Why We Love Dad: The 20 At The Top

By Sharon LearyPrint Story | Email Story
Sharon Leary's father Bill Leary and his grandson Ruari Leary [submitted photo]
Dads should have a day to call their own because their parental job includes: 1) Making the tough calls -and bearing the frequently hurtful fallout no matter how much it breaks his heart. Dads are always on the lookout for bad influences in your life. And just because he won’t let you go to that concert with your slightly older cousin doesn’t mean he is out to ruin your life. 2) Dads are adept at turning conversations to focus on something other than the question you asked. "Because I said so" is a standard used by parents everywhere. Its' value becomes apparent when you become a parent! 3) Surviving the teen years. Let’s be honest here, teenagers can be AWFUL! The mood swings, the clothes, the music! But these are the times for which Dads have the best stories. Because they know whatever they do, it will irritate the hell out of you. Just ask your Dad for his favorite teen torture story, I’m sure you’ll get an earful and a laugh. 4) Enforcing the “eat your veggies” rule. But hey, why doesn’t Dad have to eat his salad and beets? Perhaps that is why Dad may sometimes ignore the fact that you hide your food in a napkin by your plate. 5) Pretending to enforce the bedtime curfew even though he knows you're in there listening to a late Red Sox game on the transistor radio under your pillow, or reading comic books by flashlight. 6) Telling the same story over and over again. Most of these stories begin with “back when I was your age," and conclude with a snowy 10-mile walk, uphill both ways. 7) Embarrassing the hell out of you at family functions or in most public places. This could be as simple as talking to you (see number three above) or delighting in telling a story to a perfect stranger about how your daughter was a fan of the Bay City Rollers. 8) Being your Valentine when no one else seemed interested. 9) Doing whatever is necessary to make your kids dreams come true. Working overtime to pay for music lessons or to help save for college. 10) Sharing your experiences good and bad. 11) Standing up for their children; even if they may be at fault. 12) Continuing to make the popcorn with extra butter because you know that your kids like it that way, even though the doctor told you to watch your cholesterol. 13) Assuring the presence of half eaten carrots and notes from Rudolph every Christmas till all of the kids have moved out. (And some stayed till they were in their mid-twenties!) 14) Encouraging the kids to try something outside of their comfort range. It could have been something as simple as encouraging your daughter to go to a dance instead of stayng in her room and sulking all weekend again (see three above) or trying a sport or activity that you thought you’d never like. 15) Teaching your kids to believe in themselves, stand strong for their beliefs, and take pride in who they are as individuals. Even if it means bright pink hair, tattoos, and piercings located in places Dad doesn't like to think about! 16) Leading by example: assisting an older neighbor with shoveling out their driveway and actually placing trash where it belongs. 17) Assuring the kids that they can call Dad any time of the day or night whenever trouble, be it emotional, physical or financial, strikes. 18) Wearing “dad clothes” with a big smile. This may include the standard can-you-see-me-now Father's Day "Best Dad in the Universe" t-shirt or the big ugly tie someone gave him ("I picked it out myself, Daddy!") at the age of six, or it might be that favorite chamois shirt your daughter keeps stealing from you. 19) Demostrating to your kids that it's OK to have faith. Plus after church, maybe your Dad will get your Mom to sing “Gonna Buy Me A Bluebird” at a restaurant and the family will never let her forget it for as long as she lives. 20) Being able to BBQ anything, anywhere, at any time, and make it taste good! Especially those pork ribs! Happy Fathers Day to all Dads everywhere!
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North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November. 
 
Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.
 
He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25. 
 
Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street. 
 
The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters. 
 
North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.
 
Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court. 
 
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