Seven Days, April 8, 2026 by Seven Days

BY HANNAH BASSETT & KEVIN MCCALLUM, PAGE 24

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CLEAR CUTS

$15 million

That’s how much money UVM wants to take from a statewide school ﬁnancial aid fund to pay for its new sports complex.

Lawmakers are skeptical.

MAYOR TOUTS BURLINGTON’S ‘MOMENTUM’

Burlington is at a “generational” moment in which investments in the future will start to bear fruit, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said during her annual State of the City address on Monday. She vowed to work in the coming year on affordability issues, highlighting plans to encourage new housing and change the city’s property tax system.

She acknowledged the challenges Burlington faces: another multimillion-dollar budget gap, pervasive public safety concerns and affordability issues. Still, the Progressive mayor said, the city is moving in the right direction.

e new high school is set to open in the fall. And frustrating, long-running construction projects on the Champlain Parkway and Main Street will be completed this summer — a proclamation that earned robust cheers from the crowd.

e mayor called for city councilors to put aside their differences. “We can turn away from the division of the past two years and make a fresh start,” she said.

She praised interim Police Chief Shawn Burke for his work improving public safety. She pointed to record levels of foot patrols by ofﬁcers, the introduction of a “situation table” used to help people connect with services, increased investment in critical Howard Center programs, and the partnership among the city, Gov. Phil Scott and Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George to use an “accountability court” to reduce court backlogs for recidivist offenders.

Housing strategy will be a major focus of the coming year. Mulvaney-Stanak wants to continue to use inclusionary zoning and the city’s Housing Trust Fund to build more affordable housing, and she said the city will explore public-private partnerships to build on city-owned land. She vowed to create the new position of “housing shepherd” to guide new construction to completion. All of these efforts could help Burlington reach its goal of 7,000 new units of housing by 2050, the mayor said.

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

The U.S. Forest Service plans to shutter a Burlington-area research o ce as part of national restructuring, VTDigger reports. Five employees will be laid o .

HELP WANTED

Franklin County Sheri John Grismore said he will not run for reelection this year. He lost his law enforcement certiﬁcation after kicking a handcu ed man in 2022.

ATHLETIC ASSEMBLY

Gov. Phil Scott signed a proclamation honoring Vermont’s Winter Olympians. Many, including medalists, were at the Statehouse for the ceremony.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and its nurses’ union have reached a tentative contract agreement. The pact should avert a strike.

TOPFIVE

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Selectboard Seeks Plan for Waitsfield Covered Bridge e Waitsfield Selectboard is weighing whether to close a local covered bridge after a contractor’s inspection found extensive rot in the structure’s wooden supports, raising safety concerns even as the span continues to carry traffic, according to the Valley Reporter. Only 11 of 46 wooden joists are in good condition.

EAGLE EYE

Two lovebirds are starring in a Vermont reality show. It’s live, unscripted and wild. Cameras have caught the pair preening, dining and copulating, and viewers tune in around the clock.

Elementary school teachers and librarians watch with their students. “It’s the highlight of our day,” one wrote in an email.

e live-stream stars, Dewey and Windsor, are wild bald eagles nesting in a white pine at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee. e pair raised an eaglet in the nest last year. Banking on their return, VINS staff

mounted two cameras near the nest, perched 100 feet above the ground with a view of Dewey’s Pond. e move paid off. e birds returned in February. Since March 17, when Windsor laid an egg, she and Dewey have taken turns keeping it warm. eir eaglet is expected to hatch around April 21.

In the meantime, audience members tuning in will likely see at least one eagle at the nest. To keep up with home improvements, the majestic birds often arrive home bearing sticks and grass to add to their aerie. Cameras have captured multiple visits by a young eagle who could be the pair’s earlier offspring, Vinnie, though no one knows for sure.

Mealtimes, also recorded, can get gnarly as Windsor and Dewey tear into ﬁsh, squirrels and chipmunks. “We think we saw a porcupine once,” VINS marketing director Emily Boren said. “ eir stomachs are so strong that they just break down the bones directly.”

Although the Eagle Cam provides a virtual escape to the great outdoors, Boren encourages people to visit the nature center. e nest is visible from the top of the tree house 400 yards away on the VINS Forest Canopy Walk. A scope, soon to be installed, will provide close-up views. Learn more at vinsweb.org, or follow on the Friends of VINS Live Eagle Cam Facebook fan page.

MARY ANN LICKTEIG

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak delivering her speech on Monday

POWERS OF DEDUCTION.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

tires; the general stores that dump fryer grease right into the river; the dead chickens someone keeps throwing above my watershed.

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

Marcy Stabile

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

Seven Days is published by Da Capo Publishing Inc.

every Wednesday. It is distributed free of charge in greater Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, the Northeast Kingdom, Stowe, the Mad River Valley, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction.

Seven Days is printed at Quebecor Media Printing in Mirabel, Québec.

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GO SOUTH

As a longtime reader and occasional contributor of donations and letters, I really appreciate the role that Seven Days plays in keeping us informed about and entertained by our state. That said, I must join a fellow reader and Wallingford resident, whose letter in the February 18 issue challenged the idea that your paper provides coverage for all of Vermont [Feedback: “Southern Exposure?”]. While there have been many excellent articles on the southern part of the state, the vast majority of your coverage is focused on the northern half — in particular, the Burlington and Montpelier areas.

As I read the editor’s note that responded to the letter, I was reminded of a quote from Hamlet: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” The editor’s response itself was signiﬁcantly longer than the original letter and touted the diverse locations for stories, events and letters covered by the paper, naming 16 di erent towns. However, if you divide a map of Vermont in half, from east to west, only three of those 16 towns are in the southern half of the state! In order to be “Vermont’s Independent Voice” you need to cover what is happening in this half of the state, as well.

In conclusion, I thank you again for an excellent paper and hope you will continue providing it for all of us here in Vermont.

Bob Soule WALLINGFORD

RURAL RESPONSIBILITY?

Seven Days should have a warning before printing things that can make readers spray their tea out across the room, like “Republicans blasted the idea that any new environmental regulations were needed at all. They argued that rural residents were already good stewards of the land” [“After Protest, Vermont Senate Postpones Some Act 250 Reforms,” March 27, online].

Ah, yes, there are countless examples of rural residents stewarding Abenaki lands: the giant garbage dump piles sloping into rivers and streams, making it unsafe to ﬁsh anywhere in the state; the beer cans, plastic and Styrofoam littering the sides of dirt roads; the over-logged forests, with logging truck roads going right into riparian areas; the giant pickup trucks that get 10 mpg; the leaded ammo that’s still somehow legal; the piles of

We can see clearly that conservative rural residents are all about protecting the environment that our food, water and air come from — yes indeed.

Samantha Nickerson TOPSHAM

FULL LIFE

Thanks for the inspirational story of a well-lived and multifaceted life [Life Story: “Robert Fuller Was ‘the Godfather of Chef-Restaurant Owners,’” March 25]. I never knew Robert Fuller, but I did know and frequent his restaurants many times over the years.

Ben Mule ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y.

ATTENTION, TENANTS!

The Vermont legislature is moving a bill, H.772, that strips tenants of due process rights and hands more power to property owners — a class of people who already hold most of the cards.

In a state where rental vacancy rates are among the lowest in the country, landlords don’t need more leverage. They have it. When one in four Vermont renter households pays more than half its income in rent, and median rents have risen 35 percent while incomes lag far behind, the market already works against tenants. H.772 makes it worse.

Seven Days has covered this power imbalance before. In 2019, your newsroom built a database of legislators’ financial disclosures and found that nearly half of all state senators were landlords [“House of Landlords: Property-Owning Senators Mull Tenant Protections,” March 28, 2019]. Last month’s article on Burlington’s city council race [“Contentious Burlington Election Season Signals Deepening Divide,” March 11] showed what happens when voters ﬁnd out a candidate is backed by landlord money and power: They push back. But most Vermont tenants have no idea H.772 exists.

Vermont has over 75,000 renter households — about a quarter of the state. Half are cost-burdened. These are working people, families, retirees, service workers. They should be advocating against this bill, but they don’t know about it.

Seven Days should tell them. This is exactly the kind of story — about who holds power, who makes the rules and who pays the price — that your readers rely on you to cover.

Nora Aronds BURLINGTON

POLICING MOVEMENTS UNDERMINES US

It’s no surprise if supporters of Israel object to Palestinian flags [Feedback: “‘Deceptive’ Tactics,” February 18]. They represent the 100-year struggle for liberation of the country of Palestine from U.S.backed Zionist colonization, apartheid and now genocide.

But what about the claim that our struggle against authoritarianism and fascism is not a movement that includes Palestine?

The actual relation is incredibly strong: Apartheid Israel and President Donald Trump’s Christian nationalist agenda are both violent ethno-nationalist ambitions; Israel trains U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who abduct

and murder on U.S. streets; and Palestine supporters were the first targets for detention because of their speech.

But what else might some participants object to at “No Kings” protests? Black lives matter? Trans rights? Abortion rights? Workers’ rights and a general strike to stop the Trump regime? An end to U.S. imperial aggression (Venezuela, Iran)? Ending fossil fuel extraction? Abolishing ICE?

Policing our movement to exclude Palestine and logically other supposedly “unrelated” social struggles removes the lifeblood of our fight against authoritarianism. It also denies the alternative to the dismal status quo of inequality and injustice that delivered us where we are now.

We best follow the insights we hear on

the streets: “An Injury to One Is an Injury to All” and “The People United Will Never Be Defeated.”

Paul Fleckenstein BURLINGTON

JUDGING THE JUDGES

Great article on the legislature’s joint Judicial Retention Committee, telling us that the committee has, since 1993, voted to keep every judge — and that some judges hire lobbyists to get retained [“Bench Press: Judges Seeking Reappointment Turn to Lobbyists,” March 24].

At a 2025 hearing, my ethics-focused nonprofit Return to Law had been asked to submit documents ahead of time regarding the retention of a judge before whom we’d appeared. We submitted documents showing he was unfit not just because of gross delays but also documented ethics violations harming a disabled child. Still, the committee chair said, with a straight face, that the purpose of the hearing was merely to “hear” (and even then, only two to three minutes of testimony) and not to ask questions, even on the documents they’d requested to be sent weeks ahead of time.

The committee’s rubber-stamping, even in the face of child-harming ethics violations, is part of a larger problem: The Judicial Retention Committee, Judicial Conduct Board and Professional Responsibility Board have all literally never — not once — enforced Vermont’s most important legal ethics rule (8.3) and only once even arguably enforced the second-most important (3.1). These failures persist despite the fact that the Vermont Bar Association’s own 2023 survey data show

3.1 alone is violated more than 1,000 times per year, hurting all Vermonters.

IN MEMORIAM

[“Remembering Matthew Stephen Perry: My Best Friend,” March 24]: Thanks for writing this, Chris Farnsworth. Sorry for your loss.

CORRECTIONS

Burlington Mayor Emma MulvaneyStanak’s status on the Board of Finance was misstated in last week’s “Burlington’s Budget Blues,” as was the amount of severance given to laid-off employees last June. She is the chair of the board and one of two Progressive members, and employees were given 60 days of pay.

Due to a layout mistake, last week’s art story “Yes! We Have No Bananas: What Should Art Cost, and Why Is Pricing It So Hard?” omitted several lines of text; read the full story at sevendaysvt. com. The story also misspelled Mark Waskow’s art collection, the Waskomium, and misreported the year Northern New England Museum of Contemporary Art was founded; the correct date is 2018.

A March 18 story titled “Food Plight” contained two errors: Feeding Champlain Valley served 12,000 people last year. Also, the organization was previously known as Feeding Chittenden.

Mike Hill MIDDLESEX

Patrick Longley UNDERHILL

BY HANNAH BASSETT & KEVIN MCCALLUM

NEWS+POLITICS 14

Reform Schools?

e House, Senate and governor’s plans to overhaul Vermont’s system of education share little common ground

Childcare Advocate

Aly Richards Joins Race for Governor Wake Boat Shake-Up

Vermont’s strict wake boating rules are about to get even tougher

LG Hopeful McLaren Says Democratic Party Showed Bias

Migrant Justice Leader Is Released On Bond

FEATURES

‘He Really Wanted to Leave a Mark on the World’

Robert L. Johnson Jr., February 13, 1945-December 29, 2025

ARTS+CULTURE 40

Springtime for Danes UVM Concert Choir performs classic and new seasonal works by Carl and Erik Nielsen

Wallingford Launches Free Pop-Up University

Taught by Locals

Go With the Float

Finding calm at Float Away Wellness Spa in Williston

History Museum Takes a Second Look at ‘Vermont Firsts’

Zine Scene

e ﬁrst-ever Vermont Art Book Fair comes to Burlington On the Road

Ryan Montbleau has a new

and a desire to be part of the Burlington music scene – when he’s actually in town

Justin Morgan-Parmett found relief for his chronic pain by floating weightless in water saturated with Epsom salt. In January, he opened Float Away Wellness Spa in Williston to offer float tanks to the public. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger took her first

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

SUNDAY 12

PERFECTLY SEASONED

You know TV personality Alton Brown the quirky host of hit reality cooking shows such as “Iron Chef America” and “Cutthroat Kitchen.”

Alton as

for a more intimate

Now the culinary commentator and author takes the stage solo at Rutland’s Paramount eatre for a no-frills show of his talents, trading the glitz and glamour of Hollywood showcase of food science, humor and

SEE CALENDAR

FRIDAY 10

Girl Almighty

THURSDAY 9

Fun Facts

It’s no surprise that we stan Local News Day (see page 13). Journalism leaders and advocates ﬁll Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library for a fact-forward fête celebrating the value of civic transparency and trusted community information. A documentary screening and a panel discussion explore media ecosystems and spur dialogue about how to sustain an essential public resource.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 57

SATURDAY 11

Role Models

Scale model makers and Lego lovers connect at CAN-AM Con at Williston’s National Guard Armory, where seminars and vendors complement a display contest honoring late Japanese producer Shunsaku Tamiya. Junior builders and veterans show off their ﬁnest constructions from any Tamiya kit for consideration in categories such as Best of Class and People’s Choice.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 61

SATURDAY 11

Disco Inferno

e Current — Stowe’s center for contemporary art — invites philanthropic partygoers to the Lodge at Spruce Peak for Gala ’54: After Hours. e annual fundraiser boasts silent and live auctions, a cocktail reception, and chef-crafted food stations, all inspired by New York City’s glamorous Studio 54 era. en revelers hit the dance ﬂoor to boogie oogie oogie in their ﬂashiest disco dress.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SATURDAY 11 & SUNDAY 12

Piste de Résistance

Music and winter culture festival Gather Outdoors takes Stratton Mountain Resort by storm with a superlative lineup of jam bands and electronic artists, including Philadelphia legends the Disco Biscuits and rising star Karina Rykman. e high-energy mountainside affair fuses plein air recreation with an immersive club atmosphere for an unforgettable end to the ski season.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

Queer author and educator Diana Whitney launches her patriarchy-smashing poetry collection, Girl Trouble, in conversation with fellow writer Eve Alexandra at Next Stage Arts in Putney. Listeners hear unﬂinching takes on growing up female, adolescent trauma, rape culture and modern movements of resilience before roaring onto the dance ﬂoor to channel the grit and grace of feminism.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 60

TUESDAY 14

Reading the Room

Vermont poet laureate Bianca Stone continues her “State of Poetry” tour with a stop at Phoenix Books in Burlington. Stone leads an analytical deep dive into the craft of late Nobel Prize-winning writer — and the nation’s 12th poet laureate — Louise Glück, underscoring the vital cultural impact of her contributions to American literature.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 64

Pay the Way on Local News Day

When I’m at the gym, listening to podcasts such as the New York Times’ “The Daily,” I expect to hear smart, in-depth reporting on issues I ought to know about. Occasional ads, including self-promotional ones, pop up, but last month a stark announcement from New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger caught my ear.

After introducing himself, Sulzberger, 45, said, “Normally, in these ads, we talk about the importance of subscribing to the Times. I’m here today with a different message: I’m encouraging you to support any news organization that’s dedicated to original reporting. If that’s your local newspaper, terrific — local newspapers in particular need your support. If that’s another national newspaper, that’s great, too.”

IF YOU VALUE TRUSTED, LOCAL NEWS, CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN HELP THE CAUSE.

The Times campaign is a sign of growing awareness within the journalism community that we should focus less on competing with one another and more on calling out our common enemies: disinformation, AI that steals and rehashes our content, lack of financial resources, and ignorance of how journalism works and why it’s important.

In a story about the Times initiative, the Nieman Lab at Harvard University confirmed it was Sulzberger’s first ad of this kind. The writer also noted that “the Times can afford to be generous” because it “has emerged as one of the clearest winners of the digital era.”

I would add that the Times and other national outlets rely on local reporters on the ground to find and cover stories that its own writers might decide to pursue later. Increasingly, that information network — of leads, sources, hardworking journalists and publishers in towns across the U.S. — is imperiled.

Intentionally or not, Sulzberger’s message happens to coincide with the inaugural Local News Day on April 9, billed as “a national day of action connecting communities with trusted local news.” More than 1,000 newsrooms around the country — including Seven Days and a couple dozen more here in Vermont — are promoting its published goals: to “reconnect people to trusted local outlets, empower newsrooms to grow, and spark a national movement that sustains local news for generations.”

To link the two efforts, we got the Times’ permission to reprint the entirety of Sulzberger’s ad in this week’s paper — it’s on page 29. Sulzberger doesn’t come right out and say it, but Nieman noted: “The vast majority of Americans do not pay for or support any news sources.” We’re profoundly grateful for the donors who help pay for Seven Days. Our recurring monthly Super Readers are now donating a total of $4,000 a week.

We’re using it to fund our ambitious journalism.

And we want that work to have a greater reach: In the spirit of cooperation and mutual support, we at Seven Days have decided to offer our stories free of charge to print

newspapers in areas of the state where we don’t circulate, instead of charging a reprinting fee.

We expect outlets in southern Vermont may want to republish our culture content — our food writers and art critics make regular trips south to cover restaurants, exhibitions and people in those geographical areas. The publications may also help themselves to book reviews, features and news stories of statewide interest — for example, Alison Novak’s award-winning education reporting.

“Since we’re a small paper with limited resources, we can’t cover everything,” said Randy Holhut, news editor of the Commons in Brattleboro. “That one of the best weeklies in New England wants to share content with us is flattering.”

We’re also extending this offer to papers that operate along the borders of our circulation area.

If you value trusted, local news, consider how you, too, can help the cause on April 9. Find information on how to give to Seven Days below or at sevendaysvt.com/donate.

Paula Routly

If you like Seven Days and can help pay for it, become a Super Reader!

Look for the “Donate” button at the top of sevendaysvt.com. Or send a check with your address and contact info to:

SEVEN DAYS, C/O SUPER READERS P.O. BOX 1164

BURLINGTON, VT 05402-1164

Need more info? Want to give from a donor-advised fund or through a qualified charitable contribution?

Contact Gillian English: 802-865-1020, EXT. 115 SUPERREADERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger

Childcare

Reform Schools?

e House, Senate and governor’s plans to overhaul Vermont’s system of education share little common ground

BY ALISON NOVAK • alison@sevendaysvt.com

The comprehensive education reform bill that lawmakers passed last June promised a high-quality, equitable education system at a price Vermonters could a ord. Act 73 prescribed larger school districts that could operate more ﬂexibly and efficiently, funded by a “foundation formula” that allots the average student the same base dollar amount rather than leaving spending decisions to local voters.

In the weeks before the 2026 legislative session began, leaders of the House and Senate education committees — who hammered out the ﬁnal details of Act 73 — said they were ready to jump into the work.

But three months into the session, the House and Senate proposals circulating in the Statehouse share little common ground — and neither seems likely to appease Gov. Phil Scott, who has demanded that lawmakers make signiﬁcant progress on ed reform before they adjourn for the year. Sticking points include mandated versus optional school district mergers; whether to form regional cooperatives that would

allow districts to pool resources; how to manage school choice in areas that don’t have public schools; and the timeline for implementing these changes.

With lawmakers entering the session’s ﬁnal stretch, it remains an open question whether they can reach an agreement without a protracted standoff — or a gubernatorial veto.

THE WORLD WE ARE TRYING TO MANEUVER … IN IS NOT JUST POLICY, IT IS ALSO POLITICS.

REP. PETER CONLON

House Education chair Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall) said last week that he’d come to believe mandatory mergers, which the governor favors, were “politically unrealistic” and suggested that the administration might eventually acknowledge that as well. He said he hoped the two chambers could “come together, recognize our shared vision here and work out

Aly Richards Joins Race for Governor

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

something in the end that will pass both bodies.”

Conlon’s committee, at least, has advanced a version of its bill, H.955. But the measure has already gotten the thumbs-down from the governor, who said it “is not acceptable and would be vetoed in its current form,” according to a spokesperson.

The House bill would divide the state into seven cooperative education service agencies, or CESAs. Used in 43 states, the regional entities allow districts to share resources in areas such as special education, administrative services, transportation and professional development, with the goal of increasing quality and saving money.

Under the House bill, study committees in each of the seven CESAs would consider voluntary school district mergers. The bill provides suggested school district groupings but ultimately would leave the decision to local regions.

Consolidation would be a multiyear process, with voters having a say in November 2028. A new funding formula,

A second Democrat has entered the race to unseat Republican Gov. Phil Scott: Aly Richards, the former CEO of childcare advocacy group Let’s Grow Kids.

Richards, who formerly chaired the board of trustees at the University of Vermont Medical Center, announced her candidacy on Monday.

e Montpelier resident had told Seven Days in March that she was considering a run. She spoke Monday morning at the Newbury Village Store.

“We have common sense here in Vermont. You have to ask yourself — are you better off today than you were 10 years ago?” Richards asked the crowd. “When people can’t afford to live here, you know there’s a problem — it’s not working. It’s time for a new approach.”

Richards served as deputy chief of staff to former Democratic governor Peter Shumlin. She was credited with helping Let’s Grow Kids secure legislation that strengthened the state’s struggling childcare system. Scott vetoed the bill, but the legislature overrode him.

e bill raised payroll taxes to generate about $125 million per year for subsidies to help more families afford childcare. Scott argued the higher taxes make the state less affordable.

Richards said her top priorities would be making housing more affordable and ﬁxing the broken health care system.

She touted her success with Let’s Grow Kids in a written announcement.

“We need to bring that same focus and elbow grease to the issues that have plagued the state over the last 10 years,” she said.

Richards, the mother of 7-year-old twins, joins Amanda Janoo, an economist who lives in Burlington, in seeking the Democratic nomination. Janoo, a political newcomer, announced her campaign last month.

Janoo argues that Scott is vulnerable because he hasn’t pushed back hard enough on the policies of President Donald Trump and has shown no plan to help struggling Vermonters.

Observers anticipate Scott will seek a sixth two-year term, but he has not announced his plans. ➆

Aly Richards at her campaign kickoff

NEWCOMB

Wake Boat Shake-Up

Vermont’s strict wake boating

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

In 2024, after years of study and public debate, Vermont implemented the nation’s toughest rules on wake boats. The powerful sport boats were allowed on just 30 bodies of water — of the state’s roughly 800 lakes and ponds — and only in special zones no closer than 500 feet from shore.

Since then, requests to ban the boats from some of those 30 lakes have flooded state regulators. That prompted the Department of Environmental Conservation to announce last year that it would overhaul the rules.

Under the revamped guidelines, which could take effect as soon as this summer, the list of lakes large enough for wake sports would be winnowed to just 18.

That means people like Rodney Putnam, who lives on Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg, would no longer be able to pursue the sport on their home lake.

“We already made major concessions,” Putnam told Seven Days. “So why do we have to stop doing it completely?”

Plans to revise the 2024 rules have stoked the feud between the relatively

small number of wake boat owners and those who prize the peace and tranquility of Vermont’s lakes.

Wake boats are specifically designed to boost the size and power of the wake that trails them. This allows wakeboarders to catch bigger air and wakesurfers to ride the face of the wave behind a boat without a tow rope.

The boats can suck hundreds of gallons of water into ballast tanks. Heavier boats displace more water, which means bigger wakes.

Some Vermonters consider the vessels a threat to lakes, particularly smaller ones. They say the larger wakes can erode shorelines, harm nesting loons, spread invasive species, swamp unsuspecting kayakers and put swimmers at risk.

“These wakes are huge!” said Jack Widness, who lives on Lake Raponda in Wilmington and helped organize Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes, which for years has advocated for tighter regulations.

Rodney Putnam on his dock on Lake Iroquois in 2022

LG Hopeful McLaren Says Democratic Party Showed Bias

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM kevin@sevendaysvt.com

The Vermont Democratic Party has apologized to lieutenant governor candidate Ryan McLaren for wrongly informing local party officials that they are not allowed to endorse candidates in contested primaries.

That follows weeks of infighting between McLaren’s campaign and Democratic leaders over whether the party is showing favoritism toward his primary opponent, Molly Gray.

VDP executive director May Hanlon confirmed on Monday that a “member of VDP leadership” mistakenly advised local party officials that they should not endorse candidates in contested primaries.

“This should not have happened, and we regret the error,” Hanlon said in a statement. “We apologize to the McLaren campaign for the unauthorized and incorrect communication that took place regarding officer neutrality policies, and will continue to take steps to remedy the situation.”

The unusual mea culpa follows weeks of behind-the-scenes wrangling between the McLaren campaign and the Vermont Democratic Party.

McLaren is an Essex resident and former staffer for U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). At least six people declined or rescinded their endorsements of him, according to his campaign manager, Molly Moore.

Party officials did not say who dispensed the bad advice. But on February 3, party vice chair Amanda Gustin emailed local party officials to say they “must remain neutral in Democratic primaries.”

Gustin did not return a call for comment.

Her guidance is not the state party’s official position nor is it in party bylaws, Moore told Seven Days

In addition, the McLaren campaign claims that Gray, who served as LG from 2021 to 2023, appeared to have received access to an internal email list of local Democratic committee members, allowing her to kick-start her fundraising effort within days of her January 5 campaign launch. By contrast, McLaren says he was denied access to such lists by party leaders until March 26.

However, Gray said she emailed people on her own list from past campaigns — and has been hard at work updating it. ➆

Reform Schools? « P.14

meanwhile, would go into effect on July 1, 2030.

Days before the education committee voted out the bill, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders testified about her serious concerns with the proposal and reiterated the administration’s desire for mandatory mergers.

Using a voluntary process for mergers would make creating larger school districts unlikely, she said, which would “make it hard to achieve quality goals and bend the cost curve.” Saunders also criticized the idea of forming CESAs before new districts, saying that would add “another layer of bureaucracy” and cost to an already complex system.

She acknowledged the perceived roadblocks to forming larger districts, including the loss of local control, costs associated with “leveling up” teacher pay and school choice, in which districts pay tuition for students to attend an independent or public school. But she suggested ideas for addressing the hurdles, including creating school advisory councils made up of parents, students and community members, and “attendance zones” within districts to enable students who use public dollars to attend independent schools to continue to do so.

“We’re coming here to be in partnership with you,” Saunders said.

The committee’s chair, Rep. Conlon, had proposed mandatory mergers earlier in the session, an idea that failed to gain momentum among his peers, especially those in rural districts.

“If only it were as simple as all this,” he told the secretary after her presentation. “I appreciate the continued communication. I hope you also appreciate that the world we are trying to maneuver … in is not just policy, it is also politics … It’s a difficult set of rapids to navigate.”

Before the vote, Conlon said he believed the bill showed respect for “the different ways we deliver education in Vermont, local voice and an aversion to [state-mandated mergers].”

The bill advanced by a 7-4 vote, with all Republicans opposing it. Afterward, the committee’s vice chair, Rep. Beth Quimby (R-Lyndon) wrote in an email that she liked many things about the bill, including the way it would delegate decision-making about consolidation to local communities. But she thought the timeline for mergers and a new funding formula was too long.

The bill is now before the House Ways and Means Committee, where it will likely undergo further substantive changes.

The Senate, meanwhile, is not as far along. Its proposal, put forward by

Education Committee chair Sen. Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington), is more complicated. It would preserve the governance model of supervisory unions and envisions 58 school districts — far more than the governor has proposed.

Bongartz’s plan calls for merging 32 existing supervisory unions — entities that provide administrative services such as business operations, grant management, technology and transportation for two or more school districts — into 12 supervisory unions.

The 97 school districts within those supervisory unions would also be required to merge voluntarily to form approximately 48 school districts. Each district would still maintain its own school board, allowing it to make independent decisions about school operations, staffing and local budgeting.

HOW DO WE EVEN KNOW WE’RE GOING DOWN THE RIGHT PATH?

SEN. DAVID WEEKS

If districts were not able to come up with a merger proposal within two years, the state would force them to consolidate. The Senate bill, however, would prohibit the state from mandating mergers unless districts have the same operating structure. A district with only K-8 schools, for example, could not be forced to merge with a district that operates a high school.

A different consolidation process is laid out for the 20 remaining school districts, primarily located in Chittenden, Addison, Franklin and Washington counties. The State Board of Education would be tasked with making recommendations to the legislature by the end of this year for merging those districts into approximately 10. Bongartz said the districts would be able to give input to the board during the process.

Under the Senate proposal, the foundation formula would take effect on July 1, 2029.

The bill has not yet made it out of the Senate Education Committee, where some members seemed skeptical about whether the proposal would actually lower education spending.

“How can we model this to prove we’ve got some cost efficiencies percolating here? Or this is not worth our effort?” Sen. David Weeks (R-Rutland) asked during a committee meeting last week. “How do we even know we’re going down the right path?”

“It would be nice for us to figure

out what would the cost savings be, if anything,” Sen. Nader Hashim (D-Windham) added.

Bongartz tried to reassure his colleagues by saying a foundation formula, in which each student receives a fixed amount, would inherently lead to cost savings.

But data modeling by the Agency of Education tells a different story. If Vermont were to consolidate into 58 school districts, as the Senate proposal envisions, the foundation formula’s base amount per student would have to be considerably higher than the approximately $15,000 laid out in Act 73.

The governor’s administration has called for fewer districts with around 4,000 to 8,000 students each. That would allow the money to go further, Saunders contends, because there would be less administrative overhead and more latitude in allocating the funds — creating increased opportunities for students, more equitable teacher pay across the state, and new investment in prekindergarten and career and technical education. Critics, though, say the administration hasn’t shown convincing proof that consolidation would actually improve education quality and save money.

If legislators are committed to replacing the state’s current education funding formula with a foundation formula, Saunders said in an interview last week, the most responsible way would be to make large-scale governance changes first. She worries the current proposals would implement a foundation formula before the consolidations are completed. That would likely underfund schools, she said, forcing them to make catastrophic budget cuts or consolidate haphazardly to stay afloat.

“There are certain camps that have [said], ‘Let’s put forward a foundation formula, and, naturally, it’s going to create enough pain that districts will merge.’ And we don’t feel that that pain is a responsible way to do education transformation,” she said.

Saunders also panned the Senate’s idea of preserving supervisory unions; she believes a system made up solely of school districts could better promote equity and be less administratively burdensome.

Saunders was scheduled to testify last week before the Senate Education Committee, but Bongartz canceled the visit. He told Seven Days on Monday that he would only invite the agency back to his committee “if they’re offering anything new.”

For now, it seems, any real negotiations will have to wait. ➆

Ryan McLaren

Migrant Justice Leader Is Released on Bond

STORY & PHOTO BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

José Ignacio “Nacho” De La Cruz — a prominent leader of advocacy group Migrant Justice who was arrested last month on federal criminal charges — walked out of the federal courthouse in downtown Burlington last Thursday after a judge granted him bond.

De La Cruz, 30, was indicted earlier this year by a grand jury on nine charges, including smuggling migrants into the U.S. in exchange for payment and fraudulently procuring Vermont driver’s privilege cards for others, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges at an initial court appearance.

Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle ruled last Thursday that De La Cruz’s substantial ties to Vermont, including his long-term partner and their 4-year-old son, made him an unlikely flight risk, despite the “serious charges” he faces. If convicted of the smuggling charges, De La Cruz would face a mandatory minimum sentence of three years.

The judge imposed certain conditions on his release pending trial, including a $5,000 unsecured bond, electronic location monitoring, and orders that he not leave Vermont without permission and that he forfeit his Mexican passport.

“We’re extremely pleased to be welcoming Nacho back to his community, back with his family where he belongs,” Will Lambek, a Migrant Justice spokesperson, told about 15 people who had gathered outside the courthouse to await De La Cruz’s release.

Lambek referred questions about the criminal charges to De La Cruz’s legal team but said neither Migrant Justice “nor anybody acting on behalf of the organization” has ever been involved in “improperly assisting anybody with obtaining Vermont driver’s privilege cards or facilitating unlawful entry into the country for profit.”

“Migrant Justice is a well-recognized human rights organization, and we stand behind our history,” he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banker had sought to keep De La Cruz in detention while his case plays out, arguing that he has the “skills and resources” to flee the country. The prosecutor also said body-camera footage shows De La Cruz attempted to flee when U.S. Border Patrol agents, who had been following him in unmarked cars, arrested him last month as he arrived at New Frameworks, a cooperative construction company in Essex where he is an employee-owner.

Banker questioned the durability of De La Cruz’s community ties, saying it appeared they had “started to fray a little bit” since his arrest.

Turning to look at the courtroom gallery, which was filled with De La Cruz’s family members, coworkers and other supporters, assistant federal defender Barclay Johnson told the judge, “I can’t say his ties to the community have lessened.”

A former dairy worker, De La Cruz

has been an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights since he became involved with Migrant Justice around 2018. He first entered the U.S. from Mexico a couple of years before that, and he submitted an application for “withholding of removal” in immigration court last month.

According to the February 19 indictment, which was unsealed last week after De La Cruz was detained, he is charged with three counts related to helping migrants enter the U.S. illegally.

In two instances, he is charged with doing so for financial gain. The offenses allegedly happened between October 2023 and June 2025.

De La Cruz is also charged with fraudulently procuring five Vermont driver’s privilege cards, which are available for Vermont drivers regardless of immigration status, between November 2022 and June 2025. The government alleges that De La Cruz took online learner’s privilege tests on behalf of others and renewed Vermont driver’s privilege cards for people living outside Vermont, including one person in Georgia. De La Cruz allegedly received about $500 per card.

Migrant Justice was instrumental in advocating for 2014 legislation that created the cards so undocumented farmworkers could legally drive.

The charges appear to stem from an earlier detention last June, when U.S. Border Patrol agents pulled over De La Cruz while he was driving near Richford with his 18-year-old stepdaughter. Agents said they looked suspicious, but De La Cruz said they were delivering food to farmworkers near the border.

The two were released from custody about a month later, but, after confiscating De La Cruz’s cellphone, agents discovered that his number matched one that had communicated via WhatsApp with a Mexican woman who was caught crossing the border from Canada last April.

The exchange included plans to pick her up once she reached the U.S. Soon after the June traffic stop, the government filed a search warrant for De La Cruz’s cellphone.

In court documents, the government cites evidence from a search of De La Cruz’s cellphone, as well as the cellphone of a person detained by agents while attempting to cross the border. ➆

Adventures After School

Low Key Fun at Y Clubs

• Clubs for kids, ages 8-14

• Create characters or decks in D+D or Pokemon

• Free to members

Also — kids age 4-10 can train for the BTV City Mini Marathon with a running club!

Ask the Vet

With Dr. Allison Cowan, Burlington Emergency & Veterinary Specialists

De Dr. C an,

I’ve heard ticks can cause more than Lyme disease — can they actually affect my pet’s nervous system?

A: Yes, and it’s something we see more of as the weather warms and pets spend more time outside. Two tick-related conditions that directly affect the nervous system are worth knowing about.

Tick paralysis is caused by a neurotoxin released in the saliva of certain ticks — most often the American dog tick or the Rocky Mountain wood tick. As the tick feeds, the toxin interferes with nerve signaling, causing a rapidly progressing weakness that can start in the hind limbs and move forward. In severe cases, it can affect breathing. The good news: once the tick is removed, most pets recover quickly — sometimes within hours. The key is ﬁnding and removing the tick promptly.

Lyme neuroborreliosis is less common in pets than in people, but it can occur. In dogs, Lyme disease more typically presents with joint pain and fever, but in some cases neurological signs — including behavioral changes or, rarely, seizure-like activity — have been reported.

If your pet suddenly seems wobbly, weak, or unable to walk normally after spending time outdoors, don’t wait to seek care. These signs can have many causes, and a prompt neurological evaluation can make a real difference in outcomes.

The best protection is consistent tick prevention year-round — and a thorough tick check after every outdoor adventure.

Jose Ignacio “Nacho” De La Cruz (in black coat)

Regulators have long struggled to draft rules to keep the peace between the warring factions. The Department of Environmental Conservation received more than 700 public comments on the first round of rulemaking. This time it’s received more than 1,500 — the vast majority of which were in favor of stricter regulations.

“I think everyone has been surprised by the intensity of the people involved in this,” said Laura Dlugolecki, lakes policy and outreach coordinator at the department.

The original rules allow a 50-acre “wake sporting zone” 500 feet from shore if the water is at least 20 feet deep. But they also let property owners petition to have their lake removed from the list based on its “unique characteristics.”

People on more than a dozen lakes have done so. Homeowners on 450-acre Lake Fairlee noted that it’s home to five popular summer camps and that the large number of kids using the water makes safety a particular concern.

and paddleboarders, would be increased to 500 feet for wake boats. Some lakes where wake boating was previously allowed, including Lake Iroquois, are too small to allow these criteria to be met and so would be removed from the list of wake boating-approved lakes.

Moore acknowledged that rewriting the rules so soon could confuse the public. It has also taken an inordinate amount of staff time and energy.

“We have so many rules at the agency that would benefit from this level of review and modernization, so that’s frustrating,” Moore said.

It’s also frustrating to see so much time spent on a policy affecting so few vessels, she said. The number of wake boats in Vermont is miniscule compared to other watercraft.

Much of the concern about wake boats has centered on the difficulty of properly decontaminating them to prevent the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil.

“The original rules didn’t take into consideration the safety issues,” said Tom Ward, whose family owns a home on the lake. “They were focused mostly on the environmental impacts.”

Faced with so many requests for lakes to be removed from the list, DEC changed tack. It rejected all the petitions for exemption and instead opted in July 2025 to toughen the rules statewide.

The rulemaking is in its final stages, and the debate has been intense.

I THINK EVERYONE HAS BEEN SURPRISED BY THE INTENSITY OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS.

LAURA

DLUGOLECKI

Widness said members of Responsible Wakes were thrilled the state was willing to rewrite the rules so soon after they took effect.

“We were blown out of the water,” Widness said.

The reason, according to Julie Moore, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, is that most of the critical feedback the DEC received was not specific to individual lakes. Instead, people pointed out broader issues related to how wake boats operate in the real world.

After much consideration, regulators in the DEC’s Lake and Ponds Management and Protection Program have proposed doubling the area required for a wake sports zone from 50 to 100 acres. They also have proposed a requirement that the zones be a minimum of 3,000 feet long, she said. The existing 200-foot buffer zone that motorized watercraft need to maintain around other lake users, including swimmers

It’s one thing to hose off a fishing skiff before moving it from one water body to another. It’s quite another to kill troublesome aquatic species in the interior compartments of boats. That’s why the state has proposed requiring that the entire boat, including ballast tanks, be decontaminated using hot water before launching on another lake.

Moore downplayed the threat. Most of the wake boats in Vermont are based at a home lake and aren’t typically towed from lake to lake, she said. And while aquatic invasive species transport is a real and important concern, she said, “the level of intensity and focus on this small universe of boats and the appreciable but not astronomical risk that they present is, I think, a red herring.”

The draft rules that are advancing would require wake boat owners to decontaminate their vessels with hot water before moving between lakes. But how that will be enforced remains up in the air.

Candy Moot, a longtime lobbyist in Montpelier who has since retired to

WAKE BOATING ZONES

Vermont allows wake boating only on certain large lakes and is considering new rules that would be more restrictive. Here’s a look at where they’d be allowed under the proposed rules:

Eligible for a wake sports zone:

Harvey

Fairfield Pond

Island Pond

Little Averill

Salem

Morey

Echo

Dunmore

St. Catherine

Maidstone

Crystal

Caspian

Great Averill Pond

Carmi

Willoughby

Seymour

Harriman Reservoir

Bomoseen

Seymour Lake in the Northeast Kingdom, said that’s a big problem. If there is no enforcement and no practical way for boaters to comply, people will likely just ignore the decontamination rules, she said. And with fewer lakes to choose from, more wake boaters will be concentrated on a dwindling number of lakes, including Seymour, she said.

Unlike the Adirondack Park in New York, Vermont has no free public hot water decontamination stations, and Moot doubts it will anytime soon.

“Decontamination stations will not happen in my lifetime because there is no money,” she said.

Marinas could provide the service, said Lauren Woodard-Splatt, owner of Woodard Marine on Lake Bomoseen in Castleton.

Her concern about the new rules, however, is that they won’t end there. Wake boats aren’t the only ones with internal tanks. Many fishing boats, including those used by state fish and game wardens, have pumps that move water into wells where live fish are kept, she noted.

“Are fishing boats next?” WoodardSplatt asked.

Dlugolecki of the DEC said regulators are revising the proposed rules based on voluminous feedback. They hope to tweak and submit them to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules by mid-April with a tentative hearing date on May 7. The committee ensures that the specific rules and regulations proposed by state agencies match the intent of the laws passed by the legislature.

Ineligible for a wake sports zone under proposed rules:

Iroquois

Joe’s Pond

Hortonia

Waterbury Reservoir

Sunset

Miles Pond

Shadow

Holland Pond

Peacham Pond

Parker

Fairlee

Molly’s Falls Pond

“This is a very aggressive timeline,” Dlugolecki said. “We’re racing against the clock of the start of boating season.”

Any boat with ballast tanks, not just wake boats, likely will be covered by the policy, she said. One alternative to hot water decontamination could be to require owners to leave boats out of the water for 14 days to kill any invasive species. But ballast tanks don’t always drain fully, and there is evidence that organisms might be able to survive in those tanks longer than two weeks, Dlugolecki said. Because of this, the DEC’s latest draft would require all ballasted boats to undergo decontamination before traveling between lakes, she said.

A few marinas on Lake Champlain already offer the service, and the DEC is trying to partner with others, she said. It’s also possible, though admittedly a bit difficult, for boaters to use hot water to decontaminate their boats themselves, she said.

Wake boats would be barred from Waterbury Reservoir under the new rules. That suits Eric Chittenden, president of Friends of Waterbury Reservoir, just fine.

The watercraft would still be allowed on border-hugging bodies of water, such as Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog, leaving wake boaters ample space to enjoy their sport, he said. And if the new restrictions help protect the popular reservoir from contamination, it will be well worth it.

“These things get into these lakes so easily, and they are virtually impossible to get out,” Chittenden said. ➆

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Paul Francis Irons

SEPTEMBER 3, 1946-MARCH 27, 2026

BERLIN, VT.

Paul Francis Irons, 79, of Berlin, Vt., passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at Clara’s Garden Memory Care at the Gary Residence in Montpelier, Vt., in comfort and surrounded by love. A man of deep curiosity and intelligence, Paul leaves behind a legacy of self-reliance, community service and belief in the goodness of others.

Born on September 3, 1946, in the second-floor closet of a Derby Line farmhouse, Paul was the fifth of six children born to Francis and Lillian (Coutts) Irons. He liked to say he dropped out of high school to pursue his education. His early job as a typesetter for the Addison County Independent gave him both confidence and fortuitous knowledge: By proofreading medical journals as he set them into type, he acquired the background necessary to enlist in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a neuropsychiatric specialist.

Upon returning to Vermont, Paul briefly operated a greenhouse business before finding his professional calling in real estate. As family lore tells it, he walked into Bear Pond Books, read the first chapter of a manual on real estate investment and, deciding he got the gist of it, began building what would become an extensive portfolio of properties in central Vermont. He was a hands-on landlord for decades, tirelessly showing apartments, plunging toilets, replacing water heaters and, on one memorable occasion, dealing with a pet python traveling in the plumbing.

Paul was deeply committed to the civic health of his community. He served on the Berlin Selectboard and helped establish the Center for Arts and Learning in Montpelier. He provided temporary shelter for local victims of domestic violence. And his passion for restorative justice led to a certiﬁcation in mediation and a longtime association with the Greater Barre Community Justice Center, helping former inmates navigate the transition back into society.

A lifelong music lover and enthusiastic performer, Paul was rarely without his harmonica and was a staple at local sing-alongs. He also adored driving and the open road; he rode his motorcycle as far as Nova Scotia and St. Louis and was proud to have visited all of the 252 towns in Vermont on his Gold Wing. Paul loved people and loved hearing their stories, and, combining interests, he made it his goal to strike up a conversation with a stranger in each of the 252 towns — he was famously capable of hourlong conversations at any time and place.

Paul is survived by his wife of 48 years, Margaret “Peggy” Irons; his three sons, Jason, Jesse and Josh Irons; and his sisters, Carol and Morgan. He was the proud grandfather of Charlie, Liam, Roan, Isabelle and Ennis. A celebration of Paul’s life will be announced in the coming months. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family requests that you honor Paul’s memory by sharing a story or anecdote of your time with him. ese memories may be posted on his Facebook page or shared via the guestbook at the website for Guare & Sons Funeral Home.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Frederic “Ted” Norman Barker

MAY 28, 1930MARCH 29, 2026

MILLSBORO, DEL.

Frederic “Ted” Norman Barker, 95, of Millsboro, Del., died on March 29, 2026, on what would have been his mother’s birthday. Born on May 28, 1930, in Needham, Mass., to Edgar and Dorothy Barker, Ted lived a long and deeply engaged life marked by curiosity, reinvention, and a love of family, history and the sea.

Ted is survived by his sister, Barbara Ann Murphy, and her husband, Charles Murphy, of California; his children, Brenda Egenlauf of Florida and husband

Joan Maclay

of Delaware and wife Katherine, Barbara Barker of Florida, and Beth BarkerHidalgo of Oregon and husband Carlos Hidalgo; his stepchildren, Alan Abare of Arizona and wife Susan, James Abare of Vermont

DECEMBER 11, 1938-MARCH 22, 2026

ESSEX JUNCTION, VT.

Joanie A. Maclay, 87, died on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at her home.

Joanie was born on December 11, 1938, in Rutland, Vt., and was the daughter of Parke H. Austin and Harriet E. Lyons.

Joanie worked for veterinary ofﬁces in both Connecticut and Vermont before being hired as a laboratory technician at the State of Vermont’s Health Department Laboratory. She held this position for 25 years. She was an active member of the Vermont State Employees’ Association and served as president of the Retirees’ Chapter after retiring.

She had a lifelong passion for horses (especially the Morgan horse) and generously shared this passion with her niece. Joanie was a member of the Vermont Morgan Horse Association and served as

and wife Michelle, and Paul Abare of North Carolina and wife Betsy; his nephews, Eric Murphy and wife Michelle of Nevada, Mark Murphy of California, and Blake Barker and wife Cheryl of Illinois; and his niece, Patricia Murphy of Florida; as well as 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his ﬁrst wife, Dorothy Marie Barker; his brother, David Blake Barker; later by his second wife, Marceline Barker; and by his stepson, Richard Abare.

Ted proudly served in the U.S. Navy, training at the Navy School of Music and serving aboard the USS Missouri during the Korean War era. After the Navy, he built a career in broadcasting in Vermont, where he

a volunteer coordinator for the Champlain Valley Fair. She was an avid reader, bargain hunter and recipe collector. Joanie was a proud Vermonter and a one-of-a-kind character. Her family, friends and coworkers will miss her kindness, thoughtfulness and sense of humor.

Joanie is survived by her niece, Kimberly L. Cook, and Kim’s husband, Douglas P. Cook, of South Strafford, Vt., and their family.

e family will honor the life of Joanie privately and will not be holding a public service or gathering.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Vermont Morgan Horse Association, Treasurer: Barbara Estey, 1641 Spoonerville Rd., Chester, VT 05143. Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home of Essex Junction, Vt., is in charge of the arrangements.

To view an online guestbook, go to vtfuneralhomes.com/about/ corbin-and-palmer-funeral-home.

worked in Burlington radio and helped bring the city’s ﬁrst FM station to life. He later became an entrepreneur, ﬁrst with the Motel Pierre in Colchester, Vt., and then with the Red Inn in Provincetown, Mass.

Above all, Ted loved sailing. He shared that love generously with his children, grandchildren, and other interested family and friends through the Provincetown Yacht Club and the Malletts Bay Boat Club in Vermont. He also had a lifelong passion for history and genealogy.

A celebration of life will be held on May 23, 2026, 10 a.m., at the Louisa Howard Chapel at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, with a reception to follow.

IN MEMORIAM

Mel Buss

1954-2025

Please join us for a celebration of life to honor Mel Buss. We will gather together on Saturday, May 16, 1 p.m., at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury to remember Mel.

All friends and family are welcome to attend and share memories.

Please email Sarah at sbuss8@gmail.com with any questions or to RSVP. To read the full obituary, visit sevendaysvt.com/ life-lines/obituaries/obituarymel-henry-buss-1954-2025.

Bill Egenlauf, Brad Barker

Richard E. Fulton

MAY 8, 1956MARCH 27, 2025

COLCHESTER, VT.

Richard E. Fulton was born in Brockton, Mass., on May 8, 1956, to Eva Arlene Lincoln and John Fulton. A jovial and gentlehearted father, friend and husband, he passed away suddenly on Friday, March 27, 2025 at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Richard grew up with three siblings, John, Credella and Horace. In his adult years, Richard experienced multiple hardships,

Ann Renzoni

APRIL 30, 1936-APRIL 1, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

including debilitating health issues, but in the midst of these challenges, he found love and happiness through family life with his wife, Ann Kitchin, and happily shared

Ann Renzoni passed away in her sleep early on April 1, 2026, in Burlington, Vt. She was 89 years old. Ann was born on April 30, 1936, in Barre City, Vt. She was the daughter of Maurice J. Bertrand and Monica (Lawrence) Bertrand. Ann grew up in Barre and Montpelier. After graduating from St. Michael’s High School in 1954, she moved to California, where she gave birth to her ﬁrst child, Sharon, in 1955. She then spent several years living in Florida, working for the airlines.

In the mid-1960s Ann returned to Vermont, ﬁrst to Montpelier and later

George A. Godin

MAY 28, 1942-APRIL 5, 2026

FRANKLIN, VT.

e family of George A. Godin, age 83, is sorry to let his friends and neighbors know that he passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, due to complications from diabetes. He was born on May 28, 1942, in Fairfax, Vt., the son of the late Arthur and Elizabeth (King) Godin.

George was a true Vermont farmer. He was a man of the land and a humorous, genuine soul who enjoyed sharing long-winded tales ﬁlled with wit and wisdom. He took pride in his

her name. ey moved to Vermont to raise their three children, Jascha, Iain and Magnus, in Colchester, Vt.

Richard’s ﬁrst son, Richard Jr., “Richie,” joked fondly, “...my Dad enjoyed playing chess and bowling with me until I started beating him as a child.” Richie is an accomplished heavyweight competitor and professional bowling champion and engages in a multitude of sports and other talents. Richard was very proud of his son Richie and nephew Merchonn, whom Richard also raised. Nephew Merchonn reminisced about great times and jokes with Uncle Richard. Uncle

to Burlington, where she met her future husband, Bobby Renzoni. ey were married in 1968 and welcomed a son, Scott, in 1971. After Bobby’s death in 1973, Ann dedicated herself to raising Scott. She later worked multiple jobs — at Saint Michael’s College, St. John Vianney Church and perhaps most famously in the Church Street tourist information kiosk. For years she opened her Airport Drive home in South Burlington to family and friends and renters, forging lasting bonds while enjoying her backyard pool during the alltoo-short Vermont summers.

Ann was ﬁercely independent and strong-willed. She was also sensitive and sweet and very funny, with a gift for wry one-liners. She loved kitty cats and little dogs

work and found joy in the simple pleasures of life, surrounded by the beauty of his dairy farm. He always had a desire to become a pilot and at the age of 40 took flying lessons for the first time. From that point on, he was hooked on flying, earning his private pilot license and spending countless hours in the sky. George loved his family fiercely and cared for his neighbors and his community, which expanded well beyond the town of Franklin.

He is survived by his wife, Johanna CraneGodin; children, Reneé Godin and partner

Scott Lemert, Tyler Godin, and Andrew Godin and wife Stacie; grandchildren,

Richard enjoyed and valued the peaceful tranquility of camping at Miles Standish State Park, the outdoors, and spending time near the water both in Wareham, Mass., and later Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vt.

Richard is survived by his loving family and friends, who will miss him deeply.

“Whether together or apart, friends forever at heart.” — Ann Kitchin

Richard would like to remind all his children, “Do what is in your heart, and do good with it.”

“Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” — Kahlil Gibran

(Scooter above all), knickknacks, thrillers, Big Papi, and talk shows. She had good advice when you needed it most. She was deeply loved.

Ann’s son, Scott, predeceased her in January 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Weil, and wife Lesley Manent of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; her sister, Sidney, and husband Lester Hodgdon of Brunswick, Maine; and three Bertrand brothers: Michael of Sebastian, Fla.; Stephen and wife Jan; and Matthew, both of Burlington, Vt. She also leaves her nephews, Ben Hodgdon, wife Margarita Fernandez, and daughters Carmen and Lucia of Jericho, Vt.; and Rob Hodgdon, wife Marta and daughter Helena of Warsaw, Poland.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10 a.m., at St. John Vianney in South Burlington. Interment will follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery. A reception will be held afterward. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations may be made to Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society).

Jillian, Graham and Charlotte; siblings, Patricia Armmannsson and husband Johann, and Roy McDonald and wife Christine; mother-in-law, Marion Crane; siblings-in-law, Nancy Crane and Robert Crane; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his brother, Donald Godin.

Friends and family are invited to George’s life celebration on Thursday, April 9, 2026, to include visitation from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by a time to share stories and favorite memories at 6 p.m., at the Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, VT.

For those who wish, contributions in George’s memory may be made to Green Mountain Bird Alliance, PO Box 4333, Burlington, VT 05406.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through gossfs.com.

lifelines

Ezra Miller

JANUARY 6, 2000FEBRUARY 25, 2026 CHARLOTTE, VT.

Beloved son, brother, grandson, friend, sailor, student, dungeon master, chef, mixologist and all-around iconoclast, Ezra Miller passed away unexpectedly at home in Charlotte, Vt., on February 25, 2026. He was born seven weeks early, on January 6, 2000, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Jason and Rachael Miller. He survived cancer at age 2 and was twice hospitalized for asthma. At age 5 the family moved to Shelburne, Vt., to see if a change of environment would improve his health. e clean air of his adopted state did him well, and he grew into a hale young man who loved being outdoors, especially in and on the water. Upon arriving he asked, “Mama, why did it take us so long to get here?”

After Shelburne, the family moved to Johnson and then Hardwick, where he was homeschooled until the 10th grade. is provided him ample free time to explore his own interests and develop lasting friendships. He had a curious mind (in both senses) and used it to learn and to make memorable and unique observations. He was a generous person who had more than enough to go around, and he expressed it through his benevolence, grace and love for every being. His appreciation for animals, plants, art or even well-made objects could bring him to tears. e elders in his life enjoyed his company, and even as a child he was a welcome and lively participant in adult social activities. To Ezra, age did not deﬁne a person. He could develop a friendship with anyone, young or old. While he wasn’t always agreeable, enjoying a good-natured argument, he was never mean-spirited or cruel.

He loved his adopted home state and its lakes, ponds and rivers. With his sisters, Phaedra and Sylvie, he spent countless hours in Lake Champlain, Caspian, Nichols Pond, Green River Reservoir and the Lamoille River. By the time he was in high school, he had developed a passion for sailing and spent his afternoons, weekends and summers at the Lake Champlain Sailing Center. While he loved competing, he was not competitive, preferring the camaraderie of the team and developing his own skills to winning. He was an odd mix, easygoing but not lazy, conﬁdent but not arrogant. One of Jason’s favorite memories is sailing with him on a rented boat in the Netherlands when they visited the summer before his senior year of high school. His unﬂappability in piloting the craft, a larger one than he was used to on a lake he did not know, set his anxious father’s mind at ease.

He entered Roger Williams University in 2019 and studied mathematics and philosophy. His 2023 graduation with a double major was one of his proudest accomplishments; he positioned his diploma prominently in his apartment. In 2022 he spent a semester abroad in Paris, studying at the Catholic University. His conﬁdence and lack of ego enabled him to develop a comfort and facility with the language that his father saw when

visiting him in November of that year. Ezra always loved maps and used that passion to explore the city on foot and on the metro.

After graduation, Ezra worked at various jobs while ﬁguring out what was next for him educationally or professionally. For example, he joined Rachael in her work, acting as a substitute teacher at the local school. Ezra came home joyful and full of stories due to his ability to stay calm and curious while keeping everyone safe and engaged. As in every other part of his life, there was no desire to hold grudges, to act rashly out of anger or pettiness, just the patience to wait for the storm clouds to lift.

During this time, he strengthened his connections to the people around him. He became an integral part of his household and the Ten Stones Community, where the family moved in 2015. In recent years, he and his father had their own private book club, which gave a veneer of respectability to the weekend cocktail hours they enjoyed. Without fail, he kept up a Friday night Dungeons & Dragons group that brought together his childhood friends from the Northeast Kingdom and college, even when he took his last great adventures over the course of 2025. He marked his 25th year with a solo visit to Texas, where he visited his relatives and bought the Stetson hat and cowboy boots that became

his signature look. (Well, aside from the crazy homemade shirts that he always loved to wear!) He took a trip south to visit college friends and family in Washington, D.C. He drove across the top of the U.S., following Route 2 as much as he could, ending his westward journey in Toﬁno, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, before heading back home to Vermont.

He spent his last days applying to the systems engineering master’s program at Johns Hopkins University and was excited about the prospect of continuing his education. He and his father spent the Sunday before his death touring the USS Constitution, eating Italian food in Boston and purchasing specialty liqueurs in New Hampshire for some new cocktails to try. e day of his passing he was going to spend with his dear friend Adrian.

Anyone who knew Ezra knew they never crossed paths with another like him — he was truly one of a kind. A friend commented that Ezra was always an active part of any gathering until he wasn’t. He left when he was ready, what they call an “Irish goodbye.” Well, he did it again, but for the last time. He leaves behind family, friends and a community that miss him dearly but are comforted that he enjoyed the time he had here until the last. Good night, sweet Cowboy. See you on the other side.

Joan Hansen Bates

OCTOBER 2, 1949FEBRUARY 19, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

e Bates family is saddened to announce that Joan Hansen Bates peacefully passed away unexpectedly on ursday, February 19, 2026, in Burlington, Vt. Joan was born in Bridgeport, Conn., to Dwight Hansen Sr. and Frances Hansen.

Following her high school graduation from Trumbull High School, Joan attended and graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s in math and accounting. While there, she met the love of her life, Robert Bates. Bob and Joan were married on August 7, 1971.

Joan and Bob always wanted children, and when the opportunity came to adopt, they went all in. ey adopted David, Rebekha and Miguel as children and later adopted one of their foster children, Jim, as an adult. eir children were their world. Joan took a step back from her career to care for them until they reached an age where she was able to return and focus on her work.

From 1974 to 1986, she began her career as a ﬁnancial systems analyst at Vermont National Bank. She later opened Joan H Bates, Accounting and Bookkeeping Services in January 1995 and ran that business until she retired in 2019.

Outside of the ﬁnancial world, Joan shared Bob’s passion for music. During their time at Covenant Community Church, they

IN MEMORIAM

Priscilla Baker

1946-2026

Celebration of Life for Priscilla Baker

Please join us on Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1 p.m., at the Congregational Church in Middlebury, Vt.

To live stream the event: youtube.com/@midducc/ streams

were members of several musical groups that led worship. Prior to that, over the years she would play the piano and sing in various church choirs, including as a soloist.

Another love of hers was enjoying the great outdoors. Living in Vermont afforded her the opportunity to explore all that the Green Mountains had to offer. Whether camping, canoeing or hiking, she shared it all with her family.

Joan is survived by her four children, Jim Holway (Kerry), David, Miguel (Artemia) and Rebekha; and her brothers Richard (Maria Luisa) and Paul (Elaine). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Trevor, Ed, Christian, Andrew, Elise, Keziah, Max, AJ and Olivia. She is predeceased by her parents, Dwight Sr. and Fran, and her brother Dwight Jr.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., in person and with a virtual option available. e in-person service will take place at Corbin and Palmer, located at 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, VT 05452. In lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made to the Living Well Group.

Priscilla died peacefully on February 5, 2026. She lived by the belief that her life belonged to the community.

Joseph

“Joe” Stanley Pieciak Jr.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1943APRIL 3, 2026

BRATTLEBORO, VT.

Joseph “Joe” Stanley Pieciak Jr., 82, of Brattleboro, Vt., died peacefully on April 3, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones at his home.

Born on September 24, 1943, in Holyoke, Mass., he was the son of the late Joseph and Sophie (Babiasz) Pieciak Sr., and grew up with his younger brother, Michael, in Chicopee, Mass.

Hard work deﬁned Joe’s childhood. Whether it was long summer days on his grandparents’ farm or working alongside his father at Storms Drop Forging Company, Joe had a habit of outworking everyone around him. at same drive carried onto the football ﬁeld. He became a standout player at Chicopee High School, where his coach, Bill Moge, called him the “key to the team.”

Phyllis D. Guptil

AUGUST 21, 1927-APRIL 2, 2026

WATERBURY, VT.

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis D. Guptil on April 2, 2026, at the age of 98. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her family.

She was born on August 21, 1927, in Lawrence, Mass. Phyllis was the only child of Alfred and Lena Hausler Dearden. She graduated from Johnson High School in North Andover, Mass., at the age of 16. From there she graduated from Tufts University with a double major in sociology and psychology and English education.

His talent and determination earned him a football scholarship to American International College, where he studied accounting — and became the ﬁrst in his family to graduate from college.

Joe met the love of his life, Carolyn Sullivan Pieciak, when they were set up on a blind date in 1962 by Carolyn’s best friend, Maureen Doody O’Donnell — and from that moment on, the course of his life was set.

Joe and Carolyn were married on June 12, 1965, in West Springﬁeld, Mass., and together they built a life

centered on family and love.

eir daughter Jennifer was born in 1970, followed by Elizabeth in 1975 and Michael in 1983.

Joe worked as an accountant in Springﬁeld, Mass., before he and Carolyn moved to Brattleboro in 1970 so Joe could manage the regional ofﬁce of Livingston & Haynes. ey were welcomed to the Brattleboro community with open arms and formed a deep love for the town and its people.

In 1983, Joe established Pieciak & Company. Alongside his founding partners — Wendy Dubois, John Meyer and Tim Fogg — he grew the ﬁrm into one of the leading accounting practices in southern Vermont. His longtime employees — Mea Whitworth, Gloria Short and Millie Austin — became like family to him. He built a workplace grounded in loyalty, respect and genuine care for those around him.

Joe’s relationships with his clients were equally enduring. Many remained with him for decades, often

Champlin of Tampa, Fla.; Ben Andrews (Emily) of Waitsﬁeld, Vt.; and Matt Andrews of Fayston, Vt. Her great-grandchildren include: Ezra and Aaliyah Samuel (Allison); Ava Andrews (Ben); Molly and Hayden Andrews (Matt); and Dimitrios, Isaiah, Faith and Julian Silas (Megan).

On September 9, 1950, Phyllis married Walter Guptil in North Andover. ey had three children: Debra Utton (Curtis) of Waterbury Center, Vt.; Richard Guptil (Deena) of Bella Vista, Ark.; and Janet Clemons (David) of Middlesex, Vt. She had four grandchildren: Allison Champlin of Waterbury, Vt.; Megan

After college, she worked for the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury (1948 to 1949). Returning to Boston during her husband’s deployment in the service, Phyllis was employed by the Department of Mental Health as a psychiatric social worker. She remained there for the next six years before moving back to Vermont. She and Walter built a house in Waterbury and settled down to raise their family. She began her career in education in 1964. Waterbury Elementary School had won a large grant, and she was asked to set up a library for K-6 grades and became the librarian. Phyllis was a judge for selecting books for the Dorothy Canﬁeld

passing their business from one generation to the next. To them, Joe was far more than an accountant — he was a trusted adviser, a steady presence and, most importantly, a friend.

Joe was deeply committed to the Brattleboro community he called home for 56 years. He served in numerous leadership roles, including serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce; cochairing the United Way alongside his wife, Carolyn; and contributing his time to the Vermont Economic Progress Council, the Humane Society and the St. Michael’s Finance Committee. He played meaningful roles in supporting local initiatives — from expanding the golf course from nine to 18 holes to bringing lights to the Brattleboro football ﬁeld to helping establish the Teen Center, now the Boys & Girls Club. Whether through formal leadership or quiet acts of generosity, Joe showed up for his community, often saying that Brattleboro had

Fisher book awards. In 1971 she received her master’s degree in education from the University of Vermont. Phyllis served on the Waterbury school board for several years in the 1960s. In 1973 she transitioned to a sixthgrade teacher until she retired in 1989.

In the early 1960s, Phyllis resurrected the local Girl Scout troop. She and JoAnne Dumas worked hard to give the younger girls of Waterbury a chance to grow in learning and a sense of values.

Phyllis and family were members of Wesley Methodist Church. She was involved with the Rebecca’s Woman’s Club, helping with many activities.

In the mid-1980s, Phyllis and Walter purchased a home on a golf course in Wildwood, Fla., and became snowbirds. ey both enjoyed golf immensely and were also members of Blush Hill Country Club. Phyllis was a supercompetitive bridge player and made many new and lasting friendships through that endeavor. Phyllis was also an avid reader until she lost her sight to macular degeneration and was declared legally blind. She then relied heavily on audio tapes for daily enjoyment.

In the later years, Phyllis enjoyed lunches with the retired teachers’ group, frequenting

done so much for him and his family, it was the least he could do to give back.

For Joe, the values that deﬁned his life — family, community, sacriﬁce and hard work — were deeply rooted in his Polish heritage. It was a source of great pride for him and something he stayed connected to throughout his life. Most recently, he honored that connection by serving as treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors for the Polish Center for Discovery and Learning in Chicopee, Mass.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Sullivan Pieciak, who died on May 20, 2025. All who loved Joe and Carolyn are comforted in knowing they are together again.

Joe leaves behind his two daughters, Elizabeth Lawyer and her husband, Travis Lawyer, of Brattleboro, and Jennifer Rau of Chicopee, Mass.; his son, Mike Pieciak of Winooski, Vt.; his brother and best friend, Michael J. Pieciak, of Chicopee, Mass.; his four grandchildren, Nathaniel

the creemee stand, long rides to nowhere, computer games, conversing with Alexa, watching “Jeopardy!,” and playing a competitive game or two of Spite and Malice while enjoying a cocktail before dinner.

Phyllis lived alone in the “mother-in-law” side of the family home, while her granddaughter Allison lived in the adjoining space for the past 13 years, which allowed Phyllis to stay in her own home. Both Allison and Deb were key in allowing her to be as independent as possible, with daily assistance, companionship, love and support.

We are especially grateful to the amazing caregivers who also helped Phyllis so much in the past six months. ey were truly amazed at her crossword puzzle abilities and even commented about her knowing words that only she would know.

Phyllis was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Walter, in April 2013.

A service of celebration will be on April 15, 2026, 1 p.m., at the Waterbury Congregational Church, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made to: Wesley Methodist Church, PO Box 214, Waterbury, VT 05676.

and Kelsey Rau and Michaela and Riley Lawyer; his brothers-in-law, Richard Iannitelli of e Villages, Fla., and John R. Sullivan Jr. of Sweetwater, Tenn.; as well as numerous cousins. Joe was also preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Maureen Sullivan-Iannitelli.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, 1 p.m., at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial immediately following at St. Michael’s Cemetery. After, a celebration of life reception will take place at a location to be announced.

Calling hours will be held on ursday, April 16, 2026, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home at 40 Terrace Street in Brattleboro. In lieu of ﬂowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro, 17 Flat St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning, 33 South St., Chicopee, MA 01013.

To share a memory or offer condolences to Joe’s family, please visit atamaniuk.com.

IN MEMORIAM

Jon Gailmor

1948-2025

Jon Gailmor’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Location: Alumni Hall (New School of Montpelier), 45 College St., Montpelier, VT

Time: 2-5

p.m. ET

Please RSVP using the following link: partiful. com/e/KAugUIuDsfuSvxrDsEPk? Refreshments and beverages served. We encourage you to wear Hawaiian shirts in honor of Jon!

OEducation reform won’t address property tax rates for years. As delinquencies rise in pockets of Vermont, leaders seek both short- and long-term solutions.

BY HANNAH BASSETT & KEVIN MCCALLUM

n a bluebird February morning with fresh snow coating the hills of Washington County, a dozen people made their way into the Roxbury Town O ce in a longclosed railway depot on the town’s quiet main street.

Historic photos and a community quilt hung on clapboard walls; a bench once meant for waiting passengers was stacked with papers and office supplies. At the front of the main room, two men — Bill Hansen, Roxbury’s delinquent tax collector, and James Barlow, the town attorney — settled at a table to preside

over the sale of two properties with unpaid tax bills.

First up was a 10-acre hilltop camp, still home to a man who had lived in the o -grid cabin for three decades and owed property taxes dating to 2022. Barlow opened bids at just over $6,700, the amount owed in back taxes. The price rose quickly as o ers bounced among bidders in the audience, cresting at $20,000 — until a new prospective buyer, Tim Martin, a selectboard member and friend of the owner, jumped in and claimed the property for $21,500.

the owner wouldn’t be evicted. Five years ago, the same camp had been rescued from impending tax sale when the resident’s brother paid its delinquent taxes. Martin anticipated the brother would buy back the property from him within the year.

Not all tax sales have such a thoughtful resolution. The other property up for sale that morning, a roughly two-acre parcel of land near the center of town owned by a Rutland man, sold to a Roxbury resident.

Martin had no intention of forcing his friend to leave; he’d seen the tax sale advertised and bought the camp largely to ensure

Regardless of who buys, just getting to a tax sale can be a long and costly process for municipalities. It had taken Hansen, the tax collector, more than three years to

reach this auction day. During that time, the town had to absorb the tax shortfall, since Vermont requires municipalities to pay the full amount of school taxes to the state — regardless of how much they actually collect from taxpayers. The hit is twofold: Municipalities lose revenue that pays for town expenses such as road maintenance while also having to dig into their treasuries to pay the state its full share of school taxes. In recent years, the town was forced to account for roughly $100,000 in unpaid taxes.

Across Vermont, property taxes have been climbing faster than many residents’ incomes for years. For some property

Across Vermont, property taxes have been climbing faster than many residents’ incomes for years.

owners, especially those at the bottom and middle of the income ladder, keeping up with the bills has become harder. Tax collectors in several municipalities told Seven Days that delinquent accounts are becoming more common. That appears particularly true in rural communities, where property is often handed down for generations.

The consequences land heavily on Vermont’s smallest towns. Nearly threequarters of Vermont’s 247 municipalities have only a few hundred property owners, meaning just a handful of unpaid tax bills can destabilize local budgets and force hard choices about staffing, services and long-planned projects.

Over the years, lawmakers have tried to protect low- and middle-income families from getting priced out of their homes by property taxes. But rising education costs have outpaced those protections. The strain has altered the political landscape in Montpelier: After property taxes rose on average 14 percent in 2024, angry voters sent a number of state legislators packing in the fall election. Democrats lost their veto-proof supermajority, and candidates who campaigned on reining in education taxes captured seats.

That shift set the stage for a sweeping overhaul of Vermont’s education system that Gov. Phil Scott set in motion last year. The legislature’s proposed reforms not only target school costs but also would revamp and expand property tax exemptions for some lowand middle-income households and raise additional revenue from second-home owners — a politically delicate recalibration in a state where vacation homes dot the landscape.

Legislative leaders have promised change but not immediate relief. Most of the structural reforms under consideration would not take effect until the end of the decade, and only if they survive Statehouse wrangling and possible legal challenges. In the meantime, lawmakers are weighing stopgap measures: capping school spending, raising new revenue from high earners and approving another one-time buydown of education property taxes using General Fund dollars to blunt a projected 10 percent average property tax hike this year.

What happens in the final weeks of the legislative session could well determine who ultimately pays what for Vermont’s

education system — and whether the state can remedy a property tax structure that many residents say no longer reflects their ability to pay.

In the Red

Cambridge Selectboard chair Cody Marsh and his colleagues have been confronting an unfamiliar problem: the longest delinquent tax list in at least 20 years. The growing backlog of overdue tax payments has tipped the small Lamoille County town into its largest budget shortfall since 2019.

After property taxes came due at the end of November, more than $500,000 remained unpaid. Despite recouping some long-overdue payments through recent tax sales, the town could not close the gap. After several months of collection, it was still out more than $150,000 as of late March.

“Had we not had a significant amount of delinquent taxes, there would have been no shortfall,” Marsh said in a recent interview.

Town officials were forced to cut back on contributions to Cambridge’s capital fund, delaying purchases of key infrastructure such as a fire truck or ambulance.

“It’s going to come around and bite us eventually,” Marsh said.

That pressure is being felt in other towns, often small, rural and lowerincome communities with smaller property tax bases.

AND

The strain is inextricably connected with the broader housing crisis. As affordable housing continues to lag behind demand, more income is absorbed by housing expenses, leaving less to pay rising tax bills. In a February poll by Hart Research that was commissioned by Let’s Build Homes, Vermont voters ranked taxes as their No. 2 concern after only housing. More than two-thirds of voters under 45 said housing costs have made it harder to afford basic needs.

Samantha Sheehan, a policy and advocacy specialist with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, said municipal budgets can get rocked when even a few property owners are unable to pay their taxes. The longer a town extends grace to a delinquent taxpayer, the longer other property owners effectively cover that outstanding tax.

“Either the town has to spend less money than it planned for public services or the town has to come up with money, usually through debt or by dipping into reserves to pay the difference for the delinquency,” she said.

Missed payments quickly add up to have an outsize impact in small communities. In these instances, town officials often look first at the largest budget line items — such as road maintenance and bridge repairs — for things that can be trimmed.

If municipalities choose to recover the money, they typically have two paths for recourse, but both require time, legal process and administrative effort.

One path is to work directly with the property owner, setting up a payment plan, negotiating partial payments or otherwise structuring a schedule to recoup the owed taxes over time.

The other is to initiate tax sales, as Roxbury did recently. When a property owner falls behind on taxes, the municipality can auction the parcel to recover the debt. The process begins with a presale period that gives the owner time to pay or arrange a plan, followed by a public sale if the debt remains unpaid. Even after the sale, the owner still has a year to repay the taxes, plus 12 percent annual interest on

Jim Barlow (at table, right) and Bill Hansen leading a tax auction at the Roxbury Town Office

The “Ways and Means” project details the inner workings of the Vermont legislature and explores how well it represents the interests of citizens. The yearlong series is funded by Vermont philanthropists through the nonprofits GroundTruth Project and Journalism Funding Partners.

TAX BURDENED

the sale price, and reclaim the property before a deed is transferred.

Tax sales can attract real estate companies and individual investors looking to purchase land at a substantial discount. Some buyers look to make short-term profits by capitalizing on properties set to sell below market value.

For some buyers, such as Alan Bjerke, a Burlington-based attorney, tax sales can also be about earning a reliable return. Bjerke regularly scans legal notices for upcoming tax sales. Part of his calculus is identifying properties that are much more valuable than the taxes owed; chances are an owner will pay off the debt — plus the 12 percent interest, which a buyer such as Bjerke pockets — rather than lose the property. In those circumstances, “the ultimate goal is not to get the deed,” he said.

Still, it doesn’t always work out that way. Bjerke is now landlord for several properties he purchased through tax sales. This past winter, he had to negotiate with squatters to vacate one of his more recent acquisitions.

In 2024, lawmakers revised Vermont’s tax-sale law to give delinquent taxpayers more time, extending both the presale and the post-sale redemption periods. Housing advocates praised the added protections. But municipal officials say the extended timeline forces towns to carry delinquent balances on their books for longer, deepening short-term budget strain as they wait for debts to be repaid.

Dan Monks, Bennington town manager, told his selectboard earlier this year that the revamped tax sale process “has become exponentially more onerous,” requiring officials to begin earlier and devote more resources to complete a sale. The town recently postponed a planned spring tax sale until this summer.

Some towns have had to take out shortterm loans to cover debts, which come with their own steep interest rates. Those types of stopgap measures can ultimately make it that much harder for towns to recover, Sheehan said.

“If you understand the delinquent taxes as deferred revenue for any town, it’s a problem that builds quickly and then is resolved slowly,” she said.

All municipalities track delinquent taxes using the same methodology. Some still publish lists of delinquent taxpayers in their annual reports. But the state does not collect data on property tax delinquencies or tax sales, leaving residents, town officials and lawmakers without a comprehensive accounting of how deep the problem might run in Vermont.

The Future of Education Taxes

Act 73 was meant to reduce property tax burdens on lower-income Vermonters while charging second-home owners more. It would replace an education property tax credit with a new education tax exemption starting in 2028-2029 — if the new, consolidated school districts envisioned under the bill are created.

For homeowners with household income below $115,000, a portion of their property’s value would become exempt. The exemptions would apply only to the first $425,000 of a home’s value:

$110,001-115,000

$100,001-110,000

$90,001-100,000

$80,001-90,000

$70,001-80,000

$60,001-70,000

$50,001-60,000

$40,001-50,000

$25,001-40,000

$0-25,000

Sheehan testified before the Senate Finance Committee in mid-February to share the concerns of some municipalities and call on the lawmakers to create a centralized report of delinquent education property taxes to be overseen by the state.

Sheehan explained how in Barre City, for example, delinquent taxes totaled about $500,000 of a $50 million budget, roughly 1 percent. In Granville, by contrast, more than $100,000 in taxes were overdue — nearly 25 percent of the town’s $470,000 municipal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Committee member Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) questioned whether there was any way to know if anecdotes and data points Sheehan shared were the exception, rather than the rule.

“Unless we have aggregate data, it’s basically speculative and anecdotal rather than actual data to make policy off of,” Hardy said.

By December 15, 2026, the Department of Taxes will submit a proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee with recommendations for further adjusting the homestead exemption to include households with income of up to $175,000.

Committee chair Sen. Ann Cummings (D-Washington) agreed that comprehensive data is necessary to inform any policy decisions.

The committee floated several ideas as to who would be tasked with pulling together data: Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Department of Taxes or the State Auditor’s Office.

The meeting ended without a decision.

Pursuing the Debts

In Franklin County, Montgomery officials warned in the 2024 town report that the town was owed more than $200,000 in delinquent property taxes — its largest amount since “the depth of the pandemic.”

“Perhaps the most significant challenge we’re facing coming into FY26 is the amount of Delinquent Property Taxes the Town is carrying forward,” the town report states, noting that the deficit added “significant upward pressure on the tax rate.”

Katherine Barnard, Montgomery’s delinquent tax collector, wrote in this year’s report that she expects the total due to fall closer to $65,000, more in line with historical norms.

The stress on budgets pressures local officials to seek to collect delinquent taxes aggressively. But philosophies and approaches vary from town to town.

Some municipalities rely on the town clerk or other local officials to serve as delinquent tax collectors. In other localities, it’s a stand-alone elected position. Some towns pay delinquent tax collectors a stipend; others give them a percentage of what they collect.

In Bennington, town manager Monks favors vigorously pursuing the lost revenue.

“I may be considered a little bit aggressive, but I feel like we should go to tax sale

every year,” Monks told the town’s selectboard in February, the Bennington Banner reported. “I don’t think we are doing people favors by letting them get deeper and deeper into holes. I think we need to address them as they come up.”

In Waterford, in Caledonia County, assistant town clerk and delinquent tax collector Marcel Lapierre takes a different tack.

“I’m not really in favor of tax sales,” Lapierre said in a recent interview. “I would rather try to work with a taxpayer and reach an agreement, even if I’m getting $200 or $300 a month or whatever. I’m at least getting something.”

“I take the approach that I’m going to work with you,” Lapierre said. “I’m not out to sell your house, take your house.”

Still, the budget pressures are mounting in Waterford. This year, the list of people on the delinquent taxpayer list was longer than ever, according to Lapierre. Property owners have told him that rising property taxes, heating costs, job changes and general economic insecurity make staying current difficult. During last summer’s drought, some residents had to choose between drilling a new well for drinking water or setting aside money for their property tax payment, he said.

Despite Lapierre’s best efforts to work with his neighbors, he’s preparing to bring one couple to tax sale because they have stopped working with him to address their outstanding property tax balance.

Tax sales, however, rarely result in evictions. That’s according to research and legislative testimony by Bjerke, the Burlington tax sale investor. When reviewing property tax sale data that he collected from 2022, he found that most auctions involve vacant land or unoccupied houses, often tied to deaths,

Cody Marsh at Town Meeting Day 2019

COURTESY OF GORDON MILLER/ NEWS & CITIZEN

We need to work for the next three years for folks to make sure they can pay their bills and our schools can still thrive.

REP. EMILIE KORNHEISER

inheritances or abandonment rather than families losing primary residences.

That was the case in Hancock, a rural community of roughly 350 people — including Sheehan, of VLCT — in Addison County. Delinquent taxes there swelled to more than $80,000 in recent years, a significant sum for a town of its size, Sheehan said. After several properties were taken to tax sale this year and officials stepped up collection efforts, the total has fallen to below $10,000.

The picture is more precarious just up the road in Granville, as Sheehan warned the senators. Last year’s delinquent tax list was the worst in decades, according to Cheryl Sargeant, the town clerk. At the end of June 2025, 13 taxpayers owed roughly $105,000. Fifteen properties are in the yearslong tax sale pipeline.

The profile of who falls behind has shifted since the end of the pandemic, Sargeant said. What used to be a problem primarily for lower-income residents now affects some households earning up to $100,000 a year. Out-of-town owners have also fallen behind; more than threequarters of Granville’s roughly 300 taxable

1990s found deep education inequities between property-rich and propertypoor towns. In response, lawmakers created a statewide education property tax based not only on a home’s value but also a household’s income — that is, on the owners’ ability to pay.

Over time, those state taxpayer protections have become less effective. Home values and household earnings have risen, but the income levels to qualify for tax relief have remained static, so fewer middle-income homeowners are eligible for tax reductions. That leaves a growing share of Vermonters exposed to the full force of escalating school taxes.

“Income sensitivity has gotten out of whack,” said Steph Yu, executive director of the Public Assets Institute, a progressive think tank.

Yu’s group and others last year sought to reset the income levels in Vermont tax law.

“We’re trying to restore what income sensitivity was intended to do,” Yu said, “which is to protect the lowincome and middle-class people from being priced out of their homes because of their property tax bills.”

Lawmakers and the governor largely agreed with that laudable goal but sought to achieve it in a different way.

how much more — has yet to be sorted out.

Lawmakers have struggled to find consensus on just how much property tax relief is needed, who should receive it and how it should be structured.

During a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee in late January, Sen. Martine Gulick (D-Chittenden-Central) asked colleagues to dig deeper into the common refrain that property taxes are too high, noting that many Vermonters benefit from provisions intended to link those taxes to their ability to pay.

“I have very high property taxes,” Gulick said. “I don’t like to pay property taxes, but I can afford them.”

Cummings, the committee chair, later circled back to Gulick’s comment, pointing out that she herself and her husband, a retired roofing salesman, are feeling the pressure.

“I can’t keep affording property taxes, and there is no place for me to downsize to except maybe a senior apartment, which I’m not ready to do yet,” Cummings said. The state faces the challenges of an aging population and declining students, she continued, “and we’re being asked to find a solution.”

parcels of land belong to people from out of state, she said.

Granville has managed to carry its delinquent tax balance in recent years without taking out a loan, but Sargeant said it may have to use what’s known as a tax anticipation note, similar to a shortterm loan, to fund the town’s current operating expenses. The town has had a note prepared, but it has never had to use it for property taxes.

“In the last two years, we’ve just barely squeaked by,” Sergeant said, “but this year we might have to do it.”

People have settled in Granville, tucked between two ski mountains, for its school choice and environmental beauty, Sargeant said. “But part of that enjoyment is suffering through things like high property taxes.”

Taxing Times

For nearly three decades, Vermont has funded its public schools through a system designed to blunt the sharpest edges of property taxation. It was developed after court rulings in the late

Act 73, the school reform bill adopted last year, required a revamp of the property tax system that both expands and simplifies the protections while also stabilizing homestead property taxes, said Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Under the new system, households with income of less than $115,000 would receive protection from paying full property taxes. Those earning very little would get the most relief. (See chart, page 26.)

The income levels will be adjusted as the cost of living increases so that the new protections won’t erode over time, Kornheiser said. Lawmakers will tackle how to accomplish that in future years. The changes are planned to be phased in over four years, between 2029 and 2032.

“We need to work for the next three years for folks to make sure they can pay their bills and our schools can still thrive,” she said.

The tax department has estimated that under the new system, people making under $115,000 would collectively pay $45 million less in property taxes.

To allow for these more generous property tax exemptions, Act 73 envisions raising taxes on second homes. Precisely who would pay more — and

In an interview with Seven Days in March, Gulick said she brought up her own tax bill after the committee repeatedly asserted that property taxes are too high without having a data-driven discussion. By sharing her experience, she hoped it would prompt more nuanced questions about how these taxes impact Vermonters differently.

“I want to make sure, when we are designing policy in our committees, that we are grounding the decisions that we’re making in evidence and in data and fact,” Gulick said. “Just observing behaviors in our lives sometimes can be misleading.”

The current tax system is what pushed Waterford to its longest list of delinquent taxpayers in recent memory, according to the town’s assistant clerk, Lapierre. In the town of slightly more than 1,200 people, many residents are older, living on fixed income and on property that may have been in their family for generations, Lapierre noted.

“This year, there were quite a few new people we’ve never had to chase before,” he said. “People are stretched out pretty far right now.”

He has raised the prospect of policy reform with Waterford’s state legislators but feels they are overruled by lawmakers from more populous areas such as Chittenden County, where larger and

Rep. Emilie Kornheiser

wealthier municipalities are focused on different challenges.

“We’ve got to come up with something that’s a little different, but I don’t think Montpelier is interested in hearing that,” he said.

Looking for Relief

Act 73 is not the only way lawmakers are trying to tackle the problem of soaring property taxes. There’s a big push under way to reduce health care costs, which theoretically would reduce the cost of health insurance for educators, one of the key drivers of education spending.

But since Act 73’s tax reforms won’t kick in for three years, lawmakers and Gov. Scott again face the prospect of spending big bucks to keep property tax increases as modest as possible.

One idea is to shift money from the state General Fund to the Education Fund to “buy down” the property tax increases. That’s what lawmakers did last year, using $118 million to reduce the average property tax increase from an estimated 7 percent to around 1 percent.

Using one-time transfers in this manner, however, just pushes the need to pay a tax increase to the following year, fiscal analyst Julia Richter told lawmakers.

To avoid this, lawmakers are considering spending $127 million to buy down property tax rates, but over two years instead of one. This would limit the tax relief it would provide next year but smooth out future anticipated increases. Scott opposes this idea, saying taxpayers need relief now.

Cummings seemed comfortable with the proposal earlier in the session, noting that the state has often done what it can to smooth out financial hits to school districts or municipalities.

“This would be with tradition,” Cummings said.

Progressives are also pushing to “tax the rich” as a way to save the day. There are a few iterations. One bill, H.794, would impose an additional 2 percent tax on earnings over $250,000, and an additional 6 percent on incomes over $500,000. The bill would also impose a 4 percent “wealth tax” on estates and trusts of high-income people. All told, the new taxes would raise about $400 million a year.

Sponsor Rep. Kate Logan (P/D-Burlington) said her bill aims to recoup just part of hundreds of millions that highincome earners saved through recent federal tax cuts.

“The question is simple. Should the top 5 percent contribute a little more so

This year, there were quite a few new people we’ve never had to chase before.

People are stretched out pretty far right now.

DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTOR MARCEL LAPIERRE

that the other 95 percent can afford to live, work and prosper here?” she said.

That bill didn’t move forward, but the concept is not dead.

In late March, two Democratic lawmakers tried a last-minute maneuver to boost taxes on the rich. They proposed tweaking an existing bill to increase income taxes by 3 percent for households making over $500,000 a year and by 2 more percent on income over $1 million. Democratic leaders, fearing a veto from the governor, pushed back. The proposal is back in committee.

Other tax relief bills never saw the light of day. Rep. Gina Galfetti (R-Barre) proposed a bill to freeze property taxes for three years.

“It’s the only bill in the House that addresses property taxes this year,” Galfetti told the Ways and Means Committee earlier this session.

She acknowledged hers was a “simple bill” but suggested the committee, with a little “due diligence and research,” could “come up with something that can deliver

tax relief this year for Vermonters like we were sent here to do.”

Committee members pointedly noted, however, that past reports have shown that freezing property tax rates without addressing underlying spending can actually end up exacerbating inequities in the tax system.

“We’ve been doing really everything we can to keep property tax bills as low as possible for Vermonters,” Kornheiser told Galfetti. “There is no simple solution. If there was a simple solution, we would have passed it already.”

Be It Ever So Humble

Back in Roxbury, Bill Hansen, the town’s delinquent tax collector, felt a sense of relief as the sale concluded and people headed off. He told Seven Days that he had stepped into the role because he wanted to get to know his community members better.

He was glad that the winning bidder seemed to understand the stakes for the man who lived in the remote cabin.

The town had collected the owed taxes, and the sale was officially concluded. The outcome seemed ideal: Roxbury got its money, and the home remained in friendly hands.

Hansen said it took multiple attempts before he was able to reach the property owner in the days leading up to the sale, which is a legal requirement.

Seven Days headed from the town offices to the camp in question, following a narrow dirt road that climbed toward the ridgeline. A weathered sign warned drivers to use four-wheel drive at all times.

From afar, there was little sign of life at the home tucked into the woods. The cabin with sagging siding had neither a mailbox nor driveway. But a thin ribbon of smoke rose from its chimney, and the footpath to the cabin’s front door had been neatly shoveled.

Inside, a dog barked.

As a reporter approached, a man stepped outside into the sunshine and pulled the door closed behind him. Seven Days is not identifying the resident out of respect for his privacy. He said he knew that his property had been set to go up for sale that day but didn’t want to talk about it, nor how he’d fallen years behind on his property taxes to end up in this situation.

He had lived there for 30 years. Whatever had been decided about the land, about his home, he was resolute. He planned to stay. ➆

Winning bidder Gerald D’Amico (left) paying for the other property auctioned that day

“

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I’m encouraging you to support any news organization that’s dedicated to original reporting.

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‘He Really Wanted to Leave a Mark on the World’

Robert L. Johnson Jr., February 13, 1945-December 29, 2025

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Growing up in Brattleboro in the 1950s, Bob Johnson loved to plunder a local junkyard for car parts. He was a born tinkerer, obsessed with repairing broken things and solving problems others gave up on. He was also a natural entrepreneur. By age 14, he’d launched a successful business fixing up old beaters in his backyard and selling them for cash. It was the first in a long line of innovative ventures throughout his life.

A brilliant physicist and inventor, Bob saw things differently from most people — literally. In 1969, he launched Omega Optical in Brattleboro. The company creates lenses, optical coatings and filters for the likes of NASA and the Human Genome Project. His later pursuits, including Delta Vermont and Epsilon Spires, ran the gamut from environmental and educational work to fostering community through the arts and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.

“I’ve never met anyone as accustomed to thinking outside of the box as Bob,” said Gary Goodemote, who worked for Bob for more than 40 years at another of his ventures, Friends of the Sun, an alternative energy company founded in the mid-’70s. “He brought creativity, intellect and a sense of long-range purpose to everything he pursued — and many people’s lives were better off for it.”

While his success with Omega changed the world, or at least how we look at it, Bob’s work focused closer to home was also impactful — and perhaps more meaningful to him. His friends and family would tell you that Bob was a townie at heart. He was born in Brattleboro and, on December 29, 2025, at age 80, Bob died there, in his home just down the road from the farm where he grew up.

“I don’t know if he really knew what an impact he had on the town,” said his daughter, Maryam Hadden. “When he died, he honestly wasn’t ready to go. It wasn’t about him not experiencing things, but rather his perspective was, I haven’t done enough.”

Bob was a gifted child of gifted parents. His father, also a farm boy from New England, was educated abroad and eventually became a theology professor

“Life Stories” is a series profiling Vermonters who have recently died. Know of someone we should write about? Email us at lifestories@ sevendaysvt.com.

at American University of Beirut. While on a boat traveling back to the Middle East from the New York World’s Fair in 1939, Bob Sr. met his future wife, Wanda, who was from Heliopolis, Egypt. They married at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo not long after. But as World War II loomed in Europe and northern Africa, American men overseas were encouraged to return home. And so the couple moved to southern Vermont. They eventually established a 550-acre farm in West Brattleboro, where they raised three children: Colman, Robert Jr. and Carol. In this rural but intellectual setting, young Bob helped his father create contraptions such as a mechanized

automatic feeder for the family’s large stock of chicken and sheep.

While still in high school, Bob became an assistant to family friend and physicist Edgar Barr, who had taught with Robert Sr. in Beirut and worked on the Manhattan Project, the program that developed the atomic bomb. Barr was also a pioneer in optics. Under his tutelage, Bob learned how to develop goggles with thin films that protect the eyes during bomb-blast tests — a far cry from souping up Jaguars in his backyard.

Bob studied physics at Marlboro College in the mid-’60s while continuing to work with Barr in Boston. But the Vietnam War was on the horizon, and Bob was determined not to be drafted. So he headed to Canada to settle near Cape Breton with his first wife, Margo, and their pets.

Before heading north, Bob spent months raiding Boston junkyards. With the skills he developed scavenging car parts as a kid, Bob used the high-tech refuse to construct the first optical lenses and machines for his fledgling business, Omega Optical.

Many of those first machines are still in operation, according to Jamie Mohr, Bob’s romantic partner in the final years of his life. “He built all of the first Omega machines from the scrap,” she said.

“And they were incredible! They looked like something from Fantastic Planet or something.”

After Margo became pregnant with Maryam, the couple left Canada, feeling the area was too rural to start a family. Back in Brattleboro, Bob devoted himself to Omega, working out of a backyard shed. The company earned its first million dollars by 1973, and years of success and innovation followed. Over the next five decades, Omega grew to employ hundreds of people in Brattleboro and emerged as one of the top companies in the field of photonics.

In 2020, Omega was acquired by Artemis Capital Partners, a Boston equity firm

Bob Johnson in Cape Breton

Bob in 1967

COURTESY PHOTOS

HE TRULY VIEWED HIS ENTIRE WORLD — BUSINESS, EMOTIONS AND CONNECTIONS — THROUGH THE PRISM OF PHYSICS.

LARISA VOLKAVICHYUTE

specializing in the tech industry — though Bob remained a stockholder.

By the time Bob relinquished control of the company that he’d quite literally built from junk, Omega had left its imprint on American industry and scientific endeavor. It had constructed a 12-wavelength monolithic filter in 1984 that was used to view Halley’s Comet. Two years later, Omega filters aided the Human Genome Project, an international scientific venture that mapped and sequenced human DNA. In 1990,

the company was integral in repairing the Hubble Space Telescope’s wide-field planetary camera. Mars missions, endoscopy imagers, and scores of patents and inventions followed.

“Bob was a brilliant physicist,” said David McManus, whom Bob hired to work for him at Delta Vermont in 2008. “More than that, though, he was unconventional. He always wanted to be exploring new ways of doing things. You might not see Bob’s path at first, but you just had to follow it, because it was going somewhere amazing, usually.”

Larisa Volkavichyute, Bob’s daughterin-law and also his property manager in recent years, had a unique perspective on his life philosophy.

“At some point, I realized that he truly viewed his entire world — business, emotions and connections — through the prism of physics,” she said. “He once said to me, ‘Physics is all there is.’”

Bob didn’t do much of anything in a conventional way. When he saw that

Bob (right) examining a lens at Omega Optical

Bob with an electric car at the Friends of the Sun parade in 1979

the old governor’s mansion on Western Avenue in Brattleboro was for sale in 1980, he bought it with buckets full of silver. He even paid Omega employees in silver, if they wanted, and advised his friends to use it instead of the U.S. dollar to protect against inflation.

“He always had a creative solution, no matter the problem,” Bob’s oldest son, Robin Johnson, recalled. “His house was full of tubes and pumps to self-water all of his houseplants. When we brought some people to his house after he died to look at the heating system, the techs had to go back and get their manager to figure it out, because they couldn’t figure out what he had built,” Robin continued. “He thrived on solving problems. He might even create a problem sometimes, just so he could solve it.”

Maryam remembers her father as a tough nut to crack, emotionally. “He was a very private man in a lot of ways, and he wasn’t good at emotional conversation,” she said. “He was good at talking about scientific, economic or environmental issues — he could go on and on about things he was passionate about. But if you asked him how he was feeling, he’d just say, ‘I’m fine.’”

In 1980, Bob and his second wife, Elaine, helped organize and establish the Neighborhood Schoolhouse, an independent elementary school on the former site of Mark Hopkins College in Brattleboro. Some of Bob’s children were students there, and Bob and Elaine “continued to support the school for many years” after their kids had moved on, school board president Norma Willingham said. Bob and Elaine started a scholarship fund at the school in honor of their son, Dylan, who died in 1994, days before he would have finished sixth grade and just shy of his 13th birthday. The couple’s only child together had developed cardiomyopathy after an earlier illness. Bob and Elaine struggled with their grief, and it weighed on their relationship for years. They separated, then eventually divorced in 2018 but remained friends until Bob’s death. Those closest to Bob say his son’s death changed him. “After Dylan died, Dad threw himself into his work, even more so than before,” Maryam said. “Part of that was certainly compensation for his grief, but a lot of it was this renewed desire to make things better. He really wanted to leave a mark on the world, and Brattleboro in particular, in my brother’s memory.”

Bob directed much of that energy into his hometown. He built Delta Vermont from the ground up. The campus was conceived as a unique planned community of efficient, affordable housing and

commercial space, a place where scientific innovation and the comforts of rural living could exist side by side.

When Omega moved to the Delta campus in 2008, Bob turned over the Victorian church that had housed its offices since the ’80s to his son Robin. Over several years, Robin set about

transforming it into the Stone Church, a state-of-the-art music venue that opened in 2016 and draws nationally touring acts.

Also in 2016, Bob bought another abandoned church in downtown Brattleboro, the former First Baptist Church on Main Street. In 2019, with Mohr as executive

director, he launched Epsilon Spires there, a nonprofit arts and culture organization and performance venue.

Mohr, who later became romantically involved with Bob, first met him through another of his great passions: sheep.

About a year after Dylan’s death, Bob became obsessed with a rare breed of sheep called Scottish Soay. He purchased his own flock, which he often drove up to Nova Scotia, 14 hours each way, to graze. Mohr met Bob after answering his Craigslist ad seeking a shepherd.

“There just weren’t a lot of people like Bob,” Mohr said. “He was kind, generous and open-minded but also so driven. And I think in some strange way, he saw that in the sheep, too.”

Maryam also saw a connection between the flock and her father.

“When he got sick, he would get really emotional about how self-sufficient and kind to each other the sheep were,” she said. “It was an ideal he wanted humanity to achieve.”

Bob’s family is still deciding what to do with the sheep. Maryam found a business in Massachusetts that would employ them to graze solar fields. “That would so fit in with Dad’s main concerns for the sheep and the environment,” she said.

A true taciturn Yankee, Bob rarely spoke of his accomplishments. “Bob was so important to the local community,” said McManus, his employee from Delta Vermont. “But he wasn’t a person who flaunted that or was at fundraisers and parties. He wasn’t your typical ‘successful entrepreneur’ guy. He didn’t promote himself, but he attracted people to his vision.”

He also had little interest in leaving his lifelong home.

“I used to joke with him that he moved three times in his life, and they were all on the same road,” Robin said with a laugh.

Toward the end of Bob’s life, as he battled amyloidosis, a rare disease that affects the organs and tissues, he was confounded by the fact that there was no readily available solution for his condition. “He couldn’t understand why he just couldn’t be fixed,” Maryam said. “It almost confused him: He’d fixed so many things in his life; why couldn’t this be fixed?”

Still, Maryam said, Bob was full of gratitude in his final days.

“I kept telling him about the tremendous impact he had on our lives, our families’ lives and so many other people,” she recalled. “I don’t know if he truly saw that, but I’ll always keep the memory of him sitting in his chair, looking out at his land and telling me, ‘I’ve been really blessed to live in this place.’” ➆

From left: Elaine, Bob and Dylan in Mexico in 1989

Bob with his Jaguar

From left: Bob, Maryam, Robin and Elaine in the late ’70s

Bob with a Soay sheep

Sign up for our Notes on the Weekend newsletter and you’ll be entered to win a night at Montréal’s swanky HONEYROSE Hotel and a spa day at Bota Bota from Seven Days. Every Thursday, the NOW newsletter delivers a curated list of enticing events from our statewide calendar, complete with staff picks, weekend weather, the “Ask the Rev.” advice column and more.

food+drink

Sterling Reputation

Sterling College closes in June, but staff and alumni of its innovative culinary program still have lessons to teach

&

Courtney White McQuarrie is a Southerner, proud University of Virginia sorority sister and lover of Italian cuisine. In summer 2012, after earning a degree from the International Culinary Center in New York City, she printed out directions from MapQuest and used them to wend her way deep into Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

While searching online for cooking jobs, White McQuarrie had stumbled on Vermont’s Table, a five-week summer program at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, which specializes in sustainable agriculture and the environment. Anne Obelnicki, then the school’s director of sustainable food systems, led the curriculum. Participants would learn to bake bread, make cheese, cure meat from the school’s own pigs and make kraut alongside famed fermenter Sandor Katz.

The lesson plan was ambitious, fun and gutsy — sometimes literally. White McQuarrie loved the program so much that, at its end, she packed up her belongings and moved brieﬂy to Vermont. “I was

FOOD LOVER?

seduced,” she recalled. Attending Sterling “felt like going back in time, in a way.”

Now White McQuarrie is among the alums facing sad news. Last November, trustees announced that Sterling College would cease to be an accredited higher education institution after one more

semester — in June. While the board wrestles with novel ideas for keeping the campus working and vibrant, faculty members are searching for jobs. And the folks who manage the school’s dining services have a daunting assignment: to use up thousands of pounds of food — from

frozen, campus-raised chickens to many jars of pickles to a wall rack full of seasonings to 50-pound sacks of grains — by the appointed day.

The staff is well prepared for that mandate. At most institutions, dining services puts out pucks of meat, gloopy mac and cheese, and other standardized items in the exact same way every time. At Sterling, adaptability is the whole point. With the accumulated knowledge of decades spent balancing the ﬂuctuating desires of young adults with the availability of local foods, the Sterling kitchen sta is a repository of culinary wisdom.

“The cafeteria at Sterling is what I wish all cafeterias were like,” White McQuarrie enthused. “It’s exactly the kind of food that’s healthy for people and for the environment. It’s what I want my kids to eat.”

Seven Days recently spent a morning cooking with the crew, whose members shared tips and memories in hopes that the school’s legacy of sustainability and e ciency will live on in the home kitchens of our readers. It surely will in those of the thousands of former students and community members Sterling has fed.

After cooking, we supped in the dining hall, a bright but institutional room with a vast collection of mismatched plates and co ee mugs and a ceiling that looks like an overturned canoe. The salad bar may have been standard-issue — with its sneeze guards and metal trays — but the food it contained was anything but.

Handmade milk bread buns, glazed and coated in sesame seeds, came in various shapes and sizes. Bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks were grilled hard and coated with an herby, moss-green sauce. Side dishes included roasted butternut squash, the last package of summer’s roasted tomatoes — thawed and sizzled brieﬂy in a pan with onions — fermented purple cabbage, chard-stem relish, and sweetly spiced “tongue” pickles.

What are tongue pickles? “You take overgrown cucumbers, you seed them [after slicing them lengthwise], and then you pickle them,” Sterling teacher and director of dining Liz Chadwick explained. The combination of cinnamon and clove, she continued, makes them taste “like Christmas in a jar.” The chard-stem relish, she said, was a way to use something most kitchens discard. While the leaves were wilted and eaten long ago, the sinewy stalks

STORY

PHOTOS BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

A lunch at Sterling College

e dining hall

Schaefer’s to Bring All-Day Menu to Former Hatchet in Richmond

Former BURLINGTON BEER executive chef JOHN ROETTINGER and his wife, COURTNEY, also a seasoned hospitality professional, have announced that they will open SCHAEFER’S at 30 Bridge Street in Richmond. The 80-seat restaurant space was most recently occupied by Hatchet, which closed after a decade last March.

The Roettingers, who have a 3.5-year-old daughter, said they plan to serve three meals a day, five days a week, and offer a family-friendly menu with “something for everyone,” in Courtney’s words. They expect to open in early June after some renovations.

The new Richmond spot is named after a restaurant founded by John’s great-grandmother, Lydia Schaefer, who immigrated as a teenager to the United States from Germany in the early 1940s. John, 34, said the original Schaefer’s Restaurant was a fixture in Hoboken, N.J., through the 1980s. “This is how my family started in America,” he said. “Let’s keep the legacy going.”

John’s father, HARVEY, rose through the ranks with the regional Bertucci’s restaurant group and will be involved with the new restaurant, too. “My father taught me everything,” John said.

Before his five years at Burlington Beer, John cooked at Winooski’s MULE BAR and Burlington’s HEN OF THE WOOD. Courtney, 37, met her future husband when both worked at the now-closed Scuffer Tap & Table. She went on to

become a front-of-house manager at WATERWORKS FOOD + DRINK in Winooski.

The couple said they hope to evoke the same fondness locals had for the Bridge Street Café, which preceded Hatchet at 30 Bridge Street. Schaefer’s will be “not too fussy, not too expensive,” John said.

The menu will range from pancakes and eggs Benedict for breakfast to pastrami on house-baked rye, a chopped wedge salad and a smash burger for lunch. Dinner will bring steak frites as well as seared salmon, cauliflower steak and roast chicken, all served with seasoned fries, plus specials.

Follow @schaefers.vt on Instagram for updates.

MELISSA PASANEN

The Slide In

Pub Opens Vermont’s First Soccer Bar in Shelburne

As the number of soccer fans in Vermont explodes, a new bar in Shelburne is tackling a hole in the market. On March 28, the SLIDE IN PUB held its soft opening at 3762 Shelburne Road. Owner JOSEPH FOX bills his biz as “the first-ever soccer bar in Vermont.”

Fox is friends with Vermont Green player Jacob Labovitz, who owns the Soccer Post shop next door to the Slide In at Tenneybrook Square. The former La Villa Bistro & Pizzeria spot had been empty since 2021.

“Having the soccer store there, and the World Cup coming to America, and just how big soccer has really become

From left: Harvey, Remi, John and Courtney Roettinger in front of Schaefer’s

such as fruit, jams and herb salts at nearby Bread & Butter Farm.

have beneﬁted from a long soak in seasoned vinegar. “You can pickle anything,” she enthused.

“Elongating the season is at the core” of the Sterling cooking methodology, Chadwick said. Extra apples and strawberries are dehydrated, herbs are frozen in cubes with oil, and every animal bone ends up in the stockpot. Her weekly menus are designed to explore global ﬂavors, give students the comforts of home and rotate through whatever needs to be used.

Obelnicki, who did some of the same jobs as Chadwick under a di erent title, now runs tiny Woods Edge Farm in South Burlington on a property that also functions as a short-term rental. She has 23 fruit trees and grows garlic, sweet potatoes and other crops in raised beds, selling products

Obelnicki came to Sterling with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and a master’s in agriculture, food and the environment from Tufts University. These days, rather than cooking for hundreds of students, she prepares meals for herself and her two school-age children. But she was happy to o er recommendations for home cooks who want to cook like they do at Sterling.

“When you’re trying to use local food, freezer management is very important,” she said. While it’s far from the only food preservation skill, she explained, freezing food is more practical for people who “don’t want to take on a new career in fermenting and processing” or don’t have room for all the crocks and jars.

Another tip: If buying food by the

using spices and making dishes inspired by global cuisines. Obelnicki worked healthy, whole ingredients onto the menus and played the long game by incorporating cured products made with school-grown meats.

What has Harris learned from so many years of supplying and dining at Sterling? “You don’t have to feel like there’s this whole sector of foods that’s o -limits to the home cook,” she said. Through her observations of the students and staff, combined with resources such as books, in-person classes and the internet, she’s “really embraced the idea that you can make anything you want: sausages, smoked meats, kimchi, sauerkraut, cheeses and beverages.”

bushel feels daunting, simply freeze a bit at a time — one bag of berries every time you go picking or visit the grocery store, a quart of cherry tomatoes here and there, a few ears of corn. Obelnicki logs freezer contents on a dry-erase board, which makes it easy to keep track of supply and use up the oldest food ﬁrst.

Another of Harris’ takeaways from her Sterling years is the importance of appreciating and using “the whole product” and not just the fancy bits. “Celebrate unusual ingredients,” she suggested. “Learn how to use briskets and chicken necks.”

Gwyneth Harris, who has been working at Sterling on and o since 1997, is a faculty member who also manages the school garden, working closely with the dining hall. Each dining services staffer “has something they’re really great at,” she said. Chadwick, Harris noted, is exceptional at

ingredients,”

Discussing Sterling fare that isn’t typical of school cafeterias, both Harris and Obelnicki fondly recalled “the year of the rutabaga.” That season, the roots in the garden grew unusually well, and at harvest time, the bulbous purple and orange brassicas ﬁlled the school’s root cellar. “There were 100 students and 800 pounds of rutabaga,” Obelnicki recalled. “It was a joke the whole year.” How did they handle the glut? Obelnicki recalled that her weekly menus featured instructions such as “Make chili, use this many pounds of meat, throw rutabaga

Snack on the BITE-CLUB NEWSLETTER for a taste of this week’s ﬂavorful food coverage. It’ll hold you over until Wednesday.

Sterling Reputation « P.34

Milk bread buns with sesame seeds

Liz Chadwick

Director: Shannon Sanborn - Music Director: Isaac Besso Choreographer: Taryn Noelle - Producers: Holly Biracree and Gene Heinrich Book by Roger O. Hirson - Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Originally produced on the Broadway stage by Stuart Ostrow and directed by Bob Fosse.

food+drink

into it.” She ran “Iron Chef” competitions for students focused solely on rutabaga dishes. One of her favorite lessons: Mashed rutabaga could be added to tomato sauce, “and it only made it better,” she remembered.

The award for the most creative use of rutabaga went to Sterling’s most veteran kitchen staffer, Paul Sweeney, who deftly adapted his applesauce-moistened carrot cake recipe to use the more fibrous, less sweet vegetable.

Sweeney — who once owned a pizza place — is the maestro of the school’s weekly pizza nights, makes the tongue pickles using an old family recipe, forages red cones of sumac that are worked into Chadwick’s spice blends, and can take apart and fix the dishwasher. He’s been employed at Sterling for 40 years, more than half the school’s history, and before his tenure, both of his grandmothers worked there.

their prevailing sentiment was sorrow for its closing and unease about Craftsbury’s future.

These days, Sterling alum White McQuarrie has two young children and runs a restaurant called Blanca Food + Wine in Norfolk, Va., where sourcing food from farms isn’t as simple as it is in the Northeast Kingdom.

“My time in Vermont radicalized me in a way,” White McQuarrie said from the garden she maintains outside her restaurant, which supplies her with herbs, greens and tomatoes.

CELEBRATE UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS.

GWYNETH HARRIS

In 1986, keen to take off on a motorcycle trip and needing coverage in the kitchen, Sweeney’s maternal grandmother called on her grandson, a recent culinary school grad, for help. He never left.

Sweeney’s chief delight is taking leftovers, such as oatmeal and fruit, and working them into breads and desserts. “I don’t always follow recipes,” he explained, noting that knowledge of culinary chemistry helps. Another tip: When baking, don’t forget to account for the weather. Doughs rise more slowly in cool weather and can quickly get out of hand when it’s hot.

While Sterling staffers and former students were generous with culinary tips and tricks they learned at the school,

Two years after leaving Vermont, White McQuarrie dined at the vaunted Hudson Valley farm-totable restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Her friends from the city were “amazed,” she said, by the sheep barns, the pizza with mushrooms cooked in the heat of a compost pile and the sweeping farm fields. But after her time at Sterling, White McQuarrie said, the fancy restaurant left her a bit cold.

“I was kind of unimpressed,” she recalled. “Sterling was very, very cool. My impression of Vermont, through Craftsbury and through my Vermont’s Table moment, was: This is truly God’s country.”

Her story underlines how plenty of those who studied or sojourned at Sterling — chefs, farmers, nonprofit leaders and teachers alike — will go on sharing the school’s ethos, one bite or lesson at a time. ➆ INFO

Learn more at sterlingcollege.edu.

Nestled in the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, this retreat is a heart-centered escape for women ready to relax, reconnect, and rediscover what’s possible. Come with friends or arrive solo— either way, you’ll be welcomed into a circle of like-minded women.

Herby chicken made from birds raised at Sterling

Diners are known for serving breakfast all day, and Erica’s Village Diner is no exception. More unexpectedly, the small family-run eatery, which moved from Fairfax to Cambridge about a year ago, also serves lunch starting at 7 a.m.

Whether customers crave a pair of ﬂuffy pancakes with real maple syrup and a choice of meat ($9.99) or a bacon cheeseburger with hand-cut fries ($14.99), they can order anything on the menu any time until the diner’s 2 p.m. close — and the vast majority costs around $15 or less, our “Dining on a Dime” target.

Erica Hayes is the diner’s manager, the inspiration for its name and the main reason it offers lunch for breakfast. e 33-year-old — whose parents, Linda and

Ron Frey, own the restaurant — is not a breakfast person.

“I’m always someone who’s getting a grilled cheese or a Philly for breakfast,” Hayes admitted.

e Freys and their daughter ran Erica’s American Diner in Fairfax from 2015 until July 2024, when they lost their lease.

ey were not planning to reopen, but they changed their minds after ﬁnding a new spot for the right price: the small white-clapboard building at 51 South Main Street, near the family’s other business, Cambridge Village Market.

e new diner has 35 seats, about a third of its Fairfax predecessor, and no dinner service due to septic capacity limitations. Hayes said a plan to increase capacity

should enable Erica’s to reintroduce the evening meal later this year.

Overall, she said, the goal remains the same: “a very family feel with hearty food and a homey vibe.”

At noon on the dot on a recent ursday, the cozy diner hummed comfortably. A toddler played with bits of pancake in a high chair. A young couple thumb-wrestled over empty plates, and a pair of older folks waited to settle into a booth.

From my counter stool, I spied Adam Gingras busy at the grill. Gingras, a member of the kitchen team helmed by lead cook Rachel Zeno, quickly turned out my Linda’s Turkey Reuben ($14.99). e substantial sandwich and its side of dark golden fries were a thing of beauty: piled over an inch high with turkey; bacon; melty Swiss; and crunchy, tangy slaw between griddled, thick-cut slices of rye. I could barely ﬁnish half.

“ at’s a 10-napkin sandwich,” server Kayla Neumeister noted, watching me navigate a series of drippy, oozy bites. It reminded her that she should order it more often to “nibble throughout my shift,” she said.

A trio in work boots sat at the long counter, digging into burgers. Mike Snow of MJS Contracting in Bolton and his crew are longtime Erica’s fans. “We come about four times a week,” Austin Jerome said. “Sometimes we come for breakfast. If not, we come for lunch.”

Snow said he was disappointed when the Fairfax diner closed and happy to see it resurface in Cambridge. He had ordered a regular burger ($11.99), but his “go-tos,” Snow said, are the open-faced hot turkey served with freshly made mashed potatoes and house slaw ($16.99) or maple-Buffalo wings ($12.99 with fries). Wings, which were on the Fairfax menu, are a frequent Cambridge special.

Snow’s son and employee, Brody, said he usually gets the Philly ($15.99) or chicken tender basket ($14.99), but this time he’d picked the Rodeo burger ($15.99) topped with onion rings, bacon, cheddar and barbecue sauce. “I felt spicy,” he said with a grin.

e single-patty burgers seemed to more than satisfy the hardworking guys,

though Erica’s also offers the Triple Bypass Burger Challenge. For $23.99, it stacks 1.5 pounds of beef with six pieces of bacon, three cheese slices, lettuce, tomato and onion on a toasted roll. Hayes said about 40 customers have so far succeeded in downing it, along with a heap of fries, within 20 minutes. eir prize is a T-shirt and, most likely, heartburn.

e Triple Bypass would easily cover three meals for me, but I’m more inclined to indulge in the Breakfast Grilled Cheese ($8.99). With two fried eggs and a choice of meat, it’s my perfect meal mashup. Add home fries for $3.99, and power into — or through — the day, well fueled and under budget. ➆ “Dining on a Dime” is a series featuring well-made, ﬁlling bites (something substantial enough to qualify as a small meal or better) for around $15 or less. Know of a tasty dish we should feature? Drop us a line: food@sevendaysvt.com. INFO

Erica’s Village Diner, 51 S. Main St., Cambridge, 802-644-8324. Learn more on Facebook.

Adam Gingras in the kitchen

Linda’s Turkey Reuben and fries at Erica’s Village Diner

in Vermont,” Fox said, “this is something that Shelburne and Burlington were needing.”

The Slide In appropriately serves a variety of sliders, ranging from smashed beef to Buffalo chicken to the Papou, with lamb, greens, harissa, pickled onions and tzatziki. Each can be made into a salad or rice bowl. Other dishes include wings, loaded tots and garlic-Parmesan fries. Sauces, dressings, pickles and other ingredients are made fresh in-house.

The pub’s liquor license is pending, but Fox — a 16-year industry veteran and food and beverage consultant who lives in Burlington — expects to have it any day. The Slide In will serve 14 varieties of canned cocktails, house wine, five local and domestic draft beer options, and 10 additional bottled and canned beers.

The pub’s 10 TVs show everything from “the English Premier League to the Italian league to a random league in Finland,” said Fox, 29, who grew up playing soccer in England. On weekends, the Slide In opens at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast options during early matches.

Beyond the beautiful game, the bar screens “every single sport,” Fox said, including Red Sox games and those of the NBA and NHL. The Slide In also offers lounge seating, a dartboard, board games and a PlayStation 5.

JORDAN BARRY

Trailside Baking CoOwner Comes Home to Open in St. Albans

St. Albans native BETH MINOR and her partner, DOUG HOOD, scheduled the April 22 opening of TRAILSIDE BAKING to coincide

with the city’s popular VERMONT MAPLE

FESTIVAL, which takes place April 24 to 26. The couple built the 700-squarefoot bakery and retail store themselves beside their new St. Albans home at 144

Sheldon Road. It will offer freshly baked pan loaves, sourdough breads, focaccia and pastries, all made from grain grown within 100 miles of the bakery. Minor, 37, has been a pastry chef and

baker for 18 years. Her deep résumé includes stints at the SHELBURNE FARMS INN and an apprenticeship with the late, legendary Gérard Rubaud in Westford. While baking full time at Shelburne’s O BREAD BAKERY, Minor also worked night or weekend shifts at Middlesex’s RED HEN BAKING.

“I just couldn’t get enough,” Minor said, noting that she always tried to understand the reasons for every step or method. “You never stop watching and learning.”

Hood, 44, has a mechanical and brewing background and most recently worked at 14TH STAR BREWING in St. Albans.

Trailside Baking grew out of a business called the Baker Beth that Minor ran from 2024 to 2025, when the couple lived in Lowell. They built a wood-fired oven and sold baked goods at farmers markets and farmstands. Her hometown’s Northwest Farmers Market was the strongest outlet for their wares, Minor said, and St. Albans proved a relatively affordable place to buy a home.

Trailside’s new oven is gas-powered, but Minor still uses flour from farmers such as Charlotte’s NITTY GRITTY GRAIN and Waterford’s N.E.K. GRAINS. In addition to yeasted loaves, such as honey-oat and marble rye, Trailside will bake sourdough breads and pastries ranging from biscuits to croissants. Opening week will bring maple-roasted asparagus galettes and maple Danishes. Expect to see housemade marshmallows, trail mixes, granola and a small cooler of local ingredients, too.

Learn more at trailsidebaking company.com.

CONNECT

M.P.

Sliders at the Slide In Pub

Danish pastry at Trailside Baking

CHORAL MUSIC

Springtime for Danes

UVM Concert Choir performs classic and new seasonal works by Carl and Erik Nielsen

BY AMY LILLY •

lilly@sevendaysvt.com

The eminent Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s 1922 choral work “Springtime on Funen” had long been on University of Vermont choral director Nathaniel Lew’s bucket list. When Lew decided to program it for the UVM Concert Choir’s spring performance, two humorous things occurred to him: Vermont happens to have its own Danish American composer named Nielsen — Erik Nielsen; no relation, but still — and “we don’t have spring,” Lew said with a chuckle about the state’s mud season.

Medley,” a free concert open to the public, on Tuesday evening, April 14, at the UVM Recital Hall. The Catamount Singers, a more select group of mainly music majors also under Lew’s direction, will present a separate program at the same concert.

So, with the music department’s permission, the impish Burlington conductor commissioned Erik to write a companion piece to Carl’s, titled “Mud Season in Vermont.” The choir will sing both Nielsens’ compositions at “Spring Serenade: Mud

Erik, a Brookfield composer with a catalog of nearly 200 works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, soloists and more, has written prolifically for chorus, though never before for a UVM one. He was writing mainly choral pieces when he first moved to Vermont in 1988. Among his major works are two operas, A Fleeting

Animal and Aliceheimer’s, and he is working on a third, Fireburn, about the 1878 labor uprising in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, when the territory was owned by Denmark.

Erik’s great-grandfather moved to St. Croix as part of the Danish army. His son, Erik’s grandfather, moved to the U.S. as a teenager. Nielsens, Erik added, are as common in Denmark as the name Smith in America.

When Lew requested “Mud Season in Vermont,” specifying only the title, Erik recalled thinking, “Well, this should be fun.” He added: “If you live on a dirt road, which we do, you need to maintain a sense of humor during mud season. Sometimes you go down the road, and there are ruts 18 inches deep. It’s a fact of life here.”

Erik listened to Carl’s “Springtime on Funen,” a piece rarely performed in the U.S., before beginning his composition. (The Dane’s six symphonies are better known here.) Carl set his 18-minute choral work, which includes a children’s chorus

and many solo parts, to a prize-winning poem by his contemporary, Aage Berntsen. The composer described his piece as a “light mixture of lyricism and humor.” It celebrates the signs and activities of spring — green grass, dancing, moon-gazing — on the Danish island of Funen, where he grew up.

Erik could ﬁnd no comparable poem about mud season, so he created his own. “I’m not really a poet, but I’m not bad at doggerel, which is what this is,” he said. In one verse, he ribs “folks from Jersey who would make us all uptight / by paving everything in sight.”

The six-minute piece is “lighthearted” and “jazzy” in its rhythm and chords, Erik said. In fact, the jazzy piano accompaniment is “all over the keyboard,” as Lew described it, so the conductor recruited Tom Cleary, a UVM jazz piano and improvisation artist and teacher, to play it. Eun Hee Park, the concert choir’s classically trained accompanist and an organist, will play the rest of the program.

The students are currently mastering the rapid key changes of Erik’s piece, said Lew, who also serves as choral conductor at the Opera Company of Middlebury and artistic director of Counterpoint chorus. Meanwhile, the group will sing Carl’s piece — which has become the national composer’s most popular choral work in his homeland — in English translation, with the choral sections taking most of the solo parts.

Among the program’s other springthemed works is “Maple and Mud” by Vermont composer Carol Wood, of Saxtons River. The idea behind that piece is that Vermonters “have to contend with two gooey substances” during mud season, and “one o sets the other,” Lew said.

For Erik, the season and the right attitude toward it are forever encapsulated in a photo published in the White River Valley Herald on April Fools’ Day in 1993, showing a car marooned nearly to the roof in mud while a tow-truck driver attempts to attach a hook.

“Turns out the junkyard guys had cut o the roof of a car and inserted it in the mud,” Erik said. “You’ve gotta have a sense of humor, because winter is long” — and just when it seems to be ending, the mud arrives. ➆

INFO

UVM Concert Choir & Catamount Singers perform “Spring Serenade: Mud Medley,” Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 p.m., at UVM Recital Hall in Burlington. Free. uvm.edu

UVM Concert Choir

Wallingford Launches Free Pop-Up University

Taught by Locals

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont’s newest “university” requires no personal essays or SAT scores for admission. And if it’s been a minute since you last pulled an all-nighter cramming for midterms, don’t sweat it. This tuition-free school isn’t about grade point averages or Greek life but community building and personal growth.

This week, Wallingford becomes the latest Vermont town to tap the collective wisdom of its residents when it launches Wallingford University, a weekend of free classes for any and all takers, taught by local residents. The Rutland County town of 2,100 is just the latest to offer pop-up classes, like those held for years in Bethel and Middletown Springs, as a way to bring together residents and celebrate the talents and experiences of community members.

“I’ve always been impressed with the backstories of people who live here,” said Carol Tashie, cofounder and organizer of Wallingford University. “I have lots of friends in Middletown Springs and thought: What a brilliant idea!”

So in February, Tashie and fellow residents Peg Soule and Susan Kramer reached out to dozens of their friends and neighbors and invited them to teach a course based on their personal expertises. When nearly all said yes, they winnowed their list to 20 classes. (One has since been postponed.)

Wallingford University’s inaugural session, taught at four locations around town, features an eclectic mix of classes and workshops. Interested in delving into your family history? Kristin Cassidy will provide practical advice and tools for researching your genealogy. Or perhaps you’ve wondered how refugees and asylum seekers find their ways from war-torn countries to the Green Mountain State. If so, Nan Dubin and

Sabra Shulman explore the history of U.S. immigration laws and the current status of recent immigrants and asylees in Rutland County.

Several of the 19 classes are already full and have waiting lists. Among them: a workshop on basic bicycle maintenance, a course on foraging wild mushrooms, a tutorial on painting your own barn quilt and a needle-felting class for crafting small mythical creatures called “Chillin’ With My Gnomies.”

However, space is still available in most other classes, including those for learning to play bridge, preserving Vermont’s native plants, exploring how masonry heaters work and understanding life as a transgender person in today’s society.

“It’s a town that really works hard to have an identity and to feel like we know each other,” Tashie said. “Wallingford University adds to that.”

Tashie and her colleagues are hoping to replicate the success of Vermont’s first pop-up university, in Bethel. After the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, town residents gathered to brainstorm ideas for revitalizing their community and bringing newcomers to downtown. When someone suggested Bethel University, residents launched the pop-up in March 2014 with 18 courses, 180 students and 21 “professors.” A year later BU had grown to 40 classes and 250 students who hailed from 37 towns and three states. By 2025, it had more than 1,000 participants attending 47 classes throughout the month of March.

Tashie said she hopes to eventually expand Wallingford’s offerings year-round to better align the subject matter with the season, such as a fruit-tree pruning class in February or March and a walking tour of Wallingford Village in May or June. And perhaps next year a local history buff can teach a class about Wallingford’s unusual mascot: a small 19th-century statue known as “The Boy With the Leaking Boot.” ➆

INFO

Wallingford University runs Friday to Sunday, April 10 to 12, at four locations in Wallingford. Learn more or register at wallingfordvtuniversity.org.

Gather. Celebrate. Innovate.

Host your next gathering at BCA’s Community Room in Burlington’s South End Arts District. Discover this new, inspiring venue with room for up to 270 guests, where every rental directly supports the arts in our community

Scan for rental rates and details or visit burlingtoncityarts.org

Carol Tashie and Susan Kramer

P: LIZA VOLL

Go With the Float

Finding calm at Float Away Wellness Spa in Williston

and anxiety for years. I manage it with yoga and deep tissue massage, but I was curious about floating and wanted to give it a try. I took two floats and discovered how difficult it is to film yourself floating when you are immersed in silky saltwater and everything you touch gets covered in a layer of brine. My second float was without a camera and bathing suit, and that was far superior. I found that it helped me achieve a deep level of calm. Afterward, I slept soundly for the first time in ages.

Who else frequents the spa?

Justin Morgan-Parmett spent three decades as a competitive debate coach, which often led to sensory overload. After he was diagnosed with ﬁbromyalgia, a chronic condition causing widespread pain, Morgan-Parmett found relief ﬂoating in a dark tank of water saturated with 700 pounds of Epsom salts at Satori Float and Mind Spa in Shelburne. Quiet time in the tank helped

him reset his nervous system and calm his mind, he said.

When Satori’s owner retired, MorganParmett bought the ﬂoat tanks and opened Float Away Wellness Spa in Williston in January. In her latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger visited the spa and tried a few ﬂoats.

She spoke about ﬁlming the episode.

Edwin Owusu is a friend of MorganParmett’s and has tried floating a number of times. He’s a lecturer and head debate coach at the University of Vermont and also performs and releases music as SINNN. Owusu cannot swim, so his fi rst fl oat involved time acclimating to being in the water. But he said floating has helped quiet his busy mind. Owusu spoke about the di culty of juggling his roles of teacher, debate coach, father, musician and performer. The process forces calm, he said, “and then I’m able to take that reset.”

How much does a ﬂoat cost?

A one-hour fl oat costs $89, but there are memberships and packages to bring down the price. You can also try vibroacoustic therapy, which involves lying down on a vibrating table and listening to music while wearing glasses that fl ash light on your closed eyelids. You can combine this “tabling” experience with a float for $115, or try it independently.

Final thoughts?

Why did you visit Float Away?

I have been struggling with chronic pain

Morgan-Parmett floats three times a week and said it has helped him manage his pain. One of the reasons he opened this spa is to have access to the tanks. “It does calm your nervous system down,” he said. At a time when so many people are stressed and overwhelmed, taking a quiet, dark break from all the noise to bob like a cork in salty water may be beneﬁcial. ➆

JUSTIN MORGAN-PARMETT

From top: Justin Morgan-Parmett; Eva Sollberger

History Museum Takes a Second Look at ‘Vermont Firsts’

STORY & PHOTO BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

How are you going to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial? Stage an Ultimate Fighting Championship match on your front lawn? Build a triumphal arch? Print your own face on a 24-karat gold coin?

While many of the (shockingly real) events and exhibitions planned for America’s 250th birthday tend toward the bombastic, the Vermont Historical Society has chosen a humbler, more remedial approach to our past with “The Vermont Firsts Collection,” an exhibition on view through June at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier.

The show takes as its starting point a series of paintings commissioned in celebration of the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial by Brattleboro’s First Vermont Bank and created by Bruce K. Mitchell, an artist who lived across the lake in Elizabethtown, N.Y., and died in 2018. Thirteen of the original 44 paintings are displayed. Alongside them, other historical objects from the museum’s collection and extensive labels offer nuance, context and outright corrections to the assumptions underpinning the series.

The paintings themselves are competent but stilted, with a palette embracing a bilious yellow-brown combination that luckily never escaped the 1970s. The people pictured are wooden and awkward, as they inevitably must be when the artist is told to envision scenes such as “The First Grafting Wax.” But the show’s strength is that it doesn’t point out aesthetic flaws as much as it does failures of information.

For instance, “The Old First Church,” according to the 1976 exhibition catalog, depicts the Bennington structure where the first Protestant religious services in Vermont were celebrated and near where the first Catholic mass took place at what’s now Bennington Museum. The label says that’s wrong on several counts: A later church is the one pictured, and the Catholics held communion in Isle La

Motte back in 1666 and built St. Mary’s in Burlington 20 years before the catalog’s claim.

Vermont’s first covered bridge, built by Pittsford carpenter Nicholas Powers? Earlier ones were likely built when he was a child in the 1820s. Donald W. Smith of Barre, first Eagle Scout in the state? He was actually the second. First Vermont Statehouse? The painting shows the current third one. First quarry in the U.S.? Awfully hard to know.

Despite quibbling about the details, the show does a very good job of achieving the bicentennial project’s aim: inspiring pride in Vermont’s spirit of innovation. Objects from the collection illuminate some actual firsts, messy though they may have been. There’s a child-size green blazer worn by Diane Kearns Duncan, who as a sixth grader advocated for girls to become legislative pages in the Statehouse and, together with her friend Lea Sikora, became its first in 1969. There’s not only an Orvis fly-fishing reel, patented in 1874, but also a simple nylon hand-fishing line wrapped around a cardboard tube, used at Abenaki “fish-in” protests for Native fishing rights in the 1970s.

The exhibition may also remind viewers of a key development since the bicentennial: With the internet and a more connected world, it’s now easier to check our assumptions than it ever has been. Going back to examine established fact is a worthy practice, even when, as the introductory wall text puts it, “many of the depicted events turn out not to be the first of something or perhaps even inconsequential to the greater flow of hisory [sic].” Hey, everyone makes mistakes. ➆

INFO

“The Vermont Firsts Collection,” on view through June 30 at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. vermonthistory.org

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for my newto-me car. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I was going through a lot and didn’t have a car to get to work or to take my kids to appointments, school, etc. We all love it so much. Thank you!”

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“The First Good Deeds for the Day Were Done in Barre, VT, 1976” by Bruce K. Mitchell

on screen

The Drama ★★★

When you see a movie called The Drama, you don’t expect a romantic comedy … or do you? Distributor A24 has been cagey about the genre of this ﬁlm from writer-director Kristo er Borgli, which centers on the wedding of a young couple played by two attractive stars. Some trailers and ads make it look like a light, sparkling good time; others, a little sinister.

None of this is a shock from the director of 2023’s Dream Scenario, which trod a similar line between cute and creepy. But those expecting a feel-good rom-com will get a surprise.

The deal

Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) prepare speeches for their wedding reception, reminiscing on the beginning of their romance. They met cute when Charlie spotted Emma reading in a café and told her he was enthralled by the same book. Never mind that he was ﬁbbing — Emma was charmed when he confessed he just wanted to meet her. “You turn my drama into comedy,” Charlie enthuses in his speech draft.

With about a week to go before the ceremony, the couple spot their hired DJ (Sydney Lemmon) smoking heroin on the street. This sparks a debate on whether to ﬁre her, which continues as they taste wedding hors d’oeuvres with their friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie). As they wonder which acts are unforgivable, one of them asks a fatal question: What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? And then, as the wine ﬂows, all four friends answer.

Mike’s sin is mildly unsavory. Rachel’s, more so. Charlie’s is ugly but banal. It’s Emma’s confession that changes the whole tone of the conversation and puts the wedding in jeopardy.

Will you like it?

Like Borgli’s Dream Scenario, The Drama is essentially a dark comedy built on an intriguing hypothetical. What if your romantic partner seemed perfect … until you learned about a disturbing episode in their past that made you feel as if you’d never known them at all? Could you overlook it? Accept it? Or would you call o that expensive wedding?

While the movie may not be a rom-com, it engages with rom-coms, mimicking and stress-testing their tropes to ﬁnd out

just how much pressure it takes to turn a happily-ever-after into a domestic thriller. The deception that opens the ﬁlm arguably makes Charlie look creepy. But because Emma chooses to see his awkwardness as cute and Hugh Grant-ish, their romance continues.

Many rom-com plots hinge on misunderstanding or misrepresentation, a theme that Borgli foregrounds in that ﬁrst scene by calling our attention to the perspective gap between the lovers. Emma is deaf in one ear and has an earbud in the other, so she can’t hear Charlie’s opening line. When the camera focuses on her, the soundtrack cuts out, as if to place us inside her mind. This trick will reappear in the ﬁlm’s last scene, suggesting how far apart Emma and Charlie have moved — or perhaps have been all along.

Rom-com characters often masquerade as the perfect partner, only to be forced to reveal their true, ﬂawed selves in a humiliating third act. In Charlie’s mind, that’s precisely what Emma has done by not mentioning an aspect of her past. Flashbacks show us the transgression that took place in Emma’s troubled adolescence, as narrated by herself. Then, in a montage that splits the difference between funny and unsettling, Charlie

imagines re-experiencing moments in their relationship with the sullen teenage version of Emma (Jordyn Curet). (That montage gets even more unsettling once you learn that the ﬁlm’s director wrote an essay about the “May-December romance” he had with a teen while in his twenties.)

Borgli broaches tantalizing questions. Is it worse to think about doing something unspeakably bad than to actually do something medium bad? How many of us re-created ourselves in high school or college the way Emma did, leaving unsightly rough drafts of ourselves behind? Should we be judged for the people we used to be?

The Drama doesn’t answer those questions, however, because it only skims the surface of Emma’s perspective, never delving quite far enough to connect her younger and older selves. While both leads give solid performances, and the movie gestures toward evenhandedness, Charlie is clearly the protagonist. The “drama” here is his reaction to discovering his ﬁancée has a dark side.

If you accept its limitations, you can enjoy The Drama as a cleverly orchestrated cringe comedy about an obsessive man who can’t stop exacerbating his own misfortunes until they escalate into a nightmare. But

when it comes time for the ﬁlm to reveal whether love still conquers all, we simply don’t know enough about both parties in this relationship to care.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

DREAM SCENARIO (2023; PLEX, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Tubi, YouTube, rentable): In Borgli’s breakout ﬁlm, Nicolas Cage plays an ordinary guy who suddenly begins appearing in strangers’ dreams.

PAST LIVES (2023; HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): The real genre of The Drama might be called “highconcept relationship movies that aren’t romances.” Celine Song’s Oscar nominee, in which a happily married woman gets a visit from her old boyfriend, is a prime example. (Song’s follow-up, Materialists [2025; HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable], edged close enough to romcom tropes to generate controversy.)

ABOUT TIME (2013; rentable): In another ﬁlm that ﬁts this elusive genre, Domhnall Gleeson plays a young man who attempts to use his talent for time travel to win Rachel McAdams’ heart.

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play an engaged couple whose romance seems perfect until it doesn’t.

NEW IN THEATERS

FACES OF DEATH: An online content moderator discovers disturbing videos in this horror film from Daniel Goldhaber (How to Blow Up a Pipeline). (98 min, R. Majestic)

FANTASY LIFE: 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. Partizanfilm)

JOHN LILLY AND THE EARTH COINCIDENCE

CONTROL OFFICE: This documentary from Michael Almereyda and Courtney Stephens profiles a neuroscientist who investigates the mystical. (89 min, NR. Savoy)

PALESTINE ’36: Annemarie Jacir’s historical drama chronicles the rebellion of Palestinian villagers against British colonial rule. Karim Daoud Anaya and Jeremy Irons star. (115 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

YOU, ME & TUSCANY: A woman (Halle Bailey) pretends to be engaged to the owner of an Italian villa for the sake of a dream vacay in Kat Coiro’s rom-com, also starring Regé-Jean Page. (104 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

DEAD LOVERHHHH A lonely gravedigger will do anything to revive her beloved in this body horror comedy from Grace Glowicki, who stars with Leah Doz. (95 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

THE DRAMAHHH A couple (Zendaya and Robert Pattinson) get an unwelcome surprise the week of their wedding in this dark comedy from Kristoffer Borgli. (106 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Savoy, Star, Stowe, Welden; reviewed 4/8)

A GREAT AWAKENING: Joshua Enck’s historical drama explores the friendship between Benjamin Franklin (John Paul Sneed) and pastor George Whitefield. (129 min, PG-13. Essex)

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

LATE SHIFTHHH1/2 A nurse copes with chaos in her understaffed hospital ward in this German day-in-the-life drama from Petra Biondina Volpe. (92 min, NR. Savoy)

A MAGNIFICENT LIFEHHH Sylvain Chomet directed this animated biopic about novelist, playwright and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol. (90 min, PG-13. 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. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Welden)

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COMEHHH1/2 Sisters (Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton) must survive a deadly game in the sequel to the horror comedy hit. (108 min, R. Essex; reviewed 3/25)

REMINDERS OF HIMHH1/2 An ex-convict tries to reconnect with her daughter in this adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. (114 min, PG-13. Bijou, Majestic)

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

THEY WILL KILL YOUHH1/2 A housekeeper uncovers the sinister history of a high-rise apartment building in this horror action flick. (94 min, R. Essex)

YOU GOT GOLD: A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE: Michael John Warren’s documentary chronicles a twonight tribute to the artist. (90 min, NR. Catamount)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

BLACK GIRL (VTIFF, Sat only)

BRANDED TO KILL (VTIFF, Sun only)

FAULT LINES (Savoy, Tue only; VTIFF, Wed 8 only)

HEREDITARY (Stowe, Wed 8 only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Essex, Sat only)

MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (VTIFF, Sat only)

TELL NO ONE (Catamount, Wed 8 only)

TWO PROSECUTORS (VTIFF, Fri only)

THE WIND WILL CARRY US (Partizanfilm, Wed 8 only)

OPEN THEATERS

(* = upcoming schedule not available at press time)

BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info

*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, 229-0598, 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

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

Job

Get the scoop on this position from Jason Jay , owner of Jay

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

e biggest challenge — and the biggest opportunity — is that this is a brand-new position. We’re looking for someone who’s excited to help shape it from the ground up. is person won’t just fill a role; they’ll help design it, define it and ultimately take full ownership of it. is position centers on sales of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, and while prior HVAC experience isn’t an absolute requirement, a basic understanding or related technical background will make the learning curve smoother. e ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator. ey’ll be collaborating closely with teammates, coordinating with vendors and building strong relationships with clients. Someone who can communicate clearly, confidently and professionally will thrive here.

What is unique about working for Jay Mechanical?

We are a team of 10 and service the Chittenden County region. Because we’re locally owned and operated, our workplace naturally carries the heart and familiarity of a family business. We take pride in nurturing a tight-knit culture where people genuinely enjoy working together. Challenges aren’t faced alone — they’re tackled as a team, with ideas ﬂowing from a mix of sharp minds and everyone ready to step in wherever they’re needed. You’ll be surrounded by individuals who take real pride not only in their own craftsmanship but in the success and quality of their teammates’ work as well. ere’s a shared sense of ownership here, a feeling that what we do matters, not only to us but also to the community we serve. Few things are as meaningful as helping bring comfort, safety and peace of mind to the homes in our community.

Project Hail Mary

art

ART

Zine Scene

e ﬁrst-ever Vermont Art Book Fair comes to Burlington

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

In September 2007, I fell in love with art books. I was an intern at Midway Contemporary Art in Minneapolis — a nonproﬁt gallery known for outthere presentations — when German art publisher and designer Christoph Keller ﬁlled the gallery with obscure art books from all over the world.

These were not museums’ glossy co eetable tomes with authoritative essays by venerable art historians; instead, there was everything from weird little photocopied zines to intensively designed compendiums of mysterious photos with few words. Any text was just as likely to be in Icelandic or Catalan or Taiwanese as English, not always including an author and rarely an ISBN. After that show, Midway opened a library of such books, and I got the delightfully impossible job of cataloging them.

Today, there is a quiet global industry of artists, galleries and independent

publishers making these kinds of volumes. Outside of libraries such as Midway’s and specialty stores such as Printed Matter in New York City, the best places to ﬁnd them are at annual art book fairs in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Paris — and now Burlington. This weekend, Karma Bird House on Maple Street hosts the ﬁrst-ever Vermont Art Book Fair.

The free event is the brainchild of Montpelier artist Micah Wood, 38, and Laura Borys, 35, also of Montpelier, who is currently earning her master’s in library science. Borys grew up in Shelburne and recently returned to Vermont from New York City. Wood moved to the state in 2023 to teach studio art at the University of Vermont and, he said in an interview, “shepherd in” the school’s recently acquired risograph machine — a kind of Japanese photocopier popular with zine makers.

Wood said he has long been attending

art book fairs across the country and thought it’d be cool to create something similar locally. “There’s an incredible printed-matter art scene in Vermont [and] also in New England,” he said. If he could get as many people from it together over one weekend, he reasoned, we could “see how impactful this scene is, and how widespread.”

Wood floated the notion to Borys — their kids share a preschool — and her husband, Brazilian designer and animator Pedro Piccinini, and together they brought their idea to Michael Jager and Giovanna Di Paola Jager, who co-own Karma Bird House and have been a creative force in Burlington for decades. They were enthusiastic about hosting the event at the building, Borys said.

“We have all taken on di erent tasks,” Borys said, “and all of a sudden we have 30 exhibitors and a whole lineup of speakers and ideas for di erent installations.”

True to the spirit of independent art publishing, the group has no sponsors, no formal nonproﬁt status and no real budget, but the two-day event is neatly organized and creatively envisioned. Instead of a trade fair-style hall of vendors, exhibitors from Vermont, New England and New York will set up on two levels of the mazelike historic warehouse. Demos will be in the gallery and talks, performances and workshops will take place in its downstairs conference spaces.

The fair kicks o with a Friday-evening opening party, organizers said, with exhibitors and a live performance from the Vermont Synthesizer Society. Pollako has booked an impressive lineup of local music throughout the weekend, including DJ Gabe Chang, Willverine, Amelia Devoid, St. Silva and DJ Liv.

The team then connected with Charlotte artist-musician Zach Pollakoff; Burlington designer Shawn Dumont, who runs the Shelter Cultivation Project art bookstore at Karma Bird House; and photographer Corey Riddell, who lives in Burlington and codirects Extra Special With Cheese gallery at the Soda Plant.

EVENT

Tear Here by Maggie Minor

Top and below: Books and zines at Extra Special With Cheese

COURTESY

from

Saturday’s slate of speakers includes book artists Tricia Treacy, who teaches at Dartmouth College, and Jane Kent, who teaches at UVM and is copresenting with Wood. Furniture maker François Chambard of UM Project, who lives in Shoreham, will talk about the mobile printing presses he designed for Iskra Print Collective. Those will be available to try in workshops that Iskra will run out of its studios on the building’s lower level with guest artist Nathaniel Russell. The Indiana illustrator gave his artist talk in conjunction with the fair on Tuesday, April 7, at Champlain College. Other workshops include one on accordion book making with Norwich artist Maggie Minor and one by Rochester, N.Y., designer Evan Bobrow that asks participants “If you were a puppet, what kind would you be?”

The event’s main focus will be the books exhibitors bring. Some are available for purchase, others for browsing. There’s even a “zine potluck” room where visitors can hang out and peruse anything contributed. One will be unique to every participant: Instead of a standard program for the event, exhibitors will each bring a page visitors can collect and bind into a book to take home with them.

Riddell and Mookie Kristensen, who run Extra Special With Cheese, will be at the fair with their zines, as well as books

they’ve sourced from small producers nationally and internationally. They started selling those in January, Kristensen said, because “we love the exploration — and being able to engage with small publishers is a really fun process for us.”

The publications they’re bringing to the fair range from $10 for zines to about $70 for a photo book. Throughout the month, the couple are inviting visitors to stop by their gallery to see other art books from their personal collection.

One is a clever, tiny book disguised as a pack of Chinese cigarettes, with photos of people smoking and the title “Until Death Do Us Part.” Another presents images of mushrooms in Norway’s boreal forests; another, a story in French, printed in bright yellow, about eating an egg. Many of these books involve the reader’s tactile experience, with velvety or translucent pages, fold-out spreads, and origami-like structures.

The fair’s organizers said they have no idea how many people to expect, but they hope Vermonters will discover the joy of these sorts of publications, maybe for the first time. Another goal, Borys said, is to put people in conversation with each other.

“Sometimes when you go to the big art book fairs, it can be a little intimidating. We don’t want it to feel like that — we want it to feel very approachable,” she said. “Our motto this time has been just ‘Say yes to everybody,’ and then see what emerges.” ➆

INFO

Vermont Art Book Fair, Friday, April 10, 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, April 11, noon-8 p.m., at Karma Bird House, 47 Maple St., Burlington. Full schedule and workshop preregistration at vermontartbookfair.com.

say you saw it in

A workshop at Iskra Print Collective

A spread

Krystall-Skogen/The Crystal Forest by Morten Andersen

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

MICAH WOOD: “Everybody Talks About the Weather. We Don’t,” an exhibition of new wall-based sculptures and paintings that ask, “What if the members of the far-left West German group Baader-Meinhof were still alive?” ATM Gallery, Shelburne, through April 25.

GEORGE MARCUS: “Travelog,” a show of works in colored pencil that use bold color and tinted papers to create graphic compositions. Sparrow Art Supply, Middlebury, through April 30.

HEIDI BRONER: “At Work,” a show of acrylic paintings of blue-collar heroes from our community, produced by Studio Place Arts. Pearl Street Pizza, Barre, through June 20.

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: CAROLYN SHAPIRO: “Sea Wonders,” works of fabric and thread focusing on all things water and made from discarded clothing, packing materials, beads and lace. Reception: Thursday, April 9, 4:30-6 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center Art Gallery, Berlin, through April 11.

EMILY LANDRY: “Park Bench, Omen,” a final project in the Art & Design program by the graduating senior. Reception: Thursday, April 9, 6-7 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, through April 12.

ANNUAL STUDENT ART CELEBRATION: A show organized by the Greater Rutland Central Supervisory Union that brings together a collection of artwork from across the district by students from pre-K through 12th grade. Reception: Thursday, April 9, 6-7:30 p.m. Castleton Bank Gallery, Rutland, April 9-May 2.

TOM FERRARA: “Dualities,” paintings of grid and architectural variations energized by movement and color dynamics. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., April 10-May 23.

‘A CRITICAL BALANCE’: A traveling exhibit, organized by Linda Mirabile and Adelaide Murphy Tyrol, of portraits of the endangered birds of Amboseli Park in Kenya. Reception: Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. Remarks on African birds by NBNC program director Sean Beckett at 5:30 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, through June 26.

JACKIE BROWN: “Fault Lines and Foundations,” sculptures that reflect the artist’s reverence for living systems, materiality, and the growth and change that define existence. Reception: Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., April 10-May 23.

MAXWELL HOLDEN: “You Know Me,” an exhibition that seeks to blur the line between person and object. The title plays on a casual, handleless Japanese teacup called yunomi, which the artist uses as a metaphor for the boundary between interior and exterior space. Reception: Friday, April 10. 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., April 10-May 23.

STEVE BUDINGTON: “Call Shore,” a series of paintings with relief elements that explore the challenge of representing the natural world during a time of climate emergency. Reception: Friday, April 10, 5-7 p.m. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., April 10-May 23. Free.

JOAN WALTERMIRE: A series of detailed nature illustrations and drawings by the longtime curator of exhibits at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich. Reception: Saturday, April 11, 3-5 p.m. The Tunbridge General Store Gallery, April 11-March 26. ‘ANALOG 4 EVA’: A group exhibition of film photography from Vermont and beyond, curated by Benjamin Aleshire. Featuring silver gelatin prints, wet plate collodion, cyanotype and color film. Reception: Sunday, April 12, 5-9 p.m. Aleshire Gallery, Brandon, April 12-June 19.

‘INVESTIGATING CHILD LABOR’: An exhibition inviting visitors to learn about the photography of Lewis Hine, who documented children in textile factories for the National Child Labor Committee and inspired the historical novel Counting on Grace Reception: Wednesday, April 15, 6-7 p.m. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, ongoing.

EXHIBITION

David Rohn, in Retrospect

By all accounts, David Rohn was never ordinary. The Putney artist, who died in December at age 91, flew planes, sailed around the Greek Islands and frequently answered questions via Miss Tulip, a hand puppet he made. When living in France in 1970, he kept escargots in his studio; they sometimes escaped and ate his sketches. Yet his paintings settled from the abstraction of his youth into easy, calmly composed watercolor still lifes that can only be the product of decades of steady practice. Vibrant, clean colors build his scenes from light to dark. The paint’s liquid nature is always apparent, describing worlds that are complete but never quite contained. The process of looking was of great importance to Rohn: “Supervising a puddle takes all of your attention,” the gallery quotes him as saying. “Let’s make some puddles and see where that leads.”

‘DAVID ROHN: RETROSPECTIVE’

On view through June 7 at Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts in Brattleboro. mitchellgiddingsfinearts.com

AMBER BOLES, ALLEGRA LUZARDO, ROSE

OAKLAND AND SAYLER RUGGLES: An exhibit featuring painting, sculpture and digital art by the BFA candidates. Reception and artist talks: Thursday, April 16, noon-2 p.m. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Vermont State University-Johnson, April 13-May 1.

THALIA GUARNERI: “I Wish You Could Have Known Her,” a solo exhibition which serves as a capstone project in the Art & Design program. Reception: Thursday, April 16, 6-7 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, April 13-19.

MOLLIE S. BURKE: “Realism and Magical Realism,” paintings and drawings that seek to bring the viewer into a dreamlike world filled with colorful environments. Reception: Tuesday, April 21, 3:305:30 p.m. Vermont Statehouse Cafeteria, Montpelier, through April 24.

BURLINGTON TECHNICAL CENTER SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS: An exhibition of the 11th- and 12th-grade winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art Awards from students in the Burlington Technical Center’s Design & Illustration and Digital Media Lab programs. Reception: Tuesday, April 28 5-6:30 p.m. The Gallery at Main Street Landing, Burlington, through June 14.

‘FINDING HOPE WITHIN’: An exhibition of art that has emerged through the carceral system in Vermont and includes drawings, mixed media, poetry and narrative writing. Closing reception features short presentations by curators Heather Newcomb, Ashley Messier and A Revolutionary Press. Closing Reception: Friday, May 8, 5 p.m.; curatorial presentations at 4 p.m. MAC Center for the Arts, Newport, April 10-May 8.

ART EVENTS

ARTS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FUNDRAISER: An opportunity for anyone to sponsor creative works made as part of a monthlong fundraiser to ensure emergency legal representation for asylum seekers, presented by Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network. Info at casanvermont.org. Through April 30. Free.

CURATORIAL TALK: DAVID TENIERS AND ‘THEATRUM PICTORIUM’: A discussion of “To All Art Lovers: David Teniers and ‘Theatrum Pictorium,’” the first-ever catalog of a significant collection of paintings, by organizer Eloise McFarlane. Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, Wednesday, April 8, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free.

WINDHAM COUNTY EDUCATORS MIXER: An invitation to local pre-K-12 teachers, school administrators, staff, paraprofessionals and coaches to stop by the museum for a complimentary drink, appetizers, live music, cash bar and the opportunity to see the new exhibitions. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Wednesday, April 8, 5-7 p.m. Free; registration encouraged.

PANEL DISCUSSION: ‘HUMAN IMPACT AND OUR ENVIRONMENT’: A conversation with artists from the exhibition, City of Burlington experts and community leaders on accessibility, conservation and sustainability. In person and via Zoom; register for virtual attendance at burlingtoncityarts.org. BCA Center, Burlington, Thursday, April 9, 6-7 p.m. Free.

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 9, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation.

VERMONT ART BOOK FAIR: An event highlighting local and global makers of art books, including community art making, screen printing workshops hosted by the Iskra Print Collective and opportunities to engage with fellow artists. Karma Bird House, Burlington, Friday, April 10, 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, April 11, noon-8 p.m. Free.

‘ALL THAT WE HOLD’: A one-night pop-up exhibition produced by Mosaic honoring survivors of violence and sharing their stories. The Phoenix, Waterbury, Friday, April 10, 6-8 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: JUDE GRIEBEL: A discussion with artist and curator Sarah Freeman of “Elegy for the Consumed,” Griebel’s exhibition of detailed sculptures, ceramics and drawings currently on view, which explore the relationships between humans and the animals we consume. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Saturday, April 11, 5:30 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE: Tours of the maker space, clay studio, stained glass studio and woodshop. Participants meet local artists and view student work and projects. Live demonstrations. Register for 15 percent off any future programs. MakerSphere, Waterbury, Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m.-1 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, Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free.

FIGURE DRAWING: An invitation to artists at all levels of experience to draw from a live model. Drawing boards and easels provided; participants bring drawing materials. 18-plus; preregistration required. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Sunday, April 12, 2-4 p.m. $20; $5 for current VSC residents.

ARTIST TALK: MICHAEL BURTEN: “All Art is Multimedia Art: The Word and the Image in Contemporary Experimental Fiction,” a discussion with the novelist and photographer of the crossover between those mediums. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, Sunday, April 12, 5:30 p.m.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, April 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation.

CARVING CIRCLE: A space for printmakers to carve, glue or incise blocks together. Studio tools available; no printing takes place. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, White River Junction, Tuesday, April 14, 6-8 p.m. Free.

ARTIST TALK: CATHY DELLA LUCIA: A discussion with the artist, whose work is on view at BCA Center, of modularity, wood, and the shifting relationships between the body and the tools, toys and weapons of everyday life. St. Edmund’s Hall, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Wednesday, April 15, 5-6 p.m. Free.

‘HIDDEN FIGURES’ SYMPOSIUM: A presentation by faculty, including UVM president Dr. Marlene Tromp, of scholarly research on artists whose identities or work have been erased or obscured. Williams Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, April 15, 5-7 p.m.

ARTIST TALK: DYLAN MCLAUGHLIN: A discussion with the Diné transdisciplinary artist about his work and practice, including recent sound and light sculpture installations. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Wednesday, April 15, 8-9 p.m. Free.

CALLS TO ARTISTS

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Seeking weekly Welcome Barn volunteers, docent tour guides and event assistants for our programs, either for specific events or on a regular schedule. Email info@coldhollowsculpturepark. com. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, Deadline: May 4.

‘EXPRESSIVE FIBER ARTS II’: Seeking submissions from fiber artists working in Vermont and New Hampshire whose work goes beyond the everyday to express a unique artistic vision. Apply online at artistreevt.org. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret. Deadline: June 1. $15. ➆

“Amorgos”

COURTESY

We got a great response after listing our job postings with Seven Days last month. I tried to do it through other websites and didn’t get any qualified candidates. All the responses we got to our ad in Seven Days were local people that were either qualified or overqualified. Seven Days was affordable for our budget, and we liked how the ad turned out so much that we actually cut it out of the paper and put it in a frame in our office!

JOLENE WALKER Vacation Ambassador, Vacation Hospitality, Colchester

music+nightlife

On the Road

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Ryan Montbleau has a new album and a desire to be part of the Burlington music scene – when he’s actually in town

• farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Sometimes Ryan Montbleau feels like he’s been on an endless tour for his entire career. After the singer-songwriter put out his debut LP, Begin, in 2002, handing out CDs at shows around Boston, he hit the road and never got o .

“My poor managers have been trying to get me on a record cycle forever, but I just kind of tour relentlessly,” Montbleau said. “The tour started in 2003, and it hasn’t really stopped.”

Just as he’s spent most of his twodecade career jumping from town to town, he also rarely lingers in one place musically. Montbleau is a wildly eclectic songwriter with an ear for catchy hooks. He pairs a wry sense of humor with a poetic streak to explore devastatingly heavy themes. His forthcoming album Fine Lines, due out in June, is his most varied collection of music to date, full of jamadjacent funk, strains of R&B and soul, and even shades of hip-hop and reggae. It’s the record of a songwriter who, a quarter of a century into his career, is assured and daring — and still striving to perfect his art.

“I’m pushing 50, so it took long enough, but I finally feel confident in myself as a songwriter,” Montbleau said. “This has been my only job for 23 years now, and in some ways, the dream has never been refined since then.”

Though he’s been a Burlington resident for the better part of a decade, Montbleau’s hectic tour schedule rarely ﬁnds him in town. Seven Days reached him by phone on tour in Virginia to chat about his career, his

long-gestating new record, and the challenges of ﬁtting into the Burlington music scene when he’s never in town. Perhaps he could start with the Ryan Montbleau Band show at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington this Friday, April 10.

True story: I spent years thinking you just loved playing in Burlington. I had no idea you lived here until you said something onstage at Radio Bean about “sleeping in your own bed tonight.”

[Laughing.] Yeah, nobody knows I live here. In everybody’s defense, I’m always on the road. But it’s my home; I absolutely love Burlington. But I also only play here as much as any other tour stop, which is really about the economics of it all. If you’re charging people for a ticket and they can see you play every week, they won’t keep doing it.

also someone who really needs quiet, solo space. So when the hippies would come into Club Passim in Boston, I had to train them a little over the years.

My shows are all over the map. I want to make you laugh, cry and dance. I have this joke I use often, where I’ll tell the audience, “We are going to have so much fun … after this next song. But you need your medicine ﬁrst.” But it’s a mix. It’s like Colonel Bruce Hampton said: “Put some joy in the room.”

love this community, so I’m always looking for ways to be part of it.

What do you make of the Burlington music scene these days?

I mean, I’m just trying to stay in tune with [singer-songwriter, guitarist] Bob Wagner. Everything is six degrees of Bob Wagner right now! He’s so good, man… I never get bored in Burlington. There’s always something going on. Even before I moved here, the town struck me as a small city with a lot happening.

CREATIVITY DOESN’T COME FROM FREEDOM; IT COMES FROM LIMITATION. RYAN MONTBLEAU

Has that made it difﬁcult to feel part of the local scene?

A little, yeah. About ﬁve years ago, I told my agent, “Hey, we need to treat Burlington a little di erent.” This is where I live; I need to be free to be part of the community in other ways.

But I feel like I’ve been able to interact more in recent years. I sing jazz down at the 126 sometimes, and if Lee Anderson asks me to do something at Radio Bean, like the birthday party, I’ll totally do it. I

Losing Nectar’s hurts for sure, and there’s a lot of change in the air — Lee talking about selling Radio Bean, all of that.

But we’ll ﬁnd a way. Like I said: For such a small market, there’s a ton of great music here, which is really what matters in the long run.

e new record is all over the place, genre-wise. Has that always been part of your goal: to create a sound that’s equal parts singer-songwriter in a coffeehouse and a big band jamming onstage at nightclubs?

Really what I want is a room full of people listening, just locked in to the sounds, no matter what I’m playing. As a singersongwriter who’s been playing the jam scene for years, you get people who like to dance and rage and rock out — and I do that a lot with my band; I love it. But I’m

e music business has changed dramatically since you started out in 2001, from the process of releasing new music to the shifting touring ecosystem. As a musician who’s carved out a 25-year career, how do you deal with such a volatile industry? As I get older, I think it’s less about the validation from others. I just want to make a living in music. So there I’ll be, touring in Ohio, and I have arthritis in my hips from years of driving, but I’m still just doing the thing.

Maybe it’s cheesy, but I do feel a sense of purpose, a calling, whatever that means. I try to convey truth and share it with other people and create a space to share those truths — that’s what gets me out of the bed in the morning. Now, the travel hurts more, but the shows feel better and better. I still love doing it. I love the art form. I love performing. If that changes, I’ll have to answer some tough questions. But I still have this ambition that it can get bigger in some way.

e new record sounds like a big swing. ere’s so much sonically going on. It’s surprisingly funky! Was that intentional, to show off different sides of your songwriting?

Stylistically, yeah, it’s all over the map. But that wasn’t forced. It’s just me hoping I’m getting better at this thing and making better records. But you never really ﬁgure it out; it’s just about doing the work and staying true to yourself as a songwriter.

It’s my favorite art form. A song puts a necessary boundary around something, within which there is inﬁnite creativity. Creativity doesn’t come from freedom; it comes from limitation. And my songs have really helped me frame my own mental state; they put a boundary on my feelings so they’re not some amorphous sadness. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO

Ryan Montbleau Band with Sister Speak, Friday, April 10, 8 p.m., at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. $25. highergroundmusic.com

Ryan Montbleau Band

COURTESY OF SHERVIN LAINEZ

On the Beat

PHISH front man TREY ANASTASIO dropped a new record last Friday titled Live and Acoustic. Gotta love an album that tells you exactly what it is! The record was culled from Anastasio’s 2025 spring acoustic tour, on which the guitarist tackled songs from throughout his career, spanning Phish to his solo records, accompanied only by JEFF TANSKI on keyboard.

Many songs on the record feature Anastasio playing his new Circle Strings Koa Dreadnaught acoustic guitar, commissioned by Phish keyboardist PAGE MCCONNELL and crafted by Burlington luthier ADAM BUCHWALD

To celebrate the record’s release, Anastasio is heading out on a short acoustic tour this summer, with two special orchestral concerts in the mix for good measure.

Live and Acoustic is available now on streaming services.

If it feels like I’m writing about ROBBER ROBBER just about every week, don’t blame me — the Burlington indie-rock darlings have been ridiculously proliﬁc in 2026, dropping multiple singles from their album Two Wheels Move the Soul, which, like Anastasio’s record, came out last Friday.

The band’s latest single is the fuzzed-out, head nod-inducing jam “New Year’s Eve,” accompanied by a gloriously lo-ﬁ time-travel caper of a music video, up on YouTube.

“Some of our songs start out as the four of us jamming together, and this one was like that,” singer and guitarist NINA CATES said in a press release.

Two Wheels Move the Soul is garnering heaps of attention, drawing high praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, the New York Times and Stereogum.

Burlington jam rockers MOONDOGS are gearing up to release their third LP, Tides and Seasons, on May 15.

To whet the appetite, they’re dropping a new single titled “Vermont Sober” this Friday, April 10, on major streaming services. The song is a rollicking, bluegrass-leaning number paying tribute to the notion of dumping alcohol in favor of more mind-expanding substances.

“Now it’s Vermont sober for me,” front man and guitarist WILL STURCKE sings. “Keep your whiskey, I got my new friend Molly.”

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “WE’RE GONNA BE OK” by Dari Bay

2. “TIL THE RENT COMES IN” by Tall Tails

3. “NEW SERMON” by Deerest

4. “LUCKY GUESS” by english major

5. “SILVER ROCKET” by Dwight + Nicole

6. “LET ME BE ME” by Konﬂik, Craig G

7. “ROSEBUDS” by Connor Young

Scan to listen

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

The tune will likely give nightmares to bar owners. They’re already struggling with younger generations’ preference for psychedelics over alcohol, a trend heavily a ecting music venues that depend on selling booze. But the times, they are a-changin’, as Mr. Zimmerman noted all those years ago, and Vermont sober might be the new normal.

If so, “Vermont Sober” is a readymade anthem.

Cited by legendary director and critic Peter Bogdanovich as one of the ﬁve funniest ﬁlms ever made, The Wildcat (Die Bergkatze) has a little bit of everything. A hilarious story of a soldier taken captive in the mountains by bandits, with a gorgeous, surrealistic set design, the 1921 movie is a scathing satire of militarism that, perhaps

WOMEN OF AMERICANA

New Release Radar

Five recent or upcoming releases from Vermont artists

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

1. Gilda Lyons & Roger Zahab, MAGIC & DESIRE: SONGS OF INTIMATE CONNECTIONS, albanyrecords.com (February 20, classical)

2. shattercat, PACIFICATION, shattercat.bandcamp.com (March 4, power pop)

3. Kimberley McKee, SWAMP YANKEE LULLABIES, kimberleymckee. bandcamp.com (March 11, kids)

4. Neato, ROCK’N OUT!, neatotheband. bandcamp.com (April 17, indie)

5. Jewelry Company, MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, jewelrycompanymusic.com (April 24, electro-pop)

unsurprisingly, bombed in a post-World War I German society.

The ﬁne folks at the Vermont International Film Foundation are not only screening the classic silent ﬁlm on Wednesday, April 15, they’re also going ahead and scoring the thing. Rather, MATT HAGEN is. (Because of course he is. Love you, Hagen!)

The songwriter, guitarist and allaround musical multitasker has been tapped by VTIFF executive director Steve MacQueen to spend his spring and summer providing live, improvised soundtracks to a series of silent ﬁlms. For each show, Hagen will pair with another local musician to create a one-of-a-kind, never-heard-again score.

For The Wildcat, Hagen teams up with a frequent collaborator, keyboardist MIKE FRIED (SAD TURTLE). In the following weeks, he’ll welcome JOHN FLANAGAN (the WET ONES!), electro-pop producer WILLVERINE and saxophonist AVERY COOPER

The series culminates with jazzfusion/art rockers FREEWAY CLYDE scoring The Passion of Joan of Arc on September 17. Pop over to vti .org for more details. If the return of ridiculously baggy jeans and the “Frasier” reboot weren’t enough

of a clue for you, let me spell it out: The ’90s are back, baby. Look no further than the lineup National Life Group has put together for its 12th annual Do Good Fest.

Going down on Saturday, July 11, on the back lawn of the insurance company’s Montpelier headquarters, the one-day fest and charity fundraiser features headliners that moved some serious units in the ’90s. To wit: Monty Python ultra-fans TOAD THE WET SPROCKET; the “all stars” themselves, SMASH MOUTH; and Utah synth-pop act NEON TREES. (To be technical, Neon Trees formed in the 2000s, but we won’t quibble over dates.)

It’s not all nostalgia, however. National Life Group is also currently accepting submissions for its Beats for Good competition, open to high school musicians in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and the Plattsburgh, N.Y., region. Submissions are due by May 4, and the grand-prize winner earns a slot in the festival lineup, as well as $5,000 for their school’s music program and a $1,500 personal cash prize. The winner and runners-up will be announced on June 1 on Star 92.9’s “Mike and Mary” show.

Since launching in 2014, the festival has raised more than $2.3 million to

beneﬁt cancer patients, hunger relief organizations, children’s mental health and ﬂood recovery throughout the state. Visit dogoodfest.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

The Charlotte Grange organizes poetry gatherings monthly, but for the one on Thursday, April 9, there’s a twist: The event will mix poetry and music, in a show titled “Two Troubadours in Mud Time.”

Featuring poet and educator CYRUS COOK and New England singer-songwriter NICK CARTER, the event is dedicated to everyone’s favorite time of year in Vermont: mud season. Yuck. That’s not to say mud season isn’t a ﬁtting subject for poetic thought. I just recoiled when I pictured what my backyard is going to look like in a week.

Cook and Carter have plenty in common beyond their artistic pursuits. Both are based in Connecticut, go way back to their time at Hebron Academy in Maine in 1969 and are former schoolteachers.

There are two performances on the 9th: one at the Charlotte Library at 1 p.m. and an encore at the Charlotte Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Check out charlottegrange.org to learn more.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

On the Beat « P.51

Toad the Wet Sprocket

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.8

Haley Heynderickx, Max

García Conover (indie folk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. Sold out.

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.

The Watertower Presents: WET-AID (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Fundraiser.

THU.9

Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

John Moods, Ivamae (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

Moondogs (jam) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10/$15.

Pressing Strings (indie soul, rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $15.

R.A.P. Ferreira, Robscure, Konflik, DJ Nasteeluvzyou (hip-hop) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:45 p.m. $18/$23.

Shane’s Apothecary (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette & the Fire Below (Americana) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.10

The Apollos (rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free.

A Benefit Concert for Migrant Justice with Burning Monk (Rage Against the Machine tribute) at the SEABA Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10; donations welcome.

Bjello, Morse, Carr & Shper (jazz) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bob Gagnon (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Dead Man Strumming (Grateful Dead tribute) at River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 6 p.m. Free.

Eric George (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

Grace Palmer (singer-songwriter) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Heloise and the Savoir Faire (electro-pop) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 7 p.m. $15.

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.

All’s Faire

It didn’t take singer Heloise Williams long to make her mark in Vermont after moving here to attend Middlebury College in 1992. She soon joined the seminal jazz-funk ensemble viperHouse, which led to collaborations with jam kings Phish. She then launched her own electro-art-pop project, HELOISE AND THE SAVOIR FAIRE. Williams and Co. moved to New York City in the late ’90s, where they took off. After signing to actor Elijah Wood’s Simian Records, the band released its 2008 debut, Trash, Rats & Microphones — featuring no less an icon than Blondie’s Debbie Harry on two tracks. Williams has been back in the Green Mountains for awhile but doesn’t bring the Savoir Faire out for gigs that often. So be sure to check them out this Friday, April 10, at Standing Stone Wines in Winooski.

Higher Places, Neato, Mother of Pearl (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $15.

The Hitmen (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Lloyd Tyler Band (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

The Lost Faculty (Americana) at Stowe Cider, 5 p.m. Free.

Madigan Linnane (singersongwriter) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8 p.m. Free.

Paul Webb (piano) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5. REDadmiral (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10/$15.

Ryan Montbleau Band, Sister Speak (folk rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25. She Was Right (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Sibling Reverie (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Swell (acoustic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Tanya Donelly and Chris Brokaw (indie) at Stone Church, Chester, 7 p.m. $37/$42.

YABAI!, We’re Here! To Kill, Remi Russin (indie rock, punk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Zach Nugent & Josh Weinstein (Grateful Dead tribute) at Lucky You, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.11

Before This Time (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Below Deck (yacht-rock tribute) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. $24.57.

Breanna Elaine (singersongwriter) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Coane, Rowell & Schabner (Americana, country) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

GPS (folk) at Café NOA, Montpelier, 1 p.m. Free.

The Gravel Project, Lara Cwass Band (rock, jam) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

lespecial (funk, rock) at Stone Church, Chester, 7 p.m. $31. Mooncusser, the Eyetraps (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10.

Mowgli + Michael Hartigan (jazz) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

The Night Shift (rock) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. NOVA ONE, Townie (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Ryan James & the Cryin’ Shames (rock) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Sara Whitehair Band (indie pop) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

Seth Yacovone Band (blues, rock) at Tower Bar, Jay, 4 p.m. Free.

Sleeveless Tease (pop) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

The Stragglers (Americana) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Strange Machines, Night Zero (jam) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $12.

Sulk Fangs, Joe Adler, Jeremy Kizina, Mikayla Begins Kelemen (indie) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

Tim Brick (country) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Troy Millette & the Fire Below, Jerborn, Barbie N Bones (Americana, rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, noon. Free.

SUN.12

Andriana Chobot (indie pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Cole Chaney & the Local Honeys (country, rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $25/$30.

Pallbearer, Knoll, Ordh (metal) at Stone Church, Chester, 6 p.m. $31. Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Stowe, 4 p.m. Free. Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

TURNmusic Presents Michael Arnowitt (piano) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 4 p.m. $15-$30. Wine & Jazz Sundays (jazz) at Shelburne Vineyard, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.13

Palmyra, Judy Blank (indie folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $15.

Paper Wings (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $12/$15.

TUE.14

49 Winchester, Owen Riegling (alt-country) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $30.

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.

Dead Is Alive with Dobbs’ Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Swampytonk (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10. Jack Caron, Colin O’Brien, Danny Lefrancois (singer-songwriter) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Palmyra, Judy Blank (indie folk) at Stone Church, Chester, 7 p.m. $20/$26.

WED.15

Greet Death, Sulk (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $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.

WED.8

DJ Chalango, DJ Tarzana Salsa Night (salsa DJ) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

The Mid Week Hump with DJs Fattie B and Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Slow Music Appreciation Club (vinyl DJ) at Bar Renée, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

THU.9

DJ Two Sev, JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free. Thirty Thursday (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

FRI.10 // HELOISE AND THE SAVOIR FAIRE [ELECTRO-POP]

Deep River Saints, A Good Place to Die

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Amid the minor-key, Americanatinged desolation of “Valley Green Motel,” the wounded heart at the center of the latest Deep River Saints record is revealed. “The Thunderbird won’t start in the cold / no radio and it smells a bit like mold,” Burlington vocalist and guitarist Patrick Crowley sings. “We drive it up a dirt road and ﬁll it up with smoke / look high and low for another road to roam / and we’ll ask ourselves, would this be a good place to die?”

Released last November, A Good Place to Die is a musical grimoire of the faded magic of the American road, a psychedelic folk and country record imbued with the sort of looming dread that hangs over author Robert W. Chambers’ The King in Yellow. Like that seminal work of early supernatural horror, A Good Place to Die is a collection of somewhat interlocking stories with a sinister undercurrent of tragedy and lost love. Through uneasy tales of dark Western roads, Narcan shots in the back of an ambulance and booze-fueled lamentations of faded love, Deep River Saints chronicle a world in decay.

Crowley, who fronted the California rock band Cities on the Moon before moving to Vermont more than a decade ago, cowrote the record with his childhood friend and longtime collaborator David William Ross, a guitarist and producer who lives in Keene, N.H.

According to Crowley, as he and Ross prepared to record the new album, they recognized a thread of darkness and world-weariness permeating the material. Realizing they had the makings of a sort of soft concept album — or at least a thematically aligned collection of music — the duo pushed the record in a psychedelic direction and treated it as a singular piece, as opposed to just slapping 16 tracks down and calling it an LP.

The result is a sprawling work of gothic Americana. Encompassing everything from the simple beauty of the country breakup tune “Laid Bare” to the tragic Springsteen-ian folk tales of “Mary Jean” and “The Ballad of North Eden,” the album has a charmingly anachronistic feel.

The band, including Kris Yunker on keys, Stefan Amidon on drums, Ty Gibbons on bass and Flynn Cohen on mandolin, creates a suitably apocalyptic sonic milieu for the characters populating A Good Place to Die. Instrumental passages connect the tracks, giving the record the feel of a long, rambling story, perhaps told over late-night beers at a roadside dive.

The danger of making an epic, gothic-folk concept record is that things can get a little repetitious. The acoustic guitars, gentle Hammond organ, shu ing drumbeats and down-on-yourluck lyrics might overwhelm listeners with the urge to drink slowly and stare at empty roads. Fortunately, a handful of rockers keep the pace up, in particular the honky-tonkin’ “Bullshit Mountain.”

As the album nears its end with the instrumental coda “Still the Night,” there’s a wonderful lack of closure. Like so much American folklore, these dark tales have no real ﬁnality; the road stretches ever on.

A Good Place to Die is available at deepriversaints.bandcamp.com and major streaming services.

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Vinyl Night (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Xavier, Eli, Lucky Luc (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

FRI.10

Aidan, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Debí Tirar Más Fiestas (DJ) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $20.

DJ CRE8 (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.

DJ Tubadub (DJ) at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, 7 p.m. $10.

DJ Two Sev, Ron Stoppable (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Haus of Sparkle with DJ Cheetatah (DJ) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.11

Dance Party with DJ Party Bear (DJ) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Broosha, HipiRa (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Raul, Matt P (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Stevie B (DJ) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Elkamista, Inlygrl, Moon Balloon, Gloam (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10/$15. Mr Cheng, DJ Chaston, DJ Aras (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.14

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.8

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

Songwriter’s Circle Open Mic (open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.9

Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Amber deLaurentis (open mic) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Dee Davis (open mic) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

THU.9 // R.A.P. FERREIRA [HIP-HOP]

Name of the Game

One doesn’t particularly associate Kenosha, Wis., with hip-hop, but don’t tell that to R.A.P. FERREIRA. The Midwestern rapper, poet and producer got his start there with his trio Nom de Rap before releasing his first solo mixtape, I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here, in 2011 under the moniker Milo. He adopted his acronymladen name in 2020 for Purple Moonlight Pages, which continued his transition from nerd rap to a jazz-inflected boom-bap sound with signature lyrical elusiveness. He comes to the Monkey House in Winooski on Thursday, April 9, with locals KONFLIK, ROBSCURE and DJ NASTEELUVZYOU providing support.

SUN.12

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

MON.13

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.14

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.15

Jazz Jam with Nina Towne (jazz) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 6 p.m. $10.

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.8

Emo Phillips (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $27.99.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

TUE.14

All That Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.15

Chicken Sketchatore: BEST OF SHOW! (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10.

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.8

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.

THU.9

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.

Karaoke with DJ Vociferous (karaoke) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 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.10

THU.9

Pat Burtscher (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25.

FRI.10

Pat Burtscher (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

SAT.11

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5 p.m. $5/$10. Pat Burtscher (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $25.

SUN.12

Andrew Mayer (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. $17.99.

Untapped: A Night of Drag and Burlesque (drag) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $15.

SAT.11

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.12

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.13

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.14

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.15

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.

Live Band Karaoke (live band karaoke) at Bent Nails Roadhouse, Middlesex, 8 p.m. Free.

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.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Viewing Party (watch party) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 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

say you saw it in

calendar

APRIL 8-15, 2026

WED.8

business

JUMPSTART EXPO & PITCH

NIGHT: Fresh off a 13-week accelerator program, startup teams present their products to judges and audience members. Light refreshments provided. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar; preregister.

VERMONT WOMENPRENEURS

BIZ BUZZ BURLINGTON: A monthly networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect over coffee and snacks. Deep City, Burlington, 9:45-11:15 a.m. $10; preregister.

community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.noon. Free.

crafts

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’

GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts can bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

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

FARMERS NIGHT CONCERT SERIES: MOUNTAIN HOUSE DANCE COMPANY: Global choreography meets local community when dancers of all ages converge to cap off the season with a stylistic melting pot. House Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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.

education

MUSEUM MIXER FOR WINDHAM COUNTY

EDUCATORS: Hardworking heroes trade the classroom for a happy hour featuring live music, refreshments and a chance to witness the creation of a sacred sand mandala. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 5 p.m. Free; preregister.

environment

‘SHARED LANDSCAPES: A VIRTUAL TOUR ACROSS CONSERVED LANDS OF WINDHAM COUNTY’: Wanderers step into the wild heart of southeastern Vermont for a behind-the-scenes look at forests, ridgelines and headwaters conserved through the power of local partnership. Hosted by Vermont Land Trust. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. etc.

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace,

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.

to wake up weary muscles. Pillar Pilates Studio, Brandon, 9-10:15 a.m. By donation.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘FAULT LINES: INSIDE AMERICA’S HOUSING CRISIS’: This poignant 2025 documentary takes a street-level approach to get to the epicenter of the nationalplight with three parallel narratives. A panel discussion follows. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5.

GREAT ART WEDNESDAY SERIES: ‘RENOIR: REVERED AND REVILED’: Phil Grabsky’s 2016 documentary examines the fiercely debated impressionist artist’s late works. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 11 a.m. $15.

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

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

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. SHAKEOUT RUN & RECOVERY COCKTAIL HOUR: This prerace primer for the upcoming RunVermont half-marathon pairs a downtown jog with a mini seminar and spirit-free cocktails to keep athletes conditioned and hydrated. Lucky You, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Linguaphiles brush up on their bilingual banter at this bimonthly meetup facilitated by a native speaker. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10-11 a.m. Free.

lgbtq

THE ALL INCLUSIVE DYKETACULAR: 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.

QUEER WRITERS’ GROUP: LGBTQ authors meet monthly to discuss their work, write from prompts, and give each other advice and feedback. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-7 p.m. Free.

québec

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: Tensions simmer in a Toronto eatery when an unexpected visitor shatters the peace, triggering a profound exploration of the migrant experience. Rangshala Studio, Montréal, 7 p.m. $15-28.

seminars

AARP TAX HELP: Trained volunteers provide free filing assistance for anyone who needs it. St. Albans Free Library, noon, 1:30 & 3 p.m. Free; preregister.

SUSTAINING THE RENT WORKSHOP: The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity helps tenants financially prepare and access resources to meet their housing needs. 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

‘VOLUNTEERS HELPING PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM: AN INTRODUCTION’: Retired educator Jan Steinbauer and advocate Kim Watkin shed light on some of the challenges that our new neighbors face and offer insight about how to help. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

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.

talks

‘250 YEARS: LOOKING BACK & LOOKING AHEAD’ SERIES: RON MILLER: An educational scholar weighs the optimism of a fresh global start against stubborn power structures in his talk “A New Nation, Conceived in Liberty… : Enlightenment Idealism and the Reality of the Modern World.” Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, 2 p.m. Free.

SPRING SPEAKER SERIES: WILL WALLACE-GUSAKOV: A Vermont craftsman shares his experience helping to rebuild Gothic architecture paragon the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

WINTER WEDNESDAYS SPEAKER SERIES: REBECCA RUPP: In “Soup to Nuts: An Eccentric History of Food,” a local author reveals the rocky evolution of table manners and other interesting foodie-driven facts. Worthen Library, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

tech

‘AI AFTER HOURS’: Tech veterans and the algorithm-curious bypass the hype to trade insights on scaling ventures and securing capital in the evolving artificial intelligence landscape. Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Farrell Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘THE CHILDREN’: Northern Stage mounts Lucy Kirkwood’s critically acclaimed drama about two retired scientists whose peaceful world is upended by a nearby nuclear disaster. Byrne Theater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $10-80.

words

DR. MARK BROOMFIELD: An award-winning scholar, artist and author delivers a talk and performance inspired by his book, Black Queer Dance: Gay Men and the Politics of Passing for Almost Straight, exploring what sexual freedom means in contemporary

culture. Dance Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 4:30 p.m. Free.

ELLEN B. ROCKMORE & SARAH MCCRAW CROW: Two authors dive into conversation about their respective new works, The Given-Up Girl and The Wrong Kind of Woman. Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, N.H., 7 p.m. Free.

JAMES K. ZIMMERMAN: An acclaimed poet traces a cosmic arc from the Big Bang to a single bumblebee with his new collection, Uncertainty. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free.

POEMCITY: TINA CANE: A former Rhode Island state poet laureate reads from her collections and encourages the vital work of fostering the next generation of writers. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

POETRY POTLUCK: Got words? Folks gather to swap stanzas and dishes at a community-driven feast of verse. Wandering Vine, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.9 agriculture

‘CULTIVATING A THRIVING PLANET THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND ACTION’: Listeners garner a deeper understanding of sustainable food systems at a panel discussion outlining “agroecology,” a new graduate degree program. Refreshments provided. Virtual option available. Sugar Maple Ballroom, Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, noon-5 p.m. Free; preregister. business

IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION

SKILLS WITH ELIZABETH ROSE: A speech coach shares the cognitive science behind captivating a crowd at a workshop packed with practical strategies. Ladies Social Group, Essex Junction, 3:30-5 p.m. $20; free for members and first-time guests.

‘VT NONPROFITS & IMMIGRATION

ENFORCEMENT: HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN RESPOND’: Nonprofit leaders trade practical policies and procedures at a collaborative session fusing legal frameworks with collective peer wisdom. Hosted by Common Good Vermont. 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

crafts

CRAFT NIGHT: Take a stab at a new skill by needle-felting fiber fish in support of the historic site and neighboring Winooski River. Supplies, instruction and snacks provided. BYOB. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10-20; preregister.

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: From clicking needles to looping looms, participants hook into a 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.

‘PANEL: A CONVERSATION ON HUMAN IMPACT AND OUR ENVIRONMENT’: Exhibiting artists and community leaders embark on a topical discussion about accessibility, sustainability and climate. Virtual option available. BCA Center, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. etc.

LOCAL NEWS DAY: Journalism leaders and advocates gather to

explore how community-rooted reporting keeps Vermonters informed. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6:15-8 p.m. Free; preregister.

VERMONT CAPITAL PLANNING

FORUM: Governmental units of all sizes and associated professionals explore state-specific best practices in strategic, long-term budgeting. Hula, Burlington, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $20; free for officials with submission of a capital plan.

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 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $1723; free for members and kids 2 and under.

‘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, 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.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: Viewers travel to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean for a glimpse into the pristine environments vital to our planet’s health. Dealer.com 3D Theater, 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.

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.8

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, 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

Let It Snow

No matter the musical, Lyric Theatre hits it out of the park. Now the local company melts hearts with the Vermont premiere of Disney’s Frozen at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington, bringing to life the story of gifted sisters Elsa and Anna from the mega-hit 2013 animated adventure flick. Enchantment and magic await audience members of all ages as the stage transforms into the snow-covered kingdom of Arendelle, accentuated by jaw-dropping costumes and special effects. Unforgettable songs from the film’s celebrated score — including belt-able girl power anthem “Let It Go” — highlight the epic tale of courage, love, determination and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood.

‘DISNEY’S FROZEN’

Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, 1 & 6 p.m., at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. $25-55. Info, 802-863-5966, flynnvt.org.

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.

MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: Future architects ages 3 and up build imaginative creations with magnetic toys. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 10-10:45 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.

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.

HAFTY CRAFTY DAY: Don’t be sheepish! Ages 6 and up partake in a fun-filled, hands-on art-making activity with cardboard and fluffy fiber. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free.

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: Ten-minute sessions offer young bookworms the chance to practice their skills alongside a gentle, tail-wagging listener. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: TINKER TIME: Curious youngsters deconstruct household gadgets and discover the internal mechanics of everyday technology. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:304:30 p.m. Free.

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, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. Kellogg-Hubbard

Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

HOMESCHOOL BOOK GROUP: Kids ages 10 to 15 who learn at home bond over their favorite titles. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 1-2 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.

THU.9

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

BABY & ME CLASS: Parents and their infants ages birth to 1 explore massage, lullabies and gentle movements while 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.8.

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.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: Footage of paleontological digs from around the globe tells a compelling story of scientists working as detectives to answer questions about an ancient and mysterious ocean world. 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.

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, 10-10:30 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.

Rachel Weinfeld and Sarah Connor Crandell

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

CHESS FOR FUN: Players 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 fantasyfilled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free.

SOLARPUNK BOOK CLUB & GAME NIGHT: Neighbors dream up a socially conscious, ecological future with readings and a short round of Solarpunk Futures. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 5-6:30 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

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. VFW Post 758, St. Albans, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; preregister.

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

KCP PRESENTS: GREAT AMERICAN CROONERS: Velvety vocals backed by the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center band pay tribute to midcentury icons the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $45.

québec

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8.

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. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

tech

APR. 9 | WORDS

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

‘CABARET’: Wild Goose Players presents the Tony Awardwinning musical of backstage drama at the fictional Kit Kat Club in Germany on the eve of World War II. Bellows Falls Opera House, 7:30 p.m. $10-75.

‘THE CHILDREN’: See WED.8, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘DISNEY’S FROZEN’: Dazzling costumes and breathtaking special effects bring a wintry kingdom to life in Lyric Theatre’s theatrical debut of the iconic sister saga. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $25-55.

‘LOOKING FOR JOE: THE AMAZING LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSEPH ADDISON’: A professional actor reanimates the historical man behind the county name in a cabaret-style conversation with a local scholar. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $25-50.

‘THE MAIDS’: Students bring to life Jean Genet’s 1947 absurdist play following two sisters who enact elaborate, sadomasochistic role-playing games while their mistress is away. Seeler Studio Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $5-15.

Slice, Slice Baby

Norwich flour empire King Arthur Baking invites epicureans to grab a piece of the action — and its new cookbook, The Book of Pizza — at River Roost Brewery in White River Junction. Author-chefs Martin Philip and David Tamarkin (the team behind the No. 1 New York Times bestseller Big Book of Bread) launch their definitive new guide to enviable pies. Dough pros and novices learn about styles from Chicago tavern crusts to hot honey-topped Neapolitans, all meticulously outlined in 288 mouthwatering pages. Can’t wait until you get home and fire up your oven? Savory samples from Brownsville Butcher & Pantry showcase book-to-belly inspiration.

MARTIN PHILIP & DAVID TAMARKIN

Thursday, April 9, 5-7 p.m., at River Roost Brewery in White River Junction. $45; includes a copy of the book; preregister. Info, 802-649-1114, norwichbookstore.com.

‘SEMINAR’: Four aspiring novelists undergo brutal literary critiques when a cynical mentor deconstructs their egos in Theresa Rebeck’s biting comedy, presented by Shaker Bridge Theatre. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 7 p.m. $25-45.

words

BMAC READS: ‘MONSTERS: A FAN’S DILEMMA’: Voracious readers gather to discuss Claire Dederer’s 2023 nonfiction book, which uses memoir and cultural criticism to examine the morality of our responses to art. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 5:30 p.m. $10; free for members; preregister.

LAMPSHADE POETS OPEN MIC: Local wordsmiths share their original works and have the opportunity to be recorded for the

nonprofit’s community access station and YouTube channel. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

MARTIN PHILIP & DAVID

TAMARKIN: The authors and cooks behind King Arthur Baking’s new culinary guide, The Book of Pizza, host a celebratory evening complete with savory samples. See calendar spotlight. River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, 5-7 p.m. $45; includes a copy of the book; preregister.

MOLLY JOHNSEN: A local educator and writer explores love, grief and the fragility of life with her debut poetry collection, Everything Alive. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8 p.m. $3; preregister.

MORNING BOOK GROUP: Readers examine the intersection of faith and family at

agriculture

SEASON KICKOFF: Trot into the museum’s 44th season with a day of wagon rides, an exhibit of agricultural photography, animal meet and greets, and a free scoop of Vermont-made ice cream. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $12-21.

FIBER ARTS FRIDAY: Knitters, crocheters, weavers and felters chat over passion projects at this weekly meetup. Waterbury Public Library, noon-2 p.m. Free.

Live music by French Balfolk trio Malvenn provides the pulse for a fun-filled masquerade with calling by Mary Westley. Refreshments provided. Proceeds benefit programming at Bellwether School, Davis Studio and Treewild. The Bellwether School, Williston, 6-8 & 8-10 p.m. $25-100.

The Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company presents the return of a groundbreaking theatrical dance work, 30 years after its premiere amid the AIDS epidemic. Moore Theater, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30-9:30 p.m. $40-65.

‘WHAT REMAINS: EPHEMERALITY IN MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE’: A multidisciplinary evening invites audience members to consider how performance art endures through memory, sensation and shared experience. Royall Tyler Theatre, University of Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FOMO?

a discussion of Aisha Abdel Gawad’s Between Two Moons, following three siblings throughout the month of Ramadan. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free.

POETRY AT THE FRONT: rabbit&wolf hosts an intimate evening of verse, featuring readings by central Vermont poets Rick Agran and LN Bethea. The Front, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free.

SECOND THURSDAYS BOOK CLUB: Readers herd together to discuss Red Dog Farm, Nathaniel Ian Miller’s novel of kinship and romance set against the stark backdrop of a failing Icelandic cattle ranch. Front Seat Coffee, Hardwick, 1:30 p.m. Free.

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

Martin Philip and David Tamarkin

1 NominatE

APRIL 15-MAY 3

Write in your favorites.

2 designate JUNE 2-15 Pick the best from top ﬁnalists.

3 CELEBRATE AUGUST 5

See who won in Seven Days!

Help us celebrate the best of Vermont by nominating your favorite businesses, people and places starting April 15 at sevendaysvt.com/daysies-vote.

WANNA PARTY?

For every 25 categories you nominate, you’ll get a chance to win tickets to this year’s Seven Daysies Awards Party.

Learn

Vermont Community Foundation will award $10,000 to this year’s “Best Nonproﬁt.” Tell your supporters to nominate you!

education

SPRING OPEN HOUSE:

Prospective students and their families go behind the scenes to learn about the independent boarding and day school for high schoolers. Rock Point School, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. etc.

‘A TINY POINT OF VIEW’ EXHIBIT

OPENING: Miniatures make a big impact at an evening showcase of dollhouses, fantasy sculptures and art boxes. Refreshments provided. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, 5-7 p.m. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU’: A Palestinian teen gets pulled into a West Bank protest in Cherien Dabis’ 2025 family drama about relentless hope and courage. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5 suggested donation.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’: See THU.9.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.9.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.9.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9.

‘TWO PROSECUTORS’: Acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Sergey Loznitsa’s 2025 crime drama explores corruption within the Soviet secret police during the late 1930s. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 4 & 7 p.m. $6-12.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.9, 10 a.m.

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.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION:

Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence.

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: SEE

THU.8. Pillar Pilates Studio, Brandon, 9-10:15 a.m.

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.

COMMUNITY COFFEEHOUSE

CONCERT SERIES: Veteran local musicians Dana Robinson, Jessica Simpson and Bob Amos play acoustic folk tunes in an intimate setting. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $10-15 suggested donation.

CONCERT BAND: Professor D. Thomas Toner conducts the student ensemble in compositions befitting springtime, including a piece inspired by Japanese art of the late 19th century. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

LUCÍA: A rising-star vocalist from Veracruz, México, bridges jazz, Latin and pop music. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $25-40.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL: A weekend of concerts, workshops and presentations celebrates everything to do with tickling the ivories. See calendar spotlight. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $25-130.

WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES:

MINOR GOLD: An acclaimed folk duo delivers soulful melodies at a concert of originals from its chart-topping album, Way to the Sun. Westford Common Hall, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

québec

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8. seminars

COMMUNITY CLASSES:

Residents share their diverse expertise during three days of free workshops on topics ranging from mushroom foraging to bicycle maintenance. See wallingfordvtuniversity.org for details. Various Wallingford locations. Free; preregister.

talks

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT FOR EVERYONE SPRING LECTURE SERIES: CAILEIGH GLENN: A Middlebury College assistant professor of political science fleshes out the changing face of U.S. foreign policy. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 2 p.m. $8 cash or check; free for members.

theater

‘CABARET’: See THU.9.

‘THE CHILDREN’: See WED.8.

‘DISNEY’S FROZEN’: See THU.9.

‘LOOKING FOR JOE: THE AMAZING LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSEPH ADDISON’: See THU.9.

‘THE MAIDS’: See THU.9.

‘SEMINAR’: See THU.9.

words

BOOK SALE: Avid readers hunt through thousands of pre-owned

APR. 10 & 11 | MUSIC

Note Worthy

Hepcats beat it to Vermont Jazz Center’s 10th annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival in Brattleboro for a weekend of ivory-tickling performances and educational opportunities. The milestone affair features unmissable concerts and workshops helmed by brilliant headliners Camila Cortina, Geoffrey Keezer, Rachel Z and Mathis Picard, as well as virtuosic emerging artists Mimi Terry and Dabin Ryu. Masterclasses invite participants to better understand the evolution and development of piano styles, straight from the mouths of artists who have spent their careers pursuing creativity through the keys.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL

Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro. $25-130. Info, 802-254-9088, ext. 1, vtjazz.org.

titles and antique rarities to support library programs and collections. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of books.

DIANA WHITNEY: BOOK LAUNCH & DANCE PARTY: A Vermont poet launches her new collection, Girl Trouble, in conversation with fellow writer Eve Alexandra, followed by an opportunity for guests to get footloose. Snacks provided. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. Free; cash bar; preregister.

JOAN M. WHITE: A Shelburne poet traces the cycles of the natural world to mirror the seasons of life in her debut collection, a commoner’s prayer: poems Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6 p.m. Free.

KATY FARBER: An author launches her latest young adult novel, What If It Wasn’t My Fault the story of a #MeToo survivor who finds her voice. Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.11 activism

POSTER, ZINE & BUTTON

MAKING: Participants learn more about the history of this revolutionary action in self-publishing, then create pieces to take home. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

VERMONT CHANGEMAKERS

SUMMIT: Grassroots leaders and aspiring advocates sharpen their civic tools at a day of collaborative workshops focused on community-building strategies. Harwood Union High School, South Duxbury, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

agriculture

TEMPS DES SUCRES WEEKEND:

Foodies savor the sweet tradition of the spring sap run with live music, scenic horse-drawn carriage rides, sugar on snow treats and a maple-filled brunch. Jay Peak Resort, noon-7 p.m. Free. bazaars

VERMONT SPRING MARKET:

More than 60 New England crafters display their handmade wares, from traditional maple

products to leather goods and distilled spirits. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10; free for kids under 12.

community

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY VEGAN

PODCAST DISCUSSION: Folks following a plant-based diet weigh in on pertinent topics, including international policies and the lack of vegan-friendly options at restaurants. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2:30 p.m. Free; 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.

WORLD PARKINSON’S AWARENESS DAY: Advocates unite for an informative and social day of interactive presentations, a community dance class and a circle sing. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 10 a.m. Free.

crafts

KNIT FOR FOOD KNIT-A-THON: Vermont Fiber Friends invites crafters of all abilities to cast on

at a local gathering benefiting national food equity nonprofits. The Makery, Burlington, noon-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

dance

CORNWALL CONTRA DANCE: Community members of all ages and abilities get their bodies moving to live tunes by Red Dog Riley and calling by Luke Donforth. Cornwall Town Hall, 7-9:30 p.m. $5-10 sliding scale.

SATURDAY SWING DANCE: Folks jive and jitterbug the night away to jazz, big band and contemporary tunes played by Vermont Swings All-Star DJs. Bring clean

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

From left: Camila Cortina, Geoffrey Keezer, Rachel Z and Mathis Picard

FAMI LY FU N

THU.9 « P.57

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

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free.

outside vermont

NIDIA GÓNGORA: Vibrant Pacific rhythms meet contemporary sounds when one of Colombia’s most treasured singers takes the stage to lead a family-friendly Latin dance party. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 6:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

FRI.10

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8.

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.

SPRING ONE-ACTS: Student directors flex their theatrical chops with a fresh take on Romeo and Juliet and a high-speed comedic sprint through The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg, 7 p.m. $7-10.

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.

TEEN LIT MOB: A literary festival brings readers ages 13 to 18 together for workshops, author visits and free books. U-32 High School, Montpelier. Free.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free.

northeast kingdom

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.11

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: A range of themes and rotating activities promote school readiness and foster creativity. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free.

FLYNNZONE KIDS HOUR: MATT HAGEN:

A prolific Burlington songwriter strums his guitar and sings songs combining the poetic wit of Shel Silverstein with the tone of Johnny Cash. The Flynn, Burlington, 10 a.m. Free.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Early learners and their guardians make memories at a monthly rhythmic residency with the local musician and educator. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free.

VERMONT STATEWIDE MATH FAIR: Students in grades K through 12 display thought-provoking projects that explore our world quantitatively. University of Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister to participate.

chittenden county

CAN-AM CON: Vendors and seminars complement a showcase of scale-model kit displays crafted by junior builders and veteran modelers alike. Williston National Guard Armory, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5; free for kids under 12.

FRENCH STORY TIME: Kids of all ages listen and learn to native speaker Romain Feuillette raconte une histoire. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free.

KINGSTON’S AUTISM SWAGGER SQUAD

VT: Families with neurodiverse children build a foundation of mutual support while kiddos engage in sensory-rich play. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 11 a.m. Free.

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.

READ TO CHEWY THE THERAPY DOG: Literacy and licks collide as students sharpen their skills alongside a fourlegged listener and his human, Cindy. Essex Free Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister.

SPRING ONE ACTS: See FRI.10.

VERMONT HISTORY DAY: Area students share their learning at an annual contest of wits and knowledge. Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. barre/montpelier

KIDS TRADE & PLAY: Neighbors swap or shop gently used clothing, shoes, books and toys. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9:3011:30 a.m. Free; donations accepted.

MUD SEASON SPECTACULAR: A workshop, community dinner and youth showcase celebrate the power of traditional music and intergenerational learning. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-9:30 p.m. $5-35; preregister.

mad river valley/ waterbury

GEORGE PATRICK LEAL: A Vermont educator and author shares how his remote-learning experiment “Magic Woods” blossomed into a global podcast and book series about the natural world. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

rutland/killington

VERMONT PREGNANCY & BABY EXPO: Resource-heavy displays and professional insights provide a one-stop road map for navigating the logistical hurdles of new arrivals. Rutland Recreation Community Center, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $5; free for kids.

VERMONT YOUTH CHORAL CONCERT: Young vocalists from across the Green Mountain State join forces with collegiate mentors to harmonize in an intergenerational showcase of talent. Casella Theater, Vermont State University-Castleton, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

northeast kingdom

WEEE! DANCE PARTY: Little ones and their caregivers express themselves through movement at this free-wheeling, DJ-driven bash. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 2-3 p.m. $5 suggested donation; preregister.

outside vermont

‘FOLLOW YOUR ART’: Regional students and faculty take to the stage to demonstrate how creative expression fuels community growth and environmental stewardship. Proceeds benefit New England School of the Arts. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $38.

SUN.12 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DAD GUILD PLAY GROUP: Fathers (and parents of all genders) and their kids ages 5 and under drop in for playtime and connection. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5 p.m. Free.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty

sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister.

chittenden county

MEET & BLEAT BABY GOAT PLAYGROUP: See SAT.11.

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, 12:302:30 p.m. Free.

SPRING ONE ACTS: See FRI.10, 1 p.m.

barre/montpelier

DANCE, SING & JUMP AROUND: Live music by Joanne Garton and her students fuels an afternoon of traditional dances and musical games for all ages. Grange Hall, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation; free for kids.

GENDER CREATIVE KIDS: Trans and gender-nonconforming kiddos under 12 and their families build community and make new friends at this joyful monthly gathering. See outrightvt.org for full schedule. Various locations statewide, 2-4 p.m. Free.

MON.13

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8.

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

MIDDLE GRADE EASY EATS: Student chefs master the art of making quick quesadillas with beginner-friendly cooking methods. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free.

POKÉMON CLUB: Players trade cards and enjoy activities centered on their favorite strategic game. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 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.14 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8.

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.

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.10, 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.

mad river valley/

waterbury

WATERCOLOR FOR KIDS: Artist Pauline Nolte leads little painters in grades 2 to 4 in exploration and expression. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

upper valley

LEGO TUESDAYS: Youth architects tackle construction challenges or follow their own blueprints at a creative building session complete with snack breaks. 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.10.

WED.15

DADS’ NIGHT IN: JACKBOX GAMES: Fathers log on for a virtual game night hosted by Dad Guild. 8:45-10 p.m. Free.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.8.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.8. LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: See WED.8.

MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: See WED.8. STEAM SPACE: See WED.8.

chittenden county

BABY TIME: See WED.8. GAME ON!: See WED.8.

KIDS PUZZLE SWAP: Young strategists trade their completed cardboard conquests for fresh challenges. 24 to 300 pieces only. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free.

PLAY TIME: See WED.8.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.8.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.8. upper valley

STORY TIME: See WED.8. K

shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, free lesson, 7 p.m.; music, 7:30-10 p.m. $5.

‘STILL/HERE’: See FRI.10.

education

NEVER TOO EARLY CONFERENCE

FOR EARLY EDUCATORS: A hands-on experience helps attendees discover fresh tools, resources and concrete ideas to use in the classroom. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $10; preregister.

environment

CLEAN UP CREW 101: Civicminded volunteers learn how to scour local landscapes to remove hazardous waste. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m. Free.

WATERBURY LEAP ENERGY

FAIR: Prospective EV owners and home renovators confer with experts about high-efficiency hardware, the mechanics of heat pumps and transitioning to solar.

Crossett Brook Middle School, Duxbury, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

etc.

ANNIVERSARY PARTY: The natural wine bar and shop celebrates one year in operation with burgers, birthday cake and delicious vino. Bar Renée, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink.

ANNIVERSARY PARTY: A vibrant day of art, food, wine and live music celebrates nine years of connection, expression and growth. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

DRESSAGE SCHOOLING SHOW: A rhythmic display of equine athleticism anchors an annual community fundraiser featuring a bake sale, tack deals and food vendors. University of Vermont Horse Farm, South Burlington, 9 a.m. Free.

GALA ’54: AFTER HOURS: Philanthropic party people channel the glamour of New York City’s disco era at a night of chef-crafted food stations and dance floor celebration. Proceeds benefit the Current. The Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, 5 p.m. $250-2,500.

NEW ENGLAND K9 SEARCH & RESCUE DEMO: Regional experts and their four-legged colleagues showcase the mechanics of locating missing persons. Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte, 11 a.m.noon. Free.

fairs & festivals

GATHER OUTDOORS: A highenergy send-off to ski season brings together live music, electronic performances and mountain culture for a unique festival experience. Stratton Mountain Resort. $146.58-424.20.

QUILT SHOW: Intricate needlework and patriotic tributes drape historic halls at this annual exhibition of custom-stitched masterpieces. St. Albans City Hall, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘1776’: History buffs file in for a screening of We the People Theatre’s musical retelling of how the Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence, originally performed at Briggs Opera House in 2018. Martha Jane Rich Theater, Thetford Academy, 7 p.m. Free.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.9, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: See THU.9, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

‘GONE GUYS’: The eye-opening documentary spotlighting the struggles of young men draws on Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonfiction book, Of Boys and Men. A panel discussion follows. Proceeds benefit YMCA Camp Abnaki. Greater Burlington YMCA, 4 p.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9, noon, 2 & 4 p.m.

‘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 Theater, 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.

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

FREE TAI CHI: Practitioners learn how to mirror the fluid rhythms of the natural world through slow, deliberate movements designed to synchronize breath and body. Oom Yung Doe VT, Burlington, 6-6:45 p.m. Free. GENTLE YOGA: Practitioners hit the mat for a slow-paced, all-levels class focusing on breath work, stress reduction and mind-body awareness. BYO mat and props. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free.

HALF-MARATHON UNPLUGGED: No hills, no frills! Lace up for a scenic, flat-course RunVermont tradition marking the arrival of spring. Airport Park, Colchester, 9 & 11 a.m. $70-170; preregister; free for spectators.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR ALL: Native French speaker Romain Feuillette guides an

informal discussion group for all ages and abilities. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.10. É.T.É AND KEITH MURPHY & YANN FALQUET: A Québécois trio shares the stage with two masters of contemporary Celtic guitar for a vibrant concert of traditional music reimagined for today. Virtual option available. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $10-26.

HOUSE OF JAZZ SERIES: LOS

SONGOROS: A multinational ensemble blends traditional rhythms and contemporary flair at a high-octane showcase of Cuban and Brazilian dance music. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $25-50.

RYAN MILLER: The Guster front man strikes a chord with a memorable solo performance at this end-of-ski-season bash. Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center, East Burke, 2 p.m. Free.

SOCIAL BAND: The lively a cappella singers honor spring with a stirring program titled “We Travelers: Songs for the Way Ahead,” featuring works of the Renaissance and new pieces by Vermont composers. Shelburne Town Hall, 7:30 p.m. Free.

SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE: In “Blue Skies,” the singers deliver a shimmering vocal tribute to spring with new and classic works celebrating light, warmth and renewal. Waterbury Congregational Church, 7:30 p.m. $10-50 sliding scale.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL:

See FRI.10, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Yutaka

Kono conducts the student ensemble in a diverse program featuring works by Antonín Dvořák, Ernesto Lecuona and Gwyneth Walker. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Free.

YOUNG TRADITION TOURING

GROUP: An auditioned ensemble of teenage musicians and singers performs dynamic works showcasing musical influences from Scandinavia, Québec and New England. Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

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.

québec

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8, 2 & 7 p.m.

FESTIVAL DE LA VOIX: The human voice gets its time in the spotlight with four weeks of concerts, workshops and seminars. See festivaldelavoix. com for full schedule. Various

Québec locations. Various prices; preregister.

seminars

COMMUNITY CLASSES: See FRI.10.

FAIR HOUSING & TENANT

SKILLS: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

TRAINING: Community members bridge the gap between policy and practice at an interactive breakdown of renter protections and landlord responsibilities. Virtual option available. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2:30 p.m. Free.

talks

SHANNON CUNNIFF: In “Weaving Odysseys,” an expert crafter recounts her time spent living among the semi-nomadic Changpa people and examining the ancient craft of goat-hair processing. White River Craft Center, Randolph, 10 a.m. Free; preregister. tech

CODING CLUB: Participants put on their thinking caps and get some hands-on experience with the BBC micro:bit — a pocket-size computer that makes learning fun and interactive. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free.

ROBOTICS & CODING DAY: Future-focused makers experiment with open-source hardware and musical circuitry at an all-ages tech showcase. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $18-21; free for members, kids under 2 and high school students with ID.

theater

‘ALIMOANY’: Pasties and fishnets meet gritty melodies of the late 1990s and early 2000s at this Green Mountain Cabaret affair. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8 p.m. $20-25.

‘CABARET’: See THU.9, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘THE CHILDREN’: See WED.8, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘DISNEY’S FROZEN’: See THU.9, 1 & 6 p.m.

‘THE MAIDS’: See THU.9, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

‘MARY POPPINS, YOU’LL BE IN MY HEART’: Urban rhythms and lyrical dance collide in an energetic retelling of P.L. Travers’ literary classic, presented by Vermont Youth Dancers. Mt. Mansfield Union High School, Jericho, 1:30 & 6:30 p.m. $20.

MUD SEASON VARIETY SHOW: A three-decade tradition celebrates the transition of the seasons through a multidisciplinary display of local performance art. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 6 p.m. $10; free for kids 12 and under.

‘SEMINAR’: See THU.9.

words

BETH MALOW & DOUG

TESCHNER: The Upper Valley coauthors share insights from their

timely book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free.

BOOK SALE: See FRI.10.

LILY BROOKS-DALTON: The acclaimed author discusses her 2022 climate fiction novel and 2025 Vermont Reads selection, The Light Pirate. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-5 p.m. Free; preregister.

THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free.

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.12 agriculture

TEMPS DES SUCRES WEEKEND: See SAT.11.

bazaars

VERMONT SPRING MARKET: See SAT.11.

dance

TARTAN DAY: Dancers honor ancestral traditions at this spirited display of Highland athleticism. Black Box Theater, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 1 p.m. $5-20.

fairs & festivals

GATHER OUTDOORS: See SAT.11.

QUILT SHOW: See SAT.11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.9, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA 3D’: See THU.9, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9, noon, 2 & 4 p.m.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See SAT.11.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.9, 1 p.m.

health & fitness

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.

lgbtq

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free.

music

DIANA FANNING: An acclaimed solo pianist takes the stage with an enchanting repertoire, including works by Frédéric Chopin and Ludwig van Beethoven. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 4 p.m. $10-25.

GREEN MOUNTAIN YOUTH

SYMPHONY: Young instrumentalists from three distinct ensembles perform an eclectic program spanning from contemporary premieres to orchestral favorites. Barre Opera House, 2 p.m. $5-20 suggested donation.

SOCIAL BAND: See SAT.11. Charlotte Congregational Church, 3:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation.

SOLARIS VOCAL ENSEMBLE: See SAT.11. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m. $25.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MUSIC

SERIES: SALLY ROGERS & HOWIE BURSEN: A veteran folk duo blends intricate clawhammer banjo with Appalachian dulcimer to deliver toe-tapping traditional American tunes. Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, 2 p.m. Free.

UMASS PERCUSSION

ENSEMBLE: Ayano Kataoka directs the student musicians in contemporary works for marimba, vibraphone and drums. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 6 p.m. $10; free for members.

VERMONT FIDDLE ORCHESTRA: String and flute players present a global tapestry of Scandinavian, Appalachian and Celtic melodies. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 4 p.m. By donation.

VERMONT WIND ENSEMBLE: D. Thomas Toner conducts a memorable program, including a setting of two Irish folk tunes and a Russian composition dedicated to lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free.

VERMONT YOUTH STRINGS & VERMONT YOUTH

PHILHARMONIA: Two youth orchestras perform a variety of professional and educational works, including traditional orchestral pieces and music from well-loved films. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 5 p.m. $5. québec

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8, 2 p.m.

‘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, 2 p.m. $38-80.

FESTIVAL DE LA VOIX: See SAT.11.

seminars

COMMUNITY CLASSES: See FRI.10.

sports

MAD RIVER TRIATHLON: Participants paddle, pedal, run and ski through the scenic valley to raise funds for local recreation nonprofits and river conservation efforts. Warren School, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $5-360; preregister to participate.

talks

ALTON BROWN: The Peabody Award-winning TV personality, author and cook assumes the spotlight to deliver humorous and heartfelt anecdotes. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $65-170.

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.

‘STAY CYBER-SAFE: CYBER

SAFETY FOR EVERYDAY LIFE’: Sharpen your digital defenses at an interactive workshop outlining the practical mechanics of spotting online scams and securing personal data. Community Center in Jericho, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

theater

‘CABARET’: See THU.9, 2 p.m.

‘THE CHILDREN’: See WED.8, 5 p.m.

‘DISNEY’S FROZEN’: See THU.9, 1 & 6 p.m.

‘MARY POPPINS, YOU’LL BE IN MY HEART’: See SAT.11, 1:30 p.m.

‘SEMINAR’: See THU.9, 2:30 p.m. words

JABRIL LANGSON: An author signs copies of his debut historical thriller, Indigo Men, following a Black man’s quest for justice in 1920s Alabama. Barnes & Noble, South Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

POETRY READING: Senior poets take to the mic to unveil a year’s worth of original verse, followed by a community-building reception. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 2 p.m. Free.

ZIG ZAG LIT MAG RELEASE

PARTY: Hot off the press, the 20th issue of the Addison County arts and literature magazine debuts with a celebratory shindig. Anderson Studio at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 4 p.m. Free.

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.

crafts

COLLAGE COLLECTIVE: Creatives of all experience levels cut, paste and make works of wonder. Virtual options available. Expressive Arts Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. etc.

MEDIA MAKER MONDAY: Upper Valley creatives and their guests share projects, network with other artists and engage in peer feedback sessions. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.9, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: See THU.9, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9, noon, 2 & 4 p.m.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See SAT.11.

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

MONDAY NIGHT LIVE: The Burlington Dharma Collective hosts an inspiring monthly talk, meditation and group discussion. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted.

WISDOM FLOW YOGA: See FRI.10.

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free.

Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $40-65. 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.

québec

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See SUN.12, 7:30 p.m.

‘SCUSE’: Artist Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard merges storytelling with acrobatics to deconstruct moments from their childhood that shaped their perception of femininity and power. La Chapelle, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $17-45.

talks

DR. VICTORIA BARNETT: The renowned religious scholar delivers this year’s Holocaust Commemoration Lecture, titled “Post-Holocaust Christian Memory: Layers of Meaning Since 1945.” Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, 7 p.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.

READ LIKE A WRITER: New England Readers & Writers hosts a virtual reading group for bibliophiles to chat about short stories, both contemporary and classic. 6:30-8 p.m. Free.

» P.64

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

music

SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM: An info-packed

JORDI SAVALL: In “Songs, Battles & Dances from the Old & New World: 1100-1780,” an early-music icon and his ensembles explore traditions spanning seven centuries. Spaulding

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

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SUPER READER SINCE MAY 2020

Welcome, new Super Readers!

ese wonderful people made their ﬁrst donation to Seven Days this week:

Linda Crowe Gayla Cowan Jared Pap Lorre Tucker

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year: – Orah Moore, Westford

Anne Aleshire

Walter Breck

Katharine Hikel

Marialisa Calta

Lisa Crispin

Michael Devost

Susan Dwelle

E Serrill Flash

Douglas Johnson

Viola Haarmann

Kerry Martin

Barbara Mieder

Wolgang Mieder

Delmont Neroni

Jane Neroni

John Olson

Darrilyn Peters

Charles Robinson

Kate Schubart

Penny Snow

Dawn Stanger

Join these generous folks and other Super Readers who donate monthly to:

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 English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

TUE.14

agriculture

ALTERNATIVE LAND ACCESS WEBINAR:

NOFA-VT hosts farmers, stewards, service providers and folks interested in creative land solutions for an enlightening conversation with Commons Land Community Farmland Trust. 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. business

LANDLORD CONNECTIONS:

Current and potential Chittenden County landlords and property managers connect over food and drink while getting up to speed on pertinent programs and resources. Burlington Beer, 4-7 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.

KIDSAFE COLLABORATIVE OUTSTANDING SERVICE

AWARDS: Area professionals and volunteers receive recognition for their contributions to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 9:30-11:30 a.m. $35-300.

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, 4:30-6 p.m. Free.

education

OPEN HOUSE: Bluebird Montessori of Vermont invites curious minds to learn more about its multiage environment, where children can learn at their own pace. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 6:307:30 p.m. Free; preregister.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘BACKYARD WILDERNESS 3D’:

See THU.9, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.

‘DINOSAURS OF ANTARCTICA

3D’: See THU.9, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.9, noon, 2 & 4 p.m.

‘SHARK KINGDOM 3D’: See SAT.11.

food & drink

VOLUNTEER POTLUCK: Past, present and potential future helping hands convene for a shared meal and bird-related trivia. BYO dish. Birds of Vermont

Museum, Huntington, 5-7 p.m. Free; preregister.

games

CHESS TIME: Strategists maneuver through opening gambits and endgame puzzles at a casual community face-off. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 5-6 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.

‘STAY ACTIVE, STAY HEALTHY!’: Community members ages 50 and up receive a wellness checkup performed by the school’s doctor of physical therapy students, followed by a consultation to review findings. Osher Center for Integrative Health, Burlington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

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. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free.

music

CONCERT CHOIR & CATAMOUNT SINGERS: Nathaniel G. Lew directs a varied program of spring serenades ranging from folk songs and classical works to show tunes and tangos. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

INTERPLAY JAZZ JAM NORTH: Instrumentalists tune in for a night of melodies, bringing six to eight copies of sheet music to pass around. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free.

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND: A legendary roots-music ensemble delivers a high-octane retrospective of its timeless hits with “All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour.” Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7 p.m. $65-125.

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

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8.

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See SUN.12, 7:30 p.m.

‘SCUSE’: See MON.13.

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.

FINDING HOUSING

WORKSHOP: Attendees build an apartment-search tool kit with guidance from the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. 5-6 p.m. Free.

‘ID THEFT: CATCH THE RED FLAGS’: Experts from AARP Vermont delve into online vulnerability and personal security at a seminar outlining tips and tools for proactive account monitoring. Thompson Senior Center, Woodstock, 1 p.m. Free; preregister.

sports

OPEN GYM BASKETBALL FOR DADS: Fathers and masc-identifying caregivers team up for a low-key pickup game. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one meetings. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

words

BIANCA STONE: Vermont’s poet laureate continues her “State of Poetry” tour with a deep dive into the craft of late Nobel Prizewinning writer Louise Glück. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free; preregister.

BOOK DISCUSSION: Lit lovers join up with Suzanne Brown for a chat about Lily Brooks-Dalton’s 2022 novel, The Light Pirate, a dystopian tale of survival and resilience. Norwich Public Library, 7 p.m. Free.

BURLINGTON LITERATURE GROUP: Over the course of six weeks, readers analyze the French New Novel movement, including Alain Robbe-Grillet’s The Erasers , Marguerite Duras’ The Ravishing of Lol Stein and Nathalie Sarraute’s Tropisms 6:30-8 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.15 crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.8. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.8.

dance

WEST AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM CLASS: See WED.8.

environment

‘BRINGING GREEN BURIAL TO THE UPPER VALLEY’: Expert Lee Webster sheds light on the environmental cost of modern burials and promotes practices that foster climate resiliency and community connection. Norwich Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Free.

DARK & STARRY NIGHT

PRESENTATION: Amateur astronomer George Springston illuminates the biological toll of light pollution while outlining ways that humans can reduce their impact. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

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.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

MNFF SELECTS SERIES: ‘MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE’: Shoshannah Stern’s 2025 documentary tells the affecting story of the deaf actor’s groundbreaking career. Marquis Theatre & Southwest Café, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $14-16.

VTIFF MUSICAL SILENTS: ‘THE WILDCAT’: A live improvised score by Matt Hagen and Johnnie Day Durand enriches this screening of Ernst Lubitsch’s 1921 anti-military madcap farce. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10-20.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.8.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.8.

games

ADULTS PUZZLE SWAP: Participants leave completed puzzles (250-plus pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home.

South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.8.

GENTLE YOGA: See WED.8.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.8.

language

ELL CLASS: See WED.8. 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.8.

music

KIRAN AHLUWALIA: A two-time Juno Award winner fuses the vocal traditions of South Asia with Malian desert blues and Western rock to forge a boundary-breaking sound. Alexander Twilight Theatre, Vermont State University-Lyndon, 7 p.m. $10-25; free for VTSU community, families with children and students.

outdoors

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

‘BEHIND THE MOON’: See WED.8.

‘DETROIT: MUSIC OF THE MOTOR CITY’: See SUN.12, 7:30 p.m.

‘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

‘KEYS TO HER FUTURE: BUILDING WEALTH THROUGH REAL ESTATE & FINANCIAL STRATEGY’: Industry experts offer tips and tricks about how to turn your first home into a long-term foundation for fiscal stability. Hosted by Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister.

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.

‘YOUR PODCAST, YOUR WAY’:

Creative voices ready to start a new audio project map out conceptual frameworks at this seminar designed to turn ideas into reality. The Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.8.

talks

ARMCHAIR NATURALIST

SPEAKER SERIES: MATTHEW DICKERSON: An Addison Independent outdoor columnist and Middlebury College professor shares his knowledge, experience and photographs relating to river ecology and fishing. New Haven Town Offices, 7 p.m. Free.

‘ON POINT: NEW RESEARCH INTO VERMONT NEEDLEWORK’: Shelburne Museum curator Katie Wood Kirchhoff and Vermont Sampler Initiative project manager Ellen Thompson explore the personal histories stitched into antique samplers. Hosted by Shelburne Museum. 6 p.m. Free; preregister.

OSHER WHOLE HEALTH CONNECT SERIES: RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Recipients of the center’s Advancing Whole Health Through Innovative Research grants offer glimpses into their ongoing projects. Virtual option available. Osher Center for Integrative Health, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

SPRING SPEAKER SERIES: BRITTON ROGERS: The school’s executive director illuminates case studies in “Preservation and Adaptation of Modern Architecture and Landscapes.” Virtual option available.

Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, 6:30 p.m. Free.

words

‘FREEDOM TO READ’: A panel discussion on intellectual freedom unpacks access to information, the power of stories and the challenges facing libraries today. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6 p.m. Free. ➆

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11. = ONLINE

classes

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 & crafts

COLLAGRAPH, MIXED MEDIA AND LARGE-SCALE PRINTMAKING: Summer printmaking classes, 3-day and 5-day. 1) Large-Scale 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: 802309-9409, samos@pshift.com, sarahamosstudio.com.

WEE PUMPKIN WOODCARVING WORKSHOP: Carve a tiny whimsical pumpkin with Dave Tuttle at this woodcarving workshop. All levels welcome. Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission. Great skill building for Scouts and 4-H. Bring mask, tools, gloves and lunch. (Contact us if you will need tools or gloves.) Date: Sat., Apr. 18, 9:30 a.m. Cost: $45. Location: Birds of Vermont Museum. 900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

food & drink

like a pro. en 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: Apr. 18 & 25, May 9 & 23. Cost: $16. Location: Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine St., Burlington. Info: 802-8641807, info@lakechamplain chocolates.com, lakechamplain chocolates.com/chocolate-tastings.

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

healing arts

FAMILY & SYSTEMIC CONSTELLATIONS TRAINING: A unique, experiential training exploring family, relational and intergenerational patterns. Held in Berlin, Vt., beginning in Jun., one weekend/month over 8 months. For therapists, caregivers

and those drawn to heal with the deeper systems shaping our lives. Dates: Weekends from Jun. 2026-Jan. 2027. Location: e Hummingbird Center for Common Ground, Berlin, Vt. Info: Mattie Clark, mattie@thelostwildness. com, mattieclark.com/ familyconstellationstraining.

martial arts

BEGINNERS’ BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU & KIDS’ JIUJITSU/KICKBOXING CLASS: Wednesdays at Grind Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Old North End of Burlington, Vt. 5 p.m.: Adult Beginner Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. No uniform required; shorts & T-shirt welcome. Fundamentals of grappling, self-defense and conditioning. 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Kids & Parents Jiu-Jitsu + Kickboxing. Beginnerfriendly. Back-to-back classes designed for those new to training. Dates: Wed., 5 & 6:15 p.m. Location: Grind Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 294 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Info: Jason Amerosa, 802-318-8432, grindbjjvt@gmail.com, grindbjjvt.com.

bpincus@burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

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

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY — TRAIN WITH VERMONT’S ONLY SHIHAN (MASTER-LEVEL) TEACHER 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:

OOM (MIND) YUNG (BODY) DOE (HARMONY) IN BURLINGTON: Essential training includes kong fu, tai chi, bagwa, kong su (tae kwon do), ship pal gae (18 weapons), kom do (samurai sword), udo and aikido/hapkido. Beneﬁts of training include stress release, improved balance, increased energy, better circulation, mental calmness, improved physical well-being and overall health, increased focus and self-discipline, and the conﬁdence that you can go anywhere and do anything. Offering classes for children, juniors and adults, plus seniors tai chi. Try it for free! Dates: Open 6 days a week. Location: School of Oom Yung Doe, 1127 North Ave., Burlington. Info: Inst. Wade Prescott, 802-495-6034, inst.wade@gmail.com, schools. oomyungdoe.com/vermont.

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

RAR SPRING TUNE UP SERIES FOR WTNB: e RAR Spring Tune Up Series is intended for women, trans and nonbinary students. Do you wish you better understood your bike that’s been gathering cobwebs since the fall? Well, brush off the dust and consider 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. Dates: Wed., Apr. 22 & 29, & May 6, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $150. Location: Old Spokes Home, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, sevendaystickets.com.

wellness

LOST IN TRANSLATION: THE LANGUAGE OF HUNGER: is workshop will cover the difference between physical hunger and

emotional hunger; why midlife makes this distinction even more important; how to identify the triggers that send you straight for the kitchen (and, oh yeah, midlife seems to have more triggers than any other season, doesn’t it?); how to name the emotion underneath the hunger (and if you said, “rage,” it’s OK, really); how to decode what your body is actually asking for; and a four-stage framework you can use again and again, every time emotional eating comes calling. Date: Fri., Apr. 17, noon12:45 p.m. Location: online. Info: sevendaystickets.com.

purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

Justin Morgan-Parmett found relief for his chronic pain by ﬂoating weightless in water saturated with Epsom

In January, he opened Float Away Wellness Spa in Williston to offer float tanks to the public. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger took her first float and defied gravity.

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

Earl

AGE/SEX: 1-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: February 19, 2026

SUMMARY: Earl is bold, playful and always ready to be ﬁrst in line for fun! is former stray lives for interactive playtime: tug, fetch — you name it! Earl is smart and food-motivated, making training him an absolute joy. He already knows “sit” and “down,” proving he’s got brains to match that brawn! Earl is strong, so an adopter ready to work on leash manners with positive reinforcement will help him channel that enthusiastic energy into being the best boy he can be. If you have an active home where this energetic boy can thrive, Earl may be your new best friend.

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Earl is seeking a home where he can be the only pet. We think he’d do best 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.

DID YOU KNOW?

Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated! Training is all about bridging a communication barrier with your dog, and HSCC recommends using positive reinforcement training. Using rewards such as treats, toys and attention is always the best way to help your dog learn.

PETS & SUPPLIES

Buy y & Se

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

ESTATE SALE — NEWPORT, VT.

Antiques & vintage signs, cast iron, Sawyer prints, lamps, Roseville, enamelware, colored glassware, marbles, tons of goodies. A super opportunity for dealers & pickers to stock up! Apr. 10-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, estatesales.net/ vt/newport/05855/ 4850022.

WILLISTON ESTATE SALE

Selling contents of a Williston, Vt., estate home, incl. a ﬁ ne collection of Stickley furniture & accessories that were purchased by the resident directly from Stickley while living & working in the Capital District in

New York. is also incl. several pieces of art, Oriental rugs & political items. View at estatesales.net/ vt/williston/05495/ marketplace/77338 or estatesalesofvermont. com. Ends Apr. 8, 7 p.m.

HOME & GARDEN

S. BURLINGTON & WATERBURY ESTATE SALES

Online, ends Apr. 14. Low-mileage 2019 Nissan Leaf, pressure washer, maple king bed, Victorian settee, 28foot extension ladders, Vermont-made cherry dining table, rosewood dresser, Roku surroundsound system, robot vacuum, outdoor table & chairs, sectional sofas, 55-in. Roku TV, several cat cabinets. Info, 802-238-9574, reedobrien@aol.com, estatesalesofvermont. com.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

Prepare for power outages today w/ a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a free 5-year warranty w/ qualifying purchase.

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

GERMAN SHEPHERDS

PUPS FOR SALE

Black & tan, 12 weeks old. $600. Prefer text message to 802-3459996, ezryder6467@ gmail.com.

PRECIOUS POMERANIANS — PUREBRED PUPPIES

Have you been searching for an adorable Pomeranian puppy to add to your household? Or have you been curious & eager to own a small breed? We only breed once a year & have beautiful, unique coat combinations. Our puppies are treated like family & given unconditional love daily. ey are in a clean, sanitary & joyful home environment, eager to meet their “furever” family! $2,500. Info, 818966-1419, pawsthepom@ gmail.com, instagram. com/precious_ pomeranians_vt.

SPORTING GOODS

FOR SAIL O’DAY 23

Ship-shape & ready for new sailing adventures! Painted & polished, new sails, lines, & new Mercury 8hp, 4-cycle motor. Incl. dinghy, oars, life preservers, bumpers & rain gear. Photo avail. in online classiﬁ eds. $6,500. Contact billreed@ theatricalsinger.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

omas Carter is avail. for lessons at Music & Arts on Wed. & Sun. Call 802-651-1013.

Communit y ommunit

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOW’S THE TIME: THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR STORIES

Join the League of Vermont Writers for its spring program & annual business meeting at the Bridgewater Community Center on Sat., Apr. 11, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. e event will feature Joni Cole: “Why Our Stories Matter More an Ever”; & Jennifer Benton: “Bookstock Guide to Book Fair Success.” e event incl. lunch & plenty of time for networking w/ fellow writers. Register today: leagueofvermont writers.org/events.

CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN & YOUTHS W/ DISABILITIES/ SPECIAL NEEDS Tue., Apr. 28. Statewide conference to support families of children w/ disabilities & special health needs at UVM’s Dudley H. Davis Center, 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Workshops related to navigating health care, mental health & education systems, & transitions to adulthood. Open to community members & professionals. Advanced registration req. To register or for information: vermontfamilynetwork. org, 802-876-5315, info@ vtfn.org.

802-497-1002, jason@ movewellvt.com, movewellvt.com.

HOUSEMATES

R R eal Estate ent als &

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

BURLINGTON HILL SECTION, SINGLE ROOM FOR RENT

Furnished 1-BR at 27 Latham Ct. Single furnished room w/ a shared BA. No cooking, NS & no pets. Sheets & towels provided. On the bus line. $200/ week or $867/mo. Call 802-862-2389.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

HEALTH & WELLNESS TREATMENT ROOM/ REHAB SPACE AVAIL. AT MOVEWELL IN WILLISTON

IF YOU ENJOY GREAT CHAT & GOOD BURGERS...

Share S. Burlington condo w/ gentle senior in his 80s who is strong in his faith, enjoys conversation & appreciates a good burger! Seeking housemate who can drive him to his favorite restaurant at times, share conversation & provide light help around the home. $650/mo. Large private BA. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

HOUSING WANTED

WE BUY HOUSES We buy houses for cash as-is! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer & get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-877-9391331. (AAN CAN)

icians

MUSIC LESSONS

SPRING & SUMMER PIANO LESSONS

Currently accepting new students at my piano studio in the South End of Burlington. All ages, all abilities. Classical, jazz, contemporary music, improvising, reading & writing music. Info, randal.pierce@gmail. com, randalpiercemusic. com.

PIANO, VOICE, TROMBONE, SONGWRITING

LESSONS

Awarded for lifetime achievement from Who’s Who in America, Scott

$750-$1,800/mo. MoveWell in Williston, Vt., is offering a unique opportunity for a structural or movementbased 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,

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

YOU’RE MEANT TO LEAD — LET’S MAKE IT WORK: Next Chapter Workforce Development helps women & businesses build conﬁ dent leaders, strong teams & clear strategies that actually work. From leadership coaching to workforce consulting & strategic planning, we turn vision into action. Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation today. Info, 802-624-0164, madison@nextchapter wfd.com, nextchapter wfd.com.

EDUCATION, LESSONS

INCREASE INTERVIEWS, STRENGTHEN OFFERS, REDUCE STRESS Career Revisions offers strategies & resources to advance your career. Résumés, cover letters, LinkedIn proﬁ les,

interview preparation, salary negotiation. Becca Kronenbitter, MEd, NCC, CPRW, certiﬁ ed professional résumé writer, 15+ years of experience. Info, careerrevisions.com.

ELECTRONICS

AMERICA’S PREMIER MOBILE MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEM

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long-term contracts. Free brochure. Call today! 1-877-667-4685. (AAN CAN)

All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for DIRECTV & get your 1st 3 mos. of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ & Cinemax incl. Choice package, $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-6064520. (AAN CAN)

WIRELESS HOME INTERNET

AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET

If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote & see how much you can save: 1-844-588-6579. (AAN CAN)

TIME-SHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS

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 888-9601781. (AAN CAN)

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)

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, ll the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

CALCOKU BY

JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

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.

crossword

3 5 4 6 Sudoku

Show and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

Complete the following puzzle by using the numbers 1-9 only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box.

Open 24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience. Extra! Extra! There’s no limit to ad length online.

WANT MORE PUZZLES?

Try these online news games from Seven Days at sevendaysvt.com/games.

NEW ON FRIDAYS:

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test.

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.70 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

GEM OF A PUZZLE

ANSWERS ON P. 70 »

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

the details! 1-866-4305905. (AAN CAN)

HOME & GARDEN

STOP HOME BREAK-INS

Legal Notices

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE

OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 121.

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)

GET DISABILITY BENEFITS

You may qualify for disability beneﬁ ts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

DENTAL SERVICE

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance — not just a discount plan. Get your free Dental Information Kit w/ all

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70 cents a day. Call 1-833-881-2713. (AAN CAN)

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)

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy-efﬁ cient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-2489944. (AAN CAN)

IN ACCORDANCE WITH VT TITLE 9 COMMERCE AND TRADE CHAPTER 098: STORAGE UNITS 3905.

Enforcement of Lien, Champlain Valley Self Storage,LLC shall host a private auction of the following units on or after April 27, 2026: Contents: household goods

Location: 78 Lincoln St Essex Jct. VT 05452

Tiffany Williams: #075

Juliane Anderson: #024

Location: 485 Nokian Tyres Dr Colchester VT 05446

Christiane Sullivan: #2431

Jacob Reilly: #2169

Michael Blauvelt: #2105

Auction pre-registration is required, email info@ champlainvalleyselfstorage.com to register. CVSS,llc reserves the right to reject any bid lower than the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as deﬁ ned by statute. Any 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.

INVITATION TO BID

Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union invites all interested, qualiﬁ ed persons or ﬁ rms capable of providing required services to submit bids for waste and recycling collection services, beginning July 1, 2026. For a copy of the request, please contact: Vernon Boomhover at vernon. boomhover@fnesu.org or 802-933-1357.

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0723-13

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 – 6111

Application 4C0723-13 from Funkadelic, LLC, Attn: Jeffrey Jimmo PO BOX 64941, Burlington, VT was received on February 13, 2026, and deemed complete on March 23, 2026. e project is generally described as the construction of a 21,000+/- sf commercial building with municipal water and sewer connections (maximum 20 employees) on Lot 13 of the Checkerberry Industrial Park with associated access drive

and parking, and construction of a new concrete sidewalk. e end user of the building is unknown at this time. e potential building uses considered here are limited to retail sales, repair services, warehouse, and storage services. e project is located at 13 Checkerberry Square in Milton, Vermont. e 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 “4C0723-13.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before April 27, 2026, a party notifi es 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 defi ned 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, fi ll 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 Offi ce 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 Quin Mann at the email address or telephone number below.

Dated this April 1, 2026. By: /s/ Quin Mann Quin Mann District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-661-8041 Quin.Mann@vermont.gov

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-00935

In re ESTATE of Joseph Sharples NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Joseph Sharples, late of Hinesburg, 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 the ﬁ rst publication of this notice. e claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. e claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: 3/31/26

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Levy Cobb

Executor/Administrator: Levy Cobb 30 Saint Cyr Lane, Hinesburg, Vermont 05461 Phone: (802) 388-2296

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: April 8, 2026

Name of Probate Court: Chittenden Probate Court

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

VCDP PROGRESS REPORT 2022 ORGANIZATION: TOWN OF SHELBURNE PR-2022-5-SHELBURNE-00138

FINAL PUBLIC HEARING

VCDP Implementation Grant 2022

e Town of Shelburne received $700,000 from the State of Vermont for a grant under the Vermont Community Development Program. A public hearing will be held at 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 on 4/28/2026 at 7:00 pm to obtain the views of citizens on community development, to furnish information concerning the range of community development activities that have been undertaken under this program, and to give affected citizens the opportunity to examine a statement of the use of these funds. e CDBG Fundsreceived have been used to accomplish the following activities:

Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth built 68 units of new affordable apartments in two new construction and two rehabilitated buildings at 108 - 175 Margaret’s Way in the new Bay Ridge neighborhood.

Information on this project may be obtained from and viewed during the hours of 8 am - 4 pm at 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 starting on 4/14/2026. Should you require any special accommodations please contact Susan Elliot at 802-985-5111 to ensure appropriate accommodations are made. For the hearing impaired please call (TTY) #1-800-253-0191.

Legislative Body for the Town of Shelburne

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION GRAND ISLE UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-01209

In re ESTATE of David Ploof Jr.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: David Ploof Jr., late of South Hero, Vermont

Dated:Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Barbara Sweeney

Executor/Administrator: Barbara Sweeney

273 Al Shir Road, Colchester, VT 05446

United States

Email: Simplybarb273@gmail.com

Phone: (802) 316-6024

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/08/2026

Name of Probate Court: State of Vermont – Grand Isle Probate Division

Address of Probate Court: 3677 US Rt. 2, North Hero, VT 05474

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-01693

In re ESTATE of Ian Galbraith

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Ian Galbraith 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 the first 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: 4/2/26

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Robin Galbraith

Executor/Administrator: Robin Galbraith 14 Perry Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Phone: 802-355-6001

Email: bingal123@yahoo.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/08/2026

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-07459

In re ESTATE of Randy A. Trayah

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Randy A.Trayah, late of Winooski

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 the first 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: 3/17/2026

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Bobbie Trayah

Executor/Administrator: Bobbie Jo Trayah

c/o Juliana E. Hoyt Jarrett | Hoyt 1795 Williston Road, Suite 125

South Burlington, VT 05403

Phone Number: 802-864-5951

Email: julie@vtelaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 04/08/2026

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior CourtChittenden Probate Unit

Attn: Anne Straw

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

TOWN OF UNDERHILL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Town of Underhill is partnering with the United Church of Underhill (UCU) to construct affordable homes within the Town. The Town has received a grant from the VT Community Development Program to support the construction of +/- 800 feet of shared gravel roadway, driveways, stormwater, utilities, and other infrastructure for the site. The UCU will be a subgrantee and take the lead in overseeing the contractor performing the necessary work. The grant funding requires detailed documentation from the selected contractor. Those requirements are described in the bid package. The complete bid package is available at the Town of Underhill’s Website: https://www.underhillvt. gov/request-proposals-rfps

For any questions, please contact Al Simard at land@ucu.church

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE

Exit 16 Self Storage 295 Rathe Rd Colchester, Vt.05446

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the storage unit will be sold at auction

Dylan Austin 5 x 10

Casey Clifford 10 x 15

James Kehoe 10 x 30

James Kehoe 10 x 20

James Kehoe 10 x 25

Justin Beaudry 10 x 20

Kendra Payea 10 x 10

Ethan Brodowski 10 x 15

Ann Maher 10 x 10

Allen Young 10 x 15

Simone Washington 5 x 10

Alyssa Violette 5 x 10

Auction will take place:

Saturday April 18 th 2026, 9:00am at Exit 16 Self Storage Units will be opened for viewing immediately prior to the auction.

Sale shall be by live auction to the highest bidder. Contents of the entire storage unit will be sold as one lot.

All winning bidders will be required to pay a $50.00 deposit which will be refunded once the unit is empty and broom swept clean. The winning bid must remove all contents from the facility within 72 hours of bid acceptance at no cost to Exit 16 Self Storage.

Exit 16 Self Storage reserves the right to remove any unit from the auction should the current tenant pay the outstanding balance in full prior to the auction.

NOTICE OF SALE

Notice is given that the following lots shall be sold, to satisfy lien of owner, at public sale by sealed bid, on Friday Apr 24, 2026 at the Access Mini-Storage/ McLure Moving &Storage, Inc. complex on 167 Colchester Road, Route 2A Essex Jct., VT. Start time for the sale shall be 10:00 am.

Access Mini-Storage lots (name & unit #) offered for sale for non-payment: #001 Bronson, Melissa #404 Cameron, Jeffrey #214 Coax, Rebecca #507 Cook, Donald #208 Demko, Theodore #341 Guilmette, John #330 Meacham, Paul #326 Nguyen, Jack #006 Robinson, David #542 Schwenn, Terri #546 Slattery, Sara #439 Swain, Lori

Sealed bids will be submitted for the entire contents of each self storage unit. All sales are final and must be paid for at the time of sale. All items must be removed from the unit within 3

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.

6h-VHCBlegaldisplay040126.indd 1 3/27/26 4:20 PM

days of purchase. A deposit will be collected on all units sold. This deposit will be refunded when all items are removed and the unit has been broom cleaned. The owners of Access MiniStorage, Inc. and McLure Moving & Storage, Inc. reserve the right to reject any and all bids.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 25-JV-00710 IN RE: L.A. NOTICE OF HEARING

To: Martika Sweet and Gregory Arnold, you are hereby notified that a hearing to terminate your parental rights to L.A. will be held on April 28, 2026 at 9:30 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 L.A.. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080.

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) /s/ Kate Gallagher Kate Gallagher Superior Court Judge 3/27/2026

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

TOWN OF COLCHESTER, VT 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT 05446

The Town of Colchester is seeking separate sealed BIDS for the Canyon Road Gully Stabilization Project. The project involves building a temporary access road, filling and placing rock in the gully, and installing a new concrete structure. To be placed on the bidders list, obtain contract and bidding documents, and any addenda, contact Alex Kubala at akubala@ colchestervt.gov

Bids will be received by: Alex Kubala, Town of Colchester, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT 05446 until 9:00am on Friday April 24th, 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.

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))

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference for prospective bidders will be held at 9:00am on Tuesday April 14th, 2026 at 349 Canyon Road, Colchester VT. Given the complexity of the site, it is highly encouraged that prospective bidders attend the pre-bid meeting. Questions regarding the Bid are due by end of day on Friday April 17th 2026. An interpretation of the questions regarding the bid will be returned by end of day on Monday April 20th, 2026.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES

The Cooperative Development Institute’s Water Infrastructure Support Program is seeking Statements of Qualifications on behalf of The Housing Foundation, Inc. (HFI) to improve the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure at four (4) Non-Profit-Owned Manufactured Housing Communities located throughout Vermont.

Required professional services will include, but are not limited to, design- and constructionrelated services, preparation of bidding and contracting documents, bid evaluation, and construction administration to ensure compliance with plans and specifications. Procurement of said services will be in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2)(iv). Qualified entities interested in being considered must submit (1) a letter of interest; (2) a statement of qualifications and experience of the firm and associates to be involved with the project; (3) references; (4) related prior experience, including similar projects; and (5) experience with funding sources, including SRF, CDBG, and RD. Submit the requested information to wisp@cdi. coop no later than 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026, to be considered. Please visit https://cdi.coop/rfqhfi/ to view the full Request for Qualifications.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF WINOOSKI UNIFIED LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

In accordance with 24 V.S.A § 4441 and § 4444, the City of Winooski’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2026 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public interested in participating in this hearing

Legal Notices

CITY OF BURLINGTON WATERFRONT TIF DISTRICT BONDS — LEGAL NOTICE

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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/89807479305; or by calling (646) 558 8656 and using Webinar ID: 898 0747 9305 . Toll charges may apply.

Amendments to the Unified Land Use and Development Regulations

• Section 2.4 – Land Use Table

• Section 2.5 – Dimensional Requirements Table

• Section 4.10 – Outdoor Lighting

• Section 4.11 – Outdoor Storage, Mechanical and Utility Equipment

• Section 4.14 – Signs

• Section 5.1 – Accessory Dwelling Units

• Section 5.4 – Design Requirements for Residential Structures

• Section 5.14 – Incentives for Priority Housing

• Article IX - Definitions

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of these amendments are to establish new design requirements, expand the applicability of existing aesthetic standards and correct current inconsistencies in Winooski Unified Land Use and Development Regulations in order to encourage more infill in the City that is compatible with the character of the areas as defined in the Winooski Master Plan.

Geographic Area Affected: The proposed amendments will apply to the entire City including all zoning districts.

Section Headings Impacted: The following specific updates are included with these amendments:

Section 2.4 – Allow single-unit dwelling uses, two-unit dwelling uses, and multi-unit dwelling uses with up to four units in the Central Business (C-1) District ; and, note the applicability of Site Plan Review

Section 2.5 – Set limitations to the length and height of blank walls that are visible from the street and from public properties.

Section 4.10 – Require outdoor lighting standards to apply to all uses in the residential zoning districts.

Section 4.11 – Require outdoor storage, mechanical and utility equipment standards to apply to all uses in the residential zoning districts.

Section 4.14 – Establish signage allowances and limitations in the Public District.

Section 5.1 – Clarify that the accessory dwelling unit allowance for single-unit dwellings per 24 V.S.A. §4412 applies to all single-unit dwellings in the City regardless of the zoning district the property is located.

Section 5.4 – Establishes front doorway requirements for residential uses.

Section 5.14 – Adjusts the lot coverage incentive for administratively reviewed priority housing projects from 75% to 65%.

Article IX – Sets definitions for “blank wall” and “mixed use”, and modifies definitions for “accessory dwelling”, “principal structure”, “principal use” and “subdivision”

The full text of these amendments is available at the Winooski City Hall, 27 West Allen Street, during normal business hours or by contacting Ravi Venkataraman, AICP CFM, Director of City Planning by calling 802.655.6410 or rvenkataraman@winooskivt.gov.

The City of Burlington originally issued its Waterfront TIF Note in the principal amount of $18,840,000 on June 21, 2023 to fund public improvements and related costs attributable to projects serving the Burlington Waterfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, as approved by the voters at a special meeting held November 8, 2016. As part of the City’s continued efforts to obtain the best terms and lowest cost for the financing of such public improvements, the City refinanced such existing indebtedness as the construction of the public improvements progressed. The City now expects to undertake a competitive sale of its Waterfront TIF Bonds for the current refunding of outstanding indebtedness. It is expected that such Bonds will be payable over an approximate 9 year period and repaid from TIF increment and the credit of the City, if such increment is insufficient. The City is in process of soliciting proposals from qualified financial institutions and expects to sell its bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to a qualified underwriter on or about April 28, 2026, with a closing date in May 2026. For further information, contact Ms. Darlene Bayko, 149 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 25-JV-00274

In Re: K.L.

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: Long Ly, you are hereby notified that a hearing to terminate your parental rights to K.L. will be held on May 18, 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 K.L.. The State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC 2 North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080.

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) Kate Gallagher Superior Court Judge 4/6/2026

TOWN OF WESTFORD DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 and the Westford Land Use & Development Regulations, the Westford Development Review Board will hold a public hearing at the Westford Town Offices (1713 VT Route 128) & via ZOOM on Monday, April 27th at 7:00 PM to review the following application:

Application: Waiver Review Public Hearing

Applicant: Dave Adams

Property Location: Old Stage Road (approx. 275.6 acres)

Zoning Districts: Rural 10 and Water Resource Overlay

The proposal is a request for a front yard setback waiver to construct an addition onto a preexisting, non-conforming accessory structure approximately 0 feet from the front property line.

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 976 9807 9007 Passcode: 3ISCNf

For more information call the Town Offices at 878-4587 Monday–Thursday 8:30am–4:30pm & Friday 8:30am-1:00 pm.

Dated April 6, 2026

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

WASHINGTON UNIT DOCKET NO.: 22-PR-06986

In re ESTATE of Anne Johnson

To the creditors of: Anne Johnson, late of Plainfield, 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 the first 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: 4/6/2026

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Ali Johnson

Executor/Administrator: Ali Johnson, CoExecutor 6871 Camrose Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068

Phone Number: 323-899-4728

Email: alibche@gmail.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/08/2026

Name of Probate Court: Washington Probate Court Address of Probate Court: 65 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 26-PR-01421

In re ESTATE of: Robert Mayen

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the Creditors of: Robert Mayen, late of Charlotte.

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 the first 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: 3-12-26

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Brett Mayen

Executor/Administrator: Brett Mayen c/o Juliana E. Hoyt, Esq. Jarrett | Hoyt 1795 Williston Road, Suite 125 South Burlington, Vermont 05403 Phone Number: 802-864-5951 Email: julie@vtelaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 04/08/2026

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court Chittenden Probate Division Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401

NOTICE CITY OF BURLINGTON FULL BOARD OF ABATEMENT OF TAXES

The Full Board of Abatement of Taxes of the City of Burlington will meet in Contois Auditorium and via ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/96104794361 on Monday, April 13, 2026* to hear and act upon the request for abatement of taxes and/or penalties from:

La Kosher Nostra 39 Hildred Drive

046-14-069-039

3GLLC 10 Rose Street

044-1-194-000

Burlington Electric Department Central Public Service VT Public Supply Authority

111 Intervale Road 040-1-002-002

ARB LLC 34 Summit Ridge 050-2-043-000

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer Demolished 029-2-052-017

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer 20 Avenue B 029-2-052-020

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer 35 Avenue B 029-2-052-030

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer 52 Avenue B 029-2-052-047

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer 57 Avenue C 029-2-052-106

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer 431 Pine Street 053-1-010-000

Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer O Pine Street 053-1-011-000

*The City Council Meeting usually begins at 6:00 p.m. The Full Board of Abatement of Taxes Meeting is part of this agenda, no set start time

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

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Director of Mentoring Expansion

MENTOR Vermont leads, expands, and strengthens the mentoring movement, building capacity to make high-quality relationships accessible to all young people.

PRINCIPAL

Lamoille North Supervisory Union is searching for a Principal to lead Lamoille Union Middle School (LUMS).

Experience: 3–5 years of relevant school administration experience (middle school experience a plus!)

Education: A Master’s Degree in a relevant ﬁeld.

Licensure: Vermont Middle School Principal License (or eligibility for licensure).

Salary Range: Competitive salary between $105,000 – $130,000, commensurate with experience.

Beneﬁts: A generous compensation and beneﬁts package within a supportive district culture.

Apply Online: Apply through the following link: schoolspring.com/ jobdetail?jobId=5615935

By Mail: Send your complete application packet (cover letter, resume, transcripts, evidence of licensure, and 3 letters of reference) to:

Principal Search

96 Cricket Hill Road Hyde Park, VT 05655

Questions? Reach out to Paula Beattie, Human Resources Director, at hr@lnsd.org

We’re growing! SURGICAL SERVICES

•Director of Anesthesia ($144-153/hour)

•CRNA ($130-135/hour)

•OR Nurse Manager ($89,000- $99,000/year)

•RN ($32.09-54.81/hour)

•Surgical Technologist ($28-33/hour)

•Central Sterile Reprocessing Technician ( $ 18.50-22.5 0 /hour )

•Endoscopy Technician ($18-20.50/hour)

For more information or to apply, visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Art Studio Production and Operations Coordinator

Art studio and high-volume merchandise business seeks a part-time studio / operations coordinator. Possibility to grow to full time next year. Must be efficient, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize in order to meet production and delivery deadlines. This is a high ownership role with a lot of autonomy.

Job duties: fill online orders and ship products, oversee inventory, order office supplies as needed, communicate with customers, vendors and wholesale clients, make and package merchandise, troubleshoot production issues, handle day to day operations. Must be a responsible self-starter who can work through to-do lists on your own.

Requirements: Experience with Mac, Excel and Google sheets.

Start date: Mid May

Rate: $25/hr. 25-30 hours / week. Possibility of transitioning to full time next year. Flexible schedule.

Email resume and cover letter to: hellolemonzesty@gmail.com

Assistant Managers

We’re hiring Assistant Managers for our Facilities and Grocery departments—ideal for motivated leaders who thrive in fastpaced environments and enjoy keeping operations running smoothly. Join our team to help drive efficiency, support staff, and deliver an exceptional experience for our members and shoppers. Our co-op offers competitive pay and benefits, as well as the opportunity to join an outstanding team.

Hunger Mountain Co-op is for everyone. Diversity, inclusion, and a culture where everybody can contribute matters to us. We aim to create an environment for all bodies. The Co-op does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place of birth, age, crime victim status, physical or mental condition. Please request accommodations if you need them. hr@hungermountain.coop

Building Maintenance

After 30 years of great work, our maintenance guy is retiring. He was an independent, jack-of-all-trades, handyman handling about 10 hours of maintenance for us per week, plus the occasional light fit-up of office space. He also assisted with after-hours emergency calls when they occurred, which is about 4 times per year.

We are looking for either a part-time employee with a similar skill-set or a contractor capable of filling in as needed. Most work can be confined to one or two days per week and includes general maintenance, painting, and some oversight of vendors including electricians, plumbers and HVAC. All in South Burlington.

Must have your own transportation. Mileage reimbursed. Pay based on experience with the possibility of $40+ / hour for an employee, plus the opportunity to pull together tenant renovation work which can add substantially to your annual income. Perfect job for a recently retired tradesperson looking for a little additional income but not a full-time gig. Contact Ashley Newcomb: 802-448-2750 or John Wilking: 802-343-4163

JOIN US! Visit mentorvt.org to view the full job listing. 3v-MentorVT040826.indd

74

APRIL 8-15, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Executive Assistant for Development

The University of Vermont Foundation seeks a highly organized and detail‑oriented Executive Assistant to provide executive‑level administrative and programmatic support to the Vice President & Chief Development Officer (VP & CDO) and the Development leadership team.

This role is central to ensuring the smooth operation of major and principal gift fundraising efforts that support the University of Vermont’s academic, research, and community priorities. The successful candidate will play a key role in coordinating executive activity, supporting development programs, and ensuring that fundraising strategies are informed by accurate data and thoughtful analysis.

Full Time | On site. Salary Range: $55,000–$68,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package

Visit uvmfoundation.org/careers for a complete job description and desired qualifications.

Services and Support at Home (SASH) Coordinator

Winooski Housing Authority is seeking a part-time Services and Support at Home (SASH) Coordinator to serve members of our community in need of support to remain in their home. The position focuses on providing support with navigating challenges of daily living regardless of age or disability.

Barre Teacher/Community Coordinator

Seeking a full-time (40 hrs/week) Teacher/Community Coordinator in our Barre Learning Center.

The right candidate will have:

• Enthusiasm for working with adult students

• Familiarity with the service area

• Proven capacity for providing high quality education

• Proﬁciency in Microsoft O ce

The candidate may be teaching:

• Reading, writing, math, computer skills and ﬁnancial literacy

• High school diploma and GED credentialing

• English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Career and college readiness.

Experience developing personalized education and graduation plans a plus. The ideal candidate will be ﬂexible, ﬁnd joy in teaching, and have the ability to teach multiple subject areas.

Starting salary: $48,000-$59,000. Compensation is commensurate with experience. CVAE pays 100% of individual health, dental and short-term disability insurance, and employer 403(b) contributions. Six weeks paid vacation annually.

Submit cover letter and resume to: info@cvae.net Position Open Until Filled. cvae.net

5v-CentralVTEDTeacher040126.indd

HOME HEALTH AIDE (CAREGIVER)

We are looking for a person who can patiently assist clients with accessing supports as well as a talent for organizing events - from informational meetings to safety presentations to luncheons. A large portion of our clientele live in senior housing in Winooski, though others live independently in their home in the City.

This is a twenty hour a week position, offering $23 - $25 per hour commensurate with experience. If you love seniors, enjoy talking about the past, and can navigate the challenges of enrolling people in programs. This will be a rewarding experience. please send a cover letter and resume to Susan Perkins at: sperkins@winooskihousing.org.

Loving Home Care LLC seeks a Home Health Aide (Caregiver) to provide non-medical, in-home personal care services to elderly and disabled clients.

Duties: Assist with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, mobility, and transfers; provide companionship; prepare meals; perform light housekeeping related to client care; provide medication reminders (non-medical); observe and report changes in client condition; maintain service documentation; comply with HIPAA, Vermont regulations, and company policies.

Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; completion of required Vermont caregiver or Home Health Aide training, as applicable; ability to read, write, and communicate in English; valid driver’s license and reliable transportation; ability to pass background checks; authorization to work in the U.S.

Location: 22 Bissette Drive, Colchester, VT 05446. Services are provided at client residences throughout Vermont.

Full-Time.

Send resume to: amanga@lovinghomecare.net

Visit us at www.lovinghomecare.net

Production Services Coordinator

The Media Factory Production Services Coordinator works with production staff to record and deliver high quality video productions and support the needs of our community. They schedule and coordinate studio production shifts, community municipal meetings and events, as well as direct, shoot, edit, and help coordinate fee-for-service projects, as assigned. This person has a strong commitment to the field of community media and to the principles of Free Speech.

Compensation range of $20.00$21.00/hr plus benefits

See complete job description at mediafactory.org/careers

The Media Factory is an E.O.E. and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. 3v-TheMediaFactory040826.indd 1 4/2/26

TRIVIA HOSTS

AND OTHER PUB ACTIVITIES

Seeking responsible, engaging, quick witted and charismatic individuals to host weekly trivia night programs and other events! We’ll provide everything needed to run a successful trivia night, including proper training. Hosting is a great way to earn some fun money, entertain a crowd, and become a “local celebrity.”

We are looking for hosts in the following areas:

SOUTH BURLINGTON, STOWE, ST ALBANS, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Compensation: This is a part time position. Competitive pay with opportunity to host additional accounts.

To apply, please email resume to: INFO@PUBGEEKS.COM

Development and Outreach Coordinator

Salary: $47,840 – $54,080 annually ($23–$26/hr), based on experience

Status: Full time (40 hours), nonexempt, hourly, In office, Burlington

Benefits: Health/Dental/Vision; Health Savings Account (HSA); Family and Medical Leave Insurance; Paid Time Off

The Coordinator is a key member of CCTV's leadership team, working closely with the Executive Director and staff to sustain and grow the organization's community impact. This position supports and implements CCTV's fundraising and revenue goals, builds meaningful relationships with donors and community partners, and ensures that CCTV's work (Town Meeting TV, CCTV Productions, CCTV Archives, Media Education) is visible, wellcommunicated, and compellingly represented to the public.

Submit cover letter and resume to morourke@cctv.org

Workplace Experience Coordinator

Are you the kind of person who notices the little things that make a big di erence? VIP is seeking a Workplace Experience Coordinator to be the heart and soul of our Colchester o ce. You won’t just be “managing a facility”— you’ll be crafting a ﬁve-star environment where our team can do their best work. Think of yourself as a mix between a high-end hospitality pro and an o ce superhero! Here’s what you’ll do:

Fuel the Team: Keep the co ee ﬂowing and the kitchens sparkling. You’re the reason the morning rush feels seamless.

Own the Space: Ensure our meeting rooms and common areas are always “client-ready.” From pristine whiteboards to perfectly stocked restrooms, you set the standard.

Be the Fixer: You’ll anticipate needs before they become problems—whether it’s a quick furniture reset for a big event or ensuring the tech & snacks are ready to go.

Jump In: Support the café team and keep the o ce aesthetic sharp through light maintenance and high-touch care.

Why You’re a Great Fit:

• You’re Proactive: You see a mess or a low stock level and handle it before anyone else notices.

• You Love Details: A crooked chair or a smudged counter bothers you—you take pride in a “perfect” room.

• You’re High-Energy: You enjoy staying active and moving throughout the day (lifting up to 40 lbs is no sweat for you).

• You Have Experience: 1–3 years in hospitality, retail, or o ce services.

Location: Colchester, VT | Compensation: $19–$22/hour Schedule: Full-time (30–40 hours/week)

Ready to join us? If you’re a pro at multi-tasking and passionate about maintaining good vibes, we want to meet you! Apply here: public.vtinfo.com/careers. Questions? careers@vtinfo.com

Director of Public Policy, Communications, and Waste Diversion

CSWD is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Public Policy, Communications, and Waste Diversion. This role guides a dynamic department that connects policy, public engagement, and data-driven strategies to advance the District’s mission and goals. The Director will lead efforts in communications, marketing, outreach, compliance, and safety, while shaping and advancing solid waste policy at the local, state and national levels. The Director will work closely with internal and external stakeholders, to research, develop, and analyze strategies that advance the District’s goals through program initiatives, legislative engagement, and regulatory processes.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership experience and a demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff. They will have a proven track record of collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to engage, educate, and build strong relationships with state and local officials and legislators. Experience in solid waste management and policy, particularly Extended Producer Responsibility, is preferred. The Director will oversee two managers and support waste diversion initiatives grounded in research and data gathered by the Director and their team. This includes analyzing consumer behavior and waste composition to inform outreach strategies, and evaluation of program effectiveness to drive ongoing improvement and measurable results.

Bachelor’s degree in related field with five to seven years of public policy experience and solid waste management preferred. Starting salary range: $100,000-$125,000. For more information on the position, visit cswd.net/ about-cswd/job-openings. Submit cover letter/resume to Amy Jewell: ajewell@cswd.net. Deadline: 4.17.2026

Delivery Drivers Wanted

Want to be a hero every Wednesday? Need some cash? Get paid to drive through beautiful Vermont scenery, while delivering Vermont's most beloved newspaper! The only requirements are a clean driving record (no major violations), availability on Wednesdays, a reliable vehicle (at least full-size sedan or larger), ability to lift 15 pounds and a positive attitude. If you can check all these boxes, we want you to join the Seven Days circulation team. We pay hourly plus mileage reimbursement.

Email circ@sevendaysvt.com. No phone calls, please.

Seven Days is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Director of Youth Education

Sage Mountain is seeking a Director of Youth Education with deep roots in nature-based learning and the administrative expertise to lead a licensed, specialized childcare program.

Compensation: $57,500 annually (exempt), commensurate with experience, paid biweekly, with benefits eligible after 90 days. We require a minimum two years of demonstrated experience in nature education, youth programming, community building, or a closely related field, along with a valid driver's license and reliable transportation for unpaved roads through all Vermont seasons. Certification or degree in a related field and strong working knowledge of — or demonstrated readiness to master — Vermont Child Development Division licensing regulations and Specialized Care designation requirements are essential.

EOE: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background check and fingerprinting as required by state regulations. To Apply: review full details and submit your application at sagemountain.com/now-hiring

Town Treasurer/

Financial Director

Plainfield, Vermont, a town of about 1400 people, seeks a full time Town Treasurer and Finance Director to oversee the Town’s finances, fulfilling the statutory duties of a VT Town Treasurer, and other duties. Our annual operating budget is currently just under $2 million.

Status: Full time, salary range $55,000 – $60,000, commensurate with experience, generous benefit package.

Job Summary: The Treasurer and Finance Director is responsible for the town finances, works under the direction of the Select Board, and works with the Assistant Treasurer to ensure all functions are being completed. Responsibilities include design and implementation of overall financial procedures, tax collection, payroll, bank deposits, setting of tax rates with Listers and Select Board, oversight of procurement, budget development, audit preparation, and reporting to the Select Board on the budget and town funds, and financial aspects of grants, including reporting requirements.

Job description: plainfieldvt.gov. To apply: Selectboard7@plainfieldvt.gov

Fireﬁghter/EMTs

Stowe Fire Rescue

Stowe Fire Rescue is building a modern, disciplined Fire & EMS department, and we’re looking for people who want more than just a paycheck. We want motivated professionals ready to work, improve, and be part of a team that shows up. Stop sitting on the sidelines. If you want a job that matters, this is it.

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:

WHAT YOU GET

• 42-hour work week, 12 and 24-hour shifts

• 5 day stretches oﬀ every month

• Competitive pay (may be based on qualiﬁcations & experience)

Fireﬁghter/EMT $25.39-$27.48

Fireﬁghter/AEMT $26.49-$28.67

Fireﬁghter/Paramedic $28.00-$30.31

• Overtime opportunities

• Robust beneﬁts including health and dental, paid leave, VMERS D pension and more

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Fire suppression, EMS response & patient care, Rescue operations

• Train hard and operate as part of a professional team

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Fireﬁghter Level I

• NREMT* (Paramedic certiﬁcation desired)

• Valid driver’s license

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• CPAT certiﬁcation within 6 months of hire

•*AEMT certiﬁcation within 2 years of hire (dept. support available)

WHY STOWE FIRE RESCUE

• We are building for the future

• Strong leadership, clear expectations, and high standards

• A department that invests in its people and training

• Work that matters every shift

THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF

• You are motivated

• You want to be part of something bigger

• You are ready to work and be part of a dependable team

More information can be found at stowevt.gov/jobs Submit cover letter and resume to recruit@stowevt.gov

Application deadline: May 1, 2026. The Town of Stowe is an E.O.E.

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 – 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.

Media Facilities Manager

The Media Facilities Manager manages our Public Access production facilities (including TV & radio studios, edit suites, the equipment room, and digital media storage) to support use by Media Factory community producers and for Media Factory productions. They act as a project manager to lead efforts to assess, innovate, and document all in-house installations to improve usability. They also lead training efforts to support facility usage by staff and community members. This person has a strong commitment to the field of community media and to the principles of Free Speech.

Compensation range of $24.00 –$25.00/hr plus benefits

See complete job description at mediafactory.org/careers

Executive Director

The Mitzvah Fund seeks its first full-time executive director to serve as the chief executive officer. They will be responsible for advancing the organization’s mission through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, operational oversight, and community engagement. In a co-pilot partnership with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director ensures organizational sustainability, excellence in animal care, and meaningful community impact. This position is located in Central Vermont with a salary range of $65,000-$85,000 starting commensurate with experience.

For more information: themitzvahfundvt.org/jobs

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to: jobs@themitzvahfundvt.org

Case Manager/Clinician

Youth Coaches; Drop-In, Shelter & Supported Housing positions

Respite

Senior Activity Center Director

Do you believe that vibrant community life doesn't stop at retirement age? The City of Montpelier is looking for an energetic, people-centered leader to direct the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC) — a welcoming hub where older adults take classes, share meals, attend events, and stay connected.

Senior Activity Center Director

Seeking Big Hearts to Shape Little Minds

As MSAC Director, you'll oversee all center operations — from membership and programming to budget management and community partnerships. You'll also lead the City's FEAST senior nutrition program, delivering congregate and home-delivered meals to eligible residents. This is a department head position, meaning you'll have a seat at the table in citywide policy and budget discussions.

What you'll do

Are you the person who can turn a cardboard box into a spaceship? Do you believe that “why?” is the most exciting question in the world? If you’ve got patience for days and a laugh that’s contagious, we want to meet you!

What you'll do

Programs & Events: Manage and develop classes, workshops, drop-in groups, and facility rentals

Lead a team including staff, interns, AmeriCorps workers, & volunteers

VIP’s Roots Early Education Center is looking for passionate, energetic, and nurturing CHILD CARE TEACHERS to join our team and make a real di erence in the lives of our littlest explorers.

Why You’ll Love It Here:

• The Best Coworkers: They’re all under four feet tall, incredibly creative, and always happy to see you

Programs & Events: Manage and develop classes, workshops, drop-in groups, and facility rentals

Lead a team including staff, interns, AmeriCorps workers, & volunteers

• Growth Opportunities: We value your expertise and provide the tools and environment for you to reﬁne your craft and take your career in early childhood education to the next level

Oversee budgets, grants, annual appeals, donor relations, and planned giving

Oversee budgets, grants, annual appeals, donor relations, and planned giving Produce newsletters, class guides, promotional materials, and annual reports

Build relationships that strengthen MSAC's mission and reach

Serve as staff liaison to MSAC's Advisory Council and committees

Oversee budgets, grants, annual appeals, donor relations, and planned giving Produce newsletters, class guides, promotional materials, and annual reports Build relationships that strengthen MSAC's mission and reach Serve as staff liaison to MSAC's Advisory Council and committees

Produce newsletters, class guides, promotional materials, and annual reports

• Play with a Purpose: Your “o ce” is a world of art, stories, and adventures

Build relationships that strengthen MSAC's mission and reach

• Competitive Perks: Health insurance, paid time o , 401k contributions, paid parental leave, and on-site ﬁtness centers, health clinic and cafe

Serve as staff liaison to MSAC's Advisory Council and committees

What we're looking for

Compensation begins at $23.00 - $25.00/hour

What we're looking for

· Bachelor's degree in a related field, plus significant administrative experience in a public or nonprofit setting

What You’ll Do:

· Bachelor's degree in a related field, plus significant administrative experience in a public or nonprofit setting

• Create a safe “home away from home” environment

· Experience with programming and membership management; familiarity with aging services is a strong plus

• Lead hands-on activities that spark curiosity (think: ﬁnger painting, music, and science experiments)

· Experience with programming and membership management; familiarity with aging services is a strong plus

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident presenter and relationship-builder

• Be a hero to parents by providing peace of mind and daily updates

• Navigate the highs (ﬁrst words) & the lows (spilled milk) with grace & a smile

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Canva, Publisher, or similar design tools a bonus

· Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical skills; experience working in local government is a plus

Are You The One? We aren’t just looking for a resume; we’re looking for a vibe. You’re a great ﬁt if:

· Strategic thinker with strong organizational and analytical skills; experience working in local government is a plus

• You have a genuine love for early childhood education

• You’re a master at multitasking (and snack-dispensing)

Compensation & benefits: This is an exempt salaried position starting at $84,385.60 with a full benefits package per the City of Montpelier Personnel Plan.

• You’re dependable, kind, and ready to get a little messy

Send cover letter/resume to tchambers@montpelier-vt.org by April 20, 2026.

Compensation & benefits: This is an exempt salaried position starting at $84,385.60 with a full benefits package per the City of Montpelier Personnel Plan. Send cover letter/resume to tchambers@montpelier-vt.org by April 20, 2026.

The City of Montpelier is an equal opportunity employer. To apply learn more, contact the City of Montpelier Community Services Department.

The City of Montpelier is an equal opportunity employer. To apply or learn more, contact the City of Montpelier Community Services Department.

• You’re CPR Certiﬁed, background check-ready, enjoy professional development and love to work in a positive team environment

The City of Montpelier is an equal opportunity employer. To apply or learn more, contact the City of Montpelier Community Services Department.

Ready to join the fun? Don’t just take a job, start a journey. Apply here: public.vtinfo.com/careers. Questions? careers@vtinfo.com

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” — Dr. Seuss

Scan QR code to apply.

Staff Burlington & St Albans

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR

Green Mountain Technology & Career Center is seeking a dynamic and collaborative instructor to lead its Engineering program beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. This full-day, hands-on program serves primarily 11th and 12th grade students and focuses on engineering design, problem solving, and real-world application.

The instructor will lead a project-based curriculum that integrates design, prototyping, manufacturing processes, and applied math and science. The program includes the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering pathway; training and ongoing support will be provided.

Students engage in authentic engineering challenges while developing skills in collaboration, critical thinking, and technical communication. The program also emphasizes partnerships with local industry and postsecondary institutions.

Preferred qualifications:

• Background in engineering, mathematics, or a related STEM field

• Industry or applied engineering experience

• CAD experience (Fusion 360 or similar)

• Prototyping, fabrication, or machining experience (manual or CNC)

• Interest in robotics, automation, or additive manufacturing

• Experience with project-based learning and/or mentoring youth

Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field or have equivalent industry experience and be eligible for Vermont CTE licensure. Industry professionals interested in transitioning to teaching are strongly encouraged to apply; support for licensure is provided.

If you are passionate about developing the next generation of engineers and problem-solvers, we encourage you to apply.

Green Mountain Tech is a career and technical education center serving students in grades 10–12, where students prepare for college and careers through hands-on learning, real-world projects, and strong industry and postsecondary partnerships. Students have opportunities to earn high school credit, college credit, and industry-recognized credentials.

Green Mountain Tech is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Red House Building is hiring reliable craftspeople to join our custom-home building team.

Woodworker/Cabinetmaker:

Seeking an experienced woodworker/ cabinetmaker for a full-time, mid-level bench position in our Colchester shop. We specialize in custom cabinetry, fine furniture, doors, and built-ins. Finish carpentry or custom woodworking experience required. $28–$35/hr. Generous benefits included.

Home Services Carpenter: Seeking a full-time carpenter/ handy-person for our Home Services team. Responsibilities: small building projects, home maintenance and repairs, home performance troubleshooting, and subcontractor coordination. Requirements: 3+ years carpentry experience and knowledge of home building & renovation, basic mechanical systems, and drywall/ painting. Valid driver’s license required. $30/hr+ DOE. Company vehicle and benefits included.

Learn more at redhousebuilding.com/were-hiring or send your resume to stacy@redhousebuilding.com.

Financial Manager

The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) seeks a finance manager to join our team of dedicated professionals in a public service organization. Responsibilities include management of CVRPC financial accounts, organizational budget development and oversight, development of indirect cost rate proposals, financial reporting to the executive director and Executive Committee, grant budgets and contract management, financial aspects of grant reporting, management of payroll and staff benefits, annual audit preparation, and general oversight of office financial operations. Knowledge of QuickBooks Accounting Software is required. Knowledge of federal or state grants management is a plus.

Please submit cover letter, resume & contacts for 3 professional references to jobs@cvregion.com. Reference “Finance Manager” and your last name in the subject line. The hourly wage range is $36.06 to $52.88, dependent on qualifications. This position will remain open until it is filled. A review of applications will begin 4/13/26. A complete job description is available at centralvtplanning.org. CVRPC is an E.O.E. and maintains a drug-free workplace.

Summer Camp Leader

Seasonal: June 15–Aug 30

Mon–Fri, 8am–4:30pm

Help lead our youth arts camps in South Pomfret!

Pay: $24–$27/hr

Requires 3+ years of educational/childcare experience, leadership skills, and CPR certification. Passion for arts a plus.

Apply: programming@ artistreevt.org or visit artistreevt.org/employment.

Summer Camp Forest Mentor

Join EarthWalk to work with kids in the forest this summer in Danville VT! We are currently hiring a Camp Forest Mentor for 6 weeks of summer.

See the full job description at: EarthWalkTogetherVT.org/ JobOpenings. Interested candidates should email letter of interest, resume, and three references to admin@ earthwalktogethervt.org

“If you want to work in an environment of growth, collaboration and engagement CCS is the place for you!”

- Wendy

EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST

Bridging

Be an Employment Specialist at an award-winning agency and help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, tuition assistance and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for eight years in a row. Join our team today!

and Job Coach

Parker,

Assistant

Administrative Assistant

We’re looking for an Administrative Assistant to join our team. This role is a good fit for someone who’s organized, friendly, and comfortable handling a mix of day-to-day tasks.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Answer and direct incoming phone calls

• Schedule appointments and manage calendars

• Maintain friendly and professional communication with clients and other professional offices

• Provide general administrative support to the team

This is a full-time position of M-TH in-office and remote on Friday. The firm is open to considering a part-time position for the right candidate. Pay range is $20-$25 per hour.

Full-time employees

eligible for:

• Health insurance

• Paid time off & paid holidays

• 401(k) with employer match after two years

• Long-term disability coverage

Email resumes to: office@vtelaw.com

4v-Jarrett&Hoyt040826.indd 1 4/3/26 3:03 PM

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.

Comfort Advisor/Sales

Jay Mechanical, a plumbing and HVAC company with 18+ years in business is now hiring!

Residential HVAC Salesperson. We've built our reputation by doing things the right way – for our customers and for the people who work here. We are at a turning point. Ownership is focused on growing the commercial side and we're looking for the right person to step in and take ownership of the residential HVAC sales. We are looking for someone to meet with homeowners and help them make the right HVAC decisions (boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, A/C systems) and who can work closely with a team that communicates, follows through and supports each other.

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.

Thrive in your first year. Apply now at NVRH.org/careers

Facilities Repairperson

Join the University of Vermont’s Housing & Dining Services team and make a direct impact on the lives of residential students! As a Facilities Repairperson, you’ll help maintain safe, functional, and welcoming living environments across our residence halls.

The ideal candidate has a high school diploma and at least 4 years of experience in general maintenance and/or carpentry, familiarity with finish carpentry tools, and the ability to lift 50 lbs. A valid Vermont driver’s license (or ability to obtain one) is required, along with the ability to complete 16hour asbestos awareness & Vermont Essential Maintenance Practices training.

This is a full-time, Monday–Friday position. Hours are 7:00 AM–3:30 PM during the academic year and 6:00 AM–2:30 PM in the summer. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

This position is full-time, year-round, and is benefits-eligible.

Salary Range: $42,240 - $46,800

✓ Health, dental, and vision insurance

✓ Tuition remission for employees and eligible dependents

✓ 45+ days vacation, sick time, and holidays

✓ Retirement plan, Relocation stipend

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform general carpentry and interior repairs, including furniture, windows, walls, and fixtures across residence halls

• Conduct weekly walkthrough inspections and document maintenance concerns using the Planon work order system

• Coordinate and complete student-submitted maintenance requests, prioritizing response time and customer service

• Inspect student rooms during move-out and prepare spaces for the next occupancy cycle

• Supervise and mentor seasonal summer maintenance staff, demonstrating safe work procedures and assigning tasks

Apply online at uvmjobs.com/postings/85900

What makes you the right candidate?

• You have some experience in the HVAC trade

• You are a great communicator

• You can take ownership of the residential sales pipeline and help it grow

• You have a leadership mentality

• Ability to operate independently & make sound business decisions

What we offer:

• Full benefit package including health, dental, 401(K) and PTO

• Strong earning potential (base + commission or performance-based structure)

• Direct impact on company growth and direction

• Company vehicle or allowance.

OTHER POSITIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE: HVAC service tech, licensed plumber, HVAC Installer.

Please send letter of interest and/or resume to Jason@JayMechanical.com

Live-in Mentor for Outgoing Young Adult Autistic Male

Seeking mentor-housemate to reside 5 days/week with 27-year-old autistic male in refurbished home in Burlington’s New North End, near bike path and lake access.

Ideal candidate is positive, engaging, patient, committed, creative, compassionate, and mature with a love of life, conversation, and ability to create clear boundaries. Assist this enthusiastic, intelligent male in increasing independent living and socialization skills, expanding community engagement, leisure activities, possibly supporting work experiences.

Collaborate with our team in this dynamic, supported living arrangement including a private bedroom. Individual resides weekends in the home with a peer-mentor in a thriving relationship.

Salary: up to $83,000 per year. Howard Center contract.

(No benefits; possible health stipend.)

Your new housemate loves exploring communities, walking, swimming, reading, traveling, movies, making & listening to music, collecting books, discussing history and current affairs, cooking, eating out, with dreams to have a food truck. Pizza Friday and Taco Tuesday are musts. Born in Montréal, with Brazilian roots, he’s a citizen of the world.

Share decision-making & responsibilities with support and guidance while co-creating a predictable, low-key, yet engaging environment. Someone with a relaxed, grounded, easygoing demeanor, quick mind, & creative spirit will be a good fit. Position includes sizable bedroom, semi-private bathroom, access to deck and garden, near bus routes, Greenway, groceries, and restaurants. (Family lives in same neighborhood.)

Please send resumé/inquiries: roberts.donna@mac.com, or call 802/355-3033, 239/771-9759

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

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

This position conducts financial reviews and provides training in

for childcare centers and nonprofit organizations involved in the Child & Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. If you have a background in auditing or accounting and want to use that knowledge for meaningful work ensuring children and older adults have access to nutritious meals, we invite you to apply! Up to 2 days/week of work from home, subject to manager approval. For more information, contact Rosie Krueger at mary.krueger@vermont.gov. Location: Montpelier. Department: Education. Status: Full Time. Minimum Salary: $27.50. Maximum Salary: $42.94. Job ID #54699. Application Deadline: April 12, 2026.

GO HIRE.

Job Recruiters:

• Post jobs using a form that includes key info about your company and open positions (location, application deadlines, video, images, etc.).

• Accept applications and manage the hiring process via our applicant tracking tool.

• Easily manage your open job listings from your recruiter dashboard.

Job Seekers:

• Search for jobs by keyword, location, category and job type.

• Set up job alert emails using custom search criteria.

• Save jobs to a custom list with your own notes on the positions.

• Apply for jobs directly through the site. jobs.sevendaysvt.com Get a quote when you post online or contact Gillian Comito: 802-341-3060, GComito@sevendaysvt.com.

fun stuff

HARRY BLISS & STEVE MARTIN

JULIANNA BRAZILL

KYLE BRAVO

JEN SORENSEN

ARIES

(MAR. 21-APR. 19)

Unexpected deliverance? Lucky rides? Beginner’s grace? Dreamy, gleaming replacements? To the untrained eye, it may look like you are bending cosmic law in your favor. In truth, you’re simply redeeming the backlog of blessings you earned in the past — acts of quiet generosity and unselfish hardship that never got their proper reward. Serendipitous leaps? Divine detours? Shortcuts to victory? Welcome the uncanny gifts, Aries, even if they’re not what you expected.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): The current phase of your destiny could disturb you if you’re not super patient. Life seems to be teasing you with promises that then go into hiding. You’ve been having to master the art of living on the edge between the BIG RED YES and the GRAY MURKY NO. My advice: Imagine your predicament as an intriguing riddle, not a frustrating ambiguity. See if you can figure out how to grow wiser and stronger in response to the evasive mysteriousness. My prediction: You will grow wiser and stronger.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Why it’s always triple-great to be a Gemini, drawing on an abundance of mercurial wisdom: 1) You excel at the art of translation and are skilled at finding common ground between different realms. You can oscillate and flow between the lyrical and the pragmatic, the insightful and the comic, the detailed focus and the

big picture. 2) You know that consistency is overrated. Your capacity to harbor multiple perspectives is a superpower. 3) You get to be both the question and the answer, proving that wholeness includes all the fragments. All the aptitudes I just named should be your featured approaches in the coming weeks.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): The saga of Troy is one of the most renowned tales from ancient Greece. Yet the fabled setting of Homer’s epic tale The Iliad was a settlement of just seven acres. Let that detail resound for you in the coming weeks. It’s an apt metaphor for what’s taking shape in your life. A seemingly modest situation could become the stage for a mythic turning point. An experience that starts small may grow into a story of immense and lasting significance.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Many people have a favorite number they regard as lucky. Some choose it because it showed up at a major turning point in their life. Others derive it from their birthday or from the numerology of their name. Plenty are drawn to “master numbers” such as 33, 77 or 99. Personally, I give three numbers my special love: 555; the square root of -2; and 1.61803, also known as the golden ratio in Fibonacci-related patterns. I hope this nudges your imagination, Leo. Your fortunes are shifting now in the direction of an unusual kind of luck, so it’s a potent moment to select a new lucky number. I suggest that you also choose a new guiding animal, a fresh initiation name and a charged symbol to serve as your personal emblem.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Do you know what ignorance is causing you to suffer? Is there a teacher or teaching that could provide an antidote? I suspect you are very close to attracting or stumbling upon the guidance you need to escape the fog: maybe a therapist who can help you undo a hurtful pattern, a mentor to inspire your quest to do work you long to do or a spiritual friend who reminds you that you’re not merely your latest drama. Your task in the coming weeks is not to obsess on fixing everything at once but to seek one or two sources of wisdom that illuminate your blind spots and educate your heart.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): I’m an honorary Libra, with three planets and my lunar north node in your sign. So I speak with authority when I declare that fostering harmony, which is a Libran gift, is only superficially about smoothing away friction and asymmetry. More importantly, it’s about rearranging reality so that beauty is a central feature. The goal is to accomplish practical wonders by stimulating grace and fluency. When I’m best expressing my Libra qualities, I don’t ask how I can please everyone but rather how I can serve maximum goodness and intelligence. Here’s another tip to being a potent Libra: Know that your enchanting charm is a lubricant for the truth, not mere decoration. Here’s your homework: Beautify one system you use every day so it serves you with less friction and more pleasure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are potentially an expert in creative destruction. You have a knack for eliminating what’s unnecessary and even obstructive. What has outlived its usefulness? You’re prone to home in on energy drains and unleash transformative energy. And yes, this intensity of yours may unnerve people who prefer comfortable numbness — but not me. I love you to exult in your talent for locating beauty and truth that are too complicated for others. I applaud you when you descend into the darkness to retrieve dicey treasures. PS: You’re not shadowy or negative. You’re a specialist in the authentic love that refuses to enable delusion or sanction decay.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My Sagittarian friend Artemisia bemoans “the scarcity of collective delight.” She wishes there were more public acclaim for stories about breakthrough joys, miraculous marvels and surprising healings. Why are we so riveted by reports of misery, malaise and muck yet so loath to recognize and celebrate everything that’s working really well? She also mourns the odd habit among some educated folks to mistake cynicism for brilliance. If you don’t mind, Sagittarius, I’m assigning you to be an antidote in the coming weeks. Your task is to gather an overflowing harvest of lavish pleasure, fun epiphanies and richly meaning-

ful plot twists. Don’t hoard any of it. Spread it around to everyone you encounter.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Id” is a psychoanalytic term. It’s the part of the psyche where basic instincts, needs and drives reside. On the one hand, the id supplies a huge charge of psychic energy. On the other hand, it mostly operates outside conscious awareness. Consider the implications: The fierce, pulsing center of your life force is largely hidden from you. Most of the time, that veil is protective. Encountering the id directly can be overwhelming or unsettling. But in the coming weeks, you Capricorns are poised to cultivate a more interesting and righteous relationship with your high-voltage core. Do you dare? Treat your id as a brilliant but untamed creature. Extend a careful, curious invitation for it to show you more about itself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In architecture, a “clerestory” is a high window that brings light into a space without compromising privacy. It illuminates without exposing. I suggest that you find metaphorical equivalents for clerestories, Aquarius. Look for ways to let spaciousness and brightness into your world without disturbing your boundaries. Your assignment is to avoid swinging between total lockdown and overexposure. The best option: strategic vulnerability and selective transparency. Allow people to see selected parts of you without giving them access to everything. Be both open and discriminating.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In 1903, the Wright brothers flew a primitive model of the first airplane. How did they prepare the way for their spectacular milestone? Their workshop was a bicycle shop, not a high-tech, state-of-the-art lab. By building and fixing bikes, they learned key insights about flying machines. The lesson for you, Pisces, is that mastery in one area may be transferable to breakthroughs in another. With this in mind, I invite you to evaluate how your current skills, including those you take for granted, might be repurposed. Methods you developed in one context could solve problems in another. You shouldn’t underestimate the value of what you already know.

WOMEN seeking...

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

WINDY DAY

I’m kind, curious, fun, vivacious, friendly, love nature and being outside. Like new adventures and to meet different people and talk to them. windyday 69, seeking: M

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

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

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

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,l

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

FUNNY, CONSIDERATE NATURE LOVER

I am looking for something that feels natural and effortless but keeps me coming back for more. I rarely take life seriously but also know when to be serious, if that tracks. I want happiness, peace and the company of someone who warms my soul! 98 percent content with my life, just missing my person. VTgirl06 33, seeking: M,l

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

EXCITEMENT WANTED IN LIFE

I am looking for friendship and companionship. I also want to show my partner that I will love and cherish him for the rest of my life. Would like to do some traveling or just staying at home, reading or doing my knitting, crocheting or playing cards or Wii bowling. Also like boating and fishing. Just want to be happy. DebbieSmith 82, 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

MONTRÉALER LOOKING TO BRANCH OUT!

I’m from Montréal, but I’m so touched by this website. I find the old-fashioned nature of a personal ad to be kind of beautiful. So in classic personal-ad fashion, I’m 29, F and a huge musichead, seeking similar. Must have an active Rate Your Music account and love long hikes up mountains and camping under the stars. Email me! myshka 29, seeking: M,l

HONEST, LOYAL COUNTRY GAL

I am not into game-playing, cheaters or addicts! Looking for friendship, compatibility and honesty! I have a small homestead; looking for someone who is interested in this way of life. I also am active: I like to hike, swim, walk, ride horses, backcountry ski. outdoorwomantoo, 66, seeking: M,l

FUN LOVING, YOUNG AT HEART

I have been called sweet, but I hold my ground when I feel betrayed and misunderstood. Any activity near or on water fills my soul. Have traveled both in the States and abroad. Looking for fun male partner to take advantage of all things Vermont and beyond. Lifesjourney 58 seeking: M,l

LOOKING FOR A FRIEND

I’m honest, caring and thoughtful. melriv66 59, seeking: M,l

MEN seeking...

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

LET’S ENJOY LIFE TOGETHER

Hi, I’m a kind, caring, easygoing guy, very responsible, hardworking, good heart. I like to bowl, golf, fish, travel; live music, concerts, hiking, kayaking, shows, movies. I’m positive — I enjoy life. Barry62, 61, seeking: W,l

OLD GYM GUY

Hello, hope your day is going well. gerrybiss, 60 seeking: W,l

GROUNDED AND READY TO SHARE

Fit mental health clinician who enjoys the outdoors. Comfortable by myself but enjoy spending time with friends. A deep thinker, I can usually find the humor and laughter in situations. Enjoy reading, cooking, games and watching movies. Love travel and experiencing different cultures. Well-grounded after becoming the person I want to be. I would love to share with someone else. zendorphin, 55, seeking: W,l

EXPERIENCED, EASYGOING, INVENTIVE

Retiring to Vermont from the state of Washington in order to be near my daughter and granddaughter in my “golden years.” Looking for friendship and connection. Will most likely be settling somewhere between Shelburne and Swanton. Looking for housing (daughter’s place is way full!) Any suggestions? Strider 72, seeking: W,l

CREATIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND ADVENTUROUS

Love life, laughter, hiking, the arts. Wind in my hair, nature and travel. My ideal companion is someone to share all these things and more. Jim 65 seeking: W,l

TRY ME

Very thick, very nerdy, very uninterested (in life) and very laughable. Perchance looking for goth baddie. You’ve had the rest, prepare for X. PBandJALLDay, 21, seeking: W,l

PEACEFUL, INTIMATE, STRONG, RESILIENT, RESPECTFUL

It says “honestly,” so here goes. I’m a 20. I just want the same peace that I wish on other people. I’m a bit hypersexual, but I love very deeply. I’m looking for anything, really. If it’s just a hookup, I’d prefer cuddles and pillow talk rather than a cold “got what I wanted, see ya.” Hearthand 20, seeking: W,l

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

I thought retiring in Florida was a good idea. It didn’t work. I’m moving back and would like to meet a woman who likes a casual bike ride, kayaking, snorkeling and discussing a myriad of topics. The world is too interesting. Maybe we can make sense of it together. Droid, 71, seeking: W,l

HONEST, SIMPLE, LOOKING FOR CONNECTION

Looking for companionship. Friends, maybe more. Someone to have coffee with, grab a bite to eat, watch a movie. Like being on the lake during summer and spending time camping. In winter, I am more of a homebody but like day trips and hanging out with friends. Not really into party scenes but will occasionally go out to see a band with friends. bowtie802, 59, seeking: W,l

LOOKING FOR AFFECTION

I’ll be brutally honest here. I’m stuck with a longtime housemate and business partner who has completely withdrawn her physical affections. She can’t or won’t explain why she changed. It’s very frustrating because I very much miss touching (and pleasing) a woman and being touched. Are you in a similar (mirror image) situation? Lovetouchingandbeingtouched 75, seeking: W

OUR TIME IS NOW

Hair might be gray, but the furnace still burns hot. Funny, smart, ambitious, compassionate, fun-loving and wellpreserved eclectic music lover still looking to kick out the jams; hasn’t stopped living and enjoying life and doesn’t intend to. Yes, our time is now. Would you like to join me for the ride? BrunchMan 64, seeking: W,l

LAID-BACK, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE

I haven’t had much luck online dating. Hopefully, this will help. ChefC, 46, seeking: W,l

LOOKING FORWARD

I’m active, youthful and grateful; hoping to find someone to share the joys of life. My part-time career leaves lots of time for family and fun and enjoying travel and new experiences. Life is good; let’s enjoy it together. South_Ender, 67, seeking: W,l

HONEST, CARING, LOVABLE

I love good food, good music and good people to share and enjoy them with. I’ve been told I’m a pretty good cook and love to. Love most Asian cuisines and am partial to American barbecue as well. I must have majored in barbecue! Look forward to hearing from you. Harry69802, 69, seeking: W,l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

LIFE SHAPED BY LABYRINTH

NB, queer, kinky, shy author and historian seeks friends, fellow artists and/or sex partners of all genders. Let’s make silly puns, talk about our creative work and bike around Burlington. If you want to hear about the imaginary, magical Vermont town of Hardship, the historical queers I keep finding or Jareth as role model, hit me up. ModernWizard, 47, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP,l

COUPLES seeking...

CURIOUS COUPLE LOOKING FOR FUN

Honest, hardworking married couple who love passion and soft touches. Looking for woman to fulfill lustful fantasy of woman-on-woman playtime. CplSeeking, 41 seeking: W 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

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

LADY IN RED

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

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 tie-dye 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

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

My partner and I have two dogs, but we don’t have the luxury of a fenced-in yard, so we share dog-walking duties. We live near a cemetery, and she thinks it’s perfectly ﬁne to walk the dogs on the cemetery grounds. I think it’s disrespectful, and I never go in there with them. I appreciate that she walks the dogs, and I don’t want to make a big deal about it, but who’s right?

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

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 (6-foot), 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

De Prop Puppy,

MADONNA CHAIRLIFT, SOGGY

SANDWICH DAD

I “stole” your pole in the lift line at Smuggs’ Presidents’ Week. You’re a divorced dad from Massachusetts with a backpack carrying inhalers and PB&Js. You have twin sons (M and H) and a daughter. We left the lift without sharing numbers. If you regret that too, please reach out. Know him? Pass along. — e mom who roasted your lunch. When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Where: Smugglers’ Notch Madonna I Chairlift. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916560

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

THE SADDEST LOVE STORY

Like Cathy and Heathcliff, / We are eternally doomed. / No matter how many women / You try to ﬁll the hole I left / In your heart, / None will ﬁt quite like me. / Whatever our souls are / Made of, yours and mine / Are the same. / Except you’re a monster / Who won’t be tamed. When: Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Where: Bakers. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916558

BHS VS. BFA AT COLCHESTER

I startled you when we both got out of our cars. We walked and waited in line together. I’m pretty sure I remember your name, and I am 100 percent sure you are naturally pretty. I have no idea what your status is, but if you wanted to meet for coffee, a drink, a walk — I feel like you’re worth asking. When: ursday, March 5, 2026. Where: Colchester High School. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916557

ICE FISHING A-FISH-IONADO

Hey, shy guy, thanks for “teaching” me how to ice ﬁsh at Perkins Pier at the poutine shanty. I asked you how many ﬁsh you caught, and your transitions lenses fogged up before you could answer. You really handled that Dewalt battery-powered auger with skill and precision. Drop me a line, hook and sinker. When: Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Where: Perkins Pier, Burlington. You: Man. Me: Gender nonconformist. #916556

GAP TOOTH, SUNRISE HIKE

Chatted brieﬂy with you on the summit of Camel’s Hump the morning of the eclipse as I petted your shepherdtype dog. I was with friends but wish I had lingered more. Saw you again as we raucously came back down the trail. I liked your energy and your gappy smile. Want to hike sometime? When: Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Where: Camel’s Hump. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916555

BODYSLAMMIN’ GREEN MOUNTAIN WRESTLING

We locked eyes after a wrestler ﬂew into the audience at the last GMW show at the Barre Elks. Are you going to Shamrocks & Headlocks on the 15th? I will buy you some chicken tendies, and we can watch the beefcakes go at it. You were wearing a John Cena T-shirt. Can I snap into your Slim Jim, ooooyeahhh? When: Sunday, February 1, 2026. Where: WinterSlam III, Barre Elks Lodge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916554

YOU ASKED ABOUT MY HOKAS e conversation and connection completely caught me off guard! I want to hear more about your work experiences, your disdain for the cold weather — everything! It would be great to meet and brainstorm how we can keep up this façade of acting like adults or maybe some fun things to do when nicer weather arrives? I hope so. When: Sunday, March 1, 2026. Where: Williston Road, South Burlington. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916553

WALLFLOWER WEEN

“Joppa Road” was OK, but I prefer “So Many People in the Neighborhood.” Very funky. When: Friday, February 20, 2026. Where: Wallﬂower. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916552

BOLTON VALLEY LIFTS

Lovely chairlift ride with you from Bethel, Vt. You are getting back into skiing after 20 years away from the sport. You and I are both teachers and respect the jobs we do. We talked about how uphill skiing might be something you are interested in. Maybe we could ski together for an evening? When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Where: Bolton Valley Resort. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916551

While cemeteries can be lovely green spaces to visit, they aren’t dog parks. Yet neither one of you is entirely right or wrong. It ultimately depends on the cemetery. Some cemeteries strictly prohibit dogs — excluding service dogs, of course. Others allow dogs as long as they are leashed and their person picks up any waste. You should be able to ﬁnd the rules of the one near you pretty easily. If you can’t ﬁnd anything posted — on the grounds or online — it’s fair to assume that dogs are allowed. Just follow some commonsense guidelines.

or monument is a big no-no, and I don’t even want to talk about pooping on a grave. When you’re dealing with dogs, accidents can easily happen, but do your best to

Make sure to keep the dogs on leash at all times and stay on the trails that go around the grave sites. Peeing on a gravestone

avoid those.

If there is a service happening in the cemetery, steer clear. I know I’d be happy to see a couple of random pooches at a funeral, but not everybody loves the fuzzy buddies.

One last note: Whenever visiting a cemetery — with or without canine company — it’s always a nice gesture to acknowledge the residents. A simple “Hello, everybody,” even silent, shows respect and warms up the resting place.

Good luck and God bless,

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. #1930

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

HOW TO

TO THESE

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. #1929

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

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

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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.

publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above.

readers

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

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, skinny-dipping, 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

Int net-Free Dating!

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

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

BELOW.

I’m a gay male, 65 y/o, seeking other gay men for friendship(s). Outgoing and fun-loving. Seeking real and intimate connections. Come on over for dinner, and let’s hang out. Dessert is on you! #L1920

50-y/o man seeking adorable, soft goddess over 30. I’m built like a Greek god, with impressive package, but only recently realized I’m beautiful. I want to be a special treat that you feel so lucky to unwrap, and I want you to feel the same. #L1914

I am a cross-dressing man, late 60s, youthful, very ﬁt, healthy, 150 lbs., 5’7”. Bottom, dress-up, femme cute! Want to meet other cross-dressers, trans people, men and men couples. Will text, exchange photos and bios if it is acceptable. #L1913

I’m a 72-y/o male seeking a female, 30-60. Looking for times together. Lunch, dinner, heels a plus at times. I can be a good listener; caring, sensitive. Phone number, please. #L1910

+ GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required conﬁdential info:

(MORE)

MAIL TO: SEVEN DAYS LOVE LETTERS • PO BOX 1164, BURLINGTON, VT 05402

OPTIONAL WEB FORM: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LOVELETTERS HELP: 802-865-1020, EXT. 161, LOVELETTERS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

An Evening of Poetry with Molly Johnsen

THU., APR. 9

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Lost in Translation | The Language of Hunger

FRI., APR. 10

ONLINE

Heloise & the Savoir Faire

FRI., APR. 10

STANDING STONE WINES, WINOOSKI

Foam Brewers Presents a Benefit Concert for Migrant Justice w/ Burning Monk

FRI., APR. 10

SEABA CENTER, BURLINGTON

Spring Tree Pruning Workshop

SAT., APR. 11

HORSFORD GARDENS & NURSERY, CHARLOTTE

French Macarons 101

SAT., APR. 11

RICHMOND COMMUNITY KITCHEN

SOLD OUT

Cook the Book: Julia Turshen’s 'Simply Julia' Workshop Featuring Chef Ariel Voorhees

SAT., APR. 11

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Solaris 'Blue Skies'

SAT., APR. 11

WATERBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Alimoany

SAT., APR. 11

MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

Vermont Spring Market

SAT., APR. 11

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX JUNCTION

April Cookie Decorating Class with Laura's Cookies

SUN., APR. 12

QUEEN CITY BREWERY, BURLINGTON

TURNmusic Presents Michael Arnowitt, Piano

SUN., APR. 12

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

Diana Fanning, Piano

SUN., APR. 12

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BURLINGTON

New Stage Players' Dramatic Reading Series

SUN., APR. 12

GRANGE HALL CULTURAL CENTER, WATERBURY

The State of Poetry with Bianca Stone: Louise Glück

TUE., APR. 14

PHOENIX BOOKS, BURLINGTON

Spell Jar Casting Night

WED., APR. 15

THE INKWELL EMPORIUM, BURLINGTON

The Night Shift - Dark Dance Party

FRI., APR. 17

THE UNDERGROUND - LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

Astral Underground 'Star Struck Gutz' Album Release

FRI., APR. 17

STANDING STONE WINES, WINOOSKI

Pulled Pork Sugo Featuring Emily's Home Cooking

SAT., APR. 18

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Nobby and Harpo Benefit Concert

SAT., APR. 18

RED BRICK MEETING HOUSE, WESTFORD