Five Days of Fun

Some of the Mardi Gras masks from last year’s celebration.

Once again the Verve Bistro in Somerville, NJ, will donate partial proceeds from its annual Mardi Gras celebration to Matheny. The five-day Mardi Gras celebration begins on Thursday, February 4. On that day — plus Friday, February 5, and Saturday, February 6 — the restaurant will feature food specials of New Orleans, Venice and Brazil. Diners will also have the opportunity to bid on Mardi Gras masks.

On Sunday, February 7, a Gumbo Cook Off will take place from 1-5 p.m., ending just in time for football fans to get home for the Super Bowl. Contestants are invited to bring two gallons of their best gumbo to Verve by 1 p.m. in order to enter. The Gumbo Buffet that follows will cost $10. Fat Tuesday, February 9, will offer “prizes, gaudy decorations, and cheap plastic trinkets.” And, everyone who bid on masks will find out who the winners were

Last year, Verve raised $2,000 for Matheny. To make reservations during the Mardi Gras celebration, call (908) 707-8655 and be sure to mention Matheny.

There were three-point attempts from several rows back in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center auditorium, layups and jump shots on the stage, and a helping hand for Matheny students and patients, who were playing adapted basketball games. It was all part of the annual visit to Matheny by members of the Delbarton School varsity basketball team.

Participation in sports is very important to Matheny’s students and patients who compete in Special Olympics, play a variety of adapted sports, and often attend high school, college, and professional games as part of Matheny’s recreation therapy program. The Delbarton visit is greatly anticipated every year, stoking competitive fires and resulting in a lot of fun and camaraderie.

Davis Bell, left, gives Matheny student Shane Szott some tips, while his Delbarton teammate Kevin Schroeder looks on.

Dan Cimaglia helps Matheny student Ryan O’Connor shoot a basket.

Delbarton is an independent college preparatory school in Morristown, NJ, for boys, grades 7-12.

Matheny group home resident Jenny Cox receives presents from Jason Boege of Farmingdale, NJ; Santa Claus (Tom Brophy of Randolph), and Shari Comerford of Jackson.

CARS volunteers gathered with Matheny residents and staff for a group photo at the end of a fun-filled day.

In 1974, auto racing photographer Ace Lane, Jr. and three other auto racing enthusiasts founded the Committee of Auto Racing Supporters (CARS). For the past 41 years, the CARS organization has not only been dedicated to car racing; its members have gone out of their way to cheer up the children and adults at Matheny during the holiday season.

Every year, CARS volunteers throw a Christmas party for residents of Matheny and its group homes, bringing presents for those who do not have strong family connections during the holidays. The most recent CARS Christmas Party was held on Saturday, December 19, and the dining room at Matheny was filled with the Christmas spirit as the CARS members, from all over New Jersey and neighboring states, brought gifts and holiday cheer to Matheny’s students and patients.

Your generosity will help kids, teens, and adults with disabilities like four-year-old Rishu, one of the many children whose lives have been vastly improved because of the programs and services provided by Matheny.

Make your tax-deductible gift before midnight December 31.

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Home Depot paving crew.

Bridgewater Promenade store manager John Pingitore with Matheny student Jenna Poleyeff.

Oldcastle Building Materials provided the pavers, and a large group of Home Depot volunteers provided the muscle and additional materials and equipment as they installed the pavers in the front of Matheny’s main building to give a new look to the patio area.

This is not the first time Home Depot has supported Matheny by helping to improve the grounds and facilities. Back in April, a group of employees from both Bridgewater, NJ, stores planted gardens for a Matheny School project and performed major makeovers on the nature trail and ball field. This time, they were assisted by volunteers from additional Home Depot stores in Dover, Roxbury, and Watchung, NJ.

Once again, Home Depot lived up to its motto that, “Giving back is a fundamental value of The Home Depot and a passion for its associates.”

Each year during the holiday season The Friends of Matheny makes sure that every residential room at Matheny has a holiday wreath on the door. Several members of The Friends gathered on December 2 to fluff out the wreaths and them ready for distribution.

Friends, from left: Karen Thompson, Nancy Hojnacki, Kathy Sisto, Helen Fallone, and Linda Horton

The Friends of Matheny is dedicated to providing support to Matheny. Since its inception in 1983, the volunteer organization has raised more than $3 million to support Matheny’s programs and services.

Matt McDermott, an eighth grader at the Delbarton School in Morristown, NJ, and a resident of Basking Ridge, NJ, made his annual visit to Matheny to drop off a donation from funds raised at his family’s annual pool party. McDermott, accompanied by his mother, Susan McDermott, presented a check for $500 to Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD, Matheny’s president and CEO.

From left, Larry Thornton, Matheny trustee; Susan McDermott; Kendell R. Sprott, MD, JD; and Matt McDermott.

In addition to his support of Matheny, McDermott has formed a group called Athletes in Motion, designed to raise money for special athletes in the community. This is the fifth consecutive year that McDermott has delivered a donation of either cash or toys to Matheny. Thanks, Matt!

“There’s no place like Matheny. We’re dedicated to all of you in this room.” Tim McLoone, founder and leader of Holiday Express, the all-volunteer band that gives 60 concerts between mid-November and Christmas Eve, helped kick off the holiday season with a November 22^nd concert at Matheny.

Tim McLoone and Matheny resident Rasheedah Mahali

Matheny student Daniel Gaudreau and his mother Regina.

The Robert Schonhorn Arts Center rocked to sounds of Holiday Express favorites such as “All I Want for Christmas is You”, “Nobody Ought to be Alone on Christmas”, and “Run Run Rudolph”, written and sung by Bedminster resident Byron Smith. The Matheny Choir joined the Holiday Express band for two songs, “Jingle Bells” and “Let it Snow”, and will be reappearing with Holiday Express on December 10 at its annual benefit concert held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Founded by McLoone in 1993, Holiday Express has been performing at Matheny since 2001. The organization has more than 100 professional singers and musicians who volunteer their time and more than 1,300 additional volunteers.

Matheny’s  Arts Access Program has been awarded a Kessler Foundation Community Employment Grant of $100,000 to launch a unique vocational art project. Arts Access will partner with Arts Unbound, bringing together these two leaders in the realm of arts and disability to form Art Garden CSA. This CSA (community-supported art) project aims to connect artists with disabilities with art buyers in a way that has never before been attempted with this population.

Ten artists will be selected and commissioned to create original artwork that is unique to the Art Garden CSA. These works will then be distributed at three live pickup events around the state to anyone who buys one of the 25 available “shares”. At these pickup events, the shareholders will have the opportunity to meet the selected artists and see what awaits them in their box of limited edition art. The artists will work with the Art Garden team to learn and participate in important vocational practices such as blogging, thank you letters, self-promotion, relationship building, and many other entrepreneurial activities that are key to becoming a professional artist.

“We are so thankful to Kessler for supporting the Art Garden project,” said Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program. “I’ve seen these artists work tirelessly to perfect their craft, and I’m so excited to see them move into careers as artistic professionals.” Margret Mikklesen, executive director of Arts Unbound, said, “With popularity spiking and community-supported art projects popping up all over the country, we are thrilled to launch Art Garden, which will be the first to exclusively represent artists with disabilities working within the state of New Jersey.”

A recent Kessler-led national study revealed that 68% of people with disabilities are striving to find work. Through its Community Employment Grant Program, Kessler Foundation funds non-traditional solutions that increase employment outcomes for citizens with disabilities. The arts fill this role by allowing individuals with disabilities to be self-employed and work on their own schedules. The Kessler Foundation is a public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Arts Access artist Jessica Evans with Peapack-Gladstone businessman Tim Peters, who purchased her painting.

Arts Access is a unique fine arts program where individuals with disabilities can fully express themselves in the creative arts. Arts Unbound is a studio and gallery in West Orange, NJ, dedicated to the creative expression of persons with disabilities. Both organizations have been at the forefront of offering professional development opportunities for artists with disabilities through licensing and original artwork sales. The Art Garden CSA will launch early next year, and shares will be available for purchase in November 2015.

Dr. Pyo, left, and Gary E. Eddey, MD, Matheny vice president and chief medical officer, at the awards dinner.

Daniel J. Pyo, MD, FACS, FACCWS, was honored by the 2015 New Jersey Smile Connection, the New Jersey chapter of Operation Smile, at its awards dinner, held October 16 at the Madison Hotel in Madison, NJ. Through his practice, Plastic Surgery Center of New Jersey, PC, in Morristown, NJ, Dr. Pyo has dedicated his life and career to helping people through cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has performed 10 medical missions for Operation Smile, an international medical charity whose global network of thousands of credentialed medical volunteers from more than 80 countries has provided more than 220,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities.

He has also donated his services to help patients and students at  Matheny by performing skin grafts, oral surgeries and nasal revisions. According to Matheny nurse Catherine Losavio, Dr. Pyo is “a wonderful, caring man. He has a genuine interest in our patients and goes out of his way to give them excellent care that will achieve the best possible outcome.”

James Lane has been an Arts Access artist since the program’s inception in 1993. He is, says Haeree Park, Arts Access project and event coordinator, “a master of utilizing shapes in a mature manner. This defines his unique style. I always find myself drawn to his work.”

Lane will have three pieces on display as part of the visual arts exhibit curated by Park for Full Circle 2015 Perspectives, the annual celebration of Arts Access to be held from 3-6 p.m. in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center in Peapack, NJ,  on Saturday, November 7. There is an untitled acrylic on canvas and another entitled “Roller”. The third piece is a metal print called “Abstract”.

There is “only one word to describe James,” adds Arts Access director Eileen Murray. “That’s ‘deep’. He’s got these layers, and James is the only one who knows how deep they go. He knows exactly what he’s going for. To say he is a talented artist is an understatement.”

The visual arts exhibit at Full Circle will begin at 3 p.m. A stage presentation at 4 p.m., produced by Arts Access dance facilitator Heather Williams, will include 12 segments encompassing creative writing, dance, and drama created by Arts Access artists.

“Abstract” by James Lane

Nicholas Paleologos, executive director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, will be honorary chair of the event. Food and beverage sponsors are: Café Azzurro, Peapack; Gladstone Tavern, Gladstone; 3 West and Urban Table, Basking Ridge; cocoLuxe Fine Pastries, Peapack; and Village Office Supply, Somerset. Tickets to Full Circle are $40 and can be ordered online at events.matheny.org/FullCircle2015 or by calling 908 234-0011, ext. 260. All proceeds will benefit the Arts Access Program.

Visual art, creative writing, dance, and drama will all be featured at Full Circle 2015 Perspectives, the annual celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program, to be held from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus in Peapack, NJ. Arts Access is a unique fine arts program enabling individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts.

A visual arts exhibit, curated by Haeree Park, Arts Access project and event coordinator, will be on display in the gallery, beginning at 3 p.m. It will include more than 50 pieces from nearly 40 artists. Park, who is also a freelance graphic designer, photographer and jewelry designer, emphasizes that, “Each artist has his or her own style, but there will be small groupings of similar styles.”

A stage presentation at 4 p.m., produced by Arts Access dance facilitator Heather Williams, will include 12 segments, encompassing creative writing, dance, and drama created by Arts Access artists. Actors from Premiere Stages, the professional equity theatre in residence at Kean University, will be part of the production, along with several professional dancers. Williams, who also teaches dance and performs with Dance Innovations, Inc. in Chatham, NJ, says being a facilitator at Arts Access, “has made me a better teacher outside of here. I have a new appreciation of the artistic process.”

Nicholas Paleologos, executive director of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts, will be honorary chair of Full Circle. Paleologos has served as NJSCA’s executive director since January 2012. Prior to that, he was executive director of the Massachusetts Film Office and founder and producing director of Boston’s Stuart Street Playhouse.

“Abstract”, a metal print by James Lane

Food and beverage sponsors are: Café Azzurro, Peapack; Gladstone Tavern, Gladstone; 3 West and Urban Table, Basking Ridge; cocoLuxe Fine Pastries, Peapack; and Village Office Supply, Somerset. Tickets to Full Circle are $40 and can be ordered online at events.matheny.org/Fullcircle2015 or by calling (908) 234-0011, ext. 260. All proceeds will benefit the Arts Access Program.