Nathaniel Conklin Award recipient Eugene Turner, seated center, with his family. The restored Conklin Barn was the newest attraction at the All Village Celebration held Sunday, July 9, 2006, under the tent on the Conklin Green. And Eugene Turner was the newest Babylon Village resident to join the list of distinguished Nathanial Conklin Award recipients for excellence in volunteerism.

Now in its 11th year, the event continues to attract residents and visitors and signals the "beginning of the summer season in Babylon Village," according to event founder Doug Chapey.

Turner, who designed and engineered the display space for the historic Conklin House chimney founding stone, has served the Village and surrounding communities in numerous volunteer capacities. From volunteer FISH driver to his years and service with Babylon Flotilla Number One of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Turner embodies the spirit of volunteerism represented by the Conklin Award.

The All-Village Celebration is the only fund raiser the Conklin House Restoration Committee holds throughout the year. Proceeds from the event benefit the Conklin House, its Barn, Herb and Victorian gardens, and the Village activities that take place in the house's Gathering Room and lawn throughout the year.

"All the events we hold are free," said event cochair Alice Vandervelt. "People attend the All-Village Celebration to support our year-long activities."

Vandervelt says each year the Conklin House offers new programs to the community and continues to expand its cultural and artistic events. The evening before the All-Village Celebration, the Babylon Village Arts Council hosted a play performed by the Aire Mid Theatre. It took place under the tent.

The culinary delights found at the All-Village Celebration are now well known and certainly are a main attraction. Lenny Popp, Babylon Village Meat Market proprietor, has donated his time, food, and cooking talents since the very first event and firmly believes that this celebration is so well known now that people would miss it if it "wasn't a happening thing."

That was certainly the case with Popp's famous grilled lamb chops. "The first year we offered the chops. The second year we didn't, and they were missed. Now we make sure lamb chops are always on the grill," said Popp.

The Conklin House, its barn, and grounds will soon be open to the public one Saturday each month, according to Vandervelt.