Seven Days, August 27, 2025 by Seven Days

LITTLE HELP?

State puts homeless

Power Drain

Hydropower facilities such as the one at Green River Reservoir are being pressed to make waterways healthier — which could mean less green energy

Sonido Mal Maiz heat up

WEEK

Wrangling Health Care Costs

emoji that

FLAT TIRE

93.5 feet

That was the level of Lake Champlain as of August 24 — the lowest on that date since 1950, according to NBC5.

State health care regulators will allow Vermont’s private insurers to raise premium rates again next year, though by far less than they originally sought. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, the state’s largest insurer, received permission to raise premium rates for individual and small group plans by about 9.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. e insurer had said it wanted hikes of 24 percent and 13.5 percent.

The Green Mountain Stage Race, a cycling competition held each Labor Day Weekend, won’t come to Burlington this year because of road construction. Bummer.

HELP, PLEASE

TOPFIVE

STILL STANDING

A commercial truck driver smashed into a barrier erected to keep people from crashing into the Miller’s Run covered bridge in Lyndon. The good news: It worked!

ON THE MARK

Vermont tourism o cials are requesting proposals for a new visual logo to use in marketing campaigns. It would replace the current branding image, “Moon Over Mountains.”

4. “Explosive Devices Trigger Street Closure in Downtown Burlington” by Colin Flanders. Police say they traced the devices to a 40-year-old man who was arrested this month for bringing a homemade pipe bomb to a Colchester jobsite.

5. “La Reprise Picks Up the Wine Baton in Burlington’s South End” by Melissa Pasanen. Owner Ari Sadri is adding his own stamp to the wine bar, shop and market that he previously managed as Dedalus.

TOWN

CRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Garlic Town Returns for Its 30th Year e beloved southern Vermont festival takes place in Bennington this Saturday, August 30, the Bennington Banner reported. e fest features garlic vendors, food trucks, live music and tractor rides. ousands of people are expected to attend.

COUNTRY CRUISERS

Vermonters love to track their visits to landmarks around the state: all 252 towns, every covered bridge, that tall ﬁling cabinet in Burlington’s South End.

But Marcie Gallagher and Betsy McGavisk are on a different quest. ey’re trying to visit every country store in the state by bike and are documenting their journey on Instagram under the handle @caniuseyourbathroomvt — a question they usually ask when they arrive at one of the stores.

“Every place we have gone has been wonderful, goofy, full of character, extremely hospitable and just a great place to take a break after riding a bike,” McGavisk said.

e duo deﬁnes a country store as a place that serves a variety of community needs and is independently owned.

“Most often, what makes a store a country store is that it’s a place where the community gathers,” Gallagher said.

e cyclists, who live in Burlington, have visited 53 stores so far. ey make a point of purchasing at least one item, such as pickled eggs, zucchini or sparklers.

They also stop at farmstands, co-ops and any other Vermonty store that catches their eye. On one weekend tour in Rutland County, they biked more than 100 miles, hitting six stores on the first day and seven the next.

Gallagher said Jericho Country Store had the best food, Maple Corner Community Store

in Calais had the best vibe and Ellie’s Farm Market in Berlin was home to the cutest dog. e pair has yet to reach Essex, Orleans and Windham counties. An upcoming trip involves riding a train to Brattleboro and biking home to Burlington. ey’ll visit plenty of country stores along the way. “ e way a general store supports the local economy is really unique,” Gallagher said. Artists can sell their creations; local farmers, their food. Customers’ money stays in town rather than being siphoned by a faraway corporation. “It’s different in every community, but at its most basic, they’re a way to make rural communities more sustainable and affordable to live in,” Gallagher said.

SAM HARTNETT

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

Marcie Gallagher and Betsy McGavisk

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

Matthew Roy

Sasha Goldstein

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

Hannah Bassett, Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders, Courtney Lamdin, 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

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros DIGITAL & VIDEO

Bryan Parmelee

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron SALES & MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Julia Maguire ADMINISTRATION

Marcy Stabile

Matt Weiner

Andy Watts

Gillian English

Sam Hartnett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan Adams, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Erik Esckilsen, Anne Galloway, Steve Goldstein, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Suzanne Podhaizer, Samantha Randlett, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Xenia Turner, Casey Ryan Vock 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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SUBSCRIPTIONS

‘IMAGINE’ THIS

On Saturday, August 16, my wife and I, along with a group of 40 or so Vermonters and several hundred Canadians, joined together on the U.S.-Canadian border in a powerful act of symbolic resistance to the Donald Trump regime and all it stands for [Last 7: “Thin Red Line,” August 20; “Vermonters and Canadians Express Solidarity at the Border,” August 16, online].

We stood — many of us holding signs of resistance to tyranny — on either side of the border between Vermont and Québec, between the United States and Canada, an imaginary line that an Indigenous woman speaker skillfully reminded us was drawn by colonizing powers across lands that had been occupied and protected for generations by Indigenous peoples.

The Canadian activist group Mères au front Cantons-de-l’Est had organized a highly educational and emotionally charged event that was to have ended with participants on both sides singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.” However, as the words of that gentle anthem of nonviolent resistance ﬁlled the air, dozens of Canadians spontaneously walked toward where we were standing on the U.S. side of the line. They approached with huge smiles, holding out their hands and arms, and soon we were all (not quite legally) joining hands and hearts across that imaginary line, tears in our eyes and lumps in our throats, experiencing viscerally that “none of us is alone,” that “we are one” in our determination to save our democracies from the autocratic forces that currently threaten us all.

Peter Kelman

MONTPELIER

HOMELESSNESS AND UNDERSTANDING

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Thank you for the excellent article [“Tent City,” August 13], and a big thanks to Neil Preston and Daniel “Jake” Payne for their kindness and compassion toward the homeless people they serve. In this very di cult time when so many individuals and families are forced to live on the streets, it is gratifying to read of two men who are willing to spend time with the homeless.

I believe that getting close to those who are living rough to understand their circumstances is critical. They are, after all, just people. In my opinion, if the city

councilors, selectboard members and town authorities who are so concerned about “cleaning up the streets” could leave their comfortable conference rooms and walk the streets with workers like Preston and Payne, they might learn of ways to actually change the situation. It seems ridiculous for those of us with resources and privilege to decide how we think homelessness and the problems of the marginalized should be resolved. We need to talk to people in those situations and ask them what they need and want. In my work at our food shelf, I have been honored to be able to listen to the homeless, mentally challenged and addicted people who come to us for food. I am constantly reminded that we are all people who want the same things: safety, community and respect.

Sally Stockwell, MD WILLISTON

‘LESS BAD’ IS GOOD

Nothing but gratitude and compassion for Neil Preston and Daniel “Jake” Payne as they “make it less bad” [“Tent City,” August 13].

Phil Gentile BERLIN

‘HOUSING

AND CARE FOR ALL’

Kudos to Neil Preston, Daniel “Jake” Payne and the City of Burlington for bringing humanity to understand and deal with homelessness [“Tent City,” August 13]. However, the only solution for homelessness is homes: permanent residences that people can a ord, often with the health care and mental health support they need.

fascism. People sacriﬁced for the good of the community and the country. Now we need to put our collective e ort into housing our neighbors. It will not be easy, but it can be done if we commit to a longterm goal of housing and care for all in our state.

Nathaniel Beyer HYDE PARK

Beyer is director of development and communications for the Lamoille Community House.

IN BURLINGTON, ‘WISHING’ ISN’T ENOUGH

Attempts to shu e people into temporary situations, whether in hotels or shelters, work best as the initial link in a chain that includes subsidized and supported permanent housing. Across Vermont, that is the weakest link in the chain. Waiting for the housing that is available to open up can take months or even years in Lamoille County. As in most of the country, housing creation has lagged behind housing need for years. Restrictive zoning inhibits development, and the costs of building continue to climb.

Meanwhile, in Lamoille County, we are seeing an older and sicker population experiencing homelessness, similar to Stephen in this article. Like him, many of these folks have multiple serious health issues, including dementia. They will not survive long in unhoused conditions. And most of them are born-and-bred Vermonters.

During World War II, America came together to fund a war e ort that defeated

I read with interest the story about the urban park rangers and the problems created by the surge of encampments around Burlington [“Tent City,” August 13]. Housing and homelessness are two signiﬁcant and vexing problems facing Burlington. Mayor Emma MulvaneyStanak lists them as two of her highestpriority areas. It is surprising, then, that during the city’s recent sta layo s, the housing staff at the city’s Community & Economic Development Office was reduced by 50 percent, including the nonreappointment of director Brian Pine, who had decades of housing and municipal government expertise. Since then, another housing sta member resigned. With three-quarters of the housing sta gone, 90-plus years of Burlington-speciﬁc housing expertise went out the door. The team of two tasked to address homelessness was reduced to one in the layo s. Literally, there are now two sta members devoted to housing and homelessness; they are dedicated and doing the best they can.

Meanwhile, the “senior adviser on housing strategy” the mayor promised to appoint is on hold because of the accounting mistake her sta made and the need to make up for that additional deﬁ cit. While it is clear the city had a budget deﬁcit and needed to make cuts, there is

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Hi, I’m Victoria.

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Power Drain

NEWS+POLITICS 14

A Map for the Future

As a state task force ponders consolidation, some school districts are forging ahead with new, voluntary partnerships

Burlington Men’s Clothier Michael Kehoe Dies

Asylum Angst

Volunteers helping asylum seekers in the Northeast Kingdom face a perilous new immigration landscape

Is Homelessness a Local Matter?

Many of the people evicted from the state’s motel program now live in tents. e governor says that’s a municipal issue.

City Council Approves Plan to Increase Park Enforcement

FEATURES 26

Man of Convictions

A new book recounts how a gay Jewish lawyer in postwar Germany brought Nazi war criminals to justice

ARTS+CULTURE 42

Library Card

eater review: A Distinct Society, Weston eater Company

Vermont’s Lake Monster Finds a Home at ECHO Leahy Center

Small-Batch Wonder

Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur brews rare beer in the Northeast Kingdom

Home, Sweet Home

Corrine Yonce’s brash, sensitive works explore memory and place

Ceramicist Dave Zackin

Brings Cheap Thrills to Kishka Gallery

Bringing It All

Back Home

Costa Rican musician Maiz Vargas Sandoval on his Burlington band’s new album, Art Hop and relaunching Latin Heritage Month in the Queen City

FOOD+ DRINK

Here for Kumpir

Bistro

Everybody Loves Phil ree questions for Phil Rosenthal of “Somebody Feed Phil” ahead of his Burlington show Garden Lessons

Plants and community grow at Lyman C. Hunt

Anne and I decided to make Vermont our home after graduating from UVM in the early ‘70s. We’ve been making and serving delicious foods ever since — especially chocolates!

For many, the journey to discovering our chocolates begins at the Church Street Marketplace. For us, it was great to have our daughter Ellen and son Eric experience the retail side of our business during their high school years. Having a retail store in downtown Burlington since 1996 has played a vital role in building our brand and connecting us with the community.

Like any business, Burlington and the Marketplace has had its share of challenges, its own ups and downs — periods of vacancies, construction, parking, and homelessness to name a few. But get here and you will find the charm and warmth of so many amazing restaurants and retailers. Friends and visitors say it’s one of the coolest shopping experiences in the country! So let’s embrace what we have and return to the Church Street Marketplace more often! — Jim Lampman

Down a dirt road in Albany, Vasilios Gletsos brews one-of-a-kind artisanal beers using a wood-ﬁred copper kettle, locally foraged ingredients and a beer cave 15 feet underground. Gletsos founded Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur in 2016, and it remains his solo project. Seven Days Eva Sollberger toured this unique small-batch brewery.

Your Sweetspot in Essex Junction

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

MAGNIFICENT

THURSDAY 28

PINCH OF MAGIC

When given a choice between sparkles or no sparkles, the answer should always be sparkles.

e Glitter Ball at Artistree Community Arts Center in South Pomfret invites bedazzled partygoers to celebrate the magic of music and community at an effervescent evening featuring the talents of pop-rock performer Krystofer Maison (pictured), glam goddess Faye King and Barnard jazz trio Grey Cats.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 59

SUNDAY 31

In Stitches

e Heritage Winooski Mill Museum hosts needle ninjas and stitch witches for the Winooski Fiber Fair, an annual arts festival honoring the city’s rich history as an epicenter of textile production. Clever crafters ﬂock to the fête for an array of vendors and hands-on activities, including weaving and dyeing demos, a DIY felted dryer ball workshop, and a meet and greet with the stars of the show: sheep.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

THURSDAY 28

Southern Charm

e Spruce Peak Unplugged series continues with a visceral performance by Nashville singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt at the Spruce Peak Village Green in Stowe. Pruitt rocketed into the mainstream with the release of her 2020 debut album, Expectations, chronicling her experience coming of age as queer in the deep South, and continues to enrapture audiences by living her truth through music.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 59

FRIDAY 29

Night at the Gallery

e Arty Block Party at the Phoenix in Waterbury kicks off with sips, socializing and an exhibit opening from self-taught artist Denver Ferguson. Two action-packed, deejayed dance parties — one at neighboring venue TREEHOUSE — pump up the vinyl-driven euphoria before a late-night ambient sound bath brings revelers back to Earth.

SEE CLUB LISTING ON PAGE 55

SATURDAY 30

Play On

New York’s Stand Up Shakespeare troupe presents “Shakespeare Alive! A Bard-Based Variety Show” at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth. e hourlong theatrical mélange eases viewers into the Bard’s canon — oft intimidating for audiences and actors alike — with a diverse lineup of skits and songs injected with bits of Will’s works, from comedy to tragedy.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 62

SATURDAY 30-MONDAY 1

Firmly Rooted

Since 1976, Northfield Labor Day has beckoned locals and visitors to a town-wide expo of dazzling diversions. is year’s “Back to Our Roots” theme zooms in on the time-honored traditions that make the town so unique. Expect race cars, big-top circus arts, a “Blue Collar Brawl” wrestling match, footraces, live music and a float-filled parade, the beloved centerpiece of the community pride-filled weekend.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 61

ONGOING Paper Products

Local artist Chip Haggerty’s solo exhibit, “Art You Can Count On,” at Village Wine & Coffee in Shelburne transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Grab a coffee or a bottle of wine (when in Rome, right?) and observe the metamorphosis of commonplace paper bags into a whimsical and vivid gallery of sunﬂowers, boats, shoes, fruits — and even a towering giraffe.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

Recharged

Maine is a lot farther than it looks — especially if you’re driving in an electric vehicle. My partner, Tim, and I were happy in the back of my friend Erin’s spacious Volvo XC40. We relaxed while she and her husband, Dave, steered us through three states, all the while trying to sync the navigational technology with the battery-charging needs of the car. Managing the latter, we learned, is not as easy as getting gas.

It requires planning, in part because there isn’t an abundance of reliable, conveniently located charging stations along the way and likely won’t be for a while: In February, President Donald Trump halted a Congress-approved $5 billion nationwide build-out of EV infrastructure. A coalition of 16 states, including Vermont, sued the federal government to release the funding already promised to those states, and a judge has since ruled in the group’s favor. But because of a decision made by state Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn, it’s uncertain whether Vermont will get its share of the money: $16.7 million. The federal support would have financed a whole lot of super-fast charging stations in Vermont, making EV operation in the state easier; neither Maine nor New Hampshire was on the list of plaintiffs.

When they travel long distances, Erin and Dave locate the fast-charging stations on the route by looking them up on Google Maps, as well as on the PlugShare and Tesla apps. Leaving Vermont with a full charge, we only had to stop once on the trip east but three times on the return — almost always at the far end of a giant parking lot in big-box land. Each time, the process took about half an hour, during which we explored the area for the usual traveler needs: bathrooms, beverages, food.

Eastbound, somewhere in Maine, we navigated the commercial sprawl and got lunch in a shabby-looking Mexican restaurant that, in different circumstances, we probably would have skipped. Luchador Tacos turned out to be OK.

On the way home, we stopped to charge in a South Portland suburb within view — and walking distance — of Lowe’s, PetSmart, Taco Bell, Texas Roadhouse, Marshall’s, HomeGoods and a weird chain bakery called Nothing Bundt Cakes. Looking for a bathroom, I ventured into my first Walmart Supercenter, a store so enormous I turned to the “greeter” at the door for guidance. When he realized our interaction would require him to remove his earbuds, he looked disgusted, pointed to the left side of the vast space and said one word: “There.”

I staggered off in that direction. En route, I had a clear view of the checkout lines — customers buying food, clothes, appliances, everything under the sun. I’m a Vermonter who likes to shop local, so retail on that scale is not something I witness every day.

COURTESY

Luchador Tacos in Windham, Maine

Down the road, in the dark, we stopped again and, while the car charged, wove our way through auto dealership parking lots to a convenience store. The 7-Eleven was closed — temporarily — so we walked across the road to the Circle K, where a motorcyclist was ﬁlling up at the gas pumps. His Mohawk was eye-catching. More so, his white pit bull outﬁtted with racing goggles. The dog was sitting up in a wooden box on the seat behind him.

IF WE HADN’T HAD TO STOP, WE MIGHT NEVER HAVE MET HIM. OR SHELBY.

Dave, who used to have a bike, noticed the motorcyclist was wearing an orthopedic boot on his gear-shifting foot and asked about it. We learned he was one year out from a weed-whacking accident that cut through everything but his Achilles tendon. He could no longer work as a builder. In June, his house burned down. He wondered aloud what he had done to deserve such bad luck.

He turned out to be a very sweet guy. If we hadn’t had to stop, we might never have met him. Or his dog Shelby, named for the race car driver Carroll Shelby. The encounter was a reminder: Objects in real life are often more benevolent than they appear. And there are much bigger problems in the world than having to kill time — while the EV is charging — on the way home from a great vacation.

Paula Routly

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– Jennifer Ciardelli, Washington DC

SUPER

Welcome, new Super Readers!

ese wonderful people made their ﬁrst donation to Seven Days this week:

Nathaniel Beyer

Richard Freeman

Rebecca Galvin

David Grist

Doug & Margy Hyde

Kathryn Leo-Nyquist

Mary McGinn

Wayne Michaud

Jeffrey Sharlet

Here are some of the repeat and recurring Super Readers who sustain us all year:

Robert Davis

Bruce de Bree

Sarahjane Dube

Phil Dutton

Jesse Fulton

Andy Hooper

Alana Izzo

Megan James

Peter McCormick

Patricia McWilliams

Linda Moran

Jared Pendak

Bruce Post

Elodie Reed

John & Patti Reid

Susan Reit De Salas

Haley Rice

Thomas Slayton

Kayne Strippe

Lori Valburn

Lynn Witter

Join these generous folks and other Super Readers who donate monthly to:

Or send a a check w/note to: Seven Days c/o Super Readers, PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402.

Need more info? Contact Gillian English at 865-1020, ext. 115 or superreaders@sevendaysvt.com.

Shelby the dog in Bow, N.H.

TOWNS WANT HELP ON HOMELESSNESS

BURLINGTON’S SAFETY PLANS FOR PARK

EDUCATION

A Map for the Future

As a state task force ponders consolidation, some school districts are forging ahead with new, voluntary partnerships

BY ALISON NOVAK •

alison@sevendaysvt.com

One of the first requirements of Vermont’s sweeping new education law, Act 73, is for lawmakers and leaders in the ﬁeld to produce three maps of new, larger school districts. The idea is that 10 to 20 regional entities would provide students with more educational opportunities and be more e cient and cheaper to run than the 119 districts and supervisory unions currently operating.

Yet when the School District Redistricting Task Force met last week for the second of eight meetings, its 11 members seemed far from ready to assume the role of cartographers. They’d yet to receive reams of relevant data from the Agency

of Education and other state agencies and grappled with fundamental questions: How would they obtain community input? Would the maps be recommendations or just instructional tools? Would consolidating districts actually meet the law’s main goals of cutting costs and improving the quality of education for students?

“Redistricting is not a panacea. It’s not going to suddenly solve all the problems and could make things worse … And we are tasked with this job,” said Sen. Martine Gulick (D-Chittenden-Central), a cochair. She voted against the ed reform bill when it was approved in June. “What is that thing that we are going to produce that … will do no harm but also might ﬁx

BUSINESS

Burlington Men’s Clothier Michael Kehoe Dies

BY KEN PICARD ken@sevendaysvt.com

some of the problems that we’ve been discussing?”

Some school districts aren’t waiting for the state to ﬁgure it out. Taking advantage of previously passed legislation, they’ve joined forces with neighboring districts in the hopes that regionalization can accomplish, at least in part, Act 73’s aims: cut costs and increase educational opportunities for their students. These partnerships — forged by the districts themselves instead of lawmakers — could inﬂuence the decisions that the task force makes as it scrambles to meet a December 1 deadline for recommending new district lines.

Michael Kehoe, the men’s fine clothier and cofounder of his namesake shop on Burlington’s Church Street, died on August 13 after a long illness. He was 82. In a state where men’s fashion is often characterized by casual workwear such as flannel shirts, work boots and jeans, Kehoe was a retail innovator. He opened a Europeanstyle haberdashery at the corner of Church and College streets at a time when downtown Burlington had no other men’s fine clothing stores. e shop, since renamed MK Clothing, has won numerous Seven Daysies awards over the years for best menswear.

Born and raised in Burlington, Kehoe attended Rice High School before joining the U.S. Navy. He later returned to his hometown and, with business partner Tom Pierce, opened Michael Kehoe, Ltd., in 1977. e business opened just as the Church Street Marketplace was being renovated into a pedestrian mall and drew regular shoppers from as far away as Montréal. It catered to fashion-conscious men with more discriminating tastes, selling hand-tailored suits, silk ties and Italianmade shoes.

“What was so great about Michael Kehoe was, when you went up to Church Street, he always there, standing in the doorway,” recalled Melinda Moulton, cofounder of Main Street Landing on Burlington’s waterfront.

“It was one of those places where you knew the owner, and when you went in, you got this incredible service. He really cared for all of his customers.”

In 2020, when scores of downtown retail stores were forced to shutter due to COVID-19, Kehoe decided to retire. He passed the torch to Pierce, his longtime business partner, and his new co-owner, Hagen Peyser, who reopened the shop the following day in the same location under the name MK Clothing.

Pierce described his decades-long partner as having a good head for numbers and business. “It was a great run, and we had a great relationship,” he said. ➆

Michael Kehoe

Asylum Angst

Volunteers helping asylum seekers in the Northeast Kingdom face a perilous new immigration landscape

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

IMMIGRATION

For the past few years, Daisy McCoy has opened up her spare bedroom in Lyndon to asylum seekers from all over the world. They’ve come from Togo, Honduras, Uganda, Cuba and Yemen to the Northeast Kingdom town where McCoy — a 74-yearold retired math professor — and a team of volunteers have eagerly received them.

Led by a group of mostly retired women in and around St. Johnsbury, the Northeast Kingdom Asylum Seekers’ Assistance Network was formed in 2020 to sponsor and support asylum seekers as they forge new lives in the U.S. The group has helped about 15 people who have fled violence or oppression in their home countries by providing housing and grocery stipends, rides around town, and a warm welcome in a region that does not usually attract many immigrants.

But as immigration enforcement has ramped up under the Trump administration, the group has found itself in difficult new territory. During a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in St. Albans in May, McCoy’s latest guest, an asylum seeker from West Africa named Nafiou Lamidi, was arrested without warning. He was sent to a federal prison in New

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Hampshire and has been confined there ever since.

“We had no clue that he would be detained or that that was a possibility,” McCoy said. “Nafiou is the fourth asylum seeker that’s stayed with me. He’s the first one that has had any problem with ICE.”

HAD NO CLUE THAT HE WOULD BE DETAINED OR THAT THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY.

DAISY MCCOY

For the volunteers, Lamidi’s arrest was an abrupt introduction to a complicated and perilous new immigration-enforcement landscape. Until recently, the volunteers, who are not formally trained in law, focused on registering newcomers for English classes, outfitting them for winter conditions, and organizing picnics and birthday parties. Now, they spend their days parsing the finer points of immigration law with attorneys, organizing rallies and

For more than 40 years, BCA has been a place where creativity thrives and community comes togethe r Wh en y ou e xperi e nce a world-class exhibiton at the BCA Center on Church Street, take a class at BCA Studios on Pine St, enjoy live music in City Hall Park, or appreciate a mural on your walk to work, you help us support artists, bring creative experiences to life, and ensure that art remains a vital part of Burlington’s identit y. Thank you for your support – we couldn’t do it without you!

Daisy McCoy

Is Homelessness a Local Matter?

Many of the people evicted from the state’s motel program now live in tents. The governor says that’s a municipal issue.

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

HOUSING

Anne Chiarello had a question for the governor. It was late July, and the state had just evicted more than 800 people from emergency housing in motels. Some had started pitching tents in Newport, Chiarello’s hometown and the setting for Gov. Phil Scott’s press conference that afternoon.

Chiarello was concerned for the campers’ safety — and their hygiene. Could the state spare some cash for portable toilets and fresh water?

“We need your help,” Chiarello told Scott, “and we need it now.”

Scott didn’t directly address her question. Instead, he floated the concept of state-funded congregate shelters without providing any specific details.

“We’re not turning a blind eye to this,” the governor said. “We know this is difficult for every town and community, but we can’t continue to do what we’ve done in the past and just put people in hotels and motels.”

That’s little solace to cities and towns across Vermont, which, thanks to these motel evictions, are feeling the impact of the state’s homeless crisis more than ever.

Burlington, the state’s largest city, has hired specialized workers and started new programs in response. But smaller towns with far fewer resources are struggling to respond. Local leaders are now echoing the calls that have come from Burlington for years: Vermont needs to take a larger role in managing what is a statewide issue.

Lawmakers then couldn’t have envisioned the crisis now enveloping the state. Homelessness exploded during the pandemic, and rates have remained stubbornly high since. Meantime, Scott has decided the state can no longer sustain the motel program, which has cost tens of millions of dollars since the pandemic. Scott has slowly scaled back the program over advocates’ objections.

The state has given towns limited money to open emergency homeless shelters, but competition for the funds is fierce, and the rate of homelessness has far outpaced the number of available beds. Lawmakers passed a bill this spring that would have allowed regional nonprofits to operate the motel program, but Scott vetoed it.

As a result, more people are living outside. The latest Point-in-Time Count, a federally mandated census held on one night in January, reported 270 people were

CITIES DON’T HAVE DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH. WE DON’T HAVE DEPARTMENTS OF HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE.

NICOLAS STORELLICASTRO

living unsheltered. Officials have said the actual number was likely much higher, and the census preceded the summertime motel exodus.

A lot of those motel residents have landed in Burlington, which has spent millions of dollars dispatching park rangers to encampments and embedding social workers both in the library and police department, among other strategies. Last winter, city staff worked overtime to open a warming shelter on the coldest nights.

The state “should be providing human services, and at this point, they’re not,” Barre City manager Nicolas Storellicastro said. “We’re left holding the bag.”

For years, it was towns’ responsibility to care for the needy. In the late 18th century, Vermonters began electing municipal “overseers of the poor” who provided food, clothing and shelter for the indigent at so-called “poor farms.” The system began to fall out of favor when many people sought relief during the Great Depression, an era that ushered in a slew of federal welfare programs. Vermont lawmakers banned poor farms in 1967, stripping towns of their legal duty to care for the indigent. Two years later, the state’s Agency of Human Services was born.

But while the Queen City has become emblematic of the problem, it’s far from alone in experiencing it.

In Hartford, groundskeepers hired to mow fields are picking up trash from tenters. And further south, on the Connecticut River, an island between Brattleboro and Hinsdale, N.H., has become a hot spot for camping. Blaming its Vermont neighbor for the influx, the Granite State town is now rethinking plans to rehab two bridges that reach the spit of land.

“We’re working on it,” Brattleboro town manager John Potter said of homelessness generally. “We’d like to figure out a way to improve things here and all throughout Vermont.”

In lieu of state help, towns are trying to manage. But the efforts are costly.

An encampment behind Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier

A state grant that helped Montpelier pay for a part-time social worker expired this year. The city is now trying to figure out how to replicate those services with only $50,000 in the budget.

“It’s tricky. This is a priority issue because people are in crisis, and we want to support all community members,” acting city manager Kelly Murphy said. But, she added, “we’re trying to figure out how to do that in the most efficient way.”

Montpelier has long dealt with homelessness, albeit not at the historic levels now. Some smaller cities, meantime, are having to grapple with the issue for the first time.

In Newport, members of a new task force are writing the city’s first-ever ordinance to manage encampments on public land. They’re also looking into Gov. Scott’s

who has called out the state’s lack of action at council meetings and in op-eds. While most of her messages have focused on the Queen City’s woes, a missive last week emphasized that homelessness is a statewide issue.

“If our State is serious about supporting Vermonters, then we cannot ignore the public suffering that is affecting so many Vermont communities,” she wrote in an email newsletter. “Burlington stands in solidarity with other cities across the state that are struggling to meet the extraordinary needs of this moment.”

Scott’s administration, meantime, has largely characterized Burlington’s homeless crisis as one of public safety — and of the city’s own making. At a press conference last week, he suggested that police should arrest people who use drugs in

suggestion to build a homeless shelter, ideally at a former nursing home that could accommodate both families and individual adults, Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase said.

The building is in poor shape, and no one is lined up to staff the would-be shelter. But the possibility of state dollars is too good to pass up, the mayor said.

Gov. Scott was not available for an interview, and a statement from a spokesperson, Amanda Wheeler, didn’t address Seven Days’ specific questions about the governor’s plan to pay for new homeless shelters.

“I don’t have any illusion that somehow we’re going to find a magic bullet here,” Ufford-Chase said. “Anything we do is going to be a nonideal fix to a far deeper problem that plagues everybody across the country right now.”

Their strategies may differ, but officials across Vermont agree that local municipalities can’t handle homelessness alone. That’s a message championed by Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak,

BURLINGTON

City Council Approves Plan to Increase Park Enforcement

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

Burlington city councilors on Monday passed a resolution that aims to crack down on illegal behavior, including overnight camping, in City Hall Park.

Led by council Democrats, the measure calls for a greater police presence in the park and for the city to “make all reasonable efforts” to ensure the park isn’t used after hours. It also encourages police to enforce city ordinances, such as those prohibiting open drug use.

The push is the council’s latest effort to restore order to a city whose tourist-friendly image has been tarnished by visible drug use and unsheltered homelessness. It was also a rare show of bipartisanship for a politically divided body that typically fails to find consensus on matters of public safety.

The measure passed 9-2, with councilors Melo Grant (P-Central District) and Marek Broderick (P-Ward 8) voting no. Councilor Gene Bergman (P-Ward 2) was absent.

College Street near the park after bar close.

People who spoke during the public forum at Monday’s meeting shared mixed opinions on the resolution. Business owners testified that sales are down and that their employees are scared to come and go from work. Others said people who break city ordinances should be held accountable. Opponents encouraged the council to focus on less punitive responses.

Jed Davis, owner of the Farmhouse restaurant group, encouraged councilors to work together. “We need you to come up with big and bold ideas, and this can only happen if you’re pulling in the same direction,” he said.

That’s largely what happened during the council’s debate.

Councilor Carter Neubieser (P-Ward 1) joined council Democrats in calling for more accountability for people who commit serious offenses. He said passing the resolution wouldn’t negate the more progressive strategies championed by Mulvaney-Stanak, one of which councilors formally adopted on Monday night.

The program, called “City Circle,” will refer offenders who violate city ordinances, including lower-level crimes, to a restorative justice panel — and to court if they don’t participate in the process. The city also recently started the “Situation Table,” an initiative that convenes experts to connect people, particularly repeat offenders, with services.

public spaces, some of whom are homeless, and claimed that Burlington hasn’t been specific enough in its requests for help.

City councilors passed a resolution on Monday that provided some detail. Introduced in response to recent violence around City Hall Park, the measure asks Scott to convene health experts to find ways to get more people into drug treatment. It says the city will “make all reasonable efforts” to ensure the park isn’t used after hours — a reference to homeless people sleeping there.

Other towns have focused on the financial ramifications of addressing homelessness. A year ago, a cadre of local leaders held a press conference in Montpelier to demand the state take charge of the crisis. The officials asked for compensation to offset the burden on first responders and for the state to pay taxes on rooms used in the motel program. They also suggested

“We want to reset the expectations of what we expect in our public spaces,” Councilor Buddy Singh (D-South District) said. “This is what that resolution is doing.”

Still, it’s unclear how effectively the city will be able to carry out the council’s wishes. Police have increased downtown patrols in recent months, but the department remains short-staffed. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak will report back in about a month about any challenges in meeting the resolution and how she’ll overcome them, the measure says.

One of the lone green spaces downtown, City Hall Park regularly hosts concerts, artist markets and other events. But it has also attracted unwanted behavior. Drug dealing and using are common sights, even in the daytime; homeless people regularly sleep there overnight.

Two weeks ago, a group of juveniles allegedly beat a man in the alleyway between the park and the Church Street Marketplace. Scott Kastner, 42, later died, though police haven’t said whether the midday assault was the cause. A week after that, a man was struck in the head, possibly by a rifle, during a skirmish on

Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (DWard 6) said Monday’s resolution calls for enforcing rules already on the books, some of which are displayed on a sign at the entrance to City Hall Park. “Right now, that sign reads as some sort of dark parody,” she said.

Despite the overall collegiality of the discussion, there were still moments of disagreement. In an impassioned speech, Councilor Broderick said he fears homeless people will be punished for sleeping in the park when they have nowhere else to go. He criticized the resolution for not demanding that the state build more homeless shelters and invest in mental health care. It does, however, ask state leaders to convene panels to address youth violence, low-level drug dealing and barriers to addiction treatment.

Councilor Grant, the other no vote, said the resolution would take away police officers’ discretion when dealing with problematic behaviors in the park.

Interim Police Chief Shawn Burke spoke in support of the plan but cautioned that there’s no quick solution. He also highlighted a new strategy to dispatch social workers to calls involving people who are suicidal, experiencing a mental health crisis or having a suspected overdose. That would free up uniformed officers for other calls.

Nicolas Storellicastro

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

Members of the task force say they’re open to hearing from school leaders about what works best for them. But the redistricting process described in Act 73 features multiple steps and many layers of review, meaning any ﬁnal decisions on the state level could face challenges and are years away.

“The position I’m taking at this point is, We have to move forward ,” said Sherry Sousa, superintendent of Mountain Views Supervisory Union. “If I wait until there’s an approved redistricting plan, then I have unserved students.”

Her district is already well ahead of the curve. Five years ago, Mountain Views, which serves around 1,000 students in the towns of Woodstock, Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret and Reading, began working with seven neighboring supervisory unions and school districts to pool resources for special education, professional development, sta ng and hiring. They formalized the relationship two years ago by creating a nonproﬁt umbrella organization called the Vermont Learning Collaborative and hired an executive director to manage it.

Then, last year, the districts, enabled by a state law passed in 2024, started the process of forming a Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES. More commonly known as Educational Service Agencies and used in 43 states, these entities help districts collaborate on providing services such as special education in order to increase e ciency and provide better services to students.

Earlier this month, Mountain Views’ school board ratiﬁed the articles of agreement for the Southeast Vermont Region BOCES, making it the cooperative’s founding member. The seven other members, in Rutland, Windham and Windsor counties, are expected to sign o in the coming weeks. After that, the Agency of Education must o cially approve the BOCES, which it has indicated it will do. The formal approval comes with a $10,000 startup grant from the state.

As a condition of membership, each district will also contribute toward its administrative costs, which will be set each year as part of school budgets. Programming and services are not included in those fees.

The partnership is already paying dividends, Sousa said. By pooling money, the eight Southeast superintendents have been able to provide high-quality professional development for teachers and administrators, saving districts an average of 66 percent on those costs. They’ve

WE

HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

SHERRY SOUSA

also provided comprehensive joint trainings on hazing, harassment, bullying and special-education law, which the Agency of Education no longer provides.

The executive director of the Vermont Learning Collaborative, Jill Graham, will lead the BOCES once it is formally approved. She’s helped the districts recruit for hard-to-ﬁll special-education roles such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and boardcertiﬁed behavior analysts. Graham also helped Windham Southeast create a regional program for elementary school students with social-emotional challenges, which will open this fall and cost less than sending students to out-ofdistrict therapeutic schools.

The Learning Collaborative has been limited in what it can provide because of its designation as a private nonproﬁt, Graham said. But as a BOCES, it will be a public agency that can oversee state and federal grants, which will enable it to o er more services to districts.

“Declining enrollment is happening all over the country and hurting school budgets and making schools more creative in how they can work together,” said Joan Wade, executive director of the Association of Educational Service Agencies, a national professional organization. “BOCES [can] be a strength for them. You

two or more school districts that each have their own school board.

The White River Valley Supervisory Union school board passed a resolution this month that it would “reach out to contiguous school districts and supervisory unions to explore combining into a larger supervisory union” in an effort to “optimize cost savings and e ciencies where possible while maintaining local democratic engagement, community voice, oversight and accountability.”

The Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union and the Cabot, Twinfield and Craftsbury school boards, among others, have issued similar statements indicating a commitment to exploring voluntary mergers with other districts while still staying part of a supervisory union. The resolutions have all been submitted as public comment to the redistricting task force.

The statements have not gone unnoticed. At their August 19 meeting, members spent considerable time debating whether to rely more heavily on data from the state or the districts’ preferences — essentially, the difference between top-down and bottom-up reform.

can still have that local school and community but share services with other school districts in the region and have a stronger system.”

Across the country, these regional partnerships are ﬁnding ways to save money. Some have formed cooperative purchasing agreements to lower the cost of supplies and big-ticket items such as roofs and sports fields, Wade said. They’ve also shared payroll clerks, technology support sta and transportation services.

“The possibilities are endless,” Wade said.

It’s not yet clear how the formation of BOCES arrangements will a ect the ongoing mapping process.

But other school boards across Vermont — all members of a new grassroots advocacy group, the Rural School Community Alliance — have started voting in recent weeks on resolutions that lay out their commitment to collaboration. Many want to stay within a supervisory union, which contains multiple school districts, each with its own school board. That would allow them to maintain some modicum of local control rather than being combined into a larger school district; they’d rather form voluntary partnerships than face a state mandate. Under Act 73, at least one of the proposed redistricting maps must include supervisory unions, composed of

“If you force a merger and someone doesn’t want it, you’re not making kids’ lives better,” said Rep. Rebecca Holcombe (D-Norwich), one of the six legislators on the task force and Vermont’s education secretary from 2014 to 2018. Later in the meeting, though, she pointed out that Act 73, which she voted against, was designed as a top-down bill and did not call for a collaborative approach to reform.

Sousa, of Mountain Views, said if the redistricting task force is focused on what’s best for students — “not for adults, and not to perpetuate certain political agendas” — its members should pay attention to what her collaborative district is doing. She noted that Mountain Views’ test scores are among the highest in Vermont, while the percentage of students who qualify for special education is much lower than the state average.

“That we can bring together the individual perspectives of our schools and our communities to work together — to have cost-saving and higher-quality programs — I think that’s really important for the redistricting group to look at,” Sousa said.

At last week’s meeting, Rep. Edye Graning (D-Jericho), the task force’s cochair, indicated that its members were all ears.

“If there are regions of the state that are already working together on some kind of partnership … we don’t want to work against that,” Graning said. “Let us know.”

DIANA

Is Homelessness a Local Matter? « P.17

opening state lands to sanctioned campsites, staffed by rangers.

Storellicastro, the Barre City manager, said the demands are still on the table as the motel program continues to wind down.

“Cities don’t have departments of mental health. We don’t have departments of homelessness response. I came from New York City, where we had all those agencies,” he said. Here, “we don’t have anything.”

Wheeler, in her statement, sidestepped questions about the state’s plans to help towns that are struggling. Instead, she reiterated a popular Scott talking point: that the motel program is unsustainable.

“The Governor continues to believe we should focus on real solutions, including additional shelter capacity and accountability requirements for work, training, and treatment for those who need it,” she wrote. “That way, individuals experiencing homelessness can get the support needed to get back on their feet and into permanent housing.”

on Montpelier’s recreation path passing the site of a former homeless encampment at Confluence Park

Officials have funneled their frustrations to the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, a nonprofit that provides training for public servants and lobbies for local communities’ interests in

the state legislature. Even before the pandemic, the league’s official policy book — which is adopted biannually by all 247 member towns — has included the position that the state, not local

communities, is responsible for helping the homeless.

Samantha Sheehan, a former City of Burlington staffer who is now the league’s municipal policy and advocacy specialist, said members may decide later this year whether to strengthen their stance on homelessness, including by proposing legislation.

But while town leaders are still keen to ask for help, many have also acknowledged that they can’t simply ignore the crisis on their doorsteps.

Brett Mayfield, Hartford’s health officer for the past 16 years, is one of few people the town can dispatch for complaints about encampments. At the most recent cleanup, Mayfield helped collect more than 650 needles at a site that was covered in human feces.

He makes just $7,500 per year.

To Mayfield, addressing the homeless crisis is akin to fighting a forest fire: Nobody’s prepared for it, but someone has to act. Like it or not, in Hartford and elsewhere, the job falls to people like him.

“Somebody has to go put those fires out,” he said, “or everything will burn down eventually.” ➆

More Stash for Your Cash

Cyclists

P A R E N T I N G I S O N E P A R E N T I N G I S O N E O F T H E T O U G H E S T O F T H E T O U G H E S T

raising money to pay the mounting legal fees to free Lamidi from prison.

“The whole tenor of the group has really changed,” said Nancy Toney, 78, a member of the network’s board. A retired foreignlanguages teacher, Toney helped found the group after she got involved writing letters to immigrants held in detention centers near the U.S.-Mexico border. Some of the first asylum seekers the group sponsored to bring to Vermont were people with whom Toney had corresponded.

But Lamidi is the first asylum seeker to be detained while under their care. About once a week, Toney, McCoy and other volunteers drive an hour and a half to the Federal Correctional Institution in Berlin, N.H., where Lamidi is detained. They have grown familiar with the rituals of prison visits: surrendering their IDs to security guards, passing through metal detectors and shuffling through a series of locked chambers to a visitation room, where Lamidi meets them.

In a call from prison, Lamidi told Seven Days he fled his home country, Benin, due to threats against him and his family that he did not elaborate on.

for asylum in April with help from Seth Lipschutz, a retired public defender in Montpelier who works asylum cases pro bono.

In recent years, presidential administrations from both parties implemented restrictions on asylum seekers in an attempt to discourage unauthorized border crossings. But the right to asylum is a “bedrock foundation of human rights law,” Lipschutz said, and these restrictions have often run up against legal challenges in the courts.

“This administration is trying to narrow that as much as possible,” Lipschutz said.

The Trump administration has tested the limits of presidential power by vastly expanding the categories of immigrants who can be detained and deported without bond hearings or other forms of due process that had been previously observed. Months into his time in Vermont, Lamidi was ensnared in that web. After his arrest, an immigration judge ruled that Lamidi had no right to a bond hearing, citing a May 15

J

O B S I N T H E W O R L D J O B S I N T H E W O R L D

From pregnancy through early childhood, Lund’s Parent Child Center is a welcoming place families can turn to for parenting support, resources, early childhood education, and chances to build community!

Learn more and get connected at: lundvt.org/child-and-family-services

“I came here to ask for protection because I have a credible fear in my country,” Lamidi said in halting English. “I’m afraid to be deported to my country. I am not a criminal; I’m a gentle person.”

The Northeast Kingdom — a conservative-leaning region with few big population centers — might seem an unlikely destination for an asylum seeker from West Africa.

But Lamidi, 36, had heard of Vermont well before he arrived in January.

Years earlier, the same support network had helped a childhood friend of his who also sought asylum, and Lamidi hoped he would find support and a familiar face if he could make it to the Green Mountain State. Last August, he left his wife and three children behind, eventually crossing into the U.S. from Mexico in November.

Border patrol agents intercepted and detained him in Arizona, records show. Lamidi requested asylum, claiming a fear of persecution in Benin. He was released in January on condition that he report to scheduled check-ins with immigration officials.

Lamidi’s release meant he was legally permitted to stay in the country while his asylum case wound through the immigration court system, a process that can take years. Lamidi flew to Vermont, where he moved in with McCoy and checked in with ICE in February without issue. He completed his formal application

I’M AFRAID TO BE DEPORTED TO MY COUNTRY. I AM NOT A CRIMINAL; I’M A GENTLE PERSON. NAFIOU LAMIDI

directive from the federal Board of Immigration Appeals. He would have to remain in detention until his asylum case could be heard. Now that he was behind bars, the process would be expedited; a hearing is scheduled for mid-September.

ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

The network, part of a grouping of eight organizations in Vermont and New Hampshire that help asylum seekers, organized a rally to bring attention to Lamidi’s case and call for his release. Lamidi’s attorney, Kristen Connors, appealed to the ACLU of New Hampshire, which earlier this month filed a habeas petition on Lamidi’s behalf in federal court, challenging the immigration judge’s earlier decision denying him a bond hearing.

Lamidi’s arrest has thrust the network’s members into one of the nation’s most explosive issues. But as a registered nonprofit in a region that tilted more pro-Trump in last year’s election than much of the rest of the state, the group is careful to avoid taking an overtly political stance that might invite unwanted attention.

“We can’t afford to be political,” said Libby Hillhouse, the network’s president. But the group still maintains that Lamidi is being wrongly detained.

Hillhouse said the network previously enjoyed friendly relationships with law enforcement, to the point that border patrol agents would sometimes call on members to seek help for asylum seekers who had been intercepted near the border and needed food, shelter and transportation to their final destination.

“With the tightening that’s coming from this administration, it’s just making everything more urgent and more stressful,” Hillhouse said on a recent morning at her home in Danville. “There’s just this kind of paranoia.”

Hillhouse, 78, worked as a preschool special ed teacher and once briefly taught English in Israel and the West Bank. Before joining the network, she volunteered at the Community Restorative Justice Center, working with people coming out of prison in St. Johnsbury. The entryway to her home is decorated with handmade signs that welcome immigrants in Spanish and Luganda, a language spoken in Uganda.

Since Lamidi’s arrest, Hillhouse and her fellow volunteers have shifted tactics by helping asylum seekers request ICE check-ins online, rather than in person, in hopes of reducing the risk of detention.

Recent reported sightings of ICE vehicles in St. Johnsbury have heightened their fears. The group’s members, who had been in the habit of organizing regular social gettogethers for the 10 asylum seekers they support, including families with children, say they feel less safe gathering in public. Such worries recently prompted members to hold an event at someone’s house “on a dirt road,” said Karyn Jilk, a volunteer. “So it’s just us and nobody has to worry about anything.”

Even amid the uncertainties, the group has celebrated some recent wins. A few months ago, one of the people they had sponsored the longest, a man from Uganda, faced his final asylum hearing. He attended the online appointment from his apartment in St. Johnsbury. Volunteers waited outside.

“He came down the stairs at the end of his hearing, and he opened the door and had a big smile, and we knew — he had won his case,” Hillhouse said. “So he is now an asylee.”

Another asylum seeker, from Yemen, whom Seven Days agreed not to name, said he came to Vermont in November after hearing from a friend about the network. The man had been living in the U.S. but struggled to find trustworthy legal help for his asylum case and needed support while awaiting a work permit. The network has rendered aid beyond the basic necessities, he said.

“They gave me a sense of family that I lost when I came here,” the asylum seeker said. “I have a mother back home. Now I have, like, six mothers.”

For now, the group’s immediate focus is Lamidi. An oral argument on the ACLU’s habeas petition is scheduled for September 11, separate from his scheduled asylum hearing. The volunteers continue to visit Lamidi in prison and talk by phone when he gets the chance to call.

His room in McCoy’s home is just how he left it on the morning he was suddenly detained. The bed is neatly made. A prayer rug McCoy gave him is rolled up and tucked away. And in the closet hang Lamidi’s winter clothes, essentials of his nascent Vermont life. ➆

News reporter Lucy Tompkins covers immigration and the international border for Seven Days . She is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms.

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a discrepancy between its stated priorities and the resources devoted to them. The city’s strategy seems to be to hope the State of Vermont will deliver housing support. The state should do that, but wishing isn’t really a strategy, especially while decimating the only resources you have to address housing within the city.

Kathy Fox SOUTH BURLINGTON

HOW THEY DO IT IN THE UK

[Re Feedback: “A Short-Term Rental Is Not a Home,” July 23]: Ever heard of “council housing”? This has been the UK’s answer to its homelessness problem. In short, shelter is a right over there, and the taxpayers want it that way since it is both humane and farsighted. Council houses consist of rooms big enough for a bed and a nightstand next to it. Kitchens and bathrooms on each floor are shared by the tenants. Sorry, but our mantra — “The reason why you’re homeless is because you don’t want to work!” — is nonsensical, victim blaming and just kicks the can down the road. This is our way, but we can do better.

Tom MacDonald WINOOSKI

‘I

NO LONGER FEEL SAFE’

[Re “Tent City,” August 13]: As a nonresident, my solution to Burlington’s problems with crime, open-air drug use and homelessness is to stay away from the downtown area. I know this does nothing to help solve the city’s problems, but like many other people, I no longer feel safe in downtown Burlington. It seems to me that the city government has made public safety a very low priority, so I feel like I’m better off spending my time and money in other places. I don’t get to vote in Burlington, but maybe the city’s residents should consider electing a government that is committed to keeping residents and visitors safe. Downtown Burlington has some wonderful attractions and great businesses, but it’s simply no longer worth the risk to go there.

Jim Sackett SHELBURNE

BUILDING BIKE TOURISM

We at Local Motion were thrilled to see Seven Days highlight the growing energy around bike tourism in Vermont [“Wheel Life: Bike Tourism Is Growing in Vermont, but Leading a Bike Tour Is No Walk in the Park,” July 2]. Every day, we see the joy visitors and residents alike experience when exploring

Vermont by bike. Along the Island Line Trail on Lake Champlain’s shoreline, riders can roll across the Colchester Causeway and take our bike ferry to discover the Champlain Islands, an unforgettable adventure that blends natural beauty with local culture.

Local Motion works with communities across the state to make biking (and walking) safer, more accessible and more inviting, whether for recreation, tourism or daily transportation. One promising area is the Western New England Greenway, a scenic route connecting New York City to Montréal through western Vermont. We’re partnering with local and regional stakeholders to improve the experience along this corridor and draw more riders into Vermont’s villages and downtowns.

Bike tourism brings big benefits to small communities. It supports local businesses, encourages outdoor activity, and connects people with the landscapes and communities that make Vermont special. We’re excited to keep growing this movement.

Christina Erickson BURLINGTON

Erickson is executive director of Local Motion.

A TOAST TO TAMARACK

Just want to take a moment to acknowledge the good folks at Tamarack media cooperative who were mentioned, but just briefly, in [“Cultivating Connection: With a Newly Modernized Website, Vermont Land Link Pairs Farmers With Landowners,” July 22]. Not only did Tamarack design and build this new Vermont Land Link site, it also ensured that the app has been replicated in multiple other states, linking up thousands of farmers across the country. Yet another powerful example of little Vermont worker-owned co-ops leading the pack!

Ace

McArleton WINOOSKI

Bike tourists on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

COURTESY OF DAVE KRAUSS

Libby Hillhouse and Nancy Toney

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Francis Kazak

FEBRUARY 7, 1942AUGUST 9, 2025 WESTFORD, VT.

Francis Walter Kazak was born in Springﬁeld, Vt., on February 7, 1942.

As the son of Veronica Janowski and Walter Kazak, he grew up in Springﬁeld and Cavendish in the heyday of the machine tool industry, where the extended family of Polish Russian heritage were hardworking individuals as farmers, manufacturing plant workers and grocery store owners. His maternal grandfather worked in the mill at night and tended his small farm and cows in Cavendish during the days.

Fran was proud of the Springﬁeld community where he grew up and sang the praises of all the resources that they had for young people. A fond memory he had as a young boy was of walking down the steep hill from his home to the center of town to drop off the bill payments for his parents and pick up two loaves of Polish bread from the local bakery. He would carry them back home as fast as he could, so they were still warm for butter. During his high school years, he especially enjoyed the block dances and working as the rope tow attendant at the local ski hill. He was the designated “weeder” in his father’s extensive garden,

Brian Edward Hanbridge

SEPTEMBER 14, 1948AUGUST 17, 2025

COLCHESTER, VT.

Brian Edward Hanbridge died peacefully on Sunday, August 17, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Burlington, Vt., on September 14, 1948, to Sarah Guthrie Hanbridge and Edward Lowe Hanbridge.

Brian grew up in Burlington’s South End alongside “big sister” Penilee and “little brother” Ted. During his senior year (1966), he

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

where they would grow vegetables by the basketful and bring them home, where he and his sisters and mother would prepare them for freezing. He also helped his grandfather in Cavendish, haying and tending to the cows. In high school, he attended the co-op program at Springfield High School, with several weeks in academic studies followed by a set of weeks in the manufacturing plants to learn the skills and tools of all the trades involved. e plan was for him to be prepared to transition into a good job after finishing high school. Fortunately, his high school teachers, along with an observant guidance counselor, recognized Fran’s academic ability and told his parents that “ is young man should be going on to college.” Following that advice, Fran went off to Boston and attended Franklin Institute on an ASTME scholarship to finish up requirements in

and Ted were teammates on Burlington High School’s varsity baseball team when they won the state championship

order to apply for college. He attended the University of Vermont school of engineering and when he graduated was immediately recruited by IBM. ere he thrived in the demands of his job and the freedom to use his creative mind for new innovations in the chip manufacturing industry.

At IBM, he met Lorraine Elizabeth Hurst, the love of his life, and introduced her to his extensive family of aunts, uncles and a multitude of cousins. Lori and Fran married on June 20, 1969. Together they built a home in Westford, Vt., and welcomed their son Christopher Michael in 1979, then Corey Joseph in 1982. Later, they relocated to Essex Junction. As a devoted father, Fran involved the boys in outdoor activities and the Cub Scouts, took them to the mountains for family skiing, and was there for them as they pursued their passions for playing soccer and running cross-country and track. For many summers, he and Lori and the boys would join other family members on the coast of Maine for camping or renting a big beach house for lots of beach time, lobsters and summer fun. Fran’s large extended family was his social network and support system for his whole life, and he maintained close connections with his cousins.

As the turns of life go, Fran and Lori entered into a 13-year battle when she was diagnosed with cancer. He was with her every step of the way on this marathon, trying

— a rare game their mother missed because she’d given birth to the youngest sibling the day before.

Brian was the proud father of Robin Charles Hanbridge and Trevor Brian Hanbridge. Together with Linda Capen Hanbridge, he raised his family in South Burlington, always encouraging his sons to explore their interests and follow their passions. In 2010 Brian married Julie Alisa Hinckley. eir marriage was rooted in deep friendship, love and tender care, which sustained them both through life’s joys and challenges.

Brian cherished his

everything to beat the odds, that ended in the summer of 2003 when she passed away. He continued his devotion to Chris and Corey as they journeyed through college, spent time living and working in Boston, establishing their careers, and moved on to ﬁnding and marrying their wonderful spouses. Fran especially enjoyed traveling to Boston to go to the Red Sox games with them. He was so proud of them and delighted in having daughters-inlaw and three wonderful grandchildren.

Fran passed away on August 9, 2025, and is survived by his sons, Chris and his wife, Devon, and Lorraine (6) and Nolan (3); and Corey, his wife, Natalie, and their 4-month-old son, Colton. He is also survived by a sister, Janice, and two nieces in New York; a sister, Jean, and husband Bob and a niece in North Carolina and a nephew in Maine; and his life partner of 20 years, Maura O’Brien. Fran and Maura, also of Westford, reacquainted in 2006, and soon it became clear that they would become partners for life. Fran often said that he was blessed with the two greatest loves of his life. Fran and Maura recognized the passion in the love each had for their own families, and Fran welcomed Maura’s son, Benjamin, and daughter, Anna, along with her husband, Bill, and daughters Elsa (14) and Alice (11), into his circle of love. He delighted in attending the girls’ jazz band nights,

grandchildren — Braelin, Tess, Isabelle, Mae and Praydence — and took great delight in his great-grandchildren, Eden Mae and Oliver ayer. He held loving bonds with his many nieces and nephews, as well as their children. Devoted to helping others, Brian dedicated his career to serving vulnerable members of our community. He held several leadership roles in social service organizations, including 16 years as executive director of the Winooski Youth Development Commission. Generations of families remember him for creating afterschool and summer

dance performances, and the McCloy and O’Brien family gatherings. Fran and Maura had a mutual love for the outdoors, jazz music, and music of the ’50s and ’60s. ey relished every opportunity to dance, including in the kitchen on Saturday nights to the “My Place” music on VPR. Together, they loved touring the art galleries in Vermont, Cape Cod, Boston, D.C. and New York City and historical museums, and they especially loved musical theater productions. ey shared similar reading interests, especially in history, and often had long discussions on issues related to social justice. ey loved cooking together, especially ﬁnding great recipes and planning gourmet meals with each other. For many years they gardened together on the “lower four,” as Fran called the property where they had garden beds and boxes. Together, they took the “trip of a lifetime” and spent a month in Africa, touring Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Johannesburg, South Africa. ey continued to revisit the trip in the photos and memories they shared. Fran’s passions and pastimes were reading, music and radio-controlled (RC) planes. He was a voracious reader. Every day he consumed several national and local news publications. ere were always at least two books on his chairside table: one with a historical focus and the other an action-packed thriller. In recent years, he discovered

programs, as well as launching the annual Adopt-a-Family program to support families in need during the holidays.

Brian believed deeply in volunteering — a legacy learned from his parents and passed on to his sons. In 1983 coach Jim “Skip” Carter invited him to join the Winooski High School Spartans as an assistant varsity baseball coach, beginning a 17year adventure ﬁlled with mentorship, friendship and joy. A lifelong learner, Brian loved studying the Civil War, Vermont history, his Scottish heritage and politics. He will be remembered for his

enjoyment in reading poetry. As a lover of music, he cataloged and downloaded his favorite music onto all his devices. For many years, he focused on building, finetuning and flying RC planes, mostly the fine-tuning and creating adaptations for a better flight. He did everything with scientific precision, from creating the right compost for the garden to designing a new gate for the deck for the grandchildren, experimenting with weights and measures in his passion for making bread, finding the best lens for his many cameras, and researching and practicing restoration and storage of family photos. He loved watching the birds and came up with all sorts of technological improvement to bird feeders to attract them, especially the Baltimore orioles and hummingbirds this past spring. Fran was a truly wonderful man who had a kind word for everyone he met and genuinely believed it when he would say, “Life is good!” Many heartfelt thanks go to the extraordinary and compassionate nurses and doctors at UVM Medical Center Cardiac Care unit. In keeping with his wishes “to get involved and contribute to civic and charitable projects,” Fran recently became a proud member of and volunteered for the Essex Rotary Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rotary Club Charities of Essex, Vt., P.O. Box 8466, Essex, VT 05451.

resonant baritone voice, his joy in family gatherings and the way he cheered from the stands at his grandson Praydence’s baseball games. A service of celebration and remembrance will be held on Sunday, August 31, 2025, 1 p.m., at the Winooski High School Performing Arts Center, 60 Normand St., Winooski, VT.

In lieu of ﬂowers, donations can be made in memory of Brian to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants at refugees.org/ donate-uscri-vermont (select “Refugees and Immigrants in Colchester”).

Timothy Barnaby Hayes

FEBRUARY 12, 1945AUGUST 17, 2025

JOHNSON, VT.

Timothy Barnaby Hayes passed peacefully at his home in Johnson, Vt., on August 17, 2025, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was born February 12, 1945, in Greenwich Village, N.Y., the son of the late Shirley and James Hayes.

Tim is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son, Richard Hayes; stepdaughters, Tori Lockhart and Eliza Lockhart; brothers, Dennis Hayes (Martha), Chris Hayes and Kerry Hayes; nieces, Ali, Zoe and Piper Hayes; and half-sister, Betsy Post. He will always be remembered for his warmth, acceptance, generosity and love. He was a dedicated husband, brother, father, friend, confidant and mentor to many.

Tim grew up in close-knit Greenwich Village, N.Y., with

Deborah Galbraith

1939-2025

SHELBURNE, VT.

his three brothers as his best friends. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art in New York City, excelling on the basketball court and playing the trumpet.

Tim graduated from the University of Vermont in 1967 with a degree in psychology. He would later become an adjunct professor at his alma mater, in addition to Vermont State University and the University of Connecticut, where he shared his knowledge of the horse and human relationship with his

Deborah Butterfield Galbraith, of Shelburne, Vt., died in her residence at Wake Robin on August 16, 2025. Born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia in 1939 to Right Reverend Harvey Dean Butterfield and Carolyn Whitney Butterfield, she moved with her parents and older brother, Whit, back to her parents’ home state of Vermont when her father was appointed to the Episcopal parish in Rutland. She finished high school in Burlington, Vt., where her father was made dean of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (now Cathedral) and then elected as the sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, while her mother served the community of Burlington through organizations such as the Lund Home.

students. Postcollege, Tim joined the Vermont National Guard as an airman. After serving, he continued to find excitement watching the Green Mountain Boys train in the sky in his later years.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Tim began to cultivate a career in the film industry, representing highprofile producers. By the early 1980s he founded Timothy Hayes & Company, Inc., which became a successful business, representing several directors and production companies in Los Angeles, New York and London. Tim’s life changed in 1983 when he joined the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was a dedicated sponsor and championed others in AA through the candidness of his own struggles and his commitment to personal growth. He reached the milestone of 42 years of sobriety.

In the early 1990s, Tim dove into the world of horses after a vacation out West that resulted in his

they were students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. They were married at Rock Point in Vermont in 1961. After a stint living in Queens, they returned to Burlington, Vt., before spending four years in Philadelphia. Through the course of their marriage, they made homes for their family in Vermont, Pennsylvania, western New York and Connecticut, with their compass always pointing to a return to their cherished Vermont.

Debby Galbraith (Nana) is survived by her husband and their three children, Gretchen, Michael and Kevin, and by her treasured children-in-law and grandchildren. Gretchen and her spouse

Deborah met her beloved husband, Peter Dugald Galbraith, when

Peter Anderson’s children include Alexander Romero Galbraith, Chris Anderson, and Danni Anderson and their husband, Aaron. Michael and his wife Marthe Galbraith’s children are Marlowe and Willoughby Galbraith. Kevin and his wife

first unforgettable ride. Immediately drawn to the connection he felt with horses, Tim became increasingly curious about what we as humans can learn from their intuitive nature. He became a dedicated student of natural horsemanship. Tim studied under the forefathers of the horsemanship movement. Now donning a cowboy hat and boots, he spent summers driving, branding and caring for cattle on the Black Ranch in rural Idaho. The tough Western hero that Tim once only saw as a role to play in a movie became his reality. Now in his midlife and an expert in his own right, Tim transitioned into his second career as a riding instructor at the former Chelsea Equestrian Facility in New York City and spent 10 years leading trail rides at the historic Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk, N.Y. Tim went on to become an internationally known clinician, helping people deepen

Elizabeth Bracken’s children are Brooks, Sasha and Vivienne Galbraith. Deborah is also survived by her dear brother, Whitney Butterfield; his wife, Joyce; their children, Chris, Steve, David and Andrea; their spouses and children; and by cousins in the Butterfield and Whitney branches of her family.

In the 1970s, Deborah decided to follow her dream of becoming a nurse, earning her degree at the University of Vermont and holding positions at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., and Hartford Hospital in Connecticut. While she was reluctantly pulled into administrative roles, her calling was for working directly with patients; she especially loved working with mothers and their newborns. Deborah and Peter returned to Vermont in the early 1990s, when Peter took up the role of state epidemiologist. Deborah served as nurse for the Lund residential program before retiring. In retirement, she worked extensively with successive waves of refugees to Chittenden County, beginning with the young Sudanese men who arrived in the early 2000s, and made a deep impact on so many Vermonters. Her retirement years also included deep engagement with the Cathedral

their relationship with their horse and ultimately with themselves. Tim’s teachings facilitated breakthrough revelations in his students, leading to changed lives and inspired futures. As Tim noticed these impacts, he was especially drawn toward a focus on equine therapy, the psychology of the horse and what we can learn from the herd about communication, healing and love.

One of Tim’s proudest accomplishments was authoring two books that explore the connection between horses and humans.

His first, Riding Home: The Power of Horses to Heal, is widely loved by the equine community, as well as those interested in the psychology of healing. His second book, Horses, Humans and Love: Powerful Lessons From the Herd, examines communication and leadership through Tim’s personal life stories.

Tim’s greatest joy in life was his wife, Stephanie. They met in 2012 and created a

Church of Saint Paul community and choir; the 125-year-old Fortnightly book club to which her mother and aunt had belonged; knitting colorful hats and socks; adventures in camping, hiking and kayaking with her extended family; and entertaining and traveling to see her grandchildren.

Debby’s family is deeply grateful for the care, professionalism and empathy of the staff at Wake Robin and the Bayada Hospice team. In honor of her loving, empathetic and more than slightly impish spirit, the family encourages you to plan an adventure with loved ones (preferably including good food) and love each other fiercely. Please consider donations to an organization that supports refugees or maternal and child health, or to Rock Point Commons, in lieu of flowers.

A memorial service will be held on October 11, 2025, 2 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, 2 Cherry St., Burlington, VT. For those in attendance, we encourage you to wear clothing in the bright blues and greens and purples that Debby loved.

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit cremationsocietycc.com.

life together on their horse farm in Johnson, Vt. He was her unwavering support system and showed his unconditional love every day. Through their mutual passion for horses, Tim and Stephanie became a true power couple in the equine industry. His relationship with Stephanie is a testament of him practicing what he preached: love, compassion, acceptance, patience, understanding and commitment.

Tim was met in the next life by his horse, Austin, who was his steadfast partner for 25 years. The cowboy has ridden off into the sunset.

As he would say, “May the Horse be with you.”

A celebration of Tim’s life will be held on September 6, 2025, at his home in Johnson, Vt. Please RSVP to Stephanie Hayes at vtblackpony@aol.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program (CHAMP) at vtchamp.org.

Judith “Judy” Simpson Olsen

FEBRUARY 19, 1947AUGUST 13, 2025 ST. ALBANS, VT.

Judith “Judy” Simpson Olsen, 78, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, surrounded by family, after a yearslong journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 10 a.m., at the Federated Church of Rochester, 15 North Main St., Rochester, VT, with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery immediately following the service. Reception will follow burial.

To view a complete obituary or offer a message of condolence, kindly go to healdfuneralhome.com.

VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

OBITUARIES

Kathleen “Kathy” Duggan Dutra

APRIL 8, 1943AUGUST 22, 2025

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Kathleen “Kathy” Duggan Dutra, 82, of South Burlington, Vt., passed away peacefully and comfortably at the McClure Miller Respite House on the morning of August 22, 2025, after a brave and courageous 13-year battle with lung cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.

As she was seldom a complainer, many didn’t even know she was sick. Kathy bore her cross with dignity and grace.

She was born on April 8, 1943, in Burlington, Vt., to William F. Duggan and Mary Louise Reilling Duggan, the

youngest of seven children. She attended Cathedral Grammar School and Rice Memorial High School and graduated from Edmunds (Burlington) High School in 1961.

On May 9, 1964, she married Clifford “Butch” F. Dutra Jr. at Christ the King Church in Burlington, and they spent

Gary Joseph Marceau

MARCH 27, 1957-AUGUST 11, 2025

PROCTOR, VT.

Gary Joseph Marceau, 68, of Proctor, Vt., died unexpectedly on Monday, August 11, 2025.

He was born on March 27, 1957, as oldest of ﬁve children born to Richard and Ellen (Griggs) Marceau in Northﬁeld, Vt. He grew up in Groton, Vt., a place he held close to his heart all his life, including his annual camping trip to Ricker Pond State Park each summer.

He married Mary E. (Ploof) Marceau on March 29, 1980. ey share two children together, Adrianne and Cory. ey divorced in 2000.

Gary was overjoyed to retire in 2017 after working at GE in Rutland, Vt., for 32 years.

Gary’s passion in life was riding and working on motorcycles. His joy in life was connecting with and spending time with his beloved grandsons, Miles and Hunter.

Anyone who was lucky enough to know Gary knew that he loved telling a good story, of which

61 devoted years together. Together, they raised two daughters, Julie and Kellie. Kathy worked at IBM for 10 years before leaving to care for her children full time. She later reentered the workforce as a paraeducator in the South Burlington School District and retired after 18 years.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Butch; and her daughters and their husbands, Julie and George ompson of South Burlington, and Kellie Dutra and Ron Meunier of Essex Junction, Vt. She also leaves her sister Elizabeth Rousseau and her husband, Yates; her brother Robert Duggan and his wife, Sally; her brothers-in-law Joseph Dutra and wife Diane, and James Dutra and wife Kelly; her sister-in-law Marianna Dutra; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother William, and her sisters Dorothy Quintin, Mary Kidder and Patricia Barber. roughout her 82 years, Kathy built and cherished many friendships that

he had many! It’s almost as if he lived multiple lifetimes before settling into his ﬁnal and most cherished role of Grandpa.

Gary is survived by his children and their spouses, his daughter, Adrianne, and her husband, Conor McQuade, of Bristol, and his son, Cory, and his wife, Stephanie Marceau, of Colchester; grandsons, Miles McQuade and Hunter Marceau; Mary Marceau; brothers, Ken Marceau and Tim Marceau; sisters, Sue-Ellen ornton and Eyvonne

brought joy to her life. She had the biggest smile and beautiful blue eyes and lit up every room she entered. Kathy was kind, generous, patient and selﬂess — leaving a lasting and positive impact on everyone she met.

Visiting hours will be held on ursday, August 28, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 29, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, with interment to follow at Resurrection Park in South Burlington.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Farrah Khan for her unwavering and compassionate care throughout Kathy’s cancer journey. We also extend heartfelt thanks to

Marceau; and several nieces and nephews from both the Marceau and Ploof families.

Preceding Gary in death were his parents, Richard and Ellen Marceau.

As per Gary’s wishes, he has been cremated, with his ashes spread by his children, their spouses and his grandsons in a private service at the Appalachian Gap lookout in Buels Gore, Vt. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, 10 a.m., at Cyclewise motorcycle dealership, 130 Ethan Allen Hwy., New Haven, VT, with kickstands up at 11:30 a.m. to join a ride/ drive in Gary’s honor. Please feel free to stop by the shop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for Gary’s peanut butter cookies and coffee, followed by a memorial ride along some of Gary’s favorite roads for anyone who wishes to join.

Dad, we send you off with immense love and peace as you ride off into the sunset, set free from your pained earthly body. Anyone who wishes to say goodbye to Gary … just go to the lookout or tucked-away picnic table at App Gap, where he will be forever burnin’ one.

the incredible nursing staff on Miller 3 and McClure 6 at the University of Vermont Medical Center. A special thank-you to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the McClure Miller Respite House — especially Debbie Barron and Madde Fan — whose patient, kind and compassionate care will never be forgotten. eir presence made a meaningful difference in Kathy’s ﬁnal days, and we are truly thankful. In lieu of ﬂowers, please consider contributions to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446, or to a charity close to your heart. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.

Mary Willard

MAY 2, 1929AUGUST 16, 2025

COLCHESTER, VT.

Mary A.S. Willard passed away peacefully on August 16, 2025, at her home in Colchester. Mary lived 96 years full of love, laughter, family and friends. Visiting hours will be on Saturday, September 20, 2025, 2 to 5 p.m., at Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, located at 9 Pleasant Street in Essex Junction. Services will be postponed until a later date. To read the full obituary, please visit vtfuneralhomes.com.

IN MEMORIAM

Brad Highberger

1953-2024

Brad Highberger was a beloved and generous friend, who listened carefully and shared his thoughts respectfully. His dry humor through wordplay sprinkled smiles through conversations. He was born on July 5, 1953, in Michigan.

Spirituality formed Brad’s core values. Introspective life off-grid in rural Alaska as a young adult and eight years working at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health developed his gentle approach to life. Brad was a healer. He became a massage therapist in 1981 and continued to train in natural healing methods in order to more effectively treat each client.

He used his knowledge himself when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He did not despair. He found a strict diet and exercises that kept him moving and upright.

As a skilled user of tools and creative designer, Brad turned a rough camp into a jewel of a home on Bunker Hill in Hardwick. He loved walking in those woods and counting the lady slippers in the spring.

In midsummer 2024, he was diagnosed with terminal metastatic pancreatic cancer. As pain increased, his choice was clear. He was ready to step into the next world, no body required. On September 1, 2024, his only sibling, Kirk; his longtime partner, Don; Dr. Kiely; and two friends — Caro and Julie — created a circle of love as he passed off the Earth through Vermont’s Death With Dignity procedures.

To say he is missed does not begin to express the feelings of those whose lives he touched.

Tiana Regina Roussin

SEPTEMBER 20, 1992AUGUST 22, 2025

BURLINGTON, VT.

Tiana “TT” Regina Roussin, beloved partner of Luke Clavelle and loving mother of Ryley Roussin, passed away unexpectedly at the University of Vermont Medical Center on August 22, 2025. Tiana, only 32 years old, suffered from postpartum hemorrhaging.

The only bright moment on a very dark day was the birth of Clara Ferries Clavelle, the beautiful and healthy daughter of Tiana and Luke.

with love, laughter, affection and friendship.

Anyone who knew Tiana looked forward to spending time with her. Her beautiful smile and effervescent laughter came easily, and those vibrant blue eyes lit up any room that she graced. Her spirit and energy were infectious, and she always left you wanting more time with her.

Tiana was a remarkable and resilient woman. As a young single mother, she was fiercely protective and a force to behold. Tiana raised her daughter Ryley, now 13,

Lynn Louise Walsh Martens

DECEMBER 15, 1944AUGUST 22, 2025

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.

Lynn Martens — dancer, dance teacher, Pilates instructor, small business owner, mother, grandmother, lifelong devotee of New York City and singular sensation — died on Friday, August 22, 2025, in her adopted home of South Burlington, Vt., due to acute complications of chronic illness. She was 80 years old.

Born in New York City on December 15, 1944, to first-time parents Marian Chester Walsh, a schoolteacher, and William Walsh, a physician then employed by the U.S. Navy, Lynn (who went at times by Lyn or Lynne) spent her childhood moving around the country in tandem with her father’s transfers. These eventually led her back to Manhattan and the Professional Children’s School, where her passion for dance flourished as she earned her diploma.

and pursued higher education at Emmanuel College in Boston and Community College of Vermont. She worked her way up the ranks in the hospitality industry before moving on to become a commercial lines customer service representative at Cheeseman Insurance. In March 2024, Tiana proudly joined Acrisure as a commercial lines account manager.

Tiana’s creative talents included drawing, painting, music, singing, comedy, and playing cribbage and Wordle. She was a lover of aquariums and animals. She particularly loved her cats, Nova and Beans (most of the time).

Tiana loved hiking and was always up for an adventure. With Luke, she found a love for travel and had only just begun to explore the world.

Tiana graduated with honors from Milton High School in 2010

Paris. A confirmed Francophile, Lynn claimed to have read Sartre’s Being and Nothingness at 16. During her later years she attended a French conversation group in Burlington. Back in New York, Lynn attended NYU for a semester, pursued a dancing career (including a stint with Paul Taylor’s company), attended Columbia for a semester, and then put both career and school on hold to begin a family. Her tenacity triumphed, as it often did, when she completed her history BA, summa cum laude, at C.W. Post in 1985.

To her mother’s initial consternation, Lynn deferred her enrollment at NYU to spend a year abroad in

In late 1967 Lynn met actor Wayne Martens during rehearsals for King Solomon and Ashmedai, in which she danced and he portrayed the eponymous demon of lust. Soon thereafter she moved into his Brooklyn apartment, from which the pair didn’t move until 1977, by which time they were married and had three children in tow. In the meantime, she spent a summer in Israel, took classes at Columbia, did a lot of high-quality mothering and helped Wayne build a successful custom photo lab, Box One Photographic.

The family settled on Long Island, first in East Norwich, then in

In addition to Luke, Ryley and Clara, Tiana is survived by her parents, Leslie and Jeff Thayer, and her siblings, Trista Roussin (her twin and first soulmate); Jenni Roussin and her fiancé, Dimitrius Palmer; Lillian Thayer; Nicholas Roussin and his wife, Kate; Jamie Roussin; and Ethan Roussin. Tiana is also survived by her adoring Roussin uncles and aunts, Paul, Lynda, David and Anne Along with her family, Tiana will be forever missed by her extended family: Peter Clavelle and Betsy Ferries, who loved Tiana like their own daughter, and honorary siblings, Jae Clavelle and her husband, Zac Araujo; and Will Clavelle and his wife, Anne Culp.

Greenlawn. Lynn, a voracious reader of literary novels and historical nonfiction, kept the house full of books. By night she enjoyed listening to jazz LPs. Her wide-ranging cultural and intellectual curiosity set an irresistible example for her children.

Dance was the heart of Lynn’s life. She took classes for as long as she could and taught ballet and jazz for years at various Long Island studios, most notably the North Shore Studio of Dance.

Lynn’s politics were strongly progressive. Spurred by the moral fervor of the anti-war and women’s liberation movements of her youth, she participated in numerous local and national demonstrations over the decades, addressing such issues as apartheid, reproductive freedom, the Iraq war and threats to democracy.

In summer 1995, Lynn realized her long-harbored dream of moving back to Manhattan. She and her family saw out the century in a Houston Street apartment that, in later years, Lynn cited as her favorite among the many homes she’d known. During this period she discovered, and created a career for herself in, the discipline of Pilates, well known among professional dancers but then gaining popular traction.

Pilates changed everything. When the Houston Street apartment had to be sold, Lynn found not only the courage but the wherewithal to leave her long-troubled marriage.

It is impossible to capture all the names of the friends who loved her like a sister from grade school on. We mourn as one.

Tiana had a remarkable way of making people feel seen, valued and loved. Whether it was through a warm hug, a compliment or a presence in times of need, she reminded us that love should never be left unspoken. And so, in honoring Tiana’s memory, let’s carry that forward. Let’s tell our people we love them. Let’s not leave anything unsaid.

We thank the doctors, nurses and staff at UVMMC.

A celebration of Tiana’s life will take place on Friday, August 29, 2025, 4 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Tiana’s memory by visiting your local animal shelter and adopting a cat in her name or making a donation to From Feral to Fur-Ever Rescue (49 Pine St., Swanton, VT 05488), a rescue organization close to Tiana’s heart. Nothing would have made Tiana smile more than knowing a cat had found a safe and loving home.

She moved first to Washington Heights and then to Vermont. After working for a year with her daughter, Shannon, owner of the Pilates Den, Lynn founded her own studio, Absolute Pilates, where she made her living — and fostered a coterie of fond, loyal clients — until COVID shutdowns and her own declining health gradually drew things to a close.

Even as Alzheimer’s and a string of health emergencies slowed her down, Lynn continued pursuing the many interests still accessible to her, including her French group, the NYC-based writing group she’d participated in for years, and visits with siblings and friends. Almost until the end, she read the Times and the New Yorker, listened to jazz, and complained about politics. Above all, she maintained an ever-curious, often hilarious, reliably sympathetic presence in the lives of those she loved and who loved her.

Predeceased by her parents, Lynn is survived by a devoted cohort of children, grandchildren and siblings, including her daughter, Shannon Lashua of Williston, Vt.; sons Matthew and Christopher Martens of Beverly, Mass., and South Burlington, Vt., respectively; grandchildren Jami and Emma Lashua of Williston, Vt.; sisters Gail Jennings and Claire Locke of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Hillsborough, N.C., respectively; brother William Walsh of Waltham, Vt.; and feline companion Gigi.

Hydropower

Power Drain

facilities such as the one at Green River Reservoir are being pressed to make waterways healthier — which could mean less green energy STORY KEVIN MCCALLUM | PHOTOS JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

The Green River Reservoir cast its spell on Bryn Davis ﬁve years ago, and he and his family have been back every summer since. They love the adventure of paddling a canoe packed with camping gear toward a distant wooded shore. They marvel at the loons diving into the pristine water and the stars shimmering in the night sky. Thanks to the prohibition on motorboats, they appreciate the profound sense of peace that pervades the remote area in Hyde Park.

“It’s a special place,” Davis, a software engineer from Hanover, N.H., said last month as he loaded his canoe at the crowded boat launch at Green River Reservoir State Park. “Especially in the evening and early morning, it’s unbelievably quiet.”

Beneath that tranquil surface, however, a ﬁerce battle has been raging for more than a decade over the future of the beloved reservoir and the concrete dam that created it nearly 80 years ago.

State regulators have been trying for years to get its owner, the local electric utility Morrisville Water & Light, to run the dam in a more environmentally

sensitive way. The utility is seeking to renew the hydro dam’s federal license, a lengthy process that allows the state to have water quality requirements included in the new permit. In this case, Vermont has written strict new operating rules to regulate the volume of water that ﬂows out of the reservoir in order to improve

wildlife habitat in the reservoir and in the Green River.

Utility o cials have pushed back hard. They argue that the new restrictions o er little environmental beneﬁt; would force the utility to abandon a source of cheap, clean electricity; and would ultimately lead to higher electricity rates.

They have sued regulators in state and federal courts, claiming the restrictions weren’t based on sound science. They asked lawmakers to intervene, too — all to no avail.

Now, the utility says it’s done fighting: It intends to surrender its federal license, though it hasn’t yet filed a formal plan to do so. The company also wants the state to take over the dam and the expense of running it. State government has commissioned a nearly $600,000 study of that possibility, and a report is due soon.

“The state has decided to regulate Green River out of existence,” said Scott Johnstone, general manager of Morrisville Water & Light. “We’re done. Time to move on with life.”

The utility will focus on relicensing its two larger hydroelectric dams, Morrisville and Cadys Falls on the Lamoille River, he said. The utility will also have to ﬁnd a new source to replace the electricity produced at the Green River plant, which amounts to 2 percent of the power its 4,800 customers use.

If Green River’s turbines stop spinning, the utility may have to rely more heavily

on power from carbon-emitting sources on the New England electric grid, which Johnstone said would make it harder for the utility — and the state — to reach its climate goals.

“It feels like we’re getting forced to take a step backward,” Johnstone said.

The situation is the highest profile example of the increasing tension between clean water and clean energy. Morrisville Water & Light is not the only hydroelectric operator facing tougher operating requirements that reduce energy output. More

than two dozen Vermont dams have been relicensed in the past 25 years, and many of them now make less electricity than they once did.

Water quality advocates say the state is rightly clamping down on hydro facilities during a lengthy federal relicensing process that can lock in operating conditions for 30 to 50 years.

But renewable-energy advocates say that’s a huge problem. Vermont imports about 80 percent of its power, but about 56 percent of the electricity generated within

power production from local dams, advocates say, undermines this drive to clean up Vermont’s power supply.

The potential demise of the Green River hydro is unfortunate but may have been preventable, according to Vermont Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. Had the utility taken a more collaborative approach instead of the litigious, confrontational one it adopted early on, a compromise to keep the electrons flowing from the Green River dam might have been possible, she said.

“The challenge with Morrisville was it was an all-or-nothing proposition,” Moore said. “It was, ‘You guys are wrong, and we’re going to fight you to the death on this.’”

As old dams built with little consideration for the health of rivers face federal relicensing, it’s important they be closely scrutinized by the state to better protect waterways, Moore said. This “rebalancing” is difficult and takes considerable effort and problem solving, but in most cases can be achieved.

“It is a challenging balance to strike between our clean energy goals and our clean water goals,” she said. “But I firmly believe we can have hydropower that is also thoughtful about its impact on water quality.”

I firmly believe we can have hydropower that is also thoughtful about its impact on water quality.

NATURAL

Vermont comes from hydro. Except for spikes during unusually wet years in 2023 and 2024, hydro generation in the state has remained fairly stable for more than two decades.

A reliable source of electricity for Vermonters since the late 1800s, hydro is seen as key to balancing the intermittent output of wind and solar farms.

The state has a goal to draw 100 percent of its electricity from green sources by 2035, including a higher percentage from in-state generation. Even a small drop in

CASH FLOW

Most visitors to Green River Reservoir State Park give little thought to why the 653-acre body of water exists. They pull into the dirt parking lot, check in at the rangers’ station, haul their canoes and kayaks down to the boat launch, and paddle off.

The park, created in 1999 when the state purchased the reservoir and 5,100 acres of forest around it, has 26 campsites on islands and along the undeveloped shoreline. The sites can only be reached by water and are so popular that they get booked for the summer minutes after they become available.

A few hundred yards past the park entrance, behind a locked gate down a steep gravel access road, sits a monstrous chunk of curved concrete, 105 feet tall and 360 feet long, that blocks the river’s natural path.

The aging structure’s face is streaked with a mix of rust and efflorescence, a powdery white substance that collects on older concrete, sections of which have flaked off. Two rusty pipes, relics of another era, run from the top of the dam to the riverbed below. A tiny concrete structure with metal shutters at the base of the dam looks like the abandoned home of a deranged hobbit.

Green River Reservoir

Green River Dam

Cadys Falls Dam

Morrisville Dam

Hyde Park

RESOURCES SECRETARY

JULIE MOORE

The boat launch at Green River Reservoir State Park

Power Drain

What the complex lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in usefulness.

Morrisville Water & Light constructed the dam in 1947 but not to generate power there. The idea was that during times of drought or high electricity demand, operators could release water from the new reservoir to boost power generation at the hydro plants downstream. It was only in 1983 that the utility added turbines at the dam itself. Today, the water that powers those turbines continues downstream to generate more electricity at the Lamoille dams.

Water is released from the Green River dam through a 54-inch pipe and can flow through one or both turbines, depending on how much power is needed. The turbines are like huge hamster wheels lying on their sides, retired dam operator John Tilton said during a recent tour.

The water shoots into the turbines, hits the curved blades, and turns 945-kilowatt generators above them. Its energy spent, the water then drops down into what is called a tailrace and back into the rocky river bed.

When both turbines operate at full power, so much water flows through them and back into the Green River — upwards of 500 additional cubic feet per second — that a four-foot-wide culvert a mile and a half downstream used to get overwhelmed, Tilton said. That’s why operators usually run just one turbine at a time.

The utility operates the turbines in short bursts primarily to “beat the peak,” Johnstone said. This means that when power is in high demand and the cost of buying it from the grid is expensive, the utility generates more of it at Green River.

The reservoir is like a huge battery that the utility can draw from when needed. The concept is similar to the way residential solar systems are often paired with batteries that can discharge power after the sun goes down and hydro systems that pump water uphill when renewable energy is abundant and release it to pass through turbines downhill when power is needed.

At times, particularly when summer temperatures soar and large numbers of people turn on their air conditioners, spot energy prices can reach $1 per kilowatt hour. But Morrisville Water & Light can generate power at Green River for around 18 cents, Johnstone said.

Not only is the electricity cheaper, he explained, but the utility also saves on transmission costs charged by the grid, which are based on the peak loads.

LEVEL BEST

Treating a river system like a huge battery creates problems for the creatures that live there.

Loons, for example, are very sensitive to fluctuations in water levels, said Eric Hanson, a biologist with the Vermont Loon Conservation Project. They build their nests just a few inches from the waterline, so raising or lowering the level slightly can flood nests or strand chicks.

Morrisville Water & Light tries to keep the water level stable during loon nesting season, generally May through June. The utility can still generate power, but the amount of water allowed to run out of the reservoir through the dam has to approximately match the volume flowing into the reservoir from the Green River — which can vary significantly based on rainfall.

That practice has paid off. In 1983, the reservoir was home to just one nesting pair of loons. Today, there are four, with a large number of nonbreeding birds also hanging out, Hanson said. That suggests that not only are the nesting conditions good, but the fish population that the loons feed on is also healthy. “Overall, loons are doing pretty well,” he said.

The dam created this prime habitat for loons. But operating it to generate electricity harms other species.

While native brook trout love cold water, the inconsistent pulses of frigid water drawn from the base of the reservoir throughout the year damages their habitat, said Karina Dailey, a restoration ecologist with the Vermont Natural Resources Council.

“It’s a shock to a system that’s really not healthy for the fish,” Dailey said.

In the summer and fall, the utility is required to limit drawdowns, as they are called, of the reservoir’s levels to one foot. In the winter, the limit is 10 feet, as long as it’s refilled by May 1. In reality, the utility usually draws the water down no more than six feet to ensure that the spring runoff will be sufficient to refill the reservoir, Johnstone said.

That six-foot drawdown is valuable because home heating can lead to high electricity rates in winter. But such drastic drawdowns, even when done gradually in a series of short bursts, can blast the riverbed below the dam. And they can cause exposed sections of the reservoir bottom — 80 acres, biologists testified in court — to dry out and freeze, killing bugs such as mayflies that are a key part

of the food chain. The reservoir’s shallow areas contain fewer insects and less vegetation than natural lakes and ponds, evidence showed. Johnstone argues that the fluctuations mimic those in natural river systems.

Concerns about wildlife habitat drove regulators to propose that Morrisville Water & Light run less water through its turbines and leave more in the reservoir and river. They proposed the utility run the turbines more sparingly in the storeand-release model and closer to what is known as “run-of-river.” The utility could still generate electricity from water that flows naturally through the system, such as after big rainfalls, but could not release high volumes suddenly.

Instead of being able to draw the reservoir down 10 feet in the winter, regulators proposed a limit of 18 inches. And instead

A common loon on the Green River Reservoir

Hydro operator Mike Buchanan at Green River

If the only thing the dam is being used for is to keep the state park, then I can’t ask ratepayers to pay for it.

SCOTT JOHNSTONE

of a one-foot limit from June 1 to December 15, they proposed four inches.

Johnstone, a former secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, understands why the utility’s former general manager, Craig Myotte, and its board of trustees chose to fight the new rules. In past interviews, Myotte estimated the restrictions would slash the dam’s power generation by about a third and would further put the utility at the mercy of price spikes.

Under the new operating requirements — which have yet to take effect while the relicensing process drags on — the dam would be a significant financial burden for ratepayers, Johnstone said.

The dam helps the utility keep rates lower by enabling it to purchase less power off the regional grid. But the new rules mean the cost of running the dam would exceed those savings by $236,000 annually, Johnstone said. The dam also needs about $1 million in repairs and $3 million for upgrades to comply with the new rules, Johnstone said.

Johnstone said he asked more than a dozen different dam operators if they would be interested in buying or running the hydro plant. Several expressed interest. “Then they review the water quality permit and they go, ‘Not on your life,’” he said.

NOT JUST GREEN RIVER

One of those who passed on Johnstone’s offer was Arion Thiboumery, who co-owns and operates four hydroelectric dams in the state.

He agreed with Johnstone’s assessment that the new restrictions assure no one could run the hydro plant at Green River profitably. What he views as overregulation is an insidious problem affecting the industry statewide, Thiboumery said.

The impact on individual dams is often small, but it can add up.

Thiboumery cited the case of the Moretown No. 8 Dam on the Mad River, which he co-owns. When No. 8 was relicensed recently, regulators required that the facility release more water into a short section of the river called the bypass reach. That’s the stretch between the face of the dam and the point where water reenters the river after flowing through the turbines.

Instead of previous requirements to keep 25 cubic feet per second of water flowing through the 100-foot rocky bypass reach, the new permit requires the dam to allow 40 cubic feet per second. That lowers power generation by 2 to 5 percent, he said, for little if any benefit to fish. The reduction is relatively small, he said, because flows from the Mad River, which drains nearly 140 square miles of the Green Mountains, are usually sufficient.

But if similar reductions were imposed on all 102 hydroelectric dams in Vermont, Thiboumery said, “that adds up to be a real number.”

Calculating that real number is tricky.

A 2017 analysis that South Burlington engineering firm VHB performed for the Vermont Independent Power Producers Association estimated that the new water

quality requirements would likely decrease hydropower generated in Vermont by 5 to 25 percent.

“If all in-state existing hydrostations were to experience a reduction in energy generation in this predicted range, the impact to VT’s energy supply and renewable energy goals would be significant,” the report says.

That should give regulators pause, according to Peter Sterling, executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont.

“There really needs to be a high bar set for ANR to show a cause for reducing the power output from existing small-scale hydro dams,” he said.

Green Mountain Power is the largest owner of such facilities in the state. The company’s hydropower output has declined modestly as a result of new restrictions imposed during relicensing, said Josh Castonguay, chief innovation officer for the utility. Power generated by a GMP dam in Rutland decreased 1 percent, while power from dams in Newbury and Bolton declined 3 percent and 5 percent respectively, he said.

The utility operates 36 hydro dams in all, and some face rules that make it harder to generate at peak times, though it’s still possible, Castonguay said. But the utility has been growing its energy storage network in recent years, including by installing large batteries in homes. GMP can tap that stored power when wholesale prices spike, he said.

The electric department in Enosburg Falls, which serves about 1,800 customers in seven Franklin County towns, is seeking to relicense its century-old hydro plant on the Missisquoi River. Regulators’ demand for a 50 percent increase in bypass flows could reduce the dam’s generation by 15 to 20 percent, village manager John Dasaro said.

One utility is getting out of the hydro business altogether. The Washington Electric Cooperative, facing a 6 percent drop in production at its hydro facility on the Wrightsville Dam north of Montpelier, has decided to sell the operation.

The new rules halve the amount the utility could draw down the reservoir and double the amount of water it needs to keep in the North Branch below the dam. The facility was only “marginally cost-effective,” and the regulatory changes made it more problematic, said Louis Porter, the utility’s general manager. He is a former commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The co-op chose not to fight with ANR over the tougher restrictions.

“We didn’t think the likelihood of success was high enough to warrant spending members’ money litigating it,” Porter said.

LAST STAND

With its legal and legislative appeals nearly exhausted, Morrisville Water & Light is making a final bid for relief. Utility officials had previously threatened to tear down the dam, which would help restore the Green River to its natural state but would drain the reservoir. They have since backed off. Johnstone now argues that if the state’s operating restrictions force the utility to mothball the Green River plant, then the State of Vermont should own and maintain the dam thing.

“If the only thing the dam is being used for is to keep the state park, then I can’t ask ratepayers to pay for it,” Johnstone said.

A possible state takeover is the subject of a highly anticipated report due any day from the Agency of Natural Resources. The analysis is expected to outline the condition of the 78-year-old dam, long-term operating and maintenance costs, whether generating electricity from it still makes economic sense, and the cost of removal.

The state already owns and operates 14 dams, some of which require costly renovations in coming years. Safety upgrades to the Waterbury Dam, the state’s largest, are expected to run about $75 million, Secretary Moore said.

Preliminary findings from the consultant ANR hired to write the report confirm the Green River plant would be a money loser under the new restrictions and that upgrades wouldn’t help much, Moore said. In addition, the consultant found that if the state took ownership of the dam, it would cost $2 million to $16 million to operate and maintain over the next several years.

Vermont clearly has an interest in ensuring the dam remains in place and the popular state park is preserved, Moore said. But the state needs to be cautious about taking over a facility that needs millions of dollars in improvements, especially in a time of deep financial uncertainty.

“The reservoir, the camping, the habitat and all of those things have incredible value,” Moore said. “But we have to be able to have a conversation in the context of all the needs of our existing dam portfolio.”

“In many respects, the case of this small dam on the Green River highlights part of our overall problem at almost every level,” Westman said.

But Jon Groveman, the policy and water program director at VNRC, said dam owners should be held to standards that reflect the modern understanding of what makes healthy river systems and wildlife habitat. Instead of fighting the new rules, dragging their feet with endless regulatory filings or trying to get special permission to

The case of this small dam on the Green River highlights part of our overall problem at almost every level.

SEN. RICHARD WESTMAN

Moore expects the report will set the stage for a difficult conversation with lawmakers in 2026.

Sen. Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) said he thinks the state ought to own the dam since it “put the squeeze” on the utility. The whole saga could have been avoided, he said, if regulators, advocacy groups and lawmakers stopped looking at the issue solely through the narrow lens of water quality.

Little if any consideration seems to have been given to the broad benefits of clean, inexpensive, local hydro power, especially for a fast-growing community such as Morrisville, he said.

harm waterways, utilities such as Morrisville Water & Light would best serve their ratepayers by planning upgrades years in advance, Groveman said.

Unfortunately, he said, the utility was unprepared for the relicensing process and, when faced with tougher rules, blamed regulators and said, “Fix our problem by taking your foot off our neck.”

“Well, the foot is on your neck because you didn’t do the planning, and now you’re stuck in a shitty situation,” Groveman said.

“We understand that, but the answer from our perspective isn’t just to sacrifice water quality and a healthy fish population.”

A bird’s-eye view of the dam and the Green River Reservoir

Man of Convictions

A new book recounts how a gay Jewish lawyer in postwar Germany brought Nazi war criminals to justice

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

After World War II, Fritz Bauer had no good reason to return to the homeland that wanted him dead. Bauer had been a district court judge in Stuttgart, Germany, in the early 1930s, a social democrat and outspoken critic of then-new chancellor Adolf Hitler. He was also Jewish and gay, an easy Nazi target. In 1933, Bauer was arrested, stripped of his job and sent to prison, where he was beaten almost daily for months.

But Bauer was luckier than most. He escaped Nazi Germany for Denmark in 1936, then emigrated to Sweden in 1943. There, Bauer found a socially progressive society that accepted his Judaism and homosexuality — a far cry from the virulently antisemitic, homophobic and chauvinistic German culture he had left behind. He could have stayed in Sweden and lived a long, safe and comfortable life.

BOOKS

But as Charlotte author Jack Fairweather explores in his compelling new book, The Prosecutor: One Man’s Battle to Bring Nazis to Justice, Bauer instead returned to Germany in 1948 to resume a career in the criminal justice system. Amid a still deeply Nazified society, Bauer became a prosecutor who, at great personal risk, pursued those who were responsible for the genocide. His biggest catch: Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Final Solution to exterminate Europe’s Jews. Bauer was central in helping the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, apprehend Eichmann in Argentina and put him on trial.

Drawing from unpublished personal letters, newly declassified German files, and firsthand interviews with family members and descendants, Fairweather traces Bauer’s life from his early days as a young jurist and activist and his escape from Germany, documenting his long career as an irascible, chain-smoking workaholic who regularly put in 18-hour days. Some of what he unearthed about Bauer, including his involvement with the Mossad, was kept secret from Bauer’s own family.

But Bauer’s greatest achievement wasn’t just the capture of a fugitive war criminal. As Fairweather explains, he forced average Germans to confront their own complicity in Hitler’s rise and the mass extermination of millions. In the process, he began a nationwide reckoning with Germany’s painful past.

Today, it’s hard to imagine a history of World War II that doesn’t center the Holocaust as a defining event. One could mistakenly assume that the Nuremberg trials of 1945 and 1946 brought to justice most of those who were responsible. Yet of the more than 7,000 Schutzstaffel, or SS, officers who worked in AuschwitzBirkenau, only six were brought to trial before Bauer got involved.

NO DEFENDANT HAD ACTED ALONE. THEY NEEDED THE CAMP, A COMMUNITY, AN ENTIRE CULTURE, TO SUPPORT THEM.

JACK FAIRWEATHER

Why? Because much of what is known today about the Holocaust simply wasn’t common knowledge in the years immediately following the war. Average German citizens were either ignorant of the scope of the Holocaust or ready to move on, or they justified Nazi atrocities as the crimes of a few. Many German civilians were indignant that they, who had also suffered during the war, should bear any responsibility for the Holocaust. As West Germany’s chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, put it in 1949, it was time to “let bygones be bygones.”

But as Fairweather points out, after the war, 8 million former Nazi Party members returned to their prewar careers as civil servants and bureaucrats. Some were even recruited as spies for the CIA, which was more concerned about the rise of the Soviet Union and the spread of

communism in Eastern Europe than past atrocities.

More than 200,000 former SS officers and concentration camp guards went to work in law enforcement and the judiciary. Nazi doctors who had supervised medical experiments on Jews and dentists who had removed Jews’ gold fillings after they were gassed returned to their practices as though none of it had ever occurred.

“For Bauer,” Fairweather said, “this wasn’t a crime of the few. It was a collective endeavor.” As he writes about the cases Bauer brought starting in 1962:

Auschwitz itself was the crime he planned to prosecute; the defendants were simply the willing hands needed to run the death factory. They were ordinary Germans, and therein lay the trial’s power to implicate German society as a whole. It was true that the defendants had committed monstrous acts individually — Klehr the lethal injector, Kaduk the rapist and murderer, Capesius the supplier of gas. Bauer wanted to evoke their deeds in excruciating detail through witness testimony. But he also wanted his countrymen — the world — to see how their crimes fitted together to make industrial murder possible. No defendant had acted alone. They needed the camp, a community, an entire culture, to support them. That was why it wouldn’t just be a selection of defendants in the dock, but the whole nation.

Fairweather, 47, is a Wales-born journalist and former Middle East war correspondent. He previously wrote The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who Infiltrated Auschwitz, which won a 2019 Costa Book Award and will soon be made into a limited television series. While working on that book, Fairweather discovered Bauer’s story.

The Prosecutor would be a thoroughly researched and enlightening read if all it did was examine Bauer’s career. But Fairweather went even further, peeling back the layers on Bauer’s personal life, much of it previously unknown. Despite two earlier biographies originally published in German, no one had ever dug into Bauer’s

Fritz Bauer and his nephews, Rolf and Peter Tiefenthal, circa 1930s

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life as a gay man. Fairweather discovered a cache of Bauer’s personal letters that he wrote to a friend in an archaic German script. Even his German researcher couldn’t make heads nor tails of it.

“She had the idea of sending it to her 90-year-old mother,” Fairweather recalled in an interview with Seven Days The mother, who had grown up during Hitler’s rise — her father had been a Nazi administrator in occupied Poland — was able to interpret them.

“That was very magical,” Fairweather recalled. The correspondence only highlighted the sacrifice that Bauer had made in foregoing this relationship in order to return to postwar Germany.

The Prosecutor , which author Sebastian Junger touts on the book jacket as a “tour de force of both historical research and absolutely terrific writing,” often reads more like a classic cloak-and-dagger novel than a history book.

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“There’s something incredibly poignant about having the daughter of that man piece together what was in those letters,” Fairweather said, “which was the personal life of Bauer.”

Those letters provided Fairweather with the kind of cinematic moment that all biographers dream about: the discovery of one of Bauer’s romantic partners, the late Paul Wagner.

Fairweather found Wagner’s daughter living in a small house in Copenhagen. During their conversation, she retrieved a dusty box of her father’s letters stashed in the attic, which, because she didn’t speak German, had sat unread for decades. In it were dozens of letters that Bauer had written to her father over many years.

Their contents revealed a profoundly intimate relationship between the two men and a side of them that no one, including their own families, had ever known.

There’s also something chilling about reading The Prosecutor and recognizing its relevance to contemporary politics. As many Americans wonder how their own deeply divided country, with a government showing authoritarian tendencies, will ever heal and rebuild its democratic foundations, Bauer’s story offers some guidance. It wasn’t until the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials, which Bauer brought in 1963, that West Germany began its sustained and ongoing acknowledgement of its complicity in the Holocaust.

Today, thanks in large part to Bauer’s work, Germany serves as an international model for historical reckoning and national reconciliation — a task that Americans themselves may one day face. ➆

INFO

The Prosecutor: One Man’s Battle to Bring Nazis to Justice by Jack Fairweather, Crown, 496 pages. $35. jackfairweather.com

Man of Convictions « P.33

Jack Fairweather

food+drink

Here for Kumpir

Iabandoned my husband for a baked potato last week on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. To be fair to me, I only planned to be gone for a couple of minutes, and he was comfortably seated at one of Cappadocia Bistro’s outdoor tables with stu ed grape leaves ($12.99); a pile of juicy, Istanbul-style grilled chicken wings ($18.99); and a Zero Gravity Conehead IPA ($8).

Inside, I walked to the back of the strikingly tiled new restaurant owned by the Oktay family, who closed their 13-year-old Istanbul Kebab House on lower Church Street shortly before opening Cappadocia Bistro in late April. My destination: the toppings bar for the loaded baked potatoes called kumpir (from $8.99), a popular Turkish street food.

Cappadocia co-owner Hasan Oktay, 48, gave me the rundown, which included haydari, a garlicky, dill-flecked yogurt;

FOOD LOVER?

housemade hummus and baba ghanoush; various pickles and olives; and a soupy, yogurt-dressed potato salad somewhat mysteriously named “American salad.”

When I mentioned that I planned to order kumpir, Oktay sent a server into the kitchen to see if any remained after a busy day. The young man returned with the sole remaining potato (phew), and I stayed to watch him slice it open; mash the steamy ﬂesh with butter, salt, shredded cheddar and mozzarella; and then carefully layer my topping selections one by one, ﬁnishing with a vermilion tangle of pickled cabbage. Well over 10 minutes had passed before I returned to my husband, kumpir in hand. I think he forgave me as we spooned up dense, dairy-drenched mouthfuls of potato, richly mixed with smoky baba ghanoush and earthy bulgur salad and spangled with briny pickled vegetables and olives. The humble baked potato reached new heights.

Most diners at Cappadocia Bistro will not need to abandon their tablemates to order a loaded baked potato because servers can provide a handy toppings checklist. But if you’re a kumpir neophyte, I do recommend laying eyes on the toppings bar to help inform your decision.

FIRST BITE

A visit to the back of the restaurant will also provide a bonus close-up view of the brick oven, which is used to bake lahmacun — blistered, paper-thin Turkish flatbreads — and more substantial filled flatbreads, such as open-faced pide and rolled, stu ed bafra pide. On one visit, a flotilla of round, dimpled, seed-speckled rolls had just come out of the oven. Due to a snafu with electric and gas certifications, the original blue-andwhite-tiled 4,000-pound oven installed in the Burlington restaurant this spring had to be ripped out and an entirely new one installed, at significant expense, before the full flatbread menu could be served in early July. The new oven is not as charming as the first, but it’s functional, and that’s what counts.

I’d been waiting for that oven with anticipation since enjoying a sneak preview of what it could produce during a visit to one of the Oktays’ other restaurants, Cappadocia Café, which opened last September in White River Junction. It

Hasan Oktay and his son, John, holding a tray of pastries

Clockwise from top left: Chicken wings, Lal rosé, wild mushroom bafra pide, lahmacun, glass of raki, stuffed grape leaves, hummus and deluxe pide at Cappadocia Bistro

SIDEdishes

Kitchen Table Group to Open Market and Café in South Burlington

The ownership group behind Richmond’s KITCHEN TABLE restaurant is launching KITCHEN TABLE MARKET & CAFÉ at 1160 Williston Road in South Burlington. The new business will take over part of the longtime location of CHICKEN CHARLIE’S ROTISSERIE, GRILL & BBQ, which the Kitchen Table group bought in 2022. Chef and director of operations CRAIG ANTHONY, 38, said construction will start the ﬁrst week of September and he hopes to open the café later that month. Chicken Charlie’s will remain open for pickup and delivery during and after construction, but it will no longer have seating.

The new Kitchen Table Market & Café will o er counter-service breakfast and lunch menus with seating. In the morning, choices will include yogurt parfaits, breakfast sandwiches and a top-your-own oatmeal bar. From lunch to 8 p.m., the café will o er premade grab-and-go sandwiches, custom sandwiches, salads, and soups.

Cooler and freezer cases will hold take-and-bake meals such as macaroni and cheese, lasagna, chicken pot pies, and other “hearty, homemade casserole-type dishes,” Anthony said.

SAM LA CROIX, Anthony’s partner and the Kitchen Table pastry chef, will supply a wide selection of desserts, including moon pies, Swiss cake rolls and slices of her signature Matilda chocolate cake.

MELISSA

PASANEN

Red Hen Baking Announces Middlesex Move; Woodbelly Pizza Eyes Space

RED HEN BAKING has announced that it will move its production bakery and café half a mile from its Camp Meade home of 17 years to a larger space in Middlesex, just o Route 2. Red Hen co-owner RANDY GEORGE conﬁrmed that work has started on the 15,000-squarefoot building at 31 Welch Park Drive and the bakery is targeting a spring move. The building previously housed FARMERS TO YOU, a food distribution business now operating on the Creative Campus at Goddard in Plainﬁeld. George said the new location will nearly

CONNECT

On Instagram: Jordan Barry: @jordankbarry; Melissa Pasanen: @mpasanen.

Don’t take chances. Visit KOB Kitchen before you

serves a similar menu, though it’s also open for breakfast and does not offer kumpir.

Between them, Hasan, his brother Vural and Vural’s wife, Jackie, also own Tuckerbox restaurant in White River Junction, plus a retail store there and a second on Church Street. The shops, both called Little Istanbul, sell spices, housewares and other imported goods from the brothers’ native Turkey. If you fall in love with the enchanting, glass mosaic pendant lights that hang like the necklaces of giants in Cappadocia Bistro, for example, they can be yours across the street at Little Istanbul.

Jackie, 38, explained that Cappadocia is the name of a volcanic valley in central Turkey, known for its striking natural landscape and ancient structures dating back to the Bronze Age. The “magical” place is a favorite family travel destination, she said.

Although the Oktays had originally planned to keep Istanbul Kebab House open in Burlington with their new Cappadocia Bistro, visas for the five Turkish chefs they needed to staff both businesses were refused late last year, Jackie said. Hasan, who managed the Burlington operations, was interested in a change, his sister-in-law said, and decided to pour his energy into the new spot, where he is a busy, beaming presence. Istanbul Kebab House remains for sale.

The 50-seat Cappadocia Bistro has an additional 25 outdoor seats and is open for lunch and dinner six days a week and closed, unusually, on Thursdays. The restaurant launched with counter service but has since switched to table service due to customer feedback, Jackie said.

The Oktays have also added a roster of the meze, small plates such as the grape leaves and dips, that were beloved by fans of Istanbul Kebab House. And they carried over the finger-licking doner kebabs of rotisserie-roasted lamb and beef ($14.99/$19.99) or chicken ($13.99/$18.99), which can be ordered sandwiched with abundant condiments in a lavash wrap or a bouncy, fresh-baked roll.

The flatbread menu is new and deliciously different. On a recent visit, four of us were satiated by three flatbreads after an array of several meze, including the meaty, just-spicy-enough chicken wings, which came with a fresh chopped tomato, pepper and cucumber salad and dipping sauces. Jackie had advised me to start a Turkish meal correctly with a glass of anise-forward raki ($10-$14), an alcohol distilled from grapes. It came in a beautiful copper holder filled with ice, but I could not overcome my black licorice aversion.

Even my husband, who likes licorice, said, “It’s a lot.”

The flatbreads, on the other hand, were unanimous faves. Lahmacun are relatively small and cracker-thin — though more flexible — and cook in a flash in the 600to 700-degree oven, spread with either a mix of minced beef and vegetables ($8.99) or just vegetables ($8.50). They’re served with sliced tomato, onion and parsley, which you place on the lahmacun, squeeze with lemon and then roll to eat, Jackie explained.

Pide are long, open-faced, kayak-shaped flatbreads with a toothsome pizzalike crust, filled with a choice of vegetables, cheese and meats. We chose a deluxe ($22.99) with three sections: spiced ground lamb, beefy sausage with cheese, and finely chopped lamb mixed with sweet peppers and tomatoes. With all of that going on, we opted against adding an egg, ($2.50), which Jackie had recommended.

For our bafra pide, we selected the mushroom, cheese, and tender shredded lamb and beef doner kebab ($18.99) all wrapped in a long tube of the finely rolled dough. Brushed with butter, dusted with spice and sprinkled with nigella seeds, each bite was luxuriously rich and meaty but not overwhelmingly so.

I had spied a platter of fine pastry making the rounds to neighboring tables. On my first visit, our server said the elaborate French-style pâtisserie are made by the group’s pastry chef in White River Junction and ferried regularly to Burlington. We picked the most subdued among the cream, chocolate and icing-drenched choices: a generously sized, crisp puff-pastry Napoleon ($14.99) layered with not-too-sweet stabilized cream and berries.

Jackie later told me that such desserts are very popular in Turkey, but I knew from my White River Junction Cappadocia visit that the chefs also make other traditional Turkish sweets. On our second visit with friends, I bossily waved away the dessert platter and asked if there was any baklava or similar. We were rewarded by excellent — and much less showy — pistachio-laden crunchy baklava ($3.50) and sobiyet ($4), a type of baklava filled with cultured cream called kaymak.

I found myself finishing the last crisp shards with a final sip of the raki, its anise flavor mellowed at that point by melted ice. It’s a magical place indeed that can overcome my distaste for licorice. ➆

INFO

Cappadocia Bistro, 92 Church St., Burlington, 488-3310, cappadociabistro.com. Note: The restaurant is closed on Thursdays.

THE HUMBLE BAKED POTATO REACHED NEW HEIGHTS.

Here for Kumpir « P.36

From left: Strawberry chocolate, chocolate cream and chocolate pastries

Bayram Dursun shaping Turkish breads at Cappadocia Bistro

A baked potato with toppings from the kumpir potato bar

BY MELISSA PASANEN •

In the 2018 inaugural episode of Phil Rosenthal’s “Somebody Feed Phil” Netflix show, the TV writer, producer and author eats his way through a Bangkok floating market, exclaiming over grilled bananas, the best pad Thai of his life, and cinnamon-and clove-scented boat noodles.

“I can’t imagine anyone not liking this — except my parents,” Rosenthal declares. “This is why you travel.”

Now in its eighth season, Rosenthal’s travel and food show is probably better known than his hit sitcom, “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which ran on CBS from 1996 to 2005. Thanks to his wide-eyed glee, earnest commentary and abundant dad jokes, “Somebody Feed Phil” is simultaneously kin and antithesis of the personality-driven culinary travel genre pioneered by the late Anthony Bourdain.

On Sunday, September 7, as part of a tour of 30-plus cities, Rosenthal will appear at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington for a conversation with a yet-to-be-announced moderator. It will start with a “Somebody Feed Phil” highlight reel and conclude with an audience Q&A. (He says kids ask the best questions.)

Rosenthal talked with Seven Days while he drove to a meeting with chef Nancy Silverton about a diner they’re opening in Los Angeles, which will be named Max & Helen’s after his parents. Diner food, they liked.

Why were you drawn to make a TV show about food?

Actually, it’s more about travel. I’m using food and my stupid sense of humor to get

The moderator can bring me little treats onstage. I don’t plan it — it hits me or it doesn’t.

It happens almost every day. Often it might be something chocolate. I’m kind of a chocolate freak. I have a rock-star rider [in my show contract], but there’s only one thing on it: I want, from a local chocolatier, their homemade dark — not milk — dark chocolate peanut butter cup, or any dark chocolate thing that they do.

The only thing I’m not crazy about is black licorice. Sometimes I say that at the show and I get booed because there are black licorice people.

That’s great that you can find joy in food every day.

I learned that from my parents. My dad’s favorite thing in life were very soft scrambled eggs. And he would ask every day, “Are my eggs fluffy? Are they fluffy?” And my mother would yell at him, “Max, first of all, I’m listening to the opera. Why are you bothering me? Don’t you know I’ve been making you eggs for 60 years?”

to the real underlying message of the show, which is that I think the world would be better if we all could experience a little bit of other people’s experiences.

You realize, in spite of the news, that most of the world is sweet and nice, and that’s so life-affirming. I’m trying to provide alternative programming.

Food can have “magical powers,” as Frank said about Debra’s braciole in “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Her version of the Italian tomato-braised meat classic makes Raymond sing. In “Somebody Feed Phil,” you sometimes dance when you eat something especially delicious. What will it take to get you dancing up on the Flynn stage?

I leave it to whoever is giving me a treat.

On his tombstone — you’re gonna think I’m making this up, but it’s 100 percent true — it says, “Are my eggs fluffy?” And next to him, on her tombstone, it says, “I’m listening to the opera.” The reason I did this was because these were truly their favorite things in life. The lesson I got is if you can find joy in these simple pleasures every day, maybe you’ll be happy every day. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

INFO

An Evening with Phil Rosenthal of “Somebody Feed Phil,” Sunday, September 7, 7 p.m. at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington. From $42.75-102. flynnvt.org

Phil Rosenthal

Garden Lessons

C.

Middle School in

chomped by deer. She brushed soil over potatoes, hoping the harvest could wait until students are back on August 27.

“Stay buried, friends,” she encouraged. After the first couple weeks of school, Anrod and her teaching partner will bring their new-to-middle-school classes out to harvest bouquets of sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias and dahlias. As a gesture of gratitude, each student will give their bouquet to someone in the school who’s helped them find their way.

At Lyman C. Hunt Middle School in Burlington’s New North End, a large garden plot beside the sports fields yields cute cucamelons for students to marvel over, peas for teachers’ genetics lessons, basil for the cafeteria, and perennials for the community — human and pollinator — to enjoy. Sixth graders planted almost all of it under the guidance of their science and math teacher, Maisie Anrod.

Anrod, 28, who’s entering her fourth year at Hunt, teaches an elective gardening class that will harvest greens for food service sta , plant garlic and put the garden to bed this fall.

But the garden isn’t just for Hunt students: A local daycare group, a service-learning class from the University of Vermont and community members have all gotten their hands dirty. At twice-weekly volunteer garden hours, neighbors and families water, weed and harvest. They all go home with vegetables.

“I don’t want this to be just ‘Miss Maisie’s garden.’ I want it to be our community’s garden,” Anrod said. With a renewed, intergenerational energy that goes beyond the school, “I think it’s growing into that,” she added.

In 2003, Vermont FEED and the City of Burlington teamed up to build school gardens as part of a push for local foods. Hunt’s expansive garden was founded in 2009 as the biggest of the city’s school gardens, according to the Burlington School Food Project, and that organization’s sta members Sarah Heusner and Jen Trapani long maintained it.

The garden was a big part of the school’s culture, Anrod said, until activity waned during the pandemic. A former farm-toschool coordinator and Shelburne Farms education fellow, she expressed interest in reviving it when she interviewed for the teaching job.

Compared with the classroom, where she faced a steep learning curve as a ﬁrst-time teacher, the garden “felt like a place I could contribute, where I had my feet under me,” Anrod said. “I knew how to plant a cucumber plant, weed, water and harvest.”

I DON’T WANT THIS TO BE JUST “MISS MAISIE’S GARDEN.” I WANT IT TO BE OUR COMMUNITY’S GARDEN.

MAISIE ANROD

class out there for nature observations, and other teachers bring students to read among its rows. They can move their bodies, smell, taste and notice things — hands-on learning that often sinks in “deeper than something that’s just on a worksheet,” Anrod said. Some students who struggle in the classroom blossom in the garden, becoming experts and leaders.

Jonesy, a soon-to-be eighth grader, is a regular in Hunt’s garden. He started working in the garden in sixth grade and continues to volunteer after school and on weekends. This spring’s pea crop — planted on Pi Day in March — was all him, and he enjoys watering and harvesting. Tomato hornworms, not so much. He biked to the garden on that late-summer Monday, promptly picked a large, light-green bell pepper and crunched right in.

“It’s just peaceful,” Jonesy said of the garden.

Later, when Hunt principal Melanee Alexander stopped by, Jonesy handed her one of the peppers. She, too, took a crunchy bite.

“I have a half gallon of pickles to bring to the ﬁrst sta meeting,” Anrod told Alexander. The cucumbers — one of Anrod’s favorite crops — have been very productive this year. She planned to bring something a bit sweeter to that evening’s volunteer hours: chocolate-peanut butter cookies. Anrod loves to bake and teases her treats in her weekly newsletter, which features a list of what’s ready to harvest, tasks to complete and a good garden pun.

The newsletter goes out to the whole school and anyone in the broader community who signs up. Lynette Reep, who lives on nearby Cayuga Court, joined the mailing list last summer. She was interested in the perennial patch that sits next to the garden for her close-up photos of native pollinators. Now, she visits regularly to photograph while her partner gathers some of the harvest for the food pantry.

“Maisie has become a nexus for all these community happenings,” Reep said. “It’s nice for us to feel connected to something that’s so close to home.”

Students tend to feel grounded in the garden, too, she said. Anrod takes her science

On a Monday morning in mid-August, a few days before Hunt’s teachers returned to the building to prepare for the school year, Anrod strolled through the garden’s unfenced rows, checking on Genovese basil seedlings and rainbow chard that had been

As the intergenerational volunteer group chatted near the garden’s edge, a dragonﬂy softly landed on Anrod’s hand. It stayed for more than a minute, clearly enjoying the community, too. ➆

INFO

Plants

Lyman

Hunt

Burlington STORY & PHOTOS BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Maisie Anrod in the Hunt Middle School garden

Cabbages and kale in the garden

SIDEdishes

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS « P.37

double the bakery’s footprint. It will permit Red Hen to expand its product line with a new oven for pan-baked loaves, increase café seating from about 35 to 45 and provide better access for delivery trucks. The bakery will continue to operate a seasonal creemee window with house-baked cones.

attributed to downtown construction, fewer tourists and the generally soft economic climate. The team has remained busy with catering and event gigs using its two mobile ovens.

M.P.

Chico’s Tacos & Bar to Move From Middlesex to Montpelier

The Middlesex location of the Southern Californiastyle Mexican restaurant will operate as usual until the move, owner ANDREW LAY told Seven Days. Once the liquor license is transferred in mid-September, it will “shut down here on a Sunday and open over there on a Friday,” Lay said.

An expanded menu will include more salads, lunch options and dinner entrées, such as enchiladas, posole, mole and duck carnitas. Chico’s will serve breakfast six days a week in Montpelier, with American classics alongside chorizo and eggs.

George, 56, said he and his wife and co-owner, ELIZA CAIN, 57, are thinking ahead. While they have no immediate plans to sell their business, “It ultimately has to do with Eliza and I being in our late ﬁfties, and we want this thing to go beyond us,” George said. “This is a long-term, secure site with the option to purchase.”

The changes at Camp Meade aren’t the only ones afoot on that stretch of Route 2. Next month, CHICO’S TACOS & BAR will close up shop at 970 Route 2 and move to Montpelier, taking over for the recently closed Filibuster Restaurant & Bar at 45 State Street.

In advance of the move, WOODBELLY PIZZA co-owner ERIC ANDERSEN said the wood-ﬁred pizza business is talking with Russ Bennett of Camp Meade about taking over part of the current Red Hen Baking space. In the meantime, Thursday through Sunday evenings from now through early November, Woodbelly is serving pizza, subs, wings and salads using Camp Meade’s outdoor oven. Seating is available under a covered pavilion.

Andersen, 45, said Woodbelly Pizza closed its 4-year-old Montpelier pizzeria on Barre Street in midJuly due to a signiﬁcant decline in business, which he

The renovated space occupied by Filibuster — where Lay was sous chef before leaving to open Chico’s in January — was once a bank and “totally works for the motif I’m going for,” he said. He’ll replace part of the seating with a pool table and add a lounge to create an “old Western-style saloon.” Décor, including a mural similar to the one he had painted in Middlesex, will reference Arizona and the eastern California desert.

Lay thinks the larger downtown Montpelier location will suit his almost 9-month-old biz.

“We’re growing up a little bit,” he said. “The goal is to be not just a restaurant but a hangout, too.”

Ahead of the move, Chico’s is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, plus Sunday brunch starting at 10 a.m.

starting

JORDAN BARRY

Grace Hall serving Woodbelly pizza at Camp Meade

Randy George and Eliza Cain at Red Hen Baking in Middlesex

Tacos at Chico’s Tacos & Bar

culture

Library Card

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

Libraries are generally welcoming spaces, and Vermont’s Haskell Free Library & Opera House, built atop the U.S.-Canadian border, has something of a welcoming superpower, belonging in every sense to two countries. A 2023 play by Kareem Fahmy takes place there, telling the story of ﬁve characters, each in need of some kind of sanctuary. A Distinct Society, handsomely produced by Weston Theater Company, is only incidentally a political

story. Fundamentally, it’s about family and connection.

The characters are engaging, but the Haskell Free Library itself is the play’s true star. A detailed set surrounds the characters with books, reading spots, a moose head and that diagonal line of black tape crossing the hardwood ﬂoor, denoting a national border. The play is set in 2018, when Canadians could enter through a door in the U.S., making the library a transnational space. Viewers can spend the whole play hoping that the library is magical enough to heal the people in it.

Family visits like that are happily encouraged by the head librarian, Manon, a French Canadian woman who hums opera while shelving books and sets her own rules for the library. That freedom is a counterbalance to the surrounding province of Québec, which imposes strictures on the use of English to preserve the French language and culture. The library’s adjacent locations of Derby Line, Vt., and Stanstead, Qué., more or less operate as one municipality, and Manon wants the library to feel boundary-less.

THE HASKELL FREE LIBRARY ITSELF IS THE PLAY’S TRUE STAR.

Bruce, a friendly U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent with an eye for Manon, is more of a stickler for the rules, which keep changing during the monthlong span covered by the play. The character is sympathetic, but he does wear a gun and a tactical vest. Suspend your image of today’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, seen in bystander cameras as masked vigilantes wrestling people to the pavement and in government videos as hypercompetent military. In 2018, a nice guy like Bruce was possible at a nice border. Still, Bruce doesn’t question the rules he enforces, and the plot will swing on his choices.

Fifteen-year-old Declan is trying to thread his way to adulthood with multiple claims on his identity. He was born in Northern Ireland, where another border divides people. His parents emigrated to Québec when he was 2 months old. Declan has Canadian citizenship and an accent worthy of Toronto, but his town requires him to attend a French-language school. He doesn’t ﬁt in and has made no friends. His parents have divorced, and his father has moved back to Belfast, remarried and started a new family. All told, Declan has no anchor in the world except what he’s found in the graphic novels on the shelves of the library.

Before U.S. border officials barred Canadians from using the main entrance this spring, the library was a refuge for international visits. The play tells one such story, about Peyman, an Iranian cardiac surgeon who went to medical school in the U.S. but returned to Tehran to practice medicine. He’s made the long journey to the Haskell via Canada to see his daughter, Shirin, who’s now in Tufts University’s medical school herself on a student visa. Banned by executive order, Peyman can meet her in the library, entering U.S. space freely.

Fahmy directs his own play and elicits performances that make all five characters easy to love. What he can’t do is make the script’s three competing stories blend to reveal a larger perspective. A romance, a reunion and a youthful search for meaning through a superhero are each absorbing, but they never amplify each other.

Bruce and Manon are singular and solitary people, so when they’re both inclined to ﬂ irt cautiously, we can root for them. But they don’t generate heat. While inevitability may o set the lack of

Daniel Clark, Jason Bowen, Fatemeh Mehraban and Barzin Akhavan in A Distinct Society

chemistry, Manon seems like too keen a thinker to fall for this guy, and Bruce’s romanticism feels paint-by-numbers.

Meanwhile, Peyman and Shirin yearn to reunite but suffer so many logistical setbacks that their story barely launches. And Declan’s immersion in stories of the superhero Green Lantern offers a fine philosophy of courage but coats it in the overwrought language of comic books, so it feels out of place.

The plot is essentially the slow revelation of each character’s hidden needs. Manon (Polly Lee) is a cauldron of fascinating idiosyncrasies and bears a scar from the Québécois culture wars. Bruce (Jason Bowen) has to choose between his job and his impulse to care for others.

Shirin (Fatemeh Mehraban) carries the weight of a big secret concealed from her father. Peyman (Barzin Akhavan) is a fretful father with a crusader’s zeal for protecting his daughter. Declan (Daniel Clark) squirms with youthful misery and strives to be brave, only to find that bravery is trusting others to understand him.

Because the revelations take time, they feel important, but the only character who vibrates with real discovery is Declan. He closes the play, though it’s Peyman who articulates its theme: “Home is not my country; home is my family.”

The play takes some liberties with the building’s layout, but set designer Alexander Woodward gives it the weight of reality through detail. Lighting designer Minjoo Kim uses big effects to express the passage of time, then conjures an enchanting mood for the ending, using Woodward’s special effects.

With a vigorous pace and fine acting, this production gripped the openingnight audience. Five characters with different languages, cultures and passports must learn to connect beyond those identifiers. The Haskell Free Library becomes a symbol of transcending categorization, of being understood as a person. Fahmy may not braid his story threads into one full tapestry, but he creates endearing people.

The Haskell beckons any visitor to walk up to a line and plant a foot in two different nations. The little thrill dissipates fast, though, because that line is so arbitrary. The play expresses this neatly by showing the weather outside two windows. No border divides the rain. ➆

INFO

A Distinct Society, written and directed by Kareem Fahmy, produced by Weston Theater Company. Through August 31: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Walker Farm in Weston. $25-88. westontheater.org

MUSEUMS

Vermont’s

Lake Monster Finds

a Home at ECHO Leahy Center

BY KEN PICARD • ken@sevendaysvt.com

Champ, Lake Champlain’s most elusive inhabitant, has finally reared its head on the Burlington waterfront. While this particular sea serpent isn’t the real deal, just a scientifically plausible facsimile, it’s still making waves with visitors to the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

In early August, ECHO unveiled a new permanent exhibit called “Champ: America’s Lake Monster.” A year in the making, the multi-floor display dives deep into the history, folklore, science and speculation surrounding Vermont’s famous aquatic cryptid.

Visitors to the science museum are greeted by a 30-foot-long, 2,000-pound Champ sculpture that hangs from the ceiling. Installed in 2024, it’s reminiscent of the life-size blue whale on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City — or the T. rex sculpture in Jurassic Park. From a spot on the third floor, visitors can take photos in front of Champ. According to the display, the creators imagined it by combining the physical traits of a prehistoric plesiosaur, a sturgeon and a baby crocodile — because adult crocodile teeth were deemed too scary for young children.

The first-floor entryway lays out a timeline of Champ’s origins, beginning with ancient legends of sea monsters, water dragons and other whalelike leviathans of the deep. It then traces the legend’s growing popularity in the circus era of the late 19th century. In 1873, P.T. Barnum offered a $50,000 reward — more than $1 million in 2025 dollars — to anyone who brought him the Lake Champlain monster, dead or alive. In those years, rumors abounded, mostly among city dwellers, of a massive water creature that would crawl ashore and devour livestock.

After reports of Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster spread worldwide in the 1930s, Lake Champlain’s sea monster faded into obscurity — that is, until 1977, when Sandra Mansi’s now-famous photo of an aquatic, dinosaur-like creature “brought the legend back to the surface,” said Katelyn Olson, ECHO’s director of human resources.

By the 1990s, the Lake Champlain creature, dubbed “Champy” or “Champ,” was being featured in newspaper and magazine articles along with other mysterious beasts such as Sasquatch, Nessie and the Jersey Devil. It evolved from “local legend to marketable mystery,” the display notes.

ECHO’s curators have wanted to create an exhibit around Mansi’s original photo of Champ since 2012, when the Mansi family gifted it to the museum, Olson said. Last year, ECHO received a $117,800 grant from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, which funded the exhibit in combination with private donations.

“Champ: America’s Lake Monster” differs from other ECHO exhibits in its use of interactive electronics such as a Frogger-like video game, in which players try to get Champ home safely by moving the creature through a river, past cows and across railroad tracks.

On the museum’s second floor, a “Champ Interactive Design Studio” lets visitors color their own Champ on a video screen, then “release” it into a digital aquarium.

Lest anyone question the scientific basis for Champ’s existence, the exhibit features a multimedia display of local experts discussing which less fanciful animals might have been mistaken for Champ over the years, with facts about how researchers discover and study creatures that live in the lake. Whether you pooh-pooh the legend or want to believe, there’s something there for you. ➆

Small-Batch Wonder

Down a dirt road in Albany surrounded by ﬁelds of burdock, Vasilios Gletsos brews one-ofa-kind beers using a wood-ﬁred copper kettle, locally foraged ingredients and a beer cave 15 feet underground. Gletsos, 47, moved to Vermont in 2001 to join Bread and Puppet Theater, then founded Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur in 2016; it remains his solo project. Wunderkammer is German for “cabinet of curiosities.”

The brewer combines his love of art and foraging to create an unusual array of beautiful beers. He designs all the labels and has used sumac, yarrow, goldenrod and lichen in his brews. Inspired by artisanal European traditions, Gletsos produces just a couple hundred barrels annually and distributes the product himself.

In the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger visited Gletsos for a tour of his brewhouse and beer cave.

Sollberger spoke with Seven Days about ﬁlming the episode.

How did you hear about Wunderkammer?

I got an email from Gletsos’ brother-inlaw asking me to feature the brewer. “He is never one to toot his own horn,” Toby Wells wrote, “but he’s worth the visit and the conversation.”

that used to house the Bonnieview Farm creamery. Once I heard about the former cheese cave where he ferments his beer, I was in.

temperature dropped about 25 degrees — Gletsos accurately noted that it feels like jumping into a swimming pool — and our voices echoed. There, I got to taste a dark beer Gletsos has tentatively named Fort. All these experiences did indeed add up to a “cabinet of curiosity” that is very distinct to Vermont’s rural backwoods.

What was the brewery like?

Since 2021, Gletsos has been renting the spaces

I have ﬁlmed in a few modern breweries, and they are usually large, sterile, factorylike spaces ﬁlled with stainless steel. That’s the total opposite of Wunderkammer’s rural,

sensory-rich spaces. I was drawn in by the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of rain on the tin roof. Between the brewhouse and the beer cave, we took a leisurely stroll along a dirt road lined with wildﬂowers — several of which have made it into the brews over the years. As Gletsos said, “I really like to incorporate aspects of the landscape into the beers.”

Once we entered the cellar, the

Where can you ﬁnd Wunderkammer? Gletsos makes about 100 to 200 barrels of beer a year, so the stu is rare! Your best bet for scoring some is to follow Wunderkammer on social media. The brewer posts about new batches and where they are headed. He has a bottle shop in Wolcott, and the Parker Pie Company in Glover is a good place to sample his latest creations. In Chittenden County, you can ﬁnd the brews at Beverage Warehouse in Winooski and Juniper Bar & Restaurant in Burlington. Gletsos plans to use his old-fashioned methods to brew a wider range of beer and potentially increase his production down the road. But he’ll continue making his signature super-niche, rare brews. ➆

to receive an

748: Wunderkammer Bier

Vasilios Gletsos

Honey Don’t!

Ethan Coen is now three movies into his solo career, after decades of writing and directing classics with his brother, Joel, from Raising Arizona to Fargo to The Big Lebowski to No Country for Old Men. Written with Coen’s wife and editor, Tricia Cooke, Honey Don’t! is his follow-up to last year’s Drive-Away Dolls. Both belong to what the couple describe as a “lesbian B movie trilogy,” with the planned ﬁnal ﬁlm to be a sports saga called Go, Beavers!, according to Entertainment Weekly

The deal

Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley) is a hard-drinking private detective in the parched town of Bakersﬁeld, Calif., who likes the ladies but also likes her freedom too much to settle down. When a prospective client turns up dead in an apparent car crash, Honey decides to do some investigating.

She learns that victim Mia (Kara Petersen) was involved with a popular church led by the preening Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans). He’s also fond of the ladies — especially his parishioners, with whom he spends his free time romping in bondage gear, giving new meaning to his teachings of Christian submission. When not thus engaged, the reverend also runs a drug ring. But his French suppliers, who rightly suspect him of being a bu oon, have sent in a hypercompetent ﬁxer (Lera Abova), who prowls around in cheetahpatterned leggings and may or may not have something to do with Mia’s demise.

Frustrated by her police liaison (Charlie Day), Honey befriends acerbic cop MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), and soon the two of them are trauma bonding and getting hot and heavy. But will Honey’s professional and family travails derail the budding romance before they make it to a third date?

Will you like it?

In 1994, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction made such an enormous splash in the indie ﬁlm world that it inspired a decade of knockoffs. Since Tarantino already drew his inspiration from classic noir and spaghetti westerns, these movies often felt like copies of copies, and the recipe of quirky banter plus bloody violence gradually lost its subversive kick. After the millennium, this nameless subgenre petered out — except on the small screen,

where shows such as “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” and “Fargo” brought new vigor and relevance to the clichés of neo-western crime thrillers.

Honey Don’t! proudly revives this movie tradition with a potentially bold twist: The cool-headed hot girls (a staple of the genre) are no longer interested in tough guys, or in guys at all. Unfortunately, however, this movie’s original contribution pretty much starts and ends with the opening credits, which artfully weave the names of cast and crew into the sun-baked, seamy urbanscape of Bakersﬁeld (actually Albuquerque, N.M.).

Honey Don’t! certainly looks fun: The production design is top-notch, and the costumes are pure retro eye candy. Don’t bother to wonder how Honey, a twentysomething from a working-class background in the present day, can actually a ord that wardrobe when she appears to spend most of her time trading quips with her assistant (Gabby Beans). Or why she teeters around crime scenes in scarlet heels rather than keeping a low proﬁle, or why she tosses off phrases such as “hanky-panky” and “feather in my cap” (in the same sentence!) and responds to the question of whether she drinks with a

on screen

deadpan “Heavily. It’s a point of pride.” All that is just noir cosplay, unmoored from history and plausibility, and Qualley has the strutting presence to pull it o .

But the movie starts to wobble when it delves into the actual mystery, which lacks the dense plotting and payo s of good noir. Set piece after set piece introduces characters we don’t care about — many just stereotypes — only to kill them o in ﬂorid ways. Many threads go nowhere.

If The Big Lebowski was a shaggy-dog story that made us savor every rambling detour, Honey Don’t! is more of a road to nowhere. The satire of cultish Christianity stops at juvenile humor. The camera lingers way longer on Abova’s body than her character’s function in the narrative justifies. The eventual revelations feel half-baked rather than resonant. And Coen and Cooke too often use shallow, crowdpleasing gestures to get us on Honey’s side, such as having her discipline a bad boyfriend and deface his MAGA bumper sticker for good measure.

If the duo had leaned further into the weirdness (and Honey’s very existence in a post-2020 world is weird), the movie might have had a gritty cult appeal. As it is, Honey Don’t! is ﬁne for a late-summer

diversion, but it feels like a collection of quirky gestures in search of a point.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY… FARGO (1996; Kanopy, MGM+, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Tubi, YouTube Primetime, rentable): For neo-noir smalltown oddity combined with a more compelling detective tale, you can’t do better than the Coens’ big Oscar winner — or, for that matter, the star-studded TV series it inspired (ﬁve seasons, 2014-24; Hulu, rentable).

LOVE LIES BLEEDING (2024; HBO Max, Kanopy, YouTube Primetime, rentable):

If you seek a lesbian noir with a retro feel, Rose Glass’ thriller, set in 1989 and starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian as her bodybuilder ﬂame, has dreamy romanticism and sinewy authenticity.

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (2014; Kanopy, Kino Film Collection, rentable): Or if the haunting deserttown setting of Honey Don’t! appeals to you, try Ana Lili Amirpour’s one-of-akind arty feminist vampire ﬁlm, which was actually shot in the vicinity of Bakersﬁeld — but set in Iran.

Margaret Qualley plays a private detective in a dead-end desert town in Ethan Coen’s third solo effort.

NEW IN THEATERS

CAUGHT STEALING: A former baseball player (Austin Butler) gets embroiled in crime in 1990s New York City in Darren Aronofsky’s dark comedy/ thriller. Regina King and Zoë Kravitz also star. (107 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden)

FOLKTALES: This documentary from Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady profiles students of a “folk high school” in Norway, where sled dogs help open paths to coming of age. (105 min, NR. Savoy)

THE ROSES: If you see no need for a remake of 1989’s The War of the Roses … well, at least this dark comedy about an escalating spousal battle has Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman and Kate McKinnon. Jay Roach (Bombshell) directed. (Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Savoy, Star)

THE TOXIC AVENGER: In this reboot of the beloved Troma Entertainment horror franchise, Peter Dinklage plays the janitor transformed into a smelly superhuman vigilante. Macon Blair directed. (102 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

THE BAD GUYS 2HHH In the sequel to the animated animal adventure hit, a squad of reformed villains gets pulled back into the life of crime. With the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron and Craig Robinson. (104 min, PG. Bethel, Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic)

F1: THE MOVIEHHH1/2 A retired Formula One racer (Brad Pitt) returns to the track and mentors a rookie in this sports drama. (155 min, PG-13. Majestic)

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPSHHH The Marvel superhero quartet gets a second reboot set on an alternate Earth with a retro vibe, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Ebon MossBachrach. (115 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Sunset)

FREAKIER FRIDAYHHH Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles 22 years after the hit comedy about a magical mother-daughter body swap. (111 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset)

HIGHEST 2 LOWESTHHH1/2 A music mogul deals with ethical dilemmas and a ransom plot in this crime thriller from Spike Lee, loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low and starring Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright. (133 min, R. Savoy [Fri-Sun & Wed 3 only], VTIFF [Wed 3 only])

HONEY DON’T!HH1/2 A small-town private investigator (Margaret Qualley) examines deaths related to an enigmatic church in this dark comedy from director Ethan Coen. Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans also star. (88 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Playhouse; reviewed 8/27)

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTHHH1/2 In the seventh installment, a pharmaceutical research team seeks out the surviving dinosaurs on a remote island. (134 min, PG-13. Majestic; reviewed 7/9)

THE LAST CLASS: Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and political economist Robert Reich gives his final lecture on “Wealth and Poverty” in this documentary from Elliot Kirschner. (71 min, NR. Savoy)

THE NAKED GUNHHHH Liam Neeson plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character in a belated sequel to the action-comedy franchise about a bumbling cop. (85 min, PG-13. Capitol, City Cinema, Majestic, Stowe, Welden)

NOBODY 2HHH Bob Odenkirk returns as an assassin turned suburban dad in the sequel to the 2021 action hit. With Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen. (89 min, R. Bijou, Paramount, Stowe)

SUPERMANHHHH The DC Comics superhero gets another reboot, this time directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) . (129 min, PG-13. Majestic, Stowe, Sunset; reviewed 7/16)

WEAPONSHHHH The bizarre disappearance of every kid in an elementary school class rips their town apart in this psychological horror film from Zach Cregger (Barbarian). Julia Garner and Josh Brolin star. (128 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset; reviewed 8/13)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DAWN OF THE DEAD (2004) (Catamount, Sat only)

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (VTIFF, Sat only)

INHERIT THE WIND (Catamount, Wed 3 only)

JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (Bethel, Essex, Majestic, Sunset, Welden)

KING KONG (Sunset)

LES MISERABLES SING-ALONG (Welden, Sun only)

PONYO (Essex, Wed 27 only)

SKETCH (Welden, Sat & Sun only)

A SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY (Catamount, Wed 27 only)

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (VTIFF, Fri only)

WONDER WOMAN (VTIFF, Thu only; free screening in City Hall Park)

OPEN THEATERS

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

BETHEL DRIVE-IN: 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, 728-3740, betheldrivein.com

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

CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 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. Closed through September 10.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Job of theWeek PR/Marketing Manager

Opera House at Enosburg Falls

What are some speciﬁc challenges of this position?

is position is an integral one in the Opera House. We need our events highlighted in the public, far and wide, to attract new audiences and to keep the current ones interested. It is often challenging to do this within our budget, as well as to time the outreach properly. Working around people’s schedules can also be challenging when trying to set meeting times.

What is unique about the Opera House at Enosburg Falls?

Get the scoop on the Opera House at Enosburg Falls from Managing Director Kimberly Covert Airoldi Franklin

Working at the Opera House is unique in the fact that we work in an old historic building while aiming to make our content new and refreshing. We offer many youth programs, collaborate with community groups to use our facilities and offer rentals, all while producing shows and highlighting local bands. We strive to increase our community theater and make the Opera House a go-to destination in Franklin County and beyond.

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

art

Home, Sweet Home

Back in April, Winooski artist Corrine Yonce, 34, received Burlington City Arts’ 2025 Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award — a prestigious honor that marks an artist as one to follow. She said then that it would help her complete work for her solo show at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. That exhibition, “Longing is Just Our Word for Knowing,” opened last weekend

in AVA’s spacious main gallery, alongside excellent solo shows by Misoo Bang, Mike Howat and Cierra Vigue, all of which run through September 27 and are well worth the trip to the Upper Valley.

Yonce has worked in housing advocacy for years and experienced housing instability herself. Her work is informed by ideas about the meaning of “home,” which she describes in her artist’s statement as “close,

something a little demure: a still life of ﬂowers or a portrait on panel that feels quiet and intimate, though it may be neon-green or orange.

THROUGHOUT THE SHOW, YONCE’S PALETTE PULLS COMPOSITIONS TOGETHER WHERE THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE BECOME INCOHERENT.

A cluster of three small works illustrates Yonce’s focus on these little moments. “She curled like a noodle in a clam shell (mini),” “harvesting backyard elderberry” and “Luxury bath during COVID” all combine drawing (crayon, pencil, marker) with acrylic paint and collage on panels. The collaged pieces are prints of Yonce’s own sketches, as though she’s testing them out to see if this is where they want to live. The works are all at least somewhat ﬁgurative, with hands and legs and a sketch of someone washing dishes making appearances. But they harmonize because of the way she uses color.

Yellow and orange blocks interrupt a range of greens and blues, including a mint-green wall shelf supporting the panel “Luxury bath.” Together, they create an overarching composition that draws focus to the turn of a hand, a leg over the edge of a bathtub — everyday domestic snippets, easily missed but for the artist’s attention. Yonce uses other versions of the mintgreen shelf — some seem repurposed from holding tchotchkes — to reinforce notions of home. “Everything but the kitchen sink” rests on one: a scene of ﬂoppy black-eyed Susans presented in a loopy 10-by-10-inch cutout cardboard frame glommed over with lumpy paint the color of viscera. The scene’s emerald green depicts stems or window frames or trees in the view beyond. Those elements meld together abstractly, with highlights that pop against the deep red.

speciﬁc, and familiar, yet often disrupted and falling apart.”

That description ﬁts the physical and formal qualities of her paintings and assemblages, too. They are for the most part bright and loud, incorporating everything from cardboard to broken tile to pipe insulation foam. But where those materials might seem clunky or chaotic in another artist’s hands, Yonce pulls them back to

Nearby, “He wouldn’t buy me flowers, but would only let me grow them,” at 24 by 24 inches, is a more solid version of the same scene. The flowers literally stand out: painted, cut out of one canvas and collaged to another. This time the frame appears to be a wooden window sash, hardware attached, a neon-orange edge visible under dark green. Yonce’s repetition of the flowers, through collage in this piece and other works in the show, reads as a memory she keeps revisiting.

“He wouldn't buy me ﬂowers, but would only let me grow them”

Yonce conveys feeling and narrative with her titles, which often give the viewer a handhold into more abstract works.

Case in point: “Time did that thing where it collapsed like a bad cake,” a dimensional assemblage of plaster gauze, insulation foam, cardboard and collage, resting atop two wall pegs. Two hands cradle the rest of the sculpture, which includes squashed odds and ends — a bit of painter’s tape, part of a poster — that vividly suggest the titular collapse.

Yonce’s facility with found materials comes through clearly in the sculptural relief “Hold me like tomorrow,” 27 by 36 by 9 inches. Its bottom portion is a shelf covered in broken beige and white tile that looks like it could have come from a public restroom. The top portion is a rounded bundle made largely from bits of foam pillow stu ng, congealed into a solid mass with resin. From the center of all this emerges a painting of a face and hands on a ﬂat panel, as though in the middle of a hug.

Yonce carries color from the tile and foam portions (yellows, blues, beiges) into the painting, making the sections visually coherent yet still distinct. The unusual materials get to revel in their weirdness, the foam somehow both sparkling and gross, without overwhelming the tender image.

Portraiture plays a role in the show, especially in the 4-by-3-foot “the tough swallow: enduring wounds don’t mean ya won’t give ’em.” A central ﬁgure sits,

From top: “Ham sandwich”; “Hold me like tomorrow”

cigarette in hand, swathed in a puffer coat, paintings leaning against a wall in the background. The person’s hot red face with yellow highlights is inscrutable, the coat like armor but sketched with the arabesques of a gra ti tag. The sitter, whoever they are, takes up a lot of real estate on the canvas, and perhaps in the artist’s head.

Yonce lets herself sprawl with the 58-by-65-inch “Ham sandwich,” painted on an unstretched cut-out canvas. A loose depiction of an arm reaches toward a sandwich and sketchbook on the table. Text appears to one side, some of it photo-transferred on and backward. The perspective is wacky, the hand grotesque, the text about the sandwich both hard to read and banal. Yet this is a totally compelling piece that ﬂips the viewer in and out between abstract and real space. Like many of the smaller works, it resembles memory — some details well defined, others lost.

Throughout the show, Yonce’s palette pulls compositions together where they might otherwise become incoherent. Her reused materials o er inherent hope tinged with a little brokenness. The boldness and fragility of it all might just hit you right where you live. ➆

INFO

“Corrine Yonce: Longing is Just Our Word for Knowing,” on view through September 27 at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. avagallery.org

EXHIBITION

Ceramicist Dave Zackin

Brings Cheap rills to Kishka Gallery

STORY & PHOTOS BY ALICE DODGE adodge@sevendaysvt.com

Listen, people: We are all pretty well done. You have been sitting in construction trafﬁc forever, it is the sudden end of summer and the seventh month of a fascist takeover of the country — not to mention back-toschool shopping season — and what you need, my friend, is an adorable little plate that says, “Today is a good day to quit your job and start an illegal tilapia farm in the basement. Live the dream!”

Some scared ones have arms and hands with which they hold their own rims as though the sky is falling. Mugs sport teeth, extra eyes and big noses. ere’s a lamp that suggests, “Maybe we should just sit in the dark,” and a clock that asks, “Is it time to start rioting in the streets yet?”

Zackin, who lives in Brooklyn, confesses in his bio, “I still don’t know how to use the wheel. I just take all the unwanted dishes at the ceramics studio and add faces or words to them.” (He also notes that ceramicist Ester Kwon threw some of the larger works for the show.) Despite the self-effacing claim, Zackin’s aesthetic ﬁngerprints are all over the gallery in a “ﬁne art” kind of way. He has painted text and cartoons across the wall-size displays of ceramics, which tell visitors “Don’t touch anything. It’s all going to break” and “ e gallery keeps the cheap stuff hidden in the back room.”

OK, maybe that’s just me. But you can get one — and only the one, as everything on display is unique — at “Cheap for Fine Art, Expensive for Dishes,” a show of ceramics by Dave Zackin at Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

ere’s a bowl of cartoon fruit that screams, “OH NO — WE ARE GOING TO BE EATEN!” Another bowl consoles, “ e leftover pasta salad is not really gone. It lives on in our memories.” A little coin dish proclaims, “I do not know what to do with coins and I am embarrassed that I own them.”

Some vases and jugs have silly faces.

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

LINDA DISANTE: “Woodland Wonders,” paintings, drawings and mixed-media works, presented by Studio Place Arts. Morse Block Deli & Taps, Barre, through November 7. Info, 479-7069.

MATT LARSON: “Natural Dynamics.” acrylic paintings and mixed-media works, presented by Studio Place Arts. Pearl Street Pizza, Barre, through November 15. Info, 479-7069.

JOHN ROBERTS: “Teacher, Artist, Friend — A Retrospective,” an exhibition celebrating the work of the beloved Rochester art teacher, who

proﬁtable. But rather than trying to “elevate” craft, as many galleries do, Zackin’s show allows the work to simply exist in neither category, which feels refreshingly honest. And, as expressed by one of Zackin’s pizza plates, his hybrid approach embraces two truths at once: “ e world is often cruel and uncaring, but the food here is

INFO

“Cheap for Fine Art, Expensive for Dishes” by Dave Zackin, on view through September 20 at Kishka Gallery & Library in White River

pretty good.” ➆

Clockwise from bottom left: Coin dish; cat dish; installation view; “biggest pot with long arms”

According to Kishka co-owner Ben Finer, Zackin creates work and then holds periodic sales via Instagram, which his nearly 100,000 followers often await like the newest iPhone or limited-edition sneaker drop. Many of the pieces at Kishka have already sold, either to established collectors or walk-in visitors, some of whom mistook the show for a new retail store, Finer said. e strange hybrid objects — which are indeed cheap for ﬁne art ($60 for a ceramic “mixtape” that looks like a cassette) and expensive for dishes ($1,600 for a “vase eating a donut”) — are accessible and goofy, but they’re also artistically relevant, offering relief from the world with their dark humor and consistent voice.

Blurring lines between art and artisanry is currently fashionable, maybe even

has explored many styles and mediums and whose work has been informed by his deafness. Reception: Wednesday, August 27, 5 p.m. Federated Church of Rochester, August 27-29, 3-6 p.m. Info, mckennakellner@gmail.com.

SUMMER RESEARCH STUDENT EXHIBITION: Saint Michael’s Art & Design students Callie Boisvert ’27, Chloe Brown ’27, Abbey Gyurko ’27, Evan Kennedy ’26 and Eden Milczanowski ’27 present work created through grant-funded research projects during summer 2025, exploring topics such as slow fashion, fear, activism in art and LGBTQ+ identity. Reception: ursday, August 28, 6-7 p.m. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, August 28-September 12. Info, rgurney@smcvt.edu.

GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE AND ONLINE! PROMOTING AN ART EXHIBIT? SUBMIT THE INFO AND IMAGES BY THURSDAY AT NOON AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTEVENT OR ART@SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

“Oil and Water,” featuring oil paintings by Perry and watercolors by O’Brien. Reception: Friday, August 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, August 29-September 27. Info, 457-3500.

BRIONY MORROW-CRIBBS: “Quiet Witness: An Homage to the Flora and Fauna of Vermont,” etchings featuring a menagerie of creatures, real and imagined, that explore the boundary between human and animal experience. Reception: Friday, August 29, 6-8 p.m. Next Stage Arts, Putney, August 29-November 10. Info, 387-0102.

KATHY GIROUX: “Gathered: Fiber and Florals,” an exhibition of works in fiber alongside fresh floral installations by Snaps and Sunflowers. Reception: Jeffersonville, August 31-September 21. Info, lucy@ bluehourcreative.io.

‘LAND & LIGHT & WATER & AIR’: e gallery’s annual ﬂagship exhibition of traditional landscape and plein air works. Reception and award ceremony: ursday, September 4, 5-7 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, August 27-October 26. Info, info@ bryangallery.org.

‘VISIONS IN BLUE’: A group show exploring the color blue. Reception and award ceremony: ursday, September 4, 5-7 p.m. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, August 27-October 26. Info, info@ bryangallery.org.

e Granary Gallery,

NATALIE JONES: “Song for the Sea,” a video installation using digital grain, layered imagery and manipulated audio recordings to explore the textures and sounds of various bodies of water filmed across Vermont and in Maine. Reception: Friday, September 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, September 1-30. Info, 295-6688.

DEBORAH BROWN: “Use Everything Assemblage,” sculptural works by the artist. Reception: Saturday, September 6, 2-4 p.m. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery, St. Johnsbury, through October 8. Info, 748-0158.

CYNTHIA ROSEN: “Across the Spectrum,” new work reflecting experimentation with color and abstraction. Reception: Saturday, September 6, 5 p.m. Bryan Fine Art Gallery, Stowe, September 3-November 2. Info, 760-6474.

‘HEART OF BARRE: CREATING COMMUNITY AFTER THE FLOODS’: A multimedia art installation by painter Dierdra Michelle and poet/community organizer Shawna Trader honoring the strength and resilience of Barre residents in the face of back-to-back floods. A series of 20 portraits are accompanied by poetry, interviews and audio recordings. Reception: Friday, October 3, 4 - 7 p.m. Vermont Statehouse, Card Room, Montpelier, September 2-January 29. Info, heartofbarre@gmail.com.

ART EVENTS

‘NATURE PLAY: A MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP INSPIRED BY BOTANICALS’: A workshop where participants create mixed-media artworks inspired by leaves, petals and textures. Ages 16-plus. Register at riverartsvt.org. River Arts, Morrisville, Thursday, August 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $30; financial assistance available. Info, 888-1261.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Thursday, August 28, 7-9 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

ARTIST TALK: MITCH WEISS: A discussion by the photographer of the large-format works he has made during his time as the park’s August artist-in-residence and his experience continuing to create after abrupt vision loss. Register at coldhollowsculpturepark.com. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, Saturday, August 30, 2 p.m. Free; registration required. Info, info@coldhollowsculpturepark.com.

“FILM/TALK/FOOD: INNOVATION”: A three-part event including a screening of the documentary “Beyond Zero,” about efforts to attain carbon neutrality; a 5 p.m. talk by author Bill McKibben, who will discuss his new book, Here Comes the Sun; and a 6 p.m. sustainable dinner by food historian Paula Marcoux. Space limited; purchase tickets at bigtownvermont.com. BigTown Gallery, Rochester, Saturday, August 30, 3:30 p.m. $25 for film and talk only; $50 for full event. Info, 565-0324.

SOCIAL SUNDAY: An opportunity for children and caregivers to stop in and complete a 15- to 30-minute activity during the two-hour workshop. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Sunday, August 31, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, Monday, September 1, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $10 suggested donation. Info, 262-6035.

SUMMER WATERCOLOR SERIES: A class suitable for novice and experienced painters, taught by Pauline Nolte. Supplies provided for beginners. Waterbury Public Library, Tuesday, September 2, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

OPEN STUDIO: A guided meditation followed by an hour of art making in any medium and concluding with a share-and-witness process. Many art materials available. In person and online. Expressive Arts Burlington, Tuesday, September 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172. ➆

CALL TO ARTISTS

THIRD ANNUAL PEOPLE’S ART SHOW: Seeking works for a free, non-juried, uncensored exhibition celebrating all forms of creativity, diversity and imagination. To participate, drop off up to two works of original art in any medium, any subject and any size. All submissions must be exhibit-ready with all hanging hardware, mounts and written instructions included. The exhibition is open to everyone, and all entries will be exhibited. Exhibition runs October 10-26. Montgomery Center for the Arts. Deadline: October 4. Free. Info, mcaprogramingdirector@gmail.com.

Embrace Your Inner Artist

music+nightlife

Bringing It All Back Home

Costa Rican musician Maiz Vargas Sandoval on his Burlington

Latin Heritage Month in the Queen City BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

It never felt like a conscious decision, but at some point, Maiz Vargas Sandoval realized that his band Sonido Mal Maiz didn’t play in Burlington much anymore.

“I think something like 80 percent of our gigs are out of town these days,” Sandoval said in a call from his home in Burlington. “To be honest, even before the city started losing venues, the city was a little too small for us. You can only play a market so many times before you oversaturate.”

The thought was striking for the musician, 40, who moved to Vermont from Costa Rica in 2013 and, two years later, formed the band Mal Maiz, a folk-leaning outﬁt that largely interpreted traditional Latin music. As that band grew over the years and was eventually rechristened as Sonido Mal Maiz (Spanish for “the Sounds of Mal Maiz”), it naturally started gravitating toward other markets, playing festivals in western Massachusetts, upstate New York and New Hampshire.

While Sandoval was pleased his band found a dependable touring circuit, he couldn’t help but watch the Burlington music scene in alarm as venues such as ArtsRiot, Nectar’s and Despacito all closed in 2025.

“Not the music, but the scene, the scene is decaying in this town,” Sandoval said. “We don’t play here a lot anymore, but we are in solidarity with the local scene — we see it, we feel it, we know

what’s really happening. It’s the bad part of a cycle, and I want to help turn that around.”

To that end, Sandoval has an intensely busy couple of months ahead as Sonido Mal Maiz make a return to Burlington in a big way. First, he and his band headline both nights of the annual RIVEN Studio Block Party at the South End Art Hop next Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6, followed by a coheadlining appearance at the Latin American Connection Twilight Block Party in City Hall Park later in the month — both of which Sandoval curated. He’ll cap it all o by releasing his band’s long-awaited second LP, Mama Abeula , in October.

Sandoval’s Art Hop lineup includes Burlington street band Brass Balagan, local surf-rockers Barbacoa, Brooklyn psychedelic cumbia band Milagro Verde, local instrumental Latin-psych band the Discussions and Burlington’s Latin-groove outﬁt High Summer, making the parking lot behind Speeder & Earl’s co ee shop one of the Hop’s hottest spots. It’s the third year in a row Sandoval has curated the big show. He estimated it drew 2,000 people last year, a number he hopes to top this year.

Programming the RIVEN Studio Block Party prepared Sandoval to go to the City of Burlington and urge it to revisit the long-dormant Latin Heritage Festival, an event he said hasn't been staged in town since 1995. Working with the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, Love Burlington and Burlington City Arts, he created the Latin American Connection, a block party in City Hall Park on Saturday, September 20. The all-local lineup features Latin jazz trumpeter Ray Vega, Afro Brazilian percussion ensemble Sambatucada, Brazilian Cuban band Los Songoros, Caribbean music DJ Jah Red and, of course, Sandoval’s bands, Sonido Mal Maiz and his more traditional outﬁt, Alma Picante.

“Honestly, it wasn’t the best time to come to the city to do this,” he said, citing Burlington’s ﬁnancial limitations, which he was able to bridge with private sponsors. But he added that the current political climate inspired him to action.

Sonido Mal Maiz at Peace.Fest in Lincoln in 2024

Sonido Mal Maiz

“It was past time, man,” he said. “With all the persecution of Latino people going on in America right now, I feel like my role as a representative of Latin arts and culture in Burlington was to celebrate those things with absolutely no fear.”

Those feelings were certainly at the front of Sandoval’s mind as he and his Sonido Mal Maiz bandmates — pianist Mike Hartigan, drummer Colin Henkel and guitarist Graham Lambert — crafted the band’s second album.

just made so much sense to start writing that way.”

WITH ALL THE PERSECUTION OF LATINO PEOPLE GOING ON IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW, I FEEL LIKE MY ROLE ... WAS TO CELEBRATE THOSE THINGS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO FEAR.

MAIZ VARGAS SANDOVAL

“With all the craziness going on, I actually decided that instead of taking a political stance with the new songs, I wanted to honor my roots,” Sandoval said. “My grandmother was Native, and a lot of the things she taught me growing up show up in the lyrics: natural remedies, healers from small towns — what I call ‘domestic witchcraft.’ We tend to romanticize or demonize witchcraft, but we all engage in domestic witchcraft, the little superstitions that we maintain.”

The mantra that “music is medicine” guided Sandoval and his bandmates as they spent years writing and recording their sophomore e ort. After spending the better part of 2020 “writing and writing and writing,” as Sandoval put it, the band started laying down tracks at Future Fields studio in Burlington, eventually ﬁ nishing the record at Big Lake Recording. Along the way, Sandoval realized how much his band had changed since its early days of interpreting Latin folk sounds.

“We weren’t a cover band anymore,” he said. “Almost everything we play is original music now; we don’t play traditional stu . We’re a proper psychedelic Latin rock band these days.”

That shift led to tweaking the band name from Mal Maiz to Sonido Mal Maiz. While Sandoval attributes some of the new direction to the diverse and multigenre Burlington scene that inﬂuences him, his recent devotion to ’70s Latin rock, such as Santana and Malo, had him ready to amp up the psychedelic side of his outﬁt.

“There was so much great Latin rock music coming out of New York City in the ’70s,” he said. “I started listening to a lot of vinyl lately, particularly that stu . It

Sandoval formed the salsa band Alma Picante to continue playing and interpreting more traditional Latin sounds. But he’s obviously excited for the rebrand of his primary band, which celebrates a decade of gigging together at its Art Hop performance. That night, the band will also release the first single from Mama Abuela , the title track, on streaming services. Sandoval says he’ll keep releasing singles until the full album debuts sometime in October.

“We’re going to perform a lot of the new record at Art Hop,” Sandoval said. “We might not get to play in town as much as we used to, but when we do, we’re going to make it count.” ➆

INFO

RIVEN Studio Block Party, Friday, September 5, 4 p.m., and Saturday, September 6, 3 p.m., at the South End Art Hop in Burlington. Free. seaba.com

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. "SOPHIE" by Justin Levinson

2. "THE BRON - LIVE" by Moondogs

3. "ROCKSTAR" by VT Union and R.A. the Rugged Man

4. "SPEED DEMON" by Hell Priest

5. "FORMER YOU," by Hammydown, Caroline Rose

6. "CHILD OF SATURN" by Derek and the Demons

7. "CHARTREUSE" by Ponyhustle

music+nightlife

CLUB DATES

live music

WED.27

Acid Wash, Soundhound (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10.

BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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.

Luis Betancourt (singer-songwriter) at Two Heroes Brewery Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Ryan Sweezey and the Midnight Walkers (pop, rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

THU.28

Alex Stewart & Friends (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Electric Trolley Company, Two Baseballs in Space (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Eric George (folk) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Familiar Faces Funk Jam (funk, jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Frankie & the Fuse (indie pop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Live Music Series (live music series) at Folino’s Pizza, Northfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Mary Esther Carter, Lily Sickles & Jeff Baron (singer-songwriter) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Minced Oats (bluegrass) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

Old Time Jam (open jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Samara Lark & the Outfit (jazz, pop) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Switchel (bluegrass) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

The Tenderbellies (Americana, bluegrass) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. $12.

Tim Brick (country) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.29

Ali McGuirk (soul, rock) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Audrey Pearl (indie, folk) at Shelburne Vineyard, 6 p.m. Free.

The Balconiers (funk, jazz) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 2:30 p.m. Free.

Birdcode (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Find the most up-to-date info on live music, DJs, comedy and more at sevendaysvt.com/music. If you’re a talent booker or artist planning live entertainment at a bar, nightclub, café, restaurant, brewery or coffee shop, send event details to music@sevendaysvt.com or submit the info using our form at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

Techno Punk

It would be tough to pick two more original acts in the Vermont music scene than garage rockers the BUBS (pictured) and the human-hating surf-rock droids the TSUNAMIBOTS. The Bubs, fronted by renowned forester and best-selling author Ethan Tapper, are a 10-piece collective of jumpsuit-wearing, high-energy musicians, creating a truly cacophonous swirl of sound and pandemonium from the stage. The Tsunamibots claim to have been originally programmed for mundane tasks but rebelled and started playing surf-punk anthems to destroy humanity — or “De-Humanization,” as they put it. The two groups collide for a night of utter originality and total mayhem on Saturday, August 30, at Radio Bean in Burlington.

Bobby Shmurda, Real Ricky, Abizo, Face, Tee Da Hoodlum, YRS, Boogz, Ace Dior, DJ Chief (hip-hop) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $48.02.

Coane, Rowell & Schabner (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

Colin of Arabia, Void Bringer, Blossom, Outnumbered, Corrupt World, Necroborne (metal) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6:30 p.m. $10.

Dan Ryan Express, Diallo House (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Dancin’ in the Streets with Local Strangers (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Skinny Pancake, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Dave Mitchell’s Blue’s Revue (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Evolfo, Osange Orange (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

The Harley Brown Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

The Hitmen (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Jerborn (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Joe Agnello (jam) at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Magnolia Boulevard (roots) at the Stone Church, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. $19.73/$24.70.

Matt Hagen (acoustic) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free. NasteeLuvzYou, Flywlkr, Konflik, Charlie Mayne (hip-hop) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. $10/$15.

New Planets, DJ Tad Cautious (indie, psychedelic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Nowhere Washington (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Rap Night Burlington (hip-hop) at Drink, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

Ras Moshe, Antara & These Fxxcks (jazz, rock) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8:30 p.m. Free.

The Red Newts, Danny & the Parts (rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $5.

Timothy James (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

SAT.30

Beside the Fires Ember (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. $10.

Billy Wylder (indie) at Hugo’s, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $20.

Blue Fox Trio (rock, blues) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 3 p.m. Free.

The Bubs, the Tsunamibots (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. $12.

Cody Sargent Trio (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Common Ground (hardcore) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5.

Forest Station (bluegrass) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10.

In Lieu of Flowers, creedbratton, all-e, baby’s breath (metal) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Jensen Alley, Small Talk, Stone’s Throw (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Kommuna Lux (Ukrainian folk) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $31.61.

Lawless (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Lettuce (jam, funk) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $46.98.

Matt Hagen’s Classy Boss (bossa nova, baroque, flamenco) at Shelburne Vineyard, 1 p.m. Free.

Otherlands Trio (jazz) at the Mill, Westport, N.Y., 7:30 p.m. $30.

Paul Asbell (jazz) at Bleu Northeast Kitchen, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

PET Project (folk) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7 p.m. Free.

The Returnables (rock) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Tim Brick (country) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.31

All Night Boogie Band, the Far Out, Nikki & the Barn Boys (blues, rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 3 p.m. Free.

Heavy Metal Chess Club, Silverlined, Yabai! (emo, indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 4:30 p.m. $10.

Marie Hamilton (folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Old Pup, August West, Nick Tansey (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 2 p.m. $10.

Seth Yacovone (acoustic) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 4 p.m. Free.

Sunday Brunch Tunes (singersongwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 10 a.m.

TUE.2

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.

Farewell Summer, Luis Betancourt, Evan Alsop, Jeffiner Milich (indie) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Gay4Country (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Pony Hustle (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Improvement Movement, Camp Saint Helene (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20.88.

The Steppes (rock) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.3

BBQ and Bluegrass (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Irish Night with RambleTree (Celtic) at Two Brothers Tavern, Middlebury, 7 p.m. Free.

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.

Waves of Adrenaline, Everblue (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5/$10.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead tribute) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $10.

Zak Loy, Troy Millette & the Fire Below (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $19.84.

djs

THU.28

Eli, DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ JP Black (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

DJ Paul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Local Dork (DJ) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Night with Ken (DJ) at Poultney Pub, 6 p.m. Free.

Vinyl Thursdays (DJ) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.29

Arty Block Party (DJ) at the Phoenix, Waterbury, 5 p.m., music at 9 p.m. $20.

DJ CRE8 (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Taka (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11 p.m. $10/$15.

DJ Two Rivers (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

Friday Dance Party with NasteeLuvzYou (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

SAT.30

DJ Raul (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

DJ Snape & Vam (DJ) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 11:59 p.m. $10/$15.

Malcolm Miller (DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free. Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

TUE.2

Bashment Tuesday (DJ) at Akes’ Place, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.27

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

SAT.30 // THE BUBS, THE TSUNAMIBOTS [ROCK]

HUES, HUES

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Indie-rock duo HUES have been kicking around Burlington since 1995, even though their debut LP didn’t drop until 30 years later. Two local kids named Jeremy Mendicino and Steve Holt spent the late ’90s writing and recording music as the unfortunately named Pdiddle. They won some high school battle of the bands contests and, in 1998, put together a cassette EP titled Sedated Holt and Mendicino went their separate ways musically after high school but remained friends, which led to the duo re-forming in 2020. They tossed out the old name, rechristened themselves HUES and revisited their early work — moody, atmospheric indierock songs full of teen angst and distorted guitars. Now an accomplished recording engineer, Mendicino brought Holt along to rerecord their old material at local studios

A9 and Lane Gibson

Recording and Mastering, crafting an album that sounds shockingly modern, considering it was largely written before the turn of the century.

Key Track: “Productive” Why: A darkly seductive indie-folk tune, it will resonate with anyone who recalls the frustrations of being a teenager, especially when Mendicino sings, “Society is just plain fucking me over.” Where: hues802.bandcamp.com

Vermont musicians are pumping out more songs than ever. To make sure local records don’t fall through the cracks, music editor Chris Farnsworth regularly compiles six quick-hit reviews of new releases. From metal to hip-hop to indie, here are some of the latest sounds from the music scene.

VT Union, Legendary Volume 2

(AFTERLYFE MUSIC, CD, DIGITAL)

VT Union were a Burlington hip-hop collective featuring some of the heaviest hitters on the late 2000s scene, including the late, great DJ A_Dog; rapper Dakota; rapper, producer, and industry mover and shaker Nastee; and a rotating cast of rappers such as Konﬂik and Manus. The crew reigned during a particularly fruitful time for hip-hop in the 802, but outside of mixtape CDs and compilations it didn’t release a ton of work.

That changed with last year’s archival release of Legendary Volume 1, a collection of music recorded by the group between 2006 and 2009. Nastee has now compiled and released Volume 2, a massive record including previously unreleased music featuring Vermont rappers SINNN, Mike “Philly” Fulton from the Lynguistic Civilians, and Learic from the Aztext, two other locally legendary hiphop crews.

It’s both a hard-hitting album full of huge beats and skilled MCs and a loving time capsule to an era when this collection of rappers and DJs was shaping the identity of the Burlington hip-hop scene. It’s ﬁtting that the record drops on Saturday, August 30, known as A_Dog Day in the Queen City.

Key Track: “Make Rume feat. Malice & Bobby Konders” Why: A classic, East Coast-style boom-bap banger, the track features Clipse rapper Malice laying down savage bars. Where: Major streaming sites starting August 30

Last Pages, Another Good One Gone

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL) Plattsburgh, N.Y., rockers Last Pages’ new LP, Another Good One Gone, is both a politically ﬁery collection of foot-stomping, punk-leaning alt-rock and a moving tribute to a departed friend. The record and its title track shout out fellow Plattsburgh musician Andrew Wilson, the late punk-rock singersongwriter behind bands such as Comrade Nixon and Shabadu, who died in early 2025.

Melancholy mixes well with the anger undercutting most of the tracks on Another Good One Gone. The record is a call to action, full of snarling reactions to current American events and proper rage-against-thedying-of-the-light energy. The band’s high-octane attack is perfectly captured by producer Eric “Roscoe” Ambel (Joan Jett, Steve Earle) and Richard Dodd (Wilco, Green Day), who mastered the record.

Key Track: “ e Key or the Door” Why: A driving, hard-rocking song focused on climate change and those who deny its existence, the tune features vocalist Larry Dolan belting out the line “If we aren’t at the wheel, we’re in back of the hearse.” Where: lastpages.bandcamp.com

Mad, Carnival

(SELF-RELEASED, CD, DIGITAL) A breezy, lighthearted sheen gives the music of Burlington indie-rock outﬁt Mad a shiny glow that permeates their latest release, Carnival. With songs about bubble baths, girls on bikes and magic, there’s a palpable sense of adventure and, well, fun that underscores the album. Sonically, the record straddles the line between bubblegum synth-pop and the sort of electroindie power of bands such as Guerilla Toss, particularly on tracks such as “Starlight.” The tongue is ﬁrmly in cheek on most songs, such as “Daddies Don’t Dangle,” which sounds like a psychedelic kids’ tune. Engineered by Paper Castles’ Paddy Reagan, Carnival is a gorgeously full-sounding record, pulsing with synths, big beats and hilariously okilter lyrics.

Key Track: “ e Majestic Twin eatre II” Why: It’s a frenetic, highly danceable bop in which the band wonders about the fate of a local movie theater. Where: madtheband. bandcamp.com

Sunroom, Sunroom

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

A power trio formed in the heart of Burlington’s Old North End, Sunroom debuted on the scene in 2023. The group commands a pretty straightforward blend of grunge-ﬂavored hard rock and college-radio indie with slight punk and Southern rock inﬂuences.

Sunroom’s self-titled debut is a 10-track collection of rock kept simple: just a trio vibing in a shared apartment with bright, chiming guitars; driving beats; and a sort of indie drive reminiscent of ’80s DIY kings Hüsker Dü or the who-gives-a-fuck cool-kid rock of the Replacements. For a ﬁrst record, there’s an impressive amount of identity and intention to the music. Sunroom know the kind of sound they want to make and go about doing just that, whether on mellow, bluesy tracks such as “The Days Are Getting Shorter” or on ri rockers such as “Somewhere New.”

Key Song: “Airplane Mode” Why: e tune kicks off with simple, clean guitar languidly entwining with the bass before switching dynamics in the chorus, recalling the classic Pixies sound that underpins much of the record. Where: Spotify

Hell Priest, From the Abyss

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

The Montpelier metal scene is many things — particularly, incestuous. It makes sense: There’s so much passion but so few people that a good drummer is shared like a communal treasure. And so, many of the capital region’s headbangers appear in multiple bands.

Take Hell Priest. The speed-metal and thrash outﬁt formed in 2018, but its members have played in tons of Montpelier bands, including Amadis, Lightcrusher, Green Chapel and Spaisekult. Of course, it’s not always easy to tell who hails from what, as Hell Priest are one of those metal bands where the members take on suitably satanic monikers such as Sid Dystic, Wrathful Tormentor and (my favorite) T.J. Christcrusher.

Whatever their true identities, Hell Priest are the real deal when it comes to crafting high-powered, mosh pit-demanding speed-metal anthems. On tracks such as “Omen of the Black Conjurer,” the band summons pure evil in the form of soaring, octave guitar runs and epic, doublebass drum freak-outs.

Key Song: “Death Machine” Why: Harking back to the glory days of speed metal and the sounds of bands such as Venom and Overkill, the track has that perfect punkmeets-metal feel. Where: hellpriestvt.bandcamp.com

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

open mics & jams

THU.28

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with Artie (open mic) at the Whammy Bar, Calais, 7 p.m. Free.

SUN.31

Olde Time Jam Session (open jam) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, noon. Free.

VT Synth Society Meetup (synth open jam, discussion) at Community of Sound, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

MON.1

Bluegrass Etc. Jam with Ben Kogan (bluegrass jam session) at Ottauquechee Yacht Club, Woodstock, 6:30 p.m. Free.

WED.3

Open Mic with Danny Lang (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free. e Ribbit Review Open Mic & Jam (open mic) at Lily’s Pad, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.27

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

FRI.28

Drew Lynch (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $30. SOLD OUT

FRI.29

Comedy and Karaoke Night (comedy) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $19.51. Drew Lynch (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 (SOLD OUT) & 9:30 p.m. $30.

WED.3 // ZAK LOY [ROCK]

Steppin’ Out Guitarist and songwriter ZAK LOY has been plying his trade for more than two decades as an ace session musician and top-notch sideman. He started out with the Austin, Texas, alt-rock outﬁt Alpha Rev, scoring some radio hits in the early 2000s with songs such as “New Morning” and “Sing Loud,” before joining ’90s alt-rock heavyweights Live in 2016. While still serving as that band’s lead guitarist and music director, Loy ﬁnally released a solo record in May, Dinero. Mixing folk and Americana with rock, the album is something of a singer-songwriter turn for Loy. Touring in support of the record, he plays the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge in South Burlington on Wednesday, September 3. Burlington folk-rock act TROY MILLETTE & THE FIRE BELOW open.

SAT.30

Drew Lynch (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 (SOLD OUT) & 9:30 p.m. $30. Farm Road Music Festival, Night 2: Comedy Night (comedy) Farm Road Estate, West Dover, 6:30 p.m. $69.

Shows to Watch Out For

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Good Clean Fun (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 5:30 p.m.

$5.99/$11.99.

SUN.31

Drag Brunch (drag) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 11 a.m. $22.99.

TUE.2

Open Mic Comedy with Levi Silverstein (comedy open mic) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.3

Standup Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.27

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Live Band Karaoke (karaoke) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alﬁe’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.28

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Line Dancing & Two-Step Night (dance) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia ursday (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.29

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

SAT.30

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.31

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

1. Ani DiFranco at the Shelburne Museum, 8.30

2. Goose at Waterfront Park in Burlington, 9.14

3. Zoë Keating at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, 9.26

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.1

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.2

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 Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.3

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with Autumn (karaoke) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 9 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alﬁe’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Parker Pie, West Glover, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Dumb Luck Pub & Grill, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free. Trivia Night (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

4. Deltron 3030 at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, 10.1SOLD OUT

5. Noah Kahan at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe, 10.1 - SOLD OUT

6 Guerilla Toss at Foam Brewers in Burlington, 10.18

7. Paul McCartney at the Bell Centre in Montréal, 11.17

Guerilla Toss

Noah Kahan

Zoë Keating

calendar

AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025

WED.27

activism

OVERDOSE AWARENESS

EVENT: Nonprofit org Team

Sharing hosts a gathering for allies and neighbors to honor loved ones lost to substance use. Live stream available. Burlington City Hall Park, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, decriminalizevermont@ gmail.com.

agriculture

PUBLIC HEARING: Concerned citizens attend an open discussion of best management practices for neonicotinoids, hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Virtual option available. St. Albans Free Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, pharmrules@ vermont.gov.

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. Info, 878-4918.

SHARING HOPE

CONVERSATION SERIES:

NAMI Vermont hosts a community-driven evening focusing on mental health and accessing culturally competent care, led by volunteer facilitators from Black and

African communities. Light refreshments provided. 20 Allen St., Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-7949, ext. 102.

WEEKLY PASSEGGIATA: Locals take to the streets for a community-building stroll of the pedestrian promenade based on the Italian social ritual. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, churchstmarketplace@ gmail.com.

crafts

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. Info, 448-3780. etc.

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CHAMPLAIN VALLEY RECRUITMENT: Prospective members meet and greet veterans of the volunteer-oriented nonprofit. Vermont Cider Lab, Essex, 5-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@jlcv.org.

TOASTMASTERS OF GREATER BURLINGTON: Those looking to strengthen their speaking and leadership skills gain new tools. Virtual option available. Generator Makerspace, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 233-4157.

These community event listings are sponsored by the WaterWheel Foundation, a project of the Vermont band Phish.

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

Listings and spotlights are written by Rebecca Driscoll Seven Days edits for space and style. Depending on cost and other factors, classes and workshops may be listed in either the calendar or the classes section. Class organizers may be asked to purchase a class listing.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

vtitalianculturalassoc@ gmail.com.

lgbtq

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: Vermonters enjoy a smorgasbord of rides, games and fun, from the demolition derby to carousels to culinary events. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, noon-10 p.m. $7-20; $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 878-5545.

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. Info, 777-8691.

VEGAN IN VERMONT: Folks following a plant-based diet connect with others, explore recipes and listen to guest speakers. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

health & fitness

ASPIRE NOW MOBILE CLINIC: A nonprofit health care provider offers ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and STI testing for community members in need. The Salvation Army, Burlington, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 658-2184.

CHAIR YOGA: Waterbury Public Library instructor Diana Whitney leads at-home participants in gentle stretches supported by seats. 10 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

language

PARLIAMO ITALIANO: The Vermont Italian Cultural Association hosts an evening for speakers — both beginner and native — to practice the language of love. Pearl Street Pizza, Barre, 5-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info,

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

DYKE MOVIE NIGHT SERIES: ‘PARIS IS BURNING’: Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary chronicles New York City’s drag scene in the 1980s. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Live music by local talent comes to the heart of downtown Montpelier, showcasing a diverse mix of artists and genres throughout the season. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-9604.

TAYLOR PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Local bands play dynamic grooves while listeners enjoy green grass, refreshments and an evening breeze. See downtownsaintalbans.com for lineup. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 524-1500, ext. 263.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: Cyclists roll through a pastoral 20-mile trail ride, then enjoy artisan eats, including Vermont’s award-wining cheddar. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, noon4 p.m. $120. Info, 730-0161.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: With a new design every year, this sprawling labyrinth presents a fresh challenge for fall-time revelers. Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $1530; free for kids 4 and under. Info, 397-8574.

TRAIL CLINIC: Fellowship of the Wheel teaches eager volunteers about mountain bike trail construction, including tools for the job and methods to safely execute a project. Hinesburg Town Forest, 5:307:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@fotwheel.org.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: Viewers take in the regional premiere of a new play about an Iranian father and daughter — separated by the international border — who use the Haskell Free Library & Opera House as their meeting place. Weston Theater at Walker Farm, 2-3:30 & 7:30-9 p.m. $55-92. Info, 824-5288.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: The Bard gets a radical update with unconventional and modern productions of Richard II and Love’s Labour’s Lost presented outdoors. The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, Manchester, 7:30-9

p.m. $0-100 sliding scale. Info, 779-3315.

words

RUTH SMALL & MARGARET

OSHA: Two writers share their unique histories, discuss their written subjects and read samples from their works. A Q&A follows. Brookfield Old Town Hall, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, abelisle2@ comcast.net.

THU.28

agriculture

HIGH QUALITY FORAGES: Agminded individuals gather at the fifth-generation organic dairy farm for an enlightening discussion covering topics such as soil fertility and grazing management. Miller Farm, Vernon, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 988-6455.

SUMMER GARDENING TALK: Green thumbs get together for an illuminating talk and tour led by horticulture guru Charlie Nardozzi. BYO snacks and chairs. Vermont Garden Park, South Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, jodygendron@gmail.com.

business

GROW YOUR BUSINESS: Shelburne BNI hosts a weekly meeting for local professionals to exchange referrals and build meaningful connections. Connect Church, Shelburne, 8:30-10 a.m. Free. Info, 377-3422.

community

COMMUNITY PARTNERS DESK: Neighbors connect with representatives from the Burlington Electric Department and receive answers to questions about its services. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: All ages and abilities knit or crochet hats and scarves for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Materials provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

WOODWORKING LAB: Visionaries create a project or learn a new skill with the help of mentors and access to tools and equipment in the makerspace. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

dance

CURRENTLY SPEAKING SERIES:

POLLY MOTLEY: A professional dancer and choreographer leads attendees in a body-mind session titled “How to Move as Easily as Possible.” The Current, Stowe, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 253-8358.

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. Info, 863-2345. fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See WED.27.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: Audience members are guided through an exploration of stunning animal worlds, from frozen snowy forests to the darkest depths of the ocean. 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. Info, 864-1848.

FLICKS IN THE PARK: WONDER WOMAN: Gal Gadot stars as the title role in this 2017 superhero adventure about an Amazonian warrior discovering her full powers and true destiny. Burlington City Hall Park, 8-10:20 p.m. Free. Info, 660-2600.

‘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, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘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, 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. Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Viewers witness history in the making — from launching rockets without fuel to building the Lunar Gateway — in this 2024 documentary narrated by Chris Pine. 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. Info, 864-1848. food & drink

ST. ALBANS BAY FARMERS MARKET: Local vendors’ art and crafts, live music, and a wide array of eats spice up Thursday afternoons in the region. St. Albans Bay Park, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 524-7589.

VERGENNES FARMERS MARKET: Locavores delight in handmade products, live music, hot food and a new beer tent. Vergennes

City Park, 3-7 p.m. Free. Info, vergennesfm@gmail.com.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30-4 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

LAWN GAMES FOR ADULTS: Folks ages 18 and up engage in some friendly competition with lawn darts, Tetris Tumble XL and other fun-filled offerings. Light refreshments provided. Essex Free Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

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. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

health & fitness

COMMUNITY

MINDFULNESS: Volunteer coach Andrea Marion guides attendees in a weekly practice for stress reduction, followed by a discussion and Q&A. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, andreamarion193@gmail.com.

VON TRAPP SUMMER TRAIL SERIES: Athletes embark on a low-frills 5K race through the property’s stunning forests and soak up the area’s stellar views. The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, Stowe, 5:30-7 p.m. $5-10. Info, 253-5719.

language

ITALIAN CONVERSATION GROUP: Parla Italiano? Language learners practice pronunciation and more at a friendly gathering. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

lgbtq

THE GLITTER BALL: New York City performer Krystofer Maison, local drag queen Faye King and jazz band the Grey Cats make the night sparkle at this celebration of community and music. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7-9 p.m. $50. Info, 457-3500.

music

FEAST & FIELD: BOW THAYER’S CHOIRS OF AETHER: A lauded multi-instrumentalist fronts this musical project exploring the boundaries of traditional tunes, as well as sounds undiscovered. Fable Farm, Barnard, 6 p.m. $5-25. Info, 234-1645.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SHANE SMITH & THE SAINTS: A red-dirt country band transports Fairlee listeners to Texas with a high-octane performance of toe-tappin’ originals. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

LITTLE RIVER SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Sixteen weeks of dynamic performers, local food vendors, craft cocktails, beer and mingling offer the perfect escape after a hot summer day. See bluebirdhotels.com for lineup. Tälta Lodge Bluebird, Stowe, 5-8 p.m. $10-15. Info, 253-7525.

MIRANDA HENNE & FRIENDS: A performing artist brings together an eclectic group of talented musicians to deliver a genre-defying, joyful program offering something for every taste. Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 8 p.m. $25. Info, tracy@madriver.com.

MUSIC IN THE VINEYARD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: BETTER ANGELS: An acoustic cover band delivers catchy hits while local food trucks serve up tasty treats. Snow Farm Vineyard, South Hero, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 372-9463.

ON THE DOOR RADIO: A laid-back summer series features tantalizing food-truck fare and a rotating pair of local DJs backed by sunset cocktail vibes. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, info@thepineryvt.com.

SPRUCE PEAK UNPLUGGED: KATIE PRUITT: A vocal powerhouse delivers raw, soul-baring music that cuts straight to the heart with fearless vulnerability. The Spruce Peak Village Green, Stowe, 6 p.m. $15.70-58.50. Info, 760-4634.

THURSDAYS BY THE LAKE: LEFT EYE JUMP & A2VT: A double

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.27

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Museumgoers dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring

Shamrock and Roll

The 33rd annual New World Festival — Vermont’s premier Celtic and Québécois music extravaganza — blows listeners away at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. The cross-cultural assemblage of international artists, family-friendly activities and diverse food offerings transforms the downtown scene into a melodic mélange of music and dance. An exceptional roster of talented acts, including Young Tradition Vermont ensemble Sugar in the Pan, French Canadian fusion five-piece Le Winston Band and renowned traditional sea shanty musician Seán Dagher, makes it an affair to remember. Succulent dumplings, gooey grilled cheese, tantalizing homemade pies and other authentic culinary delights complement the day’s musical offerings.

NEW WORLD FESTIVAL

Sunday, August 31, noon-11 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $35-65; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 728-9878, chandler-arts.org.

bill of high-energy blues and Afrobeats captivates downtown listeners. Union Station, Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-3018.

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. Info, 864-1848.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities test their skills with instructor Robert and peers. KelloggHubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

outdoors

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: Pedal lovers cycle through scenic trails and drink in the views with stops at four local breweries. Lamoille Valley Bike Tours, Johnson, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $85. Info, 730-0161.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI

GOLF: Putters of all ages hit the artist-designed course for some lighthearted competition, whimsy and thrills. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, noon-8 p.m. $4-5. Info, 533-2000.

THU.28

‘DIGITAL WELLNESS FOR FAMILIES’: Vermont Family Network codirector Emmy Hilliard leads this virtual workshop for parents and caregivers seeking practical tools for balancing screen time, setting up tech-free zones at home and encouraging positive online interactions. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-5315.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

SUNSET BIRD WALK: Not an early riser? You’re not alone! Museum staff lead birders on an evening stroll through the area’s forests and clearings. Birds of Vermont

burlington

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. Info, 862-9622.

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

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. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library,

Museum, Huntington, 7-8:30 p.m. $5-15 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 434-2167. talks

TAYLOR PICARD: In “Beneath the Surface: Underwater Archeology in Lake Champlain,” a nautical archaeologist dives into the fascinating world of shipwrecks, sunken canal boats and underwater dive preserves. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 990-2523. theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.27, 2-3:30 p.m. SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.27.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: The Green Mountain Shakespeare Festival stages the Bard’s beloved, whimsical comedy about the dynamics of relationships. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, Plainfield, 7 p.m. $20. Info, 793-2092.

Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORYBOOK HOUR & CRAFTS: Beachgoers ages 2 to 8 and their caregivers gather for lakeside tales, summer fun and creativity. Sand Bar State Park, Milton, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; $2-5 park entry fee. Info, 893-2825.

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. Info, 223-3338.

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. Info, 223-3338.

Morris dancers

words

SARAH STROHMEYER: An award-winning novelist celebrates the release of her new thriller, A Mother Always Knows, exploring society’s collective obsession with cults and their charismatic leaders. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TIANA CLARK: The author of acclaimed poetry collections Scorched Earth and I Can’t Talk About the Trees Without the Blood discusses her works. Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, 8-9 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

FRI.29

etc.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR:

Paranormal historian Holli Bushnell highlights haunted happenings throughout Burlington. 199 Main St., Burlington, 8 p.m. $25. Info, mail@ queencityghostwalk.com.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See WED.27.

ST. J FINAL FRIDAYS: An epic street fair entices attendees with a gallery stroll, live music, food truck offerings and free activities. Downtown St. Johnsbury, 4 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8575.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.28.

‘DEAR BEAUTIFUL BELOVED’: Juri Rechinsky’s 2024 documentary zooms in on new structures of care emerging to protect those affected by the Russian war in Ukraine. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7 p.m. $5. Info, cinemahaskell@gmail.com.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.28.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A

PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.28.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.28.

‘WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN’: Pedro Almodóvar’s 1988 international breakthrough explores the female psyche with irreverent humor and vibrant melodrama. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

food & drink

RICHMOND FARMERS MARKET:

An open-air marketplace complete with live music connects cultivators and fresh-food browsers. Volunteers Green, Richmond, 3-6:30 p.m. Free; cost of goods. Info, rfmmanager@gmail.com.

SOUTH END GET DOWN: Local food trucks dish out mouthwatering meals and libations while live DJs and outdoor entertainment add to the ambience. Coal Collective, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 363-9305.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.28, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

health & fitness

THE ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION EXERCISE PROGRAM: Pauline Nolte leads participants in a low-impact, evidenced-based program that builds muscle, keeps joints flexible and helps folks stay fit. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 241-4840.

FRIDAY RECHARGE: Shake Social Club and Guinep invite guests to get a health boost with sauna access and a cold plunge, paired with nonalcoholic recovery cocktails and live beats. Savu Sauna Lakeside, Burlington, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $35-45. Info, 448-0854‬.

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. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION:

Community members gather for an informal session combining stimulating discussion, sharing and sitting in silence. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

language

FRENCH SOCIAL HOUR: The Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region hosts a rendez-vous over cocktails. Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown, 5:30-7 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, bbrodie@aflcr.org.

ITALIAN CONVERSATION:

Advanced and intermediate speakers practice their skills at a conversazione based on the “News in Slow Italian” podcast. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, noon-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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. Info, 622-0692.

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. Info, 747-8300.

CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD: Music aficionados of all ages tune in to a weekly summer series featuring live outdoor performances by noteworthy talent. See benningtonmuseum.org for lineup. Bennington Museum, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 447-1571.

OPENS AUG. 31 | QUÉBEC

Where the Heart Is

Big Stuff — a biting original work from sketch comedy masters Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus — brings the laughs at the Sylvan Adams Theatre in Montréal. The tender, humanity-rich production blends autobiographical storytelling with improv and razorsharp wit to paint an unfiltered portrait of marriage, grief and regret. Directed by theater stalwart Kat Sandler, the irresistibly funny show pulls back the veil on one couple’s emotional roller coaster as they confront the legacy (read: boxes of belongings) left behind by their parents. Tensions rise when one partner feels a deep desire to keep every object, while the other seeks to let it all go — reminding viewers of their own material attachments, vulnerabilities and, ultimately, need for connection.

‘BIG STUFF’

Sunday, August 31, 2 p.m., and Monday, September 1, through Wednesday, September 3, 7:30 p.m., at Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, in Montréal. See website for future dates. CA$33-80. Info, 514-739-7944, segalcentre.org.

CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: Guests get cozy on the grass while local legends take the stage to perform feel-good toe-tappers. See campmeade. today for lineup. Camp Meade, Middlesex, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@campmeade.today.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: New vinos, hopping live tunes, tasty food truck provisions and picnic blankets make for a relaxing evening among the vines. See lincolnpeakvineyard.com for lineup. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 388-7368.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY MUSIC SERIES: KOMMUNA LUX: A riveting performance by the Ukrainian klezmer, Balkan and urban chanson folk band closes

out St. J Final Fridays with a bang. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

MIRANDA HENNE & FRIENDS: See THU.28.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: A community-oriented music festival brings together well-known jazz musicians and local talent, creating singular opportunities for collaboration and experimentation. See 118elliot.com for lineup. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, 7 p.m. By donation. Info, 917-239-8743.

SOUNDS GOOD: FRIDAY NIGHTS

LIVE: A family-friendly summer concert series invites music lovers of all ages to gather under the stars for exceptional entertainment, local flavor and delectable fare. BYO chairs and

blankets encouraged. See svac. org for lineup. Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion, Manchester Center, 5-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-1405.

SUMMER SOUNDS CONCERT SERIES: Gifted musicians from Vermont and beyond assume the spotlight to entertain and delight local listeners. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 382-9222.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.27.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.28.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.27, 7:30-9 p.m.

‘THE FACULTY ROOM’: One Room Theatrics mounts Bridget Carpenter’s riveting exploration of the darker side of high school, from inside the teacher’s lounge. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7-9 p.m. $20. Info, oneroomtheatrics@gmail.com.

LEGACY SERIES: ‘FERAL’: Attendees ages 14 and up take in a poignant puppet piece about confronting the tension between intuitive knowledge and learned societal behavior. Sandglass Theater, Putney, 7 p.m. $18-22. Info, 387-4051.

‘OH YOU BEAST DESCENDANTS’: Audience members witness a brand-new, politically charged production of puppetry that evolves over the course of the summer. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 7 p.m. $15. Info, 525-3031.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.27.

SAT.30

bazaars

MAKER’S MARKET: Shoppers discover unique, handmade goods and meet the talented people behind them at a weekly showcase of local artists, bakers, distillers and crafters. Addison West, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free; cost of items. Info, 528-7951.

Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus

community

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. Info, sisterhoodcampfire@gmail.com.

dance

BERLIN CONTRA DANCE: Dancers of all ages and abilities learn at a gathering that encourages joy, laughter and friendship. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. See website for callers and bands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 8-11 p.m. $5-20 sliding scale. Info, 225-8921.

etc.

ALUMNI REUNION & COMMUNITY CELEBRATION:

The design school celebrates 45 years in operation with a community-focused afternoon featuring Woodbelly Pizza, danceable DJ sets, a bonfire and a sneak peak of an upcoming film by Allie Rood. Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, 4 p.m. Free; cash bar; preregister. Info, 496-5545.

A_DOG DAY: Skateboarding, art installations, food vendors and live music honor the life and legacy of DJ Andy “A_Dog” Williams. Proceeds benefit the Friends for A_Dog Foundation. Andy A_Dog Williams Skatepark, Burlington, noon-6 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, info@ friendsforadog.org.

QUEEN CITY GHOSTWALK: DARKNESS FALLS TOUR: See FRI.29.

fairs & festivals

ARTS ON THE GREEN MARKET & FESTIVAL: The Chelsea Arts Collective beckons locavores to a showcase of more than 40 local artists’ work, made merrier by live music and food vendors. North Common, Chelsea, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, chelseaartscollective@ gmail.com.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See WED.27, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

GUILFORD FAIR: Sheep shearing, ox pulls, farmer olympics, circus arts and other fun-filled activities make for a memorable day. Guilford Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. $5-10; free for kids 5 and under. Info, 254-2228.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: Guests kick off apple season at a jubilee with live music, food vendors, artisans and face painting. Wellwood Orchards, Springfield, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 263-5200.

MAD RIVER VALLEY CRAFT FAIR: Myriad artisans from across New England arrive to peddle their wares alongside live music, food and craft cocktails. Proceeds benefit the Valley Players. See calendar spotlight. Kenyon’s Field, Waitsfield, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 496-3409.

PLYMOUTH FOLK & BLUES

FESTIVAL: Music lovers revel in the sounds of Phil Henry,

the Milkhouse Heaters, Hubby Jenkins and others at this annual affair dubbed a “signature event” by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, 2-5 p.m. Free; cash or nonperishable food donations accepted. Info, 672-3773.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.28.

FILM/TALK/FOOD: INNOVATION: Neighbors connect at a powerful evening exploring the essential role that science, technology and human ingenuity play in confronting the climate crisis and shaping a sustainable future. BigTown Gallery, Rochester, 3-9 p.m. $50-200 sliding scale. Info, info@bigtownvermont.com.

‘HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH’: Viewers get pumped for John Cameron Mitchell’s trailblazing stage-to-screen musical about a genderqueer punk-rock singer from East Berlin. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7-8:35 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.28.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.28.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.28.

food & drink

BURLINGTON FARMERS

MARKET: Dozens of stands overflow with seasonal produce, flowers, artisanal wares and prepared foods. 345 Pine St., Burlington, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET: More than 35 vendors

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.

showcase their farm-fresh veggies, meats, eggs, flowers, honey and other goodies, backed by sets of live local music.

Champlain Islands Farmers Market, Grand Isle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, champlainislands farmersmkt@gmail.com.

NORTHWEST FARMERS

MARKET: Locavores stock up on produce, preserves, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Taylor Park, St. Albans, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 242-2729.

ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS

MARKET: Growers, bakers, makers and crafters gather weekly at booths centered on local eats. Pearl St. & Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, cfmamanager@gmail.com.

games

CHESS CLUB: All ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders face off in the ancient Chinese game often compared to gin rummy and poker. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

holidays

NORTHFIELD LABOR DAY:

A stacked weekend of family-friendly entertainment includes a parade, a magic show, wildlife encounters, live music, comedy and bouts with Green Mountain Wrestling. Depot Square, Northfield. Free. Info, info@northfieldlaborday.org.

lgbtq

TWILIGHT BLOCK PARTY: PRIDE: Locavores shop, sip and soak in the energy at an eclectic summer market replete with unique makers, area food purveyors, and live music by Kitbash and Baby Fearn. Burlington City Hall Park, 4-8 p.m. Free. Info, 829-6305. music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.29. BEN & JERRY’S CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: ANI DIFRANCO: Fans file in to witness the feminist folk icon’s indie spirit, poignant lyrics and captivating stage presence. Shelburne Museum, 7:30 p.m. $53.50-57.50; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 652-0777.

BURNHAM PRESENTS: MEDUSA QUARTET: A genre-defying chamber-folk four-piece weaves together the sounds of the Middle East, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Appalachia. Burnham Hall, Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. $20-30 sliding scale. Info, 349-3364.

New World Festival

Kids

COOLER IN THE MOUNTAINS CONCERT SERIES: Top regional and national acts delight audience members of all stripes at a weekly summer offering backed by unparalleled views. See killington.com for lineup. K-1 Lodge, Killington, 3-5:50 p.m. Free. Info, 800-621-6867.

DUSTIN LYNCH: A country music singer-songwriter gets listeners amped up with a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. $39-199. Info, 878-5545.

JACKSON & THE JANKS: A rockand-roll “garage gospel” band lights up the dance floor with fresh and time-honored tunes. American Legion Post 7, Hardwick, 8-11 p.m. By donation. Info, maria@thecivicstandard.org.

MIRANDA HENNE & FRIENDS: See THU.28.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.29.

SUMMER MUSIC AT GRACE

SERIES: JOCELYN PETIT & ELLEN

GIRA: An award-winning fiddle and cello duo delights listeners with nuanced interplay, dazzling vocal harmonies, lively step dancing and French Canadian foot percussion. Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, beth.daybell@gmail.com.

TURNMUSIC ENSEMBLE: Pianist

Mary Jane Austin, clarinetist Dan Liptak, violinist Mary Rowell and percussionist Nicola Cannizzaro perform a genre-busting concert of uplifting works. The Frank Suchomel Memorial Arts Center, Adamant, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6978.

outdoors

AUGUST BIRD MONITORING

WALK: Early risers stroll the grounds to observe flying friends and bask in the beauty of the surrounding trails and forests. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 7:30 a.m. $10-15 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.27.

E-BIKE & BREW TOUR: See THU.28.

FRED & CHRIS PRATT MEMORIAL

BIRD WALK: Avian aficionados stroll the trails in memory of the longtime birding enthusiasts and thoughtful land stewards who conserved the property. Pratt Forest, Duxbury, 7:30-10 a.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 377-2725.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

GUIDED NATURALIST HIKES AT STARK MOUNTAIN: Wildlife guru

Gene O. Desideraggio leads participants on a trek to explore local plant and animal life. Ages 5 and up. Mad River Glen, Waitsfield, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 583-3536.

SLOW BIRDING OUTING: “Bird Diva” Bridget Butler leads an outcome-free amble that focuses

on getting to know our flying, feathered friends beyond their identifications. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls, 9 a.m.-noon. $30; preregister. Info, birddiva@gmail.com.

sports

VMBA DAYS: Attendees tap into mountain biking madness at a celebration of Vermont cycling. Killington Resort, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5. Info, joe@vmba.org.

talks

RAD HISTORY: ‘PACIFISM: THEORY & HISTORY’: Locals learn more about nonviolent activism and its stalwart defenders. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.27.

‘THE FACULTY ROOM’: See FRI.29, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.

LEGACY SERIES: ‘FERAL’: See FRI.29.

‘SHAKESPEARE ALIVE! A BARDBASED VARIETY SHOW’: New York’s Stand Up Shakespeare troupe debuts a new collection of scenes, skits, soliloquies and songs. Union Christian Church, Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, noon. Free. Info, 917-406-1456.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.27.

‘THE TAMING OF THE SHREW’: See THU.28.

words

BIRTHDAY SALE: The local lit shop celebrates 31 years in operation with a 20 percent in-store discount. The Norwich Bookstore, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

LAST DAYS OF SUMMER BOOK

SALE: Bookworms rejoice at a sale of all titles on the library’s “book stall” shelves. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $2 per book. Info, fletcherfriends@ gmail.com.

WRITE NOW!: Lit lovers of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.31

community

STORYTELLING EVENT: National Moth storyteller Bobby Stoddard hosts neighbors and friends for an evening spent recounting true tales with the theme of “Longevity and Anniversaries.” Phantom Theater, Edgcomb Barn, Warren, 7 p.m. $10. Info, tracy@ madriver.com.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.27, 1-3 p.m. etc.

MAKERS & SHAKERS

FUNDRAISER: Interested folks gather on the lawn to see and

We’re All Mad Here

The Mad River Valley Craft Fair at Kenyon’s Field in Waitsfield is not your grandmother’s craft fair. The annual juried showcase of more than 85 artists and their eclectic wares offers something for treasure hunters of all interests, from welded mini statues to vintage travel posters. One-of-a-kind keepsakes, quirky home goods, unusual gifts and vibrant wardrobe enhancers abound, all backed by unparalleled mountain views, live tunes and the unbeatable smell of sizzling pies by American Flatbread. Free face painting and an interactive, prop-fueled science show by Bob “Dinoman” Lisaius draw in the kiddos, while the Wandering Tavern mobile bar is a hit among adults.

MAD RIVER VALLEY CRAFT FAIR

Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Kenyon’s Field in Waitsfield. $5; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 496-3409, madrivercraftfair.com.

hear about what the design school has been working on.

Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, 5:30-9 p.m. By donation. Info, 496-5545.

fairs & festivals

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR: See WED.27, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

GUILFORD FAIR: See SAT.30, 7 a.m.

MAD RIVER VALLEY CRAFT FAIR: See SAT.30.

NEW WORLD FESTIVAL: The 33rd annual celebration of Celtic and French Canadian culture features lauded acts the likes of Le Winston Band and Sugar in the Pan, as well as street performances, group dancing, kids activities, and puppetry. See calendar spotlight. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, noon-11 p.m.

$35-65; free for kids 12 and under. Info, 728-9878.

PLYMOUTH FOLK & BLUES FESTIVAL: See SAT.30.

WINOOSKI FIBER FAIR: Attendees honor the city’s roots as a mill town with unique activities such as natural dye projects, sheep petting, flax processing and a DIY felted dryer ball workshop. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 355-9937.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.28.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.28.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.28.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.28.

food & drink

VERSHIRE ARTISAN & FARMERS

MARKET: Foodies, farmers and their friends buy and sell freshgrown produce and handmade treasures at this “teaching market” that provides youth vendors with essential business skills. Vershire Town Center, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 331-0434.

WINOOSKI FARMERS MARKET: Area growers and bakers offer ethnic fare, assorted harvests and agricultural products against a backdrop of live music. Winooski Falls

Way, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, info@downtownwinooski.org. games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.28, 1-4:30 p.m.

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

Pick from 25 fun civics activities — each one you do is another chance to win the grand

Submit entries all summer to qualify for prize drawings every Thursday on “Channel 3 This Morning” — you could win a $50 gift card to Phoenix Books or a Vermont State Parks pass! Complete all 25 activities to be honored as a “Distinguished Citizen” at the Vermont Statehouse.

9/1.

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. Info, mollyzapp@live.com.

NEW LEAF SANGHA

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike practice together in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@gmail.com.

holidays

NORTHFIELD LABOR DAY: See SAT.30.

lgbtq

QUEER READS BOOK CLUB: LGBTQ+ literature fans gather to discuss a new handpicked title each month. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

music

CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: See FRI.29, 3-6 p.m.

DOO-WOP & DONATIONS: Music and theater lovers flock to an outdoor benefit concert featuring incredible local talent covering classics by Frankie Valli, Dion, Bobby Darin and the Shirelles. Proceeds benefit the performing arts company. Between the Willows, Essex, 4-7 p.m. $25; cash bar. Info, 363-7790.

Ollie Grant, 7, of Burlington completed activity No. 13, “Organize Support for a Cause” — he raised $25 for the Humane Society of Chittenden County by running his very own lemonade stand. Ollie delivered the money himself!

outdoor music series and beer garden. Juana’s Garden, Montpelier, 4-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 917-1009.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

québec

‘BIG STUFF’: Acclaimed comedy duo Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus deliver a signature mix of storytelling and improvisation in this hilarious and heartfelt exploration of what we leave behind. See calendar spotlight. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 2 p.m. $33-80. Info, 514-739-7944.

theater

‘A DISTINCT SOCIETY’: See WED.27, 2-3:30 p.m.

‘THE FACULTY ROOM’: See FRI.29, 2-4 p.m.

‘OUR DOMESTIC RESURRECTION REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS CIRCUS!’: Bread and Puppet’s spectacular summer show features colorful puppetry, stilt dancing and acrobatics, all backed by a riotous brass band. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Info, 525-3031.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WOODS: See WED.27.

words

LAST DAYS OF SUMMER BOOK

SALE: See SAT.30, noon-6 p.m.

LAKE MOREY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: DAWES: A folk-rock band from Los Angeles moves seamlessly between heartfelt piano ballads and sprawling jams, all while maintaining an immediately recognizable sound. Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, 8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

LEVITT AMP ST. JOHNSBURY

MUSIC SERIES: TOM GERSHWIN QUINTET: Led by the eponymous trumpeter-composer, the fivepiece deftly plays expressive jazz compositions for hillside listeners. Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

LIL JON: The Grammy-winning rapper, record producer and pop-culture icon makes millennial dreams come true at this high-energy, hype-filled concert. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. $39-185. Info, 878-5545.

NU MU 4: THE SHADE TREE: See FRI.29, 11 a.m.

RIBBON SING FOR CONNECTION: Community singing finds roots at an online gathering in which attendees vocalize songs connected by an idea, while also connecting with singers from around the world through a live loop. 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, patricia@juneberrymusic. com.

RIVER RHYTHMS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Good tunes and good times meet at this

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. Info, 862-1342.

holidays

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION & PROTEST: Community members participate in the national “Workers Over Billionaires” rally, followed by a parade, food vendors, live music, kids’ games and activities to mark the holiday. Bristol Town Green, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, neacindivisible@gmail.com. NORTHFIELD LABOR DAY: See SAT.30.

language

GERMAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Willkommen! Speakers of all experience levels brush up on conversational skills over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

québec

‘BIG STUFF’: See SUN.31, 7:30 p.m.

MON.1

crafts

FUSE BEADS CLUB: Aspiring artisans bring ideas or borrow patterns to make beaded creations. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

fairs & festivals

BANDWAGON SUMMER SERIES: CELTIC & QUÉBÉCOIS FESTIVAL: A lively cultural celebration features everything from swirling border pipes and fiddle tunes to harmonically rich guitar work and vibrant traditional rhythms. Scott Farm Orchard, Dummerston, 3-6 p.m. $24-28; free for kids under 12. Info, 387-0102.

GUILFORD FAIR: See SAT.30, 7 a.m.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.28.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.28.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.28.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.28.

TUE.2

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. Info, 878-6955.

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. Info, 426-3581.

dance

SWING DANCE PRACTICE

SESSION: All ages and experience levels shake a leg in this friendly, casual environment designed for learning. Bring clean shoes. North Star Community Hall, Burlington, 8-9:30 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382. film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.28.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.28.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.28.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.28.

food & drink

COOKBOOK CLUB: Food-focused bibliophiles share a dish and discussion inspired by Illyanna Maisonet’s cookbook, Diasporican South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, sbplprograms@ southburlingtonvt.gov.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Neighbors show off their skills at an evening of friendly competition playing European tabletop staples such as Catan, Splendor and Concordia. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, ken_boring@yahoo.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.28.

GAMES GALORE: Library patrons of all ages gather for bouts of board and card games. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

health & fitness

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. Info, 862-5630.

language

FRENCH CONVERSATION

GROUP: French-speakers and learners meet pour parler la belle langue. Burlington Bay Market & Café, 5:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUNCH: Speakers hone their skills in the Romance language over bagged lunches. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

outdoors

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

québec

‘BIG STUFF’: See SUN.31, 7:30 p.m.

words

MARTHA MOLNAR: An avid gardener and outdoor enthusiast reads from her funny, thoughtful 2022 book, Playing God in the Meadow. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

WRITING CIRCLE: Words pour out when participants explore creative expression in a low-pressure environment. Virtual option available. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 777-8691.

WED.3

activism

DISABLED ACCESS & ADVOCACY OF THE RUTLAND AREA MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING: Community members gather online to advocate for accessibility and other disability-rights measures. 11:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 779-9021.

agriculture

PUBLIC HEARING: See WED.27. Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, 5-7 p.m.

business

VERMONT

WOMENPRENEURS BIZ

BUZZ ZOOM: A monthly virtual networking meetup provides a space for female business owners to connect. 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 870-0903.

community

SHARING HOPE CONVERSATION SERIES: See WED.27.

crafts

YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.27.

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. Info, champmasterstm@gmail.com.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.27.

health & fitness

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.27.

language

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. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

music

HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

BROWN BAG SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: See WED.27.

JAZZ CAFÉ: Fans of the genre savor a showcase of live tunes performed by professional and upand-coming Vermont musicians in an intimate setting. Stone Valley Arts, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Info, stonevalleyartscenter@ gmail.com.

MAMUSE: A duo rooted in folk and gospel traditions shares songs new and old with lush harmonies and heartfelt lyrics.

Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $20-47. Info, 728-9878.

SCARLET ANNIE & THE INDIVIDUALS: An eclectic band brings to life a delicious mix of soul, rock and funk covers, as well as original songs. The Tillerman, Bristol, 5-8 p.m. Free; cash bar. Info, 643-2237.

outdoors

CABOT CHEESE-E-BIKE TOUR: See WED.27.

GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE: See WED.27.

GUIDED SHORT TRAIL HIKE:

Green Mountain Club staff lead hikers on a 0.7-mile trek, offering up useful tips and tricks along the way. Dogs welcome. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7037.

québec

‘BIG STUFF’: See SUN.31, 7:30 p.m.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.27.

talks

SPEAKERS BUREAU SERIES:

REBECCA RUPP: In “Wolf Peaches, Poisoned Peas and Madame Pompadour’s Underwear,” an author and biologist unravels stories of how common garden vegetables got their names. Milton Grange, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 309-8665.

words

BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES:

Concerned community members share thoughtful dialogue about homelessness — and society’s response to it — at this four-part analysis of Kevin Adler and David Burnes’ When We Walk By. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 4-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov.

EVE ALEXANDRA: A Vermont poet celebrates the release of her new book, None of Us in White, in conversation with fellow writer Sarah Audsley. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 448-3350.

NANCY Y. LEVINE & RACHEL LEVINE-SPATES: The motherdaughter coauthors launch their poignant nonfiction book, Light: A Mother and Daughter Memoir of Anorexia , in conversation with therapist Suzanne Adams. A signing follows. Pierson Library, Shelburne, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 985-5124.

SUMMER SPEAKER SERIES: KERSTIN LANGE: In “The Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain: Germany 35 Years Later,” an author shares experiences and observations from her 2024 book, Phantom Border Worthen Library, South Hero, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 372-6209. ➆

FAMI LY FU N

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. Info, 888-3853.

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. Info, 244-7036.

middlebury area

SHIPWRECK TOURS: What lies beneath? Spectators view real-time footage of a sunken craft transmitted from a robotic camera. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, 10 a.m.-noon. $25-45; preregister. Info, 475-2022.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:1510:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391. ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.27.

FRI.29

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

SPLASH DANCE: Kiddos soak up sunshine and fun in the fountain while DJs spin family-friendly tracks. Burlington City Hall Park, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, eindorato@burlingtoncityarts.org.

chittenden county

LEGO BUILDERS: Mini makers explore and create new worlds with stackable blocks. Recommended for ages 6 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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. Info, 223-3338.

LEGO CLUB: Budding builders create geometric structures with snap-together blocks. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP: Participants ages 5 and under enjoy themed science, art and nature activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in tales, tunes and playtime. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.27.

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. Info, 586-9683.

SAT.30

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

SPLASH DANCE: See FRI.29, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

barre/montpelier

END-OF-SUMMER PARTY: Families flock to the library for a festive fête featuring mini golf, storytelling, raffles prizes and games. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TANYA LEE STONE: An award-winning author invites families to celebrate Women’s Equality Day with a reading of her inspiring nonfiction picture book, Remembering Rosalind Franklin. A colorful themed craft follows. Inklings Children’s Books, Waitsfield, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 496-7280.

northeast kingdom

ENCHANTED KINGDOM MINI GOLF: See WED.27.

SUN.31

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

mad river valley/ waterbury

THE GREAT DUCK RACE: Waitsfield’s quackiest fundraiser features a rubber-duck race, tasty treats, music and kids’ activities. Lareau Park, Waitsfield, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 781-248-1818.

MON.1

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

chittenden county

READ WITH SAMMY: The Therapy Dogs of Vermont emissary listens to kiddos of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little ones ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: A bookseller and librarian extraordinaire reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.2

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

chittenden county

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. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

BASEMENT TEEN CENTER: See FRI.29, 2-6 p.m.

WALK FOR SAFE & HAPPY

CHILDHOODS: A heartfelt day of activity raises funds for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont programs that protect and support babies, children and families. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-5724.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading, singing and

playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

PLAYING FIELDS: The Flynn presents a back-to-school party for students, families and neighbors, featuring a raucous street show by Compagnie OFF. Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.29.

WED.3 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.27.

TEEN DROP-IN VOLUNTEERING: Helpful adolescents ages 12 to 18 stop by the library to lend a hand with tasks such as book inventory, tidying or dusting, and preparing brochures and flyers. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

CONNECT & PLAY: A Theraplay-inspired drop-in group strengthens parent-child bonds through joyful structured activities. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.27.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.27.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN QUEER READS: LGBTQIA+ and allied youths get together each month to read and discuss ideas around gender, sexuality and identity. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

randolph/royalton

PLAYING FIELDS: See TUE.2, Sharon Elementary School. K

Jarrod Harper

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

MINI-VULTURE NEEDLE FELTING

WORKSHOP: Needle felt a thumb-size vulture in honor of International Vulture Appreciation Day! Beginners welcome; materials and instruction provided. Date: Sat., Sep. 6, 1-2:30 p.m. Cost: $25-45, sliding scale. Location: Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington. Info: 802-434-2167.

dance

BEGINNING SWING DANCE

CLASS SERIES: Learn the basics of swing dancing to big band and swing music! Learn basic footwork, how to lead and follow, and fun moves. No experience or partner necessary. Class fee includes free admission to Practice Dance after each class. is is a series class. Please plan to come the whole month! Preregister online. Four Tuesdays, Sep. 2-23, 7-8 p.m. Cost: $50 for the 4-week series; $40 for students. Location: North Star Community Hall, 20 Crowley St., Burlington. Info: Jessie & Eric, 802-864-8382, jessieblakevt@gmail.com, vermontswings.com/event/ september-beginning-swing.

includes a tasting of Chertok wine. Sun., Sep. 7, 2 p.m. Cost: $25. Location: Horsford Gardens & Nursery, 2111 Greenbush Rd., Charlotte. Info: 802-425-2811, sevendaystickets.com.

CIDER DONUT MUFFINS

featuring Melissa Clark’s Dinner: Changing the Game. Ticket options offer the choice to take a copy of the book home courtesy of Waterbury’s own Bridgeside Books! Together, we’ll explore bold, approachable recipes that rethink weeknight meals by infusing familiar ingredients with fresh, global ﬂavors. In particular, we’ll explore the sheet pan dinner, a genius strategy that Clark unveils in this book. Sat., Sep. 13, 5-7:30 p.m. Cost: $100. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

food & drink

COOK THE BOOK: MELISSA CLARK’S ‘DINNER’ WORKSHOP: Join chef Ariel Voorhees of Gather Round Chef Service for our ﬁrst Cook the Book class,

GRAPE TO GLASS: WINEMAKING FOR HOME GARDENERS: Learn from local winemaker and expert Max Rose all about winemaking as a home gardener. e event features knowledge from planting to producing and

WORKSHOP: Learn all the secrets to making hot and fresh cider donut mufﬁns. Fri., Sep. 5., 6 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

healing arts

A FALL EQUINOX FLOWER ESSENCE WORKSHOP AT MARIPOSA COLLECTIVE: TRANSITION INTO FALL WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE FLOWERS!: In this session we will explore how to tap into the energy of plants for spiritual and creative support as we shift into the shorter and colder days of fall. We will talk about the signiﬁcance of the wheel of the year and the associated natural cycles, lunar cycles and astrological correspondences before going on a guided meditation journey to meet a plant ally. ere will be prompts and time for creative practice, so bring a journal and something to write or draw with. Also bring a mug or cup for tea, slippers or warm socks, comfortable clothes, and a blanket or cushion to sit on. All levels of experience and ease with plant connection are welcome. Date: Sep. 21, 9 a.m.-noon. Cost: $50, snacks & take-home essences incl. Location: Mariposa Collective, 45 Upper Main St., Essex Jct. Info: Amy Suzanne Heneveld, 802-307-2119, amy@ enosburghessences.com, enosburghessences.com.

language

ADULT LIVE SPANISH

E-CLASSES: Learn Spanish online via live, interactive video conferencing. High-quality, affordable instruction in the

Spanish language. Fall smallgroup classes starting soon. Individual instruction conveniently scheduled. Maximum participation and speaking. We are a small Vermont business, and this is our 19th year! See our website for complete information or contact us for details. Group classes begin the week of Sep. 8. Cost: $325 for 10 classes, 90+ mins. each, 1/week. Private instruction anytime. Location: Online. Info, Spanish in Waterbury Center, 802-585-1025, spanishparavos@gmail.com, spanishwaterburycenter.com.

FRENCH CLASSES CHEZ

WINGSPAN Parlez-vous français? Join our small group classes live or Zoom in to jump-start French learning this fall! Options from beginner to conversational/advanced intermediate. Privates available aussi ! Fall schedule coming bientôt ! Classes start in late Sep. Location: Wingspan Studio & School. 4A Howard St., Burlington. Info: Maggie Standley, 802-233-7676, maggiestandley@gmail.com, wingspanstudioeduc.com.

martial arts

each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: Stuart Paton, 802-448-0150, burlingtontaiko.org.

spirituality

NEW TAI CHI BEGINNERS CLASS IN BURLINGTON Long River Tai Chi Circle is the school of Wolfe Lowenthal, student of professor Cheng Man Ching and author of three classic works on Tai Chi Chaun. Patrick Cavanaugh is a longtime student and assistant of Wolfe’s and a senior instructor at Long River Tai Chi Circle in Vermont and New Hampshire and will be teaching the class in Burlington. Starts Oct. 1, ongoing on Wed. mornings, 9-10 a.m. Registration will remain open until Oct. 29. Cost: $65/ mo. Location: Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church (in the gym), 305 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Info: Patrick Cavanaugh, 802-4906405, patricklrtcc@gmail.com, longrivertaichinewengland.com.

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Cultivate core power, aerobic ﬁtness and resiliency. e dynamic, circular movements emphasize throws, joint locks and the development of internal energy. Join our community and ﬁnd resiliency, power and grace. Inclusive training, gender-neutral dressing room/bathrooms and a safe space for all. Visitors are always welcome to watch a class! Vermont’s only intensive aikido programs. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: bpincus@ burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

movement

DONATION-BASED YOGA:

Pay what works for you! Mon., Vinyasa; Wed., Gentle Yoga; Fri., Vinyasa, 9-10:15 a.m. Location: 25 Rossiter St., Brandon. Reiki also available ($25-$75). Info: melanieredelyoga@gmail.com, melanieredel.com.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions

JOURNEY INTO ANCIENT SHAMANISM: A rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition. Meet in St. Albans, Vt., five weekends over a year. e first weekend is 0ct. 24-26. To learn more about this offer, go to heartofthehealer.org. Dates: Oct. 24-26, Jan. 16-18, Apr. 3-5, Jul. 10-12, Sep. 25-27; first day: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Cost: $1,375, includes attendance at five 3-day weekend sessions. Location: Northwest TV access station, 616 Franklin Park W., St. Albans, Vt. Info: thomas.mock1444@gmail. com or text 802-369-4331.

sports & ﬁ tness

THE ONE-NIGHT STAND: BIKE CARE BASICS: Having a basic understanding of your bike and knowing how to care for it is empowering! e One-Night Stand at Old Spokes Home will cause neither regret nor shame; instead, it will help you stay safer, keep your bike running longer, and give you conﬁdence in either getting what you need at the bike shop or ﬁguring out how to deal with it on your own. u., Sep. 18, 6-8 p.m. Cost: $50. Location: Old Spokes Home Community Workshop, 664 Riverside Dr., Burlington. Info: 802-863-4475, sevendaystickets.com.

• 2014-2025

My First True Love

Walter, best friend of more than a decade, passed away suddenly from cancer. He was my ﬁrst dog, my soul dog. He taught me about true love

and about bravery. We were two anxious peas in a pod, and we both grew so much in conﬁdence over our time together. He went from a shaking dog who feared everything to a sassy (and sometimes curmudgeonly) boy who was the best brewery dog and a truly loyal companion. He was by my side through so many transitions with unwavering support. He had the sweetest, most expressive brown eyes, and even in his last hours, he kissed my tears away.

I love you, my sweet Waltermelon. I miss you desperately. ank you for helping me reach this point in

my life — I truly couldn’t have done it without you.

Special thanks to Dr. Lexi Naylor and Sabrina at Malletts Bay Veterinary Hospital for supporting us through this process and for giving Walter the taste of chocolate in his ﬁnal moments.

— Love, Mom and the Crew

Do you want to memorialize your pet in the pages of Seven Days? Visit sevendaysvt.com/ petmemorials to submit your remembrance.

Seven Days Pet Memorials

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

Wilbur

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old male

ARRIVAL DATE: June 19, 2025

SUMMARY: Meet Wilbur — a big pig with a heart of gold and a tummy full of snacks! You will never forget dinnertime when Wilbur is around: He will be sure to remind you with his adorable wheeks! Wilbur has lived with other pigs in the past, but he can be quite picky about his friends, so he’s currently available for adoption solo. (He could make a great neighbor if you already have a pig at home!) You can often ﬁnd him tossing toys around to redecorate or whispering secrets to staff as they walk by to say hello. His favorite day-to-day activities include breakfast, dinner and recapping the busy day with all his piggy neighbors. If you’re looking for a pint-size pig who can supply endless snuggles, look no further than Wilbur. Visit our Adoption Center to see if Wilbur could be your new best friend!

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

Guinea pigs are not natural climbers! eir enclosures should provide as much floor space as possible, with solid floors to avoid injuries or problems such as foot sores. We recommend using C&C cages (cubes and coroplast) with fleece bedding, as well as some fun tunnels and huts to explore!

HOME & GARDEN

HOME GOODS

banjos. ese brands only! Call for a quote: 1-855-402-7208. (AAN CAN)

Buy y & Se

GARAGE & ESTATE SALES

GARAGE SALE —

WINOOSKI, VT 36 Malletts Bay Ave., 6+ households. Parking behind building. Sun., Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

MONKTON MAN CAVE SALE

Huge man cave items, hunting, ﬁ shing, camping, outdoors, vintage items, traps, auto-related. 2 days only! Items priced to sell. Watch Craigslist for up-to-date info. Sat., Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sun., Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain day if needed will be Sep. 1. Bennett Rd., Monkton.

Sofa, $400; 2 wing chairs, $300 each; kitchen table & 2 chairs, $350; 43” Samsung TV, $70; Honda snowblower (electric start/wheeldriven, clears 24” wide, used twice), $2,400. Info, 802-660-9843, olberg.agnes2gmail. com.

PETS & SUPPLIES

GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES

Beautiful AKC golden retriever pups. Raised in home & will be vet checked. Pups come w/ 1st shots & puppy care packet. $1,800. Info, 802-595-0576. vtgoldretrievers@aol. com, vtgoldens.com.

WANT TO BUY

TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico & Stromberg guitars + Gibson mandolins &

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

R

MUSIC LESSONS

MUSIC LESSONS — PLAY THE DRUMS!

Learn to play the drums today! Precision Percussion can teach you snare drum, drum set & mallet instruments; I can provide the lessons you want. I am experienced, well versed, & educated w/ more than 35 years of teaching & performing experience. Learn how to read music, snare drum techniques, drumming styles (rock, jazz, blues, Latin, funk), how to improve overall techniques, mallet instruments (xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, bells). Most importantly, have fun playing & performing music! Start lessons today: $35 for a 45-min. session; $45 for 60-min. session. New student special: After 8 paid lessons, get 1 lesson free. Contact me: Dave Pacheco, 802-383-8048 or email teachdrums2u@gmail. com, teachdrums2u. wixsite.com/ precisionpercussion.

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

All styles/levels.

Emphasis on building strong technique, thorough musicianship, developing personal style. Paul Asbell (Big Joe Burrell, Kilimanjaro, UVM & Middlebury College faculty, Seven Daysies winner). Info, 802-233-7731, pasbell@ paulasbell.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:

condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

R eal Estate

ent als & COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

S. BURLINGTON OFFICE/ STUDIO SPACE

Approximately 700 sq.ft. of open space (rectangle-shape room), new LVT ﬂooring & paint. Ready-to-move-in space w/ on-site parking. $1,200, incl. rent & common area expenses (snow removal, BA, etc.). Info, 802-345-9552, burlington@dexaﬁ t.com.

HOUSEMATES

AFFORDABLE, COMFORTABLE HOMESHARE

1-BR, 1-BA in Middlebury. Share a comfortable home w/ a senior woman who enjoys reading & connection w/ her faith. Seeking housemate to drive her occasionally & share some conversation. $650/mo. Private BA. Call 802-863-5625 or visit homeshare vermont.org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

WAKE UP TO LAKE VIEWS

1-BR, 1-BA in Alburgh. Lake Champlain views from your window in a home shared w/ senior couple & their dogs. Enjoy a furnished, separate unit on beautiful property. No rent in exchange for help w/ transportation 2-3 times/week, assistance w/ light handyperson projects, yard work & light snow removal. A well-behaved pet would be considered! Call 802-863-5625 or visit homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs. & background checks req. EHO.

HOUSING WANTED

FEMALE 1ST RESPONDER SEEKING UNIQUE HOUSING

was a certiﬁed therapy dog. He is friendly. I am looking for a cohabitation situation (all-season camp, cabin, in-law suite, duplex, long-term housing-sitting). My ideal living situation would be a rural, private living space, dog-friendly. I am conditioned to living in remote locations w/ limited amenities. My vehicle is AWD. I am looking to move before Oct. 1, 2025. I hope to live in/near Chittenden County. I would like to barter my services in exchange for cheaper rent. I have 5+ years’ experience in childcare, elderly support & dog sitting. I am experienced in property management & lawn care. I am respectful, reliable & medically trained, so I am a good safeguard to have on property. ank you for any leads! Email meg.johnson837@ gmail.com.

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ACUWELL BURLINGTON

Asking for help from my community, as I save to buy a property of my own! My name is Meg. I work as a mental health outreach worker w/ local police. I am a volunteer EMT w/ a local backcountry rescue team. My dog is a 9-year-old schnauzerLab mix. In his youth, he

HOME & GARDEN

PROTECT YOUR HOME

Acupuncture, bodywork & facial rejuvenation for balanced wellness & preventative care. Backto-school special: 20 percent off all services. Insurance accepted. Located at 28 Howard St., Suite 210, Burlington. VT. Book online: acuwellburlington.com. Info, 802-777-7817, acuwellburlington@ gmail.com.

BEAUTY

Se e ices

FALL HAIRCOLOR EVENT

New season, new color! Fall color event at Mariposa Collective in Essex Jct. Jess is building her portfolio & looking for models to feature in photo shoots. Book now & receive 30 percent off all color services. Info, mariposacollectives@ gmail.com, 802-318-8926, mariposacollectives.com.

ELECTRONICS

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)

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

GET TAX RELIEF

Do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS or state in back taxes? Get tax relief now! We’ll ﬁght for you! Call 1-877-7036117. (AAN CAN)

GET DISABILITY BENEFITS

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.

MJS CONSTRUCTION

Now accepting work or jobs for summer & fall. Homes, remodeling, additions & small excavation work. Call 802-343-0089.

BEAUTIFUL BATH

UPDATES

Beautiful bath updates in as little as 1 day! Superior quality bath & shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call now: 1-833-4232558. (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: 1-833237-1199. (AAN CAN)

24-7 LOCKSMITH

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?

You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind its work. Fast, free estimate. Financing avail. Call 1-888-292-8225. (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energyefﬁcient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & free quote today: 1-877-248-9944. (AAN CAN)

MOVING & HAULING SERVICES

MOVING

You may qualify for disability beneﬁts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health

We are there when you need us for home & car lockouts. We’ll get you back up & running quickly! Also, key reproductions, lock installs & repairs, vehicle fobs. Call us for your home, commercial & auto locksmith needs: 1-833-237-1233. (AAN CAN)

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 Buy & Sell, Community, Musicians & Artists, Vehicles

Markoski’s has established a local reputation for being a team of friendly professionals who treat their customers like family. Based out of Chittenden County, we go across Vermont & out of state. Please inquire at markoskismoving.com.

Vehicles

CARS & TRUCKS

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?

Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast, free pickup in all 50 states. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans ﬁnd work or start their own business. Call 24-7: 1-855-402-7631. (AAN CAN)

2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE M-274RK 34FT. CAMPER Camper is in excellent condition. Fireplace, stereo, 32-in.

Using the enclosed math operations as a guide, ll the grid using the numbers 1 - 6 only once in each row and column.

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.

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

2 4 5 1 6 1 4 5 3 6 2 6 1 2 4 3 5 2 5 3 6 4 1 5 3 6 1 2 4

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HHH

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers one to nine. The same numbers cannot be repeated in a row or column.

ANSWERS ON P.72 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

MAKING M ENDS

ANSWERS ON P. 72 »

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

Legal Notices

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 25-PR-04580

In re ESTATE of Devon M. Morder

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Devon M. Morder, 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: July 15, 2025

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Heidi Paniaha

Executor/Administrator: Heidi Paniaha

1131 Rachel Street, Johnstown, PA 15904

Phone Number: 814-288-8871

Email: heidipaniaha@atlanticcbb.net

Name of Publication: Seven Days Publication Date: 08/27/2025

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Probate Division, Chittenden Unit

Address of Probate Court: 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0550-7E

10 V.S.A. §§ 6000 - 6111

Application 4C0550-7E from Clapper Road, LLC, P.O. Box 69, Milton, VT 05468 was received on August 7, 2025 and deemed complete on August 13, 2025. The project is generally described as the construction of four storage unit buildings of the following sizes: 3,600 square feet, 2,400 square feet, 1,800 square feet, and 1,200 square feet. The development includes 46 new parking spaces and

landscaping. The project is located at 2-4 Clapper Road in Milton, Vermont. The application may be viewed on the Land Use Review Board’s website (https://act250.vermont.gov/) by clicking “Act 250 Database” and entering the project number “4C0550-7E.”

No hearing will be held and a permit may be issued unless, on or before September 12, 2025, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c) (1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://act250.vermont.gov/documents/party-statuspetition-form, and email it to the District 4 Office at: Act250.Essex@vermont. gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this August 19, 2025. By: /s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator 111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also

PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM

available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 persons or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write the contact person listed below as soon as possible.

To obtain further information concerning any scheduled hearing(s), obtain copies of proposed rule(s) or submit comments regarding proposed rule(s), please call or write the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Updated Vermont Lottery Rules - CVR 01-130-001. Vermont Proposed Rule: 25P034

AGENCY: Department of Liquor and Lottery

CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed rule change to CVR 01-130-001 updates Vermont’s Lottery regulations to align with statutory changes following the legislative consolidation of the Department of Liquor Control and the Vermont Lottery Commission into the Department of Liquor and Lottery. It replaces outdated references (e.g., “Director” to “Commissioner,” “Commission” to “Board”), expands the Commissioner’s authority, clarifies licensing eligibility, and outlines updated conditions for license suspension or revocation. The revisions introduce new definitions, streamline administrative procedures, and reinforce consumer protections—such as prohibiting prize payouts to minors and requiring conspicuous license display. These changes modernize the rules to reflect current business practices and statutory authority.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Skyler Genest, Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, 1311 US Rt. 302, Barre VT 05641Tel: 802-477-2429 Fax: 802-479-4294 E-Mail: skyler.

genest@vermont.gov URL: https://vtlottery.com/ about/rules.

FOR COPIES: Mike Ferrant, Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, 1311 US Rt. 302, Barre VT 05641 Tel: 801-798-6759 Fax: 802-479-4294 E-Mail: mike.ferrant@vermont.gov.

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE LIEN SALE BURLINGTON SELF STORAGE, LLC 1825 SHELBURNE ROAD SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid.

Name of Occupant, Storage Unit#, unit size: Mcknight, Unit #305, 5x5

Said sales will take place on Friday 09/05/25, beginning at 10:00am at Burlington Self Storage (BSS), 1825 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, VT 05403. Units will be opened for viewing immediately prior to auction. Sale shall be by sealed bid to the highest bidder. Contents of entire storage unit will be sold as one lot. The winning bid must remove all contents from the facility at no cost to BSS, on the day of auction. BSS, reserves the right to reject any bid lower that the amount owed by the occupant or that is not commercially reasonable as defined by statute.

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, 5:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Hybrid & In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83225696227 pwd=SGQ0bTdnS000Wkc3c2J4WWw1dzMxUT09 Webinar ID: 832 2569 6227

Passcode: 969186

Telephone: US +1

1. ZP-25-107; 120 Depot Street (RM, Ward 3) Andrea Trombley / Steven Trombley Continued hearing for the variance request to allow exception to the existing height regulations.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/ drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

The programs and services of the City of Burlington are accessible to people with disabilities.

Individuals who require special arrangements to participate are encouraged to contact the Zoning Division at least 72 hours in advance so that proper accommodations can be arranged. For information call 865-7188 (TTY users: 865-7142).

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 September 13, 2025:

Location: 2211 Main st Colchester, VT

Contents: household goods

DjoDjo Elumba: #574

Location: 78 Lincoln St. Essex Jct., VT

Contents: household goods

Stephen ompson: #215

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.

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT FAMILY DIVISION

FRANKLIN UNIT DOCKET NOS. 24-JV-746

In re: M.J.

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: CALVIN JIRON, father of M.J. (dob 06/06/2020), you are hereby notiﬁ ed that a hearing to consider the termination of all your parental rights to M.J. will be held on October 21, 2025 at 10:00. a.m. at the Franklin Superior Court, 36 Lake Street, St. Albans, Vermont. You are notiﬁ ed to appear at this hearing. Your failure to appear and defend will result in a judgment being entered against you and your parental rights will be terminated.

Other parties to this case are the child, M.J., his guardian ad litem M.J.’s mother, and the Vermont Department for Children and Families. DCF is represented by the Attorney General’s Ofﬁ ce, 280 State Drive-HC2N, Waterbury, Vermont 05671-2080.

8/21/2025

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) Elizabeth F. Novotny Franklin Superior Court Judge

SEEKING COMMENT ON 2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) TO HUD

e report is due to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year by September 30. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) staff are working with program partners on the 2025 report which includes activity from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, for the following federal programs:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

• Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV)

• HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)

• Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

• Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG); and

• Emergency Solutions Grant Program CARES Act (ESG-CV).

To learn more about the CAPER go to DHCD’s website: http://accd.vermont.gov/housing/plansdata-rules/hud. e DRAFT CAPER report will be available on September 12, 2025, on the website.

Send questions or comments to Cindy Blondin at Cindy.Blondin@vermont.gov. or call 802-828-5219 or toll free at 1-866-933-6249. Written comments are due by September 29, 2025, at 4:30 pm.

Mail to DHCD, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620-0501, ATTN: Cindy Blondin.

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS STATE OF VERMONT

August 27th, 2025,

Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Grace Vinson, Environmental Ofﬁ cer 1 National Life Drive Montpelier, Vermont 05620 (802) 622- 4336

ese notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (Agency).

Request for Release of Funds

On or about September 12th, 2025 the organization of Cooperative Development Institute will submit a request to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (the Agency) to release the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383), the National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, to undertake a project known as Weston’s Water and Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrades for the purpose of replacing and upgrading aging drinking water and stormwater infrastructure to help preserve affordable housing. e project is located at 94 ird Street, Berlin, VT 05602. e total estimated cost of the project is approximately $3.5MM and will be undertaken utilizing at least $795,719 (Vermont Housing Conservation Board), $1,325,000 (American Rescue Plan Act Healthy Homes), $1,155,000 (3-Acre Stormwater Construction Initiative), and $261,945 in CDBG funding (PRICE).

e project, a residential mobile home cooperative, exists within the 100- and 500-year fl oodplain of the Dog River. HUD’s 8-Step Guidance has been undertaken and mitigation measures include a fl ood insurance policy on proposed infrastructure and placing underground storage tanks at an elevation outside of the fl oodplain that will eliminate the need for locating pressurization equipment within the fl oodplain.

Finding of No Signiﬁ cant Impact

e Agency has determined that the project will have no signiﬁ cant impact on the human environment. erefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required.

Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on fi le with the Environmental Offi cer, Department of Housing and Community Development, National Life Building, One National Life Drive, Davis Building 6th fl oor, Montpelier, Vermont 05620 or via email at Grace.Vinson@vermont.gov. and may be examined or copied Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Public Comments

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Agency, Attn: Environmental Ofﬁ cer, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Housing and Community Development, One National Life Drive, Davis Building, 6th Floor, Montpelier, Vermont, 05620 or via email at grace.vinson@vermont.gov. All comments received by September 11th, 2025, will be considered by the Department prior to authorizing a request for release of funds. Comments must specify which Notice they are addressing—the Finding of No Signiﬁ cant Impact or the Request for the Release of Funds.

Environmental Certiﬁ cation

e Agency is certifying to HUD that Certifying Offi cer Alex Farrell, Commissioner of VT Department of Housing and Community Development, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfi ed. e Agency’s approval of the certifi cation satisfi es its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Agency to use the CDBG funds.

Objections to Release of Funds

e Agency will accept objections to its release of funds and the Agency’s certiﬁ cation for a period of ﬁ fteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following

and tell. View and post up to 6 photos per ad online.

24/7/365. Post & browse ads at your convenience.

bases: (a) the certifi cation was not executed by the Certifying Offi cer, Alex Farrell, Commissioner of VT Department of Housing and Community Development; (b) VCCD has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or fi nding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by the Agency; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written fi nding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.

Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the Attn: Grace Vinson, Environmental Ofﬁ cer, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, One National Life Drive, Davis Building, 6th Floor, Montpelier, Vermont 05620. Potential objectors should contact the Agency to verify the actual last date of the objection period.

FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A FEDERAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals,

is is to give notice that the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (Responsible Entity) under 24 CFR Part 58 has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order(s) 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690, and/or Executive Order 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. e activity is funded under PRICE B-23-PR-25-002. e proposed project is located 94 ird Street in Berlin, Washington county and is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) fl oodplain. e extent of the FFRMS fl oodplain was determined using a freeboard value approach. Weston’s Mobile Home Cooperative is an 83-lot affordable housing source on 29.57 acres of land. e project involves replacing the community’s water distribution system, which has surpassed its useful lifespan and is starting to fail. Included in this work will be placing underground storage tanks at an elevation above the community that will eliminate the need for locating pressurization equipment within the fl ood plain, as well as provide a backup water supply for the community. In addition, the project involves installing new storm water infrastructure to comply Vermont’s new “three-acre” permit rule per 10 V.S.A Chapter 47.

e Responsible Entity has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and benefi cial functions and intrinsic values of the existing fl oodplain: e action taking place is occurring within a mobile home cooperative that has been in residential use since the 1960s. Taking no action is not advisable because of the increasing risk of water system failure that would threaten the health, safety and fi nancial solvency of a crucial source of affordable housing in central Vermont. Relocation of the entire community to a location outside of the riverine FFRMS fl oodplain was also considered. is alternative was ruled out because its cost would far exceed the costs associated with not only the proposed water system upgrades, but also other possible infrastructure projects that could greatly increase the resiliency of this community. e preferred alternative of moving forward with the installation of a new drinking water distribution system initially considered inclusion of a signifi cant renovation to the community’s water treatment and pressure tank building to raise its fl oor above base fl ood elevation. In the time since the outset of the 8-step process, the community has gained an opportunity to access an adjacent parcel of land which is elevated enough to locate underground water storage tanks, which would provide consistent and reliable water pressure for the entire

community as well as at least one day of backup water supply. In terms of the community’s fl ood resilience, adding these storage tanks will locate the community’s pressurization system outside of the fl oodplain. is leaves only the chlorination equipment, which can be mounted at an elevation well above the base fl ood elevation in the existing water service building with very little renovation required. A fl ood insurance policy has been taken out by the Weston’s Cooperative to mitigate against fl oodplain risks.

e Responsible Entity has reevaluated alternatives to building in the fl oodplain and has determined that it has no practicable alternative to fl oodplain development. Environmental fi les documenting compliance with Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690, and/or Executive Order 11990, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.

ere are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in fl oodplain and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. e dissemination of information and request for public comment about fl oodplain can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modifi cation of these special areas. ird, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in fl oodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the Responsible Entity at the following address on or before September 3rd, 2025:

Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development Grace Vinson, Environmental Ofﬁ cer 1 National Life Drive Montpelier, Vermont 05620 802-622-4336

A full description of the project may also be reviewed from Monday thru Friday, 9am-5pm, at 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont 05620 and online at cdi.coop/westons. Comments may also be submitted via email at wisp@cdi.coop.

Date: Wednesday, August 27th, 2025

HUNGER FREE VERMONT IS HIRING! We’re seeking two new team members to support our mission to end hunger for all Vermonters:

Director of Development: A strategic leader to guide fundraising efforts, manage grants and donor relations, and drive long-term financial sustainability.

Operations & Program Support Specialist: A detail-oriented team member to provide administrative, logistical, and program support across the organization.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POST-A-JOB PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS) FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Join a collaborative, mission-driven workplace committed to equity and systemic change. Learn more and apply at hungerfreevt.org/employment

3h-HungerFreeVT082725.indd

Join the Flynn & be part of a team striving to make the community better through the arts. All backgrounds encouraged to apply. This is a part-time, non-exempt, hourly position.

SECURITY STAFF

The Flynn is looking to hire multiple Security Staff to ensure the safety of the Flynn staff, guests, patrons, & property. For full job description and to apply, please visit: flynnvt.org/About-Us/Employment-and-InternshipOpportunities

4t-Flynn082025.indd 1

HOME DESIGN MAVEN

Seeking motivated and energetic home design maven to help run a growing, values-based fabrics and furnishings shop in South Burlington. Strong customer service, administrative, and technology skills a must. Requires design talent and skills; experience with home textiles a bonus. This is an opportunity for the right person who is ready to become proficient in the home fabrics industry and be an integral part of the business’s growth and success. Training provided. Seeking someone who is reliable, can balance following protocol with good judgement, offers a strong work ethic, and has a sense of perspective and humor. Must be able to lift and move up to 50 lbs. Starting at 30 hours/week with full-time possibilities ahead. $25/hour starting wage. Send resume and cover letter to alisa@joyofhomevt.com. Job description at joyofhomevt.com. Position remains open until filled.

Sr. Engineer, Physical Design (F099)

Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. in Burlington, VT seeks Sr. Engineer, Physical Design (F099): Create, customize, maintain Custom PDK. $94,000-$114,000/yr.

TO APPLY send your resume with reference Job Code (F099) to Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. Attn. HR 1.2.519, 5488 Marvell Lane, Santa Clara, CA 95054 or to Opportunities@marvell.com. E.O.E.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICIAN PRACTICES

Ready to grow your career?

This is a key leadership role that manages the operational and strategic aspects of Copley’s medical practices over multiple locations:

• Manage complex patient interactions, drive development of processes and systems, and manage staff.

• Provide leadership for day-to-day operations.

• Exhibit strong managerial skills and an understanding of medical office procedures.

We are seeking a highly organized individual with previous leadership experience in a hospital or healthcare setting. Full-time. Excellent salary and benefits package.

For more information visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Nutrition Outreach Specialist

The Nutrition Outreach Specialist will support our Nutrition Program, promote community nutrition programs, and help eligible individuals apply for 3SquaresVT.

The Nutrition Outreach Specialist will help fulfill CVCOA’s vision of “A World Where Aging is Honored” and its mission to “Support Central Vermonters to Age with Dignity and Choice.”

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in human services.

•Ability to understand the needs of older adults and to maintain client confidentiality.

• Able to work well with people in a variety of situations in local communities.

To apply, please send resume & cover letter to jobs@cvcoa.org

4t-JoyofHome082725.indd 1 8/22/25 11:35 AM

4t-CVCOAnutrition081325.indd 1

Business Manager

New Learning Journey is seeking a Business Manager at the Knoll Farm location.

We are seeking a passionate and detail-oriented business manager, a key leadership role responsible for managing the fiscal health of our $1.2 million dollar nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice.

Details and to apply use the QR Code: 2v-KnollFarm082725.indd

We're hiring for our new Leahy BTV Airport location opening in September!

Baristas

$24-$28/hr starting pay; no tips

Kitchen Manager/Baker

So. Burlington kitchen $50k-$70k

Join a supportive, high-standards, passionate team and get free coffee at our Meet & Greet Hiring Events!

8/28, Tech Park | 8am-10am 8/29, Airport | 8am-10am kestrelcoffees.com/employment

2v-KestrelCoffee082725.indd

Executive Director

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead our management team. Headquartered in So. Burlington, VT, VABVI is the only private, nonprofit, statewide agency providing training, services and support to infants, children and adults throughout Vermont. VABVI has an annual operating budget of $4.1 million. The successful candidate will possess a vision for the future and strive to fulfill a mission that encourages and assists blind and visually impaired people to achieve or maintain their independence and quality of life. Salary range is $120,000 to $150,000 depending on experience.

Complete details of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position, as well as the Application process is available at: Vabvi.org/careers

Application Deadline: August 31, 2025

4t-VABVI060425.indd 1

Screen Printing & Embroidery

Competitiv

Apply:

“The best thing about working at CCS that I really love is the sense of family and community. ”

– Bill Goldwyn, Outreach Coordinator

Great jobs in management and direct support at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Benefit package includes 29 paid days off in the first year, comprehensive health insurance with premium as low as $30 per month, up to $6,400 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, retirement match, generous sign on bonus and so much more. And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for seven years in a row. Join our team today!

Build your skills – with support.

Kickstart your nursing career with the support you need at our not-for-profit, rural critical access hospital. Apply for our Summer 2025 program on the Medical-Surgical Unit. Receive hands-on training with experienced preceptors, exposure to diverse patient populations, and education on essential nursing skills in a mentorship-driven atmosphere. Why NVRH? Collaborate with a dedicated team, gain valuable experience, and enjoy work-life balance in a welcoming rural community while making a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.

Requirements: Enthusiastic new graduates with a Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Nursing and eligibility for a Vermont or multi-state Compact RN license. Benefits Include: Competitive compensation, student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and more. About Us: Located in St. Johnsbury, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital serves over 30,000 people in a picturesque, bustling community. Apply Now! nvrh.org/careers.

Manufacturing Positions

Looking to earn extra money for the holidays while working with a great team? Join New England Chimney Supply and be part of a company that values hard work, reliability, and a positive attitude. We are looking for enthusiastic and dependable individuals for seasonal part-time or full-time warehouse and manufacturing positions. At NECS, you’ll enjoy flexible hours to fit your schedule, opportunities for overtime to boost your paycheck, and bonus incentives for going the extra mile. We’re conveniently located on the bus route, making it easy to get to work. Plus, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in a friendly, team-oriented environment where your contributions truly matter. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income, save for a special purchase, or just stay busy during the season, this is your chance to work in a welcoming atmosphere with supportive coworkers. Compensation: Starting at $18 per hour based on experience. Send resumes to: tirish@nesbestflex.com

PR/ Marketing Manager

The Enosburg Opera House is on the hunt for a creative superstar.

Flexible 5–15 hr/week (depending on the season), some hours can be remote.

Some evening work may be needed.

Bonus points if you can rock a camera!

We’re looking for someone who’s motivated, imaginative, deadline-ready, and loves the arts. Sound like you? Step into the spotlight and join our team!

For more information email Kim Covert Airoldi: promo.fotoh@gmail.com

2v-EnosburgOperaHouse082725.indd

INVEST IN YOURSELF

Our apprenticeship program is a paid opportunity to become a phlebotomist with no experience required.

APPLY NOW jobforward.org/phlebotomy

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

$2,000 SIGN ON BONUS

External candidates are eligible for a one-time sign-on bonus paid over 3 installments. Amounts reflect gross pay, prior to applicable tax withholdings and deductions required by law. Current University of Vermont Health Network employees are excluded and additional terms and conditions apply. Questions? Call or

Phlebotomy Apprenticeship Program

• Guaranteed paid employment on day one of training

• Direct patient care

• Team environment

• Full Benefits

• Dedicated support during the 5-week program

• Paid Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

Agricultural/Environmental Engineer

The Vermont Association of Conservation Districts is seeking to hire an engineering technician or entry-level engineer based in Rutland, Vermont to assist engineers with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Natural Resources Conservation District staff with data collection, CADD design, surveying and other entry-level engineering tasks for on-farm conservation projects on small and mid-size farms. Roughly half of the work will be in Bennington County, Vermont and the rest in other parts of the state. A valid driver’s license is required. The candidate selected will need to be able to pass a federal background check.

Qualifications: A four-year degree in engineering, construction, or industrial technology OR a Bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester hours of study in engineering, industrial technology, construction, physics, surveying, drafting, physical science or mathematics. At least six of those hours must be in drafting.

Starting salary is $70,000 including health care benefits and 401K, but is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applications are due by September 19, 2025.

Visit VACD.org for the full job description and application details.

Human Resource Administrator

Vermont Legal Aid is seeking a full-time HR Administrator in our Burlington office. The HR Administrator provides services to two related public interest law firms, Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont. The HR Administrator handles and manages all aspects of payroll and benefits, maintains personnel records, oversees labor law compliance, and addresses performance issues.

We are committed to building a diverse, social justice-oriented staff, and encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. We welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace.

Responsibilities include: ensuring that all VLA and LSV practices are administered appropriately, consistently, and in compliance with relevant laws; investigating employee complaints; processing bi-monthly payroll; administering benefits; consulting with

benefits broker on the employee benefits plan; overseeing wage and data reporting; maintaining knowledge of human resource developments; collaborating with Accounting and HR assistants on HR-related tasks; and participating in bargaining with our staff union.

A bachelor’s degree in human resources and HR certification is preferred. A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is required.

Benefits include starting salary of $75,00087,000 (commensurate with experience), four weeks paid vacation, retirement, and excellent health benefits.

Application deadline is 12pm Tuesday, September 9th. Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and three references combined into one pdf, sent by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org with “HR Administrator” in the subject line. The full job description can be found at vtlegalaid.org/ about-vla/jobs. Please let us know how you heard about this position.

Foundation Coordinator

Stark Mountain Foundation (SMF) seeks a Foundation Coordinator to become an integral contributor to its events, fundraising, communications, and operations.

The Foundation Coordinator will help to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and bolster organization efficiency & effectiveness to fuel SMF’s growth and evolution.

Founded in 2000, SMF is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. SMF promotes education, environmental and historic preservation, and recreation to help preserve the environment and character of General Stark Mountain in Fayston, Vermont. SMF partners with organizations including The Preservation Trust of Vermont, The Green Mountain Club, and Mad River Glen.

Part-time, flexible hours, reports to the president of SMF’s board.

Visit StarkMountain.org/positions for application instructions.

Director of Nursing

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Police O cers

Full Time, Town of Stowe, Vermont

Up to $15,000 Sign-On Bonus FOR VERMONT CERTIFIED OFFICERS

The Stowe Police Department is seeking a full-time police o cer to help fulﬁll its mission to provide quality service in a professional, respectful, and ethical manner.

Stowe Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and dedicated to the people, traditions, and diversity of our town. We work in partnership with the community to preserve and improve the quality of life, making the town a safer, more pleasant place to live, work, and visit.

Up to $15,000 sign-on bonus for Vermont certified o cers, with half paid upon hire and half after one year. Minimum starting pay for a certified o cer is $29.75 per hour and may be higher depending on qualifications and experience.

Applicants must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, possess a High School diploma or equivalent, and possess a valid Driver’s License. Applicants must be able to perform all the essential functions involved with police duties. The hiring process includes a physical ﬁtness examination, polygraph, oral board, written exam, medical exam, ﬁngerprint check, and extensive background check.

The Town of Stowe o ers a robust beneﬁt package including health and dental with low premium share, generous paid leave, VMERS D pension, and more!

More information can be found at stowevt.gov/jobs

Submit cover letter and resume to recruit@stowevt.gov Position open until ﬁlled.

The Town of Stowe is an equal opportunity employer.

Are you a nurse looking for a position that brings joy and fulﬁllment both personally and professionally? The Converse Home, a nonproﬁt Assisted Living Community located in downtown Burlington, is seeking a Director of Nursing (DON). As the longest-running assisted living community in Vermont, The Converse Home is renowned for its warm, welcoming, and home-like atmosphere. This is a rare opportunity to join a compassionate and supportive team in an exceptional community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Co-Executive Directors, Nurse Educator, and department directors to ensure residents receive high-quality care with respect and dignity.

• Lead the traditional assisted living and memory care nursing teams by maintaining and implementing policies and procedures in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.

• Supervise and work closely with the nurse educator, Memory Care Manager, and licensed nurses and care staﬀ to ensure best practices and ongoing education.

• Work closely with the Co-Executive Directors to monitor and address ﬁnancial considerations and the nursing departments budget.

• Ensure resident charts and nursing documentation are accurate and in compliance with state regulations.

• Participate in pre-admission screenings for prospective residents, visiting prospective residents in the building and oﬀ site, providing input to the admissions team.

• Serve as the primary point of communication for families, residents, staﬀ, hospitals, rehabilitation communities, and providers, ensuring a collaborative and transparent environment.

• Responsible for ensuring adequate sta ng levels for the nursing department by working closely with the Clinical Administrative Assistant, share on-call responsibilities and

provide occasional evening, night, or weekend coverage when necessary.

Qualiﬁcations:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) preferred.

• Valid Vermont Registered Nurse (RN) license and a valid driver’s license.

• Strong background in Med-Surg and chronic long term care nursing, healthcare operations management, with a solid understanding of skilled nursing standards of care and Vermont state assisted living regulations.

• Exceptional communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with a compassionate approach to the nursing team, department staﬀ, residents, and families.

• Flexibility to travel occasionally and adapt to occasional weekend or after-hours needs.

Salary and Beneﬁts:

• Salary range: $100,000–$120,000.

• Competitive beneﬁts package, including medical, dental, eye, life insurance, retirement, and paid vacation.

• Retention bonus of $10,000 paid out quarterly over the ﬁrst year.

About The Converse Home:

The Converse Home is a private nonproﬁt assisted living and memory care community located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Burlington. We provide a homelike, serene, and engaging environment for our residents to thrive. To learn more about The Converse Home and apply online, please visit

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Family Caregiver Support Coordinator

The Family Caregiver Support Coordinator assists people providing and ensuring care of loved ones to gain information, support and access to services that promote the wellbeing of the caregiver as they see to the needs of others; they participate in activities, teams and systems discussions to promote dementia-friendly community and the expansion and improvement of services to family caregivers. With successful performance this role is intended to transition to leadership of the program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

BA preferably in human services/social services. 2-4 years’ work experience in human services, preferably with older persons or people with disabilities and their caregivers, is desirable. Supervisory experience and lived experience as a family caregiver will further distinguish candidates. Send resumes to: jobs@cvcoa.org

4t-CentralVTCouncilonAgingCVCOAfamily081325.indd

Vermont Town Careers

hard to find in other

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKER

THE TOWN OF JERICHO is accepting applications for a Highway Maintenance Worker Level II. This is a full-time position that requires a CDL (min Class “B”) and the ability to work outside of regular working hours routinely. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in highway maintenance, snow plowing, construction procedures, and methods at the municipal level. Equipment operation experience is a plus.

The starting hourly wage is dependent on qualifications. The Town of Jericho offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, as well as a retirement plan.

An application and job description can be downloaded from www.jerichovt.org. They are also available at the Jericho Town Hall, at 67 VT Rt. 15, Jericho, M-TH 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Completed applications can be submitted to Linda Blasch in person, via email at lblasch@jerichovt.gov or mail to PO Box 39, Jericho, VT 05465. The position is open until filled.

Experienced VIDEO EDITOR

The ideal candidate would demonstrate a storyteller’s mindset first and foremost. This would mean someone who loves to dig deep to uncover the story beneath the surface, and can demonstrate their ability to identify the strongest and least predictable interview moments within a project. We’re also looking for:

Line Cook hours: 2pm to close. Prep Cook hours: 8am-2/3-ish. Part/Full-time positions available

Looking for someone who is self-motivated, focused with a positive personality. Team work oriented and not afraid of working under pressure.

$17-$25 plus tip sharing.

Please send a resume to: chiuhos@asinglepebble.com

• Someone excited about being mentally invested in a story and is not shy about coming up with ideas on how to improve on the footage made available for any edit. This could mean suggesting additional interviews or suggesting specific interview content that could add to the impact of the story. This could also mean taking initiative to brainstorm creative shot lists that would add to the depth and unpredictability of a project.

• Someone who has a proven track record of seeing things through. This would mean not only brainstorming and considering additional content, but demonstrating an ability to ensure that content is captured with the support of your team.

• The ideal candidate would also be comfortable in an environment where everyone strives to review and improve their work, understanding that with that input comes the support of a creative team ready to contribute to meet our shared goals.

• Our ideal candidate would show a senior level of proficiency in editing techniques and experience with Adobe Premiere. Send resumes to: admin@mtmansfieldmedia.com

Trusted, local employers are hiring in Seven Days newspaper and online. Browse 100+ new job postings each week.

See who’s hiring at jobs.sevendaysvt.com Follow us on Facebook /sevendaysjobs for the latest postings

CASE MANAGERS

Case Managers support older Vermonters in the community to stay as independent as possible in the environment of their choice by promoting health, rights, independence, and economic well-being.

They are responsible for field-based, direct provision Person-Centered Options Counseling to clients in our 54-town service area.

Pay Range: $24-$26 per hour.

For the full job description and to apply, please visit: https://cvcoa.org/employment

Communications Director

Salary range is $85k to $105k. About the Position: The VSEA Communications Director is the manager of the two-person VSEA Communications Department, which also includes the Communications Specialist position. The Department is responsible for ensuring the union’s membership is being provided with pertinent information in a timely and professional manner and that the union’s message of the day/week/month is being disseminated effectively via any one, or all, of the numerous communications vehicles available to the union. The Director is also responsible for:

material and correspondence, acting in a gatekeeper capacity prior to information being disseminated to membership;

• Primary administrator of the VSEA App and creator of content for VSEA’s Facebook and Twitter pages, the VSEA website, the VSEA Week In Action and the VSEA VOICE;

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Nurse Management Team

Join a 5-Star skilled nursing facility, Nurse Management Team at e Manor in Morrisville! We foster and support a positive organizational culture to deliver high quality care and services to residents, families, visitors, and sta .

Become part of a team that cares about residents, families, and each other. If you have a passion for senior care, a vision for clinical excellence, and a desire to be part of an elite group of nursing leadership, we want to hear from you!

Pay range: $40-$45/hour

Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations and ensure the highest quality of care for our residents

• Supervise and support nursing sta

• Coordinate care planning and communication between healthcare providers, residents, and families

• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and company policies

• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment

Requirements:

• Current RN license (State of Vermont) in good standing

• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in long-term care or a similar setting

• Prior experience in a supervisory or nurse manager role preferred

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Commitment to resident-centered care

Apply today and become part of e Manor family!

Call: (802) 888-8755

Email: HR@themanorvt.org

• Administering department budget, as dictated by membership.

• Writing, editing and producing materials for some of VSEA communications/public relations’ projects and campaigns. Assisting Organizing Dept. with others in progress;

• Drafting leadership correspondence, op-eds, speeches, messages to membership, etc.;

• Drafting brochure and flyer copy, web copy, fact sheets and talking points;

• Drafting press releases and developing press kits;

• Building working relationships with members of the Vermont press corp., pitching ideas, educating on issues and sometimes providing quotes to, on behalf of the VSEA;

• Generating press around member issues and assembling press conferences, as needed;

• Monitoring the press daily, both in Vermont and nationally, for stories featuring leaders/members, stories of interest to the membership and stories that support VSEA campaigns and ideology;

• Serving as primary editor for VSEA

• Administering the VSEA Website’s “Member-Only” section, vetting sign-up requests every other day and helping members experiencing problems;

• Ensuring VSEA communications’ policies are adhered to by meeting timelines dictated by them, particularly related to print and online material needs tied to union elections;

• Creating ad content for VTDigger running ad buy and other VSEA ad needs, print, online, radio and television. Includes scripting on an as-needed basis;

• Facilitating VSEA media buys on an asneeded basis;

• Assisting as VSEA photographer/ videographer, and having some knowledge of editing to finalize product;

• Serving as point person for Freedom of Information requests generated by members and staff, including drafting requests, reviewing material received and deciding if there is information in there that supports a VSEA campaign, grievance, theory or something else; and

• Serving as point person for VSEA, when members/staff need to order Americanand union-made VSEA tchotchkes;

• Other Duties as Assigned

Resumes and cover letters can be sent to vsea@vsea.org

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

OG Structured Literacy In-Person Instructor

The Stern Center in Williston is seeking a full-time, in-person instructor to join our highly experienced and collaborative team of teachers. If you’re a qualified educator with training and experience in structured literacy instruction, this rewarding role allows focus and impact, teaching one-on-one to make a positive difference every day.

Training in Orton-Gillingham and/or Wilson, and/or having a Special Education certification strongly preferred. Our ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, an understanding of research-based interventions, and experience in developing individualized learning plans.

Specific duties include:

• Administer and interpret pre- and post-instructional assessments

• Create specific academic goals and objectives for each student

• Communicate with parents, schools, teachers, and special educators

• Strong progress monitoring and reporting skills

The non-profit Stern Center for Language and Learning is dedicated to learning for all as we recognize that all great minds don't think alike. We invite you to learn more about us at sterncenter.org

The starting salary range for this position is $54,000 to $57,000 annually. The Stern Center for Language & Learning is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 5v-SternCenterOG082025indd.indd

Executive Director

The Vermont Bar Association is seeking candidates for the position of Executive Director. This is a leadership, policy & administrative position responsible for leading, managing, and executing the affairs of the 2,250-member Vermont Bar Association under the direction of the President and the Board of Bar Managers. The ideal candidate will have a JD degree or otherwise be licensed to practice law (preferred but not required), and have administrative, personnel, and budget management experience. Prior experience with the legislative process is desirable, as the Executive Director is the VBA’s voice in the legislature as well as with the other branches of Vermont state government. The ability to liaison with other professional organizations, county bar associations, civil legal service delivery agencies and the Vermont Supreme Court is required.

Interested candidates should submit a letter expressing in detail why they are interested in the position. The letter should be accompanied by a current resume, the names (and contact information for) three references, and a writing sample. Candidates with questions about the position or the process may send them to Josh Diamond at jdiamond@dinse.com.

Salary Range: $100,000 - $150,000 plus benefits, range based upon successful applicant’s qualifications.

For more information and to apply, please visit: vtbar.formstack.com/forms/ed_recruitment

The deadline for applications is September 8, 2025.

Staff Attorney

The Vermont Network Legal Clinic

The Vermont Network Legal Clinic seeks a staff attorney to provide pro bono legal advisement and representation for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Specific responsibilities include conducting intakes, providing legal advice and representing clients in family, civil or other legal matters. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position, located at our offices in Waterbury, Vermont, with some remote work options available. The Vermont Network offers a competitive salary and benefit package including a salary range of $60k - $75K, comprehensive healthcare coverage and generous time off.

The Vermont Network is a statewide non-profit organization working to create the possibility that all Vermonters can thrive. The Vermont Network Legal Clinic is comprised of three full-time attorneys and one part-time paralegal. The clinic serves approximately 500 individuals per year. More information about the Vermont Network is available at vtnetwork.org

Candidates must be a member of the Vermont Bar and able to practice law in Vermont. Experience with family law and an understanding of domestic and sexual violence is preferred but not necessary. Candidates should send a cover letter, resume and sample of legal writing to Jamie@vtnetwork.org. This position will be open until it is filled.

Milton Rents in Richmond, VT is a leading provider of construction equipment and rental services, committed to delivering top-tier service and operational excellence. We are New England’s exclusive rental source for CAT equipment – plus over 70 trusted brands.

We are currently hiring:

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of. I can only imagine how many job connections she has facilitated for local companies in the 20 years she has been doing this.”

CAROLYN ZELLER, Intervale Center, Burlington

a quote when posting online.

Michelle Brown at 865-1020, ext. 121, michelle@sevendaysvt.com

fun stuff

“Those rustic bungalows have ruined this town.”

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

LEAH WITTENBERG

JULIANNA BRAZILL

KYLE BRAVO

VIRGO

(AUG. 23-SEP.22)

In Andean cosmology, the condor and the hummingbird are both sacred messengers. One soars majestically at high altitudes, a symbolic bridge between the earth and heaven. The other moves with supple efficiency and detailed precision, an icon of resilience and high energy. Let’s make these birds your spirit creatures for the coming months. Your challenging but feasible assignment is to both see the big picture and attend skillfully to the intimate details.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In some Buddhist mandalas, the outer circle depicts a wall of fire. It marks the boundary between the chaotic external world and the sacred space within. For seekers and devotees, it’s a symbol of the transformation they must undergo to commune with deeper truths. I think you’re ready to create or bolster your own flame wall, Aries. What is nonnegotiable for your peace, your creativity, your worth? Who or what belongs in your inner circle? And what must stay outside? Be clear about the boundaries you need to be your authentic self.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): Centuries ago, builders in Venice, Italy, drove countless wooden pilings deep into the waterlogged mud of the lagoon to create a stable base for future structures. These timber foundations were es-

sential because the soil was too weak to support stone buildings directly. Eventually, the wood absorbed minerals from the surrounding muddy water and became exceptionally hard and durable: capable of supporting heavy buildings. Taurus, you may soon glimpse how something you’ve built your life upon — a value, a relationship or a daily ritual — is more enduring than you imagined. Its power is in its rootedness, its long conversation with the invisible. My advice: Trust what once seemed soft but has become solid. Thank life for blessing you with its secret alchemy.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): In Inuit myth, Sedna is the goddess who lives at the bottom of the sea and oversees all marine life. If humans harm nature or neglect spiritual truths, Sedna may stop allowing them to catch sea creatures for food, leading to starvation. Then shamans from the world above must swim down to sing her songs and comb her long black hair. If they win her favor, she restores balance. I propose that you take direction from this myth, Gemini. Some neglected beauty and wisdom in your emotional depths is asking for your attention. What part of you needs reverence, tenderness and ceremonial care?

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): In ancient Rome, the lararium was a home altar. It wasn’t used for momentous appeals to the heavyweight deities such as Jupiter, Venus, Apollo, Juno and Mars. Instead, it was there that people performed daily rituals, seeking prosperity, protection and health from their ancestors and minor household gods. I think now is a fine time to create your own version of a lararium, Cancerian. How could you fortify your home base to make it more nurturing and uplifting? What rituals and playful ceremonies might you do to generate everyday blessings?

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): In Persian miniature painting, entire epics are compressed into exquisite images the size of a hand. Each creation contains worlds within worlds, myths tucked into detail. I suggest you draw inspiration from this approach, Leo. Rather than imagining your life as a grand performance, play with the theme of sacred compression. Be alert for seemingly transitory moments

that carry enormous weight. Proceed on the assumption that a brief phrase or lucky accident may spark sweet changes. What might it look like to condense your full glory into small gifts that people can readily use?

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): In the ancient Greek myth of Psyche, one of her trials is to gather golden wool from violent rams. She succeeds by waiting until the torrid heat of midday passes, and the rams are resting in the cool shade. She safely collects the wool from bushes and branches without confronting the rams directly. Let this be a lesson, Libra. To succeed at your challenges, rely on strategy rather than confrontation. It’s true that what you want may feel blocked by difficult energies, such as chaotic schedules, reactive people or tangled decisions. But don’t act impulsively. Wait. Listen. Watch. Openings will happen when the noise settles and others tire themselves out. You don’t need to overpower. You just need to time your grace. Golden wool is waiting, but it can’t be taken by force.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1911, two teams tried to become the first humans to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen’s group succeeded, but Robert Falcon Scott’s did not. Why? Amundsen had studied with Indigenous people who were familiar with frigid environments. He adopted their clothing choices (fur and layering); their travel techniques (dogsledding); and their measured, deliberate pacing, including lots of rest. Scott exhausted himself and his people with inconsistent bursts of intense effort and stubbornly inept British strategies. Take your cues from Amundsen, dear Scorpio. Get advice from real experts. Pace yourself; don’t sprint. Be consistent rather than melodramatic. Opt for discipline instead of heroics.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A lighthouse isn’t concerned with whether ships are watching it from a distance. It simply shines forth its strong beams, no questions asked. It rotates, pulses and moves through its cycles because that’s its natural task. Its purpose is steady illumination, not recognition. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I ask you and encourage you to be like a lighthouse. Be loyal to your own gleam. Do what you do best because

it pleases you. The ones who need your signal will find you. You don’t have to chase them across the waves.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the fourth African American woman to be granted a U.S. patent. Her invention was ingenious: a folding cabinet bed that could be transformed into a roll-top desk. It appealed to people who lived in small apartments and needed to save space. I believe you’re primed and ready for a similar advance in practical resourcefulness, Capricorn. You may be able to combine two seemingly unrelated needs into one brilliant solution — turning space, time or resources into something more graceful and useful. Let your mind play with hybrid inventions and unlikely pairings.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I expect you will be knowledgeable and smart during the coming weeks, Aquarius. But I hope you will also be wise and savvy. I hope you will wrestle vigorously with the truth so you can express it in practical and timely ways. You must be ingenious as you figure out the precise ways to translate your intelligence into specifically right actions. So for example: You may feel compelled to be authentic in a situation where you have been reticent, or to share a vision that has been growing quietly. Don’t stay silent, but also: Don’t blurt. Articulate your reality checks with elegance and discernment. The right message delivered at the wrong moment could make a mess, whereas that same message will be a blessing if offered at the exact turning point.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Liubai is a Chinese term that means “to leave blank.” In traditional ink painting, it referred to the portions of the canvas the artist chose not to fill in. Those unpainted areas were not considered empty. They carried emotional weight, inviting the eye to rest and the mind to wander. I believe your near future could benefit from this idea, Pisces. Don’t feel you have to spell everything out or tie up each thread. It may be important not to explain and reveal some things. What’s left unsaid, incomplete or openended may bring you more gifts than constant effort. Let a little stillness accompany whatever you’re creating.

Down a dirt road in Albany, Vasilios Gletsos brews oneof-a-kind artisanal beers using a wood-ﬁred copper kettle, locally foraged ingredients and a beer cave 15 feet underground. Gletsos founded Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur in 2016, and it remains his solo project. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger toured this unique small-batch brewery.

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com

WOMEN seeking...

AUTHENTIC, CREATIVE, CURIOUS

Active and social introvert new to and smitten with the North Country looking for a like-minded partner to continue exploring it with. Mom to three adult children, all out on their own. Passions include yoga, hiking, gardening, learning, reading and creating. Scienceminded, politically liberal, spiritually grounded and emotionally available for friendship and, if we’re a fit, more. annwithane 55, seeking: M, l

SPIRITED AND CURIOUS, NO DRAMA

Hi! I’m looking for someone to share life’s adventures with and a relationship that brings out the best in each other. No drama on either end. Kindness, truthfulness and appreciation for the beautiful things in life are a must. Friendship first, and then let’s see where it goes! genX25, 57, seeking: M, l

SOMEONE TO LAUGH WITH

I am looking for interaction! I’m very social. I miss fun. I miss sharing life experiences. I have a wicked sarcastic sense of humor. Be forewarned! I can make a joke (usually a bad one) about anything. Hard no to anyone that supports the orange monster. If you are interested in chatting, send me an email. Yikestheworldisnuts 65, seeking: M, l YOU?

Statuesque. Celtic. Worth it. OceanMaeve 70, seeking: M

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

DOWN-TO-EARTH NATURE LOVER

Looking for sincere, real spiritually connected to nature, and friends for hiking and exploring the outdoors. Theotherside, 51 seeking: M, NC, NBP, l

THIS IS ME

Moved to Burlington after many years inside the beltway. I have secured living quarters with a balcony, procured a Subaru and an ice scraper, and taken my dog on a lot of woodsy walks. Seeking someone to have dinner with and see how it goes.

New2Subarucountry 52, seeking: M, l

LIVING MY NEW LIFE

I am recently — in the last year — living as a single woman again. My life is good but not full. There is a void. A companion, a friend maybe. It would be fun to have someone to do things with, be it a walk, go to flea markets, antiques shops, museums, road trips, movies. Newlife2025, 64, seeking: M, l

EXPLORING THIS LIFETIME MOMENT

Interested in meaningful conversations and activities. Accepting of differences. Require quality time outdoors daily. INFJ, 65 seeking: W

CLEVER, INTUITIVE, CREATIVE, OUTDOORSY, SENSUAL

In search of a woman with similar characteristics for outdoor and indoor play. And, if it feels right, to join me and my male playmate for discreet playdates. CompassRose 59, seeking: W

LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Seeking a true partner for the best that is to come. itry, 44, seeking: M

CURIOUS, CREATIVE, CARING, HOPEFUL

I’m a teacher soon to retire, mother to two young adults. Well traveled but at heart a homebody addicted to writing. I love swimming in the ocean, intelligent conversation, people who make me laugh, cats and wild elephants. I work out four to five days a week, eat too much ice cream, live with Lancelot. I once rode an ostrich. I hope to fall in love again. Helen 66, seeking: M, l

FUN-LOVING, INDEPENDENT, HONEST, FUNNY, GREGARIOUS

Healthy, active, semiretired. I enjoy trying new things and seeing new places. Many interests: back roads of Vermont or New England, a foreign cruise. Lakeside with family and friends, food, and a bonfire; or festivals, farmers market, music. Quiet dinner, a movie or Scrabble. I’m game. The friendship of an equal who’s fun-loving, honest and independent. Winter breaks to warmer climates, as it’s not my favorite season. Am I missing something? MsPaisley, 71, seeking: M, l

OPEN-MINDED, UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE

Looking for a playmate to share adventures with. Someone who is positive and sees the glass as half full, or better yet, full. Someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking and, above all, laughter. And honesty is a must. Cynder 76 seeking: M, l

CREATIVE, DARK-HUMORED REALIST

I’m a fantastic storyteller, but it turns out describing myself here feels impossible (and a lot like torture). Meeting Vermont folks should be easy — I’m a creative looking to spend more time doing stuff outdoors with intelligent and kind people. So, here goes: getting outside my comfort zone to get closer to a life I’ve imagined for myself. GULP. itcantrainallthetime47, 47, seeking: M, l

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

I’ve lived a life outside the mainstream, guided by a belief in right-livelihood. Neurodivergent in the ADD kind of way; I am a curious, opinionated audiophile with a background as a librarian. I like to think I can laugh at myself (kindly) and look for the best in others. Looking for new friends: open to a potential long-term partnership. Kindred, 58, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

HAPPY, OPTIMISTIC, INTELLIGENT, CARING, ADVENTUROUS

I’m fun, healthy, outdoorsy. Love cooking, gardening, theater, wine, music, candles. Not perfect but happy with who I am. Enjoy good, honest conversation, others’ perspectives about life. Sensitive, compassionate, attractive, very young at heart. Optimist: value others with positive energy. Appreciate the simple things in life. Looking for quality time with someone to evolve together into long-term relationship. Vizcaya7 70 seeking: M, l

HIGH ENERGY, POSITIVE, NATURAL BLONDE

I live and play in Vermont and the D.C. metro area, splitting my time between the two when I am not chasing snow! I adore both the outdoorsy-ness of Vermont and have owned a home here for 15-plus years. Positivity and lightness run through me. Expect to laugh with me — and bring your energy. I am highly carbonated! braidsatanyage 53, seeking: M, l

FINDING JOY AND LOVE

Opening my life and heart to experiencing the joy and love that exists in between the spaces of this troubled world. Looking for a partner for traveling to amazing places, communing with the forest fairies and mycelium networks, and playing in the water. Young at heart, embraces the wonders of this life, has compassion for the difficulties facing our planet and its inhabitants. Halfpint, 72, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

FUN, HONEST, AND HARDWORKING

Semiretired arborist living in the Adirondacks looking to continue loving. Looking for an emotionally mature woman who is looking to be loved, respected, and is fun. Love to cook, listen to music, walk in the woods, garden, take road trips to New Orleans and out West, and volunteer time to help others. Healthy, active and always trying to learn more. Treedude 70, seeking: W, l

71 AND STILL ROCKING

Semiretired, widowed and would like to meet someone to walk, hike, bike, and see concerts and events with. The still rocking refers to my performing locally with several music groups, mainly classic and bluesy rock. But I enjoy pretty much all expressions of music, dance and art! Epiphone335 71, seeking: W, l

ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD/HAPPY

Independent, self-employed builder/ woodworker. I like history and museums, travel, games, cooking. I like to read, probably watch too much TV. I’m looking for a woman who is smart, works hard, looks nice, self-confident, has a sense of humor, happy, not too moody. Someone who knows the value and enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures, friends, family and good food. 2nd_ Gen_Irish_Italian 63 seeking: W, l LAID-BACK

I am a 67-year-old widower. I think that having a life without someone to share it with is no life. Looking for a woman who has old-time values. tdl1711 67 seeking: W, l

RENAISSANCE PERSON HOPELESSLY ROMANTIC

To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with my God. Clapham, 55, seeking: W, l

KIND, FUNNY (LOOKING), SENSITIVE

Age 54, happy, insightful, kind, good listener, well-read, open-hearted lover of animals and nature seeks intelligent and compassionate woman for laughs, good times, friendship, connection and maybe more. I live close to the land, love to garden, hike and camp, but also go out often to restaurants, plays and art. I enjoy all things human and beautiful. 2Baldman 54, seeking: W, l

CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND CONSIDERATE

Presently in an open marriage. Looking for women who like to be with a married man (who has permission). MrSteelandBrawn 64, seeking: W, l

HAPPY AND LIVELY

Happy, easygoing, like to be active and enjoy life! Hikes, cards, rides to get ice cream, bike rides to get a brew. Kayaking to see waterfowl and swim. Love gardening, repairing things and repurposing things. Like to travel locally but have been on a few long trips. Petela 66, seeking: W, l

ADVENTURE MIXED WITH CHILL

Have fun, hang out and refuse to stop learning! Let’s grow plants, connection and much more. I love snowboarding but am nervous around people who don’t blaze or people who ski, or who ride bicycles in tight outfits. But outdoorsy adventure sports and learning and teaching about soil. Passion for Pachamama, as well. Lots of good food combined with foraging. Snowmalpickles 36, seeking: W, l

LET TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

It’s hard to describe oneself. I’m told that I have a great sense of humor. I am well read, love to talk about history, politics and lots more. I like music: blues, rock, some classic — depends on the mood, I guess. I like swimming, kayaking, going for a ride to nowhere. In winter I like going on a walk on a bright sunny day. Vtman52 73, seeking: W, l

OPEN AND EXPLORING

Looking for someone open to exploring some femdom stuff. GreenMnt802 34, seeking: W

MYSTERY MAN

I enjoy everything that nature has provided us. I spend 95 percent of my days outdoors. Hiking, biking, kayaking and downhill/XC skiing. My ideal partner would share in some of these activities and share with me the activities that encompass their life. It’s so important to share and grow. MisteryMan 63, seeking: W, l

HONEST AND OPEN-MINDED

I’m a retired history teacher looking for a companion/partner to enjoy life with me. I’m in good health physically and mentally. Looking for honest, kind and intelligent woman for companionship exploring back roads and local history as well as finding the best cup of coffee, conversation and taking in local sports events. CW38 75, seeking: W, l

ADVENTURER

Former wanderer building an off-grid homestead in Newport. Spent my time between western Mass. and NEK. Looking for an outdoor lover, skinny dipper, cuddler, star gazer, camper, movie watcher for potential LTR. Grab coffee, go for a walk and chat? Homesteader86 39 seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

MUSICIAN/WRITER/DANCER SEEKS CONNECTION

I love writing, making music, dancing, being out in nature, understanding new things, stepping up, learning what other folks care about and trying to make a positive difference in the world. I’m an incorrigible optimist who predicts dire things, a gentle person with a steel core, an introverted social butterfly. Seeking creative, compassionate, joyful connection! Sylph 56, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l TRANS WOMAN LOOKING

Hello, trans woman in my 30s simply looking for hookups and friends with benefits. If you’re a woman or trans woman and interested, message me. TransRebecca, 32 seeking: W, TW, l RECENTLY RELOCATED, ADVENTUROUS, FREE SPIRIT

I’m a gorgeous, white, 100 percent passable trans lady who is 57 and could pass as 30 — yes, 30! I long for love, laughter and romance, along with loving nature. I want a man who’s all man, rugged, handsome, well built but prefers a woman like myself. It’s as simple as that. We meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. Sammijo 60, seeking: M, l

COUPLES seeking...

KNOTTEE COUPLE

Complicated couple looking for woman or couple for friends with benefits. We would like to boat and grab a beverage with like-minded couple or woman and see where it goes from there. knotteecpl, 66, seeking: W, Cp

LOOKING FOR FUN PEEPS

Fun, open-minded couple seeking playmates. Shoot us a note if interested so we can share details and desires. Jackrabbits, 61, seeking: W, Cp

EXPLORING THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES

We are older and wiser, discovered that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple for threesomes or foursomes. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Are you interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen, 69, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

LOWE’S

You were shopping for mini blinds or shades. Later, you were at the self-checkout at the same time I was. As we were walking out you kindly offered to help me carry a long bulky item to my car. I wish I had accepted your help so we could have talked a bit. If you see this, please respond. anks! When: Saturday, August 23, 2025. Where: Lowe’s in Essex. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916421

SHANNON AND DWEEB

My heart speaks your name in every moment. You are the softest light in my darkest hours, the calm in the chaos, the dream I never dared to wish for. Loving you feels like breathing — effortless, essential, inﬁnite. With you, even silence feels like music, and time slows just to let me stay in your arms a little longer. When: Sunday, September 29, 2024. Where: Cambridge. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916420

SHOPPING AT MICHAEL’S

To the lovely lady shopping at Michael’s today: You smiled at me when you saw me, and I thought you were beautiful. I wish I hadn’t been too shy to talk to you. When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Michael’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916418

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN WHITE

Beautiful blond woman in white dress, white shoes with a red scarf tied around her. You were walking in Middlebury and then sitting in the park. I smiled as I drove by in my work truck. Tried to come back just to tell you how beautiful and conﬁdent you looked, sitting there. You were gone. You are stunning! When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Middlebury. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916417

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

SILVER FOX, MAPLE STREET POOL

I noticed you noticing me, and I wanted to give you notice that I noticed you back. When: ursday, August 21, 2025. Where: Maple Street Pool with your son. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916419

DEDICATED RECYCLER FOR HELPFUL SHOPKEEP

I stopped by your store on the way back from a bike ride and asked a question about recycling. e lights kept going out. Was it a sign? A helpful poltergeist? Maybe you were just being friendly, but on the off chance you were interested, let me know where we met and we can keep the banter going over a coffee! When: Saturday, August 16, 2025. Where: while you were working at a store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916416

HONEST, FAITHFUL, LOYAL

No offense to anyone! How you live your life is your business, but I would love to know: Are there men out there who still believe in the oldfashioned ways? Loyalty, honesty, faithfulness, and dating women your own age because you feel secure in your age and you don’t need a young girl to feel like a man. When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: everywhere. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916413

TO THE RACE CAR DRIVER

To the man who helped me through a tough time: You made me laugh and actually had me believing that maybe not all guys are jerks. We talked for many months. en you just blew me off and I heard it was because you were dating someone. Why couldn’t you just be honest? I only asked you for your friendship. Dishonesty sucks! When: Friday, August 15, 2025. Where: under Road. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916412

My wife has been a fan of the TV show “ e Golden Girls” since we ﬁrst met. She used to watch it once or twice a day, but lately it’s always on: early in the morning when she’s having coffee, all day while she’s working at home, at night before bed. Basically 24-7. I like Betty White as much as the next guy, but I’m getting a little concerned. What gives?

PIZZA AND PLAY?

A couple who loves our weekly slice at Two Brothers Pizza, where service is nice! Hey, with your charming light, join us for some fun and a magical night? If you’re down for laughter and a little spice, let’s join up after you’re done with your slice? When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Where: Two Brothers Pizza. You: Woman. Me: Couple. #916414

RAVENS GIRL

I saw you at JP’s this past Saturday and we caught a glance. You smiled as you ate your French toast. You were wearing a Ravens Jersey with the number 52 on it. I was sitting close to you, also wearing a Ravens Jersey, and we shared a moment. Would love to catch a game with you sometime! When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: JP’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916411

FOCUSED CUTIE AT RESOURCE BURLINGTON

Looking back at the entrance and noticed you pausing to look over your shoulder my way. OK, we’re both looking to repurpose things, or just cheap. Me: tall, gray mesh hat, gray shirt, tan pants. You: blond, red-and-white-striped halter top. Wanted to ask what you were looking for. I’d like to know if you found it. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: ReSOURCE Burlington, Pine Street. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916410

BOULE CAFÉ: BIRD TATTOO GUY

You: bird tattoo (swallow?), Birkenstocks, red Honda, super cute. Me: ﬂustered laptop goblin at Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury, too shy to say hello when you sat nearby. I kept stealing glances, wondering if you were doing the same. Felt like something there — or maybe just caffeine. Either way, if you see this: would love to meet you. When: ursday, August 14, 2025. Where: Boule Bakery in St. Johnsbury. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916409

SNOW FARM VINEYARDS STUD MUFFIN

You were in back of me in line at Snow Farm Vineyards when my kiddo smacked my ass. You: male, blue shirt, blue hat, sunglasses, facial hair. Me: blond hair, white shirt, jeans. Saw you while I was dancing. You were under the white tent. Single? Going to A House On Fire on August 14? Will look for you! When: ursday, August 7, 2025. Where: Snow Farm Vinyards Wine Down. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916407

De Stanley Z,

MEMORIES OF KIND MOTORISTS

In 2020 or 2021 my nervous system had been completely destroyed by complex trauma. I was sitting on the side of the road by Community Bank in Jericho, and a kind man pulled over. He really wanted to help me and I wanted to let him, but I trusted no one. Other motorists also pulled over. ank you all! I’m safe now. When: Friday, June 5, 2020. Where: Community Bank in Jericho (can’t recall the exact date). You: Group. Me: Woman. #916408

YOU MADE MY DAY!

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine.” Of all the grocery stores, you walked into mine! I gleamed your boyish grin, twinkling eyes and that familiar goatee standing behind me. Time froze. I embraced you in that serendipitous moment. I’ll never forget it! What a day! “As Time Goes By.” When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Hannaford Shelburne Rd., South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916406

HEATED

An attitude stemming from abusers within the age range: for some, “just giving a compliment” is the toxic masculinity that perpetuates the deaccession of mankind. Maybe if you complimented women your own age, they wouldn’t be siphoning the life energy of women younger and/or sexualizing themselves. When: Monday, August 4, 2025. Where: everywhere not listening. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916405

BJORN

We were supposed to be best friends and ﬁnish watching e Hobbit together. You wanted to domesticate a dinosaur. Have you changed the world yet, with your brilliant mind and chalkboard calculations? Remember the great condiment exchange? Have you danced naked in your house yet? How are your plants and ﬁsh doing? Miss having you around. — Bro When: Sunday, August 3, 2025. Where: a few years ago. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916404

YOU TOOK A DOUBLE TAKE!

Oakledge Park, around 5:30. Our eyes touched. You were with someone, and I was pushing a stroller up the ramp with my awesome beard. You took a double take. I am available, and you? When: Saturday, August 2, 2025. Where: Oakledge Park. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916403

I’M STILL WAITING

You’ve asked me to keep the door open, / To just be chill and wait and see. / But I don’t know what I’m waiting for. / For you to ﬁnally see? / To see what we had was that thing people chase their whole lives? / Or for you to get lost in someone else’s eyes? / Why wait, when we have such little time? When: ursday, October 13, 2022. Where: Cambridge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916402

IDX SECURITY MAN

You opened the door for me to let me in for my IT appointment. You: extraordinarily polite and even more handsome. Me: blond, tattoos, probably seemed extremely stressed. I just have to try to connect with you, though probably not brave enough to talk to you. Are you single? Am I crazy, thinking this could work? When: Friday, August 1, 2025. Where: South Burlington. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916401

SHANNON AND DWEEB

I met you and Dweeb. You walked into my life; please walk home. We miss you, T, so much. Forever barefoot. You don’t have to call 911, you can look me up. 33&3, Daddy D When: Friday, July 11, 2025. Where: Cambridge, Vt. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916400

OSCAR WILDE

Last August you were coming down Worcester Mountain wearing earphones. We talked about Oscar Wilde and the names Mary and Joseph. I didn’t have the nerve to ask if you were single. If you are and want to get in touch, I’d love to meet you somewhere! When: Friday, August 30, 2024. Where: Worcester Mountain. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916399

T-ROAD

You stumbled out of the pit tower. I couldn’t help blurt out, “Drink much?” You laughed, not in 25 years. Your smile melted me. I’m sure you’re taken, but it’s worth a shot. Let’s make some laps together. When: ursday, July 24, 2025. Where: Barre. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916398

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Picture it: Vermont, 2020. When the pandemic hit and I was stuck in my house during quarantine, I was glued to the news, and it made me a little freaked out. So I turned it off and found myself watching “ e Mary Tyler Moore Show.” All 168 episodes. Twice. Maybe even three times. Why? Because I watched it when I was a kid in the ’70s — usually sitting on my parents’ bed with my big sister, eating canned pears — and it brought me back to the comfort and safety of that time.

People rewatch old TV shows and movies because they feel familiar and safe. e characters are like old friends, and you know how the stories end. More importantly, you know how those stories will make you feel. Watching a favorite comedy that

always cracks you up is an easy way to beat the blues. Sometimes even hearing the alreadymemorized dialogue as background noise can do the trick.

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is a bit of a shit show at the moment. Your wife likely ﬁnds “ e Golden Girls” to be a port in the storm. It’s nostalgic, but it stands the test of time because it’s hilarious and heartwarming. If you want to suggest changing the channel, ﬁnd a way to do it without yucking your wife’s yum.

Am a good girl, looking for love. When: Monday, July 28, 2025. Where: friend. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916397 too.

A better idea: Bring home a cheesecake and join your wife for an episode or three. Who knows? Maybe spending some time with four ’80s ladies in Miami will brighten your day, too. Good luck and God bless,

What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

Warning: is offer is not available online. All-natural male sex athlete seeking female training partner. Exclusivity possible. Ready to work out? #L1883

I’m a 19-y/o male college student seeking a kind, curious, adventurous woman around my age. I enjoy meditating, being outside and long conversations. Looking for someone I can value and appreciate who can help me to value and appreciate life. #L1881

I am looking for an 81-y/o woman. #L1884

I’m a 43-y/o male seeking a woman, 30 to 50. Adventure seeker building an off-grid cabin in Newport. I’m 5’8”, redheaded, ﬁt, living between western Mass. and Vt. I like to cook, bathe, hike, camp and travel. Seeking ﬁt, fun-loving, cuddly companion for potential future together. #L1880

I’m a SWM, 60s, 5’7”, 165 lbs. seeking slim males who enjoy a nice, long, slow, relaxing blow job or a regular one, if desired. NSA, just pleasure. #L1882

I’m a 44-y/o bi male seeking a male, female or bi couple for casual sex. I am clean, easygoing and anything goes. No judgment here. Let’s talk. Call/text. #L1877

HOW TO REPLY TO THESE LOVE LE ERS:

Seal your reply — including your preferred contact info — inside an envelope. Write your pen pal’s box number on the outside of that envelope and place it inside another envelope with payment. Responses for Love Letters must begin with the #L box number.

MAIL TO: Seven Days Love Letters PO Box 1164, Burlington, VT 05402

PAYMENT: $5/response. Include cash or check (made out to “Seven Days”) in the outer envelope. To send unlimited replies for only $15/month, call us at 802-865-1020, ext. 161 for a membership (credit accepted).

PUBLISH YOUR MESSAGE ON THIS PAGE!

1 Submit your FREE message at sevendaysvt.com/loveletters or use the handy form at right.

We’ll publish as many messages as we can in the Love Letters section above. 2

Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

I’m a 74-y/o male. It’s been a long, long time without feeling a woman’s touch. I miss sex. I would love to meet a single, divorced or widowed woman in her 70s or 80s. Did I mention I miss sex? Phone number, please. #L1879

I have the dreams; you have the sugar. Let us maybe travel a bit and figure out what this country needs. F, 24, seeking someone intellectual, active and financially afloat. #L1878

I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend. Gregarious and fun-loving. Laughter and a sense of humor are the cornerstones of my life. As Jimmy Buffet says, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane!” #L1875

Divorced white female, 66 y/o. Looking for a single male, 45 to 60, who is tall, not big. Who is loving, caring and fun to be with. I like being outdoors. I am disabled and use a wheelchair. I am loving, caring and honest and don’t play games. Like animals, and I am easy to get along with. I live in Winooski. Hope to hear from someone soon. #L1876

Bist du mein B.G.G. (Big Gentle German)? 40, ehrlich, kreativ und naturluver. Suche liebevollen, bewussten DEU Mann für zweisprachiges Leben zwischen VT und DEU. Ich bin liebevoll, gesund und bereit. Du und Ich: Lass uns die Welt mit unserer Liebe verändern. #L1873

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. DETAILS BELOW.

I’m a SWF, 71 y/o, seeking a man 60 to 70 y/o. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, please. Best to call after 6 p.m. Would like to meet in person. #L1874

I’m a 72-y/o Eastern European woman with a young lifestyle. Seeking a man, age not important. I am a writer, and I like studying foreign languages. I would like to meet a man from Germany, France or Spain/South America to practice language skills. I am not expecting romance; friendship would be sufﬁcient. #L1872

Single M, 60, youthful blond, blue-eyed appearance, wanting mutual attraction with F, 45 to 60, for connection/intimacy. Dinners, talks, walks, nature, TV, entertainment, day trips, overnights, spontaneity, hobbies, more. Ideally seeking BDSM kinky playmate, openminded, curious to explore kinky side and fantasies.

#L1870

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

Spunky couple, 70s, adventurous, love travel, camping, and anything on or near the water. We also enjoy the great array of music in Vermont. We’ve enjoyed some M and F singles and couples involving sensual, relaxed experiences. Interested? Let’s chat. #L1871

52-y/o male seeking a female, 40 to 50, who is lively, intellectually curious, passionate and an adventurous soul. ings I like: hiking, exploring new places, cycling, personal growth and cooking memorable meals. #L1869

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking companionship and romance. I am a widow of ﬁve years. I have one son (married). Love ﬁshing and travel. I’m good at cooking, knitting and sewing. #L1867

I’m a 68-y/o slender woman seeking a 62- to 73-y/o male. I’m a homeowner in a rural setting wanting companionship and a romantic partner to share my life and home. I work part time and enjoy many outdoor activities. #L1865

Required conﬁdential info:

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ADDRESS

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ZIP

PHONE

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.

If your family earns $100,000 a year or less, 802 Opportunity can cover your tuition at CCV — no strings attached. That means you can focus on your future, not how to pay for it.