Williams Receives Another Racial Harassment Report

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A Williams College student has reported an incident of racial harassment on a public street late Saturday night, according to a campus-wide email from school officials.
 
Director of Campus Safety Services Jeffrey Palmer and Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leticia S. E. Haynes sent the email Wednesday morning about an incident that reportedly occurred at about 1 a.m. Sunday morning on Hoxsey Street.
 
A Williams student reported that, "an individual driving a white 4-door pickup with Mass plates shouting a racial slur and threatening physical harm," the email read.
 
The email was accompanied by a photo of the vehicle alleged to be involved in the incident. The license plate is illegible in the photo.
 
"We are asking anyone with information about the vehicle [pictured] to contact Campus Safety Services at 413-597-4444 or the Williamstown Police Department at 413-458-5733," the email read. "We thank the student who contacted us about this incident and to remind everyone that hateful actions like these have no place here."
 
The email reminded anyone needing additional support to reach out to Haynes' office or the Davis Center at Williams.
 
The campus has seen an increase in such incidents since the start of the fall semester, prompting several such emails to the college community and a discussion at Town Hall by Williamstown's Racial Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
 

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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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