POUGHKEEPSIE – Despite steady rain and substantial changes in city government recently, Poughkeepsie went forward with the annual lighting of the Mural Square Christmas tree on Main Street and the Dongan Square Christmas tree on lower Mill Street on Friday.
City DPW workers had been working feverishly to get both trees ready for Friday in addition to the holiday lights on many of the streetlight poles and neighboring trees. Their efforts were hindered by a series of mechanical issues to bucket trucks in the city fleet, which delayed the work.
Rain and mechanical issues combined with the closing of two major proponents of the annual event: Noah’s Ark and Caffe Aurora, along with preparing for a new mayor, interfered with the planning of a large-scale event to which the city is accustomed.
To the delight of those in attendance, Mayor-elect Yvonne Flowers vowed to work with the Recreation Department and DPW to revive the annual festivities. Outgoing Mayor Marc Nelson joined with several city workers in welcoming several attendees who braved the cold and damp weather to hear Nelson and Flowers countdown to the tree lighting. This was Nelson’s first opportunity to flip the switch for the tree, having served under his predecessor Rob Rolison, who left his mayor position when he was elected to the State Senate in 2022.
