Clifton Merchant Magazine - February 2009

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Clifton Merchant Magazine is published the first Friday of every month at 1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton • 973-253-4400

February 2009 • Clifton Merchant 4

Retired Clifton police officer Ed Holstermet his wife, Linda Portaro, when he pulledher over for speeding in 1993. It took her adecade to forgive him, but the couple eventu-ally began dating in 2004 and were marriedjust last month on Jan. 10. The nuptials took

Clifton Merchant Magazine owners Cheryl andTom Hawrylko celebrate their 28th weddinganniversary on Feb. 14.

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Love &Marriage


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EDITOR & PUBLISHERTom Hawrylko

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Cheryl Hawrylko

STAFF WRITERS: Joe Hawrylko, Jordan Schwartz

GRAPHIC ARTIST: Rich McCoy

CONTRIBUTORS: Don Lotz, Rich DeLotto

February ’09 Contents

Municipal News

Jayne Modean

Feeding CHS

Arts, Film, Video

Super Bowl Family Party

Grant writers, LakeAve. development,possible layoffs andzoning board matters.Page 40

There’s somethingabout Jayne. A Cliftongirl makes it to thecover of Seventeen &inspires a Hollywoodhit. Page 35

Sheryll Franko andDrew Horn met andcollaborated to makea short film on mentalillness. Page 72

The 11th annual CliftonSuper Bowl Partyattracted about 300people to the Boys &Girls Club. Check outtons of pictures fromthe event. 9

Clifton’s youth athleticleagues prepare kidsfor high school varsitysports. Page 52

place at City Hall in front of Judge Scott Bennion, just 10days after Holster retired from 37 years of service withthe CPD. Theirs isn’t the only unique love story and sothis month, like every February, Clifton MerchantMagazine presents tales about how people meet anddecide to spend the rest of their lives with one another.

John Seyka told Tillie Fedorchak that she was going tobe his wife when he drove her home after their first dancein 1956 (page 6). Arlene Bross fell in love with her hus-band John when she saw him singing in the St. John’sLutheran Church choir in 1954 (page 9).

Jason Lehansky wanted to propose to his girlfriendJennifer in a creative way, so he got her favorite athlete,Peyton Manning, to pop the question with an autograph (page11). Not to be outdone, Brian Reilly dressed up as Santa androde a fire truck to Krystyna Zarebczan’s house before get-ting down on one knee to ask the question (page 33).

Aldo Tacchi returned to Italy to marry his bride Anna,whom he grew up (page 15) but Ralph West didn’t haveto go too far to meet his future wife Kim as she was tend-ing bar in Botany in 1985 (page 20). Herbert Rocha hadonly been in the US for a few weeks when he laid eyes onhis future wife Virginia at a church function (page 24).

Randy and Roberta Kaulfers got a second chance at lovea quarter century after graduate school in Hawaii split themup (page 26). Jay and Tammy Moorman have a similarstory. They only got their fairy tale ending after two break-ups and 20 years of trying to make it work (page 31).

And Joe Angello thought he’d be a bachelor for life untilhe ran into Sue at Rick’s American Bar & Grill in 1992(page 18). The following 29 pages include stories and greatthen and now photos of these couples in honor ofValentine’s Day. Next year, we’d love to write about you!

Correction: In our January edition, we incor-rectly stated that Joan Robertson assumed theduties of City Clerk following Dick Moran’sretirement last year, when in fact it wasBarbara Nagy (pictured) who is now theClifton City Clerk. We apologize for the error.


John Seyka noticed the beautifulbrunette standing against the wallon the other side of the room andchivalry took over. He walkedacross the crowded hall in Jermyn,Pa., fetched a chair and offered theyoung lady a place to sit.

Tillie Fedorchak, who was just23 at the time, accepted the gesturefrom the man eight years her seniorand the two began to talk.

After a short while, John askedhis new sweetheart to dance andwhile they were out on the floor, heleaned over and told Tillie that hewanted to take her home.

Home for Seyka was Passaic,where he immigrated to in 1937,after spending the first 13 years ofhis life in Czechoslovakia. Hemoved with his father, leavingbehind his mother and sister, whomhe thought he’d never see again.

In 1943, Seyka entered theUnited States Army, serving inFrance and Austria. After the warended in Europe in 1945, the cor-poral embarked on a personal jour-ney to locate his family.

Uncle Sam told him he could,but he’d have to sign up for three tosix more months in the Army.

“I said I’d do another year,”remembered Seyka, 84. They gavehim 14 days to find his mother andsister. Riding the bus to the villageof Kruzlova, John began offeringcigarettes to the other passengers.

“One of the guys recognized mefrom school,” Seyka recalled whileclosing his eyes to focus on thememory. “Once we got off the bus,I stayed behind him because heknew where all the mines were.”

At last, John reached his oldhome and knocked on the door. Hismother opened up but she didn’trecognize her son and so sheslammed the door, fearing he wasan intruder.

Eventually, Seyka convinced herthat they were related and thereunion was complete.

The corporal was discharged in1946 and returned to Passaic,where he worked for Okonite Cableand belonged to St. John’s Church.Once a year, the church groupwould travel 120 miles to donateclothes to a monastery in Jermyn.The trip also included a dance at anearby hall.

“I wasn’t supposed to be therebecause I had a boyfriend,” Tillie,76, remembered about the May1956 social. “My mom made mego.”

The youngest of 11 children, theformer Miss Fedorchak grew up inthe small town north of Scranton,graduating Archibold High Schoolbefore going to work at a clothingfactory.

John drove Tillie home thatspring night, but before she left hiscar, he leaned over and told her thatshe was going to be his wife.

“When I got inside, I woke mymother up and told her about thisRussian Orthodox boy I just met,”

John and Tillie Seyka hold up a picture from their wedding day on May 11, 1957.

by Jordan Schwartz

Love at First Dance


she said. “He was very kind at thatdance.”

Seyka returned to New Jerseybut the pair continued correspon-ding over the phone.

A few months later, John wasbeing treated for a hernia at PassaicGeneral. Tillie, who was visitingone of her sisters in Clifton, decid-ed to pop in at the hospital as a sur-prise.

“I was writing her a letter at thetime,” recalled Seyka, adding thatsoon after, “she changed hername.”

John and Tillie were married onMay 11, 1957 at St. Michael’sRussian Orthodox Church inJermyn. The reception was held atthe same hall in which they firstmet.

After tying the knot, the pairmoved to Sears Pl. in Cliftonbefore relocating to Piaget Ave. In1962, they finally settled down onAthenia Ave., where they stillreside today.

The Seykas have three children:Cynthia, 50, Gregory, 46, and John39. They also have three grand-children, all Cynthia’s, namedJustin, Lauren and Leah.

In the ’90s, John retired after 47years at Okonite. Tillie was a stay-at-home mom for most of theirmarriage, working part-time for 26years as a crossing guard for theClifton School District.

These days, Mrs. Seyka exercis-es three times a week with theGarfield Seniors, while her hus-band of 51 years is a member of theDisabled American Veterans inClifton and a trustee at Saints Peterand Paul Russian OrthodoxCathedral on Third St. in Passaic.

The Seykas enjoy taking tripswith one another like their honey-moon to Miami. They’ve also beento Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, CapeCod, and almost every May thecouple returns to thePennsylvanian monastery that firstbrought them together.

But what keeps two people unit-ed for more than half a century?

“We work together,” said John.“And who’s the boss?” Tillie

replied.Mr. Seyka leaned over to his

wife at their kitchen table andjoked, “The money.”

John Seyka during basic training inMississippi in 1943.


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Things have changed a lot in thedating game since Arlene and JohnBross first met.

Marriage and kids come later inlife, if at all. Couples don’t gosteady anymore, they date or seeone another. And these days, it’snot too odd for a woman to makethe first move.

So it’s safe to say that Arlene wasway ahead of the curve when shepounced at the opportunity to meether future husband back in 1954.

The two met at St. John’sLutheran Church, then located onVan Houten Ave., just across thestreet from where Henry’s Deli isnow located.

“My husband was in the choirthere,” recalled Arlene, as she

flashed a smile. “I just kept watch-ing him while he was singing.”Though John had caught her eye,

Arlene never actually spoke withhim until one evening at a youngpeople’s group at St. John’s.

John and Arlene during their dating days in 1955.


by Joe Hawrylko

An Eye for the Choir Boy

“She made the first move—shedid!” laughed John. “I brought herhome that night.”

“That’s the night that started it,”injected Arlene.

From then on, the 14-year-old CHSfreshman went steady with her 17-year-old boyfriend. As Arlene finishedup school, John worked in Rutherfordas an apprentice to a tool maker.

“He was good to me,” recalledArlene. “We were good for each other.We always have been.”

However, like any relationship,there’s bound to be rough spots. Andwhen you’re in love, you don’t alwaysthink rationally—especially whenyou’re young.

“We had an argument,” recalled Arlene, “and thenext day, he came home and said, ‘I joined the Navy.”

While she can look back at the decision now andlaugh, at the time, Arlene wasn’t exactly thrilled, evenif it was during peace time.

“He was mad at me and joined the Navy!” she reit-erated as she subdued more laughter. “I was so sur-prised, and, of course, I cried.”

“She cries at the drop of a pin,” scoffed John, whonoted that he left for boot camp in November 1955.

“He liked it,” said Arlene, who used to drive up toNewport, RI, to visit her sailor when he was in port.“The only thing was when he was out on the ship, hewas constantly away.”

During one of those rare visits in port, John finallyasked the question that Arlene had been waiting for.

“It was Easter 1956. We were just out for a ride andI asked her to marry me,” he laughed. While it wasn’tan extravagant proposal, it was the best he could do.“On Navy pay, you didn’t go out to dinner that much.”

The wedding date was set for Nov. 29, 1958, justfour days after John was discharged.

“I just remember thinking, ‘Did I do the right thing?Am I doing it now?” he laughed.

“You know, it’s never too late,” chuckled Arlene. “Ijust kind of assumed that after that period of time, wewould get married.”

After they were wed, the young couple returned toClifton and lived with Arlene’s parents, Charles andFrieda Limbeck, on Van Wagoner Ave. inAcquackanack Gardens.

After a year and a half there, the young couplemoved out, only to return around 1963 to the same two-family house in which Arlene’s parents lived.

“My father worked at Manhattan Rubber,” said Arlene.Houses in this neighborhood were created specifically fortheir employees during WWII. “My parents lived nextdoor when we moved here. Now, my daughter (Lee Ann)lives next door.

“We had a very good family relationship with bothparents,” she continued. “Not many can say they hadan excellent mother-in-law. But I can.” During thistime, the couple also began raising their three daugh-ters, Lauren, Lynn and Lee Ann, something that bothJohn and Arlene say brought them closer together.

“We work well together—we really do,” explainedArlene. “We share all the responsibilities: bringing up thekids, food shopping together, going to church together.We did everything together and still do. It’s like two peo-ple became one.”

Still, like any couple, there are going to be disagree-ments. But the difference is, after spending so muchtime together, they’ve learned to just let things slide.

“We still have rough spots after 50 years,” admittedJohn. “There’s times I know what she’s thinking andvice versa. So there’s no use arguing.”

“You’ve got to be forgiving. We’ve gone throughdays where we don’t talk to each other,” he added.“But in the end, it isn’t worth it. Nobody’s perfect.”

Having a good sense of humor also goes a long wayin keeping a lasting relationship too, it seems.

“Well,” laughed Arlene. “I’m just a little more per-fect than he is.”


John and Arlene Bross on their wedding day on Nov. 29, 1958 and then 50 yearslater in a photo they had taken last May on a Hawaiian cruise.

For as long as she can remember, Jen Darata’sfavorite number has been 18—the date she wasborn. So when it came time to pick a favoritefootball player, the choice was easy: PeytonManning, No. 18.

Jen’s boyfriend, Jason Lehansky, knew sheloved the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, and sohe made sure to go get his autograph whenManning appeared at a signing in Staten Islandin June 2007.

Lehansky, 27, waited on line for an hour tomeet the athlete, but when he reached the front,the Cliftonite asked for more than just his JohnHancock.

Jason, with engagement ring in hand, took apicture with the superstar and had him sign thephoto, “To Jennifer, Please marry Jason, PeytonManning.”

“I was trying to think of a different way to askher,” Lehansky explained.

That October, he set up a date with his girl-friend of four years at the Crab House inEdgewater and told her to bring a gift.

Darata, 28, never saw the proposal coming. “At that point of the relationship, I didn’t

think we were ever getting engaged because hebrainwashed me to think it wasn’t going to hap-pen,” she said. “He prefaced everything we did,like vacations and dinners, by telling me he was-n’t going to propose.”

But that night, Jason lied.After they ate, the couple went down by the Hudson

River and exchanged presents. Jen got her man a FourSeasons CD and a Ghostbusters DVD. He got her aninvitation to a lifetime together.

“I had the picture in front of my face and when I putit down, he was on his knee,” she remembered.

Jen and Jason met in June 2003 at a North Arlingtonbar called Fatso Fogarty’s—a detail they like to omitwhen recalling their first encounter.

Their best friends were dating one another and sothey would often all get together for drinks.

A romance soon evolved and they officially startedgoing out that August at a Springsteen concert at GiantsStadium.

They’d go to a couple more Bruce concerts over thenext four years (they’re both big fans) and watchmovies at Jen’s house, but occasionally the relationshiphit some rough patches.

“I knew she was the right one and so we’d alwayscome back to each other,” said Lehansky.

The pair made things permanent on Nov. 7, 2008 atSt. Thomas in Bloomfield with a reception afterwards atthe Atrium Country Club in West Orange. Five monthsbefore their wedding, the couple purchased a home onBrighton Rd. near where Lehansky grew up onClairmont Rd.

For the past six years, Jen has taught third grade inher hometown of Bloomfield. She’s a graduate ofHofstra and MSU with degrees in education and psy-chology.

Jason Lehansky with Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning, whohelped Jason propose to his girlfriend.

by Jordan Schwartz

Proposing with Peyton

please turn to page 14



resently located at 421Broad St., Clifton, DundeeFloor Covering was estab-

lished by my father MorrisRosenfeld in Passaic in 1927.

To place perspective on that year,it was when the near mythic base-ball star Babe Ruth hit a then-record60 home runs in one season—morehome runs than any other AmericanLeague team hit that year. TheBabe’s performance was aided bybeer and hot dogs, and according tostories in this magazine, many ofwhich were consumed at the Cliftonhome of silk baron Henry Doherty.

1927 was also the yearLindbergh flew a single engine air-plane solo across the AtlanticOcean and because of that extraor-dinary achievement was awardedan enormous ticker tape paradedown Broadway in NYC. That wasthe year my father began to coverfloors in this area.

Over the decades my wife Sherryand I have been in this family busi-ness, we have personally seenfloors from the 1930s still in dailyuse. My dad used genuine linoleum,oil cloth, enamel covered, some-thing called felt base, cork and

Story by Barry Rosenfeld, pictured with his wife Sherry and

at left, founders Morris and Rachael.


other materials now obsolete, though genuinelinoleum is experiencing a rebirth of sorts.

He personally installed most of the floors. He toldme he that as he left for a job, he’d leave the door to hisPassaic store wide open with the lights on and when hecame back from an installation, people would be wait-ing inside, ready to do business and order a floor.

In those days, some kitchens cost as much as $25in top quality material and labor. During the actualDepression, people could still afford a new floor for $5or $10 to cover the dangerous splintering hardwoodand so he survived those perilous times.

In 1936, he met my mother Rachael and they soonmarried. A few years later, in 1941, World War IIbegan and because Dad was born in 1903, he was tooold to be drafted. Despite shortages of materials,Morris and Rachael kept the store open with a mix ofhard work, service, innovation and a little bit of luck!

As soldiers returned home from World War II andKorea Dundee Floor Covering kept pace with thegrowing needs of the vets and their families, many ofwhom purchased homes using the GI Bill.

Through decades of changes in society and busi-ness, we moved our store to Clifton. But what hasnever changed is what my family taught me— honestyand a devotion to customers that is truly non-existenttoday. My parents validated their lives not by howmuch we made but if the customers returned. Mymother, Rachael, in particular loved all her customersand knew most by their name.

Today we continue the same philosophy—we believewe are the best floor covering store that ever existed.Low prices, great service, big selection are taken for grant-ed by our regular customers. You should too. We are expertwood sellers, floor coverers and honest to all our customerswho we hope would also be our friends. See you soon.

Today—82 years after my parents Morris and Rachael Rosenfeld founded

Dundee— Sherry and I continue the samephilosophy that enabled this store to survive

over decades of change. Low prices, greatservice, big selection are taken for granted by our regular customers. You should too.We are expert wood sellers, floor coverers

and honest to all our customers who we hope would also be our friends. Stop in

and see us at 421 Broad St. in Clifton,pictured at left. We hope to see you soon.


The new Mrs. Lehansky is try-ing to get back into dance and isstarting to learn how to cook.

Her husband, a human resourcesemployee at KPMG in Manhattan,is a dedicated WWE fan. He’sattended a number of signings andowns a great deal of memorabilia.

At their wedding party, Jen andJason entered the room with HulkHogan’s music blaring in the back-ground.

“She’s a closet Hulkamaniac,”said Lehansky, as his bride shookher head.

He hasn’t yet dragged her to alive event, but there is one signingshe’d like to attend.

“On the way home after he pro-posed, I realized what happenedand said, ‘You met PeytonManning without me?’” said Jen.

“I figure next time he’s aroundthe area, I’ll bring her,” Jasonresponded.

Jason and Jennifer Lehansky were mar-ried on Nov. 7, 2008 in Bloomfield.

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Anna Tacchi doesn’t rememberthe corn incident, but her husbandAldo does and shares the story.

It was 1960 in Branca of Gubbioand some of the children at IlFondello—an 1,100 year old for-mer convent in central Italy—wereplaying around with a stalk of corn.

“We stuck it up her nose and Iremember turning her upside downto get it out because we would’vegotten in trouble,” laughed Aldo,who was 10 at the time. Anna wasjust three.

The pair wouldn’t see each otheragain for nearly two decades as thefollowing year, the young boyembarked on an eight-day journeyacross the Atlantic aboard a shipcalled the Leonardo da Vinci.

“Italy was devastated after thewar, but it took us 10 years beforewe were allowed to go live near ourfamily in Pennsylvania,” said Aldo,who graduated Clifton High Schoolin 1969.

But Tacchi would return to Italyon vacation, and in 1978, he foundthat little Anna was all grown up.

“She was pretty,” he remembered.The two began a relationship

and continued corresponding even

when Aldo went back to the States.He returned to his homeland—to

Anna—a couple times after thatbefore the two decided to get mar-ried on Aug. 9, 1980.

The ceremony was held at SanSylvester in Branca, with the recep-tion taking place at nearbyBoschetto restaurant located at thebase of a mountain.

“The restaurant was on a streamand there was a trout pond inside,so some of the guests would kill thefish themselves and cook them,”recalled Aldo.

The newlyweds lived in Italy forfour months before moving to theAlfred St. home in which they stillreside. Dec. 26, 1980 was the

Anna and Aldo Tacchi were married in Branca of Gubbio, Italy on Aug. 9, 1980.The photo below is of Il Fondello, where both of them grew up.

by Jordan Schwartz

An Italian Romance



first time Anna stepped foot inAmerica. “It wasn’t easy,” sheremembered about her transition toa new country. “The language wasthe first big obstacle.”

In Europe, Anna studied tobecome a kindergarten teacher andworked in a factory, but in the U.S.,she stayed home and took care ofthe kids.

Elisa Tacchi was born on June 5,1981 and her sister, Laura, followedon Aug. 8, 1983. Christina, a studentat CHS, arrived on July 29, 1994.

Elisa is a fine arts graduate ofthe Pratt Institute in New York, andshe has flipped her parents’ scriptby moving to Italy after school.

Laura used to teach at WoodrowWilson but is now employed at St.Philip’s on Valley Rd.

Anna works part-time in theClifton High cafeteria, while herhusband owns a body shop, Aldo’sVW Repairs in Passaic.

“When the kids were little, weused to go out,” said Mrs. Tacchi

about her and her spouse’s sociallife. But today, they’re too busylooking after not only their chil-dren, but also Aldo’s parents,Argante, 87, and Lina, 85, who livewith them.

Aldo loves to make wine down-stairs with his father, but the Italianfamily also makes their ownsausage and pasta for feasts withtheir 14 closest relatives.

Just no corn.

The Tacchi family, from left, are Anna, Laura, Christina, Aldo and Elisa.

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Prior to meeting his wife, Sue Ferrentino, Joe Angellotold his family he’d be a bachelor for life. But a run-inwith a pretty girl on St. Patrick’s Day at Rick’s AmericanBar and Grill made him eventually reconsider.

All it took was a beer spiked with green food dye tostrike up a conversation—some might call it the luck ofthe Irish. This tale starts back in 1992, at the Cliftonwatering hole, located on the Allwood Circle.

Joe was there celebrating with some friends and hisbrother, Jeff, the mastermind behind the festive drinks.

“A rowdy bunch of girls came up to us,” he recalled.“She said to me, ‘I want a green beer, too!’ Then BobMarley came on and we ended up dancing to ‘NoWoman No Cry.’”

Towards the end of the night, Joe, a plumbing, heat-ing and electric expert, used a unique method in gettingher phone number. Noticing that Sue had broken herpocketbook, he volunteered to fix it.

“She wrote down her name and number on the billreceipt,” recalled Joe, 50. “I still have it at home.” Joe and Sue Angello with their Basset Hound, Rocky.

by Joe Hawrylko

His Pot of Gold

The natural chemistry continued, as the two met upseveral times over the next two weeks.

“I brought him a salad to his house the next week,”recalled Sue, 51. “We hung out and watched MyCousin Vinny. But later that night, he told me that hehad just started seeing someone.”

And with that, the brief romance was cut short. Sue,still stung by the abrupt ending, clung to the hope thatfate might bring Joe back into her life.

“On St. Patty’s Day, one year after we met, I wentto Rick’s again with my girlfriends, hoping he wouldbe there,” she said. “But he never showed up.”

The next time she heard from Joe would be fiveyears later in 1998, a day before March 17.

“I hear my phone ring and I look and I see JoeAngello on the caller ID,” laughed Sue. “I picked upand he asked if I remembered him, and I pretended Ididn’t.”

The tension was mutual—after all, Joe had not spo-ken with her in five years after calling it off.

“I had that bill stub with her name on it,” recalledJoe, who admitted being urged by family members intocalling Sue. “I was looking at it and doodling on it,thinking if I should call. I made a few attempts anddialed a few numbers.

“I had thought about her through my whole dysfunc-tional relationship,” he admitted and then laughed.“Plus, she brought me salad.”

Was it a divine intervention on the part of St.Patrick? Sue, newly single as well, arranged a date attheir original meeting place, Rick’s.

“I don’t remember it being crowded,” recalled Sue.“I was focused on him. He was making a chickendance on the table.”

Although being serenaded with a song and danceroutine by a cooked bird is certainly peculiar, it’s exact-ly the kind of off-beat humor that serves as a catalyst totheir relationship.

Joe and Sue’s connection was so strong that, in justa few months, he began to rethink his decision to be alifetime bachelor, and the two began searching for ahome in January 1999.

They finally settled on a house in the Rosemawr sec-tion of Clifton a few weeks later. However, they spentseveral months in negotiation, right up until theiranniversary on St. Patty’s Day.

With the deal nearing closing, Joe decided it wastime to make sure that he didn’t lose Sue again.

Having secured the keys to the house, Joe surprisedSue with breakfast in their new home. It seemed like asweet, but normal anniversary, until the toast.

“He went to get the champagne, and hit a tape playerin the fridge, and our song (Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wantto Miss a Thing”) started playing,” she recalled. “Hetold me that the last year had been the best of his life andhe wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.”

So, on Nov. 14, 1999, Joe and Sue Angello were wedin St. Paul’s RC Church by Father Brian Flanagan—anIrishman, of course.

“I wanted to get married in ’99,” laughed Sue. “Ithought the world was going to blow up on New Years!

“At first, our marriage was like our parents gave usthe keys to the house and went on vacation,” she contin-ued. “We were watching movies and eating pizza atmidnight.”

Though they’ve been married for nine years, Joe andSue agreed that they were not interested in having chil-dren of their own. They have eight nieces and nephewsin total, and their own ‘kid’, Rocky, the family BassetHound. For the former Suzie Ferrentino, that’s all sheneeds. “I married my best friend,” Suzie shouted beforeplanting a kiss on her husband. “He’s a clone of me.”

“And I married my cell mate!” retorted Joe.



Meeting someone at a bar is com-monplace, but scoring the bar-tender is a more difficult task. Yetthat’s exactly what Ralph West didback in early 1985 when his futurewife, Kim, was pouring drinks atDanny’s on Russell St.

“He and his drunk friends usedto hang out there,” she recalledwith a laugh.

“Her personality (attracted me),”said Mr. West, 50. “And of courseher looks. I kept coming back.”

Ralph finally asked Kim out onFeb. 17 of that year.

“She always kidded me that Iwaited until after Valentine’s Dayto save on the present,” he said.

Both outdoorsy types, the sweet-hearts would do a lot of hiking andcamping at Garret Mountain whilethey were dating.

After just six months, the couplegot a place together on Van HoutenAve.

“You just know when it’s right,”said Mrs. West, 48, about thespeedy romance.

“I had gone through my wild andcrazy days,” her husband addedabout his eagerness to settle down.

The Wests took a little longer toget engaged, but on Feb. 13, 1987,

Ralph finally got his girl theValentine’s Day gift shedeserved—a ring.

“I wasn’t one of those hopelessromantics,” he explained. “ I gaveher the ring in the kitchen, but Iwent to her father first, which a lotof guys didn’t do at the time.”

Kim made her man sweat a bit asshe waited a couple hours torespond to his proposal.

“I wanted to be sure,” she said.At last she said, “Yes,” and eight

months later, on Oct. 3, 1987, thetwo were married at St. Brendan’sChurch on Lakeview Ave.

Kim and Ralph West were wed on Oct. 3, 1987 at St. Brendan’s Church in Lakeview.

by Jordan Schwartz

Tending toMarriage

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Love may be sweeter when matched with these Wine Selections...Great taste & price is mated by our knowledgeable wine merchant...Prosecco is a sparkling white wine from Italy made famous by itsEuropean jet setters and urban cafes the world ‘round! It is the mainingredient in the Bellini cocktail and is a great alternative to Champagne.Moscato d’ Asti is slightly sweeter and makes for a perfect pairingwith strawberries and chocolate.Muscade tends toward a brighter minerally & citrus taste (lemon, lime)with flinty, slightly effervescent notes. Other favorite nuances mayinclude green apple, acacia, peach, white flowers, iris, physalis andmenthol.Red Zinfandel always seems to liven up a dinner rendezvous with itsspice and berry flavors. With its bold character, Zin can be pairedwith a variety of cuisine—perfect for everything from Tuesday nightleftovers to a thick, juicy steak.Port is the perfect dessert wine to snuggle up with a friend in front of afireplace. It is generally a sweet red wine from Portugal or Australia, butcan excite with a range of styles and flavors, including white.

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Prices effective through March 3. Good only at ShoppersVineyard in Clifton. We reserve the right to limit quantities.Prices do not include sales tax. Not responsible for typo-graphical errors. No rainchecks. Limited to store inventory.


with a reception at the VFW inSaddle Brook.

On their second anniversary, theWests welcomed their first child, ason named Matt, who graduatedClifton High School last year and isnow a student at Montclair StateUniversity. His fourth gradeteacher, Mrs. Kroll, was his mom’ssixth grade instructor.

“It was nice feeling,” Kim saidabout knowing the type of educa-tion her son was receiving. “Thishas always been a close-knit com-munity.”

The Wests’ second child, Kelly,was born on Groundhog Day 1994and is currently a freshman at CHS.

Kim and Ralph are also Cliftongrads. Mrs. West grew up onClinton Ave. and attended School 15and Christopher Columbus beforereceiving her diploma in 1978.

Ralph was raised in Passaic butmoved to Clifton before his junioryear and graduated CHS in ’76.The future couple didn’t know each

other back then, although Ralphwas in the same woodshop class asKim’s older sister, Renee.

In 1980, they both worked in thesame building on Paulison Ave.,where Kim was employed at VisualGraphics and Ralph was a shippingclerk for Wilshire Electronics.

But it took a vodka tonic tobring them together.

Today, Mrs. West is a servicecoordinator at Uno’s Chicago Grillon Rt. 3 and her husband works inthe warehouse at Global Seven, achemical company in Franklin.

They still go camping up nearMonticello, NY, but some thingshave changed over the years; Ralphno longer orders drinks from Kim.

“He’d rather I fix him dinner.”

The West family, from left, consists of Matt, Kim, Ralph and Kelly.


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The Rochas don’t get a lot of time to see each otherduring the week. For the past 25 years, Hebert hasworked from 2:30 am to 1 pm as a shipping clerk atAlfred Heller Heat Treating Company on WellingtonSt., near the family’s home on Franklin Ave.

Meanwhile, his wife of 28 years, Virginia, wearsmany hats. She generally works from 7 am to 6 pm asan orthodontist’s assistant in Oakland, an emergencymedical technician, or a medical assistant at a podia-trist’s office in Wayne.

by Jordan Schwartz

Balancing Love,Work, Family


Hebert and Virginia Rocha cut the cake on Nov. 30, 1980.

The two Rocha children, whostill live with their parents, areplenty busy themselves. Jennifer,27, is a nurse at UMDNJ and isengaged to be married to herfiancee, Wilmer Costa, in March2010. Jeffrey, 22, works in lineservice at Teterboro Airport.

So, from Monday to Friday, theonly time the four of them get tospend together is around the dinnertable after Virginia gets home fromwork and before Hebert goes tosleep at 8:30.

“They both work a lot, so thetime they’re together, they knowhow to appreciate it,” Jennifer saidabout her parents.

That’s never more true than onthe weekends when the entire clangets together for breakfast before going to the SpanishSeventh Day Adventist Church in Passaic on Saturdaysor just relaxing and watching a Giants game on Sundays.

“We go to church and that really helps to keep themarriage strong,” said Mr. Rocha. “I have wonderfulkids and I don’t have any complaints.”

The Rochas value family above all else and that iswhy they have volunteered to take care of Hebert’syoung niece’s daughter. Stephanie Rocha had Natasha,3, when she was just 18 and so the Rochas babysit thechild after school so her mother can continue her studies.

But the family’s benevolence doesn’t end there.Nearly every year, Virginia embarks on missionarytrips to countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize,Panama and the Dominican Republic to teach kidsabout good dental hygiene. She’ll be heading toHonduras this August.

But once in a while, Virginia and Hebert get sometime to themselves and go out to dinner and see movieslike back when they were dating.

Hebert had only been in the United States for a fewweeks when he first laid eyes on Virginia Ortega. Itwas at a church function in Hackettstown in 1976.

“When I saw her, I said, ‘I like this woman,’”recalled Rocha, who had just emigrated from Colombiato Passaic.

Virginia, on the other hand, wasn’t as impressed. “Ididn’t like him at all,” she laughed. “He didn’t knowthe language and he dressed differently. He wasn’tcool like us.”

Another thing working against Hebert was that hewas 25 and Virginia, who moved from Puerto Rico toPaterson when she was a baby, was just 16. But Rochawas persistent and he started joining everything hiscrush was involved in, such as choir and Sabbathschool.

“I realized that he was very polite and a perfect gen-tleman at all times,” said Virginia. But there was stillthe age difference.

“My father-in-law let me come to the house but hehad to be home for me to visit her and he was only thereon weekends,” said Mr. Rocha.

Viginia’s father was very strict because she was hiseldest, but the lovebirds managed to go on group datesbefore Virginia was old enough to see her boyfriend onher own.

The couple was at a wedding in early 1980 whenHebert turned to his girl and asked, “When are we goingto get married?”

“How about November?” she suggested, and the datewas set.

On Nov. 30, 1980, the Rochas tied the knot at theSeventh Day Adventist Church in Wayne. The ceremo-ny was followed by a big reception at a hall in Paterson.The newlyweds lived with the groom’s parents onBurgess Pl. for six months before relocating to theFranklin Gardens Apartments on Piaget Ave.

In 1992, they moved into their current home onFranklin Ave. and have been making the most of theirtime together every since.

The Rocha family today at their home on Franklin Ave. in Downtown Clifton. Fromleft, Jennifer, Virginia, Hebert and Jeffrey.



Twenty-four years and 5,000 miles couldn’t keepRoberta Brashear and Randy Kaulfers apart.

Roberta, a ’72 Passaic grad, and Randy, CHS Classof ’69, first met in 1979 through a mutual friend namedPaul Van Duyne.

The couple was introduced during a night out at theWits End bar on Van Houten Ave. (now Dingbatz) andstruck up a year-long relationship.

Things came to an end, however, when Brashear leftfor graduate school at the University of Hawaii in thesummer of 1980.

“It was something I decided I had to do anyway so itwas a mutual separation,” she said.

Roberta received a full scholarship to study geneticsin paradise.

“When they give you a grant to go to grad school,you go,” she said.

Kaulfers stayed behind in Clifton to continue run-ning his home improvement business.

“She moved and went her way and I went my way,”he remembered. “It wasn’t a fight or anything and thenwe lost contact with each other.”

But whenever Roberta returned home to visit herbrother, Ed, each Christmas, she’d ask him how her ex-boyfriend was doing.

Randy, who had a brief three-year marriage beforehe even met Brashear, was involved in a longer rela-tionship with a different girlfriend while Roberta was inHawaii. But he never stopped thinking about his lostlove. “I always asked her friend about her, but wenever made a connection until it was time for us tomake a connection,” said Kaulfers. “I guess life goesin a circle.”

That circle completed its loop during the first weekof 2004 when Randy and Roberta both attended thewake for Van Duyne’s mother on Allwood Rd. “It wasone of those magic moments when you see someonefrom across the room,” Brashear recalled. “We startedtalking and that was it.”

Randy and Roberta Kaulfers at their wedding on Aug. 14, 2004.

by Jordan Schwartz

The Circle of Love


The couple went out on two din-ner dates before the Passaic nativereturned to Hawaii.

But Randy and Roberta contin-ued talking via long phone conver-sations and then the Cliftonitedecided to visit his sweetheart onValentine’s Day.

“She invited me out to Hawaii,so I shut my business down andwent,” said Kaulfers, 57. “I wassupposed to be there two weeks andwound up staying almost a month.”

The whirlwind romance contin-ued with the pair getting engagedon March 17 of that year.

“It shocked the whole familybecause I was single for 50 years,”laughed Brashear, 54.

The Kaulfers were married onAug. 14, 2004 at the Masonic Lodgeon Clifton Ave. and then had a sec-ond island wedding back in Hawaiithe following New Year’s Eve.

The happy couple now livetogether on six acres of rain forestin the 50th state.

Roberta teaches microbiologyand anatomy and physiology atHawaii Community College, whileher husband builds homes, includ-ing their own.

“It’s a lot warmer than (NewJersey),” the professor explained.“It’s always nice to come back homeand visit family and friends, but then

it’s nice to go back with no crazydrivers and a lot less pollution.”

The Kaulfers don’t have anychildren, but they do own two dogs,two cats and a big fish pond, andthey recently made their first triptogether back to the east coast.

“We couldn’t get anyone to watchour animals before,” said Randy.

Roberta in 1980 and Randy in 1977, back around the time they first started dating.


Maggie White and Alan Goldmansit together in one of the circularbooths overlooking the dance floorat Bliss Lounge on Allwood Rd.

It was just two years ago thatthey were on opposite sides of asimilar room during anotherAffinity Singles event.

“She’d watch me dance and thenI finally approached her,” saidGoldman, who lives in StatenIsland. “She was a little standoffishat first, but the she gave me a grin.”

The couple has been dating eversince.

“I love his personality and the wayhe treats me like a princess,” saidWhite, a Franklin Lakes resident.

“My ex-wife is Jewish, so Iwanted to get as far away from aJewish girl as I could and I didbecause she’s Irish Catholic,” jokedGoldman.

Maggie and Alan are just one ofAffinity’s many success stories.

“At least 20 couples have gottenmarried through this and I was eveninvited to one of their weddings,”said owner Steve Stone, 50.

The Rockland County residentlaunched the company in 1985 afternoticing the popularity of singles’nights in Manhattan.

The first 15 years were held atJimmy Reed’s in Ramsey. In fact,that’s where Stone met his ownwife, Ellen. They have three chil-

dren—two from her first marriageand a 10-year-old of their own.

But when the bar was sold, theSunday night parties moved else-where to other locations inMorristown and Lyndhurst.

Affinity finally found a permanenthome this past September

Lena Mazza of Haledon, Manny Rodriguez of Hoboken and Anna Cirino ofHawthorne getting down on the dance floor at an Affinity Singles night at Bliss.

Middle-Aged MinglingAffinity Singles hosts Sunday night events at Bliss Lounge

Story by Jordan Schwartz

Your $35 donation will help fund the good work of theClifton Against Substance Abuse Foundation

For Tickets, call Judi Bassford at 973-278-5356

March 16, 7 pm VFW Hall, 491 Valley Rd.


when Joey Barcellona welcomed theevents to his New York City styleclub.

“We’ve been wanting to get inhere for a long time,” said AnneMancuso, who works for Stone.“This place is just gorgeous.”

Mancuso met her ownboyfriend, Tom, seven years ago atBoca Bay in Morristown.

“He was going through a divorceand joined a church group thatcame to the dance,” she recalled.“He came in and started asking mequestions and telling stupid jokes.”

The pair became friends until therelationship turned romantic in2005.

Affinity targets singles in their30s, 40s and 50s, and so the crowdis largely made up of divorcees orpeople going through a separation,like Cliftonite Nick Izeiroski, 37.

“I go out on Fridays andSaturdays, but Sundays are themost fun,” he said. “The music andthe buffet are great.”

His friend, Sherrie Mobilia ofWoodbridge, said the day of theweek is one of the big draws.

“On Sunday night people getbummed out because they havework the next day, so this cheersyou up,” she said.

More than 200 singles show upevery week from 7:30 pm to mid-night. The cover charge is $7before 8 pm and $10 afterwards,and the complimentary buffet runsfrom 7:30 to 8:45 pm. For moreinfo, visit affinitysingles.com.

Alan Goldman and Maggie White met during an Affinity Singles event in 2006.

Christian Singles have a number of options in NorthJersey. There’s bible study on Sundays in Wayne,(973-694-2938 ext. 441), volleyball on Wednesdaysin North Haledon (201-337-7492), and worship onThursdays in Hawthorne (973-427-6960).

Executive New Jersey Dating introduces singles tothe people you aren’t able to meet through your dailyactivities, while keeping a sophisticated quality of per-sonal service. Visit executivenewjerseydating.com.

Marion Smith Professional Singles hosts a numberof singles parties and trips every month at differentplaces througout the tri-state area. The singles eventsare separated into two age groups: 28-39 and 35-49.Call 212-944-2112 or visit marionsmithsingles.com.

Together Dating is for people who are tired of tryingto meet someone at bars, work or through personal ads.Together Dating offers an eight-step program that willhelp you find your match. Visit together1.com.

Oakwood Singles is a North Jersey based group opento divorced, separated and never married individualsbetween the ages of 35 and 58. The group meetsevery week for social activities. For more informa-tion, call 973-584-1413.

The Central Jersey Tall Friends Club hosts twodances a year and members also meet for dinner,dancing, movies, hikes, museums, parties and daytrips. If you’re tired of dating people much shorterthan you, then visit cjtall.org.

Mercer County Single Volunteers is a non-profitorganization for professional singles who want tomeet while volunteering. Meetings are held the firstand third Tuesday of every month at the HamiltonTownship Library at 7 pm. Open socials are everythird Friday. Call 609-587-8959 or visit mcsvnj.org.

Jewish Singles of Mercer County hosts movie, bowl-ing, ice skating and brunch events. Call 609-987-8100.

Other Places to Meet Singles in New Jersey


At first, it sounds like a nice,romantic novel. Guy meets girl,they become high school sweet-hearts and wind up getting married,spending the rest of their daystogether.

Except life didn’t work out thatway for Jay Moorman and TammyCsaszar. They only got their fairytale ending after two break-ups and20 years of trying to make it work.

It’s more of a romantic comedythan a traditional love story. But, asalways, the guy always gets the girlin the end.

The couple first met in theirsophomore year at Clifton HighSchool, back in 1984.

“He was at in-school suspensionand I went to meet my friend,Maureen Shrek,” explainedTammy. “I asked her if she knewwho he was.”

It turned out that Tammy hadcaught Jay’s eye as well. He wasfriends with Maureen as well, andtold her that he wanted to meetTammy. Soon, a date was set up.

However, that first meetingalmost never happened. In fact,there were several missed dates—for which neither Jay nor Tammytake responsibility—that almosttorpedoed any chances of a realrelationship.

“I was supposed to meet youanother time at a party and couldn’tshow up,” laughed Jay, who claimedthat he didn’t have a way there.“You were all bent out of shape fora month.”

Their first date finally happenedafter Maureen scheduled a double

date with her then-boyfriend and Jayand Tammy.

“We drove around BrookdalePark,” recalled Jay. “It was the firsttime I was there.”

From there, the two became highschool sweethearts. They went toprom together and continued datingafter graduation.

Things went smoothly untilabout 1989, when Jay and Tammybroke up.

“We both started dating otherpeople for a while,” recalled Tammy,who said the break-up was mutual.

“It wasn’t like we hated eachother or anything,” explained Jay,who said the two always remainedon speaking terms.

They never fully patched thingsup until 1995. The two startedspeaking regularly again, andTammy took the initiative.

“My sister, Cindy, was gettingmarried and I was in the wedding,so I invited him,” she said. “Weended up reconciling at the wed-ding.”

It was like being a kid all overagain, returning to the comfort zonethat they had for five years.However, that bliss would onceagain fade in just a year’s time.

‘The second time we broke up in1996, I had an apartment on FennerAve. and I was moving out,” recalledJay. “I didn’t ask her to move in withme and we broke up.”

Jay and Tammy Moorman on their wedding day, July 17, 2004, and inset, the youngrockers at the 1986 Clifton High School Prom.

Marriage, Twenty Years Laterby Joe Hawrylko


Tammy wanted commitment, not exactly the kind ofstuff a young, independent guy wants to hear.

“I had been out of the house since I was 18 and then,I was just in my mid-20s,” laughed Jay. “She was oldalready!”

“I was just moving towards that direction and hewasn’t,” injected Tammy. “I figured I’d go out andfind someone else.”

While she was disappointed, Tammy did find anoth-er guy, and Jay got set to move into his new Russell St.apartment in Botany Village.

After finding someone whom she thought was Mr.Right, Tammy began apartment hunting in Clifton.Unable to find anything that she and her new boyfriendliked, Tammy turned to a familiar face and asked Jay ifshe could move into his apartment when he left for hisnew place.

“First, he thought I was kidding,” she laughed. “ButI was eventually able to talk him into it.”

Tammy dated her new boyfriend for about threeyears, before calling it off in 2000. By that point, Jaywas starting to regret some of his past decisions.

“When you’re young, you think you know every-thing,” he said. “It was about comfort and familiarity...just realizing that you did stupid stuff when you wereyoung and that you can’t lose her again.

“You go out and meet other people and it makes yourealize that you need someone right for you,” Jay contin-ued. “After the second time we broke up, I realized that Ireally did love Tammy after she was gone all those years.”

Once again, Jay and Tammy made amends and gotback together later that year. This time, he wasn’t aboutto let Tammy escape so he and proposed on ChristmasDay 2003.

A full 20 years after they first started dating, Jay andTammy tied the knot on July 17, 2004 at an outdoor cer-emony at the Woodcliff Manor in Woodcliff Lake.

“We were married outside. It was such a gorgeousday,” recalled Tammy. “Everyone from our family wasthere and we had the entire place to ourselves.”

The following summer, Jay and Tammy had theirfirst daughter, Katie, on Aug. 25. And last September,the couple opened their own company, J.A.E HomeImprovements.

The Moormans are now one big happy family—evenif it was 20 years in the making.

“It was just a joke. Everyone always said, ‘When areyou two going to get married?’” laughed Jay. “It waslike we were almost married at that point, so you got todo the technical part.”

Jay and Tammy Moorman with their daughter Katie, 3.

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It all had to be perfect. BrianReilly had already purchased a ringfor his girlfriend of nearly fiveyears, Krystyna Zarebczan. All thatwas left was thinking of a cleverway to pop the question.

So how can you make that spe-cial moment something that she’llnever forget? Enlisting the help ofSanta and his friends is a good wayto start.

“She always told me that shealways heard Santa Claus, butwould never see him,” said Reilly,referring to Christmas Eve, whenSanta traditionally makes hisrounds on a float. “She always toldme to ask my dad why he nevercomes down Grunwald St.”

So Reilly decided that the pro-posal would ultimately involve thejolly guy in the red suit. The onlyquestion was how would he get itdone?

Luckily, Reilly’s father, Jeff, is aLieutenant in the CFD, and wasable to enlist some assistance.

“Fire fighter Tony Latona wasone of the main guys who helpedme,” explained Reilly.

And with that, the plan was inmotion. Reilly and his father wouldwait around the block on Sade St.,just off of Van Houten Ave.

Santa’s float would take a detourdown Sade St., and Reilly wouldswitch places with St. Nick. Then,the float would come back upGrunwald St., and the imposterSanta would reveal his true identityand present the ring.

However, before he did any-thing, Reilly made sure that he hadthe permission of Zarebczan’s par-ents, Jan and Anna.

“I wanted to keep it traditional,”he explained. “I’m a traditionalperson. I wanted to have respectand ask them.” However, there wasjust one slight problem—hisfiance’s family was from Poland,and only Anna spoke any English.

Ever the improviser, Reilly placeda call to Zarebczan’s sister, Barbara,who lives in Wisconsin. Soon, hismessage was transcribed into Polishand he went to visit Zarebczan’s par-ents. “No,” laughed Reilly. “I don’tspeak a word of Polish. I just gavethem the letter.”

With the permission of hisfiance’s parents, the only thing leftwas the hardest part—waiting forChristmas Eve. “I just wanted toget it over with,” he said. “I knowit sounds mean now, but I was sonervous.”

Along the way, there were sever-al points that the 2001 CHS gradthought he was going to break.“The ring was in my safe,”explained Reilly. “Which was like10 feet from her in my room.”

The most difficult part were thosefinal few weeks. Just beforeChristmas, the couple was at Reilly’sparents’ house for dinner, when thetopic of marriage hit the table.

“I was talking about how I can’tstand when people go to bed mad ateach other,” he laughed. “And shesaid, ‘Well, I won’t go to bed madanymore when there’s a ring on myfinger.” Reilly was able to resist theurge to pop the question in front of allof his family that evening. However,two weeks later when Christmas Everolled around, his fiance’s retort wasstill fresh in his mind.

Krystyna Zarebczan was shocked when her boyfriend, Brian Reilly, got off a floatdressed as Santa and proposed to her.

St. Nick on a Kneeby Joe Hawrylko


“When I was sitting in the car,my dad had to tell me to shut up,because I was saying things, just abunch of gibberish,” Reillyrecalled. “I was thinking of everysingle thing that could go wrong.But I wasn’t thinking about her say-ing No. I knew that she wouldn’tsay No.”

Still, no matter how many timeshe reassured himself, Reilly could-n’t calm his nerves, even as the floatrolled down the street.

“Santa got out, shook my handand said, ‘Good luck,’” he laughed.“When I went on, there was a littlegirl there who was looking at melike, ‘This isn’t Santa!’ They toldher I was one of Santa’s helpers.”

As Reilly boarded the float, hisfamily, which was gathered aroundthe block to watch the event, startedwalking down the block toZarebczan’s house. Also on boardthe float was his younger brother,Scott, who was documenting theproposal.

“Going into this, I really wantedto have a picture and video that Icould have for the rest of my life,”said Reilly.

Finally, the float pulled up infront of the house, where Zarebczanwas outside, curious as to whySanta was finally visiting her after23 years.

“She knew something was up,”laughed Reilly. “So I did something

to let her know that it was me andwent up and said, ‘Guess you can’tgo to bed mad anymore?’”

With that, he yanked off hisbeard and hat, presented the ringand became a newly engagedman—a perfect end to the story. Allthanks to Santa’s little helpers, ofcourse.

“A lot of the credit goes to myfather. He made sure it all workedout,” admitted Reilly, who said hisfamily and his fiance’s familycapped the night with a celebrationback at his parent’s home. “AndMr. Latona and Mayor (James)Anzaldi.”

Now anxiety-free, Reilly gets torelax a bit before trying to plan thewedding, which he hopes to have atthe Westmount Country Club ineither June 2010 or 2011. However,the onus for that plan is onZarebczan.

“I keep on joking around withher,” laughed Reilly. “You got thering. Now, the rest is on you.”

Brian Reilly and Krystyna Zarebczanwere engaged on Dec. 24, 2008.


Rowe-Manse in Styertowneused to mean candy, pipes orwhatever other random items youcould pick up at the former spe-cialty department store.

But now romance means books,as in the thousands of novels thatline the shelves of FootnotesBookstore and Learning Center.

Now under new ownership byDebbie Scassera, who bought theplace from her former boss, PatFarrell, the shop has moved a fewdoors closer to the Dunkin’ Donuts.

“This store is a third of the sizeof the other store, so I limited theselection to romance with somemystery and fiction,” saidScassera, who opened on Jan. 22.

“I was a good customer beforeI became an employee,” she con-tinued. “Romance novels offer anescape from your stresses.”

So if you’re without a date thisValentine’s Day, or even if youhave one, pick up a book and getin the mood for love.

Romance is Back in Styertowne

Debbie Scassera opened Footnotes in its new location in Styertowne on Jan. 22.


Peter Farrelly recognized JayneModean’s face. Nearly everyAmerican male who grew up in the’70s would have. Well, at least theones with four sisters who all readSeventeen magazine in 1977.

Modean, a model and actress fromClifton, appeared on the cover threetimes that year and Farrelly, an up-and-coming Hollywood writer anddirector in the late ’80s, had a crushon her. “He saw me out and so he hadWoody Harrelson come talk to me,”remembered Modean about the firsttime she met her friend, Peter.

The 1975 CHS grad had a smallrole on a 1987 episode of Cheers,the popular television series onwhich Harrelson starred. The actor

would also play the lead inFarrelly’s 1996 hit, Kingpin.

Peter later told Jayne that hismovies, Dumb and Dumber andThere’s Something About Mary—stories about stupid or hard-luckmen chasing after beautifulwomen—were based on their rela-tionship.

But that wasn’t Modean’s onlybrush with pop culture lore.

In early 1990, she appeared in anepisode of Full House. During tap-ing, the actress struck up a “whirl-wind romance” with Dave Coulier,who played Uncle Joey.

“When I met Dave, he said, ‘Iwant to have a son named Lucsomeday,’” Modean recalled.

She eventually granted his wish,giving birth to a baby boy in

Jayne Modean, Miss Teenage Clifton1974, at the Miss Teenage AmericaPageant in Arkansas. She went on to befeatured on several magazine covers.

There’s Something About JayneClifton native Jayne Modean influenced a box office smash



November 1990, five months afterthe pair married.

The relationship was short-lived,however, and the couple divorcedby 1993.

That’s when a 19-year-old singernamed Alanis Morissette began dat-ing Coulier.

Her angry Grammy-winningsong, “You Oughta Know,” wasabout their failed romance and thelyrics may have referenced theactor’s ex.

Was Modean the “older versionof me” that Morissette sang about?The Clifton native doesn’t know forsure, but she said she likes the tuneand would love to meet the artistone day.

Seventeen and Pageant Queen

Jayne Modean was born on Oct.15, 1958 in Hartford, Ct. but shegrew up on Wester Pl. in MontclairHeights.

She began modeling when shewas just a first grader at School 16.

“(Clifton historic writer) PhilRead’s next-door neighbor wasBobby Meyers and he was a kidmodel for toys and TV commer-cials,” said Modean.

“My brother was playing upthere one day and when my momwent to get him, she spoke toBobby’s mom about it.”

From then on, Marcia Modeanwould drive her four children—Nancy, Jayne, Kathy and Paul—back and forth to New York City formodeling jobs.

“My mom was a bored house-wife,” laughed the former actress.“She grew up in Minnesota and wasthe 4-H queen. She wasn’t really apushy stage mother, but she justliked to have fun things for us to do.”

Mrs. Modean worked for 10years as the secretary at FirstLutheran Church at the corner ofVan Houten Ave. and Grove St.That’s where her husband, Earl,was pastor between 1960 and 1994.He was very active in the communi-ty and was instrumental in the cre-ation of the Evergreen Manor sen-ior citizen housing complex.

As a student at Woodrow WilsonMiddle School, Jayne won theNational Singer Sewing Contestfor her age group and won a freetrip to London. There, she got tomeet David Frost, the English jour-

nalist whose famous 1977 inter-view with Richard Nixon inspiredthe recent movie, Frost/Nixon.

In 1974, Modean traveled toLittle Rock, Ark. to compete in theMiss Teenage America Pageant.New Jersey didn’t have a localqualifying contest, so the Mustangcheerleader had to submit a movieof herself singing, tap dancing andsewing. The 16-year-old wasaccepted and flew first class downsouth with her mom.

While she wasn’t crowned thewinner, Modean did receive thePoise and Appearance award andthe $500 college scholarship thatcame with it.

“I was very happy to win thateven though I didn’t get to win thewhole contest,” she said. “We puton a tap number and I could tap soI found myself in the front onnational TV.”

On the way home, Modean wassurprised to find the same pilot onthe plane as the one who took herto Arkansas.

“He let me sit in the cockpitwhen the plane took off and Istayed there the whole way,”

Jayne’s mother Marcia, who worked for many years at Clifton’s Coldwell Bankerselling real estate, Jayne’s son Luc and her father, Rev. Earl Modean, who was pas-tor for many years at First Lutheran Church in Clifton.

Jayne with There’s Something AboutMary director Peter Farrelly in the ’80s.

she remembered. “The plane ridewas so rough that the pilot, who hadstopped smoking 10 years prior,started smoking again.”

That was the only major pageantin which Modean competed, but hermodeling career was far from over.In addition to her work for Seventeen,she also appeared on the cover ofEsquire and the February 1981 InsideSports annual swimsuit issue.

Jayne did so well that she wasable to help her parents buy a homein Saddle River in 1979. TheModeans lived there until theymoved to Bend, Oregon in 2003.

“She’s a great girl,” said Earlabout his daughter. “She’s verygenerous and has really been a won-derful person in many ways.”

Movies, Televisionand Family

In the mid ’80s, the Cliftoniteswitched career paths and moved toCalifornia to become an actress.

“I got tired of modeling the sametime it got tired of me,” she said.

Modean appeared in a bunch oftelevision commercials, includingspots for Burger King, and filmed apilot called Me and Ducky, but itwasn’t picked up. Her first moviewas a 1983 teen comedy calledSpring Break.

“I played Susie from Ohio State,but I kept my clothes on,” shelaughed.

Modean acted in two othermotion pictures and five TV showsbefore her Cheers appearance in1987 and her role on Full Housethree years later.

Following the birth of her son in1990, the Clifton girl gave up actingfor a while before returning todoing commercials.

That lasted until 2002 whenModean married her current hus-band, a corporate real estate agentin San Francisco named Jay Sholl.

Today, she travels between theBay Area and Los Angeles, whereLuc is a senior in high school. Thewife and mother keeps herself busy

by operating a small booth in anantique market in Pasadena, whereshe buys and sells items that sherefurbishes.

“It’s kind of my passion toremake things.”

Modean on her wedding day in 2002when she married her second husbandJay Sholl.

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The city is considering two pro-posals for low income COAH eli-gible housing at the formerAmerican Legion Post site on LakeAve. in Botany Village.

The first comes from ReganDevelopment Corporation out ofArdsley, NY. The firm has devel-oped more than 340 affordable seniorand special needs units over the pastdecade at its three Senior Horizonsbuildings located on Clifton Ave. andat the Richardson Scale property.

Regan proposes a six-unit build-ing with three three-bedroom apart-ments and three two bedroom apart-ments for special needs individuals.

“We know it’s a small site on aresidential block,” said PresidentLarry Regan. “Our goal would be todesign something that’s low impactthat would blend in with the residen-tial feel of the neighborhood.”

Regan said his company wouldwork with NewBridge, a PassaicCounty social services organization,to place special needs residents.

“These are people who havebeen living with their parents or ata group home and are now goingout on their own but still need someguidance,” said Regan.

He added that there would beless than 15 residents because oneor two of the bedrooms would beused as offices and NewBridge nor-mally does not fill every bedroomwith an independent resident.

“Currently the plan calls for 12off street parking spots,” saidRegan. “None of these proposedresidents with mental disabilitiesdrive and they will most certainlynot own a car. This proposeddevelopment will not in any wayadd to the lack of parking in theLake Ave. area.”

The second proposal comes fromthe New Jersey CommunityDevelopment Corporation ofPaterson. It calls for 10 one-bedroomapartments for homeless veterans.

The NJCDC, which has complet-ed similar projects in Hawthorneand Paterson, would also providethe personal care assistance afterthe residents move in.

While this is the organization’sfirst real estate venture in Clifton, it

already operates an after schoolprogram at CHS.

Randi Moore, NJCDC directorof real estate development, said theproposal currently includes an8,000 sq. ft., three-floor buildingwith 11 off street parking spots.

“But we’re really flexible,” shesaid. “We want it to fit into thecommunity.”

Like many municipalities in thestate, Clifton is currently hundredsof units short of its mandated num-ber of affordable housing units, inaccordance with COAH, and so theLake Ave. proposals would repre-sent a step in the right direction.

“We actually get a benefit in thatthey are special needs projects,” saidCity Manager Al Greco. “I think weget a little more bang for the buck inthe numbers we get credited.”

Greco said the city hopes tomake a decision on which proposalto move forward with at its Feb. 3Council meeting (after this maga-zine went to print).

Regan Development Corporation is proposing this six-unit special needs affordablehousing building (above) to replace the vacant American Legion Post on Lake Ave.Below is our September 2008 cover when we began writing about what would bedone to replace the long vacant Botany Village eyesore.

Botany Development and Budget Discussions


The Post 347 building has satvacant and decaying since the citypurchased it in April 2007.

At one point, Clifton planned tolocate a couple of two-family housesthere to serve as a model for futuredevelopment in Botany. However,Greco said the property wasn’t largeenough to attract a developer.

City Manager Al Greco said anyunion that does not submit a rec-ommendation as to how it can helpClifton avoid laying off some of itsmembers is “sealing its own fate.”

The city announced in Decemberthat it planned to cut 60 filled and25 vacant positions due to limita-tions on spending because of thestate’s four percent tax increase cap.

Under the law, the city would beable to raise expenses by $3.7 mil-lion in the 2009 budget, but thatfigure was closer to $7 million atthe end of 2008.

The layoffs would save Clifton$4 million a year and would affectall city departments. Right now,there are 524 full-time and 119part-time municipal workers.

Most of those employees are rep-resented by five unions and so cityofficials have said that if they agreeto keep their salaries the same as theywere last year, without any raises,some terminations can be avoided.

The city set a deadline of Jan. 5,but as of Jan. 22, it had only heardfrom the Policemen’s BenevolentAssociation, the SupervisoryOfficer’s Association (also of theCPD) and the Clifton Supervisor’sAssociation.

“We understand that it’s hardtimes and we’re looking to negoti-ate fairly,” said PBA PresidentSteve Berge.

“It’s almost a tennis matchsometimes; you send somethingover to their side and they send

something to you and when we feelthat we’re at the right place, we’llsettle on it.”

Greco said those three propos-als, along with the fourth it recent-ly received from the Firemen’sMutual Benevolent Association,have all been positive.

FMBA President Robert DeLucadeclined to comment on the negoti-ations other than to say he is in theprocess of gathering some informa-tion from the city.

“There are a lot of questions thatneed to be answered,” he said.

As of Feb. 2, the City Councilwas still waiting to hear from theInternational Brotherhood ofElectrical Workers.

Greco said the effect of the lay-offs would be devastating.

“I’m not looking forward to it atall but unfortunately the predica-ment we’ve been put in from thestate, we really have no otheroptions,” he said.

The unions have until March 6 tofinalize a plan with the city becausethat’s when layoffs would begin.

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On Friday, March 27, the Passaic-Clifton Chapter of UNICO Nationalwill host its 5th Annual Gala DinnerDance. This event will be in cele-bration of the chapter’s 60thanniversary (1949-2009). That’s 60years of "Service Above Self.”

The event, which is a black tieoptional gala, will be held at IlTulipano in Cedar Grove. A cock-tail hour at 7 pm will begin thenight. Dinner will be served at 8pm and there will also be livemusic from Daddy Pop (at right). Afive-hour premium open bar is alsoincluded in the $100 ticket price.

UNICO National President KathyStrozza and Immediate PastNational President Joseph Agrestiare scheduled to attend.

The group hopes to also havethe three living charter members on

hand. Michael N. Corradino,Rosario F. Lomauro and RalphSandor were three of the foundingfathers of the Passaic Chapter

(March 29, 1949), which at the time,was only the second UNICO chap-ter in New Jersey. This, in time,became the Passaic-Clifton

UNICO Celebrates 60 Yearsof “Service Above Self”

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Chapter. The group is still workingtowards and fulfilling the samegoals held by those founders(except with a little more help fromtechnology).

Those interested in attending, orin placing an ad in the souvenirjournal, contact Passaic-CliftonChapter President David D’Arco at

973-417-0731 or e-mail him [email protected].

UNICO’s Spring Concert will beheld in May (on a date TBD) at Blisson Allwood Rd. While details arestill be worked on, the confirmedbands include The Flying MuellerBrothers, Brookwood and The ElSupremo.

UNICO is an Italian Americanservice organization which takespart in charitable works, supportshigher education and performspatriotic deeds. Its sole purpose isto unite all Italian Americans andmotivate them to become more civicminded. For membership informa-tion, call D’Arco at 973-417-0731.

Service by Unico to Clifton and Passaic spans six decades as this photo attests. That’s a young Mike Corradino at the right, andPeter Cannici (who served as Passaic Schools Superintendent from1964-1970) at left. Others pictured are unidentified.


Following the 2006 City Councilelections, members began brain-storming ways to generate addition-al funding for Clifton.

In June 2008, the Council hired agrant writer to help the cause, butless than a year later, CouncilmanPeter Eagler says the money couldhave been better spent.

“Here we are, eight months into acontract, and we should have gottensomething,” he explained. “Therehave been some grants that havebeen put in, but we really haven’theard anything yet.”

The contract was awarded toBruno Associates, a Clifton-basedgrant writing firm. Eagler, a formerNew Jersey Assemblyman andPassaic County Freeholder, had pre-viously worked with Bruno, whowas the grant writer for the CountyBoard of Social Services.

“I was in favor of hiring a grantsperson for Clifton,” he said, “butwhen it came down to hiring Mr.Bruno’s group, I wasn’t too happywith his track record from when Iwas a freeholder.”

Bruno Associates was awarded acontract following a biddingprocess. The firm offered the lowestone year contract, at $30,000.

“Bruno kind of got it by default,”said Councilman Joe Cupoli, whonoted that it was the only firm underthe city’s self-imposed budget.“He’s from town, and he guaranteedhis fee back in grants or they would-n’t charge us.

“Is it part of the contract?” hecontinued. “Probably not, but I’dexpect a man to be true to his word.”

Bruno Associates was approvedby a 5-2 margin, with Council mem-bers Peter Eagler and GloriaKolodziej dissenting.

“My original concern was thepast history with Bruno Associates,when we went to develop theAthenia Steel property,” saidKolodziej. “They were the consult-ants we used at the time to developthe senior citizens housing project.

“We were working with them fortwo years and it was going absolute-ly nowhere,” she continued. “Iwatched my wheels get spun for twoyears.”

John R. Bruno, Sr., founder andChairman/CEO of BrunoAssociates, contends that his com-pany has done an admirable job.

“We’ve done a lot there, a greatamount of work,” he said. “We’veonly been there for six months. Westarted June 2008. The total amountof money we’ve filed for is over halfa million in grant applications.”

Most of the grant requests are stillpending with the state. Bruno notedthat it can take upwards of eightmonths to hear back from anydepartment. He believes that anycriticism is not justified at this point.

“In all of the state of New Jersey,we don’t have a client that pays us$29,000,” said Bruno. “That’s whatthey’re paying us, and we think theygot a pretty good deal.

“Evidently, (Peter) Eagler is notaware of all the information thatwe’re dealing with,” he continued.“It would be a good idea if hechecked with the city manager, whois doing a great job. We communi-cate regularly on what we are doing.”

Eagler disputes that claim, sayingthat he has not heard of any progressfrom Bruno.

“Councilman Cupoli and I ask foran update every month and wehaven’t received anything,” he said.“Every time that a proposal or grantcomes in, we ask if that’s fromBruno Associates and it’s not.”

“I’m dissatisfied, based on theresults and the lack of communica-tion,” added Cupoli.

“ I don’t really know whetherthey’re working hard for us or what.We haven’t seen it. If I got back areport from Bruno that we appliedfor these 17 grants, I’d be okay withthat. But I haven’t seen it, eventhough we asked for it.”

“There are other charitable insti-tutions besides federal and stategovernments,” said Eagler. “Thereare numerous places, especially nowthat we have a new president whowants to have new projects ready togo to create jobs.”

Eagler said Washington has indi-cated a willingness to fund projectsthat are ready to go. He claims thecity has several that fit the criteria.

“Here we are, in the process oflaying people off and $30,000 couldsave a secretary or some other posi-tion,” said Eagler. “And there’snothing to show for it.”

City Manager Al Greco, whotypically handles all communica-tion with Bruno Associates, saidthere are legitimate reasons for thedelay in funding.

“It depends on the grant cycle.You might put in a grant today andnot get it for a year. Others, you’llknow right away,” he said.

Granting Clifton’s Wishes?Bruno Associates gets mixed reviews from City Council

Story by Joe Hawrylko


“They also might have traininggrants, and we might be looking forbricks and mortar grants. It couldjust be what’s out there.”

There has been some progress,however, according to Greco.

“They’ve helped out the ArtsCenter, and they’ve also helped outthe Hamilton House,” he explained.“It’s just that sometimes, the criteriaset forth in the grant doesn’t meetthe particulars that we need.”

Kolodziej also said that Brunohas been helpful in some instances.Al Dubois, the city recycling coor-dinator, was informed of a grantopportunity by the firm.

“Personal decisions are onething, but this is based on experi-ence,” said Kolodziej. “But the factis that one of our city employees,who is very aggressive in goingafter grants, is giving credit toBruno Associates.”

Bruno, employed by the Board ofEd. from the winter 2007 to Nov.2008, also got mixed reviews there.

“We terminated because weweren’t happy with the results,” saidUrcioli, who noted that Bruno wasgetting paid $5,000 per month. “ButMr. Bruno has applied for twogrants at no cost, in good faith. Ihave to give him credit, becausehe’s stepping up and doing what’sright for Clifton.”

“It’s a little premature,” saidGreco, of the criticism of BrunoAssociates. “He still has a couplemonths left on the contract. Ibelieve they’re up on June 1.”

Still, Greco wasn’t entirely sup-portive of the recent performance ofBruno Associates.

“I had anticipated that it wouldbe more. We hoped that they’d be alittle more proactive in findinggrants for us,” he admitted. “That’swhere the biggest failing is.”

But Greco said there is still timefor the firm to deliver more funding.“We’ve got to give them the opportu-nity,” he said. “You don’t want to

throw the baby out with the bathwater before we get results.”

But barring some kind of dramat-ic turnaround, the economic down-turn may prevent the city fromrenewing Bruno’s contract. “Mr.Bruno’s outfit is the one going outthere and getting our grants,” saidKolodziej. “I have to weigh the out-put in what I’m paying this firm andI need in budget cuts. I’m not evensure we can afford a grant writer.”

The following are grants that were submitted between June andDecember 2008. Bruno Associates will also apply for four more grantsin the first quarter of 2009.

Historic Sites Management Grant, $36,500: Filed June 26, 2008 forcapital improvements at the Hamilton House. Status is pending.

Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant,$12,000: Filed June 30, 2008 to fund a kids canteen program for mental-ly and physically disabled youth. Status is pending.

Emergency Operations Center Grant, $249,750: Filed July 18, 2008 tofund renovations to the EOC/OEM building. Denied, however, anotherround of applications has started. Bruno will re-submit.

2008 Community Stewardship Incentive Grant, $25,000: Filed Dec. 4,2008 for funding for the city’s Shade Tree Program. Status is pending.

Green Acres: Provides a 50 percent matching grant for park develop-ment. Bruno Associates met with the City and School Board for reno-vations to the stadium. However, the Board would not lease the land, perthe program’s requirements. City Manager Al Greco requested that the$600,000 received for the acquisition of Latteri Park be used towards the$1.3 million Schultheis Farm project. In process.

Neighborhood Crime Prevention and Intervention Program:Competitive grant for community-based crime prevention/intervention pro-grams for municipalities with high risk factors for violence and gang activ-ity. However, it was decided to forego this application due to conflicts, withthe Police Department opting for a shared services opportunity.

What has Bruno Associates applied for thus far?

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Over the last two years, Clifton hasbeen the destination for religiousgroups seeking to situate a new houseof worship. However, of the threethat have gone before the CliftonZoning Board of Adjustment, nonehave been granted approval.

Fierce neighborhood oppositionand questionable designs havedogged every proposal from the start.

Given the obstacles, is it possi-ble to actually construct a newhouse of worship within Clifton?

According to City PlannerDennis Kirwan, the answer is yes.

“It’s not so much what is thecity’s stance,” he explained. “TheFederal Government instituted theRLUIPA (Religious Land Use andInstitutionalized Persons Act) law,which basically tells us that wecan’t put any undue hardship onchurches or houses of worship.”

The United States Congressenacted the law in 2000 to preventzoning restrictions against housesof worship. Neighborhood opposi-tion isn’t grounds for denial.

“Maybe they’re not common orthe name of the church will scarepeople,” said Kirwan. “That’s howthe law came into effect.”

However, RLUIPA does not granthouses of worship the ability to pickany plot of land and build indiscrim-inantly—zoning laws still do apply.Previous Clifton applications havebeen denied for various deficiencies.

In Nov., 2007, CongregationB’Nei Torah of Clifton sought vari-ances for a synagogue at 614Passaic Ave. in Rosemawr. Thehome on the property was to berazed and replaced with a 35’ by80’ structure.

The three variances requestedincluded: conditional use; non-con-forming lot area and width; lot cov-erage proposed at 51 percent wherea maximum of 35 percent is permit-ted; side yards proposed at 6’ and8’ where a minimum of 15’ each isrequired; and rear yard proposed at10’ with 35’ required.

Following many hours in front ofthe zoning board, CongregationB’Nei Torah of Clifton ultimatelywithdrew its application after being

This stately residence on the corner of Dwasline Rd and Virginia Ave. could soonbe the site of Congregation Shomrei Torah of Passaic/Clifton.

Can Houses of Worship and the City of Clifton Co-exist?Story by Joe Hawrylko

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denied variances, due to multipledeficiencies.

Another project which has beenin the public eye is the House ofFire Christian Church, which pro-posed to build on the site of a pri-vate home at 635 Grove St.

“There’s neighborhood opposi-tion, but it’s not just that. Thebasic problem is that the lot is justtoo narrow to build a church,”explained Frank Carlet, whoresides near the project and is theattorney for the opposition.

Carlet stated that typically, achurch is at the front of the lot,with driveways on either side toaccess the lot in the back. Cityzoning law requires that any houseof worship property must have aminimum width of 100 feet.

“They have 70 feet,” he added.“It just doesn’t work.”

Despite the deficiencies andopposition from neighbors, theHouse of Fire Congregation hasbeen reluctant to back off.

“The religious land use act isn’tan absolute order to give thechurch what it wants,” explainedCarlet. “They claim it does, weclaim it doesn’t. It’s got to havesome compliance with zoning.”

The city zoning board hasagreed with Carlet thus far, havingrejected plans for construction.

“They wanted to build it righton the tip, between two residentialhouses and three houses backingup into it,” he added. “It’s just toomuch adverse influence in theneighborhood. It just doesn’t fit.”

Carlet said he believes that thereis no issue with properly designedhouses of worship.

“There’s an opposition to squeez-ing in something where it doesn’tbelong,” he explained. “There’s anIndian (temple) on Bloomfield Ave.

that got in no problem at all aboutthree or four years ago. And theexpansion to Sacred HeartChurch—no problem at all.”

Meanwhile, Carlet, an attorneyfor Carlet, Garrison, Klein &Zaretsky, is representing a reli-gious group seeking to convert aprivate residence in Rosemawrinto a three story synagogue.Congregation Shomrei Torah ofPassaic/Clifton is seeking vari-ances for the project at VirginiaAve. and Dwasline Rd.

The project went before the zon-ing board on Jan. 21, with Carletseeking variances for rear setback,mandated at 35 feet, proposed for23 feet. The other variance was alandscape buffer, mandated at 10feet, proposed at 6 to 10 feet.

“I think we’ve got a case. Theneed for variance is minimal.There’s good circulation on theproperty,” said Carlet prior to themeeting. “We can get fire andemergency vehicles all around andwe have enough parking.”

But at the zoning board meet-ing, Carlet’s proposal did not go sosmoothly.

About 50 people attended, splitalmost evenly betweenCongregation Shomrei Torah ofPassaic/Clifton and residents whowould be directly affected.

After nearly an hour, the boarddisagreed with Carlet’s variancecount and instructed him to reno-tify residents that he would beseeking nine variances. The let-ters must go out before the nextmeeting, which is scheduled forMarch 18.

Among the items listed for reno-tification is parking. Carlet’s origi-nal plan called for 35 spots, basedon the 125 seats (Clifton has amandate of a 1:4 spot-to-seat ratio)

inside the main meeting room andtwo spaces for the rabbi’s dwelling.Carlet based his calculations on thefact that members must walk totheir services on Friday.

Kirwan’s calculations call for190 spots, due to the combineduses of the property. However,Carlet stated that he disagreed andwon’t be sending out notices forparking. “It’s our gamble,” heexplained. “I don’t see theAppellate Division reversing itself.There can be a condition that wewill not use other parts of the syna-gogue when the sanctuary is in use.

“He (Kirwan) is ignoring theholding of the Appellate Division onthe House of Fire case,” continuedCarlet. The court declined to inter-fere with the trial court’s tentativeruling, provided that the church wasused as described in the minutes.

Beyond parking, Kirwan saidthere are other major differences.

“That was 2,400 sq. ft., and thisis 18,000 sq. ft. over three floors,”he said. “Theoretically, I can put a25,000 sq. ft. building up, and if ithas two seats, is that how muchparking I need?”

One of the main uses in ques-tion is the synagogue mikvah, abath designed for ritual immersion.Carlet stated that it would be opento members only.

Kirwan interprets the use differ-ently: “It’s a business, and it’s treat-ed as such in a lot of cases,” heexplained. “There are stand alonemikvahs, but usually with a syna-gogue. But they require attendance,both male and female, and mem-bers and non-members can use it.”

“It’s an interesting argument,”Kirwan mused over Carlet’sapproach. “Last week, you’retelling us that it’s bad for the neigh-borhood, and this week, it’s good?”

The irony is obvious. For years,the Clifton Board of Education hadasked the Paterson Diocese if itwould be willing to sell them thePope John Paul II ElementarySchool property on Valley Rd., butthe diocese said it wasn’t interested.

So the city district, which want-ed the school to help ease over-crowding, looked elsewhere, final-ly settling on a location at 290Brighton Rd.

Voters approved the purchase inDecember 2004, but zoning boarddenials and legal wranglingdelayed the project to the pointwhere it will finally be completedthis summer.

Just in time for Clifton to possi-bly acquire Pope John Paul II.

The diocese announced lastmonth it will be closing the schoolthis year due to decreasing enroll-ments and difficult economic times.

What is bad news for Catholicschool families may be good news

for those sending their children topublic school in Clifton.

The BOE has asked the diocesefor quotes on how much it wouldcost to lease the property, buy it, oracquire it through a lease purchaseagreement. So far, the diocese hasprovided the district with a leaseproposal.

“If the economic climate wasn’tthe way it is, I’d be optimistic,”said board President MichaelUrciuoli. “But right now, it’d betough for us to afford the propertyat the rate they’re asking for.”

Urciuoli wouldn’t say howmuch the diocese wants becausethe two sides are still in negotia-tions, but the assessed value of the100,000 sq. ft. building was about$11 million in 2007, according tocounty tax records.

The purchase would also includetwo soccer fields and parking onsite, but the diocese wants to keepthe administration building by theschool. Urciuoli said the BOE istalking to the city about applying

for state grants to help offset thecost of the property.

The idea is to possibly use thebuilding as a third middle school,which would house up to 800 stu-dents in 30 classrooms.

“It’s a great location,” saidUrciuoli. “Traffic is not an issueand you have Valley Rd., Rt. 3 andRt. 46 right there.”

Construction of the school at 290Brighton Rd. is scheduled to becompleted this June with the hopesof installing fixtures, such as desksand chairs, in July and August.

Urciuoli said 540 ninth gradestudents should populate the schoolcome September and the remaining200 freshmen will be in their ownwing at the high school.

Ninth graders who participate inband, orchestra or ice hockey willattend CHS, while the students onBrighton Rd. will be bussed to thehigh school for their sports andclubs.

The morning televisionannouncements will be broadcastto the annex so the children theredo not feel separated from theirpeers.

“Although they’re somewhereelse, they’ll get to feel that they’repart of the high school,” said theboard president.

Van Ness Plastics, Inc. a plasticmanufacturer located near theschool site, is still waiting to haveits appeal heard of a Superior Courtjudge’s decision to allow theschool to be built.

School board elections are set forApril 21. Three-year seats belong-ing to President Urciuoli, VicePresident Lizz Gagnon andCommissioner Michael Paitchellare up for election. The deadline tohand in a petition to run is March 2.

At the Schools

Pope John Paul II Elementary School on Valley Rd. is closing this year and theClifton Board of Education is interested in purchasing the property.




The CHS girls bowling team wonits 10th consecutive Passaic Countybowling tournament on Jan. 17 at T-Bowl Lanes in Wayne. It all camedown to the 10th frame of the thirdgame when sophomore captainSonja Shirak rolled a strike andpicked up a difficult split to clinchthe title for the Lady Mustangs.

Shirak, who is second in theNNJIL with a 198 average, bowleda tournament-high 609 series. Shewas backed up by senior NatashaCasado (481), junior Elena Mauro(412), freshman Ashley Brandecker(402) and sophomore KortneyCasperino (377).

The State sectionals will be heldon Feb. 7 at Bowler City inHackensack with the top two teamsin each division advancing to theState finals.

The girls indoor track team alsobrought home a county title at thePassaic Meet on Jan. 21. It was thefourth championship in five years

for Clifton, which was led by acombination of 54 points fromEloisa Paredes and Emily Urciuoli.

Paredes won both the 1,000 and1,500 distances, while Urciuoli set acounty record of 11 feet 8 inches(third best in the state this season) inwinning the pole vault event. Shealso had a personal best to win thelong jump, finished second in thehurdles and third in the high jump.

The boys team tied for fifth withWest Milford at the meet. NathanHoward finished fourth in the 300,Daniel Green took fourth in the1,000 and fifth in the 1,500, JamesSahanas placed fourth in the 3,000,Vic Almonte was fourth best in thetriple jump, Jairo Parra finishedfourth in the pole vault, and the4x400 relay team took the silver inthat event.

The CHS girls bowling team captured the Passaic County title. From left, ElenaMauro, Sonja Shirak, Coach Brian Small, Natash Casado, Ashley Brandecker andKortney Casperino.

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Clifton High School sports teamsare successful for a number ofreasons: tradition, great coaching,and a large pool of students fromwhich to select athletes. But nosingle thing may have a biggerimpact than the many great feederprograms in town.

This month, we take a look atjunior football, lacrosse, basket-ball, wrestling, baseball, softball,swimming, soccer and hockey.

Junior FootballJunior Mustangs co-director Ted

Melnik jokes that it’s no coinci-dence the high school team won itsfirst state title in decades just twoyears after the merging of the twofeeder programs in town.

But there may be some truth tothat statement. The Colts andJunior Mustangs combined in 2004and some of those kids went on toplay for the championship squad in2006.

“We just thought it would bebest if we combined the juniorfeeder programs to make usstronger and run better,” said

Melnik, who’s been with the leaguefor 16 years.

“Just about all my kids haveplayed in the program,” said varsi-ty coach Ron Anello. “FranklinDuran, Mike Chiavetta, TamirDayya...you’ll hear them talking inthe locker room about some gamethey played in the fifth grade.”

Anello has also worked withMelnek and Junior Mustangs coachJoe Gaccione to install a watered-down version of the high schoolteam’s offensive and defensive sys-tems at the feeder level so thatplayers are prepared when theyreach CHS.

There were between 160 and180 children in the 2008 version ofthe Junior Mustangs. The programis divided into four levels: Jr. PeeWee (7 to 9 years old), Pee Wee(10-11), Lightweight (12-14 up to125 pounds), and Heavyweight(12-14 over 125 pounds).

Practices begin the first Mondayin August and continue four days aweek during the summer. TheJunior Mustangs play the same

teams the big boys do likeMontclair, Teaneck, Hackensackand the Oranges until the seasonends in November.

The cost is $130 to join and any-one interested should call Melnik at973-473-5276.

Junior LacrosseThe Junior Mustangs lacrosse

team formed in the mid ’80s, but itsimpact on the CHS varsity squadhasn’t been felt until recently.

“We’ve had players go on andplay at a lot of private schools,”said president Scott Davies, whojoined 20 years ago.

But Clifton lacrosse is catchingon and players are beginning tostay in town.

“It’s huge,” said new varsitycoach George Cowan, who was theJV coach for the past four years.“It levels the playing field betweenus and some of the privates andpowerhouse public schools likeRidgewood.”

Cowan said not only does thefeeder program teach young ath-letes the game, but it also gets them

A lightweight Junior Mustangs game against Teaneck involving seventh and eighth graders. Pictured in the dark uniforms on defenseare Brendan Schreiber, Matt Melnik, Marco Baez, Mohammed Ali, Christian Arrazola, Jeremy Soto and Ehab Hassin.

playing together so they’re familiarwith one another once they reachthe high school.

There were 42 children in thejunior program last year and Daviessays there are about 60 for theindoor winter clinic that runs fromJanuary to March. The spring out-door season goes from April to June.

Students from third to eighthgrade are invited to register andgirls are welcome too.

“We’ve had girls in the past butwe’re feeding the high school boysteam,” said Davies, whose sonSteven is a sophomore on theMustangs. “There’s no girlslacrosse feeder system and that’s acompletely different game becausethere’s no contact.”

To join the junior lacrosse pro-gram, call Davies at 973-779-5722.

Traveling BasketballOne of the first things Tommie

Patterson did after he was hired asClifton High’s new basketball

coach was head over to the court atthe Boys & Girls Club.

“It gives you the opportunity tosee the younger kids coming upand I need to be able to see them,”he said.

The Club sponsors traveling bas-ketball teams for third and fourthgrade boys, fifth and sixth grade

boys and girls, and seventh andeighth grade boys and girls. A Clubmembership is required to join.

There’s no cost to participate inthe Club’s basketball clinic held onSaturdays for grades three througheight.

And any high school boys whomay want to work on their


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Members of the 2007 Junior Mustangs lacrosse eighth grade team. From left,Brian Yip, Michael Phillips, Steven Davies and Matthew Vail.

game for next year’s varsity tryouts can take part in theJr Nets program which runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm onTuesdays and Thursdays through March 19.

The cost is $25 plus a $35 membership. For more onany of the Boys & Girls Club’s basketball programs,call 973-773-2697.

Junior Wrestling“If you want the varsity team to be successful, the

feeder system has to be able to send four or five kidsevery year,” said Mustangs coach Dan Galeta. “Ithelps the high school team a lot and we appreciate theirefforts.” The proof can be seen on the current CHSteam. Juniors Bradley Hornstra and Bedran Sulieman,along with sophomore Elliot Garcia all passed throughthe program.

Junior wrestling coach and director Jack Whitinghas been sending grapplers to Clifton High for threedecades.

The program began in the mid ’70s when Rec Dept.director Walt Sidor asked Whiting, then a coach atPaul VI, and Clifton coach Hank Karsen to start oneup. Whiting left after a few years but returned to theprogram in the late ’90s when his son John began towrestle.

At that time, there were only 13 guys on the team,but each year, Whiting and Tony Santurelli built theprogram up to the point where there are about 100 par-ticipants this season.

The kids run from first to eighth grade with practicesheld at least three teams a week at CHS.

Patrick DePasque (in back) wrestling with an unidentifiedopponent last March.

The Clifton-Nutley Youth Hockey Club at the BantamsChampionship last June.

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The season starts every yearafter Thanksgiving and continuesuntil March.

The Junior Mustangs compete intwo leagues: the recreational NorthJersey Junior Wrestling League andthe more experienced PassaicCounty Youth Wrestling League.Registration is $45 and those inter-ested should call Whiting at 973-478-8668.

Clifton American LeagueClifton’s junior baseball pro-

gram became even stronger a fewyears ago when four leagues con-solidated into two.

The Eastern and Southern divi-sions became the American Leagueand the Western and Northern divi-sions became the National League.

There are about 350 childrenparticipating in each league, whichboth run from the beginning ofApril to the middle of June.

Boys and girls start at age fivewith tee ball before graduating tothe junior development level withumpires and children pitching atage seven.

Nine- and 10-year-olds are eligi-ble for all-star teams and the 11-12division is the majors.

After that, boys move on to theBabe Ruth League, but girls continuein the senior league until they’re 16.

“I have daughters and all thegirls I know who have gonethrough the system now play forthe high school so it’s a trainingground,” said American Leaguepresident Joe Casperino.

The entry fee for one child is$55, but just $85 for two or morekids. Visit cliftonamerican.com.

Seahawks SwimmingThe Seahawks swim team has

been around since 1980. Run outof the Clifton Boys & Girls Club,the team is a member of New

Jersey Swimming.There are currently 109 children

ages five to 17, not all fromClifton, involved in the year-roundindoor program. There are threeseasons: September to March,April to June and July to August.

“I think the high school is reallylucky,” said Club Aquatics DirectorNadia Stavko, who runs the teamalong with coach Vladimir Popyel.“We have a really good relationshipwith CHS.” For more information,visit cliftonseahawks.org.

The Meadowlands Braves captured the 18U Cerbo Baseball League Championshipat Holster Park on Nov. 1. Clifton’s Mike Wieczerzak was one of the team’s offen-sive stars with a .341 avg and 15 RBIs. Front, from left, Jared Coffey, CarloGhoime, CJ Gonzales, Jacob Ramos, Tom Halter and Alphonse Iannuzzi. Back:Coach Lou Ghiome, Phil Sevelha, Bill Rehbein, Wieczerzak, John Segretto, PaulJohanamann, Ryan Sharkey and Head Coach Rob Coffey.


Stallions SoccerClifton soccer is one of the most

revered scholastic athletic pro-grams in the state for three reasons:Severin Palydowycz, FernandoRossi and the Stallions youth pro-gram. “We feel that we’re veryimportant,” said president BobCardillo, who has led the organiza-tion for the past four years. “We’revery involved.”

The feeder system is entering its27th year in town with the first eight-week season beginning in April andthe second starting in September.

The Stallions team is open to bothboys and girls ages 5 to 14.

The girls play at Robin Hood Parkand the boys have games at PopeJohn Paul II on Valley Rd. There arenearly 600 children involved in theprogram. Cardillo said nearly every-one who has played for the Mustangsover the past three decades haspassed through the Stallions.

“There might be a couple strag-glers who just moved in,” he said.There are some ethnic groups thatplay out of Paterson and Passaic.They’ll play there until they find us.”

Youth HockeyThe hockey feeder programs in

Clifton and Nutley were experienc-ing a drop in membership about sixyears ago, so they decided to unite

to form the Clifton-Nutley YouthHockey Club. “Our program isquite unique because hockey issuch an expensive sport,” said clubdirector Dennis Fitzpatrick. “Wecombine our resources like coachesand facilities.”

The club holds clinics everySunday morning at Clary AndersonArena in Montclair where instructorsteach students the basics of the game.

Older skaters play league gamesat the Ice House in Hackensack.

“Very few kids that are on ourhigh school team right now haven’tparticipated in our program,” saidFitzpatrick (973-773-0019).

The club is open to children ages4-17 and it runs year-round with themain season in the winter and springand fall leagues as well.

“We give these kids a programthat’s better than travel hockey at aquarter of the price,” said the direc-tor. “If it wasn’t for the unison ofthese two programs, these kidswouldn’t be as good as they are.”

The Clifton Stallions U14 girls team won the Mid-Atlantic Premier Soccer tourna-ment this past November at Fort Dix. The team includes Amanda Millerferli, SarahKelly, Kelly Egan, Caroline Kohl, Shannon Guzman, Jennie Hornstra, StephanieRosenberg, Annette Malysa, Jamie Sommerhalter, Victoria Rodio, DelanaPasquale, Nicole Queliz, Kaitlyn Lima, Courtney Major, Briana Miller, BrittanyFerreira and Brooke Miller. They are coached by Al Guzman and Tom Pasquale.

The Tomahawks youth soccer team coached by Joe Hawrylko and Jesse Hastings.

On Feb.12,1989 Frank and NinaCorradino (at right) started a newchapter in Nina’s American Dreamwhen the couple opened the ValleyRd. Salon bearing her name.

“Throughout these 20 years, wehave successfully reached manymilestones, and Nina’s has becomea place where friends meet tocatch up, pop in to say hi and enjoy

a cup of coffee,” said Nina. “As away to say thank you for not onlyyour patronage but most of all formany great friendships, Frank and Iinvite all to come join us on Sat.Feb. 14 at noon at 147 Valley Rd.”

Mayor James Anzaldi will re-cutthe ribbon to their family basedsalon and Nina and Frank invite allto visit for some good company, acouple of Nina's famous jokes andand refreshments. For more info,call 973-278-0356.Frank & Nina celebrate another milestone on March 25—36 years of marriage.

Celebrate 20 Years of Ninas Salon‘


Valentine’s Day Ribbon Cutting at Noon at 147 Valley Rd.


Now in its 11th year, the CliftonFamily Super Bowl Party attractedaround 300 people to a fun-filledfamily event thanks to CliftonAgainst Substance Abuse (CASA),the Boys & Girls Club, CliftonMerchant Magazine and a host ofsponsors (see page 63). Those whocame entered free but donatedcanned goods, which were deliveredto Clifton’s St. Peter’s Haven.

For those not interested in watch-ing the Pittsburgh Steelers play theArizona Cardinals, there was anopen pool and gym, as well as plen-ty of hot dogs, pizza and dessert.

The photos on the following eightpages are of some of those familiesand volunteers who attended.

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‘09 Clifton FamilySuper Bowl Party

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Come to Registration Day or CallSaturday, Feb. 7th (9:30am -Noon)



Whether learning about the environment, help-ing to feed the hungry or having fun raising funds

at our summer carnival, the students, staff and parents of St.Andrew’s have always made service a priority in our lives. Findout more about what makes St. Andrew’s the right choice formany children—Call Sr. Margaret for a school visit or more onregistration or go to:

St. Andrew the Apostle School418 Mt. Prospect Ave • Clifton 973-473-3711

www.standrewsschoolclifton.catholicweb.com

Small, Caring Environment, High Expectations, Religious Teachings

Thank you sponsors...• Infatuation Hair Salon • Optimist Club of Clifton • Rotary Club of Clifton • Jim & Rita Haraka & Family • Steve & Ellen Corbo & Family • Clifton Police PBA Local 36 • Clifton Firefighters FMBA Local 21• Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin • Clifton Moose Lodge 657 • Passaic County Surrogate Bill Bate • The Bassford Family/

JSK Landscaping & Construction • Mayor & City Council,

City Manager, City Attorney • in memory of Henry Dougherty

by Barbara Dougherty • in memory of Murray ‘Moe’ Abill

by Vito & Carolyn DeRobertis• in memory of Florence, George H.

Trinkle Sr., & George H. Trinkle III• Carlet, Garrison, Klein & Zaretsky • Mark Peterson and John Traier • Frank Gaccione • Clifton Against Substance Abuse • Clifton Merchant Magazine• Boys & Girls Club of Clifton

A Clifton team of ten will participate inthe 2009 Police Unity Tour. This annual

300 mile bicycle ride leaves NJ on May 9 in

an effort to raise awareness of Police

Officers who have died in the line of duty.

The second goal is to raise funds for the

National Law Enforcement Officers

Memorial. Details at policeunitytour.com.

The Clifton group has a goal of $17,000

and will achieve that via personal and cor-

porate donations and charity events such as

a March 29 Spaghetti Dinner at the Boys &

Girls Club from 4 to 8 pm. The Passaic

and William Paterson University Police

Departments are co-sponsors.

To purchase a $15 ticket, make checks to

Clifton PBA and contact the participants or

mail it c/o Clifton Merchant Magazine,1288 Main Ave., Clifton, NJ 07011 or call

973-253-4400. Participants include Randy

Colondres, Derek Fogg, Brian Fopman,

John Kavakich, Robert Bais, William Bais,

Stephen Berge, Gary Giardina, Michael

McLaughlin and Tom Hawrylko.

February 2009 • Clifton Merchant68

D.C.D.C.

Remember Johnny: At the Fallen Officer’s

Monument in Washington, D.C. last May,

front from left, is Randy Colondres, Kevin

Collucci, John Kavakich, Derek Fogg and

Brian Fopma. They rode to honor the memory

of Clifton Police Officer John Samra who was

killed in the line of duty on Nov. 21, 2003.

Spaghetti DinnerFundraiser 3/29

The Clifton High School Jr. ROTC program brought

Scott Crawford and Malvin Frias together. Now, the

two 2008 graduates and best friends will embark on

their respective military careers.

PFC Crawford graduated as a part of Delta Company

from the US Marine Parris Island Boot Camp on Dec.

5. He was able to secure extra leave time by working

as a recruiter at the Colfax Ave. station. He is now in

Camp Geiger in North Carolina for two months of

infantry training. Crawford is enlisted for five years

and said he plans to re-up when his first hitch is up. He

is slated to become a Lance Corporal in May.

Meanwhile, US Army PFC Frias completed his BT

on Nov. 18 as a combat engineer in the 1st Armored

Division. After an extended stay at home during the

holidays as a recruiter in Bloomfield, he departed for

Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Lenardwood, Mo.

The Giblin Association held its 17th Annual Community

Service Awards and Charity Breakfast on Dec. 7 at the

Mayfair Farms in West Orange. More than 350 attended,

according to Raymond Simione, Giblin Association

President. There were six Community Service Awards

presented as follows: Dan DeTrolio of West Orange

(Business), Jacqui Greadington of East Orange (Labor),

Thomas A. Hawrylko, Sr. of Clifton (Media), Evelyn E.

Laccitiello of West Orange (Government), Verona

Councilman Frank J. Sapineza (Public Safety) and

Houston Stevens of Newark (Youth). Charities receiving

funds included the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton.

CHS Class of2008 gradsMalvin Frias(left) and ScottCrawford arebeginning theirmilitary careers.

Clifton Merchant Magazine editor and publisher Tom Hawrylko (second from left) was among the six Community ServiceAward recipients at the Giblin Association’s 17th Annual Community Service Awards and Charity Breakfast on Dec. 7. Alsopictured from left Ray Simione, Giblin Association President, Dan DeTrolio of West Orange, Jacqui Greadington of EastOrange, Evelyn E. Laccitiello of West Orange, Houston Stevens of Newark and Verona Councilman Frank J. Sapineza (PublicSafety) along with NJ Assemblyman Tom Giblin.


18141814

Proud to Represent CliftonAssemblyman Thomas P. Giblin1333 Broad St., Clifton, NJ 07013office: 973-779-3125www.assemblymangiblin.com

View The Giblin Report Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Channel 76

The CHS Prom Fashion Show isMarch 8 at 2pm. Hair designs are

by the following salons:

Infatuation on Market St. and Santa

Fe, Salon Ilona and Guy Anthony

Salons on Clifton Ave. Some of the

flowers are being made by Millie

Fiore Floral Design on Lakeview

Ave. The decorations are being

provided in part by AGL Welding

on Hazel St. and Rt.46 and there

will be a display of limos from

America’s Best Limos on Rt. 46 in

the Wedding Center. The Masters

and Mistresses of Ceremonies are

Melissa Ihle, Christine Siluk, Joe

Cornett and Michael Purdy. There

will be a small basket raffle and

donations can be sent to CHS-

PTSA Prom Fashion Show/North

Wing Vice Principal’s office.

Proceeds go towards funding

Project Graduation. For info, call

Maryann Cornett at 973-779-5678.

Having a baby? You are invited to

attend two free classes about preg-

nancy and labor at St. Mary’s

Hospital from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. For

more information or to schedule an

appointment, call 973-365-4795.

The Annual Friend of YouthBeefsteak is May 17 at 4 pm at the

Boys & Girls Club on Colfax Ave.

Sponsored by the Clifton Optimist

Club, those being honored with the

Friend of Youth Award are Cerebral

Palsy Center principals Jennifer

Miller (Main Ave.) and Mary Fisher

(Harding Ave.); Tom Corradino Sr.

and Jr. and Joe Jeffers, who coach

the American Legion Post 347

baseball team; and Mike Spearing,

who coaches Post 8.

The Stanley Zwier Community

Service Award will go to St. Peter’s

Haven for its work with the home-

less and the Nikischer family, who

have been the driving force behind

the annual Labor Day carnival on

Parker Ave. The Judge Joseph

Salerno Respect for Law Award

goes to the Gang Related Task

Force of Clifton Police Dept. and

Passaic County Sheriff’s Dept.

The St. Nicholas UkrainianCatholic Church Choir performed

Christmas Story on Jan. 4, featuring

the music of Ukrainian composer

Dymytriy Tuptalo. The choir was

led by Andriy Legkyy and featured

solos by Romaniya Voloshchuk,

Halyna Newmerzyckj, Klara

Lehka, Myhailo Moczula and

Mychail Newmerzyckyj. The

church is located at 60 Holdsworth

Ct., Passaic. For more on other

events or info, call 973-471-9727.

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Choir performed Christmas Story on Jan. 4.

The Clifton Pillow Drive forDomestic Abuse Shelters contin-

ues this month. Phenomenal

Grandmothers #1036 and Dr.

David Moore of On Track

Chiropractic Center are asking

everyone to donate a new bed pil-

low or purchase one for $3. Call

Colleen Murray at 973-253-9579.

Murray is also in the process of

developing a series of world music

and dance programs for children to

be held at the Clifton Library. Call

her if you’d like to share a part of

your ethnic culture with children.

Wiggle, Giggle, Sing and Shout!The band Circle Time Live featur-

ing Jodi Colasurdo of Wiggles and

Giggles will perform at 3 pm on

Feb 22 at St. Andrew School. This

lively, interactive show is great fun

for children up to seven years old.

Advance sale ticket prices until Feb.

13 are $5 for children and $3 for

adults. On the day of the show, chil-

dren are $8 and adults are $3. And

the St. Andrew’s Home and School

Association’s Beefsteak and Night at

the Races is scheduled for 6 p m on

March 7. Tickets are $40 and you

must be 21 or older to enter. For

more information on either of these

two events, call 973-473-3711.

Mardi Gras Casino Night at the

Boys & Girls Club of Clifton is

March 27. Everyone is invited to

attend with a chance to win great

prizes, including a Florida vacation

trip with airfare. To help sponsor

this event, call the Club by March 6

at 973-773-0966.

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The public is invited to Circle Time Live will perform at St. Andrew School on Feb. 22.

Bob Sidoti and a crew of his workers recently had some down time so they volun-teered their services to strip, sand and finish the floor in the Clifton RecreationBuilding at the corner of Main and Washington Aves. in Downtown Clifton.

Crazy Enough to Care: Drew Horn& The Turn-A-Frown-AroundFoundation is a short documentary

that airs Friday nights on Cable

Access Channel 77. The Turn-A-

Frown-Around Foundation is a non-

profit group that provides support

services to the mentally disabled.

Sheryll Franko of Falling Awake

Productions produced the video after

meeting Horn at the annual Van

Houten Street Fair in 2003.

Then just a freshman in college,

Franko was intrigued by Horn’s

story of three failed businesses, two

divorces and two suicide attempts,

which led to him forming the Turn-

A-Frown-Around Foundation. She

told Horn that if she ever became

successful with her film studies that

she would find a way to document

a story about him.

After taking some time off from

her studies, Franko contacted Horn

and filming for the 16 minute seg-

ment began in Feb. 2008. The com-

pleted film was accepted at the

Second Annual NYC Mental Health

Film Festival on April 25. Franko is

also trying to get her film accepted in

the Tribeca Film Festival, where she

works on the public relations staff.

Later this year, Franko and Horn

will be traveling to Friesland,

Netherlands for a viewing of the

film. One of the individuals inter-

viewed in Crazy Enough to Care,

is a native of the Netherlands and in

contact with producers of the

Omrop Fryslân station that wants to

expand on the documentary.

While she is starting to get recog-

nition for her works now, Franko has

had very limited exposure to film.

“I never took a film class,” con-

fessed Franko, who is a 2002 grad-

uate of Clifton High School. Still

looking to get experience, she plans

on entering the Fourth Annual

Passaic County Student Film andVideo Festival on April 18 at 10 am

in the Passaic County Public Safety

Complex, 300 Oldham Rd., Wayne.

The event is open to any college or

high school students who are resi-

dents of Passaic County. Last year,

18 films were screened, created

entirely by amateur students.

At the high school level, second

place went to The Sidekick(Mayank Patel, Clifton High

School). For info on the Film

Festival, call 973-569-4720. For

Crazy Enough to Care, visit

www.frowntosmile.org or call

Franko at 917-673-9777.

I’m Getting Murdered in theMorning, a comedy about an ill

received wedding reception, has

added a second date on Feb. 22 at 4

pm. The Feb. 21 7 pm show at

Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 710 Van

Houten Ave. is sold out. It features

members of The Theater League of

Clifton. Linda Weilkotz directs and

Mark Peterson is the production

manager. Call 973-458-9579 or visit

www.theaterleagueofclifton.com.

Maria Echeverri of School 12 inClifton was named the third place

winner in the Passaic County

Clerk’s Annual Calendar Poster

Contest. Other winners include

Keiana Curry and Alexandra Martell

of Pope John Paul II. All will have

their art published in the 2009 calen-

dar. For info, call 973-225-3632.February 2009 • Clifton Merchant 72

Sheryll Franko and Drew Horn, who collaborated to make the documentary, CrazyEnough to Care: Drew Horn and the Turn-A-Frown-Around Foundation.

The Clifton Arts Center Gallerypresents “A New Perspective,” an

exhibit and sale by contemporary

visual artist Steve Zolin. The

exhibit runs through Feb. 28.

“A New Perspective” is about the

use of space, curves and structure

and how they are used to display a

new kind of continuous perspective.

This exhibit also draws from art and

science theories in an attempt to

explain space and time. Various

drawings, paintings, sculptures and

mobiles will be part of the art show.

Many of Zolin’s works are in

public and private collections from

New Mexico to Florida, including a

15’ painting for US Senator Joseph

Lieberman’s home synagogue in

Connecticut

Zolin, born in 1972 and raised in

West Orange, earned his BFA cum

laud at Washington University in

1994 and won an MFA Fellowship

at Florida State University, graduat-

ing in 2005. Between degrees he

spent nine years in Santa Fe, New

Mexico enmeshed in that art scene.

The artist moved to Clifton sev-

eral years ago to be closer to his

“day” job on Brighton Rd. For more

information, visit stevezolin.com

or cliftonnj.org.

The Poetry Center at PassaicCounty Community College is

now accepting submissions for four

contests in 2009: poems for the

Allen Ginsberg Poetry awards, and

books for the Paterson Poetry Prize,

the Paterson Fiction Prize and the

Paterson Prize for Books for Young

People. For more information, call

973-684-6555 or go online and visit

www.pccc.edu/poetry.

The Clifton-based New JerseyMusic and Arts present the 6th

“One Heart International Festival”

of music, dance and drama on

March 19 at 7:30 pm at the Passaic

County Community College

Auditorium in Paterson. Tickets are

$10. The festival theme is “Beauty

in Diversity,” a celebration of the

cultures of the world. For tickets or

info, call 973-272-3255 or go to

http://njma.homestead.com.


A cityscape and a drawing by former Cliftonite Steve Zolin, pictured here, whosework is displayed and on sale at the Clifton Arts Center Gallery through Feb. 28.


In 1896, when St. Peter’s EpiscopalChurch on Clifton Ave. was being

established, a newspaper writer pro-

claimed: “There are too few

Episcopalians in Clifton to succeed.

The few trying to start a church there

are placing upon their shoulders a

burden that will be an oppression to

them for the next 20 years.”

“The prediction provided to be

flawed,” states Cliftonite Philip M.

Read. In his new book Anglicansin North Jersey: The EpiscopalDiocese of Newark, Read docu-

ments the histories of many of the

diocese’s 114 parishes, places of

spiritual life that dot the northern

New Jersey landscape.

Today in Clifton, some 113

years after its founding, St. Peter’s

is still ministering to the faithful

and has in fact broadened its mis-

sion. In Oct. 1986 it also added St.

Peter’s Shelter, which is the main

food pantry for our community and

an advocate for the homeless.

Read’s book documents that

Anglican worship in North Jersey

dates back to 1695. An Anglican

congregation was established in

Newark by 1729 and Trinity

Church was under construction in

1742. More than 200 years later, in

June 1967, during the Newark

Riots, the first-ever national con-

ference for black empowerment

took place at Trinity which began

the diocese’s growing role as a cat-

alyst for social change and at the

vanguard of radical inclusion.

Read, the Montclair reporter for

the Star Ledger, and author of two

historical books about Clifton, states

in the book jacket that he is a cradle

Episcopalian who has served as a

Sunday school teacher, choir mem-

ber, vestryman, and church histori-

an. He is married to the Venerable

Nancy Read, who in 2007 was seat-

ed as the archdeacon of Newark. To

buy the book ($21.99), go to

www.arcadiapublishing.com

School 11 will be hosting its 8th

annual Tricky Tray on March 20 at

the Boys & Girls Club of Clifton on

Colfax Ave. Admission is $10 and

includes one sheet of small prize

tickets, a goodie bag, coffee and

cake. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

There will be hundreds of great

prizes to win. Call Teddie Pollina

at 973-546-0758 or email ctg-

[email protected].

Anglicans in North Jersey documentsnot only the history but the church’s rolein social change and radical inclusion.


The New York Society of ModelEngineers will be opening its doors

to the public this spring. Visitors are

invited to view the two large operat-

ing layouts at 341 Hoboken Rd. in

Carlstadt. Watch the Phoebe Snow

take to the rails again on the O Scale

layout, or watch freight cars being

sorted in the operational hump yard

on the HO railroad. The souvenir

shop will be open. The dates are

March 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29.

Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for

children. The exhibit is open on

Friday nights from 7 to 10 pm and

on the weekends from 1 to 6 pm.

Visit modelengineers.org or call

201-939-9212.

School 16 will be holding its annu-

al Tricky Tray on March 19 at the

Valley Regency. Tickets are $45

and include dinner buffet, dessert

and five prize tickets. Doors open

at 6 pm. For tickets or more infor-

mation, contact Jennifer Algieri at

973-489-8323 or e-mail

[email protected].

St. Philip the Apostle SchoolReunion: Students who graduated

from the Valley Rd. school between

1960 and1964 are invited to attend a

reunion on a date yet to be deter-

mined in October. Interested alumni

should contact Robert McDermott at

973-450-1785, Richard Torregrossa

at 973-872-4661 or Marianne

Munier at 732-774-7780 or via

[email protected].

Registration for children plan-ning to enter kindergarten in the

Clifton Public Schools in

September will be held at each ele-

mentary school during the week of

March 2-6. Parents or guardians

must provide the child’s original

birth certificate, three proofs of

Clifton residency and medical doc-

umentation. For more detailed

information about the kindergarten

registration process, visit the

school district site at

www.clifton.k12.nj.us.

April 4 CHS Back to the 80’sReunion: Details are still in the

works but Ken Barilari of Mario’s

reported that a multi-class 1980s

reunion is planned for the evening of

April 4 at his Van Houten Ave.

restaurant. Call 973-777-1559.

Forty-seven organizations inPassaic County received a total of

$85,000 in grant awards for arts proj-

ects from the PCCHC Local Arts

Program Grant. The following

Clifton groups were awarded grants

ranging from $700 to $4,500: Action

Theatre Conservatory, Historic

Botany District, Downtown Clifton

Economic Development Group,

Friends of the Clifton Public Library,

Holy Spirit Association for

Unification of World Christianity

Performing Arts and New Jersey

Music & Arts. Additionally, 12

groups will share $10,280 in regrant

funds for local or New Jersey history

projects. These include the Clifton

Public Library. For more info on the

grants, call 973-684-6507.

The School 5 Home and SchoolAssociation is having its annual

Tricky Tray Fundraiser at the Valley

Regency on March 25. The HSA is

reaching out to School 5 student

and teacher alumni for this event as

a way to boost ticket sales. Call

Jenny Amato at 201-618-0484 or e-

mail her at [email protected].

The United Puerto RicanCouncil is hosting a Tricky Tray on

March 15 at 173 Passaic St. in

Passaic. Admission is $10. Doors

open at 2 pm. Call Maria

Haywood at 973-546-5111 or e-

mail [email protected].

A Financial Aid Open House onFeb. 8: PCCC invites students and

families seeking financial aid for

college or other post-high school

education, to attend the 2009 NJ

College Goal on Feb. 8 at 1 pm.

Admission is free. For more infor-

mation and online registration, visit

www.njcollege.goalsunday.org or

call PCCC at 973-684-6100.

The CHS Class of 1954 is having

its 55-year reunion on May 31 at

the Brownstone in Paterson. If you

have not yet been contacted or

know of anyone who might be

interested in coming, call Ida Anne

(Race) Kennedy at 201-891-5268.

Damien Burke reminds readers that Feb.24 is National Pancake Day. CliftonIHOP will be giving away one free shortstack in the hopes of getting a donationfor the Children’s Miracle Network.

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Bygone News provides a glimpse

into the events occurring in

Acquackanonk (now Clifton) 100

and 50 years ago. While topics

illustrate the evolution of a rural

Acquackanonk Township into the

Clifton of today, no doubt readers

will also notice how some issues

seem timeless.

February 1909

The Treasurer reported a cash bal-

ance of $1,562.22 at February’s

Acquackanonk Township

Committee meeting held at

Hohenstein’s Hall.

The poormaster reported that

everything was in order for all

cases that received assistance, but

he was “compelled to add two

names to the list.”

The clerk reported that

$205.75 was received for licenses

and wagon plates; and bills were

ordered paid including $1 to

“Russell Cooper for burying one

dog.”

A communication was received

from the Albion Place Fire

Company requesting “that the

township committee recognize the

company so that it may join the

State Exempt Firemen’s

Association.”

Foreman William Rudolph of

the West Clifton Fire Company

and Improvement Association

purchased a hose carriage from

the Paterson Fire Department.

The carriage “is a four wheeled

affair and has a capacity of carry-

ing 700 feet of hose and is light

running.”

The masquerade ball held Feb.

19 at Plog’s Hall helped to raise

funds to purchase the hose. A

large attendance, unhampered by

the bad weather, attended the

affair at Clifton Fire Company No.

One headquarters.

A lecture on ‘Wireless

Telegraphy’ was presented by “Dr.

Mumper, of the Trenton Normal

School. The doctor with the aid of

instruments entertained his audi-

ence in a pleasing manner, giving

a fine explanation and demonstra-

tion of the invention.”

Delawanna’s residents received

word that “that one of the large

Catholic churches in a nearby

town will shortly erect and main-

tain a mission in Delawanna.”

Catholic residents would no longer

need to travel to Nutley or Passaic

for religious services.

The case of Henry Frederick’s

stolen pig was solved like putting

together pieces from a jigsaw puz-

zle. Passaic police received com-

plaints of thefts from

Acquackanonk residents; “Mrs.

Bessie Lockwood lost some ducks

through the activity of thieves,

Mrs. Frederick’s pig was stolen,

and William Jacobs was short a

few Spring chickens.”

A Passaic detective investigat-

ed the residence of one suspect

and found “half a pig all chopped

Bygone NewsAs collected & edited by Clifton Historian Don Lotz

John Scancarella helped lead CHSto the Passaic Valley Conferencechampionship in 1959.


up in a frying pan and a blood-

besmeared razor evidently used

to cut up the porker.”

A second suspect’s house yield-

ed the other half of a similarly

crudely butchered pig.

The National Cycling

Association granted a conditional

franchise for professional motor-

paced and amateur bicycle racing

to the “Stadium Amusement

Company of Paterson, which now

owns the Clifton Stadium.” The

“Clifton saucer” actually falls

under the franchise of the Newark

track, which “embraces the terri-

tory upon which the Clifton track

is located.”

Clarence Finkel, secretary of

the Clifton franchise and Mr.

Bloemecke of the Newark

Velodrome, agreed to cooperate in

the scheduling of racing events.

“A small brown dog belonging

to Charles Goelner, of Luddington

Ave., frequents Main Ave. daily

and amuses the wayfarers along

that thoroughfare as it races each

passing trolley car. One day it

miscalculated its speed and was

picked up by the fender. After rid-

ing a block, leisurely inspecting

the novel conveyance, it jumped

nimbly off, while a small group of

lads who were watching the per-

formance shouted with joy.”

The day after the celebration of

Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birth-

day, Alfred Speer related

Speer’s Winery on River Dr. near the Gregory Ave. Bridge around 1890.Alfred Speer is sitting in the middle, while the standing figure may be hiseldest son, William H. Speer. On Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday onFeb. 12, 1909, Alfred Speer recalled his two meetings with the president.

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how he had met President Lincoln

twice. Mr. Speer reflected “I was

at the inauguration of Lincoln in

1861 and shook hands with him

at the White House reception and

I attended the inaugural ball in

the evening.”

His second meeting occurred

about two years later after he had

been appointed enrolling officer

for Acquackanonk Township. Mr.

Speer said, “My duty was to visit

every house in the township to

take the name and age of every

man living for the purpose of a

draft of soldiers to fight the rebel-

lion.

Acquackanonk was called upon

for 87 men, which she must sup-

ply either by volunteer or a draft.”

A meeting of the township resi-

dents was held to “devise means to

raise the men called for by volun-

teers without resorting to draft.”

Another method was to ask

some current New York soldiers,

“whose time would expire in 3 or 4

weeks [if they] might be induced

by an offer of $800 bounty to re-

enlist and allow themselves to be

credited to Acquackanonk.

“Mr. Speer was selected to go to

Washington to see what I could do.

I found that Syckels’s Brigade’s

time would soon expire and that

the brigade was at Brandy Station

camped along Brandy River, Va.,

under the command of general

Prince. As no civilians were

allowed through the lines of the

army, I went to the White House

and obtained a pass from

President Lincoln to admit me

through the lines to general

Prince’s headquarters.

“I remained in the brigade a

week, mingling among the soldiers

and getting their consent to re-

enlist for $800 bounty money,

provided the major would give

them a week’s furlough to visit

their friends in New York. The

major acquiesced in the matter

and gradually the whole quota for

Acquackanonk Township was

secured. During my stay in the

army my nights were spent at

headquarters and I slept in the

same tent and same bed with

Adjutant Hamlin, son of the Vice-

President. “I have thus explained

how I twice came in contact with

President Lincoln and found him

as pleasant and as congenial as an

ordinary farmer.”

February 1959

Clifton’s $13,114,909 municipal

budget passed by vote of 5 to 1 on

its first reading with only Mayor

Stanley Zwier objecting. The tax

rate of $5.96 is a 21 point increase

and the budget increased

$956,003 from the previous year.

“The total budget is made up of the

following: municipal operations,

$6,035,835; school operations,

$4,907,165; and county share,

$2,171,908.

The Clifton Rec Department’s

first annual speed skating champi-

onships held at Barbour’s pond

consisted of 15 events.

The winners: Boys 7 and under

one lap, Dennis Zaharian; Boys 8

and 9 one lap, Thomas Puzio; Girls

8 and 9 one lap, Marlene Bisher;

Boys 10 and 11 two laps, Robert

Schaeffer; Girls 10 and 11 two

laps, Pat Whitehead; Boys 8 and 9

two laps, Bruce Whitehead; Boys

12 and 13 two laps, Bob Dalton;

Girls 12 and 13 two laps, Andrea

Jankiewicz; Boys 14 and 15 two

laps, Dennis Krompascik; Girls 14

and 15 three laps, Lois

Krompascik; Boys 16 and 17 two

laps, Charles Glattly; Girls 16 and

17 three laps, Lois Krompascik;

Boys 10 and 11, three laps,

Douglas Dodd; Boys 12 and 13

three laps, Dennis Krompascik;

Boys 14 and 15 four laps, Charles

Glattly.

“The Board of Education, at one

of its stormiest sessions in several

years, was sharply criticized by

representative citizens who

sought immediate action on the


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Birthdays &Celebrations!send us dates & names... [email protected]

From left to right: Happy Birthday to Donna Hawrylko on Feb. 25; Don Knapp turns 40 on Feb 6and his brother Richie turns 45 on Feb 22; Eric Lux turned 14 on Feb. 3 and sister Renee is 8 onFeb. 14; Happy First Birthday to Jayke Williams on Feb. 26, love, Grandma and Grandpa.

Alison Degen . . . . . . . . . . . 2/1Robyn Feldman . . . . . . . . . 2/1Kristin Reilly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/1Mary Jane Varga. . . . . . . . 2/1Emil Soltis, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/2Joseph Fierro . . . . . . . . . . . 2/3Bob Naletko . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/3Catherine Grace Burns . . . 2/4Jordan Schwartz . . . . . . . . 2/4John Nittolo . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/5Courtney E. Carlson. . . . . . 2/6Joseph DeSomma . . . . . . . 2/6Robert D’Alessio. . . . . . . . . 2/7Nicole Tahan . . . . . . . . . . . 2/7

Tara Fueshko. . . . . . . . . . . . 2/8Jamie Carr . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/9Craig Grieco . . . . . . . . . . . 2/9Steven Becker . . . . . . . . . 2/10Bryan Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/10Matthew Seitz. . . . . . . . . . 2/10Bob De Liberto . . . . . . . . . 2/11Valentine Le Ster . . . . . . . 2/11Sarah Mikolajczyk . . . . . . 2/11Joseph Hilla . . . . . . . . . . . 2/12Anthony Musleh . . . . . . . . 2/12Dolores Rando . . . . . . . . . 2/12John Hodorovych . . . . . . 2/13Amin Zamlout . . . . . . . . . . 2/13Orest Luzniak . . . . . . . . . . 2/14Jeanette Ann Saia. . . . . . 2/14Christine Canavan. . . . . . 2/15

Chickie Curtis . . . . . . . . . . 2/15Frank Klippel . . . . . . . . . . . 2/15M. Louis Poles . . . . . . . . . . 2/15Ashley Brandecker. . . . . . 2/17Leann Perez . . . . . . . . . . . 2/17Lorraine Rothe . . . . . . . . . 2/17Michael Del Re. . . . . . . . . 2/18Michael Papa . . . . . . . . . 2/20Taylor Jesch . . . . . . . . . . . 2/22

Gianna Rose, granddaughterof Barbara and Ed Priestly ofClifton, turned 2 on Jan. 27.The proud parents areSherylee and Paul Caramucci.

Mary Catherine Weigh cele-brates her 100th birthday onFeb. 10. She was a longtimeClifton resident and a parish-ioner at St. Paul’s RC Church.

Happy birthday Joe Frost,who turned 104 on Jan. 1 &celebrated with 30 friends& family members on Jan. 4at the Mountainside Inn.

Ricky and Rosy Bagolie alongwith first son & now bigbrother Frankie welcomedtwins Aaron Noah andJacob Barry on Jan. 28.

Happy 21st Birthday toKimberly Gasior on Feb. 26.


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Natalie Pych turns 8 Feb. 8

t

Anthony Stephen Iapicca celebrates his 1st Birthday onFeb. 28. His parents are Michaeland Kerri and his grandparentsare Angela and GerardIapicca of Clifton and Dianeand John Kowalski of Bayonne.

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Diana Murphy . . . . . . . . . 2/22John T. Saccoman. . . . . . 2/22Robert Adamo . . . . . . . . . 2/24Eileen Feldman . . . . . . . . 2/24Kimberly Mistretta . . . . . . 2/24Ron Stell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/26Kimberly Gasior . . . . . . . . 2/26Brittany Helwig . . . . . . . . . 2/27Joyce Penaranda . . . . . . 2/27Lauren Ricca . . . . . . . . . . 2/27Charlie Galluzzo. . . . . . . . 2/28

high school building program.”

The BOE heard several PTA

groups stress the need “for the

building program to be carried out

without any additional delay and

seemed to have the support of

most of the board members.”

One member objected to the

high cost of the new building pro-

gram and resubmitted his plan

estimated at $4,000,000 or less

than 2/3 the cost of the new build-

ing plan.

The plan called for an 80,000

sq. ft. addition to the Piaget Ave

High School, modernization and

additions to Schools No 12 and 13

provides for the junior high level,

and a new K-6 school at

Rosemawr for the grammar

school students.

“No reason exists why 80,000

sq. ft. at the Piaget Ave building

together with extensive modern-

ization cannot be accomplished

for a similar price. Clifton does not

need an Architect’s Masterpiece

or an Educator’s Dream. It does

need facilities which should have

been properly planned for five

years ago.”

The First Presbyterian

Church of Clifton Trustee

William Alt retired as treasurer

of the church after serving 38

consecutive years in this post.

“Mr. Alt, who is a Charter

Member of the church when it

was first organized under the

name of the Albion Place

Presbyterian Chapel in

February 1927, said he could

recall when his job meant only

handling a few thousand dollars

a year. The present budget of the

church is many times that figure

and has a membership of 750.”

Trinity Methodist Church of

Clifton celebrated its 50th

anniversary Feb. 16, 1909.

A group of former members of

the First Presbyterian Church of

Passaic and others totaling 71

charter members organized

under the supervision of Rev. L.

C. Muller.

“Two of the charter members,

sisters Mrs. William Heuser and

Miss Edith Lanning, the only

survivors of the group attended

the anniversary services.”

The CHS basketball team

regained the Passaic Valley

Conference championship, after

a 9 year drought, beating

Passaic 80 to 58.

“The victory put Clifton in the

top-seeded spot for the PVC’s

annual post-season jamboree

and paired them against

Paterson Eastside.”

The offense was led by Gerry

Manning with 25 points, John

Scancarella with 22, and Bob

Papa with 18. Cliff Ruth provid-

ed the defensive coverage and

Frank Leach completed the


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Clifton Merchant Magazine - February 2009

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Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - February 2009