Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Do you have a sidewalk in front of your house with shrubs or weeds growing out over the sidewalk, making it hard for people to walk by?  Do you have low-hanging tree branches that people have to duck under when walking on the sidewalk?

It is your responsibility to keep the sidewalk clear in front of your house.  If you can't because of health reasons, don't hesitate to ask your neighbors for help.  Most of us in Westlawn are fortunate to have sidewalks on at least one side of the street to walk on.  Help keep them clear so that we can all enjoy them!

Do you have a neighbor with a front yard that hasn't been mowed in over three weeks and looks like a jungle? Overgrown yards attract rodents, suggest a home is unoccupied, and just don't look nice. What can you do?

First, check with your neighbor to see if they need help. Their lawnmower may be broken, or the person who mows the lawn may be injured, ill, or out of town on dry days. An offer to help may not only get the lawn mowed, but also could help to get to know your neighbor better.

If your neighbor refuses your help and will not mow their lawn to comply with Fairfax County's weed ordinance, call the county's Department of Environmental Management at 324-1950. They will try to locate the homeowners and convince them to mow the lawn. If that doesn't work, they will turn the case over to the Department of Public Works for a decision on whether to have the county mow the lawn. In the meantime, if you see mice or rats in the overgrown lawn, call the Health Department at 246-2300.

You can follow the same steps if it appears that the house has been abandoned. If the home is for sale, call the real estate agent and real estate company first to see if they will do anything. Your neighbors will appreciate your efforts.