Clifton Merchant Magazine - April 2012

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April 2012 Clifton Merchant4

Easter Tradition

For Fe Wakkary, Holy Thursday, which was April 5,is a time to share a great Christian tradition. For

decades, she has visited 14 churches on that day where

she meditates on the 14 Stations of the Cross.

If I could make it to 15 churches, another for the

resurrection, I would, said Wakkary, who brought this

tradition with her when she came to the United States

from the Philippines in 1983.

The resurrection she speaks of is that Jesus Christ who

died on the cross on Good Friday and three days later

rose again, in fulfillment of the Scriptures... He ascend-

ed into heaven, the Nicene Creed, a prayer of the pro-

fession of faith, continues and is seated at the right hand

of the Father. He will come again in glory, to judge the

living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

At the crux of Christianity and at the base of the reli-

gion is the belief in Christs resurrection on Easter

Sunday. After he left the tomb, Christ once again

walked Jerusalem and spoke with his followers, among

them, Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting

Thomas, known for questioning Jesus resurrection.

By accepting the resurrection miracle and adhering

to and practicing the principles of the faith, one will,

after death, achieve life everlasting in heaven.

To achieve that, however, takes getting through this

life in a Christ-like manner. Thus, the goal with the

Holy Thursday visits, Wakkary explained, is to make a

spiritual pilgrimage and experience Christs sufferings

and death. The hope of everlasting life helps believers

to go forth and do good deeds year round.

Dolores Vargas, Fe Wakkary, Doris McFarlane and Father Robert Wisniefski, administrator of St. George and St. Brendanparishes. They are pictured in St. George Church on Getty Ave. in Paterson where the ladies begin an annual tradition ofvisiting area churches on Holy Thursday as part of their Easter religious journey.

Story and photo by Tom Hawrylko


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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko

Graphic DesignerKen Peterson

Staff WriterJoe Hawrylko

Contributing WritersIrene Jarosewich, CarolLeonard, Rich DeLotto,Don Lotz, Jack DeVries 2012 Tomahawk Promotions

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011

The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy

Thursday is an ancient practice, probably originating in

Rome, where early pilgrims visited the seven major basil-

icas as penance.

Wakkary and others, including Doris McFarlane and

Dolores Vargas, begin their Holy Thursday pilgrimage at

St. George Roman Catholic Parish on Getty Ave. in

Paterson, which is their home parish.

Father Robert Wisniejski is

the administrator of the

Church and St. Brendans on

Lakeview Ave. in Clifton.

He proudly adds a little

history to the tradition. Jesus

instituted the priesthood on

Holy Thursday, he

explained. The seven is sym-

bolic of the historical seven

deacons of Rome, whose responsibility it was to minister

to the poor in their region of the city. The first seven dea-

cons in the Church were the seven assistants ordained by

the Apostles to minister to the poor and thus the begin-

ning of what we know now as the priesthood.

As illustrated by Wakkary and her Filipino tradition,

the pilgrimage has many origins.

Vargas and McFarlane are perhaps a little less ambi-

tious but no less religious than Wakkary. They set their

goal on seven churches, in a twist on another Catholic tra-

dition. The seven is symbolic of the seven short phrases

that Jesus uttered on Calvary as he was about to die on

Good Friday. To Vargas and McFarlane, this serves as an

excellent holy week meditation.

My personal feeling is that we are taking the role of

the Apostles who were asked to stay up with Jesus as he

prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday

the night before his crucifixion, she explained.

For them, the evening begins with a 7 pm liturgy and

afterwards, when the lights are dimmed and before they

go on to six others churches, they spend time in St.

Georges in silence with the Holy Sacrament.

To share in Christs pain, his anguish... to share in his

struggle, knowing what he was to face the next day... it is

such a warm and rich tradition, continued McFarlane.

Readers may recognize her from the years she has been

working at the Boys & Girls

Club of Clifton in adminis-

tration. Its almost like we

are there with Jesus.

This is the 14th year

McFarlane has toured seven

churches. Fellow pilgrim

Dolores Vargas has con-

ducted her Holy Thursday

visitations for 20 years now.

Annually, they agreed, they see many of the same faithful

in their visits. Most groups are three or four people, basi-

cally a car load.

Spiritually, it is very rewarding, very much walking

the foot steps of Jesus, she said. I look forward to it,

year after year, and yes, it is a pilgrimage.

Among the Clifton churches they stop in to pray at

include Sacred Heart in Botany, St. Pauls in Downtown

Clifton and St. Philips on Valley Rd. Over the years,

weve also been to St. John Kanty and St. Brendan.

Because not all churches stay open late, we sometimes

have gone out of town, too, McFarlane said.

This year, as we went to press before Holy Thursday,

the ending point for their tour was still in question. We

used to end at Holy Face Monastery because it was

opened late but they are renovating it so we are redirect-

ing where we finish, she said with a smile. Where will

they complete their journey? Only God knows.

My personal feeling, said DorisMcFarlane, is that we are taking the role of the Apostles who were asked to stay up with Jesus as he prayed in the

Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursdaythe night before his crucifixion.


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Clifton Mystery

The talents of Joseph Bellanca go

far beyond the collection of myste-

rious photos that we presented in

the March edition of the CliftonMerchant.

At the peak of his career, this

Botany Village native had his

works on exhibition on several

occasions at the Museum of

Modern Art. In fact his talent is so

unique, Bellanca photos are part of

MoMAs permanent collection.

And, thanks to the dozens of

readers who helped us with our

search, weve located Bellanca.

The 81 year old currently resides at

the Hamilton Plaza Nursing &

Rehabilitation Center in Passaic.

Milagros Negron, the Recreation

Director at the Center, reached out

after reading the story, and helped

set up a meeting with Bellanca in

early March.

And after that conversation and

from numerous letters, calls and

emails from readers, we present

here his interesting life story.

Born in Passaic on July 7, 1930,

Bellanca was raised in Botany

Village, fell in love with photogra-

phy during his teenage years and

attended the School of Modern

Photography in New York.

It was a good profession at that

time, he recalled of those early

years. At school, it was all veter-

ans who had returned from the war.

I was the youngest kid there. And

then I decided to explore the world

and life with my camera.

Bellanca, who graduated from

Clifton High School in June of

1948, achieved success early on in

the Big Apple.

By 1950, at the age of 20, he had

his first piece on display at the

Museum of Modern Art: Untitled,

a black and white shot of men with

warped faces carrying a casket dur-

ing a funeral, which is in the

MoMA permanent collection.

With that photograph, I was

experimenting a lot in the dark

room, he explained of his craft.

His work evolved much over those

early years and his services were in

great demand. It is intensely black

and white and spooky.

Joseph Bellanca, PhotographerAt 81, Alive, Well and Happy

By Joe Hawrylko

Above, Joseph Bellanca as he appears today.

At left is his photo from the Clifton High

School Class of 1948 Yearbook. By age 20,

Bellanca had his photographs exhibited at

the Museum of Modern Art.


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Bellancas photographic art appeared in three sepa-

rate exhibitions at MoMA: Photographs by 51American Photographers, from Aug. 2 through Sept.17, Then and Now, from Aug. 5 to 18, 1952,Photographs from the Museum Collection, on displayfrom Nov. 26, 1958, to Jan. 18, 1959.

Bellanca also has two other pieces in the MoMA per-

manent collection: Man of the Planets, 1963, and A

Special Place, 1964. Both were gifted by the Clifton

artist. At one point, I had more color photographs on

display in MoMA than any other photographer,

Bellanca claimed proudly. That was my favorite

memory.

A Special Place appeared in the exhibit, Mirrorsand Windows: American Photography Since 1960,which was on display from July 27 through Oct. 2,

1978. Many of the press releases announcing these

exhibits and others can still be found on the Museums

website at moma.org.

Bellancas work was not just limited to the confines

of the Museum of Modern Art. Before the age of 21,

he had work appearing in numerous high profile publi-

cations: Vogue, Modern Photography, Pageant, Jubilee,Esquire, Theater Arts and more.

I worked in New York and photographed a lot of

stars, explained Bellanca, who noted (as did other

readers) that the photo of the individual on page 76 of

the March Clifton Merchant is of actor Barry Sullivan.Thats a toupee that Barry was wearing!

Two photos from Bellancas experimental phase.

Above, A Special Place, 1964, Collage of gelatin sil-

ver prints on board, 17 1/16 x 9 5/8" (43.3 x 24.5

cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Gift of the photographer.

At right, Untitled, c.1950. Gelatin silver print,

9 1/4 x 7 3/8" (23.8 x 18.8 cm).

The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Purchased by the museum.

Clifton Mystery


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While staking a claim for himself in the City, Bellanca

continued to live on Parker Ave. in Botany Village with his

parents Joe Sr. and Francis. I lived between a chicken mar-

ket and a dry cleaners, he recalled and said with a laugh:

Youd open one window and get a smell of the chicken

market. At the other youd get a face full of steam.

Bellancas career in the Big Apple was temporarily put

on hold when enlisted in the United States Army in 1951.

Working as an Army photojournalist, he spent 1953 and

1954 in Korea on photographic duty with combat engi-

neers. Many of these pictures ended up in spreads in the

NY Times Magazine, Vogue and MoMA. Bellanca, whotraveled to Japan while on R&R in Korea, also did pen and

ink cartoons for Stars and Stripes while on duty.

Back in the States in 1954, Bellanca resumed his suc-

cessful career, eventually spending more than two years liv-

ing and working in New York City. He worked in the

movie and Broadway worlds, spending time with and tak-

ing photos of some of the eras stars. Chita Rivera! I used

to go get Communion with her, smiled Bellanca, com-

menting on the dancers legendary gams.

An excerpt from the June 1950 Vogue article on Bellanca.

Such was the day of the young, emerging artiste...

Featured at MoMA and touted in top magazines, he

developed a relationship with MoMas Edward

Steichen who arranged for the Cliftonite to meet his

idol, Alfred Stieglitz. He unsuccessfully tried to

become an assistant to the great photographer. Alfred

Stieglitz was the father of photography, Bellanca said

recently, still with awe.

Bellanca took on other business endeavors. In 1958,

he opened his own studio, Grand Central Palace, and

his work was published frequently on the pages of Life,Look, Time Esquire as well as New Yorker. He was alsoin demand by advertising studios and others.

Bellanca also published a magazine called TropicalFish World, after picking up an interest in aquariums.I bought a lot of pictures from this German photogra-

pher, Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod. He was king of the trop-

ical fish world, he explained.

Another accomplishment was when Bellanca had an

exhibit of his photos from Korea at the US State

Department. It then went to Europe and around the

world, he recalled. That was a great honor.

In his matter of fact manner, Bellanca forgot to men-

tion that in 1964 he authored New Ways in Photography,a 112 page book detailing the different disciplines in his

field. He received $2,500, which had a print run of

125,000 and can still be found online. You better

believe that was a lot of money then, he said.

Bellancas story also has a happy ending. After

locating him, he reunited with Cliftonite Francine

Ferlise, who lost touch with Joe many years ago. She

was one of many tipsters to help us in our search.

Silvia Hart was the first to reach out: My mom,

Angelica Salvi, was friendly with his mom so occasion-

ally wed and visit, she recalled, adding that the

Bellancas were parishioners at Sacred Heart Church.

They lived diagonally from the old movie house called

The Strand on Parker Ave., next to the poultry market,

Kastans. All of that is since gone from Botany.

So to the many folks who helped us bring this Clifton

Mystery full circleAnn Simpson, Francine Ferlise,

Silvia Hart, Rich DeLotto, Philip Read, Rosanne Zisa,

Milagros Negronwe offer our thanks. Please excuse

us if we omitted any other callers or writers.


Clifton Mystery

At bottom left is Gloria Turba, Joseph

Bellanca and Francine Ferlise. Ferlises

parents were friends, and her dad was

Bellancas godfather. Ferlise assisted us

in our search for the Clifton artist, and

was reunited with him in March, when

they took this photo. Top left is from 1947

with Philamena DAmico, Grace

DAmico, Palma Ferlise (Francines

mother), Francis Bellanca (Joes mother)

and Francis Capozza. Below is Joseph

Bellanca Sr., Joseph Jr. and Michael

Ferlise, father of Francine Ferlise.


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Made in Clifton

Next time you toss some change in the bucket on theGarden State Parkway, the New York State Thruway or

any other highway across the country, take a look at the

toll booth you pass through. It just might have been

Made in Clifton.

Ok, not the best example because we now cruise

through toll booths under the watchful eyes of EZ Pass.

But we figured more readers may relate to passing

through a toll booth then entering a jail cell, another

handy item this Clifton company manufacturers.

Meta-Lite, on Entin Rd. in Delawanna just off of Rt.

21, has been constructing toll booths for transportation

authorities across the nation for 30 years. The compa-

ny has been doing business with the New Jersey

Turnpike and other state highway authorities for two

decades. We pretty much do all different types of pub-

lic transportation, as well as public institutions. And

yes, we also do jail cells, said Mike Coppola, 39, head

of sales and marketing at Meta-Lite.

Located in a 30,000 square foot building in

Delawanna, Meta-Lite was purchased by Coppolas

father, Gene, in October of 1978.

He was working for my uncle (Carl, who built jails

for municipalities) and saw this place in Hasbrouck

Heights and bought it, said Coppola. At that point, it

was lighting fixture and mail chutes.

Shortly after the purchase, Meta-Lite left those less

lucrative fields and began focusing on building toll

booths in 1980. The first contract was for the New

York State Thruway, which called for 80 units. The

successful job bolstered the companys reputation and

today, Meta-Lite is one of just a half dozen manufactur-

ers nation wide that design and build toll booths.

Weve done jobs for more than a dozen states, said

Coppola. That includes New Jersey, New York, Kansas,

Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Texas, California

and more. Order sizes can vary between a dozen to as

many as 100, as was the case for a job in Texas.

By Joe Hawrylko

The Toll Tale of CliftonMeta-Lite builds toll & parking booths, jail cells & more


Locally, Meta-Lite manufactured the last batch of

tolls for the Garden State Parkway. Across the conti-

nental United States, the firm has designed and built

other toll booths, which after you turn the page, you

may agree are much better looking. However, technol-

ogy and changes to toll roads have radically changed

the consumer side of the toll road industry.

There are less human collectors than ever before,

with authorities opting to go with pay systems, such as

EZ Pass. A number of highwaysincluding the Garden

State Parkwayhave began implementing large over-

hanging scanners instead of booths to track drivers.

Some states have opted to get rid of tolls all together.

How does this affect the companys bottom line?

Sensing change, Meta-Lite invested into other fields,

which keep the 20 shop employees busy during their

regular shifts. For instance, the company manufactures

a variety of metal enclosures, including ticket collec-

tion booths, parking huts, smoking enclosures and

other custom made products.

Pretty much everything we do here is custom,

explained Coppola. In addition to the shop workers,

there are an additional 10 employees in sales, manage-

ment and engineering, bringing the total to 30.

And because of the attacks on September 11, Meta-

Lite has experienced a boom in orders for reinforced,

bullet proof guard booths for universities, transit

authorities and military instillations.

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Coppola said that jail cells now

account for a large portion of business-

es. His dad, Gene Coppola, owner of

Meta-Lite, said that the company has

remained in New Jersey despite all of

the challenges facing the business.

Like most manufacturers, added

expenses in the form of taxes and laws

with exorbitant fees create a burden

that sometimes makes it hard to justify

doing business in the Garden State.

But, we are close to the action in

New York City, and were close to the

action in the transit hub, explained the

elder Coppola.

This advantage manifests in busi-

ness opportunities on the subways for

New York City and the tri-state region.

Meta-lite specializes in crafting ornate,

wave and medallion dividing gates,

turnstiles and railings.

The New York system is so large,

theres always something to do there,

explained Mike Coppola. Were the

Made in Clifton

Booths made by Meta-Lite in Clifton, can be found on the San Joaquin

Valley exit on Rt. 73 in California. Meta-Lite built them in Clifton and

shipped and installed 26 of these stainless steel booths. Previous page

are some of the workers at Meta-Lite, located in Delawanna.


supplier for 90 percent of the fenc-

ing in the subway to the Authority

or contractors.

Coppola said that Meta-Lites

success is due in part to their crafts-

manship and their penchant for

using high quality materials.

We love stainlesss steel. Its

harder to work with and much more

costly, he said. But it lasts a lot

longer. And its a lot harder than

metal, steel or aluminum.

Coppola said that employees are

trained to install jobs on site, and

will do so depending on the terms

of a contract. Meta-Lite also han-

dles maintenance on all products

that are manufactured in their

building.

One thing we try to do here is

train guys to do everything, he

explained. The polishers can do

the welding, and so on. We get

them training and have them more

diversified. Its better for us and

better for our employees. They get

more money.

While the toll booth industry

may be slowing down in the future

as states head away from that type

of business, Coppola expects his

companys work with municipali-

ties and other public institutions to

continue to grow.

Public transportation, theres

always going to be more train sta-

tions and other things, he said.

Thats never going to slow down.

Coppola, who attends trade

shows across the country, believes

there are several untapped markets

for Meta-Lite. If I can bid it and I

can build it, I can get it on a truck

and I can get it out there, he said.

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Made in Clifton

For companies in manufacturing, transporting

heavy loads, be it raw materials or the finished prod-

uct, is an integral part of any business in the field.

Electrolift, located on Sargent Ave. in Clifton, is the

company that supplies manufacturers across the

United States with the tools necessary to complete

any job, big or small.

Well known companies like General Electric,

John Deere, Sikorsky Aircraft and more utilize

Electrolift wire rope hoists to aid in everything from

product assembly to transportation.

90 percent of the companies we do business with

are in manufacturing, explained Steve Pilione, sales

manager for Electrolift, and a graduate of the Clifton

High School Class of 1986. Its to move heavy

loads up and down and horizontally back and forth.

The history of the company trances back to 1932,

when the East Paterson Machine Shop was founded

by a group of five machinists. One of these founders

was Luis Puzio, grandfather of current owner Debbie

Rechtschaffer, a Class of 88 CHS grad.

Her grandfather was the last living partner and

became the full owner of East Paterson Machine

Shop, explained Pilione.

Electrolift and the EPMC were separate entities

that maintained a working relationship. In 1954,

both companies moved into a custom made build-

Doing the Heavy LiftingElectrolift Helps Keep Manufacturing Alive

Top left: A photo taken shortly after the completion of theSargent Ave. building in 1954. Top right: Steve Pilione, a1986 graduate of CHS, is the sales and marketing manag-er of Electrolift. He is pictured with owner, DebbieRechtschaffer, a CHS 88 grad. Above is an undated his-toric photo of a welder at the plant.

By Joe Hawrylko


ing on Sargeant Ave., where theyve remained to

this day. Puzio was involved with the EPMC until

retiring in the late 70s.

His son, David Erenstoft, succeeded him as

President in 1981, and bought out Electrolift that

same year. The companies continued to run under

separate names until the 90s. However, the old East

Paterson Machine Shop sign can still be found on

the side of the building.

The current generation of ownership came into

the company in the 90s. Pilione, whose wife, Julie,

is a cousin of Rechtschaffer, has been with

Electrolift since 1993, while his cousin-in-law

began working with her father in 1992.

I grew up here going, Dad, can I work here?

No, youre a girl, Rechtschaffer laughed. She

received her degree in communications from

Rutgers, and began working full time for the fami-

ly business following graduation. She also began

studying engineering at NJIT, but instead opted for

an on the job education.

Over the years, Rechtschaffer has spent time

working in purchasing, shipping and engineering.

Two years ago, I moved my desk onto the Above, Jan Seinicki works on a lift on the shop floor.

shop floor, she explained. I manage the shop foremen.

Ive kind of turned into a more operation director.

Pilione also received a similar type of apprenticeship.

Right after I got married to Julie, my mother-in-law

asked me if I wanted to work here, he recalled.

Pilione began in the machine shop and moved onto

assembly before migrating upstairs to sales in 1995,

where hes been ever since.

Together, Rechtschaffer and Pilione have formed a

dynamic duo at the helm of Electrolift, constantly put-

ting money back into the company while weathering the

peaks and valleys of the volatile economy.

There have been a couple recessions in the 2000s,

explained Pilione, who added that the company did not

lay off anyone due to the economy. From 2001 to

2007, it was tough. Then it got better, but then industry

itself went south.

Up until recently, manufacturing was mostly in the

Mid-West and the South, but the Mid-West got ham-

mered, he continued. People complain about the bail

out, but a lot of other companies (not in the auto manu-

facturing) feed off of that.

However, as the economy stabled, Electrolift

rebounded to new heights in the past three years

In 2009, we had our best year actually explained

Rechtschaffer.

Since then, Electrolifts business has continued to

climb. Already a major supplier across to manufacturers

across the United States, the company has seen an

expansion of sales for scoreboard lifts at arenas.

Were at MSG, the IZOD Center, explained

Pilione. Last year, Electrolift installed a lift in

Shanghai, China for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese

Basketball Association. Pilione flew out with an engi-

neer to help oversee the installation, spending five days.

That was quite the trip out there.

Domestically, Electrolift continued its good fortunes

in manufacturing supply as well.

In 2011, the company fielded its biggest order ever,

creating 43 lifts for a manufacturing plant in Buffalo

that was undergoing a massive expansion.

We had people brought in for the spike of the big

job, recalled Rechtschaffer. Electrolift has 28 employ-

ees throughout the company. Shop workers are on a

Monday to Friday shift, with overtime as needed. We

ended up retaining six people.

Rechtschaffer added that the company regularly

spends money on continued training for its


Made in Clifton

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This Suite is partially furnished &newly renovated.


Made in Clifton

employees. Electrolift also works

with the New Jersey Manufacturing

Extension Program, seeking out

ways to optimize the output of the

facility.

Steve and I have gone to

Washington D.C. to lobby Congress

for more funding with Congressman

Bill Pascrell, Rechtschaffer

explained of her advocacy.

Because of recent success,

Rechtschaffer has been putting

money back into her company,

essentially investing in her future,

the future of her employees and the

community.

Restorations of 15,000 square

feet of office space in the building

were completed this past month.

Several local companies were

called in for work: A&S

Contractors handled the overall

restorations. Windows and more

were purchased from their neigh-

bors at the nearby Window Depot.

Abby Business Systems, a Clifton-

based IT company, helped set up

new software.

Weve been reinvesting and

updating a lot of processes along

the way, said Rechtschaffer.

Expect Electrolift to be a part of

the Clifton manufacturing scene for

a long time to come.


f


Made in Clifton

Newark Wire Cloth CompanyOne year ago, Newark Wire Cloth Company celebrat-

ed the 100th anniversary. Founded in 1911 by

John C. Campbell, this Clifton manufacturer cre-

ates a variety of wire cloth products for use in

markets such as food, pharmaceutical, automo-

tive, medical, and even aerospace. The company

is now headed by the fourth genera-

tion of Campbells in brothers Rick

and Jim, who serve as President and

Vice President.


At first glance, its hard to guess the end use of theproducts manufactured at Cliftons Newark Wire Cloth

Company. Across the entire shop floor are several dif-

ferent types and sizes of wire cloth in varying states of

completion.

But what is made here are items which serve a vital

role in a number of industries: small sensors in aero-

space applications to many different types of sieves and

strainers for the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Even Girl Scout cookies somehow have a start using

wire cloth strainers manufactured at 160 Fornelius Ave.

Newark Wire Cloth Company was founded in 1911

in the so called Brick City by John C. Campbell.

Brothers Rick and Jim Campbell, the fourth generation

owners, have been at the helm since 1986.

After initially taking over, the brothers soon ran into

trouble. Ground contamination at the old factory in

their name sake city left Newark Wire with a sizeable

bill from the DEP. To cover the massive costs, they

began looking for new revenue streams. That led to a

short lived but lucrative relationship with Ford Motors.

I guess sometimes you get lucky once in a while,

laughed Rick, President of Newark Wire Cloth

Company. Ford had side air bags in the Lincoln

Continental and we supplied the wire cloth. It diffuses

the gas so that the bag doesnt explode.

That relationship continued until about 1993, when

changes in the industry led to Newark Wire Cloth dis-

continuing their role in the manufacturing of parts for

airbags.

www.ihop.com

680 Rt. 3 West

973-471-7717

enter from Allwood Rd.

The chocolate in

delicious Girl Scout

cookies first flow through

screens manufactured at Cliftons

Newark Wire Cloth Company.


Made in Clifton

Stainless steel was our forte,

but then they changed to carbon

steel and moved it offshore,

Rick explained. Newark Wire

came to Clifton in 2005 after

losing property in an eminent

domain suit. Were still

involved a little bit today, but

now supply to a middle man.

However, despite the decline

of one end of the business,

Newark Wire continued to

maintain relationships in the

fields of aerospace, pharmaceu-

tical, food, chemical, automo-

tive, medical, environmental

and more. Newark Wire is ISO

certified, and is also approved for aerospace work in

the form of AS9100 and NADCAP certifications.

To accommodate its diverse customers, Newark

Wires 30,000 square foot building is large enough to

include a wide variety of machines for welding, sol-

dering braising and polishing, and also features an on-

site machine shop.

These certifications and in house capabilities pro-

vide Newark Wire with a distinct advantage over com-

petitors. Were not married to one industry, which

helps us without a doubt. Since the downturn with the

recession, weve since rebounded to pre-recession lev-

els, explained Rick. We gravitate more towards

demand in quality.

Rick Campbell, President, brother Jim Campbell, Vice President and Bob Lucki,Vice President. The three partners have been together since Lucki came on boardas Vice President in 2005. Newark Wire has been in Clifton since 2005.


Well Mail Your Easter Order!

We now bake Homemade Hungarian Rtes

Rtes, or Strudel, is one of Hungarys most

renowned dishes. We bakeit like in the old days andoffer it to you in Lekvar,Poppyseed, Sour Cherry,Apple. Apricot or Cheese.

Our cases are filled withfresh Poppyseed, Lekvar,

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Pork, Beef, Cheese & Meat Products

Home Style Smoked Bacon & Smoked Sausages

We make our own Salami & offermany fine Imports

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Made in Clifton

Newark Wire does business across North America,

but primarily works in the Northeast.

Weve learned to stick to

our niche, he added. We

can be successful if we just

stick to our core business.

There are 29 employees

total, with 14 working on the

shop floor. Regular shifts are

Monday through Friday, with

overtime as needed.

There is cross training,

but most guys have been

here a while, said Rick.

Weve got one guy who has

been here for 40 years. You

get more bang for your buck

when you hire and keep

experienced workers. When

you hire a new guy, you have

to train them.

While Newark Wire often does custom work, they

do carry a line up of high demand pre-fabricated prod-

ucts for clients who have large contracts or constantly

place orders, significantly reducing turn around time.

These finished goods, along with several tons of raw

wire cloth rolls and other

materials take up a signifi-

cant portion of the shop

floor. Materials and fin-

ished goods are organized

via a color coded system

for easy tracking within

the shop.

We have a good staff

here. Everyone is like

family, explained Rick.

If we hit a certain sales

quota, we buy everyone

lunch, not just people in

the office. I think we run a

pretty fair company.

Were all in this together.

That mentality is what

has helped brothers Rick and Jim, and their third

brother, Vice President Bob Lucki, remain successful.

Its nice to have good partners, said Rick. It

gives you a sounding board to relay off of.

Tim Brenner, production supervisor with Mike Sanders, maintenance mechanic.


Dont kiss anyone who doesnt use a ToothbrushTurtle! Thats a bit of free advice from Bill Tooma, butif you want his revolutionary product, youre going to

have to shell out a little dough $9.99, to be exact.

The Woodland Ave. resident is the brains behind the

Toothbrush Turtle, a fist-sized plastic bubble dome that

gets attached to the wall or cabinet in your bathroom

and holds up to four brushes of any size in a sanitary

environment.

Whats the need for such a product?

The next time you place your wet toothbrush on the

counter, think about what it is exposed to during the

course of the day: facial and body hair, cleaning prod-

ucts, perfumes, unsanitary airborne particles from a

flushed toilet, air fresheners to cover up that smell...

Your toilet has a cover. Your toothpaste has a cover.

Dental floss has a cover. Your razor has a cover,

exclaimed Tooma. The only thing that doesnt have a

cover is your toothbrush holder.

If this sounds rehearsed, thats because it is. Not only

an inventor, Tooma is a master salesman, ready to ped-

dle his product at fairs, exhibitions, or anyone who will

lend them his ear on the street for a few minutes.

ORDER YOURS TODAY!

At $9.99,

Can Bill Toomas

ReallyFly?By Joe Hawrylko

Toothbrush Turtle

Toothbrush Turtle

Invented in Clifton


Invented in Clifton

Hes even got a prop bathroom that he can whip

together in 15 minutes for demonstrations.

Toomas sales background comes from his time

with IBM, where he was a business partneressen-

tially a marketing agent. He currently is self

employed and travels extensively and remains at job

sites for weeks at a time as a software consultant.

But since coming up with the idea for the

Toothbrush Turtle while on a business trip in 1995,

Tooma has spent every second of his free time perfect-

ing, promoting and pushing his revolutionary product.

He recalls the epiphany of the invention:

I was staying at the Best Western in Wilsburry, PA.

I asked the front desk girlI still remember her

nameRoxanneif they could provide a tooth brush

holder because I was going to be there longer than I

had thought. She said, Sorry, we cant give you any-

thing because its a sanitary issue and the house keep-

ers are already overwhelmed with what they do on

their daily routine.

Then, Tooma continued. she actually came out

and said, why dont you come up with something?

Thats what started my whole dilemma. It set my

wheels running really hard.

A few weeks later back in Clifton, he entered an

agreement with Rapid Prototyping in Ohio, and began

drafting up ideas. However, it was Toomas son,

William Joseph, then at age 10, who inspired his father.

My son started the prototype by buying one of

those 50 cent toys at the supermarket, from like a

gumball machine... One of those little plastic contain-

ers where you pop it and it opens, he said.

I look at it and I go whoaaaa...

Then, I said to him, heres a dollar, go get two

more. He goes to me, Are you feeling alright dad?

Back at home, he goes into the workshop.

I put a hole in the bottom of the piece and took the

stem from the toy and screwed it into the back of the

bottom piece, explained Tooma. Then I stapled the

top to the bottom so you have a swivel. Next day, Im

sending the Toothpaste Turtle to the engineers.

Early versions had two holes instead of four, and

brushes could only be placed by opening the contain-

er. The most radical change was when Tooma added

partitions to prevent the brushes from touching each

other. When the engineer saw that, he said, Oh my

God, you just changed the toothbrush holder industry

to another level that will never go away.


Six prototypes, a few years and more than a dozen

patents later, Toomas bright idea was finally starting to

become reality. But the effort, hours and money need-

ed to just get a prototype began to mount.

I figured it would cost about $8,000 the most just

to get this done as far as getting the prototype and

going to someone, saying hey look, it is a disposable

toothbrush holder for hotels, and then, bam!, they buy-

ing it, said Tooma. But it didnt work that way.

Inventing, developing and patenting the Toothbrush

Turtle was easy compared with breaking into the com-

mercial market, proved to be the most challenging and

more costly task.

In 2002, Tooma traveled to London for the hotel

expo, Hotelympia so he could meet buyers in the hos-

pitality and lodging industry. Though well received,

experts noted a flaw with the Toothbrush Turtle.

In order to have consumers desire for missing

items when they are on the road, they need to have that

item at their homes, Tooma recalled being told.

This led to developing two Toothbrush Turtles: a

permanent version for use at home, and a smaller dis-

posable product for the lodging industry.

In 2004, Tooma had his first run of Toothbrush

Turtle home version manufactured: 10,000 in white

and 10,000 in beige. Since then, he has sampled or sold

The Toothbrush Turtle at consumer shows and trade

events and it is always well received. Feedback from

consumers led to him revising his marketing strategy.

Its not just for hotels or homes, he explained,

sounding a bit like the lyrical Once-ler, the character

in the Lorax of Dr. Seuss classic tale. Its for RVs.

Rental RVs. Boats. Cruise liners. College stu-

dents... Everyone needs a Toothbrush Turtle.

Tooma sees the US military as his biggest market.

Think about this... 5,000 crew members on an air-

craft carrier... guys over in Afghanistan... dont they

deserve a clean environment for their toothbrushes?

He hopes to find an advocate to get him selling to the

military. That depends on our guy, Mr. Bill Pascrell,

he said, claiming: Congressmen are the only ones

who are an agent for the federal government.

On the retail front, Tooma focused his selling on

New Jersey based Bed Bath & Beyond. He had made

inroads with the home goods retailer in 2004, after his

first line was manufactured, but a defect with the tap-

ing cancelled the deal. A new and improved

Toothbrush Turtle emerged from the drawing board.

I dropped off information to the CEO in Union

three months ago. Ive not heard anything back yet,

said Tooma, hopeful the Toothbrush Turtle is under

review. Corporate is still evaluating the product.

His son William Joseph Toomathe instigator of

sorts for the Toothbrush Turtleis now 28 and a film

maker, writer and professor. See the commercial and

more information at www.toothbrushturtle.com

Over the coming months, Tooma is taking the mar-

keting of Toothbrush Turtle to the streets. Look for him

at the Meadowlands Flea Market and other local expos.

And Id really love the Board of Education to have

students sell Toothbrush Turtles instead of candy for

fundraisers during the year, he suggested.

Tooma has a beneficial vision for his product.

In 10 years, I see this product in every household.

Not just in the US, but in the world. And not just for

profit but because it works, Tooma said with pride. I

want to show people this product is going to be like the

toothbrushsomething that you use every day.

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Industrial Education

Some 75 students from Clifton High School and thecitys middle schools visited HK Metal Craft last June

to tour the 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing company. The

goal was to see what type of jobs are available to stu-

dents who are seeking an alternative to college, special-

ized training or the military following graduation. The

trip was organized by Michael Paitchell, a Board of

Education commissioner and engineer who has long

been a proponent of returning shop classes to CHS.

Most kids today... theyre being sent to college

without any idea that there are alternative routes to get-

ting employmentand alternative routes to continuing

education, added Raymond Hopp, President and CEO

of HK Metal Craft, a 51-year-old company in Lodi that

manufactures high precision metal stampings, springs,

gaskets, washers and other specialty metal materials.

With the increasing price of higher education, why

send kids off to a four year college to find themselves?

In the next 20 years, a half million jobs in the tool

and die and machining job field will be created or

become vacant in New Jersey, Hopp explained to the

students. We will provide you with an education, get

you going to community college to get an Associate

degree as part of a training program and part of the edu-

cation requirements of the apprenticeship program.

Hopp was frank in his reasons for hoping to recruit

high school grads to his business and the industry.

Eighty-two percent of our workforce is 52 and

older, and theyll be retiring in the next ten years. If we

dont replace them, we will go out of business, he said.

Tool and die makers build the forms and molds that

create parts used to make larger products. A tool

maker, working full time, having gone through the

apprenticeship, makes some place around $70,000 a

year depending on how much overtime they do. The

base wage is $50,000 to $55,000. Our guys now are

making about $55,000 or $60,000.

And for ambitious students who may think that man-

ufacturing jobs are a dead end where they may spend

the next 30 years standing on a shop floor? The career

path for the tool and die maker who is so inclined, they

could become a part or machine designer and eventual-

ly go on to be an engineer or possibly the head of engi-

neering for a company, explained Hopp, adding this

path does not necessarily require a return to college.

There are a lot of practically trained engineers. Our

chief engineer does not have a four year college degree,

but started as a tool and die maker, Hopp explained on

the tour. There is a lot of credit given to what you can

do and what you've learned.

Future Tool & Die Makers?Clifton Students tour HK Metal Craft

Clifton students at HK Metal Craft in a tour to find out more about careers in manufacturing.


Clifton History

On Saturday, Aug. 25, 1894, PassaicCity Herald readers couldnt fail tonotice an enticing news item featured on

the front page.

The Tropical Wonders of Mr. Nashs

Aquatic Gardens at Clifton were outlined

and the public received an open invita-

tion to see ...night flowers bursting out

in all their glory.

Nowadays, Nash Park occupies the

Lexington Ave. site where a century ago

Scotto Clark Nash grew the deep pink, 50-

petal long-stemmed roses that earned

Acquackanonk Township the sobriquet

Home of the American Beauty Rose.

Nash was born in Pittsfield, Mass.,

on Nov. 5, 1841, moved to Brooklyn,

and 28 years later settled with his wife,

Alice and son, George, in the farm com-

munity of Acquackanonk, now Clifton. At

the time, Nash and his brother, Duane, oper-

ated a business in New York manufacturing

farm machinery. They expanded and

opened a branch in Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania, and Nash and his family

lived in the Keystone State for a time.

The business was dissolved in 1887 and

he returned to Clifton, investing in real

estate. In a masterful biography published

in 1976, Clifton historian William J.

THE EVOLUTION OF

NASH PARKSince 1894

S TO RY B Y E .A . SM Y K , PA S S A I C COUNT Y H I S T O R I AN

Nash Park has evolved much since 1894 when the area was The Aquatic Gardens at Clifton. Below is an illustration pro-

moting the American Beauty Rose developed by park namesake Scotto Nash. Above is Henry Marrocco in 1958 during the

Boys Scouts of America Aheka Council Camporee. See page 44 for the latest news about this jewel of Clifton.


When we purchased our landmark Pharmacy in 1979,we made a commitment to be community-friendly andindependent. Thanks to our hard work, great employeesand decades of loyal customers, we remain that way.

As we enter a new year, we invite youto visit our store to ask a question, filla prescription, purchase a card, abouquet of balloons or a fine gift.We and our staff are here Monday toSaturday to help.


Clifton History

Wurst traced Nashs astonishing career. He noted that

the future rose grower was a devoted naturalist and

voracious reader as well. Nash collected rare books: his

library reflected eclectic tastes and, as Wurst indicated,

the shelves contained books running the gamut from

art history to science.

Nash had capital available from previous business

ventures, so he decided to turn his fascination with

flowering plants into a profitable business. Eventually,

the Nash holdings in Clifton near the Passaic River

comprised more than 17 acres. A 12-room mansion

completed the picture.

Directly behind the house, Nash built 10 hothouses,

each 100-feet long. In 1894, the glass-enclosed struc-

tures held 14,000 of Nashs prized American Beauty

roses. On a portion of the property, a disagreeable

swamp offended Nashs sensibilities. Gradually, he

reclaimed the mosquito-infested area at the cost of sev-

eral thousand dollars and created a sunken garden for

tropical plants.

Nash installed steam pipes that traversed the garden

and connected to a boiler so the proper temperatures

could be maintained.

Although Nashs Pond was operating by spring,

1892, the water garden was still a hobby. But the suc-

cessful rose connoisseur had a good sense of what

would turn a profit.

In 1894, Nash and William Tricker (an Englishman

who came to the U.S. nine years earlier) formed a part-

nership to raise and market aquatic plants. Tricker and

Co. transformed the Clifton pond into the celebrated

and soon nationally known aquatic garden. Tricker skill-

fully hybridized different varieties of water lilies and the

results were amazing.

Thanks to the late Bob Potts, the Clifton Phillies called Nash Park home for years.


Clifton History

But it was the huge water lily called Victoria Regia

that captivated the public and caused newspapers such

as the Herald to enthuse over the plants exotic beauty. Native to the Amazon, the Regia had handsome, pad-

like leaves that were a brilliant, deep green. The under-

side was a vivid crimson. When opened, the flowers of

Victoria Regia measured nearly 12 inches and the petals

of pure white graduated to shades of rose and red. The

leaves were hugesix feet in diameterfloating on the

ponds surface, they resembled large green rafts.

Local residents often gathered at the ponds edge at

sunset during the summer months to see the day flowers

closing and the night ones opening.

Nash reveled in the publicity his plants brought, and

when people visited the gardens he was often available

to answer questions. When Mrs. G.D. Rogert of

Garfield heard about the huge plants she hurried over to

the gardens on Aug. 28, 1894, and according to the next

days Herald ...went wild on what she saw at the

Clifton gardens. Her husband really had to drag her

away

When Nash announced he would photograph his

children standing on the giant water lily, the event made

page one of Aug. 27ths Herald. The plant probablycould have supported the weight of a child unaided, but

not an adult. When Emma Porter Nash, the rose-grow-

ers daughter, was photographed in 1894, it appears a

board was placed beneath her feet.

Nashs biographer believes the aquatic gardens were

irreparably damaged by the area floods of 1902 and

1903, and the delicate tropical plants probably did not

survive. Scotto Nash continued to cultivate roses until

1909 when he retired and spent his declining years man-

aging real estate.

A quiet, genial man with a long flowing beard, Nash

died of pneumonia on April 22, 1920. His name is

immortalized by Nash Park. It was dedicated by Clifton

Mayor Fred C. deVido on Sept. 14, 1950.

It appears the Victoria Regia supports Emma Porter Nash but there is a board beneath her feet. In 1894, Scotto Nash openedan aquatic and tropical garden at Dundee Lake and Lexington Ave., approximately across from todays Hot Grill.


Remembering Bob Potts

Play Ball!at Nash Park, call it

Bob Potts FieldOn April 29, the late and legendary Bob Potts willbe honored with a ceremony at Nash Park. It is afitting tribute to Cliftons Mr. Baseball. Over the

years and up until his death in 2007, Potts nurtured

many baseball programs and players.

His Phillies and Silk Sox teams played 35 seasons

at Nash Park. One of the things Bob was most proud

of was that seven players from his Phillies teams made

it to the major leagues. He was an employee of Clifton

Recreation where he administered sports programs for

17 years before his retirement in Aug., 2003. Thats

where the story on the facing page picks up.

Prior to the dedicationand to help make it a cel-

ebrationClifton Rec Director Debbie Oliver is ask-

ing those who would like to share photos, memories

or stories about Bob in Clifton Rec, Clifton Phillies,

Silk Soxs or of Nash Park to call 973-470-5958 or

write her at [email protected].


n August 1, 2003 Cliftons Mr. Baseball

retired from his job at the Recreation

Department, where he has administered the

citys sports programs for the past 17 years.

Ive been very fortunate to have two careers that I

loved, Potts says. I worked over 30 years for the

Paterson Evening News. When that job ended, I was for-tunate to walk into this job. But now its time to go. Ive

worked for over 50 yearsyou know in your heart when

its time.

Dont expect Potts to retire to some South Jersey sen-

ior citizen hideaway. Hell continue to run his team, the

Clifton Silk Sox, be active in the Babe Ruth League, and

turn up at diamonds throughout the area, watching his

beloved game.

Though hes lived in Fair Lawn throughout most of

his life, Potts considers Clifton a second home. The

citys been very good to me, he says. I have many

friends here.

Potts grew up in North Bergen and Fair Lawn, and

played for the Fair Lawn High School baseball team. He

was a first baseman and number three pitcher for the

Cutters from 1952 to 1954. The teams number one

hurler was future major leaguer, Ron Perranoski.

Fair Lawn coach Virgil Sasso recognized Potts talent

was not just as a player. I knew a lot about baseball,

Potts remembers. So he also made me third base

coach.

After his graduation, the town approached Potts about

restarting and managing the Fair Lawn BBCs, a semi-pro

team that had recently folded.

I took the job, Potts says. We re-formed the team

with guys I graduated with and younger players. And we

held our own.



Potts managed the team and played part-time, receiv-

ing no pay. In 1955, Fair Lawn joined the Passaic

County League and won the leagues championship the

next two years.

In 1957, Fair Lawn jumped to the North Jersey

League at the urging of writer and part-time Philadelphia

Phillies scout Ben Marmo. When Marmos own semi-

pro team, Uncle Sams Shoes, folded, he gave Potts Fair

Lawn team their home field to use.

At that time, Potts recalls, Eastside Park in

Paterson was the top location for semi-pro baseball. In

1959, we moved there and became the

Paterson Phillies, playing there until

1967.

Marmo signed many of Potts play-

ers for the Philadelphia organiza-

tionbut one did get away.

I wanted Ben to sign my old team-

mate, Ron Perranoski, Potts remarks,

but unfortunately the Chicago Cubs

got him first. Perranoski pitched 13

years in the majors, compiling a 79-74

record with 179 saves.

While the Paterson Phillies enjoyed

success against former big leaguers

like Cliftons Ed Sanicki, West

Oranges Gus Keriazakos, and the

Dodgers Joe Black, they could not

compete with the new demands

placed on Eastside Park. By the mid-

1960s, soccer was squeezing baseball

out.

After the semi-pro Clifton Dodgers

folded in 1968, Clifton Recreation

Department Superintendent Walt Sidor asked Potts to

bring his Phillies to Nash Park. After meeting with

Mayor Joe Vanecek, Potts agreed.

At one time, the Phillies were the oldest active and

successful semi-pro team in New Jersey. Lasting 45

years, they had over 1,500 victorieswinning 32 assort-

ed league and division titles, and the 1959 state champi-

onship.

Through all those years, Potts says, we got great

support from the Clifton mayors, council people, the

recreation department, and local fans.

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Clifton Phillies being welcomed to Clifton in 1968. From left Clifton Rec Director

Walter Sidor (a former AllState pitcher at CHS), Bob Potts and Clifton Mayor

Joseph Vanecek.


In 1972, Pottss career with

the Phillies almost ended. A

change of hours at the

Paterson Evening News(where he worked as a press-

man) made getting to Nash

Park by game time impossi-

ble.

We had an outstanding

centerfielder who told me,

Dont worry, Bob. Ill take

everything until you get here.

That was Len Coleman, for-

mer National League presi-

dent. He played centerfield for

us for nine seasons, and would

come to see us whenever he

was in town.

Other star players include

1975 National League Rookie

of the Year John the Count Montefusco, the Chicago

Cubs Willie Prall, and Frank MacCormack, who pitched

for Seattle and Detroit. Ive had about 90 players signed

from my team into pro ball, Potts says.

Clifton also produced some great native talent.

Pat Grady was one of my greatest players, Potts

says. We won three straight championships with him in

the outfield. Dan Sinisi was another. Years ago,

Bob Potts was named National Amateur Baseball Manager of the Year for the 1987 season.Also shown is Willie Banks, the St. Anthony H.S. baseball player ranked #1 in the nation andDick Case, executive director of U.S. Baseball.



Dennis Cesar was one of my all-time best outfielders.

Another of Potts favorite ex-players is former Clifton

High coach Paul Pignatello.

In March 2000, Potts folded the Phillies. A broken

ankle suffered when he fell on the ice that winter limit-

ed his mobility, and the cost of running the team and

lack of commitment by many Met League players influ-

enced his decision.

For the next two seasons, Potts ran the Clifton Babe

Ruth Leaguebut couldnt shake his desire to run his

own team. Last year, he formed the Clifton Silk Sox, in

tribute to the famous Doherty Silk Sox team that played

during the twenties. The old Silk Sox regularly beat

major league and Negro League teams on its home field

behind the Main Ave. mill.

I always read about the Silk Sox, Potts says, and

talked to some of their old players, like the late Bennie

Borgmann, about those days. Naming my team after the

Silk Sox was a way to remember them.

Potts Silk Sox are part of the I-80 Wood Bat League

and play their home games at Nash Park. He spends

$3,000 out of his own pocket outfitting the team and

buying equipment.

We dont even pass the hat anymore, he says,

because there arent too many fans there. Despite the

low attendance, Potts will continue to lead his team,

guiding talent he sees as just a few notches below the

Met League. The Silk Sox are filled with players in their

twenties, united by the love of the game and who play for

a local legend.

The team keeps me going, keeps my mind active,

Potts says. To survive in baseball, you have to change

with the times. I have friends who are old-timers who say

the game was better in their day. It wasnt betterjust

differentthats what you have to realize.

Some who played for Bob Potts include: Willie Prall, John The Count Montefusco, Jim Bouton, Eddie Sanicki, Len Coleman

Kenneth P. Kievit1948 - 2012

All of us at Athenia Mason Supply and hisfriends and family both here in Clifton andin Hardyston mourn the passing of Ken.

Good Neighbors,Great Rates

Thomas Tobin973-779-4248

Bill G. Eljouzi973-478-9500


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Clifton posted a 10-14record in 2011 with a squadthat was primarily inexperi-enced juniors. But with most of

those players returning for this com-

ing campaign, head coach Joe

Rivera feels that the Mustangs are

poised to be much better.

Last year we didnt have return-

ing starters and had a young team,

he explained. But Ive got my top

four hitters coming back. I would

definitely say hitting is our strength.

In our four scrimmages, we aver-

aged 10 runs a game.

Senior catcher Adnan Pjetrovic

will return to the clean up role this

year after collecting Second Team

All-County honors in 2011. For the

second year in a row, he will be the

Mustang captain. Senior Ryan

Hariton is the second captain and

lead off hitter for the Mustangs. He

will play shortstop in the field.

Jimmy Lavin, the senior second

baseman, will bat second in the

order. Both Hariton and Lavin are

returning starters.

Erick Ferreras, a junior, began the

2011 campaign with the JV squad

but ended up getting some time with

Varsity and sticking after Rivera

saw some stellar performances

against top clubs.

Hes honestly the best hitter that

Ive coached, said coach. Ferreras

bats third and plays third base. He

started midway last year and we

brought him up and he was just car-

rying the ball. I had to keep him in

Front row, from left: Joseph DeJesus, Cory Pollina, Tyler Lavin, Erick Femeras, Adnan

Pjetrovic, Chris DiFalco and Anthoy Fusoni. Back: Luis Ramos, Ryan Hariton, Patrick

Ferrara, Roberto Mendoza, Jimmy Lavin, Thomas Hanle and Jokeldy Hernandez.

MUSTANG SPORTS

CHS

BaseballMarch 31 at Paramus 11 am

April 2 Don Bosco 4 pm

April 4 at Passaic 4 pm

April 5 Eastside 4 pm

April 7 at Kearny 11 am

April 9 at Wayne Hill 4 pm

April 11 J. F. Kennedy 4 pm

April 13 at Passaic Cty Tech Noon

April 16 Bergen Tech 4 pm

April 18 at Wayne Valley 4 pm

April 20 at Don Bosco 4 pm

April 23 Passaic 4 pm

April 24 Montclair 4 pm

April 25 Elizabeth 4 pm

April 27 at Eastside 4 pm

April 30 Passaic Cty Tech 4 pm

May 2 at Passaic Valley 4 pm

May 3 at Union 4 pm

May 4 at J. F. Kennedy 4 pm

May 5 at Ridgewood 11 am

May 7 Lakeland 4:15 pm

May 9 West Milford 4 pm

May 11 at Teaneck 4 pm

May 18 at Paramus 4 pm

Baseball Softball Track Lacrosse Volleyball Tennis Golf


the lineup as a sophomore. Ive been getting letters from

D1 schools for him.

Rivera said only the top four hitters are locked into

position, and that anything after can change. Junior Chris

DiFalco, who played JV in 2011, will man first base and

fifth in the batting order. Junior right fielder Anthony

Fusoni is slotted in at the sixth batting position.

Other field players include Senior Pat Ferrara at cen-

terfield, and senior Joe deJesus at left field. Sophomore

Tyler Lavin and junior Corey Pollina will serve as the

DH. Senior Jokeldy Hernandez is a utility player for the

infield. Junior Roberto Mendoza will fill in outfield

positions when one of the Mustangs comes in to pitch.

While the Mustangs will return several key bats,

pitching will come down to some skilled but inexperi-

enced players. I really didnt have any returning start-

ing pitchers from last year, said Rivera. Pat (Ferrara)

and Joe (deJesus) were in the bullpen from last year but

that was it.

Those two Mustangs could be coming into the rota-

tion this year. Rivera expects his ace in 2012 to be jun-

ior Tom Hanle, who was on JV last season. Number two

in the rotation will be sophomore Louie Ramos. Joe

deJesus and Tyler Lavin will battle it out for the next two

spots in the rotation. Corey Pollina will be the reliever.

Theyre all pretty good, but inexperienced at the

Varsity level, explained Rivera. They did play over

the summer in a U-19 league and did pretty well. I def-

initely see us doing pretty well this year again. Weve

got our top four hitters returning and young pitchers, but

theyre very good and they throw strikes. I think were

going to do really well.

Season-Low Pricing on New Installs!Call Now!

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The Lady Mustangs had anexcellent season in 2011but came up just a littleshort. The Clifton squad lost in the

County finals to West Milford, and

bowed out of the first round of the

state tournament after going 15-9 in

the regular season.

Last year was a great year, said

head coach Sal Anzaldi. I dont

know many teams that would com-

plain about going to the County

Championship game. We had one

bad inning, gave up six runs and it

is tough to recover from that.

Of that squad, seven Varsity

players will return, including both

talented pitchers, senior Callie

Shanahan and junior Amanda

Marakovitz. Coach Anzaldi indi-

cated that the two will be splitting

starts.

Also returning is senior Renee

Korczynski, whose skills allow her

to play anywhere in the field. After

starting at first last year, Korczynski

will likely play outfield and bat at

the four or five spot in the lineup.

Kayla Meneghin, an All-County

selection in 2011, was described as

a terrific defensive outfielder by

Anzaldi and will bat in the two or

three slot. Senior Kelly Young will

be in at right field. Classmates

Christina Hlavaty and Lexi Balkjy

will also be in the outfield mix.

Junior Heather Rangers will start

for the second year in a row, lining

up at center field.

She possesses tremendous

speed, said Anzaldi. If we can get

her to consistently put the ball on

the ground, she can beat a lot of

things out.

Front from left: Dylan Amico, Heather Ranges, Janine Giordano, Christina Hlvaty,Callie Shanahan, Meghan Fahy, Renee Korczynski. Back: Jessica Schama, AmandaMarakovitz, Kayla Meneghin, Jenn Chupick, Lexi Balkjy, Kelly Young, Allison Hoey

MUSTANG SPORTSBaseball Softball Track Lacrosse Volleyball Tennis Golf

CHS

SoftballApril 2 at Immaculate Heart 4 pm


April 5 at Eastside 4 pm

April 7 at Wallkill Valley 3:30 pm

April 9 Wayne Hills 4 pm

April 11 at J. F. Kennedy 4 pm

April 12 at Cedar Grove 4 pm

April 13 Passaic Cty Tech 10 am

April 14 at Passaic Valley 7:30 pm

April 16 at Bergen Cty Tech 4 pm

April 17 Kearny 4 pm

April 18 Wayne Valley 4 pm

April 20 Immaculate Heart 4 pm

April 21 Pope John XXIII (tourny) 5 pm

April 21 Sparta (tourny) 7 pm

April 23 at Passaic 4 pm

April 24 at Caldwell 4:15 pm

April 27 Eastside 4 pm

April 30 at Passaic Cty Tech 4 pm

May 1 at St. Dominic 4 pm

May 2 Passaic Valley 4 pm

May 4 J. F. Kennedy 4 pm

May 7 at Lakeland 4 pm

May 9 at West Milford 4 pm


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Senior shortstop Meghan Fahy

will be one of the top players for the

Lady Mustang infield.

Shes probably going to be our

leadoff hitter, said Anzaldi. Shes

a tremendous team player and the

kid actually does whatever she has

to for the benefit of the team.

Senior Janine Giordano is anoth-

er returning player. She will be at

third base, and likely second in the

batting order.

Sophomore Brittney Meneghin

is slotted in for second base. First

base remains a position that we will

take a hard look at, said Anzaldi.

Junior Jen Chupick and senior

Allison Hoey are in a competition

for the position.

Dylan Amico will be the new

catcher. Anzaldi added that she has

a cannon for an arm and will be

throwing out many runners.

I think the strength of the team

is that its a group of kids that all

really get along with each other,

said coach. They have a lot of

good times playing softball. If we

can get some good pitching, timely

hitting and good D, we should be

able to win a lot of games.

We had a rough preseason, just

giving up too many runs, contin-

ued Anzaldi. We have to get

much better defensively and

become much more aggressive with

our bats. If those things happen, we

should be ok.


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Head coach John Pontes isanticipates a rebuildingseason after the Mustangsplaced third in the league and eighth

in the county.

We graduated quite a few,

explained the coach. Clifton went

2-2 in dual meets for the boys in

2011 and lost top runner Dan Green.

Pontes will rely on some well estab-

lished Mustangs to score points this

coming year.

Leading that pack will be Jessie

Boria, a junior in his third year of

Varsity. He will run the 1,800 and

3,200. Distance will be the team

strength, bolstered by seniors Ryan

Dziuba (800), David Monclova (800

and 1,600), Vedanta Nayak (all dis-

tance events), junior Darren Malysa

(3,200 and 1,600) and sophomore

Justin Tanayan (1,600 and 800).

In throws will be seniors Aaron

Arias and Kostyantyn Bloshko.

(Kostyantyn) is new to us this year

and is doing very well in the shotput

and discuss, added Pontes.

Royce Deleon, a junior, will be a

leader in jumps and hurdles. Others

in those events include senior

Fabian Rodriguez (polevault and

hurdles), junior Mike Hardy (high

jump, 400 and 100 hurdles) and

sophomore Dwyer Halliburton.

We can put (Halliburton) just about

anywhere, said Pontes.

We have 79 kids all together this

year, which is bigger than usual.

Theres a lot of underclassmen,

sophomore and freshman, that are

new and theyll come along, he

continued. Were kind of in a

rebuilding year. Theres four events

were really strong in. Unfortunately

theres about 13 events.

The girls squad finished their

2011 season with a 3-1 record in

dual meets, and faces a staunch task

in besting PCTI. Cliftons rival took

the county crown, while the

Mustangs finished second in both

the league and county.

PCTI has been pretty dominant

and they will be for a few years,

said head coach Mike Rogers, who

Front from left: Ryan Dziuba, Chirag Desai, Jillian Swisher, Michael Czerhoniak,Miguel Garcia and Kimberly Douglass. Rear, from left: Shianne Nevers, FabianRodriguez, Keyra Krauss.

MUSTANG SPORTSBaseball Softball Track Lacrosse Volleyball Tennis Golf

CHS

TrackApril 3 at Eastside 4 pm

April 7 at Passaic Valley 9 am


April 17 at J. F. Kennedy 4 pm

April 21 at Old Bridge 8:30 am

April 28 at Randolph 9 am

May 1 Passaic Cty Tech 4 pm

May 7 at Wayne Valley 3:30 pm



May 15 at Passaic Valley 3:30 pm

May 16 at Pascack Valley 3:30 pm

May 25 at Randolph 4 pm

May 26 at Randolph 10 am

June 1 at Old Bridge 4 pm

June 2 at Old Bridge 10 am

June 7 at Old Bridge 4 pm


takes over for Flo Calise after serv-

ing as assistant. Among the key

returners for Clifton will be senior

Monika Miazga and junior Gabby

Gonzaga. Monika is one of the

best sprinters in Passaic County and

North Jersey, said Rogers. Gabby

was 1st Team All-County in the mile

and will run all distance events.

Senior Shianne Nevers was one

of the top point scorers and will

return in hurdles and jumps. Junior

Nicole Buttel is perhaps the best all

around Mustang, and will compete

in pole vault, hurdles and jumps.

Seniors Annette Malysa will lead

the Mustangs in the 3,200, and

classmate Jillian Swisher will also

contribute in distance events.

Rogers also expects junior Yuria

Yuasa to rebound from injury strug-

gles this season. Senior Kim

Douglass is a newcomer who looks

to make an impact in several events.

Sophomore Cassidy Cardone will

be a top performer in hurdles and the

400. I think we can be competitive

again

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Clifton Merchant Magazine - April 2012

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