By Jennifer Sembler
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a girl scout can earn, and involves several steps and a minimum of 65 hours of work. "This community service program is the culmination of all her effort," said Michele Seitz, Elizabeth's mother. "[The program] is really an inspiration on Elizabeth's part. She had performed at senior centers and saw how much they enjoyed it, and thought of this as a benefit for the seniors."
As part of the Irish celebration day, held at the United Church in Rockville Centre, Seitz secured the Fiddle Club of Kellenberg High School, Irish step dancers from the Hagen School of Irish Dance in Long Beach, and catered food from local bakeries and delis in Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Malverne and Valley Stream. She also decked the church hall in Irish decorations.
"Elizabeth worked tirelessly to put this on," said Eileen Burke Bucaria, her scout leader. "For me, watching Elizabeth, once a quiet, shy elementary school kid, plan a day that most adults wouldn't take on has made me really proud."
Seitz organized the event for residents of Maple Pointe in Rockville Centre and the Sunrise Assisted Living in Lynbrook and East Meadow to enjoy. "Elizabeth wanted to do something that involved seniors [from Sunrise Assisted Living] because her grandfather, who had been a resident, was very happy there," said Tony Pantaleno, Seitz's father. With the help of Jenepha Grant and Carla Montemarano, Sunrise Centers coordinators, and Susan Nussbaum, activities coordinator for Maple Pointe, Seitz made sure the residents would be able to attend.
During the program, audience members showed their delight as the sequin-clad dancers performed, and clapped along with the fiddlers' music. "This is so exciting. I've never seen anything like this before," said Melba Prack, a Maple Pointe resident.
"It was lovely," said Elaine Valenti, a Sunrise Assisted Living resident in Lynbrook. "The way the dancers were dressed was so beautiful, and the musicians were great. Everything was wonderful. I really enjoyed it."
"Overall, I think it went very well," Seitz said afterward, clearly proud of all her hard work. "I'm sending in my hours and paperwork next week, and the Gold Award ceremony will be in June. I never thought this day would actually come together. But after months of preparation and constant support from friends and family, it finally did."
