Milne Library Presents Two Scrooge Events

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WILLIAMSTOWN - The David and Joyce Milne Library will host two programs about the famous holiday character Scrooge, created by Charles Dickens. Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. "Charles Dickens and his Pickwick Carol" Who is Gabriel Grub and what did he have to do with Dickens most famous story, "A Christmas Carol?" This slide lecture with readings by "Dickens" will investigate the history behind the creation of the holiday classic and about Dickens' life and how it influenced his literary choices. Dickens will also read the forgotten "Pickwick Papers" tale of "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole Sexton" and meet the original Scrooge – Gabriel Grub - as the last program in the Night at the Library series. Friday Dec. 14, 7 p.m. at the Williams Inn "A Dickens of a Scrooge" A reading of "A Christmas Carol" from Dickens' own reading copy. This reading will be accompanied by a slide show of the original woodcuts of that early edition. For more information contact Library Director Pat McLeod at 458-5369 or visit www.milnelibrary.org
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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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