'Tis (Already?) the Season

There are still 54 shopping days in the 2006 Holiday Season, and the BIA is helping downtown merchants get the full benefit of this opportunity.

BIA Maintenance crews are installing Holiday Stars again as part of a partnership with the Downtown Merchants Group. This year, 68 stars are being hung in 41 different locations.

18 of those locations need to have their brackets reinstalled on several light poles. Last year, the City of Tacoma replaced those light poles but didn't reinstall the brackets, and this year will not allocate the time to reinstall them; however, the City is providing the strapping materials and brackets for the BIA's use.

During the next couple of days (while the Stars are being installed), the crew will not be doing any pressure washing and will be spending less time on other elements of fall clean-up such as collection and disposal of leaves.

The BIA will also help support the annual Holiday Tree Lighting right after work on Thursday evening, November 30th. This event celebrates the giving season and commemorates a partnership that has linked downtown Tacoma and Fort Lewis since 1946. Join throngs of well-wishers for the performance of the Army's Brass Quintet inside the newly remodeled lobby of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) at 5:30 p.m., followed by the lighting of the community tree at 6:00 p.m. The event will cap Art at Work Month and coincide with "Live After Five"--a special promotion by downtown merchants.