Miles for Matheny essentials

The Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk is back downtown for the first time since 2009.

If you’re planning to attend Miles for Matheny on Sunday, April 22, and you haven’t registered, on-site registration begins at 9 a.m. in Liberty Park in downtown Peapack.

Parking for all participants – except cyclists – is provided at the Pfizer facility off of Route 206 North (Pfizer Way) in Peapack. Everyone parking at Pfizer (drivers and passengers) will be asked to present a valid ID (driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID). Shuttle buses between Pfizer and Liberty Park will run continuously throughout the day from 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Parking is FREE.

Travel time is about five minutes. Cyclists only may park at the Peapack train station, the Gladstone train station or the Peapack-Gladstone Bank at 190 Main St. in Gladstone.

There are four major activities at Miles, followed by a Celebration Picnic in Liberty Park:

• Cycling Routes at 10 a.m. (50-miles; ‘Hills of Attrition’), at 10:45 a.m. (35 miles, 25 miles) and at 11:45 a.m. (10 miles).
• Kids Fun Run (ages 3-10) at 11:30 a.m. Friendly competition in which everyone is a winner.
• 5K Road Race at 12:15 p.m. USATF-NJ NBGP 500 point event through Peapack-Gladstone on town and rural roads.
• Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at 1 p.m.

Non-runners and families can enjoy fun and fitness walking alongside more than 130 Matheny students and patients as they navigate 1.5 miles around town.

Cyclists will have a choice of five different routes.

Melanie Glick-Santiago, left, and Lisa Conturso visit with Matheny adult patient Paul Santo at Matheny’s Adult Learning Center in Hillsborough.

Although Lisa Conturso of Belle Mead, NJ, and Melanie Glick-Santiago of Freehold, NJ, had worked for the same company—Hillsborough, NJ-based nutritional ingredient producer Stryka Botanics—for several years, they only became good friends about 1 1⁄2 years ago. That’s how Glick-Santiago learned about Conturso’s daughter, Dina, who is a residential student at Matheny.

“When Melanie found out about my daughter,” Conturso recalls, “she decided to create a webpage for Miles for Matheny in order to get people to contribute money and participate in the event.”

As of April 5, Melanie’s webpage, “Pay it Forward” had raised $685 online. “I consider the kids at Matheny my children,” she says, explaining that he team name, Pay it Forward, means, “Do something kind for somebody.”   All funds raised at Miles for Matheny help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny’s inpatients and people with disabilities in the community.

Miles for Matheny is an annual fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, April 22, in downtown Peapack. Activities include a 5K Race, five Cycling Courses and a Kids Fun Run. But the signature event is the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk in which more than 100 wheelchair participants, with walking partners, travel 1.5 miles around town. Lisa and Melanie will be there along with other friends and supporters.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors are: The Poses Family Foundation, Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, Archer & Greiner, P.C., BP Fueling Communities, WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880, Partlow Insurance Agency, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org; to support Pay it Forward, click on Search for Participant and type in the team name.

Dina Conturso uses a switch to activate a sewing machine, assisted by her teacher Gwen McCormack.

Chris Saglimbene with the NJ Devils mascot at Miles for Matheny 2011.

As Sunday, April 22 draws near, you can feel the excitement building for the 15th annual Miles for Matheny. Everyone seems thrilled that this event is back where it belongs—at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. Returning to the heart of town will be a treat for all of the participants, particularly the students and patients, who look forward to this opportunity each year to experience the warmth and support of their home community. As adult patient Chris Saglimbene says, “There’s nothing better than walking downtown and seeing people cheering for us.”

Matheny is also grateful to the churches in Peapack-Gladstone for working with us to coordinate the Miles schedule so that the activities will not interfere with Sunday services. As a result, Miles will be starting later. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by Cycling Rides at 10 and 10:45. The Kids Fun Run takes off at 11:30 followed by the 5K at 12:15 p.m. and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at 1. The celebration picnic will now be at Liberty Park after the Wheelchair Walk. And all morning long, breakfast will be served by The Friends of Matheny.

Main Street in Peapack will be completely closed to traffic from noon-2 p.m. for the 5K and Wheelchair Walk. At other times, motorists will have access through town via detours. At all times, though, Peapack-Gladstone police will be on duty to assist cars with the detour routes.

All funds raised for Miles for Matheny will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to our inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community. Major Miles sponsors are: Poses Family Foundation, Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, Archer & Greiner, P.C., BP Fueling Communities, WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880, Partlow Insurance Agency, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org until midnight on April 18. After that you will need to register in person on April 22. Any questions? Call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

When you see a wave of neon yellow t-shirts at Miles for Matheny, you’ll know you’ve spotted the runners from RDA Fitness in Byram, NJ. According to Michelle Welborn, RDA personal trainer and running coach, there will be close to 25 runners wearing RDA Fitness Running Club t-shirts at the event, including Byram Mayor James Oscovitch and RDA owner Robert Austin. The RDA runners gathered recently for a group photo outside the fitness center.

The 15th annual Miles for Matheny will be held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. In addition to the 5K, activities include five Cycling Courses, a Kids Fun Run and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, in which more than 100 wheelchair participants, with walking partners, travel 1.5 miles around downtown Peapack. All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and people with disabilities in the community.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors are the Poses Family Foundation, Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, Archer and Greiner, P.C., BP Fueling Communities,WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880, Partlow Insurance Agency, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

For more information, or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

East Coast staff members, John Schnyderite, left, and Andy Fresco recently visited with group home resident Chet Cheesman at Matheny’s Adult Learning Center in Hillsborough.

A big thank you goes to East Coast Media, a community sponsor at Miles for Matheny, the fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. The Hillsborough, NJ-based printing and graphics company donated design work for all promotional materials utilized to promote the event. East Coast also prints Matheny Matters, Matheny’s newsletter, and hosts our website, www.matheny.org.

Miles for Matheny features several activities including a 5K Race, five Cycling Courses, a Kids Fun Run and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk in which more than 100 wheelchair participants, with walking partners, travel 1.5 miles around town. All funds raised help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy services to Matheny inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Julie Gordon with Scott in his classroom.

For example, speech-language pathologist Jaclynne Dietrich has taught him to choose symbols. “We give him two choices,” explains Dietrich, “and he will grab one of the symbols. In art class, he will select a color. Just before lunch, he will select food.”

Dietrich also created a communications book that Scott can take home with him so that he can make choices by selecting picture symbols when he isn’t in school. “I’ve seen tremendous improvement in his communication skills,” Julie says. “We feel like we’re moving toward something.”

The Gordons, who live in New Providence, NJ, with Scott’s twin siblings, 8 1⁄2-year-old James and Whitney, have formed a team, That’s How Scott Rolls, to raise money for Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. As of March 26, That’s How Scott Rolls had raised $2,288.

The Gordon family will be walking with Scott in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at Miles for Matheny, which  also features five different Cycling Courses, a 5K Race and a Kids Fun Run. All funds raised will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors are:  The Poses Family Foundation, Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation, Archer & Greiner P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org; to contribute to That’s How Scott Rolls, click on Search for Participant and type in the team name.

Cory Mazen with Matheny adult patient Brad Goldman.

As an education major at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA, Cory Mazen and her class visited Melmark, a Berwyn, PA-based agency that serves children and adults with a broad range of developmental disabilities. “My heart melted for the students there,” Mazen recalls. “It opened my mind to the other side of education. After I graduated in 2010, I had to find a school like Melmark closer to home.”

“Home” was Mendham, NJ, where Mazen grew up, graduating from West Morris Mendham High School in 2006. She now teaches second grade at the Bedwell Elementary School in nearby Bernardsville, NJ. “I discovered Matheny,” she says, “ran in the 5K at Miles for Matheny last year and made a personal donation. This year I have a webpage on the Miles for Matheny website, and I’m trying to raise money. I would love for people to support me and Matheny for everything they do. It’s a great cause.” As of March 19, Mazen had raised $350; her goal is $500.

Miles for Matheny will be held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. All funds raised will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community.  In addition to the 5K, there are five different Cycling Routes, a Kids Fun Run and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk in which more than 100 participants in wheelchairs, with walking partners, travel 1.5 miles around town.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors are: The Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation; Archer & Greiner P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV/WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org. To donate to Cory Mazen’s webpage, click on Search for Participant and type in her name.

The O'Connor Clan at Miles For Matheny 2009.

Register and raise donations online for Miles for Matheny by logging onto www.milesformatheny.org. Set up your own home page, which allows you to easily reach out to your family, friends and business associates to support you. Your sponsors’ names and gift amounts will be recorded automatically for you. Monitor your fundraising activity online and watch as you reach your personal fundraising goal! Prizes are awarded for top fundraising individuals and teams.

Tips are offered online. You can also call Patricia Cats at (908) 234-0011, ext. 260, or email her at pcats@matheny.org.

Miles for Matheny is being held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and people with disabilities in the community. Activities include five Cycling Routes, a 5K Race, Kids Fun Run and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk.

Major sponsors are Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union; Archer & Greiner P.C; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV/WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.

Allyson Merer.

Donna and Barry Merer of Scotch Plains, NJ, have lots of friends who are “serious cyclists.” So they have a receptive audience when they promote Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event being held April 22 at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. The Merers have an even more compelling reason to support and fundraise for Miles. Their 20-year-old daughter Allyson is a residential student at Matheny.

“We’re thrilled with the care and love that Ally gets from everyone at Matheny,” says Donna Merer. “It fills such a need for families, providing the best care for children with disabilities. It’s a wonderful school and medical facility.”

Like most Miles participants, Merer is happy the event is moving back downtown and is looking forward to walking with her daughter in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk.  She thinks it’s great to see people come out of their houses and cheer the Matheny students and patients. To help raise funds for the event, the Merers have formed a webpage, “Ally’s Allies” on the Miles for Matheny website, and they’re confident their cyclist friends will support the event. “They feel this sort of jump starts the cycling season,” Merer adds.

In addition to five Cycling Routes and the Wheelchair Walk, Miles activities include a 5K Race and a Kids Fun Run. All funds raised will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to inpatients and people with disabilities in the community. Major sponsors are:  Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation; Archer & Greiner P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV/WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack- Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.

For more information, log onto www.milesformatheny.org; to support Ally’s Allies, click on Search for Participant and type in the team name.

Team Schapiro at Miles for Matheny 2011.

With about 45 days to go before Miles for Matheny, three fundraising teams were pacing the field. As of March 8, the top spot belonged to That’s How Scott Rolls, a team formed by Andrew and Julie Gordon of New Providence, NJ, whose 12-year-old son, Scott, is a student in the Matheny School. That’s How Scott Rolls had raised $2,048.

Second place belonged to Team Schapiro, which had generated $1,275 in contributions, followed closely by Jack’s Team with $1,015. Team Schapiro was formed by the Schapiro family of Basking Ridge, NJ, and Jack’s Team members are Doug, Katie, Meghan and Caroline Harter of Madison, NJ, parents and sisters of five-year-old Matheny student Jack Harter.

To start your own team, log onto www.milesformatheny.org and look for Team Fundraising Tips. If you need further help, email Patricia Cats at pcats@matheny.org or call her at (908) 234-0011, ext. 260. All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and people with disabilities in the community.

On a recent Monday afternoon, MBS students Blake Kernan, left, of Short Hills, NJ, and Tatiana James of Basking Ridge visited with Matheny student Aaron Turovlin.

The relationship between the Morristown-Beard School in Morristown and Matheny goes back longer than anyone can remember. Every Monday afternoon, a group of eight or nine students from Mo-Beard, a coeducational independent school for grades 6-12, visit Matheny to participate in a wide variety of activities, from card games and crafts to adaptive sports and computer games.

In all, about 50 middle and upper school MBS students take part in the Matheny visits, an activity the school is very pleased about, as it says on its website: “The students and faculty of the MBS community are proud to acknowledge themselves as some of Matheny’s most consistent, proactive volunteers.”

In addition to the weekly visits, Morristown-Beard students raise money every year to support Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event being held this year on April 22 at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. Last year, Mo-Beard students raised $2,600. Fundraising activities for this year’s Miles are just getting underway.

At last year’s Miles for Matheny, Mo-Beard student Neil Gadde presented Matheny president Steve Proctor with a check for $2,600 while classmates and faculty members looked on.

Spectators will once again be able to line the streets and cheer on the wheelchair participants.

Anyone who would like to participate should contact Patricia Cats in Matheny’s Development Office at 908 234-0011, ext. 260, or email her at pcats@matheny.org. Matheny sincerely appreciates the community partnership and support we receive. This support helps make Miles for Matheny a success.

This year’s Miles for Matheny will be held Sunday, April 22. Activities include a 5K Race, five different Cycling Rides, a Kids Fun Run and the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk in which more than 100 children and adults in wheelchairs, with walking partners, travel 1.5 miles around town. All funds raised at the event help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny’s inpatients and to people with disabilities in the community.

Major Miles for Matheny sponsors include: The Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation; Archer & Greiner P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.