Memories of Growing Up in the Village

Hello and welcome to my first monthly column for the new Babylon Village Patch. Judy Mottl, Patch's local editor, asked me to write a column that will expand on some of our AroundBabylon Facebook page activities, and also provide more information and background where we can.

For my first column we decided that I would write something about how great it is to live and grow up in Babylon Village.

Judy came into my office last week to find out if I was interested in writing this column and working with Patch to bring the best overall experience to our village readers.

As part of the conversation she asked me what my best memory was about growing up in Babylon. 

I thought about it a few moments and realized that some of my best memories were being dropped off as a child at the office where I currently work and getting to walk around and talk to local merchants and other friends. That was when I was six years old and my mother was working in the office.

I used to speak with Mr. Mandel in the shoe store next to the office, then I would continue to walk around the corner and see the Bassi family at the deli for a snack, and then on to Mr. B's luggage shop, Vidovich jewelers and others.

As I was not allowed to cross the street I couldn't go very far but I made lots of friends and had a great time learning about the different businesses.

This friendliness in Babylon Village is one of the great things that sets us apart.  But there are a lot more advantages to living here.

Let's start with great schools. Then there is the main Long Island railroad station that allows us  to get on the train and in just over an hour walk upstairs in the middle of the most exciting city on the planet.

Within short drives of Babylon Village, we have great local theater, professional sports, comedy clubs, top schools and universities, some of the world's best beaches, amazing restaurants, and just about anything else you could want for your entertainment, shopping and education pleasure.

Another aspect of Babylon life that makes living here great are all the local groups that work together to support all local activities.

Whether it's our wonderful local churches, the Booster club, the Rotary club, Lions Club, Pilot club, or any one of dozens of other local groups, they hold activities all year round that take care of local needs and provide social and entertainment value as well.

Some people will say that it's also a disadvantage of living in the village that everybody communicates so well and stays in touch with each other.

Certainly there may be times when we wish that everybody in the village did not know some aspect of our private lives or other. But overall we watch out for each other, help each other and work together to make sure that the village continues to be a very special place to live and grow up.

See you next time,
Aaron