Long-time Midtown employee donates annual holiday tree

“I was cutting the lawn, I looked up and I said, that would be the perfect tree,” says David Manioci of Parma whose tree will soon grace the center stage of Midtown Plaza.

Manioci, a long-time employee of Midtown is donating a 48-foot spruce tree. The tree was planted in 1995 and will be cut down Wednesday, then driven to Midtown. Manioci says there is a bittersweet feeling to donating what may be the last holiday tree in Midtown Plaza.

“Kinda sad, but...I think something needs to be done with the complex and...change is good. I remember Midtown when I was a child. My parents used to bring me down there on the Monorail and Magic Mountain. “

Manioci is the chief engineer at Midtown Plaza; he’s starting his 25th year with the complex. Not only does Manioci’s team take care of all the heating, air conditioning and electrical systems at Midtown Plaza, they are also responsible for erecting the holiday tree in the center of the plaza every year.

“It takes about five to six hours to get the tree up,” says Manioci, “and it takes an entire day to make sure the tree is completely straight and centered.”

Manioci’s tree will be cut down about eight feet in order to fit the 40 foot height requirement for Midtown Plaza.

“I've seen many trees go up but I would say I'm kind of happy because part of my Dad's house is going to be at Midtown,” says Lindsay Manioci, David’s 14 year old daughter who gave her father permission to cut down the tree in front of her bedroom window.  

“Personally, I never liked the tree so it wasn’t that hard a decision,” says Lindsay, “it was actually a total surprise because he kind of did it on a Capricious whim...just mowing the lawn and glanced up.”

“Where else can you go to see a large tree? You've got Rockefeller Center, Washington D.C. and Midtown,” says Manioci.

Downtown holiday activities begin on Dec. 1 with a holiday family event in Midtown Plaza and the traditional Lighting of the Liberty Pole and will continue through New Year’s Eve and the countdown to 2008. The City of Rochester is auditioning choirs and ensembles to perform throughout the week. Participants should prepare a program of 30 minutes in length.

Interested participants should submit an application, no later than Monday, Nov. 26, by visiting www.cityofrochester.gov, calling 234-1661 or e-mailing bobscott1@aol.com. Applications are also available in Room 222B, Special Events, City Hall,