Saturday's letters: Ditch the leaf blower for a rake

Ah, autumn! A time for crisp air and contemplative walks. For peace and quiet — or not.
These days my reveries are often abruptly disturbed by the cacophony of a noisy leaf blower. Homeowners, city workers, private contractors are out — all intent on wrangling pesky leaves into a pile. Few of these zealous leaf-herders bother to wear earplugs, or face masks.
According to the the Canadian Lung Association, leaf blowers can stir up lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to these