Heard It On The Grapevine

By Frick and Frack

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. The Christmas season is here, and Babylon Village is all decorated for the holidays. It all started on Thursday night when the cookie contest judges assembled in the gathering room of the Conklin House to "test" and grade the many different cookies baked by local contestants, and the winners were: adult - Sandra Layton; in jr. high: Heather Glenday was the winner; high school: Donald Werner took first place and in buddie and me: Haley Stewart got the honors. Mayor Ralph Scordino was a judge and Beacon publisher Al James stepped in at the last minute when an extra judge was needed. The committee: Eileen Molloy, Emily Leteriello and Catherine Bracco did a fantastic job in preparation and planning for the popular event. The cookies were served to the hungry visitors on Friday night at the open house at the Conklin House.

THE OLD FASHIONED NIGHT OF SHOPPING was held on Friday, followed by the open house at the Conklin House where hundreds of visitors and shoppers came in out of the severe cold to the warmth and beauty of the old house, and it was a delight to the eyes, beautifully decorated outside and inside with Christmas cheer in every room. We were greeted by Santa playing Christmas carols on his horn on the front porch. Inside was like a winter wonderland, with every room showing off its Christmas finery. The federal room highlighted the older corner stone of the house, and next door is the general store featuring some tree ornaments and a wide variety of lovely accessories. Everyone raved about the Christmas tree in the Victorian room, and it was a treat to see the large number of nutcrackers on our way to the gathering room. There we had a feast awaiting us - the tables were adorned with cookies to delight anyone’s palate and sandwiches donated by the "Busy Women" of every description. Some eager families had to wait outside in the cold before they could come inside because of the very large crowd. There were lots of families with wide-eyed children enjoying the beauty around the. And for a bonus, the kids enjoyed the old fashioned barn with its pot bellied stove and sled with packages and old farming equipment and tools. "Everyone" was there. Said "hi" to this handsome man who looked familiar - guess who it was ! It was Doug Chapey without his moustache (he looks terrific). Also spotted Marilyn Winters and Bob Blossom, Trustee Kevin Muldowny, Gene Turner, Bob Schapiro, Fran Pasch (passing sandwiches as she always volunteers to help out at every event), Betty Siegel (Livingstone Center president), Chris and Gordon Canary with their beautiful daughter, Rosie and Gerry Milone with their their son Jonathan, Linn Rohl, who’s always at every Conklin House event, with her lovely granddaughters working hard all evening long and of course Mayor Ralph Scordino. Some very talented musicians played Christmas carols to add to the fun. Great big kudos to trustee Debbie Basile who seemed to be everywhere all evening to keep thing running smoothly and her committee and to the generous Villagers who have been working for weeks to bring it all together.

COMINGS AND GOINGS FOR THANKSGIVING. Marge Voorhies had a delightful two weeks with her daughter Kathy Ryerson and her family in Savannah; Dr. "Mittie" and "Mac" Beyers are back from a Thanksgiving visit with their daughter Beth Frankel and her family in Wilmington, North Carolina, and last, but not least, Jeanne Ramsey looks mahvelous after her visit to her "second home" in Aruba.

HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE. We hear that Babylon Village Mayor Ralph Scordino has been negotiating with the M.T.A. to take over some parking areas at the Long Island Railroad Station. This would be a boon for Villagers as the Village would take excellent care of the areas as they do of all the properties in their jurisdiction. But you know the wheels of the bureaucracy - they take time, lots of it. We’ll keep you posted.