Seven Days, January 21, 2026

LINE DIVIDING

Two years after apprehensions on Vermont’s northern border reached historic highs, fewer people are making the perilous trek. But not all is quiet. BY

LUCY TOMPKINS,

PAGE 24

JANUARY 20-APRIL 19

DAMIAN STAMER ANGELS & GHOSTS

WEEK IN REVIEW JANUARY 14-21, 2026

ROLLING THE DICE

$7.9 million

That’s what a buyer paid for a Morristown estate — the most expensive home sale in Vermont last year.

Michael Boutin at a school board meeting in Barre in May 2025

Point of Contention

e chair of the Barre Unified Union School District board is being criticized for agreeing to participate in a local Turning Point USA event by residents who consider the group too partisan.

Michael Boutin, who also represents Barre City as a Republican member of the Vermont House, was listed as a speaker at a Turning Point event that had been scheduled recently at the Canadian Club in Barre. ree community members objected to that during a school board meeting.

Since the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in September, the group’s high school chapters nationwide have doubled in number, to more than 3,000, and the role of the conservative group in secondary schools has sparked charged debates. Turning Point USA has no official high school chapters, known as Club America groups, in Vermont.

Although the Turning Point Vermont event in Barre was postponed, opponents said Boutin’s support for the organization raised questions about whether embracing its political ideology is compatible with leading a public school system.

Cassidy Lang, a Barre City resident, cited Turning Point’s conservative education initiatives and its stated mission

to “restore God as the foundation of education” when she addressed the school board. She added that the group’s School Board Watchlist, which tracks school policies and decisions that the group deems radical, was especially troubling.

“I believe that we should be building a community of compassion, empathy and inclusion that nurtures differences in support of learning,” Lang said. “For that reason, I am thoroughly disappointed that the chair of our school board is involved with such an organization.”

Boutin, one of two rookie lawmakers profiled in a Seven Days cover story last year, didn’t address the issue during the school board meeting. He later told Seven Days that the speakers’ objections did not change his plans to participate nor his stance on any issues and pointed out that a fellow board member, Emily Wheeler Reynolds, participated in Emerge Vermont trainings for Democratic women who seek office.

“ e thing that I have to do when I’m sitting in the position as a board chair is to be fair and not be biased, to do what I feel is right for those that have elected me to do a job,” he said. “And I’m pretty confident that I do that.”

Read Hannah Bassett’s full story at sevendaysvt.com.

The Scott administration has proposed allowing people to play lottery games such as Powerball on their phones. Worth the gamble?

TAKING OFF

Leahy Burlington International Airport announced new nonstop flights to Houston on United Airlines. Pack your bags.

SODA POP STAR

Culture Pop Soda has collaborated on a sparkling black cherry flavor with Vermont native Noah Kahan. The company also donated to the singer’s mental health org.

SHOOT TO KILL

Vermont hunters took more than 17,700 deer in 2025, about on par with the threeyear average. That amounts to 3.5 million servings of venison, o cials said.

TOPFIVE

1. “How Beta Technologies Feeds 650 Staffers Every Workday” by Melissa Pasanen. e kitchen team at the electric aviation company customizes the free daily lunch to meet employee dietary needs.

2. “Barre Residents Criticize School Board Chair’s Turning Point Ties” by Hannah Bassett. See story on this page.

3. “Vermont Lawmaker Proposes Establishing a UFO Panel” by Kevin McCallum. Rep. Troy Headrick said a lobbyist asked him to introduce the out-of-this-world bill.

4. “A South Burlington Clinic Offers Free Health Care” by Alison Novak. Every Saturday, people can see a primary care doctor as well as specialists at a clinic in the state’s sole mosque.

5. “ e Roots of Trey Anastasio’s Divided Sky Recovery Program” by Chris Farnsworth. Program director Melanie Gulde reflects on launching the Ludlow recovery retreat with the Phish guitarist.

TOWNCRIER

LOCALLY SOURCED NEWS

Beta Buys Nearby Properties

Fresh off its public offering, electric aviation company Beta Technologies has purchased three properties near its South Burlington headquarters for about $10 million, the Other Paper reported. Two are commercial properties on Williston Road that encompass about nine acres, while the third is a four-bedroom home on Shunpike Road.

Read more at vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt.

THEY STOPPED MAKING CENTS

e U.S. Mint is no longer making the least-valuable American coin, and Vermont’s financial institutions are already feeling the pinch.

“Pennies will be distributed very sparingly, and unfortunately, we cannot guarantee exact amounts that will be available for your requests,” Vermont Federal Credit Union told its customers in an email earlier this month.

the country about $56 million a year. e bad: Monetary transactions are still calculated down to every last penny, and the coins in circulation are getting scarcer.

Northfield Savings Bank has about $6,000 in pennies on hand, according to president and CEO Joseph Bator. at might sound like a lot, but, for the largest bank headquartered in Vermont, it’s not, he said on Monday. e bank needs coins not only for customers conducting business in person but also for its retail clients who request the coins in bulk for cash transactions with their own customers.

e biggest complaints, Bator said, have been from coin collectors who used to request rolls of pennies — say, $50 worth — and take them apart looking for prized coins: steel pennies produced during World War II, old wheat pennies and certain rare — and therefore, valuable — one-cent pieces.

Some retailers, meanwhile, have begun rounding transactions to the nearest nickel. Public information campaigns could be needed, Bator said. Without that, consumers could feel that somebody is taking something from them. In reality, rounding up or down will, over time, work out just like a toss of the coin.

e decision came down to dollars and cents: Minting a single penny cost roughly 3.7 cents. e good news: at should save

Northfield can ensure its customers get every penny they’re due, Bator said. If somebody cashes a check that includes two cents, for instance, they can deposit it, withdraw the dollars and leave $0.02 in the account.

“I’m a math guy,” he said. “I know it will round out at the end.”

WALK THE LINE.

Paula Routly

Cathy Resmer

Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

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Sasha Goldstein

Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

Chelsea Edgar, Margot Harrison, Pamela Polston

Jen Rose Smith

Alice Dodge

Chris Farnsworth

Rebecca Driscoll

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

Alice Dodge, Angela Simpson

Martie Majoros, Elizabeth M. Seyler

DIGITAL & VIDEO

Eva Sollberger

Je Baron DESIGN

Don Eggert

Rev. Diane Sullivan

John James

Je Baron

MARKETING

Colby Roberts

Robyn Birgisson

Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka, Kaitlin Montgomery

Maguire

Marcy Stabile

Gillian English

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

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BAD WORDS?

It’s tempting to agree with letter writer Nick McDougal and his denunciation of Seven Days’ use of the word “fuck” in its columns [Feedback: “Oh, F*ck,” January 7]. But I’m going to resist that temptation, even though part of me thinks that some words should be saved for special occasions.

It’s the same with “sucks,” whose strong negative connotations prompt me to ask, why disparage something all day that you might want to happen in the evening?

It appears that “fuck” will soon match “damn” in ubiquity, and frankly, my dear, I don’t give either one.

The New Yorker was an early entrant to spelling it out. Several years ago, it quoted the now late actor Charles Grodin as asking, “Who do you have to fuck to get o this tour?”

I posted a tweet saying this was “gratuitous bad language. He should have said ‘whom.’”

Dave Gram

MONTPELIER

‘BEST PHYSICIAN’ EVER

I am not at all surprised that Dr. Waqar Waheed is involved with this remarkable project [“Medicine With a Mission: Health Care Is Free and Accessible at a New South Burlington Clinic,” January 14]. As one of his patients, I have direct experience with his incredible warmth and compassion. He is, without a doubt, the best physician I have ever experienced. His thoroughness and knowledge, combined with his deep humanity, make him a true gift to our community.

Trudy Richmond RICHMOND

REP IS MISGUIDED

Vermont faces an affordability crisis and recently ranked last in economic momentum, but fear not, constituents: Rep. Troy Headrick is proposing a UFO panel [“Vermont Lawmaker Proposes Establishing a UFO Panel,” January 13, online]! What a fantastic way to use public funds and resources instead of the housing crisis, lower taxes, better employment opportunities or crumbling infrastructure.

Unless this is Seven Days ’ way of pointing out just how laughable our

representation has become, please don’t pander to such idiocy. Rep. Headrick is cutting the grass while the house burns down, and the people of Burlington deserve better than someone looking to play “X-Files.”

Justin

Holden BURLINGTON

A MATTER OF BALANCE

Colin Flanders’ article about the governor’s nomination of two prosecutors to the Vermont Supreme Court was excellent [“Scott Appoints Veteran Prosecutors to Vermont Supreme Court,” January 5, online]. It might be noted that traditionally nominees have often been defense attorneys for balance. The theory is that ideally some justices have a demonstrated sense of mercy and human rights. In a perfect world, do we want the Vermont Supreme Court to be entirely composed of judges whose motto is, “We always get our man”? Do we want them growling at plainti s, “Just the facts, ma’am”?

I served on a jury in Chittenden County under a judge who was a former defense attorney, and he demonstrated compassion for both defendants and victims of crime. He wasn’t seeking to nail a trophy to the wall.

Andrew Day SHELBURNE

WOE IS BURLINGTON

Burlington is demanding help from the state to clean up its mess [“To the Rescue? Gov. Phil Scott’s Public Safety Proposals for Burlington Have Potential to Help, City O cials Say,” October 29]. What has gone wrong? Too many bad decisions by local government and from the far left. I see too many new people just trying to prove that Vermont is di erent and far ahead of everyone else. This is not the Vermont way.

I remember when Burlington jumped on the bandwagon with a knee-jerk reaction to George Floyd’s death and got rid of half its police force. I have read that Burlington is proposing a place where drug addicts can shoot up safely. Are you mad? We need to help these people get o drugs, not perpetuate the problem! The drug increase was inevitable once Amtrak opened the track from Rutland to Burlington.

You claim that out-of-towners don’t come to Church Street anymore because of the construction. No, it’s because of the plethora of homeless people who have flooded the state from out of state and the continual drug problems, which are not unusual in any city now. I have friends

who will no longer go downtown. We all want to support local businesses, but not at the expense of our own safety.

I am more than happy to help my fellow Vermonters. But at the risk of sounding totally unempathetic, I’m not interested nor able to support all the people who have moved here for the seemingly open social services. People should have to prove that they have been living here for a set period of time and not expect to be housed and fed at others’ expense.

Cities have their ups and downs, but it’s a true pity that Burlington has sunk so low. I miss it.

Carolyn Van Vleck BRANDON

LEGISLATURE SHOULD PRIORITIZE HEALTH CARE

[Re “Working Capitol: In a Tight Budget Year, State Lawmakers Plan to Tackle Education Reform and Health Care Costs,” January 7]: Vermont’s health care premiums are now the highest in the country — nearly $16,000 a year for a basic silver plan. That’s not just bad

CORRECTION

Last week’s story headlined “Manage Your Care” failed to note that Alex John founded Vermont Diagnostic Imaging with several local partners. They are Susan Ridzon, Dr. Anthony Conti, Dr. Cory Halliburton and Dr. David Weissgold.

policy. It’s a barrier to staying, living and thriving here.

The Public Assets Institute’s State of Working Vermont 2025 report lays it out clearly. If we want to build an abundant future — one that welcomes 200,000 new working-age residents — we need to stop pricing people out of care.

Reference-based pricing is a proven way to rein in costs. It pegs payments to fair benchmarks like Medicare instead of letting hospitals and insurers set prices in a black box.

But Vermont’s reforms are crawling. Why? Because we haven’t made it a priority.

It’s time for legislators to step up. Fund the transition for full statewide implementation by 2027. Make affordability a core value, not a buzzword.

People vote with their feet. If we want them to choose Vermont, we need to choose them first.

Gabriel Lajeunesse MONTPELIER

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MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK BY REBECCA DRISCOLL

SUNDAY 25

BOW TIES

e Classical Series to South Church Hall in St. Johnsbury for a spiritraising performance by the Artists on Tour

Northeast Kingdom calls listeners

Young Concert

Consummate string musicians (remember their names, folks — these players are going places) show off their skills with potent works by José Elizondo, Ernst von Dohnányi and Franz Schubert.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 54

OPENS THURSDAY 22

Heartbreak Motel

SATURDAY 24

Crunch Captains

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard’s haunting family drama Fool for Love is the kind of show that digs deep and sticks with you long after the curtain drops. Shaker Bridge eatre brings the indelible production to Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, where love, identity and myths of the American West intersect in a seedy motel room at the edge of the world.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 51

FRIDAY 23

Up to Snow Good

What’s better than a snow day? A snow night! Burlington City Arts keeps festivities rolling on the Church Street Marketplace with Downtown Lights: Snow Ball. A celebration of winter awaits hot cocoafueled revelers, with breathtaking light projections, listening sets by DJ Amelia Devoid, and Snow Miserapproved activities such as mini snowman building and snowball-throwing competitions.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 52

SATURDAY 24

Jammy Center

Grammy-winning bluegrass outfit the Infamous Stringdusters amp up their swagger at this year’s Founders Cup Benefit Concert at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe. Sonic exploration meets acoustic tradition at a transcendent performance blurring the boundaries of jam band, Americana, country and folk — all wrapped up in rock-star attitude.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 54

TUESDAY 27

What a Farce

Middlebury’s Town Hall eater pokes through the artistic veil with its new Loop Series, a curated lineup of immersive experiences that foster a deeper understanding of the art-making process, as it unfolds in real time. In “ e Elements of Folly,” director Craig Maravich and a cast of local actors lead curious minds — literally, through the building — into the rollicking world of slapstick stage humor.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 57

e postholiday humdrum is real, y’all. Time to shake it off at Next Stage Arts’ Cereal & K-Pop: Cabin Fever Cure! in Putney, where all ages reboot at a boredom-busting morning of food and fun. Crunchy options bowl over eaters at the build-your-own cereal bar, followed by bouts of classic board and card games and a sugared-up sing-along viewing of a pop-powered supernatural action flick.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 56

ONGOING

Color Me Captivated

AVA Gallery and Art Center’s “all the colors humans have not yet named” exhibit in Lebanon, N.H., casts off January grayscale with highly saturated works spanning styles, subjects and mediums. A stroll through the vibrant showcase of flamboyant, hue-hyped works could prove as effective as happy pills in lifting the weight of winter. Art: It’s what the doctor ordered.

SEE GALLERY LISTING AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/ART

If we can get food and agriculture right in Vermont, we can get a lot right!

Join us at the 44th annual NOFA-VT Winter Conference to sow the seeds for a more just, sustainable food system and connect with other farmers, gardeners, students, educators, land stewards, and community organizers.

Eyes on the Border

When Lucy Tompkins signed on to be our immigration reporter in 2025, I offered a prediction in this column that sadly has come true: “This will be one of the most active and crucial beats we chase this year.”

Two weeks after she started in July, Lucy broke the story of the detention of Winooski schools superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, a U.S. citizen returning home to Vermont from his native Nicaragua.

In the six months since, she has covered the escalation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, detentions and surveillance; local reactions to them, including the establishment of a legal defense fund; and religious services for migrant farmworkers. In August, Lucy nearly got arrested herself while reporting at the Haskell Free Library & Opera House in Derby Line, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border.

I WANTED TO KNOW HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED ALONG THE BORDER.

Ellingwood, who once covered the southwest border for the Los Angeles Times and wrote a book about it, coached her along the way.

“I wanted the story to feel balanced in how it focused on all of the players who are part of the system and affected by it,” Lucy said. “That’s always the pressure you feel as a reporter to get right.”

LUCY TOMPKINS

All the while, she has been taking stock of that political boundary that shapes northern Vermont — literally and figuratively. Once a friendly divide between good neighbors, now it’s a visible symbol of difference between two countries that have become more adversarial since President Donald Trump won a second term. His immigration crackdown, coupled with our proximity to Canada, has pushed Vermont — and Vermonters — onto the front line.

A year into Trump’s rule, “I wanted to know how things have changed along the border” since the administration of former president Joe Biden, Lucy told her editors.

Since fall she’s been “gathering string” — reporter lingo for the process of collecting scenes and encounters — for this week’s cover story. In the course of reporting “Dividing Line,” Lucy rode along with a Border Patrol officer from the Richford station, heard immigration cases at the federal courthouse in Burlington, talked with people who have been detained and deported. It helps that she speaks fluent Spanish.

Lucy also knocked on the door of Sheila Hardy, who lives on Ayers Hill Road northwest of Richford, a current hot spot for illegal border crossings. The presence of law enforcement makes Hardy feel safer, she told Seven Days, but also, on occasion, surveilled. “Before, they’d go by once or twice a day,” Hardy said of federal agents. “Now it’s many times. We see them shining lights, checking cameras.” She added: “If you go berry picking and set off a sensor, they’ll be here.”

Lucy’s piece is observational and insightful — a classic “show, don’t tell” approach to storytelling. At the same time, it’s informed by all of her prior reporting — one of the many benefits of a defined beat. Consulting editor Ken

Seven Days found Lucy through Report for America, a national service program that places aspiring journalists in newsrooms across the country. RFA facilitates the matchmaking and, in the first year of a possible three-year stint, pays half the corps member’s salary. The balance comes from generous Seven Days Super Readers who finance Lucy’s important reporting.

Before she joined our news team, Lucy had a reporting fellowship at the New York Times and the Texas Tribune. Earlier in her career she wrote for the daily Missoulian in Montana, her home state, which also shares a border with Canada that is “so remote, it gets no attention,” Lucy said.

My guess is she’ll never see it the same way again.

Paula Routly

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Pursuit and Justice

A Rutland Police internal affairs report could complicate a criminal case stemming from the crash that killed a department recruit BY

Revelations about alleged mistakes by Rutland City police o cers have threatened to complicate the murder case against a man who hit and killed a 19-year-old trainee during a high-speed chase.

Tate Rheaume, 22, remains jailed as he awaits a trial related to the crash that killed Jessica Ebbighausen in 2023. His charges include aggravated murder, which carries the most severe punishment allowed under Vermont law: life imprisonment without a chance of parole.

Prosecutors say the charge is justified. But Rheaume’s attorney, David Sleigh, said his client deserves leniency in light of a recently disclosed internal a airs review. It concluded that Ebbinghausen’s death resulted from a reckless and unjustified police pursuit.

COLIN FLANDERS • colin@sevendaysvt.com

considered when weighing Rheaume’s culpability, Sleigh said in an interview.

That report was kept under wraps for months by the city’s police chief, Brian Kilcullen, despite repeated requests for it from the Rutland County state’s attorney. It only came to light through a subpoena from Sleigh this fall. Prosecutors have since issued a “Brady letter” against Kilcullen. That’s a mechanism used to fl ag police o cers alleged to have credibility issues. The chief, meanwhile, has announced that he intends to retire in March.

The developments have called into question the credibility of the entire Rutland City Police Department and must be

The aggravated murder charge “is clearly an attempt to vindicate or somehow address the emotional impact the community has felt as a result of this young o cer dying in what turns out to be a completely misguided, reckless departure from well-known policies and procedures,” Sleigh said.

People summoned police several times on July 7, 2023 because of Rheaume’s conduct at homes connected to the mother of his children. Witnesses reported during the first two calls that Rheaume had stopped taking his medication and seemed psychotic. He left the scene both times without incident.

A third caller reported Rheaume had broken into an apartment. Rutland City police o cer Jared Dumas arrived and ordered Rheaume outside, then called the mother of Rheaume’s children and asked whether she wanted to pursue charges.

That’s when Rheaume ran to his truck and drove away. Dumas pursued, while Ebbighausen and her supervisor, Richard Caravaggio, left the station and traveled toward the pursuit from the opposite direction.

EDUCATION

Feds Probe District Over Trans Athlete Policy

BY ALISON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com

e U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Champlain Valley School District for its policy of allowing transgender students to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

e probe, announced on January 14, is one of 18 nationwide that the department’s Office for Civil Rights has launched into school districts, departments of education, and colleges and universities for violations of Title IX, a federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. A complaint about its policy prompted the investigation into Champlain Valley, Vermont’s largest school district, according to a press release.

In an interview on January 14, Champlain Valley superintendent Adam Bunting said he received an email from the U.S. Department of Education that afternoon. e email identified the school district — which serves around 4,000 students in Williston, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg and St. George — as “following a Vermont state policy that permits students to participate in sports and to access restrooms and locker rooms in accordance with a student’s gender identity.”

Denying transgender students “equal opportunities to participate in all aspects of school life on the basis of their gender identity” violates Vermont’s Public Accommodations Act, the Vermont Human Rights Commission said last year. e state’s Agency of Education has also issued guidance that “generally, students should be permitted to participate in physical education and sports in accordance with the student’s gender identity.”

After President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning transgender students from competing in girls’ sports last February, Vermont officials asserted that they would uphold the protections for LGBTQ students enshrined in state law.

Bunting said he didn’t have any details about the investigation, nor did he know why his district was the only one in Vermont that was targeted. He said his top priority was making sure all students in his district feel supported.

“No investigation is going to stop us from taking care of our kids,” he said. ➆

Public Accommodations?

Amid a housing crisis, Vermont explores making state property available for home building

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

As Vermont leaders struggle to ease the state’s stubborn housing crisis, they have turned to a new strategy for speeding construction of new homes: making public land available to developers.

State agencies have identified about 140 properties that could be considered for sale or lease as housing sites, including a former prison, a Job Corps center and a dog park.

The list of underused and vacant state properties was compiled in response to an executive order by Gov. Phil Scott. The inventory is not yet complete, and no decisions have been made. But state housing leaders hope the list will lay the groundwork for adding a significant number of new homes in coming years.

Vermont municipalities are considering a similar strategy. Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak released a plan last week that proposes using parks, parking lots and underutilized public parcels for housing.

Federal efforts to make millions of acres of public land available for housing faced bipartisan backlash last summer, with conservation groups rallying opposition to what they viewed as a cynical effort to sell off prized public assets to the highest bidder. But Vermont’s need for new homes is so acute — and current

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strategies have accomplished so little — that political leaders are open to fresh ideas.

The state says it is not on pace to create 30,000 units of housing by 2030, the number needed if Vermont is to solve the acute shortage that has hampered economic growth, contributed to a shortage of workers and contributed to the affordability crisis.

On September 17, Scott instructed state agencies to conduct an inventory of all “underutilized properties suitable for multi-family housing development, housing infill, mobile home park and shelter construction and rehabilitation.” Scott also called for an “expedited disposal process” that gives preference to “homebuilders and housing developers in sale decisions” and allows the land to be sold or leased at below market value.

The inventory was part of a broader executive order on housing and provoked relatively little comment at the time. Other elements of the order proved controversial, including a directive to roll back energy standards for new homes and to loosen environmental protections for wetlands.

Behind the scenes, administration officials have been considering which

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Proposed Vermont Budget Could Lead to a 6 Percent Tax Hike

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Gov. Phil Scott unveiled a $9.4 million budget on Tuesday that would allocate $105 million to lower an anticipated tax hike — a record amount that may still not be enough to prevent an average 6 percent increase.

Wrestling the property tax increase down further would require significant additional work by school boards, district administrators and lawmakers, he said during his address to the legislature.

“I know many districts are doing their best, but we need everyone pulling in the same direction to lower the tax burden on Vermonters this year,” Scott said.

He stressed that he supports the taxreduction plan only if school districts keep a lid on their budgets and lawmakers continue the education reform efforts that started last year under Act 73.

“We cannot continue to prop up a failing system at the expense of other priorities, and we cannot ask Vermonters to continue to pay more while providing less and less for our kids,” Scott said.

Scott also laid out priorities for a range of other issues, including housing, energy, health care and crime.

Legislative leaders gave his message mixed reviews. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-ChittendenCentral) said he was pleased that the governor supports his idea for capping future school spending.

“I think that bodes very well for getting some version of those caps through the Senate and to his desk,” Baruth said.

House leaders were less sanguine.

“We’re looking for long-term solutions here, not Band-Aids,” Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) said.

Rep. Kate Logan (P/D-Burlington), leader of the House Progressive caucus, said she didn’t appreciate the governor’s previous vow not to sign a budget unless lawmakers advance the education reform started last year with Act 73.

“He’s holding us hostage to do his

bidding on education,” said Logan, who questions whether the consolidation called for will save money.

e proposed budget is $300 million, or 3 percent, over the current one. at’s due largely to rising costs of salaries, pensions and health care benefits.

Scott also noted that transportation dollars are anticipated to drop $9 million, because of lower gas-tax revenues. is is happening as costs of clearing roads — sand, salt and overtime for plow drivers — are on the rise due to the snowy winter.

To support the fund, Scott is proposing to move $10 million in sales tax revenue from the education fund to transportation.

Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, didn’t like the sound of that.

“We’re going to be paving the roads on the backs of our property tax payers,” she said.

On the housing front, Scott is again proposing to spend $4 million on the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, which he says has added more than 1,000 rental units over the past five years. e program is more cost-effective than building new units, he said, and he wants to make it part of the permanent budget. He also wants to spend $800,000 to help repair mobile homes.

e governor is also proposing to end the pandemic-era motel program for the homeless, which he has long criticized as warehousing people instead of getting them help. He’s proposing to shift funds into more treatment options and to accelerate the construction of new housing, which would help not only homeless people but all Vermonters affected by the housing crisis.

“If we want the next generation of Vermonters to afford to live here, we’ve got to treat housing like the crisis it is and make real change this session,” he said. ➆

Alison Novak contributed reporting.

Pursuit and Justice

Rheaume was still fleeing Dumas two minutes later when he crossed the center line in an attempt to pass tra c. He hit Ebbighausen’s cruiser nearly head-on. She was thrown from the car and killed; Caravaggio sustained serious injuries but later recovered and returned to work.

State prosecutors initially charged Rheaume with felony negligent operation and attempt to elude, both with death resulting, and he was released on bail.

But in April 2024, Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan filed the new, enhanced charge of aggravated murder and convinced a judge to hold Rheaume without bail pending trial.

In court filings, the prosecutor noted that a reconstruction of the crash appears to show that Rheaume neither slowed down nor attempted to avoid Ebbighausen’s cruiser before the collision.

Prosecutors typically reserve aggravated murder for the most severe acts of violence. Only four people have been convicted of the charge over the past 20 years, according to data from the state court system.

Two were men who sexually assaulted and murdered young women, while the other two both committed double homicides. Other aggravated murder cases are pending against a man accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 82-year-old neighbor and another defendant who stands accused of fatally shooting his father, stepmother and 13-year-old stepbrother.

Second-degree murder carries a potential life sentence, but defendants can introduce evidence that mitigates their responsibility in a bid for less time. A jury might consider, for instance, whether a defendant had a mental health issue that a ected their decision-making.

Judges have no such discretion in aggravated murder cases. A conviction all but guarantees someone will die in prison.

Justifying an aggravated murder charge requires prosecutors to prove at least one of eight elements existed at the time of a crime. Sullivan cited three that he believes apply to Rheaume, including that the defendant knew the victim of his crime to be a law enforcement o cer performing “o cial duties.”

Both the trial court judge and the Vermont Supreme Court have said they believe the state could convince a jury to sign o on the aggravated murder charge. Those determinations were made during the bail process, however, when judges are required to consider evidence in a light most favorable to the state.

Sleigh has told Seven Days he plans to challenge the legitimacy of the charge before the case heads to trial, in part by introducing evidence that he says will cast doubt on the theory that Rheaume purposefully crashed into Ebbighausen. “The visibility of approaching vehicles was su ciently obstructed [so] that no one could see what the nature of the oncoming tra c was,” Sleigh said.

Even if Sleigh doesn’t get the charge tossed, the police department’s internal a airs review of the fatal crash could lead a jury to think twice before deciding to send Rheaume to prison for the rest of his life.

As previously reported by Seven Days, the nine-page report, completed by former Rutland City commander Sam Delpha, concluded that more experienced o cers made a series of “egregious” errors that contributed to their colleague’s death.

Delpha wrote that responding o cers never should have pursued Rheaume after he fled the scene of a reported breakin and that supervisors should have called

off the chase well before its deadly end. He tallied 16 policy violations in total between four officers, including one for Ebbighausen, for not wearing her seat belt.

“The death of Officer Ebbighausen WAS preventable,” Delpha’s report states. “This incident and more specifically the pursuit should have never happened.” Delpha, who has since retired, could not be reached for comment.

Kilcullen has said he does not remember exactly when Delpha submitted the report. But he told the city’s police commission in March 2025 that he’d received a copy and would brief them in the coming weeks.

Instead, he remained quiet about the report’s findings. Kilcullen defended that decision in an interview with Seven Days last month, saying he did not want to compromise Rheaume’s right to a fair trial.

But that decision flew in the face of advice from state prosecutors, who had explicitly informed him that a failure to disclose the report to the defense team could jeopardize the entire case.

Over the course of 18 months, Sullivan wrote to Kilcullen several times to ask about the status of the internal affairs review, according to emails Seven Days received through a public records request.

The first inquiry, on April 19, 2024, came about a week after Sullivan filed the enhanced charge against Rheaume. Delpha’s investigation was ramping up, and Sullivan wanted to remind the chief that any reports produced would need to be shared with the defense as part of the discovery process.

He noted that in 2023, Sleigh defended a man who was accused of assaulting a Vermont state trooper. Sleigh managed to get the case thrown out because the Attorney General’s Office did not disclose internal “use of force” reports related to the incident until the eve of trial.

“Beyond my desire to make sure we fulfill our discovery obligation, I want to avoid a situation where the case is harmed,” Sullivan wrote.

Sullivan followed up with Kilcullen in May 2024 and again in June 2025 to reiterate the importance of disclosing the report. The prosecutor said he understood the city may not want to release the findings unless it was served a subpoena and said he would be happy

to issue one once the investigation was complete.

Sullivan wrote to the chief a fourth time last September to ask for an update. But it was not until Sleigh sent a subpoena later that month that Kilcullen coughed up the report.

On December 20, two weeks after media outlets broke news of the report’s findings, Rutland City’s citizen-led police commission held a closed-door meeting. Afterward, the panel announced that oversight of the department would be handed over to an interim police chief, while Kilcullen would stay on to assist in a “limited capacity” until his upcoming retirement.

Two days later, Sullivan sent defense attorneys around Rutland County a copy of Brady letters that he had issued against Kilcullen and Delpha over their failure to send him the report. He cited Kilcullen’s statements to Seven Days and accused him in particular of attempting to shape the outcome of Rheaume’s trial.

“The prosecution did not tell Chief Kilcullen that suppression of evidence favorable to the defense is acceptable,” Sullivan wrote. “Quite to the contrary, we sought the internal investigation materials so we could disclose them to the defense.”

Now that the report has become public, however, Sullivan is attempting to block it from being introduced as evidence, arguing that none of the policy violations cited in the report amount to a permissible legal defense.

“Each and every action or inaction [Delpha] took issue with in the officers’ conduct, could not, without Mr. Rheaume’s decisions and actions, have caused this fatal crash,” Sullivan wrote in a recent court filing.

Sullivan declined to comment for this story, while Kilcullen did not respond to an interview request.

Sleigh, meanwhile, said the problematic police response and Rheaume’s subsequent decision-making are inextricably linked and cannot be overlooked.

“They knew they had violated core police principles — that if they had been good cops, this wouldn’t have happened — and then they buried the report,” Sleigh said. “That has significance beyond the question of legality. That goes to the humanity of it.”

Public Accommodations?

properties might make sense for housing and how to make them available.

Most of that responsibility has fallen to the state’s top housing o cial, Alex Farrell. He’s commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, and agencies have submitted their property lists to him for review.

“I think this is a real opportunity,” he told Seven Days earlier this month.

Preliminary lists from the Agency of Transportation and the Department of Buildings and General Services include about 140 properties. They range in size from half an acre to more than 500. Some are undeveloped parcels with no municipal water or sewer service; a former state o ce building on the list is just steps from the Statehouse.

The task now, Farrell said, is to investigate the properties further, confirm their boundaries and ownership status, and sort them into categories based on their development potential. He’ll then talk to lawmakers about the likeliest sites and work with them to establish a process for disposal.

The state already has a system for selling o surplus properties, but it rarely happens, Farrell said. He said he hopes that will change with this new approach.

“I don’t know what that looks like yet, but it’s exciting to think about,” Farrell said.

There is no dearth of ideas about housing strategies. Advocates, lawmakers and administration o cials have been trying to figure out for years how to speed construction, mostly within designated growth areas near downtowns and village centers.

Last year, the legislature passed a bill designed to funnel up to $2 billion into housing infrastructure over the next 20 years, as well as another to exempt some areas from environmental review under Act 250.

Just last week, the advocacy group Let’s Build Homes released a multipronged plan meant to make housing easier to build. The group wants to limit opportunities to oppose housing permits, expand Act 250 exemption zones and allow towns to designate areas where housing is allowed without public hearings.

The idea of using state lands for housing is not brand-new. Last session, lawmakers considered a bill, H.50, that would have required the Department of Buildings and General Services to identify land and buildings suitable for conversion into a ordable housing.

“We need to start looking at things we haven’t looked at before,” its sponsor, Rep.

A housing project is proposed for this area of Burlington’s South End, shown in 2021.

The measure didn’t make it across the finish line last session. Last week, Casey expressed frustration that the Scott administration opposed his bill — and then included the idea in Scott’s executive order.

“We’re either working together, or we’re not, here,” Casey said.

Regardless of who gets credit, Farrell stressed that making state lands available for housing won’t alone solve the housing crisis.

“I think the scale of the housing need is such that there’s no one thing — not in the executive order, not in the bills we pass — that’s going to be the thing that changes the game,” Farrell said.

Cities and towns are increasingly open to using public land for housing.

redevelop the blighted Memorial Block on Main Street, as well as a vacant 3.3-acre city-owned lot on Sears Lane in the South End as part of a larger housing project backed by the owners of the nearby Hula coworking campus.

Charles Dillard, Burlington’s planning director, said his department is compiling an inventory of city land and its current usage.

THE SCALE OF THE HOUSING NEED IS SUCH THAT THERE’S NO ONE THING … THAT CHANGES THE GAME. HOUSING COMMISSIONER ALEX FARRELL

The Town of Dorset is pursuing a proposal to build 100 homes on its land next to the Owls Head Town Forest.

In Burlington, Mulvaney-Stanak’s plan includes using public land when appropriate. The mayor said the city, already a leader in a ordable housing development, would look closely at models where public land is used to create a ordable mixedincome developments. That includes permanently a ordable housing. Other elements of the plan include updating the city’s zoning codes and making it easier for property owners to develop more infill housing.

She highlighted the city’s plans to

O ering up public land won’t ensure its development. Burlington’s Memorial Block development partners informed the city last month that financing for the $225 million project, which includes apartments, a hotel and community spaces, is still short $33 million.

Miro Weinberger, former mayor of Burlington and now executive chair of Let’s Build Homes, said assembling a state inventory is a good first step. In his experience in Burlington, leasing public properties to housing developers was often a smoother route.

“Burlington really cares about its public assets and does not want to part with them easily,” Weinberger said.

At the state level, Vermont’s largest property owner — after the federal government — is the Agency of Natural Resources, which owns about 360,000 acres of parks, forests and wildlife management areas. Much of the land was acquired with funds dedicated to conservation and is far from infrastructure that would support housing, ANR Secretary Julie Moore said.

The agency has only one parcel that it felt fit the governor’s criteria: 29 acres in Essex Junction with a handful of state o ce buildings, a dog park and community garden.

The city expects to “build deep community engagement” before making any decisions, Dillard said. Instead of just selling or giving away property, the city intends to partner with developers “to build exactly what we need and exactly what the community wants,” he said.

One idea is already on the table. As part of a planning effort for the New North End, the Office of City Planning last summer floated the idea of building housing near Starr Farm Park. The community’s response was positive, Dillard said. Conceptual maps show a mix of townhomes and apartments on what is now a playground between a dog park and sports field.

The city also owns parcels along Ethan Allen Parkway that could become housing if the community supports that use, Dillard said. Public support is key, according to Josh Hanford, public policy adviser at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, who said using public land can make marginal plans a ordable.

“It’s tricky if the property is already a valued community asset, which may run up against some opposition,” Hanford said.

Farrell wants first to explore large parcels near existing water and sewer lines or in areas designated for housing growth. One such parcel in Berlin looked promising, Farrell said, until he learned that the transportation agency plans to build a maintenance garage on it.

A number of the properties identified by the Agency of Transportation are either too small or remote to be viable, Farrell said. One exception is a 136-acre parcel of woods and fields in Highgate, Farrell said. The former Vermont National Guard armory building in Waterbury, which has been used for emergency housing, is also a potential housing site, he added.

Yet another is the 272-acre parcel around the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes. The future of the vocational training program for young adults remains in limbo following threats of federal budget cuts.

Officials are also eying the former Southeast State Correctional Facility outside Windsor, which closed in 2017. The 118-acre property has long been considered for redevelopment, with a plan drafted by the regional planning commission calling for 96 homes.

While not a revelation, the site underscores the scale of the opportunity state lands represent in addressing housing.

“That property in Windsor sort of immediately leapt to the top of the list of ‘Let’s investigate this,’” Farrell said. ➆

FEEDback

PARKING PROBLEM?

The project designs in [“Burlington Councilors Get Glimpse of Memorial Block Redesign,” December 15, online] were really exciting to see — our community needs housing desperately, and there’s no better place (for climate, transportation, housing and economic vitality goals) to put it than on surface parking lots, of which there are many in the downtown core. The project is massive — and with a budget gap of 15 percent, I think the developers and city council should put serious thought into the option of removing two levels of underground parking and bridging a third of that gap. Not only do we have multiple private and public lots very close to this location, our downtown is also walkable, bikeable and has the best transit access in the state. Our community recently removed parking minimums to ease the excessive burden of parking on project budgets, so let’s put that into practice and build something that isn’t narrowly constrained by our current car dependence but is something that is ready for our future of car independence.

Jack Evans BURLINGTON

Evans works for Local Motion and is a member of Vermonters for People-Oriented Places.

MORE HANDICAPPED SPOTS

[Re Feedback: “Prioritize People, Not Cars,” January 14]: The letter writer speaks only for the able-bodied, young and aging, when advocating for the elimination of parking minimums. In two trips downtown, a three-block walk exhausted me and turned treacherous for anyone using a cane on the slick, slippery bricks.

There are already too few handicapped parking spaces downtown and no real alternative. I urge the council to reserve more for anyone with recognized mobility challenges. If you don’t, you’ll be writing off our option to buy local and support Vermont businesses instead of buying online from megacorps.

The choice is not “people, not cars.” It’s which people, period.

Euan Bear BAKERSFIELD

PULITZER PRIZE-WORTHY

Keith Knight’s cartoon “re-Public-an Transit Map” [January 7] should be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize!

Albert Echt

BURLINGTON

SISTERLY LOVE

What a touching and full tribute to our Sister Sankofa, also known as Shanda Williams [“Life Story: Sister Sankofa, aka Shanda Williams, ‘Was a Force,’” December 24]. Having been her friend and neighbor, as well as an ally in her work with the “Money Matters” conference series, I thought I knew her well but learned about other projects in your piece.

While she was on many boards, the board at An Economy of Our Own and I want to credit her invaluable work with us and the friendships that developed in our common cause. We’d love to share and draw readers’ attention to a great “Zoom of Our Own” educational conversation she took part in. It’s posted on our website: “Overcoming Financial Trauma: What’s Systemic? What’s Personal? What Helps?”

Sister Sankofa, aka Shanda, thus continues to be a friend and support on the subject of money and overcoming racial and gendered injustice. Thank you again from the steering committee of An Economy of Our Own: Rickey Gard Diamond, Carmen Rios, Marybeth Gardam and Katonya Hart.

Rickey Gard Diamond MONTPELIER

‘AGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE’

[Re “Farm Porch Politics: An Essay on Pleasantries, Plurality and a Path Forward,” January 7]: Thank you, Lucas Farrell, for a thoughtful story that shares how pleasantries matter and neighbors can be neighborly no matter what their political perspectives are. If only we could get our legislators to meet on a big front porch and exchange pleasantries before striving to reach common ground. Such as: Create five cooperative education service regions and draw three maps of district consolidation possibilities. Learn to listen to each other, not overrule each other; compromise. Farrell’s porch gatherings remind me of Burlington’s Braver Angels [“Green Mountain ‘Angels’: Vermonters From Both Sides of the Political Aisle Are Fostering Respectful Conversations About the Issues,” July 23, 2025].

How I see things: Democrats hate Republicans because of President Donald Trump and believe taxing the über rich will support big government and pay off the deficit. Recently, they defended federal health care funding as critically important.* Embroidered around the edges is support of publicly funded abortion, legalizing marijuana (even though it no longer offers the same gentle high as in the past because of plant husbandry and

GMOs), DEI, and Palestinians who want to eliminate Israel.

The Republicans in Vermont favor lower taxes, DEI that is fair (and not prejudiced against white men and conservative Christians, Jews and Muslims), change in federal immigration policy (but not the way it’s happening now; just remove the criminals that shouldn’t have been allowed here in the first place), making government more efficient and less wasteful, and federal funding for health care insurance, especially Medicaid support for elderly people who can’t work and have no way to pay for care in a nursing home without it.*

The * means agreement is possible.

Lori Wilson HINESBURG

OUTDOOR ADVANTAGE

Great, thoughtful writing [“Farm Porch Politics: An Essay on Pleasantries, Plurality and a Path Forward,” January 7]. An

Days published a report on a study done by the Velerity company on behalf of the Burlington Electric Department [“Report IDs Options to Reduce McNeil Emissions,” November 28, online]. The goal of the study was to investigate ways of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the McNeil Generating Station with the boundary condition that only ways could be investigated that would maintain Burlington’s 100 percent renewable energy designation. The report — and, in fact, the very commission of the report — highlight a fact of great interest to the citizens of Burlington: Its focus is on renewability rather than carbon neutrality, or net-zero.

“Renewable” means that the energy source can be renewed, by the regrowth of trees in the case of McNeil. “Carbon neutrality,” on the other hand, means that Burlington takes as much carbon out of the atmosphere as it emits, in the case of McNeil burning wood. A renewable energy source can be carbon neutral, but

added factor for the front porch element, which may create a different dynamic, is that all porches are oriented toward the outdoors. Just gotta think that the outdoors element could be important in creating an open, welcoming space for conversation.

Richard Donovan JERICHO

RENEWABLE V. CARBON NEUTRAL

A renewable energy source such as wood is not carbon neutral. In November, Seven

it need not be, as McNeil amply demonstrates: It emits copious amounts of greenhouse gases that are not re-sequestered by regrowing trees until a long time after all wood burning has ceased.

The commission of this study demonstrates that even the Burlington Electric Department does not believe that burning wood to generate energy is carbon neutral and, therefore, that despite its claims to the contrary, it is fully well aware that netzero and McNeil in its present form are incompatible.

Leendert Huisman SOUTH

lifelines

Dr. John J. “Jack” Murray

APRIL 29, 1937JANUARY 11, 2026 COLCHESTER, VT.

Dr. John J. “Jack” Murray, of Colchester, Vt., died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He was 88.

Jack was born on April 29, 1937, in Somerville, Mass., to John and Helen (Carroll) Murray. He spent many cherished summers of his youth on the beach in Manomet, Mass., creating lifelong memories with family and friends. After attending school in Somerville, where his father was a teacher, Jack went on to Boston College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in premed. He then moved north to attend the University of Vermont College of Medicine, where he chose pediatrics as his calling.

Following medical school, Jack completed his internship and residency at the University of Kentucky Hospital and then served two years in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps in Rome, N.Y.

Lilly Maria Albertsson

DECEMBER 13, 1933JANUARY 4, 2026

EAST DORSET AND SHELBURNE, VT.

Lilly Maria Albertsson (née Karlsson), 92, formerly of East Dorset, Vt., passed away on January 4, 2026, after a long struggle with dementia. She was a resident at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, Shelburne, Vt.

Lilly was born on December 13, 1933. She grew up on a small farm in the village of Tjugesta, near Örebro, Sweden. e farm was once a safe house for silver ore, mined in nearby

In 1968 Dr. Murray cofounded Pediatric Associates with Drs. Stackpole, Narkewicz and Gentry. e practice later grew into the highly respected Timberlane Pediatrics, where Jack cared for generations of Vermont families. roughout his distinguished career, Dr. Murray received numerous awards and honors, including the University of Vermont Medical Alumni Association’s highest honor, the A. Bradley Soule Award; the Vermont Medical Society Distinguished Service Award; and the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award. He served

Glanshammar in the 1500s. She finished her schooling in Örebro, where she boarded with family during the week, as 10 kilometers was too far to commute daily in those days. She was an active

as president of the Vermont Medical Society from 1997 to 1998.

Beyond private practice, Jack served as a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine from 1968 to 2007. He was a member of the UVM Medical School admissions committee, ran student health centers at Champlain College and Johnson State College, and served as team physician for the Burlington High School Athletic Department.

A pioneer in sports medicine, Jack volunteered as a physician at the 1980 Winter Olympics and served as chief medical officer for the 1981 International Winter Special Olympics. He was a member of the board of directors of the Lake Placid Sports Medicine Society and worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee at numerous national and international events. In 1983 he and Dr. Jim Stackpole founded Green Mountain Sport Science, Vermont’s first human performance laboratory testing center.

Dr. Murray devoted his

member of the Verdandi Society in her youth, an organization founded by students to promote social change and temperance. With initial dreams of serving in the police force, Lilly enrolled at the private Sophiahemmet nursing school in Stockholm, graduating in 1957. Plans changed when she met Stig Albertsson, a patient at the hospital, who was undergoing minor surgery. ey started a conversation regarding their shared birthday and fell in love. ey were married in 1957 and settled in the U.S. on their honeymoon. During their 67 years together they lived in Hoosick Falls, N.Y.; Stamford, Conn.; and

life to medicine and was a tireless advocate for children. A deeply compassionate physician, he was happiest when caring for his patients, including making house calls. In later years it was common for him to encounter former patients — now grown — and their parents, who would eagerly express gratitude for his care and his remarkable ability to put children at ease. His warmth and humor — reflected in his collection of whimsical neckties and the train set in his office — were perfectly balanced with unwavering focus and dedication to his patients’ well-being.

Jack was extremely proud of his service in the Vermont National Guard, where he served in the Medical Corps and as a flight surgeon from 1986 to 1999, retiring with the rank of colonel. His honors included the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

He also served proudly as chair of the scholarship committee for the Burlington Elks Lodge, where he was a longtime member, reflecting

ultimately, Manchester and East Dorset, Vt. In 2006, after living in the U.S. for 49 years, Stig and Lilly became U.S. citizens.

Lilly loved people and nature. Everyone was welcome, and she loved a party. ere was always a place at the dinner table for unexpected guests. Bird-watching, botany, fungi, gardening and all things Swedish were things that she enjoyed.

A strong believer in charitable work, Lilly spent much time visiting and caring for the elderly, often through United Counseling Service of Bennington County. She believed in preserving her Swedish culture and worked

his deep commitment to service and to supporting young people in his community.

Jack’s career took him to conferences around the world, including many trips to Ireland as a member of the Irish and American Pediatric Society — journeys that reflected both his heritage and the Irish sparkle in his eyes. While he loved to travel, he was most at home in Vermont, especially on Lake Champlain and at Starr Farm Beach. He was a devoted husband, proud father and grandfather, and a loyal friend who always made time for those he loved.

From summers at Starr Farm Beach to Friday nights on the Burlington High School football field caring for student athletes to memorable holiday gatherings with friends, Jack was deeply loved and widely respected.

A talented musician, Jack played the trumpet for more than 70 years and performed in numerous bands. He loved to dance whenever music filled the room. A voracious reader with a special love of history, he was always eager

to share those traditions with her community and her beloved family. She was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church in Manchester, Ekwanok Country Club and the Garden Club of Manchester. She approached everything she did, and everyone she met, with a smile and kindness. She will be greatly missed.

Preceded in death by Stig Albertsson, Lilly is survived by her beloved family, Susanne Davis, Peter Albertsson, Christine Albertsson and Hans Albertsson; and eight grandchildren, George Davis, Anders Albertsson, Johanna Albertsson, Parker Hansen,

to learn and share stories of the past. An avid boater, he spent countless hours on Lake Champlain and enjoyed sailing trips to the Caribbean with friends.

He is survived by Suzanne, his loving and devoted wife and partner of 34 years; his daughter, Sarah O’Callaghan, and her son, Jack; his stepdaughter, Deb Rose, and her children, Chance and Charlotte; his stepson, Bob Frey, and his sons, Justin and Kevin; and his grandson, Tynan Murray. He is also survived by his siblings Philip, Martha and Jane. He was predeceased by his son Tom and his brother Peter. Jack’s kindness, generosity, and love for his family, friends and patients will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, beginning at 3 p.m., at Bill’s Barn at Starr Farm Beach.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Murray’s honor may be made to UVM Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.

August Hansen, Anna Albertsson, Lilly Albertsson and Graham Albertsson. e family would like to thank the staff of Reflections at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, and of Bayada Hospice, for their caring support over the past year of Lilly’s life. We couldn’t have done it without you.

A celebration of Lilly’s life will be held on Saturday, March, 28, 2026, 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 3624 Main St., Manchester, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations to Bayada Hospice and Home Health Care, 463 Mountain View Dr., Colchester, VT 05446 would be greatly appreciated.

Reida Lipton

AUGUST 16, 1929JANUARY 12, 2026 WILLISTON, VT.

Reida Lipton (née Jobrack), age 96, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2026, at her home in Williston, Vt. Born on August 16, 1929, in Newark, N.J., she lived a long and vibrant life marked

Loren Ralph Strong

JUNE 2, 1953JANUARY 7, 2026 JERICHO, VT.

We are saddened by the sudden passing of Loren Ralph Strong on January 7, 2026, at age 72. Loren is remembered as a caring, thoughtful and loving husband, father, son, brother and community member who was generous with his time and resources. Loren was born on June 2, 1953, in Walla Walla, Wash., to W. Kenneth and J. Shirley Strong. He was the second of five children.

e family made a series of moves from Oregon to Idaho to Illinois before moving to Santa Barbara County, in southern California, where Loren attended junior and senior high school. He graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in 1971, where he made the honor

by dedication to her work, a deep love for her family, and an enduring zest for creativity and connection.

Reida married her teenage sweetheart, Sam Lipton, and together they moved to the Bronx, where they raised two daughters. She built a meaningful career as an administrative assistant to the director of a large nursing facility, where her professionalism, warmth and reliability made her an indispensable presence for more than 30 years.

Known for her sharp wit and wry humor, Reida had a magnetic social spirit that made people feel instantly welcome. Communityoriented and a natural leader, she served as a Girl Scout troop leader, creatively guiding young minds. Her passions reflected her joyful approach to life. She

roll every semester, as well as competed in football and track for four years. His childhood was filled with camping, beach trips, seasonal work, lapidary, woodworking and scouting activities, including earning the Eagle Scout rank at age 14.

Following high school, Loren attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with honors in three years with a major in American history. His deep interest in geology led to an early career as a jeweler, earning his Gemological Institute of America certificate in 1977 and working as a jeweler in Santa Barbara, Calif. While housesitting for a friend, Loren read several articles in Flying magazine and was immediately intrigued. He began taking flying lessons and became a private pilot. Besides enjoying the California coast from the air, Loren loved sailing and spent many hours on the water. Skiing kept him occupied during the winter.

In 1979 Loren spent six months touring and photographing Western Europe and the Mediterranean. is trip brought on a lifetime passion for traveling and capturing experiences in photographs. Loren loved sharing these experiences with family and friends.

Loren returned from Europe determined to become a commercial airline

loved to dance — ballroom, salsa and square dancing — and expressed her creativity through crafts, oil paintings and ceramics that filled her home. Reida had a special gift for making others feel remembered, sending thoughtful handmade cards for every occasion. An avid tennis enthusiast, she enjoyed playing in her earlier years and later followed the sport with great interest.

Reida was a beloved sister and the last survivor of five siblings. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Laura Lipton and June Lipton; her granddaughter, Vanessa Berman, and her husband, Dave; and her great-granddaughters, Samara, Alana and Hazel. May her memory bring comfort and continue to inspire joy, creativity and connection.

pilot. He earned all of his pilot ratings, including certificated flight instructor (CFI), which gave him the ability to teach student pilots. While job seeking as a CFI, he met private pilot Livy Olson in Novato, Calif. Livy immediately decided that she needed an instrument rating from this new flight instructor, and the relationship began. Loren and Livy were married on January 9, 1982.

Loren was hired by West Air Inc. in Chico, Calif., to fly commuter planes throughout California. is change of company and location coincided with the birth of their daughter, Marisa Anne Strong, on September 18, 1983. Another move was required about a year later to Modesto, Calif. Following a commercial airline interview, Loren was hired by a major airline, USAir, which was based in Pittsburgh, Pa. Almost simultaneously, a second child was born, named Michael Allan Strong, on June 3, 1985.

Loren loved flying and relished being a captain for many years, a career which took him and his passengers to many parts of the world. His interest in sailing and Livy’s desire for a more rural lifestyle brought the family to Jericho, Vt., in 1993. Loren spent much of his free time restoring his home that needed much attention. He also returned to sailing, purchasing a Pacific Seacraft

IN MEMORIAM

Andrew Scott Hallock 1974-2023

In loving memory of Andrew Scott Hallock, August 2, 1974-January 24, 2023.

We think of our wonderful father, husband, son, brother, uncle and friend every day with love. We miss you.

Your family and friends

sailboat named “Resolute.” Many summer months were spent with the family on Lake Champlain.

Loren was a true Renaissance man with a wide variety of interests and incredible knowledge. He read books extensively, observed and cared for nature, was an expert woodworker, loved music of many kinds and created new food recipes. Most of all, he dedicated his life to his family, as his fatherhood was an invaluable treasure for his children.

Loren is survived by his wife of 44 years, Livy; his daughter, Marisa Strong, and her husband, Matthew McNair, with their daughter, Natalie McNair, of Las Vegas, Nev.; his son, Michael Strong, of Burlington; his four siblings, David (Cindi) Strong, of Redding, Calif., Lisa (Gary) Scott of Gresham, Ore., Murray (Sami) Strong of Helena, Mont., and Erica Strong of Redmond, Ore.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Loren Strong.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences to the family, please visit readyfuneral.com.

ere will be a gathering of family members and the scattering of ashes this summer on Lake Champlain.

Elsbeth “Beth” Mode

APRIL 27, 1934-JANUARY 6, 2026 BURLINGTON, VT.

Elsbeth “Beth” Mode passed away on January 6, 2026. Beth was an explorer in the purest sense, hiking Nepal and touring Russia and sighting spirit bears near Bella Bella, B.C., but delighting just the same in floating with loons in Greensboro, biking 600 miles per summer at age 86 and plotting drives to every town in Vermont. She could paddle solo, but her friends knew to join her adventures to find the best fresh doughnuts, ski tracks, quiet walks and small libraries, all to the chorus of bird songs on CD. Born on April 27, 1934, and raised in Dorset, Vt., she lived across the continent from California to Maine to British Columbia, where she perfected her skiing at Red Mountain. In Rhinelander, Wis., she met the love of her life, Mel (Melvin) Mode, who shared her passion for the outdoors.

Beth led with love as a mom, stepmom, wife, grandmother and friend. In 2002 she moved back to Vermont to spend time with her grandsons, Alec (Rebecca Wolff) and Chandler Jacobson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mel; her former husband, Geoffrey Parsons III; her son, Geoffrey Parsons IV; and her sister, Gertrude Horridge. She is survived by her daughters, Polly Parsons (Jim Jacobson) and Brenda Day; and also, as she loved to say, her beloved “bonus family,” Mitch (Sally) Mode, Marsha Mode-Stravos, Barb Courtney, Maggie (Darrel Byers) Mode and John Mode.

At Beth’s request, no funeral service will be held. If you wish to make a contribution in her honor, her favorite charities were local food banks, the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy and Heifer International.

lifelines

OBITUARIES

Liza Kate Driscoll

SEPTEMBER 27, 1978JANUARY 15, 2026

BURLINGTON, VT.

Our beloved Liza Kate (Havey) Driscoll, 47, passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2026.

Liza was a loving mother, wife, and cherished daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She had a kind and generous heart and a presence that could light up any room.

Adventurous, fun-loving and always up for anything, Liza formed deep friendships everywhere she went and made people feel instantly welcomed, cared for and seen.

Liza is survived by her husband, David Driscoll; their beloved children, Ella and Dylan; her mother, Kathryn Gross; her father, Robert Havey, and

Dean A. Pallozzi

MARCH 16, 1963DECEMBER 26, 2025 UNDERHILL, VT.

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

stepmother, Joan Havey; her sister, Jennifer Graham, and husband Richard; and her brothers, Brent Havey and wife Jill, and Chris Havey and wife Emily. She was also deeply loved and survived by Dave’s family, including parents Bernie and Jane Sanders; sister Carina Driscoll and husband Blake Ewoldsen; sister Nicole Driscoll and husband Keegan Reed; sister Heather Sanders; and brother Levi Sanders.

She was a proud and loving aunt to Andrew, Owen, Addison, Beckett, Gwendolyn, Dean, Cole and Tess. She also loved animals and welcomed many pets into their home, giving them nicknames and adoring them all. Her Boston, Joey, was her favorite, but shhh — don’t tell the others.

Born on September 27, 1978, in Berlin, Vt., Liza grew up in the town of Essex and graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She worked for Gravis Footwear and Burton Snowboards before leading Essex Hollow Playschool for 17 years, a childcare and learning center founded by her mother. Starting there part time in high school and through college, she returned and expanded the preschool program to include infant and toddler care, lovingly

Dean A. Pallozzi, 62, of Underhill, Vt., passed away unexpectedly on December 26, 2025, in Fort Myers, Fla., surrounded by his loving wife, Beverly, and his caring sister, Lorna. Dean was born on March 16, 1963, in Concord, Mass., and was the son of Agnes (Kielty) and Salvatore Pallozzi. Dean graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School, class of 1981. He was

caring for many children and families. Her work there was a reflection of her nurturing spirit, leadership and deep commitment to her community.

Liza loved spending time with family and friends, whether out on the lake in the summer, snowboarding in the winter, traveling, going to concerts, practicing yoga and barre, or throwing parties to celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of the people she loved. She had a gift for instigating fun and adventure and embraced life fully and generously, always ready and willing to help anyone in need. She was joyful, vibrant and full of life.

Family and friends are invited to come together on Friday, January 23, 2026, 4:30 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church in Essex Junction to remember Liza and honor her beautiful spirit.

Liza believed that everyone deserves to be cared for and have what they need. She always had time to listen and help anyone who might be struggling. In that spirit, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to COTS to support the distribution of items to those in need.

Liza will be remembered for her boundless love, her adventurous soul and the light she brought into the lives of so many.

a member of the CCHS tennis team that placed second in the state finals in 1981.

Dean obtained bachelor of arts and master of science degrees in math and biostatistics from the University of Vermont.

Dean had a rewarding career in data governance, forecasting and data analytics. For the past 10 years, he was employed in security administration, overseeing electronic health records and health data for UVM Health. In addition, he was part of

Rudolph “Rudy” McDonald

MAY 30, 1937JANUARY 9, 2026

WINOOSKI, VT.

Rudy’s wish to “see his sisters” was granted on January 9, 2026.

Seven daughters were born to Edith Crabtree and Wilfred McDonald before Rudy appeared in 1937. e last of his generation, Rudy lost his mother in 1951 and his father in 1976. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957. He remained on inactive service

until January 1963, when he was honorably discharged. Rudy is survived by his daughter Kelly.

In lieu of interment, his ashes will be privately scattered, commemorating places of special meaning to him: deer camp; a stretch of fishing along the Winooski River; and in celebration of his service aboard the USS Iowa

Arrangements are in the care of LaVigne Funeral Home & Cremation Services. To send condolences to his family, please visit vtfuneral homes.com.

Linus Wayne Kinner

OCTOBER 5, 1931JANUARY 14, 2026 WILLISTON, VT.

Linus Wayne Kinner, a devoted family man, peacefully passed away on January 14, 2026, at the McClure Miller Respite House, surrounded by his loving family.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 50 years, Judith Smith Kinner, with whom he shared countless cherished memories. Linus is also survived by his son, Eric, and his wife, Danita Hathaway

the team responsible for generating data that informed community health improvement efforts for the state of Vermont. Dean was cherished by his colleagues because of his kindness, intelligence and commitment to professional excellence.

Dean was noted as being an exceptionally kind and thoughtful person, and he loved animals, especially his cats. He enjoyed plants, flowers and gardening at his home in Vermont. He and his friends had many memories

Kinner; his daughters, Donna Kane and Robin McIntosh; grandchildren Jennifer, Monica, Jessica, Ethan, Liberty and John; and four great-grandchildren, Haylee, Kali, Logan and Kora, all of whom he adored.

A burial service will be held on January 30, 2026, 11 a.m., in Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, Vt., where family and friends will gather to celebrate a life well lived. A local gathering for the celebration of his life is being planned and will be announced soon.

For full obituary, please visit  minorfh.com.

of swimming at Huntington Gorge in Vermont.

Dean was passionate about the outdoors and was an avid and graceful skier and a competitive tennis player well into his adult life. For many years he skied the gorges at Tuckerman Ravine, but his favorite mountain for skiing was Mount Mansfield in Stowe, Vt., which he could see from his home in Underhill.

Dean was predeceased by his father, Salvatore. He is survived by his mother,

Agnes Pallozzi; his wife of 32 years, Beverly; his sister, Lorna Hayward (Matthew) of Wellesley; and his brother, John Pallozzi (Sandra) of Acton. Dean also leaves behind nieces and nephews Julia and Andrew Hayward and Alexander and Dani Pallozzi. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

A celebration of life will take place in May 2026 in Vermont. A private interment will take place at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.

Edwin Merton Owre

OCTOBER 26, 1928JANUARY 3, 2026

SOUTH HERO, VT.

Professor and career artist

Edwin Merton Owre passed away peacefully at the age of 97 near his home in South Hero, Vt., on January 3, 2026. Born to a loving and provident family in Tillamook, Ore., in 1928, just before the Great Depression left so many struggling, Ed joined the U.S. Marines at the tender age of 17, serving bravely in the Pacific eater at the tail end of World War II. Returning to Oregon, he worked a myriad of jobs to support his artistic dreams. A veritable Renaissance “he-man” with a tender heart and not a lazy bone in his body, Ed deployed his youthful brawn in a dazzling array of ways. Highlights included work as a Tillamook lumberjack, firefighter, cement mason and shipbuilder. He also picked up some gentler assignments between these enterprising gigs, working as a shoe salesman, bookkeeper and even a door-to-door baby photographer. Ed never ceased to surprise and delight his family with the occasional vignette from these long-ago pursuits.

Benefiting from the new G.I. Bill, Ed then gathered up his savings and crossed the nation to pursue an education in studio art in New York City. ere, in the mid-1950s, he excelled at both the Art Students League and the Cooper Union. He went on to earn an MFA at Yale in 1963. After taking teaching jobs at Wilkes College in Pennsylvania

and then Dartmouth College, Ed accepted a tenured professorship at the University of Vermont, where he taught, inspired and delighted multitudes of students for over 30 years, until his retirement as chair of the UVM Art Department in 2003.

Ed met his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, Brenda Matteson Owre, a Vassar graduate, while he was in Vermont one summer working with renowned architect and fellow Yale alum David Sellers on a cluster of “design/build” houses, affectionately known as “Prickly Mountain,” in the Mad River Valley. Once married, the couple moved to Hanover, N.H., so Ed could teach at Dartmouth. ere they had their only daughter, Ursula, in 1967 before moving to Burlington to join the UVM faculty. Ed taught sculpture and drawing, while Brenda taught English and American literature and writing as an instructor in the English Department.

roughout his teaching years — and well beyond — Ed pursued his own art career with passion, originality, wit, prodigious skill and unwavering dedication. Often labeling

his works “constructions,” Ed ingeniously united sculpture, drawing and painting within each of his hefty and often vibrant 3D wall pieces. Employing bold materials like diamond plate, lead roofing, wood blocks, plexiglass and rivets into each abstract “landscape,” he was architect, builder, painter and sketch artist in one.

Critically recognized by renowned galleries in New York City and Boston, in 1980 Ed was chosen as one of the nation’s top Northeastern artists and asked by second lady Joan Mondale, an avid patron of the arts, to loan a piece for display in the vice presidential mansion. Ed was a consistent contributor to the prestigious Edinburgh Arts Festival throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, and his art was also represented in contemporary galleries throughout Europe. Locally, he had numerous solo shows at the Fleming Museum and Burlington City Arts, among others.

Ed’s own body of work aside, his students (now a creative diaspora, some staying local, others spread far and wide!), loved him best for his enthusiasm, playful spirit and genuine interest in their progress. No “easy

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grader,” Professor Owre impressed upon his students the lifelong value of studying studio art as a discipline of hands-on creation, no matter their academic major or career interests beyond his classroom.

And he always made it fun! From Elvis-themed picnics serving up “the King’s” favorite recipe of grilled peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwiches to the founding in UVM’s Williams Hall of “the Kitsch Museum,” a community-contributed collection of popular plastic knickknacks, from Betty Boop salt shakers, Trolls and Pez dispensers to velvet Elvises and a singing trout. is whimsical endeavor lives on to this day and once earned Ed a cover story in Seven Days as “the King of Kitsch,” a sobriquet he loved, as a serious artist who never took himself too seriously.

But perhaps he was most devoted to his family, secretly clearing and fitting the family’s attic room with a disco ball, lights and stereo system to surprise his preteen daughter, Ursula, one Christmas in the late ’70s, and decades later turning the family’s old “Caddy” into a chicken float with his young grandchildren to enter into

the local South Hero Fourth of July Parade.

When away from Burlington, Ed and his wife were intrepid adventurers, outfitting VW campers to live in with their schoolage daughter during two academic sabbaticals across Europe in the ’70s and ’80s. With Brenda as navigator, they traversed the continent pre-GPS, pre-ATM and precellphone, visiting hundreds of museums, cathedrals and historical palaces in support of Ed’s research. All of this was before settling down to make his own art with local materials, first in a rustic seaside village of 30 people on the Peloponnesus and later on the Côte d’Azur, a stone’s throw from Henri Matisse’s renowned “chapel,” past which their daughter’s school bus went on its daily route.

Always down-to-earth, Ed loved all animals, whether they be “great” or “small.” e Owre household was always run by adored and adoring felines, who at times had to share their quarters with a rabbit, two gerbils, several rescued mice, tropical fish and even a spider aptly named Charlotte.

A brave, strong (both physically and mentally), and most generous soul who always saw the bright side, Ed never, ever complained, even when his body and memory began to fail in the last few years of his life. To his very last days, Ed delighted in singing snatches of Little Orphan Annie’s buoyant song “Tomorrow” and parted from his visiting grandchildren with a nugget of upbeat advice borrowed long ago from Bing Crosby: “Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day!”

Ed is predeceased by his adored older brother, Peter (Pete), and younger brother, James (Jim) Owre, and survived by his loving wife, Brenda; and their daughter, Ursula, her husband, Neil Masterson, and their two children, Blake and Allegra.

We are deeply grateful to the tender caregivers at Birchwood Terrace Rehab and the McClure Miller Respite House who looked after Ed in his final months and weeks, treating him as if he were their own father. “We all loved him,” his nurse said when it was finally time to say the final farewell. Ed will never be truly gone, for his spirit lives on in our memories — and in his brilliant oeuvre of art.

A memorial in celebration of Ed’s life will likely take place when the weather warms and the days lengthen, with details to be announced. Anyone who wishes to give a token in honor of Ed’s memory may consider donating in his name to one of his favorite charities: Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends. org) or the World Wildlife Fund (wwf.org).

DIVIDING LINE

Two years after apprehensions on Vermont’s northern border reached historic highs, fewer people are making the perilous trek. But not all is quiet.

BY LUCY TOMPKINS • lucy@sevendaysvt.com

Acouple of winters ago, Libby Hillhouse awoke around 5 a.m. to her phone ringing. A U.S. Border Patrol agent was on the line with an urgent question: Did she know of anyone with a spare room for the night?

Agents had caught someone crossing without papers into northern Vermont from Canada. Following its protocol at the time, the border agency planned to release the person, with a notice to appear in immigration court later on.

Hillhouse, who lives in Danville and leads a nonprofit that supports asylum seekers, sprang into action. A few phone calls later, she’d found a willing host.

For months after that, the calls kept coming, as Vermont’s remote and usually sleepy stretch of the international divide suddenly became a busy entryway for

people from all over the world seeking economic opportunity or safe haven in the U.S.

Hillhouse soon became part of a statewide emergency network that helped provide hotel rooms, bus tickets, meals and rides to the train station for more than 80 migrants — mostly families with children — from places such as Mexico, Afghanistan, Angola and Haiti.

Those days are now over.

Crossings by undocumented migrants along the 295-mile swath known as the Swanton Sector, which includes Vermont, New Hampshire and eastern New York, have plummeted. After reaching historic highs in 2024, average monthly Border Patrol apprehensions last year tumbled by 92 percent. The drop-o was already underway by the time Donald Trump assumed the presidency a year ago, but

his administration’s aggressive stance on immigration has accelerated the decline.

The relative quiet has been a welcome change for some border residents who were troubled by the sight of migrant families stranded at gas stations or strangers trooping through their backyards. But even as border enforcement has tightened with the help of hidden cameras and other technology, people from all over the world continue to make the journey across, trudging through dense forest and snow, often with the help of smuggling networks and drivers on the U.S. side who wait on rural roads to pick them up.

While down from their peak, illegal border crossings have not fallen back to the levels seen before the surge.

Those who get caught crossing without papers these days are almost universally detained and criminally prosecuted,

producing a huge increase in such cases in Vermont’s federal courthouse in downtown Burlington. Every week, migrants in handcu s shu e into courtrooms to face sentencing from a federal judge before being handed over to immigration o cers for deportation.

Enforcement has also bled into Vermont’s interior. Over the past year, Border Patrol agents, whose duty it is to police the international boundary between o cial ports of entry, have arrested roofers and construction workers, including longtime Vermont residents, in targeted operations miles south of the border.  Under Trump, the Border Patrol has been tapped increasingly to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — which is focused on the country’s interior — in carrying out the administration’s immigration crackdown, blurring the

line between the two agencies. The administration’s uncompromising approach has sparked sustained protests across Vermont, especially in the days since an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, an unarmed U.S. citizen who was protesting ICE activity that day.

More change is ahead: The Border Patrol is in the midst of a massive recruitment drive, o ering salary bonuses and easing requirements for new hires who want to come up north. Robert Garcia, the Swanton Sector’s chief patrol agent, said he hopes to double his roster of about 300 agents in the coming years.

In Vermont, whose frontier with Canada was once little more than a formality, a new era of stepped-up enforcement is taking shape, as the Border Patrol assumes a harsher, more expansive approach to its duties.

“We are going to do our job with whatever we encounter, wherever we encounter it,” Garcia said during a recent conversation at his headquarters in Swanton. “Because Border Patrol agent authority is everywhere.”

THE OTHER BORDER

At the Richford Border Patrol station — a single-story brick building just outside the border town of about 2,300 — framed photos snapped by hidden surveillance cameras adorn a hallway wall.

The photos show bears, egrets, moose and deer caught in the act in the border zone.

Until recently, illegal immigration was considered almost solely as an issue of the southwest border. But as the U.S.Mexico border was fortified with imposing barriers, stadium-style lights and buried motion sensors — and Mexican drug cartels muscled into the lucrative humansmuggling business there — migrants with the means and ability to fly to Canada have opted to cross the long-overlooked northern border.

Beginning in 2021, amid a global surge in migration, the numbers grew dramatically. In the fiscal year that ended in September 2024, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 23,721 encounters across the entire northern border — a record high, though still nowhere near the 1.5 million recorded that year at the border with Mexico.

The numbers here have died down since Canada tightened visa requirements for Mexican citizens and worked with the U.S. government to close exemptions to the binational pact that requires asylum seekers to file their claim in the country in which they first arrive.

That stricter stance has only deepened

We will apprehend you, we’re going to prosecute you, then we’re going to remove you back to your country of origin.

ROBERT GARCIA

since Trump took over, and the numbers have continued to drop. In November, 72 people were detained in the Swanton Sector, mostly on the New York side.

Even so, Swanton remains the busiest sector on the entire 5,525-mile border with Canada. And unsanctioned crossings are still well above the pre-pandemic baseline.

During a three-hour tour of the border near Richford last week, patrol agent in charge Bryan Dyke said his team

is still adjusting to the busier reality. When Dyke arrived in 2009, the desolate swath felt forgotten. Most of his work involved tracking gun or drug smugglers through the woods. When things were really slow, he broke up bar fights and responded to other local dramas on the U.S. side.

Today, he and fellow agents are contending with the e ects of fluctuating international economic and political forces that show up on Vermont’s doorstep in

human form. About half the people arrested in the Swanton Sector last year came from India, followed by Bangladesh, Mexico and Guatemala.

The work is often unglamorous. Dyke pointed to an overgrown country road along the border that drivers began using as an illegal entry point a few years ago. Agents sought to plug the access by placing a row of rocks that they’d purchased at Leach Family, a local gravel supplier. But the stones weren’t big enough, so the cars drove right over them.

“I had to buy bigger rocks,” Dyke said. Much of the border here is obstructed by similar small-scale barriers, if anything. At another spot beside a dairy farm that straddles the border, where cars had been crashing through the farmer’s fence, agents arranged a line of boulders in a field. The farmer helped.

“We’re not looking to put a wall up here,” Dyke said. “We want something that kind of fits with the aesthetic and the spirit of Vermont.”

Even now, Dyke doesn’t think the northern border gets the attention it deserves.

“I don’t think a lot of people know what’s going on up here,” he said. “They think that it’s real sleepy and quiet. But it’s been a half decade, really, of being active.”

GIVE AND TAKE

One other key source of Border Patrol intel is locals.

In many of Vermont’s rural northern towns, border agents are the nearest law enforcement o cers. Agents sometimes respond to emergency calls that would otherwise be handled by local police: domestic disputes, car crashes.

That relationship goes both ways.

Over the past few years, as migration was increasing, the number of tips from residents has soared, Garcia said.

“They’re the best at understanding what is di erent,” he said.

From her dining room window, Sheila Hardy, 61, has noticed an uptick in activity by Border Patrol agents near her home on Ayers Hill Road, northwest of Richford — an area that in recent years has become a hot spot for illicit border crossings.

“Before, they’d go by once or twice a day,” Hardy said of federal agents. “Now it’s many times. We see them shining lights, checking cameras.”

The landscape here is a mix of wideopen fields where last season’s trimmed cornstalks poke up through the snow in neat rows alongside heavily wooded areas in which sugar maple tap lines form a web among the trees. In the distance, beyond the smattering of farmhouses, barns and double-wides, loom mountains dusted with snow.

It’s the heart of Vermont’s dairy country and so depends heavily on undocumented migrant workers, mostly from Mexico. Despite that, the region

leans more conservative than the rest of Vermont, which voted overwhelmingly for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Vermont’s border counties formed a solidly red band.

Hardy’s house is perched above a patch of forest through which the border runs. She’s lived there for 46 years with her husband, who used to run a dairy farm nearby. Above her backyard, Mont Pinacle rises on the Canadian side.

For a long time, this stretch of the border was largely unguarded.

“Now if you go berry picking and set o a sensor, they’ll be here,” Hardy said on a recent afternoon, as her grandchildren, 2 and 4, ran around the house.

Hardy said she is “not a fan” of Trump and did not vote for him. But she feels no qualms about the increased patrols.

“I like to know they’re out watching,” she said. “I feel more protected.”

Just a few weeks earlier, Border Patrol agents caught four people — two adults from Mexico and Ecuador and two teenagers — who had walked into the country just down the road from her house.

Earlier in the year, a Guatemalan man leading a Chinese couple and their 10-year-old child were also captured nearby, wet and cold from slogging through the snow.

Hardy said she hasn’t witnessed any border crossers in years and suspects that anyone making the trek these days is taking extra pains to stay hidden. But, she said, border life does breed a certain degree of suspicion of unfamiliar people or cars passing by.

If something catches her eye, Hardy can make use of a business card she keeps handy: the tip line number for Border Patrol.

ON THE BORDER

Around 7 a.m. on December 23, Border Patrol agents in Derby heard their radios crackle.

A hidden camera had caught someone walking across the border near the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, a Russian Orthodox religious complex overlooking the Missisquoi River on the Québec side.

According to an affidavit, an agent identified only by his surname, Spencer, hopped into his patrol car and drove to the area on the U.S. side. He soon noticed footprints in the snow that appeared to belong to five di erent sets of shoes. Then he spotted people through the trees.

“U.S. Border Patrol! Don’t move!” he yelled.

The group fled, running over a nearby ridge and out of sight. Spencer chased after them through the snow, catching up to a young woman from China. Spencer handcu ed her and walked her back out to the road, where another agent took her to the Border Patrol station in Newport.

Spencer called on his radio for backup and went to find the others, whose footprints led past the North Troy Cemetery and into someone’s backyard. There, he detained an Ecuadoran man and a 17-year old from Brazil. Another agent caught up to a third man, a 20-year-old from Venezuela, who was heading back toward Canada.

Tracking the last set of footprints,

DIVIDING LINE

Spencer soon found a woman with twigs stuck in her hair who was walking along a dirt road with a backpack, looking exhausted. The woman gave Spencer a Portuguese passport and confessed to being in the U.S. illegally, the affidavit said.

In prior years, migrants caught crossing in this way typically would have been quickly turned back to Canada or returned to their home countries. Under the Biden administration, people fleeing persecution who reached U.S. soil to apply for asylum would often be released into the country while their case wound its way through the immigration system.

That’s not happening anymore.

The group of five was taken to a holding cell at the Border Patrol station in Newport. There, the affidavit says, two of them told agents that the captured Venezuelan man who sought to flee back toward Canada had been their guide.

Two weeks later, the Venezuelan, Joneyker Rafael Ramos Guillen, would stand before a federal judge in Burlington, facing felony smuggling charges.

‘IMPROPER ENTRY’

Ramos Guillen strode into a windowless courtroom on the fourth floor of Burlington’s federal courthouse, his wrists in handcuffs.

On this cold January afternoon, he wore a neon-orange jacket zipped over his prison uniform. His brown hair, cut in a shaggy, boyish mullet, stuck out in different directions.

Ramos Guillen sat down at a table between his attorney, federal public defender Alejandro Fernandez, and a Spanish-language interpreter, who whispered the day’s proceedings into his ear.

An attorney for the U.S. government, David Golubock, sat before the judge’s bench in a gray suit.

As the Trump administration has taken a harder line on illegal immigration, the number of migrants facing criminal charges in Vermont’s federal court has skyrocketed.

Only three people were charged with “improper entry” in 2024, when border encounters were at an all-time high. But last year, even as illegal immigration dwindled, that number shot up to 66.

Many of those cases have landed on the desk of Vermont’s federal public defender.

The legal consequences for that petty offense are generally minimal: Migrants usually plead guilty and receive a sentence of time served before being deported.

Ramos Guillen’s future, however, is less certain.

According to court testimony and records, Ramos Guillen was living in Montréal with his family, including five sisters and a brother. They had fled Venezuela and have a pending asylum claim in Canada, where Ramos Guillen says he worked cleaning buildings.

For his role guiding the migrants across the border in December, he told border agents he expected to earn $750.

He now faces five felony counts of bringing in and harboring aliens and a count of improper entry to the U.S., a misdemeanor. If convicted of the smuggling charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison.

“He put his liberty at tremendous risk for allegedly $750,” Fernandez told Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle. “That shows how little money he has.”

U.S. attorney, Michael Drescher, joined Bondi at a press conference in Tampa, along with counterparts from Texas and Florida.

Bondi touted what she said were successes of Joint Task Force Alpha — an initiative focused on dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks — and announced its expansion to the northern border.

She highlighted several recent prosecutions, including that of a woman who allegedly was paid to pick up and transport migrants who had crossed into Vermont from Canada.

BLURRED LINE

It was still dark on the morning of November 5 when three vans carrying roofing crews pulled into the parking lot of a Maplefields convenience store and gas station in Jeffersonville. The roofers came here every morning to load up on food and gas on their way to work.

On this morning, one of them remembers, it was oddly quiet.

Nearby, Border Patrol agents were waiting for the workers to arrive, having staked out the place based on a tip about “suspected illegal aliens,” according to government documents. As the workers started to get out of the vans around 5:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents in unmarked cars surrounded them.

Many of the workers fled. A chaotic chase broke out. By the end of it, eight people were in custody.

As part of Trump’s immigration drive, Border Patrol agents have turned their sights increasingly to Vermont’s interior, detaining people far from the border. They have justified the raids by pointing out that their authority to enforce immigration law is not limited to the border region.

“National priorities seem to be getting expressed here in Vermont by the incredible uptick in charging people with ‘improper entry by an alien,’” Fernandez told Seven Days

“We are investigating and prosecuting their crimes more aggressively than ever,” Bondi said.

COURTESY

I mustered the courage and said, “For my family, I’ll do it.”

ROSA ELVIRA SAÑAY AUQUI

Canadian officials now say they won’t take him back. On January 12, Ramos Guillen pleaded not guilty to all the charges. A trial in Burlington is pending, with the next hearing scheduled for March.

In an interview, Fernandez noted that prosecutors have a “tremendous amount of discretion in how they choose to charge a case.” Under U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, they are reaching for charges that require mandatory prison time much more often.

In September, Vermont’s then-acting

During the briefing, Drescher said his office was “proud” to work with the Border Patrol and other agencies to “help secure the northern border.”

Drescher’s office turned down requests for an interview. Two weeks ago, he resigned from his position after Gov. Phil Scott appointed him to the Vermont Supreme Court.

In his Vermont Senate confirmation hearings, Drescher has sought to distance himself from the work he did for the Trump administration, including his role representing the government in the detention cases of Mohsen Mahdawi and Rümeysa Öztürk, university students targeted for their criticisms of the war in Gaza.

Those cases received national attention and drew protesters to the same Burlington courthouse where scores of border crossers now face prosecution.

Other immigration agencies, such as ICE, “may ask for our assistance,” said Garcia, the Swanton Sector chief. “And when those asks come, they’re our partners, and we’re going to assist.”

Over the past year, roofing and construction crews have been the targets of some of the largest workforce enforcement raids in Vermont, which has seen a surge in immigration detentions.

The Burlington-based advocacy group Migrant Justice has tracked arrests of Latino residents in particular and reports that at least 107 people across Vermont were detained by immigration authorities in 2025, compared to just four that it tallied the year before. The Border Patrol was involved in many of last year’s arrests, according to government records, detainees and other witnesses.

“This is all interior enforcement,” said Will Lambek, a spokesperson for the group. “These are not people being apprehended crossing the northern border.”

Among those detained in Jeffersonville was Vicente Acosta Yupangui, 39, an Ecuadoran who had lived in the U.S. for more than two decades and in Vermont for about six years. Acosta Yupangui owns a roofing subcontractor business in Cambridge and has four daughters between the ages of 10 and 19 who are U.S. citizens.

At 17, he left his village in Ecuador, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on foot in 2004. His wife, Maria Yupangui Guaman, 39, came soon after. Both have pending asylum claims.

Agents took Acosta Yupangui and the

other detainees to the Border Patrol station in Richford until they could be transferred elsewhere. Later that day, agents also picked up a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old whose parents were detained in the raid.

In detention, the agents showed the men photos of themselves shopping at the mall and going about their daily lives, indicating they’d been under surveillance for days.

Acosta Yupangui’s 19-year-old daughter, Luz Acosta Yupangui, said her cousin and her Ecuadoran fiancé, Alex Japon Benites, were also detained that day. All were held without the benefit of a bond hearing — an increasingly common practice under the Trump administration — and she was unable to communicate with them for days.

“All I did was cry and cry,” she recalled.

The men said agents pressured them to sign documents agreeing to their deportation. Vicente Acosta Yupangui refused at first, but after a week behind bars, he started to consider it. When his wife and daughters were finally able to visit him, though, he changed his mind.

“They lifted my spirits,” he said on a recent morning from his home in Cambridge, where his daughters’ four white first communion dresses hung in a row on the wall. “And I told myself: ‘They need me.’”

His wife and daughter eventually found a lawyer who helped the three men file emergency habeas corpus petitions, asking a federal court to review their detentions. They have all been freed from custody. Four others, including the 6-year-old girl, have been deported.

After the raid, friends and community members came together to support Acosta Yupangui and his family. They wrote letters to the immigration judge, attesting to his community ties and good character, and brought food to his wife and children, who were afraid to leave home and go to school during the three weeks he was in detention.

“We have lost a lot this year,” Acosta Yupangui said. “But this whole community supported me, and I am grateful to everyone who helped us and made sure there was always food on my family’s table.”

After the men were released, Japon Benites and Luz Acosta Yupangui married. Japon Benites, 28, said he illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2022. The rest of his family remains in Ecuador.

“I came with a dream to help my parents build a home that isn’t made of mud,” he said in Spanish. “Not a huge house, but a decent house.”

Several months earlier, Border Patrol agents surrounded and detained nine members of a separate roofing crew in Barton. In a statement, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents received an anonymous report from a concerned citizen “regarding a roofing

company in Barton, Vermont that was possibly employing illegal aliens.”

All but one of those arrested have been deported.

One of the deportees, 24-year-old Rosa Elvira Sañay Auqui, recounted how she left her village and family in rural Ecuador in 2023 to find work in the U.S. Her parents leveraged their home and guinea pig stable for a $20,000 loan to fund her journey. She flew to El Salvador, made her way north through Mexico, then climbed over a border wall near El Paso, Texas.

“Many people fall from the wall and stay there,” she said in Spanish during a phone call from her village in Ecuador. “I mustered the courage and said, ‘For my family, I’ll do it.’”

She was driven to Vermont and worked for two years at restaurants and on roofing crews to send money home to her parents to buy food and pay for her siblings’ schooling.

After her arrest in Barton, Sañay Auqui was eventually transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, where she was held for two months before being deported. Now back in Ecuador, she owes $10,000 in unpaid debt from her cross-border journey.

“Sometimes I wonder, Why me?” she

overnight. New agents have to attend a six-month training program in New Mexico before starting the job. And the Border Patrol is competing with ICE and a separate agency, Homeland Security Investigations, for potential agents. Rural Vermont can be a tough sell for some prospects.

In the webinar, Swanton agent Jeff Vining offered some words of encouragement.

“In my 18 years, I’ve never seen it as easy as it is to get into federal law enforcement as it is right now,” he told the prospective agents. “I highly encourage you all to take advantage of it.”

WATCHFUL EYE

Highgate farmer Paul de la Bruere voted for Trump. That’s in part because the past few years had brought groups of migrants trekking through his property, about half a mile from the Canadian border, and that of his neighbors. He hoped Trump would change things.

“Way up here in God’s country, we never lock our doors,” he said. “It was very stressful for us because we didn’t know who was coming over. Suddenly we didn’t feel safe anymore.”

One afternoon last summer, de la Bruere’s hay baler broke. To clear his head, he walked up the hill to a small cedar chapel he had built a few years earlier in the woods behind his home. Light streamed through stained glass windows onto statuettes of Catholic saints arranged along an altar.

said. “But we’ll see what God has in store for me.”

AGENTS WANTED

Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol, is slated to receive more than $70 billion in supplemental funding over four years to increase border security operations nationwide. The funds include $4.1 billion to hire and train new Border Patrol agents and support staff, plus more than $2 billion in bonuses to hire and keep agents.

It’s unclear how many of these resources will end up in Vermont. None of the state’s three members of Congress knew the specifics. But Garcia said the sector has plans to significantly grow its workforce.

In late October, Customs and Border Protection hosted an online webinar to aid recruitment along the northern border.

Rookie agents usually have to spend several years on the southwest border before they can transfer up north. Now they can come here directly. The agency is offering up to $50,000 in bonuses over the first five years of employment.

But a major expansion won’t happen

For de la Bruere, 70, who has lived on this 30-acre plot since 1999, the chapel serves as his private sanctuary.

As the sun set that day, he made his way back through the woods to his house, where he found a Border Patrol agent shining a flashlight across his porch. The agent explained that hidden cameras had captured someone walking in the nearby woods.

De la Bruere realized it must have been him.

Although the intrusion made him feel uneasy at first, he now sees it as a sign that his hopes for tighter security have been realized. In return, though, he has had to make peace with a different sort of presence in his backyard. Stepping through his snowy woods on a recent afternoon, de la Bruere gazed up into the trees.

“It’s very possible we’re on camera right now,” he said. ➆

Lucy Tompkins covers immigration, the border and new American communities in Vermont for Seven Days. She is a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Find out more at reportforamerica.org.

The Lantern’s Lit

Farmers & Foragers settles into its winter home in Charlotte with weekly dinner and brunch

STORY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

Winter is usually quiet for Vermont’s food truck and wedding venue operators. After a jam-packed run from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the o season is a time of planning, updating and, hopefully, rest.

But this year is di erent for Solomon Bayer-Pacht, cofounder of Farmers & Foragers food truck. Last spring, he and a group of investors purchased the venue space at Charlotte’s Old Lantern Inn & Barn from Lisa and Roland Gaujac (who retained the inn and continue to operate it). Now, neither of his seasonal businesses is resting.

This month, Bayer-Pacht, 36, and his team officially launched regular Wednesday dinner service and Saturday brunch as Farmers & Foragers Hillside in Charlotte. The weekly meals are part of Bayer-Pacht’s plans to make the most of the newly rechristened Old Lantern Events Barn with year-round community o erings that go beyond weddings and other private events.

Open to the public, both dinner and brunch feature locally sourced dishes that Farmers & Foragers regulars will recognize from its summer residency on the Burlington waterfront, with cold-weather updates from head chef Ryan Brigante. The full bar — a rarity in Charlotte — is reason enough to stop by, especially on Saturdays when TVs around the lounge play Premier League soccer matches.

Bayer-Pacht and his partner, Lauren Johnson, founded the Farmers & Foragers food truck in 2015. Since 2020, the truck has been parked in its seasonal Dockside location at Burlington Harbor Marina

PHOTOS DARIA BISHOP

from late May through September. Those Adirondack views across Lake Champlain are tough to beat, but the season is short.

Now, the Old Lantern fills the food

REGULARS WILL KNOW IT’S FARMERS & FORAGERS, BUT WITH ENTRÉES THAT FLEX, IF YOU’RE FEELING FANCY.

truck’s off-season void and serves as Farmers & Foragers’ commercial kitchen and home base. The Hillside name nods to Barber Hill, which rises beside the parking lot, with a grassy section of Charlotte’s Village Loop Trail leading to its top.

I considered sledding down that hill on a recent Wednesday evening but headed into the sprawling red barn with my husband and 2-year-old son instead. The main entrance, on the building’s side, opens into a large ballroom. We followed a chalkboard sign to a smaller lounge in the back, which is the heart of Farmers

& Foragers Hillside. There, we grabbed chairs at one of the communal tables before ordering at the bar.

We chose a roasted artichoke flatbread ($15) to share, and I opted for a Japanese eggplant sandwich ($17). My husband went for the Hillside burger ($19) — a new, rotating o ering, served that night with tomato-bacon jam and Cabot Creamery cheddar. Drinks in hand — an All Eyez on Me cocktail ($17) for me and a Frost Beer Works Little Lush IPA ($8) for him — we surveyed the games.

SERVING UP FOOD NEWS

Curry Leaf to Replace Montpelier’s KSherpa Dinner House

INDER SAINI, who owns two CURRY LEAF Indian restaurants in Foxboro, Mass., and Concord, N.H., will add a third location at 28 Main Street in Montpelier this spring. Saini said he paid $70,000 for the kitchen equipment and fixtures to KAMAL SHERPA, the owner of KSherpa Dinner House, which occupied the 60-seat space from 2021 until it closed in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Sherpa confirmed he has opened STAR KITCHEN INDIAN NEPALI in Barre at 237 North Main Street. The restaurant’s Indo-Chinese menu of curries, biryani rice dishes and Nepalese momos resembles that of KSherpa with some additional items, such as hamburgers.

Saini, 38, opened his first Curry Leaf restaurant in Foxboro five years ago and his second in Concord in 2024. He moved from southern India to the U.S. 15 years ago but said his restaurants serve mostly dishes from northern India, his parents’ home region. The menu also includes a few Nepalese specialties, thanks to a Nepali sous chef, plus chicken wings and chicken tenders.

The other Curry Leaf restaurants serve a mix of customers, Saini said, including many originally from India. The kitchen can customize the

spiciness of dishes such as curries and tandoor-roasted kebabs. “We make everything from scratch,” Saini said. “We are not just going to add more chile powder.”

Interested in growing his small restaurant group, Saini saw an opportunity in Montpelier when he heard Sherpa wanted to sell, he said. He will add a bigger tandoor oven, a new hood system and other equipment and aims to open in early March.

MELISSA PASANEN

Crumbs: Mothership Brewery Launches in Burlington, Broken

Hearts

Burger Closes in Fairlee

The microbrewery at AMERICAN FLATBREAD BURLINGTON HEARTH, where ZERO GRAVITY CRAFT BREWERY began in 2004, is now MOTHERSHIP BREWERY. The name change was announced in a press release last week.

Head brewer DESTINY SAXON and brewer and cofounder PAUL SAYLER separated the brewpub at 115 St. Paul Street in Burlington from Zero Gravity in 2022, though the two breweries continue to work together in a “limited

The

Pool and darts are a little risky with a toddler, but tossing beanbags at the Boston Bruins-themed cornhole setup in the ballroom was a great way to tire him out while we waited.

Back in the lounge, other diners were spread around the spacious 10-top tables. Two groups soon moved closer together to chat over their blackened shrimp po’boys and bowls of vegetarian brodo.

Our appetizer arrived, and we took our seats by the fairy light-wrapped tree that seems to grow out of the floor in the middle of the room. The fluffy flatbread was loaded with chunks of roasted artichoke, sweet caramelized onions, dollops of goat cheese and a drizzle of honey.

Brigante, 34, joined Farmers & Foragers in May. The chef has been in kitchens since he was 15, first at the original Junior’s Italian in Colchester, then at the now-closed Silver Palace in South Burlington, then back to Junior’s Winooski, where he became a co-owner in January 2023. With business slow due to construction on Winooski’s Main Street, “I needed a change,” Brigante said.

“I was a little skeptical, because it was on a food truck and I’m so used to being in a kitchen,” he continued. “But the first day there, just the vibe of the place and the view, I knew I made the right call.”

This winter, Brigante’s pulling from his varied Italian and pan-Asian cooking backgrounds for a constantly changing menu “to keep people coming week to week,” he said.

My Japanese eggplant sandwich was an excellent example, full of punchy flavors from Sriracha mayo and housemade pickles made with ginger, garlic, soy and rice wine vinegar. Brigante par-baked the long slices of eggplant with a soy-ginger glaze, he said, then seared them on the flattop grill to order, getting a nice brown crisp. He topped the whole thing with a juicy Napa cabbage slaw.

Other offerings befitting the chef’s background might include pasta dishes, rice bowls with ahi tuna, or the triumphant return of Farmers & Foragers’ pork belly bánh mì, depending on the night.

That bánh mì was a popular item for the two years the food truck offered brunch, Bayer-Pacht said. But it was hard to execute alongside the sheer volume of lobster rolls and cheesesteaks the truck serves at dinnertime.

“People asked for it for years,” BayerPacht said. “It’s something we enjoy making and that we have the suppliers for. Now it’s back.”

The venue’s on-site kitchen removes some headaches that come with cramped food truck life. But it doesn’t have a fryer, so the truck still needs to park outside when French fries are on the menu. Since that’s a cold proposition in January, oven-roasted red potatoes ($6) replace fries most nights.

The Vermont cheesesteak, a Farmers & Foragers staple, is another item that requires the food truck’s specific setup. The solution is a slightly different steak sandwich ($29): a marinated and grilled local fillet with sharp provolone cheese, caramelized onions and chimichurri.

The menu is familiar enough that summer regulars will know it’s Farmers & Foragers, but with entrées that flex, if you’re feeling fancy. Last week, those included beef Wellington ($35); the week before, filet mignon saltimbocca ($31) was on the menu.

Brigante dreams of adding a smoker and, this summer, cranking up the fullsize pizza oven out back. So far, the new owners’ tweaks to the space have been minimal: refinished floors, some new kitchen equipment. The Old Lantern has great bones, Bayer-Pacht said, and he

INFO

wants to enhance its functionality without changing its rustic character.

The Hinesburg native has a long history with the Old Lantern. He played in a concert there in eighth grade, he recalled, and his sister was the first to get married at the venue when the Gaujacs opened their adjacent Old Lantern Inn in 2012.

“I’ve known Sol since he was super young,” Lisa Gaujac told Seven Days last spring when the sale was announced. “I know he’s going to carry on the legacy of this place and not make it something it’s not.”

The Old Lantern has been an event space since the 1960s, with storied runs as a dance hall and live music venue in its earlier years. That history, which predated Charlotte’s town zoning, helped the Gaujacs win a lengthy legal battle over noise with the property’s neighbors in 2018.

Bayer-Pacht’s plans for weekly live music — both indoors and out — are a throwback to the days when touring acts such as Taj Mahal, Little Feat and Los Lobos took the low wooden stage. A full slate of Friday-night music is likely to start in February, he said. The 750-person-capacity barn currently hosts line dancing every other Thursday and will kick off almost-monthly, full-moon dance parties with the Snow Moon on Sunday, February 1.

The Wednesday and Saturday meal schedule allows Bayer-Pacht to keep the venue free for rentals during popular times, he explained. Weddings and private events will continue to be an important part of the Old Lantern’s business model. Word had already gotten out about brunch when I arrived for the first one with my family, a friend and his daughter on Saturday, January 10. Groups once again spread around the lounge, some watching Manchester City’s 10-1 FA Cup routing of Exeter City, others playing pool between bites of eggs Benedict.

I ordered the nonalcoholic version of the same cocktail I’d had a few days before, which is called a Holiday Shrub ($8) without the Beefeater gin. The tart turmeric-rosemary shrub with carrot juice and soda water was complex enough that I didn’t slug it back like a glass of orange juice. We all got coffee ($4), too, and refilled regularly from the self-serve carafes.

As a personal rule, I order biscuits & gravy whenever I see it. The Farmers & Foragers Hillside version ($15) hit all the right notes, with a fluffy housemade biscuit valiantly holding up rich sausage gravy despite being completely smothered. I appreciated a sweet touch of local maple syrup and fresh sage on top, too.

Around the table, the toddlers were happy with their English muffins. My husband liked his, too, the foundation of a breakfast sandwich ($14) with thick-cut bacon and a drippy over-easy egg. I caught only a glimpse of a friend’s corned-beef hash ($20) before it was gone. We lingered over our meals, watching the game even though neither is our team. The sunlight spilling into the barn made it too cozy to leave on a cold day.

The Old Lantern has been a lot of things to a lot of people over the years, from a place to catch a show to the start of happy marriages. It’s still all that, of course. But the barn’s new restaurant encourages spontaneous stops, and I’m glad it’ll be there year-round with bánh mì and brunch. ➆

food+drink

fashion,” according to the Mothership website. Mothership works more closely with Stowe’s IDLETYME BREWING, in which American Flatbread’s parent hospitality company, Third Place — of which Sayler is a cofounder — took an ownership stake in 2022.

Mothership’s rotating menu of beers is only available on tap at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth. The newly renamed brewery plans a “hard launch celebration” for around Earth Day in April, the release said.

On January 10, Fairlee’s Broken Hearts Burger closed “for at least the winter and probably much longer/forever,” the business shared on Instagram.

Owner MATT WALKER opened the midcentury-inspired upscale burger joint in his Upper Valley hometown in May 2022. The restaurant’s Heartbreaker burger — made with smashed local beef patties, cheese, fried onion, pickles, lettuce and Jump Back Sauce — quickly became a staple for summer visitors. Its cool drink list, doughnuts and jukebox tunes made it worth a drive year-round.

Walker closed the restaurant last winter to refresh the space and pivot to finer dining. When the new, mostly reservation-only Broken Hearts reopened

CONNECT

in April, he described it to Seven Days as “punk dive bar meets steakhouse meets tropical cocktail bar.” Walker could not be reached for comment.

Broken Hearts Burger’s Instagram profile now reads, “On a hiatus or gone forever[.] Nobody’s really sure.” Here’s hoping it’s the former.

JORDAN BARRY

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

Nice Bakes

Six young Vermonters put King Arthur’s new Sweet & Salty! kids’ cookbook to the test

BY MELISSA PASANEN pasanen@sevendaysvt.com

Of my 1,000-volume cookbook collection, only about 25 merit spots on my kitchen bookshelf. Among the longest-tenured residents on that prized piece of real estate are two trusted baking bibles written by the team at King Arthur Baking. With the September publication of its first cookbook just for kids, Sweet & Salty! King Arthur Baking Company’s Cookbook for Young Bakers, the Norwich company is now hoping to seed similar devotion in a younger set.

Capitalizing on enthusiasm for shows like the family-friendly “Great British Baking Show” and “Kids Baking Championship,” the new book provides almost 100 recipes, categorized as either easy, medium or “project.” King Arthur’s baking experts provide clear explanations and extra tips for novices. Bright photographs feature beaming bakers in its 8- to 12-yearold target demographic.

When I first flipped through a copy last fall, I experienced my standard new-cookbook problem: I wanted to immediately pull out bowls, whisks and ingredients and make almost every recipe. A super-size peanut butter cup tart with a cornflake-crunchy filling, banoffee pie in a graham cracker crust, sharp cheddar cheese “not-its” and pizza party buns — yes, please!

Hold on, I thought, I’m not the audience for this cookbook. So I decided to ask some Vermont kids if their mouths watered at the thought of lemon pudding cake or

loaded baked potato waffles — and if the recipes lived up to their promise.

It was not hard to find volunteers, who each picked at least one recipe from the book. Overall, six young testers — and their in-house support staff — found recipes from Sweet & Salty! to be reliable and delicious, with a couple of disappointing exceptions.

The Whitham-White family of Jericho are big chocolate fans; mom Clover Whitham told me her “house cake” recipe is King Arthur’s Original Cake Pan Cake. She started making the easy, and incidentally vegan, chocolate cake when her 10-year-old twins, Bodhi and Ronin White, were born. “We had a lot of visitors, and I was always hungry,” Whitham said.

The twins chose to bake the Sweet & Salty! version of that recipe: the Simplest Chocolate Cake, which their mom said they made with minimal help. “I could really understand what was going on and how much stuff to put in,” Bodhi said. The result was so good, he added, “I would probably make it a thousand times more.”

The twins’ brother, Jackson, 12, picked the giant chocolate chip cookie. The recipe was easy to follow, he said, and he needed assistance only to separate the egg. The resulting cast-iron skillet-baked cookie was a gastronomic success, if not a lesson in brotherly sharing.

“I wish I had the whole cookie to myself,” Ronin lamented.

Whitham, who owns a kitchen scale,

said she appreciated that the cookbook provides weights for most ingredients. She’s found that for her kids, the scale is an easier and less messy measuring technique than cups, which vary surprisingly in capacity and hold different amounts of some ingredients, depending how they are filled. As noted in Sweet & Salty!’s “Ten Quick Lessons for Baking Success,” a scale is far more precise, which can help avoid disappointment in less forgiving recipes. That may have been part of the issue with two frustrating bakes by 10-year-old

BODHI WHITE,

10

Claire Tennis of South Burlington. Claire was familiar with empanadas and excited to make them following one of the cookbook’s more complex “project”-level recipes. Unfortunately, the rather lengthy called-for 5-minute knead of a fairly dry pastry dough required not only a parental ringer but also, I think, contributed to the baked empanadas being “hard as rocks,” as Claire’s mom, Laurie Fisher, reported. They also ran short of filling, though the family found the mixture tasty.

Armed with this knowledge, I made the empanadas, with better results. I weighed the flour and found the correct amount was almost half a cup less than as measured by volume. I also reduced the 5-minute knead, which, on top of possibly using too much flour, I surmised might have been to blame for Claire’s tough empanadas. Instead, I kneaded the dough briefly, just until it came together, as I typically do with this kind of pastry. I agree that the amount of filling is a bit stingy and recommend making about 25 percent more. Be sure though, as the recipe advises, not to overfill each empanada.

food+drink

— though Claire did enjoy its citrusy glaze tinted with raspberry juice. Happily, she really liked the lemon pudding cake she made, which magically separates when baking into layers of soft lemon curd and fluffy cake.

Two more recipe tests yielded similar happiness, along with a sense of accomplishment. Twelve-year-old Levi McMurry of Burlington made the yeasted naan recipe, which his mother, Grace Per Lee, said worked perfectly with a couple of substitutions: avocado oil for butter and 100 percent all-purpose flour instead of a mix of that and bread flour. Levi proudly deemed his homemade Indian flatbread “delicious,” and his 9-year-old brother, George, gave it an enthusiastic five-star rating.

In Hinesburg, Nell Goldstein and her mom, Katie Warchut, celebrated Nell’s eighth birthday with a successful team test of Doughnut Muffins. They picked the recipe, Warchut said, “because it was easy and we had all the ingredients — plus we love muffins and donuts.” The muffins, Warchut reported, met all of the birthday girl’s expectations, especially after their tops were dipped in melted butter and then cinnamon sugar.

As the judges on the “Great British Baking Show” like to say: a nice bake indeed. ➆

Claire also tried two lemony cake recipes. She said the pink lemonade cake, labeled “easy,” was not especially hard, but it took more than three hours from start to finish and had so many steps that it began to “feel like a chore,” according to her mom. The cake also came out dry — possibly a too-much-flour problem

Sweet & Salty! King Arthur Baking Company’s Cookbook for Young Bakers by Jessica Battilana with Yekaterina Boytsova, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 280 pages. $21.99. Learn more at kingarthurbaking.com.

culture

Vermont poet laureate Bianca Stone’s The Near and Distant World begins with an epigraph from Wallace Stevens’ “An Ordinary Evening in New Haven,” a poem which asserts that the stu of the world transcends the power of words:

In the end, in the whole psychology, the self, The town, the weather, in a casual litter, Together, said words of the world are the life of the world.

In fact, many of the poems in Stone’s latest, released last week, draw a distinction between theory and abstraction versus the material world.

Stone lives in Goshen at the Ruth Stone House, the former home of her grandmother, the late poet Ruth Stone. As program director and a board member of the Ruth Stone Foundation, she organizes events and retreats at the house and teaches classes on poetry and poetic study. She is also a visual artist and scholar and host of the “Ode & Psyche Podcast.” Author of four previous poetry collections, Stone has been published in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Poets and Writers, and the Nation Her last book of poems, What Is Otherwise Infinite, received the 2022 Vermont Book Award.

True to its title, The Near and Distant World moves from near to far in metaphor and syntax. The book’s 51 poems do not linger on the threshold but toss the reader back and forth between ideas, places and historical moments. The poems address topics such as poetry, translation, religion, film, art, nature, mortality and love. The common denominator is the movement from near to far and back again.

“Old Bio in Snow,” the first poem in the volume, begins with life on the brink, where “There’s always a snowstorm coming”; by the end, the snow “falls on your face / and ends.” We meet a world where anticipation and trepidation might transform into wonder or regret. Seeing rather than knowing and feeling rather than thinking preoccupy this poet.

In “Theory,” Stone reminds us of Stevens’ point: “in the night, only the mad wind means.” “What’s Poetry Like?” features an unexpectedly intimate conversation with an internet technician in Brooklyn. “I am thinking of what it means to be alive in this world,” Stone muses, “I want to get it not right but near.”

No Memory Palace

Book review: e Near and Distant World, Bianca Stone

BY DAWN SKORCZEWSKI

In most of these poems, the physical world holds more sense than our ideas about it or ourselves. From the start, in “Old Bio in Snow,” change itself is the point, and the signs we try to interpret are mere remnants.

but everything shifts, one moment to the next, and leaves a dark stain where it was.

Perhaps the best example of Stone’s

insistence that meaning is lodged in the material world is “Memory Palace,” where the regal notion of a house for memory is immediately replaced by a grim image of bloat and decay:

I have no memory palace. I have tomato-paste cans bloated on a sagging plywood shelf.

Though bloated, cheap and sagging, the cans immediately grab a seat in the

reader’s own memory house. It is hard to get the image out of our minds. This insistence reminds us how ideas of the past cannot be stored in abstract forms but rest instead in the most mundane objects.

Several poems draw explicit connections to philosophy, psychoanalysis and other poets. Some, such as “Ovid,” appear to encapsulate the work of an admired predecessor. Other poems, such as “Civilization and Its Discontents,” express fatigue at “the whole e ort of scrutinizing the dream.”

POETRY

In “Tarkovsky’s Mirror,” Stone summarizes the great film and then invites the reader to enter its world with her: “We spring in and out of color.” But in the end, it is the speaker and her own mother in the scene, “closely watched, like fire: the first mirror, the first object, the first house, burning.” Original as the claim is, these two might easily be any reader and their own mother. For each of us, our own mother is in fact the first object, the first mirror and the beginning of our own time. Stone is at her best when she’s writing about loss and grief. In The Near and Distant World, Rainer Maria Rilke’s elegies serve as inspiration. What is near becomes distant, because we are mortal, and life only moves in one direction.

Some of these poems are explicitly elegies while others hover on the precipice between life and death. “Nothing Is Ever Finished or Abandoned” asserts: “Always I am preparing the end.” “Thoughts at the Grave” invokes her own name, an apparent meditation on the entire volume: “I am considering a stone. / Even alone I feel I am in another performance. / Even the near world is distant.” The poem that directly invokes Rilke, “The Translation Elegies,” ends with the “benumbed spectacle / of historic grief.”

Although Stone often navigates the complexities of familial and romantic love, or the paradoxes of identity and experience, these poems consider all aspects of personal identity as essential to the broader human experience. In “All Ye Who Enter Here,” Stone asks us to think with her about “One life, this one life—it is all so near / distant. I abandoned, I held. I returned. I heard the waves. And / hearing the waves, I dreamed back the world.” Her poems invite us to dream with her. ➆

INFO

e Near and Distant World by Bianca Stone, Tin House, 112 pages. $16.99.

“IN SHADOW, WHO MADE THESE WORDS”

BY BIANCA STONE

“All poets are liars,” my play begins. Plato was probably right. With this enfeebled mind my only recourse is poetry.

Behind my head, heads begin to nod. They doze in the surgical amphitheater behind my eyes.

I do not know what I hold more clearly in my mind: the pain of what I had or the pleasure in what I don’t.

In the afterlyric of childhood you can barely stand to look back without laughing

at how calmly desire and memory see fit to destroy everything.

And thank God!

Let me be run through with the wooden javelin of truth.

Let them remove my breastplate and grille and wipe the mud from my brow.

Let them place a rose in my hand and mutter that old prayer and wave two fingers over me.

Let my only work be this, to stare back into the blue iris of the sky.

Excerpted from The Near and Distant World by Bianca Stone. Copyright 2026 Bianca Stone. Published with permission from Tin House, an imprint of Zando, LLC.

MEDIA

North Avenue News Changes Hands (and Not Much Else)

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

North Avenue News bills itself as a “goodnewspaper,” and it will stay that way for the foreseeable future, though it has recently changed hands. On January 8, Phoenix Books co-owner Michael DeSanto closed the deal to purchase the outlet from longtime owners Cliff and Ellen Cooper.

Burlingtonians may be familiar with the free, 20-page paper, which arrives in many of their mailboxes monthly as a source for community news. It’s where to look for info about Little League tryouts or news from the Fletcher Free Library and Burlington Electric Department. The mayor, a city councilor and the Burlington School District superintendent contribute columns. Readers who find all five seahorses representing the Burlington High School mascot can clip out and mail in a form to be entered for a prize drawing. The paper’s tagline is “News Good for the Whole Month.”

The Coopers produced the 55-year-old paper for the past 25 years, originally going in on it with a friend who then backed out. They grew its circulation from about 4,000 readers primarily in the New North End to 17,000 across all of Burlington. Now the couple are ready to travel, spend more time with their kids and grandkids, and enjoy, as Cliff emphatically stated on a phone call from Florida, “no deadlines!”

DeSanto and his wife, Renee Reiner, own Phoenix Books in Burlington, Essex and Rutland, as well as the Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock and local publisher Onion River Press.

“Preserving bookstores as independent community resources has been effectively a lifelong ambition,” DeSanto said. His father ran a printing press that he’d go visit as a child. He has “a physical memory of great big presses rolling and printing magazines and books and things,” he said, which he recalled recently at Denton Publications in Elizabethtown, N.Y., where North Avenue News is printed. “I’ve always had a romantic notion about that.”

In purchasing the newspaper, DeSanto wants to preserve everything it does for Burlington. The name will change to Burlington Community Newspaper, he said, reflecting its reach, and he will probably update the website. Other than that, “I might change the typeface. I might change the header on the front page, and we may put a piece of poetry in and an occasional book review, but those are the dramatic changes that I’m planning.”

Rachel Fisher, print and production director at Onion River Press, will head up the paper as editor and publisher. She has worked with the Coopers on the past two issues to ensure a smooth transition. Ellen Cooper said she had full confidence in the new ownership. In terms of the paper’s identity, DeSanto’s “beliefs are the same as ours,” she said.

DeSanto said that while much of the news landscape is trending toward clickbait, he values the community paper’s informative, “good news” tone and the way it kindles neighborly conversations. In buying the outlet, he said, “I wanted to make sure that it didn’t go away.” ➆

INFO

Look for Burlington Community Newspaper on February 6. Learn more at northavenuenews.com.

on screen

My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow ★★★★★

If there’s been one bright spot this January, it’s watching people bond over “Heated Rivalry,” the sweet, very Canadian show about a Russian hockey player finding love with his archrival. Nonetheless, this week I’m going to recommend a di erent story involving Russia and repression. A darker, true one.

At five hours plus, Julia Loktev’s My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow could be one of the longest documentaries you’ll see. It’s worth it, as the film’s many awards attest. The Vermont International Film Foundation screens the film in two halves this week at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington: See Section 1 on Friday, January 23, at 7 p.m., or Saturday, January 24, at 3 p.m.; and Section 2 on Saturday, January 24, at 7 p.m., or Sunday, January 25, at 3 p.m.

The deal

Known for her narrative films (Day Night Day Night, The Loneliest Planet), director Loktev emigrated from the Soviet Union to the U.S. as a child. On a visit back to Russia in fall 2021, she set out to profile independent journalists — mostly young women — whom President Vladimir Putin’s government had recently classified as “foreign agents.”

This Ka aesque label had real consequences for people such as Anna Nemzer, host of talk shows on Russia’s last surviving independent news channel, TV Rain. Not only are “foreign agents” required to report their quarterly personal expenses to the government, but they also have to emblazon every public statement they make — even Instagram posts — with an all-caps disclaimer describing it as “disseminated by a foreign source of mass media.”

Loktev’s subjects didn’t take this lying down. In rambling, candid interviews — many conducted at parties or in bustling newsrooms and studios — they deride the hated disclaimer as “the fuckery.” They speak eloquently of their anger at seeing the rights of queer people, migrants and other minorities disappear. They post podcasts and videos that mock and fact-check the o cial narratives. They discuss agonizing over every knock on the door and over choosing the right underwear (presentable but not sexy) in case they’re detained. One of them mails packages to her fiancé, imprisoned for “treason.”

Celebrating New Year’s Eve, TV Rain’s sta expresses tearful hopes for 2022. Less

than two months later, Russia invades and bombs Ukraine. “When I started making the film,” Loktev writes in press notes, “I had no idea I would be capturing history.”

Will you like it?

Preparing to shoot My Undesirable Friends, Loktev writes, she hired a cinematographer. But she quickly learned her friends were more comfortable with just her and her iPhone.

The result is less like watching a traditional documentary than like tagging along with a tireless, well-connected person who’s eager to attend every one of her friends’ parties, protests and impromptu hangouts. While many long docs induce torpor, this one has our eyes and brains racing to keep up with the subtitles.

The 3.5-hour Section 1 somehow still moves at a breakneck pace, propelled by the energy and outrage of its young subjects. Many of them don’t remember a world without Putin or Harry Potter, and the latter gives them a framework for understanding the former. They talk and talk but rarely straight to the camera, unveiling their histories and worldviews as they cook, drive, eat, scroll or edit video.

When Russia invades Ukraine, early

in Section 2, the journalists’ mood veers sharply into shock and despair. Some take to the streets and are arrested. Others pack their bags and secure visas for themselves and their pets. They mount vigils outside the police precinct and text their Ukrainian friends. Between frantic bouts of work, many express shame and a profound sense of loss: Is this still their country? How could they have let this happen?

We already know how this will end, because Loktev has told us early on. My Undesirable Friends documents the last days of a thriving media scene, which in turn documented the last days of a Russia where free speech meant something.

And here’s the most chilling part: None of this feels foreign. The Moscow of My Undesirable Friends isn’t some gray Soviet throwback or Orwellian dystopia; it’s all bustling cafés, cheeky T-shirts and young women admitting shamefacedly that they’ve been binging “Emily in Paris.” It’s people calling the regime “Mordor,” rage baking, drinking too much and laughing hysterically so they won’t cry. Foreigners on social media ask why they don’t just do something. They don’t know what to say.

As Nemzer says in one memorable broadcast, the last recourse we have against

tyranny is keeping a record of its crimes. My Undesirable Friends is an indelible record of what 21st-century autocracy and resistance look like. I think most stateside viewers will also recognize it as a warning.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY…

NAVALNY (2022; HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, rentable): e attempted assassination of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the subject of this Oscar-winning documentary, is an essential part of the backdrop of My Undesirable Friends

ANTIDOTE (2024; PBS): James Jones’ “Frontline” documentary tells the stories of three whistleblowers who risked their lives to oppose the Putin regime.

A THOUSAND CUTS (2020; Kanopy, PBS, rentable): is past Vermont International Film Festival selection profi les Maria Ressa, a Filipina journalist who faced harassment and jail time for her tireless efforts to hold then-president Rodrigo Duterte accountable.

NEW IN THEATERS

BORDER 2: Anurag Singh’s action epic portrays Indian fighters during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. (200 min, NR. Majestic)

H IS FOR HAWK: Claire Foy finds solace in a goshawk’s company after a loss in this drama based on Helen Macdonald’s memoir. (114 min, PG-13. Marquis)

MERCY: A detective (Chris Pratt) has 90 minutes to prove to an AI judge that he didn’t kill his wife in this sci-fi thriller from Timur Bekmambetov. (100 min, PG-13. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Welden)

NO OTHER CHOICEHHHH1/2 A laid-off manager (Lee Byung-hun) would literally kill for another job in this acclaimed dark satire from Park Chan-wook (Oldboy). (139 min, R. Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 1/14)

OBEX: A man seeks his dog in the surreal world of a video game in this sci-fi horror thriller from Albert Birney. (90 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE: Mona Fastvold tells the story of the founder of the Shaker movement (Amanda Seyfried) in this Golden Globe nominee. (137 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Savoy)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLEHHHH

Residents of the quarantined UK continue to fight for their lives in Nia DaCosta’s horror sequel. (109 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Stowe, Welden)

ANACONDAHH A group of midlife friends sets out to remake the 1997 giant-snake thriller in this action comedy. (100 min, PG-13. Majestic)

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASHHHH Pandora faces a conflict between Na’vi tribes as the sci-fi adventure saga continues. (195 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

CACTUS PEARSHHHH1/2 A city dweller (Bhushaan Manoj) returns to his rural hometown and is romantically drawn to an old friend in this acclaimed drama. (112 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

CHARLIE THE WONDERDOG: Owen Wilson voices a dog who uses alien-endowed superpowers to battle an evil cat in this animated adventure. (95 min, PG. Essex, Marquis)

THE CHORALHHH A controversial choral director (Ralph Fiennes) must recruit teenage singers during World War I in this drama from Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys). (113 min, R. Capitol)

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATIONHH1/2 In the sequel to the 2020 disaster film, a family must trek across a frozen wasteland. (98 min, PG-13. City Cinema)

HAMNETHHHH/2 William and Agnes Shakespeare (Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) grapple with loss in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. (125 min, PG-13. Capitol, Catamount, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse; reviewed 12/10)

THE HOUSEMAIDHHH1/2 A young woman’s dream job has a dark side in Paul Feig’s adaptation of Freida McFadden’s thriller. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Welden)

I WAS A STRANGER: A family’s misfortune in Syria causes a chain reaction in Brandt Andersen’s drama. (103 min, PG-13. Big Picture)

IS THIS THING ON?HHH1/2 Sports and standup comedy help a troubled couple (Will Arnett and Laura Dern) in this comedy-drama directed by Bradley Cooper. (124 min, R. Majestic)

MARTY SUPREMEHHHH1/2 In the 1950s, a young man (Timothée Chalamet) sets out to be a table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s comedy-drama. (150 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Star, Stowe; reviewed 1/7)

RESURRECTIONHHHH1/2 Forbidden dreams transport us into past cinematic eras in this surreal sci-fi drama from Bi Gan. (160 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

SONG SUNG BLUEHHH Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a married Neil Diamond tribute band in this fact-based drama. (133 min, PG-13. Majestic)

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTSHHH1/2 A ghost pirate leads SpongeBob to the ocean’s depths in this animation. (96 min, PG. Majestic, Welden)

ZOOTOPIA 2HHH1/2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery. (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

THE BAD SEED (Catamount, Wed 21 only)

CARRIE (Catamount, Fri only)

DEAD RECKONING (Catamount, Wed 28 only)

DEMOCRACY NOIR (Playhouse, Sun only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Fri & Sat only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Sun & Mon only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Sat & Sun only)

MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1 — LAST AIR IN MOSCOWHHHHH (VTIFF, Fri & Sat [Section 1], Sat & Sun [Section 2]; reviewed 1/21)

PILGRIM, FAREWELL (Partizanfilm, Wed 28 only)

STATE AND MAIN (Partizanfilm, Wed 21 only)

OPEN THEATERS

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

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

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

*CAPITOL 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.

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

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

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

SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com

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

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

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

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

Water, Water

Mary Mattingly creates hydrologic poetics at the Current

BY ALICE DODGE • adodge@sevendaysvt.com

In a cheesy but classic episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” from the late ’80s, conflict arises on a supposedly barren planet. As humans drill into the surface to convert its minerals for their own needs, they inadvertently harm sentient microorganisms in the planet’s damp soil. The aliens start a war with the

resource-hungry humans, whom they describe as “giant, ugly bags of mostly water.”

Mary Mattingly’s work reinforces the idea that we are indeed mostly made of water — the artist sees our connections to social, natural and industrial systems through a kind of hydrologic lens. In

REVIEW

Brooklyn, is known for her sculptural and socially engaging public projects. Many of them seem to start with practical questions, such as how to live a ordably as an artist today in New York City. The answers she extrapolates also speak to an uncertain future: What are we doing to our planet, and how will we live in an ever-morelikely ecological dystopia?

Some of Mattingly’s explorations have led her to create sustainable structures that a person could inhabit, made from reclaimed materials and placed in urban locations. “Swale” was a “floating food forest” on a barge that docked from 2016 to 2020 at different sites around New York City. The project was a response to laws that prohibit foraging in the city; since it was on the water, terrestrial rules didn’t apply. For another e ort, a series of performative sculptures, Mattingly made giant bundles of her own possessions, held together with twine, that she photographed and dragged through city streets — a way of examining her own role in global consumption.

On a tour of the Current show, Mattingly said that work prompted her to turn her lens on the e ects of her own practice. She said she started “looking at my own photographic material and equipment and trying to figure out how it was made — what my responsibility was with then taking a photograph.”

Minerals such as cobalt and phosphate are used to make the batteries, lenses and electronics that go into a digital camera. Mattingly investigates these materials in a series of photos and digital collages displayed in the main gallery. Some of the images are documentary, such as photographs of white piles of phosphate at an abandoned site in Texas, an ore transport station on Lake Superior and the morning fog over a Michigan forest — the closest Mattingly said she could get to Eagle Mine, where cobalt is extracted.

“Water Writes the Garden” at the Current in Stowe, her photographs and installations center on themes of connection and what she calls “poetic instruction”: a way of incorporating beauty into an exploration of the sometimes giant, ugly truths of our actions.

Mattingly, who lives and works in

The collages combine these views with objects, creating more personal, poetic still lifes. “On Being Blue” nods to cobalt’s azure hue with blue bottles, some full of pigment, as well as rocks tied up with string and a collage-within-a-collage of photos of flowers taken at Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France. “A Silence Contained for Years” seems to turn an artist’s flat file cabinet into a lab bench: Tubes and string spill from its drawers. A series of small rocks — that seem like precious objects collected with care — are displayed against a backdrop of piles of phosphate, mountains in the distance.

Mattingly said that in constructing her collages, she was thinking about the volume of photographs people take globally — now well over 1 trillion a year. The more photographs we make, the more energy they take and the less significance each has, she said: “Making sure that they mean something becomes really important.”

dry out. The sculpture sits well next to another series of photo collages that explore water’s role shaping the landscape — a topic the Current will highlight with upcoming public programs about flood resilience.

WATER DOES MAKE ITS OWN ROUTE IN ITS OWN TIME.

Mattingly carries her symbolic arrangements of things from the collages into physical space with several sculptural pieces in the show. In “Poems for Plants,” she has placed objects on shelves — these include bottles, some containing pigments, seeds or liquids; spherical things such as a bowling ball, rocks and a turned wooden burl; rusty pipes; the base of an oil lamp; and driftwood. “A Poem for Water” uses ceramic vessels, plastic tubing and thriftstore art, all referencing water.

Mattingly said she started arranging these sorts of objects as a way to jumpstart her day in the studio. She would place each item to correlate with a word from a poem. “They’re very much about play,” she said, and a way to consider “land and water through objects.”

One sculpture features a canoe filled with rock salt. In 2023, the same year many Vermonters faced epic flooding, Mattingly’s studio also flooded when Brooklyn’s stormwater system couldn’t keep up with both high tide and torrential rain. Salt from the East River was part of the residue left behind. The amount of salt in the canoe conveys an immensity of water, one that would take an eon to

Mattingly wanted to present the canoe, she said, “both floating and sinking simultaneously.”

The artist has made many sculptures, most very large, in a series of “water clocks.” These are inspired by ancient timekeeping devices called clepsydras, similar to hourglasses, that essentially time how long it takes for water to flow from one vessel to another. Mattingly’s are much more elaborate, integrating many containers and tubes and sometimes melting ice or rainwater. Because it’s indoors at the Current, “Water Writes the Garden” is a closed system in which the water, contained in plastic tubes, winds through ceramic vessels that don’t have a physical effect on this clock’s function. But the gurgling sound ties it inextricably to the idea of water.

Mattingly pointed out that all water that’s ever been on Earth is the same as what’s here now, everywhere in the world, including in all of our bodies. “Water does make its own route in its own time,” she said. “You can try to manage it, but it just has its own way.” ➆

“Water Writes the Garden” by Mary Mattingly, on view through April 10 at the Current in Stowe. thecurrentnow.org

art JAN. 21-28

OPENINGS + RECEPTIONS

‘THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES: PERSPECTIVES

ON ART’: ree interconnected installations, including a display of works by members with a written explanation of the artist’s perspective to be uncovered during viewing; works by eight artists over the age of 80; “Finding Hope Within,” an exhibition of works made by incarcerated Vermonters; and works entered into the annual photo contest, which this year will feature images of the Chaffee building. Reception: Friday, January 23, 5-7 p.m. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, January 23-February 27. Info, 775-0356.

‘SENSUAL TURNS’: A group show of works by Bonnie Morano, Jenny Kemp and Elizabeth Powell, who also curated. Reception: Friday, January 23, 6-8 p.m. e Phoenix, Waterbury, January 23-March 13.

‘ALL TALL’: A group show involving freestanding and suspended sculptures surrounded by very vertical wall work, curated by Janet Van Fleet and on view in the Main Floor Gallery. Reception: Saturday, January 24, 3:30-5 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through February 28. Info, 479-7069.

MARIANNE MULLEN: “Layers of Her Creative Spirit,” mixed-media collages and other layered works, on view in the Second Floor Gallery. Reception: Saturday, January 24, 3:30-5 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through February 28. Info, 479-7069, info@ studioplacearts.com.

KRISTINE CHARTRAND: “Nesting,” drawings and installations that explore the tension between the inner turbulence of motherhood and the outward realities of raising children, on view in the ird Floor Gallery. Reception: Saturday, January 24, 3:30-5 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through February 28. Info, 479-7069.

RAY BROWN: “Building on a Legacy,” a silent auction fundraiser of drawings, prints and paintings by the late artist to benefit the SPA Building Resiliency Fund, on view in the classroom and Quick Change Gallery. Reception: Saturday, January 24, 3:30-5 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre, through February 13. Info, 479-7069.

‘EXPOSICION DE ART AND ARTIFACT’: An exhibition featuring photography, painting, illustration and 3D works by Karen Jerzyk, Doug Hoffman/Boxguts and Jeffrey Lee Joseph Beaulieu. Reception: Saturday, January 24, 4-7 p.m. Blvck Lung Studios, Richmond, January 24-February 18. Info, contact@ blvcklungstudios.com.

ART EVENTS

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, ursday, January 22, 12:30-2:30 p.m. By donation. Info, 343-8172.

LIFE DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event for artists working with the figure from a live model. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, ursday, January 22, 7-9 p.m. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

MAKER DROP-IN: A drop-in program for all ages for those who want to try new mediums or tools with a self-guided art-making activity. All materials provided and no experience necessary. No registration required. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Saturday, January 24, 1-4 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2808.

ARTIST TALK: MARK BARRY: A walking tour and discussion by the artist of his outdoor exhibition, “Petals to Metal and Other Stories.” Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Saturday, January 24, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.

ART SOCIAL: A reception for four new shows with a performance of live blues by John Lackard in the classroom. Studio Place Arts, Barre, Saturday, January 24, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 479-7069.

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, January 25, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

ARTIST TALK: ELIZABETH NELSON: A discussion with the artist of her work, on view in “Meanwhile,” a solo show of paintings and drawings. e Front, Montpelier, Sunday, January 25, 4 p.m. Free. Info, info@thefrontvt.com.

OPEN PORTFOLIO NIGHT: A welcoming, relaxed event in which photographers and visual artists share work, exchange ideas and receive feedback. Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, Sunday, January 25, 5-7 p.m. Free; no preregistration required. Info, 251-6051.

PORTRAIT DRAWING AND PAINTING: A drop-in event where artists can practice skills in any medium. T.W. Wood Museum, Montpelier, Monday, January 26, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; $15 suggested donation. Info, 222-0909.

HOOD HIGHLIGHTS TOUR: An in-person tour of the museum’s galleries. Gather in the Russo Atrium five minutes prior to the start time. No registration necessary. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Wednesday, January 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-9660.

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘WINGS — WATERS — WAYS’: Seeking works that explore the interwoven histories of humans, birds and waterways for the annual juried community exhibition. Submit up to three works at birdsofvermont.org. No works using generative AI will be accepted. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington. Deadline: March 23. Free. Info, museum@birdsofvermont.org. ➆

Echo-lalia

It’s been three years since New York City transplant John Zaso opened Hexum Gallery with a show of works from his own collection in a second-floor Montpelier suite. Since then, the unobtrusive venue has become a mainstay of bimonthly Art Walks and an excellent spot to find unusual pieces that reflect Zaso’s taste, which prioritizes pattern, repetition and an obsessive attention to medium — not to mention occasional kitsch and joyous gayness. In honor of the anniversary, “Echo” displays a selection of abstract works from Zaso’s personal collection. Many of them must be seen in person, such an all-black, medallion-like painting made from pine cones by Amber Renaye; Samantha Bittman’s trippy black-and-white weaving; and Morgan Blair’s surprisingly painterly “Youtube Channel Features Nondescript Man Sculpting Foam Avatars for Every One of His Multiple Personalities, Raccoon Videos, One Suspenseful InDesign Tutorial.” All raise tension between what’s carefully controlled and what is allowed to run wild.

On view by appointment through January 30 at Hexum Gallery in Montpelier. hexumgallery.com

affection. gratitude. admiration.

is Valentine’s Day, express your love — or whatever’s in your heart — to someone special in the pages of this fine newspaper.

Surprise your partner, pal, parent or pet with a personalized and public Valentine’s post printed in Seven Days on February 12. All messages from simple props to marriage proposals are encouraged!

Order your Cardy-o-grams ($14/message) by noon on Friday, February 6, at: sevendaysvt.com/heart

On the Beat

The University of Vermont Lane Series, which launched in 1955 and is dedicated to bringing top-notch musical talent to the acoustically gorgeous UVM Recital Hall, has announced another season of incredible musicians in store for the New Year.

Highlights include jazz guitarist BADI ASSAD on January 30, Venezuelan singer NELLA on February 13, and a cappella group ROOMFUL OF TEETH and GABRIEL KAHANE on April 17. The spring slate kicks o this Friday, January 23, with Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist VITALY STARIKOV

For more information and the full lineup, visit uvm.edu/laneseries.

An upcoming showcase at the Odd Fellows Hall in Burlington o ers a tantalizing glimpse of the future of the 802 hip-hop scene. The massive bill includes artists such as BILÉ, TRILL, PHOENIX, JONESY, ABIZO and TOPIA, all of whom came up in the Digital Media Lab at the Burlington Technical Center, a high school music production program run by teacher JASON RAYMOND

“I’ve been eager to find ways of connecting emerging high school rappers and producers with local beat makers, DJ’s, rappers, and producers who have already been making a name for themselves,” Raymond wrote in an email.

The showcase at Odd Fellows, going

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “LIKE DRIVING ON SNOW” by David Karl Roberts

2. “STAKEOUT” by Wolfhand

3. “HOLY WATER” by Emily Margaret Band

4. “GUILTY PLEASURES” by Mike Gordon

5. “WHEN THE FIRE BURNS LOW” by Ponyhustle

6. “K!LL3D” by Yung Breeze

7. “THE STORM” by Hammydown

Scan to listen

sevendaysvt. com/playlist

down on Saturday, January 24, is a way to both give young artists exposure on local stages and connect them with others in the scene. Check out burlingtonoddfellows.com for more information.

Burlington alt-rockers REDADMIRAL have returned with two new singles and a music video, to boot. “Police State” is a

4T-sppac011426 1

music+nightlife

Radio Bean’s Future in Flux as Owner Plans to Step Aside

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

In a Sunday post on social media, Radio Bean founder and operator Lee Anderson said he would be stepping aside as sole owner of the Burlington nightclub he started 25 years ago.

“The reality is that it’s no longer possible for me to operate the business the way I have in the past with a family and two young kids,” Anderson wrote. “To be clear, WE ARE STILL OPEN and have months of incredible shows booked.”

“I am now officially beginning the process of looking for someone, or some people, who understand this space’s value and potential and are capable of buying and/or cooperatively owning and operating the business, carrying it forward into a vibrant future,” he continued.

He suggested that his “ideal” path ahead would be a cooperative ownership model “and that I would continue to be directly involved as a co-owner/member.” But his continued involvement is “not a prerequisite,” he clarified, “nor is operating under the name Radio Bean.”

He added that the club’s financial struggles are “no secret” and that “for Radio Bean to succeed it needs to diversify from being dependent solely on drink and ticket sales.”

Anderson launched Radio Bean on November 4, 2000. The tiny club on North Winooski Avenue quickly became a hot spot within the local music scene, offering scores of shows on its stage and later adding a sister venue, Light Club Lamp Shop. No venue in the area has booked as eclectic a lineup of talent, mixing musical genres and incorporating comedy, drag, DJs and even live theater.

timely track, featuring the RAMONES-like chorus of “I don’t want to live in a police state.” The video for the song includes footage of armed and armored cops and soldiers repressing civilians, snapshots of fascism in action. “Monster,” an almost psychedelic jug-band jam, deals in similar themes, with lyrics such as “dangerous and dumb / killing their own young / Stars and Stripes and fangs and a forked tongue.”

Both tracks are streaming at redadmiral1.bandcamp.com.

Burlington garage-rock outfit ROBBER ROBBER continue the lead-up to their forthcoming new record, Two Wheels Move the Soul, due in April, with the

Anderson was 22 years old when he opened the club. Running it looks a lot different now that he’s the father of two, he said.

“I’m not blaming it on my kids or anything, but life changes when you’re a dad,” Anderson told Seven Days in a phone call. “Working until two or three in the morning and getting home shortly before they wake up — it just wasn’t working. The balance was off.”

After celebrating the club’s 25th anniversary in November, Anderson felt it was the right time to look toward what’s next for the Bean. Since posting his initial message on social media, “I got, like, 5 billion texts

release of the single “The Sound It Made.”

A distorted rave-up with a CHEMICAL BROTHERS-like jungle beat, the track is full of rage at the faceless forces of “progress.” The song was inspired by band founders NINA CATES and ZACK JAMES’ eviction from their Burlington apartment after their landlord notified them the property was being destroyed. The band posted an accompanying music video to YouTube.

2026 is setting up to be a big year for Robber Robber, who were namechecked by the New York Times last week. “The Sound It Made” was chosen among the newspaper’s “8 Songs We’re Talking About This Week,” alongside the likes of MITSKI, FLEA and even PRINCE CHRIS FARNSWORTH

the next day,” Anderson said. So he decided to schedule an open-house Q&A session at the club for Wednesday, January 21, at 5 p.m., when he’ll update the community on his plans and hear suggestions on new ownership.

“The co-op model, the more I think about it, that’s the best model going forward,” Anderson said. “Even though I’ve owned it, the Radio Bean has always felt a little like a co-op; it really belongs to the community. I think, with the right people, it can be even more and go even further.”

Anderson hopes that option, in which a group of community members essentially buys Radio Bean, would unlock the potential

of the club, including relaunching its restaurant and morning coffee service, which ceased during the pandemic. That said, he’s not opposed to someone coming in and revamping it all — provided they meet his criteria.

“If someone has resources and real passion, a vision that I could see and believe in, I could see that happening, as well,” Anderson said. “It’s all up in the air right now, and I’m still figuring out the next move.”

Anderson reiterated that Radio Bean is not in danger of closing anytime soon and has a full calendar of booked shows.

“There’s no 45-day break, no ‘closing for the summer’ stuff,” Anderson quipped, referring to the confusing final days at landmark downtown venue Nectar’s, which closed its doors for good in 2025. “I don’t have some kind of hard date to move on, but I’d like to have a definitive plan in place by this summer.”

Whatever comes next, Anderson is fully aware of the importance of Radio Bean to Burlington’s music scene, particularly in light of the Nectar’s closure.

“I feel pressure, in a good way,” Anderson said. “I know I hold the reins to something that is so important to the local and regional music scene. I feel a massive, massive responsibility to make sure that doesn’t go away and that there’s a live music venue in that space. My nightmare is a restaurant with, like, one night of jazz a week — I will do everything I can to make sure that’s not the case.” ➆

Learn more at radiobean.com.

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REVIEW this music+nightlife

LACES, LACES EP

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Variety packs can be a gamble. Sure, free will is in your hands as you pick between Doritos, Cheetos or Ru es, the true dream of a 21st-century libertine. Why just eat vanilla ice cream when you can have chocolate, too? Well, there’s also strawberry in there — are you going to be that person that leaves a container of Neapolitan with one pink slab of freezer-burned ice cream?

This is the peril of living your truth, my friends: the true tyranny of choice. Burlington quintet LACES are your musical equivalent of a microbrew sampler, a band whose self-titled debut o ers listeners what amounts to five di erent bands fronted by five di erent songwriters on five di erent tracks. (The food editors might flag this review, but it’s too late to turn back now.)

Consisting of Levi Keszey, Abagael Giles, Christopher McManus, Erik Seivert and Seamus Hannan, LACES formed as a COVID-era basement pod of musicians in 2020. The band takes an interesting approach on its debut. As opposed to melding its disparate sounds or trying to create a kind of musical melting pot, each member takes center stage for a song.

Opening track “Beeswax Candle” was written by Levi Keszey, who also plays with indierock outfit the Pyros. A jangly, Pavement-esque rocker, it kicks o the EP with an insouciant kind of cool, a rave-up that keeps itself under control, complete with some nice stabs of horns.

cliché. LACES don’t lather the track in pedal steel or go for big Nashville harmonies; instead, the Americanaish tune turns into a big indie-rock breakdown, complete with a swaggering guitar solo and (that’s right) more horns. It’s a horny album, OK?

Written and sung by Seivert, “Morning Light” marks perhaps the EP’s biggest shift as LACES ride a funky, Afrobeat-inspired rhythm over the slinky, darkly danceable song. The record closes with Hannan’s “Bloodshot Eye.” The Larkspurs percussionist’s entry is a slacker-rock coda, complete with banjo and a guitar solo that would be at home on Meat Puppets’ Too High to Die

A pentad of multi-instrumentalists and songwriters, LACES might be the Queen City’s answer to Broken Social Scene, the Canadian collective of indie rockers that flourished in the early 2000s. LACES are likewise a study in combining powers to become something greater.

“Summer Rain” veers into another lane with whiplash quickness, as indie rock gives way to a gentle, soulful ballad written and sung by Giles, a climate and environment reporter with Vermont Public by day. While the sonic characteristics of the previous track remain, they morph to meet Giles’ clear, harmonious vocals.

McManus, formerly of the alt-country outfit Great Western, takes the reins for “Pop Top Chevy.” The band adopts a country-adjacent twang but, crucially, without overdoing it or leaning into

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

1. Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band at Paramount eatre in Rutland, February 13

2. Miguel at MTELUS in Montréal, February 17

3. Glen Phillips at Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe, March 1

4. Band of Horses at State eatre in Portland, Maine, April 9

5. Nick Offerman at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington, April 19

The danger of tossing all of those ingredients into the pot is producing an unappetizing mélange, and the incongruity of LACES EP does give its sequencing an uneven flow: As soon as you get into a groove, the band pulls you into another zone. Some folks might find the record’s variety to be an obstacle and check out whenever they hit a flavor they don’t care for, leaving that freezerburned stripe of strawberry ice cream to languish. Me? I don’t leave perfectly good ice cream untouched, and the same goes for LACES EP

LACES EP is available at lacesvt. bandcamp.com and major streaming services.

6. Mt. Joy at the Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, June 4

7. Wilco’s Solid Sound Music and Arts Festival at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., June 26-28 the

THU.22

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

SUN.25

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.26

Monday Night Open Mic (open mic) at Pearl Street Pub, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

TUE.27

Doug’s Open Mic (open mic) at Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free. Lakeside Open Mic (open mic) at the Pickled Perch, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Open Mic Tuesdays with Dan and Dan (open mic) at Jay Peak Resort, 5 p.m. Free.

WED.28

HOT DAMN! A Nightlife Arts Open Stage (open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Poultney Pub, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.21

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

THU.22

Emil Wakim (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $20.

FRI.23

Emil Wakim (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $20.

The Power of Three

Long Island’s MJT first hit the scene in 2009 after the trio of young musical prodigies snuck out of a homeless shelter to win the Amateur Night at the Apollo talent contest at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem. Consisting of brothers Matt, Jordan and David Godfrey, MJT — formerly known as the Michael Jazz Trio — have a sweeping cross-genre sound encompassing progressive rock, post-punk, soulful jazz, and shades of R&B. The band reached new heights of fusion and instrumental prowess on its 2025 LP, Mr. NoOne (Pt. 2), with the evocative single “Hopeless” showing a group in complete control of its sprawling, eclectic vision. MJT play Radio Bean in Burlington on Saturday, January 24, with support from local indie-rock outfit COMATOSE KIDS

SAT.24

Emil Wakim (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. $20.

TUE.27

All at Jazz Open Mic Comedy (comedy) at the 126, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.28

$5 Improv Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $5.

trivia, karaoke,

etc.

WED.21

Better in Boots Line Dancing (line dancing) at Stowe Cider, 6 p.m. Free.

Deaf-Friendly Trivia (trivia with ASL presenter) at Citizen Cider Press House Pub, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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 Two Heroes Brewery & Public House, South Hero, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.22

Country Line Dancing (line dancing) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.23

Boogie Bingo (bingo, DJ) at the Alchemist, Waterbury, 5 p.m. Free.

Karaoke Friday Night (karaoke) at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction, 8 p.m. Free.

Karaoke with DJ Big T (karaoke) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Queer Country Line Dance (line dancing) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 7 p.m. $15.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Viewing Party (watch party) at Einstein’s Tap House, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

SAT.24

Queeraoke with Goddess (karaoke) at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

Winter Rendezvous: Drag Bingo (drag, bingo) at Alfie’s Wild Ride, Stowe, 3 p.m. Free.

SUN.25

Family-Friendly Karaoke (karaoke) at Old Soul Design Shop, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 5 p.m. Free.

Sunday Funday (games) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, noon. Free.

Trivia (trivia) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Venetian Karaoke (karaoke) at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.26

Fighting Game Community Biweekly with WNFC (gaming) at Lumière Hall, Burlington Beer, 4 p.m. $5.

Retro Game Night (gaming) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Trivia Monday with Top Hat Entertainment (trivia) at McKee’s Original, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Brain (trivia) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia with Craig Mitchell (trivia) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.27

Karaoke with DJ Party Bear (karaoke) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Taproom Trivia (trivia) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Tuesday (trivia) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.28

Charlie-O’s World Famous Drag Show (drag) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:45 p.m. Free.

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 (trivia) at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. ➆

calendar

JANUARY 21-28, 2026

WED.21

activism

VERMONT WOMEN’S MENTOR TRAINING: Mercy Connections facilitates this five-week program for prospective mentors seeking to provide guidance, encouragement and support to women affected by the criminal justice system. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-7164.

WHAT CAN WE DO?: Reps from Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America share what strategic political resistance looks like here and now.

BALE Community Space, South Royalton, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, hello@greenmountaindsa.org.

crafts

YARN & YAK: A weekly club for fiber fanatics of all skill levels makes knitting and crocheting more sociable. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 999-0516.

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.

ANNUAL MEETING: Members of the public hear the latest

news from the center’s nonprofit community foundation. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 6:15 p.m. Free. Info, abby@ sprucepeakarts.org.

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, cdmvt47@ yahoo.com.

DOWNTOWN LIGHTS: The heart of the Queen City gets a glow-up with enchanting projections across local landmarks, an illuminated tower sculpture in City Hall Park and twinkling lights galore. Various Burlington locations, dusk. Free. Info, 865-7166.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM SERIES: ‘THE PAVILION ON THE WATER’: A 2023 exploration of the Japanese-inspired work of Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa considers the nature of beauty and the role of an artist. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166. ‘FROM RAILS TO TRAILS’: Edward Norton narrates this

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.

RECOVERY DHARMA: Folks struggling with addiction gather weekly for an evening of meditation, topical readings and open discussion in a supportive environment. First United Methodist Church, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 825-1815.

2025 documentary about the struggle to convert thousands of miles of abandoned railroads into paths for cycling and walking. A Q&A follows. Virtual option available. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 540-3018.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘NO DIRECTION HOME:

BOB DYLAN’: Viewers take in part two of Martin Scorsese’s 2005 music documentary chronicling the famed folk singer’s unusual evolution. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 7 p.m. $8. Info, 387-0102.

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.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: Community members mingle over tea and coffee, swapping bright ideas for the property. The Creative Campus at Goddard, Plainfield, 8-10 a.m. Free. Info, 821-0741.

games

ADULTS PUZZLE SWAP: Participants leave completed puzzles (250-plus pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

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

ELL CLASSES: Fletcher Free Library invites learners of all abilities to practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

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

FARMERS NIGHT CONCERT SERIES: BOB WAGNER & FRIENDS: Bassist Josh Weinstein and drummer Dan Ryan join the celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist for a night of folk, rock, blues and soul under the golden dome. House Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 279-5558.

RECITAL SERIES: JASON MORAN: A Grammy Award-nominated jazz pianist and composer blows listeners away with a solo performance that reimagines the work of the legendary Duke Ellington. Morris Recital Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hanover, N.H., 7-8 & 9-10 p.m. $50-60. Info, 603-646-2422.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players block, chop and lob in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

SMUGGS 55+ CLUB APRÈS

SPEAKER SERIES: POPPY GALL: The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum board cochair sheds light on the state’s lost ski areas, from Hyde Park to Cambridge. Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, president@smuggs55plus.com.

words

FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art. film

See what’s playing in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/music.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

THU.22

business

JANUARY MIXER: Hors d’oeuvres and networking opportunities encourage warm community connections at this Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce event. Divine Treasures, Swanton, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $15; free for members and first-time attendees. Info, 524-2444.

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 every experience level 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 makerspace tools and equipment. Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center, Middlebury, 5-8 p.m. $7.50. Info, 382-1012.

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. etc.

DOWNTOWN LIGHTS: See WED.21.

ECHO AFTER DARK: MARIO TAKEOVER: An after-hours night at the museum serves up throwback nostalgia with interactive mini-game challenges, live turtle encounters and a Mario Kart competition. Ages 18 and up. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 6-9 p.m. $20-25; cash bar. Info, 864-1848.

fairs & festivals

VERMONT BURLESQUE FESTIVAL: HENDRICK’S MIXER & SNEAK PEAKS SHOWCASE: A casual evening of mingling for nightlife arts aficionados includes alluring cocktails, groovy sets by DJ Irie and a short but sweet sampling of festival performances. See calendar spotlight. Hugo’s, Montpelier, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 276-6362.

‘GONE GUYS’: The eye-opening documentary spotlighting the struggles of young men draws on Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 nonfiction book, Of Boys and Men. A panel discussion follows. Essex Cinemas & T-Rex Theater, 6 p.m. $10-100; pay what you can option available. Info, 878-7231.

‘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, $20-23; 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, $20-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: Astrophiles 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, $20-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

games

BRIDGE CLUB: A lively group plays a classic, tricky game in pairs. Waterbury Public Library, 12:304:30 p.m. Free. Info, 522-3523. CHESS FOR FUN: Players of all abilities select an opening gambit, go on the attack and protect their king in friendly competition. Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, lafferty1949@gmail.com.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: Snacks and coffee fuel bouts of a classic card game. Burlington Bridge Club, Williston, 12:30 p.m. $6. Info, 872-5722.

HELEN WHYBROW & ETHAN

TAPPER: In “Living on the Land, Words and Practice,” two award-winning Vermont writers share how their lives inspired their recent meditations on place and stewardship. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 382-9222.

THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: Wordsmiths who delight in nonfiction convene for company, accountability and support in achieving their writing goals. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, nathaniel.eisen@gmail.com.

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, $20-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

FRIENDLY GAME OF BRIDGE: Strategic thinkers have a blast with the popular card game. Heineberg Senior Center, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 233-4395.

PEER SUPPORT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Beginners wanted! Players get lost in the fantasyfilled tabletop role-playing game while focusing on teamwork, connection and community building. Morgan House, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 777-6185.

WEEKLY CHESS FOR FUN: Folks 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.

SEATED TAI CHI: Adina guides at-home participants — including those with limited mobility or difficulty standing — through a sequence of slow, connected movements designed to improve flexibility, range of motion and strength. Sponsored by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 1 p.m. Free; register to receive Zoom link. Info, 878-4918.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION

GROUP: Practitioners make strides — and new friends — at a stress-free discussion circle. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

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.

SPANISH CONVERSATION:

¿Hablas español? Conversationalists of all levels practice the romance language in a stress-free environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

music

FLYNNZONE FAMILY SERIES: SUNNY JAIN’S WILD WILD

EAST: A global musician sources inspiration from Bollywood classics, Punjabi folk traditions, jazz improvisation and psychedelic styles. Flynn Main Stage, Burlington, 7 p.m. $29. Info, 863-5966.

JASON MORAN AND THE BANDWAGON: The groundbreaking pianist and composer helms this longtime trio revered for its intuitive and bold interplay. Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 7:30-9:30 p.m. $35-65. Info, 603-646-2422.

talks

DR. JORDON TOURVILLE:

In “Living on the Edge: Past, Present and Future Changes of Northeastern Alpine Zones,” a terrestrial ecologist addresses the impacts of rising temperatures, declining snow cover and intense recreational use in these areas. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 7-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

THE JOHN KOBAL FOUNDATION COLLECTION LECTURE: DESIREE J. GARCIA: A professor of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean studies explores why the genre is both beloved and hated in “Everybody Sing and Dance: The Pleasures and Perils of Studying Musical Film.” Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 603-646-2808.

tech

TECH THURSDAYS: SMARTPHONE SERIES: Participants learn how to get the most out of their iPhone and Android mobile devices. Fletcher

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.21

DADS’ NIGHT IN: JACKBOX

GAMES: Fathers log on for a virtual game night hosted by Dad Guild. 8:45-10 p.m. Free. Info, 318-4231.

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: Curious minds dive into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend at this family-friendly exhibit featuring interactive games, a design studio, multimedia displays, a 30-foot sculpture and photo ops. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $20-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

ART

EXPLORERS: Young creatives ages 5 to 14 learn about art history and self-expression at this homeschoolerfriendly program from Davis Studio.

JAN. 22 & 23 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Yes, Tease

The 2025 Vermont Burlesque Festival closed with a giant question mark about its future, but community members rallied to ensure that the showcase of glitz and glamour would return for an encore. This year’s shorter celebration moves from Burlington to central Vermont, but its spirit and sass remain unchanged. A sampling of acts at Hugo’s in Montpelier on Thursday whets palates for the main event: Friday’s sold-out Granite City Showcase at the Barre Opera House, a longtime satellite venue for the fest. A red carpet and live jazz launch an evening of comedy, variety, and smokin’ hot displays of talent, beauty and body positivity.

VERMONT BURLESQUE FESTIVAL

Thursday, January 22, 5:30 p.m., at Hugo’s in Montpelier. Free. Friday, January 23, 6:30 p.m., at Barre Opera House. $54-59. Info, 276-6362, vermontburlesquefestival.com.

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: Young explorers take an unforgettable journey through a hands-on prehistoric world where life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $20-23; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: A weekly program brings babies, toddlers and their caregivers together for songs, stories, play and community building in a nurturing environment. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

STEAM SPACE: Youngsters in grades K through 5 explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD

EXPLORATION: All ages practice observational drawing with fountain pens using an object found in nature. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

BABY TIME: Infants and their caregivers enjoy a slow, soothing story featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

GAME ON!: Kids take turns collaborating with or competing against friends using Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Caregivers must be present to supervise children below fifth grade. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KIDS PUZZLE SWAP: Participants leave completed puzzles (24 to 300 pieces only) in a ziplock bag with an image of the finished product, then find something new to take home. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: Little ones ages birth to 5 build with giant blocks and read together. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Kids ages 6 and up build imaginative creations with KEVA blocks. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: Wiggly ones ages birth to 18 months play and explore in a calm, supportive setting while adults relax and connect on the sidelines. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. 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.

THU.22 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

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.

BLACK DAD HANG: Dad Guild staff member Marlon Fisher hosts a casual monthly gathering for Black fathers looking to build community and connect with others. Refreshments provided. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 318-4231.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

GROW PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads kids ages 2 to 5 in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

‘TELL US WHAT YOU WANT’: Library patrons in grades 6 through 12 convene to plan events and programs that reflect

Free Library, Burlington, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 865-7217.

theater

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’: Shaker Bridge Theatre presents Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard’s psychological drama about an explosive, incestuous relationship between half-siblings. Briggs Opera House, White River Junction, 7-8:30 p.m. $25-45. Info, 281-6848.

their interests. Refreshments provided. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD

EXPLORATION: See WED.21, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

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, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

STORY TIME: Little ones ages 2 to 5 learn from songs, crafts and picture books. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TODDLER TIME: Wiggly wee ones ages 1 and up love this lively, interactive storybook experience featuring songs, rhymes and finger plays with Miss Valerie. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:159:45 & 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

MR. PAUL’S VARIETY SHOW STORY TIME: Little library patrons join the entertainer for stories, music and puppets.

words

ALEXIS LATHEM: An awardwinning Vermont writer and poet shares her new book, Lambs in Winter, about finding hope in an age-old connection to the Earth. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 863-2345.

ROSEMARY MOSCO: An author, illustrator and speaker dives into her humorous new book, The Birding Dictionary, a tongue-incheek guide for avian admirers. Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 434-3068.

SASHA HOM: A writer shares her thought-provoking debut novella, Sidework, in conversation with futurist storyteller Shingai Njeri Kagunda. The Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

SILENT READING PARTY:

Bookworms unite — quietly, of course! BYO reading material to savor in peace and quiet. The Tropic Brewing, Waterbury, 5:306:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-1441.

VIRTUAL FICTION CELEBRATION HONORING

ERNEST MCLEOD: A longtime New England Review editor gets a proper send-off with celebratory readings featuring contributors Lindsay Ahl, Andrew De Silva, Lukasz Grabowski and others. 8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 443-5075.

VIRTUAL POETRY OPEN

MIC: Phoenix Books invites wordsmiths of all abilities to read their work with local performance poet Bianca Amira Zanella. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

FRI.23

dance

CONTRA DANCE TO BENEFIT

MIGRANT JUSTICE: Rail City

Indivisible hosts an evening of community building through movement, featuring live music by local talent and calling by Mark Sustic. Bring clean, softsoled shoes. St. Albans City Hall, beginner lesson, 6:45 p.m.; music, 7-9 p.m. $25 suggested donation; cash only. Info, 229-9425.

‘NOVEL FORMATS ON-SITE’: A new project by Rachel Bernsen and collaborators features a cycle of seven performance works that explore the nature of dance in conversation with forms outside itself. AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, N.H., 7 p.m. Free. Info, 603-448-3117.

SHELBURNE CONTRA DANCE: No partner or experience is necessary when Mary Wesley calls the steps and Springtide provide the tunes. Bring clean, soft-soled shoes. Shelburne Town Hall, beginner lesson, 6:45 p.m.; music, 7-10 p.m. $5-12 cash or check; free for kids under 12. Info, info@ queencitycontras.com.

etc.

DOWNTOWN LIGHTS: See WED.21.

DOWNTOWN LIGHTS: SNOW BALL: The marketplace comes to life with sparkling projections by Vanish Works, sets spun by DJ Amelia Devoid, snowball-throwing challenges, mini snowman making and loads of hot chocolate. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 5-8 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

‘SALT SEASON: VERMONT NIGHTLIFE ARTS SPECTACLE’: A one-night-only showcase of burlesque, drag and circus arts brings together Vermont’s finest performers for a celebration of nightlife artistry. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 8 p.m. $25-35. Info, 782-2810.

fairs & festivals

*SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL: ‘FOREVER’: Celebrated playwright and performer Dael Orlandersmith mesmerizes with an uplifting autobiographical exploration of the family we are born into and the family we choose. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Space, Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.50. Info, 863-5966.

VERMONT BURLESQUE

FESTIVAL: GRANITE CITY

SHOWCASE: SOLD OUT. The local vaudeville community comes together for an enchanting jubilee of showstopping performances hosted by Franki Markstone. Ages 18 and up. See calendar spotlight. Barre Opera House, 6:30 p.m. $54-59. Info, 276-6362.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.22.

‘GONE GUYS’: See THU.22.

‘MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I — LAST AIR IN MOSCOW’: Julia Loktev’s 2025 documentary follows independent journalists in Moscow who are facing government crackdown as Russia invades Ukraine. The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. $6-12. Info, 660-2600.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.22.

‘ROYAL WEDDING’: Fred Astaire and Jane Powell star as a sibling dance act who encounter challenges and romance while performing in London in this charming musical comedy from 1951. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1:15-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.22.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.22.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.22, 10 a.m.

MONTSHIRE AFTER DARK:

WINTER OLYMPIC PHYSICS:

Attendees play with astonishing

23 |

Man Overboard

Mass shootings, domestic terrorist attacks, acts of extremism. These are stark realities of everyday life in the 21st century, but they’re also almost always carried out by men or boys fueled by hatred of one or more targeted groups of people. Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism, the revelatory new book by American University scholar and sociologist Cynthia Miller-Idriss, addresses these uncomfortable truths head-on, confronting the motivations behind such acts in an effort to understand and prevent the rising tide of violence. Miller-Idriss talks about these and other hot-button issues with Vermont journalist Garrett M. Graff at Phoenix Books in Burlington.

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS

Friday, January 23, 7 p.m., at Phoenix Books in Burlington. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350, phoenixbooks.biz.

principles at this adults-only, hands-on night of fun. Ages 21 and up. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 6:30-9 p.m. $20. Info, 649-2200.

health & fitness

GUIDED MEDITATION

ONLINE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library invites attendees to relax on their lunch breaks and reconnect with their bodies. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@ damlvt.org.

IN-PERSON MORNING

MEDITATION: Expert Zac Ispa-Landa helps participants gain tools to quiet their minds, slow down and reset. Outright

Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free. Info, 825-1815.

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.

WEEKLY MEDITATION SIT:

Practitioners of all ages and abilities convene for a morning of techniques focused on stress reduction, improved focus and emotional regulation. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 8-8:45 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 825-1815.

dynamic program of works. The University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $5-37. Info, 656-4455.

OFF-STAGE SERIES: HOKUM BROTHERS: Vermont’s premier Americana comedy band performs a unique blend of ragtime, folk, vaudeville and early jazz tunes. Rockers Pizzeria, Vergennes, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 877-6737.

ROCK CITY BENEFIT CONCERT: Barre’s own rock-and-soul chorus presents an evening of songs from the ’60s and beyond in fourpart harmony, accompanied by an all-star band. Proceeds benefit the Capstone Foodshelf. Barre Elks Lodge, 7:30-10 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, barre.rock.city@gmail.com.

UPPER VALLEY BAROQUE: Listeners experience the splendor of Antonio Vivaldi’s masterpiece The Four Seasons, played on period instruments with world-class soloists. Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 6 p.m. $37.25. Info, baroqueuv@gmail.com.

outdoors

OWL PROWL: Snowshoers listen for raucous noises in the night and discover the secret lives of the nocturnal residents. Ages 13 and up. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 5:30-7 p.m. $18.50-22; preregister. Info, 359-5000.

WINTERDEEP: Guests follow a magical walking trail replete with ambient music, poetry projections and giant paper lantern sculptures. Proceeds benefit Treewild’s scholarship fund. Meach Cove Farms Gathering Space, Shelburne, 5:30 p.m. $1020. Info, treewild.inc@gmail.com.

theater

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’: See THU.22. ‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: Middlebury College students stage the Tony Award-winning satire set in a dystopian future where water — in all its forms — is worth its weight in gold. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7:30 p.m. $8-25. Info, 382-9222. words

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.

LANE SERIES: VITALY STARIKOV: A Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist dazzles local listeners with a

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: A leading scholar in the study of radicalization and polarization dives into her new book, Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism, in conversation with Vermont author and journalist Garrett Graff. See calendar spotlight. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. $3; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

SAT.24 community

HU CHANT: ANCIENT MANTRA FOR A MODERN WORLD: Eckankar in VT invites community members of all faiths, traditions and walks of life to a 20-minute group chant, followed by quiet contemplation and spiritual conversation. South Burlington Public

Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, eck-vermont@gmail.com.

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.

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, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

dance

BOSSE DEBELINA DANCE: Company members perform five imaginative works ranging from quiet and contemplative to vibrant and rhythmic. Montpelier Performing Arts Chapel, 6-7 p.m. $20. Info, 622-0332.

COMMUNITY CONTRA DANCE & POTLUCK: Live tunes by Blind Squirrel and calling by Kevin Donohue set the tone for an evening of laughter, movement and community building. Bring clean, dry shoes. Barnard Town Hall, 6:30-9 p.m. By donation; preregister. Info, 234-1645. ‘NOVEL FORMATS ON-SITE’: See FRI.23.

etc.

JAM SATURDAY OPEN HOUSES: Upper Valley creatives enjoy introductory presentations by area experts and media workshop activities that reflect their interests. Junction Arts & Media, White River Junction, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 295-6688.

fairs & festivals

*SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL: *SNAP* STORIES: Five storytellers from across artistic disciplines take the stage to share unique tales, demonstrating the power of personal narratives. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Space, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.22.

‘MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW’: See FRI.23, 3 & 7 p.m.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.22.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.22.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.22.

food & drink

BURLINGTON WINTER FARMERS

MARKET: Dozens of vendors showcase their finest farm-fresh produce, meats, unique crafts

and baked goods. Burlington Beer Company, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 560-5904.

TINIS & WEENIES POP-UP

BAR: Libation lovers cast away winter blues with a sparkly night of martinis, mocktails and fancy hot dogs by chef Eric Hodet. Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester, 5-9 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink; preregister. Info, sas@adventuredinner.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.

holidays

BEARY MAGICAL LIGHTS TOUR: Festive music accentuates this glowing winter paradise, complete with special 3D glasses that transform illuminated displays into shimmering teddy bear shapes. Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne, 3:30-6 p.m. $10. Info, 985-1319.

music

ANA GUIGUI: See FRI.23. BEN KOGAN BAND: A jammy roots-rock outfit with jazz and

bluegrass sensibilities lights up the stage with original tunes that speak to Vermont’s spirit. Artistree Community Arts Center, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $20. Info, 457-3500.

THE INFAMOUS

STRINGDUSTERS: A Grammy Award-winning bluegrass quintet brings down the house at this Founder’s Cup Benefit Concert. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $85.25-95.95. Info, 760-4634.

UPPER VALLEY BAROQUE: See FRI.23. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 3 p.m. $26.90-57.95.

WINTER CONCERT SERIES:

VERMONT SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA DUO: Cellist John Dunlop and violinist Laura Markowitz warm up a cold midwinter day with a mesmerizing program. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

outdoors

JANUARY BIRD MONITORING

WALK: Avian aficionados monitor meadows and forests for the telltale flap of feathers. BYO binoculars. Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington, 8-9 a.m. $10-15 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 434-2167.

MOUNT MANSFIELD VIA SUNSET

RIDGE HIKE: Adventurers join the Green Mountain Club for a moderately paced snowshoe trek in pursuit of stellar views. Email for start time. Sunset Ridge Trail, Underhill. Free; preregister. Info, gmc@gmcburlington.org.

SLIDING & STROLLING: Sledding, a nature walk, and hot drinks and sweets make for a memorable day spent enjoying the great outdoors. Mills Riverside Park, Jericho, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 262-3765.

WINTERDEEP: See FRI.23, 5:30 p.m.

seminars

BACKPACKING WORKSHOP:

TRIP PLANNING & WAYFINDING: Adventurers learn the basics of trip preparation, including route plotting, logistics and gear needs. Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center, 9-11 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7037.

sports

WONDERTEE GOLF

TOURNAMENT: Teams of six take on an exciting 18-hole scramble for a chance to win prizes. Proceeds benefit Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum. Stonehenge Indoor Golf, Rutland, 8 a.m., 1 & 6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 779-9595.

talks

‘10 SURPRISING THINGS ABOUT NAMES’: Kaomi Taylor from the Museum of Names reveals little-known facts about something we all have but rarely think about. Dorothy Alling Memorial

Library, Williston, noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

CONVERSATIONS IN HISTORY:

JANE WILLIAMSON: e museum’s director emerita presents “Finding Jesse,” an illustrated talk bringing the narrative of one freedom seeker out of anonymity. Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, 3 p.m. $5-10; free for members; preregister. Info, admin@rokeby.org.

theater

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’: See THU.22. ‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.23.

words THE POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages. Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

WRITE NOW!: Wordsmiths of all experience levels hone their craft in a supportive and critique-free environment. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

SUN.25 environment

WEEKEND CLEAN UP CREW: Good Samaritans dispose of needles, trash and other unwanted objects. BYO gloves encouraged. Top of Church St., Burlington, 11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-2345. etc.

ARC BENDERS CIRCUS OPERA: Wonder takes flight when soprano and circus performer Elizabeth Wohl joins forces with members of the Keene Chamber Orchestra to present Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera e Magic Flute in an innovative collaboration of music and acrobatics. New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, 4 p.m. $15-35; free for kids under 2. Info, 254-9780.

fairs & festivals

*SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL: ‘CATERPILLAR SOUP’: Vermont writer and performer Gina Stevensen blends humor, tenderness and honesty to explore concepts of identity, family and the courage it takes to imagine yourself anew. See calendar spotlight. Flynn Space, Burlington, 7 p.m. $22.50. Info, 863-5966.

*SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS

FESTIVAL: STORY SLAM: Participants from the festival’s storytelling master class workshop share riveting five-minute tales, followed by an opportunity for listeners to take the stage. See calendar spotlight. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-5966.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section.

Snap Happy

Everyone has a story; the *snap* First Person Arts Festival at Flynn Space in Burlington gives them voice. e annual celebration of personal narratives kicks off on Friday with playwright Dael Orlandersmith’s Forever, an uplifting, autobiographical exploration of family. On Saturday, five artists from across disciplines take the stage to share empathy-building accounts of the human experience. Sunday’s buzzing story slam at nearby City Hall Auditorium features festival master-class participants, plus a chance for audience members to grab the mic. Back at the Flynn, the fest concludes with Vermonter Gina Stevensen’s Caterpillar Soup, a poignant story of personal transformation.

*SNAP* FIRST PERSON ARTS FESTIVAL

Friday, January 23, 7 p.m.; Saturday, January 24, 6 p.m.; and Sunday, January 25, 7 p.m., at Flynn Space in Burlington; and Sunday, January 25, 2 p.m., at Burlington City Hall Auditorium. Various prices. Info, 863-5966, flynnvt.org.

JAN. 23-25 | FAIRS & FESTIVALS

‘ANIMAL KINGDOM 3D’: See THU.22.

‘MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I — LAST AIR IN MOSCOW’: See FRI.23, 3 p.m.

‘OCEAN PARADISE 3D’: See THU.22.

‘OTHER SIDE’: is riveting 2025 documentary follows a terminally ill woman’s groundbreaking legal battle. A community discussion follows. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 2 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 533-2000.

‘SEA MONSTERS 3D: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE’: See THU.22.

‘SPACE: THE NEW FRONTIER 3D’: See THU.22.

food & drink

HARDWICK COMMUNITY

WINTER MARKET: ere’s something for everyone at this seasonal showcase of local growers, food producers, artisans and student makers, including a winter wellness area, live music and prepared lunch options. Hazen Union School, Hardwick, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, hardwickfarmersmarket@ gmail.com.

PUPS & PINTS: Brew hounds head to the taproom, four-legged friends in tow, for beers and hot dogs supporting erapy Dogs of Vermont. Switchback Brewing, Burlington, 1-5 p.m. Free; cost of food and drink. Info, 540-6965.

games

DUPLICATE BRIDGE GAMES: See THU.22, 1 p.m.

health & fitness

KARUNA COMMUNITY

MEDITATION: A YEAR TO LIVE (FULLY): Participants practice keeping joy, generosity and gratitude at the forefront of their minds. Jenna’s House, Johnson, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, mollyzapp@live. com.

NEW LEAF SANGHA

MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: New and experienced meditators alike sit together in the Plum Village tradition of ich Nhat Hanh. Hot Yoga Burlington, 6-7:45 p.m. Free. Info, newleafsangha@ gmail.com.

lgbtq

BOARD GAME DAY: LGBTQ+ tabletop fans bring their own favorite games to the party. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 1-6 p.m. Free. Info, 622-0692.

CRAFT CLUB: Creative queer folks work on their knitting, crocheting and sewing projects. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Barre, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 622-0692.

QUEER READS BOOK CLUB: Readers meet up to discuss James Baldwin’s 1956 novel, Giovanni’s Room, about a young American expat in Paris, grappling with his repressed homosexuality. Fletcher Free Library,

Burlington, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

music

THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM CLASSICAL SERIES: YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS ON TOUR: A quintet of consummate string musicians performs diverse works by José Elizondo, Ernst von Dohnányi and Franz Schubert. South Church Hall, St. Johnsbury, 3-5 p.m. $6-20. Info, 745-9544.

UPPER VALLEY BAROQUE: See FRI.23. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 3 p.m. $26.90-57.95.

YOUNG ARTIST SHOWCASE RECITAL: High school students throughout the region assemble for this concert by Vermont’s rising classical music stars. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 864-0471.

tech

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Techsavvy library staff provide oneon-one guidance and support in 30-minute sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

TECH SUNDAYS: LEARN GOOGLE

EMAIL: Attendees learn how to optimize their use of Google Workspace. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 10-11:15 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 865-7217.

theater

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’: See THU.22, 2:30-4 p.m.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.23, 2 p.m.

words

SUNDAY AFTERNOON POETRY AT THE JAQUITH: SCUDDER PARKER & JUDITH JANOO:

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.

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section. music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

= GET TICKETS ON SEVENDAYSTICKETS.COM

FAMI LY FU N

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 2nd Floor, Children’s Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

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.

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.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Youngsters 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and color. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

FRI.23 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

DADS & DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: New and experienced dad-venturers try their hand at the riveting tabletop role-playing game. Premade characters and extra dice available. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7-9:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 318-4231.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

DROP-IN: An afterschool hangout space invites teens ages 13 to 19 to relax, connect, grab a snack or browse the nonprofit’s clothing closet. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 2:30 p.m. Free. Info, programs@outrightvt.org.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD EXPLORATION: See WED.21.

HOMESCHOOL SOCIAL: Families meet for a morning of socializing, exploring, and learning about the library’s catalog and resources. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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

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.24

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: Families get creative at a drop-in activity inspired by exhibiting artist Lydia Kern’s sculpture “Double Sorrow Double Joy.” BCA Center, Burlington, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: A range of themes and rotating activities promote school readiness and foster creativity. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

PUZZLE-PALOOZA: Beat the blues with some friendly competition! Teams of two to five race to complete their jigsaw masterpiece first and win prizes. Puzzles provided. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 2-4 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD

EXPLORATION: See WED.21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

READ & PLAY: Kiddos 5 and under discover the magic of libraries through picture books, singing and creative fun. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

northeast kingdom

COMIC BOOK CLUB: Kiddos collaborate to create their very own comic book to print and take home. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

brattleboro/okemo valley

CEREAL & K-POP: CABIN FEVER CURE!: Cold days getting you down? Mix things up with a build-your-own cereal bar, classic board and card games, and a screening of a pop-powered supernatural

action flick. Next Stage Arts, Putney, 10 a.m. $5; free for adults. Info, 387-0102. outside vermont

HOPSTOP FAMILY FILM & WORKSHOP: ‘THE GRUFFALO’ & STOP-MOTION

ANIMATION CREATION: Cedar O’Dowd of Junction Arts & Media teaches families how to craft a moving image and explore the magic of cinematic storytelling using provided iPads, followed by a fun-filled screening. Loew Auditorium, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover N.H., 11 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 603-646-2422.

SUN.25 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

BREAD FOR PEACE EVENT: In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the synagogue’s children’s education program spotlights the work of this multi-faith community initiative that brings people together through baking. Proceeds benefit medical relief efforts in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Burlington, 10 a.m.noon. Free. Info, hello@ohavizedek.org.

DAD GUILD’S BABYSITTER MINGLER: Families looking for the right match meet with local sitters to chat and connect about future opportunities. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 318-4231.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

KIDS DANCE PARTY!: DJ Disco Phantom cranks up the tunes while guests enjoy dancing, a bake sale, all-ages activities and refreshments. Proceeds benefit the Early Learning Center. Foam Brewers, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. $5-20 suggested donation. Info, ali.nagle86@ gmail.com.

SUNDAY MORNING FAM JAMS: Early childhood educator and musician Alex Baron hosts an instrument-powered playgroup. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 9:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 318-4231.

chittenden county

SOCIAL SUNDAYS: Families participate in fun and educational art activities with diverse mediums and themes. All supplies and instruction provided. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

MON.26 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Bookworms ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers enjoy a fun-filled reading session with an artistic twist. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD

EXPLORATION: See WED.21.

EASY EATS: Budding chefs in grades 4 through 8 learn how to transform pantry

staples into various goodies using beginner-friendly cooking methods. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEENS TRY SOMETHING NEW: Students satisfy their curiosity about new technology such as 3D pens and virtual reality sets. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TODDLER TIME: Little kids ages 5 and under have a blast with songs, stories, rhymes and dancing. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper

valley

STORY TIME WITH BETH: An engaging bookseller and librarian reads picture books on a different theme each week. The Norwich Bookstore, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

TUE.27

burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

BUILD IT BIG! RIGAMAJIG WORKSHOP: Budding engineers ages 7 to 12 work together to create towers, forts, vehicles and anything else they can dream up with the library’s building tool. Fletcher Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

LET’S TALK: SUPPORTING HEALTHY USE OF MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR CHILD: An interactive evening for parents and caregivers of middle and high school students turns tech-related stress into a clear plan of action. Dinner provided. Childcare available. Lyman C. Hunt Middle School, Burlington, 5:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 652-0997.

MINECRAFT MEETUP: Fans of the sandbox game from ages 7 to 12 gather with fellow enthusiasts to play on the library’s private server. Snacks provided. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with the local musician. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD EXPLORATION: See WED.21, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

CRAFTYTOWN: Kiddos express their inner artist using mediums such as paint, print, collage and sculpture. Recommended for ages 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult helper. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

READ TO CHEWY THE THERAPY DOG: Little tykes of all ages flock to the beloved pup for 15 minutes of stories and unconditional love. Essex Free Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 879-0313.

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.23, 2-6 p.m.

THE NEST: Good Beginnings of Central Vermont hosts a baby-friendly space where prenatal and postpartum families can connect. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

northeast kingdom

LAPSIT STORY TIME: Babies 2 and under learn to love reading while singing and playing with their caregivers. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See FRI.23.

WED.28 burlington

‘CHAMP: AMERICA’S LAKE MONSTER’: See WED.21.

DINOSAUR SAFARI EXHIBIT: See WED.21.

LIBRARY LITTLES PLAYGROUP: See WED.21.

MAGNATILE MASTERPIECES: Future architects ages 3 and up build imaginative creations with magnetic toys. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

OPCS IN THE COMMUNITY: A WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS: Reps from Dad Guild and Bella Fearn of Vermont Harm Reduction Advocates host a town hall-style info session on overdose-prevention centers. The Guild Hall, Burlington, 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 318-4231.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.21.

chittenden county

ART LAB DROP-IN: SEEDPOD EXPLORATION: See WED.21.

BABY TIME: See WED.21. GAME ON!: See WED.21.

HAFTY CRAFTY: Kiddos ages 6 and up partake in a fun-filled hands-on activity. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

PLAY TIME: See WED.21.

THE GREAT JIGSAW PUZZLE RACE: Teams of one to three race to complete a 500-piece puzzle the fastest for a chance to win prizes. Ages 10 and up. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS: Architects ages 6 and up build imaginative creations with colorful Legos. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

BABY & CAREGIVER MEETUP: See WED.21.

FAMILY CHESS CLUB: See WED.21. K

games

BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS:

Locals ages 18 and up enjoy the library’s collection or bring their own to share with the group. Light refreshments provided. Essex Free Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 879-0313.

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.

TAI CHI: Practitioners get a feel for the Chinese martial art combining controlled breathing, meditation and slow, gentle movements. Ida Boch Park, Bradford, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 304-0836.

language

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.

PAUSE-CAFÉ FRENCH

CONVERSATION: Francophones and French-language learners meet pour parler la belle langue Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 343-5493.

sports

OPEN GYM BASKETBALL FOR DADS: Fathers and mascidentifying caregivers team up for a low-key pickup game. Mater Christi School, Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 318-4231.

tech

AFTERNOON TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and other devices in one-on-one meetings. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

DROP-IN TECH SUPPORT: Library staff answer questions about devices of all kinds in face-to-face chats. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 12:30-2 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP: Adult services librarian Megan Robinson lends a hand with smartphones, laptops and e-readers in 30-minute sessions. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; preregister. Info, 748-8291.

theater

THE LOOP SERIES: ‘THE ELEMENTS OF FOLLY’: Director Craig Maravitch and local actors lead an immersive theatrical experience full of slapstick, buffoonery and wordplay. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 5-6 p.m. $5-20 suggested donation. Info, 382-9222.

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.23.

words

EVENING BOOK GROUP:

Bibliophiles share their read on Colum McCann’s 2020 novel, Apeirogon the true story of two fathers who bond over the shared grief of losing their daughters in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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.28 activism

VERMONT WOMEN’S MENTOR TRAINING: See WED.21.

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.

crafts

YARN & YAK: See WED.21. YARN CRAFTERS GROUP: See WED.21.

etc.

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.

food & drink

COMMUNITY COOKING: See WED.21.

CUPPA ON CAMPUS: See WED.21.

health & fitness

BLOOD DRIVE: Participants part with life-sustaining pints at this American Red Cross donation event. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-4140.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.21.

RECOVERY DHARMA: See WED.21.

language

ELL CLASSES: See WED.21.

lgbtq

HECK YEAH PARTY: Folks craft sweet notes of affirmation for queer youths — aka “heck yeahs” — and share them anonymously in paper bags. Materials provided. Outright Vermont, Burlington, 3:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, 865-9677.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.21.

talks

NATURALIST JOURNEYS SERIES: SHAYNE JAQUITH: A river

scientist dives into the history of watershed management across the Green Mountain State in “To Dredge or Not to Dredge: River Management and Flood Disasters in Vermont.” Virtual option available. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 229-6206.

REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HEALTH EQUITY LECTURE:

TIMOTHY P. LAHEY: In “Code Blue! Resuscitating Trust in Medicine,” the school’s director of medical ethics fleshes out hot-button topics such as the politicization of health, the misinformation crisis and lingering reactions to the pandemic. Given Medical Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 656-2276.

tech

‘ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIETY: UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSFORMATION’: Expert Brandon Tieso explores the profound impacts of AI on work and culture, examining both opportunities and challenges.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

theater

‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’: See FRI.23.

words THE HUMP DAY WRITING GROUP: See WED.21. WINTER SPEAKER

SERIES: JUAN DAVID CORONADO: An author and associate professor shares oral histories from his award-winning 2018 book, “I’m Not Gonna Die in this Damn Place”: Manliness, Identity and Survival of the Mexican American Vietnam Prisoner of War. 7-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 262-2626. ➆

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

Find visual art exhibits and events in the Art section and at sevendaysvt.com/art.

film

See what’s playing at theaters in the On Screen section.

music + nightlife

Find club dates at local venues in the Music + Nightlife section online at sevendaysvt.com/ music.

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

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

DAVIS STUDIO ART CLASSES: Discover your happy place in one of our weekly classes. Making art boosts emotional well-being and brings joy to your life, especially when you connect with other art enthusiasts. Select the ongoing program that’s right for you. Now enrolling youths, teens and adults. Join and restore your faith in humanity. Info: 802-4252700, info@davisstudiovt.com, davisstudiovt.com.

dance

BEGINNING SWING DANCE

martial arts

OOM (MIND) YUNG (BODY) DOE (HARMONY): Oom Yung Doe, the Grandmaster Iron Kim style, is “8 Complete Martial Arts Taught as One.” Essential training includes kong fu, tai chi, bagua chung, kong su (tae twon do), ship pal gae (18 weapons), kom do (samurai sword), udo (flexible way/ Korean-style jujitsu) and aikido/ hapkido. Benefits of training include stress release, improved balance, increased energy, better circulation, mental calmness, improved physical well-being and overall health, increased focus and self-discipline, and the confidence that you can go anywhere and do anything. Offering classes for children, juniors and adults, plus dedicated tai chi. Try it for free! Open 6 days/week. Location: 1127 North Ave. #25, Burlington. Info: Inst. Wade Prescott, 802-495-6034, inst.wade@gmail.com, schools.oomyungdoe.com/ vermont.

CLASS SERIES: Learn the basics of jitterbug dancing. is four-week series covers basic footwork, partner connection and a bunch of fun moves. No partner necessary. You can try it out by attending just the first class. Please preregister at vermontswings.com. Dates: Four Tue., Feb. 3-24, 7-8 p.m. Cost: $15/per class; $50 for 4-week series. Location: North Star Community Hall, 20 Crowley St., Burlington. Info: Terry Bouricius, 802-864-8382, terrybour@gmail. com, vermontswings.com.

food & drink

the ultimate chocolate experience? Get your tickets today!

Dates: Jan. 17, Feb. 14, or Feb. 15, 2 p.m. Cost: $16. Location: Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine St., Burlington. Info: 802-864-1808, info@ lakechamplainchocolates.com, lakechamplainchocolates.com/ chocolate-tastings.

healing arts

VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE DECORATING CLASS: Join Laura Collins from Laura’s Cookies to learn the art of cookie decorating at our Valentine’s Day cookie class. In this class, Laura will show you step-by-step how to decorate five cookies using royal icing. Along the way you’ll learn tips and tricks to make sure you leave confident, regardless of your skill level. Recommended for ages 8 and up. You must have a ticket to attend the event. Date: Sun., Feb. 1, 2-4 p.m. Cost: $75. Location: Queen City Brewery, 703 Pine St., Burlington. Info: laura@laurascookies.com, sevendaystickets.com.

SEMESTER OF SOUND HEALING: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sound healer, level up your knowledge and skills with one or up to seven weekend courses and learn to lead transformational one-on-one and group sessions with bronze singing bowls, crystal bowls, tuning forks, gongs and more! Add new skills and insights to your professional practice or to healing yourself or family. VSAC grants are available, or receive a discount for taking multiple classes. Dates: Jan. 24 & 25; Feb. 7 & 8; Feb. 28 & 29; Mar. 14 & 15; and Apr. 11 & 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $599/16-hour course. Location: e Wellness Collective, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester. Info: Kirk Jones, 510-697-7790, love@evolvlove.com, evolvlove. square.site.

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY Adult introductory class begins on Feb. 3, 7:15 p.m.; basics class at noon on Tuesdays. Beginners’ classes five days a week. Cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. The 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.

music

TAIKO TUESDAYS, DJEMBE WEDNESDAYS!: Drum with Stuart Paton! New sessions each month. Community Taiko Ensemble Beginner’s Class, Mon., 5:30-7 p.m. Taiko on Tue.: Kids & Parents Taiko, 4-5:30 p.m.; Adult Intro Taiko, 5:30-7 p.m.; Accelerated Intro Taiko, 7-8:30 p.m. Djembe on Wed.: Intermediate Djembe, 5:30-7 p.m.; Beginner Djembe, 7-8:30 p.m. Drums provided. Cost: $92/4 weeks; 90-min. classes; $72 per person for Kids & Parents class. Location: Burlington Taiko, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3-G. Info: 802-4480150, burlingtontaiko.org.

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE TASTING: Indulge your senses in the ultimate chocolate tasting at the Lake Champlain Chocolates flagship store on Pine Street in Burlington. Join a chocolate expert for a fun and interactive experience. Explore how chocolate is made, discover what goes into crafting high-quality chocolate and learn how to taste chocolate like a pro. en put your skills to the test as you enjoy a flight of chocolate confections. Are you ready for

Find and purchase tickets for these and other classes at sevendaystickets.com.

TICKETED CLASS

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

Zamboni

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old neutered male

ARRIVAL DATE: December 10, 2025

SUMMARY: Zamboni is a joyful, high-energy hunk who thrives on movement, engagement and excitement. Even with all that energy, Zamboni is incredibly people-focused — he truly enjoys spending time with his humans, whether that’s playing, training, or just soaking up attention and snuggles. He’s affectionate, eager and happiest when he’s included in whatever you’re doing. If you’re searching for a confident, playful, people-loving companion who will keep you moving and make every day more fun, Zamboni might just be your new best friend!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Zamboni would prefer to live in an adultonly home as the only pet.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday-Wednesday 1-5 p.m., ursday-Friday 1-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

January is National Train Your Dog Month! Training isn’t just for behavior challenges and tricks — it’s an important way to bond and communicate with your dog. HSCC recommends positive reinforcement-based training. Teach dogs what you want them to do! Looking for training tips? Visit our website: hsccvt.org/resources.

by:

Post ads by Monday at 3 p.m. sevendaysvt.com/classifieds Need help? 802-865-1020, ext. 115 classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

in Richmond. $900/OBO. Info, 802-343-3394, grany@wcvt.com.

PETS & SUPPLIES

Buy y & Se

HOME & GARDEN

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

Prepare for power outages today w/ a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a free 5-year warranty w/ qualifying purchase. Call 1-866-381-0627 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (AAN CAN)

MISCELLANEOUS

MERITS POWER

WHEELCHAIR

Durable Merits

Vision Sport power wheelchair in very good condition. 300-pound capacity. Comes w/ original manual, 2 sets of fenders (red or blue), charger, & cords. Works great. Call or email w/ questions. Must pick up

AKC PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI PUPPIES

Breeding Pembrokes for almost 30 years. All vaccinations & potty training. Raised in our home, well socialized. Free delivery. $2,500. Info, 607-760-5867, huntervalefarm@gmail. com, huntervalefarm. com.

Communit y ommunit

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

CHURCH ELDER Religious & spiritual. Info, 802-417-6360, spirit@jesushn.life, churchatprison.com.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

appt. appointment

apt. apartment

BA bathroom

BR bedroom

DR dining room

DW dishwasher

HDWD hardwood

HW

NS

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

MUSIC LESSONS

PIANO, VOICE, TROMBONE, COMPOSING LESSONS

Awarded lifetime achievement from Who’s Who in America, Scott Carter teaches at Music & Arts on Wed. & Sun. Call 802-651-1013.

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.

& Cascade Park w/ pickleball courts, baseball fi eld & basketball court. ere are open fi elds all around this location for nature walks. Also a short walk to 5 Corners & lots of restaurants there. Landlord lives on the other side of the party wall. Furnished. Responsible landlords. $1,450/mo. Info, 802-324-0930, boutinsconstruction@ comcast.net.

1-, 2- & 3-BR APTS. AVAIL. NOW

31 S. Willard St., Burlington. Unfurnished 1-BR, $900/mo. We pay cold water, haul trash & deal w/ driveway. 2-BR, $1,600/mo. Heated, off-street parking for 1 vehicle in driveway. We pay cold water; tenant pays other utils. Extra-roomy 3-BR, $1,700/mo. Heated. We pay cold water; tenants pay other utils. $1,700/ mo. Call Joe at 802-318 8916.

COZY 1-BR APT. FOR RENT IN WINOOSKI

Let’s make your real estate dreams come true in 2026!

APARTMENTS & HOUSES FOR RENT

ESSEX JCT. STUDIO APT.

48 Cascade St. Furnished 1-BR, 1-BA, 320 sq.ft. Charming studio in great neighborhood. Freshly painted walls, large closet, separate entrance & separate driveway. Landlord pays heat, electricity, water, trash. Terrifi c location, near Global Foundries & IBM. Near the bus route, too. Well-kept property w/ many mature trees

Unfurnished 1-BR, 1-BA in Winooski. HDWD. 2 enclosed porches, front & back. Fenced-in yard. NS. Private parking. Very clean. Cats OK. Pictures upon request. Showings by appt. only. Avail. now. $1,500/mo. Info, 802-355-4099, skyhorse205@yahoo. com.

2-BR/1-BA APT. FOR RENT

86 Lafountain St., Burlington. Unfurnished 700-sq. ft. 2-BR, 1-BA avail. for rent in the Old North End. Spacious BRs, large kitchen, lots of storage & full of natural light. 2 porches for plenty of outdoor enjoyment. Fantastic neighborhood w/ fi rst-fl oor living. Close to the bus line. Heat, HW & gas incl. Street parking. NS. Pets negotiable. 1st month’s rent & sec. dep. req. 1-year lease req. $1,800. Info, 802-318-6075, 86lafountainstreet@ gmail.com.

NEWLY RENOVATED IN S. BURLINGTON

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:

Nice 2-BR upstairs apt., close to everything. W/D, 2 porches, shared backyard. $2,100/mo. incl. utils. Lease & deposit. Info, 802-7346469, carpentier2iby@ gmail.com.

BURLINGTON STUDIO

APT. W/ DECK

Unfurnished 350-sq. ft. 1-BR, 1-BA at 72B Ward St. in Burlington. Welcome to your cozy retreat in the heart of Burlington! is charming studio duplex offers

Robbi Handy Holmes • 802-951-2128 robbihandyholmes@vtregroup.com Client focused Making it happen for you!

Rare opportunity to acquire 213± acres of Vermont countryside. This expansive property includes a barn pump-house previously used for a maple sap gathering operation, making it well-suited for agricultural, forestry, or recreational use. The land features frontage on scenic Blake Pond, V.A.S.T. trail access for snowmobiling and outdoor recreation, camp, septic system, and a dug well. 1636 Blake Pond Road

the perfect blend of comfort & convenience, making it an ideal space for anyone looking to enjoy all that this vibrant city has to offer. W/ 350 sq.ft. of welldesigned living space, this studio features a nice kitchen equipped w/ a refrigerator, gas range, microwave & exhaust hood, perfect for whipping up your favorite meals; a clean & stylish BA for your daily routines; & a handy storage unit to keep your belongings organized & out of sight. is property is just a stone’s throw away from local shops, restaurants & parks, making it a prime spot for those who love to explore. Please note that while cats are not allowed, this pet-free environment ensures a peaceful living experience. $1,450. Info, 802-355-8897,

boutinsconstruction@ comcast.net.

1-, 2- & 3-BR

BURLINGTON APTS. AVAIL. NOW, NO PETS, 1-YR. LEASE

Unfurnished, 1-BR, 1-BA apt. on Hyde St., $995/mo. Tenants pay all utils.; we pay cold water, haul the trash & take care of the driveway. Heated 2nd-fl oor 2-BR, $1,950/ mo. Tenants pay utils. Heated 2nd-fl oor 3-BR w/ laundry, $2,250. Call 802-318-8916 or email jcintl0369@gmail.com.

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE RENTALS

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CHEF-OWNER/ OPERATING PARTNER — NEW RESTAURANT BUILD IN CHARLOTTE, VT

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

Operator wanted — Charlotte, Vt. Seeking an experienced

restaurant operator for a fully rebuilt historic tavern at 2760 Spear St., Charlotte. 120-seat destination opportunity (80-seat house + 40-seat barn under construction) serving a strong, yearround local market. Owner is a developer/ builder & will assist w/ fi t-up. Flexible lease or partnership structures avail. $18,000. Info: 802-999-2995, jonathantmaguire@ gmail.com.

HOMES FOR SALE

WAITSFIELD, VT., AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THE MAD RIVER VALLEY (FSBO) 4125 Main St., Unit 6, Waitsfi eld. I’m the current owner of a 932-sq.ft. 2-BR, 1-BA condo in downtown Waitsfi eld, Vt., & I’m selling it through Downstreet’s sharedequity homeownership program. is is a for sale by owner listing, w/ Downstreet supporting the affordability structure & buyer process. e condo is located in a historic former schoolhouse on Main St. & is walkable to cafés, shops, trails & community life. Home details: 930 sq.ft., bright & well laid-out, 2 BR, 1 full BA, in-unit W/D & DW. Centrally located in the Mad River Valley. e price refl ects Downstreet’s sharedequity model, which keeps the home affordable long-term. It’s ideal for someone looking to put down roots, not fl ip a property. is could be a great fi t for people relocating to Vermont, remote workers, downsizers or anyone wanting an accessible path to ownership in a tight housing market. I’m happy to answer questions, share photos or connect interested buyers w/ Downstreet for eligibility details. $159,000. Info, 802793-7704, eloisereid@ gmail.com, downstreet. org/4125-main-street.

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.

Put your knowledge of Vermont news to the test. NEW ON FRIDAYS:

CALCOKU BY

JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: HH

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. The numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

6 1 5 4 2 3 4 3 2 5 1 6 3 5 1 6 4 2 5 2 3 1 6 4 2 6 4 3 5 1

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.62 H = MODERATE H H = CHALLENGING H H H = HOO, BOY!

ANSWERS ON P. 62 » THE THIRD PERSON

See how fast you can solve this weekly 10-word puzzle.

will connect over 3 mos. for 6 sessions. is package is fl exible, virtual & client-driven. Email me directly for a free consultation to get healthier & get glowing! Info, lucybcustomer service@gmail.com, lucysbodaciousbeauty. com.

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

TO BROWNFIELDS REUSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY LIMITATION ACT PROGRAM

Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

Tyler Wood: #658

Michelle Chandler: #571

Jake Nickerson: #716

Alyssa Bennett: #534

FINANCIAL & LEGAL

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE

A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no-obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

GET DISABILITY

BENEFITS

You may qualify for disability benefi ts if you are between 52 & 63 years old & under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now: 1-877-247-6750. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH & WELLNESS

COACHING

Kickstart 2026 w/ me as your board-certifi ed

HOME & GARDEN

CONTRACTING/LABOR

Books for 2026 are open. Handyman, contracting & labor avail. for all your home needs! Info, 802-7773086, 802ivlabor@ gmail.com.

Please take notice that Champlain Housing Trust, Inc. whose mailing address is 88 King Street, Burlington, VT 05401, is applying to the Vermont Brownfields Reuse and Environmental Liability Limitation Program (10 V.S.A. §6641 et seq.) in connection with the redevelopment of property known as 255 LaFountain Street in the City of Winooski. A copy of the application, which contains a preliminary environmental assessment and a description of the proposed redevelopment project is available for public review at the City of Winooski Clerk’s Office and at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation offices in Montpelier.

Brain Injury Program Rule.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 26P001

Zachary Cummings: #941

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 defined 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

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO. 24-JV-01375

Vehicles

Comments concerning the application and/or the above referenced documents may be directed to Kimberly Caldwell at 802-461-5857 or at kimberly. caldwell@vermont.gov

MOTORCYCLES & SCOOTERS

SCOOTER FOR SALE

Pride Victory 10.2 midsize scooter. 2 baskets, headlight, horn. Battery-operated. Owner’s manual incl. $1,500. Call 802-862-0401.

Comments may also be submitted by mail to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management Division, 1 National Life Drive – Davis 1, Montpelier, VT 05620; attention: Kimberly Caldwell.

PROPOSED STATE RULES

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. e purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. e public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . e 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

AGENCY: Agency of Human Services, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) CONCISE SUMMARY: e Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) has long relied on policies and program standards to determine eligibility for, and to administer, Brain Injury Program (BIP) services. DAIL now seeks to codify these policies and standards through the adoption of this new rule, which will modernize some definitions, add clarity regarding continued clinical eligibility, incorporate a required Medicaid policy regarding paying legally responsible individuals, insert federally required Electronic Visit Verification, and add an updated Case Management definition, along with a new “Service Broker” service to comply with federally required Conflict-Free Case Management rules. Once adopted, these BIP Rules will be incorporated into the Health Care Administrative Rules, a set of rules for all Vermont Medicaid services, which is maintained by the Agency of Human Services (AHS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Megan Tierney-Ward, Agency of Human Services, Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL) HC 2 South, 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-2060 Tel: 802-760-9405 E-mail: megan.tierney-ward@ vermont.gov URL: https://dail.vermont.gov/ public-notices-and-hearings.

FOR COPIES: Stuart Schurr, Agency of Human Services, Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL) HC 2 South, 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-2060 Tel: 802-238-3754

E-Mail: stuart.schurr@vermont.gov.

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 January 31, 2026: Location: 2211 Main St. Colchester, VT 05452

Contents: household goods

In Re: E.L.

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: Andrew Lavallee, and any other male who may be the father of E.L., born on October 21, 2024 to Erika Hagen, you are hereby notified that hearing to terminate your parental rights to E.L. will be held on February 11, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. at the Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Family Division, at 32 Cherry Street, Suite 200, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

You are notified to appear in connection with this case. Failure to appear at this hearing may result in termination of your parental rights to E.L.. e State is represented by the Attorney General’s Office, HC North, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2080.

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) 01/09/2026 12:35:55 PM

/s/ Laura C. Rowntree

Laura C. Rowntree, Superior Court Judge Vermont Superior Court Filed 01/09/26

Chittenden Unit

TOWN OF ESSEX DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FEBRUARY 5, 2026, 6:30 PM

Hybrid & In Person (Municipal Conference Room, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.) Meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting in person at the above address or remotely through the following options: Join Online: Zoom Meeting ID: 821 7131 4999 | Passcode: 754119

Join Calling (audio only): 888-788-0099

1. Site Plan Amendment – Essex Resort Holdings LLC is proposing an 8 foot wide natural path, removing two of the existing tennis courts, adding a patio area with hot tubs behind the spa, a landscape berm, green houses and other Zen garden amenities at 70 Essex Way (Parcel ID 2-093-001-000) located in the Mixed Use Development-Planned Unit Development (MXD-PUD) District.

2. Boundary Line Adjustment – Essex Resort Holdings LLC is proposing to dissolve the boundary line between 70 Essex Way and 74 Essex Way (Parcel ID 2-093-001-000 and 2-093-001-002) located in the Mixed Use Development-Planned Unit Development (MXD-PUD) District.

3. Sketch Plan – Eurowest Retail Partners, LTD is prosing to add three residential buildings with a maximum of 155 residential units and associated parking at 21 Essex Way (Parcel ID 2-092-002-001) located in the Mixed Use Development-Planned Unit Development (MXD-PUD) District and Retail Business (B1) Subzone.

4. Site Plan – Glenn & Ronalyn Cummings are proposing a 16,100 square foot warehouse building at 22 Corporate Drive (Parcel ID 2-072-003-022) located in the Resource Preservation DistrictIndustrial (RPD-I). is was previously approved in October 2022, but the approval has since expired. Included in the October 2022 approval was a waiver to clear the 50’ buffer and replant with a streetscape consistent with other parcels on Corporate Drive.

5. Boundary Line Adjustment – Richard and Nancy Jenny are proposing a boundary line adjustment to covey 8.43 acres from 31 Brigham Hill Lane (Parcel ID 2-017-008-002) to 43 Brigham Hill Lane (Parcel ID 2-017-003-000) located in the Conservation (C1) District. 31 Brigham Hill Lane will decrease in size

Legal Notices

from 27.77 acres to 19.35 acres. 43 Brigham Hill Lane will increase in size from 110.7 acres to 119.1 acres.

Application materials may be viewed before the meeting at essexvt.gov/applications. Please call 802-878-1343 or email community-development@ essex.org with any questions. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view the complete Agenda, at https://essexvt.portal. civicclerk.com or the office notice board before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard and other agenda items.

VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

CIVIL DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT

CASE NO. 26-CV-00384

Chittenden Unit

175 Main Street Burlington VT 05401

802-863-3467

www.vermontjudiciary.org

Date: January 16, 2026

NOTICE OF HEARING

Falcon Management Company, Inc. v. Todd Towsley

This is to notify you to appear at the Court named above in connection with the above-named case on:

DATE: February 11, 2026

TIME: 9:45 AM

DURATION: 15 Minutes

HEARING RE: Motion Hearing – Abandoned Mobile Home

A hearing on Falcon Management Company, Inc.’s verified Complaint to declare abandoned the mobile home of Todd Towsley located at the Riverview Commons Mobile Home Park, (a 1973, Hillcrest, Model Skyline, 12’ x 70”, bearing Serial No. 0211-2472G) located on lot #40, 210 Lower Circle in Richmond Vermont, to approve transfer the mobile home to park owner Falcon Management Company, Inc. without a public auction so that it may be removed and disposed of accordingly has been set for February 11th, 2026 at 9:45am.

Electronically signed: 1/16/2026 1:27 PM “pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)” /s/ Sebastian McCabe Sebastian McCabe, Judicial Assistant

Any individual with a disability requiring assistance accessing the services, programs, and/or activities at the Courthouse should contact the Clerk’s office at the above address for further assistance.

*** STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION CHITTENDEN UNIT CASE NO. 26-CV-00384

IN RE: ABANDONED MOBILE HOME OF TODD TOWSLEY

VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR ABANDONMENT PURSUANT TO TITLE 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i} (Uninhabitable)

NOW COMES Falcon Management Company, Inc., by and through counsel Peter B. Schubart, and hereby complains pursuant to Title 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) as follows:

1. Falcon Management Company, Inc., a Vermont domestic business corporation with a principal place of business in the Town of Richmond, County of Chittenden, State of Vermont, is the record owner of a mobile home park known as the Riverview Commons Mobile Home Park (the “Park”), located in Richmond, Vermont.

2. Todd Towsley is the record owner of a certain mobile home (the “Mobile Home”) described as 1973 Hillcrest, Model Skyline, 12’ x 70” (Serial no. 0211-2472G) located at the Riverview Commons Mobile Home Park, Lot #40, 210 Lower Circle in Richmond, Vermont. A Mobile Home Bill of Sale dated August 30,2022, is of record in the Town of Richmond Land Records in Volume 268 at Page 264. (A copy of the first page of said bill of sale is attached hereto as Exhibit1)

3. Todd Towsley leased a lot in the Park from Falcon Management Company pursuant to a written lease. There is no security deposit.

4. Todd Towsley’s last known mailing address is 210 Lower Circle, Richmond, VT 05477.

5. The mobile home has been abandoned and is empty. Falcon Management Company, Inc. evicted Todd Towsley from the lot in the park (Chittenden Unit Civil Docket no. 24-CV02265, Falcon Management Company Inc. V. Todd Townley) and more than ninety days have elapsed since the Sheriff’s office put Falcon Management Company, Inc. in possession of the lot by shutting off power and water to the home and changing the locks on or about September 1, 2025. To date, Todd Towsley has made no effort to remove the mobile home. Falcon Management Company staff has allowed Mr. Towsley to retrieve personal items from the mobile home.

6. Counsel for Falcon Management Company, Inc. has attempted to communicate via text writing with Mr. Towsley on August 25, 2025 regarding his intentions with the vacant mobile home. He has failed to respond. Counsel also emailed Mr. Towsley on January 12, 2026 asking about his intentions with the mobile home.

The following security interests, mortgages, liens and encumbrances appear of record with respect to the mobile home:

1. Taxes are owed to Town of Richmond in the amount of $1,157.87.

2. Vermont State Employees Credit Union has a Judgment Order in the amount of $7,942.42, as of June 25, 2025 in Volume 278 Page 10 in said Land Records;

3. There is a State of Vermont Tax Lien dated November 9, 2023, in the amount of $2,760.73, recorded in Volume 272 at Page 42 in the Town of Richmond Land Records;

4. Mobile home storage fees continue to accrue at the rate of $615.00 per month.

5. Unpaid Rent since Judgement, Judgment amount, and service fees due Falcon Management Company, Inc. as of December 31, 2025 total $6,905.00. Attorney fees and court costs incurred by Falcon Management Company, Inc. currently exceed $5,000.00.

Falcon Management Company, Inc. sent written notice by certified mail to the Town of Richmond on November 24, 2025 of its intent to commence this action. (See attached Exhibit 2).

The mobile home is uninhabitable. Jeffrey Bishop, Property Manager for the Park, will testify under oath as to the poor and unlivable condition of this mobile home at the abandonment hearing.

WHEREFORE, Falcon Management Company, Inc. respectfully requests that the Honorable Court enter an order as follows:

1. Declare that the mobile home has been abandoned; 2. Transfer the mobile home which is unfit for human habitation to Park owner Falcon Management Company, Inc. without a public auction so that it may be removed and disposed of accordingly.

3. Order pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6249(i) that the mobile home and any security deposit paid be conveyed to Falcon Management Company, Inc. in “as is” condition, and free from all liens and other encumbrances of record.

DATED AT South Burlington, Vermont this 15th day of January, 2026.

Falcon Management Company, Inc.

By: /s/ Peter B. Schubart

Peter B. Schubart, Esq., 80 Midas Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 829-0237/ peter@schubartlaw.com

VERIFICATION

I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of perjury or other sanctions in the discretion of the Court.

Date: JAN. 15, 2026

/s/ Jeffrey Bishop

Jeffrey Bishop, Duly Authorized Agent, Falcon Management Company, Inc.

Support Groups

CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS@SEVENDAYSVT.COM OR 802-865-1020 EXT. 115 TO UPDATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUP

A CIRCLE OF PARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS

Please join our professionally facilitated, peer-led support groups designed to share our questions, concerns & struggles, as well as our resources & successes! Contribute to our discussion of the unique but shared experience of parenting. For more info or to register, please contact Heather at hniquette@pcavt.org, 802498-0607, pcavt.org/family-support-programs.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Call the Vermont statewide anonymous hotline: 802-802-2288. Alcoholics Anonymous holds daily meetings all over Vermont, both in person & online. For meetings & events throughout Vermont, see aavt.org.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups meet to provide assistance & info on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias. They emphasize shared experiences, emotional support & coping techniques in care for a person living w/ Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Meetings are free & open to the public. Families, caregivers & friends may attend. Please call in advance to confirm the date & time. The Williston caregiver support group meets in person on the 2nd & 4th Tue. of every mo., 5-6:30 p.m., at the Old Brick Church in Williston. Contact support group facilitators Molly at dugan@cathedralsquare.org or Mindy at moondog@burlingtontelecom.net. The Middlebury support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 4th Tue. of each mo., 3 p.m., at the Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Rd., Middlebury. Contact is Daniel Hamilton, dhamilton@residenceottercreek. com or 802-989-0097. The Shelburne support group for individuals w/ early stage dementia meets on the 1st Mon. of every mo., 2-3 p.m., at the Residence at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores, Shelburne. Contact is support group facilitator Lydia Raymond, lraymond@ residenceshelburnebay.com. The telephone support group meets on the 2nd Tue. of each mo., 4-5:30 p.m. Preregistration is required (to receive dial-in codes for toll-free call). Please dial the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-7 Helpline, 800-272-3900, or visit alz.org for more info. For questions or additional support group listings, call 800-272-3900.

ANXIETY RELIEF GROUP

Anxiety Relief Group is a safe setting for relaxing & exploring your feelings w/ others through gentle socialization & self-expression, building up what makes you centered & strong. Wed., 4-5:30 p.m. Both in-person & Zoom options avail. In-person meetings are held at the Fletcher Free Library’s Fletcher Room in Burlington. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP

Vermont Center for Independent Living offers virtual monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Wed. of every mo., 1-2:30 p.m. The support group will offer valuable resources & info about brain injury. It will be a place to share experiences in a safe, secure & confidential environment. To join, email Linda Meleady at lindam@vcil. org & ask to be put on the TBI mailing list. Info: 800-639-1522.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DRAGON BOAT TEAM

Looking for a fun way to do something active & health-giving? Want to connect w/ other breast cancer survivors? Come join Dragonheart Vermont. We are a breast cancer survivor & supporter dragon boat team who paddle together in Burlington. Please contact us at info@dragonheartvermont.org for info.

BURLINGTON MEN’S PEER GROUP Tue. nights, 7-9 p.m., in Burlington. Free of charge, 30 years running. Call Neils, 802-877-3742.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SUICIDE

Conversations About Suicide is a judgment-free & open space to talk about personal experiences of suicidal ideation. The group is facilitated by peer support staff w/ lived experience of suicidality. Thu., 4-5 p.m., at Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

DISABILITY SUPPORT GROUP

Our group is a space for mutual support, open to anybody who identifies as disabled, differently abled or having a disability. Whether your disability is visible, invisible, physical or cognitive, this group is for you! The group meets every Mon., 1:15-2:15 p.m., at Fletcher Free Library’s Pickering Room in Burlington & online on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom link & more info: pvcc@ pathwaysvermont.org.

FOOD ADDICTS IN RECOVERY ANONYMOUS (FA)

Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? FA is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia. Local meetings are held on Mon., 4-5:30 p.m., via Zoom. For more info & a list of additional meetings throughout the U.S. & the world, call 603-630-1495 or visit foodaddicts.org.

GRIEVING A LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

A retired psychotherapist & an experienced life coach host a free meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets upstairs at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. There is no fee for attending but donations are gladly accepted. Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Sat. of every mo., 10-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please register at allsoulsinterfaith.org. (More information about the group leader at pamblairbooks.com.)

HEARING VOICES SUPPORT GROUP

This Hearing Voices Group seeks to find understanding of voice-hearing experiences as real lived experiences that may happen to anyone at any time. We choose to share experiences, support & empathy. We validate anyone’s experience & stories about their experience as their own, as being an honest & accurate representation of their experience, & as being acceptable exactly as they are. Tue., 2:30-4 p.m. Vermont Wellness Collaborative, 125 College St., 3rd Floor, Burlington. Email us for more information: pvcc@pathwaysvermont.org.

KINDRED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM OFFERED FOR CHITTENDEN COUNTY CANCER SURVIVORS

The Kindred Connections program provides peer support for all those touched by cancer. Cancer patients, as well as caregivers, are provided w/ a mentor who has been through the cancer experience & knows what it’s like to go through it. In addition to sensitive listening, Kindred Connections provides practical help such as rides to doctors’ offices & meal deliveries. The program has people who have experienced a wide variety of cancers. For further info, please contact info@vcsn.net.

LIVING THROUGH LOSS

The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program of Gifford Medical Center sponsors a weekly meeting of its “Living Through Loss” grief support group. Anyone who has experienced a significant loss over the past year or so is warmly invited to attend the free weekly meetings every Fri., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For info, contact the Rev. Tim Eberhardt, Gifford’s spiritual care coordinator, at 802-728-2107.

Legal Notices

CITY OF BURLINGTON

IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX

AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO CDO – TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND MINOR REVISIONS ZA-26-01

ORDINANCE 6.5

Sponsor: Office of City Planning, Planning Commission, Ordinance Committee

Public Hearing Dates: 01/12/26

First Reading: 12/01/25

Referred to Ordinance Committee

Second reading: 01/12/26

Action: adopted Date: 01/12/26

Signed by Mayor: 01/14/26

Published: 01/21/26

Effective: 02/10/26

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows:

at Appendix A, Comprehensive Development Ordinance of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington be and hereby is amended by: amending Sec. 3.1.2 (c), Exemptions; Table 3.5.2-1, Zoning Districts; Sec. 3.5.3 (c), Exemptions; corrects a footnote referenced in Table 4.4.2-1, Dimensional Standards and Density; amends Sec. 4.4.2 (d) 3. B., Senior Housing; deletes and reserves footnote 8 in Table 4.4.5-1, Lot Size, Frontage, Setback, and Lot Coverage Standards in Residential Districts; corrects reference in Sec. 4.4.5. (d) 2. B.; corrects and clarifies Sec. 4.4.5. (d) 4. D.; amends Table 4.4.5-6, Housing for Older Persons and Individuals with Disabilities Bonus and Table 4.4.5-7, Maximum Intensity, Lot Coverage and Building Heights with Bonuses; amends Table 4.5.6-2, Frontage and Activation Standards and Sec. 4.5.5 (c) 2. C., Ground Floor Entries; amends Sec. 5.3.5 (a), Changes and Modifications; to remove reference to Sec. 5.2.3 (b) 10; corrects reference made to Sec. 5.2.6 (d) under Sec. 6.2.2 (m); amends Sec. 7.1.1, Authority and Intent; and Sec. 7.1.3 (h), Historic Marker; removes reference to Adaptive Reuse under Sec. 9.1.5 (b); Aligns table in Sec. 9.1.12, Additional Density and Other Development Allowances; to reflect base allowances amended under ZA-25-02; amends Sec. 9.2.2, Applicability; amends Sec. 9.2.10 (c); corrects a reference to Table 11.1.5-2 in Article 11; amends reference to and the Footnotes 1 and 2 in Table 11.1.5-2, Residential District Planned Unit Development Setback Standards; modifies Article 13 by deleting definitions for “Elderly Housing”, “Housing, Senior”, and “Senior Housing”, adding the definition for “Building” from Article 14, amends the definition for Planned Unit Development; and amends the definition of “Building” in Section 14.8, Glossary; thereof to read as follows: ***

Article 3: APPLICATIONS, PERMITS, AND PROJECT REVIEWS

PART 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS AND ZONING PERMITS ***

3.1.2 Zoning Permit Required

Except for that development which is exempt from a permit requirement under Sec. 3.1.2(c) below, no development may be commenced within the city without a zoning permit issued by the administrative officer including but not limited to the following types of exterior and interior work:

(a - b) As Written (c) Exemptions

e following shall be exempt from the requirements of this Ordinance and shall not be required to obtain a zoning permit:

1. – 10. As Written

11. All structures Buildings, as defined in Article 13, of 24 square feet or less and no taller than 15 feet, as long as they are located in compliance with applicable setbacks. is exemption is limited to 1 such structure, or multiple structures in aggregate up to 24 square feet, per property. is exemption does not apply to properties located within the Special Flood Hazard Area.

12. – 21. As Written (d) As written ***

Article 3: APPLICATIONS, PERMITS, AND PROJECT REVIEWS ***

PLACE AN AFFORDABLE NOTICE AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/LEGAL-NOTICES OR CALL 802-865-1020, EXT. 142.

PART 5: CONDITIONAL USE AND MAJOR IMPACT REVIEW

Sec. 3.5.2 Applicability

(a) Conditional Use Review – As Written

(b) Major Impact Review

Major Impact Review shall be required for the approval of all development involving any one or more of the following:

Table 3.5.2-1 Zoning Districts

1Developmewnt Footprint: total area of impervious coverage — buildings and parking.

2Farm structures are exempt per 10 VSA 6001.

In addition, Major Impact Review shall also be required for multiple projects undertaken by the same applicant or responsible party within any consecutive twelve (12) month period on the same or adjacent property that in the aggregate equal or exceed the above criteria.

Sec. 3.5.3 Exemptions

Major Impact Review shall not be required for applications involving one or more of the following:

(a) Temporary structures that do not otherwise involve a conditional use;

(b) Rehabilitation that does not expand the floor area of an existing building or the structural capacity of existing development;

(c) Projects that do not result in a change of use; or increased parking demand

(d) Subsurface site improvements including but not limited to underground utility lines and subsurface drainage ways; and,

(e) Projects where the scope and authority of municipal regulation is limited by statute pursuant to 24 VSA 4413. ***

Article 4: ZONING MAPS AND DISTRICTS ***

PART 4: BASE ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS ***

Sec. 4.4.2 Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts

(a) Purpose – As Written

(b) Dimensional Standards and Density:

e density and intensity of development, dimensions of building lots, the heights of buildings and their setbacks from property boundary lines, and the limits on lot coverage shall be governed by the following standards:

(c) Permitted and Conditional Uses – As Written

(d) District Specific Regulations

1. – 2. As Written

3. Development Bonuses/Additional Allowances

A. Inclusionary Housing – As Written

B. Senior Housing Housing for Older Persons and Individuals with Disabilities

A maximum of an additional 10-feet of building height, and corresponding FAR, may be permitted at the discretion of the DRB in the NAC and NACRiverside districts where no less than twenty-five per cent (25%) of the total number of onsite units are reserved for projects including exclusively housing for Older Persons (as defined by the federal Fair Housing Act), housing for Individuals with Disabilities (as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act), or a mixture exclusively thereof low moderate income senior households as defined by state or federal guidelines including no less than ten percent (10%) reserved for low income households. e total gross floor area dedicated to the senior housing housing for older persons and individuals with disabilities shall be equivalent to the gross floor area resulting from the additional allowance. Increased lot

coverage allowance for senior housing such projects in these districts shall be the same as for inclusionary housing (see Sec. 9.1.12)

C. Maximum Bonus: --As written ***

Sec. 4.4.5 Residential Districts

(a) Purpose – As Written (b) Dimensional Standards

e intensity of development, dimensions of building lots, the heights of buildings and their setbacks from property boundary lines, and the limits on lot coverage shall be governed by the following standards: Table 4.4.5-1 Lot Size, Frontage, Setback, and Lot Coverage Standards in Residential Districts

Table 4.4.5-2 Principal & Secondary Structures

B. Residential Conversion Bonus – As written

C. Limitations on Residential Development Bonuses:

For projects where the conditions of more than one applicable bonus listed above and under Sec. 5.4.8 (e) are met, and where any applicable development allowances per Article 9 are utilized, the applicant may use the most permissive exemption to the underlying lot coverage or residential intensities applicable.

In no case shall any development bonuses and allowances granted, either individually or in combination, enable a building to exceed the maximum development intensity, lot coverage, and building height permitted in any district as defi ned below:

Massing and Placement Standards in Residential Districts

Table 4.4.5-2 Principal & Secondary Structures

Massing and Placement Standards in Residental Districts

As written

(c) Permitted and Conditional Uses – As written (d) District Specific Regulations e following regulations are district-specific exceptions, bonuses, and standards unique to the residential districts. ey are in addition to, or may modify, city-wide standards as provided in Article 5 of this ordinance and district standards as provided above.

1. Additional Residential Development Permitted – As written

2. Exceptions to Dimensional Standards

A. Encroachment into Side Setback for Residential Driveways – As written

B. Encroachment into the Waterfront Setback

e following exceptions to the required waterfront setback for Lake Champlain and the Winooski River established under Sec. 4.5.4 Article 4, Table 4.4.5-1, footnotes 7 and 8 (i) and (ii) As written

C. - D. As written

3. Exception for Neighborhood Commercial Uses – As written

4. Miscellaneous Standards

A. – C. As written

D. Additional Unit on lot or within Owner-Occupied Single Detached Dwelling

Where an existing Principal Structure in any Residential Zoning District contains only an owner-occupied Single Detached Dwelling, and an applicant proposes to add a single additional dwelling unit within the Principal Structure or within a detached Secondary Structure on the same lot as the owner-occupied home, the application shall be subject to administrative review and approval according to Sec.3.2.7 (a) 13, and exempt from paying impact fees, according to Sec. 3.3.1 3.,except where otherwise required

5. Residential Development Bonuses e following exceptions to maximum allowable residential standards in Tables 4.4.5-1 and 4.4.5-2 may be approved in any combination subject to the maximum limits set forth in Table 4.4.5-6 at the discretion of the DRB. Any bonuses that are given pursuant to this ordinance now or in the future shall be regarded as an exception to the limits otherwise applicable.

A. Housing for Older Persons and Individuals with Disabilities Bonus

Residential development in excess of the limits set forth in Tables 4.4.5-1 and 4.4.5-2 may be permitted by the DRB for projects including exclusively housing for Older Persons (as defined by the federal Fair Housing Act), housing for Individuals with Disabilities (as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act), or a mixture exclusively thereof provided the following conditions are met: (i) – (iii) As Written

Table 4.4.5-6: Housing for Older Persons and Individuals with Disabilities Bonus

Table 4.4.5-7: Maximum Intensity, Lot Coverage and Building Heights with Bonuses

(c) Effective Date – As Written ***

Article 4: ZONING MAPS AND DISTRICTS ***

PART 5: OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS ***

Sec. 4.5.6 South End Innovation District Overlay *** (a) – (b) – As written (c) District Specifi c Regulations

Table 4.5.6-1 SEID Dimensional Standards & Density As written

1. Dimensional Standards & Density – As Written

Table 4.5.6-2: Frontage and Activation Standards

2. Frontage and Ground Floor Activation Standards

A – B. – As Written

C. Ground Floor Level Entries: At least one ground level fl oor public entry into a building or interior courtyard or open space , not including service doors, is required each 60’ linear feet along a Primary frontage of each building facade fronting on a Street, Public Path or open space on the same lot.

3. – 4. As written ***

Article 5: CITYWIDE GENERAL REGULATIONS ***

PART 3: NON-CONFORMITIES ***

Sec. 5.3.5 Nonconforming Structures (a) Changes and Modifi cations

Nothing in this Part shall be deemed to prevent normal maintenance and repair or structural repair, or moving of a non-complying structure pursuant to any applicable provisions of this Ordinance. Any change or modifi cation to a nonconforming structure, other than to full conformity under this Ordinance, shall only be allowed subject to the following:

1. Such a change or modification may reduce the degree of nonconformity and shall not increase the nonconformity except as provided below.

Within the residential districts, and subject to Development Review Board approval, existing nonconforming single family homes and community centers (existing enclosed spaces only) that project into side and/or rear yard setbacks may be vertically expanded so long as the expansion does not encroach further into the setback than the existing structure. Such expansion shall be of the existing nonconformity (i.e. setback) and shall:

i) Be subject to conformance with all other dimensional requirements (i.e. height, lot coverage, density and intensity of development); ii) Not have an undue adverse impact on adjoining properties or any public interest that would be protected by maintaining the existing setbacks; and,

iii) Be compatible with the character and scale of surrounding structures.

Existing accessory buildings of 15 feet in height or less shall not exceed 15 feet tall as expanded. Within all districts and subject to the Development Review Board approval, structures for the purpose of creating an ADU may be constructed on lots with legally non-conforming lot coverage per Sec. 5.2.3(b)10.

2. – 3. As written (b) As written ***

Article 6: DEVELOPMENT REVIEW STANDARDS ***

PART 2: SITE PLAN DESIGN STANDARDS ***

Sec. 6.2.2 Review Standards

(a) – (l) As written

(m) Landscaping, Fences, and Retaining Walls Landscaping shall be used to beautify the development site and to provide specifi c functions and benefi ts to the uses and buildings on the site. ese include but are not limited to stormwater retention and erosion control, winter windbreaks and summer shade, recreational and habitat corridors, buffers and screening of parking areas, and creating privacy for and from adjacent property.

Existing trees shall be retained and incorporated into a landscape plan to the extent possible, and existing trees to be retained shall be protected during construction in accordance with specifi cations provided by the city arborist. Contiguous green space, both within the site and with adjacent properties, should be provided on a site whenever possible and be designed to provide wildlife travel corridors and habitat preservation, as well as enabling recreational access. If open space is intended to be publicly accessible, it shall be designed to maximize accessibility for all individuals including the disabled, encourage social interaction, and facilitate ease of maintenance. Along the street edge, landscaping shall be used to provide a visual buffer into parking areas from the public street and reinforce the streetscape.

e selection of plant materials and planting sites should create a sustainable landscape, and consideration shall be given to factors such as hardiness, salt tolerance, disease resistance, invasiveness, root and canopy spread, underground and overhead utilities, soil conditions, and microclimates. e use of native plant materials is encouraged, and the use of plants considered invasive by VT Agency of Agriculture shall be prohibited. For more information on sustainable landscapes, applicants are encouraged to consult Planting Sustainable Landscapes: A Guide for Plan Reviewers prepared for the Vermont Department of Forests Parks and Recreation by the Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

New or replacement street trees shall be provided consistent with the city’s Street Tree Master Plan. All proposed street trees shall be selected and planted in accordance with specifi cations provided by the city arborist.

Fences may be placed within the required setback along a property line, but shall be setback suffi ciently to provide for the maintenance of both sides of the fence without entering onto the adjacent property and shall present a fi nished side to the adjoining property and public street. Fences placed within a clear sight triangle shall adhere to the standards of Sec. 5.2.6 (d). Styles, materials, and dimensions of the proposed fence shall be compatible with the context of the neighborhood and the use of the property.

Retaining walls greater than 5 feet tall shall incorporate textured surfaces, terracing, and/or vegetation to avoid long monotonous unarticulated expanses and to minimize adverse visual impacts to neighboring properties. As with fences, retaining wall styles, materials, and dimensions shall be compatible with the context of the neighborhood and use of the property.

(n) – (o) As written ***

Article 7: SIGNS

PART 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 7.1.1 Authority and Intent

ese regulations are enacted under the provisions of 24 V.S.A. Section 4411 with the intent to ensure that all Signs and advertising features: (a) – (e) As written Any sign or advertising feature not expressly permitted by this ordinance shall be prohibited. ***

Sec. 7.1.3 Exemptions

Repainting, refacing, repair, or change of lettering, logo, or colors using the same materials within an existing permitted Sign frame shall be exempt from the requirements of this Article and allowed without the requirement to obtain a new zoning permit.

e following types of Signs are permitted in all parts of the city, and shall also be exempt from the requirements of this Article and the necessity to obtain a permit:

(a) – (g) As written

(h) Historic Marker : A non-illuminated sign, either a Wall Sign sixteen square feet or less in size or a Freestanding Yard sign of 14 square feet or less and 12 feet tall or less commemorating the historic signifi cance of a building or site.

(i) – (j) As written ***

Article 9: INCLUSIONARY AND REPLACEMENT HOUSING

PART 1: INCLUSIONARY ZONING ***

Sec. 9.1.5 Applicability

is ordinance provision shall apply to any development of fi ve or more residential units in a single structure. Multiple developments or projects by the same applicant or responsible party within any consecutive twelve (12) month period that in the aggregate equal or exceed the above criteria shall be subject to these regulations.

Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, these regulations shall apply in the instances specifi ed below.

(a) e creation of fi ve (5) or more residential units through new construction and/or substantial rehabilitation of existing structures, including the development of housing units utilizing development provisions other than those specifi ed in Sec 9.1.5 (b).

(b) Where units are created using the Adaptive Reuse or Residential Conversion criteria pursuant to the provisions of Art 4, Sec 4.4.5, this article shall be applicable when at least ten (10) or more dwelling units are created.

(c) – (d) As written ***

Sec. 9.1.12 Additional Density and Other Development Allowances

All covered projects shall be entitled to increases in the development allowances of the underlying zoning district in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(a) Any covered project shall be entitled by right to an increase in the maximum lot coverage density/ intensity, and, where applicable, height allowed for the lot(s) on which the project is located when all required Inclusionary Units are constructed on the same lot, or lots subject to Article 11 Planned Development. Calculations for these entitlements shall be based on the following table:

Table 9.1.12-1 Additional Density and Other Development Allowances

(b) – (d) As written ***

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Article 9: INCLUSIONARY AND REPLACEMENT HOUSING ***

PART 2: HOUSING PRESERVATION AND REPLACEMENT/DEMOLITION AND CONVERSION ***

Sec. 9.2.2 Applicability

Except as otherwise provided for in Section 9.2.10, this Part is applicable to the loss, demolition, or conversion to a nonresidential use of any housing unit in the City, including those demolished or declared unfi t for habitation pursuant to any order, decision or other action of the city’s offi ce of inspection services. An example of a loss of a housing unit would be the change from a duplex to a single family home.

e conversion to a nonresidential use of any housing unit located on the ground fl oor of a building within a form or mixed-use zoning district shall be exempt from the provisions of this Part. ***

Sec. 9.2.10 Exemptions

is article shall not be applicable to:

(a) – (b) As written (c) e demolition, loss , or conversion to a nonresidential use of a single attached or detached housing unit or duplex that is occupied by the owner as his or her primary residence for the twelve-(12) month period preceding the date of application for conditional use approval. Nor shall this section be applicable in its replacement requirement to that portion of a multi-unit building of three (3) units or more that is occupied by the owner as his or her primary residence for the thirty-six-(36) month period preceding the date of application for conditional use approval. Any exemption allowed under this provision shall be void if the owner sells any of the applicable units within twenty-four (24) months of the date of conditional use approval; and, (d) As written ***

Article 11: PLANNED DEVELOPMENT

Part 1: PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ***

Sec. 11.1.5 Residential District Planned Unit Developments.

(a) Dimensional Standards Unless otherwise stated, Planned Unit Development standards are required to follow the underlying district dimensional standards.

1. A Planned Unit Development with Project Size of less than 0.5 acres and consisting of a Pocket Neighborhood or Rowhouse project, shall be allowed, subject to underlying standards in Sec. 4.4.5(d)1.

2. A Planned Unit Development with Project Size of 0.5 acres or more shall be allowed, subject to the standards established below in Table 11.1.5 -1 and Table 11.1.5-2.

Table 11.1.5-1 Residential District Planned Unit Development Intensity Standards – As written

e Development Review Board may exempt Planned Unit Developments existing as of January 1, 2024 from any standard in Table 11.1. 3 5-2.

Table 11.1.5-2 Residential District Planned Unit Development Setback Standards

Table 11.1.5-2 Residential District Planned Unit Development Setback Standards

1. Buildings with a footprint greater than 5,000 sq. ft. must be set back at least 50 feet from any adjacent Lot not within the PUD and located in an RL or RM district. However, this footnote shall not apply to the Residential - Special Uses specifi ed in footnote 6 of Table 4.4.5-2.

2. Buildings fully contained in the RL and RM districts with a footprint greater than 5,000 sq. ft. must have a front project periphery setback of at least 50 feet. is footnote does not apply to any building that partially occupies any portion of a lot zoned RC, nor does it apply to Residential – Special Uses specifi ed in footnote 6 of Table 4.4.5-2

3. Front setbacks shall be measured from the edge

of the Right-of-Way that is fully internal to the project, to which the building draws its frontage. Buildings must be at least 10’ from the curb or edge of a public Right-of-Way if no curb exists, except where the ROW is a Public Path, in which case the building must be at least 5’ from the edge of the Public Path. ***

Article 13: DEFINITIONS ***

Sec. 13.1.2 Definitions.

For the purpose of this ordinance certain terms and words are herein defi ned as follows:

Unless defi ned to the contrary in Section 4303 of the Vermont Planning and Development Act as amended, or defi ned otherwise in this section, defi nitions contained in the building code of the City of Burlington, Sections 8-2 and 13-1 of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, incorporating the currently adopted edition of the American Insurance Association’s “National Building Code” and the National Fire Protection Association’s “National Fire Code” shall prevail.

Additional defi nitions specifi cally pertaining to Art. 14 planBTV: Downtown Code can be found in Sec. 14.8, and shall take precedence without limitation over any duplicative or conflicting defi nitions of this Article.

***

Building: Not synonymous with Structure; man-made construction completely enclosed by a roof, window, doors and solid exterior walls, and designed, built, or occupied as a shelter of enclosure for persons, animals, or property. ***

Elderly Housing: See Housing, Senior ***

Housing Senior: Housing that is designed for, and is occupied primarily by, those persons fi fty-fi ve (55) years of age or older.

***

Planned Unit Development: A development plan for one or more lots, tracts, or parcels to be developed as a single, integrated entity. See Article 11 for specifi c provisions One or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land to be developed as a single entity, the plan for which may propose any authorized combination of density or intensity transfers or increases as well as the mixing of land uses. is plan, as authorized, may deviate from bylaw requirements that are otherwise applicable to the area in which it is located with respect to lot size, bulk or type of dwelling or building use, density, intensity, lot coverage, parking, required common open space or other standards, pursuant to the authority and limitations set forth in the comprehensive master plan and 24 V.S.A.4417 as amended.

***

Senior Housing: see Housing, Senior ***

Article 14 PlanBTV Downtown Code

Section 14.8: Glossary is Section provides defi nitions for certain terms found in this Article 14. Additional defi nitions are to be found in Article 13 of the BCDO. e following terms, as used in this Article 14, shall have the following meanings: ***

Building: not synonymous with Structure, manmade construction completely enclosed by a roof, window, doors and solid exterior walls, and designed, built or occupied as a shelter of enclosure for persons, animals, or property. See defi nition for “Building” in Article 13. ***

* Material stricken out deleted.

** Material underlined added.

Planning/KS/ Ordinances 2026/ZA-26-01 Technical Corrections and Minor Revisions CDO Sections 3.1.2(c); Table 3.5.2-1; Sec 3.5.3(c); Table 4.4.2-1, Sec. 4.4.2 (d) 3 B; Table 4.4.5-1; Sec. 4.4.5(d) 2 B; Sec 4.4.5 (d) 4 D; Table 4.4.5-6; 4.4.5-7; Table 4.5.6-2; Sec 4.5.6 (c)2 C; Sec 5.3.5(a); Sec 6.2.2 (m); Sec 7.1.1; Sec 7.1.3; Sec 9.1.5; Table Sec 9.1.12; Sec. 9.2.2; Sec 9.2.10 (c); Table 11.1.5-2; Article 13; and Sec. 14.8.

CC 1/12/26

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

Administrative Assistant/Scheduler

In search of a dedicated and enthusiastic, fulltime Customer Service Representative/Scheduler to join our team. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a positive attitude and the ability to handle customer inquiries efficiently.

This position will be the first point of contact for our clients and will handle inbound and outbound calls with professionalism and courtesy. Full benefit package, pay scale $25 - $30 per hour. Send resumes to: jean.ferguson@ jaymechanical.com

Early Head Start Toddler Teacher

St. Albans Early Learning Center

As an Early Head Start Toddler Teacher, you will serve as co-teacher in an outcome oriented, team environment, and provide safe, healthy, friendly, and developmentally appropriate environments and experiences for infants and toddlers. Motivated Head Start teachers improve the trajectory of children’s lives, including children’s learning outcomes, living standards, and later academic and professional success. If you want to make a difference in the lives of young children and their families, consider joining the Head Start community.

40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year. Starting 60 day probationary wage: $23.73-28.08 per hour and increases to $24.07-28.76 per hour after 60-day probationary period, depending on qualifications. Health plan and excellent benefits.

Please visit our company website to read the full job description and submit your application: cvoeo.org/careers

AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM MANAGER

The Agricultural Program Manager leads Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s (VHCB) nationally recognized farmland conservation program, managing purchase of development rights initiatives, federal and state funding partnerships, and strategic land protection efforts. This role oversees the full project lifecycle, from application through closing, while championing environmental stewardship, farmland access for new farmers, and Vermont’s working landscape. The position supervises program staff, ensures grant compliance, and represents VHCB with land trusts, agencies, and federal partners to advance conservation policy.

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. To learn more, visit vhcb.org/careers To apply, send cover letter/resume by January 16 to: jobs@vhcb.org

Data Manager & Research Analyst

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eanvt.org/data_manager

IT/AV Technician

The Clerk’s Office for the United States District Court is seeking a qualified individual with excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills capable of functioning in a dynamic, teamoriented environment. The duty station is Burlington, Vermont. Full federal benefits apply.

Complete job description and formal application requirements are found in the official Position Announcement available from any U.S. District Court office (Burlington and Rutland) or the court’s website. WWW.VTD.USCOURTS.GOV

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

Vermont-NEA, the state’s largest union representing 16,000 school educators, is seeking a Membership Coordinator who is committed to advancing union advocacy and supporting the collective power of educators. In this role, you’ll coordinate membership operations, maintain database systems, and work directly with members and local leaders to ensure accurate enrollment and smooth processes. The ideal candidate will have strong administrative and technical skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and database management, as well as the ability to process financial transactions and produce accurate reports. This full-time position, based in Montpelier, offers a competitive salary range of $52,399–$88,065 and a comprehensive benefits package under a collectively bargained agreement. If you’re passionate about union work and public education, and have strong organizational and technical skills, visit vtnea.org/careers for the full job description and application instructions. Applications must be received by February 4, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

Ellis Music is a family music store located in central Vermont serving the region with instrument rentals and sales, repair services, supplies, and sheet music. The store is currently seeking:

Bookkeeper

($22-$26 per hour, pay commensurate w/ experience)

Institutional Accounts Manager

($20-$24 per hour, pay commensurate w/ experience)

Benefits include 100% employer-paid individual health insurance premium, paid time off, and SEP-IRA.

For details or to apply, visit ellismusic.com /t-employment.aspx.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR

The ELL Instructor will provide in-person English language instruction, typically at beginner-to-intermediate level to adult students. Immediate need is for an instructor available to teach a once/weekly Beginners Level 1 class on Wednesday evening (5:30 – 7:00 PM) from late January through early June. Ideally able to also teach a twice/weekly late afternoon class on Mondays & Wednesdays to Level 2 Beginners. Working closely and with guidance from the ELL Team, the instructor will also review and improve course materials, understand participants’ needs, develop engaging lesson plans, and ensure the relevant learning resources are available.

For more information, please visit: 7dvt.pub/3mi

Application materials must include a resume and letter of interest (Cover Letter) specifically addressing the desired qualifications. Submit to Alana Shaw ashaw@mercyconnections.org

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NOW HIRING

LEAD CARDIOPULMONARY REHAB CLINICIAN

Administrative Coordinator

The Kelly Brush Foundation, a national non-profit founded in 2006, seeks an Administrative Coordinator to support our mission to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active, engaged lives. The role is based in Burlington and is an in-office role 3-4 days a week. Compensation is hourly to start with the potential for salary after 6 months.

Essential Qualifications:

• 3–5+ years in an administrative assistant, office manager, or operations support role.

• Deep alignment with the KBF’s purpose and respect for the lived experiences of people with spinal cord injuries.

To apply please send resume and cover letter to info@ kellybrushfoundation.org

Join our Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab program!

This position is PART-TIME, Mon/Wed/Fri—no weekends. Accepting applications from Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Exercise Physiologists, Respiratory Therapists, and Physical Therapists

For more information or to apply visit copleyvt.org/careers or contact Kaitlyn Shannon, Recruiter, at 802-888-8144 or kshannon@chsi.org.

Compliance Specialist

Winooski Housing Authority

Winooski Housing Authority is seeking applicants for a Compliance Specialist position. The successful candidate will have a high school diploma, experience in the Office 365 environment and in a database, attention to detail, and a commitment to serving our customers.

This position is an office position that requires significant paperwork that must meet regulatory requirements. You will also work with people who speak different languages and from different cultures.

Pay is $21 - $25/hour, depending on experience.

If you love detail, love organization, and are committed to helping folks work through their financial needs in order to find and maintain housing, please send a cover letter and resume to Susan Perkins at: sperkins@winooskihousing.org

Executive Director

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) is seeking a seasoned executive who will partner with the board and staff and lead the organizational change process to build on past accomplishments and further expand the impact of providing critical services to older Vermonters in CVCOA’s service area. Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director will provide leadership to the organization and manage its day-to-day affairs. The executive director will also be responsible for working closely with the community, cultivating financial and other support, managing the programs and overseeing paid and volunteer staff.

Salary range $108,000 - $120,000.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to cvcoaedapplication@gmail.com by February 22, 2026.

construction company is seeking Carpenters and Lead Carpenters in the Addison & Chittenden County area.

We offer a rewarding work environment with comprehensive compensation packages ranging from $65,000/yr to $95,000/yr based on experience. Benefits include paid holidays, 3+ weeks paid time off, 401k, employer healthcare contribution, profit sharing, bi-annual bonuses, and more.

Scan the QR code below to text your contact info and experience or email us at admin@smithmcclain.com Come build with us!

Market Manager

Capital City Farmers Market

The Capital City Farmers Market (CCFM) is a member-run organization that is governed by a Board consisting of vendors and a community representative. The CCFM Board employs and supervises the Market Manager.

The Market Manager is a year-round salaried position, requiring approximately 30 hours per week. The actual hours required will vary seasonally, however the pay will be normalized and paid biweekly. The summer market runs weekly from May through October, there is one market in November, and the winter market runs twice monthly from December through April. The Manager is required to be on-site during market hours(with the exception of agreed days off), and may otherwise perform the work remotely. The Manager is the face of the Market, and as such must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. For more details, visit: capitalcityfarmersmarket.com/jobs

Compensation: $30-36K (commensurate with experience).

UVM Home Health & Hospice Opportunities

UVM Health – Home Health & Hospice provides high-quality, compassionate home health care wherever our community members call home. Sign on bonus and shift di erentials for select roles.

Personal Care Attendant

RN - High Tech Home Health

LPN - High Tech Home Health

Learn more and apply today! uvmhealthnetworkcareers.org/hhh_sevendays

Town of Charlotte

Town Administrator

The Town of Charlotte, Vermont (population 3,900) seeks candidates for the position of Town Administrator. The Town has a current municipal budget of nearly $4.4 million including budgets for the Town’s Library and Fire/Rescue service which are voted upon separately. The Town has ten municipal employees, and the Library has six employees. Charlotte has a cherished rural character, active and engaged residents and committees, and a strongly supported school system.

The five member Selectboard seeks an individual with a collaborative and team-oriented approach; financial management and budgeting experience; experience with municipal operations; and general knowledge of human resource activities. Candidates should also possess excellent communication, community engagement, organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Municipal administration or management experience and a degree in public or business administration or related fields are preferred, but candidates with comparable work experience are encouraged to apply.

The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $90,000 annually commensurate with qualifications. The town provides generous health and retirement plans. Charlotte is an EOE and values diversity and inclusiveness in the community and workplace. The Selectboard intends the selected candidate to start as soon as possible in spring 2026. Electronic submissions only please.

Email applications, including a cover letter and resumé, to bfraser@vlct.org by February 20, 2026.

Retreat Chef

The Retreat Chef is in charge of the all-important food program at Knoll Farm, providing three meals a day when programs are in session, as well as cooking for special events such as music nights and professional workshops. Healthy delicious food is at the very heart of people’s experience of the farm, so this position is very creative, important and deeply appreciated.

Apply online: knollfarm.org/ work-with-us/retreat-chef

Program Support Specialist

Pay: $20-$22/Hour. AWARE is seeking a compassionate and organized Program Support Specialist to provide advocacy, outreach, and administrative support. This position combines direct client services helping individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking along with community engagement and administrative support, to help sustain AWARE’s mission. If you’re passionate about making a difference and ready to take on a multifaceted role, we want to hear from you! To apply for this job email your details to aware@vtlink.net

Justice Services Program Manager

VWW seeks a resourceful and thoughtful new team member to lead programming at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF). The Justice Services Program Manager’s focus will be to support justiceinvolved women at CRCF through direct service, classroombased programming, program development, evaluation and data collection. The position pays $30-33/hour and comes with a comprehensive benefits package. Visit bit.ly/4qVmrGx to apply.

Lake Champlain Education & Outreach Steward

Seasonal, Summer 2026. Burlington & Grand Isle, Vermont. Help to protect the Lake Champlain Watershed! Support public engagement initiatives and gain hands-on experience in environmental education, outreach and communications.

More information: neiwpcc.org/about-us/careers

To apply: send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to jobs@neiwpcc.org

JANUARY 21-28, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

Program Assistant

For International NGO

PH International is seeking a highly organized, versatile, and proactive full-time Program Assistant to support our programs and operations. The position will be based out of our Waitsfield, Vermont office, on a hybrid schedule (Tuesdays & Thursdays in-office). The Program Assistant supports the efficient operation of the office and assists co-workers with communication, documentation, and logistics related to our international exchange programs. This role offers hands-on experience with international youth exchanges, from planning and logistics to communications and travel, making a real impact on participants and program operations.

PH International (Project Harmony, Inc.) is an international non-profit with over 40 years of experience in creating strong global communities by fostering civic engagement and cross-cultural learning. PH pursues this mission by developing innovative programs for youth, professionals, and communities worldwide. PH is an equal opportunity employer.

For full job description & application instructions, please visit: ph-int.org/about-us/vacancies

Application deadline: January 26, 2026

Market Development Associate

Community Heart & Soul® is a national nonprofit organization whose namesake program engages residents and local leaders to shape the future of their communities. We’re looking for a talented market development professional to help expand our partnership base across the U.S.Basedin Shelburne, VT we seek candidates with strong business acumen who enjoy building relationships. This role works closelywith ourVP of Market Development to connectwith community foundations and local leaders across the countrywho want to bring the Heart & Soul process to their communities.

Travel: About 30% nationally, mostly during spring andfall.

You might be a great fit if you:

· Have experience in building partnerships in business or nonprofit work.

· Communicate clearly and comfortably with a wide range of people

· Enjoy representing an organization and its mission

· Have experience with HubSpot as a CRM and Marketing tool

What we offer:

· Competitive salary, benefits and paid time off

· Support forlearning and professional growth

Salary range based on experience: $70,000 to $85,000. Apply online: communityheartandsoul.org/careers

HIRING IMMEDIATELY

Polyurethane foam insulation applicator helper/general laborer. Call 802-316-1374

Room for advancement for the right person.

Farm to School

Educators

2 positions open in South Burlington ($21-$26 per hour)

Farm to School Manager 3 days per week: 7dvt.pub/c515d8

Farm to School Educator 2 days per week: 7dvt.pub/5j3

To view full descriptions of both openings, visit:7dvt.pub/1gx

Director of Early Childhood Programs

We’re seeking a collaborative, mission-driven leader to coordinate our Early Childhood licensure and endorsement programs and support professional learning across Vermont. The Director oversees all aspects of program development and improvement to ensure high-quality, inclusive learning opportunities for Vermont’s early childhood workforce.

If you’re an educator at heart who is excited to work with higher education partners, contracted instructors, candidates seeking licensure, and their VT-HEC colleagues, we’d love to hear from you.

To see the full job description and apply, use QR code:

Wastewater Superintendent

Town of Middlebury

Salary $90,000

Part Time Recycling Attendant

Town of Danville

Salary Range $17 to $19 per hour

Natural Resources Planner

Rutland Regional Planning Commission

Salary Range $50,000 to $80,000

Visitor Center Ambassador (Per-Diem)

Williston & Georgia South I-89 Welcome Centers - $17.75/hour

I-89 Welcome Centers are seeking per-diem employees with great customer service skills and a passion for Vermont tourism. Responsibilities include providing visitors with tourism information, as well as performing various custodial and physical tasks. The schedule is flexible, with shifts of varying length available seven days a week. Send resumes to: welcomecenters@vermont.org Scan QR code to apply. Youth Coaches; Drop-In, Shelter & Supported Housing positions

Bus DriverCambridge Elementary School Principal

Lamoille North Supervisory Union team is seeking a Principal to serve the Cambridge Elementary School in Lamoille County.

For context, Lamoille North comprises elementary schools in Cambridge, Eden, Johnson, Hyde Park and Waterville/Belvidere, a middle and high school in Hyde Park, and the Green Mountain Technology and Career Center, all located in beautiful Lamoille County. Lamoille North Supervisory Union is seeking a Principal for our elementary school in Cambridge to serve approximately 300 students. We require dynamic leadership skills and a track record of excellence in creating and leading an exemplary educational environment focused on equity, access, inclusion and diversity. The Principal will lead all aspects of the school including instruction, administration and operations, supervision and evaluation of faculty and staff, business operations, and communication with all members of the school community.

Candidates must hold (or be eligible for) Vermont Educator’s License. Principal endorsement or eligible for Vermont Provisional endorsement.

Interested Applicants May Apply: SchoolSpring.com - Job ID: 5489172, or by submitting a cover letter, resume, proof of licensure, three letters of reference and two essay questions to hr@lnsd.org. Essay questions may be viewed on SchoolSpring.com – Job ID: 5489172

For a complete job description please email hr@lnsd.org

LNSU Provides a Generous Benefit Package: paid vacation, personal, medical, bereavement and holiday leave, health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, plus 403b and/or 457 deferred compensation retirement plans

Please visit our school website to view additional job openings: lnsd.org LNSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Direct Support Professional

Why not have a job you love? Provide direct 1:1 support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them reach their goals and be an active member of their community. This is an excellent position for those starting in the human service field or looking to continue this type of work. Both full and part time positions available. Compensation is $20 per hour plus mileage with a benefit package that includes 29 paid days off in the first year, a comprehensive health insurance plan with affordable premium rates, up to $6,000 to go towards medical deductibles and copays, a retirement match, and so much more.

And that’s on top of working at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” for seven years running.

Become a Direct Support Professional at an award-winning agency and make a career making a difference. Apply today at ccs-vt.org.

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Litigation Paralegal

(with Estate Planning & Probate Support)

McCormick Fitzpatrick, Burlington's second oldest law firm, is seeking a skilled and detailoriented Litigation Paralegal to join our busy practice. This role is primarily focused on litigation support, with additional responsibilities assisting in estate planning and probate matters. The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple deadlines across practice areas.

Key Responsibilities: Provide comprehensive support in litigation matters, including:

• Managing case files, deadlines, and court calendars

• Assisting with trial preparation, exhibits, and witness coordination

• Drafting and responding to discovery requests and possible other responsive pleadings

Support estate planning and probate matters, including:

• Reviewing, editing and organizing estate planning documents

• Preparing probate filings and correspondence with courts and clients

• Assisting with trust & estate administration tasks

• Communicate professionally with clients, courts, and opposing counsel

• Maintain accurate records & ensure compliance with court rules and firm procedures

Qualifications:

• Paralegal/Administrative experience preferred

• Experience in litigation preferred, estate planning and probate experience a plus

• High-level organization and time management skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Familiarity with court filing systems and case management software preferred

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• High level of professionalism and attention to detail

What We O er:

• Competitive compensation based on experience

• Benefits such as health insurance, retirement plan, PTO, flexible schedule, possible remote work, etc.

• Collaborative and supportive work environment

• Opportunity to gain experience across multiple practice areas

To Apply: Please submit resume & brief cover letter to Krystn Perettine at kmp@mc-fitz.com and David Grebe at dag@mc-fitz.com

JANUARY 21-28, 2026

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

CLIENT SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

This systems administration position is part of PCC’s Client Technical Services (CTS) team and focuses on maintaining our clients’ servers and network infrastructure. The position is integral to a dedicated, client-focused technical services team and requires technical expertise coupled with exceptional customer service and communication skills.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Troubleshoot and resolve client problems with PCC-provided hardware, operating systems, networks, and related products

• Coordinate, schedule, and perform server and other network hardware upgrades at client offices and/or remotely.

• Travel to client offices to install servers, networks, and perform necessary upgrades.

• Configure and ship physical servers and network hardware

• Provision and administer cloud-hosted servers on Google Cloud Platform and/or AWS

• Assist in administering warranty contracts on client hardware

• Perform preventative maintenance on client servers and networks

• Assist in receiving and shipping client hardware

• Provide friendly, professional technical support to PCC clients via phone, email, and support tickets.

• Support PCC Technical Specialists by handling escalated client tickets as needed.

• Assist clients in coordinating PCC and third-party vendor activities

• Advise clients in areas such as hardware selection, Internet and wide-area connectivity, remote office installations, and network planning

INTEGRATION DEVELOPER

PCC, a private, Winooski-based healthcare IT Benefit Corporation, seeks an Integration Developer to join our team. If you are interested in strengthening pediatric practices by connecting them to their care delivery partners throughout the healthcare ecosystem, we would love to hear from you. This is a versatile technical role with elements of software development (focused on API, web services, etc.), operations (deployment, monitoring, issue remediation), and project management (working with 3rd party technical teams to bring solutions from specification to production).

CORE TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Unix/Linux environments including CLI experience for filesystem navigation, monitoring, and administration

• Familiarity with web and application communication protocols including TCP/IP, sFTP, REST, SOAP, ETL, etc.

• Familiarity with healthcare domain concepts and applications (either as a user, support, development, etc.)

• Experience on a technical team in either a development, operations, or systems administration capacity (or some combination thereof).

• Experience with any modern software development language/framework

• Document work activities via help-desk support tickets and PCC’s Tuleap project management application

• Maintain effective technical documentation for our staff and our clients by adding and updating our Intranet Wiki

• Ensure the confidentiality of sensitive and protected information

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Experience as a systems administrator of mission-critical systems

• Experience supporting and maintaining business-class network equipmentfirewalls, switches, wireless

• Solid understanding of TCP/IP networks and network services (DHCP, DNS, VLANs, etc)

• Desktop support experience and a good working knowledge of Windows and MacOS.

• A collaborative work style and the desire to be part of a team

• Positive, effective, written, and verbal communication with clients, coworkers, and leadership

• Appropriate sharing of knowledge and information

• Strong attention to detail

• Commitment to PCC’s mission and the mission of our clients

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE IS A PLUS:

• Administration of Linux servers, especially. Red Hat / CentOS / Rocky Linux

• Familiarity with Linux Bash, Perl, and/or Python scripting

• Experience with Proxmox virtualization and the ZFS filesystem

• Familiarity with Git version control

• Experience with any modern RDBMS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/ EXPERIENCE:

• Healthcare integration engine experience (Mirth Connect/Open Integration Engine, Corepoint, Rhapsody, Healthshare, etc.)

• Experience with clinical data exchange standards (HL7 v2, C-CDA, FHIR, eRx/NCPDP Script, etc.)

• Experience with API testing tools (Postman, SoapUI, cURL, etc.)

• Experience with one or more of the following languages/frameworks: Javascript, Java, Perl, shell scripting, php (Zend/ Laravel), Ruby on Rails, C++ (Qt), Python

• Experience with one or more of the following RDBMS: MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL

• Experience with one or more of the following Version Control Systems: Git, Subversion

• Don’t worry if you don’t check all the boxes here; the most important factor is your ability to pick up new skills and seek out robust technical solutions for the challenges of healthcare interoperability. If this sounds like your realm, our team would love to meet you!

PCC’S BENEFITS:

In addition to health, dental, vision, 401k, and life insurance for employees, PCC offers medical insurance for domestic partners and civil union couples, as well as reimbursement for home internet, cellular plan, laser eye treatment, fitness and wellness expenses, charitable donation matching, AAA Plus membership, frequent catered lunches, and more. PCC supports families with an adoption assistance program, extended paid holiday time off, and paid family leave options.

PCCers currently enjoy a hybrid workplace model with the options of meeting remotely and on-site at PCC’s office in Winooski, Vermont. Applicants should expect to be based in Vermont, within commuting distance of Winooski. No phone calls, please. AA/EOE

and to

fun stuff

AQUARIUS

(JAN. 20-FEB. 18)

You are a spy from the future. Thank you for your service! I love to see your boldness as you smuggle innovative ideas into a present that may or may not be ready for them. Your feelings of alienation are sometimes uncomfortable, but they are crucial to the treasure you offer us. You see patterns others miss because you refuse to be hypnotized by consensus reality. Keep up the excellent work, please. May you honor your need to tinker with impossibilities and imagine alternatives to what everyone else imagines is inevitable. You are proof that we don’t have to accept inherited structures as inevitable.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): Master astrologer Steven Forrest understands you Aries people well. He says the riskiest strategy you can pursue is to constantly seek safety. It’s crucial for you to always be on the lookout for adventure. One of your chief assignments is to cultivate courage — especially the kind of brave boldness that arises as you explore unknown territory. To rouse the magic that really matters, you must face your fears regularly. The coming months will be an ideal time for you to dive in and celebrate this approach to life.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): You are an ambassador from the material world to the

realm of spirit — and vice versa. One of your prime assignments is the opposite of what the transcendence-obsessed gurus preach. You’re here to prove that the flesh is holy, pleasure is a form of prayer, and the senses are portals to the divine. When you revel in earthy delights, when you luxuriate in rich textures and tastes and scents, you’re not being “attached” or “unspiritual.” You’re enacting a radical sacred stance. Being exuberantly immersed in the material world isn’t a mistake to overcome but a blessing to savor. May you redouble your subversive work of treating your body as a cathedral and sensual enjoyments as sacraments.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): Everything that’s meant for you is trying to find its way to you. Here’s the problem: It can’t deliver the goods if you’re in constant motion. The boons trying to reach you are circling, waiting for a stable landing spot. If you keep up the restless roaming, life might have to slow you down, even stop you, so you’ll be still enough to embody receptivity. Don’t wait for that. Pause now. Set aside whatever’s feeding your restlessness and tune in to the quiet signal of your own center. The moment you do, bounties will start arriving.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Artist Louise Bourgeois said, “I am what I do with my hands.” I will adapt this declaration for your use, Cancerian: You are what you do with your feelings. You are the structures, sanctuaries and nourishment you create from the raw material of your sensitivity. It’s one of your superpowers! I understand that some people mistake emotional depth for passive vulnerability. They assume that feeling everything means doing nothing. But you prove that bias wrong. You are potentially a master builder. You can convert the flood waters of emotion into resources that hold, protect and feed. I hope you will do this lavishly in the coming weeks.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Admiring writers often say the Balinese people have no traditional word for “art.” Making things beautiful is woven into everyday life, as if everything should be done as beautifully as possible. I aspire to carry out this approach myself: infusing

ordinary actions with the same care I’d bring to writing a story or song. Washing dishes, answering emails and walking to the store: All are eligible for beauty treatment. I highly recommend this practice to you in the coming weeks, Leo. It’s true that you’re renowned for your dramatic gestures, but I believe you also have an underutilized talent for teasing out glory from mundane situations. Please do that a lot in the coming weeks. For starters, make your grocery list a poem.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Some American Indigenous cultures have “potlatch” ceremonies. These are elaborate gift-giving rituals where hosts gain prestige by generously and freely bestowing their riches on others. Circulating wealth, instead of hoarding it, is honored and celebrated. Is that economically irrational? Only if you believe that the point of resources is individual accumulation rather than community vitality. Potlatch operates on a different logic: The purpose of having stuff is to make having stuff possible for others. I invite you to make that your specialty in the coming months. Assume that your own thriving depends on the flourishing of those around you.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Sufi poet Rumi wrote about a “treasure in ruins.” He meant that what we’re searching for may be hidden in places where we would rather not look. Your life isn’t in ruins, Libra, but I suspect you may have been exploring exciting locations while shunning mundane ones that actually hold your answers. What do you think? Is that possible? Just for fun, investigate the neglected, ignored and boring places. Try out the hypothesis that a golden discovery awaits you in some unfinished business or a situation you feel an aversion to.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your capacity for intensity is your superpower. I love it, I celebrate it, and I hope to keep nurturing it in you for as long as we’re both here. But not everything deserves the full force of your passionate engagement. Some things are meant to be touched lightly, held loosely and released easily. The question isn’t whether to feel deeply — that’s who you authentically are — but whether to act on every deep feeling

as if it were sacred revelation. Some emotions are weather patterns passing through, not permanent truths requiring upheaval. These are especially key understandings for you to act on during the coming days.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As I have promised you a million times, I will NEVER exaggerate. And though you may wonder if the statements I’m about to make are excessive and overblown, I assure you they are not. The fact is, dear Sagittarius, that everything you have always wanted to enhance and upgrade about togetherness is now possible to accomplish and will continue to be for months to come. If you dare to dismantle your outmoded beliefs about love and deep friendship — every comforting myth, every conditioned response, every inherited instinct — you will discover new dimensions of intimacy that could inspire you forever.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Renaissance painting, chiaroscuro refers to the use of strong contrasts between light and dark. It’s a technique that enhances the sense of depth. I believe your life may be in an intense chiaroscuro phase. As your joys grow bright, your doubts appear darker. As your understanding deepens, your perplexity mounts. Is this a problem? I prefer to understand it as an opportunity. For best results, study it closely. Maybe your anxiety is showing you what you care about. Perhaps your sadness is a sign of your growing emotional power. So find a way to benefit from the contrasts, dear Capricorn. Let shadows teach you how to fully appreciate the illumination.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Your unconscious mind is extra communicative, dear Pisces. Hooray! Take advantage! Pay attention to weird images in dreams and songs that linger in your head. Be alert for seemingly random thoughts as they surface. Bypassing logic, your deep psyche is trying to show you ripe secrets and provocative hints. Your duty is to be receptive. So keep a journal or recording device by your bed. Notice which memories rise up out of nowhere. Be grateful for striking coincidences. These are invitations to tune in to meaningful feelings and truths you’ve been missing.

Vermonters are experiencing huge cost increases in health insurance premiums this year, and some are going without. Seven Days’ Eva Sollberger met a family of four in Cornwall whose premiums are almost $32,000 this year and two uninsured people — one of whom had a recent accident.

Respond to these people online: dating.sevendaysvt.com

WOMEN seeking...

FAMILY FIRST, DOGS, GRANDKIDS

To be honest, I have no idea how to write about myself. I worked in the music industry out of Nashville most of my life. Life has thrown me some hard curves the last four years, and I need a redo. I love my dogs and would like someone to start something casual with and see where it leads. Jleemusic, 65, seeking: M, l

FUNNY, CONSIDERATE NATURE LOVER

I am looking for something that feels natural and effortless but keeps me coming back for more. I rarely take life seriously but also know when to be serious, if that tracks. I want happiness, peace and the company of someone who warms my soul! 98% content with my life, just missing my person. VTgirl06 33, seeking: M, l

BEGIN AGAIN

I’m new to Vermont and would love to find someone to go exploring with. I like to slow dance in the kitchen and sit by the fire. I’m interested in art and architecture, and I’m in awe of the natural world, but show me something new. I like to keep learning and trying new things. Any fly fishermen out there?

Paintinmyhair, 76, seeking: M, l

DANCING, CUDDLY, SEXY, FUN-LOVING

I am kind, helpful, like people, enjoy my job; am not willing to leave my family, friends or my job. I have a good sense of humor and like to laugh. I don’t want someone who is a downer. T1lc_ 69, seeking: M

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W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

FIT, GROUNDED, NOT DONE DANCING

Finishing grad school in mental health and currently working as a wellness coach. I’m 5’7”, fit, grounded and fun-loving, with a good life, close family and supportive friends. I enjoy hiking, XC skiing, gravel rides, dancing, cooking simple whole-food meals, and meditation, yoga and Qi Gong. Seeking companionship for adventure, deep conversation and easy time together. soulshine1975, 50, seeking: M, l

WANT SOME COMPANIONSHIP?

Kind and nice. Looking for one special friend to enjoy the fun: There is so much to do. Share life’s journey. I look and feel years younger. Somehow, I got to be 75. Amazing. Maybe because I split my fantastic adventures between Vermont and South Florida. Road trip! Let’s explore. We need not be perfect, just perfect for each other. Companion4U, 75, seeking: M

TRUTHFUL, CURIOUS WANDERER

SEEKING SAME!

I’m a caring, thoughtful person who loves to laugh. I like intelligent, stimulating conversations; enjoy nature, travel and learning new things. Hoping to find a nice companion to explore the world. I have only been to Italy once and want to go back and sip ripasso! daylily, 64 seeking: M

SEEKING FUTURE CO-PARENT

29-y/o woman seeking a man in his 20s or 30s who wants to raise kids. I’m an aspiring therapist (in grad school), farm worker, off-grid cabin dweller. Interests include: aikido, hide tanning, ritual gatherings, sewing, reading. Looking for someone who values authenticity, clear communication and reliability. Spirituality and carpentry skills a plus. I live in southern Vermont but could move north. WildFox 29, seeking: M, TM, NBP, l

GREAT COFFEE DATE? MAYBE MORE?

I would like to meet a man for dating, possibly a partnership. I wonder how you like to spend your time? I’m made happy by reading, socializing, hanging out at cafés or with dogs, walking, museum-ing, music, movies, No Kings! rallies, painting, gardening. Bonus points if you like to watch silent films or slow-paced, talky foreign ones. Pointer, 69, seeking: M, l

FRIENDLY, CREATIVE AND FUN

Looking forward to more traveling. I like the outdoors but am not an athlete. Looking for a local, easygoing, likeminded guy who is in his 50s or 60s. Let’s enjoy playing cards with friends, dinners out, campfires, gardening, cooking together, a cruise, RVing (I don’t have an RV), cocktails on the porch (I do have a porch), road trips. ginger2468 61 seeking: M, l

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

Eager to see if I can find a good man once again, now that I have been a widow for a few years. I am ever curious, active, attractive and well educated. I take good care of myself physically, emotionally and spiritually and am hoping for another chance at love. Intentional 68, seeking: M, l

EXCITEMENT WANTED IN LIFE

I am looking for friendship and companionship. I also want to show my partner that I will love and cherish him for the rest of my life. Would like to do some traveling or just staying at home, reading or doing my knitting, crocheting or playing cards or Wii bowling. Also like boating and fishing. Just want to be happy. DebbieSmith 81, seeking: M, l

TRAVELING ENTHUSIAST

I’m always seeking the next adventure — whether it’s a weekend hike or discovering a new coffee shop. I’ve been all over the world; take a guess at my favorite location? With travel comes great food. Food lover on a mission to find the best food in the city. Let’s hit up some food trucks together! First date: Where you taking me? VTCHICA31, 44, seeking: M, l

UNIQUE SOUL WITH HEIGHTENED SENSES

Looking for someone who’s grounded and complements my steelo. Let’s add love and light to each other’s world. Go on an adventure with Pacha, fill our bellies with local vibrations, soothe our souls with live music — what have you? kali_c, 40, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, l

EDUCATED WOMAN SEEKS MALE COMPANION

I am independent with a strong sense of humor and compassion. I am attracted to men with high intelligence. Looking for friends or to start a relationship. Marietta 50, seeking: M, l

CREATIVE ADVENTURER ON PLAYFUL

QUEST

Active and adventurous, with a creative foundation. Looking for friendship and/ or dating to explore the outdoors, chase live music and other creative experiences. I appreciate family, spiritual practices, quirkiness, perseverance, and grounded presence among many other things. Looking to move the needle several notches up with the right person. singabout_it, 60, seeking: M, l

SEEKING SOMEONE GREAT

I saw a post that people in Vermont use this website. Not sure if anyone is really out there, but it’s worth a shot. I’m an artist living and working near Norwich, Vt., looking for that inexplicable something with someone great. risomania, 31, seeking: M, TM, NC, NBP, l

MEN seeking...

ONWARD AND UPWARD

I live a healthy life, cooking nutritious food. Outdoor enthusiast, physically fit. I’m present, love to laugh; seeking same. Outwardbound 69 seeking: W, l

FUN-LOVING VERMONT BOY!

I’m a native Vermonter who loves adventures, hiking the woods, camping, kayaking, bonfires. I’m new to this, so I’m trying it out. I am looking for my ultimate goal of a long-term relationship. I do know I need to form connections to build a foundation to stand on so that I can achieve that goal. Vtboy75, 50, seeking: W, l

DISABLED, FUNNY, LOVING

I’m a laid-back guy. I have a dark sense of humor, and I often joke about my disability and health issues. I’m also a bit nerdy: I love horror, science fiction, fantasy and history. I’m hoping to find a fellow homebody to share my time with. (I also have muscular dystrophy, and I’m bedbound, FYI). dystrophydude, 33, seeking: W, l

HUMORISTIC AND HYPERACTIVE LATINO

I like soccer (It’s called “football”), movies, being immature sometimes and Catan. I’m looking for some casual sex. Mine is six inches: I want to be honest. Jake3249 18, seeking: W

PEACEFUL

Life is good; just looking to find someone that will help make it even better. I have/had many interests: fusing glass, pottery, massage, fixing up houses. I also enjoy the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, concerts, exploring new places. I don’t take things to the extreme. I’m pretty laid-back. Also I’m financially and mentally stable; looking for the same. livnlife, 56, seeking: W, l

CURIOUS

I recently decided to leave work, take a break, and see where my energy and interests take me. In the meantime, I would love to meet someone with similar interests who is open to wonder and is curious, interested in deeper meaningful conversations, as well as light banter and playfulness, travel, road trips here and abroad. better2b, 69, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK TAURUS

I am a native Vermonter. I have lived in the South for several years but returned a few years ago. I belong to the Vermont 251 Club. I spend time along the coast of Maine in the summer. It would be great to have a special lady to spend time with and enjoy some of her interests, also. grymerc 82, seeking: W

POLITICAL AND SOCIALLY ACTIVE

I love the pleasure of nature-working, gardening, birding, walking and sitting. I have a large swimming pond, pick fruit, make good things to eat and share. Music is crucial to me, and I sing in many wonderful groups. I love sports and follow it avidly. I am very political and involved in liberal causes. lowbass 85, seeking: W

HELLO

Hello. Bevan, 84, seeking: W, l

BUSY FUN CARING

I’m looking for someone compatible to spend the rest of my time here on Earth with. Jammer, 66, seeking: W

I AM A STRIDENT SEEKER

Looking for my mistress, my muse. DonQuixote, 70, seeking: W

THOUGHTFUL, ACTIVE, VERMONTER BY CHOICE

MWM, 77, BS/MS, average build, liberal. Skier and sailor. Open to other pastimes, active or otherwise. Daily coffee shop habit gets me out and engaging year round. History of volunteerism and civic engagement. Wife in memory care. Looking for age-appropriate companionship with an unknown destination. Live in rural central Vermont, an hour from Burlington; an easy drive. HSV2(G). Paprika2587 77, seeking: W, l

NATURE

I value spirituality, kindness, respect, honesty, wisdom, humor. Reflections, 60, seeking: W, l

ALIVE AND WELL, LOVING LIFE

Trying this for the first time. I am happy and in good shape in all ways: body, mind and spirit. Homesteading in the kingdom for 46 years now. Love to be outside, ski, swim, garden, hike, sit by the fire. Looking for a new woman to explore, love, grow friendship, homestead, discover. Let’s see how it feels! charlesinwoods, 65 seeking: W

ACTIVE, SENSITIVE MAN

I am an active man who is comfortable in my own skin. Appreciate good conversation and women who value understanding, more so than judgement. I believe in second chances and living in the moment. Noonmark, 70 seeking: W, l

FISHING, HUNTING WORKAHOLIC WITH DOG

Looking for someone to hang out with when there’s time. I also want a friend that wants to share fun times together without wanting to find their forever on the first date, or 10th for that matter. Clingy is not for me. Have fun, love the outdoors with my dog and love to ride my motorcycle. Kizar5150, 37, seeking: W, l

HAPPIEST IN SNOW

I’d really like to meet someone with common interests. We’d have a wonderful time together. I live in the mountains and love it. Travel, though: New York City and London are very important to me. French school in Québec City several weeks each year. And a sailing partner! Overnights sailing to Basin Harbor! Why do it alone? My hope is for a friend, maybe a partner. Blakely408, 67, seeking: W, l

SINGING STRUMMING SAILOR

Widower, guitarist, singer and songwriter who still believes music is one of life’s great connectors. Educated, curious and happiest when there’s a good conversation, a shared laugh or a melody in the background. I’ve loved deeply, lost and learned how precious life is. I’m ready to share what’s ahead with someone who values warmth, laughter and a genuine partnership. SailWithMe, 65, seeking: W, l

GENDER NONCONFORMISTS seeking...

FRIENDS AND A REAL PARTNER

Never seen the other side, but want to. Married twice, 56 years total, miss it a lot. Want adventures and real closeness. Working on MFA with ’60s psychedelic art with a spiritual focus. Love to meet open-minded women, transwomen who haven’t had the package deal but are very feminine. Love “Star Trek” and Star Wars. Hard left in politics. jemd, 82, seeking: NC, l

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

SEEKING AUTHENTIC CONNECTION

Emotionally mature person who has “done the work.” I believe that human connection is the reason we’re here on earth and vulnerability is the key to connection. I am an open and honest person. Life should include adventure, trying new things, dancing, laughing and smiles! Let’s go see some art, or how about a play? SeekingLove26, 64, seeking: W, Q, NC, NBP, l

COUPLES seeking...

CURIOUS COUPLE LOOKING FOR FUN

Honest, hardworking married couple who love passion and soft touches. Looking for woman to fulfill lustful fantasy of woman-on-woman playtime. CplSeeking 41 seeking: W

CHEF’S MARKET, RANDOLPH

While having a cup of soup, I saw you and a young man take a table and have lunch. We made eye contact several times, and then I left. If you read this and would like to meet, please reach out. When: Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Where: Chef’s Market, Randolph. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916532

BEAUTIFUL MAN WITH BEAUTIFUL DOG

I spied you at River Cove Animal Hospital with your black dog. e vet tech called her Helen. You had a nurturing way with her that only real men do. You were clad in a gray sweatsuit with a Buc-ee’s beaver logo on it. I gazed at you longingly, dreaming of a day when you might explore my Buc-ee’s beaver. When: Friday, December 19, 2025. Where: Williston. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916531

GRIEVES

You try to kill me every time you mess up, because you don’t listen. e damage you’ve done may not be fixable when your five-year time is up. Or is that the whole point? When: ursday, July 31, 2025. Where: Grieves. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916530

BIG SMILES ON PERU ST.

You were walking by as I brought in my recycling bin. We both had on fitted blue puffy jackets; yours had orange, too. When we made eye contact, we both got big smiles. I hope to meet up and share more smiles! When: Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Where: Peru St.. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916529

BRITISH COLUMBIA NUMBER

Texted me in the afternoon, and it went to spam. I only just found it yesterday. Who are you, and why did you say I was getting? Why can you not speak to me to my face? When: Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Where: spam folder. You: Group. Me: Woman. #916525

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

1 S. PROSPECT WAITING AREA

I noticed your mysterious eyes, high cheekbones and dark brown hair in the waiting area of the UVM phlebotomy lab. You wore a dark red fleece vest and light shirt. I was the tall guy on the phone in a black puffy coat, salt-andpepper beard, winter hat. May I buy you a coffee? When: Monday, January 12, 2026. Where: 1 S. Prospect Street, UVM phlebotomy lab waiting area. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916528

WILLISTON FOLINO’S

BENCHWARMERS

ey forgot to put yours in; they failed to tell me mine was ready. Your smile truly made my day, and it had been the kind of day that needed making. I hope you didn’t wait long for your pizza. If you ever need a smile, let me know. I owe you one. When: Friday, January 9, 2026. Where: Folino’s Pizza. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916527

I HOPE FOR YOU

You persisted, though I told you my heart was closed / but once you had my love, you let it languish / now you’ll take all I gave and give it to someone else / you lied and betrayed and you broke me / I hope for you the kind of heartbreak you left me with / because I will never love again. When: Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Where: for the last time. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916526

WE MADE EYE CONTACT VSF

You were the older brawny guy on the treadmill. I was also working out, right behind you. Truth be told, I was checking you out because those jeans looked very nice on you. After your workout, you looked at me, and you gave me this gesture like you were exhausted. You also smiled at me. I would like to get acquainted. When: Saturday, January 3, 2026. Where: Vermont Sport & Fitness, Rutland. You: Man. Me: Man. #916524

NEXT ROUND

So many near misses. He said it wouldn’t be easy. Since we never were, could we try to be this year? Too many have claimed to be who they’re not, causing more chaos and harm. I never went into the woods, and you never came to me. Marco Polo, never hide-andseek. When: ursday, December 31, 2026. Where: everyone else. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916523

THE OFFICIAL END

It’s time to face my fear. / I’ll never forget that early love you showed. / e look on your face where we first met. / How you made me feel / you loathed my existence. / Nothing more than a body. / Life’s too short to stay in torture. / Please don’t try to pull me back. / You know I’d die for you a million times. When: Monday, October 13, 2025. Where: Cambridge. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916522

NYE — ECHO

Saw you at ECHO NYE around 9:30. You were near the front left of the stage. I was near the back wearing a brown checked coat. We caught eyes, but I had to leave. If you’re single, it’d be great to find out more about you. When: Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Where: ECHO. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916521

BOLTON VALLEY LONG SHOT

It being the New Year and all, I figured I would take a long shot. On Labor Day 2025, I was trail running at Bolton Valley and met a fellow crazy person doing the same. We had a short conversation on the way down and in the parking lot. It would be great to reconnect. When: Monday, September 1, 2025. Where: Bolton Valley. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916520

FLY GIRL FLYING

You were in a Subaru, with a trout plate: FLYGRL, driving north on 89. Sensible haircut. Eating carrot sticks or some other sensible snack. I saw my best possible future flash before my eyes, embodied by the scene in your car. Teach me your sensible ways and also maybe your fly-fishing tips and tricks? Kindly, an aspiring fly girl. When: Sunday, December 28, 2025. Where: 89 North (Waterbury to Burlington). You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916518

De Bawdy Check,

My boyfriend and I recently watched the TV show “Heated Rivalry.” I thought for sure he would get freaked out by the sex scenes, but I think I was more uncomfortable than he was. Now I’m wondering if maybe he liked it a little too much. Should I be concerned?

KELLY, 58, SHELBURNE AREA?

Someone showed me your profile. I’m wondering if you might be feeling adventurous? You’re super cute, and I’m super curious. When: Friday, January 2, 2026. Where: online. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916519

BTV NARROW CATCH!

is is a long shot for sure, but it may be worth a shot! We both barely made the flight into BTV last night and were equally relieved. I had to catch my Uber, and you were working on yours. Hope you made it home safe. If you see this and remember, let me know! When: Sunday, December 28, 2025. Where: BTV Airport. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916517

SNAKE MOUNTAIN HIKER, TAKE TWO

You: getting out of your car to hike with a friend and her dog. Me: finishing a hike with a friend. When: around noon. You said hello. I looked up, surprised, and said hi back. Your eyes made me want to ask you out right then, but I chickened out. Can we have a second chance? When: Saturday, December 27, 2025. Where: Snake Mountain. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916515

CANELÉS CO-OP ENCOUNTER

We met at the co-op’s baked goods. I was charmed. You gracefully accepted the suggestion to try a canelé. I got tonguetied. Would you be interested in a coffee? I am glad to be a friend. When: Monday, December 22, 2025. Where: by the canelés. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916514

LONG TIME NO SEE

It was early afternoon and I was leaving the store and you were heading in. We said, “long time no see!” and you wished me a Merry Christmas. I can’t remember where we first met or if you are married, but if this sounds familiar and you wish to follow up, let me know. When: Saturday, December 20, 2025. Where: Milton Hannaford. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916512

JERICHO COUNTRY STORE

While we were ordering sandwiches at the Jericho Country store, I was taken by how kind, patient and considerate you were with the gentleman who was with you. I had driven to look at a camper. My daughter now lives in Jericho. Maybe we could have lunch. When: Friday, October 18, 2024. Where: Jericho Country Store. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916510

BACKWARDS WALKER AT THE YMCA

I noticed you doing your own thing on the treadmill at the YMCA. Walking backwards and sideways. Very sweet. I was intrigued. We had a nice conversation. Your smile is delightful. You mentioned that I was fit. Wish I had returned the compliment. How about we continue the conversation over coffee or in the sauna or after an exercise class? When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Where: YMCA. You: Woman. Me: Man. #916513

MOON CIRCLE BEAUTY

Met you at a moon circle in the NEK. I was new to the space. You were clearly a regular. I admired your ink, your face and your long silver hair. We talked about astrology, herbalism and energy. You patiently listened to me vent. You were both whimsical and grounded. ank you, kind stranger! I’m still intrigued. When: Saturday, October 4, 2025. Where: Rootstock Retreat. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #916511

LAUGHING AT MARIA BAMFORD

You: cute, bald, and bearded. Me: also cute, hot pink blazer with my guy bestie. You were so familiar, and I couldn’t figure out why! You were clearly on a date, so I don’t want to overstep, but solve the mystery for me! Have our paths crossed before? When: ursday, December 18, 2025. Where: 6pm Maria Bamford show at the comedy club. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916509

GORGEOUS MUSTACHE! e lights on Church were twinkling when I saw you. Do they twinkle? Sparkle? It doesn’t matter because you were — big brown eyes, curly hair, and a mustache few could pull off. Let’s take turns being sick. Let’s cherish each other’s idiosyncrasies as we grow old together. My heart twinkles, sparkles, goes up in flames for you. When: Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Where: Church and Bank. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916508

PREMIUM KINDNESS

You: Woman. Me: in daughter now lives in Jericho. Maybe

If you’re worried that your guy is having a gay awakening, you’re gonna have to wonder that about a whole lot of other people.

“Heated Rivalry” is a global sensation, popular among viewers of all persuasions.

Me: woman, tallish, black coat, stood behind you at register, total eavesdropper. You sat next to a veteran at the end of the bar. I admired that you listened with genuine interest, asking questions as he shared his story. Your kindness improved my outlook on humanity. Coffee/lunch? When: Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Where: Wayside in Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Woman. #916507

of tea, either, but as soon as I was invested in the characters, the sex scenes felt like a natural part of the story. And I admit that I may have gotten a little hot under the jersey. A person doesn’t have to play on the same team to appreciate the steam — if you know what I mean.

Good luck and God bless, The Rev end De Rev end,

And that’s not surprising, because the show is about so much more than sex: romance, longing, hockey. And it’s a product of Canada. What’s not to love?

Assuming that a straight guy is going to get squeamish about scenes depicting homosexual hookups is oldfashioned, don’t ya think? You should be glad that your beau isn’t the sort of person who would be bothered by it.

Guy-on-guy action isn’t my usual cup

ink of how long LGBTQ people have had to read, watch or listen to stories of straight romance and sex in entertainment. Centuries! It’s well past time that there’s more representation in pop culture. Especially in the stereotypically manly-man sports setting. e only thing you really need to be concerned about is when Season 2 is coming out.

What’s your problem? Send it to asktherev@sevendaysvt.com.

I’m a 29-y/o woman seeking a man in his 20s or 30s who wants to start a family. My interests: aikido, hide tanning, fermentation, creative mending. I value authenticity, emotional awareness and intentionality. I’m in southern Vermont but could relocate. #L1905

I’m a 68-y/o woman seeking a 60- to 70-y/o gent. Must enjoy comedy movies, occasional deep conversations, deep thinking and cats. Must be located in the Northeast Kingdom. #L1904

Fireman seeking female friend with fire down below. Feed the fire — let’s burn. #L1902

I’m a 31-y/o man, fit, 6’1” tall, dark skin, looking for a woman between 45 and 70. I like to work out, do outdoor activities, cook and craft, and learn new skills. I have a lot to teach. I’m independent and respectful. #L1899

If you are a gentle and kind man and would enjoy written intercourse for play and fun with a lady wordsmith, write! I have snail mail only. No strings attached! #L1901

Imagine all the wonderful things you could have spent that $5 on. Hmm, yeah, inflation. Might as well see what I’m all about. No sales tax. Seeking Y/O/U. #L1898

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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 72-y/o SWF seeking a 60- to 70-y/o man. I live in Woodstock, Vt. I want a serious relationship with a man. Phone number, would meet in person. #L1891

30-y/o lady ISO independent, slightly sarcastic, progressiveminded man. Someone who can entertain complex emotional and ethical thoughts. No boys necessary: Clean up your own mess. I’m a skier, thru-hiker and nature lover. #L1897

I am a 49-y/o woman seeking a 38- to 52-y/o man. I am ready to meet a life partner to grow a kind, conscious family with. Are you fit, curious, ecologically and socially attuned? Let’s meet for tea, a pedal or hike. #L1896

I’m a 70-y/o male, 6’1”, 265 lbs., seeking a woman between 60 and 79 y/o who smokes cigarettes. I am looking for a long-term relationship. Drives, meals, cuddles, watching movies. #L1893

Open-minded SWM, 60s, 170 lbs., 5’8”, seeks similar for friendship and more. Open-minded, intelligent, liberal, slim males into fun activities and exploring various types of fun. #L1894

I’m a 65-y/o woman seeking a fit, 45- to 70-y/o man. I am a woman with a lot of energy! Clean houses. Love the outdoors, swimming, rides and Maine. I’m 5’2”, 130 lbs. Love to laugh! #L1892

Int net-Free Dating!

Reply to these messages with real, honest-to-goodness le ers. DETAILS BELOW.

Very discreet bi guy loves the outdoors: camping, hiking, fishing, etc. Looking for other guys with similar interests to share fun times and have good times with. Hit me up! #L1890

Male looking for female, age 59 to 69. I am disabled but still get around on my own. Looking for someone to hang with, since I am all alone and hate it. My partner passed from cancer. #L1888

I’m an 81-y/o woman seeking a male. I am a widow of five years. Looking for companionship. Love music, reading, knitting, crocheting and playing card games, etc. #L1887

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

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below: (OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a

Gracious, attentive, educated, humorous soul seeks a fit, tender and unassuming female counterpart (58 to 68) for woodland walks, shared meals and conversation. #L1885

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. #L1880

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

I’m 65 y/o and gay. Male, seeking my partner/lover and best friend. Gregarious and funloving. 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

AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) Required confidential info:

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

'From Rails to Trails' Film Screening

WED., JAN. 21

MAIN STREET LANDING FILM HOUSE, BURLINGTON

Shuffle + Shred - Benefit for Talent

Skatepark & Drop the Needle (Fattie B)

FRI., JAN. 23

400 PINE ST, BURLINGTON

Salt Season: A Nightlife Arts Spectacle

FRI., JAN. 23

CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, BURLINGTON

January Bird Monitoring Walk

SAT., JAN. 24

BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM, HUNTINGTON, VT

Cooking for the Chinese New Year

SAT., JAN. 24

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Bake, Move, and Bloom: Preparing for Labor and Postpartum

SAT., JAN. 24

RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

TURNmusic Presents Michael Prentky’s 'sad boy:ADD:apocalypse'

SAT., JAN. 24

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL, WATERBURY

Los Sóngoros

SAT., JAN. 24

SEABA CENTER, BURLINGTON

Hula Story Sessions: Spectrum Youth & Family Services

THU., JAN. 29

HULA, BURLINGTON

NWSWD Repair Café

SAT., JAN. 31

SAINT ALBANS MUSEUM

SAT., JAN. 31

SAINT ALBANS MUSEUM

SAM TALKS // Trash Talk with Ginger Nickerson

SUN., FEB. 1

QUEEN CITY BREWERY, BURLINGTON

Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Class

'Gone Guys' Film Screening & Discussion

WED., FEB. 4

BENNINGTON THEATER

Late to the New Year Hip-Hop Show

FRI., FEB. 6

THE UNDERGROUND-LISTENING ROOM, RANDOLPH

Bob Marley B-Day Bash Featuring Mighty Mystic

FRI., FEB. 6

STOWE CIDER

Winter Renaissance Faire

SAT., FEB. 7

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPO, ESSEX JCT.

Joe's Big Band Winter Burner

SAT., FEB. 7

ST. JOHN'S CLUB, BURLINGTON

Lieder by the Lake — Burlington Schubertiade

SUN., FEB. 8

COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON

Galentine's Flowers at Fig

SUN., FEB. 8

SHELBURNE FIG

RAR Deep Dive Series in Advanced Bicycle Care — for WTNB

WED., FEB 11

OLD SPOKES HOME COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, BURLINGTON