Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Taconic
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Generations of Taconic students will pass the tree planted on Arbor Day 2026 as they enter school.
Pittsfield's decades-long annual celebration was held at a city school for the first time. Different vocational trades at Taconic High School worked together to plant the Amelanchier, or flowering serviceberry, mark it with a plaque, record the ceremony, create artwork for the program's cover, and feed guests.
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said the students' participation reflects the spirit of Arbor Day perfectly: learning by doing, serving the community, and helping Pittsfield grow greener for generations to come.
"It's not unknown that trees help shade our homes, help clean our air and water, they support wildlife, and make our neighborhoods and public spaces more beautiful and resilient," he said.
"And Arbor Day is our chance annually to honor that gift and to remember that when we plant something today, we are investing in the future of our green world."
The holiday was established 154 years ago by J. Sterling Morton and was first observed in Nebraska with the planting of more than a million trees.
CTE environmental science and technology teacher Morgan Lindemayer-Finck detailed the many skilled students who worked on the event: the sign commemorating this Arbor Day was made by the carpentry and advanced manufacturing program, specifically students Ronan MacDonald and Patrick Winn; the multimedia production program recorded the event, and the culinary department provided refreshments.
The program's cover art was created by students Brigitte Quintana-Tenorio and Austin Sayers. The framed original was presented to Mayor Peter Marchetti.
Lindemayer-Finck said the same forward-thinking spirit of Arbor Day is in the heart of the Taconic's environmental science and technology program.
"In this vocational shop, students are not just learning about the environment, they're preparing to protect and restore it. They develop real-world hands-on skills in areas like drinking and wastewater treatment, hazardous waste remediation, clean energy, wildlife rehabilitation and management, forestry, wetland delineation and environmental mapping, producing solutions that balance ecological health with economic and community needs," she said.
"But sometimes the most meaningful action is also the simplest, planting a tree."
The goal of environmental science and technology is to rejuvenate, rehabilitate, and protect our environment for future generations, she added, and in many ways, that mirrors what a single tree can do as it grows.
McGrath explained that he got involved with an advisory committee to discern if the school wanted another CTE program, which was environmental science. He jumped on the opportunity to lend some industry expertise and worked with the state Department of Secondary and Elementary Education and the school to convince the Commonwealth that the program was appropriate and would be successful.
He now serves as the chair of the committee, and said this is "absolutely" a career that young people find value in.
Horticulture teacher Brian Callahan said that in his program, Arbor Day is more than just planting a tree. He said they are also growing something bigger: knowledge, responsibility, and opportunity.
"It represents what we work towards every day. Our students are learning the skills and knowledge needed to care for landscapes, manage trees, and make informed decisions that benefit the environment. From proper planting, pruning, soil health, and long-term plant care, these are real-world skills that prepare them for careers in the green industry," he said.
"Today, as we plant this tree, we're not just investing in the future of our campus; we're also investing in the future of our students, just like they are building their skills. They are the next generation of landscapers, arborists, turf managers, florists, and environmental stewards."
Marchetti recalled all of the places Arbor Day ceremonies were held over the years and the varied weather on that day. This was the first time the ceremony was held at a Pittsfield Public School.
At Springside Park, Eversource distributed 180 trees for residents to plant on their property. The utility partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation for the third year to distribute hundreds of free trees to customers in Massachusetts through the company's Energy-Saving Trees program.
Manager of Vegetation Management Chris Gonzalez said they are trying to promote the role that trees play in saving energy. Eversource picks two communities for the program each year from different sides of the state.
"We have a good relationship with Pittsfield. They have always been great with us removing hazard trees to keep the power on," Gonzalez said.
"We've got 180 trees total that we purchased, and people were able to reserve these through a website that's run by the Arbor Day Foundation."
Tags: arbor day, Taconic High,
