Announcements
Mosquito Control for the Neighborhood
This information is being shared as requested by the Fairfax County Health Department.
April showers bring May flowers and they also bring mosquitoes. As you prepare for the warm weather ahead, the Fairfax County Health Department reminds you that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry are always a concern this time of year. Zika virus was detected for the first time in North America in 2016 and the virus can cause serious birth defects and other problems with pregnancies. While the virus has not been found in mosquitoes in Northern Virginia, it poses a risk for those who travel to areas where Zika is active and return home infected with the virus.
To minimize that risk, it is important that residents remain vigilant about controlling mosquitoes around their homes and protecting themselves from their bites by doing the following:
Control mosquitoes where you live:
- Eliminate standing water. The most effective way to control the mosquitoes which can spread Zika virus is to tip and toss standing water each week from artificial containers like tires, buckets, flower pots, corrugated drain pipes, tarps, etc. Discard containers or turn them over. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water.
- Treat standing water with a larvicide if it cannot be eliminated. If you cannot get rid of the water, treat it with a mosquito-specific, environmentally-friendly product such as Mosquito Dunks®, which are available at hardware stores and garden centers. Follow label instructions when applying.
- If mosquitoes are biting, consider treating your yard with an insecticide. When used according to label instructions, an insecticide can help control biting mosquitoes. Pay attention to areas where they hide, such as dense vegetation and ground cover.
- Organize a neighborhood clean-up. Get rid of litter and debris, discard old tires and manage vegetation that mosquitoes may be using as hiding places.
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites:
- Wear an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535. Insect repellent is safe and effective for children and pregnant women, too. Always apply according to label instructions. If using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and then repellent.
- Dress to protect. Cover exposed skin by wearing loose-fitting, light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants. For extra protection, treat clothing with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Never apply permethrin on skin and always follow label instructions.
- Keep mosquitoes out of your home. Keep doors and windows closed. Make sure screens are in good repair. Use air-conditioning when available.
More information can be found on the website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd.
April Hayfield News
Check out our April Hayfield News. Inside this issue is our proposed budget for FY18, our first “Pet Place” article, new Neighborhood Watch Member of the Month, detailed minutes from our HCA meetings, Hayfield Road project update, community flyers for our spring events, and more. There are two key meetings this month. Our General HCA meeting on April 19 (7:30pm at HES) for an update on the Stormwater Project, and the Hayfield Farm Swim Club meeting on April 20 (7pm at HES) to vote on the proposal.
Yard of the Month – April 2017
Congratulations to Bill and Judy Matlock of 5723 Shopshire Court for getting the April Yard of the Month. Swing on by and see the beauty of Spring that they have created!
Neighborhood Watch Member of the Month – Gary O’Brien
Learn more about our April Neighborhood Watch Member, Gary O’Brien.
Street you live on: I live on Broadmoor Street
What year did you move here? I moved here in 1993!
Why did you join the Watch? About 15 years ago I joined the watch to help keep the neighborhood more safe. I want to contribute to keeping Hayfield Farm great.
What is your favorite thing to do on weekends? After many enjoyable years of travel soccer weekends, I am now enjoying gardening, golf and attending various sporting events.
What is your favorite movie? No favorite but I prefer comedies and any suspense movies with an unforeseen ending.
What is your favorite song/music artist? I like a variety of music including rock, blues, country, fold, indie, and some pop.
Thanks Gary for volunteering, and helping to keep our neighborhood safe!
March Hayfield News
Check out out March Hayfield News. Inside this months issue is a new Neighborhood Watch Member of the Month, detailed minutes from our HCA meetings, Hayfield Road project update, Community flyers for our spring events, and more.
Neighborhood Watch Member of the Month – Matt Hendricks
Learn more about out March Neighborhood Watch Member, Matt Hendricks.
Street You Live On: I live on the best street in Hayfield Farm: Welch Court #WelchCourtPride
What Year You Moved Here: I first moved on Welch in 1991 from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas when my dad was stationed at the Pentagon with the Marines. My folks sold in 1999 and moved out of the area after I graduated from Hayfield Secondary in 2000. My wife and I bought our current house (right across the street from where I grew up) in September 2013. We really lucked out with the purchase. We randomly met the sellers while inquiring about a pool membership and soon discovered that they would be ready to retire at the same time that we were ready to move into Hayfield. I had no idea that their house was on Welch, never-mind across the street from where I grew up! We had been trying to move into the neighborhood for several years without any success and the opportunity to work without a realtor and off the market was perfect for both our situations. Our house was turn-key and absolutely perfect for our family! We hope to never move and I am so happy that my kids will be able to grow up on the same streets that I so fondly remember learning about life on.
Why You Joined Watch: Hayfield is my spot in this world. This is my home and I love the community, the people, and the “family” feel. I take it personally when something bad happens here as if the event took place in my own home. I want to protect the streets and most importantly the people in them. If I can contribute to that overall feeling of safety, then I am more than happy to spend a couple late nights patrolling our streets!
Favorite Thing to Do on Weekends: Anything that involves spending time with my family, attending church service, reading, running the Coast Guard trail, and hanging with our neighbor friends who are more like family. Late night fire pits and talking are always good times.
Favorite Movie: I love movies that capture a time period such as: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Forest Gump (pretty much anything Tom Hanks has been in to think of it), Driving Miss Daisy, A River Runs Through It, The Notebook, Breakfast Club, and Glory.
Favorite Song/Music Artist: My favorite song changes over time, but I will always stop changing the radio station for Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” and music by Joseph Huber.
Thanks Matt for volunteering, and helping to keep our neighborhood safe! To learn more about how to volunteer with our Neighborhood Watch, contact Erik Grotz at hayfieldfarmwatch@gmail.com.
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