By EVAN NEMEROFF
County budget gap could force shutdown of local facilities
With Nassau County facing a budget gap that could reach $150 million this year, County Executive Tom Suozzi has proposed deep cuts and layoffs in county programs servicing youth boards, senior citizens and day care.
Two facilities in the Five Towns that would feel the effects of these cutbacks are the Five Towns Community Center in North Lawrence, which plans to close its senior center in Inwood, and the Five Towns Senior Center in Hewlett, which may be forced to close as well.
Users of these facilities rely on them for social interaction, recreation and entertainment. "Without the senior center, we will all be stuck at home," said Doris Israel, 83, of Inwood, who takes advantage of the programs at the Inwood Senior Center and explained that she has been using the Five Towns Community Center since she was a child. "The place is our home away from home, and it would be devastating if we lose it."
Members of the board of directors at both facilities say they are not going to give up the fight to try to reverse the county's budget decisions. They say they believe they will not be forced to close and are optimistic that their programs will still be offered in the future.
"We are in the midst of a major fight with the county on these cuts because two-thirds of our programs will be affected, ranging from our children to our seniors," said Lawrence E. Scott, chairman of the board of the Five Towns Community Center. "The board is doing everything we can to keep these services and are asking for volunteers to step in. We have no intentions of succumbing to these cuts. We will prevail, and understand that nothing happens without a struggle."
The community center's senior center is scheduled to close at the end of April, a month later than originally planned. In addition, teachers at the community center's Head Start educational program are facing termination of their salary enhancements, and there are planned reductions in the evening youth programs.
Interim Executive Director Bertha Pruitt is hopeful that the county will rethink the cuts given the fact that the senior center is so heavily used by Five Towns residents. "The senior center is the heart of the community," Pruitt said. "The community is stressed during these difficult economic times, and we need to advocate for them. Our evening programs are very big in the community, and it keeps the kids off the streets and out of trouble. We will continue to try to talk to our legislative officials and make sure that our programs will continue to go on."
In an attempt to combat the county's planned cutbacks, the Five Towns Community Center hosted a luncheon on March 12 to help the public understand which programs are being cut. "This event shows how our community comes together and that there is something special at this place," said Eon Bailey, a youth advocate at the center. "To destroy this means you are destroying a special fabric of this society."
"There is a chance for the programs to be restored if the county receives permission from Albany to impose a cigarette tax and a surcharge for moving violations," said county Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside). The legislator explained that these funds would help restore the bulk of the cuts that are planned for the community center.
Rosemary Ferst, niece of Inwood Senior Center board President Terri Oliveri, said she cannot believe that the seniors who use the center may soon lose what to many is a second home. "It's disgusting what the county is doing to these elderly people," Ferst said. "They have nowhere else to go; this is their life. What will happen to these people without the center?"
5T Senior Center's future in doubt
The Five Towns Senior Center in Hewlett has an annual budget of $300,000, but despite the county's plan to reduce its funding by $20,000, the board of directors and staff members are hopeful that seniors who use the facility will still have a place to go. "Our longtime goal was to get a permanent home by ourselves," said Carole Tolkin, the board's vice president. "Now our dream is to open our doors next Monday."
While the senior center receives funding from the county, it is not owned by the county, as is the Five Towns Community Center. It depends on contributions and grants, and though its rent is paid by the Five Towns Community Chest, board members say that it may have trouble coming up with enough money to keep its programs running.
Georgiana Wolfson, the center's executive director, said she does not want to see the center close because seniors rely on its programs. "I am depressed and sad that the seniors are losing all things around them," Wolfson said. "Seniors are all alone if they don't come here. They have had the center, and may not have that anymore. We give them a reason to get up in the morning."
The county's planned cutbacks have forced the senior center to cut its staff nearly in half this month. Staff members' health benefits have already been cut, and the center reassigned its teachers from weekly to biweekly schedules with reduced salaries. The center will become more dependent on volunteers to serve the 400 senior citizens who participate in its programs, according to Wolfson.
But the center will continue to host all of its programs, she said, adding that she is hopeful that community support will keep the facility open. "We plan on moving forward to celebrate our 60 years," Wolfson said. "We are not giving up ,and need help from our friends. Anybody can respond to these difficult times and contribute to our cause."
Comments about this story? ENemeroff@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
