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Vol. 32 No. 40
oCToBER 2 - 8, 2025
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Mary Jo O’Hagan steps down from school board sion of dual enrollment programs with colleges, and new partnerships with local busiM a r y Jo O ’ H a g a n s t i l l nesses, which gave students remembers the first time she internship and job-shadowing considered running for the experiences. Perhaps most notably, O’Hagan said, BaldBaldwin Board of Education. It was 1994, and after years win’s early adoption of techof leadership roles in Parent nolo g y helped the district Teacher Associations from weather the pandemic with Brookside Elemen“almost no intert a r y t o B a l dw i n ruption of instrucHigh School, tion.” O’Hagan was urged “I am very by friends and proud that over the neighbors to take course of 30 years, the next step. the district has “It just seemed been able to navilike a natural gate all of the extension of my changes and really service with PTA,” be a leader in innoshe recalled. “I was vative programs,” all for it … I knew she said. “We were t h i s wo u l d b e a a lw ay s i n f ro n t , good thing for me, SuSAN CoolS always at the cutand a lear ning ting edge.” experience.” Her colleagues O’Hagan’s sucon the board said cessful r un for the board her impact cannot be overstatmarked the beginning of a ed. 30-year tenure, which came to “Mary Jo O’Hagan has been a close when she retired by an absolute treasure to the resigning on Sept. 10. Baldwin School District and all Over three decades, she of our students have benefited became a steadying presence by having her fighting for in the district during times of them for the past 30 years,” enormous change. She noted Board Vice President Susan the creation of Baldwin’s Cools said. “Mrs. O’Hagan has career academies, the expanContinued on page 15
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
Holden Leeds/Herald
Dominating Homecoming win Baldwin High School defeated Roslyn High School Saturday with a 42-0 score. Story, additional photos, Page 3.
Gearing up for Grand Baldwin Festival Celebrating five years this weekend at Baldwin library By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
The Grand Baldwin Festival will return this weekend for its fifth year, promising an afternoon of food, music, family activities and community spirit in the heart of the hamlet. Hosted by the Community Coalition of Baldwin, in partnership with the Baldwin Public Library, the festival will be held on Saturday, from 12 to 4:30 p.m. in the municipal parking lot behind the library, at 2385 Grand Ave. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday. Organizers said preparations have become smoother each year as the event continues to grow. “It’s become kind of routine for us, like we operate like a well-oiled machine,” Claudia Rotondo, the coalition’s director, said. “Each committee member has a list of what they’re in charge of, and then we meet weekly to catch
everybody up on their progress.” This year’s festival will feature 92 vendors, ranging from food trucks and jewelry makers to local nonprofits and even pet groomers. Visitors can expect to find handmade accessories, soaps and candles, artwork, spiritual literature, as well as recruiting tables from the U.S. armed forces and Nassau County Department of Corrections. For children, the lineup includes face-painting, games and meet-and-greets with popular characters — such as an “ice princess” and a “spider hero,” who are both on tap to make an appearance. Members of Pat’s Dance Studio and Nassau Dance Studio will perform, along with homegrown musical talent, including the band Musically Inclined. “Performing at the Grand Baldwin Festival is an honor — this will be our second time,” said Ronnie Roddy Jr., a member of Musically Inclined. “It’s amazing to play for the Baldwin Continued on page 7
M
ary Jo O’Hagan has been an absolute treasure to the Baldwin School District.