Local ski areas cashing in on school vacation week

By Larry Kratka, WUPE Radio NewsPrint Story | Email Story
Local ski areas in the Berkshires are cashing in on a near perfect school vacation week. Near perfect in the fact that the weather has cooperated, ski conditions are great and their parking lots are full. Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Butternut in Great Barrington and Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield all reported good crowds all week. Yesterday at Bousquet, it was hard to find a parking space in the main parking lot, the lift lines at the blue and yellow lifts were full and skiers were delighted with the conditions. With temperatures in the upper 30's and plenty of sunshine, Bousquet workers even rolled out an outdoor grill, cooking hamburgs, hot dogs and sausages while every seat on the outdoor deck was occupied. This report was compiled by WUHN/WUPE Radio, Pittsfield
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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