Paul Mark Appointed to Cultural Economy Advisory Council

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BOSTON — The Healey Driscoll Administration appointed members of the Cultural Economy Advisory Council.
 
The group is comprised of public and private sector stakeholders charged with exploring policies that support artists and cultural organizations, examining ways to create economic opportunities in the arts and culture sector, and promoting cultural equity in the arts. Governor Healey established the council earlier this year to bolster Massachusetts' creative economy, which adds $27 billion to the state economy each year and supports 135,000 jobs across the state. 
 
"We are excited to kick off this effort to support our cultural economy, particularly as Massachusetts cultural and arts organizations host festivities celebrating the 250th anniversary of America's founding as part of our Massachusetts 250 initiative over the next two years,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Thank you to these council members who will help our administration identify ways to support artists and drive economic opportunity for this important sector." 
 
The council consists of representatives of the creative tourism community, performing arts sector, and state and local government and is co-chaired by Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Kate Fox. The Council will work in close partnership with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state's arts agency charged with bolstering the creative and cultural sector and will present recommendations for cultural development and jobs growth to Governor Healey.  
 
Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council Members: 
  • Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao (Co-Chair) 
  • Kate Fox, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (Co-Chair) 
  • Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council 
  • Tiffancy Allecia, Executive Director, Springfield Creative City Collective 
  • Luke Blackadar, Deputy Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston 
  • Representative Mindy Domb, House Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development 
  • Magie Gaipo-Scott, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Legal Affairs, Museum of Fine Arts Boston 
  • Deborah Hall, Executive Director, YWCA of Central Massachusetts 
  • Candace "Lee" Heald, AHA! New Bedford 
  • Joyce Linehan, Assistant to the President for Special Projects, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 
  • Senator Paul Mark, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development 
  • Ming Min Hui, Executive Director, Boston Ballet 
  • Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peabody Essex Museum 
  • Emily Ruddock, Executive Director, MassCreative  
  • Lindsey Schmid, Director of Marketing, 1Berkshire 
  • Annis Sengupta, Director of Arts and Culture, Metropolitan Area Planning Council  
  • Chad Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boston Symphony Orchestra 
  • Julie Wake, Executive Director at Arts Foundation of Cape Cod 

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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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