No one wants to hear that four letter word that starts with an “S”. It’s too early in the season to talk about S-N-O-W when the leaves are still green on the trees. This year, however, is unusual due to the warmer, drier days. Normally, our area has the peak colors in the first 10 days of October. We are still green as I write this article. The only leaves that have fallen are those leaves that are stressed by the drought or the tiny golden locust tree leaves that line each side of Eastland Avenue along the curbs. This golden “runway” sight on my way to work is always my sign that fall is here.

With the start of cooler mornings and afternoon sunshine along with the lack of wind, this next week should begin the process of the beautiful colors of our Ohio fall season. Websites are available if you wish to plan a road trip to see where the peak areas are for viewing the spectacular colors of fall. Once that wind picks up, the leaves will fall like S-N-O-W.

To talk about snow now is as insulting as seeing Christmas decorations on the retail shelves before Halloween has even happened. Lawncare season is just beginning to see the need to rake / cut / remove leaves. However, snow has fallen on Halloween in past years and, last year, this area experienced the first snow fall in mid-November.

Included in Senior Levy services is a program called Chore. Senior Levy contracts with an agency to provide grass cutting and snow removal for seniors ages 60 and over who do not have the ability to maintain their own property nor the financial means to hire a lawncare service. This service is not a landscape service that also trims bushes or trees, nor does the service provide edging. This service also does not provide leaf removal. The service is meant to only cut the city-sized lots while trying to serve as many seniors as possible with the limited funds available within Senior Levy. This program’s intention is for those who truly cannot afford to pay personally for a lawncare service nor have the physical ability to perform the task.

This is a difficult program to administer as weather is THE FACTOR in the spring trying to cut between rainfalls, with soggy wet grounds, and with grass that grows overnight like a teenage boy. Scheduling is a nightmare for any lawncare agency during our Northeast Ohio springtime when — not if but when — the rain falls. When the service is delayed, I tell our customers to be patient as they are trying to cover many clients with the unforgiving weather scheduling disruptions.

For the snowfall, the service will not remove snow until the accumulation is 3 inches or more, and then, once again, the service is trying to serve as many as possible to allow safe sidewalks or driveways for those needing to leave their homes. Patience again is needed especially if Mother Nature may melt away the snowfall before the snow is removed by the service. Always think safety first and consider the true need to leave versus the slippery conditions outside.

For the Chore service, prior to the start of the grass cutting season or snow removal, a service list is created by the contracting agency. The agency has been contracted using the Senior Services bid process that occurs every two years. The bid cycle for any agency that wishes to provide this service will begin approximately mid-March. For a senior who has had the service in past years, my suggestion is to call that agency to assure placement on that list.

Should any senior have questions about this service, please call the Senior Levy Administration office at 330-675-7846.