By Jason Scheer
"I remember when I was a kid, and my family would be riding down Sunrise Highway I'd see something familiar and immediately think of the carousel," he said. "That's where I wanted to go."
Earls, now a grandfather, hopes that generations to come will think of Baldwin as the place they want to go.
Earls, with the help of Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino and Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell, recently formed a group called the Friends of the Baldwin Carousel.
Scannell said he has yet to receive a deadline from County Executive Tom Suozzi for proposals to acquire the carousel.
"We don't know what they're going to come out with so we're just going to have to wait and see," Scannell said in regard to plans submitted by his competitors.
Scannell applauded Earls' efforts and said about 250 people have contacted his office volunteering to be part of an advisory committee.
At the June 14 town meeting, Earls introduced his group to members of the Baldwin community.
"The Baldwin Carousel has been gone for a long time," he said to the roughly 100 members of the audience. "I think it's time the Baldwin carousel came back home to Baldwin."
Earls explained that the purpose of the group is to render ongoing support and raise funds for restoration and maintenance of the carousel.
He's raising funds "because bringing [the carousel] back wouldn't be worthwhile if we didn't have someone to make sure it looked its best and was at its best," he said.
The first step is to bring the carousel back to Baldwin, presumably to Baldwin Park.
Santino said the town would be willing to house the carousel in the Town of Hempstead Park. Scannell, who has been championing the carousel's return to Baldwin at the county level, has also lent his support to the Baldwin Park locale. Earls thinks it's a great idea.
"To go into Baldwin Park would be nice, it's an easy place to get to," he said. "[The carousel] would be in a place that has the least impact on the neighborhood. It's an ideal place that attracts children and people of all ages."
Earls said his group, which to date has only four members, will be soliciting donations from businesses and individuals. He said he doesn't want the carousel to be a burden on fellow Baldwin residents.
"It's going to need ongoing funding because the last thing we want to do is put any increased burden on taxpayers," he said. "They're paying too much already."
The group has yet to hold a formal meeting, but Earls said he is confident he will receive support from a community that wants its icon returned.
That position was bolstered as he received a loud ovation following his speech at the town meeting.
"It's so easy to champion something that everybody wants to do," he said.
Not everyone wants the carousel returned to Baldwin. About a dozen people have contacted The Herald raising concerns over the increased noise and traffic that will accompany the carousel.
To that, Earls said, "You can't make everybody happy. But I think that most people in Baldwin want it back."
Earls urged people to get involved with the organization and local businesses to support the venture.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and if we don't grasp this opportunity and it passes by, we'll never have another opportunity to put that carousel back where it belongs."
For additional information, or to contact the Friends of the Baldwin Carousel, please email brendanearls@optonline.net.
Comments about this story? Baldwineditor@liherald.com or 569-4000 ext. 207.
