JAR OF HOPE & CRIMSONRISE UNITE FOR NJ/NYC AUTISTIC COMMUNITY

Asbury Park, NJ: July 13, 2023 - Jim Raffone, Founder/CEO of JAR of Hope, has announced that Barbara D’Amora has joined the Board of Directors. D’Amora is a founding member of The GRACE Foundation of New York and a board member of Staten Island-based CrimsonRise, both serving the autistic community.

In 2013, Jim and Karen Raffone were told their four-year-old son James Anthony (“Jamesy”) had an extremely-rare disease called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is a fatal, muscle-wasting disease occurring only once in 3,500 live births. There is no cure. These kids are unable to walk by about 13. They’re unable to breathe on their own by the mid-teens. And they generally pass on in their early-twenties…from asphyxiation.

“Karen and I founded JAR of Hope (https://www.jarofhope.org/) to search for a cure,” Jim Raffone says, “and to create awareness of Duchenne md through events focused on fitness, lifestyle, and motor capabilities. When we discovered that many kids with Duchenne also have autism, we invited Barbara D’Amora to join our Board. She’s been a leading advocate for the autistic community in this region for many years.”

To raise funding to research a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Raffone has created signature events around the world, among them climbing Mount

Everest and launching the National Push-Up campaign. He’s participated in events like the “Alps to Ocean” in New Zealand, experiencing 50,000’ of altitude changes in seven days while carrying a heavy pack. And he holds six world records for his age group.

“Jar of Hope recently expanded our mission statement to include Autism,” Raffone says. “And we’re working hard to raise funding and awareness for both causes.”

Barbara D’Amora’s son Nick passed away in May at 25. He was a non-speaking autistic person who communicated by spelling, and a co-founder of Staten Island’s CrimsonRise (https://www. crimsonrise.org/). And his mother has been instrumental as an Advisor there.

“Autism is now being correctly understood as a motor and sensory disorder, rather than a cognitive one,” Barbara D’Amora says. “And we’re building an important partnership with JAR of Hope to get that message out.”

Their first joint effort, CrimsonRise’s inaugural “Waterfront Run/ Walk for Autism,” takes place at the scenic trails of Wolfe’s Pond on Staten Island, Sunday, September 10.

“There’s a trail running along the ocean and through the woods, and great picnic and barbecue facilities for afterwards,” Jim Raffone says. “We see this becoming a marquee event for autism.”

HAPPY SUMMER FROM HAUSER HILL FARMS!

Did you know that there are three seasons for apples? There are Summer apples, Fall apples and Winter apples. Summer apple varieties are generally in season from July to September. We have some delicious summer apple varieties that are also “must haves” like the Zestar and Molly Delicious.

We are in full swing here on the farm and happy to report that the “BIG THREE” are in: sweet corn, tomatoes and peaches!!! We are also picking zucchini, onions, cabbage, greens, cucumbers, plums, string beans, summer apples, blackberries and more.

Come visit us at our farm stand, 261 Ticetown Road, Old Bridge Tuesday – Sunday 9-5, or at any of the weekly farmers markets we attend: Thursdays – Keyport Firemen’s Memorial Park (across from the Fishery) 11am – 7pm, and Rahway Train Station, 12pm –7pm, Saturdays – Highlands, Huddy Park 9am – 2pm and Sundays – Red Bank in the Galleria parking lot 9am –2pm. Buy fresh, buy local! Thank you for your support of our family’s farm!

CHECK IT OUT: LIBRARY NEWS!

It’s hard to believe it’s already August, but there’s plenty of time for summer fun at the library! It’s not too late to sign up for our summer reading program for kids, teens, and adults – we’ll be accepting reading logs and raffle tickets until 8/19. Here are a sampling of our fantastic events that you won’t want to miss: For adults, we have Haunted Jersey Shore with Pat Heyer: Ghostly Fun in the Sand and Sun on 8/10, Refreshing Summer Dishes to Beat the Heat with Nick Mietkowski on 8/23, and Who Wrote That Song? Harry Warren, the Unknown Master of Melody: A Concert Lecture performed by Prof. Diane Cypkin, PhD on 8/25. For kids, we have Outdoor Story Time on 8/8 (weather permitting), Book Bunch with The Lizard Guys on 8/16 (registration is required), and our MAPL Carnival will mark the end of Summer Reading on 8/19. The carnival will feature games and prizes and tons of fun! No registration is required and kids of all ages are welcome. For tweens and teens, we are having another Teen Lock-in on Friday, 8/11, from 6:30-9pm. (Registration and a signed permission slip at drop off are required.) Also, Teen Edible Cookie Dough on 8/16, and Teen Locker Décor Creation on 8/21. (Registration is required for these programs as well.) See our events calendar on our website for our full August calendar: www.matawanaberdeenlibrary.com. Have a question? Give us a call at 732-583-9100, stop by, visit our website, or drop us an email at info@ matawanaberdeenlibrary.com. The library is open 7 days a week and our friendly staff is happy to assist you!

Stay tuned for September – it’s Library Card Sign-up Month and we have some very special plans! Keep an eye on our website, social media, and this column in the September issue for details. Enjoy the rest of the summer! Kimberly

Matawan

Paone, Library Director

Aberdeen Public Library