Bluff Heights is such a beautiful neighborhood to take a walk. Great houses, landscaping, and friendly people to greet. If you?’re in a good mood nothing can detract from a walk in this wonderful neighborhood except, maybe, occasional litter on the sidewalks or lawns. As a homeowner I hate coming out of my house to find candy wrappers or a bag of fast food trash on my lawn. I would (and assume others would) be grateful for The Good Samaritan who might see any litter on the lawn and remove it. After all litter reflects on the whole neighborhood, not just one house.

I also have a dog that looks forward to his daily walks. I take a plastic bag with me in case my dog does something that needs to be cleaned up . One day I put two and two together and thought that if I take an extra bag with me I can pick up some of the litter I come across on my walk. Afterall, if I?’m prepared to clean up after the four-legged poop machine I can certainly pick up some of the litter I come across as well. So I?’ve made this part of my habit. Everyday, wherever we walk, I pick up the candy wrappers, fast food containers, and soda cans I come across. My partner does this as well. We truly have a relatively clean neighborhood and need to be thankful for that. But a trashless neighborhood would even be better. Imagine if everyone who walked their dog or took a walk himself or herself took a bag along to pick up some of the litter they came across. Even if they did this once in a while and not necessarily every day, imagine how much cleaner the neighborhood would look. Imagine how grateful everyone would be to those who do the picking up. Imagine how a cleaner neighborhood would better reflect upon us and the value of our properties.

I feel I?’m contributing to everyone?’s benefit and this makes me feel good. So I ask you to think about it on your next walk. Try it once and decide if it works for you! It?’s certainly one direct and easy way to beautify the area where we live.


By Gary Ostrowski