Baldwin
HERALD Baldwin business staying afloat
BHS students thank teachers
Meadow hosts car parade
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VOL. 27 NO. 22
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020
School district to host series of grad events Virtual activities to replace commencement ceremony BY BRIDGET DOWNES AND YAW BONSU bdownes@liherald.com
Bridget Downes/Herald
MEMBERS OF THE Baldwin American Legion, including Commander Bob Hare, center, at the Veterans Memorial at Silver Lake Park in Baldwin on Monday.
Commemorating veterans amid a pandemic Memorial Day marked with parade, ceremony BY BRIDGET DOWNES bdownes@liherald.com
While the coronavirus pandemic altered the way people across the nation celebrated Memorial Day and paid tribute to the men and women who died serving the country, the Baldwin American Legion Post 246 hosted an intimate ceremony Monday, as allowed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. T he Baldwin Hot Rod Association, in collaborat i o n w i t h t h e B a l dw i n
Le gion Post, organized a car parade that led to the veterans memorial in Silver Lake Park on Foxhurst Road, where a small cerem o ny t o o k p l a c e. T h e parade began at 9:30 a.m. from Weir Street in South Hempstead, and featured military vehicles and motorcycles. Community leaders attended the ceremony at 11 a.m., according to Baldwin American Legion Post 246 Commander Bob Hare, wh i ch f e at u re d a s m a l l
contingent from the post. A t t e n d e e s we r e t o l d t o practice social distancing and wear masks to be safe. “We’re in a new normal now with Covid, and though much has changed t h i s M e m o r i a l D ay, o u r g ratitude and thanks for the courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives protecting our freedom and way of life h a s n o t a n d w i l l n eve r change,” said State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a DemoCONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Instead of a traditional commencement ceremony for this year’s Baldwin High School graduates, staff members and administrators are planning a series of events — virtual and inperson — to celebrate the culmination of seniors’ academic careers. “Nothing is going to replace the traditional graduation on the field, but I think we’ve all learned to be accommodating and open-minded and flexible during this time,” Schools Superintendent Dr. Shari Camhi said at a virtual Board of Education meeting on May 13, “so you will have a series of wonderful celebrations that, combined, will be at least as good as the one celebration that would be on the field.” Camhi said that letters would be sent to the families of graduating seniors outlining the events, which will take place over five weeks from May 21 to June 26. Some of the festivities, she added, will be the only ones
like them anywhere — unique to Baldwin. Some students said they were grateful for the planned events and to have supportive members of the BHS family. “Baldwin has put together extravagant events in a matter of two months that show how much they have cared about us,” g r a d u at i n g s e n i o r Tay l o r Parides said. “Baldwin’s administration is working harder to plan these events than they would probably ever need to do for normal graduation and that, in itself, shows how much they care about us.” “I’m excited to experience the upcoming events with my fellow classmates, even if we have to maintain a safe distance from each other,” BHS senior Ronnie Marchese-Silano said. “This isn’t an easy time, but we have to stick together and unite to show how strong the class of 2020 is.” “Since the beginning of quarantine, I never knew when I’d be able to see my classmates or teachers again,” said senior Megan Doyle, adding that she was thankful to be part of a CONTINUED ON PAGE 3