Merrick Woman Among Hempstead Town's Pathfinder Honorees

The Town of Hempstead recently honored 11 women who live or work in the town for their outstanding contributions to the community at the town’s annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 7.

“Whether we look at our honorees’ efforts to feed the hungry, study cures for cancer, inspire through education or create jobs as an employer, the women whom we honor at this ceremony are developing opportunities for future pathfinders,” said Town Supervisor Anthony Santino.

Laura Maier, owner of the three Dairy Queen locations on Long Island, served as the keynote speaker for the event. Maier started out in healthcare, a field in which she worked for more than a dozen years, but she noticed the absence of Dairy Queens in the area. It became her goal to fill that void, and in 2013 she opened Long Island’s first Dairy Queen in Massapequa. It was so successful that she went on to open stores in Levittown and Huntington, with a fourth Long Island location scheduled to open soon.

Maier uses her business to help local organizations, such as school groups, sports teams and charitable entities. In the last three years, her stores have helped to raise $15,000 from Miracle Treat Day, where a portion of “Blizzard” sales go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Among the town's 2017 honorees were:

Marlene Soling, Merrick: In 2010, Soling suffered the believable loss of her husband, Frank and son, Mark, within a span of only a few weeks. Rather than allowing her grief to consume her, Soling, who is well into her 80s, has become a dedicated volunteer at Birch Elementary School in Merrick. She demonstrates compassion, reading to children with special needs with a compelling delivery and humor to help them smile and brighten their days. Soling is a rock star “Grandma” at Birch Elementary School, and is regularly praised by teachers, faculty and parents. While grieving the loss of a spouse and a child, “Grandma” Marlene mends her broken heart through the “grandchildren” she interacts with at Birch Elementary School. Marlene’s impact helps these youngsters thrive and grow up as our future leaders in society.

Linda Baldacchino, Malverne: From her work as a full-time teacher at St. Francis Preparatory School to her community involvement as Youth Board Coordinator at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Baldacchino is making a difference for both young students and families in need. She helps economically disadvantaged people by creating programs such as the Souper Scavenger Hunt, where teams throughout the community collect donations for her church food pantry. The event collects between two and four tons of food per year. Baldacchino designed “meal trains” for elderly and ill community members. The initiative enlists volunteers who cook and deliver meals to people who are unable to cook meals for themselves. During the holiday season, Baldacchino also coordinates Christmas decorations and gift collections for Glory House, a halfway house for women. She coordinates a “Midnight Run” program which distributes food, clothing and personal care items to the homeless in New York City.

Kathleen Baxley, Rockville Centre: As a teacher, Baxley has worked with children for nearly 30 years, which may have prepared her to be the administrator of three Facebook groups that boast more than 4,000 members. Facebook Moms groups have popped up all over in the last few years, and are often filled with many different opinions on the best dance studio, preschool or restaurant. They have become the go-to place for parents who are seeking up-to-the-minute information. Baxley’s Rockville Centre Moms group, RVC Moms Business group and RVC Residents Supporting our Schools group are pages where thousands of her friends and neighbors are able to turn for important information and assistance. Helping others is nothing new to Baxley, who has dedicated almost a decade to local PTAs and 12 years as a Girl Scout leader.

“Our honorees have not only realized great achievements, they are creating a vision that is inspiring future generations of women,” Santino said. “And, while women have made great strides in achieving parity in many fields, all people who embrace fairness and justice know that we have more work to do.”

Photos: Town of Hempstead