Wildfires and the arrival of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree put trees in the spotlight today!

Happening in the World: After a rise in tourists visiting, the archaeological site of Pompeii will limit the number of daily visitors to 20,000 a day starting November 15. Local media reported that 36,000 people visited the site on the first Sunday of October—prompted by entry being free on the first Sunday of each month. Other than the first Sunday of each month and a few entry-paying days, tourists are unlikely to be turned away because of the cap. The cap’s implementation is fueled by a desire to reduce the effects of human visitors at Pompeii, according to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Wind gusts, low humidity, and dry vegetation due to the region being behind in rainfall are fueling wildfires and red flag warnings in several Northeastern states. In Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, a brush fire of two acres ignited. In Pennslyvania, firefighters are working to contain a fire in Berks County that resulted in an evacuation of nearby residents. In Passaic County, New Jersey, two fires are burning. The first, the Cannonball 3 Wildfire in Pompton Lakes, is a 75% contained 175-acre fire on private property that belongs to the chemical company DuPont, and the cause of the fire is being investigated. The second is the currently uncontained Jennings Creek Wildfire in West Milford, which is also burning in part of Orange County, New York; this fire is the largest this year. These active wildfires have prompted air quality alerts, so individuals are discouraged from strenuous outside activity. (NBC)

Happening in NYC: Yesterday, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived in New York City. The 74-foot Norway spruce was put in place by a crane in Manhattan’s Center Plaza. More than five miles of light strands and 50,000 multicolored LED bulbs will wrap the 43-foot diameter tree. A Swarovski star with 3 million crystals will crown the tree. The tree donated by the Albert family in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, is the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to come from Massachusetts since 1959. The lighting ceremony will take place on December 4. When the tree is taken down in January, Habitat for Humanity will use it as lumber. (AP)

Happening in Our Community: Columbia University Taiko presents this year’s annual Taiko Festival today. The festival will include performances from groups across the East Coast—such as Shoji Kameda, Soh Daiko, OMNY Taiko, and Casual Fifth—and food. The Festival is being held in the Lerner Roone Alredge Auditorium, and  doors will open at 4 pm while performances will start at 5 pm. More information can be found here.

Conifer Forest via Wikimedia Commons