Vets ‘healing’ with fishing

TUNKHANNOCK – Tony Rodriguez caught the first trout of the day and smiled.

For Rodriguez, 58, interaction with others has been a problem since he returned from Vietnam many years ago.

But the veteran and nine others enjoyed their hours in the rain Wednesday at Sugar Hollow Trout Hatchery as part of Project Healing Waters, sponsored by the Stanley Cooper Sr. Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s recreation therapy program.

“I’ve been having difficulty socializing even in my neighborhood,” said Rodriguez, of Shickshinny. “I usually don’t talk to people.”

But Rodriguez said the program helped return some of his lost social skills – lost due to the way he and other Vietnam War vets were treated long after they returned from the jungle.

“I’m really having fun in this program,” he said. “It’s an effort for me to get up every day and go to the hospital. But I’m trying and these people are helping.”

Rodriguez grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., before settling in the area. He worked as a candy maker and then for a school district where he shoveled coal into a boiler every day for 20 years.

After he caught his rainbow trout, Rodriguez sat and watched the other vets throw lines into the bubbling waters of the Sugar Hollow pond.

“This is enjoyable too,” he said as another trout was reeled in. “My legs get sore. But I’m glad to be here with these guys and all the volunteers.”

In addition to Rodriguez, the other veterans fishing were: Bruce Kromis, Pete Konnick, Joe Stuchko, Tim Halliday, Nancy Britten, Mike Sherba, Patrick Tuorto, Chris Turner and Will Abram. Heide Cebrick coordinated the event for the Stanley Cooper group. Members of the group assisted each veteran in casting their lines.

Marian Skomsky, recreation therapist at the hospital, brought a few staff members with her on a bus with the veterans. “We have been meeting for months to teach them how to tie their flies and to cast. The Stanley Cooper members have been great in helping us get to this point.”

Sugar Hollow reopened a year ago, she said, and is owned by Daniel, Kendal and Jonathon Williams. She said the veterans were allowed to catch and release their fish.

“This was a project we were very interested in from the beginning,” said Pam Phillips, office manager at Sugar Hollow. “I have a son in the Navy and my husband is a veteran, as is my dad.”

Pete Konnick, 79, of Lee Park, said he last fished at Sugar Hollow 25 years ago with his brother.

Cebrick said the primary goal of the program is to help the veterans pursue a hobby that will benefit them in their recovery from either physical or emotional injuries. Pat Damico, area coordinator for Project Healing Waters in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, grew up in Hazleton, and when he heard about Wednesday’s event he asked to participate.

“We have found that the program is very beneficial in improving dexterity and it has developed camaraderie between the veterans,” said Damico, a retired dentist.