Broadway to the Berkshires donation to BMC

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PITTSFIELD - The Broadway to the Berkshires, Act II production that played to a crowded Colonial Theatre in March raised over $20,000 for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Berkshire Medical Center.

The producers and cast of Broadway to the Berkshires, Act II were honored during a reception held recently on the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, where they presented a check to BMC for $23,000, which will benefit patients who utilize the rehabilitation program. One such patient was the late Angelina Savko, whose daughters, Patricia Savko Spina and Lynn Savko Arsenault, developed Broadway to the Berkshires in 2006 as a tribute to their mother, and again led the second production in 2008.

The funds are being used for the Friends of Cardiac Rehab Fund, which provides financial assistance for those in the community who need such care and cannot afford it. Several patients who have benefited from the events were in attendance at the reception.

"This generous support goes to the core mission of Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Medical Center and the provision of care to all in our community, regardless of their ability to pay," said Ruth Blodgett, Senior Vice President of System Planning and Development for Berkshire Health Systems. "The cast and crew of Broadway to the Berkshires have again come through for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at BMC, and Angelina Savko would be proud of them all."

"Between the two productions, in 2006 and now in 2008, those associated with Broadway to the Berkshires have helped to raise over $45,000 for Cardiac Rehabilitation at Berkshire Medical Center," said Ann Marie Sadlowski, RN, Director of the BMC Unit. "The staff of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit cannot thank Pat and Lynn and the entire cast and crew enough. Angelina was such a wonderful person and this is such a great legacy in her honor."

Broadway to the Berkshires, Act II ran from March 28 through 30 at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield.
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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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