Westwood resident provides fresh bread for neighbors

Like any West Side resident, Jon Hiatt takes pride in his lawn. However, it wasn’t long before Hiatt was cutting his neighbor’s grass as well.

“I’m here getting exercise,” said Hiatt, who lives in Westwood. “I might as well help somebody while I’m at it.”

However, his husband Mark O’Keefe said it’s more than that. “Jon has found his niche in life by helping our neighbors,” he said.

Hiatt said his neighbor had been in an automobile accident and so he decided to give her a hand helping with yard work. It multiplied from there, he said.

Hiatt said he generally mows from 10 to 12 lawns during the spring and summer season.

He also regularly provides neighbors with freshly-baked bread. Hiatt said it began when he baked nearly 90 loaves of bread for his wedding and ended up giving a portion away to his neighbors.

Since that occasion giving the neighbors freshly-baked bread has become a regular routine.

“Whenever someone new moves into our small community, he bakes homemade sourdough bread (and) then takes the bread to them,” O’Keefe said, adding that Hiatt will also give bread to the neighbors whenever he bakes a few extra loaves.

Hiatt said it’s simply a matter of looking out for others.

“We’re not here just for ourselves,” he said.