🌟Neighbor Spotlight: Wayne Drinnen

Peg and Wayne standing in front of the greenway he revitalized

When Wayne Drinnen put in new grass in front of his townhome in the Villa Loma neighborhood he was doing a lot more than just landscaping his yard. He was building community, and that act has led to new relationships and inspiration at the Georgetown Square Townhomes.

Wayne moved into the local townhome complex in 2018 and quickly became active in the neighborhood. As the oldest covenanted community in the city, the complex has many residents who have lived there for years. Wayne jumped right in and helped re-mulch the playground, participated in the Parade of Patios, and created a summer story hour for kids.  

Two years ago, the sprinkler system in the entire complex broke and most of the grass died. As Wayne’s neighbor Peg Orleans puts it: “Wayne is a neighbor who doesn't stand by when he can be part of the solution, even at great financial and energy cost to himself.” So Wayne got to work and decided to roto-till, seed, water, weed, and mow new grass in front of his home and the homes of everyone else on his block! He spent the summer caring for everyone’s lawn, and while working out there, he started talking to his neighbors, getting to know everyone, and building relationships.

Wayne claims, “It’s just a little bit of work, and it gets you outside, and it gets you active.” As a retired military, Wayne doesn’t believe that complaints go far; he’s a doer. He even volunteered to rototill in front of any unit in the whole complex where the owner was willing to reseed. He set an example of how to get things done, and that example inspired Peg. She says the initiative that Wayne demonstrates is why she nominated him for Neighbor of the Month. “Wayne doesn’t realize how special he is,” Peg claims.

Do you have a neighbor as special as Wayne? Nominate them for Neighbor of the Month!