Independence Students are Mayor for a Day

Twelve area eighth graders were selected for the Palos Heights "Mayor for a Day Contest." Max Szykowny of Independence Junior High School was selected as Mayor for a Day at the City Council meeting on April 19, 2016. Also selected from Independence Junior High School were Shannon Stokes, the city attorney; Lindsey Bylut, the city treasurer; and Nicole Walsh, the city clerk.

To win a spot on the council, students had to submit essays and were selected on their ideas and creative writing abilities. The winning essay winners started the night off with dinner at Lake Katherine with their parents where they read their essays and received a commemorative plaque for their efforts.

The students then headed over to City Hall for a mock City Council meeting where the students ran the meeting and learned about city government first hand. This meeting will be televised on Channel 4.

This was a great experience for the students of Independence Junior High School and had a great deal of fun. Mayor for the Day, Max Szykowny, stated, “ I loved running the meeting and being able to use the gavel!” Thanks again to the Palos Heights Women’s Club for investing in our future by working and giving our youth opportunities.

Attached below is the winning essay for everyone to read and enjoy:

“Oh, the Places Palos Heights Could Go”

By : Mayor for the Day, Max Szykowny

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away…Wait, Dr. Suess! I want to stay…I already live in the greatest city, Palos Heights. Even though Palos Heights will always make your day, if I am Mayor for the Day, I have a few ideas to make the best better.

Why do we have to travel out of Palos Heights to see DiCaprio in his Oscar winning role? Instead, we can take the old, vacant Dominick’s building and turn it into the Palos Heights Cinema, right near our homes.

How is it that we have exceptional high schools, junior high schools, and even a college in Palos Heights, yet there is not a single bookstore around for pupils to purchase books? Palos Heights should place a Barnes & Noble in the open land right next to Jewel Osco and Pop’s.

Even though we already have a fabulous fishing derby, we should reel in more kids and tourists. We can hook them by casting another fishing derby at Lake Katherine to promote the city and beauty of Palos Heights.

Despite the fact that Palos Heights is blooming in natural beauty, we can plant more seeds to improve our agrarian landscape by growing a community garden. A community garden where residents can plant their favorite flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc. This garden would help cultivate citizens’ desire to grow plants and add to our landscape.

Oh, the places we can go! So, today is your day Palos Heights. Your mountain of opportunity is waiting. Let’s climb this mountain together, and be on our way!