Students play trustees in Williston Park

Timothy Meyer

The Williston Park Board of Trustees went through a major personnel change Saturday, as six elementary students from the Center Street School and St. Aidan replaced the mayor and trustees.

Students won a position on the board for the day after writing an essay about why Williston Park is a great place to live.

“The essays we got by both schools were excellent by all the kids,” Village of Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar said. “It was a very difficult choice, we had to make a decision and these were the ones who were chosen. They did an excellent job.”

In the essay that earned nine-year-old Quinn Gilhooly the role of Williston Park student mayor, he wrote that “You learn every second of your life in Williston Park.”

When asked if becoming a trustee was what he wanted to do when he grew up, Gilhooly replied that he wanted to be a baseball player.

Michela Richards who took on the role of treasurer is a fourth generation Williston Park resident.

“She did such a great job,” said her uncle, Michael Richards. “They did a lot of hard work to get there, but they also had a lot of fun.”

Richard’s great aunt,Carla Richards, said the chance to be village treasurer for at least a day was a unique learning opportunity.

“This is also something kids can put on their resume in the future,” Richards said.

Michela’s maternal grandmother, Rose Emanuel, also commented on how the experience teaches the children in an age when people are becoming less community-oriented.

“It teaches them a lot and its such a wonderful program,” Emanuel said. “Kids are being bombarded today with not having to recognize the importance of community, and this just helps bring them closer together.”

The other students who won the essay contest included Eve Kennedy, Sofia Berger, Chris Lomando, and Jonathan Salamone

The board meeting Saturday was recorded as an official meeting as Gilhooly called on each student member of the board to give their individual reports.

Student trustee Chris Lomando announced that Operation Santa will take place on Dec. 24.

“Santa will visit the homes of residents who sign up,” Lomando said. “Sign ups will be posted up in December and we can always use more volunteers, so sign up at Village Hall.”

Operation Santa is a practice the village has been conducting for years, trustee Kevin Rynne said following the meeting.

“For residents who sign up, we ask that they leave a present on their doorstep on Dec. 24,” Rynne said. “We then have about four or five Santas who go around the village and will come to the homes and give the presents to the children. We would have the presents stored here at village hall, but we simply don’t have the room.”

Along with winning a village position for a day, the students all received a gift certificate to Gee Whiz in Williston Park.

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