Before Monday’s Common Council meeting, seven members of Peekskill’s Hispanic community were honored with proclamations and a reception. The acknowledgements were proclaimed during National Hispanic Heritage Month and noted all the Hispanic pioneers who have been trailblazers, game changers and paved the way for future generations. Honorees, who were nominated by the public, included: Marian Castillo, Maria Eugenia Gordineer, Mirna Handelman, Karina Hearas, Margarita Llivisaca, Ana Morris and Adriana Savo.
Each honoree was called forward and Mayor Vivian McKenzie read from their proclamations. All the honorees spoke in Spanish, thanking the city for acknowledging them and noting the support of their families. “Today, let’s celebrate not only my story but the story of everyone who, like me, has struggled and continues to fight to make their dreams a reality,” said Margarita Llivisaca who owns El Cisne Decorations. She spoke of starting as a street vendor. “During the coldest winters, with the biting wind against my skin, and the hottest summers under the scorching sun, I stood firm, holding on to the hope that one day things would get better. It was never easy, but in every hardship, I found a lesson, and each challenge made me stronger. Today, I look back on that journey with gratitude because it prepared me for where I am now, a Hispanic woman, a business owner. She made a point of thanking her right-hand person, Ana Pena who stood by her every step of the way and “I couldn’t have reached this point without you.”
Margarita Llivisaca Margarita’s journey began in her childhood years in Cuenca, Ecuador. It was there she started to explore the delicate art of crafting fabric flowers during holiday celebrations. In 1994 as a street vendor in Queens she showcased her creations on special occasions including Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. She is now the proud owner of El Cisne Decorations in Peekskill. El Cisne Decorations will take your vision, and with their expertise, manifest elegant results. Her passion and love are put into every piece created. Margarita is an integral part of the Assumption Church, where she dedicates countless hours to help the Peekskill Hispanic Community Corporation. She is always there for others, whether organizing events or just providing support and a listening ear. Margarita uses her qualities of strength, compassion, innovation and resilience to help improve the Hispanic experience and the many lives she has touched.
Marian Castillo Marian emigrated from Ecuador at the age of 17 and moved to Peekskill in 2002. In that same year, she enrolled in Westchester Community College to learn English. She later attended the Northern Westchester Beauty School to become a hairdresser. In 2009, she achieved a great milestone by opening her own business, Golden Scissors Total Hair Salon here in Peekskill. Marian believes in supporting the community which has provided her with so much support. She collaborates with Wigs and Wishes by Martino Cartier. This non-profit organization donates wigs to women and children battling cancer. In addition to her collaboration, she has hosted fundraisers for breast cancer awareness. Marian is a proud mother of three children, Katherine, Jennifer and John, who have all excelled in the Peekskill City School District.
Maria Gordineer Maria has worked for the Peekskill City School District in various positions since 2005. During her tenure, she has served as a teacher’s aide at Woodside Elementary School and the Peekskill High School. Currently, she is the College Advisor/Teacher’s Assistant. In this role. Maria assists other Student Services support staff for the purpose of providing a variety of guidance and curriculum activities and programs. In one of the key aspects of this position, Maria provides guidance and information to the students and their parents in securing financial aid and scholarships for post-graduation academic and/or vocation opportunities. Maria also helped with the My Brother’s Keeper Program, which serves young men of color. She met with the mentees of the program and reviewed their progress and reported mentorship activities. Maria has a vested interest in the Peekskill community and its youth. Since 2008, she has worked for the City of Peekskill Recreation Department’s Summer Camp program where she serves as the Director of Transportation and Registration.
Mirna Handelman Mirna was born and educated in Lima, Peru. She moved to the United States over 23 years ago. She enrolled in the Westchester School for Dental Assistants. In 2006, she obtained a Certification with honors, as a Dental Assistant; and has been a dental assistant with 15 years’ experience. Mirna also serves as a Community Outreach Worker for Sun River Health Center in Peekskill. Mirna connects individuals and families from different backgrounds, many of them are recent immigrants, to the services provided at Sun River Health. Her drive and passion for her work have resulted in recruiting new patients and connecting them to life-changing services. Mirna also volunteers along with her daughter at local food pantries and a non-for-profit dog rescue organization.
Karina Hearas Karina emigrated from Ecuador and moved to New York. Karina is the owner of Austro Tax and Insurance Agency, located in the heart of Peekskill. Since 2015, Austro Tax and Insurance Agency has offered a variety of services that include Insurance, Bookkeeping and Payroll Services, Business Registration and Incorporation, Income Tax Preparation and Defensive Driving Courses. This business empowers local businesses with reliable accounting and tax solutions. Karina helps individuals who have a dream of becoming a business owner by providing them with crucial information about the process to ownership. She also serves as a resource to help the Hispanic community grow and thrive here in the United States.
Ana Morris Ana and her twin sister, Adriana, were born in Mexico City. In 1995, Ana relocated to Mohegan Lake, New York to work as a nannie. Ana is the devoted wife of Christopher Morris for many years and they are the proud parents to daughter, Christina. While raising their daughter, Ana took full advantage of the Field Library’s resources and programs. Ana was later hired and became a friendly and familiar face in both the Adult and Children’s Libraries. Ana studied U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship. She was proud of to pass the test and received the oath to become an official citizen. This brought her great joy to accomplish this with her sister. For many years, Ana has served as a poll worker on Election Day for National and Local Elections.
Adriana Savo Adriana and her twin sister, Ana, were born in Mexico City in 1966 into a growing family. She graduated from Escuela Secundaria Experimental 155 and Institituto Politecnico Nacional to become a kindergarten teacher. Adriana came to the United States to visit her twin sister. She quickly found a job in childcare and began establishing her new life. She married Joseph Savo in 1999. She has worked in the position of support staff for Peekskill City School District. Currently, she is the Front Desk Concierge at Drum Hill Senior Living Community in Peekskill. Adriana studied U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship. She was very proud that she passed the test and received the oath to become an official citizen. This brought her great joy to share this amazing experience and accomplishment with her sister. Adriana has served the community in various ways including being a poll worker on Election Day for National and Local Elections, Eucharistic Minister and teacher for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program at the Church of the Assumption.
