Court Orders Accused Williams College Vandal into Diversion Program

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Williams College student accused of an act of vandalism on campus on the morning of June's commencement exercises was assigned on Monday to a diversion program in Northern Berkshire District Court.
 
Liam Carey of Virginia was ordered to community service following a brief pretrial hearing via Zoom.
 
His lawyer, Luke Ryan of Northampton's Strehorn, Ryan and Hoose, appeared in person before Judge Paul Vrabel in a hearing that was continued from Aug. 11.
 
"After some extensive negotiations," the defendant and the district attorney's office agreed to a period of 50 hours of community service for Carey, Ryan told the court.
 
"Williams College representatives will be doing supervision of that," Ryan said.
 
An attorney with the district attorney's office confirmed to Vrabel that the commonwealth agreed to the terms.
 
Carey was arrested on the morning of Williams' graduation ceremony and subsequently charged with vandalism, destruction of property, trespass and resisting arrest.
 
In a July 2 filing with the court, Ryan asked that Carey be assigned to the diversion program outlined in Massachusetts General Law with his service work completed for the non-profit Earth Sangha of Annandale, Va.
 
After a 90-day stay in which defendants can complete their assigned community service, the law allows the presiding judge to dismiss the charges.
 
Vrabel ordered Carey to appear on Nov. 26 for a review of the report from the diversion program's director.

Tags: vandalism,   Williams College,   

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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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