Berkshire Creative Names New Board Chairman

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Marketing consultant Cathy Deely has been named chairman of the board for Berkshire Creative, succeeding Kevin Sprague.

"The Berkshires has always been known as a place and economic environment defined by creativity in the arts and business and the public that enjoys and benefits from creative production," said Deely. "I look forward to engaging with our partners and community leadership to promote, support and help invigorate the creative economy through our work with everyone in the Berkshires."

In addition to overseeing the organization's programs and operations, Deely will continue to serve as one of three Berkshire Creative representatives on the board of 1Berkshire.

"Cathy's fresh, experienced leadership will help us ensure that we continue to stimulate new job growth and economic opportunity in the region," said Nancy Fitzpatrick, board chairman emeritus.

Stuart Chase, chief executive officer of 1Berkshire, said her "impressive track record in the ares of economic development and economic development marketing is an invaluable asset."

A graduate of Boston University and Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Business, Deely brings to her post a passion for the arts and a professional experience that crosses the corporate, government and non-profit sectors. She began her career in Washington, D.C. with several members of Congress, including then U.S. Rep. Ed Koch of New York, and has held executive marketing positions at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston, as Los Angeles' first economic development marketing director and for Citibank's corporate bank in California as vice president of corporate affairs.

She consults on corporate reputation building through community leadership, nonprofit strategic marketing and media training. In 2009, Deely produced "Made in the
USA at Pete's Motors,"public art installation in a vacant auto dealership in Great Barrington.

She also serves on the boards of Berkshire Children & Families and on the marketing committee of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. She also Norman Rockwell Museum, Southern Berkshire Literacy Network, Multiple Sclerosis Societies of Rhode Island and Southern California and the Los Angeles Arts Loan Fund

Deely is a resident of Pittsfield; her family has been active in business and community affairs in Stockbridge and Lee for well over five generations.
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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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