Scary stuff

Viva Brancifort of Chester, N.J., with her daughter Gabriella and Matheny School principal Sean Murphy.

Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays at Matheny and presents an opportunity for families of our students and patients to participate in the festivities.

The day starts off with a haunted house, designed by our therapy and school staff members, and concludes with a Halloween parade and party with refreshments supplied by The Friends of Matheny.

The day’s activities are coordinated by Matheny’s recreation therapy department, which provides a variety of recreation opportunities and resources throughout the year to improve students’ and patients’ physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.

Jim and Ruby Yedloutschnig of Cedar Grove, N.J., with their daughter Alicia.

From left, Gary E. Eddey, MD, Matheny vice president and chief medical officer; Kimberly Elmore, Delta Dental community relations administrator; Carl Chaityn, DDS, Delta Dental Foundation board member; Dennis Wilson; Diane Belle, Delta Dental vice president of corporate communications; Gene Napoliello, DDS, Delta Dental Foundation president; and Steve Proctor, Matheny president.

The Delta Dental Foundation of New Jersey provided the initial funding to help Matheny build the dental clinic that is part of our Center of Medicine and Dentistry. And through the years, Delta has continued to provide substantial funding to support our mission of providing dental care to people with disabilities, both within our hospital and in the community.

In September, Dennis G. Wilson was named president of Delta Dental of New Jersey, succeeding Walter VanBrunt, who retired. On October 29, Wilson, accompanied by several other representatives from Delta Dental and its foundation, visited Matheny for the first time to see the dental clinic and learn about Matheny’s dental program. The group also visited the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center, home of Matheny’s Arts Access Program, which enables individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the creative arts.

Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation Inc. is Delta Dental’s philanthropic arm and provides financial support to various organizations throughout New Jersey and Connecticut to help them reach underserved populations. The financial support Matheny receives from Delta, according to Steve Proctor, Matheny’s president, “has been a key to the success of our dental clinic. Without that funding, we wouldn’t be able to continue to serve hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities.”

Pingry student Maddie Shilts assists Matheny student Daeon Troutman during a Halloween craft activity.

The Pingry School considers its community service program an expression of its educational philosophy and an integral part of its curriculum. The independent school encourages its students to share their time and resources with others. That’s exactly what transpired on Friday, October 24, as nine students from the Pingry Upper School in Basking Ridge, NJ, participated in classroom activities in The Matheny School.

In addition to classroom visits, volunteers are welcomed at Matheny during evenings and weekends. Individuals can serve as recreation assistants or just friendly visitors. Matheny is extremely grateful to those from the community who donate their time. And volunteers often tell us how rewarding the experience is. For more information about how to volunteer, call (908) 234-0011, ext. 282.

Pingry student James Parker watches as teaching assistant Mulu Yihune helps Matheny student Richard Kozlik select a decorative item for a paper pumpkin.

From left, Linda Moore, executive director of the Morris Museum; Congressman Leonard Lance; and Morris Museum trustee Gerri Horn.

“This was really awesome!” That comment by Heather Kosinski, a young woman from Kenilworth, NJ, was typical of the reaction to Full Circle 2013: Reflections, the 20th anniversary celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program. U.S. Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ 07), honorary chair of the event, described the artwork on display as “truly magnificent,” adding his “congratulations to all of the artists and all of those who made this event possible.”

“We provide the creative freedom for the artists to express themselves,” explained Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program, “but it is the artists who bring this work to life. The art you see today is a true reflection of 20 years of hundreds of individuals who have created thousands of personal reflections.”

The true stars of the afternoon were the artists and their art, of course, whether it was visual art such as “Flower Power,” an acrylic on canvas by Jess Evans, or Rasheedah Mahali’s moving tribute to the late artist Jason Christie or “Alone,” a dance piece choreographed and performed by Natalia Manning. More than 70 pieces of visual art, curated by former Arts Access facilitator Scott Beil, were on display in the gallery, and 14 performances of dance, drama, prose and poetry were presented in a multi-media stage presentation, which also visually traced the development of Arts Access from its beginnings in 1993 to today. Steve Proctor, Matheny president, paid tribute to former medical director Dr. Gabor Barabas and former president Robert Schonhorn, who founded the program after asking the question: “Can people with disabilities create fine art?”

Arts Access received a $10,000 Challenge America Fast-Track grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the Full Circle celebration, and the program also recently received an Excellence in the Arts award from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage, Inc. Major sponsors of Full Circle were: Gold, Day Pitney LLP and The Providence Bank Foundation; Silver, The Hartford; and Bronze, Affinity Federal Credit Union, The Angeletti Group, Financial Resources Federal Credit Union and ShopRite of Hunterdon County. Food sponsors were: Café Azzurro and cocoLuxe fine pastries, Peapack; Gladstone Tavern, Gladstone; 3 West and Urban Table, Basking Ridge; and Village Office Supply, Somerset.

Visual art curator Scott Beil and his wife Erin in front of an untitled acrylic on canvas by Chris Butler.

Adult patients, from left, John Edwards, Rasheedah Mahali and Luis Rodriguez wait for the baby shower items to be picked up.

Adult patients at Matheny spearheaded a drive among Matheny employees to collect items for “virtual” baby showers for the wives of wounded warriors who are at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. These expectant mothers most likely won’t be having traditional baby showers because they are away from family and friends while helping their husbands recover from their wounds.

Employees were asked to donate such items as clothing, diapers, pacifiers and disposable bottles. Then the items were transported from Matheny to Marine Sgt. Mario “Gunny” Monaco in Passaic, N.J., who made sure they got to Walter Reed. The project was done in collaboration with Marines Care, Volunteer Management Centers, Inc. and Operation Homefront.

Eileen Murray, center, with Nicholas Paleologos, executive director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and Karen Pinzolo.

Twenty years ago, the founders of Matheny’s Arts Access Program asked the question, “Can people with disabilities create fine art?” That question has been answered, and the answer is ‘yes’, said Eileen Murray, director of the program, while accepting an Excellence in the Arts Award from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage, Inc. The award, for Arts in the Community, was one of seven presented on October 24 at the Twin Brooks Country Club in Watchung, N.J.

Arts Access was nominated for the award by Karen Pinzolo, director of community engagement for Art Pride New Jersey. While introducing Murray, Pinzolo described Arts Access as an “amazing program, a national model,” adding that the art is “a celebration of life and the human spirit. I was blown away when I saw it, and you will be, too.”

Both Murray and Pinzolo invited members of the audience to attend Full Circle 2013 Reflections, the 20th anniversary of Arts Access, which will be held Saturday, November 2, in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus in Peapack. Two Arts Access artists, Cheryl Chapin and Yasin Reddick, attended the awards dinner, and a sample of their artwork was on display.

Arts Access makes it possible for people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators. In a short video shown at the dinner, Keith Garletts, Arts Access outreach coordinator and program specialist, listed the four principles of the program: freedom of choice, neutrality, no preconceptions and artists assisting artists.

From left, Arts Access artist Cheryl Chapin, Eileen Murray, Nicholas Paleologos, Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh and Arts Access artist Yasin Reddick.

Sanofi volunteer Antoine Labrousse paints a pumpkin with adult resident Dion Alston.

Halloween arrived a little early at Matheny. On Friday, October 11, a dozen volunteers from Sanofi U.S. visited adult patients to help paint pumpkins and make other Halloween decorations in preparation for the annual holiday.

Sanofi is a diversified global healthcare company whose U.S. headquarters are in Bridgewater, NJ. Volunteerism, according to the company website, is “one of our cornerstones for social responsibility. It is the way that our employees show solidarity with others in need.”

Matheny’s adult services program, both at our main Peapack campus and at our Hillsborough Adult Learning Center, provides a specialized integrated day program for persons 21 years and older who have medically complex developmental disabilities. We welcome volunteers from the community—both individuals and corporate groups such as those from Sanofi. For more information about volunteer opportunities at Matheny, call (908) 234-0011, ext. 282, or email volunteers@matheny.org.

Sanofi volunteer Yen Yu Chen personalizes a pumpkin for adult resident Mason Walsh.

Natalie and Megan practicing in the music room.

The annual Matheny talent show is a creative forum that enables students and patients to express themselves and feel empowered to share their gifts and talents. Nowhere was that more evident than in the triumphant performance this year by adult patient Natalie Tomastyk, who decided to sing “Brave,” a song by Sara Bareilles. While learning the piece, Natalie decided she also wanted to play the piano.

“Alternating between singing and playing was a new skill for her to learn,” said music therapist Megan Chappius, “but she was determined and motivated to do it. Fortunately, she very quickly and easily mastered the skill. She never grew tired or frustrated, and she was very motivated.” Natalie was “a little nervous” before the performance, but afterwards, she said: “I am proud of myself, and I feel good.”

The talent show was held Wednesday, October 16, in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center at Matheny. Among other performances: Amanda Kochell’s rendition of Alicia Keys’ “No One” and Jessica Evans’ original poem, “My Memories are Painted in the Sky.”

Music therapists at Matheny use various types of music to positively impact students’ and patients’ cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills, helping them realize their potential in society. Activities and techniques include improvisation, rhythm, songwriting, songs, chants, instrumental activities, live music and recorded music.

Music therapist Sabrina Deutsch congratulating Natalie after her performance.

Debbie O’Connor speaking at the Matheny School open house.

Ryan O’Connor was born 10 years ago with a very rare chromosome deletion. His family was told that he would function at an extremely low level and would never walk or talk.

When Ryan reached three years of age, it was time for him to go to school. The O’Connors learned about Matheny through their son’s therapists and the Clinton Township School District. “I’ll never forget the first day I brought him here,” Debbie O’Connor said recently at the Matheny School’s open house. “I was in denial and was so afraid to leave my child in the care of strangers. But these strangers quickly became the people who would change his life and our lives. A child who could barely eat began to slowly learn how to swallow. A child with very limited gross motors skills began to learn how to move. A child with no fine motor skills began to learn to pick up his own food.”

Then, on Christmas Day 2008, “Ryan gave us a true Christmas miracle. With a house filled with family and friends, Ryan stood up and began to walk, completely unassisted, through our home. He wandered for several minutes from room to room taking in his surroundings while we all watched in complete amazement.”

All of these milestones were reached because of Matheny. “There are no limitations here,” O’Connor said. “No one looks at our children and ever says the words, ‘They can’t do that.’ Matheny is a place where miracles happen everyday.”

Ryan O’Connor.

Shaleena Tommassini

Every year, the  Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, NY, hosts its Wheelchair Games, bringing wheelchair athletes together to complete in a variety of athletic events including several races and a slalom obstacle course.

This year, four Matheny athletes competed in wheelchair races and dashes, the slalom obstacle course and the shotput. They also enjoyed carnival games and a magic show. Adult patient Shaleena Tommassini received a trophy designating her as Top Outstanding Adult Female of the day.

Participation in events such as the Burke Wheelchair Games is made possible through Matheny’s recreation therapy program, which provides our students and patients with a variety of opportunities and resources to improve their physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being.

Yasin Reddick

Paula Canari, far right, with staff members Christina Dean, left, and Camille Leisy.

CocoLuxe fine pastries opened on Main Street in Peapack in May 2004. Six months later, the bakery-café became a food sponsor for Full Circle, the annual celebration of Matheny’s Arts Access Program, providing an array of delicious desserts for the event in the gallery of the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center.

The 20th anniversary of Arts Access, Full Circle 2013 Reflections, will be held Saturday, November 2, from 3–6 p.m., and, of course, cocoLuxe will be there. “We really enjoy being involved in this event,” said Paula Canari, cocoLuxe’s current owner, noting that it will be the shop’s 10th year at Full Circle. “We’re very selective about what we participate in, and I love the fact that Matheny is so local.” The most popular pastry item among the Full Circle audience, according to Canari, is a lemon meringue tartlet, but “anything pumpkin does well too.”

Other food/beverage sponsors at Full Circle are: Café Azzurro, Peapack; Gladstone Tavern, Gladstone; 3 West and Urban Table, Basking Ridge; and Village Office Supply, Somerset. For more information about Full Circle or to order tickets, call 908.234.0011, ext. 260, or email pcats@matheny.org.

Congressman Leonard Lance with Arts Access artist Luis Rodriguez.

When U.S. Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) toured Matheny and visited the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center earlier this year, he was so impressed with Arts Access  that he agreed to be honorary chair of Full Circle 2013 Reflections, the 20th anniversary celebration of the program. Now, Congressman Lance has confirmed that he will attend Full Circle and say a few words prior to the multimedia stage presentation.

“I was pleased to talk with staff and patients at Matheny and learn more about the facility’s first-class art program for residents,” said Lance, shortly after his January visit. “I was also impressed with the high quality of care that is provided to patients at this top-notch facility in Peapack.” Lance is co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus.

Full Circle 2013 Reflections will be held on Saturday, November 2, from 3–6 p.m., in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus. Gold sponsors of Full Circle are Provident Bank and James and Judith Finn. Bronze sponsors are the Angeletti Group, Angelina and Steven Brown and Shoprite of Hunterdon County. Food/beverage sponsors are: Café Azzurro and cocoLuxe fine pastries, Peapack; Gladstone Tavern, Gladstone; 3West and Urban Table, Basking Ridge; and Village Office Supply, Somerset.

Admission is $30. All funds raised support the Arts Access Program, which enables individuals with disabilities to fully express themselves in the arts. For more information, or to order tickets, call 908.234.0011, ext. 260, or email pcats@matheny.org.