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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 3
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant4
Table of Contents
The Power of SilenceChris de Vinck Essay
The Day Annie DiedJoe Torelli’s Unforgettable Gram
Copperman Dave CafoneMaking Magic with Metal
Learning to be a HorsemanClifton Cowboy Derek Drobenak
Diagnosed with ALSBusiness Owner Mike Najda
Champion PlasticsBags by the Millions, Made In Clifton
What’s Inside?7
12
16
24
30
36
44
Bobby Castronovo Jr.Managing a NYC Landmark
16,000 Magazines
are distributed tohundreds of Clifton
Merchants on the firstFriday of every month.
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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko
Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko
Graphic DesignerKen Peterson
Staff WriterJoe Hawrylko
Contributing WritersTania Jachens, Carol
Leonard, Rich DeLotto,Don Lotz, Jack DeVries
1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011
© 2013 Tomahawk Promotions
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 5
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52
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Mustang SportsCHS Spring Sports Preview
Events & BriefsChurch Events, Political Skirmishes
Passaic County Film FestivalReel Cliftonites in the Loop
Birthdays & CelebrationsNeighbors & Friends party...
Student of the MonthChrissy Gustafson Dives Ahead
PaceMaster 600Treadmill Invented in Clifton
Police Unity TourPage 74
Where are theseMustangs now?In July, we’ll be writing aboutMustangs celebrating their 10,20, 30, 40, 50 and even 60year reunion. Write to us andlet us know where you are at...
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant6
140 Arlington Ave. • Clifton • 973.473.4830
Affordable for Life!
Ask any of these previous customers about theFederle Family & Affordable Home Services...
Jerry Zecker is pictured with his grand-kids, Colin and Henry Nash, in front oftheir parent’s home at 105 McCosh Rd.Affordable had done work on Zecker'shome at 55 McCosh. Jerry and his wifeArlene were so pleased by the serv-ice, they recommended the Federlefamily to do roofing, siding, gutters andleaders on the Nash home.
385 Hazel St.Siding 2009Roofing 2013
repeat customer
Aviles183 E 6th St.Roofing 2010
repeat customer
Wiles73 Green Tree Rd.Windows 2012,Roofing 2013
repeat customer
Studwell229 E First St.Roofing 2013
Palumbo34 Orchard Dr.Siding 2006Roofing 2011
repeat customer
Derelitto18 Arlington Ave.
Kitchen 2008Bathroom 2011repeat customer
Quinlan14 Dalewood Rd.Porch Enc. 2003Windows 2013
repeat customer
Tenney47 New Brier LaneWindows 2001
Siding &Roofing 2013
repeat customer
Fierro
The Federle FamilyJohn, Ron, Jim & James
Affordable for Life!
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 7
Moments of Grace
Do�we�covet�silence�these�days?�The�New�York
City�Department�of�Transportation�has�decided
to�take�down�the�“no�honking”�signs.�Car�com-
panies� are� being� encouraged� to� create� fake� noise� in
their� electric� cars,� yes� to
protect�inattentive�pedestri-
ans,� but� also� to� maintain
the�din�we�have�created� in
our�mechanized,�chugging,
noise-filled�world.
I� remember� when� my
brother-in-law� spent� his
first�days�at�our�small,�fam-
ily� cabin� in� Ontario,
Canada.�“I�couldn’t�sleep,”
John� said� with� a� chuckle.
“It� was� too� quiet.”� If� we
choose� to� live,� at� times,� a
contemplative� life,�how�do
we� mask� the� intruding
sounds� that� surround� us?� Trappist� monks,� while� not
engaged�in�the�popular�notion�of�vows�of�silence,�speak
when�necessary�as�they�try�to�refrain�from�idle�talk.�At
meals�they�do�not�speak�but,�in�their�tradition,�listen�as
a�fellow�monk�reads�aloud�perhaps�from�a�contempo-
rary�work�of�literature,�perhaps�from�ancient�poetry,�or
from�a�book�of�philosophy.
On�June�6,�2002,�beloved�children’s�television�host,
Fred� Rogers,� gave� the� commencement� address� at
Dartmouth�College.�There�he�told�the�young�men�and
women,�“I’d�like�to�give�you�all�an�invisible�gift.�A�gift
of�a�silent�minute�to�think�about�those�who�have�helped
you�become�who�you�are�today.”�And�hundreds�of�col-
lege�graduates�sat�in�silence�with�Mr.�Rogers.
We� yearn� for� silence
when�we�are�about�to�sleep.
We�enjoy�the�quiet�time�in
our� churches,� mosques,
temples�and�synagogues.
Three� years� ago� I� was
sitting�on�the�couch�reading
when� I� became� annoyed
with� my� neighbor.� What
was�he�doing?� I�heard� this
low�ringing�in�the�distance
that� was� distracting� me
from�my�book.� I� stood�up,
walked�outside�to�our�small
deck,� and� looked� around.
No� power� saws.� No� lawn
mowers.�No�one�was�outside,�and�yet�I�kept�hearing�this
subtle,�annoying�constant�ringing.
I� thought�nothing�of� it� until� a� few�weeks� later,� the
ringing�increased�and�then�I�realized�the�noise�was�not
coming� from� the� neighborhood� but� from� inside� my
head.�After�much�cajoling� from�my�wife,� I�visited�an
audiologist,�and�he�said�that�I�have�what�is�called�tinni-
tus� and� I� had� lost� enough� of� my� hearing� to� warrant
hearing�aids.�
Essay by Chris de Vinck
The Power of Silence
continued on pg. 10
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant8
Marianna Gozdz
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club
Gregorio “Greg”
Manalo
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club
Lesia Wirstiuk
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Weichert Ambassador’s Club
Weichert Executive’s Club
Weichert Director’s Club
Alma Billings
NJAR® Circle of Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Silver
Weichert Sales Club, Marketed Club
Daniel Brozyna
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
Carlito Chi
Weichert
Sales Club
Tania Hernandez Faria
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012- Bronze
Ruel Cabanilla
Weichert Sales Club
Mary Jean Cetinich Donna Freeswick
Weichert Sales ClubVivian Garcia
Weichert Sales Club
Frank Gorga Mary Pat Holt
Weichert Sales Club
William “Bill”
McKeever
Arthur “Artie” Rubin
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Jerry Sanders
Lilla Langford
Weichert Sales Club
Marketed Club
Kathleen Perow
Weichert
Marketed Club
Elena Schwartz
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
James Steccato
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012 - Bronze
Valdemar Studzinski
NJAR® Circle of Excellence
Sales Award® 2012 - Bronze
Jayne Urgo
Weichert Sales Club,
Marketed Club
Ellen Weiner
Weichert Sales Club
Weichert Million Dollar Club
Hilda Ferro
NJAR® Circle of
Excellence Sales
Award® 2012- Bronze
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 9
CLIFTON This 2nd floor unit offers 1 large bed-room, 1FBA and a large LR with dining area.MLS #3003371 $109,000
CLIFTON This lovely, updated Col features4BRs, 1.5BAs, FDR, EIK, 3 zone heating, finbsmt & 1 car garage. $324,900
CLIFTON This wonderful, 4BR Cape offers2FBAs, EIK, new roof, C/A and FDR on a largelot. MLS #3004419 $299,000
CLIFTON This lovely Split Level home offers3BRs, 1.5BAs, EIK, FDR, Den, 1 car garage &spacious back yard. MLS #3008241 $249,900
CLIFTON Immaculate Colonial Split featuring4BRs, 2.5BAs, updtd kit, LR w/frpl, fin bsmt & 2car gar. MLS #3001920 $494,900
CLIFTON Maple Valley Cape featuring 3BRs,updated kitchen, hd flrs, full basement, large deck& back yard. MLS #3005855 $305,000
January 2013 Award Winners
February 2013 Award Winners
Carlito Chi
Top SalesAlma Billings
Top ProducerJeannette Castro
Weichert PrideCarlito Chi
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)
tsanchez@weichertrealtors.net
Lesia Wirstiuk
Top Sales
Lesia Wirstiuk
Agent of theMonth
Ryan Carbone
Weichert PrideAlma Billings
Top ProducerKevin Carpenter
Agent of the MonthGregorio ‘Greg’
Manalo
Top Lister
More great Clifton homes to see...
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant10
“The�ringing�in�your�ears,”�the�doctor�explained,�“is
a�mechanism� trying� to� compensate� for� that� loss.�The
ringing�will�never�go�away,�and�might�even�increase.”
What�about�silence,�I�wanted�to�ask�the�doctor.�What
about� closing� my� eyes� and� hearing� the� voice� of� my
grandmother?�
What� about� those� hours� in� the�middle� of� the� night
when�I�can’t�sleep�and�I�want�to�imagine�ice�skating�as
a�child�again�with�my�sister�as�I�try�and�hear�the�click-
ing�of�our�skates�on�the�smooth�ice?
The�doctor�said�that�I�could�mask�the�ringing�with�a
“white�noise”�machine�that�mimics�wind,�or�waterfalls.
“This�will�mask�the�symptoms�of�tinnitus.”
But� I� want� the� ability� to� lean� back� into� complete
silence.�I�do�trick�myself�often�as�I�imagine�the�ringing
sounds�a�bit�like�crickets�in�August�which�do�soothe�me
to�sleep�easily,�but�crickets,�waterfall,�wind�sounds,�this
is�not�silence,�and�this�is�not�stillness.
The� doctor� shrugged:� “At� least� you� are� not
Beethoven.�He�became�completely�deaf.
Yes,�he�had�complete�silence,�but�think�how�horrible
that�must�have�been� for� the�man�who�created� the�9th
Symphony.”
“Will�I�become�deaf?”
“Perhaps,”�said�the�doctor.�“Age�advances.”
We� all� have� an� inner� voice,� our�mother’s� perhaps,
God�perhaps,�Mr.�Rogers�even,�and�when�we�need� to
listen�to�these�voices,�we�need�a�time�of�contemplation,
a�place�of�silence�to�sort�things�out.
While� I� will� forever� be� denied� complete� silence,
while�the�constant�sound�in�my�ears�is�the�distant�ring-
ing�knell�of�my�own�eventual�death,�I�still�feel�alive�in
the� companion� of� sound� that� does� echo� inside� of�my
own� heart� as� I� listen� to� the� imagined� crickets� in� the
middle�of�a�North�American�winter.
Moments of Grace
Christopher de Vinck is theLanguage Arts Supervisor at CHSand the author of 13 books. His bestknown work is The Power of thePowerless a frank reflection on thestruggles and joys of loving hisseverely disabled brother. To orderhis most recent work, Moments ofGrace, call 1-800-218-1903 or lookfor it in bookstores or online.
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 11
Jackie Licata-Alectoridis & Jane Maffucci are the owners of...
Clifton’s only Montessori school
Register Now For Summer & September
50% Off Registration Until April 19 Infants • Pre-School • KindergartenFull Day & Half Day
rainbowmontessori.com
22 Varettoni Pl., Clifton • 973-772-23301255 Broad St., Bloomfield • 973-338-8300
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant12
A fragrant whiff of nutmeg blended with the balmyscent of liniment as�a�pot�of�lentil�soup�simmered�on�thestove.� � It�was�a� typical�Sunday�morning� for�me� in� the
summer�of�1959—newspapers�delivered,�money�collect-
ed,�and�a�stop�at�my�grandmother’s�house�on�the�walk
home�from�my�route.
She�raised�a�cup�of�coffee� to�her�cracked�and�faded
lips.�The�fingers�on�the�once�strong�widow’s�hands�that
reared�a�brood�of�four�amid�The�Great�Depression,�now
quivered� like� the� tails� of� tadpoles� swimming� to� adult-
hood.��No�longer�could�they�guide�the�hypodermic�nee-
dle�into�the�tiny�vial�of�insulin�that�twice�each�day�forti-
fied�her�body�against�the�ravages�of�diabetes.��
A�nearby�aunt�now�performed�that�task�for�her�thirteen
times�each�week,�but�it�was�my�privilege�to�perform�it�on
Sunday�mornings.
“Annie� Eaton� died� this� morning,”� she� said� without
emotion,� as� she� lowered� the� empty� cup� onto� her� lap.
“She�was�eighty-one�on�Tuesday.�I�brought�her�flowers
from�the�garden.”
I�whispered�my�regrets�and�joined�her�in�a�prayer�for
Annie’s� soul.� “I’ll� be� seventy-four� in� November,”� she
suddenly�reminded�me�in�the�middle�of�her�prayer,�as�if
the�passing�of�her�friend�lent�new�meaning�to�the�date.�
“I�know,”�I�said,�as�I�got�up�from�my�chair�and�kissed
her�dampened�cheek.�She�smiled�and�looked�away.
As� summer� turned� to� fall,� she� caught� an� early
autumn� virus� that� morphed� into� pneumonia.� � The
coughing�and�the�wheezing�quickly�took�their�toll�and
November�never�came.�
As� they�placed�her� in� the�ground,� I� remembered�all
those�Sunday�mornings�and�the�aromas�in�her�kitchen���I
heard� her� gentle� voice� again� dispensing� wisdom� and
encouragement� as� tarnished� silver� spoons� scraped� the
oatmeal�from�our�bowls.�
I�thought�back�to�all�those�special�mornings�filled�with
laughter�and�her�warmth�and�I�realized,�even�at�so�young
an�age,�just�how�lucky�I�had�been�to�have�shared�them
with�my�“Gram.”��
We� two�grew�very� close� during� those� early�Sunday
breakfasts,�but�I�was�never�closer�to�her�than�on�the�day
that�Annie�died.
Unforgettable People
By Joseph R. Torelli
The Day Annie DiedSunday Breakfasts and Memories of Family
There�we�sat,�just�the�two�of�us,�heads�bowed�over�bowls�of�steaming�oatmeal,
while�Johnny�Ray’s�Cry spilled�soulfully�from�the�Philco�in�the�corner.�
Editor’s Note:�Do�you�have�an�unforgettable�per-son� in�your� life?�They�can�be� living�or�deceased.
Let�us�know�in�a�short�essay�and�perhaps�we’ll�use
your�story.�Be�sure�to�include�your�phone�number.
E-mail�Tom�at�tomhawrylko@optonline.net
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 13
When Richard F. Knapp started his roofing busi-ness in 1960, he wasn’t only constructing an umbrel-la of protection that would ensure the people ofClifton a solid home environment, he was laying afoundation of trust and honesty that has lasteduntil today, in his passing. “Richard was honest with the people,”
said Dorothy Knapp, Richard’s widow.The couple would have celebrated their53rd anniversary on Feb. 27. “Wealways stand behind our work. That’sthe way Richard started it and now mysons are doing it. We’re keeping upthe honesty.”Richard Knapp passed away in
1991. That’s when the Knapp boys,Richard and Donald, took the reins ofthe business. They had been workingwith their father since their teens andknew the job. Mrs. Knapp said people who had work done
by Knapp Roofing decades ago are calling againon for work on either the same homes or newhomes. That’s how a strong tradition of depend-ability is built. What better testament to the hon-esty of a business whose first priority was and stillis the best interests of the customers?
“There was an older gentleman whose roof need-ed some repairs,” recalled Mrs. Knapp. “His wife wasbed-ridden. Richard didn’t charge him. He told himto buy his wife some flowers. That’s the kind of
things he did. He was well-liked. If a roof didn’tneed to be done he’d tell them. He didn’tpush anyone into unnecessary work.”
R. F. Knapp Roofing is fully insuredand licensed by the State of New Jersey.More importantly, generations of resi-dents have had work done by theKnapp family and stand as references.To schedule a free estimate of yourjob, call Mrs. Knapp at 973-777-1699. It’s interesting to note that the
Knapp’s usually do not take deposits,Mrs. Knapp said her husband didn’tbelieve in deposits. His sons carry on
another of his honorable traditions.“When the job is done and the people are
satisfied,” said Mrs. Knapp, “then we’ll get paid. “We are a family business, started and still run
by the same family. We are committed to contin-ue the reputation of my husband’s work,” saidMrs. Knapp. “Richie and Donny carry on that tra-dition. They are kind and respectable and all ofus appreciate our customers.”
NJ License 13VH00726700
Since 1960
Visitors to the Hot Grill are often amazed at how
the guys at the counter take and bellow your order
two all the way, two! In minutes you’re paid up and
biting a Hot Texas Weiner.
For decades, counter work there was a man’s job
but much has changed. Take Yanina Rios, at right.
She mastered the art of barking orders at the Hot
Grill. For three years, the 21-year-old Cliftonite
works Monday through Friday at the iconic hot dog
joint while attending night classes for Nursing at
Passaic County Community College.
“In the beginning it was hard,” she said. “You
have to pay attention and focus. I was scared that I
was the only girl. But now it’s great. I’m a pro.”
In this edition you’ll meet others who have great
jobs. You’ll also read an inspiring story about Mike
Najda. He faces some challenges at work, home
and in life and he does it with humor and bravery.
For future edition, I’d like to hear of other
Cliftonites who have unique jobs. If you know of
someone, drop me a line.... Tom Hawrylko
GreatJOBS
Speaking of interesting jobs, new faces on the Mustang sidelines, from left, Softball Coach Ron Shekitka,Track Coach Kareem West and Volleyball Coach Nick Romanak. Our Sports section starts on page 52.
JOBS
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant14
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 15
Season-Low Pricing on New Installs!Call Now!
Commercial Athletic Fields
Residential
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant16
Great Jobs
From his New York City office on upper Broadwayin Manhattan, Robert Castronovo is the man in
charge of one of the most popular and illustrious ven-
ues in all of the Big Apple, the Beacon Theatre.
For over 180 nights a year, the theater stage is lit,
playing host to a wide variety of shows and perform-
ances. Castronovo, the director of event production
and building operations, is the maestro that coordinates
the entire production. He was at the helm for the
Allman Brother’s 200th show at the Beacon, the Tony
Awards and countless other high profile shows.
It’s a demanding job, one that has him working six,
sometimes seven days a week. Twelve hour days are
the norm in this industry. But Castronovo makes it all
happen and loves what he does.
“I just couldn’t see myself doing a 9 to 5 desk job,”
explained the 31-year-old, who graduated from Clifton
High in 2000. “If you don’t want to be here, if you are
the kind of person that wants to go out on Friday or
Saturday night, you’re not going to survive.”
The modest Cliftonite is on a first name basis with
rock ‘n roll legends but he is no name-dropper. His nose
to the stage floor work ethic enabled him to rise up the
ranks in similar jobs in Atlantic City and Radio City Hall.
He became interested in the industry because of his
father, Robert Sr., who many recall as a CHS history
teacher. The elder left the safety of the school system
and worked for 20 years at Giants Stadium and
Continental Airlines Arena, retiring as Chief Operating
Officer. As a boy, Castronovo would visit his dad at work
and was awed at the immense work that the arena crew
would go through in transforming the facility for Devils
and Nets games, not to mention concerts and more.
“To see that, you realize that people had no idea
what just happened in the past six hours,” he said.
Castronovo’s background in playing sports—back in
2000, he set the Mustang basketball record for points in
a single game with 45 and most three pointers in a sea-
son—motivated him to pursue sports management at
Rutgers, where he graduated in 2004.
By Joe Hawrylko
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 17
SPRING MEANS CHECK GUTTERS & ROOF With Spring and the rainy season here, Corey Genardi
of C. Genardi Contracting Inc. said homeowners often
overlook rain gutters because they often function on
their own.
“It makes it easy to forget that they need to stay in tip
top shape,” he said. “A home without a good gutter sys-
tem will have water running down the side of the house
or it will cause water to run underneath the shingles.
Without gutters, waters will collect around your home
and seep into your basement.”
Genardi installs seamless gutters which eliminates
the possibility of leaks, protects the beauty of your home
and landscaping and will be formed at your home for
exact measurements. “We complete our jobs in a day
and offer most any color to choose from,” he said.
“Seamless gutters will complement your home.”
Genardi also installs Weather Watch Leak Barriers
which create a watertight seal to keep water from the
vulnerable areas of the home—eaves and rakes,
around chimney and in valleys. “It prevents water
damming in your gutters from wind driven rain or
where ice collects,” he concluded.
Based in Clifton, the family-run and owned business
was started in the late 1960’s by Corey’s father Ronald. “I
was pretty much born into it,” said Genardi. “And I have
installed most every type of roof there is.”
Genardi uses superior products such as GAF and
offers a variety of roofs for every type of home and
at every price—choices range from asphalt shingles
to wood shakes and modified rubber systems for
flat roofs.
Asphalt shingles, the most affordable, are avail-
able in a dozen or so different colors both solid and
blended. Using GAF products, Genardi said the
roofs he installs are guaranteed for 20, or in some
cases 30 years, making them an excellent value.
C. GENARDI CONTRACTING, INC.
Roofing, Siding, Gutters • 973.772.8451
Seamless Gutters are stronger...
adding roof flashing will keep water
flowing into the gutters where it belongs.
Great Jobs
Prior to graduating from the New Brunswick cam-
pus, he was an intern for the Giants, and then the Nets.
“Through my contacts
on those teams, I was able
to get there and then used
that to get into Atlantic
City,” he explained.
Castronovo headed
south and worked for
SMG at Atlantic City
Boardwalk Hall, a 13,000
seat arena that hosts a
variety of sporting and
entertainment events.
Boxing was one of the
main draws for AC during
his two year tenure and
Castronovo attended
many of the late Arturo
Gatti’s famous fights.
“I was there for his last
six or seven fights,” he said. While at SMG,
Castronovo rose from event coordinator to event man-
ager and finally operations manager, essentially over-
seeing the operations department of the entire arena.
“They play AC/DC’s Thunderstruck when Gatti would
come in the ring and the
place would go crazy.”
In July of 2007,
Castronovo left SMG to
take a job as a event pro-
duction manager for
Radio City Music Hall in
NYC. While his work in
Atlantic City provided
him with valuable experi-
ence, working in the Big
Apple was far greater
than anything that could
be offered in AC.
The move was about
growth. “I was learning
something every day,” he
said. At Radio City,
Castronovo worked the
NFL Draft, the Tony Awards, the MTV Video Music
Awards, Fashion Rocks and the Radio City Christmas
Spectacular during his three years at the venue.
Bobby, his sister Laura and parents Bob and Nancy.
Dr. Michael BasistaMedical Director of
Immedicenter
Immedicenter1355 Broad St. • Clifton • 973-778-5566www.immedicenter.com
We’re Here for Your Allergies
& Much More!• Monday - Friday 8am to 9pm
• Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm
• Walk-in Medical Care
• Weekday Appointments Available
Wheezing & Sneezing?
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant18
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 19
There are about12,000 podiatrists inthe United States,according to theDepartment ofLabor, and Clifton
podiatrist Thomas Graziano is one ofonly six who hold both a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
As a foot and ankle specialist, my
main goal for all my patients is to
find caring solutions that last a life-
time. I won't just treat the symptom;
I'll strive to correct the problem...
Permanently.
When you combine effective treat-
ments with my genuine concern for
your well-being, that's a powerful
combination.
-Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM,
FACFAS
3 Issues Resolved in 1 Convenient SurgeryDr. Thomas Graziano recently
explained how three painful issues
were addressed in one operation.
“This patient presented with a
bunion, crossover toe and hammer-
toes. These conditions were
repaired with one operation and the
patient was able to walk the same
day of the surgery.”Before After
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant20
Great Jobs
When he heard about an opening
for director at the Beacon in early
2011, Castronovo applied.
The youthful looking kid from
Clifton was hired. For the first time
in his young career, he was at the
helm, in charge of everything. The
organization is lean in manage-
ment. He reports to his general
manager, and Madison Square
Garden owner James Dolan.
But with that new position came
added responsibility and many new
challenges. “Radio City was in a
commercial area. It’s residential
here, so that’s a big change,” he
said. Since the neighborhood is
home to many powerful celebrities
and captains of industry, it is
important to make sure that they’re
not disturbed by a truck unloading
at 5 am. The other major difference
from Radio City was the number of
people in management.
“We have six full time people in
management as opposed to over 50
in Radio City,” he explained.
Castronovo has more than 250 part
time employees reporting to him,
including stage hands, Teamsters,
food and beverage types and most
anyone at the Beacon. With so
many people looking to him for an
“OK”, a check or an approval,
Castronovo average days clocks in
at around 12 hours.
“I’ve slept on this couch way too
many times,” he laughed, as he
pointed to his office couch.
“Yesterday was my first day off in
two and a half weeks.” A typical
day starts at 7 am, with truck
unloading at 8. Sound checks, light-
ing and other details to staging take
goes on day long. Castronovo
patrols the facility, coordinating
with staff and stars to ensure that
everything is going smoothly. As a Mustang in 2000.
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 21
When we opened one of the region’s first SameDay Surgery Center back in 1993, the foundingphysicians and staff of Clifton Surgery Centerknew we were on the cusp of change. Two decadeslater, as we mark our anniversary, our surgeons andstaff continue to innovate and evolve.
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Great Jobs
Before the curtain rises, there may be small items to
attend to. Perhaps it is a union issue. Or the star needs
something in the dressing room. Castronovo is the go-
to guy. He’ll solve the problem. After the perform-
ance, the box office has to be accounted for and settle-
ment has to happen with the act’s managers. Load out
concludes around 1 or 2 am.
His schedule varies depending on the event, but even
on days when the stage is dark, there are plenty of day-
to-day activities that require his presence.
“This summer we’re doing a new roof,” he said. The
Beacon was built in the 1920s, and is one of the last
theaters of its age in New York. That means that regu-
lar maintenance must be a priority for Castronovo.
“I like to be proactive rather than reactive,” he said.
“At the Garden, they’ve got guys who have been doing
this for 30 or 40 years. I take good advantage of that.”
“I got to admit that with this job, I don’t know every-
thing about everything,” continued Castronovo. “But I
do have to know a little bit about everything.”
Castronovo is at the helm of this landmark and it is
his job to have good people around him to help solve
problems. But even with those seasoned workers on
call, the unexpected will happen.
“During the Tony Awards there was a water tank
leak on top of the building,” he recalled. “Sometimes
you just gotta roll up your sleeves and get in there.
There was six floors of damage. About $35,000 worth
of damage. And we had a show the next night.”
Fortunately, none of the water reached the theater,
and the show was able to go on.
Shortly after that incident, Castronovo called in
experts to analyse what went wrong and then hired a
company to put a float with a water level sensor in the
tank. Just a few short weeks later, that early warning
system prevented another disaster. “Something I
learned early on was that people have short memories
and long fingers in this industry,” he said.
But as difficult as his job can be at times, Castronovo
still gets a thrill out of seeing a happy crowd captivat-
ed by the show on stage.
“As hard as you work through the week, that’s the
pay off. That’s what makes it worth it” he said. “Even
when we had Scooby Doo Live here, seeing the faces
on the kids, that’s the payoff.”
“This business is stressful and demanding,” he con-
tinued. “But you’re not going to get this type of educa-
tion anywhere else.”
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant22
Liberty Tax Service at Richfield Shopping Center is doing
double duty for the Boys & Girls Club and Clifton residents.
Now through April 10, franchise
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make a donation of $20 to the club
and give you $20 off your tax prepa-
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returns through her office.
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 23
Great Jobs
By Joe Hawrylko
Dave Cafone Makes Magic
On a quiet cul-de-sac off of Grove St. inMontclair Heights, Dave Cafone works
magic with copper in his garage studio.
For nearly 30 years, the Nutley native has
been hammering, bending and shaping this
malleable metal for a wide variety of uses:
roofing, gutters, chimney flashings, hoods
for bay windows and much more.
Now 52, Cafone, estimated that he has
been working with copper and other metals
since he was about eight years old, helping
his father, John, who was a sheet metal
worker.
“Right out of high school I started my
sheet metal career, doing duct work and cen-
tral air. On the weekends, I would go do
sheet metal and copper on the weekends
with him,” recalled Cafone. “He did every-
thing by hand. I’ve taken it to the next step.”
“I really liked being around my father,”
he added. “He had a passion for fishing, and
I have a passion for fishing. My father was
a sheet metal worker and I’m the only one of
seven kids who is a sheet metal worker.”
Cafone, who is known within the industry
as Copper Dave, has been plying
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant24
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 25
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant26
Great Jobs
his craft full time since 1985. Since
then, the industry has changed
greatly.
Today, copper roofing is typical-
ly a luxury item, and most of
Cafone’s work takes place on large
estates and wealthy mansions in the
Tri-state region. His work appears
on eye-catching buildings like the
Stronghold Landmark in
Bernardsville, where he spent sev-
eral months creating and then
installing a custom made zinc roof.
“I always used to drive past that
and think, ‘One day, I’m going to
do that roof,” he laughed. Cafone
has also done work for the owner of
the West Orange Manor, the
National Park Service and on a
number of estates in the affluent
town of Rumson. Occasionally, he
will field work at smaller homes
from contractors like Corey
Genardi.
But in addition to that day job
that pays the bills, Cafone is a bud-
ding artist, creating intricate copper
fish and other sea life, which he
turns into wall mounts or weather-
vanes in his garage studio.
“It was right around 1996, when
we were having those bad winters.
That’s when I started to get all cre-
ative,” recalled Cafone. “I wasted a
lot of metal then trying to get the
designs right.”
But after many drafts and revi-
sions, the Cliftonite has become
quite the sculptor in his spare time
and sells his wares at flea markets.
“Whatever I make is what I put
for sale. No one has ever called me
and said ‘make this’ yet,” he said.
“When I am really into it, when I
really feel it, that’s when I do it.
Sometimes I am too tired from
work and don’t go into the garage
for a month.”
Each piece is unique; outside of
the stencil he uses for the base
shape, Cafone does the rest of the
work by eye. “For a fish that would
go on the wall, it takes maybe a full
day,” he said. Cafone has sold
those for $750 in the past.
Weathervanes require much more
work, since it must be double sided
and symmetrical, and cost about
$3,000. “Those take about two full
days to complete.”
The Cliftonite’s main art inspira-
tions are Guy Harvey, who is recog-
nized as one of the foremost author-
ities on marine wildlife art, and the
late Travis Tuck, who is famous for
his weathervanes in Martha’s
Vineyard in Massachusetts.
“I had a stripper of mine on dis-
play at Guy’s gallery in Florida,” he
said. “It was amazing that he even
acknowledged me.”
Initially, breaking into the art
field was difficult, and he would
sometimes return home without
selling anything. Cafone’s break
came when he befriended a doctor
who purchased all of the
Cliftonite’s merchandise at an art
sale in 2004. Eventually, Cafone
ended up doing many jobs for the
doctor, including spending six
months in Florida repairing proper-
ties following a hurricane.
Currently, Cafone mostly attends
art shows and flea markets on the
Jersey Shore, but said he would like
to expand into Long Island as well.
His main goal is to one day get off of
the roof and into the studio full time.
“Some day, I will live on a beach
and hammer copper on the beach
front,” he laughed. “Maybe 100
years from now I will be looked
back on as a marine folk artist.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 27
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April 2013 • Clifton Merchant28
US Army Staff Sergeant Oscar Buonafinafinished his most recent 9-month deploymentto Afghanistan on November 3. By the follow-ing Monday, he was back at work in Clifton. Like many returning veterans, life and busi-
ness obligations ‘back home’ were put on holdwhile he was deployed to the front lines. In Afghanistan, the Lakeview resident
enlisted his construction expertise with a sec-tion of US Army engineers under the 310thMilitary Police Battalion working in an AfghanDetention Facility in Bagram.But on Monday, November 5, the owner of
Clifton’s Buonafina Plumbing, Heating andHome Improvements was back at his LakeviewAve. office being a small business owner.For about the last year, his plumbing and
heating business was essentially leaderless andnow it needed to be kick started.Former vendors and clients were contacted
to let them know that Oscar’s boots were onthe ground again—right here in Clifton.
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Clifton’s Hometown PlumberThe self-employed father of four said coming
back to his business after almost a year away hadchallenges. While he was deployed, a partner inhis home improvement business, Juan C.Martinez, kept things moving. But Buonafina, a Licensed Master Plumber,
said the heating and plumbing side of the busi-ness needed his leadership and skill set.“We maintained out existing customers,” said
Buonafina, who founded the company in 2006and has been a US Army Reservist since 2007. “But being in business is about growing and
that’s my mission now. My phone is answeredaround the clock. We do emergency calls at afair price. I most enjoy doing jobs like this onepictured here—a multi-family house that neededsystems run clean and separate,” he said.“Honestly, no job is too small or too big.”
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 29
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant30
Great Jobs
At 22 years of age, Derek Drobenak leadswhat seems to be a quiet, typical suburban
life. He lives at home off of Valley Rd. with
his parents, enjoys going to the gym five
days a week, and has a girlfriend.
But Drobenak’s job is a little different
than your average young suburban adult
would hold.
While others are heading off to a cozy
office for a 9 to 5, this Cliftonite throws on
some well worn jeans and work boots for a
long day at the North Jersey Equestrian
Center in Pompton Plains on Rt. 23.
At the NJEC, Drobenak is a man of many
hats. His duties include breaking young
steeds, caring for the more than 150 horses
kept at the NJEC, and training riders and
horses alike.
Drobenak also travels to industry shows
around the country for up to 100 days a year
with the NJEC and his boss, Karl Bauer.
In Northern New Jersey, this is about as
close as you get to being a cowboy, and
Drobenak enjoys every second of it.
13 Miles from Clifton, DerekDrobenak works as a ranchhand and riding instructor at theNorth Jersey Equestrian Center.
By Joe Hawrylko
Learning to be a modern-day
Horseman
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 31
Drobenak’s love of horses stretches back to 1994,
when his family visited a resort in upstate New York.
His mother, Debra, rode when she was younger, and
wanted her son to saddle up.
“I ended up falling in love right away,” he recalled.
“It was a big resort with a lot to do, but I just wanted to
ride horses all week.”
About five years later, his parents took him to visit
Echo Lake Stable in Newfoundland, which offered a
week long summer camp, where participants would ride
and learn how to groom and care for horses.
For the next three years, Drobenak would end each
day waiting for his mom by watching the ranch hands
wrangle the herd. Eventually, the owner invited him to
help out. “I was head over heels. I told them I’d do any-
thing,” recalled Drobenak. “The next summer in 2004
they asked me to come work for them. It was like the
lights came down from heaven.”
At the end of the summer, he was invited to work at
Echo Lake full time, and moved up from cleaning the
stables to eventually taking groups out on trail rides.
Drobenak, who graduated from DePaul Catholic
High School in Wayne in 2009, continued to work and
live the dream at Echo Lake until 2011.
“I decided to take a break from horses for a bit and
focus on school,” he recalled. “My parents told me they
wanted me to get a degree, so I was going to Passaic
County Community College for business.”
But after two and a half years of school, Drobenak
found that higher education wasn’t his called.
“I just kept thinking, I need to be with horses. And if
I want to go get where I wanted to go, I had to take a
risk,” he said. After a lengthy discussion with his par-
ents, Drobenak decided to withdraw from school and
began pursuing his dream of working with horses.
Though they wanted him to get a degree, Drobenak’s
parents were supportive of his decision.
“My dad always said to make sure you are taken care
of in life. My mom was always more about doing what
makes you happy. Each have helped me more than the
other on certain things. It’s a ying and yang type of
thing,” he said. “They support me every step of the way.
They’re a huge reason that I am here doing what I real-
ly want to do.”
In February of 2012, Drobenak’s mother learned
about the NJEC, and he was able to go visit owner, Karl
Bauer, to inquire about a job. Bauer, a champion horse
rider and breeder who has been in the industry for
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant32
Great Jobs
over 35 years, was initially skeptical about hiring
Drobenak since the job duties at Echo Lake were com-
pletely different. But after watching Drobenak ride and
speaking with him, Bauer decided to hire the Cliftonite.
“He came in and he was very humble, polite, clean
cut and patient. And he’s likable,” said Bauer.
“Within the last year that he has been here, he’s
improved a ton. He’s not even close to what he was
when he first came. He’s done amazing things on his
horses. Now I can put him on anything,” he continued.
“He’s almost like my son. I have a lot of trust, He’s got
a lot of responsibility here, and not just for a young guy.
He is always early coming and always late leaving. And
never a complaint.”
Drobenak relishes the experience that he has at the
NJEC, working alongside Bauer, who is a well respect-
ed name in the industry and a champion rider.
“He’s a great mentor. I know I don’t know every-
thing about this, especially horses. I still have a lot to
learn,” he said. “But I feel I am really in a good place
right now.”
Drobenak’s responsibilities at the NJEC are wide
ranging. He works six days a week, and cares for more
than 150 horses between the company’s two locations.
One of Drobenak’s favorite parts of his job is break-
ing young horses.
Breaking is the process of getting a horse that has
never been riden before used to having people around
and on it. The length of this varies depending on each
horse, but can be very repetitive. A horse can be very
skittish, and has to get used to something as simple as
seeing a person jump, a quick move or even a crazy
noise from a cell phone.
Breaking can also be extremely dangerous.
“You can get killed pretty easily doing this,” he
admitted. “When I first broke a horse, I was pretty nerv-
ous, but it was something that I always wanted to do.
But they can stand right up in the air, they can buck you
off, they can spin and buck you.”
Drobenak, who is currently breaking his fourth horse,
recalled how one Mustang at NJRC would continually
ride him into the walls in an effort to get him off, send-
ing him home with bruises every day.
Eventually, when a horse has been broken, Drobenak
can move on to training. Much like breaking, train-
Derek with his boss Karl Bauer.
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Great Jobsing time can vary depending on the
personality of the horse, and what
type of riding the owner wants to do.
“I love to see the transformation.
You start when they are babies,
maybe a year and a half, two years,”
he said. “It’s great when it is a horse
you can’t even be near or touch.”
And like any good cowboy,
Drobenak has his own reliable
steed. His goes by the name of
Tomahawk. Drobenak acquired his
horse by auction in 2010.
“When I saw him, it was just a
gut feeling. It wasn’t like ok, oh he
moves well or he looks nice,” he
explained. Drobenak selected
Tomahawk despite the horse being
malnourished. “I take a lot of extra
time caring for him and he has
repaid me. I want to provide for
another horse like I did with mine.”
Tomahawk, who is 12, suffers
from arthritis in his rear leg, which
gives him a slight limp if he has
been exerting himself. The arthritis
also prevents Tomahawk from
being able to ride for long or do
strenuous activities.
“People ask, what defines you?
For me, it’s that horse,” said
Drobenak. “People come and go.
I’ve had girlfriends go. Friends go,
I’ve had bad things happen. But
that horse is the one consistent thing
and part of the reason I am the per-
son I am today.”
Drobenak also occasionally does
training with riders at the NJEC.
“I want to show people what a
horse can do for you,” he said.
“Just like horses, I love to see that
transformation. I love to motivate
people. When I motivate them, it
motivates me. I tell people, if you
fall off, you have to get right back
on,” added Drobenak. “Life is kind
of like that too.”
Another major responsibility that
Drobenak has is traveling with
Bauer to trade shows. For about
100 days a year, they are on the
road, and can be out of the area for
upwards of a week. Typically, they
will live out of a Winnebago.
“You’re sleeping on an air mat-
tress for a week. Your back hurts,
and you’re getting up at 5 am,” he
said. “But I love doing it.”
“The fact that I am happy here
means that I am happy everywhere
in my life—even when I am not
here. It’s almost contagious,” he
said. “You have people who go to
school for four, five, six, seven or
even eight years for something they
don’t love, but they need the money.
I don’t feel like I’m working. I don’t
call it work. I call it riding.”
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 35
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For retail or office leasing
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April 2013 • Clifton Merchant36
Life Challenge
Mike Najda has a saying for the deadly disease he staresdown at but we won’t print it in this community magazine.
Diagnosedwith ALS
Story by Joe Hawrylko
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 37
Suffice it to say that anyone who knows the boister-ous 49-year-old can get an idea of what the two word
message imprinted on his red wrist band states.
Najda’s battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS, or Lou Gherig’s disease) may be robbing him of
his motorskills, but his sense of humor is more raw and
cynical as he faces an uncertain future.
ALS gradually attacks the motor skills, eventually
leaving patients unable to walk, talk or even swallow.
From the time of diagnosis, patients typically live two to
five years.
But that’s not something you’d guess when you hear
Najda describe his illness.
“There’s about 30,000 people with ALS in the whole
US. It’s a nice, private club,” laughed the Clifton resident
and father of two. “One plus,” he added with a smile,
“you get primo parking because of your wheelchair.”
Once large and imposing, standing over six feet tall
and topping the scales at 300 pounds, Najda’s size is
diminished since being confined to a motorized chair.
But he is just as loud as he was before the diagnosis, and
his unique sense of humor remains unchanged. Laughing
is what gets him through his daily battles against ALS.
And despite all of the physical, mental and emotional
trials he has endured, Najda said he is totally at peace
with his fate. His two main concerns going for-
Mike Najda with his wife of 28 years, Patricia.
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April 2013 • Clifton Merchant38
Life Challengeward are making sure that his family is cared for after his
passing, and that he creates some kind of lasting foundation
to help others in the battle against this crippling disease.
“I try to not think about it too much,” explained Najda.
“Eventually, I’m going to end up with my mom and dad.”
Though he was only diagnosed with ALS in
September, Najda first began experiencing issues in
March of 2011, with weakness in his right leg, around the
knee area. His physician, David Testa of Clifton, sent
him for MRIs later that month which turned up nothing
and he continued on with life.
Najda didn’t know it at the time, but that was the start
of a slow and unexplained loss in motor skills. Over the
next two years, he would endure countless tests as doctors
struggled to identify what was ailing him.
Part of the problem with diagnosing ALS is that there
is no definitive test for it.
“It’s a process of elimination,” explained Najda.
But his mobility became a serious issue when he start-
ed falling in August of 2011.
“I would just go down,” he said. “I thought it was the
knee giving out, but really it was my muscles.”
Najda visited orthopaedics, neurologists, and special-
ists of all kinds, traveling as far away as John Hopkins in
Baltimore. Doctors initially thought multiple sclerosis,
then tested him for a variety of blood disorders. For sev-
eral months, doctors thought he had a rare genetic disor-
der called Adrenomyeloneuropathy, but that was proven
to be incorrect when a doctor realized that his size caused
a false positive on a test.
“It was frustrating, not knowing what is going on,” he
admitted. “My wife’s girlfriend is a doctor, and the advice
she gave me was, ‘I know it is frustrating, but as long as
they can’t diagnose it, it hasn’t progressed enough for it
to be a concern.’ I walked with a cane for stability at that
point (Summer of 2012), but I was fine otherwise. I was
still able to drive. I mean, I drove a motor home to
Florida just in August.”
In the summer of 2012, doctors at the Neuromuscular
& ALS Center at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
were beginning to narrow down their suspected illnesses.
Ironically, the renown specialists did not think it was
ALS. Even Dr. Jerry M. Belsch, the specialist from RWJ
who diagnosed him, didn’t suspect ALS.
“He said, ‘I’m 80 percent sure you don’t have ALS,
but I have to give you an EMG to make sure,” Najda
recalled. For an EMG test, doctors insert metal needles
into muscles to stimulate them with electricity.
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 39
Life Challenge
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant40
Najda had another doctor perform one
previously, but this one was over two
hours long.
“I cried. It was brutal,” laughed
Najda. “It was nothing like the other
guy gave me. This, he put electrodes all
over the right side of my body. I walked
in with a cane and left in a wheelchair. I
cried from exit 9 all the way to Newark
Airport.”
“Two days later, he called and asked
me to come to the office and that’s when
I knew it wasn’t good,” he continued.
While waiting in the office, Najda was
reading some of the literature on the
walls, and noticed a story about Dr.
Belsch and his head nurse of the ALS
unit. Shortly after, Dr. Belsch walked in
with that nurse.
“That’s when I knew,” added Najda.
That day was September 28, 2012. Once the reality of
the situation began to sunk in, Najda said he accepted his
fate and immediately turned his attention to figuring out
a way to care for his loved ones.
“The first thing that ran though my mind is in two
years—two years—what happens to my wife, my kids,
my family?” he said. The fact is, no one can tell him.
Every case of ALS is different. Patients may experi-
ence symptoms in different parts of the body, and each
disease progresses differently.
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After diagnosis, the average lifespan is two to five
years. However, there are plenty of instances of people
living well beyond that—physicist Stephen Hawkings
has lived 50 years with the disease.
But Najda knows that such cases are rare, and even if
he were that fortunate, he would still be handicapped.
That’s why it was imperative for him to plan for the future
of Counter Creations, the Hackensack-based business
that he and his wife Patricia founded in 2001.
With 10 employees, Counter Creations supplies cus-
tom countertops for residential and commercial buildings
across the New Jersey and New York area.
“I ran the whole business,” Najda said of his role as an
entrepreneur. “Between her and my sister Mary, they
take care of the back end stuff.”
Despite his illness, which has recently confined him to
a motorized wheelchair in the past month, Najda can still
do most of his duties from his office, outside of visiting
job sites. Currently, he is relying on help from his son,
Mike, and some contractors to take care of that work.
“When I have a kitchen to measure, one of my contrac-
tors, who is actually a customer, goes and does it for me,”
he said. Najda estimated that his business is 70 percent
contractors who give him return business, and 30 percent
walk ins from homeowners. “I actually have three or four
guys like that.”
But although he can still run the business efficiently
despite his illness, Najda knows that will all change in the
future. And it could happen fast.
In January, Najda and his wife contemplated shuttering
the business, but ultimately decided to have a conversa-
tion with their son, Mike, 24, about taking over.
Mike has been working at Counter Creations since he
was 16. His primary job was creating the CAD drawings
used in counter design.
Though they were apprehensive about asking, Najda
and his wife soon realized that Mike was ready to accept
the challenge to support his family.
“I don’t think he had planned to do this for life. I think
he wanted to do other things. But when this all hit, hon-
estly, we debated closing. Eventually, I’m going to be at
the point that I can’t move,” he said. “He jumped right at
it. It’s easier now with him. I was bullheaded in the
beginning, but he jumps right up to the plate. If he’s got
to go to a customer’s house or learn something, he does
it. He can do anything but pricing at this point.”
While his son slowly transitions into his role at the
head of Counter Creations, Najda is busy preparing
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 41
Life Challengefor an uncertain future. Approximately two to three
months ago, he began using a cane and a walker to get
around. For the past month, he has been using a motor-
ized wheelchair that a client, who is a volunteer EMT, had
graciously donated.
Though the progress of the disease is unpredictable
and can change at any time, he is already starting to expe-
rience some weakness in his hands.
Najda said he knows his time may be limited, and he
is savoring every moment while he can, and tries laugh-
ing every bit along the way.
“I always see the funny side in everything, even in
this,” said Najda, as he explained his gallows humor.
Najda said his motto—@#!$ ALS—has been a rally-
ing point for family and friends. He’s even gone as far as
getting several hundred red wristbands, with the motto in
black, bold lettering, printed for his supporters.
“If it weren’t for friends and family, I wouldn’t be able
to do it,” said Najda. “Especially our church and school
(St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Passaic).
They’ve been very, very supportive.” The St. Nicholas
community held a fundraiser for Najda. More than 300
people attended, raising thousands of dollars, to help pay
for so many things insurance does not.
Likewise, Najda wants charity to be his lasting legacy.
For the past couple of months, he has been document-
ing his journey—complete with his humor—on facebook
under Mike’s ALS Journey. He said he also plans on
starting a website soon.
“Really, the goal right now is awareness. Financially,
this will cripple you,” he explained. “It takes about
$200,000 a year to treat, and the government doesn’t do
anything for you.”
“Eventually, I want to set up my website up that you
can donate and then we will be able to give grants to go
directly to ALS patients,” Najda continued. “A lot of
money goes towards research now, but not so much for
individuals.”
Beyond his website, Najda just plans to enjoy his life
now, one day at a time. “It’s more preparing for the
future,” he said. Najda and his wife also plan to visit the
Netherlands one more time to see her family. “You don’t
plan on going to Hawaii in five years. You plan on going
to the Pocconos now. The longest term goal I have is to
see my son Zach graduate high school in four years.”
“I’m not gonna go buy a Ferrari and have a five year
payment plan,” he added with a laugh. “My luck, I’ll live
another 23 years.”
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant42
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 43
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant44
Next time you’re on most any airplane or train andtoss a bit of debris into the plastic trash bags held by
an attendant, chances are that four-by-three foot poly-
ethylene item was Made in Clifton.
Those bags and others customized bags for a variety
of industries are made at the Champion Plastics
Division of X-L Plastics Incorporated on Clifton Blvd.
With over 100 factory employees, and more than 50
others in sales and support capacities, the company
operates 24/7, with three shifts around the clock, pro-
ducing over 250,000 pounds of finished product daily.
A majority of the bags manufactured here will not be
destined to line your household trash can. But like the
trash bags for airlines and trains, consumers worldwide
come in contact with Champion products from time to
time. Items such as covers, films, sheeting, tubing and
shrink packaging are purchased and used by leading
companies in the food, drug and chemical industries.
While the sales force and support staff pictured
above sell, distribute and keep the quality of the prod-
uct up to client specifications, it’s the unionized guys
on the factory floor that make the product.
Noisy and busy, the plant floor is sprawling and
teeming with activity. Teams of men operate the 18
large extruders, pumping out millions of bags daily, in
a rainbow of colors and in various gauges.
With the unique machinery found in the plant, they
can design and produce bags from two to 200 inches.
With all that manufacturing going on, workers are
constantly sweeping up and collecting discarded sheets
of plastic. That’s because Champion is also big into
recycling and is really environmentally friendly.
“We’ve been recycling before it was a buzzword,
before it was the thing to do,” said Champion’s Chief
Executive John Callaghan. “Literally all that stuff,” he
said, pointing to a heap on the factory floor, “is collect-
Made in Clifton
CHAMPION PLASTICSBy Tom Hawrylko
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 45
ed and recycled right here. There is
little or no waste in our process. In
fact, we also buy post-industrial
and post-consumer plastics and
reprocess them for our materials
that don’t need FDA compliancy.”
Four massive silos, standing
some four stories high, store more
than 2,000 tons of resin. Between
that raw material and the recycled,
Champion can sell, manufacture
and ship vast quantities of products
quickly and cost effectively.
While the company had its ori-
gins as X-L Plastics Inc. and was
founded in Belleville in 1972,
Callaghan said the firm has called
Clifton home since 1977.
“Back then, we had a manufac-
turing plant in Harrison—it was
actually a Heinz 57 pickle facto-
ry—which is now a PATH station,”
Callaghan recalled.
“Our offices were over the A&P
in the middle of Botany Village,”
he continued. “Those were great
times. Botany had great stores and
all those little bars—they all had
great lunch specials.”
By 1979, Champion Plastics
Corporation merged with X-L
Plastics and in 1984, the firm’s new
moniker became Champion
Plastics/Division of X-L Plastics.
By then, Callaghan and his team
had $2 million in sales, 45 factory
employees and were manufacturing
a growing product line on six
extruders in Harrison.
Owners of the firm also formed
another name familiar to Cliftonites
who drive along Clifton Blvd.—
Armel Trucking—to accommodate
the shipping needs.
Opportunity and fortune smiled
on X-L Plastics in 1984 when it
acquired what was then the vacant
Tenneco Paper property on
Above, a worker prepares product for shipping at Champion Plastics. On thefacing page, at the center is Champion’s Chief Executive John Callaghansurrounded by Clifton residents Kelli Terrazzino, Christina Filewicz, LesiaGlodava, Rose Marie Zangara, Denise Zangara, Beverly Cholewczynski,Michelle Orsita-Kaplan, John Callaghan, Mike Kaplan and Alex Crow.
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant46
Clifton Blvd. and adjacent properties. The move was
strategic for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, cited Callaghan, it allowed the
company to consolidate its manufacturing, sales and
marketing divisions under one roof.
“Flexibility is key in manufacturing today,” said
Callaghan. “We can adjust quickly to market demands.
It was like they had a crystal ball when they made that
purchase,” he said of the owners. “Our move in 1984
set this company on the path for great growth.”
The Clifton Blvd. property, which has a freight rail
line running right through the property, is a big asset to
the firm. Delivery of raw product and export of fin-
ished items are streamlined and cost efficient.
In addition to the rail line, the eight loading docks
along Clifton Blvd., with additional bays, docks and
parking facilities in the rear makes getting product to
customers easy and gave the company room to grow.
With subsequent purchases of other adjacent proper-
ties on Clifton Blvd., Champion was able to add more
extruders and expand manufacturing capacity.
Clifton’s location as headquarters for a company that
needs to transport product quickly is key. “We’re close
to seaports, airports, major arteries and then there is our
people,” Callaghan said. “So yes, Clifton is a great
town to do business in. Plus the workforce is diverse
and talented.”
While Callaghan is now an expert in the plastics
industry, his career path did not begin in what was then
a relatively new field. Trained as an architect, he gradu-
ated CCNY in 1974.
He started out “peddling dry cleaning bags in 1976
and learned the ins and outs of the trade.” Nonetheless,
his background as an architect does help him today.
“There’s a lot of mathematics involved in the construc-
tion styles of these bags,” he said.
What he seems to enjoy most about working at
Champion—nearly four decades now—is that the pri-
vately-held company nurtures and retains employees.
Many of the Cliftonites pictured on the previous
page started out as part-timers or in entry-level jobs and
have been given opportunities to grow into new posi-
tions as the company expanded. Likewise, there is a lot
of seniority on the factory floor, men that know the
machinery and how to keep the extruders producing
plastic bags of all shapes and sizes.
“My job is the bring out the best in our people and I
still enjoy every day here,” said Callaghan.
paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver
The Honorable
Speaker of New Jersey15-33 Halsted St., Suite 202 East Orange, NJ 07018
973-395-1166 • AswOliver@njleg.org
Proudly Serving Assembly District 34... Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair
Sheila Y. Oliver
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Made in Clifton
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 47
In 1988 at theirColfax Ave. factory,Edward Staub withhis two sons Jerryand Tom and alater version of the PaceMaster 600.
Clifton History
Story byCarol Leonard
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant48
Clifton HistoryAs an increasing number of people heed the advice of
their doctors and other healthcare professionals to get
more exercise, many are taking to the gym or purchasing
home equipment on which to work
out. You may be among them.
But did you know that the first
treadmill for use by the general
public was developed and produced
right here in Clifton by the late
Edward Staub.
A native of Philadelphia and
longtime city resident until his
death last July at the age of 96,
Staub was a mechanical engineer
by profession. He worked long
hours at Besco Corp., a company
he founded on Colfax Ave. to man-
ufacture aerospace components.
Along with his wife Dorothy, he
also helped raise seven children, four sons and three
daughters.
According to his family, Staub was always very health
conscious. “He ate well and exercised, and he wasn’t a
big drinker,” said his daughter, Dolores Colucci-Healey.
“He never smoked. In fact, he said it was a filthy habit.”
But when his brother died suddenly of a heart attack
in the 1960s, Staub became even more concerned about
the importance of staying fit.
In 1968 he read a book written by Dr. Kenneth
Cooper, a physician and health and fitness guru who had
served as a personal doctor to President George W. Bush.
Dr. Cooper introduced the concept of aerobic exercise to
help improve cardiovascular health.
“The book said that if you could
run a mile in eight minutes four or
five times a week you would always
be in good shape and would be
healthy,” Staub’s son, Gerald, said.
“My dad figured that anyone can
spare eight minutes a day.”
After reading the book, Staub
challenged himself to build a person-
al exercise treadmill, which Dr.
Cooper had contended would always
be too expensive to purchase for the
home.
“At the time, most treadmills
were used for medical testing or
rehabilitation,” Gerald explained.
“They weren’t widely used just for exercise, but my dad
decided that this would be a great thing.”
Initially, Staub developed the first treadmill for his
own use, but then sent a prototype to Dr. Cooper in
Texas, where he ran an aerobics center. He called his
invention the PaceMaster 600. Impressed with his inno-
vation, Dr. Cooper got Staub his first customer, a fitness
equipment dealer who thought it was a great product.
“The dealer bought five and then ordered more,”
Gerald said. “By word of mouth, other dealers heard
about it and they bought it. They thought it was
William & Dorothy Staub.
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 49
April 2013 • Clifton Merchant50
Clifton History
reliable and cost-effective.” According to Gerald, the
first model of the PaceMaster 600 cost $295.
In the beginning, Staub manufactured the treadmills at
his Besco plant in Clifton, but as demand for the product
grew, he moved the
operation to a building
in Little Falls and start-
ed a new business
called Aerobics, Inc.
The company later
moved to an even larg-
er facility in West
Caldwell. Staub even-
tually phased out his
work in aerospace to
focus solely on the treadmill business.
Gerald, who holds a degree in electrical engineering,
joined his father in the new venture and the two would
market the treadmills at tradeshows for fitness equip-
ment dealers.
When Staub decided to retire in the mid-1990s, he
sold the company to his sons, Gerald and Thomas.
Gerald took over as CEO and Thomas was vice president
of sales and marketing. The two brothers have also since
sold the business and retired.
For his efforts in introducing the exercise treadmill to
the public, Staub received a Lifetime Achievement
Award from Health & Fitness magazine, and he was fea-
tured in a 2006 article in Runners World magazine enti-
tled “Our Favorite Things: 40 Years of Running Gear
Innovation.” The article credited Staub with eliminating
inclement weather as an excuse for not exercising.
His passing was acknowledged by TV news anchor
Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News. Williams said
that Staub’s product “helped make people more fit all
over the world.”
Aside from his busy work schedule, Staub had many
personal interests and activities over his lifetime, includ-
ing building and flying radio-controlled airplanes and
tinkering with amateur radio. He was also an avid bowler
and once owned Colonial Lanes in Lawrenceville. He
enjoyed both snow and water skiing, and in his 80s he
even took up golf.
“His mind was always going,” Gerald said. “In his
late 80s and early 90s, he was drawing sketches of ideas
for new golf clubs.”
Staub was also very involved in civic life around the
area. Among his other activities, he was a member of the
Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Hospital. He and his
wife offered an endowment to the former Pope Paul VI
High School and con-
tributed generously to
St. Philips and St.
Paul’s parishes. He
was an avid supporter
of the Clifton Boys &
Girls Club, where his
daughter, Dolores, was
executive director for
many years.
“My parents were
very good to the community,” Dolores said.
Staub continued to stay active and exercised on his
treadmill almost until the end of his life. “He was actual-
ly in very good health until he passed away,” Dolores
said.
After losing his wife of more than 70 years in 2007,
Staub lived alone in his MacArthur Drive home and took
care of himself until age 95, when his children insisted
that he have a full-time caregiver to assist him.
“We found him up on the roof one day trying to do a
repair,” Dolores said. “That’s when we knew he needed
someone to look out for him.”
“He was always very independent and a do-it-your-
selfer,” added Gerald.
In addition to Dolores, Gerald, Thomas and their
spouses, Staub also left behind sons William Jr. and
Norman, and daughters Kathleen and Dorothy and their
spouses, as well as 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grand-
children. He was also predeceased by his daughter,
Patricia.
Staub’s children are very proud of their father’s
accomplishments as an inventor, businessman and entre-
preneur, but they are even more grateful for all the love
and guidance he gave them as a parent.
“He was a wonderful father and a good man,” Dolores
said. “He would leave for work early in the morning, but
he would come home for lunch every day at noon. We
had dinner together as a family every evening at 7.
Sometimes he would have to go back to work, but he
always took the time to help us with school projects and
spent a lot of time with us.”
At the time, most treadmills wereused for medical testing or rehabilita-
tion. They weren’t widely used justfor exercise, but my dad decided that
this would be a great thing.
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 51
April 2013• Clifton Merchant52
The Mustangs improvedslightly in their 2012 cam-
paign, posting a 13-13
record. And although they gradu-
ated five seniors, Clifton was slat-
ed to enter the season with a num-
ber of returning starters, including
the top three pitchers in the rota-
tion.
Unfortunately, head coach Joe
Rivera will be without the services
of Tyler Lavin after he broke his
ankle in a scrimmage. Lavin was
the third pitcher in the rotation, and
played left field.
Still, despite the injury, Rivera
thinks his team will feature enough
talent and depth to have a success-
ful season.
“Before we lost Tyler, I was
really confident,” he said. “We’re
still definitely going to be really
good. I’m pretty excited about this
year.”
Senior Tom Hanle returns as the
Mustang ace.
“He throws a lot of strikes and
has a great curveball,” said Rivera.
Hanle will be followed by Lou
Ramos, a junior.
“He’s got a great change up,”
added coach. “He beat Don Bosco
last year.”
Replacing Lavin will be junior
Jose Rosado.
For relief pitching, Rivera will
utilize several players, including
senior Erick Ferrara, Jokeldy
Hernandez, and sophomore Kevin
Lord.
Seniors on the diamond: Erick Ferrara, Chris Koblyarz, Nick Martin, Cory
Pollina and Chris DiFalco. Front: Anthony Fusoni, Josh Handler, Roberto
Mendoza, Tom Hanle, Jokeldy Hernandez and Dennis Pierson.
Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf
CHS
BaseballApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm
April 5 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm
April 6 @ Elizabeth 2pm
April 8 @ Passaic 4:15pm
April 10 Bergen County Tech 4pm
April 12 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 13 @ Belleville 11am
April 15 Fair Lawn 4pm
April 16 @ Paramus Catholic 4pm
April 18 Teaneck 4:15pm
April 19 @ Wayne Valley 4pm
April 20 @ Montclair 12pm
April 22 Wayne Hills 4pm
April 24 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 26 John F. Kennedy 4:30pm
April 27 Kearny 11am
April 29 @ Eastside Paterson 4:30pm
May 1 Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 3 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm
May 6 Passaic 4:15pm
May 8 West Milford 4pm
May 10 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 13 @ Passaic Valley 4pm
May 15 @ Bloomfield 7pm
May 25 County Tourn(TBD) TBA
MUSTANG SPORTS
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 53
The infielders will be led by returning first basemen
Chris DiFalco, who was one of Clifton’s top hitters
during the 2012 campaign.
“He bats third for us and has a big bat,” said Rivera.
DiFalco has been out with mono for a few weeks, but
is expected to return for the start of the season.
Jokeldy Hernandez starts at second base, and will be
one of the Mustang relief pitchers this coming season.
Erick Ferrara, who is committed to play at
Lackawanna College next spring, returns to start a
third base and will bat clean up.
“He’s the best hitter I’ve ever coached,” said
Rivera.
Junior Jose Rosado was the starting short stop by
the end of 2012, and will return to the same position
this year.
“He’s a solid hitter and plays great defense,” said
Rivera. Rosado will bat second in the order.
Senior Cory Pollina will be the catcher, and will be
backed up by senior Dennis Pierson.
Clifton also features several utility players in the
infield who will sub in. Junior Bailey Snyder plays
first base and will be a relief pitcher.
“He’s a great bunter too,” added coach.
When not pitching. sophomore Kevin Lord will also
sub in at second or third as needed. Senior Josh
Handler is another utility player in the infield for
Rivera.
The outfield will be led by right fielder Anthony
Fusoni led the Mustangs in RBIs last year, and will bat
fifth in the order in 2013.
Senior Roberto Mendoza will start in the outfield
and will bring speed to the bottom of the batting order.
Senior Nick Martin will also start, and will be the
team’s DH.
Senior Chris Koblyarz, and junior Jimmy Sanzogni
will be fighting for playing time in the outfield as well.
“Jimmy hasn’t played in two years, but he has a ton
of speed and is very athletic,” said Rivera. “Chris has
a great arm in the outfield.
With several returning players and a talented pitch-
ing staff, Rivera believes that his team can improve
upon last year. Clifton beat Wayne Valley in the first
round of the states, and lost to Wayne Hills in the coun-
ty semi-finals. “We should be pretty good,” he said.
“I’m confident about our team.”
MUSTANG SPORTS Baseball
April 2013• Clifton Merchant54
The Lady Mustangs willhave a new face at thehelm in 2013, as Ron
Shekitka takes over a Clifton squad
that posted a .500 record last year.
Before taking the job, Ron
Shekitka was a high school umpire
in the North Jersey area. He was
also previously the coach of the
Passaic Indians baseball team.
The new coach said that setting a
starting line up has been a challenge
thus far..
“Part of it for me was that I did-
n’t really get to see them play much
last year,” said Shekitka, who has
lived in Clifton for 19 years.
In Florida, the Lady Mustangs
posted a 3-5 record.
“We won our first game and then
our last two games,” he said. “So
We started off good and ended
good. The middle was a little
shaky.”
Clifton’s top returner will be sen-
ior pitcher Amanda Marakovitz,
who received All-County honors in
2012.
“She’s not only a great pitcher,
she’s a good hitter too,” said
Front, from left: Megan Pasch, Jaclyn Scotto, Janine Giordano and Dylan Amico.Middle: Kayla Lord, Jaclyn Giordano, Heather Ranges, Jocelyn Cosme. Back:Jessica Schama, Jennifer Chupick, Amanda Marakovitz, Jessica D'Alessio andChristine Gustafson.
MUSTANG SPORTS Softball
CHS
SoftballApril 1 at Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 3 John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 5 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm
April 9 Passaic 4pm
April 10 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm
April 13 @ Wanaque (tourny) 5pm
April 15 @ Fair Lawn 4pm
April 19 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 20 Clifton Classic (tourny) 5pm
April 22 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 24 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 26 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 29 Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 1 @ Immaculate Heart Acad. 4pm
May 2 DePaul Catholic 4pm
May 3 Bergen County Tech 4pm
May 6 @ Passaic 4pm
May 8 West Milford 4pm
May 10 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 11 County Tournament TBD
May 13 Passaic Valley 4pm
May 15 @ West Orange 4pm
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 55
MUSTANG SPORTS Softball
Shekitka. Junior Dylan Amico will be the catcher.
Going around the bases is Janine Giordano, Chriss
Gustafson at first, Jacklyn Giordano at second, sopho-
more Kim D’Augusta at short stop and Janine Giordano
at third.
“Right now, we see a lot of good things. She just
needs the experience,” Shekitka said about D’Augusta.
“The ability is there. It is just a matter of getting the
experience at the next level.”
Senior captain Heather Ranges will anchor center
field. Senior Jess D’Alessio returns in left field. Right
field will be split between senior Jen Chupick and soph-
omore April D’Angelo.
Backup pitchers will be Gustafson and D’Angelo.
“From when we started til now, our hitting has really
improved,” said Shekitka. Clifton won its first game
against PCTI 15-1. “I think that kind of surprised a lot
of people. It didn’t surprise me, but I think it surprised a
lot of people.”
Clifton’s lineup this year is Ranges, Janine Giordano,
Marakovitz, Gustafson, Chupick, D’Alessio, Amico,
Jacklyn Giordano and D’Augusta.
“Basically, we are going with nine right now,” he said.
“That might change here or there, but everyone is doing
a good job hitting the ball. No need to use up our dp or
flex because everyone is doing our job.”
“If we get big hits at the right time and make routine
plays, I think we’ll have a good year,” he continued.
“Amanda will keep us in games for the most part. I think
we can do the little things behind her. I think we’ll have
a good year. The attitude is great, the work ethic is great,
the kids are working real hard and the coaches are work-
ing real hard. I hope to keep the tradition going.”
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For the first time in over aquarter century, John Pontes
will not be coaching the boys
track program. Kareem West, a 30
year old Christopher Columbus
Middle School gym teacher and
Mustang harrier assistant since
2008, will pick up the baton.
West has held a number of posi-
tions for the Mustangs, but primari-
ly served as hurdles coach. Though
he’s now the one in charge, West
still looks to Pontes, who is now an
assistant coach, for guidance.
“My God, he’s amazing,” laughed
West. “An amazing, amazing coach.
There’s not anything he can’t do. If I
didn’t have Coach Pontes and Coach
Rodgers, I don’t know where I’d be.
I am very grateful.”
West will start off his career at
the helm with a talented group of
upperclassmen. Top returners are
distance runners senior Jessie Boria
and junior Justin Tanayan. Both
received 2012 All-County honors.
Other top distance harriers
include senior Karol Oldziej and
junior Jeremy Hernandez.
Royce De Leon, a senior, is one
of the more versatile Mustangs,
and will compete in the hurdles,
long jump, triple jump and relay.
“He does whatever we ask him to
do,” said West. Junior Timothy
Bryant will participate in jumps
and sprints. “He’s even learning
throws for us,” he said. “He’s one
of five or six guys who will score
in multiple events.”
Front left: Royce De Leon, Mohammad Shoghorui, Cristian Ramirez, Orville Maldonado. Center, Mendlessohn Philippe,Vishal Rana, Alejandro Gonzalez, Timothy Ojeda, Edgar Aguilar, Devin Gomez. Rear, Frantz Fontin, Abdel Solomin, KarolOldziej, Michael Hardy, Jose Araya, Jessie Boria.
CHS
TrackApril 2 Bergen County Tech 4:15pm
April 8 John F. Kennedy 4:15pm
April 13 @ Passaic Valley 10am
April 16 @ Passaic Cnty Tech 4:15pm
April 20 @ Morris Hills 9am
April 22 @ Passaic 4:15pm
April 27 @ Randolph 9am
April 30 Eastside Paterson 4:15pm
May 4 @ Indian Hills 9am
May 8 @ Passaic Valley 3:30pm
May 9 @ Passaic Valley 3:30pm
May 13 @ Wayne Valley 3:30pm
May 14 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm
May 15 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm
May 25 @ Randolph 3:30pm
May 26 @ Randolph 10am
May 31 @ Egg Harbor Twp 3:30pm
June 1 @ Egg Harbor Twp 11am
June 5 @ South Plainfield 3:00pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Track
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 57
West said the Mustang jumpers
look paticularly strong, and will
also include senior Mike Hardy
(long jumps, sprints), and junior
Ryan Downs (long, triple and
sprints)
Isdale Elo, a junior, will be the
primary Mustang thrower.
“We have 72 boys and they all
contribute,” said West. “We hope to
do better this season. In indoor, we
were two points off the county
championship, so I know the boys
are hungry to prove themselves.”
On the girls side, Mike Rogers
enters his second season at the helm
and finished last year as co-league
champions, County relay champi-
ons and placed third in County indi-
viduals. Clifton also went 4-0 in
dual meets.
“We certainly exceeded our
expectations,” he said.
Senior Nicole Buttel will be the
top returner, and she will compete
in hurdles, pole vault, high jump
and triple jump.
“She’s our best all around athlete
and probably the best all around
athlete in North Jersey,” Rogers
said
Tiera Elam, a senior who
received All-County honors in
indoor, will be the top sprinter.
“She really makes up for losing
Monika Miazga,” said Rogers.
“She’s by far our best sprinter.”
Cassidy Cardone will compete in
hurdles and long jump.
Yuria Yuasa is a senior distance
runner who has lettered since her
freshman year. “She had a lingering
injury the past year, but had a great
comeback in indoor and looks phe-
nomenal,” said Rogers.
Senior Gabby Gonzaga is a regu-
lar face at the end of year All-
League and All-County honors as a
distance runner, and Rogers expects
her to do the same this year.
Sofiya Nedelcheva, a sopho-
more, will add to the depth in dis-
tance. “I am excited to have a soph-
omore of her caliber,” he said.
“That’s been the secret here. We
had a moderate group of proven
competitors. Distance tends to be
our mainstay.”
Clifton also features talented
underclassmen. Michelle Aplogan,
a sophomore, who stars in the hur-
dles and jumps. Freshman thrower
Monika Dlugosz was a surprise in
indoor after medaling in the league,
counties and state sectionals. “We
haven’t had a thrower like that in
some time,” said Rogers. “We’re
very solid in the throws, and all
around. I’m really excited.”
Front from left: Jennifer Ocampo, Sadia Ahmed, Tiera Elam, Nicole Buttel, Yuria Yuasa. Rear from left: Allison Plishka,Simone Stilley, Gabby Gonzaga, Elizabeth Los, Vanessa Antivo.
April 2013• Clifton Merchant58
MUSTANG SPORTS Track
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 59
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April 2013• Clifton Merchant60
A fter four straight years ofplayoffs, Clifton missed
the cut for the state tourna-
ment in 2012 after going 1-14.
But despite the record, there is
optimism within the program.
Injuries depleted the team’s depth.
At times, Mustang midfielders
would simply switch to attack rather
than take a line change for a break.
Clifton also played a much
tougher schedule than they will face
in 2013.
“Four of the teams we played
went to the state finals,” said head
coach George Cowan. Clifton was
sent down one division to the
Kimberly League. “The numbers in
the division are up a lot. The total
program is now 75.”
Cowan also has a number of
returning starters that will help
guide the new talent.
Senior Mark Surgent is a four
year starter at attack, and earned All-
League and All-County honors in
2012. “He’s a really steady guy for
us,” said Cowan.
Senior Matt Melnick will also
start up front. He is committed to
play lacrosse at Fairleigh Dickenson
University next spring. Zach Wohr,
a senior, played midfield last year
and will now start attack. Junior
attacker George Balkjy got some
time up front last year but could see
much more action in 2013.
The midfield will be anchored by
senior Tommy Cotroneo. “He’s
amazing,” said Cowan. Cotroneo
Front, from left is Mark D’Agosta, Kevin Dziuba, Harry Litchfield and Brian Prada. Middle: Rj Rossi, Anthony Mbayed,Joe Cupoli, Mark Surgent and Mike Duesler. Back: Anggelo Rios, Austin Feliciano, Chris Rosado,Tom Cotroneo, ZacharyWohr and Matthew Melnik.
CHS Boys
LacrosseApril 1 Newark Eastside 4pm
April 4 @ Union City 4pm
April 6 @ Lakeland 10am
April 8 Scotch Plains-Fanwood 4pm
April 11 @ Governor Livingston 4pm
April 15 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 18 Hanover Park 4pm
April 20 @ Oratory Prep 10am
April 27 New Providence 11am
April 29 @ Newark Academy 4pm
May 1 Verona 4pm
May 2 @ South Brunswick 4pm
May 4 @ Randolph 7pm
May 6 @ River Dell 5pm
May 9 Pascack Hills 6pm
May 13 @ DePaul Catholic 7pm
May 16 Cranford 4:30pm
May 18 Nutley 7pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse
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Clifton Merchant • April 2013 61
will be playing at Drew University in the spring. “He
does faceoffs for us, and has played Varsity as a fresh-
man and sophomore.”
The senior will be flanked by classmate Austin
Feliciano, a talented lefty shot, and senior Chris Rosado,
who was a midfielder last year. The second line will be
all sophomores with Billy Gibson taking draws along
side of Steven Borthwick and Brett Ranges. Junior
Michael Kommer will also take shifts with the midfield.
Senior Michael Duesler, who will also play at FDU
next year, will be a long stick middie on faceoffs and
will play base defense. Classmate Kevin Dzuiba will
also do the same. The defense will be a rotation of sen-
iors Joe Cupoli, Robert Rossi and juniors Brenden
Schreiber and Luis Lopez. Senior Harry Litchfield is
the four year starter in the cage and he will be backed up
by junior Eddie Myers.
“We’re probably strongest up front. The kids can
hold themselves and there’s more depth,” said Cowan.
“This is a redemption year for us.”
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April 2013• Clifton Merchant62
From left on their home turf, the Mustang seniors Katie Brody, Michelle Shackil,Tatyana Castro, Jenn Koppers, Tatjana Petrovic and Nicole Roncancio.
Clifton did not have a goodouting in 2012, going 3-
14 and missing the play-
offs. And with only a few experi-
enced players returning, head
coach Amanda Gryszkin will have
a number of new Varsity players
starting in 2013.
“We graduated a lot of good
players: Jazmine Perdomo, Carly
Padula, Gina LoBue and Marina
Rodriguez,” said head coach
Amanda Gryszkin. “We pretty
much lost our whole midfield.
That was a solid group for us that
played a lot and had experience.
But we have a lot of kids stepping
up into new roles on the team.”
Unfortunately, Clifton enters the
2013 slim on veteran players.
There are only six upperclass-
men—three seniors and three jun-
iors—and a lot of sophomores who
played JV last year will be making
the jump to Varsity.
Some of the more experienced
Lady Mustangs will play multiple
positions over the course of the
season. Senior Michelle Shackil
returns and will see time both at
forward and defense.
“She can really play wherever
we need her,” said Gryszkin.
She will be flanked by returning
starter Katie Brody, who will
anchor the defense, and junior Jenn
Koppers, who also earned a Varsity
letter in 2012. Sophomores Kayla
Ware and Yasmine Oviedo will
also see plenty of action at defense
in 2013. Senior Annie Duffy saw
limited time on Varsity in 2012, but
can play anywhere on the field,
including defense.
Junior goalkeeper Shannon
CHS Girls
LacrosseApril 1 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm
April 3 @ Northern Valley 4pm
April 5 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 9 Dwight Englewood 4pm
April 11 @ Lakeland 4pm
April 13 @ Waldwick 9:30pm
April 15 Mary Help Academy 4pm
April 17 Demarest 4pm
April 19 @ Pascack Hills 4pm
April 22 Holy Angels 4pm
April 23 DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 25 @ River Dell 4pm
April 29 Wayne Hills 4pm
May 1 @ Paramus 6pm
May 3 Fair Lawn 7pm
May 7 Cranford 4pm
May 8 County Tourn TBD
May 13 @ Saddle River Day 4pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 63
Christie earned the starting position in the latter half of
the 2012 season, and will have the spot on lock this year.
Junior Liz Austin will be a starting forward after
spending last year on junior varsity.
“Some of our sophomores have a chance of being
good,” said Gryszkin.
Tatyana Castro will be a starter this year at midfield.
Classmate Tatjana Petrovic will play both midfield and
attack. Sophomore Nicole Roncancio will play in the
midfield, as well Gabby Garcia, who, as a freshman,
earned some Varsity time at the end of the season.
Sophomore Amy Philhower will also get time in the
midfield and at attack.
“Those sophomores are our primary players for the
future,” said Gryszkin.
Gryszkin has four freshman playing with the Varsity
team: Brittany Morales, who plays midfield, Olivia
DeMuro, forward/midfield, and Emily Ulczek,
defense, and Tiffany Richards, midfield. “If I can get
them working on some stuff early on this year, we
should have a couple of good players on the team for
the next couple of years,” said Gryszkin.
MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse
April 2013• Clifton Merchant64
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball
The Mustangs have a newface at the helm in 2013, as
Nicholas Romanak, who
previously coached the girls volley-
ball team, takes over for Mike
Doktor. The new coach inherits a
team that went 12-13 last year, but
features a number of upperclass-
men, a couple of whom that are
experienced Varsity players.
“We have 12 seniors and two
sophomores,” he recalled. “A lot of
them are returning starters, but
there are a couple of new people
there as well.”
The top two Mustang returners
will be setter Christian Patti and
Avi Sojitra, the Mustang libero.
Patti was an All-County selection
in 2012, while Sojitra received All-
League recognition and honorable
mention for All-County.
In addition to Patti and Sojitra,
Clifton will also return middle hit-
ter Adit Desai, as well as Lawrence
Rodriguez, who started at
Rear from left: Conrad Jackson, Christian Patti, Pavlo Kravchuk, Dan Massa,Raj Desai, Avi Sojitra, Ismael Albilal, Richie Romaniak and Pavan Patel.Front: Nabil Jamhour, Lawrence Rodriguez, Adit Desai, Ankit Desai and KamilGrabowski. Not Pictured: Ivan Aleksyeyenni
CHS Boys
VolleyballApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:15pm
April 5 Eastside Paterson 4:15pm
April 8 @ Passaic 4pm
April 10 Bergen County Tech 4:15pm
April 15 Fair Lawn 4pm
April 17 @ Hackensack 4pm
April 19 @ Wayne Valley 3:30pm
April 22 Wayne Hills 4pm
April 24 @ Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 26 John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 29 @ Eastside Paterson 4:15pm
May 1 Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 3 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm
May 6 Passaic 4pm
May 8 County Tourn TBD
May 8 @ Teaneck 4pm
May 10 Lakeland 4pm
May 13 @ Passaic Valley 4pm
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 65
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April 2013• Clifton Merchant66
opposite hitter in 2012. “Lawrence is consistently an
offensive weapon for us,” added Romanak.
Those four Mustangs will be the most experienced
players on the court for Clifton in the upcoming season,
and their play will be one of the deciding factors in the
team’s performance in 2013.
“We have a few offensive weapons, but we have to
improve our passing so we can get it to them,”
explained Romanak “But we have been better as of late
with that.”
Clifton will also return a number of players who
were reserves on Varsity in 2012, or are moving up
from the JV team.
Ankit Desai will slot in as middle hitter for Clifton.
Raj Desai, Adit’s cousin, will also see time as outside
hitter.
“He (Raj Desai) has been our most consistent out-
side hitter,” said Romanak.
Ivan Aleksyeyenkl and Pavan Patel will be vying for
playing time at outside hitter, while Dan Massa will
serve as the team’s defensive specialist. Conrad
Jackson is a new comer to the sport who will find time
at the middle hitter position.
While the team is dominated by seniors, Romanak
will have two sophomores on the roster who will not be
starters at the beginning of the season, but will get valu-
able playing time and experience in 2013.
“We have two sophomores who might not get a lot
of playing time this year, but I am excited to have
them,” he said. “I am really optimistic about how they
are going to develop.”
Sophomore Nabil Jamhour was an outside hitter as a
freshman, but will be playing opposite in 2013.
Classmate Kamil Grabowski is in his first year of
organized volleyball, but has already displayed talent.
“Kamil a great athlete and a big guy,” explained
Romanak.
Overall, the coach thinks that his team has the expe-
rience and talent to have a successful season.
“They’re used to playing with each other,” said
Romanak. “A lot of them played club together in the
off-season. A big part of the game is how well they
know each other, how well they work together as a
team. We’ve got some players, but we lost some good
guys from last year as well. I hope to improve on the
record from last year.”
MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 67
Clifton’s boys tennis teamhad one of its best seasonsever last year, and might be
headed for greater heights in 2013.
“It’s the same team since they
were freshman,” said coach Andrea
Bobby. “This is the fourth year
together for them and they’ve done
pretty well.
Clifton went 13-4 and won its
league before falling to Bergen
Tech in the second round of the
playoffs. “They’re the best team in
Northern New Jersey,” said Bobby,
who added that it was the first time
her teams have ever made it past the
first round.
The Mustangs might be poised to
take another step forward in 2013
since they return all but one starter
from last year. Junior Richard
Rangga is once again the Mustang
number one. He collected All-
League and All-County honors last
year. Senior Peter Chudolij returns
as the number two, and Richard’s
older brother, Jefferson, will be the
number three singles player.
Senior Dzymon Kutyla will be
part of the first doubles team. He
will partner with either sophomore
Sebastian Luna, a talented player
from Peru who joined the team this
year, or senior Mihai Solotchi
played singles last year, but will be
on one of the double teams. Senior
Tim Laux will half of the second
doubles team.
“If we do well as a team this sea-
son and do well as individuals in
the county tournament, that would
be the icing on the cake,” said
Bobby. “We have great guys. It’s
enjoyable to watch them.”
On the courts behind CHS, from left: Giancarlo Osnato, Peter Chudolij, Mihai Solotchi. Back: Michard Rangga, JeffersonRangga, Szymon Kutyla, Sebastian Luna and Tim Laux.
CHS
TennisApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 3 John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 5 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm
April 8 Passaic 4pm
April 9 @ Fair Lawn 4pm
April 10 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm
April 12 DePaul Catholic 4pm
April 19 @ Wayne Valley 4pm
April 22 @ Wayne Hills 4pm
April 24 County Tourn TBD
April 24 @ Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 25 Bergen Catholic 4pm
April 26 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm
April 29 Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 1 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm
May 3 Bergen County Tech 4pm
May 6 @ Passaic 4pm
May 8 West Milford 4pm
May 10 @ Lakeland 4pm
May 13 Passaic Valley 4pm
MUSTANG SPORTS Tennis
April 2013• Clifton Merchant68
Clifton once again had agood year after posting a
12-9 record in 2012. Head
coach Chad Cole is optimistic
about his team this year since he
only has to replace a couple of
players. That means the Mustangs
could once again be successful.
“We really only lost our number
one form last year and our number
four,” he said. “And pretty much
all of the team has improved.
They’ve played a lot of over the
summer.”
The top returner for Clifton will
be senior Erick Lux. “He played
one or two last year at times.
Erick will be moving up to play
number one full time now,” said
Cole. “He’s a real good player,
and has gotten better since last
year. I am expecting good things
out of him.”
The number two will be senior
David Jackiewicz. “He’s steady
and has also improved quite a bit
over the summer,” said Cole.
“He’s a golfaholic. He loves the
sport and loves improving. I
expect him to continue to improve
as the season progresses.”
Juniors Gabe Larkey and David
Korty will be the next two duffers
in the order. All four players
received Second Team All-league
honors. After that, playing time
will be split between senior Evan
Dunn and juniors Derrick
Rodriguez and Nick Flaherty.
Clifton started the season slow-
ly with a loss to PCTI, but the
coach thinks it was just a slow
start to the year. “We did pretty
good last year,” said Cole. “I am
hoping to at least do the equivalent
this year.”
Mustang duffers from left Eric Lux, David Korty, Evan Dunn, Gabe Larkey, Dave Jackiewicz and Nick Flaherty.
CHS
GolfApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm
April 8 @ Nutley 4pm
April 9 @ River Dell 4pm
April 10 @ Paramus 4pm
April 22 Wayne Valley/Bergen
County Tech 4pm
April 23 Passaic/Passaic Valley/
4pm
April 24 Wayne Valley 4pm
April 26 Fort Lee 4pm
April 29 @ West Milford 4pm
May 1 Passaic Valley 4pm
May 2 Wayne Hills 4pm
May 6 Big North Championship TBD
May 7 Wayne Hills/Passaic
County Tech 4pm
May 9 Big North Tourn TBD
May 13 DePaul Catholic/Hawthorne/
Eastside Paterson 4pm
May 14 Lakeland 4pm
May 15 County Tourn TBD
MUSTANG SPORTS Golf
Clifton Merchant • April 2013 69
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