News & Notes: 'Good Morning America' Pulls Into Stockbridge

By Larry KratkaBerkshire News Network
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ABC Show Broadcasts in Stockbridge

STOCKBRIDGE — "Good Morning America" made a "Whistle Stop Tour" stop in Stockbridge Monday morning.

The train pulled into Stockbridge, arriving to the welcome of a large crowd of fans holding up signs with all sorts of messages, from ones supportive of the show and its hosts to signs in support of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

The ABC show showed the country different aspects of Stockbridge from discussions with the residents of a Stockbridge neighborhood to a performance by Stockbridge resident James Taylor from the porch the Red Lion Inn on Main Street.

There was also a rumor that Obama could show up at Joe's Diner in Lee this morning, but that turned out to be just that, a rumor. (Obama is in Colorado today; running mate Sen. Joe Biden did show up for a fundraiser last week in Holyoke.)

Primary Day in Mass.

PITTSFIELD — Today is primary election day in Massachusetts and there isn't much for voters to choose between. 

A sparse turnout is expected today for the Democratic primary race between incumbent U.S. Sen. John Kerry and challenger Edward O'Reilly and incumbent 1st District U.S. Rep. John W. Olver and challenger Robert Feuer of Stockbridge.  That's it! 

State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing along with state Reps. Daniel E. Bosley, Denis E. Guyer, Christopher N. Speranzo and William "Smitty" Pignatelli are running unopposed.

Pittsfield City Clerk Jody Phillips said she hasn't seen a lot of interest in the primary election. Polls are open today from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Waiting in the wings to challenge the Democratic winners in November are Republicans Jeffrey Beatty for Senate and Nathan Bech for the House.
 
Gas Prices Ebb Slightly

PITTSFIELD - The spike in gasoline prices locally has been short-lived, at least in most cases.

Gasoline prices have come back to levels seen early last week, between $3.56 and $3.61 a gallon for regular. Prices could be higher at certain gas stations and are always higher in the Southern Berkshire communities of Lee and Great Barrington. The price-per-gallon of gasoline shot up on Friday in anticipation of Hurricane Ike hitting the Texas Gulf coast. 
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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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