With the official arrival of spring (at least on our calendars) it's time to bring our thoughts to warmer weather and focus on outdoor activities and projects. Many of you, like me, will now find time to walk our properties and start thinking about the various lawn, garden and home improvement projects that we want to get done. While we all want our lawns and gardens to look the best they can, we all need to remember to be courteous to our neighbors. As the lawn mowers start cranking, power tools start turning and hammers start banging, I would like to remind all our village residents about our Good Neighbor Rules:

* Heavy landscaping equipment, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers and edgers, are prohibited from use on Sundays and holidays and before 8 a.m. on all other days.

* Regular trash is collected at the curb each Tuesday and Friday by the Town of Oyster Bay.

* Yard waste and other garbage cannot be brought to the curb until after sunset on the night before a scheduled pickup.

* Landscapers must remove debris or store it out of sight on the property.

* Empty garbage cans should be brought in within two hours after pickup.

* Lawns must be cut to within 5", fences kept in repair and your property must be kept free of debris.

* It is every property owner's responsibility to assure that their sidewalks are in good condition and their trees and branches do not pose any hazards to passers-by.

* Please also remember to curb your dog and scoop the poop.

By observing these few rules we can assure that our village streets will be as safe and clean as they can be.

As the weather warms and outdoor activities increase, please remember to drive slowly and safely on our streets and always keep a watchful eye out for children playing and people walking. Please also keep a vigilant eye out for any unusual activity, dangerous conditions or out-of-the-ordinary behavior in your neighborhood. Please report any instances to the proper agency. By all of us getting involved, we can continue to make our village the best place to live, work and play.