Leaf Crews on the Job

That humming sound you hear is the tell-tale sign that city leaf crews are on the job this fall. 

The city hires temporary workers, many of them retirees, to rake and slurp up fall leaves at curbsides around town.

Bob White told me he's been doing this for several years now, and he enjoys getting out in the outdoors and working with some familiar faces each fall. 

One thing you don't know about the leaf-collection equipment until you get up close is the small blizzard of leaf bits that fly in a cloud around the truck and trailer as the crews collect leaves. This explains why the vacuum hose operator has the hoodie closed tightly around his invisible face. 

It's messy, and nearby cars get a light dusting of leaf bits, but it's nothing a good rain won't wash away.

Visit the city website's leaf pickup schedule to determine when leaves are picked up on your street.