A new slate for the Rockville Centre Youth Council

The Rockville Centre Youth Council’s annual Open House and Installation was a great success and a chance for the council to share its inner workings with the community. Held last month at the Recreation Center, incoming officers, liaisons and committee members were installed by Judge Anthony Paradiso.

Dedicated members of the council eagerly filled student positions. Taylor Kosakoff and Nick Suss were sworn in as the new co-presidents. Chris DiLuccio and Brent Carris were installed as secretary and treasurer, respectively. Michael Garcia, Caitlin Schwagerl, Rob Aldana, Catherine Kildunne, Michaela Beck and Chris Mullooly were appointed as committee chairs. Madison Bondy, Thomas Boylan and Michaela Beck were installed as liaisons to different organizations in the Rockville Centre community.

The evening began with a welcome by Beth Hammerman, the adult chairwoman of the Youth Council. Secretary Jeanne Mulry made a presentation to the departing seniors. She spoke of each student’s accomplishments and contributions to the organization. Following that, Mike Caffrey and Lana Glass made a presentation to the Youth Council’s business partners, and specifically thanked TD Bank, Palace of Wong and Five Pennies Creamery for supporting the council and helping it accomplish its mission of providing fun and safe options for youths in the community.

In brief remarks, former Mayor Mary Bossart reviewed the Youth Council’s history and its actions on behalf of the community. Outgoing President Deana Davoudiasl summed up the past year and shared her pride in the council’s accomplishments. She mentioned each of the different events that were organized to give teens a fun, safe place to go at night. These included bowling nights at RVC Lanes, free ice cream at Five Pennies, karaoke and dinner at the Palace of Wong, and a movie night at Sportset. Next came the unveiling of a Youth Council public service announcement created by Catherine Kildunne, appealing to the values and morals of teens and the decisions they have to make. The evening wrapped up after Caffrey showed a slideshow he compiled of photographs from the different events of the past year.

The evening produced a range of emotions. Members said a sad goodbye to the outgoing seniors, but experienced a feeling of pride and accomplishment as they looked back on all that the Rockville Centre Youth Council did over the course of the last year — overwhelming proof that it is indeed accomplishing the mission of creating a safer environment for the teens of Rockville Centre. The members and officers for the upcoming year, both adult and youth, are committed and planning to continue to work toward that goal.