As the leaves have been changing and falling to the ground this autumn season, I have been reflecting on how grateful I am that Concord voted to ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers. The irritating, monotonous drone of these horrible machines now fills the air. As I write I can hear them whining constantly in several directions. I used to associate fall with the crunch and swish and crackle of feet walking through leaves. Now I dread the sound of fall.
There will be eight more falls before many of these hideous contraptions are silenced. It’s a long time to wait, but that’s how democracy works sometimes. Thank you to the people who made the ban possible.
Jay Copeland
Shirley Street