Rockaway River Partnership. Clean up on 10/9 at Jackson Ave Park

If you havent read the news, we have a new partnership with Potbelly's Riverside Cafe of Rockaway to help steward the Rockaway River.

There are lots of people who care about this river and together, we will make great strides to keep this potential gem in tip top shape.

To get us started, we will be doing our first clean up on October 9th.  Please mark this on your calendar and pull your weight for the chapter.  We all may love to fish, but we have to back up that love with boots on the ground when we are needed.

Hacklebarney will be meeting the many community Volunteers at the Jackson Ave River Park in the parking lot.

This new partnership with Potbelly's was big enough to get an article in the Daily Record.  If you would like to read the article, and you should, it can be found here

So make sure to come out for the 9th annual Potbelly's Rockaway River clean-up!

This Thursday Night - Tim Flagler

The ever popular hippy and former Summit resident will be speaking to our chapter this Thursday in Whippany.  It goes without saying that Tim is one of the most popular speakers we have and always comes with blazing six shooters (or should I say a brand new topic every time).

This presentation will be on early fall fishing.  

See you in Whippany this Thursday at 7:30.  Bring some cash so you can buy me a beer.

Tim at the bench, probably listening to the Dead in the background.

Good News for Hacklebarney and for me

There was a board meeting last night.  There were a few votes.  I'll reveal one to you and you will have to wait until Thursday for the other two.

The one I will reveal is that Eric Frie will be taking over the website duties as soon as he is up to speed.

Besides being one of the chapter's youngest members, Eric has proven himself and I will feel good about him leading on this new endeavor.

For me, it will be nice to read someone else's comments and not have to come up with witty slander on my own. 

See you Thursday.

Sam Sandus checked in last night and gave me the update on what Hacklebarney has been up to this summer.  While we take a break from our official meetings, we dont rest when it comes to doing good for the environment and others.  So in Sam's words...

"It’s Mid Summer and our Chapter members have been active even though we don’t have our Chapter meetngs until September. In summary:

Erich trying out his luck for warm water species.

1. Our Youth member Erich Frie attended the TU Teen Summit in Montana. He will speak about his experiences at the September meeting.
2. Hacklebarney Board Members planted 50 Trees on the Paulinskill River with The Nature Conservancy:  Trees were purchased with our TU Embrace A Stream Grant from National TU.
3. Some Members went to the Farmington River fishing trip. A few nice fish were caught, despite challenging conditions, finicky trout and the poor casting everyone has come to expect from John Eng and Mike Sankowich.  (oops, did I say that?)
4. Members joined Project Healing Waters and helped VA Hospital Vets fish the Musky Private water and the Pequest Hatchery pond. The Vets caught fish and were happy. Many have improved their fishing skills. The VA has bus trips a few times a year and hosts fly tying monthly at the Lyons VA Hospital.
5. Trout In the Classroom Teacher School Ann Owens, from Chatham Day School, was presented with a framed Appreciation Award Certificate from Hacklebarney Chapter Board for the great work she and her classes did. She now is working with Rockland County, NY Parks and Rec, the Trust for Public Land and will head up Rockland County’s first Environmental Center in Nyack Beach.

Mike fishing th Farmington.

So Enjoy your Summer and See you at our September Chapter Meeting!"