Mountain Times - Volume 49, Number 40 - Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2020

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6 • LOCAL NEWS The Mountain Times • Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2020 > Annual update: Killington town, resort and area association share updates with the community in advance of the winter season from page 1 addition to nearly all its events through the spring and summer, fall, and likely winter. However, this summer mountain biking was as strong this year as it was the year before, with 36,000 riders visiting the resort’s downhill slopes. “That was nice to see,” he said, adding that he expects to see lots of visitors this winter, too. “We’re 15% up in season pass sales this year at both Killington and Pico,” he said. Killington and Pico have historically had fewer season pass holders than some of their bigger competitors (like Vail). Solimano said only about 30-40% of Killington’s visitation is made up by season pass holders. Therefore, the resort is planning to control volume by limiting day ticket sales rather than putting restrictions on pass holders. Everyone will be required to reserve parking in advance. Merchant pass holders, college pass holders and other local discount products will now be restricted to mid-week access so as to maximize tourism on the weekends. “We’re all in this together,” Solimano said. Solimano estimated that the resort could be 30-40% off on weekends due to limitations to prevent crowds, but might make up some of that if it can transfer some skiers and riders to mid-week. “Mid-week could be up 50-100%” compared to past seasons, he said. “In other resorts worldwide we’ve seen that happening,” he added, pointing to increased remote/flexible work options for many guests. In order to prevent crowding, the resorts will also be limiting lodge usage. “Treat your car as a lodge,” Solimano said, suggesting skiers and riders boot up at their car. “No bags will be stored in the lodges” and food will be mostly “grab and go.” Tickets will be sold at window counters outside. “There will be increased cleaning around the resort, of course, but we know that the virus spreads most by air… So reducing crowds is important. The biggest threat, and our focus, will be to prevent airborne spread,” he said. “It’s nice at least that in our industry guests are already used to wearing masks, goggles and gloves.” HAVE 3SQUARESVT/SNAP BENEFITS? TRIPLE YOUR FARMERS MARKET PRODUCE PURCHASES WITH CROP CASH Now through October, when you spend 3SquaresVT benefits at a participating Farmers Market, you'll get up to $20 extra in Crop Cash to purchase fruits and veggies. That means $10 In 3SquaresVT buys $30 of local food! LEARN MORE: NOFAVT.ORG/CROPCASH This material was funded by USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP. Courtesy Killington Resort A slide from the virtual kickoff presentation shows the new flow of foot traffic at K-1 lodge. Outside space to be utilized. There will be no après ski scene or live music at the resorts. Scenic gondola rides are also out, as are all group ski lessons. Only private lessons will be offered beginning Dec. 19. Killington plans to open for the season on Nov. 14; Pico on Dec. 19. Uphill travel is prohibited on the slopes until opened. “We are not cutting snowmaking or lift operations. Our priority is to provide as much skiing and riding as possible,” he said, adding that he expects conditions to be quite good, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sherburne Library Meeting Room at 2998 River Road with attendance available via videoconference (Zoom) to review the following applications: 1. Application #20-048 by New World Developments VT, Inc. (Summit Lodge) at 200 Summit Road for site plan review to convert an existing racquetball court into a 3-bedroom innkeepers house. 2. Application #20-053 by Simba, LLC (JAX Food & Games) at 1667 Killington Road to grant a waiver to reduce the front setback to permit covered outdoor dining under site plan review. 3. Application #20-054 by KNH Enterprises, Inc. (Sushi Yoshi) at 1807 Killington Road to grant a waiver to reduce the front setback to permit covered outdoor dining under site plan review. Copies of the applications may be viewed at the Town Offices at 2706 River Road between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment by calling 802-422-3243. Digital copies of the applications may also be requested in portable document format (PDF). Participation in this local proceeding in person, via videoconference (Zoom), or through written statement is a prerequisite to the right to make any subsequent appeal. It is requested that written statements be submitted at least two (2) days prior to the hearing for review by all. For participation via videoconference (Zoom), a meeting link will be posted 1-2 hours prior to the hearing on the Town Website Calendar (www.killingtontown.com). Dated at Killington, Vermont this 28th day of September 2020. Preston Bristow, Town Planner, Town of Killington, Vermont given the new limitations and focus on snow. Addressing the obvious need for hospitality in a town that relies on tourism, Solimano encouraged listeners not to try to be the Covid police. “Be welcoming rather than upset that people are here,” he said. “Let’s focus on doing the things we know can help prevent spread. At the resort we’ve been focusing on mask-wearing and social distancing, not whether or not someone should be here or not.” Solimano said he and other Vermont ski resort heads are developing a restart plan to present to the state for approval. “As an industry we think we can be pretty safe, but we all have to do the right thing…We want to get open and stay open, we don’t want tot be the reason to close down skiing in Vermont — not just Killington.” Town prepares to open public safety building, improve Killington Road The final touches are being made to the new Public Safety building on Killington Road. Paving is scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 12 and flooring and painting are underway, said Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth. Ledge and water supply caused the project to face some challenges financially, but Hagenbarth said he expects the project will come in very close to budget once fully completed and the existing firehouse is sold. Requests for proposal (RFP) are expected to be published soon. “We have already received significant interest in the building,” Hagenbarth said. “This contingency option will help close the gap [in the budget],” Hagenbarth continued, adding that he expects the fire department will occupy the new Public Safety Building by November so the former firehouse building could change hands as soon as Dec. 1. Hagenbarth also presented an overview of the threemile Killington Road Master Plan, which spans from its intersection with Route 4 to East Mountain Road. Designs show a walkway on both sides of the road with the western side being a 10-foot wide multi-use path. Additionally, crosswalks, bus pullouts and turn lanes will be added at key intersections. Hagenbarth said he expects Killington Road will be completely rebuilt in 6-8 years. Hagenbarth said he’s pursuing multiple grants to help offset the cost to taxpayers. “The option tax usually brings in about $400,000, on average, to the town,” Hagenbarth explained, but given Covid closures and limitation on local businesses, it’s unclear what effect that might have on collections and future town budgets. Final designs for the road are nearly complete and will be available on the town’s website in the coming weeks.
The Mountain Times • Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2020 STATE NEWS • 7 Courtesy Renewable Energy Vermont Over the past three years fewer solar projects have been permitted at all scales, with community and small-scale projects seeing the greatest decline. In total, applications for clean energy projects declined by 72%. Vermont awarded $3.8 million grant for suicide prevention Governor Phil Scott announced that Vermont has received $3.8 million in federal funding for suicide prevention. The five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will support the implementation and evaluation of the state’s comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention in Vermont. The announcement coincided with the Sept. 10 observance of World Suicide Prevention Day. “Deaths due to suicide are tragic and leave a lasting impact on families and loved ones,” said Scott. “This grant will help ensure Vermonters who are struggling have access to the resources they need to help them through their challenges, and, hopefully prevent these unfortunate events.” “This grant is timely as these are exceedingly stressful times. To any Vermonter who is experiencing crisis or feels helpless: Please know you matter to a lot of people, and help is available,” Governor Scott added. According to the CDC, suicide is an increasing public health crisis that took more than 48,000 lives in the U.S. in 2018. As of Sept. 4, there have been 72 suicide deaths in Vermont this year. Over the last 10 years, the number of suicides in Vermont has risen, with a current rate 34% higher than that of the U.S. as a whole. “Vermont is well poised to expand, strengthen and bring to scale our suicide prevention efforts,” said Dept. of Mental Health Commissioner Sarah Squirrell. “Suicide does not only impact those experiencing mental health challenges, and we owe it to each person to have in place the systems to meet them where they are – and in a way that is appropriate to their individual needs and circumstances.” The Vermont Addressing Suicide Together (VAST) project will use the federal grant to build on existing partnerships and programs to implement and evaluate a data-driven public health approach to suicide prevention in Vermont. The project will bolster collective efforts on the integration between healthcare and mental health, and work to ensure all Vermonters have access to the supports they need. “Suicide is caused by multiple factors and prevention must go beyond individual behavior change,” said Deb Houry, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Support and coordination are needed from every sector of society that can directly promote resilience and reduce risk factors such as isolation, stress, substance use, and relationship, financial and job issues.” For more information, resources and data about suicide prevention in Vermont, please visit healthvermont. gov/suicide. Courtesy Renewable Energy Vermont The next generation of workers is more interested in renewable energy careers. Hundreds call on VT Public Utility Commission to maintain local renewable choices, net metering, but thousands of Vermont jobs threatened While Governor Phil Scott’s administration has been hesitant on renewable energy progress, 791 Vermonters filed comments with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) on net metering, according to a news release by Renewable Energy Vermont, Sept. 23. Net metering is the state’s policy that enables Vermonters to generate their own renewable electricity and share that clean energy with their neighbors. Of the 791 comments, all but one, urged our state utility regulators to maintain or increase the people’s access to clean energy through net metering. “We have an opportunity now to determine how we rebuild from Covid-19’s devastating economic effects. We can and should choose to create good jobs across Vermont and act on the climate crisis threatening life as we know it,” said Olivia Campbell Andersen, executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont. “Continuing net-metering is one of the easiest things Vermont can do to get people back to work.” The first week of September 26, 306 Vermonters applied for unemployment. That equals about 8% of the state’s workforce. But even before Covid-19, changes and cuts to net metering caused Vermont to lose 408 solar jobs from 2017-2020. “With so many of our neighbors out of work, every job matters. We need to embrace policies proven to foster job growth and rebuild our economy more resilient than it was before,” said Katrina Wilson, of Integrated Solar Applications in Brattleboro. “Every time net metering has been cut in the past, Vermont has lost good-paying clean-energy jobs. We simply cannot afford that now.” PUC > 11 New VPR-Vermont PBS poll finds Governor Scott very popular Lt. governor race is a toss-up, fewer than 50% of Vermonters eager to take a Covid-19 vaccine Republican Gov. Phil Scott is coasting to reelection and has become more popular than the three Democrats who serve in Vermont’s Congressional delegation, according to a new poll from VPR and Vermont PBS released today. Meanwhile, six weeks from Election Day, the state’s lieutenant governor’s race is a statistical dead heat, and fewer than 50% of Vermonters say they are eager to take a Covid-19 vaccine in the next year. From Sept. 3 to Sept. 15, the VPR- Vermont PBS Poll asked hundreds of Vermonters how they felt about political candidates, a Covid-19 vaccine, retail marijuana and other issues. The poll was supervised by Rich Clark, Submitted professor of political science and former director of polling at the Castleton Polling Institute, and was conducted by Braun Research. Pollsters interviewed 604 respondents over landlines and cell phones. The poll has an overall margin of error of 4%. VPR and Vermont PBS will provide extensive broadcast and digital coverage and analysis of the polling results throughout the week. This was the third and final statewide public opinion survey put out by VPR and Vermont PBS this year. The first was conducted in February, followed by a second poll in July. All are available at mountaintimes.info.
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Mountain Times - Volume 49, Number 40 - Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2020

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