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History of the Baldwin Civic Association
It was social media that revived the BCA.
While the Baldwin Civic Association dates back to August 1945, it was the launching of the Baldwin Needs Revitalization Facebook page in 2011 that sparked it back to Life. David Viana started the page as a way to “get everyone to start talking with each other and to get everyone to start thinking what we can do to fix Baldwin.” As the number of “likes” continued to grow, another Baldwin resident, Linda Degen, reached out with the idea of bringing back the Baldwin Civic Association.
The first informational meeting was held
October 22, 2011 at the Baldwin Public
Library with the hope that 50 people
might attend. Instead, nearly 200
residents showed up.
Other meetings followed at Baldwin
High School. Committees were formed:
Beautification, Potential New Business
(now Economic Development), Violations
(now Quality of Life), Membership, Fundraising, and Empty Storefronts. Officers were elected, including Viana and Degen as co-presidents, and an Executive Board was convened.
Since then, the BCA has contributed to the following; plantings around town, the formation of the Baldwin Community Garden, installation of banners along
Grand Avenue & Merrick Road, a new
Baldwin sign on the LIRR train trestle at
Sunrise Highway, the reporting of violations
affecting quality of life, launching outdoor
music events, and supporting local
businesses with "cash mobs". To redevelop
housing and promote businesses on Grand
Avenue, the BCA has had an active voice
in the Town of Hempstead Downtown Re-
habilitation Initiative. As part of the BCA'a
drive to bring technology businesses to Baldwin, it brokered a partnership between Hofstra and the Baldwin School District to bring a computer coding program to the Baldwin Middle School—the first of its kind in a Long Island public school.
The BCA has become a strong advocate for Baldwin. One of the earliest projects the BCA supported was the LIRR Infill Redevelopment study. This led to the Grand Avenue Traffic Study and recommendations to improve traffic on our main North-South thoroughfare. After Superstorm Sandy, BCA members were tabbed to help represent Baldwin in the New York Rising Program. BCA board members regularly meet with elected representatives as well as attend meetings of the Nassau County Legislature and the Hempstead Town Council. BCA representatives even journey to Albany to make sure Baldwin’s concerns are heard by government.
The Baldwin Civic Association is once again a vibrant organization that is working to fulfill its mission to “foster our wonderfully diverse community and maintain the quality of life in Beautiful Baldwin.”
Executive Board
The BCA Executive Board is comprised of eleven members: five officers and the chairs of the six standing committees. The Executive Board meets once a month.
Officers
President Kimberly Malone: Kim has lived in Baldwin with her husband and two children for over 15 years. Both children attend Baldwin Senior High School. Kim has an MBA from Columbia University and is passionate about business and financial literacy. Her experience includes more than 23 years in financial services (including 10 years as a licensed insurance agent), 13 years as a local Realtor, and 10 years in marketing and management positions within higher education.
Vice President Karen Montalbano:Karen was born in Brooklyn and moved to Baldwin in 1970 with her family. A graduate of Baldwin HS and Hofstra University, her career includes almost 2 decades working in the 1010 WINS newsroom and public relations work for a major nonprofit on Long Island and for several authors. Married for over 35 years to another long-time Baldwin resident, the couple has raised their 2 children in the community.
Karen joined the BCA when it was reestablished in 2011 because she felt there was a need to attract more and better businesses to the community. She was the chair of the Potential New Business Committee (now known as the Economic Development Committee) and then Vice President. She was elected President in 2014. Her work with the BCA was recognized in 2013 when she was named the Baldwin Herald Person of the Year.
Treasurer Colette Carrion:
Recording Secretary: Rosemary Olander-Beach Rosemary moved to Baldwin in 1999 with her husband, Tom, and two children. Both of her children graduated from Baldwin High School (classes of 2013 and 2015). A longtime journalist, Rosemary now works as a freelance editor. She’s interested in improving the quality of life in Baldwin — in particular, creating a cleaner and quieter community. As the BCA’s recording secretary, she’s hoping to help the association increase outreach and membership. Rosemary also was the women’s champion in the 2024 Oktoberfest Stein Holding Contest, and she’s in training for the next one!
Corresponding Secretary: Mark Prevatt: Mark has been a Baldwin resident since 1994, and the two youngest of his six children currently attend Baldwin Senior High School. He is a Hofstra University Alumnus and has over 25 years of Information Technology Management experience and administers several social media groups. He is also a US Army Infantry Veteran and avid freshwater fisherman.
Standing Committee Chairs
For biographical information about committee chairs, see the individual committee pages.
Beautification Committee: Elissa Kirchner and Matt Ponsot
Economic Development Committee: Willy Zambrano
Fundraising Committee: Sheree Lindsay
Government Liaison: Karen Montalbano
Membership Committee: Ida Zambrano & Brunilda Alvarado
Quality of Life Committee: Pamela Weekes
By-Laws
Click here for a copy of the Association's by-laws.
General Membership Meeting Minutes
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for January 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for March 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for April 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for May 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for June 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for September 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for December 2022.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for 2023.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for January 2024.
Click here for a copy of the general membership meeting minutes for April 2024.