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Fire ravages two-family home
Baldwinites wed by councilman
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APRIl 7 - 13, 2022
Baldwin Public Library is back Hosts its first big event since the lifting of mask mandates perfect murder mystery, she explained, for an upcoming Alaska cruise. Filling a bag, she worThe smell of popcorn and old ried about the weight, she said, books mixed with children’s especially because she would be laughter and soft rock music last allowed two suitcases on her Sunday at the Baldwin Public trip. Library, which celebrated DeMaria, who reads an estiNational Library Week. Despite mated four books a week, is a the rain, the parkfamiliar face at ing lot was full, t h e l i b r a r y. and a crowd of “Everyone here is families enjoyed pleasant — I the day’s events. know these girls” The first who work there, National Library she said with a Week was smile. She enjoys observed in 1958, more than murwith the theme ders, she added, “Wake Up and saying she could Read!” and thereread nearly anyafter the Amerithing: “I’ll be here can Library Assotill I fill my bag CedRIC NOel ciation made it an up.” annual event. The Also searching Baldwin celebration was the the shelves was Michael Herfirst big gathering since the man, whose wife, Mary, is a forlibrary made masks optional last mer children’s librarian. Her month. work, and his frequent visits, Patrons young and old zig- have made them fixtures at the zagged through the free book library. “We have a long-term section, examining eye-catching connection,” Herman said. Havvolumes to determine whether ing lived in Baldwin since 1979, they were worthy of being added he has clearly seen how importo the bags the library provided. tant the library is as a communiMargaret DeMaria, a Baldwin ty hub. “It’s a community resident for 21 years, was among resource …,” he said, “especially the browsers, searching for the Continued on page 11
By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com
Councilman Anthony D’Esposito
SeCONd lt. JImmy Martinez, in firefighter’s cap, surrounded by his family from Ecuador, was described as a hero by Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, on his right.
Firefighter honored two years later for saving a woman’s life By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com
On Nov. 27, 2019, then 1st Lt. Jimmy Martinez of Baldwin Fire Department Hose Company Three was driving home from work. He was headed east on Sunrise Highway, his normal routine, but it was interrupted by the sound of a crash. Glancing to the westbound lanes, he saw a vehicle pinned under a box truck, the occupant trapped
and, in Martinez’s mind, likely dead already. Nonetheless, he got out of his vehicle and headed straight into the inferno the car had begun to unleash, where he saw a woman still alive but critically injured. She had a compound fracture of her leg as well as other injuries to her lower extremities. Martinez had virtually no visibility because of the flames and smoke, and was
without his usual protective equipment, but rushed into action anyway. He found it nearly impossible to open the car door, but he and a bystander managed to pull the woman from the wreckage just before the car became fully engulfed. She was struggling to breathe, and he covered her face with his Fire Department sweater and comforted her as best he Continued on page 13
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