image description — The tree was put up Thursday morning with a crane from L.P. Adams.

Pittsfield Places Annual Christmas Tree in Park Square

Staff Reports11:05AM / Thursday, November 16, 2017Print Story | Email Story

The spruce was donated to the city by Teena Guenther and Paul Askew.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Christmas tree has arrived.

City workers, with help from L.P. Adams, installed the 35-foot donated tree Thursday morning.

Weighing just about one ton, the tree was donated by Broadway Street residents Teena Guenther and her husband, Paul Askew.

Jim Sullivan owned the home prior and said he had planted the tree 30 years ago.

"I planted that tree around 30 years ago, my daughter brought a blue spruce twig home from school (Capeless Elementary) and I stuck it in the ground in the front yard," Sullivan wrote on iBerkshires' Facebook post about the installation.

The city cut down and loaded the tree onto a flatbed truck Thursday morning, transported it down First Street, and over to Park Square. There L.P. Adams had a crane waiting to lift it and set it down on the tree stand.

The tree will be lit on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. The Taconic High School chorus will be singing carols and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive to meet with children. There will be free hot chocolate available, donated by Patrick's Pub.

Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Christian Center’s food pantry.

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Arrest Warrants Issued for Pittsfield Shooting

Staff reportsiBerkshires
05:29PM / Monday, August 24, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were granted arrest warrants for two people suspected to be responsible for the Aug. 16 shooting on Francis Avenue.

Jason Wright, 41, and an unnamed juvenile are charged with assault and battery, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of a gun without an FID card or license to carry.

On Aug. 16, near 211 Francis Ave., three individuals suffered gunshot wounds and were all transported to Berkshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. This is one of four gun violence incidents on city streets this summer.

Police say two of the individuals who suffered gunshot wounds are the subjects of the arrest warrants.

"I first want to commend the Pittsfield Police Department on solving this case in just eight days. They, along with members of the Task Force who provided support when needed, worked around the clock to identify those responsible," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue wrote on Monday.

The DA said he understands that Pittsfield remains on edge, and said he is fully committed to providing resources, including funding for overtime and State Police detective resources, to support the Pittsfield Police Department as it continues its active investigations into the June 18, Aug. 4t, and Aug. 16 shootings.

"No stone will be left unturned. If you bring violence and guns to our county, you will be held responsible to the greatest extent of the law," he wrote.

The first arrest warrant issued is for a juvenile. The juvenile is charged with:

Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Attempted murder
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID card/license to carry
Possession of ammunition without an FID card/license to carry

The second arrest warrant is for Jason Wright, 41, with a last known address on Woodlawn Avenue. Wright is charged with:

Attempted murder
Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a Firearm
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID/LTC
Possession of ammunition without an FID/LTC

There have been four gun violence incidents in Pittsfield since mid-June, leaving one person dead and a total of seven injured. Additionally, a Lanesborough man is facing multiple charges for allegedly shooting a gun near homes and a road while intoxicated on Sunday.

On June 18, a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured. Following an extensive investigation, police on June 23 had an arrest warrant out for Terry Martizna, 35, on a charge of murder.

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