Good Morning, Neighbors, and Happy Monday!

If you are responsible for a yard, this time of year might be especially busy for you, as the leaves that create such gorgeous fall foliage start drifting earthward. A carpet of leaves makes a gorgeous photo, but for many homeowners, it creates a new and especially backbreaking chore. In today’s Buzz, some things you can do with your yard waste this fall.

What to Do With Fallen Leaves in Burlington

The easiest and greenest thing to do is to leave the leaves on the ground, and this method brings benefits such as fertilizing the soil and providing a winter habitat for beneficial animals as well as nutrients for micro-organisms that keep your soil healthy.

You might also mulch your leaves, shredding them into your lawn or setting them aside to mulch garden beds, or compost them with your food waste. (Burlington has compost bins available for home use, and recently the town added biweekly or weekly compost pickup via Black Earth.)

If you do choose to rake and bag your leaves, the town will pick them up beginning today and for the next seven weeks. Yard waste collection is not like trash and recycling, in that it doesn’t have an assigned day. Instead, the trucks move through town area by area and (ideally) clear out one before moving to the next. Sometimes this takes more than a week. If your leaves haven’t been collected after some time, you can call the DPW at 781-270-1670.

If you’re raking up after your pine trees, keep in mind that the Burlington Science Center is looking to fill 8 barrels full of pine needles to use as bedding for their raptors’ cages. Bags containing all or mostly pine needles can be dropped off at Burlington High School; the Science Center is near the parking lot with those painted-on rocks, and you can also see the owl there!

What you don’t want to do is let the leaves collect in the street and cover the storm drains. This can cause water to go down the street when it should really be going down the drain—and it can be hard to see these clogs when several inches of snow begin to melt. So, when you’re out and about in town, pay attention to the storm drains you pass and uncover any that are covered with leaf litter. Your neighbors—and our Conservation Commission—will thank you!

Today in Burlington

Municipal Meetings and Community Events

• 8:00 AM - Planning Board Sculpture Park Subcommittee will give updates on the October and November events, geo-caching and the 2024 fundraiser, and more. (Virtual)
• 4:00 - 4:45 PM - Lego Club: Bring your imagination! (Library; ages 5-11)
• 6:00 PM - Fox Hill School Building Committee Summary of Sustainability Working Group, Design updates and a vote on the SBC Membership are planned along with more. (BHS and Virtual)
• 6:00 PM - Select Board  Fire and DPW appointments, approvals of overnight sewer work along with the new police station building committee and much more. (Town Hall Main Hearing Room and Virtual)
• 7:00 - 8:15 PM - Virtual Trivia Night: Questions geared towards adults, while all ages are welcome. Play solo or with a team. (Library event; Register)
• 7:30 PM - ISSAC Cybersecurity Awareness Subcommittee will brainstorm instituting a cybersecurity awareness culture and more. (Virtual)

Sports and Activities

I think we’re up-to-date on scores for last week’s games.

Today, the soccer teams kick things off with games against Wakefield; boys host and girls travel. All games start at 4:15. Our volleyball teams also travel to Wakefield for 5:00 (freshman and JV) and 6:30 (V) games.

That’s it for today. Have a great one and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Nicci

Share this Buzz with someone who has had water issues in their Burlington home!