‘Earth Art’

Matheny School students celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by choosing from sticks, rocks, and leaves to create ‘Earth Art’. The Earth Day activities also included an Earth Day-themed concert, some environmentally friendly face scrubs, and an assembly with a sensory reptile.

Physical therapist Glenn Stackhouse, left, and AT&T volunteer Carol Grassie help Matheny student Shane Szott with his Earth Day project.

Working on ‘Earth Art’, from left: Matheny School music instructor Paul West, Matheny student Ari Golub, and Willow School students Chad Joyce and Patrick Duffy.

The students were assisted in all of these activities by volunteers from The Willow School in Gladstone, NJ, and AT&T facilities in Bedminster and Piscataway, NJ.

Danny Ambroziak was admitted as a resident at Matheny in 1997 when he was 12 years old. Today, 31-year-old Danny still lives at Matheny, and his parents, Rich and Linda Ambroziak of Surf City, NJ, are so appreciative of the care he has received that they recently donated $1,000 to Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, June 5.

“There are a lot of great things going on at Matheny,” said Rich, during a recent visit, “and we want to dedicate our contribution to the green zone.” The green zone is one of three residential sections at Matheny, and Danny has resided there for 19 years.  His family initially learned of Matheny from his pediatrician, the late Dr. Lawrence Taft.  Dr. Taft was a member of the Matheny medical staff for 13 years and helped establish the field of neurodevelopmental pediatrics.

The 19^th annual Miles for Matheny is a family-friendly event that raises funds and awareness for children, adults, and teens with developmental disabilities.  Activities include: the Lu Huggins Wheelchair walk, five Cycling rides, a one-mile walk/jog Fitness Walk, a Kids Fun Run for children ages 3-10, and the “Breakfast of Champions”, presented by The Friends of Matheny.  Premier sponsor is the Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: the Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Partlow Insurance, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C., Attorneys at Law, and WCBS Newsradio 880.

Rich and Danny Ambroziak

All proceeds from Miles will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the children, teens, and adults served by Matheny. To register or to form a fundraising team, log onto www.milesformatheny.org. For assistance, call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260, or email pcats@matheny.org. To support the Ambroziaks’ fundraising team, click on Search for Participant and type in dannya.

The New Jersey chapter of The American Academy of Pediatrics is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children in the state. At its annual New Jersey Children’s Ball, held April 20 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ, the organization honored its Pediatrician of the Year, Margaret ‘Meg’ Fisher, MD; Champions for Children, State Senator Robert Gordon and Gary Rosenberg, MD;  and presented a Youth Achievement Award to brain injury survivor Amara Riccio.

As part of the evening’s festivities, the Matheny Microtones, a choir of Matheny School students, entertained the dinner guests with four songs: the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”, the Jackson Five’s “ABC”, Todd Rundgren’s “Bang on the Drum”, and Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.

Matheny School student Jameir Warren-Treadwell and Music Therapy director Lynn Coyle.

As part of Matheny’s Music Therapy program, choirs such as the Matheny Microphones perform at venues throughout the community and the state. Music therapy positively impacts Matheny students’ and patients’ cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills. In addition to singing, activities include songwriting, lyric discussion, and music listening.

For the 12^th consecutive year, Morristown, NJ-based, Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C., Attorneys at Law, will sponsor the Kids Fun Run at Miles for Matheny. This is an event not to be missed! The Kids Fun Run is designed for the youngest racing enthusiasts and is a wonderful way to introduce children to running for a cause.

Beginning at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, the Kids Fun Run will feature four different races: 50 yards for ages 3-4; 75 yards for ages 5-6; 100 yards for ages 7-8; and 150 yards for ages 9-10. Registration is only $10. All participants receive a medal, so everyone is a winner!

Activities at Miles, in addition to the Kids Fun Run, include the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, five Cycling routes designed by the Bedminster Flyers, a Fitness Walk, and the “Breakfast of Champions”, provided by The Friends of Matheny. All funds raised at Miles will support programs and services that enhance the lives of the students and patients at Matheny – children, teens, and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. To register for the Kids Fun Run, to form a fundraising team, or just to get more information, log onto www.milesformatheny.org  or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Jessica Evans has been creating art through Matheny’s Arts Access Program for more than 10 years. She explores her creative vision through numerous mediums including visual (painting and digital art), literary (creative writing), and performing arts (dance and drama). Evans’ artwork reflects her own personal style.  She has work that is bright and textured with a sense of humor and adventure.  And, she has also created paintings that share a message or remind her of someone or something in her life. Her visual art has been shown at such venues as the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ; Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ; and the Visiting Nurse Association of the Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Jessica Evans

Evans is one of 10 participating artists in the first Art Garden CSA, a Community Supported Arts Program that connects emerging artists with disabilities and local art directors. Art Garden CSA is a collaboration between Arts Access and Arts Unbound and is made possible by a grant from the Kessler Foundation.  Arts Access is a unique fine arts program enabling individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts.

The CSA local artists are each given a stipend of $1,000. Each artist is required to create 25 pieces of art of the program, encompassing paintings, jewelry, small sculptures, wearable art, photography, and more. The “community” is comprised of any individual or group that purchases one of the 25 available shares They pay $500 for each share, and, in return, receive 10 pieces of art – one from each artist. The buyers will receive their art at two “pick-up” events during the year where they can meet the artists and establish relationships. Shares can be purchased through the Art Garden website at artgardencsa.org.

Designed by the Bedminster Flyers Cycling Club, the cycling routes at the 19^th annual Miles for Matheny on Sunday, June 5, offer every level of cyclist a rewarding challenge.  From our ‘Ride It If You Can’ Hills of Attrition course, with its steep climbing hills, to our family-friendly 10-mile ride, we are confident there is a course that is perfect for you!

Enjoy a morning of cycling through Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone, Chester, and surrounding towns (on the longer courses). Then, join us for the Wheelchair Walk and light refreshments. Miles for Matheny Cycling Sponsor is Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

All cycling routes begin in Liberty Park. Onsite registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Hills of Attrition and 50-mile rides start at 8:30 a.m.; 35 and 25-mile rides start at 9:00 a.m.; and the 10-mile ride takes off at 10:00 a.m. All funds raised at Miles support programs and services that enhance the lives of the children, teens, and adults at Matheny.  For more information, to register, or to form a fundraising team, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Matheny teacher Stacy Lafargue was one of 24 teachers honored at the annual ‘Teachers Who Rock’ awards dinner held April 5 by Greater Media radio stations WDHA 105.5FM and WMTR 1250AM at Casa Bianca in Oak Ridge, NJ.  WMTR morning host and program director Chris Edwards presented Lafargue with her award, pointing out that she, “tries to make it just a little easier for her students to exist in the world each day.”

From left, Stacy’s husband Josh Lafargue; Stacy; Stacy’s father Ed and his wife Emily.

According to the WMTR and WDHA websites, the Teachers Who Rock awards were created to celebrate “the valuable role educators play in our children’s lives.” The awards “recognize teachers who stand up and stand out and make an impact on the lives of their students.”

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The Gordon family at Miles for Matheny in 2015.

The ‘Rolling with Scott’ Miles for Matheny fundraising team, created by Matheny School student Scott Gordon’s parents, Andrew and Julie Gordon, has already raised $4,925! Thank you to the Gordon family and its supporters!

Now is the time to start your own fundraising team for Miles for Matheny. Your team could include members of your school, church, book club or workplace—or it could just be family and friends. You can decide which Miles events you want to participate in and then create a team registration page, set team fundraising goals, or generate a friendly competition among team members to see who can raise the most money. Remember, all funds raised at Miles support programs and services that enhance the lives of the children, teens and adults at Matheny.

You can create a team webpage at www.milesformatheny.org. Just upload photos of you and your teammates, set your fundraising goals, and send emails to your contacts, asking them to support you. For assistance, call Patricia Cats at (908) 234-0011, ext. 260, or email her at pcats@matheny.org.

Several Peapack-Gladstone Bank volunteers  brought clay pots, soil, and pansies to help adult residents at Matheny Center use their creativity to decorate the pots and plant their own flowers. Not only were the flowers blooming, but the room was filled with blossoming smiles as the volunteers and Matheny adults enjoyed the camaraderie and opportunity to make new friends.

P-G Bank volunteer Andrew Hall and Matheny adult resident Amanda Kochell.

Peapack-Gladstone Bank, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is committed to community service. Over the past four years, it has received recognition from the New Jersey Bankers Association’s Community Service Awards Program and has been named a Jersey Choice Great Oak Awards finalist by New Jersey Monthly “in recognition of  generosity and exceptional commitment to the betterment of New Jersey.” According to the P-G Bank website, a key component in its community service is “hands-on employee volunteer efforts.”

Matheny’s annual Day of Beauty, organized by Andrea Szott, whose son, Shane, is a Matheny resident, was held on Friday, April 1, for female students and patients. Volunteers from the community and Matheny staff members set up stations for haircuts, hair coloring, manicures and hand and shoulder massages.

From left, volunteer Elayna Alexander, Matheny Adult Services instructor Rachel Pyke, and Matheny resident Rasheedah Mahali.

Tea and snacks were served, and Matheny students and patients had an opportunity to not only meet people from the community but also to socialize with staff members in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It’s another example of how Matheny tries to enhance the lives of people with disabilities, providing them with as many normal life experiences as possible.

Named after Lu Huggins, a co-founder of Miles for Matheny, the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk is a one-mile walk through beautiful downtown Peapack, NJ.  Walk with our students and patients on Sunday, June 5, at the 19th annual Miles for Matheny!  Family, friends, and all supporters in the community are welcome. To register, log onto milesformatheny.org and click on Wheelchair Walk under Event Information.

You can also form a fundraising team. For help with your page, call 908 234-0011, ext. 260, or email pcats@matheny.org.  All funds raised will support programs and services that enhance the lives of children, teens, and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.

Cindy Shanks is an active artist in Matheny’s Arts Access Program, which enables individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts. She spends several hours a week working on her paintings, choreography, dramatic work, and creative writing.

When she paints, Cindy likes to take risks. “I really like to paint,” she says, but “I usually don’t know what I want to do ahead of time. I figure it out that day.” Her painting style, she says, is about love and having fun, and she works on more than one painting at a time.  “As far as colors,” she adds, “I pick one and go from there. I choose them based on how I’m feeling.  When people look at my paintings, I want them to really look at them.  When people see my work, I want them to feel good.” Her work has been displayed at such venues as Rutgers University, Johnson and Johnson, the Monmouth Museum, and the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Center.

Cindy Shanks in front of one of her paintings at a Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School exhibit.

Cindy is one of 10 participating artists in the first Arts Garden CSA, a Community Supported Arts Program that connects emerging artists with disabilities and local art collectors.  Art Garden CSA is a collaboration between Arts Access and Arts Unbound and is made possible by a grant from the Kessler Foundation.  The local artists are each given a stipend of $1,000. Each artist is required to create 25 pieces of art for the program. These can range from paintings, jewelry, small sculptures, wearable art, photography, and more. The “community” is comprised of any individual or group that purchases one of the 25 available shares. They pay $500 for each share and, in return, receive 10 pieces of art – one from each artist. The buyers will receive their art at two “pick-up” events during the year where they can meet the artists and establish relationships. Shares can be purchased through the Art Garden website at artgardencsa.org.