Clifton Merchant Magazine

Clifton Merchant • April 2013 3

April 2013 • Clifton Merchant4

Table of Contents

The Power of SilenceChris de Vinck Essay

The Day Annie DiedJoe Torelli’s Unforgettable Gram

Copperman Dave CafoneMaking Magic with Metal

Learning to be a HorsemanClifton Cowboy Derek Drobenak

Diagnosed with ALSBusiness Owner Mike Najda

Champion PlasticsBags by the Millions, Made In Clifton

What’s Inside?7

12

16

24

30

36

44

Bobby Castronovo Jr.Managing a NYC Landmark

16,000 Magazines

are distributed tohundreds of Clifton

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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerCheryl Hawrylko

Graphic DesignerKen Peterson

Staff WriterJoe Hawrylko

Contributing WritersTania Jachens, Carol

Leonard, Rich DeLotto,Don Lotz, Jack DeVries

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011

© 2013 Tomahawk Promotions

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Mustang SportsCHS Spring Sports Preview

Events & BriefsChurch Events, Political Skirmishes

Passaic County Film FestivalReel Cliftonites in the Loop

Birthdays & CelebrationsNeighbors & Friends party...

Student of the MonthChrissy Gustafson Dives Ahead

PaceMaster 600Treadmill Invented in Clifton

Police Unity TourPage 74

Where are theseMustangs now?In July, we’ll be writing aboutMustangs celebrating their 10,20, 30, 40, 50 and even 60year reunion. Write to us andlet us know where you are at...


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Studwell229 E First St.Roofing 2013

Palumbo34 Orchard Dr.Siding 2006Roofing 2011

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repeat customer

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Moments of Grace

Do�we�covet�silence�these�days?�The�New�York

City�Department�of�Transportation�has�decided

to�take�down�the�“no�honking”�signs.�Car�com-

panies� are� being� encouraged� to� create� fake� noise� in

their� electric� cars,� yes� to

protect�inattentive�pedestri-

ans,� but� also� to� maintain

the�din�we�have�created� in

our�mechanized,�chugging,

noise-filled�world.

I� remember� when� my

brother-in-law� spent� his

first�days�at�our�small,�fam-

ily� cabin� in� Ontario,

Canada.�“I�couldn’t�sleep,”

John� said� with� a� chuckle.

“It� was� too� quiet.”� If� we

choose� to� live,� at� times,� a

contemplative� life,�how�do

we� mask� the� intruding

sounds� that� surround� us?� Trappist� monks,� while� not

engaged�in�the�popular�notion�of�vows�of�silence,�speak

when�necessary�as�they�try�to�refrain�from�idle�talk.�At

meals�they�do�not�speak�but,�in�their�tradition,�listen�as

a�fellow�monk�reads�aloud�perhaps�from�a�contempo-

rary�work�of�literature,�perhaps�from�ancient�poetry,�or

from�a�book�of�philosophy.

On�June�6,�2002,�beloved�children’s�television�host,

Fred� Rogers,� gave� the� commencement� address� at

Dartmouth�College.�There�he�told�the�young�men�and

women,�“I’d�like�to�give�you�all�an�invisible�gift.�A�gift

of�a�silent�minute�to�think�about�those�who�have�helped

you�become�who�you�are�today.”�And�hundreds�of�col-

lege�graduates�sat�in�silence�with�Mr.�Rogers.

We� yearn� for� silence

when�we�are�about�to�sleep.

We�enjoy�the�quiet�time�in

our� churches,� mosques,

temples�and�synagogues.

Three� years� ago� I� was

sitting�on�the�couch�reading

when� I� became� annoyed

with� my� neighbor.� What

was�he�doing?� I�heard� this

low�ringing�in�the�distance

that� was� distracting� me

from�my�book.� I� stood�up,

walked�outside�to�our�small

deck,� and� looked� around.

No� power� saws.� No� lawn

mowers.�No�one�was�outside,�and�yet�I�kept�hearing�this

subtle,�annoying�constant�ringing.

I� thought�nothing�of� it� until� a� few�weeks� later,� the

ringing�increased�and�then�I�realized�the�noise�was�not

coming� from� the� neighborhood� but� from� inside� my

head.�After�much�cajoling� from�my�wife,� I�visited�an

audiologist,�and�he�said�that�I�have�what�is�called�tinni-

tus� and� I� had� lost� enough� of� my� hearing� to� warrant

hearing�aids.�

Essay by Chris de Vinck

The Power of Silence

continued on pg. 10


Marianna Gozdz

NJAR® Circle of

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Award® 2012 - Bronze

Weichert Sales Club

Gregorio “Greg”

Manalo

NJAR® Circle of

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Weichert Sales Club

Lesia Wirstiuk

NJAR® Circle of

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Weichert Sales Club,

Marketed Club

Weichert Ambassador’s Club

Weichert Executive’s Club

Weichert Director’s Club

Alma Billings

NJAR® Circle of Excellence Sales

Award® 2012 - Silver

Weichert Sales Club, Marketed Club

Daniel Brozyna

NJAR® Circle of

Excellence Sales


Carlito Chi

Weichert

Sales Club

Tania Hernandez Faria

NJAR® Circle of

Excellence Sales

Award® 2012- Bronze

Ruel Cabanilla

Weichert Sales Club

Mary Jean Cetinich Donna Freeswick

Weichert Sales ClubVivian Garcia

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Frank Gorga Mary Pat Holt

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William “Bill”

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Jerry Sanders

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“The�ringing�in�your�ears,”�the�doctor�explained,�“is

a�mechanism� trying� to� compensate� for� that� loss.�The

ringing�will�never�go�away,�and�might�even�increase.”

What�about�silence,�I�wanted�to�ask�the�doctor.�What

about� closing� my� eyes� and� hearing� the� voice� of� my

grandmother?�

What� about� those� hours� in� the�middle� of� the� night

when�I�can’t�sleep�and�I�want�to�imagine�ice�skating�as

a�child�again�with�my�sister�as�I�try�and�hear�the�click-

ing�of�our�skates�on�the�smooth�ice?

The�doctor�said�that�I�could�mask�the�ringing�with�a

“white�noise”�machine�that�mimics�wind,�or�waterfalls.

“This�will�mask�the�symptoms�of�tinnitus.”

But� I� want� the� ability� to� lean� back� into� complete

silence.�I�do�trick�myself�often�as�I�imagine�the�ringing

sounds�a�bit�like�crickets�in�August�which�do�soothe�me

to�sleep�easily,�but�crickets,�waterfall,�wind�sounds,�this

is�not�silence,�and�this�is�not�stillness.

The� doctor� shrugged:� “At� least� you� are� not

Beethoven.�He�became�completely�deaf.

Yes,�he�had�complete�silence,�but�think�how�horrible

that�must�have�been� for� the�man�who�created� the�9th

Symphony.”

“Will�I�become�deaf?”

“Perhaps,”�said�the�doctor.�“Age�advances.”

We� all� have� an� inner� voice,� our�mother’s� perhaps,

God�perhaps,�Mr.�Rogers�even,�and�when�we�need� to

listen�to�these�voices,�we�need�a�time�of�contemplation,

a�place�of�silence�to�sort�things�out.

While� I� will� forever� be� denied� complete� silence,

while�the�constant�sound�in�my�ears�is�the�distant�ring-

ing�knell�of�my�own�eventual�death,�I�still�feel�alive�in

the� companion� of� sound� that� does� echo� inside� of�my

own� heart� as� I� listen� to� the� imagined� crickets� in� the

middle�of�a�North�American�winter.

Moments of Grace

Christopher de Vinck is theLanguage Arts Supervisor at CHSand the author of 13 books. His bestknown work is The Power of thePowerless a frank reflection on thestruggles and joys of loving hisseverely disabled brother. To orderhis most recent work, Moments ofGrace, call 1-800-218-1903 or lookfor it in bookstores or online.


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A fragrant whiff of nutmeg blended with the balmyscent of liniment as�a�pot�of�lentil�soup�simmered�on�thestove.� � It�was�a� typical�Sunday�morning� for�me� in� the

summer�of�1959—newspapers�delivered,�money�collect-

ed,�and�a�stop�at�my�grandmother’s�house�on�the�walk

home�from�my�route.

She�raised�a�cup�of�coffee� to�her�cracked�and�faded

lips.�The�fingers�on�the�once�strong�widow’s�hands�that

reared�a�brood�of�four�amid�The�Great�Depression,�now

quivered� like� the� tails� of� tadpoles� swimming� to� adult-

hood.��No�longer�could�they�guide�the�hypodermic�nee-

dle�into�the�tiny�vial�of�insulin�that�twice�each�day�forti-

fied�her�body�against�the�ravages�of�diabetes.��

A�nearby�aunt�now�performed�that�task�for�her�thirteen

times�each�week,�but�it�was�my�privilege�to�perform�it�on

Sunday�mornings.

“Annie� Eaton� died� this� morning,”� she� said� without

emotion,� as� she� lowered� the� empty� cup� onto� her� lap.

“She�was�eighty-one�on�Tuesday.�I�brought�her�flowers

from�the�garden.”

I�whispered�my�regrets�and�joined�her�in�a�prayer�for

Annie’s� soul.� “I’ll� be� seventy-four� in� November,”� she

suddenly�reminded�me�in�the�middle�of�her�prayer,�as�if

the�passing�of�her�friend�lent�new�meaning�to�the�date.�

“I�know,”�I�said,�as�I�got�up�from�my�chair�and�kissed

her�dampened�cheek.�She�smiled�and�looked�away.

As� summer� turned� to� fall,� she� caught� an� early

autumn� virus� that� morphed� into� pneumonia.� � The

coughing�and�the�wheezing�quickly�took�their�toll�and

November�never�came.�

As� they�placed�her� in� the�ground,� I� remembered�all

those�Sunday�mornings�and�the�aromas�in�her�kitchen��I

heard� her� gentle� voice� again� dispensing� wisdom� and

encouragement� as� tarnished� silver� spoons� scraped� the

oatmeal�from�our�bowls.�

I�thought�back�to�all�those�special�mornings�filled�with

laughter�and�her�warmth�and�I�realized,�even�at�so�young

an�age,�just�how�lucky�I�had�been�to�have�shared�them

with�my�“Gram.”��

We� two�grew�very� close� during� those� early�Sunday

breakfasts,�but�I�was�never�closer�to�her�than�on�the�day

that�Annie�died.

Unforgettable People

By Joseph R. Torelli

The Day Annie DiedSunday Breakfasts and Memories of Family

There�we�sat,�just�the�two�of�us,�heads�bowed�over�bowls�of�steaming�oatmeal,

while�Johnny�Ray’s�Cry spilled�soulfully�from�the�Philco�in�the�corner.�

Editor’s Note:�Do�you�have�an�unforgettable�per-son� in�your� life?�They�can�be� living�or�deceased.

Let�us�know�in�a�short�essay�and�perhaps�we’ll�use

your�story.�Be�sure�to�include�your�phone�number.

E-mail�Tom�at�[email protected]


When Richard F. Knapp started his roofing busi-ness in 1960, he wasn’t only constructing an umbrel-la of protection that would ensure the people ofClifton a solid home environment, he was laying afoundation of trust and honesty that has lasteduntil today, in his passing. “Richard was honest with the people,”

said Dorothy Knapp, Richard’s widow.The couple would have celebrated their53rd anniversary on Feb. 27. “Wealways stand behind our work. That’sthe way Richard started it and now mysons are doing it. We’re keeping upthe honesty.”Richard Knapp passed away in

1991. That’s when the Knapp boys,Richard and Donald, took the reins ofthe business. They had been workingwith their father since their teens andknew the job. Mrs. Knapp said people who had work done

by Knapp Roofing decades ago are calling againon for work on either the same homes or newhomes. That’s how a strong tradition of depend-ability is built. What better testament to the hon-esty of a business whose first priority was and stillis the best interests of the customers?

“There was an older gentleman whose roof need-ed some repairs,” recalled Mrs. Knapp. “His wife wasbed-ridden. Richard didn’t charge him. He told himto buy his wife some flowers. That’s the kind of

things he did. He was well-liked. If a roof didn’tneed to be done he’d tell them. He didn’tpush anyone into unnecessary work.”

R. F. Knapp Roofing is fully insuredand licensed by the State of New Jersey.More importantly, generations of resi-dents have had work done by theKnapp family and stand as references.To schedule a free estimate of yourjob, call Mrs. Knapp at 973-777-1699. It’s interesting to note that the

Knapp’s usually do not take deposits,Mrs. Knapp said her husband didn’tbelieve in deposits. His sons carry on

another of his honorable traditions.“When the job is done and the people are

satisfied,” said Mrs. Knapp, “then we’ll get paid. “We are a family business, started and still run

by the same family. We are committed to contin-ue the reputation of my husband’s work,” saidMrs. Knapp. “Richie and Donny carry on that tra-dition. They are kind and respectable and all ofus appreciate our customers.”

NJ License 13VH00726700

Since 1960

Visitors to the Hot Grill are often amazed at how

the guys at the counter take and bellow your order

two all the way, two! In minutes you’re paid up and

biting a Hot Texas Weiner.

For decades, counter work there was a man’s job

but much has changed. Take Yanina Rios, at right.

She mastered the art of barking orders at the Hot

Grill. For three years, the 21-year-old Cliftonite

works Monday through Friday at the iconic hot dog

joint while attending night classes for Nursing at

Passaic County Community College.

“In the beginning it was hard,” she said. “You

have to pay attention and focus. I was scared that I

was the only girl. But now it’s great. I’m a pro.”

In this edition you’ll meet others who have great

jobs. You’ll also read an inspiring story about Mike

Najda. He faces some challenges at work, home

and in life and he does it with humor and bravery.

For future edition, I’d like to hear of other

Cliftonites who have unique jobs. If you know of

someone, drop me a line.... Tom Hawrylko

GreatJOBS

Speaking of interesting jobs, new faces on the Mustang sidelines, from left, Softball Coach Ron Shekitka,Track Coach Kareem West and Volleyball Coach Nick Romanak. Our Sports section starts on page 52.

JOBS



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Great Jobs

From his New York City office on upper Broadwayin Manhattan, Robert Castronovo is the man in

charge of one of the most popular and illustrious ven-

ues in all of the Big Apple, the Beacon Theatre.

For over 180 nights a year, the theater stage is lit,

playing host to a wide variety of shows and perform-

ances. Castronovo, the director of event production

and building operations, is the maestro that coordinates

the entire production. He was at the helm for the

Allman Brother’s 200th show at the Beacon, the Tony

Awards and countless other high profile shows.

It’s a demanding job, one that has him working six,

sometimes seven days a week. Twelve hour days are

the norm in this industry. But Castronovo makes it all

happen and loves what he does.

“I just couldn’t see myself doing a 9 to 5 desk job,”

explained the 31-year-old, who graduated from Clifton

High in 2000. “If you don’t want to be here, if you are

the kind of person that wants to go out on Friday or

Saturday night, you’re not going to survive.”

The modest Cliftonite is on a first name basis with

rock ‘n roll legends but he is no name-dropper. His nose

to the stage floor work ethic enabled him to rise up the

ranks in similar jobs in Atlantic City and Radio City Hall.

He became interested in the industry because of his

father, Robert Sr., who many recall as a CHS history

teacher. The elder left the safety of the school system

and worked for 20 years at Giants Stadium and

Continental Airlines Arena, retiring as Chief Operating

Officer. As a boy, Castronovo would visit his dad at work

and was awed at the immense work that the arena crew

would go through in transforming the facility for Devils

and Nets games, not to mention concerts and more.

“To see that, you realize that people had no idea

what just happened in the past six hours,” he said.

Castronovo’s background in playing sports—back in

2000, he set the Mustang basketball record for points in

a single game with 45 and most three pointers in a sea-

son—motivated him to pursue sports management at

Rutgers, where he graduated in 2004.

By Joe Hawrylko


SPRING MEANS CHECK GUTTERS & ROOF With Spring and the rainy season here, Corey Genardi

of C. Genardi Contracting Inc. said homeowners often

overlook rain gutters because they often function on

their own.

“It makes it easy to forget that they need to stay in tip

top shape,” he said. “A home without a good gutter sys-

tem will have water running down the side of the house

or it will cause water to run underneath the shingles.

Without gutters, waters will collect around your home

and seep into your basement.”

Genardi installs seamless gutters which eliminates

the possibility of leaks, protects the beauty of your home

and landscaping and will be formed at your home for

exact measurements. “We complete our jobs in a day

and offer most any color to choose from,” he said.

“Seamless gutters will complement your home.”

Genardi also installs Weather Watch Leak Barriers

which create a watertight seal to keep water from the

vulnerable areas of the home—eaves and rakes,

around chimney and in valleys. “It prevents water

damming in your gutters from wind driven rain or

where ice collects,” he concluded.

Based in Clifton, the family-run and owned business

was started in the late 1960’s by Corey’s father Ronald. “I

was pretty much born into it,” said Genardi. “And I have

installed most every type of roof there is.”

Genardi uses superior products such as GAF and

offers a variety of roofs for every type of home and

at every price—choices range from asphalt shingles

to wood shakes and modified rubber systems for

flat roofs.

Asphalt shingles, the most affordable, are avail-

able in a dozen or so different colors both solid and

blended. Using GAF products, Genardi said the

roofs he installs are guaranteed for 20, or in some

cases 30 years, making them an excellent value.

C. GENARDI CONTRACTING, INC.

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Seamless Gutters are stronger...

adding roof flashing will keep water

flowing into the gutters where it belongs.

Great Jobs

Prior to graduating from the New Brunswick cam-

pus, he was an intern for the Giants, and then the Nets.

“Through my contacts

on those teams, I was able

to get there and then used

that to get into Atlantic

City,” he explained.

Castronovo headed

south and worked for

SMG at Atlantic City

Boardwalk Hall, a 13,000

seat arena that hosts a

variety of sporting and

entertainment events.

Boxing was one of the

main draws for AC during

his two year tenure and

Castronovo attended

many of the late Arturo

Gatti’s famous fights.

“I was there for his last

six or seven fights,” he said. While at SMG,

Castronovo rose from event coordinator to event man-

ager and finally operations manager, essentially over-

seeing the operations department of the entire arena.

“They play AC/DC’s Thunderstruck when Gatti would

come in the ring and the

place would go crazy.”

In July of 2007,

Castronovo left SMG to

take a job as a event pro-

duction manager for

Radio City Music Hall in

NYC. While his work in

Atlantic City provided

him with valuable experi-

ence, working in the Big

Apple was far greater

than anything that could

be offered in AC.

The move was about

growth. “I was learning

something every day,” he

said. At Radio City,

Castronovo worked the

NFL Draft, the Tony Awards, the MTV Video Music

Awards, Fashion Rocks and the Radio City Christmas

Spectacular during his three years at the venue.

Bobby, his sister Laura and parents Bob and Nancy.

Dr. Michael BasistaMedical Director of

Immedicenter

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

We’re Here for Your Allergies

& Much More!• Monday - Friday 8am to 9pm

• Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm

• Walk-in Medical Care

• Weekday Appointments Available

Wheezing & Sneezing?



There are about12,000 podiatrists inthe United States,according to theDepartment ofLabor, and Clifton

podiatrist Thomas Graziano is one ofonly six who hold both a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

As a foot and ankle specialist, my

main goal for all my patients is to

find caring solutions that last a life-

time. I won't just treat the symptom;

I'll strive to correct the problem...

Permanently.

When you combine effective treat-

ments with my genuine concern for

your well-being, that's a powerful

combination.

-Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM,

FACFAS

3 Issues Resolved in 1 Convenient SurgeryDr. Thomas Graziano recently

explained how three painful issues

were addressed in one operation.

“This patient presented with a

bunion, crossover toe and hammer-

toes. These conditions were

repaired with one operation and the

patient was able to walk the same

day of the surgery.”Before After


Great Jobs

When he heard about an opening

for director at the Beacon in early

2011, Castronovo applied.

The youthful looking kid from

Clifton was hired. For the first time

in his young career, he was at the

helm, in charge of everything. The

organization is lean in manage-

ment. He reports to his general

manager, and Madison Square

Garden owner James Dolan.

But with that new position came

added responsibility and many new

challenges. “Radio City was in a

commercial area. It’s residential

here, so that’s a big change,” he

said. Since the neighborhood is

home to many powerful celebrities

and captains of industry, it is

important to make sure that they’re

not disturbed by a truck unloading

at 5 am. The other major difference

from Radio City was the number of

people in management.

“We have six full time people in

management as opposed to over 50

in Radio City,” he explained.

Castronovo has more than 250 part

time employees reporting to him,

including stage hands, Teamsters,

food and beverage types and most

anyone at the Beacon. With so

many people looking to him for an

“OK”, a check or an approval,

Castronovo average days clocks in

at around 12 hours.

“I’ve slept on this couch way too

many times,” he laughed, as he

pointed to his office couch.

“Yesterday was my first day off in

two and a half weeks.” A typical

day starts at 7 am, with truck

unloading at 8. Sound checks, light-

ing and other details to staging take

goes on day long. Castronovo

patrols the facility, coordinating

with staff and stars to ensure that

everything is going smoothly. As a Mustang in 2000.


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Great Jobs

Before the curtain rises, there may be small items to

attend to. Perhaps it is a union issue. Or the star needs

something in the dressing room. Castronovo is the go-

to guy. He’ll solve the problem. After the perform-

ance, the box office has to be accounted for and settle-

ment has to happen with the act’s managers. Load out

concludes around 1 or 2 am.

His schedule varies depending on the event, but even

on days when the stage is dark, there are plenty of day-

to-day activities that require his presence.

“This summer we’re doing a new roof,” he said. The

Beacon was built in the 1920s, and is one of the last

theaters of its age in New York. That means that regu-

lar maintenance must be a priority for Castronovo.

“I like to be proactive rather than reactive,” he said.

“At the Garden, they’ve got guys who have been doing

this for 30 or 40 years. I take good advantage of that.”

“I got to admit that with this job, I don’t know every-

thing about everything,” continued Castronovo. “But I

do have to know a little bit about everything.”

Castronovo is at the helm of this landmark and it is

his job to have good people around him to help solve

problems. But even with those seasoned workers on

call, the unexpected will happen.

“During the Tony Awards there was a water tank

leak on top of the building,” he recalled. “Sometimes

you just gotta roll up your sleeves and get in there.

There was six floors of damage. About $35,000 worth

of damage. And we had a show the next night.”

Fortunately, none of the water reached the theater,

and the show was able to go on.

Shortly after that incident, Castronovo called in

experts to analyse what went wrong and then hired a

company to put a float with a water level sensor in the

tank. Just a few short weeks later, that early warning

system prevented another disaster. “Something I

learned early on was that people have short memories

and long fingers in this industry,” he said.

But as difficult as his job can be at times, Castronovo

still gets a thrill out of seeing a happy crowd captivat-

ed by the show on stage.

“As hard as you work through the week, that’s the

pay off. That’s what makes it worth it” he said. “Even

when we had Scooby Doo Live here, seeing the faces

on the kids, that’s the payoff.”

“This business is stressful and demanding,” he con-

tinued. “But you’re not going to get this type of educa-

tion anywhere else.”


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Great Jobs

By Joe Hawrylko

Dave Cafone Makes Magic

On a quiet cul-de-sac off of Grove St. inMontclair Heights, Dave Cafone works

magic with copper in his garage studio.

For nearly 30 years, the Nutley native has

been hammering, bending and shaping this

malleable metal for a wide variety of uses:

roofing, gutters, chimney flashings, hoods

for bay windows and much more.

Now 52, Cafone, estimated that he has

been working with copper and other metals

since he was about eight years old, helping

his father, John, who was a sheet metal

worker.

“Right out of high school I started my

sheet metal career, doing duct work and cen-

tral air. On the weekends, I would go do

sheet metal and copper on the weekends

with him,” recalled Cafone. “He did every-

thing by hand. I’ve taken it to the next step.”

“I really liked being around my father,”

he added. “He had a passion for fishing, and

I have a passion for fishing. My father was

a sheet metal worker and I’m the only one of

seven kids who is a sheet metal worker.”

Cafone, who is known within the industry

as Copper Dave, has been plying


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Great Jobs

his craft full time since 1985. Since

then, the industry has changed

greatly.

Today, copper roofing is typical-

ly a luxury item, and most of

Cafone’s work takes place on large

estates and wealthy mansions in the

Tri-state region. His work appears

on eye-catching buildings like the

Stronghold Landmark in

Bernardsville, where he spent sev-

eral months creating and then

installing a custom made zinc roof.

“I always used to drive past that

and think, ‘One day, I’m going to

do that roof,” he laughed. Cafone

has also done work for the owner of

the West Orange Manor, the

National Park Service and on a

number of estates in the affluent

town of Rumson. Occasionally, he

will field work at smaller homes

from contractors like Corey

Genardi.

But in addition to that day job

that pays the bills, Cafone is a bud-

ding artist, creating intricate copper

fish and other sea life, which he

turns into wall mounts or weather-

vanes in his garage studio.

“It was right around 1996, when

we were having those bad winters.

That’s when I started to get all cre-

ative,” recalled Cafone. “I wasted a

lot of metal then trying to get the

designs right.”

But after many drafts and revi-

sions, the Cliftonite has become

quite the sculptor in his spare time

and sells his wares at flea markets.

“Whatever I make is what I put

for sale. No one has ever called me

and said ‘make this’ yet,” he said.

“When I am really into it, when I

really feel it, that’s when I do it.

Sometimes I am too tired from

work and don’t go into the garage

for a month.”

Each piece is unique; outside of

the stencil he uses for the base

shape, Cafone does the rest of the

work by eye. “For a fish that would

go on the wall, it takes maybe a full

day,” he said. Cafone has sold

those for $750 in the past.

Weathervanes require much more

work, since it must be double sided

and symmetrical, and cost about

$3,000. “Those take about two full

days to complete.”

The Cliftonite’s main art inspira-

tions are Guy Harvey, who is recog-

nized as one of the foremost author-

ities on marine wildlife art, and the

late Travis Tuck, who is famous for

his weathervanes in Martha’s

Vineyard in Massachusetts.

“I had a stripper of mine on dis-

play at Guy’s gallery in Florida,” he

said. “It was amazing that he even

acknowledged me.”

Initially, breaking into the art

field was difficult, and he would

sometimes return home without

selling anything. Cafone’s break

came when he befriended a doctor

who purchased all of the

Cliftonite’s merchandise at an art

sale in 2004. Eventually, Cafone

ended up doing many jobs for the

doctor, including spending six

months in Florida repairing proper-

ties following a hurricane.

Currently, Cafone mostly attends

art shows and flea markets on the

Jersey Shore, but said he would like

to expand into Long Island as well.

His main goal is to one day get off of

the roof and into the studio full time.

“Some day, I will live on a beach

and hammer copper on the beach

front,” he laughed. “Maybe 100

years from now I will be looked

back on as a marine folk artist.”


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US Army Staff Sergeant Oscar Buonafinafinished his most recent 9-month deploymentto Afghanistan on November 3. By the follow-ing Monday, he was back at work in Clifton. Like many returning veterans, life and busi-

ness obligations ‘back home’ were put on holdwhile he was deployed to the front lines. In Afghanistan, the Lakeview resident

enlisted his construction expertise with a sec-tion of US Army engineers under the 310thMilitary Police Battalion working in an AfghanDetention Facility in Bagram.But on Monday, November 5, the owner of

Clifton’s Buonafina Plumbing, Heating andHome Improvements was back at his LakeviewAve. office being a small business owner.For about the last year, his plumbing and

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said the heating and plumbing side of the busi-ness needed his leadership and skill set.“We maintained out existing customers,” said

Buonafina, who founded the company in 2006and has been a US Army Reservist since 2007. “But being in business is about growing and

that’s my mission now. My phone is answeredaround the clock. We do emergency calls at afair price. I most enjoy doing jobs like this onepictured here—a multi-family house that neededsystems run clean and separate,” he said.“Honestly, no job is too small or too big.”

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Great Jobs

At 22 years of age, Derek Drobenak leadswhat seems to be a quiet, typical suburban

life. He lives at home off of Valley Rd. with

his parents, enjoys going to the gym five

days a week, and has a girlfriend.

But Drobenak’s job is a little different

than your average young suburban adult

would hold.

While others are heading off to a cozy

office for a 9 to 5, this Cliftonite throws on

some well worn jeans and work boots for a

long day at the North Jersey Equestrian

Center in Pompton Plains on Rt. 23.

At the NJEC, Drobenak is a man of many

hats. His duties include breaking young

steeds, caring for the more than 150 horses

kept at the NJEC, and training riders and

horses alike.

Drobenak also travels to industry shows

around the country for up to 100 days a year

with the NJEC and his boss, Karl Bauer.

In Northern New Jersey, this is about as

close as you get to being a cowboy, and

Drobenak enjoys every second of it.

13 Miles from Clifton, DerekDrobenak works as a ranchhand and riding instructor at theNorth Jersey Equestrian Center.

By Joe Hawrylko

Learning to be a modern-day

Horseman


Drobenak’s love of horses stretches back to 1994,

when his family visited a resort in upstate New York.

His mother, Debra, rode when she was younger, and

wanted her son to saddle up.

“I ended up falling in love right away,” he recalled.

“It was a big resort with a lot to do, but I just wanted to

ride horses all week.”

About five years later, his parents took him to visit

Echo Lake Stable in Newfoundland, which offered a

week long summer camp, where participants would ride

and learn how to groom and care for horses.

For the next three years, Drobenak would end each

day waiting for his mom by watching the ranch hands

wrangle the herd. Eventually, the owner invited him to

help out. “I was head over heels. I told them I’d do any-

thing,” recalled Drobenak. “The next summer in 2004

they asked me to come work for them. It was like the

lights came down from heaven.”

At the end of the summer, he was invited to work at

Echo Lake full time, and moved up from cleaning the

stables to eventually taking groups out on trail rides.

Drobenak, who graduated from DePaul Catholic

High School in Wayne in 2009, continued to work and

live the dream at Echo Lake until 2011.

“I decided to take a break from horses for a bit and

focus on school,” he recalled. “My parents told me they

wanted me to get a degree, so I was going to Passaic

County Community College for business.”

But after two and a half years of school, Drobenak

found that higher education wasn’t his called.

“I just kept thinking, I need to be with horses. And if

I want to go get where I wanted to go, I had to take a

risk,” he said. After a lengthy discussion with his par-

ents, Drobenak decided to withdraw from school and

began pursuing his dream of working with horses.

Though they wanted him to get a degree, Drobenak’s

parents were supportive of his decision.

“My dad always said to make sure you are taken care

of in life. My mom was always more about doing what

makes you happy. Each have helped me more than the

other on certain things. It’s a ying and yang type of

thing,” he said. “They support me every step of the way.

They’re a huge reason that I am here doing what I real-

ly want to do.”

In February of 2012, Drobenak’s mother learned

about the NJEC, and he was able to go visit owner, Karl

Bauer, to inquire about a job. Bauer, a champion horse

rider and breeder who has been in the industry for


Great Jobs

over 35 years, was initially skeptical about hiring

Drobenak since the job duties at Echo Lake were com-

pletely different. But after watching Drobenak ride and

speaking with him, Bauer decided to hire the Cliftonite.

“He came in and he was very humble, polite, clean

cut and patient. And he’s likable,” said Bauer.

“Within the last year that he has been here, he’s

improved a ton. He’s not even close to what he was

when he first came. He’s done amazing things on his

horses. Now I can put him on anything,” he continued.

“He’s almost like my son. I have a lot of trust, He’s got

a lot of responsibility here, and not just for a young guy.

He is always early coming and always late leaving. And

never a complaint.”

Drobenak relishes the experience that he has at the

NJEC, working alongside Bauer, who is a well respect-

ed name in the industry and a champion rider.

“He’s a great mentor. I know I don’t know every-

thing about this, especially horses. I still have a lot to

learn,” he said. “But I feel I am really in a good place

right now.”

Drobenak’s responsibilities at the NJEC are wide

ranging. He works six days a week, and cares for more

than 150 horses between the company’s two locations.

One of Drobenak’s favorite parts of his job is break-

ing young horses.

Breaking is the process of getting a horse that has

never been riden before used to having people around

and on it. The length of this varies depending on each

horse, but can be very repetitive. A horse can be very

skittish, and has to get used to something as simple as

seeing a person jump, a quick move or even a crazy

noise from a cell phone.

Breaking can also be extremely dangerous.

“You can get killed pretty easily doing this,” he

admitted. “When I first broke a horse, I was pretty nerv-

ous, but it was something that I always wanted to do.

But they can stand right up in the air, they can buck you

off, they can spin and buck you.”

Drobenak, who is currently breaking his fourth horse,

recalled how one Mustang at NJRC would continually

ride him into the walls in an effort to get him off, send-

ing him home with bruises every day.

Eventually, when a horse has been broken, Drobenak

can move on to training. Much like breaking, train-

Derek with his boss Karl Bauer.

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Great Jobsing time can vary depending on the

personality of the horse, and what

type of riding the owner wants to do.

“I love to see the transformation.

You start when they are babies,

maybe a year and a half, two years,”

he said. “It’s great when it is a horse

you can’t even be near or touch.”

And like any good cowboy,

Drobenak has his own reliable

steed. His goes by the name of

Tomahawk. Drobenak acquired his

horse by auction in 2010.

“When I saw him, it was just a

gut feeling. It wasn’t like ok, oh he

moves well or he looks nice,” he

explained. Drobenak selected

Tomahawk despite the horse being

malnourished. “I take a lot of extra

time caring for him and he has

repaid me. I want to provide for

another horse like I did with mine.”

Tomahawk, who is 12, suffers

from arthritis in his rear leg, which

gives him a slight limp if he has

been exerting himself. The arthritis

also prevents Tomahawk from

being able to ride for long or do

strenuous activities.

“People ask, what defines you?

For me, it’s that horse,” said

Drobenak. “People come and go.

I’ve had girlfriends go. Friends go,

I’ve had bad things happen. But

that horse is the one consistent thing

and part of the reason I am the per-

son I am today.”

Drobenak also occasionally does

training with riders at the NJEC.

“I want to show people what a

horse can do for you,” he said.

“Just like horses, I love to see that

transformation. I love to motivate

people. When I motivate them, it

motivates me. I tell people, if you

fall off, you have to get right back

on,” added Drobenak. “Life is kind

of like that too.”

Another major responsibility that

Drobenak has is traveling with

Bauer to trade shows. For about

100 days a year, they are on the

road, and can be out of the area for

upwards of a week. Typically, they

will live out of a Winnebago.

“You’re sleeping on an air mat-

tress for a week. Your back hurts,

and you’re getting up at 5 am,” he

said. “But I love doing it.”

“The fact that I am happy here

means that I am happy everywhere

in my life—even when I am not

here. It’s almost contagious,” he

said. “You have people who go to

school for four, five, six, seven or

even eight years for something they

don’t love, but they need the money.

I don’t feel like I’m working. I don’t

call it work. I call it riding.”


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For retail or office leasing

Call Jamie Wohr: 973-591-5222 x 16


Life Challenge

Mike Najda has a saying for the deadly disease he staresdown at but we won’t print it in this community magazine.

Diagnosedwith ALS

Story by Joe Hawrylko


Suffice it to say that anyone who knows the boister-ous 49-year-old can get an idea of what the two word

message imprinted on his red wrist band states.

Najda’s battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

(ALS, or Lou Gherig’s disease) may be robbing him of

his motorskills, but his sense of humor is more raw and

cynical as he faces an uncertain future.

ALS gradually attacks the motor skills, eventually

leaving patients unable to walk, talk or even swallow.

From the time of diagnosis, patients typically live two to

five years.

But that’s not something you’d guess when you hear

Najda describe his illness.

“There’s about 30,000 people with ALS in the whole

US. It’s a nice, private club,” laughed the Clifton resident

and father of two. “One plus,” he added with a smile,

“you get primo parking because of your wheelchair.”

Once large and imposing, standing over six feet tall

and topping the scales at 300 pounds, Najda’s size is

diminished since being confined to a motorized chair.

But he is just as loud as he was before the diagnosis, and

his unique sense of humor remains unchanged. Laughing

is what gets him through his daily battles against ALS.

And despite all of the physical, mental and emotional

trials he has endured, Najda said he is totally at peace

with his fate. His two main concerns going for-

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Life Challengeward are making sure that his family is cared for after his

passing, and that he creates some kind of lasting foundation

to help others in the battle against this crippling disease.

“I try to not think about it too much,” explained Najda.

“Eventually, I’m going to end up with my mom and dad.”

Though he was only diagnosed with ALS in

September, Najda first began experiencing issues in

March of 2011, with weakness in his right leg, around the

knee area. His physician, David Testa of Clifton, sent

him for MRIs later that month which turned up nothing

and he continued on with life.

Najda didn’t know it at the time, but that was the start

of a slow and unexplained loss in motor skills. Over the

next two years, he would endure countless tests as doctors

struggled to identify what was ailing him.

Part of the problem with diagnosing ALS is that there

is no definitive test for it.

“It’s a process of elimination,” explained Najda.

But his mobility became a serious issue when he start-

ed falling in August of 2011.

“I would just go down,” he said. “I thought it was the

knee giving out, but really it was my muscles.”

Najda visited orthopaedics, neurologists, and special-

ists of all kinds, traveling as far away as John Hopkins in

Baltimore. Doctors initially thought multiple sclerosis,

then tested him for a variety of blood disorders. For sev-

eral months, doctors thought he had a rare genetic disor-

der called Adrenomyeloneuropathy, but that was proven

to be incorrect when a doctor realized that his size caused

a false positive on a test.

“It was frustrating, not knowing what is going on,” he

admitted. “My wife’s girlfriend is a doctor, and the advice

she gave me was, ‘I know it is frustrating, but as long as

they can’t diagnose it, it hasn’t progressed enough for it

to be a concern.’ I walked with a cane for stability at that

point (Summer of 2012), but I was fine otherwise. I was

still able to drive. I mean, I drove a motor home to

Florida just in August.”

In the summer of 2012, doctors at the Neuromuscular

& ALS Center at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

were beginning to narrow down their suspected illnesses.

Ironically, the renown specialists did not think it was

ALS. Even Dr. Jerry M. Belsch, the specialist from RWJ

who diagnosed him, didn’t suspect ALS.

“He said, ‘I’m 80 percent sure you don’t have ALS,

but I have to give you an EMG to make sure,” Najda

recalled. For an EMG test, doctors insert metal needles

into muscles to stimulate them with electricity.


Life Challenge


Najda had another doctor perform one

previously, but this one was over two

hours long.

“I cried. It was brutal,” laughed

Najda. “It was nothing like the other

guy gave me. This, he put electrodes all

over the right side of my body. I walked

in with a cane and left in a wheelchair. I

cried from exit 9 all the way to Newark

Airport.”

“Two days later, he called and asked

me to come to the office and that’s when

I knew it wasn’t good,” he continued.

While waiting in the office, Najda was

reading some of the literature on the

walls, and noticed a story about Dr.

Belsch and his head nurse of the ALS

unit. Shortly after, Dr. Belsch walked in

with that nurse.

“That’s when I knew,” added Najda.

That day was September 28, 2012. Once the reality of

the situation began to sunk in, Najda said he accepted his

fate and immediately turned his attention to figuring out

a way to care for his loved ones.

“The first thing that ran though my mind is in two

years—two years—what happens to my wife, my kids,

my family?” he said. The fact is, no one can tell him.

Every case of ALS is different. Patients may experi-

ence symptoms in different parts of the body, and each

disease progresses differently.

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After diagnosis, the average lifespan is two to five

years. However, there are plenty of instances of people

living well beyond that—physicist Stephen Hawkings

has lived 50 years with the disease.

But Najda knows that such cases are rare, and even if

he were that fortunate, he would still be handicapped.

That’s why it was imperative for him to plan for the future

of Counter Creations, the Hackensack-based business

that he and his wife Patricia founded in 2001.

With 10 employees, Counter Creations supplies cus-

tom countertops for residential and commercial buildings

across the New Jersey and New York area.

“I ran the whole business,” Najda said of his role as an

entrepreneur. “Between her and my sister Mary, they

take care of the back end stuff.”

Despite his illness, which has recently confined him to

a motorized wheelchair in the past month, Najda can still

do most of his duties from his office, outside of visiting

job sites. Currently, he is relying on help from his son,

Mike, and some contractors to take care of that work.

“When I have a kitchen to measure, one of my contrac-

tors, who is actually a customer, goes and does it for me,”

he said. Najda estimated that his business is 70 percent

contractors who give him return business, and 30 percent

walk ins from homeowners. “I actually have three or four

guys like that.”

But although he can still run the business efficiently

despite his illness, Najda knows that will all change in the

future. And it could happen fast.

In January, Najda and his wife contemplated shuttering

the business, but ultimately decided to have a conversa-

tion with their son, Mike, 24, about taking over.

Mike has been working at Counter Creations since he

was 16. His primary job was creating the CAD drawings

used in counter design.

Though they were apprehensive about asking, Najda

and his wife soon realized that Mike was ready to accept

the challenge to support his family.

“I don’t think he had planned to do this for life. I think

he wanted to do other things. But when this all hit, hon-

estly, we debated closing. Eventually, I’m going to be at

the point that I can’t move,” he said. “He jumped right at

it. It’s easier now with him. I was bullheaded in the

beginning, but he jumps right up to the plate. If he’s got

to go to a customer’s house or learn something, he does

it. He can do anything but pricing at this point.”

While his son slowly transitions into his role at the

head of Counter Creations, Najda is busy preparing

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Life Challengefor an uncertain future. Approximately two to three

months ago, he began using a cane and a walker to get

around. For the past month, he has been using a motor-

ized wheelchair that a client, who is a volunteer EMT, had

graciously donated.

Though the progress of the disease is unpredictable

and can change at any time, he is already starting to expe-

rience some weakness in his hands.

Najda said he knows his time may be limited, and he

is savoring every moment while he can, and tries laugh-

ing every bit along the way.

“I always see the funny side in everything, even in

this,” said Najda, as he explained his gallows humor.

Najda said his motto—@#!$ ALS—has been a rally-

ing point for family and friends. He’s even gone as far as

getting several hundred red wristbands, with the motto in

black, bold lettering, printed for his supporters.

“If it weren’t for friends and family, I wouldn’t be able

to do it,” said Najda. “Especially our church and school

(St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Passaic).

They’ve been very, very supportive.” The St. Nicholas

community held a fundraiser for Najda. More than 300

people attended, raising thousands of dollars, to help pay

for so many things insurance does not.

Likewise, Najda wants charity to be his lasting legacy.

For the past couple of months, he has been document-

ing his journey—complete with his humor—on facebook

under Mike’s ALS Journey. He said he also plans on

starting a website soon.

“Really, the goal right now is awareness. Financially,

this will cripple you,” he explained. “It takes about

$200,000 a year to treat, and the government doesn’t do

anything for you.”

“Eventually, I want to set up my website up that you

can donate and then we will be able to give grants to go

directly to ALS patients,” Najda continued. “A lot of

money goes towards research now, but not so much for

individuals.”

Beyond his website, Najda just plans to enjoy his life

now, one day at a time. “It’s more preparing for the

future,” he said. Najda and his wife also plan to visit the

Netherlands one more time to see her family. “You don’t

plan on going to Hawaii in five years. You plan on going

to the Pocconos now. The longest term goal I have is to

see my son Zach graduate high school in four years.”

“I’m not gonna go buy a Ferrari and have a five year

payment plan,” he added with a laugh. “My luck, I’ll live

another 23 years.”




Next time you’re on most any airplane or train andtoss a bit of debris into the plastic trash bags held by

an attendant, chances are that four-by-three foot poly-

ethylene item was Made in Clifton.

Those bags and others customized bags for a variety

of industries are made at the Champion Plastics

Division of X-L Plastics Incorporated on Clifton Blvd.

With over 100 factory employees, and more than 50

others in sales and support capacities, the company

operates 24/7, with three shifts around the clock, pro-

ducing over 250,000 pounds of finished product daily.

A majority of the bags manufactured here will not be

destined to line your household trash can. But like the

trash bags for airlines and trains, consumers worldwide

come in contact with Champion products from time to

time. Items such as covers, films, sheeting, tubing and

shrink packaging are purchased and used by leading

companies in the food, drug and chemical industries.

While the sales force and support staff pictured

above sell, distribute and keep the quality of the prod-

uct up to client specifications, it’s the unionized guys

on the factory floor that make the product.

Noisy and busy, the plant floor is sprawling and

teeming with activity. Teams of men operate the 18

large extruders, pumping out millions of bags daily, in

a rainbow of colors and in various gauges.

With the unique machinery found in the plant, they

can design and produce bags from two to 200 inches.

With all that manufacturing going on, workers are

constantly sweeping up and collecting discarded sheets

of plastic. That’s because Champion is also big into

recycling and is really environmentally friendly.

“We’ve been recycling before it was a buzzword,

before it was the thing to do,” said Champion’s Chief

Executive John Callaghan. “Literally all that stuff,” he

said, pointing to a heap on the factory floor, “is collect-

Made in Clifton

CHAMPION PLASTICSBy Tom Hawrylko


ed and recycled right here. There is

little or no waste in our process. In

fact, we also buy post-industrial

and post-consumer plastics and

reprocess them for our materials

that don’t need FDA compliancy.”

Four massive silos, standing

some four stories high, store more

than 2,000 tons of resin. Between

that raw material and the recycled,

Champion can sell, manufacture

and ship vast quantities of products

quickly and cost effectively.

While the company had its ori-

gins as X-L Plastics Inc. and was

founded in Belleville in 1972,

Callaghan said the firm has called

Clifton home since 1977.

“Back then, we had a manufac-

turing plant in Harrison—it was

actually a Heinz 57 pickle facto-

ry—which is now a PATH station,”

Callaghan recalled.

“Our offices were over the A&P

in the middle of Botany Village,”

he continued. “Those were great

times. Botany had great stores and

all those little bars—they all had

great lunch specials.”

By 1979, Champion Plastics

Corporation merged with X-L

Plastics and in 1984, the firm’s new

moniker became Champion

Plastics/Division of X-L Plastics.

By then, Callaghan and his team

had $2 million in sales, 45 factory

employees and were manufacturing

a growing product line on six

extruders in Harrison.

Owners of the firm also formed

another name familiar to Cliftonites

who drive along Clifton Blvd.—

Armel Trucking—to accommodate

the shipping needs.

Opportunity and fortune smiled

on X-L Plastics in 1984 when it

acquired what was then the vacant

Tenneco Paper property on

Above, a worker prepares product for shipping at Champion Plastics. On thefacing page, at the center is Champion’s Chief Executive John Callaghansurrounded by Clifton residents Kelli Terrazzino, Christina Filewicz, LesiaGlodava, Rose Marie Zangara, Denise Zangara, Beverly Cholewczynski,Michelle Orsita-Kaplan, John Callaghan, Mike Kaplan and Alex Crow.


Clifton Blvd. and adjacent properties. The move was

strategic for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, cited Callaghan, it allowed the

company to consolidate its manufacturing, sales and

marketing divisions under one roof.

“Flexibility is key in manufacturing today,” said

Callaghan. “We can adjust quickly to market demands.

It was like they had a crystal ball when they made that

purchase,” he said of the owners. “Our move in 1984

set this company on the path for great growth.”

The Clifton Blvd. property, which has a freight rail

line running right through the property, is a big asset to

the firm. Delivery of raw product and export of fin-

ished items are streamlined and cost efficient.

In addition to the rail line, the eight loading docks

along Clifton Blvd., with additional bays, docks and

parking facilities in the rear makes getting product to

customers easy and gave the company room to grow.

With subsequent purchases of other adjacent proper-

ties on Clifton Blvd., Champion was able to add more

extruders and expand manufacturing capacity.

Clifton’s location as headquarters for a company that

needs to transport product quickly is key. “We’re close

to seaports, airports, major arteries and then there is our

people,” Callaghan said. “So yes, Clifton is a great

town to do business in. Plus the workforce is diverse

and talented.”

While Callaghan is now an expert in the plastics

industry, his career path did not begin in what was then

a relatively new field. Trained as an architect, he gradu-

ated CCNY in 1974.

He started out “peddling dry cleaning bags in 1976

and learned the ins and outs of the trade.” Nonetheless,

his background as an architect does help him today.

“There’s a lot of mathematics involved in the construc-

tion styles of these bags,” he said.

What he seems to enjoy most about working at

Champion—nearly four decades now—is that the pri-

vately-held company nurtures and retains employees.

Many of the Cliftonites pictured on the previous

page started out as part-timers or in entry-level jobs and

have been given opportunities to grow into new posi-

tions as the company expanded. Likewise, there is a lot

of seniority on the factory floor, men that know the

machinery and how to keep the extruders producing

plastic bags of all shapes and sizes.

“My job is the bring out the best in our people and I

still enjoy every day here,” said Callaghan.

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Made in Clifton


In 1988 at theirColfax Ave. factory,Edward Staub withhis two sons Jerryand Tom and alater version of the PaceMaster 600.

Clifton History

Story byCarol Leonard


Clifton HistoryAs an increasing number of people heed the advice of

their doctors and other healthcare professionals to get

more exercise, many are taking to the gym or purchasing

home equipment on which to work

out. You may be among them.

But did you know that the first

treadmill for use by the general

public was developed and produced

right here in Clifton by the late

Edward Staub.

A native of Philadelphia and

longtime city resident until his

death last July at the age of 96,

Staub was a mechanical engineer

by profession. He worked long

hours at Besco Corp., a company

he founded on Colfax Ave. to man-

ufacture aerospace components.

Along with his wife Dorothy, he

also helped raise seven children, four sons and three

daughters.

According to his family, Staub was always very health

conscious. “He ate well and exercised, and he wasn’t a

big drinker,” said his daughter, Dolores Colucci-Healey.

“He never smoked. In fact, he said it was a filthy habit.”

But when his brother died suddenly of a heart attack

in the 1960s, Staub became even more concerned about

the importance of staying fit.

In 1968 he read a book written by Dr. Kenneth

Cooper, a physician and health and fitness guru who had

served as a personal doctor to President George W. Bush.

Dr. Cooper introduced the concept of aerobic exercise to

help improve cardiovascular health.

“The book said that if you could

run a mile in eight minutes four or

five times a week you would always

be in good shape and would be

healthy,” Staub’s son, Gerald, said.

“My dad figured that anyone can

spare eight minutes a day.”

After reading the book, Staub

challenged himself to build a person-

al exercise treadmill, which Dr.

Cooper had contended would always

be too expensive to purchase for the

home.

“At the time, most treadmills

were used for medical testing or

rehabilitation,” Gerald explained.

“They weren’t widely used just for exercise, but my dad

decided that this would be a great thing.”

Initially, Staub developed the first treadmill for his

own use, but then sent a prototype to Dr. Cooper in

Texas, where he ran an aerobics center. He called his

invention the PaceMaster 600. Impressed with his inno-

vation, Dr. Cooper got Staub his first customer, a fitness

equipment dealer who thought it was a great product.

“The dealer bought five and then ordered more,”

Gerald said. “By word of mouth, other dealers heard

about it and they bought it. They thought it was

William & Dorothy Staub.



Clifton History

reliable and cost-effective.” According to Gerald, the

first model of the PaceMaster 600 cost $295.

In the beginning, Staub manufactured the treadmills at

his Besco plant in Clifton, but as demand for the product

grew, he moved the

operation to a building

in Little Falls and start-

ed a new business

called Aerobics, Inc.

The company later

moved to an even larg-

er facility in West

Caldwell. Staub even-

tually phased out his

work in aerospace to

focus solely on the treadmill business.

Gerald, who holds a degree in electrical engineering,

joined his father in the new venture and the two would

market the treadmills at tradeshows for fitness equip-

ment dealers.

When Staub decided to retire in the mid-1990s, he

sold the company to his sons, Gerald and Thomas.

Gerald took over as CEO and Thomas was vice president

of sales and marketing. The two brothers have also since

sold the business and retired.

For his efforts in introducing the exercise treadmill to

the public, Staub received a Lifetime Achievement

Award from Health & Fitness magazine, and he was fea-

tured in a 2006 article in Runners World magazine enti-

tled “Our Favorite Things: 40 Years of Running Gear

Innovation.” The article credited Staub with eliminating

inclement weather as an excuse for not exercising.

His passing was acknowledged by TV news anchor

Brian Williams on the NBC Nightly News. Williams said

that Staub’s product “helped make people more fit all

over the world.”

Aside from his busy work schedule, Staub had many

personal interests and activities over his lifetime, includ-

ing building and flying radio-controlled airplanes and

tinkering with amateur radio. He was also an avid bowler

and once owned Colonial Lanes in Lawrenceville. He

enjoyed both snow and water skiing, and in his 80s he

even took up golf.

“His mind was always going,” Gerald said. “In his

late 80s and early 90s, he was drawing sketches of ideas

for new golf clubs.”

Staub was also very involved in civic life around the

area. Among his other activities, he was a member of the

Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Hospital. He and his

wife offered an endowment to the former Pope Paul VI

High School and con-

tributed generously to

St. Philips and St.

Paul’s parishes. He

was an avid supporter

of the Clifton Boys &

Girls Club, where his

daughter, Dolores, was

executive director for

many years.

“My parents were

very good to the community,” Dolores said.

Staub continued to stay active and exercised on his

treadmill almost until the end of his life. “He was actual-

ly in very good health until he passed away,” Dolores

said.

After losing his wife of more than 70 years in 2007,

Staub lived alone in his MacArthur Drive home and took

care of himself until age 95, when his children insisted

that he have a full-time caregiver to assist him.

“We found him up on the roof one day trying to do a

repair,” Dolores said. “That’s when we knew he needed

someone to look out for him.”

“He was always very independent and a do-it-your-

selfer,” added Gerald.

In addition to Dolores, Gerald, Thomas and their

spouses, Staub also left behind sons William Jr. and

Norman, and daughters Kathleen and Dorothy and their

spouses, as well as 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grand-

children. He was also predeceased by his daughter,

Patricia.

Staub’s children are very proud of their father’s

accomplishments as an inventor, businessman and entre-

preneur, but they are even more grateful for all the love

and guidance he gave them as a parent.

“He was a wonderful father and a good man,” Dolores

said. “He would leave for work early in the morning, but

he would come home for lunch every day at noon. We

had dinner together as a family every evening at 7.

Sometimes he would have to go back to work, but he

always took the time to help us with school projects and

spent a lot of time with us.”

At the time, most treadmills wereused for medical testing or rehabilita-

tion. They weren’t widely used justfor exercise, but my dad decided that

this would be a great thing.


April 2013• Clifton Merchant52

The Mustangs improvedslightly in their 2012 cam-

paign, posting a 13-13

record. And although they gradu-

ated five seniors, Clifton was slat-

ed to enter the season with a num-

ber of returning starters, including

the top three pitchers in the rota-

tion.

Unfortunately, head coach Joe

Rivera will be without the services

of Tyler Lavin after he broke his

ankle in a scrimmage. Lavin was

the third pitcher in the rotation, and

played left field.

Still, despite the injury, Rivera

thinks his team will feature enough

talent and depth to have a success-

ful season.

“Before we lost Tyler, I was

really confident,” he said. “We’re

still definitely going to be really

good. I’m pretty excited about this

year.”

Senior Tom Hanle returns as the

Mustang ace.

“He throws a lot of strikes and

has a great curveball,” said Rivera.

Hanle will be followed by Lou

Ramos, a junior.

“He’s got a great change up,”

added coach. “He beat Don Bosco

last year.”

Replacing Lavin will be junior

Jose Rosado.

For relief pitching, Rivera will

utilize several players, including

senior Erick Ferrara, Jokeldy

Hernandez, and sophomore Kevin

Lord.

Seniors on the diamond: Erick Ferrara, Chris Koblyarz, Nick Martin, Cory

Pollina and Chris DiFalco. Front: Anthony Fusoni, Josh Handler, Roberto

Mendoza, Tom Hanle, Jokeldy Hernandez and Dennis Pierson.

Baseball • Softball • Track • Lacrosse • Volleyball • Tennis • Golf

CHS

BaseballApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:30pm

April 5 Eastside Paterson 4:30pm

April 6 @ Elizabeth 2pm

April 8 @ Passaic 4:15pm

April 10 Bergen County Tech 4pm

April 12 @ DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 13 @ Belleville 11am

April 15 Fair Lawn 4pm

April 16 @ Paramus Catholic 4pm

April 18 Teaneck 4:15pm

April 19 @ Wayne Valley 4pm

April 20 @ Montclair 12pm

April 22 Wayne Hills 4pm

April 24 Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 26 John F. Kennedy 4:30pm

April 27 Kearny 11am

April 29 @ Eastside Paterson 4:30pm

May 1 Don Bosco Prep 4pm

May 3 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm

May 6 Passaic 4:15pm

May 8 West Milford 4pm

May 10 @ Lakeland 4pm

May 13 @ Passaic Valley 4pm

May 15 @ Bloomfield 7pm

May 25 County Tourn(TBD) TBA

MUSTANG SPORTS


The infielders will be led by returning first basemen

Chris DiFalco, who was one of Clifton’s top hitters

during the 2012 campaign.

“He bats third for us and has a big bat,” said Rivera.

DiFalco has been out with mono for a few weeks, but

is expected to return for the start of the season.

Jokeldy Hernandez starts at second base, and will be

one of the Mustang relief pitchers this coming season.

Erick Ferrara, who is committed to play at

Lackawanna College next spring, returns to start a

third base and will bat clean up.

“He’s the best hitter I’ve ever coached,” said

Rivera.

Junior Jose Rosado was the starting short stop by

the end of 2012, and will return to the same position

this year.

“He’s a solid hitter and plays great defense,” said

Rivera. Rosado will bat second in the order.

Senior Cory Pollina will be the catcher, and will be

backed up by senior Dennis Pierson.

Clifton also features several utility players in the

infield who will sub in. Junior Bailey Snyder plays

first base and will be a relief pitcher.

“He’s a great bunter too,” added coach.

When not pitching. sophomore Kevin Lord will also

sub in at second or third as needed. Senior Josh

Handler is another utility player in the infield for

Rivera.

The outfield will be led by right fielder Anthony

Fusoni led the Mustangs in RBIs last year, and will bat

fifth in the order in 2013.

Senior Roberto Mendoza will start in the outfield

and will bring speed to the bottom of the batting order.

Senior Nick Martin will also start, and will be the

team’s DH.

Senior Chris Koblyarz, and junior Jimmy Sanzogni

will be fighting for playing time in the outfield as well.

“Jimmy hasn’t played in two years, but he has a ton

of speed and is very athletic,” said Rivera. “Chris has

a great arm in the outfield.

With several returning players and a talented pitch-

ing staff, Rivera believes that his team can improve

upon last year. Clifton beat Wayne Valley in the first

round of the states, and lost to Wayne Hills in the coun-

ty semi-finals. “We should be pretty good,” he said.

“I’m confident about our team.”

MUSTANG SPORTS Baseball


The Lady Mustangs willhave a new face at thehelm in 2013, as Ron

Shekitka takes over a Clifton squad

that posted a .500 record last year.

Before taking the job, Ron

Shekitka was a high school umpire

in the North Jersey area. He was

also previously the coach of the

Passaic Indians baseball team.

The new coach said that setting a

starting line up has been a challenge

thus far..

“Part of it for me was that I did-

n’t really get to see them play much

last year,” said Shekitka, who has

lived in Clifton for 19 years.

In Florida, the Lady Mustangs

posted a 3-5 record.

“We won our first game and then

our last two games,” he said. “So

We started off good and ended

good. The middle was a little

shaky.”

Clifton’s top returner will be sen-

ior pitcher Amanda Marakovitz,

who received All-County honors in

2012.

“She’s not only a great pitcher,

she’s a good hitter too,” said

Front, from left: Megan Pasch, Jaclyn Scotto, Janine Giordano and Dylan Amico.Middle: Kayla Lord, Jaclyn Giordano, Heather Ranges, Jocelyn Cosme. Back:Jessica Schama, Jennifer Chupick, Amanda Marakovitz, Jessica D'Alessio andChristine Gustafson.

MUSTANG SPORTS Softball

CHS

SoftballApril 1 at Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 3 John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 5 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm

April 9 Passaic 4pm

April 10 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm

April 13 @ Wanaque (tourny) 5pm

April 15 @ Fair Lawn 4pm

April 19 Wayne Valley 4pm

April 20 Clifton Classic (tourny) 5pm

April 22 @ Wayne Hills 4pm

April 24 Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 26 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 29 Eastside Paterson 4pm

May 1 @ Immaculate Heart Acad. 4pm

May 2 DePaul Catholic 4pm

May 3 Bergen County Tech 4pm

May 6 @ Passaic 4pm



May 11 County Tournament TBD

May 13 Passaic Valley 4pm

May 15 @ West Orange 4pm


MUSTANG SPORTS Softball

Shekitka. Junior Dylan Amico will be the catcher.

Going around the bases is Janine Giordano, Chriss

Gustafson at first, Jacklyn Giordano at second, sopho-

more Kim D’Augusta at short stop and Janine Giordano

at third.

“Right now, we see a lot of good things. She just

needs the experience,” Shekitka said about D’Augusta.

“The ability is there. It is just a matter of getting the

experience at the next level.”

Senior captain Heather Ranges will anchor center

field. Senior Jess D’Alessio returns in left field. Right

field will be split between senior Jen Chupick and soph-

omore April D’Angelo.

Backup pitchers will be Gustafson and D’Angelo.

“From when we started til now, our hitting has really

improved,” said Shekitka. Clifton won its first game

against PCTI 15-1. “I think that kind of surprised a lot

of people. It didn’t surprise me, but I think it surprised a

lot of people.”

Clifton’s lineup this year is Ranges, Janine Giordano,

Marakovitz, Gustafson, Chupick, D’Alessio, Amico,

Jacklyn Giordano and D’Augusta.

“Basically, we are going with nine right now,” he said.

“That might change here or there, but everyone is doing

a good job hitting the ball. No need to use up our dp or

flex because everyone is doing our job.”

“If we get big hits at the right time and make routine

plays, I think we’ll have a good year,” he continued.

“Amanda will keep us in games for the most part. I think

we can do the little things behind her. I think we’ll have

a good year. The attitude is great, the work ethic is great,

the kids are working real hard and the coaches are work-

ing real hard. I hope to keep the tradition going.”

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For the first time in over aquarter century, John Pontes

will not be coaching the boys

track program. Kareem West, a 30

year old Christopher Columbus

Middle School gym teacher and

Mustang harrier assistant since

2008, will pick up the baton.

West has held a number of posi-

tions for the Mustangs, but primari-

ly served as hurdles coach. Though

he’s now the one in charge, West

still looks to Pontes, who is now an

assistant coach, for guidance.

“My God, he’s amazing,” laughed

West. “An amazing, amazing coach.

There’s not anything he can’t do. If I

didn’t have Coach Pontes and Coach

Rodgers, I don’t know where I’d be.

I am very grateful.”

West will start off his career at

the helm with a talented group of

upperclassmen. Top returners are

distance runners senior Jessie Boria

and junior Justin Tanayan. Both

received 2012 All-County honors.

Other top distance harriers

include senior Karol Oldziej and

junior Jeremy Hernandez.

Royce De Leon, a senior, is one

of the more versatile Mustangs,

and will compete in the hurdles,

long jump, triple jump and relay.

“He does whatever we ask him to

do,” said West. Junior Timothy

Bryant will participate in jumps

and sprints. “He’s even learning

throws for us,” he said. “He’s one

of five or six guys who will score

in multiple events.”

Front left: Royce De Leon, Mohammad Shoghorui, Cristian Ramirez, Orville Maldonado. Center, Mendlessohn Philippe,Vishal Rana, Alejandro Gonzalez, Timothy Ojeda, Edgar Aguilar, Devin Gomez. Rear, Frantz Fontin, Abdel Solomin, KarolOldziej, Michael Hardy, Jose Araya, Jessie Boria.

CHS

TrackApril 2 Bergen County Tech 4:15pm

April 8 John F. Kennedy 4:15pm

April 13 @ Passaic Valley 10am

April 16 @ Passaic Cnty Tech 4:15pm

April 20 @ Morris Hills 9am

April 22 @ Passaic 4:15pm

April 27 @ Randolph 9am


May 4 @ Indian Hills 9am

May 8 @ Passaic Valley 3:30pm

May 9 @ Passaic Valley 3:30pm

May 13 @ Wayne Valley 3:30pm

May 14 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm

May 15 @ Wayne Hills 3:30pm

May 25 @ Randolph 3:30pm

May 26 @ Randolph 10am

May 31 @ Egg Harbor Twp 3:30pm

June 1 @ Egg Harbor Twp 11am

June 5 @ South Plainfield 3:00pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Track


West said the Mustang jumpers

look paticularly strong, and will

also include senior Mike Hardy

(long jumps, sprints), and junior

Ryan Downs (long, triple and

sprints)

Isdale Elo, a junior, will be the

primary Mustang thrower.

“We have 72 boys and they all

contribute,” said West. “We hope to

do better this season. In indoor, we

were two points off the county

championship, so I know the boys

are hungry to prove themselves.”

On the girls side, Mike Rogers

enters his second season at the helm

and finished last year as co-league

champions, County relay champi-

ons and placed third in County indi-

viduals. Clifton also went 4-0 in

dual meets.

“We certainly exceeded our

expectations,” he said.

Senior Nicole Buttel will be the

top returner, and she will compete

in hurdles, pole vault, high jump

and triple jump.

“She’s our best all around athlete

and probably the best all around

athlete in North Jersey,” Rogers

said

Tiera Elam, a senior who

received All-County honors in

indoor, will be the top sprinter.

“She really makes up for losing

Monika Miazga,” said Rogers.

“She’s by far our best sprinter.”

Cassidy Cardone will compete in

hurdles and long jump.

Yuria Yuasa is a senior distance

runner who has lettered since her

freshman year. “She had a lingering

injury the past year, but had a great

comeback in indoor and looks phe-

nomenal,” said Rogers.

Senior Gabby Gonzaga is a regu-

lar face at the end of year All-

League and All-County honors as a

distance runner, and Rogers expects

her to do the same this year.

Sofiya Nedelcheva, a sopho-

more, will add to the depth in dis-

tance. “I am excited to have a soph-

omore of her caliber,” he said.

“That’s been the secret here. We

had a moderate group of proven

competitors. Distance tends to be

our mainstay.”

Clifton also features talented

underclassmen. Michelle Aplogan,

a sophomore, who stars in the hur-

dles and jumps. Freshman thrower

Monika Dlugosz was a surprise in

indoor after medaling in the league,

counties and state sectionals. “We

haven’t had a thrower like that in

some time,” said Rogers. “We’re

very solid in the throws, and all

around. I’m really excited.”

Front from left: Jennifer Ocampo, Sadia Ahmed, Tiera Elam, Nicole Buttel, Yuria Yuasa. Rear from left: Allison Plishka,Simone Stilley, Gabby Gonzaga, Elizabeth Los, Vanessa Antivo.


MUSTANG SPORTS Track


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A fter four straight years ofplayoffs, Clifton missed

the cut for the state tourna-

ment in 2012 after going 1-14.

But despite the record, there is

optimism within the program.

Injuries depleted the team’s depth.

At times, Mustang midfielders

would simply switch to attack rather

than take a line change for a break.

Clifton also played a much

tougher schedule than they will face

in 2013.

“Four of the teams we played

went to the state finals,” said head

coach George Cowan. Clifton was

sent down one division to the

Kimberly League. “The numbers in

the division are up a lot. The total

program is now 75.”

Cowan also has a number of

returning starters that will help

guide the new talent.

Senior Mark Surgent is a four

year starter at attack, and earned All-

League and All-County honors in

2012. “He’s a really steady guy for

us,” said Cowan.

Senior Matt Melnick will also

start up front. He is committed to

play lacrosse at Fairleigh Dickenson

University next spring. Zach Wohr,

a senior, played midfield last year

and will now start attack. Junior

attacker George Balkjy got some

time up front last year but could see

much more action in 2013.

The midfield will be anchored by

senior Tommy Cotroneo. “He’s

amazing,” said Cowan. Cotroneo

Front, from left is Mark D’Agosta, Kevin Dziuba, Harry Litchfield and Brian Prada. Middle: Rj Rossi, Anthony Mbayed,Joe Cupoli, Mark Surgent and Mike Duesler. Back: Anggelo Rios, Austin Feliciano, Chris Rosado,Tom Cotroneo, ZacharyWohr and Matthew Melnik.

CHS Boys

LacrosseApril 1 Newark Eastside 4pm

April 4 @ Union City 4pm

April 6 @ Lakeland 10am

April 8 Scotch Plains-Fanwood 4pm

April 11 @ Governor Livingston 4pm


April 18 Hanover Park 4pm

April 20 @ Oratory Prep 10am

April 27 New Providence 11am

April 29 @ Newark Academy 4pm

May 1 Verona 4pm

May 2 @ South Brunswick 4pm

May 4 @ Randolph 7pm

May 6 @ River Dell 5pm

May 9 Pascack Hills 6pm

May 13 @ DePaul Catholic 7pm

May 16 Cranford 4:30pm

May 18 Nutley 7pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Lacrosse

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will be playing at Drew University in the spring. “He

does faceoffs for us, and has played Varsity as a fresh-

man and sophomore.”

The senior will be flanked by classmate Austin

Feliciano, a talented lefty shot, and senior Chris Rosado,

who was a midfielder last year. The second line will be

all sophomores with Billy Gibson taking draws along

side of Steven Borthwick and Brett Ranges. Junior

Michael Kommer will also take shifts with the midfield.

Senior Michael Duesler, who will also play at FDU

next year, will be a long stick middie on faceoffs and

will play base defense. Classmate Kevin Dzuiba will

also do the same. The defense will be a rotation of sen-

iors Joe Cupoli, Robert Rossi and juniors Brenden

Schreiber and Luis Lopez. Senior Harry Litchfield is

the four year starter in the cage and he will be backed up

by junior Eddie Myers.

“We’re probably strongest up front. The kids can

hold themselves and there’s more depth,” said Cowan.

“This is a redemption year for us.”

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From left on their home turf, the Mustang seniors Katie Brody, Michelle Shackil,Tatyana Castro, Jenn Koppers, Tatjana Petrovic and Nicole Roncancio.

Clifton did not have a goodouting in 2012, going 3-

14 and missing the play-

offs. And with only a few experi-

enced players returning, head

coach Amanda Gryszkin will have

a number of new Varsity players

starting in 2013.

“We graduated a lot of good

players: Jazmine Perdomo, Carly

Padula, Gina LoBue and Marina

Rodriguez,” said head coach

Amanda Gryszkin. “We pretty

much lost our whole midfield.

That was a solid group for us that

played a lot and had experience.

But we have a lot of kids stepping

up into new roles on the team.”

Unfortunately, Clifton enters the

2013 slim on veteran players.

There are only six upperclass-

men—three seniors and three jun-

iors—and a lot of sophomores who

played JV last year will be making

the jump to Varsity.

Some of the more experienced

Lady Mustangs will play multiple

positions over the course of the

season. Senior Michelle Shackil

returns and will see time both at

forward and defense.

“She can really play wherever

we need her,” said Gryszkin.

She will be flanked by returning

starter Katie Brody, who will

anchor the defense, and junior Jenn

Koppers, who also earned a Varsity

letter in 2012. Sophomores Kayla

Ware and Yasmine Oviedo will

also see plenty of action at defense

in 2013. Senior Annie Duffy saw

limited time on Varsity in 2012, but

can play anywhere on the field,

including defense.

Junior goalkeeper Shannon

CHS Girls

LacrosseApril 1 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm

April 3 @ Northern Valley 4pm


April 9 Dwight Englewood 4pm

April 11 @ Lakeland 4pm

April 13 @ Waldwick 9:30pm

April 15 Mary Help Academy 4pm

April 17 Demarest 4pm

April 19 @ Pascack Hills 4pm

April 22 Holy Angels 4pm

April 23 DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 25 @ River Dell 4pm


May 1 @ Paramus 6pm

May 3 Fair Lawn 7pm

May 7 Cranford 4pm

May 8 County Tourn TBD

May 13 @ Saddle River Day 4pm

MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse


Christie earned the starting position in the latter half of

the 2012 season, and will have the spot on lock this year.

Junior Liz Austin will be a starting forward after

spending last year on junior varsity.

“Some of our sophomores have a chance of being

good,” said Gryszkin.

Tatyana Castro will be a starter this year at midfield.

Classmate Tatjana Petrovic will play both midfield and

attack. Sophomore Nicole Roncancio will play in the

midfield, as well Gabby Garcia, who, as a freshman,

earned some Varsity time at the end of the season.

Sophomore Amy Philhower will also get time in the

midfield and at attack.

“Those sophomores are our primary players for the

future,” said Gryszkin.

Gryszkin has four freshman playing with the Varsity

team: Brittany Morales, who plays midfield, Olivia

DeMuro, forward/midfield, and Emily Ulczek,

defense, and Tiffany Richards, midfield. “If I can get

them working on some stuff early on this year, we

should have a couple of good players on the team for

the next couple of years,” said Gryszkin.

MUSTANG SPORTS Girls Lacrosse


MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball

The Mustangs have a newface at the helm in 2013, as

Nicholas Romanak, who

previously coached the girls volley-

ball team, takes over for Mike

Doktor. The new coach inherits a

team that went 12-13 last year, but

features a number of upperclass-

men, a couple of whom that are

experienced Varsity players.

“We have 12 seniors and two

sophomores,” he recalled. “A lot of

them are returning starters, but

there are a couple of new people

there as well.”

The top two Mustang returners

will be setter Christian Patti and

Avi Sojitra, the Mustang libero.

Patti was an All-County selection

in 2012, while Sojitra received All-

League recognition and honorable

mention for All-County.

In addition to Patti and Sojitra,

Clifton will also return middle hit-

ter Adit Desai, as well as Lawrence

Rodriguez, who started at

Rear from left: Conrad Jackson, Christian Patti, Pavlo Kravchuk, Dan Massa,Raj Desai, Avi Sojitra, Ismael Albilal, Richie Romaniak and Pavan Patel.Front: Nabil Jamhour, Lawrence Rodriguez, Adit Desai, Ankit Desai and KamilGrabowski. Not Pictured: Ivan Aleksyeyenni

CHS Boys

VolleyballApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 3 @ John F. Kennedy 4:15pm


April 8 @ Passaic 4pm

April 10 Bergen County Tech 4:15pm

April 15 Fair Lawn 4pm

April 17 @ Hackensack 4pm

April 19 @ Wayne Valley 3:30pm


April 24 @ Passaic County Tech 4pm


April 29 @ Eastside Paterson 4:15pm

May 1 Don Bosco Prep 4pm

May 3 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm

May 6 Passaic 4pm


May 8 @ Teaneck 4pm

May 10 Lakeland 4pm

May 13 @ Passaic Valley 4pm


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opposite hitter in 2012. “Lawrence is consistently an

offensive weapon for us,” added Romanak.

Those four Mustangs will be the most experienced

players on the court for Clifton in the upcoming season,

and their play will be one of the deciding factors in the

team’s performance in 2013.

“We have a few offensive weapons, but we have to

improve our passing so we can get it to them,”

explained Romanak “But we have been better as of late

with that.”

Clifton will also return a number of players who

were reserves on Varsity in 2012, or are moving up

from the JV team.

Ankit Desai will slot in as middle hitter for Clifton.

Raj Desai, Adit’s cousin, will also see time as outside

hitter.

“He (Raj Desai) has been our most consistent out-

side hitter,” said Romanak.

Ivan Aleksyeyenkl and Pavan Patel will be vying for

playing time at outside hitter, while Dan Massa will

serve as the team’s defensive specialist. Conrad

Jackson is a new comer to the sport who will find time

at the middle hitter position.

While the team is dominated by seniors, Romanak

will have two sophomores on the roster who will not be

starters at the beginning of the season, but will get valu-

able playing time and experience in 2013.

“We have two sophomores who might not get a lot

of playing time this year, but I am excited to have

them,” he said. “I am really optimistic about how they

are going to develop.”

Sophomore Nabil Jamhour was an outside hitter as a

freshman, but will be playing opposite in 2013.

Classmate Kamil Grabowski is in his first year of

organized volleyball, but has already displayed talent.

“Kamil a great athlete and a big guy,” explained

Romanak.

Overall, the coach thinks that his team has the expe-

rience and talent to have a successful season.

“They’re used to playing with each other,” said

Romanak. “A lot of them played club together in the

off-season. A big part of the game is how well they

know each other, how well they work together as a

team. We’ve got some players, but we lost some good

guys from last year as well. I hope to improve on the

record from last year.”

MUSTANG SPORTS Boys Volleyball


Clifton’s boys tennis teamhad one of its best seasonsever last year, and might be

headed for greater heights in 2013.

“It’s the same team since they

were freshman,” said coach Andrea

Bobby. “This is the fourth year

together for them and they’ve done

pretty well.

Clifton went 13-4 and won its

league before falling to Bergen

Tech in the second round of the

playoffs. “They’re the best team in

Northern New Jersey,” said Bobby,

who added that it was the first time

her teams have ever made it past the

first round.

The Mustangs might be poised to

take another step forward in 2013

since they return all but one starter

from last year. Junior Richard

Rangga is once again the Mustang

number one. He collected All-

League and All-County honors last

year. Senior Peter Chudolij returns

as the number two, and Richard’s

older brother, Jefferson, will be the

number three singles player.

Senior Dzymon Kutyla will be

part of the first doubles team. He

will partner with either sophomore

Sebastian Luna, a talented player

from Peru who joined the team this

year, or senior Mihai Solotchi

played singles last year, but will be

on one of the double teams. Senior

Tim Laux will half of the second

doubles team.

“If we do well as a team this sea-

son and do well as individuals in

the county tournament, that would

be the icing on the cake,” said

Bobby. “We have great guys. It’s

enjoyable to watch them.”

On the courts behind CHS, from left: Giancarlo Osnato, Peter Chudolij, Mihai Solotchi. Back: Michard Rangga, JeffersonRangga, Szymon Kutyla, Sebastian Luna and Tim Laux.

CHS

TennisApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm


April 5 @ Eastside Paterson 4pm

April 8 Passaic 4pm

April 9 @ Fair Lawn 4pm

April 10 @ Bergen County Tech 4pm

April 12 DePaul Catholic 4pm

April 19 @ Wayne Valley 4pm


April 24 County Tourn TBD

April 24 @ Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 25 Bergen Catholic 4pm

April 26 @ John F. Kennedy 4pm

April 29 Eastside Paterson 4pm

May 1 @ Don Bosco Prep 4pm

May 3 Bergen County Tech 4pm

May 6 @ Passaic 4pm




MUSTANG SPORTS Tennis


Clifton once again had agood year after posting a

12-9 record in 2012. Head

coach Chad Cole is optimistic

about his team this year since he

only has to replace a couple of

players. That means the Mustangs

could once again be successful.

“We really only lost our number

one form last year and our number

four,” he said. “And pretty much

all of the team has improved.

They’ve played a lot of over the

summer.”

The top returner for Clifton will

be senior Erick Lux. “He played

one or two last year at times.

Erick will be moving up to play

number one full time now,” said

Cole. “He’s a real good player,

and has gotten better since last

year. I am expecting good things

out of him.”

The number two will be senior

David Jackiewicz. “He’s steady

and has also improved quite a bit

over the summer,” said Cole.

“He’s a golfaholic. He loves the

sport and loves improving. I

expect him to continue to improve

as the season progresses.”

Juniors Gabe Larkey and David

Korty will be the next two duffers

in the order. All four players

received Second Team All-league

honors. After that, playing time

will be split between senior Evan

Dunn and juniors Derrick

Rodriguez and Nick Flaherty.

Clifton started the season slow-

ly with a loss to PCTI, but the

coach thinks it was just a slow

start to the year. “We did pretty

good last year,” said Cole. “I am

hoping to at least do the equivalent

this year.”

Mustang duffers from left Eric Lux, David Korty, Evan Dunn, Gabe Larkey, Dave Jackiewicz and Nick Flaherty.

CHS

GolfApril 1 Passaic County Tech 4pm

April 8 @ Nutley 4pm

April 9 @ River Dell 4pm

April 10 @ Paramus 4pm

April 22 Wayne Valley/Bergen

County Tech 4pm

April 23 Passaic/Passaic Valley/

4pm


April 26 Fort Lee 4pm

April 29 @ West Milford 4pm


May 2 Wayne Hills 4pm

May 6 Big North Championship TBD

May 7 Wayne Hills/Passaic

County Tech 4pm

May 9 Big North Tourn TBD

May 13 DePaul Catholic/Hawthorne/

Eastside Paterson 4pm

May 14 Lakeland 4pm


MUSTANG SPORTS Golf


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