10 minute read
Health & Wellness Directory
HARRISON
Continued from Page 9
in were all canceled due to the pandemic.
When the NJSIAA decided that the basketball season could begin on Jan.19, the Blue Tide were in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis. The program was shut down and the team was in quarantine mode.
However, the day before the quarantine was placed, Caliendo had to deal with tragedy. Her mother, Rose Mockus, who was a great supporter of the Harrison basketball program, died after a long illness.
“She was part of me,” Caliendo said of her mother. “She was truly part of our program.”
The Blue Tide had to remain away from basketball for two full weeks.
“Our two leaders (senior Haley O’Donnell and junior Emily Leiras) accepted the responsibility and conducted Zoom meetings,” Caliendo said. “But we went two full weeks without seeing each other. It was such a gap.”
Caliendo kept her chin up.
“I always see the beauty in things,” Caliendo said. “It’s a building season for us. Patience is our team’s attitude right now. We had to slow things down and work on fundamentals. A lot of the girls don’t know fundamentals, so it’s been tough. We haven’t been able to have a smooth couple of days.”
The Blue Tide had two days of practice last week before facing a very good team in Weehawken. The final result was not pretty.
“We have hard working young girls,” Caliendo said. “I’m so proud of them. They could have been down, but they’re not. They’re not discouraged. They’re ready to fix their mistakes and get back out there. I’m excited about that.”
Leiras is the team’s top returning scorer. The 5-foot-6 Leiras averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game last season.
“She’s versatile,” Caliendo said. “She can play power forward. That’s her natural position. She shoots the ball really well. I’m going to use her on the perimeter a lot. She’s also very strong. I’m going to use her all over the floor.”
O’Donnell is a 5-foot-3 point guard who averaged 12 points per contest last season.
“She’s a good ball handler,” Caliendo said. “She brings energy to the game. She’s fun to watch. She’s willing to put her body out there, all over the floor. She dives for loose balls. She has black and blue knees. Black and blue knees should be part of the Lady Blue program. That’s what Haley’s all about. She’s our captain.”
Sophomore guard Fatma Mohamed is a 5-foot-2 shooter.
“She’s developing her basketball IQ,” Caliendo said. “She’s getting smarter. She also embraces criticism. Through eye contact, I can tell she’s listening. She’s catching on quick.”
That’s a great concept – listening with the eyes.
Sophomore Janiyah Gutierrez is a 5-foot-5 forward.
“She’s strong in the post,” Caliendo said. “She has a lot of energy. I’m giving her a lot of responsibility to watch the sophomores. With all the adversity we’ve gone through, we need that. She’s strong and has some basketball skills.”
Sophomore Amaree Andujar is a 5-foot-1 guard.
“She’s a good ball handler with a positive attitude and energy,” Caliendo said. “It’s something to capitalize on. It all starts with the right attitude. That’s the most important thing. She works with her teammates well.”
Rasha Abdeljalil is a 5-foot5 sophomore forward.
“She is a hard worker who is still learning,” Caliendo said.
Another newcomer is 5-foot-6 sophomore center Jamie Benavidas.
“I’m so pleased with her attitude,” Caliendo said. “She shows up and is executing. I’m working with her. I think I’ve found a center.”
Make that an undersized one – just like Jenn Caliendo.
Needless to say, Lady Blue won’t be a bunch of world beaters this season.
“It’s a building season,” Caliendo said. “We have 13 girls in the whole program. We have a lot to work on.”
But Caliendo is ready for the challenge. “I think the goal is teaching them how to define what success is to them,” Caliendo said. “Just being one percent better than yesterday. That’s it. It’s not just about the wins this year but choosing to push through the adversity. I believe we have something special in our hands. And all the challenges we have come across thus far shows that. I’m grateful to be in a position to teach them that.”
HEALTH&WELLNESS&WELLNESS DIRECTORY
CARDIOLOGY & INTERNAL MEDICINE
Call to make an appointment! (973) 777-3286
1135 Clifton Ave, Suite 206, Clifton, NJ 07013
New patients always welcomed!
Dr. Richard Ekstein is 1 of only 14 Board Certified Prosthodontists in NJ
No Insurance? We have a plan for you! Call 201-991-1228
312 Belleville Turnpike | N. Arlington, Suite 3B | www.SmileDesignSpecialist.com
John P. Branwell, DPM., C.Ped
201-998-9700 • 37 Seeley Ave., Kearny
Podiatric Medicine • Surgery • Diabetic Shoes • Orthotics MEDICARE • BCBS • AETNA • Most Insurances www.johnbranwellpodiatrist.com
“Gain confidence back in doing matters!” 44 Ridge Rd. | N. Arlington, NJ 201-482-2611 | www.Reactiv8ptb.com
JUST SOME OF THE MANY SERVICES WE OFFER:
• Laser & Light Therapy • Evidence-based approach in balance testing and training • Strengthening & General Conditioning • Treatment for Sports Injuries • Health & Wellness Program
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!
EYE CARE
DeLuca Vision Consultants
Presented by Joseph A. DeLuca, M.D., F.A.C.S.
STYES IN THE EYES ARE NO PRIZE
Uncomfortable, irritating, and on its own. Because this type of unattractive, styes are a common stye can be more serious, your condition for many people. They eye doctor may need to surgically are caused by a bacterial infection open and drain it. If you have freand appear as small, white bumps quent styes, your eye doctor may similar to pimples on either the want to prescribe an antibiotic outside or inside of the eyelids. ointment to prevent recurrence. Bacteria can enter the eyelash fol- When you need to schedule an licles as well as the sebaceous or exam, call 201-896-0096. For apocrine glands when out of date over 25 years, we have been a eye makeup is used or when eye leader in New York/New Jersey makeup is not removed before Ophthalmology, treating all eye bed. Bacteria can also come from conditions. Our office is located dirty contact lenses or touching at 20 Park Avenue, Lyndhurst. the eye with unwashed hands. To reach our optical shop, call Styes usually disappear on their 201-896-0007. We accept most own within a week or so, but if insurance. they are painful (usually the ones P.S. All bacterial infections on the inside of the eyelid are) are transmissible through touch, they can be helped along with a so if someone close to you has warm, moist compress. a style, avoid contact with his
A stye that forms inside the or her clothing, plates, cups, eyelid might not rupture and heal glasses, and utensils.
VIEW
Continued from Page 9
“He’s our best assist guy,” D’Andrea said. “He is our best ball handler. He transferred to us from Union City last year and saw some time with the varsity.” Senior Pete Ziakos is another three-sport standout, playing in the same three sports as his buddy Witt. The 5-foot-11 Ziakos, a power forward, returns to basketball this season after giving indoor track a try last year.
“He wanted to come back and be part of a team,” D’Andrea said. “He’s a real good kid who plays hard. He has emerged as one of a leader. He’s an adequate rebounder. He’s a big, tough kid who is a space eater in the middle.”
Junior small forward Oscar Torres is a 5-foot-9 sharpshooter.
“He’s probably our best shooter,” D’Andrea said. “He’s a good slasher who gets to the basket. He can knock down the three (3-point shot). He’s a long kid. He just needs to get a little stronger.”
Sophomore Daniel Janosek is a 5-foot-10 forward who joins the basketball team after a successful season with the soccer team.
“He has some basketball talent,” D’Andrea said. “He can hit the 12-to-15-foot jump shot. He’s blending in well with the others.”
Janosek missed the early part of the season due to COVID related issues.
Senior Hazan Mohamed is a 5-foot-10 power forward.
“We need him for his senior leadership,” D’Andrea said. “The younger kids look up to him.”
Junior Will Hannan is a 5-foot-10 forward.
“He’s a big strong kid with long arms,” D’Andrea said. “We’re developing his game around the basket.”
If D’Andrea has a reason to be optimistic about the future, it’s the fact that the junior varsity team has won two of its games thus far and the freshman team is off to a 4-0 start.
“The underclassmen are playing well,” D’Andrea said. “The JV team is making great strides. They won a triple overtime game against Weehawken and also beat Harrison. The freshmen are playing very well. So we should be okay in the future.” Some of the younger players include junior guard Shane Gilchrist, junior forward Iker Bouzas, junior guard Ben Castro, sophomore guard Kyle Villani and sophomore guard Kenny Jaramillo. If they play well on the lower levels, maybe they will get moved up to see some varsity time.
So as it stands now, the Vikings might be struggling, but the optimism is there.
“My motto is, ‘It’s time to get back to the grind and keep our chins up,’” D’Andrea said. “That’s my philosophy.”
The Vikings’ next three games are against Wallington, Secaucus and Rutherford in the new-fangled North Jersey Interscholastic ConferenceDivision 4 alignment, another item caused by COVID. Each team in the Division 4 plays each other twice. Incredibly, because of COVID shutdowns Rutherford has yet to play.
Dr. Prakash J. Doshi
Photos by Jim Hague The North Arlington boys’ basketball team counts a ton on their two little big men, namely seniors Joey Witt (left) and Fernando Baez (right). Most Insurances Insurances “Make your vision picture perfect... picture perfect... Accepted Accepted See what you’ve been See what you’ve been missing. Visit our offi ce!” missing. Visit our offi ce!” Family Eye Care Eye Exams • Contact Lenses • Pediatric Care
Your Eye Care Professionals Dr. Maria Domingues Lic # 27OA00630100 Dr. Jayswinder Kaur Lic# 27OA00689700 Dr. Marina N. Megalla
Lic# 27OA00690300
Premier Care
TALKS
Dr. Hector Aguilar
Dr. Carla Domingues
Lic # 27OA00646200
348 Ridge Road • Lyndhurst
La doctora habla Español
201.438.8668
A doutora fala Português
A BONE-DEEP BLOOD CONDITION
When you think about blood cells, Although most diagnoses for you probably think about veins, PC occur after age 60, PV can not bones; however, bone marrow happen at any age. Keep in mind is where blood cells develop and that everyone is different and that grow, and this is why conditions all cancers aren’t the same. With such as “polycythemia vera” (PV) the support of your doctor, family, are referred to as blood cancers friends, and other people who have even though they begin in the bone PV, you’ll be in the best position to marrow. PV specifically causes the manage it. Treatments for PV lower body to create too many red blood the number of red blood cells and cells, making the blood thick and prevent blood clots. They also relieve increasing the risks of clots, heart other symptoms, like headaches and attacks, and strokes. Although less vision problems. For more informacommon, over-production of white tion, please call PREMIER CARE blood cells and platelets can also ASSOCIATES OF WEST HUDSON occur. Because PV is a slow-acting at 201-998-7474, 7 days a week. Our disease, it is challenging to catch in office is located at 512 Kearny Ave., its early stages. Usually occurring in Suite B. people over 60, there are treatments P.S. While the cause of polycytheand medications that can reduce the mia vera has not been proven, it may health risks. be the result of a dysfunctional gene.
Email any questions or comments to: premiercare@gmail.com
