clifton merchant magazine - january 2015

Clifton Merchant • January 2015 3

January 2015 • Clifton Merchant4

Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

© 2015 Tomahawk Promotions

Visit cliftonmerchant.comfor current & past issues

Project Watch 2015Brew Pub on Van Houten Ave?

Marguerite Craig Heerschapturned 107 on Nov. 17, 2014.

She graduated CHS in 1925 andstill resides in Downtown Clifton.

Super Mario CasabonaAngel Investor of TechLaunch

A Future in the TradesAt Hohokus School in Paterson

33 Years Behind the BadgeMeet PC Sheriff Richard Berdnik

Table of Contents

What’s Inside?

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58

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973-253-4400 • [email protected]

Art DirectorKen Peterson

Graphic DesignerAly Ibrahim

Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Editorial InternMariel Vazquez

1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011

Irene Jarosewich, Domenick Reda Michael Gabriele, Jack De Vries

Contributing Writers

16,000 Magazinesare distributed to hundreds of

Clifton Merchants on the first

Friday of every month.

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Pages 9-53

Now in Our 20th Year


Seifullah Ali Shabazz20 Years of Jazz and Fellowship

Students of the MonthOutstanding Mustangs in the Wings

Birthdays & CelebrationsPhotos and Dates for Milestones

CHS Girls Basketball HistoryDori Breen & Kelly Douglas

Mayor Jim Anzaldi AgainPhotos from the Jan. 2 Reorganization

Project Graduation 2015Fashion Show Set for March 29

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80

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Frankie RandallJan.11,1938 - Dec. 28, 2014

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Faces&Events of

2014


The Clifton Community Band under the baton of the now-retired Marching Mustang Maestro Bob Morgan. On the facing page,Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli visited St. John Kanty Parish on Nov. 30 as the Polish community celebrated their faith and culture.Photos from the 15th annual Corrado Wine Making Fest from last January. Below, writer Richard Szathmary wrote a tribute tothe late Stephen Douglas “Hoop” Hooper ( CHS ‘64), “the leading light of the so-called ‘art car’ movement”. The profile waspart of the July edition in which we track down Mustangs who graduated over the decades. In August, we profiled GensingerVolkswagen—America’s oldest VW dealership— and still at the intersection of Valley Rd and Rt. 46 and now in its third gen-eration. That’s Mayor Stanley Zwier in a Karmann Ghia with founder Stephen Gensinger at the May 18, 1962, opening.

2014 in Review

From top: Mayor James Anzaldi (left)and Frank Gaccione, chief fundraiserof the Veterans Day parade. GeorgeHayek with his late wife Lorraine in2008 when George was the GrandMarshal of the Veterans Parade. Hayekwas featured in Drum Corps World asthe oldest and still performingHawthorne Caballeros. In September,the North Jersey Chamber presented a$10,000 check to the Passaic County200 Club. The club provides assistanceto law enforcement, fire and EMS per-sonnel. Right: Phyllis Borowski,daughter of legendary FightingMustang Coach Joe Grecco withWayne Demikoff at the Oct. 17 turfrededication of Joseph Grecco field.Demikoff, then a Clifton BOE member,was also the QB of the ‘59 FightingMustangs, named State Champions.


Plans to replace an outdated, leak-ing sewage pipe that runs beneaththe Alonzo F. Bonsal Nature Preserve

from Montclair to Clifton and empties

into the Passaic River, were presented

mid-January. Some Clifton residents

were unhappy with the plans for the

disruptive construction, especially

those residing around Tancin Lane.

Fred Torres, the beloved

Clifton running advo-

cate, and owner and

founder of Elite Racing

Systems, died of a heart

attack on Jan. 30 while

jogging at an annual

seminar for race timers.

His name lives on in the

annual Fred Torres

Memorial Scholarships.

The awards are present-

ed by his wife Ana, pictured above, and their children

to graduated CHS track athletes. The family also estab-

lished an annual 10 K run staged in the fall in Garret

Mountain Reservation.

Nowadays jobs are hard to come by, but thereis help out there. Our cover story featuredcareer success stories taking place in Clifton.Among institutions providing Cliftonites

with jobs are the One-Stop Career Center in Paterson andLocal 68’s Training Facility. We also profiled entrepre-neur Peter Zielonka, who built a thriving business,Precision Electric Motor Works on Sebago St. inAthenia, and is living proof that with enough dedication,dreams can become reality.

J anuary 2014 IN REVIEW


Clifton Cares, a group of volunteerswho send supplies to U.S. Armytroops serving overseas, shipped 66packages on Jan 24 last year. Fromleft, Chris Liszner, Lizz Gagnon,Dona Crum, Cathy Reynics, JoeLauritano, and Dennis Reynics.

Relay for Life co-chairs Melissa Vogel, Barbara Maak,and Kristen Hariton at the first meeting to plan the2014 event. They are also co-chairing the 2015 RFL,date and location of which is yet to be determined.

J anuary 2014 IN REVIEW

With the city marking the 100thanniversary of its founding in 2017,

city council members on Jan. 19

announced the formation of com-

mittees and began seeking volun-

teers to help plan events and raise

funds to mark the approaching cen-

tennial anniversary.

BOE Commissioners explained at

the Jan. 29 meeting why a $1.9 mil-

llion bus budget to transport stu-

dents who live within a two mile

range of the school instead of 2.5

mile was out of the question. For

one, it would have raised residential

property taxes and likely have

caused more traffic, as 14 additional

buses would have been picking up

700 more students. Parking the 14

Yellow Birds after hours was anoth-

er concern. The plan was shot down.

A 23-year-old resident ended up

with a broken nose on Jan. 21 after a

CHS student punched the man’s

vehicle while jaywalking across

Colfax Ave. The man followed the

boy to a side street and was attacked

by the student and six friends.

Students were charged with aggra-

vated assault after a police investiga-

tion. The district couldn’t suspend the

students because the incident did not

occur in school. Shortly after the

incident, Board and City officials met

to discuss plans for dismissal proce-

dures at all of 19 schools.


Assemblyman Tom Giblin visit-ed Jets fan and Rowland Ave.resident Bobby Turcic and momDiane Wright on Jan. 15 with abelated Christmas gift—anauthentic Jets football. Turcic,40, works at the Clifton AdultOpportunity Center.

At the Powerflow Hot Yoga opening on Van Houten Ave. Jan.11, are owners Jerry LePore and

nephew Brian, with managerMeghan Hunter. Located

between School 2 and the formerGrimaldi’s Restaurant, the studiooffers classes seven days a week.

ImmediCenter on Broad St., underthe direction of Dr. MichaelBasista, received national recogni-tion as a Patient-Centered MedicalHome or PCMH for their help inthe delivery of healthcare.

Talking about jobs and careers in January were computer tech Ramon Solis at work in a Newark school; Juan Peralta;chef Arthur Bartetta; Peter Natoli of Digital Realty; PCTI senior Luz De La Cruz at her internship at Sax Macy Fromm& Co.; and Jason Salvatore, ex-painter, who recently joined the International Union of Engineers Local 68.


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The Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos, 43-8, on Feb. 2, in Super

Bowl XLVIII. Staged at MetLife Stadium, Cliftonites experienced the

excitement at the Boys & Girls Club’s annual Super Bowl Family party.

Following in his mentor’s Fernando Rossi’s footsteps, Stanley Lembryk,CHS girls’ soccer coach since Mar. 4, 2009, was named boys’ soccer coach

on Feb. 12. A former All-State soccer player for CHS in 1987, Lembryk is

thrilled to be coaching the very team he played for under Rossi.

A burglary on Green Tree Drive caused Clifton police to issue imperson-

ation warnings to residents. On Feb. 12, a man posing as a water company

rep tricked an older woman into letting him into her house. Two other

reported incidents occurred in Jan. on Chelsea Rd. and Belmont Ave.


F ebruary 2014 IN REVIEW

From left: Marching Mustang high school sweethearts, Wes and JulieKrygsman; Matt and Maria Hunkele found a different kind of dia-

mond at the Eddie Mayo baseball field. Above right, Dan and NancyKocsis fell in love to Johnny Mathis songs in 1964. At right, Lakeview

Bakery’s Carlos and Dayana Sotamba; idea guy and action galMichael and Rosemary (Trinkle) Baran.

How do you get a Mustang to fly? Wrap herin silk and give give her a trombone! So wedid to 2001 CHS grad Julie Passaro. Heraerial artistry and her marriage to Wes

Krygman is explained in our cover story. Readers alsoenjoyed other Clifton love stories, historic tales aboutMustangs hoops, a feature on three Clifton poets win-ning national awards and photos of the latest installationin our Sculpture Park. We also sent centennial wishes toHelen Braviak Horack who turned 100 on Feb. 4.


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On Feb. 13 a snow storm blanketed Clifton and col-lapsed roofs of houses and businesses. Fire fighters

deemed unsteady buildings safety hazards and declared

they be torn down. Vito’s Towing on Clifton Blvd. was

among the businesses affected. City Engineer

Dominick Villano advised the owners to remove snow

to prevent roof collapse. Busy Costco closed for a

week after the storm to do just that.

At the District XV Tournament on Feb. 22, theMustang wrestling team dominated again, coming in

first with 212 points. Sophomore Farhan started the

winning and freshman Kareem Askew beat his oppo-

nent 24-0, giving him a district individual title. Senior

Khalil Zawaide earned 29 points for Clifton by besting

Garrett Norcross of Ridgefield. Clifton qualified 10

wrestlers for the Region IV tournament.


F ebruary 2014 IN REVIEW

Two (Not-So-Average) Joes who both reside inDowntown Clifton were among the 20 individualsnamed 2014 Artist Fellowships from the NJ StateCouncil on the Arts on Feb. 25. Composer Joseph Turrin(left) has collaborated with the legendary George Abbottand Kurt Masur; poet Joe Rathgeber was also a finalistin the 2014 Allen Ginsburg Poetry Award.

Stanley Lembryk was named CHS

boys soccer coach on Feb. 12. He

has been the CHS girls’ soccer

coach since March 6, 2009. As the

photo at right illustrates, he has

been a Mustang since his high

school days on the CHS pitch.

Area Ukrainians met with Congressman Bill Pascrell on Feb. 20 to discuss Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

On Feb. 5, CHS Senior Rachel Egyed signed a

National Letter of Intent to play soccer with the

University of Maryland in Sept., 2014. Egyed, one

of the top goaltenders in the state, led the Mustangs

to a 17-4-1 record, including a league championship

and Passaic County final appearance. As a senior,

Egyed made 113 saves, including 15 shutouts,

while allowing 0.63 goals per game.


For 12 years, 200 days each year, we were in class-rooms. Teachers praised us, punished us, testedus. They adorned our homework with gold starsor frowny faces. They taught us to read, write,

and count. They wanted us to be decent human beings.Young, old, funny, strict, dedicated, caring... sometimesnot, teachers helped form our childhood memories andadult lives. We asked readers to recall those teachers whomost influenced them, those whom they remember to thisday. The response was impressive and varied.

M arch 2014 IN REVIEW

Tom Buckley of Muscle Maker Grill inStyertowne Shopping Center was awarded

Franchisee of the Year in March, essentiallymaking him America’s Best Muscle Maker.

Teachers, administrators and coaches recalled in March included (top, from left) Marie Van Der Horn, Gloria Kolodziej,Anthony Orlando, Kim Dreher, Cassie Craig, John Kostisin, and Bill Cannici; (bottom) Anne Marie Gaccione, BrittanyGaccione, Taras Petryshyn, Arlene Agresti, Hooks Brower, David Radler and Sister Mary Concepta.

Nearly 25 years after starting the Clifton Charmers, a program that

grew into one of the most successful girls travel softball programs in the

Northeast, Clifton’s Steve Meyers was inducted on

March 2 into the New Jersey ASA (American Softball

Association) Hall of Fame. The Charmers program is

regarded by many as an important contributor to the

development of the CHS program as a softball power-

house during the 1990s, winning Group IV state

championships in 1993, ’97 and ’98, as well as

numerous league and county titles.


M arch 2014 IN REVIEW

In light of the Feb. 28 invasion of Crimea by Russia,Passaic’s New Ukrainian Wave organized a March 1

memorial for the 100 Ukrainians who were shot in

Maidan Square, in Kyiv, while protesting Russia’s inter-

ference in Ukraine, economic unrest, and failing demo-

cratic rights. Requiem for the Heaven’s Hundred, as the

event was named, was held on the steps of St. Nicholas

Ukrainian Catholic Church on President St. in Passaic.

Clifton Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and Project

Graduation hosted a Prom Fashion Show on March 29

in the CHS Auditorium. Mustang seniors from the Class

of 2014 modeled fashions from Deluxe Formal Wear,

BouBou, Group USA, Sisters Bridal Boutique, Unique

Designs by Viki and VESA. All proceeds went towards

the 2014 senior class’ Project Graduation.

Clifton Merchant contributorJack DeVries received a final-

ist award at the prestigious

Table 4 Writers Foundation

gala, held at the New York

Athletic Club on March 27.

His entry, A Basketball FanComes of Age, is the story of

discovering the game as a 13

year-old in Clifton during the

1969-70 New York Knicks

championship season.

National IHOP Pancake Day was celebrated on

March 4 at the Clifton pancake restaurant on Route 3.

The O’Neil family, owners of the Clifton IHOP fran-

chise, reported that since 2006, IHOP National Pancake

Day has raised more than $10 million for child patients.

Bishop Arthur Serratelli celebrated Mass in St. Clare

Church March 10, marking a century of vibrant and

strong faith, fellowship and outreach at St. Clare Parish,

which has been serving the Delawanna section of the

city for 100 years. Concelebrating the Mass — attended

by a broad spectrum of parishioners — were the pastor,

Father Peter VB Wells; former pastors, Msgr. Kevin

Flannigan, Msgr. Brendan Madden and Father Timothy

Dowling; parochial vicar, Father Thomas Fitzgerald;

and priest-in-residence, Father Joseph Garborino.

On March 1 on the steps of St. Nicholas UkrainianCatholic Church on President St., a young girl lights acandle at the Requiem for Heaven’s Hundred memorial.On March 4, Ukrainians from Clifton were part of thethousands who staged a rally in Washington D.C. to bringattention to this threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Father Peter VB Wells celebrates mass on March 10 at St.Clare’s R.C. Church, marking 100 years of service to theDelawanna community. Reprinted with permission ofThe Beacon; photo by Joe Gigli.


From stories about the environment to music, poet-ry, sports and history, the April magazine offered avaried reading selection. While the harsh winterstill lingered, spring was pushing through the soil

at City Green on Grove St. The former site of the six-acreSchultheis Farm is being cultivated and nurtured for a newgeneration by the non-profit group, which reached its 10-year milestone. Mustangs fans also got ready for the springsports schedule by meeting the athletes and coaches, andlearning about their prospects for the season.

A pril 2014 IN REVIEW

At the April 24 dinner at Mario’s Restaurant to celebrate the conclusion of the GreatFutures Campaign, from left Boys & Girls Club of Clifton board members: AngeloCrudele, Executive Director Bob Foster, Lauren Ricca, Angela Montague, VictorHabrahamshon, Keith Oakley, Cindy DeVos and Rich Mariso. Development DirectorJohn DeGraaf noted the campaign netted $50,000 for theClub, which helps fund general programming.

Curbside collection of plastic bottles and con-

tainers began this April 1, or April Fools Day.

Only plastic labeled with #1 and #2 will be

collected. To locate the label, look on the

bottom of the bottle or container and find

a number within a triangle. That’s

DPW worker Victor Campolattaro

doing the heavy lifting.

Recycling Coordinator Al

DuBois responds to all

inquiries regarding recycling in

Clifton: 973-470-2237.

Natalie Warchola came to the UnitedStates in 1962 from Argentina. Her

family settled near Hope Ave. and

President St. in the Ukrainian neighbor-

hood that is centered around St.

Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in

Passaic. Known to many as Natalka, she

shares her knowledge of Ukrainian tradi-

tions, among them the art and craft of

making pysanky the lovely Ukrainian

Easter eggs that have decorated homes,

museums and baskets for generations.


Alma Bank in Downtown Clifton hosted a businesscard exchange with the Hispanic American

Chambers of Commerce on April 23. About 50people from the region met and mingled at

Clifton’s newest bank at 1133 Main Ave. That’sMargarita Pappas, the VP of the Clifton branch

with members of the Chamber.

Friends of the Clifton Public Library highlighted thespring religious holidays including Passover, whichis celebrated by Jews and began April 14, andEaster, which in 2014 was celebrated by all

Christians on April 20. Volunteer Colleen Murray ispictured at a display of books and items on the sec-ond floor of the Main Library on Piaget Ave. thathelp explain religious traditions and diversity.

A pril 2014 IN REVIEW

April 22 was Earth Day and students from CHS walked to the Clifton Recycling Center on the City Hall complex to learnmore about the environment and ways they can do their part to help it. Clifton Recycling Coordinator Al DuBois met withstudents throughout the day and explained more about the city’s nationally recognized recycling efforts.


26members of Clifton’s PBA 36 began their300-mile bicycle trip to Washington DCto honor the memory of police officerskilled in the line of duty, including

Clifton’s John Samra. As we do every May, we listed thenames of over 300 Clifton’s Fallen Heroes, men who werekilled in action serving our nation during five differentwars. We also told more about the lives of veterans whoreturned from war and looked back in words and photos atsix decades of how Clifton Youth Week has evolved.

May 2014 IN REVIEW

The Bloomfield MandolinOrchestra was invited toperform for the Festa dellaMadonna del SacroMonte, at Holy FaceMonastery on May 31.Pictured here are someorchestra members: Dr.Phil Jasper, Gail Sample,Mark Sample, KristineMassari, conductor EnricoGranafei, Jay Posipankoand Annamaria Menconi.

After 10 years of making ithappen, Relay for Lifeorganizers reach a newmilestone and keep pushing.

Richard Davellavisited the gravesite of his fallen friendin Normandy, France—70 years after hewas there as a 20-year-old GI in1944.

RelayfoR life

at 10

There are about12,000 podiatrists inthe United States,according to theDepartment ofLabor, and Clifton

podiatrist Thomas Graziano is one ofonly six who hold both a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

As a foot and ankle specialist, my

main goal for all my patients is to

find caring solutions that last a life-

time. I won't just treat the symptom;

I'll strive to correct the problem...

Permanently.

When you combine effective treat-

ments with my genuine concern for

your well-being, that's a powerful

combination.

-Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM,

FACFAS

3 Issues Resolved in 1 Convenient SurgeryDr. Thomas Graziano recently

explained how three painful issues

were addressed in one operation.

“This patient presented with a

bunion, crossover toe and hammer-

toes. These conditions were

repaired with one operation and the

patient was able to walk the same

day of the surgery.”Before After



May 2014 IN REVIEW

As is the custom and honor of the Clifton Merchant,we paid tribute to the city’s more than 300 heroic war

dead by listing their names by conflict. The annual

tribute is a fitting remembrance leading up to the

Memorial Day ceremony at the Main Memorial

Monument on Main Ave. where the names of those who

fell are inscribed in marble on the structure.

Capturing the somber spirit of Memorial Day wasthe article, ‘Serendipity,’ the story of WWII veteran

Richard Davala’s journey back to Normandy, France, to

pay tribute to his fallen friends and fellow soldiers, and

detail his own wartime experiences.

Another tale about distin-guished service was Ken‘Zeke’ Brand’s story of being a

‘Red Horse Vet.’ “I would have

been drafted, but I volunteered,”

recalled Brand, 65, who grew up

on Oregon St. and today lives on

Springdale Ave. “The Air Force

didn’t have a draft; the Army did.

I wanted to be a jet mechanic. I

figured I would stay out of

Vietnam, but the Air Force

thought better of it.” Instead, the

lean 18-year-old, just months

removed from his 1966 CHS

graduation, was part of a brand

new detachment of the Air Force

the Red Horse Squadron special-

izing in heavy damage repair. “We were like the Sea

Bees,” Brand said. “We built bases and air fields.”

We took a look back and forward at the MontclairBeach Club through the eyes of the Cole family, who

have operated the Grove St. oasis since 1931. Three

generations have watched over the summer establish-

ment, the place for memories for countless area fami-

lies. The Montclair Beach Club employs 15 full-time

lifeguards and 25 part-time workers under the guidance

of current owner Roger Cole.

John Link, 49, was named Clifton Police Chief onMay 1. The Albion resident has been with the depart-

ment for 27 years and worked in every division. Link is

the 10th police chief in Clifton’s history. Attending the

swearing-in ceremony were retired Chiefs Gary

Giardina, Frank Lo Gioco and Robert Ferreri.

On May 20, School 13 students participate in the RelayRecess Day, an event supporting the May 31 Relay for Life.

Clifton Police Chief John Link took the helm on May 1 from Gary Giardina. Montclair Swim Club founder Charles E. Cole,his son Quentin, and third-generation owner of the Grove Street landmark, Roger, were featured in the May issue.


Graduating seniors from CHS, ParamusCatholic, St. Marys and PCTI shared theiraccomplishments, hopes and dreams withinthe pages of our magazine. Our favorite

comment came from CHS Everyman Tyler Gamba: “Ioffered the perspective of an orphan from South Korea,adopted as a baby into an Italian, Polish, and Russianfamily. The Gamba’s have lived in Clifton since beforemy grandfather went off to fight in World War II.” Nowthat is the voice of a true Cliftonite...

June 2014 IN REVIEW

Some 2014 high school graduates who appeared on our cover from left, Xavier Grant, Stephany Estrada, Pratik Patel,Samantha Segda, William Algieri, Juliana Irizarry, Joseph Ambrose, Susan Liberti, Kristina Azevedo, Maurice Marsilla,Katherine Scorziello, Juan Cardona, Emily Afonso, Joseph Espinal, Fatima Maldonado and Nicholas Glodava.

Positive Behavior Support in Schools is a new incen-

tive program at CHS that rewards frosh with prizes for

positive actions. Students which accumulate ‘keys’ and

can win prizes from Uno Chicago Grill, Chevy’s, Cups

Frozen Yogurt and Mr. Cupcakes. The top four earners

(above) of those keys received Google Chromebooks.

Mustang freshmen Michael McLaughlin, Yousef Gabr,Carlos Polanco and Daniel McLaughlin. Below, CHSCommencement on June 26 was held at the IZOD Centerbecause of the installation of turf on Joe Grecco field.


Bloomingdale Clifton Haledon Hawthorne Little Falls North Haledon Passaic Paterson

Pompton Lakes Prospect Park Ringwood Totowa Wanaque Wayne West Milford Woodland Park

John Bartlett • Theodore Best • Ronda Casson CotroneoTerry Duffy • Bruce James • Pat Lepore • Hector Lora

For information on how your company can secure a great location and low cost financing

for your expansion in Passaic County, New Jersey, write or call

Deborah Hoffman, Director of Economic Development,

at 973-569-4720 or [email protected].

www.passaiccountynj.org

June 2014 IN REVIEW

Mustang Pride gathered 60 workersat its third Volunteer Appreciation

dinner at Mario’s on June 16. These

folks helped to run the Clifton Family

Carnival by manning games across

the five days of the event on

Memorial Day weekend. Raising

about $20,000, the money helps pro-

vide programs, activities and supplies

for Clifton school kids. “Tonight was

all about showing appreciation for

their time and effort,” said Mustang

Pride President AnnMarie Genneken.

Find more info at cliftonmustang-

pride.com.

Tradition, philanthropy, friendship and faith have united the congregants of the Clifton Jewish Center for 70 years. On June22, members celebrated the anniversary with a dinner-dance at their home on 18 Delaware St. From left, the late RabbiEugene Markovitz and Rabbi Bob Mark who now leads the congregation. The Clifton landmark banquet centerMountainside Inn on Hazel St. marked a 50 year milestone in June. Through our profile, readers learned more aboutthe way owners Lou Barbato Sr. and his son Lou make each event unique. At right is the late founder, Alfred Barbato.

Members of the Clifton Association of Artists (CAA) at a June 14 awards ceremony and reception for the group at LambertCastle. Ed Kurbansade of Spencer Savings on Piaget Ave. with Dennis Mikula of Mikula Contracting. The bank marked it75th anniversary on June 20 with a reception for customers in its 19 branches. More info at SpencerSavings.com.


Looking back over seven decades, we asked andanswered…Where are these Mustangs Now?Stories and photos took readers through theyears as we caught up with CHS graduates

from 1944, 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004.There were photos from the Class of 2014’sCommencement on the IZOD Center’s stage. Wepreviewed the Class of 1974 reunion from Paul VI HighSchool (once located on Valley Rd.) and caught up withthose “kids” as well.

July 2014 IN REVIEW

From the CHSclass of 2004:Nicola Di Donna,Christie Lotz, andThomas Garretson;Class of 1994:Alyse Pashman,Brian P. Murphy, and Nina Surich; 1984: George Spies, Laurie Mocek,and John Suwalski; 1974: Jeri Fried,Michael Hanrahan, MaryFran Cini;and 1964: Salvatore Anzaldi, BerthaConnie Van Decker and Martin Bania.

At left, cheerleader Adele Lazorchakin 1984, and continuing the line upfrom 1954: Barbara Ann Rae,Kenneth Hauser, Paul Graupe. 1944:Edward J. Wolak, Vera Schiedeman,and Lester Herrschaft.



July 2014 IN REVIEW

VFW 7165 held a ceremony on July 16 at 3 pm to

lower the flag to half-staff in front of their Valley Rd.

lodge to honor the memory of Jersey City Police Officer

Melvin Santiago. The 23-year-old rookie officer pictured

at inset was killed on July 13 by a man who moments

earlier said “watch the news later. I’m going to be

famous.” Lawrence Campbell then opened fire on Santiago and his partner

when they arrived at the Walgreens at Communipaw Ave. and Kennedy

Blvd., killing Santiago. Led by their Honor Guard, the members of 7165

said the flag will remain at half-staff until Santiago’s funeral on July 18.

On July 24, students from Downtown Clifton’s ATC Studios performed withsabers as fair maidens awaited on the lawn of Lambert Castle on Valley Rd.in ‘Selections, Scenes, Music & Mayhem’ from Shakespeare’s plays. Formore details and photos, go to atcstudios.org.

The Friends of the Clifton Librarylaunched Musical Mondays toshowcase Clifton’s musically tal-ented youth. Pictured are EthanDeRose-Travia, Jen Marie Chieand Tyler Fengya at the July eventat the Main Library on Piaget Ave.

Clifton celebrated our nation’sIndependence with an all-day picnic

on July 5 in Main Memorial Park.

The annual event offers low-cost

entertainments, dozens of vendors

and plenty of family-oriented activi-

ties. The evening concludes with a

concert by the Clifton Community

Band and one of the region’s largest

fireworks display at dusk.

The Boathouse Cafe in Third Ward

Park hosted its premiere art exhibition

on July 18. Cliftonite Jennifer

Romanek is The Boathouse’s curator

and inspired a series of creative

endeavors including karaoke nights,

poetry readings and open mike. The

cafe opened in May.

From upscale menus to world-famous TexasWeiners, Clifton is the kind of place where youcan dine diversely, 24-7. Our August editionprovided that guide for where to eat, day or

night, and offered a preview to the popular Taste ofClifton, a major fundraiser by the Boys & Girls Club ofClifton. Readers also learned that the third generation,family-run Gensinger Motors on Valley Rd. is America’soldest VW dealer. We took a stroll down Market St. tomeet the merchants and learn of their services.

August 2014 IN REVIEW

Meet some of the merchants and busi-ness owners of Market St: From topleft: Abel Alicea, Mark Defeo,Pragnesh Shah, Dr. Christa D’Amato,Joe Hanrahan, Angelo Gencarelli,Dino Palamidis and Raj Patel.

The Mustang Academy orientation at CHS on Aug. 4

gave incoming freshmen a chance to become familiar

with the campus and pick up tips that will help them

acclimate to the large campus. Some 168 students of

the 2018 graduating class attended.

City Manager Matthew Watkins resigned on Aug. 20to become town administrator in West New York. He

said his achievements included re-hiring police offi-

cers, solidifying accounting practices, equipment

upgrades for the police, fire and DPW.

Wendy Juba became the Clifton Police Department’s

first female sergeant on Aug. 12. A William Paterson

University grad with a degree in sociology and criminal

justice, she was hired in 2006. In September 2011, she

was the first female to be inducted to CPD’s Detective

Division. She then passed her Civil Service exam with

flying colors, as did Detective Joseph Hillyer, who was

also promoted to the title of sergeant at the same time

as Juba. Hillyer was hired in 1996, became detective

and school resource officer in 2006 and is now

Clifton’s Crime Prevention Officer.


At the Portuguese Tavern and Toros Restaurant


Come and see why over 145 students from Cliftonare making PC their high school of choice!

Members of the Class of 2014 earned about $66 million in scholarships and grants.Clifton graduates earned over $3 million of those scholarships and grants.

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Aug. 13 marked the last print edition of the PostEagle, a Polish American weekly newspaper. The paper

was dedicated to the preservation of the Polish heritage

and culture in the U.S., the recognition for Americans

of Polish descent and promotion of good citizenship in

Poland and America. Although slow advertising sales

have made the print version of the Post Eagle obsolete,

it has an online version that began 18 months ago.

Christine Grabowski-Whitmyer took over the business

from her father, editor and publisher Chester

Grabowski who died on April 25, 2012. He founded

the Post Eagle in 1962 from his house on Van Houten

Ave. from where it continues to be published.

Rev. John Orfanakos of St. George

Greek Orthodox Church died on

Aug. 20. He led the Valley Rd. con-

gregation from 1967 to 1999 and

helped make it a cornerstone of the

community for Greek culture. His

son George Orfanakos, also a priest,

took over the parish in 1999 and led

the congregation for seven years

with his father. A plaque commem-

orating the pastor and his wife Margaret was recently

hung in St. George’s community center.

The Famous Midtown Grill closed its door for good

on Aug. 28. Original owners Tommy and John Foukas

opened the Downtown Clifton diner in 1959. In 1998,

Gerasimos (Gerry) Dimitratos and Dimitrios (Jimmy)

Doris took over the landmark and expanded the menu

beyond Texas Weiners and hamburgers to include

gyros, salads and provide catering.

The Palestine Right to Return Coalition rallied at

Main Memorial Park on Aug. 30 to support Palestinians

suffering in Gaza. Money was raised for a Gaza mental

health program. The rally attracted families and people

of all ages and took place shortly after a cease-fire

agreement had been made in Israel.

August 2014 IN REVIEW

Gensinger Motors patriarch Ken Sr. with wife Betty and their children, fromleft, Cindy, Michelle, Ken Jr., and Laura. Gensinger Motors, at the inter-section of Valley Rd and Rt. 46, is the oldest VW dealership in America. Itwas opened by Ken Sr’s father, Stephen on May 18, 1962. August means itis time for farm stand Jersey tomatoes and other greens, from arugula tozucchini, grown in Clifton by Rudy Ploch at Ploch’s Farm on Grove St., OnAug. 21 at Yankee Stadium, Dante Liberti received the Avis Spirit Award forhis volunteerism with the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton.


September 3 was back to school for teachers andstudents at Clifton’s 19 public school, as well asnumerous private schools. Our pages were filledwith photos and stories telling of that annual trek

back to the classrooms. However, September continued tooffer days when warmth lingers and guys like Mike Corboof Corbo Jewelers go on a Surfin’ Safari! We alsopreviewed the many street fairs, church picnics and otherfun stuff to do in the waning days of summer.

September 2014 IN REVIEW

Nearly 3 million viewers saw a YouTube clip ofClifton’s Kyle DeMattia’s video in which heparked his muddy Jeep next to this Corvette atthe Red Robin on Route 3 on Sept. 24 and cap-tured the owner's reaction on video.

Vendors served spirits and food at the Sept. 29 Taste of Clifton.

Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI),saw a record-high rise in attendees as 3,350

students from 16 communities returned to the

Wayne campus. Freshmen received Dell

Chromebooks and sophomores are required to

take a financial literacy course. “It Starts with

One: One Person, One School, One Community,

One World ” is the theme to promote teamwork,

educational development and group skills.

Make that 10: The addition of two Dunkin’

Donuts to the existing eight was approved at the

Sept. 3 Board of Adjustment Meeting. An auto

shop on the corner of Valley Rd. and Fenner

Ave. will be converted, despite resident con-

cerns of traffic woes. The other opens in Clifton

Plaza on Rt. 46, the site of a former bagel shop.

Some 500 people enjoyed the second Taste of

Clifton on Sept. 29. Staged as a benefit for the

Boys & Girls Club of Clifton and held in the

Club’s Auditorium, representatives from 34

restaurants and caterers and four liquor pur-

veyors offered samples. The vendors dis-

played and samples their wares to over 500

visitors who each paid a $10 admission fee.

Development Director John DeGraaf said

some $20,000 was raised by admission fees

and other forms of sponsorship. The funds go

to underwrite programming at the Club, which

serves over 5,000 youth annually. To vend in

the 2015 Taste of Clifton set for Sept. 28, call

DeGraaf at 973-773-0966 ext. 111.

CliftonMerchant • January 2015

41

Joseph M. Shook, Sr., Founder1924 - 2008

Nancy Shook Garretson, PresidentNJ Lic. No. 3657

Roy B. Garretson, ManagerNJ Lic. No. 3550

Thomas J. Garretson, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4988

Kevin V. White, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4964

September 2014 IN REVIEW

Some 75 Cliftonites gathered at the Sept. 11thMemorial in front of City Hall on Clifton Ave. to com-

memorate those who died at the World Trade Center, the

Pentagon and on Flight 93 on 9/11/01. A short service

was led by police chaplain S.T. Sutton.

Black coffee or iced tea? Brown tap water has been

plaguing the area off Valley Rd. Albion residents are

brushing their teeth with bottled water, bleaching loads

of clothing and replacing water heaters and fridge filters.

The Passaic Valley Water Commission explained that the

sediment is coming from low-quality pipes installed in

the 1940s currently being replaced or cleaned.

The Power of One Christian Coaching and OutreachMinistries hosted a pack-and-sort party on Sept. 5 in

School 12’s cafeteria for their backpack giveaway. The

party yielded 250 backpacks for children who cannot

afford to buy school supplies. Teachers, principals, and

school faculty then distributed them in Clifton schools.

The Daughters of Miriam Center was honored for its

partnership with Jewish Family Services of North

Jersey at a gala on Sept. 21. Daughters of Miriam began

in 1921 as an orphanage and home for the elderly, and

has since expanded to cover 13 acres of land. The Hazel

St. facility has partnered with JFSNJ since 1944.

Sandy Grazioso lost her sons Tim and John on Sept. 11, 2001. After serving as acting city manager at various stints overthe past four years, Clifton City Engineer Nick Villano was named City Manager on Sept. 21. Meet new CHS math teacherMelissa Ayers and the 2015 class president Meghan Sekanics. John Alexander a licensed LCSW, offered readers a timelywarning of the dangers of prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Renaissance Hall on Sept. 23, Berkeley College in Woodland Parkhosted the 6th annual Under the Tent event, an evening of jazz music, food and networking. From left: Tim Johnson,Erika Baldino, Natasha Householder, Joe Opalka, Jocelyn Russo), Nina Nardone, Linda Pinsky and Ed Kurbansade, Jr.



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Who would have thought that a quiet house onVreeland Ave. could be home to a major fraud out of

Turkey? Alper Calik, a 38-year-old resident of Clifton

from Ankara, Turkey, was arrested on Sept. 13 for run-

ning two fake companies that he used to do business

with the Department of Defense. He claimed to be mak-

ing parts in America for the military Amphibious Assault

Vehicle, when the parts were actually being made and

shipped from Turkey. The Federal Government paid him

approximately $50,000 for parts that were made incor-

rectly. He was also charged with mail fraud and for

downloading 100,000 technological military drawings

from Turkey, violating the Arms Export Control Act.

Ploch’s on Broad and Allwood to become a QuickChek? A proposal from the regional chain was present-

ed at the Sept. 17 zoning Board of Adjustment to convert

the retail location into a gas station and 5,500 square foot

convenience store. The hearings continue as residents

expressed concern about increased traffic, as the inter-

section at Broad St. and Allwood Rd. is already congest-

ed with limited space and various turns.

The Clifton City Council stated in a 4-1 vote to join

more than 20 other towns which are against the Passaic

Valley Water Commission’s (PVWC) plans to convert

Garret Mountain reservoirs to tank farms until the NJ

DEP has time to review the case. The cities of Paterson

and Passaic also endorsed similar resolutions. The proj-

ect includes the construction of two concrete water tanks

where the reservoirs are in order to make drinking water

easier to decontaminate. As the owners of the PVWC,

the position that Paterson, Passaic and Clifton opposi-

tion to the project is considered key.

Dawlat Matari-Asmar a RN and BSN at St. Joseph’s

Regional Medical Center received a $1,000 scholarship

from the NJ Association of Healthcare Recruiters. The

Clifton resident received the ‘Registered Nurse pursuing

an Advanced Degree in Nursing’ award while studying in

the MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner Degree program at

Rutgers School of Nursing in Newark.

Montclair State University and the City of Cliftonremained at odds regarding the proposed road MSU

wants to construct off Valley Rd. At a Sept. 19 hearing,

Mayor Jim Anzaldi said the $2 million project would

destroy a hillside of trees and vegetation and cause traf-

fic woes for residents of Montclair Heights.


Ever stop to think what makes Clifton a goodplace to live? For October, we polled residentsand asked that and other questions regardingquality of life in our city. Continuing the theme

with the question Why Clifton Works, we askedcandidates for municipal and county offices to explaintheir views regarding the city’s future. Made in Clifton,our on-going theme of celebrating manufacturing in ourcity, featured three international firms. And thanks tocandidate Joe Cupoli, readers found an American flagwrapped around the cover of our magazine.

October 2014 IN REVIEW

Among residents interviewed and polled for our October edition, from top left, Bob Noll, Karin Jara, Bob Fierro, JaneCutar, Lou DeStefano, Dana McCarrick, Tom Hawrylko Jr., Kim Renta, Kim Platt, Alam Abdelaziz, Beverly Lacsina,Marty Coleman, Rebecca Hennessy, Gary Sauerborn, Lucy Lee, Tom Szieber, Ken Ingwersen, Stacey Vercellino, FabianRodriguez, Alexis Budhi, Gary Perino, Jocelyn Lee, Justin Vercellino and Jeff Labriola.

The St. Phillip’s Knights of Columbus Council’s third

annual Colin Michael Jones Dinner, Tricky Tray and

Live Auction was held Oct. 18 in

the St. Phillip the Apostle

Auditorium on Valley Rd. Colin

suffers from Hypoxic Ischemic

Encephalopathy (HIE). Proceeds

will support his needs and expens-

es. As efforts to support Colin con-

tinue, visit colinmichaelfund.org.

Clifton was ranked 42nd among America’s top 50

cities to call home by 24/7 Wall St., an online financial

news and opinion company. Citing low crime rates,

employment growth, educational attainment and hous-

ing affordability, the publisher said the median house-

hold income ($64,662), unemployment rate (8.80 per-

cent), median home value ($325,900) and average com-

muter travel time (28.5 minutes) were key factors in its

ranking our hometown among the nation’s best cities

with populations less than 100,000 to live in.


Named for the late Fighting Mustang CoachJoe Grecco, the football field and track at

Clifton Stadium are now covered in artificial

turf and formally re-dedicated on Oct. 10. The

$3.4 million project had been approved in

January and in addition to the field, water lines,

electric lines and the north wall of the stadium

were moved, new sound and lighting systems

were installed. At right, Coach Grecco, Coach

Bill VanderCloster and former Mustangs in

2003 when the field was originally dedicated.

On Oct. 10 on Joe Greco field, BOE members past and present: Norm Tahan, Jim Smith, Jim Daley, Matt Ward, WayneDemikoff, Lizz Gagnon, Jim Leeshock, Paul Graupe and former Schools Superintendent Anthony Barbieri.


Bernie Kerik, the former Police

Commissioner of the City of New

York who at one time also served as

the warden at the Passaic County

Jail, was the featured speaker at the

Clifton Republican Club meeting

on Sept. 9 at VFW 7165 on Valley

Rd. He spoke on counter terrorism

issues and his role in 9/11 during his

tenure in NYC.

St. Phillip the Apostle’s Keys tothe Kingdom program concluded

on Oct. 12. A month prior, 5,000

colorful plastic keys were distrib-

uted to parishioners at the Valley

Rd. church who were then supposed

to attach them to their house or car

keys and pray each time they found

themselves touching the key. The

point of the exercise was to remind

parishioners of the spiritual connec-

tion, the social dynamic, and the

service that Catholicism calls its

adherents to offer to God. Created

by Father Joseph Garbarino and

other members of St. Phillip’s facul-

ty, the Keys to the Kingdom cam-

paign was an enormous success, and

generated much positive feedback

from its participants.

Former Clifton football coachJack Jones died in Ocean Grove at

age 77 on Oct. 27. From 1982-1984

he whipped Mustangs into shape

with his intense coaching methods

and effective pep talks. He had a 14-

2-2 record, losing to North Bergen

in the ‘84 State Championship

Playoffs. His philosophy was that

there were two coaching seasons:

one to win games, and one to win

scholarships. Twelve of his players

went to Division I schools, and two

made it to the NFL: Dave Szott of

CHS, and Stan Walters of St.

Mary’s. In a 2002 interview with the

Clifton Merchant, Jones said that

Clifton kids were the best he had in

a 42 year coaching career.

The 31st Clifton Firefighter &Civilian Awards presentation took

place on Oct. 28. Civilians Maria

Uquillas, Robert Berlanga and

Jamar Reid were cited and thanked

for their actions in assisting at the

site of a motor vehicle accident and

a house fire. Various poster contest

winners also received plaques.

CFD Capt. Phillip Cheski was

named Firefighter of the Year,

while FF Jeffrey Escalante was

named EMT of the Year.

October 2014 IN REVIEW

On Oct. 17, these trick-or-treaterswere having fun at the RainbowMontessori School on VarretoniPlace in Botany Village.

Skipper of the Red Napper andco-owner of R.F. Knapp Roofing,Richard Knapp, passed away onOct. 5. The firm he operated withhis brother Don is still serving ourcommunity as it was founded bytheir father Richard in 1960.

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Thanks to groups like the Boys & Girls Club,and the dedicated teachers and staff at localschools, our community offers some greatopportunities. The November edition is all

about great futures… how they often begin at the Boys& Girls Club and continue at CHS and other area highschools, where opportunities abound. You will also readabout our city’s veterans and get a peek at the fastapproaching holidays. That’s just a bit of what waswithin the 102-page-issue of our magazine!

November 2014 IN REVIEW

NJ Lottery officials reported that two, second-place, $1 million prizeswere won at two different stores in Clifton: Richfield Liquors on Clifton Ave.

and 7-Eleven on Main Ave. The odds are one in every 18 million tickets with

the second prize of $1 million being sold. Lottery officials cannot recall when

two of these tickets have ever been purchased in the same town in such a

short time frame. Perhaps another reason to move to Clifton?

Veterans Parade Grand MarshalJames V. Scancarello, JosephineVetanovetz recalled the service of herbrothers, John and Richie Cyran.Below, Nov. 9, on the parade route.

The Woodrow Wilson Middle School Roboticsteam, advised by teacher Laura Zagorski,

competed in the First Lego League qualifying tournament on Nov. 22

at CHS against 39 other teams from New Jersey.

They are the first WWMS team to

qualify for state finals.


Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 23served up an all-you-can-eat pasta,

meatballs, salad, bread and dessert

fundraising dinner on Nov 8.

Affiliated with St. Andrew’s RC

Church on School on Mt. Prospect

Ave., the money raised will help

fund the good deeds and camping

trips the groups enjoys doing.

Winning candidates: Lauren Murphy, James Anzaldi, PeterEagler, Bill Gibson, Joe Kolodziej, Steve Hatala, MattGrabowski, Lucy Danny, Judy Bassford, Arlene Agresti,Kristin Corrado, Bruce James, T.J. Best, Bill Pascrell.

Clifton football experienced a tough 1-9 season, leaving

some unanswered questions at season’s end. Under cur-

rent head coach Steve Covello, the Mustangs have gone

13-27 in four seasons and are just 7-23 since 2012. The

2014 season saw the Mustangs start 0-9 for the first time

ever (while getting outscored by 27 points per contest)

before earning a 20-14 victory over Passaic on

Thanksgiving. By year’s end, there was speculation as to

whether Covello and staff would be re-appointed, though

no public discussion been made at the Board of Education.

Clifton softball also began a stage of transition in June,

when coach Ron Shekitka stepped down after just two sea-

sons. After a 10-13 season that many saw as disappointing

considering the Mustangs had reached the Passaic County

final and the North 1, Group 4 final in 2013, Clifton began

a search for a new leader. But the BOE ended the calendar

year still searching for a coach. An appointment in

October ended up being held up, as the board member felt

it had not adequately considered enough candidates from

within. The Mustang softball parents and fans are anxious

as their team begins winter training without a coach.

Mr. Morris Canal Park,Jack W. Kuepfer Sr.,

died on Nov. 14. Some 30 years ago,

with the help of CliftonBoy Scouts, he createdMorris Canal Park on

Broad St. In 2014, it wasrenamed in his honor

for his three decades ofcontinuous volunteer service there. A WWII US Army Air Corps vet,the 94-year-old was a past NJ State AmericanLegion commander, pastcommander of Clifton’sPost 8 and a member ofAllwood VFW Post 6487.

November 2014 IN REVIEW


Musical Mustangs, fathers and sons of theChopin Singing Society and tales offamily holiday traditions and how weprepare for Christmas, Hanukkah and the

New Year… Great photos from the Fighting Mustangswin (finally!!!) on Turkey Day at Boverini Stadium inPassaic and a winter sports season preview. Plus twomembers of the CHS Class of 1945 impart a historylesson as they recall that day of infamy, December 7,1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

December 2014 IN REVIEW

The Manganiotis family, John Sr.and his son Johnny, like sharing.On Dec. 23, they presented 21$100 Target gift cards to 21 kidsfrom the Boys & Girls Club ofClifton. The kids were able toshop for themselves, familiesand friends. Founders of Mr.Cupcakes on Van Houten Ave.the father and son are milliondollar NJ Lottery Mega Millionswinners in a Nov. 4 drawing.

For 44 Christmas Eves, Tom Insigna (at right) has been the

chief elf for the annual daylong Christmas Eve circuit we call

the “Tour de Clifton.” The retired roofer has been waving

from atop his float (donated by Bond Parade Floats on Clifton

Blvd.) since the tradition began in 1970. But this year the 74-

year old passed on the reins to Patrick Doremus, a jolly 46-

year-old volunteer who is also a DPW employee. “We put on

50, maybe 60 miles that day and night, slowly through town,

and I wave and I say hello,” Insigna explained in a profile in

last December’s Clifton Merchant. “It’s easy and it’s fun.

Actually, it’s real easy because it’s so much fun.” He and his

wife Linda, a retired nurse, spent 43 years on Dumont Ave, but

recently moved to Woodland Park. His new residency, we are

told, had nothing to do with his retirement from the float.


December 2014 IN REVIEW

Spencer Savings Bank’s November food drive amassed 1,000 poundsof goods to be distributed to needy families through the CrossroadsCultural Center on Piaget Ave. Pictured above Anita Guerrero ofSpencer; Volunteer Heydayattullah Rahanishen, Janel Bazih ofSpencer, Crossroads Executive Director Dr. William Kirchhofer.

Dec. 11 was Deputy Fire Chief Norm Tahan’s final day on the job.After 35 years of fire service, and stints on the BOE and city boards,the always colorful Albion resident (facing page) said he expects tospend time scuba diving before travelling abroad. He also said he’llbe gassing up his RV and seeing the contiguous 48 United States.

For the fourth consecutive year, members of St. John’s LutheranChurch on Broad St. donated about 100 hand-knitted hats and mit-tens to Spencer Savings Bank children at the North Jersey ElksDevelopmental Disabilities Agency (NJEDDA) on Main Ave.Pictured with the kids on Dec. 19 are Irene Darby and BarbaraAnstadt from St. John’s who coordinated the effort and knitted manyof the donated items. The day before on Dec. 18, the men and womenof UPS (pictured at left) visited NJEDDA dressed as Santa and Elvesto distribute toys to the children in the elementary school.

Brian Eromenok is Clifton’s Honey. Just

ask his wife Cindy. The couple actually pro-

duces award winning honey cultivated here in

town, as we reported in December. For details

on their products, call 973-340-2960 or write

to them at [email protected].

On Dec. 14, the Bethlehem Peace Light, asymbol of peace, warmth and love, made itsway to St. Nicholas Ukrainian CatholicChurch. Every year, Austrian scouts beginthe relay and fly it to Vienna, Austria. Fromthere, scouts of many nationalities transportthe Light across Europe and then to NewYork, where it is transferred to lanterns ofscouts in the US. In a ceremony that takesplace at Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at JFKAirport, the Peace light is then sent acrossour continent, and these scouts brought it toPresident St. in hopes it would bring atten-tion to the turmoil happening in Ukraine.

A Christmas Day airing of ‘TheInterview’ at the Allwood Theater onMarket St. made national news.Patrons got a scare when the lightswent out at the most crucial part of themovie — Kim Jong Un’s death. Thecoincidental power outage recalledNorth Korea’s threat of retaliationagainst the release of the movie.

Clifton musician Donny Mueller died on Dec. 16 at age 56from pancreatic cancer. Donny grew up in Clifton, went to

CHS and played bass for the ‘Flying Mueller Brothers Band,’

which he and his brothers William, Carl, and childhood friend

Ace Toye started in 1997. Donny was well known for being

the spirited acrobat of the group, often riding his unicycle dur-

ing performances. Pictured at right are Carl, Billy and Donny.

Former Clifton Board of Education CommissionerWayne Demikoff filed an appeal on Jan. 2, protesting a rul-

ing by the Passaic County Superintendent of Elections that

he no longer qualified as a registered voter of the city, there-

fore could not serve on the BOE. Demikoff, who served on

the board for 17 years, purchased a house in Morris County

in August. He continued to lease a house in Clifton but list-

ed the Morris County address on his driver’s license.

Demikoff resigned last month after the ruling by the

Superintendent. A call for applicants to apply for the seat

was made by Interim Executive Passaic County

Superintendent of Schools Robert Davis who will name the

replacement by mid-January, despite Demikoff’s appeal.



Numbers say that the national economy is turningaround. Times are also looking upbeat in Clifton.Several key projects are in the works that will keep the

local economy vibrant. One of our city’s centerpiece

projects is the redevelopment of the Roche campus that

currently straddles the Clifton/Nutley border.

As environmental remediation looks

to wrap up by end of 2015, more

attention has been focused on the

sale of the campus and the direction

of the development project. Roche

officials announced in November that

the company plans to announce the sale of the campus to

a qualified developer within the next few months.

With a 102-acre main campus on Route 3, a nine-acre

side campus off Kingsland Ave. and one acre that is inac-

cessible, the Roche campus is prime real estate.

Real estate fronting Route 3 is selling for $2 to $3 mil-

lion per acre, so Roche can expect to receive $225 to

$300 million for the space that was once the company’s

US headquarters. And Clifton will gain the tax points.

Roche has worked closely with a joint committee of

representatives from Clifton and Nutley, headed by the

municipalities’ two mayors. Environmental clean up,

redevelopment options, zoning variances, traffic studies

have been considered by the committee in an effort to

meet the interests of Roche, the communities and any

potential buyer.

The campus is zoned for manufacturing

and distribution. Clifton’s City Council

voted and has held firm to the decision

that the campus should not be sold to a

developer that wants to bring in more retail

or more housing, and Roche has agreed

Clifton is looking for the new owners to bring in jobs

that are professional, not just minimum wage service

jobs. The city wants good tax revenue, good news for

residents, who should also see home values rise.

In January 2014, several proposals were presented,

revamped and since June, potential buyers interviewed.

As soon as the title is transferred, Clifton wants the rede-

velopment project to be completed within five years.

Nutley Clifton

Proposals for the 112-acre campus could create15,000 jobs, surpassing the Roche peak of 8,500,plus provide more than $20 million in tax revenue tothe two municipalities. All that is needed is time ...

Two Towns.

Two Counties.

Will it cometogether in

2015?

Project Watch

2015


Some changes can’t come soon enough. Those whohave tried the suicide dash during rush hour— start

in the left lane of Route 46 westbound, careen across

the merge point with Route 3 into the far right lane to

get onto the exit for Notch Road — will fist pump a

“hurrah” for the changes proposed to Clifton’s notori-

ous noodle bowl of accidents and traffic jams.

Throughout North Jersey, evening commuters tuning

into traffic reports have all heard the familiar “Route 3 in

Clifton backed up for two miles at the Route 46 merge.”

Citing “chronic bottlenecks” at the merge locations,

the NJ DOT will begin a two-part, $200 million construc-

tion project this Spring. The first phase is scheduled to be

completed by late Summer 2017. The second phase

should begin in 2018 and be completed in 2021.

Clifton, along with Little Falls and Woodland Park,

will see long rows of construction cones as plans include

modifications to Routes 3 and 46, as well as to Notch,

Rifle Camp and Valley roads.

The new designs call for adding shoulders and access

lanes, a redesign of the Valley Rd. jughandle and

increasing the number of lanes on Route 3 westbound

from two to three. Eastbound Route 46 drivers will no

longer veer off to the left. Instead, cars will be directed

to exit to the right, up a new overpass that will rise above

Route 3. DOT plans include updated and improved sig-

nage. That all sounds good. Let the construction begin.

Ken Gensinger, Jr. (left) of Gensinger Motors and JohnFette of Fette Auto believe that the new configurationon Routes 3 and 46 will provide better access to theircar dealerships and ultimately be good business forresidents and businesses alike.

Project Watch

2015 Break the

Bottleneck.

A vacant eyesore for over a decade nearthe intersection of Piaget and MainAves., this former Goodyear building

across from Main Memorial Park may

actually be renovated this year.

Clifton Economic Development

Director Harry Swanson said the illustra-

tion at the right was submitted to city offi-

cials late last year. The plan calls for this

long vacant structure to be completely renovated and

built out to four suites for medical services.

From chiropractic and physical therapy centers to

facilities for dentists and doctors, Swanson said the

growth of the medical profession continue to be an area

of investment and expansion in almost every commercial

district of our city.

Swanson is the city’s go-to-guy for firms and individ-

uals looking to invest or expand in any of the city’s

neighborhoods. For info, call him at 973-470-5200.

Project Watch

2015

The harsh winter of 2013 left many Clifton streetspeppered with potholes. To address those miles of

repairs or on some streets, complete reconstruction, the

city began a three phase paving program.

That work began last spring and continued through the

year until the November frost. City Manager Nick

Villano said the third phase will begin this spring.

“Due to the number of roadways, and possible conflict

with ongoing utility work from PSE&G and PVWC, we

phased this paving program into three parts,” he said.

Villano provided a list of streets and avenues where

the work will continue in the spring. They include:

Ellsworth, from Rowland to Scoles; Penobscot, from

Colfax to Van Houten; Ward, from Passaic to Colin;

Shafto Street from Martin to Bloomfield; Howard, from

Willet to Dick; Starmond, from Van Houten to

Sunnycrest; Ardmore, from Route 3 to dead end; Colin,

from Route 3 to dead end; Frances, from Main to Linden;

Industrial South from Industrial East to Industrial West;

Industrial East from Bloomfield to Industrial South;

Industrial West from Bloomfield to Industrial South;

Sunnycrest, from Clifton to Pershing; Cedar Place from

Delawanna to Williams; Linden, from Williams to

Delawanna; Styertowne Road from Industrial West to

Dead End; Conkin Drive to Route 46 to Tamboer;

MacArthur Drive from Grove to cul de sac; Allwood

Place from Dwas Line to Phyllis; Edgewood, from Dwas

Line to Passaic; Myrtle, from Pavan to Pavan; Laurel,

from Garfield to Woodward.

Villano added that the $5 million Bonsal Sewer

Improvement project, will begin this year and that

Patricia Place sewer improvements, presently under

design, will also be advertised for bids this month.

What is planned for the next fiscal year? “Additional

capital projects will also be discussed with the Bond

Committee in January,” he concluded.



Project Watch

2015

Downtown New Jersey called her 2014’s Individualof Excellence. The advocacy group got it right about

the affable and outgoing Deborah Hoffman, Passaic

County’s Director of Economic

Development. She is also a good

friend of Clifton as she works

with companies seeking to relo-

cate to or expand in our town or

the county. Since 2000, she

secured over $1.6 billion in

financing, held 78 business sem-

inars and secured $21 million in

grants. Call 973-569-4720.

Other go-to groups include Downtown Clifton, which

oversees the Downtown Clifton Special Improvement

District (SID). Businesses along Main Ave. from the

Passaic border to Piaget Ave. pay an extra tax matched by

city funds. The money is then reinvested in the district in

promotion, signage and events. Call Angela Montague

at 973-253-1455 or visit downtownclifton.com.

Historic Botany Village has its own SID as well.

Businesses in Clifton’s oldest neighborhood, as well as

the new Botany Plaza and some homeowners, con-

tribute to this fund, which supports and funds various

programs in Botany. Contact the Joe Nikischer of the

Clifton Historic Botany District (CHBD) by phone at

609-731-5454, or go to historicbotany.com

Once there was Yakety Yak. Then Charlie Browns.Next Grimaldi’s Restaurant. Now again, it is vacant.

The good news is the new owners of the property are

the innovative proprietors of Powerflow Yoga, the

LePore family. While not saying exactly what is planned

for the large dining and night club site on Van Houten

Ave., various rumors persist.

The most often heard is that plans are being considered

to create a brew pub or microbrewery. The location

would likely work. There is plenty of on-site parking and

lots of floor space in this massive vacant structure.

Focused on quality, flavor and brewing technique, an

independent brew pub would make a welcome addition

to our community’s dining scene.

Since opening and renovating the former office space

which was next door to accommodate hot yoga classes,

the owners of Powerflow, now with 10 locations in north-

ern New Jersey, have demolished another on-site struc-

ture that was a hair salon to provide additional parking.


A proverbial silver lining to the dark cloud of therecent recession, noted Mario Casabona, founder and

CEO of TechLaunch, is that “some of the best, most

successful entrepreneurs come out of a recession.”

“Think about it,” he continued, “when the economy

is good, people get a job. When there is a recession,

people are forced to create their own jobs. The macro

environment forces a response, brings out the entrepre-

neurial instinct.”

Casabona adds that recent studies have shown that

since 2008-2009, there has been a marked uptick in

startup businesses in the US economy and half-joking-

ly worries that too much of an economic improvement

will deflate the number of these fledging ventures.

After all, the main goal of TechLaunch is to identify

and encourage entrepreneurial ideas and transform

them into successful enterprises

Located in an office building on Valley Rd. across

from Gensinger Motors, TechLaunch, founded in 2012,

is New Jersey’s, premier technology accelerator, and

one of only a few technology accelerators in the nation.

Business incubators have been around for years,

often directed and managed by government or universi-

ty entities. Among the distinguishing characteristics of

TechLaunch is that this accelerator is investor-led,

managed by those who have “skin in the game”, with a

primary focus on technology-related ventures and

offering an intensive and comprehensive training and

mentoring strategy that increase the chances of success.

When establishing the accelerator, Casabona assem-

bled partners that include Montclair State University,

the New Jersey Economic Development Agency, the

technology investors umbrella group JumpStart NJ

Angel Networks, as well as a wide circle of profession-

als that act as advisors and mentors to the business ven-

tures chosen by TechLaunch.

Since 2012, TechLaunch has sponsored three cohorts

of aspiring entrepreneurs, 26 businesses total. For the

past three years, a call for applications came out in

January and each cohort would then begin an intensive

16-week program of workshops, planning, and product

development.

CasabonaAngel Investor of TechLaunch‘Work hard to realize your dream... convince

others to believe in your dream along with you’

Mario

By Irene Jarosewich


Making it to Boot CampAt the end of the four months, at an event known as

Demo Day, each business makes a presentation of their

product and business plan before an audience of

investors, academics, and technology experts, seeking

both feedback and funding.

“We have a three-tier screening process,” said

Casabona, “and what we look for is a great idea, an

awesome team, the willingness of the startup team to

participate in our 16-week technical boot camp known

as LaunchPad, which is a very intensive period of train-

ing about how to develop a product, develop a plan, run

a business, seek funding, sales and marketing. There

are times that they work 24/7. Our focus is on tech and

our focus is on New Jersey, although we do accept

applicants from all over.”

Regardless of the idea, all those accepted into the

program receive the same package whether they are a

young college dropout with a great mobile app idea or

career-changing PhD seeking to fulfill a dream.

Every startup must develop a prototype, attend

weekly workshops, practice presentation pitches, and is

given access to co-working space and daily guidance

from potential investors and mentors.

The mentors, according to Casabona, are a key part

of the program, legal, technical, financial experts and

investors that help the teams. Potential mentors are

screened by Casabona and his team, and he often brings

in colleagues from his extensive experience in New

Jersey’s business and technology environment.

The value of all the advice and services received

through TechLaunch, Casabona estimates, if they had

to pay for it, would cost each start up between $50,000

to $100,000 dollars.

Funding is Initial Step to SuccessIn return, TechLaunch assumes a fixed equity posi-

tion in the startups of 8% and a team of investors

assembled by the firm provides initial funding. Since

the program is only in its third year, Casabona believes

that it is premature to claim success or failure of each

venture, although there are certain metrics the program

uses as benchmarks.

“When a venture receives follow on funding in addi-

tion to that which we provided, that’s a marker of suc-

cess,” explained Casabona. “Generating revenue is

another. The final marker of success is being acquired

by another firm.”


TechLaunch

Caktus, one of the firms from the second cohort held

during the spring of 2013, included a group of four

young techies from Finland that relocated temporarily

to New Jersey to participate in the TechLaunch acceler-

ator program.

Busy schedules tend to make people forget to drink

water, causing chronic dehydrating that can cause prob-

lems from decreased mental and physical performance

to more extreme issues such as kidney stones.

Caktus (caktus.me) developed The Hug, a hybrid

hardware/software solution that automatically tracks

drinking frequency through an iOS device, and helps

people feel, perform, and live better by coaching them

towards better levels of hydration.

In February 2014, the company received $200,000

of follow on funding from a European venture capital

firm and launched their product at a tech fair in

Barcelona.

Inbox Messenger (inboxtheapp.com) is another suc-

cess story that is soaring. A mobile messaging applica-

tion that got its start at Fairleigh Dickinson University,

this group was in the second round of funded firms of

LaunchPad in 2013. Inbox Messenger founders

received a terrific Christmas present this past

December: a $3.9 million investment (inclusive of an

earlier investment of $1.1 million) from a group of

anonymous angel investors.

Pervasive Group, Inc. (mmguardian.com), which

joined the first cohort in 2012, has developed a parental

control app for smartphones and tablets. Called

MMGuardian™, the app helps parents locate their chil-

dren and remotely control and protect them from the

dangers of texting while driving, teen cyber-bullying,

sexting, and overuse of the phone during school or

study hours. The app is available in beta on Google

Play for Android devices. The group has attracted fol-

low on funding and has started to generate revenue.

Failure Always an Option...For LearningNot all startups can become successes and Casabona

underscores that the experience of failure can be very

valuable.

“While we want all our ventures to succeed, whether

an entrepreneur becomes successful or fails, whether

the decision is to then start a new venture or use entre-

preneurial skills in a corporate environment, anyone

who is gone through an entrepreneurial experience is

more productive and valuable, more creative.”

Casabona speaks from firsthand knowledge. A techie

and an entrepreneur who established and grew his own

corporation, he calculates his experience not just in

years, but “in decades.”

Born in Italy, Casabona came to America with his

parents as a child. He grew up in nearby Bloomfield

and obtained a degree in electrical engineering from

Fairleigh Dickinson University.


Dariusz Jamiolkowski knew he was onto to some-thing one Sunday morning as he left church with his

wife and children. “We had strapped a tandem kayak

onto the roof of the car since we planned to take the kids

out on the water. Several people came up and said ‘you

know, I’d really love to do that with my kids, but can’t

see spending $900 for a kayak ‘or ‘that looks like fun,

but I have no place to store this kind of equipment’.”

As an outdoor enthusiast, Dariusz understood these

concerns. As a dad, he faced a future of buying bicycles,

snowboards, tents, canoes. “People want the experience,

but they hold back because of the burden of ownership

– the cost and space required for storage,” he noted.

Thus was born a business model that would find its

way to the proving ground of TechLaunch.

Although equipment lease and rental options exist,

for example skis or watercraft, Jamiolkowski and his

partners, Sebastian Niezgoda, Roman Jaworuk, and J.J.

Chojnowski had a different angle: provide a variety of

equipment, both winter and summer sports, under one

roof. Instead of going to several places and renting by

the hour, provide one annual subscription to lease what-

ever you want, whenever you want. Outdoor Exchange

(usetheox.com) was established with the first location in

Fair Lawn.

The four founders, all in their mid-30s, all Jersey

boys and all friends from childhood, college, or previ-

ous jobs, went through the most recent cohort of

TechLaunch together. The venture has had a successful

start up. Outdoor Exchange began to generate revenue

this past fall, and attracted 250 subscribers.

As part of their marketing strategy, the founders of

Outdoor Exchange are focusing on a younger customer,

those who do not yet own.

“Our economy is transitioning from the concept of

possession to experience and sharing – vendors such as

Uber and Air BnB. Our strategy is to take advantage of

this shift and provide the tools to give you a good expe-

rience,” said Jamiolkowski. An additional perk of the

annual subscription is shipment of rentals. No need to

haul all your camping equipment onto a plane: Outdoor

Exchange will arrange to ship to your destination.

Current markets include those living in apartments

with no storage, parents who do not want to, or cannot

afford to, pay thousands of dollars for equipment.

“Our basic message is this,” said Jamiolkowski “we

want to help people get into the outdoors, enjoy recre-

ation without breaking the bank.”

The Uber for Outdoorsy

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TechLaunch

In 1982, he established an R/D firm, ERI,

based in Fairfield and Totowa, to develop

specialized radar, navigation and communi-

cations technologies. The firm was acquired

by Honeywell International in 2004 and in

2007, he set up the venture capital and busi-

ness incubator Casabona Ventures.

Named as one of New Jersey’s top five

most Influential People in Technology by the

Star Ledger in 2014, Casabona has been the

recipient of numerous awards. In 2013 the

New Jersey Technology Council named him

a Legend of Technology and in April 2014,

he was recognized for his entrepreneurial

skills and commitment to startup ventures by

the New Jersey Business Incubator Network.

One of the awards of which he is most

proud is the one received on December 9. He was

named the 2014 NJ Immigrant Entrepreneur of the

Year, granted at a ceremony hosted by a coalition of

New Jersey business and trade groups.

He explains why the accolade meant so much to

him: “My parents taught me to work hard, and then

work hard again. My experience is proof of the great

opportunities this country offers immigrants.”

An advocate for higher education, Casabona serves

on the advisory board of the Stevens Institute of

Technology Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship;

at his alma mater, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s

Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, as well

as Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business;

and Montclair State University’s College of Science

and Mathematics.

Casabona is bullish on Clifton’s location as a magnet

for tech ventures. “Our location is only 12 miles direct-

ly west of New York, a major international city.” Along

with California, New Jersey is a leading tech develop-

ment state.

Do You Want to Apply?TechLaunch has put out a call for applications for the

incubator’s fourth cohort of participants as it continues

to mentor the 26 ventures from the first three cohorts.

“As tough as our 16-week LaunchPad program is,”

stated Casabona, “I tell all the founders that once you

leave TechLaunch, your hard work is just beginning.

The hardest part is raising funds. You have to work hard

to realize your dream and you have to convince others

to believe in your dream along with you.”

Application details at techlaunch.com.

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At TechLaunch offices on Valley Rd., from left: Operations ManagerJoshua Trojak, Ralph Mattiaccio, Christopher Coppola, MarioCasabona and Program Manager Piera Accumanno.


Some solutions to problems are so obviousyou are tempted to wonder why nobody else

thought of it first. That was the feeling that co-

founders Ralph Mattiaccio, president, and

Christopher Coppola, CEO, had when they began to

plan their start-up SHIELDtech (shieldtechinc.com).

In their mid-20s, both men completed their master’s

degrees at Stevens Institute of Technology in nearby

Hoboken: Mattiaccio in computer science and Coppola

in mechanical engineering. Stevens is where they met

and first became friends and later roommates.

Coppola was a teaching assistant while completing

his degree, a position that included many late nights.

One dark evening as he was walking home to their

apartment, an idea hit him while he was fiddling with

his keys. “Although, in general, I felt safe walking

home, it was dark and somewhat isolated and I thought

to myself ‘what if I suddenly felt threatened, how would

I react?’”

He realized that he would not have time to pull out

his phone to call for help and yelling might not work.

Because his keys were in his pocket and close on hand,

some kind of fob for his key chain to send out an alert

signal would be more useful.

“Chris walked into the apartment,” said Mattiaccio,

“and told me he had a great idea. I was used to him com-

ing in with great ideas, but after some discussion and a

little time, the shortcomings of these ideas became

clear.”

“However,” interjected Coppola, “this time he lis-

tened. And he looked serious. He asked good questions.

And he said he liked it. And that’s when I knew we were

on to something.”

Student security is a major concern for campuses

throughout the nation. Over the decades, various solu-

tions have been put into practice, everything from

increased lighting and security patrols, to guarded

entrances and cameras. On many urban campuses, stu-

dents were told to carry whistles and mace when walk-

ing alone late at night. Yet the recent increase in assaults

on campus underscores the persistence of the problem.

Coppola’s idea was to use wireless technology and

produce a small device capable of sending a distress sig-

nal. After some research and planning, the basic bones of

the product were established: a fob, that can be attached

to a key chain or simply placed in a pocket, when

pressed, would connect with an app on the user’s phone

via a Bluetooth connection, and in turn, the phone would

transmit a signal to campus police identifying student

and location of distress.

This wireless alert process is called the

SHIELDsystem composed of the SHIELDkey (panic

button), the SHIELDapp (loaded onto user’s phone that

provides vital information), and the SHIELDdash (an

alert screen that appears on campus police computers).

Mattiaccio knew about TechLaunch. He and Coppola

put in their proposal to be considered. Their project was

accepted and they were part of the most recent cohort to

have completed the program. Currently, SHIELDtech

has a provisional patent on their system and the young

entrepreneurs are seeking campuses in New York and

New Jersey to test their product.

Old

NewSolution

Problem


WeldingElectronicsPlumbing

Maintenance

CareerChange?Start inPaterson

Training forthe Trades

at HoHoKusSchool

Clifton Careers

Four years ago, MattMalaszuk was working a dead

end job for a steel company.

Then one day he decided to

invest in himself.

Not that Malaszuk, now 28,

was not always ambitious. In

fact, the 2004 CHS grad has

always juggled more than one

job, going back to the days

when he was in high school.

Even today, Malaszuk hus-

tles; not standing pat with just

his day job at the Clifton DPW

that requires him to be at work 7 am every morning.

However, some things are different for Malaszuk

these days. Today he is his own man.

Ironically, it all started for him while working that

dead end job. There, he met a guy who told him about an

opening with another company; Kason Corp. in

Millburn.

But its not like Malaszuk was living out his dream at

Kason either. “I started there in February 2011,” recalled

Malaszuk, who lives in Dutch Hill with his siblings and

parents. “I was working in assembly, but I was sort of a

floater. I really did whatever they needed.”

Then one day one of the guys working there, a welder,

was laid off. Malaszuk told his boss he wanted to weld.

“He told me I needed schooling for that,” he said. “At

first I thought the company was going to pay for it, but I

ended up having to pay for

the school myself.”

Malaszuk scoured the

internet for welding schools.

That’s when he found one

right in his own back yard;

HoHoKus School of Trade

in Paterson.

“Location and availabili-

ty of classes made it the best

choice for me,” he

explained. “I took classes at

night so I could keep work-

ing my day job.”

Starting a Small BusinessMalaszuk, who had also been working for Clifton

Recreation part-time since he was 16, finished the course

work within a year. No more was Malaszuk just a

“floater,” now he was a welder. But when he was just

short of two years at the company, there was another

‘downsizing’ and Malaszuk was laid off.

“When I was laid off in Feb. 2013, I didn’t want to

start another dead end job,” he said, although he needed

to work. So Malaszuk applied for and got a job as a

laborer in recycling for Clifton DPW, and at the same

time, decided to start his own business. He liquidated

the rest of his assets, including his 401k retirement sav-

ings, and took his money to buy the necessary equip-

ment and start a small engine repair business.

By Domenick Reda

Every day when Malaszuk finish-

es at 3:30 pm at the DPW, he goes to

his own business and helps his fel-

low Cliftonites save money by

repairing their lawn and landscaping

equipment. When Malaszuk attend-

ed classes at HoHoKus School of

Trade & Technical Sciences, he

knew he made the right choice.

“When I started taking the class-

es, I was impressed by the science

behind it,” he said. “The teachers

explained it more in depth, which

makes it much

easier to compre-

hend how it

works. Going to

the school has

opened so many doors

for me.”

Among the doors opened for

Malaszuk is one that says

Stronghold Welding LLC, the name

of the company he has started.

“I had to use much of the remain-

der of my savings, but it was worth

it,” he explained. “I love the free-

dom. It’s a one-on-one business.

You can run things the way you

want to.”

Other, More Dangerous, OptionsMalaszuk originally wanted to

take on a much more dangerous

form of his trade known as under-

water welding that entails working

on oil rigs and naval ships.

“With underwater welding they

say you either retire or die within

five years,” Malaszuk grimaced.

Underwater welding dangers

include exposure to deadly gasses,

the possibility of explosion or elec-

tric shock and attack from marine

mammals.

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Clifton Careers

Still if not for cost and location

of training, Malaszuk was going to

pursue underwater welding. “I still

might,” he said.

Both Hobby and BusinessMalaszuk’s story is like many

others who have found their unique

niche through a trade school.

Daniel Blesing has always

enjoyed working on motorcycles.

“It’s a hobby of mine,” said

Blesing, 34, who works with his

uncle John Blesing who owns

Blesing’s Hardwood Flooring on

Sebago St.

Blesing, like Malaszuk, has cho-

sen to attend HoHoKus Trade

School as a part-time student. He

began taking courses in April and is

set to graduate this May. “I’m on

the road all day doing estimates for

my uncle,” Blesing said. “I get out

of work and look forward to going

to school. I love it.”

Blesing is also looking forward

to plying his trade once he finishes

school. “I do a lot of repair work on

bikes,” said Blesing, who hopes to

turn his hobby into a career. “It’s

hard to find someone who welds

aluminum.”

Blesing, a ‘98 CHS grad, grew

up in Dutch Hill, moved to Florida

with his family when he was a kid,

but came back to Clifton for his

junior year. “Florida was not for

me, so I came back to Clifton,”

Blesing said. “I’m a Jersey boy.”

Like the Hands-onNelson Castro, 20, started school

at HoHoKus in 2013 and graduated in

August, 2014. Unlike Malaszuk and

Blesing, Castro took courses in the

electrician apprenticeship program. “I

helped my father with some wiring

recently,” Castro explained. “He

showed me a lot, and it gave me the

idea that this might be something I

would like to do as a career.”

Now Castro, a 2013 graduate of

Passaic County Technical Institute,

is working as an apprentice for Rab

Lighting in Northvale, which was

set up through the school.

“I liked it because it was hands-

on,” said Castro, who lives on

Emerson St. “They throw us right

into the fire so to speak. The first

week of class the teacher had us

wire up a garage. It was like a real

life situation.”

Castro grew up in Paterson,

moved to Clifton when he was 15.

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As far back as he can remember, it was the one thing he

always wanted to do. Last November, that childhood

dream continued to unfold as Berdnik was re-elected to

his second three-year term as Passaic County sheriff,

continuing his distinguished 33-year career as a public

servant in the field of law enforcement.

Sheriff Berdnik’s story does not begin with winning

his first term in November 2010, or with joining the

Clifton Police Department in 1982, or with graduation

from CHS in 1978, or with his childhood years in

Dutch Hill and Richfield, or with his birth at Passaic

General Hospital in 1959.

For Berdnik, his story begins with the epic journey

of his parents, Bernice and Bazil, both born in Poland,

both of whom survived the brutal, hard-labor camps of

Siberia during the madness of World War II and both of

whom found passage to America, where they met and

married and built a strong life for their family.

Bazil, a soldier in the Polish army, fought in the

bloody Battle of Monte Cassino, a six-month military

campaign to liberate Rome in 1944. However, soon after,

he was forcible taken to a Siberia by Russian soldiers.

Bernice’s family owned a farm in a village near the

city of Lviv (then referred to as Lwów). During the war,

Soviet troops came to their door at 2 am, ostensibly to

move the family to a safe haven.

Instead, Bernice and her family were loaded onto a

train only to discover that, against their will, they were

being taken to a hard-labor camp in Siberia . They would

never again see their farm. Bernice, then 11, and younger

brother Anthony survived, but her parents and an older

brother did not.

Growing up in Dutch Hill, Richard Berdnikaspired to be a police officer

33 BEHIND THE

ADGEYEARS

Story by Michael C. Gabriele • Photo by Bill Van Eck


After the war, Bernice and her

brother were helped by Polish char-

ity organizations that assisted chil-

dren in distress. They lived in vari-

ous orphanages, traveling through

India and Mexico, before eventually

landing in New York City. She and

Bazil met through mutual friends.

They married and moved to Clifton.

Berdnik was visibly moved while

recounting this tale during an inter-

view last month at his office in

Wayne. “My parents used to tell me

these stories,” he said. “They want-

ed me to know what they went

through. It makes you appreciate all

that we have in this country.”

Berdnik’s mother is still alive; his

father passed away shortly before

Berdnik first became sheriff.

His parent’s arduous journey to

America resonates when Berdnik

speaks with pride about his Polish

heritage and his selection as Grand

Marshal of the 2014 Pulaski Day

Parade in New York City. The

parade up Fifth Avenue in

Manhattan on Oct. 5 commemorat-

ed the 70th anniversary of Battle of

Monte Cassino along with the 70th

Anniversary of Warsaw Uprising, as

well as the recent canonization of

Pope John Paul II, who was of

Polish descent.

Berdnik also represented Passaic

County in the 2011 parade. Joining

Berdnik at the 2011 parade was his

daughter, Ashley, who was selected

as “Miss Polonia” to represent

Passaic County’s Central of Polish

Organizations.

“Being in these parades was quite

an honor for me,” he said. “I don’t

think my parents could have ever

dreamed that their son would be the

Grand Marshal of the Pulaski Day

Parade in New York City.”

On The JobThe sheriff and his staff are

responsible for managing the county

jail (in Paterson), providing security

at county buildings, issuing arrest

warrants, coordinating roadway

patrols, bomb squads and HazMat

teams, and conducting crime-scene

investigations. Nowadays, dealing

with the growing epidemic of hero-

in addiction is the top challenge.

Area and national newspapers

have written extensively about the

escalating heroin crisis, which came

into focus early last year with the

tragic overdose death of Hollywood

actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

News accounts describe the New

Jersey/New York metropolitan area

as a strategic distribution hub for

illegal drugs.

A page-one story the Dec. 14 edi-

tion of The Star-Ledger reported

that in 2013 there were 741 heroin-

related deaths in the Garden State,

compared with 287 deaths in 2010.

However, despite the disturbing

trends, the story did point out


Sheriff Berdnik

that law enforcement agencies throughout the state

steadily have increased heroin seizures and drug-related

arrests. For example, last November, a drug ring that

operated two heroin mills in Paterson was busted. A wire

service report said the mills had sold $1 million in drugs

over a three-month period.

Drugs Know No BordersBerdnik lamented that, in recent years, heroin has

become an insidious, “affordable addiction.” Street-level

drug dealing has skyrocketed as the new wave

of heroin is stronger, less expensive and more

readily available, he explained. Heroin stash

houses exist throughout northern New

Jersey—even in Clifton. For many, using this

more-pure form of heroin has become the cur-

rent drug of choice, replacing “crack”

cocaine, which was prevalent 10 years ago.

“Drugs know no borders,” Berdnik said.

“People from other states come to New Jersey

to buy heroin. Drug addiction is a disease. It’s

in the cities and it’s in the suburbs. It’s out

there and people need to be aware of it.”

One factor in the recent sharp rise in hero-

in use has been the popularity of opioid pre-

scription pain medications, such as oxy-

codone. According to Berdnik, the abuse of

these legal drugs is often the initial hook for the curious

consumer—the link that leads to more widespread addic-

tion.

“We have an aggressive narcotics unit,” Berdnik

declared, acknowledging the mounting challenges. “My

motto is that we arrest one drug dealer at a time.”

His office works in tandem with state and local police,

as well as with Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M.

Valdes, sharing intelligence and harmonizing law

enforcement tactics to thwart organized drug rings that

sell and distribute the heroin.

This year the sheriff’s department will roll out a lead-

ing-edge program to treat heroin overdoses. Officers will

be trained and certified to administer Narcan, the com-

mercial brand name for the drug naloxone, which works

as a life-saving antidote for victims of a heroin overdose.

Narcan, given via injection or aerosol, blocks the damag-

ing effects of heroin in the brain—an inter-

vention that temporarily stabilizes the victim

and provides critical minutes to get the per-

son to a medical center for more extensive

treatment.

Other counties throughout New Jersey

also have started implementing the use of

Narcan, which was approved by state legisla-

tors in the 2013 Opioid Antidote and

Overdose Prevention Act and endorsed as a

“Good Samaritan” law.

Given these efforts to confront drug addic-

tion, Berdnik conceded his office, like other

state law enforcement agencies, works under

tight budget constraints and limited

resources. “We prioritize and provide the

services we can,” he said. “We try to be inno-

vative. Education is the key. The more we can interact

with the community, the more people we can reach, the

better.”

The education programs involve members of

Berdnik’s staff conducting drug-prevention seminars in

high schools, as well as bringing at-risk students to meet

with straight-talking inmates at the county jail.

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Sheriff Berdnik

Growing up in CliftonDuring his days as a teenager, Berdnik worked part-

time jobs at highway restaurants such as The Hearth (on

Route 46) and the now-defunct Red Chimney, which

was located on Route 3. “I filled ketchup bottles and

bused tables,” he recalled with a grin. As a student at

CHS, he was a member of the wrestling team and the

photography club.

Following high school, he worked as a security offi-

cer at Passaic General Hospital, which led to his involve-

ment with the city of Passaic’s auxiliary police unit.

Inspired by this experience and convinced he was

ready to follow his dream of a career in law enforcement,

Berdnik passed his Civil Service exam and was hired as

a Clifton police officer in 1982. He has fond memories

of his 28 and a half years of service in Clifton, where he

attained the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant.

As a rookie officer, Berdnik broke in with Mike

Luipersbeck, who today is a retired police detective and

a jazz drummer.

“Richie was a conscientious guy, more than most—

the type of guy who would go the extra mile to do things

the right way,” Luipersbeck said. “I’m not surprised that

he’s become sheriff. He was always a gentleman, eager

to learn, easy to talk to, and very down to earth. He’s a

good man and I’m proud of him.”

Challenging and Interesting CareerWhile serving as a member of the city’s police force,

Berdnik was a first-responder to the Sept. 11 terrorist

attack at the World Trade Center. He recalled the grim,

chaotic scene, saying he spent several days searching the

rubble for victims and sleeping on the streets of lower

Manhattan. “My thoughts and prayers were with the vic-

tims, their families and citizens of our country.”

Among his career highlights, Berdnik, in 1998, com-

pleted an exhaustive 12-week training program at the

FBI’s National Academy and Executive Institute in

Quantico, VA. This was, he said, a global educational

experience, as his classmates were law enforcement rep-

resentatives from around the world and from throughout

the United States.

Four months before the November 2010 elections,

former incumbent Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale

unexpectedly withdrew from the race. Seizing the oppor-

tunity, Berdnik expressed his interest in the position and

filled the slot on the Democratic ticket. He won the elec-

tion, receiving strong support from Clifton voters.

Following that initial victory, he returned to the FBI

academy for a three-week managerial training session.

Last November Berdnik defeated Republican challenger

Frank Feenan to win re-election as sheriff. Berdnik gar-

nered more than 55 percent of the votes.

“A sheriff is only as good as the people in his depart-

ment,” he said, praising his staff. “Our department is

very professional and we are proud of our work serving

the public.” Last year the New Jersey chapter of the

Peace Islands Institute, a nonprofit interfaith dialogue

organization based in Hasbrouck Heights, recognized the

sheriff’s outreach efforts and presented Berdnik with its

community service award.

Considering all his duties and responsibilities, what’s

the one thing that worries the sheriff the most?

Berdnik paused for a moment, then answered: “The

safety of my people—an officer getting hurt in the line of

duty.”

Among the highlights in his personal life, Berdnik and

his wife Monica—who works as a pediatric nurse at St.

Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson—are the proud parents of

four children—Ashley, Ryan, Alyssa and Kevin.

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20 Years of Jazz

Most Sunday mornings, you’ll find Seifullah AliShabazz sitting at the counter of the Oasis Diner in

downtown Passaic, sipping tea, greeting friends, and

talking about jazz. This year, there’s plenty to talk about

as Shabazz will mark the 20th anniversary of his annu-

al Martin Luther King Jr. Jazz Festival. The dinner and

show is on Jan. 17, 6 pm, at Assumption of the Holy

Virgin Church, corner of Huron and Orange Aves.

Shabazz describes the festival as a “celebration, not

an observance” of the life of King and the artistic heart

and soul of jazz. “We bring people together,” he said.

“The music creates a nice atmosphere. There’s always a

good mix of people in the audience. It’s a good night

out.” The concert festival is held on the eve of Martin

Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19), a federal holiday and

national “day of service,” designated to mark the life of

King and the civil rights movement

The one-night festival typically attracts 250 patrons,

a “mostly over-50 crowd with some young people,”

according to Shabazz.

Many who attend are long-time fans of the event.

This year the cost to produce, organize and promote the

event will come to nearly $8,000.

Shabazz, who underwrites the event from his own

pocket, confessed he rarely, if ever, breaks even on his

expenses for the show. It is, rather, a labor of love.

“I’m not losing money,” he said, discounting the

math of the dollars and cents for the production. “It all

comes from the heart. Speaking as a Muslim, the life of

Dr. King is a good cause to celebrate. People today too

often forget about the trials of Dr. King and the civil

rights movement.”

During the course of conversation, Shabazz prefaces

many of his remarks with the phrase “speaking as a

Muslim,” as he proudly declares himself to be a man of

faith and a member of the Nation of Islam, having

accepted the teachings of the Honorable Elijah

Muhammad in 1963. Elijah Muhammad (Oct. 7, 1897

– Feb. 25, 1975), in the mid-1930s, established the

Nation of Islam’s Temple of Islam No. 2 in Chicago.

Photo and Story by Michael C. Gabriele


Shabazz’s first name, Seifullah, is translated as

“sword of Allah; one who stands for truth.” He took the

last name, Shabazz, in honor of the Newark minister

who guided his journey of faith. He said his original

birth name, which he declined to reveal, “died” in late

1963 when he accepted the faith.

Shabazz is a longtime resident of Lakeview, but grew

up in downtown Passaic in the Aspen Street apartment

projects (building 34). “I live in Clifton but I still con-

sider myself a Passaic boy.” In the late 1950s and early

1960s he hung out with his buddies on Third St. (“our

little Harlem”). He said this was period in Passaic when

there was lots of music in the streets as well as in local

clubs and dance halls.

He also recalled the political, social, religious and

cultural ferment of the era, which was the backdrop to

Shabazz’s coming of age—1963 was an especially

momentous year, which included the historic Aug. 28

“March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.”

It was there that King delivered his famous I Have aDream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial—a

transcendent oration that addressed the struggle for civil

rights in the face of Jim Crow-era segregation. It also was

a period of growing awareness over the nation’s involve-

ment in Vietnam and the shattering grief in the wake of

the Nov. 22 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

“This was when I came to the faith,” Shabazz point-

ed out, reflecting on that time period. “You have to

understand that this was a rebellious period. The cir-

cumstances of the world I lived in (Passaic) were an

extension of what was going on in the rest of the coun-

try. We were exposed to lots of new ideas and choices.

It was like trying on clothes to see if they fit.

“People from the Nation of Islam used to come to our

community to distribute flyers and the newspaper

(Muhammad Speaks),” he continued.

Shabazz gravitated to the weekly newspaper and

became a top salesman for the publication. He came to

the faith gradually through study, interactions with

members of the community and the guidance of men-

tors, rather than a single moment of inspiration.

He described his faith journey as “reverting” rather

than “converting”; in essence, his faith was an inner

rediscovery. “Being a Muslim means that you’re a right-

eous person, but our society corrupts people and diverts

them from the righteous path. The society tries to make

people something that they’re not.” Shabazz noted he’s

aligned with several temples in the area.

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His Muslim faith also helped to cultivate

his interest in jazz. “The glamor of the enter-

tainment world encourages corruption, but

jazz is different,” he said. “I had an apprecia-

tion for the music—it’s character and style.

Many jazz musicians at the time were

Muslims. I thought of jazz musicians as

artists, not entertainers. Jazz was music

that made you think.”

When he ticked off his list of favorite

jazz artists, Shabazz revealed his affinity for saxophone

players: Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, King Curtis, Eddie

Harris, and Stanley Turrentine. His musical tastes later

branched out to rhythm and blues and soul, but jazz

always remained number-one in his heart.

During the 1960s and 1970s there were a solid num-

ber of jazz clubs throughout northern Jersey, especially

in Newark and Paterson. However, one by one, those

clubs were shuttered as the audience declined and inter-

est in jazz faded in favor of other music.

When Shabazz launched the jazz festival in 1996, it

was, in part, an attempt to reverse that downward trend.

There were actually two concerts held that first year at

St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Passaic. The

venue later shifted to the Botany

Village’s Italian-American Family

Association’s Coop Hall before a few

years back when it found a home in

Athenia at Assumption of the Holy

Virgin Church.

In addition, there are two educa-

tional aspects tied to the annual festi-

val. First is celebrating the legacy of

King and the causes of civil rights and social justice.

“It’s about respect, justice and freedom for all,” Shabazz

said. “It was a struggle in the 1960s and it’s still a strug-

gle today.”

Second, the festival is intended to raise an awareness

of jazz as a vibrant American art form. “You have young

people today that have never heard of Miles Davis or

Charlie Parker.” (For the record, Davis, a trumpet play-

er, and Parker, a saxophonist, were gifted, virtuoso

musicians who helped to usher in the era of modern jazz

during the 1940s and 1950s.)

The Jan. 17 festival will feature six performers:

George Byers; Jackie Jones; Audrey & Jazz 4 Soul;

Jazzy Bear & Friends; Madame Pat Tandy and the Jazz

Ensemble; and Cynthia Holiday. Tandy and Holiday are

known as blues vocalists, reflecting Shabazz’s openness

to diversify the festival’s format.

In recent years, the show’s lineup has included

acapella gospel ensembles, blues bands, soul groups and

Doo Wop singers. “We like to experiment,” he said.

“We’re always looking for feedback from our audience.

The crowd changes every year. We have our regulars but

we also have our share of first-timers.”

Working behind the scenes as the impresario,

Shabazz said he’ll start planning for the 2016 show on

Jan. 18. His search for talent involves an extensive

word-of-mouth network as well as his attendance at area

performances. Once musicians have been selected, he

begins to work out logistical details for the performance

and does the necessary marketing and communications

tasks to promote the event.

He bemoans the lack of coverage for the event from

area newspapers. While he foots the bill for expenses on

his own, Shabazz said he would welcome the support of

sponsors. Aside from producing the festival, he works at

Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, which

is associated with NY Presbyterian Hospital.

20 Years of Jazz


Learning From The PastAlthough he is only at the beginning of

his tenure at CHS, Derek Szuba knows he

can make a better future for himself by

looking back. “My favorite subject is histo-

ry, because I enjoy learning from the past,”

said Szuba, an Annex freshman. Szuba

credits his history teacher, Paul Hlat, for

encouraging him to appreciate the subject.

“He makes it so much more enjoyable.

There are many layers that have con-

tributed to making up a culture. When you

look back, you can see how it unfolded.”

Szuba also appreciates athletics, and

hopes to become more involved in weight

training and lacrosse as he moves forward

in his high school career. “My older broth-

er taught me how to play lacrosse, since he

played for the Mustangs,” Szuba

explained. “I really enjoy the game.”

Currently Szuba enjoys spending time

with his friends and playing video games.

Apart from athletics, Szuba has his eye

on a career in either radiology or orthope-

dics. “After I fractured my wrist I became

interested in the type of machines they use

to aid people,” he said. “The techniques they use fasci-

nate me.”

Szuba attended School 13 and Woodrow Wilson MS.

The trip to Washington, D.C. with the 5th grade safety

patrol program “was great because we learned outside of

the classroom and had a blast doing it,” Szuba remem-

bered. “It brought American History to life for me and

will stick in my memory forever.”

As for future students at CHS? “If I could meet with

younger students I would tell them that the Annex has

the best teachers,” he said. “They make school more

enjoyable and push you to succeed. They have a lot of

passion for helping us succeed.”

Making A Better FutureMarialys Gonzalez is consider-

ing a career as a teacher. “I love the

idea of being able to help and sup-

port someone’s future,” said

Gonzalez, a Central Wing fresh-

man. Born in Passaic, Gonzalez,

15, moved to Clifton in the second

grade, attended School 15 and then

Woodrow Wilson MS.

Gonzalez is also considering

becoming a hairstylist or cosmetol-

ogist. She is intrigued that appear-

ance can have such an impact on

one’s confidence: “I find it amazing

that hair can influence someone’s attitude that day,” she

said. “I would like to be a makeup artist for the same rea-

son. It can greatly change someone’s appearance.”

In the here and now, her favorite class is math. “I love

the complexity of this subject,” she explained. “I really

enjoy challenges, mazes, patterns and puzzles. And that

is what math is about.”

Gonzalez is a member of the Botany Club. “We plant

different kinds of flowers and plants,” she said. The best

part of her high school experience has been meeting fel-

low students and teachers. “I have gotten to know so

many great people,” she said. “With them, I actually

wake up excited to come to school and learn.”

Derek Szuba Marialys Gonzalez

Mitesh Jariwala

By Domenick Reda

Gonzalez advises younger students:

“Get closer to your teachers and have

more friends and you will feel better

about your high school experience.

But always be on top of your classes

because it is really easy to slip up. You

are in control of your future so don’t

be afraid to ask questions and go to

your teachers for help.”

Striving For BlissAs a North Wing senior, Mitesh

Jariwala has realized something it

takes many others a lifetime to realize: the only thing

that really matters is being happy.

“People want to be wealthy and live in huge man-

sions with luxury sport cars — that’s not my goal,” he

explained. “My goal is to become positive and live a

contented life with my family.”

Jariwala is living proof that it is possible by walking

true and gently on this earth one can achieve great

things. “My future aspiration is to be a pharmacist and

be blissful in life,” he said. “I am committed to becom-

ing successful in my future.”

Jariwala’s favorite subject is mathe-

matics, including algebra, geometry

and pre-calculus. “It makes you think

of different ways to solve one prob-

lem,” he said. “You can apply mathe-

matics problem-solving techniques to

anything, such as driving a vehicle or

shooting a basketball. You need to

estimate how far you have to be away

from the car in front of you or calcu-

late the distance from your position to

the net.”

Jariwala also enjoys several extra-

curricular activities. He is involved with the Asian

Club, Key Club, Business Management Club, Yogi

Divine Society and Rana Samaj, a cultural community

that celebrates Indian cultures.

Jariwala attended School 8 and Christopher

Columbus MS. He credits his teachers with making the

entire academic experience so positive for him since

second grade when he and his family came to the US.

Jariwala said this current year is becoming the most

positive. “The best experience in school was this year:

meeting the three most affectionate, compassion-

Roaa Hamzeh



January Edition

ate and supportive friends I could ever hope to have,”

he explained. “Their names are Raj Mistry, Helly Patel

and Krishna Patel. All of them have been very helpful

and loving to me. I appreciate having them in my life.

Raj is like my little brother and has been there for me

when I needed him. Helly and Krishna are outstanding

friends and our friendship has gone to another level with

the small things we do for each other. I regret not meet-

ing them many years earlier.”

Jariwala’s message to incoming students mirrors his

life philosophy: “I would gleefully tell them that CHS is

filled with excellent teachers and packed with a variety

of diverse students. Teachers are very accommodating

and concerned about you. Here you find students from

every part of the world and you can learn about cultural

events from them. Considerate teachers and a diverse

student population are the best things about CHS.”

A Hands-on ApproachRoaa Hamzeh finds a certain satisfaction in creating

something with her own two hands. “My favorite subject

is ceramics because it is hands-on,” explained the North

Wing senior. “In the class, I am able to make sculptures

with clay using my hands, which is fascinating because I

did not know what I was capable of doing until I tried. It

is beneficial for me because I want to become a dentist,

and dentists rely on their hands to do the job.”

Hamzeh plans to “attend a university and graduate

with a degree that is useful; and have a lifetime career,

hopefully in the field of dentistry, that will be enjoyable

in later years.”

Hamzeh was born in Jordan and lived there for the

first 13 years of her life. She started 8th grade at

Christopher Columbus MS. “When I entered CCMS, I

did not know how to speak English,” she explained.

“And I was not confident enough to do so. With only

two years of being in the English as a Second Language

program, I was able to start regular classes and even

take some harder level classes too. The progress I made

from ESL classes to regular classes to honors classes

always reminds me to be a proud student at CHS

because it all happened here.”

Hamzeh is treasurer of the CHS Key Club and the

National Art Honor Society. She plays on the Girls

Varsity Tennis team, is a member of the Forensics club

(outstanding considering the young lady was an ESL

student just four years ago) and finds time to volun-

teers with programs of Clifton Recreation.


“During the summer, I also volun-

teered as counselor-in-training at a

summer camp where I enjoyed work-

ing with young children,” she added.

Some of her favorite memories.

“As teammates on the Tennis team,

we were all close friends. Our hard

work resulted in a successful season

with a great record. With the Key

Club, I learned to manage my time, as

well as organize and lead events to

benefit various charities. I met amaz-

ing people who inspired me with all

the good that they wanted to do.”

Hamzeh hopes to inspire future stu-

dents to get involved and meet chal-

lenges head on. “The best thing about

CHS is the amount of opportunities a

student can receive,” she said. “You

can join all sorts of sports and clubs.

And the teachers are great. They are

all hardworking people who spend

their time trying to make their stu-

dents better.”


The CHS Prom Fashion Show is March 29 at 2 pm. Is

is presented with the support of CASA (Clifton Against

Substance Abuse) and again staged at the JFK

Auditorium. The event is a major fundraiser for the

Class of 2015 and the cost of admission ($10) goes to

help fund tickets to Project Graduation.

For the show, the models—seniors from the Class of

2015—will be styling tuxedos donated by Deluxe

Formal Wear of Clifton. Gowns will be donated by

BouBou, Group USA, Sisters Bridal Boutique, Unique

Designs by Viki and VESA.

Money raised goes to underwrite the cost of Project

Graduation on June 26, right after Commencement

which this year will likely be on the new turf at Clifton

Schools Stadium.Project Graduation is an all night party

with a lock-in at an undisclosed resort, a place where

graduating seniors are safe from alcohol and drugs. Class

of 2015 seniors will meet at CHS and are then taken by

bus to the resort at 10 pm. They remain there with plen-

ty of food and time to frolic. Doors are locked until 5 am

and that next morning, they are bussed back to CHS.

Want to help out as a sponsor, contribute styling serv-

ices as your salon or somehow get involved?

Call chair Nancy Delaney at 973-951-5024.

Here are some of the Mustang models set to walk the runway for the CHS Prom Fashion show to benefit the 2015 Project Graduation. Pictured above are CHS seniors Maria Montenegro, Ashley Almanzar, Andrew Harhaj,Meghan Sekanics, Mark Glodava, Shea Harris. Also, Tayler Szabo, Kevin Lord, Rachel Plaskon, Matt Ferko,

Karleigh Davila, Zoe Zschack, Alexia Maldonado.

Mustang Fashions


At the Jan. 2 organization of the Clifton City Council, from left, Peter Eagler, Joe Kolodziej, Mayor James Anzaldi, LaurenMurphy, Steve Hatala and Bill Gibson. Matt Grabowski was also elected for a second term but could not attend the cere-mony due to illness Below are some of those who attended the noon event at CHS and the reception which followed.

Frankie RandallA Life in the

Spotlightby Jack De Vries

It was only 16 miles from Clifton but to Frankie

Randall playing at Jilly’s was like performing in the

Emerald City of Oz. It was a restaurant similar to oth-

ers around Midtown Manhattan but with one big dif-

ference—Jilly’s was Mr. Frank Sinatra’s favorite joint.

Stars came to Jilly’s, along with near stars, wannabe

stars, and people wanting to be seen with stars. The

place also attracted a big after Broadway show crowd

and tourists wanting a taste of the big town.

Some nights—on some magic nights—everyone

got what they wanted and more at Jilly’s—especially

when Sinatra, the “Chairman of the Board” as

WNEW-AM’s William B. Williams called him, came

in and stopped the world.

That’s what happened one night when Randall was

at the piano.

“When Frank walked in,” Randall, 69, remem-

bers, “this silence... this awe swept through the

place. When Sinatra walked to his table, it was like

Moses parting the Red Sea—everybody watched

him. Frank was bigger than life.”


As we went to press last week, we learned o f the passing o f Frankie

(‘Chico ’ Lisbona) Randall on December 28. Raised on East 2nd St.

near where Corrado ’s is today, Frank stayed connected to his o ld

hometown and lo yal to his Clifton pals. This sto ry o riginally

appeared in August, 2007 and was written earlier that year when

Frank returned fo r a get to gether with some o ld Mustangs. You can

still hear Frankie’s music and see more photo s at frankierandall.com.

Just in his early twenties, Randall was

already a seasoned professional. He

went back to the music and, by the end of

the evening, had gained an influential fan. When the

place closed at about 4 am, owner Jilly Rizzo told

the young singer that Mr. Sinatra was inviting him to

have a drink at his table.

“I’ll use a term the kids today do to describe that

meeting,” says Randall. “It was ‘awesome.’ Frank liked

my act and we talked. Jilly even went back in the

kitchen and cooked for us. After we ate, Frank said,

‘C’mon, kid, let’s do a song.’ We went back to the piano

and sang Where or When together.”

It was a performance Randall had worked his whole

life to be a part of. He sang with Sinatra and made an

impression… and a lifetime friend. A few weeks later,

on the recommendation of the famous singer, Randall

was signed by RCA Victor records.

“After graduating college,” Randall says, “I’d worked

the Shore, the Catskills, Easton, Pa.—from Cleveland to

Chicago. But it was at Jilly’s where I met the people who

would influence in my career—people like Dean

Grace Lisbona with her children, Graceand Frankie, at their home on East 2ndSt. and at right, Chico at age 10.

Frankie WAS A

CHICORAT PACK FAVORITE

BUT

WILL ALWAYS BE

Our Clifton KidRest in Peace Frankie - with Love...

Linda Cupo, Al Mardirossian, jr., Angelo Crudele, Tom Cupo, Murray & Barbara Kashtan.

Cupo Insurance Agency50 Mt Prospect Ave., Clifton •www.cupo.com •973.778.7770


Frankie Randall

Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, and of course,

Frank Sinatra. “When I performed at Jilly’s,” he says of

those days, some 40 years ago, “things started to pop.”

Clifton DreamsWhen Randall was a child, his mother Grace, would

look out of her bedroom window of their apartment on

Clifton’s Getty Ave. and stare at the house on 62 West

2nd St., dreaming of living there one day.

Hoping to make his wife happy, Randall’s father,

Joe Lisbona, knocked at the home’s door, telling the

elderly couple living there that if the house was ever

for sale to let him know.

Turns out it was, as was the soda bottling compa-

ny and building next door that the elderly man also

owned. Lisbona made an offer and became the

owner of the Belfi Bottling Co., gaining a business

along with his new home.

After his father took over the company, young

Frankie would accompany him in the truck as

Lisbona made stops delivering birch beer to taverns

throughout the area.

“It was hard,” Randall remembers. “My parents

were diligent workers and proud people. During WWII,

my father would work at the soda company during the

day and then go to his job at Curtiss-Wright in Woodridge

from 4 pm to midnight.”

“Frankie’s parents adored him,” says high school

sweetheart and now friend Arlene Carole. “His parents

nicknamed him ‘Chico’ as a baby. His mother was funny

and feisty, and his father was sweet. They were good to

me.”

The Lisbonas were originally from Passaic, and

Frankie was born in St. Mary’s Hospital. They moved to

Clifton in search of a better life, seeing the then rural

community as an ideal place to raise a family.

Friend Al Mardirossian Jr. remembers, “Frankie’s par-

ents were terrific with all the kids – it was like they were

part of our group. And his sister Gracie is a great gal. She

worked for many years in Clifton as a special education

teacher with Coach Joe Grecco, who thought of her as

another daughter.”

But life wasn’t always easy for the future singer. A

bout with rheumatic fever ended any thoughts of playing

sports as he was often confined to his house.

Fortunately, there was music. When Randall was in the

second grade, his father’s cousin Jack Fina, a noted

pianist, composer and bandleader, came to Clifton High

to play a concert. Fina went on to star in several movies,

usually appearing with the band.

“He performed with the Freddy Martin Orchestra,”

Randall says, “and played at the Waldorf Astoria in New

York. After the concert, I saw how the people clamored

around him, the adoration they gave him. On the way

home, I told my father that I wanted to play piano, too.

“He paid $10 for an old upright piano and I began tak-

ing lessons with Marian Baldino in Passaic.”

Joe Lisbona understood his son’s musical dreams. A

trumpet player, he continued to perform in a small band

at weddings and parties after taking over the bottling

company. He encouraged his son to play, but made sure

he was classically trained, exposing Frankie to Chopin

and Rochmaninov. “It was the best background for any

future musical career,” he says.

“Frankie was not only a great piano player,” says

Mardirossian Jr., who later backed Randall at gigs on the

conga drums, “but could play other instruments as well.

He’s so talented.” Carole, who would also become an

entertainer, described Randall as “a child prodigy.”

From the CHS 1955 yearbook.



“When I got into high school,” Randall says,

“I became interested in jazz, listening to all the

popular piano players of the time. The one who

made the most impact on me was Nat King Cole

– a great jazz piano player, excellent singer, and

classy individual.”

High School Ups & Downs“Classy” was not the way the nuns at Pope

Pius High School described Randall’s behavior

as a student. The future singer spent three years at the

Passaic school until the good sisters could take no more.

“My discipline,” Randall admits, “was not what it

should be. I was always cutting class and smoking ciga-

rettes—that sort of stuff. Finally, the nuns called my par-

ents down for a meeting.”

At the time, Randall remembers, there was a state law

stipulating a student could not be expelled without suffi-

cient reason. “The sisters told my father that they didn’t

care about the law,” he says. “They said, ‘You can take

us to court, we don’t care. We want this guy out of our

school.’” Ironically, the nuns at Pope Pius were educating

two future stars at the time. One of Randall’s classmates

was Loretta Swit, who went on to star in the TV show

M*A*S*H as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan.

However, the school was only big enough for one

future performer. Rather than battle the nuns to stay,

Randall transferred to Clifton High for his senior year. “I

don’t know what I was rebelling against at Pope Pius,” he

says, “but at Clifton High, my conduct was impeccable. I

made a lot of friends there – guys like Terry LaCorte,

Tommy Cupo, and Al Mardirossian Jr.”

That’s Frankie Lisbona Randall up fronton the piano with The High Fives.

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Frankie Randall

Randall also spent his high school

years getting an education in his future

profession, performing in bands like

the Rhythmers and in places like the

Eclipse and Wishing Well off Route

17, and the Four Roses on Ellison St.

in Paterson.

He started performing in bands at

age 12 after using photo-developing

chemicals to change the date on his

baptismal certificate.

“Once I did, I used it to get an ABC

permit to work in places where they

served alcohol. I’d make $3 or $4 a

night and learned to save my money.

When my dad needed a new truck,

he’d come to me and I’d loan him the

money, which he always paid back.

“I liked earning money and what it

could bring—nice new clothes and

new cars.” Running with the Rat PackAfter graduating from Clifton in 1955, Randall went

on to Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a degree in

psychology. Despite offers to go on the road, including

one to join singer Louie Prima in Las Vegas, he stayed in

school. “My father wanted me to graduate from college

first,” he remembers. “Then do anything I wanted to do,

which I did.” With his degree complete, Randall hit the

road, playing in small clubs across the country until his

Jilly’s gig.

“That was a thrill for his friends from Clifton,” says

Mardirossian Jr. “At Jilly’s, he’d be surrounded by stars

(Judy Garland would sit next to him at the piano as he

sang). We loved hearing Frankie perform there.”

Terry La Corte, Al Mardirossian, jr., Frankie Randall and Tom Cupo.

frankie ‘Chico’ Lisbona

You’ll be

forever

Hearts.in our

Al Mardirossian Jr.CHS Class of ‘56

Kenneth Hauser Sales Representative

Clifton Office, 791 Passaic Ave., Clifton, NJ 07012office: 973-779-1900 cell: 973-216-1305email: [email protected]

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After his RCA deal, appearances on the Tonight Show,

Merv Griffin Show, and Danny Kaye Show followed,

along with his first starring movie role, the 1965 teen

flick, Wild on the Beach. The film featured the music of

Sonny and Cher, also making their movie debut.

The following year, Dean Martin called. “Dean had

taken a liking to me,” Randall remembers, “and asked me

to be a regular on the Dean Martin Summer Show.”

“That was another thrill for us,” says Mardirossian Jr.

“We’d put on the TV and there would be one of ‘our

guys.’” Even with his new fame, Randall kept his per-

spective. “He was always the same —never changed,

never got a big head,” says friend Tom Cupo. “He always

was ‘Chico’ to us.”

Randall appeared as a show regular for one season,

enjoying his work with the legendary crooner. “Dean

was a piece of cake to work with,” he says. “He was so

casual, happy – easy to be with.

Frankie with Dean Martin on his Summer Show and with Peter Lawford and an unidentified man at the Copacabana in NYC.


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Frankie Randall

“One story says everything

about Dean’s personality. Once in

Vegas, he came to see me perform

with the Buddy Rich Band. On a

break, Dean and I were sitting

together when a drunk walked in.

He looked at Dean and said, ‘I

don’t know what my girl sees in

you – I don’t like you… no, I don’t

like you at all.’

“Instead of telling the guy to go

away like Sinatra would have done,

Dean says, ‘Sit down, pal.’ Within

10 minutes, the drunk thought

Dean was the greatest guy in the

world.”

Randall remembers the dynamic

Sammy Davis Jr. as a “salt of the

earth”-type of guy.

“I had some of my best times

with Sammy,” Randall says.

“When you got him alone, he was

more of a regular guy. He also told

some of the most interesting stories

I’d ever heard in my life.”

But it was Sinatra who made the

biggest impact.

“If Frank liked you,” he says,

“you were his friend—that was all

he needed to know. But, his mood

could change in a flash, from happy

to miserable or angry. Thankfully,

I didn’t see that side of him often –

I had so much respect and admira-

tion for him that I tried to escape

that situation whenever I could.

“He was also one of the easiest

people to work with—always on

time, always professional. And he

stood up for others. When he first

started working in Vegas, black

entertainers like Lena Horne and

Sammy Davis were not allowed to

stay in the hotel. That was until

Frank took a stand. He was instru-

mental in getting that changed.”

Showbiz LifeAt 24, Randall married his wife

Sue and they had three children Lisa,

Joseph, and Frank Jr. However, the

marriage didn’t last. “That was a

time in my life when I didn’t behave

myself,” Randall admits about suc-

cumbing to the temptations of show

business.

Before long, he was divorced and

living in Beverly Hills, Ca. A move

to Las Vegas followed and then, at

Sinatra’s urging, he moved to Palm

Springs.

“We spent many a night drinking

‘lemonade’ until 4 am at Frank’s

house in Palm Springs,” Randall

laughs. “Those were fun times.”

“Frankie Randall is my favorite piano player,” Frank Sinatra said, “and a marvelous talent whosings great and plays more piano than there are keys.”

On Aug. 17, 1965, local Unico National Chapters honored Frankie Randallat the Central Theater in Passaic. Randall’s movie, Wild on the Beach inwhich he stars with, among others, Sonny & Cher, was previewed. He alsoperformed on stage for 45 minutes, singing Yellow Haired Woman, from hisnew album, pictured here.


“Whenever you called Frankie,” says Cupo, “say if

you were out in Vegas and wanted to see a show, he’d do

anything to help you. His friends from Clifton stayed at

his house in Vegas and Palm Springs, and he’d introduce

us to his showbiz friends.

“We went to a party at comedian Pat Cooper’s house

and were even invited to one at Sinatra’s. Unfortunately,

that was the night Sinatra’s mother died in a plane crash

and the party was cancelled.”

Though he was happy to earn a living as an entertain-

er, Randall never achieved the huge fame of his idols who

attained their stardom decades before. One reason was a

new kind of music had arrived to change the world.

“When rock and roll got big in the sixties, it was frus-

trating,” he says. “I knew the quality of the music I was

singing – songs by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and others.

Musicians and singers who were not very good were

making hits with ‘bubblegum songs.’ It was tough, but

you had to grin and bear it.”

Despite rock and roll’s increasing popularity, Randall

continued to produce albums and enjoyed success. He

sang the theme songs for the popular TV shows Flipper

and Bewitched, and with his frequent touring, he earned

a reputation as a crowd-pleasing entertainer.That’s Clifton’s Frankie Randall at the Rancho Mirage home of Frank Sinatra.


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Frankie Randall

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“My life in show business was not all roses,” he says.

“I went broke a few times but was always able to bounce

back and make my living with music, whether it was

singing or owning a piano store.”

New ChapterIn 1982, Randall arrived for a month-long gig at the

Golden Nugget Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. Once he

started, the crowds kept coming and management

extended his engagement.

He also developed a relationship with the Golden

Nugget’s chairman of the board Steve Wynn, who

started asking his advice about the casino’s entertain-

ment.

A year later, Randal became vice president of enter-

tainment director for the Golden Nugget’s operations

in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, booking himself when-

ever he got the itch to perform. He also remarried in

1984, becoming a father to two daughters, Laura and

Ava.

Using his showbiz connections and friendships,

Randall flourished in his job. In 1987, when Bally’s

bought the Golden Nugget, he worked in the same role

for the new company. He left his position in 1991.In 2007, Frankie Lisbona Randall, back home on 2nd St.


“It was a high pressure life where you were always

putting out fires, always making things right,” says

Randall. “There were long hours—I’d walk Mr.

Sinatra to his room at 2 am and be up the next day for

a 9 am meeting.

“But the job was also rewarding. It was a time in my

life of stretch limos and corporate jets. In fact, after I

left the job, I was getting on a commercial jet with my

daughter Laura who couldn’t understand why we had to

fly with other people.”

Since leaving corporate life, Randall has gone back

to his first love – performing. This spring, a group of

his Clifton friends saw him sing at Resorts International

in Atlantic City. “I’ve watched Frankie perform for

years,” says Cupo, “and that show was the best I’ve

ever seen him put on.”

“That night,” says Mardirossian Jr., “he mentioned

his friends from Clifton in the audience and we got a

hand. After the show, he made sure we went backstage

to see him in his dressing room.

“He’s still a great entertainer, his voice is still great.

Frankie doesn’t imitate Sinatra but if you close your

eyes, you can hear Sinatra’s style in his songs.”

“As an entertainer,” Carole says, “He’s a fine, fine

pianist with a great voice. But it’s his personality that’s

unbelievable, the same personality he had as a kid. I’m

always telling him that he should have his own TV or

radio show.”

Randall says he will continue performing for as long

as he can step on the stage.

These days, the singer gets back to Clifton for an

occasional visit, recently joining his friends at a

reunion at the Brownstone in Paterson. He spends his

time living between his two homes in La Quinta, Ca.,

and Las Vegas, or on the road between engagements.

“Clifton is my hometown,” he says, “and my friends

there will always be special to me. I know many of

them followed my career and appreciate my music.

The truth is that I appreciate their support just as much.

They mean so much to me.”

At the end of his life, Sinatra had a final gift for his

friend, giving him the arrangements to many of his

songs. In tribute, Randall performs the songs just as his

mentor did, much to the joy of audiences who listen.

Sinatra once said: “Frankie Randall is my favorite

piano player and a marvelous talent who sings great

and plays more piano than there are keys.”

And the people from Clifton couldn’t be prouder.


Shaun LaGala .................... 1/1Marek Rzasa...................... 1/1Connie Zangara ................. 1/1Chrissy Cetinich.................. 1/2Matthew Delaney................ 1/2Amanda Esposito................ 1/2Kristin Reilly........................ 1/2Steven Hrina....................... 1/3Rosalie Konopinski .............. 1/3Ray Krenc .......................... 1/3Emily Zawicki ..................... 1/3James Dohm....................... 1/4Rich Peterson ...................... 1/4Mohamad Bekheet.............. 1/5Missy Fazio........................ 1/5

Alexander Ortiz.................. 1/5Jeremy Delaney .................. 1/6Gay Eaclie ......................... 1/6Larry Homsany ................... 1/8Amanda Curtiss .................. 1/9Ariana Hryckowian............. 1/9Joseph Perzely .................... 1/9Fatma Bekheet .................. 1/10Ronald Calo..................... 1/10Richie DeMarco................ 1/10Michael Gorny ................. 1/11Katy Sokolik ..................... 1/11Nicole Unis ...................... 1/11Megan Duffy .................... 1/12Daisy Colman................... 1/13

Olivia Dohm..................... 1/13Rob Generalli ................... 1/14Joe Musleh ....................... 1/14Mark Stuart ...................... 1/14Kyle Santiago................... 1/15Susan Hernandez ............. 1/16Jennifer Montanile............. 1/16Matthew Soprano ............. 1/16Anna Tatarenko ................ 1/17Kim Barilari ...................... 1/18Erica Pangilinan................ 1/19Lindsay Dueben ................ 1/20Luke Falzo........................ 1/20Payton Bogatch................. 1/21Douglas Ciallella .............. 1/21Matthew Gorun ................ 1/21Daniel Shackil .................. 1/22Evelyn Montague .............. 1/23Cheryl Vigh...................... 1/23Catherine Coloccia ........... 1/24Greg Collucci ................... 1/24Jamie Mikolajczyk ............ 1/24Larissa Unis ...................... 1/24Robert Duffy ..................... 1/25Ashley Gagnon ................ 1/25Debbi Koch...................... 1/26Michelle Nahass............... 1/26Karen Rice ....................... 1/26Michael Bandurski ............ 1/27Gianna Caramucci ........... 1/27Nicholas Grippo............... 1/27Scott Crawford ................. 1/28Patrick Ferrara III............... 1/28

Angily Sotamba celebrates her 3rd birthday on Jan. 26. Austin Blesing turns 9 on Jan. 17. VickyPetrovic will party on Jan. 5. Cindy Hawrylko is 24 Jan. 22. Skylar De Santis turns 10 on Jan. 17.Happy 17th Birthday to Patricia Fay Baran on Jan. 26. Happy 61st Birthday to Bob Sandri on Jan. 6.

Birthdays & Celebrations - January 2015

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


Robert C. Henn .............. 1/28Stephanie Smith.............. 1/28Alexis Camp .................. 1/30Donna Chipura .............. 1/30Laura Kuruc.................... 1/30Sean Sabo..................... 1/30Evangeline Joy Kohler ..... 1/31Jessica Sonn................... 1/31

Becca Potocki & Alyssa Phillhowershare a birthday

on Jan. 1.

Happy 22nd Birthday toCharles Bucsko Jr. on Jan. 15.

Happy Birthday to Bob Hennwho will be 84 on Jan. 28.

CHS Alum Kimberly Sokolik& Wayne Clyde weremarried on July 18.


Mustang History

CHS Mustang Softball BoosterClub’s Annual Beefsteak and Tricky

Tray is on Feb. 6, at the Boys &

Girls Club, Colfax Ave, from 7 to 11

pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm so get

there and purchase some tickets.

The $40 admission include beef-

steak, dessert, beer and soda. Call

201-406-7399 to purchase tickets.

Mustang Pride’s Tricky Tray &Pasta Dinner is on Jan. 30 at the

Boys & Girls Club, with doors

opening at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $30

and proceeds benefit the CHS Class

of 2015. The volunteer group, head-

ed by AnnMarie Genneken, Roe

Frucci and Jack Jaeger, is a non-

profit that was founded in 2010.

Through its programs, such as run-

ning the annual Memorial Day

Weekend Carnival at CCMS, and

other events, members are focused

on nurturing academic and civic

pride in our community. For tickets,

to join or details, call 201-403-0775,

973-778-4680 or 973-985-0761.

The North Jersey Volleyball Clubis an under 18 year old national team

coached by Mike Doktor. The group

is going to Penn State in May for the

annual Happy Volley Tournament, a

great college showcase for the young

ladies of the squad. Help them out by

attending a Beefsteak/Tricky Tray on

March 13 at 6 pm at the Boys & Girls

Club. Call 973-207-7156 or email

[email protected].

The Relay for Life of Clifton 2015is on May 30 and 31 with the location

to be determined. Now in its 11th

year, more details are to be provided

at a meeting on Jan. 8 at 6:30 pm at

the Senior Citizen Center.

Companies, community groups,

civic associations, religious organiza-

tions and schools are invited to form

a team or becoming a sponsor.

Movies, Lights and Camera as weRelay for a Cure is this year’s theme.

Can’t make the planning meeting?

Attend the 2015 kickoff at 2 pm on

Feb. 7 at the Senior Citizen Center,

which is on Dog Pound Rd. on the

Municipal Complex. For more call

Kristin Bruno at 973-285-8041or go

to cancer.org.

Former Lady Mustangs Coach Al Carline, CHS 1985 Dori Breen, CHS 2015Kelly Douglas and Lady Mustangs Coach Craig Alfano. Breen, the first LadyMustang to join the 1,000 point club on Jan. 24, 1985, reached the milestoneover a three year career. She went on to St. John’s University and is now aCatholic School Principal. While Breen and Douglas met on Dec. 30 for thisphoto, Douglas joined the 1,000 point club on Jan. 3, when the Mustangsbeat Passaic, 70-16; she finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and threeblocks. Douglas is headed to the University of Hartford in September.

Tomahawk Promotions

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Clifton, NJ 07011

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clifton merchant magazine - january 2015

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