Hopatcong Students Highlight Town Hall Meeting

Center for Prevention & Counseling hosted a Town Hall Meeting at Hopatcong Borough Hall last month as part of Alcohol Awareness Month. 

Hopatcong Middle School students and parents attended an evening of awareness and awards. Community Trials Intervention Youth group members Hailey Krueger and Janine Munoz started the evening off with an interactive remote response game called Too Smart to Start. 

Together, parents and students had the opportunity to answer questions regarding the health and legal consequences of underage drinking. Youth also had the opportunity to participate in a demonstration using Fatal Vision Goggles that simulated being under the influence of alcohol. Other speakers included Officer Robert Haffner and Alex Aquado. 

Haffner shared his expertise regarding Hopatcong Borough’s Underage Drinking Ordinance, NJ Social Host Law and NJ 911 Legislation. Aquado, a State Farm Insurance Representative from Sparta, volunteered his time to discuss liability issues surrounding alcohol use and auto and home owner’s insurance. 

Mayor Sylvia Petillo closed the evening after awarding eight Hopatcong Middle School Youth for their winning entries to Center for Prevention & Counseling’s Don’t Hurt Your Hippo PSA and poster contest.  Hopatcong Youth winners included: Mikey Castoro, Kimberly Hughes, Sara Snook, Aubrey McCarrick, Bart Yarosz, Mallory Vicedomini, Jenna Mayer and Amanda Corujo.