Students share bike safety, ‘If I Were Mayor’ essays
Indian Head kids had different ideas about what the town needs
The youth in Indian Head are full of big ideas and a desire for change. On Monday night at the monthly town hall meeting at the Village Green Pavilion, some fourth and fifth grade Indian Head Elementary School students shared their essays on “If I Were Mayor” and the importance of bike safety.
As it turns out, each of the five fourth-graders had different ideas on what they’d do if they were elected mayor. Alexiah Daye named her first idea as a trash pickup day where everyone in town would be responsible twice a month for collecting two full bags of garbage to beautify the town.
“I’d also let us kids have a longer summer,” Alexiah added to laughter and applause from the crowd.
Some of the suggestions were a little weightier: Mya Edwards said that she thinks what the town needs most is a chapter of the Boys and Girls Club.
“The town of Indian Head has some single parents and the children are less fortunate,” Mya said, adding the club could also be good for parents who work on base at Naval Support Facility Indian Head and want a close-by daycare option for their children. This, she said, “would be a positive thing for all the children.”
Sonja Sitoula — whose father, Ron, currently serves as Indian Head’s vice mayor — said she’d “focus on revitalizing the town of Indian Head.”
Sonja is frequently at town meetings, she said, and over the last three years she’s learned the importance of economic development and encouraging new investors and businesses to place their money on the town.
“I’d always remember why citizens trusted me with their votes,” Sonja said.
Phil Thompson Jr. humbly submitted his idea of a new sports team for the town: a soccer team, specifically, with their own indoor turf. The team’s space, Phil said, could also double as a community center for kids and families in town.
Finally, Addison Martin said her first action as mayor would be bringing a new grocery store to town: The store, she said, would provide “more jobs and money” for residents.
Two fifth-graders, Addison Newhouse and Dixie Carr, spoke to the crowd about the importance of looking out for one’s safety while riding a bicycle. Addison, especially, spoke plainly about the dangers of going without a helmet.
“If you don’t wear a helmet, you would be breaking the law,” Addison told the crowd, adding that those 18 and older are legally allowed to go without a helmet but it sets a good example for young and impressionable children to see the adults they admire protecting their heads.
“It’s better to break a leg than crack your head open,” Addison said, painting an imaginary scenario in which one gets hit by a car and how much worse that can be if it occurs while not protected by a helmet.
“You’re sobbing, but if you didn’t have a helmet, you wouldn’t be sobbing,” Addison said. “You wouldn’t be able to see your friends because you would be dead. That kind of thing happens all the time.”
Dixie was more matter-of-fact: Wearing a helmet, she told the crowd, can reduce one’s risk of brain injury by 85%.
“Broken bones and cuts and bruises can heal, but damage to your brain can last forever,” Dixie said, noting that a helmet that fits snugly over one’s head is the best bet for safety and limited injuries in an accident.
“Lead by example. Adults should wear helmets,” Dixie said.
The town council also unanimously voted to approve an ordinance introduced at last month’s meeting that will allow utility bill payment deferral for federal employees and contractors in town, provided they have a corroborating note from their employer.