Student KVIS Hosts Movie Night: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

On Friday night, the youth arm of the —dubbed 'Student KVIS'—will be hosting a screening of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" at the

The event was planned as a fun escape for locals, said Lily Sandlund, member of the group, which chose the film for its relevance to the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, when "chocolate is bought more frequently than toothpaste."

The film also appeals to a variety of ages, and they're hoping for a big turnout.

As student members, however, it's the teenage perspective they bring to the table.

The organization started in 2011 as a way for KVIS to tap into the needs and desires of the younger population in town, according to Susan Warsaw, former KVIS co-president and current PR chair. 

The current members are Lily Sandlund, Claudia Pou, Emily Reich, Sophie Cowley, Jen Troiano, Susannah Rogers, Nick Tisherman, Amber Bauer, Lauren Latham, Jordan Stepaniuk and Brooke Glassman.

"Our goals are similar to those of KVIS, to improve the town of Katonah," said Sandlund. "The only difference is that our specific goals are generated with the younger population of the town in mind. We are just as much a part of this town as any other adult, and this committee allows our voices to be heard and our ideas to be possibly put into action."

Founded last fall, the students held a bake sale and a T-shirt design contest as fundraisers. The movie, is free.

What do teens want to see happen in Katonah?

"One of the main aspects that Katonah lacks is a place for teens to hang out, and that's definitely something that we on the committee would love to see—if money were no object," said Sandlund, who said what she most loved about living in Katonah was a strong sense of community and feeling welcome in the small village.

For more information on joining Student KVIS, visit their Facebook page or email studentkvis@gmail.com.