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Clifton Merchant • June 2015 3
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant4
They Did The Right ThingUnsung Heroes Get a Little Shine
Remembering Maria Kutyla...at Prom, Commencement & Forever
Kids Still Love Auto ShopClasses That Help Shape Careers
Making Change After SchoolWorking To Buy Cars & Much More
Mentors & Great Role ModelsMom & Dad Always Trusted Advisors
September Plans PlottedFrom the Ivy League to Uncle Sam
What’s Inside?10
18
26
38
52
68
84
Greatest AchievementsSeniors Tell of Their Milestones
Table of Contents
Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko
© 2015 Tomahawk Promotions
Visit cliftonmerchant.comfor current & past issues
973-253-4400 • [email protected]
Art DirectorKen Peterson
Graphic DesignerAly Ibrahim
Business ManagerGabriella Marriello
Editorial InternAriana Puzzo
1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011
Irene Jarosewich, Tom Szieber Michael Gabriele, Jack De Vries
Contributing Writers
16,000 Magazinesare distributed to hundreds of
Clifton Merchants on the first
Friday of every month.
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Call 973-253-4400
Memorial Day Photos100
We so enjoy this edition as wetell the stories of our highschool grads as they move
forward from the first chapterof their lives. For the next 90 pages, you will read
comments and see photos ofkids from all area high
schools as they tell of theiraccomplishments or sharestories from their first 12 years of education.
God Bless the Class of 2015!
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 5
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant6
We typically think of heroes as legendary figures associ-
ated with military campaigns, pro sports, politics or great
social causes. Their names and deeds have been document-
ed in history and in books, etched into monuments and
curated by museums. These are people lauded for their
accomplishments, courage and dedication.
But then there are ‘quiet’ heroes, the ‘ordinary’ people
who, in their own mild-mannered way, rise to the occasion and
do extraordinary things. Over the last few weeks we have asked
seniors and teachers to tell us of Class of 2015 high school stu-
dents who fit that bill. Many are kids like CHS senior Tom
Barile whose heroic deed may be a simple act of kind-
ness, friendship, honesty or community service. On
the following pages you’ll find a collection of
comments by peers that will sing the praises of
unsung heroes in Clifton. We hope you’ll
enjoy what they have to say.
Tom Barile, senior trumpet player,
CHS Mustang Marching Band
Singing praises of
By Michael C. Gabriele
Passaic County ClerkKristin Corrado
Congratulations, Grads!The future lies before you, Like a field of driven snow.Be careful how you tread it, For every step will show.~Author Unknown
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 7
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant8
“Tom is without a doubt one of the most dedicated
students in the entire band program,” Holody said. “A
very short time ago he came to the realization that
music was what he wanted to spend the rest of his life
doing, whether that means becoming a professional
musician or an educator.”
Barile performs in the Mustang Marching Band,
concert band, jazz band, full orchestra and pit orches-
tra. Holody explained that while Barile doesn’t hold an
‘official’ leadership position in the Mustang band, “he
has spent a large amount of time before and after
rehearsals discussing ideas with directors, holding
music tests for younger members, studying the litera-
ture performed in the ensembles.
He takes such care and pride in what he does as a
musician and as part of the organization, continued
Holody. “He naturally takes an interest in the younger
members of the band, encouraging them to better them-
selves for the good of the group and effectively trans-
fers his passion for excellence in the arts onto them.”
When told of Holody’s impressions, Barile smiled
and modestly admitted he does take pride in working
with younger musicians. “I enjoy sharing what I’ve
learned over the years,” he said. “I do my best to moti-
vate them.”
He told the story of a recent orchestra rehearsal,
when he gave an on-the-spot pep talk to an uneasy flute
player. “She was having problems with one section of
the music and feeling nervous. I convinced her that she
could play it, and she did.”
Barile said his love for music took shape during his
junior year while performing in the pit band during the
2014 CHS production of Shrek the Musical.“It was the first time I ever played in a pit band,” he
recalled. “Something just hit me from that experience.
I fell in love with the entire production and the process
of the show.”
On the eve of graduation as a member of the CHS
Class of 2015, Barile now knows music will be a big part
of his future, just as Holody observed. “I haven’t thought
about becoming a teacher, but it’s possible,” he said.
“I’ve never been the best student, but I do what I can.”
His near-term goals call for attending Passaic
County Community College as a first step to getting his
four-year degree. As far as employment, he also plans
to audition for the brass ensemble of Medieval Times in
Lyndhust. Who knows, perhaps we’ll soon hear this
Mustang call the knights to joust in the Meadowlands...
CLASS OF2015Asked to select a quiet hero from the ranks of the CHS Mustang Marching Band, Cody Holody, band director and
music teacher, chose Tom Barile, a senior trumpet player.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 9
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant10
Who does the right thing when no one is watch-ing? We asked graduating seniors who attendCHS, St. Mary High School, Queen of Peace,PCTI, Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph’s Regionaland other schools to tell us about everyday peo-ple doing extraordinary acts of kindness.
Summer Zheng (right) is friendly andalways has the time to offer his assistance to
other students no matter how busy he is. He
participates in school events and works very
doggedly to maintain a high grade point aver-
age. He also helps his mother and father’s
Chinese food business. He manages to find
time to hang out with friends when he’s not
busy and is a kind person to everyone.
- Abdalah Zidan
Jennifer Zuniga (above) is a hard-working girl devoted to her reli-
gious affiliation. She is a great and
passionate leader in her own way.
- Faith Senecca de Vergara
Katia Bermejo: The unsung hero
is that friend who may or may not
be friends with you, but you know
they exist. Their existence will
have some impact on you today if
you still remember them, for you
know what reason. That’s what
makes them special.
Narina Savas: Courtney Licata.
She always tries and is always
willing to help.
Mike Orsita, Malak Badeer, Narina Savas, Faith de Vergara, Joudi Amraia, Samantha Declet
The unsung hero of CHS is my friendLovely Mercado (left). I chose Lovely
because she’s been a loyal and supportive
friend since kindergarten and I believe that
having a friend like her is important and
hard to find.
- Samantha Declet
My unsung hero is Kyle Chupick (right).He honestly is a great friend and person. He
is very caring and always has good inten-
tions for everyone.
- Mike Orsita
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 11
Alison Almiron: Aamir Ali. He is
so smart and has had a challenging
life, yet he continues to strive for
greatness.
Kaori Suzuki: Aamir Ali is a
genius behind the shadows.
Despite his challenging life, he was
able to excell in many hard classes.
Jennifer Zuniga: Someone that I
truly admired is Faith Senecca de
Vergara... always loving, dedicated
and ambitious to succeed.
Shivani Topiwala: Jennifer
Zuniga because she is focused
with her academics as well as her
religious affiliation.
Michael Valentine: Chelsea
Jones is unique, bright and friendly.
Matthew Ferko: Mark Glodava.
Andrew Sanz: Lenny Contreias
because he got me really involved
and focused on various, different
things throughout the year.
Chelsea Jones: While she wasn’t
noticed, Daphne Dannenfelse
pushed people to be the best that
they can be and she has always
been a positive person.
Amany Bidas (above) becauseshe lost both of her parents in
high school and still maintained
her good grades and honor roll.
- Joudi Amraia
Cassidy DeProspo: Tyler
Anzalone is our unsung hero at
St. Mary. He’s not just my close
friend, but a good and genuine
person. As class president, he
always brings a positive and fun
atmosphere to all of the students.
It’s never a dull moment when
he’s around.
Malak Badeer: The hero of my
class is Vanessa Hernandez.
Vanessa is a very quiet, collected
and wise young lady. She taught me
many life lessons such as the peo-
ple who talk the least are often the
wisest because they sit back and
observe. Vanessa is one of the most
compassionate and unique gifts that
I got from PCTI.
Vanessa Hernandez taught me that... the peoplewho talk the least are often the wisest because they sitback and observe. - Malak Badeer
corner of Clifton & Getty Avenues
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CONGRATULATIONSCLASS OF 2015
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June 2015 • Clifton Merchant12
Nicholas Salgado: I would say that
the unsung hero would not be a per-
son, but all of the seniors in my
graduation class. Every senior is
their own hero, not just one person.
Ivan Nogalo: All of the students
who have such a great gift of some-
thing or things that they enjoy
doing, but hide from the public.
Henry Inoa: Kevin from Central.
He has always had gum since the
day I met him and always shares.
Zachary Sjosward: Mike Valido
for getting accepted to Tampa.
Miral Zakaria: All of the kids who
weren’t an athlete, in band, or
going out with the most popular
guy or girl.
Amy Philhower: Michael Orsita is
the unsung hero because he is a
hard worker, an outgoing person
and tries very hard.
Brandon Rosario: Justin Maria
because he has done behind the
scenes stuff for shows and concerts,
and he also started his own band.
Lenny Contreias: Amanda Rosa is
always hard-working.
Bryan Martinez: Deep Shaw, for
being so chill and having a cool
name.
Angel Almazo: Eric Dobal is a real-
ly good friend and really laid back.
Valeria Carabali: Shakira Polanco
because she is always on time in
her classes, she is never absent and
she always does the right thing.
Verenice Martinez: I think that
everyone is the unsung hero.
Tina Quisn: Yessica Albuquerque.
She brings out the weird in people
and gets people to smile.
Having worked at Lincoln Park Bank and
being chosen for National Honor Society,
Lindsey Pena has been an unsung hero. Her work
ethic is unmatched and she deserves recognition
for her achievements.
- Michael Kobylarz
I am so proud of who Michael Kobylarz has become. Holding var-
ious leadership positions in multiple clubs has not affected his work
ethic or his ability to stay at the top of our class. His work ethic and
relentless pursuit of success gives me encouragement to be the best
person that I can be. I admire his heart of gold and his willingness to
serve and help others. He is one of my role models and I could not be
more thankful to have met him.
- Lindsey Pena
Ciary Bonilla (above) is so kindand helping and I have gotten to
be very close with in the past six
years. She deserves to be noticed.
- Alexia Maldonado
Bhargav Desai (right) may get recognitionfor being a star athlete, but I don’t think he
gets recognized as much as he deserves. He
has straight A’s in all of his classes. He plays
the viola in the CHS orchestra and the New
Jersey symphony orchestra. He is definitely
a hero for going to practices after school
everyday for track, going to rehearsals right
after on Mondays and Thursdays, going
home to study/do homework and still finding
time to maintain a social life; all while acing
all of his AP/Honors classes. - Adriana Hernandez
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 13
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant14
Jezibeli Garcia: I will say Ivetter
Hernandez. She is one of the best
people in my life that has always
been pushing me forward. She is
the nicest and friendliest person out
there. Once you meet her you will
love her. She also has good inten-
tions for others and wants others to
achieve their goals.
Nour Ramadan: Sara Saleh.
Saba Ralli: Tina Quispe because
she is an awesome artist.
Carolina Jimenez: Michelle
Gregorio. She’s such a sweet,
unique person who works so hard
in class and at work.
David Nguyen: Brian Semarile
because he is an amazing soccer
player and he does not get the cred-
it he deserves for playing so well.
Michael Puglisi: Naidat Deet
always helped with people’s prob-
lems even when she didn’t have to.
Jania Rosario: Deziree Garcia.
Brian Romero:Angel Morte. He is
a talented young writer.
Jaskany Abreu: Sabrina Pineda
will always put her friends first and
will do anything to make you smile
at your lowest. She is an amazing
singer and a true friend.
Rishon Levi Glad Dizon:Amir El-
Zagheh is a smart hard worker.
Wellson Abellard: Emily Adamez.
She is a kind individual and self-
less. She is also a real hard worker
and very funny.
Felix Rosario: Charbel Boudaher.
Yanira Vasquez: My older sister
Adly Ortiz is always there for her
friends and family. I know inside
that she’s smart and confident.
Charbel Boudaher: I would say
myself because “no one has my back
like I have my own.” I do things to
look back and say, “I did that.”
Andrea Garcia: Alexia
Maldonado.
Mechanical Mustangs from the front left: Caroline Ruiz, Manny Garcia, JaniceHurtado, Sebastian Toledo, Naidat Deeb. Rear: Evelina Stepien, Carlos DeJesus,Ruben Giglio, Dominic Estanislao, Andy Nguyen, Frank Richardson IV. Not Pictured:Julia Ruiz and advisor, Monique Dituri.
Samantha Zalewska (above) is
one of the smartest, dedicated and
hard-working people I know. She’s
kind and always puts her school
work first. There’s no doubt that
she’ll achieve abundant success.
- Mari Angel Rodriguez
Daniel Peltyszyn: The
Mechanical Mustangs, the
CHS robotics team, deserves
far more attention than it
currently receives. What
they do is truly amazing.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 15
Come and see why over 145 students from Cliftonare making PC their high school of choice!
Scan theQR code forinformation
• New Tablet Program & Online Classes• 143 Courses, Including - 27 Honors Classes & 19 AP Classes
• New Track & AstroTurf Stadium Field• Full Music Program & Marching Band• Stable, Strong, & Future Focused• Cost Effective Tuition• Large School Offerings, Small Class Size• Fully Wireless Facility
Members of the Class of 2015 earned about $44 million in scholarships and grants.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant16
Nicholos Gornuto: Ivas Tornes is
an inspirational being.
Melanie Vega: I was my own hero.
I got myself through everything
and picked myself back up when I
was down. I also taught and helped
myself when no one else could.
Craig Wheeler: Rory Houston he’s
legit and Division 1 in Track.
Hudeyl Alastar: Philistian
Waqlias.
Alfred Deaca: Adrian Glowka.
Ximena De Leon: Brittany
Gamarra because she is different.
Ryan Giust: Roman Chyshkevych
is one of my closest friends who
always makes his school work a
priority.
Aalliyah Brown-Felicians: I don’t
really know anyone like this, but I
give the title to the creative people
in this school for the things that
they come up with.
Hanny Fulgencio: Shauira. She is
not popular, but she does get honor
and deserves more.
Austin Rio: Huji Castro. His pleas-
ant nature and kindly manner
sparks within the masses a sense of
optimism that grants them the vigor
to move forward.
Kevin Mora: Christian Duffy is
unique with a potential to be heard
and succeed.
Stephanie Marie Farfan: Ruben
Giglio is the sweetest, most friend-
liest kid ever, but never seems to
get enough recognition.
Shea Harris: Maharsh Barot’s ded-
ication to his studies and communi-
ty are unparalleled.
Mateusz Lesniowski: Brandon
Lopez is going straight to boot
camp and I want to wish him luck
so he qualifies as a hero.
Daliyah Pierson: Natalie Ponce is
unique because of her witty and
fast comebacks. Her sarcasm made
my day. She helped me get through
my senior year. Thanks Nat!
Hussam Farhan: Matt Ferko, for
being a quiet, shy man who can
instantly transform himself into an
ambitious, strong man.
Andre Garcia: The table cleaners (above with Andre)..
Usually after we finish lunch, there is a big mess. They
clear our mess and they might hate doing it, but they do
it with a smile on their faces. Also, they never seem to
complain about clearing the cafe. More people should
recognize and appreciate the work that these people do
at CHS. I work at the Dunkin’ Donut’s in Corrado’s and
I clean up after customers. My work is relatable to the
table cleaners and has given me a stronger appreciation
for their daily effort so I want to recognize them and
say thanks. Next year, I will be studying accounting at
William Paterson University. I selected accounting as a
major because when you are in the workforce you don’t
have to look for clients. There are always people look-
ing for the services of accountants, therefore I will
always be sought out by people who need help.
Joe Castellano, Gary Hicks, Andre Garcia, George DeBoer, Rocky Natoli, Mike Del Vecchio, Frank Iuele, Bogdan Krysyna.
Clifton Merchant • June 201517
St. Mary High School64 Chestnut St., Rutherford, NJ 07070201-933-5220•www.stmaryhs.org
YourSmall,Personal,CatholicChoice
• Challenging CollegePreparatory Academics
• Championship Athletics
• Clubs and Activities
• Scholarships and
Financial Aid Available Chelsea Jones
Kyle Lucianin
Michael Valentine
Guy Madsen
Dino Bradaric
Jordan Tlusty
Rachel Crespo
Cassidy DeProspo
Caroline Solek
Congratulations
and God’s Blessing to our
graduating seniors who are
residents of Clifton.
We’re St. Mary High School, The Gaels, and we are proudly ‘Small, Personal and Catholic’
Consider our Gael For a Day program. Prospective students spend a day ‘shadowing’
a Gael throughout an ‘average’ school day at St. Mary. To schedule a time, call John
Taormina, our Admissions Director, at 201-933-5220, x220 or [email protected].
St. Mary is stillaccepting students.
APPLY NOW
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant18
Someone who will not be sitting on the field, waiting to grad-
uate with us. Maria had so many great attributes. She was brave,
extremely positive, perseverant and compassionate. She was the
type of girl to drop everything in order to help her friends. When
she became ill, her friends did everything that they could to do
the same for her. Even though Maria is not with us anymore, I
know that her beautiful legacy will live on.
- Samantha Zalewska
My dearest friend Maria Kutyla remains my greatest influence.I was grateful for knowing her and having a great friendship
with her as the years went by. I had numerous classes with her
during freshman and sophomore years. Although she may have
seemed like a quiet person, she was very active and had the best
sportsmanship. Despite not being with us today, she is definite-
ly in my heart and I will truly remember her forever.
- Joohi Rana
In the Summer of 2013, CHS students Jessica
Goldberg, Slavka Simic, Olivia Rosenberg, Mari
Angel Rodriguez, Amber Helou and myself organ-
ized a fundraiser for our friend, Maria Kutyla, who
was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. We raised over
$50,000 through online donations, a luncheon and a
garage sale. The funds raised were used to help ease
the medical expenses of Maria and her family.
Unfortunately, on Oct. 19, 2013, Maria passed
away from her cancer. However, the town knew her,
supported her and helped her as much as they could.
Personal get well soon cards and even DVD seasons
of her favorite show were sent to her house. Maria
brought the community together. Maria is remem-
bered during the college application and acceptance
process. She is remembered during prom and schol-
arship night. She is remembered during AP tests and
during graduation. Maria Kutyla is and will forever
be remembered by the Class of 2015.
- Anna Stroinski
Although Maria did not make it to sen-ior year, I still feel her presence. She was
always there for her friends when they
needed someone to cheer them up or
cheer them on. She’s a large reason why
myself and many others have been suc-
cessful during high school. Her strength
against her disease taught us how to be
strong during our own tough times. Most
importantly, her beautiful smile and silly
demeanor could make anyone happy.
- Jessica Goldberg
Even though she passed away, Maria
Kutyla continues to inspire me to live an
altruistic lifestyle.
- Mari Angel Rodriguez
From left, Sofiya Nedelcheva, Maria Kutyla,Jessica Goldberg, Angela Meneghin,Slavka Simic, Anna Stroinski and Angelica Flores.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 19
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant20
Class of 2015
Clifton’s Tiffany Daniels was co-valedictorian of the
Class of 2015 at Passaic County Community College.
She delivered the valedictory address at the morning
Commencement on May 21 on the Paterson campus.
“I didn’t expect it,” Daniels said of being chosen as
valedictorian from a class of over 1,000. A 2013 grad of
Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI), Daniels was
recognized as a NJ Star, an honor for high school grads
who are academically near the top of their class. The
honor comes with free tuition to community college.
Graduating PCTI, she planned to attend WPU but
instead enrolled in PCCC to take advantage of the tuition
scholarship. “As time progressed, I realized it’s been the
best experience ever,” said Daniels. “At PCCC, I learned
who I am, what I want to do, and where I want to go,” she
explained. “I didn’t know that before.”
Daniels, who received her Associate in Applied
Science Degree in Information Technology/Networking
with highest honors, is also the first female valedictorian
at PCCC to graduate with an Information Technology
degree, a fact she stressed in her powerful speech.
“I am a proud woman in the technology field, which
is dominated by men,” she said. “There will be compe-
tition and people trying to see me fail because I am a
woman. This will not stop me, nor should it stop any
woman from going after what they want.”
In her speech, Daniels described the hurdles and fail-
ures she encountered on the road to becoming an honor
student and urged others not to let obstacles stop them.
“It is easy to believe that the possible is impossible; nev-
ertheless I made sure that even if that were the case, I
would still continue moving forward.”
Daniels also won the CIS Information Technology
Graduate Achievement Award and the Graduate
Leadership Award, among other accolades.
As part of her degree studies, Daniels worked an
internship at Bergen County Technical Institute (BCTI)
where she traveled with a network team among the
school’s various campuses working on computers.
She’ll be doing much more of it soon, since her work
impressed BCTI enough to offer her a job this summer.
“This time, it will be more hands-on,” she said. “I’m
really excited about that.”
Daniels will continue her studies toward a bachelor’s
degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University this fall where
she will major in Information Technology and minor in
computer forensics, “I feel honored I was selected to be
valedictorian and blessed to have met the people who
helped me through this journey.”
Read more about Tiffany Daniels and learn more about PCCC at pccc.edu
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 21
Class of 2015
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant22
For Abdalah Zidan, perseverance and integrity are
two integral values that all people should aspire to
exemplify. Although he has encountered multiple strug-
gles throughout his life, Zidan never lost these strong
moral principles. He points to his parents who taught
these lessons by always doing the right thing.
“One of the most important lessons I learned from
being raised by my parents,” stated Zidan, the youngest
of ten children, “is there is no greater display of integri-
ty than what you do when nobody’s looking. Life will
always tempt you to cheat and take shortcuts, but there
is no substitute for integrity.” He continued: “If you
really believe in something, defend it tooth and nail. If
you make a commitment, deliver 110 percent.”
Abdalah Zidan reading his favorite book Grendel.with english teacher Orly Saddik.
By Ariana Puzzo
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 23
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant24
The personable and friendly grad has a variety of inter-
ests. Among them: he is active in his mosque, has prac-
ticed Tae-Kwon-Do for over 10 years with Master Elliott
Durham at Quality Martial Arts and played piano for
many years. “My most fond memory of CHS was fresh-
man year when I played the piano at the talent show. I
played so well by the end of my performance the audience
was roaring and two friends of mine ran on stage and car-
ried me off as I waved goodbye and thanked the crowd.”
While he enjoyed tickling the ivories, he had to make
a decision to either continue to practice or go to work.
He went practical instead of artistic.
For the past year he was a fish monger in the Seafood
Department of the Paulison Avenue ShopRite. “I learned
how to cook many seafood dishes and I developed very
good interpersonal skills,” he said. “My boss Fidel
Urbina is a great manager as well and I couldn’t have
asked for a better supervisor.”
What will he miss at CHS? “My English IV Honors
teacher Ms. Saddik. She is a very sweet, intelligent and
passionate woman who loves teaching. I’m so happy to
know someone who is so interesting and caring. It actu-
ally hurts to say goodbye.”
He said Mr. Bell’s US History II class was his favorite
because Bell is a very intelligent and interesting teacher.
“Also most of my friends were in that class and Mr. Bell
is a cool teacher,” he said, adding that he has a fondness
for dodging Mr. Ashworth when not wearing his I.D.
Zidan will attend Passaic County Community College
to get a degree in electrical engineering and expects to be
employed by a networking company. “Mathematics has
always interested me. As the Clifton curriculum became
more complex and difficult it intrigued me because I
enjoy the challenge. When my guidance counselor
explained how engineering utilizes the mathematical
skills we learn and continue to accrue while working on
the job I realized my direction,” he explained. He is not
sure if he will go on to a four year university or go to a
trade school afterwards. “I don’t want to reach a point in
my life where I feel limited in terms of fulfillment in my
purpose,” he explained. “I want to try to exceed my lim-
its and never settle for less than perfect.”
He advises the Class of 2016 to never be discouraged
when they face misfortune or adversity. “Even if you fail,”
Zidan concluded, “keep in mind that failure is not the
opposite of succes, it’s a part of it.”
Class of 2015
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 25
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant26
Mark Glodava: Being inducted into the
National Honor Society. It takes a lot of
hard work and dedication to achieve.
Cassidy DeProspo: Being named stu-
dent of the month. Many people are in
the National Honor Society and other
societies, but only a few get this title.
Caroline Solek: I am persistent in my
dancing career and have not given up.
Jordan Tlusty: Going to college to pur-
sue my dream of being a fashion designer.
Lindsey Pena: Working hard enough
throughout high school so that I will be
able to graduate college debt free.
Michael Kobylarz: Being chosen to
attend the New Jersey State Police
Trooper Youth Week. After applying, I
was part of a select group of 100 stu-
dents from all over the state attended the
prestigious leadership training.
Aleksander Dimitrovski: Participating
in 2013 and 2014 in the Navy JROTC
Nationals Competition.
Jennifer Zuniga: Receiving my CNA
certification and hopefully I will soon
have my EMT certification as well.
Shivani Topiwala: I have been a NJ
Girls State Ambassador, placed 17th in
the nation on the PCTI Drill Team and I
am an assistant graphic designer.
Samantha Zalewska: Getting into
Princeton because it has been my dream.
Brandon Rosario: Graduating.
Daniel Herrera: Winning County’s for
the Boys Swim Team led by Coach
Montovano and Coach Bobby. They
later named me ‘County Champ.’
Roman Chyshkevych:Adapting to a new
country was a significant achievement.
Mariluz Kanjo:Making it to senior year
with honor roll grades.
Nicholas Salgado: Finding a new me
after temporarily losing myself.
Joel Ciccarella:Being involved in sports,
receiving a DECA honorable mention and
all of my involvement in community jobs.
Ivan Nogalo: Working hard throughout
school and preparing myself for life.
Henry Inoa: Proving a teacher wrong.
Miral Zakaria: Growing up and finding
myself.
Matthew Ferko: Making Varsity Soccer.
Amy Philhower: Getting away with
wearing leggings and yoga pants while
in Mr. Ashworth’s English class.
Nour Ramadan: Believing in myself
and knowing that I could make it.
Zachary Sjosward: Making my parents
proud by getting a college grant.
Marie Mendoza: Being on Student
Council from 8th grade to senior year,
maintaining good grades and making
honor roll all while maintaining a job.
Saba Ralli: Overcoming my stage fright
and performing in front of the seniors
during their dance concert.
Rishon Levi: Building a
bond with my friends and
gaining people that I can
always count on.
David Nguyen: Winning
second place in color
guard after only three
days of practice.
Stephanie Marie Farfan:Paying for my car insur-
ance and bills myself.
Melanie Vega: It may sound like nothing serious, but
learning responsibility and growing up more.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 27
No sports. No parties. No dating. No phone calls. Like too many other high school kids in the past,
get caught just once drinking and driving, doing drugs or the wrong combination of these,
and you’re grounded. That’s final.Be smart and be safe as you graduate high school.
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June 2015 • Clifton Merchant28
Kaori Suzuki:Managing my
time to do my
best in sports,
clubs and school.
Yanira Vasquez:Moving forward,
never giving up.
Laura Yang: Competing
at Navy JROTC Nationals
in 2013 and 2014. I have
never done anything of
that caliber before.
Hansmeyri Torres: When
I came to America in the
sixth grade from the
Dominican Republic, I
couldn’t speak English.
Through determination and
patience, I learned English
in two years. Now a senior
at CHS, I was student of
the month in March and I
am headed to college and I
ultimately hope to be an
Orthodontist. My goal is to
run my own business and
to live a good financial life
to help support my family.
Giancarlo Richard Osnato: Clifton
Hockey achieved two pretty great things
this year. Tying with Paramus Catholic
and beating Fairlawn for the first time in
seven years was one of my greatest
achievements and the best I ever played
in my high school hockey career.
Cesar Diaz: Working really hard and
getting good grades in my classes.
Joudi Amraia: Saving up and being
able to afford to buy my first car.
Hussam Farhan : Achieving a place on
the Distinguished Honor Roll in my
freshman and senior years of high school.
Mike Orsita: Sitting in front of Mr.
Ashworth’s English class for an entire
class period without wearing an ID.
Walter Brown: Making myself and my
parents happy when I achieved the
Distinguished Honor Roll Achievement
Award for 2015.
Bryan Martinez: Being accepted to RPI.
Lenny Contreias:Getting Distinguished
Honor Roll for all four years at CHS.
Andrew Sanz: Getting on Varsity Track.
Angel Almazo: Getting a job.
Valeria Carabali: Becoming close
again with my family and being in this
country studying to have a better life.
Kim D’Agosta:Making Varsity Softball.
Samantha Declet: Balancing school,
work, friends and family while manag-
ing to be on Honor Roll for four years.
Verenice Martinez: Writing a piece for
the school newspaper for my journalism
class. I’m not very outspoken, but to
write something that was important to
me, and to really voice my opinion on
something that was important to me,
was something that I had never experi-
enced before.
Jezibeli Garcia: Graduating from high
school and making my mom proud.
Tina Quisn: Being CIA Club President.
Glad Dizon: Making the bball team.
Michael Bondonna: Becoming a Rank
Sergeant in the Mustang Marching Band.
Fabian Rodriguez: Making
Distinguished Scholar two times and
working hard in order to get there.
Elaha Saberi: Four years of
Distinguished Honors and being
inducted into National Honor Society.
Chris Guardia: Getting into college.
Daniel Peltyszyn: The transition from a
class of 11 to a class of 752 students.
Allison Szeliga: Being elected Vice
President of the student council. I have
worked to make school more fulfilling
for my peers by helping to host numer-
ous events and in-school activities.
Miriam Kiano: Joining the CHS com-
munity. It made me a better person and
gave me the chance to shape my future.
Nicholos Gornuto: Staying friends
with Ryan Murphy because we’ve
known each other since infancy.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 29
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant30
Sabrina Furia: Never giving up on
school. There were times when I
slacked off a bit, but I can proudly
say that I have never failed a class.
Also, a majority of my time at
Clifton High, I have made honor roll.
Tiani Hibbert: Becoming one of the
Clifton High Cheer captains.
Charbel Boudaher: Working, grad-
uating high school and working so
that I can continue my business.
Alexia Maldonado: Being a hard-
working student and making it into
the Honors Society. Also, making
Honor Roll for three years and
making my parents proud.
Rubi Garcia: Freshman year wasn’t
my year, but everyone goes through
that and I changed everything
around. Junior year I was passing
everything. If it wasn’t for chang-
ing my life around, I wouldn’t be a
senior now. I’m working my butt
off to keep everything going well.
Andrea Garcia: Learning that with-
out an education, you’ll go nowhere.
Craig Wheeler: The transition I
made from childhood to adulthood.
Daliyah Pierson: My senior year is
when I achieved a lot. More often
than I expected, I made it through
Mr. Ashworth’s class breaking dress
code and without wearing an ID.
Katia Bermejo: I didn’t think about
graduating until my senior year. In
5th grade, I wanted to be like my
sister. Today, I am self-inspired and
my own learner and teacher.
Andre Garcia: Getting into universi-
ty and getting a good job by myself.
Hudeyl Aalasfar: In middle school,
my friends and I made a video about
bullying to share with the school
and then we did a play for everyone.
Ciary Bonilla: Hanging my artwork
in the Art Gallery.
“Being selected 1st Team All Passaic County forTrack and Field. I came to realize that it’s more dif-ficult to achieve than most people would think. I takepride in my accomplishment and I am grateful to mycoaches, teammates and my family for their supportat all times. I was proud to be a Mustang and to run
for Clifton High School.”
- Rory Houston
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 31
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant32
Alfred Deaca: Being able to save
money to get my own car.
Aalliyah Brown-Felicians:Expanding my English vocabulary.
Hanny Fulgencio: Graduation then
going on to study in Maryland.
Alex Paulino: Achieving
Distinguished Honor Roll several
times throughout high school.
Ximena De Leon: Distinguished
Honor Roll all of high school.
Harry Termyna: Maintaining a 4.0
GPA and holding a spot in the Top
20 of my graduating class.
Shea Harris: Passing Mr. Chil’s
Honors Chemistry class.
Mari Angel Rodriguez: Graduating
in the top 10% with Distinguished
Honors all four years. Also, getting
accepted to BU, GWU and TCNJ.
Austin Rio: I survived high school.
Nicole Wedel: Memorizing and
reciting the first 65 digits of pi.
Adriana Hernandez: Being
involved helped me realize that I am
always willing to help others. I
made a lot of friends and I was lucky
enough to have close relationships
with a few CHS teachers and know
that I will be remembered by some.
Kyle Chupick: I played baseball in
Little League, travel baseball teams
and on CHS Varsity. Senior year, I
pitched a two-hit shutout against
Eastside. I can honestly say that
playing Varsity was one of the most
enjoyable parts of my years.
Joe Duffy: Being chosen to be a
school Ambassador. It is something
few students get to be a part of.
Paulina Edel: Playing side-by-side
with the New Jersey Symphony
Ochestra at NJPAC three times.
Kevin Jerzy Biernat: Making 1st
chair in Region and All-State Honor
Bands and being accepted to Ithaca
College, University of Denver and
Berklee College of Music.
Angela Rodriguez:Graduating and having a
career that I like to work
in. Something that can
make my days better.
Benidick Galan: Always
having high grades, never
anything lower than an 80.
Brittany Calderon: I was honored to be named the
April Student of the Month at CHS. I am determined
and motivated to do everything to the best of my abil-
ity. Even when I am done with school, I
will always set goals for myself and try
my hardest to achieve them.
I never truly knew what I wanted to be.
As I matured, I’ve realized that many of
my friends feel comfortable coming to
me for advice, whether it has to do with
troubles in their lives including school,
family, or friends.
Knowing that giving my personal
advice helps others has given me the
motivation and inspiration to become a
psychologist.
In the past, I really enjoyed playing Track and
Soccer. But over the past two years at CHS, I’ve
gained a strong passion for cheerleading. Cheer has
not only taught me new, difficult skills, but I have
also been able to support Mustang Football and
Basketball teams. Competition plays a major role in
cheerleading and not every high school has the priv-
ilege to compete.
I’m proud to say that I’ve experienced
this journey with my amazing team.
Now I get to share this experience of
cheerleading with younger girls who
want to pursue their future careers in
cheerleading and hopefully, I’ll be able to
watch them achieve what I have one day.
If I had the chance to meet with
incoming Mustang students, I would tell
them that this school brings a very strong
community together. CHS has many dif-
ferent extra-curricular activities, sports
and clubs. The best thing about the high school is that
there are many students who attend and it is easy to
make new friends. Also, the school contains an amaz-
ing staff that all want their students to succeed.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 33
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant34
The Clifton Student Union was
founded this past year primarily
by Anna Stroinski, Nicole
Rodriguez-Rowe, Alaa Khalil,
Marissa Dianas and Olivia
Rosenberg when they and other
CHS students consistently attend-
ed and spoke about issues at Board
of Education meetings.
The Union was also formed by creating a
remarkable folder of issues that was undeni-
ably well-received by members of the Board.
In April, the Board ok’ed that a non-vot-
ing student representative be on the Board
and allowed the CSU to be a recognized
club. A CHS history reacher has been the
advisor since. “The CSU really stands for
trying to get greater student voice in deci-
sion-making at the high school through
organizing for power,” he explained.
The Union has been raising funds so it can
purchase a Memorial tree to commemorate
students that have passed away. The group is
also planning its first community service
project in June. For 2015, the CSU did not
have officers because the group wanted as
many voices from the student body as possible.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 35
Class of 2015
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant36
Shivani Topiwala is a bright young woman whoprides herself on practicing self-motivation to
achieve her dreams. This Clifton native of the
Allwood Road area attended School #14 and Woodrow
Wilson Middle School before coming to PCTI. As a
member of the School of Communication Arts, she avid-
ly seeks opportunity in order to pursue personal growth,
which accounts for much of her success.
Topiwala’s enthusiastic and hardworking attitude has
earned her an outstanding 4.4 GPA. She also ranks in the
top one percent of the Class of 2015. By extension, it’s
no surprise she has achieved Principal’s Honor Roll
throughout most of her academic career.
Dedication permeates throughout her entire lifestyle.
“I only feel comfortable giving 110%. I really look for-
ward to challenging myself.” While attending PCTI,
Topiwala has taken 10 Honors courses and four AP
classes, earning her a potential 28 credits for use after
graduating high school.
Aside from her fortitude with stellar grades, Topiwala
is also involved in a host of activities. She is a member
of PCTI’s NJROTC and serves on the Drill Team.
In addition, she acts as the Lieutenant ranking
Liaison Affairs Officer – a role which dutifully assess-
es and fosters communication between instructors and
cadets. She is also a member of ERASE, National
History Club, Gifted & Talented, National Honor
Society and the World Language Honor Society. She
plays on the Girls Tennis team and was also selected for
NJ Girls State.
Topiwala showcases great diligence in all of her
endeavors. It’s no surprise that she already has plans
lined up after graduation. She will attend Rutgers
University in New Brunswick and will pursue an edu-
cation in Biomedical Engineering - an area which
focuses on making prosthetics, stem cell research and
3D printing. As a minor, she will dive into the world of
Neuroscience as she also plans on pursuing the Pre-
Med track.
When asked about the valuable experiences she’s
had while attending PCTI, Topiwala said, “This is the
closest kind of education a high school student can get
to actually being in college. There are so many oppor-
tunities to take advantage of, so just go for it.” This cre-
ative thinker provides sound advice for future
Bulldogs—or anyone thinking about attending PCTI.
Photo & Story by Sandra Woods
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 37
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant38
Matthew Ferko:Auto Tech because I fixed my own car.
Ethan Nouhan: Although I usually hate math,
Freshman Geometry with Mr. Erk made math fun and
he also taught us lessons about life. Whenever we fin-
ished a lesson for the day, we would just talk.
Sometimes he would tell us jokes, other times he would
give us advice about the next few years of high school
and sometimes we would just relax. His class was one
that I looked forward to spending time in every day.
Nikola Kamcev: Mrs. Brach’s AP Calculus course. She
does an amazing job of teaching tricky math concepts in
a comprehensive way. Her class sparked my interest in
math and is a large part of the reason that I am consid-
ering studying math in college. I took AP Calculus as a
junior and was excited to come to her class and learn
every day. She encouraged me and classmate, Bhargav
Sonani to take the BC Calculus exam (one step up from
the AB Calculus course that CHS offers) and with her
help and our own work, we were able to score 5’s.
Daniel Herrera: Math because with practice and hard
work, solving problems just made sense to me.
Roman Chyshkevych: Biology with Mr. Meck. The
subject came naturally to me and he made the class fun.
Mariluz Kanjo: Math.
Caitlyn Cindy: Mr. Lotito’s History II. I took the class
during my junior year and truly enjoyed it.
Nicholas Salgado: Mr. Ashworth’s English class.
Joel Ciccarella: Environmental Science because it was
interesting. We were able to go outside and it was my
last year in a class with my friend Brian Counterman,
who I’ve known for over 10 years since School 14.
Ivan Nogalo: Mr. Alberghini’s Auto Tech. I enjoyed
learning about the subject and being with friends.
Amy Philhower: Mr. Ashworth’s English class.
In CHS Auto Tech classes, students have been dissect-
ing a Ford Taurus station wagon and creating an El
Camino type car under the tutelage of instructor
Richard Alberghini. Several students enrolled in various
tech schools after graduation, and others are planning
on entering the automotive tech field.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 39
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant40
Brandon Rosario: Auto Tech
because the teacher was good and
knew what he is talking about. I also
met people with similar interests.
Nour Ramadan: English with Mr.
Ashworth. He made me work and
bust my butt and I am glad for that.
Zachary Sjosward: Ms.
Gaccione’s English during my jun-
ior year. I met a lot of new people.
Lenny Contreias: Mr. Romanak’s
Surveys of Math class. It was so
great because my friends were in
the class and Mr. Romanak made
math a fun subject to learn.
Marie Mendoza: Mrs. Roger’s
English class and Mrs. Lesler’s
Sign Language class. Both teachers
made class fun and enjoyable. I
would always look forward to
going to their classes every day.
Cesar Diaz: English classes were
always my favorite classes.
Joudi Amraia: Co Op because I
gained real life and work experience.
Mike Orsita: Mrs. Kane’s Survey
Math class was really good.
Walter Brown: English 4 with Mr.
Ashworth. He taught me how to
stay focused and be a strong reader.
Bryan Martinez: Mrs. Merizwa’s
Math class was my favorite class.
Narina Savas: I enjoyed Math
Survey because the class was easy.
Andrew Sanz: English 4 because
my teacher was the best teacher in
all of my years of high school.
Angel Almazo: English 4 because
Mr. Ashworth made a class that I
normally find boring, interesting.
Jessica Goldberg: AP Biology
with Mr. Meck and AP Calculus
with Ms. Brach. Both teachers
made subjects that can be described
as difficult and tedious into fun les-
sons filled with jokes and songs
that helped each student remember
and understand information. Both
classes were truly academic and
enjoyable.
Valeria Carabali: Geometry
because it was a nice class and my
teacher would explain everything.
She always was happy and I got
good grades in the class.
Kandece Rosario: Senior year
gym because staying active and in
shape meant so much to me.
Verenice Martinez: Clothing and
Fashion with Miss K.
Brianna Labanich: Anatomy and
Physiology with Mrs. Carofine. I
love learning how the body works.
It is amazing how many things can
be learned from one body.
Jezibeli Garcia: Mr. Ashworth’s
English. Even though he gave us so
many assignments, the way he
teaches makes you think about life.
Tina Quisn: History. I love learn-
ing about people’s cultures and
about how people’s lives were.
Samantha Declet: Band class with
Mr. Holody because I love playing
music and I’ve learned a lot this
year. I also enjoy my sign language
class with Mrs. Lesler because I
love learning new signs and a new
way to communicate in the world.
Juan Quirino: English class
because although I don’t like
English, I think that Mr. Ashworth
is the best English teacher. I like
how he involved life today with the
old books that we read.
Saba Ralli: My senior
year English and
Psychology classes.
Michael Puglisi: Art
classes with Mrs.
Maak and Mrs. Karcz
seem more like they
are trying to help and
are not just teachers.
Mark Glodava: Biology with
Mr. Meck. I really enjoy the sub-
ject matter and Mr. Meck’s pas-
sion for teaching made it very
interesting. He used PowerPoint
presentations during class,
which made it easier to under-
stand. He also knew how to
relate to the students to get the
most out of them. AP Biology
with Mr. Meck made me realize
that I would like to pursue
Biology as a major in college.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 41
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Daniel Peltyszyn: It’s a close tie between Mr. Henry’s
U.S. History I Honors and Mr. Chilowicz’s Honors
Chemistry. In retrospect, I recognize that those two
classes changed my way of thinking and learning.
Allison Szeliga: Either my AP Calculus AB class or my
AP Micro-Economics class. In AP Calculus, my teacher,
Mr. Phelan, made class interesting with his great sense
of humor. His class made me realize that even if the con-
tent is difficult, a good attitude can help make learning
much easier. I also enjoyed AP Micro-Economics taught
by Mr. O’Brien because the small class size allowed for
a more in-depth type of learning to occur. I also really
enjoyed the subject of Economics, which furthered my
confidence in my decision to be a Business Major. Both
classes made my senior year better than I had expected,
for which I thank the two aforementioned teachers.
Sabrina Furia: Junior English when Miss Anselmini
substituted our class for half of the year. My best friend
Alexis was in the same class, which made English much
more enjoyable. Miss A. would always have themed
Fridays where we would cook snacks relating to the
books that we were reading, or dress up like The Great
Gatsby. She made English class bearable and exciting.
Tiani Hibbert: My all time favorite class was social
studies with Mrs. Plattie and Mr. Klagan at the Annex.
Not only did I learn a lot from both teachers, but the
class was just so fun. I wanted to learn all the time.
Miriam Kiano: English with Mr. Ashworth. It’s the
only class that I could sit down, not use my phone and
actively engage and listen to his wise words.
Sarah Rosenthal: Art because Ms. Maak was always
so upbeat and the other students made it entertaining. I
was also doing something that I love to do.
Lindsey Pena:My business class this year. Mr. Festa, who
not only relentlessly encouraged me in everything that I
have done, but filled me with laughter every single day.
My college professor, Professor Rea, who taught the sec-
ond part of college accounting this year was also a tremen-
dous help as she answered all of my questions during
class, offered valuable insight and advice from her own
experiences and wrote letters of recommendations for me.
Felix Rosario: Power Mechanics because the class has
me working on cars, which is what I love to do.
Yanira Vasquez: Cartooning and Illustrating. The class
allowed me to find my creative side.
Ruben Giglio, Natalie Ponce,Maharsh Barot, Brandon Lopez.
Giancarlo Richard Osnato: This year
I became a member of my favorite
teacher, Mr. Lesler’s History club. My
favorite subject is History, hands
down. I am what some people would
call a History wiz because I really love
History and have excelled in all the
courses that I have taken. I took
Honors during my Sophomore and
Junior year, but I truly regret not tak-
ing a History course this past year. I
feel that all of the teachers that I have
had in the past really got me into History because all
of them made History so interesting, said Osnato,
who was named the March Student of the Month.
My best experience in school was
when I learned about JFK’s assassina-
tion in Mr. Lesler's Honors History
class my Junior year because that topic
was taught so well and I had a great
time learning about it. I would tell
younger students that a lot of the teach-
ers at CHS are determined to get their
students to learn and excell and will do
anything to accomplish that. I can truly
say and would tell them that I have had
some of the greatest teachers and that
they will always be remembered as the ones who
shaped my mind into what it is today. They made me
a college student and I will always be thankful.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 43
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant44
Charbel Boudaher: To be honest, I like all of my class-
es because I learn something new everyday.
Rubi Garcia: English 4 because although Mr.
Ashworth can be a handful, he tells you how everything
is. Also, he gives really good advice when you need it.
Nicholos Gornuto: 1st period Auto Tech because we
learned things that can be applied everyday.
Alexia Maldonado: Mr. Romanak’s Math class. I had
him for 2 years and he is a great Math teacher.
Melanie Vega: Parenting because it was a class where
we were allowed to provide our input. In that class I
also made a good friend, Hele Alarcon.
Daliyah Pierson: Mrs. Rogers’ junior English class.
Mrs. Rogers was very sarcastic and she kept our class
on our toes, even while we were learning.
Craig Wheeler: English 4 with Mr. Ashworth because
of the critical thinking that we had to constantly do.
Andre Garcia: Algebra 2. I enjoyed learning about the
subject matter and it was also easy to understand.
Cassidy DeProspo: Film study because of all of the great
movies we get to watch. We also got the opportunity to
make our own movie, which was really fun.
Henry Inoa:Mr. Ashworth’s English
class because it wasn’t like
any other regular English
class. He made us think
outside of the box and look
at both sides of the picture.
Miral Zakaria: Mr.
Ashworth’s class because
he not only taught me
English, but he also taught
me and others about life
and what we should
expect in the future.
Shea Harris: Anthropology
with Mr. Carissimo. It was the
best class due to his interest-
ing lectures and the peculiar
subject matter.
Michael Valido: My favorite subject
is History because it interests me how
the past can affect our future, wrote
the February Student of the Month. I
have always done well in History and
my favorite class was American
History II Honors with Mr. Lesler.
I am a part of the Seniors at
Montclair State program, which
allows me to take college courses at
Montclair State University and attain
college credits, along with high
school credits. Going into my
Freshmen year of college, I will
already have 12 credits. In the Fall of 2015, I will
start my college experience at the University of
Tampa in Florida.
Outside of school, my activities include working
out in the gym, working on my car and spending
time with family and friends. I also
work at Modell’s Sporting Goods in
Clifton.
I am considering going into busi-
ness, finance, or sports management.
I plan on achieving my Master’s
degree and I hope to live in Florida in
the future.
If I could meet with younger stu-
dents, I would definitely inform them
about the Seniors at Montclair State
program and how beneficial it is. The
program gives you a jump-start into
the college experience and can even
let you have a shorter schedule at the high school. I
was able to leave after 4th period. If interested in the
program, it is essential to achieve and maintain good
grades and to not have any behavioral issues, so plan
ahead like I did, and your hard work will pay off.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 45
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant46
Hudeyl Aalasfar: I liked many
classes, but Junior Lunch and
Freshman Science were amazing
because both had all of my friends
and we made many memories.
Alfred Deaca: Art because the
class influenced me to choose
Architecture as my major.
Aalliyah Brown-Felicians:English because I love to read and
I’ve always loved creative writing.
Stephanie Marie Farfan: English
with Mr. Ashworth. Our classes
always involve random chats that
lead or tie into our books. He is def-
initely my most inspiring teacher.
Angela Rodriguez: Fashion class.
Hanny Fulgencio: Math. Even
though I hate math, I love the way
my teacher explained the concepts.
Alex Paulino: I enjoyed all of my
teachers and the classes I took.
Ximena De Leon: My sophomore
year Biology class because the
class was easy and funny.
Harry Termyna:AP Psychology. The
topics were interesting, but also chal-
lenging, which helped the curriculum
gain the respect that it deserved.
Ciary Bonilla: Art (ceramics)
because I can express myself
through my work and the class
helped me release stress.
Mari Angel Rodriguez: Biology.
Mr. Meck knew how to make lessons
enjoyable while teaching the materi-
al. He inspired me to study science.
Rachel Gergats: Gym during my
freshman year because that’s
where I met my best friend.
Adriana Hernandez: My violin
class with Mrs. Babiak. I’ve made a
lot of friends in that class and we
always shared a lot of great laughs.
Paulina Edel: Mr. Lesler’s junior
History Honors class. Mr. Lesler’s
passion to teach and the in class
debates made first period great.
Joe Duffy: Organic Chemistry.
Seeing how everything around us is
created by using one element as its
base fascinates me. Also, my
teacher took a difficult course and
made it both fun and easy to learn.
Jordan Tlusty: Advanced draw-
ing/painting with Mrs. Suchy. The
small group of girls made the class
great because we weren’t scared to
express who we are as artists.
Roman Chyshkevych, Sabrina Pineda,Matt Ferko, Christian Duffy.
The 61st Annual Clifton Youth Week was held during the week of May 19.Students from Clifton public and private schools are invited to shawdow acity officials for the day to learn how city government works.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 47
Pain Management
Dr. Kazimierz Szczech Dr. Jeffrey Miller, DPM
Podiatry
Dr. Zi na Cappiello
Podiatry
Podiatry
General Surgery
Dr. Kevin Buckley
Pain Management
Dr. Todd Koppel, MD
Dr. Thomas Graziano,
DPM, MD Charles Crowley, MD
Dr. Daniel Rice, MD
Urology
Dr. Terry McSweeney
Chiropractic
Smaller and more service oriented than hospitals,patients and their families benefit from the lower cost,
convenience and the surgical expertise of our staffand physicians at Clifton Surgery Center.
Ladislav Habina, MD
1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-357-8228
Kazimierz Szczech, MD
1033 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-473-4400
Binod Sinha, MD
1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-777-5444
Todd Koppel, MD
721 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-473-5752
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Kevin Buckley, MD
1100 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-778-0100
Edwin Kane, MD
1100 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-778-0100
GENERAL SURGERY
ENDOSCOPYPiotr Huskowski, MD
1005 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-778-7882
CHIROPRACTICTerry Mc Sweeney, DC
600 Mt. Prospect Ave.
Newark, NJ 07104
973-485-2332
ENTStephen Abrams, MD
1070 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-773-9880
ORTHOPEDICSKent Lerner, MD
17 Jauncey Ave.
No. Arlington, NJ 07031
201-991-9019
UROLOGYDaniel Rice, MD
1001 Clifton, Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-779-7231
OPHTHALMOLOGYCharles Crowley, MD
1033 Clifton Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-472-6405
PODIATRY
Call your physiCian about sCheduling
your surgery at Clifton surgery Center.
Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD
1033 Clifton, Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-473-3344
Jeffrey Miller, DPM
1117 Route 46 East, 2nd Floor
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-365-2208
Zina Cappiello, DPM
886 Pompton Ave, Suite A-1
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
973-857-1184
Glenn Haber, DPM
140 Grand Ave.
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-0212
John Mc Evoy, DPM
152 Lakeview Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-340-8970
Kevin Healey, DPM
152 Lakeview Ave.
Clifton, NJ 07013
973-340-8970
Matthew Welch, DPM
6506 Park Ave.
West New York, NJ 07093
201-662-1122
Anas Khoury, DPM
235 Main Ave.
Passaic, NJ 07066
973-473-6665
Ophthalmology
Michael Bondonna: Band class. I
took Band for all 4 years of high
school. I loved playing my saxo-
phone and having the opportunity
to perform in many different con-
certs over the years in high school.
Kaori Suzuki: U.S. History because
my teacher Mr. Rosenfeld chal-
lenged me and helped me.
Aleksander Dimitrovski: Criminal
Justice. I have been interested in the
field since I was 10 years old.
Chelsea Jones: Film study. We
watch great movies, especially the
ones that never get shown in theatres.
Kim D’Agosta: Mrs. Lesler’s Sign
Language class. She made learning
Sign Language enjoyable.
Caroline Solek:Art class. It allowed
me to discover something new about
myself. I now know that I love to
paint and develop new creations.
Jennifer Zuniga: Academy of
Medical Arts. It allowed me to
enhance my knowledge and open my
eyes to a career path that I want to do.
Laura Yang: Mr. Rosenfeld made
US History I Honors memorable.
He taught in a way that made me
want to learn more about history.
Malak Badeer: History. I love to
learn about the past and other peo-
ple’s mistakes to avoid repetition.
Samantha Zalewska: AP
European History with Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Rogers always tries to help his
students see the big ideas at play in
historical and current events. This
class has opened my eyes to many
of the forces affecting our world.
Rory Houston: CAST with Mr.
McCunney. He is one of my
favorite teachers at CHS. I love his
laid-back teaching style. Both he
and my classmates in CAST made
my senior year fun and memorable.
Elaha Saberi:Art because the class
was a chill period where I got to do
what I enjoy and I was also able to
receive a good grade.
David Nguyen: This year’s
English class with Mr. Ashworth.
He makes us think about how the
books we read relate to life.
Salwa Ramadan: Mr. Ashworth’s
English class. It was great because
you can say whatever is on your
mind. He not only taught me about
literature, but also about life.
Glad Dizon: Mr. Lesler’s Honors
class because it challenged me.
Andrea Garcia: I loved Craft.
Carolina Jimenez: Spanish my
freshman year. Mr. Ros is a great
guy. He always pushed us to learn.
Ryan Giust: English with Mr.
Ashworth. We always had a lot of
interesting discussions in his class.
Joohi Rana: AP Biology with Mr.
Meck and World History with Mr.
Rogers. They made the funniest
jokes throughout their lectures.
Mateusz Lesniowski: Digital pho-
tography. Mrs. Slanina is a great
teacher and I love photography.
Chris Guardia: Creative writing.
We wrote poems in the class and
Mrs. Rubin was a great teacher.
Richard DeMarco: History with Mr.
Bell. He made the class fun while
learning a lot of American History.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant48
I play viola for the CHS Orchestra, as
well as for the NJSO Youth Orchestras. I am
a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society,
Stage Crew, Key Club, National Art Honor
Society and the Art Gallery Club. My
favorite academic subject is English/
Literature because its always been my best
subject. I’ve enjoyed reading since I was a
child and writing comes naturally to me. I
plan to attend either Boston University or the Maryland Institute College
of Art in the Fall to study Graphic Design/Communications. I think that
my best experience is Relay for Life every year because Tri-M spends
all year raising money for cancer research and on that day we get to have
fun, dance, relax, eat and celebrate our accomplishment. The best thing
about CHS is the diversity in its students, wrote the April Student of the
Month. There’s a place for everyone to fit in and all of the groups min-
gle and mix with each other. You don’t get that in other schools.
“Strings because I've been in that class through-out all four years. It’s a constant in my life. I’ve
made most of my friends there and it’s always a funclass... even though Mrs. Babiak is a crab.”
- Camille Gomera-Tavarez
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 49
Can a Damaged Toenail be
Melanoma?
Fungus Nail?Think Again...
Dr. Thomas Graziano has treatedseveral cases of melanomas onthe lower extremity, as this photoillustrates.
This patient had used topical antifungal medicines but nothingseemed to work.
When she visited Dr. Graziano, hissuspicions of skin cancer(melanoma) were confirmed by thebiopsy he performed right in theoffice.
“Melanomas obviously occur inareas that don't receive much sunexposure,” he explained. “The solesof your feet, palms of your hands andtoe or finger nail beds.”
“Screening is so important asmelanoma can present in many dif-ferent ways,” he continued. “Theskin of the feet and lower legs isoften overlooked during routinemedical examinations, and for thisreason, it important that the feet arechecked regularly for abnormalitiesthat might indicate evolving skincancer.”
That’s why screenings are so vital.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant50
There are about12,000 podiatrists inthe United States,according to theDepartment of Labor,and Clifton podiatrist
Thomas Graziano is one of only sixwho hold both a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
As a foot and ankle specialist, mymain goal for all my patients is tofind caring solutions that last alifetime. I won't just treat thesymptom; I'll strive to correct theproblem... Permanently.
When you combine effective treat-ments with my genuine concernfor your well-being, that's a pow-erful combination.
-Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM,FACFAS
There are more than 76,000 cases of Melanoma annually. Have a Suspicious Mole or Fungus?Come in for a Screening
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 51
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant52
Amauris Peralta is the Boys & Girls Clubof Clifton’s 2015 Youth of the Year and was
also the March CHS Student of the Month.
He is a driven, intelligent yet understanding
young man who is focused on a career in the
communication field.
Born in the Dominican Republic, he and
three siblings came to live with his father in
the United States while his mother and
younger sister remained in their homeland.
His dad enrolled the then 6-year-old in the
Club’s after school program and he remained
involved since. From teen leaders to the
adults, Peralta said B&G Club counselors
became his role models and mentors, people
he looked up to and hoped to emulate. “They
were there to help and provide guidance and
continue to do so these days as I am in the
process of preparing for college,” he said.
“His loyalty, compassion and charismatic aura are a
few of the many extraordinary qualities that he possess-
es,” noted Club Executive Director Bob Foster. Caring
counselors, great friends and a safe environment
allowed Peralta to feel comfortable to open up and make
many life-long friends. “Amauris has been our go-to
guy when we need the Club to be represented at any
event in town,” added Foster.
As the President of the Keystone Club, Peralta led
Keystoners setting up and breaking down for A Taste of
Clifton, Casino Night, Great Futures Kick-Off event,
the Annual Boys & Girls Club Board/Staff/Volunteer
Party and National Boys & Girls Club Week.
This past year he and other Keystoners helped run
activities, rides and games for the children at the
HarvestFest and Halloween Parade, the Salute to
Veterans Concert and at Youth Week. Among his
favorite events are raising funds for the American
Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
He is equally involved at CHS and hold the rank of
Gunnery Sergeant with the Jr ROTC.
Getting a taste of what it is like to be in the
Communications field, Peralta was cast in an AT&T
PSA about “no texting while driving” and was also part
of the filming of The Stream, starring Rain Wilson,
where he got a chance to work behind the scenes in the
making of the movie.
As a teen reporter for MyClubMylife.com, he cov-
ered the national Great Futures Kick Off where he inter-
viewed Jordin Sparks, C.C. Sabathia, Colin Farrell,
Stephen A. Smith, Victor Cruz and Nick Cannon.
Academically, Peralta has been on the Distinguished
Honor Roll for all four years. While in school, he
belongs to Key Club, Forensics Club, DECA and the
Wrestling team. He is a four year Lacrosse member as
well as an ROTC Drill and Civic team participant.
“Amauris is a solid student, a contributing member of
our academic community and one who will in all likeli-
hood make most any college campus a better place,”
said his CHS counselor Jacqueline Festa-Salerno, MA.
Peralta will attend Ramapo College in the Fall. His
dedication to supporting and caring for others has made
Peralta an outstanding example of the impact that the
Boys & Girls Club has on Clifton kids.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 53
AC Moore (973) 470-8885
Antonio’s Hair Stylist (973) 472-1011
Avant Garde Salon (973) 778-0557
Bertelli’s Liquors (973) 779-0199
C2 Education Center (973) 778-7300
Chiropractic Center at Styertowne (973) 777-6995
Cleaners 2000 (973) 614-1400
F.Y.E. (973) 778-8759
Corbo Jewelers (973) 777-1635
CVS Pharmacy (973) 778-7630
Dollar Tree (973) 249-7530
Dress Barn (973) 249-0233
Dunkin Donuts & Baskin Robbins (973) 473-9631
Footnotes Bookstore (973) 779-6122
GNC (973) 779-1500
Kim’s Nail Salon (973) 471-8118
Largo House Nail & Spa (973) 777-9784
Lucille Roberts (973) 249-2966
Moda Shoes & Co. (973) 777-4700
Modells (973) 779-5253
Morillo Eye Care (973) 594-0020
Muscle Maker Grill (862) 899-7111
Radio Shack (973) 777-7931
Sherwin-Williams (973) 773-1738
Styertowne Bakery (973) 777-6193
Subway (973) 685-9992
Taste of Tuscany (973) 916-0700
The Season’s Fine Chinese Cuisine (973) 777-8073
US Post Office (973) 473-4946
Valley National Bank (973) 777-6283
Dunkin Donuts/Baskin RobbinsGreat Coffee & Cool Ice Cream
Dayton Homemade ChocolatesFind Them Near Dunkin Donuts
Muscle Maker GrillGreat Food with your Health in Mind
Great stores & services at the Allwood Circle
Offices at Styertowne • Heat & A/C
• Electric
• Daily Janitorial
• Free Parking
• 24 Hour Access
• Elevator
Available 2,800 Sq. Feet & Up: Monthly lease in our
office suites on the 2nd floor include the amenities
at the right plus easy access to Route 3 and Express
Bus Service to NYC. On the ground floor, you are
steps from great restaurants, shopping, banking
and the Post Office. Call Jamie Wohr: 973-591-5222 x 160
Cleaners 2000Cleaning • Laundering • Alterations
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant54
Alexia Maldonado: Over the sum-
mer, I worked in School 17 helping
with the summer school. I loved
working with small kids and one
day I hope to become a teacher.
Andrea Garcia: As a receptionist
in an Acupuncture office.
Daniel Peltyszyn: I’m a math tutor
in Algebra I and Algebra II.
Allison Szeliga: Last summer, I
was promoted to Assistant Manager
at the Allwood Bakery. I enjoy it
because it has granted me a lifetime
of stories to tell and has definitely
given me a deeper understanding of
working both in the food business
and in customer service. I will be
there this summer and look forward
to working during holiday seasons.
Sabrina Furia: Ploch’s Garden
Center as a cashier, Gardner
Chiropractic as a secretary, Beauty
Plus Salon as a cashier and sales rep
and The Venetian as a hostess. At all
of my jobs I have learned how to
deal with people in different situa-
tions and how to be independent.
Kyle Chupick: For my junior and
senior years, I worked at Corrado’s
Gardencenter and Market. I
enjoyed helping people in the gar-
den center make decisions about
their homes and landscapes. Also,
I’ve worked in the world of cheese
and I’ve assisted customers with
their shopping needs, such as deci-
sions for dinners and holidays.
Tiani Hibbert: I am a sales associ-
ate at Bed Bath and Beyond and I
babysit. I enjoy meeting new peo-
ple and creating a bond with the
kids that I watch over.
Miriam Kiano: I learned how to
earn money and how to become a
great accountant from my co-work-
ers at Nasberg CPA.
Yanira Vasquez:As a landscaper, I
spent time with my boss and I
learned a lot about horticulture.
Sarah Rosenthal:At ACME, T&M
Associates and The Venetian.
Felix Rosario: I put engines togeth-
er and clean up at a garage with my
brother. I love that I am able to do
what I dream of doing with my life.
Charbel Boudaher: I love being a
mechanic in my family business
because I own half of it with my
dad and I love working on cars.
Rubi Garcia: I enjoyed working
with the kids at School 17 and I
learned that being a teacher isn’t an
easy job. I also learned that things
will get easier if you have faith and
keep doing what you love.
Nicholos Gornuto: I deliver car
parts and prepare cars for delivery
at Bellavia Chevrolet-Buick.
Daliyah Pierson: I am a counsellor
at the Boys & Girls Club. I help
children with their homework and
play games with them. I have
learned that children teach a greater
lesson in life than adults, which is
that life goes on and not to sweat
the small stuff.
Ethan Nouhan: I have been a landscaper, painter, plumber and electri-
cian on multiple jobs with my grandfather, Charles Nouhan. I have
been a photo assistant to my father, Mark. I was also a server at Cold
Stone Creamery and a Laptop Technician at Bergen Catholic. Each job
that I had presented me with valuable life lessons. First, my grandfa-
ther taught me to appreciate work and to appreciate having something
to do all of the time. He has been working since he was 7 and contin-
ues to work in his 80’s. My father taught me professionalism. At Cold
Stone, I learned how to handle people in different situations. Finally, at
Bergen, I figured out different ways to solve the same problem.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 55
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant56
Melanie Vega: My first job was at
the end of junior year at Chuck E
Cheese and it was an awful job. I
now work at WBL, a private finance
company. From working here, I
understand business advice, respon-
sibility and consistency.
Craig Wheeler: I made money and
gained experience at BounceU,
McDonald’s, Walgreens and Clifton
Rec where I even learned CPR.
Andre Garcia: Dunkin Donuts and
the GAP at the mall.
Hudeyl Aalasfar: I have been a
cashier in Marshalls and I like to
volunteer most of my time. I
always enjoy meeting new people.
Alfred Deaca: At Au Bon Pain I
learned how to deal with people.
Stephanie Marie Farfan: I worked
my freshman and sophomore years
at McDonald’s and my sophomore
and junior years at Noor Optical.
Then I worked my senior year at
The Venetian and at Metro PCS.
Ximena De Leon: I babysit
because I love kids. I learned to
have patience and that younger
generations are extremely different.
Shea Harris: I enjoyed making
money as a skating carhop at Sonic
Drive-In. Working there taught me
how to deal with difficult people.
Michael Bondonna: I answered
phones, did paperwork and entered
information on the computer in the
DPW office. The people I worked
with were so nice. I learned a lot
about Clifton’s recycling program
and that DPW is a very busy place.
Fabian Rodriguez: I organize
events at the Hovnanian School.
Angela Rodriguez: After babysit-
ting, I learned how difficult it was
for my parents to take care of me.
Austin Rio: I worked at the register
in Barilari’s Restaurant & Pizzeria.
Joe Duffy: I enjoy meeting people
from all different backgrounds as a
waiter at the Westmount Country
Club. I have learned the skills that
are required in order to work effi-
ciently in a fast paced environment.
Caroline Solek:As a dance instruc-
tor, I help other people discover
new qualities about themselves.
Daniel Herrera: I am a vendor at
Metlife Stadium. Watching NHL
games has been great and I learned
that teamwork is one of the most
important qualities of a business.
Kaori Suzuki: I love the children
that come in to diligently work at
Kumon Learning Center. I learned
how to connect with children in
order to help them with their work.
Lindsey Pena: My first job was
doing attendance, managing the
sign out sheets and covering for
teachers in classrooms at the Boys
& Girls Club. I now work at
Lincoln Park Savings Bank as a
teller. I enjoy my job because I like
to work with numbers and banking
is related to Accounting.
Michael Kobylarz: I currently
work as a Best Buy sales associate.
I enjoy my job because I am able to
interact with customers and help
them make intelligent decisions. I
enjoy helping customers and
watching them leave the store
happy. I also keep up to date with
the latest technologies so that I
know where to lead the customer.
Cassidy DeProspo: I enjoy all of
the great friends that I have made in
the past year and a half as a cashier
and sales clerk at Harmon. I have
learned how to have a good work
ethic and I have also learned how to
keep professionalism even when
other people aren’t nice.
Saba Ralli: I work as a recep-
tionist in St. Anthony of Padua
Parish Center with Rev. Brando
Ibarra. I started working at the
age of 16 and have been there
for a year now. I’m very happy
in what I do and I can proudly
say that my job is not easy. It
takes a lot of experience and
patience to keep up in the parish
center.
Although sometimes things
get out of hand and I can
become stressed, at the end of
the day I’m very thankful for my job. My job requires me to speak both
English and Spanish. I work with many people from different ethnic
backgrounds. It is nice to know that I am the first person that welcomes
them into anything that they need from the parish. I also learned that
it’s super important to smile.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 57
Laura Yang: I have been a cashier/customer service
desk associate at Bob’s Stores, a feeder at Daughters of
Miriam and an intern at Passaic County Superior Court
Criminal Division. I enjoy seeing the workings of the
criminal justice system and being exposed to the field. I
now have a better understanding of what to expect.
Richard DeMarco: I love all of the different personal-
ities of the children that I have the opportunity to work
with while at the Boys & Girls Club.
Malak Badeer: I learned while working at Bob’s that it
is important to earn the money that you receive.
Aleksander Dimitrovski: I interned for five months in
the criminal division of the Passaic County Superior
Courthouse through the co-op office at PCTI.
Samantha Zalewska: I have not had a paid job, but I
have been a volunteer reading tutor at the library.
Reading with these kids was an invaluable learning
experience. The experience allowed me to become
more articulate, coherent, patient and understanding.
Roman Chyshkevych: I have learned that new parents
at the Boys & Girls Club can at times be more challeng-
ing than the little children that I work with.
Mariluz Kanjo: I worked as a cashier in a supermarket.
Caitlyn Cindy: I enjoyed working at the ShopRite in
Little Falls because of all the great people there.
Nicholas Salgado: I have been a back-up at Boston
Market. I enjoyed the people that I worked with.
Ivan Nogalo: My favorite part of being a waiter at The
Venetian was working with my close friends. Working
there also taught me how to present myself well.
Henry Inoa: McDonald’s.
Miral Zakaria: I enjoyed my customers at a bagel shop
and as a member of customer service because I could
have conversations with people of all ages.
Matthew Ferko: I worked in construction with my dad
and I enjoyed learning new things. Working with him
has also given me the opportunity to build.
Mark Glodava: Matt Natale’s Strength and Conditioning. I helped
train Clifton youth soccer teams in fitness, strength and conditioning.
I also coached youth soccer at the Boys and Girls Club, which I
enjoyed very much. Working with children is very rewarding as they
improve with your help and guidance.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant58
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 59
Shuttle bus & Rooms availableat Hudson Valley 1-888-9-HudsonVIP Parking at Soyuzivka - $20 (First come first serve)
Ukrainian Village Exhibit • Sat. Zabava-Svitanok
Varenyky Eating Contest, Dancing, Music and Song
Women's Bandurist Ensemble • Dumka Chorus
Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company - Australia
Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Workshop
Also Performing: July 10, 11, 12HERITAGE | TRADITION | FAMILY
216 Foordmore Rd.,Kerhonkson NY 12446845-626-5641 [email protected]
Solidarity with Ukraine
Popadiuk
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Vasyl
MC“FOMA”
Organized by the UkrainianNational Foundation, underthe patronage of theEmbassy of Ukraine.
FridayEvening Gala
benefit to
SupportUkraine
Admission $30
OksanaBilozir
Dzidzio
Serhiy Fomenko
2015
9th ANNUAL FES
TIVAL
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant60
Amy Philhower: I have been an
intern at Allwood Play and Learn
and also a babysitter. My favorite
parts of my jobs were making kids
happy and always putting them first.
Brandon Rosario: Working at
PathMark has taught me about
working hard and always being on
time for work.
Zachary Sjosward: I have worked
as a waiter at The Venetian. I
enjoyed working with the other peo-
ple there and the job taught me to
have patience.
Marie Mendoza: I am currently at
Aeropostale in Garden State Plaza
Mall. I enjoy being with all of my
co-workers, especially my best
friend Evelyn.
Joudi Amraia: I am a secretary for
a lawyer. I like my co-workers and
being a secretary at my job has
taught me many skills, such as being
able to use a typewriter.
Mike Orsita: I work at a florist.
Walter Brown: King’s produce.
Every week we get some new prod-
uct from a different country.
Bryan Martinez: In an adhesive
factory as a quality control worker
and I learned how to behave in a
workplace and make friends.
Lenny Contreias: At School 12 as
an intern helping my second grade
kids understand the topic that they
were learning for that day. I learned
that patience is necessary in order to
work effectively with kids.
Elaha Saberi: Stop & Shop and
Walgreens. My co-workers are fun,
but customers tend to be annoying.
Narina Savas: At a summer camp
and Abercrombie. At Abercrombie, I
fold clothes and help customers.
Working at Abercrombie taught me
how to deal with people.
Angel Almazo: I worked in retail.
Valeria Carabali: I used to work in
a store and I enjoyed organizing
items and I learned how to be more
responsible and friendly.
Samantha Declet: Delia’s for
almost a year until they went bank-
rupt and had to close. I currently
work at American Eagle Outfitters. I
enjoy helping people find fun and
fashionable clothes and outfits.
While working in retail, I’ve learned
a lot of effective communication
and customer service skills.
Brian Romero: I bus tables at Bella
Napoli. I enjoy meeting the people
that come in and I learned that a
smile can make a difference.
Joelvis Cornelio: Tides catering
hall has allowed me to gain a work
ethic and learn how to socialize with
many different people.
Michael Puglisi: Forever 21 as a
sales associate. The other employees
are nice, but customers are rude.
Salwa Ramadan: I enjoy helping
patients pick out their new glasses in
an eye doctors office. The best part
is seeing the relief on their faces
when they say, “I can see.”
Mateusz Lesniowski: I am a clerk
for a chiropractor. My co-workers
always make the job interesting.
Kim D’Agosta: ShopRite in the
Shop from Home Department and
enjoy working with my friends.
Jania Rosario: ShopRite as a
cashier where I learned to be patient.
Leon Simpson: I fold clothes in
Hollister and enjoy interacting with
the people who shop in the store.
Glad Dizon: I enjoy getting paid
and have learned the value of hard
work at Au Bon Pain at St. Joseph’s
and at the Clifton Tennis Club.
Benidick Galan: I’m a PT assistant
at a Jewish home center in
Manhattan. I enjoy interacting with
patients and hearing their stories.
Steven Borthwick:At the Hot Grill.
Wellson Abellard: Toys R Us.
Jaskany Abreu: Working as a
supermarket price coordinator, I
learned how to make the prices and
also how to make the specials.
Kevin Mora: I enjoyed working
with my dad at Lamar Roofing and
learning how to do accounting.
Angle Marte: Stop & Shop,
Modell’s, Best Buy and I am cur-
rently working at McDonald’s.
Chris Guardia: I have worked at
catering companies and as my
father’s secretary. I enjoy the
responsibility and the money.
Carolina Jimenez: I loved working
at Cupcake Cafe. I am now working
at FM PT, a therapy office and I love
my job and I learn something new
every day.
Jean-Pierre Candeius: At Panda
Express. I learned to study hard so
that I don’t have to work there again.
David Nguyen: I enjoy how all of
my co-workers get along with each
other at Victoria’s Secret Pink.
“I scooped ice cream at Coldstone.I enjoyed it because I love ice cream.It’s an important food group.” - Chelsea Jones
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 61
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant62
Daniel PeltyszynPrior to my high school
career, I graduated with a class
of 10 other students from St.
Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic
School in Passaic. After com-
pleting ten years of education
at St. Nicholas, I attended CHS
Annex on Brighton Rd. for my
freshman year and then joined the
remainder of my classmates on the
CHS main campus.
I have come to appreciate my
time spent at CHS. Its enormity,
diversity of students and wide
range of opportunities have given
me insight into a world that, in my
eyes, more closely resembles the
actuality of life than does the
atmosphere of any private high
school.
In my senior year, I was a four-
year recipient of the Distinguished
Academic Award. As a junior, I
was inducted into the National
Honor Society, as well as the
Italian Honor Society, and
was one of four students from
CHS to be selected for the Rotary Youth Leadership
Award.
As part of the award, I went on a week-long trip to
Indian Head Camp, where I participated in leadership
activities with other recipients of the award from Passaic,
Bergen and Hudson counties. Additionally, I am proud of
my success as an editor for The Clifton HUB, CHS’s
newspaper. I was a section editor
in my junior year and I currently
serve as the Editor-in-Chief.
In the Fall, I will be a mem-
ber of the inaugural class in
the Honors College at
Rutgers University, New
Brunswick through the
School of Environmental
and Biological Sciences. I
will major in the Biological
Sciences in preparation for
medical school.
Although I am unsure of
the specialty that I will pur-
sue, I am currently interested
in the prospect of a career as
a surgeon.
Nicole WedelI knew that I wanted to be a doctor
from the time that I was a young girl.
It did not take long for me to realize
that I could become one by attending
Princeton University.
After hours of volunteering at the
Hoboken University Medical Center,
doing research in x-ray crystallography at
Rutgers University and working diligently in
school—my dream came true.
In September, I will major in Psychology at Princeton
University. Psychology is a subject that I first found
extremely interesting when I studied it during my junior
year. After college, I will attend medical school.
Although the medical profession runs in my family, (my
There could be a lot of swagger from these kids but they are allreally down to earth. From conversations and some emails, the
truth is that the CHS Top 10 played tough and worked equally hard
to be at the academic head of over 700 classmates.
Four will attend Ivy League schools and all of them are getting
hefty academic scholarships which make their parents extremely
happy. We are equally proud to have made their acquaintance and to
provide this platform to tell more about themselves.
Number 1 Daniel Peltyszynwith number 2, Nicole Wedel
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 63
mother, her two sisters, and all of my
cousins are nurses and doctors in
Poland) volunteering at a hospital
and being able to help patients
feel better and make them smile
helped me realize that good
health is one of the greatest
human possessions.
Without health, happiness is
nearly impossible, and I would love
to dedicate the rest of my life to
bringing health and happiness to all
those around me.
Krishna RanaThroughout my four years at CHS, I
learned a lot from both my teachers and my
peers. They have molded me to become
the person that I am today. When I first
entered high school, I was shy and afraid
to step out of my comfort zone.
However, through my everyday interac-
tions and involvement in extracur-
riculars, I became more and more
confident.
The faculty at CHS has taught
me to value academics, but also to
have fun and make an impact.
Although studying was a top pri-
ority for me, I always tried to
make time to watch shows on Netflix
and to support my friends who par-
ticipated in the school plays, con-
certs and sporting events.
Additionally, participating in the
Asian Club for four years and
becoming the Events Coordinator
this year, as well as being Treasurer of
the Senior Class, has taught me valuable
leadership skills that I will take with me
throughout my future endeavors.
I discovered the importance of medi-
cine while volunteering at St. Mary’s
Hospital and taking part in Relay forNumber 3 Krishna Rana with
number 4, Jessica Nosal.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant64
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Life. These experiences made it easier
for me to decide what I wanted to
do in the future. In the Fall, I will
be attending the Ernest Mario
School of Pharmacy at Rutgers
University. I hope to explore the
various paths that will be available
to me after completion of this pro-
gram, whether my path becomes
working at a hospital or researching
medicine to improve human health.
Jessica NosalGrowing up, my family would
travel to New York for many differ-
ent reasons: Broadway shows, con-
certs, or even to just visit for the
holidays. I always loved the city and
wanted to be able to live there someday.
In high school, I began to get involved in
the arts. I became a member of the National
Art Honor Society and became involved in
the CHS stage crew. I loved working with the
crew for the productions and I enjoyed being
assistant stage manager this year in
their performances of Hogan’s Goatand the musical Curtains.
As I improved my drawing and
became more involved in clubs, I real-
ized that I wanted to be able to work somewhere in the
artistic realm.
I discovered Fordham University at the Lincoln
Center when my grandmother, mother and I attended the
Metropolitan Opera in the Summer
of 2014. I looked further
into Fordham after that
performance at the
Lincoln Center. When I
visited, I fell in love
with the university.
Fordham's campus is
in the center of Manhattan,
where I have always loved
going. The school has both a
great arts program and a new
business program. While I
want to study the arts, I also
want to study business in order
to have the ability to negotiate
and become financially savvy in
the competitive world that we
live in. It also has a study abroad
program that I intend on using
since I love traveling and want to
study abroad.
I plan to pursue a degree in
either visual arts or communica-
tions with a minor in business.
My ultimate goal is to one day
become a creative director for a
company in New York.
Nikola Kamcev Born in Macedonia, I moved to the U.S. with my fam-
ily at the age of three. At first, I was confused at the enor-
mity of this change - once even asking my parents why
Number 6, Samantha Zalewskawith number 5 Nikola Kamcev
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 65
everyone was “speaking funny.”
Yet I was able to quickly transition
by clinging to the familiar cartoons,
such as Tom & Jerry, that I had
watched in Macedonia. Also,
we had Serbian neighbors
who had children my age that
lived down the street, so we
were all able to learn from
each other and they definitely
helped my sister and I assimi-
late.
I was always drawn to music.
I would pull the pots and pans
out of the kitchen cabinets and
drum on them with spoons.
Luckily, my father was a musi-
cian and I started to play a drum
set at four-years-old. I picked up
other instruments from there on,
including guitar, bass and saxo-
phone. As I progressed through
school, I realized that I had a passion
for Math and Science. My Chemistry
courses were some of the most satis-
fying I had taken, and Calculus was
my favorite subject. I love the feel-
ing of being able to synthesize new
knowledge from old, and applying
logic to problems in order to solve them.
Thus, next year I hope to double major in
Mathematics and Music at Yale University, where I will
be matriculating in the Fall.
Samantha ZalewskaSome 13 years ago, I began
my academic journey at School
#12. I am proud to be able to
say that in the Fall, I will con-
tinue as a student at Princeton
University. I plan on major-
ing in economics, possibly
taking a dip into public poli-
cy. Princeton has an amazing
economics faculty from whom I
will learn a lot.
Princeton and the Ivy League
have been lifelong dreams of
mine and I am looking forward
to the opportunities, as well as
the challenges, that I will
encounter. I will explore differ-
ent career possibilities, but I can
see myself potentially working
for the US Department of the
Treasury.
At CHS, I was a four-year
member of the Mustang
Marching Band where I was a
rank sergeant and section
leader. I was also part of the
orchestra and the pit band. This
year, I served as secretary of our
school’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
I also volunteered my time as a tutor for elementary
school children at the Library and was a member of the
Clifton Student Union.
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Number 7 Maryem Girgis, withnumber 8, Bhargav Desai
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June 2015 • Clifton Merchant66
Maryem GirgisAs an Egyptian born American, I look forward to
pursing my American Dream. I was born in Alexandria,
Egypt and immigrated to the United States with my fam-
ily in May of 2000. My first home was in Bayonne,
New Jersey where I attended kindergarten to third
grade. In 2006, we moved to Clifton because my moth-
er had gotten a job at CHS as a French teacher. I attend-
ed fourth grade at School 13. It was at WWMS where I
discovered my first love: Science. This love flourished at
CHS from freshman year to senior year. Throughout the
four years that I spent at CHS, I also formed a strong
relationship with Math, owing to the teachers that I had.
I aspire to become a civil engineer like my maternal
grandfather. I will be attending Stevens Institute of
Technology in the Fall in order to stay local. I am excit-
ed to start a new chapter of my life.
Bhargav DesaiThroughout my four years at CHS, I have had many
great experiences that I will never forget. Countless
memories come from the Track and Cross Country
teams, where I made friends that I will always remem-
ber. Running has affected me immensely given that the
amount of success that I’ve had on the track has always
correlated to the amount of work that I put into practic-
ing. I have applied the same principle to my academics
and have been successful.
Another passion that I have is music. I play the viola
for our school orchestra as well as the Greater Newark
Youth Orchestra, which is one of the state orchestras.
Through music, I am able to relax and clear my mind.
This upcoming Fall, I will be attending Rutgers
University, New Brunswick in their School of Arts and
Sciences Honors Program to major in Computer Science.
I hope to pursue a career in the computer field
because technology has always fascinated me. By
excelling in Math and the programming classes at CHS,
I believe Computer Science is the right major for me.
Rutgers University has a stellar Computer Science pro-
gram, which will help prepare me for the future.
Number 9 Joohi Rana, withnumber 10, Francis Shane Ledesma
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 67
Joohi RanaDuring my four inspiring years at Clifton High School,
I participated in various activities, which greatly shaped
who I am today. For the past four Fall seasons, I was on
the Girls’ Tennis team, playing various positions.
Eventually, I earned the First Doubles position on the
Tennis Varsity team in my senior year.
I also discovered my interest in Math while at CHS.
My interest was influenced by my participation and even-
tual presidency in the Math club, Knights of Pythagoras.
I maneuvered through tricky puzzles while in the club.
Then, during my freshman and sophomore years, I was
qualified for Science League competitions for both
Biology and Chemistry, making Science another one of
my interests. For as much as CHS offered me, I gave back
to the school by tutoring Math students.
Due to my love of Math, I will be studying Finance
under a full scholarship at Montclair State University in
the Fall. I plan on pursuing a second major in either
Accounting or Economics, but I am not certain of which
to pick. I am also minoring in Computer Science because
I was inspired by my Visual Basics class in CHS, where
I coded a mind boggling tic-tac-toe game. I am glad that
I have discovered my career path!
Francis Shane LedesmaIn high school, I participated in sports such as
Marching Band, Basketball and Volleyball. I joined clubs
like the National Science Honor Society, Academic
Decathlon, Science League and much more. My passion
for music grew as I joined many performance groups
including Concert Band, Brass Band, Orchestra and Jazz
Band. My passion for success in my endeavors resulted in
the reception of awards such as being named a
Commended National Merit Scholar, being accepted to
the New Jersey All State Band and being inducted into
the National Honor Society.
I volunteered at my Church every weekend and cur-
rently maintain a job at Toys R Us. Hard work outside of
the classroom influenced my success in the classroom,
enabling me to maintain Distinguished Honor Roll status
for all four years. As I look back on my time at CHS, I
realize that I made the most of my experience by getting
involved and encourage others to do the same.
I will be attending Cornell University this Fall to
study Chemical Engineering. It was a pretty easy choice
for me to matriculate at Cornell since the quality of edu-
cation and endless connections of an Ivy League are too
great to pass. I plan to earn a Masters degree in Chemical
Engineering, to work as a researcher and to develop new
materials while helping to create cheap and efficient
manufacturing techniques.
Eventually, I hope to start a family and return to
Graduate school to earn a PhD. and become a university
professor. My ultimate goal is to help as many people as
possible with my education and skills and I believe I am
on the route to achieve that and much more.
Judy & Keith Bassford
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June 2015• Clifton Merchant68
Richard DeMarco: Auto shop
teacher Mr. Alberghini took us on
college tours and got us to apply.
Aleksandar Dimitrovski: My
NJROTC instructors, who I have
known for four years.
Alison Almiron: My youth leader
and friend Manami. She has helped
me the most in my life.
Jennifer Zuniga: My teacher
James Cappello. He was always the
type of teacher to tell us to work
hard, desire to achieve and not set
barriers, but to set goals.
Malak Badeer: My father taught
me that anything is possible. He
came to the U.S. with absolutely
nothing but is now successful.
Shivani Topiwala: My biology
teacher Dr. Osetska. Because of
her, I have made my decision to
major in Biomedical Engineering.
Guy Madsen: My parents always
pushed me to be the best I could be.
Cassidy DeProspo: Rachel Crespo
and I have been in school together
since kindergarten and are now
graduating together. She has taught
me what a true friend she is.
Caroline Solek: My parents, who
have always supported me and my
decisions. They are both positive
and hardworking beings, which has
encouraged me to always pursue
what I am passionate about with a
positive outlook on life.
Michael Valentine: My baseball
coach, Fernand Fuentes, taught me
how to be a better man. My mom
pushed me to do things to better my
life even when I didn’t want to.
Lindsey Pena: Many great influ-
ences in my life including my par-
ents and teachers, but one instruc-
tor marked my life tremendously.
Mr. Thomas Woods, who is not
longer with us, was and still is my
greatest influence. My first year at
PCTI was my sophomore year and
he saw my potential in the account-
ing field and recommended me for
the college accounting classes for
junior and senior years. Thanks to
Mr. Woods, who had confidence in
me, I now know my future.
Daniel Herrera: My mom Eva and grand-
ma Josephina. Hours in the kitchen, they’ve
really carved out my desire to cook.
Jordan Tlusty:My mom, who has battled cancer twice and
is the strongest woman in my life. She has shown that it is
okay to be weak because then it makes you stronger.
Harry Termyna: During my three
years in band, Mr. Morgan provided
me with valuable life lessons that I
will never forget. However, in senior
year, Marching Band was not the right
thing for me. Plus, four months prior, I
was accepted into Madrigals. The
director, Mrs. Paulin helped me realize
that I still loved music, just in a differ-
ent form. A wane of interest in instru-
mental music yielded an increase in
the levels of my love for theatre and
singing. Being in Madrigals inspired me
to audition for the musical, which led to
me learning more about theater, dance,
and acting. My senior year highlight
would be my performance in Curtains,The Musical. Mrs. Eisnemenger, Ms.
Paulin and Mrs. Manzella supplied me
with such a surplus of wonderful expe-
riences and I could not have asked for a
better senior year.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 69
June 2015• Clifton Merchant70
Michael Kobylarz: My parents.
Their dedication to making their
kids’ lives fulfilled led them to a
journey from Poland to the land of
opportunity. It is through their self-
less actions that today I am able to
pursue higher education. My par-
ents have worked long hours and
sacrificed spending money on their
wants in order to give their children
a life that they never had.
Samantha Zalewska: My parents.
I owe all that I have achieved to
them. They have supported me in
everything that I took on and have
worked very hard to provide for me
the resources that I needed to be
successful in all of my endeavors.
Mark Glodava: Mr. Meck’s style
of teaching Biology and personali-
ty made class very interesting. He
is a teacher who is genuinely con-
nected to his students. He made me
very interested in Biology as a
major, which I plan to use to get my
doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Mariluz Kanjo: My mom.
Nicholas Salgado: Mr. Ashworth.
Joel Ciccarella:Mr. Brody, the for-
mer Marching Band assistant
because he supported me.
Ivan Nogalo: Mr. Ashworth and
Mr. Alberghini because they both
taught me a lot about life.
Henry Inoa:Ashworth and Coligan.
Ethan Nouhan: Although I have
had an incredible amount of loving
and influential people in my life,
my greatest influence would be my
grandfather. He is truly a giving
man and puts the needs of others
before himself. If I can become half
the man that he is, I would consid-
er myself successful.
Roman Chyshkevych: Mr. Meck.
We share an interest in Biology. Plus
by adding humor everyday, he
always made his classes funny.
Nour Ramadan: My mother.
Miral Zakaria: My history teacher
Mr. Lotito. He pushed me to be my
best and never doubted me.
Chris Guardia, Amy Philhower,Glad Dizon, Elaha Saberi.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 71
June 2015• Clifton Merchant72
Matthew Ferko: My parents
always push me to do better.
Amy Philhower: Mr. Baker. I met
him freshman year and he knew
immediately that I was a Philhower.
Mr. Baker has been there for me for
the last four years. During my sen-
ior year, Mr. Baker really motivated
me to do well and to never give up.
Those five minute coffee breaks
and snack times in his office were
worth waking up to go to everyday.
Mr. Baker has given me advice
about everything. He really helped
me out this year and I’m going to
miss bothering him everyday and
stealing his cookies.
Brandon Rosario:My dad because
he has helped me choose my path
and is always there for me.
Zachary Sjosward: My grandfa-
ther because no matter what he
says, he is always right.
Marie Mendoza: My parents
always pushed me in the right
direction and are always there sup-
porting me in everything I do.
Cesar Diaz: My favorite history
teacher, Mr. Facking.
Joudi Amraia: My boss because
he encouraged me to go to college.
Angel Almazo: Zak de la Rocha
taught me to stick it to the man.
Hussam Farhan: Ms. Burke. She
taught me a lot of great things
about Algebra and encouraged me
to never stop learning.
Mike Orsita: My mother works
hard and keeps me in line.
Walter Brown: Mr. Ashworth
because when I was a junior he
helped me if I had a problem. When
I had him as a teacher, he helped
me like no other teacher has.
Benidick Galan: If it weren’t for
my great grandparents, I wouldn’t
know the importance of education.
Bryan Martinez: My mother for
being strong and working hard.
Register now for September…973-779-0249
ST. NICHOLAS
UKRAINIAN
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015
Pictured from top left, Angelika Holak, Adrian Skala, Juliana Loukachouk, Julia Citkowski, MichaelLechicky, Alexander Miklosh, David Shevchuk, Ellenie Berhe, Zakhar Figol.
• FULL ACADEMIC PROGRAM PRE-K TO 8TH• PRE-K & K FULL DAY • AFTER SCHOOL CARE
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Cesar Diaz, Mari Angel Rodriguez,Kevin Mora, Andrea Garcia.
Lenny Contreias: My mom
because she has always pushed me
to strive and do my best in every-
thing that I do.
Narina Savas: My sister Aslihan
because she’s always been there for
me and she’s a great person.
Andrew Sanz: My parents because
through all of their struggles they
still try to get me ahead in life.
Valeria Carabali: My mom always
supports me in everything that I do.
Kandece Rosario: Losing her to
cancer was unfortunate, but
through the battle my mom taught
me never to give up and to keep
trying even if life brings you down.
Verenice Martinez: Miss
Youncofski. She didn’t expect any-
thing other than my best. I felt like
she genuinely cared about what
was being taught in class.
Juan Quirino: No matter how hard
things, get my mother taught me to
never give up and to keep trying.
Jessica Goldberg: My parents have
had a huge influence on the way
that I live my life. My father’s ded-
ication to special needs children and
my mother’s devotion to pediatric
medicine helped me realize exactly
what I want to do with my life.
They are my role models and they
influence me by being good people.
Rory Houston: Coach John Pontes
is not only a Clifton Track legend,
but also one of the greatest coaches
that I have been mentored by. He
showed me the ins and outs of
Track & Field and has given me
countless life lessons. I would not
be where I am today without him.
Jezibeli Garcia: My mom. She
never gave up on me and has
always wanted more in life for me.
For her, I am here achieving every-
thing that life has to offer me.
Steven Borthwick: My mother for
leading me along the right path.
Jaskany Abreu:My mother is every-
thing that I want to be and more.
Samantha Declet: My mom. She
always supports me in everything
that I do and I’m so grateful for her.
Kevin Mora: Mr. Ashworth. He
makes me think and realize how the
books we read relate to our lives.
Carolina Jimenez: My mother. I
want to make her proud. I do every-
thing just to make her smile.
Jean-Pierre Candeius: My grand-
mother always told me to look at
the positive things in life.
Ryan Giust: I was lucky enough to
have Mr. Morgan as band director for
three years. He would always push us
to work hard and do our best. He’s
given me the 4D’s—desire, drive,
dedication and discipline.
Chris Guardia: My father never
complains. He just works hard
every day to put food on our table.
Austin Rio:My mom is awesome.
Joelvis Cornelio:My father taught
me right from wrong and is a big
part of who I am today.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 73
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David Nguyen: Sergeant Major
Bragg and Sergeant Major Davis
because they helped me become a
better leader in the JROTC.
Sabrina Furia: My parents encour-
aged me to join sports, volunteer,
work, but also to focus on school
and myself. They have never judged
me and they only continue to push
me to become a better person. I
hope one day to have such a strong
relationship and trust with the per-
son that I love, as my parents do.
Brian Romero: My dad by his
ways has shown me that with faith,
anything is possible.
Michael Puglisi: My brother, who
told me to follow through with
school even though it will be hard.
Mateusz Lesniowski:My 8th grade
teacher, Mrs. Black. She did not
teach by the rules. She did things
her way and it was the best way.
Kim D’Agosta: My parents always
pushed me to do my best.
Salwa Ramadan: My mother and
father because they motivated me
throughout all of my years and sup-
ported me though all decisions.
Alexia Maldonado: My mother.
She is a hardworking woman who
takes good care of her family. She
puts effort into anything she does.
Sarah Rosenthal: My boss
because he is such an inspiration to
achieve your goals. He is extreme-
ly successful, hardworking and
takes his job very seriously.
Joohi Rana:My older sister, Dhara
because she motivates and guides
me to the right path. Since she went
through the same classes in high
school as me, she prevents me from
making her mistakes.
Joseph Castaldo:My uncle pushed
me to work hard and to do my best.
Allison Szeliga: My whole life, my
mother has acted as a stable sup-
porter of all my decisions. She has
constantly encouraged and empow-
ered me to become the strong,
proud woman that I am today. For
that, I cannot thank her enough.
Tiani Hibbert: My mom taught me
to keep going no matter what.
Miriam Kiano: Various teachers.
Mr. Ashworth made me think of
our society in a different way. Mrs.
Chin made me love Math and learn
how to arrange my work. Mrs.
Wonchik made me pass the HSPA
since I couldn’t give up.
Felix Rosario: My brother because
he took me a step further into what
I want to do in my future.
Yanira Vasquez: Not one, but
many of my family and friends.
Charbel Boudaher: My uncle
retired at the age of 25 and he owns
44 phone stores and is living large.
Hanny Fulgencio: My cousin
already has two years studying in
New Haven and she is always
telling me about it and my sister
because she never gives up.
Rubi Garcia: My uncle Alejandro
always used to tell me don’t give
up, fight for your dreams and you
know I’ll be proud. I lost him
January 18, 2015 and ever since,
everything I’m doing is for him. I
want to make him proud of me. He
always told me that one day all of
this will be worth it.
June 2015• Clifton Merchant74
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Nicholos Gornuto: My parents
because they support everything
that I do and give great advice.
Andrea Garcia: My parents who
encourage me and push me.
Melanie Vega: The book Runningwith Scissors and my therapist helped
me figure out what I want to be and
how to change to get to that point.
Adriana Hernandez: My mother
encouraged me to join clubs and be
involved. She would remind me
every day that my struggles in high
school would be worth it after I’ve
established my career and I would-
n’t have to struggle financially like
my family does now. She supported
me in everything I did. She picked
me up after long hours of staying
after school and she would even stay
up with me sometimes when I still
wasn’t done with my homework.
She came to my concerts even if she
had to call off from work and she
drove me to all my rehearsals before
I had my license. I definitely owe
everything to my mother because
without her, I probably wouldn’t
have gotten this far.
Daliyah Pierson: My dad. He
influenced me to go after what I
needed and what I deserved.
Hudeyl Aalasfar: My father taught
me that nothing is impossible.
Alfred Deaca: Mr. Ashworth
inspired me to read and write more.
Aalliyah Brown-Felicians: My
English teacher, Mr. Ashworth. He
helped me with my writing and fur-
ther expanded my mind and skills.
June 2015• Clifton Merchant76
City Councilman Bill Gibson & his wife Robin withCHS grad Billy Jr. who isgoing into the Air Force, &Tyler, a CHS Sophomore.
We are proud of our son Billy &all the Grads in the Class of 2015
the Gibson Family
‘Do not go where
the path may lead;
go instead where
there is no path
and leave a trail.’—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Basel Qandil, Fatima Rahmoun,Alan Castaneda, Hailey Fusaro
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 77
Ruben H. Giglio: My
best experience in school,
I can honestly say, is
being both a member of
the Mechanical Mustangs
Robotics Team and CHS
Mustang Marching Band.
These two activities have
been very rewarding and
enriching in my high
school career and I am
very proud to belong to them. It has also kept me
busy through my father's deployments.
The Mechanical Mustangs has inspired and moti-
vated me to seek a career in Information
Technology. The CHS Marching Band has taught
me to multi-task at a young age. Marching and play-
ing at the same time can be very challenging, but I
have learned to do so with such ease that I will carry
the skill throughout life.
I also learned the Four D’s—Dedication, Desire,
Discipline, and Drive—which I have incorporated
into my everyday life.
June 2015• Clifton Merchant78
Kyle Chupick: Mr. Alberghini had
the greatest impact on me thus far.
He was my Auto Tech teacher and
inspired me to continue toward a
career in auto technology.
Angela Rodriguez: My mother
worked hard so I can succeed in life.
Alex Paulino: My mom raised me
as the person I am today. She helped
me pursue my dreams and succeed.
Andre Garcia: I pursue my goals
so that I don’t let my mom down.
Ximena De Leon: My dad because
he is the most honest, straight-up
person that I know.
Shea Harris: Paulina Edel is beau-
tiful and supportive.
Billy Gibson:My father has always
been there for me and taught me
that attitude determines altitude.
Through him, I learned that giving
up is never an option. I believe in
working for what you want in life.
Blood, sweat and tears is what our
country was built upon.
Michael Bondonna: Mr. Morgan
taught me to be dedicated and work
hard. In my senior year, Mr.
Holody gave me a different musical
perspective and taught me life les-
sons that will stay with me.
Joe Duffy: My mother is always
there, whether at my track meets or
pushing me to do better in school.
Ciary Bonilla: My mom taught me
that no matter the situation to stay
strong and keep my head up.
Nicole Wedel: Mr. Orlovsky.
Although I never had him as a
teacher, I experienced his style of
teaching when he dedicated count-
less hours to teaching the Academic
Decathlon materials for our compe-
tition. He was not only extremely
funny and interesting, but also gen-
uinely cared about his students. In a
couple of meetings, he taught me
more than any other teacher has,
including how to give a speech and
be interviewed. His teaching
played a large role in my accept-
ance to Princeton University.
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In the past, I tended to be lazy, but now when
I need to get my work done, I do it and submit
it when it has to be turned in.
Five years ago, in seventh grade, I came to
Christopher Columbus Middle School from
Passaic. When I look at myself and what I
have become and what I have accomplished, I
ask myself: What would have happened to meif I had never moved here?
In Passaic, I was not a fan of school. I was
the one who always wanted to just stay home
and sleep, but I think that all started changing
when I moved to Clifton, possibly because it’s
a better environment for me.
Making new friends wasn’t at all easy. I was
mostly alone all the time, but it didn’t bother
me because I was able to concentrate more on
the lessons and catch up with what the teachers were
doing. The classes are different here in Clifton. Teachers
would help out more with what the students needed and
the teachers actually cared. English was, and still is, my
favorite subject because I love reading and writing.
If I am told to write a one paragraph story, I can’t—
because I always want to write more than a paragraph.
I usually take three days or one week to read a book or
a book series.
I have made choices lately that have changed the
direction of my life. For example, many of my friends
spend their Friday nights clubbing and partying
However, my Friday nights consist of assisting those
people who decide to go out to party and drink.
I have been a volunteer in Totowa’s First Aid Squad
for a year now. At first I didn’t know what I wanted to
do after high school, but then my cousin came to the
rescue. She is also a volunteer at Totowa and she helped
me become a volunteer. I have her to thank for setting
my mind straight; I gave it a try and actually fell in love
with what I do.
My goal is to become an EMT/Paramedic or get into
Sports Medicine as a Paramedic for sports. Beyond
this, I don’t know for sure, but maybe I will become an
RN to learn a little more about the medical field. My
best experience in school has to be being able to join
the ASPIRE program and meeting both wonderful
teachers and friends. If it weren’t for this program, I
wouldn’t be able to graduate with the Class of 2015.
Deanna Chahua was the February Student of the Month
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 79
Class of 2015
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June 2015• Clifton Merchant80
Class of 2015
Adriana Hernandez was once the shy kid inthe back of the classroom who had no desire to
be noticed. But things changed her sophomore
year at CHS.
That’s when she became more involved in the
Key Club. When the club advisor, Jacqueline
Turk, saw Hernandez’s potential, she encouraged
Hernandez to become a leader.
“I felt like I really mattered to her so I think
her just recognizing me and remembering who I
was really helped me open up and become more
involved,” she said. “Instead of being the shy person I
was a few years ago, I learned to be social. I think this
helped me get the leadership roles I have now. I became
the President of the Key Club, the Vice President of the
Tri-M Music Honor Society and the President of the
CHS Orchestra.”
As Hernandez became more active, her life began to
change. She was no longer the shy, introverted girl who
was hesitant to speak up. She had transformed into the
involved young lady who is comfortable with herself.
Hernandez is the fourth of five children and the first
member of her family to go to college. She will be
attending Arcadia University in Philadelphia where she
will study medicine.
Reflecting on her growth at CHS, she hopes that her
younger brother will benefit from her experiences.
“I’d tell my younger brother to be more involved in
school because he could gain a lot of good feelings
from helping out his community. Also showing com-
munity service and leadership skills help when apply-
ing for college.”
Hernandez attributes much of her success to the
influence and support of her parents, Abel and
Florencia. “My mom always dreamed of me being a
doctor,” explained Hernandez. “My dad always said he
would support me no matter what career I chose, just as
long as I was happy. I knew that they both wanted real-
ly big things for me.”
Although she originally wanted to be a teacher, as
she worked her way through high school, Hernandez
found herself more interested in pediatrics.
“I realized that being a pediatrician, I would still be
able to work with children like I always dreamed of.
My career choice just gradually changed through the
years. Even now, I’m considering being a pediatric
physical therapist because of the close relationships I
could form with the children I’d be working with.”
The scholarships that she received from Arcadia
University heavily influenced her decision, but she was
also influenced by the individual attention that she will
receive from the small school.
“This appeals to me, especially,” explained
Hernandez, “because I’ll be the first one in my family
going through the college experience.”
By Ariana Puzzo
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 81
Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________________State:____________________________________
Zip:______________________Phone:_____________________________________________
Email:________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS TO TOMAHAWK PROMOTIONS, 1288 MAIN AVE., CLIFTON, NJ 07011
Have Clifton Merchant Mailed.$27/YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Mailed via first class to your home.
When they were 5th graders atSchool 13 on Van Houten Ave., these
CHS seniors, pictured above, joined
the History Club started by then gym
teacher John Silva. “We did all kinds
of activities, including field trips, an
archeological dig and other hands-on
activities. We also uncovered School
13’s 1921 cornerstone,” recalled Silva
who arranged a reunion for his former
pupils on June 1.
In front from left: Paul Bury, Paul Dwornicki, John Silva, Rory Houston, Michael Orsita, Thomas Linker. Standing,Kristy Wilson, Justyna Szymanska, Erinn Slanina, Krzysztof Tyszko, Hailey Fusaro, Jessica Nosal, Maryem Girgis, NoorChalhoub, Adrian Garbowski, Michael Puglisi, Patrycja Zajac, Joshua Stanford. Below are the students as fifth graders.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant82
“Berkeley College is where I can fulfill both of my dreams.I want to play for a good soccer program and major in criminal justice”
- Lenny Contreias
Jaskany Abreu: I visited Caldwell College and
saw myself learning and achieving everything that
I want there.
Kim D’Agosta: Montclair State University
because they have a reputable business program.
Jessica Goldberg: I will be starting
an eight year BA/MD program
where I will be going to college and
then to medical school. I will be
beginning my undergraduate educa-
tion at Muhlenberg College in
Allentown, Pennsylvania. Once I
finish those four years, I will attend
Drexel College of Medicine. I
reached this decision by knowing
that college will be more relaxing if
I do not have to worry about apply-
ing to medical schools. I also fell in
love with Muhlenberg’s campus.
Kevin Jerzy Biernat: I’ll be at Ithaca
College’s School of Music for Sound
Recording and Technology. I came to
this decision when I first became
interested in continuing my career in
music. I knew that the best way to
keep myself occupied in my work
was to do something that I love to
do. I chose sound recording and tech
because it allows me to help others
create their own music, inspiring me
everyday to do more with my work.
Daniel Peltyszyn: I plan on being a
pre-med student studying and fur-
thering my education in the School
of Environmental and Biological
Sciences at Rutgers, New Brunswick.
Sabrina Furia: My decision fell
between The University of Hawaii
and Adelphi University. Although I
was extremely tempted to take on
Hawaii, I ended up choosing
Adelphi because I was immediately
placed into the nursing program,
rather than having to apply in the
middle of my sophomore year.
Tiani Hibbert: I always knew that I
wanted to help little kids in some
way and knew that I belonged at
Felician College for Nursing.
Miriam Kiano: I’m working my
way up and trying to get into a col-
lege by then. I hope I’ll be taking
my first semester of Accounting.
Sarah Rosenthal: At Rowan
University as a Business Major.
Andrew Sanz: I’ll be starting college.
Felix Rosario: Working on cars and
studying them at Lincoln Tech.
Yanira Vasquez:Attending college.
Charbel Boudaher: I will be in
Florida running my business while I
have people work for me.
Rubi Garcia: I reached my decision
to go to Capri Institute because I
love doing makeup, face, hair and
everything. I always wanted to do
that since I was small.
Lindsey Pena: I will be attending
the Honors program at Montclair
State University. My mom is cur-
rently studying for her Master’s
degree at MSU so I am familiar with
the campus and I didn’t want to
leave home. The new School of
Business also offers a dual degree
program in Forensic Accounting so
I can graduate with my Bachelor’s
and Master’s degree, along with a
Forensic Accounting certification in
five years. I’m confident that
Montclair State will lead me to great
professional success.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 83
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One-Stop Many ServicesDirector of One-Stop Lauren Murphy
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or
Nicholos Gornuto: Bergen
Community College because they
offered classes that I was interested
in and it is close to home.
Alexia Maldonado: I love how
Bergen Community College is a
community school and that it is not
a big school where I won’t fit in.
Andrea Garcia: I will be attending
Bergen Community College.
Mari Angel Rodriguez: I chose
TCNJ because I wanted a school
that has a great Biology program and
that also has a friendly community.
Melanie Vega: I’ll be attending
Bergen Community College for 2
years then will go to university.
Daliyah Pierson: Working and
attending PCCC for 2 years.
Craig Wheeler: I want to further my
education and I plan on doing so by
attending Rowan University.
Katia Bermejo: Texas, for college.
Andre Garcia: Studying at WPU.
Aalliyah Brown-Felicians: I’ll still
be in high school earning credits.
Hudeyl Aalasfar: I don’t know
where I will be, but I hope that I will
be doing something great.
Stephanie Marie Farfan: I will
hopefully still be maintaining my
full-time job and I will also be start-
ing my freshman year at Bergen
Community College.
Angela Rodriguez: Going to col-
lege and working to get a better life.
Hanny Fulgencio: I am going to be
studying nursing at a college in
Maryland. I reached this decision
because I want to go and live there.
Alex Paulino: Montclair State
University is the closest college to
my home and the most reasonably
priced college. I did not want to
dorm and move out of state.
Ximena De Leon: College because
it’s what is expected from me.
Harry Termyna: Monmouth
University Honors School for the
Five Year Master’s Program. The
campus is gorgeous and the educa-
tion system is phenomenal.
Ciary Bonilla: I will be at PCCC.
Shea Harris: I reached my decision
to attend Pennsylvania State
University because upon visiting,
the campus felt the most inviting. It
is also a fair distance and it has
excellent academic programs.
Michael Bondonna: After visiting
many colleges, I felt Rowan
University was the best fit for me.
There, I will major in Chemistry.
Rachel Gergats: I want to study
Fashion Design and Fashion
Merchandising at the same time. I
chose Albright College in Reading,
PA because the school will give me
the opportunity to do so.
Austin Rio: SUNY Purchase.
Adriana Hernandez: I will be at
Arcadia University. I had originally
planned to attend Rutgers in
Newark, but my decision changed
as I was more informed. After visit-
ing all 5 colleges that I applied and
got accepted to, I realized that I felt
most comfortable at Rutgers and
Arcadia. I had received scholarships
from Arcadia, which greatly influ-
enced my decision. However, anoth-
er thing about Arcadia that appealed
to me was that it has the world’s
number 1 study abroad program.
I’ve studied Italian for 4 years so it
would feel good to finally get to use
the skills I’ve acquired.
Kyle Chupick:My dad and the edu-
cation that I’ve received in Mr.
Alberghini’s class influenced me to
attend Lincoln Technical Institute
for automotive technology.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant84
Daliyah Pierson, Felix Rosario, Hanny Fulgencio, Richard DeMarco
Joseph Casperino: My best experience in CHS
was Auto Tech Class with Mr. Alberghini. He
taught me the fundamentals of being a great
mechanic. Thanks to him, I will be attending
Lincoln Technical Institute in the fall to become a
certified automotive mechanic. Looking back on
the four years, my best experience was making
the varsity football team. I was also the April
Student of the Month and I want to tell younger
students to join a club, a sport or some kind of
activity. Get involved and be a Mustang!
The Passaic County Elks CP Center has changed its name to
the North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency
(NJEDDA). The new name represents the expanded reach of
our service. Founded in Clifton in 1947, NJEDDA has three
facilities, each offering unique educational, therapeutic, med-
ical and social programs.
Some 260 children and adults come daily from over 50
towns and six New Jersey counties—Bergen, Passaic, Morris,
Essex, Hudson and Sussex. While NJEDDA still serves chil-
dren and adults with cerebral palsy, the staff also addresses
issues such as intellectual dis-
abilities, spina bifida, muscular
dystrophy, and other physical
and mental conditions.
Now in our 68th year as a
pioneer in the rehabilitation field for children and adults with
special needs, our mission to meet the needs of each individ-
ual with developmental disabilities—and the dedicated sup-
port of the Elks, such as members of the Clifton Lodge shown
below—remains steadfast and consistant.
New Name, Same Mission Since 1947
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 85
Joe Duffy: I felt at home as soon as
I walked onto The Catholic
University of America campus.
Nicole Wedel: Princeton has always
been one of my dream schools, so
when I received an acceptance to
study there, my decision was made.
Paulina Edel: I decided to major in
Music Education at MSU after
attending camp in upstate New York
for a month. The musicians there
inspired me to go after my dreams.
Shivani Topiwala: My dream has
been to work at the forefront of
future technology and innovation in
tissue engineering, neuroscience,
genetic engineering, robotics and 3-
D printing. Therefore, I will be
studying Biomedical Engineering at
Rutgers, New Brunswick. Rutgers
will be able to provide me with all of
the tools that I need in order to engi-
neer my future with my own hands.
Samantha Zalewska: I will be
studying at Princeton University.
Faith Senecca de Vergara: I decid-
ed to commit to Montclair State
University because it has the majors
that I am looking to study, which are
Biology and Computer Science.
Also, the campus has a nice
ambiance, which is a good fit for my
type of learning environment.
Guy Madsen: Monmouth
University was my choice because it
has a good business school and the
dorms are located on the beach.
Saba Ralli: I’ll be at PCCC.
Cassidy DeProspo: I really liked
Sacred Heart University’s campus
and could see myself being there
after my visit. It also has a good pro-
gram for my intended major.
Caroline Solek: I will be studying
Psychology at MSU.
Michael Valentine: I felt like
Fairleigh Dickinson University was
the school for me after I visited.
Chelsea Jones: I wanted to be clos-
er to my brother, so I will be in
Alabama attending the university.
Richard DeMarco:At Lincoln Tech
for Automotive. I have always want-
ed to work on cars and my auto shop
teacher Mr. Alberghini helped me
find my career path and school.
Camille Gomera-Tavarez: I chose
Maryland Institute College of Art
because it has the top graphic
design program in the country.
Kaori Suzuki: I will be headed to
college to find my ambition.
Aleksander Dimitrovski: John Jay
College to study criminal justice.
Allison Szeliga: I will be a Business
Major at Rutgers New Brunswick. I
was accepted into many outstanding
universities; however, I chose
Rutgers ultimately because of its
intriguing atmosphere, compelling
opportunities and diverse group of
people. I knew that I needed a uni-
versity that would allow me to com-
pletely fulfill my potential in the
next four years. I am beyond excited
to call myself a Scarlet Knight.
Jennifer Zuniga: I will be studying
Biology at Montclair State.
Michael Kobylarz: I decided to
attend Rutgers after doing research
into their computer science curricu-
lum and ultimately, their active stu-
dent base. Rutgers will be the per-
fect academic and social fit for me.
Brianna Labanich: I will study
ultrasound at Massachusetts College
of Pharmacy and Health Science.
Rory Houston: I’ll be a Freshman at
Saint Joseph’s University in
Philadelphia studying Sports
Marketing and running Cross
Country and Track and Field for the
“the Hawk.” I look forward to
studying at St. Joseph’s and discov-
ering new places in Philadelphia.
David Nguyen: I am hoping that I
will still be in the Marines.
Michael Puglisi: I will be going to
Bergen Community College.
Brian Romero: Working at Bella
Napoli and taking classes at Lincoln
Tech in South Plainfield.
Mateusz Lesniowski: I’ll be on
PCCC’s Wanaque campus.
Leon Simpson: Navy boot camp
because I have the desire to serve.
Glad Dizon: Air Force basic train-
ing because I want to be challenged.
Joseph Castaldo: I’ll be at Bergen
Community College because I
always wanted to go to college.
Mariluz Kanjo: I will be studying at
Montclair State University.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant86
Zachary Sjosward, Shivani Topiwala,Nikola Kamcev, Nicole Rodriguez-Rowe
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 87
which meansTomahawk Jr. is trainedand nationally certifiedin restorative water drying methods by theInstitute of Inspection,Cleaning andRestoration Certification,also known as IICRC.
Elaha Saberi: College was always
mandatory for me, so I will be study-
ing business at Rutgers, Newark.
Joelvis Cornelio: I will be attending
PCCC so that I can save money.
Cesar Diaz: I’ll be volunteering.
Ryan Giust: I plan on attending
Rutgers, Newark.
Angel Marte: Essex or Bergen
Community so that I am able to get
an Associates in Applied Science
and Civil Engineering.
Chris Guardia: I will be attending
PCCC and working with my father.
Joohi Rana: Montclair State
University because I received a
grand merit scholarship.
Henry Inoa: I’ll be in college.
Mark Glodava: I will be attending
Rutgers University as a Biology
major. Rutgers was the best college
for me since they offer a Doctor of
Physical Therapy program and have
a great soccer program, which is
also one of my passions in life.
Ethan Nouhan: I reached the deci-
sion to go to Pepperdine University
because of their excellent
Communications program.
Nicholas Salgado: I should be in
the Army reserve or in college.
Alfred Deaca: In community col-
lege because it is affordable for a
good education.
Daniel Herrera: I’ll be attending
Johnson & Wales in Providence.
The school has a great reputation for
making the greatest chefs and bak-
ers and really caught my attention.
I’m proud to be a future Wildcat!
Roman Chyshkevych: I need col-
lege to survive, so I’ll be at MSU.
Caitlyn Cindy: I do not plan on
attending school this Fall, but I do
plan on working a job full time.
Joel Ciccarella: At Passaic
Community College hopefully.
Ivan Nogalo: I’ll be taking Auto
Tech in Lincoln Tech, Mahwah.
Matthew Ferko:At MSU.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant88
C. Sanchez-Velasco
M. Carloni T. Casselli
T. D'Arco L. Marci K. McGowan
N, Okur
J. BuronE. Bradley
St. Andrew the Apostle School418 Mt. Prospect Ave. Clifton • 973.473.3711
www.sasclifton.com
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
J. Garay A. Holzli
R. Castillo J. Chie K. Cioffi
J. Eke
J. Taylor J. Walker K. Valqui
K. AtieS. Acevedo
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tessori.com
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 89
Miral Zakaria: I’ll be at Eastwick
College because it has a great pro-
gram for what I’m going to study.
Amy Philhower: I’ll be attending
Bergen Community College.
Brandon Rosario: Working and
waiting to start TSA in November.
Zachary Sjosward: Centenary
College in Hackettstown because
that is where my mom went.
Marie Mendoza: I will be pursuing
my dream of becoming a Speech-
Language Pathologist at WPU.
Joudi Amraia: I will be commuting
to New York for school.
Hussam Farhan: I will be at PCCC.
Mike Orsita: I’ll be at WPU for my
major and because it’s close to home.
Walter Brown: Hopefully, I will be
in either the Marines or the Army.
Bryan Martinez: RPI because it’s
the best school that I was accepted to.
Narina Savas: I did not want to go
anywhere far and WPU is the only 4
year college that accepted me.
Angel Almazo: Bloomfield College.
Valeria Carabali: I will be attend-
ing PCCC to study nursing.
Kandece Rosario: I will be at base
camp for the Air Force.
Verenice Martinez: Majoring in
Communications at PCCC.
Samantha Declet: MSU to major in
Family and Child Studies. It’s close
to home and I’ll be able to become an
elementary school teacher.
Juan Quirino: I plan on studying
Accounting for two years at Passaic
County Community College and
after getting my degree, transferring
to Montclair.
Jezibeli Garcia: I admit that high
school was not my best years aca-
demically so I will attend PCCC for
two years to brush up my skills and
then transfer to a four year school.
Tina Quisn: I will be studying in
a trade school so that I can pursue
animation in the future.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant90
Paulina Edel is set to attend Montclair StateUniversity. Hard work and a strong passion
helped her get there.
Edel, who was the March Student of the
Month, has devoted herself to music. She
was a member of the CHS Orchestra and
played viola in Academy Orchestras.
Paulina is also a singer.
“I am a singer in the Madrigals,” said Edel,
“and I enjoy performing songs on the ukulele in
places like the CHS Talent Show.”
As she prepares to graduate high school,
Edel hopes to pursue music in the future. One
place she would love to do so is Venezuela.
“My future aspirations are to go to school
for Music Education and to become a
teacher,” she said.. “I would like to travel the
world and work with a Music Education pro-
gram called El Sistema in Venezuela.”
The singer and musician has accomplished a great
deal while in high school. There is no doubt that her
dedication to music will allow her to achieve the same
success in the future. From our December cover, Isaiah Polanco, Christopher ReyesKylie Marie Gonzalez and Paulina Edel at right.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 91
Not a safe alternative to cigarettesCigarette smoking among high school stu-dents is dropping—that’s the good news. But
a new study published in Pediatrics, the jour-
nal of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
cautions hookah use among teens is rising dra-
matically, raising concern among health
experts.
In a study of high school seniors, 18% of
the 5,540 surveyed had used hookah at least
once in the past 12 months.
Hookahs are water pipes with a smoke
chamber, bowl, pipe and hose used to smoke
specially made tobacco that comes in different
flavors. They’re often shared by users in
smoking sessions.
Youth and young adults often think they are
safer than smoking cigarettes, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). But hookah smoking has many of the
same health risks as cigarette smoking.
A 40 to 45-minute session using a water
pipe is the equivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes
at one sitting, said Janelle Middents, Area
Director for the American Lung Association in
Florida.
Researchers, who found the students most
likely to use a hookah had parents with higher
levels of education and higher incomes, con-
cluded it was important for educators and pub-
lic health officials to help the public under-
stand the dangers of hookah use.
The Essex-Passaic Wellness Coalition
(web.njms.rutgers.edu/EPWC) and the Clifton
Health Department are working to educate our
communities about the hazards of hookah use.
Read more information on Hookah and Health
in future issues of this magazine.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant92
Junior - Joseph Gebbia
February Student of the MonthRising senior Joe Gebbia offers some
practical advice for those who will attend
the 3,000+ student high school: Get
involved. “Don’t be intimidated by the size
of the school,” said the 17-year-old lacrosse
player. “Join as many clubs or sports teams
as possible because you’ll have a lot of fun
and you will create memories.”
Being motivated and getting involved at
the high school also translates to Gebbia’s
attitude in the classroom. “When it comes to
academics, be ready, show you are interest-
ed and know that the teachers are really
good and want to help. They will help you as much as
they can so they can watch you succeed,” he added.
His favorite subject throughout his 11 years of study
is history. Gebbia cited his history teacher Mr. Lesler as
among those instructors who make going to school
worth the effort. “I’m a history addict,” he said. “I love
anything that happened in the past and I feel like it’s
important on what is happening in the world today. It’s
a subject that you can learn a lot from.”
While not certain on his plans after college, Gebbia
said he has many interests. Among the possible careers
are combining architecture and interior design. “But
recently I’ve been thinking about nutrition and fitness,”
he laughed. “The future is a tough thing to talk about
because I’m still so young, but I understand growing up
is a part of life. Right now, I’m not sure. But whatever
I decide to do, I want to leave a mark on this world.”
Gebbia said that playing lacrosse as a Mustang is an
honor. “I made a lot of friends and learned how to work
hard. The kids I play with are like my brothers.”
Freshman - Jordan RiveraFebruary Student of the Month
Jordan Rivera is in her first year at CHS but she
made the Lady Mustangs Varsity Basketball team. She
hopes by combining her round ball skills with hard
work in the classroom, that combination may help her
punch the ticket to her dream college.
FebruarySeniors, Michael Valido, Deanna Chahua, Ruben Giglio.
MarchSeniors, Amauris Peralta, Hansmeyri Torres-Terrero, PaulinaEdel, Giancarlo Osnato.
AprilSeniors, Joseph Casperino, CamilleGomera-Tavarez, Brittany Calderon.
Joseph Gebbia Jordan Rivera
Blame it on the State Testing......but for the past few months, information on the CHS
Students of the Month, nominated by the VP’s of each
wing at CHS, was not available. That’s because teachers
and administrators were busy testing kids for the
Common Core State Standards (CCSS). But that’s all
done and we have since received four months of info. To
fit all those stories and photos, we have incorporated pro-
files and responses of those who are seniors into the pre-
vious 90 pages. Profiles of the other students are below.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 93
With Great Pride, We Recognize the Clifton Office’s Highest Achievers.
March 2015 Award Winners
April 2015 Award Winners
Kaitlyn BarbagalloTop Sales
Reenakumari“Reena” Gohil
Weichert Pride
Alma BilingsTop Producer
Alma BillingsAgent of the Month
Alma BilingsTop Lister
Sandra VasquezTop Sales
Pearl WangWeichert Pride
AngelaDallesandro
Top Producer
Sandra VasquezAgent of the Month
Alma BillingsTop Lister
CLIFTON Gorgeous, End Unit Twnhs loadedwith upgrades! This 2BR, 2.5BA home offers ssappl, frpl, gar & more.Price: $374,500 MLS #3225294
CLIFTON Brick, 3BR, Expanded Split with 2BAs,hd flrs, fin bsmt, FR Addition, pool, 2 patios & gar.Close to NYC trans!Price: $399,900 MLS #3207448
CLIFTON This “Clifton Center,” 3BR,Side Hall Col offers FDR, hd flrs,fenced-in back yard, deck & gar.Price: $264,000 MLS #3224020
Here are some of our current homes on the market....
Tony Sanchez, ManagerIf you’re interested in a career in real estate,call me at 973-779-1900(office) 973-801-9497(cell)
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant94
Students of the Month
“My goal is to play basketball for Duke
University,” said Rivera, who attended
Woodrow Wilson Middle School and also
plays AAU ball with the Essence Carson
Elite travel basketball team.
So how is she going to get to Duke?
Working as hard in the classroom as she
does under the net. She does that thanks to
a little bit of help from a mentor. Rivera
points to an inspiring English teacher who
knows how to motivate students in the
class.
“Mrs. Holland is the best teacher that
any student could ever have. She knows
how to connect with students on so many
different levels. Mrs. Holland knows how to keep the
class involved in the lessons and you will enjoy every
moment that you spend in E210 with her.”
Making varsity as a freshman has been her biggest
thrill. “I was lucky enough to start varsity, which will
always be a memorable experience for me,” she said.
“All the girls on the team are talented and treat you like
family. Great memories are made when I make my
coaches proud or when I see my parents and Mrs.
Holland’s faces in the crowd cheering me on.”
So what is the best thing about CHS? “The teachers
who love what they do. Every day is new and it is never
boring at Clifton High. There are so many supportive
people who just want you to succeed.”
Freshman - Samantha Faith Giordano
March Student of the MonthThere are special people along life’s path and for
Samantha Faith Giordano, one of the more outstanding
ones has been her tutor Mrs. Ritacco.
“We have cried and laughed together during many of
our tutoring sessions, but most of all, Mrs. Ritacco
taught me how to study and to comprehend to the best
of my ability.” She added: “My favorite subject in
school is Mathematics. Even though I have little diffi-
culties with it, I always get good grades.”
At birth, Giordano was diagnosed with transposition
of the greater arteries and had a large hole in her heart.
As a result, she had her first open heart surgery when
she was five days old. Over the next three years she
would have three additional heart surgeries. Surgeries
did not inhibit this freshman’s motivation.
A freshman at the CHS Annex, she enjoys playing
tennis, throwing the softball around with her sister,
playing basketball with her brother, shooting pool,
bowling, reading Nicholas Sparks books, going to the
movies, drawing and spending time with her family.
Giordano cited Friday, April 24, 2015 as her favorite
high school memory: “Mrs. Schnepf called me to the
office during lunch. I was worried thinking I was in
trouble. When Mrs. Schnepf handed me a piece of paper
and explained to me that I was chosen as Student of the
Month, I had a smile on my face the whole day.”
Freshman - Faith PopowichApril Student of the Month
Faith Popowich has always gone to school on Van
Houten Ave. She began her academic career in
Kindergarten at School 2, then to Woodrow Wilson
Middle School and now CHS where the freshman proud-
ly proclaims: It really is a great day to be a Mustang!Popowich was born without an auditory nerve in her
left ear, but that has not gotten in the ways of stating her
goals of majoring in vocal music and of being a singer.
“I do not Sign, but have learned to live with limited
hearing,” she explained. “Because I have limited hear-
ing, I can’t tell the direction a sound is coming from, or
hear people speak in large rooms or noisy settings. This
makes school hard, but I have learned to adapt. I’m basi-
cally a very happy person. I try to always be smiling and
brighten other people’s days.”
At CHS she is a member of the Drama Club, the Key
Club and the Italian Club. She sings in Chorus and was
Mona in the CHS spring musical Curtains.
Samantha Giordano Faith Popowich
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 95
Appropriately named Faith, she
shares the joy of music at St. Andrew’s
RC Church where she sings in the teen
choir and is a Vacation Bible School
leader and choir member.
Looking back at the Spring
Musical, she said it was great to work
with so many talented students—and
outstanding teachers: “Mrs. Paulin,
Mrs. Eisenmenger and Ms. Manziella
saw the best in the cast and always
encouraged us to go beyond. We all
learned so much. I can’t wait for next
year’s musical.” Popowich’s favorite
pastime is riding roller coasters, like
Kingda Ka at Great Adventure. “The scarier the roller
coaster the better.”
Freshman - Soralys De HazaApril Student of the Month
When 15 year old Soralys De Haza moved to Clifton,
she said that she was fortunate to attend the Annex on
Brighton Rd. where she felt there was a positive and wel-
coming learning environment.
“The academic teams are great,”
explained De Haza, who hopes to
become a Neonatologist, either as a
nurse or doctor. “Academic teams
mean that teachers at the Annex can
also have one-on-one time with you.
They care a lot about your perform-
ance in class. It’s also a smaller educa-
tional environment, so it’s easy to get
to know your teachers and vise versa.”
History and Spanish are among her
favorite studies as she explained that
the subject matter allows her to learn
and compare various Spanish cultures
and historical events that shaped the
world today. Thanks to her academic teams, next year on
the main campus, De Haza will have opportunity to take
some honors classes.
She played Freshman Softball this year despite being
a newcomer to the sport. “I honestly thought that I
wouldn’t make the team since this is my first year play-
ing. But with exactly four months of hard work, training
and dedication, it really paid off,” said De Haza, who
hopes to make varsity by her junior year.
Soralys De Haza
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant96
The Clifton Arts Center will present
An Outreach Lecture from TheMontclair Art Museum on June 6 at
1:30 pm. From functional, to ceremo-
nial and art objects, the program will
trace the cultural and societal develop-
ments of Native American peoples
from the seven major cultures: The
Northwest Coast, California, the
Southwest, the Plains, the Woodlands,
the Southeast and the Arctic. While
there, see A Humanist Vision: ThePaintings and Drawings of MichaelLenson, an exhibition of artworks by
artist Michael Lenson (1903-1971).
Free to members of the Clifton Arts
Center; $5 fee for non-members. The
Clifton Arts Center is at 900 Clifton
Ave. Call 973-472-5499.
The 2015 Lambert Castle Concert Series moves outdoors on June 14 at 4 pm when the Passaic County Historical
Society will host the Clifton Community Band as it presents Music at the Castle: A Welcome to Summer. Founded
in 2002 and directed by Robert D. Morgan, the traditional concert band has about 90 members who perform on
brass, woodwinds and percussion. Admission to the concert is free, but donations are requested. Bring your own
seating and the concert will be cancelled in the event of rain. The castle is at 3 Valley Rd. on the Paterson/Clifton
border. Info at lambertcastle.org or call 973-247-0085.
Botany Music Scene...Two-time NY Music Awardwinner and a NY Blues Hallof Fame inductee RobertRoss (left) brings his bluesand rock band to BotanyVillage on July 17. It is partof an ongoing series of free,under-the-stars Fridayevening concerts in the his-toric district. The musicbegins tonight, June 5, withClifton’s own Victoria Warne.Shows begin at 6:30 pm, butbe sure to make time to visitone of Botany’s taverns ordining establishments beforeor after the concerts andsupport Clifton’s merchants.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 97
The Clifton Association of Artistsis hosting its annual Summer Show
and Sale at Lambert Castle, 3 Valley
Rd., on the Clifton and Paterson
border. The judged show will be
held from July 1 to Aug. 2 and is
open to all artists. Only two original
works are permitted per entry.
Reception of work will take place
on June 27 at Lambert Castle. A
presentation of awards and recep-
tion is July 11 at 2 p.m. For infor-
mation and registration require-
ments, as well as details on price
and membership, call 973-773-9721.
The Sequoia Senior Center, a pro-
gram of Jewish Family Services of
Passaic/Clifton, welcomes back the
Garden State Opera in a series of
vocal instruction to culminate in a
patriotic performance. Under
Maestro Francesco Santelli, seniors
will receive training from Garden
State Opera singers on June 10, 17
and 24. From God Bless America toYou’re a Grand Old Flag, the ses-
sions will help the elders brush up
on American patriotic tunes. The
chorus will perform at a July 1 bar-
becue at the Sequoia Senior Center,
565 Broadway, Passaic. For more
info, call 973-246-7717.
The Passaic County SeniorCitizen Art Exhibition is open to
those age 60 and over. There is no
fee to enter, but entries must be
show-ready and participants are
limited to one exhibit. To enter,
bring one show-ready piece of art
to Senior Services from 9 am to 4
pm from June 1 to 4. Entries will be
displayed from June 8 to 26 at the
Passaic County Senior Services
office, 930 Riverview Dr., Suite
200, Totowa. A reception and an
awards ceremony is on June 27 at 2
pm. For details, call 973-569-4060.
The PCCHC is offering 2016 arts and history re-grants. The dead-
line for arts applications is July 9, 2015 and for history applications,
July 16, 2015. The applicant must be based in Passaic County; be a tax-
exempt non-profit organization or a municipal government entity; have
been in existence at least two years; demonstrate that the project has
clear artistic or historic merit; match every dollar of the arts re-grant
with one dollar of its own and match every dollar of the history re-grant
with fifty cents of its own; create programming that culminates in a
public presentation; and use the re-grant for an arts or cultural project
to take place in Passaic County in 2016 or a history project, between
July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Contact Susan Balik at
[email protected] or 973-684-5444 to schedule a meeting to help with
the grant writing process. For more details and information, go to
pccc.edu/cultural-affairs/pcchc.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant98
Events & Briefs
Woodrow Wilson 7th grade sci-ence students came in third place in
the state in a contest sponsored by
USA Today and Panasonic.
Groups of students in Lorin
Pontelandolfo’s science classes
brainstormed ideas and implement-
ed their plans while creating an ‘Eco-
diary’ to document their journey. The
goal is to raise awareness among
children about the environment.
They competed against other
middle schoolers throughout the
Garden State.
The WWMS team of Paras
Nahar, Daniel Marriello, Gerald
McCarrick and Joseph Serafin
focused on water pollution. The
budding environmentalists even cre-
ated an app to help people use less
water in the shower. Their project
came in third in New Jersey and the
kids and their teacher enjoyed a tour
of Panasonic’s Innovation Center in
Newark along with other state win-
ners, in addition to receiving a prize.
Kids aged 6 to 15 years old from all
over the world participated, so the
Clifton team was among 150,000
students from a total of 35 countries
to attend the program.
WWMS Science Teacher Lorin Pontelandolfo with Daniel Marriello, ParasNahar, Gerald McCarrick and Joseph Serafin at Panasonic in Newark.
At the 10th Locks of Love event at CCMS on May 18, Camila Pujadas, afourth grader at School 13, donated her hair along with her dad Hector Seda,pictured with his wife Cecilia. In total 4,414 inches of hair were collected andprovided to the organization which creates wigs for children with illnesses.
The Knights of Columbus are hosting the 6th Annual 80,000 Pound Army
Tank Pull Challenge on June 14, from 9 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. The
event is staged on Clifton Ave. between St. James Pl. and Olga B Ter.
Beyond the teams trying to pull the tank, there will be entertainment, food,
games and free parking. Some 20 members are needed to participate as a
team in the event. Members must also raise $1,500 by June 6 to get a Tank
Pull time. If unable to attend, and you still want to donate, send any checks
to Knights of Columbus, Tank Pull, 797 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ 07013.
Proceeds benefit Wounded Warriors and local veterans. Register online at
tankpullkofc.org or by calling 973-220-4601.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 99
From the solemn moments tothe more carefree and enjoy-able times, Clifton’s Relay forLife was held on May 30 onthe grounds of CHS. The goalof the 11th annual event wasto celebrate the lives of sur-vivors of cancer and remem-ber those who lost the battle.Some $62,000 was also raisedfor research to find a cure bythe American Cancer Society.The photo above is fromMemorial Day when variousRFL teams marched in theMemorial Day Parade inAllwood while the other twophotos were taken at CHS.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant100
Pvt. Michael J. Columbus was the 308th name to beinscribed on the War Monument in Main Memorial Park.The family of Columbus, who served in WWII with the US
Army’s 80th Infantry Division, 317th Infantry Regiment, con-
tacted the Clifton Veterans Alliance after they found details of
the late serviceman’s death. He was officially declared dead on
Sept. 27, 1944, and is buried in the Lorraine American
Cemetery, St. Avold, France. His memory and those of other
Americans who died in service during war are remembered in
our city and across America in services at monuments, in
cemeteries and in solemn services to remember the Fallen.
The photos here were taken on Monday, May 27 at services on
Main Ave. and at other locations in town.
Memorial Day, 2015
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 101
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June 2015 • Clifton Merchant102
St. Paul RC Church parishioners JosephineCarabello and Dorothy and Joseph DeLiberto(from left) will receive the Vivere ChristusAwards on June 14 at 4 pm at St. PhilipChurch. Presented by Bishop Serratelli to themand others from Paterson diocese churches,Vivere Christus (from the Latin—‘to live isChrist,’), is awarded to the recipients for ‘theirongoing contributions in furthering the missionof Christ and his Church through their gener-ous actions.’ Carabello has been a parishionersince 1940 and is still involved in numerousactivities. The DeLiberto’s have been active inthe parish for decades and will celebrate their61st wedding anniversary on June 27.
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On May 28 at the UFCW Local 1262 building on Broad St.: New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech,John Bello, a former Paterson manufacturer who was forced out of business by unfair foreign competition, CongressmanBill Pascrell, Jr. and UFCW Local 1262 President Harvey Whilie. Pascrell is a member of the House Ways and MeansCommittee charged with overseeing international trade policy. He was in Clifton with labor leaders and workers to dis-cuss the potential impact of pending legislation in Congress granting fast track authority for trade deals, specifically theTrans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), on middle and working class families.
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 103
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant104
Vinny Dalbo ....................... 6/1Holly Kocsis........................ 6/1Timmy Spears ..................... 6/1Jonathan Borrajo................. 6/2John Dominick .................... 6/2Denise Magaster................. 6/2John Traier ......................... 6/2Karl Aponte........................ 6/3Thomas Lesch ..................... 6/4Michael Musto.................... 6/4Emma Nysk........................ 6/5Rob Cone........................... 6/6Samantha Malenchak ......... 6/6
Koreana Sabo .................... 6/8Robert Ciallella ................... 6/9Ava Nicole Genardi............ 6/9Larry Grasso .................... 6/10Joey Randazzo................. 6/10Nicole Carreno ................ 6/11Margaret Nysk ................. 6/11Adam Soder..................... 6/11Cindy Brevic Goldestein .... 6/13Steven Hatala, Sr. ............. 6/13Anna Jurgowski ................ 6/13Christopher Stetz .............. 6/13Christopher Zaccone......... 6/13 Andrew Bandurski ............ 6/14
Danielle Dvorak................ 6/16Derek Dvorak ................... 6/16Stephanie Dvorak ............. 6/16Jane Justin ........................ 6/16Kristina Marchesani .......... 6/16Joseph Peterson ................ 6/16Raymond Kuruc ................ 6/18Rafelina Reyes .................. 6/18Tabitha Sosa..................... 6/18
Lakeview Bakery’s Daniel Sotamba turns 2 on June 30. Jack De Vrieswill be 58 on June 25. Happy 17th birthday to Yassin Aburomi on June14. Ashley Parsons will be 25 on June 13. Bob & Alice DeLiberto willbe married 28 years on June 27. Mom and dad send 17 kisses to AvaNicole Genardi who has a birthday (but no photo!) on June 9. Happy33rd Anniversary to Eileen & Ed Gasior on June 5.
Vivian Margaret turned 1 onMay 8, reports proud parentsMargaret and Andre Olave.
Birthdays & CelebrationsSend dates & [email protected]
Birthdays & Celebrations - June 2015
Find out all the details on Page 79
Bob brate on Ju
to bles years
Clifton Merchant • June 2015 105
Jim Schubert Sr. .............. 6/18Aileen Haight ................. 6/20Alexander Conklin .......... 6/22John Hrina...................... 6/23Mike Skurski ................... 6/24Lori Homsany.................. 6/25Brittany Martorella........... 6/25Connie Musleh................ 6/26Susan McDonald............. 6/27Walter Vladyka............... 6/27Marco Greco.................. 6/28Kristen Murcko................ 6/28Monica Szewczyk........... 6/29Robert Conklin ................ 6/30Christopher Lucas............ 6/30
Emma, Olivia and ViktoriaGreen turn 9 on June 24.
Congratulations to Frank &Brenda (Ludvik) Calandrillo
on their 31st wedding anniversary on June 2.
Alan & Carolyn Spotocelebrate 31 years
of marriage on June 9th.
& Chris Landrith cele- their 40th Anniversary
une 21. God continue ss them both with many
s of health, happinessand love.
June 2015 • Clifton Merchant106
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