_________________ BALDWIN ________________
HERALD Vacant nightclub facade collapses
Comunity helps create artwork
Fire education comes to Baldwin
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VOL. 29 NO. 44
OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2022
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Steins clink at fourth annual Oktoberfest By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com
Andre Silva/Herald
STELLA EBERHART AND Lucy Cain, of Baldwin, enjoyed games and popcorn at the civic association’s Oktoberfest and Marketplace.
Dozens of community members gathered to eat and drink at the Baldwin Civic Association’s fourth annual Oktoberfest and Marketplace last Saturday after a two-year, coronavirus-forced hiatus. The civic association invited several Long Island breweries and the Irish Pub to participate, and they offered Germanthemed food and craft beer, and were joined by other vendors at
the Baldwin Community Garden on Grand Avenue for the afternoon event. Vendors and brewers set up booths along the perimeter of the garden, and guests and their children played games such as large versions of Connect Four and Jenga. Adult guests were given small beer steins for sampling the brewed offerings on a warm autumn day. Civic association member Brunhilda Alvarado, who had a CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Toys for Tots starts annual drive for holidays By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com
The Long Island United States Marines Toys for Tots Program kicked off its annual toy drive for children in need this holiday season at the Coral House on Oct. 20. This will be the 32nd toy drive for Toys for Tots, the largest holiday gift program for children in the nation. Marines, elected officials, drive organizers, community members and over 100 children from Barack Obama Elementary School, in Hempstead, gathered to kick off the drive with a lunch, speeches, a performance by the American Bombshells — a Rockville Centre-based nonprofit singing group — and a surprise appearance by Santa
Claus. John Sardine, of Queens, a Marine gunnery sergeant and the Long Island Toys for Tots’ drive coordinator, said that this would be the sixth year in a row that he would help the organization gather and distribute toys for the organization. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” said Sardine, who was joined at the kickoff by eight of his fellow Marines. “It gives us a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. We wear the uniform to serve our country, but it’s an even better feeling when we’re able to serve our community.” The effort begins this month, Sardine said, with Marines and volunteers attending events and distributing boxes to local organiza-
tions to collect toys. When the boxes are filled, he said, he and his fellow Marines will pick up, count, and organize toys in a warehouse in preparation for their distribution, which begins in December. Sean Acosta, co-chair of Long Island Toys for Tots, said there are many children, especially this year, amid rising inflation, whose parents will not be able to afford toys for them this holiday season. “On Christmas Day, children want to have a toy underneath their tree,” Acosta said, “and this is our way of giving back.” In front of the lecterns where elected officials and members of the organization gave speeches and accepted awards for their fundraising efforts, four large boxes overflowed with toys like soccer balls
and play sets, and Acosta described them as just the start. “Oh, that’s nothing,” he said of the collection on display. “I mean, we’ll collect, you know, hundreds of thousands of toys. There are so many kids in need, that need toys. We want them to be happy, and we don’t want to disappoint them.” Sitting among dozens of joyful children, Jada Gillenwater, a teaching assistant at Barack Obama Elementary, said it was such a positive thing to see children in a place where they are welcomed and can receive gifts. They were particularly happy, she said, to meet Santa Claus, and have a chance to experience community and holiday spirit. “There are many families who, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and CONTINUED ON PAGE 5