What could have been a tragedy turned into an opportunity to promote a worthy cause. Peter Carbonaro of Oceanside, was driving with his son Christian one day when he got into a serious auto accident. … more

The Oceanside Lutheran Church, always a popular spot for Baldwin residents to worship, mixed business with pleasure over the weekend hosting a fun-filled, but also informative, Blessing of the Wheels event. Individuals young and old who ride bikes, skateboards, scooters, wheelchairs or anything else that rolls, were invited down to receive some help, both heavenly and human, for the safe operation of their wheeled devices. more

They may not yet have mastered trigonometry, the periodic table of elements or even, in some cases, subtraction, but the kindergarten class of 2011 is undeniably on its way to the academic elite. The last two weeks saw both St. Christopher’s School and the Baldwin Nursery School award capped-and-gowned kiddies diplomas for completing their first full year of school. An occasionally baffled procession of youngsters received their accreditations amicably as flashbulbs popped and eyes got misty. Unsubstantiated reports indicate a great deal of ice cream may have been enjoyed as well. more

A two-year-old boy was found in a swimming pool at 10:44 a.m. yesterday morning, said Detective Dux of the Nassau County Police Department. The child was found in a pool on Vivian Court in Baldwin by a relative. According to Dux, the relative retrieved the boy and summoned emergency services. CPR was administered to the child who was removed to South Nassau Community Hospital. He is listed in critical condition. more

Father’s Day marks not only the day the world’s supply of hideous neckwear is annually renewed, but also the midpoint of the year, give or take. Father’s Day ambles in just as most of us are packing away our New Year’s resolutions and storing them in the back of our minds for reconsideration next January. more

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Baldwin Senior High School’s extremely successful mentoring program. At an event attended by some 300 people on June 9 in the high school gymnasium, parents, mentors, mentees, faculty members, administrators and local legislators gathered to share their memories and observations. The fun-filled and at times emotional meeting featured speeches from both mentors and mentees who addressed their trials and success stories. more

Last weekend, people from all over Baldwin took part in an event that has become a tradition: the Relay for Life. Spectators gathered at the Senior High School track to cheer on the participants, who, with each lap, were raising funds for the battle against cancer. The Herald dispatched Nydja Hood, a freshman at the high school and a Herald intern, to cover the event, and she talked with Paul Gruol, a Relay for Life organizer from the American Cancer Society. more

A hastily compiled Facebook page for a 2-year-old female pit bull who was shot in the jaw after escaping her yard and reportedly menacing an elderly couple has garnered considerable attention. Donations and expressions of support have been posted to the page from as far away as Brazil and the Philippines — as have allegations of fraud and charges of poor dog ownership. The page, found by logging on to Facebook.com and searching “justice for Remi,” was posted by the dog’s owner, Barbara Garrett, 54, who has lived in Baldwin for 20 years and says she is both gratified and alarmed by the attention. more

When Kayla Gerdes, an unlicensed 18-year-old driver, ran over 69-year-old Hempstead doctor Rebecca Twine Wright in a van, killing her as she worked in her garden, no one could have predicted that the resulting investigation would focus on a pharmacy in Baldwin. But last week, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest of Baldwin Pharmacist Lutful Chowdhury, 61. more

After more than 40 years helping residents overcome problems with substance abuse, the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse, known as the Baldwin Community House, an unassuming facility at 950 Church St., has lost state funding and will have to shut down. In a struggling economy, politicians use terms like “budget cuts” and “staff reductions” to gain advantages in the quest for elected positions, the media use them to add color and drama to dry financial forecasts and treasurers use them to leverage more money out of funding sources. But when the buck finally stops, real jobs are lost, real programs are closed and real communities are forced to go without. In the next few weeks, Baldwin will have another concrete example of these all-too-real consequences. more