We hope the assurances of the police are correct and that there is no imminent threat of abduction to local children. What is good about the incidents reported to the police is that children in Oyster Bay have been reacting to strangers as they have been taught. They have learned their lessons well and are getting themselves out of harm's way. That is just great. It is far better to react and find all is well than to go along with a stranger to a sorry end. Congratulations to the parents and teachers who educate our children.

Sometimes people say things have gotten worse in the world but our take is that today we are just more aware of what can happen.

We think our method today is better. We are more specific and children better understand how to react. They know to get away from harm quickly and to tell an adult. They have learned their lessons well.

In last week's editorial we tried to be correct in talking about our "service people" but we slipped up in talking about their families. We said "women and children" and forgot to mention the men whose wives are away serving this country in Iraq and Kosovo. Our apologies and our thanks to the caller who brought that reality to our attention.

Last Thursday, Feb. 17, after covering the Three Great Presidents Contest at Raynham Hall Museum, we stopped at the waterfront to relax for a few moments. As we drove into the parking lot near the boat ramp, we noticed a large cluster of sea gulls resting in the area. As we sat in the car more and more gulls landed, mobbing us.

While it was pleasant sitting there, we had things to do and considered how to get out. We inched the car forward hoping to send the gulls flying but they didn't move. They were staking their claim to the lot.

Panicking a little, we looked in the rearview mirror and decided that would be a better escape. We slowly backed out of the lot, chuckling. The birds had won the day over the car.

It was a fascinating confrontation and we took away a great pleasure in being able to interact with our local wildlife. It is wonderful to see that we have a serene and open waterfront area where we have the rare pleasure of meeting the natural world as it exists. It is a pleasure to preserve. - DFK