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Jay Kaplan

Wow did I get turned around. I meant to say Pleasant Valley Way and Eagle Rock Avenue. Bella's was on that corner,and that is area where the Mint was, the Texaco station, a couple of Deli's (one named Jay's), Dale Drugs, Brotman's Market (later an A&P I think), a couple of butcher shops (Stanley's father owned one?). The Cabana Club was up Eagle Rock Avenue and Mountain Crest (before it burned down) was along the ridge at the top of the hill. I still have relatives in Livingston and Short HIlls. 

Bernie Wishnia

We frequently went sleigh riding down the fairway on the golf course, parallel to Mt. Pleasant.  I remember going down that hill with Ricky Slatnick several times.  Ricky lived on Rutgers St. in St Cloud, while I was on Buckingham Rd.  Basically each about 1/4 mile or so from the golf course in opposite directions.

I assume some of you who lived around there must also have done so.  

The gas station across the street is still there - and is still Esso (Exxon).  Have no clue how many times ownership may have changed in the past 50 years.

The Cohens Knishes in that center was definitely a good place to have lunch.

In Jr. high I remember riding my bkie over to the armory on Pleasant Valley Way and climbing into the tank on the front lawn.  The top of the tank was open and no attempt was made to stop us.

Bernie Wishnia

Maxine, there is no question that your great attitude is inspirational to all of us.

Jay, when you mention having relatives in Livingston and Short Hills, a number of classamtes live there too.

Don Rinaldi lives in Short Hills.  

We have lived in Livingston since 1980.   There are quite a few Mountain alumni who moved to Livingston.

Myles Schlank

re: sledding

Bernie, I lived in the Redwood section. Like you, we found excellent sledding fairways at the golf club nearest  to us (Montclair Golf Club on Prospect Ave). The club was restricted at the time, if you know what I mean. The membership committee wasn't to be found on those snowy days when we were tearing up the turf. During the golf season, we had our fun by making phoney phone calls to the club. Glad they didn't have caller ID. What harmless yet annoying pranks do kids do today? Drone attacks? Myles

Carol Ardizzone (Steinbacher)

Hi,

I have the fondest memories of growing up in W.O.  Back than I could walk or bike every where.  I lived on Carolina Ave, 2 blocks up Mt. Pleasant Avenue from Pleasant Valley Way.  I loved hanging out at Star Lite; earlier there had been a candy store next to it.  My California Kidz know that whenever we went 'home' the first stop was for pizza!  To this day I go to Jerry's Deli in Marina del Rey periodically to have a potato and onion knish in homage to Cohen's!

Bike riding to meet Nancy in Pleasantdale before embarking on our adventures was an almost daily activity.  Ice skating at Vincent's Pond on most school nights!  Sledding on the golf course with my brother and friends made snow days fabulous, cold and fun.

In college, friends and I tobogganed at the Montclair Country Club - with plenty of Southern Comfort.  Still a favorite of mine. 

I remember Halloween at the Armory - costume parade across the stage and all.  This made such a positive impression on me that I made all my kidz costumes; disguised myself and took part in all our community Halloween festivities - yes, parades and all.

My brother and I walked to school and home every day.  We were just under the one mile mark and those of us in that area did not get the school bus.  I actually love walking and biking up to this day.  As soon as I am stronger, they will be back in my daily activities.  A friend and I undertook a 'walk the southern California coast line' project a number of years back.  What fun.  We were getting to the point of having to drive to reach further areas to walk when I became unable to continue.  I will be back to continue it!

Have fun, laughter and joy,  Carol

Myles Schlank

Regarding this week's Where Am I: A small group of us attempted to collect golf balls at the range one very dark evening. We'd scooped up a lot only to be nabbed by the police and brought to HQ where our names were added to our permanent records. I've since been barred from joining any golf course.

Sam Fierra

I always had you pegged as a juvenile delinquent.  Are you sworn to secrecy as to your accomplices?

David Belfiore

Sam, I think you were part of the group that hid in the woods along Mt. Pleasant Ave and when the golfers hit on the green, we would run out and steal their balls and then tried to sell them in the parking by the club house a couple days later. We told the story that we pulled them out of the pond. We decided to stop after a couple of golfers chased us across Mt. Pleasant. Good thing we had good wheels in those days. 

Sam Fierra

Unfortunately we got chased a lot in those days.  I never pedaled a bike faster than the time we witnessed the armed robbery.  I got such a cardio workout that day my heart has given me an extra ten years!

Myles Schlank

Sam, I swore an oath of secrecy with the other members of the Cavendish gang (that's what we called ourselves) not to divulge anyone's name. Or profession. Honor among thieves, and all.

David Belfiore

Sam Fierra

Some guy who lived on Buckingham - Gibbelson or something like that.  I think Stu Goldfaden remembered his name.  Two guys pulled him over, jumped out of the car, held a gun to him and robbed a bag of money out of the car.  We were delivering newspapers on your paper route.  The cops asked us what the license plate was but we didn't have a clue.  The guy who was robbed didn't stick around either - shady character.  I think he went to the big house a short time later.  I think we were around 10 or 11 years old.

David Belfiore

I knew I could rely on you!!!

Bernie Wishnia

Sam, How about Kibby Kevelson. (Spelling is phoentic.  Might be Kevilson)

He was a bookie and actually spent some time as a guest of the state (eg in prison) for book making.  This happened while we were in high school, though I do not believe that it was widely known in the neighborhood.

That might well explain how he could be the target of a robbery.  It is not too shocking that he might be carrying  cash, given his profession.

They had a daugther who I believe was three years behind us at WOMHS.  They also had a younger son (as I sort of)  I recall.  They lived on Buckingham a house or two closer to Pleasant Valley Way than Howard Stone and I believe that the were pretty much across the street from Rich Ehrenkrantz.

Sam Fierra

Bernie, my good man, you are a wealth of information. As we say in New Jersey "he went away to college," most likely to Rahway State or Trenton State.  I've lived in the same house for over 30 years and there has never been an armed robbery or any of the excitement we used to have in the Buckingham neighborhood.  Ah, we were lucky kids!!!?

Stuart Goldfaden

Bernie Wishnia-You are 100% right.  Kibby Kevilson was a gambler/wise guy who "went away to college" before we were in junior high.  The rumor at the time was that he was robbed of "mob" money, either gambling or coin vending-machine profits.  At one time, my father made extra money collecting vending receipts from restaurants, bars and other retail establishments.  I later found out that many of the people who "owned" the company that he worked for spent several years away from their families in "College".  There was another guy on Buckingham Road who was incarcerated, and he had a son only 1 or 2 years older than us. Not sure of his name, but Mickey something may have been it.

Stuart Goldfaden

What the Buckingham Road neighborhood also had was the best athlete in West Orange, Tommy Cuomo, who went to the Catholic School down the mountain in W.O.  Whether it was baseball in the field behind my house, or basketball in someones driveway, or touch football in the street, we all wanted to get picked on Tommy's team.  Right John Anello, Gary C., Bernie, Ricky B., David B., Mr. Stone, Dr. Rich E.?  That guy's team always won!

David Belfiore

I think Tommy Cuomo or his brother became a priest, does anyone know the answer?

Stuart Goldfaden

His brother was a priest.  Tommy became a well-known orthopedic surgeon.

David Belfiore

Gary Caronia

the good old days at lancaster field.yes stu,i remember all the fun we had playing there right in back of your house.

tommy was a good athlete & was a good orthopedic surgeon.he was always a smart kid.we would play baseball all day long & duke up the teams.it was great.they were good memories that we all can still remember.

Stuart Goldfaden

Thanks for the picture Miles.  Tommy looked better as a kid!  Come to think of it, so did we all!

Bernie Wishnia

Stu, yes it makes sense that Kibby went away in jr high or earlier, not high school.  

I was in a restaurant in West Orange last week and they had a plaque for sponsorship in the Mountaintop Little League.  That was the league that played on the field right in back of Stu's house.

As I recall, Tommy Cuomo was not tall, maybe 5'7", but he could jump so high that he could dunk a basketball.    Stu, did Tommy go to Our Lady of the Valley High in Orange?  I think that was the only Catholic high school in the immediate area.  Valley High closed many years ago.  There is now an Our Lady of the Valley High in Wayne, but I do not know if it moved from Orange or is a completely different school

A large group of boys in our class lived on that one block of Buckingham, Lancaster, Machester and Normandy.

Stuart, Ricky Bravaco and I lived on Buckingham along that one block, Gary was on Normandy, Myron Asnis lived on Manchester, and Dave B. and Johnny Anello on Lancaster. There were also others like Louie Belfiore and Joe Pepe from the classes of 1963 and 1965.  That does not count others who lived at the end of Buckingham near Pleasant Vally Way or a couple of blocks away.

If I missed anyone, I apologize.  Getting old and senile.  What can I say?

Sammy, yes it was unusual to have so many boys the same age living within a few blocks of Buckingham.  Certainly made it easy to have pick up games.

Rich Galen

Scott Kelly graduated from West Orange Mountain. Astronaut Story Musgrave has a degree from Marietta College in Ohio. I went to the same schools. Ergo, I am the father of the modern space program.

You're welcome.

Sam Fierra

Thanks Richie - and as I understand it you took up space at both schools, correct?