Meeting Tuesday launches
efforts to organize May event
Preparations for this year’s "Manville Madness" bicycle race part of the annual Tour of Somerville "SomerCycle" races first held last year will kick off with a meeting at the Municipal Complex Tuesday.
This year’s race has been scheduled for May 23, and organizers hope to expand the Manville Madness by recruiting community groups and non-profit organizations interested in raising funds to offer festival-like activities and refreshments.
The group planning meeting scheduled for 7 p.m., Jan. 21, in the Courtroom of the Manville Municipal Building. Anyone interested in attending this meeting or requiring additional information, should contact Richard Armstrong, Recreation Director for the Borough of Manville, at 722-2656. Mr. Armstrong is coordinating the recruitment of community groups and volunteers interested in participating in the expanded activities planned for Manville Madness.
Last year’s inaugural race attracted nearly 200 racers and dozens of spectators along the race route around Weston School.
"We were thrilled by the warm reception the event received last year from the residents and officials of Manville," Dan Puntillo, Executive Director of Middle Earth, a Somerville non-profit agency devoted to providing guidance, role models and support for youth that has been the sole sponsor of the Tour of Somerville since 1998. "We are anticipating a bigger and better event in 2003 and hope that more of the Manville community is able to participate in the festivities planned to kick-off the holiday weekend."
"SomerCycle is about community and about family, but it’s also a terrific opportunity to see absolutely thrilling bike racing, right here in central New Jersey," Mr. Puntillo said.
A professional/amateur event of legendary stature, SomerCycle’s Kugler-Anderson tour of Somerville attracts former Olympians, cyclists from throughout America and abroad, as well as local hopefuls. Over the course of the weekend, which will be May 23-26 in 2003, more than 500 of the world’s best cyclists are anticipated to participate. Past races have attracted participants from more than eight countries, 22 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
For information about Somercycle 2003 or becoming involved, contact Kristin Cantwell at Coordinates, Inc. at 823-9492.

