Each year the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association presents the coveted Theresa S. Brungardt Awards to a professional, friend and organization who has made significant contributions to parks and recreation in Vermont. At the recent Vermont Conference on Recreation held at Lake Morey Resort, Brungardt Awards were presented to Thomas Hark of Williston (Friend), Local Motion based in Burlington (Organization), and Hartland’s recently deceased Recreation Director Ray Sapp (Professional).

Bethany Berger of Colchester will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to represent Vermont in the national Best Bagger Competition in February. Berger, a cashier at Shaw’s Supermarket in Colchester, won the title of 2015 Vermont Best Bagger on Saturday, October 17th at the annual Vermont Retail & Grocers Association state-wide bagging championship.

A new solar farm powering a local retirement community is helping fund the gift for a Make-A-Wish child in Vermont.

The 500kW solar project sited on the farm owned by Bristol's Livingston family now powers 20 percent of operations at Wake Robin, a nearby continuing care retirement community.

Vermont-based AllEarth Renewables manufactured solar trackers locally and oversaw design/construction for the project, and SolarSense served as the developer of the project. Addison County-based contractor Smith & McLain installed the project.

Attorney Alan F. Sylvester of the Burlington, Vermont law firm, Sylvester & Brow, was selected for the 2015 edition of New England Super Lawyers in the practice area of Plaintiffs Personal Injury-General.

Lisaius Marketing announced that, after founding the company and acting as president and creative director for over 23 years, Joe Lisaius is stepping down but will continue with the company as a consultant. Mark Crow, formerly vice president and partner, is now president and owner of the company. Jennifer Raleigh, a longstanding art director with the company, has been named creative director. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Lisaius Marketing is a full-service branding, design and marketing company.