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Babylonians kick off holiday season with annual tree lighting and Wassail celebration by Janine Logan 
Hundreds of Babylon Villagers gathered Sunday, December 2 before the giant evergreen tree near the parking lot in Argyle Park to await the lighting of the Village Christmas tree and the arrival of Santa Claus. Then it was on to the Wassail Bowl, a traditional Victorian holiday pastime hosted each year by the Babylon Village Historical Society, for a cup of mulled cider and friendly conversation. Down the "road a piece" villagers could find their supper, for a modest donation, at Boy Scout Troop 194’s 29th annual Spaghetti Dinner held at the Babylon Junior Senior High School. After the tragic events of this past September, yearly traditions like these take on an even deeper meaning, noted many of those waiting in the dusk for the 3,000 lights on the Village evergreen tree to shine and spread holiday warmth. Sponsored each year by the Babylon Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Tree Lighting Ceremony is the true start of the holiday season in the Village. Babylon Village resident Trish Taggart said she always attends the event with her three children because "It’s tradition. But a busy schedule nearly caused us to miss it this year," she said. Eleven-year old Steven Necroto waited eagerly for the switch to be thrown by Mayor Don Conroy but, he said, "The day after Thanksgiving signals the official start of the holiday season for me." Holiday Wassail Highlights  Santa Claus arrives in grand style.
Swagged in greenery and wreaths, the Babylon Village Museum on Main Street welcomed visitors to its Wassail Bowl. Donna Henry, wife of newly-elected Babylon Town Councilman Lindsay Henry, won the quilt raffle and left with this year’s Heritage Quilters masterpiece — Victorian Rose. The Heritage Quilters work throughout the year crafting a unique quilt for this annual raffle. This is the museum’s main fund raiser and proceeds help support the programs, social functions, and educational events held by the Historical Society. Local thespians Marge Vorhees and Mac Byers delighted attendees with their readings of two favorite and traditional holiday stories — "The Night Before Christmas" and the "Yes Virginia There is a Santa Claus" letters. "That was just perfect," one Wassailer told another. Scouts Serve Spaghetti After forming 1,835 meatballs Stan Johnson’s hands must be tired, but he, along with dozens of other parent volunteers and the boy scouts from Troop 194, never tire from the satisfaction they receive in serving their delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner to nearly 600 diners year after year.  Krista and Tyler Virga tell Santa their secret wishes.
"Spaghetti dinners are a common fund raiser for scout troops," said former scout master and current scout committee member Fred Smith. "Ours began only a few years after the troop was formed, and it has just grown ever since, enjoying a very strong following." "This is the troop’s only fund raiser," said current scout master Jim Slack. Proceeds from the event support the troop’s camping activities, community service projects, and earns each scout $100 credit toward summer camp. Head cook and the Troop’s fund raising chairman Brian Leitch starts flinging the pots, simmering the sauce, and readying the spaghetti at 11 a.m. that day. The event runs like clockwork under his command.
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