Storm Downs Trees

By Susan BushPrint Story | Email Story
A brief but fierce wind-driven rainstorm that slashed through the Northern Berkshires on Sept. 28 downed a number of trees and electric power lines. Williamstown police reported the most incidents. Adowned tree at the corner of Elm and Arnold streets was reported at 10:43 a.m., police said. The tree pulled down live power wires that were burning on the ground when police arrived. Workers of the National Grid power company were called to the scene and repairs were made within a half-hour, police said. Police said that they received numerous telephone reports of downed trees, power outages, and other damage shortly after noon, when a strong storm sliced through the area. Routes 2 and 7 from Field Park to Thornliebank Road was closed for about an hour while crews cleared a fallen tree from the area. Traffic was detoured over Main Street while the road was closed, police said. Portions of South Street, the Knolls, and Cold Spring Road received significant wind damage, police said. According to police in North Adams and Adams, both communities had reports of downed trees but no serious disruptions were reported due to the storm.
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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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