The Boston tree party

Also: Why the Vermont shooting hasn't led to hate crime charges; Boston's Holiday Pops marks 50 years [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  November 30, 2023 🎄 Sunny, with a high near 46. Good Morning Boston, It's officially [giant salt pile]( — 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. Keep an eye on [wbur.org]( today 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](. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow]( The Rundown [Some want the Burlington shooting to be investigated as a hate crime. Here's how the law works]( A review of recent cases in Vermont suggests it may be difficult for prosecutors to prove a hate crime occurred in the shooting of three Palestinian college students unless the defendant made incriminating statements during the incident. [Read more.]( [Some want the Burlington shooting to be investigated as a hate crime. Here's how the law works]( A review of recent cases in Vermont suggests it may be difficult for prosecutors to prove a hate crime occurred in the shooting of three Palestinian college students unless the defendant made incriminating statements during the incident. [Read more.]( [Henry Kissinger, legendary diplomat and foreign policy scholar, dies at 100]( Kissinger's guiding foreign policy principle was that strategic national interests take priority over more idealistic aims, like the promotion of human rights and democracy. [Read more.]( [Henry Kissinger, legendary diplomat and foreign policy scholar, dies at 100]( Kissinger's guiding foreign policy principle was that strategic national interests take priority over more idealistic aims, like the promotion of human rights and democracy. [Read more.]( [Boston YMCA will provide daytime services to sheltered migrants]( The YMCA of Greater Boston is partnering with the state to support migrants living in the state transportation building in Boston. The organization will provide programming, food and shelter during the day when temporary overnight shelters are not available. [Read more.]( [Boston YMCA will provide daytime services to sheltered migrants]( The YMCA of Greater Boston is partnering with the state to support migrants living in the state transportation building in Boston. The organization will provide programming, food and shelter during the day when temporary overnight shelters are not available. [Read more.]( [Buoyed by record attendance, Cape Ann Museum eyes renovation]( Following a year of major gifts and shattered attendance records, the Gloucester museum is preparing to renovate many of its downtown buildings. [Read more.]( [Buoyed by record attendance, Cape Ann Museum eyes renovation]( Following a year of major gifts and shattered attendance records, the Gloucester museum is preparing to renovate many of its downtown buildings. [Read more.]( [BPS delay of grade reshuffle buys some families one more year to find a new school]( BPS officials said they are postponing the elimination of the seventh and eighth grades at Gardner Pilot Academy in Brighton due in part to the recent leave of its principal. [Read more.]( [BPS delay of grade reshuffle buys some families one more year to find a new school]( BPS officials said they are postponing the elimination of the seventh and eighth grades at Gardner Pilot Academy in Brighton due in part to the recent leave of its principal. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The Boston Pops is celebrating 50 years of its Holiday Pops concert, which was first introduced on Dec. 21, 1973 under the name “A Pops Christmas Party.” Here's [a look at how the beloved tradition has evolved over the past half-century](. - The temps should be mild enough this weekend that it's not too chilly to venture out. So, take a gander through [our arts and culture team's rundown of the best local weekend events]( including a Duke Ellington holiday concert and an open-mix poetry night. - A new HBO docuseries examines the infamous Charles Stuart murder and what happened after Boston's white-led law enforcement and media took Stuart's racist bait. Ahead of the debut of the first episode next week, read film writer Erin Trahan's [preview here](. - Every year, Laura McTaggart is compelled to write an informative and clever holiday letter to friends and family — even though it gets more difficult each time to come up with something clever. "Now here I am, procrastinating so much about writing the letter that I’m currently writing about writing the letter, but not actually writing the letter," McTaggart shares in [this commentary for Cognoscenti](.  What We're Reading 📚 - Files Suggest Climate Summit’s Leader Is Using Event to Promote Fossil Fuels ([The New York Times]( - ‘It’s frankly shameful.’ Mass. Legislature closes out least productive period in decades. ([The Boston Globe]( - Fake babies, real horror: Deepfakes from the Gaza war increase fears about AI’s power to mislead ([Associated Press](  Tell Me Something Good [New England Aquarium welcomes 2 new sea lions]( For all of the concern about outmigration and the dire lack of housing in Massachusetts, two new transplants from Alabama are settling in nicely in their new rent-free home at the New England Aquarium. [Read more.]( [New England Aquarium welcomes 2 new sea lions]( For all of the concern about outmigration and the dire lack of housing in Massachusetts, two new transplants from Alabama are settling in nicely in their new rent-free home at the New England Aquarium. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common explores [a different approach to supporting loved ones with addiction](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: Spotify Wrapped 🤝 [Boston Wrapped](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. 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