Commack Students Talk Drugs, Sex and Alcohol

More than 50 students from all nine high schools in the Town of Huntington, including Commack, attended the Huntington Youth Council’s sixth annual Youth Forum Jan. 22 to debate relevant issues facing teens in America.

Sponsored by Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, the teens participated in the Town Hall meeting held exclusively for high school students and run by high school students.  

The youth council selected topics of legalization of marijuana, sex education in public schools and lowering the drinking age. Members of the Huntington Youth Council worked within committees to research and write summaries on each topic for the agenda. 

Huntington’s Co-President of the The League of Women Voters Judie Gorenstein emphasized the importance of getting involved in the democratic process at an early age.

The participants broke into small group discussions to get to know the issues prior to the public hearing.

Huntington Youth Council Co-Supervisors Grant Berland and Jesse Feldman-Stein, as well as Deputy Supervisor Dylan Wadler led discussions on each of the three topics as well as the open portion in which students were invited to share their opinions on issues not included in the agenda.

Deputy Supervisor of Events Rachel Anszelowicz, Deputy Supervisor of Membership Philip Giambertone, Deputy Supervisor of Publications Annie Nikunen, Deputy Supervisor of Communications Spencer Young, Town Clerk Bianca Mielke and Deputy Town Clerk Tristan Hynes assisted from the dais. More than 30 students testified in these discussions.

“I am pleased that so many students chose to attend the Huntington Youth Council’s sixth annual ‘Youth Forum’ to testify on the issues that concern them,” Councilwoman Berland said.

For more information on the Huntington Youth Council, call Councilwoman Berland’s legislative aide, Allison Jones, at 351-3018.