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• Orange County News: District Attorney David Hoovler Announces the Fourth Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby

  “Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs”

  Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, announced the launch of the fourth District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby. The Derby will run from April 1, 2024 through September 2, 2024 and is open to children between the ages of four and eighteen who are children or grandchildren of Orange County residents.

  The fishing is great in Orange County, so give it a try! In 2015, almost 45,000 fishing licenses were sold in Orange County. That year, of the 62 counties in New York State, only two counties sold more fishing licenses than Orange County. Last year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation stocked about 38,880 trout in Orange County waters. In addition, the Orange County Federation of Sportsmen stocked trout in waters with public fishing access. There are 86 named lakes in Orange County and hundreds more unnamed lakes and ponds that contain several species of fish of interest to the angler. Orange County also has many miles of rivers and streams to fish as well. The Hudson, Delaware, Neversink, Ramapo, and Wallkill Rivers and several small streams have public access to good fishing. If you do not own a boat, no problem. There is plenty of shore fishing in many state, county, and town parks in Orange County.

  Fish, large and small, call Orange County home. There are large striped bass in the Hudson River during the spring run. The New York State freshwater record striped bass, which weighed 60 pounds, was caught in the Hudson River in Orange County in 2014. Greenwood Lake has muskellunge, walleye, and bass ready to test your skills as an angler. The Wallkill River is loaded with smallmouth bass and rock bass. Try small topwater lures here for exciting action! If you are a novice or first-time angler, Orange County lakes, ponds, and streams are heavily populated with panfish that are easy to catch. Bluegills, pumpkinseeds, yellow perch, bullheads, and crappies are found in almost all the lakes and ponds in the county. Try worms under a bobber using light tackle and do not be surprised if a large bass or pickerel grabs your bait instead! Try Rutgers, Moodna, or Woodbury creeks for trout. Flies, small spinner baits, worms, or salmon eggs are used to catch rainbow and brown trout in those streams.

  Fishing teaches many life lessons, such as patience and how to deal with success and failure. Several U.S. presidents were accomplished fishermen and used fishing to relax from the stress and responsibilities of their office. Participants will also learn to enjoy and respect nature and, by spending more time with family and friends, will alleviate some of the boredom and anxiety caused by the stress in life. It is that boredom and anxiety that has led so many of our young people to turn to drug use or gang activity. Sports and other worthwhile activities can help deter young people from those bad choices. The Derby will encourage our young people to go fishing and enjoy the outdoors and hopefully avoid drug use.

  The Fishing Derby is part of District Attorney Hoovler’s community outreach program. This contest began during COVID-19 and continues to help young anglers make good choices. Participation in fishing skyrocketed with New Yorkers during the COVID-19 crisis, because that activity could be enjoyed at almost any age, in the outdoors with friends and family, while social distancing. The Fishing Derby will encourage the youth of Orange County to participate in an exciting outdoor sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Remember, any fish entered in the Derby, big or small, has an equal chance to win a prize for the contestant.

  CONTEST RULES: Entry into the Youth Fishing Derby is free. All fish entered in the contest must be legally caught from anywhere in New York State. Contestants must adhere to all current New York State fishing regulations. Fresh and saltwater fish are eligible to be entered into the contest. To enter, email a photo of the contestant holding the fish, as well as the child’s first name and an adult contact phone number, to [email protected]. Each angler can enter up to three fish during the contest, to have multiple chances to win. Ten winners will be drawn at random from all entries received during the contest dates. Each angler is limited to one prize package. All photos entered in the Youth Fishing Derby becomes the property of the Derby.

  PRIZE PACKAGE: Each winner will receive an Orange County District Attorney’s Office limited t-shirt and a Mystery Tackle Box Bass Fishing Kit.  Bonus prize: The first winner drawn will also receive a $100 gift card.  Prizes can be picked up at the District Attorney’s Office by the winners in Goshen or will be mailed to them at the conclusion of the contest.

  “I wish good luck to all our young anglers,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and I hope that you enjoy your time in our great outdoors. Please always remember safety! Wear a life vest when in a boat or near deep water. Be careful with hooks and other fishing tackle. Look where you cast and behind you, to avoid hooking someone by mistake. Remember sunglasses to protect your eyes from both the sun and from hooks that might pop loose from a hooked fish. Remember that good anglers don’t litter, because it hurts our wildlife habitat and can lead to the loss of public access for fishing. Have fun and stay safe, and maybe I’ll see you on the water this year!”

  
  DA Hoovler helping the Orange County Federation of Sportsmen to stock trout

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• Orange County News

  District Attorney Hoovler and the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System Announce that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition will have two Information Tables at Freedom Fest to Distribute Veteran Crisis Line Awareness Items, VA benefit information and Other Related Information to Interested Veterans and Their Families.

   

  District Attorney Hoovler joined Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System to create a Coalition to Prevent Veterans from Committing Suicide in November 2021

  District Attorney David M. Hoovler, and both Carl LoFaro and Lenox Okall from the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System announced that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition will put out a table in the lodge and another one in the vendor field during the Orange County fireworks show, Freedom Fest on July 19, 2024, to hand out veteran crisis materials and veteran benefit information. The coalition has already placed over 43,000 suicide prevention materials in over 1,128 businesses and organizations located in and near Orange County, New York.  The coalition hopes to reach even more people with their message at this year’s Freedom Fest. The coalition is also partnering with several other veteran groups and government agencies during Freedom Fest to pass out information on upcoming local veteran events, activities, and benefits.  The Coalition will have information on hand from the Veterans Administration, Mission 22, Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Clear Path For Veterans, Vet Center, DAV, Navy Federal Credit Union, Heroes, Cowboys & Companions, INC. and others. The coalition also wishes to thank Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus for his assistance to the coalition during this past year. The Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew will also have applications for the Orange County Veterans Discount Program available at the information table. The Orange County Veterans Service Agency administrated by Christian Farrell will also have handouts about the services they provide to Orange County Veterans.  In addition, the District Attorney’s office will have booklets to pass out on preventing senior citizen fraud and materials on the opioid crisis with a view towards preventing drug use and overdose by our young people.

  The Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition is trying to reach as many veterans and their families as possible with their suicide prevention message.  Since Freedom Fest draws large crowds many of whom are veterans, this event is a great place to meet veterans who might not have seen the materials we have placed out in public already.  Representatives of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System, Clear Path For Vets, Vet Center, DAV, Heroes, Cowboys & Companions and Orange County ADAs will be on site if anyone would like to discuss the information in our handouts or set up a future meeting to speak to a group live about suicide prevention. The coalition has already been to several veteran organizations and sportsmen’s clubs to speak about suicide prevention and are looking to speak to more interested groups in the future.

  “I am proud of the work that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition has done for Orange County veterans and their families and of the strong support that has been provided to the coalition by the citizens and businesses of Orange County” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler.  If you or your organization would like any veteran crisis materials or information about any of the other Veterans groups helping us in Orange County, please stop by our tables. The coalition will be happy to assist you.  You can also contact Mr. Carl LoFaro of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System at [email protected] to get crisis materials sent to you or to set up a live meeting with your organization on this serious subject. Please contact Mr. Lenox Okall of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System at [email protected]  if you need information on VA benefits.  Enjoy Freedom Fest and the fireworks!