Mountain Times - Volume 48, Number 23: June 5-11

2 • LOCAL NEWS
The Mountain Times • June 5-11, 2019
Miss Vermont crowned
Jillian Fisher, 20, of Burlington
was crowned Miss Vermont 2019 at
the Chandler Center for the Arts on
Saturday evening.
She beat first runner-up Ashley
Terpak of Ludlow and second
runner-up was Hannah Roque of
Middlebury. The non-finalist talent
award was won by Therran Adams
of Warren and the non-finalist
interview award was won by Alexina
Federhen of Bennington. The Miss
Vermont Scholarship Organization
awarded $24,700 in cash scholarships
and in-kind scholarships to
the new titleholders and to the job
candidates last night.
Fisher is a rising senior at the University
of Vermont studying nnimal
science. A talented vocalist, she sang
Dream On in the talent portion of the
competition.
In addition to the title of Miss
Vermont, Fisher earned $5000 in
cash scholarships, including a $1,000
Stowe Rotary scholarship, and $3,900
of in-kind scholarships to Dale Carnegie
of Vermont.
Fisher will spend the next year
promoting her social impact initiative
“Fighting Addiction” across
Vermont as she advocates to reduce
the stigmas surrounding opiate addiction
and treatment.
“I’m thrilled to be Miss Vermont
2019,” she said. “Our state is at the
forefront in how we combat the opiate
crisis affecting the nation and I’m
looking forward to sharing my message
with a broader audience,
especially nationally at the Miss
America competition.”
Miss Vermont 2019 will represent
the state at the 2020 Miss America
pageant in September.
The Miss Vermont program also
crowned its teen ambassador on
Saturday. Danielle Trottier,
16, of Barre is the new Miss
Vermont’s Outstanding
Teen. A jazz dancer, she
performed to “Cinema
Italiano” during the talent
competition in the show
last night. Miss Trottier just
completed her junior year at
Spaulding High School, and
will be promoting her platform,
“Breaking Barriers at
the Barre,” as Miss Vermont’s
Outstanding Teen.
She says, “I’m thrilled to be
able to reach such broad
audiences in Vermont as
Miss Vermont’s Outstanding
Teen and I’m
excited to speak
with civic organizations
across
the state about
making dance attainable
to more
people.”
In addition to the title of Miss Vermont’s
Outstanding Teen, Danielle
earned $1000 in cash scholarships
and $3550 of in-kind scholarships to
Dale Carnegie of
Vermont.
She will represent
Vermont at the Miss
America’s Outstanding
Teen competition
in Florida this
summer.
The mission of
the Miss Vermont
organization is to
promote personal
and professional
development,
civic consciousness,
service,
higher education,
and
integrity.
Rutland defeated in best
downtown contest
By Katy Savage
Rutland made it to the top 10 but was edged out in a
competition to be named the country’s best downtown.
Wellington, Ohio was named the winner of Independent
We Stand’s 2019 “America’s Main Streets” on June 3. The
town will receive $25,000.
“This is anybody’s game. I think it’s great that they won,”
said Robert Maguire, the owner of Rutland Appliances, who
nominated Rutland for the competition.
Rutland made it to the top 10 semifinalists against 232
other downtowns. Other towns that made the semifinals
included Benica, California; Canton, Georgia; Big Rapids,
Michigan; LaBelle, Florida; Logansport, Indiana; Peru,
Indiana; Saco, Maine and Texarkana in Arkansas and Texas.
“The fact that Rutland still rallied and made it to the top
10 says a lot about Rutland,” Maguire said.
The semi finalists are chosen by voters and then judges
choose the winner from the semifinalists.
Wellington, Ohio was the smallest town in the semifinals.
The town has plans to add signs to tell the town’s history
and restore a building that was damaged in a fire.
Maguire partnered with Natalie Boyle, the founder of
Intrepid Athletics, to promote Rutland’s efforts.
“Of course we were a little disappointed because who
doesn’t hope to win?” Boyle said. “I’m proud of Rutland
and the work we did to get into the top 10. That’s really an
accomplishment.”
Maguire is already planning to enter next year’s competition.
He wants to use the prize money to fill vacant storefronts.
“I feel like our downtown is just as deserving of any
downtown,” he said. “Our community is very hardworking
and interested in seeing our downtown be improved.”
Maguire’s not sure how many votes Rutland received in
the end but next year he wants to get enough votes that the
judges say, “Wow Rutland really has some support,” he said.
Killington planners hear resort
base lodge building status
By Curt Peterson
The status of Killington Resort’s
grand plan to replace their K-1 Base
Lodge was discussed at the Planning
Commission’s May 29 meeting – the
Act 250 Commission had communicated
a list of eight requirements that
must be completed before
the project can get its approval.
The news came in an
email from Act 250 District
1 coordinator William
Burke.
“An Act 250 permit will not be issued
for the K-1 Base Lodge until the
District Commission receives and
reviews [additional] information,”
Burke wrote.
The proposed new three-story
lodge will encompass 58,000 square
feet, 50 percent larger than the current
lodge which has 37,000 square
feet. Other improvements include
a full-service bar, enhanced dining,
180-degree views and a farm-to-table
food court.
“We won’t have a start date until
we have the permits,” Killington
Communications Manager Courtney
DiFiore said. “In any case, we will be
using the existing facility this next
winter season. The new lodge should
be completed and ready for the winter
of 2020-2021.”
The Act 250 Commission requirements
include three certifications
from the Agency of Natural Resources-Department
of Environmental
“THE NEW LODGE SHOULD BE
COMPLETED AND READY FOR THE
WINTER OF 2020-2021,” SAID DIFIORE.
Conservation regarding a Wastewater
System and Potable Water Supply Permit,
a Stormwater Discharge Permit,
and a Construction General Permit.
Comments from Vermont Fish and
Wildlife and the Resort’s responses to
those comments, an ANR-approved
Riparian Management Plan, a “mitigation
plan, if any, requested by the Division
of Historical Preservation”, and
either a “Public Drinking Water Permit
Amendment or confirmation that no
amendment is required” round out
the list.
Jeff Temple, director of mountain
operations, said, “The Act 250 process
is interesting. It’s challenging, but it’s
all good.” Temple explained an Act 250
permit depends on studies, inspections
and reports from more than
several entities and agencies around
the state – when and if they all have
given their approval the Commission
will issue the final permit and a project
can go ahead.
“Mr. Burke’s email wasn’t announcing
a delay,” Temple said,
“it was just a status report.”
Act 250 permits are
required for most construction
projects. The
law was enacted in 1970
to and is being reviewed and possibly
updated by the legislature. Builders
and developers have long complained
about the complexities of the law and
the time they feel it takes to get Act 250
approval.
Temple said the stormwater permit
takes the longest to negotiate – the
new lodge will have to collect and
treat roof runoff and any accumulated
water before it is released into the
environment.
Also, since the plan involves razing
the existing old lodge, the historical
loss had to be “mitigated” in the plan,
Temple said. There will be old photos
and information regarding the old
structure displayed in the new lodge
accompanied by historical information.