Williams Professors Examine Fiscal Policy on College Radio

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Williamstown – On Sunday, May 15th, from 8-10PM, Bill Gentry, of the Economics Department, and Jim Mahon, Chair of the Political Economy Program, will visit Air Williams on WCFM to discuss President Bush’s fiscal policy. During the first hour, Bill Gentry will evaluate the effectiveness of the Bush tax cuts from a microeconomic standpoint. Professor Gentry holds a PhD in Economics from Princeton University and teaches a course at Williams called Tax Policy. During the second hour, Jim Mahon will explain the significance of America’s financial situation in the context of a global economy. Professor Mahon holds a PhD from the University of California-Berkeley and teaches a course called Politics of the International Economy. Air Williams is a weekly political talk show on WCFM hosted by Matt Piven, a sophomore at the college. Call-ins are welcome at 413-597-2197.
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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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