Heard It On The Grapevine

By Frick and Frack

A LONG-TIME VILLAGE TRADITION. Can’t remember a Christmas in Babylon when we didn’t have the tree lighting ceremonies in Argyle Park sponsored by the Babylon Business and Professional Women, and this year was no exception. It’s always held on the first Sunday in December and it is always freezing. "Busy Women" President Nancy Newton was the M.C. for the afternoon’s program. After an invocation, the Babylon Fire Department Chief was introduced; Paul Steinberg (one of the unsung heroes of the Village) played carols on his "mobile" piano while Lois Basley led the singing. All of the trustees were on hand for the big occasion: Alice Vanderveldt, Tony Davida, Kevin Muldowny and Debbie Basile. Mayor Ralph Scordino pulled the switch to light the beautiful tree while everyone ooh’d and aah’d. Santa arrived by fire truck, and Aidan Haray was first in line to receive his candy cane. Afterwards most of the crowd walked down Montauk Highway to the Historical Society for their Annual Wassail Bowl party...

INSIDE WAS WARM AND COZY. We had a fine time enjoying the delicious punch and homemade cookies. Society President Jackie Marsden and her board have done a wonderful job maintaining and improving the exhibits in the museum. A group of Village ladies have been working all year long on a beautiful quilt, and Mayor Ralph Scordino did the honors again by picking the winner from the basket, and the lucky winner was Janet Wirkula, and the winner of the lovely painting by Kathryn Herzey was Leonora Arone. Lots of familiar faces at the party - saw Village Historian Alice Zaruka with her husband Will, Bettie Hanse and her son Lance Reinheimer; Trustee Alice Vanderveldt; Sue Howell just back from a great Thanksgiving visit with her daughter Susan Moore and her family in Athens, Georgia; Shirley Skeffington; Elizabeth Karoly; Gene Turner; Gerry and Dom Leo and Anita North and her family and much more. It was a beautiful setting for the beginning of the holiday season in our Village.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL, the John E. Baxter Guild will no longer exist after December 31, 2005. Guild President Gail Askoff notified members in a letter that, because the nominating committee could not find anyone who would accept the position as president which the constitution requires, then the Guild must be disbanded. The gals will have their final luncheon at Southward Ho tomorrow (Friday). Over the years the Baxter Guild has been of tremendous service - they’re famous for their annual military bridge party and a host of other very worthwhile projects. Members can join other guilds if they wish to continue their volunteer work for the hospital. So it’s "sayonara" to all of the ladies who gave of their time and talents to help the community.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER to wish Village resident Beatrice Smith birthday greetings on her 103rd birthday which she celebrated on November 9. Beatyrice received a letter from President George W. Bush, and recently visited with the second grade students of the Babylon Elementary School in honor of the happy occasion (a little bird told me that Beatrice reads the Beacon from cover to cover), so we hope she reads the "Grapevine" this week.

MORE ON THE HOLIDAYS So many people worked so hard on the open house party at the Conklin House last week, and we forgot someone very special. Denise Riley who co-chaired the event with Debbie Basile used her decorating skills all over the place, especially in the "nutcracker room," and we want to send our special thank you to a very special lady.

A SPECIAL GUEST Cathy House of Washington Street, Babylon had her niece, Alex House, 27, of Levittown visit her for three days over the November 12 weekend. Alex is a stand-up comedian who travels to many different colleges and states to perform stand-up comedy around the country.