Let the games begin!

Matheny adult patient Camille Van Valen competing in one of the track events.

The Somerset County Special Olympics is a very special competition for Matheny students and adult patients. Family members and volunteers from the community gather at the Bridgewater-Raritan athletic field to cheer on the athletes in both track and field events.

The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disabilities. In addition to being a fun day for everyone, the activities help the Matheny recreation therapy program fulfill its mission, which is to improve the students’ and patients’ physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.

About 45 Matheny athletes competed in the Somerset County Special Olympics, and seven of them will move on to the state Special Olympics competition, being held in June at The College of New Jersey.

WAE Center facilitator Esther Tanahashi, left, and Amber Norris of Little Falls, NJ, admire “The Reflecting Pool” by Arts Access artist Cheryl Chapin.

The toughest part of facilitating, says Esther Tanahashi, is “learning how to communicate with the artist.” Tanahashi is a facilitator in the arts program at the Wellness, Art & Enrichment (WAE) Center of Jewish Services for the Developmentally Disabled of Metrowest in West Orange, NJ. She was trained by the staff at Matheny’s Arts Access Program, which enables people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators.

The WAE Center and Arts Access were part of the New Jersey Medical School – ARTS exhibit, which opened with a special reception on Sunday, May 20, in the Medical Science Building of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. In addition to works by artists from Arts Access and WAE, two other Arts Access satellite programs were represented — the Arc of Mercer County in Trenton; and Hattie Larlham Creative Arts in Twinsburg, Ohio.

Arts Access artist Shaleena Tomassini in front of her untitled painting. At left is her niece Neveaeh Washington; at right, her mother, Ivelisse Arce.

Matheny student Najee Rogers, right, with, from left, Matt Oliver of Peapack, NJ, and Adam Lewis and Nicole McCloskey of Bernardsville

“I just like to see them happy.” That’s how Adam Lewis of Bernardsville, NJ, described the experience of playing an adapted baseball game with students from Matheny.

Lewis is a member of the Somerset Hills Little League, which hosted Matheny students on May 11 at the Somerset Hills Kiwanis Field in Bernardsville. About a dozen 10- to 12-year-olds volunteered to participate in the game, and there were lots more students and families cheering on the sidelines.

Neil Klein of Gladstone, NJ, who organized the event, described the experience as “spirited, engaging, tender and heartwarming.”  The Somerset Hills players helped the Matheny students bat and field and pushed them along the baselines. It was a game that everybody won.

For the past several years, Kaleidoscope Hair & Body Artistry in Basking Ridge, NJ, has donated hair and beauty services to Matheny students and patients during the afternoon of the annual Matheny Prom. This year, Kaleidoscope brought something extra—a check for $361, raised during two small fundraisers held in connection with the salon’s recent expansion.

Steve Proctor, Matheny president, stepped into the midst of the beauty activity to accept the unexpected gift. With Proctor, from left, are Caitlin Miller, Maureen Treich, Kaleidoscope owner Deborah Link and Lindsey Petrone.

Goldman Sachs volunteers hard at work.

As part of the company’s Community Works Day program, a group of volunteers from Goldman Sachs recently spent a day at Matheny sprucing up the grounds—adding topsoil in the garden in front of the main building, planting shrubs, putting mulch in flowerbeds and shrub areas and pruning plants and shrubs. All supplies, including tools, bushes, mulch and topsoil, were made possible by a Goldman Sachs grant of $2,830 to The Friends of Matheny, Matheny’s auxiliary group.

The day was coordinated by Goldman Sachs executive John Cembrook, a resident of Bernardsville, NJ. In addition to their work, the GS volunteers also enjoyed a tour of Matheny.

Morris Hills student Jill Gonzalez and Matheny student Yasin Reddick. Gonzalez was one of many volunteers from the Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Group in Dover, NJ.

The theme of this year’s Matheny Prom was “Fire and Ice,” but the fire quickly melted the ice as students, adult patients, staff members, families and friends from the community took to the dance floor at The Skylands in Randolph, NJ.  Tim McLoone, leader of Holiday Express, the all-volunteer band that plays at the prom every year, invited three members of the Matheny Choir to join in the singing early on, and no one stopped dancing until it was time for dessert.

Student volunteers from the Junior Friends of Matheny (Bernards High in Bernardsville, NJ), Morris Hills High in Rockaway, NJ, and the Trinity United Church Youth Group in Dover, NJ, contributed to the spirit and enthusiasm of the evening, which included a special ice sculpture and the crowning of this year’s prom king and queen, Jamie Formisano and Dina Conturso.

Adult patient Taty Manousakis and recreation therapist Meghan Walsh.

The Matheny choirs in performance.

Medleys of songs from Lady Gaga and Adele, along with Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” were among the selections performed by the Matheny choirs at their spring concerts held May 9 and 10 in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center. In addition, the audience was treated to a performance of the David Guetta/Usher hit, “Without You,” by the music therapy staff.

The music therapy program at Matheny provides musical experiences designed to promote participants’ growth in cognitive, behavioral, physical, emotional, creative, social and leisure skills.

Liz Geraghty and Bo.

Accepting the presidency of The Friends of Matheny is, to Liz Geraghty, a way of giving back to an organization that has provided her and her family security and peace of mind. Geraghty’s daughter Bozena was born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), a genetic disorder that causes a range of physical, cognitive and medical challenges. Bo has been a residential student at Matheny since June 2009, and she has flourished.

When Bo was first admitted to Matheny, the Geraghtys weren’t sure how she would adapt. “We decided we would just follow her lead,” Geraghty recalls. “She was laughing, crying, being stubborn, giggling – all of her normal emotions. That, to us, meant she was relaxed. My biggest surprise,” she continues, “is how much the recreation therapy department looked at my daughter as a teenager, who just happened to have this syndrome. They said, ‘We want to take her camping – three days, two nights.’ I said, ‘You’re kidding!’”

After joining the board of The Friends, Matheny’s auxiliary group, Geraghty became familiar with its origins. “I learned that the group was started by a small group of women who had no family connection to Matheny. The time, effort and energy they spent totally impressed me.” As she prepares to take office, Geraghty is looking forward to recruiting new members to The Friends as well as working more closely with Matheny’s development department and its Board of Trustees.

She can do all of this because she no longer worries about her daughter. “My youngest child,” she says, “has left home, and her future is secure.”

From left, Kathleen Felezzola, UCVTS allied health sciences instructor; Linda Frankshun; Dr. Thomas J. Bistocchi, UCVTS superintendent.

Linda Frankshun, Matheny director of therapies, was named “Advisor of the Year” by the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools in Scotch Plains, NJ.

UCVTS students regularly rotate through Matheny to participate in a hands-on learning experience. The students learn the day-to-day responsibilities of nurses, therapists, pharmacists and other various allied health professionals. At the end of the visits, they have a greater understanding of the nursing and allied health professions.

Verve owner Rick St. Pierre, right, at the Mardi Gras celebration, with David Christiansen and Nancy Allegar of Stockton, NJ.

Matheny received $2,000 from the Mardi Gras celebration and mask silent auction held in February by the Verve Bistro Bar Lounge in Somerville, NJ.

On Fat Tuesday, February 21, 10% of all proceeds at Verve were donated to Matheny. In addition, Matheny received a portion of the money collected from a silent auction of Mardi Gras masks, many of which were created and donated by Matheny staff members.

In presenting the donation, Rick St. Pierre, Verve owner, said: “It was a pleasure working with the Matheny family to ensure a wonderful Mardi Gras event. I look forward to continuing our efforts with you for next year.”

State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman purchased one of the Mardi Gras masks created and donated by Matheny staff members.

Sandra Van Nest at her display table.

Matheny employees wore blue on April 25 to support National Autism Awareness Month and to learn more about the autism spectrum. Sandra Van Nest, LCSW, field supervisor in Matheny’s Community Services program, presented autism intervention materials and handouts and answered any questions staff members had about autism. As a developmental interventionist in New Jersey’s Early Intervention system, Van Nest often interacts with autistic children and their families in their homes.

The role of a developmental interventionist, Van Nest says, is, “to look at the overall development of a child with an eye for the cognitive development and social and emotional development. Children with autism,” she continues, “aren’t necessarily going to catch up by preschool or kindergarten, so we’re looking at long-term therapy for these kids.”

The autism awarness day at Matheny was coordinated by Joan Ray, RN, MA, COHN-S, Matheny employee health coordinator.

Irene Ellis, also of Gladstone, shows off her purchases as she gets set to celebrate her 87th birthday.

Every year, to thank all of the volunteers who have worked in The Friends of Matheny’s Second Chance Shop, manager Linda Horton has a party to celebrate their accomplishments. The only requirement for those attending is that they wear or show something they actually bought at the shop. This year’s event was held May 3 in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center at Matheny, and no one was disappointed.

Some of the volunteers sported complete outfits, others just an accessory such as a hat, scarf or tie. And some confessed that they don’t buy clothes but, instead, toys for their grandchildren or household items such as dishes or vases. In the grandchildren category, the big buyer was Janet Allocca of Chester, NJ, who revealed that she has 19!

Irene Wiehle of Gladstone, NJ, in her very eclectic outfit.

At the time of the get-together, the Second Chance Shop had already surpassed $100,000 in sales with almost a month to go in the season, so there will probably be another party to celebrate a new record. Steve Proctor, Matheny president, thanked the volunteers for all their hard work and read off a list of items for the patients and students made possible by the money from their sales.