The mayor, all members of the board of trustees, representatives of Bayville's Environmental Commission assembled for a photo under the newly installed osprey nesting platform at Mill Neck Creek—only the ospreys were missing. Trustee Gugerty, who knows about birds, says that it will take a year before osprey tenants will move in. "But once they take possession of the nest, they'll return every year." It looks like a safe place for birds, because anyone approaching from land will end up with wet feet—as our government officials found out as they traipsed through the marshes. That's why they are called "wetlands." Bayville has become osprey-friendly territory, thanks to the combined efforts of LILCO, our administration and dedicated residents.

Landscaping trucks and crews are making the rounds again with a cacophony of noisy equipment—and this is only the beginning, before the grass needs cutting. The Village Church draws on local manual labor to clean up its grounds and prepare it for planting. Jim Monk, with Pastor Bender, organized members of the congregation, children from the pre-school, other church youth groups, as well as Boy Scout Troop 176 (led by Nick Campagnola, Scout Master) and provided them with rakes, shovels, clippers and other silent tools, for the official clean-up on March 28. Woodchips (courtesy of Scott Tree Service) were spread on all flower beds to discourage weeds and keep in moisture. With so many helping hands, the work was done in record time. Sorry, but the crew is not for hire!