Goshen firefighter Mike Hoffman to be honored

MONTGOMERY — The Education Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the Orange County Firefighters Museum has chosen Goshen firefighter Frederick "Mike" Hoffman as the recipient of the 4th annual Fire Prevention Educator of the Year Award.

Hoffman will receive this award on June 7 at a gala being held at the museum from 5 to 7 p.m.

Criteria for this award include innovative ways of presenting fire prevention and fire safety education to the public. After reviewing nine quality candidates, Hoffman was the winner of the award.

Hoffman has been teaching fire prevention programs for the Town of Goshen for several years. He chairs his fire department's Fire Prevention Open House annually, and teaches fire prevention to students in the Goshen Central School District, Orange/Ulster BOCES, St. John School and John S. Burke Catholic High School. Programs that Mike Hoffman hosts are geared to scouts, seniors, students with special needs and school age children.

"Mike is an innovator, a scheduler and a motivator. His programs generate a tremendous amount of positive publicity for the Goshen Fire Department," according to Goshen fire Chief Elmer Budd.

Hoffman joins the 2011 recipient, Amy Conner, of the Good Will Fire Department, the 2012 recipient, Barbara Gasperetti, of the Coldenham Fire Department and the 2013 recipient, Chad Quackenbush, of the Warwick Fire Department.

The June 7 gala includes appetizers, beverages, a silent auction and is open to the public. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling 845-457-9666 or email ocfmny@gmail.com.

To learn more about the Orange County Firefighters Museum and Education Center, go to ocfm.us or look them up on facebook.

The museum is located at 141 Clinton St., Montgomery.