The tree was transported to Park Square on Tuesday morning.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Standing about 33 feet tall and weighing 1,400 to 1,500 pounds, the city's Christmas tree was placed in Park Square on Tuesday morning.
City workers started bright and early cutting and hauling the tree from an anonymous donor in the city to Park Square.
The tree will be decorated on Tuesday night to prepare for next Friday's tree lighting ceremony.
"It is an anonymous donor this year and they've elected to have a veteran light it," said Recreation Activities Coordinator Rebecca Manship.
This is the second time in four years the donor has been anonymous. In 2012, an anonymous donor asked the same thing and Air Force Medic Carmen Provenzano — who had just returned from Afghanistan — was chosen to light it.
Manship said the city's Veterans Services will find a veteran to light this year's tree.
Annually, the city seeks out a tree to be the city's official one but it is getting more and more difficult. The city pushed back the deadline this year when it had difficulty finding a tree inside city limits suitable.
Nonetheless, a donor did come forward so the annual tree lighting is planned for Friday, Dec. 5. The lighting will start a 6 p.m. and will feature the Taconic High School chorus and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free hot chocolate will be available courtesy of Patrick's Pub and the Christian Center's food pantry will be accepting non-perishable food items.
"The tree lighting is a Pittsfield holiday tradition. I encourage those attending to bring food items for the Christian Center’s pantry. The holiday season is an important time for us all to give to those in need," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said in a statement announcing the tree lighting.
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Dalton Zoning Board OKs Conversion of Zip's Bar into Apartments
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday approved the conversion of the former Zip's Bar & Billiards into four apartments.
The owner, Ron Carver, submitted an application for a special permit requesting to convert the first floor of the tavern into residential apartments.
"The former tenant went out of business. He was operating a bar/nightclub and had lost business and decided after COVID that it just wasn't worth his while to continue," board Chair Anthony Doyle said.
"So Mr. Carver is left with an empty commercial space, and the question is do you try to get another bar in there or do you do something else, and he opted to convert."
The detailed application that Carver submitted was described by board members as impressive. The notice of the public hearing was posted on April 23 and 30 to alert neighbors to come and speak.
Despite the public hearing notice, no one attended the meeting to speak against the application, which is a good indication that the neighbors support it, Doyle said.
Carver attended the meeting and provided a letter from one of the neighbors expressing their support for the change.
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