By Amanda Malool
The Scotch Plains Town Council welcomed two new members and a mayor in January. The new officials shared ideas to get teenagers involved in the community.
“I believe that our high school students are some of the greatest untapped resources. As a school administrator, I know a good deal about the talents our students could bring to this township,” said Scotch Plains Councilmember Colleen Gialanella. “It’s something I’ve discussed in detail with Mayor Glover. He is equally enthusiastic about working with our schools and our students to showcase those
talents.”

In his role as mayor,  Kevin Glover hopes to improve communication and address the needs of all Scotch Plains citizens.
“Our high school students have extraordinary talents in the arts, technology, etc. I am hopeful that we as a municipality can draw on their talents to volunteer their skills to improve the social needs of our citizens,” said Glover.
Gialanella also hopes to expand the Scotch Plains business area. “As a young mother, the downtown shopping district is important to me. I think that finding ways to capture [teenagers’] attention and showcase all Scotch Plains has to offer, can be a solid step
to assisting our local business owners,” said Gialanella.
Councilmember Lou Beckerman and Glover share Gialanella’s aim of improving the downtown shopping area.
“My goal is to work with our business associations to create a vibrant downtown. As mayor I intend to be an ambassador of our downtown, always promoting it, while reaching out to businesses outside our community in the hope of attracting them to become part of what I believe is a good place to do business,” said Glover, “This begins by attracting more frequent visitors to our downtown. As part of that effort I am looking forward to exciting events that will be planned and developed by the township’s Cultural Arts Committee for the area this year.”
Beckerman, who has been appointed to fill Glover’s council seat, first became involved in politics at the age of 12, while working in the campaign headquarters in Irvington.  He encourages all teenagers to be active in politics.
“Register to vote when you turn 18 and vote in every election. If you don’t participate in the process, you shouldn’t criticize the politicians. Every vote counts,” said Beckerman.