•Congratulations to Allison Bridges of Cockonoe Avenue on delivering two children last month. The first was a book she authored, Trade Secrets of the Successful Hairstylist: The Successful Hair Stylist's Proven Techniques for Making a Lot More Money While Working Fewer Hours. The paperback went on sale on Amazon.com on Dec. 9, at a price of $11.95. Then, on Dec. 24, Allison and her husband Tim proudly ushered their third child into the world. Logan, 7-pounds, 11-ounces, their second son, joins daughter Gwyneth and older son, Lucas! Allison is the daughter of a very proud Susan Borg. Allison is quite the entrepreneur. She has a wonderful hair salon on Little East Neck Road in West Babylon, a couple of other business interests, and manages to juggle it all despite having three young children. Of course, she couldn't do it without her husband, the charming Tim. Congratulations to the Bridges' clan.

•The Babylon Lions Club will be hosting their Superbowl Party Feb. 7 at the Masonic Hall on West Main Street. Admission is $20, and every dollar raised will go to charity. I'm sure everyone out there is praying that they'll be watching the New York Jets!

•Pamela Dennen Driscoll has been visiting Isabel Gallagher and her family. Pamela lives in Winter Park, Fla., and is Mrs. Gallagher's niece.

•Sad news from the Harper family, formerly of Argyle Avenue. Ben, the eldest in the family, died of a heart attack the week before Christmas, only to be followed by the youngest of the seven siblings, Jane (BHS '70) a week later from cancer. Jane, or Janey, as we called her, was the first girlfriend I ever had (she was two and I was four). Although she was a couple of years younger than I, we played together, along with my brother Rob and her brother, Johnny Mike. Janey was a lot of fun and up for almost anything. I haven't seen her for nearly forty years, but the news of her death was difficult to take. From time to time, over that period, I would think of Janey and wonder how I could get hold of her. (The family left Babylon in the 1970s and scattered all over the country.) But I never really made an attempt to track her down, always thinking there would be time. That's the saddest part of losing touch with old friends... You always think that you can catch up with them later. One of the nicest things that Janey ever did for me happened one day while a group of us were walking near the Babylon Movie Theatre. A car full of teenage boys drove past us and one of them yelled at me "You're fat!" (I was.) Janey calmly turned around and said to him, "Well, you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny!"

Now, in my older incarnation, I frown on exchanging insults. But at the time, my hurt feelings quickly dissolved into laughter! My friend had not only defended me, but turned the tables on my persecutor! And for that, Janey Harper, you'll always be a friend and hero to me. Janey is one person I can't wait to meet in heaven!

•Speaking of losses, Syd Askoff, a former Babylon Mayor and Trustee, and a long-time volunteer with the Babylon Fire Department, died Sunday. Our condolences go to his widow, Gail, and the rest of his family.