Pownal Woman Killed in Route 7 Accident

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POWNAL, Vt. — A Pownal woman was was killed Tuesday morning following a collision with a school bus on Route 7.
 
Dana Zazinski, 60, was northbound in a 2018 Toyota Rav 4 north when it collided in the southbound lane with a 2025 Ford E-350 school bus operated by Kimberly Galok, 61, of Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
 
Zazinski was pronounced dead at the scene. Galok was transported to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center by the Pownal Rescue Squad to be treated for minor injuries.
 
Police said the school bus did not have any students onboard at the time of the crash.
 
The crash occurred just after 7 a.m., according to State Police, near a state Agency of Transportation turnoff. The speed limit on this portion of U.S. Route 7 is 50 mph and there was light rain at the time. 
 
Cpl. Travis Hess said witnesses statements and evidence on the road services showed that Zazinski had veered into the southbound line for unkown reasons. The Toyota came to rest on the shoulder adjacent to the northbound travel lane. The school bus was stopped in the southbound lane.
 
U.S. Route 7 was shut down for nearly six hours during the investigation. 
 
Troopers were assisted on scene by the state Department of Motor Vehicles' Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Bennington County Sheriff's Department, Pownal Fire Department, Pownal Valley Fire Department and Pownal Rescue Squad.
 
The crash is currently under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to the crash is asked to contact Hess at the Shaftsbury barracks at 802-442-5421.

Tags: fatal,   MVI,   

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National Grid Hosts Customer Assistance Events In The Berkshires

WALTHAM, Mass. — National Grid will hold a series of in-person Customer Assistance Events this December. 
 
As colder weather sets in, these events are designed to help customers manage winter energy bills and explore cost-saving programs.
 
In Berkshire County:
  • Dec. 4 – Town Library, Williamstown, 4:00pm – 8:00pm, 1095 Main Street, Williamstown
  • Dec. 5 – National Grid Great Barrington Office, 11:00am – 2:00pm, 927 South Main Street, Great Barrington
  • Dec. 5 – Sheffield Bushnell-Sage Library, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, 97 Main Street, Sheffield
Many of these events will continue to take place at local senior centers, making it convenient for older residents to access personalized assistance. Attendees at any location will have direct access to National Grid Customer Service Specialists, who can provide personalized guidance on payment options and energy solutions to meet each household's needs.
 
"As December begins, customers still have opportunities to find support and manage energy costs," said Bill Malee, chief customer officer, National Grid. "We're proud to host many of these events at local senior centers, ensuring customers have easy access to the support they need. Our in-person events are a great way for customers to connect with our team, learn about flexible payment options, and discover energy-saving programs that can help make a real difference this season."
 
Customers attending in-person events will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from National Grid, who will be on-site to assist with billing issues and provide information on:
  • Enrolling in National Grid's new Payment Assistance Bundle
  • Enrolling in Budget Billing
  • Enrolling in the Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers)
  • Scheduling home energy assessments and sharing information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses 
These events are part of National Grid's broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can also access support by calling 1-800-233-5325.
 
National Grid customers can now sign up for a new Payment Assistance Bundle. The bundle combines three solutions to make it easier for managing energy costs and paying down past due amounts over a 12-month period.
  • Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.
  • Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.
  • Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.
Customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle can do so online by visiting ngrid.com/hereforyou, at an in-person event, or by calling 1-800-233-5325.
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