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Boston's Morning Newsletter
How to watch the 2023 Boston Common Christmas tree lighting
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It’s officially giant salt pile season — but that’s not the only big winter tradition we’re welcoming back today. The annual lighting of the Boston Common Christmas tree takes place tonight, celebrating not only the holidays but the century-old friendship between Boston and Nova Scotia. Here’s what to know about the event, past and present:
Nova Scotia has sent Boston over 50 free Christmas trees. It’s a tradition that dates back to Boston’s quick response to send help after a massive explosion in 1917 devastated the Canadian province’s capital, Halifax. A year later, Nova Scotia sent a tree to Boston as a “thank you,” and it became an annual tradition in 1971. Click here for the full story from WBUR’s Laney Ruckstuhl and Dan Guzman on all the behind-the-scenes work that makes the tradition happen (including how the perfect tree is chosen and the perennial battle against the “ruthless” Common squirrels.)
- Meet the tree: This year’s Tree For Boston is a 40-year-old white spruce that stands 45 feet tall. It was donated by a family in Stewiacke, a small town in Nova Scotia known for its life-size mastodon model and mildly controversial claims about being midway between the North Pole and the equator.
- What to know about the tree lighting: The event is something of a spectacle, with lots of lights and music. It all leads up to the moment when officials flick on the Christmas tree lights — along with the rest of the holiday lights throughout the Common and the Boston Public Garden — shortly before 8 p.m. The celebration also includes appearances from an eclectic group: the keyboardist from Maroon 5, pyrotechnics, a Nova Scotian Celtic “supergroup,” Mayor Michelle Wu and Santa.
- How to watch: The tree is right by the Common’s visitor center off Tremont Street. If you want to get a good in-person view of the lighting, get there closer to the official start at 6 p.m. Want to watch from home? WCVB Channel 5 will also broadcast the event live starting at 7 p.m.
- What’s next: After the lighting, Boston officials will continue on to the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Back Bay to turn on the holiday lights there. For the first time, the mall lights will extend all the way west to Kenmore Square. (There’ll be cookies and hot cocoa, too.)
Seats to fill: Gov. Maura Healey now has two seats on Massachusetts’ highest court to fill soon. In a surprise move, Supreme Judicial Court Justice David Lowy announced yesterday he plans to retire from the court on Feb. 3, 2024 (his 64th birthday) to become the general legal counsel for UMass.
- The news comes after SJC Justice Elspeth Cypher announced in June that she plans to retire this January. Healey has yet to say who she plans to appoint as Cypher’s replacement.
- Why it matters: Healey’s Republican predecessor, former Gov. Charlie Baker, appointed all seven of the SJC’s current justices.
Sup-date: Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka says she’s “optimistic” that Democrats will reach a deal on a supplemental budget this week, as the two chambers reconvene today in informal sessions. The $2.8 billion bill has been held up by disagreements over funding for the state’s emergency family shelters.
- One unusual roadblock: Massachusetts Republicans. The Legislature’s tiny GOP caucus is seizing their rare opportunity to wield power on Beacon Hill, pushing to delay a vote on any deal until formal sessions resume in January. (During informal sessions, any single lawmaker can block bills from passing.)
Down the drain: Some residents in Newton and Somerville are receiving massive retroactive water bills — as high as $65,000 — to account for the past four years of water usage, due to faulty meter readings. Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told The Boston Globe that 5-10% of residents in the city are receiving large “catch-up” bills.
- While some think the bills should simply be forgiven, the Globe reports state law may prevent that. Newton is offering residents zero-interest payment plans to spread out the cost.
P.S.— Wu will be live on Radio Boston this morning at 11 a.m., for real this time. (Yes, I know we said she would be on this past Monday, but things got rescheduled. Sorry for the confusion!) Hopefully you’ve now had time to brainstorm some incisive questions; send them in through the Radio Boston text club! And in case you missed it, Sen. Elizabeth Warren was on yesterday’s show to discuss the Israel-Hamas war. Read the highlights from her interview here.
