East Meadow
HERALD
Holiday notes on local stages
Lighting up the Christmas tree
FREE Players sing Broadway tunes
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VOL. 16 NO. 49
DECEMBER 8-14, 2016
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Mangano sends budget to NIFA Spending plan could preserve social service funding NIFA’s rejection of the budget last week had left the Legislature with little time to come up with a
[email protected],
[email protected] new plan for eliminating a $36 County Executive Ed Manga- million budgetary deficit before no has submitted a new budget the control board instituted its to the county’s financial control own sweeping cuts. Mangano’s board, the Nassau Interim office previously offered a conFinance Authority, after his pretingency plan vious spending that would close plan was rejected the gap but because it relied threatened to on uncertain revel e ave m a n y nue sources to local social serclose shortfalls, vice agencies officials confirmed short of fundon Tuesday. ing. The new budget C o u n t y preserves funding Yo u t h B o a rd f o r yo u t h a n d agencies, some social services that of which proh a d p revi ou s ly vide important been threatened services such as with deep cuts, early intervena cc o rd in g t o a tion and drug m e m o by E r i c CRISTINA BRENNAN treatment, Naughton, Naswo u l d h ave Deputy director of sau’s deputy counfaced suspencommunications, ty executive for sion of funding finance. Nassau County Legislature a f t e r t h r e e A NIFA spokesmonths under man said Tuesday that plan, and that the board, which has the may still face cuts if NIFA does power to accept or reject the new not accept Mangano’s revised spending plan, and make its own budget. cuts if necessary, had received it “When we have people telling “within the last 24 hours,” and us to cut youth programs and that it was under review. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
By ERIK HAWKINS and STEPHANY REYES
W
Stephany Reyes/Herald
HELPING THE OLDEST member of the East Meadow Senior Center, Mollie Spiegel, center, celebrate her 106th birthday were Ray Ronco, Phyllis Caggiano and Burt Spiegel.
‘She’s going to outlive us all’ Senior Center resident turns 106 By STEPHANY REYES
[email protected] Balloons tied to floral centerpieces adorned the rows of tables set up in the East Meadow Senior Center’s all-purpose room in preparation for a resident’s birthday celebration on Nov. 30. This particular birthday marked a milestone for the center: Its oldest member, Mollie Siegel, had been presented with a certificate of
honor from the Town of Hempstead, congratulating her on her 105th birthday this year. “Well, it’s technically her 106th birthday,” her son, Burt Spiegel, 72, said. According to Burt, his mother immigrated to the U.S. from a small village near Kiev, Ukraine, in 1911 with her mother and two sisters. Her actual birth date, Nov. 25, 1910, was changed to Nov. 25, 1911 “…so she could go to school with other kids
her age at the time,” Burt said. Helen Paladonia, the Senior Center’s coordinator, and Phyllis Caggiano, its president, said that although Mollie was registered as turning 105 on Nov. 25, they celebrated h e r 1 0 6 t h b i r t h d ay “ … because that’s her true age.” “We actually started celebrating her birthdays when she turned 100,” Paladonia said. “Mollie has always been CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
hen we have people telling us to cut youth programs and volunteer firefighter training, then we have a serious problem.
Friends, family honor Senior Center’s oldest member CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
an essential part of the Senior Center, and we celebrate her because she used to show the same love and excitement towards everyone else.” In fact, Siegel served as president of the center for more than 30 years. “She used to be sassy,” Caggiano laughed. “She was a giving and warm person,” Paladonia added. “But strict.” Staff and residents mingled as a DJ played a mix of jazz and classic chart-topping hits. Caggiano wheeled out two cakes and a cart filled with bowls of ice cream as Siegel’s family placed gifts on a table beside her. She took a bite of cake. “Physically, she’s here with us,” Burt said. “But mentally, she’s not 100 percent there, which is understandable. We’re just very, very happy to spend time with her.” Her son-in-law, Ray Ronco, 84, said that Mollie had outlived not only her husband, Joseph, but also both of their daughters. “She’s going to outlive us all,” he laughed. Ronco added that Siegel was warm and welcoming by nature. “She used to invite 10 to 20 people over for the Hanukkah celebration in her small, tiny New York apartment,” he reminisced. “Whenever anyone came knocking, she welcomed them in and fed them. And boy, her food was delicious.” Siegel’s granddaughter, Donna, said her passion for cooking was evident. “She always loved food,” Donna said. “Look, she’s eating cake. She just can’t say no to sweets.” Although Siegel didn’t say a word throughout the celebration, her family and friends shared memories with one another, loud enough for her to hear.
Stephany Reyes/Herald
MOLLIE SPIEGEL CELEBRATED her 106th birthday with family and friends at the East Meadow Senior Center on Nov. 30. “I used to always say ‘Merry Christmas’ around the holidays,” Caggiano recalled. She put her arms above her head and added, “And every time I said it, Mollie would wave her hands up in the air and say, ‘What about me?’ So after that I always said ‘Happy Hanukkah’ first, because she never let me finish wishing everyone a Merry Christmas first.” Paladonia said that Siegel would often walk one resident back to her complex to
ensure her safety. “She would say to this resident, ‘What are you doing walking around alone?’” Paladonia recounted. “The woman was 15 years younger than Mollie. And she still walked her home because she wanted her to get back safe.” “Look, Grandma’s awake,” Donna said. “Let’s open her presents.” Ronco, Burt and Caggiano rushed to Siegel’s side to open a silver box that contained a soft, white blanket, which Burt
put on her lap. “To keep you warm,” he said. The family crowded around her to take photos, and Donna appeared to revel in the joy for a few seconds. Finally she said, “It’s kind of sad, because this could be the last birthday we celebrate with her.” “She’s a person whose life should be celebrated,” Ronco added. “We all love her very much.”
Proposed plan aims to keep funds for youth services CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 firefighter training, then we have a serious problem,” said Cristina Brennan, deputy director of communications for the County Legislature. “We refuse to cut youth service organizations, and we firmly believe the $36 million in revenue will come to fruition.” Brennan said that the Legislature plans to vote to increase the tax map verification fee from its Norma cur rent $225 to $355. “Nobody wanted to pass that fee,” she said, “but nobody is willing to do the cuts that NIFA is threatening. ” “It’s completely arbitrary,” Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said of NIFA. “They’re completely politically motivated and have decided to discount our $36 million out of pure politics. But since we are forced to come up with new funding and we refuse to cut youth services and firefighter programs, we did pass that $15 million in tax map verification fees, reluctantly.”
At the Legislature’s Nov. 21 meeting, a number of representatives of social services agencies urged legislators to find a way to avoid cuts that could hurt the county’s more vulnerable populations. “You have a responsibility to balance the budget, and not to do it on the backs of the children and families of Nassau County,” said Dr. Joseph Smith, Gonsalves executive director of Long Beach Reach. Jeff Reynolds, president and CEO of the Family and Children’s Association, warned that cutting addiction and recovery services would almost certainly lead to more opioid-related deaths next year. “We certainly really thank the Legislature for their enriched understanding of the nature of the critical services provided by the youth system,” Linda Leonard, executive director of the Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore said on Tuesday. Leonard said the LICC also partners with
County’s plan: key proposals ■ Does not include revenues from Republicans’ plan that NIFA rejected. ■ Keeps $55 traffic ticket fee increase. ■ Assumes Legislature votes to increase tax map verification fee by $130 for $15.3 million in revenue. ■ Fully funds Youth Board social service agencies. ■ Cuts $3.8 million of county bus funding, but preserves $2.6 million to preserve state funds. ■ Suspends local government assistance to villages to save $1.25 million. ■ Delays hiring new police officers until March to save $2.7 million.
the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, adding, “…if funds were cut, then I don’t know what would become of these kids who seek shelter. They’d end up on the streets.” Leonard said that the LICC provides cost-effective programs to help youth in Nassau County and all across Long Island cope with suicide loss, suicide prevention, drug prevention and family services. “It costs less to prevent suicide than it does
to deal with the aftermath of it,” she said. According to a spokesman, NIFA will take up Mangano’s new proposal at its public meeting on Dec. 14, the same day the Legislature is set to vote on revenuerelated amendments to the budget. Look for more details on the cuts in Mangano’s new plan at www.liherald.com.