Now that the warm weather is here and school is out, I would like to make a few "gentle reminders" to my fellow neighbors. Many of us who are fortunate enough to have reached retirement look forward to retreating to our backyard sanctuaries. It seems as though every year around this time we hear from neighbors who are very frustrated with barking dogs. Please remember, it is not safe to leave a dog outdoors all day long, especially when the temperatures rise. Most often they are barking because they are uncomfortable. Also, as much as you may love your children, do not assume that your neighbors enjoy their blood curdling screams, temper tantrums and crying. Parents, please be considerate. You may not even realize it, but sometimes your screaming at them combined with their crying makes for a very unpleasant afternoon for the rest of us. During the last few weeks there have been numerous times that I was unable to sit in my own back yard and had to go inside just because of the noise level. Thank you, Carrie