City officials in Greensburg are preparing for annual autumn traditions: collection of fallen leaves and Halloween festivities.

According to Councilman Donnie Zappone Jr., leaf collection will begin on Oct. 17 and will continue through the first weeks of December, depending on weather conditions. If heavy snow accumulation occurs before winter’s official arrival, equipment will be shifted to snow removal, he said.

The city’s public works department has three vacuum trailers it uses to collect leaves that residents are to pile loosely on the edge of the street in front of their property.

Leaves can’t be collected in alleys, which can’t accommodate the trailers and the trucks that pull them.

Residents can watch the city website, at greensburgpa.org, for an upcoming schedule of days when leaves are to be collected on designated streets.

“During the latter part of November, when leaves are at their peak, please be patient if the truck is not there on your (scheduled) day due to heavy volume the day before or rainy weather,” Zappone said. “They will start there the next day.”

Residents can call the public works department, at 724-838-4344, to request collection of leaves on a day when their street is not scheduled for service.

They also can call the department to request separate collection of brush debris, which is to be left in a biodegradable bag.

“Brush pickup will be limited,” Zappone said. “We will not be picking it up every day.”

Halloween activities planned

Greensburg Parks and Recreation will host the city’s Halloween parade at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 31 on the walking track at Lynch Field. No advance registration is required. A limited number of treat bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also that day, trick-or-treating is slated in the city, from 6 to 8 p.m. Mayor Robb Bell said city police and firefighters will patrol neighborhoods to help safeguard costumed participants as they make their rounds.

Police officer promoted

Council on Monday promoted Hank Fontana Jr. from patrolman to sergeant in the police department. An eight-year veteran of the city force, Fontana also has served in the ranks of the Westmoreland County Park Police and the police force in South Greensburg.

The promotion follows after Donald Sarsfield, a 27-year Greensburg police veteran, was promoted in June from sergeant to captain.

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