2021 HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our readers
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Malverne/West Hempstead
HERALD 2020
YEAR IN REVIEW
DECEMBER 31, 2020 - JANuARY 6, 2021
What’s
VOl. 28 NO. 1
Going above and beyond
INSIDE
By Nakeem Grant ngrant@liherald.com
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Courtesy Tyronxx/Herald Glascoe
W.H. native Tyron Glascoe performs xx in a burlesque musical overseas. Page 0
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Courtesy Feeding Our xx/Herald Heroes
Malvernites launched a Feeding Our xx Heroes campaign in March. Page 0
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Courtesy Carolxx/Herald Basdeo
Malverne author Carol Basdeo was xx honored for her science bookPage series.0
any people who have gotten to know Linda Baldacchino, youth ministry director at Our Lady of Lourdes, in Malverne, would agree that she finds joy in working behind the scenes. Linda and her husband, John, have four children, Tommy, Julie, Maura and Danny. She teaches religion at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, and for more than 20 years, she has volunteered for numerous causes in the village. “She’s constantly looking for something else to do or someone else to help,” said Marianne Sheridan, a former director of the youth ministry at the Diocese of Rockville Centre. “She’s just so unassuming, yet she motivates people to go above and beyond.” In recognition of her selflessness and willingness to support others, the Herald is proud to name Baldacchino its 2020 Person of the Year. A Garden City native, Baldacchino, 44, followed the example of her aunt Jane Horning, a longtime parishioner and volunteer at OLL. Baldacchino founded Lourdes’ youth ministry in 1998, shortly after earning a bachelor’s degree at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, and moved to Malverne a few years later. She has since spearheaded numerous causes in the community, including the parish’s biannual Midnight Run, in which members of the youth ministry and other parishioners give food, clothing and personal care items to homeless people in Manhattan. “She’s just a phenomenal person and an amazing leader who deserves this honor,” said Alex Klimek, a member of the youth ministry. “She organizes everything that we do, and she makes everything super-fun for us.” Klimek, a 17-year-old senior at Chaminade High School, in Mineola, said that
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NEWS
LiNda BaLdacchiNo
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he doesn’t look for kudos.’ deidre LawLer
Parent, Our Lady of Lourdes
one of Baldacchino’s most admirable qualities is her compassion.“What’s even more crazy to me,” he said,“is that even with raising her own children, she still finds a way
Infections as of Dec. 28
For BrEAKING go to liherald.com
HERALD PERSON OF THE YEAR
1,727
COMMuNITY uPDATE
Infections as of Dec. 21 1,621
to do everything that she does for us. You just have to admire people like that.” Another Youth Ministry member, Jake Orfano, added that Baldacchino promotes inclusiveness. Orfano, 17, also a senior at Chaminade, said that one of his favorite programs is Camp Lourdes, during the summer.“I’m just so proud at how she gets everyone together, and makes everyone feel very happy and wanting to participate,” he said. “She’s hardworking and she’s so dedicated, which makes her an awesome person to work with.” Orfano’s mother, Hope, said that even after students complete their confirmation, Baldacchino is one of the volunteers at the parish who inspires them to come back and continue their volunteerism. “The kids really follow behind her, kind of like the Pied Piper,” Hope said. “They still want to help out and get involved, and it even makes me want to be involved.” Sheridan, who has worked with Baldacchino on the Midnight Run for almost a decade, said that she finds ways to combine faith and service. Sheridan, who is now the manager of youth programs at the Mercy Center in the Bronx, said that her friend has found time to support the center as well. She helped organize and collect donations for its flea market earlier this year. “Linda’s model of service is incredible,” Sheridan said.“She’ll come up with all sorts of wacky ideas, but she has such enthusiasm about it that we’ll find a way to make it work. Her heart is so filled with the need to help others, and she does everything with a sense humor, because she knows she’s a little crazy.” Continued on page 4 Sue Grieco/Herald
Malvernite and Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Ministry director Linda Baldacchino coordinated a clothing drive for the Glory House, in Hempstead, on Dec. 21.