Clifton Merchant Magazine - April 2014

Clifton Merchant • April 2014 3

April 2014 • Clifton Merchant4

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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Graphic DesignerKen Peterson

Contributing WritersDomenick RedaCarol Leonard Jack DeVries

Irene JarosewichMichael Gabriele

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011

© 2014 Tomahawk Promotions

Table of Contents

City Green, Clifton RootsThe Papa & Knors Families

Clifton Expands Recycling Collects Plastics Curbside

Downtown Clifton JoesWinning Poet, Music Composer

Jack DeVries at Table 4A Basketball Fan Comes of Age

The Ukrainian PysankyNatalka Warchola’s Designs

Mustang Spring SportsCHS Season Preview

What’s Inside?

History of Schultheis FarmFather & Son Now in Tabernacle

6

14

16

20

34

42

48

Our June edition will celebrate Cliftonresidents of the Class of 2014 as theygraduate our public and private highschools. Tell us about your grad. Findour survey at cliftonmerchant.com

Hiring WritersClifton Merchant Magazine andTomahawk Promotions has part time

job openings. Send your resume andexplain how you would contribute to

our team:

Writer / EditorHelp us tell Clifton’s story

Librarian / HistorianOrganize our archives

Send resume and a letter:[email protected]

An Original Clifton CharmerSteve Meyers Built A Softball Dynasty

Immedicenter: A National ModelDr. Basista Still Innovating After 30 Years

Clifton Firefighter’s BallA Tradition Returns for Clifton’s Bravest

Birthdays & CelebrationsYour Friends & Neighbors at Milestones

Passaic County Film FestivalFree Screening at the Fabian April 26

68

72

78

82

88

This 1975 photo of Grade 3 in School 8 was provided by Susan Maloney-Romeo of Kaleidokuts on Van Houten Ave.Many of these kids went on to graduate CHS in 1984. We are using the photo as a reminder to readers that in July, wewill publish our annual Where are These Mustangs Now? This year, with your help, we will connect with Mustangswho graduated CHS in 2004, 1994, 1984, 1974, 1964,1954 and 1944. Write to us at [email protected].


Clifton Merchant writer Jack DeVries,at right, was named a 2013 Finalist inthe National Table 4 Writers GrantAward. He is pictured with ChazzPalminteri, star of A Bronx Tale, at theMarch 27 event. The story that wonthe honor begins on page 34.


City Green

Two decades ago, while traveling through inner-cityNew Jersey landscapes,�Jennifer�Papa�saw�vacant�lots,a�lack�of�green�space,�food�insecurity�for�those�in�need,

and�blighted�neighborhoods.�She�also�saw�opportunities

to�empower�residents�of�neglected�urban�areas.�

“I�believe�in�the�power�of�beauty,”�Papa�declared.�“I

believe� in� the� idea�of�food�justice�and�sustainably�pro-

duced�food.�When�I�saw�these�neighborhoods,�I�saw�pos-

sibilities�and�the�potential�to�create�something�beautiful.”

Something�beautiful�meant�harnessing�both�the�nutri-

tional� abundance� and� aesthetic� beauty� of� nature—in

effect,�said�Papa,�reclaiming�the�“garden”�heritage�of�the

Garden� State.�After� graduating� from� the�University� of

Massachusetts,�Amherst,� in� 1991,� she� worked� for� her

mother’s�advertising�and�public�relations�company.

By�2002�she�decided�to�explore�a�different�career�path

and�began�to�do�research�and�attend�seminars�on�com-

munity�gardening�and�environmental�activism.�Her�inter-

est�in�the�“green�movement”�soon�became�a�passion�and

a�mission.� �As� a� result,� in� an� entrepreneurial� burst� of

energy,�she�started�City�Green�Inc.,�a�501(c)3�non-profit

organization,�located�on�the�five-acre�Schultheis�Farm�at

171�Grove�St.�in�Clifton,�now�in�its�10th�year.

City� Green� staff� also� works� the� land� at� a� smaller

organic�farm�in�Eastside�Park,�Paterson,�and�manages�a

range�of�community-based�gardening�and�environmental

programs,� while� encouraging� volunteerism.� Over� 800

youth,�ages�6�to�17,�are�in�City�Green�educational�initia-

tives� and� another� 2,500� students� participate� in� school

garden� projects.� Plus� more� than� 200� adults� are� in� the

group’s�community�gardening�and�horticultural�therapy.

Papa,�the�executive�director�of�City�Green,�maintains

an�“asset-based”�perspective�when�it�comes�to�commu-

nity/urban�farming.�For�Papa,�an�abandoned�city�lot�isn’t

an�eyesore,�but�rather�an�asset�waiting�to�be�transformed

into� fields� of� vegetables,� fruits� and� flowers.� She� sees

beyond� the� obvious� and� imagines� potential� benefits,� a

philosophy�embedded�in�her�organization.

At Clifton’s Schultheis Farm, Jennifer Papa,Claudia Urdanivia and Todd Gustafson.

By Michael C. Gabriele



Garden Beds in Clifton and BeyondCity�Green�“plants�the�seeds”—training

local� residents� to� establish� and� maintain

successful� city� gardens.� This� includes

instruction� on� building� raised� vegetable

beds�and�installing�irrigation�systems.

The�goal�is�for�residents�to�take�owner-

ship� of� the� projects.�While� the� urban�gar-

dens�provide�a�substantial�amount�of�food,

Papa�acknowledges�the�harvest�also�yields

a�sense�of�community�pride.

City�Green’s�newest�initiative,�“Dig�In!”

will�create�and�manage�16�community�gar-

dens� in� Clifton,� Passaic,� Paterson,� Little� Falls,� North

Haledon�and�other�Passaic�County�municipalities�thanks

to�funding�by�the�Passaic�County�Freeholders.�

Dig�In!�will�consult�with�community�groups�to�select

garden� locations,� offer� classes� to� teach� the� basics� of

health�soil,�natural�pest�management�and�plant�care,�and

promote�a�zero-waste�policy—donating�unused�produce

to� local� food� pantries.� Claudia� Urdanivia,� City� Green

program� operations�manager,� will� oversee� the�Dig� In!

campaign.�Urdanivia�was�born�in�Peru�and�came�to�the

United�States�with�her�family�in�1994.��

A� 2004� CHS�grad,� her� career� at� City

Green�began�when�she�worked�as�a�volun-

teer�in�2010-2011.�She�was�soon�hired�to

be� the� leader�of�a� summer� internship� for

teens,�which�involved�team-building�con-

cepts�on�farming�and�local�food�systems.

For� Urdanivia,� “community”� is� the� key

word�that�guides�her�environmental�advo-

cacy�efforts.

“Being�an�advocate�means�making�peo-

ple�aware�of�pressing�issues,”�she�said.�“It

means� educating� volunteers� so� that� they

can�participate�in�local�efforts�to�improve

the�environment.�These�are�things�that�develop�a�sense�of

community�and�bring�people�together.”

This�spring,�in�a�partnership�with�Clifton�Recreation,

City�Green�will�open�a�20-bed�tract�of�land�for�commu-

nity� gardening.� � Other� outreach� efforts� include� “New

Ground,”�an�adult�education�program�that�promotes�the

development�of�community�gardens,�green�spaces,�beau-

tification�projects�and�community�collaboration.

New�Ground�also�helps�bring�fresh�produce�to�urban

neighborhoods,�working�in�conjunction�with�established

county�and�municipal�food�assistance�networks.�

Claudia Urdanivia isa 2004 CHS Grad.

City Green



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“City�Sprouts”�is�an�education�and�recre-

ational�venture�that�gets�kids�into�commu-

nity�gardening�so�they�can��learn�about�our

ecosystem� and� the� importance� of� eating

healthy�foods.�There�will�be�outdoor��activ-

ities� for� children,� working� in� partnership

with� community�organizations,� city� recre-

ation�departments�and�summer�camps.

“Growing� Strong”� offers� paid� summer

employment� to� high� school� students� who

work�on�the�two�City�Green�farms,�organic

farm� stands� and� in� the� City� Sprouts

Learning�Garden�Summer�Camp.

“School�Grounds”�supports�the�creation

of�school�garden�projects�and�environmen-

tal�clubs� throughout�northern�New�Jersey,

while� teaching� students� the� benefits� of

locally�grown�and�organic�food,�as�well�as

the�impact�of�food�choices�on�their�health.

Nurtured and Grown HereOperating�City�Green�is�a�homecoming

for�Papa,�as�generations�of�her�family�grew

up� here� in�Clifton.�Her� parents,�Tom� and

Elaine�Papa,�were�Mustangs�who�graduat-

ed�CHS�in�1962.��And�while�they�have�both

played� a� role� (and� continue� to� do� so)�in

making� City� Green� what� it� has� become

today,� Papa� said� her� environmental�muse

goes�back�another�generation.

Papa’s�love�of�nature�was�inspired�by�her

late�maternal�grandmother,�Charlotte�Knors,

who�was�active�as�a�volunteer�at�the�Clifton

Arts�Center�and�the�Clifton�Public�Library.

“It�was� really� her� appreciation� of� nature,”

said� Papa.� � “Even� though� she� grew� up� in

Jersey�City�and�then�moved�to�Clifton,�she

taught� me� little� things� about� nature� and

beauty.��Like�clipping�Forsythia�branches�in

March�and�bringing�them�indoors�and�forc-

ing�the�bloom.��And�despite�the�fact�that�she

had�a�manicured�landscape,�she�had�a�sur-

prising�variety�of�plants.�When� she�died� I

dug�up�here�favorite�rose�bush�and�brought

it� to�my� home.� � It� still� blooms� like� crazy

every�spring.”��

Papa’s� motivation� for� giving� back� and

community� service� was� inspired� by

Grandma� Clementine,� who� also� passed.

“She�was�the�quintessential�Italian�grand-

ma.� � We� often� had� Sunday� dinner� with

family�and�so�I�think�she�installed�in�all�21

of�us�grandkids�to�be�selfless,�to�share�and

to�give�of�yourself.��I�think�they�were�one

of� the� first� families� in� Aquacknanonk

Gardens,”�Papa� continued,� referring� to

what�was�then�veteran’s�housing�off�of�Van

Houten� Ave.,� near� Valley� Rd.� � “So� on

Sundays�when�we�came�to�visit�we�would

get� off� the�Parkway� at� the�Grove�St.� exit

and� go� right� past� Ploch’s� and� Schultheis

Farms.� I�think� it’s� ironic� that� now� I� am

stomping�around�Clifton,�basically�walking

in�both�of�their�footsteps.”

Keeping It Green in CliftonCliftonites� appreciate� the� concept� of

access� to� locally� grown� produce.� Ploch’s

Farm,�a�City�Green�neighbor�has�some�17

acres�and�grows�and�sells�delicious�summer

and� fall� vegetables� at� its� farmstand.

Richfield�Farms,�on�Van�Houten�Ave.�near

CHS�and�the�Paterson�Farmer’s�Market�on

the� Paterson� and� Clifton� city� line� along

Crooks�Ave.�also�offers�green�options.�On�a

statewide� basis,� New� Jersey� remains� a

major� producer� of� tomatoes,� white� corn,

blueberries�and�cranberries.

Todd� Gustafson,� City� Green’s� farm

manager,�said�the�concept�of�urban�farming

gets�locally�grown�food�closer�to�the�peo-

ple�who�want� it.�Gustafson�is� the�steward

of�City�Green’s�three-and-a-half�acres�here

and�the�half-acre�in�Paterson.

Aside� from� the� nutritional� advantages

and� quality� of� seasonal� produce,� he� said

urban�farming�creates�jobs,�requires�fewer

pesticides,�and�reduces�the�cost�of�logistics

needed� to� ship� and� process� food.�What’s

needed�to�make�the�concept�work,�he�said,

is�a�“spark”� like�City�Green,�which�allow

urban�farming�to�root�and�prosper.

GrandmothersCharlotte Knorsabove and

Clementine Papa.

Parents Elaine(Knors) and Tom Papa.

City Green


January 2014 • Clifton Merchant14

Other� City� Green� staff� members� include� Jasmine

Moreano,� director� of� community� engagement;� Josh

Kane,� director� of� youth� programming;� and�Tom�Fox,

production� coordinator.�To�mark� its� 10th� anniversary,

City�Green�is�planning�a�gala�on�Sept.�20�with�music,

workshops� and� a� farm-to-table� supper� with� “lots� of

good�food,”�Papa�said.��Beginning�in�June�and�through

October,� the� group� � will� sell� its� organic� produce—

tomatoes,� lettuce,� arugula,� kale,� leeks,� peppers,� broc-

coli�and�cut�flowers—at�its�market�farm�stand�on�Grove

St.�on�Fridays�from�10�am�to�2�pm.��

Earth�Day�is�April�22�and�the�focus�on�“green�cities,”

aligns� well� with� the� stated� goals� of� City� Green.� For

Clifton�residents,�the�most�important�message�from�the

annual� celebration� is� that� every� contribution�matters.

The� small-scale� efforts� of� individuals,�when�weighed

collectively,� have� an� impact� locally,� regionally� and

across�the�globe,�according�to�Papa.

She�praised�the�efforts�of�city�residents�who�faithful-

ly� recycle� their� bottles,� metals,� papers,� plastics� and

more.�Plus,�family�friendly�backyard�gardens�and�plant-

ing�trees�“all�add�up,”�she�said.�

To�participate,�volunteer�or�contribute�to�City�Green,

call�973-869-4086�or�go�to�citygreenonline.org.�

City Green

The City of Clifton began the curbside collection of plas-tic bottles and containers on April 1. Only plastic labeledwith #1 and #2 will be collected. To locate the label lookunder the bottom of the bottle or container and find anumber within a triangle. Above, Victor Campolattaroloading a DPW truck in Rosemawr. For questionsregarding plastic collection or recycling, call CliftonRecycling Coordinator Al DuBois at 973-470-2237.


Al Schultheis and Al Schultheis Jr. in 2004.

In April 2004, the Schultheises weren’t saying toomuch. And�who�could�have�blamed�them?��Al�Sr.,�then63,��and�Al�Jr.,�then�38,�found�themselves�at�the�center�of

the� Clifton� school� controversy.� � The� 5.8� acre� family

farm,�some�land�along�Broad�St.�and�an�adjacent�home—

some�7�acres�in�total—was�a�particularly�hot�commodi-

ty�since�the�City�Council�and�Board�of�Education�decid-

ed�that�a�middle�school�should�be�built�there.

When�we�went�to�press�with�the�May�2004�edition,�the

farm�was�still�owned�by�the�Schultheises,�though,�and�for

all�their�reticence�about�discussing�their�plans,�it’s�appar-

ent� that� past� dealings�with� the� City� of� Clifton� and� the

State�of�New�Jersey�had�left�a�bad�taste�in�their�mouths.

With�its�roots�in�the�1800s,�the�Schultheis�family�was

prepared�to�work�their�Clifton�farm�into�the�21st�centu-

ry.��Five�years�earlier�in�1999,�they�wanted�to�order�a

$250,000� state-of-the-art� greenhouse� from� The

Netherlands.��It�was�then�that�the�Schultheis�family�first

experienced�bureaucracy�at�its�most�frustrating.�

“The�City�gave�us�the�runaround,”�Al�Schultheis�Sr.

said.��At�first,�the�city’s�zoning�officer�gave�approval�for

construction� of� the� new� greenhouse—no� variances.

Thus,� Schultheis� forwarded� a� down� payment� and

ordered�the�greenhouse.�

Soon,�officials�decided�that�a�sophisticated�drainage

system� would� indeed� be� needed� and� that� Schultheis

would,�in�fact,�need�Zoning�Board�approval.�He�ended

up�having� to�hire�a� lawyer.�He�got� the�approval�but� it

took�months,�delayed�plans�and�cost�thousands.�

Next,�the�State�announced�plans�to�shave�off�some�of

Schultheis�farm�to�improve�Route�46.��More�stalling�and

another�runaround�with�state�bureaucracy.

So�back�in�May�2004,�there�was�a�lot�of�talk�about�the

family�having�a�multi-million�dollar�deal�from�a�devel-

oper?�Were�they�ready�to�sell?��The�Schultheises�claim

to�be�in�the�dark�about�their�farm’s�future�and�anyone’s

plans�to�buy�it.��“We�don’t�get�any�straight�answers,”�Al

Schultheis�Sr.�said.��“All�we�know�is�what�we�read�in�the

papers.”�Father�and�son�worked�their�chores�as�dad�con-

cluded:��“The�city�can�buy�it�at�the�going�rate.”

In�2005,�with�NJ�Green�Acres�funds,�Clifton�did�pur-

chase�and�forever�preserve�the�farm�for�$4.25�million.

Father�and�son�Schultheis�and�their�families�have�relo-

cated� to� Tabernacle,� in� farm� friendly� South� Jersey,

where�they�continue�to�grow�all�types�of�produce.


Schultheis Farm

It’S Place In HIStory





Two Joes from Downtown Clifton, Each Awarded $8,500 Fellowships

Every year for the past 17, the NJ State Council onthe Arts has awarded 20 Artist Fellowship Awards in

the categories of Sculpture, Poetry, Choreography,

and Music Composition. Every year, the sub-

missions for the fellowships undergo inde-

pendent peer review based on samples of

work submitted by each artist. This year

awards were presented February 25 at the

South Orange Performing Arts Center.

Two of the 20 winners are Joseph

Rathgeber for poetry and Joseph Turrin

for music composition.

Both winners are named Joe; both

winners are from Clifton. They live

only blocks apart, yet met only after

learning that they had each won.

Two winners of a coveted arts award in

the same year from the center of the same

town? Some might say those are steep odds

to have beat. Or some might say it’s simply

another example of that Jersey truth: it’s in

the water.

Not long after I moved to New Jersey

several decades years ago, I heard a radio

DJ on 101.5 announce basso profundo,

“Not Philadelphia. Not New York.

Proud to be New Jersey.” Whooshing

past Exit 12 on the NJ Turnpike, I

thought, “Now really, where am I?

What other state goes around saying

they’re proud to be a state?”

Two Joe’s

TWO (NOT-SO-AVERAGE) JOES

Joseph Turrin and Joe Rathgeber.

By Irene Jarosewich



Two Joe’s

Poet Joe Rathgeber Joe Rathgeber does the DJ one better.

“North Jersey is the center of the universe,”

says Joe. He pretty serious about that.

“I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else,”

he continues, “I love that I have everything I

want within an hour. And for a state that gets

ripped on, it’s produced a lot of great minds.”

Among those great minds are two of the

most influential American poets of the 20th

century, Alan Ginsberg of Paterson and

William Carlos Williams of Rutherford, both

born and raised in towns along the Passaic

River, only a few miles apart.

Joe Rathgeber would never presume to be

in the same league with the other two North

Jersey wordsmiths, although he does get a

kick that his town is in between theirs and on

the same river.

Rathgeber remembers that since he was a

child, he liked being creative. There was no

one Aha! moment for him when he realized

that he wanted to be a poet. Rathgeber

absorbed many artistic genres and simply

grew into his writing over the years.

“In high school, I listened to hip-hop and

would scribble lyrics on notebooks. I expand-

ed through music, at first Bob Dylan, and by

the end of high school, I was reading a lot. But

I never thought about it. I never had a teacher

that said ‘you’re good,’ – I just knew I

enjoyed doing it and wanted to keep

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Twelve Labors by Joe Rathgeber

Dad gets home late—a transmission job was keeping him—he’s filmed with grease, and I define demigod.

Out at the shed he red rag cleans the snowblower carburetorof last winter’s gunk. It’s August and he’s replacing

the augur belt. He rigs up a lattice of ropes and pulleysto operate a pole saw and prune the brown branches

on the spruce out front. Steady-handed, he solders a signaldiode onto the remote control circuit board.

He power washes the pool liner; he scrubs the algae off.Aunt Gina left her lights on and needs a jump:

connect the red cable first—the black is the ground. Nevertoo early in the season to bleed the radiator valves.

He climbs a ladder to the roof, crouches at the corner likea gargoyle, and cleans a gutter with the garden hose.

Spackle and sand the hole that my head put in the drywall,inadvertently. Inspect the washing machine agitator.

Asphalt and coarse-aggregate patch the potholes and cracks—tar the driveway. Pull weeds and scuffle hoe the soil.

I tell my dad Heracles was a madman who slew his sons,completed twelve tasks, and was unpaid for his labor.

The guy washed mounds of cow dung from the stables, I say,and in nothing but a loincloth. Augeas, the owner,

refused to provide compensation, so Heracles killed him forthe principle of the thing. “Seems fair,” my dad says.

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Two Joe’s

doing this. It was natural. I was self-motivated to write

poetry. For example, my wife was in a creative writing

class at Clifton High. I didn’t know it even existed.”

Rathgeber, 31, met his wife Michelle Primavera

while at Montclair State in creative writing workshop.

Today, they reside on Washington Ave. and the couple

has a two-year old daughter Joleen and a second daugh-

ter due in June. They are teachers; Michelle teaches 7th

grade English in Ridgewood and he teaches AP English

to juniors at Bergen Catholic. The timing of the fellow-

ship is fortuitous.

“I’ll be able to take next year off from teaching, an

extended paternity leave, and will be home with the

new baby.” And thanks to the fellowship, Rathgeber

will be able to continue to write his poetry.

Michelle has stopped her writing for now, however

she is, as Rathgeber says, “his best critic” and offers

him insight into his own work.

“I write first and foremost for me,” said Joe, “but I

do have this outside vision of who would be reading my

work. And actually, it sounds selfish to say I write for

myself, not totally true, otherwise why would we try to

publish? Although I also know even if I publish, only a

slim number of people are reading poetry.”

Like many, Rathgeber is frustrated with the push in

education to move away from reading fiction to non-

fiction with a focus on an economic end goal, not a

focus on what you gain as a person.

“Recently, a scientific study was published that read-

ing literary fiction makes you more compassionate,

more sympathetic,” he said, continuing, “you forge

connections with the world. Readers make better peo-

ple. And as you mature, your reading should mature,

something after the Hunger Games. But we’re losing

the value in reading.”

Rathgeber often tells his students that language is

power and to use their language ability critically. “I say

to them that you are almost forsaking one of your

human rights when you don’t choose to do that.”

For Rathgeber, who received an honorable mention

in the 2014 Alan Ginsburg Poetry Award (see our

February edition), being award the fellowship was not

only an honor, but a validating experience.

“I was shocked, actually, that I won. I’m not the type

to win things. So it was good to know that anonymous

peers consider my work to have artistic merit.”

Joseph Turrin was an NYU freshman, just a yearout of CHS when singer and songwriter Paul Simon

told him “there’s nothing more I can teach you.”

Turrin, who was attending Eastman School of Music in

Rochester, New York at the time had come to

Manhattan to audition for Paul Simon at the urging of

his buddy and fellow Cliftonite Ron Maxwell.

“Ron was at NYU,” recalls Turrin, “and heard that

Paul Simon would be teaching a songwriting course

there. Ron said ‘let’s see if we can get in. If Simon likes

our work, maybe he’ll get us auditions with producers.’

I told him that I thought it was a good idea, so we

signed up.”

The two friends had met at Clifton High School.

Maxwell was a real go-getter, recalls Turrin, and was

already writing and producing shows and plays.

JOSEPH TURRINCOMPOSER

“Ron was a year older and heard

about me through the grapevine. He

had written a show and needed some

music. I was sitting in what we called

the little theater back then, in Clifton

High School. It was 1965, the first

year the new school was open. I was

playing piano and in walks Ron

Maxwell. He says ‘I hear you’re a

composer’ and I say ‘yea, I dabble in

it, play the piano some, play trumpet

in the (Mustangs Marching) band.’

He asked if I wanted to collaborate

with him on a show. I said sure.”

From that simple conversation began

a friendship that continues to this day.

The first show, Pillars ofCarthage, died a natural death, but

the two young men, who were not

even old enough to drive when they

began their creative collaboration,

went on to write and produce sever-

al more shows together.

Maxwell organized the Garden

State Players and sold company

stock to finance their productions,

among them Funny Girl and an

original show titled The Barricadebased on the riots in Paris in 1962.

Maxwell directed and Turrin wrote

the music.

The Barricade was a hometown

success, staged first at the former

Jewish Community Center, which

was in Passaic then and now on

Delaware Ave in Clifton, among

other venues. Turrin and Maxwell

decided to try for the footlights in

Manhattan.

“We have this show TheBarricade and we were going to

off-Broadway producers trying to

get them to do our show. We went

to Al Carmines, who was based in a

little church on Washington Square,

to other producers. Ron and I were

a team. We would sit down at a

piano and begin to play and sing.

We probably sounded terrible, but

we had guts.”

Fearless ambition is what got

them in the door to meet with Paul

Simon. “So we went to the audi-

tion,” recalls Turrin, “and we

showed up at the appointed time. We

were sitting, waiting and out came

Paul Simon, introduces himself and

asks ‘are you Mr. Maxwell, Mr.

Turrin?’ and asks us to come in. So

here we were, the three of us in

Simon’s classroom downtown in the

Village and Ron and I sit down at the

piano. We went into our routine. I’m

playing away and Ron is singing.”

Suddenly Turrin felt a warm

breath on the back of his neck and

turned around briefly to see Paul

Simon staring intently at the music

score placed on the piano in front

of Turrin.


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Two Joe’s

“I thought to myself,” continues Turrin,

“Holy smokes! This is Paul Simon and he’s

really scrutinizing my music score.” Turrin

and Maxwell play to the end of the score.

Turrin remembers how Simon then turned to

him and said “Joe, I didn’t mean to rattle you

or anything. I’m just fascinated that every-

thing you’re doing is on this page. The way

you notated it. I can’t read or write music.”

Maxwell and Turrin were completely

dumbfounded. “We said something like ‘uh,

OK,” laughs Turrin. “Then Simon continued

‘I can’t teach you guys anything, you’re too

advanced. This course is for guitar players

and folk singers. You guys are almost writing

operas. I wouldn’t know what to do for you.’

He gave us a contact at the Fillmore East,

said good bye, thanks and we left.” The memory still

makes Turrin grin.

Working With A MustangFrom this precocious beginning, Turrin, winner of a

New Jersey State Council on the Arts 2014 Artist

Fellowship Award in Music Composition, went on to a

long and varied career as a composer for film and the-

ater, as well conductor and music professor. He contin-

ued to work with Maxwell, including on the music

score for Maxwell’s first Hollywood movie LittleDarlings, as well as with film star Alan Alda, jazz

musician Wynton Marsalis, conductor Kurt Masur with

the New York Philharmonic and legendary theater

director and producer George Abbott.

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Joseph Turrin with Larry Gareau and his wife Joanne. Gareau washis first music teacher (5th grade at School No.11 in Clifton) and thefirst to encourage Turrin’s musical abilities.



Two Joe’s

Honoring A MentorAlthough Turrin was already in his early 40s

when he met George Abbott in 1990, and

Abbott was 102, it is Abbott that Turrin credits

as his mentor and the individual who most

influenced his further creative development.

Turrin recalls receiving a call from a choreog-

rapher who was working with Abbott. “He told

me that Abbott had just finished writing a show

and was looking for a composer. Abbott was

living in Florida,” said Turrin, “so I called him

and he sent me a script, asked me to send two-

three songs. The next time he was in New York

we met and he said ‘Let’s do a show together.’

We did. We wrote an off-Broadway show titled

‘Frankie.’ That’s how our friendship started.”

Turrin remains inspired by Abbott, by his work ethic,

by his persistence and Abbott’s insistence that every-

thing was open for a rewrite.

“He was known for his conciseness, never spoke

unless he had something to say. One thing he did have

to say was ‘it can always be better’.”

Countless people got their start because of Abbott,

said Turrin, Bob Fosse, Carol Burnett are just a few.

“Hal Prince used to bring Abbott coffee,” said Turrin,

“Abbott was offered West Side Story to direct. He did

not want to do it and told the producer ‘have my friend

Jerry (Jerome) Robbins do it’.” West Side Story went on

to be a huge success, bringing fame to Robbins.

After Abbott passed away at 107, the marquee lights

on Broadway were dimmed for a half hour in respect of

his memory, and a service was held for Abbott at a large

theater. “I was honored to be asked to sit with his fam-

ily,” recalls Turrin, “and remember as Jerome Robbins

came on stage to speak. Here was this big man with this

big reputation and the first thing is said was how in awe

he always was of George Abbott.”

Another legendary figure with whom Turrin has

worked is conductor Kurt Masur. Among Turrin’s many

compositions is Hemispheres commissioned for

Masur's final concert with the New York Philharmonic

in May 2002 and then taken on tour by Masur and the

orchestra to Europe and Asia.

About his work Hemispheres the New York Timeswrote, “Mr. Turrin's music is nervous, loud, swift and

aggressive to the point of violence. It is also beautiful-

ly made, negotiating its constant changes of speed and

pulse with grace. Mr. Turrin's music is young: no past,

only future.”

Besides the commission for Masur’s final concert,

Turrin has had a long-standing relationship with the

New York Philharmonic, composing for the ensemble,

as well as for individual artists. Besides the New York

Philharmonic, he has conducted with, and composed

for, more than two dozen orchestras worldwide.

His music has allowed Turrin to live in several

places and travel extensively, composing, conducting,

and performing. He now calls his hometown of Clifton

home again, living near the old downtown.

Clifton Teacher Makes a DifferenceThe oldest of seven children, Turrin remembers that

his parents were always supportive of his creativity.

While there was music in his Clifton home — his moth-

er sang and his father played the piano — it was

Turrin’s music teacher Larry Gareau that helped Turrin

understand his talents.

“Gareau once paid me the greatest compliment,”

Turrin said of his fifth grade teacher, “When we met

when I was a kid, he had just started as a music teacher

and it was my first year playing trumpet. Many years

later, Larry told me, ‘Joe that was my first year of

teaching. I always thought that I would have another

student like you. I never did.’”

Turrin and Gareau meet about once a year when his

former teacher, now retired in Georgia, comes back to

New Jersey to visit family and friends.

Joseph Turrin and jazz great Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center.


Two Joe’s

A professor at Montclair State,

Turrin hopes that he can help guide

some of his students the way his

mentors and teachers helped him.

“I’m a schooled musician, I’ve

learned the process,” said Turrin,

“I’ve learned the language of notes

and the language in my head is

notes, not letters. For composing

classical music you certainly need

to have these skills of notation, of

having the craft down ... and when

it comes to inspiration, sometimes

it’s simply guided by what was

commissioned – but I always have

a loose idea in head.”

The importance of craft, and of

how you use this idea in your head, what you do with

it, is the message that Turrin tries to impress upon his

students.

“In my music and film class, I have about 122 kids

each semester. It’s a general ed course and there are

very few music students, mostly biology, phys ed, edu-

cation majors. So I need to reduce this process of creat-

ing to a common denominator. I speak about ideas that

are springboards for compositions in writing and in

music. An example I give is “Call me Ishmael” from

Moby Dick. That phrase, that idea is not really impor-

tant by itself. But look where Melville went with it. It’s

become iconic because of what Melville did with it.

The matter is not just in the idea, but what one does

with the idea. That’s where genius lies.”

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In 1978, Joe Turrin; Sally Kellerman, Ron Maxwell, Howard DiSilva, SissySpacek and an unidentified individual on the set of Verna, USO Girl.





Every year there are championship teams, but some

are different. Some are timeless. The 1969-70 New

York Knickerbockers were one of those teams.

Basketball was not brash and loud back then, jammed

with commercials, deafening sounds and slam dunks.

Instead, it was a smaller game, a city game, played in a

warm gym oasis braced against an urban winter.

The game was descended from peach basket goals

and once played in dance halls and church basements by

dirt poor athletes. During that season of the Knicks, you

could still see its historic bloodline, played by players

wearing short shorts and canvass and rubber sneakers.

The three-pointer was unknown, dunks were unusual

events, and the game flowed below the rim.

Was it better then? It was different. We loved it, and

we loved the Knicks.

Outside Madison Square Garden – a circular building

below Times Square so unlike its blocky neighbors –

chestnuts and big pretzels roasted in vendors’ carts

before games, filling frigid air with aroma mixed with

the diesel exhaust smell of buses. Ghosts walked by

muttering, “Tickets, who’s got tickets?” and cops pre-

tended not to notice.

Before every game, the familiar voice of announcer

John F.X. Condon would greet everyone, saying, “Good

evening, everybody. Welcome to Madison Square

Garden.” Cigar and cigarette smoke would hang in

clouds over the court, sometimes wafting over the tra-

peze and high wires suspended above when the circus

was in town. A simple buzzer would sound, signaling

the game’s start. There were no dancers, no halftime

stunts, and no mascots.

Every game, a constant buzz sounded from a brother-

hood of Knicks fans, people who knew basketball

A BASKETBALL FANComes of Age

Clifton History

Frequent Clifton Merchant contributor Jack DeVriesreceived a finalist award at the prestigious Table 4Writers Foundation gala, held at the New York AthleticClub on March 27. His entry, A Basketball Fan Comesof Age, is the story of discovering the game as a 13 year-old in Clifton during the 1970 New York Knicks champi-onship season. At left, Willis Reed and Wilt Chamberlain.

Story by Jack DeVries


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so well they could referee

games from their seats. They

were right on every call.

Basketball might have been

born elsewhere but its home

was New York City – on every

asphalt playground, in every

gym and, especially, inside the

Garden. And when the Knicks’

game was good, as it usually

was, it was spiritual – five

players connected as one, cir-

cling a goal, a fluid dance of

improvisation and planned

movement.

Connected by Invisible RopeThe team was led by Coach

Red Holtzman, a Jewish kid

from Brooklyn who played professionally in basket-

ball’s dark ages, before Wilt Chamberlain and Bill

Russell. Unlike today when 10 or more assistant coach-

es sit on an NBA bench, there were only two non-play-

ers on the Knicks’ side: Red in his dark suit and pudgy

trainer Danny Whelan in

his orange team shirt.

Red preached unselfish-

ness. Basketball was a

team game, but he brought

his players to a higher level

of understanding. As indi-

viduals, the Knicks were

good players, some All-Star

caliber. But together –

thinking and moving as

one, connected by an invis-

ible rope – they eschewed

individual glory and

became a true team of one.

“See the ball!” Red

would scream from the

sidelines, imploring his

players to focus on the bal-

let. “Hit the open man!” was his other frequent com-

mand. Through passing and constant movement, he

knew one of his five players would become free of his

defender, giving him an open shot.

Unlike most teams, every Knick could shoot

Clifton History

Jack DeVries with wife Lisa at the Table 4 Writers Foundation gala.



Clifton Historyfrom anywhere on the floor, includ-

ing their stalwart Louisiana-bred

center Willis Reed. They also

defended their basket better than

any team, spurred on at home by

the Garden’s organ player and the

crowd’s unison chant of “DEE-

fense!”

I was 13 that season, a time

when I left childhood behind. For

me, a baseball kid who grew up

worshipping Mickey Mantle, root-

ing for the Knicks was life-chang-

ing. When I became a basketball

fan, I became part of a tribe – one

with millions of members through-

out the world. We knew the true

beauty of a perfectly launched

jump shot, the screech of sneakers,

and a well-executed bounce pass on a fast break. We

yearned for these things, hungered for them.

Instead of worshiping one special player as I’d done

with Mantle, each Knicks player was my favorite, espe-

cially the starting five.

One Colorful Starting FiveGuard Walt Frazier, nicknamed “Clyde” for his

Bonnie and Clyde fashion look, personified absolute

and unshakeable cool. He was famous for wide-

brimmed hats, fur coats and tailored suits – a Super Fly

in sneakers. Opponents feared him for his cat-like

quickness, often poking the ball away as fast a viper’s

tongue and gliding to the basket for a lay-up.

Frazier’s wingman was guard Dick Barnett, 33, the

sad-eyed old man of the team. Barnett was known for

his ugly “fall back, baby” jump shot, folding his legs

and nearly kicking himself on his jumper, while telling

teammates to fall back on defense because the shot was

good. Barnett didn’t care about cool. Later, he would

become Holtzman’s assistant coach and earn a PhD

from Fordham University.

Bill Bradley was the Knicks shooting forward and a

Rhodes Scholar. Back then, every fan knew he would

someday run for president, which he did in 2000. A

graduate of Princeton University and later a New Jersey

senator, Bradley was the ultimate team player, a perpet-

ual-motion dynamo, weaving through traffic to create

flow and space. Fatigue didn’t

exist for Bradley.

Power forward Dave

DeBusschere was the catalyst, a

player traded to the Knicks from

the Detroit Pistons the year before.

He proved to be the missing piece

of a championship team. He was

also a leader by example. At 24,

DeBusschere became player-coach

of the Pistons. He was also a gift-

ed athlete who pitched briefly in

the major leagues with the Chicago

White Sox. DeBusschere was

strong, uncomplaining and fear-

less, breaking his nose during the

season, but continuing to play with

a mask of metal and white tape.

He later became commissioner

of the ABA and a member of the Knicks front office,

dying from a heart attack at 62, far too young.

Reserves included Cazzie Russell, more offensively

talented than Bradley, but who Red brought off the

bench to provide instant scoring; back-up guard Mike

Riordan, who looked more like a New York City cop

than basketball player; bony center Nate Bowman; and

Dave “the Rave” Stallworth, a courageous forward who

overcame a heart condition to play.

Also on the Knicks’ bench was Phil Jackson, injured

and unable to play, but developing his now-famous Zen

coaching philosophy he’d use to win more NBA games

than any man.

Finally, there was indomitable Reed, the Knicks’ best

player and the team’s heart and soul. It was Willis who

taught us the most. He was an athlete who oozed digni-

ty and quiet confidence. Since Lou Gehrig, no athlete

better epitomized the title of team captain.

Each game, Reed would guard the opposing center,

all-time greats like Wes Unseld, New York City’s Lew

Alcindor (before he became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and

the Goliath Wilt Chamberlain. Each game, he’d bang

his 6’8” body (listed at 6’10”) against the strongest

opponent on the floor, drawing them outside with his

jump shot and becoming an unmovable wall under the

basket on defense.

During the season, the Knicks raced to a 60-22

record, complete with a 19-game win streak (then an

Walt “Clyde” Frazier


NBA record), winning the streak’s

final game against the Cincinnati

Royals, coached by the immortal

Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy.

Sports Illustrated christened the

Knicks the team of the moment on

its cover.

In the NBA playoffs, the Knicks

fought three epic and exhausting

battles. They beat the Baltimore

Bullets and Earl “the Pearl”

Monroe – a whirling dervish of

offensive talent – in seven games,

winning four at the Garden. Even

Clyde could hardly contain

Monroe. In the next series, New

York and Reed conquered the dom-

inating rookie Alcindor and his

young Milwaukee Bucks in five

games.

It’s East vs. West in the 1970s FinalsIn the NBA Finals, our Knicks would face the Los

Angeles Lakers.

The Series was a battle of East versus West Coast –

gritty New York against sunshine L.A. It pitted the

Knicks’ team-first philosophy against the Lakers’ indi-

vidual stars – players like shooting guard Jerry West,

who later became the silhouette of the NBA logo; high-

scoring Elgin Baylor; and man-god Wilt Chamberlain,

until Jabbar and Michael Jordan, the greatest scorer in

basketball history.

After four games, the Series was knotted at two wins

each with two contests having been decided in overtime.

Thankfully, having the NBA’s best

record, if there was to be a seventh

and deciding game, it would be

played at Madison Square Garden,

where the New York tribe would be

in full voice.

But during the first quarter of

Game 5 at Madison Square Garden,

disaster struck.

With New York trailing 25-15,

the invincible Reed collapsed like

he’d been shot. Pain seared through

his right thigh with a muscle tear.

He rolled over on his side and gri-

maced in agony, limping to the

locker room soon after, seemingly

with the hopes of a championship

season leaving with him.

Without the captain, the Knicks

dropped behind by 20, but regrouped and closed to with-

in 13 by the end of the second quarter.

At halftime, the Knicks learned Reed would be out for

the game, if not the Series. Knowing they would be play-

ing small against the 7’1” Chamberlain, the whip-smart

Bradley suggested the Knicks use a 1-3-1 zone offense,

unusual for a pro team. One player would run the base-

line behind Wilt, while three would play in front of him.

The plan was so desperate, it worked. The zone

offense confused the Lakers, and the Knicks began to

close the gap. With the 6’6” DeBusschere and 6’7”

Stallworth guarding Wilt on defense, the Lakers’ offense

stalled. With five minutes to play, the Knicks moved

ahead, 93-91.

The Garden crowd roared, urging the Knicks

Bill Bradley


Clifton History

on. New York’s swarming defense was magnificent,

forcing 19 second half turnovers, many on errant passes

inside to Wilt. The Lakers looked stunned and confused

– without Reed guarding Chamberlain, losing to the tiny

Knicks wasn’t possible. But it was.

New York won, 107-100, to take a 3-2 Series lead.

Back in L.A., no gimmicks

could save the Knicks. With

Reed dressed in a brown suit sit-

ting next to Holtzman, the

Lakers destroyed the Knicks.

Chamberlain took revenge on

the Lilliputians, scoring 45

points and adding 27 rebounds.

The Lakers won, 135-113, send-

ing the Series back to the

Garden for the deciding Game 7.

On Friday, May 8, I didn’t

remember a word of what was

taught in school that day. Every

Knicks fan was consumed with

a single thought: Would Willis

play? Would he be able to take

the floor and give our Knicks a

chance to win? Even his team-

mates weren’t sure, though Reed

was in uniform and had taken

warm-up shots 90 minutes

before game time.

On that night, I became a true sports fan. I wasn’t

following basketball because my parents loved it like I

had done with the Yankees; the game, the Knicks,

belonged to me.

With no hope of a ticket, I put on my white Knicks T-

shirt and stood at my parents’ stereo in the dinning

room, the best and loudest radio in the house (incredi-

bly, the championship game wasn’t televised in New

York). I refused to listen to this game on my little

Emerson radio in my room. I hunched over the stereo

listening to the guttural and rhythmic voice of Marv

Albert, who once sat in the rafters of the old Garden as

a kid broadcasting games to an imaginary audience.

Marv learned his craft well. His signature call of “Yes!”

punctuated every New York basket that season. I didn’t

care how silly I looked in my Knicks shirt hunched over

that stereo. My family had never seen me with such sin-

gle-minded focus. This was the game of my life.

The Knicks and Lakers took the floor. “There is no

sign of Willis Reed,” Marv told us. Inside the locker

room just 10 minutes before game time, Dr. James

Parkes took a six-inch needle filled with carbocaine and

cortisone and jabbed it into Reed’s injured thigh. Willis

hated needles. He’d get another

shot at halftime.

Here comes WillisJust before the game started,

like a savior in white warm-ups,

Willis walked out of the Garden

tunnel, leading to the floor. The

crowd – whose eyes were

trained on the entrance, hoping

and praying to spot him – began

to roar.

“Here comes Willis,” Marv

announced, “and the crowd

goes wild!”

“He’s gonna play!” I

screamed, jumping up and

down.

After each of Reed’s warm-

up shots, the crowd cheered.

The Lakers stopped shooting,

and stood and watched Reed

move about as he hit jumps

shots, trying not to look injured. The Knicks made

believe they were unaffected, but there was energy

shooting through them. Our captain was back.

The game began and Willis hit the Knicks’ first two

shots, pain filled-jumpers from the outside, the only

points he would score that night. After his shots whis-

tled through the net, the energy in the Garden grew to

levels never experienced before, and the hairs on my

arms stood as if electrified.

For 27 minutes, Reed dragged his body up and down

the floor, leaning his bulk on Chamberlain, his will to

compete awesome and inspiring. There was no more

pretending to be healthy; he was playing on one leg,

gimping up and down the floor. But it was enough. On

that night, Willis would hold the Goliath Chamberlain to

just 21 points.

New York’s players and fans fed off his strength.

Lew Alcindor and Willis Reed


Frazier was superb, scoring 36 points and handing out

19 assists. In addition to his 17 rebounds, Debusschere

contributed 18 points and Bradley added 17. The rest of

the Knicks were also terrific, swarming the ball and run-

ning the Lakers off the floor.

And the crowd’s roar was never louder, including

from the kid cheering back in Clifton, N.J.

The final score was the New York 113, LA 99.

Our Knicks were world champions.

That Knicks team would win one more championship

in 1973 before injuries and time resigned them to histo-

ry. But the team would keep me forever – through every

new collection of players and as the game grew above

the rim and stood equal to other sports. I would be ever

loyal to my Knicks.

And it started with that team.

Bicyclists:Daniel Ishak

Andrew Alvarez

Patricia Katz

Robert Bais

Randy Colondres

Richard DiBello

Brian Fopma

Tom Hawrylko

John Kavakich

David Kishbaugh

Michael Adamo

Jose Padilla

Kristofer Eliasz

Joseph Klein

Christopher Kelly

Gerald Wyhopen

Gabriel Zirpolo

Motors:Vincent LaRosa

William Bais

Derek Fogg

Darren Brodie

Robert Bielsten

Support:Gary Giardina

Tara Berberich

Contributeand Win

To Contribute, call Bicyclist Tom Hawrylko 973-253-4400

Buy a $5 ticket and win:• PS4 w/ controller & game• 40” LED TVw/ Bluetooth Soundbar

• Fuji Mountain Bike.Your donation to the CliftonPBA will help fund our 300mile bicycle ride toWashington on May 9.

Drawing & Send Off,April 25 at Pub 46

Clifton Police Department Police Unity Tour


Pysanky Maker

Natalka Warchola

In 1962, a young Natalie Warchola came to theUnited States with her family from Argentina to the

small Ukrainian neighborhood that is centered around

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Passaic.

Not only did she learn to speak English there, but

continued to practice her Spanish, as well as her native

Ukrainian. A warm and cheerful person who now lives

in Clifton, she continues to be happily tri-lingual.

Known to everyone as Natalka, the affection nick-

name in Ukrainian for Natalie, she remembers the coun-

selors in her youth group at the Ukrainian Center on

Hope Ave. from whom she learned Ukrainian traditions,

among them the art and craft of making pysanky, the

lovely Ukrainian Easter eggs that have decorated homes

and Easter baskets for generations.

While coloring and decorating eggs is a fun tradition

in many countries, the elaborately designed and crafted

pysanky are unique to Ukrainian culture.

“This method of decorating eggs is done by drawing

designs with melted wax on successive layers of colors

that have been applied to the egg, a method known also

known as batik,” said Natalka.



Pysanky Maker

The word for the decorated eggs comes from the

Ukrainian word “to write” or “pysaty” since the designs

are written on the egg with hot, fluid beeswax using a

special tool called a “kistka,” or bone, harkening back to

the ancient origins of the pysanka when a sharpened ani-

mal bone was likely the tool used to draw the designs.

As the beeswax design hardens, protecting the color

underneath, the egg is dipped into a succes-

sion of dye baths, beginning with

the lightest color to the darkest.

After each dye bath, additional

designs are added.

By the end of the process, the

entire egg is covered in beeswax.

The wax is then gently melted off by

candle flame until all the underlying lay-

ers of colors and designs are revealed.

More than 2,000 years ago, making pysanky was a

pagan spring ritual, part of the Trypillian culture that

lived on the land that is now Ukraine. This ritual was

later adopted as an Easter tradition throughout Ukraine,

passed from generation to generation.

The elaborate designs found on the pysanky, both

pagan and Christian, such as floral motifs, crosses, and

fishes, animals, geometric shapes, all convey a certain

message. The designs and colors communicate messages

of fertility, protection, health, prosperity salvation, hope,

love and resurrection.

Pysanky are exchanged as gifts during Easter week, so

parents might give newlywed children pysanky cov-

ered with symbols of fertility and prosperity, an

ill person would be given one with symbols

of good health and a long life. As a

professional floral designer, creat-

ing pysanky is part of Natalka’s

artistic nature and she added that

creating these small works of art

is one of her passions.

She is also an expert in teach-

ing the art of making pysanky, which

she has been doing since her days in CHS,

where she taught her first class.

Natalka is conducting a three hour class at St.

Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 217 President St.

in Passaic on April 12 at 2 pm. The $35 materials fee is

payable at the door. The class will meet by the museum,

in the lower level. It’s best to email her in advance if

you’d like to attend: [email protected].

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The loss of 12 seniors to graduation might signal that it is time to

rebuild for most high school baseball teams, but veteran Clifton

Coach Joe Rivera believes that despite his 2014 group’s relative

inexperience, his roster of Mustangs are very capable of improving on last

year’s 14-13 finish. Rivera knows how important pitching is at the high

school level, and it has worked out that his only three seniors are one, two,

and three in the rotation.

“I always have high expectations, the kids always work hard,” Rivera

said. “Sometimes, inexperience is OK. Our pitching staff is a big reason

why I am optimistic, because if the other team doesn’t score, they can’t beat

you.”

Senior ace Luis Ramos leads the staff, having won six games in both his

sophomore and junior years. A finesse pitcher, he possesses a potent

changeup and sinker, and has great control. He also has some big game

heroics on his resume, having beaten Don Bosco Prep twice in his career,

and led the Mustangs to a playoff win over North Bergen last year.

Back from left, Tyler Lavin, Kyle Chupick, Kishan Patel, Kevin Lord, JustinBennion, Thomas Linker and Luis Torres. Front, kneeling, Sean Canfield, JoseRosado, Michael Valido and Luis Ramos.

Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf

MUSTANG SPORTS

Mustang Sports by Tom Szieber

CHS

BaseballApril 1 @ Passaic Co. Tech 4pm

April 2 @ Teaneck 4:15pm

April 3 John F. Kennedy 4:30pm

April 5 @ Ridgewood 11am

April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4:30pm

April 9 Passaic 4:15pm

April 11 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4:15pm

April 12 @ Kearny 11am

April 14 DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 16 @ Fair Lawn 4pm

April 19 Montclair 3pm

April 21 Wayne Valley 4pm

April 23 @ Wayne Hills 4pm

April 25 PCTI 4:15pm

April 26 Belleville 11am

April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm

April 30 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm

May 2 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm

May 3 @ Marist 11am

May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4pm

May 7 @ Passaic 4pm

May 8 Bloomfield 4:15pm

May 9 West Milford 4pm

May 12 @ Lakeland 4pm

May 14 Passaic Valley 4pm



“When you have a pitcher like that, he is going to

keep us in games,” said Rivera. “We have to score in

scoring position to support it, but we have some solid

pitching.”

Jose Rosado and Tyler Lavin will both pitch on

Ramos’ off days, but will be key defensive cogs when

Ramos is on the mound. Rosado, a shortstop, has started

since the end of his sophomore year, and had just a hand-

ful of errors a season ago. He is also a great contact hit-

ter and overall player. Lavin missed last season with an

ankle injury, but was Clifton’s starting designated hitter

as a sophomore. He’ll play the outfield this year.

The rest of the Mustangs’ lineup will be junior-laden.

In the infield, Justin Bennion will start behind the plate,

while Luis Torres will play second and Kevin Lord (who

saw varsity time last year) will start at third. Tommy

Linker and Kishan Patel will split duties at first base.

In the Clifton outfield, meanwhile, Lavin will be

joined by classmates Mike Valido and Kyle Chupick.

The latter earned a varsity uniform toward the end of last

season, and could be the Mustangs’ leadoff hitter, as

well. “Kyle is a really good hitter,” Rivera said. “He has

great speed, and is a great fielder, as well. I expect some

good things from him this year.”

Junior Sean Canfield will act as a utility player and

pitcher, while sophomore Carlos Pineda will provide

some additional support from the bench.

Clifton is motivated by the task of making it back to

the North 1, Group 4 tourney to avenge a heartbreaking

3-2, last-inning postseason loss to Memorial of West

New York a year ago.

In all, the Mustangs’ youth may be a bit deceiving, as

much of Passaic County is in restocking mode, as well,

giving Rivera more confidence that his squad can com-

pete in tournament action.

“Last year was the second consecutive year we beat

Don Bosco,” Rivera noted. “That win actually started us

winning some more big ball games. We had quite a few

losses by less than two runs, so we were in just about

every game. And from what I know, the rest of the coun-

ty is a lot like us [in terms of youth]. I definitely think we

can compete.”

MUSTANG SPORTS Baseball


CHS softball has some holes to fill following the graduation of 10

seniors, but head coach Ron Shekitka believes there is enough tal-

ent on his roster to put together another solid season.

“We are Clifton High School, and I wouldn’t expect anything less,” stat-

ed the second-year head coach. “I see improvement everyday. I have no

doubt that once we get through some of these obstacles, we can compete at

a high level.”

The Mustangs were 15-12 a year ago, making magical runs to the North

1, Group 4 semifinals and the Passaic County finals. They also won a Big

North Liberty Division title.

But with the graduation of ace Amanda Marakovitz, the Mustangs will

now need to turn to more youthful personnel on the hill. Sophomore Jaclyn

Hanrahan and freshman Kayla Vance will both see considerable starts, and

both make up for a lack of varsity-level experience with abundances of talent.

“They both throw hard and they move the ball around,” Shekitka

Standing from leftr rear: Kayla Vance, April DiAngelo, Rachel Abill, KimD’Agosta, Karen Friedman, Megan Ingwersen. Middle, Jasmine Melendez,Caroline Shukaitis, Karleigh Davila, Ava Genardi. Kneeling, Rachel Plaskon,Dylan Amico, Jaclyn Hanrahan.

MUSTANG SPORTS Softball

CHS

SoftballApril 1 PCTI 4pm

April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm

April 4 @ McNair Academic 4:15pm

April 7 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm

April 9 @ Passaic 4pm

April 11 Bergen Co. Tech 4:15pm

April 12 @ DePaul Catholic 2:30pm

April 14 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 16 Fair Lawn 4pm

April 17 West Orange 4:15pm

April 21 @ Wayne Valley 4pm

April 23 Wayne Hills 4pm

April 25 @ PCTI 4pm

April 26 TBA 10am

April 28 John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 30 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm

May 2 @ Immaculate Heart 4pm

May 3 @ Union City 11am

May 5 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4pm

May 7 Passaic 4pm

May 9 @ West Milford 4pm

May 12 Lakeland 4pm

May 14 @ Passaic Valley 4pm


MUSTANG SPORTS Softball

said. “They have to hit their spots and change speeds.

They have to pitch to contact. We want to also throw

some strikes and have our defense make plays. But I’ve

seen an improvement already in both of them.”

Clifton will find leadership in senior Dylan Amico, a

talented three-year starter at catcher. Hampered a bit by

injuries last season, Amico at full strength is outstand-

ing as both a hitter and defensive player. She will also

see time at third base when necessary.

The Clifton infield is led by hardworking junior

shortstop Kim D’Agosta. As a sophomore, D’Agosta

was superb at the plate, and continually improved

throughout the season in the field.

Junior Rachel Abill has the inside track on the start-

ing job at first base. A powerful hitter, Abill has consid-

erably stepped up her defensive game. Senior Karen

Friedman will also see time at first.

Senior third baseman Brittany Meneghin will start

for the Mustangs at third, though she has battled

injuries during the preseason. Amico, junior Karly

Davila and sophomore Ava Genardi have provided

relief when Meneghin was unable to compete. At sec-

ond, Davila, senior Caroline Shukaitis and junior

Jasmine Melendez will vie for playing time.

The Clifton outfield figures to feature juniors Rachel

Plackson (left), April DiAngelo (center) and Meaghan

Ingwersen (right).

“We have talent,” Shekitka said. “It’s just a matter of

how quick the pitching and fielding comes around. We

have some experience, and if the younger kids step up

and do what they are capable of, we should be OK. The

kids have great attitudes and work hard every day, and

that is all we can ask of them.”

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With all the recent successes of Clifton girls track and field, its fifth

place finish in Passaic County last year was somewhat surpris-

ing. Like all great athletic programs, the Mustangs are intent on

bouncing back in 2014, and emerging as contenders in the county aand

region once again.

“We haven’t finished fifth in the county in a while,” said third-year head

girls coach Mike Rogers. “We are just a young team. We do have depth, and

we have a lot of solid athletes. They know the tradition and they know what

they are a part of.”

The 2014 girls squad is led by senior Cassidy Cardone, a three-season

track athlete who competes in hurdles, the pole vault, and the 800-meter. In

addition, sprinter Tanairy Pomales improved consistently throughout the

indoor winter season, and is poised for a big spring.

“Over the years we have had girls who would run through the wall to win,

and Cassidy he is one of them,” Rogers said. “She is an all-out competitor,

and she gets everything out of her skills and abilities. Tanairy has been get-

ting better and better, and I think her last year will be by far her best.”

The Mustangs have a strong junior contingent, including Sofiya

At the Clifton Schools Stadium, top row from left: Mahmoud Soliman, Jeremy Castro, Mohammad Abdelkarim, Tim Bryantand Brandon Donaldson. Middle row: Ryan Downes, Justin Mascardo, Adib Haque, Octavio Sanchez and JeremyHernandez. Front from left: Metul Rana, Steve Diaz and Maurice Marsilla.

CHS

TrackApril 2 Bergen Tech/Eastside 4pm

April 7 Passaic 4pm

April 12 @ Passaic Valley 9am

April 14 PCT 4pm

April 19 @ Hackensack 9am

April 21 Kennedy 4pm

April 26 @ Randolph 9am

April 30 @ Passaic Valley(Big Nrth) 4pm

May 13 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm

May 14 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm

May 23 @ Randolph (States) 3:30pm

May 24 @ Randolph (States) 10am

May 30 @ Egg Harbor (States) 2:30pm

May 31 @ Egg Harbor (States) 11am

June 4 @ South Plainfield 2:30pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Track

Nedelcheva, who will bolster Clifton’s efforts in distance

events. Another, Michelle Aplogan, is a jack-of-all-

trades type who can hurdle, high jump, long jump, triple

jump, hurdles and sprint.

Other eleventh-grade standouts include Verona

Ebanks (shotput, discus, javelin), Olivia Rosenberg (800

meter) and Daliyah Pierson (sprinter). Senior all-county

soccer player Danielle Celestin will bring her talent and

athleticism to the track as well, and should contribute as

a sprinter right away.

On the boys side, second-year coach Kareem West

will look to a talented group of returnees to lead it to

another successful season.

“It is like a chess game,” West said of the process of

settling on a lineup. “You try to get the right pieces in the

right spots.”

Senior Jeremy Hernandez, a consistently productive,

hardworking runner, will lead the boys in the 800m,

1600m and 4x400 relay. Seniors Dwyer Halliburton,

Jeremy Castro and Octavio Sanchez (also a skilled pole

vaulter) are among the other returnees from the

Mustangs’ all-county relay squads from a year ago.

The Mustangs have several talented jumpers in sen-

iors Timothy Bryant and Ryan Downes. Bryant will

compete in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and

100m, while Downes will represent the squad in the long

jump, triple jump, 4x400 relay and 200m.

Senior Justin Tanayan is one of the county’s best dis-

tance runners, and will compete in the 1600m and

3200m this spring. His classmate, Isdael Leo, will throw

the shot, discus and help out in the 100m after missing a

great deal of time since an injury last outdoor season.

Speaking of outdoor, several athletes have jumped

onto the radar for spring based on outstanding winter

seasons. Among them are senior Mohammed

Abdelkarim and sophomores Otto DeLeon and Arianit

Sazimani.

There is unquestionably an abundance of talent on

both Mustang track teams, and each head coach is under-

standably optimistic about the prospects for 2014.

Perhaps Rogers expresses his confidence best.

“[Both the girls and the boys] know that regardless of

the wins or the losses, they are part of a family,” he said.

“I say it every year, we have plenty of great athletes on

this team. They give it their all, and they are just tremen-

dous. I think they are going to surprise people this year.”

More Mustang Harriers, from top left: Natalie Sroka, Maria Barbieri, Danielle Celestin, Cassidy Cardone, Daijah Smalls.Bottom from left: Isam Boukattaya, Britney Basit, Asma Baker, Valeria Montoya, Tanairy Pomales, Justin Mascardo.


MUSTANG SPORTS Track



Clifton was one quarter away from a Passaic County championship last

season, losing an 8-6 final round game to Lakeland after leading at

the end of the third. Despite its youth, coach George Cowan believes

it can surprise a lot of folks and compete again for that elusive title in 2014.

“I think a lot of teams will look past us this year in the county, but I really

think we are going to surprise a lot of people,” said Cowan, now in his sixth

season leading the Mustangs. “Our guys have played together a lot in the off-

season, and they are ready to play.”

Senior Edward Myers will man the cage for the Mustangs. A big, burly

presence in the goal, Myers is deceptively fast, and is nicknamed “the big

cat.” Providing him protection will be the defensive unit of seniors Brendan

Schreiber and Louis Lopez and junior Brandon Nunez. Junior Christian

Duffy will also see time. The defensive corps is a physical group whose indi-

vidual components, much like Myers, individually possess uncanny speed for

players of their size.

The midfield will be led by junior Billy Gibson, who will start alongside

sophomore Anthony Rodriguez and senior Michael Kommer.

From left, top: Kevin Perez, Antonio DeChellis, Ryan Trombitas, Jared Solorzano,Luis D. Ramos, Amro Assaidi, Brendan Schreiber, Edward Myers. Front, MohamedTarakji, George Balkjy, Michael Kommer, Luis Lopez, Adam Kopitar,

MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse

CHS Boys

LacrosseMarch 26 @ Scotch Plains 4pm

April 1 @ New Providence 4pm


April 8 North Valley - Old Tappan 4pm

April 10 @ Union City 4pm

April 12 River Dell 11am

April 15 @ Newark East Side 4pm

April 17 Lakeland 4pm

April 22 Oratory Prep. 4pm

April 24 @ Saint Joseph Regional 4pm

April 26 @ Newark Academy 11am

April 28 Pascack Hills 4pm

April 30 Verona 4pm

May 1 North Valley - Demarest 4pm

May 3 TBA (County Tourn.) 11am

May 9 Governor Livingston 4pm

May 10 TBA (County Tourn.) 11am

May 13 @ Nutley 4pm


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Prospective students spend a day “shadowing” a Gael through-

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Two talented underclassmen, sophomore Patrick

DePasque and freshman Kevin Buttel, will round out

the group.

“We have a real good group at middy,” Cowan said.

“Billy is a strong defensive middy, Anthony has great

stick skills and Michael has good speed. Patrick is a

strong dodger, as is Kevin, who can go left, right, and

dodge.”

Leading Clifton’s offensive attack will be senior

George Balkjy. Balkjy broke into the varsity lineup last

year, and figures to be one of the team’s primary scor-

ers in 2014. He will be flanked by senior Ryan

Trombitas and sophomore Brett Ranges.

Trombitas will be especially valuable near the

crease, while Ranges is a lefty that adds a dimension to

the Mustangs scoring ability.

“I’m real confident in this group,” said Cowan, who

led the Mustangs to a 13-5 record and a playoff berth a

year ago. “Clifton has always had good lacrosse. Even

in tough seasons, Clifton lacrosse has always played

good opponents tough. I expect the same out of our

team. I think we can accomplish a lot.”

MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse

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Back top from left: Tatjana Petrovic, Gabriela Garcia, Brittany Morales, Tayana Castro, Yasmine Oviedo, Nikki Guzman,Nicole Roncancio, Tiffany Richards, Meghan Sekanics. Kneeling, Kayla Ware, Jennifer Koppers, Elizabeth DeMuro, OliviaDeMuro, and goalie Shannon Christie.

Fifth-year head coach Amanda Gryzkin knows that her Mustangs have

some work to do after winning just one game last season, but she is

confident that a difficult 2013 will be what guides her squad to a bet-

ter year this spring.

“The girls know what I expect, and after going through a season like last

season, they want to improve and want to get better,” Gryzkin said.

“Hopefully that is enough motivation to get us to take the next step. We have

worked hard to get the basics down. We know our opponents, as well. It’s

just a matter of getting it done.”

If Clifton is to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2010, it

will need its top players to carry it there.

Offensively, that responsibility falls first on the shoulders of talented

sophomore Olivia DeMuro, a second-team All-Passaic County player last

season. DeMuro played in the midfield last season, but will likely serve in an

attack role going forward.

“She knows the game a lot more now,” Gryzkin noted. “She has the

instinct to get the ball and go to goal. She wants the ball, she wants to learn

the game and continue to get better.”

Junior middy Nicole Roncanio will be another cog in the Mustangs’ offen-

sive efforts. Roncanio boasts good stick skills and exceptional aware-

CHS Girls

LacrosseMarch 27 Bergen Co. Tech 4:30pm

March 29 @ Old Tappan 11am


April 3 @ Dwight Englewood 4pm

April 5 Fair Lawn 10am

April 8 River Dell 4pm

April 10 Mary Help Academy 4pm

April 12 @ Demarest 11am

April 17 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 22 @ Westwood Regional 4pm

April 24 Paramus 4pm

April 26 @ Wayne Hills 11am

April 28 @ Pascack Hills 4pm

April 29 @ Waldwick 4pm

May 1 Lakeland 4pm


MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse



ness on the field. One of the better stick handlers on the

team, Gryzkin hopes Roncanio will take a more aggres-

sive approach in going to the goal this season.

Sophomore Brittany Morales will be a midfielder

this season after playing defense as a freshman.

“I think having Brittany in the midfield will add a

dimension to our team,” said Gryzkin. “I think having

her there will give us a little spark between our offense

and defense.”

Speaking of the Clifton defense, that unit will be led

by senior Jenn Koppers, a multi-sport athlete who will

become a three-year starter at the varsity level this sea-

son. Koppers’ leadership and field smarts are valuable

assets, as is her anticipation, which make her a frequent

receiver of opponents’ passes.

Gryzkin still has some shuffling to do before decid-

ing on a final lineup, but expects to get contributions

from four skilled juniors in Kyana Castro, Tiffany

Richards, Tatjana Petrovic and Gabby Garcia (who

missed all of last season with an injury).

Senior Shannon Christie will man the goal for the

Mustangs once again.

MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse

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MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball

In its first season under head coach Nick Romanak, the Clifton boys vol-

leyball team went 15-6 and qualified for the state playoffs. The Mustangs

will be a much younger group in year two, but Romanak feels there are

pieces in place that will allow them to remain a contender in Passaic County.

“We’ve been working a lot on passing and ball control,” Romanak said.

“We need to get those skills up before anything else. If we can’t do that and

get the ball to the setter, the offense kind of gets wasted.”

The Clifton offense will run through a pair of big juniors, outside hitter

Nabil Jamhour and middle hitter Kamil Garbowski. Each was a bit raw going

into their sophomore seasons, but have impressed Romanak with how much

they have progressed in a year’s time.

“Early last year, I was working a lot with Nabil a lot on timing and foot-

work, but he came into this season with that already down,” said Romanak.

“Now we can work on changing up his hitting a bit. He is real athletic and a

quick learner. Kamil is about 6-5, 6-6, and is very nimble for a guy his size.

His arm swing is a lot more fluid than last year.”

Senior Raj Patel, junior Andrew Harhaj and sophomore Steven West will

vie for the second opposite hitter spot, and all three should see the floor.

Top left, Nabil Jamhour, Kamil Garbowski, Francis Lisdema, Patrick Kowalcyk,Andrew Harhaj. Kneeling, Abraham Zeidan, Andrew Pica, Raj Patel, MattMiller, Steven West. Not Pictured, Leon Simpson, Ben Shahar, Fredy Talavera

CHS Boys

VolleyballApril 1 @ PCTI 4pm

April 3 John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 4 Belleville 4pm

April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm

April 9 Passaic 4pm

April 11 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4pm


April 17 Hackensack 10am



April 25 PCTI 4pm

April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 30 Eastside Paterson 4pm


May 3 @ Fair Lawn 3:30pm

May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4:30pm

May 7 @ Passaic 4pm

May 8 @ Harrison 4pm

May 9 Teaneck 4:15pm



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Junior Leon Simpson figures to play opposite for the

Mustangs, and has demonstrated athleticism, jumping

ability and a strong arm swing this preseason.

The Mustangs will likely run a two-setter offense, as

junior Andrew Pica and sophomore Matt Miller have

both looked good throughout training camp.

“Andrew is a very vocal kid,” said Romanak. “He can

be good as a setter because he has shown leadership

qualities and a level of comfort with talking to the team

and setting up the offense. Matt has been a nice surprise

in tryouts, and looks real comfortable with his hands.”

Senior Ben Shahar will figure in as a Libero/defensive

specialist. Shahar is quick and experienced. He is also an

accurate passer and willing to lay out and hustle for balls.

The Mustangs will hope to build on a 2013 campaign

that saw them lose to Lakeland in the county semifinals

and Montclair in the first round of the state playoffs.

“Our first goal is just to focus on the county,” said

Romanak. “We are a very young team. We graduated

most of our starters, and we’ll be rebuilding. But with the

talent we have, we should still be pretty competitive. I’d

love to get us back in the picture of reaching state finals

like [former coach] Mike [Doktor] did sooner than later.”

MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball



For the first time in coach Andrea Bobby’s nearly quarter-decade

tenure as Clifton High School’s tennis coach, the Mustangs head into

the spring as the defending Passaic County champions. Nevertheless,

they will look much different than the team that tied Wayne Hills for last

season’s county title, as five of its seven players graduated in June.

The Mustangs will have a good chance to be competitive once again,

though, thanks to the presence of first singles star Richard Rangga. A state

quarterfinalist last season, Rangga won the Passaic County first singles tour-

ney in 2013, and was an All-Big North Liberty honoree, as well.

“Nobody in this area can really beat him,” Bobby said proudly. “He has

been playing for a very long time, and he plays tournament tennis. He is a

whole caliber above players who only play the high school game.”

The senior boasts a powerful swing, and a calm demeanor on the court.

He often overpowers his opposition, and is tactically good enough to outlast

equally skilled players.

Junior Sebastian Luna, a second doubles county champ a year ago, will

play second singles this season. After immigrating from Peru a year and a

half ago, Luna joined the Mustangs before even learning to speak English.

He became a great fit on the squad, and won all-league and all-county hon-

ors with partner Tim Laux. Juniors Giancarlo Osnato, Akshay Mandania,

Shea Harris, Benidick Galan and Tejesh Mehta and sophomore James

Caporaso will round out the Clifton roster.

The Mustang Varsity team includes, from left, Akshay Mandania, Tejeshi Mehta, James Caporaso, Sebastian Luna, RichardRangga, Giancarlo Osnato, Shea Harris and Benedick Galan.

CHS

TennisApril 1 @ PCTI 4pm

April 2 @ Kearny 4pm

April 3 John F. Kennedy 4:15pm

April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4:15pm

April 8 @ North Bergen 4pm

April 9 Passaic 4pm

April 11 DePaul Catholic 4pm




April 25 PCTI 4pm

April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 30 Eastside Paterson 4pm


May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4pm

May 7 @ Passaic 4pm

May 9 West Milford 4pm



May 16 Kearny 4pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Tennis


CHS golf may just have the formula necessary to contend this season.

With a combination of leadership and experience and some young,

hungry newcomers, head coach Chad Cole and the Mustangs look

like they have a solid foundation in place.

Senior Gabe Larkey will hit the links as the number one golfer for Clifton,

having put in a full offseason honing his skills.

“Gabe has practiced every day,” said Cole. “He played every day in the

summer. He just absolutely loves golf.”

Larky will be supported in the lineup by seniors Nick Flaherty and Dave

Korty. Flaherty has improved his game a great deal after spending a year as

the sixth golfer on the Mustang roster, while Korty is a returning starter.

Several youthful Mustangs figure to contribute, as well, including three

sophomores: Stephen Mawker, Jordan Dunleavy and Bryan Cammerino. All

three have impressed Cole, and each has shown a high upside. In addition,

freshman Keith Barcelona will round out the squad.

“I expect good things from all the guys,” Cole said. “It is hard to tell how

quickly we will come along because the whether has prevented us from get-

ting outside as much as we would like. But I am looking forward to the

future. They are really nice kids. They are eager to learn.”

Heading to the Upper Montclair Country Club, Nick Flaherty, Gabe Larkey, StephenMawker. Center: Keith Barcelona, Piotr Paluch, David Buonafina, BryanCammerino. Rear: Dillon Keenan, Dave Korty, Jordan Dunleavy and Ed Castillo.

CHS

GolfApril 1 Eastside 4pm

April 2 Eastside 4pm

April 3 @ Bloomfield 4pm

April 4 Passaic 4pm

April 7 @Ridgefield Park 4pm

April 8 Passaic Valley 4pm

April 9 Kennedy/Bergen Tech 4pm

April 10 Hackensack/Ramapo 4pm


April 24 @Fort Lee 4pm

April 28 @West Milford 4pm

April 29 Passaic Valley 4pm

April 30 @West Milford 4pm

May 1 Lakeland 4pm

May 5 Big North Div 4pm

May 7 @Nutley 4pm

May 8 Big North Tourn 4pm

May 14 Passaic Co. Tourn 4pm

May 16 P.C.T.I. 4pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Golf


Above is Freeholder John Bartlett with winners from last year’s filmfestival. Below, from left, Passaic County Film Festival DirectorDeborah Hoffman, Film Commissioner Bob Nicholson and BillCress, chair of the Passaic County Film Commission, along withadditional winners. Call 973-569-4720 for more details.

Filmed & Celebrated in

Passaic CountyEnjoy free admission to the 10th AnnualPassaic County Film Festival on April 26 at

10 am at the Fabian 8 Theater in historic

downtown Paterson. Films were produced by

students and independent filmmakers who

live, attend school, or work in Passaic County.

The films were judged by members of the

Passaic County Film Commission in February

and one will be named as the best film of the

festival with other awards given by category.

To celebrate the 10th year of the festival, the

North Jersey Federal Credit Union (NJFCU)

will present $1,000 to one film maker selected

by NJFCU representatives. That film maker will

also work with the NJFCU to create a 30-second

commercial promoting the Credit Union.

This program is made possible in part by a

grant administered by the Passaic County

Cultural & Heritage Council from funds grant-

ed by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Support also provided by the Passaic County

Freeholders, Bascom Corporation Investors

Bank, M&T Bank, Register Lithographers and

the PCCC Foundation. Call 973-569-4720 or

write to [email protected] for details.


Meet our CHS Students of the Month,selected by the VP’s of each wing.

A Ray of Sunshine, A Helping HandGuidance Counselor Kathy Speiser

said Central Wing senior Tiffany Sheppard

just may be the happiest student at Clifton

High School.

“She is like a ray of sunshine to those

who know her,” Speiser said.

Sheppard seems to get that kind of

reaction from many of the students and

teachers she meets at CHS. She is a posi-

tive person and also prides herself on

working hard at everything she does and

loves helping others. She believes that is

why she was chosen as one of the

Students of the Month for April.

Her favorite class is Period 7 Biology

with Mr. Ralph Casale because he “helps

her a lot” and returns her kindness. She

said the class work is special to her

because it gives her the opportunity to

work with other students.

For fellow students—including her best

friend Vanessa—and teachers at CHS, it’s her warm,

friendly personality they love the most.

“Being her guidance counselor has been a joy,”

Speiser added. “She stops in my office each morning to

say hello with a smile.”

Another source of enjoyment for Sheppard, and her

family, is her participation in the Special Olympics.

Known by the teachers for her dependability,

Sheppard often does work study during Period 8.

Despite having one eye on the future, Sheppard said

she will miss all her friends and teachers at CHS. She

expects to find work after graduation, and hopes to

work filing, answering phones and clerical assistance.

The 3 DsFor senior Robert Lupo, it’s his

diligence, dedication, and

discipline that has earned him

recognition as one of April’s

Students of the Month.

“I also ranked 25th in my class

while keeping up my extracurric-

ular activity,” the East Wing stu-

dent proudly proclaims.

Lupo participates in his fair

share of activities at CHS.

He is also Student Council

Association president, a member

of the Mustang Marching Band

and editor-in-chief of The Clifton Hub, CHS’s student-

created newspaper.

Besides that, Lupo is president of the French Club

and considers French with Lindsey Cinque to be his

favorite subject because “I like the French culture and

Mrs. Cinque makes learning fun,” he said.

Lupo is also working hard theatrically and will be

participating in the school’s spring musical production

of Shrek, beginning May 21. He looks forward to the

next chapter in his life after he graduates in June.

“I will be studying at The College of New Jersey

next year, majoring in psychology and minoring in

either philosophy or French,” he said. “I then

Tiffany Sheppard Robert Lupo

Ahlam Tamimi

By Domenick Reda


hope to pursue a career in either law

or psychiatry.”

Despite keeping so busy, Lupo val-

ues the friendships he has made at

school–something he will greatly

miss after he graduates.

“Although I take my education

seriously, having my friends in my

classes makes learning more enjoy-

able,” Lupo said. “My favorite part of

school would be the social aspect of

it. Although I have a handful of really

close friends, I would have to consid-

er Michael to be my best friend. I have known him for

all 18 years of my life and couldn’t have asked for a

better companion.”

A Mother’s LoveWhen sophomore Ahlam Tamimi

was ill recently, it was her mother who

was there for her every step of the

way.

“My best friend is my mother,”

Tamimi explained. “She was with me

everyday when I was sick and will

help me with anything, anytime I need

her. I can trust her with anything.”

Tamimi points to her triumphant

return to school, coupled with her hard

work, as reasons she was named as

one of the Students of the Month.

“I recently went back to school and I’ve been trying

hard all month,” she said. “I have been getting good

grades.”

Tamimi has also been active in

Mustang sports.

“I’m currently on the track team and

I will be playing soccer in the fall,” she

said. “I really enjoy being a part of a

team because everybody is like your

second family.”

Apart from athletics, Tamimi takes

her school very seriously.

“My favorite subject is biology

because it is the study of life and every-

thing I learn in that class... I get to use

in everyday life,” she said.

“I plan on becoming an optometrist

in the future because I’ve been going to

eye doctors my whole life and I enjoy

what they do.”

Getting A Kick Out Of AcademicsBeing a competitive athlete who

travels, and a distinguished honor roll

student for the last two marking peri-

ods, is not easy, but don’t tell that to

senior Rachel Egyed, a North Wing stu-

dent who is convinced her consistent

academic efforts got her named as one

of April’s Students of the Month.

“I think it’s because I have been get-

ting good grades,” she said. “I was

Rachel Egyed


invited to the Academic Awards din-

ner for the first time in my four years

here.”

But Egyed credits good teachers,

like Karen Slinger, with making

things easier for her.

“My favorite class and teacher is

calculus with Mrs. Slinger because

she has made math easy to understand

and she has been the most helpful

math teacher I’ve had at Clifton

High,” Egyed said.

But what Egyed really loves is

competing, especially in athletics.

“I’m attending the University of Maryland, College

Park in the fall to continue my soccer career,” she said.

“I will be majoring in kinesiology to study towards a

sports medicine or physical therapy major.”

And although she is looking forward to the next

challenge, Egyed is going to miss all the friends she

made at CHS, both on and off the field.

“I enjoy the social and athletic aspect of school the

most,” she said. “I loved being able to play soccer for 4

years with the girls I grew up with. My best friend is

Elizabeth DeMuro because she’s been

my oldest friend and we’ve been best

friends since we were about 8 years

old. Playing soccer together for 10

years has gotten us very close.”

Art Imitating LifeThe four years Elizabeth Wojcik

has spent at CHS have opened her

eyes to the beauty of art, as has Art

Teacher Angela Carozza.

“My favorite class is art with Mrs.

Carozza,” said the senior Annex stu-

dent. “I love the creative projects we do. Art is so beau-

tiful.”

That enthusiasm has helped Wojcik to steadily

improve her grades during her tenure at CHS.

“I think I was chosen for Student of the Month

because I have improved my grades tremendously and

I have been working extremely hard,” said Wojcik, who

plans on eventually pursuing a graduate degree but is

still undecided about a major. “I am really trying my

best in all of my classes because in the future I want to

go to a really great college and get a master’s degree.”

Elizabeth Wojcik


Nearly 25 years after starting the Charmers, aprogram that grew into one of the most successful

girls travel softball programs in the Northeast,

Clifton’s Steve Meyers was inducted last month

into the New Jersey ASA (American Softball

Association) Hall of Fame, on March 2 at Martell’s

in Pt. Pleasant.

Like a lot of parents of kids who play sports,

Meyers got involved as a volunteer in the Clifton

Little League softball program back in the

1980s, coaching his two daughters, Kim and

Randi, and later his stepdaughters, Lauren

and Amy.

Meyers had played fast-pitch softball in

his younger days, so coaching gave him an

opportunity to not only spend more time

with his kids, but to continue his passion for

the game, he said.

A CliftonCHARMER

By Carol Leonard

State Honors for Girls Softball Legend

Early day Charmers, from left, Laura Tynio, Lisa Caruso, Lauren Dickinson, Jen Carlo, Jen Prawetz, Jen Bandurski,Chistina Aloia, Amanda Bongiorno, Megan Doczi, Tracey Collins, Jaime Anzaldi, Jen Mcintyre, Bill Doczi, Sal Anzaldi.




April Edition

Over the years, Meyers observed the talent and inter-

est in the sport of many of the girls and he wanted to take

them to the next level. “I didn’t feel that the competition

in the Little League program was challenging enough for

them,” he said.

Along with fellow Central Division coach Tom Acton,

Meyers decided to enter a team of girls from the Central

and Western division programs into a 14-and-under tour-

nament in Parsippany in 1989. To his and Acton’s sur-

prise, the Clifton girls won the tournament, their first

ever outside of the Little League environment.

“One of the umpires suggested that we enter the

upcoming ASA tournament to be held in Sparta,”

Meyers said. “She explained the ASA program to us and,

as they say, the rest is history. We went on to win the

state tournament and were told we were going to Buffalo

in two weeks. With no money at our disposal, the girls

got donations and, with the town’s help, we had a bus

and were on our way to the regionals.”

Three weeks later, after winning the regional tourna-

ment, the team continued on to Chatanooga, Tennessee

for the national tournament. “Again, we had to raise

money, but the girls did a great job getting donations and

we flew to Tennessee,” Meyers said.

John Vnenchak, Susie Vnenchak, Melissa Crombet, Susan McNamara, Laura Gurgick, Jodiann Palmieri, Kelly Crossen,Julie Ulbricht, Frank Venezia, Kneeling Jim McDonald, Kelly Powers, Melissa Kern, Gianna Caruso, Jill Romanowski,Chrissy Didieo, Vanessa Ortiz.


Learning From Losing At nationals, the team got an education, winning one

game and losing two to be knocked out of the tourna-

ment. But the experience gave the girls the incentive to

continue playing at a more competitive level and gave

Meyers the inspiration to gradually expand the program

to include teams at every age group, from 10-and-under

to 18-and-under.

Participation on the Charmers involved a three month

commitment, from mid-May through mid-August, with

two nights a week of practices and weekend tourna-

ments, many of them out of state and requiring overnight

stays. “We were able to play against the highest level of

competition,” Meyers said. “It gave the girls an opportu-

nity to meet other players from all over the country and

develop lasting friendships.”

As the program expanded to more age groups, girls

from other towns who were interested in playing more

competitive softball wanted to be part of the Charmers,

so Meyers opened tryouts for the teams to these other

players. The program, originally called the Clifton

Charmers, became known as the New Jersey Charmers.

In addition to winning countless local tournaments

throughout the Northeast, over the years Charmers teams

were also very successful at ASA state, regional and

national tournaments.

A 10-and-under team coached by Sal Anzaldi, who

spent many years coaching with the program, traveled all

the way to California, finishing seventh in the country in

ASA competition. Anzaldi’s 12-and-under Charmers

won back-to-back mid-Atlantic regional championships.

Other notable accomplishments in the Charmers

organization included the 14-and-under team finishing

ninth in the nation in 1990, and that same basic team also

finishing ninth in national competition as a 16-and-under

team in 1992.

The 18-and-under team, which was formed in 1993,

was also very successful, with players coming up from

below. Meyers gives added credit to the coaching of Jim

MacDonald and Frank Venezia, both former St. Mary’s

High School coaches. “They had no children in the pro-

gram, but coached for the love of the game and to help

these young women,” he said. “College coaches would

call Coach Mac and Coach V about certain girls, sight

unseen, and would respect their opinions about playing

in their programs.”

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April Edition

Charmers Create CHS Dynasty The Charmers program is regarded by many as an

important contributor to the development of the CHS pro-

gram as a softball powerhouse during the 1990s, winning

Group IV state championships in 1993, ’97 and ’98 as

well as numerous league and county titles.

Outstanding CHS players of the ‘90s who got their

start with the Charmers were Meyer’s daughter, Randi,

along with Gianna Caruso, Danielle Fischer, Cara Kling,

Vanessa Ortiz, Kim and Jamie Anzaldi, Allison Gavasi,

Kim Artim, Laura Tynio, Dana Jeanetti, Amanda

Bongiorno and Megan Dozci. Brianne Moore, a pitching

standout from 2003-2006 honed her skills as a Charmer..

Other Charmers players from Clifton had successful

softball careers at St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford,

including Meyer’s stepdaughter, Lauren Dickinson, along

with Val Esposito and Jessica Perez.

Many of the girls went on to play softball in college,

some receiving athletic scholarships. Among them were

Caruso at Long Island University, Bongiorno at Wagner

University, Perez at St. Peter’s College, Artim and Dozci

at Drew University, Jeannetti at Georgian Court

University, Dickinson at Robert Morris University, Kim

Anzaldi and Esposito at Felician College, Jamie Anzaldi

at Ramapo College and Brianne Moore at Bloomfield

University.

Long-time softball umpire Joe Massaro, who nominat-

ed Meyers for the award, got to know him when the

Charmers first became involved in tournament play. “He

was a great contributor to the game for all that he gave to

the girls who came through the organization,” Massaro

said of Meyers. “When you do this for as long as I have,

you get to see all kinds of coaches. Steve always conduct-

ed himself with class and his teams always came to play.

They played hard and they played fair.”

A Humble Kind of GuyThose who coached in the Charmers organization also

have high praise for Meyers. “He got coaches for every

level and gave them the leeway to run their teams and

make decisions about what tournaments to enter and who

would play,” Sal Anzaldi said. “It was never about him.

He always had the best interest of the kids at heart.”

Meyers was presented with a Charmers memory book

at the awards dinner, which included congratulatory well

wishes from many of his former players that, he said,

brought tears to his eyes. “Many of these girls are giving

back to the community as coaches and teachers,” he said.

In accepting his award, Meyers said he felt humbled.

“The plaque has my name on it, but it was received

because of a great many other people,” he commented. “I

may have started the organization, but there were a lot

more who contributed to make it a success.”

Meyers continued to coach in the Charmers organiza-

tion through the 2003 season and remained active in an

administrative role until the program disbanded after the

2005 season.

Among the final players to wear a Charmers uniform

were Clifton High School battery mates, pitcher Diana

Giordano and catcher Jill Leonard, whose 2007 team won

the last state championship for CHS during their senior

year. Giordano went on to star in the pitching circle at

Ramapo College, and Leonard, after

briefly playing at Montclair State,

took an assistant coaching job at

Hackensack and now teaches and

coaches the freshman team at Passaic

High School.

Meyers continues to love softball,

but currently spends his time viewing

the game from the stands. He and his

wife Beverly enjoy going to see his

stepdaughter Lauren coach at her col-

lege alma mater, Robert Morris, and

watching their 10 year-old grand-

daughter Morgan pitch in the now

unified Clifton youth softball league.



Health & Medicine

What started out 30 years ago as place

where adults and children could go for non-

life-threatening medical treatment, perhaps

on a weekend, a holiday or another time

when their regular doctor was unavailable,

has evolved into a comprehensive center for

primary patient care.

The Clifton ImmediCenter, along with its

affiliate sites in Bloomfield and Totowa, has

been certified by the National Committee

for Quality Assurance as a patient-centered

medical home. The model program is

intended to improve patient outcomes and

satisfaction as well as reduce the growing cost of

healthcare.

Founded by three family care and internal medicine

physicians, Drs. Michael Basista, Dan Bernheim and

Stephen LaPoff, the Clifton ImmediCenter opened its

doors on June 4, 1984 across from its present location

at 1355 Broad St. It was the first urgent care center of

its kind in this part of New Jersey, offering patients an

alternative to more expensive hospital emergency room

visits in a friendlier community setting, with extended

hours.

Over the years, the ImmediCenter has transitioned

from being just a walk-in center for episodic illnesses

and injuries into a more full-service primary care facil-

ity, where patients could also schedule an appointment

with a particular physician and receive on-going care.

“Some of our patients didn’t have a primary care

physician and they were looking for better follow-up

care for chronic conditions,” said Dr. Basista, who

serves as director of the ImmediCenter practice. “They

liked the convenience of our offices and the fact that

we’re open weekends and evenings.”

By Carol Leonard

ImmediCenter Nowa National Model

Medical Home

Doreen Sestilio of Immedicenter with patient Joe Carlucci.

ALLUrgent

FROM

TO



The ImmediCenter patient care

staff includes six full-time physi-

cians, all board certified in inter-

nal medicine or family practice,

two physician assistants, four

nurse practitioners and five regis-

tered nurses, the latter all recently

trained as care coordinators under

the new patient care model.

New Healthcare LawThe concept of patient-centered

medical homes predates passage

of the federal Affordable Care Act,

often referred to as Obamacare. In

New Jersey, Horizon Blue

Cross/Blue Shield has been a

leader in promoting the concept

for a number of years, but the ini-

tiative has gained more momentum under the new fed-

eral healthcare law.

Most of the media attention on Obamacare has cen-

tered on its efforts to expand health insurance coverage

for more Americans and improve the quality of health

insurance plans. This includes

eliminating exclusion of coverage

for pre-existing conditions, allow-

ing grown children to stay on their

parents’ insurance plans until age

26 and covering the expense of

certain preventive services with-

out a copay or deductible. The law

also eliminates lifetime payment

caps and requires insurance com-

panies to spend at least 80 percent

of the premiums they collect on

covered medical expenses for their

customers. But other parts of the

extensive new healthcare law

focus on improving delivery and

efficiency of care, with the goal of

reducing cost and providing better

outcomes for patients and their

families.

At the heart of the patient-centered medical home

are the care coordinators, whose role is to closely fol-

low-up on patients, particularly those with chronic

medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood

Dr. Michael Basista,Medical Director of Immedicenter


Health & Medicine

pressure and other issues requiring continuing care and

treatment. At the ImmediCenter, all of the care coordi-

nators are nurses who have been on staff for a number

of years and “who had a special interest in this new

innovative way to practice,” Dr. Basista said.

Two of the care coordinators, Idina Merz, who

serves as lead care coordinator, and Doreen Sestilio,

who works out of the Clifton office, attended a training

program funded by Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield at

Duke University to learn about case management,

using community resources to help patients and work-

ing with specialists.

Improving Primary Care“The best way to handle patient care is through pri-

mary care,” Dr. Basista said. “But in the past we hadn’t

done as good a job as we should have in following

through with our primary care patients. Under this new

model of care, we’re more proactive, especially with

patients with chronic problems. Our goal is to keep

people out of the ER (emergency room) and out of the

hospital.”

Care coordinators maintain close contact with their

patients, calling to remind them to come in for regular

visits to their doctors, checking to see how they are

doing on their medications and assisting with commu-

nication between patients and physicians. They also

help patients set up appointments with medical special-

ists, recommend resources in the community such as

referrals for nutritional counseling, and help educate

patients about ways to maintain good health and pre-

vent illness.

Clifton resident Joe Carlucci, 61, who is diabetic and

has been a patient of Dr. Basista at the ImmediCenter

for many years, is pleased with the new model of care.

“I think it’s great that Doreen (Sestilio) is now part of

my medical team,” he said. “She always keeps me

abreast of my lab work and, if I have a problem or ques-

tion, I know when I call I can ask for Doreen. She

knows me and it makes me feel more comfortable.”

As part of enhanced coordination of care and the

goal of reducing unnecessary costs, Dr. Basista said

that he is playing a more active role when

ImmediCenter patients need to see outside specialists.

“We’ve been moving more toward the use of less

expensive generic prescriptions and I request the spe-

cialists to do the same with our patients. We also coor-

dinate to avoid unnecessary or duplicate testing.”

Expanded use of electronic medical records, another

provision of Obamacare, is also an important feature of

the new patient care model. When completely in place

in the coming years, Dr. Basista expects that this will

further improve communication between the

ImmediCenter’s primary care doctors and the hospitals

and specialists who also treat its patients.

Later this spring, an online patient portal will be up

and running at the ImmediCenter, which will enable

patients, using a secure password, to access their lab

work and other screening test results on their home

computers, smartphones and other electronic devices.

They will be able to request appointments and medica-

tion refills as well as communicate with their primary

care providers and care coordinators.

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Patients as Partners in HealthcareDr. Basista believes that this feature will help

enhance the dialogue and partnership between patients

and medical care providers, which he feels is very

important to improved healthcare.

“Like the slogan from the old Sims clothing store

ads, ‘an educated consumer is our best customer,’ I like

patients who come in with knowledge and who ask

questions,” he said. “Patients who feel more involved

in their treatment are more likely to be compliant in

taking care of their health.”

One of the requirements for designation as a patient-

centered medical home is expanded access to care by

patients, such as with the kind of extended hours that

the ImmediCenter has always provided. The facility is

open weekdays from 8 am until 9 pm and on weekends

from 8 am until 5 pm, including all holidays.

“We’re also doing primary care days, where certain

doctors focus on seeing only primary care patients,”

said lead care coordinator Idina Merz. “On those days,

we have a team meeting with the care coordinators and

physicians to go over issues about the patients we will

be seeing.”

In addition to Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the

concept and goals of the patient-centered medical home

model have been supported through financial incen-

tives by Medicare and a number of other private health

insurance companies, including Oxford and United

Healthcare.

According to Dr. Steven Peskin, senior medical

director & director of clinical innovations for Horizon

Healthcare Innovations, designated patient-centered

medical homes receive payments from Horizon to sup-

port patient care coordination and for meeting certain

quality and efficiency goals in addition to the regular

fee-for-service payments.

“It’s about changing the payment model to reward

outcomes and values,” Dr. Pleskin said. “The triple aim

focus of this model is better health, better experience

with care and lower cost of care.”

Dr. Basista predicts that in the coming years, the tra-

ditional fee-for-service concept in medical care will be

history. “It has to change,” he said. “We can’t continue

to spend as much as we have been on healthcare with-

out better outcomes. We need to make the population

healthier at a lower cost.”

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Firefighter’s Ball

The last Clifton FMBA 21 Firefighter’sBall was in 2008. Organizer Tony Latona

and his committee of Gayle and Mike Turi,

Krystina and Brian Reilly and Sue and

George Spies said too much time had passed.

So on March 21 they remedied those

lapsed years and set precedent for what will

no doubt again be an annual tradition.

Held at the Royal Warsaw in Garfield, it

was an evening to celebrate Clifton

Firefighters and their families. On these

pages are photos from just some of the

tables, the dancing and the great food and

beverages served up during the night.

Best of all, it was a time to reconnect with

some of the retired officers and their spous-

es. Top of this page shows a reunion of brass

with Chief Joseph Colca who led the depart-

ment from Nov. 12, 1980 to May 1, 1985. He

is pictured with Deputy Chief Alex Beattie

along with DC Lyons. DC Loder, DC Sauer,

DC Spies and DC Tahan.


• Bronze Plaques• Monuments• Porcelain Photos• Benches• Mausoleums• Cemetery Lettering• Cremation Urns• Pet Urns

973-471-5008 • 800 Broad St., Clifton

Shana andEd Polak

Diamond Memorials Diamond Memorials

Find our selection online!

diamondmemorialsinc.com

We’re Here to Discuss Your NeedsMon-Fri: 10 am- 4pm • Sat: 10 am-3 pm

Around Town

Join the Fight Against ALS (Lou

Gehrig’s Disease) and join Team

Najda (in support of Clifton’s own

Mike Najda) at the Saddle River

County Park in Saddle Brook.

There are three ways to support the

cause: t-shirt sponsor, virtual walk-

er or get out and walk on June 8 at

9:30 am. Go to www.alswalks.org

and look for Team Nadja.

A Good Friday White Breakfasthosted by the Women’s Ministries

of the United Reformed Church of

Clifton and Passaic, 352 Clifton

Ave., is on April 18 at 9:30 am. The

topic is Last Words—TheUnexpected. Call 973-365-1666.

The St. Andrew Gala AwardsDinner is May 8 at 6:30 pm at the

Brownstone to honor individuals

who embody the values of the church

and the namesake of the awards. To

be feted are Michael and Jayne

Cerone (St. Andrew Family Faith

Award), Friends of the Clifton

Animal Center (Gloria Kolodziej

Community Enhancement Award)

and Robert Morgan (Mayor James

Anzaldi Community Service Award).

Tickets are $60. RSVP by April 15

to 973-473-3711 or 973-779-6873.

Join Clifton’s Mike Najda andhis wife Patricia in a walk toraise funds to fight ALS.

On March 15, the Clifton PassaicUkrainian-American YouthAssociation and the UkrainianCongress Committee of Americaprotested the Russian invasion of theCrimean Peninsula in Ukraine bycalling for a boycott of the purchaseof gas at Lukoil’s stations, Russia'ssecond largest oil company.

Clifton’s Nick Tselepis, of Nicholas Real Estate Agency, representatives from Alma Bank, clergy and community members met at Paterson City Hall on March 25 to raise the Greek flag and mark that nation’s Independence Day.


The Marching Mustang’s firstDrum Majorette, Marie (Vullo)

Giunta, passed at the age of 90 on

March 18. Pictured high stepping

on the cover of our August 2006

edition, Marie led the Marching

Mustangs from 1938 to 1942 and

went on to perform with big bands.

She and her late husband Mario

were parents to Clifton’s Angela G.

Williamson and grandparents to

Alexandra and Spencer.

Clifton’s Rotary Club hosts a

Ladies Only Comedy Night to

Benefit Autism Awareness on April

25 at 7 pm at the Mountainside Inn.

Tickets are $40. Call 973-557-3886.

The 14th Annual Savor Food &Wine Experience is on April 7 at

the Preakness Hills County Club

from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The $50 ticket

allows patrons to sample great and

eclectic foods from dozens of area

restaurants. Visitors will also enjoy

sampling fine wines, entertainment,

networking and a cash bar.

Presented by the North Jersey

Regional Chamber of Commerce,

call 973-470-9300 or register online

at northjerseychamber.org.

The Passaic County CommunityCollege Foundation Gala on April

24 raises funds to provide scholar-

ships to financially challenged stu-

dents at PCCC. Held at the stately

Hamilton Club on the Paterson cam-

pus, the gala honors Kevin P.

McCabe, President of the Carpenter

Contractor Trust. Tickets to the gala

are $100 and various sponsorship

and underwriting opportunities are

also available. To find out more,

call Todd Sorber at 973-684-5656.

The Friends of the Clifton Public Library are making note of the religiousholidays of the Jewish Passover, which begins April 14, and Easter, celebrat-ed by Roman, Byzantine and Orthodox Catholics on April 20. ColleenMurray is pictured at a display of Passover books and items which helpexplain traditions on the second floor of the Main Library on Piaget Ave.


City Council candidate LaurenMurphy is the guest speaker at the

April 21 Clifton Democratic Club

meeting. The club is open to all and

the meeting is at 7 pm at the Main

Library. Call Club President John D.

Pogorelec, Jr., at 973-778-1604.

Knights of Columbus ReginaMundi Council 3969 Beefsteak at

St. Andrew’s Church Hall, 400 Mt.

Prospect Ave., is on May 17 at 6:30

pm. Tickets are $35; table of 10 for

$340. BYOB. Call 973-772-2727.

Meltzer’s Sporting Goods presents

NRA Home Firearms Safety

Courses in April. New or prospec-

tive gun owners or hunters of all

ages and expertise will learn general

firearms safety, from storage and

proper handling of ammunition to

firearms cleaning, maintenance and

function testing. Prices or either $50

or $100 for one of the three dates.

Classes are at 118 Outwater Lane,

Garfield. and led by Richie Pometti,

Meltzer’s in-house NRA certified

instructor. To register, call Billy or

Lisa Meltzer at 973-478-7647.

Girls Scouts of Troop 44 touring and tasting at Sweet Sister’s Cakes.

Girl Scout Troop 44 hosts the first All City Clifton Girl Scouts Awards and

Recognition Dinner on June 3, from 6 to 8:30 pm at Mario’s Restaurant on

Van Houten Ave. Organizer Janet De Stefano said girls of all ages are invit-

ed to share, learn and celebrate their scouting experiences.

“Every level of scouts learn from each other,” said De Stefano, a Registered

Nurse at CHS and a 1980 CHS grad. She was also a Girl Scout in her youth

with a troop at Bella Vista Church and First Presbyterian Church on

Maplewood Ave. where Troop 44 now meets every other Wednesday.

“Like the kids, we leaders learn and share with each other.”

Scouts who have earned the highest awards in the Bronze Award (4-5th

grades) Silver Award (6-8th grades) or Gold Award (equal to Eagle Scout

in Boy Scouts) are invited to tell about their projects. “This is not just about

awards but really an opportunity to help grow Clifton Girl Scouts,” said De

Stefano. Call 973-694-1445 or write [email protected] for more details.

Around Town


CHS Project Graduation Chair Keith Bassford accepts a $500 check from St.Philip the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council 11671 members DavidCordero, Jack Paparella, and Ray Lill. The money helps send the 2014 gradsoff to a safe and secure party on the night they gradaute CHS.


973-772-8451R o o f in g • S id in gS eamless G u t te rs

Additions • Alterations

Clifton Parents Requiring Action and Informationfor Special Education (P.R.A.I.S.E.) is a non-adversar-

ial parent support group for parents and families of spe-

cial needs children. Meet at the Allwood Library on the

fourth Monday of every month, September through May.

On April 28 at 7 pm, Dawn Monaco of the Statewide

Parent Advocacy Network will present a workshop on

Least Restrictive Environment. For more details, write

to [email protected] or join the Facebook page.

The Clifton Community Band performs the 13th

Annual Lollipops & Roses Intergenerational Concert

on May 17 at 2 pm in the CHS Auditorium. Under the

baton of Marching Mustang Maestro Bob Morgan,

proceeds benefit the Clifton Education Foundation and

the Clifton Community Band. Admission is $7. Kids

under 12 are free. Info at [email protected].

Sandee Augusto, with sons PJ and Richie, owner ofCaselerno Salon, now at 707 Van Houten Ave., hosteda grand reopening on March 30.

Do you know, teach, or love achild or adult with autism?Then join the Walk-a-Thon and

Free Family Carnival on June 8

at 11 am at CHS. That’s last

year’s photo at right. Presented

by Parents of Autistic Children,

the group also offers a free work-

shop on Engaging Your Child

through Game, Play and Ipad

Activities at the Allwood Library

on May 19 at 6 pm. For more info

on the group, the walk, or to con-

nect with Clifton families already

involved, go to www.poac.net or

call 732-785-1099.

Birthdays & Celebrations - April 2014

Karen Goldey..................... 4/1Timothy Hayes .................... 4/1Stephanie L. Magaster......... 4/1Hetal Patel.......................... 4/1Karen Schwartz .................. 4/1Raymond DeDios ................ 4/3Carl DiGisi ......................... 4/3Eric Homsany ..................... 4/3JoEllen Kenney-Illenye.......... 4/3

Kevin John Lord .................. 4/3Greg Alexander.................. 4/4Joey Scotto ......................... 4/4Bo Franko .......................... 4/5Sabrina Greco.................... 4/5Wafa Othman .................... 4/5Mark Peterson .................... 4/5Bob Tanis ........................... 4/5Joe Franek.......................... 4/6Sharon J. Koribanics ........... 4/6Jessica Mondelli.................. 4/6Luke Kulesa ........................ 4/7Donna Mangone ................ 4/7Patricia Colman .................. 4/8Sheryll Franko .................... 4/8Jackie Henderson................ 4/8Jeff Murcko......................... 4/8Emma Gretina .................... 4/9Kathy Krisinski .................... 4/9Brian Firstmeyer ................ 4/11Leila Gasior...................... 4/11Felipe Rivera .................... 4/11Erin Smith......................... 4/11Debbie Tucker .................. 4/11Alice Shanley Babinski ...... 4/12Josh Ontell ....................... 4/13

Alexander John Mosciszko. 4/14Lisa Kulesa ....................... 4/15Adam Pienciak ................. 4/15Kurt Irizarry...................... 4/16Robert Monzo .................. 4/16Linda Humphrey ............... 4/17Joseph P. Koribanics.......... 4/17Peter Fierro....................... 4/18Jason Dubnoff................... 4/19Jennifer O’Sullivan ............ 4/19Bryan Rodriguez............... 4/19John Anderson.................. 4/20Jeff Camp......................... 4/20Greg Nysk ....................... 4/21Alicia Rose Aste................ 4/22Lori Hart........................... 4/22Mike Tresca...................... 4/22

The Hawrylko brothers, Tom Jr. is 27 on April 16 and Joe turns 29on April 27, with their pal Bob Marley who turns 10 on April 4. Pete& Eileen Fierro will be married 38 years on April 18. Belated BirthdayGreetings to Dana Aref who turned 9 years old on March 10.

Birthdays & CelebrationsSend dates & [email protected]

Roland & Lena Krygsmancelebrate 61 years of marriage on April 24.

Happy 35th Anniversary toJohn & Donna Hawrylko

on April 28 Daniel Leigh Magaster April 7, 1985 - Oct. 16, 2003April 2014 • Clifton Merchant88


Alyssa Tucker .................. 4/22Bobby Ventimiglia ........... 4/22Danny Gorun.................. 4/23John Pogorelec, Jr............ 4/23Marc Scancarella ............ 4/23Katie Michelotti ............... 4/25Brianna A. Pastore .......... 4/25Klondike Tresca ............... 4/25Buddy Czyzewski............ 4/26 Stephanie Magaster ........ 4/26Jillian Mangone............... 4/26Annie Pogorelec.............. 4/26Elise Termyna .................. 4/26Mike Grimaldi................. 4/27 Michael Press.................. 4/27April Graham.................. 4/28Stephen Camp, Jr. ........... 4/29Paul Colman ................... 4/29Heather Halasz ............... 4/29Christine Klein................. 4/29

Peter Chudolij is 19 on April 28.

Happy 8th Birthday toDamian Calvo on April 13.


Shop Class

CHS students are getting scholarships to attend tech-nical schools and heading into a career in the auto tech-

nology field that pays $36,000 per year to start.

Students at CHS have have been touring Lincoln

Technical School and Universal Technical Institute as

instructors familiarize them with the thriving field of gas

and diesel engine repair and the future it holds for them.

“The kids are exposed to various campuses via field

trips funded by the trade schools,” said CHS Auto

Technology Instructor Richard Alberghini. “The initia-

tive offers a higher education alternative for these stu-

dents after graduation. We’ve established a rapport with

these schools and they know Clifton kids are motivated.”

Alberghini credits the CHS Adminstration and Board

of Education for supporting the shop which he said was

in “disrepair” when he took over three years ago.

“These kids need opportunities other than college and it

shows them another way.” Alberghini said.

The basic curriculum offered by LTI and UTI is one

year plus an additional four months in specialized train-

ing. Many students have received partial scholarships to

attend. Some Clifton seniors who are taking advantage

of the program include Diego Carmona-Bermejo,

Florencio Guevara, Alex Isidro-Chavez, Dennis

Mendez, Andy Manchego, Erinn Mangual, Tyler Nasr,

Michael Tomon and Jayson Santana.

Above at CHS Auto Shop, Dennis Mendez, Jose Rosado, Tyler Nasr, Jayson Santana, Michal Tomon and Andy Manchego.

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