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A youth committee runs the annual tree lighting in Lanesborough, led this year by Ava Charbonneau and Kiera Kristensen.
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Schoolchildren sing at the tree lighting.
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The tree at the former police station was planted nine years ago.
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Elementary Chorus Serenades Lanesborough Christmas Tree Lighting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Refreshments included hot cocoa and cookies. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Elementary schoolers serenaded the town's tree lighting with holiday tunes on Thursday evening.

The illuminated evergreen can be seen at the corner of Church Street and Route 7, the site of the former police department. Complimentary hot cocoa, decorated sugar cookies made by Bailey's Bakery in North Adams, and other treats helped attendees get into the holiday spirit.

The 9th annual tree lighting was hosted by a youth-run committee consisting of Mount Greylock Regional High School students Ava Charbonneau, Kiera Kristensen, and Madison Powell.

"It's wonderful. I think we had a great turnout considering how cold and snowy it is today and it just means a lot to see the town come together for something like this," Kristensen said. "And the chorus did great."

Charbonneau said Lisa Trybus, whose daughter started the event, was looking for youth to help out with the event and they answered the call.

"We met a few times, we wrote the speeches, and we made sure that this was all set," she said.

Nine years ago, Samantha Trybus and a couple of her friends fundraised to buy the tree and plant it.  Now, the torch is being passed to younger generations.



"I just think it's really beautiful that this is still a tradition that was able to be carried on," she said.

"I'm really thankful that my mom and my little brother were able to keep it going while I was in college and I think it's great that there is a younger generation of these girls willing to take it over and I hope that it just keeps growing."

The tree began at her height nearly a decade ago and has grown to be impressively tall.

"It's cool to kind of see it as a landmark after all those years ago, it's almost been a decade," she said.

Longtime town volunteer Mary Ellen Donna had the important task of lighting the tree. She and her husband, John, are big supporters of the event, maintaining its lights every year.

Jake's Java, which opened earlier this year in honor of fallen Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, was thanked for providing the hot cocoa. Other sponsors include the Lanesborough Police Department, Adams Community Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Berkshire Dog, Sayers Auto Wrecking, BCM General Contracting, and John's Tractor.


Tags: holiday story,   tree lighting,   

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Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at The Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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