Panel To Focus On Health Care Access For Immigrants

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Cross Cultural Action Network (CCAN) will feature a panel discussion on new and emerging trends in health care access for immigrants and other minority populations in the Berkshires.

The event will be Thursday, May 21 from noon to 2 PM at the First Baptist Church, 88 South Street, Pittsfield. Representatives from Advocacy for Access, the Brien Center, Community Health Programs, Ecu-Health Care, SHINE program and Volunteers in Medicine will be on hand to provide updates on their services and exchange ideas for collaborative solutions to help minority populations gain better access to health care in the Berkshires.

The immigrant population, in particular, has seen rapid growth in the region but access to health care has become increasingly difficult because of the current economic recession and the lack of national immigration reform. Other minority groups are also confronted with the challenge of finding affordable healthcare options, especially with a job loss.

The public is welcome to attend. As always, there will be opportunities for networking among the agencies that provide services to multicultural populations throughout the County. Light refreshments will be provided.

Attendees are asked to enter the church through the side entrance near the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. To avoid construction, park on Center Street or south of Housatonic Street.

The event is sponsored by the Berkshire Immigrant Center, Adult Learning Center, Adult Literacy Committee of Berkshire County, BRIDGE, and South Berkshire Educational Collaborative with special assistance from the First Baptist Church and Manos Unidas.
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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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