Motorcycle Group Aids Supportive Day Program

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The donation was presented by C.O.B.B. President Scott Tucker and received by Janie Hassigner, supportive day program coordinator.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A faint roar of motorcycles rumbled through the parking lot of the Ralph Froio Senior Center last Tuesday.

Outside, anxiously awaiting their arrival, were members of the Supportive Day Program group who were to be the recipients of their donation.

Biker's Bowling for Charity was held on April 1 at Ken's Bowl. The American Legion Riders had accepted the challenge made by Crippled Old Busted Bikers. The Legion Riders were victorious — but not greedy.

They made the decision to give one-third of the proceeds back to COBB members to give to their chosen charity and the remainder to American Legion-VFW Post 10338 to fund their Lanesborough food bank.

COBB members chose the Supportive Day Program, a local program giving respite to caregivers, as the recipient of their donation. The donation was presented by the bike club's President Scott Tucker and received by Janie Hassigner, coordinator of the program.

COBB is a local group of men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles and who have raised monies to benefit both individuals fallen on hard times in the community and nonprofit groups over the past eight years, including those for autism and epilepsy. A motorcyle ride on June 30 at the Dalton American Legion will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Sandy Wheeler, activities Leader for the Supportive Day Program, said the group was honored to be recipients of COBB's donation.



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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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