'Dust lady' named champ at her party
By Steven Kalcanides journal
staff writer

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Danny Musico, a champ with the International Boxing Council, placed his super middleweight championship belt around the waist of Marcy Borders yesterday, calling her a true champion.

Borders, 28, the Bayonne woman who recently recounted her harrowing Sept. 11 escape from the 81st floor of the World Trade Center in the National Enquirer, and Musico were at a kids' Halloween party at the Elks Lodge in Bayonne.

The National Enquirer pursued the feature article after it was discovered that Borders was the famous "dust lady" - the unidentified woman caked in dust and soot in a photo that appeared in magazines and newspapers and on television several days following the tragedy.

Borders was given $1,000 by the publication to guarantee the exclusivity of her story and did not ask for payment, according to a representative of the Enquirer who were concerned yesterday that people might mistakenly believe she was cashing in on the national tragedy.

But yesterday, the single mom dressed as a witch and ran the
Halloween party - teaching children dance steps, handing out food and napkins and making sure her neighbor Patricia Bozzone played the role of the grim reaper to a "T."

Bozzone - her head covered - sat in a chair against the wall, fake ax in hand, and leapt up from her seat each time a child walked by, all in fun.

"I'm giving back to the kids because I don't want them trick-or-treating. I don't think that's safe at this time in the United States," Borders said, as she took a short break.

Borders used a portion of the money she received from the Enquirer to help sponsor the party. However, when the paper found out about her generosity, it decided to reimburse her for the expenses.

"The Enquirer is going to reimburse her for the party, whether it's $300 or $500," Levine said. "We are going to give her a separate payment. I think what she is doing is absolutely a wonderful thing for her community."

Some 100 children and their parents were invited to attend the party, which ran from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on 20th Street.

Costumed children paraded around as ninjas, Scooby-Doo, Dalmatians, soldiers, gladiators, princesses and babies, among other characters.

"I'm proud of her," said Borders' uncle, Michael Middleton. "I've been around her all her life. She's always had a good heart. She is the type of person who believes in sharing with others."

Ada Caldero, who attended the party with five of her children, said she thought the gathering was a great idea.

"We have to support her because she went through hell and back with her ordeal," said Caldero, who lost her home several months ago in a fire in Bayonne and is now trying to settle into a new home.

Borders' mom, Ruby, thought the party would help lift her daughter's spirits.

"I'm really happy about what she's doing today. It's really making her feel better, because she's been depressed lately. She comes to my house and looks at my mail before I can touch it," she explained.

When Musico walked into the room, cheers erupted. The boxing champ autographed photos of himself and posed for pictures with Borders, who was wearing his belt.

"This is all about her," he said. "She should be acknowledged."

In addition to the contribution by Borders, the Elks donated the hall for yesterday's affair, and a local DJ volunteered to spin music. Other members of the community contributed food and beverages for the event.

Borders, who is supporting her 8-year-old daughter, Noelle, told the Enquirer she has been too traumatized to go back into Manhattan and has lost her job at the Bank of America. Bank officials yesterday could not give her present status with the firm.

Levine, meanwhile, said the amount paid to Borders was solely to guarantee exclusivity because the weekly Enquirer has "lock up" stories before competitors can get the story as well. "We make no bones about it that we practice checkbook journalism, but it is primarily for exclusivity," he said of the controversial practice.

Bayonne Housing Authority officials noted yesterday that the American Red Cross covered Borders' rent for October; Ruby Borders pitched in to help pay the rent for September.

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