From : <jim@champtrading.com>
Sent : Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:23 PM
To : llgg2@hotmail.com
Subject : Totowa oh Totowa your branches delight....

LG,
Dig it , this Totowa place is far beyond a normal bond.  Sometimes I
stare out at the ocean on my surfboard.... Knowing all I have to  do is
get off the Parkway @ Exit # 153 and mosy on back up Route 46.
We need a  great entertainer to sing, " Totowa State of Mind."
Call it simplicity to return to me yuth..

James Matthews
Champion Trading Corp.
P.O. Box # 227
Marlboro, N.J. 07746
phone: 732-780-4200
fax: 732-780-9839
jim@champtrading.com
www.champtrading.com

From : yvonne migliaccio <vonnigirl@msn.com>
Sent : Saturday, December 2, 2006 10:30 PM
To : llgg2@hotmail.com
Subject : gallery opening

Hey Laurie,
I visit the site from time to time. I smile, I cry, I laugh, but seeing the photos framed took my breath away. Your work has captured the memories of the years.......Congratulations on a dream come true! Miss ya much....love ya lots...
Vonni xo

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YOUR LOCATION: Toni Ann Mamary
EMAIL ADDRESS: HSumlin@aol.com
WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.HubertSumlinBlues.com
COMMENTS:

Hey Laur!

Just took another look at your site tonight, as I will be
attending your exhibit in NYC on Thursday night! I'm so
excited for you and wouldn't miss coming out to support
you for the world! After all, those memories of Kimmy
and I hanging out in your darkroom above Sal's garage,
will forever be etched in my memory. I can actually recall
a lot of them pictures when they were either being shot
or processed.

I hate that missed the last Cozy's reunion....We were on
tour then, but I got the rundown from some of those who
were able to attend, along with being able to view some
of that night documented on your site. Thanks for
posting them. Good to see you and Marcy again....even
through cyberspace.

One Love,
Toni Ann

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From: "John Harding" <jharding@mkklaw.com>
To: <llgg2@hotmail.com>
Subject: Thank You
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 15:31:42 -0500

This is an amazing trip down memory lane.  I grew up right down the street from you on Greene Avenue!  I'm 4 years younger (I'm not bragging!)--I knew your sister as did the rest of my family, she was a great girl.  I also knew Jimmy (Spit) Levitsanos who I recall being a good friend of Kim's.  If I'm not mistaken, your family's home was part of my paper route when I used to deliver the old Paterson News, first in the morning then in the afternoon (the route was originally Tony Veltri's and Joe Veltri's before). 

 

I live in Yardley, Pennsylvania--my mother still lives in Totowa so I do get back.  I miss all the trees on Greene Ave (it's not very green anymore), the old landmarks (like Cozy's, Dairy Queen, A & B Liquors, the Totowa Pool, Washington Park, PAL, Kennedy Park in Echo Glen, Reefer Road/Homo Beach) and the people I grew up with.  Your photographs will bring life to my boring old stories of how Totowa used to be when I talk about the old times with my wife.  Thanks for putting this together, I will definitely get to New York to see your exhibit!

 

John W. Harding, Esq. 

MARTIN, KANE & KUPER

---

From : ubi_wally@juno.com <ubi_wally@juno.com>
Sent : Wednesday, November 8, 2006 3:36 PM
To : llgg2@hotmail.com
Subject : Totowa Guest Book
YOUR LOCATION: West Milford, NJ
EMAIL ADDRESS: ubi_wally@juno.com

COMMENTS: Laurie, Great site! Brought back some great memories. I graduated high school with Kim in 1985. I lived around the corner from you on Greene Ave. My mother still lives there (going on 40 years in
Totowa). Take care.

Keith Harding

---

From : Mike Baker <burtbords149@optonline.net>
Sent : Sunday, October 29, 2006 10:45 PM
Subject : Totowa Guest Book
YOUR LOCATION: Totowa
Date: Sunday October 29, 2006

COMMENTS: Laurie, wow what a website. My name is Mike Baker you don't know me but you may know my parents Elaine & Mike (I saw them in a Cozy's Photo). My friend Dan told me about your site. I'm part of the younger Totowa generation. It's great to see how Totowa looked back then. I take a lot of pride in our town and enjoy seeing its history. Thank you for the sharing these memories. Mike.

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From : ROBERT LONG <longcostagliola@worldnet.att.net>
Sent : Wednesday, September 13, 2006 10:50 PM
Subject : Totowa revisited.

Hello Laurie, I don't remember you taking that picture on memorial day but I don't remember a lot from those days. I really enjoyed your work. I think I partied with about 90% of the People in those pictures at one time or another. Things are way different now. There is life after Totowa, but somehow you never leave. I am married with children. 21 years worth , 2 girls, one in College one Junior in high school. I have a small business. I break things and put them back together, kitchens bathrooms and basically anything else I can get my hands on. I am hoping to quit work and start a band, perhaps the "Handsome Cds" (or not). Good to see old familiar faces. I got a lump in my throat when I saw Kenny C., Danny S. and Kim. Don't ask me what year it was I would say 92 ish. There was a blizzard and I was shoveling out the driveway at 192 Union Blvd.. Kim was trudging up the street with the snow falling violently. I shouted hello and continued my daunting task. Soon there after just up ahead some looser in a car pulled up near her and from what I could surmise and started hassling her. With shovel in hand doing the Manly thing I approached him and he sped away. I asked, if she knew him, she said no and thanks. That was the last time I saw Kim. God bless. Paul Z. turned me on to your site. Dinosuar that he is. Laurie thanks for this venue to reminisce. I think I got just as much a kick out of your guest lists as I did your work. Be well , Bob Long, Wayne N.J. just the other side of the golf course. E mail Longcostagliola@worldnet.att.net

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From :	<MRB073@aol.com>
Sent :	Sunday, September 10, 2006 12:08 PM
To :	llgg2@hotmail.com
Subject :	website

I browsed through your site and pictures that were awesome. I was born in Totowa 1955, known as Totowa Boro at that time. Unfortunately, we had moved to Paterson was I began the 4th grade. I had attended Memorial School. My brother, 13 years younger attended Washington Park and graduated from PV. We lived in that big Yellow house on 6 Young Ave. that you can see from Union Blvd, behind the gas station. Back then, my Father was Commissioner of the Recreation Dept. who inaugurated the ball field at the top of Lincoln Ave. I remember Cozy Corner Sweet Shop and the family. Like any kid I crossed the street and bought candy and ice cream with the chocolate sprinkles, they called them jimmies. I also remembered the photographer there, is name was Jerry Livingstano; he also has since passed on, Pappy's Diner, Walkers Hardware and the old man in the Drug Store.

 

 Well, it was nice reminiscing the past for a while, great job.

 

Mike Basile

---

From: "Ruehs, Paul" <pruehs@AFMIC.detrick.army.mil>
Subject: Great Site!
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:28:07 -0400

Hi Laurie, recently found your site and it brought back lot's of memories!  I grew up in the east side section of Paterson (not too far from East Side Park) and attended St Therese grade school (graduated in 1967) . We moved to Wayne in Oct '67 - even though I spent my teenage years in Wayne, I traveled through Totowa many many times during the late 60s and early 70s.  I've been to Pappy's on several occasions - although I preferred Falls View in Paterson (alas, there are not too many Hot Texas Weiner places left ... my favorites now are the Hot Grill in Clifton and River View East (formerly Falls View East) in Elmwood Park (formerly East Paterson).  In fact, I dated a girl from Totowa for a brief period in 1967 - her name was Judy Romaine (funny how I still remember that!).  Don't recall where exactly she lived but it was close enough to walk to Pappy's.  I also recall a school mate who attended Wayne Valley High even though she lived in Totowa - her name was Jane Brownie. 

Still remember many nocturnal trips to visit Annie's Grave - never saw her though.

I left NJ for good in 1975 when I joined the USAF; however, my folks still live in Wayne and I have a few relatives in the area so I try to make it home for a visit once or twice a year.  Although it has changed (unfortunately not for the better) it is still nice to visit Passaic County.

Thanks again for sharing and the memories!!

Regards,

Paul

PS - is Pappy's still there???

---

Location: Poway, CA (San Diego County)

Sharon Rockwell - Messier     

Location: Reading, PA/  Highview Ave. Totowa
Email: sinau55@verizon.net

Laurie,
My name is Scott Colquhoun. I don't know you but you probably know 2 of my sisters, Kim and Colleen. We lived across the street from the Schopperths on Highview Ave.
My e-mail address is sinau55@verizon.net.
I now live in Reading, PA, I moved away from Totowa about 27 yrs ago due to my job and then my parents retired to Beach Haven, NJ.

I LOVE Weird NJ magazine which Kim turned me on to 2 yrs ago. Colleen picked up a few back issues for me 2 weeks ago and I just found the asmall rticle about your book in issue #22 tonight. Immediatly I went to your website. OH MY GOD! I recognize so many people but my favorite person growing up popped out at me. He must have been a good friend of yours because I saw 3 photos of him and I barely scratched the surface of your site - DANNY, we were all so saddened by his young passing.

Laurie, you did such a beautiful thing by putting this site together. Taking al those photos really paid off, who knew all this would be possible when we were kids. A place EVERYONE could go to relive old forgotten memories : )
I could just hug you!!! This is beautiful, just beautiful. I don't know if this is just an internet book but if there is an actual book I would love to buy one.

You are WONDERFUL, thank you so much for sharing these old photos and your memories and all your hard work that you put into this fantastic lifetime of work.

A new fan and friend,
Scott

From: "Frederick W. Fischer" <fwfischer@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 22:19:54 -0400
Dear Laurie:

It is a shame, in one way, that you are not old enough to have experienced downtown Paterson during the 50's, even as a child. My childhood was in neighboring Clifton, and during the Christmas season, for .35 cents I would take a bus to the terminal near South Main Street and walk along Main Street looking at the store windows decorated for the holidays. Meyer Brothers was my favorite department store, and even in the late fifties, there was a woman operating the old-fashioned elevator with its accordion inner doors, and gleaming brass outer doors. You would hear the chimes, which were codes for certain salespersonnel. When closing my eyes, I can picture the decorated main floor of Meyer Brothers, and of the Christmas trees in Quackenbush's. Then, there was McCrory and Woolworth stores. Lower Main Street has a few shops, one was Feuerstein's jewelry store (see if your parents remember that!), which happened to be a gem of a time-capsule from the pre-war years. Same clocks, lamps, pens that were present at the store two decades earlier.

It is all gone! I cannot even find photos of what Main Street looked like before the transition in Paterson's population towards "diversification".

The Quackenbush department store was diagonally across from Meyer Brothers. There were but two major department stores on Main Street, and they formed the competition - sort of like Macy's and Gimbel's. When walking into Quackenbush, which was a bit more modern in design than Meyer Brothers, one immediately was struck by the staircase prominently situated in the center of the floor. This is what you vaguely recall. The staircase curved from the first floor to the second floor, or to the mezzanine, and the substantial handrail was polished brass. I tend to believe the staircase was more of a signature for the store than something functional. Perhaps you will remember Mr. Peanut? Now, I am going back to when I was a kid, but I still see a 6' mechanical peanut wearing a top-hat, with arms turning a crank to a peanut roaster in front of the Mr. Peanut store. This was down near McCrory's.

My area of specialization is particle therapy as it applies to the treatment of cancer; so I also encounter sad circumstances, including children, where prognoses are grim.
Paterson is a dead city; there is no other way to describe it. And the racial makeup that destroyed Paterson has infiltrated neighboring Clifton, where I grew up. My Mother lived on - I believe - W. 21 St., and looking back at photos of the house in the 30's, it was a pleasant block. She described one neighbor who had a chauffeured auto. Last year, I took her back to the neighborhood, which was her first visit in 60 years, and it fits the definition of a blighted area. Well, as a Paterson resident might say today, thank goodness for crack and prostitution, otherwise there would be no employment opportunities!

Now, on to you...the theme of death in your life story? Really sounds rather depressing. If you do not mind my asking, what is your age?

Frederick

Location: NYC
Email:
Website: it has been a long time

Comments

hey laurie, i don't know if you will get this message. maria roman told me that someone contacted you regarding "sergio cotto". please let me know. i hope you are doing well. alex

Location:

west paterson

Email:

epackage@msn.com

Website:

 

Date:

Wednesday March 08, 2006

Time:

01:32 PM

Comments

Hi Laurie, happen to be home from work early today and for some odd reason looked up your site again. Weirdest part is it is exactly 4 years to the day I was last here and posted. Love all the new pic's and hope you continue to add photo's. TOTOWA WILL ALWAYS BE HOME!!!!! Jim "BEEF" Eifler

Location:

West Paterson

Email:

marybell70@yahoo.com

Website:

 

Date:

Tuesday March 07, 2006

Time:

09:55 PM

Comments

Hey Lori, It's Marybell (Scott girlfriend).I found your web site very intersting ,sad and deep. I love the pictures and the fact that I recognize some of the people in it. Thank you for shareing them with us. Marybell

Location:

Hollywood, CA

Email:

debralee1001@msn.com

Website:

 

Date:

Wednesday March 01, 2006

Time:

02:02 AM

Comments

Hey Laurie, how are you? I visit your site frequently and nothing new. What's up with that! Well actually the Cozy's reunion, but I only recognized a few people, Marcy and John. I also enjoyed your photos from Paris with Nicole. That was really sweet. Oh, those photos of what appears to be upstate NY, is that your new home? I was watching a Documentary called Source or The Source, and couldn't help but think of you, so I decided to drop you a line. I hope you're doing well, I'm okay. I moved to West Hollywood, and am very happy here. It smells really good, no I'm serious the smell of Jasmine permeates the air in February, I'm still working as a Nurse, Life is Good, anyway just dropped by to say Hello, take care and let me know what's going on. XOXO Debi XOXO

Location:

utah

Email:

felicetta55@aol.com

Website:

 

Date:

Tuesday February 07, 2006

Time:

07:20 PM

Comments

Great site have alot of memories of the Boro. Hung out at pappys and on bank street Best days were there best friend was Pete spinella. Married Joe Felicetta from totowa.Good times great friends. My Regards Mary Felicetta-Cazier

Location:

 

Email:

 

Website:

 

Date:

Sunday January 01, 2006

Time:

11:47 AM

Comments