clifton merchant magazine - april 2014
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Clifton Merchant • April 2014 3
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant4
16,000 Magazines
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Call 973-253-4400
Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko
Business ManagerGabriella Marriello
Graphic DesignerKen Peterson
Contributing WritersDomenick RedaCarol Leonard Jack DeVries
Irene JarosewichMichael Gabriele
1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011
© 2014 Tomahawk Promotions
Table of Contents
City Green, Clifton RootsThe Papa & Knors Families
Clifton Expands Recycling Collects Plastics Curbside
Downtown Clifton JoesWinning Poet, Music Composer
Jack DeVries at Table 4A Basketball Fan Comes of Age
The Ukrainian PysankyNatalka Warchola’s Designs
Mustang Spring SportsCHS Season Preview
What’s Inside?
History of Schultheis FarmFather & Son Now in Tabernacle
6
14
16
20
34
42
48
Our June edition will celebrate Cliftonresidents of the Class of 2014 as theygraduate our public and private highschools. Tell us about your grad. Findour survey at cliftonmerchant.com
Hiring WritersClifton Merchant Magazine andTomahawk Promotions has part time
job openings. Send your resume andexplain how you would contribute to
our team:
Writer / EditorHelp us tell Clifton’s story
Librarian / HistorianOrganize our archives
Send resume and a letter:[email protected]
An Original Clifton CharmerSteve Meyers Built A Softball Dynasty
Immedicenter: A National ModelDr. Basista Still Innovating After 30 Years
Clifton Firefighter’s BallA Tradition Returns for Clifton’s Bravest
Birthdays & CelebrationsYour Friends & Neighbors at Milestones
Passaic County Film FestivalFree Screening at the Fabian April 26
68
72
78
82
88
This 1975 photo of Grade 3 in School 8 was provided by Susan Maloney-Romeo of Kaleidokuts on Van Houten Ave.Many of these kids went on to graduate CHS in 1984. We are using the photo as a reminder to readers that in July, wewill publish our annual Where are These Mustangs Now? This year, with your help, we will connect with Mustangswho graduated CHS in 2004, 1994, 1984, 1974, 1964,1954 and 1944. Write to us at [email protected].
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 5
Clifton Merchant writer Jack DeVries,at right, was named a 2013 Finalist inthe National Table 4 Writers GrantAward. He is pictured with ChazzPalminteri, star of A Bronx Tale, at theMarch 27 event. The story that wonthe honor begins on page 34.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant6
City Green
Two decades ago, while traveling through inner-cityNew Jersey landscapes,�Jennifer�Papa�saw�vacant�lots,a�lack�of�green�space,�food�insecurity�for�those�in�need,
and�blighted�neighborhoods.�She�also�saw�opportunities
to�empower�residents�of�neglected�urban�areas.�
“I�believe�in�the�power�of�beauty,”�Papa�declared.�“I
believe� in� the� idea�of�food�justice�and�sustainably�pro-
duced�food.�When�I�saw�these�neighborhoods,�I�saw�pos-
sibilities�and�the�potential�to�create�something�beautiful.”
Something�beautiful�meant�harnessing�both�the�nutri-
tional� abundance� and� aesthetic� beauty� of� nature—in
effect,�said�Papa,�reclaiming�the�“garden”�heritage�of�the
Garden� State.�After� graduating� from� the�University� of
Massachusetts,�Amherst,� in� 1991,� she� worked� for� her
mother’s�advertising�and�public�relations�company.
By�2002�she�decided�to�explore�a�different�career�path
and�began�to�do�research�and�attend�seminars�on�com-
munity�gardening�and�environmental�activism.�Her�inter-
est�in�the�“green�movement”�soon�became�a�passion�and
a�mission.� �As� a� result,� in� an� entrepreneurial� burst� of
energy,�she�started�City�Green�Inc.,�a�501(c)3�non-profit
organization,�located�on�the�five-acre�Schultheis�Farm�at
171�Grove�St.�in�Clifton,�now�in�its�10th�year.
City� Green� staff� also� works� the� land� at� a� smaller
organic�farm�in�Eastside�Park,�Paterson,�and�manages�a
range�of�community-based�gardening�and�environmental
programs,� while� encouraging� volunteerism.� Over� 800
youth,�ages�6�to�17,�are�in�City�Green�educational�initia-
tives� and� another� 2,500� students� participate� in� school
garden� projects.� Plus� more� than� 200� adults� are� in� the
group’s�community�gardening�and�horticultural�therapy.
Papa,�the�executive�director�of�City�Green,�maintains
an�“asset-based”�perspective�when�it�comes�to�commu-
nity/urban�farming.�For�Papa,�an�abandoned�city�lot�isn’t
an�eyesore,�but�rather�an�asset�waiting�to�be�transformed
into� fields� of� vegetables,� fruits� and� flowers.� She� sees
beyond� the� obvious� and� imagines� potential� benefits,� a
philosophy�embedded�in�her�organization.
At Clifton’s Schultheis Farm, Jennifer Papa,Claudia Urdanivia and Todd Gustafson.
By Michael C. Gabriele
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 7
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant8
Garden Beds in Clifton and BeyondCity�Green�“plants�the�seeds”—training
local� residents� to� establish� and� maintain
successful� city� gardens.� This� includes
instruction� on� building� raised� vegetable
beds�and�installing�irrigation�systems.
The�goal�is�for�residents�to�take�owner-
ship� of� the� projects.�While� the� urban�gar-
dens�provide�a�substantial�amount�of�food,
Papa�acknowledges�the�harvest�also�yields
a�sense�of�community�pride.
City�Green’s�newest�initiative,�“Dig�In!”
will�create�and�manage�16�community�gar-
dens� in� Clifton,� Passaic,� Paterson,� Little� Falls,� North
Haledon�and�other�Passaic�County�municipalities�thanks
to�funding�by�the�Passaic�County�Freeholders.�
Dig�In!�will�consult�with�community�groups�to�select
garden� locations,� offer� classes� to� teach� the� basics� of
health�soil,�natural�pest�management�and�plant�care,�and
promote�a�zero-waste�policy—donating�unused�produce
to� local� food� pantries.� Claudia� Urdanivia,� City� Green
program� operations�manager,� will� oversee� the�Dig� In!
campaign.�Urdanivia�was�born�in�Peru�and�came�to�the
United�States�with�her�family�in�1994.��
A� 2004� CHS�grad,� her� career� at� City
Green�began�when�she�worked�as�a�volun-
teer�in�2010-2011.�She�was�soon�hired�to
be� the� leader�of�a� summer� internship� for
teens,�which�involved�team-building�con-
cepts�on�farming�and�local�food�systems.
For� Urdanivia,� “community”� is� the� key
word�that�guides�her�environmental�advo-
cacy�efforts.
“Being�an�advocate�means�making�peo-
ple�aware�of�pressing�issues,”�she�said.�“It
means� educating� volunteers� so� that� they
can�participate�in�local�efforts�to�improve
the�environment.�These�are�things�that�develop�a�sense�of
community�and�bring�people�together.”
This�spring,�in�a�partnership�with�Clifton�Recreation,
City�Green�will�open�a�20-bed�tract�of�land�for�commu-
nity� gardening.� � Other� outreach� efforts� include� “New
Ground,”�an�adult�education�program�that�promotes�the
development�of�community�gardens,�green�spaces,�beau-
tification�projects�and�community�collaboration.
New�Ground�also�helps�bring�fresh�produce�to�urban
neighborhoods,�working�in�conjunction�with�established
county�and�municipal�food�assistance�networks.�
Claudia Urdanivia isa 2004 CHS Grad.
City Green
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 9
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant10
Carlito Chi
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2013 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Elena Schwartz
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2013 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Weichert President’s Club
Weichert Ambassador’s Club
Weichert Executive’s Club
Weichert Director’s Club
Alma Billings
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2013 - Silver
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Lesia Wirstiuk
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2013 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Kaitlyn Barbagallo
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales Award®
2013 – Bronze Weichert
Sales Club, Marketed Club
Hilda Ferro
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2013 – Bronze
Weichert Sales Club
Paula Benus
Weichert Sales ClubKevin Carpenter
Weichert Marketed
Club
Jeannette Castro
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Mary Jean Cetinich
Weichert Sales Club
Donna Freeswick Marianna Gozdz
Weichert Sales Club
Mary “Chyna” Hilger
Weichert Sales Club
Mary Pat Holt
Weichert Marketed Club
Kathleen Perow
Weichert Marketed
Club
Marsha Ryaboy Jerry Sanders James Steccato
Weichert Marketed
Club
Jayne Urgo
Weichert Sales Club
Sandra Vasquez
Weichert Sales Club
Gregorio “Greg” Manalo
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales Award®
2013 – Bronze Weichert
Sales Club
Arthur “Artie”
Rubin
Weichert
Marketed Club
Ellen Weiner
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Valdemar Studzinski
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Weichert Million Dollar Club
Tania Hernandez Faria
Weichert Sales Club
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 11
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January 2014 Award Winners
February 2014 Award Winners
Hilda Ferro
Top SalesHilda Ferro
Top ProducerRyan Carbone
Weichert PrideKevin Carpenter
Top Lister
Tony Sanchez, ManagerIf you’re interested in a career in real estate,call me at 973-779-1900 (office) 973-801-9497(cell)
Kaitlyn Barbagallo
Top Sales
Hilda Ferro
Agent of theMonth
Lesia Wirstiuk
Weichert PrideTania
Hernandez Faria
Top Producer
TaniaHernandez Faria
Agent of the Month
Kevin Carpenter
Top Lister
More great Clifton homes to see...
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant12
“City�Sprouts”�is�an�education�and�recre-
ational�venture�that�gets�kids�into�commu-
nity�gardening�so�they�can��learn�about�our
ecosystem� and� the� importance� of� eating
healthy�foods.�There�will�be�outdoor��activ-
ities� for� children,� working� in� partnership
with� community�organizations,� city� recre-
ation�departments�and�summer�camps.
“Growing� Strong”� offers� paid� summer
employment� to� high� school� students� who
work�on�the�two�City�Green�farms,�organic
farm� stands� and� in� the� City� Sprouts
Learning�Garden�Summer�Camp.
“School�Grounds”�supports�the�creation
of�school�garden�projects�and�environmen-
tal�clubs� throughout�northern�New�Jersey,
while� teaching� students� the� benefits� of
locally�grown�and�organic�food,�as�well�as
the�impact�of�food�choices�on�their�health.
Nurtured and Grown HereOperating�City�Green�is�a�homecoming
for�Papa,�as�generations�of�her�family�grew
up� here� in�Clifton.�Her� parents,�Tom� and
Elaine�Papa,�were�Mustangs�who�graduat-
ed�CHS�in�1962.��And�while�they�have�both
played� a� role� (and� continue� to� do� so)�in
making� City� Green� what� it� has� become
today,� Papa� said� her� environmental�muse
goes�back�another�generation.
Papa’s�love�of�nature�was�inspired�by�her
late�maternal�grandmother,�Charlotte�Knors,
who�was�active�as�a�volunteer�at�the�Clifton
Arts�Center�and�the�Clifton�Public�Library.
“It�was� really� her� appreciation� of� nature,”
said� Papa.� � “Even� though� she� grew� up� in
Jersey�City�and�then�moved�to�Clifton,�she
taught� me� little� things� about� nature� and
beauty.��Like�clipping�Forsythia�branches�in
March�and�bringing�them�indoors�and�forc-
ing�the�bloom.��And�despite�the�fact�that�she
had�a�manicured�landscape,�she�had�a�sur-
prising�variety�of�plants.�When� she�died� I
dug�up�here�favorite�rose�bush�and�brought
it� to�my� home.� � It� still� blooms� like� crazy
every�spring.”��
Papa’s� motivation� for� giving� back� and
community� service� was� inspired� by
Grandma� Clementine,� who� also� passed.
“She�was�the�quintessential�Italian�grand-
ma.� � We� often� had� Sunday� dinner� with
family�and�so�I�think�she�installed�in�all�21
of�us�grandkids�to�be�selfless,�to�share�and
to�give�of�yourself.��I�think�they�were�one
of� the� first� families� in� Aquacknanonk
Gardens,”�Papa� continued,� referring� to
what�was�then�veteran’s�housing�off�of�Van
Houten� Ave.,� near� Valley� Rd.� � “So� on
Sundays�when�we�came�to�visit�we�would
get� off� the�Parkway� at� the�Grove�St.� exit
and� go� right� past� Ploch’s� and� Schultheis
Farms.� I�think� it’s� ironic� that� now� I� am
stomping�around�Clifton,�basically�walking
in�both�of�their�footsteps.”
Keeping It Green in CliftonCliftonites� appreciate� the� concept� of
access� to� locally� grown� produce.� Ploch’s
Farm,�a�City�Green�neighbor�has�some�17
acres�and�grows�and�sells�delicious�summer
and� fall� vegetables� at� its� farmstand.
Richfield�Farms,�on�Van�Houten�Ave.�near
CHS�and�the�Paterson�Farmer’s�Market�on
the� Paterson� and� Clifton� city� line� along
Crooks�Ave.�also�offers�green�options.�On�a
statewide� basis,� New� Jersey� remains� a
major� producer� of� tomatoes,� white� corn,
blueberries�and�cranberries.
Todd� Gustafson,� City� Green’s� farm
manager,�said�the�concept�of�urban�farming
gets�locally�grown�food�closer�to�the�peo-
ple�who�want� it.�Gustafson�is� the�steward
of�City�Green’s�three-and-a-half�acres�here
and�the�half-acre�in�Paterson.
Aside� from� the� nutritional� advantages
and� quality� of� seasonal� produce,� he� said
urban�farming�creates�jobs,�requires�fewer
pesticides,�and�reduces�the�cost�of�logistics
needed� to� ship� and� process� food.�What’s
needed�to�make�the�concept�work,�he�said,
is�a�“spark”� like�City�Green,�which�allow
urban�farming�to�root�and�prosper.
GrandmothersCharlotte Knorsabove and
Clementine Papa.
Parents Elaine(Knors) and Tom Papa.
City Green
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 13
January 2014 • Clifton Merchant14
Other� City� Green� staff� members� include� Jasmine
Moreano,� director� of� community� engagement;� Josh
Kane,� director� of� youth� programming;� and�Tom�Fox,
production� coordinator.�To�mark� its� 10th� anniversary,
City�Green�is�planning�a�gala�on�Sept.�20�with�music,
workshops� and� a� farm-to-table� supper� with� “lots� of
good�food,”�Papa�said.��Beginning�in�June�and�through
October,� the� group� � will� sell� its� organic� produce—
tomatoes,� lettuce,� arugula,� kale,� leeks,� peppers,� broc-
coli�and�cut�flowers—at�its�market�farm�stand�on�Grove
St.�on�Fridays�from�10�am�to�2�pm.��
Earth�Day�is�April�22�and�the�focus�on�“green�cities,”
aligns� well� with� the� stated� goals� of� City� Green.� For
Clifton�residents,�the�most�important�message�from�the
annual� celebration� is� that� every� contribution�matters.
The� small-scale� efforts� of� individuals,�when�weighed
collectively,� have� an� impact� locally,� regionally� and
across�the�globe,�according�to�Papa.
She�praised�the�efforts�of�city�residents�who�faithful-
ly� recycle� their� bottles,� metals,� papers,� plastics� and
more.�Plus,�family�friendly�backyard�gardens�and�plant-
ing�trees�“all�add�up,”�she�said.�
To�participate,�volunteer�or�contribute�to�City�Green,
call�973-869-4086�or�go�to�citygreenonline.org.�
City Green
The City of Clifton began the curbside collection of plas-tic bottles and containers on April 1. Only plastic labeledwith #1 and #2 will be collected. To locate the label lookunder the bottom of the bottle or container and find anumber within a triangle. Above, Victor Campolattaroloading a DPW truck in Rosemawr. For questionsregarding plastic collection or recycling, call CliftonRecycling Coordinator Al DuBois at 973-470-2237.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 15
Al Schultheis and Al Schultheis Jr. in 2004.
In April 2004, the Schultheises weren’t saying toomuch. And�who�could�have�blamed�them?��Al�Sr.,�then63,��and�Al�Jr.,�then�38,�found�themselves�at�the�center�of
the� Clifton� school� controversy.� � The� 5.8� acre� family
farm,�some�land�along�Broad�St.�and�an�adjacent�home—
some�7�acres�in�total—was�a�particularly�hot�commodi-
ty�since�the�City�Council�and�Board�of�Education�decid-
ed�that�a�middle�school�should�be�built�there.
When�we�went�to�press�with�the�May�2004�edition,�the
farm�was�still�owned�by�the�Schultheises,�though,�and�for
all�their�reticence�about�discussing�their�plans,�it’s�appar-
ent� that� past� dealings�with� the� City� of� Clifton� and� the
State�of�New�Jersey�had�left�a�bad�taste�in�their�mouths.
With�its�roots�in�the�1800s,�the�Schultheis�family�was
prepared�to�work�their�Clifton�farm�into�the�21st�centu-
ry.���Five�years�earlier�in�1999,�they�wanted�to�order�a
$250,000� state-of-the-art� greenhouse� from� The
Netherlands.��It�was�then�that�the�Schultheis�family�first
experienced�bureaucracy�at�its�most�frustrating.�
“The�City�gave�us�the�runaround,”�Al�Schultheis�Sr.
said.���At�first,�the�city’s�zoning�officer�gave�approval�for
construction� of� the� new� greenhouse—no� variances.
Thus,� Schultheis� forwarded� a� down� payment� and
ordered�the�greenhouse.�
Soon,�officials�decided�that�a�sophisticated�drainage
system� would� indeed� be� needed� and� that� Schultheis
would,�in�fact,�need�Zoning�Board�approval.�He�ended
up�having� to�hire�a� lawyer.�He�got� the�approval�but� it
took�months,�delayed�plans�and�cost�thousands.�
Next,�the�State�announced�plans�to�shave�off�some�of
Schultheis�farm�to�improve�Route�46.��More�stalling�and
another�runaround�with�state�bureaucracy.
So�back�in�May�2004,�there�was�a�lot�of�talk�about�the
family�having�a�multi-million�dollar�deal�from�a�devel-
oper?�Were�they�ready�to�sell?��The�Schultheises�claim
to�be�in�the�dark�about�their�farm’s�future�and�anyone’s
plans�to�buy�it.��“We�don’t�get�any�straight�answers,”�Al
Schultheis�Sr.�said.��“All�we�know�is�what�we�read�in�the
papers.”�Father�and�son�worked�their�chores�as�dad�con-
cluded:��“The�city�can�buy�it�at�the�going�rate.”
In�2005,�with�NJ�Green�Acres�funds,�Clifton�did�pur-
chase�and�forever�preserve�the�farm�for�$4.25�million.
Father�and�son�Schultheis�and�their�families�have�relo-
cated� to� Tabernacle,� in� farm� friendly� South� Jersey,
where�they�continue�to�grow�all�types�of�produce.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant16
Schultheis Farm
It’S Place In HIStory
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 17
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant18
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 19
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant20
Two Joes from Downtown Clifton, Each Awarded $8,500 Fellowships
Every year for the past 17, the NJ State Council onthe Arts has awarded 20 Artist Fellowship Awards in
the categories of Sculpture, Poetry, Choreography,
and Music Composition. Every year, the sub-
missions for the fellowships undergo inde-
pendent peer review based on samples of
work submitted by each artist. This year
awards were presented February 25 at the
South Orange Performing Arts Center.
Two of the 20 winners are Joseph
Rathgeber for poetry and Joseph Turrin
for music composition.
Both winners are named Joe; both
winners are from Clifton. They live
only blocks apart, yet met only after
learning that they had each won.
Two winners of a coveted arts award in
the same year from the center of the same
town? Some might say those are steep odds
to have beat. Or some might say it’s simply
another example of that Jersey truth: it’s in
the water.
Not long after I moved to New Jersey
several decades years ago, I heard a radio
DJ on 101.5 announce basso profundo,
“Not Philadelphia. Not New York.
Proud to be New Jersey.” Whooshing
past Exit 12 on the NJ Turnpike, I
thought, “Now really, where am I?
What other state goes around saying
they’re proud to be a state?”
Two Joe’s
TWO (NOT-SO-AVERAGE) JOES
Joseph Turrin and Joe Rathgeber.
By Irene Jarosewich
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 21
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant22
Two Joe’s
Poet Joe Rathgeber Joe Rathgeber does the DJ one better.
“North Jersey is the center of the universe,”
says Joe. He pretty serious about that.
“I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else,”
he continues, “I love that I have everything I
want within an hour. And for a state that gets
ripped on, it’s produced a lot of great minds.”
Among those great minds are two of the
most influential American poets of the 20th
century, Alan Ginsberg of Paterson and
William Carlos Williams of Rutherford, both
born and raised in towns along the Passaic
River, only a few miles apart.
Joe Rathgeber would never presume to be
in the same league with the other two North
Jersey wordsmiths, although he does get a
kick that his town is in between theirs and on
the same river.
Rathgeber remembers that since he was a
child, he liked being creative. There was no
one Aha! moment for him when he realized
that he wanted to be a poet. Rathgeber
absorbed many artistic genres and simply
grew into his writing over the years.
“In high school, I listened to hip-hop and
would scribble lyrics on notebooks. I expand-
ed through music, at first Bob Dylan, and by
the end of high school, I was reading a lot. But
I never thought about it. I never had a teacher
that said ‘you’re good,’ – I just knew I
enjoyed doing it and wanted to keep
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Twelve Labors by Joe Rathgeber
Dad gets home late—a transmission job was keeping him—he’s filmed with grease, and I define demigod.
Out at the shed he red rag cleans the snowblower carburetorof last winter’s gunk. It’s August and he’s replacing
the augur belt. He rigs up a lattice of ropes and pulleysto operate a pole saw and prune the brown branches
on the spruce out front. Steady-handed, he solders a signaldiode onto the remote control circuit board.
He power washes the pool liner; he scrubs the algae off.Aunt Gina left her lights on and needs a jump:
connect the red cable first—the black is the ground. Nevertoo early in the season to bleed the radiator valves.
He climbs a ladder to the roof, crouches at the corner likea gargoyle, and cleans a gutter with the garden hose.
Spackle and sand the hole that my head put in the drywall,inadvertently. Inspect the washing machine agitator.
Asphalt and coarse-aggregate patch the potholes and cracks—tar the driveway. Pull weeds and scuffle hoe the soil.
I tell my dad Heracles was a madman who slew his sons,completed twelve tasks, and was unpaid for his labor.
The guy washed mounds of cow dung from the stables, I say,and in nothing but a loincloth. Augeas, the owner,
refused to provide compensation, so Heracles killed him forthe principle of the thing. “Seems fair,” my dad says.
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April 2014 • Clifton Merchant24
Two Joe’s
doing this. It was natural. I was self-motivated to write
poetry. For example, my wife was in a creative writing
class at Clifton High. I didn’t know it even existed.”
Rathgeber, 31, met his wife Michelle Primavera
while at Montclair State in creative writing workshop.
Today, they reside on Washington Ave. and the couple
has a two-year old daughter Joleen and a second daugh-
ter due in June. They are teachers; Michelle teaches 7th
grade English in Ridgewood and he teaches AP English
to juniors at Bergen Catholic. The timing of the fellow-
ship is fortuitous.
“I’ll be able to take next year off from teaching, an
extended paternity leave, and will be home with the
new baby.” And thanks to the fellowship, Rathgeber
will be able to continue to write his poetry.
Michelle has stopped her writing for now, however
she is, as Rathgeber says, “his best critic” and offers
him insight into his own work.
“I write first and foremost for me,” said Joe, “but I
do have this outside vision of who would be reading my
work. And actually, it sounds selfish to say I write for
myself, not totally true, otherwise why would we try to
publish? Although I also know even if I publish, only a
slim number of people are reading poetry.”
Like many, Rathgeber is frustrated with the push in
education to move away from reading fiction to non-
fiction with a focus on an economic end goal, not a
focus on what you gain as a person.
“Recently, a scientific study was published that read-
ing literary fiction makes you more compassionate,
more sympathetic,” he said, continuing, “you forge
connections with the world. Readers make better peo-
ple. And as you mature, your reading should mature,
something after the Hunger Games. But we’re losing
the value in reading.”
Rathgeber often tells his students that language is
power and to use their language ability critically. “I say
to them that you are almost forsaking one of your
human rights when you don’t choose to do that.”
For Rathgeber, who received an honorable mention
in the 2014 Alan Ginsburg Poetry Award (see our
February edition), being award the fellowship was not
only an honor, but a validating experience.
“I was shocked, actually, that I won. I’m not the type
to win things. So it was good to know that anonymous
peers consider my work to have artistic merit.”
Joseph Turrin was an NYU freshman, just a yearout of CHS when singer and songwriter Paul Simon
told him “there’s nothing more I can teach you.”
Turrin, who was attending Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, New York at the time had come to
Manhattan to audition for Paul Simon at the urging of
his buddy and fellow Cliftonite Ron Maxwell.
“Ron was at NYU,” recalls Turrin, “and heard that
Paul Simon would be teaching a songwriting course
there. Ron said ‘let’s see if we can get in. If Simon likes
our work, maybe he’ll get us auditions with producers.’
I told him that I thought it was a good idea, so we
signed up.”
The two friends had met at Clifton High School.
Maxwell was a real go-getter, recalls Turrin, and was
already writing and producing shows and plays.
JOSEPH TURRINCOMPOSER
“Ron was a year older and heard
about me through the grapevine. He
had written a show and needed some
music. I was sitting in what we called
the little theater back then, in Clifton
High School. It was 1965, the first
year the new school was open. I was
playing piano and in walks Ron
Maxwell. He says ‘I hear you’re a
composer’ and I say ‘yea, I dabble in
it, play the piano some, play trumpet
in the (Mustangs Marching) band.’
He asked if I wanted to collaborate
with him on a show. I said sure.”
From that simple conversation began
a friendship that continues to this day.
The first show, Pillars ofCarthage, died a natural death, but
the two young men, who were not
even old enough to drive when they
began their creative collaboration,
went on to write and produce sever-
al more shows together.
Maxwell organized the Garden
State Players and sold company
stock to finance their productions,
among them Funny Girl and an
original show titled The Barricadebased on the riots in Paris in 1962.
Maxwell directed and Turrin wrote
the music.
The Barricade was a hometown
success, staged first at the former
Jewish Community Center, which
was in Passaic then and now on
Delaware Ave in Clifton, among
other venues. Turrin and Maxwell
decided to try for the footlights in
Manhattan.
“We have this show TheBarricade and we were going to
off-Broadway producers trying to
get them to do our show. We went
to Al Carmines, who was based in a
little church on Washington Square,
to other producers. Ron and I were
a team. We would sit down at a
piano and begin to play and sing.
We probably sounded terrible, but
we had guts.”
Fearless ambition is what got
them in the door to meet with Paul
Simon. “So we went to the audi-
tion,” recalls Turrin, “and we
showed up at the appointed time. We
were sitting, waiting and out came
Paul Simon, introduces himself and
asks ‘are you Mr. Maxwell, Mr.
Turrin?’ and asks us to come in. So
here we were, the three of us in
Simon’s classroom downtown in the
Village and Ron and I sit down at the
piano. We went into our routine. I’m
playing away and Ron is singing.”
Suddenly Turrin felt a warm
breath on the back of his neck and
turned around briefly to see Paul
Simon staring intently at the music
score placed on the piano in front
of Turrin.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 25
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Two Joe’s
“I thought to myself,” continues Turrin,
“Holy smokes! This is Paul Simon and he’s
really scrutinizing my music score.” Turrin
and Maxwell play to the end of the score.
Turrin remembers how Simon then turned to
him and said “Joe, I didn’t mean to rattle you
or anything. I’m just fascinated that every-
thing you’re doing is on this page. The way
you notated it. I can’t read or write music.”
Maxwell and Turrin were completely
dumbfounded. “We said something like ‘uh,
OK,” laughs Turrin. “Then Simon continued
‘I can’t teach you guys anything, you’re too
advanced. This course is for guitar players
and folk singers. You guys are almost writing
operas. I wouldn’t know what to do for you.’
He gave us a contact at the Fillmore East,
said good bye, thanks and we left.” The memory still
makes Turrin grin.
Working With A MustangFrom this precocious beginning, Turrin, winner of a
New Jersey State Council on the Arts 2014 Artist
Fellowship Award in Music Composition, went on to a
long and varied career as a composer for film and the-
ater, as well conductor and music professor. He contin-
ued to work with Maxwell, including on the music
score for Maxwell’s first Hollywood movie LittleDarlings, as well as with film star Alan Alda, jazz
musician Wynton Marsalis, conductor Kurt Masur with
the New York Philharmonic and legendary theater
director and producer George Abbott.
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Joseph Turrin with Larry Gareau and his wife Joanne. Gareau washis first music teacher (5th grade at School No.11 in Clifton) and thefirst to encourage Turrin’s musical abilities.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 27
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant28
Two Joe’s
Honoring A MentorAlthough Turrin was already in his early 40s
when he met George Abbott in 1990, and
Abbott was 102, it is Abbott that Turrin credits
as his mentor and the individual who most
influenced his further creative development.
Turrin recalls receiving a call from a choreog-
rapher who was working with Abbott. “He told
me that Abbott had just finished writing a show
and was looking for a composer. Abbott was
living in Florida,” said Turrin, “so I called him
and he sent me a script, asked me to send two-
three songs. The next time he was in New York
we met and he said ‘Let’s do a show together.’
We did. We wrote an off-Broadway show titled
‘Frankie.’ That’s how our friendship started.”
Turrin remains inspired by Abbott, by his work ethic,
by his persistence and Abbott’s insistence that every-
thing was open for a rewrite.
“He was known for his conciseness, never spoke
unless he had something to say. One thing he did have
to say was ‘it can always be better’.”
Countless people got their start because of Abbott,
said Turrin, Bob Fosse, Carol Burnett are just a few.
“Hal Prince used to bring Abbott coffee,” said Turrin,
“Abbott was offered West Side Story to direct. He did
not want to do it and told the producer ‘have my friend
Jerry (Jerome) Robbins do it’.” West Side Story went on
to be a huge success, bringing fame to Robbins.
After Abbott passed away at 107, the marquee lights
on Broadway were dimmed for a half hour in respect of
his memory, and a service was held for Abbott at a large
theater. “I was honored to be asked to sit with his fam-
ily,” recalls Turrin, “and remember as Jerome Robbins
came on stage to speak. Here was this big man with this
big reputation and the first thing is said was how in awe
he always was of George Abbott.”
Another legendary figure with whom Turrin has
worked is conductor Kurt Masur. Among Turrin’s many
compositions is Hemispheres commissioned for
Masur's final concert with the New York Philharmonic
in May 2002 and then taken on tour by Masur and the
orchestra to Europe and Asia.
About his work Hemispheres the New York Timeswrote, “Mr. Turrin's music is nervous, loud, swift and
aggressive to the point of violence. It is also beautiful-
ly made, negotiating its constant changes of speed and
pulse with grace. Mr. Turrin's music is young: no past,
only future.”
Besides the commission for Masur’s final concert,
Turrin has had a long-standing relationship with the
New York Philharmonic, composing for the ensemble,
as well as for individual artists. Besides the New York
Philharmonic, he has conducted with, and composed
for, more than two dozen orchestras worldwide.
His music has allowed Turrin to live in several
places and travel extensively, composing, conducting,
and performing. He now calls his hometown of Clifton
home again, living near the old downtown.
Clifton Teacher Makes a DifferenceThe oldest of seven children, Turrin remembers that
his parents were always supportive of his creativity.
While there was music in his Clifton home — his moth-
er sang and his father played the piano — it was
Turrin’s music teacher Larry Gareau that helped Turrin
understand his talents.
“Gareau once paid me the greatest compliment,”
Turrin said of his fifth grade teacher, “When we met
when I was a kid, he had just started as a music teacher
and it was my first year playing trumpet. Many years
later, Larry told me, ‘Joe that was my first year of
teaching. I always thought that I would have another
student like you. I never did.’”
Turrin and Gareau meet about once a year when his
former teacher, now retired in Georgia, comes back to
New Jersey to visit family and friends.
Joseph Turrin and jazz great Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 29
Two Joe’s
A professor at Montclair State,
Turrin hopes that he can help guide
some of his students the way his
mentors and teachers helped him.
“I’m a schooled musician, I’ve
learned the process,” said Turrin,
“I’ve learned the language of notes
and the language in my head is
notes, not letters. For composing
classical music you certainly need
to have these skills of notation, of
having the craft down ... and when
it comes to inspiration, sometimes
it’s simply guided by what was
commissioned – but I always have
a loose idea in head.”
The importance of craft, and of
how you use this idea in your head, what you do with
it, is the message that Turrin tries to impress upon his
students.
“In my music and film class, I have about 122 kids
each semester. It’s a general ed course and there are
very few music students, mostly biology, phys ed, edu-
cation majors. So I need to reduce this process of creat-
ing to a common denominator. I speak about ideas that
are springboards for compositions in writing and in
music. An example I give is “Call me Ishmael” from
Moby Dick. That phrase, that idea is not really impor-
tant by itself. But look where Melville went with it. It’s
become iconic because of what Melville did with it.
The matter is not just in the idea, but what one does
with the idea. That’s where genius lies.”
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January 2014 • Clifton Merchant30
In 1978, Joe Turrin; Sally Kellerman, Ron Maxwell, Howard DiSilva, SissySpacek and an unidentified individual on the set of Verna, USO Girl.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 31
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant32
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 33
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant34
Every year there are championship teams, but some
are different. Some are timeless. The 1969-70 New
York Knickerbockers were one of those teams.
Basketball was not brash and loud back then, jammed
with commercials, deafening sounds and slam dunks.
Instead, it was a smaller game, a city game, played in a
warm gym oasis braced against an urban winter.
The game was descended from peach basket goals
and once played in dance halls and church basements by
dirt poor athletes. During that season of the Knicks, you
could still see its historic bloodline, played by players
wearing short shorts and canvass and rubber sneakers.
The three-pointer was unknown, dunks were unusual
events, and the game flowed below the rim.
Was it better then? It was different. We loved it, and
we loved the Knicks.
Outside Madison Square Garden – a circular building
below Times Square so unlike its blocky neighbors –
chestnuts and big pretzels roasted in vendors’ carts
before games, filling frigid air with aroma mixed with
the diesel exhaust smell of buses. Ghosts walked by
muttering, “Tickets, who’s got tickets?” and cops pre-
tended not to notice.
Before every game, the familiar voice of announcer
John F.X. Condon would greet everyone, saying, “Good
evening, everybody. Welcome to Madison Square
Garden.” Cigar and cigarette smoke would hang in
clouds over the court, sometimes wafting over the tra-
peze and high wires suspended above when the circus
was in town. A simple buzzer would sound, signaling
the game’s start. There were no dancers, no halftime
stunts, and no mascots.
Every game, a constant buzz sounded from a brother-
hood of Knicks fans, people who knew basketball
A BASKETBALL FANComes of Age
Clifton History
Frequent Clifton Merchant contributor Jack DeVriesreceived a finalist award at the prestigious Table 4Writers Foundation gala, held at the New York AthleticClub on March 27. His entry, A Basketball Fan Comesof Age, is the story of discovering the game as a 13 year-old in Clifton during the 1970 New York Knicks champi-onship season. At left, Willis Reed and Wilt Chamberlain.
Story by Jack DeVries
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 35
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April 2014 • Clifton Merchant36
so well they could referee
games from their seats. They
were right on every call.
Basketball might have been
born elsewhere but its home
was New York City – on every
asphalt playground, in every
gym and, especially, inside the
Garden. And when the Knicks’
game was good, as it usually
was, it was spiritual – five
players connected as one, cir-
cling a goal, a fluid dance of
improvisation and planned
movement.
Connected by Invisible RopeThe team was led by Coach
Red Holtzman, a Jewish kid
from Brooklyn who played professionally in basket-
ball’s dark ages, before Wilt Chamberlain and Bill
Russell. Unlike today when 10 or more assistant coach-
es sit on an NBA bench, there were only two non-play-
ers on the Knicks’ side: Red in his dark suit and pudgy
trainer Danny Whelan in
his orange team shirt.
Red preached unselfish-
ness. Basketball was a
team game, but he brought
his players to a higher level
of understanding. As indi-
viduals, the Knicks were
good players, some All-Star
caliber. But together –
thinking and moving as
one, connected by an invis-
ible rope – they eschewed
individual glory and
became a true team of one.
“See the ball!” Red
would scream from the
sidelines, imploring his
players to focus on the bal-
let. “Hit the open man!” was his other frequent com-
mand. Through passing and constant movement, he
knew one of his five players would become free of his
defender, giving him an open shot.
Unlike most teams, every Knick could shoot
Clifton History
Jack DeVries with wife Lisa at the Table 4 Writers Foundation gala.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 37
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant38
Clifton Historyfrom anywhere on the floor, includ-
ing their stalwart Louisiana-bred
center Willis Reed. They also
defended their basket better than
any team, spurred on at home by
the Garden’s organ player and the
crowd’s unison chant of “DEE-
fense!”
I was 13 that season, a time
when I left childhood behind. For
me, a baseball kid who grew up
worshipping Mickey Mantle, root-
ing for the Knicks was life-chang-
ing. When I became a basketball
fan, I became part of a tribe – one
with millions of members through-
out the world. We knew the true
beauty of a perfectly launched
jump shot, the screech of sneakers,
and a well-executed bounce pass on a fast break. We
yearned for these things, hungered for them.
Instead of worshiping one special player as I’d done
with Mantle, each Knicks player was my favorite, espe-
cially the starting five.
One Colorful Starting FiveGuard Walt Frazier, nicknamed “Clyde” for his
Bonnie and Clyde fashion look, personified absolute
and unshakeable cool. He was famous for wide-
brimmed hats, fur coats and tailored suits – a Super Fly
in sneakers. Opponents feared him for his cat-like
quickness, often poking the ball away as fast a viper’s
tongue and gliding to the basket for a lay-up.
Frazier’s wingman was guard Dick Barnett, 33, the
sad-eyed old man of the team. Barnett was known for
his ugly “fall back, baby” jump shot, folding his legs
and nearly kicking himself on his jumper, while telling
teammates to fall back on defense because the shot was
good. Barnett didn’t care about cool. Later, he would
become Holtzman’s assistant coach and earn a PhD
from Fordham University.
Bill Bradley was the Knicks shooting forward and a
Rhodes Scholar. Back then, every fan knew he would
someday run for president, which he did in 2000. A
graduate of Princeton University and later a New Jersey
senator, Bradley was the ultimate team player, a perpet-
ual-motion dynamo, weaving through traffic to create
flow and space. Fatigue didn’t
exist for Bradley.
Power forward Dave
DeBusschere was the catalyst, a
player traded to the Knicks from
the Detroit Pistons the year before.
He proved to be the missing piece
of a championship team. He was
also a leader by example. At 24,
DeBusschere became player-coach
of the Pistons. He was also a gift-
ed athlete who pitched briefly in
the major leagues with the Chicago
White Sox. DeBusschere was
strong, uncomplaining and fear-
less, breaking his nose during the
season, but continuing to play with
a mask of metal and white tape.
He later became commissioner
of the ABA and a member of the Knicks front office,
dying from a heart attack at 62, far too young.
Reserves included Cazzie Russell, more offensively
talented than Bradley, but who Red brought off the
bench to provide instant scoring; back-up guard Mike
Riordan, who looked more like a New York City cop
than basketball player; bony center Nate Bowman; and
Dave “the Rave” Stallworth, a courageous forward who
overcame a heart condition to play.
Also on the Knicks’ bench was Phil Jackson, injured
and unable to play, but developing his now-famous Zen
coaching philosophy he’d use to win more NBA games
than any man.
Finally, there was indomitable Reed, the Knicks’ best
player and the team’s heart and soul. It was Willis who
taught us the most. He was an athlete who oozed digni-
ty and quiet confidence. Since Lou Gehrig, no athlete
better epitomized the title of team captain.
Each game, Reed would guard the opposing center,
all-time greats like Wes Unseld, New York City’s Lew
Alcindor (before he became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and
the Goliath Wilt Chamberlain. Each game, he’d bang
his 6’8” body (listed at 6’10”) against the strongest
opponent on the floor, drawing them outside with his
jump shot and becoming an unmovable wall under the
basket on defense.
During the season, the Knicks raced to a 60-22
record, complete with a 19-game win streak (then an
Walt “Clyde” Frazier
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 39
NBA record), winning the streak’s
final game against the Cincinnati
Royals, coached by the immortal
Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy.
Sports Illustrated christened the
Knicks the team of the moment on
its cover.
In the NBA playoffs, the Knicks
fought three epic and exhausting
battles. They beat the Baltimore
Bullets and Earl “the Pearl”
Monroe – a whirling dervish of
offensive talent – in seven games,
winning four at the Garden. Even
Clyde could hardly contain
Monroe. In the next series, New
York and Reed conquered the dom-
inating rookie Alcindor and his
young Milwaukee Bucks in five
games.
It’s East vs. West in the 1970s FinalsIn the NBA Finals, our Knicks would face the Los
Angeles Lakers.
The Series was a battle of East versus West Coast –
gritty New York against sunshine L.A. It pitted the
Knicks’ team-first philosophy against the Lakers’ indi-
vidual stars – players like shooting guard Jerry West,
who later became the silhouette of the NBA logo; high-
scoring Elgin Baylor; and man-god Wilt Chamberlain,
until Jabbar and Michael Jordan, the greatest scorer in
basketball history.
After four games, the Series was knotted at two wins
each with two contests having been decided in overtime.
Thankfully, having the NBA’s best
record, if there was to be a seventh
and deciding game, it would be
played at Madison Square Garden,
where the New York tribe would be
in full voice.
But during the first quarter of
Game 5 at Madison Square Garden,
disaster struck.
With New York trailing 25-15,
the invincible Reed collapsed like
he’d been shot. Pain seared through
his right thigh with a muscle tear.
He rolled over on his side and gri-
maced in agony, limping to the
locker room soon after, seemingly
with the hopes of a championship
season leaving with him.
Without the captain, the Knicks
dropped behind by 20, but regrouped and closed to with-
in 13 by the end of the second quarter.
At halftime, the Knicks learned Reed would be out for
the game, if not the Series. Knowing they would be play-
ing small against the 7’1” Chamberlain, the whip-smart
Bradley suggested the Knicks use a 1-3-1 zone offense,
unusual for a pro team. One player would run the base-
line behind Wilt, while three would play in front of him.
The plan was so desperate, it worked. The zone
offense confused the Lakers, and the Knicks began to
close the gap. With the 6’6” DeBusschere and 6’7”
Stallworth guarding Wilt on defense, the Lakers’ offense
stalled. With five minutes to play, the Knicks moved
ahead, 93-91.
The Garden crowd roared, urging the Knicks
Bill Bradley
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant40
Clifton History
on. New York’s swarming defense was magnificent,
forcing 19 second half turnovers, many on errant passes
inside to Wilt. The Lakers looked stunned and confused
– without Reed guarding Chamberlain, losing to the tiny
Knicks wasn’t possible. But it was.
New York won, 107-100, to take a 3-2 Series lead.
Back in L.A., no gimmicks
could save the Knicks. With
Reed dressed in a brown suit sit-
ting next to Holtzman, the
Lakers destroyed the Knicks.
Chamberlain took revenge on
the Lilliputians, scoring 45
points and adding 27 rebounds.
The Lakers won, 135-113, send-
ing the Series back to the
Garden for the deciding Game 7.
On Friday, May 8, I didn’t
remember a word of what was
taught in school that day. Every
Knicks fan was consumed with
a single thought: Would Willis
play? Would he be able to take
the floor and give our Knicks a
chance to win? Even his team-
mates weren’t sure, though Reed
was in uniform and had taken
warm-up shots 90 minutes
before game time.
On that night, I became a true sports fan. I wasn’t
following basketball because my parents loved it like I
had done with the Yankees; the game, the Knicks,
belonged to me.
With no hope of a ticket, I put on my white Knicks T-
shirt and stood at my parents’ stereo in the dinning
room, the best and loudest radio in the house (incredi-
bly, the championship game wasn’t televised in New
York). I refused to listen to this game on my little
Emerson radio in my room. I hunched over the stereo
listening to the guttural and rhythmic voice of Marv
Albert, who once sat in the rafters of the old Garden as
a kid broadcasting games to an imaginary audience.
Marv learned his craft well. His signature call of “Yes!”
punctuated every New York basket that season. I didn’t
care how silly I looked in my Knicks shirt hunched over
that stereo. My family had never seen me with such sin-
gle-minded focus. This was the game of my life.
The Knicks and Lakers took the floor. “There is no
sign of Willis Reed,” Marv told us. Inside the locker
room just 10 minutes before game time, Dr. James
Parkes took a six-inch needle filled with carbocaine and
cortisone and jabbed it into Reed’s injured thigh. Willis
hated needles. He’d get another
shot at halftime.
Here comes WillisJust before the game started,
like a savior in white warm-ups,
Willis walked out of the Garden
tunnel, leading to the floor. The
crowd – whose eyes were
trained on the entrance, hoping
and praying to spot him – began
to roar.
“Here comes Willis,” Marv
announced, “and the crowd
goes wild!”
“He’s gonna play!” I
screamed, jumping up and
down.
After each of Reed’s warm-
up shots, the crowd cheered.
The Lakers stopped shooting,
and stood and watched Reed
move about as he hit jumps
shots, trying not to look injured. The Knicks made
believe they were unaffected, but there was energy
shooting through them. Our captain was back.
The game began and Willis hit the Knicks’ first two
shots, pain filled-jumpers from the outside, the only
points he would score that night. After his shots whis-
tled through the net, the energy in the Garden grew to
levels never experienced before, and the hairs on my
arms stood as if electrified.
For 27 minutes, Reed dragged his body up and down
the floor, leaning his bulk on Chamberlain, his will to
compete awesome and inspiring. There was no more
pretending to be healthy; he was playing on one leg,
gimping up and down the floor. But it was enough. On
that night, Willis would hold the Goliath Chamberlain to
just 21 points.
New York’s players and fans fed off his strength.
Lew Alcindor and Willis Reed
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 41
Frazier was superb, scoring 36 points and handing out
19 assists. In addition to his 17 rebounds, Debusschere
contributed 18 points and Bradley added 17. The rest of
the Knicks were also terrific, swarming the ball and run-
ning the Lakers off the floor.
And the crowd’s roar was never louder, including
from the kid cheering back in Clifton, N.J.
The final score was the New York 113, LA 99.
Our Knicks were world champions.
That Knicks team would win one more championship
in 1973 before injuries and time resigned them to histo-
ry. But the team would keep me forever – through every
new collection of players and as the game grew above
the rim and stood equal to other sports. I would be ever
loyal to my Knicks.
And it started with that team.
Bicyclists:Daniel Ishak
Andrew Alvarez
Patricia Katz
Robert Bais
Randy Colondres
Richard DiBello
Brian Fopma
Tom Hawrylko
John Kavakich
David Kishbaugh
Michael Adamo
Jose Padilla
Kristofer Eliasz
Joseph Klein
Christopher Kelly
Gerald Wyhopen
Gabriel Zirpolo
Motors:Vincent LaRosa
William Bais
Derek Fogg
Darren Brodie
Robert Bielsten
Support:Gary Giardina
Tara Berberich
Contributeand Win
To Contribute, call Bicyclist Tom Hawrylko 973-253-4400
Buy a $5 ticket and win:• PS4 w/ controller & game• 40” LED TVw/ Bluetooth Soundbar
• Fuji Mountain Bike.Your donation to the CliftonPBA will help fund our 300mile bicycle ride toWashington on May 9.
Drawing & Send Off,April 25 at Pub 46
Clifton Police Department Police Unity Tour
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant42
Pysanky Maker
Natalka Warchola
In 1962, a young Natalie Warchola came to theUnited States with her family from Argentina to the
small Ukrainian neighborhood that is centered around
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Passaic.
Not only did she learn to speak English there, but
continued to practice her Spanish, as well as her native
Ukrainian. A warm and cheerful person who now lives
in Clifton, she continues to be happily tri-lingual.
Known to everyone as Natalka, the affection nick-
name in Ukrainian for Natalie, she remembers the coun-
selors in her youth group at the Ukrainian Center on
Hope Ave. from whom she learned Ukrainian traditions,
among them the art and craft of making pysanky, the
lovely Ukrainian Easter eggs that have decorated homes
and Easter baskets for generations.
While coloring and decorating eggs is a fun tradition
in many countries, the elaborately designed and crafted
pysanky are unique to Ukrainian culture.
“This method of decorating eggs is done by drawing
designs with melted wax on successive layers of colors
that have been applied to the egg, a method known also
known as batik,” said Natalka.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 43
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant44
Pysanky Maker
The word for the decorated eggs comes from the
Ukrainian word “to write” or “pysaty” since the designs
are written on the egg with hot, fluid beeswax using a
special tool called a “kistka,” or bone, harkening back to
the ancient origins of the pysanka when a sharpened ani-
mal bone was likely the tool used to draw the designs.
As the beeswax design hardens, protecting the color
underneath, the egg is dipped into a succes-
sion of dye baths, beginning with
the lightest color to the darkest.
After each dye bath, additional
designs are added.
By the end of the process, the
entire egg is covered in beeswax.
The wax is then gently melted off by
candle flame until all the underlying lay-
ers of colors and designs are revealed.
More than 2,000 years ago, making pysanky was a
pagan spring ritual, part of the Trypillian culture that
lived on the land that is now Ukraine. This ritual was
later adopted as an Easter tradition throughout Ukraine,
passed from generation to generation.
The elaborate designs found on the pysanky, both
pagan and Christian, such as floral motifs, crosses, and
fishes, animals, geometric shapes, all convey a certain
message. The designs and colors communicate messages
of fertility, protection, health, prosperity salvation, hope,
love and resurrection.
Pysanky are exchanged as gifts during Easter week, so
parents might give newlywed children pysanky cov-
ered with symbols of fertility and prosperity, an
ill person would be given one with symbols
of good health and a long life. As a
professional floral designer, creat-
ing pysanky is part of Natalka’s
artistic nature and she added that
creating these small works of art
is one of her passions.
She is also an expert in teach-
ing the art of making pysanky, which
she has been doing since her days in CHS,
where she taught her first class.
Natalka is conducting a three hour class at St.
Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 217 President St.
in Passaic on April 12 at 2 pm. The $35 materials fee is
payable at the door. The class will meet by the museum,
in the lower level. It’s best to email her in advance if
you’d like to attend: [email protected].
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April 2014 • Clifton Merchant48
The loss of 12 seniors to graduation might signal that it is time to
rebuild for most high school baseball teams, but veteran Clifton
Coach Joe Rivera believes that despite his 2014 group’s relative
inexperience, his roster of Mustangs are very capable of improving on last
year’s 14-13 finish. Rivera knows how important pitching is at the high
school level, and it has worked out that his only three seniors are one, two,
and three in the rotation.
“I always have high expectations, the kids always work hard,” Rivera
said. “Sometimes, inexperience is OK. Our pitching staff is a big reason
why I am optimistic, because if the other team doesn’t score, they can’t beat
you.”
Senior ace Luis Ramos leads the staff, having won six games in both his
sophomore and junior years. A finesse pitcher, he possesses a potent
changeup and sinker, and has great control. He also has some big game
heroics on his resume, having beaten Don Bosco Prep twice in his career,
and led the Mustangs to a playoff win over North Bergen last year.
Back from left, Tyler Lavin, Kyle Chupick, Kishan Patel, Kevin Lord, JustinBennion, Thomas Linker and Luis Torres. Front, kneeling, Sean Canfield, JoseRosado, Michael Valido and Luis Ramos.
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
MUSTANG SPORTS
Mustang Sports by Tom Szieber
CHS
BaseballApril 1 @ Passaic Co. Tech 4pm
April 2 @ Teaneck 4:15pm
April 3 John F. Kennedy 4:30pm
April 5 @ Ridgewood 11am
April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4:30pm
April 9 Passaic 4:15pm
April 11 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4:15pm
April 12 @ Kearny 11am
April 14 DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 16 @ Fair Lawn 4pm
April 19 Montclair 3pm
April 21 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 23 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 25 PCTI 4:15pm
April 26 Belleville 11am
April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm
April 30 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm
May 2 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 3 @ Marist 11am
May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4pm
May 7 @ Passaic 4pm
May 8 Bloomfield 4:15pm
May 9 West Milford 4pm
May 12 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 14 Passaic Valley 4pm
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 49
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant50
“When you have a pitcher like that, he is going to
keep us in games,” said Rivera. “We have to score in
scoring position to support it, but we have some solid
pitching.”
Jose Rosado and Tyler Lavin will both pitch on
Ramos’ off days, but will be key defensive cogs when
Ramos is on the mound. Rosado, a shortstop, has started
since the end of his sophomore year, and had just a hand-
ful of errors a season ago. He is also a great contact hit-
ter and overall player. Lavin missed last season with an
ankle injury, but was Clifton’s starting designated hitter
as a sophomore. He’ll play the outfield this year.
The rest of the Mustangs’ lineup will be junior-laden.
In the infield, Justin Bennion will start behind the plate,
while Luis Torres will play second and Kevin Lord (who
saw varsity time last year) will start at third. Tommy
Linker and Kishan Patel will split duties at first base.
In the Clifton outfield, meanwhile, Lavin will be
joined by classmates Mike Valido and Kyle Chupick.
The latter earned a varsity uniform toward the end of last
season, and could be the Mustangs’ leadoff hitter, as
well. “Kyle is a really good hitter,” Rivera said. “He has
great speed, and is a great fielder, as well. I expect some
good things from him this year.”
Junior Sean Canfield will act as a utility player and
pitcher, while sophomore Carlos Pineda will provide
some additional support from the bench.
Clifton is motivated by the task of making it back to
the North 1, Group 4 tourney to avenge a heartbreaking
3-2, last-inning postseason loss to Memorial of West
New York a year ago.
In all, the Mustangs’ youth may be a bit deceiving, as
much of Passaic County is in restocking mode, as well,
giving Rivera more confidence that his squad can com-
pete in tournament action.
“Last year was the second consecutive year we beat
Don Bosco,” Rivera noted. “That win actually started us
winning some more big ball games. We had quite a few
losses by less than two runs, so we were in just about
every game. And from what I know, the rest of the coun-
ty is a lot like us [in terms of youth]. I definitely think we
can compete.”
MUSTANG SPORTS Baseball
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 51
CHS softball has some holes to fill following the graduation of 10
seniors, but head coach Ron Shekitka believes there is enough tal-
ent on his roster to put together another solid season.
“We are Clifton High School, and I wouldn’t expect anything less,” stat-
ed the second-year head coach. “I see improvement everyday. I have no
doubt that once we get through some of these obstacles, we can compete at
a high level.”
The Mustangs were 15-12 a year ago, making magical runs to the North
1, Group 4 semifinals and the Passaic County finals. They also won a Big
North Liberty Division title.
But with the graduation of ace Amanda Marakovitz, the Mustangs will
now need to turn to more youthful personnel on the hill. Sophomore Jaclyn
Hanrahan and freshman Kayla Vance will both see considerable starts, and
both make up for a lack of varsity-level experience with abundances of talent.
“They both throw hard and they move the ball around,” Shekitka
Standing from leftr rear: Kayla Vance, April DiAngelo, Rachel Abill, KimD’Agosta, Karen Friedman, Megan Ingwersen. Middle, Jasmine Melendez,Caroline Shukaitis, Karleigh Davila, Ava Genardi. Kneeling, Rachel Plaskon,Dylan Amico, Jaclyn Hanrahan.
MUSTANG SPORTS Softball
CHS
SoftballApril 1 PCTI 4pm
April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm
April 4 @ McNair Academic 4:15pm
April 7 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm
April 9 @ Passaic 4pm
April 11 Bergen Co. Tech 4:15pm
April 12 @ DePaul Catholic 2:30pm
April 14 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 16 Fair Lawn 4pm
April 17 West Orange 4:15pm
April 21 @ Wayne Valley 4pm
April 23 Wayne Hills 4pm
April 25 @ PCTI 4pm
April 26 TBA 10am
April 28 John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 30 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 2 @ Immaculate Heart 4pm
May 3 @ Union City 11am
May 5 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4pm
May 7 Passaic 4pm
May 9 @ West Milford 4pm
May 12 Lakeland 4pm
May 14 @ Passaic Valley 4pm
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant52
MUSTANG SPORTS Softball
said. “They have to hit their spots and change speeds.
They have to pitch to contact. We want to also throw
some strikes and have our defense make plays. But I’ve
seen an improvement already in both of them.”
Clifton will find leadership in senior Dylan Amico, a
talented three-year starter at catcher. Hampered a bit by
injuries last season, Amico at full strength is outstand-
ing as both a hitter and defensive player. She will also
see time at third base when necessary.
The Clifton infield is led by hardworking junior
shortstop Kim D’Agosta. As a sophomore, D’Agosta
was superb at the plate, and continually improved
throughout the season in the field.
Junior Rachel Abill has the inside track on the start-
ing job at first base. A powerful hitter, Abill has consid-
erably stepped up her defensive game. Senior Karen
Friedman will also see time at first.
Senior third baseman Brittany Meneghin will start
for the Mustangs at third, though she has battled
injuries during the preseason. Amico, junior Karly
Davila and sophomore Ava Genardi have provided
relief when Meneghin was unable to compete. At sec-
ond, Davila, senior Caroline Shukaitis and junior
Jasmine Melendez will vie for playing time.
The Clifton outfield figures to feature juniors Rachel
Plackson (left), April DiAngelo (center) and Meaghan
Ingwersen (right).
“We have talent,” Shekitka said. “It’s just a matter of
how quick the pitching and fielding comes around. We
have some experience, and if the younger kids step up
and do what they are capable of, we should be OK. The
kids have great attitudes and work hard every day, and
that is all we can ask of them.”
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Clifton Merchant • April 2014 53
With all the recent successes of Clifton girls track and field, its fifth
place finish in Passaic County last year was somewhat surpris-
ing. Like all great athletic programs, the Mustangs are intent on
bouncing back in 2014, and emerging as contenders in the county aand
region once again.
“We haven’t finished fifth in the county in a while,” said third-year head
girls coach Mike Rogers. “We are just a young team. We do have depth, and
we have a lot of solid athletes. They know the tradition and they know what
they are a part of.”
The 2014 girls squad is led by senior Cassidy Cardone, a three-season
track athlete who competes in hurdles, the pole vault, and the 800-meter. In
addition, sprinter Tanairy Pomales improved consistently throughout the
indoor winter season, and is poised for a big spring.
“Over the years we have had girls who would run through the wall to win,
and Cassidy he is one of them,” Rogers said. “She is an all-out competitor,
and she gets everything out of her skills and abilities. Tanairy has been get-
ting better and better, and I think her last year will be by far her best.”
The Mustangs have a strong junior contingent, including Sofiya
At the Clifton Schools Stadium, top row from left: Mahmoud Soliman, Jeremy Castro, Mohammad Abdelkarim, Tim Bryantand Brandon Donaldson. Middle row: Ryan Downes, Justin Mascardo, Adib Haque, Octavio Sanchez and JeremyHernandez. Front from left: Metul Rana, Steve Diaz and Maurice Marsilla.
CHS
TrackApril 2 Bergen Tech/Eastside 4pm
April 7 Passaic 4pm
April 12 @ Passaic Valley 9am
April 14 PCT 4pm
April 19 @ Hackensack 9am
April 21 Kennedy 4pm
April 26 @ Randolph 9am
April 30 @ Passaic Valley(Big Nrth) 4pm
May 13 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm
May 14 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm
May 23 @ Randolph (States) 3:30pm
May 24 @ Randolph (States) 10am
May 30 @ Egg Harbor (States) 2:30pm
May 31 @ Egg Harbor (States) 11am
June 4 @ South Plainfield 2:30pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Track
Nedelcheva, who will bolster Clifton’s efforts in distance
events. Another, Michelle Aplogan, is a jack-of-all-
trades type who can hurdle, high jump, long jump, triple
jump, hurdles and sprint.
Other eleventh-grade standouts include Verona
Ebanks (shotput, discus, javelin), Olivia Rosenberg (800
meter) and Daliyah Pierson (sprinter). Senior all-county
soccer player Danielle Celestin will bring her talent and
athleticism to the track as well, and should contribute as
a sprinter right away.
On the boys side, second-year coach Kareem West
will look to a talented group of returnees to lead it to
another successful season.
“It is like a chess game,” West said of the process of
settling on a lineup. “You try to get the right pieces in the
right spots.”
Senior Jeremy Hernandez, a consistently productive,
hardworking runner, will lead the boys in the 800m,
1600m and 4x400 relay. Seniors Dwyer Halliburton,
Jeremy Castro and Octavio Sanchez (also a skilled pole
vaulter) are among the other returnees from the
Mustangs’ all-county relay squads from a year ago.
The Mustangs have several talented jumpers in sen-
iors Timothy Bryant and Ryan Downes. Bryant will
compete in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and
100m, while Downes will represent the squad in the long
jump, triple jump, 4x400 relay and 200m.
Senior Justin Tanayan is one of the county’s best dis-
tance runners, and will compete in the 1600m and
3200m this spring. His classmate, Isdael Leo, will throw
the shot, discus and help out in the 100m after missing a
great deal of time since an injury last outdoor season.
Speaking of outdoor, several athletes have jumped
onto the radar for spring based on outstanding winter
seasons. Among them are senior Mohammed
Abdelkarim and sophomores Otto DeLeon and Arianit
Sazimani.
There is unquestionably an abundance of talent on
both Mustang track teams, and each head coach is under-
standably optimistic about the prospects for 2014.
Perhaps Rogers expresses his confidence best.
“[Both the girls and the boys] know that regardless of
the wins or the losses, they are part of a family,” he said.
“I say it every year, we have plenty of great athletes on
this team. They give it their all, and they are just tremen-
dous. I think they are going to surprise people this year.”
More Mustang Harriers, from top left: Natalie Sroka, Maria Barbieri, Danielle Celestin, Cassidy Cardone, Daijah Smalls.Bottom from left: Isam Boukattaya, Britney Basit, Asma Baker, Valeria Montoya, Tanairy Pomales, Justin Mascardo.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant54
MUSTANG SPORTS Track
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 55
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant56
Clifton was one quarter away from a Passaic County championship last
season, losing an 8-6 final round game to Lakeland after leading at
the end of the third. Despite its youth, coach George Cowan believes
it can surprise a lot of folks and compete again for that elusive title in 2014.
“I think a lot of teams will look past us this year in the county, but I really
think we are going to surprise a lot of people,” said Cowan, now in his sixth
season leading the Mustangs. “Our guys have played together a lot in the off-
season, and they are ready to play.”
Senior Edward Myers will man the cage for the Mustangs. A big, burly
presence in the goal, Myers is deceptively fast, and is nicknamed “the big
cat.” Providing him protection will be the defensive unit of seniors Brendan
Schreiber and Louis Lopez and junior Brandon Nunez. Junior Christian
Duffy will also see time. The defensive corps is a physical group whose indi-
vidual components, much like Myers, individually possess uncanny speed for
players of their size.
The midfield will be led by junior Billy Gibson, who will start alongside
sophomore Anthony Rodriguez and senior Michael Kommer.
From left, top: Kevin Perez, Antonio DeChellis, Ryan Trombitas, Jared Solorzano,Luis D. Ramos, Amro Assaidi, Brendan Schreiber, Edward Myers. Front, MohamedTarakji, George Balkjy, Michael Kommer, Luis Lopez, Adam Kopitar,
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse
CHS Boys
LacrosseMarch 26 @ Scotch Plains 4pm
April 1 @ New Providence 4pm
April 3 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 8 North Valley - Old Tappan 4pm
April 10 @ Union City 4pm
April 12 River Dell 11am
April 15 @ Newark East Side 4pm
April 17 Lakeland 4pm
April 22 Oratory Prep. 4pm
April 24 @ Saint Joseph Regional 4pm
April 26 @ Newark Academy 11am
April 28 Pascack Hills 4pm
April 30 Verona 4pm
May 1 North Valley - Demarest 4pm
May 3 TBA (County Tourn.) 11am
May 9 Governor Livingston 4pm
May 10 TBA (County Tourn.) 11am
May 13 @ Nutley 4pm
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 57
St. Mary High School64 Chestnut St., Rutherford, NJ 07070201-933-5220•www.stmaryhs.org
We’re St. Mary High School, a/k/a “The Gaels,” and we proudlyterm ourselves “Small, Personal and Catholic”
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Prospective students spend a day “shadowing” a Gael through-
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For further information, and for the opportunity to explore
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of academic and personal achievement, call Mike Sheridan,our Admissions Director, at 201-933-5220, x270.
Become a “Gael For A Day!”
Open HouseWed. April 30
7-9pm
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant58
Two talented underclassmen, sophomore Patrick
DePasque and freshman Kevin Buttel, will round out
the group.
“We have a real good group at middy,” Cowan said.
“Billy is a strong defensive middy, Anthony has great
stick skills and Michael has good speed. Patrick is a
strong dodger, as is Kevin, who can go left, right, and
dodge.”
Leading Clifton’s offensive attack will be senior
George Balkjy. Balkjy broke into the varsity lineup last
year, and figures to be one of the team’s primary scor-
ers in 2014. He will be flanked by senior Ryan
Trombitas and sophomore Brett Ranges.
Trombitas will be especially valuable near the
crease, while Ranges is a lefty that adds a dimension to
the Mustangs scoring ability.
“I’m real confident in this group,” said Cowan, who
led the Mustangs to a 13-5 record and a playoff berth a
year ago. “Clifton has always had good lacrosse. Even
in tough seasons, Clifton lacrosse has always played
good opponents tough. I expect the same out of our
team. I think we can accomplish a lot.”
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse
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Happy EasterWe’ll be open Easter Sunday
Clifton’s BESTRye Bread!
Back top from left: Tatjana Petrovic, Gabriela Garcia, Brittany Morales, Tayana Castro, Yasmine Oviedo, Nikki Guzman,Nicole Roncancio, Tiffany Richards, Meghan Sekanics. Kneeling, Kayla Ware, Jennifer Koppers, Elizabeth DeMuro, OliviaDeMuro, and goalie Shannon Christie.
Fifth-year head coach Amanda Gryzkin knows that her Mustangs have
some work to do after winning just one game last season, but she is
confident that a difficult 2013 will be what guides her squad to a bet-
ter year this spring.
“The girls know what I expect, and after going through a season like last
season, they want to improve and want to get better,” Gryzkin said.
“Hopefully that is enough motivation to get us to take the next step. We have
worked hard to get the basics down. We know our opponents, as well. It’s
just a matter of getting it done.”
If Clifton is to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2010, it
will need its top players to carry it there.
Offensively, that responsibility falls first on the shoulders of talented
sophomore Olivia DeMuro, a second-team All-Passaic County player last
season. DeMuro played in the midfield last season, but will likely serve in an
attack role going forward.
“She knows the game a lot more now,” Gryzkin noted. “She has the
instinct to get the ball and go to goal. She wants the ball, she wants to learn
the game and continue to get better.”
Junior middy Nicole Roncanio will be another cog in the Mustangs’ offen-
sive efforts. Roncanio boasts good stick skills and exceptional aware-
CHS Girls
LacrosseMarch 27 Bergen Co. Tech 4:30pm
March 29 @ Old Tappan 11am
April 1 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 3 @ Dwight Englewood 4pm
April 5 Fair Lawn 10am
April 8 River Dell 4pm
April 10 Mary Help Academy 4pm
April 12 @ Demarest 11am
April 17 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 22 @ Westwood Regional 4pm
April 24 Paramus 4pm
April 26 @ Wayne Hills 11am
April 28 @ Pascack Hills 4pm
April 29 @ Waldwick 4pm
May 1 Lakeland 4pm
May 5 Passaic Valley 4pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 59
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant60
ness on the field. One of the better stick handlers on the
team, Gryzkin hopes Roncanio will take a more aggres-
sive approach in going to the goal this season.
Sophomore Brittany Morales will be a midfielder
this season after playing defense as a freshman.
“I think having Brittany in the midfield will add a
dimension to our team,” said Gryzkin. “I think having
her there will give us a little spark between our offense
and defense.”
Speaking of the Clifton defense, that unit will be led
by senior Jenn Koppers, a multi-sport athlete who will
become a three-year starter at the varsity level this sea-
son. Koppers’ leadership and field smarts are valuable
assets, as is her anticipation, which make her a frequent
receiver of opponents’ passes.
Gryzkin still has some shuffling to do before decid-
ing on a final lineup, but expects to get contributions
from four skilled juniors in Kyana Castro, Tiffany
Richards, Tatjana Petrovic and Gabby Garcia (who
missed all of last season with an injury).
Senior Shannon Christie will man the goal for the
Mustangs once again.
MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse
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Clifton Merchant • April 2014 61
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Members of the Class of 2013 earned about $33 million in scholarships and grants.Clifton graduates earned over $2.75 million of those scholarships and grants.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant62
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball
In its first season under head coach Nick Romanak, the Clifton boys vol-
leyball team went 15-6 and qualified for the state playoffs. The Mustangs
will be a much younger group in year two, but Romanak feels there are
pieces in place that will allow them to remain a contender in Passaic County.
“We’ve been working a lot on passing and ball control,” Romanak said.
“We need to get those skills up before anything else. If we can’t do that and
get the ball to the setter, the offense kind of gets wasted.”
The Clifton offense will run through a pair of big juniors, outside hitter
Nabil Jamhour and middle hitter Kamil Garbowski. Each was a bit raw going
into their sophomore seasons, but have impressed Romanak with how much
they have progressed in a year’s time.
“Early last year, I was working a lot with Nabil a lot on timing and foot-
work, but he came into this season with that already down,” said Romanak.
“Now we can work on changing up his hitting a bit. He is real athletic and a
quick learner. Kamil is about 6-5, 6-6, and is very nimble for a guy his size.
His arm swing is a lot more fluid than last year.”
Senior Raj Patel, junior Andrew Harhaj and sophomore Steven West will
vie for the second opposite hitter spot, and all three should see the floor.
Top left, Nabil Jamhour, Kamil Garbowski, Francis Lisdema, Patrick Kowalcyk,Andrew Harhaj. Kneeling, Abraham Zeidan, Andrew Pica, Raj Patel, MattMiller, Steven West. Not Pictured, Leon Simpson, Ben Shahar, Fredy Talavera
CHS Boys
VolleyballApril 1 @ PCTI 4pm
April 3 John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 4 Belleville 4pm
April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm
April 9 Passaic 4pm
April 11 @ Bergen Co. Tech 4pm
April 16 @ Fair Lawn 4pm
April 17 Hackensack 10am
April 21 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 23 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 25 PCTI 4pm
April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 30 Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 2 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 3 @ Fair Lawn 3:30pm
May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4:30pm
May 7 @ Passaic 4pm
May 8 @ Harrison 4pm
May 9 Teaneck 4:15pm
May 12 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 14 Passaic Valley 4pm
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Junior Leon Simpson figures to play opposite for the
Mustangs, and has demonstrated athleticism, jumping
ability and a strong arm swing this preseason.
The Mustangs will likely run a two-setter offense, as
junior Andrew Pica and sophomore Matt Miller have
both looked good throughout training camp.
“Andrew is a very vocal kid,” said Romanak. “He can
be good as a setter because he has shown leadership
qualities and a level of comfort with talking to the team
and setting up the offense. Matt has been a nice surprise
in tryouts, and looks real comfortable with his hands.”
Senior Ben Shahar will figure in as a Libero/defensive
specialist. Shahar is quick and experienced. He is also an
accurate passer and willing to lay out and hustle for balls.
The Mustangs will hope to build on a 2013 campaign
that saw them lose to Lakeland in the county semifinals
and Montclair in the first round of the state playoffs.
“Our first goal is just to focus on the county,” said
Romanak. “We are a very young team. We graduated
most of our starters, and we’ll be rebuilding. But with the
talent we have, we should still be pretty competitive. I’d
love to get us back in the picture of reaching state finals
like [former coach] Mike [Doktor] did sooner than later.”
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant64
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 65
For the first time in coach Andrea Bobby’s nearly quarter-decade
tenure as Clifton High School’s tennis coach, the Mustangs head into
the spring as the defending Passaic County champions. Nevertheless,
they will look much different than the team that tied Wayne Hills for last
season’s county title, as five of its seven players graduated in June.
The Mustangs will have a good chance to be competitive once again,
though, thanks to the presence of first singles star Richard Rangga. A state
quarterfinalist last season, Rangga won the Passaic County first singles tour-
ney in 2013, and was an All-Big North Liberty honoree, as well.
“Nobody in this area can really beat him,” Bobby said proudly. “He has
been playing for a very long time, and he plays tournament tennis. He is a
whole caliber above players who only play the high school game.”
The senior boasts a powerful swing, and a calm demeanor on the court.
He often overpowers his opposition, and is tactically good enough to outlast
equally skilled players.
Junior Sebastian Luna, a second doubles county champ a year ago, will
play second singles this season. After immigrating from Peru a year and a
half ago, Luna joined the Mustangs before even learning to speak English.
He became a great fit on the squad, and won all-league and all-county hon-
ors with partner Tim Laux. Juniors Giancarlo Osnato, Akshay Mandania,
Shea Harris, Benidick Galan and Tejesh Mehta and sophomore James
Caporaso will round out the Clifton roster.
The Mustang Varsity team includes, from left, Akshay Mandania, Tejeshi Mehta, James Caporaso, Sebastian Luna, RichardRangga, Giancarlo Osnato, Shea Harris and Benedick Galan.
CHS
TennisApril 1 @ PCTI 4pm
April 2 @ Kearny 4pm
April 3 John F. Kennedy 4:15pm
April 7 @ Eastside Paterson 4:15pm
April 8 @ North Bergen 4pm
April 9 Passaic 4pm
April 11 DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 16 @ Fair Lawn 4pm
April 21 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 23 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 25 PCTI 4pm
April 28 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 30 Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 2 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 5 Bergen Co. Tech 4pm
May 7 @ Passaic 4pm
May 9 West Milford 4pm
May 12 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 14 Passaic Valley 4pm
May 16 Kearny 4pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Tennis
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant66
CHS golf may just have the formula necessary to contend this season.
With a combination of leadership and experience and some young,
hungry newcomers, head coach Chad Cole and the Mustangs look
like they have a solid foundation in place.
Senior Gabe Larkey will hit the links as the number one golfer for Clifton,
having put in a full offseason honing his skills.
“Gabe has practiced every day,” said Cole. “He played every day in the
summer. He just absolutely loves golf.”
Larky will be supported in the lineup by seniors Nick Flaherty and Dave
Korty. Flaherty has improved his game a great deal after spending a year as
the sixth golfer on the Mustang roster, while Korty is a returning starter.
Several youthful Mustangs figure to contribute, as well, including three
sophomores: Stephen Mawker, Jordan Dunleavy and Bryan Cammerino. All
three have impressed Cole, and each has shown a high upside. In addition,
freshman Keith Barcelona will round out the squad.
“I expect good things from all the guys,” Cole said. “It is hard to tell how
quickly we will come along because the whether has prevented us from get-
ting outside as much as we would like. But I am looking forward to the
future. They are really nice kids. They are eager to learn.”
Heading to the Upper Montclair Country Club, Nick Flaherty, Gabe Larkey, StephenMawker. Center: Keith Barcelona, Piotr Paluch, David Buonafina, BryanCammerino. Rear: Dillon Keenan, Dave Korty, Jordan Dunleavy and Ed Castillo.
CHS
GolfApril 1 Eastside 4pm
April 2 Eastside 4pm
April 3 @ Bloomfield 4pm
April 4 Passaic 4pm
April 7 @Ridgefield Park 4pm
April 8 Passaic Valley 4pm
April 9 Kennedy/Bergen Tech 4pm
April 10 Hackensack/Ramapo 4pm
April 23 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 24 @Fort Lee 4pm
April 28 @West Milford 4pm
April 29 Passaic Valley 4pm
April 30 @West Milford 4pm
May 1 Lakeland 4pm
May 5 Big North Div 4pm
May 7 @Nutley 4pm
May 8 Big North Tourn 4pm
May 14 Passaic Co. Tourn 4pm
May 16 P.C.T.I. 4pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Golf
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 67
Above is Freeholder John Bartlett with winners from last year’s filmfestival. Below, from left, Passaic County Film Festival DirectorDeborah Hoffman, Film Commissioner Bob Nicholson and BillCress, chair of the Passaic County Film Commission, along withadditional winners. Call 973-569-4720 for more details.
Filmed & Celebrated in
Passaic CountyEnjoy free admission to the 10th AnnualPassaic County Film Festival on April 26 at
10 am at the Fabian 8 Theater in historic
downtown Paterson. Films were produced by
students and independent filmmakers who
live, attend school, or work in Passaic County.
The films were judged by members of the
Passaic County Film Commission in February
and one will be named as the best film of the
festival with other awards given by category.
To celebrate the 10th year of the festival, the
North Jersey Federal Credit Union (NJFCU)
will present $1,000 to one film maker selected
by NJFCU representatives. That film maker will
also work with the NJFCU to create a 30-second
commercial promoting the Credit Union.
This program is made possible in part by a
grant administered by the Passaic County
Cultural & Heritage Council from funds grant-
ed by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Support also provided by the Passaic County
Freeholders, Bascom Corporation Investors
Bank, M&T Bank, Register Lithographers and
the PCCC Foundation. Call 973-569-4720 or
write to [email protected] for details.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant68
Meet our CHS Students of the Month,selected by the VP’s of each wing.
A Ray of Sunshine, A Helping HandGuidance Counselor Kathy Speiser
said Central Wing senior Tiffany Sheppard
just may be the happiest student at Clifton
High School.
“She is like a ray of sunshine to those
who know her,” Speiser said.
Sheppard seems to get that kind of
reaction from many of the students and
teachers she meets at CHS. She is a posi-
tive person and also prides herself on
working hard at everything she does and
loves helping others. She believes that is
why she was chosen as one of the
Students of the Month for April.
Her favorite class is Period 7 Biology
with Mr. Ralph Casale because he “helps
her a lot” and returns her kindness. She
said the class work is special to her
because it gives her the opportunity to
work with other students.
For fellow students—including her best
friend Vanessa—and teachers at CHS, it’s her warm,
friendly personality they love the most.
“Being her guidance counselor has been a joy,”
Speiser added. “She stops in my office each morning to
say hello with a smile.”
Another source of enjoyment for Sheppard, and her
family, is her participation in the Special Olympics.
Known by the teachers for her dependability,
Sheppard often does work study during Period 8.
Despite having one eye on the future, Sheppard said
she will miss all her friends and teachers at CHS. She
expects to find work after graduation, and hopes to
work filing, answering phones and clerical assistance.
The 3 DsFor senior Robert Lupo, it’s his
diligence, dedication, and
discipline that has earned him
recognition as one of April’s
Students of the Month.
“I also ranked 25th in my class
while keeping up my extracurric-
ular activity,” the East Wing stu-
dent proudly proclaims.
Lupo participates in his fair
share of activities at CHS.
He is also Student Council
Association president, a member
of the Mustang Marching Band
and editor-in-chief of The Clifton Hub, CHS’s student-
created newspaper.
Besides that, Lupo is president of the French Club
and considers French with Lindsey Cinque to be his
favorite subject because “I like the French culture and
Mrs. Cinque makes learning fun,” he said.
Lupo is also working hard theatrically and will be
participating in the school’s spring musical production
of Shrek, beginning May 21. He looks forward to the
next chapter in his life after he graduates in June.
“I will be studying at The College of New Jersey
next year, majoring in psychology and minoring in
either philosophy or French,” he said. “I then
Tiffany Sheppard Robert Lupo
Ahlam Tamimi
By Domenick Reda
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 69
hope to pursue a career in either law
or psychiatry.”
Despite keeping so busy, Lupo val-
ues the friendships he has made at
school–something he will greatly
miss after he graduates.
“Although I take my education
seriously, having my friends in my
classes makes learning more enjoy-
able,” Lupo said. “My favorite part of
school would be the social aspect of
it. Although I have a handful of really
close friends, I would have to consid-
er Michael to be my best friend. I have known him for
all 18 years of my life and couldn’t have asked for a
better companion.”
A Mother’s LoveWhen sophomore Ahlam Tamimi
was ill recently, it was her mother who
was there for her every step of the
way.
“My best friend is my mother,”
Tamimi explained. “She was with me
everyday when I was sick and will
help me with anything, anytime I need
her. I can trust her with anything.”
Tamimi points to her triumphant
return to school, coupled with her hard
work, as reasons she was named as
one of the Students of the Month.
“I recently went back to school and I’ve been trying
hard all month,” she said. “I have been getting good
grades.”
Tamimi has also been active in
Mustang sports.
“I’m currently on the track team and
I will be playing soccer in the fall,” she
said. “I really enjoy being a part of a
team because everybody is like your
second family.”
Apart from athletics, Tamimi takes
her school very seriously.
“My favorite subject is biology
because it is the study of life and every-
thing I learn in that class... I get to use
in everyday life,” she said.
“I plan on becoming an optometrist
in the future because I’ve been going to
eye doctors my whole life and I enjoy
what they do.”
Getting A Kick Out Of AcademicsBeing a competitive athlete who
travels, and a distinguished honor roll
student for the last two marking peri-
ods, is not easy, but don’t tell that to
senior Rachel Egyed, a North Wing stu-
dent who is convinced her consistent
academic efforts got her named as one
of April’s Students of the Month.
“I think it’s because I have been get-
ting good grades,” she said. “I was
Rachel Egyed
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant70
invited to the Academic Awards din-
ner for the first time in my four years
here.”
But Egyed credits good teachers,
like Karen Slinger, with making
things easier for her.
“My favorite class and teacher is
calculus with Mrs. Slinger because
she has made math easy to understand
and she has been the most helpful
math teacher I’ve had at Clifton
High,” Egyed said.
But what Egyed really loves is
competing, especially in athletics.
“I’m attending the University of Maryland, College
Park in the fall to continue my soccer career,” she said.
“I will be majoring in kinesiology to study towards a
sports medicine or physical therapy major.”
And although she is looking forward to the next
challenge, Egyed is going to miss all the friends she
made at CHS, both on and off the field.
“I enjoy the social and athletic aspect of school the
most,” she said. “I loved being able to play soccer for 4
years with the girls I grew up with. My best friend is
Elizabeth DeMuro because she’s been
my oldest friend and we’ve been best
friends since we were about 8 years
old. Playing soccer together for 10
years has gotten us very close.”
Art Imitating LifeThe four years Elizabeth Wojcik
has spent at CHS have opened her
eyes to the beauty of art, as has Art
Teacher Angela Carozza.
“My favorite class is art with Mrs.
Carozza,” said the senior Annex stu-
dent. “I love the creative projects we do. Art is so beau-
tiful.”
That enthusiasm has helped Wojcik to steadily
improve her grades during her tenure at CHS.
“I think I was chosen for Student of the Month
because I have improved my grades tremendously and
I have been working extremely hard,” said Wojcik, who
plans on eventually pursuing a graduate degree but is
still undecided about a major. “I am really trying my
best in all of my classes because in the future I want to
go to a really great college and get a master’s degree.”
Elizabeth Wojcik
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 71
Nearly 25 years after starting the Charmers, aprogram that grew into one of the most successful
girls travel softball programs in the Northeast,
Clifton’s Steve Meyers was inducted last month
into the New Jersey ASA (American Softball
Association) Hall of Fame, on March 2 at Martell’s
in Pt. Pleasant.
Like a lot of parents of kids who play sports,
Meyers got involved as a volunteer in the Clifton
Little League softball program back in the
1980s, coaching his two daughters, Kim and
Randi, and later his stepdaughters, Lauren
and Amy.
Meyers had played fast-pitch softball in
his younger days, so coaching gave him an
opportunity to not only spend more time
with his kids, but to continue his passion for
the game, he said.
A CliftonCHARMER
By Carol Leonard
State Honors for Girls Softball Legend
Early day Charmers, from left, Laura Tynio, Lisa Caruso, Lauren Dickinson, Jen Carlo, Jen Prawetz, Jen Bandurski,Chistina Aloia, Amanda Bongiorno, Megan Doczi, Tracey Collins, Jaime Anzaldi, Jen Mcintyre, Bill Doczi, Sal Anzaldi.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant72
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 73
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant74
April Edition
Over the years, Meyers observed the talent and inter-
est in the sport of many of the girls and he wanted to take
them to the next level. “I didn’t feel that the competition
in the Little League program was challenging enough for
them,” he said.
Along with fellow Central Division coach Tom Acton,
Meyers decided to enter a team of girls from the Central
and Western division programs into a 14-and-under tour-
nament in Parsippany in 1989. To his and Acton’s sur-
prise, the Clifton girls won the tournament, their first
ever outside of the Little League environment.
“One of the umpires suggested that we enter the
upcoming ASA tournament to be held in Sparta,”
Meyers said. “She explained the ASA program to us and,
as they say, the rest is history. We went on to win the
state tournament and were told we were going to Buffalo
in two weeks. With no money at our disposal, the girls
got donations and, with the town’s help, we had a bus
and were on our way to the regionals.”
Three weeks later, after winning the regional tourna-
ment, the team continued on to Chatanooga, Tennessee
for the national tournament. “Again, we had to raise
money, but the girls did a great job getting donations and
we flew to Tennessee,” Meyers said.
John Vnenchak, Susie Vnenchak, Melissa Crombet, Susan McNamara, Laura Gurgick, Jodiann Palmieri, Kelly Crossen,Julie Ulbricht, Frank Venezia, Kneeling Jim McDonald, Kelly Powers, Melissa Kern, Gianna Caruso, Jill Romanowski,Chrissy Didieo, Vanessa Ortiz.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 75
Learning From Losing At nationals, the team got an education, winning one
game and losing two to be knocked out of the tourna-
ment. But the experience gave the girls the incentive to
continue playing at a more competitive level and gave
Meyers the inspiration to gradually expand the program
to include teams at every age group, from 10-and-under
to 18-and-under.
Participation on the Charmers involved a three month
commitment, from mid-May through mid-August, with
two nights a week of practices and weekend tourna-
ments, many of them out of state and requiring overnight
stays. “We were able to play against the highest level of
competition,” Meyers said. “It gave the girls an opportu-
nity to meet other players from all over the country and
develop lasting friendships.”
As the program expanded to more age groups, girls
from other towns who were interested in playing more
competitive softball wanted to be part of the Charmers,
so Meyers opened tryouts for the teams to these other
players. The program, originally called the Clifton
Charmers, became known as the New Jersey Charmers.
In addition to winning countless local tournaments
throughout the Northeast, over the years Charmers teams
were also very successful at ASA state, regional and
national tournaments.
A 10-and-under team coached by Sal Anzaldi, who
spent many years coaching with the program, traveled all
the way to California, finishing seventh in the country in
ASA competition. Anzaldi’s 12-and-under Charmers
won back-to-back mid-Atlantic regional championships.
Other notable accomplishments in the Charmers
organization included the 14-and-under team finishing
ninth in the nation in 1990, and that same basic team also
finishing ninth in national competition as a 16-and-under
team in 1992.
The 18-and-under team, which was formed in 1993,
was also very successful, with players coming up from
below. Meyers gives added credit to the coaching of Jim
MacDonald and Frank Venezia, both former St. Mary’s
High School coaches. “They had no children in the pro-
gram, but coached for the love of the game and to help
these young women,” he said. “College coaches would
call Coach Mac and Coach V about certain girls, sight
unseen, and would respect their opinions about playing
in their programs.”
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April Edition
Charmers Create CHS Dynasty The Charmers program is regarded by many as an
important contributor to the development of the CHS pro-
gram as a softball powerhouse during the 1990s, winning
Group IV state championships in 1993, ’97 and ’98 as
well as numerous league and county titles.
Outstanding CHS players of the ‘90s who got their
start with the Charmers were Meyer’s daughter, Randi,
along with Gianna Caruso, Danielle Fischer, Cara Kling,
Vanessa Ortiz, Kim and Jamie Anzaldi, Allison Gavasi,
Kim Artim, Laura Tynio, Dana Jeanetti, Amanda
Bongiorno and Megan Dozci. Brianne Moore, a pitching
standout from 2003-2006 honed her skills as a Charmer..
Other Charmers players from Clifton had successful
softball careers at St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford,
including Meyer’s stepdaughter, Lauren Dickinson, along
with Val Esposito and Jessica Perez.
Many of the girls went on to play softball in college,
some receiving athletic scholarships. Among them were
Caruso at Long Island University, Bongiorno at Wagner
University, Perez at St. Peter’s College, Artim and Dozci
at Drew University, Jeannetti at Georgian Court
University, Dickinson at Robert Morris University, Kim
Anzaldi and Esposito at Felician College, Jamie Anzaldi
at Ramapo College and Brianne Moore at Bloomfield
University.
Long-time softball umpire Joe Massaro, who nominat-
ed Meyers for the award, got to know him when the
Charmers first became involved in tournament play. “He
was a great contributor to the game for all that he gave to
the girls who came through the organization,” Massaro
said of Meyers. “When you do this for as long as I have,
you get to see all kinds of coaches. Steve always conduct-
ed himself with class and his teams always came to play.
They played hard and they played fair.”
A Humble Kind of GuyThose who coached in the Charmers organization also
have high praise for Meyers. “He got coaches for every
level and gave them the leeway to run their teams and
make decisions about what tournaments to enter and who
would play,” Sal Anzaldi said. “It was never about him.
He always had the best interest of the kids at heart.”
Meyers was presented with a Charmers memory book
at the awards dinner, which included congratulatory well
wishes from many of his former players that, he said,
brought tears to his eyes. “Many of these girls are giving
back to the community as coaches and teachers,” he said.
In accepting his award, Meyers said he felt humbled.
“The plaque has my name on it, but it was received
because of a great many other people,” he commented. “I
may have started the organization, but there were a lot
more who contributed to make it a success.”
Meyers continued to coach in the Charmers organiza-
tion through the 2003 season and remained active in an
administrative role until the program disbanded after the
2005 season.
Among the final players to wear a Charmers uniform
were Clifton High School battery mates, pitcher Diana
Giordano and catcher Jill Leonard, whose 2007 team won
the last state championship for CHS during their senior
year. Giordano went on to star in the pitching circle at
Ramapo College, and Leonard, after
briefly playing at Montclair State,
took an assistant coaching job at
Hackensack and now teaches and
coaches the freshman team at Passaic
High School.
Meyers continues to love softball,
but currently spends his time viewing
the game from the stands. He and his
wife Beverly enjoy going to see his
stepdaughter Lauren coach at her col-
lege alma mater, Robert Morris, and
watching their 10 year-old grand-
daughter Morgan pitch in the now
unified Clifton youth softball league.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant76
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 77
Health & Medicine
What started out 30 years ago as place
where adults and children could go for non-
life-threatening medical treatment, perhaps
on a weekend, a holiday or another time
when their regular doctor was unavailable,
has evolved into a comprehensive center for
primary patient care.
The Clifton ImmediCenter, along with its
affiliate sites in Bloomfield and Totowa, has
been certified by the National Committee
for Quality Assurance as a patient-centered
medical home. The model program is
intended to improve patient outcomes and
satisfaction as well as reduce the growing cost of
healthcare.
Founded by three family care and internal medicine
physicians, Drs. Michael Basista, Dan Bernheim and
Stephen LaPoff, the Clifton ImmediCenter opened its
doors on June 4, 1984 across from its present location
at 1355 Broad St. It was the first urgent care center of
its kind in this part of New Jersey, offering patients an
alternative to more expensive hospital emergency room
visits in a friendlier community setting, with extended
hours.
Over the years, the ImmediCenter has transitioned
from being just a walk-in center for episodic illnesses
and injuries into a more full-service primary care facil-
ity, where patients could also schedule an appointment
with a particular physician and receive on-going care.
“Some of our patients didn’t have a primary care
physician and they were looking for better follow-up
care for chronic conditions,” said Dr. Basista, who
serves as director of the ImmediCenter practice. “They
liked the convenience of our offices and the fact that
we’re open weekends and evenings.”
By Carol Leonard
ImmediCenter Nowa National Model
Medical Home
Doreen Sestilio of Immedicenter with patient Joe Carlucci.
ALLUrgent
FROM
TO
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant78
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 79
The ImmediCenter patient care
staff includes six full-time physi-
cians, all board certified in inter-
nal medicine or family practice,
two physician assistants, four
nurse practitioners and five regis-
tered nurses, the latter all recently
trained as care coordinators under
the new patient care model.
New Healthcare LawThe concept of patient-centered
medical homes predates passage
of the federal Affordable Care Act,
often referred to as Obamacare. In
New Jersey, Horizon Blue
Cross/Blue Shield has been a
leader in promoting the concept
for a number of years, but the ini-
tiative has gained more momentum under the new fed-
eral healthcare law.
Most of the media attention on Obamacare has cen-
tered on its efforts to expand health insurance coverage
for more Americans and improve the quality of health
insurance plans. This includes
eliminating exclusion of coverage
for pre-existing conditions, allow-
ing grown children to stay on their
parents’ insurance plans until age
26 and covering the expense of
certain preventive services with-
out a copay or deductible. The law
also eliminates lifetime payment
caps and requires insurance com-
panies to spend at least 80 percent
of the premiums they collect on
covered medical expenses for their
customers. But other parts of the
extensive new healthcare law
focus on improving delivery and
efficiency of care, with the goal of
reducing cost and providing better
outcomes for patients and their
families.
At the heart of the patient-centered medical home
are the care coordinators, whose role is to closely fol-
low-up on patients, particularly those with chronic
medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood
Dr. Michael Basista,Medical Director of Immedicenter
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant80
Health & Medicine
pressure and other issues requiring continuing care and
treatment. At the ImmediCenter, all of the care coordi-
nators are nurses who have been on staff for a number
of years and “who had a special interest in this new
innovative way to practice,” Dr. Basista said.
Two of the care coordinators, Idina Merz, who
serves as lead care coordinator, and Doreen Sestilio,
who works out of the Clifton office, attended a training
program funded by Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield at
Duke University to learn about case management,
using community resources to help patients and work-
ing with specialists.
Improving Primary Care“The best way to handle patient care is through pri-
mary care,” Dr. Basista said. “But in the past we hadn’t
done as good a job as we should have in following
through with our primary care patients. Under this new
model of care, we’re more proactive, especially with
patients with chronic problems. Our goal is to keep
people out of the ER (emergency room) and out of the
hospital.”
Care coordinators maintain close contact with their
patients, calling to remind them to come in for regular
visits to their doctors, checking to see how they are
doing on their medications and assisting with commu-
nication between patients and physicians. They also
help patients set up appointments with medical special-
ists, recommend resources in the community such as
referrals for nutritional counseling, and help educate
patients about ways to maintain good health and pre-
vent illness.
Clifton resident Joe Carlucci, 61, who is diabetic and
has been a patient of Dr. Basista at the ImmediCenter
for many years, is pleased with the new model of care.
“I think it’s great that Doreen (Sestilio) is now part of
my medical team,” he said. “She always keeps me
abreast of my lab work and, if I have a problem or ques-
tion, I know when I call I can ask for Doreen. She
knows me and it makes me feel more comfortable.”
As part of enhanced coordination of care and the
goal of reducing unnecessary costs, Dr. Basista said
that he is playing a more active role when
ImmediCenter patients need to see outside specialists.
“We’ve been moving more toward the use of less
expensive generic prescriptions and I request the spe-
cialists to do the same with our patients. We also coor-
dinate to avoid unnecessary or duplicate testing.”
Expanded use of electronic medical records, another
provision of Obamacare, is also an important feature of
the new patient care model. When completely in place
in the coming years, Dr. Basista expects that this will
further improve communication between the
ImmediCenter’s primary care doctors and the hospitals
and specialists who also treat its patients.
Later this spring, an online patient portal will be up
and running at the ImmediCenter, which will enable
patients, using a secure password, to access their lab
work and other screening test results on their home
computers, smartphones and other electronic devices.
They will be able to request appointments and medica-
tion refills as well as communicate with their primary
care providers and care coordinators.
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Clifton Merchant • April 2014 81
Patients as Partners in HealthcareDr. Basista believes that this feature will help
enhance the dialogue and partnership between patients
and medical care providers, which he feels is very
important to improved healthcare.
“Like the slogan from the old Sims clothing store
ads, ‘an educated consumer is our best customer,’ I like
patients who come in with knowledge and who ask
questions,” he said. “Patients who feel more involved
in their treatment are more likely to be compliant in
taking care of their health.”
One of the requirements for designation as a patient-
centered medical home is expanded access to care by
patients, such as with the kind of extended hours that
the ImmediCenter has always provided. The facility is
open weekdays from 8 am until 9 pm and on weekends
from 8 am until 5 pm, including all holidays.
“We’re also doing primary care days, where certain
doctors focus on seeing only primary care patients,”
said lead care coordinator Idina Merz. “On those days,
we have a team meeting with the care coordinators and
physicians to go over issues about the patients we will
be seeing.”
In addition to Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the
concept and goals of the patient-centered medical home
model have been supported through financial incen-
tives by Medicare and a number of other private health
insurance companies, including Oxford and United
Healthcare.
According to Dr. Steven Peskin, senior medical
director & director of clinical innovations for Horizon
Healthcare Innovations, designated patient-centered
medical homes receive payments from Horizon to sup-
port patient care coordination and for meeting certain
quality and efficiency goals in addition to the regular
fee-for-service payments.
“It’s about changing the payment model to reward
outcomes and values,” Dr. Pleskin said. “The triple aim
focus of this model is better health, better experience
with care and lower cost of care.”
Dr. Basista predicts that in the coming years, the tra-
ditional fee-for-service concept in medical care will be
history. “It has to change,” he said. “We can’t continue
to spend as much as we have been on healthcare with-
out better outcomes. We need to make the population
healthier at a lower cost.”
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Firefighter’s Ball
The last Clifton FMBA 21 Firefighter’sBall was in 2008. Organizer Tony Latona
and his committee of Gayle and Mike Turi,
Krystina and Brian Reilly and Sue and
George Spies said too much time had passed.
So on March 21 they remedied those
lapsed years and set precedent for what will
no doubt again be an annual tradition.
Held at the Royal Warsaw in Garfield, it
was an evening to celebrate Clifton
Firefighters and their families. On these
pages are photos from just some of the
tables, the dancing and the great food and
beverages served up during the night.
Best of all, it was a time to reconnect with
some of the retired officers and their spous-
es. Top of this page shows a reunion of brass
with Chief Joseph Colca who led the depart-
ment from Nov. 12, 1980 to May 1, 1985. He
is pictured with Deputy Chief Alex Beattie
along with DC Lyons. DC Loder, DC Sauer,
DC Spies and DC Tahan.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 83
• Bronze Plaques• Monuments• Porcelain Photos• Benches• Mausoleums• Cemetery Lettering• Cremation Urns• Pet Urns
973-471-5008 • 800 Broad St., Clifton
Shana andEd Polak
Diamond Memorials Diamond Memorials
Find our selection online!
diamondmemorialsinc.com
We’re Here to Discuss Your NeedsMon-Fri: 10 am- 4pm • Sat: 10 am-3 pm
Around Town
Join the Fight Against ALS (Lou
Gehrig’s Disease) and join Team
Najda (in support of Clifton’s own
Mike Najda) at the Saddle River
County Park in Saddle Brook.
There are three ways to support the
cause: t-shirt sponsor, virtual walk-
er or get out and walk on June 8 at
9:30 am. Go to www.alswalks.org
and look for Team Nadja.
A Good Friday White Breakfasthosted by the Women’s Ministries
of the United Reformed Church of
Clifton and Passaic, 352 Clifton
Ave., is on April 18 at 9:30 am. The
topic is Last Words—TheUnexpected. Call 973-365-1666.
The St. Andrew Gala AwardsDinner is May 8 at 6:30 pm at the
Brownstone to honor individuals
who embody the values of the church
and the namesake of the awards. To
be feted are Michael and Jayne
Cerone (St. Andrew Family Faith
Award), Friends of the Clifton
Animal Center (Gloria Kolodziej
Community Enhancement Award)
and Robert Morgan (Mayor James
Anzaldi Community Service Award).
Tickets are $60. RSVP by April 15
to 973-473-3711 or 973-779-6873.
Join Clifton’s Mike Najda andhis wife Patricia in a walk toraise funds to fight ALS.
On March 15, the Clifton PassaicUkrainian-American YouthAssociation and the UkrainianCongress Committee of Americaprotested the Russian invasion of theCrimean Peninsula in Ukraine bycalling for a boycott of the purchaseof gas at Lukoil’s stations, Russia'ssecond largest oil company.
Clifton’s Nick Tselepis, of Nicholas Real Estate Agency, representatives from Alma Bank, clergy and community members met at Paterson City Hall on March 25 to raise the Greek flag and mark that nation’s Independence Day.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant84
The Marching Mustang’s firstDrum Majorette, Marie (Vullo)
Giunta, passed at the age of 90 on
March 18. Pictured high stepping
on the cover of our August 2006
edition, Marie led the Marching
Mustangs from 1938 to 1942 and
went on to perform with big bands.
She and her late husband Mario
were parents to Clifton’s Angela G.
Williamson and grandparents to
Alexandra and Spencer.
Clifton’s Rotary Club hosts a
Ladies Only Comedy Night to
Benefit Autism Awareness on April
25 at 7 pm at the Mountainside Inn.
Tickets are $40. Call 973-557-3886.
The 14th Annual Savor Food &Wine Experience is on April 7 at
the Preakness Hills County Club
from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The $50 ticket
allows patrons to sample great and
eclectic foods from dozens of area
restaurants. Visitors will also enjoy
sampling fine wines, entertainment,
networking and a cash bar.
Presented by the North Jersey
Regional Chamber of Commerce,
call 973-470-9300 or register online
at northjerseychamber.org.
The Passaic County CommunityCollege Foundation Gala on April
24 raises funds to provide scholar-
ships to financially challenged stu-
dents at PCCC. Held at the stately
Hamilton Club on the Paterson cam-
pus, the gala honors Kevin P.
McCabe, President of the Carpenter
Contractor Trust. Tickets to the gala
are $100 and various sponsorship
and underwriting opportunities are
also available. To find out more,
call Todd Sorber at 973-684-5656.
The Friends of the Clifton Public Library are making note of the religiousholidays of the Jewish Passover, which begins April 14, and Easter, celebrat-ed by Roman, Byzantine and Orthodox Catholics on April 20. ColleenMurray is pictured at a display of Passover books and items which helpexplain traditions on the second floor of the Main Library on Piaget Ave.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 85
City Council candidate LaurenMurphy is the guest speaker at the
April 21 Clifton Democratic Club
meeting. The club is open to all and
the meeting is at 7 pm at the Main
Library. Call Club President John D.
Pogorelec, Jr., at 973-778-1604.
Knights of Columbus ReginaMundi Council 3969 Beefsteak at
St. Andrew’s Church Hall, 400 Mt.
Prospect Ave., is on May 17 at 6:30
pm. Tickets are $35; table of 10 for
$340. BYOB. Call 973-772-2727.
Meltzer’s Sporting Goods presents
NRA Home Firearms Safety
Courses in April. New or prospec-
tive gun owners or hunters of all
ages and expertise will learn general
firearms safety, from storage and
proper handling of ammunition to
firearms cleaning, maintenance and
function testing. Prices or either $50
or $100 for one of the three dates.
Classes are at 118 Outwater Lane,
Garfield. and led by Richie Pometti,
Meltzer’s in-house NRA certified
instructor. To register, call Billy or
Lisa Meltzer at 973-478-7647.
Girls Scouts of Troop 44 touring and tasting at Sweet Sister’s Cakes.
Girl Scout Troop 44 hosts the first All City Clifton Girl Scouts Awards and
Recognition Dinner on June 3, from 6 to 8:30 pm at Mario’s Restaurant on
Van Houten Ave. Organizer Janet De Stefano said girls of all ages are invit-
ed to share, learn and celebrate their scouting experiences.
“Every level of scouts learn from each other,” said De Stefano, a Registered
Nurse at CHS and a 1980 CHS grad. She was also a Girl Scout in her youth
with a troop at Bella Vista Church and First Presbyterian Church on
Maplewood Ave. where Troop 44 now meets every other Wednesday.
“Like the kids, we leaders learn and share with each other.”
Scouts who have earned the highest awards in the Bronze Award (4-5th
grades) Silver Award (6-8th grades) or Gold Award (equal to Eagle Scout
in Boy Scouts) are invited to tell about their projects. “This is not just about
awards but really an opportunity to help grow Clifton Girl Scouts,” said De
Stefano. Call 973-694-1445 or write [email protected] for more details.
Around Town
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant86
CHS Project Graduation Chair Keith Bassford accepts a $500 check from St.Philip the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council 11671 members DavidCordero, Jack Paparella, and Ray Lill. The money helps send the 2014 gradsoff to a safe and secure party on the night they gradaute CHS.
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 87
973-772-8451R o o f in g • S id in gS eamless G u t te rs
Additions • Alterations
Clifton Parents Requiring Action and Informationfor Special Education (P.R.A.I.S.E.) is a non-adversar-
ial parent support group for parents and families of spe-
cial needs children. Meet at the Allwood Library on the
fourth Monday of every month, September through May.
On April 28 at 7 pm, Dawn Monaco of the Statewide
Parent Advocacy Network will present a workshop on
Least Restrictive Environment. For more details, write
to [email protected] or join the Facebook page.
The Clifton Community Band performs the 13th
Annual Lollipops & Roses Intergenerational Concert
on May 17 at 2 pm in the CHS Auditorium. Under the
baton of Marching Mustang Maestro Bob Morgan,
proceeds benefit the Clifton Education Foundation and
the Clifton Community Band. Admission is $7. Kids
under 12 are free. Info at [email protected].
Sandee Augusto, with sons PJ and Richie, owner ofCaselerno Salon, now at 707 Van Houten Ave., hosteda grand reopening on March 30.
Do you know, teach, or love achild or adult with autism?Then join the Walk-a-Thon and
Free Family Carnival on June 8
at 11 am at CHS. That’s last
year’s photo at right. Presented
by Parents of Autistic Children,
the group also offers a free work-
shop on Engaging Your Child
through Game, Play and Ipad
Activities at the Allwood Library
on May 19 at 6 pm. For more info
on the group, the walk, or to con-
nect with Clifton families already
involved, go to www.poac.net or
call 732-785-1099.
Birthdays & Celebrations - April 2014
Karen Goldey..................... 4/1Timothy Hayes .................... 4/1Stephanie L. Magaster......... 4/1Hetal Patel.......................... 4/1Karen Schwartz .................. 4/1Raymond DeDios ................ 4/3Carl DiGisi ......................... 4/3Eric Homsany ..................... 4/3JoEllen Kenney-Illenye.......... 4/3
Kevin John Lord .................. 4/3Greg Alexander.................. 4/4Joey Scotto ......................... 4/4Bo Franko .......................... 4/5Sabrina Greco.................... 4/5Wafa Othman .................... 4/5Mark Peterson .................... 4/5Bob Tanis ........................... 4/5Joe Franek.......................... 4/6Sharon J. Koribanics ........... 4/6Jessica Mondelli.................. 4/6Luke Kulesa ........................ 4/7Donna Mangone ................ 4/7Patricia Colman .................. 4/8Sheryll Franko .................... 4/8Jackie Henderson................ 4/8Jeff Murcko......................... 4/8Emma Gretina .................... 4/9Kathy Krisinski .................... 4/9Brian Firstmeyer ................ 4/11Leila Gasior...................... 4/11Felipe Rivera .................... 4/11Erin Smith......................... 4/11Debbie Tucker .................. 4/11Alice Shanley Babinski ...... 4/12Josh Ontell ....................... 4/13
Alexander John Mosciszko. 4/14Lisa Kulesa ....................... 4/15Adam Pienciak ................. 4/15Kurt Irizarry...................... 4/16Robert Monzo .................. 4/16Linda Humphrey ............... 4/17Joseph P. Koribanics.......... 4/17Peter Fierro....................... 4/18Jason Dubnoff................... 4/19Jennifer O’Sullivan ............ 4/19Bryan Rodriguez............... 4/19John Anderson.................. 4/20Jeff Camp......................... 4/20Greg Nysk ....................... 4/21Alicia Rose Aste................ 4/22Lori Hart........................... 4/22Mike Tresca...................... 4/22
The Hawrylko brothers, Tom Jr. is 27 on April 16 and Joe turns 29on April 27, with their pal Bob Marley who turns 10 on April 4. Pete& Eileen Fierro will be married 38 years on April 18. Belated BirthdayGreetings to Dana Aref who turned 9 years old on March 10.
Birthdays & CelebrationsSend dates & [email protected]
Roland & Lena Krygsmancelebrate 61 years of marriage on April 24.
Happy 35th Anniversary toJohn & Donna Hawrylko
on April 28 Daniel Leigh Magaster April 7, 1985 - Oct. 16, 2003April 2014 • Clifton Merchant88
Clifton Merchant • April 2014 89
Alyssa Tucker .................. 4/22Bobby Ventimiglia ........... 4/22Danny Gorun.................. 4/23John Pogorelec, Jr............ 4/23Marc Scancarella ............ 4/23Katie Michelotti ............... 4/25Brianna A. Pastore .......... 4/25Klondike Tresca ............... 4/25Buddy Czyzewski............ 4/26 Stephanie Magaster ........ 4/26Jillian Mangone............... 4/26Annie Pogorelec.............. 4/26Elise Termyna .................. 4/26Mike Grimaldi................. 4/27 Michael Press.................. 4/27April Graham.................. 4/28Stephen Camp, Jr. ........... 4/29Paul Colman ................... 4/29Heather Halasz ............... 4/29Christine Klein................. 4/29
Peter Chudolij is 19 on April 28.
Happy 8th Birthday toDamian Calvo on April 13.
April 2014 • Clifton Merchant90
Shop Class
CHS students are getting scholarships to attend tech-nical schools and heading into a career in the auto tech-
nology field that pays $36,000 per year to start.
Students at CHS have have been touring Lincoln
Technical School and Universal Technical Institute as
instructors familiarize them with the thriving field of gas
and diesel engine repair and the future it holds for them.
“The kids are exposed to various campuses via field
trips funded by the trade schools,” said CHS Auto
Technology Instructor Richard Alberghini. “The initia-
tive offers a higher education alternative for these stu-
dents after graduation. We’ve established a rapport with
these schools and they know Clifton kids are motivated.”
Alberghini credits the CHS Adminstration and Board
of Education for supporting the shop which he said was
in “disrepair” when he took over three years ago.
“These kids need opportunities other than college and it
shows them another way.” Alberghini said.
The basic curriculum offered by LTI and UTI is one
year plus an additional four months in specialized train-
ing. Many students have received partial scholarships to
attend. Some Clifton seniors who are taking advantage
of the program include Diego Carmona-Bermejo,
Florencio Guevara, Alex Isidro-Chavez, Dennis
Mendez, Andy Manchego, Erinn Mangual, Tyler Nasr,
Michael Tomon and Jayson Santana.
Above at CHS Auto Shop, Dennis Mendez, Jose Rosado, Tyler Nasr, Jayson Santana, Michal Tomon and Andy Manchego.
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