Adams Parks Commission Concerned about Berm near Russell Field

ADAMS, Mass. — The Parks Commissioners are concerned about a berm near the scoreboard on Russell Field, which they believe is small enough to let water from a nearby stream overflow.  

"There's a hill that protects the stream from going into the field. At that point, that berm, that hill, is very small and inadequate," said Commission Member James Fassell. 

The stream is located just feet from the field's scoreboard. The commission voted to let the Department of Public Works deal with the issue and plans to bring the problem to the Board of Selectmen if DPW can not fix it alone. 

Selectman Joseph Nowak attended the meeting and said he noticed the berm when visiting the field last month. He said he also saw trees were blocking certain field lights. 

"I walked over and just noticed that it's really getting close ... And another thing too I noticed, along the whole stream, there's a lot of brush that's fallen in there that should be thrown off to the side, because it starts to catch leaves and it changes directions," he said. 

In other business, the commission tabled discussion on dedicating two Sundays for Hoosac Valley High School junior football as no representatives from the school district were present. Michael Mucci, chair of the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee, said at the commission's June 13 meeting that junior football did this in previous years. 

The commission also tabled discussion on the proposed new Valley Street Field shed, as Mike Benson of the Adams-Cheshire Little League was unable to attend. Benson said at the June 13 meeting that the league is still working on getting funds for the project. 

The board voted to support the move of the infield bleachers at Renfrew Field after Parks Foreman Steve Skrocki suggested at a previous meeting that the move would keep heavy machinery off the field. 

Mark Pizani, an equipment operator at DPW, said the change should cause less wear for both the field and the bleachers. 

"It's not a good idea to keep moving those bleachers onto the infield," he said. "It really screws up our work to get done on the baseball field. I have to roto-till that field every year because when it's not being played on when we're not working on it, grass grows up to it like crazy."

Fassell said he did not personally agree with the move but voted to support the measure, saying he understands why the original bleacher placement is an issue. 

The commission will meet next on Aug. 8. 

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.