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HERALD Walk honors cancer patients
laura Gillen is sworn in
Baldwin High gets creative
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Vol. 32 No. 3
JANUARY 16 - 22, 2025
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Petitioning for Diwali as a school holiday she is now a member of the Baldwin Middle School PTA. She has seen the area’s demoA petition created by Bald- graphic shifts over the years, win High School graduate Sub- she said, and saw the meeting rina Singh is urging the Bald- as an opportunity to advocate win School District to recog- for the holiday. Diwali is one of the most signize Diwali as an official school holiday. nificant holidays in Hindu culSingh launched the petition ture, and is celebrated by millive on Facebook lions worldwide. It ahead of the Board symbolizes the triof Education’s comumph of light over munity input meetdarkness and good ing on Jan. 8. At over evil, and is press time, it had marked by rituals, garnered more than prayers and 130 signatures. vibrant celebraAt the communi- SUBRINA SINGH tions, including ty meeting, held Baldwin resident the lighting of before the board’s diyas (small oil re gular meeting lamps), decorating that evening, residents voiced homes, setting off fireworks their thoughts on “the future of and exchanging gifts. learning in Baldwin schools.” Singh said that other parAttendees were asked to write ents — including those who down the topics and concerns don’t celebrate the holiday — they wanted to discuss, includ- have expressed their support ing Diwali. for the cause by signing the Singh’s push for the holiday petition. follows her October 2024 event, “I just wanted to bring DiwaLet’s Learn About Diwali, at li to the forefront,” she said. the Baldwin Public Library, “It’s no surprise that the board which detailed the Hindu festi- had already received similar val, which usually takes place requests.” in October or November and Singh said she recognizes lasts up to five days. the challenges of adding a holiSingh’s family moved to Continued on page 15 Baldwin when she was 6, and
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
Courtesy Miguel Melendez
The First lap returns for another year Abby and Miguel Melendez have once again taken the lead in this year’s Relay for Life First Lap, continuing their efforts after they revived it last year following a hiatus. Story, additional photos, Page 3.
The Irish Pub to host Chili Cook-off The annual event will serve as fundraiser for holiday lights By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Despite living in nearby Freeport, Shawn Sabel, owner of The Irish Pub, has a deep connection to the Baldwin community because of his business ties. So when community members complained on a Baldwin Facebook group page about the lack of Christmas decorations in the hamlet during the past holiday season, he determined that the proceeds from the pub’s planned Feb. 2 Chili Cook-Off would go toward funding lights for this upcoming season. “We do the cook-off every year and always try to do it for someone or something to give back to the community,” Sabel said. “This year, there
was an outcry of people not satisfied with lights, so I saw that and said, ‘Alright, this is something I’m going to do.’” The annual cook-off dates back to 2019, when the Baldwin Rotary Club created and sponsored the event, but the club was disbanded the following year during the pandemic. Susan and Samantha Cools — mother and daughter duo —of Compass Realty brought back the Chilli Cook-Off in 2021 and have since partnered with The Irish Pub to sponsor it. As of press time, seven chili-cooking teams have signed up for the event, which is free to enter, but the number is expected to soar into double digits as the cook-off nears. Those participating in the cook-off will have the chance to Continued on page 7
I
just wanted to bring Diwali to the forefront.