Hello Hazel

Signe Benjamin and George Hearn of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a daughter, Hazel Katherine Hearn, born on Feb. 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Hazel weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth and joins big brothers Hoffman and Harper.

In The Fish Bowl

Assault Charges Dropped

An Air Force sergeant accused of assault while on the Vineyard in August as part of President Obama’s protection team will not face charges.

At a show cause hearing in November, district court clerk-magistrate Liza Williamson did not find probable cause to charge Master Sgt. Peter McNally, 41, with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and assault and battery.

University Dean’s List

Counselor Training Begins

The regional office of the Massachusetts SHINE program has announced that a new training course for Vineyard residents will be offered beginning April 23. The five-day training program will prepare participants for the state certification exam to become a counselor for the state program that provides free and unbiased health insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries. More information is available from the regional office at 508-394-9326.

A solar array panel at the Aquinnah landfill is on track to be fully operational this spring, after the town and energy cooperative Vineyard Power signed a final lease and power purchase agreement last week.

Voters approved the array at a special town meeting in December, and selectmen, town counsel and Vineyard Power have been hammering out the final details of the agreement since then. Removal fees for the panels, the length of the lease and concerns about Vineyard Power going bankrupt have now been resolved, the selectmen said.