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Plymouth Public Schools

Plymouth, MA School Superintendent and team to share health and wellness message with students on bike trip from DC to America’s Hometown.

photo of Dr. Gary Maestas
Plymouth Superintendent Gary Maestas, Ed.D. on the first DreamRide back in 2011. Dr. Maestas and a group of DREAMRIDERS will embark on DREAMRIDE2 in an effort to raise $100,000 for the Plymouth Education Foundation and to share a health and wellness message to students along the course and back home in Plymouth, MA.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

Can the sequel be better than the original? Plymouth Superintendent Gary Maestas, Ed.D. hopes so. Dr. Maestas and a group of DREAMRIDERs—including Plymouth students, current and former elected officials, local officials from neighboring towns, and citizens—will bike the course of the first DREAMRIDE in 2011, from Washington DC to Plymouth, Mass, in an effort to raise $100,000 in funds and share a health and wellness message with elementary school students.

“We learned quite a bit from the first ride five years ago and received some incredible feedback and suggestions and have incorporated those into DREAMRIDE2,” said Dr. Maestas. “Combine those improvements and the return of key sponsors like SPECIALIZED Bicycles, Serious Cycles, Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth, Ai3 Architects, the YMCA, Marty’s Buick GMC Isuzu who is providing the chase vehicle, and a handful of new sponsors and it’s safe to say the sequel will be better. Much better.”

For starters, Dr. Maestas will have a bigger team. Joining him on DREAMRIDE2 and helping him share the health and wellness message will be: AJ Maestas (Gary’s son and student at Babson College); Michelle Badger, Plymouth School Committee member; Sergio Harnais, former Plymouth Board of Selectmen Member; Scott Knief, Superintendent of Carver Public Schools; and Michael Schultz, Athletic Director of Carver Public Schools. Accompanying these riders will be a crew of approximately 12 bicycle mechanics, video and media crew, and support staff from the Plymouth schools. Marc Garrett, a Board Member of the Plymouth Education Foundation who has helped with the planning of the route, will be driving the chase vehicle and Wrestling Brewster, a Plymouth resident, will be driving the media RV.

The most dramatic new wrinkle for DREAMRIDE2, however, is the drawing to give away of SPECIALIZED brand bicycles to a student at every Plymouth elementary school as well as at schools the DREAMRIDE2 Team will be stopping at along the route. To be eligible for the drawing, students must take the DREAMRIDE Pledge (writing their name on a Pledge Card and submitting it to their teacher).

The DREAMRIDE2 pledge is as follows: When faced with a difficult situation, I will stop and think carefully about my options. I pledge to make decisions that will keep me strong, healthy, and happy, both now and in the years to come.

For each stop, there will be a rally, sponsored by Boosterthon Fun Run, where the DREAMRIDE team will talk about health and wellness, overcoming obstacles, staying active and healthy, and following your dreams. Students may participate in some spirit-lifting healthy physical activities and then a winner of a SPECIALIZED bicycle will be drawn.

The DREAMRIDE will be stopping at the following schools and YMCAs: Walter & Betty Ward Family Center Y in Abingdon, MD on June 6; William B. Keene Elementary School in Newark, DE on June 7; Christian Street Y in Philadelphia, PA on June 8; Greater Morristown YMCA in Cedar Knolls, NJ on June 9; Thomas Jefferson School in Morristown, NJ on June 10; Veterans Park Elementary School, in Ridgefield, CT also on June 10; and the South Shore YMCAs in both Quincy and Hanover, MA on June 12. The sponsorship of the Y has been an integral part of the ride as many of the YMCA’s will be providing dinner to the DREAMRIDE2 Team.

In addition to the grand prize winners, the DREAMRIDE2 will also be giving away helmets, Reebok sneakers, and other merchandise.  All entrants will receive a colorful DREAMRIDE2 wristband.

“During the course of the ride, Dr. Maestas and his team will be Skyping with middle school and elementary classes back in Plymouth to share his experiences along the route, talk about how to overcome obstacles in order to achieve your goals, and to answer student questions. There are six Plymouth graduating seniors who will make up the media team providing a video journal of their time on the road and updating the website and social media daily.

The DREAMRIDE2 concludes on June 12 in Plymouth after stops the previous day in Mystic, Connecticut and the State House in Boston on the final day. With the help of Shaughnessy Rentals, the final rally will take place at Plymouth North High School with music, food, a meet & greet with the Plymouth Pilgrims baseball team, a home run derby challenge with the players, athletic demonstrations, and the final giveaway of four more SPECIALIZED bicycles to Plymouth and Carver students at the rally. A very special added component to the final rally is the community donation of used bicycles to Bicycles For Humanity. The community is encouraged to bring any used bicycles to the rally that will be donated to many in developing countries.

“Of course for the DREAMRIDE2 to be better than the original, we have to meet and exceed our fundraising goal of $100, 000,” said Dr. Maestas. “The response from the community and businesses in the area has been tremendous and we feel strongly that we can achieve that goal.”

Proceeds from DREAMRIDE2 will go directly to the Plymouth Education Foundation (www.plymoutheducationfoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that solicits, manages, and distributes funds for educational purposes and activities that may not otherwise be funded. Monies raised by the DREAMRIDE2 will help fund health and wellness programs for students in the Plymouth School District.

For complete information on the DREAMRIDE2, including sponsorship and volunteer information, please visit www.dreamrideplymouth.org or contact Emily Goonan, DREAMRIDE2 Director at (774) 454-8983 or egoonan@plymouth.k12.ma.us.

Plymouth, MA School Superintendent and team to share health and wellness message with students on bike trip from DC to America’s Hometown.Read More

Plymouth School Superintendent to bike from Washington, DC, to Plymouth, MA, to raise funds for education.

Dr. Gary Maestas, Plymouth Public Schools superintendent
Dr. Gary Maestas, superintendent of Plymouth Public Schools

PLYMOUTH, MA…

It’s no secret that the cost of providing a quality education has increased. It’s also no secret that federal and state aid to school districts like Plymouth has been reduced. Deciding that the current level of funding was just not going to be enough, Plymouth Superintendent Gary Maestas, Ed.D., had an idea. He would raise money for Plymouth students by riding a bicycle from Washington, DC, to Plymouth, MA, giving birth to the DreamRide. Through DreamRide, Dr. Maestas’ goal is to raise $100,000 in donations for the Plymouth Education Foundation, the premier, non-profit organization established to support and enhance the education of the students and citizens of the Town of Plymouth.

Beginning June 6, Dr. Maestas, accompanied by a DreamRide Team comprised of students, teachers and a nurse, will bike approximately 600 miles from DC to Plymouth over a seven-day period. While the primary goal will be to raise funds via sponsorships, the DreamRide has many layers and opportunities for growth and learning.

“Sure, the goal is to raise money, specifically $100,000, but we’re just as interested in setting an example for students,” said Maestas. “When faced with a problem or challenge, I want students to learn to think outside the box.”

Dr. Maestas will record daily video reports/blogs from the road. In addition, his progress will be recorded via GPS online as will his heart rate and other vitals. The video/media element of the DreamRide will provide a number of educational and curriculum opportunities both for the crew working the ride and students back home in Plymouth. Those include: 

  • Health and Wellness – How to train, eat and prepare physically and mentally for a physical challenge.
  • Math – Problem solving, charting and estimating Dr. Maestas’ progress.
  • Social Studies – Historical and geographical aspects of sites visited along the route.
  • Science – Weather, mechanics of bicycle, drag coefficients, and more.
  • English Language Arts – Literacy, and much more.
  • Community involvement – How getting involved with your community can help students and their families accomplish incredible things.

Proceeds from the DreamRide will go directly to the Plymouth Education Foundation (www.plymoutheducationfoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that solicits, manages, and distributes funds for educational purposes and activities that may not otherwise be funded.

In addition to raising $100,000, the DreamRide is also looking for sponsors to underwrite expenses associated with the seven-day ride. Serious Cycles of Manomet has donated a SPECIALIZED bike for the ride. In addition, Serious Cycles Owner Seth Lawrence is training two students as repair technicians for the ride. Other sponsors to date include Jordan Hospital, First Student Bus Company, and the Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway Company.

“We are honored to support education in Plymouth through Superintendent Gary Maestas’ journey to raise funds for the education foundation and to promote general health and wellness awareness in the community,” says Jordan Hospital President Peter Holden. “As the region’s leading provider of healthcare, we are committed to working with Gary and the community to ensure that the DreamRide is a success—and I look forward to riding with him from Boston to Jordan Hospital in Plymouth.”

“The DreamRide is about much more than ‘Dr. Maestas’ getting on a bicycle and hopefully getting himself in good enough condition not to fall apart somewhere in New Jersey,” said Maestas. “It’s about people caring about the education our children are receiving and wanting something better.”

For complete information on the DreamRide, including sponsorship and volunteer information, please visit www.dreamride.us or contact Mrs. Nicole Manfredi, DreamRide Director at (781) 831-0731 or nsmanfredi@aol.com.

Plymouth School Superintendent to bike from Washington, DC, to Plymouth, MA, to raise funds for education.Read More

Plymouth woman wins Plymouth Safe Driving campaign raffle of student-repaired Mazda 6.

Bruce King of King Collision Centers hands over the keys to a 2005 Mazda 6 to Ernie Menslage. Menslage's wife won the drawing for the auto, which was rebuilt by auto repair students from Plymouth South as part of the Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

You might say Beth Menslage was having a bad week. A bad fall had landed the Pine Hills resident in the hospital with a fractured hip. While nothing will take the physical pain of her injury away, her spirits were lifted considerably when her ticket was drawn as the winner of a 2005 Mazda 6, courtesy of the Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign.

The Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign–sponsored by King Collision Centers, Commerce Insurance, Plymouth Public Schools and Plymouth Police Department—has been a yearlong effort to encourage young drivers to practice safe driving habits. Part of that campaign included a donation by Commerce Insurance of a damaged car for the auto repair students at Plymouth South’s technical studies program to repair the vehicle for a raffle. That raffle took in nearly $5,000 in proceeds, which will go back to the Plymouth Technical Studies’ SkillsUSA program.

“Mrs. Menslage is not the only winner in this drawing,” said Gary Maestas, superintendent of Plymouth Public Schools. “The students who repaired the car have received invaluable experience that they can take to the workplace with them. And the money raised by the raffle will benefit students at both Plymouth North and South high schools who want to partake in marketing, nursing, culinary and the many other programs in SkillsUSA.”

Students began work on the 2005 Mazda 6 in November 2009. Using recycled parts, the students repaired damage to the front end. In fact, the only new parts installed were the tires, brakes,  seatbelts and airbags, the latter two being requirements in a repair of this nature.

“This project had a phenomenal effect on our students,” said Chris Baker, director of Plymouth Public Schools Technical Studies. “Before this, many of them were on the fence about whether or not to pursue a career in auto repair. After working on a project like this, which is a far more sophisticated repair, a few are considering continuing their vocational training at Baran Institute.”

Ernie Menslage accepted the Mazda 6 on behalf of his wife. Mrs. Menslage purchased the winning ticket on a recent visit to Plymouth South High School to get her hair cut by the Technical Studies program’s cosmetology students. “She’s always supported the programs at the school,” added Menslage.

“Mrs. Menslage winning the Mazda 6 is the proverbial icing on the cake for the Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign,” said Bruce King, owner of King Collision Centers. “It’s wonderful that somebody who has been an active supporter of the Technical Studies programs won car.”

Continued King, “It’s even better that so many students have benefitted from the Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign, from the auto repair students to the two students who won In Control driving classes, from the students who committed to safer driving practices by signing safe driving contracts with their parents to the students who heard Ethan Morgan’s story of how your life can change forever in a second with one bad decision. The Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign has been an overall success.”

For a complete rundown of the events and activities that comprised the Plymouth Safe Driving Campaign, please visit www.plymouthsafedriving.org.

Anyone Can Remove Dents – King Collision Centers Removes Doubts

Founded in 1984 by Bruce King, King Collision Centers provides superior collision repair and extraordinary customer care to thousands of clients south of Boston. King Collision is dedicated to earning customers for life and their team of professionals help clients through the collision repair process every step of the way – from coordinating a rental vehicle; providing accurate damage appraisal; assisting with the insurance claim process and ensuring that the vehicle is returned to its pre-accident operation, safety and value.

King Collision Centers was voted “Best Collision Repair” by Market Surveys of America and they have been selected to participate in the Repair Shop Referral Programs of 20 different insurance companies.  That includes being part of Commerce Insurance’s CARES (Commerce Auto Express Repair Service) Shops, an elite program that includes approximately 120 collision shops across Massachusetts.

  
The company continues to build strategic alliances with auto dealerships, enabling dealerships to offer collision repair services on-site – similar to their alignment with Mastria Auto Group in Raynham.

King Collision Centers are located in Pembroke, Plymouth and most recently, Raynham, MA.

For more information, visit KingCollision.com or contact 508-747-2005

Plymouth woman wins Plymouth Safe Driving campaign raffle of student-repaired Mazda 6.Read More