Martin K. Bush looks at a poster signed by Adams Little Leaguers.
ADAMS, Mass. -- In the third inning of Friday’s Little League game at Beaver Bard Park, home plate umpire Martin K. Bush called timeout to do an equipment check on the catcher.
And then he bent over to help the youngster tie his shoe.
A coach’s work, it seems, is never done.
But Friday was an evening to recognize that one phase of Bush’s work has come to and. The longtime coach and president of the Adams league has told his board this is his last season at the helm.
And the community took the opportunity to thank him for his 13 years of service.
“Absolutely not,” Bush said when asked if expected to serve the league for more than a dozen years when he first started coaching.
“It was an accident that I got into it. A coach left, they needed a coach. That’s when I started, and I’ve been here ever since.”
For five years, he has served as president, a job that begins in October and does not end until July, it was noted during Friday’s remarks.
Of course, all that work behind the scenes is not how Bush will be remembered by the dozens of youngsters who have played for him over the years.
“He would never yell at us for mistakes that we made, but he would show us how to fix them,” 12-year-old Joshua Weslowski said in remarks delivered to the crowd at the field. “He showed us tricks to stop any bad habits. … Marty is the best coach ever.”
Bush said Friday that he will still be around next year to help his still-to-be-named successor make the transition. But this is a good time for him to step down from the top post.
“I’ve got one son in high school who plays lacrosse,” Bush said. “He’s got two years left, and I’d like to see some of those games. My other son is moving up [from Little League] to something else, and I’d like to watch that. I’ve got two in college; one swims and one plays football. I’m just trying to free up some time.
“Coaching is fun. It’s very rewarding. The kids get ya.”
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Greylock Glen Outdoor Center 90% Complete
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Greylock Glen Outdoor Center is about 90 percent finished with an anticipated completion date in August.
Matthew Sturz of owner's project manager Colliers International updated the Selectmen on the project's progress via Zoom on Wednesday.
"We'll work with the town to determine exactly the logistics of that," he said in response to questions about the opening. "I think that there's certainly interest in getting the facility open as soon as it can open. But we do need to conclude the construction activities ... it's not federally advisable to have construction activity going on with the public."
The completion will depend on getting a certificate of occupancy for the 10,000-square foot facility.
The $8.3 million project is running eight months behind the expected schedule, Sturz said, largely because of permitting with the state Department of Environmental Protection that required an extensive environmental review of endangered species, working with National Grid to determine how solar will be integrated into the project, and the need for a water system for both potable water and fire suppression.
"Transformers and all manner of electrical switchgear is being significantly impacted by supply chain issues throughout the construction industry," said Sturz. "So coordinating those items up front took a little bit longer than anticipated."
A 350,000-gallon water tank is being constructed on the grounds to provide water with completion expected by July or August.
Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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The Selectmen on Wednesday night voted to award the bid to Mackin Construction Co. Inc. of Greenfield, which plans to invest $11 million to build out 20 or more one- and two-bedroom apartments in the three-story classroom wing that parallels Columbia Street.
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The Selectmen two weeks ago had requested the utility appear before the board after receiving numerous complaints over flickering lights, including in Town Hall.
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Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more