Downing's Recommendation for Appointment Endorsed by Senate President
Pittsfield - Today, State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D- Pittsfield) is pleased to announce that Pittsfield resident Elizabeth Baldwin, Program Manager for the REACH Community Health Foundation in North Adams, has been appointed by Senate President Therese Murray to the Massachusetts Health Disparities Council.
"When nominating Elizabeth Baldwin, I knew she would be a natural choice for this appointment," remarked Downing. "Having a representative from Berkshire County on the Health Disparities Council who is in tune with the gaps in the health care delivery system will be a tremendous asset to the Council. I congratulate Ms. Baldwin on this notable achievement."
The Health Disparities Council, as defined in statute (Subsection 16O of Section 3 of Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006), is a 34 member Council tasked with examining and making recommendations to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services regarding the reduction and elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes within the Commonwealth. The Health Disparities Council also addresses diversity in the health care workforce including doctors, nurses, and physician assistants, and makes recommendations on strategies to increase the health care workforce. Of these 34 members, four are appointed by the Senate President and must represent communities that are disproportionately affected by health disparities.
The statute outlining the Health Disparities Council is available at: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060058.htm.
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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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