Seven Days, April 29, 2026

Vermont’s birth rate is the lowest in the nation.

Why aren’t we having more kids?

BABY BUST

The magic of Satori’s cannabis. Explained with science.

Let’s talk about the magic of premium cannabis. Spoiler alert, it’s not magic. It’s science. It’s passion. And it’s a slightly obsessive level of attention to tiny plant parts.

At Satori, we feel lucky and privileged to make highquality THC products for discerning Vermonters. And while we’ve been fortunate in many ways — uncovering great genetics that produce superb flower and finding a dedicated team of growers — we’ve also done the hard work. We’ve invested heavily in innovation, quality control, and state-of-the-art facilities. Because great cannabis doesn’t just happen. It’s carefully and scientifically guided from seed to shelf.

If there is magic in cannabis, it resides in cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids — the compounds that shape how a strain smells, tastes, and feels. But the real magic science is found in the trichomes. These microscopic, crystal-like glands coat the flower and act as the plant’s biochemical factories. They’re where cannabinoids are made, along with the aromatic terpenes that give each strain its personality.

Growing premium cannabis means understanding how to help trichomes thrive, and the environmental factors make all the difference. Take lighting, for example. Specific UV-B exposure encourages trichome production by triggering the plant’s defense systems.

Satori’s high-efficiency LED lights can also modify their color spectrum and intensity to mimic variations in seasonal light. Temperature and humidity have to stay stable, too. Our Cultiva HVAC indoor-farming system monitors temperature and humidity precisely, and just like our LED lighting it can reflect varying seasonal environmental conditions.

Then comes the harvest. Here, technology takes a backseat as we hang-dry the plant to allow for slow drying — which promotes chlorophyll breakdown and terpene retention. We then hand pick the buds off the stem and sort them for jarring and, for smaller buds, pre-rolling.

When we create concentrates, our advanced hydrocarbon extraction isolates cannabinoids and terpenes efficiently while preserving their potency and purity. We also use an ice water extraction process, which is a solventless method that separates the trichomes from the plant material.

Satori’s mission may sound straightforward — to provide Vermonters with the highest-possible quality cannabis at a fair price. But the path to this goal is far from simple. Every step is precise, measured, and deliberate.

And at the end of the day, it’s a special kind of feeling to be able to share the results of our hard work with our customers — one scientifically-crafted, trichome-packed product at a time. You might even say it feels pretty magical.

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

MEET JEFF!

WEEK IN REVIEW

APRIL 22-29, 2026

emoji that

BARRE BRAVE

That’s how many lawsuits against the Trump administration Vermont has joined, VTDigger reported.

Passersby rescued two children from a burning car in Barre, according to the fire department. The kids are all right.

HAPPY HATCHING!

Public Safety Shake-Up

Burlington City Council Democrats shook up the Public Safety Committee by swapping out an established Progressive chair for a more business-minded leader. In early April, during the reorganization that follows Town Meeting Day elections, the Dems attempted to remove Councilor Melo Grant (P-Central District) from the committee altogether. e Progs protested, so they settled on replacing her as chair with Councilor Ranjit “Buddy” Singh (D-South District).

e shake-up comes as Burlington searches for a permanent police chief and is also investigating allegations of excessive force by city officers during the March standoff between protesters and federal immigration agents in South Burlington.

Grant came up in local politics through her efforts to improve the accountability of the Burlington Police Department following several high-profile use-of-force cases in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in legal settlements.

Singh told Seven Days that his approach to public safety was informed by the 18 years he served on the Church Street Marketplace Commission, a board of councilappointed boosters. Singh’s priorities include speeding up the effort to replace interim Police Chief Shawn Burke and throwing the “kitchen sink” at officer recruitment to fill the department’s ranks. He’ll reconsider establishing a “public

safety hub,” a downtown feature intended to foster a safe environment for businesses and shoppers, which Grant had refused to pursue.

e effort to oust Grant outraged her and further divided majority Dems and the mayor-aligned Prog minority. Grant, a Black woman, argued that the Dems would not have attempted to kick a white man with comparable expertise off the committee.

“I would not be able to look people in the face in my district if I wasn’t trying to get all these issues addressed,” said Grant, who represents downtown and the Old North End.

Grant defended her time on the Public Safety Commission, on which she has served since first elected in 2023. She gave herself credit for criticizing the Burlington Police Department, particularly former police chief Jon Murad.

“Democrats were so far up Murad’s ass that they couldn’t see the light of day,” Grant said. “Speaking out against the police chief was just something you’re not supposed to do.”

Councilor Evan Litwin (D-Ward 7), one of Grant’s chief critics, said councilors should not openly criticize police. e city needs to focus on improving downtown, he said.

“We all use our downtown, and everyone needs to feel safe downtown,” Litwin said.

Read Aaron Calvin’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

Windsor and Dewey, the bald eagles who have a Vermont Institute of Natural Science camera trained on their aerie in Quechee, welcomed an eaglet last Friday afternoon. Wild!

ONLY YOU

High winds and dry conditions mean fires could spread out of control quickly, the National Weather Service explained in a “red flag warning” for parts of Vermont. Be careful!

CAT COMING BACK

Olympic silver medalist and UVM alum Ben Ogden will return to campus in May to speak at commencement. He was the first American man to medal in crosscountry skiing in 50 years.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Ouster of Public Safety Chair Divides Burlington Council” by Aaron Calvin. See story on this page.

2. “After a Hiatus, Can Circus Smirkus Revive Its Big Top Tour?” by Mary Ann Lickteig. An accident and near bankruptcy forced the Greensboro youth circus to cancel its signature event this summer, raising questions about its long-term viability.

3. “Burlington’s Festival of Fools Returns” by Mary Ann Lickteig. Street performers will be back in town on the weekend of July 31.

4. “As Immigration to Vermont Drops, a ‘Demographic Cliff’ Looms” by Lucy Tompkins. Immigrant families once brought young people to Vermont. But not under the administration of President Donald Trump.

5. “Lawmakers Might Suspend Financial Disclosure Penalties for Candidates” by Hannah Bassett. A disagreement over which state officials should manage the reports from candidates means enforcement could be paused.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Rabies Cases Double; Vermont Plans Spring Vaccine Drop

Officials are planning a rabies vaccine bait drop beginning May 2 in response to a significant increase in rabies cases among wild animals in Vermont, the North Star Monthly reported. Rabies activity has risen sharply in recent years, with 66 rabid animals reported in both 2024 and 2025 — more than double the previous annual average. So far this year, 16 cases have been reported. Most recent cases have been in Orleans County, though other counties have also been affected. Read more at northstarmonthly.com

GIRLS EMPOWERED

e Saint Michael’s College students who will receive their diplomas next month have likely never risked their lives to get an education. But their graduation speaker has. Shabana Basij-Rasikh, an internationally recognized advocate for the education of Afghan girls, will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at the Colchester college’s 119th graduation ceremony on May 10.

Basij-Rasikh, who graduated from Middlebury College in 2011, is the cofounder and president of the School of Leadership

Afghanistan, or SOLA, the first and only boarding school for Afghan girls. She was six years old in 1996 when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan and severely curtailed the rights of girls and women. Basij-Rasikh disguised herself as a boy to attend a secret school in the capital, Kabul. After the Taliban regime fell in 2001, she attended high school in the United States for a year through a U.S. State Department-sponsored exchange program, then received a scholarship to Middlebury.

From 2016 to 2021, Basij-Rasikh operated SOLA in Kabul. But when the Taliban returned to power, she fled with 250 students and staff to Rwanda. On their way out, she set fire to student records to prevent any retribution

from the new leaders. e school still operates in the African country.

Saint Michael’s administrators were introduced to Basij-Rasikh by the parent of a current student who is a supporter of SOLA and thought that the school’s mission aligned with the college’s focus on social justice, according to Elizabeth Murray, associate director of communications. St. Mike’s has at least one other notable tie to Afghanistan: Anisa Rasooli, a high-ranking judge known as the “Ruth Bader Ginsburg of Afghanistan.” She is one of around 600 evacuees who landed in Vermont in recent years and lived for a time in an apartment with her family on the college’s campus.

ALISON NOVAK

THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

Hannah Bassett, Aaron Calvin, Colin Flanders, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Lucy Tompkins

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

Jordan Barry, Mary Ann Lickteig, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Elizabeth M. Seyler

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron

MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Gillian Comito

NOT A ‘MANUSCRIPT’

This is certainly an old book, but not a manuscript [True 802: “Precious Pages,” April 22]. It has the hallmarks of having been printed from set type.

Stephen Alexander LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS

GREAT SCOTT

Outlook Improves — for Now,” October 13, 2025, online; “Out of Service? Fewer Passengers, Reduced Schedules and Soaring Costs Have Left Green Mountain Transit and Its Riders Searching for a New Route,” July 16, 2025]. I have ridden Burlington buses for 45 years, and I am horrifi ed by how empty the buses are these days. Come on, people, ride the bus! Cars are dangerous, expensive, stressful, polluting and demand huge amounts of pavement (i.e., tax dollars). Buses are pleasant, timely and relaxing. They would be even more so if more people rode them.

A word of advice: Riding the bus takes practice. Don’t give up right away. Once you understand the routes and what to expect in terms of timing, buses are super reliable.

When I lost my car, I discovered half of my errands were unnecessary, and — the big surprise — I was happier not trying to squeeze them in. Life became calmer riding the bus.

Thank you to the new Green Mountain Transit director, Clayton Clark, for preserving essential routes. He seems to care about riders and drivers. What a concept!

Now, everybody else, join us. Buses are great!

Marcy Stabile

Andy Watts

Gillian English

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Erik Esckilsen, Anne Galloway, Steve Goldstein, Rick Koster, Amy Lilly, Suzanne Podhaizer, Tori Preston, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Rachel Stearns, Xenia Turner

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Daria Bishop, Sean Metcalf, Tim Newcomb, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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Ken Picard’s April 15 article regarding the Julian Scott birth home in Johnson has ignited a virtual firestorm of public concern and outrage over the imminent demolition of this iconic part of Vermont’s history and heritage [“Dwelling on the Past: With Little Fanfare or Public Debate, the Historic Boyhood Home of Civil War Artist Julian Scott Is About to Be Torn Down”]. While I know these are busy and troubled times, I urge concerned Seven Days readers to immediately contact Gov. Phil Scott and Vermont representatives and senators in an e ort to find a way to preserve the Julian Scott home so that it may be open to the public and serve as a lasting memorial to Julian Scott’s contribution to our history and the preservation of our republic in the 250th year of its founding.

George “Ned” Spear SWANTON

CIRCUS FAN

Was it serendipity that you ran a story about Circus Smirkus last week [“Up in the Air,” April 22], or did you know that April 18 was World Circus Day?

I have been a circus fan since my brother took his Ivy League degree and spent the next 20 years as a performer. Now he runs a youth circus program in Phoenix, Ariz., that is geared toward lowincome schools and inner-city parks. His T-shirt reads: “Anyone can join a circus!”

I hope Circus Smirkus will be able to pick up the pieces, not just for the traveling show that so many of us enjoy (and the joy of hosting those troupers) but also for the many children in the program who experience the moment of “Yes, I can!”

Ann Larson ESSEX

‘RIDE THE BUS!’

Thank you for covering the dire situation of our public bus system in two stories last year [“Green Mountain Transit’s Budget

TRUE HAIKU

Cynthia Norman BURLINGTON

[Re “Weybridge Haiku Contest Winners Muse on the State of the World, 17 Syllables at a Time,” April 15]:

Judges, Julia say thank you for capturing essence of haiku contest.

P.S. Enter next year!

George Bellerose WEYBRIDGE

Bellerose is the administrator — and multiyear winner — of the Weybridge Haiku Contest.

STICKER SHOCK

My husband and I were looking at the chart titled “The Future of Education Taxes” in [“Tax Burdened: Education Reform Won’t Address Property Tax Rates for Years. As Delinquencies Rise in Pockets of Vermont, Leaders Seek Both Short- and Long-Term Solutions,” April 8]. It shows a home valued at $300,000 currently paying an education tax of $1,470. We got out our property tax bill to compare. Our house value is $368,000, and we pay $4,150.33 in education tax.

So that seems off in some manner. Are we missing something?

Vicky Loven MONKTON

Editor’s note: Multiple factors determine how much Vermonters pay in property taxes, including the town in which they live and household income. The $1,470 figure in our chart was based on a combined household income of $60,000.

GROUNDS TO COMPLAIN

The University of Vermont is an amazing place full of wonderful people — students, staff, faculty and administrators. I am encouraged by President Marlene Tromp’s efforts to engage with the community, and I appreciate her willingness to listen [“The Cats Whisperer: UVM’s New President, Marlene Tromp, Has Been Delighting Students and Staff Simply by Listening to Their Ideas” December 10, 2025].

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with President Tromp on a few occasions. She is sincere and truly cares about the campus, the city and the state. However, I am concerned about some recent decisions made under her leadership.

The elimination of the UVM Grounds Crew in favor of private contractors — carried out in February 2026 — was a serious mistake. It undermines UVM’s “Our Common Ground” mission statement and contradicts the values President Tromp herself espouses. The Grounds Crew, represented by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, sought a seat at the table with the UVM

administration to work toward a mutually beneficial solution. Sadly, that conversation never occurred.

A similar situation is now unfolding between the UVM administration and United Academics, the UVM faculty union. The administration has moved to unilaterally adjust the workload for many faculty, with some facing a 20 percent reduction in the effort they can devote to the courses they teach. This would have a direct impact on thousands of students, and it’s the wrong decision.

More than 450 faculty members have signed a petition asking President Tromp to pause this effort. The faculty have clearly spoken. I hope President Tromp will listen — and, more importantly, act.

Joseph Kudrle ESSEX JUNCTION

Kudrle is interim copresident of the faculty union at the University of Vermont.

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DISCOVER THE PEACE OF MIND of being outside of the city in a neighborhood that offers a rare blend of convenience and tranquility. Schedule your tour of Village at Autumn Pond and see why our residents love it here.

“First and foremost, thank you so much! I have struggled this past year without a car, but this van will carry us into the next chapter. Some day I’ll teach my kids how to drive with it.”

~Leanna and Family recipients of a 2010 Toyota Sienna

BARRE’S PREMIER CANNABIS DISPENSARY

Vermont’s birth rate is

BABY BUST

BY COLIN FLANDERS

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Tax and Defend

Some Democrats say it’s time to raise taxes on Vermont’s richest residents despite Gov. Scott’s veto threat Legislators Might Suspend Penalties for Candidate Disclosures

Upward Mobility?

Burlington International Airport’s new terminal will help it compete, officials say.

Secret City In-the-know Vermonters on the offbeat places they love in Montréal ARTS+CULTURE

View of a Visionary

Robbie Leppzer’s new documentary, “An Artist Responds to War,” features Bread and Puppet’s Peter Schumann

Shaina Taub’s Su s Comes to the Small Screen

Burlington’s Festival of Fools to Return

Beauty and Beholders

Enticing visuals and environmental research coexist as artists explore “Human Impact” at BCA Center in Burlington

Talk It Out: The Great Divide, Noah Kahan

Ciao Down

At Trattoria Delia and Pizzeria

Verità’s new sibling, Alimentari, well-made Italian sandwiches shine

Turtle Power

In Essex, Pizzeria Corinna’s Italian subs are worth shelling out for Fresh Out

At 30, Vermont Fresh Network fades into an indefinite hiatus, but one project goes on

75 and online at jobs.sevendaysvt.com. 15

In Beyond Punishment, the Center for Cartoon Studies Tackles Mass Incarceration

Two music critics and a fan dissect the long-awaited Stick Season follow-up from Vermont’s biggest pop star Noah Kahan’s Netflix Doc Is Messy and Real

Strong

Perfect

Contact Ross Montgomery

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

FRIDAY 1

CALL OF THE WILD

Soprano saxophonist, composer and Grammy winner Paul Winter calls on some wildly unexpected guests for “ is Glorious Earth” at the Congregational Church of Middlebury. e concert incorporates the voices of wolves, whales, wood thrushes and other melodic creatures to guide listeners on a sonic journey honoring the untamed spirit of Vermont’s old-growth forests and wildlands.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

Submit your upcoming events at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

FRIDAY 1

Listen In

Many a delightful export springs from Cabot: the eponymous cheese, rich maple syrup and veteran singer-songwriter Dana Robinson. At Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, the folk mainstay delivers a fresh collection of songs from his new album, e Sound of the Word — a musical meditation balancing unsavory global realities with quiet reflections on rural life.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

FRIDAY 1 & SATURDAY 2

Lessons in Motion

Fifteen Vermont performers from Burlington company Slow Shapes Dance move through the shadows in TRAP a contemporary movement piece at McCarthy Arts Center at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. e work of original choreography pits the weight of darkness against the hope of renewal in a breathtaking narrative of rebirth.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

OPENS FRIDAY 1

She Shed

Conceptual fabric sculptor Kate Ruddle’s solo show “Hortus Conclusus” (Latin for “enclosed garden”) explores the concept of innermost sacred spaces at the Front in Montpelier. Multimedia artworks made from fabric, architectural elements and other paraphernalia draw on historical research to map the boundaries between humanity’s cultivated landscapes and the sprawling wild.

SEE ART LISTING ON PAGE 52

SATURDAY 2

Everybody Do Your Share

Grab those signature chartreuse bags and hit the pavement for Green Up Day, Vermont’s annual call for helping hands. Volunteers scour the landscape from suburban roadsides to rural riverbanks to collect and dispose of all those freaky things the spring thaw uncovered. Last year, more than 25,000 Good Samaritans gathered a whopping 427 tons of trash. Let’s top that!

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 63

SUNDAY 3

Flew Season

Naturalists of all ages migrate to Bellows Falls for an impeckable day of outdoor education at the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival. e event takes flight with a guided (early) bird walk, followed by a morning of raptor, turtle and tree programs. Afternoon activities include a puppet performance, a meet and greet with live animals, and other hands-on activities to foster ecological awareness.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

SUNDAY 3

Walk the Walk

A long-standing Burlington tradition, the COTS Walk invites community members to embark on a 3.6mile circuit through the Queen City, visiting the nonprofit’s locations along the way. Beginning and ending at Battery Park, the fundraiser traces how donations support shelters and other services for our unhoused neighbors, then culminates in a jazzand ice cream-fueled celebration.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

Out of Joint, Continued

It feels like an eternity since I messed up my left knee. Roughly three months have passed since I felt a strange new pain in there. I spent most of the winter hobbling around, hoping it would heal on its own, and wrote about the experience in this column on March 4, right after an MRI confirmed a large tear in the medial meniscus might require surgery. Afterward I heard from enough readers to know: I’m not alone.

Suddenly all the stories we reported in our 2024-25 series “This Old State,” about the graying of Vermont, are feeling more and more personally relevant. This week’s cover story, investigating Vermont’s low birth rate, continues our current “Gen Zero” series about the state’s lack of young people. It’s yet another reminder that, at 66, I’m approaching the opposite end of the demographic spectrum.

At the end of February, my doctor at Evergreen Sports Medicine gave me a short list of three potential orthopedic surgeons. I called them all to find out who could see me soonest. The first two guys were booked until May 15 — more than a two-month wait — and their assistants couldn’t say when they’d be able to operate.

STUPIDLY, I THOUGHT RECOVERY WOULD BE A BREEZE, OR AT LEAST A POSITIVE SLOPE. IT’S MORE LIKE THE STOCK MARKET — UP AND DOWN EVERY DAY.

Dr. John Begly could see me a month earlier — perhaps because, although he is employed by the University of Vermont Medical Center, he performs surgeries at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. Having to drive that far was a little inconvenient but nothing compared to the prospect of spending the summer in physical therapy. Evergreen scheduled the consultation with Begly for April 15 at CVMC’s orthopedic center in Waterbury.

A couple of days later, I called his o ce to make sure everything was in order. Was the referral complete? Check. Had Vermont OPEN Imaging sent over my scan? Check. Could I get on a waiting list? Sure.

Early the next workday, my phone rang. There had been a cancellation. Could I come in on March 11? Yes! Naturally, I had googled Begly and liked the fact that while a resident at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, he had been the team physician for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Here in Vermont, he’s the team doc for Vermont Green FC.

Begly looked at my MRI and laid out the options. I chose the knife. He had an unexpected opening on April 2, in three weeks. I spent the rest of March “prehabbing” for surgery — exercising as much as I could, despite my bum knee, in hopes of bouncing back faster.

In fact, I was so eager to get my knee fixed, I didn’t think too deeply about what I was doing. The sta at CVMC noted that this was my first real surgery, with anesthesia. It wasn’t until I was in a curtained room in Berlin, under an

inflatable space-age blanket, repeating my name and birth date to anyone who asked, that I started to get nervous. I had a meniscectomy, as opposed to a meniscus repair, which was good news: I could put weight on my leg immediately. The day after surgery, I went to the retirement party of our longtime employee Michelle Brown. After that, though, things got real. I spent too much of April on the couch, doing ankle pumps, icing and bingewatching “ER.” I’ve since added physical therapy sessions, home exercises, quality time on the stationary bike and, more recently, laps in the swimming pool. Stupidly, I thought recovery would be a breeze, or at least a positive slope. It’s more like the stock market — up and down every day, with the promise of longterm gain. Despite the efforts of responsive, caring medical professionals, every seeming improvement is followed by some mysterious setback. It is swelling? The war in Iran? Who knows. Walking today hurts more than it did right after my surgery — even with a high-tech brace. Sleeping is hard, and when I get out of bed in the morning, my knee feels worse than it did the night before. It didn’t help that I threw my back out two weekends ago — one of the downsides of not getting regular exercise. I took action: went to the chiropractor; got a massage, electric muscle stimulation and dry needling; and lay on an old-fashioned heating pad for a few days. During that time, I would have given anything to have knee pain only. Like most humans, I can’t seem to remember an important lesson: Uncomfortable as things are, they could be worse.

It’s spring. As sunny days return and I see walkers and bikers back on the streets, I’m hoping that my winter of physical discontent is on its way out, too.

Paula Routly

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Tax and Defend

Some Democrats say it’s time to raise taxes on Vermont’s richest residents despite Gov. Scott’s veto threat

STORY & PHOTO BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Democrats are drafting legislation to raise taxes on Vermont’s most well-to-do, arguing that the 1 percent can a ord to pay a little more after benefiting from the recent extension of federal income tax cuts.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott and his legislative allies say that’s a horrible idea and risks deepening Vermont’s financial troubles by driving wealthy residents from the state. Since Democrats no longer enjoy a supermajority in the legislature, Scott’s veto threat could have e ectively ended the debate, at least for this year. But it hasn’t.

The House Ways and Means Committee is hammering out a bill that would raise

income tax rates for the top 1 percent of taxpayers. Democratic supporters believe it will win them political points even if the e ort is killed by Scott’s veto pen.

“We’re asking the folks who have the most in the state to support those who have the least,” Rep. Teddy Waszazak (D-Barre) told Seven Days last week. “It just sort of makes sense to us.”

Top Democrats have been hesitant to pursue the strategy, fearing that Republicans would say they are seeking higher taxes because they don’t have the courage to cut government spending. But earlier this month, some rank-and-file Dems bucked their leaders and made plans to tack two new taxes onto an existing bill.

WAYS AND MEANS

Legislators Might Suspend Penalties for Candidate Disclosures

BY HANNAH BASSETT hbassett@sevendaysvt.com

State lawmakers have proposed suspending penalties for candidates who fail to submit finance disclosure forms when running for office, raising concerns among advocates, state officials and government ethics experts about weakening a pillar of election transparency.

e change, proposed to be in effect through May 2027, was tucked into a broader bill. It follows a dispute over which state entity is responsible for the disclosures: the Secretary of State’s Office or the State Ethics Commission.  Each candidate for statewide office and the legislature must submit a financial disclosure form. e filing period for the 2026 election cycle began on Monday and runs through May 28.

Rep. Chea Waters Evans (D-Charlotte) said the proposal is meant to avoid penalizing candidates who might lack clear guidance while the two entities remain divided over responsibility for the process. is year’s financial disclosure form has yet to be released, in large part because of the standoff between the commission and the Secretary of State’s Office.

“We can’t hold people to something if we’re not giving them the tools they need to get it done correctly,” Waters Evans said.

One would have increased state income taxes by 3 percent on household income over $500,000 a year and by an additional 2 percent on income in excess of $1 million. A second amendment would have imposed higher taxes on some unearned income. Together, the proposals would have raised an estimated $170 million.

After closed-door meetings, House majority leader Rep. Lori Houghton (D-Essex Junction) said she sympathized with the motives behind the initiative but feared it had not been fully vetted. In exchange for the sponsors withdrawing the amendments, leaders agreed to

Historically, the Secretary of State’s Office has made the forms available online. Further, the commission lacks the staff to manage the disclosures or respond to inquiries from candidates, ethics commissioner Paul Erlbaum said. e legislature has funded the agency for two part-time positions — an executive director and an administrative assistant. It has already suspended some services to municipalities due to its staffing.

Waters Evans acknowledged the frustration and said some House members supported the commission’s request this year for more staff. e Senate later cut the funding request, however.

Lawmakers appear to have settled the dispute by making the ethics commission responsible for the disclosure form and related inquiries. Yet the proposed enforcement suspension remains in place. e House is expected to vote on the bill in the coming days. ➆

Upward Mobility?

Burlington International Airport’s new terminal will help it compete, officials say. Despite industry turbulence, BTV is experiencing lift.

STORY AARON CALVIN • calvin@sevendaysvt.com | PHOTOS LUKE AWTRY

Nic Longo is living in the future.

From his offices on the third floor of a brand-new $68 million north concourse, the director of the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport has a perfect seat to witness the ongoing demolition of the terminal it replaced.

Frequent fliers these days will notice the new wood-accented waiting areas and a sleek new outpost of the Skinny Pancake. But Longo’s most excited about no longer being constrained by an old north terminal that couldn’t accommodate large modern aircraft and limited the services airlines were able to offer. The new terminal has roomy gates and can handle the larger passenger loads of bigger planes.

in 2023 from his powerful perch on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Leahy’s last pork barrel paid for half of Project NexT, as the terminal project is called. The rest of the funds were cobbled together from Federal Aviation Administration and other grants. After Leahy’s retirement, the airport was rechristened to honor his efforts.

TRANSPORTATION

To Longo, the new terminal’s value is its flexibility. With upgraded jet bridges and more room for planes to maneuver, it can accommodate aircraft both large and small, however demand trends, as well as passenger streams that ebb and flow. It increases the airport’s appeal to both prospective fliers and, Longo hopes, airlines that might expand operations — or at least continue them.

The airport — located in South Burlington but owned and governed by the City of Burlington — was able to fund its largest construction project in 30 years without taking on any debt. Plans for a new terminal had been years in the making when then-U.S. senator Patrick Leahy earmarked funding for the project

This versatility, Longo said, will allow the airport to weather whatever headwinds the broader aviation industry might face: federal funding uncertainty, increasingly costly jet fuel, airline consolidation.

The airport is undeniably on an

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have Ways and Means consider them in a committee bill.

Rep. Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney) noted that record numbers of Vermonters have rallied in “No Kings” events to express opposition to the federal administration and said it was high time lawmakers did the same.

“I think we have to recognize that Donald Trump has his thumb on the scale across the country, including in this building, and it’s time we point out who is for the billionaires and who is for working Vermonters,” Mrowicki said.

The tax-writing committee has spent much of the past two weeks working on the bill and is still refining its proposal. The current draft would raise taxes on the wealthy in two ways. First, it would raise taxes on the top 1 percent of income earners — those making more than about $586,000 per year.

“Targeting the 1 percenters is very intentional because it is the truly richest people in the state,” Waszazak told Seven Days. “It’s very straightforward.”

The state income tax rate for those high earners is currently 8.75 percent. The bill would increase that to 12.7 percent, raising about $100 million beginning in 2028. An earlier version of the bill proposed raising the tax to 13.3 percent, but that would have tied Vermont with California for the highest marginal tax rate in the nation, which the committee sought to avoid.

The bill would also impose a 4 percent tax on net income from investment income such as capital gains, dividends and rent. That proposal would raise about $48 million, according to fiscal analysts.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has pushed back, arguing it could penalize small business owners. In response, the committee has expressed a willingness to narrow this tax further.

The idea of raising taxes on the rich has been around for decades but has gotten greater traction recently in Montpelier. In 2024, the House passed a bill that would have raised the income taxes paid by those making more than $500,000 by 3 percent. The bill died in the Senate.

Things have changed since then with Trump ushering in policies that favor the wealthy while slashing programs for the most vulnerable, said Anika Heilweil. She manages Fair Share for Vermont, a coalition of progressive organizations that pressed for the 2024 bill.

“I think we are seeing quite a bit of political appetite for a tax exclusively on the highest earners,” Heilweil said.

A study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonpartisan Washington D.C.-based tax policy group, found

that the richest 1 percent in Vermont saved on average roughly $57,000 from the 2025 extension of the Trump tax cuts. Under the current version of the Ways and Means bill, Vermont would take back much but not all of those federal tax savings. The wealthiest in the state would still come out ahead, Heilweil said.

She also noted that a recent University of Vermont poll of 542 residents concluded that 80.4 percent of people across all ages, incomes and political affiliations support a tax on the wealthy and corporations. More than 20 wealthy Vermonters, including Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen, signed a letter to lawmakers and Gov. Scott urging them to increase their taxes.

Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), chair of Ways and Means, said wealth tax revenue should go right back to Vermonters. The money could help people pay for health insurance, which is more costly since federal Affordable Care Act

subsidies were slashed. The committee is also considering tax credits to help small businesses offset health insurance costs. The funds could also be used to lower the income tax rates for everyone else.

If lawmakers went with the latter scenario, the savings for lower earners would be significant. Those earning less than $84,700 per year could save $135 in income taxes on average, while those making up to $568,000 per year could save $740 per year, according to legislative analysts.

“Right now, I know there are a lot of Vermonters trying to make it work, who are feeling really broke, and we’re going to do everything we can to help them.” Kornheiser said.

But Scott said he is adamantly opposed. While he supports tax cuts for working Vermonters, paying for it by raising taxes on the wealthy is “the wrong approach,” he said last week.

Impact of Federal Tax Cuts in Vermont

Average tax change by income group in 2026

Source:

Vermont’s relatively few affluent residents already pay one of the highest tax rates in the nation. Push that rate even higher and they’ll start looking for the exits, Scott claimed. The state would fail to get the promised additional revenue and would also lose out on the substantial tax revenue that wealthy people already provide — as well as significant philanthropy, he argued.

“I’m confident that we’ll take in less than what they think we’ll take in,” Scott said.

That hasn’t been the experience in Massachusetts, which passed a 4 percent income tax surcharge in 2024 and has received higher-than-expected revenue every year since. “We definitely heard that the sky was gonna fall on our heads if we did this,” said Phineas Baxandall, policy director at the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, which advocates for progressive causes.

The policy instead has been an “unmitigated success” that pumps more than $3 billion per year into education and transportation initiatives. The warnings of tax flight proved to be overblown, he said.

Cristobal Young, an associate professor at Cornell University, has long studied millionaire taxes. In his book The Myth of Millionaire Flight, Young argues that the idea of “mobile millionaires” fleeing high taxes is not borne out by the facts. Millionaires are more like “embedded elites that are reluctant to move away from places where they’ve been highly successful,” he told the Ways and Means Committee.

Democrats are keenly aware of Scott’s veto threat. Waszazak is in the camp that believes Democrats ought to pass the legislation regardless, to show they support struggling Vermonters.

People forgive elected officials for losing a fight, Waszazak said. “They will not forgive you if you don’t even have the fight.”

It’s not clear that the Senate, where Democrats have a slimmer majority, has the same appetite for a veto battle with the governor.

RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF VERMONTERS TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK… AND WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THEM.

“Migration is a young person’s game,” Young told lawmakers. “By the time people are in the top tax bracket, they’re already past the age where they’re thinking about moving around or want to start over in a new place.”

REP. EMILIE KORNHEISER

Finance Committee chair Sen. Ann Cummings (D-Washington) said she is undecided. She is open to a “fairer way” to structure the tax brackets but notes that there are only about a thousand millionaires in Vermont and a single billionaire. Raising their taxes just to make a point doesn’t interest her, she said.

Some do move, of course. His research, which is based on millions of anonymized federal tax returns, has shown that 0.3 percent of millionaires leave high-tax states for lower-tax ones.

That’s “certainly enough to fill an anecdote mill” but far too few to drive state policy, he said.

Scott is unmoved. Asked why he continues to believe what data-based research has shown to be a myth, Scott told reporters that he could “bring in a dozen CPAs who would love to have that discussion with you.”

Tax Commissioner William Shouldice said he had not read the research but dismissed its conclusions as not specific to Vermont. “I think ivory tower idealists fly in the face of commonsense Vermonters,” Shouldice said.

He argues that the wealthy are often business owners whose enterprises keep the economy humming, including by creating jobs for working people. Drive those people out, he said, and the economy will suffer.

“To me, doing anything other than putting out a welcome mat for people of high net worth to come here, to live here, to invest here, I think is sending the absolute wrong message,” he said.

“I’m not going to tax the rich just for the sake of They’ve got it, and I have the right to take it,” she said.

She also worries that raising taxes on professionals might backfire. For instance, doctors could pass up work in Vermont and head to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, a state with no income tax, she noted.

If there were a way to structure new taxes to be revenue neutral, such as by lowering taxes for others, she said she is open to the idea.

All three Republican senators on the committee adamantly oppose such a bill.

“My gut feeling is it’s not worth spending the time to do something that I think would be disastrous for us economically,” Sen. Randy Brock (R-Franklin) said.

Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) and Sen. Marine Gulick (D-Chittenden-Central) have both expressed support.

Sen. Thomas Chittenden (D-Chittenden-Southeast) is undecided. He said he is open to “recalibrating” the tax code in a way that raises some new revenue from the rich but noted that Vermont’s is already very progressive. He said he believes tax flight is real.

“I’m also a realist. And this isn’t going to come into law,” Chittenden said. “The governor’s going to veto it. So, this is all politics.” ➆

Upward Mobility? «

upswing in terms of passengers. This year, Longo said, it’s on track to have 755,000 departing passengers — close to the record 759,000 who flew from BTV in 2008, just prior to the Great Recession.

Burlington International is busy. While managing passenger flights, it also accommodates the Vermont Air National

Flying out of BTV last Thursday, Bob and Nancy Durand of Hardwick were happy to have avoided Logan. Breeze Airways offers a direct flight to Raleigh, N.C., where the Durands’ children moved in search of cheaper homes and better jobs after they graduated from Vermont colleges.

“The Burlington airport is so much better than Logan in terms of ease and cost,” Bob said.

Guard. In addition, the airport provides essential infrastructure for electric plane manufacturer Beta Technologies. The growing company’s public offering last November has supercharged its expansion efforts.

The new terminal can better accommodate Beta’s planes, which can take off and land vertically, like helicopters. Beta not only provides revenue through its lease agreement but the air traffic it contributes helps the airport unlock more federal funding — the busier BTV is, the more money becomes available. Beta contributed $12 million in infrastructure funding that the airport wouldn’t have been able to get elsewhere, Longo said.

Longo said Beta’s use of BTV for the development of its electric fleet has made it the second-busiest airport in New England, behind Boston Logan International Airport, when measured by total takeoffs and landings. As Beta grows “even bigger, busier,” he said, so too will the airport.

Longo wants to convince prospective passengers to choose Burlington over Logan. Roughly 3 million potential fliers live within a two-hour drive of Burlington, according to Longo, and he wants as much of that market share as he can get. Consumer choices are driven by ticket prices, direct flight offerings, and the convenience of parking and security at BTV compared with larger airports, he noted.

BTV has other competitors, too: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Montréal Trudeau International Airport and Plattsburgh International Airport.

Plattsburgh, which offers three direct flights to Florida daily, remains focused on providing leisure travel at affordable prices for North Country families, Plattsburgh airport director Patrick Sharrow said. Airlines have been closely monitoring the downturn in the number of Canadians coming across the border to fly as the value of the Canadian dollar has declined, Sharrow said, and Plattsburgh has felt the effect.

Some Canadians have vowed to avoid the United States after President Donald Trump insulted the country and imposed tariffs. Canadian tourism in Vermont declined by nearly a third last year, according to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. At BTV, officials track Canadian fliers by counting Canadian license plates on parked cars, airport spokesperson Jeff Bartley said, cautioning that the method is inexact. The data show that roughly 10 percent of fliers out of Burlington come from Canada. Prior to the pandemic, that number was estimated to be in the 20 to 25 percent range.

For now, flights are mostly full, he claimed, so the airport isn’t concerned.

When United Airlines starts offering nonstop flights from BTV to Houston next month, the airport will have direct

routes to 19 destinations — the most ever, though some routes are seasonal, according to Bartley. Airport officials are trying to persuade United to make its summer service to Denver year-round by pointing to strong commercial connections between the states, such as Coloradobased Vail Resorts’ ownership of three Vermont ski areas.

Longo is bullish on the airport’s future — it’s his job, after all — even when so

much depends on outside factors. When the new terminal opened at the end of March, the airport was running a food drive for TSA workers who hadn’t been paid in weeks amid a Congressional standoff over Department of Homeland Security funding. They’re currently being paid and have since gotten some back pay.

The airport has no control over the airlines or ticket prices, either. Last week, United CEO Scott Kirby said the major

airlines may need to increase ticket prices by up to 20 percent to offset rising jet fuel costs as a result of the war with Iran.

Longo said he’s not concerned. An analysis the airport conducted into consumer demand and the price of tickets and jet fuel concluded that the people who need to fly will do so regardless.

“Does it impact the ticket price? You bet it does,” Longo said. “But there’s no fluctuation in our passenger numbers.”

Ultimately, the airlines set ticket prices. The big three — Delta, United and American — don’t compete with each other, so passengers get a better deal when budget airlines are in the mix. At BTV, Breeze and, seasonally, Sun Country Airlines keep prices on popular routes in check. Even the withdrawal of a single budget airline can be consequential, such as when

THE AIRPORT IS UNDENIABLY ON AN UPSWING IN TERMS OF PASSENGERS.

JetBlue ended its popular direct route between Burlington and New York City in 2023. The cost of an average flight to New York is now $100 higher than it was prior to JetBlue’s departure.

Longo is already looking ahead to the next phase of the airport’s expansion, which he calls the final step — a project focused on the south terminal. Longo hopes to put the project up for a bond vote for approval from Burlington voters in 2028 and expects the price tag to be somewhere near $80 million.

“We’re part of the solution, part of the change,” he said. “We’re impacting the entire state of Vermont by having the airport be this strong, and certainly we’re counting on just growing and growing and growing.” ➆

This week, a special note. We received an email objecting to our reference to The Last Catamount as “the perfect Vermont gift” when it was not something for an eleven-year-old grandson. We agree. While filled with photos and descriptions of Vermont wilderness, it’s also a complex and challenging book that follows no tried and true formula, fits into none of the many classifications of contemporary adult fiction, and is voiced from unusual points of view (third person to first cat?). We should not have represented it as an alternate to a snow globe or a set of tiny local liqueurs. While we still think it would make a good gift to the right person, it can’t be described as safe or guaranteed to please. It takes risks.

FEEDback

MAKING

WAVES

[“Wake Boat Shake-Up: Vermont’s Strict Wake Boating Rules Are About to Get Even Tougher,” April 8] tells only part of the story, and one critical statistic presents a misleading impression.

The article states that wake boats are currently restricted to 30 of Vermont’s “roughly 800 lakes and ponds.” This is highly misleading. Seven hundred twentyseven of those water bodies, more than 90 percent, are already protected from wakesports by long-standing rules regulating where powerboats can travel over 5 mph. Because wakesports require speeds over 5 mph, they are already prohibited on the vast majority of Vermont lakes. The rule amendments don’t create new restrictions for these 727 lakes; they were never legally available for wakesports. The current debate only concerns the 73 lakes large enough to support higher-speed motorized use. Designating 18 (25 percent) of the 73 “higher-speed” motorboat-eligible lakes for wakesports is a reasonable, balanced approach.

Furthermore, the article overlooks what triggered the current rulemaking. It was not due simply to petition pressure. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s proposed amendments result from the agency’s acknowledgment that the original 2024 rules were developed without adequate consideration of safety impacts on traditional lake users. Current wake boats generate waves two to four feet high, carrying dangerous energy far beyond the distances the 2024 rules assumed. These massive wakes disrupt traditional activities, including paddling, sailing and waterskiing. Correcting a rule that overlooked these physical realities isn’t making it “even tougher”; it’s getting the rule right.

We urge the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation and Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules to approve these amended rules for the 2026 summer season.

Tom Ward THETFORD CENTER

Ward is a board member of Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes. This letter was cosigned by Meg Handler, Diane Lehder, Jim Lengel, Dani Sharpe and Jack Widness, representing lakes Iroquois, Willoughby, Elmore, Fairlee and Raponda.

Vermont’s watersports community has already made significant concessions, and by all accounts, the 2024 rules are working. Not a single substantiated complaint has been brought against a wake boat owner operating under the current framework. Yet before those rules have had a chance to take hold, the Agency of Natural Resources is proposing to cut the list of approved lakes nearly in half. That’s not refinement; that’s a reversal.

What’s striking is that the case against further restrictions comes from ANR’s own leadership. Secretary Julie Moore acknowledged that rewriting the rules so soon risks confusing the public, has consumed staff time, and that the number of wake boats in Vermont is minuscule compared to other watercraft. She called the level of focus on this small group of boaters “frustrating.” If even the agency driving this process questions its priorities, Vermonters should be asking the same question.

I live on Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg. Under the proposed rules, I would lose the ability to wake surf on my home lake, where I have followed every rule put in place since 2024 and years prior. Public understanding of the rule change has been limited, and it has fallen on us as stewards of our lake and sport to educate all users we meet on the lake.

Rodney Putnam HINESBURG

Putnam was a source in Kevin McCallum’s story.

I was glad to see an article written about wake boat regulations. However, it’s written to make the boat owners look like victims of tight regulations. In the first paragraph, you state that there are 800 lakes in Vermont and that they can only use 30. If you want to put it in those terms, then acknowledge that only 90 of our lakes are over 100 acres.

You chose to quote Rodney Putnam’s erroneous question, “So why do we have to stop doing it completely?” They won’t. They will still have 18 lakes to use.

You state the feud as “between the relatively small number of wake boat owners and those who prize the peace and tranquility of Vermont’s lakes.” It is not the number of boats that matter — it is their enormous impact. One example: The director of the Aloha Foundation stated that on Lake Fairlee they must call all their swimmers and paddlers off the lake when one wake boat is out on the

water. Hundreds of people must stay on shore while a few people in one wake boat overpower the lake.

Their waves are up to 12 times more powerful and three times higher than those of a regular ski boat. Being caught in a wave while swimming or in a small boat is very dangerous. So, yes, we do prize peace and tranquility on our lakes, but we also prize safety.

Jean Gerber THETFORD CENTER

It is incontrovertible: Wake boats will destroy the natural ecology of any lake. A single pass of its motor can churn up a lake bottom — undisturbed for hundreds or thousands of years — wreaking havoc on all of the bioactivity that is necessary for a healthy lake.

With all of the environmental downsides, with the knowledge that the enforcement of any of these regulations is sheer fantasy and that real damage can occur with a single violation, I am asking: Why?

I cannot understand why our Agency of Natural Resources, which spends millions of dollars to conserve and protect our environment, decided to permit wake boats. Surely there couldn’t have been much of a clamor by Vermonters. At price tags that range from about $60,000 to $500,000,

I can’t imagine that there are many Vermonters demanding them. I suspect this is all industry-driven from sales elsewhere, with Vermont representing an additional recreation destination for the salespeople to mention.

Many of us would welcome their complete ban on all Vermont inland waters. Why has the decision always been between “bad” and “really bad”? Vermont has already invested millions of dollars in laws, personnel, activities and infrastructure to support our freshwater lakes. A ban on wake boats will come some years from now, and the state will be spending millions more to rectify the damage.

I leave you with a single question. Given the certainty of environmental degradation, what exactly is the benefit that the ANR sees in permitting wake boats on our waters?

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lifelines

OBITUARIES

Bud Etherton

NOVEMBER 16, 1930MARCH 4, 2026 SHELBURNE, VT.

Bud Etherton, 95, passed away on March 4, 2026, at Wake Robin, a continuing care retirement community in Shelburne, Vt.

Bud had a smile that reached his warm, brown eyes and had the effect of cheering up most people. He was a soft-spoken man, but he might draw you into conversation about one of his favorite topics. Science or oil painting perhaps, or maybe poetry, or how to sharpen a crosscut saw.

He was a professor in the University of Vermont Botany Department for 30 years, and his research work with colleagues and graduate students meant a great deal to him. After retiring at age 68, Bud found he missed the

Grace Constance (Wagner) Farley

SEPTEMBER 11, 1932APRIL 2, 2026 WILLISTON, VT.

Our beloved mother, Grace Constance (Wagner) Farley, 93, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, at Burlington Health & Rehabilitation Center.

Grace was born on September 11, 1932, in Fitzwilliam, N.H., to parents

Charles Wagner and Laura (Huston) Wagner, the oldest of three children. She married the love of her life, Stewart “Barry” Barrett Farley Jr., on August 28, 1954, in Fitzwilliam. ey moved to Kingston, N.Y., where they welcomed their son and daughter. ey became permanent residents of Williston, Vt., in 1968.

Grace worked for many years as a nurse, taking time

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

purpose and camaraderie of working in a lab. In his seventies, he returned to work part time in the lab of Dr. Mark Nelson at the UVM Medical School’s Department of Pharmacology. Bud was a loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle and brother-in-law. He valued time with his friends and family, working, playing and learning. He took drawing and

off to raise her two children. Cherished memories were made camping at Ricker Pond in Groton State Forest and in her active involvement with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. In 1968, the family spent an entire summer camping before they moved permanently to Williston.

After her children were grown, Grace found her passion working as a teacher for the former Pine Ridge School in Williston.

painting classes and created vibrant still lifes, portraits and landscapes. He appreciated poetry, particularly the poems of Robert Frost, and took part in a haiku poetry writing group later in life.

Bud was born in 1930 in Wardner, Idaho, to Lewis Washington Etherton and Hannah Sutton Etherton. He was the youngest of four children, looking up to his brothers Dan, Bill and Jack, who ranged from 10 to 15 years older than him. e family ultimately settled in a small community known as Pine Creek, on the West Fork of Pine Creek in Pinehurst, Idaho.

After high school, Bud worked carpentry jobs, often in the local mines, or on a project for one of his brothers. He saved money with the intention of buying land for subsistence farming but decided to go to college instead. He graduated from

Washington State College in 1956, then moved across the country to Boston, where he worked in a lab at Massachusetts General Eye and Ear Infirmary.

He met Alison Mann after a dinner event at the Arlington Street Unitarian Church in Boston, and they wed in 1957. A year later, he and Alison moved to Pullman, Wash., for Bud’s graduate studies at Washington State University. In 1960 they had their first child, Kirk.

Bud obtained his PhD in botany in 1962, launching his career researching electric potentials of cell membranes and the role they play in plant physiology. is work took Bud and his family to the University of Edinburgh, Vassar College, Argonne National Laboratory and at last to Vermont, in 1968, when Bud accepted a professorship at UVM. In 1971, Bud

and Alison’s daughter, Laura, was born.

e family thrived in Vermont. Bud and Alison took up Scottish and English country dancing, joined the Unitarian church, and the whole family took up crosscountry skiing. ey acquired a Sunfish sailboat, and Bud and Kirk learned how to sail together on the ponds and lakes of Vermont.

In retirement, Bud took time to write about his early life in Idaho and Washington and revisited the journal he had kept when first making his way in Boston. He and Alison took several trips to Europe to see art and architecture. Back in Vermont, they visited nearby towns on the weekends, enjoying the state that they had made their home. In 2019, Alison and Bud moved to Wake Robin in Shelburne, spending time with friends they had

known for decades and making new friends as well. Bud was preceded in death by his brothers, and Alison passed away in late 2025. Bud is survived by his son, Kirk Etherton, and daughter in-law, Lucy Holdstedt; daughter, Laura Etherton, and son in-law, Adam Marx; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, former graduate students, colleagues, neighbors and friends.

e family would like to share their gratitude for the care that Bud and his family received from the Wake Robin community and Bayada hospice providers. Services will take place in spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to COTS, a nonprofit providing housing and homelessness prevention services in Vermont, at cotsonline.org/ donate. Please visit awrfh. com to share your memories and condolences.

She also enjoyed traveling with her husband to Maine and Florida, where they spent several winters as snowbirds. Grace was an active member of the United Church of Hinesburg, volunteering for many annual events including the church bazaar, where she helped start up “Grandma’s Attic,” and plant sale. She played an integral role in the creation of SCHIP, a nonprofit secondhand store that provides grants to local nonprofits.

Grace was a strong, compassionate woman who loved the ocean and beach. Most of all, she loved her family deeply.

Grace is survived by her son, Stewart “Bart” Barrett Farley III (Kathy) of Las Vegas; daughter, Melissa Loretan (Eric) of Bristol, Vt.; grandchildren, Kara Renninger (Joshua) of Canyon, Texas, Stewart “Barrett” Barrett Farley IV (Kaye) of Las Vegas,

Caitlin Leveillee (Ethan) of Dacula, Ga., and Kristi Toms (Luke) of Las Vegas; and eight great-grandchildren, Stewart “Brody” Barrett Farley V and Baelynn Farley; Finley, Wyatt and Brandt Renninger; Reid and Jane Toms; and Benjamin Leveillee.

Grace was predeceased by her parents; husband, Barry; sister, Nancy Billow; and brother, omas Wagner.

We are grateful for the wonderful care she received from Home Health & Hospice of Vermont, caregiver Cheryl Papazoni of Green Mountain Nursing and Rehab, longtime friend Howdy Russell, nieces Karen Billow and Amy Austin, and many dear friends.

A celebration of life will be held on June 27, 2026, 1 p.m., at the United Church of Hinesburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Home Health & Hospice of Vermont, the United Church of Hinesburg, or a charity of choice.

Elaine Joyce (Kearns) Bushey

OCTOBER 7, 1932APRIL 23, 2026 GRAND ISLE, VT.

Elaine Joyce (Kearns) Bushey of Grand Isle, Vt., passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2026, surrounded by the love she spent her lifetime giving to others. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Colchester, Vt. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grand Isle Rescue, PO Box 79, Grand Isle, VT 05458. For the full obituary, please visit minorfh.com.

Frederick Winslow Stetson II

FEBRUARY 20, 1943APRIL 18, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Frederick Winslow Stetson II, 83, of Burlington, Vt., died on April 18, 2026. He was born on February 20, 1943, in Boston, the son of Brewster Stetson and Rhoda Belknap Stetson.

Fred grew up in Duxbury, Mass., where he spent his childhood exploring the tidal salt marshes.

He attended Derby Academy in Hingham, Mass., and graduated from St. George’s School in Newport, R.I., in 1961. At St. George’s, he played football, was captain of the varsity tennis team and was elected senior prefect by his classmates.

was a member of the varsity hockey and tennis teams. At Middlebury, he developed a lifelong love of Vermont and Robert Frost and, through the college’s ROTC flight program, learned to fly single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft.

He graduated Middlebury College in 1965 with a degree in American literature and

Dr. Zacharie Joseph Clements

JULY 22, 1936-APRIL 17, 2026 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Dr. Zacharie Joseph Clements, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, at the age of 89.

Zach was born on July 22, 1936, in New York. Abandoned as a young child, he was raised by relatives outside of New York City. His will to succeed was nourished by the love and wisdom from his immigrant grandparents, aunts and uncles and support from his teachers. This grit, resilience and zeal for life set Zach on an upward journey from ghetto to public acclaim.

Following Middlebury, Fred went on to U.S. Army helicopter training and then combat service in Vietnam. He served as a member of the 175th Aviation Company, based in Vinh Long from 1966 to 1967. Upon his return, he became an instructorpilot at the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School in Fort Wolters, Texas, and then a pilot in the Vermont National Guard for over 20 years. In all, he accumulated more than 5,000 hours of military flight time. Fred returned to Vermont in 1968, where he worked as a writer and photographer. He was a reporter for the Burlington Free Press,

life, Cynthia, who would become his wife and best friend of 69 years. While teaching at the junior high and high school levels in the Buffalo area, Zach went on to earn a second master’s and a doctorate from the University of Buffalo. Months before his passing, Zach was awarded University of Vermont Professor Emeritus, an accomplishment in which he took great pride.

Zach attended the University of New York in Albany, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. While attending college, he met the love of his

edited books at Garden Way Publishing Company, and wrote for regional publications, including the Boston Globe, the Montréal Gazette and Vermont Life. He coauthored Ultralight Boat Building with boatbuilder Tom Hill. His award-winning photographs of Vermont scenes have been exhibited and published throughout New England.

Fred was a skilled athlete and outdoorsman. He loved skiing, sailing, squash, tennis, hockey, hiking and bird hunting. His love of the outdoors took him on adventures throughout New England, the Adirondacks and as far as the Andes.

Fred was a natural teacher and at various times taught writing, photography, tennis, sailing and squash. He was a sailing instructor at the Burlington Community Sailing Center and volunteer guide skier with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports.

Fred was thoughtful and gentle by nature. As a true New Englander, he held his emotions close but showed his love through countless acts of kindness and generosity. He was mild-mannered and always polite. To the many friends and family who shaped his life, he would want to say: thank you.

Fred leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 40 years, Katherine (Kate) M. Pond; daughter, Elizabeth (Liz) Stetson, and her partner, Fritz Kuhn; sister, Rhoda “Rhodie” S. Whittemore; sister-in-law, Phyllis Haffenreffer Stetson; niece Amy Stetson and her husband, Jay Ryan; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. Fred leaves a large and loving blended family, including his stepchildren, Jennifer (Jenny) Robins and Chris Robins and his wife, Carol Robins; step-grandchildren, Angela Robins and Fiona Lovins and her husband, Benjamin Lovins; step-greatgranddaughter, Juniper (Juni) Lovins; Margaret (Meg) Pond and Jim Rader; Patrick Robins and Lisa Schamberg; his first wife, Mary Esther C. Treat; and many others whom he loved dearly.

Fred was preceded in death by his brother, Brewster “Mike” Stetson Jr., and his brother-inlaw, Dr. Anthony Whittemore. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Community Sailing Center in Burlington or the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. A memorial service will be held this summer.

IN MEMORIAM

Paullette “Paully” Russell

1954-2025

On December 16, 2025, the world lost a master gardener, a peacock tamer and a woman who was never afraid to speak her mind. Paullette “Paully” Russell, 71, passed away peacefully after experiencing a life-altering stroke, leaving behind a legacy of open doors, full hearts and strong opinions.

Paully did things her own way. She was beautifully stubborn — a trait that came in handy whether she was raising kids, fixing a broken appliance with duct tape, or, in her final year, battling and beating cancer. She married the love of her life, Wesley Russell, on August 4, 1975. They held the wedding on a Monday for one reason only: to ensure their coworkers would be free to join the party. Despite the melting summer heat, it launched a 50year partnership filled with love and noise.

In 1970 Zach began his career at UVM, quickly becoming a beloved professor. In 1983 he took his craft from the classroom to the stage and became a fulltime motivational speaker, inspiring people worldwide to perform at their very best, through storytelling, humor and candor. His message was energized by an avid hold on life, tempered by old-world values and warmed by a teacher’s love of people.

Affectionately referred to by his family as “the Big Z” or “Poppy,” it was time spent with his wife, family and friends that

brought him his greatest joy. During their long marriage, Zach enjoyed tinkering with Cindy in their homes and gardens in Burlington, Charlotte and South Burlington, and they shared a mutual love of sailing, spending many summers exploring Lake Champlain on their sailboats, Karma and Kismet. His passion for cooking, including Chinese and Italian feasts, brought family and friends of all ages together for many unforgettable and merry times. He was an original member of the Vermont National Country Club, where he enjoyed years of laughter and golf with the “Five Amigos.” Until his death, his daily routine included at least one form of exercise, and he (and Cindy) would often be found at their favorite health club, the Edge.

Zach is survived by his three children, Ed (Devina Clements), Nancy (James Edgerton) and Jill (Brian Day); grandchildren, Katherine Edgerton (Jessi Waters Edgerton), Mac Edgerton (Christina Sciarrino), Elisabeth Day (Anthony Massina) and Zacharie Day; and great-grandchildren, Poppy, Nell and Emelia. In addition to his beloved Cynthia, Zach was also predeceased by his father, Zacharie J. Clements; mother, Pauline

Cameron; and brother-in-law Edward P. Willis.

Zach was a bright light; kind, loving and interested in others, with an electric personality and the gift of gab, which was evidenced in his overwhelming care for everyone he knew. A proud Italian American, he never forgot his roots and what he had overcome. He loved spending time with his children, sons-in-law and grandchildren, smelling the roses along the way. His church and faith meant the world to him, and he lived his life by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The world and community lost a great one. He will be forever missed by so many.

A private family memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shelburne, Vt.

A celebration of Zach and Cindy’s life together will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, and will be open to all. Details to follow.

Memorial contributions to honor Zach’s memory may be made in his name to the Meditation and Memorial Garden Fund, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, 5171 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482.

Paully’s résumé was eclectic: bookkeeper, Scout leader, artist, substitute teacher and bird-watcher. But her true calling was “Bonus Mom.” Running her home daycare for over 40 years, she raised hundreds of community children alongside her own four kids. She was the mom who surrendered the partially finished basement to her children, allowing them to transform the space into discos, movie theaters and game rooms to suit their every desire. She was the host who welcomed you for Saturday potlucks, Magic: The Gathering tournaments and holiday feasts. She loved her cats, her garden and a good dollar store bargain — roughly in that order.

She is reunited now with her sons Brian and Benjamin; her parents, Anatole and Bertha Lacourse; her in-laws, Carroll and Bette Russell; and her nephew, Steven Russell.

Paully’s spirit lives on through her husband, Wesley Russell; her son Christopher Russell and his wife, Maryann; her daughter, Laura Rice, and her husband, Dean; her daughterin-law Andrea Russell; her grandchildren, Nicholas, Steven, Izzy, Ellie and Charles; and her best friend, Mary Hemingway. She also leaves behind many beloved in-laws, nieces and the “bonus kids” who found a home in her heart.

We would like to thank the University of Vermont Medical Center nurses for their support and for having the appropriate amount of humor during our last few days.

Please join us for a celebration of life on Sunday, May 24, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., at Buck Ridge Barns in Hinesburg, Vt. We look forward to honoring Paully’s memory together when the flowers she loved are budding. A silent auction featuring some of Paully’s art will be held, with all proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Robert Albert Languerand

JANUARY 28, 1971APRIL 2, 2026

WOLCOTT, VT.

Robert Albert Languerand, 55, of Wolcott, Vt., left this mortal world unexpectedly on April 2, 2026. Born on January 28, 1971, to Andre and Cecile Languerand, he was the eldest of six children. He grew up surrounded by his large and loving French-Canadian family, which included more than 50 first cousins and 27 aunts and uncles.

Robbie grew up with a quintessential Vermont childhood — working on his extended family’s farms, learning beside his dad in the shop, and tearing through the hills, forests and streams of Lamoille County with his

Michael Collins Jacobs Jr.

FEBRUARY 23, 1945MARCH 19, 2026

ALEXANDRIA, VA.

siblings and cousins. Some of his happiest memories came from working on Andre Valcour’s farm, where he found not just chores but also a mentor. Andre was kind, steady and full of good humor, the sort of presence a boy naturally gravitates toward; Robbie considered him an uncle. He and Robbie’s dad were dear friends, along

with Robbie’s Uncle John. Robbie adored all three of them deeply, and their influence shaped him in ways that stayed with him throughout his life.

Robert built his life around hard work. He spent more than three decades in construction, property management and equipment operation, including decades with Lamoille Construction. Most recently, he worked at Boulder Excavation. He was known as an exceptionally dedicated worker — someone who forged strong relationships, pushed through challenges, and met every task with grit and determination. at steadfast work ethic earned him deep respect both on and off the job. Uncle Robert will be remembered for his steadfast charm, boundless energy and the loyal affection he showed

to those he loved. He was quick with a compliment and always tried to bring joy to the people around him. If you invited him over for dinner or a visit, he often showed his appreciation with a bouquet of flowers. He believed deeply that life itself is a gift — something to be grateful for — and he lived every day with that sense of joy and fullness. He is survived by his father, Andre, and his five siblings and their spouses: Dulcie (Arasch), Christine (Jason), Sabrina, Andre (Martha) and Michel. He will be forever missed by his six beloved nieces and nephews: Ciara, Iris, Cyrus, Vincent, Nora and Camille. His cousin and lifelong best friend, Michaelle Languerand, held an especially cherished place in his life. He loved Brody Boyea — the son of his late partner, Vicki Boyea — as if he were

his own, and Brody remained deeply special to him. Robbie spent his final weekend with Brody, glowing as he told others about their adventure buying lumber for his deck.

Let us remember the power of a compliment, the power of kindness and the power of love. In Robbie’s memory, we hope you’ll take a moment to tell someone their hair looks nice — you’ll almost certainly get a blush or a smile. Surprise somebody with flowers. For those he loved, Robert made sure we knew it. For those he knew, he loved to talk, listen and share stories. He appreciated his journey here on Earth. We think Robbie would have loved growing old — puttering around, sitting on the porch of the house he built, looking out over the land he’d worked so hard for. Of course, he’d still be scheming up some new project, driving around to buy steaks for

dinner at Dad’s or hunting for free piles of junk to add to his ever-growing collection of treasures. His life was a whirlwind of love, humor and hope.

Robbie, we hope your hair looks nice. We’ll do our best to carry on this sweet legacy. Rest easy, dear Robert. We know you and Mom will look after each other until we’re all together again. We are so proud of the man you were and grateful for the ways you helped each of us become better people.

Visiting hours will be held on ursday, July 9, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Crosby Center in Morrisville, Vt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 10, 2026, 11 a.m., at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Morrisville. Burial will immediately follow at St. Teresa’s Cemetery in Hyde Park, Vt.

Michael Collins Jacobs Jr., USAF Lt. Col., Ret., passed peacefully on March 19, 2026, in Alexandria, Va., surrounded by family. Born on February 23, 1945, in New York City to Michael Collins Jacobs and Janet (Gallagher), Mike grew up with a strong sense of duty, humor and heart — qualities that guided him throughout his life. He attended Rice High School and Saint Michael’s College, where his character and wit were already evident. Mike served his country with distinction in the United States Air Force, earning commendations during assignments in France, India and ailand. Yet he believed his greatest impact came not from rank or recognition but from the kindness and care he showed others.

At the center of his life was his beloved wife, Carole (Farnham), with whom he shared 60 devoted years of marriage, beginning in a memorable Vermont snowstorm. Together they raised daughters Wendy and Julie, whose families brought him immense pride and joy.

In retirement, Mike continued to serve others as a steady friend and mentor within his community. He is remembered as a man of warmth, humility, humor and enduring love. Put in a good word for us up there, Mike — until we all meet again one day.

Mike is survived by his wife, Carole (Farnham) Jacobs; daughters, Wendy Jacobs (Arthur Kleven) and Julie Wolfe (Jack); granddaughters, Chelsea, Mia (JacobsKleven) and Caroline (Wolfe); and by his Jacobs siblings, Connie (St. Albans), Mary (Toronto), Genevieve (Burlington) and Tony (Denver). Find the full obituary at vacremationservice.com/ obituary/107317#cplink.

Eva Bogue

MARCH 4, 1931-APRIL 20, 2026 WILLISTON AND BURLINGTON, VT.

Eva Bogue, 95, of Williston and Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully on April 20, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 4, 1931, in Fair Haven, Vt., to Maria and Luigi Gabriele, who emigrated from Italy. While attending grade school, she would often trade her sandwich, made with homemade bread, for one of store-bought bread because for her, growing up during the Depression, that was a treat. After high school she moved to Burlington to attend the Mary Fletcher Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1952 with her RN degree. It was there that she met her future husband, George, and they were married on May 1, 1954, and settled in Burlington. Instead of spending money on a

honeymoon that would last for a week, they decided to build a camp in Underhill, Vt., at the base of Mount Mansfield, where they could honeymoon for the rest of their lives. Eva loved gardening and always had a large one at the camp, where she grew enough vegetables to freeze and feed her large family all winter. She also loved picking wild blackberries and could pick faster than anyone in the family, always able to scrounge enough berries for a homemade pie. She was proud to be a registered nurse and worked part time at the University of Vermont infirmary until her youngest child was in high school, then she worked full time at the Burlington Convalescent Center until her retirement. After retiring, she volunteered for many years at the Burlington Senior Center. When she was 80, her children talked her into going to Italy to meet relatives she never knew

existed. While there, she saw where her parents grew up and met numerous cousins for the first time. At dinner she was shocked when one of them produced a photo of her as a baby with her parents and older siblings, taken in Rutland, Vt. It turned out to be the trip of a lifetime.

Eva was the heart of her large family and was an integral part of all her grandchildren’s lives. We are grateful for the many wonderful memories we hold in our hearts. She is survived by her five children, Bonnie Doble (Bill), David Bogue (Lucy), George Bogue (Ellen Kresky), Betsy Austin (Jay) and Jeanne Albertson (Scott); nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; her brother Ray Gabriele (Joan); sister-in-law Jeannine Bogue; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, George; sisters, Josephine, Emily, Louise and Jeanette; and her brother Tony.

e family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the staff at the Converse Home, who treated her, and all of us, as family and were particularly helpful during her final days.

A celebration of her life will be held at the family’s convenience.

Craig Steuart Lyman

SEPTEMBER 10, 1961APRIL 21, 2026

HINESBURG, VT.

Craig Steuart Lyman of Hinesburg, Vt., passed away on April 21, 2026, after a difficult and courageous battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.

Craig was born in New Bedford, Mass., to Virginia (Branch) Lyman and Robert K. Lyman. He graduated from South Burlington High School in 1979.

Craig was a devoted father, proud grandfather, loyal brother, and a man of deep faith and conviction. He leaves behind his beloved daughter, Alyssa K. Lyman; her son, Brayden, who brought him endless joy as a grandfather; and Alyssa’s partner, Joey Marcone, along with his two children. Craig is also survived by his siblings, Robert Lyman of Burlington, Vt.; Linda Benway of Manchester, Vt.; and Trisha Lyman of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; and his godmother, Phyllis May of Framingham, Mass.; as well as several nieces, nephews, and many extended family members and friends in Vermont and beyond.

Craig found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. He loved long rides on his motorcycle, cruising the open roads and spending time with his loyal dog, Luke, along with all the dogs he cared for over the years. He also cherished relaxing poolside in his backyard,

James “Jim” Thomas Strouse

DECEMBER 28, 1940APRIL 15, 2026

MILTON, VT., AND NAPLES, FLA.

James “Jim” Thomas Strouse, 85, of Milton, Vt., and Naples, Fla., died on April 15, 2026, with his family by his side.

Jim was born in Bridgeport, Conn., on December 28, 1940, the youngest child of Herbert and Lillian (Marion) Strouse. He attended Fairfield Prep and Saint Michael’s College, served three years in the U.S. Army, and earned his master’s degree from Northwestern University.

Jim married Margaret

enjoying quiet moments at home. He was an avid football fan and especially enjoyed cheering on the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. For many years, Craig worked in the printing and mailing business, where he was known for his strong work ethic and dedication. He was the successful businessman behind Integrated Print and Mailing Systems, which he operated for 19 years. Above all, his faith was a guiding force in his life. He was deeply involved in his church community at Ignite Church in Williston, where his commitment to his ministry reflected the strength of his beliefs. His faith carried him through his illness and remained a source of comfort and strength.

Craig will be remembered for his resilience, his loyalty to family and the love he gave so freely. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a service on May 23, 2026, 10 a.m. to noon, at Ignite Church, 1037 S. Brownell Rd., in Williston, Vt., with burial to follow at South Hero Cemetery on South Street in South Hero. There will be a celebration of life event following the services; please contact the family for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Craig’s memory to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org/donate/hope.html) and the Vermont chapter of Sail Beyond Cancer (sailbeyondcancer. org/vermont-chapter).

Mary Heyer on December 28, 1968, in Rochester, N.Y. Together they raised six children on Killarney Drive in the New North End of Burlington. It was the greatest place in the world to raise kids.

Samuel Sheets Faris III

FEBRUARY 15, 1957APRIL 23, 2026

WILLISTON, VT.

Samuel Sheets Faris III, 69, of Williston, Vt., passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2026.

Sam was born on February 15, 1957, in Abington, Pa., to Mary Dolan Faris and Dr. Samuel Sheets Faris II. He grew up in Glenside, Pa., and attended Germantown Academy, where he played linebacker on the football team. He later attended Ursinus College as part of the class of 1979.

Sam spent much of his career in car sales and worked at Almartin Volvo from 2002 until his retirement in 2021. He built lasting friendships throughout his career and was known for being kindhearted, witty, fun to be around and deeply loyal to those he loved.

In retirement Sam enjoyed living comfortably at home. He spent his days loyally watching the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles through the highs and lows, talking with friends and family, and riding his BMW R1200R all over the beautiful state of Vermont. He also enjoyed music

Mary F. Zagroba

APRIL 1, 1925-APRIL 16, 2026 BARRE, VT.

Mary F. Zagroba, 101, a longtime resident of Barre, Vt., passed to life eternal on April 16, 2026, with her loving family at her bedside and nearby. Born on April 1, 1925, in West Rutland, Vt., she was the daughter of Francis J. Fryzell and Katherine (Popiolek) Fryzell. She was a graduate of Saint Stanislaus Kosta Elementary School and of West Rutland High School. She received her registered nursing degree in 1946 and then worked at Rutland Hospital.

On July 19, 1952, she married Dr.

Jim’s Catholic faith was the important and sustaining aspect of his life. He was a parishioner at St. Mark Church in Burlington for over 50 years. He served on the Parish Council as well as the Diocesan Finance Committee. Jim was an active member of the Burlington community for many years. He was president of the Burlington Retirement Board, president and a founder of the Vermont City Marathon, and on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club, the Burlington International Games (BIG), and BAHA. For years he could be found trackside at Burlington High School volunteering alongside Mary.

John A. Zagroba in West Rutland. Her greatest pleasure was to be at home with her devoted, loving husband and five children. Her life was full, taking care of her children, and her parents in their elder years, and working with her husband in his medical practice.

Subsequently, she cared for her disabled, loving son for 47 years and her husband for 29 years during his disability.

In later years, Mary, along with John Sr. and John Jr., enjoyed holidays, vacations and milestones with her youngest daughters; sonin-law, David; and grandchildren, Annie, Elizabeth, Katie and Christopher. Mary leaves two sons, John Zagroba Jr., who resides at home,

In his work life, Jim was a trust banker starting at the Farmer’s Trust Company, then the Merchant’s Bank, Vermont National Bank and Chittenden Bank, eventually retiring from People’s United Bank. He made many friendships in the business community and at the Ethan Allen Club. His counsel was sought well after his retirement, and he continued to travel to conferences around the country.

Jim loved a good joke, a good drink and good people. But he loved his family most of all.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary; his children and their spouses:

and attended many concerts throughout the years.

He is survived by his sons, Daniel and Matthew Faris; their mother, Kim Tuure Faris; his twin brother, Scott Faris; brother Charles Faris; sister, Dr. Mary Rachel Faris; and sister-in-law, Christine Faris. He was predeceased by his brothers George Faris and Davidson Faris. He also had strong relationships with his nephews, Peter, Alex, Andrew, Jim, Tucker and Elijah; and nieces, Faris, Jessica, Erica, Virginia and Laura. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him; family, friends and neighbors alike.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 11 a.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shelburne, Vt. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please reach out to a friend, sibling or loved one and let them know how much they mean to you.

and Richard Zagroba and his wife, Enriqueta, of Florida; and three daughters, Dr. Katherine Zagroba and her husband, Dr. Paul McManus, of Bow, N.H.; Debra Zagroba, also residing at home; and Dr. Marie Zagroba and her husband, David Barker, of Burlington, Vt.; as well as 11 grandchildren and two nephews. She was predeceased by her husband; parents; brother, Albert Fryzell; sister, Ann Fryzell Hryckiewicz; and niece, Alexandra Fryzell Buturla.

The Mass of Christian Burial to honor the life of Mary F. Zagroba was celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, Vt. Burial followed the service in the Berlin Corners Cemetery in Berlin. There were no calling hours.

Arrangements are by Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home at 7 Academy Street in Barre. For a memorial guest book, please visit hookerwhitcomb.com.

James Jr. and Gabriela (Tufo), Margaret, Sarah and Daniel Curry, Joseph and Stacy (Chiappinelli), Elizabeth and Bryan Connolly, and Brittany Isabelle; and his grandchildren: Theresa and James Strouse; Caroline Limanek, Madeline Cook, Sophia and Mariela Strouse; Amelia and Elizabeth Curry; Mary and Irene Strouse; and Lillian, William, Jack and Caroline Connolly. He was predeceased by two sons, infant John Robert (1980) and William George (2017), and his siblings. He also leaves a large network of extended family, including nine brothers and sisters-in-law and their spouses and dozens of nieces and nephews. He was very fond of the in-law families that became a part of his.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m., at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 11 a.m., at St. Mark Church in Burlington. Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please say a prayer, light a candle or donate to your favorite cause. He will be greatly missed. To send condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

Vermont’s birth rate is the lowest in the nation. Why aren’t we having more kids?

BABY BUST

Claire MacQueen has no plans to have children anytime soon.

It is not a question of desire or emotional readiness. MacQueen, 27, has always felt called to motherhood, envisioning it as one of life’s most fulfilling endeavors.

“Not just to be a mom, but a really good one,” she said.

MacQueen, a technical writer at a software company, said she simply can’t a ord it.

Although MacQueen and her partner both work and have minimal debt, they feel unable to get far enough ahead of expenses to take the plunge. A large chunk of their shared income gets gobbled up by the $2,000 they spend each month on utilities and rent for their one-bedroom Burlington apartment.

The couple desperately want to buy a house, which would provide room to start a family and allow them to start building equity. Instead, they have been forced to raid their savings to cover more pressing expenses: vet bills, car repairs, large medical fees.

Having a child right now feels irresponsible, MacQueen said. She has no idea when that might change.

“A lot of things will need to fall into place,” she said.

Many young Vermonters making such calculations are coming to a similar conclusion. They are holding o on having children and having fewer when they ultimately do. Vermonters in their twenties and thirties overwhelmingly point to a ordability as the key reason. Many also express a growing unease about the future and express doubt that they’ll be able to provide their children with a better chance to succeed than they had growing up. These factors, cited in interviews and responses to a query Seven Days posted on social media, show that the dwindling number of young Vermonters is partly due to the state’s high costs of housing and health care, both of which have proved di cult to fix.

For more than a decade, Vermont has had the nation’s lowest birth rate. The actual number of children born in the Green Mountain State is smaller today than before the Civil War, when Vermont had fewer than half as many residents it does now. Since Donald Trump was elected president, the inflow of immigrant families, which tend to be relatively larger, has slowed to a trickle. The state’s high cost of living and an

A NATIONAL TREND

Births have been declining across the globe, including in the U.S. But Vermont’s fertility rate is particularly low.

Births per 1,000 women ages 15-44

almost impenetrable housing market have made it di cult for young Vermonters to achieve the traditional milestones — marriage and homeownership — that they expect to reach before having children.

“You don’t have to be an economist or read the Wall Street Journal to know that today’s generation is not automatically getting ahead,” said Karen Benjamin

Where are Vermont's young people?

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Seven Days is delving into the far-reaching ramifications of the declining number of young Vermonters

Got a tip or feedback? genzero@sevendaysvt.com

BABY BUST « P.27

Guzzo, a demographer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “A lot of people look at their own lives, then envision the future and say, ‘I don’t know if I should do this.’”

Birth rates in affluent nations have declined for decades. After resisting the trend, the U.S. is now in the midst of its own sustained drop. Vermont’s rock-bottom position suggests that it is experiencing a particularly dramatic version of dynamics playing out elsewhere in the country.

The impacts extend well beyond the empty desks that are driving Vermont’s debate over school consolidation. While fewer births ease strain on the environment and public services, the trend also means that fewer young workers are available to fill job openings or support the growing population of seniors as baby boomers retire.

Countries have been trying for years to crank up birth rates through cash incentives or tax breaks, with little to no success. And the factors that appear to discourage Vermonters of childbearing age are hardly new. The state’s politicians have discussed the dearth of affordable housing and the rising cost of health care for years; Vermonters pay the highest insurance premiums in the nation. Progress in addressing these costs has been limited.

One area where Vermont has made strides toward easing the financial burden of parenthood is childcare. Major investments into its system have won plaudits for successfully expanding capacity and bringing costs down for some. Wait lists remain common, though, and some families still wind up paying $1,000 a month or more.

What seems clear is that any attempt to populate the state with more young Vermonters requires that policy makers address the dollars-and-cents anxieties of potential parents such as MacQueen.

HOW LOW WILL WE GO?

Vermont wasn’t always a poster child for the baby bust.

In 1960, near the tail end of the baby boom, Vermont’s birth rate was slightly above the national average, at 126 per 1,000 women of childbearing age.

Over the next few decades, births in Vermont tracked national trends, generally declining as more women entered the workforce. Then, in the mid-1990s, Vermont’s births dropped precipitously to well below national rates.

It is hard to pinpoint what triggered

the nosedive. But one potential explanation is that the shift toward waiting longer to have children — what demographers call the “postponement transition” — began to play out in Vermont much earlier than elsewhere.

Vermont is a highly educated, left-leaning state with comparatively low rates of religion. The first groups to delay childbearing en masse coming out of the women’s movement? Secular liberals who attended college and used their early twenties to earn degrees and launch their careers.

Whatever the reason, Vermont’s birth rate remains far below the national average. Vermont recorded 5,023 births in 2024, more than 1,500 fewer than annual tallies from the late 1850s. The state’s fertility rate is 41.5 per 1,000 women of childbearing age, lagging the national average of 53.

The question now is how much further Vermont’s birth rate may fall.

Younger people today report greater ambivalence about having children than past generations. And Seven Days heard from several couples in their thirties who say they’ve decided to not have children at all.

Still, national surveys suggest that the overwhelming majority of people still say they want children — between two and three, on average. They’re just having fewer — perhaps because the longer couples wait, the harder it is to get pregnant. Female fertility declines with age. A 25-year-old woman is two to five times more more likely to conceive as a woman who is 40.

Guzzo, the demographer, said she’s amused when people are surprised by

the trend toward delayed parenthood. For decades, the U.S. sought to discourage women from having children until they could properly support them.

“We shamed teen moms. We shamed unintended pregnancies,” she said. A lesson drummed into members of today’s generation was to be sure they had everything in order before having children.

“A lot of people just don’t feel ready,” she said.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE —  AND A HOME

In interviews, the most common reason Vermont couples gave for holding off on children was the desire to better establish themselves financially. That may include paying off student loans or saving up to afford childcare.

Very often that means buying a home, which can be a Herculean task in a competitive housing market such as Vermont’s, where prices have risen far faster than incomes.

The median home price in Vermont has doubled over the past decade, to about $500,000. A couple would need to earn at least $150,000 a year, based on current interest rates, to comfortably afford such a home. And that’s only if they can manage to scrounge up $100,000 for a down payment.

It’s nearly impossible to find the type of classic, affordable starter home that allowed past generations to build equity. Builders are no longer interested in them, citing low margins amid rising construction costs. Exacerbating the shortage of available single-family homes

is a trend toward aging in place, coupled with a lack of affordable options for Vermont’s burgeoning senior population.

The new units coming online now are predominantly studios and one-bedroom apartments — not exactly suitable for young families.

James Mullin and Emmaleigh Hancock, two young professionals in their late twenties, say they’re struggling to envision homeownership in Vermont.

Mullin works as a legal assistant at a law firm, and Hancock is pursuing a PhD in molecular physiology and biophysics at the University of Vermont. Once she graduates, Hancock plans to attend a postdoctoral program elsewhere, likely at the University of Arizona, which specializes in the type of cardiac research she’s conducting.

After that, the couple said they want to return to Vermont to start a family.

And yet the salary Hancock expects to make with her degree wouldn’t likely be enough for them to afford a home in the area, they said.

Mullin, who was born and raised in Addison County, has resigned himself to the possibility that his own children won’t grow up in the Green Mountains.

“We want to buy a house, and we want to have kids,” he said. “It just feels like you can’t do both here.”

Even those who decide to put homeownership on the back burner say they’re not sure how they’d pay for kids in Vermont.

Raised in Utah, Katherine Ham came east for college and chose to accept a teaching job in Vermont for the same reasons she now thinks it would be a great place to raise children. “The

different seasons, the culture, the closeknit communities,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful, wonderful place.”

Ham, now 24, wants to start her family soon, in part to give her older parents plenty of time with their grandchildren. But the one-bedroom apartment in Colchester that she rents with her wife has neither the space nor amenities they’d like for an infant.

“I’m not going to have a child without a washer and dryer,” Ham said.

A friend recently sent them a Zillow listing for a suburban townhouse in Philadelphia. The $1,900 monthly rent matches what they pay now and would get them three bedrooms and two bathrooms spread across two floors. It also comes with laundry hookups. Ham predicted they’d move within the year.

ONE AND DONE

Vermont’s falling birth rates can be explained to some degree by the decisions of couples such as Rachel Bishop, 29, and Zach Bish, 32, who, in February 2025, welcomed their first child — and, they insist, their last.

Proudly “one and done,” the Barre couple said they have decided against a second child after carefully considering the pros and cons.

On one hand, parenting has been tremendously fulfilling, Bishop said, each month bringing the equivalent of a “software update” to the living, breathing being she created.

“Now all of a sudden she’s walking,” Bishop said. “That’s been insanely cool.”

But Bishop, who works as a funeral director, believes that she has enjoyed the experience in part because having only one child to care for has allowed motherhood to augment, rather than supplant, her life.

“My whole identity hasn’t been taken over,” she said.

She worries that might change if she were to add a second child to the mix.  In addition, she doubts that they’d be able to afford another kid.

The savings the couple built up before she got pregnant evaporated after she took off a few months from work to care for their newborn, which left her husband’s job selling motorcycles as their only income source. She’s now back to work full time and covering their monthly expenses. But despite a generous state subsidy, childcare still costs $600 a month.

There’s a difference, Bishop said, between getting by and building the type of life that she wants for her family. “If my kid wants to be able to go to a

dance class or play a sport, I want to be able to afford that, too.”

Bishop said she’s been told repeatedly by friends, family and even strangers in the checkout line that she’ll change her mind. She’s skeptical. She and her husband would need to work more hours to afford a second child, at the risk of missing their daughter’s childhood, which already feels like it’s flying by.

“Love is not a finite resource,” Bishop said. “But time, money and attention do seem to have a spending limit.”

KAREN BENJAMIN GUZZO

For Amanda Northrop and Jordan Armstrong, the question of a second child was left unanswered for the first half of their 10-year-old daughter’s life.

Northrop was a 33-year-old grad school student at the University of Vermont when she gave birth. Armstrong had just started working as a lab tech at the UVM Medical Center. They managed to purchase a home thanks to some familial generosity: Armstrong’s mother sold them her house in South Burlington and gifted the down payment. But the couple still had to rely on childcare, paying upwards of $1,500 some months.

“It was like a second mortgage,” she said.

The couple somehow made it work, taking on debt to cover their expenses, and Northrop assumed that they would eventually have another child.

Then their daughter entered the public school system, and the monthly childcare bill disappeared, providing Northrop a profound sense of relief. That’s when the decision solidified in their minds: They wouldn’t have any more children.

Now 43, Northrop, who works as a biologist, feels confident that they made the right call, partly because Vermont’s

increased cost of living has made it even more difficult to get by. To save money, the family limits how often they eat out. When they take the rare vacation, they stick to places within driving distance.

Her daughter, whom Northrop describes as a “cool kid” that will “talk your ear off about frogs,” has gradually accepted that she’ll be an only child. But every now and then, Northrop said, her daughter still asks about the prospect of having a sibling one day, a trace of sadness in the girl’s voice.

BABY BENEFITS

Expanded tax credits. A $5,000 “baby bonus.” Granting parents more voting power than those without children. These are just some of the ideas officials in the Trump administration have floated over the past year to slow America’s declining birth rate.

They reflect the growing influence of a faction of conservatives known as “pronatalists,” who believe the government should establish policies that promote procreation.

Critics note an irony in the White House’s embrace of a more-babies mantra at the same time that it is slashing the social safety net that many lowincome families rely on.

There’s another reason to be skeptical: Policies that seek to incentivize women to have children haven’t worked in other countries.

“A baby bonus or tax credits, they’re not bad. No one’s going to say no to money,” said Guzzo, the demographer. But for families on the fence about children, $5,000 is unlikely to make much of a difference, she said.

What could help, demographers say, are policies that make it easier for people to balance starting families with their careers. That often begins with affordable childcare.

Vermont has made some notable progress toward that goal. In 2023, the state installed a payroll tax to help raise an annual $125 million to bolster the childcare system. The money has been used to expand subsidies for families and provide better funding to childcare providers.

The funding has been credited with adding more than 1,700 new childcare slots, and thousands more families now qualify for at least some assistance, including those making more than $200,000.

Parents who qualify for assistance pay the same “family share,” or co-pay,

regardless of how many children they enroll in a program. For bigger families, the savings can be quite substantial: upwards of $20,000 a year, in some cases. Some say they’ve chosen to have another child in part because they knew they would be able to maintain the same childcare payments, Seven Days has previously reported.

Still, challenges remain, including a persistent shortage of childcare slots for infants and a lack of awareness about how the subsidy program works. Many families likely don’t know that they qualify, or that they could pay the same rate they do now if they had another child.

It’s too soon to know whether the changes will have any impact on birth rates.

“It will take time for people to feel like they can rely on that,” said Dr. Kristin Smith, a family demographer and visiting associate professor at Dartmouth College.

Of course, childcare is only one piece of the affordability puzzle, and parents are delaying pregnancy for many reasons, some of which are well beyond Vermont’s control.

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Cara Simoneau always pictured herself with a family and planned to start trying for kids at 27, the same age as Claire MacQueen. Then she reached that age and decided, like MacQueen, that she lacked the financial means.

Much has fallen into place in the eight years since. Simoneau and her

husband now own a house in Jericho, which they closed on a few weeks before the pandemic lockdown started and Vermont’s housing prices began to skyrocket. Simoneau’s parents moved

Love is not a finite resource.

But time, money and attention do seem to have a spending limit.

RACHEL BISHOP

up to Vermont from Massachusetts and have offered to help out with childcare, which could save the couple thousands of dollars a year.

And yet Simoneau, now 35, still isn’t trying to get pregnant and can’t say for certain if she ever will.

A series of developments in the U.S. over the past few years — the second election of Trump, the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the majority-conservative U.S. Supreme Court and, most recently, the war in Iran — have unsettled Simoneau so deeply that she has paused her pursuit of motherhood indefinitely.

For people such as her, the decision of whether to have children transcends dollars and cents, hinging instead on less tangible factors such as trepidation over the future. Those modern anxieties

can involve war, an overheating planet, growing political divisiveness and gun violence in schools.

For now, Simoneau is channeling her pent-up parent energy into doting on her two cats, Popcorn and Lentil. But she said she has also been evaluating her stance on children on a near-weekly basis as she confronts the reality that each passing month could make it more difficult for her to get pregnant.

People around Simoneau support her decision. Her husband, who is three years younger, “very much understands that, at the end of the day, it’s going to be my body that’s changing,” she said.

If anyone is gently steering her toward a decision, it’s her sister, who seems thrilled at the prospect of having a kid around, “one that she can give back at the end of the day,” Simoneau said, laughing.

Simoneau said she feels sad when she thinks that she may never get to experience the joy of parenthood with her husband, whom she describes as the “most amazing, wonderful human being.” She daydreams about raising a child who bears his traits, or who “loves cats like I do, who wants to play video games, who wants to explore the woods.”

Yet more frightening for her, for now at least, is the idea of having children in a society that feels like it is crumbling around her.

She hopes the midterm elections in November will help her make a decision, one way or another. ➆

Hannah Bassett contributed reporting.

Secret City

In-the-know Vermonters on the offbeat places they love in Montréal

All cities have secrets, Montréal perhaps more than most. Many new visitors touring the city find themselves so enthralled with its marquee sites — the cobblestoned Old Port, the festival district, shops lining rue Sainte-Catherine — that they overlook its abundant eccentricities.

But when we asked Vermont writers to share their favorite ways to explore a less familiar side of Montréal, they delivered a traveler’s esoterica, recommending sites like a reliquary where pilgrims seek miraculous cures and an F1 racetrack where the black-and-white checkered flag marks an annual return to slower pleasures. ey shared graveyard walking tours, a boho-cool music venue and hidden Jazz Age gardens beneath crystalline canopies.

Here’s how to follow Seven Days staffers and contributors to some of the city’s most thrillingly unexpected spots.

JEN ROSE SMITH

FINAL DESTINATION

Mount Royal Cemetery, 1297 chemin de la Fôret, mtl.org; and Shaar Hashomayim Cemetery, 1250 chemin de la Fôret, theshaar.org I was new to Montréal in 2021 when I came across the MOUNT ROYAL CEMETERY by a happy accident. Pandemic-era restrictions still reigned; Mount Royal provided a much-needed reprieve from my apartment, and I delighted in every fresh turn of its trails. Hidden in a quiet section of the park, on the northern slope of the mountain, the cemetery’s decadent tombstones and crypts are a feast for the eyes.

The 165-acre burial ground, which opened in 1852, is one of the oldest in Montréal. In time, it became a favorite place for a contemplative stroll. It houses the remains of former prime minister Sir John Abbott, the 19th-century travel writer Anna Leonowens — inspiration for The King and I — and Canadian landscape painter Anne Savage, among others. Just steps away is SHAAR HASHOMAYIM CEMETERY, which was established in the 1860s and contains Leonard Cohen’s grave.

A tangle of walking paths on the mountain leads to the cemetery. When I return to Montréal from my current home, in Vermont, I like to start at the 339-step Grand Staircase of Mount Royal that rises above rue Peel to the Kondiaronk Belvedere — the steep climb yields a panoramic view of downtown. From there, I head southwest toward the Lac aux Castors and use one of several cemetery entrances on chemin Remembrance.

The Mount Royal Cemetery rewards wanderers. Walk northwest across it toward the sculpture garden in the small TIOHTIÀ:KE OTSIRA’KÉHNE PARK, and you might stumble across the humble turn-of-the century paupers’ grave beneath maple trees that blaze in fall. Or find the elegant headstone of iconic Québécois poet Émile Nelligan. “Ses mâts touchaient l’azur, sur des mers inconnues,” it reads, a line from his celebrated poem “The Ship of Gold.” Her masts reaching azure, she sailed unknown seas.

SYDNEY BAKER

VICTORIAN VIBES

Westmount Public Library and Conservatory, 4574 and 4624 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, westmount.org/en

As a kid growing up in Montréal, I practically lived in WESTMOUNT PARK: exploring, riding bikes, splashing in the definitely-not-for-swimming lagoon. On summer Saturdays I’d count a dozen wedding parties vying for the best photo spots. The 26-acre green space just west of downtown isn’t as famous as Mount Royal Park, but it’s lovely. There’s a giant clock made of flowers, picturesque walks and all the normal kinds of recreational options, from the free winter skating rink to the playground. But two of its best indoor features — its library and conservatory — have always felt like a cozy Victorian bubble within a bustling modern city.

WESTMOUNT PUBLIC LIBRARY, one of the oldest libraries in Canada, was founded to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The red brick building, designed by Scottish-born architect du jour Robert Findlay, has a round tower and a stone archway over its entrance, accompanied by Arts and Crafts-era friezes celebrating literature. Inside, plasterwork-topped columns, more archways and a co ered ceiling frame a reading room lit by leaded windows emblazoned with the names of philosophers and artists. Though the institution has seen many modern additions and updates, including an excellent children’s section, a makerspace and even a seed lending library, if your dream is to unwind with a good book in a leather armchair where Leonard Cohen once did his homework, this is your spot.

Tucked away next to the library and accessible from it, the WESTMOUNT CONSERVATORY is, in contrast, the park’s sparkly jewel. Under its peaked glass roofs, paths wind around displays of lush tropical plants, an original 1920s tiled pool and a fountain. A recent renovation added ramps and benches where visitors can sit and contemplate the flowers and water features. When you’re done with the messy or cold outside world, step inside to experience a moment of warmth and calm.

CIRQUE DU QUIRK

Le Monastère, 1439 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, tickets start at CA$38, le-monastere.ca/en Light poured down from the peaked ceiling of the 1864 St-Jax Church, illuminating the transfixed faces of my fellow congregants. A woman swathed in a long hank of silk unspooled herself from the ceiling, her body a slow ripple of muscle. Applause erupted when she took a bow. The crowd at LE MONASTÈRE, a nonprofit circus that holds cabaret-style shows in the former Anglican church on rue Sainte-Catherine, surged toward Le P’tit Sacristain — the Lil’ Sexton — a bar fashioned from pews and serving drinks of the strictly non-sacramental variety.

In the world of Montréal circus, Cirque du Soleil is canon. The global company is headquartered there, and its big top shows — including ECHO , which returns to the Old Port in May and June — are slickly produced masterworks. I go to Le Monastère for something entirely different: routines that artists (including many Cirque du Soleil alums) create beyond corporate circus’ institutional guardrails.

The resulting acts are stranger, sexier and occasionally sublime — the oddball effervescing of a city’s top performers at play. One summertime evening in the church’s outdoor garden, I watched acrobats scale a scaffold propped against the stone walls of the church, then plummet; a driving soundtrack of ’80s metal gave their daring a rock-and-roll edge. Through a dizzying set featuring the Cyr wheel — a giant HulaHoop-like ring that can spin gyroscopically — I held my breath in real apprehension.

The small-stage experience has its quirks. Sometimes MCs offer bilingual patter in French and English. On other nights it’s Frenchonly. As far as I can tell, there’s no way to find out in advance. But at Le Monastère I also invariably find moments of awe — at virtuosity leavened by humor, at intermingled athleticism and grace, at the exuberantly subversive power of circus.

JEN ROSE SMITH

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RELIQUARY ROAD TRIP

Saint Joseph’s Oratory, 3800 chemin Queen-Mary, saint-joseph.org/en

When I brought groups of teenagers to Montréal in the aughts, as a dorm counselor at a boarding high school, we would always stop at SAINT JOSEPH’S ORATORY, a Catholic pilgrimage site on Mount Royal. I wasn’t trying to make them pray. I brought them to see the view over the city, which is lovely, especially at sunset. And to wander inside and marvel at the massive basilica. It’s the largest church in Canada, big enough to make teenage problems — and adult ones — feel small.

Though the oratory glorifies St. Joseph, father of Jesus, it also honors its founder: André Bessette, known as Brother André, who conceived of the shrine and manifested it into being. The construction took six decades, and he died before it was completed in 1967.

The basilica, with its soaring granite arches, is thoroughly modern; its wooden pews seat 2,400. The lower levels include a museum devoted to Brother André, as well as the dimly lit Votive Chapel, where the faithful light candles and pray to St. Joseph. The flickering candlelight illuminates clusters of canes, crutches and braces along the walls, left behind by those who claim to have been healed by Brother André — now Saint André of Montréal. Pope Benedict canonized him in 2010.

No visit is complete without a stop to see the site’s most sacred relic: Brother André’s heart. Located on a pedestal in a windowless red grotto that resembles a bank vault, it’s sealed in a barely translucent jar — proof that he was human, just like us. It gave us plenty to talk about on the ride home.

CATHY RESMER

This article is part of a travel series on Québec. The province’s destination marketing organization, Bonjour Québec, is a financial underwriter of the project but has no influence over story selection or content. Find the complete series plus travel tips at sevendaysvt.com/quebec.

AROUND AND AROUND

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on Île Notre-Dame, parcjeandrapeau.com/en

In early June 2018, I took an impromptu trip to Montréal to find the city overrun and restaurants fully booked. More than 200,000 visitors — sporting red and white for Ferrari, black and silver for Mercedes-AMG, and British racing green for Aston Martin — had descended on the city to watch the annual Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix car race.

More than a decade prior, I’d attended that race, sitting in the cheapest bleachers and cheering for Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, then the world’s highest-paid athlete, as he navigated the 2.7-mile course 70 times, speeding through its famously tight L’Épingle — the pin — and avoiding collisions with the notorious concrete “Wall of Champions” that had ended his race a few years earlier.

Outside of race weekend, the roads that form CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE — named after a Québécois F1 racer who died in a tragic 1982 accident — are simply part of Parc Jean-Drapeau, an urban green space straddling the St. Lawrence River islands Île NotreDame (where the track is located) and Île Saint-Hélène (home to the Osheaga music festival and the Biosphère environmental museum). From April through November, pedestrians, in-line skaters and cyclists recreate on the track, portions of which are also thoroughfares for cars heading toward the island’s flower gardens or the Casino de Montréal.

PAINT IT RED

La Sala Rossa, 4848 boulevard Saint-Laurent, tickets start at CA$10, casadelpopolo.com

When I walked into LA SALA ROSSA for the first time, around summer 2022, I took one look at the vibrant, crimson-colored walls and murmured to myself: “Wow, it’s really red in here.”

I suppose the name should have tipped me off. The show that night was a killer set of hip-hop from Chicagoborn rapper R.A.P. Ferreira. Today, the crimson-painted venue with a gold-curtained stage in the historic PlateauMont-Royal neighborhood is among my favorite spots to see live music in the city. During September’s POP Montréal music festival, La Sala Rossa is a central venue swarmed with people; midweek folk performances make the most of the room’s warm, intimate acoustics.

The area is suffused with bohemian cool, too, blending the heritage of Jewish, Italian, Greek, Portuguese and Spanish immigrant communities that populated it through the years. La Sala Rossa reflects that pedigree. Originally a left-wing Jewish community center that also served as the first home of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, a world-renowned ballet school and troupe, the secondfloor property at 4848 boulevard Saint-Laurent was bought in 1973 by the Centro Social Español, a community

My most recent visit to the circuit was more interactive than the previous two. Crossing the island to start a 146-mile cycling trek between downtown Montréal and the eastern city of Sherbrooke, my sister and I took a detour to race through the chicanes and down the straightaways of Gilles Villeneuve. It was thrilling to see the pit lane and paddock up close and to zoom down the straightaways. We may not have reached the 200 mph that F1 drivers sometimes hit, but it was exhilarating nonetheless.

As we pedaled past the bleacher from which I watched the race 20 years ago, I gave my past self a little wave.

SUZANNE PODHAIZER

center for Montréal’s Spanish immigrants. But it was the owners of the beloved club Casa del Popolo who, in 2001, reimagined the community center as a site for shows too big for their own 60-person venue just across the street.

La Sala Rossa is one of the hippest clubs in a city full of hip clubs, a lush-sounding, 250-person theater with one of the most eclectic calendars you’ll find. Whether it was world-class jazz from Kahil El’Zabar & the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Inuit throat-singing from Nunavut’s Silla, or local future-folk singer-songwriter Thanya Iyer, I’ve seen the more than 90-year-old room become a cathedral the minute a note was struck.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

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food+drink

Ciao Down

At Trattoria Delia and Pizzeria Verità’s new sibling, Alimentari, well-made Italian sandwiches shine STORY

Leslie McCrorey Wells has had a jam-packed spring. Not only did she finally open the long-awaited, Italian-themed Alimentari Café & Provisions in downtown Burlington, but the James Beard Foundation honored Wells, the co-owner of Burlington’s Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia and Sotto Enoteca, with a semifi nalist nod for its national Outstanding Restaurateur award.

On top of all of that, Wells added in a recent interview, “It was a really hard lambing season” on the Grand Isle farm she owns with her life partner and Pizzeria Verità general manager, Rick Hubbart.

As if juggling three restaurants and a flock of 30 sheep were not enough, Wells has been pulling long days at Alimentari since it opened on April 1 at 196 Saint Paul Street, in the former Café Saint Paul space — though she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Bowls of fat meatballs, sundried-tomato pasta salad and fresh housemade

an all-day sandwich menu. These can all be ordered to go or enjoyed on-site.

Wells, 64, co-owns her other three restaurants on the same street. But Alimentari, a long-simmering pet project, is hers alone. Unlike those evening destinations, café hours run 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., which diversifies her business portfolio and shifts her work schedule in a desirable way, she said.

“I love to get up and do things in the morning,” Wells said. “I like the energy around it.”

On a recent Thursday, Wells had baked tender, lightly sweet corn mu ns with sheep’s milk yogurt ($3.95). A few days later, she made moist, crumbly chocolate chip-strawberry scones ($3.95) and was happily plotting a batch of pistachio biscotti dipped in dark chocolate.

GOT SAMMIES?

In Burlington and Essex, two new eateries bake their bread and rolls fresh and pile them high with hefty Italian and Italian American fillings.

Turn to page 38 to read about Pizzeria Corinna’s subs. Buon appetito!

a global but Italian-leaning mix of ingredients, such

as bouquets of dried oregano, preserved golden cherry tomatoes and three di erent anchovy products. Alimentari also o ers fresh pastries, espresso drinks and

The café and market borrows some items from its older siblings: Pizzeria Verità’s popular housemade glutenfree pizza dough will be stocked in the freezer case alongside its frozen regular pizzas. Trattoria Delia’s excellently balanced pomodoro sauce is sold by the jar and with the to-go meatballs. The latter restaurant’s pastry chef, Raya Foldi, will start making its classic tiramisu and some other desserts for the grab-and-go cooler.

But the sandwich menu is Alimentari’s own.

Team member John Hayes and his colleague Dan Cervantes, who was chef at Pizzeria Verità for more than a decade, built the menu by ri ng on Italian standards through many recipe trials and tweaking. “We ate a lot of sandwiches,” Hayes, 29, said with a chuckle.

The menu starts with a trio of breakfast options served from 8 to 11 a.m. The crisp fried mortadella with a soft-yolked fried egg, unctuously melty blend of Jasper Hill Farm cheese and pistachio aioli on pillowy, fresh-baked focaccia ($11) was a savory, oozy delight.

The current roster of eight all-day sandwich choices ranges from the Milanese, featuring a substantial fried chicken cutlet layered with housemade mozzarella, arugula and sundried tomato aioli ($13) to porchetta stacked with tender morsels of herby house-roasted pork,

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

BY MELISSA PASANEN • pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

520 BBQ and Grill

Brings SouthernStyle Smoked Meat to Essex

MATTHEW DESAUTELS opened 520 BBQ AND GRILL in Essex in early March in the former Little Caesars at 90 Center Road.

The counter-service restaurant seats 25 and serves a classic menu of dry-rubbed, slow-smoked meats: pork ribs, pulled pork, brisket and sausage. Sides include coleslaw, hush puppies, and mac and cheese.

Desautels, 46, said he named his restaurant in homage to his former U.S. Army unit, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, where a fellow soldier from Alabama introduced the native Burlingtonian to barbecue.

“I was like, ‘Where has this been all my life?’” Desautels recalled.

He became a hobby smoker and dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Desautels was working for the federal

FOOD LOVER?

government in North Carolina when he decided to take an offered job buyout. He attended a barbecue course in Georgia, bought a concession trailer in South Carolina and came home to Vermont.

Last year, Desautels did events in Essex, Westford and Jericho before searching for a brick-and-mortar location. He saw an opportunity, he said, “to bring some good Southern-style barbecue to the area.”

520 BBQ and Grill is currently open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m. Desautels is gradually staffing up and waiting for state approval of his liquor license; he said he expects to expand hours. Learn more on Facebook or call 802-662-5144. ➆

CONNECT

Follow us for the latest food gossip! On Instagram: Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

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THE TILLERMAN

steal away for dinner. artful rooms at the inn. a barn for gathering. 1868 n. 116 rd, bristol thetillermanvt.com

MOJO. RUM. SUNSET.

Cuban Classics and tropical cocktails on the Burlington Waterfront. santiagosvt.com•Follow us @santiagosvt

Turtle Power

In Essex, Pizzeria Corinna’s Italian subs are worth shelling out for

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo famously love pizza. But if those crime-fighting turtles stopped battling the Shredder long enough to stop at Pizzeria Corinna in Essex, they’d love the sandwiches, too.

Modeled on pizzerias of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shane Corbett’s pizza shop opened in the Essex Towne Marketplace off Susie Wilson Road on February 20. The classic menu is small but mighty: seven pizzas, ranging from a simple red-sauced tomato pie to one topped with hot honey and arugula; garden, Greek and kale Caesar salads; chips; chocolate-chip cookies; and sandwiches.

All but one of those sandwiches are named in honor of characters from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, which started as a comic book series in 1984 and got its first animated TV adaptation in 1987. Pizzeria Corinna’s odes to the green guys are variations on classic Italian subs, piled high with meats such

as prosciutto, hot capicola, sweet soppressata, salami, pepperoni and bourbon ham.

The shop’s vegetarian sandwich is the only non-ninja outlier: It’s named for an inside joke involving Corbett’s friend

him, ‘They make meat sandwiches. You should choose better,’” he continued with a laugh. The resulting Andrew Hates Mike ($9.99 small, $16.99 large), with hummus, pistachio, loads of veggies, and zings of acid from lemon and banana pepper, is a veggie option Rowan fully endorses.

Back on theme, the Shredder ($8.99/$14.99) is as spicy as the comicturned-cartoon’s supervillain, with Cajun turkey, hot cappy ham and hot pepper relish. The roast-beef-and-cheddar Casey Jones ($12.99/$20.99) is a double reference, both to TMNT’s hockey stick-wielding vigilante and the folk-hero railroad engineer immortalized by the Grateful Dead.

A photo of the Dead was the first thing Corbett, 43, hung up when he took over the long-empty Wicked Wings space on Halloween. (Unlike its predecessor, Pizzeria Corinna doesn’t serve wine or beer; the shopping center’s rules now prohibit booze consumption on premises, Corbett said.) The Essex resident had worked in restaurants for several decades before taking a break to sell insurance. His family and friends helped bring the 800-squarefoot space back to life; among them was David Quintana, the former owner of Burlington’s Despacito, from whom Corbett bought his pizza oven.

A couple of months in, Pizzeria Corinna, named for Corbett’s young daughter, has caught on with locals and food industry folks alike, he said. Regulars roll into the shop mostly for slices at lunch and whole pies for dinner — especially on Fridays. Sandwiches are popular all day long.

Baker Olivia Clemons now makes 60 loaves of seeded semolina bread per day — yielding 70 or 80 sandwiches between halves and wholes, Corbett said. Customers can snap up rare leftover rolls the next day ($3 for three).

Clemons has been running her central Vermont small-batch sourdough biz, Oh Live Bakery, for the past year. Before that, the self-taught baker focused on bagels. Living in Colorado, Clemons missed the East Coast ones she’d grown up with; plus, she’d quit drinking and “needed an activity,” she said. She found a recipe for two bagels: one each for herself and her boyfriend, which she made every night.

Andrew Rowan, who helps out a couple nights a week. During a conversation about a certain New Jersey sub chain, Rowan said he’d had a “not so good vegetarian sandwich there,” Corbett recalled. “I told

Clemons and Corbett are old friends. While he was building his team, he called her and “asked her if she wanted to bake in a bread oven and have a mixer and a proofer,” Corbett recalled.

The sub rolls Clemons makes for Pizzeria Corinna are a departure from the naturally leavened loaves she sells at the Barre Farmers Market, since they feature

housemade pickled giardiniera, arugula and Calabrian pepper aioli ($12). Both delivered vibrant flavor, abundant crunch and rewarding chew.

Hayes said he’s a big fan of both sandwiches. When he and Cervantes tried the final iteration of the porchetta — for which the pork is first cured with a sugarsalt rub and then roasted rolled up with rosemary, garlic, red pepper and lemon zest — they both dug in with such gusto, Hayes recalled, “I don’t think we said a word to each other.”

The pair are similarly “obsessed,” Hayes said, with the Milanese. They are apparently not alone, as it was sold out on my first visit. “It’s like a nostalgic food, like an adult chicken nugget,” Hayes posited. (Pro tip: Ask for a small side of pomodoro to dip it in.)

But if Hayes had to pick a favorite, he said it would be the Bella mortadella ($12), in which Taleggio cheese, roasted red peppers and pistachio aioli embellish a pile of velvety, thinly sliced mortadella. The traditional Italian cured and processed pork is distantly related to another nostalgic American childhood

yeast rather than sourdough. She used to bake yeasted cinnamon rolls with her mom when she was a kid, but it had been a while, she said, and the processes are completely different.

Corbett had a vision for his shop’s rolls based on the subs of Italian delis in New York and New Jersey. The recipe is still a work in progress, Clemons said. But two months in, the already excellent rolls are half their original weight. Along with the pizza dough she preps, each batch of bread dough ferments for two full days in the fridge. Then, the long, skinny semolina rolls are coated in sesame seeds and baked golden brown — crusty on the outside, light and fluffy inside.

I got my first Pizzeria Corinna sandwich — the Michelangelo ($10.99/$18.99) — not long after the restaurant opened, and accidentally started eating without taking the time to admire its thoughtful layering.

PIZZERIA CORINNA’S ODES TO THE GREEN GUYS ARE VARIATIONS ON CLASSIC ITALIAN SUBS, PILED HIGH WITH MEATS.

I did notice that it was completely loaded. The Pizzeria Corinna team weighs each sub’s meats for consistency, and a mutant-worthy mound of prosciutto and hot soppressata was piled on the bread with fresh mozzarella, eggplant caponata, arugula and balsamic glaze. It was a little messy, as all good sandwiches are, but structurally sound and a perfect balance of sweet and savory, thanks to the caponata and the balsamic. The “small” version was more than I needed for lunch.

To preserve that texture, Corbett, sandwich expert Mike Salvo and the kitchen team have a rule: “Nothing wet on the bread.”

While mayo (used in one sandwich) does go directly on the rolls, staff keep condiments such as oil and vinegar, pepper relish, and pesto tucked between the layers, keeping things from getting soggy.

I’m more of an April O’Neil, but if I were a Ninja Turtle, I would have let out a “Cowabunga.” ➆

INFO

Pizzeria Corinna, 1 Market Place, Unit 13, Essex, 802-662-5038, pizzeriacorinna.com. Takeout and in-person dining are available. Call to order.

or the cheese counter at the now-closed Dedalus.

Many Alimentari sandwich ingredients — focaccia, meats, cheeses and giardiniera — can also be bought by the slice or pound to take home. Hayes is responsible for curating the case full of regional and European cured meats and cheeses that are sliced or cut to order for customers. He also stocks the wall of local and imported ingredients, many of which hail from Italy.

As its team ramps up, Alimentari will add Roman-style square pizzas, host private dinners and carry more locally grown ingredients. Those will include basil, eggplant and tomatoes grown by Hubbart at his and Wells’ Lovestock Farm. Customers may also get to taste the farm-sourced results of another of Wells’ long-simmering dreams. Now that lambing is over, milking season is here. She’s close to getting certified to sell her sheep’s milk, which she’d love to make into yogurt. It’s a good thing Wells is a morning person. ➆

touchstone. As the fourth core Alimentari team member, Pat Hawley, aptly said, “It’s the Cadillac of bologna.”

Like Cervantes, Hawley worked

previously at Verità. Hayes is a new hire for the group. Locals may recognize him from previous Burlington stints behind the bar at Hen of the Wood and May Day,

INFO

Alimentari Café and Provisions, 196 St. Paul St., Burlington, 802-557-9020. Learn more on Instagram @alimentarivt

FARM-TO-TABLE

Fresh Out

BY MELISSA PASANEN pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

The pioneering farm-to-table nonprofit Vermont Fresh Network has quietly gone dark just shy of its 30th anniversary. In lieu of any official announcement, board chair Cara Chigazola Tobin, chef/co-owner of Burlington’s Honey Road and Grey Jay, confirmed that the organization has been forced into an indefinite hiatus. She cited the lack of funds to hire a new executive director and time constraints on the all-volunteer board, which has dwindled to three members.

Chigazola Tobin said she has had no luck finding new candidates. Vermont Fresh Network might be able to continue, she suggested, if a volunteer raised enough money to reinvigorate the organization.

The confirmation of Vermont Fresh Network’s likely end coincides with this week’s launch of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ free nineevent series Local Food in Practice. That project started as a collaboration with the Vermont Fresh Network — just one indication of the nonprofit’s lasting impact on the state’s food landscape.

Vermont Fresh Network was founded in 1996 as a partnership between the nowshuttered New England Culinary Institute and the Agency of Agriculture to help local farmers and food producers sell directly to chefs. Over a quarter of a century, the nonprofit ran many programs and events that supported the growth of the state’s farm-to-table movement.

Restaurants proudly posted their greenand-white Vermont Fresh Network membership plaques featuring a classic Vermont farm landscape on a plate. New farmers and food entrepreneurs credited the network with helping them grow their businesses.

Vermont Fresh Network’s annual forum dinner was its highest-profile public event. Held at Shelburne Farms, it drew several hundred paying guests who grazed on dishes created by partnered pairs of chefs and food producers. The last forum dinner, the nonprofit’s 26th, was held in July 2024.

Though Chigazola Tobin expressed regret over the nonprofit’s fate, she said she and fellow board members wonder if it has served its purpose.

“The mission was to connect farmers with people to buy their stuff,” the chef said. “Twenty-five years ago, that was really important, and it really did a thing. But now there’s the internet, and all of that has gotten a lot easier.”

Vermont Fresh Network’s decline paralleled rising challenges to the restaurant sector, Chigazola Tobin said. The nonprofit supported its work with a mix of grants, event income and annual membership dues, which ranged from $50 for a farm to $240 for a restaurant to $500 for a distributor.

“It was never the same after COVID. No one had any money,” she said. Membership

slid from 305 in 2019 to 224 in December 2023.

“You had to literally chase down every member to pay their dues every year, and a lot of sponsors dropped off because they didn’t have any money either,” Chigazola Tobin said. The organization experienced a final blow in 2025, she said, when President Donald Trump’s administration froze, then ultimately canceled, a $25,000 federal grant it had received.

Ironically, federal funds support this week’s launch of Local Food in Practice, which continues the work of “strengthen[ing] partnerships between farmers and restaurants to make it easier for them to work together,” said Kristen Carrese of the ag agency. “Restaurants represent a significant and underutilized opportunity,” she continued, while noting that seasonality, scale, logistics and pricing all pose challenges.

The $130,000 project was underwritten by a U.S. Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant and has been in the works since before the fall 2024 departure

of the last Vermont Fresh Network executive director, Tara Pereira. Pereira now works as an independent consultant with the state ag agency to design and execute the series.

Preparation for Local Food in Practice involved research with farmers and chefs to identify barriers and opportunities around local food purchasing. The project will generate a set of tool kits for future use. Planned events include networking gatherings, webinars, and farm and restaurant visits.

The aim, Pereira said, is for the two groups to interact directly and better understand each other’s goals and needs.

“What would the farmer want a chef to know? And what would a chef want a farmer to know?” she said. “We can always learn from each other, and you’re not going to do that until you’re actually in the same room.” ➆

INFO

Local Food in Practice events are free but require registration. Learn more at wildpearcreative.com/events-calendar.

View of a Visionary

Robbie Leppzer’s new documentary, “An Artist Responds to War,” features Bread and Puppet’s Peter Schumann

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

• maryann@sevendaysvt.com

In 2023, after seven years of filming, Robbie Leppzer was ready to begin editing his documentary about Peter Schumann and his Bread and Puppet Theater. Then Hamas attacked Israel. The ensuing war sent Schumann, now 91, on a creative roll.

For more than 60 years, the Glover artist has protested war and injustice through radical theater, using towering papier-mâché puppets and the minimalist paintings he swiftly renders on bedsheets. Crowds at performances in his grassy Northeast Kingdom outdoor amphitheater are served sourdough rye bread, hence the company’s name.

In late 2023, Schumann and his troupe focused their work on the death and destruction in the Middle East. “And so I had to keep filming,” Leppzer said. Schumann has now churned out well over 100 paintings protesting the war and genocide in Gaza, and the company has

presented numerous productions on the theme. “I feel I’ve been chronicling Peter and the theater troupe doing some of their best work,” the Shaftsbury filmmaker said.

Sensing an urgency to release that footage, Leppzer further delayed his featurelength documentary to first make a 45-minute film about Bread and Puppet’s latest work.

I’M TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY AT WHAT A PROLIFIC AND IMPORTANT ARTIST HE IS FOR THE WORLD. ROBBIE LEPPZER

“An Artist Responds to War” has its world premiere at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro on Sunday, May 3. Schumann’s daughter Maria will join Leppzer and others for a post-screening discussion moderated by Rev. Ed Sunday-Winters, pastor of Greensboro United Church of Christ. The film will premiere virtually on May 12 on streaming platform Kinema and then tour Vermont this summer and fall.

Leppzer’s feature-length film, Bread and

a weekly public a airs and news program called “American Pie.” His interview subjects included linguist and activist Noam Chomsky and radical historian Howard Zinn.

In the 50 years since, Leppzer has trained his camera on grassroots social activists. His first film, Seabrook 1977 , chronicles the mass civil disobedience surrounding the construction of New Hampshire’s Seabrook nuclear power plant. Leppzer finished it when he was 20 years old. His subsequent work features protests against the U.S. war in Iraq; the battle to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; and a Massachusetts couple whose home was seized by the IRS because they refused to pay federal taxes as an objection to war and military spending.

From his home studio in Shaftsbury, Leppzer spoke with Seven Days about his process, the privilege of getting to know Schumann and finding archival footage in a most unexpected place.

You have worked on this film since 2017. Tell me about your process. I do have a history of working on long-term films, but this is the longest for sure. There’s something about diving deep into a story as a filmmaker and following characters over a period of time and really going underneath the surface to show not only the behindthe-scenes elements but the real, deep personal stories of people. I’ve done a lot of interviews with young apprentices, the longtime older puppeteers, Peter and Elka Schumann, and most of their adult children.

Puppet: The Theater of Peter Schumann, which he started making in 2017, will now be released next year. That project has been a goal of Leppzer’s since he was introduced to the theater company in 1984 at age 26. He was invited there to screen his in-progress documentary Harvest of Peace , about U.S. peace activists traveling to Nicaragua. “I was personally blown away by how powerful Bread and Puppet is, in terms of using these giant puppets to make really deep social statements about what’s happening in the world and supporting issues of social justice,” Leppzer said.

The 67-year-old award-winning filmmaker got his start doing interviews for his high school radio station in Winchester, Mass. While other kids spun rock and roll and covered football games, he produced

Initially, I thought I was making a film about what is Bread and Puppet today, because the last documentary film that was made about Bread and Puppet, by DeeDee Halleck [and Tamar Schumann, Ah! The Hopeful Pageantry of Bread and Puppet], was made 24 years ago. But the more I work on it, the more I realize that the personal story of Peter Schumann had to be a central part of the film, because he is the glue that holds all of this together. He is the artistic vision and visionary that makes all of this happen. The more I’ve gotten to know him, the more I’m totally blown away at what a prolific and important artist he is for the world.

Your short film touches on Peter’s history. I was particularly moved hearing him talk about living in Nazi Germany as a child when Allied forces bombed his village. When his family fled in 1944, his parents told their children that they could each pack one bag of belongings — and Peter took puppets.

He was doing his first public puppet performances at age 11 in the refugee community where he was living — and then

learning to bake the sourdough rye bread from his mother in the communal ovens of the refugee camp in northern Germany. So he had all the elements, bread and puppet, at age 11. What an extraordinary person to then have his direction in life be using these elements to create a radical art movement.

You certainly have spent a lot of time in Glover. Did you embed with Bread and Puppet?

I spent most of the summer of 2017 filming behind the scenes, the young apprentices who came from all around the world, young people in their twenties, to learn from Peter. Since then, I’ve been going up several times a year to do filming of each new circus. I’ve been diving deep into the archival trove. Bread and Puppet has an archive of tens of thousands of photographs.

archive of hours and hours of surveillance footage that the New York City Police Department had filmed with their handheld cameras of protests during the 1960s. They hired a professional film archivist to digitize this film and then make it public.

What do you want “An Artist Responds to War” to accomplish?

To give you a little story about it: I did this interview with Peter where he talked very specifically about this one demonstration in the mid-1960s protest ing the Vietnam War, saying, “We had these 8-foot-tall Vietnamese women blindfolded, pulled along by ropes. And then we had other performers with skeleton masks and a shark papiermâché airplane. They were bombing them in this street theater performance on Fifth Avenue in New York City.” So he’s telling me this story, and it’s so gripping and so full of details. And I’m like, This is a great story, but unless I can find the visuals to illustrate it, I’m not going to be able to use it. Like a year later, I’m going through the folders and folders of archives, and not only do I come up with one photograph of that protest, I come up with a whole packet.

Didn’t I see video of that performance in “An Artist Responds to War”? Not in that film, but in the feature-length film. Get this! Guess who shot some of the best 16-millimeter black-and-white footage of that day in New York City?

I have no idea.

They’re referred to as “the unintentional historians” — the New York City Police Department. There were some progressive people in the New York City administration who realized that they had this incredible

My hope with this film is that it opens people’s hearts, because we’re seeing the story of war through the lens and eyes of this artist, Peter Schumann. We don’t actually see any documentary footage of Gaza. We only see Gaza through the paintings and theater productions of Peter Schumann. [At] some of these work-in-progress screenings that I had with people in Vermont, they told me that they often get overwhelmed by the actual news footage of the devastation in Gaza, but watching Peter’s paintings in my film allowed them to open up their hearts and actually feel deep grief.

And your goal for the featurelength documentary?

My hope for the feature-length film is to generate recognition of Peter Schumann and the Bread and Puppet Theater for their deep contributions to the world of theater and art. They are American masters.

In your film, Peter Schumann says the horror of war is in his bones. Reacting is not his choice but his fate. What drives you?

I have dedicated my life as a documentary filmmaker to chronicle people who stick their necks out to take risks for grassroots social change. I want to inspire people with my films to take a more active role for making positive change in the world. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

“An Artist Responds to War” world premiere with post-screening discussion, Sunday, May 3, 1 p.m., at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. $25-35. Virtual premiere, Tuesday, May 12, 8 p.m., on kinema.com. $19.99. anartistrespondstowar.com

Job of theWeek

STORE MANAGER - WILLISTON Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity

Get the scoop on this position from MultiUnit ReStore Manager, Kassie Palmer

What are some specific challenges of this position and why is it important?

As a nonprofit, GMHFH needs all the support it can get to build homes in Northwest Vermont. at’s why our three ReStores use paid employees and regular volunteers. It’s a challenge to make both parties feel like they’re on a single team and to keep morale up. Relationship building is key with volunteers because they want to be in the store and they want to help the community, and we benefit from that energy. ankfully, I’m not working alone — I have the support of other managers who know exactly what I’m going through.

What is unique about working for Green Mtn. Habitat?

ReStore management takes a lot of creativity and thinking outside the box! It’s not a normal retail job because I don’t know what I’m getting on any given day. For example, I may rearrange the whole sales floor to highlight a big collection of donated goods, which might or might not sell. en, something else comes in that forces a rearrangement. Talking with donors and hearing their stories is another interesting component. eir donation isn’t just an object. A lot of times, they don’t have anyone to pass it on to, so they bring it to us. Knowing that they trust us, and listening to their stories, is an amazing part of my job. Plus, we’re building homes, helping the community, reducing landfill waste, giving donations a new home and supporting low-income families. You’re never going to get bored working at a ReStore, I’ll promise you that!

Apply for this great local job and many more: jobs.sevendaysvt.com

Shaina Taub’s Suffs Comes to the Small Screen

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

Those who missed the chance to see Suffs on Broadway can soon catch a performance by the Tony Award-winning musical’s original cast on television. Suffs, featuring book, music and lyrics by Waitsfield native Shaina Taub, premieres

on PBS’ “Great Performances” on Friday, May 8, at 9 p.m. It will be free to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app until June 5 and available to Passport members until May 7, 2029.

The musical tells the story of American suffragists — who called themselves “suffs” — during their final push for the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. It chronicles the fierce opposition they faced and explores the tension between activists who, though they shared a common goal, disagreed on the best way to reach it.

As Taub told Seven Days for an April 2024 cover story, “I think Suffs says that change is possible, but only if we act.”

Taub starred as Alice Paul, the firebrand who took the

movement to the streets and picket signs to the White House. The cast also included Tony winner Nikki M. James as Ida B. Wells; Tony nominees Jenn Colella as Carrie Chapman Catt and Emily Skinner as Alva Belmont and Phoebe Burn; Hannah Cruz as Inez Milholland; and Grace McLean as President Woodrow Wilson. Tony nominee Leigh Silverman directed.

Suffs was developed and produced at the Public Theater in New York City. Following its sold-out extended run there, it moved to Broadway in spring 2024, after Hillary Clinton and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai signed on as coproducers, joining lead producers Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman.

The show opened at the Music Box Theatre on April 18, 2024, and ran for about 300 performances before closing the following January. In its review, the New York Times said the show contained “some fine performances,” but “its scenes often come off as educational skits.” As a drama, the review noted, “Suffs feels insufficient.”

Despite that tepid assessment, Suffs earned six Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical. Its two wins went to Taub for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score Written for the Theatre.

“I grew up in Vermont watching the Tonys every year with my mom on TV and dreaming of being a part of this magical community,” Taub said as she accepted the award for Best Book, Playbill reported. “Thank you for letting me be part of it.”

Suffs is now touring nationally. The premiere on “Great Performances” is part of the show’s 53rd season of presenting international artists and companies from a wide variety of genres. ➆ INFO

Learn more at pbs.org and suffsmusical.com.

ARTS NEWS

Burlington’s Festival of Fools to Return

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG • maryann@sevendaysvt.com

Once again, Burlington won’t suffer fools this summer. e city will celebrate them.

Burlington City Arts announced last week that it will bring “stupendous street performers, exciting entertainers, and magnificent musicians” to entertain at its 18th annual Festival of Fools on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1. e free, family-friendly festivities will take place on the Church Street Marketplace and in City Hall Park.

And unlike last summer, when construction projects closed several streets, getting downtown is a breeze.

Crowd favorite Cate Great will return. e witty, multifaceted circus performer has delighted audiences internationally. “A familiar face at Festival of Fools, Cate’s performances are known for their charm, precision, and ability to delight audiences of all ages,” Burlington City Arts said in a statement.

of entertainment but has not announced the rest of the festival lineup. “We gotta save some mystery for the coming months,” communications director Elena Rosen said.

Festivalgoers will get to meet juggler Jacob D’Eustachio. e son of two New York City professors took time off from high school to tour the U.S. with the renowned Zoppé Italian Family Circus. at education proved valuable: He was accepted to École de Cirque de Québec and has since performed in 15 countries on five continents. He has juggled with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, performed at the Kennedy Center and competed in Moscow. Now he’ll bring his talent and humor to the streets of Burlington.

Live music is booked for both evenings. e Big Takeover, from New York’s Hudson Valley, will rock City Hall Park on Friday with its original pop music rooted in the rhythms of Jamaican reggae, rocksteady and ska. Jamaican-born singer-songwriter NeeNee Rushie leads the seven-piece band.

Burlington City Arts promises a full slate

Budget cuts and the loss of the festival’s longtime presenting sponsor prompted BCA to cancel last summer’s event. But downtown businesses, led by the owners of Main Street’s Café HOT., rallied to raise the money to throw a smaller fest, the Fools Block Party, which started in the evening on Friday, August 1, and ran through Saturday, August 2. is year’s revelry will start earlier in the day on Friday, making it a bit longer but still a trimmed-down event compared to past years, when it ran for three days. Still without a presenting sponsor, BCA reconfigured its funding model “and figured out how to make it work with the amazing community supporters that we have, including the Pomerleau Family Foundation,” Rosen said. “And a lot of the amazing businesses who supported us last year are coming back.”

e three-day festival typically drew 50,000 people, and many downtown business owners called it their best weekend of the summer.

“Festival of Fools is a joyful expression of what BCA is all about — building community through creative expression,” executive director Doreen Kraft said in the statement.

“Each year, this Festival not only fills our streets with incredible artistry and energy, it also supports the local businesses that make downtown Burlington so vibrant. It’s a powerful reminder that when we invest in the arts, we strengthen both our community spirit and our local economy.” ➆

Learn more at vermontfestivaloffools.com.

COMICS

In Beyond Punishment, the Center for Cartoon Studies Tackles Mass Incarceration

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

When James Sturm was growing up, one of the comics he read was “Dennis the Menace.” Rereading the strip recently, he said, he noticed that it frequently features the titular character, post-mischief, “sitting in a corner, being like, ‘I wish I met the guy who invented punishment.’”

at’s why he chose a Dennis-esque character, drawn in a retro style, to introduce the subject in the first panels of Beyond Punishment: A Guide to Mass Incarceration, the latest nonfiction comic published by the Applied Cartooning Lab at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, where Sturm is director. Sturm said he thought the weighty topic would be easier to understand by starting “to think about punishment through a kid’s eyes.”

e result is a remarkably comprehensive yet concise exploration of the subject. In 32 pages, it covers not only the current state of the American prisonindustrial complex and its history but also the ideas underpinning the institution, all the way back to the beginning — or rather, the Beginning. e first chapter opens with the punishment of Adam and Eve in the biblical book of Genesis. e Code of Hammurabi, Aristotelian philosophy, medieval wickedness trials, the Jim Crow era and the theoretical early 19th-century panopticon prison all make appearances.

to produce mission-driven nonfiction comics on complex topics, such as Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide to Mental Health in 2020 and Freedom and Unity: A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont in 2022. Sturm tabbed Los Angeles cartoonist and tattoo artist Graham Chaffee for the new book’s final drawings.

e team also consulted with formerly incarcerated people, including their voices directly in the form of reproduced letters from the American Prison Writing Archive. “It was also very important that we saw their handwriting,” Sturm said. “ at allows for a greater connection.”

Beyond Punishment points to alarming statistics: e United States has 4 percent of the world’s population but 20 percent of its incarcerated people; 45 percent of Americans have an immediate family member who’s been behind bars. e book’s blend of history, facts and narrative poses a foundational question rarely raised in modern discourse around crime and punishment: Why are we doing this?

Sturm began thinking about the project five years ago on a fellowship at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, where he met scholar Kaia Stern, who cofounded the Prison Studies Project and writes about incarceration. ey brought in Sturm’s team at the Applied Cartooning Lab, a CCS offshoot that collaborates with organizations

One notable absence in Beyond Punishment is the newest development in U.S. incarceration: the vast system of immigration detention centers popping up all over the country that currently hold an estimated 70,000 people.

“We try to take a broad view of the issue,” Sturm said, explaining that not pinning the comic to one political moment helps maintain its relevance for longer. “ ere’s no surprise, for most of us that worked on the comic, that what’s happening with ICE happened in a country that will allow our system of mass incarceration.” at said, the story is not all grim. With funding from Vermont Humanities, Sturm was able to attend a Chicago conference on the topic hosted by Illinois Humanities. (Both orgs partnered with CCS to produce the project.) “I was expecting a very bleak and dark convening, and the opposite was true,” Sturm said. “ ere was so much hope, and there was so much joy and creativity.”

e experience inspired him to rewrite the last chapter, he said: “By the time you get to the end of the comic, we’re offering solutions.”

INFO

Beyond Punishment: A Guide to Mass Incarceration is available to download by donation at appliedcartooning.org; printed copies are available at the Norwich Bookstore, $7, norwichbookstore.com.

Schooner Captain Turned Storyteller

Captain Mathias Dubilier first fell in love with Lake Champlain at age 18, when he moved to Burlington to live with his father in 1978. He had sailed before then and loved it, but on Lake Champlain his interest became a lifelong passion. Now 66, Dubilier has plied waters across the world, including on a three-year tour from Vermont to Turkey, but Lake Champlain is still where he feels most at home.

For a few years, Dubilier owned and operated first Whistling Man Schooner Company and then Buttercup Cruises. He introduced countless tourists to the lake, pointing out sights from Oakledge Park to Juniper Island. He regaled his

customers with well-documented historical stories and with folktales from Indigenous peoples.

Dubilier also spent 12 years writing for various Vermont newspapers, including the Vanguard Press and the Essex Reporter.

The former Lake Champlain tour guide and owner of Whistling Man Schooner Company shares his stories in a new book from Onion River Press

When his tour customers learned that Dubilier was also a journalist and a writer, they often asked him, “Why don’t you write a book about the lake?”

Back then, Dubilier’s answer was simple: He just didn’t have time. But once he retired and sold his company to a friend, Dubilier was finally ready to share his love of the lake. In This Way but Not Here: An Ode to Lake Champlain, Captain Dubilier delivers the stories he told on his tours, as well as his personal reflections on place, tourism and home.

SPECIAL EVENT: This Way but Not Here: An Ode to Lake Champlain | Book Launch! Friday, May 8, 7 p.m., at Phoenix Books in Burlington.

Why did you decide to write this book?

I wanted to give people one example of how to fall in love with a place. I believe that one of the ways in which we can save ourselves and our planet is by falling in love with a place. It can be any place. I’m just showing you “this way,” but your “here” might be some other place.

What is your favorite place on Lake Champlain?

My favorite place on Lake Champlain is not just a tiny island but a story, too. It’s the story of Odziohozo, who was born from the land which became the lake, and then he wandered, and then he came home, and then he turned himself into that rock we see in between Juniper Island and Shelburne Point.

What is the most outrageous thing that happened to you while you were a tour boat captain?

The most outrageous story in

the book is about a swimmer I rescued while giving a tour who didn’t have the ability and yet decided to swim across the lake to show his love for a woman. It made me wonder about what the lake can make us do.

Were you ever in danger out on the lake?

I’ve sailed across the Atlantic through a number of gales, I escaped from a burning ship in the Mediterranean, and I’ve been in a storm for days in the Bermuda Triangle, but what I try to tell new crew when I’m training them is that danger isn’t something that is external. Danger lives in your head. And you should let it live there. You should make space for it. It helps you to prepare.

I tell new sailors this: It’s good to have fear. Fear sits next to me on all my voyages, and it keeps asking me, “What if this happens?” And I answer. And that way I know if I am prepared. But what you don’t want to do

is turn your head and look in the eyes of fear. Fear is like Medusa. It can turn your ability to respond to stone. Even for a simple outing on the lake, it’s good to think about danger and give fear a seat right next to you.

What’s next for you? Any new projects in the works?

I’m working on a book about how I recovered from a brain hemorrhage I su ered in August 2024 by sailing my dinghy in Burlington harbor. It was so fascinating to start again with something so simple and yet so instructive, not just in skills but in the fundamental challenges to life.

I also finally finished the novel I have been working on for 11 years, Limits of the Known World. It is about a Euro-American on an odyssey from America to Istanbul as he contemplates questions of what it means to be a man, the significance of heritage, and whether solitude is escape or a form of love.

on screen

Mother Mary ★★★★

The internet is chattering about Anne Hathaway’s turn as a pop star. But for me, the main attraction of Mother Mary was the prospect of catching two lead performances from Michaela Coel in one week. (The creator of “I May Destroy You” also costars with Ian McKellen in the excellent The Christophers, reviewed on April 22.) That and seeing a new passion project from writer-director David Lowery, who made A Ghost Story (one of my favorite films of the decade) and The Green Knight. Lowery’s films aren’t for everyone, however, and Mother Mary is no exception.

The deal

Pop star Mother Mary (Hathaway) has maintained her icon status for decades, performing in halo-themed headgear and bestowing her secular blessing on legions of fans. Now, on the verge of premiering a comeback show, she’s having a breakdown. The new costume isn’t “her.”

A bedraggled Mary shows up on the doorstep of designer Sam Anselm (Coel), who created her early, groundbreaking costumes. Once friends, the two have been estranged for years. In Sam’s mind, Mary is “a cancer.” But now Mary desperately needs a dress from Sam, and she needs it this week.

In Sam’s workshop, the two women circle each other warily, nursing old wounds. Every concession they make bristles with conditions. Sam will create the dress, but she refuses to hear the song for which Mary will wear it. Mary is open to any design, but it can’t involve her signature halo or the color red.

The reasons for all this will become clear, perhaps not in the ways we expect. Let’s just say it involves “Spooky Action,” the title of Mary’s new single.

Will you like it?

Sound design is an aspect of cinema we often ignore in favor of the dialogue, the visual storytelling, the actors’ expressions. But precisely because sound reaches us on a near-subliminal level, it can define the experience of a movie. Any David Lynch fan knows that the right subtle background noise turns a naturalistic story into a nightmare.

For me, Mother Mary is about the soundscape that Lowery and his team create — and not just for the arena sequences, in which Mother Mary performs songs by

Jack Antono , Charli XCX and FKA twigs. Spectacular as those performances are, they serve mainly as backstory for an old-fashioned chamber drama about a conversation that changes everything. And whether you find that conversation mesmerizing or a slog could pivot on whether — for lack of a better term — you vibe with the vibes emanating from the theater’s speakers.

Sam’s UK workshop is a cavernous barn that looks haunted. (The exteriors were shot at a centuries-old German castle.) But it’s the incessant, low-level noise in the background that makes the setting spooky, long before the plot takes a supernatural turn. Bass rumbles, howling wind, snatches of music we may only imagine amid the aural grit — these are the ingredients of a pop gothic. They kept me riveted, even when the dialogue felt stilted or the silences stretched long.

In The Christophers, Coel plays the quiet foil to a babbling McKellen. Here, she’s the talker, spewing refined, witty invective that Hathaway answers in furtive monosyllables. While Sam uses words as a shield for her ego, Mary’s eloquence is physical. We see her discipline in every gym-toned sinew of her body, and her pent-up stress emerges in a Dionysian dance routine.

The film travels familiar ground in its depiction of a su ering star: As an icon, Mother Mary belongs to everyone, so incarnating her places an unbearable weight on Mary. More interesting is Lowery’s thesis that Mary shouldn’t carry the weight alone, because her persona was always a collaborative endeavor. In a pivotal scene, Sam pulls out a glossy magazine profile in which Mary takes credit for the inspiration behind her costumes. With a palpable sense of dispossession, Sam describes all the ways in which those artworks actually told her story.

In some ways, Mother Mary is truer to the spirit of Wuthering Heights than the recent adaptation of that book was. Admittedly, it tells a very niche sort of tragic love story, about the romance of artistic collaboration and the agony of being left behind by someone who decides they’ve outgrown your talent. Viewers who don’t connect to those themes may feel frustrated, waiting for soapy diva drama or mic-drop revelations that never arrive.

But the irony of Mother Mary is that Mary is no diva; she’s too life-size, too normal, to carry the weight of her persona alone. In this gothic tale, celebrity is a phantom, a voluminous costume hiding the

devoted work of many. And the one who wears the costume ignores that at her peril.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

BLACK SWAN (2010; Disney+, rentable): Mother Mary has a strong spiritual kinship with Darren Aronofsky’s Oscar winner set in the ballet world: Both are horror-tinged art films about performers whose psyches are fraying.

A GHOST STORY (2017; Kanopy, rentable): Lowery seems fascinated with phantoms and everything they can represent. If Mother Mary has spectral elements, this “ghost story” takes the perspective of a spirit who refuses to leave his past behind. In a larger sense, it’s about the terror of being erased.

JAY KELLY (2025; Netflix): While stylistically very different, Noah Baumbach’s portrait of a fictional movie icon (played by a real one, George Clooney) would make a fascinating double feature with Mother Mary. Both are about embattled long-term friendships between stars and the people who help them shine.

NEW IN THEATERS

ANIMAL FARM: Angel Studios offers an animated take on George Orwell’s barnyard allegory, featuring the voices of Andy Serkis (who also directed), Seth Rogen and Woody Harrelson. (96 min, PG. Big Picture, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

DEEP WATER: The survivors of a plane crash must fight off sharks in Renny Harlin’s disaster flick, starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley. (110 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2: A former lowly assistant (Anne Hathaway) reunites with her one-time boss (Meryl Streep) to face a competitor (Emily Blunt) in David Frankel’s sequel set in the world of fashion media. (119 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse, Star, Stowe, Sunset)

ERUPCJA: Lena Góra and Charlie XCX star in this sapphic romance from Poland, directed by Peter Ohs. (71 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

HOKUM: Adam Scott plays a horror writer who visits a reportedly haunted inn to scatter his parents’ ashes in this scare film from Damian Mc Carthy (Oddity). (107 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Paramount)

KONTINENTAL ’25: A bailiff’s eviction of a homeless person from a cellar has unforeseen consequences in Radu Jude’s award-winning drama set in Transylvania. (109 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

MIROIRS NO. 3: In this suspense drama from acclaimed director Christian Petzold (Phoenix), a young woman (Paula Beer) moves in with a witness to the car accident that killed her boyfriend. (86 min, NR. Savoy)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

THE CHRISTOPHERSHHHH Michaela Coel plays a forger hired to complete the unfinished work of a still-living renowned artist (Ian McKellen) in Steven Soderbergh’s drama. (100 min, R. Partizanfilm; reviewed 4/22)

THE DRAMAHHH A couple (Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) get an unwelcome surprise the week of their wedding in this dark comedy. (106 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm; reviewed 4/8)

FANTASY LIFEHHH1/2 Matthew Shear wrote, directed and stars in this rom-com about a New York actor (Amanda Peet) falling in love with her kids’ babysitter. (91 min, R. Savoy)

HOPPERSHHH1/2 A young woman transfers her consciousness to a robotic beaver in this animated comedy. (105 min, PG. Essex, Majestic)

I SWEARHHH1/2 Kirk Jones’ acclaimed biopic tells the story of John Davidson (Robert Aramayo), a Scottish man with Tourette’s syndrome. (120 min, R. Majestic, Savoy)

LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMYHH1/2 The parents of a missing child get a terrifying surprise when she returns in the Evil Dead Rise filmmaker’s take on the mythos. (133 min, R. Bijou, Welden)

MICHAELHH This drama from Antoine Fuqua chronicles the life of pop legend Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson). (127 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

MOTHER MARYHHHH The meeting of a pop icon (Anne Hathaway) with her estranged best friend (Michaela Coel) doesn’t go well in this drama from David Lowery. (112 min, R. Majestic; reviewed 4/29)

NORMALHHH Bob Odenkirk plays an interim sheriff who uncovers the dark secrets of a small town in this crime thriller. (90 min, R. Bijou, Sunset, Welden)

OVER YOUR DEAD BODYHH1/2 A couple (Samara Weaving and Jason Segel) have homicide on their minds during a woodsy getaway in Jorma Taccone’s dark comedy. (105 min, R. Partizanfilm)

PROJECT HAIL MARYHHHH A science teacher (Ryan Gosling) finds himself on a mission to save Earth in Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s sci-fi thriller. (156 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset)

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIEHH Mario explores space in the sequel to the animated adventure hit. (98 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

TWO PROSECUTORSHHHH1/2 A novice prosecutor runs into trouble when he tries to investigate police corruption in Sergey Loznitsa’s drama set in the Soviet Union in 1937. (118 min, NR. Catamount)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DIRTY DANCING (Sunset)

EATING RAOUL (VTIFF, Fri only)

LA STRADA (Marquis, Thu only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: EUGEN ONEGIN (Essex, Sat only)

ORPHEUS (Partizanfilm, Wed 29 only)

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME (Sunset)

SAFETY LAST! (Catamount, Wed 29 only)

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS 35TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Wed 29 only)

THE UNKNOWN (1927) (VTIFF, Wed 6 only)

OPEN THEATERS

(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info. Closed through April 29.

*BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com

CAPITOL THEATER: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com

CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org

CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com

ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com

MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com

MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com.

PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com

*PARTIZANFILM: 230 College St., Unit 13, Burlington, 276-4588, partizanfilm.org

PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 2290598, savoytheater.com

THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org

STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com

STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com

SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com

*WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com

THE DECADES

Beauty and Beholders

Enticing visuals and

environmental

research coexist as artists explore “Human Impact” at BCA Center in Burlington

BY ALICE DODGE •

We are just past the end of cherry blossom season in Japan. People have long flocked to see the spectacle and wonder at its natural beauty. The phenomenon enabled a Japanese scientist to assemble one of the longest-running datasets on climate change, drawing from 1,200 years of records on the trees’ annual bloom. The scientific inquiry and the aesthetic one exist in symbiosis.

The same spirit motivates the works in “Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment,” on view through June 20 at BCA Center in Burlington. Each of the eight artists in the show creates a commentary on the ecological tipping point where we find ourselves, drawing viewers to the subject through enticing visuals. In other words: They make the ugly truths of environmental destruction super pretty.

Before even entering the gallery, visitors encounter the work of Rebecca McGee Tuck, an artist from Natick, Mass. Her steel sculpture, on Church Street, seems to bloom with single-use plastic bags like a weird desert cactus. Inside, viewers find Tuck’s wall relief “We Are the Lighthouse Keepers,” a woven composition made from bits of marine rope, oyster nets and lobster traps in vibrant shades of ultramarine

blue, orange and translucent turquoise. We are appropriately lured in by its dense and varied textures, from chunky knitted surfaces to a foamy mass of fishing line. With this and other works in the show, Tuck deftly creates sculptures out of trash that don’t look like trash yet acknowledge the material as ubiquitous, as omnipresent as driftwood in the coastal landscape.

Philadelphia painter Diane Burko’s pieces offer an expanded view of the Amazon rainforest.

Made after her 2023 residency there, the works have all the urgency of a fire alarm. In a suite of five canvases that together span more than 5 by 13 feet, as well as two smaller works, Burko combines maps and painted silhouettes of the region with aerial photos of the tree canopy and burnt cross-sections of wood. She elaborates on those close and distant views with an inferno of red and gray, illuminating the scientific with a passionate painterly approach.

THEY MAKE THE UGLY TRUTHS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION SUPER PRETTY.

Fletcher Free Library and the Moran FRAME on the Burlington waterfront. Here she takes a quieter approach, counterbalancing Burko’s fiery expanse with an arrangement of watery cyanotypes on silk, presented in wooden embroidery hoops. The artist buried the blue material in the ground, leaving it to decompose: Now it has the flaky texture of dead leaves after the snow melts. Greenlee has repaired it in places using gold metallic thread. The tiny embroidery stitches read as roads or dotted lines on a map, throwing the scale of ultimately abstract imagery into uncertainty; we seem to be looking at a landscape from a vast, aerial distance as much as an intimate, tactile one.

resin and hold litter Gupit gleaned from streams during a Fulbright fellowship in the Philippines. She went to learn how people there — including members of her own family who work in the fishing industry — are dealing with a dearth of potable water and increased flooding in the age of climate change.

Gupit’s sculpture o ers viewers a physical foothold in the gallery that serves as a bridge to the rest of her research-based practice, introducing us to a topic without giving us all the answers. That’s also true of other works in the show, including an installation by Jersey City, N.J., artist Adriane Colburn and a video piece by Irish artist John Gerrard.

Vermonters may be familiar with the work of Renée Greenlee, who lives in Huntington and has previously mounted installations of large fabric banners at

Nicolei Buendia Gupit, who teaches art at the University of Vermont, presents “In the Age of Abundant Scarcity,” a mysterious installation of what look like colorful, glowing plastic water bottles, arranged on a table with strips of LED lights. Closer examination reveals both natural and nastylooking objects — twigs, a deflated balloon, a rusty nail, a plastic bag — suspended in ooze. In fact, the sculptures are made of

Colburn’s work features bands of painted wood bent and looping across the wall like a model train set; satellite imagery and snaking networks of cutouts reminiscent of roads; sparkly potash deposits on paper, cut out and hovering over the images; and videos, some of which show invisible emissions from oil refineries. Gerrard’s three screens display oil slicks floating on water, but they’re not documentary. Each is in the shape of a country (Palestine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar) and is an algorithmic representation of its annual per-capita oil use based on real-time

online data; the more iridescent the slick, the more fuel that country consumes. Both artists’ installations draw in the viewer with a shiny representation that’s only the tip of a much larger investigative iceberg.

Two documentary photographers take the opposite tack with instantly compelling images that seek to tell a whole story.

a glossy finish, as though seen on our digital screens. But you can’t scroll past these photos. Our knowledge that the artist has been actively and directly solving the problem — literally putting out fires — recasts them as optimistic and human.

Sallie Dean Shatz, a UVM alum who lives in Utah, photographs the Great Salt Lake as it recedes. Aerial perspectives show a strange, beautiful geometry of glassy water and white minerals in evaporation pools. Companies extract minerals such as arsenic, which blow into communities as toxic dust. Each of Shatz’s images subtly pictures ways humans have intervened in this landscape.

Kari Greer’s images recall now-annual news coverage of western wildfires, as well they should: The Idaho photographer is a former wildland firefighter. She enhances the formidable drama of burning landscapes by giving the images

Though the environmental future seems pretty bleak, these works by artists who can channel beauty even as they research destruction are inspiring. So is the simple act of making things. During a panel discussion held in conjunction with the show, Greenlee talked about the idea of repair and the mental focus that making art facilitates in the face of debilitating ecological grief.

INFO

“It makes us feel like we can’t do anything,” she said. “But I think art allows us to see and feel hope, and it can lead to action.” ➆

“Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment,” through June 20 at BCA Center in Burlington. burlingtoncityarts.org

May 9

Celebrate a new season at the Museum! Community Day invites visitors to experience the Museum as a vibrant gathering place rooted in creativity and community. In collaboration with the Vermont Community Foundation, the day emphasizes connection and belonging, encouraging visitors to engage as “neighbors, not strangers” through guided tours, artmaking sessions, seed swapping, music, games, performances, and more. 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Admission is free all day!

Supported by:

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

ARTIST MEMBERS’ SHOW: Works in a variety of mediums by more than 20 Vermont artists, including Carey Lynn Braidt, Gene Childers, Donna Ciobanu and Margaret Duffy. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, through June 7.

SOPHIE JOSEPH SCHWARTZ: “I’m Looking For…,” a photographic exploration of dating, connection and loneliness in New York City based on dating-profile portraits created by the artist in collaboration with and directed by each subject. Extra Special With Cheese, Burlington, May 1-June 6. Free.

KATE RUDDLE: “Hortus Conclusus,” a solo show exploring wild and bounded spaces through conceptual multimedia installations that draw on historical research. Reception: Friday, May 1, 4-7 p.m. The Front, Montpelier, May 1-31.

‘WATER: ELEMENT OF CHANGE’: A group exhibition, juried by Lee Anne White, exploring water as a force that shapes landscapes and evokes movement, memory and emotion. Featuring 35 images on view in the gallery and 40 additional works in the online gallery by artists from around the world. Reception: Friday, May 1, 4-7 p.m. PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, May 1-30.

ELIZABETH ALLEN: “A Living Landscape,” a collection of representational oil paintings that explore the quiet presence of animals within the Vermont landscape. Reception: Friday, May 1, 5-7 p.m. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne, May 1-June 20.

‘GATHERING CONSTELLATIONS’: The annual Mental Health Awareness Month exhibition, presented in collaboration with West Central Behavioral Health, centered on an open-ended theme of connections and hope. Reception: Friday, May 1, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., May 1-June 11.

AMANI WILLETT: “The Disappearance of Joseph Plummer,” a series of photographs tracing the story of a little-known New Hampshire hermit whose sparse historical record only deepens his myth; the artist draws connections between the man’s self-imposed isolation and his own family history.

Reception: Friday, May 1, 5-8 p.m. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, May 1-June 28.

ANNUAL MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION: Works by more than 100 local artists whose work shapes the spirit and direction of the gallery. Reception: Friday, May 1, 5-9 p.m. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, May 1-29.

KATHARINE MONTSTREAM AND CHARLOTTE DWORSHAK: “Nocturne,” an exploration of night paintings by Montstream and large-format flowers investigating grief by Dworshak, her daughter. Reception: Friday, May 1, 5-9 p.m.; live music by Cal Humberto, 8-10 p.m. The SEABA Center, Burlington, May 1-30.

DAKIN FULLER: An exhibition of graffiti-inspired paintings with strong vintage 1930s cartoon influences and wall hangings made from secondhand and found materials by the Burlington artist. South Burlington Public Library Art Wall, May 2-30.

MARY JANE OWENS: “Echoes of a Flying Jewel,” a senior capstone project in the Art & Design program. Reception: Thursday, May 7, 6-7 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, May 4-10.

‘ART IT UP!’: An exhibition of works in the SecondFloor Gallery created and donated by local artists for a silent auction to benefit the organization’s programs. Online and in-person bidding through the end of the exhibition. Reception: Saturday, May 9, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through June 5.

‘MILK CANS, BEES AND MAPLE TREES’: A group show, in the Main Floor Gallery, in which 33 artists delve into the beauty and challenges associated with Vermont farms. Reception: Saturday, May 9, 4:30-6 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through June 13.

‘ROADS TAKEN: TRAVEL, PASSAGE AND THE RURAL ROUTE’: An exhibition that reflects on the open road, from country lanes to secret byways, on view in the Main Gallery. Reception: Sunday, May 10, 1-3 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, May 6-July 5.

Worth a Thousand Words

Complex stories involving humans and nature — conservation during times of war, fragile ecosystems colliding with political unrest, poverty impacting scientific progress — are hard enough to explain in words. National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale can do it with an image. Many of her pictures document conservation projects and collective action in Africa and Asia, including on-the-ground efforts to preserve black rhino habitats; a daring rescue of giraffes trapped on an island; caregivers at an elephant sanctuary; and an exploration of the secret lives of giant pandas, achieved by photographing them while dressed in a panda costume. Her hope is to spark dialogue and connections between people and animals, shifting perspectives through visual storytelling. Vitale shows her work and talks about her travels during a lecture this Thursday, April 30, at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

‘THROUGH THE LENS OF EMPATHY: PHOTOGRAPHING

HOPE

IN A FRACTURED WORLD’

Thursday, April 30, 5:30 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. Free; preregister. fletcherfree.org

‘SUMMIT LINES: THE PEAKS OF NEW ENGLAND’:

An exhibition celebrating New England’s mountain ranges, including views of the Green Mountains, the White Mountains, the Adirondacks, the Appalachians and the Berkshires, on view in the Main Gallery.

Reception: Sunday, May 10, 1-3 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, May 6-July 5.

DEANNA SANTO: “Journey’s End,” an MFA exhibit of landscape paintings. Closing reception and artist talk: Thursday, May 14, noon-2 p.m. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson, May 4-17. Free.

ROBIN LLOYD: “Through Lines” a selection of drawings, paintings, collage and sculpture created across six decades by the lifelong activist. Reception and screening of selected film shorts: Sunday, May 24, 3-5 p.m. Burlington City Hall, May 1-29.

‘GAYZING’: An exhibition of works by four gay men — Larry Bowling, Joe John, Robert Perry and James Rauchman — who explore aging, seeing and being seen. On view in the Third-Floor Gallery. Closing Reception: Saturday, June 13, 2-4 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, April 29-June 13.

ART EVENTS

ARTS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FUNDRAISER:

An opportunity for anyone to sponsor creative works made as part of a monthlong fundraiser for Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network to

ensure emergency legal representation for asylum seekers. Info at casanvermont.org. Online, through April 30. Free.

ARTIST TALK: LIZ DESCHENES: “Book Ends,” a discussion with the photographer, whose work investigates what photography can be, using sculpture and architecture to create conceptual and minimalist installations. Johnson Memorial Building, Middlebury College, Wednesday, April 29, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW: ‘NORMAN ROCKWELL: AT HOME IN VERMONT’: A hybrid (in-person or virtual) preview of the exhibition with Tom Denenberg, who will highlight artworks and key themes of the show, which explores how the artist crafted an idealized vision of Vermont. Shelburne Museum, Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m. Free; registration required for virtual option and recommended for in-person.

ARTIST TALK: AMI VITALE: “Through the Lens of Empathy: Photographing Hope in a Fractured World,” a presentation by the internationally acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and National Geographic contributor, whose work explores the connections between people and wildlife. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Thursday, April 30, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; registration required.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Thursday, April 30, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation.

ARTIST TALK: THEA ALVIN: A discussion with the artist of her experience with the Elizabeth C. Hadas Artist-in-the-Forest residency last spring, when she created a series of sculptures using materials and forms found in Matsinger Forest. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, Friday, May 1, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

TEA CHAT: MAXWELL HOLDEN: Tea with the artist and a discussion of the exhibition “You Know Me,” the title of which is wordplay on an informal teacup style called yunomi. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., Saturday, May 2, noon-2 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: JOHN CHRISTIAN ANDERSON: A discussion with the artist of his exhibition, “Threshold”; his Los Angeles childhood; and his history building science exhibits at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. CX Silver Gallery, Brattleboro, Saturday, May 2, 1-3 p.m. Free.

DIRECTOR’S TALK: DAVID ROHN: An informal gallery conversation about the life and paintings of late Putney artist David Rohn. Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, Brattleboro, Saturday, May 2, 5 p.m. Free.

SOCIAL SUNDAY: An opportunity for children and caregivers to stop in and complete a 15- to 30-minute activity during the two-hour workshop. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Sunday, May 3, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, May 4, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

LOUVENIA DORSEY BRIGHT PORTRAIT UNVEILING: A celebration of a new portrait of the first African American woman and woman of color to serve in the Vermont Legislature, with remarks by Gov. Phil Scott and artist Ayana Ross. Followed by a reception in the Cedar Creek Room from 5-6:30 p.m. House Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Tuesday, May 5, 4 p.m. Free.

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, May 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation.

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘ALL ABOARD!’: Seeking entries in all mediums for a show about all kinds of transportation: trains, trucks, various street vehicles, bicycles, airplanes, hot air balloons and imaginative, fantasy conveyances. Exhibition runs June 24 to August 14. Submit works at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. Deadline: May 9. $10; free for members. ➆

PUBLIC NOTICE: HERBICIDE SPRAYING

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has requested from the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, a permit to apply the following herbicides: Garlon 4 ULTRA, Garlon 3A, Oust Extra, Escort, Krenite S, Polaris, Roundup Custom and AquaMaster to control unwanted vegetation along all State highways. Operations are authorized to start approximately May 15th, 2026, but will not begin until the appropriate notification requirements are completed. The application will be made by certified pesticide applicators using mechanically controlled equipment and hand-controlled methods. The methods employed are intended to avoid or eliminate drift. Residents along the rights-of-way (ROW) are encouraged to protect sensitive environments or water supplies within 100 feet of the ROW limits, and to avoid entering the ROW as spray trucks pass and until products dry. Residents should notify VTrans of the existence of any water supplies within 100 feet of the State’s ROW. Citizens wishing to inform VTrans are urged to contact the nearest District Transportation Administrator as follows: District 1 - Bennington - (802) 447-2790, District 2 - Dummerston - (802) 254-5011, District 3 - Mendon - (802) 786-5826. District 4 - White River Junction - (802) 295-8888, District 5 - Colchester - (802) 655-1580, District 6 – Berlin – (802)-917-2879, District 7 - St. Johnsbury - (802) 748-6670, District 8 - St. Albans – (802) 524-5926, District 9 – Derby – (802) 334-7934. The contact person at the State Highway Department Headquarters is Brandon Garretto, Vegetation Management Admin, 2178 Airport Rd, Dill Bldg Unit A, Barre, VT 05641 or brandon.garretto@vermont.gov. Contact can also be made using the VTrans Internet Web page at https://vtrans.vermont.gov/operations

We will replace copper lines to internet-based services (VoIP and SIP). You don’t have to lift a finger. Just let our team get to work.

music+nightlife

When Noah Kahan drops a new record, it’s all hands on deck in the Seven Days music section. So with The Great Divide hitting last week, music editor Chris Farnsworth enlisted former music editor and current culture coeditor Dan Bolles to help tackle one of the most anticipated Vermont releases in years. The only problem? Neither qualifies as a Busyhead.

They’re well versed in the Stra ord native’s work — Farnsworth wrote a 2024 cover story on Kahan, which Bolles edited. But they don’t share the connection — nor expectations, for that matter — of Kahan’s fervent fans, who have been waiting for the follow-up to his smash hit, Stick Season, for nearly four years.

Fortunately, proofreader Angela Simpson is one of the faithful and was eager to help dig into the new album. Here’s how the three inched themselves across The Great Divide

CHRIS FARNSWORTH: I feel like the only person in Vermont still surprised by how huge Noah Kahan has become. Which is ridiculous, really. I saw him sell out Fenway Park. I watched his video premiere during the Super Bowl. I remember the crazy scene at Waterfront Park when he last played in Burlington.

I think I struggle to reconcile his stardom because of the first time we spoke. He was a largely unknown singer-songwriter emailing me to talk about his new album, Stick Season, which was something of a creative gambit as he pushed his sound toward the folk and Americana of his youth.

Now? He’s become to Vermont what Bruce Springsteen represents to people from New Jersey: He’s a totem; a scru y, flannel-wearing avatar who self-deprecates and has a therapist. A rock star who seems so approachable, he could be the dude on the ski lift with the good weed and some killer jokes.

Hell, Spotify was so taken with Kahan’s whole Woods Bro vibe that it started telling people to move to Vermont in its Wrapped series a few years ago. (Clearly Spotify never peeped the cost of living in Chittenden County!)

So before we hit play on The Great Divide, I’m curious what it’s been like for you guys experiencing Kahan’s meteoric rise.

ANGELA SIMPSON: First, let me clarify that I don’t consider myself a Busyhead. I really enjoy Kahan’s music, and I often choose

TALK IT OUT: The Great Divide, Noah Kahan

Two music critics and a fan dissect the long-awaited Stick Season follow-up from Vermont’s biggest pop star

BY DAN BOLLES, CHRIS FARNSWORTH & ANGELA SIMPSON music@sevendaysvt.com

it when I’m looking for something to listen to in the car, but I can’t compare to his über hard-core fans. I’m more of a Moderately Occupied-Head, if you will. A Little-Bit-Hectic-Head.

As for his rapid rise, I remember the first time I heard “Stick Season” on the Point and thought, Whoever he is, he understands something about living here. Just a

been playing songs in relative obscurity in Vermont for decades. I just hope he’s enjoying it. Go ahead and say yes to every product tie-in you want, Noah. Sell those candles. Grab it all while it’s in front of you.

DAN BOLLES: Living in Vermont, it’s impossible not to be at least peripherally aware of his rise, though my familiarity with his music is mostly academic. So I consider myself a Kahan agnostic: I’m sure he exists, but I don’t have any particular leanings toward him either way.

Back when I was sitting in your chair, Chris, and was paid to have opinions on such matters, I suspect I would have spared no chance to poke fun at him in Soundbites, per the decades-long tradition of Seven Days music editors skewering whoever was the era’s sacred cow — sorry ’bout that, Phish! But as I’m a little older and, if not wiser, a little less snarky, and because no one cares what I think about music anymore, I’ve quite enjoyed mostly sitting this one out. So thanks so much for roping me into this. (Cue Al Pacino in Godfather III.)

But here’s my take: Kahan’s music? Generally not for me. And my inner Gen Xer does bristle at the Mastercard ads and candles. But I love that other people love him, and I’m happy Vermont Busyheads have their guy. The Green Mountains could certainly have a worse pop culture ambassador than someone who seems like a genuinely good dude, raises gazillions of dollars for charity and has become the poster child for destigmatizing mental health issues.

few months later, out-of-state friends told me they were going to a Noah Kahan show that weekend, and I said, “Wait, our Noah Kahan?”

His explosion has been a terrific thing to watch, because, really, could it happen to a nicer person? I’m happy for and proud of him, and I say that as the wife of a professional musician who has

CF: The selling-out thing has really done my head in, as the Brits say. I know the music industry is completely di erent from the one that existed when Neil Young was teaching us not to do beer commercials. I’m aware that even an artist of Kahan’s stature isn’t necessarily going to make a ton of money selling hard copies of The Great Divide, and certainly not from streaming. To premiere your music video at the Super Bowl, you have to buddy up with a credit card company. Want to transcend the algorithms and labyrinthine world of digital marketing? Put a cardboard cutout of yourself hawking soda in grocery stores. Still, I can’t quite just accept it as part of the biz. Is that a double standard, when I shrug o Bob Dylan selling Victoria’s Secret? Yes. But it gives me pause every time I grapple with my thoughts on his music.

Speaking of, let’s get into the actual music. Following up a massive breakout

is never easy. Noah has millions more fans than he did when Stick Season dropped, and expectations are high. When I went to his sold-out charity event in Stowe last year, I learned Busyheads don’t all want the same thing from a new Kahan record. More than a few expressed hope that he’d evolve his sound, while others just wanted Stick Season II

I can’t say I hear any sort of major evolution on The Great Divide , if that’s what Kahan was attempting. Bringing in Aaron Dessner from the National to coproduce is interesting, and I do hear more shades of indie rock this time around.

What do you guys think? Is The Great Divide a worthy follow-up to Stick Season? Is he treading well-worn paths or showing us the Shape of Kahan to Come?

AS: Unlike you pros, I’m not a present or reformed music critic, so I’m here as a, well, nonprofessional listener. Don’t look to me to compare the production values of The Great Divide to anything else or get nerdy about what Noah is or isn’t doing on it. I care about lyrics and melodies and how they make me feel. I like what I like! And what I like about the new album is exactly what I liked about Stick Season : There’s a specifically Vermonty vibe that resonates more universally than it should.

As someone who grew up in a tiny Vermont town, I think he nails what that experience is for many of us, yet tens of thousands of people who probably don’t know Ben from Jerry are singing along in Fenway Park. Robert Frost said — and I paraphrase — that poetry should be common in experience but uncommon in expression, and for me, that describes Noah’s music. You might like your poetry more oblique than “Whose woods these are I think I know” or “I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks,” and that’s cool. But “You once called me forever, now you still can’t call me back” is a whole story of heartbreak in a dozen simple words. I know what that feels like, but I never would have thought to say it that way. I don’t think The Great Divide is Stick Season II. But it’s definitely Noah Kahan, Chapter 2.

about? If people are happy to buy something even tangentially related to his music, let them enjoy it. Let sacred cows graze. Does it help that it’s “only” Mastercard and not, say, SpaceX or Tesla?

DB: As for the music of The Great Divide, well, it’s pretty much exactly what I expected. And that’s no dig. In fact, I think it’s precisely the point.

I think of Kahan sort of like another local institution that’s back after some years away: Sweetwaters in Burlington. No one goes to Sweetwaters expecting high-concept culinary wizardry. They go because it’s reliable, incorporates Vermonty flavors, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Isn’t that Kahan’s music in a nutshell?

Kahan putting out a noise-rock record or something after four years between albums would be like taking your folks to Sweetwaters on Parents Weekend and being served spherified olives and a deconstructed Spanish omelette. It just wouldn’t make sense. And you’d be pissed.

AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A TINY VERMONT TOWN, I THINK HE NAILS WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS FOR MANY OF US.

ANGELA SIMPSON

Noah Kahan’s Netflix Doc Is Messy and Real

BY TORI PRESTON

If Noah Kahan: Out of Body feels anticlimactic, there’s a good reason for that. Just as there is a good reason Netflix timed the documentary’s April 13 launch a scant week ahead of the release of Kahan’s new album, The Great Divide. And no, it’s not because it’s an easy, synergistic marketing stunt — or, at least, not solely.

film (and the amount of home-video footage included) makes it clear they gladly participated in the documentary.

Also, the selling-out thing? Who among us would say no to making bank, for ourselves and a cause we care deeply

Am I reaching?

Undoubtedly. But get this: Sweetwaters closed in 2022 … the same year Stick Season was released. (That’s how you nail a tortured metaphor in music criticism, Angela. Don’t try it at home.)

The irony is that even if Kahan wanted to take a big artistic swing, he kinda can’t. He is a pop superstar, no question. But he’s not Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, who have the cultural capital built up to do whatever the hell they want without alienating their fans — or, at least, without worrying about it. Kahan’s not there yet. If The Great Divide were, say, a country album, half of his fan base would feel betrayed. And jerks like you and me, Chris, would probably call him the one thing that’s even worse to a Gen Xer than “sellout”: poser.

CF: It’s true that The Great Divide doesn’t reinvent Kahan or his sound. Whether he’d be able to do that and maintain his army of fans is fascinating to consider, but I honestly didn’t think it was ever going to go that way. While Kahan is able to tweak his sound — he did start out as more of a pop songwriter than his

There is nothing easy about Out of Body, a film that is as surprising for viewers as it was seemingly uncomfortable for Kahan to make. The reason it feels unresolved is that Kahan’s new album is the ending the film doesn’t quite reach, the answer to the question that haunts the 90-minute run time and Kahan himself: After suddenly reaching a level of success beyond his wildest dreams, what’s next for the now world-famous musician? And can he rise again to meet everyone’s expectations, including his own?

Filmed primarily during Kahan’s whirlwind two-year Stick Season tour, Out of Body could have easily been just that — a tour documentary. It opens with the obvious grand finale, Kahan’s two-night Fenway Park run in July 2024, then rewinds to show how he got there.

Vermont is practically another character in the film, as director Nick Sweeney explores Kahan’s hometown of Strafford, where the locals display exactly the sort of “kind, not nice” honesty you’d expect. The general store moves plenty of Kahan merchandise, even as the clerk admits he doesn’t listen to Kahan’s music himself. The beauty of the landscape is undercut by two townies pointing out the new Dunkin’ that opened, while an old-timer on a tractor dubs Vermont “the coldest place in hell.”

Kahan shares that same brutal, often self-deprecating honesty as he opens up about his life. His relationship with his siblings and especially his parents takes the spotlight as Kahan grapples with how his deeply personal lyrics have exposed his family to the public without their consent — although their presence in the

Kahan also reveals that his father, Josh, suffered a brain injury in a lifealtering bicycle accident that left a deep impact on the singer. It’s here that Kahan displays a juvenile prickliness that seems at odds with the sort of curated puff piece you’d expect from a star-produced doc — Kahan is credited as one of several executive producers. But the scene reads as genuine for a young adult adjusting to a more mature relationship with his parents.

As a mental health advocate, Kahan has always been open about his depression and anxiety, in his lyrics and elsewhere. But in Out of Body, he also admits to body dysmorphia and a history of disordered eating. It all weaves together — the guilt with his parents, discomfort with his body and exhaustion from touring — into a deep sense of displacement and creative emptiness that leave Kahan in a slump, struggling to write his next album. In the film’s final moments, Kahan is just beginning to find his path forward again. It ends on a hopeful note as he looks at real estate in the Upper Valley to set down new roots and his inspiration finally begins to spark.

The fact that we know he did, eventually, write that album, just like we know he did eventually buy a house, doesn’t diminish the impact of the film. What should be a victory lap becomes a portrait of a man lost in his own stardom and the pressure to shine even brighter, and that’s what makes Out of Body so fascinating. Whatever the documentary was supposed to be at the jump, the story Kahan and Sweeney discovered along the way was messy, unfinished and admirably authentic. A work in progress, just like Kahan. ➆

INFO

Noah Kahan: Out of Body is streaming on Netflix.

music+nightlife

current neo-Americana vibe — I never got the feeling that he’d want to. This is a dude who spent years working his ass off in Nashville and Los Angeles to become a successful songwriter. Now that he’s achieved that, I just can’t see him indulging his inner Thom Yorke and making an album full of samples and synths.

Still, The Great Divide is by no means a lightweight offering from a star just going through the motions. The first thing I noticed about the record is that it’s 17 tracks long, with a deluxe 21-track edition clocking in at over an hour and a half. Nothing says “I’m taking this very seriously” more than a double album, and from what he’s said in the days following the release, the album could have been even longer.

I gave up a long time ago trying to guess what is and what isn’t likely to be a hit, but there are a few candidates on the record. And he’s mining rich emotional material; this is an album about what it feels like to get massively famous in a short period of time and how — or if — the fame changes you. “Spoiled” is a fascinating example of where Kahan’s head is these days, as he wonders if his newfound wealth will impact future children. “I’m betting on the north, to drag my ass back down to earth,” he sings.

This is the record where I finally figured out, as Jerry Seinfeld might put it, “What is the deal with Noah Kahan?” What makes him so special in a crowded field of bearded dudes with acoustic guitars is how rooted in empathy his songwriting is and how genuine that feels to his fans.

In 2026, when the very concept of empathy is under attack from billionaires and would-be Big Tech prophets, it feels important for one of the biggest pop stars in America to engage with these kinds of questions. Did I hurt you? What could I have said or done differently?

“You know I think about you all the time / and my deep misunderstanding of your life.” That line, from “The Great Divide,” just might be the thesis of the record. Either that, or when he proclaims “You’re an asshole, after all” on “Dashboard,” a track with the rare glimpse of Dark Kahan.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many tracks stood out to me — like Dan, I tend to find Kahan’s music rather dull. But there are a few moments of genuine exploration and evolution — in particular, opening track “End of August,” a piano-driven, introspective piece of indie rock.

HE’S BECOME TO VERMONT WHAT BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN REPRESENTS TO PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY. CHRIS FARNSWORTH

I do wonder if over an hour and a half of Kahan is perhaps too much for anyone other than the hard-core Busyheads. Do we need that many car metaphors and mental health check-ins?

AS: Can you have too many mental health checks in 2026? I think Busyheads will be thrilled with this hour and a half, and there are plenty of entry points here for dilettantes, too, who probably aren’t sitting down to listen to the whole album anyway. Several of the standouts for me are tracks on which he shares songwriting credit with Dessner, particularly “End of August,” with its

STANDOUT TRACKS

FROM THE GREAT DIVIDE

“HEADED NORTH”

Kahan skewers precious outsider perceptions of Vermont with a bit of sneer. Stripped-down and rough around the edges — it opens with a guitar flub and resulting f-bomb — it includes lines like this one: “Well, I always wish you well when I pass the old gas station / With the banner on the front that shows how tolerant they are / You’ll get told to go to hell by some summertime flatlander / With a Coexist-in’ sticker on the bumper of their car.”

— Dan Bolles

“DENY DENY DENY”

As close to rocking as Kahan tends to get, the mid-tempo tune has a deceptively upbeat feel, despite the singer-songwriter seething with frustration. Kahan excels at depicting emotional exhaustion, and “Deny Deny Deny” both simmers with pent-up anger and simultaneously tries to talk itself down. “And I used to care to know your secrets,” Kahan sings. “You said you got a guilty conscience, but I ain’t ever seen it.” I understand why so many fans like the cuddly and approachable version of Kahan, but I prefer him pissed off and all but snarling.

unexpectedly Clair de Lunar opening and gut-punch lyrics: “It’s a place where most kids just grow up and have kids / Who grow up and have kids who build homes for the rich.”

What you find dull, Chris, I find comforting. Your mileage, and all that. I appreciate that you were both open to what he’s doing here. Remember: Just because millions of people like it doesn’t mean it sucks. ➆

INFO

The Great Divide is available on major streaming services.

— Chris Farnsworth

“PORCH LIGHT” Cowritten with Aaron Dessner, “Porch Light” continues Divide’s attempts to plumb the depths of estrangement, the ones we suffer and the ones we cause. Maybe Kahan’s singing about himself here? “I hope you tell me that you’re winding down / That you lost the taste to face the crowd / That whatever made you famous made you sick.” He uses a common metaphor of hope, but I appreciate the aching light-of-day reality he adds to it: “And I’ll pray for you, be in pain for you / I’ll leave the porch light on / Heartbroken, each morning when it’s me that turns it off.” — Angela Simpson

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.29

Advance Base, Kristin Daelyn, Blueberry Betty (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. $15.

Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $12.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Low Gap, Brendan Walter (Americana) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15.

Quick Fission, Fescue, Monkey Business (indie pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

THU.30

Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

D Davis & Marc Gwinn (folk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Devon McGarry Band (folk rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Haley Heynderickx, Max García Conover (folk) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT.

In Lieu of Flowers, Ursa, Airport Park, Prove to Be (metal) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Lily Fitts, Conall Cafferty (singer-songwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Mike MacDonald (singer-songwriter) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trillium String Quartet (classical) at the Mill ADK, Westport, N.Y., noon. $20.

FRI.1

Bella White, Georgia Harmer (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25.

Chris Parker (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Colin McCaffrey & Friends (indie pop) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Dead Man Strumming (Grateful Dead tribute) at River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Emalou & the Beat (folk) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

First Friday with Cal Humberto (indie, jazz) at the SEABA Center, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Half Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Tribute Act

Is there a hole in your indie rock-loving heart, knowing that there is no Waking Windows festival this year? After more than a decade of turning downtown Winooski into one of the hippest music spots in the country for a weekend every May, the fest ended for good in 2025. While we may never see Waking Windows’ like again, the folks at Standing Stone Wines want to help fill the void. This Saturday, May 2, the club hosts a collection of local bands dubbed “Breaking Windows” in a sort of mini-tribute to the Onion City’s indie legacy. The lineup includes EASTERN MOUNTAIN TIME, MISSY BLY, THE SMALL POTATOES (pictured) and the return of BLUE BUTTON

Jeff Salisbury Band (blues) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

J.J. Booth (singer-songwriter) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Johnny Trama and the B3 Kings, Russ Lawton & Dave Grippo (rock, soul) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $20/$25. Juice, Emily Margaret Band (indie) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Locked in a Vacancy, Bore, Spiritkiller, Short Changed, Speak of the Witch (metal) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 7 p.m. $10.

The Lost Faculty (Americana, bluegrass) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. Free.

Lowertown, villagerrr (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. SOLD OUT.

Mean Waltons (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

P (x3) (dance, funk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Phil Abair Band (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Red Daisy Revival (country) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Shane McGrath (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Silvan Pulse (rock) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Singer-Songwriter Showcase (singer-songwriter) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Sticks & Stones (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Uncle Jimmy (folk) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.2

7-11 Jesus, missandri, Gove the Florist, Crisis Actor (indie) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Back Pocket Beer, Spinning Out (rock) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Ben Clark (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Breaking Windows (indie rock) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 5:30 p.m. $15.

Built to Spill, Lily Seabird (indie rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT.

The Casualties, the Drowns, Dead Street Dreamers (punk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $23.

The Cold Creek Pickers (folk) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

D Davis & Marc Gwinn (folk) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

Danny & the Parts (Americana) at Stowe Cider, 6 p.m. Free. english major, Tabarnak, Sam Fowl (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10.

EVNGwear, Three Piece Meal, My Guy (jazz fusion) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $15.

The Grift (rock) at Afterthoughts, Waitsfield, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Harwood Assembly Band, the Tones (rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10/$15. Kitbash (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. $10.

Mike MacDonald (singersongwriter) at Stowe Cider, 4 p.m. Free.

North Beach Dub Allstars (Sublime tribute) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Shane’s Apothecary (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Slaphappy Jack (rock) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Smokey Newfield Project (Americana, folk rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick and the Enablers (country) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Unruly Allies (folk rock) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Jaded Ravins (Americana) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Julie, Fleshwater, Midrift (indie) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.

Nigel Wearne (blues, jazz) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $15/$18.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.4

Secret Chiefs 3 (experimental rock) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 8 p.m. $34/$42.

TUE.5

Big Easy Tuesdays with Jon McBride (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Coyote Queen (Americana) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Griffin Brown, Greg Davis, St. Silva (indie, electronic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. $5/$10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Wild Leek River (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Irish Night With RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.6

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

Carmina Burana on the Rocks (classical) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$18.

Frail Talk, Izzy Jones (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Jazz Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

djs

THU.30

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10:30 p.m. Free.

Lucky Luc (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Thirty Thursday (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

DJ Stevie B (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15. Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

The Kwame Vibe (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free. Sploinky Rave (EDM) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $20.

SAT.2

DJ Ronstoppable (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.29

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.30

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free. Open Mic (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Red Brick Coffee House (open mic) at Red Brick Meeting House, Westford, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

Cannabis Dispensary

A ordable Cannabis for the People!

10 Railroad St, Suite B, Morrisville 802-851-8735

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm • Sun 10am-4pm

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING

Possession or use of cannabis may carry signi cant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The e ects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the in uence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

4t-wildlegacy042926.indd 1 3/18/26 10:28 AM

On the Beat

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the launch of Foam Brewers. The Burlington brewery opened its doors on Lake Street by Waterfront Park on April 28, 2016, and has grown from a cool little beer spot into one of the most important venues in the local music scene.

“We began with a simple vision, but Foam has evolved into something far greater, shaped by our sta , our community, and our constant drive to innovate,” said cofounder DANI CASEY in a press release announcing the brewery’s birthday celebration, which kicks o this Friday, May 1, and runs through the weekend.

in the press release. “This weekend is our way of saying thank you.” Visit foambrewers.com for more information.

The anniversary party features special beer releases, food trucks, games and kids’ activities, as well as a stacked lineup of great local music for free. The bill on Friday includes DJ DISCO PHANTOM, DOCTOR RICK, HAMMYDOWN, ACQUA MOSSA and KATE KUSH. Saturday, May 2, has DJ KANGANADE, the HIGH BREAKS, WILD LEEK RIVER and BOB WAGNER. Things wrap up on Sunday, May 3, with sets by PONYHUSTLE and REID PARSONS

Get your Vans out, polish the pins on your denim jacket and get ready for this year’s Punk Rock Flea Market in Rutland. Started by local musician NICK GRANDCHAMP (GET A GRIP) in 2022, the market features more than 40 vendors selling vinyl, CDs and tapes, along with books, clothes, art and even video games. Rabbit Rabbit mobile kitchen dishes up food. UNHAPPY HOUR, the DJ duo of BOBBY HACKNEY JR. (ROUGH FRANCIS) and DAVID ZACHARIS (the SMITTENS), spins tunes throughout the day. Grandchamp founded the flea market four years ago to bring together local punk communities.

“Honestly, I just wanted to find a way to showcase my friends’ art,” he told Seven Days in 2024, when the event moved to Merchants Hall.

This year, he’s dubbed the flea market the Rutland Forever Fest, and it goes down at Neighborhood Church, 73 Williams Street, on Saturday, May 9.

Of course, there’s the big blowout at the Higher Ground Ballroom on Saturday night as well, as Foam brings indie-rock powerhouse BUILT TO SPILL to the South Burlington club, with local darling LILY SEABIRD providing support. That bad boy sold out a looooong time ago, so here’s hoping you got tickets! If not, take heart — there’s a ton of food, beer and free music at Foam all weekend.

“For 10 years, Foam has been a place for music, great beer, creativity, and community,” cofounder JON FARMER said

For more than 20 years, the Young Tradition Festival has been a showcase for folk and dance music from Vermont and beyond. The latest iteration takes place in Burlington on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, at City Hall Auditorium and other venues.

Friday kicks o with a Community Dance Party at city hall, featuring Tibetan dance leader TENZIN PASANG accompanied by musician MIGMAR TSERING, Bhutanese Nepali and Bollywood instructors URMILA CHHETRI and SUSMITA DHAKAL, and contra and square dance caller MARY WESLEY.

Saturday features a student/ mentor showcase at the Burlington Farmers Market on Pine Street, including a wide variety of folk music from Ireland, Sweden, Tibet, West Africa and more. The showcase is followed by a free, family-style jam at the SEABA Center, before festival headliners ALEX KEHLER and NICHOLAS WILLIAMS perform a selection of Scandinavian and Québécois music at city hall in the evening.

Check out vtfolklife.org to learn more.

Destroy Audio is a new recording studio in Wolcott, founded by musicians ZEPH and LIZ COURTNEY

The rural studio, set o a dirt road and next to a little pond, has already hosted a slew of local artists including DAVE KELLER, GLORIOUS LEADER, and the a cappella duo of EMILY BATE and HEIDI WILSON

The studio also hosts live music. In collaboration with Undertow Shows, a company that specializes in bringing live music to offbeat venues such as private houses, museums and yoga studios, Destroy Audio presents Brooklyn singer-songwriter KEVIN DEVINE on Thursday, May 7. Tickets can be purchased at undertowshows.com.

Two musicians from opposite coasts are meeting up in Burlington for a rare performance. Los Angeles saxophonist and composer HENRY SOLOMON has joined forces with New York City experimental electronic composer ELORI SAXL to craft the new record Seeing is Forgetting. Locals may recall Saxl from her time at Middlebury College and playing with the indie-folk band ALPENGLOW. Artist ZACH POLLAKOFF and his production company Bauschaus VT booked Solomon and Saxl to play at Doma Bar in Burlington on Friday, May 1. Local singer-songwriter CAM GILMOUR opens the show. Check out bauschausvt.com for more.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

open mics & jams

CONTINUED FROM P.57

MON.4

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Celtic Session (open jam) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

e Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.29

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Comedy Open Mic (comedy) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 8 p.m. Free.

Geoffrey Asmus (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $25.

SAT.2

Geoffrey Asmus (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 9 p.m. $25.

TUE.5

All at Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.6

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.29

Dads’ Night Out: Trivia Night (trivia) at Colatina Exit, Bradford, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WRUV Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

MON.4 // SECRET CHIEFS 3 [EXPERIMENTAL ROCK]

Trojan Horse Core

SECRET CHIEFS 3 are like a sonic Russian nesting doll. The project, led by former Mr. Bungle and Faith No More guitarist and composer Trey Spruance, has sported a constantly shifting lineup since its inception in 1995. But it’s actually a container for seven di erent bands, each of which serves one or more of Spruance’s varied musical interests, from death metal to surf rock to Indian music to electronic. After years of dormancy, Secret Chiefs 3 are releasing several records in 2026, including a long-awaited album from one of the band’s wilder iterations, Holy Vehm. Secret Chiefs 3 play the Stone Church in Brattleboro on Monday, May 4. Western Massachusetts prog-metal act DUST WITCH open the show.

THU.30

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke (karaoke) at Gusto’s, Barre, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McKee’s Island Pub & Pizza, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night with College (trivia) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.1

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 5 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SAT.2

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.3

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

Sunday Night Trivia (trivia) at the Lazy Goat Tavern, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

MON.4

Fighting Game Community Biweekly with WNFC (gaming) at Lumière Hall, Burlington Beer, 4 p.m. $5.

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.5

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.6

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Cam (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

calendar

APRIL 29-MAY 6, 2026

WED.29

activism

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER:

Neighbors, state leaders and legal experts convene to hear the latest about Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund’s substantial impact. Hula, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. $25 suggested donation; preregister.

business

VERMONT TOURISM SUMMIT:

Owners, managers and employees of businesses that depend on out-of-staters share insights and learn from the experts.

Killington Grand Resort Hotel. $100-275; preregister.

climate crisis

‘CELEBRATING & CONSERVING THE OLD FORESTS & WILDLANDS OF THE NORTHEAST’: Panelists examine the intersection of climate resilience and forest preservation to determine how regional ecosystems can better support a changing planet.

Congregational Church of Middlebury, 5:30 p.m. Free.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: A drop-in meetup welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. BYO snacks and drinks. Must Love Yarn, Shelburne, 5-7 p.m. Free.

dance

WEST AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM

CLASS: Participants learn songs, rhythms and movements to the beat of live music. Dance

Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free.

etc.

OPEN HOUSE: Staff from the Burlington-Winooski Bridge Project Team share information about ongoing improvements, answer questions and gather community feedback. Winooski School District, 5-7 p.m. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB’:

Kaouther Ben Hania’s powerful 2025 docudrama follows the true story of emergency volunteers working to save a 5-year-old girl under fire in Gaza. A discussion with independent film producer and UVM alum Jon Kilik follows. See calendar spotlight. Billings Library, University of Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: Helping hands join up with the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers to make a yummy meal for distribution. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the future of the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free.

GENTLE YOGA: Inhale relaxation and exhale tension with slow-paced movements and restorative postures designed

LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENT HERE FOR FREE!

All submissions must be received by Thursday at noon for consideration in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Find our convenient form and guidelines at sevendaysvt.com/postevent

Seven Days calendar writer

Rebecca Driscoll selects and writes calendar spotlights. To help process the hundreds of event submissions we receive each week, some listings are compiled with the help of AI. Driscoll reviews, edits and verifies every entry before publication.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

State University-Johnson, 7 p.m. Free.

to wake up weary muscles. Pillar Pilates Studio, Brandon, 9-10:15 a.m. By donation.

RECOVERY DHARMA: Folks struggling with addiction gather weekly for an evening of meditation, topical readings and open discussion in a supportive environment. First United Methodist Church, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free.

ZUMBA FOR CONNECTION: Advocates get their bodies moving at a rhythmic workout designed to foster community and build support for sexual violence survivors. The Edge Sports & Fitness, South Burlington, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

language

ELL CLASS: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

lgbtq

THE ALL INCLUSIVE DYKE-TACULAR: A weekly get-together and listening party celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with feel-good tunes, dancing and drinks. Doma Bar, Burlington, 5-10 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

music

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES:

Student instrumentalists navigate the intricate nuances of masterworks by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonín Dvořák. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

CONCERT BAND: Campus and community talents unite in a symphonic display of regional artistry at this performance of diverse compositions. Dibden Center for the Arts, Vermont

DOVER QUARTET: A world-class string outfit charts the nation’s musical evolution at a spirited performance nodding to the American semiquincentennial. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $40-65.

UPPER VALLEY SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA: The local ensemble honors the Upper Valley Music Center’s 30th anniversary with a program of works that mirror the changing seasons. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $25; free for kids 18 and under.

outdoors

AWAKENING WOODS: A SPRING

WALK: A guided trek seeks out amphibian activity in vernal pools and the brief bloom of early wildflowers. Hinesburg Town Forest, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

FOREST RESET: GUIDED NATURE

WALKS: Cultivate tranquility among the trees at this gentle weekly wander designed to help busy brains tap into their inner peace. Journey Together VT, Richmond, 9-10:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. québec

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: Performers harness the unstoppable pulse of the metropolis to present iconic hits such as “My Girl” and “What’s Going On.” Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1 & 7:30 p.m. $38-80.

‘SEEKER’: Marie-Claude Verdier’s hard-hitting sci-fi drama follows a high-stakes investigation in 2250 that could have consequences for all of humanity. Centaur Theatre, Montréal, 8 p.m. $22-71.

seminars

SAVING FOR RETIREMENT: IRA NEED-TO-KNOWS SEMINAR: Financial strategists demystify pertinent topics such as contribution limits, rollover options and legacy planning. EastRise Credit Union, Williston, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘POEMS BY HEART’: Vermont poets Alison Prine, Erika NicholsFrazer and Colleen Ovelman read works on themes of birth, loss and renewal. Waterbury Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Free.

RACHAEL ZOE MILLER: A National Geographic explorer and author shares her timely book, DecisionMaking in the Age of Plastics, a guide to making informed decisions benefiting the environment. Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg, 7-8 p.m. Free.

REBECCA MAHONEY: A local author debuts her new horror book, Thrall about a vampiric encounter at a college campus. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.30 activism

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT: Activists march from the University of Vermont campus to Burlington City Hall Auditorium at an annual rally to support survivors of sexual violence. Royall Tyler Theatre, University of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-8 p.m. Free.

business

MOMPRENEUR MEETUP: Entrepreneurial mothers swap business strategies and support while balancing professional goals with parenthood. Littles welcome. Red Poppy Cakery, Waterbury, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

community

‘BRANDON: A HUB & OUR HOME’: The first in a series of three meetings hosted by Vermont Council on Rural Development allows participants to share their ideas for the town’s future over a shared meal.

Otter Valley Union High School, Brandon, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE: Residents voice their priorities for a long-range development vision that will help dictate Burlington’s physical and social evolution. Union Station, Burlington, 3:30-8 p.m. Free.

mission of goodwill by creating handmade winter wear for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of every experience level get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to makerspace tools and equipment. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50.

environment

BTV CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 7:30-10 a.m. Free.

HOWARD E. WOODIN

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COLLOQUIUM SERIES: ‘A POETIC RESPONSE TO CONSERVATION’: Music, movement and environmentalism collide at this hybrid lecture-performance by singersongwriter Moira Smiley and dance professor Laurel Jenkins. Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest, Middlebury College, 12:40 p.m. Free.

‘KEEPING SAFE ON GREEN UP DAY’: Local stewards learn how to ensure a secure and injury-free effort during the upcoming community spring-cleaning event. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: Cameras positioned in nests, underwater and along the forest floor capture a year’s worth of critters coming and going. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

STUDIO PRODUCTION TRAINING: Media enthusiasts walk through the process of conducting interviews on set while switching between cameras and utilizing chroma-keyed backgrounds. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS

CLUB: Ping-Pong players block, chop and lob in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership.

words

POEMCITY OPEN MIC: The library transforms into a hub of lyrical expression as folks of all ages wield the power of the written word. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

FRIENDS OF THE ATHENAEUM MEETING: Interested folks link up with a volunteer group that promotes the library’s resources and services, provides hospitality for programs and events, and helps with fundraising efforts.

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 9:3010:30 a.m. Free.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: From clicking needles to looping looms, participants hook into a

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: Join scientists on a journey through a surreal world of bug-eyed giants and egg-laying mammals. Dealer.com 3D Theater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. Dealer.com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: A highstakes investigation into the underwater realm reveals how humanity’s future hinges on the fate of the ocean’s toothiest inhabitants. Dealer.com 3D eater, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

food & drink

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL: Delicious dishes from more than a dozen countries offer a taste of Vermont’s culinary diversity. Music, dancing and other cultural activities make it a meal to remember.

Community College of Vermont, Winooski, 4 p.m. Free.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free.

CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all abilities select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

PEER SUPPORT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Beginners wanted! Players get lost in the fantasy-filled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all ability levels face off and learn new strategies. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 5:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

health & fitness COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion leads a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister.

SEATED TAI CHI: Adina guides at-home participants — including those with limited mobility or difficulty standing — through a sequence of slow, connected movements. Sponsored by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

WISDOM FLOW YOGA: Curated music sets the tone for a mindful sequence that unites breath, body and spirit. Cornwall Town Hall, 9:30-10:45 a.m. By donation.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP: Practitioners make strides and new friends at a stress-free discussion circle hosted by Fletcher Free Library. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free.

SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP: Conversationalists of all levels practice the Romance language in a welcoming environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

music

JAZZ GUITAR ENSEMBLE & POST-BOP ENSEMBLE: Joe Capps directs the student musicians in a high-energy exploration of standard-bearing compositions by Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and other luminaries. e University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun

• Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.29

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio,

Subjects Matter

When topics feel too heavy to confront, the silver screen can be a catalyst for difficult conversations. At the University of Vermont’s Billings Library in Burlington, Kaouther Ben Hania’s powerful 2025 docudrama e Voice of Hind Rajab uses real-life audio from an emergency phone call in Gaza to tell the story of volunteers working to save a 5-year-old girl trapped under fire by Israel Defense Forces. After the screening, UVM alum Jon Kilik — one of the film’s executive producers — sits down with assistant professor Milton Guillén for a candid conversation about the politics of Hollywood and what it takes to tell a story such as this.

‘THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB’ Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m., at Billings Library, University of Vermont, in Burlington. Free. Info, 802-656-8451, uvm.edu.

JOE GOODKIN: A Chicago roots musician performs “ e Blues of Achilles,” his song cycle that breathes new life into Homeric epics. Livak Ballroom, Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: Young explorers take an unforgettable journey through a hands-on prehistoric world where life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under.

LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: A weekly program brings babies, toddlers and their caregivers together for songs, stories, play and community building in a nurturing environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free.

STEAM SPACE: Youngsters in grades K through 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

THE SILO SESSIONS: THE MECHANICS: A talented band of students from Champlain Valley Union High School delivers tight rhythms, bold four-piece horn lines and rich vocal harmonies.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: Nonmobile infants and their caregivers embark on a slow-paced social hour featuring songs, rhymes and restorative connection. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30 a.m. Free.

GAME ON!: A collaborative evening of digital mischief and friendly competition offers crowd-favorite games such as Mario Kart and Boomerang Fu. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: LEGO FUN: Elementary engineers ages 6 and up build a creation for public display at an afternoon of low-stress, high-concept block play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Free.

Bread & Butter Farm, Shelburne, 7 p.m. $5-15.

outdoors

OLD-GROWTH FOREST WALK: High school and college-age

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Early literacy takes center stage as infants and toddlers engage in a melodic mix of books and songs. Norwich Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

SENSITIVE PLAY TIME: Neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive youths browse

explorers take a guided trek through the woods to gain firsthand perspective on preservation and biodiversity. Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton, noon-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

québec

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See WED.29, 7:30 p.m. ‘SEEKER’: See WED.29. seminars

ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE FIRST AID & PREPAREDNESS: Seasoned paramedic and motorcyclist Mike Leyden shares essential strategies and roadside medical techniques to help backcountry riders manage emergencies. MotoVermont, Milton, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

DAD GUILD WORKSHOP: ‘PARENTING THE ADHD BRAIN’: Certified coach Rebecca De

the stacks and engage with tactile toys in a low-stimulation environment before the library opens its doors to the public. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 9-10 a.m. Free.

THU.30

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

‘DID YOU HEAR?’: Budding thespians take the stage to present a charming production centered on the art of making friends. ONE Community Center, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while

Ornelas dissects the neurological mechanics of executive function and provides science-backed strategies for navigating challenges. Virtual option available. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING & BREAKFAST: A briefing on Age Well services provides community members and caregivers with essential updates on available benefits and the current landscape of senior advocacy. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

talks

AMI VITALE: In “Through the Lens of Empathy: Photographing Hope in a Fractured World,” the National Geographic photographer, filmmaker and writer examines how visual storytelling can inspire connection and action in the face of global challenges. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

HANK KAESTNER: An expert shares photos and stories of the wonders he found on a trip at the start of the pandemic in “Birding in Columbia during COVID.” South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free.

HULA STORY SESSIONS: KING STREET CENTER: Executive director Shabnam Nolan outlines the evolution of the communitydriven ecosystem that helps prepare youths for the future. Hula, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free; preregister.

SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSING SERIES: ANDREW WINTER: The Twin Pines Housing Trust executive director sheds light on the logistical and social complexities of developing affordable living spaces within Vermont communities. Norwich Public Library, 6 p.m. Free. tech

‘BEYOND THE PROMPT: AI AGENTS IN EDUCATION’: aiVermont hosts a virtual workshop inviting educators and curious minds to work hands-on with real projects, collaborate in small groups and discuss where these tools are useful. 8-10:30 & 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $30; preregister.

TECH HELP: Users with digital dilemmas seek expert guidance about everything from smartphone settings to e-book downloads. Norwich Public Library, 1-4 p.m. Free.

theater

‘NUNSENSE’: A culinary catastrophe forces a convent to stage a high-energy musical revue to fund the final rites of their poisoned peers in this laugh-out-loud comedy presented by Middlebury Community Players. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $17-40.

‘OUR TOWN’: Audience members witness the fleeting beauty of everyday life in Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, staged by the school’s theater

department. Wright Memorial Theatre, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $5-15.

‘RHINOCEROS’: Vermont Stage mounts Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist classic about a lone holdout who refuses to join the herd when neighbors begin sprouting horns and hides. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $34-54 sliding scale.

‘THE SPITFIRE GRILL’: We the People Theatre raises the curtain on the moving musical about second chances, unexpected friendships and the courage to begin again, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7:30 p.m. $15-30.

words

AN EVENING WITH THE VERMONT BOOK AWARDS FINALISTS:

Literary enthusiasts mingle with the state’s top wordsmiths at an intimate review of this year’s contenders and their creative inspirations. See calendar spotlight. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

BIANCA STONE: Vermont’s poet laureate continues her “State of Poetry” tour with a deep dive into the craft of late Pulitzer Prizewinning writer Galway Kinnell. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

‘HEALING WORDS’: Local authors share personal narratives of resilience while exploring the intersection of creative expression and mental health at this interactive literary dialogue. Light refreshments provided. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

JOHN ABERTH: A licensed wildlife rehabilitator shares the story of fostering an orphaned kit and navigating the singular bond between human and animal in his book Bringing Up Beaver. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

NATURE POETRY WORKSHOP: A two-part series facilitated by local artist Toussaint St. Negritude helps participants connect with the natural world to find inspiration for their written works. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister.

NER ULYSSES READING SERIES: New England Review contributor Meg Reynolds, poet and educator Stephen Cramer, a student writer, and Bread Loaf coordinator Jason Lamb demonstrate the breadth and complexity of the current literary moment. Refreshments provided. Humanities House, Middlebury College, 7-8:30 p.m. Free.

VERMONT READS BOOK

DISCUSSION: Scholar Alan Berolzheimer facilitates a literary conversation about Lily BrooksDalton’s 2022 novel, The Light Pirate a dystopian tale of survival and resilience. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

MAY 2 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Sip Happens

The 10th annual Southern Vermont HomeBrew Festival in downtown Bennington serves up an unmissable showcase of small-batch bevvies produced by hobbyist fermenters from across the Northeast. This year’s bubbly bash boasts more than 30 brewers ready to pour 125 craft concoctions, including beer, cider, wine and mead, for those keen on scouting the next generation of industry professionals. You won’t find these rare indie libations at restaurants or grocery stores — yet — but several past participants have gone on to open breweries. Live music, food trucks and artisan vendors complete the celebration of DIY talent.

SOUTHERN VERMONT HOMEBREW FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 2, noon-4 p.m., in downtown Bennington. $40-50; preregister. Info, 802-447-3311, vthomebrewfests.com.

FRI.1

activism

MAY DAY MARCH & RALLY:

Community activists and labor advocates gather in solidarity to demand corporate accountability for farmworkers and protest systemic injustice. Hannaford, Williston, 5 p.m. Free.

conferences

WOMEN’S MARTIAL ARTS

SYMPOSIUM: Intermediate and advanced martial artists sharpen their skills and swap techniques under the guidance of elite masters. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 6-8:30 p.m. $100-145.

crafts

FIRST FRIDAY FIBER GROUP: Fiber-arts fans make progress on projects while chatting over snacks. GRACE, Hardwick, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

dance

FULL MOON ECSTATIC DANCE: A free-form boogie session allows participants to let loose in a safe outdoor space around a crackling

fire. Dreamland, Worcester, 7-9 p.m. $10-20.

SPRINGTIME SOCIAL: Revelers bring their dancing shoes, a friend and a snack to share with the crowd for an epic evening of dancing and community building. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 6:30 p.m. Free.

‘TRAP’: Burlington company Slow Shapes Dance presents an original work of contemporary choreography that pits the weight of the shadows against the hope of renewal. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30 p.m. $20.

environment

ENERGY SAVINGS HELP: Experts from Efficiency Vermont offer personalized guidance on slashing utility costs and accessing free appliance upgrades at one-onone consultations. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. etc.

10TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND: Foam Brewers toasts a decade in operation with live music, special beer releases, food trucks, games and activities. See foambrewers. com for full schedule. Waterfront

Park, Burlington. Free; cost of food and drink.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.30.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.30.

‘EATING RAOUL’: Paul Bartel’s 1982 slapstick comedy delivers a biting satire of me-generation self-indulgence. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.30.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.30.

food & drink

ARTISAN CHEESEMAKERS

CONFERENCE: Industry insiders convene for an all-day seminar dedicated to the logistics of getting curds from the farm to the plate. The Hub CoWorks, Rutland, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $125; preregister.

PRIMO MAGGIO CELEBRATION & DINNER: Pasta and politics collide at this International Workers’

Day gathering featuring a silent auction and a scholarly deep dive into the history of American labor strikes. Old Labor Hall, Barre, 5-8 p.m. $25; donations accepted; preregister.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.30, 10 a.m.

MAH-JONGG: It’s not just for old ladies! Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a rousing game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION

ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Virtual option available. Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. WEEKLY MEDITATION: Expert Zac Ispa-Landa shares tools to quiet the mind, slow down and reset. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free.

WISDOM FLOW YOGA: Curated music sets the tone for a mindful sequence that unites breath, body and spirit. Pillar Pilates Studio, Brandon, 9-10:15 a.m. By donation.

lgbtq

RPG NIGHT: Members of the LGBTQ community get together weekly for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Everway. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:308:30 p.m. Free.

music

ANA GUIGUI: An acclaimed pianist and vocalist entertains listeners with a wide variety of styles and

genres. The Brandon Inn, 7-8 p.m. Free.

COLCHESTER COMMUNITY

CHORUS: Local vocalists celebrate spring and the world of color through themes of rainbows, kaleidoscopes and masquerades. Colchester High School, 7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

DANA ROBINSON: Thoughtprovoking lyrics meet country-blues rhythms at a performance dedicated to the healing power of the natural world. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

FESTIVAL PREVIEW WITH

SOOVIN KIM: Classical fanatics get a peek into this summer’s Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival program, followed by a brief performance of works by Antonín Dvořák and Grażyna Bacewicz. Meach Cove Farms Gathering Space, Shelburne, 7 p.m. Free; preregister.

FULL MOON SHINDIG: A weekend of environmental stewardship kicks off with a moonlit celebration featuring live tunes, dancing and a distribution of Green Up bags. North Hero Community Hall, 5-9 p.m. Free.

GREGGFEST: An impressive roster of rockers and hip-hop artists takes the stage at this 12th annual musical memorial for late VTSU student Jake Gregg. Vermont State University-Lyndon, 7 p.m. $10; free for VTSU students.

KRUGER BROTHERS: An outfit of international folk luminaries demonstrates the technical precision and genre-busting innovation that has defined its extensive career. Vergennes Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $40.

PAUL WINTER: In “This Glorious Earth,” the soprano saxophonist blends his sound with recorded voices of the wild in a sonic tapestry celebrating Mother Nature. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 7 p.m. $10-40.

outdoors

MAY FULL MOON FIRE: Neighbors gather to greet spring’s “Flower Moon” and honor the seasonal transition with nature-centered reflection. No dogs allowed. Knoll Farm, Fayston, 5:30 p.m. Free.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: The 31st annual Asian Heritage Month extravaganza includes art shows, film screenings, play readings and food tastings. See accesasie.com for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Various prices.

‘SEEKER’: See WED.29.

talks

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE SPRING LECTURE

SERIES: J. KEVIN GRAFFAGNINO: In “Ira Allen of Vermont,” an author and historian shines new light on the politician’s prominent role in the state’s formative years. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members.

tech

MORNING TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one sessions.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘EUREKA DAY’: A progressive elementary school board descends into anarchy as parents clash in Jonathan Spector’s sharp-witted satire presented by Middlebury Acting Company. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $15-39.

‘NUNSENSE’: See THU.30.

‘OUR TOWN’: See THU.30.

‘RHINOCEROS’: See THU.30.

‘THE SPITFIRE GRILL’: See THU.30.

words

NORTHSHIRE BOOK FESTIVAL:

Bookish good times abound at an annual gathering of readers and writers, featuring talks, signings, celebrations and a wide array of special guests. Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Various prices; preregister.

SAT.2

activism

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

MARCH: Activists rally in support of local journalism, transforming the pedestrian promenade into a vocal celebration of media independence and the public’s right to information. Top of Church Street, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

bazaars

MAY DAY COMMUNITY

CELEBRATION & TRUNK SALE:

Baked goods, children’s crafts and a sprawling community bazaar welcome spring, while also raising funds for summer concerts. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 1-4 p.m. $5 to vend.

SPRING ARTIST MARKET:

Locavores browse a curated selection of handmade treasures at a showcase of both student creativity and veteran craftsmanship. Missisquoi Valley Union Middle & High School, Swanton, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

community

RAISE THE ROOF TO END HOMELESSNESS: Lamoille Community House celebrates its annual fundraising event with live music by Danny & the Parts, diverse food offerings, and raffles. Stowe Cider, 6 p.m. $25-100; preregister.

SISTERHOOD CAMPFIRE: Women and genderqueer folks gather in a safe and inclusive space to build community through journaling, storytelling, gentle music and stargazing. Leddy Park, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

conferences

WOMEN’S MARTIAL ARTS

SYMPOSIUM: See FRI.1, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

dance

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See capitalcitygrange.org for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale.

‘TRAP’: See FRI.1.

education

NORWICH UNIVERSITY

COMMENCEMENT: Brigadier General William McCollough addresses the school’s graduating class of 2026 with an empowering keynote speech. Norwich University, Northfield, 10 a.m. Free.

environment

‘CONVERSATIONS FROM THE ECOTONE’: Coauthors Andi Lloyd and Andy Nagy-Benson draw from their book, Letters From the Ecotone: Ecology, Theology and Climate Change, to explore the intersection of Christian theology and environmental stewardship. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 1 p.m. Free.

GREEN UP DAY: Volunteers across the Green Mountain State pick up litter and spruce up their communities. See greenupvermont.org for town-specific details. Various locations statewide. Free.

etc.

10TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND: See FRI.1.

LA NUIT: A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS: Guests don their fanciest cocktail attire for an evening of live music, dancing, decadent desserts and a performance by Broadway veteran Megan Hilty. Proceeds benefit the theater’s educational programming. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $100-150.

‘OFF THE WALL’: A fast-paced lottery of fine art features a mosaic of 12-inch panels showcasing the breadth of Vermont’s creative community. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery, Waitsfield, 1-5 p.m. $150.

OPENING DAY: Community members explore the town’s past through engaging exhibits, fun and educational activities, and informative chats with museum volunteers. Milton Historical Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

SPRING CLEANUP DAY: Volunteers tidy up the exhibits and grounds just in time for opening day. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh. Free.

SPRING VOLUNTEER WORK DAY: Eager helpers tackle a diverse checklist of indoor-outdoor maintenance to ensure a polished seasonal debut. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

fairs & festivals

COMMUNITY BELTAINE:

Merrymakers celebrate the return of life to the land at an annual festival of fertile joy and spring revelry. Dreamland, Worcester, 2 p.m. By donation.

GREEN UP HOEDOWN: Live music, a hobbyhorse derby and a Kentucky Derby hat contest reward good Samaritans after a morning of cleaning up. Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, noon-9 p.m. Free.

KENTUCKY DERBY FEST: Pony up! Patrons sport fancy headwear and sip classic cocktails while wagering on the fastest thoroughbreds at this benefit for Worthen Library. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, 5 p.m. Free; donations accepted; cash bar.

MAY DAY PARTY: Revelers gather for a spirited afternoon of community building, pairing traditional May Day festivities with the rhythmic energy of live music and dancing. Main Street Museum, White River Junction, 4-7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

MONTPELIER MAYFEST: Activities take over the city streets as locals toast the changing seasons with live tunes, local commerce and a pageant of ecological appreciation. Downtown Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

SOUTHERN VERMONT

HOMEBREW FESTIVAL: Fans of fermentation taste their way through bevvies and bites at an annual showcase of the region’s top contenders. See calendar spotlight. Downtown Bennington, noon-4 p.m. $40-50; preregister.

WILLISTON GREEN FAIR: Ecoconscious neighbors convene for a hybrid festival pairing Green Up Day traditions with interactive energy efficiency demos, live music, raffles and a local plant giveaway. Refreshments provided. Williston Village Green, 9 a.m.-noon. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANNIE LAURIE’: New Hampshire composer Jeff Rapsis plays a live score for this rarely screened 1927 blockbuster featuring silent-era megastar Lillian Gish in the titular role. Brandon Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.30.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.30.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.30.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.30.

games

CHESS CLUB: Proficient players of all ages face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m. Free.

D&D & TTRPG GROUP: Fans of Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role-playing games

embark on a new adventure with a rotating cast of game masters. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 1-5 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

AN INTRODUCTION TO FOUNDATIONAL TEACHING IN BUDDHISM: Students transform ancient tenets into modern mindfulness at this four-week course exploring the Four Noble Truths. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5:15 p.m. Free.

lgbtq

NATURE POETRY AFFINITY GROUP PROGRAM: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC community members ages 18 and up join artist Toussaint St. Negritude out on the land to translate the rhythms of the natural world into self-expression. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, noon-3 p.m. Free; preregister.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.1. GREEN MOUNTAIN YOUTH SYMPHONY: Young musicians celebrate a quarter century of orchestral tradition with a repertoire of cinematic themes and a featured viola concerto by Isla Robechek. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $5-20.

GREGGFEST: See FRI.1.

HANDEL SOCIETY & GLEE CLUB: The two choirs unite to perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, a 19th-century oratorio that dramatizes the prophet’s spiritual journey. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $20-35.

‘SHARED VOICES’: Alan Rowe directs the North Country Chorus, Halcyon Chorale and St. Johnsbury Academy Hilltones in music by 20th-century composers. United Community Church, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. By donation.

SINGER-SONGWRITER

SHOWCASE: An evening of contemporary folk music brings together four acclaimed artists for an intimate, in-the-round performance highlighting individual artistry and collaborative spirit. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-28.

‘STORY SONGS OF THE ‘70S’: A folk-rock act featuring Maine singer-songwriter Tom DiMenna plays music by vinyl-era legends Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens and Harry Chapin. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7 p.m. $35; preregister.

THE TENDERBELLIES: Listeners fill up their musical tanks with energetic live tunes by the local roots and bluegrass band. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. $20-30.

VERMONT PHILHARMONIC:

Soloist Arturo Delmoni joins the storied ensemble for “Sparkle of Spring,” a program of concertos and overtures from the European canon. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 4 p.m. $20-25; free for students.

VERMONT SACRED HARP

CONVENTION: Vocalists from

Check Them Out

An Evening With the Vermont Book Awards Finalists draws bibliophiles to the Norwich Bookstore, where this year’s premier prose and poetry contenders — all of whom are up for prizes at the May 2 awards ceremony in Montpelier — spill the ink on the inspiration and industry behind their latest works. Literary aspirants and enthusiasts glean trade secrets from these top-tier Green Mountain wordsmiths, including educator and historian Tyler Alexander, organic farmer Helen Whybrow, and editor Makenna Goodman (pictured). Don’t miss the chance to catch these authors before they claim their trophies and take the world by storm.

AN EVENING WITH THE VERMONT BOOK AWARDS FINALISTS Thursday, April 30, 7 p.m., at the Norwich Bookstore. Free. Info, 802-649-1114, norwichbookstore.com.

across the state converge for a potluck lunch and an afternoon of shape note singing. Glover Town Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

outdoors

COMMUNITY BIRD WALKS:

Feathered-friend seekers join expert Lachlan Ziegler for a morning trek to sharpen their identification skills. Rock Point Center, Burlington, 8-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

SPRING WILDFLOWER WALK

WITH BOB POPP: A local botanist leads nature enthusiasts on a stroll through the landscape to identify emerging floral treasures. Stranahan Town Forest, Marshfield, 9 a.m. Free.

québec

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See WED.29, 7:30 p.m.

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See FRI.1.

‘SEEKER’: See WED.29, 2 & 8 p.m.

sports

BIKE SWAP: Pedal-powered commerce takes over the shop as community members clear out garage clutter and scout for preloved rides. Skirack, Burlington, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

PEAVINE WHITEWATER RACE:

Paddlers test their technical skills against roaring rapids at a competitive downstream sprint benefiting Ridgeline Outdoor Collective. The White River, Stockbridge, noon-3 p.m. $40; preregister; free for spectators.

talks

ROBIN BOYLE-LAISURE & TAMARA MATHIEU: Two authors and advocates break down tactics of modern cults and traffickers to equip community members with the necessary tools for digital safety and prevention. City Council Room, St. Albans City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

theater

‘DINNER WITH FRIENDS’: The state’s oldest theater group kicks off its 106th season with Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer-winning dramedy exploring the complex evolution of marriage and friendship. Springfield Community Players Studio, 7 p.m. $15-20.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See FRI.1.

‘NUNSENSE’: See THU.30.

‘OUR TOWN’: See THU.30.

‘RHINOCEROS’: See THU.30, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘THE SPITFIRE GRILL’: See THU.30.

WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

SUN.3

etc.

10TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND: See FRI.1.

WEDDING EXPO: Engaged or curious couples score inspiration, sample desserts and enter raffles at a curated showcase of regional event professionals. Buck Ridge Barns, Hinesburg, 1-3 p.m. Free; preregister.

fairs & festivals

HERRICKS COVE WILDLIFE FESTIVAL: Naturalists migrate to the shoreline for a day of animal encounters, bird walks and local crafts inspired by Vermont’s wilder residents. Herricks Cove, Bellows Falls, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. $2-5 suggested donation per family.

MONTPELIER MAYFEST: See SAT.2, noon-4 p.m. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR’: Locals join filmmaker Robbie Leppzer for the world premiere of his vibrant documentary short about Peter Schumann, the visionary founder of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 1 p.m. $25-35.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.30.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.30.

words

AUDIOBOOK WALKING CLUB: Enjoying a good book becomes a collective aerobic activity as lit lovers hit the pavement for a synchronized listening experience. Phoenix Books, Rutland, 11 a.m. Free; preregister.

NORTHSHIRE BOOK FESTIVAL: See FRI.1, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

USED BOOK SALE: Readers scout for literary treasures and coffee-table finds at a budget-friendly sale where every purchase benefits Ilsley Public Library programming. Middlebury United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Free; cost of books; cash or check only.

VERMONT BOOK AWARDS: The Green Mountain State’s finest poets, novelists and nonfiction authors receive recognition at a reception worthy of the history books. College Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, 7 p.m. $35-160; cash bar; preregister.

WORD PLAY: A ROMANTASY

BOOK POP-UP: Bibliophiles and pleasure-seekers unite for a curated afternoon celebrating all things spicy and steamy with a selection of the genre’s most provocative titles. Earth and Salt, Burlington, 3-6 p.m. Free.

MET OPERA IN HD: ‘EUGENE ONEGIN’: A lovestruck heroine and an aloof aristocrat weather a storm of missed connections in this stage adaptation of the Russian literary classic. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 1-5 p.m. $10-22.

‘MORE THAN BLUE’: A powerful 2025 documentary explores the unseen realities of postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis in America. A panel discussion follows. Light refreshments provided. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 2-5 p.m. $5-15.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.30.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.30.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.30, 1 p.m.

health & fitness

COTS WALK: Fundraisers walk 3.6 miles, visiting the nonprofit’s locations along the way, to see how donations support shelters and other services for unhoused neighbors. A celebration at Battery Park

follows. Battery Park, Burlington, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

KARUNA COMMUNITY

MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE

(FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted.

NEW LEAF SANGHA

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike sit together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free.

SLEEPY HOLLOW MOUNTAIN

RACE: Prizes and syrupy stacks of flapjacks reward fleet-footed folks who brave vertical trails and rugged paths at this annual afternoon of forest running. Cochran’s

Ski Area, Richmond, noon. $25-40; free for kids; preregister.

music

AURORA CHAMBER SINGERS: A sonorous spring program titled “Prima dell’Aurora” features choral compositions by George Frideric Handel, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Vittoria Aleotti. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m. $10-30; preregister.

‘SHARED VOICES’: See SAT.2, 3 p.m.

THE RUTLAND AREA CHORUS AND GRACE FESTIVAL WIND

QUINTET: A maritime-inspired program brings the ebb and flow of the ocean to the stage with a curated selection of sea shanties and other tributes to the deep.

Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 4 p.m. By donation.

VERMONT PHILHARMONIC: See SAT.2. Barre Opera House, 2 p.m.

VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA: In “Reaching for the Stars” the talented ensemble launches skyward with works by Howard Hanson, John Williams and Valerie Pelka. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 3 p.m. $23.52-26.88.

outdoors

EARLY BIRDERS MORNING WALK:

You know what they say: The early bird gets the worm! New and experienced avian admirers take a stroll to observe the area’s flying, feathered friends. BYO binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7-9 a.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister.

québec

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See WED.29, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See FRI.1.

‘SEEKER’: See WED.29, 2 p.m.

sports

BIKE SWAP: See SAT.2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free.

theater

‘DINNER WITH FRIENDS’: See SAT.2, 2 p.m.

‘EUREKA DAY’: See FRI.1, 2 p.m.

‘NUNSENSE’: See THU.30, 2 p.m.

‘RHINOCEROS’: See THU.30, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘THE SPITFIRE GRILL’: See THU.30, 3 p.m.

words

NORTHSHIRE BOOK FESTIVAL: See FRI.1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

SILENT BOOK GROUP: Bookworms unite — quietly, of course! BYO reading material to savor in peace and quiet. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free.

VERMONT AUTHOR OPEN HOUSE: A celebration of the physical craft of the written word features signings, live demos of traditional bookbinding and a gallery of rare antiquarian treasures. St. Albans City Hall, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

MON.4

business

SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM: An info-packed series of workshops covers topics such as financial literacy, compliance and insurance, and infrastructure. Barre Social Club, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

conferences

VSFA PRODUCER EXPO: Regional food and beverage professionals convene in the Capital City to forge partnerships and discover the latest innovations emerging from the state’s specialty markets. Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Montpelier, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Various prices; preregister.

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

film See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.30.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.30.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.30.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.30.

games

BURLINGTON ELKS BINGO: Players grab their daubers for a competitive night of card stamping for cash prizes. Burlington Elks Lodge, 6 p.m. Various prices.

MAH-JONGG MONDAYS: Tile traders gather for friendly bouts of the ancient game of skill, strategy and luck. St. Albans Free Library, 1-3 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

WISDOM FLOW YOGA: See FRI.1.

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

music

ONION RIVER CHORUS

REHEARSAL: The non-auditioned community ensemble conducted by Richard Riley invites interested vocalists to join in spirited song. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7-9 p.m. Free.

VOCAL STUDIO RECITAL: Student singers present an eclectic program spanning a wide variety of styles, from original works and musical theater hits to jazz standards and art songs. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See FRI.1.

sports

DRAGON BOAT RACING INFO

SESSION: Active adults dip their toes into the world of competitive paddling at a guided introduction by a Malia Racing coach. Snacks provided. Community Sailing Center, Burlington, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

talks

LAURA MANN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE LECTURE SERIES: ALLISON J. APPLEBAUM: In

“Family Caregivers: The Invisible Backbone of U.S. Health Care,” a clinical psychologist sheds light on people who serve a critical and often unrecognized role on the care team. Davis Auditorium, Medical Education Center Pavilion, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, 8-9 a.m. Free.

words

ANIME GROUP: Fans of Japanese animation and comics convene weekly to swap ideas, read stories and connect over shared interests in hand-drawn media. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

KC PHIPPS & AMANDA HARRIS:

Two up-and-coming Vermont authors read from their works and discuss the power and perplexity of autobiographical writing. A Q&A follows. Tunnel Books, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free.

SCRIPTWRITERS’ GROUP: Got a story to tell? Talented local writers swap techniques and constructive critiques. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

TUE.5

agriculture

GARDEN LIKE A FARMER WORKSHOP SERIES:

WATERING IN A CHANGING

CLIMATE: Experts from Vermont Garden Network offer guidance on best practices for unpredictable weather, such as high precipitation, flooding and drought. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library holds a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

crafts

ALL HANDS TOGETHER COMMUNITY CRAFTING GROUP: Marshfield spinning maven

Donna Hisson hosts a casual gathering for fiber fans of all abilities to work on old projects or start something new. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.30.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.30.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.30.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.30.

food & drink

COOKBOOK CLUB: Culinary enthusiasts bring a dish to share from A Very Chinese Cookbook: 100 Recipes From China and Not China then chat about their inspiration. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free; preregister.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Neighbors show off their skills at an evening of friendly competition playing European tabletop staples such as Catan, Splendor and Concordia. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free.

GAMES GALORE: Library patrons of all ages gather for bouts of board and card games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

BEGINNER TAI CHI: Weight transference and mindful breathing help practitioners cultivate agility through a contemporary sequence of quintessential martial arts postures. Virtual option available. Unitarian Universalist Church, Springfield, 10-11 a.m. Free.

COMMUNITY MEDITATION: All experience levels engage in the ancient Buddhist practice of clearing the mind to achieve a state of calm. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 5:15-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

MEMORY CAFÉ: HOLISTIC SLEEP

SUPPORT: Retired nurse Sherry Alix draws on years of clinical experience to share strategies and practical advice for families navigating the complexities of private caregiving. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:45 a.m.-noon. Free.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free.

holidays

LAG B’OMER CELEBRATION: Celebrants observe the traditional Jewish holiday at an evening of social connection and community building, complete with a barbecue feast and touch-a-truck opportunities for all ages. Chabad of Vermont, Burlington, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

language

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free.

PAUSE-CAFÉ MARDI: Francophones and Frenchlanguage learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 6-8 p.m. Free. music

RECITAL SERIES: FRANCESCO

LIBETTA: An acclaimed musician navigates the technical peaks of the Romantic era while

alternating between a vintage 19th-century piano and a modern Steinway to highlight the evolution of the instrument. Morris Recital Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H., 7 p.m. $35-45.

VERMONT’S FREEDOM & UNITY CHORUS: Singers come together for a weekly rehearsal inspiring positive change through the power of music. Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See FRI.1.

seminars

THE ARTIST’S WAY: A weekly study group invites participants to explore Julia Cameron’s celebrated method for unblocking creativity and achieving transcendence. 3 Squares Café, Vergennes, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

MEDIA WORKSHOP: An info-packed course for ages 60 and up blends hands-on training with reflection on local history, community ethics and public access values. CCTV Channel 17 Studios, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

sports

DAD GUILD OPEN GYM

BASKETBALL: Local fathers hit the hardwood for weekly sessions of full-court exercise and casual competition. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about devices of all kinds in face-to-face chats. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free.

theater

‘THE GHOSTLIGHT RESIDENCY’: Vermont Stage presents a bold, experimental performance starring Abby Paige and Leah Souffrant, using an existing set from the company’s concurrent production of Rhinoceros. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $3444 sliding scale.

words

BURLINGTON

LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of nine weeks, readers analyze the works of father-andson authors Kingsley and Martin Amis, two influential British novelists of the post-war era. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

NATURE POETRY WORKSHOP:

See THU.30. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon.

SCUDDER H. PARKER & KERRIN

MCCADDEN: Two accomplished writers read selections from their recent works, The Poem of the World and American Wake, respectively. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

WRITER’S CIRCLE: Creative sparks fly as participants tackle curated prompts and read their latest drafts aloud in a collaborative

environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free.

WED.6 activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM

MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free.

business

VERMONT

WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister.

community

THE MOTH GRANDSLAM: Storytellers compete to be declared the Vermont Grand Champion, telling tales and tugging heartstrings in this battle of wits and words. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 8 p.m. $49.

crafts

FIBER ARTS NIGHT: Knitters, crocheters and weavers make progress on projects while soaking up creativity and connection. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

YARN & YAK: See WED.29.

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.29.

etc.

CHAMP MASTERS

TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Dealer.com, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘OFF THE WALL’: See SAT.2. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

GREAT ART WEDNESDAY SERIES: ‘GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING’: David Bickerstaff’s 2015 documentary pursues answers to the unresolved riddles surrounding Johannes Vermeer’s Golden Age masterpiece. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $15.

VTIFF MUSICAL SILENTS: ‘THAT NIGHT’S WIFE’: A live improvised score by Matt Hagen enriches this screening of Yasujiro Ozu’s 1930 crime drama about a desperate man who commits robbery to help his sick daughter. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10-20.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.29.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.29.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.29. GENTLE YOGA: See WED.29.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.29.

language

ELL CLASS: See WED.29.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their vocabulario with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. lgbtq

THE ALL INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: See WED.29.

music

RECITAL SERIES: FRANCESCO LIBETTA: See TUE.5, 8 p.m. ST. J BLUEGRASS JAM: Players and fans get together for some old-time picking and fiddling. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

québec

FESTIVAL ACCÈS ASIE: See FRI.1.

seminars

BIKE-SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD: Local family physician and health advocate John Raser shares how communities can implement street-level changes to protect vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.29. theater

‘THE GHOSTLIGHT RESIDENCY’: See TUE.5.

‘WHITE’: Between the Willows mounts Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames’ play exploring white privilege and appropriation in the art world. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $14-35.

words

DANILYN RUTHERFORD: An author and anthropologist discusses her academic memoir, Beautiful Mystery: Living in a Wordless World, exploring life with her nonverbal daughter, Millie, in conversation with University of Vermont faculty members. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5 p.m. Free.

ELIZABETH A. ALLEN: A Vermont historian and author beckons true-crime buffs for a conversation about her 2025 book, Dangerous Characters: The Life and Crimes of Williston’s Notorious Outlaw Duo. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. $3; preregister.

POETRY AT BENNINGTON SERIES: GABRIELLE

CALVOCORESSI: A decorated poet and editor from North Carolina shares selections from their lyrical portfolio. Bennington College, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

FAMI LY FU N

discussing the struggles and joys of parenthood. Greater Burlington YMCA, 9:45-10:45 a.m. $10; free for members.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads kids ages 2 to 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. chittenden county

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA

BASSICK: The singer and storyteller extraordinaire guides wee ones ages birth to 5 in indoor music and movement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

STORY TIME: Young listeners and their caregivers explore the building blocks of reading through a curated selection of songs, rhymes and hands-on crafts. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:30 a.m. Free.

TODDLER TIME: Tykes bypass the “stay seated” rule at a morning of short stories, familiar songs, rhymes and finger plays. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15-9:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Elementary and teenage fans of the franchise — and beginners, too — trade cards and play games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME: Kids and their caregivers meet for stories, songs and bubbles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos under 4 to a new sensory learning experience each week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free.

mad river valley/ waterbury

BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP: Blocks, toys, books and songs engage little ones 24 months and younger. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: The center’s studio space transforms into a giant interactive cardboard building, complete with secret chambers, tunnels and a ball run. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, noon-4 p.m. Free.

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:3011 a.m. Free.

FRI.1

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

DROP-IN: An afterschool hangout space invites teens ages 13 to 19 to relax, connect, grab a snack or browse the nonprofit’s clothing closet. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2:30 p.m. Free.

FAMILY FRIDAY WITH LINDA BASSICK: Caretakers and wee ones enjoy a weekly morning mashup of muffins and music played by the local legend. Pingala Café North Avenue, Burlington, 9-9:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

FRIDAY LEGO BUILDERS: Weekly sessions invite creative minds to stack, connect and build their way to structural masterpieces using interlocking blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free.

MUSIC TIME: Little patrons ages birth to 5 engage with live performance and movement at a high-energy gathering led by veteran area musician Linda Bassick. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: A drop-in hangout session welcomes kids ages 12 to 17 for lively games, arts and crafts, and snacks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 2-8 p.m. Free.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.30. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Youngsters and their caregivers delight in beautiful books, silly songs, creative crafts and unplugged play in the library’s cozy children’s room. Craftsbury Public Library, Craftsbury Common, 10 a.m. Free.

SAT.2 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

GREEN UP AT ECHO: Young environmentalists explore the inner workings of a garbage truck and the wonders of worm-based recycling at a celebration of Vermont’s spring-cleaning tradition.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Regular

admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. chittenden county

MEET & BLEAT BABY GOAT

PLAYGROUP: Wee ones delight in a heart-melting hour of snuggles, goat yoga and playful antics with a herd of friendly kids. Flower Gap Farm & Creamery, Charlotte, 9:30-10:30 a.m. & 1-2 p.m. $20; preregister.

barre/montpelier

MEET TEDDY THE THERAPY DOG: Animal lovers pop by the library to make friends with a very good boy, learn about his therapy duties and see some of his astounding tricks. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, noon-12:45 p.m. Free.

mad river valley/ waterbury

SATURDAY STORY TIME: Stories and songs help children develop social and literacy skills. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom ‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.30.

brattleboro/okemo valley

BABY GOAT DAY!: Animal lovers of all ages cuddle up with newborn kids at a benefit for Grace Cottage Hospital. No dogs allowed. Wear mud boots. Big Picture Farm, Townshend, 1-4 p.m. $10.

SUN.3

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

chittenden county

MEET & BLEAT BABY GOAT PLAYGROUP: See SAT.2.

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

‘CARDTOPIA’: See THU.30.

MON.4

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

NNE TEEN TAKEOVER: MINECRAFT MEETUP: Players convene to build structures, extract resources and craft tools in an infinite, block-based video game world. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

STORY ARTISTS: Wee ones ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers read a selection of books by a featured author, then make

art inspired by the theme. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

EASY EATS: Middle schoolers transform humble pantry staples into savory chicken potstickers using straightforward culinary techniques designed for repeat performance. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free.

TUE.5 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

‘SHREK THE MUSICAL JR.’: Preteen performers bring the swamp to the stage with this high-energy musical quest featuring a grumpy ogre and a cast of eccentric fairy-tale characters. ONE Community Center, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DADS’ NIGHT OUT: BOARD GAME

NIGHT: Local rad dads show up ready to play at this spirited evening of friendly competition and fun hosted by Dad Guild. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7-9:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

MINECRAFT MEETUP: Fans of the sandbox game from ages 7 to 12 gather with fellow enthusiasts to play on the library’s private server. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with the local musician. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

chittenden county

CRAFTYTOWN: Aspiring artists tackle a rotating menu of tactile projects to explore new techniques, then bring home a finished masterpiece. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free.

READ WITH SAMMY: Young bookworms sharpen their literacy skills by sharing stories (and carrots!) with a certified therapy dog. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-5 p.m. Free.

SILENT DISCO: Teens in grades 6 and up plug into their own personal playlists for a high-energy, headphonepowered bash. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-4 p.m. Free.

STORY TIME: Youngsters from birth to 5 enjoy a session of reading, rhyming and singing. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.1, 2-6 p.m.

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

upper valley

LEGO TUESDAYS: Youth architects tackle construction challenges or follow their own blueprints at a creative building session complete with snacks. Norwich Public Library, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading while singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.1.

WED.6

CO-PARENTING DADS:

Experiencing separation, divorce or long-term co-parenting? Fathers assemble virtually to connect, build community and share experiences in a supportive environment. Hosted by Dad Guild. 8-10 p.m. Free.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.29.

‘SHREK THE MUSICAL JR.’: See TUE.5. DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.29.

LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: See WED.29.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.29.

PLAY TIME: Young builders and their caregivers share a story before diving into co-construction with oversize blocks. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:45 a.m. Free.

READ TO A DOG: Young readers sharpen their literacy skills and gain confidence by sharing stories with a patient, fourlegged listener in ten-minute sessions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.29.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.29.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

upper valley

STORY TIME: See WED.29. K

THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $21.25/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE).

NEWSPAPER DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 3 P.M. POST CLASS ADS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS. GET HELP AT CLASSES@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

arts & craxfts

TINTYPES! WOODEN CAMERAS AND BRASS BARREL LENSES:

Tintypes! Wooden cameras and brass barrel lenses! Portraits and tutorials! Tintype photography, sometimes called wet plate collodion photography, is a historic and archival process developed by Fredrick Scott Archer in 1851. It was the principal method of making photographs from the 1850s to the 1870s. Elemental silver on tin! It’s still being done today in my Chittenden County workspace/studio. I offer one-onone tutorials for those wishing to learn the process. Please email for details. Dates & times TBD. Cost: $325, cash or check. Location: Nelson Parker Photography. Info: nelsonparkerphotographs@ gmail.com, nelsonparker photographs.com.

COLLAGRAPH, MIXED MEDIA AND LARGE-SCALE PRINTMAKING:

Summer printmaking classes, 3-day and 5-day. 1) LargeScale Collagraph Printmaking, Jul. 6-10; 2) Carborundum Printmaking, Aug. 7-9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 3) Collagraph and Mixed Media, Jul. 17-19 & Aug. 17-21; 4) Private one-on-one sessions. Cost: $750 for 3-day class; $1,300 for 5-day class. Location: Sarah Amos Studio, 2139 Shenang Rd., Enosburg Falls. Info: 802-309-9409, samos@pshift.com, sarahamosstudio.com.

CLAY SCULPTURE

WORKSHOPS: Learn how to sculpt a clay head that has personality and

character. Basics of proportion, anatomy and technique and how to incorporate facial expression and gesture to give life to the piece. Clay, tools and firing included. No previous experience necessary. Dates: Tue. & Sat., Jun. 2-20, 4-6 p.m. Cost: $300. Location: Pine Street Sculpture Studio, Burlington. Info: Rachel Morton, 802-8258030, rachel@rachelmorton.art, rachelmorton.art/events.

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Stay connected to your creative practice this summer. Seasonal camps, classes and workshops offer flexible, supportive ways for art making full of joy and inspiration! Come as you are and use the time to reset, focus and have fun. Now enrolling youths,

teens and adults. Info: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

food & drink

BUTTERCREAM MASTERCLASS: In this workshop, we will deep dive into all things buttercream! We’ll make five kinds of buttercream together (Swiss, Italian, American, German and French), as well as some favorite fillings for cakes and cupcakes — lemon curd and homemade jam! This is a great class for avid home bakers to learn new skills and for professional bakers to level up and nerd out about all things buttercream! You’ll take home some curd, jam & frosted cupcakes to share (or not). Gluten-free cake kits are available. Please disclose all allergies in the ticket registration. Please note, we are not an allergen-free facility. Date: Sat., May 16, noon4 p.m. Cost: $150. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE

TASTING: Indulge your senses in the ultimate chocolate tasting at the Lake Champlain Chocolates flagship store on Pine Street in Burlington. Join a chocolate expert for a fun and interactive experience. Explore how chocolate is made, discover what goes into crafting high-quality chocolate and learn how to taste chocolate like a pro. Then put your skills to the test as you enjoy a flight of chocolate confections. Are you ready for the ultimate chocolate experience? Get your tickets today! Dates: May 9 & 23. Cost: $16. Location: Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine St., Burlington. Info: 802-864-1807, info@ lakechamplainchocolates.com, lakechamplainchocolates. com/chocolate-tastings.

home & garden

FLOWERS AT FIG: Join Blossom to create a beautiful Mother’s Day-inspired floral arrangement while sipping on a delicious Fig cocktail or

mocktail. Date: Sun., May 17, 5:30 p.m. Cost: $75, admission only; $110, admission & a gift bag. Location: Shelburne Fig, 5573 Shelburne Rd. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

language

LEARN FRENCH! LATE SPRING SESSION AT WINGSPAN STUDIO: Sign up for a fantastique six-week French class and begin or continue your learning journey! On commence the week of May 11. Multiple levels available, plus an opportunity to join a full-day French trip to the Eastern Townships of Québec. Small, interactive classes with a supportive, fun and knowledgeable instructor. Madame Maggie offers speaking practice, grammar, pronunciation and culture. She studied at La Sorbonne/SciPo, with graduate work in francophone Africa, and holds a Vermont teaching license. Private lessons available. Spring into this season, expand your French, exercise your brain and open doors to new adventures. Allons-y! Location: 4 Howard St., Burlington. Cost: $215. Info: maggiestandley@gmail. com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Beginners’ classes five days a week. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and find resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/ bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@burlingtonaikido. org, burlingtonaikido.org.

movement

BEGINNER YANG-STYLE TAI CHI CLASSES: Each class will learn and practice slow, connected core movements from the Yang family following their long form,

which engages the whole body and mind using internal martial arts principles. e class is designed as a “taste of tai chi” and is appropriate for anyone. Weekly videos reinforcing class lessons are provided to assist with home practice. Emanuel Betz has 30 years of experience and studied with Robert Boyd for over two decades, following Master Ip Tai Tak from the famous Yang family. Dates: May 5-Jun. 18, Tue., 5:30-7 p.m.; or u., 10-11:30 a.m.

Cost: $135. Register via email for more info and to reserve a slot.

Location: Downtown Richmond. Info: Emanuel Betz, 802-8814426, emanuelbetz@gmail.com, ipfamilytaichi.org.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE

WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month.

Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe,

5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

sports

& fitness

SMART CYCLING WORKSHOPS: Worried about riding near cars? Unsure how to teach your children safe cycling habits? Newish to biking or getting back into it? Smart Cycling is a three-session workshop series from Local Motion that will teach you the skills and confidence to ride safely on the road and with traffic. May, Jun. and Jul. sessions available. Dates: Mon., May 4, 11 & 18; June 15, 22 & 29; or July 6, 13 & 20, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $165; option to incl. bike rental. Location: Trailside Center, 1 Steele St., Burlington. Info: Daniel Liguori, daniel@localmotion.org, sevendaystickets.com.

SPRING TUNE UP SERIES: Are you wishing you better understood your bike that’s been gathering cobwebs since the fall? Well brush off the dust and join us in this class! e Spring Tune Up Series will make sure your bike is ready for spring riding, while also teaching you some basic maintenance and helping you get to know the different parts of your bike a little better. is class is open to students of all identities. is is a three-week class. Wed., May 13, 20 & 27, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $115. Location: Old Spokes Home, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

Tolan from the

Buy & Sell »

ANTIQUES, FURNITURE, GARAGE SALES

Community »

ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOST & FOUND, SUPPORT GROUPS

Rentals & Real Estate »

APARTMENTS, HOMES, FOR SALE BY OWNER

Vehicles »

CARS, BIKES, BOATS, RVS

Services »

FINANCIAL, CHILDCARE, HOME & GARDEN

Musicians & Artists »

LESSONS, CASTING, REHEARSAL SPACE

Jobs » NO SCAMS, ALL LOCAL, POSTINGS DAILY

AGE/SEX: 5-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: March 31, 2026

SUMMARY: Ellis is a harrier-type hound hunk with a gentle soul and a deeply loyal heart. He’s the kind of dog who will follow you from room to room just to be near you, a quiet companion who blooms once he feels safe. Ellis has a medical history that requires some extra care — staying on top of his medication and routine vet visits will be part of the picture. But it’s nothing that slows him down or gets in the way of him being a truly wonderful dog. If you’re looking for a loyal, loving companion who will be your devoted shadow in a calm and steady home, Ellis might just be your new best friend!

DID YOU KNOW?

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Ellis is seeking a home where he can be the only pet. He may be most successful in a home without young children.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Wednesday 1-5 p.m., ursday-Friday 1-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

Scent hounds love a “sniffari” walk! Because they love following their noses, it’s important that they are allowed to explore at their own pace and sniff all the wonderful smells they encounter. is kind of walk requires a lot of brainpower, which makes it a great option for mental exercise, too.

by:

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SLAVIC LIFE

e Slavic Life

Movement is an organization dedicated to the preservation & evolution of Slavic culture.

all abilities. Classical, jazz, contemporary music, improvising, reading & writing music. Info, randal.pierce@ gmail.com, randal piercemusic.com.

PIANO, VOICE, TROMBONE, SONGWRITING LESSONS

Awarded for lifetime achievement from Who’s Who in America, Scott omas Carter is avail. for lessons at Music & Arts on Wed. & Sun. Call 802-651-1013.

fl oor of historic Queen Anne brick building in Winooski. Private entrance & porch. HDWD, 3/4 BA. Heat, hot water, snow removal & rubbish collection incl. Off-street parking. Close to UVM, Saint Mike’s & CCV. On bus line. I-89 & downtown nearby. No pets, NS. Storage unit may be avail. for fee. (Note: 1 owner is a licensed real estate agent.) $1,600. Contact 802-343-7707, edesany@hotmail.com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

HEALTH & WELLNESS TREATMENT ROOM/ REHAB SPACE AVAIL. AT MOVEWELL IN WILLISTON

ELECTRONICS

WIRELESS HOME INTERNET

Connect to the best wireless home internet w/ EarthLink. Enjoy speeds from 5G & 4G LTE networks, no contracts, easy installation, & data plans up to 300 GB. Call 855-873-2215. (AAN CAN)

body, menstrual problems, stress, insomnia & more. We have helped thousands of people feel better. Learn more or schedule on our website. Info, info@casobu.org, casobu.org.

AUCTION CLOSES:

HOME & GARDEN

COMMERCIAL ROOF

DRAIN CLEANING

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

SOUTH END BURLINGTON, GREAT LOCATION & FULLY FURNISHED

TIME-SHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS

When’s the last time you checked your roof drains? Stop leaks before they start by making sure your drains are clear. Fast, reliable service. $250/roof. Call or text 802-207-6603.

MUSIC LESSONS

SPRING & SUMMER

PIANO LESSONS

Currently accepting new students at my piano studio in the South End of Burlington. All ages,

1898 HISTORIC CHARM IN WINOOSKI, VT., PRIVATE ENTRANCE, 2ND FLOOR

85 East Spring St., Apt

E. Unfurnished 500 sq.ft. 1-BR, 1 -BA. Cozy 1-BR apt. nestled on 2nd

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

appt. appointment

apt. apartment

BA bathroom

BR bedroom

DR dining room

DW dishwasher

HDWD hardwood

HW hot water

LR living room

NS no smoking

OBO or best offer

refs. references

sec. dep. security deposit

W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

Furnished 1-BR, 1-BA on Marble Ave. Convenient, cozy & clean. is 2-room studio apt. is near downtown venues, local breweries, the lakefront, bike path & bus line. Incl. all utils., w/ storage. $1,450. Info, 802-578-6364, leehem@gmavt.net.

1-, 2- & 3-BR APTS. AVAIL. NOW IN BURLINGTON, VT.

118 Hyde St. Unfurnished 903 sq.ft. 1-BR, 1-BA. $900 + utils. Also a 1-BR in Winooski at $1,050 + utils. 2-BR in Burlington for $1,650. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay utils. 3-BR avail. now for $1,750. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay utils. Laundry on-site w/ 3-BR. Info, 802-318-8916.

FAIRFAX APT. FOR RENT

1177 Main St., Fairfax.

Unfurnished 700 sq.ft. 1-BR, 1-BA. New, spacious apt. in Fairfax Village. Effi cient propane heat, A/C, 2nd-fl oor unit. Beautiful Mount Mansfi eld views, W/D in unit. Well built & private. Really nice unit! $1,650. Info, 802-3998391, timbersww@ gmail.com.

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309 — OR — Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633 1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

$750-$1,800/mo. MoveWell in Williston, Vt., is offering a unique opportunity for a structural or movement-based health care provider to start or grow their practice within a fully equipped movement & rehabilitation clinic — without the burden of high overhead. is is ideal for a new chiropractor, physical therapist, massage therapist or trainer launching their practice; established DC/PTs looking to reduce overhead; or providers wanting access to advanced rehab tools & technology. Flexible rental options, ranging from basic room rental to full access to clinic space & rehab equipment. Access to advanced equipment incl.: Aspen Class IV laser; StimPod (neuropathy & nerve therapy); decompression table; fully equipped rehab & training area; & functional movement space. Additional benefi ts: professional clinic environment; utils. incl.; parking; opportunity for collaboration; optional EHR & front-desk support avail. Launch or scale your practice without the overhead. Located at MoveWell in Williston, Vt. Contact Dr. Jason to learn more or schedule a tour. Info, 802-497-1002, jason@ movewellvt.com, movewellvt.com.

Wesley Financial Group, LLC, time-share cancellation experts. Over $50 million in time-share debt & fees canceled in 2019. Get free informational package & learn how to get rid of your time-share! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 888-960-1781. (AAN CAN)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SPRING TUNE-UPS AT ACUWELL BURLINGTON

PEST CONTROL

Protect your home from pests safely & affordably. Roaches, bedbugs, rodents, termites, spiders & other pests. Locally owned & affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today: 1-833-237-1199.

(AAN CAN)

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

WARNING POLICY ADOPTION

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

District. Final Subdivision Review under Section 6.2 of the ULUDR is required for creating new Planned Unit Developments.

GROWING NEK BAKERY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Unique opportunity to acquire the area’s only true homemade, small-batch doughnut brand w/ established (& growing!) retail demand & repeat customer following. Info, 802-3095917, tonystreasuresvt@ gmail.com.

ere’s something special about Vermont coming back to life each spring — but after a long winter, it’s completely normal to feel a little sluggish or stuck. If you’re ready to shake off the winter blues, I’d love to welcome you into the clinic. ese spring acupuncture sessions are designed to give your nervous system deep rest, help clear mental fog & support your body as you move into a new season. It’s also a great time to get ahead of seasonal allergies before they fully set in. If you’re ready for a reset, feel free to book online or reach out for a free 15-min. consultation. I accept many insurance plans & look forward to supporting you on your wellness path. Info, 802-777-7817, acuwell burlington@gmail.com acuwellburlington.com.

SLIDING-SCALE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

$30-$65: You decide! Acupuncture can help a variety of issues such as pain anywhere in the

e Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to act on local district policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on May 19, 2026: Code F10 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect - Repeal Code F11 Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Repeal Code F15 Head Lice - Repeal Code F18 Weapons and Firearms - Adoption Code F36 Equity Policy - Adoption Code F13 Student Athletics Programs - Adoption Code F1 Student Conduct & Discipline - Adoption Code F35 Prevention of Sexual Harassment as Prohibited by Title IX - Reaffirmation

Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

PUBLIC HEARING

WINOOSKI DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

A public hearing will be held by the Winooski Development Review Board on ursday, May 21, 2026 beginning at 6:30 p.m. to consider the following:

Final Subdivision Review Application –197-205 West Allen St.

Applicant has submitted a request to create a Planned Unit Development and a multi-unit dwelling with four dwelling units. As a result of this proposal, the property would host five principal structures and eight dwelling units. is property is located in the City’s Residential C (R-C) Zoning

is hearing will begin at 6:30pm. Members of the public that are interested in participating in this hearing can do so by attending in person at Winooski City Hall, 27 West Allen Street, Winooski, VT; or electronically by visiting https://us06web.zoom. us/j/82129899225 or by calling (301) 715 8592 and using Webinar ID: 821 2989 9225. Toll charges may apply.

Members of the public interested in participating in the above captioned hearing are requested, but not required to make their intentions known by completing the public comment request form located on the City’s website at https://www.winooskivt. gov/FormCenter/Human-Resources-6/ Public-Comment-Request-Form-61 at least 24 hours in advance to ensure this information is included in the record of the hearing. is will also allow the chair to recognize participants to provide testimony at the appropriate time during the hearing.

e Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on this matter before rendering a decision. Decisions of the Development Review Board can be appealed by “interested persons” (as defined by 24 V.S.A. § 4465) to the Environmental Division of the Vermont Superior Court.

Questions or comments on this matter can be directed to Ravi Venkataraman, AICP, CFM, Director of City Planning by calling 802.655.6410 or visiting Winooski City Hall at 27 West Allen Street during normal business hours.

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, fill the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

CLASSIFIEDS » Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online. Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Extra! There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

CALCOKU BY JOSH

REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.72

ANSWERS ON P. 72 »

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Legal Notices

[CONTINUED]

Information related to this matter will also be available on the City’s website at https://www.winooskivt. gov/229/Development-Review-Board.

VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 407-6-16-CNDM

OCS/Robidoux vs. Goodroe

Plaintiff Name: Angel Robidoux DOB 9/27/1998

V. Defendant Name: Joseph M. Goodroe DOB 3/25/1992

ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

To the above-named Plaintiff:

You are hereby summoned and required to service upon the Defendant, whose address is 278 Oak Terrace Drive, Colchester, VT 05446, a response to the Defendant’s motion to modify parental rights and responsibilities and parent child contact within twenty-one (21) days of the date of publication of this summons. You must also file a copy of your response to the motion with the Superior Court, Family Division at the following address: Chittenden Unit, 32 Cherry St Suite 200 Burlington, VT 05401 802-651-1709. If you fail to answer the motion within twenty-one (21) days of the date of publication, a default judgment may be entered against you and the Court may grant the relief demanded by the Plaintiff in the Complaint. Under most circumstances, your response must state as a counterclaim any related claim which you may have against the Plaintiff.

Plaintiff is seeking:

___decree of divorce, legal separation of civil union dissolution; _X_parental rights and responsibilities for the minor child(ren) of the parties; ___child support for the minor child(ren); ___a finding of parentage; ___an equitable division of property and debt; ___spousal maintenance (alimony);

A copy of the motion may be obtained from the clerk of the above-named Family Division of the Superior Court.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION CHITTENDEN

UNIT DOCKET NOS. 25-JV-00385/00386

IN RE: A.T. AND K.T.

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: Ryan Tomasi, you are hereby notified that a hearing to terminate your parental rights to A.T. and K.T. will be held on May 19, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and May 26, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. at the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Family Division, at 32 Cherry Street, Suite 200, Burlington, Vermont 05401. You are notified to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in termination of your parental rights to A.T. and K.T.. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT05671-2080.

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) /s/Kate Gallagher Kate Gallagher Superior Court Judge 4/15/2026

VERMONT SELF STORAGE AUCTIONS

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-03548

located at 28 Adams Drive , Williston, VT, 05495 will be sold on or about the 16th of May 2026 to satisfy the debt of Matt Dugener, person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-03458

located at 28 Adams Drive, Williston, VT, 05495 will be sold on or about the 16th of May 2026 to satisfy the debt of Thomas & Hope Bathrick, person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 01-01327 & 01-04440

located at 28 Adams Drive, Williston, VT, 05495 will be sold on or about the 16th of May 2026 to satisfy the debt of Candy Mayo, person claiming a right to

the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

THE CONTENTS OF STORAGE UNIT 03-00417

located at 182 Winter Sport Lane, Williston, VT, 05495 will be sold on or about the 16th of May 2026 to satisfy the debt of Yao Ma, person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount claimed due and reasonable expenses before the sale, in which case the sale may not occur.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION RUTLAND UNIT DOCKET NO. 25-JV-01531 IN RE: B.V., JUVENILE. NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: Unknown Father of B.V..

The State of Vermont has filed a Motion to Establish Parentage to B.V., born on June 1, 2022. You are hereby notified that the hearing to consider the Motion to Establish Parentage to B.V. will be held on July 2, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Unit, Family Division, 9 Merchants Row, Rutland VT 05701. You are notified to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in a finding that your parental relationship with B.V. does not exist, and preclude you from seeking to establish paternity of B.V. in the future. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080. Other interested parties include B.V., and Mother, Brianna Van Guilder.

By: /s/ Alexander N Burke 4/15/2026 Hon.

Presiding Judge Vermont Superior Court Rutland Unit, Family Division

STATE OF WISCONSIN

CIRCUIT COURT WAUKESHA COUNTY CASE NO.: 2026CV000525 CASE CODE: 30701 GERALDSON ENTERPRISES, LLC

W340N5347 Township Road O Nashotah, WI 53058, and CARL GERALDSON

W340N5347 Township Road O Nashotah, WI 53058, Plaintiffs, v.

ADAM GERALDSON 4 Jackson Street Essex Junction, VT 05452, Defendant.

PUBLICATION SUMMONS

TO: ADAM GERALDSON 4 Jackson Street Essex Junction, VT 05452

You are hereby notified that the Plaintiffs named above have filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you. The Complaint, which is also served upon you, states the nature and basis of the legal action.

Within 40 days after April 29, 2026, you must respond with a written answer, as that term is used in Wis. Stat. Ch. 802, to the Complaint. The Court may reject or disregard an Answer that does not follow the requirements of the statutes. The Answer must be sent or delivered to the Court, whose address is Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53186, and to Joshua J. Konopacki, Plaintiffs’ attorney, whose address is Cramer Multhauf LLP, 1601 East Racine Avenue, P.O. Box 558, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53187-0558.

If you do not provide a proper Answer within 40 days of April 29, 2026, the Court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the Complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the Complaint. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property.

Dated this 21st day of April, 2026. CRAMER MULTHAUF LLP Attorneys for Plaintiffs

By: Electronically signed by Joshua J. Konopacki Joshua J. Konopacki State Bar No. 1125918

CRAMER MULTHAUF LLP 1601 East Racine Avenue • Suite 200 Waukesha, WI 53187-0558 (262) 542-4278 jjk@cmlawgroup.com

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-06521 IN RE: ESTATE OF BRUCE P. DESJARDIN NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Bruce P. Desjardin, late of Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: April 21, 2026

/s/Jamie Desjardin, Administratrix c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq. 38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486 harry@parkerlawvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/29/2026

Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN

UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-01134

IN RE ESTATE OF NELSON RODRIGUEZ

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Nelson Rodriguez, late of Essex Junction, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: April 9, 2026

/s/ Nelly Mendez, Administratrix

c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq.

38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486

harry@parkerlawvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/29/2026

Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

TOWN OF COLCHESTER, VT

781 BLAKELY ROAD, COLCHESTER, VT 05446

The Town is requesting separate sealed BIDS for the 2026 Capital Paving Program for the resurfacing of 4 roadways, and generally includes the placement of approximately 4,898 tons of bituminous concrete pavement, 3,325 square yards of 12” reclamation, 9,599 square yards of cold planing (or milling), painted line striping, traffic control, and associated items. The specific locations of paving are included in Appendix A of the Contract & Bidding Documents.

Bids will be received by: Danylo Whalen, Public Works Engineer II, Town of Colchester, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT 05446 until 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.

Each BID must be accompanied by a certified check payable to the OWNER for five percent (5%) of the total amount of the BID. A BID bond may be used in lieu of a certified check. The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS are available in electronic format upon request. Please contact Danylo Whalen at dwhalen@ colchestervt.gov or 802-264-5515.

A Performance BOND and a Payment BOND each in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price will be required. (40 CFR §31.36(h))

Please contact Danylo Whalen for information on how to participate. Questions regarding the Bid are due by 3:00 pm on Friday, May 1, 2026. All bidders must notify Danylo Whalen of their intent to bid so they can be placed on a Bidders List to receive any issued addenda or other pertinent information. Please notify the Town if email is not an acceptable method for receiving information and provide alternate means of contact.

TOWN OF JERICHO- DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Jericho Development Review Board will hold the public hearing at 7:00 pm on WEDNESDAY May 13, 2026, at the Jericho Town Hall to consider the following applications

• A request to the DRB by Nathan Perkins for a dimensional waiver request for the construction of a detached garage. The property is located at 189 Plain Road which is in the Rural Agricultural Residential Zoning Districts.

All interested persons may appear and be heard. Additional information related to this application may be viewed at the Jericho Planning and Zoning Office during regular business hours.

Chris Flinn Zoning Administrator cflinn@jerichovt.gov

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD|

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026, 5:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227pw d=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09

Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or+1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

1. ZAP-26-5; 261 South Winooski Avenue (RM, Ward 6) Field Stone Property Management, LLC / Ryan Field Appeal notice of zoning violation for unpermitted window replacement.

2. ZP-26-159; 1127 North Avenue (NAC, Ward 4) Hauke Building Supply, Inc. / David Hauke

Conditional use to expand existing North End Brew Pub into 1,200 sq. ft. of existing space.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections at (802) 865-7188 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk. com/ or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

BURLINGTON WATERFRONT TAX INCREMENT

FINANCING DISTRICT: SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE REQUEST

Pursuant to the requirements of 24 V.S.A. §1901(2) (B), notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Burlington City Council to hear comments concerning a resolution for the City Council to approve the submission of a substantial change request to the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) relative to the City of Burlington’s approved Tax Increment District Plan and approved Financing Plan for the Burlington Waterfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.

The purpose of the City’s substantial change request to VEPC is to amend and update the above referenced approved Tax Increment District Plan and approved Financing Plan to accurately reflect changes made to scope, budgets, timelines, project descriptions, debt financing, related costs, and other funding assumptions relative to the City’s approved TIF projects within the Waterfront TIF District since these items were originally presented and approved by VEPC as part of the Tax Increment and Financing Plans referenced above.

If approved, the substantial change request will include a letter indicating that the City Council has considered and approved the substantial change, as well as a narrative explanation with supporting documentation fully explaining the reasons for such change and the assumptions used to demonstrate that tax increment will be sufficient to repay bond financing issued for the district’s public improvements.

The public hearing will take place on Monday, May 18, 2026 during the Regular City Council Meeting, which begins at 6:00 PM in Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Internal .NET-Based Software Developer

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board is seeking qualifications from experienced software developers or firms to enhance its internal .NET-based project management application. This engagement includes modernizing the front-end interface, retaining existing GIS mapping and document management integration, and implementing new reporting and dashboard functionality using Agile methodologies.

The full RFQ is available at 7dvt.pub/VHCBrfq

Qualifications are due Friday, May 1, 2026

Contact: RFQ@vhcb.org

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor. We strongly encourage proposals from diverse developers and teams.

For more information about the above referenced Burlington Waterfront TIF District substantial change request, please contact Gummi Jonsson at gjonsson@burlingtonvt.gov

6h-VHCBlegaldisplay040126.indd 1 3/27/26 4:20 PM

ACT 250 NOTICE APPLICATION 4C0449-8 AND PREHEARING CONFERENCE

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0449-8 from Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation, Colchester, VT 05446 was received on March 10, 2026 and deemed complete on April 6, 2026. The project is generally described as a redevelopment of the Hazelett waterfront parcels, entitled “The H at Mallets Bay”. The project proposes an inn with a series of five (5) cottages and a total of 20 rooms, in addition to a main building with a 48-seat restaurant at the main level, an event space, and spa facilities. Additionally, the project proposes a new bathhouse to provide facilities to beach users without having to go back the cottages/main building. New parking is proposed across the street at 135 West Lakeshore Drive. The project is located at 135, 166, 180 West Lakeshore Drive in Colchester, Vermont.

The District 4 Environmental Commission will hold a site visit on May 13, 2026 at 8:00AM and a public, prehearing conference on the application following the site visit at 9:00 AM.

This hearing will be conducted both in-person and via Microsoft Teams video conferencing software (Teams). To access the Teams meeting, click on the following link, or enter the meeting ID and passcode by clicking on the button in the upper right corner of your Teams calendar window that says “# Join with an ID.”

Teams Meeting Link: 4C0449-8 Act 250 Prehearing Conference | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams Meeting ID: 260 288 292 885 448 Passcode: qu69XF9r

The prehearing conference (PHC) is scheduled for May 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM at the Community Room at the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) Office located at 10 East Allen Street in Winooski, VT.

If you are unable to participate in person or by using Teams, you may still call in to the hearing: Dial: 802-828-7667 Enter Conference ID: 843 374 371# To raise hand: Press *5 To mute and un-mute: Press *6

The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont. gov) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0449-8.” To request party status, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petition-form, and email it to theDistrict 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont.gov.

If you have a disability for which you need accommodation in order to participate in this process (including participating in the public hearing), please notify us as soon as possible, in order to allow us as much time as possible to accommodate your needs. For more information, contact Kaitlin Hayes, District Coordinator before the hearing date at the address or telephone number below.

Dated April 24, 2026

By: /s/ Kaitlin Hayes Kaitlin Hayes District 4 Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 622-4084 kaitlin.hayes@vermont.gov

TOWN OF ESSEX, VERMONT FY 2027 PAVING PROGRAM

The Town of Essex invites you to prepare a Bid for the Town of Essex, Vermont FY 2027 Paving Program. Bid packages are available at the Town Public Works Office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center. Electronic copies are also available upon request. Sealed bids will be received at the Town Public Works Office at 5 Jericho Road, or mailed to the Town of Essex Public Works Department, 81 Main Street Essex Jct., VT 05452 until 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 8, 2026. Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works Office at (802) 878-1344.

TOWN OF ESSEX 2026 PRESCOTT STREET STORMWATER OUTFALL PROJECT

The Town of Essex invites you to prepare a Bid for the Town of Essex 2026 Prescott Street Stormwater Outfall Project. Work associated with this Project is to be completed by September 18th, 2026. Work includes the replacement of 145 LF of stormwater pipe. Bid packages are available at the Town Public Works Office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center or by e-mail to dgregoire@essex.org. Sealed bids will be received at the Town of Essex Public Works Office or mailed to the Town of Essex, Department of Public Works, 81 Main Street Essex Jct., VT 05452 until 10:00 AM on Friday, May 22nd, 2026. Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works at (802) 878 – 1344.

RICHMOND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD MEETING AGENDA

MAY 13, 2026, AT 7:00-9:00 PM THIS IS A HYBRID MEETING WITH ON-SITE/REMOTE ACCOMMODATIONS.

Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 312(a)(2), this meeting will be held in the three following locations: (1) in person; (2) electronically via Zoom; and (3) by phone call. You do not need a computer to attend this meeting. Calls can be placed by using the “Join by Phone Call” number below—this is a toll-free number. Your participation in this hearing process is a prerequisite to the right

Legal Notices

STATE OF VERMONT

to take any subsequent appeal. For more information or accommodations to improve the accessibility of this meeting, please contact Danté DeNault at (802) 556-4959 or ddenault@richmondvt.gov.

Join In Person: 3rd Floor Room A, 203 Bridge Street, Richmond, VT 05477.

Join Electronically via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/89057870483.

Join by Phone Call: +1 (305) 224-1968 (US) // Meeting ID: 890 5787 0483.

Public hearing items: Materials: https://www.richmondvt.gov/calendar/ meeting/development-review-board-5-13-26.

1. SP2026-004. Falcon Management Company, Inc. Parcel ID: FL0068.

Applicant seeks site plan approval for major amendments related to a three-acre stormwater permit at 68 Field Lane, located in the Mobile Home Park Zoning District. Planned are one gravel wetland, two focal point biofiltration systems, and associated changes in landscaping.

2. SP2026-003. Greensea Systems. Parcel ID: EM0010.

Applicant seeks site plan approval for façade changes to 10 East Main Street, located in the Village Downtown Zoning District. The creemee stand will be removed and reverted to a deck.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION

4C0331-14H-3

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 – 6111

Application 4C0331-14H-3 from BETA Technologies, Inc. (BETA), 1150 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403, and the City of Burlington, 1200 Airport Drive, Suite 101, South Burlington, VT 05403, was received on March 30, 2026 and deemed complete on April 20, 2026. The project is generally described as the renovation of an existing 6,572-square foot warehouse building and the construction of 5,301 square feet of building additions for a childcare facility, two new parking spaces, sidewalks, and associated improvements to the childcare facility parcel and a parking lot on the adjacent airport property, which will provide parking for the childcare facility. The project is located at 5 Calkins Court in South Burlington, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0331-14H-3.”

No hearing will be held, and a permit may be issued unless, on or before May 19, 2026, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) (E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/ documents/party-status-petition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont. gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Aaron Brondyke at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this April 27, 2026.

By: Aaron Brondyke

Aaron Brondyke State Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 595-2735 Aaron.Brondyke@vermont.gov

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-00943

IN RE: ESTATE OF SUSAN MCCAULEY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of Susan McCauley, late of Westford, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: April 26, 2026 /s/ Kevin W. McCauley Kevin W. McCauley, Executor c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq. 38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486 harry@parkerlawvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 04/29/2026

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN

UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-00352

IN RE ESTATE OF TIMOTHY J. PALMER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of Timothy J. Palmer, late of Williston, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of this publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: April 24, 2026 /s/ Duffy M. Palmer

Duffy M. Palmer, Executor c/o Harry C. Parker, Esq. 38 Community Lane, Suite 4 South Hero, VT 05486 harry@parkerlawvt.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 04/29/2026

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

60 ETHAN ALLEN DRIVE, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT

By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain Mortgage (With Future Advance Clause) dated October 26, 2018 (“ Mortgage”) from J. and E. Enterprises LLC to Vermont Federal Credit Union conveying to Lender, with power of sale, certain property known as 60 Ethan Allen Drive in South Burlington, Vermont and more particularly described in the Mortgage (“ Property ”), of which Mortgage Vermont Federal Credit Union is the present holder:

TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC SALE: For breach of the conditions of and for the purpose of foreclosing said Mortgage, the Property will be sold at Public Auction on June 9, 2026 at 11:00 am at 60 Ethan Allen Drive in South Burlington, Vermont.

The Public Auction may be adjourned one or more times for a total time not exceeding 60 days by announcement of the new sale date to those present at each adjournment or by posting notice of the

adjournment in a conspicuous place at the location of the sale. Written notice of the new sale date shall also be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, to any person who received notice of the sale pursuant to 12 V.S.A. § 4965.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: The Property being sold is all and the same lands and premises described in said Mortgage, to wit:

Being all and the same land and premises conveyed to J. and E. Enterprises, LLC by Warranty Deed of Bartlett Realty, LLL, dated March 28, 2011 and recorded on April 4, 2011 in Volume 1001 at Pages 304-306 of the City of South Burlington Land Records.

“Being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Bartlett Realty, LLC by Warranty Deed of Thompson Leasing, LLC dated March 8, 2007, of record at Volume 777 at Pages 406-407 of the City of South Burlington Land Records, and being more particularly described therein as follows:

Being a parcel of land with all improvements thereon, said property depicted as Lot 2 on a plan entitled “A Portion of Ethan Allen Farm: Plat of Lots 1-8” dated April, 1983, last revised December 6, 1984, and recorded in Map Volume 197 at Page 61 of the South Burlington City Land Records. Said property is more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point at a monument set in the northeasterly sideline of Ethan Allen Drive and the westerly sideline of a new unnamed roadway and marking southeasterly corner of said Lot 2; thence proceeding westerly in and along the northeasterly sideline of Ethan Allen Drive N 80° 00’ 00” W 35.54 feet to a point; thence proceeding N 78° 07’ 40” W 99.90 feet to a point; thence proceeding N 71° 16’ 00” W 49.50 feet to a point; thence proceeding N 52° 22’ 50” W 65.18 feet to a point marked by an iron pin; thence proceeding N 36° 02’ 00” W 144.88 feet to an iron pin; thence turning to the right and proceeding N 31° 34’ 57” E 106.83 feet to an iron pin; thence turning to the right and proceeding S 58° 25’ 03” E 336.16 feet to an iron pin in the westerly sideline of a new unnamed roadway; thence turning to the right and proceeding on a curve to the left a length of 50.60 feet to a monument; thence proceeding S 10° 00’ 00” W 67.07 feet to a monument marking the point or place of beginning. EXCLUDED from the above-described property is a 5.25 foot strip of land running the entire length of and northerly of and adjacent to the property line of the within lot which is also the northeasterly sideline of the present Ethan Allen Drive right-of-way; and Granters reserve for themselves, their heirs, successors and assigns, appurtenant easements adjacent to and northerly of said strip for the purposes of slope rights and drainage rights in conjunction with any expansion in width of Ethan Allen Drive, an existing city road. The purposes of the exclusion of said strip and the reservation of easement rights is to allow Granters to convey the same to the City of South Burlington at some time in the future. Until conveyance to and acceptance by the City South Burlington of the 5.25 strip for city roadway purposes, Grantees shall have and are hereby granted an unrestricted easement and right of way across and within said 5.25 foot strip at any point(s) for purposes of access to and from Lot 2, and shall have an easement for use and enjoyment of said 5.25 foot strip for any purposes as long as said use or enjoyment will not conflict with the City’s rights to use said strip for city roadway purposes. When said strip is conveyed to the City of South Burlington, the easements of Grantees for use, access and enjoyment over and within said 5.25-foot strip shall terminate, but only when alternate means of access to and from Lot 2, of similar quality and quantity at that time, are provided to Grantees at no cost to Grantees.

The above described property is conveyed subject to and with the benefit of “Protective Covenants For The Belter Industrial Park: South Burlington, Vermont” dated August 22, 1985, and recorded in Volume 213 at Pages 389-393 of the South Burlington Land Records, as amended pursuant to Amendment No. 1 dated September 4, 1985, and recorded in Volume 213 at Page 426 of the South Burlington Land Records.

The above-described property is conveyed subject to the covenant and condition, to run with the land, that no curb cut or access to said property shall be created from the unnamed roadway and cul-de-sac. Access to

and from the property and the related curb cuts shall only be from Ethan Allen Drive.

The above-described property is subject to State Subdivision Permit #EC-4-0793 and any amendments thereto, as well as municipal permits and regulations.

The Property is conveyed subject to the rights of the public and others legally entitled thereto in any portion of the Property lying within the boundaries of a public road, way, street, trail, or alley to the extent not otherwise extinguished by the Vermont Marketable Record Title Act (27 VSA §§ 601-604).

Reference is hereby made to the aforementioned instruments, the records thereof and the references therein contained, all in further aid of this description.

Said lands and premises have an address of 60 Ethan Allen Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403.”

The description of the property contained in the Mortgages shall control in the event of a typographical error in this publication.

TERMS OF SALE: To qualify to bid, prospective bidders must tender to the Auctioneer before the sale the amount of $10,000.00 (the “ Bid Qualifying Deposit ”) in cash, certified funds, bank check, or other primary bank obligation, unless the parties agree on some other amount. The Property shall be sold to the highest bidder, and the high bidder’s Bid Qualifying Deposit will be held as a non-refundable deposit, and will be considered reasonable liquidated damages if the highest bidder fails to close on the purchase of the Property. All other bidders’ Bid Qualifying Deposits shall be returned to the unsuccessful bidders who supplied them.

The successful bidder will be required to sign a “no contingency” purchase and sale agreement at the conclusion of the Public Auction. The sale is “AS IS, WHERE IS,” subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, municipal assessments, and other matters which take precedence or priority over the Mortgage. The closing shall be held, and the balance of the purchase price shall be due and payable in cash, certified funds, bank check, or other primary bank obligation, upon the delivery of a Foreclosure Deed to the purchaser within forty-five (45) days after the sale, unless such date is mutually extended by the parties.

The mortgagor and all junior lienholders are hereby notified that at any time before the foreclosure sale, the mortgagor and all junior lienholders have a right to petition the Civil Division of the Superior Court for the county in which the Property is situated, with service upon the mortgagee, and upon such bond as the Court may require, to enjoin the scheduled foreclosure sale. Failure to institute such petition and complete service upon the foreclosing party, or the party’s agent conducting the sale, prior to sale shall thereafter bar any action or right of action of the mortgagor or any junior lienholder based on the validity of the foreclosure, the right of the mortgagee to conduct the foreclosure sale, or compliance by the mortgagee with the notice requirements and other conditions of 12 V.S.A. §§ 4961 et seq. An action to recover damages resulting from the sale of the Property on the date of the sale may be commenced at any time within one year following the date of the sale, but not thereafter.

The mortgagor is entitled to redeem the Property at any time prior to the sale by paying to the mortgagee the full amount due under the Mortgage, including the costs and expenses of the sale.

Other terms to be announced at the Public Auction. Inquiries may be made with the Thomas Hirchak Company, 1878 Cadys Falls Road, Morrisville, VT 05661. Telephone: 802-888-4662. Email: info@ THCAuction.com

VERMONT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Date: April 2, 2026

By: /s/ Renee L. Mobbs

Renee L. Mobbs, Its Attorney

SHEEHEY FURLONG & BEHM P.C. (802) 865-6323

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: GILLIAN COMITO, 802-341-3060 GCOMITO@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

BENNINGTON COLLEGE IS HIRING!

Associate Director of Campus Safety and Transportation 1-BenningtonCollege042926.indd

Learn more & apply online today:

Seasonal Positions

Vermont State Historic Sites

Roles include educational interpreters, admission and gift shop clerks, groundskeepers, cleaners, trail workers, elevator attendants, museum/collections caretakers and maintenance technicians. Start & end dates are flexible, but the full season will run from May-Oct. Full & part-time positions available. Hourly rates between $18.01 – $19.87. Maintenance technician hourly rate: $23.28.

Locations: Bennington, Plymouth Notch, Hubbardton, Orwell, Addison.

Please send your resume to Joshua.Bell@vermont.gov

Part Time Weekend Employee

Every other weekend and potential extra shifts.

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For more information or to apply, visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record of new account development and relationship management, as well as the ability to stay current with industry trends and best practices. A Bachelor’s Degree and consultative sales experience are required. Knowledge of the educational market is a plus! This position will receive comprehensive product training to set you up for success.

Applicants must be comfortable working in a collaborative, small-team environment and demonstrate a positive, flexible, upbeat, and detail-oriented approach. Strong communication skills are essential.

Health and dental benefits are provided, as well as a matching retirement plan, 3+ weeks of paid vacation, and paid sick leave. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Send resume and cover letter to: megan@exemplars.com

Manager of Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Stowe Electric Department is seeking a senior leader to oversee all legal, regulatory, and policy functions.

Reporting to the General Manager, this role represents the utility before the Vermont Public Service Department and the Vermont Public Utility Commission, ensures regulatory compliance (rates, tariffs, RES, Tier 3, IRPs), manages outside counsel, and advises executive leadership and the Board. The position also leads grant development and compliance and serves as the primary legal and regulatory liaison with agencies and industry partners.

Qualifications: Advanced degree (J.D. or related), at least 5 years of utility regulation or energy policy experience (preferably in Vermont), and strong analytical, writing, and stakeholder management skills.

Salary: $100,000–$125,000 with outstanding benefits.

For a full description go to: stoweelectric.com/jobs

To apply, send resume to HR@stoweelectric.com

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

FINANCE MANAGER

CCS has been voted one of

Join our team today and support our mission to build a community where everyone participates and belongs.

Help us build our in-house finance capacity. After relying on 3rd party consulting services for the better part of a decade, the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission seeks a highly skilled and self-motivated finance manager to join our team and lead this effort. Working with a staff of dedicated professionals in a public service organization, and reporting directly to the Executive Director, the ideal candidate will bring the experience necessary to reimagine how we structure this position to meet the current needs of our organization.

CVRPC currently uses QuickBooks Desktop Accounting Software, but we are eager to consider how we can better leverage software to fit our needs. Knowledge of federal and state grants management is a plus. The ability to work well with staff and the public is essential.

A complete job description including all responsibilities is available at centralvtplanning.org/news/job-postings

Apply by submitting a cover letter, resume and the contact information for three professional references to jobs@cvregion.com

Please reference “Finance Manager” and your last name in the subject line.

The hourly wage range for this position is $36.06 to $52.88, dependent on qualifications.

This position will remain open until it is filled. A review of applications will begin 5/4/26

CVRPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace

Kitchen Help

Local catering business is seeking part-time help in the kitchen. Nice working environment. Good cooking background necessary; some professional experience recommended. Apply at: christophe@pozecatering.com

RESOURCE ROOM SPECIALIST

Full-time in Burlington, VT

Are you passionate about educating others on environmental issues? We’re seeking a creative and enthusiastic individual to assist with environmental education and outreach activities and to support the daily operations of the Resource Room at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

More information: neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers

To apply: send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to: jobs@neiwpcc.org

Deadline: May 10, 2026

Experienced Consultant

Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier is searching for an experienced consultant to guide the development of a new multi-year strategic plan. To obtain a copy of the request for proposals, please contact General Manager Mary Mullally at marym@ HungerMountain.coop

Proposals are due no later than Friday, May 15, 2026.

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Vermont Tent Company is currently accepting applications for the following positions for immediate employment starting in May. Full time, part time, after school and weekend hours available for each position.

Pay rates vary by position with minimum starting wage ranging from $19-$24/hour depending on job skills and experience. We also offer retention and referral bonuses.

• Tent Maintenance

• Tent Installation

• Drivers/Delivery

• Load Crew Team

Interested candidates submit application online: vttent.com/ employment

No phone calls, please.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

The Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) is seeking its top nance administrator. The Director of Finance administers, directs, and maintains the logistical and nancial a airs of school districts to provide the best educational support services within available resources. They also act as advisor to school boards on all matters relating to logistical, business, and nancial a airs of the districts. The Director serves as part of the administrative and educational leadership teams in carrying out the mission and vision of the organization. They provide administrative oversight, direction, and planning for our Finance and Human Resources Departments.

The start date is July 1, 2026, with the possibility to start earlier for supported training. The Supervisory Union is nestled in a beautiful part of the Northeast Kingdom that provides countless outdoor recreational activities and easy access to larger Vermont cities and towns. The school boards and communities are extremely supportive of and invested in their public schools.

Salary: $90,000 to $100,000 Per Year

Apply: https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=5644591

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Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the community better through the arts. All backgrounds encouraged to apply. Full-time, Salary, On-site, Benefits Eligible

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

The Flynn is seeking a Box Office Manager to lead ticketing operations with accuracy and warmth. You’ll oversee sales, staff training, reporting, and customer experience, ensuring every interaction reflects our mission. Bring strong leadership, organization, and communication skills to support artists, audiences, and community engagement through exceptional service every day.

For complete job description and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/Employment-and-InternshipOpportunities

No phone calls, please. E.O.E.

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Program Director and Head Coach

Finding Our Stride (FOS), a dynamic nonprofit providing free afterschool running programs at K–8 schools across the greater Upper Valley region of VT and NH, seeks an energetic, motivated individual to join our small team as Program Director and Head Coach. The position oversees our running programs across 25+ school sites. Required are experience working with and coaching youth, a commitment to inclusion and accessibility, and the belief that all youth deserve opportunities to thrive physically, emotionally, and socially. This part-time, salaried position averages 3 days per week (60% full-time) over the year; however, it requires close to full-time effort during the busy spring & fall seasons and is less busy during the summer and winter months. To apply, please visit: findingourstride.org/opportunities

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We’re looking for amazing Early Childhood Program educators! The Y offers many career benefits —including competitive pay, professional development opportunities, access to Y perks, and a supportive community where you can make a difference in the life of a child and their family. Come work with us!

$1,500 Hiring Incentive! Apply with QR Code 4T-YMCA042226 1

Town Administrator

The Town of Jericho (pop. ~5,000) seeks an experienced, collaborative professional to serve as full-time Town Administrator. This role serves as the Selectboard’s chief administrative o cer, overseeing municipal operations, sta coordination, budgeting, and implementation of Town priorities. Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong leadership, communication skills, and experience in municipal management, nancial oversight, and strategic initiatives. Ability to support long-term planning, partnerships, and community development is highly valued.

Quali cations: Bachelor’s degree in public/business administration or related eld and at least 4 years of relevant experience.

Salary: $85,000–$125,000 DOQ, plus excellent bene ts.

Full job description: https://www.jerichovt.org/297/Job-Openings

To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and three references (PDF) to phollstein@jerichovt.gov | Subject: “Jericho Town Administrator”

Deadline: May 29, 2026 | EOE

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4/20/26

$22 PER HOUR

Seeking a companion for our 32-year-old developmentally delayed daughter. She is a lifelong learner who is socially engaged and has a great sense of humor. She takes full care of her physical well-being. We are looking for a companion who will enrich her life through community-oriented involvement and home-based activities, such as taking rides to explore new places, going for walks, gardening, or any other ideas the two of you develop.

Must have driver’s license and car. No smoking.

Schedule: 1 day or more, Monday thru Friday.

Location: Burlington

Please call or email with questions.

802-862-7602 | Kathy Bostock, kathy.bostock@gmail.com

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

New Grad RNs:

Your Nursing Journey Starts Here.

NVRH is now accepting applicants for the Summer 2026 New Graduate Nurse Residency Program on our vibrant Med‑Surg Unit. This year‑long transition‑to‑practice experience includes a dedicated 1:1 preceptor, consistent mentorship, structured classroom learning, and hands‑on specialty rotations in areas like ICU, ED, Day Surgery, Infusion, Labor & Delivery, and more.

Community Support Specialist

The Preservation Trust of Vermont

The Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV) builds community through the preservation of historic buildings, villages, and downtowns. Last year, PTV worked on 362 preservation and revitalization projects in 155 Vermont communities.

You’ll build clinical confidence, strengthen critical thinking, and join a supportive team committed to compassionate, community‑focused care. With student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling, and a top tier comprehensive benefits package, NVRH is the perfect place to begin your career.

Care Coordinator/ Case Management

Based in our service area of Washington, Orange and Lamoille counties, the Case Manager will work with older persons to remain in their homes through creative connections with state and community resources.

We are looking for new team members who work well with others and can empathize with their needs, are comfortable with computers, are strong communicators and are enthusiastic to learn and grow as professionals.

Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour. Generous benefits including retirement, health insurance, and paid time off.

For the full job description and to apply, please visit: cvcoa.org/employment 4t-CentralVTCouncilonAging031126.indd

Close To Home is hiring a full-time Sales Consultant and/or Sales Assistant to join our design-driven showroom team. Responsibilities include client service, product selection, quotations, project coordination and communication with designers, plumbers, and contractors. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, organized, self-motivated and comfortable multitasking in a fast-paced environment. Showroom, sales, administrative or customer service experience preferred. Competitive pay based on experience, PTO, health insurance stipend and company-matched 401(k).

View full descriptions at Closetohomevt.com/careers. Send resume and cover letter to info@closetohomevt.com.

PTV is seeking a Community Support Specialist to support PTV’s Village Trust Initiative (VTI) Program. An innovative community revitalization collaboration between the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Vermont Community Foundation, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont, the Initiative will help 20 communities of 2,500 or fewer complete a transformational community development project involving a historic building or settlement pattern.

The ideal candidate will have five years of community and economic development or historic preservation experience, experience administering federal grant programs, exceptional project management skills, and a passion for working in partnership with rural communities.

This is a grant funded position and intended to last for three years.

Salary Range: $62,000-$65,000

Benefits include: generous paid leave, access to employer-sponsored healthcare & dental benefits, SIMPLE IRA

Organization Name: The Preservation Trust of Vermont Organization Website: https://ptvermont.org

Apply: ben@ptvermont.org

$95,000-$115,000

(commensurate with experience) We’re looking for a People & Culture Manager to help shape and support a values-driven workplace. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing hands-on HR operations with meaningful culture work and partnership with the organization’s leaders. FullTime and includes our generous CTO accruals & benefits package.

PACKAGING LEAD

$20.00/hour starting pay

Do you have an eye for detail, work best with clear goals, and enjoy effectively coaching others? You’ll be responsible for meeting daily goals, keeping accurate records and a close eye on product quality, and staying up on product and packaging changes. FullTime and includes our generous CTO accruals & benefits package.

RETAIL STORE ASSOCIATES & BARISTAS

$15.00-$15.50/hour starting pay + tips, accrued paid time off, sweet chocolate perks, and more! Pine St. & Church St. Locations

Join our team and bring joy to our amazing customers! Spend your days with a great group of co-workers,learning all about chocolate, educating customers, and making life-altering hot chocolates.

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is seeking a hands-on, results-driven, and community-minded Manager for the Williston ReStore.

To see full description and apply, visit:

Browse 100+ new job postings each week from trusted, local employers. See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com Find a job that makes it easier to

for the latest postings

Burlington Housing Authority (BHA)

Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Assistant Property Manager:

Assists with leasing apartments, move in and move outs, maintaining accurate tenant files and assist with tenant complaints, collection of rents, lease violations, property inspections, vacant unit checks, delivery of resident notices and certifications, and other duties related to property management. Pay $22.00 to $24.00 per hour.

Housing Retention Specialist: Provides assistance to residents who have barriers to maintaining housing and/or subsidy. The Housing Retention Specialist works with residents in Chittenden County for the most part and will occasionally provide support to neighboring regions. The Housing Retention Specialist works collaboratively with community service agencies and providers in addition to Section 8, Property Management and Inspection Staff and reports to the Director of Housing Retention and Services. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour.

Housing Retention Specialist – Site Based: Responsible for supporting those who have mental health and substance use challenges and/or who have moved from homelessness to Bobbin Mill, Wharf Lane, and other BHA properties. The position works closely with property management and other site-based staff to identify challenges and respond with appropriate direct service and coordination of community services, with a goal of eviction prevention and facilitating a healthy tenancy. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour.

Maintenance Technician: Performs general maintenance work in BHA owned and managed properties. This

includes building exteriors, common areas, apartments, building systems, fixtures, and grounds. Our Building Operations Techs are required to participate in the on-call rotation, which covers night and weekend emergencies. Current rotation is once every 6-7 weeks. Pay $24.00 to $26.00 per hour.

Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance. We provide a generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays and 2 (paid) floating cultural holidays.

For more information about these job opportunities please visit: burlingtonhousing.org .

Interested in our career opportunities? Send a cover letter & resume to: humanresources@ burlingtonhousing.org .

Human Resources

Burlington Housing Authority 65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401

BHA is an E.O.E.

GRANTS MANAGER

VSC is seeking a Grants Manager to lead institutional fundraising efforts through strong writing, thoughtful strategy, and clear systems. This role manages the full lifecycle of grants from prospecting through award, reporting, and close-out. It also plays a key role in shaping a sustainable and forward-looking funding strategy. This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with program, finance, leadership team, external contractors, etc. to translate VSC’s work into clear and persuasive narratives for funders.

Location: Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT (Hybrid Possible)

Status: Full-Time, Salaried | Salary: $65,000

Benefits: Fully paid Health Insurance, employee sponsored Dental and Vision Insurance, Accrued CTO, Sick Time and Staff Meals

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@vermontstudiocenter.org with “Grants Manager” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until April 30th, 2026.

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Part-Time Salesperson & Store Driver roles

Part-Time Salesperson & Store Driver roles available immediately! Advance Auto Parts in Burlington is hiring part-time Salespersons and Store Drivers! We’re looking for friendly, reliable team members who enjoy helping customers and working in a fast-paced retail environment.

Salesperson Responsibilities:

- Assist customers with auto parts and product selection

- Provide great customer service and maintain store displays

Driver Responsibilities:

- Safely deliver auto parts to local customers

- Maintain accurate delivery records and provide courteous service

What We O er:

- Flexible part-time schedules

- Team-oriented work environment

- Employee discounts and opportunities to grow

Apply in-store at Advance Auto Parts, Burlington, VT, or apply online using the QR code

https://jobs.advanceautoparts.com/ us/en/sales-drivers-burlington-vt

fun stuff

“I rescued him from that cartoonist.”

“I

fun stuff

ese wonderful people made their first donation to Seven Days this week:

Jo McGinnis

Mike Kemsley

Isabelle Martin

Peter Martin

John O’Neill

Randy Quenneville

Kelly Quenneville

George Spear

Catherine Stoddert

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year:

Dennis & Olga Amaral

Berne Broudy

Joseph E. Dery

Andrea Gray

Sally Bloomberg & David Hindin

Melissa Hood

Richard Landsman

Ann Larson

Judith & Frank Leonard

Glenn McRae

Paul Nelson

Tsering Ngudu

Erik Post

Theresa Rowe

Peter Ryersbach

Tod Warner

Join these generous folks and other Super Readers who donate monthly to: Welcome, new Super Readers!

Russ & Lara Weis

Make your contribution today! sevendaysvt.com/super-readers

Or send a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402.

Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution? Contact Gillian at 802-865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

TAURUS

(APR. 20-MAY 20)

May is Free Thinking Month for you Tauruses. It’s also Free Feeling, Free Wheeling and Free Healing Month. Wow! To observe this festive grace period, indulge in any of the following jubilant acts: 1) Declare your independence from anyone who tries to tell you how you should live your life or who you are. 2) Declare independence from your history, especially recollections that dampen your sense of possibility and old selfimages that impede your yearning to explore. 3) Declare independence from groupthink and conventional wisdom. 4) Declare independence from your former conceptions of freedom so you’ll be free to arrive at fresh understandings of it.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In the 19th century, Aries photographer Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) resolved to settle a debate about whether galloping horses ever have all four hooves off the ground. He developed a system to capture rapid sequential images, which ultimately helped lead to the invention of motion pictures. His answer to a narrow technical question opened up an entirely new art form. Moral of the story: Solving a specific problem may create unforeseen revolutions. In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to stay alert

for how your focused efforts to address one challenge might birth even more significant breakthroughs. Don’t get so fixated on your immediate goal that you miss larger innovations emerging from your work.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): The Navajo practice hózhó means “walking in beauty”: living in balance and harmony with life. But hózhó isn’t a static state you achieve once and possess forever. You must continually restore and reinvent it. I suspect you’re in a phase like that now, Gemini. Too much thinking and not enough feeling? Too much future and not enough present? I recommend you take corrective measures. Start by taking one physical action that grounds you. Have a conversation from the heart instead of the head. Spend an hour not planning the story to come but simply loving what’s here right now. Refresh your hózhó!

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): If a honeybee colony becomes too crowded, scout bees search for potential new hive sites. When they return, they perform waggle dances for their colleagues to convey specific information about different locations. Negotiations ensue. Various possibilities are offered and considered through more dancing. Eventually, the swarm collectively makes a choice and heads out to its new home. Your challenge right now, Cancerian, is to be like a scout bee who facilitates your group’s decision-making process. I invite you to carry out a reconnaissance mission and then perform your waggle dances for your people. Make your case with vigor and precision. Trust the group’s emergent wisdom to make the best decision.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Like all of us, Leo, you have persistent aches from old losses, absences and wounds. They may seem like permanent burdens you will never be able to shake or transcend. But here’s some very good news: In the coming months, there’s a greater chance than usual that you’ll discover new approaches to healing them. The remedies won’t necessarily be logical or obvious. They may involve you conducting rituals, taking symbolic actions or ambushing the pain from unexpected angles. Be alert for interventions that may seem too simple or unexpected to work.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Your restlessness is building. How much longer will you pretend you don’t sense the pull of bright temptations and appealing sanctuaries? At what moment will you finally stop resisting your urge to slip past the usual boundaries and roam? The astrological omens hint that this pivot is close at hand. In the borderlands of your imagination, a daring journey is already taking shape. Where might it carry you? Here’s my guess: down into the raw, unfiltered depths of the future you secretly dream about.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In fairy tales, when heroes are rewarded for their help and kindness, their gifts are often tools of protection: a cloak that renders them invisible, a magic club that chases off foes or enchanted shoes that enable them to outrun any threat. In other stories, the reward is meant to deepen the hero’s delight in living: a genie’s lamp, a cauldron that cooks up exquisite food or a horn that calls forth marvelous companions from the fairy world. I mention this, Libra, because I believe rewards for your past and recent generosity are on their way. If you have any say in what form they take, I suggest you request something from this second, pleasure-giving category.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Marie Howe wrote, “I don’t think we can love anything more intensely than we love a secret.” Many Scorpios feel this way. You understand that mystery is often a joy to be savored. Some truths reveal themselves only to those who summon the patient intelligence to be at peace amidst the confounding riddles. NonScorpios may be desperate to leave nothing hidden, but you like to learn from the teasing prickles. You know that some transformations need darkness to carry on their work. Your next assignment: Decide what truth needs more time in the deep before it’s ready to surface.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Diamond is the hardest natural substance, while graphite is soft and slippery. Yet they’re both made of pure carbon. The difference is in their structure. Let’s extrapolate from this fact as we ruminate on your life, Sagittarius. I’m 97 percent certain that you already have every-

thing you need. Maybe you imagine you lack key resources and powers, but from what I can tell, you are well set up. So I propose that you simply reorganize what’s available to you now. Take the “carbon” of your life and arrange it in new patterns. Your task isn’t further accumulation but reconfiguration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): My Capricorn grandfather was a master artisan. He told me that the best furniture is built twice: first in the imagination, then with wood. Let’s apply that theme to you. I believe you have mostly finished the first step of visualizing what you want. Now you’re almost ready to launch the actual work. I’m eager to see the practical effects that will bloom from your detailed fantasies. The rest of the world is excited, too. These days, we all especially need your talent for turning beautiful dreams into vivid realities. You have extra power to inspire us to convert our idealistic notions into dynamic actions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I invite you to imagine a time in the past when you were almost perfectly content. Visualize that magical confluence of satisfying feelings. Where were you? Who was or wasn’t there? What could you see, hear, smell and feel in your body? What made that moment so right? Next step: Make a vow to rebuild as many of those conditions as you realistically can over the next three weeks. Maybe you can’t re-create the exact scene, but you can approximate its essence.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): The astrological factors now in effect are tending to generate useful and valuable cosmic jokes. I believe they may be disruptive and catalytic in helpful ways. In this spirit, I offer you the following affirmations, borrowed from internet memes: 1) “You may call me ‘melodramatic.’ I describe myself as a ‘creative problem-solver with flair and panache.’” 2) “I’m not overthinking; I’m overriding simplistic answers that hide the real truths.” 3) “You shouldn’t think of me as chaotic; the fact is that I’m generously non-linear.” 4) “I have a solid plan, but it’s always evolving to keep up with reality’s crazy insistence on ceaseless change.” 5) “Please dismantle your low expectations; I need ample room to exceed them.” 6) “I trust my instincts; they have often been wrong in interesting ways.”

WOMEN seeking...

YOUTHFUL OLD SOUL, TENDER HEART

Relatively whole woman living a full, happy life in service with wonder and gratitude. Inquisitive, playful, kind, adventurous, generous with discerning orientation practicing equanimity, conscious communication, and emotional intelligence. Walking on the sunny side of the street in honor of my ancestors to nurture, nourish, regenerate the garden. Welcoming companionship, collaboration, playmatehood, and conscious partnership at the speed of trust. youthfuloldsoul 50, seeking: M,l

SUNSHINE IN VERMONT

I’m looking for someone with the same values. I love to laugh and have a lot of fun. I like camping, traveling, playing cards and board games, watching movies, and having campfires in my backyard. I love to entertain and am a very happy person. I’m honest, loyal, loving and caring. Carolyn, 72, seeking: M,l

WARM, CURIOUS, ENJOYS LIFE

Insightful, kind and a lifelong learner. Retired registered nurse, widow, and proud mom and grandmother. I’m looking for a genuine man to enjoy life with — someone who appreciates connection, conversation and shared experiences. I love music, travel (recently enjoyed the art and culture of Oaxaca), cooking, entertaining, and the simple joys of sunsets, beautiful views and beach walks. bluehydrangea 83 seeking: M,l

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

INTELLIGENT, CURIOUS, FUNNY AND PLAYFUL

College educated, pretty and emotionally intelligent. Life’s been a little chaotic lately, so I’m just looking for something simple and real — good conversation, calm energy, and someone who’s kind and easy to be around. I don’t need perfect, just genuine. sunshinedayz85 40, seeking: M

HERE FOR LAUGHS AND LOVE

I’m the kind of person who laughs easily, shows up when it matters, and believes the best connections feel natural — not forced. I love good conversations, spontaneous plans and quiet moments that actually mean something. If you’re genuine, kind and ready for something that could turn into more, say hi. Let’s see where it goes. dawniegolucky, 50, seeking: M,l

CHILLING IN NATURE

Hola. I am a kind, gentle animal lover who is looking for a friendship that will blossom naturally (no pressure.) This will happen if you are also kind, open-minded and care about what is happening in the world. You are laid-back but not opposed to protesting an ICE facility. Must love cats! Eddy 54, seeking: M,l

FUN, FIT, FRIENDLY

I am a former flower child who likes music, dancing, laughing; and, when I’m not: reading, walking in nature and creating. Looking for someone in the Burlington area with similar interests who could be a friend, traveling companion (been to Ireland and Japan), dinner and movie date, and possibly more. Finding a group of like-minded friends is my heart’s desire. wythu, 74, seeking: M,l

OUTDOORSY, ATHLETIC, INTRIGUING, OUTGOING, DEEP

Classy lady seeks gentleman for companionship and outdoor adventures. Building in Waitsfield, Vt. Avid equestrian and love to horseback ride, hike and swim in the emerald-green waters of the Mad River. Windsurfed and have sailboarded as well as figure skated. Seeking a man who can “whoa” and take it slow and see where things might go. Lavenderlady19 66, seeking: M,l

KIND AND CARING

I’m a librarian but don’t think I meet all the stereotypes of the profession. Just a few: I’m kind, compassionate and an educator. I work hard, enjoy naps and being outside as much as I can. Long walks, bike riding, swimming, kayaking, Nordic skiing — I’m in! I do the New York Times crossword puzzle and cups of tea. BookNerd 42 seeking: M

WANNA JUMP IN THE RIVER?

I love being outside year-round, wandering the forests and wondering at their whimsy and beauty. Balancing that out with cozy time inside, I love a good cup of tea, a book, and attempting/collecting random craft projects, usually made with nature or textiles. Building intentional community is something I am very dedicated to and consider very important, especially right now. ForestFairy, 32, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP,l

PEACEFUL AND PLAYFUL

I am a retired widow looking for companionship with a kind and honest man. I enjoy cooking, gardening and reading. I really enjoy the outdoors. I like fishing and kayaking. I enjoy playing pool and maybe a little foosball and bowling. I enjoy walks, and I love dancing to rock and roll. Dilly, 65 seeking: M,l

SCOTTISH LASSIE LOOKING FOR LAD

My name is Michele, and I am a mental health counselor. I enjoy walking, hiking, gardening and spending time with my dog, Winnie. I also like to read. I have a very dry sense of humor that can catch people by surprise, and I have learned to manage it over time. I do enjoy a partner with a quick wit. Chelbelle, 57, seeking: M,l

SPONTANEOUS AND FUN

I would like someone to match my spontaneous personality! I’m a spontaneous, fun person. Spontaneous, as in, I could, on a dime, say, “Let’s get in the car and go!” Let’s go out to dinner. Let’s go dancing, bowling and so on. I enjoy dancing every weekend. Honesty and communication are important to me, as well as attraction. Aggie, 73 seeking: M

FIT, GROUNDED, NOT DONE DANCING Finishing grad school in mental health and currently working as a wellness coach. I’m 5’7”, fit, grounded and funloving, with a good life, close family and supportive friends. I enjoy hiking, crosscountry skiing, gravel rides, dancing, cooking simple whole-food meals, and meditation, yoga and Qi Gong. Seeking companionship for adventure, deep conversation and easy time together. soulshine1975 50, seeking: M,l

GREAT COFFEE DATE? MAYBE MORE?

I would like to meet a man for dating, possibly a partnership. I love to laugh, and my ideal person would be someone playful. I’m made happy by reading, socializing, hanging out at cafés or with dogs, walking, museum-ing, music, movies, No Kings! rallies, painting, gardening. Bonus points if you like to watch silent films or slow-paced, talky foreign ones. Pointer 69, seeking: M,l

TRAVELING ENTHUSIAST

I’m always seeking the next adventure — whether it’s a weekend hike or discovering a new coffee shop. I’ve been all over the world; take a guess at my favorite location? With travel comes great food. Food lover on a mission to find the best food in the city. Let’s hit up some food trucks together! First date: Where you taking me? VTCHICA31 44, seeking: M,l

LIFE AFICIONADO

You: Self-assured, curious, sense of humor with a dash of derision, who has many words for his story. Me: Spiritual world traveler with a kink for life and a sweet touch, rires and petits plats, music in my heart. Us: Sunrise in winter, smell of apple in the wind, leisurely picnic, warmth in togetherness, old-style jazz. Life_Aficionado 65, seeking: M,l

MEN seeking...

BUILDER, THINKER, LIFELONG LEARNER

I like to stay busy, keep learning and build things. I appreciate simplicity: a good workout, a solid conversation and time spent creating things. I’m easygoing but intentional about how I live. Looking for someone genuine, positive and comfortable being themselves. If you’re curious about life, take care of your health and can laugh along the way, we’ll get along. MountainStars 57, seeking: W

HONEST, DEPENDABLE MAVERICK

I’m not saying I’m glad you’re single, but I’m happy you’re here. I promise I’m more interesting in person. ptink, 57, seeking: W,l

COMPASSIONATE, LOYAL, ATHLETIC, CURIOUS

Longtime Buddhist. Practical (some say to a fault). Financially secure, emotionally intelligent, sensitive and kind. I love poetry as much as engineering. Irrepressibly curious learner and adventurer. Happiest when I’m outside. Long-distance trail runner and lover of all bikes. Starting a new chapter and looking for someone to share adventures and maybe more after a foundation. Buddhistbuilder, 58 seeking: W,l

JUST LOOKING

And browsing. abc123xyz, 32, seeking: W

EASYGOING

Lonely. rgarv48 77, seeking: W

HEY, NOW!

Looking for fun, good times and laughter with a good-hearted lady. Jonny5isalive, 51, seeking: W,l

NERDY ANIMAL LOVER SEEKING SAME

I’m vegan for the animals! Once you know, you know. I’m a friendly, well-read and informed guy who is seeking an affectionate, attractive and caring partner for the years we have left to share life. I’m open to most people as long as our values are aligned. Veg1965 60 seeking: W,l

LONELY NIGHTS

Part-time dad with a full schedule, so I keep things simple but still like to have fun. Looking for a fun, consistent FWB situation with someone who’s got great chemistry, a good sense of humor and maybe a bit of a mischievous side. I’m clean, communicative and drama-free, and looking for the same. If there’s a spark, even better. RootedIn802 52 seeking: W

ENIGMA

Anything in my life, I make my own. If it is odd, then I own it and celebrate it. If you are odd and you own it, then I will help you celebrate it. I have a dry, satirical sense of humor, and generally find everything funny as long as it’s just words. I like cars, motorcycles, history, food, experiences, exploring. Tfleming 40, seeking: W

ADVENTUROUS, CARING, FUN GUY! New to Vermont and wanting to explore! Well traveled metal artist seeks openminded, grounded companion for adventures including regional travel, music, hikes and creemee sampling. I am active, fit (not a gym rat), creative and capable. I love cycling, motorcycling, kayaking, hiking, good music and conversation. I’m interested mostly in companionship, but open to more (I’m not in a rush for anything). Mdenney 69, seeking: M, W, TW, Cp, Gp,l

LAID-BACK, RELAXING

Looking for anyone, honestly, to talk.

If you just wanted to hook up, I’m fine with that, too. I can only walk or get picked up as I don’t have a car right now. jb2026, 18, seeking: W, TM, TW,l

LOVE SPORTS, LAID-BACK

Love sports; huge baseball fan. In free time, like to hang out with my kids. Work a really good full-time job. Mainly looking for fun, multiple times. Darrencham917 29, seeking: W,l

IN THE HILLS

I’m looking for new experiences and adventures with the right woman. I’m retired, and love to travel, read, go for walks and attend the theater. Trailmaker 68 seeking: W

GOING WITH THE FLOW

Twenty-one and just moved back with my folks. Organizer, professional dumbass, CEO of silly geese. I’m from Boston. Unfortunately, I was allegedly too silly and on house arrest on bail. Consequently, I’m bored as fuck and would love to find someone to talk to while I’m here. If you’re into politics/organizing, funny and looking for someone to talk to/more, HMU. APTTP 21, seeking: W,l

ONE GREAT GUY

I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but would like to meet genuine and honest people. Jdog75 50, seeking: W, TW

INTELLIGENT, HANDSOME

I’m not going to write my life story, because we need to save some chitchat for our first date. I’m 5’10”, 175 lbs. Blue eyes and gray hair. Like most people 60-plus, I’ve had some great highs and extreme lows. What say you? How are the final chapters of your life going to be? Gmanc 66, seeking: W,l

FIND LOVE WHERE CONNECTIONS SPARK Kind, genuine person searching for a meaningful connection. Bigchiefcohen 52, seeking: W,l

SWEET HEART, LOYAL AND OPTIMISTIC I am just me. It’s been difficult to set up this site. I just did correct it now, plus, I am pretty new to this. I am very simple, hardworking and sweet, as well. Evergreen201 58 seeking: W,l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

ADVENTUROUS, WHIMSICAL AND SILLY

Brand-new to Vermont living, from the West Coast! Looking for love in hopefully the right place. Always up for a good time and wanting to find someone who loves yacht rock, movies and going on the wackiest side quests. YachtRockGal 28 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, NBP,l

COUPLES seeking...

HOW DO YOU LOVE ME?

We are getting closer. We are excited to receive each other! You may not think you want poly-fidelity, but if you did, what would we be like together? How are we welcoming children into our life together? Nataraja 46, seeking: M, W,l

LET’S RIDE IT OUT TOGETHER

We are a Gen X couple who are getting older and could use someone younger to help split wood and shovel snow in exchange for a cheap place to live. Things are getting wild, and we would really love to have some company as we ride it out. Come enjoy board games and John Waters movies with us. BIPOC, LGBTQ preferred. BrownBiGuy 48, seeking: M, Q, NC, NBP,l

PRETTY LADY AT CROW BOOKSHOP

I went to Crow Bookshop to see if they were hiring. While there, I was left speechless at how pretty you were. I awkwardly complimented your sweater and hastily left. I wish I was able to get to know you a little better, either romantically or just as friends. When: ursday, April 16, 2026. Where: Crow Bookshop. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916584

CLADDAGH

In the café around 10:30 a.m., you were sitting by the windows sharing a bit of food with a young girl companion (a daughter, maybe?). I caught an intriguing detail that sparked my curiosity: a Claddagh ring worn in a rather intentional way. I should have inquired. Maybe you’ll grant a chance to amend my error. When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Where: City Market South. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916583

IF You missed me you’d find a way to be near me again. You wouldn’t weaponize me or love. And you’d allow me to move on. You’ve slept with enough other people and done enough deplorable actions. I got the hint the first time. You wouldn’t have “a suitable replacement.” When: Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Where: somewhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916582

IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT!

You know what that means. Here’s to (at least) 16 more years spending copper to build suboptimal, non-synergistic decks filled with curses, estates and safety duchys. We’ve got long to go before that third supply pile runs out. Either way, I’ll have more victory points. When: Friday, April 17, 2026. Where: in the hinterlands. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916580

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

MALLETTS BAY AREA

Just moved to the area! I keep seeing the same girl: short, blond, mesmerizing eyes and a smile to die for! Spotted you at Malletts Bay Price Chopper, again on a hike and pretty sure downtown! I’m starting to think it’s not a coincidence but we’re actually meant to meet. Maybe we can get Chunky Monkey ice cream sometime? My favorite! When: Friday, April 10, 2026. Where: all over area. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916581

WOMAN IN PLAID

You: black-and-white flannel. Me: used to have the same flannel, but with a hood. I meant to ask if you wanted to be thrifting buddies, but too shy to ask for your number. When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Where: Hardwick Village Restaurant. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916579

GRATEFUL AT THE ZEN BARN

I admired you in your sexy white knit dress from short distances (was I too obvious?). You were with a small group of three or four adults and a couple of kids. I’m an older gentleman with gray hair/beard and was wearing a creamcolored shirt. Hope to see you there again on a DSP night as the weather warms up. When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Where: Zen Barn, Waterbury. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916578

HALF MARATHON, FULL AWESOME

You: Fit and fun school counselor who speaks Hungarian(?) Me: Running buddy at mile eight until you took off. Are you out there? Let’s get a drink! When: Saturday, April 11, 2026. Where: Half Marathon Unplugged in Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916577

I’ve been single by choice for a long time, which I’m completely happy about, but I’m considering getting back into the dating pool. I used to shave my legs and armpits (and sometimes wax downstairs), but I quit doing that when I didn’t have a partner. I love the freedom of not caring about it anymore, but I wonder if body hair will be a deal-breaker for my chance of finding romance. To shave or not to shave?

SCOUT TOWN MEETING DAY

COUPLE

I saw this beautiful couple at Scout in the Old North End with insane chemistry on Town Meeting Day. Sparks were flying. I had butterflies just lookin’ at them. Man looked smitten like a kitten toward his li’l lady. Like Clark Kent and Lois. Wishing y’all the best. Can I get an invite to the wedding? When: Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Where: Scout ONE. You: Couple. Me: Woman. #916576

COSTCO BEAUTY

Early afternoon, I entered and went to grab a shopping cart. You were tall and beautiful, and you looked me in my eyes, gave me a beautiful smile and waved. I smiled and waved back. I hoped to bump into you while we shopped but I never saw you again. Message me if you find this. When: Saturday, April 4, 2026. Where: Costco. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916575

MARY JANE SHOP IN MONTGOMERY

Around 4:15, you were saying goodbye to the owner just as I was walking in. We made eye contact for a moment, then again as you walked out. You: slim, down-to-earth-looking woman, gray hair, 60s? Me: similar age and height, longish gray hair and mustache. Hope we can see what drew us both. When: ursday, April 2, 2026. Where: Mary Jane shop, Montgomery. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916574

HOT VOLVO DADDY AT SPLASH

I kept checking you out (over and over)! We were both in the garage drying our cars. You have gorgeous white hair and a blazing rear! Seems your were giving me a show! You’re damned hot! I hope to see you again! I couldn’t stop looking at you! Your white hair is also hot. When: Sunday, March 29, 2026. Where: Splash, Rutland. You: Man. Me: Man. #916573

JOYLESS AND CRUEL BUS DRIVER

ank you so much for confirming your bus departure time and promptly pulling off the moment you saw me exit the station, before said departure time. With a smile! ere are places for people like you who find joy in making the world harder for those around them. When: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Where: Burlington bus station. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916572

De F y W y,

LADY IN RED

I waited in line to order. You — red hair, glasses, red cardigan — sat by the window with two older women. Later, you stopped near my seat to put your cup in the bus bin. My tattoos and I were working on my laptop. Care to share a table next time you’re up for coffee or tea? When: Monday, March 30, 2026. Where: Uncommon Coffee. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916571

A YEAR AFTER LOSING YOU

I can’t wait to get us back. You were the highlight of my every day, from awakening until sleep, and then still in my dreams, as you remain today. I told you that I will be here alone until your return to me, and that is a promise I will always keep. I have always been true to you. When: Sunday, March 23, 2025. Where: in my thoughts and dreams. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916570

BURLINGTON BLACKOUT SHY DANCER EDITION

You: Beard, black T-shirt, high thin ponytail and a passion for the music. Me: Light blue cloud T-shirt, light pink tiedye shorts and a Pac Man hoodie around my hips. I kept dancing behind you and stealing glances, wanting to chat you up. We left around the same time and felt like I blew my chance. When: Saturday, March 28, 2026. Where: Burlington Blackout, Higher Ground. You: Man. Me: Trans man. #916569

BEST-EVER SMILE

We live in the same building. Your small white dog was racing you down the stairs. I smiled at him and when I looked up, you were smiling at me. Whoever gets to go home to your smile every day is pretty lucky. Just wanted you to know. When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Where: Winooski, 1 p.m. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916568

SPEEDER AND EARL’S MAN

You asked what I was reading. I gave you my number but haven’t heard from you. Maybe you changed your mind, or maybe I was so enthralled that I put it in the contact card wrong. If the former, I’d love to get a coffee together. If the latter, I go there ‘cause the barista is cute. When: Sunday, March 22, 2026. Where: Speeder and Earl’s. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916566

Men can have hair anywhere it naturally occurs on their body, and no one bats an eyelash. But a woman with hairy legs, pits or, God forbid, a natural bush? at’ll make some people freak out because they think it’s unhygienic or gross. Which is absolutely untrue and one of my least favorite double standards.

BARNES & NOBLE

I saw you working. You were wearing your hat backwards. One time, you made me a double-blended strawberry lemonade. en, a different time, you made me a white hot chocolate and I ordered a chocolate chunk cookie. When: Saturday, March 21, 2026. Where: Barnes & Noble Café. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916567

MAJESTIC

I went for a court hearing and saw an interpreter, speaking fluently, in a black gown with blond hair. When: Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Where: court. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916565

APPLE SHIRT AT CONTRA DANCING

You caught my eye at contra dancing at the grange. You’re tall with dark hair, and you were wearing a T-shirt from a cider festival? Had an apple logo on it. Also wearing a knee brace, and were cute, and a good dancer. I am also tall (6foot), dark hair, was wearing Wranglers and Sambas. When: Saturday, March 7, 2026. Where: Montpelier Grange. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916564

IBEX GLOVES ON LUCE HILL

I picked up your gloves when they fell off the roof of your Volvo, driving down the hill from Trapps’. I was driving a red truck with Montana plates. I thought you were cute and was frazzled by the glove chase and the traffic. I regret not asking if you were single and live around here! Are you? When: Sunday, March 15, 2026. Where: Stowe. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916563

OLD POST

Attractive gal with beautiful eyes, in a pink sweater, behind me in the bar line. We spoke about the slow service, and you mentioned the eye candy making drinks. I loved your earrings; you bought them for yourself for Valentine’s Day. I would love a shot to get together for a drink another evening. When: Friday, March 6, 2026. Where: Old Post. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916561

HEATED RIVALRY

You, blond female wearing silver boots and silver skirt. We chatted a bit. Didn’t catch your name and would like to connect. When: Saturday, March 7, 2026. Where: South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916559

and we have hair on our bodies for a reason. As long as you bathe properly, there’s nothing unhygienic about it. ankfully, modern trends are starting to counter the ridiculous stigmatization of women’s body hair.

Nobody was thinking about women’s body hair until the 1920s, when razor companies like Gillette realized they had an untapped clientele of about half the population. Armpit hair was advertised as being “embarrassing” or déclassé. e nylon shortage in the 1940s spurred marketers to go after the hair on women’s legs. Later on, bikinis got them focused on pubic hair. And so on and so on. e hairless-woman ideal is simply the result of companies trying to sell us products that we never needed. Humans are mammals,

All this to say: What you do with the hair on your body is entirely up to you. If you are comfortable being au naturel, keep it that way. If anything from a tidy-up trim to a complete wax makes you feel more confident, go for it. Wanna dye your pubes pink? at can happen.

You shouldn’t make yourself uncomfortable for someone you haven’t even met yet. And if a little body hair is a deal-breaker, the relationship probably wasn’t a good deal from the start.

Good luck and God bless,

Ambitious guy who loves business, travel and living life differently. Big on loyalty, laughs and connection. Looking for a girl who’s affectionate, wild, supportive and ready to run off to a Mexican dream life. No clothes needed, just avocados and mangoes. #L1932

Male unicorn seeking maiden for sharing fantasies in the magical kingdom. #L1934

I’m a gay male, mid-60s, seeking a gay male in his 70s and uncut. Trimmed, passionate, virgin. Enjoy nude activities together, nature walks, cuddling, etc. for intimate times. Let’s talk and hopefully meet. #L1930

All-smooth M, mid-50s, twinkish youthful appearance, seeking avid butt muncher to use mouth, fingers, toys for long sessions. Very responsive to erotic sensual play, openminded, curious to explore turn-ons, kinks, fetish, fantasies. Seeking M or F. #L1931

I’m a 31-y/o man, tall, dark, long hair, very athletically toned. I like to dance, create music, enjoy Mary Jane and all of the culture’s movies. I am a fan of the expression of love, and I am just looking for my person. Hopefully a short female who takes care of herself well and is willing to take me on as a challenge. #L1928

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PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2

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Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

I’m a SWM, 73, active, fit, settled, living the good life. Seeking fun girl 65-75 y/o. A cat lover is a plus. Race or disability not important. Phone and picture are. #L1929

I’m a gay male, 70 y/o, seeking an 18-plus male or males. I’m 180 lbs. and 5’9”. I’m into spanking and wearing and using adult diapers. Looking for the same. #L1933

I’m a 21-y/o male seeking a 20-plus but preferably 45-plus woman. She must like a little weed. Have to be funny and smart; anything else a plus. Six-foot goddesses, please reach out. I like plants and hanging out. #L1927

I’m a 68-y/o man seeking a 66to 70-y/o female. Looking for an old-school redneck female who’s looking to enjoy the simple things in life. I enjoy auto racing, outdoor events, bonfires, boating, camping, road trips and friendship. #L1926

71-y/o male with some zest for life looking for a female to enjoy some life with. Don’t ski — warm weather is coming — let’s see what fun we can find. Not looking for friends; need a little more than that. All responses will be answered. Phone number, please and thank you. #L1925

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. DETAILS BELOW.

SWF, 72 y/o, seeking a man 60 to 80 y/o. I live in Woodstock, Vt. Looking for a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, please. #L1919

Strong, talented masseur and oral enthusiast seeks friendly relations with extremely sensual, pleasure-loving recipient/counterpart of good character, similar spirit and compatible needs. Select female, male, or M/F couple. Tell me why it should be you. #L1923

I’m a 44-y/o male seeking a female. Part-time homesteader in Newport and W. Mass. Outdoors, skinnydipping, gardening, hiking, snowshoeing, kinky, ice skating. I love campfires with a beer and reading a book with a glass of wine. 420-friendly. What are you reading? #L1922

I’m a 36-y/o man seeking a woman. Tall, slim and serious, looking for a soulmate who values children. #L1918

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

Mature bi guy versed in Eastern philosophy and American low culture ISO an outgoing mature gay guy with keen American feng shui insights beyond social media copy/paste to shape a uniquely Vermont “cultural exchange.” One never knows, do one? #L1924

50-y/o soul, youthful with awakening heart. Fit, kind, inquisitive, attentive, expansive, grounded woman open to grow partnership with a healthy, vibrant man at the speed of trust from solid friendship. Love being in nature, sharing, collaborating, children, liberation. #L1921

Athletic, mindful man seeking adventurous woman. #L1917

30-y/o F (attractive, kind, smart) looking for older woman, 60-plus, for companionship and to have fun with. Liberal is a must. I am attracted to lived experience, not money. Relative attractiveness wouldn’t hurt. Red wine, records and lots of stimulating conversation. #L1915

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MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

Smart Cycling Workshops with E-Bikes

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