Labbee Dedication Plaque Eyed For Adams' Renfrew Field

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

The rock has already been delivered to Renfrew Field.
ADAMS, Mass. — The rock is in place.

Now, the Selectmen just have to approve a dedication plaque for Dana Labbee at the new basketball court at Renfrew Field.

A large stone was installed near the park and Dana Labbee Basketball League organizers are finishing the final details on a plaque that will dedicate the court to the Hoosac Valley High School athlete and honor student who was killed in a 2010 car crash.

Labbee almost immediately became the inspiration behind a summer youth league that has grown tremendously in just two years.

The Parks Commission will bring the plans to the Board of Selectmen for approval later this month. The commission has worked with league President Gregory Charon to make sure the plaque will not overshadow the stone dedicating the Babe Ruth field to longtime youth sports leader Ugo C. Balardini.

Balardini led the Adams Babe Ruth League for three decades and served eight years on the Parks Commission.

The commission members said they support the project as long as the plaque is about the same size as Balardini's and the stone remains right where it is placed — next to the basketball court.

"The plaque will not go on the rock until you see it," Charon told the commission on Tuesday.


Commission members initially were concerned that the rock would be placed too close to the Balardini dedication or that it would be too large. After the stone was installed, commission members said it did not take anything away from the other dedication.

Commission member James Fassell suggested having the Department of Public Works dig underneath the stone to lower because it is larger than the Balardini one but the rest of the commission disagreed.

The basketball court was expanded earlier this summer to support the league's growth by Adams Excavation and Lane Construction. The plaque will dedicate the court to the town's youth in memory of Labbee.

The Parks Commission is also making the installation of a sprinkler system and upkeep on the Valley Street Field a priority for next year's budget.

The Adams Soccer Club has asked for the town to bring the field up to snuff after "overusage" and offered to pay a portion of the cost for the sprinkler system. Additionally, league President Stephen Vigna hopes the town will upgrade the field itself and create a future maintenance plan that will outline the tasks for both the town and the league.

"Overusage of the field is the primary reason why it is shot," Fassell said.

Vigna said the league can play only road games for a season or move their games to another field while the work is being done.

Tags: dedication,   Labbee League,   sports fields,   youth sports,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories