxes in general, not the county. The county on average is significantly the least portion of the bill. It’s education, municipal and then county. We’ve done our best and continue to do our best to cut that county portion anyway.” James said the Freeholders thoroughly research any means of savings, even if they ultimately decide against action. He noted how the Freeholders considered but eventually decided against the closing of the Passaic County Jail this summer due

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to the uncertainty of the savings and the small timeframe in which a decision had to be made. “Two things disturbed me: We couldn’t get a verifiable answer. First it was $40 million in savings, then it was $20 million,” said James. “And for Essex, we had to decide for Sept. 1 with a whole bunch of questions. And it’s a private facility. When this came up a few years ago with (former Sheriff Jerry Speziale), I talked to a bunch of prosecutors in the state and everyone was against it. When you pay someone low wages, they’re going to supplement their income in ways we don’t like.” James also supported Sheriff Richard Berdnik, also a Cliftonite, and said he has made many tough decisions in a short timeframe. “I have faith in him and we do sit down and talk very reasonably about

stuff,” he said, noting that the Sheriff decided to reduce costs by not replacing retired officers rather than doing layoffs. “He understands the town, he’s from Clifton, which is important to have for perspective as sheriff. He’s really on the money when it comes to stuff.” James said his relationships with other Clifton politicians has been beneficial for the city. “We gave Clifton $1 million for open space for Athenia Steel. The Mayor is good with reaching out, and we just put Gloria Kolodziej on Farmland Development for the County because she was interested in open space as a Councilwoman. She always wanted to make Clifton beautiful,” he said. “Matt Grabowski is very good with calling about things. These are people who really care and have a vision.”

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with businesses and municipalities ob Ceberio may be makalike to find ways to become more ing his first bid for a efficient. Freeholder seat, but he’s “It’s very interesting as a small entering the race with significant business. They dynamic experience in both is obviously much, much business and governdifferent. But trying to ment. open a small business in The candidate has this period of time has served on the Wayne been a challenge, but a Board of Education for challenge that is very six years—two as rewarding,” said President—and Ceberio. “We try to get enjoyed a lengthy them to see things in a career with the New different perspective. Jersey Meadowlands Republican Not just the way it used Commission, serving Bob Ceberio to be, but how it needs to as executive director for be now under this economic situathe last eight years before retiring tion. I have a good background at the end of 2010. from a budgetary perspective, the “It’s a regional and zoning administrative perspective, manauthority that takes part of 14 agement perspective and the leadtowns in the County of Hudson and ership perspective. That’s why I Passaic and do all the zoning, plandecided to run.” ning and environmental work,” he Ceberio, who has vowed to not said. “Basically, all development take a salary or benefit package if that happens in the entire elected, believes that his fiscal Meadowlands region. I took an expertise can help trim what he agency that was getting $6-7 milbelieves to be an excessive budget. lion a year in state appropriations Like his runningmate Frank Fusco, and took it down to zero. It turned Ceberio firmly believes that the around and it’s a debt free agency county can safely cut 10 percent to this day, one of the few state from its budget without department agencies that has no debt.” wide layoffs. Now the President of his own “My approach is a little differconsulting firm, RCM Ceberio ent. It’s not a knee-jerk reaction,” LLC, Ceberio works hand in hand

he said. “We need a department by department breakdown. Look at the numbers for programs, look at the services and determine what are the things that the department does well and what doesn’t the department do well. If they don’t do it well, why are they doing it?” Ceberio continued, targeting the engineering department, which he said has authorized change orders on numerous projects, which cost taxpayers millions. “All the people have to do is look at the Freeholder agenda to see the magnitude of these changes,” he added. Ceberio said he would like to explore sharing or outsourcing services. As an example, he said Clifton and the county could go out together for paving contracts for roads located within the city borders. “Not only roads, but shared services. If you take 16 towns and put in the structure, you have the opportunity to save money in service areas, and you have the opportunity to share equipment,” he said. “For example, in the Meadowlands, we bought several pieces of heavy equipment and created a co-op for 15 towns, including Jersey City.” Ceberio said such a program would be particularly useful in Passaic County, which has a

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

A N D I D A T E S

mix of both rural and urban communities of varying degrees of wealth. “I believe there’s a disconnect between the county and municipalities. You see it time and time again on different issues,” he added. “If you don’t go in and show respect to municipalities, to leader, mayors and Councils, you develop this atmosphere of constant disjointedness, constant suspicion, constant looking over the shoulder. You’ve got to listen to

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them rather than talking to them.” “If government doesn’t have common sense, it’s not going to run efficiently,” he said. “It’s not that difficult.” t 29 years old, TJ Best is one of the younger candidates in recent memory, but he has a resume that rivals his opponents. The Paterson native is a graduate of Rutgers New Brunswick, where he studied political science and history, and most notably

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worked as a legislative aide for Congressman Bill Pascrell in Washington DC for two and a half years. He also worked for Assemblywoman Elease Evans for a year and a half, and was the youngest member in the history of the Paterson Board of Education. Best is currently the grants manager for the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, and also works as a director of a teen center in Paterson. It is this blend of community involvement and experience that he feels makes him an ideal candidate in November. “I understand how government works. I’ve been involved in government for over six years, right out of college, both in an elected capacity, as well as an employment capacity,” said Best, who is running in place of Greyson Hannigan, who declined to seek re-election. “It’s important to be able to work with the rest of the people on the board. You’ve got to be on the same page or nothing gets done in the county.” “I think the Freeholder Board for the most part has done a good job of providing services to residents of the county while still being fiscally responsible,” he said. “They understand that towns and residents can’t afford a heavy county tax increase because they’re facing a local tax increase. I want to continue in that same direction—high quality social services to people who need them the most, while keeping a close eye on the budget so we’re not creating any additional hardship for taxpayers.” Best said he is pleased with the progress at Preakness Healthcare Center, which he said is now prof-

more with county roads. Expand the salaried position on the books. We itable. “More importantly than that inner city patrols and start investing need to go through for necessity,” is the fact that we have a state of the more in street crimes units.” said Fusco, who served as a Clifton art medical facility to take care of However, because such compreCity Councilman from 2006 to the county’s most vulnerable: the hensive reviews have not taken 2010. “Make sure the elderly and disabled,” place, money is wasted in departjob is even necessary he said. “My father, ments, which ultimately inflates the before you just go and who is two years away budget and forces the government to replace the person with from needing that type go back into the taxpayer’s pocket. someone cheaper.” of help, it’s reassuring Fusco said that the Freeholders Fusco and his runto me to know that we have resorted to fast cash gimmicks ningmate, Bob Ceberio, have a facility in the the last few years—the proposed have been advocating for county that will accept sale of the golf course and more a complete review of Medicare and recently, the nixed sale of the councounty government Medicaid. I won’t have ty jail—because of waste elsewhere because of the drastic to go to the poor house Democrat in the budget. When those ventures financial situation. Both to send him there.” TJ Best failed, the Democrats sought fundcandidates are in agreement Best is also a proponent ing through other means. that such a review would of green space, particularly “The Dems wanted to bond for allow for immediate savings. in urban areas like Clifton. ‘I think operating expenses, including “In our first year, our goal will be what I’d like to do and what Bruce Sheriff’s personnel,” said Fusco. to see a 10 percent reduction of the has already proven we can do is cre“The Republicans refused to bend.” budget,” explained Fusco. He said ate recreation opportunities in urban The candidate said that the review would areas using county money,” said he would also like to allow for the Freeholders Best, alluding to Athenia Steel Park, see more coordination to eliminate waste on which was funded by Green Acres between Freeholders several levels while grants. The candidate said that his and local governments. avoiding layoffs and runningmate is a perfect mentor for a Fusco said in his expeimportantly, maintaining newcomer to the Board. riences as a Clifton City the many services pro“I’m running on a great ticket. I Councilman, he found vided to Passaic County think Bruce brings great leadership,” that the Board of residents. said Best. “No one in the county Freeholders to not be “There’s clearly a knows more about issues than Bruce. particularly helpful in need to protect those He’s extremely astute and does a Republican times of need. who are less fortunate,” good job of representing Clifton. I’m Frank Fusco And as a local business explained Fusco. He plans happy to learn from him.” owner and taxpayer, he felt that he to target unnecessary management was not getting enough out of his positions, as well as the engineering rank Fusco isn’t happy elected officials. department, which he said has with how the Board of “I don’t think that any municipalauthorized numerous change orders Freeholders have been ity, Clifton or any of the smaller costing millions. spending the money of county taxtowns, gets back what they put in,” “The Sheriff’s Department payers, explaining that the decade he said. “I saw for four years on the should not be excluded from the long reign of Democrat control has City Council how county governpersonnel review,” he added. “But led to excessive waste and a multiment failed our municipality and I that doesn’t mean layoffs. Maybe tude of poor decisions that can only know how it fails other towns too.” you find you don’t need so many be corrected with a change of power guys in the jail and you put them on “City leaders and taxpayers don’t on the elected body. the streets. The number one goal need to be told what they can and “It’s been over a decade. There’s should be crime prevention. Ease can’t afford,” Fusco continued. no checks and balances—zero. We the burden on municipalities, help “They need actions.” need a review of every single

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

C L I F TO N Pe o p l e … Craig, who taught English and creative writing at CHS from 1934 to 1971, was thought to have taken the item from the Garrittsee House and then brought it to a student in the CHS woodshop class to fashion into a candle stick. Craig, born May 1, 1911 in Brooklyn, NY, had a busy life. She authored two books, and was listed in the Craig is a former CHS Who’s Who American teacher who enjoyed more Woman, Second than 100 years of life before Edition in 1961. The passing away earlier this items she donated are year. One of her last wishes now on display at The before departing this earth Hamilton House, 971 was to return two pieces of Valley Rd., an 18th Clifton history to the Arlene Bauyeux of the Hamilton House Museum with a recently donated candlestick. The inset photo is of a comCentury Dutch gamHamilton House. memorative coin minted in 1976, said to be modeled on the brel-roofed structure, Diane DiBenedetto, who image of Mayor Frank Sylvester, in office 1974 to 1978. which once housed the cared for Craig in her final Van Wagoner and Hamilton families. years knew of her plans and mailied the items to The City of Clifton acquired the home following the Hamilton House Vice President Arlene Bayeux. passing of Harry Hamilton in 1970. Three years later, Within the package was a coin crafted to commemthe home was physically moved across the street and orate Clifton’s celebration of the American Revolution designated as a historical site and museum. Tours are bi-centennial in 1976. The other item was a wooden offered every Sunday from 2-4 pm from March through candle stick, which was originally a piece of banister December, excluding holidays. Tours may also made railing that Craig had salvaged from a historic house by appointment by calling 973-744-5707. that was being disassembled.

Eleanor

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

MUSTANG MOM

Jean Mirabella Milmark hasn’t lived in Clifton for nearly two decades but she still lays claim to being the Number 1 Fan of the Fighting Mustangs. A CHS grad of 1952, she has never missed a game since her freshman year in 1948 until she and her late husband Andrew moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1992. “I attended full of regalia and Mustang-wear,” she recalled, describing traditional maroon and gray attire plus a tiny leather covered megaphone from back in the day. While she and her husband could not have kids, she “adopted” Fighting Mustangs year after year and was a Booster club member, preparing lunches for the boys and rooting them on. The team gave her a “Fan of the Year” plaque in 1988 and The Record did a feature on her. However, Milmark did have some familial connections to the team. Her niece Joan Sinatra was a Marching Mustang Majorette who “is 64 now but looks 35.” And then there was her nephew Keith Mekita, a center for the Fighting Mustangs back in the 1970’s. Milmark was back in Clifton in August for a family reunion. She was especially pleased to report that her grand nephew Joey Gebbia is keeping on that maroon and gray tradition. “He leads his team in sacks,” she said. “He’s a real Mustang.”

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

BUSINESS and COMMERCE

NJFCU’S PASSAIC COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH SUMMIT

growing your business and increasing hat is the engine that profitability. There will also be tabletop make our economy run? displays by vendors offering a range of How do small business goods and services. Lunch is at 2 pm owners in Passaic County connect, and a second session with speakers, a grow and thrive in an economy that’s new range of topics and open forum is slow to rev? presented from 3 to 5 pm. That’s the kind of questions James “I see this as a great way for busiGiffin hopes industry and government ness people to network, to find out leaders will be able to answer at the more about each other’s industries and First Passaic County Small Business to share concerns,” said Giffin. Growth Summit on Sept. 20 at noon. He added that he hopes it will also The event is at the North Jersey generate membership in the NJFCU. Federal Credit Union Headquarters, “We have 30,000 members and I can (NJFCU), 711 Union Blvd. in Totowa. help member businesses market to our Admission is free. membership.” Specifically, he wants Giffin is the VP of sales and marketLourdes Cortez President and to introduce business owners to the NJ ing at the credit union which is a memCEO of the NJFCU will be among the speakers at the Summit. Preferred Program. ber-owned, not-for-profit financial “Open a business account with us cooperative. Membership is open to and we’ll help you connect and market to our members. those who live, work, worship, attend school or conduct These people buy cars, eat out, buy clothes. They spend business in Passaic or Bergen Counties. money. We want to offer them exclusive discounts at parCongressman Bill Pascrell will give the opening ticipating businesses,” explained Giffin. “And we want remarks at the noon session. Other business leaders and to help you grow your business so that we all win.” economic development officers from government will To attend or vend, call James Giffin at 877-755-1716, attend and also be invited to speak. x3328, email him at marketing@njfcu.org or visit After the opening remarks, smaller working sessions njfcu.reachlocal.net/summit. will be held on topics such as financing, protecting and

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

his November, Charlie Hornstra will be in Malaysia, where the 2007 CHS grad will be teaching and studying under the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Program, which counts many Nobel and Pulitzer Prizer winners as alum. When he was applying little more than a year ago, Hornstra didn’t think he had much of a chance. “When I was researching the Fulbright program, I noticed that a lot of people that get selected are from very good schools: Yale, Harvard, Princeton,” he explained. “A lot of the people that I met in orientation were from there, and I was a little intimidated knowing who the past Fulbright winners are.” Hornstra is no academic slouch—he graduated from Rutgers New Brunswick with Cum Laude Honors in May, double majoring in political science and criminal justice, with minors in sociology and criminology. In the Fall of his senior year, he was prodded into applying for the Fulbright Program by a friend. “I had applied for Teach for America. I had made it through the cuts and was planning to move to Philadelphia because that’s where they had placed me and then I found out about the Fulbright acceptance,” he explained. Though the friend he applied with did not make it through the process, Hornstra was awarded a 10 month contract to study and live in the country of his choice. After some deliberating and research on his part, Hornstra chose Malaysia. “A lot of countries have a language requirement and the Southeast Asia education system is already in English,” he said. Hornstra’s contract includes daily living stipends and will cover virtually everything but personal travel expenses. “I wanted to get the most out of my 10 months abroad, studying in a place that has a lot of rich culture, a lot of background. And Vietnam was one of my number one choices, but to visit, it is just an hour and a half flight away.” Hornstra was approved as an English Teaching Assistant, and he will be stationed in a classroom equivaliant of an American middle school in Malaysia.

GLOBAL FOCUS By Joe Hawrylko

“You’re helping them with conversation skills and learning and understanding the English language,” he explained. “We’re there to help them understand English, but also to answer any question they don’t know about us already.” Hornstra still is unsure of what he wants to do in the future—he is currently leaning towards working in a corporate environment—but knows that this experience will be a major benefit to whatever career he choses. “I’d like to work in some kind of corporate setting in big business,” he said. “Going abroad to Malaysia will give me a global edge, a global perspective on things, which will help me in the business world where a lot of businesses are either outsourcing or dealing with international clients.” Despite his global plans, Hornstra remains grounded to home in Clifton. “I wanted to thank my mom (Susan), my dad (Charles) and my grandmother (Norma McNeel),” he said. “When my mom found out, she got very excited and showed it by breaking out into tears. She’s a little upset that I’m leaving for 10 months, but without my mom, my dad and my grandma, I would not be in a position to go to college at all. I owe it all to them. September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

CLIFTON Events… Chris Liszner is on the CHS 1961 50th class reunion committee and writes: “We are hoping to do a then and now digital presentation of all our favorite places and the changed places in Clifton since 1961. We’d like to get photos of kids at Poppy’s, Bowlero’s, School 7 and 10 and other places. Can you and your readers help?” The reunion is Oct. 14 at the Bethwood. To attend or for details write CHS Class of 1961, PO Box 3749, Wayne, NJ 07474, call Liszner at 973-650-2719 or email cliftonhighschool61@yahoo.com. The chair of the event is Marlene Rothe Korman; call 973-696-8899. The CHS Class of ‘56 has a 55th reunion on Sept. 23 at the Cucina Calandra in Fairfield. Call or write Judi Zagaya Den Herder at 973-779-6923 or judifromnj@aol.com or Terry Guarrera Gloede at 973773-5910 or via gloede314@msn.com. CHS Class of ‘66 hosts its 45th reunion Nov. 18-20. There is a Friday night social and a Saturday evening dinner dance at the Regency House Hotel in Pompton Plains. For info, go to Facebook (Clifton HS Class of 66) or call organizers Nancy Maurer Muddell (201-723-0402) or Jackie Sussman Schein (201-303-7033). Members of the CHS Class of ‘01 have their 10 year reunion from 7 to 11 pm on Nov. 26 at the Park Ridge Marriot. Ticket are $65 for the first 100 people; $70 for those who register after. For details, visit www.chs2001.rsvpbook.com.

The CHS Class of 1961 seeks photos like this one of Clifton restauranteer Gene Boyle (right) who ran for US Senate in the late 1960’s. He is with President Richard M. Nixon.

The Second Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is Sept. 24 at 10 am in Jubilee Park, Allwood and Clifton Aves. Participants will don high heels for a walk around the park to protest rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Register at pcwcwalkamile.dojiggy.com.

Sponsored by the Passaic County Women’s Center, a non-profit group providing domestic violence and sexual assault services for our community which is open 24 hours a day. For info on the services of the center, write tbivaletz@njaconline.org or call 973-881-0725.

772-8451

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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The Botany Village Festival in the Park is on Sept. 2-5. There are rides, a midway of games and plenty of food, from cotton candy and caramel to hot dogs, hamburgers and sausage and peppers. Covering Randolph Park, which is located near the intersection of Parker and Clifton Aves., there’s plenty of nearby free parking. The Festival is open until 10 pm every night. For more info on this event go to www.botanyvillage.com. The Athenia Street Fair along Van Houten Ave. on Sept. 18 will close the road to vehicular traffic from Huron Ave. to the Passaic border. Family fun is the theme as there will be a petting zoo with pony rides and other animals and a midway of rides and amusements for the kids. Parents will find local watering holes serving beverages and there will be live entertainment and more. Vendors, sponsors and citizens call 973-473-0986. Downtown Clifton Street Fair is Oct. 22, from 10 am to 5 pm. The Avenue will be closed as vendors set up their wares and merchants and local groups will display services and offer food and entertainment. Interested vendors can call 201-998-1144. For sponsorship opportunities and other details, call 973-253-1455. The St. Andrew’s RC Church Carnival is Sept. 7 to 11. With food and plenty of rides, the parish grounds offer a nice day or evening of meeting and greeting neighbors and friends. Nightly entertainment is scheduled and the fair is open 5 to 10 pm Wednesday to Saturday and from 4 to 9 on Sunday. Free admission.

Yameil & The Total Soul Band will perform on Sept. 18 at the Van Houten Ave. Street Fair. Their performance is presented by NOC AutoBody which is also sponsoring a Classic Car Show from 10 am to 4 pm. Registration fee is $10 with many trophies. Call 973-594-1005 or go to www.nocauto.com for more details.

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 216 President St., Passaic, hosts its parish picnic on Sept. 25, from noon to 8 pm. There will be homemade foods, a large bar, children’s games, Ukrainian music and it is all held on the blacktop behind the school grounds.

The Annual Elmer Goetschius Fish ‘n’ Chips Dinner is Sept. 23 at 5 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 303 Maplewood Ave. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $7.50 for children. Takeout available. For info, call 973-523-1272.

St. John Kanty Parish Picnic is Sept. 4, from 1 to 7 pm at 49 Speer Ave. Admission is $2; children under 12 free. The picnic is followed by a dance from 7 to 10 pm. Call 973-779-4102.

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The Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Ascension Church on Broad St. holds its annual parish picnic on Sept. 18, from noon to dusk. While there is plenty of food for purchase, made in the church kitchen, there will also be a stage featuring Ukrainian dance troupes from the tri-state region. Free; all are welcomed. Call 973-471-8131.

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

CLIFTON Events… The St. Michael’s Cathedral Festival is Sept. 16 to 18 on the chapel grounds, which is at 415 Lackawanna Ave., Woodland Park. On Sept. 16-17, hours are 4 to 8 pm and on Sept. 18, it is noon to 6 pm. Come for music, dancing, games, Slavic foods, pastries and the opening of the Eparchial Museum. Free parking and admission. Call 973-777-2553 or 973-256-0134. St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 81 Washington Ave. hosts its picnic on Oct. 2, from 1 to 5 pm. Homemade Ukrainian food/desserts, live music and raffles with ethnic gifts. Fee is $2 and the event is rain or shine. Call 973-546-2473 for details. The Athenia Veterans Post Classic Car Night is on Mondays, 5 to 9 pm to Sept. 26 at the Post, 147 Huron Ave. Entry is free, and there is a BBQ menu. The Post will also hold a Labor Day Picnic on Sept. 4, from 1 to 6 pm. Tickets are $20 for this all-you-can-eat and drink event. Call 973-778-0931. The Dutch Hill Residents Association hosts a Fall Flea Market at Weasel Brook Park, along Paulison Ave. on Sept. 10 from 9 am to 4 pm. Vendor space reserved after Aug. 31 will be $40, cash only. Rain date of Sept. 17. The group will hold its next meeting on Sept. 15 at 7:30 pm at the Family Federation, at De Mott Ave. and Second St. Call 973-413-5007 or 973-470-0679. The Clifton Rocket Club will begin its fourth eight week session in September. Children of all ages learn how to assemble a toy rocket, which is launched more than 1,000 feet into the air with assistance from Deputy

Dominic Sportelli and Carmen La Medola will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Hot Grill on Oct. 8 and 9. Look for details at www.thehotgrill.org.

Fire Chief Norm Tahan, who oversees the club. A total of 18 kids have turned out for the club, which meets each Sunday from 10 am to noon. The $25 fee includes a rocket kit with engines. Call 973-470-5956. The Hamilton House Museum, 971 Valley Rd., hosts a family Civil War lunch on Sept. 17 at noon. Julie Esty will give a presentation on the dress, daily activities and customs. The event is a part of a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Cost is $22.50. The Museum, a restored Dutch Farm house is open most Sundays from 2-4 pm ($3 donation). Call 973-744-5707. Destination New Jersey People & Places is a group exhibit at the Clifton Arts Center which seeks to educate the public about people and places of the Garden State. This show (sample pictured) also includes a visual tour relating to landmarks that have helped to shape our state’s unique identity. The exhibit will be displayed from Sept. 21 until Oct. 29. A reception open to the public will be held on Sept. 24 from 1 to 4 pm. The Clifton Arts Center is within the Sculpture Park on the grounds of the Clifton Municipal Complex near the intersection of Clifton and Van Houten Aves. Admission is $3. For hours and info, www.cliftonnj.org.

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

CLIFTON Events… The Clifton Cares Committee is again cranking up the effort to collect and mail packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since August 2010, over 800 packages have been mailed thanks to contributions collected but funds are needed to continue the shipment. Checks of $12.95 made payable to the “Clifton Post Office” are requested. They can be mailed to the addresslisted below. That donation pays for a US Postal Priority Flat Rate box which will be filled with supplies a soldier in the war zones can use. Donations of the following item are needed: Handsanitizer, mouthwash, deodorant, toothpaste, bodywash, shampoo, shaving cream, baby powder, Gold Bond powder, lip balm, flossing items, disposable razors, white socks, Visine, gum, hard candy, powder drinks, magazines, crossword puzzles and Suduko books. To donate funds, supplies, or items, there are a few ways to support the cause. Clifton Care volunteers will be soliciting at the Valley Road Quik Chek on Sept. 3, Dutch Hill Flea Market on Sept. 10, Van Houten Avenue Street Fair on Sept. 18 and at Stop & Shop on Oct. 1. To mail a donation, make checks to “Lizz Gagnon” or “Clifton Post Office” and send c/o Clifton City Hall Tax Assessor’s Office, 900 Clifton Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013. Contributors can also bring supplies to City Hall where a bin is in the front entryway. If you have any questions, email Lizz at gags2120@aol.com or call her on her cell at 973 818- 8141 78

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

The Clifton Veteran Parade is on Nov. 6 at 2 pm. The parade steps off at Sylvan and Main Aves. and continues through Downtown along Main Ave. to the Clifton Veterans Memorial Monument where there are ceremonies and speeches. Make checks payable to ‘Clifton Veterans Parade Fund,’ and mail c/o John Biegel Jr., 91 Market St. 1, Clifton, NJ 07012. To contribute to the fund, participate in the parade, or to otherwise help out, call John Biegel at 973-519-0858.

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The Passaic County 200 Club Beefsteak Benefit to honor local police, fire and EMS workers is on Sept 27 at 6:30 pm at The Brownstone. Entertainment will be provided by ventriloquist and comic John Pizzi and while it is a lot of fun, the group is the first on the scene in the event if a public safety officials is killed or injured. Tickets are $60. Call 973-225-0696 or visit www.pc200club.org.

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Over 1,400 American flags will be displayed on the campus of city hall on Patriots Day, Sunday, Sept., 11. The idea is to honor a veteran for their time in service and to remember them in perpetuity. The flags are put up and taken down by volunteers, who also do year round maintenance. The flags are also on display on Memorial Day, which is the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; and Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11. To honor a living or deceased veteran, purchase a flag for $100. The donation includes a name plate and a ground socket. The vet’s name, branch of service and the donor’s name is placed in the registry book. Call John Biegel at 973-519-0858.

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September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

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JoAnn Bartnik is Sweet 16 Sept. 2. Olivia Krynski turns 6 on Sept. 26 & big sister Alexandra is 9 on Sept. 12. Liam Robert Martin celebrates number 1 on Sept. 2. Dorothy Knapp is 76 on Sept. 12.

Birthdays & Celebrations

Send dates & names...tomhawrylko@optonline.net Michael Capwell ...............9/1 Allison Di Angelo ..............9/2 Bill Federowic ...................9/3 Dave Gabel ......................9/3 Jennifer Martin ..................9/3 Sharon Holster ..................9/4 Joseph Shackil...................9/4 Eric Wahad ......................9/4 Linda Ayers.......................9/5 Christy Gordon .................9/5 Mohammed Othman ..........9/5 Ana Stojanovski ................9/6 Darren Kester ....................9/7 Greg Martin .....................9/7 Helen Albano....................9/8 Eddie Bivaletz ...................9/8 Shannon Carroll ................9/8 Liz Tresca .........................9/8

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Geoff Goodell...................9/9 Annamarie Priolo...............9/9 George Andrikanich ........9/10 Nicole Moore .................9/10 Ronnie Courtney..............9/11 Tammy Csaszar ...............9/11 Andrew Orr ....................9/11 Andrew Shackil ...............9/11 Lee Ann Doremus ............9/12 Wayne Funke..................9/12 Naoma Martin ................9/12 Sarah Bielen ...................9/14 Anthony Dorski................9/14 Emily Duchnowski ............9/15 Manny Monzo ................9/15 Stacey Corbo..................9/16 Nancy Ann Eadie............9/16 Joe Genchi .....................9/16

Jaclyn Scotto ...................9/16 Cindy Murcko .................9/17 Kathleen Gorman ............9/18 Amanda Meneghin..........9/18 Dawn Smolt ....................9/18 Daniel Smith ...................9/18 Gloria Turba ...................9/18 Mickey Garrigan .............9/19 James Graham ................9/19 Rickie Ojeda...................9/19 Louis DeLeon ...................9/20 Sara Gretina...................9/21 Lynne Lonison..................9/21 Annamaria Menconi ........9/21 Peter Skoutelakis..............9/21 Valerie Carestia...............9/22 Beverly Duffy...................9/22 Ryan Gorny ....................9/22 Timothy St. Clair..............9/22 Keith Myers ....................9/23 Brian Salonga .................9/23 Brian Engel....... ..............9/23

Pam Bielen......................9/25 Deanna Cristantiello ........9/25 Donato Murolo................9/25 Corey Genardi................9/26 Saverio Greco.................9/26 Richard Van Blarcom........9/26 Kenneth Chipura .............9/28 Barbara Mascola.............9/29 Thomas E. Moore ............9/29 Mary Perzely ..................9/29 Ryan Lill..........................9/30 Lauren Hrina ...................9/30

Carly Rose Hawrylko turns 16 on Sept. 12. Her mom Cheryl is 53 the same day!

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September 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Clifton Merchant

HURRICANE Irene… The howling winds and pouring rain of Hurricane Irene may have caused chaos and mayhem elsewhere in the state, but it was not enough to stop the wedding of Ryan and Sharon Meltzer. Set to stand before the rabbi on Aug. 26, the anxious couple had watched the coverage of the storm for several days before ultimately deciding to reschedule the wedding and reception until Sept. 18. However, the honeymoon was still set for Aug. 29 and Sharon did not want to depart for Greece as an unmarried woman. Thus, mid-day on Aug. 26, the cancelled wedding was suddenly back on. Now the scramble began. Who would marry them? Could the rabbi make it? And then there was the legal issue: the couple applied for their marriage license in Garfield, where the wedding was originally scheduled, so the makeshift ceremony would have to take place there. With only a matter of hours to get the wedding in, the family had to come up with a plan—and fast. Billy Meltzer and his wife Lisa had the perfect location: the family’s longtime place of business, Meltzer’s Sporting Goods store in Garfield. The empty offices on the

September 2011 • Clifton Merchant

second floor were swiftly converted. Showcases were covered with table clothes, a bouquet was purchased, candles were found. Some 50 friends and family members made it past the rising storm waters of the Passaic River to the Outwater Lane retail landmark. Sharon’s 95 year old grandmother was determined to walk up the stairs and did it. Ryan’s 91 year old aunt was carried up by one of the groomsmen.

“It was beautiful and romantic,” laughed Lisa Meltzer. “Then we went home to Clifton for a reception. Pizza was the main course.” Hurricane Irene couldn’t stop the wedding and wouldn’t prevent the newlyweds from flying to Greece. Before departing for their honeymoon, they stopped in the store to pick up some rain boots for the soggy trip to the airport. “Dad would have loved it,” said Billy Meltzer of his late father Izzy.

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