By Andrew Hackmack
The student council is open to children in grades 3-6. More than 30 students got a chance to ask Cahill a question. One child asked what made him decide to become the mayor. "My wife," Cahill responded, noting that she and others who were politically active in the village encouraged him to run for trustee in the 1990s. He then moved up the ladder becoming deputy mayor and eventually mayor.
"It's an honor to be the mayor," he said, adding that he really enjoys meeting the residents and being able to help someone with a problem.
As for his goals for the future, Cahill said he wants to keep property values high. That means keeping the village clean and continuing to fix the roads. Cahill urged students to do their part to keep the community looking nice and also reminded them not to neglect their studies.
One student asked what Cahill's hobbies are. The mayor said in his spare time he likes to swim, walk and read. He also likes to watch the news and almost never passes up a game of baseball on television. But when asked which his favorite team is - the Mets or the Yankees - Cahill didn't pick a side.
He did weigh in on the New York Giants capturing the Super Bowl championship. "This shows you what hard work will do," he said. "They came from nowhere."
Students even asked Cahill his opinion on wider issues such as the steroid scandal in baseball and what he thinks the biggest problem is in the world today. To the latter question he responded global warming and international conflicts.
The last question Cahill faced admittedly is not one of his favorites. "How old are you," a student asked, to which Cahill said that question and how much money he makes are what least likes to answer. But he indulged the students and allowed them to guess until they arrived at the right number. He's still a spring chicken compared to the school he visited last Thursday -- Brooklyn Avenue is celebrating its 100th anniversary all year long.
Principal Scott Comis gave the students a homework assignment after the question and answer session was finished. He told the children to go home and tell two people all about their meeting with the mayor.
Comis said the session was a chance for the students to learn how to become good citizens and expand their curiosities. "Certainly we want them to have some experience with organized and local government," he said.
"I think the kids asked some very good questions," student council co-advisor Vincent Milano said, "and they were very excited to have the mayor at their school." Milano said he was very pleased with how well the students listen to Cahill's answers.
In addition to these learning opportunities, student council members participate in several community service activities during the year. They raised $225 for the Ronald McDonald House and recently held their own "Souper Bowl" collecting 200 cans for a local parish outreach center.
Comis noted that the students were highly anticipating the mayor's visit all week. That was evidenced at the end of the session when all the children went up to Cahill asking for an autograph. He happily obliged writing a personal message for each student in their notebooks. "These are the good parts of the job," Cahill said.
