REMEMBER THE NECESSARY STORE? It was on Deer Park Avenue and carried everything, and I do mean everything. You could buy toys, clothes, kitchen utensils, glassware and much much more. Paul Melander and his son Steve were the owners and worked there full time. Steve lives in Newark, Delaware and is an avid fisherman - he keeps in touch with Jerry Snover these days. He called last week to tell Jerry that he had caught a 200 pound yellow fin tuna. Thatis some feat - we send our congrats to a great guy.

THEY'RE COMING BACK. Yes, the snowbirds are coming back to Babylon, and we're delighted to have them. This week Tina and Jim Grange arrived here from their St. Petersburg, Florida home, and Nan Hanaway is back in the Village from her Florida home, and Carmen and Ray Accettella had a good winter in Stuart, Florida, but are glad to be back in Brightwaters.

AND SPEAKING OF NAN, she recently attended her 75th reunion from the Walnut Hill High School in Natick, Massachusetts. Her daughter Kathy Samson of West Hartford drove up with her, and mother and daughter had a fab time. Theystopped in to visit former Babylonian Isabelle Seggerman, the daughter of the late Belle Douglas. Could you believe that Nan graduated from high school 75 years ago? We sure couldn't, but it's true.

A BEAUTIFUL MURAL - Had lunch at Gemelli's last week where we enjoyed the delicious food. While there we noticed the beautiful mural on the east wall - it was painted by former Babylonian Dudley Hayward around the time of the opening of the restaurant and is a terrific addition, it fits right in with the décor. Thank you Dudley.

AND MORE ABOUT GEMELLI'S - Ernesto Vasela is one very proud man these days. His lovely daughter Maria Vareta won first place in the female division of the 5K Boston Inaugural Race on April 19. Maria, who is an optometrist practicing in Boston, became an instant celebrity - her picture was in the papers, articles about the race were on TV and last, but not least, she met the Mayor and other dignitaries. Ernesto has raised five children who received college degrees. Way to go Ernesto.

OOPS, WE'RE SORRY - In our last column, we printed an item about the death of Charlie Tibbets in which we wrote that he was "the late Captain of the Long Island Yacht Club." His title was Commodore of the Long Island Yacht Club. We regret the error.

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES TO JIM GROVER who celebrated with his family in March. Can you believe Jim was 90 years old? It seems like only yesterday that he won a race for Congress where he served for 12 years. Before that he served in the assembly for six years.

AND MORE ABOUT JIM - Jim and Mary celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary at a party in their home with their family on April 25th. Jim and Mary have four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Many of us have happy memories of their anniversary down at New Smyrna Beach when we celebrated - sometimes with around 70 people, with champagne and shrimp on the menu. Many, many more Mary and Jim.

A GREAT IDEA FROM JOY TORRY - If you graduated from Babylon High School in 1939 call Joy at 539-2301. Joy would like to plan a small get together with the 70 year graduates. This would be a very good thing for the community - it lets people know what a great place Babylon Village is. People love it so much, many of them don't want to leave. So give Joy a call - do it now.