Saratoga News

New youth commissioners hope to stage teen events

By Sarah Lombardo

A summer concert, a raffle to raise funds for teen activities and the continuation--and expansion--of a number of events for teens in the city are among some of the ideas new members of the Saratoga Youth Commission said they hope to bring to the table.

The seven new commissioners--Tannaz Altafi, Fontaine Ho, David Mount, Kayvon Siadat, Mark Weiner, Valerie Farnum and Laura Johnson--were interviewed and chosen by the City Council June 9, and sworn into office by Mayor Don Wolfe June 17.

Wolfe said that the energy and the outpouring of ideas impressed him the most about the teens. "I've never seen such enthusiasm, such an eagerness to learn," he said. "They were enjoying the activities the Youth Commission had provided before them, and they wanted to help others enjoy them in the future. These really are our leaders of tomorrow."

The city's Youth Commission is made up of local teens, from seventh-graders to high school seniors. The commissioners serve for two-year terms, unless they are graduating seniors, advise the council on teen issues and events and help create ways to keep such teen activities as the Warner Hutton House Teen Center and dances going despite the city's tight budget.

Commissioners must also attend a two-day training session during the summer, attend at least 80 percent of the commission's meetings each year and work a minimum of 10 hours each month on commission-related events.

The teens are interviewed by the City Council, during which they are asked how the commission might conflict with their schedules, what ideas they have for the commission and why they want to be on the commission.

For most applicants, the answer to that was simple.

"I wanted to help keep the activities going," Valerie Farnum, 12, said, echoing a number of other applicants.

"I helped put on a show in April [at the Saratoga Community Center]," Kayvon Siadat, 16, said. "I helped plan it and run it, and I want to help put on more like it."

But for others, the commission is a way of introducing local government to the area's schools.

"My school wasn't very involved in the city government, and I wanted to get them involved," Laura Johnson, 13, said.

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