By Polly Mikula
The Huck Finn Catfish Derby, held Saturday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Summit Pond in Killington, raised over $1,000 for the Killington Elementary School (KES) Kids’ Kingdom Initiative.
Participation cost $5 for a bamboo rod, hook, bobber and corn for bait. Lunch was also for sale. Prizes were awarded for the largest and smallest catfish caught. Andrew (“Drew”) Gallagher, a KES 6th-grader, caught the largest fish of the day. His catfish was 13.5” long.
All proceeds from the event support the the new playground at KES, which will be installed this summer.
“We are now officially in Phase 2: Design and Community,” said Lorelei Grazier Danilchick, a member of the Parent Educator Alliance for Killington Students (PEAKS). “For this next phase we are raising money for some extra fun park features that will make the park more suited for Killington — more of an outdoor adventure place. We are also hoping to raise enough money to create a permanent outdoor exhibit that honors the original Kids’ Kingdom. It’s a big year for KES, a big year for PEAKS and a great year to bring more joy into the community… It takes a village!”