Lebanon celebrates
solar power
WEST LEBANON — City and state officials and representatives from the renewable energy industry gathered last week to celebrate the installation of a solar array at Kilton Public Library in downtown West Lebanon.
Other new solar installation sites include the Department of Public Works, the Lebanon landfill, the Lebanon Police Department and the city’s wastewater plant.
According to a news release from ReVision Energy, the Brentwood, N.H.-based company that installed the panels, the combined output of the solar arrays is expected to exceed 923,000 kilowatt hours, which will offset more than 900,000 pounds of carbon pollution annually from regional fossil fuel power plants each year. Lebanon gets roughly 23% of its annual electricity needs supplied by the panels.
NEWPORT — Vern Violette, who founded Summercrest Senior Living Community, was honored as Newport’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce.
Violette’s family moved around a lot when he was younger, but Newport always had a special place in his heart, according to a news release from Summercrest because Bobbi, his childhood sweetheart was there. After Violette completed his service in the Navy, the couple married in Newport.
Seven years later, he bought Woodhull’s Market, and the couple ran it for seven years, before reopening the old IGA on South Main Street and naming it Violette’s Red and White. A year later, Violette moved into an even larger store on Main Street and Violette’s Supermarket was born.
In addition to his business, Violette has served as a trustee, chairman, and president of several organization boards in New Hampshire including the Newport Lions Club, Valley Regional Hospital and the NH Retail Grocers Association.
“His contributions to Newport go far beyond any position he held in any organization,” the release says. “Vern has been a role model for so many people here in Newport, and taught us to have the strength to never give up, to stand your ground for what you believe in, to always help others, to work really hard, and to play even harder. Vern continues to pass on his legacy through his family, friends, and all those who his accomplishments have touched.”
GRAFTON — Travis’ House, a nonprofit organization that was founded to provide adults with developmental disabilities housing in the Upper Valley, has dissolved.
The remainder of the organization’s funds will be donated to Visions for Creative Housing Solutions, according to a news release from the organization.
WEATHERSFIELD — All 33 fourth graders at Weathersfield School completed Vermont’s Good Citizen Challenge earlier this month.
They completed the challenge by taking quizzes, doing activities, and by receiving more than 251 points (the number of towns in Vermont) in five categories: history, government, news literacy, community engagement and advocacy, according to a news release from the school.
They will be officially recognized for their achievement by an elected official at the Vermont Statehouse in May.
— Staff reports