Worcester, MA — The Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox and Bruce Leavitt, volunteer receptionist at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, were honored at the 20th Annual Governor’s Travel & Tourism Awards Gala at the DCU Center, Worcester.
Tanglewood received one of four Governor’s Leadership Awards, given to those individuals or institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry in Massachusetts. Leavitt was presented a “Travel Industry Hospitality Award,†as a volunteer or employee exemplifying the “true spirit of Massachusetts hospitality†by providing outstanding service to visitors and the tourism industry over a significant period of time.
Tanglewood was nominated by the Berkshire Visitors Bureau and selected by the state, while Leavitt was chosen by the bureau from a field of nominees. Lt. Governor Timothy Murray presented the awards.
Tanglewood was cited as a “cornerstone†of the state’s tourism industry, and for the organization’s “unwavering commitment to developing and supporting programs that encourage visitation and have significant economic, cultural and educational impact on the Berkshires and Massachusetts.†Leavitt, a volunteer for nearly 20 years who has given 6,600 hours service to the Village, was among 13 statewide award winners. Described as “the voice of Hancock Shaker Village,†Leavitt was cited for his “friendly nature, long service and dedication.â€
“We are thrilled to see Tanglewood and Bruce receive these prestigious awards,†said William R. Wilson, Jr., bureau president and CEO. “Tanglewood offers our visitors the quintessential Berkshires experience, while Bruce is a shining example of the people we have serving those travelers to the Berkshires with diligence and dedication.
"Outstanding people such as Bruce and places such as Tanglewood help ensure that we bring back visitors again and again,†Wilson said.
Berkshire Visitors Bureau members and staff joined tourism marketers from across the Commonwealth at the conference, which included discussion of the current state of the industry, new marketing trends and the latest research on this $11 billion industry for Massachusetts. The event was hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, and included appearances by national and regional tourism experts.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for 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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