Longtime Coach Bard Honored by Adams Club

'Beaver' Bard is retiring after decades of coaching youth sports and serving on the Parks Commission.

ADAMS, Mass. — Willard "Beaver" Bard was given a standing ovation and a plaque on Sunday for his more than 50 years of serving the town and youth groups by the Maple Grove Civic Club.

Bard, 77, a longtime parks commissioner and coach for youth baseball and basketball, has been recognized in the past. He received a "Points of Light" Award in 2005 from then Gov. Mitt Romney for his volunteerism and the Little League Field on Lincoln Street was named after him.

The civic club, of which he is a member, also wished to recognize his volunteer efforts on his retirement from active coaching and the Parks Commission.

"Every so often there's an individual we come across who'll stand out like nobody else will," said Jeffrey Lefebvre, a club officer, to the 50-odd members of the club its monthly meeting at the PNA. "Somebody who give unselfishly of themselves, somebody who's always there, somebody who volunteers for everything."

Lefebvre, who also volunteers with the youth programs said there was one individual whom the children always talked about: Bard.

On hand to present the plaque, "in grateful appreciation for his 56 years of great service and volunteering in the youth services of the town of Adams," were Alfred W. Skrocki, superintendent of schools for the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, Joseph Nowak and Michael "Jocko" Koperniak, all of whom had been coached by Bard.

"I couldn't have asked for a better mentor than Beaver," said Nowak, "and it's a privilege to be able to come up here and be in front of my good friend Bill. I lost my dad at a very young age and Beaver somewhat played the role of my dad, and for that I'm ever grateful."

Superintendent of Schools Alfred W. Skrocki was one of the hundreds of children Bard coached in baseball and basketball.

"He touched the lives of literally hundreds of people of this community," he said. "The impact you've had on these people of Adams and Cheshire has really transcended every family in this community."

Koperniak, whose father coached with Bard and whose sons also played for him, echoed Skrocki's comments, noting how many people Bard had affected over the years.

"Everybody loves Beaver," he said. "My son was asked who affected you in your life and he had to write something about it — and my son wrote a poem about Beaver Bard.

Bard wasn't expecting the honor and, despite calls for a speech, kept his remarks short:

"Thank you very, very much," he said to the applause. "I appreciate it."

Coach Bard died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at the age of 79.

Friday Afternoon Fire Destroys Cheshire Barn

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
04:40PM / Friday, April 03, 2026

 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A fire on Friday afternoon destroyed a barn at 920 Sand Mill Road.

 

The building is a total loss but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching another nearby barn and the house at Stoney Brook Farm. 

 

Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said the fire was called in 12:39 p.m. by the homeowners "but it already had a foothold before they noticed it."

 

Responding firefighters found the L-shaped structure fully involved. Adams, Lanesborough, Savoy and Windsor fire companies responded and Williamstown Fire covered the station.

 

The tankers were used to transport water from a nearby brook until a pool could be set up near the scene and water pumped into it. 

 

Northern Berkshire EMS responded and one firefighter was treated at the scene and then taken to Berkshire Medical Center. 

 

Francesconi said there were no other injuries but the owners told him there were 18 chickens in the barn. The structure also had equipment and other materials in it, including a Jeep.