Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2013

Clifton Merchant • March 2013 3

March 2013 • Clifton Merchant4

Table of Contents

Chris de Vinck EssayThe Miracle of Our Existence

Transplanting LoveA Family Teams Up to Share Love

Nutritious & Cost EffectivePaulison Ave. ShopRite’s Stephanie Pose

Mental WellnessArabic Community & Mental Health

Everybody Hates YouCCMS Kids Stand Against Bullying

Filming with FrankoPower of Film to Change Social Issues

What’s Inside?6

8

16

24

28

36

38

Living on the SidelinesCrohn’s Disease and Nick Lavender

CHS MusicalCrazy for You

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44

48

54

56

58

62

64

66

Family Super Bowl Party250 Attend the 15th Annual Event

Neighborhood NewsCommunity Items from All Over Town

Events & BriefsThings To Do during March

Student of the MonthNick Zecchino is 24th in Class of 2013

Birthdays & CelebrationsNeighbors & Friends at Milestones

CHS Class of 1963 ReunionGraduating from an Architectual Gem

Politics & BusinessLunches, Campaigns & Political Parties

Cancer Survivor Theresa ColonDoing Laps for Clifton’s Relay for Life

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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko

Graphic DesignerKen Peterson

Staff WriterJoe Hawrylko

Contributing WritersTania Jachens, Carol

Leonard, Rich DeLotto,Don Lotz, Jack DeVries

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Police Unity TourPage 52

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Moments of Grace

How many people had to have been born in order forus to exist today? We� all� had� two� parents,� and� four

grandparents� and� eight� great-grandparents,� 16� great-

great-grandparents.� If�we�calculate� fifteen�generations

back� we� see� that� we� each� had� 32,736� great,

great…grandparents.�One�missing�person�in�this�chain,

and�we�would�not�exist�today.

In�May�of�1940�my�mother�was�eighteen-years�old.

She� lived� in� Brussels,� Belgium� with� her� mother� and

with�Henry,�her�brother.�Her�father�was�an�officer�in�the

Belgian�Army�and�he�was�already�separated� from� the

family�because�of�the�impending�war�that�crashed�upon

the�world�that�spring.

When� Panzer� Tanks,� Nazi� airplanes,� and� the

Blitzkrieg�over�ran�the�small�Flanders�nation,�my�moth-

er�was� so� frightened� that� she� begged� her�mother� that

they�leave�before�the�enemy�troops�entered�Brussels.

So� my� grandmother,� my� mother� and� my� Uncle

Henry�were�suddenly�refugees�on�a�train�heading�south

towards�France.�My�mother� said� that� the� train�had� to

stop�many� times� because� of� the� invading� planes� and

their�bombs.

My�mother�also�remembers�the�thousands�and�thou-

sands�of�people�walking,�pushing�carts,�carrying�sacks

over�their�shoulders�as�they�overwhelmed�the�roads,�all

trying�to�escape�the�oncoming�invading�army.

Finally�my�mother�and�her�little�family�arrived�in�a

French� coastal� town� they� knew� so�well:�Dunkirk.�To

my�mother�Dunkirk�was�a�placed� filled�with� summer

memories�on�the�beach.�

Essay�by�Chris�de�Vinck

Consider the Miracle of Our Existence


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In� the� history� books�Dunkirk�will� long� be� remem-

bered� as� the� place� where� over� 300,000� British� and

French� troops�were� surrounded� by�Hitler’s� army� and

doomed�to�certain�capture�and�death�had�it�not�been�for

Winston�Churchill�who�ordered�any�boat�or�ship�avail-

able�in�England�to�cross�the�English�Channel�and�save

the�solders.�Over�900�ships�carried�out�this�mission�that

is�still,�to�this�day,�called�the�miracle�of�Dunkirk.

So�there�was�my�mother�and�her�younger�brother�and

my� grandmother� standing� in� the� chaos� of�Dunkirk� in

the� spring� of� 1940.�The�Nazi� troops�were� advancing.

Over�300,000�solders�were�pushed�into�the�little�town

and�the�surrounding�fields,�and�my�grandmother�knew

that�they�had�to�leave�Dunkirk�as�quickly�as�possible.

Because�my�grandmother�was� so� familiar�with� the

city,�she�and�her�children�walked�to�the�bus�stop.�Funny

how�we�assume�things�will�still�work�properly�during

times�of�a�disaster.�But�sure�enough,�a�single�bus�was

making�its�way�through�the�swarm�of�people�trying�to

evacuate�the�dying�city.

When� the� bus� slowly� approached� the� depot,� my

mother,�grandmother�and�uncle�were�at�the�front�of�the

massive,�desperate�crowd.�Suddenly�hundreds�of�peo-

ple�surged�and�began�to�push�forward,�all�hoping�to�get

a�seat�in�the�bus.�

The�bus�kept�rolling�forward,�slowly,�slowly,�when,

because�of�the�huge�push�from�behind,�my�mother�was

thrown� under� the� bus� between� the� front� and� rear

wheels.

With� the� bus� still� in� motion,� with� the� chaos� and

shouting,� with� the� mob� pushing� forward,� my� grand-

mother�screamed�out�to�the�driver�“Stop the bus! Stopthe bus!”

The�bus�driver�heard�my�grandmother�and�when�he

stepped�out�onto�the�street�he�started�screaming�back�at

her,� angry� that� she�was�arrogantly�demanding� that�he

stop�the�bus.�But�then�my�grandmother�quickly�pointed

and� sobbed� in� a� plaintive� cry:� “My� daughter.� She� is

under�the�wheels!”

The�bus�driver�stooped�down�and�there�was�my�moth-

er,�on�her�back�with�the�rear�wheels�already�rolled�on�my

mother’s�outstretched�dress.�The�bus�driver�had�to�use�a

pair� of� scissors� to� cut�my�mother� out� from� under� the

large,�heavy�wheels.�Because�the�crowd�was�so�packed

he�could�not�drive�the�bus�in�reverse.�Because�of�this�ter-

rible� shock� to�my�mother�and�grandmother,� the�driver

gave�my�family�the�first�seats�on�the�bus.�

Seconds�later�my�mother�would�have�been�crushed

to�death.�

Seconds�later�I�would�not�have�been�born.�

Seconds�later�my�children�would�not�have�been�born.

We�are�precariously�linked�to�people�we�never�knew.

How�fragile�our�own�existence�is,�so�dependent�on�the

lives�of�our�ancestors�making�their�own�way�and�sur-

viving.�Remember�Clarence�the�angel�in�the�film�It’s aWonderful Life speaking�to�George�Bailey?�“Strange,�isn’t�it?�Each�man’s�life�touches�so�many

other� lives,”�Clarence�says� to�George.�“When�he� isn’t

around�he�leaves�an�awful�hole,�doesn’t�he?”�

In�World�War� II�alone� it� is�estimated� that�60� to�80

million�people�died.�Think�of�all� the�broken� families,

the�broken� lines� into� the� future;� think� in�gratitude� for

the�miracle�of�our�existence.

Christopher de Vinck is the Language Arts Supervisor at CHSand the author of 13 books. To order his recent work,

Moments of Grace, call 1-800-218-1903.

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Clifton Health

It�has�often�been�said� there� is�no

greater�bond�than�that�between�a

parent� and� his� or� her� child.� For

Karel�Choteborsky,� that� concept

took�on�new�meaning�when�his�daugh-

ter�Mary�gave�him�the�gift�of�life.�On

Jan.�8,�she�donated�one�of�her�kidneys

to�him.

Five� years� ago,� Choteborsky,� 66,

was� diagnosed� with� kidney� insuffi-

ciency.� He� was� treated� with� medica-

tion� for� a�while� but,� as� his� condition

worsened,� his� doctor� eventually� rec-

ommended�that�he�go�on�dialysis.�The

procedure�filters�waste�from�the�blood,

a�process�that� is�normally�handled�by

healthy�kidneys.

Although� he� can’t� be� certain� what

caused�his�kidneys�to�fail,�Choteborsky

speculates�that�his�constant�exposure�to

paint�solvents�and�inks�over� the�years

may� possibly� have� contributed� to� his

illness.�He�had�spent�40�years�working

in� the� chemical� industry� as� a� produc-

tion�and�plant�manager.

Mary,�31,� offered� to�be� a� live�kid-

ney�donor�for�her�father�right�from�the

start,� but�Choteborsky�was� against� it.

“I� was� very� hesitant,”� he� said.

Transplanting LoveDaughter helped Dad“quit part-time job”when she donated

her kidney

By Carol Leonard


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Clifton Health

“She’s�a�young�woman�and�I�was�afraid�that�something

might�happen�to�her.”

Choteborsky� was� placed� on� the� kidney� transplant

list�and�spent�four�years�traveling�three�days�a�week�to

St.� Joseph’s�dialysis� center� in�Paterson.�The� sessions

were� each� four� hours� long,� but� Choteborsky� never

complained.�He�just�hoped�that�someday�he�would�get

to� the� top� of� the� donor� recipient� list.� “I�made� it�my

part-time�job,”�he�said�of�his�dialysis�experience.

While�at� the�dialysis�center� last�year,�Choteborsky

picked� up� a� brochure� advertising� a� seminar� at� Holy

Name� Hospital� in� Teaneck� about� live� kidney� trans-

plants,�which�he�attended�with�his�family�to�learn�more

about�the�procedure.

“Everybody�told�us�that�it’s�the�best�way�to�go,”�he

said.�“There�are�so�many�applicants�for�kidney�trans-

plants�that�it�can�take�up�to�10�years�waiting�for�a�non-

living�donor.”

After�the�seminar,�Choteborsky�and�his�wife�Dolores

became�more�comfortable�with�the�idea�of�their�daugh-

ter�giving�up�her�kidney,�and�Mary�took�the�next�step.

She� called� the� transplant� coordinator� at� St.� Barnabas

Medical�Center�in�Livingston�to�set�up�an�appointment.

“They�have�a�very�sophisticated�program,”�she�said.

“I�met�with�the�donor�coordinator�who�explained�what

I� would� have� to� go� through� to� be� qualified.� They

walked�me�through�the�whole�procedure�and�answered

all�my�questions.”

As�an�active�young�woman�who�enjoys�skiing,�run-

ning�and�playing�soccer,�Mary�said�she�was�concerned

about� the� long� term�effects�of� the� surgery�and� living

with� only� one� kidney.� “I�was�much�more� frightened

before�I�started�the�process,”�she�said.�“I�learned�that

it’s�actually�an�extremely�safe�surgery.”

The�next� thing�was�for�Mary� to�be� tested� to�see� if

she�was� a� compatible� donor� for� her� father� and� to� be

certain�that�she�was�in�good�enough�health�for�the�sur-

gery.�

An�important�thing�that�Mary�also�learned�was�that

if�she�hadn’t�been�an�appropriate�match�for�her�father,

but� was� still� willing� to� be� a� donor,� she� would� have

been�placed� in�a� registry� to�match�her�kidney�with�a

compatible�recipient.�In�return,�her�father�would�have

received�a�kidney�from�another�compatible�live�donor.

The� process� began� last� August.� After� having� her

blood� drawn� to� see� if� her� type� and� antibodies


Clifton Health

matched�her�dad’s,�Mary�found�out�that�she�was�a�suit-

able�donor.�Then,�she�had�to�be�cleared�medically.�This

included�a�CT�scan�of�her�abdomen�to�make�sure�that

she� had� two� healthy� kidneys.� “A� small� percentage� of

people� are� actually

born� with� only� one

kidney,”� she� said.

“They� tested� every

major� organ� system

in�my�body.”

Mary� passed� the

medical� exams� with

flying� colors� and� in

November,� she� and

her� parents� set� the

date� for� the� surgery

to�be�in�January.�“We

decided� that� we

wanted� to� enjoy� the

holidays� before

going�through�this,”�Choteborsky�said.

Before�the�operation,�Mary�and�her�father�each�met

with� various� members� of� the� transplant� team� at� St.

Barnabas,�which�is�one�of�the�largest�transplant�centers

in�New�Jersey.�“They�have�a�great�support�and�educa-

tion�program�for�donors,”�Mary�said.�“The�head�of�the

team� met� with� me� for� over� an� hour� and� walked� me

through�everything.�I�met�with�a�social�worker�and�the

donor�advocate,�so�I�had�all�my�questions�answered�and

I�wasn’t�afraid.”

The�whole� family,� including� the�Choteborsky’s� son

Karel,�and�his�wife�Tatiana�also�met�with�members�of

the�transplant�team�to�learn�what�to�expect�and�how�they

could�help�during�the�recovery�process.�“They�want�to

make� sure� that� everyone� is� well-informed,”

Choteborsky�said.�

Dolores�felt�confident�that�they�were�doing�the�right

thing.�“I�was�convinced�that�Mary�was�healthy�enough

and�that�she�would�be

okay,”�she�said.�“And

I� was� looking� for-

ward� to�my� husband

having�a�new�kidney

and�not�having�to�go

for� dialysis� any-

more.”

To� help� ease� his

anxiety� before� the

o p e r a t i o n ,

Choteborsky� attend-

ed� a� relaxation� pro-

gram� recommended

by�a�friend.�It�includ-

ed�training�in�medita-

tion� and� positive� thinking.� “I� believe� it� really� helped

me,”�he�said.

On�the�day�of�the�surgery,�father�and�daughter�were

brought�into�adjoining�operating�rooms.�Mary’s�proce-

dure�started�first,�about�an�hour�before�her�father’s.

When� he� was� ready� to� receive� the� kidney,� they

removed�the�donor�organ�from�Mary.�Her�operation�was

completed� in� two�hours,�while�her�dad�was� in�surgery

for�about�four�hours.�

After�coming�out�of�the�recovery�room�the�two�were

assigned� to� rooms�next� to�each�other� in� the� transplant

wing�of�the�hospital,�where�Mary�stayed�for�two�nights.

As�an�organ�recipient,�Choteborsky�was�under�quaran-

tine�and�given�immune�suppressant�drugs,�which

At Mary’s CHS Graduation in 2003, Karel, Mary and Dolores.


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PASSAIC COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Visit us at www.pccc.edu/ceor call 973-684-6153

I pledge allegianceto the flag

of the United Statesof America

and to the republicfor which it stands,

one nationunder God,

indivisible,with libertyand justice

for all.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Become a U.S. CitizenCivics Education &Naturalization Course

Monday & WednesdayApril 8 - June 105:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Passaic Campus

SaturdaysApril 13 - June 229:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.Paterson Campus

This class has certainrequirements whichmust be met.Advanced registrationand testing are required.

Call 973-684-6153for an appointmentor come to 32 ChurchSt., 3rd Floor, Paterson.

FREE


Clifton Health

he�will�be�on�for�the�rest�of�his�life.�He�remained�in�the

hospital�for�five�nights�before�going�home�to�complete

his� recovery.�This� includes� keeping� away� from�public

places�until�at�least�April,�while�his�immune�system�gets

stronger.�

Mary�stayed�with�her�parents� in� their�Clifton�home

for�about�five�weeks�while�regaining�her�strength�after

surgery�and�to�help�out�with�her�father.�“After�about�two

weeks�I�started�to�feel�much�more�like�my�old�self,”�she

said.�“It�just�takes�time�to�get�back�your�stamina.”

Dolores� took� a� leave� of� absence� from� her� job� as

director� of� marketing� and� volunteers� at� Preakness

Hospital�to�stay�home�with�her�husband.

Young�Karel�took�over�the�upkeep�of�the�two-family

home�that�he,�his�wife�and�their�three�year-old�daughter

Sofia� share� with� his� parents.� � Other� extended� family

members�including�Dolores’�siblings�also�pitched�in�to

help.� � “I’m� relieved� that� it’s� over,”�Mary� said.� “I� feel

lucky�that�I�was�able�to�do�this�for�him.�Now,�I�hope�he

continues�to�recover.”

Mary�went�back�to�her�Manhattan�apartment�and�her

job� as� a�book�editor� at�Random�House�Publishing� at

the�end�of�February.�She�hopes�to�gradually�return�to

her�active� life,�which� includes�playing� in�a�corporate

soccer�league�and�practicing�yoga.

Choteborsky�also�used�to�ski�and�play�soccer�before

his� illness,�but�he�says� that�he�will�be�content� to� just

live�a�normal�and�healthy�life.�

He�and�Dolores�would�like�to�get�back�to�traveling,

including� visiting� his� two� sisters� in� his� native�Czech

Republic.� “He� hasn’t� been� there� in� four� years,”

Dolores�said.�“Traveling�that�far�was�impossible�when

he�was�on�dialysis.�The� farthest�we�would�go�was� to

the�Jersey�Shore.”�

The�couple�also�enjoy�going�to�the�theater,�movies,

concerts�and�museums�and�they�hope�to�resume�all�of

those�activities�when�Choteborsky�is�permitted�to�get

out�more�in�public.

Choteborsky�gets�teary�eyed�when�he�speaks�of�all

the�help�he�received�from�his�family�and�how�grateful

he�will�always�be�to�his�daughter�for�the�sacrifice�she

made�for�him.�

“What�a�great�thing�it�is�to�have�this�kind�of�support

in�your�life,”�he�said.

The Honorable

Sheila Y. OliverSpeaker of New Jersey

Proudly Serving Assembly District 34...

Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair

15-33 Halsted St., Suite 202 East Orange, NJ 07018973-395-1166 • [email protected]

paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver

269 New Jerseyans were killed by guns in 2011.Lives lost forever, families broken. Giventhose facts, I want our state to be the leaderon gun violence prevention. Whether it’s onthe streets of our communities, a movie the-ater or an elementary school, we needmeasures that do more to protect residents.Enough is enough. No more talk. It’s timefor action on gun violence.


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Remember: Variety from all food groups is key to healthy eating.

Cuellar Family Markets

Paulison AvenueShopRite7 am to Midnight

7 Days A Week

503 Paulison Ave., 973-471-0868

At the Paulison AvenueShopRite, Registered DietitianStephanie Pose is in the store fivedays a week. Her job is to helpour shoppers make good decisionsregarding the importance of foodchoices and to help you developsound eating and physical activityhabits. She is also available for storetours for individuals or groups aswell as one-on-one nutritionalcounseling. These services are freeand it is another way for all of usat Cuellar Family Markets to saythank you for shopping here. Callor visit Stephanie to find out more.

National Nutrition Month®is a nutrition education andinformation campaign created by the American DieteticAssociation and it is run every March.

Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day reminds you to eat rightand stay close to the basics. Choose nutrient rich foods, thoselower in calories and filled with vitamins, minerals and fiber.Steer away from foods that are high in saturated and trans fats,sodium, cholesterol and sugars.


During Christmas of 2011, Nick Lavender came down with what he thoughtwas a stomach bug. But after several days of feeling ill, he went to his physi-cian, and then spent New Year’s in the hospital before his doctor’s fears were

confirmed: Crohn’s disease. That would mark the start of the roughest six monthstretch of Lavender’s life.

“This was a different type of feeling. It felt like a bad

cramp,” recalled the CHS 2010 grad. His doctor sus-

pected food poisoning, but when the pain persisted, the

physician thought it was an appendix issue. “I had to go

to the hospital for a bunch of MRIs, CAT scans and all

that good stuff.”

The tests detected swelling in the appendix, as well as

inflammation in Lavender’s intestines, leading the doc-

tors to believe that the issue was Crohn’s Disease. A fol-

low up trip to a gastrologist confirmed those suspicions.

“I had never heard of it. I did a lot of research on my

own to see what it was and it was scary,” he said.

Crohn’s is an uncurable disease that affects the digestive

track, causing nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, loss of

appetite and other issues. The severity of the symptoms

varies by case. “Every story is different. Every person

feels it differently. It affects everyone differently.”

“Crohn’s is heredity and you would think there’s a

past family history,” he continued. “However, no one in

my family has a history of stomach problems.”

Unfortunately for Lavender, who was thin before the

onset of his disease, Crohn’s would cause him plenty of

physical and mental anguish for nearly half a year.

“For me, it was the roughest five months of my life,”

he explained. “From January to May, I couldn’t eat any-

thing. Not a single piece of food. Just applesauce,

yogurt, jello... Everything I ate caused me pain. I had

nausea every day. I lost 35 pounds and I was in bed all

the time. When I wasn’t in school, I was in bed sleep-

ing. I was just so weak and tired all the time. I would

throw up on a daily basis.”

Clifton Health

By Joe Hawrylko

Now on the SidelinesCrohn’s Disease Didn’t Derail His Dreams


Dr. Michael Basista, Medical Director of Immedicenter

Immedicenter1355 Broad St. • Clifton • 973-778-5566www.immedicenter.com

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Clifton Health

At that point in time, Lavender was in his sophomore

year of college at NJIT, having transfered from

Connecticut State University. He had planned on speak-

ing with the basketball coach about opportunities as an

assistant or manager, but the sudden onset of Crohn’s

completely derailed those hopes since it was such a strug-

gle just to get to class in the morning.

Things became so bad at one point that Lavender spent

three days in the hospital in the middle of the semester

after his disease created small holes in his intestines,

which allowed food and waste to seep through, causing an

infection.

Still, despite his debilitating illness and the three day

hospital stay, Lavender focused on academics and ended

the semester with straight A’s.

“I found a way to always remain positive. To fight

through it, roll with the punches,” he said. “I couldn’t

even drive myself to school. My parents would drive me

to school, wait three or four hours until I was done and

then would drive me home and I would go to sleep. That

was pretty much my life for those five months.”

Eventually, doctors were able to control his disease

using a combination of daily pills and periodic intra-

venous medicine.

“Every nine or ten weeks, I have to go to the doctor to

get an infusion of Remicade,” he said. The medicine is

administered intravenously for three and a half hours at a

doctor’s office. “It’s pretty much the main medicine used

to treat Crohn’s. It puts the patient in remission for long

periods of time.”

In the end, he lost 35 pounds off of his 155 pound

frame. It took months to get back up to his normal weight,

and today, Lavender is sitting at a healthy 170 pounds.

“Trying to tell a teenager they can’t eat, that’s the hard-

est thing in the world,” he laughed. “I used to drink six

Boost meals (a liquid protein meal) a day. Those were the

most disgusting things.”

Lavender is fortunate that he has not had to drastically

alter his diet since his disease has gone into remission. If

anything, he has started to eat more healthy.

“Everybody is different. I am very fortunate that I can

really eat anything,” he said. “Nothing really bothers me

much. Spicy foods, I try to stay away from that in the

past since it has bothered my stomach, but I’m really

lucky that I get to eat anything that I want pretty much.

But I try to stay away from fast food, McDonalds and

that stuff. I try to eat a lot of home cooked meals and

fruit every day.” continued on page 22

Liberty Tax Service at Richfield Shopping Center is doing

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Maria Sokolina, DDSDr. Maria Sokolina, DDS, is a firm believer in continuing her education.

That is why this Clifton Dentist is a leading authority on alternative solu-tions to CPAP Breathing Machine in use for Sleep Apnea. She complet-ed hundreds of hours of continuing education for Sleep Apnea at DawsonAcademy, USDI Institute for Orthodontic Training and Tufts University.

Dr. Sokolina graduated from NYU Dental School in 1998 with thePeriodontics Honor Award. Her postgraduate training was at NewarkBeth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Sokolina is also a member of theAmerican Academy of Dental Sleep Apnea. She also has activeteaching privileges at Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge.

For 10 years as he got ready for bed, Lou Chimentorigged up a CPAP machine to manage his OSA. First

he’d fill the cumbersome machine with dis-tilled water, then connect tubes and a

mask before plugging it in to createthe positive air pressure he neededto regulate his breathing

While the CPAP helped, themachine’s tubes, wires andnoise kept him restless, prevent-ing a solid 8 hour sleep. To sayit affected the life of this 49-year-old is an understatement.

“I went months withoutsleep... two, three hours anight. I felt like a zombie.”

So when Chimento foundout about the Dental Sleep

Apnea Appliance and visited Dr.Maria Sokolina at Harmony Dental Arts,he knew he had found a solution.

Thanks to Dr. Sokolina,

For the first time in months,I’m sleeping through

the night!

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This syndrome isn’t just annoying for you and your partner.OSA can be deadly. Those who suffer from this disease areat higher risk for heart attack. Many people use a CPAPmachine which can affect your sleep quality, sex life andmuch more. But why suffer through something that is soeasy to correct? If you suffer from OSA, visit Dr. Sokolina atHarmony Dental Arts. Learn about the Dental Sleep ApneaAppliance, an unobtrusive, comfortable, effective andcustom treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

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is a Highly Effective Solution...No Surgery, No Breathing Machine! “This thing is a life changer,” he said. “Anyone

using a CPAP machine gets a hold of this appli-ance, they’d love it.” Chimento pulled the DentalSleep Apnea Appliance from his pocket andpopped it in his mouth to show how easy it is touse—and to travel with.

Similar to a dental retainer, the Sleep ApneaAppliance is custom made of two separatepieces. Now when he goes to bed, the devicehelps prevent OSA while allowing Chimento to stillspeak, yawn and drink. Most importantly, it doesnot require an electric motor or head gear.

“Dr. Sokolina and her staff are great,” he contin-ued. “She fitted me for the appliance in one sit-ting. I came back for adjustments as I got used toit for comfort and fit. But she is always on time,never making me wait. While I appreciate thatkind of service, what I value most is how Dr.Sokolina addressed my Apnea and actually gaveme my life back. If you have OSA, give her a call.”

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A typical Dental Sleep Apnea Applianceabove and below how it looks in actual use.



Clifton Health

Lavender, who is an avid sports fan, also tries to keep

in shape, but still sometimes finds his energy sapped.

“I try to remain as active as possible,” he said. “I’ve

always been an athletic person. I get tired really quickly.

Every day I’m tired all the time.”

Lavender occasionally gets minor flare ups of his dis-

ease. In the event of a sudden attack, Lavender said that

he will go to a liquid diet for the rest of the day, and get as

much rest as he can. However, overall, the disease is at a

stage where it is entirely manageable.

“I just try to not think about it. If it happens, I deal with

it then,” he said. “Crohn’s is a struggle, something you’ve

got to adapt to and work through it. If you don’t treat it

right away, it is more harmful than it needs to be. Just lis-

ten to the doctors, listen to what you’re supposed to do and

stick with it.”

Because Lavender’s illness is in remission, he is free to

pursue his two passions: teaching and coaching. The CHS

grad is majoring in technology education, and would like

to teach a drafting at a high school. He is also a paid man-

ager for the school’s D-1 basketball team, and travels

around the country with the squad. “I want to be a coach

one day, so this kind of sidelined me for a bit,” said

Lavender. “I finished out the year without doing anything.

The first thing I did was I went to the coach’s office and

had an interview with him and everything went well.”

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he explained. “They

gave me an in-depth role with the team. I’m very

involved with the team and the coaching staff. I travel

with the team pretty much across the nation.”

Ironically, one of the school’s assistant coaches also has

intestinal issues, and the two have bonded.

“It’s funny. I work for NJIT basketball now. I’m the

head manager and the assistant has Colitis, which is pret-

ty much the same thing except it affects a different area,”

he said. “But my experiences are completely different

than his. He gets flare ups once a week. It’s crazy.”

“I am able to sit down and talk about my experiences

with him. He shares stuff with me and we laugh about it,”

he said. “Being able to talk about what I am going

through and laugh about it, it’s kind of been a big help.”

With the disease now in a manageable stage, Lavender

is looking ahead to the future.

“I definitely want to coach at the high school level. If

I have an opportunity at the college level, maybe a grad

assistant or something, that would be great too,” he said.

“I definitely want to be a coach one day. That’s why I am

doing what I am now.”


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Clifton Health

America and our diverse communities, espe-

cially in northern New Jersey, are a nation

of immigrants, with each group adding its

cultural traditions, including food, to the

country’s shared multi-ethnic experience.

As part of National Nutrition Month which is in

March, the Paulison Avenue ShopRite and the store’s

Retail Registered Dietitian Stephanie Pose offers ways

to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” with foods from

all corners of the globe.

“As a registered dietitian, I am

asked every day, ‘What should I eat?’,”

said Pose. “The answer of course is, ‘It

depends.’ Eating is not a ‘one-size-fits-

all’ proposition. I make recommenda-

tions that accommodate the food pref-

erences, cultural traditions and cus-

toms of the many and diverse groups

who live in our community.”

“The U.S. population is changing.

By 2050, half of the population will

be non-white. We need to have a glob-

al perspective on food and focus on

diversity and multiculturalism, espe-

cially as they relate to the nutritional

health of families,” stated Pose, who

is also fluent in Spanish.

“My goal is to promote and sup-

port good health awareness and prac-

tices for customers, store associates

and community partners,” she said.

“Good health, good nutrition and

doing it all in an affordable way is

part of our mission here.”

Throughout March, Stephanie will

conduct healthy recipe demonstra-

tions, store tours, and one on one con-

sultations for groups and individuals

surrounding the “Eat Right, Your

Way, Every Day” theme.

By Tom Hawrylko

Nutritious andCost Effective

Healthy, affordable menu items from ethnic traditions can be found in the aisles of your local supermarket

At left, Stephanie Pose discussing healthy food options with Angela Manzueta of the Family Head Start of Passaic as they plan for a tour.


YOUR MAIN CHOICE FOR ALL YOUR SERVICES & NEEDS

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Clifton offers many options and services to shop-

pers this financial season — and year round!

The Downtown Clifton Business District —

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Clifton Health

One of her popular subjects—

Shopping Solutions on a Budget—will be presented to the Cooperative

Extension of Passaic County and

others. While her presentation takes

visitors up and down the 19 aisles of

the store, for those that can’t attend,

she said to try these strategies for

eating healthy on a budget:

• Be prepared when shopping. Have

a meal plan and a detailed shopping

list for the week. And remember,

the old saying that going shopping

while hungry is sure to cost you an

extra dollars and calories is true.

• When your store is running a sale

on lean protein, buy extra pounds of

chicken breasts or fish. Then, at

home, divide the protein into indi-

vidual serving sizes and freeze it for

up to three months.

• When you see a good price on

fresh fruit or vegetable, buy extra

and freeze it. Berries and broccoli

will freeze and last for months.

• Cut snack foods. Cartoon charac-

ter cereals are unhealthy and pricey.

Choose air-popped popcorn (buy

bulk corn kernels, not the

microwave bags) and dried fruit.

• Make your own nutritious soups,

chilis and stews. Recipes are chock

full of healthy yet inexpensive

ingredients that will feed you and

your family for many meals.

• Other than milk, avoid buying

beverages loaded with sweeteners.

As part of the community service

by the Paulison Avenue ShopRite,

Stephanie’s services are free of

charge. Call 973-600-0161 or email

[email protected].


Clifton Health

Mental WellnessThe Mental Health Association in Passaic County offers programs for the Arabic community to overcome social barriers and stigmas

By Joe Hawrylko

With 36 regular clients and many more on a waiting list, RajaSalloum is a busy woman. A licensed clinical social worker at the

Mental Health Association in Passaic County (MHAPC), her

typical day consists of speaking with patients, listening to their

issues, and offering advice, therapy and any assistance she can muster from her

cozy office at 404 Clifton Ave. in Downtown Clifton.

Salloum is the center’s liaison to the region’s large Arab-American population,

which is estimated at more than 30,000 in Paterson alone. It’s a demanding job, but

one that Salloum loves waking up for every day—helping others is her passion.

A practicing Muslim herself, Salloum is keenly aware of the many societal and

religious issues that Arab-Americans face. Many years ago, she chose to no

longer wear her hajib, which is the religious scarf that Muslim women in the pres-

ence of non-related adult males.

“I was asked by my dad to wear it, but never by force,” she said. Traditionally,

girls are expected to start wearing it by age nine. “It was challenging in the

beginning. I don’t think clients realized that. I challenged the ground I


Clifton Health

stand on. That should not define my ability to work

with them.”

Salloum, who lives in Clifton with her husband and

three children, understands what it means to be a prac-

ticing Muslim and an Arab-American. Just like her

clients, she is active in the social and religious commu-

nity. She understands their concerns about upholding

the family name, even if that might conflict with per-

sonal beliefs.

Salloum has been there before, and she wants to be

an ally to those in her community who need help.

The need for someone such as Salloum was realized

by the MHAPC in 2006, after a task force was formed

with the goal of increasing outreach to the growing

Arab community. The group determined there was two

main reasons that individuals did not seek help: stigma

and not knowing where to turn.

“If you think about Arab families, there’s a collective

id… they’re not so individualistic,” Salloum explained.

“The main function is to service family and maintain

family honor and reputation in society is central to Arab

psychology. There is that sense of commitment to that.

Whatever behavior is exhibited by one child, it repre-

sents the whole family.”

By 2007, the MHAPC was starting to hold small

meetings in local mosques, schools and community

centers, where they solicited anonymous questions

from the crowd. Soon, administration realized that

there was a definite need for services, but members of

the Arab community were skeptical of turning towards

outsiders for help.

“We were just amazed—people were desperate for

help. I think a lot of them did know there was some-

thing wrong. I think they recognized they were strug-

gling with something, but where were they going to

go?” said Salloum. “This was post 9/11. There

“It was challenging in the beginning,” Raja Salloum said of her decision tonot wear a hajib. “I don’t think clients realized that. I challenged the ground

I stand on. That should not define my ability to work with them.”


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Clifton Health

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Thomas Tobin973-779-4248

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was a lack of trust in going to any place that would

offer services. When you are a therapist, you have to

ask very personal questions. To them, it was, why

would I go out after I see on the news a woman has her

hajib pulled off in the middle of the street, or a taxi

driver in New York City is killed because people

thought he was Muslim. Post 9/11 really did not help

in terms of reaching out to people for services. That’s

why I think this program timing was just right.”

Salloum’s background as a Muslim and an immigrant

from Jordan, combined with her warm, caring personali-

ty and passion for her job is what makes her perfect as the

MHAPC’s outreach coordinator. She is aware of the

issues facing the community, but with a Master’s in social

work, she is qualified to offer professional help to those

who need it most.

According to Salloum, an Arab-Americans who is suf-

fering from a crisis of some kind would first turn to fam-

ily for help, then going to a religious leader if the problem

persisted. “The main individual support is the family—

uncle, aunt, grandmother,” she explained. “Before they’d

go outside, they go there. Once they go outside, they tend

to go to their community leader. If they’re Muslim, they

go to a mosque to see the Imam. He would play coun-

selor basically.”

Unfortunately, those with mental issues are sometimes

viewed as not being religious enough, rather than some-

one suffering from mental illness. It’s a stigma that has

Some of the staff at MHAPC. From left: Marjorie Izaguirre, Family Support Specialist, Joanne Green ExecutiveDirector, Rebekah Leon, Associate Executive Director, Dennise Babin, Assistant Director of Outreach Services, StevenSacks, Community Outreach Advocate, Yolanda Cobos, Parent Support Specialist


dated back for many years, but

recent outreach work has been slow-

ly breaking down that cultural barri-

er. Salloum explained that many of

her patients are actually referrals

from Imams that the MHAPC has

developed a relationship with.

“It’s a sense of relief for them to

have someone to talk to,” she

explained. Because the Arab-

American community is so tightly

knit and the stigma surrounding ther-

apy, Salloum takes great care in

making sure that clients who know

one another will not have appoint-

ments at similar times. “A lot of

people just go under the guise of,

‘Oh, she just helps us talk better to

each other.”

Salloum said that convincing the

family members of a patient to

accept therapy is often one of the

most difficult barriers to overcome.

“I have many women who start to

come, but then go ‘Oh my husband,

oh my father,’” she recalled. “I tell

them to bring them—I welcome

them. It disarms them.”

While the MHAPC’s outreach has

been making headway in the com-

munity as a whole, Salloum noted

that younger people are more apt to

seek out help.

“They’re more exposed to the

idea of therapy,” she said. But

overall, the clients that Salloum sees

regularly are diverse; adolescents

and seniors, males and females, and

people from many different educa-

tional and religious backgrounds.

“I have the most diverse diagnosis

of anybody else. We think it’s that

we’re the one program in the com-

munity. What’s most common?I

want to say depression, anxiety… I

don’t know why. But there’s ones

with serious mental illness like

schizophrenia, it’s hard to hold onto

them,” she said. “The more educat-

ed people are, they more they tend to

think, how can I have a problem? I

have my Ph.D, I have my Doctorate,

how can I see this woman? No one

is immune frome treatment, or hav-

ing an issue either.”

Salloum said the most important

step in turning a new patient into a

regular is to make sure that they are

at ease. Therapy sessions are not just

about whatever mental illness the

patient has, but their overall quality

of life: How are their relationships?

Do they enjoy their job? Do they

have concerns?

“One thing you have to keep in

mind is the political arena. What is

going on in the world?” she said.

“Let’s say I’m seeing a Syrian fami-

ly. What’s going on in the world is

directly affecting them and we take

that for granted, even before Arab

Spring.”


Clifton Health

Since the implementation of the

Arabic out reach program, the

MHAPC client list has grown. But

Salloum knows that she has plenty of

more work to do overall. “This is the

best we’ve been, but it could be better,”

she said. “There’s still all this stigma.”

Mental Health Associationin Passaic County

You don’t have to be an Arab-American to make use of the serv-

ices offered at the MHAPC. Besides that specialized program,

the MHAPC offers a wide variety of services to help those going

through any number of problems, including counseling, therapy, peer

to peer therapy, in-home series, specialized programs for children and

the elderly, self help, legal services and more.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 26.2 percent

of Americans 18 and up suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in

any given year. The MHAPC was formed in 1948 and is a non-prof-

it organization, with the primary goals being advocacy, support and

education. The MHAPC is a part of 240 such organizations in the

nation.

The MHAPC will hold a fundraiser beefsteak on June 14 at the

Boys and Girls Club at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $50, and entertainment

will be provided by Brookwood. For more information on this event

or services offered, visit www.mhapassaic.org, call 973-478-4444, or

visit the offices at 404 Clifton Ave.

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Clifton Health


Everybodyhatesyou.

You don’t hear bullying like thisevery day but chances are yourkids do. These students atCCMS are taking a standagainst bullying...by beingmore than a bystander.

Bullying is not just a harmless rite of passageor an inevitable part of growing up. Words

like the headline on the facing page instill fear

in the classroom, on the playground or even

online. To address that issue, students from Christopher

Columbus Middle School are taking a stand against their

peers being bullied, pledging to be silent no more.

They did it by performing a true to life play

Bystander—A Portrait in Apathy—for sixth graders at

CCMS and Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

Participants, members of the CCMS Character Ed

Club included Rosangela Garcia, Stephanie Celis,

Tatianna Ayoub, Wurood Saleh, Dalia Huerta, Alyssa

Dobles, Alejandra Garcia, Gabriel Sanchez, Brandon

Lima, Cindy Fajzullah, Hazem Atallah, Sammy

Tamimi, Justin Tunjo, Aylien Nunez, Aaliyah Damiano,

Jessica Santana, Yousef Yousef, Nicole Hiromoto,

Aseel Tasin and Shelsea Jara.

Students took the work beyond recited lines. Many

shared their own stories with bullying. The message was

simple: if you witness bullying and don’t report it to

someone, you are part of the problem. Character Ed

members also help defuse issues as they arise in the

classrooms and hallways by acting as peer mediators.

Estimates are that nearly one-third of all school-aged

children are bullied. Students involved in bullying are

more likely to have challenges in school, to abuse drugs

and alcohol, and to have health and mental health issues.

And the presentation by the CCMS students evoked

awareness.

“The guidance counselors’ offices were packed for the

rest of the day with kids discussing horrible experiences

with bullying,” said Kim Dreher, who teaches sixth grade

math at CCMS. She coordinated the event along with

Damein Callum, a 8th grade math teacher. The CCMS

HSA helped underwrite the event.

The campaign to end bullying is also active at CHS.

There the ERASE (End Racism and Sexism Every) Club

meets every Tuesday after classes in E312. The goal is

to provides a progressive environment for all students to

discuss issues related to sexism, gender and civility.

ERASE holds various fundraisers and awareness

campaigns during the year, which goes to support groups

such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,

as well as the Passaic County Women’s Shelter and

more. At the meetings, students are encouraged to speak

with their peers about their experiences, and on occasion,

the group brings in public speakers.



Clifton Health

Clifton’s Sheryll Franko above with John Turturro. At left is the subject of her recent film, Ted “The Voice” Williams.

When she founded Falling Awake Productions in 2008, Sheryll Franko

had a simple goal: inspire change by creating social awareness about

issues using her camera. And over the years, she’s done just that, trav-

eling United States, as well as Europe, the Middle East and North Africa

while tackling a wide range of issues.

“My firm has long produced media committed to changing social consciousness on

pressing, modern topics,” explained the Clifton native who now lives in Manhattan. “I’ve

met all these people who tell me their stories. It’s all really phenomenal—inspiring.”

By Joe Hawrylko

Clifton NativeSheryll Franko

Uses the Power ofFilm to Change theWorld, One Movie

at a Time

Filmingwith

Franko


Clifton Health

Falling Awake Productions has championed numer-

ous causes through film, and does extensive work with

non-profit organizations.

Called Out in the Dark is an upcoming short that

examines the youth of the Middle East and how

they’ve expressed themselves in the midst of several

revolutions. The project was sponsored by the Moving

Picture Institute and is currently in post production.

Falling Awake Productions is also starting a new

project, Bescherming, which means protection in

Dutch. This film will focus on Holocaust survivors.

However, though she’s covered a number of topics

over her career, one issue that Franko has revisited on

several occasions is mental health. It was her first

short on the subject, Crazy Enough to Care, that pro-

pelled her career to new heights back in 2008.

The film was partially shot in the Netherlands and

focused on Drew Horn of the Turn-A-Frown Around

Foundation, Inc. Horn, who suffers from bi-polar dis-

order, regularly visits lonely patients at mental institu-

tions and nursing homes in the region.

Crazy Enough to Care was warmly embraced by

critics, and the film earned an honorable mention at

the 2009 SAMHSA Voice Awards in Hollywood.

“Somehow it went viral and ended up on the

Independent Film Channel, BBC, in the Netherlands,”

she said. “Where this all goes, I haven’t really

thought much about mental health. When I first did

the film with Drew, before I knew it the film was suc-

cessful and I was getting calls from NYC and San

Fransisco if I can come make a film with someone.”

The success of Crazy Enough to Care immediately

boosted Franko’s profile within the industry, and

Falling Awake Productions began to take on new

clients, doing a variety of jobs for non-profits and

businesses alike.

However, despite covering a variety of issues in her

films, Franko has always returned to mental health.

Two of her upcoming films will focus on the topic.

Heart and Soul focuses on those with mental illness

dealing with physical ailments brought about by sub-

stance abuse. Those suffering from mental illness and

addiction are more likely to die early, with cardiovas-

cular disease and stroke being the leading causes.

“A lot of people tend to think that these issues

1206

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Sheryll Franko in studio with John Turturro (right)and an unidentified individual.

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Clifton Health

are isolated. It’s chicken and egg

really,” she said. “People can take

a drug and it can trigger an issue or

vice versa.”

The short film is narrated by Ted

Williams, a voice actor whose

career was derailed by mental

health issues and addiction. He had

spent many years homeless until a

video of him demonstrating his

vocal talents on the side of the road

went viral on Youtube in 2011.

Williams is now on the road to

recovery, and was invited to partic-

ipate on the project after a produc-

er tipped off Franko.

“He was really enthusiastic about

appearing in the film. He embodies

what we’re trying to push forward in

Heart and Soul,” she said.

“What drew him to the film was

his own story,” she said. The film

is available for $20 at

www.heartandsoulfilm.org “We’re

giving him this whole new plat-

form. Not just a viral Youtube star,

but his own platform for all of these

issues.”

Franko’s other current project is

a feature length documentary, Howto Touch a Hot Stove.

Narrator John Turturro

(Transformers, The Big Lebowski),

best sums up the premise of the

film in the trailer on Franko’s web-

site: Stigma is something that ismade, not given. But the goodnews is that if it is something made,it can also be unmade.

“That film, I am hoping to show

on college campuses to get the con-

versation started about mental ill-

ness,” said Franko.

Learn more about How to Toucha Hot Stove, Heart and Soul and

Franko’s other projects at her web-

site, www.fallingawakeproduc-

tions.com.


d

People often ask me what our group isall about. Mustang Pride is the pride we

have for our town, the history that we

helped create and the happiness we all

felt growing up here.

Mustang Pride is a core group of peo-

ple who care about the children of

Clifton and aspire to give our kids and

share with our community the same

experiences we were blessed to have

had. It is also our hope to be able to

instill some of those same old fashioned

values into our children—and our com-

munity—and show them by example

that it is important to give back, and not

just receive.

Over the three years Mustang Pride has

been serving Clifton, the group has been

involved in many ways. We have donat-

ed money to the sound system upgrade for

the CHS auditorium, supported Project

Graduation and made a contribution for a

new sign for School 2 which was dam-

aged during Hurricane Sandy.

We do our giving through fundrais-

ing. And we ask individuals and busi-

nesses to help. Our next event is at CHS on March 9 at

noon. It is a basketball game between the famous

Harlem Wizards and the Mustang Pride Fireballs.

It will be a fun event with guest coach Mayor Jim

Anzaldi. The game will be officiated by Clifton Police

Chief Gary Giardina and Passaic County Sheriff Rich

Berdnik. Some of the Fireballs are pictured here so we

ask that you buy a few tickets and attend with the family.

Other ways to support Clifton Pride is to become a

sponsor or purchase tickets to the May 4 Clifton’s Got

Talent event we co-sponsor with Clifton Recreation.

Come out and spend a day or night at the 2nd Annual

Mustang Pride Family Carnival at Christopher Columbus

Middle School on May 22 through May 26. On Sept. 20,

there will be a beefsteak/tricky tray. Proceeds from all

events will benefit kids in our Clifton Public Schools.

As President of the group, I want to thank Vice

President Jack Jaeger, Secretary Bernice Mekita,

Treasurer Josephine Chichi, Membership Chair

Michelle Filippone and fundraising co-chairs Ro Frucci

and Lori VanBlarcom Huk.

If you are interested in becoming a Mustang Pride

sponsor, supporter, attend or volunteer for one of our

events, write to me, AnnMarie Genneken at agen-

[email protected] or any of those listed above, including

Jack Jaeger at [email protected].

Come out March 9 at noon at CHS to see them play the Harlem Wizards.Kneeling: Mark Gengaro and Tom DiDonna. Middle: coaches KrystalCevallos and AnnMarie Genneken. Back: Steve Shukaitis, Jack Jaeger,Bob Foster, Tafari Anderson and Joe Kolodziej.

Mustang PrideBy AnnMarie Genneken

March 2013• Clifton Merchant44

Clifton Health

When Theresa Meffen started datingIrving Colon at the end of 1999,she had a hunch that he was some-

one special. And that gut feeling

was proven right after the man she would go on to

marry stood right by Theresa’s side in a year that saw

her mother pass away, her being diagnosed with

appendicitis and then Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“Before she died, I told my mom, ‘This is the man

I was going to marry,” she said. “She thought I was

crazy because I was an 18 year old. But I was right.

I knew if he stayed with me through all of that, he

wasn’t going anywhere and we were going to make

it through anything. I knew he was special, but that

just made him extra special.”

The two began officially dating on Christmas

Day, 2009, shortly after meeting at Bergen County

Community College. Though they were both from

Clifton, they did not know each other. Theresa grad-

uated from CHS in 1999, while he graduated from

Eastern Christian High School that same year.

“We were on cloud nine. We were that couple that

were always happy and disgustingly cute,” she

recalled.

That all changed four months later in April of

2000, when Theresa’s mother suddenly became ill

and was admitted to the hospital.

“She was in the ICU for almost two weeks before

she passed away,” she recalled. “Irving was at my

SurvivorCancer

Theresa Colon shares her story...

and explains howher new found

can help others

Inspiration

Theresa and Irving Colon will again

participate in the Relay for Life at

Clifton Stadium from June 8 to 9.

For info on volunteering or joining

a team, call 1-800-227-2345

or visit www.relayforlife.org.

Clifton Merchant •March 2013 45

side the entire time, taking me to

and from the hospital, picking up

my grandparents from the airport,

meeting my entire family and help-

ing us with all the arrangements for

the funeral.”

Eventually things seemed to

return to normal, but Theresa didn’t

know that the most challenging 12

months of her life were just begin-

ning.

“I went back to school and work-

ing part time at the library and

Irving went back to work,” she

recalled. “All seemed to be going

well when I suddenly started having

pain in my abdomen and had to have

emergency surgery for appendici-

tis.”

Theresa’s surgery was successful,

and she soon returned home.

However, at the doctor’s office for a

routine check up a few weeks later

in September, the Cliftonite

received startling news. “Upon

examination the doctor discovered

an enlarged lymph node in my

neck,” she said. “I was diagnosed

with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma stage

two at just 19 years old.”

“When we found out that I had

cancer we were devastated,”

Theresa continued. “I underwent

chemotherapy and a month of radia-

tion. I lost all my hair, and was pret-

ty sick from the treatment. But at

every treatment, test and doctors

appointment, Irving was there. He

showed me the true meaning of love

when he was just 20 years old.”

Theresa said it was the loss of

hair that concerned her more than

the diagnosis itself.

“That was the hardest part.

When the surgeon said you’ve got

cancer, alright I can deal with that,”

she said. “Then I started questions.

‘Well, am I going to lose my hair?’

‘Yes.’ That’s when I started crying.

What does a 19 year old female

worry about? And I had long hair at

the time too.”

In anticipation of the treatments,

Theresa cut her hair short. Not long

after she started chemo, the

inevitable happened.

“When that first clump came out,

that was hard,” she said. “I handed

it to my father and he almost started

crying.”

Theresa’s had started to return

after her chemo, but started falling

out again after she started radiation

in January. “My hair stylist said to

not cover what I had so that it will

grow back in faster,” she said.

Throughout the whole ordeal,

Irving was right at her side through

every treatment, every appointment

and every bad day.

“I felt so bad for him,” she said.

“He probably wanted to go out,

wanted to go to the mall or whatev-

er, but we couldn’t. My white cell

count was almost nothing... we rent-

ed movies, just sat and talked. We

ordered in a lot.”

After chemo and radiation,

Theresa was declared cancer free in

February of 2001. Just a month

later, the young couple was

engaged. They’re now happily mar-

ried for more than 10 years, and

have a five year old son, Jonathan,

who attends School 15.

“When things get tough we

always go back to the first year we

were dating and say to each other if

we made it through that we can

make it through anything,”

she said. “I have married my best

friend and I could not of asked for a

better husband.”

As a form of repayment to Irving

and the doctors, family and friends

that supported though her ordeal,

Theresa has become involved with

several cancer charities. In 2005,

she donated her hair to Locks of

Love, and plans to do so once again

next year once it is long enough.

And for the past eight years, she has

participated in the Relay for Life at

Clifton Stadium, serving on the

committee for the past two years.

“I really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s

my payback for being here still. I

don’t think I’ll ever stop doing it.”

.


Arts & Music

The Garden State Opera offers two spring shows. On

March 21, the GSO hosts a concert at the Sequoia Senior

Center, 565 Broadway, Passaic, from 11 am to noon.

Singers Justyna Giermola and Nathan Letourneau per-

form arias and duets from the operatic repertoire accom-

panied at the piano by Tristan Cano. Donation is $5 at

the door. Then on April 6, the GSO takes the stage at the

San Giuseppe Santa Croce Camerina Society, 131

Wagaraw Rd., Hawthorne with two works from Mozart:

L’ Oca del Cairo and scenes from Cosi’ fan tutte. The

performance will feature a chamber orchestra; tickets are

$25. Call 973-685-9972, or for more details, visit

www.gardenstateopera.homestead.com.

Blue State Productions, in residence at St. Peter’s

Episcopal Church, 380 Clifton Ave., presents the clas-

sic musical Godspell. Directed by Mac McCormick

and Joseph Schreck, Jr., performances are on March 8,

9, 16, 22, 23 and April 5 and 6. Tickets are $20; $15

for students and seniors. Kids under 12 pay $10.

Opening night tickets are $10. Since proceeds benefit

St. Peter’s Haven Food Pantry, patrons are asked to

bring a non-perishable food item. For tickets and other

information, visit www.bluestateproductions.com,

email [email protected] or call 973-607-1924.

Lambert Castle, the Victorian-era mansion on the ridge

of Garrett Mountain Reservation on the Valley Rd. bor-

der between Paterson and Clifton, presents Message ina Bottle: The Bottleworks of Dr. Etta Ehrlich. The

exhibit is displayed until April 28, Wednesday through

Sunday, 1 to 4 pm. Admission is $5. For more info, call

973-247-0085 or visit lambertcastle.org.

The Theater League of Clifton presents Murder MeAlways by Lee Mueller. Staged at Mario’s Restaurant on

Van Houten Ave., this whodunit gives the audience clues

to help solve the crime. Tickets ($40) on sale with

various shows March 1 to 10. For dates and times, call

973-928-7668 or go to www.theaterleagueofclifton.com.

Applicants have until March 31 to join Impact 100

Garden State, a new philanthropic organization which

seeks grant proposals from non-profit groups that have

programs or projects in Passaic, Morris, Somerset and

Sussex counties. Grants may be applied for in any of

five focus areas: arts and culture, education, environ-

ment, family, health and wellness. Impact is based on a

successful model that started in Cincinnati 12 years ago

and is now used across the country: gather 100 women

to join together to make a transformational giant. Grant

size will be tied to the number of members. Membership

is limited to women, but grants can benefit anyone.

Annual membership dues is $1,000. Letters of Intent

due April 15 and full applications by June 15. Final

selection will be announced in October. For more

details, visit www.impact100gardenstate.org or follow

@impact100nj on Twitter.

Justyna Giermola nad Nathan Letourneau of the GSO.

Godspell will be performed at St. Peter’s Church.


Inspirations...50th Anniversary ofClifton Association of Artists is an

exhibit and sale by members of the

CAA. Opening at the Clifton Arts

Center on March 6, the diverse exhib-

it of art will be displayed through

April 13. The CAA was established in

1963 by a group of twelve artists.

The mission of the Association is to

promote the advancement of art and

culture in Clifton by creating an envi-

ronment for the expression of the

visual arts. Admission is $3. Go to

www.cliftonnj.org or like Clifton

Arts Center on Facebook.

A Jazz Tribute Celebrating Artwith Mike Luipersbeck is on

March 16 at 3:30 pm at the Clifton

Arts Center on the City Hall

Campus, 900 Clifton Ave. Tickets

are $10 and include refreshments,

and a viewing of the original art-

works by the CAA. Money raised

goes to support the Clifton Arts

Center, Inc. Luipersbeck is a retired

Clifton detective and accomplished

musician. His trio of musicians will

also feature pianist, Peter Greco,

bassist, Ron Naspo, and vocalist,

Ms. Corinn Somers. The perform-

ance will feature selections from

The Great American Songbook,

ranging from Jazz to Broadway to

Doo-Wop. RSVP in advance. For

details, call 973-472-5499.

The Ninth Annual Passaic County Film Festival is on April 20 at

10 at the Fabian 8 Cinema, Center City Mall, Paterson. Admission to

the preview and parking are free. Nearly 90 films were submitted by

students and independent film makers from the county. Film entries

are 10 minutes in length and fall into the following categories: gener-

al short film, public service announcement, documentary/historic

film, and music video. One grand prize will be selected and given the

Costello Award. The event is sponsored by the Passaic County Board

of Chosen Freeholders and the members of the Passaic County Film

Commission. For more information, call 973-569-4720.


Family Super Bowl Party

Family Super Bowl Party (our 15th!)

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 • Photos by Alice Cantwell & Andrea Petrozzini

Clifton

Super Bowl 47 was a great success at the Boys & Girls Clubof Clifton. Over 250 people attended the 15th annual alcohol

and gambling free event. The success of the family party was

made possible by nearly 21 sponsors and dozens of volunteers

who helped to decorate the hall, cook and serve food and soft

drinks and then clean up after the party. Families enjoyed an

evening packed with activities such as arts & crafts, shooting

pool, playing ping pong or table hockey in the game room,

swimming in the heated Olympic sized pool or playing a host

of ballgames in the gym. Another annual tradition is that

admission is a non perishable food item. Over 250 items were

collected and prepared by the Club’s Keystoners for donation

to St. Peter’s Haven community food pantry.


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• CASA—Clifton AgainstSubstance Abuse • Jim & Rita Haraka &Family• Rotary Club of Clifton• Assemblyman Thomas P.Giblin• In memory of Florence, George H. Trinkle, Jr. & George H. Trinkle III

• Barbara Dougherty in memory of Henry Dougherty

• Clifton Police PBA Local 36

• Clifton Firefighters FMBA Local 21

• JSK Landscaping/The Bassford Family

• Carlet, Garrison, Klein & Zaretsky

• Liberty Tax Service, Richfield Shopping Center

• Theater League of Clifton

• Mayor, Council, City Manager & Municipal Attorney

• Tom Miller• Dr. George Foukas, DMD• P&A Auto Parts• St. Philip The Apostle Knights of Columbus

• The Fieldhouse Family

Thanks to our sponsors, admission

was a canned good which was

donated to St. Peter’s Haven. The

15th Clifton Family Super Bowl Party

was sponsored by...

Family Super Bowl Party


• Open 7 am to 6 pm• Weekly Chapel• 16 Teachers & Aides —

Many here over 20 years!

• After-School Pick-Up at School 5

• When public schools are closed, we’re open!

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• After-School Pick-Up at School 5

• When public schools are closed, we’re open!

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Our cycling team leaves Clifton on May 9 inthe Police Unity Tour. Before the 300 mile

bicycle trek to Washington D.C. begins, the

Clifton group must raise more than $21,000.

The Police Unity Tour is an annual bike ride

with police officers from across the country.

Our destination is our Nation’s Capital and the

purpose is to commemorate fallen officers.

Over 19,000 cops have given their lives in

the line of duty, and their names are etched on

the National Law Enforcement Officers Monument and Memorial

in Washington D.C. Each name represents a sad story of an officer

who was killed in the line of duty, including Clifton Police Officer

John Samra, who died in the line of duty on Nov. 21, 2003.

Our team rides in Johnny’s memory and for all who gave their

lives in the line of duty. The reason we need to raise the $21,000 is

to maintain the monument and build a museum in our Nation’s

Capital. To contribute, see any of the PUT members listed on the

facing page, go to www.cliftonpba36.com and click on Police Unity

Tour or call Tom Hawrylko at 973-253-4400.

POLICE UNITY TOUR

Officer John Samra

We Ride For Those Who Have Died.


Bicycle Riders:Robert Bais

Randy Colondres

Richard DiBello

Tom Hawrylko

Daniel Ishak

Motors:Mike Adamo

Robert Bielstein

Derek Fogg

Brian Fopma

Gary Giardina

Support:Mark Centurione

Michael McLaughlin

2013 CliftonPolice UnityTour Members

cliftonpba36.com

BotanyVillage

East Clifton / Lakeview

Dutch Hill

Albion

Athenia

Allwood /Richfield

RosemawrMontclairHeights /Greglawn

Delawanna

Downtown /Clifton Center

Your check of$50 or moreDine in w/coupon. Cannot be

combined w/any other offer.

1 coupon/table. Excludes lunch

menu specials.

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Your check of$25 or moreDine in w/coupon. Cannot be

combined w/any other offer.

1 coupon/table. Excludes lunch

menu specials.

$5 OFF

An illustration of a Lenni LenapeIndian, the tribe which originallypopulated our region.


DelawannaBaseball legend Cal Ripken is at Barnes & Noblein Clifton Commons on March 5 at 6 pm to sign‘Wild Pitch’, his third book in his “All Star” Seriesgeared to 8-12 year old readers.

Clifton CenterChristopher Columbus Middle School HSA hostsa Tricky Tray on March 15 at 6:30 pm at the Boys& Girls Club. Tickets are $20; bring your ownfood and beverages. Alcohol is permitted but noone under the age of 18 will be admitted. Lastyear’s event was sold out. Call 973-818-6045 orwrite [email protected] for tickets.

RichfieldSt. Andrew’s HSA presents a St. Patrick’s party at400 Mt. Prospect Ave. on March 9 at 6 pm. Costis $40 or $70 a couple. Call 973-473-3711.

Botany VillageBands are being sought for Clifton’s HistoricBotany District Free Summer Concert Serieswhich begins the second Friday of June. For info,write to [email protected].

Dutch HillThe Dutch Hill Neighborhood Association meetsMarch 21 at 7:30 pm at the Family FellowshipChurch, at the corner of Second St. and DeMottAve. The group’s flea market is June 1 in WeaselBrook Park. Vendor space is $35 while food ven-dor are charged $100. Call 973-365-2577.

East CliftonClifton Recreation hosts the Bunny Bash on March30 at Nash Park. Breakfast (for a fee) at the HotGrill is at 7:30 am and the Egg Hunt is free andstarts at 9:30 am. For info, call 973-470-5959.

Lakeview The artwork of Jane Van Wie, a fourth grader atSt. Brendan School on Lakeview Ave., is featuredwithin the 2013 Passaic County Clerk Calendar.

Neighborhood News

Babka • Holiday Breads • Cinnamon Bread • Cup Cakes • CheesecakesHoliday Cookies • Danish • Pies • Buns • Muffins • Donuts • Coffee

308 Lakeview Ave. Clifton973-772-3837 • Se Habla EspañolLakeviewbakeryonline.com

Happy EasterWe’ll be open Easter Sunday

Clifton’s BESTRye Bread!



Politics & Business

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Since 1927

Shop-at-Homecall me at

973-546-0616For all your

flooring needs dundeefloorcoveringclifton.com

Director of Homeland Security EdwardDickson (pictured at right with Governor

Chris Christie) will be the guest speaker at

the Passaic County 200 Club’s Winter

Breakfast on March 13. Held at The

Brownstone, the event starts with breakfast

and networking at 7:30 am. Tickets are

$25. RSVP by March 8. Make checks

payable to the 200 Club of Passaic County,

3 Garret Mountain Plaza, Suite 204,

Woodland Park, NJ 07424. The 200 Club

is an organization whose members will

provide financial support to the survivors

of public safety officers killed in the line of

duty. For details, call 201-450-1271 or

email [email protected].

The North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commercepresents the 13th annual SAVOR Food and Wine

Festival on March 4. Held at Preakness Hills Country

Club in Wayne, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, over 25 restau-

rants and purveyors will be on hand with food and

wine. Tickets are $50. On March 8, the NJRCC’s fifth

annual Women’s Leadership Event is at The

Brownstone. Free admission thanks to Berkeley

College. Passaic County Surrogate Bernice Toledo and

Deborah Hoffman, Director of Passaic County

Economic Development, are among the speakers. On

March 14 at 5:30 pm, the NJRCC and the Tri County

Chambers of Commerce are teaming up for a night of

merriment at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Wayne.

Tickets are $15 or $20 for this night of wine sampling,

cheese tasting and networking. For more information,

visit www.njrcc.org, or call 973-470-9300.

Lunch and Learn is the theme of the March 18 event

at the North Jersey Federal Credit Union. Beginning at

noon, lunch will be served at the group’s headquarters,

711 Union Blvd., Totowa. Guest speaker is Betty

Heiman, CEO of Transparent Health, who will discuss

health care reform. Free. RSVP by March 11. Call

973-785-9200 or [email protected].

The Clifton Teacher’s Association, the union which

represents 1,100 staff members—teachers, paraprofes-

sionals, coaches and athletic trainers—has an election.

CHS teacher James Costello is running for President

against Frank Gengaro, a WWMS Child Study Team

member who has served as CTA chief for 15 years.

Running unopposed: Recording Secretary Jean Sogorka,

of CHS; Treasurer Saundra Josipowich, of WWMS;

Corresponding Secretary Frances Chiarelli, of WWMS.


1301

Brothers Don and Rich Knapp

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Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. was reappointed to the

House Committee on Ways and Means and House

Budget Committee. The 113th Congress will be the

second term Rep. Pascrell will serve on the Budget

Committee, and the fourth term in which the Democrat

from Paterson will serve on Ways and Means, where he

will continue to serve on the Subcommittee on Health.

The Passaic County Republican Party nominated

Frank Feenan, a retired captain in the county

Prosecutor’s Office, to run against Richard Berdnik, a

Cliftonite and first term Democrat sheriff in the Nov. 5

election. The GOP also endorsed Philip H. Weisbecker,

Jr., a former mayor and councilman in West Milford,

and Christian E. Barranco, a union electrician who lost

the Pompton Lakes Council election as a Democrat in

2011 and then switched parties. They will run against

incumbent Democrats Pat Lepore and Terry Duffy.

The Clifton Republican Club meets March 12 at 7:30

pm at VFW Post 7165, 491 Valley Rd. Open to all reg-

istered Republicans, annual dues are $10 and refresh-

ments will be served. Future meetings are April 9, May

14 and June 11. Call 973-365-1060 for more info.

Kevin O'Neil, owner of Clifton’s IHOP on Rt. 3, withemployee Damien Burke. The two and extra crewsworked on National Pancake Day on Feb. 5 as some1,172 shortstacks were served at no charge. Patrons, inreturn, donated $1,172 to the Children’s MiracleNetwork, the beneficiary of this nationwide effort.


Events & Briefs

CHS Class of 1987 Mustang Robert Haraka. athlet-

ic director of Morris Hills High, has been selected to

received the Directors of Athletics Association of New

Jersey (DAANJ) North 1 Sectional Award of Merit.

Haraka sits on the Executive Committee of the Morris

County Secondary Schools Athletic Association and is

also the President of the Northwest Jersey Athletic

Conference. He will receive the award at a banquet at

the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City on March 20. Haraka

resides in Bloomfield with his wife Laura and their two

daughters. His parents, Jim and Rita, live on Rollins

Ave. For more info, call the school at 973-664-2307.

A half-century ago, services of the Erie Railroadconnecting Clifton, Passaic and Paterson to

Ridgewood, Hawthorne and other towns was terminat-

ed. The April 1, 1963 closing marked a change in the

physical as well as the cultural landscape in the area. On

March 13 at 7 pm at Lambert Castle, on Valley Rd. on

the Clifton/Paterson border, Passaic Historian Mark

Auerbach will discuss the significance of the line that

tied together the northeast US as well as the changes

made locally by the removal of the tracks. The public is

invited to attend. Presented by the Passaic County

Historical Society, go to lambertcastle.org for details.

The CHS Class of 1960 will hold a reunion on July 18

at Tomahawk Lake in Sparta from 10 am to 6 pm. The

$25 ticket includes all you can eat food throughout the

day as well as free parking. Make out checks to

Kathleen Ploch Mack, and mail to 311 Cleveland Lane,

Rockaway Township, N.J. 07866 and include your con-

tact info. Contact Nancy Lewis Zink at 570-588-9473 or

([email protected]) or Phyllis Tiedeman

Brescia at 352-259-3023 or ([email protected]).

St. Mary Ukrainian OrthodoxChurch, 81 Washington Ave.,

will host a Ukrainian Easter Egg

(Pysanka) Decorating Class on

March 21 from 6 to 8 pm. Open

to all ages, cost is $12 and the

price includes supplies. RSVP by

March 18. The kitchen will also

be open offering perogies, baked

goods and ethnic gifts. For info,

call 973-546-2473.

The Feast Day of St. Joseph is on March 19 but the

Geraci Citizens League’s 83rd Dinner Dance is on

March 16 at The Brownstone at 6:30 pm. Tickets are

$90. Call chair Nina Corradino at 973-470-8982.

The St. Paul’s RC Church Rosary Society will host a

fish and chips dinner/Chinese auction fundraiser on

March 13 in the church basement in Downtown

Clifton. Funds will benefit Lindsey Loeb, a toddler in

need of a heart transplant. Call 973-246-7974.

Liberty Tax (Richfield Shopping Center) employeeswill be participating in the Relay for Life at Clifton

Stadium on June 8. Liberty Tax will also be working

with the ACS to donate tax services to cancer survivors.

Join Team Liberty; call 973-778-0700. For info about

Relay for Life, visit www.cancer.org.

Clifton Mustang Band Alumni Association hosts a

bowling fundraiser on March 9 at 6 pm at Parkway

Lanes in Elmwood Park. Tickets are $50 for a couple

($25 individuals), $20 for CHS students, or $15 for buf-

fet only. The price includes three hours of bowling and

buffet, raffle. Visit www.mustangbandalumni.org.

Robert Haraka with his family—wife, Laura, anddaughters, Anna 11, and Emily, 8—after being induct-ed to the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2011.


The CHS Prom Fashion Showis March 3 at 2 pm at the JFK

Auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the

door. Tuxedos are provided by

Deluxe Formal Wear and ladies

will wear fashions from

Brunellle’s, Group USA, Vesa,

Sandreen’s, Tina’s Bridal, and

Bou Bou’s. Salons include Guy

Anthony, Sante Fe, Hair Craft,

Beauty Plus and Loni’s Cuts.

Make up by April Lewandowski

and Suleiry Matos. Tickets were

printed by Mason-Porter Funeral

Home. Funds raised go to sup-

port Project Graduation, which is

a drug and alcohol free overnight

event for seniors that takes place

immediately after they graduate.

The students will be shipped to a

secret destination for a night of

partying, games and fun in a safe

environment. Info, call Maryann

Cornett at 973-779-5678.

On Feb. 6, which was National Signing Day for high school athletes, ErickFerrars (baseball, Lackawana College) and Matt Miazga (soccer, University ofMichigan) inked their letters of intent. From left, is Erick’s mother, Tanja, CHSAthletic Director Rick Handchen, and Matt’s parents, Adam and Elizabeth.

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Crazy For You

Mustang Thespians

Peter Adamo is Bobby Child and Alli Green is Polly Bakeras the leads in the CHS spring musical Crazy For You.

Staged March 15 and 16 at 7:30 pm with a 2 pm matinee

on March 17, this romantic Gershwin Musical Comedy

revolves around a young man—Bobby Child—who wants to

live the life of a tap dancer back in the 1930’s. His mother

and fiancée want him to settle to a career in NYC. But he is

sent to foreclose on a theater in Deadrock, Nevada where he

meets the girl of his dreams... Polly Baker. From there,

much tap dancing and singing cowboys as love triumphs!.

The cast also includes Kenneth Fowler, Greg Gwyn, Matt

Bodner, Angelia Mocera, Walter Geschleider, Nasia Robles,

Slavka Alexa Simic, Gabby Punale, Bobby Lupo, Shreya

Patel, Isaiah Polanco, Andrea Ruiz, Brandon Neal, Jessica

Mahmoud, Susan Liberti, Felipe Rodriquez, Brianna

Labanich, Maura Huelbig, Jonas Avancena, Rebekah Kusher,

Alex Moncaleano, Pamela Prandy and Jason Rosa.

Directed by Elizabeth Eisenmenger, choreograped by Lois

Manzella-Marchitto, staged by Christina Paulin, Julie Chrobak,

Ken and Matt Kida with music under the baton of Robert

Morgan, tickets are $7 for students/seniors or $10 for adults.



Student of the Month

On February 23, Nick Zecchino was one of five

Marching Mustangs honored for their love of music by

participating in the North Jersey Regional and All-

State Bands.

Zecchino, along with Andrew Roennau, Nikola

Kamcev, Brian Prada and Kevin Biernat, performed at

the NJPAC in Newark along with some of the finest

musicians in the state. For Zecchino, it’s a fitting end

to his illustrious music career at Clifton High.

The CHS student of the month started learning to

play as a fouth grader at School 16 under the guidance

of Mr. Romaine. However, it was his father, Mark,

that really inspired Zecchino. “He played trumpet, sax

and drums,” he said proudly. “There was always some

type of music in the house.”

When it came time to chose an instrument in fourth

grade, Zecchino went with the trumpet. “Trumpet

looked easy,” he laughed. “I thought it only has three

valves and it sounded interesting.”

Zecchino continued to play trumpet through middle

school, attending Woodrow Wilson, before switching

to cornet in high school as a freshman.

‘There’s not much of a difference between cornet

and trumpet,” he explained. Zecchino made the switch

due to an opening at the position in the Marching

Mustangs “Cornet is a little bit warmer sounding.”

Since entering high school, Zecchino has embraced

his love of music, and spends most of his free time

involved with the many programs at Clifton High.

In addition to the Marching Mustangs, Zecchino has

been in the pit band for three years, and has spent four

years as a part of the concert band and brass ensemble.

For the past three years, he was also selected to be a

member of the honor band, which is the group that

plays at CHS commencement in June.

Tooting his Mustang Horn

By Joe Hawrylko


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t

t

d

o

e

,

x

e

h

t

e

e

g

t

h

g

d

e

s

r

.

a

t

However, the crowning achieve-

ment of his Mustang musical career

has been his inclusion into the All-

State Band.

“You audition and I got into

Regional Symphonic, Regional

Orchestra and All-State

Symphonic,” he stated. Each band

has its own concert, and auditions

are held annually in January.

However, despite his love of

performance, music isn’t in

Zecchino’s future, at least as far as

his career is concerned.

“I want to keep on playing trum-

pet, but I don’t want to major or

minor in it,” he explained.

Zecchino’s passion lies in engi-

neering, due to his love of math and

science, and the influence of his

family members who work in the

field.

“Three of my cousins are engi-

neers,” he said. They specialize in

chemical, mechanical and bio med-

ical engineering. “I really like

math and science. I’ve been doing

really well in calculus AP and AP

chemistry.”

Perhaps those good genes had

something to do with his achieve-

ments... Zecchino is ranked 24th in

the class, and is enrolled in AP

English and middle college

accounting, which is a course spon-

sored by Berkeley College at CHS.

He also took AP US history as a

junior and got a four on the exam.

Zecchino’s high marks are sure

to land him acceptances from sev-

eral good schools. He has applied

to Stevens Institute of Technology,

Lehigh University, and a couple of

Ivy League schools, including

University of Pennsylvania, which

is his number one choice. “I love

that UPenn is in the city, but the

campus has its own vibe. It doesn’t

feel like it’s in the city,” he said.

Back in CHS, Zecchino still has

a few more academic and musical

performances left before his

Mustang career is over, but he is

eager to move on to new challenges

in life.

“When I get to school I’ll see

what the different types of engi-

neering are about,” he said when

asked about his future career goals.

“I am leaning towards mechanical

engineering because of the physics

aspect of it.”

They represented the MarchingMustangs at NJPAC on Feb 23:From left with cymbals, sophomoreNikola Kamcev on battery percus-sion, Kevin Biernat a sophomoretrumpet player, Nick Zecchino is asenior trumpeter and at front rightsenior Andrew Roennau, who isalso on trumpet. Missing fromphoto is Brian Prada whose tubathey are holding.

All-State Band 2013 honors...All-State Band 2013 honors...


Julie Generalli Dominick .......3/1Meaghan Franko .................3/1Kathleen Pocoek ..................3/1Eric Sudhalter ......................3/1Kenzie Lord .........................3/3Valerie Godowsky................3/5Alice Paxton ........................3/5Patricia Vigh........................3/5Carol Crudele......................3/6

Ted Grzybowski...................3/6Pat Smith.............................3/8Victoria Crudele...................3/9Pamela Culque ..................3/10Tiffany Sabo ......................3/10John Gorny .......................3/11Teddy Harsaghy.................3/11Eddie Gasior, Jr. ................3/12Mike Pesaro ......................3/12

Victor Berdecia ..................3/13Diego Hernandez ..............3/15Tyler Hughes......................3/15Laura Lee ..........................3/15Melisa Calvo .....................3/16Suzanne Ciok....................3/19Janette Hughes ..................3/19Caitlin Lotorto ....................3/19

Casey Hawrylko is 23 on March 2. Happy Belated birthday to Jayke Williams who turned 5 on Feb.26. Beware the Ides of March! Elaine Sassine... Happy 63rd birthday! Congratulations to Corey &Michelle Genardi, celebrating their anniversary on March 28...their daughter Bianca Eda is all smilesfor her 7th birthday on March 2. Margaret Solovyov celebrates on March 6.

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

Birthdays & Celebrations - March 2013

William Thomson will celebratehis first birthday on March 8.


Colleen Murray .................3/20Holly Sorenson..................3/20Nenad Vuckovic................3/20Monica Ahmed .................3/21George Andrikanich ..........3/22Elisabel Reyes ...................3/24Carmen Rivera ..................3/24Kyle Hooyman ..................3/24Suzanne Wachtler .............3/26Michele Andrikanich..........3/27Jennifer Mondelli ...............3/27Nic holas Surgent...............3/27Aidan Tedesco ..................3/27Muriel Curtin.....................3/28Francis Salonga ................3/31Paul McVeigh....................3/31Chris Kolodziej..................3/31

Joe & Pat Torelli celebratetheir 42nd on March 6.

Happy Birthday toPat Hiller on March 22.

Nina & Frank Corradinocelebrate 40 years March 25.

Correction: Eric Lux turned 18 on 2/3 and sister

Renee was 12 on 2/14!

Jenny Sichel celebrates her 25thbirthday on March 9.


CHS Reunion

They graduated from the ‘architecturalgem of Clifton.’ And by naming their year-

book Rotunda, they paid tribute to the ‘most

striking feature’ of the new high school on

Colfax Ave., ‘the circular area used for cafe-

teria, instruction and activity purposes.’

CHS Class of 1963 grads spent two of

their three years there. To relive that era,

Helen Kubik and Ellen Grexa have organized

a reunion on Nov. 29 at the Mountainside

Inn. Call 973-742-4466 or 973-365-2178 to

purchase tickets and more information.

Mustangs from theClass of 1963 planneda reunion for Nov. 29.

Recognize any of these 1963 grads? Fromleft, top: Vera Swiderski, Michael Zwierand Ellen Grexa. Middle: John Peto, HelenLatawiec and Jay Horwitz. Bottom:Lauren Santin, Joan Bertoli, James Janish,Audrey Johnson and Ethel Silverman.

Tomahawk Promotions

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Clifton, NJ 07011

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Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2013

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Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2013