Legislator Richard Nicolello and I met recently with Commissioner Waltz of the Nassau County Department of Public Works.

One of the items on our agenda was the creation of a bird sanctuary at the recharge facility located at Memorial Park.

Steps will be taken in the upcoming week to survey the area by the Nassau County Department of Public Works personnel with a view towards developing a plan to make this facility "bird friendly."

I want to thank Legislator Nicolello and Commissioner Waltz for their assistance.

I also want to thank all those who have volunteered to assist in this project and a very special thanks to the volunteers (some as young as 6 years old).

Fall, we have often been told, is an ideal time for planting. If you are so inclined and you wish to incorporate "bird friendly" plantings, the following are a few suggestions:

Serviceberry: Large shrub-tree with reddish berries in June, provides nesting and food.

Japanese Barberry: Dense thorny low shrub with red berries in fall and winter. Cardinals will nest in it.

Hackberry: Large tree with blue-black berries fall to spring, a favorite of dozens of birds.

Cornelian Cherry: Large shrub with scarlet cherry-like fruit in August.

Tartarian Honeysuckle: Dense eight-foot shrub with red berries in June. Morrow's honeysuckle has berries a month later and Amur honeysuckle produces them in early fall. All are good nesting shrubs.

Washington Hawthorne: Small trees, thorny with red berries fall to spring, favorite of robins and cedar waxwings.

Regel's Privet: Dense medium shrub with blue-black berries fall to early spring.

Canaert Juniper: Dense small evergreen tree with abundant blue berries fall to spring.

Boston Ivy: Vines will cover trees or buildings; blue berries fall to spring. Some birds nest in it.

Colorado and Norway Spruces: Upright dense evergreen trees with cones containing seeds taken by many birds.

Austrian, Scotch and White Pines: Upright evergreen trees with cones containing seeds taken by many birds.

The torch of leadership of Troop 45 is being passed from Frank D'Elia to Steve Grosskopf.

Steve assumed the position of Scoutmaster in the Spring.

Troop 45 has had an exemplary history where team effort has been the cornerstone of this organization. The adult and junior leaders, as well as the boys, make this Troop one of the most outstanding troops in all of Scouting.

I would like to thank Frank D'Elia for his leadership.

Steve Grosskopf is no stranger to scouting, he has been a Troop 45 Assistant Scoutmaster for over 10 years. Most recently he was the Chairman of the Shelter Rock district - the highest volunteer job in the Scouting District.

Scouting has changed some since I was a scout, but in many ways it is still the same.

It was a great learning experience for me and I encourage the boys and girls of our community to join the Scouting programs. Their lives will be enriched.

The new commander of American Legion Post 349 is Walter Hobbs, Jr.

This Post has many activities planned for the upcoming year. Some include participation in civic, charitable, community, children's, youth, ladies auxiliary, veterans and other programs.

On Aug. 22, under the direction of Sal Mammina, the Legion sponsored, at St. Christopher's, a picnic for children.

If you are interested in joining the American Legion and/or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, contact my office at 746-0750 and I will forward your message to the applicable membership chairperson.

There will be a Public Hearing on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, to discuss the plans for rehabilitating, expanding or replacing our library. At this hearing, a presentation will be made by the architect that has been engaged concerning the project.

I encourage our residents to attend this hearing.

Sunday, Aug.30 was Senior Day. Our senior members were invited to bring a guest to enjoy the buffet of fresh fruits, cookies, cakes and assorted beverages. A good time was had by all.

This pool season saw a substantial increase in attendance. Many contributed to making this season a great success.

I want to thank all the members of the pool board for their efforts and dedication which contributed to making it as successful as it was.

To the lifeguards, pump house personnel, attendants, cashiers, security, supervisors and members of the Department of Public Works, I also say thank you.

To the Directors, Kyle Teemsma and Debbie Faller, I say congratulations on a job well done.

The Wachters served our residents well during the summer. They did a great job and I thank them for going out of their way to please the pool members. Congratulations to the Nimble Fingers on their 15th Anniversary. Merchants in our village are an integral part of our community, so I encourage you to shop locally as often as you can.