Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, District Attorney David Hoovler and Chairman of the Legislature Steve Brescia treated fifth-grade Montgomery Elementary School students in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program to a pizza party on Tuesday and played a game of kickball against the class.
Captain Paul Arteta of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Village of Montgomery D.A.R.E. police officer Jack Smith, Orange County Youth Bureau Director Rachel Wilson and Assistant District Attorneys from Hoovler’s office also attended the event.
“I enjoyed spending time with the students, the faculty and the staff at Montgomery Elementary School,” Neuhaus said. “We all had a wonderful lunch and the kickball game was fun and spirited. Being around young people is always an inspiration to me and I appreciate that the students have taken such an interest in D.A.R.E.”
(Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus on the kickball field at Montgomery Elementary School)
Added Brescia: “We thank Montgomery Elementary School for being such great hosts. I also commend Jack Smith for doing such a great job with the D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E teaches students good decision-making and encourages them to live safe and healthy lives. I’m grateful that Montgomery Elementary School has incorporated D.A.R.E. into its curriculum.”
Launched in 1983, D.A.R.E. is a K-12 education program that addresses violence, bullying, internet safety, and other high risk issues that can be a part of students’ lives. It is taught in thousands of schools in the U.S. and 52 other countries.
Hoovler met with Montgomery Elementary School’s D.A.R.E. graduation class in the spring of 2016. During that visit, he asked students who came up with the slogan “Just Say No.” Hoovler was surprised when a student answered “Nancy Reagan.” The answer earned that group a pizza party.
Last year, a student challenged Hoovler to a kickball game. He took them up on the challenge and put together a team. In the rematch on Tuesday, Hoovler pitched, Neuhaus played third base and Brescia played center field. The students were given 20 outs and no score was kept, but Montgomery Elementary got the best of Orange County’s team.
(Montgomery Elementary School students before the kickball game)
“The D.A.R.E. philosophy is one that I support and I commend the students for participating in the program,” Hoovler said. “These young men and women are role models for their peers and have a bright future. The Village of Montgomery Police and Montgomery Elementary School have done a wonderful job incorporating D.A.R.E into the curriculum and it has been a success.”
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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