Kim Taylor goes up at Art Alcove
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Kim Taylor’s vibrant story quilts, rich in history and personal meaning, are now, as of Feb. 28, on display at the Art Alcove in the Freeport Recreation Center.
A self-taught textile artist, Taylor has spent more than a decade weaving narratives into fabric, using quilting as both an artistic and emotional outlet.
Taylor, a Baldwin resident, works as a speech-language pathologist at a school for the deaf in Queens.
Ihope that they are able to connect with my work and that they’re able to see themselves in my pieces. That’s always my goal, because I feel that we are all connected in some way
KIM TAylOR
textile artist and author
Her journey into quilting began in 2008, inspired by the historic election of President Barack Obama.
Wanting to express her emotions in a medium deeply rooted in her ancestry, she researched textile traditions in West Africa and taught herself to quilt.
“I felt that I wanted to express myself artistically, but I don’t consider myself an artist, and I wanted to find a medium that was used by my ancestors,” Taylor stated. “I did a little research on that, and I discovered that many of the women in West Africa are master textile artists, so I wanted to teach myself something, and I started doing some art quilting.”
Her first quilt, titled Full Circle, A History , portrayed Obama’s face surrounded by African warriors and incorporated the traditional Jacob’s Ladder quilt block, a traditional quilt pattern that features a combination of four-patch and halfsquare triangle units arranged in a way that creates a diagonal, stair-step effect.
While that particular quilt is not part of the Freeport exhibit due to space constraints, many others from Taylor’s collection are.
Taylor describes her approach as a form of collage quilting, distinct from traditional geometric quilting styles.
Many of her pieces focus on cultural and historical narratives, including Tree of Life , a family history quilt featuring old photographs provided by her grandmother with a tree in the middle.
Her quilt Juneteenth emerged from an eye-opening experience at a Juneteenth party, which led her to create a visual representation of the holiday and later inspired her debut children’s book, A Flag for Juneteenth.
“When I left there, I was angry that I knew nothing about—I had never heard of Juneteenth, and so I created a quilt about it.”
The book, published by Neal Porter Books under Penguin Random House, features Taylor’s original quilt illustrations.
“I did 23 original quilts as illustrations rather than paintings, and that process took a year and two months,” Taylor said.
Among her most personal works is her latest quilt, My Life an autobiographical piece that took two years to complete.
“You read my quilt by reading all of the squares. You follow me through the quilt by a yellow ribbon that I have in my hair, in all of the squares, you know it’s me.”
Taylor’s work is labor-intensive, with each quilt requiring months—sometimes years—to complete.
“I usually feel compelled to finish it before I start something else.” She said. “And then once I am fin-
The Empire State was created by Kim Taylor on request of Assemblywoman Judy Griffin and uses the symbols of the Eastern Bluebird and the Rose to represent New York State. The quilt currently hangs in Assemblywoman Griffin’s office.
ished a quilt, it usually takes months and months before I can start something else. It’s really emotional, like an emotional journey, and I need to rest in between.”
Despite being largely self-taught, Taylor hopes to deepen her quilting skills through hand quilting and formal instruction.
“I really feel like eventually I would like to teach myself to hand quilt,” she told the Herald. “That’s a really hard thing to do. Your stitches have to be perfect. So that’s probably the next thing I’ll try to teach myself with very small quilts, you know? And then eventually I’d like to take a class and really just see what other people are doing and learn, learn more.”
Taylor, who grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and attended Brooklyn Tech High School and Brooklyn College, continues to push the boundaries of storytelling through fabric.
Kim Taylor quilted Sunset on the Serengeti with the guiding principle that ‘colors in a sunset never clash!’
With roughly 15 quilts to her name and around ten currently on display at the Art Alcove, Taylor hopes that viewers will find a personal connection in her work. “I hope that they are able to connect with my work and that they’re able to see themselves in my pieces. That’s always my goal, because I feel that we are all connected in some way.”
Kim Taylor’s work will remain on display at the Freeport Recreation Center’s Art Alcove through March
“This is the first time we’ve displayed quilts in our Art Alcove,” Larry Dresner, executive director of the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport told the Herald over text message. “It truly is a unique art form. We hope everyone will come see Kim’s amazing artistry.”
More information about her quilts and children’s book can be found on her website, materialgirlstoryquilts.com.
Photos courtesy of Kim Taylor
Kim Taylor, a self-taught textile artist, shows off one of her intricate story quilts, now on display at the Freeport Recreation Center’s Art Alcove. Her quilts weave together history, culture, and personal narratives, bringing fabric to life.
Bruins edge Elmont in thrilling county final
By DYLAN BUTLER sports@liherald.com
There was anticipation around a possible BaldwinElmont boys’ basketball county championship game from the moment the Bruins moved into the same classification with the reigning New York State champions. That buzz only grew throughout the season, a meeting in the Baldwin Holiday Classic adding to the hype.
By the time the squads stepped on the court Saturday evening with the Nassau Class AA title on the line, the gym at Farmingdale State College was packed with fans lucky enough to witness an instant classic.
Every possession was monumental, every loose ball and rebound was fiercely contested. It came down to the final seconds and when it was over, Baldwin won 47-44, to capture a fifth straight county title.
New classification, same story for Baldwin.
“This one is definitely special,” said Chase Timberlake, who scored a game-high 18 points. “They’re the state champions, us moving down a division, it didn’t mean nothing. We’re still doing the same thing. This is like our home away from home. This is the norm for us at the end of the day.”
Baldwin head coach Darius Burton heard the doubters this season. Two starters from last year’s squad transferred out, there were 10 first-year players on a team that lost many of their marquee non-league games, including that late December defeat to Elmont.
But as the Spartans found out, beating Baldwin in March is much harder than in December.
“It was a knockdown fight. I told him that we won the war tonight, and I didn’t lie,” Burton said. “Coach [Ryan] Straub and Elmont, defending state champs. He
does a great job every year. That’s why he’s invited to my tournament every year. They bring out the best in us. They got us in December, I told them we wanted to pay them back, had the opportunity to do it, and we
did it. But it came down possession by possession.”
The key to another county title, Burton said, was defense. It’s always been Baldwin’s DNA, but that was ratcheted up in the postseason where the Bruins gave up just 42.2 points a game.
Defense is also Elmont’s calling card and that, too, was on display in the pressure-packed championship game.
The second-seeded Spartans (19-4) held fifth-seeded Baldwin (17-7) to 10 second-quarter points and just nine in the third quarter, taking a 34-31 lead into the fourth.
But the Bruins turned up the intensity defensively in the fourth quarter, limiting Elmont to 10 points in the fourth quarter with the second-seeded Spartans making just two field goals.
“It was a real close game and we just didn’t make enough big plays down the stretch,” Straub said. “Give Baldwin a lot of credit. They made a few more plays than us. I’m incredibly proud of our seniors. They’ll forever be state champions and led us to another great season.”
Still, Arlyn Brown (team-high 13 points) had a chance to tie the score at 45 when he was fouled on an attempted 3-pointer, but the Elmont guard went 2-of-3 from the foul line with 16 seconds remaining.
Timberlake was fouled on the other end and buried both of his free throws with 8.8 seconds left and Gabriel Phillips (10 points) solidly defended Ebubenna Nwabudu’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure yet another county title.
“We’re not the greatest offensive team, but our best offense is our defense,” Burton said. “And we got stops in the fourth quarter when we needed to. We held them to five points in the first quarter when we needed to.”
Erik Lee/Herald photos
Baldwin made it five straight county titles last Saturday by defeating Elmont 47-44 in the Nassau Class AA championship game at Farmingdale State College.
Baldwin’s Mical Saint Jean, left, and Amir Karl-Otto embraced after the final horn sounded in the Bruins’ victory over the Spartans.
SPORTS
Baldwin captures 10th crown in 11 years
By TONY BELLISSIMO
tbellissimo@liherald.com
Baldwin girls’ basketball is back on top with an exclamation point.
The Bruins, boasting one of the most successful high school programs of any sport in the state over the past 15 years, captured their 10th Nassau County championship in 11 seasons Saturday afternoon with a 64-52 victory over second-seeded Garden City in the Class AA title game at Farmingdale State College.
Senior Payton Dulin scored 18 points and senior Toni Smith added 14 as Baldwin won its 13th straight game — with each of the previous dozen by at least 35 points.
“This was a major goal of ours and hopefully we keep going,” Dulin said. “It was a little sloppy at times, but Garden City is a very good team and at this point it doesn’t matter how you win, as long as you win.”
It was Baldwin’s 19th win in 20 games and it advanced to face Westhampton for the Long Island Class AA title on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Farmingdale State. The Bruins’ lone defeat came against Long Island Lutheran Jan 7.
“Everyone knows last season didn’t end the way we wanted and we got right back to work,” Baldwin head coach Tom Catapano said. “We’ve had a young team the past two years and now a lot of these girls are seniors and they don’t want to be denied the goals they set out to accomplish.”
Garden City (20-3) entered the finals riding a 20-game win streak after opening the season with back-to-back defeats. The Trojans eliminated No. 7 Elmont (56-47) and No. 3 defending champion East Meadow (54-49) in the quarterfinals and semis, respectively. Senior standout Kyle Finnell led all scorers with 26 points.
“They’ve got good size and made us earn it,” Catapano said. “We were definitely tested today and we know we need to clean up some things for the next game.”
Senior Monique Echols added 11 points and sophomore Ajeya Nicholas chipped in 10 for the top-seeded Bruins, who led 18-12 after the first quarter, 38-23 at halftime and 52-35 after three quarters.
“It was a tough game and we needed to lock in,” Echols said. “We always think defense-first and then do what we have to do offensively.”
The playoff march began Feb. 10 when the Bruins defeated No. 8 South Side, 82-41, in the quarterfinals. Dulin was on fire with five 3s and finished with a game-high 26 points and led the defensive effort with seven steals. Freshman Malia Robinson also scored in double figures, netting a dozen.
With more than two weeks between the end of the regular season and the playoff opener, Echols said they used the time wisely.
“It was tough waiting that long between games, but we got to work on things coach felt like we needed to work on,” Echols said.
Then on March 3, Echols had 22 points, including 15 on five three-pointers in the third quarter, to lead a 76-31 victory over No. 4 MacArthur at Farmingdale State. Dulin and junior Alyssa Polonia added 13 points each.
Baldwin opened the second quarter on a 20-2 run and held an insurmountable 40-11 halftime lead. It was its third lopsided victory over the Generals this season.
Should the Bruins defeat Westhampton they’d advance to the Southeast Regional Final at Yorktown High School next Saturday at a yet-to-be determined time.
“Last season left a bad taste in our mouths,” Dulin said. “We’ve all been working hard to go as far as we can.”
Media Origin Inc./Herald photos
The Bruins knocked off Garden City, 64-52, last Saturday at Farmingdale State College to capture the Nassau Class AA championship.
Toni Smith netted 14 points as Baldwin improved
this season.
OBITUARY
Baldwin’s own John Kanaras dies at 62
Community remembers Baldwin Coach Diner owner’s character, kindness and legacy
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
John Kanaras, the owner of the Baldwin Coach Diner and an active member of the community, died on March 3, at age 62.
Kanaras had a familial connection to the diner long before he became its owner. The Baldwin Coach has been a local fixture since 1938, and John’s father, Peter Kanaras, became an owner in 1964, with partners Tommy Mathews and George Tsotos. After Peter’s death in March 2019, John stepped in to continue the family’s legacy, ensuring that the diner remained a welcoming place for the community.
Beyond his role as a business owner, Kanaras was known for his kindness and generosity. Baldwinites remember him not just as the man behind the diner, but also as a friend who created a space where families, neighbors and visitors always felt at home.
Naresh Singh, president of the Baldwin Lions Club, remembers Kanaras as a dedicated supporter of the organization, and also as someone who embodied the spirit of community service. Singh reflected on Kanaras’s generosity and the vital role he played in revitalizing the club — which had dwindle in membership after the pandemic — from providing meeting space at the diner to ensuring the success of its first major fundraiser.
“John gave the Baldwin Lions Club more than just his time — he gave us a place to call home,” Singh said. “Thanks to him, we were able to hold our monthly meetings at his diner, which became the foundation of so many of our club’s suc-
cesses. It was there that we held our first successful fundraiser after the club’s reinstatement — a true milestone for us, made possible by John’s support.”
A GoFundMe campaign led by Baldwin native Marie Healey raised more than $13,000 for Kanaras and his family while he was in the intensive care unit.
“I’ve known him for so long, because I’ve been going to the diner since my days in high school and continued that same tradition with my own kids,” Healey, who referred to Kanaras as “Mr. John,” recalled. “One of the things that stood out about him, for our family, is just how funny and engaging he was. He was a funloving man.”
Local nonprofits, including Hangout One Happy Place, also stepped up, organizing fundraisers to help during his hospitalization.
“John was the best,” Angela Lucas, founder of the non-profit said. “He embraced the Hangout kids. He was always a supporter of us, and was truly one of a kind.”
Kanaras was a graduate of Oceanside High School, class of 1981. He is survived by his wife, Penny, and their daughter, Rachael Donahue.
A visitation service was held at Fullerton Funeral Home, in Baldwin, on March 6, and Kanaras was interred at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale the following day.
“John has left us so unexpectedly,” Healey said. “While his passing leaves a tremendous void, it’s the celebration of a life well lived that must give us peace, because what a gift it has been for him to have touched so many lives over the course of his own.”
Courtesy Naresh Singh
Longtime Baldwin Coach Diner owner John Kanaras died on March 3, at age 62. A dedicated community member, he was often seen at Baldwin Lions Club fundraisers.
Herald file photo
Kanaras took over the diner in 2019 after the death of his father, Peter Kanaras.
Leaders and advocates celebrate Sustainability
Local leaders push for greener, cleaner communities
By Kelsie Radziski
Visionaries, advocates and trailblazing leaders gathered at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on Feb. 26 to celebrate groundbreaking innovations and inspire bold action toward a sustainable future. From young students to influential policy-makers to community members making a difference, the Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld, recognized those whose efforts are shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
“It is an honor for us at the Herald and Reworld to showcase the achievements of these leaders,” Stuart Richner, president and publisher of Richner Communications Inc. and the Herald, said.
As Azeez Mohammed, CEO of Reworld, emphasized, the commitment to sustainability is not just about progress — it’s about making a lasting, positive impact.
“We are honoring those leaders and budding youngsters who demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and that matters a lot to us,” Mohammed said. “Because with Reworld, our claim to fame is that we are the only company that manages waste in a sustainable manner.”
Reworld utilizes “infrastructure, technology and imagination to solve complex waste management challenges and help create a sustainable and more prosperous future for businesses and communities,” according to the company’s website.
Reworld was represented at the awards ceremony by Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist; Dawn Harmon, director of Long Island market; Adel Omrani, president of the East Region; and Lloyd Naideck, director of state government relations along with many other Reworld team members.
“We’re delighted to be able to honor all of these sustainability champions here tonight,” Early said. “So many of them have done so much in making Long Island a better place to live, work and play.”
Two young students were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Joseph Petraro, an 11-year-old who is a freshman at Louisiana State University, founded the Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, a nonprofit aimed at promoting positive social change, especially for vulnerable children. The initiative’s mission is to foster kindness, inclusivity and connections throughout communities, and to promote positive mental well-being.
“I used to get bullied when I was a lot younger,” Joseph said, “and I don’t want other people to feel that same way.”
He also started other initiatives, including the Clean Wells for Humanity program, which tackles global water scarcity, and the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, which fosters intergenerational bonds and promotes sustainable living practices. Joseph’s efforts to bring people together to help the environment made him a Student Champion for Sustainability Award winner.
Desiree Mohammadi, a 12-year-old student at South Woods Middle School, in Syosset, was honored for her initiative Seeds of Hope, which began when she saved the seeds from the vegetables in her family’s garden. Seeds of Hope has blossomed into a bigger movement, and Desiree has partnered with Island Harvest to plant seeds every spring at the nonprofit’s Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood.
“I think it’s a human right that people should be able to access fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said. Both student award winners were also presented with $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects.
Other honorees include Don Clavin, Town of Hempstead supervisor, and Rich Schaffer, Town of Babylon supervisor, who received Environmental Leader in Policy awards. They have each made efforts, working with Reworld, to improve sustainability and environmental efforts in their towns.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the Herald and by Reworld,” Schaffer said. “Reworld has been an excellent partner with the Town of Babylon, and it’s probably the main part of our solid waste infrastructure and how we deal with making sure the garbage leaves the curb and is dealt with correctly.”
Local community leaders were also recognized for their work. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, works to protect natural resources and public health. She and her organization have taken on challenges such as upgrading failing sewage-treatment systems, protecting and filtering drinking and surface water and supporting large-scale renewable-energy projects in the interest of improving the environment.
“We really feel it’s our job to make sure Long Island is clean, safe and sustainable for now and in the future,” Esposito said.
Gregory Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, was honored as well, for the strides the organization has made during his 12 years of leadership. The group has earned grant funding for a number of its specialized programs, including renewable energy, sustainable food systems, urban forestry and youth development. Cornell Cooperative is currently working with Reworld to build a Dynamic Learning Center in East Meadow, with the goal of educating the public about sustainability issues.
“We’re always looking at sustainability issues and how to be more resilient,” Sandor said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of that, and be a part of this different group of leaders that are being recognized.”
As attendees mingled and celebrated the honorees, vendors offered their donated products, among them Barrier Brewing Co., Garvies Point Craft Brewery, Farrm Wines, Borghese Vineyard, Del Vino Vineyards, Loughlin Vineyard and Twisted Cow Distillery.
The Herald Sustainability Awards were a testament to the collective impact when leaders and advocates unite with a shared purpose. The inaugural event showed that commitment to sustainability is about leaving a lasting, positive imprint on the world for generations to come.
Tim Baker/Herald
Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon pose with Gerry Compitello, Janina Martinez, Greg Gaxiola, Jassi Anand, and Doug Jacob accept award for Rich Shaffer.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Lorne Brousseau receives award for his work with REACH.
James Wylie, Lorne Brousseau, and Garrett Chelius.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Gregory M Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extention Nassau County.
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin gets his award for establishing the first hydrogen fueling station on Long Island.
Michael Fiorentino, Natural Resource Program Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.
Seatuck Environmental Executive Director Enrico Nardone proudly poses with his award.
Desiree Mohammadi (center) proudly poses with her $2,500 check, joined by former NY Rangers Mike Richter, Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon.
Island Harvest CEO and president Randi Shubin Dresner proudly poses with her award.
Stony Brook University student Esther Poon with their award.
Reworld CEO Azeez Mohammed gives welcoming remarks.
Jason Thomas/Herald
REACH Rotary Club honoree James Wylie playfully points out the towering height of former NFL star Justin Tuck as they pose together for a photo.
Lissette Pellegrino, celebrating her award for Environmental Stewardship.
Garrett Chelius receives his award for his work with REACH.
Operation SPLASH president Robert Weltner.
Thomas Powell accepts an award on Eric Swenson’s behalf to recognize his exceptional contributions.
