Seven Days, April 12, 2023

An unusually large amount of free parking!

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COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

FORGET MEMORIAL?

NEW ALLIANCE

Burlington, which suspended its sister city program with Yaroslavl, Russia, is now looking to partner with a city in Ukraine. Support from afar.

HEALTHY CHOICE?

Wellpath, the new health care contractor in Vermont prisons, has been accused of providing inadequate care in other states, Vermont Public reported. Inauspicious start.

MORE DINGERS

e blighted Memorial Auditorium in downtown Burlington will remain empty for the foreseeable future after the city came up empty in its search for a redeveloper. City officials will solicit more proposals in the coming months, Mayor Miro Weinberger’s office said last Friday.

ree organizations responded to an October request for partners who would renovate and reuse the historic, city-owned events center, which closed in 2016 over structural concerns.

A city committee recommended a proposal by Babaroosa for a large, immersive art exhibit that had been planned for Essex. Babaroosa, founded by Teresa and Robert Davis, withdrew its proposal following “initial due diligence,” the mayor’s office said in a press release.

e mayor’s team chose not to work with Illinoisbased Hawthorne Development, which wanted to create apartments and a community space for $20 million. Its pitch document to the city bizarrely claimed credit for redevelopment at nearby CityPlace Burlington, though it is not involved, Seven Days has previously reported.  e mayor’s office cited “feasibility concerns” with Hawthorne’s proposal.

e city did not consider a third pitch, from Big Heavy World cofounder Jim Lockridge, to revive a youth-centered performance space inside Memorial, deeming it unresponsive to the request for proposals.

A revised RFP, not yet issued, will combine Memorial Auditorium with a nearby city-owned parking lot on the corner of Main Street and South Winooski Avenue, according to the press release. It will contain “goals and objectives to encourage more responsive proposals,” the release stated.

“Our hope is that by opening the RFP process for a second round with broader parameters and greater flexibility, we will find the right partner to realize a great vision for this key block of our downtown,” Weinberger said in a statement.

e city has been working since 2018 to revive Memorial Auditorium, but it has limited means to finance a wholesale renovation because its bonding capacity is nearly tapped out, Seven Days Derek Brouwer wrote. Residents voted last year to allow the city to borrow $1 million for structural repairs to the building. Roof fixes have been completed, and work to stabilize the masonry will be put out for bid this spring.

BANS OFF MY BOOKS

A rise in politically motivated censorship has thrust schools and public libraries onto the latest culture war front line. In Vermont, though, the written word has found sanctuary: Carol Wooster’s North Street home. The Burlington woman posted on Front Porch Forum last month asking neighbors to donate “banned books” for the little free library she maintains.

The call-to-action came after Wooster heard an NPR story about the growing conservative-led movement to censor books that some deem too controversial for young readers. There were

That’s the age at which Vermonters can legally marry — up from age 16 — per a bill passed by the legislature; it still needs Gov. Phil Scott’s signature.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “Burlington Chief reatened to Arrest Doc Who Was Treating Gunshot Victim, Hospital Says” by Courtney Lamdin. An updated version of this story appears on page 14.

2. “Missing Middlebury Teen Rebecca Ball Found Dead” by Alison Novak. Ball’s body was discovered in the woods. Her death was not considered suspicious.

3. “Old North End Restaurant Says Landlord Is Forcing It Out” by Melissa Pasanen & Derek Brouwer. Little Morocco Café’s landlord is more than doubling its rent come August.

Dartmouth College researchers say warmer temperatures due to climate change are increasing the number of home runs in Major League Baseball. One silver lining…

TIME WARP

The clock at Burlington City Hall has been going o 10 minutes early for the past couple of weeks, WPTZ reported. Repairs are in the works.

more than 2,500 instances of book bans in U.S. schools last year, according to PEN America, a free speech group. Most of the banned books explore topics such as race, gender and sexuality.

“There’s all kinds of people in my neighborhood,” Wooster said. “I thought it would be great if they could just come on by and find a book that maybe they can’t find elsewhere.”

While the Vermont Library Association said last year that it knows of “relatively few attempts to curtail the freedom to read” in the state, some local schools have heard challenges from community members. Canaan’s school board, for instance, ultimately kept a trio of books dealing with gender and sexual-

4. “In a New Burlington Spot, Pascolo Refreshes Its Menu and Its Historic Home” by Melissa Pasanen. The Italian eatery has left its basement digs and moved down Church Street to the former Sweetwaters spot.

5. “A French Private Equity Firm Owns Six Vermont Childcare Centers, a Possible Harbinger of ings to Come” by Alison Novak. Antin Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm with hubs in Paris, London and New York City, owns childcare centers in Vermont.

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ity on the shelves after parents waged a monthslong campaign against them.

For Wooster, the embrace of banned books comes as part of a broader shift within her little free library, which initially offered only children’s books but has since grown to include adult titles, too. She now has two filing cabinets full of books outside her house and said she’s hoping to add more young adult novels, as well.

While she hadn’t received any banned books yet, she’s ready. Over the weekend, she gave the cabinets a fresh coat of bright yellow paint. The little library, she said, “is how I spread sunshine.”

Carol Wooster outside her little free library

FILE: LUKE AWTRY

Memorial Auditorium

GENERATING DISCUSSION.

publisher & editor-in-chief Paula Routly

deputy publisher Cathy Resmer

AssociAte publishers Don Eggert, Colby Roberts

NEWS & POLITICS

editor Matthew Roy

deputy editor Sasha Goldstein

consulting editors Ken Ellingwood, Candace Page

stAff writers Derek Brouwer, Colin Flanders, Rachel Hellman, Courtney Lamdin, Kevin McCallum, Alison Novak, Anne Wallace Allen

ARTS & CULTURE

coeditors Dan Bolles, Carolyn Fox

AssociAte editor Margot Harrison

Art editor Pamela Polston

consulting editor Mary Ann Lickteig

Music editor Chris Farnsworth

cAlendAr writer Emily Hamilton

stAff writers Jordan Barry, Melissa Pasanen, Ken Picard, Sally Pollak

proofreAders Carolyn Fox, Angela Simpson

AssistAnt proofreAders

Katherine Isaacs, Martie Majoros

DIGITAL & VIDEO

digitAl production speciAlist Bryan Parmelee

senior MultiMediA producer Eva Sollberger

MultiMediA journAlist James Buck

DESIGN

creAtive director Don Eggert

Art director Rev. Diane Sullivan

production MAnAger John James

designers Jeff Baron, Kirsten Thompson

SALES & MARKETING

director of sAles Colby Roberts

senior Account executives

Robyn Birgisson, Michael Bradshaw

Account executives Michelle Brown, Logan Pintka

events & ticKeting MAnAger Katie Hodges

legAls, life lines And super reAder coordinAtor Kaitlin Montgomery

ADMINISTRATION

business MAnAger Marcy Stabile

director of circulAtion & logistics Matt Weiner

circulAtion deputy Andy Watts

AssistAnt to the publishers Gillian English

WRITERS

CONTRIBUTING

Jordan Adams, Benjamin Aleshire, Justin Boland, Alex Brown, Annie Cutler, Chelsea Edgar, Steve Goldstein, Margaret Grayson, Amy Lilly, Bryan Parmelee, Mark Saltveit, Jim Schley, Carolyn Shapiro, Travis Weedon

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Luke Awtry, Ben DeFlorio, Caleb Kenna, Greg Nesbit, Tim Newcomb, Rob Strong, Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

FOUNDERS

Pamela Polston, Paula Routly

CIRCULATION: 35,000

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STATE SHOULD STEP UP [Re “No Return,”

March 22]: Chelsea Edgar’s recent article on motel owners failing to return security deposits to people already facing unpredictable shelter illustrates that the Vermont legislature and Gov. Phil Scott’s administration urgently need to provide adequate funding for emergency shelter until housing is actually available.

As of January 2023, the state has been spending $6 million to $7 million a month to provide hotel housing for 1,800 households (2,800 individuals), among them 600 children. But now the legislature and the Scott administration are on track to allocate less than half that amount in their current budget plans for July 2023 to July 2024. The outcome: People will be turned out onto the streets … again. For the past three years, the state has had no plan except to jerk people out of emergency housing with no assurance of continuity.

Imagine the anxiety of being homeless, not knowing where you’ll go next, where your children will sleep as winter comes round again. This is outrageously irresponsible behavior that adds to the trauma homeless Vermont residents already face. The Berlin police chief is quoted in the article: “You’re placing people here with a lot of needs, and you didn’t put any kind of support structure in place, which is a real burden for the municipality.” If the state doesn’t provide adequate funding for supports like mental health services and interim housing, it will fall on towns and maxed-out nonprofits. What does it say about our values if we don’t support the most vulnerable?

Joey Corcoran BURLINGTON

PCB PANIC

Kudos to Seven Days for tackling the hydra-headed story of Vermont’s PCB journey [“Chemical Crossroads,” March 22] and the panic and stampede started by Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine, best summed up by Sen. Martine Gulick saying, “Sadly there’s been no acknowledgement of wrongdoing or mistakes made, and there’s been no attempt to speak to the harm caused.” Exactly.

Add to this the quote by parent Dan Cunningham: “[There was] a tremendous amount of medical fear in the air … due to COVID.” Instead of publicly owning

their self-induced panic, Levine and co. “quietly released” new action levels, going from 15 nanograms to 30 to 100, and then to 90 to 180 to 300. How can they still keep their jobs?

Enamored of their new celebrity in 2020 by a virus with a confirmed fatality rate slightly higher than the flu, highly inaccurate PCR tests, outright censorship of any and all countervailing opinions, and rules promulgated by a panicky administration under the cover of an “emergency and all-hazards event,” we now see the wreckage of an economy wrought by the advice of unelected bureaucrats.

There needs to be a reckoning now, both state and federal, and a major housecleaning so it never happens again.

Steve Merrill NORTH TROY

RAISE MINIMUM WAGE

[Re “Hot Tips,” March 29]: Bravo to the restaurants named in this article that pay employees adequately to live in Vermont. Some even pay benefits. However, there are so very many workers here who cannot make headway due to the poor minimum wage of $13.18 an hour. This is barely adequate for a young person still living at home.

On March 29, our senior senator, Bernie Sanders, was grilling the former Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, due to the union-busting activities utilized by that company. Schultz, in order to try to embarrass Sanders, shot back that Vermont had a paltry minimum wage of $13.18 an hour. His company paid more.

The Vermont legislature should have raised that minimum to $15 an hour several years ago. Now, it can at least start there on its way toward a wage that allows a family to live without deprivation today.

Geoffrey Cobden WEYBRIDGE

CORRECTIONS

Last week’s True 802, “Write Stuff,” misstated the number of times a student from Twinfield Union School has finished in the top three of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) annual essay contest. A student earned second place in 2014.

A story last week about private equity-backed childcare centers, “Tots for Profits,” misstated the town where one Loveworks center is located. It is in Essex, not Essex Junction.

TIPS FOR ALL

The article Seven Days published about tips in Vermont is awesome [“Hot Tips,” March 29].

I pay everyone over full minimum wage, do a 10 percent service fee and still allow tips for all the reasons explained.

I am European and hate all about the tipping system, but after trying many years ago (when I was more European than now), I decided I could not change the United States.

The only part you didn’t mention is how the labor laws leave out tipping everyone who has a managerial responsibility, tiny as it might be.

So it is not just about the kitchen staff; it is about everyone.

I use the service fee to reward the bakers but also the managers (who are making drinks and serving customers, like the plain baristas), the driver (who delivers pastries all over), and the person in charge of maintenance.

Everyone in the company deserves a piece, in my opinion.

Laura Vilalta STOWE

Vilalta owns Black Cap Coffee & Bakery of Vermont.

EDUCATING EQUITABLY

As an avid reader, I salute Seven Days and Saint Michael’s College — Seven Days for its feature on St. Mike’s Racial Equity & Educational Justice Graduate Certificate Program [True 802: “Life Lessons,” March 29] and the college itself for taking up the initiative of racial justice. This comes on the heels of two other

institutions that I highly regard for their efforts along these lines, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s K-12 curriculum Learning for Justice — available for free at learningforjustice.org/hard-historyfall22 — and the publisher and advocacy organization Rethinking Schools. I appreciate the college’s sensitivities to an American history sadly whitewashed.

Russ Layne DANBY

EUROPE’S GOT IT RIGHT

[Re Feedback, March 29]: I’ll try to kill two birds without bloodshed. Regarding “Shame on Us!,” about the sheltered who own shelters and the unsheltered who don’t, how many of us know that shelter is a right and is in the constitutions of European governments? Here, the reason for homelessness is “because they don’t want to work!”

And regarding paid sick leave [“The Problem With Paid Leave”]: Again, in Europe there are paid vacations, which are more than a token time before you

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NEWS+POLITICS 14

Arresting Development

Acting Burlington police chief used “menacing tone” and threatened to “cuff” surgeon, complaint says Tiny Sterling College Names a New President

Last Exit, Vermont

Lawmakers consider allowing out-of-staters to use Vermont’s “death with dignity” process

First Lady Stops by Burlington for ‘Investing in America’ Tour

Library, Gym at Twin Valley Elementary Closed Over PCBs

Agrarian Anxiety

A new peer support network hopes to help farmers deal with stress

FOOD+DRINK 42

Fermenting Revolution

Cabot’s Rhapsody Natural Foods rides a wave of increasing appetite for fermented staples

On the Griddle

Jericho’s Birch Hill English Muffins fill a local void

Naan Believer

Lunching lavishly at Middlebury’s Taste of India

COLUMNS

FEATURES 28

Drawing Interest

Tillie Walden becomes Vermont’s new cartoonist laureate

From the Top Rope UVM basketball star turned pro wrestler Ben Crenca gets in the ring

The Brave and the Bold Champion Comics & Coffee combines two of nerdom’s favorite things

ARTS+CULTURE 48

Bygone Burlington

Bob Blanchard’s new book chronicles the Queen City’s forgotten places

Voicing Support

Two choruses premiere a new work honoring Ukraine by a Burlington composer with a national profile

A New Fleece on Life

Kate and Chet Parsons talk about their final lambing season in Richford

Vermont Book Award

Patty

MAGNIFICENT

MUST SEE, MUST DO THIS WEEK

FRIDAY 14

MAXIMUM PRIDE

Burlington’s Radio Bean becomes a gay bar for the night at featuring everything from a queer comedy hour to live music by acts including Catwolf and Will Keeper.

Queer Takeover, an evening

ere are drag performances by Miss Czechoslovakia, Virginia ick 100 and the Moondance Twins; a DJ set by Genderdeath; and HIV and COVID-19 tests courtesy of Pride Center of Vermont.

SATURDAY 15

Phoning It In

e Middlebury College Mahaney Arts Center’s New Directions Spring Arts Festival kicks off with the premiere of Momentary Exchange, an experimental theater event created by assistant professor Michole Biancosino and visiting artist Todd Anderson. Audience members influence the story in real time via prompts on their phones, taking a wild and ever-changing journey together.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

THURSDAY 13

Oar Inspiring

Northern Forest Canoe Trail hosts the 2023 World Tour Paddling Film Festival at Burlington’s Outdoor Gear Exchange, in person for the first time in nearly four years. White water wizards take in an evening of shorts celebrating all those who row rivers, waterfalls, lakes and the open ocean, and the shindig features a raffle, refreshments and plenty of chances to make friends.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 68

FRIDAY 14

Take a Dance

Dancers seeking something different congregate at Berlin’s Capital City Grange for an evening with Nordic folk band Spaelimenninir. After a brief concert, the dancing shoes come out, and all attendees get a lesson in the ancient and contemporary polkas and waltzes of Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SATURDAY 15

Pitch Perfect

Student vocalists sing it loud and sing it unaccompanied at the 19th annual Collegiate A Cappella Benefit Concert at the Latchis eatre in Brattleboro. Among those performing to raise funds for the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center is hometown hero Ben Brady, a recent Brattleboro Union High School graduate singing with the Vassar Devils.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

SUNDAY 16 Beat It

Audience members’ and performers’ hearts beat as one when Yamato: e Drummers of Japan take the stage at Lyndon Institute’s auditorium in Lyndon Center. Incorporating humor, dance and theatricality, these athletic and precise percussionists play ancient, high-energy music on traditional Wadaiko drums.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 72

ONGOING Melting Pot

Form meets function at “Seeking Identity,” a group show at Burlington’s Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery incorporating works by the potters of Miranda omas Studio. ese refined ceramics, made collaboratively by all six artists, are meant for everyday use but are also undeniably works of art, from the delicately painted wedding plates to charming, penguin-printed mugs.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 55

COMPILED BY EMILY HAMILTON BROWSE THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

Michole Biancosino

Will Keeper

Our Roving Reporter

Outside Chittenden County, many small Vermont towns are struggling. Low birth rates and an aging population are forcing schools to consolidate. As local retailers and manufacturers close, more residents find work farther afield, and commuters don’t volunteer as often for the groups that keep these towns vital.

Local newspapers have taken a hit, too. The country lost one-quarter of its newspapers — 2,100 of them — from 2005 to 2020, according to a 2020 report on local news from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Many of the papers that remain have hemorrhaged reporters and editors. Their numbers dropped from 71,000 to 35,000 during roughly the same time period.

The newspaper in the Northeast Kingdom town of Hardwick is still in business — though the Hardwick Gazette is now available online only. In 2022, its editor and owner donated its former headquarters to a nonprofit organization called the Civic Standard, a new community gathering place. Cofounders Tara Reese, Rose Friedman and Erica Heilman — the producer of the podcast “Rumble Strip,” featured in last week’s cover story — envisioned a place where locals could hold potlucks, fundraisers and murder mystery dinners.

The three wanted to get the word out about the venture, but when they got a call early on from Seven Days reporter Rachel Hellman, they were nervous about being interviewed by someone from a Burlington-based paper.

They wondered how Seven Days would characterize the endeavor. Would the story hurt their credibility with their neighbors?

They took a leap of faith and talked with Hellman anyway. The story appeared in the July 20, 2022, issue.

“People really read it,” Friedman recalled in a recent phone interview. “They read the heck out of it!” She saw conversations about the article popping up on social media and heard people discussing it around town.

Hellman got the story just right, Friedman said: “She did a really excellent job of conveying what we’re up to without the tone of it being ‘from somewhere else.’”

Hellman’s coverage in Seven Days also brought the Civic Standard’s story to a wider audience. Friedman got notes from people all over the country about the project — and a few from Vermonters in other rural towns eager to try something similar.

Finding and amplifying stories like this is what Hellman was hired to do. A 2020 graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, she came to Seven Days through Report for America, a competitive national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Covering Vermont’s small, rural towns, Hellman writes about the challenges and opportunities these communities face — and the resilience and creativity of the people who live in them.

Since she started last June, her reporting has taken her to the back roads of Cabot and East Montpelier, where she followed a volunteer delivering Meals on Wheels; to Ripton, where she reported on a campaign to save the local elementary school; to Johnson, where she documented how a recovery center, Jenna’s Promise, is helping to reinvigorate the town. She’s put more than 1,600 miles on her car and covered issues in 52 towns, including Springfield, St. Johnsbury, Belividere, Plainfield, Rupert and Rochester. Her most surprising trip was to a farm in Brownington, where she met a rare Baudet du Poitou donkey — and found out about an

Australian horse whisperer coming to town. The tip helped her report on Orleans County’s growing — and private — Amish community.

Hellman also contributed to “Locked Out,” Seven Days’ 2022 series about Vermont’s housing crisis. Published on November 2, “This Old Homeowner: Aging Vermonters Who Can’t Find New Housing Are Part of the State’s Real Estate ‘Gridlock’” helped inform proposals currently under consideration in the Vermont legislature.

We’re excited to announce that Hellman will be staying on for another year at Seven Days.

To date, her reporting has been funded by Report for America — the program paid half of her salary for the first year. Tax-deductible donations from Vermont Coffee founder Paul Ralston and another local donor offset the rest.

Report for America will cover a smaller percentage of Hellman’s expenses in year two, which means Seven Days has more money to raise. To that end, we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign, with the goal of bringing in $20,000 this spring and another $20,000 later in the year.

Our donors from last year have agreed to match the first $10,000 of

JEB

WALLACE-BRODEUR

Rachel Hellman

contributions. We’re hoping readers like you will pitch in to make up the rest.

If you care about Hellman’s reporting and want to support it, please consider making a one-time donation to this campaign. Unlike Super Reader contributions, which go directly to Seven Days, these funds go to Report for America and its nonprofit parent, the GroundTruth Project, which means they’re 100 percent tax-deductible. Report for America will distribute these funds to Seven Days over the course of the year as we publish more of Hellman’s dispatches about rural Vermont.

Hellman’s eager to keep writing them. She enjoys the variety of assignments, which recently included participating in a community meditation class through the volunteer-run Bethel University — that story appeared in last week’s paper. At the end, she described how a woman in the group burst into tears; her beloved family dog had died the night before. “I started crying, too, eventually,” Hellman recalled. After crying together, “We all kind of meditated for her well-being.”

That’s just one of the ways Hellman has seen people take care of each other — one of the most hopeful aspects of rural life. “There are so many understated and profound ways that people are showing up for each other,” she said. “And I get to see it, which is pretty special.”

Got a story idea for Hellman? Send it to her at rhellman@sevendaysvt.com or give her a call at 802-865-1020, ext. 130.

Cathy Resmer

HOW TO GIVE:

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SHE DID A REALLY EXCELLENT JOB OF CONVEYING WHAT WE’RE UP TO WITHOUT THE TONE OF IT BEING “FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.”

ROSE FRIEDMAN, THE CIVIC STANDARD

Arresting Development

Acting Burlington police chief used “menacing tone” and threatened to “cuff” surgeon, complaint says

BY COURTNEY LAMDIN • courtney@sevendaysvt.com

One night last summer, a University of Vermont Medical Center trauma surgeon was treating a gunshot victim, the latest casualty in Burlington’s spate of gunfire. The patient was in critical condition, and police o cers were under orders to stay nearby in case he revealed who had shot him.

The surgeon repeatedly ordered officers to clear the room. Shortly afterward, acting Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad arrived and took an unprecedented step: He threatened to arrest the doctor, according to a confidential complaint the surgeon filed with the city’s police commission. The incident, and his complaint, had not been reported before Seven Days broke the news last Thursday.

In interviews last week, Murad and Mayor Miro Weinberger dodged direct questions about Murad’s threat of arrest, instead labeling the altercation as a “disagreement” for which the acting chief has since apologized. In a written statement on Tuesday, a mayoral spokesperson said “the Chief does, and has consistently, disputed the allegation that he threatened to arrest the complainant.”

The hospital, though, backs the surgeon’s account. Spokesperson Annie Mackin said the city has not disputed “to UVM Medical Center leaders that the threat itself was made.” Seven Days also interviewed a witness on Tuesday, a surgical resident who saw the entire exchange and who corroborated the surgeon’s account.

Tiny Sterling College Names a New President

BY ANNE WALLACE ALLEN anne@sevendaysvt.com

Sterling College, the small work and farming institution in Craftsbury Common, has appointed Wyoming academic Scott L. omas as its next president.

omas, 61, has spent his career in education, most recently as dean of the University of Wyoming College of Education. He worked as a professor at the University of Vermont’s College of Education and Social Services from 2016 to 2021, where he first encountered Sterling as part of an agricultural program. He plans to move with his wife to the president’s house on Sterling’s campus this summer and start his new position in Vermont on July 1.

Hospital chief operating officer and president Dr. Stephen Leffler said that until last August, he’d never heard of a UVM doctor being threatened with arrest during his 30 years in emergency medicine. The surgeon, whom Seven Days is not naming because he submitted

his complaint confidentially, said it’s his job to treat patients and protect their privacy.

“Everyone who comes into the hospital … deserves my complete attention and the very best that I can do,” he said. Murad’s behavior, he added, “did interfere with the care we were providing.”

The confl ict remained under wraps even as voters considered a controversial proposal to empower a civilian panel to investigate and discipline police, including the chief. Now public, the incident could complicate Weinberger’s plans to install Murad as the city’s permanent police chief. He has served as acting chief for nearly three years, and the council rejected his permanent appointment in January 2022.

The complaint dates back to last August, when an 18-year-old man was shot, possibly accidentally, by a friend who was in the back seat of his car. The alleged shooter fled the scene before an ambulance arrived and brought the victim to the emergency room, a police a davit says. Burlington O cer Sergio Caldieri followed in his cruiser.

omas said that when he moved to Wyoming two years ago, he planned to stay, but the opportunity to lead Sterling was too good to pass up. He has long sought a vehicle to participate in solutions to climate change and environmental degradation, he said.

“ is is a calling for me,” omas told Seven Days on Tuesday. “I could see taking this 21st-century experimental college and creating a national, and potentially international, model for how we think about sustainability and regenerative farming and strong communities.”

Sterling College is a small liberal arts college, with just 86 students enrolled this year and room for only 125 students on campus. It was founded in 1958 as Sterling School, a boys’ prep school. It became an accredited four-year college in 1987, offering both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in resource management. e school has always had a strong agricultural mission, and its 130-acre main campus in Craftsbury is home to a variety of livestock, including a pair of draft horses. e college has another 300 acres in Wolcott.

Sterling now offers degrees in outdoor education, ecology, environmental humanities, and sustainable agriculture and food systems, but it is changing its emphasis this year. Starting in the fall, Sterling will offer its two- and four-year degrees only in environmental studies, with the other subjects available as concentrations.

Scott L. omas

Acting Burlington

Police Chief Jon Murad

DARIA BISHOP

CHIEF MURAD ARGUED WITH ME. HE THEN THREATENED TO ARREST ME IF I DIDN’T BACK DOWN. SURGEON’S COMPLAINT

Last Exit, Vermont

Lawmakers consider allowing out-of-staters to use Vermont’s “death with dignity” process

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • kevin@sevendaysvt.com

Cassandra Johnston is hoping chemotherapy helps her beat breast cancer and live a long, fulfilling life. The 38-year-old emergency planning manager from Clifton Park, N.Y., said the treatments she’s been receiving for three months are “rough” but represent her best shot at getting healthy.

“With stage III, you don’t know which way it’s going to go,” Johnston told Seven Days last week.

If the battle doesn’t go her way, Johnston said, she needs to know she will have some control over how she dies, something the State of New York does not give her.

“When you read all the terrible stories about ways that people have suffered, to be denied medical aid in dying is pretty upsetting,” she said.

She’s urging New York lawmakers to pass a bill allowing physician-assisted suicide in her state. If they don’t, she’s hoping Vermont will open its doors to nonresidents such as her.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed every single day that Vermont lawmakers really view us as people who are suffering,” she said. “We’re being denied this right in our own states, and we’re desperate.”

A decade after Vermont passed its landmark medical aid-in-dying law — known as Act 39 — the state is considering lifting the residency requirement

so terminally ill people from other states could travel to Vermont to use it, too. Advocates say the change is needed by people who can’t receive life-ending medication in their home states.

“I don’t think it’s fair to allow a state border to decide who gets care and who doesn’t get care,” Toni Kaeding, cochair of the board of the nonprofit Patient Choices Vermont, told senators last week. “I think it’s not fair to deny out-ofstate patients access to the peace that is possible through Act 39.”

The bill, H.190, received approval in the House of Representatives in February following a unanimous vote in the House Committee on Health Care. It’s now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, which is expected to back the change this week.

“There is simply no justification to put residency parameters on end-of-life care,” the bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Rey Garofano (D-Essex), told colleagues.

The push to lift the residency restriction has broad support from lawmakers, owing to a potent combination of advocacy and legal pressure by groups trying to lower barriers for terminally ill patients seeking such care.

Cassandra Johnston (right) with her mom, Susan Duchnycz

According to the surgeon’s complaint, there was an “overwhelming” police presence in the emergency room “that was extremely atypical.” Officers insisted on being in the trauma bay, which “is against our policy as our patient privacy is protected by federal HIPAA laws,” the surgeon wrote, referring to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

The trauma surgeon ordered Caldieri out of the patient’s hospital room, but the officer’s supervisors told him to stay put, the affidavit and complaint both say. Officers followed the patient to the CT room, which the surgeon had “never seen happen at any other hospital or at UVM,” he wrote.

The doctor told the officers he would be filing a complaint, and one officer “in an exaggerated fashion pulled up his name tag on his uniform and said, ‘I look forward to your complaint,’” the surgeon wrote. He eventually reported the officer to hospital higher-ups.

Caldieri refused to leave, and Murad, who had been at the shooting scene, arrived soon after.

“He positioned him self [sic] uncomfortably close to me and said in a menacing tone, ‘I hear you got a problem with my officers,’’’ the surgeon wrote, adding that he told Murad the officers “had no right to be in that room” due to privacy laws.

“Chief Murad argued with me. He then threatened to arrest me if I didn’t back down,” the complaint says.

The resident witness said Murad placed his hands on his handcuffs.

“I had another surgeon’s number ready to dial just in case the patient had to go to the OR,” the resident said. “I’m a trainee, so I can’t take a patient to the OR myself. [The surgeon] was the only person in-house who was qualified if the patient were to need an emergent surgery.”

Murad, according to the complaint, then told the surgeon that by barring officers from the room, he would be interfering with a police investigation if the patient was in custody.

Murad said “he would ‘cuff me and drag me to jail,” the doctor wrote. “I have been told this is not the case by our in house councel [sic] and believe he lied about a law to intimidate me and my team.”

The surgeon had to ask Murad several times if the patient was under arrest before the acting chief admitted that he was not, the complaint says.

“At this point I very loudly and assertively demanded that he leave the room and he did,” the surgeon wrote of Murad, adding that witnesses outside the room overheard

officers “discussing several charges they could make to justify my arrest.”

The doctors quickly got back to work, but the resident said they were stunned by what had just happened.

“I’ve been a part of many traumas where people, including police, have been asked to clear the room for patient privacy, and it’s never been a problem,” the resident said. “I was shocked that it escalated this much.”

Late Tuesday afternoon, after being informed that Seven Days had spoken to a witness, the mayor’s office provided a written statement from Officer Caldieri, who disputed the surgeon’s story.

“Caldieri recalls that the surgeon specifically said ‘are you threatening me’ to which Chief Murad replied, in sum and substance, ‘no, I am telling you that if he were in custody you would be impeding,’” the statement says.

According to partially redacted records provided by the city, the surgeon submitted his complaint a few days after the incident using the police commission’s online portal. A commissioner acknowledged receipt within 15 minutes, responding that the body would “give this matter serious consideration.”

Weinberger and Murad met with the surgeon later that week. Murad offered a “fulsome and sincere apology,” the mayor wrote to police commissioners in an August 23, 2022, email that the city provided to Seven Days. All parties agreed that it was important for the hospital and police department to maintain a good working relationship.

“I am now satisfied that this matter is resolved,” Weinberger wrote. “I would ask the Commission to consider adopting the same posture.”

But the commission did not. In fact, in October 2022, it referred the complaint to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, a state body that investigates misconduct. According to Weinberger, commissioners alleged that Murad had committed a

as he again considered appointing Murad as the permanent chief.

Weinberger also expressed frustration that police commissioners had gone to the criminal justice council without consulting him, saying they had certain facts wrong. He urged councilors to keep the complaint confidential “at least until we have had a chance to discuss this together.” They did, in a closed-door executive session on January 9, though the issue was never discussed publicly.

Category B offense, which Vermont law defines as “gross professional misconduct” such as sexual harassment and using excessive force. The mayor disagreed with that assessment.

The following month, Weinberger discussed the complaint with members of the police commission and City Council President Karen Paul (D-Ward 6). But he didn’t inform the full council until late December 2022, after Democrats picked up a seat in a special election that month that gave them an advantage on the council. In a memo, the mayor said he wanted to inform the council about the complaint

Stephanie Seguino, cochair of Burlington’s police commission, said in an interview this week that state statute requires the body to report any credible complaint to the criminal justice council. Category B offenses also include violations of police department policy. Seguino said the commission determined that Murad’s behavior violated a Burlington Police Department policy, which says police officers’ authority “shall not be used improperly to interfere with the lawful conduct of anyone.”

“In light of the amount of information shared about this complaint … I feel it is important that the public have accurate information on how the police commission performed its oversight role,” Seguino said.

Still, at least some of Weinberger’s fellow Democrats on the council seem to be casting doubt on the surgeon’s account. Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) said she doesn’t dispute that the surgeon believed he was “being threatened” but that “I’m not sure it was quite as direct as what’s being said.”

Mayor Miro Weinberger giving his State of the City address

THE INCIDENT COULD COMPLICATE WEINBERGER’S PLANS TO INSTALL MURAD AS THE CITY’S PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF.

The council, which has received the full complaint, hasn’t spoken to the surgeon or to Murad about the incident, Shannon said.

Councilor Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5) said he would defer to the criminal justice council to “figure out what actually occurred here.”

Both Traverse and Shannon said Murad’s behavior doesn’t disqualify him from becoming permanent chief. Shannon said she would vote for Murad barring any objections from the hospital. Traverse said his vote is contingent on evidence that the community, not just the mayor, supports the acting chief.

Council President Paul, who voted to appoint Murad last year, wouldn’t say how she’d vote now because she first wants to hear from constituents. She also wouldn’t weigh in on the credibility of the doctor’s complaint.

“I imagine some people have an opinion one way, and some people have an opinion the other,” Paul said, “but it’s not for me to decide.”

Other councilors, however, said the facts seem clear.

“I have no reason to believe that the complaint’s inaccurate,” Councilor Joe Magee (P-Ward 3) said.

“It’s very clear he’d done it,” Councilor Ali Dieng (I-Ward 7) said about Murad’s threat of arrest.

Dieng was also unhappy that Weinberger hadn’t informed councilors sooner. He drew parallels to spring 2019, when the council learned from the media, not Weinberger, that several Black men had sued the city after Burlington cops allegedly used excessive force in arresting them.

Dieng also noted that Weinberger kept from councilors that former police chief Brandon del Pozo had created an anonymous Twitter account to mock a private citizen.

The mayor has a record of “defending the police and not being collaborative with the city council,” Dieng said. Some personnel issues can be dealt with privately, he added, “but the city council needs to be at the forefront of these community issues, especially around public safety.”

Dieng also suggested that his vote on Murad’s appointment would depend on the criminal justice council’s investigation.

Voters didn’t know about the incident when they rejected a more powerful oversight board on Town Meeting Day in March. Weinberger lobbied against it — and so did Leffler, the hospital president. The item failed resoundingly, 63 to 37 percent.

Asked if voters should have been aware of the incident involving the chief, Weinberger cited confidentiality rules around the complaint process. He still hopes to bring Murad’s name forward again for a council vote but hasn’t decided when, partly because the complaint is still pending with the criminal justice council.

“I think the chief made a mistake in getting involved in a dispute this signifi cant, but he was there trying to protect the public, fighting for the public,” he said.

“The important piece,” Murad said, is that “there was an apology.”

He reiterated that police were afraid the victim would die before he could identify the shooter; other teenagers at the scene didn’t cooperate with police, accord ing to an affidavit. The doctor’s complaint, however, says the patient was stable when they moved him to the CT room.

Two days after the incident, police believe, the alleged gunman — 19-year-old Abukar Hilowle — shot two more people following an altercation downtown. He has been charged with shooting all three victims.

“This was in the midst of a massive problem that the city was experiencing in an incredibly tumultuous time,” Murad said, adding that both hospital staff and police were “under a lot of stress and working with urgency.”

City police frequently accompany arrestees and victims to the emergency room and also respond when medical personnel are assaulted. Last summer, nurses called on the hospital to hire more security to protect them after an uptick in violence against staff.

Leffler said his concerns about staff safety led him to publicly lobby against the oversight board. He feared that, had it passed, the city would have struggled to recruit officers and said such a board was not needed to address the situation with Murad.

“We were very comfortable with the results of an event and how it was handled,” he said. “[Murad’s] boss, the mayor, was made aware of it the next working day and didn’t take it lightly, and it was addressed.”

The hospital confirmed that it does have guidelines for police interactions with staff and patients, including a policy that has been in place since at least 2014. That one-page document, titled “Role of Police (Law Enforcement),” notes that officers can respond to the hospital for “law enforcement intervention and criminal investigation” but “must be asked to leave” once their work is complete.

An officer staying longer than necessary, the policy says, “creates confidentiality issues, an appearance of intimidation, and overall ethical issues.” ➆

Last year the fair hosted over 1200 job seekers and 175 employers from all different types of industries from all over Vermont. If you are looking to find a new career or looking for someone to fill a position this is the place to be.

The Associated General Contractors of Vermont in partnership with Vermont's Department of Labor, Vermont Agency of Education, UVM, and VIECA are teaming up again to bring employers and Vermonters together in quality jobs. There are many great opportunities for employers and job seekers alike.

EDUCATION

Library, Gym at Twin Valley Elementary  Closed Over PCBs

BY ALISON NOVAK alison@sevendaysvt.com

As Vermont lawmakers debate the fate of an ambitious, first-in-the-nation program to test hundreds of schools for PCBs, another community is dealing with the fallout from finding elevated levels of the chemicals in parts of its school.

Administrators at Twin Valley Elementary School in Wilmington were told in late March that the pre-K-5 school’s gymnasium and library — as well as a hallway connecting the two spaces, a technology office and a boiler room — far exceeded the state’s “immediate action levels” for airborne PCBs. Under state guidance, that means the space cannot be used until the concentration of chemicals is lowered.

It’s also taking place against the backdrop of a national abortion debate that is underscoring the deep inequities in health care options for women based on where they live. While deep-red states are outlawing abortion, Vermont has enshrined it in the state’s constitution — and is advancing legislation to protect health care providers who treat patients from other states.

Vermont was the first state in the nation to pass an assisted suicide law through a legislative process. Oregon and Washington passed similar laws through ballot measures, and a Montana court authorized the practice. Today, 10 states and Washington, D.C., allow what advocates call “death with dignity” in some form.

The national advocacy group Compassion & Choices filed a federal lawsuit in 2021 over Oregon’s residency requirement, arguing that it unfairly discriminated against people from other states. The state settled in 2022 and agreed not to enforce the residency provision.

The organization then set its sights on Vermont, where regional health care providers such as the University of Vermont Health Network, which has hospitals in New York, serve many patients across state lines.

Vermont’s immediate action levels range from 90 to 300 nanograms per cubic meter; the levels vary by the ages of the people who use the rooms. The school gym’s concentration was 570 nanograms; the library’s, 400; the hallway’s, 580; and the technology office’s, 450.

In an April 5 letter to families, Twin Valley principal Rebecca Fillion outlined the measures the school is taking to limit students’ exposure to PCBs: Physical education classes are being conducted outside; library and technology classes are taking place in classrooms; and third and fourth graders are eating lunch in their classrooms to free up the cafeteria for other activities.

The school district also ordered charcoal filters for the rooms with elevated PCB levels. Those are slated to be delivered and installed this week. Then the air will be retested, Fillion said in an email on Tuesday. At Charlotte Central School, charcoal filters lowered the airborne PCB levels in the kitchen last month.

Families had mixed reactions to the news, Fillion said. One family decided to homeschool for the rest of the school year, and two other families pulled their children out of school until the air filters are installed. ➆

The group sued the state in August, arguing that its residency requirement was unconstitutional because it denied residents of other states equal treatment under the law. It sued on behalf of Lynda Bluestein, a cancer patient living in Bridgeport, Conn., and Diana Barnard, a UVM hospice doctor in Middlebury who also treats patients living New York.

The state settled the case last month, agreeing to allow Bluestein to receive endof-life care in Vermont if she followed all the law’s requirements, including receiving care in the state and, if needed, taking the fatal dose here.

The law, officially known as the Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act, already contains significant safeguards. To use the law, a person must be at least 18 years old, have less than six months to live and be able to make their own health care decisions. The person also has to make the request of a Vermont doctor twice, at least two weeks apart, and in writing before two witnesses. A second consulting doctor must also confirm the patient’s terminal diagnosis, and the patient must be able to take the drugs themself.

If all those criteria were met, then a pharmacist could fill the prescription, typically a mix of five drugs. When mixed with juice, the cocktail is swallowed by the patient, who goes to sleep within 10

minutes and in most cases dies within two hours, Kaeding explained.

The legal settlement only applies to Bluestein, who would have to travel to Vermont to use the drugs. For it to apply to others, the residency requirement would need to be lifted by the legislature. The legal settlement requires the state Department of Health to support such a change this session. David Englander, a department analyst, told senators that Act 39 is the only health care law with a residency requirement and that removing it was appropriate.

“Being able to receive medical care irrespective of zip code is a necessary component of health equity,” he said.

Since the law first passed, 173 people have been prescribed drugs by Vermont physicians to end their lives, according to Englander. Most of those — 77 percent — had cancer, while others had

neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, according to a 2022 state report. About 60 percent of the patients used the drugs they were prescribed, while most others died without taking them, the report said.

The law was updated last year to allow consultations with doctors by telemedicine and to remove a final 48-hour delay before a prescription could be written, which advocates said was burdensome.

Opposition to the current bill appears limited. Mary Hahn Beerworth, executive director of the anti-abortion group Vermont Right to Life Committee, argues that the in-state restriction is important.

The legislature was “deeply divided” about the issue back in 2013, and “legitimate and serious concerns” about assisted suicide persist, she said.

“It isn’t something that is to be taken lightly, nor is it simple,” she testified.

The residency requirement was one of the law’s few protections against abuse, and removing it would be a “slippery slope,” she said.

“The erosion of safeguards was predicted in 2013, and the question is, will

WE’RE BEING DENIED THIS RIGHT IN OUR OWN STATES, AND WE’RE DESPERATE.

CASSANDRA JOHNSTON

that erosion continue until … the lethal combination of drugs are available to anyone of any age or circumstance who requests them?” Beerworth said.

In an interview, Beerworth warned of risks, such as vulnerable people being coerced into hastening their death by greedy family members hoping to inherit some wealth, or people coming to Vermont to acquire the drugs only to take them back to uncontrolled settings in their home states.

Betsy Walkerman, president of Patient Choices Vermont, said opponents raised such issues during the yearslong debate running up to the law’s passage.

“This law has been in effect for 10 years,” she told Seven Days, “and none of their fears have come true.”

The idea that Vermont would become a destination for large numbers of people from across the nation looking to end their lives is unfounded, Walkerman said. Patients would still face hurdles such as the expense, finding a physician who would provide treatment and getting a place to stay, she said.

Barnard, the UVM physician and plaintiff in the recent case, agrees that few out-of-staters would take advantage of the process in Vermont, partly because of the difficulty of finding a physician.

“I don’t think we have to be overly concerned about opening the floodgates for people coming here for this,” she said.

Most people at that final stage of life want to be around family, and the prospect of traveling, potentially multiple times, to Vermont would be a significant barrier, Barnard said.

But some people facing a terminal diagnosis can summon remarkable fortitude, whether to seek extraordinary experimental care or to prepare to die on their own terms, she said. Having such plans in place, in the end, can make their transition more humane, Barnard added.

“Once they know they have that, they can focus more on living well for as long as possible,” she said.

By the time Johnston was diagnosed last fall, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Still, she wouldn’t qualify to receive the drugs in Vermont even if the residency requirement were lifted. That’s because she’s receiving treatment that could prove effective.

But she’s not going to wait until the disease makes her so weak that she couldn’t come to Vermont if needed. As soon as lawmakers act, she said, so will she.

“I don’t like to leave things up to chance,” she said. ➆

POLITICS

First Lady Stops by Burlington for ‘Investing in America’ Tour

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

First Lady Jill Biden touched down at Burlington International Airport on April 5 to tout job creation and career prep at the headquarters of electric aviation startup Beta Technologies.

The highly choreographed 90-minute event was part of a weeks-long road show to more than 20 states by members of President Joe Biden’s administration ahead of a possible reelection campaign. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, and the members of the state’s Democratic congressional delegation also appeared, as did U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

The Biden administration’s “Investing in America” tour highlights aspects of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and initiatives to train workers for jobs that the president’s team has said the recent legislation will create.

Inside Beta’s hangar, where its two electric airplane prototypes were parked like sports cars in a showroom, Biden and Cardona spoke with Beta interns and CEO Kyle Clark, as well as students from the North Country Career Center in Newport.

Biden applauded the state’s career and technical education programs for high schools; a program to offer tuition-free community college for Vermont residents; and Beta’s internship and opportunities for students.

“What you are doing in this community is the future of our workforce: how we grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out,” she told an audience of local and state officials and Beta employees.

“These aren’t red ideas or blue ideas. They’re American ideas,” she continued. “With champions from both sides of the aisle, these kinds of programs are a great place to find common ground.” ➆

Histories of the Present: The David Haber and Robin Edelman Annual Lecture

First Lady Jill Biden and Gov. Phil Scott

Agrarian Anxiety

A new peer support network hopes to help farmers deal with stress

BY RACHEL HELLMAN • rhellman@sevendaysvt.com

people saying they needed mental health support.

Although workplace stress is a reality across many professions, farmers face conditions largely out of their control that will ultimately determine financial success or failure. And with volatile, often extreme weather becoming more common, the related stress on farmers is also on the rise. One bad storm, or one dead animal, can mean the di erence between a bill being paid or not.

“It’s almost like they have a choice sometimes to feed their cows or to feed their family,” said Matt Strassberg, director of the Environmental Mediation Center, a Vermont-based nonprofit that helps farmers resolve disputes. “It’s really hard for non-farmers to fathom how one would work for 40 hours a week — [or] even 70 or 80 hours a week — and potentially not make money.”

Things weren’t going well for Valerie Woodhouse in spring 2021. Woodhouse, then 30, was in her second year as a full-time organic vegetable farmer in Norwich. There was a drought. She was managing a farm team for the fi rst time. To make matters worse, her partner, Eli Hersh — who co-owns the 35-acre farm — had found out his mother was dying.

“That was probably the lowest my mental health has ever been,” Woodhouse said. “I was very raw and tired and overwhelmed.” Woodhouse and Hersh tried their best to balance visiting Hersh’s mother and tending to their fledgling farm, but at times it felt impossible.

“The farm has to keep going regardless of what happens,” she said.

Prior to farming, Woodhouse had worked as a manager at Howard Center, the Burlington-based nonprofit that o ers counseling to children and adults. She wondered why — despite her years of training and work as a mental health professional — she couldn’t seem to deal with the stress of running a farm.

“I had a therapist who was like, ‘Valerie, you should know this,’” Woodhouse recalled. “‘You’ve been trained in this work. You need to set boundaries.’ And then it just made me feel worse.” Woodhouse’s experience is not unique. Many farmers face mental health challenges that defy the popular perception of a tranquil, bucolic life. Unpredictable weather patterns, low profit margins, geographic isolation, and a permeable boundary between life and work can produce mental stresses unique to farming life. Vermonters who work in agriculture are three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to data collected by the state Department of Health. The phenomenon is systemic and complex, experts say, with the stigma surrounding mental health an additional barrier.

But a new peer support network developed by Farm First, a Vermont-based nonprofit, aims to provide farmers with free mental health support by connecting them with trained listeners who understand their experiences best: fellow farmers.

Farm First’s peer network, though modest in scale, is one of the first of its kind in the country. Backed by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm First has trained an initial cohort of 16 farmers, ranging in age and expertise, in active listening and anxiety management, among a slew of other skills. Those who participate in the training are paid a stipend of $1,000 but are otherwise considered volunteers. Peer farmers are asked to stay on for a year, but if they need to take a break or stop at any time, they can. Farmers are expected to provide support on varied fronts, including financial concerns, crop issues, alcoholism and illness.

“The di erence with peer counselors is, there’s common ground right there,” said Alicia Jenks of Green Dragon Farm in Weathersfield, one of the 16 peer mentors who started in February.

Karen Crowley, program manager at Farm First, said the idea for the project sprouted after the nonprofi t — which offers a broad range of help to farmers — noticed an increase in calls from

And there’s no going home to leave work behind at the end of the day. “You look out the window and see a to-do list,” said Woodhouse, who signed up as a peer mentor as soon as she heard about Farm First’s initiative. That blurred line between work and home puts added pressure on family relationships. Add succession planning to the mix — and the possibility that a child may not want to inherit their parent’s failing dairy farm — and the border between home and farm becomes nearly invisible.

“Farming destroys marriages,” said Paige Wener, owner of Green & Gold CSA in Sudbury, mustering a laugh.

Aggravating matters are the physical isolation of most farms and the hesitation of many farmers to ask for help. Farmers tend to embrace self-reliance and a gritty, do-it-yourself ethos, but these same attributes often discourage them from seeking mental health resources. Josie Rudolphi, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who studies farmers’ mental health, said she often hears from farmers who say they are hesitant to park their truck in front of a mental health clinic because they don’t want an acquaintance to see it there.

And that’s if a farmer can afford therapy. Lack of a ordable health care is another roadblock to help, specialists say.

Many Vermonters have an idealized vision of farming. Woodhouse said she’s

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been advised not to “guilt” her customers into buying products but acknowledges that her upbeat “farmstagram” shows half of the story. “You’re not seeing pictures of the falling-apart pieces of the farm,” she said.

The compounding effect of these factors is considerable. Among young adult farmers surveyed in a 2020 study conducted by Rudolphi, 60 to 70 percent meet the criteria for at least mild anxiety and depression. That’s compared to 20 to 30 percent of the general population.

Wener, the Sudbury farmer, has experienced those pressures. In 2020, she was dealing with a drought on a new farm, handwatering plants by the acre. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to provide the food she had sold to her subscription-based customers at the beginning of the season.

“It was the lowest I’ve ever been,” Wener recalled. “I had to reassess my relationship with addictive substances. I got a therapist. I started massage therapy.”

The experience also inspired her to become a peer mentor through Farm First. Even the training seemed to spark relief among the farmer mentors. An initial

exercise, in which peer mentors introduced themselves and named their biggest challenges and resources, took over three hours. To some, it felt like a release. “I just felt so empowered, supported and fulfilled,” Woodhouse said.

The peer support network went live at the beginning of February and is accessible through an interactive map on the Farm First website that provides background information on the farmer mentors. Those seeking help can reach out to the peer of their choice using a form on the website.

There have been just a handful of contacts so far, but Crowley said things will likely ramp up once the growing season kicks into gear.

The farmer peer network does not, however, address the needs of Vermont’s roughly 1,000 migrant farmworkers, who face very different challenges. Dan Baker, an assistant professor at the University of Vermont who works with migrant dairy farmworkers, said housing and the migrant experience are common sources of mental stress among farmworkers. Often migrants, many from Mexico, miss their families and fear deportation, though there are few mental health resources for them. Increasing those resources, Baker argued, should be a priority for the state.

Farm First is among a patchwork of programs across Vermont aimed at supporting farmers through technical assistance, financial mediation services and mental health support. Some consider

Vermont to be one of the most supportive states in the country for farmers. Even so, many of the issues farmers face — such as a shrinking dairy industry, mounting debt and climate change — require broader, system-level change. Farmer advocates acknowledge that initiatives such as the peer support network can provide tools for farmers but can’t fix those wider problems.

“There’s an amazing resilience, I think, in people who get up and go to the barn every morning,” said Jenks, the peer support farmer from Weathersfield.

For Woodhouse, that resilience comes from creating a support network for when things get hard and setting time aside to do breathing exercises with her crew before starting work. Things are looking up, she said. The unknowns of the next growing season await. ➆

INFO

Visit farmfirst.org/resources/peer-support.

Rachel Hellman covers Vermont’s small towns 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.

THERE’S AN AMAZING RESILIENCE, I THINK, IN PEOPLE WHO GET UP AND GO TO THE BARN EVERY MORNING. ALICIA JENKS

Valerie Woodhouse

HELP SEVEN DAYS REPORT ON RURAL VERMONT

In June 2022, with help from national service program Report for America, Seven Days added a reporter to our news team: Rachel Hellman. Her beat? Vermont’s small, rural towns. Since she was hired, Rachel has written more than 60 stories about 52 of them.

We’re excited to announce that Rachel is staying for another year at Seven Days — and we need your help to fund her reporting!

In 2022, Report for America paid for half of Rachel’s salary; donations from Vermont Co ee founder Paul Ralston and another local donor o set the rest. This year, Report for America covers a smaller percentage of the cost of employing Rachel. Once again, it’s up to Seven Days to raise the rest — a larger amount.

Our generous donors from last year have agreed to match the first $10,000 in contributions. If you appreciate Hellman’s reporting and want to support it, please consider making a one-time, tax-deductible donation to our spring campaign by May 12.

To fund Rachel’s reporting on rural towns, visit sevendaysvt.com/donate-rfa

Or send a check to:

Report for America Seven Days Campaign c/o e GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services 9450 SW Gemini Dr., PMB 46837 Beaverton, OR 97008-7105

Questions? Contact deputy publisher Cathy Resmer at 802-865-1020, ext. 141 or cathy@sevendaysvt.com.

All contributions to Report for America are tax-deductible. Contributions do not influence editorial decisions.

“I just read your article on us ‘older folks’ and the housing issues we face. You did a fine job capturing the dilemma faced by our generation and how that impacts others. Keep up the great work … You are one of the reasons I love supporting Seven Days!”

— JOE HEYER, COLCHESTER

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have to repack your bags and get the next flight back. Do the citizens pay more in taxes for this generosity? You betcha, and they don’t want it any other way, or our way.

Tom MacDonald BURLINGTON

‘S.100 IS FOR DEVELOPERS’

[Re Feedback: “End Act 250,” March 29; “S.100 Is Not the Answer,” March 15]: While it might be true that Michael O’Hara “literally spit out co ee while reading Ed Stanak’s response to the ‘Site Work’ article” [March 8], the rest of his letter in the March 29 Feedback section made me wonder if he has a grudge against Act 250, since little else reflects an honest truth.

The law was carefully crafted to consider how to preserve what is most valuable to Vermont’s ecosystems and communities in the face of development very similar to that proposed by S.100. Act 250 has protected what we value most in Vermont, including democratic process and an enviable quality of life. These still-protected ecosystems will build a sustainable resilience in the face of extreme weather.

It is a false narrative that we can have only housing or intact ecosystems. We need both.

During Ed’s 30-year career as administrator for the District 5 Environmental Commission that implements Act 250 for the central Vermont region, he supported and guided all parties through the complex permitting process e ciently, e ectively, and with kindness and complete professionalism. Of the permits representing hundreds of millions of dollars in development that he personally processed, fewer than 15 permits out of several hundred were denied. Ed’s career — based on in-depth knowledge of the law, people, fairness, ecosystems, communities and democratic protocols — should be applauded and emulated.

Moneyed interests generating false narratives implement typical tactics of “crisis capitalism” to hide the real truth: S.100 is for developers, with no assurances of a ordability or managing carbon emissions.

Renée Carpenter PLAINFIELD

CHURCHES ARE FOR CHURCH

There have been a few letters bemoaning the loss of buildings that were Catholic churches, with the tone tending toward the negative, including accusations of hypocrisy and name-calling. (See “The Church Forgets” in Feedback, February 15.)

The way to preserve our churches is to use them as intended — namely, as places of worship. So let’s fill the pews in our

churches and continue to ring the bells and sing the songs of praise. Let’s hear God’s word and the good news, o er our prayers and gifts, and receive Christ in these consecrated spaces. It’s a taste of the goodness that is to come.

Our churches are the best places in town. Let’s not lose any more of them!

Alice Benson SHELBURNE

LEARN FIRST AID

The article entitled “Vermont’s Emergency Medical Services System Is Struggling to Survive. Can It Be Saved?” [March 1] painted a grim picture of workforce and capacity shortages for EMS in our state. While there is no single or easy answer to this complex issue, expanding access to training in CPR, automated external defibrillators and first aid can support the critical role played by EMS.

These trainings are designed to help community members recognize and appropriately respond to medical emergencies in the time it takes for EMS to arrive. When someone su ers a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival declines rapidly. Starting CPR immediately can triple the chance of survival. If an injury is bleeding severely, a person can die in as little as five minutes. Bandaging, applying pressure and applying a tourniquet can be taught in one hour. When EMS response is too many minutes away, trained community members can save a life.

As a health workforce development organization, the Vermont Area Health Education Centers network is prepared to help. This summer, Northern Vermont AHEC will o er 70 Vermont teens the opportunity to qualify for the Vermont EMS First Responder certification as part of the Governor’s Institute on Health & Medicine. This is a basic credential intended to engage Vermonters to begin work in EMS. It prepares one to respond effectively to the most common lifethreatening medical emergencies. For students interested in emergency medical professions, this opportunity opens the door to becoming the next generation of EMS providers in Vermont communities.

Nicole LaPointe ST. JOHNSBURY

LaPointe is the director of the Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center.

BANKING GREEN

[Re “Senate Committee Advances the Latest Clean Heat Bill,” February 17]:

Thank you for your article covering the recently signed-o bill in the state Senate. It is heartening to see that our legislators are taking seriously the rising cost (dollar-wise to us and planet-wise) of fossil fuels from heating in a state with a notoriously long winter. But as dire news story after dire news story comes up, I’ve found myself asking: How can we do more?

Vermont is uniquely equipped to take advantage of a little-known program within the federal Infl ation Reduction Act, passed last year. This is called the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund — an allocation of $27 billion to help finance clean energy. It is intended to go to institutions called “green banks” that work to fund clean energy projects. Vermont has four green banks — more than California! These projects might not be funded without a green bank, because traditional banks may view them as “risky.” But with the green bank model and this infusion of cash from the government, Vermont can be at the forefront of developing new technologies beyond fossil fuels to help keep our citizens warm in the winter.

To Vermont’s green banks — Vermont Bond Bank, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Vermont Housing Finance Agency and Vermont State Employees Credit Union — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is opening the application this summer. Everyone else: Spread the word about the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This funding could be instrumental in finding alternatives to fossil fuels to o set the climate crisis.

Lauren Ebersol BURLINGTON

‘KEEP

THE BOOKS’

[Re “Battle of the Books,” February 22]: It is an unwise action to eliminate Vermont State Colleges System libraries and restructure athletics; these are the heart and soul of any college campus.

President Parwinder Grewal, formerly of Texas, may be unfamiliar with the history and culture of our Vermont college

system. Castleton University student Allison Fiske was right in stating how the entire community needs and uses books. Any survey results during the pandemic are questionable.

Digitize specifi c curriculums. Keep the books and librarians! And athletics in real leagues, with uniforms and team competitions, provide a structure of learning like no other. Please reconsider, and thanks to Anne Wallace Allen for her excellent article.

Ruth Furman JERICHO

SUPPORT STUDENTS

[Re “Battle of the Books,” February 22]: I assumed the impetus for gutting the physical collections of the libraries of the soon-to-be Vermont State University must be buried in a strategic plan. I easily found the 2021 “Final Report of the Select Committee on the Future of Public Higher Education in Vermont” from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

I recommend reading this wellresearched report by a nonprofit consultancy. The descriptions of the challenges faced — and possible approaches to save what was described as a “system in crisis” — are enlightening.

Interestingly, I found no proposal to move to digital libraries and discard most of the physical collections. A reference was made to saving money by repurposing buildings to “better support student learning and engagement with employers and the community.”

The report does lean heavily toward needed workforce development. Unfortunately, it gives short shrift to the VSC Thrive! proposal to “Reinvest heavily in the liberal arts. Implement SHAPE (Social Science, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy) and MESH (media literacy, ethics, sociology, and history) education alongside STEM.”

It is clear from this report that our legislature must increase its investment in our long-underfunded system even as the system addresses its deficit. Vermont students deserve access to an a ordable Vermont State University with strong liberal arts programs. They also deserve libraries worthy of the word “university,” with the professional sta to support all majors.

Susan DeWitt Wilder PERKINSVILLE

Wilder is a graduate of Johnson State College, class of 1978.

lifelines

OBITUARIES Christopher S. Scott

NOVEMBER 14, 1948APRIL 2, 2023

LYNDONVILLE, VT

Christopher Stuart Scott died peacefully at home in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom on April 2, 2023, one year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The fourth son of Ohio farm girl Jean (Stephens) and Army Air Corps glider pilot Stuart “Dave” Scott, Chris entered the world at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, N. M., on November 14, 1948, and to his British grandfather’s delight, on the same exact day as future King Charles III and, it should be mentioned, 17 months after aliens purportedly descended upon Roswell.

Being a military family, the Scotts changed residences frequently during Chris’ childhood and lived in Japan, Ohio, Utah and California. Chris’ junior and senior years of high school were spent at the New Mexico Military Institute, where he thrived as a swimmer and broke state records in three separate events. His success as a swimmer earned him a full ride to the University of New Mexico, where he spent one “normal” year of college before accepting a lastminute invitation to attend the United States Air Force Academy’s class of 1971.

Postgraduation, Chris spent eight years in the Air Force acquisition community, two years at the National Science Foundation, 17 years in project management instruction with the

OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Department of Defense and, after civil service retirement, another 15 years in project management with a wider commercial community.

Coincident with job gigs, Chris continued his education, earning an MBA from the University of Puget Sound and another master’s in human resource development from American University. His career brought him to Washington, D.C.; Seattle; San Diego; Munich, Germany; Boston; New York City; and Oxnard and Sacramento, Calif. The final 10 years of his life were spent in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where his wife, Sue, has deep, ninthgeneration roots. He loved Vermont and the fact that he was finally able to view the night sky from his own backyard.

Chris was a lifelong athlete who continued swimming on and off throughout his adult life and coached age-group and masters swim teams. In summer 1978, he completed his first marathon, Sacramento, on six weeks of training and quickly graduated to the then eccentric sport of ultrarunning, with an attempt at the Tahoe 72 that year, followed

by a finish at the historic JFK 50 Mile in 1979. Running, specifically trail running, became his activity of choice, and he completed over 100 50-kilometer, 50-mile, and 100-mile running events over the next 35 years. Perhaps even more than his own love of running was his love of bringing people together for fun and camaraderie on the trails. Being one of the founding members of the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club was a pivotal point in the union of his love of running and his penchant for race/ event organization. On the West Coast, his Coyote Cohorts running events are legendary. Countless friendships around the country can pinpoint a Chris Scott running event as their genesis. In later years, Chris’ ShoeFly runs proved to be popular, biweekly summer gatherings on the trails of northern Vermont and New Hampshire.

Approaching retirement, Chris continued hitting the trails in the form of hiking and backpacking. California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains were perhaps his favorite playground, and a few happy summers were spent traversing the John Muir and High Sierra trails and numerous other spectacular high-altitude adventures.

On the East Coast, Chris hiked and ran about 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail, completed the White Mountain Grid (all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in every month of the year) after age 65 and traversed Vermont’s notoriously gnarly Long Trail at the age of 70, usually decked

out in flashy tights and a Hawaiian shirt. Living near Kingdom Trails provided an easy opportunity to pick up the sport of mountain biking in his seventh decade.

It wasn’t all activity and movement, however. Chris took great joy in feeding the backyard birds and squirrels, as well as collecting rocks, working on his flower beds, finding four-leaf clovers, reading voraciously, listening to Mozart and Beethoven, and watching sunsets from Darling Ridge, which he was grateful to experience with his wife and sons on the final evening of his life.

Chris was predeceased by his parents and, recently, by brothers Mike and Pete. He leaves a huge void in the lives of those who loved him, including his wife, Susan Johnston; children Meghan of Louisiana, Shane (Jessica) and Ian (Elysia); grandchildren Teddy, Sloane, Davis and George; brother Tim; and sister-in-law Sharon Hale, all of California; sisterin-law Mary (Gregg) Miller of Pennsylvania; father-in-law, Robert Johnston; and his beloved cats, Url de Purl and George.

Chris was a generous soul. For those inclined to make a donation in his name, his favorite charities were the Northeast Wilderness Trust, the Innocence Project, Doctors Without Borders, Northwoods Stewardship Center and Kingdom Animal Shelter.

There will be no formal service. Instead, please remember Chris whenever you are hiking up a mountain, biking smooth singletrack, admiring wildflowers or watching a beautiful sunset.

Marianne Marshall

JUNE 27, 1950APRIL 4, 2023 SWANTON, VT.

Marianne Lipscombe Marshall was born in Seattle, Wash., to Jack Wilfred Lipscombe and Betty Jo Howard Lipscombe. Marianne grew up in the oil fields of southern New Mexico and west Texas and graduated from Big Spring High School.

Marianne earned a double major in philosophy and sociology from Newcomb College at Tulane University in New Orleans and a JD from St. Mary’s University Law School in San Antonio, where she met her husband and the love of her life, Steven D. Marshall, son of Dr. Carlton and Cynthia Marshall.

Marianne served as Caldwell County Attorney in Texas; deputy state’s attorney for Franklin County, Vt., and as a partner in Marshall and Marshall Legal Services in Swanton, Vt. She was honored for being one of the first 100 women admitted to practice law in the state of Vermont.

In addition to her husband, Marianne is survived by her children, Cynthia (Craig) Wilems of Seabrook, Texas, George (L. Gayle) Marshall of Corinth, Texas, Mary (Samuel) Carleton of Winooski, Vt., and Kathryn (Ryan) Baxter of Lunenburg, Vt.; and her grandchildren, Anabella, Grace and Emmaline Wilems, Nolan, Alaina and Susanna Marshall, Adele and Louise Carleton, and Hawkeye Baxter. She is also survived by her brother John Howard Lipscombe (Jan), retired Texas County Court at Law Judge of Austin, Texas; sister Dr. Elizabeth Lipscombe Ritchie, pediatric surgeon, of Boerne, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and brother William C. Lipscombe, U.S.

Coast Guard retiree, who suffered from untreated PTSD after serving on the front lines in the war on drugs in South America and the Mediterranean.

Marianne was active in the community and for many years served on the boards of Franklin County United Way and Rock Point School. She was a fifth- and sixth-grade volunteer staff member and was active in the Swanton School parent volunteers and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Sunday School. She also served as past president of the Franklin County Bar Association, as the Swanton Town justice of the peace and was a Vermont Community College philosophy teacher (Introduction and Social and Political Ethics).

In more recent years, Marianne enjoyed painting with watercolors and showing her work at the Artist in Residence Gallery in St. Albans.

Belief: If it’s about God, it’s about love; share God’s light. Her kids say, “Mama was always finding ways to bring people together to share joy, love and build community.”

Thanks to Dr. Adrian Trout, Dr. Brophy, Dr. S. Foster, oncologist Dr. Dennis Sanders, the folks at ER Northwest Medical Center and Alexis at Bayada Hospice.

A celebration of life service was held on Monday, April 10, 2023, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Swanton, Vt.

Want to memorialize a loved one?

lifelines

Patricia Heise

JULY 2, 1942-APRIL 5, 2023 COLCHESTER, VT.

Patricia (Pat) Lynn Griswold Heise, 80, passed away peacefully at home on April 5, 2023, surrounded by her family. e University of Vermont Health Network’s Home Health & Hospice Noyana Singers were present and singing. She was supported by her family and friends over a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born on July 2, 1942, in Cambridge, N.Y., Pat attended Hoosick Falls schools and Buffalo State University, where she graduated with a degree in hearing and speech.

Pat is survived by her husband, Charles Church Jr.; her children, Eric, Stefan and Johanna Heise; her grandchildren, Milla, Lucius, Michael and Sebastian; sister Winifred Ferguson, brother Rudolf Griswold and his wife, Clara; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and her stepchildren, Amy Fitzgerald, Charles Church III and Robert Church.

Pat was predeceased by her mother, Analda Rose Fournier; her father, Ralph John Griswold; brothers Ralph (Buster) Griswold and

Earl Griswold; and sister Beverly Griswold Slocum; and her former husband, William Bernard Heise, the father of her children.

Formerly of Waitsfield/ Warren, Vt., Pat was an avid skier and sailor. She worked as a speech pathologist, and later she had her own practice in accounting and tax preparation. Upon moving to the Burlington area, she provided bookkeeping for local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Pat’s strength and determination helped her overcome many of life’s challenges, especially her battle with breast cancer. Pat was an active leader and participant in barbershop quartet singing and conducting

Celebration of Life for Robert and Paul Verrastro

(1973-2023 and 1970-2020)

It feels like yesterday and yet an eternity that you left. Friends and family will get together to celebrate your life as it was, on Saturday, April 15, 2023. We will gather at the St. John’s Club on the lake, at 9 Central Ave. off Pine St. in Burlington. All are welcome to come and celebrate from 3 to 6 p.m. So here’s to you! You are forever in our hearts.

and directed the Champlain Echoes. She was also assistant director and coach with Burlington’s Green Mountain Chorus. She was actively involved at the First Congregational Church as a past treasurer, as a member of the Sanctuary Choir and the Austin Chimers, and in the Possibility Shop. Pat also participated in the Savvy Seniors program. Music was central to the life that Pat and Charlie shared.

Rarely idle, Pat contributed her sewing skills to the various organizations with which she was involved, coaching knitting and creating many prayer shawls for her church prayer shawl ministry. Music was a passion of Pat’s, as was sharing her love of cooking. Her family fondly remembers her talent with her unforgettable homemade blueberry and apple pies and delicious challah bread!

Pat’s family thanks UVM Health Network’s Home Health & Hospice for its support and care.

A memorial service in celebration of Pat’s life will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Burlington, 38 S. Winooski Ave.

OBITUARIES

Jane FitzGerald

MARCH 1, 1929MARCH 30, 2023 MILTON, VT.

Jane Ruth (Manley)

FitzGerald passed away peacefully, comforted by her family, on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Essex, Vt.

Jane was born on March 1, 1929, in Burlington, Vt., the oldest child of the late Gertrude (Mears) and James Manley Sr. (known to us as “Ma and Poppy”). She grew up in Milton, Vt., on the family farm and graduated from Milton High School in 1947. The year following graduation, she married the love of her life, John W. FitzGerald, from Fairfax, Vt. They were married on August 22, 1948, in Milton and made their first home at the old Manley family homestead on Route 7 in Milton. John’s early military career saw the family relocating temporarily in several states, from Texas to Florida to Maine. However, their true home always remained Vermont, and the family established their forever home on North Road in Milton.

In the early years of the marriage, Jane was a full-time mother to their growing family. Jane taught kindergarten/daycare in her home in the late 1960s. Once most of her children had left the nest, she worked as a library assistant and special education aide in the Milton School District. She found joy in helping children find topics that interested them in order to stimulate and develop their reading ability.

Jane thoroughly enjoyed traveling, and she and John visited numerous historical landmarks throughout the country and enjoyed viewing the beautiful landscapes along the way. Jane did most of her traveling in the passenger seat of the car, as she waited until she was in her early fifties to get her driver’s license. It was often joked that she held the record for the longest learner’s permit. Once she got her license, it was a whole new world, and she loved to “run the roads.”

Jane also had the opportunity to travel with her sisters as chaperones on schoolsponsored trips to Europe in the 1990s.

One of Jane’s primary interests was history, specifically

on Election Day and serving her community. As justice of the peace, she officiated wedding ceremonies for more than 100 couples from all around northern Vermont, sometimes hosting the ceremonies at her home, and even officiating weddings for some of her grandchildren.

the history of Milton. She and John were instrumental in founding the Milton Historical Society in 1978. Both John and Jane served as officers and dedicated much time to the organization’s activities, including home tours, band concerts and parade floats. She took a special interest in the refurbishment of the town’s cemeteries and spent countless hours organizing the cleaning and restoring of gravestones. She also served as the museum’s director/ curator for several years. One of her favorite events was the history contest that the Milton Historical Society hosted annually in the Milton School District, beginning in 1980. This combined two of her loves — history and children.

Jane’s service to her community was immense. In addition to the Historical Society, she was a member of the Milton Women’s Club, Corona Club, Order of the Eastern Stars and served as a 4-H Club leader. She was a longtime member of the United Church of Milton and was a backup organist at the church. She supported her husband in his workaffiliated organizations and was actively involved in the auxiliary organizations of the Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and the American Legion.

Jane found joy in gardening, and, as soon as spring arrived, you could find her in one of her multiple flower beds. Her beautiful flowers caught the attention and adoration of many passersby. She looked forward to when the fields of lupines she and John had started on their property would bloom each June.

Jane was elected and served as justice of the peace for over 20 years. She enjoyed working at the polls

She loved attending the activities — musical concerts, sporting events, school plays, graduations, birthdays and weddings — of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially liked basketball, as it was a sport she played when she was in high school. Her defensive chant of “Hands up!” at basketball games was always recognizable and could be heard for the past 60 years while watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jane loved food and feeding people! She hosted many holiday celebrations over the years, many times with gatherings exceeding 65 people. The holidays were a time we looked forward to enjoying her celebrated homemade pies and famous sweet rolls or “sticky buns.” There is no doubt these recipes, as well as many others, will carry on for generations to come.

Jane will be remembered for her wonderful and infectious smile. Throughout her life, she always loved greeting people with a welcoming smile and wave of hello. She enjoyed hearing people tell their own stories and often surprised them with a story or fact about their family history that tied into her great breadth of knowledge of Milton’s history.

She is survived by her sister Betty McLane and her husband, Alfred; her brother, James Manley Jr. and his wife, Lorraine; and her brother-in-law, Frank Bullis Sr.; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is also survived by her children, Daniel FitzGerald of Milton and his partner, JoAnn Field, Betsy Kendall, of Williston, Jill Tucker and her partner, Dean Lafont, of Fairfax, James FitzGerald, of Middlebury, and Heidi FitzGerald and her partner, George A. Wimble II, of Fletcher; her son-inlaw, Brian Prendergast, of Windham, Maine; her grandchildren, Heather Clark

(Jay) of Sanford, N.C., Sean FitzGerald (Lwei Ray Moo) of Milton, Melissa FitzGerald (Nate Brooks) of South Burlington, Amy Bosworth (John) of Jericho, Stacey Rivers (Caleb) of Warren, Ashley FitzGerald (Ryan McKeever) of Milton, Dylan FitzGerald of Highgate, Cody FitzGerald of Milton, Jared FitzGerald (Kaylee Boutin) of South Burlington, Brent Kendall (Kerry) of Wayland, Mass., Michelle Thompson (Gary) of Colchester, Crystal Kendall (Jack Walters) of Burlington, Jason Tucker (Kelly) of Millis, Mass., Chad Tucker (Therese) of Highgate, Jonathan Prendergast (Kate Kelley) of Wilton, Maine, Christine Toews (Derek) of Gray, Maine, Nicholas Prendergast (Sharon) of Georgetown, Mass., Ryan Wimble of Colchester, and Eric Wimble of Fletcher; and her great-grandchildren, Maddie Clark, Callen Clark, Bithiah FitzGerald, Benaiah FitzGerald, Caleb FitzGerald, Wesley Bosworth, Maci Bosworth, Finn Bosworth, Colby Rivers, Austin Livingstone, Riley Kendall, Ashley Kendall, Tyler Thompson, Meghan Thompson, Haley Kendall Walters, Liberty Kendall Walters, Abby Tucker, Ava Tucker, Logan Tucker, Landen Tucker, Charlette Tucker, Cole Prendergast, Wesley Toews, Addison Toews, Audrey Prendergast and Nolan Prendergast.

Besides her parents, Jane was predeceased by her husband, John; her daughter Kim Prendergast; her sister Nancy Bullis; her in-laws, Roger and Villa FitzGerald; her daughter-inlaw, Tina; her sisters-in-law Ellen Manley, Lois Arnold, Shirley FitzGerald and Sally FitzGerald; and brothers-inlaw Roger FitzGerald, Walter FitzGerald and Alan Arnold.

Her children extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Maple Ridge Memory Care for the care they provided throughout her stay.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, 4 to 7 p.m., at Minor’s Funeral Home in Milton, Vt. A church service will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, 10 a.m., at United Church of Milton, Main St., Milton, Vt. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jane’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Rita Silverman

JULY 19, 1927-APRIL 2, 2023 SHELBURNE, VT.

Rita H. Silverman, born on July 19, 1927, left this world on April 2, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. After a long life filled with intellectual curiosity, successful careers and travel, her final days were spent with her children and grandchildren, who eased her passage with stories, songs, tears and laughter.

In addition to being a wonderful mother and grandmother, she was an advocate for learning — a pioneer and role model at a time when women had more limited choices. As a professor of English literature at Greater Hartford Community College in Hartford, Conn., she enthusiastically empowered a diverse population of first-generation college students. She had the gift to bridge Shakespeare, Greek tragedies and contemporary theater with the lives of her inner-city students. Her talent was recognized when she was invited to be a Yale University Visiting Faculty Fellow in 1981-82.

After retiring from the Greater Hartford Community College, she moved to Manchester, Vt. In 1996 she created the Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning, which vibrantly still offers lectures, workshops and discussions to the greater Manchester community. As an avid reader, there was always a well-worn book by her bed: Shakespeare, Nietzsche or an autobiography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She authored Suffrage Is the Badge of All Our Tribe, a

IN MEMORIAM

Helen Morse

1929-2023

Helen Morse’s family and friends are invited to join us in a celebration of her life, to take place in our backyard in Essex Junction on May 20. Please contact me at janmorse@comcast.net for additional information.

book focusing on Shylock from The Merchant of Venice Rita was an unconventional, snazzy dresser whose outfits brought surprise and joy to her family as she hosted events in Vermont or marched her way through New York’s Central Park. Rita was born and lived in Hartford, Conn., before moving to Vermont, New York City and back to Vermont.

She leaves her son, Jonathan Silverman of Charlotte, Vt.; daughter, Yehudit Silverman of Montréal; daughter-in-law, Martha Ming Whitfield; sonin-law, John Hoffer; grandchildren Amira Silverman, Rayona Silverman, Joshua Hoffer and his wife, Vicky Bass, and Rebecca Hoffer and her fiancé, Tim LeMoine; great-grandchildren Daniel Arthur LeMoin and Taylor LeMoine; and brother-in-law, Hillel Silverman.

If you wish to make a donation, please consider either the Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning in Manchester, Vt., or Bayada Hospice in South Burlington, Vt. Rita now joins her husband, Arthur Silverman, to whom she was married for 74 wonderful years.

BY KEVIN MCCALLUM • KEVIN@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Electric Avenues

Ken Kennedy stood in the driveway of his vacation home on a hillside in Shaftsbury, dodging questions about the solar development planned for his sprawling property. It was a frigid afternoon in February, a few hours before the start of a public hearing on the muchdisputed power project, and the retired Connecticut finance manager wasn’t in a talkative mood.

He declined to discuss his deal with the developer, Freepoint Solar, which has a contract to buy his 191-acre property and plans to build one of the largest solar arrays in Vermont: 50,000 photovoltaic panels covering an area equivalent to about 65 football fields. Nor would he share his thoughts about what impact the array might have on the natural environment or whether the proposal had harmed relations with his neighbors.

The answer to that final question, however, soon became apparent.

Two owners of nearby properties, Kit Ausschnitt and Jesse McDougall, strolled into sight on Holy Smoke Road, a narrow country lane named for its stunning views of rolling hills north of Bennington.

The pair, both vocal opponents of the 20-megawatt project, were giving a news photographer a tour of the area.

As the men passed the gated driveway, Kennedy shouted toward them. “Hey, Kit! Use your head and shut your mouth!”

Kennedy strode forward as if to confront Ausschnitt, a retired engineer and his nearest neighbor. Then he saw the phone in McDougall’s hand and demanded the man put the device away.

McDougall, a stocky sheep farmer with a bushy beard, looked up and calmly asked Kennedy if he planned to take it from him. Kennedy backed down and retreated up his driveway while his neighbors regrouped in front of Ausschnitt’s home across the way.

The men said they were stunned by the confrontation and saw it as further evidence of the passions that the proposed project was generating in the community.

“I don’t want to see this become a torches-and-pitchforks kind of battle in town, but people are furious,” McDougall said.

The exchange underscored the tensions that renewable energy projects generate in rural Vermont, disputes that

may become more common as the state tries to accelerate its transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, in-state energy sources. Small towns are torn between embracing fields of solar panels as a tool to fight climate change or rejecting them as a blight on the landscape.

To meet its climate goals, the state is

encouraging more people to heat their homes and power their vehicles with clean electricity instead of dirty fossil fuels. That transition is expected to cause the demand for electricity to surge in coming decades. Usage could double — from about 5,500 gigawatt hours today to nearly 11,000 gigawatt hours by 2040 — as

Vermont needs more green power, but locals resist large projects. Where should our energy come from?

Jesse McDougall (left) and Kit Ausschnitt in Shaftsbury

tens of thousands of new electric vehicles hit the roads and electric heat pumps replace fossil fuel furnaces, according to an analysis conducted for the Vermont Climate Council.

Where will all that new electricity come from? Should Vermont, which already imports about two-thirds of its energy, rely on hydroelectric dams in Québec, future wind farms off the New England coast and whatever other sources are powering the regional grid?

Gov. Phil Scott thinks so. Scott, who has opposed industrial-scale wind towers on Vermont’s ridgelines, said he expects that much of the state’s additional power needs will be met through imports, including more Canadian hydropower that would be carried south from Québec through a proposed transmission line under Lake Champlain. The 1,000-megawatt line, known as TDI New England or the New England Clean Power Link, was proposed in 2013 and received all its permits but has not found a market for the power it would carry. Scott has said New England governors recently expressed renewed interest in the line. “We’ll be looking more to the north of us,” Scott said when asked about meeting the state’s growing power needs.

Or should Vermont generate that additional power within its borders, by encouraging the development of more solar, wind and other renewable energy sources? Clean energy advocates contend that Vermont has lost ground as a green energy leader and become an environmental laggard, with climate goals that fall well behind those of surrounding states and a regulatory landscape that makes building wind, solar and hydro installations an uphill battle with an uncertain outcome.

“It’s time that Vermont steps up and does our part in supporting new clean electricity here in New England and here in Vermont,” James Moore, founder and copresident of solar developer SunCommon, said during a rally on the Statehouse steps last month.

State lawmakers are under pressure to pass a raft of climate-friendly legislation this session, including a clean heat standard that would create incentives for fossil fuel heating suppliers to reduce emissions, as well as a bill to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050.

But few debates in the Statehouse are as complex, consequential or politically charged as the one over whether Vermont needs fundamental reform of its renewable energy programs and policies.

Clean energy advocates such as Moore are pushing H.320, a bill that would set more challenging renewable energy goals. It would double the amount of clean,

in-state energy Vermont utilities would be required to purchase by 2030 — and triple the requirement by 2035. Lawmakers say they will take up a version of the bill soon but expect debate of the complex issue to spill over to next year.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, meantime, began working on its own bill last week to update renewable energy requirements.

Lawmakers have been stuck for years between advocates who push for more in-state renewable energy generation and utilities that don’t want to pay more than the going rate for wholesale electricity from the grid, said Sen. Chris

Bray (D-Addison), who chairs Natural Resources. He’s calling for an independent analysis of the costs and benefits of more in-state electricity before the start of the next session to help lawmakers get “unstuck,” he said.

A more aggressive renewable energy policy could have wide-ranging implications for the state’s economy, job market, natural landscape and reputation for environmental leadership.

If Vermont continues to look elsewhere for the bulk of its power while blocking or slow-rolling renewable energy projects in its own backyard, Vermonters need to give up the pretense of being

so environmentally virtuous, said Peter Sterling, president of Renewable Energy Vermont.

“We can say no to these projects,” Sterling said, “but then we should call ourselves what we are — big fucking hypocrites.”

Solar Disputes Flare

The spat between Kennedy and his neighbors Ausschnitt and McDougall was only a prelude to the disagreements that night, when more than 100 people turned out at the local elementary school gymnasium to lambaste the proposed solar array from every angle. It was an impressive turnout for the hilly community of 3,600 north of Bennington — and emblematic of the passionate opposition that has arisen in other towns, including Bennington, Manchester and Rutland Town, when major solar installations have been proposed.

One by one, attendees stepped up to the microphone. Speakers decried the potential loss of farmland. They fretted about the impact of new roads and fences on wildlife. They wondered about water runoff and the herbicides that would be used to kill weeds.

Opponents cast doubt on the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in northern climates, questioned whether the panels could ever be recycled and predicted the country road couldn’t handle the truck traffic during construction.

They warned of the end of the “Holy Smoke” vista, plunging property values and a threat to rural living.

“It’s an old lesson we never seem to learn,” Ausschnitt, who moved to the state from Maine in 2021, declared. “You can’t save the environment by destroying it.”

In fact, the Town of Shaftsbury has no authority over whether the big solar array gets built. Residents can only provide input to the state Public Utility Commission, which will make the decision. On Town Meeting Day, opponents won a small victory when residents approved a nonbinding resolution that calls on the town to intervene in the case, which would enable it to submit arguments and evidence to the commission. The selectboard will decide whether to do so once the project is in final form, according to board chair Art Whitman. The developer is planning a public outreach event in May, he said.

Many residents attacked the project even as they professed strong support for solar power. “I’m deeply concerned about the environmental impact of something of this scale,” Lisa Pezzulich, a local

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Should we sacrifice our best ag land for renewable energy? I don’t think so.

SETH GARDNER

Sheep grazing at a solar array in Berlin

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psychologist, said after noting that she has solar panels in her own backyard.

Ausschnitt is in a similarly awkward position of professing support for solar power even as he rails against one particular solar project. One of the first things the retired engineer did in 2021 after purchasing his 6,100-square-foot home was have solar installed. About two dozen photovoltaic panels cover the west-facing roof of his barn-style garage, complete with cupola.

Ausschnitt sees no inconsistency between his investment in solar and his opposition to solar panels that could sprout on fields across the road. A rooftop system such as his is appropriate because it’s on a developed site, he said. Commercial buildings, parking lots and abandoned quarries are all examples of developed areas where solar makes sense, he said.

But allowing solar to blanket the state’s hillsides is just foolish, Ausschnitt argued. “The main attraction of Vermont is its appearance. That’s all it’s got going for it,” he said.

McDougall’s property is farther from the proposed project, but he is no less disturbed by it. He argues that farmland can effectively combat climate change, and its capacity to do so needs to be protected and enhanced.

Pastures such as the ones a mile up the road from the project, where his 250 sheep graze, help sequester carbon in the soil, providing vital ecological benefits, he said. While he knows Kennedy is “just trying to get top dollar for his asset,” McDougall said he’s worried that large-scale solar development will put additional pressure on the state’s already struggling farms.

“If this is a sign of what’s to come, it might be the death knell for Vermont farms,” he said.

Like many Vermont farmers, McDougall has had to diversify his income to make ends meet. He rents out two homes on his family’s property to tourists and worries that the project — a small part of which would be visible on the hill across the valley — wouldn’t fit the area’s agrarian character. Parts of the solar array would be more visible to a handful of other neighbors, as well as traffic on Route 7.

“People come to the farm to see a biologically regenerative ecosystem, not an industrial power plant and substation,” McDougall said.

He’s called for a statewide moratorium on solar projects over five megawatts until new rules for siting solar can be established.

Annette Smith, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, supports the opponents. Her organization was instrumental in getting strict

new rules on wind development. Smith, who lives off-grid in Danby, argues for the adoption of more aggressive conservation and energy-efficiency measures instead of — or in conjunction with — the transition to thoughtful, clean electricity sources.

Renewable energy development in Vermont is “ass-backwards,” she contends, because it is driven by developers trying to make money instead of communities and utilities with incentives to find the most effective way to clean up the grid.

and a project of this size has great potential to help curb those emissions, said Bill Christian, a resident of North Bennington.

“I support this project because it will stop the burning of 270 million cubic feet of natural gas every year,” Christian said.

The power would likely be purchased by an out-of-state utility that needs to improve its clean energy portfolio. That’s what happened with the power from the last project of this size, the 20-megawatt Coolidge Solar project in Ludlow and

Freepoint officials told Shaftsbury neighbors the project would have little negative impact on its surroundings and that it could be altered in light of their feedback. The proposed array would provide inexpensive power to the New England grid that would help displace electricity from older, fossil fuel-fired power plants. The company has yet to contract with specific utilities, however, and is open to selling the energy to Vermont companies such as Green Mountain Power, said Reed Wills, chief operating officer for SunEast Development, which is managing the project for Freepoint Solar.

Some Shaftsbury residents took issue with the prospect of the power being sold to other states. What’s the benefit to Shaftsbury, they asked, of hosting the array? (The project would generate an estimated $100,000 in taxes for the town.)

“This old-school build, build, build needs to stop,” Smith said. “We need to be more strategic, because what we are doing is stupid.”

Bitter disputes over solar have erupted in other towns, including Bennington, where developer and attorney Thomas Melone’s lawsuits failed to overcome local and regulatory opposition to projects totaling four megawatts, and Manchester, where regulators rejected a 500-kilowatt proposal after agreeing that residents might find views of the project “offensive.”

In Shaftsbury, despite the onslaught of opposition, project supporters urged their neighbors to look beyond the local impacts to the broader benefits of renewable energy. Reducing carbon emissions in the regional electricity sector is crucial,

Cavendish. The solar array, approved in 2017 and owned by Florida-based energy company NextEra Energy, sells the electricity to Connecticut. The project drew significant opposition because of its size, but the Public Service Board concluded that its positive economic impact and its cheap, clean power made it worthwhile.

Freepoint Solar, the renewable energy arm of the Stamford, Conn.-based global trading firm Freepoint Commodities, has plans in other Vermont communities, too. It is proposing a 20-megawatt project in Fair Haven and a 50-megawatt array in Panton. Those proposals, still in early development and in rural areas, have so far not drawn large-scale protests.

“There’s been no outrage at all,” Fair Haven Town Manager Joe Gunter said.

“There is plenty of land in Connecticut,” resident PJ DeVito said. “This is our home. Don’t let another state use us for their own gain!”

Doing Its Part?

Just what is Vermont’s responsibility to develop more renewable energy sources?

To consider that question, it’s necessary to understand where the state gets power now — and how it relies on an interconnected, complex regional grid.

About two-thirds of Vermont’s power is imported, from sources such as hydroelectric dams in Québec and a nuclear power plant in New Hampshire. The remaining third is generated in-state, including from 17,000 solar installations — mostly on residential rooftops — a handful of large

I don’t want to see this become a torches-and-pitchforks kind of battle in town, but people are furious.

JESSE MCDOUGALL

Shaftsbury residents lining up to speak about a solar project

Vermont’s Projected Electricity Demand

wind farms, two biomass power plants and dozens of hydroelectric dams.

The state became more dependent on imported electricity after the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station shut down in 2014. Still, by one measure, 64 percent of Vermont’s power is renewable.

How much and what kind of power the state imports changes dramatically by the season, and that variability needs to be taken into account in any discussion about integrating more renewables, TJ Poor, director of the Department of Public Services’s Efficiency & Energy Resources Division, explained.

Consider a sunny, windy day in May. People have turned off their heat and aren’t using air conditioning. Solar panels soak up the sun’s rays for more hours than in winter, and rivers swollen by spring runoff enable hydro projects to crank at full capacity. On days such as these, much of the electricity Vermont consumes is generated in-state.

In the dead of winter, however, furnaces and heat pumps blast while solar panels under gray skies on shorter days generate far less electricity. Vermonters stay warm thanks largely to power from

Vermont’s Power Sources

Hydro-Québec, as well as nuclear and fossil fuel plants in other New England states.

This seasonal variability is important in determining what kind of and how much additional renewable energy the state should encourage, Poor said. The Department of Public Service has undertaken a series of webinars to help people better understand renewables, incentives and how the grid works. Poor said he hopes the effort lays a foundation for a thoughtful public dialogue that would result in proposed reforms to state energy policies next legislative session.

“Do we need more solar, really?” Poor asked.

Absolutely, and more wind, too, said David Blittersdorf, owner of Willistonbased AllEarth Renewables.

“If we’re going to double our electric supply, we have to build a hell of a lot more renewables,” Blittersdorf said.

But the prospect of additional wind power in Vermont is effectively dead. No industrial-scale wind turbines have been built since the outcry that occurred before existing projects — including

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Kingdom Community Wind in Lowell, Deerfield Wind in Readsboro and Searsburg, and the smaller Georgia Mountain Community Wind in Milton and Georgia — were permitted more than a decade ago. Blittersdorf, who developed and later sold the Georgia Mountain project, said current restrictions on wind developments, including noise limits, are onerous and need to be reformed because wind, which blows at night, complements solar.

With the move away from wind power, renewable energy companies have focused on solar in Vermont, but even there, the pace of development has slowed. A peak of 81 megawatts of new solar was installed in the state in 2016. In 2022, the total was 32 megawatts, according to the Department of Public Service.

That’s largely due to limits on which sites qualify for state incentive payments and reductions in the price paid for the power, Poor said. Solar developers say it’s also because there’s an ever-growing list of places that are effectively off-limits to solar development.

“If your criteria is, ‘You can’t see it, it can’t be on ag land, and you can’t cut down trees,’ that’s everything,” Thomas Hand of the Manchester Center-based MHG Solar said. “There is nothing left.”

Still, the state remains on track to meet its goal for 75 percent renewable energy consumption by 2032, with 10 percent of that from renewables in Vermont.

Now, advocates argue that the goal, set in 2015 with the passage of the Renewable Energy Standard, is outdated and too modest. A report last month from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says only “deep, rapid, and sustained reductions” in fossil fuel emissions this decade can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as called for in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Vermont’s 2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan recommends “adjustments” to the state’s renewable energy policies following public hearings.

Renewable Energy Vermont says the state’s goal for new renewable energy is the weakest in the Northeast. Rhode Island, which expects to benefit from new offshore wind farms, calls for getting 98 percent of its energy from new renewable sources by 2035. Maine is shooting for 50 percent, Massachusetts and Connecticut 40 percent, and New Hampshire 15 percent, according to the trade group.

In Vermont, renewable energy projects under five megawatts developed since 2015 count toward the goal of 10 percent of the state’s renewable power coming from inside the state. The state relies heavily on older renewables when calculating how much of its overall portfolio is clean — another issue advocates say needs reform.

Farm to Cables

Policy decisions about solar have direct impacts on people such as Jennifer Lambert and her husband, Jesse, who run a small dairy. They’re facing soaring feed costs that threaten the viability of their operation, so they lease as much land as they can to grow hay for their hungry herd of 140 Holsteins.

But they’ve struggled to find enough acreage close to their farm, on an isolated dirt road between Graniteville and Washington. They’ve consequently had to go to considerable effort and expense to farm land more than 12 miles away.

So when a 40-acre field on nearby Lowery Road in Barre Town came on the market, Lambert inquired about leasing or buying it. But the owner is working with a solar developer with plans for a fivemegawatt array on the land.

They want Vermont utilities to rely less on old renewable energy sources — defined as pre-2010 in H.320 — to meet more aggressive renewability goals. The bill would require utilities to get 100 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2030, but 60 percent of that would have to come from new renewable sources by 2035.

Utilities could still purchase cheap power from decades-old Hydro-Québec dams, but there would be a limit on how much that power could count toward the renewability requirements of a new energy standard.

The changes are meant to better align Vermont’s energy policies with those of surrounding states, prevent the state from resting on its laurels and force utilities to invest more heavily in new renewables, Moore said.

“I think everybody is recognizing there is a problem here,” Moore said. “Vermont is not doing its share, and that needs to change.”

June Tierney chafed at the critique that Vermont isn’t developing enough renewable energy sources. The commissioner of the Department of Public Service, which advocates for ratepayers before the Public Utility Commission, noted that the vast majority of solar projects are granted permits by the commission.

The pace of solar development in the state “reflects the balance we have struck

both as a society and as a government,” she said. That rate, she said, given the state’s ready access to hydro and reliance on the regional power grid, is “appropriate for the transition we are making.”

“Vermont is not going to reach its renewable energy goals on the backs of in-state generation alone,” she said.

The existing 10 percent in-state requirement will result in more local renewables being developed as electricity use increases, Poor said. But it’s worth asking whether solar, given its intermittency, is the best source to meet the state’s future power needs, he added — solar alone isn’t going to run all those tens of thousands of electric heat pumps envisioned to keep Vermonters warm on dark winter nights. It’s also vital that the state keep rates for consumers as low as possible to make switching to EVs and heat pumps economical, he said.

When Louis Porter, general manager of the Washington Electric Cooperative, hears the drumbeat for more renewables, he worries about rates. Utilities such as his that get much of their power from older renewable sources — such as local hydro and landfill gas from Coventry — would have to develop or purchase new renewable power at great expense, he said.

The rate hikes that would result would be counterproductive because they would impede the transition to using electricity for heating and transportation, he noted.

“Of course, energy developers, like all businesses, would like a government mandate that requires purchase of their products,” Porter said. “But when those projects are replacing electricity, which is already renewable and low-carbon, it is not only self-serving but indefensible.”

The amount of money solar developers are dangling in front of rural property owners far exceeds what they can get from leasing or selling it to farmers, Lambert said. She said they typically pay $50 an acre per year.

“We can’t compete with what this solar company has offered him,” she said.

Lambert is no stranger to the solar industry. She has a 150-kilowatt system on her heifer barn meant to offset the farm’s milking machines and other power needs. She and her husband also owned a field behind the Booth Bros. milk plant in Barre that they leased to a solar developer, diversifying their income for a time, she said.

While she sees the value solar can provide to farmers in certain circumstances, she worries that the industry’s growth will come at the expense of farmers.

Seth Gardner, owner of McKnight Farm in East Montpelier, agrees that solar power represents a conundrum for many farmers. He installed a 100-kilowatt system on his organic dairy a decade ago. Then-governor Peter Shumlin even visited the farm to promote such projects.

But Gardner hates to see solar becoming yet another source of competition for agricultural land, even if struggling farmers might benefit from the extra income. Such projects only make sense on marginal land, he said. His array, for example, is on a buffer zone required for his organic certification.

“Should we sacrifice our best ag land for renewable energy? I don’t think so. I don’t like the thought of that,” he said.

So many small farms are failing, however, that repurposing some of those fields for solar makes a lot of sense, according to Earl Morrison, plant manager at Morrison Custom Feeds in Barnet. For years, larger dairies have been acquiring

Vermont is not doing its share, and that needs to change.

JAMES MOORE

James Moore, founder and copresident of solar developer SunCommon

KEVIN MCCALLUM

cows from smaller ones that are leaving the business, and they often can’t make use of their smaller fields, leaving them fallow.

“There’s going to be a lot of vacant land and 10- and 20-acre fields that aren’t going to have any use as agriculture,” Morrison said.

He doesn’t see any problem with such properties hosting solar. His family was able to put a 500-kilowatt array on a former hayfield to reduce costs at their feed mill on the Connecticut River. The project by Norwich Solar helps defray what had been a $10,000 monthly power bill, he said.

While he recognizes the value of solar and wishes the state made it less onerous to develop, Morrison admits he’s conflicted about the “ugly” large-scale solar projects he sees in Maine becoming

objections to large solar projects in Vermont, Sterling said. But he views the conflict as overblown and the alleged loss of ag land a red herring. For one thing, the land isn’t being “lost” for agriculture, because the panels, posts and wiring can be removed and the land can be tilled in the future, he said.

In addition, even if the in-state goals were upped as proposed to 20 percent by 2030, Renewable Energy Vermont estimates the goal could be met using just 2,300 acres of land. In a state with an estimated 1 million acres of agricultural land, that represents just three-tenths of 1 percent.

“Is finding places to get hay the thing really hurting dairy farmers?” Sterling said. “They have 110 other problems.”

Jim Merriam, Norwich Solar’s chief executive officer, said concern about

more common in Vermont. “It’s a tough topic, for sure. There’s a lot of emotion around it,” he said.

But agriculture and solar don’t have to be an either-or proposition, said Chad Farrell, chief executive officer of Burlington-based Encore Renewable Energy. A growing body of evidence shows farming and solar can coexist, he said. “Agrovoltaics” — using land around solar panels for raising shade-loving crops, grazing sheep or growing pollinator-friendly ground cover — is becoming increasingly important as pressure on farmland mounts, Farrell said.

“It’s not energy or food,” Farrell said. “It’s energy and food.”

Those who claim solar should just stick to already developed properties, such as rooftops or parking lots, need to realize that those projects often don’t pencil out.

After aesthetics concerns, the impact on agriculture is one of the most common

farmland is really a symptom of a deeper issue — a disconnect Vermonters have between the power they use and where it is generated.

Vermont, which produces the least power of any state in the nation, has gotten used to not seeing where its power comes from, Merriam said. Now people are starting to see “a tiny fraction of our electricity being produced,” he said.

The fights over such projects are becoming more divisive in part because of the erosion of public discourse and trust in government nationally, Merriam said. But it’s also due to the unfortunate lack of political consensus about how to move forward.

“Instead of having this conversation at the state level and leadership to guide us through these priorities, we’re just pitting neighbor against neighbor,” he said, “and it’s not healthy.”

Washington dairy farmer Jennifer Lambert

KEVIN MCCALLUM

Drawing Interest

Walden becomes Vermont’s new cartoonist laureate

BY SALLY POLLAK • sally@sevendaysvt.com

It’s not wrong that Tillie Walden’s accountant listed her occupation as “author” on her tax return. After all, Walden will publish her 11th book this year. But it’s not quite right, either. Walden is a cartoonist, a profession that perhaps confounded the tax pro.

“I think he was like, Cartoonist. What the hell is that?” Walden said last week in her Norwich studio.

The answer should reveal itself, at least in part, on Thursday, April 13, when Walden will become the fifth cartoonist laureate of Vermont at a Statehouse ceremony. She plans to say a few words at the occasion and expects to meet Gov. Phil Scott. Recognition by the state is gratifying, Walden said, and beyond anything she ever imagined.

“I was just wrapped up in getting my work done day-to-day,” she said. “I never think about things happening outside this room. I was perfectly content to be in Vermont and make my books. This is cool.”

Vermont is the only state that regularly appoints a cartoonist laureate; it has named one since 2011. The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction collaborates with the Vermont Arts Council to select the cartoonist. CCS cofounder James Sturm said the position “brings attention to this medium by highlighting the work of a great practitioner of the art — people whose work is very unique and singular ... They’re practicing this art form at the top of their game.”

Walden, he said, “checks all the boxes.”

“First and foremost, there’s her excellence as a cartoonist,” Sturm said. “She’s created an astounding body of work.”

James Kochalka, Vermont’s first cartoonist laureate, agreed, calling Walden’s artwork “marvelous.”

“She’s got amazingly expressive, delicate and nuanced lines,” he said. “It’s just beautiful cartooning.”

Sturm described the cartoonist laureate position as “DIY.” The holder has no formal role during their three-year term but can do what they choose — and as much or as little of it as they like — to showcase the art form and bring comics to the people.

Prior to her official appointment, 26-year-old Walden already has engagements lined up for the spring, including at a senior center and a queer book club. The CCS faculty member is pleased that her new position will allow her “to reach corners of the state that I couldn’t reach on my own,” Walden said.

“I want to make people feel excited about art in Vermont,” she continued. “I’m so happy to talk about comics.”

Walden, who’s a lesbian, intends to reach LGBTQ audiences in her role as cartoonist laureate.

“I consider everything I make to be queer,” she said. “It’s in the bones — it’s in the infrastructure — of everything I do.”

Walden moved to Vermont at 18, the day after graduating from high school in Austin, Texas, to attend CCS. She drove to White River Junction with her father in a used Subaru. He flew home to Texas, and she moved into an attic apartment.

She went grocery shopping at a food co-op, not knowing what a co-op was. (Now

she and her wife, fellow cartoonist Emma Hunsinger, are members of the local co-op and regulars at Dan & Whit’s general store in Norwich.) She got a job cleaning rooms at Hotel Coolidge in White River Junction. She drew. She started cartoon school at the end of summer. She drew some more.

“Honestly, it was the best time of my life,” Walden said. “I totally flourished, and I fell in love with Vermont. My world so became my own. It wasn’t hard to find a focus.”

In her second year at CCS, Walden started work on what would become her graphic memoir, Spinning, published when she was 21. The story centers on her childhood and teenage years as a competitive figure skater. The book — characterized by keen observation and filled with moving visual detail — has a lyricism that can be achieved by only the very best artists.

Rendered in deep purple and yellow, Spinning is a poignant and introspective exploration of growing up, coming out and trying to find one’s place in the world. The cover drawing shows six young skaters lined up in their little outfits: Five of the skaters are looking in one direction; Walden is looking the other way.

Published in 2017, Spinning earned Walden the first of her two Eisner Awards, this one for Best Reality-Based Work. The prize is considered perhaps the most prestigious in comic art.

I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL EXCITED ABOUT ART IN VERMONT.

TILLIE WALDEN

“My art was a lot simpler back then,” Walden said. “It had a lot of rawness.”

Her more recent books include the first volume of the Clementine series, set in the apocalyptic world of “The Walking Dead” and representing a departure for Walden in content and style. The story takes place in Vermont, where a grim and brutal tale of death and despair plays out against the aching beauty of the snowy landscape. Walden’s comic gives new meaning to the name “Killington.” (“I couldn’t resist,” she said.) Yet she leaves her readers moved by friendship and touched by the hopefulness of youth.

As an artist who makes “sensitive, introspective, gay stuff,” Walden said, “I never would’ve thought in a million years that I would make a mainstream comic for ‘The Walking Dead.’” The three-book deal offers Walden stability, she said, and gets her out of her comfort zone by working in a different genre.

“It’s a narrative that goes over multiple

Tillie

Tillie Walden

books,” Walden said. “It’s very challenging, very daunting.”

She’s finished the second volume of the Clementine trilogy, in which her characters head north from Vermont, and will start the third this month. At this point, all Walden knows about the story is who will die and what the final image is.

“You throw yourself in,” Walden said. “I just start sketching characters and writing things around them in a very haphazard process.”

At the same time, she’s beginning work on her second collaboration with Canadian indie rockers Tegan and Sara. Their first book together, Junior High, will be released next month. The twin sister musicians write the books, and Walden illustrates them.

“I get to do the fun part of making it as interesting and engaging as possible,” she said. “It’s so delightful.”

These new projects are taking a little longer than usual for Walden — who said her standard pace is “accelerate” — because she’s pregnant with her first baby. It’s been illuminating, she said, to try to slow down and not push her body.

She has to tell herself, “I’m sorry. You can’t draw for eight hours a day. You’re gonna have to lay down and eat Cheetos,” she said.

Last spring, Walden and Hunsinger published a children’s picture book that they wrote and illustrated together, My Parents Won’t Stop Talking! It’s about a trip to the park that gets held up by parents who stop to chat with the neighbors. The story was inspired by Hunsinger’s trips to church as a little kid, Walden said. Hunsinger wanted to leave and get home for lunch, but her parents kept talking to fellow parishioners.

Asked if the book will serve as a cautionary tale for parenthood — compelling Walden to go straight to the park without chitchat — the cartoonist issued an apology to her future children.

“I will talk to our neighbors forever,” Walden said. “If I see Arnie and Annette and I see Chris and Jill, I’m not going to be able to stop talking to them.”

There’s just so much to discuss on her windy dirt road in Norwich, from the mud to the bear who knocked over the trash can. Besides, there’s no park outside Walden’s door — just the trees beyond her studio window, the ones she drew in Clementine ➆

A ceremony officially installing Tillie Walden as Vermont cartoonist laureate takes place on Thursday, April 13, 1 p.m., at the Vermont Statehouse. Learn more at tilliewalden.com.

Clockwise from left: page from Tillie Walden’s graphic memoir, Spinning; page from Sketchbook 2017-2020; sketch from 2019

From the Top Rope

UVM basketball star turned pro wrestler Ben Crenca gets in the ring

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Four years of playing college basketball at the University of Vermont taught Ben Crenca all sorts of lessons. From 2009 to 2013, the six-foot-nine man helped lead the Catamounts to two appearances in the NCAA tournament and two America East Conference titles. But one part of the experience that Crenca will never forget is the traveling.

SPORTS

“I remember those nights so well,” Crenca said by phone from his home outside Atlanta.

“You’d play at Stony Brook [University], and the bus would get you back to campus around 3 a.m. and you’d be in class by 8. But they prepared me for this life really well.”

The life Crenca referred to is that of a professional wrestler, an occupation he took up in 2019, inspired by his childhood love of the sport. A chance meeting at a Maryland event gave Crenca the push he needed to get in the ring, where he now goes by Ben “Big Trouble” Bishop.

The 33-year-old has thrown himself head-on into wrestling, competing against childhood heroes such as “Diamond” Dallas Page. He’s even appeared on “Young Rock,” Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson’s television show about his own rise to wrestling fame.

Crenca returns to his self-described “second home” on Friday, April 14, when he joins World of Hurt Wrestling for a debut event at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in South Burlington, featuring former World Wrestling Entertainment star Fandango. WOH presents a second event at the Brandon Town Hall on Saturday, April 15. Seven Days caught up with Crenca before the big matches.

SEVEN DAYS: Welcome back to Vermont! Is this how you thought you’d make your return?

BEN CRENCA: [ Laughing ] Defi nitely not! It’ll be my first time back in Burlington in five years — 10 since I graduated, which is just crazy. But I can’t wait to wrestle in front of some of the people who watched me play basketball; I feel very fortunate that it’s a possibility.

SD: I imagine the first thing they’ll wonder is how you went from playing basketball to being a pro wrestler. It’s not exactly a normal transition for an athlete.

BC: You know, it’s funny, but wrestling was always sort of my first love. I remember being a kid, flipping through channels and seeing a World Championship Wrestling event on the TV with Kevin Nash. He was a big guy, six-foot-11, so that spoke to me. And I was immediately just so enamored with guys like Nash and Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, “Diamond” Dallas Page and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen — the story, the athleticism, how awesome everyone looked … I was into everything about it.

SD: But you ended up becoming a basketball player instead. Why?

BC: I didn’t know how to become a wrestler. As a kid, I’d go in the backyard and practice moves on a trampoline,

but I didn’t know about wrestling schools or anything like that. They used to be much harder to find, and you really had to learn about that stuff through word of mouth.

So I started playing basketball in 2001 and focused on that and got a scholarship. Even as I was wrapping up

my career at UVM, my coach, Matt O’Brien, said to me, “Why don’t you give this a shot? You love wrestling so much. What’s holding you back?” And at the time, I had so many excuses about injuries and that sort of thing, but

Ben Crenca

really I was just nervous to put myself out there and try it. So I moved down to Maryland to get my master’s degree.

SD: What finally got you to try your luck in the ring?

BC: I went to this independent event in Maryland in 2019, and some of the wrestlers there asked me if I wanted to try it out. One of them, a guy named James Ellsworth who wrestled in the WWE for a few years — he took a liking to me and helped train me. That was almost four years ago. It’s wild, because if I hadn’t gone to that event, I never would have done all this.

SD: Was it a natural transition, going from basketball to wrestling?

BC: Not really. Wrestling is such a unique entity because it’s entertainment and it’s sport. You need to be athletic, obviously, but there’s more to it than that. In basketball, what matters is performing well, scoring points, pulling down boards, doing your task.

The hardest part of wrestling isn’t the physical side. It’s the psychological side. What story are you trying to tell?

Who is the good guy, and who is the bad guy? And how do you get the crowd cheering for the good guy? At the end of the day, that’s pro wrestling: The heel helps the fans cheer for the baby face.

Here’s an example: I was wrestling in Lancaster, Pa. I knew I needed to let the crowd understand I was the villain. It’s as simple as going to give a kid a high five and then pulling your hand away. The kid starts crying, everyone hates me, and, just like that, they know I’m the bad guy.

One thing that basketball prepared me for is playing in front of a hostile crowd. I’m used to getting booed; none of that fazes me. I always feel a sense of calm in front of a crowd.

SD: Coming back to Vermont to perform for the first time since you were a basketball star seems like a good opportunity to take stock of

your new career. How do you feel about being a pro wrestler, and what’s next for you?

BC: A friend of mine gave me some really good advice, which was basically to enjoy the ride. I get so fixated on the next step. Every wrestler’s goal is to get signed by a major company, and sometimes I get so focused on trying to achieve that goal that I don’t stop and appreciate what a cool life this is. My wife reminds me all the time: “You’re doing really fun stuff. This is cool, Ben.” So whatever comes next, I know I’m just going to try and enjoy it as it happens.

SD: Do you ever lace the old shoes up and play basketball?

BC: [ Laughing ] No! I love watching it, man. But I’m so done playing it. It’s crazy — wrestling hasn’t been that bad on my back or my knees, but when I play a pickup game of ball, everything hurts. I can go all day in the ring now, but after a shootaround, I’m exhausted. I’ve got my body trained for this now. I’m 33 and feel the best physically that I’ve ever felt. So I think I picked the right sport. ➆

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

World of Hurt Wrestling, Friday, April 14, 7 p.m., at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in South Burlington. $35-55. Tickets available at sevendaystickets.com. Saturday, April 15, 7 p.m., at Brandon Town Hall. $20-60. Learn more at facebook.com/wohwrestling.

The Brave and the Bold

Champion Comics & Coffee combines two of nerdom’s favorite things

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH • farnsworth@sevendaysvt.com

Comic book heroes are all about second acts. Tony Stark turned away from the life of an arms dealer to don the Iron Man armor and protect the innocent. Stephen Strange was a surgeon before becoming Dr. Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts. Bruce Wayne was a nepo baby before becoming Batman, the scariest orphan/vigilante of all time.

Rory Malone knows a little something about staging an epic second act in life, too. After working as a public defender for 18 years, Malone decided it was time for a radical change. So he and his wife, Rachel Malone, opened Champion Comics & Coffee in Williston, one of the few brick-and-mortar comics shops in Vermont, and took a gamble on turning one of his life’s passions into a new career.

“I got into public defense because I wanted to help people,” Malone, 48, explained as he sat at a table in the Taft Corners shop, surrounded by bookshelves full of graphic novels and monthly comic books. “At some point during the pandemic, I realized that the frustration I was feeling in the job was outweighing the good feelings I would get from helping people.”

Growing up in Juneau, Alaska, Malone was an avid comics collector — until a storage unit fire destroyed the majority of his collection. Still, changing careers was no small matter for Malone, who had been a public defender since graduating from Vermont Law School in 2003. But after he and his wife talked it over, they decided on the comic book-café combination.

“I was skeptical on whether or not a comics shop on its own could make it,” Malone said, noting the dearth of shops in the Green Mountains. “Coffee just seemed like a no-brainer,” he went on. “And the two things will feed into each other: We’ll get people coming in for coffee that will browse for comics, and people who come in for comics and grab a cup of coffee or tea on their way out.”

The 19,000-square-foot shop’s layout nicely illustrates the dovetailing concepts. Entering the shop, posters of heroes, such as the X-Men’s Wolverine, greet visitors, attracting them to shelves stocked with comics, graphic novels, manga and toys. The rich smell of espresso (a Captain Americano, obviously) hits the nose and lures customers to the back of the shop, where the coffee, snack bar and register reside. Cookies and other baked goods await.

The store opened on December 16. “This was — and still is — a giant gamble,” Malone

COMICS

Kids’ comics and graphic novels are also hot items, with some comics, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, selling out every issue.

“I have a good, knowledgable staff, but the truth is, I’m learning how to do this as I go,” Malone said. “But our customers tell me what they want, and that’s helping me zero in on what the shop has to be.”

And what do the customers want? In addition to gaming nights, more tables. The shop currently has six, but after seeing them quickly fill up on weekends — Champion is one of the only locally owned coffee spots open on weekends in Williston — Malone plans to double the number. Along with introducing gaming nights for Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, the shop will celebrate Free Comic Book Day on May 6 with specials and cosplayers.

What really excites Malone are the guests he’s lining up to do in-store signings of their work. The first is Vermont’s new cartoonist laureate, Tillie Walden. (Read more about her on page 34.) The Norwichbased artist, a two-time Eisner Award winner, is set to visit the shop on June 6.

“Tillie represents everything we want in our shop,” Malone said. “She’s a local creator making compelling graphic novels. We hope she’s the first of many creators, both from Vermont and abroad, that we can bring in for folks to meet.”

Malone is learning to navigate retail obstacles, such as dealing with comic book distributors. “I ordered 200 books at one point and got an email back saying 196 of them were on back order,” he lamented. But he’s not letting the tough challenges faze him.

“When things get hard, I remind myself that law school was hard,” he said. “Being a public defender was hard. That fact that opening this store hasn’t always been easy won’t dissuade me.”

Fortunately for Malone, the store has thus far exceeded his expectations. More importantly, Champion is becoming the kind of home for comics lovers he envisioned.

said. “When we first opened, I was so scared that we’d open those doors and no one would come through.”

Fortunately, it’s been quite the opposite. Malone has been amazed at how both the local comics community and Williston at large have taken to Champion. And he’s been

surprised by some requests. When the store first opened, he recalled, he was asked at least four times a day if the shop was going to host gaming nights — particularly Magic: The Gathering tournaments.

“I don’t think I realized just how much appetite for gaming there would be,” he said.

“The people coming in have told me, over and over, how happy they are that there’s a comic shop here,” Malone said. “That makes me really happy, because I feel a responsibility to serve this community.” ➆

INFO

Champion Comics & Coffee, 31 Cottonwood Dr., Suite 106, Williston, 236-8071, stores.comichub.com/ championcomicsandcoffee

Rory Malone

Merchandise at Champion Comics & Coffee

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

Fermenting Revolution

Cabot’s Rhapsody Natural Foods rides a wave of increasing appetite for fermented staples

BY SUZANNE PODHAIZER

In 2018, Elysha and Sjon Welters received an unusual message from a sta er at TV Tokyo, the network that brought us “Pokémon.” It invited the Cabot couple on an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan to share their knowledge of traditional Japanese foods for the cameras.

Originally from the Netherlands, the Welterses founded Rhapsody Natural Foods in 2002. The business is run by the nonprofit Center for Natural Living, which includes Sjon, Elysha and their children.

On their property in Cabot, the Welters family and a crew of seven employees produce an array of Japanese ingredients, most of them fermented — plus tempeh, a steamed and fermented soy product that originated in Indonesia. They make miso; a cultured rice milk called amazake; natto, or fermented whole soybeans with a slippery, stringy texture; and mochi, a molded rice paste that can be used in sweet or savory foods. Rhapsody also sells koji, or rice inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae, which

customers can use to make their own miso or sake.

The pandemic saw an increase in Americans’ willingness to try fermented foods, which scientific research has linked tentatively to better COVID-19 outcomes. Filtering into mainstream news, these findings boosted interest in products such as natto, which had heretofore been a tough sell in the U.S. due to its lubricious texture and an aroma often likened to that of a particularly aromatic cheese. The New York Times headlined a 2020 story “Eat Natto, Live Longer?,” and the #nattochallenge hashtag has more than 6 million views on TikTok.

All this interest is a boon to Rhapsody, which supplies many Vermont co-ops and smaller local stores and ships its products to consumers as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. Natto sales have increased by about 50 percent since the start of the pandemic, Elysha said, with Vermont and online sales

Rhapsody Natural Foods products

Operations manager Daiki Hirano stirring soybeans at Rhapsody Natural Foods

SIDEdishes

Former Half Lounge Owners to Reopen SideBar in Burlington

After a three-year hiatus, the bar beside MR. MIKES PIZZA in Burlington will reopen in late spring. When it does, the former SideBar will be an homage to longtime Queen City hot spot Half Lounge — which, like SideBar, has been closed since March 2020.

Former Half Lounge owners BOUDEE

LUANGRATH and ADRIAN SACKHEIM have teamed up again on what they’re calling the OTHER HALF. Phase one of the bar at 202 Main Street — opening as soon as possible — will consist of drinks and live music. After a renovation to add a kitchen in the bar’s former sound booth, the owners will partner with a local chef to serve a full food menu.

Sackheim, Luangrath and AARON

CHIARAVELOTTI purchased Half Lounge, a tiny night spot on the Church Street Marketplace, in May 2017. Luangrath and Chiaravelotti also owned the

adjoining Main Street businesses. Previously connected by a large barn door, they’re no longer associated: Luangrath sold his shares in Mr. Mikes last fall, and Chiaravelotti sold his shares in SideBar to Sackheim.

Half Lounge regulars will recognize the DJ lineup and staff at the Other Half, the co-owners said. The loungey bar will also offer familiar signature cocktails such as the gummy wormgarnished Zissou and the Velvet Glove, made with blueberry vodka, peach schnapps, lime juice, apple cider and Champagne.

“We’re calling it the Other Half so people can still say, ‘I’m going to the Half,’” Sackheim said. “[Half Lounge] was a Burlington staple, beloved by the community with a loyal following. We just want to keep its spirit alive.”

Jordan Barry

Collaborative Restaurant Space Launches at 51 Main in Middlebury

CROOKED LADLE CATERING and Everything

Nice, a retail store that supports a pay-what-you-can meal program called the GIVING FRIDGE, have partnered to open a restaurant, shop and event venue at 51 MAIN in the heart of Middlebury.

Since the last week of March, married Crooked Ladle co-owners LOREN and JENNIFER URBAN have been offering

dinner Wednesday through Friday nights, with a full bar and local music on Wednesday evenings.

On weekdays, Giving Fridge founder BETHANIE FARRELL presides over a relocated and expanded version of her Everything Nice plant and

Boudee Luangrath (left) and Adrian Sackheim of the Other Half

Fermenting Revolution

especially strong. The company has wholesale distribution through Associated Buyers and Black River Produce and works with a few shops in New England and California, despite the rising cost of shipping.

Montpelier’s Hunger Mountain Co-op has been Rhapsody’s biggest account since the beginning. General manager Kari Bradley called the biz “one of the co-op’s foundational producer partners” and noted that co-op members have been big fans of Rhapsody products for more than two decades.

Benjamin Ragland, perishables buyer at the City Market, Onion River Co-op in Burlington’s South End, is “quite fond” of the Rhapsody miso, which he likes to use as a base for ramen or simply eat by the spoonful “for the probiotics.” The plain organic tempeh is a runaway bestseller, he said.

Living in the Netherlands in their twenties, both of the Welterses worked for a company that imported miso, and they loved to visit Japanese restaurants. “In general, they have a much healthier lifestyle [in Japan] than Western people here, and they

SMALL PLEASURES

Off the Griddle

have a lot of traditional foods that we have forgotten,” Elysha said. “We found out that … we could learn their cooking methods and their lifestyle.”

The couple were drawn to the macrobiotic diet, which is based on Zen Buddhist principles and promotes local, seasonal eating that eschews most animal products with the exception of seafood. “Macrobiotic means ‘big life,’” Elysha said. “It means you have a balanced lifestyle.” Nowadays, she finds the rules against meat, sugar and dairy “a little rigid,” she said, but, she added, “It’s a cleansing diet. It helps get rid of a lot of ballast, a lot of excess.”

Commerce rules were strict in the couple’s home country, Elysha said, so their dream of a home-based business and entrepreneurship drew them to the United States. They emigrated in 1983

Jericho’s Birch Hill English Muffins fill a local void

STORY & PHOTO BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

When Vermont Bread abruptly closed in April 2021, I stuffed my chest freezer with packs of the Brattleboro-based bakery’s English muffins. A year later, rations depleted, I felt the local muffin void. And I wasn’t the only one.

“ ey had become part of our routine,” Eric Hill of Jericho said. “We ate those English muffins at least two or three times a week.”

Hill and his wife, Sarah Marianacci, wanted something better than the standard grocery store brand that touts its “nooks & crannies.” So he purchased English muffin rings — the metal molds that give the muffins their shape — and tried making a batch. e result “looked a mess,” he said. But countless YouTube videos later, he had his own recipe dialed in.

Now, the couple’s Birch Hill English Muffins are my new staple and a serious upgrade, even from my previous favorites. If the grocery store brand’s muffins resemble hockey pucks, Birch Hill’s are closer to the size of curling stones and as light as the whooshing of the brooms that sweep them down the ice. e original features organic flour, Cabot Creamery butter and Monument Farms Dairy milk; the garlic-and-herb variety adds an aromatic combo of rosemary and thyme.

Each muffin is filled with “flavor craters” — Hill’s way of avoiding a trademarked phrase — that capture every drip of melty peanut butter, drizzle of maple syrup or drop of runny egg.

Hill and Marianacci got their home bakery certified and launched their biz — named for the hill behind their 1830s farmhouse — at the Jericho Farmers Market in May 2022. eir investment was minimal: insurance, licensing, a single electric griddle, a small KitchenAid mixer, and a tent and table for their biweekly market setup.

“I’m not a risk taker,” Hill said. “We thought, If this is a

and made their way to Cabot 14 years later, after stops in Arkansas and Massachusetts.

That year they began selling prepared foods in the back of State Street Market in Montpelier, and in 2002 they moved their operation to a highly visible spot on Main Street, next to the Savoy Theater.

At Rhapsody Café, the couple o ered a vegan bu et that included sushi, their famous egg rolls and a salad bar. At the time, they cooked with tempeh from a local company. When that business stopped producing it, they sampled a few other brands.

“We ordered di erent tempehs that we didn’t like, and then we said, ‘I guess we

have to make it now,’” Elysha recalled. “We made it first for ourselves, and then we made more to sell to local stores, and it grew.”

Meanwhile, more cafés and restaurants were opening in Montpelier, and the Welterses saw their market share slipping. “We never really were restaurant people,” Elysha admitted.

flop, then we had a bit of fun.”

ey hoped to sell 30 four-packs at the first market. By the end of the day, they’d sold 62. Almost a year later, Birch Hill has expanded to 13 retailers, including Jericho Center Country Store, Sweet Clover Market in Essex and both locations of Burlington’s City Market, Onion River Co-op. e couple will vend alternating weeks at the Jericho and Burlington farmers markets this summer.

Hill left his corporate job to work full time on the biz, baking three days a week for a total of 450 to 600 four-packs. Marianacci handles the marketing in addition to her day job as consumer and market insights manager at Ben & Jerry’s. Recently, they upgraded from a KitchenAid to a 30-quart spiral mixer, thanks to revenue from members of their 22-week winter CSA.

e home bakery has spread from the kitchen into the couple’s dining room, where six electric griddles fill the dinner table, each fitting a dozen muffins at a time. ( e muffins are cooked entirely on the griddles, not in ovens.)

at setup frequently tripped the old farmhouse’s breaker, so they brought in an electrician to do some rewiring.

Retail outlets carry Birch Hill’s two standard flavors, original and garlic-and-herb, for $6 per four-pack. Special flavors such as the Local, which contains locally grown whole-wheat flour and Vermont maple syrup, are available online as part

of a mix-and-match set of three four-packs ($20) and at the farmers markets ($8 per four-pack).

“I want them to be the English muffin for everybody,” Hill said, “not just people who can afford something nicer.”

I’d say Birch Hill’s sky-high, golden brown, crispy-on-theoutside-and-fluffy-on-the-inside English muffins are a deal at any price. ➆

Small Pleasures is an occasional column that features delicious and distinctive Vermont-made food or drinks that pack a punch. Send us your favorite little bites or sips with big payoff at food@sevendaysvt.com.

INFO

Learn more at birchhillenglishmuffins.com.

WE MADE IT FIRST FOR OURSELVES, AND THEN WE MADE MORE TO SELL TO LOCAL STORES, AND IT GREW. ELYSHA WELTERS

Breakfast sandwich with Birch Hill English Muffins

Roasted chicken and broccoli with Rhapsody miso sauce and micro basil

As they built up their home operation, the couple began adding new products to the mix — first amazake, then miso. Since both of those products require koji as an ingredient, they sold that, too. Although mochi isn’t fermented, Sjon loves eating it, so they bought the equipment to manufacture their own. They currently use organic Lundberg Family Farms rice from California and soybeans from Canada, though they did experiment with growing their own rice for seven years.

Elysha was particularly excited to talk about natto, which she eats every morning as part of her breakfast. She described it as an excellent source of nutrients that are hard to come by in the diet, such as vitamin K2 — “people are really looking for that nowadays,” she said. “Natto is called a superfood. They say it helps bring calcium out of the blood and into the bones and helps prevent clotting.”

As for miso, its probiotics make it great for digestion, Elysha said. Her children and grandchildren, who are less strict about their diets than Elysha and Sjon, always down bowls of miso soup when they return home from traveling. “It makes you balanced, like you’re home. It regulates everything,” she said.

Tempeh has a high level of phytoestrogens, and Elysha, 67, said she can attest that it’s great for regulating women’s hormones. “Because I love tempeh, it’s not hard for me to eat a lot of it,” she said, “and I had no side e ects of menopause.”

Although the couple have been producing traditional Asian foods for decades, they were still surprised by the invitation to appear on an hourlong TV Tokyo special. Before they hopped on a plane, they hosted an entire Japanese TV crew in Cabot.

“They filmed us here, the whole family,” Elysha recalled. The Japanese-language video clip shows giggling American

children eating natto and one accidentally dumping the slippery soybeans on her clothes.

In April 2018, Elysha and Sjon headed to Japan, where they accompanied the film crew and a translator on visits to producers of traditional foods, with a focus on fermented soybeans.

“We went in a van from one place to another, and we visited three places,” Elysha said. “It was a really great experience.”

During an additional two-week stay in Japan, the Welterses visited a miso maker in Kyoto and the Kikkoman Soy Sauce Museum in Noda, where they got to see the huge wooden drums traditionally used for aging the salty sauce. They marveled at the quality of the food they found at gas station stores and casual eateries. “Even the 7-Eleven stores sell soba noodles and rice balls with umeboshi,” Elysha said.

Back in the United States, the couple have no current plans to expand Rhapsody Natural Foods. They’re happy with their company’s steady growth and the increasing interest they see in some of their less familiar items, particularly the natto.

On Amazon, Rhapsody’s two-pound block of tempeh has 43 ratings, while its small-bean natto has 282. One such review reads, “This is amazing. I’ve never been able to stomach natto … I can’t believe I’m looking forward to eating this more.” Another says, “I’ve been eating natto since I was a toddler in Japan and this is … the best tasting I’ve ever had.”

The Welterses heard something similar during their time with TV Tokyo. When the makers they visited tasted Rhapsody’s natto, Elysha recalled, they “thought it was fantastic and that it could have been made in Japan.”

Learn more at rhapsodynaturalfoods.com.

JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Sjon and Elysha Welters, founders of Rhapsody Natural Foods, in a production kitchen in Cabot

Naan Believer

Lunching lavishly at Middlebury’s Taste of India

STORY & PHOTOS BY SOPHIA AFSAR-KESHMIRI

I’m a lover of all things garlic: bread, knots, pickled and powdered. So my mouth watered as a server set a plate of steaming naan covered in finely minced garlic on the table during a recent lunch at the Taste of India in Middlebury. The toastiness of the golden brown, bubbled flatbread balanced the generous portion of allium, rendering the naan just garlicky enough.

The bread was not only delicious but also useful. As the menu states, “An Indian meal without bread is not complete,” and restaurant manager Narender Kaur insisted that my friend and I order some that her husband, chef Gurdip Singh, had baked in a clay tandoor oven. By the end of lunch, we had consumed naan plain, dipped it in sauces, and used it to scoop mouthfuls of rice and curry.

Beyond bread, there’s much for the frugal diner at the Taste of India. A short walk from Middlebury College, where I am a student, the restaurant is one of my go-to spots for an appetizing, affordable meal.

Singh immigrated to the United States in 1998 from Punjab, India, where he learned to cook from family. He began cooking at the Taste of India in 2001, when the restaurant was opened by his cousin, Narinder Pal Singh, and the latter’s wife, Jasbir Kaur (no blood relation to Narender), of South Burlington. Narender followed later from India and joined her husband. Now they run the restaurant’s day-to-day operations.

All the midweek lunch specials fall within our “Dining on a Dime” budget, with a few bucks to spare. Chicken and most vegetable curries cost $9; lamb and shrimp curries, just a dollar more. Dishes come with a heaping pile of basmati rice and a choice of the soup of the day, such as a veggie-filled, spiced lentil broth, or a house salad.

Stick with the lower-price lunch specials, and you can squeeze in a $3.50 four-piece order of garlic, ginger or onion naan. At dinner, if adhering strictly to a budget, you might need to forgo the naan, but the larger portion sizes will compensate — or you could bring a friend and go halfsies on the naan.

Alternatively, if dining with a pal, you could add a pair of vegetable samosas ($4). Roughly the size of a fist, each crisp, golden pyramid holds soft, steamy boiled potatoes and peas. A trio of dipping sauces served in an elegant silvery dish offer sweet, minty and spicy flavors.

A creature of habit, I generally order the chicken tikka masala ($9), starring tender meat in a thin, acidic tomato-and-butter sauce flavored and tinted with turmeric. I opt for a low heat level and often pair it with raita ($4), a soupy yogurt side dish featuring cucumbers, potatoes and mint. The combination reminds me comfortingly of the Iranian recipes my grandmother used to cook with chicken, yogurt, turmeric and rice. Recently I ventured into new territory with the shrimp mango curry lunch special ($10). Sweet chunks of mango and plump shrimp balanced punchy ginger, garlic and onion. The tikka masala has some competition. And from now on, I will always obey the menu’s urging and order bread. ➆

“Dining on a Dime” is a series featuring well-made, filling bites (something substantial enough to qualify as a small meal or better) for around $12 or less. Know of a tasty dish we should feature? Drop us a line: food@sevendaysvt.com.

INFO

The Taste of India, 1 Bakery Lane, Middlebury, 388-4856, tasteofindiavt.com

From top: Chicken tikka masala, garlic naan and samosa; Gurdip Singh and Narender Kaur; chicken tikka masala

SIDEdishes

home décor store. All sales help fund the meal program she started in November 2020 in response to the pandemic spike in need. Since then, the Giving Fridge has distributed 25,000 healthy, restaurant-prepared meals; it was the Addison County hub for the now-ended federally funded Vermont Everyone Eats program.

51 Main will continue to serve as the distribution point for Giving Fridge meals, which are purchased from Crooked Ladle and other area restaurants with donations, grants and Everything Nice revenue.

The Urbans founded Crooked Ladle Catering in 2019 as the food truck and catering arm of Bristol’s BOBCAT CAFÉ & BREWERY before establishing the business independently in 2022. Jennifer said the couple looked all over Addison County for a commercial kitchen before finding the 4,200-square-foot

Middlebury location, which seats 62 in addition to a 60-person event space. 51 Main was most recently the home of Rough Cut, a barbecue spot that closed in 2018.

Loren, Crooked Ladle’s chef, has developed a menu of small plates such as a Japanese barbecue turkey wing with kimchi and coconut-green chile fish croquettes with ginger-soy pickled veggies. Larger dishes include fried quail on a corn bread waffle with bacon-braised collards and truffle mac and cheese.

Jennifer said the couple do not plan to add more days, due to their busy catering schedule, but they hope to facilitate pop-up dinners by other chefs and cooks. For her part, Farrell will hold workshops on cooking, food and agriculture. Learn more at 51mainvt.com.

CONNECT

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

Melissa Pasanen

Japanese barbecue turkey wing

Fish croquettes

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BILLY FARRELL

Bygone Burlington

Bob Blanchard’s new book chronicles the Queen City’s forgotten places

BY JORDAN ADAMS

Burlington is known as a city with historic charm. The iconic Richardson building at Church and Pearl streets, built in 1895, catches the eye with ornate turrets and R-branded balconies. Colorful Victorian homes line South Union and South Winooski avenues. And the University of Vermont boasts dozens of structures dating as far back as the mid-19th century.

culture BOOKS

But like most American towns, especially those in the Northeast and other early-settled areas, Burlington is haunted by architectural ghosts. Through painstaking research and by digging into historic collections and volumes, citizen historian Bob Blanchard catalogs the Queen City’s many forgotten places in his new book, Lost Burlington, Vermont, to be released on Monday, April 17.

“These lost structures were irreplaceable, the products of an era when public buildings were highly ornamental … This loss has greatly altered the look of the downtown area of Burlington,” Blanchard, 72, writes in its introduction.

The book is part of a series published by the History Press, each entry a retrospective of vanished gems in places including Memphis, Tenn., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. There are also categorical entries, such as Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks.

The roots of Blanchard’s book trace back to a popular Facebook group called Burlington Area History, which the retired U.S. Customs Service worker created in September 2019. In the online community, people (Blanchard especially) share pictures, recollections and research of bygone Burlington, focusing particularly on changes to city buildings and infrastructure.

Blanchard, who studied history in college but did not pursue it as a career, initially hoped to attract a few hundred people to the group, but it had garnered over 3,000 followers when Seven Days wrote about it in February 2020. Burlington Area History now has nearly 23,000 members, and more than 12,000 images have been uploaded.

With such a robust online following, why did Blanchard turn the forum into a book?

“I don’t have a lot of faith in the permanence of the internet,” he said in a recent video chat. He also sees the book as a way to present his findings in a polished, accessible way.

“I’ve got all this stu dangling around in my brain,” he continued.

Burlington Area History is a collection of stream-of-consciousness posts, organized chronologically by upload date. While Blanchard’s missives are

A trolley car on Church Street in the early 1900s

e Lakeview Sanitarium

e Burlington waterfront in the late 1800s

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UVM SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND BOB BLANCHARD

often the longest, most detailed and best researched, he’s not the only one posting, which occasionally waters down the content. Lost Burlington, Vermont turns the Facebook group into an ordered and coordinated walk through Burlington’s architectural graveyard.

Blanchard found sources by combing through UVM’s Special Collections Library and, quite extensively, the Internet Archive. Scouring digitized copies of old journals, business-related publications and books on topics such as the history of the American lumber industry helped Blanchard find records of buildings that no longer stand. Some were demolished, and many, like 20 or so mentioned in the book, burned.

“There was a lot of open flame back in the old days,” Blanchard lamented.

After a brief introduction that marks Lake Champlain as the focal point for downtown Burlington, Blanchard homes in on the waterfront district, which sprouted up after the 1823 opening of the Champlain Canal, allowing new trade routes via the Hudson River. Hardly the picturesque attraction it is today, Burlington’s waterfront was an unpleasant mass of factories, mills and train tracks for most of the 19th century and into the 20th. Though an eyesore, the industrial zone was the reason Burlington had so much wealth, which “was pretty extraordinary for a city of Burlington’s size” at the time, Blanchard said. That capital was why the city had so many beautiful buildings.

private estate, the mid-19th-century home was converted into an institution in 1881, only to be torn down nearly 100 years later. Blanchard pointed out that before the 1963 demolition of New York City’s original Pennsylvania Station — and subsequent public backlash to the “act of civic vandalism,” as he calls it in the book’s conclusion — historic preservation wasn’t really a thing. That explains why so many buildings, in Burlington and elsewhere, were allowed to languish and were eventually lost.

A local anecdote:

THESE LOST STRUCTURES WERE IRREPLACEABLE.

In 1964, one year after Penn Station was razed but before the trend of historic preservation caught on around the country, demolition of a stately building that once stood across Pearl Street from the Richardson building — and became the parking lot that still exists there today — was met with “not a whimper of opposition,” Blanchard writes.

“There was barely a mention of it in the local paper,” he said. “There was no mention of what a gorgeous building it was, how historic it was — anything.”

Though the book is kind of a downer, given that it showcases so much loss, Blanchard ends on a more hopeful chapter full of “near misses.” He explains how several prominent buildings, such as Edmunds Middle School and the Fletcher Free Library, were nearly demolished.

The author covers practically every type of structure one could think of, sometimes going as far back as the 18th century. He dives into ritzy properties such as the Overlake, a 56-acre estate and mansion that once stood at the south end of South Prospect Street. Its owner, railroad magnate colonel Legrand B. Cannon, built it as a summer home in 1858. By 1925, the mansion was torn down and the property was broken into housing lots now known as the Overlake Park neighborhood.

Blanchard delves into schools, churches, charitable institutions, hotels and social clubs. There’s even a section about sanitariums, such as the Lakeview Sanitarium, which stood on North Avenue near the still-standing but long-shuttered St. Joseph’s Orphanage. Originally a

The former faced criticism that its “foundation was solid but that the rest … ‘was tired,’” though the plan to raze it quickly fell apart for unspecified reasons. And the latter, built in 1902 on the improperly filled Burlington Ravine (another vestige of the old Burlington), saw structural damage by the 1970s. In 1973, the library was closed and its collection moved to another location. Local citizens rallied to save the Fletcher Free from demolition and had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. After receiving federal funding, the building reopened in 1981.

Though writing the book might seem like a pinnacle, Blanchard plans to keep moderating the Facebook group — and unearthing more local history.

“It’s gotten way beyond anything I’ve ever dreamed of,” he said. ➆

Lost Burlington, Vermont by Bob Blanchard, the History Press. 128 pages. $23.99.

BOB BLANCHARD

This weekend, the combined forces of the Burlington Choral Society and Montpelier’s Onion River Chorus — 100 singers strong — will perform music in solidarity with Ukraine. Richard Riley, the artistic director of both choruses, drew up a program called “Deep in Song: Music From and to Ukraine” that features more than a dozen songs in Ukrainian, two piano solos by a Ukrainian composer to be played by accompanist Claire Black and a choral work in English by a UK composer.

The program’s only other work in English is the premiere of an a cappella piece by Burlington composer Michael Schachter that the two choruses co-commissioned. “At Times I Wonder” sets to music an English translation of a poem by an Iranian poet. Ukrainian soldier Zhenya Perepelitsa recited the poem on the battlefield in a March 1, 2022, video that went viral.

Still flying under the radar in Vermont, Schachter is a composer operating squarely at the center of new music in the U.S. The 35-year-old’s commissions include several for and with Davóne Tines, the renowned Black operatic bass-baritone. Most recently, Schachter co-composed a concerto with Tyshawn Sorey and Caroline Shaw — a MacArthur Fellow and a Pulitzer Prize winner, respectively — that Tines performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl last August.

Schachter and Tines also cocreated The Black Clown, an extraordinary hourlong musical with an all-Black ensemble based on the eponymous Langston Hughes poem about Black American history. Schachter’s “rollicking” score, as Alex Ross of the New Yorker wrote admiringly, encompasses a Harlem revue, spirituals, funk and R&B. The work premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., in 2018 and was presented at the 2019 Mostly Mozart Festival in New York City.

So this local commission is something new for Schachter. The collaboration came about after his wife, Allie, a new soprano with the Burlington Choral Society, introduced her husband to Riley at the end of its fall concert.

The timing was fortuitous: Riley wanted his upcoming Ukraine program to feature a work by a local composer, but he needed it within a month — a “crazy turnaround time,” Riley admitted. Schachter was between commissions and had a month free. Riley discovered the soldier’s recitation and passed along an English translation.

Schachter first came to Vermont when

Voicing Support

Two choruses premiere a new work honoring Ukraine by a Burlington composer with a national profile

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

down-to-earth, and we thought it’d be a lovely place to raise kids,” Schachter said. When a house near the University of Vermont came on the market a year and a half ago, they snagged it.

Schachter grew up in the Boston area in a nonmusical family. In fact, he said, he “betrayed” his father and grandfather by turning from baseball to music in high school. “I was supposed to be the next great Jewish baseball player,” he joked.

He started piano lessons in elementary school, and by age 9, he could play whatever came on the radio and was composing songs. Starting in eighth grade, two piano teachers influenced Schachter: a Russian Soviet émigré who introduced him to classical music and a jazz teacher who taught him improvisation. He listened to George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Igor Stravinsky.

In college, choral singing became a formative experience. Schachter, Allie and Tines all met their first year singing in the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum. The chorus introduced Schachter to pre-baroque music, and he “fell in love with” Renaissance and Franco-Flemish composers such as William Byrd, Josquin des Prez and Johannes Ockeghem. He also took a class in Carnatic music, a tradition of southeast India.

“From the first two seconds of the track [the professor] played for us in class, I was totally in love with it,” Schachter recalled.

After graduation in 2009, he spent a year on fellowship in Chennai, India, as an apprentice learning the veena — a southeast Indian cousin of the sitar. He went on to earn a double PhD in composition and music theory at the University of Michigan, where his composition dissertation was The Black Clown.

CHORAL MUSIC

he and his wife were undergraduates at Harvard University, he told Seven Days Allie regularly visited her father’s house in Grand Isle, where she had spent much of her childhood.

“It was pretty clear I wouldn’t have too much traction with her unless I got on board with the whole Vermont scene,” Schachter recalled.

During the pandemic, the couple lived with their two small children in a tiny, expensive apartment in Cambridge, Mass. Schachter had begun a three-year postdoc with the Harvard Society of Fellows in 2019. The two dreaded the area’s ultracompetitive school scene.

Vermont, meanwhile, seemed to have “a slower pace of life. People are more

The work was conceived years earlier, Tines said during a phone call. In 2010, Tines was singing for the choir of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., before entering the Juilliard School. The job “grew kind of boring,” the singer recalled, “so I wrote [Schachter] an email saying I wanted to sing something uniquely for my voice, that I care about, that’s soulful but also whimsical.”

In a volume of Hughes’ collected poems that Allie had recently gifted Schachter, the composer and singer found both “Clown” and “Pierrot (Heart).” Schachter turned the latter poem into a recital song, his first composition for Tines, in 2011.

“That was the first seed to our much bigger collaboration,” Tines said — one that finally became an American Repertory Theater commission in 2016.

Carlos Simon, a Black composer who

Michael Schachter

wrote a piece for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in 2021, befriended Schachter while the two pursued their doctorates at Michigan.

“He would show me his work, and I’d show him mine,” Simon said. “We leaned on each other in that way. We still do.” Having seen The Black Clown develop, Simon said he was “really amazed at [Schachter’s] handling of such delicate topics in African American history.”

Schachter admitted his composing interests are “a bit eclectic.” He has written choral works to Hebrew texts and Wallace Stevens poems. He composed a cello duet inspired by Johannes Brahms and a work for chorus and quartet — notably, Conspirare and the Miró Quartet — based partly on a letter Ludwig van Beethoven wrote. His violin concerto Cycle of Life, for violinist Tessa Lark and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, was inspired by fiddling and a sculpture installation.

Tines commented of that concerto, “I really loved how [Schachter] could incorporate idiomatic folk playing and expand that into larger orchestral textures. He’s really great at taking common American aesthetics and augmenting them to a grander, richer scale.”

Schachter even wrote a chamber opera as a junior at Harvard, said Aram Demirjian, music director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, who met him in a music theory class. Since attaining his current post in 2017, Demirjian has commissioned two works from Schachter and programmed several more.

“He’s one of the finest young composers of our time,” Demirjian said, noting in particular the “amazing breadth of musical styles in which he’s conversant and even fluent. He can bring them into what he writes in a way that’s organic and not at all imitative, and in a voice that’s undoubtedly his own.”

Schachter’s current projects, if successful, will bring his music to much larger stages. Last September through November, he was in New York City workshopping The Black Clown for Broadway. And he has several projects in development for film and television. One is a limited series about Terezín, aka Theresienstadt, the Czech concentration camp for prisoners bound for Auschwitz where

the Nazis allowed and then exploited an extraordinary level of Jewish musical and cultural production.

“I have some likely family history in the camp, and my wife’s family definitely does,” Schachter said.

Asked if a thread runs through his compositional interests, Schachter noted, “I’m really interested in folk traditions and folk music, very broadly conceived, as a universal communal activity — something that’s not just a cultural privilege or a luxury but fundamental to human identity.”

His approach to “At Times I Wonder” certainly reflects those concerns.

Like the Ukrainian songs on the program, the sixminute-long piece honors the country’s rich a cappella choral tradition.

Riley has directed the Burlington Choral Society in concerts of Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian music, and he was already considering a concert of Ukrainian music when Russia launched its war on the country more than a year ago. Schachter, however, had to do some catch-up.

“I’d known about pre-20th-century klezmer folk traditions but not choral traditions, which come out of the Eastern Orthodox church. It was inspiring to get to know that music,” Schachter said. “At Times I Wonder” incorporates Orthodoxinspired drones and chants — techniques, he said, that are often mistakenly seen as “ancillary” in Western culture, which is dominated by the Germanic tradition.

Schachter wrote the piece specifically for a “giant mass of singers.” His challenge, as he saw it, was to “do something really slow and soft and elegiac and simple but with tremendous power.”

Hearing it in rehearsal “was wonderful,” he said. “I was able to pipe in and give some thoughts in terms of the shape and the mood of the piece. It can be nerveracking, but this was lovely. The singers were game and interested. I feel I’m in very safe hands with Richard.”

INFO

Burlington Choral Society and Onion River Chorus present “Deep in Song: Music From and to Ukraine,” Saturday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., at Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester. $25; free for ages 18 and under.

A New Fleece on Life

Chet and Kate Parsons talk about their final lambing season in Richford

It’s the busiest time of year for Chester and Kathleen Parsons: Lambing season is in full swing. Known to most as Chet and Kate, the couple own the Parsons’ Farm in Richford. They run their small-scale sheep and beef operation mainly by themselves, with limited help from family and farmhands. Now both 77 years old, the Parsons have decided this will be their last summer with animals.

The pair grew up on small Vermont family dairy farms. Kate was raised on a dairy farm in Shoreham; Chet’s family farm was founded in 1919 by his grandfather William Galusha Parsons. After they inherited the Parsons’ Farm, the couple milked cows until 1985, when they sold the herd and got jobs o the farm. They bought their first flock of sheep that same year, when Chet started teaching sheep management as a livestock specialist at the University of Vermont Extension.

After a lifetime of working with cows and sheep, the couple, who recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, are ready to step back and would be willing to sell to the right person.

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger caught up with the Parsons in their barn on a sunny spring day and talked to them about their final lambing season. She watched Kate bottle-feed some lambs and even got to feed one herself.

SEVEN DAYS: How did you hear about the Parsons?

EVA SOLLBERGER: Back in 2009, I made a video about a sheepshearing school at Shelburne Farms. I met Chet Parsons at this event, and he was a memorable character. He was working for UVM Extension and helping teach farmers how to shear their sheep. You can hear him singing an Australian folk song about shearing at the end of the video. When I rewatched it recently, I thought it might be fun to pay him and his flock a visit. I love visiting lambs at this time of year — it’s such a sign of spring. During my visit to the farm, Chet casually mentioned that this was their last year with animals. I was surprised to hear this and asked them a million questions about this huge change in their lives. I don’t think they were prepared to answer all my

questions, as many of the details are still being decided. I am just really glad I got to catch them in action.

SD: e sounds in the video are amazing.

ES: I love the chorus of the sheep’s deep baas and the lambs’ high-pitched bleats, mixed with the cheeps of the sparrows that roost in the barn. The sheep and lambs can recognize each other based on their calls. When I arrived, everyone was very excited and chatty. By the time I left, they were pretty used to me and ready for nap time. It was a beautiful day, and being in the barn felt cozy and safe. It is a complete sensory experience, which you get a slice of in the video.

SD: And a lamb was born right before you arrived!

ES: Yes, a ewe had a female lamb about an hour before I got there. This sheep still had her pu y winter coat because she escaped when Mary Lake, the sheepshearer, was visiting. The newborn was toddling around on her spindly legs, trying to nurse.

Tragically, this lamb was a twin whose sibling died when the mom didn’t remove the sac from its head. To do all that work to keep the pregnant sheep healthy and then to lose a newborn must be very hard.

Chet referenced a humorously dark Seven Days article from 2009, “On the Lamb” by sheep farmer John O’Brien, in which the farmer lists the many ways lambs and sheep can die. Chet said this is pretty true and showed me the twine that held their pens closed. They used to tie it in a loop until a lamb managed to hang itself. Now they cut the loop for safety reasons.

SD: e Parsons work hard!

ES: I could barely keep up with Kate, who was climbing in and out of pens, bottle-feeding the lambs, and deftly dropping hay with a pitchfork. The couple are a great team, and they fed the newborn colostrum and weighed her. When Chet measured out the alfalfa pellets, the sheep went wild. They stood up on their hind legs and started banging the gates. There was a deafening barrage of baas as they demanded their treats. Then Kate and Chet dashed along the pens, dropping in buckets for the salivating sheep. I was laughing out loud — it felt like being at a rock concert with a crowd of head-banging sheep.

SD: e old family photos are wonderful.

ES: Chet and Kate dug up a treasure trove of old photos, which really help tell their story over the years. Vermont’s landscape is tied to its family farms, and that has been changing for some time. Larger farms dominate the market, and smaller farms like the Parsons’ are not always passed down to the younger generations. Chet and Kate have two children — their eldest son, Milton “Mit” Parsons, died in an ATV accident in 2009 at the age of 40 — and neither is able to inherit the farm. But their grandchildren were just up for a visit, and they enjoyed helping out with the newborns. Chet and Kate have worked hard with animals their entire lives, and they have certainly earned some time

Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series, “Stuck in Vermont,” since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other ursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt. com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.

Episode 687: e Parsons’ Farm

Kate and Chet Parsons EVA SOLLBERGER

BOOKS

Vermont Book Award Finalists Announced

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

The Vermont Book Award announced 14 finalists for its 2022 prizes last Friday. Awards in four categories, each of which comes with $1,000, will be presented on Saturday, May 6, in the Alumnx Hall at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier.

Established in 2015 by the Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Award “is a literary prize that honors work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrates the long tradition of literature in the state,” the book award website says.

Most finalists this year are seasoned writers, said book award coordinator Miciah Bay Gault, who revealed their names on Vermont Public’s “Morning Edition.” “So, for instance, Louise Glück is a finalist, who, of course, is a Nobel laureate and has so many revered books of poems out there,” Gault told Seven Days. “The book of hers that’s a finalist is in the fiction category. So that’s exciting.”

Kathryn Davis is a finalist in creative nonfiction. “I think she’s one of the more brilliant writers writing today in the world,” Gault said. “So it’s really exciting to see her book in the mix.”

The prizes are awarded in the spring for work published the prior calendar year. Books by writers who live in Vermont for at least six months of the year are eligible as long as their work is not self-published.

Vermont librarians and independent booksellers along with publishers are allowed to nominate work in four categories: creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and children’s literature. Graphic literature may be entered in any of those categories. In the past couple of years, nominations have also been opened to the public for a short period, Gault said, a practice she hopes to continue. “I think it works well,” she said.

The judging panel, which changes each year, includes Vermont writers, teachers, librarians and “passionate supporters of literature,” according to the award website.

Following a two-year hiatus, the Vermont Department of Libraries and Vermont Humanities joined VCFA to administer the award. In the early years, VCFA honored finalists in each of the four categories but named just one overall winner. “That was an exciting, high-stakes prize,” Gault said, “but it was also close to impossible for the judges.”

The 2021 award named winners in fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry, and children’s literature could be nominated in any of those categories. Now, for the 2022 award, children’s literature is a separate category, and four winners will be named.

The Vermont Book Award “shines a light” on a book, Gault said, and focuses readers’ awareness on work they may have otherwise missed. Poet Kerrin McCadden won the first Vermont Book Award. “And I remember her telling us that she would be recognized, sometimes, on the street after that. People would say, ‘Aren’t you that poet?’ And she said just to be recognized on the street as that poet, you know, is such an amazing feeling.”

Below are the 2022 finalists. ➆ Creative nonfiction

• Nancy Marie Brown for Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland’s Elves Can Save the Earth

• Kathryn Davis for Aurelia, Aurélia: A Memoir

Peter Orner for Still No Word From You: Notes in the Margin Fiction

• Caren Beilin for Revenge of the Scapegoat

• Ann Dávila Cardinal for The Storyteller’s Death

Louise Glück for Marigold and Rose

• Erin Stalcup for Keen

Poetry

• Rage Hezekiah for Yearn

Carol Potter for What Happens Next Is Anyone’s Guess

• Bianca Stone for What Is Otherwise Infinite

Children’s literature

• Margot Harrison for We Made It All Up (young adult)

Jo Knowles for Meant to Be (middle grade)

• Zoë Tilley Poster for The Night Wild (picture book)

• Leda Schubert for Firsts & Lasts: The Changing Seasons (picture book)

Disclosure: Margot Harrison is an associate editor at Seven Days.

SUMMER 2023 COURSES & EVENTS

IN-PERSON

■ Bleu Lavande Lavender Farm Tour

■ Soda Plant Tour

■ Slow Birding with the Bird Diva

■ Exploring Lake Champlain Aboard

UVM’s Hybrid Research Vessel Marcelle

■ Trees, Forests, and Forestry with the Chittenden County Forester

■ Shelburne Farms: The Art and Science of Cheddar Making

■ Shelburne Museum Tour: Built From the Earth: Pueblo Pottery

■ The Lost Mural: An International Treasure in VT

■ Planning a Pollinator Garden

■ Summer Medicinal Herb Walk

■ The Natural Muse: In Among Trees (An outdoor Poetry workshop)

■ The History of Sheep in VT

■ UVM Morgan Horse Farm Tour

■ Cooking Demo: Summertime Sauces, Condiments, and Quick Pickles

■ Labyrinth Walking for Peace and Clarity

■ Historic Walking Tour of UVM

■ Attaining Fluid Motion in Walking: An Intro Feldenkrais Workshop

ONLINE

■ Beginning Yoga

■ New York Historical Society Virtual Tour: Scenes of New York City—The Elie and Sarah Hirschfield Collection

■ Hügelkultur 101: Sustainable Raised Bed Gardening

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

art

Twists and Turns

Patty Hudak’s paintings at Minema call forth Ireland, Asia and Vermont woods

BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

Patty Hudak doesn’t make it easy for viewers; her paintings are enigmas. The seven oil-on-panel works at Minema gallery in Johnson seem, at first glance, to be abstractions. But the content is just familiar enough to provoke the ever-seeking brain: What am I looking at here? Are those roots? Branches?

Some kind of natural networking is implied in this exhibition, titled “Gyring, Spiring.” And Hudak’s forms seem loosely drawn from botany. But viewers might be surprised to learn that her Irish lineage and the poet W.B. Yeats are at play, as well.

Her artist statement explains it. “My artwork delves into the solitude of the natural world, o ering a respite from the chaos of modern society. When I venture into the woods behind my home, the trees, plants, and microbial systems reveal themselves to me as otherworldly patterns of shapes and colors,” Hudak writes. “My paintings are an expression of the emotions that nature evokes within me, akin to the sentiments found in the poetry of W.B. Yeats. As a person of Irish descent, I am drawn to Yeats’ association of nature with spirituality.”

Hudak’s walks in the tumbled woods, where growth and entropy are in constant concurrence, give her a sense of both unity with nature and of something much larger than herself. The shapes and lines that she observes outdoors tend to turn up in her daily practice of drawing first thing in the morning, before the day’s distractions begin.

“The forms that emerge from my drawings are the twisting shapes that Yeats describes as the form of the mind — gyring, spiring, subtle twisting forms,” Hudak writes.

Hence the title of this exhibition and a hint about its content. Hudak doesn’t paint trees or branches or roots; her subject is more the idea of branching, connecting. She gives visual expression to thought itself.

Each of Hudak’s densely painted panels is like a portal onto a small section of interconnected organisms that are not, in fact, contained by their rectangular parameters. A viewer might find that unsettling, like the idea of fungi quietly taking over the world. Yet despite the suggestion of inconceivable

vastness, Hudak’s compositions have an uncanny sense of intimacy, too. We are privy to something not normally seen.

In some pieces, we don’t really know where to look. “Subtle Guile” is a mass of black-outlined red and pink forms flowing onto each other. If this piece were in motion,

it would writhe. In another predominantly red piece, “Gaze,” Hudak allows more negative space, giving the network of branch-like shapes a sturdier appearance.

In “Spiring” and “Hidden Root,” Hudak creates drama with light and dark contrasts in earthy tones and a subtle sense of line

from top to bottom. The latter technique was inspired by her study of Japanese landscape paintings, Hudak explained, in which the artist subtly draws the eye from a mountaintop down into a valley.

Hudak offers a focal point in “Tree of Life”: a pale blue bundle at the center, cradled by entwining, dark green twiggy forms. Though the painting eludes meaning, it’s hard not to see a chrysalis.

Sections of actual branches, which Hudak debarked, smoothed and painted matte black, are placed around the gallery on shelves or suspended from the ceiling. She calls them “Scattered Objects,” and their presentation gives them the gravity of sculpture. Whether or not it was intended, the recognizable objects provide the viewer tiny moments of mental relief, like commas in a long and challenging sentence. Sticks are not enigmas.

Though Hudak has embraced her Irish cultural identity, she honed her a nity for Asian aesthetics while living for a decade in

HUDAK DOESN’T PAINT TREES OR BRANCHES OR ROOTS; HER SUBJECT IS MORE THE IDEAOF BRANCHING, CONNECTING.

“Spiring”

Patty Hudak

China and Japan. Artistic traditions, particularly in Japan, introduced her to the idea of creating design from nature rather than copying nature, she said. For several years she has studied and practiced the Japanese woodblock print technique mokuhanga, and she is a founding member of an international group of artists devoted to the art form. She also creates individual and collaborative large-scale installations.

Hudak returned to Vermont six years ago but only returned to painting last year. “I feel like my voice is getting a little bit clearer, assimilating various influences and seeing where they land,” she said. “I put everything I know into this work.

“These paintings represent my acclimation back to Vermont,” Hudak added. “They are very much about walking in the woods behind my house.”

INFO

“Gyring, Spiring” by Patty Hudak, on view through May 6 at Minema in Johnson. Hudak gives an artist talk on April 30 at 2 p.m. pattyhudak.com

NEW THIS WEEK

chittenden county

‘LITTLE LANDSCAPES’: A group exhibition of big scenes in miniature frames by local artists. Reception: Saturday, April 15, 4-7 p.m. April 15-May

1. Info, artworksvt@gmail.com. Art Works Frame Shop & Gallery in South Burlington.

stowe/smuggs

STEPHANIE ALLEN AND AKA VIOLA: “BFA ONE,” a culminating bachelor of fine art exhibit by the NVU students. Reception and artist talk: Thursday, April 20, 3 p.m. April 18-28. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.

outside vermont

‘BLOOM!’: The gallery celebrates its 50th anniversary with an exhibit of donated artworks and a live and silent auction. Auction party: Friday, April 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 14-28. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.

ART EVENTS

CHAR AND KATH TAX DAY SALE: Charlotte Dworshak and Katharine Montstream offer special prices on paintings and cards in their studio, along with refreshments. The Soda Plant, Burlington, Friday, April 14, 6-8 p.m., and Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info, 363-9253.

‘CONCENTRIC CREATIVES’: The third session of this interdisciplinary gathering features ANIMAL Dance and spoken-word artist Kenny Richards. Masks are required. Murmurations Aerial, Burlington, Tuesday, April 18, 6:30 p.m. $15.

CREATIVE AI VERMONT SYMPOSIUM: A daylong gathering to focus on the unique collaborative nature of artificial intelligence and artistic practice, from local to international perspectives. Local and visiting thought leaders examine the philosophical, ethical and cultural ramifications. Details and registration at burlingtoncityarts.org. Hula, Burlington, Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $40 adults; $25 students. Info, 865-7166.

EASTER EGG WREATH CLASS: All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in this virtual class with whatever mediums are on hand: acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils. Info at paintandsipvt.com. Online, Thursday, April 13, 6-8 p.m. $15. Info, 503-1050.

GALLERY TALK: UVM professor of printmaking

Jane Kent and associate professor of painting Pamela Fraser discuss Josef Albers’ “Formulation: Articulation” and share their insights on the influential color artist and teacher. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, April 19, 5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0750.

JUNIPER CREATIVE POP-UP MARKET & ART

EXPERIENCE: Family-friendly art-making activities, live music by DJ King Crouch, Puerto Rican frituras by Taíno Kitchen, custom airbrushed T-shirts, handpainted clothing, original art and more from the Black and Dominican family arts collective. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier, Saturday, April 15, 2-5 p.m. Info, info@junipercreativearts.com.

KURT DIRMAIER: The art and design senior screens his animated film short, “Altered Program,” in the Recital Hall. McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Friday, April 14, 8 p.m. Free. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu.

OPEN STUDIO: Draw, collage, paint, move, write and explore the expressive arts however you please during this drop-in period. Available in studio and via Zoom. Most materials are available in the studio. All are welcome; no art experience necessary. Expressive Arts Burlington, Thursday, April 13, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Donations. Info, info@ expressiveartsburlington.com.

OPEN STUDIO: Make art alongside other artists, socialize, get feedback and try out new mediums. No experience required; art supplies provided. Hosted by the Howard Center Arts Collective,

whose members have experience with mental health and/or substance-use challenges. ONE Arts Center, Burlington, Monday, April 17, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org.

RADIANT BABY DANCE PARTY: A closing event for the “Keith Haring: Subway Drawings” exhibition features DJ Matt Krefting spinning ’80s dance hits, plus refreshments and cash bar. Creative ’80s attire is encouraged. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Friday, April 14, 8 p.m. $25; $20 for members; $30 at the door. Info, 257-0124.

STEPPING INTO THE STUDIO WITH JAMES RANSOME: The award-winning children’s book illustrator shares a look into his studio and how he creates his artworks. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Wednesday, April 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

WORLD ART DAY CELEBRATION: Celebrate the day with a giant coloring poster, origami, live music, artist demos, crafts for all ages, raffles, refreshments and Q&A with the new director at 1:15 p.m. Milton Artists’ Guild Art Center & Gallery, Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 891-2014.

ONGOING SHOWS

burlington

ART AT THE HOSPITAL: Acrylic paintings by Matt Larson and Julio Desmont (Main Street Connector, ACC 3); photographic giclées by Jeffrey Pascoe (McClure 4 & EP2 Healing Garden); photographs by Sharon Radtke (EP2); and oil paintings by Judy Hawkins (BCC). Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through May 31. Info, 865-7296. University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

‘ART/TEXT/CONTEXT’: An exhibition of art objects that prominently feature words, images, symbols, and gestural or abstract marks, and that considers their power to prompt critical reflection or spur social action. JOSEF ALBERS: “Formulation: Articulation,” featuring studies by the late German American artist (1888-1976) that show how perception of color is affected by the environments in which it is viewed. SHANTA LEE: “Dark Goddess: An Exploration of the Sacred Feminine,” large-scale black-and-white photographs that encourage inquiry beyond the limited roles to which society assigns women. Through May 20. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington.

‘BLACK FREEDOM, BLACK MADONNA & THE BLACK CHILD OF HOPE’: Designed by Raphaella Brice and created by Brice and Josie Bunnell, this mural installed for Burlington’s 2022 Juneteenth celebration features a Haitian-inspired image of liberation. Through June 18. Info, 865-7166. ‘TELLING A PEOPLE’S STORY’: A traveling exhibition featuring African American children’s illustrated literature, curated by Miami University Art Museum. Through April 30. Info, 863-3403. Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

CHARLIE HUDSON: “A Place I Go,” new landscapes of Vermont and Brooklyn in oil and acrylic. Through April 22. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington.

‘CLEARING SPACE’: Since opening in 2009, the gallery has acquired a number of artworks either donated or left behind that now need new owners. Visit the gallery on Fridays and Saturdays to leave your bid in person, or bid on Instagram at spacegalleryvt. Through April 29. Info, spacegalleryvt@gmail.com. The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington.

‘CO-CREATED: THE ARTIST IN THE AGE OF INTELLIGENT MACHINES’: Interactive projects that examine how artists are engaging with the rapidly changing field of artificial intelligence and its uniquely collaborative character. JULIA PURINTON: Nature-inspired abstract oil paintings. LBG Room. SARAH STEFANA SMITH: “Willful Matters,” photographic and sculptural black-and-white abstractions that explore ideas of Blackness and boundlessness by the contemporary artist and scholar. Through May 6. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington.

‘CONNECTIONS’: Howard Center Arts Collective presents an art installation of painted mailboxes

and mosaics, inviting viewers to reflect on the benefits of old-fashioned mail delivery and to consider whether mailboxes have become relics of the past. Through July 31. Info, artscollective@ howardcenter.org. Howard Center in Burlington.

‘ECHO’: An exhibition of selected posters by members of the Iskra Print Collective, created for concerts at Higher Ground over the past 25 years, and published in a new book. Through April 30. Info, hello@thekarmabirdhouse.com. Karma Bird House Gallery in Burlington.

HOWARD CENTER ARTS COLLECTIVE: A spring show features work in a variety of mediums by more than 20 artists. Through April 28. Info, artscollective@howardcenter.org. City Market, Onion River Co-op in Burlington (South End).

‘SEEKING IDENTITY’: Recent functional works by the potters of Miranda Thomas Studio, including Thomas, Eric Moore, Christi Becker, Jessica King, Evan Williams and Matt Protas. Through April 27. Info, 863-6458. Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Gallery in Burlington.

chittenden county

‘ABENAKI CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VERMONT COMMUNITY’: A series of murals designed by Scott Silverstein in consultation with Abenaki artists Lisa Ainsworth Plourde and Vera Longtoe Sheehan and members of Richmond Racial Equity; the 10 panels celebrate the Abenaki origins of practices still important to Vermont culture. Through May 31. Info, radiate.art.space@gmail.com. Richmond Town Hall.

BETHANY MOOSE-NOLAN: “Beings,” an exhibition of photographs, video and clothing. Screening and reception: Thursday, April 13, 6-7 p.m. Through April 14. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester.

ELIZABETH NELSON & MICHELLE TURBIDE: Acrylic paintings of Iceland and pastoral landscapes, respectively. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through April 13. Info, 865-7296. Burlington International Airport in South Burlington.

‘EMERGENCE’: Spring-themed paintings by members of the Vermont Watercolor Society. Through May 14. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.

GREG NICOLAI: Black-and-white and color photographs. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through June 23. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

‘VERMONT VERNACULAR’: Paintings, mixed-media works and photography by Linda Finkelstein, Kathleen Fleming, Susan Larkin and Phil Laughlin. Through May 30. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt. gov. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.

barre/montpelier

‘BEACON OF LIGHT’: A group exhibit exploring current topics with installations, constructions and more. Main-floor gallery. ‘MUD SEASON IN FIBER & PHOTOS’: Photographs and quilted works by Nancy Banks and Rosalind Daniels, respectively. Second-floor gallery. ‘QUEER VISIONS’: Work by LGBTQ+ artists. Third-floor gallery. Through April 29. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre.

CINDY LEE LORANGER: Vibrant pop-style and abstract mixed-media works with a jazz-appreciation theme. Through May 15. Info, 479-0896. Espresso Bueno in Barre.

ELIZABETH RICKETSON: Abstract-expressionist paintings of representational subjects by the Vermont artist. Through May 8. Info, 225-6232. Filling Station in Middlesex.

GAAL SHEPHERD: “Over Time,” nature-inspired paintings by the Vermont artist. Through April 19. Info, moetown128@gmail.com. Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

HILARY ANN LOVE GLASS: Mixed-media drawings and paintings of flora and fauna. Reception: Friday, May 12, 4-7 p.m. Through June 30. Info, 229-6206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

“Tree of Life”

“Hidden Root”

BARRE/MONTPELIER SHOWS » P.56

KATE BURNIM: “Liminal Arc,” paintings that contemplate space, time, separation and togetherness, boundaries, transition, and memory. Through June 30. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier.

MICHAEL STRAUSS: “Selected Works,” vibrant paintings of life in Vermont by the South Burlington artist and writer. THE PRINTMAKING INVITATIONAL 2023: A showcase of prints by Vermont artists Brian Cohen, Maureen O’Connor Burgess and Daryl Storrs, curated by Phillip Robertson. Through May 25. Info, 262-6035. T.W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier.

ROBERT CHAPLA: “Paradise Paved: Same Song Different Verse,” paintings of roads and built environments, curated by Studio Place Arts. Through May 20. Info, 479-7069. AR Market in Barre.

SHOW 54: Artworks by gallery members Diane Sophrin, Kathy Stark, Anne Cogbill Rose, Chip Haggerty, James Secor, Glen Coburn Hutcheson, Ned Richardson, Delia Robinson, Elizabeth Nelson, Sam Thurston, Melora Kennedy, Kate Fetherston, Cheryl Betz, Richard Moore, Marjorie Kramer and Hasso Ewing. Through April 30. Info, info@thefrontvt.com. The Front in Montpelier.

‘WILD THINGS’: A group exhibition of 21 pieces by 19 artists that explore the relationships of nature, fantasy, eroticism and spirituality. Through May 6. Info, hexumgallery@gmail. com. Hexum Gallery in Montpelier.

stowe/smuggs

DEB PEATE: “Whimsical Heads,” featuring William Morris textile designs and vintage jewelry. Through May 7. Info, dpeate@ yahoo.com. LEGACY

COLLECTION: A showcase exhibition of paintings by gallery regulars as well as some newcomers.

Through December 23. Info, 644-5100. SMALL MEMBERS’ GROUP SHOW:

An exhibition of works by 16 member artists, curated by the artists themselves. Through May 7. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville.

HARLAN MACK: “A Constellation of Friendships,” wallhung artworks utilizing interconnecting pieces made from reclaimed boards to reference imagery and bonds of longtime friends. Through April 16. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson. ‘HOME AND HOW WE MAKE IT’: An exhibition of 30 miniature rooms, as well as woodworking, textiles and paintings that define visually and conceptually what home means. Through June 1. Info, 888-1261. River Arts in Morrisville.

KELLY HOLT: “Black / Blur,” new mixed-media photography by the Vermont artist. Through April 14. Info, 634-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.

PATTY HUDAK: “Gyring, Spiring,” a solo exhibition of nature-inspired oil paintings by the Vermont artist. Through May 6. Info, 646-519-1781. Minema Gallery in Johnson.

SCOTT LENHARDT: An exhibition of graphic designs for Burton Snowboards created since 1994 by the Vermont native. Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe.

mad river valley/waterbury

‘REFLECTING ON REFLECTIONS’: An exhibition of photography by members of the central Vermont

‘Reflecting on Reflections’

The notion of “depth of field” takes on meta meanings in the current exhibition at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield. “Reflecting on Reflections” features 30 striking images by the six photographers in a collective called f/7: Julie Parker, Annie Tiberio, Sandra Shenk, Elliot Burg, Rob Spring and Lisa Dimondstein.

Over the past decade, these colleagues have met to exchange ideas and support and to mount occasional group exhibitions. The title of this show states exactly what it’s about: pictures whose subjects literally reflect something else.

Not surprisingly, water is a common denominator. Whether calm or rippled, it’s a mirror with endless fractals. Yet no matter what it reflects, we still recognize it as water, and that alone can lead to rabbit-hole musing about, oh, say, the duality of existence or the “as above, so below” principle of correspondence. What is reality, anyway?

Parker addresses this timely question with a remarkable 3D, in-the-round construction titled “Anamorphic Pond.” “What happens when the virtual world looks more real than the thing it is reflecting?” she asks.

Watery images are also simply beautiful, such as the painterly abstraction of Dimondstein’s “Looking Glass,” shot in an abandoned quarry, and Parker’s dreamy “Mood River.”

Color catches the eye in Spring’s “Winooski River #2” — bright red buttresses against green window frames. Their shimmer, again, tells us this is a reflection. A sentence in Spring’s artist statement sums up the appeal of the subject-within-a-subject: “Once I’m drawn into this world of reflective surfaces, it is hard to leave, as every move reveals an entirely different and unique world.”

Shenk doubles down on this visual trickery with the use of a lens ball. Her image titled “A World Within a World” captures a lake — itself reflecting the surrounding landscape — inside a snow-globe-like ball. “This particular photo conveys to me the fragile state and smallness of our world today,” she writes.

Glass, of course, is also an endlessly reflective surface — and can be difficult to photograph. But Burg makes it look effortless in “Reflecting Havana’s Past.” The picture is actually of a curved, mullioned window, but what we see are shards of historic buildings across the street, framed by a brilliant blue sky.

Tiberio writes that her f/7 colleagues inspired her to reach beyond representational subjects, and she did just that with “Isenberg Windows.” Changing the camera’s settings in between multiple exposures, she shot a C-shaped building, from inside its courtyard, on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. “What emerged was a crazy quilt of colors and oddly shaped squares of glass that reflected back to me the colors around the building,” Tiberio writes. The trippy abstraction is an explosion of multiple viewpoints, raucous yet somehow held together, kind of like America.

“Reflecting on Reflections” gives viewers much to see and ponder. The exhibit is on view through April 27. Learn more at madrivervalleyarts.org.

PAMELA POLSTON Clockwise from top: “Isenberg Windows” by Annie Tiberio; “Reflecting Havana’s Past” by Elliot Burg; “Winooski River #2” by Rob Spring; “A World Within a World” by Sandra Shenk MAD RIVER VALLEY/WATERBURY SHOWS » P.58

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collective f/7: Annie Tiberio, Sandra Shenk, Rob Spring, Lisa Dimondstein, Elliot Burg and Julie Parker. Through April 27. Info, 496-6682. The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts in Waitsfield.

middlebury area

‘A CELEBRATION OF TREES’: Artwork by 80 local artists in a variety of mediums that convey heartfelt appreciation for trees, in collaboration with the Middlebury Tree Committee. Through May 13. Info, 989-7225. Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury.

‘EARTH’S MATERIALS: PERENNIAL PERSPECTIVES

IN THE ARTS’: A curated exhibition of works by 12 artists that reflect and respond to the Earth, our roots and relationships; a project of Town Hall Theater and Middlebury College’s New Perennials, which explores the restorative powers of perennial thoughts and actions in farming, education, wellness, sacred practice and the arts. Through April 15. Info, 443-3140. Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, in Middlebury.

HANNAH SESSIONS: “Collective Vision: Beauty in Transitions,” land- and farmscape paintings by the Vermont artist. Through April 30. Info, 877-2173. Northern Daughters in Vergennes.

KAREN O’NEIL: “The Color of Light,” a solo exhibition of recent still life paintings. Through April 26. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury.

MEL REA: “Just Minding My Business Picking Your Flowers,” paintings that feature deconstructed botanical forms. Through April 18. Info, 458-0098. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls in Middlebury.

‘URBAN CADENCE’: Photographs of street scenes from Lagos and Johannesburg that represent the complex issues facing these cities. Through April 23. Info, 443-5007. Middlebury College Museum of Art.

rutland/killington

LARGE WORKS: A pop-up exhibition of members’ works in a variety of mediums that express magnified perspectives. Through April 30. Info, 247-4956.

Brandon Artists Guild.

‘LEFT FIELD LAB’: Recent artworks by Castleton University students Morgan Austin, Leon Bates, Chrystal Bean, Emily Bissonette, River Capell, Mason Fleischer-Svayg, Julie Griffith, James Henderson, Jasper Lynch, Jorja McLeod, Alyssa McMahon, Charlotte Morrison, Richmond Rathbun, Alaana Smith and Anita Williams. Reception: Friday, April 14, 6-8 p.m. Through April 22. Info, 800-639-8521. Castleton University Bank Gallery in Rutland.

upper valley

‘EMERGENCE’: A group exhibition of monoprints, woodcut prints, paintings and collages by studio artists and friends. Through May 28. Info, 295-5901. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction.

JOHN LEHET: “Spring Hopes Eternal,” seasonal nature-based photography. Through July 3. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction.

STEPH TERAO: “Desert/Islands,” fantastical landscape paintings. Through April 27. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.

northeast kingdom

CHUCK TROTSKY: “Vocabulary,” paintings by the Vermont artist. Through May 9. Info, 525-3366. Parker Pie in West Glover.

‘COMING CLEAN’: An exhibition that considers bathing practices throughout time and across cultures, including religious immersion and ritual purification, bathing as health cure, methods of washing in extreme environments, and much more. All kinds of bathing and scrubbing implements are on display. Through April 30. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover.

MARDI MCGREGOR: “Angel Dances: An Ancestry of Art,” paintings and collages inspired by the artist’s grandparents and travels around the world. Through April 29. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.

NAOMI BOSSOM AND ANN YOUNG: Woodblock prints on paper and carved wooden characters, respectively. Through April 30. Info, melmelts@ yahoo.com. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.

‘TEETERING BETWEEN’: Paintings, photography and sculpture by Molly Boone, Linda Bryan, Harrison Halaska and Mike Howat, curated by Samantha M. Eckert of AVA Gallery and Art Center. WILLIAM

BETCHER: “Ghosts: Civil War Portraits,” a reanimation of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes of soldiers and women in the 19th century using modern technology. Reception: Saturday, April 15, 4-5:30 p.m. Through June 4. Info, 748-2600. Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury.

brattleboro/okemo valley

APRIL M. FRAZIER: “Frame of Reference,” a pictorial representation of familial influences and experiences that shaped the photographer’s life and provide an alternate narrative of the African American experience in Texas and beyond. Through April 30. Info, 251-6051. Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro.

CALL TO ARTISTS

‘ART FOR A PAWS’: An exhibition and auction of artwork to benefit the Springfield Humane Society. Online bidding is open at go.rallyup.com/art-for-apaws. Reception: Saturday, April 29, 3-7 p.m., with live music and refreshments. Through April 29. Info, 885-3997. The Great Hall in Springfield.

‘KEITH HARING: SUBWAY DRAWINGS’: Samples from the more than 5,000 chalk drawings the New York City artist made from 1980 to 1985 in subway stations. Through June 11. CATHY CONE: “Portals and Portraits,” modified tintypes and mixed media by the Vermont photographer that speak to the power and limitations of memory. Through June 11. DANIEL CALLAHAN: “En-MassQ,” works from two series in which the Boston-based artist painted his own face and the faces of others and detailed the performances with photographs, writing, and audio and visual vignettes. Through June 11. JUAN HINOJOSA: “Paradise City,” collaged figures made from found objects that reflect on the challenges of immigrants creating a new home in a new place. Through June 11. MITSUKO BROOKS: “Letters Mingle Souls,” mail art that incorporates imaginary letters addressed by survivors to their deceased loved ones and explores the impacts of mental illness and suicide. Through June 11. OASA DUVERNEY: “Black Power Wave,” a window installation of drawings by the Brooklyn artist, inspired

2023 BCA COMMUNITY FUND: Artists are invited to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 to support a Burlington-based project that promotes a vibrant creative community and contributes to the greater public good. Application at burlingtoncityarts.awardsplatform.com. Online. Through May 22.

2023 WATERBURY ARTS FEST COMMEMORATIVE POSTER: Revitalizing Waterbury is seeking an image to feature on its first commemorative poster. All Vermont artists are eligible to enter. Any medium is acceptable as long as the image meets our printing criteria. The chosen artist’s name will appear on the poster, and the artist will be asked to sign some posters for sale. Specifications at waterburyartsfest.com. Deadline: April 14. Online. Info, karen@revitalizingwaterbury.org.

AIA VERMONT COMMUNITY OUTREACH GRANT: The $1,500 Carol Miklos Community Outreach Grant was created to support initiatives and special funding requests that have the potential to foster engagement with architecture and design in Vermont’s communities. Deadline: June 1. Application at aiavt.org. Online. Free. Info, 448-2169.

‘AN ASSEMBLAGE OF BREATHS’: AVA Gallery and Art Center is seeking submissions that convey healing, comfort, togetherness and community, as well as works that encourage us to pause, reflect and breathe. An upcoming exhibition is in collaboration with West Central Behavioral Health. Application at avagallery.org. Deadline: April 17. Online. $15. Info, 603-448-3117.

CABOT ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL: Cabot Arts seeks artisan craft vendors to table at the festival on Saturday, July 29. Only 12 spaces are available, so sign up early at cabotarts.org/vend. Online, Through April 30. $50. Info, 793-3016.

‘CELEBRATION’: Artists are invited to submit one or two pieces of artwork in any medium that expresses the theme of celebration, for a summertime exhibition at Jericho Town Hall. Details and registration at jerichovt.org. Online. Through May 26. Info, catherine.mcmains@gmail.com.

CROWDSOURCED CINEMA VT TEAM SIGNUPS: This statewide community film project remakes a feature film, scene by scene. This year, help us remake Toy Story. No experience necessary. Online. Through May 6. Free. Info, 651-9692.

MURALIST NEEDED: Arts So Wonderful seeks a volunteer artist to re-create four downtown Burlington murals. If interested, or for more info, contact artssowonderful2@gmail.com. Arts So Wonderful Gallery, South Burlington. Through May 8. Info, artssowonderful2@gmail.com.

NORTH BENNINGTON OUTDOOR SCULPTURE SHOW: Artists of all disciplines are invited to participate in the 26th annual sculpture exhibit, which opens July 17. Details and application are at nbossvt.com.

Deadline: April 15. Online. Info, nbossvt@gmail.com.

PAINT-BY-NUMBER COW: Purchase a paint-by-number cow kit and submit your version to the museum for an upcoming exhibition. Instructions at mainstreetmuseum.org. Deadline: April 29. Main Street Museum, White River Junction. Info, info@mainstreetmuseum.org.

by images of Chinese Fu dogs, the cross and the Yoruba deity Èsù. Through May 6. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

JOHN R. KILLACKY: “Flux,” an exhibition of objects from a wordless, process-based video inspired by scores, propositions and performative actions of Fluxus-era artists; cinematography by Justin Bunnell, editing by C. Alec Kozlowski and sound composition by Sean Clute. Through August 30. Info, 257-7898. CX Silver Gallery in Brattleboro.

SIMI BERMAN: “Other Worlds,” paintings in mixed media. Through May 14. Info, 387-0102. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney.

THE SPRING SALON: Artwork in a variety of mediums by 35 area artists. Through June 3. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls.

manchester/bennington

ART FROM THE SCHOOLS PRE-K-12: Hundreds of drawings, paintings and sculptures created by students from more than 20 area schools and homeschools. Through April 23. Info, 367-1311. Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

PLEX ARTS FESTIVAL: Applications are open for a new, immersive arts event in Burlington on May 20. The festival focuses on experimental and contemporary work; all art forms are welcome. Application at forms.gle/ BiF695NAYMnxL64T7. Various Old North End locations, Burlington. Through April 16. Free. Info, mdjoinnides@gmail.com.

RABBLE-ROUSER ART GALLERY SHOWCASE: Black, Indigenous, people of color and queer artists are encouraged to apply to an open themed monthly exhibition. Art can be unconventional, multicultural, political, seek to break societal constructs, question norms, foster social change or just make people ponder. Send artwork samples or portfolio along with name, medium, artwork description and size and price per piece, if applicable, to culture@rabblerouser. net. Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Montpelier. Through June 30. Free. Info, 225-6227.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR WATERBURY MURAL: Waterbury Area

Anti-Racism Coalition is seeking submissions from experienced Vermont-based artists to design and work with the community on a mural to be installed at the back of Stowe Street Café. Designs should reflect the coalition’s mission: to create a community where every person can fully experience freedom, belonging and love on a daily basis. Details and application at waterburyantiracism.com. Deadline: April 16. Online. Info, waarcpublicartproject@gmail.com.

SAPPY ART SHOW: An exhibition with the theme “Maple, the Heart of Vermont” is open to Vermont artists working in any 2D or 3D medium and will be displayed during the Vermont Maple Festival. More info and instructions for application at vtframeshop.com/sappy. Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery, St. Albans. Through April 15. Info, 524-3699.

SOLO & SMALL GROUP SHOWS: Studio Place Arts in Barre invites artists to apply for 2024 exhibitions in its second- and third-floor galleries. Application info at studioplacearts.com. Deadline: June 3. Online. $10 nonmembers. Info, submissions.studioplacearts@gmail.com.

SOUTH END ART HOP REGISTRATION: Artists and vendors are invited to sign up to participate in Burlington’s largest art festival in September. Details and application at seaba.com. Online. Through July 31. Info, 859-9222.

SYLVIA BARRY ART CONTEST: The annual competition for students is designed to encourage the artistic endeavors of local youth. Open to permanent residents of Grand Isle County in grades K-8 attending GISU or home schools. Details at islandarts.org. Deadline: May 19. Online. Free. Info, islandartscontest@gmail.com.

‘WHEELS!’: The Museum of Everyday Life invites wheel-related contributions to an upcoming exhibition: personal artifacts accompanied by a narrative, raw ideas for displays, fully realized art objects, theoretical writings and more. To contribute, or for more info, contact Clare Dolan via the “contact us” form at museumofeverydaylife.org. Online. Through May 12.

‘YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY SPINELESS’: Artists are invited to contribute to an upcoming show that highlights invertebrates, large and small, frightening and beautiful. Traditional and nontraditional mediums, including installations, are acceptable. For more info and applications, email submissions.studioplacearts@ gmail.com. Deadline: May 27. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10 nonmember applicants. Info, 479-7069.

MAD RIVER VALLEY/WATERBURY SHOWS « P.56

ART SHOWS

‘A HISTORY OF BENNINGTON’: An exhibition of artifacts that invites viewers to examine how history informs and affects our lives. Through December 31. ‘NEBIZUN: WATER IS LIFE’: An exhibition of artwork by Abenaki artists of the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River Valley regions to illustrate the Abenaki relationship to water, our awareness of water as a fundamental element necessary for all life, and concern about pollution of our water. Curated by Vera Longtoe Sheehan. Through July 26. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum.

SPRING SOLO EXHIBITIONS: Artworks by Domenica Brockman, Janet Cathey, Priscilla Heine, Rose Klebes, Lorna Ritz, Elise Robinson, Angela Sillars, Courtney Stock, Gregg Wapner, Susan Wilson and Chloe Wilwerding. Through May 7. Info, 362-1405. Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester.

randolph/royalton

‘CLIMATE FARMER STORIES’: A multimedia exhibit featuring portraits of 13 Upper Valley farmers, painted by area artists, along with their stories about agricultural methods that mitigate and adapt to climate change and help build a sustainable food supply. Through April 30. Info, 291-9100. BALE Community Space in South Royalton.

JASON MILLS: “Digestive,” a retrospective of abstract paintings by the Vermont artist. Through May 19. Info, 889-9404. Tunbridge Public Library.

online

‘ACTION FIGURES: OBJECTS IN MOTION’: A virtual exhibition from the Shelburne Museum that explores the theme of movement and action in art. Through April 30. ‘RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE’: The Shelburne Museum presents children’s printed textiles from the collection of J.J. Murphy and Nancy Mladenoff, featuring 21 playful, colorful handkerchiefs with motifs including insects, alphabets, circus clowns, shadow puppets, the solar system and a lumberjack beaver. Through May 13. Info, 985-3346. Online.

outside vermont

‘¡PRINTING THE REVOLUTION! THE RISE AND IMPACT OF CHICANO GRAPHICS, 1965 TO NOW’: A Smithsonian American Art Museum traveling exhibition featuring 119 artworks by more than 74 artists of Mexican descent and allied artists active in Chicanx networks. Through June 11.

KENT MONKMAN: “The Great Mystery,” four new paintings by the Cree artist along with five works in the museum’s collection that inspired them, by Hannes Beckmann, T.C. Cannon, Cyrus Edwin Dallin, Mark Rothko and Fritz Scholder. Through December 9. Info, 603-646-2808. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.

LYNDA BRYAN: “Deeper Than Blue,” photographs by the Vermont artist. Members Gallery. Through April 28. Info, 603-448-3117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H.

‘PARALL(ELLES): A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN DESIGN’: A major exhibition celebrating the instrumental role that women have played in the world of design, featuring artworks and objects dating from the mid-19th century onward. Through May 28. Info, 514-285-2000.

‘VIEWS OF WITHIN: PICTURING THE SPACES WE INHABIT’: More than 60 paintings, photographs, prints, installations and textile works from the museum’s collection that present one or more evocations of interior space. Through June 30. Info, 514-235-2044. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

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music+nightlife

feel right to keep calling it the same thing without Jon there,” Brooks said.

In addition to the personnel, Brooks noticed his writing was changing and, with it, Barishi’s sound. The songs were more and more sprawling, and the band’s dynamics were getting more nuanced, subtly shifting between melody and dissonance, power and rest.

“It’s not, like, massively di erent than what Barishi was doing, but yeah, there’s a lot of small di erences in the new material,” Brooks said. “We’ll be playing some of the new stu at our Winooski show, so hopefully people don’t throw cabbage at us.”

That show, which goes down on Saturday, April 15, at the Monkey House, will be Barishi’s last performance in their home state. Fear not, though. Brooks and Blake will be back with bassist JOSHUA SMITH as — oh, wait, let me do this properly here…

S UNDbites

News

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Metal Metamorphosis

The first time I saw BARISHI play live, I dumped an entire whiskey down a young man’s shirt, lost a $20 bet with the woman working the door and lied to a bartender about being in an ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA cover band just to explain why I was wearing sunglasses at night at an indoor show.

(For those keeping score, the whiskey dump was an accident because that kid didn’t know how to mosh, I bet the woman at the door that someone in the band would have an “802” tattoo, and I was wearing shades because I had scratched my cornea taking out a contact lens the night before. Metal!)

Even with all those extracurricular happenings, what I remember best about the show is being blown away by the finest metal band I’d ever heard come out of the Vermont scene. Barishi had power, they had precision, they had just the right amount of fantasy aura — or what my old friend and guitar teacher Tom used to call “dragons and mist shit” — and they had what all great metal bands need: a killer guitarist.

The Brattleboro-based band still

would have been transfixing without GRAHAM BROOKS. But something about the way he attacked his guitar, with equal parts ferocity and sophistication in his melodies and note choices, elevated the

explained in a phone call. “So we’ve got this weekend in Winooski, one in [Queens], and then our last show as Barishi will be in Worcester, Mass.”

Once Brooks recovered from my screaming “WHY?!” into the phone for five straight minutes, he revealed the reasons for the band’s demise. Or rather, its metamorphosis.

“Honestly, it’s been sort of a gradual thing,” Brooks said. “It probably started because I’m just one of those people who can listen to a record he made and be fine with it, but a few months later I hate it. I just wasn’t in love with those songs anymore.”

New band alert! From the ashes of Barishi shall rise … ORDH! (Cue lighting, thunder and an epic guitar ri .)

According to Brooks, the new band name comes from the Old English word for “blade,” though the bandmates tossed an H on there because, he said, “we can’t just go slapping an umlaut on everything, right?”

I, for one, can’t wait to hear Ordh. But I’ll hold a little spot in my heart to mourn Barishi properly as they finish out this period of their career. Farewell, gents. I’ll throw up the horns for you at the Winooski show.

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “RICHMOND V.A.” by Charlie Hill

2. “RIVERS RUN DRY” by Tim Brick

band’s music to its highest peaks.

Now, I’m sure you haven’t missed that I’m writing about Barishi in past tense. Which, technically, isn’t totally accurate. Barishi are still a band — but only for three more shows.

“We did a hometown show at the Stone Church last week,” Brooks

To compound Brooks’ ambivalence about the band’s earlier material, Barishi had hardly been active since the pandemic — playing only a handful of shows, in addition to backing indie singer-songwriter SASAMI on her latest record and tour. Even as the band was contemplating shaking o the rust and returning to the studio and the stage, founding member and bassist JON KELLEY decided to leave.

Brooks had formed Barishi in 2010 with Kelley and drummer DYLAN BLAKE while the three were still in high school. “To lose someone that had been there from the beginning and part of every moment of the band’s life, it just didn’t

3. “KICK YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN” by All Night Boogie Band

4. “LEARN HOW TO DRIVE” by the Lynguistic Civilians

5. “HE IS RISEN AND APPEARS ON TOAST” by Sad Turtle

6. “OUR HOUSE” by Henry Jamison

7. “I REMAIN” by Peg Tassey

Scan

IT’S NOT, LIKE, MASSIVELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT BARISHI WAS DOING, BUT YEAH, THERE’S A LOT OF SMALL DIFFERENCES IN THE NEW MATERIAL.

GRAHAM BROOKS

Graham Brooks

COURTESY OF LUKE AWTRY

On the Beat

There are a lot of new releases this week, so let’s get right into them. First up is a pretty unique track: a response to a negative review. Montpelier-based nerdcore rapper MSD3K —real name MIKE DUPLESSIS — got roughed up in our review section the other week for his debut EP, The Master Debater. Our resident hip-hop scholar, JUSTIN BOLAND, while having some praise for Msd3k and his sense of humor, took umbrage at a genre that he feels lampoons another genre it can never live up to, and he let Duplessis have it with both barrels.

I’ve written my share of negative reviews and received some pretty hateful emails from local artists as a result. Which is perhaps why I have to say: If you’re going to respond to a bad review, follow Duplessis’ lead.

“I Got Dissed in the Paper (… and Died!)” is a country-leaning tune about how the review, well, caused the death of Msd3k. “Dog crashed my truck into

my tractor / Life already falling apart / Then I got dissed in the paper and died of a broken heart,” Duplessis sings in a southern accent.

I’m not going to lie: I’m a little jealous of Boland on this one. If any of the musicians I’ve given bad reviews to over the years feels like recording a response track, I would love to hear it.

Burlington hardcore act COOKED released a new video on April 7 for their single “Neurosis.” A three-minute-long blast of aggression and confusion, featuring lyrics such as “Can someone please tell me what the fuck to do?,” the song showcases the trio’s nihilistic abandon, as well as its knack for writing catchy, if unrelentingly heavy, tunes. The track will be part of the band’s forthcoming LP The Hanged Man, due out in May.

I’m sure some have noticed the increased activity from JAMES KOCHALKA’s weird little corner of Burlington. The comic book

creator and musician has dropped some great singles in the past few months, with guest appearances from the DEAD KENNEDYS’ JELLO BIAFRA and punk rockers ROUGH FRANCIS. He’s now gearing up to release an EP on April 18 called James and Gravy. Produced by NEIL CLEARY and engineered by BENNY YURCO, the new JAMES KOCHALKA SUPERSTAR EP finds the singer-songwriter accessing his gentler side in six mostly acoustic tunes.

Kochalka will celebrate the record with an April 22 show at Radio Bean in Burlington.

Jazz pianist and former Burlington city councilor JACK HANSON has a new single out: “On Union.” Hanson collaborates with local trumpet player CONNOR YOUNG on the laid-back number. Name-checking such spots as Union and Willard streets, the song dwells somewhere between voyeurism and heartbroken whimsy, as Hanson sings of all the places in Burlington where he might see an ex-lover. Call it an ode to the di culty of avoiding an ex in Burlington. Hanson and Young will debut the song live at the Venetian Soda Lounge in Burlington on April 22. ➆

On the Air

Where to tune in to Vermont music this week:

“WAVE CAVE RADIO SHOW,” Wednesday, April 12, 2 p.m., on 105.9 the Radiator: DJs FLYWLKR and GINGERVITUS spin the best of local (and nonlocal) hip-hop.

“EXPOSURE,” Wednesday, April 12, 6 p.m., on 90.1 WRUV: College funk band the KYNE play live in studio.

“ROCKET SHOP RADIO HOUR,” Wednesday, April 12, 8 p.m., on 105.9 the Radiator: Jazz outfit the CAM GILMOUR BAND play live in studio.

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry PABLO SÁINZ-VILLEGAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT RECITAL HALL, BURLINGTON, FRIDAY, APRIL 7: e halls are alive with the sound of … solo classical guitar? Last Friday, UVM’s most esteemed performance series, the Lane Series, hosted Spanish guitar virtuoso Pablo Sáinz-Villegas. Considered the world’s preeminent symphonic guitarist, Sáinz-Villegas has an ability to traverse the fretboard of his Matthias Dammann classical guitar that’s incredible to behold. Guitarists in the audience are bound to have one of two reactions to such performances: Either we’ll be so inspired that we once again promise to be diligent about the practice routine we avoid so well — “ is time will be different, I swear,” says me, every time. Or we’ll grab the nearest guitar and smash it into 1,000 pieces, once again convincing ourselves that the dream is dead — “I’m selling everything, I swear,” says me, every time. Either response is acceptable. But don’t worry, neither ever sticks.

“THE SOUNDS OF BURLINGTON,” ursday, April 13, 9 p.m., at wbkm.org: Host TIM LEWIS plays selections of local music.

“CULTURAL BUNKER,” Friday, April 14, 6 p.m., on 90.1 WRUV: Host MELO GRANT plays local and nonlocal hip-hop.

“ALL THE TRADITIONS,” Sunday, April 16, 7 p.m., on Vermont Public: Host ROBERT RESNIK plays an assortment of folk music with a focus on Vermont artists.

CLUB DATES music+nightlife

live music

WED.12

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

Ghost Town Blues Band, All Night Boogie Band (blues) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Jazz Jam Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers (funk) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 8 p.m. $15.

Les Dead Ringers (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free. No Showers on Vacation (indie rock) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Peter Schmeeckle Trio (blues) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Singer Songwriter Sessions with Alice Grace & Ryn, the Leatherbound Books, Brit Higgins (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5/$10.

e Sound at Ends Creation, Versus, the Idiot Flesh, Dr. Giuseppe’s Meatball Hospital (metal) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $7/$12.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

THU.13

4 Foot Phosphorescent Cubes, Soule Monde (jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25.

Alex Stewart & Friends, Tom Gershwin (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Brett Hughes (country) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 6 p.m. Free.

Cold Chocolate, Ben Cosgrove (Americana) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $7/$10.

Good Soap, the Most Wanted (jam) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Grace Palmer and Socializing for Introverts (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Model/Actriz, Brutus VIII (indie rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $15/$18.

Point of Order (rock) at Bent Nails

Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Saint James, Lake Waves, Community Garden, Laces (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

e Steppes (rock fusion) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

High Tide

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

Mike Maurice, Phantom Airwave (singer-songwriter, funk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, . Free. moe. (jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $39/$45.

Moose Crossing (jam) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Queer Takeover with Will Keeper, Catwolf, aya Zalewski Trio, Tip/ Toe, Aneken River (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

Sneaky Miles, Lazy Bird (indie folk) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

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

Who & I, Tinyus Smallus (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Zack Dupont (acoustic) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

SAT.15

Barishi, Wolfhand, Sachem (metal) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Daily Deadly’s (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Donna under (country) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

Dr. Westchesterson & the Headband (yacht rock, hip-hop) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

e Fabulous Wrecks (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

JOYWAVE have evolved over their career from a synth-pop band — an electronic influence carried over from singer Daniel Armbruster’s time in electronic music project Big Data — to bearing the flag for modern rock. On its fourth and latest album, 2022’s Cleanse, the Rochester, N.Y., outfit brings glossy synths and electro beats together with heart-on-sleeve anthemic songwriting to achieve its most focused e ort to date. Joywave play the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington on Wednesday, April 19, with support from DIZZY and ELLIOT LEE

ird Shift (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

FRI.14

Afterhours (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Amber deLaurentis and Tom Cleary (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Barbie N Bones (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Bella and the Notables (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Bob Cotton Sing-Along (covers) at the Tap Room at Switchback Brewing, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Burning Monk (Rage Against the Machine tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10.

Charlie Hill, Eustis, Ivamae (indie rock) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Coane, Rowell & Schabner (folk) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Dave Keller (blues) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

e Dirty Looks Band (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Duncan MacLeod Trio (blues) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Fabian Rainville (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

e Gallison Hill Band (rock) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Hiss Golden Messenger (indie folk) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $25/$30.

Jeffrey Foucault, Erik Koskinen (folk, rock) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $18/$20.

John Lackard Blues Band (blues) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 8 p.m. Free.

King Me (acoustic) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Michael Strisberg (folk) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

moe. (jam) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 8 p.m. $39/$45.

Mosey Beat (funk, rock) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 9 p.m. $5.

New Old Vermonters (Americana) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Phantom Airwave (funk) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

e Red Newts, Little Slugger, Erin Cassels-Brown, Cosmic the Cowboy, Danny and the Parts (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Robbery, Brand New Luddites (rock) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

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

Free.

Sarah Bell (singer-songwriter) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Slightly Used (rock) at Moogs Place, Morrisville, 9 p.m. Free.

Sophie Coran, Vallory Falls, Assorted Fruit, Korai (punk) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

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

Swimmer Trio, Josh Dobbs (jam) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

ea Wren (pop, soul) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Tim Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.16

Daly/Coons (acoustic) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

e Nth Power (soul, funk) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $18/$20.

Remi Russin, Fuzzy Bones, Shore Rites (indie rock) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10.

Stephanie Quayle, Joe McGinness (country) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

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

MON.17

July Talk, Mauvey (rock) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $18/$20.

TUE.18

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free. Granville Daze (folk) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Grateful Tuesdays (tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $20.

Heavy Nettles, Good Gravy (bluegrass) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Honky Tonk Tuesday with Queen City Cut-Ups (country) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

WED.19

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

Boyscott , NOVA ONE, No Fun Haus (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Jazz Jam Sessions (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

Jazz Night with Ray Vega (jazz) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

Joywave, Dizzy, Elliot Lee (rock) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $29/$33.

Les Dead Ringers (jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Live Jazz (jazz) at Leunig’s Bistro & Café, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

djs

WED.12

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

WED.19 // JOYWAVE [ROCK]

THU.13

DJ Chaston (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Mi Yard Reggae Night with DJ Big Dog (reggae and dancehall) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 9:30 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

FRI.14

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

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

DJ Kata (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

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

Queer Dance Hour with Genderdeath, Virginia Thick, Twins, Miss Czechoslovakia (DJ) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 10 p.m. $10/$15.

SAT.15

Beyonce vs. Rihanna Dance Party with DJ Ronstoppable (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

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

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

Matt Payne (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Molly Mood (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Pickle Prom with DJ Primary Instinct (DJ) at Pickle Barrel Nightclub, Killington, 8 p.m. Free.

TUE.18

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

WED.19

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

open mics & jams

WED.12

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with JD Tolstoi (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

THU.13

Open Mic (open mic) at Whammy Bar, Calais, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Orlando’s Bar & Lounge, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

SUN.16

Open Mic Night with Justin at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

MON.17

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.18

Open Mic (open mic) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Venetian Soda Open Mic (open mic) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.19

Irish Sessions (Celtic, open mic) at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Lit Club (poetry open mic) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Open Mic (open mic) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Open Mic with JD Tolstoi (open mic) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

comedy

WED.12

Comedy for Peace (comedy) at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Shelburne, 7 p.m. $10.

Comedy Jam (comedy) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 5 p.m. Free.

Indie Team Night (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

THU.13

Kingdom Kids: Home Planet (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10. Mothra! A Storytelling/

Improv Comedy Show (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

FRI.14

Martin Urbano (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $20.

Queer Comedy Hour with Max Higgins, Jenna Perapato, Adison Eyring, David Factor, Keziah Wilde, Nic Sisk (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10/$15.

SAT.15

Are You Garbage? (comedy) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 & 9:15 p.m. $25/$30.

Martin Urbano (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $20.

SUN.16

Comedy Night (comedy) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

WED.19

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.12

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Barrel Room Trivia (trivia) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Nerd Nite Trivia (trivia) at Citizen Cider, Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

Venetian Trivia Night (trivia) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

THU.13

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

The Newest Plays You’ve Never Seen (theater) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.14

Untapped: A Night of Drag & Burly-Q (drag) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7:30 p.m. $12.

MON.17

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.18

Karaoke with Motorcade (karaoke) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

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

Lip Synch Battle (lip synch) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at the Depot, St. Albans, 7 p.m. Free.

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

Tuesday Night Trivia (trivia) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

WED.19

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Nerd Nite Trivia (trivia) at Citizen Cider, Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at Stone Corral, Richmond, 7 p.m. Free.

EVENTS ON SALE NOW

Eco-resiliency Gathering

WED., APR. 12 ONLINE

Mountain Man, Void Bringer & Black Axe

THU., APR. 13

THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

Vermont Pro Wrestling Entertainment presents World of Hurt Wrestling

FRI., APR. 14

DELTA HOTEL, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Berry Galette Workshop

FRI., APR. 14 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

Open Memorial: Remembering in Community

FRI., APR. 14 ONLINE

Deep River - A Spiritual Journey Solaris Vocal Ensemble

FRI., APR. 14

BETHANY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, MONTPELIER

Barre & Brews with Danielle Havens & Local Maverick

SAT., APR. 15; SUN., APR. 16

MAVERICK MARKET AT 110, BURLINGTON

Burlington Choral Society & Onion River Chorus: Deep In Song

SAT., APR. 15

ELLEY-LONG MUSIC CENTER, COLCHESTER

•

•

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REVIEW this music+nightlife

Living Room Romantics, On Fire

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

The local records keep flying onto the music editor’s desk: bluegrass from the southern part of the state, metal from the Northeast Kingdom, hip-hop out of Montpelier. Vermont musicians have been churning out new music, and sometimes two reviews per week just won’t do. Here are six releases from area artists — as well as some expats we like to keep tabs on.

CONANT, Gavia Immer

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

There’s an age-old tradition of rockers breaking away from their loud, bombastic bands to make intimate, softer solo records. Burlington musician Hunter Phelps has been in two of the local scene’s louder bands in the past few years: punk band Mr. Doubtfire and emo act the Silent Mile. Under his new guise as Living Room Romantics, Phelps channels his inner Dashboard Confessional, combining punk energy with singer-songwriter aesthetic and restraint. The result is a strong solo debut showcasing a songwriter in the midst of growth. There’s a real late ’90s/early aughts vibe to the four-song EP’s atmosphere and overall feel. But On Fire is hardly a nostalgia trip.

KEY TRACK: “The Crowd” WHY: Is there a more emo line than “Finally moved on this week / When you became a part of me / I wanna write you poetry / But I can’t, it’s too shitty”? WHERE: livingroomromantics.bandcamp.com

Steve Blair, Code

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

I don’t have any stats, but the number of absolute badasses on the guitar per capita in the Green Mountains must be o the charts. And it’s hard to find a better jazz guitarist than Steve Blair. Known for playing with jazz luminaries such as Michael Brecker, Antonio Sánchez and Andrei Kondakov, as well as fronting his own group, Science Fixion, Blair is also an instructor and the former director of jazz studies at Northern Vermont University. On his latest LP, Code, Blair once again displays frighteningly good skills on the guitar, flying across his fretboard with equal parts energy and eloquence. For all the standard, jazz-oriented signposts that dot the album’s songs — and Blair’s playing, in general — a host of other sonic avenues await in every song, from prog-rock shredding on “Igor” to the new-age slickness of “Tango.” It’s another record from Blair that contains as much highoctane skill as it does a beating heart.

KEY TRACK: “Four on Five” WHY: In this cross between Latin rhythms and jazz fusion, Blair pushes his guitar into strange tonal territory to stunning e ect. WHERE: Spotify

Brunch, Parasocial

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Being a Vermont music critic for years has taught me to view food-based names with a healthy dose of skepticism. The minute you see a band named Crunchy Prawn or the like, you know you’re getting an album full of long, drawn-out and impotent jams. One of the newer acts on the Burlington scene, Brunch, just might change that association. Describing themselves as a “US government psyop,” Brunch steadfastly refuse to adhere to a genre. There’s punk in there, sure. Some angular college rock. But the eight tracks on Parasocial touch down on multiple shores, whether it’s “Man Is Old” dipping a toe in blues or “Ugly” edging into industrial metal territory. It’s a record full of invention and daring, a strident opening statement that can shade toward dissonance at any moment. Recorded by Urian Hackney (Rough Francis, the Armed) at his studio, the Box, Parasocial is one of the stronger, stranger rock albums of the year thus far.

KEY TRACK: “Big Bird” WHY: Brunch combine dreamy shoegaze with a controlled sort of chaos, making for a memorable song. WHERE: brunchtheband.bandcamp.com

Vergennes-based singer-songwriter and banjo player Chad Conant has released his debut solo album as CONANT. Heavily influenced by songwriters John Prine and Gregory Alan Isakov, Conant has created a sun-dappled, foottapping EP full of classic folk and bluegrass sounds. Gavia Immer — Latin for “common loon” — is infused with the feel of the wind, the sound of water and an overarching love for the natural world. It also shows the songwriter’s penchant for folky humor, as displayed on the rollicking “White Trash Toaster.” The tune features musician Colin McCa rey, who pulls double duty as the EP’s producer. McCa rey also coproduced fellow Vermont folk artist Fern Maddie’s stellar Ghost Story, and, in a nice bit of full circle, she shows up as a guest on several songs. Considering Conant only picked up the banjo after his wife bought him one for a recent birthday, it’s impressive how he has developed such a clear playing style and strong songwriting chops.

KEY TRACK: “Hello Wind (featuring Fern Maddie)” WHY: Conant’s banjo peels o a series of ponderous notes that slowly build into a clever lick as he sings of the “celestial comfort from the cold.” WHERE: conantmusic.bandcamp.com

Dos En Uno, Jaguar

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL, VINYL)

Plattsburgh, N.Y., has enjoyed a bit of a rock and roll resurgence of late. Bands such as Shabadü and Ursa and the Major Key have caught some attention, and now Dos En Uno have released their debut record, Jaguar. Mixed and mastered by Jack Endino — renowned for his work with Nirvana and Soundgarden, among others — the record boasts a strong strain of alt-rock DNA and good ol’ fashioned garage rock. The guitars are fuzzy as fuck, the lyrics are full of slacker ennui, and the dynamics are sharp. There are plenty of new sounds, as well, as the band combines a love of ’90s Chilean punk with an urgent, almost danceable sense of energy to create an intriguing kind of poppunk-grunge rock that somehow works.

KEY TRACK: “GMO Child” WHY: Dos En Uno start skanking as they go near full-ska, a brave move from a band full of confidence. WHERE: dosenuno.bandcamp.com

Charlie Hill, Chuck Pond

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

When Charlie Hill’s indie rock band, Bison, split in 2018, I was utterly devastated. The three-piece was the perfect combination of DIIV and Television, and Hill’s vocals and guitars were a big part of it. So when he launched his solo career as Chazzy Lake, playing as an Americana and folk-leaning troubadour, I was initially hesitant to jump on board. I soon discarded any reservations, however, as Hill’s songwriting continued evolving in intriguing ways. A Laurel Canyon sound started working its way into the songs, meshing with Hill’s idiosyncratic style, somewhere between Stephen Malkmus and Father John Misty.

Now plying his trade in Nashville, Tenn., Hill has released Chuck Pond, a record that sounds like a summation of his career thus far, in that it rarely rests in one place for long. From the hazy regret of “Give Two Fucks” to the raw emotion of “Baby’s Arms,” Hill has stories to tell, and he does so with heartbreak and a wry grin.

KEY TRACK: “L.A. Fever” WHY: It’s hard to write a killer “going to L.A.” song, but Hill delivers with lines such as “Yea, we’ve tried every trick in the book to find greener grass / But the longer you keep dead flowers, the more they start to smell like ass.”

WHERE: hillcharlie.bandcamp.com

on screen

Paint ★★★

Ihave a handy Google alert set up to inform me about news stories involving Vermont and film. For the past eight months or so, I’ve been getting nonstop pings about this comedy in which Owen Wilson stars as “Vermont’s No. 1 public television painter.”

Was Paint shot in Vermont? No. (Saratoga Springs, N.Y., got the honors.) Did a Vermont story inspire it? No — the wispyvoiced protagonist is clearly based on Bob Ross, whose PBS show “The Joy of Painting” was filmed in Indiana. Is Paint set in Vermont because “Vermont” is Hollywood shorthand for “cute, quirky and behind the times”? Now I’m going to go with yes, although writer-director Brit McAdams has assured local interviewers that he has only the greatest respect for our state.

We Vermonters can take an extended joke at our expense, right? As long as it’s funny…

The deal

For nearly 30 years, Vermonters have thrilled to the meditative joys of public TV personality Carl Nargle (Wilson), who takes viewers “to a special place” as he crafts landscapes starring Mount Mansfield. While his art is pedestrian at best, his whispery presence has a strange power, and the female sta ers at the station flutter over him like groupies.

Despite Carl’s popularity, the station’s ratings are tanking, so management hires young, hip artist Ambrosia (Ciara Renée), who actually paints things besides Mount Mansfield, to supplement Carl. Overnight, Ambrosia becomes everyone’s favorite. She wins over Carl’s fans and even puts the moves on his ex, Katherine (Michaela Watkins), the station’s general manager, with whom Carl may still secretly be in love.

Carl is facing competition for the first time in his career, and his midlife crisis is no pretty picture.

Will you like it?

Paint gets at something real — a brand of manliness that flourishes mainly in lefty enclaves. With his curly mop, his sandals and sweaters, and his sensitive, new-age homilies, Carl might be mocked in a red state. But in Vermont, he’s a stud, drooled over even by a young station employee (Lucy Freyer) who forsakes a lifetime of veganism to share a fondue pot with him.

With his woozy stoner charm, Wilson is

REVIEW

a natural choice for the role, and he inhabits it fully. Never mind that Carl seems adrift in time, a member of Generation X who can’t use voicemail and has never heard of Uber. In Vermont, such things are possible. We’ve all known Carl Nargles — the only thing missing from the portrait is a “Kill Your Television” bumper sticker. Because there’s truth at the heart of this caricature, there’s also great comic potential — potential that, for the most part, remains unexploited. While Paint’s costumes, production design and performances are on point, its screenplay is woefully thinly sketched out. The plot o ers some fun twists, including a wild climax involving the reckless consumption of edibles in a barn. Yet the viewer struggles to care, because the characters remain on the drawing board.

I’m not saying that absurdist comedy characters should have the depth of Leo Tolstoy’s, but they do need to have enough internal consistency to make us nod in amused recognition when they do something ridiculous. Why do Carl’s die-hard fans immediately forsake him for Ambrosia, who lacks his soothing, soporific qualities? We don’t know. What does Ambrosia herself want from a job at

a dead-end public TV station? We never learn that, either; mostly, she just seems to be horny for every woman on sta .

Carl and Katherine are the only characters with something approaching inner lives, and even they don’t always add up. Carl’s libido, for instance, seems to wax and wane with the needs of a particular scene. Because of all the unknowns in the equation, we don’t feel the tension of the pair’s slowly rekindling romance or of Carl’s conflicts with Ambrosia and station management. And because of that lack of momentum, the scenes begin to feel like disconnected skits that exist mainly to milk the inherent comedy of Carl’s quirks.

Sure, it’s mildly funny to watch Carl serving one of his dates soup in a bread bowl on a TV tray or expressing his dark night of the soul by covering a canvas with black. And his highest ambition — to have his work hung at the “Burlington Museum of Art” — is touchingly modest, much like Paint as a whole.

But modesty isn’t enough to compensate for squandering such a rich premise. In real life, an artist’s ego is a formidable force, even in a supposed cultural backwater. Asking us to swallow the anodyne message that all Carl really needs is love,

Paint is ultimately as forgettable as one of his landscapes.

MARGOT HARRISON margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996; rentable): In its extremely low-key exploration of a small-town subculture, Paint might remind viewers of this Christopher Guest mockumentary, though it doesn’t hit the laughs as consistently.

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY (2004; Paramount+, Pluto TV, rentable): For many years, Will Ferrell was the undisputed king of building an entire zany comedy around a single zany character.

MAN WITH A PLAN (1996; try YouTube and your local library): For homegrown Vermont satire, watch John O’Brien’s deadpan classic about a dairy farmer who runs for Congress. Actual farmer Fred Tuttle, who played the part, went on to defeat a recent transplant to Vermont in a real-life U.S. Senate primary — a publicity stunt that made him the toast of the talk shows.

Wilson plays a Bob Ross look-alike — in Vermont! — in McAdams’ whimsical but airless comedy.

NEW IN THEATERS

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE: Environmental activists plot to disrupt the flow of oil in this thriller from Daniel Goldhaber (Cam), starring Ariela Barer and Kristine Froseth. (103 min, R. Savoy)

MAFIA MAMMA: A soccer mom (Toni Collette) discovers that she’s the heir to an Italian mafia family in this fish-out-of-water comedy from director Catherine Hardwicke. (101 min, R. Capitol, Majestic, Palace, Star, Welden)

THE POPE’S EXORCIST: Russell Crowe plays the Vatican’s chief exorcist in this horror flick inspired by real case files. Julius Avery directed. (103 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Paramount)

RENFIELD: Dracula’s henchman (Nicholas Hoult) tries to get out from under the thumb of his master (Nicolas Cage) in this horror comedy directed by Chris McKay, also starring Awkwafina. (93 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Sunset)

SUZUME: In this animated adventure from Makoto Shinkai (Your Name), two young people try to close mysterious doors that are unleashing disasters on Japan. (122 min, PG. Essex, Majestic)

SWEETWATER: Former Vermonter Martin Guigui directed this biopic of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (Everett Osborne), the first Black player to sign an NBA contract. With Cary Elwes and Eric Roberts. (114 min, PG-13. Essex, Majestic, Palace)

CURRENTLY PLAYING

AIRHHH1/2 Matt Damon plays the salesman who made history by convincing then-rookie Michael Jordan to wear Nikes in this drama directed by Ben Affleck. (112 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Star, Stowe)

COCAINE BEARHH1/2 Elizabeth Banks directed this comedy-thriller about a bear that terrorizes the countryside after going on a coke binge. (95 min, R. Roxy, Sunset; reviewed 3/8)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG

THIEVESHHH1/2 Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez play adventurers in the world of the fantasy roleplaying game. (134 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Playhouse, Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden)

EMILYHHHH Emma Mackey plays Wuthering Heights author Emily Brontë; Frances O’Connor directed. (130 min, R. Catamount)

INSIDEHH1/2 Willem Dafoe plays a thief who finds himself trapped in a penthouse with priceless artworks after his heist goes awry in this thriller from Vasilis Katsoupis. (105 min, R. Savoy)

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4HHHH Keanu Reeves once again plays a hit man battling a global organization in Chad Stahelski’s stylized action flick. (169 min, R. Big Picture, Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Roxy, Stowe, Welden [Wed 12 only])

THE LOST KINGHHH Sally Hawkins plays a woman who becomes obsessed with finding the grave of King Richard III in Stephen Frears’ comedy-drama based on real events. (108 min, PG-13. Savoy)

PAINTHH1/2 Owen Wilson plays “Vermont’s No. 1 public television painter” facing a new rival in this comedy from Brit McAdams (Triviatown). (96 min, PG-13. Roxy; reviewed 4/12)

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIEHH1/2 Chris Pratt voices a Brooklyn plumber in the Mushroom Kingdom in this animated adaptation of the Nintendo game. (92 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Palace, Paramount, Roxy, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

CONVERSATIONS FROM THE OPEN ROAD (Savoy, Thu only)

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCEHHHHH (Roxy)

FARM BOY (Essex, Sat only)

FATHOM’S BIG SCREEN CLASSICS: THE BIG LEBOWSKI 25TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Sun only)

JET LAG (Catamount, Wed 12 only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING 20TH ANNIVERSARY (Essex, Thu only)

THE LOST WEEKEND: A LOVE STORY (Essex, Fri only)

METROPOLITAN OPERA: DER ROSENKAVALIER (Essex, Sat 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

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

*MERRILL’S ROXY CINEMAS: 222 College St., Burlington, 864-3456, merrilltheatres.net

PALACE 9 CINEMAS: 10 Fayette Dr., South Burlington, 864-5610, palace9.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Note: These capsule descriptions are not intended as reviews. Star ratings come from Metacritic unless we reviewed the film (noted at the end of the description). Find reviews written by Seven Days critic Margot Harrison at sevendaysvt.com/ onscreen-reviews.

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Nicolas Cage in Renfield

APRIL 12-19, 2023

WED.12 business

ANALYZING YOUR COMPETITION AND CONDUCTING MARKET

ANALYSIS: Business earners learn tips for scoping out the industry in this Mercy Connections webinar. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 846-7081.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS

NETWORKING

INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Local professionals make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

WORKING LUNCHEON:

HARNESSING YOUR VOICE: Executive coach Mary Putnam speaks at a lunch honoring administrative professionals. National Life Building, Montpelier, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Free. Info, 229-7246.

community

COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY

SHELTER: Locals meet the staff who are working to house homeless neighbors and learn about programs, services and open positions. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

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

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERER’S

GUILD OF AMERICA: Anyone with an interest in the needle arts is welcome to bring a project to this monthly meeting. Holy Family Parish Hall,

Essex Junction, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, gmc.vt.ega@ gmail.com.

etc.

LIFE STORIES WE LOVE

TO TELL: Prompts from group leader Maryellen Crangle inspire true tales, told either off the cuff or read from prewritten scripts. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 2-3:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

film

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

‘THE DISH’: The crew of an out-of-the-way Australian observatory finds itself suddenly crucial to mankind’s first mission to the moon in this 2000 historical comedy. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

ESSENTIALS OF CAMERA

OPERATION: Aspiring photographers and cinematographers learn how to shoot like the pros. RETN & VCAM Media Factory, Burlington, 6-8 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘JET LAG’: This 2002 French romantic comedy sees love take flight when a strike strands a beautician and a businessman at an airport. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: Sparkling graphics and vibrant interviews take viewers on a journey alongside NASA astronauts as they prepare for stranger-than-sciencefiction space travel. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain,

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 Emily Hamilton 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.

Burlington, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN

WORLD 3D’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a mindbending journey into phenomena that are too slow, too fast or too small to be seen by the naked eye. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, noon, 2 & 4 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

NXT ROCKUMENTARY FILM SERIES: ‘FESTIVAL EXPRESS’: The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and other rock superstars board a train tour in this 2003 documentary, the next installment in this screening series from Next Stage Arts and Next Chapter Records. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 387-0102.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: Viewers are plunged into the magical vistas of the continent’s deserts, jungles and savannahs. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: Sandhill cranes, yellow warblers and mallard ducks make their lives along rivers, lakes and wetlands. Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater: A National Geographic Experience, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 11:30 a.m., 1:30

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 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.

= ONLINE EVENT

& 3:30 p.m. $3-5 plus regular admission, $14.50-18; admission free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: Neighbors share a tasty meal at their local library. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

games

BOARD GAME NIGHT: Lovers of tabletop fun play classic games and new designer offerings. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

MAH-JONGG OPEN PLAY: Weekly sessions of an age-old game promote critical thinking and friendly competition. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

health & fitness

BURLINGTON HASH HOUSE

HARRIERS: Beer hounds of legal age take an invigorating jog along a trail of brews. Ages 21 and up. Oakledge Park, Burlington, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, charissabeer@ gmail.com.

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.

COMMUNITY APRÈS SKI YOGA —

ALL LEVELS: Yogis of all abilities find peace and stillness in a cozy, candlelit scene. Wise Pines, Woodstock, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Free; donations accepted; limited space. Info, 432-3126.

SEATED & STANDING YOGA: Beginners are welcome to grow their strength and flexibility at this supportive class. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: Learners of all abilities practice written and spoken English with trained instructors. Presented by Fletcher Free Library. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: Celticcurious students learn to speak an Ghaeilge in a supportive group. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

PAUSE-MIDI: LISE

VERONNEAU: A Québécois cultural advocate speaks to the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, eriktrinkaus1@gmail.com.

lgbtq

MOMENTUM MONTHLY VIRTUAL SOCIAL HOUR: LGBTQ folks ages 55 and up gather to make new friends and connect with old ones. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, eeka@pridecentervt.org.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: Authors from around the world are on hand at this annual book bash featuring more than 140 events for adults and kids. Virtual programming available. See bluemetropolis.org for full schedule. Various Montréal locations. Prices vary. Info, 438-462-9332.

seminars

HOME BUYING WORKSHOP: A New England Federal Credit Union loan officer guides overwhelmed buyers through the process of finding their dream home. Little Seed Coffee Roasters, Middlebury, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 764-6940.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: Ping-Pong players swing their paddles in singles and doubles matches. Rutland Area Christian School, 7-9 p.m. Free for first two sessions; $30 annual membership. Info, 247-5913.

talks

KEMI FUENTES-GEORGE: The Middlebury College professor digs into the convergent histories of Afro Caribbean music and PanAfrican political theory. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

PATRICK STANDEN: A philosopher and medical ethicist unravels the history of disability as a concept. Presented by Vermont Humanities. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, jpelletier@ vermonthumanities.org.

words

AFTER HOURS BOOK CLUB:

Patrons discuss Born a Crime: Tales From a South African Childhood by outgoing host of The Daily Show Trevor Noah. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

CHARD DENIORD: Vermont’s former poet laureate reads from selected works. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8291.

FARMERS NIGHT: POETRY OUT

LOUD: Students and friends of the annual verse competition read their original works. House Chamber, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 828-2228.

POEMCITY 2023: The beloved local festival of words, hosted by Kellogg-Hubbard Library, fills National Poetry Month with readings, workshops and talks. See kellogghubbard.org for full schedule. Various Montpelier locations. Free; some activities require preregistration. Info, 223-3338.

POETRY POTLUCK: Wordsmiths and readers bring a dish and a poem (their own or others’) to share. Whirligig Brewing, St. Johnsbury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, acampbell@catamountarts.org.

THU.13 agriculture

VEGETABLES & HERBS: Gardeners learn everything they ever wanted to know about getting a great harvest of rare and common crops. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

crafts

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: Yarnsmiths create hats and scarves to be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf. All supplies provided. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-6 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

KNITTING GROUP: Knitters of all experience levels get together to spin yarns. Latham Library, Thetford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

environment

ELIZABETH SPINNEY: An invasive plant coordinator from the state government shares her research on Vermont’s invasive plants and explains why more work is necessary. Presented by Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, info@ friendsofmissisquoi.org.

film

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

‘CRISIS COPS: ERNIE AND JOE’: Howard Center screens a film about two officers trying to overhaul the San Antonio Police Department’s mental health unit. Panel discussion and Q&A follow. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 488-6912.

FLY-FISHING FILM TOUR: Fisherfolk flock together to soak up gorgeous short films from around the world. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $16. Info, 603-448-0400.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: Award-winning movies shot in New England and Québec hit the screen. See vtiff.org for full schedule. See calendar spotlight. Burlington Beer, 3-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 660-2600. ‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘NAVALNY’: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attempts to track down the operatives who poisoned him in this searing thriller of a documentary. Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, 7 p.m. $14-16. Info, 382-9222.

PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL:

Rowers enjoy an evening of adventure films, raffles, refreshments and friends. Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, 7:45 p.m. $10-15. Info, 496-2285.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

FAM FU N

AMI LY

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.12 burlington

You’re an All-Star

Fairy tale-loving kids (and maybe their millennial parents who remember seeing the movie in theaters) flock to Shrek the Musical, the newest production by local performing arts organization Lyric eatre. Audience members laugh, sing and cheer along as the eponymous reclusive ogre finds himself roped into a quest to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona alongside his wisecracking sidekick, Donkey. With original songs galore and an exceedingly eccentric cast of characters, this show about learning to look beyond appearances tickles the funny bones and warms the hearts of audiences young and old.

sing and cheer along as the eponymous reclusive ogre finds songs galore and an exceedingly eccentric cast of characters,

‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’

young

BABYTIME: Librarians bring out books, rhymes and songs specially selected for young ones. Pre-walkers and younger. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

CRAFTERNOON: Crafts take over the Teen Space, from origami to stickers to fireworks in a jar. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

STEAM SPACE: Kids explore science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. Ages 5 through 11. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

BABYTIME: Teeny-tiny library patrons enjoy a gentle, slow story time featuring songs, rhymes and lap play. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

LEGO BUILDERS: Elementaryage imagineers explore, create and participate in challenges.

Ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

ursday, April 13, and Friday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 15, 1 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 16, 1 & 6 p.m., at the Flynn in Burlington. $19-45. Info, 658-1484, lyrictheatrevt.org.

SAT PREP WITH WALKER TUTORING: Tutors Addison and Jacob help high school students get ready for the big exam at monthly sessions. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

‘FINDING HOME’ DROP-IN

WATERCOLOR: Creative kids and caregivers paint their ideas of home for Fair Housing Month. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info,

846-4140.

LEGO TIME:

Builders in kindergarten through fourth grade enjoy an afternoon of imagination and play. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

week. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 10 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

PRESCHOOL PLAY & READ: Outdoor activities, stories and songs get 3- and 4-year-olds engaged. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

‘THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH EDITION’: See WED.12.

manchester/ bennington

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA

Film lovers have a

MOVIE MATINEE: Film lovers have a family-friendly afternoon at this screening of an animated favorite. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

PLAY TIME: Little ones build with blocks and read together. Ages 1 through 4. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1010:45 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT: e

Teen Advisory Board meets over pizza to brainstorm ideas for library programming. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: Kids of all skill levels get one-on-one lessons and play each other in between. Ages 6 and up. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

CHILD CARE FOR VERMONT: THE COURAGE TO CARE RALLY: Families show up for a bill that would invest in Vermont’s child care system. Vermont Statehouse lawn, Montpelier, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, info@letsgrowkids.org.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS: Girls preparing for kindergarten or first grade make friends and learn core linguistic, cognitive and emotional skills over four weeks. Presented by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 603-627-4158.

NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: Nature educator Ange Gibbons teaches kids how to spot animal tracks, build campfires, identify edible plants and

other outdoor skills. Ages 10 through 12. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 3-5:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 426-3581.

mad river valley/ waterbury

LEGO CHALLENGE CLUB: Kids engage in a fun-filled hour of building, then leave their creations on display in the library all month long. Ages 6 through 8. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

‘THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH

EDITION’: Northern Stage’s Youth Ensemble Studio dives into a world of nautical nonsense in this undersea extravaganza. Byrne eater, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction, 7:30 p.m. $19-29. Info, 296-7000.

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR

GRADES 1-4: Students make friends over crafts and story time. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 333-9724.

Teen auteurs learn

how to bring stories to life on camera. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

NEW MOMS’ GROUP: Local doula Kimberleigh Weiss-Lewitt facilitates a community-building weekly meetup for mothers who are new to parenting or the area. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10 a.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

THU.13 burlington

‘SHREK: THE MUSICAL’: Lyric eatre peels back the onion-like layers of everyone’s favorite ogre as he rescues Princess Fiona and gets more than he reckoned for. See calendar spotlight. e Flynn, Burlington, 7:30-10 p.m. $19-45. Info, 658-1484.

PRESCHOOL YOGA: Colleen from Grow Prenatal and Family Yoga leads little ones in songs, movement and other fun activities. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

Williston, 3-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918. play and socialize after music time.

BASSICK: e singer and storyteller extraordinaire leads little ones in indoor music and movement. Birth through age 5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Pre-K patrons play and socialize after music time. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Books, songs, rhymes, sign language lessons and math activities make for well-educated youngsters. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO SAMMY: e erapy Dogs of Vermont emissary is super excited to hear kids of all ages practice their reading. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

FUSE BEAD CRAFTERNOONS: Youngsters make pictures out of colorful, meltable doodads. Ages 8 and up. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: See WED.12. Ages 7 through 9.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Energetic youngsters join Miss Meliss for stories, songs and lots of silliness. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

stowe/smuggs

WEE ONES PLAY TIME: Caregivers bring kiddos 3 and younger to a new sensory learning experience each

FIERY FROGGIES: Local sixth through ninth graders problem solve and learn new skills together in a weekly Lego robotics club. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

FRI.14 burlington

‘SHREK: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.13.

chittenden county

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Imaginative players in grades 5 and up exercise their problem-solving skills in battles and adventures. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP: Teenagers meet new friends and take an active role in their local library. Grades 6 through 12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

STORY TIME & PLAYGROUP:

Participants ages 6 and under hear stories, sing songs and eat tasty treats between outdoor activities. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

upper valley

‘THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH

EDITION’: See WED.12.

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in stories, songs and silliness. Latham Library, etford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

ones. Pre-walkers and younger.

food & drink

FAMILY MEAL: LA CANTINA DE JAMES: Adventure Dinner serves up the next installment in an intimate series of three-course meals, with wine and cocktails available for purchase. Soapbox Arts, Burlington, 5:30-9 p.m. $75; preregister; limited space. Info, 248-224-7539.

OLD NORTH END COMMUNITY

DINNER: A vegetarian holiday meal precedes the Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting. O.N.E. Community Center, Burlington, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 598-3139.

WPP COMMUNITY DINNER: Local chef Alganesh Michael cooks a delicious Ethiopian and Eritrean meal for pickup. Presented by Winooski Partnership for Prevention. O’Brien Community Center, Winooski, 4:30-6 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 655-4565.

games

THE CHECK MATES: Chess players of all ages face off at this intergenerational weekly meetup. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

health & fitness

SIMPLIFIED TAI CHI FOR SENIORS: Eighteen easy poses help with stress reduction, fall prevention and ease of movement. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3:15-4 p.m. Donations accepted. Info, 362-2607.

TAI CHI THURSDAYS: Experienced instructor Rich Marantz teaches the first section of the Yang style tai chi sequence. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 645-1960.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

‘LANDSCAPE GRINDR’: An interdisciplinary theatre performance brings together queer and trans artists to tell a story about sexual identity and sexual violence. La Chapelle, Montréal, 7:30 p.m. $1530. Info, 514-843-7738.

music

‘FRUITS FROM THE RANDOM

TREE: FAVORITES FROM MY

NOTEBOOK’: Pianist Eliza Thomas plays an intimate concert on a new grand piano. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-12:45 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 223-3631.

GIRL NAMED TOM: The first vocal trio to ever win The Voice hits the road running with heart-melting harmonies. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $25-40. Info, 775-0903.

JAZZ AT THE LANTERN: RAY

VEGA QUINTET: The Nuyorican outfit presents an evening of funky original tunes. The Brass

Lantern Inn, Stowe, 6:30-8 p.m. $25-50; preregister; cash bar. Info, 253-2229.

WINDHAM CHAMBER SINGERS: An accomplished ensemble sings to high heaven. Waitsfield United Church of Christ & Village Meeting House, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 207-239-8446.

politics

THOUGHT CLUB: Artists and activists convene to engage with Burlington‘s rich tradition of radical thought and envision its future. Democracy Creative, Burlington, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, tevan@democracycreative.com.

seminars

BUYING & SELLING YOUR HOME:

ASK THE PROFESSIONALS: An expert panel illuminates the ideal timing for a sale, how to prep for the process, and secrets of the market. New England Federal Credit Union, Williston, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 764-6940.

HOW TO SURVIVE IN A HIGH-COST ENVIRONMENT: New England Federal Credit Union experts teach webinar attendees how to cope with inflation through careful spending strategies. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 764-6940.

tech

Crime and Dandy

TECH TOOLS FOR BIRDERS: EBIRD APP:

Bridget “the Bird Diva” Butler shows attendees how their phones can contribute to avian research. Presented by Green Mountain Audubon Society. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, gmas@greenmountain audubon.org.

theater

‘PASS OVER’: Waiting for Godot meets Do the Right Thing in Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s powerful new play about two young Black men hoping for a better life. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10-30. Info, 229-0492.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: The Parish Players present a romantic tragedy adapted by Lebanon, N.H., playwright Steve LeBlanc from Alexander Pushkin’s novel Eugene Onegin, scored by an eight-piece live orchestra. See calendar spotlight. Eclipse Grange Theater, Thetford, 7 p.m. $7.50-20. Info, 785-4344.

‘A WOMAN LEFT LONELY’: Three of Tennessee Williams’ iconic heroines unite in this medley of short scenes presented as the senior thesis of student Victoria Keith. Hepburn Zoo, Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College, 7:30 p.m. $5. Info, 443-5806.

words

GEOF HEWITT: The prominent slam poet discusses how performance, spoken word and experimental styles have opened the doors to more people enjoying poetry, Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, noon1 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

food & drink

DISTILLED SESSIONS: Live music underscores a smorgasbord of elevated spirits and snacks from Luiza’s Homemade Pierogi. Wild Hart Distillery, Shelburne, 6-10 p.m. Free. Info, info@wildhart distillery.com.

health & fitness

ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

EXERCISE PROGRAM: Those in need of an easy-on-the-joints workout experience an hour of calming, low-impact movement. Waterbury Public Library, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

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.

lgbtq

OUT IN BRADFORD: LGTBQ folks and allies make new friends at a casual, tea-fueled hangout. Vittles House of Brews, Bradford, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, connect@ vittlesespresso.com.

Lebanon, N.H., writer Steve LeBlanc started writing The Silenced Lyre, a musical adaptation of Eugene Onegin, seminal Russian author Alexander Pushkin’s novel in verse, more than 20 years ago. Now, this massive project finally sees the stage, courtesy of community theater troupe the Parish Players. The Victorian-era tragedy follows a conceited St. Petersburg dandy whose rejection of a young, lovestruck woman sets in motion a series of events that ends with heartbreak, murder and ruin. Stunning choreography and a sweeping score played by a live eight-piece orchestra complete the period-piece picture.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’

Thursday, April 13, through Saturday, April 15, 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 16, 2 p.m., at Eclipse Grange Theater in Thetford. See website for additional dates. $7.50-20. Info, 785-4344, parishplayers.org.

LIVE POETRY AT THE FRONT: BOB MESSING + VINI K.D.: Two local poets read from their work. The Front, Montpelier, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 505-5596.

MORNING BOOK GROUP: Readers start the day off right with a lively discussion of Oksana, Behave! by Maria Kuznetsova. ADA accessible. Virtual option available. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

NO PRESSURE BOOK

GROUP: There are no rules and no assignments in this virtual book club, at which readers discuss old favorites, current obsessions and recent recommendations. Presented by Waterbury Public Library. 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

STEVE GOLIN: An activist author reads from his recent book, Women Who Invented the Sixties: Ella Baker, Jane Jacobs, Rachel Carson and Betty Friedan. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

FRI.14 crafts

FIBER ARTS FRIDAY: Knitters, crocheters, weavers and felters chat over their projects of the day at this weekly meetup. Waterbury Public Library, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

SCRAPBOOKING GROUP: Cutters and pasters make new friends in a weekly club. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 549-4574.

dance

ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE: Locals get their Jane Austen on at a British ball where all the dances are run through beforehand. Wear casual, comfortable clothes. ElleyLong Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, newcomers’ lesson, 6:30 p.m.; dance, 7-9:30 p.m. $10-15; preregister. Info, val.medve@gmail.com.

SPAELIMENNINIR: The longtime Nordic band plays polkas and waltzes from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 7 p.m. $20. Info, 229-1403.

etc.

OPEN MIC NIGHT… LIVE AND IN PERSON!: Poets and singers and comedians, oh my! Locals share their talents at an all-ages evening. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 6-8:30 p.m. Free; preregister to perform. Info, librarian@thetfordlibrary.org.

film

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

FIRST DAY ON SET: GETTING STARTED IN THE FILM INDUSTRY: Women in Film and Video New England president emerita Alecia Orsini walks workshop attendees through the skills and knowledge necessary to becoming a production assistant. RETN & VCAM Media Factory, Burlington, 10 a.m.-noon. Donations; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See THU.13, 12:30-9 p.m.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

‘LANDSCAPE GRINDR’: See THU.13.

music

CHOIR OF CLARE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE: Award-winning singers present a program of works from across the pond and right here in the U.S. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on the Green, Middlebury, 7:30-9:15 p.m. $15-20. Info, 382-9222.

CONCERT BAND: Student musicians highlight works that capture motion and emotion. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

‘DEEP RIVER: A SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY’: Solaris Vocal Ensemble and guest saxophonist Clayton Hamilton perform stirring spirituals and early American hymns. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $5-30. Info, tickets@solaris ensemble.org.

AN EVENING OF DINNER AND MUSIC: Acoustic performer Patrick Ross soundtracks a spring fling celebrating the reopening of the rebranded Barnet Village Church. Church Street Meetinghouse, Barnet, 5:30-9 p.m. $5-10 for dinner; donations for concert. Info, 274-6071.

MILTON BUSKER & THE GRIM WORK: The Vermont band introduces audiences to “suit-folk” — that is, songs of the people if they got dressed up for a night out. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

MUSIC MATTERS CONCERT

SERIES: MIGHTY MYSTIC: The Jamaican reggae act raises funds for musical instruments for students at Waits River Valley School.

Fairlee Town Hall Auditorium, 6 p.m. Donations. Info, matt@ rootedentertainment.com.

sports WORLD OF HURT WRESTLING: Vermont Pro Wrestling Entertainment debuts with a bang, featuring a live throwdown between Fandango and Big Trouble Ben Bishop. Delta Hotels Burlington, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $35-55. Info, gary_hathaway@ hotmail.com.

talks

VIRTUAL OWL FRIDAY: OWL RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S GREAT GRAY OWLS AND TREE SNAGS: Vermont Institute of Natural Science hosts a presentation on a yearslong research project tracking birds and the trees they call home. 6-7 p.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 359-5000.

theater

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.13.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: See THU.13.

‘A WOMAN LEFT LONELY’: See THU.13, 7:30 & 10 p.m.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND

FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: Bibliophiles browse thousands of gently used page-turners, CDs, DVDs and puzzles, with proceeds benefiting library programs and collections. Limit two bags per family. Rutland Free Library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations. Info, 773-1860.

MRV POETRY SLAM: Geof Hewitt hosts a showcase where wordsmiths ages 8 and up can share two original poems up to three minutes in length each. Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield, 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 496-4205.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

SPRING USED BOOK SALE: The Friends of the South Burlington Public Library sell off used books in great condition for low prices. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-5 p.m. Free. Info, 522-5200.

WRITE TIME: Trained instructor

Mary Ann Fuller Young leads a supportive workshop for anyone looking to explore the craft of writing. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1:15-2:45 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

SAT.15 community

VERMONT ITALIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION 40TH

ANNIVERSARY GALA: Food, drink and cultural performances benefit the Association’s scholarships and grants. The Essex Resort & Spa, 5-8 p.m. $55; cash bar. Info, vtitalianculturalassoc@ gmail.com.

dance

BALFOLK WORKSHOP: Locals learn the dance traditions of France, Brittany and beyond, set to music by trio Triton and student musicians. Middlebury College Chateau Grand Salon, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5221.

‘DIASPORA!’: Grimm Noir hosts and Rain Supreme headlines this ecstatically erotic all-Black burlesque show. Ages 18 and up. BYOB. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 8-10:30 p.m. $20. Info, 391-9090.

LET’S DANCE!: DJ Disco Phantom fills the dance floor thanks to beloved classics and up-andcoming hits. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 8-11 p.m. $5-10. Info, 533-2000.

MONTPELIER CONTRA DANCE: To live tunes and gender-neutral calling, dancers balance, shadow and do-si-do the night away. N95, KN94, KN95 or 3-ply surgical masks required. Capital City Grange, Berlin, beginners’ lesson, 7:40 p.m.; dance, 8-11 p.m. $5-20. Info, 225-8921.

fairs & festivals

HELLO SPRING FAIR: Specialty vendors and crafters purvey their goods at a benefit bazaar for Homeward Bound. Granville Town Hall, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 349-9329.

film

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

‘DER ROSENKAVALIER’: Soprano

Lise Davidsen sings the lead in Strauss’s comic opera about matters of the heart, filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, noon. $23. Info, 775-0903. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See THU.13, 12:30-9 p.m.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

MEDIA FACTORY ORIENTATION: Once aspiring filmmakers have taken this virtual tour of the Media Factory studio, they have access to the full suite of gear and facilities. 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

food & drink

11 BRAVO RELEASE PARTY: Troy Millette, Bad Horsey and Jerborn entertain revelers at a can debut shindig supporting the Josh Pallotta Fund. 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 1 p.m. Free. Info, 752-5370.

ADVENTURE DINNER ’90S

SPRING BREAK POOL PARTY: Diners dress in their best neon bathing suits and party like it’s 1999 at a multicourse Caribbean poolside meal. The Essex Resort & Spa, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $99.19; preregister; limited space. Info, 248-224-7539.

CALCUTTA NIGHT FUNDRAISER:

MMU Project Graduation holds a fundraising soirée and silent auction. Catamount Country Club, Williston, 5:30 p.m. $130-150. Info, jamesvpolli@gmail.com.

CAPITAL CITY WINTER FARMERS

MARKET: Root veggies, honey, maple syrup and more change hands at an off-season celebration of locally grown food. Caledonia Spirits, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, manager@ montpelierfarmersmarket.com.

DYNGUS DAY: Bavarian band Inseldudler soundtracks a delectable celebration of the Polish American post-Easter festival. Simple Roots Brewing, Burlington, 5-9 p.m. Free. Info, simplerootsbrewing@gmail.com.

A TASTE OF ABYSSINIA ROTARY FUNDRAISER TAKEAWAY

DINNER: James Beard Awardnominated chef Alganesh Michael doles out Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes in support of humanitarian efforts in Haiti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Ukraine. Preorder by April 13. The Mill Market and Deli, South Burlington, 4:30-6:30 p.m. $25; preregister. Info, sereke@yahoo. com.

games

BEGINNER DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Waterbury Public Library game master Evan Hoffman gathers novices and veterans alike for an afternoon of virtual adventuring. Teens and adults welcome. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

CHESS CLUB: Players of all ages and abilities face off and learn new strategies. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

= ONLINE EVENT SAT.15 » P.72

‘LANDSCAPE GRINDR’: See THU.13.

music

‘THE BEAUTY WE LOVE’: Grammy Award-winning cellist Eugene Friesen and singer-songwriter Elizabeth Rogers offer an intimate, coffeehouse-style concert. Unitarian Church of Rutland, 7:309:30 p.m. $15-20. Info, 775-0850.

CAPITAL CITY CONCERTS:

‘MAGNIFICENT MASTERPIECES’: This season finale show features quartets and quintets led by violinist Laurie Smukler. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7:30-9 p.m. $15-30. Info, info@capitalcityconcerts.org.

COLLEGIATE A CAPPELLA

BENEFIT CONCERT: The Vassar Devils, UMass Vocal Suspects, Shades of Yale and others sing to raise funds for the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Latchis Hotel & Theater, Brattleboro, 7:30 p.m. $10-40. Info, 257-0124.

‘DEEP IN SONG’: Burlington Choral Society and Onion River Chorus raise their voices to traditional and new songs from Ukraine. Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, 7:30 p.m. $25. Info, bcssingers@gmail. com.

‘DEEP RIVER: A SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY’: See FRI.14. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of St. Albans, 7:30 p.m.

RANI ARBO & DAISY MAYHEM: Four-part harmonies, eclectic percussion and unforgettable songs are the hallmarks of this New England-based folk quartet. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7:30 p.m. $22-25. Info, 387-0102.

THE STRAGGLERS: Audiences can’t stay in their seats when this bluegrass band takes to the stage. Vergennes Opera House, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $15; cash bar. Info, 877-6737.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Yutaka Kono conducts an evening of captivatingly diverse jazz and classical music. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

‘WHERE DOES THE MUSIC COME

FROM?’: The merry singers of Social Band take to the stage for a concert celebrating the tunes of Vermont composers Don Jamison, Pete Sutherland, Michael Kellogg and Bruce Chalmer. Richmond Free Library, 7:30-9 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Info, 355-4216.

‘WHISPERS FROM THE PAST’: Temple Trio marks Holocaust

Remembrance day with a candlelit concert evoking both sorrow and hope. Havurah: The Addison County Jewish Congregation, Middlebury, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 829-8168.

YOUNG TRADITION VERMONT

TOURING GROUP: Twenty teen musicians delight viewers with a recital of songs from New England, the British Isles and Cape Breton. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7 p.m. $10. Info, ytvmanager@gmail.com.

talks

BEN KILHAM: A renowned black bear researcher explains the misunderstood animals’ social patterns, from altruism to matrilineal hierarchies. Sugarbush Resort, Warren, 3-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 496-9127.

theater

‘BED SHEET INTERPRETATIONS’: Bread & Puppet Theater presents a performance that evolves into something slightly new every week. Free bread and affordable art are on sale after the show.

Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 525-3031.

NEW DIRECTIONS SPRING

ARTS FESTIVAL: ‘MOMENTARY EXCHANGE’: An app-driven performance takes audiences on a collaborative storytelling journey via prompts on their phones.

Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 3:15-4:15 & 7:15-8:15 p.m. Free. Info, 443-6433.

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.13.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: See THU.13.

‘A WOMAN LEFT LONELY’: See THU.13.

words

FRIENDS OF THE RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: See FRI.14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

SPRING USED BOOK SALE: See FRI.14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WRITERS’ WERTFREI: Authors both fledgling and published gather to share their work in a judgment-free environment. Virtual option available. Waterbury Public Library, 10 a.m.noon. Free; preregister. Info, judi@ waterburypubliclibrary.com.

SUN.16

crafts

EVE JACOBS-CARNAHAN: Activists and craftivists learn about the history of politically active knitters while working together on a banner for Warren’s Independence Day parade. Moretown Town Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, eve@evejacobscarnahan.com.

etc.

MISS VERMONT AND MISS VERMONT’S OUTSTANDING

TEEN: Contestants compete to represent the Green Mountains at the 2023 Miss USA pageant. Live stream available. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 2 p.m. $25-45. Info, 760-4634.

film

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

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See THU.13, 12:30-8:30 p.m.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12.

Local Talent

Vermonters love eating local — including when it comes to their media diets. The Made Here Film Festival, the only cinematic shindig dedicated entirely to films made in New England and Québec, returns to the Queen City this week with a smorgasbord of screenings. There’s something for every taste, including shorts about plus-size power lifters and Vermont Christmas tree salesmen, a comedy about a 12-year-old trying to convince her parents to get divorced, and a documentary about online misogynistic violence. Those who can’t make it to the in-person events have access to a full week of virtual screenings.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL

Thursday, April 13, through Sunday, April 16, at Burlington Beer; and Monday, April 17, through Wednesday, April 19, online. See website for full schedule and additional dates. Free; donations accepted. Info, 660-2600, vtiff.org.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

food & drink

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

DEGOESBRIAND COUNCIL 279

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Hungry locals pile their plates with flapjacks, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and Vermont maple syrup. Cathedral of St. Joseph, Burlington, 9-11:30 a.m. $10-25. Info, 862-5109.

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.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

music

‘DEEP IN SONG’: See SAT.15. Montpelier High School, 4 p.m.

‘DEEP RIVER: A SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY’: See FRI.14. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 4 p.m.

RANI ARBO & DAISY MAYHEM: See SAT.15. Presented by Valley Stage. Richmond Congregational Church, 4-6 p.m. $15-25. Info, 434-4563.

VERMONT WIND ENSEMBLE: Flutes, oboes and tubas sing out during a program including compositions for dancing from Armenia to American Shaker communities. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

WESTFORD MUSIC SERIES: BUCK

HOLLERS BAND: The fun-loving heartland rock outfit keeps things lively. Westford Common Hall, 4-5 p.m. Donations. Info, 363-0930.

‘WHERE DOES THE MUSIC COME FROM?’: See SAT.15. United Church of Hinesburg, 3-4:30 p.m.

‘WHISPERS FROM THE PAST’: See SAT.15. Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, 4-6 p.m. Info, 829-8168.

YAMATO: THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN: Athleticism and precision are on display in this soul-stirring performance. Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, 7-9 p.m. $15-52; free for kids. Info, 748-2600.

talks

NIELS RINEHART: An archaeologist reviews the findings of excavations at the Homestead

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: See THU.13, 2 p.m.

words

DAN CHODORKOFF: A local writer reads from his recent novel, Sugaring Down which tells the story of two urban activists as they try to establish a commune in 1960s Vermont. Old Labor Hall, Barre, 3 p.m. Free. Info, 485-4554. POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

MON.17 crafts

FIBER ARTS FREE-FOR-ALL: Makers make friends while working on their knitting, sewing, felting and beyond. Artistree Community Arts Center Theatre & Gallery, South Pomfret, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, theknittinkittenvt@ gmail.com.

HAND-STITCHING GROUP:

Embroiderers, cross-stitchers and other needlework aficionados chat over their latest projects. Waterbury Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 720-984-3083.

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: See THU.13.

KNIT WITS: Fiber working friends get together to make progress on their quilts, knitwear and needlework. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

film

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

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM

between 1979 and 1997. Virtual option available. Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 865-4556.

theater

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.13, 2-4 p.m.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

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

film

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

FESTIVAL: The local cinema celebration goes virtual. See vtiff.org for all offerings. Presented by Vermont International Film Foundation. Free; donations accepted. Info, 660-2600.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

games

CANASTA MASTERS: Players of all experience levels are dealt in to this Uruguayan card game. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, noon-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, robynlehrlich@gmail.com.

health & fitness

ADVANCED TAI CHI: Experienced movers build strength, improve balance and reduce stress. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, jerry@ skyrivertaichi.com.

LAUGHTER YOGA: Spontaneous, joyful movement and breath promote physical and emotional health. Pathways Vermont, Burlington, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, chrisn@pathwaysvermont.org.

LONG-FORM SUN 73: Beginners and experienced practitioners learn how tai chi can help with arthritis, mental clarity and range

Still from "Taking Up Space"

of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@ gmail.com.

YANG 24: This simplified tai chi method is perfect for beginners looking to build strength and balance. Congregational Church of Middlebury, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@gmail.com.

lgbtq

GLOW GAME NIGHT: LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary folks enjoy an evening of board and card games. Pride Center of Vermont, Burlington, 5-7 p.m. Free. Info, 860-7812.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

music

‘WHISPERS FROM THE PAST’: See SAT.15. Temple Sinai, South Burlington, 7-9 p.m.

seminars

FAIR HOUSING & TENANT SKILLS: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Renters learn everything they need to know about tenant rights, fair housing law, eviction prevention and beyond. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

words

ADDISON COUNTY WRITERS

COMPANY: Poets, playwrights, novelists and memoirists of every experience level meet weekly for an MFA-style workshop. Swift House Inn, Middlebury, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, jay@zigzaglitmag.org.

HANDS-ON POETRY WITH MEG

REYNOLDS: Rookies explore verse in all its forms. Ages 13 and up. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-4918.

‘THE MOST COSTLY JOURNEY’ + MILK WITH DIGNITY CAMPAIGN:

Migrant Justice representatives lead a riveting conversation about the 2022 Vermont Reads pick. Phoenix Books, Essex, 6-8 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

TUE.18 agriculture

VEGETABLE BREEDING AND SEED SAVING: TIPS FROM A

PRO: Home gardeners learn how to cross-breed their own crops. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

business

HOW THEY BUILT IT SPEAKER

SERIES: TINY COMMUNITY

KITCHEN: Queen City business owners share their stories and inspire entrepreneurs to pursue their own dreams. Maverick Market at 110, Burlington, 6 p.m. $10. Info, info@localmaverickus. com.

community

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP: Brownell Library hosts a virtual roundtable for neighbors to pause and reflect on the news cycle. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6955.

KIDSAFE COLLABORATIVE OUTSTANDING SERVICE

AWARDS: Area professionals and volunteers receive recognition for their contributions to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. Live stream available. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 9-11 a.m. $10-25. Info, 863-9626.

NORTHFIELD: OUR COMMUNITY

FUTURE: The Vermont Council on Rural Development hosts a forum for neighbors to offer ideas on the future of their town. Northfield Middle and High School, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 223-6091.

dance

MORRIS & MORE: Dancers of all abilities learn how to step, clog and even sword fight their way through medieval folk dances of all kinds. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 6 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

SWING DANCING: Local Lindy hoppers and jitterbuggers convene at Vermont Swings’ weekly boogie-down. Bring clean shoes. Beginner lessons, 6:30 p.m. Champlain Club, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘THE DARK KNIGHT’: Heath Ledger’s iconically evil Joker faces off against Christian Bale’s gravelly Batman in this modern classic of superhero cinema. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, mariah@mainstreetlanding.com.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See MON.17.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

SENIOR MOVIE MORNING: The Thetford Elder Network hosts a screening of The Straight Story for neighbors to connect over. Latham Library, Thetford, 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

food & drink

APRIL WINE PAIRING DINNER: A six-course seasonal menu pairs perfectly with libations sure to satisfy any foodie. The Main Dining Room at the Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 6:30 p.m. $120; preregister; limited space. Info, reservations@trappfamily.com.

health & fitness

TAI CHI TUESDAY: Patrons get an easy, informal introduction to this ancient movement

practice that supports balance and strength. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 9-10:15 a.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 362-2607.

language

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: Instructor Andrea Thulin helps non-native speakers build their vocabulary and conversation skills. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:307 p.m. Free. Info, 549-4574.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

music

COMMUNITY SINGERS: A weekly choral meetup welcomes all singers to raise their voices along to traditional (and notso-traditional) songs. Revels North, Lebanon, N.H., 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

CONCERT CHOIR & CATAMOUNT

SINGERS: Andrea Maas conducts a diverse selection of songs by unique and experimental composers. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

tech

AUDIO EDITING WITH AUDACITY: Prospective podcasters learn how to edit interviews and recordings using a free program. RETN & VCAM Media Factory, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 651-9692.

HARDWARE MEETUP: Fans of nuts, bolts and beyond get together for a night of talks, demonstrations, refreshments and new friends. Generator, Burlington, 6-9 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 540-0761.

theater

‘CROSS THAT RIVER’: RESCHEDULED. Inspired by true stories, this staging of a musical by Harlem composer Allan Harris follows Blue as he escapes slavery to become a cowboy in the Wild West. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 7 p.m. $25-35. Info, 760-4634.

words

BOOK CLUB BUFFET ONLINE: Readers dig into Thi Bui’s The Best We Could Do over lunch. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

HISTORY BOOK CLUB: Readers time travel through Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder and Surviving Vladimir Putin’s Wrath by Bill Browder. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, davidnichols1148@ gmail.com.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

VIRGINIA WOOLF BOOK

DISCUSSION: The Burlington Literature Group reads and analyzes the foundational author’s novels Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and The Waves over nine weeks. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, info@ nereadersandwriters.com.

WINE & STORY: Lovers of libations and tellers of tales gather for an evening of good company. Shelburne Vineyard, 7:30 p.m. $5. Info, 863-1754.

WED.19 business

GOOD NAKED: Author Joni B. Cole offers writing prompts to help workshop attendees jump-start the goal-setting process. Presented by Women Business Owners Network Vermont. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 503-0219.

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL

GROUP: See WED.12.

conferences

BREAKING BARRIERS: FINDING

PURPOSE AND POSSIBILITIES

TOGETHER: Howard Center presents its annual mental health conference, featuring such speakers as Nadine Burke Harris, Dacher Keltner and BJ Miller. Live stream available. DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $199; preregister. Info, 488-6912.

film

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

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN FILM SERIES: ‘MAU: DESIGN THE TIME

Berlin, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, mike@vtchess.info.

stowe/smuggs

OF YOUR LIFE’: This playful portrait of visionary graphic designer Bruce Mau caps off season 10 of this BCA screening series. Virtual option available. Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.12.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See MON.17.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.12.

‘POETIC JUSTICE’: Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur play a poet and a postal worker in this 1993 romance. Catamount Arts Center,

chittenden county

‘AN AMERICAN IN PARIS’: See SAT.15. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: Kids 5 and under play, sing, hear stories and take home a fun activity. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 745-1391.

manchester/ bennington

YOUNG ADULT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Teens battle beasts with swords and spellbooks in this campaign designed to accommodate both drop-in and recurring players. Ages 12 through 16. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 549-4574.

SAT.15 burlington

‘SHREK: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.13, 1-3:30 & 7:30-10 p.m.

DAD GUILD SPRING CHILDREN’S FLEA

MARKET: Parents of babies and toddlers buy, sell and swap gently used clothing, toys and supplies. Integrated Arts Academy, H.O. Wheeler Elementary School, Burlington, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, info@dadguild.org.

FAMILY PLAYSHOP: Kids from birth through age 5 learn and play at this school readiness program. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

LEGO TIME AT THE NEW NORTH END: Kids ages 4 through 11 build blocky creations at the library’s new location. Fletcher Free Library New North End Branch, Burlington, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

LEGO FUN: Wee builders of all ages construct creations to be displayed in the library. Children under 8 must bring a caregiver. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

VERMONT SCHOLASTIC HIGH

SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHESS

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Students in sixth through 12th grade checkmate their way to the grand prize. Capital City Grange,

MUSICAL STORY TIME: Song, dance and other tuneful activities supplement picture books for kids 2 through 5. Morristown Centennial Library, Morrisville, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 888-3853.

mad river valley/ waterbury

‘AN AMERICAN IN PARIS’: Seven teen singers from Youth Opera Company of Vermont weave classic scenes and songs into the story of a student studying abroad. Waterbury Congregational Church, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 999-2357.

MONTHLY PLAYGROUP: Parents and caregivers connect while their young kids explore collaborative play. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper

valley

‘THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH

EDITION’: See WED.12, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

OWL FESTIVAL: The nature center’s nocturnal neighbors take over for a hoot-enanny featuring meet and greets, story times, and other science activities. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $15-18; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.

manchester/ bennington

NOTORIOUS RPG: Kids 10 through 14 create characters and play a collaborative adventure game similar to Dungeons & Dragons. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 362-2607.

STEAM SATURDAY: Little ones play around with foundational science and art fun. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 362-2607.

SUN.16

burlington

‘SHREK: THE MUSICAL’: See THU.13, 1-3:30 & 6-8:30 p.m.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUNDAY: Folks of all ages with sensory processing differences have the museum to themselves, with adjusted lights and sounds and trusty sensory backpacks. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 9-10 a.m. Free; preregister. Info, kvonderlinn@echovermont.org.

barre/montpelier

DANCE, SING AND JUMP AROUND: Movers and shakers of all ages learn line dances and singing games set to joyful live music. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 3-4:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation; free for kids. Info, 223-1509.

upper valley

‘THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: YOUTH EDITION’: See WED.12, 2 p.m.

MON.17

burlington

STORIES WITH SHANNON: Bookworms ages 2 through 5 enjoy fun-filled reading time. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

FIADHNAIT MOSER: The local author answers kids’ and teens’ questions about writing and getting published. Grades 4 and up. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

READ TO A DOG: Kids of all ages get a 10-minute time slot to tell stories to Lola the pup. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: See FRI.14, 2-2:30 p.m.

DANCE PARTY MONDAYS: Little ones 5 and under get groovy together. Siblings welcome. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

TUE.18

NURTURING A CHILD’S SENSE OF WONDER DISCUSSION SERIES: Fletcher Free Library and the Four Winds Nature Institute teach parents and caregivers of preschoolers how to encourage curiosity and outdoor play over three classes. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 863-3403.

burlington

FREE BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS WITH ARAM BEDROSIAN FROM BURLINGTON

MUSIC DOJO: Budding musicians ages 11 through 18 learn the basics of picking

St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.12.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.12.

food & drink

COMMUNITY SUPPER: See WED.12.

COOK THE BOOK: Home chefs make a recipe from Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files by Deb Perelman and share the dish at a potluck. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

and strumming. Students highly encouraged to BYO guitar. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 540-2546.

LEGO ROBOTICS: Building and programming with the UVM STEM Ambassadors keep youngsters ages 8 through 14 engaged. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

SING-ALONG WITH LINDA BASSICK: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers sing, dance and wiggle along with Linda. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

chittenden county

PLAYGROUP & FAMILY SUPPORT: Families with children under age 5 play and connect with others in the community. Winooski Memorial Library, 10-11 a.m. Free. Info, 655-6424.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Little ones enjoy a cozy session of reading, rhyming and singing. Birth through age

5. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

TODDLERTIME: Kids ages 1 through 3 and their caregivers join Miss Alyssa for a lively session of stories, singing and wiggling. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: See WED.12.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See THU.13.

ROBIN’S NEST NATURE PLAYGROUP: Outdoor pursuits through fields and forests captivate little ones up to age 5 and their parents. North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, 10 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-6206. mad

river valley/ waterbury

POKÉMON CLUB: I choose you, Pikachu! Fans of the franchise discuss their favorite cards, games and TV episodes in this monthly activity group. Ages 6 and up. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

HOMESCHOOL BOOK FAIR: Home learners present art, dioramas and presentations based on one of their favorite books. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 745-1391.

games

MAH-JONGG OPEN PLAY: See WED.12.

PUZZLE SWAP: Folks of all ages looking for a new challenge trade their old puzzles, accompanied by a picture and stored in a resealable bag. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

health & fitness

BURLINGTON HASH HOUSE

HARRIERS: See WED.12. Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.12.

manchester/ bennington

STORY TIME: Youth librarian Carrie leads little tykes in stories and songs centered on a new theme every week. Birth through age 5. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

WED.19 burlington

BABYTIME: See WED.12.

CRAFTERNOON: See WED.12. STEAM SPACE: See WED.12.

chittenden county

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY: STEAM FUN: Little engineers and artists gather for some afternoon excitement. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

BABYTIME: See WED.12.

COMICS CLUB!: Graphic novel and manga fans in third through sixth grades meet to discuss current reads and do fun activities together. Hosted by Brownell Library. Essex Teen Center, Essex Junction, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

LEGO BUILDERS: See WED.12.

PLAY TIME: See WED.12.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: See WED.12. MAKE NEW FRIENDS: See WED.12. NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: See WED.12.

mad river valley/ waterbury

TEEN ART CLUB: Crafty young’uns ages 12 through 18 construct paper jellyfish lanterns to bring underwater ambience to their bedrooms. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036. upper

valley

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: See WED.12.

manchester/ bennington

MCL FILM CLUB: See WED.12. NEW MOMS’ GROUP: See WED.12. K

COMMUNITY APRÈS SKI YOGA — ALL LEVELS: See WED.12. SEATED & STANDING YOGA: See WED.12.

holidays

‘OUR PLANET: LIVE IN CONCERT’: Featuring narration by David Attenborough and a live score composed by Steven Price, this staging of the hit Netflix nature series is an Earth Day extravaganza like no other. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $40-80. Info, 863-5966.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.12.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.12.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.

5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

lgbtq

THE PLEASURE IS MINE

WORKSHOP: EXPLORING

PLEASURE AFTER HARM: Sex educator Jenna Emerson and trauma therapist Liam Malone teach queer and trans survivors how to pursue sexual satisfaction. Presented by the SafeSpace Anti-Violence

Program at the Pride Center of Vermont. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, safespace@ pridecentervt.org.

THRIVE QTPOC MOVIE

NIGHT: Each month, Pride Center of Vermont virtually screens a movie centered on queer and trans people of color. 6:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, thrive@pridecentervt.org.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: See WED.12.

music

STUDENT PERFORMANCE

RECITAL: University of Vermont music students prove their

chops in a variety of genres. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

UPPER VALLEY CHAMBER

ORCHESTRA: Regional performers charm classical connoisseurs with a concert including works by Richard Strauss and Aaron Copland. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation; free for kids under 18. Info, 603-448-0400.

seminars

CHOOSE HAPPY: APPLYING

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TO EVERYDAY LIFE: Two business coaches present strategies for reducing stress and accessing joy. The Essex Resort & Spa, 6-7:30

p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 230-4710.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE TENNIS CLUB: See WED.12.

talks

WINTER SPEAKER SERIES:

AMANDA KAY GUSTIN: Listeners learn the tale of James Wilson, the Bradford farmer who created the first American globe company. Presented by Vermont Historical Society. noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 479-8500.

words

FFL BOOK CLUB: ‘I AM

NOT SIDNEY POITIER’: Fletcher Free Library patrons

break down Percival Everett’s comic novel about race and class. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, bshatara@ burlingtonvt.gov.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.12.

RAJNII EDDINS: The local spoken word poet performs works from his various collections. Q&A follows. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 229-0492.

TRISH ESDEN: The author launches A Wealth of Deception, the second in her mystery series starring a Vermont antique dealer heroine. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350. ➆

THE FOLLOWING CLASS LISTINGS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS. ANNOUNCE YOUR CLASS FOR AS LITTLE AS $16.75/WEEK (INCLUDES SIX PHOTOS AND UNLIMITED DESCRIPTION ONLINE). SUBMIT YOUR CLASS AD AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTCLASS.

art

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 and adults for classes in drawing, painting and fused glass. Location: Davis Studio, 916 Shelburne Rd., S. Burlington. Info: 802-425-2700, davisstudiovt.com.

MAKE A CERAMIC SMOKING

DEVICE!: Make your own functional piece of pottery — a ceramic smoking device! Open to all skill levels, we’ll take you through each step, learning a variety of handbuilding techniques and ways to explore shape, texture and pattern to create and personalize a unique pipe. Ages 21+. u. 4/20, 6-8:30 p.m. Cost: $75/2.5-hour class, all materials & firing incl. Location: Blockhouse Studio, 5031 Main St., Waitsfield. Info: Pamela Day, 802496-9508, blockhousevt@gmail. com, blockhousestudio.com.

culinary

FOCACCIA ART WORKSHOP: In this workshop, you will tackle making focaccia bread dough and decorate it your own way with various herbs, veggies and cheeses. You’ll go home with an eight-inch-square pan of focaccia art and the recipe to make it again on your own at home. u., May 4, 5:30 p.m. Cost: $45. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village. Info: 203400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

CLASS: In this workshop, we will talk about what makes this great American classic so irresistible. You will then assemble and decorate your very own eight-slice version to take home and enjoy for the weekend. You will receive a copy of the recipe. Gluten-free cake is available (will contain almond flour). u., Jun. 15, 6 p.m.

Cost: $45. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

THE BASICS OF CAKE

DECORATING: Learn the basics of filling, crumb-coating, getting nice smooth edges and some rosette piping. You’ll take home great new techniques plus a six-inch cake that serves 12. You can select your flavor! Glutenfree, vegan or both are available. Please disclose allergies when

$15. Scholarships/discounts avail. Location: Red Wagon Plants, 2408 Shelburne Falls Rd., Hinesburg. Info: 802-482-4060, info@redwagonplants.com, redwagonplants.com.

language

FREE FRENCH CLASSES:

DJEMBE & TAIKO DRUMMING:

JOIN US!: New classes (outdoors mask optional/masks indoors).

Taiko Tue. and Wed.; Djembe Wed.; Kids & Parents Tue. and Wed. Conga classes by request!

Schedule/register online.

registering. Tue., Jul. 25, 6 p.m.

Cost: $85. Location: Red Poppy Cakery, 1 Elm St., Waterbury Village. Info: 203-400-0700, sevendaystickets.com.

BAKING FUNDAMENTALS FOR YOUTHS: is is a baking camp for kiddos who are curious and interested in learning how to bake from scratch. We’ll learn fundamental skills and techniques while having fun! At the end of the week, your child will have had hands-on experience with classic recipes and different flavors. Jun. 26-30, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every day.

Cost: $225. Location: Richmond Community Kitchen, Richmond. Info: 802-434-3445, sevenday stickets.com.

fitness

FIRST STRIDES VERMONT: A unique beginner running and walking program for women+ based on mentoring, peer support and lifestyle habits. Every Wed. from May 3-Jul. 19, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Cost: $45/1hour session, weekly for 12 weeks.

Location: Williston Recreation Paths, 250 Library Ln., Williston. Info: Kasie Enman, 802-238-0820, firststridesvermont@gmail.com, firststridesvermont.com.

gardening

QUEER BOTANY SERIES: DO PLANTS HAVE GENDER?: is April class focuses on spring flowers and some plants’ ability to change their sex. How do we determine a plant’s sex anyway? We will dive into some fun research and take a closer look at plants that might be poking up through the ground right now. Tue., Apr. 25, 5-6:30 p.m. Cost:

Free 1-hour French for Hospitality classes! e Alliance Française will offer fun and easy ways for you and your business to kindly welcome our many Québec visitors this season. Learn basic French phrases and helpful gestures. Email us today to sign up. Bienvenue! Mon., May 8, 15, 22 & 29, 3:30 p.m. Location: BCA, 2nd Floor, 135 Church St., Burlington. Info: btvescargot@gmail.com.

SPANISH CLASSES FOR ALL

AGES: Premier native-speaking Spanish professor Maigualida Rak is giving fun, interactive online lessons to improve comprehension and pronunciation and to achieve fluency. Audiovisual material is used. “I feel proud to say that my students have significantly improved their Spanish with my teaching approach.” — Maigualida Rak. Location: Online. Info: 802-881-0931, spanishtutor. vtfla@gmail.com, facebook.com/ spanishonlinevt.

martial arts

AIKIDO: THE POWER OF HARMONY: Discover the dynamic, flowing martial art of aikido. Relax under pressure and cultivate core power, aerobic fitness and resiliency. Aikido emphasizes throws, joint locks and internal power. Circular movements teach how to blend with the attack. We offer inclusive classes and a safe space for all. Visitors should watch a class before joining. Beginners’ classes 5 days/ week. Membership rates incl. unlimited classes. Contact us for info about membership rates for adults, youths & families. Location: Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine St., Burlington. Info: Benjamin Pincus, 802-951-8900, bpincus@ burlingtonaikido.org, burlingtonaikido.org.

massage

CHINESE MEDICAL MASSAGE: is program teaches two forms of East Asian medical massage: Tui Na and shiatsu. We will explore Oriental medicine theory and diagnosis, as well as the body’s meridian system, acupressure points, and yin-yang and five-element theory. Additionally, Western anatomy and physiology are taught. VSAC nondegree grants are available. FSMTB-approved program. Starts Sep. 2023. Cost: $6,000/625-hour program. Location: Elements of Healing, 21 Essex Way, Suite 109, Essex Jct. Info: Scott Moylan, 802288-8160, scott@elementsofheal ing.net, elementsofhealing.net.

Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 802-999-4255, spaton55@gmail. com, burlingtontaiko.org.

shamanism

APPRENTICESHIP IN SHAMANISM: Rare opportunity to apprentice locally in a shamanic tradition. Receive personal healing, learn to create your own Mesa, and cultivate a relationship with the unseen world and discover your personal guide(s) who will help you “re-member” your new path of expanding possibilities. Learn more on our website or contact omas. Weekend-long sessions: Jun. 16-18; Sep. 22-24; Jan. 12-14, 2024; Jun. 21-23, 2024.

media making

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MEDIA

MAKING: eme: Music Stories. Join Vermont Folklife to learn about using digital media and community interviewing as tools for social engagement and change. Learn how to conduct and record an oral history interview, then work from that interview recording to edit and complete a polished one- to five-minute digital audio story. Apr. 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., followed by Zoom office hours. Cost: $275/ full-day in-person workshop w/ follow-up over Zoom. Location: ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St., Burlington. Info: Mary Wesley, 802-388-4964, mwesley@ vtfolklife.org, vtfolklife.org/cdmm.

Location: Heart of the Healer, St. Albans. Info: 802-369-4331, thomas.mock1444@gmail.com, heartofthehealer.org.

well-being

ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF ADHD, ANXIETY, LOW SELFESTEEM: Parents and teachers: Discover A Framework for Wise Education, a timeless, practical approach to holistic teaching, parenting and learning based on author Ellen Tadd’s observations of the human energy system, or chakra system, and its fundamental role in healthy human development. Tadd’s insights have provided knowledge and tools to help children and teens gain strength across their chakra system so they can successfully learn, make thoughtful decisions, form healthy relationships and develop their unique gifts. Parents and teachers who utilize the Framework report remarkable results with young people, such as improved selfesteem, focus, selfcontrol and diminished anxiety. Every Tue. through May 30, 7-8:30 p.m. Cost: $490. Location: Online. Info: 802-272-5950, info@creativelives.org, creative lives.org/level-one-training.

yoga

HATHA YOGA CLASSES IN MONTPELIER: Daily evening hatha yoga classes in Montpelier. 26 and 2 series. Call for more information. All levels welcome!

Daily starting Apr. 1, 5:30-7 p.m.

Location: Hatha Yoga, 26 State St., 2nd Floor, Suite 4, Montpelier. Info: 802-223-1987.

DISCOVER SVAROOPA YOGA

Gentle, deep and profound, this unique style of yoga releases the core muscles wrapped around your spine, creating changes in your body and mind. is affects joints, aches, pains and your inner state of mind. Transcend the athleticism of modern yoga by exploring the yogic mystery hidden within. Free half-hour session to learn the basics and propping. New class forming for beginners. Private sessions and yoga therapy also available by appointment. Ongoing classes Sun., 3-4:30 p.m.; & Wed., 6-7:30 p.m. $21 for a single class; $108 for 6-class card to be used within 7 weeks.

Location: Zoom. Info: Annie Ross, E-RYT 500, yoga therapist certified by Svaroopa Vidya Ashram, 802-333-9477, annie@center4 integrativehealth.org.

music

GROOVIN’ THE BLUES: Gain confidence in singing with emotion and groove, hitting the right notes, and accompanying yourself on your ukulele. Our guide will be the 12-bar blues, the bedrock format for country, folk and rock. Unlock greater ease in your ability to sing and play many types of music. Sun., Apr. 16, 2-4:30 p.m.

Cost: $45. Location: Shelburne Municipal Building, Room 2, 5420 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne. Info: ukuleleclare@gmail.com, sevendaystickets.com.

SPRING TO WELL-CLEANSE AND RESET: Motivate, adapt and rejuvenate into wellness! In just 30 to 90 minutes per day, you will explore how to eat in more seasonally and personally appropriate ways, manage uncomfortable symptoms, and create healthier daily routines. You get four community calls, four self-paced yoga and Ayurveda videos, a well-being workbook, daily Q&A support, and an optional private health consultation. 4 online community calls, Apr. 14-21 (Apr. 15, 2-3:30 p.m.; Apr. 17, 20 & 21, 7-8 p.m.), & 4 self-paced video lessons. Cost: $128; optional private health consultation $28. Location: Online. Info: Sarah L. Frederiksen, 802-870-6272, sarah@elevateyouwell.com, elevateyouwell.com.

Chanti

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: March 10, 2023

SUMMARY: Chanti is a little firecracker with a big personality looking for a family who will appreciate her cattitude! She is easily overstimulated, and she’s all about consent — respect her space, please! This little huntress enjoys a good game of stalk-the-human and has been known to mistake feet for toys. She’ll benefit greatly from having places to climb and interactive toys, and we think she may be most successful having the option to spend time outside. Could you be the one to give this special girl a home she can thrive in? Come meet her at HSCC!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Chanti has lived with another cat but was territorial about food and the litter box. She has limited experience with dogs (and usually hides from them). She has no experience with children, but she will probably do best in an adults-only home that really gets her.

Visit the Humane Society of Chittenden County at 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 862-0135 or visit hsccvt.org for more info.

DID YOU KNOW?

For some feline friends, the best solution is freedom! Though indoor-only is safest, some cats thrive as indoor-outdoor. For tips on keeping your free-roaming cat safe, head to hsccvt.org/ resources or email bestfriends@hsccvt.org.

Sponsored by:

Humane Society of Chittenden County

CLASSIFIEDS

parking & heat incl. HDWD, large windows. Refs. a must. $1,650, avail. now. Contact Jackie at 802-238-3521.

HOUSEMATES

housing CARS/TRUCKS

DONATE YOUR CAR FOR KIDS

Fast, free pickup. Running or not. 24-hour response. Maximum tax donation. Help fi nd missing kids! Call 877-266-0681. (AAN CAN)

housing FOR RENT

LARGE 1-BR PEARL ST.

APT.

Large 1-BR Pearl St. apt. in Burlington. Street

HINESBURG HOMESHARE

Senior man who enjoys cribbage, nature shows & NASCAR seeks a housemate to cook evening meals Mon-Fri. No rent (just the cost of internet). Must be OK w/ indoor smoking. Info, 802-863-5625 or homesharevermont. org for application.

Interview, refs., background check req. EHO.

SHARE HOME W/ MAHJONGG FAN

Spacious home in Williston shared w/ retired educator. Enjoys mah-jongg, reading & genealogy. Large furnished BR, private BA. Must be cat-friendly; no additional pets. $650/mo. + cooking 2 meals/week. Info, 802-863-5625 or homesharevermont. org for application.

Interview, refs., background check req. EHO.

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL

OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE

AT MAIN STREET LANDING

on Burlington’s waterfront. Beautiful, healthy, affordable spaces for your business. Visit mainstreetlanding.com & click on space avail. Melinda, 864-7999.

ser vices

BIZ OPPS

FOOD TRUCK FOR SALE Church St. food cart & business for sale. Vending season is around the corner! Located outside the bars between Main St. & College St. $49,999 w/ payment options avail. Email info@ facadebydesign.com or call 951-554-2001.

VERGENNES COMMERCIAL SPACE

HDWD hardwood

references

sec. dep. security deposit

W/D washer & dryer

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and similar Vermont statutes which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap, presence of minor children in the family or receipt of public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or a discrimination. The newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate, which is in violation of the law. Our

Addison County Community Trust is actively searching for the next commercial tenant for a high-visibility location in downtown Vergennes. Located at 206 Main St., this location allows for excellent walk-in potential for an offi ce or storefront. e space boasts large windows w/ plenty of natural light, HDWD, & a large BA & closet. Rent incl. heat; HW; trash, recycling & compost; & 1 off-street parking space. e rent for this excellent location is a steal at $800/mo.! More info at addisontrust. org or contact Alice at 802-877-2626, ext. 108, TDD 771, or email alice@ addisontrust.org. EHO.

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. Any home seeker who feels he or she has encountered discrimination should contact:

HUD Office of Fair Housing 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1092 (617) 565-5309

— OR —

Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin St. Montpelier, VT 05633-0633

1-800-416-2010 hrc@vermont.gov

services: $12 (25 words)

fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

Bid Online or In Person

Fri., Apr. 14 @ 9AM

298 J. Brown Drive, Williston, VT

SPRING SPECIAL: MAY 6

We want you to consign your Boats, Sports Cars, Convertibles, Jet Skis, ATVs, UTVs, Motorcycles, & Powersport Equip. for an huge auction!

Call us: 800-474-6132

General Contractors Equip.

Online Auction Closing

Wed., Apr. 19 @ 10AM

131 Dorset Lane, Williston, VT

Foreclosure: Island Lot, South Hero, VT

Fri., Apr. 14 @ 2PM (298 J. Brwn Dr.)

PK Coffee, Stowe, VT

Online Mon., Apr. 17 @ 10AM

Diecast & Toys, Morrisville, VT

Online Thu., Apr. 20 @ 10AM

2-Unit Home w/ Garage, Milton, VT

Thu., Apr. 20 @ 11AM

Public Auto Auction, Williston, VT

Simulcast Sat., Apr. 22 @ 9AM

Woodworking & Furniture, Charlotte, VT Online Thu., Apr. 27 @11AM

THCAuction.com  800-634-SOLD

FINANCIAL/ LEGAL

APPEAL FOR SOCIAL SECURITY

Denied Social Security disability? Appeal! If you’re 50+, filed SSD & were denied, our attorneys can help. Win or pay nothing! Strong recent work history needed. Call 1-877-311-1416 to contact Steppacher Law Offi ces LLC. Principal offi ce: 224 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. (AAN CAN)

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

865-1020 x115

service w/ you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo. 1-866-5711325. (AAN CAN)

BCI WALK-IN TUBS

Now on sale! Be 1 of the 1st 50 callers & save $1,500! Call 844-5140123 for a free in-home consultation. (AAN CAN)

DISH TV $64.99

packages & gift certifi cates for purchase online. Dorset St., S. Burlington.

MASSAGE THERAPY

Relaxing, healing, invigorating. Outcalls only. For more info, see the online ad. Info: pete_bellini@ protonmail.com.

PSYCHIC COUNSELING

Psychic counseling, channeling w/ Bernice Kelman, Underhill. 40+ years’ experience. Also energy healing, chakra balancing, Reiki, rebirthing, other lives, classes & more. 802-899-3542, kelman.b@juno.com.

HOME/GARDEN

GUTTER GUARD INSTALLATIONS

Gutter guards & replacement gutters. Never clean your gutters again! Affordable, professionally installed gutter guards protect your gutters & home from debris & leaves forever. For a quote, call 844-499-0277. (AAN CAN)

HOME ORGANIZER/ DECLUTTERER

payments for 18 mos.!

Lifetime warranty & professional installs.

Senior & military discounts avail. Call 1-866-370-2939. (AAN CAN)

REPAIRS FOR HOMEOWNERS

If you have water damage to your home & need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work w/ your insurance agency to get your home repaired & your life back to normal ASAP. Call 833-664-1530. (AAN CAN)

MOVING/ HAULING

LONG-DISTANCE

MOVING

Call today for a free quote from America’s most trusted interstate movers. Let us take the stress out of moving!

Call now to speak to 1 of our quality relocation specialists: 855-7874471. (AAN CAN)

PET

PET/HOME CARE

$64.99 for 190 channels + $14.95 high-speed internet. Free installation, Smart HD DVR incl., free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-866-566-1815. (AAN CAN)

SPECTRUM INTERNET AS LOW AS $29.99

Call to see if you qualify for ACP & free internet. No credit check. Call now! 833-955-0905. (AAN CAN)

MALE ENHANCEMENT

PILLS

Bundled network of Viagra, Cialis & Levitra alternative products for a 50-pills-for-$99 promotion. Call 888531-1192. (AAN CAN)

WANT TO BUY

MEN’S WATCHES WANTED

Men’s sport watches wanted. Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Here, Daytona, GMT, Submariner & Speedmaster. Paying cash for qualifi ed watches. Call 888-3201052. (AAN CAN)

WE’LL BUY YOUR CAR

BEHIND ON YOUR TAXES?

Are you behind $10,000 or more on your taxes? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, & payroll issues, & resolve tax debt fast. Call 844-836-9861. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. PST. (AAN CAN)

HEALTH/ WELLNESS

MASSAGE $80 FOR 60 MINS.

Book a massage at mindfulcounseling andmassage.com. $80 for 60 mins. $120 for 90 mins. Discounted

Refresh for spring w/ Declutter Vermont! Experienced & professional. Clients recommend! Services: organizing by room/ home, downsizing for moves, selling/donating items, etc. For free consultation, email decluttervermont@ gmail.com.

INTERIOR PAINTING SERVICE

S. Burlington-based painter seeking interior projects. Quality work, insured w/ solid refs. On the web at vtpainting company.com or call Tim at 802-373-7223.

NATIONAL PEST CONTROL

Are you a homeowner in need of a pest control service for your home? Call 866-616-0233. (AAN CAN)

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

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Legal Notices

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0042-4

10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C0042-4 from Summit Distributing, LLC, Attn: Tom Frawley 240 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, NH 03766 was received on March 27, 2023 and deemed complete on April 5, 2023. The project is generally described as redevelopment of an existing retail motor fuel outlet including demolition of the existing store and canopy and the construction of a new 4,050 square foot convenience store with quick service restaurant, one retail fuel dispensing canopy with four dispenser islands (eight fueling locations), two electric vehicle charging stations, and two new double wall fiberglass underground fuel storage tanks. The project is located at 1436 West Main Street in Richmond, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/Act250/Details.

aspx?Num=4C0042-4).

No hearing will be held, and a permit will be issued unless, on or before April 28, 2023, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Office at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this April 6, 2023.

By:/s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan

Stephanie H. Monaghan

District Coordinator

111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944

stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1352

10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C1352 from Daisy Properties, LLC, 16 Orchard Terrace, Burlington, VT 05401 was received on March 24, 2023 and deemed complete on April 4, 2023. The project is generally described as the construction of five (5) studio apartment dwelling units as an addition to the existing building located at 253 South Union Street, Burlington, Vermont. This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ ANR/Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C1352).

No hearing will be held and a permit will be issued unless, on or before April 25, 2023, a party notifies the District 4 Commission in writing of an issue requiring a hearing, or the Commission sets the matter for a hearing on its own motion. Any person as defined in 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1) may request a hearing. Any hearing request must be in writing, must state the criteria or sub-criteria at issue, why a hearing is required, and what additional evidence will be presented at the hearing. Any hearing request by an adjoining property owner or other person eligible for party status under 10 V.S.A. § 6085(c)(1)(E) must include a petition for party status under the Act 250 Rules. To request party status and a hearing, fill out the Party Status Petition Form on the Board’s website: https://nrb. vermont.gov/documents/party-status-petitionform, and email it to the District 4 Office at: NRB. Act250Essex@vermont.gov. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law may not be prepared unless the Commission holds a public hearing.

For more information contact Stephanie H. Monaghan at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this April 4, 2023.

By:/s/ Stephanie H. Monaghan

Stephanie H. Monaghan District Coordinator

111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-261-1944 stephanie.monaghan@vermont.gov

AUCTION – MOBILE HOME

Sale Date & Location: Wednesday, 4/19/23 at 11:00 a.m. – Windy Hollow Mobile Home Park, 609 River Street, Lot #37 in Castleton, VT. For more info, call (802) 860-9536.

1985 Champion Titan, 14’ x 70’, Min. bid $9,459.38 Must be moved 5 days after sale. Auctioneer: Uriah Wallace – Lic. #057-0002460

BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023, 5:00 PM

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

In Person (at 645 Pine Street) Meeting

1. ZAP-23-2; 410 North Street (RL, Ward 1E) Eva Wendeborn / Scott Goodwin Appeal of zoning administrative denial (ZP-23-80) to convert existing single family home with detached ADU to a duplex.

2. ZAP-23-3; 25 Oakledge Road (RL-W, Ward 5S) 25 Oakledge Drive Realty, LLC / Marisha Taylor / Ellie Tretola Appeal of zoning administrative denial (ZP-23-52) to modify driveway layout.

3. ZAP-23-4; 71-73 Peru Street (RH, Ward 3C) Damon Lane Appeal of zoning administrative denial (ZPW-23-18) to replace wooden windows with vinyl casement windows.

4. ZP-23-141; 80 Archibald Street (RM, Ward 2C) Martha Ahmed / Ishmael Ahmed Cannabis home occupation.

Plans may be viewed upon request by contacting the Department of Permitting & Inspections

between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Participation in the DRB proceeding is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal. Please note that ANYTHING submitted to the Zoning office is considered public and cannot be kept confidential. This may not be the final order in which items will be heard. Please view final Agenda, at www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpi/drb/agendas or the office notice board, one week before the hearing for the order in which items will be heard.

The City of Burlington will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, crime victim status or genetic information. The City is also committed to providing proper access to services, facilities, and employment opportunities. For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at (802) 540-2505.

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY THREE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION— SECTION 19 PARKING RATES

Sponsor(s): Department of Public Works

Action: Approved

Date: 3/15/2023

Attestation of Adoption:

Phillip Peterson, PE

Public Works Engineer, Technical Services

Published: 04/12/23

Effective: 05/03/23

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rules and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, Section 19 Parking Rates, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

Section 19 Parking Rates.

(a)-(d) As written.

(e) Reserved Rates for designated metered lots identified in Section 18 (a) Metered Lot Locations (7)-(13) shall be established by the Parks Commission and City Council.

** Material stricken out deleted.

*** Material underlined added.

LJ/hm: BCO Appx.C, Section 19 3/15/23

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION—

SECTION 7 NO PARKING AREAS.

SECTION 29 NO PARKING EXCEPT FOR THE USE OF CAR SHARE VEHICLES.

Date: 3/31/2023

Attestation of Adoption: Phillip Peterson, PE

Public Works Engineer, Technical Services

Published: 04/12/23

Effective: 05/03/23

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, Section 7 No parking areas, and Section 29 No parking except for the use of car share vehicles, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

Section 7 No parking areas

No person shall park any vehicle at any time in the following locations:

(1)-(14) As written.

(15) On the north side of Main Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles. Reserved

(16)-(98) As written.

(99) On the east side of St. Paul Street in the first space north of Main Street is restricted for mayor use only Reserved

(100)-(273) As written.

(274) On the north side of Sherman Street except twenty-five (25) feet at the westernmost end of the street that is reserved for police parking only

Reserved

(275)-(342) As written.

(343) On the north side of Pearl Street beginning ten (10) feet from the easterly crosswalk on Pearl Street at North Champlain Street and continuing east for a distance of seventy-five (75) feet, except for police vehicles between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m

Reserved

(344)-(389) As written.

(390) On the south side of Main Street in the second and third spaces east of Church Street is reserved for use by electric vehicles only. Reserved

(391)-(478) As written.

(479) On the north and south side of Cherry Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles Reserved

(480) On the north and south side of Bank Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles. Reserved

(481) On the north side of College Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles. Reserved

(482)-(494) As written.

(495) On the south side of College Street one hundred ten (110) feet west of Church Street, except for police vehicles. Reserved

(496)-(550) As written.

(551) On the north side of Main Street in the second space west of Saint Paul Street is reserved for use by electric vehicles only. Reserved

(552)-(581) As written.

Section 29 No parking except for the use of car share vehicles. Special parking No parking shall occur at the following locations unless by :

(a) Car share organizations. Valid car share organizations shall meet the following criteria: Require users to be members of the car share organization. Provide ubiquitous self-service access to all, or most, of a shared fleet of automobiles at locations not staffed by the car share service organization. Encourage short-term, local trips and discourage users from driving more than necessary. Provide its members automobile insurance that exceeds the state-mandated minimum when its members are using car share vehicles and shall assume responsibility for maintaining car share vehicles.

(1) Require users to be members of the car share organization.

(2) Provide ubiquitous self-service access to all, or most, of a shared fleet of automobiles at locations not staffed by the car share service organization.

(3) Encourage short-term, local trips and discourage users from driving more than necessary.

(4) Provide its members automobile insurance that exceeds the state-mandated minimum when its members are using car share vehicles and shall assume responsibility for maintaining car share vehicles.

(b) Spaces designated as no parking at all times except for the use of car share vehicles only:

(1) On the east side of Drew Street in the first space north of North Street.

(2) On the north side of Main Street in the first space east of St. Paul Street.

(3) On the south side of Pearl Street in the first space east of Church Street.

(4) In the Fletcher Free Library parking lot in the northeastern most space.

(5) On the south side of Locust Street, in the space forty (40) feet east of the intersection of Charlotte Street and Locust Street.

(6) Two (2) spaces on the gate controlled lower level of the marketplace garage.

(7) On the north side of Main Street in the first space west of Saint Paul Street.

(8) On the east side of Hyde Street in the first space north of North Street.

(b) The Mayor of the City of Burlington Vermont.

(1) On the east side of St. Paul Street in the first space north of Main Street.

(c) Electric Vehicles.

(1) On the south side of Main Street in the second and third spaces east of Church Street.

(2) On the north side of Main Street in the second space west of Saint Paul Street.

(d) Police Vehicles.

(1) On the north side of Main Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles.

(2) On the north side of Sherman Street except twenty-five (25) feet at the westernmost end of the street that is reserved for police parking only.

(3) On the north side of Pearl Street beginning ten (10) feet from the easterly crosswalk on Pearl Street at North Champlain Street and continuing east for a distance of seventy-five (75) feet, except for police vehicles between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

(4) On the north and south side of Cherry Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles.

(5) On the north and south side of Bank Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles.

(6) On the north side of College Street at the intersection of Church Street, except for police vehicles.

(7) On the south side of College Street one hundred ten (110) feet west of Church Street, except for police vehicles.

(e) Bus Parking.

(1) Reserved ** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added.

TD: BCO Appx.C, Section 7 & Section 29 3/31/23

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO

THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO A REGULATION IN RELATION TO RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION—

SECTION 18. PARKING FACILITY DESIGNATIONS.

Sponsor(s): Department of Public Works

Action: Approved

Date: 3/15/2023

Attestation of Adoption:

Phillip Peterson, PE

Public Works Engineer, Technical Services

Published: 04/12/23

Effective: 05/03/23

It is hereby Ordained by the Public Works Commission of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix C, Rule and Regulations of the Traffic Commission, Section 18, Parking facility designations, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington is hereby amended as follows:

Section 18 Parking facility designations.

(a) Metered lot locations:

(1)-(6) As written.

(7) Reserved. The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Oakledge Park Lot.

(8) Reserved. The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Perkin’s Pier Lot.

(9) Reserved The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Pease Lot.

(10) Reserved. The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Coast Guard Ramp Lot.

(11) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the North Beach Lot.

(12) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Leddy Park Lot.

(13) The city-leased and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the 194 St. Paul Street Lot.

( 14)-( 18) Reserved

(b) Monthly p P ermit lot locations: (1)-(6) As written.

(7) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Oakledge Park Lot.

(8) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Perkin’s Pier Lot.

(9) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Coast Guard Ramp Lot.

(10) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the North Beach Lot.

(11) The city-owned and public works managed lot more commonly understood to be the Leddy Park Lot.

(c)-(d) As written.

** Material stricken out deleted. *** Material underlined added.

TD: BCO Appx.C, Section 18 3/15/23

NORTHSTAR SELF STORAGE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC AND ONLINE SALE/AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING STORAGE UNITS ON APRIL 27, 2023, AT 9:00 AM

Northstar Self Storage will be having a public and online sale/auction on April 27, 2023, at 681 Rockingham Road, Rockingham, VT 05101 (Unit R79) and at 1124 Charlestown Road, Springfield, VT 05156 (Units S56, S80) and online at www. storagetreasures.com at 9:00 am in accordance with VT Title 9 Commerce and Trade Chapter 098: Storage Units 3905. Enforcement of Lien

Unit # Name Contents

1 R79 Christina Paquette Household Goods

2 S56 Helena Bundy Household Goods

3 S80 Randi Myers Household Goods

NOTICE OF SALE

Notice is given that the following lots shall be sold, to satisfy lien of owner, at public sale by sealed bid, on Friday Apr 28, 2023 at the Access Mini-Storage/ McLure Moving & Storage, Inc. complex on 167 Colchester Road, Route 2A Essex Jct., VT. Start time for the sale shall be 10:00 am.

Access Mini-Storage lots (name & unit #) offered for sale for non-payment:

Barbour, Bill #007 Brock, Chloe #537 Caron, Heather #544F DeMichele, Paula #067 Lopinto, Russell #056 Loyer, David #311&529 Mason, Larry #532

Radzwillas, Elaine #329

Shaw, Timothy #048

Sorrell, Victoria #541

Stephens, James #218

Sealed bids will be submitted for the entire contents of each self storage unit. All sales are final and must be paid for at the time of sale. All items must be removed from the unit within 3 days of purchase. A deposit will be collected on all units sold. This deposit will be refunded when all items are removed and the unit has been broom cleaned. The owners of Access Mini-Storage, Inc. and McLure Moving & Storage, Inc. reserve the right to reject any and all bids.

PROPOSED STATE RULES

==================================

By law, public notice of proposed rules must be given by publication in newspapers of record. The purpose of these notices is to give the public a chance to respond to the proposals. The public notices for administrative rules are now also available online at https://secure.vermont.gov/ SOS/rules/ . The law requires an agency to hold a public hearing on a proposed rule, if requested to do so in writing by 25 people or an association having at least 25 members.

To make special arrangements for individuals with disabilities or special needs please call or write to 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 to the contact person listed below. You may also submit comments in writing to the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, State House, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 (802-828-2231).

2022 Vermont Residential Rental Housing Health and Safety Code.

Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P009

AGENCY: Department of Public Safety

CONCISE SUMMARY: The primary intent and focus of this rule is to update and transfer responsibility of the Vermont Residential Rental Housing Rule from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety. These rules are only amended to identify address changes and contact information. These rules otherwise are not changed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Michael Desrochers, Executive Director, Division of Fire Safety, 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-479-7539 Fax: 802-479-7562 Email: michael. desrochers@vermont.gov URL: https://firesafety. vermont.gov/.

FOR COPIES: Robert T. Sponable, Deputy Director, Division of Fire Safety, 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 Tel: 802-479-7566 Fax: 802-479-7562 Email: robert.sponable@vermont.gov.

——————————————————————————

Rule Governing Outage Reporting Requirements for Originating Carriers and Electric Power Companies. Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P010

AGENCY: Vermont Enhanced 9-1-1 Board

CONCISE SUMMARY: This rule establishes outage reporting protocols for originating carriers providing voice service in Vermont and for electric power companies operating in Vermont in order to enable the Enhanced 911 Board to assess 911 service availability during such outages. The updates proposed in March 2023 change the requirements for the second outage notification and require the carriers to report outage information in a format approved by the Board which will allow the Board to automate the handling of these reports.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Barbara Neal, Vermont Enhanced 911 Board, 6 Baldwin St, 2nd Floor, Montpelier, VT-05633-7960 Tel: 802828-4911 Fax: 802-828-4109 Email: barbara.neal@ vermont.gov URL: https://e911.vermont.gov/.

FOR COPIES: Soni Johnson, Vermont Enhanced 911 Board, 6 Baldwin St, 2nd Floor, Montpelier, VT05633-7960 Tel: 802-828-4911 Fax: 802-828-4109 Email: soni.johnson@vermont.gov.

——————————————————————————

Rule 1: Licensing of Cannabis Establishments.

Legal Notices [CONTINUED]

Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P011

AGENCY: Cannabis Control Board.

CONCISE SUMMARY: Rule 1 regulates the licensing of any person or entity that seeks to participate in the legal market for cannabis. The rule explains Vermont’s tiered cannabis licensure system; the essential requirements to obtain the various licenses the Board administers; and background check requirements, presumptively disqualifying convictions, and how to overcome a presumption of disqualification. The rule further explains how license applications are prioritized, establishes a system for issuing identification cards, and sets out what is required of licensees when material changes are planned in their ownership, location, or operations. Proposed amendments clarify ambiguous definitions, address high-THC hemp-derived products, recognize a new extraction method, announce a standard for determining when an individual has overcome presumptive disqualification, and make other updates reflecting maturation of the new cannabis marketplace.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gabriel M. Gilman, Cannabis Control Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001 Tel: 802-261-1510 Email: gabriel.gilman@vermont.gov URL: https://ccb. vermont.gov/.

FOR COPIES: Kimberley Lashua, Cannabis Control Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001 Tel: 802-836-7708 Email: kimberley.lashua@ vermont.gov.

Rule 2: Regulation of Cannabis Establishments

Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P012

AGENCY: Cannabis Control Board.

CONCISE SUMMARY: Rule 2 regulates the operation of any entity that has received a license to participate in the legal market for cannabis. Proposed amendments improve upon omitted or ambiguous definitions; address the need of outdoor cultivators to use artificial lighting in limited circumstances; clarify the entities to which the rule applies; refine escrow requirements; update the text of mandated health warnings; clarify location requirements; recognize personaluse cultivation; allow for the sale of clones; and refine rules pertaining to laboratories.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gabriel M. Gilman, Cannabis Control Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001 Tel: 802-261-1510 Email: gabriel.gilman@vermont.gov URL: https://ccb. vermont.gov/.

FOR COPIES: Kimberley Lashua, Cannabis Control Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001 Tel: 802-836-7708 Email: kimberley.lashua@ vermont.gov.

Rule 4: Compliance and Enforcement. Vermont Proposed Rule: 23P013

AGENCY: Cannabis Control Board.

CONCISE SUMMARY: This rule provides the enforcement mechanisms, procedures, and penalties for the Cannabis Control Board’s Rules 1 through 3, which govern the licensing and regulation of commercial cannabis businesses and patient access to therapeutic cannabis. The most substantial proposed amendment adds a section governing the administrative appeals process. The new section controls the content and management of the record on appeal, provides for appellate prehearing conferences, explains briefing and argument procedures, and ensures licensees are made aware of further statutory rights.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Gabriel M. Gilman, Cannabis Control Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001 Tel: 802-261-1510 Email: gabriel.gilman@vermont.gov URL: https://ccb. vermont.gov/.

FOR COPIES: Kimberley Lashua, Cannabis Control

Board, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-7001

Tel: 802-836-7708 Email: kimberley.lashua@ vermont.gov.

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL

DIVISION LAMOILLE UNIT DOCKET # 22-CV-03017

MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Plaintiff v.

SUSAN B. CHASE

OCCUPANTS of: 498 Mine Road, Johnson, VT

Defendants

SUMMONS & ORDER FOR PUBLICATION

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO: Susan B.

Chase

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. A copy of the Plaintiff’s Complaint against you is on file and may be obtained at the office of the clerk of this court, Lamoille, Civil Division, Vermont Superior Court, P.O. Box 570, Hyde Park, Vermont. Do not throw this paper away. It is an official paper that affects your rights.

2. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM. Plaintiff’s claim is a Complaint in Foreclosure which alleges that you have breached the terms of a Promissory Note and Mortgage Deed dated March 14, 2020. Plaintiff’s action may affect your interest in the property described in the Land Records of the Town of Johnson at Volume 155, Page 346. The Complaint also seeks relief on the Promissory Note executed by you. A copy of the Complaint is on file and may be obtained at the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court for the County of Lamoille, State of Vermont.

3. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 41 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail the Plaintiff a written response called an Answer within 41 days after the date on which this Summons was first published, which is April 12th, 2023. You must send a copy of your answer to the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney, RACHEL K. LJUNGGREN, Esq. of Bendett & McHugh, PC, located at 270 Farmington Avenue, Ste. 151, Farmington, CT 06032. You must also give or mail your Answer to the Court located at P.O. Box 570, Hyde Park, VT 05655.

4. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

5. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT GIVE YOUR WRITTEN ANSWER TO THE COURT. If you do not Answer within 41 days after the date on which this Summons was first published and file it with the Court, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint.

6. YOU MUST MAKE ANY CLAIMS AGAINST THE PLAINTIFF IN YOUR REPLY. Your Answer must state any related legal claims you have against the Plaintiff. Your claims against the Plaintiff are called Counterclaims. If you do not make your Counterclaims in writing in your answer you may not be able to bring them up at all. Even if you have insurance and the insurance company will defend you, you must still file any Counterclaims you may have.

7. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you should ask the court clerk for information about places where you can get free legal help. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still give the court a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

ORDER

The Affidavit duly filed in this action shows that

service cannot be made with due diligence by any of the method provided in Rules 4(d)-(f), (k), or (l) of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that service of the Summons set forth above shall be made upon the defendant, Susan B. Chase, by publication as provided in Rule[s] [4(d)(l) and] 4 (g) of those Rules.

This order shall be published once a week for 3 weeks beginning on April 12th, 2023 in the Seven Days, a newspaper of the general circulation in Lamoille County, and a copy of this summons and order as published shall be mailed to the defendant, Susan B. Chase, at P.O Box 503, Johnson, VT 05656.

Dated at Hyde Park, Vermont this 27th day of March, 2023

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)

/s/ Daniel Richardson

Richardson

Daniel

Superior Court Judge

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

DOCKET NO. 23-ENV-00029

ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT

In re: Fife Jurisdictional Opinion

J/O 4-351

NOTICE OF APPEAL

NOW COMES Property Owner and Applicant John Fife by and through his counsel, MSK Attorneys, and pursuant to 10 V.S.A. §8504 and Rule 5 of the Vermont Rules for Environmental Procedure and hereby files this Notice of Appeal of a District 4 Environmental Commission’s March 10, 2023 Jurisdictional Opinion. Said Jurisdictional Opinion held that the renovation and reconstruction of a single-family residence located at 377 Cobblestone Ct. in South Burlington constitutes a material change to a permitted development (LUP 4C1013R) and thus requires a permit amendment. The property subject to this appeal is located at 377 Cobblestone Ct. in South Burlington, Vermont. John Fife is the owner and applicant and thus has a statutory right to appeal.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: In order to participate in this appeal, you must enter an appearance in the Vermont Environmental Court within twenty-one (21) days of receiving this Notice of Appeal. Notices of Appearance should be mailed to Jennifer Teske, Court Office Manager, Vermont Superior Court—Environmental Division, 32 Cherry Street, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401.

Respectfully submitted this 29th day of March, 2023.

MSK ATTORNEYS

By: /s/ A.J. LaRosa, Esq.

Alexander LaRosa, Esq., ERN 5814 275 College Street, PO Box 4485 Burlington, VT 05406-4485 Phone: 802-861-7000

Email: ajlarosa@mskvt.com

Attorneys for Fife

STATE OF VERMONT

SUPERIOR COURT PROBATE DIVISION

CHITTENDEN UNIT DOCKET NO.: 23-PR-00546

In re ESTATE of Mark Galen Hall

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: Mark Galen Hall, late of Burlington, Vermont

I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four (4) months of the date of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.

Dated: March 13, 2023

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Linda Hall

Executor/Administrator : Linda Hall C/O Julie Hoyt, Esq.; Jarrett | Hoyt, 1795 Williston Road, Suite 125, South Burlington, VT 05403 802-864-5951 julie@vtelaw.com

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 4/12/2023

Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit, Probate Division Address of Probate Court: PO Box 511, Burlington VT 05402

STATE OF VERMONT VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT LAMOILLE UNIT, CIVIL DIVISION DOCKET NO: 109-6-19 LECV DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, as TRUSTEE for AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-11

v.

JESS FITZGERALD, VICKI LABOUNTY and PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, LLC

OCCUPANTS Of: 35 Almeron Drive, Morrisville VT MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER 12 V.S.A. sec 4952 et seq.

In accordance with the Judgment Order and Decree of Foreclosure entered November 26, 2019, in the above captioned action brought to foreclose that certain mortgage given by Jess Fitzgerald and Vicki LaBounty to Ameriquest Mortgage Company, dated September 18, 2003 and recorded in Book

131 Page 156 of the land records of the Town of Morristown, of which mortgage the Plaintiff is the present holder, by virtue of the following Assignments of Mortgage: (1) Assignment of Mortgage from Ameriquest Mortgage Company to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., AssetBacked Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-11 under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated November 1, 2003 and recorded in Book 147 Page 317 and (2) Corrective Assignment of Mortgage from Ameriquest Mortgage Company to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-11 dated November 19, 2013 and recorded in Book 197 Page 197, both of the land records of the Town of Morristown for breach of the conditions of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction at 35 Almeron Drive, Morrisville, Vermont on April 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM all and singular the premises described in said mortgage,

To wit:

A certain piece of land in Morristown, in the County of Lamoille and State of Vermont, described as follows, viz:

Starting at an iron pin to be set in a stone wall which point bears North 43 degrees 31 minutes East 383.1 feet +/- from the southerly corner of the property of the within Grantors and which corner is the common point of property of the within Grantors, H. Cross and R. and L. Perras; thence North 43 degrees 31 minutes East along a stone wall to an iron pipe set at a corner marking the common point of properties of the within Grantors, Shirley Fitzgerald and H. Cross; thence turning to the left and proceeding along the within Grantors/ Shirley Fitzgerald property line 250 feet +/- to an iron pin to be set; thence turning to the left and proceeding in a southwesterly direction in a line approximately parallel with the course described as being (North 43 degrees 31 minutes East 375.4 feet +/-) to an iron pin to be set; thence turning to the left and proceeding in a straight line 240 feet +/- to the point of beginning.

Known as 35 Almeron Drive, Morrisville, VT 15661

Reference is hereby made to the above instruments and to the records and references contained therein in further aid of this description.

Terms of sale: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described.

TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid by a certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid by a bank wire, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within sixty (60) days after the date the Confirmation Order is entered by the Court. All checks should be made payable to “Bendett & McHugh, PC, as Trustee”.

The mortgagor is entitled to redeem the premises at any time prior to the sale by paying the full amount due under the mortgage, including the costs and expenses of the sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale.

DATED : March 6, 2023

By: /s/ Rachel K. Ljunggren

Rachel K. Ljunggren, Esq. Bendett and McHugh, PC 270 Farmington Ave., Ste. 151 Farmington, CT 06032

TOWN OF BOLTON DEVELOPMENT

PUBLIC HEARING: APRIL 27, 2023

REVIEW BOARD

The Town of Bolton’s Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on April 27, 2023, at 6:30pm.

Place: Virtual or Municipal Conference Room, 3045 Theodore Roosevelt Highway, Bolton, VT, 05676.

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87020393706?pwd=R

VFidWpRNllaRzFaQ1lmaDZEZk1Xdz09

Call (audio only): +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 870 2039 3706

Passcode: 675444

The following applications will be reviewed:

2023-04-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Jeremy & Andrea Knepper, seeking a boundary line adjustment. Parcel (Tax Map #11-07-012) Lot 6 (Knepper) Existing: 6.79 acres Proposed: 7.19 acres. Parcel (Tax Map #11-07-021) (Mullen)

Existing: 20.40 Proposed: 20.00 acres.

2023-05-DRB; Applicant & Property Owner: Jeremy & Andrea Knepper, seeking a conditional use application is for the construction of a proposed driveway, house site, and associated utilities on the Knepper property, where steep slopes (15-25%) will be impacted. (Tax Map #1107-012)

Additional information can be obtained through email by calling 802-434-5075, or by email at zoningbolton@gmavt.net. Pursuant to 24 VSA § 4464 and § 4471, participation in this local proceeding, by written or oral comment, is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal.

TOWN OF BOLTON, VERMONT

WWW.BOLTONVT.COM

Notice of Adoption of Ordinance for Use of the Town of Bolton Water Woods (Nebikpiwi) Conservation Area

On April 3, 2023, the Select Board of the Town of Bolton, Vermont, adopted the “ORDINANCE FOR USE OF THE TOWN OF BOLTON WATER WOODS (NEBIKPIWI) CONSERVATION AREA,” pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1972. This notice is published pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1972 to inform the public of this adoption and of the citizens’ rights to petition for a vote to disapprove this adoption.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE IS AS FOLLOWS:

ORDINANCE FOR USE OF THE TOWN OF BOLTON WATER WOODS (NEBIKPIWI) CONSERVATION AREA

WHEREAS The Town of Bolton, Vermont (“Town”) owns the Water Woods (Nebikpiwi) Conservation Area on the north side of the Winooski River between said River and U.S. Route 2 (“WWCA”); and

WHEREAS the WWCA is dedicated to, and preserved for, the enjoyment of nature by the citizens of the Town of Bolton and the general public subject to reasonable and lawful limitations imposed by the Town; and

WHEREAS persons using the WWCA have parked illegally, parked in and blocked private driveways, have obstructed the adjacent public highway and right of way on Duxbury Road, have engaged in behavior that disturbs the peace and tranquility of the WWCA and its environs including engaging in loud and obnoxious social gatherings during the day and at nighttime, and there has been improper disposal of trash and human waste on and in the vicinity of the WWCA; and

WHEREAS the Town believes that the conduct

described above and experienced at the WWCA is inconsistent with public health and safety, constitutes a disturbance of the peace, interferes with the privacy and rights of adjacent landowners, is a public nuisance, and imperils the traveling public and other users of the WWCA:

NOW THERFORE the Town hereby ORDAINS as follows:

AUTHORITY

Pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 1008, and Title 24, Vermont Statutes Annotated Sections 1971 and 2291(14) and (15), it is hereby ordained by the Select Board of the Town that the following Ordinance is adopted as a civil ordinance.

ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS

The definitions of Title 23 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Section 4 are incorporated by reference, and the definitions of Title 24 section 2291 are incorporated herein by reference.

ARTICLE II: SCOPE AND PURPOSE

The ordinance establishes special noise and usage regulations applicable to the WWCA and public highways adjacent thereto including Duxbury Road; and regulates the time, manner, parking, and location of motor vehicles adjacent to the WWCA. Any Vermont certified law enforcement officer is authorized to enforce this Ordinance.

ARTICLE III: TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to disobey the direction of a traffic control device except in response to specific direction from a law enforcement officer.

Section 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally remove, damage, obstruct, deface, alter, or tamper with any traffic control device.

Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any person to install any sign or device resembling or which could be mistaken for a traffic control device installed or posted by the Town, except with the prior written approval of the Select Board.

Section 4. The parking of vehicles shall be governed by the Traffic Ordinance for The Town of Bolton.

ARTICLE IV: USE OF THE WWCA

Section 1. The WWCA shall be open to nonmotorized use by the public from dawn to dusk daily. The WWCA shall be closed to the public from dusk to dawn daily. It shall not be a violation of this Ordinance if day and through hikers transit the WWCA prior to dawn or after dusk as part of a hike without stopping on said WWCA for more than 5 minutes. An unauthorized person who remains for more than 5 minutes on the WWCA while the park is closed shall be in violation of this ordinance.

Section 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess drugs or illicit substances or open containers of alcohol; to use alcohol and/or drugs; to ignite or discharge fireworks; to ignite, fuel, perpetuate or have a fire; to defecate or leave human or animal waste; to litter or dispose of trash; to play loud music or electronically amplify sound or to make noise that can be heard more than fifty yards from the noise source. It shall also be unlawful to traverse or travel on or across the WWCA for the purpose of engaging in or facilitating any of the prohibited activities listed in this section on property located within one hundred yards (100 yards) of any boundary of the WWCA.

ARTICLE V: PENALTY AND ENFORCEMENT

Section 1. Any person in violation of any provision of Article IV of this Ordinance shall be subject to a civil penalty for each violation. Civil penalties shall be assessed and collected in accordance with the Vermont Statutes Annotated pertaining to civil ordinance penalties and violations. The Chair of the Select Board (or a designee of the Select Board), Road Commissioner, Road Foreman and Constable of the Town, and any law enforcement officer is authorized to act as Issuing Municipal Officials to issue and pursue complaints before a tribunal with competent jurisdiction over the violation.

a. The Chair of the Select Board (or a designee of the Select Board), Road Commissioner, Road Foreman and Constable of the Town of Bolton, and any law enforcement officer shall be authorized to recover a waiver fee in leu of civil penalty in the

following amounts from any person in violation of any provision of Article IV of this Ordinance who chooses not to contest a municipal complaint and pays the applicable waiver fee:

First Offense $ 100.00

Second Offense $ 200.00

Third Offense and Subsequent Offenses $ 300.00

b. The Chair of the Select Board (or a designee of the Select Board), Zoning Administrator, Road Commissioner, Road Foreman, Health Officer, Constable and Animal Control Officer of the Town of Bolton, and any law enforcement officer shall be authorized to recover civil penalties in the following amounts for each violation of this Ordinance:

First Offense $200.00

Second Offense $300.00

Third Offense and Subsequent Offenses $400.00

Section 2. Any violation of this Ordinance constituting a parking violation shall be enforced and have the same penalties as established in the Traffic Ordinance for The Town of Bolton.

Section 3. This Ordinance in no way limits the remedies available to the Town. The Town may seek restitution, damages or other remedies in the event of damage to Town property.

ARTICLE VI: SEVERABILITY

In the event that any portion of this Ordinance is determined to be invalid, such determination and invalidation shall not affect the validity of enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance.

ARTICLE VII: EFFECTIVE DATE

This Ordinance shall become effective sixty (60) days following adoption by the Select Board unless a petition is timely filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973 in which case this Ordinance shall take effect pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973(e).

Adopted on April 3, 2023

Bolton Select Board Members:

Lynda DesLauriers, Chair

Paula Gervia, Vice Chair

Andrew Pond

Richard Reid

Leah Scott

CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO PETITION FOR VOTE

Title 24 V.S.A. § 1973 grants citizens the right to petition for a vote at a special or annual Town Meeting to disapprove an ordinance adopted by the Select Board. To exercise this right, citizens must present to the Select Board or the Town Clerk a petition for a vote on the question of disapproving the Ordinance signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the Town’s qualified voters. The petition must be presented within forty-four (44) days following the date of adoption of the Ordinance. Unless a petition requesting a vote is filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A §1973, the ORDINANCE FOR USE OF THE TOWN OF BOLTON WATER WOODS (NEBIKPIWI) CONSERVATION AREA shall become effective sixty (60) days from the date of said adoption.

PERSON TO CONTACT

Additional information pertaining to the Ordinance may be obtained by contacting Amy Grover, Town Clerk, at 30545 Theodore Roosevelt Highway, Bolton, VT 05676 or by calling 802-434-5075 during regular office hours.

TOWN OF COLCHESTER SELECTBOARD

PUBLIC NOTICE

Proposed Conveyance of Real Estate

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Sec. 1061, the Colchester Selectboard hereby notifies the residents of Colchester of the proposed conveyance of real estate of the Town property identified as below, to the State of Vermont, Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

The real property to be conveyed to the State of Vermont, Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is more particularly described as follows:

All and the same lands and premises conveyed to the Town of Colchester by Quitclaim Deed of the State of Vermont dated December 16, 1966 and recorded at Volume 4, Page 82 in the Town of

Colchester Land Records and Quit Claim Book 4, Page 82 of the Town of South Hero Land Records.

Reference is hereby made to aforesaid deed and its record and to all prior deeds and records therein referred to in further aid of this description.

The Selectboard proposes to convey the aforesaid premises to the State of Vermont, Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation with the consideration bring: 1) the purchase price of $10 or more; and 2) the transfer of any interest and liabilities the Town may have in and to said parcel of land.

Pursuant to 24 V.SA. § 1061, this notice has been posted at three regular posting places in the Town of Colchester and will be published in the Seven Days, a newspaper of general circulation within the Town of Colchester on or before April 12, 2023.

If any persons object to the proposed conveyance of said property:

A petition of protest, signed by five percent of the legally registered voters of the Town of Colchester, must be filed with the Colchester Town Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on May 11, 2023. Upon verification of signatures necessary to meet the protest requirement, the question of the conveyance will then be put before the registered voters of Colchester for vote by Australian Ballot at Town Meeting on March 5, 2024.

The Selectboard will authorize the Town Manager to effectuate the conveyance, unless the Town receives a petition in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1061(a).

For publication on April 12, 2023 (30 days prior to the recording of the proposed conveyance).

TOWN OF ESSEX NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

April 17, 2023 6:35 PM

Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 – 2028 Capital Budget and Five-Year Plan

The Town of Essex Selectboard hereby gives notice that public hearings on the FY2024 – 2028 Capital Budget and Five-Year Plan will be held in person and online via Zoom:

• Monday, April 17, 2023, 6:35 PM at the Town Offices at 81 Main St., Essex Junction and online or by telephone (dial (888) 788-0099 and enter meeting ID: 98785691140, passcode: 032060

The purpose of the public hearing is to solicit public comments on the proposed FY2024 Capital Budget and Five-Year Plan, based on a 3-cent capital tax rate.

The proposed FY2024 Capital Plan shows capital tax additions of $483,000, spending of $2,699,570, and an ending balance of $3,040,569. Complete details can be found at www.essexvt.org.

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION

AGENDA 4/27/23-6:00 P.M. VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM OR MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE ROOM, 81 MAIN ST., ESSEX., VT • Zoom link: https://www.essexvt.org/1043/ Join-Zoom-Meeting-Essex-PC

• Call (audio only): 1-888-788-0099 | Meeting ID: 923 7777 6158 # | Passcode: 426269 • Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https:// publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi-hotspots-vermont

1.Public Comments 2.Joint Discussion with the Selectboard: Presentation by Taylor Newton, CCRPC, Re: Municipal Planning in VT 3.Consider Approval of Warning of Public Hearing for Zoning & Subdivision Regulations 4.Approve Minutes 5.Other Business. Visit our website at www. essexvt.org.

WARNING POLICY ADOPTION

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Board of School Directors gives public notice of its intent to adopt local district policies dealing with the following at its meeting scheduled on April 18, 2023:

D5 - Substitute Teachers

Copies of the above policies may be obtained for public review at the Office of the Human Resources Dept. in Shelburne, VT.

“I just wanted to pass along the praise from my HR manager, who was overjoyed with how many solid applicants we received from our postings on Seven Days Jobs. Everyone we hired for these seasonal positions was very friendly, hardworking and cared about the success of our holiday season. is year in particular we used Seven Days as our main form of advertising, and we were highly rewarded for this strategy.

Dakin Farm advertises with Seven Days as a way to reach candidates and food lovers in our community. We appreciate that the newspaper is free and widely distributed. As a local family-run business, we also love how Seven Days shares incredible stories from Vermonters.

Our account executive, Michelle Brown, has been wonderful to work with. e whole sales team is very helpful and great at sending reminders about upcoming promotional opportunities without being too pushy. ey truly care about the success of their customers!

I greatly appreciate the support from the team and would recommend advertising with Seven Days to any local company.”

CAROLYN CUTTING Marketing Manager, Dakin Farm

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

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE. JOBS.SEVENDAYSVT.COM

CIRCUIT DESIGN ENGINEER

Green Mountain Semiconductor, Inc.

Location: 28 Howard Street, Suite 301 Burlington, VT 05401

Email application & resume to framsey@greenmountainsemi.com

Or in person at 13 W.Center St. Winooski

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

True North Wilderness Program is seeking Operations Support people. The ideal candidate is an adaptable team player with a positive attitude who is willing to work both indoors and outdoors performing a variety of tasks associated with the logistics of running our program. Tasks including food packing and rationing, gear outfitting, transportation and facilities maintenance. Candidates must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings.

A clean and valid driver’s license is required. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits offered. Benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, a Wellness Fund, student loan repayment reimbursement, and a SIMPLE IRA.

Please apply at: truenorthwilderness.com

Or mail to: 28 Howard Street, Suite 301, Burlington, VT 05401. Do

Development Director

Join the Vermont Symphony Orchestra team for this fulltime, hybrid remote/in-person position based in Burlington, VT. The VSO’s Development Director is responsible for the contributed revenue of this statewide arts organization, now in its 88th season. This position creates and implements a strategic plan to generate contributed revenue, all fundraising research, relationships, events, and reporting, and serves as a public-facing representative of the organization.

This is an ideal position for someone with five or more years’ experience in philanthropy with a love of music, people, and Vermont. Learn more at vso.org/about-us/careers

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES

Saint Michael’s College invites applications for the position of Executive Director of Student Financial Services. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, the Executive Director manages and maintains the financial aid office and accounts receivable operations in keeping with enrollment and revenue goals. This individual will collaborate with the Enrollment Leadership team to develop institutional fund awarding models and parameters as well as funds management and audit compliance. The position is “hands on” directing a collaborative team and actively participating in the development and training of staff as well as meeting with students and their families. The Executive Director manages and maintains compliance with all federal, state, and other regulations and laws related to financial aid, billing, and collections. This individual must display a high level of inclusivity, equity, and sensitivity as well as a desire to work in a collaborative environment with respect for all students, faculty, and staff. For a full job description, benefits information, and for application instructions, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCEDSFS

ReStore Director

The ReStores are nonprofit donation centers and resale stores that accept donated items and sell them to the public to raise money for affordable home building Responsibilities include cultivating a successful management team, implementing business strategy, financial management, overseeing store operations, and resource development

Successful candidates will have 5-7 years of responsible and ethical leadership in multi-store or senior-level management Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply Position open until filled

Visit our website for full job description and details on how to apply vermonthabitat org/employment

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

DIRECTOR - Village House

Frame Shop/ Gallery Assistant

Explore opportunities like:

• Admission Counselor

• Assistant Director of Admissions

champlain.edu/careers

View opportunities here

Receptionist

We are looking for a friendly and welcoming receptionist to join our small team at our luxury plumbing and architectural hardware showroom on Pine Street. You will greet clients, answer calls/emails and assist with general inquiries. Other duties include maintaining our sample library, clerical items such as entering supplier invoices, reviewing confirmations and handling any discrepancies. You will keep track of pricing changes and relay other correspondences from vendors to the sales team. Attention to detail and strong communication skills are paramount. We prefer candidates who've had some experience in the luxury market and a general knowledge of light bookkeeping, but will train the right person.

This is a 37 hour/week position with potential for growth. Compensation dependent on experience. Please email cover letter and resume to Jill@closetohomevt.com

LIVE IN COMPANION/CAREGIVER Free Rent

Our family of three seeks a live-in companion/caregiver for an intelligent 44-year-old daughter who uses a wheelchair. We are LGBTQ+ friendly, avid readers, enjoy theater, museums, outdoor recreation, and giving back to the community.

Care giving includes assistance with toileting, wheelchair transfers using a patient lift, showering, dressing, meal prep, medication administration, and driving a wheelchair accessible van for appointments and outings. No care experience necessary, training provided. Care consists of one morning shift and one evening shift. Minimum of eight shifts a week required. Pay $25.00/hour.

Allergies rule out smoking and pets. Must be up to date on vaccinations and willing to follow Covid prevention guidelines. Resume, references, background check, and valid driver’s license required.

Contact: allenjillm@gmail.com

The Village House of NFI VT is seeking a Director. This one-of-a-kind residential program in Burlington, VT serves 17-22 year old young adults with trauma histories and various, sometimes complex, psychological diagnoses. The work includes managing 5 staff members, providing case management to residents and other clients in the community, and a variety of administrative duties. The position also includes a role as an agency clinician which involves on-call expectations approximately 3-4 weeks throughout the calendar year. This unique role requires an independent individual, with experience managing others. A strong therapeutic background and a master’s degree in psychology or social work is mandatory. Licensed individuals are preferred, but supervision toward licensure is available. A full benefits package and competitive salary along with retirement options included. Please apply online at nfivermont.org/careers

Opportunity Employer and celebrate the diversity of our clients and staff.

AmeriCorps Program Coordinator

You will incite and inspire a spirit of service among members to achieve a high level of satisfaction among participants and support them in successfully completing their service year. The Coordinator leads recruitment, outreach, member records maintenance, and event coordination. This is a VHCB staff position with an annual salary of $51,500-$55,000, depending on experience. VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. To learn more, visit vhcb.org/about-us/jobs. To apply, reply to: jobs@vhcb.org with your cover letter and resume.

FOOD SERVICE WORKER

Full-time, Part-time and Per-Diem Opportunities available for Food Service Workers. We’re happy to o er a new hourly wage starting at $16.30/ hour. Shift di erentials up to $6.15 per hour.

Learn More & Apply: uvmhealthnetworkcareers.org/ food-service_sevendays

Art Works Frame Shop & Gallery is looking for an upbeat artist or art enthusiast for a fun and casual position. We are willing to train the right person so no experience is necessary ... just an eye for color, detail and a passion for art!

Apply at: artworksvt@gmail.com

Vermont Tent Company is currently accepting applications for the following positions for immediate employment, and future summer/fall employment starting in May. Full time, part time, after school and weekend hours available for each position. Pay rates vary by position with minimum starting wage ranging from $19-$23/ hour depending on job skills and experience. We also offer retention and referral bonuses.

• Tent Installation

• Drivers/Delivery

• Inventory Maintenance Team

– Warehouse

• Load Crew Team

• Tent Maintenance Team

Interested candidates should submit an application online at vttent.com/employment

No phone calls, please.

We are an Equal

NOW HIRING

Facilities & Operations Manager

Generator is a stateof-the-art makerspace with six workshops, maker studios, STEAM classrooms, & event spaces available to the community.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Make this industrial space safe, equitable, & available to all.

generatorvt.com/ jobs

Structured Literacy Teacher

The Stern Center in Williston is seeking a full-time, in-person instructor to join our highly experienced and collaborative team of teachers. If you’re a qualified educator with training and experience in structured literacy instruction, this rewarding role allows focus and impact, teaching one-on-one to make a positive difference every day. Preferred candidates will have training in Orton-Gillingham and/or Wilson, and/or have Special Education certification. This position includes the Stern Center’s 6-week summer program through the 2023-24 school year. Our ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and organizational skills, understanding of researchbased interventions, and experience in developing individualized learning plans. The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a non-profit organization with a fortyyear history of dedication to learning for all through direct support to learners and transformative programs for educators. We invite you to learn more at sterncenter. org. To apply, email Marilyn Schaefer at mschaefer@sterncenter.org

PROJECT MANAGER

Affordable Housing Design/Construction

Evernorth is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and community investments in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We have an exciting opportunity for a Project Manager with project management or related experience with construction projects to join our real estate development team in Vermont. This position guides design development and construction for our affordable housing projects from pre-development through construction completion and is responsible for financial tracking of the project budget and compliance monitoring. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, team builder and problem solver with strong experience in construction project management and commitment to our mission. We believe in equal access to affordable housing and economic opportunities; the power of partnerships based on integrity, respect, and teamwork; and a collaborative workplace with professional, skilled and dedicated staff. To apply, go to bit.ly/EvernorthPM Evernorth is an E.O.E.

Experienced MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

We are looking for an experienced maintenance technician to perform repairs and upkeep at our apartment, condos, and commercial properties in the greater Burlington area. Duties include carpentry, painting, troubleshooting, minor plumbing and building repairs.

Benefits Include:

401(k) Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

LINE COOK POSITION

McKee’s Irish Pub is on the rise and under new ownership!

We are looking for the best!

Line cooks, Pizza makers, Chefs, Leaders and skilled workers!

We will be constructing our new menu around the talent and performance we find.

Pizza, Grill, Fried foods, Pasta, Salads, Wings and So much more!! We are looking to build our already awesome team and take McKee’s into the next 35 years! We need to fill immediate positions, summer, days, nights, and weekends. Whether you are looking to start a career, need a side hustle or just looking to make more than just ends meet, we are looking for you!!

ryanjohnston@ mckeespubsvt.com

802-655-0048

Paid holidays & paid time o Company vehicle & cell phone

Pay: $20-$25 an hour. Compensation based on experience Apply online: fullcirclevt.com/about/careers/#Current-Job-Openings

Administrative Coordinator

The Intervale Center seeks a dynamic, mission-driven Administrative Coordinator with a passion for community food systems and a desire to grow into a long-term administrative role. The Administrative Coordinator supports the Center’s staff and Board of Directors to create a welcoming and highly productive organization and are an invaluable conduit for information and direction, holding many aspects of day-to-day operations together.

An ideal candidate has at least two years’ experience in this or a similar role; excellent communication; strong computer skills; great time management and attention to detail; and is self-motivated, conscientious, and proactive. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity of experience, background, and perspective to enrich our work. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. The complete job description with instructions on how to apply can be found at intervale.org/get-involved#employment-banner.

FINANCE MANAGER

Have you dreamed of a job where you can connect passion and purpose with 30 colleagues in VT and thousands globally? The Nature Conservancy has been conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends for over 60 years. We are rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which includes a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures.

The Finance Manager provides financial management and reporting, accounting, auditing, and grants administration services to the Vermont business unit (~$5M annual operating budget), and aids staff in strategic financial analysis for conservation projects and to optimize resources. This is a 25 hr/wk salaried position with comprehensive benefits. Salary range: $55-60K.

To apply, search for position number 53219 at nature.org/careers

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Office of Admission at Saint Michael's College invites applications for the Associate Director of Admission for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion position. This position provides leadership and support to the College’s commitment to increasing the diversity of students at the College. The Associate Director of Admission will contribute to diversity recruitment strategies and coordination, and provide overall support to admission goals, policies, procedures, communications, and relationship building with partnership school and community-based organizations using the lens and frameworks of equity, inclusion, and belonging.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCADADEI

Truck Driver

Class A CDL Truck driver to haul granite, steel and equipment locally. Offering a competitive wage and paid holidays.

Call Steve @ 802-249-2921

Athens Diner is now hiring.

FOH Manager: $20/hr plus tips.

Prep cook\Sous Chef $18-$28/hr. Wed-Sun Servers

Send resume to info@athensdinervt.com

Court Diversion Case Manager

LRC is hiring a full-time Court Diversion Case Manager to coordinate restorative processes and support services for individuals and communities impacted by crime. The case manager will work within a team to create trauma-informed and victim-centered responses and supports. The position will also be responsible for working with participants in a range of pre-adjudication programs.

The successful candidate will possess excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience is required. Preference will be given to those who have worked with justice-involved individuals or with people impacted by crime.

Multiple Positions Now Open!

Hayward Tyler, a leading manufacturer of industrial pumps & motors in Colchester, is seeking candidates to fill the following positions:

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

haywardtyler.com/job_listing/businessdevelopment-manager /

PROJECT MANAGER

haywardtyler.com/job_listing/project-manager/

MECHANICAL DESIGN & SUPPORT ENGINEER

haywardtyler.com/job_listing/ mechanical-design-support-engineer/

MECHANICAL DESIGNER

haywardtyler.com/job_listing/mechanical-designer/

LEAD AFTERMARKET DESIGN ENGINEER

haywardtyler.com/job_listing/ lead-aftermarket-design-engineer/

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

If you meet our requirements and are interested in an exciting opportunity, please forward your resume & salary requirements to:

Hayward Tyler, Inc. – Attn: HR Department

480 Roosevelt Highway PO Box 680, Colchester, VT 05446

Email: Careers@haywardtyler.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

This opportunity is ideal for professionals who are interested in a workplace that promotes employee well-being and is known for its inclusive and collaborative work environment. On-site work in Hyde Park is required. The hourly pay rate is between $21.33 and $22.44. A uniquely generous benefits policy provides $12,000 annually for each employee to pay for the benefits they need, such as: medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance, and retirement. Additional benefits include 27 paid days off and 17 paid holidays, pre-tax dependent care deductions, paid family medical leave, an annual training stipend, and life insurance.

To be considered for this position, applicants are asked to send a cover letter highlighting their relevant skills and experiences, and a resume, to: info@lrcvt.org

LRC is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications from professionals with lived experience. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Clerk of the Works

PCI Capital Project Consulting is seeking a highly organized, self-motivated individual to join our team as Clerk of the Works. We are an established and well-respected Capital Project Management firm serving a wide range of clients throughout Vermont. In addition to competitive pay and benefits, members of our small team of dedicated professionals enjoy autonomy, and opportunities to learn and grow. We also offer meaningful and fulfilling work with a front row seat to some of Vermont’s most interesting and exciting capital projects.

5+ years of demonstrated field construction experience in a supervisory role is required.

Please contact Natty Jamison for more information: natty@pcivt.com

Join Our Auction Team

Centers for Wellbeing

Administrative Coordinator

Our innovative public/private non-profit clinical and worksite wellness program has an exciting opportunity for the right candidate. Come work with our team as we deliver supportive services across the state.

Do you flourish when supporting Vermonters in need? Solving complex problems that need both teaming and collaboration? Engaging with partners, and assisting a busy counseling staff as we serve our participants? This position will provide administrative support and participant engagement in our ICAN program. We need a confident, consumer-focused, tech-fluent person to join our staff of counselors, program coordinators, and workforce development partners. This position is primarily homebased. Education in Psychology, Communication, or Social Work preferred; experience with nonprofit work a plus.

If you thrive in working cooperatively with people at all levels with respect, then we want to talk with you. Please submit cover letter and resume to Marc Adams at marca@investeap.org by April 20th, 2023.

We are a DEIA+-focused, equal opportunity employer that is committed to supporting our staff at work and home.

We offer competitive wages & a full benefits package for full time employees. No auction experience necessary.

OPEN POSITIONS:

• Marketing Director: Develop, grow, & sustain our reputation of providing amazing results for our clients.

• Office Manager: Full-time positions open. MS Office, Excel, computer, and cashier skills a must! Assist in launching & managing auctions.

• Auction Site Techs: Multiple full-time positions open. Tasks include sorting, cataloging, photographing & managing assets. Attention to detail a must, typing skills a plus.

Thomas Hirchak Company is an at will employer. See details at: THCAuction.com

Email Us: Info@THCAuction.com

Fulfillment & Farmers Market Associate Richmond VT

Participate in Vermont’s local food system through the fulfillment and direct sales of regeneratively-grown, pasture-raised meats.

Seeking a detail-oriented, passionate about food & outgoing person to work in inventory management AND our frontline face at the Burlington market.

Benefits include:

• Wage range: $16-19/hour, D.O.E.

• A 4-day (10hr) workweek (Wed-Sat)

For Full Job Description please visit: maplewindfarm.com/

Contact our Farm Director, Eric Boatti: work@maplewindfarm.com

SEEKING A SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR

Bridge School is seeking a responsible summer camp director who can develop and manage a robust 2023 Bridge School summer program. This hire will lead operations for the entire summer; hire, train and supervise summer counselors; develop, implement and adhere to staff and program policies following Vermont Childcare Program Regulations; manage a high-quality educational program for campers and serve as an ambassador of Bridge School’s mission. Please email Jen@bridgeschoolvermont.org with your cover letter and resumé to apply!

ALSO SEEKING SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS

Bridge School Summer Camp is seeking creative, responsible, and dynamic individuals. As part of an educator team, you will create and implement a high-quality summer camp experience for local elementary school children. Please email Jen@ bridgeschoolvermont.org with your cover letter and resumé to apply!

Centers for Wellbeing

Worksite Wellness: Member Services Coordinator Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Do you want to help individuals manage workplace stress, work/life balance, and the complex problems we face as a workforce? Do you thrive in implementing new strategies and technologies to create an astounding interface for our consumers? Do you want to support other Vermonters? If the answers are yes and you want to be part of a growing and collaborative team, then we have a position for you. This position will work with our team of counselors to support our members and account leadership in accessing amazing resources and support. This opportunity also offers a chance to work with our business relationship staff and EAP leadership. This position will help us grow and develop intake systems to further innovate our interface with our partners, accounts, and members. We are looking for a confident, customerservice focused person to thrive with our team.

Please send resume and cover letter to Marc Adams at marca@investeap.org Reach out if you have questions or would like to discuss this opportunity. Invest EAP is a DEIA+ focused, EOE that strives to support its staff thrive at work, home & play.

RESIDENT DIRECTOR (RD)

The department of Residential Life at Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications from current full-time graduate students for the position of Resident Director (RD) for the 2023 Fall semester with the possibility to extend into other academic years. The RD is responsible for the total operation of a residential living area housing approximately 125-350 students. Responsibilities include developing community among residents, supervising undergraduate Resident Assistants, and articulating and enforcing policies. The RD also serves as a liaison to various campus offices including, but not limited to, the Student Life Office, Student Activities, the Bergeron Wellness Center, Center for Diversity, Empowerment, & Community, Office of Community Standards, The Center for Women & Gender, MOVE, Campus Ministry, and Public Safety.

For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCRDF23

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/INTAKE COORDINATOR

Vermont Center for Anxiety Care/Matrix Health Systems

Exclusive Burlington waterfront location

Duties:

• Telephone screening of new clients

• Health insurance verification

• Manage client wait list

• Coordinate case assignments

• Telephone and in-person patient reception

• Implement health safety protocols

• Administrative support to practice director

Required skills:

• Friendliness and effective verbal communication

• Computer skills: spreadsheets, scanning, faxing, email, MS Word

• Efficiency and organization

Send resume to Alesia: alesia@ocamhs.com

JOIN OUR TEAM!

RED HOUSE BUILDING IS CURRENTLY HIRING:

-Carpenters

-Laborers

-Summer crew

Flexible scheduling, Competitive wages, Great people

Red House Building is an employee-owned company celebrating 20 years in business this summer. We value a cooperative, team-oriented workplace and encourage the professional growth of our team.

We focus on building distinctive, award-winning and high-performance homes with project locations throughout Central and Northern Vermont.

Check out our website to learn more and apply today! redhousebuilding.com

Send resume to info@redhousebuilding.com

Vermont Mechanical, an industry leader in commercial HVAC systems, values our people above everything, and recognizes their dedication and skills with benefits that help them feel rewarded for a job well done. Come join our team – work with a company that believes It’s what’s inside that counts.

Licensed Plumber / Piping Foreman

• Hands on expert with ability to troubleshoot issues ranging from assembly to installation of piping systems

• Oversees and plans work, sta ng, and materials to ensure project timelines and budgets are met

• Trains and mentors Apprentice Plumbers

• Holds VT Plumbing license, NH license preferred

• Routinely travels across VT, NY & NH to work at construction sites

Service Technicians II / III

• Performs diagnosis and repair of commercial HVAC systems including boilers, pumps, RTUs, AHUs, and heat pumps.

• Certifications or the immediate ability to acquire industry certifications required.

Industry leading pay, on-the-job training, assistance to acquire certifications and great benefits combined with an employeecentered culture helps make VMI a great place to work.

Apply: vtmechanical.com or email to jobs@vtmechanical.com

Vermont Mechanical is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BASED IN MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT

WHY NOT HAVE A JOB YOU LOVE?

Plus, have a benefit package that includes 29 paid days off in the first year, a comprehensive health insurance plan with your premium as low as $13 per month, 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 five years running.

Become a Direct Support Professional ($19-$20/hr) or Service Coordinator ($47k) at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities & make a career making a difference. Apply today at ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Baker, Assistant Baker

We are seeking hardworking applicants to help prep and bake bagels, artisan breads and sweet treats. Full and part time (seasonal) available and we are willing to train! Wally’s has served the community for over 15 years. We offer competitive pay, a fun work atmosphere and room to grow. Applicants must have a positive attitude, work well with others and communicate well. Send resumes to: office@ wallysplacevt.com.

ORGANIZER

AFT Vermont is hiring a smart, motivated organizer who is willing to work hard for social justice at the workplace and across Vermont.

About AFT Vermont

• A democratic, organizing labor union

• The fastest growing union in Vermont

• Has majority women membership & leadership

We organize to win better wages, respect & improvements at work.

Job posting: vt.aft.org/organizer

Community Bankers Chittenden County

Part Time Opportunities - 10am-2pm shifts available

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join NSB’s team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Consider joining our team as a Part-time Community Banker!

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service

• Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

• Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

• If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

What NSB Can Offer You:

• Competitive compensation based on experience

Profit-Sharing opportunity.

• Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program.

• Positive work environment supported by a team culture.

• Opportunity for professional development.

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

E.O.E. Member FDIC

VERMONT PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION - ANALYST

Interested in working on utility-related economic and environmental issues for a small, dynamic State agency with opportunities for flexible, remote work? The Vermont Public Utility Commission seeks to fill a vacant Analyst position. The Public Utility Commission regulates electric, energy efficiency, natural gas, telecommunications, and water utilities in Vermont. Issues decided by the Commission include, among others: utility rates and other financial matters; siting of utility facilities and non-utility renewable generation facilities; and renewable energy, energy efficiency and telecommunications policies.

The Analyst position offers a unique chance to participate in Vermont’s regulatory process that implements policy decisions which often have statewide, regional, and national significance. See http://puc.vermont.gov/ Specific duties include reviewing utility ratemaking and other economic regulatory filings; reviewing infrastructure siting filings; drafting proposed rules; assisting in the development of Commission policy on utility-related matters; presiding over contested cases as a quasi-judicial hearing officer, with responsibility to identify significant issues; conducting thorough hearings in a fair, professional, judicious manner; preparing comprehensive proposed decisions that resolve all critical issues; and assisting the Commission in evaluating the proposed decisions. The analyst would also advise the Commission in cases that the Commission hears directly, with responsibility to identify, research, and analyze significant issues, manage the procedural elements of the cases, work as part of a team, and draft the Commission’s orders.

Judicial temperament, excellent writing and analytical skills are required. A strong candidate will have prior experience in utility ratemaking, utility regulation, or related areas, including the telecommunications or energy industries. The Commission also highly values experience with financial or business decision-making, facility siting and permitting, and public policy analysis and formulation. Experience with financial analysis is desirable. Candidates typically have a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years’ professional experience in accounting, auditing, economic or financial analysis, business or public administration, permitting, planning, physical science, engineering, or an environmental or natural resources field. Graduate work in related fields may be substituted for the required experience on a semester-for-six-months basis. While legal training is not required and may not substitute for the required experience, candidates with law degrees may apply.

Salary commensurate with applicant’s background and experience in accordance with the Public Utility Commission’s pay plan. The pay plan can be found at http://humanresources.vermont.gov/document/public-utility-commissionpay-plan-fy-23. The State of Vermont offers many benefits as part of total employee compensation. Information about benefits for State employees can be found at https://humanresources.vermont.gov/benefits-wellness.

To apply, submit resume, cover letter & writing sample to: Business Manager, Vermont Public Utility Commission, 112 State Street, 4th Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620-2701. Or email: puc.businessmanager@vermont.gov by April 28th.

The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Commission seeks to attract and retain a diverse workforce and we are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all employees. Applicants are welcome to list their personal pronouns in their application materials.

Delivery Driver/Sales Non-CDL

We are looking for a part time delivery driver for a small family business specializing in fresh fish and shellfish.

Tuesday/Thursday (Adding Fridays late Spring). Hours are typically 10-7 with option for 1-7 shi . Excellent job for people with part time schedules. Fun job, good pay, good people.  Check us out at: WoodMountainFish.Com for more information!

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF

Vermont Legal Aid seeks a highly organized individual who enjoys working as part of a team, with a desire to further our mission, for a full-time position in Montpelier, VT. We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace. Please read our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion

Responsibilities include general office management and front desk duties (answering phones, client contact, data entry, typing, file/document/database management), as well as supporting the work of multiple attorneys and paralegals. Experience in an administrative support role is preferable. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite required. Fluency in French, Spanish, Swahili, Kirundi, Somali, Arabic, Nepali, or Burmese is a plus. See job description and more details at vtlegalaid.org/work-at-vla

CDL Driver

Cota’s Propane in Grand Isle has the following job opening:

• Full-Time Delivery Driver, CDL. Starting at $30 + depending on experience/ hr plus benefits.

Call Tim at 802 324-1955

Or email: cotapropanedelivery@ gmail.com

Base salary is $38,480 with salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Benefits include: Four weeks paid vacation, retirement, and excellent health benefits; possibility for law office study. Application deadline is April 18, 2023 Send cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single PDF file with the subject line “Support Staff – April 2023” to hiring@vtlegalaid.org. Please tell us how you heard about the position.

Right People. Right Business. RIGHT JOB FOR YOU!

Rhino’s hiring is hot right now! Get on board in time for their busy season.

Check out our website for all job listings, which include:

Production 3rd shift, $18.50/hr.

SR. PROJECT MANAGER

Affordable Housing Design/Construction

Evernorth is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and community investments in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We have an exciting opportunity for a Sr. Project Manager with 5+ years’ experience in project management or related experience with construction projects to join our real estate development team. This position manages all aspects of design development and construction for our affordable housing projects from predevelopment through construction completion and is responsible for financial tracking of the project budget and compliance monitoring. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, team builder and problem solver, with proficient experience in design and construction project management and commitment to our mission.

We believe in equal access to affordable housing and economic opportunities; the power of partnerships based on integrity, respect, and teamwork; and a collaborative workplace with professional, skilled and dedicated staff.

To apply, go to bit.ly/EvernorthPM Evernorth is an E.O.E.

Greenhouse Construction Assistant

Our small company builds year round companion greenhouses for the residential market. Each greenhouse is hand crafted using locally sourced materials and the latest in greenhouse technology. A great opportunity to learn many areas of construction while making the world a better place. We offer either full-time or seasonal employment. Our projects are mostly in Vermont and surrounding areas. Some overnights are required. If you are eager to improve your construction skills, and enjoy working with people dedicated to improving the quality of life through plants and growing then consider working with us. We provide a friendly, supportive and professional environment with a solid track record of helping many individuals get started in the construction field. The essential requirements are that you have an excellent work ethic, can be a team player, work in a professional environment and have good attention for detail. Please respond with resume/work experience and references. Pay based on experience $17-$22 per hour. Send resumes to: vermontvictorygreenhouses@gmail.com

Public Works Department Building & Grounds

PART-TIME YEAR-ROUND MAINTENANCE WORKER

Part-time position available for a Building & Grounds Maintenance Worker. 26 hrs/week. Responsibilities include building and grounds maintenance, custodial work, plowing operations in winter months, and other duties as assigned. Valid VT State Driver’s License is required. Applications can be picked up at the Public Works office at 7878 Williston Road, Williston, VT or, town.williston. vt.us/employment. E.O.E. Position will remain open until filled.

Maintenance Techs 1st & 3rd shifts, $20-$35/hr DOE

Earn some “Dough” at Rhino Foods!

rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

Check out these openings and others on our career page:

*Rhino Foods does run sex offender checks on all employees

Nursing Grads:

•

•

•

• Please apply by June 18.

For more info, visit copleyvt.org /careers or call J.T. Vize at 802-888-8329

Multiple Positions

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is seeking full-time or per-diem physicians, an experienced full-time ED physician assistant, and experienced registered nurses to join its growing ED team. Join us while we expand our services to the community. NVRH employees enjoy a wide range of opportunities for growth, a competitive salary and more.

NVRH offers excellent benefits, including student loan repayment, generous paid time off, health/ dental/vision, 401k with company match & more!

General Assembly

HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATE

The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work.

Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist

The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc. is seeking a full time Quality Improvement

Seasonal Grounds Maintenance

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER

STATE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION –MONTPELIER

VT Agency of Education (AOE) seeks State Director of Special Education to join our Student Support Services Division. Key responsibilities include leading a strong team of state special education personnel to oversee the application of state/federal special education law and policy; collaborating effectively with local/state/federal partners; and supervising/managing AOE’s Special Education team. For more information, contact Heather Bouchey at heather. bouchey@vermont.gov.

Department: Education Agency. Location: Montpelier.

Status: Full Time. Job Id #46744. Application Deadline: April 27, 2023.

VR CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROJECT DIRECTOR –WATERBURY

HireAbility Vermont is looking for a Project Director for the Vermont Career Exploration Project (VCAP). VCAP is a five-year $6.5 million project designed to support people with disabilities access to high-quality and high-wage careers. Candidates should have a background in workforce development and/ or the employment of people with disabilities. They must be able to manage the operations of a statewide program involving multiple partners, program budgets, and federal reporting. For more information, contact James Smith at james.smith@vermont.gov.

Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living.

Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time, Limited Service. Job Id #46660. Application Deadline: April 17, 2023.

BUSINESS APPLICATION AND AUDIT SUPPORT SPECIALIST – WATERBURY

You will be part of a highly professional and collegial team that is proud of, and enthusiastic about, the mission of the state legislature.

To apply, please go to 'Career Opportunities' at legislature.vermont.gov.

(QI) Specialist. The QI Specialist will support programs that aim to improve the quality of healthcare for Vermonters. This professional role is based on the NAHQ competency framework, and will carry out activities in the following areas: performance and process improvement, population health and care transitions, health data analytics, patient safety, regulatory accreditation, quality review and accountability, professional engagement, and quality leadership and integration. RN designation is preferred.

Read the full job descriptions and apply at vpqhc.org/ employment

Seeking laborer with prior experience for mowing, trimming, and other projects at Town buildings, grounds, parks and recreation facilities from mid-May through August. Semi-flexible 30 hour/week position. Must be at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and excellent past work record. Some mechanical ability helpful. Must have ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Pre-employment physical required.

Refer to complete job description at shelburnevt.org/237/HumanResources

Submit resume or application to Darwin Norris at darwinnorris@ shelburnevt.org, or Town of Shelburne, P. O. Box 88, Shelburne, VT 05482. E.O.E.

Join the team at the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), an innovative and award-winning organization working to ensure affordable housing, farmland, jobs, and recreational assets for every generation of Vermonters.

Several Open Positions!

AmeriCorps Program Coordinator

Housing Stewardship Coordinator

Clean Water Programs Director

Department: Human Services Agency.

Looking for a new challenge in your career? How about being part of a business and audit support team in state government? If so, our Agency of Human Services may have a great role for you! We are seeking a Business Application and Audit Support Specialist to contribute to the Team’s mission of promoting efficient and effective operations across the Agency. The ideal candidate will be a “people person” coupled with strong skills in business process analytics, root cause, and risk analysis. For more information, contact Peter Moino at peter.moino@vermont.gov.

Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Job Id #46523. Application Deadline: April 30, 2023.

INSTITUTIONAL CUSTODIANS & MECHANIC – ESSEX

BGS is seeking Custodians and a Maintenance Mechanic for the new River Valley Therapeutic Residence. These positions will provide custodial and grounds maintenance for the residential-style facility located in a quiet country setting. We offer great benefits and opportunities to grow with our department. Successful completion of multiple background checks will be required. For more information, contact John Hebert at john.hebert@vermont.gov.

Department: Buildings & General Services. Location: Essex. Status: Full Time. Job Id #45928 OR #46586. Application Deadline: May 7, 2023.

Housing and Community Development Specialist

Excellent comprehensive benefits package including health care plan, dental coverage, life insurance, long- and short-term disability insurance, retirement plan, generous paid time off, employee assistance program, and more.

VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. To read position descriptions and apply, visit vhcb.org/about-us/jobs Positions will remain open until filled.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE

The City of South Burlington is looking for an innovative and dynamic proven leader who demonstrates core values of integrity and respect to be our next Deputy Chief of Police. Do you want to understand and meet the needs of our community and play an important role in City wide leadership? This command staff position is responsible for the protection of lives and property in the City of South Burlington by assisting the Chief of Police with establishing the vision, mission, direction and supervision of the Police Department. The Police Department serves the community by prioritizing the safety and security of all residents. This service is grounded in the use of community policing, creating strong relationships between department personnel and all city departments. Learn more by visiting southburlingtonvt.gov/jobopportunities

Apply now: Review of applications will begin May 8, 2023. Position will remain open until filled. To apply, please send a City employment application form, confidential cover letter, resume, and three references via US Mail to: Human Resources, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. Or email: sbcityjobs@southburlingtonvt.gov with “Deputy Chief of Police” in the subject line.

ENTRY TO SENIOR PLANNER

Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) is seeking to hire a full-time planner to assist with equitable municipal and regional planning. Planners at CCRPC work on a variety of projects in a diverse set of topic areas. Our work program includes writing municipal comprehensive plans, developing municipal bylaw amendments, updating and implementing the regional plan, grant writing, and conducting project management for a wide array of municipal and regional projects related to land use, transportation, water quality, natural resources, emergency management, communications, energy, and climate change. Proficiency in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is desired, but not required. Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion must be incorporated in all work. This position may range from entry to senior level depending on the experience of the candidate.

CCRPC is the regional planning agency for the Burlington VT region. Our offices are in downtown Winooski along the river in a great walking environment with a variety of restaurants, services and businesses. The workplace is friendly and flexible.

The individual selected must be a self-starter, able to work independently and stick to deadlines. Regular night meeting attendance is expected. Valid driver’s license required. Salary is dependent upon qualifications within the ranges ($50,000 - $72,800 for Planner and $65,000 - $88,400 for Senior Planner).

Please send a letter of interest and resume (with references and contact information) to Charlie Baker, Executive Director at: cbaker@ccrpcvt.org. We will begin reviewing resumes on April 28, 2023. This position will remain open until filled. Job descriptions can be found at ccrpcvt.org/about-us/news/jobs/

The CCRPC believes a diverse and culturally proficient staff are pivotal to creating an environment free of inequities. Accordingly, the CCRPC seeks to provide our membership and community with services enhanced by the professional contributions of culturally competent representatives of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, physical ability, age, and sexual orientation. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and expected to strengthen such capacity if hired. CCRPC is an equal opportunity employer.

At CCRPC, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

NOW HIRING Full & Part-Time Retail Sales

Looking for a job you’ll love? Join the team at Lake Champlain Chocolates! You’ll spend your days with a great group of coworkers, creating an exceptional in-store experience for the diverse community of chocolate-lovers who visit our Vermont locations. Your regular schedule will depend on your availability and the staf ng needs of that store. The schedule may vary, but ability to work weekends, holiday and extended summer hours are a must. As a certi ed B Corporation ®, we use business as a force for good – we seek team members who want to join us in that effort.

Current open positions:

- Church Street Retail Store Assistant Manager (full-time)

- Burlington and Waterbury Retail Store Associates (part-time)

Please visit our website for additional job details: https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/job-opportunities/

Front of House Manager

Positive Pie, Montpelier

If you are a positive, pizza-loving, high energy leader that knows the ins and outs of running the FOH. You are passionate about making a difference for your guests and your team members, every single day. You are a persuasive problem-solver with an eye for profit. You find yourself regularly setting high standards and lead your team to achieve them. You are a collaborative and dynamic leader with enough charisma to go around... then we want you!

Positive Pie in Montpelier is Hiring Front of House Managers. You will work closely with, train and report directly to owners and other managers to achieve your goals. While we push hard for results, we want our team to enjoy success in both their career and home life. As a Positive Pie Supervisor, your guests and your FOH team will rely on you to create the best work environment and dining experience. As the leader your guidance will be crucial to the development, safety, and happiness of your guests and your team.

Desired Skills: Front of House Restaurant Experience 2-5 years, Superior Customer Service, Emotional Intelligence & Desire to Lead.

Salary: Positive Pie offers competitive wages and employee discounts. Full or part-time can work. Hourly position. Starting $16-18/hr plus tips, with 30day review. Advancement potential is high. Hiring Incentive available for qualified applicants.

We are looking for FOH Manager to start immediately. Please send resume to carlo@positivepie.com. You can also find us at positivepie.com and on Facebook.

Engaging minds that change the world

Seeking a position with a quality employer? Consider The University of Vermont, a stimulating and diverse workplace. We offer a comprehensive benefit package including tuition remission for on-going, full-time positions.

Technical Support Specialist - Howe Library - #S4256PO - The UVM Libraries is seeking a Technical Support Specialist staff member to join our team. This position provides front-line hardware and software support for Library faculty, staff, and patrons. They will research, select, and maintain computers and software in support of multimedia, statistical consulting, GIS, 3D scanning, and related work. Responsibilities include creating, maintaining, and deploying desktop images; authoring webpages and providing expert web-authoring assistance to library staff; and comanaging the Pharos print service and troubleshooting technology problems. This position will serve as a back-up to the Systems and Technology Services Librarian and the Web Services Librarian including the maintenance of library systems applications and servers.

For further information on this position and others currently available, or to apply online, please visit www.uvmjobs.com Applicants must apply for positions electronically. Paper resumes are not accepted. Open positions are updated daily. Please call 802-656-3150 or email employment@uvm.edu for technical support with the online application.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

PACKAGING LINE OPERATORS

Looking for an opportunity to work at one of the Northeast’s most reputable breweries? Now is your chance! Zero Gravity is hiring for full-time Packaging Line Operators to work first & second shifts, Monday – Friday at our Pine Street and Bartlett Bay locations.

For more information & to apply: careers@zerogravitybeer.com

Landscaper

Seasonal lawn/landscape worker needed for private property in Shelburne. Start & end date flexible, up to 40 hrs per week. Must be 17 or older. Tasks: operate commercial mower, lawncare (string-trimming & raking), lift up to 50 lbs., safely use ladders. Experience preferred but willing to train. $18-$20/ hour DOE.

For info or application, call (802) 985-9218 or email bmercure@ meachcovefarms.org

Family Engagement Coordinator

The Family Engagement Coordinator will help families build strong relationships in support of LGBTQ+ youth, where caregivers are active allies connected to a community of peers. This is a 35hr week FT position with comprehensive benefits. Salary $51,000 - $56,000.  Applications welcomed by April 21. Outright Vermont is an EOE. Queer & trans people of color & trans feminine candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Visit outrightvt.org for full description & hiring details.

Power Analyst/Manager of Power Resources

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Are you a natural leader? Can you help others to grow? Are you invested in the performing arts? The Opera House seeks an organized, motivated, and creative person to build on the growth of the past 50+ years. We need an executive skilled in team leadership, financial management, grant writing, and contract writing. Experience in theatrical or concert management is a must, as are written and verbal communication skills. Besides overseeing our salaried team and crew of volunteers, you will be the public face of the Opera House. There are evening responsibilities when shows are in house, so daytime work hours are adjusted as needed.

This full-time in-person position offers a salary of $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience. This position is bonus eligible based on results. Total compensation is a competitive package including health insurance, retirement plan, professional development, and a positive working environment.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Are you interested in joining a vibrant, financially stable arts organization? Do you enjoy theater and music? Are you a “people person”? Daily responsibilities include oversight and management of Opera House events, grant writing, fundraising, maintaining social media platforms, and interacting with performers and patrons alike. The flexibility to supervise evening events is a critical responsibility that is shared among the team members, with similar flexibility offered during daytime hours to balance out the nights. People skills, computer skills, and administrative discipline are your strengths, and a warm smile is your business card. The compensation package range is $45,000 to $49,000, commensurate with experience. Retirement, healthcare, and vacation benefits are included and can be personalized.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: boardchair@barreoperahouse.org.

THE VERMONT PUBLIC POWER SUPPLY AUTHORITY located in Waterbury Center, Vermont is seeking a Power Analyst or Manager of Power Resources to join our team dependent upon candidate qualifications. This position is responsible for all operational actions associated with the power supply planning area, including but not limited to managing participation of load resources and contracted/owned generating resources within and outside of ISO-NE markets, central dispatch reporting, power supply budgeting, and regulatory reporting.

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Risk management across the Authority’s broad portfolio of energy and ancillary market products.

• Lead negotiations for long term power purchase agreements and physical resources.

• Performing complex technical and analytical work primarily relating to resource, rate and cost-of-service activities.

• Assists with the management of the Authority’s Renewable Energy Standard program.

• Implement trading & hedging strategies to manage ongoing positions in energy, renewable energy credits, capacity, reserve & financial transmission rights.

• Maintain understanding of wholesale markets and changes in market including but not limited to understanding rules of the Independent System Operator in New England (ISO-NE).

Duties require: knowledge of the New England power market, Vermont regulatory process, and knowledge in mathematical and economic modeling, or comparable education and experience equivalent to completion of four years of college and three or more years of experience in energy, utilities or related field are preferred.

VPPSA is building a team of professionals who are passionate about helping Vermont towns meet their energy needs. If you are a team player and enjoy a fast-paced collaborative environment we want to hear from you.

Please send resume and salary requirements to: Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, PO Box 126, Waterbury Ctr., Vermont 05677

Attn: Sarah Braese, or email to sbraese@vppsa.com with the subject: Power Analyst/Manager of Power Resources.

The position will be open until filled. Full job description: vppsa.com.

THE HISTORIC 1899 BARRE OPERA HOUSE IS CENTRAL VERMONT’S PREMIER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

POST YOUR JOBS AT: SEVENDAYSVT.COM/POSTMYJOB

PRINT DEADLINE: NOON ON MONDAYS (INCLUDING HOLIDAYS)

FOR RATES & INFO: MICHELLE BROWN, 802-865-1020 X121, MICHELLE@SEVENDAYSVT.COM

Executive Director

Part-time

For more details go to: vermontschoolcounselor.org

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SPECIALIST

Are you interested in a job that helps your community and makes a difference in people’s lives every day? Consider joining Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) in Burlington, VT. We’re seeking candidates to continue BHA’s success in promoting innovative solutions that address housing instability challenges facing our diverse population of low-income families and individuals.

Currently, we’re looking for a full time (40 hours per week) Construction Project Specialist to join our dedicated team of professionals. This position performs physical condition inspections of all owned and managed properties for assessment of capital needs and housing standards compliance, coordinates small to medium sized renovation and repair projects, and assists in the development and preparation of construction project bid specifications, requests for proposals and project requirements, manuals and plans, as well as other aspects of project management.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of modern methods, materials, and practices of the various trades, including carpentry, plumbing, and electrical maintenance and repair, and all phases of construction contract management. Previous construction project management experience is preferred. Effective verbal and written communication skills, excellent organizational and computer skills with an emphasis on Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat and Google Apps is a must. A valid driver’s license and personal means of transportation within the greater Burlington area is required.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply. Multilingualism is a plus!

Our robust benefit package includes premium medical insurance with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, short and long term disability, 10% employer funded retirement plan, 457 retirement plan, accident insurance, life insurance, cancer and critical illness insurance.

We provide a generous time off policy including 12 days of paid time off and 12 days of sick time in the first year. In addition to the paid time off, BHA recognizes 13 (paid) holidays.

Interested in this career opportunity? Send a cover letter and resume to: humanresources@burlingtonhousing.org

Human Resources - Burlington Housing Authority

65 Main Street, Suite 101 Burlington, VT 05401 burlingtonhousing.org, BHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Manufacturing Operations Team Lead

At Resonant Link our mission is to use fast, safe, and reliable wireless power to help people, businesses, and the planet thrive and we’re hiring!

We’re looking for a Manufacturing Operations Team Lead to join a collaborative team accelerating the future of electrification. As our Manufacturing Operations Team Lead, you’ll be responsible for leading daily operations of our Low Volume Pilot at our Burlington HQ, including touch labor, test technicians, logistics, and material handling. You’ll support process development and optimization, manage manufacturing supply ordering processes, and collaborate with engineering for troubleshooting. Learn more and apply at resonant-link.com/careers!

Outreach & Programming Library Assistant Richmond Free Library

This position is responsible for developing and implementing programming for the library (primarily adult, with some support of youth and family programs) and promoting the Richmond Free Library’s services, resources, and programs in the community. This person will also lead the library’s sustainability initiative to achieve certification through the Sustainable Libraries Initiative. In addition, this person will assist patrons and carry out general library services and duties as needed. 24 hours, some evenings and weekends, $18 minimum. To apply or request full job description, email library@ richmondvt.gov

Contributing Food Writers

Do you have an omnivorous appetite but discerning palate? Can you write delicious prose about food and drink? Are you knowledgeable about food systems, from farm to table? If your answers are yes, yes and yes, we’d like to hear from you!

Seven Days is seeking curious, diligent and experienced freelancers for our award-winning food section. You must be an excellent and creative writer with a journalism reporting background. Responsibilities include finding and contributing kick-ass content in the form of restaurant news as well as crafting compelling full-length features and short spotlights about the people, businesses, places and products that make up the local food scene.

Tell us your location, your availability and how you think you can contribute to Seven Days. Please email your résumé, cover letter, two story ideas you’d like to pursue for us and at least three published articles (web links are acceptable) to foodwriter@ sevendaysvt.com by Friday, April 28, at noon. No phone calls or drop-ins, please.

Seven Days is an equal opportunity employer.

Now hear this!

The Conversation Artist: Podcaster

Erica Heilman Seeks the Meaning of Life, One Interview at a Time 32 MINS.

Soundbites: Rocking Out for Mark Ransom 8 MINS.

Lawmakers Consider Pausing Vermont’s Ambitious, Costly and One-of-a-Kind Plan to Address PCBs in Schools 25 MINS. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame Recognizes Stowe Adventurer Jan Reynolds 27 MINS. A New BCA Exhibit Presents the Possibilities — and Pitfalls — of AI-Generated Art 30 MINS.

Vermont’s EMS System Is Struggling to Survive. Can It Be Saved? 30 MINS.

Andrew Tripp Is an All-Star Union Organizer — and a KickAss X-Country Coach, Too 25 MINS.

What Does Matt Rogers’ Hiring as Director of Programming Mean at the Flynn? 9 MINS.

Northfield’s Police Chief Takes Flak for His Provocative Public Stances 12 MINS.

Essay: I Do’s and I Don’ts From a Semiprofessional Wedding Guest 10 MINS.

How does it work?

1 2 3

Seven Days is recording select stories from the weekly newspaper for your listening pleasure. A Proposed State Program Would Help Vermonters Save for Retirement 8 MINS.

Go to sevendaysvt.com/aloud and click on the article you want to hear.

When the article loads, scroll down past the first photo and find the prompt to “Hear this article read aloud.”

Press play! You can pause at any time, skip ahead, rewind and change the speaking speed to suit your needs.

Start listening at: sevendaysvt.com/aloud

Then, tell us what you think: aloud@sevendaysvt.com

fun stuff

HARRY BLISS

“Don’t worry, the fire department is on the wa— are you napping?!”

JEN SORENSEN

CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

ARIES

(MAR. 21-APR. 19)

I hope that in the coming weeks, you will keep your mind bubbling with zesty mysteries. I hope you’ll exult in the thrill of riddles that are beyond your current power to solve. If you cultivate an appreciation of uncanny uncertainties, life will soon begin bringing you uncanny certainties. Do you understand the connection between openhearted curiosity and fertile rewards? Don’t merely tolerate the enigmas you are immersed in — love them!

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): An old sadness is ripening into practical wisdom. A confusing loss is about to yield a clear revelation you can use to improve your life. In mysterious ways, a broken heart you suffered in the past may become a wild card that inspires you to deepen and expand your love. Wow and hallelujah, Taurus! I’m amazed at the turnarounds that are in the works for you. Sometime in the coming weeks, what wounded you once upon a time will lead to a vibrant healing. Wonderful surprise!

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): What is the true and proper symbol for your sign, Gemini? Twins standing shoulder to shoulder as they gaze out on the world with curiosity? Or two lovers embracing each other with mischievous adoration in their eyes? Both scenarios can accurately represent your energy, depending

on your mood and the phase you’re in. In the coming weeks, I advise you to draw on the potency of both. You will be wise to coordinate the different sides of your personality in pursuit of a goal that interests them all. And you will also place yourself in harmonious alignment with cosmic rhythms as you harness your passionate urge to merge in a good cause.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Some scientists speculate that more people suffer from allergies than ever before because civilization has over-sanitized the world. The fetish for scouring away germs and dirt means that our immune systems don’t get enough practice in fending off interlopers. In a sense, they are “bored” because they have too little to do. That’s why they fight stuff that’s not a threat, like tree pollens and animal dander. Hence, we develop allergies to harmless substances. I hope you will apply this lesson as a metaphor in the coming weeks, fellow Cancerian. Be sure the psychological component of your immune system isn’t warding off the wrong people and things. It’s healthy for you to be protective but not hyper-overprotective in ways that shut out useful influences.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): One night in 1989, Leo evolutionary biologist Margie Profet went to sleep and had a dream that revealed to her new information about the nature of menstruation. The dream scene was a cartoon of a woman’s reproductive system. It showed little triangles being carried away by the shed menstrual blood. Eureka! As Profet lay in bed in the dark, she intuited a theory that no scientist had ever guessed: that the sloughed-off uterine lining had the key function of eliminating pathogens, represented by the triangles. In subsequent years, she did research to test her idea, supported by studies with electron microscopes. Now her theory is regarded as fact. I predict that many of you Leos will soon receive comparable benefits. Practical guidance will be available in your dreams and twilight awareness and altered states. Pay close attention!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): You don’t know what is invisible to you. The truths that are out of your reach may as well be hiding. The

secret agendas that you are not aware of are indeed secret. That’s the not-so-good news, Virgo. The excellent news is that you now have the power to uncover the rest of the story, at least some of it. You will be able to penetrate below the surface and find buried riches. You will dig up missing information whose absence has prevented you from understanding what has been transpiring. There may be a surprise or two ahead, but they will ultimately be agents of healing.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): Visionary philosopher Buckminster Fuller referred to pollution as a potential resource that we have not yet figured out how to harvest. A company called Algae Systems does exactly that. It uses wastewater to grow algae that scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and yield carbon-negative biofuels. Can we invoke this approach as a metaphor that’s useful to you? Let’s dream up examples. Suppose you’re a creative artist. You could be inspired by your difficult emotions to compose a great song, story, painting or dance. Or if you’re a lover who is in pain, you could harness your suffering to free yourself of a bad old habit or ensure that an unpleasant history doesn’t repeat itself. Your homework, Libra, is to figure out how to take advantage of a “pollutant” or two in your world.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Soon you will graduate from your bumpy lessons and enter a smoother, silkier phase. You will find refuge from the naysayers as you create a liberated new power spot for yourself. In anticipation of this welcome transition, I offer this motivational exhortation from poet Gwendolyn Brooks: “Say to them, say to the downkeepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, ‘Even if you are not ready for day, it cannot always be night.’” I believe you are finished with your worthwhile but ponderous struggles, Scorpio. Get ready for an excursion toward luminous grace.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I periodically seek the counsel of a Sagittarian psychic. She’s half-feral and sometimes speaks in riddles. She tells me she occasionally converses by phone with a person she calls “the ex-Prime Minister of Narnia.” I confided in her that lately

Eva Sollberger’s

it has been a challenge for me to keep up with you Sagittarians because you have been expanding beyond the reach of my concepts. She gave me a pronouncement that felt vaguely helpful, though it was also a bit over my head: “The Archer may be quite luxuriously curious and furiously hilarious; studiously lascivious and victoriously delirious; salubriously industrious but never lugubriously laborious.” Here’s how I interpret that: Right now, pretty much anything is possible if you embrace unpredictability.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I’m not insane,” says Capricorn actor Jared Leto. “I’m voluntarily indifferent to conventional rationality.” That attitude might serve you well in the coming weeks. You could wield it to break open opportunities that were previously closed due to excess caution. I suspect you’re beginning a fun phase of self-discovery when you will learn a lot about yourself. As you do, I hope you will experiment with being at least somewhat indifferent to conventional rationality. Be willing to be surprised. Be receptive to changing your mind about yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): People of all genders feel urges to embellish their native beauty with cosmetic enhancements. I myself haven’t done so, but I cheer on those who use their flesh for artistic experiments. At the same time, I am also a big fan of us loving ourselves exactly as we are. And I’m hoping that in the coming weeks, you will emphasize the latter over the former. I urge you to indulge in an intense period of maximum selfappreciation. Tell yourself daily how gorgeous and brilliant you are. Tell others, too! Cultivate a glowing pride in the gifts you offer the world. If anyone complains, tell them you’re doing the homework your astrologer gave you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): I encourage you to amplify the message you have been trying to deliver. If there has been any shyness or timidity in your demeanor, purge it. If you have been less than forthright in speaking the whole truth and nothing but the truth, boost your clarity and frankness. Is there anything you could do to help your audience be more receptive? Any tenderness you could express to stimulate their willingness and ability to see you truly?

Lambing season is in full swing at the Parsons' Farm in Richford. is small-scale sheep and beef operation is run by Chet and Kate Parsons, a septuagenarian couple who grew up on small Vermont dairy farms. Eva visited them during what they've decided will be their final season raising animals.

supported by:

CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888.

WOMEN seeking...

LOVE TREATING OTHERS WELL

I’m incredibly grateful for life. Whatever the life experience, I know I will come out the other side, maybe somewhat scathed but always able to find joys and move forward. Humor is woven into the fabric of my being and draws me to others. New experiences and consistency bring balance. A campfire is the best. Bluebirdwings27 68, seeking: M, l

SOMETHING’S MISSING

Do you feel great about your life and all that is around you? Content with where you are, but there is just that “something” that you know you’re missing? You wake up wondering how all this time could go by without looking for or finding “your person,” because why? Not really looking? I’m ready for the search. Thoughts802 57 seeking: M, l

WHAT’S IN A NAME

I am a youngish 68-y/o woman. I love life and am very blessed. People find me easy to approach. I consider myself an extrovert but have a quiet side. I enjoy being outdoors. I have traveled a bit and enjoyed living in Turkey — it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

WhatsInaName2023, 68, seeking: M

HAPPILY MARRIED, HAVING SOME FUN

I’m just looking for low-drama physical fun, and my husband is delighted to watch, participate or just know that I’m out having a good time. The_Lemon_ Song, 41, seeking: M, TM, Q, NC, NBP, l

WANT TO RESPOND?

You read Seven Days, these people read Seven Days — you already have at least one thing in common!

All the action is online. Create an account or login to browse hundreds of singles with profiles including photos, habits, desires, views and more. It’s free to place your own profile online.

l See photos of this person online.

W = Women

M = Men

TW = Trans women

TM = Trans men

Q = Genderqueer people

NBP = Nonbinary people

NC = Gender nonconformists

Cp = Couples

Gp = Groups

WARM, SMART, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVER

I am looking for additions to what I already have: a whole and gratifying life. I am a self-made woman, talented artist. I love to explore cultures different from my own. I love physical touch when it’s based on communication and not need. I am looking for a life partner who appreciates my independence. In turn, I would applaud theirs.

FractleReflection, 69, seeking: M, l

FEMALE SHAPE-SHIFTER

Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength, intuitive, concerned with their mate. There’s no one a wildish woman loves better than a mate who can be her equal. To love a woman, the mate must also love her wildish nature. Female_

Shape_Shifter, 69, seeking: M, l

SEXY, HIP, COMPASSIONATE, INTELLIGENT WOMAN

I’m a spiritual, perceptive, intelligent woman who likes romance and deep conversations. I’m a teacher and counselor. I play the guitar and write songs, mostly blues. Appreciate art. I love Hawaii! Looking for a man who’s a good listener and communicator, romantic, loyal, spiritual, and enjoys music. A companion or friend. Someone to wine and dine, discuss, and cuddle with. SpiritWoman 66, seeking: M, l

A HARDWORKING, PLAYFUL SOUL

I love to be curious about life but realistic. I enjoy laughing at myself. I love my animals and enjoy time with them. I am a great cook and love making a good curry. Music is important to me. I love all kinds of music. I am looking for an honest and openhearted man willing to learn and grow together. sheshe61 58, seeking: M, l

REAL LOOKING FOR REAL

I love to laugh, love music and am attracted to intelligent, strong men who can get things accomplished. I love the stillness of the morning hours, nature, and traveling and learning about different cultures. Hoping to meet a gentleman who enjoys the same. daylily 62, seeking: M, l

CLEAN AND SIMPLE CRAFTER

Hello, gentlemen. I am a creative maker looking for a good friendship. I don’t imbibe nor inhale smoke. I enjoy clean, quiet, thoughtful conversation. I’m happy with my life and hope to find a pal to share short hikes or a relaxed cup of tea. If we enjoy each other’s company, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it! Quiet_quality 55, seeking: M, l

OLD-SCHOOL R&B LOVER

COVID-19 has left me feeling alone — hoping to get my groove back. Building a friendship is at the top of my list.

Love R&B, dancing and music. Clean up well. Very independent and social. Artistic and crafty. Looking for someone to go on walks and bike rides, a hike in the woods, movies and dinners out. RareBean13 71, seeking: M, l

KINDNESS

I enjoy warm, creative people. A sense of humor and radical politics are necessary. Do you love music and have a curious, open mind? Let’s be friends. ComicMellow 45, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, Gp, l

NEK, ADVENTUROUS, INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED

Looking for a kind, self-confident guy with whom to explore our worlds. A nice mix of homebody and adventurous spirit would be ideal. Travel near and far, time spent on the water, a social life. Traveling into Québec is always interesting. French speakers welcome. Call now for a free set of Ginsu knives! Stemtostern, 74, seeking: M, l

FIRST, LET’S TALK

A devoted VPR listener. Love gardening, almost all music, museums, movies, theater, flea markets, trips to nowhere and travel. I don’t need someone to “complete” me or support me, just someone to talk to, hold hands, share adventures. I am short and round — not sloppy fat, but definitely plump. I love to laugh and sing, preferably with others — hence this endeavor. ZanninVT 73 seeking: M, l

EYE TO EYE IN ALL

Love to cook, garden, travel, write, photograph, cross-country ski, hike, bike, watch movies, read, walk my dogs. Wish to share all that with a kind, grounded, warm and self-reflective man who can communicate — key to a strong relationship. I’m still working part time in private practice. I’m looking for a healthy, long-term, monogamous relationship. RumiLove, 73, seeking: M, l

MONTRÉAL WIFE IN OPEN RELATIONSHIP

Longtime married, very attractive, in open relationship. Desire playmate in Burlington area. I like confident, experienced, athletic, smart, welleducated, charming men. I am not looking to develop a relationship. Would like a regular playmate who is very discreet. My wonderful husband may be around for first meet, so need to be comfortable with that. He does not participate. MontrealWife, 54, seeking: M, l

MEN seeking...

ME

You. Southoftheborder, 37, seeking: W LAID-BACK, LOOKING FOR FUN

Hey, you. Looking for a guy who’s tall, handsome and funny? Well, he left a few minutes ago, but he taught me everything he knows and walked off into the sunset for some reason. Mustang5892, 28, seeking: W, l

LOOKING FOR A FWB

Looking for a FBW when time allows. Looking for someone in the same situation. Looking for someone to chat with. Someone to get excited to see messages or emails from, leading to some excitement and physical play. Fill the void that we are not getting at home. Fit4fun 49, seeking: W

ENERGETIC ARTIST LOOKING FOR PARTNER

Hello. I am curious about you and what you bring. Getting to know each other is my idea of a good time. I am sure we both have great qualities and long lists of pleasures, but it is the blending of our attributes that leads the way to joy. Let’s explore together. JumpInRick, 66, seeking: W, Cp, Gp, l

BODHISATTVA HIPPIE

I’m kind, loving, compassionate and empathic. I love art and music and film and nature and space travel and spirituality. I really enjoy my solitude, but lately I have been longing for companionship. Being introverted, I just don’t get out much anymore!

Shivaji 62, seeking: W, l

ATHLETIC, OUTDOORSY, CEREBRAL, PASSIONATE, LEFTIST

Seeking peer for outdoor activities, dancing, travel and maybe more. I enjoy music. Love to dance, big dogs. Friendship first, but if it’s right, I have a high sex drive and like to give pleasure. I’m labor-socialist organizer (with a master’s in labor, political economy, history). “Retired” into an engaged life, reading, hosting a radio show and enjoying outdoor activity. SkiDog 76, seeking: W, l

WHY NOT, I SAY

I’m 49, from Rutland. First time doing this. I’d like someone who is caring and honest and has a great sense of humor. Prefer nonsmoker, but that could depend. 2023 49, seeking: W, l

‘COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY’

Steely Dan. racine24, 69, seeking: W

AN EMPATHETIC, HARDWORKING, DRIVEN PROFESSIONAL 35 years in golf industry sales and marketing. Lasping22, 47 seeking: W

SINCERE

New in town, looking to expand social network. AfricanAmericanMan, 37, seeking: W, l

BALD AND FUNNY, LOOKING

Educated, broadly open-minded, practitioner of many hobbies including reading, playing and listening to music, singing, writing, farming, fishing, hiking, camping, weeding, exercising, working, blah-blahing, performing arts, and poetry, ah, poetry. Seeking friends with probable benefits to make me a better person and interest me considerably. P.S. I love good food and beautiful people. 1Tenor1971 51, seeking: W, l

GREAT GUY SEEKING

A solid, confident, stable guy here looking for the same in a lady. I love a mutual relationship filled with compassion, love and care. I am very outgoing and have great manners. I highly respect women’s rights and appreciate women’s success in life. Are you that woman, too? Would love to hear from you. Just_a_good_guy, 55, seeking: W, l

LAID-BACK COUNTRY MAN

I’m a widower trying to enjoy my life. I work hard, play hard. Like car shows; fishing; swimming; tubing; being on the beach under an umbrella on a hot, sunny day; taking the motorcycle out for the weekend; road trips; and a good movie at home. Sand1959, 63 seeking: W, l

MUSICIAN

CREATIVE SONGWRITING

Looking to connect with somebody who shares the same interests, such as cosmology, other sciences in general and being on the fringe of these philosophically. artfun 59, seeking: W

OLDER, WISER, FUN

Still hot, still horny, still 420-friendly, still striving for self-sufficiency in a pastoral setting next to a river in the mountains. Sugaring with 400 taps right now, large garden, berries, fruit trees, commercial garlic and flower operation in the summer. Looking for an intelligent, attractive cohort in crime to help enjoy and get it all done. Give me a shot. You won’t regret it! StillHot 73, seeking: W, l

PROUDLY NEURODIVERGENT, LAID-BACK POET

Proudly neurodivergent, laid-back poet who appreciates the quirky and wondrous. Inhabit a 54-y/o, cis male (he/him) body of pan-Celtic, English, German and a trace of Penobscot heritage. Enjoy writing, making art, music of all kinds, gardening, camping, cooking/baking, reading and cats. Seeking friendship or romantic relationship with 25- to 45-y/o hetero or bisexual woman — or friendship with anyone who respects the dignity of every human being and can deal with unconventionality.

Dan_o_Shanter 54, seeking: W, l

GENDERQUEER PEOPLE seeking...

SEEKING WOMAN OR COUPLE

Mature man seeks relationship to share my fem side. Seeking married or committed couple in a long-term relationship, or a single woman, to visit periodically perhaps once a month, to share friendship and explore a service role. Sincerity, discretion, a sense of humor, a twinkle in the eye and maturity are desired attributes. Mellow_ Fellow 73, seeking: W, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

ILLUSTRIOUS, FILLED WITH LONGING, CHRONICALLY OFFLINE

My little booklet is my little prayer / Poured gold into a cast of well wishes / And forgotten pasts / The ones that beckon to be remembered / For you to be a one and the one / To be me and not mine / The eyes that saw when no one looked / My knees, turned to sea / My mind, mine, my heart, yours. Transient 25 seeking: M, l

COUPLES seeking...

LOVERS OF LIFE

We are a 40s couple, M/F, looking for adventurous encounters with openminded, respectful M/F or couples. Looking to enjoy sexy encounters, FWBs, short term or long term.

sunshines 42, seeking: M, W, Q, Cp

EXPLORING THREESOMES

AND FOURSOMES

We are an older and wiser couple discovering that our sexuality is amazingly hot! Our interest is another male for threesomes or a couple. We’d like to go slowly, massage you with a happy ending. She’d love to be massaged with a happy ending or a dozen. Would you be interested in exploring sexuality with a hot older couple? DandNformen 66, seeking: M, TM, NC, Cp, l

VERMONT COUPLE

SEEKING A FEMALE/COUPLE

Fun married couple in their 30s looking for a female or couples for casual dates. We like the outdoors. 3inthevt 36 seeking: W, Cp, Gp

GREEN MOUNTAIN FUNTOWN

Adventurous, educated, attractive couple married 14 years interested in meeting others for some wine, conversation, potential exploration and safe fun. She is 42 y/o, 5’11, dirty blond hair. He is 43 y/o, 5’10, brown hair. Seeking Cp or W. ViridisMontis, 45, seeking: Cp

If you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

JET-BLACK HAIR, PARKWAY DINER

You came in with a couple of friends and sat at the counter. I had just flown in and was sitting with my parents. We kept glancing at each other, and I thought you were cute AF, but I couldn’t really figure out how to say hi. Maybe we can go for a walk or something. When: Sunday, April 9, 2023. Where: Parkway Diner. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915746

LOOKING FOR THE LAST DIGIT

I was the cute bartender in Waterbury you left your number for when you closed your tab. Unfortunately, you spent too much energy drawing that little smiley face and only ended up writing nine of the 10 digits! I was totally gonna text you but couldn’t, so tragic. If you see this, reach out! When: Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Where: Waterbury.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915745

FRIENDLY MAN AT TINY THAI

To the friendly, kind and generous man (or couple) seated next to us: Your dinner suggestion was not only helpful but really good; the friendly banter was fun; and your generosity was amazing. ank you so much. When: Saturday, March 18, 2023. Where: Winooski Tiny ai. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915744

INTERVALE RUNNER

We said hello when you and your doggo cruised by my garden plot. Come by again in a few months for all the cut flowers! Maybe let’s go for a run together in the meantime? When: Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Where: the Intervale. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915743

THURSDAY DANCE FRIEND

I really enjoyed having you as a mirroring dance friend. Want to walk in the woods, too? When: ursday, April 6, 2023. Where: ursday night dance. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915741

GORGEOUS MOUNT PHILO HIKER

Hi! I was the redhead hiking behind you on a sunny Saturday. We both sat at the same vista. I walked by you and said hi. You replied with a warm smile and a hello. I was so nervous/enraptured. You were beautiful — nose ring, maroon hiking shirt and green/blue jacket. Want to hike together next time? When: Saturday, April 8, 2023. Where: Mount Philo. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915742

GORGEOUS MAN

PICKING UP BOOK

I was browsing in the bookstore, and you came in to pick up a book you had ordered. You were just there for about 30 seconds, but your beauty electrified me. I kept my cool façade and can’t bring myself to regret it, because I’m a proud woman. But if you’re reading this, just know you’re a lovely creature. When: Friday, April 7, 2023. Where: Crow Bookshop. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915740

PRINT SHOW AT KARMA BIRD HOUSE

You were kind enough to let me look over your shoulder and flip through prints at the Higher Ground print show. I hope your Bon Iver print gets as much attention as the Ween print I picked up does! You left before I could ask for your number, but maybe we could get coffee or catch a show sometime! When: Saturday, April 1, 2023. Where: Karma Bird House. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915739

SAW THE CUTEST ENBY AROUND!

I saw you, being cute in your overalls everywhere you went. Hoping this coming year brings you even more freedom to be the amazing person you are, you blazing Aries human creature! All my love. —Your little bear.

When: Sunday, April 2, 2023. Where: Burlington. You: Nonbinary person. Me: Non-binary person. #915738

REVEREND Ask

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

De Rev end,

I have a housemate who moved into my apartment four months ago. He pays his rent on time. He’s quiet. He doesn’t leave a mess in the kitchen. He’s great. Except for one thing: He flosses his teeth while we’re watching TV in the living room! It grosses me out so much; I can’t take it. How do I approach the subject without upsetting him? I don’t want him to move out. M tified Moe (MAN, 26)

STEPHANIE

I spied your profile in the personals. Five foot nine, no religion and sensible politics caught my eye. Walk or talk? When: Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Where: Personals. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915737

COURTNEY KOBAIN

Me: walking down North Street. You: driving up North Street. You blared Nirvana so loudly I heard it over the Alex G in my headphones. Your window was down. You smirked and stared at me. When I asked for clarification as to your heckle’s content, you slowed but drove on. Were you appreciating my Levis? Asking where I purchased my Blundstones...? When: Friday, March 31, 2023. Where: North Street.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915735

DHS DANCER AT RED SQUARE

We danced a little and went outside to talk. You didn’t believe me when I told you where I work. My friend pulled me off the dance floor before I could get your number. It’s been a whole year, and I still regret it! When: Saturday, March 19, 2022. Where: Red Square.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915734

WINOOSKI POST OFFICE

You walked in, and I gave you my place in line. We had a brief and interesting conversation. You work in Colchester. You were wearing an olive green overcoat. I was wearing a dark plaid skirt with a green vest. I’m intrigued! Available for coffee? When: ursday, March 23, 2023. Where: Winooski Post Office.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915733

MY MAINTENANCE MAN

PK to LD: I am most definitely the luckiest woman in the world to get to call you in, all your awesomeness, mine. You’ve shown me that love and respect go hand in hand and that I deserve both. I love you forever in awe. PK over and out. When: Friday, November 11, 2022. Where: everywhere.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915732

EYE CONTACT AT SARDUCCI’S

You were on what looked like a double date, and I was with a large group. You walked right by my table in your orange sweater and leggings just before we left. I kept thinking I was manifesting this because I was so attracted to you, but I know it was more. When: Saturday, March 25, 2023. Where: Sarducci’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915731

De M tified Moe,

FARM GIRL WITH SHELVES, BARRE

I was being stupider, according to your grandmother. When: Saturday, April 1, 2023. Where: thrifting.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915736

SARAH

When I see you during brunch, it’s the best part of my week. at smile, those eyes, and that beautiful calm, genuine and sincere spirit about you. No creepiness here; just wanted you to know how much I admire you. If you care to, come walk with me sometime. When: Saturday, March 25, 2023. Where: Ethan Allen Shopping Center.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915730

NYE, OLD POST, DANCED RAIN

Hello, Mr. R. I had a wonderful NYE night and a few weeks later saw you again. I didn’t ask for your number then and am regretting it now. Here’s to another moment of serendipity. Message me if you want to know about the Iceland trip over a drink and playing pool. When: Saturday, December 31, 2022. Where: Old Post bar. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915729

TRADER JOE’S, SLOW THROUGH CHECKOUT

Noon. You: cheerful, cute, nice, challenged me to a snowball fight. Me: in a hurry to purchase and consume an apple and candy to cure my low sugar attack. Probably seemed rude. Sorry! Noticed your skinny snowperson outside. When: Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Where: Trader Joe’s. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915728

RE: MY LOVE BURNED IT DOWN is is your ghost that kneels before me / razors on her tongue, a body full of oxygen / It won’t be the last time she’ll ignore me / e thinning in my skin, without the strength to go / Winter setting in, to cover you in snow. / But if I built you a city, would you let me, / would you tear it down? When: ursday, February 23, 2023. Where: in memories. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915727

BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES

Dear woman: You drove by when I was walking with a friend. When I saw you, I could not help but smile. It’s always a joy to see you, and my heart applauds! en my hand was waving hello! Happy spring! Always... When: Monday, March 20, 2023. Where: central Vermont. You: Woman. Me: Woman. #915726

I guess it’s good he feels comfortable around you, but flossing your teeth is right up there with cutting your toenails on my List of ings Not to Do in the Living Room — even in the presence of a significant other. I mean, c’mon! You gotta keep the mystery alive and draw the line somewhere. Nobody needs to see another person’s tooth juice flying around the room.

If you don’t nip a little peeve in the bud, it can quickly blossom into a bigger problem. It will be much easier to confront the situation now than if you let it fester.

UK CHICA AT BURTON HQ

We happened to be at Burton HQ. While you were trying boots on, we looked at each other and your stunning blue eyes took my breath away. I overheard your UK accent, and I said to myself, “She is perfect.” I was on crutches and wasn’t fast enough to ask you out. Hopefully, I’ll see you around. 222. When: Saturday, March 18, 2023. Where: Burton HQ. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915725

PRANCING PRINCE ON NORTH STREET

You were running down the street. I was playing with friends at Pomeroy Park. You caught my eye with your gold-tipped, pink knit crown. You had a fluffy green pullover to match, and you had some serious pep in your step. Have you ever been to Guatemala?

Let’s quit our jobs and take a trip together! When: Sunday, March 19, 2023. Where: North Street. You: Woman. Me: Genderqueer. #915724

KALEIDOSCOPE

OF BUTTERFLIES

When we walk in nature, the animals show themselves to us. I feel in love with the moss before you. Now it has grown thick, dripping with pleasure. You are a treat in the morning when the sun hits your body. A dream to wrap myself around in the evening. e days are rich when we share them together. XOXO. When: Monday, December 31, 2018. Where: in everything.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915723

SKI-WITH-ME ON MATCH

Hi. I saw your profile, but I’m not a member. I am also looking for someone to ski with. And kayak, and hike, and all kinds of fun outdoor activities. Say hello? And what ski area do you prefer? Maybe we can meet there. When: Monday, February 27, 2023. Where: Match.com. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915721

JUMP-STARTING

YOUR MOM’S VAN

I brought the jumper cables and noticed the tires on your Volvo were bald. Was too shy to ask you out in front of your mother. You seemed nice. Would like to get to know you. Meet me for a coffee sometime? Would be happy to show you the sights in the Capital City. When: Saturday, February 18, 2023. Where: Montpelier City Hall parking lot. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915720 you know. I

Find a time to talk to him, but don’t make it a big deal. Start off by complimenting him on all the ways he’s been a great housemate so far. en tell him that you have a “thing” about teeth and would appreciate it if he’d floss in the bathroom. (It’s an easy out to blame a pet peeve on a generic “thing” that you have. People don’t usually ask questions.)

Your housemate sounds like a decent person, so I bet approaching him won’t be as uncomfortable as you imagine. He’ll probably appreciate that you let him know. And in this housing market, I don’t think being asked to floss in private would cause anybody to move out.

Good luck and God bless, The Rev end

What’s your problem?

Send

Woman, 58. Not married. No children. Searching for a man in the same position. Home away from busy world. Rockers on porch. Gardens. Sunsets. Love. Hope. Been a while. Phone number, please. #L1655 72-y/o male, cozy home in the country, financially secure, healthy, trim, seeks kind, empathetic, liberal, open-minded, country-loving female. Great communicator, abhors narcissism, fun, kind, respectful, feminist, intelligent, secure, loving. Divorced 20 years. Hope not too late to start fresh. #L1652

Very attractive woman, 66, tall, slender, trim, fit, very sexy, searching for a younger man. Must be a hottie, tall, trim, attractive, interested in regular great sex, for fun, for adventure. No kinky weirdness; just epic, classy, discreet. Phone, please. #L1651

I’m a baby boomer and nonsmoker seeking a woman for companionship and a future. Older, healthy, handsome SMC graduate is active and genuine, loves the outdoors, and cares about how I treat a woman. Not into drugs or alcohol. Enjoy a female experiencing happiness.

#L1653

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Interested readers will send you letters in the mail. No internet required!

I’m a male seeking a female. I’m 80 y/o. I play tennis, golf, pickleball, etc. Looking for a woman who is also active for friendship, etc. #L1654

Male mountain lion hunting for female mountain lioness to den up with. Wild but house-trained. Experienced. Does not bite hard. Likes to dig dirt. Will lick plate clean. Cat’s eyes. Scratch out a note and come over to see the home territory. #L1650

I’m a 75-y/o male seeking a female, 50-plus, to come and live with me to do housework and cooking. Help to take care of my two dogs and go for walks together. I have a nice house to share. #L1649

I’m a GWM seeking others for NSA fun. Looking for tops. I’m fun and adventurous. 40 to 60ish is preferred. Call or text. #L1643

You are a kind, clever, worldly woman who’s always down for a harebrained adventure or a night in streaming something you’ve seen twice before. I am an idiot, seeking another to be an idiot with. Be willing to commute. #L1648

54-y/o full-figured woman who wants love. I am pretty, confident and ready to be loved! In search of a male, 49 to 60, who will treat me well. Should like to travel, camp and make love in all places. Please write me! #L1647

Int net-Free Dating!

You are a man in his 60s who’s tired of online dating but still believes there is someone out there who will strike a chord deep within you. Someone expansive, alluring, interesting, reverent and irreverent. Reach out and find me. #L1646

58-y/o male seeking a fullfigured woman. You can be yourself and not worry. I love the company of full-figured women. I’m the guy who loves bigger women. Let’s see what happens. Write to me with a phone or text number. #L1645

We are three guys: two gay and one bi; one in his 40s and two in their 60s. We get together about once a week at my place in Burlington for men-to-men fun. Looking for another male to join us. If interested, leave a contact number. #L1642

I’m a male, 60s, bi, seeking another male. Any race, any age. I’m fit, clean, disease/ drug-free. Fun guy, open to everything, but mostly a bottom. Reply with phone and time to call. #L1639

Describe yourself and who you’re looking for in 40 words below:

(OR, ATTACH A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.)

I’m a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL) seeking a AGE + GENDER (OPTIONAL)

I’m a 71-y/o W male seeking a very mature woman in her 70s or 80s desiring a sensual relationship with a passionate man. Maturity is your beauty and allure. Please give me a try, and maybe sparks will fly. Phone number, please. #L1644 ISO “gingandaddy, 46, seeking M.” Did you find your man? Nontech-connected guy would like to discuss possible connection. #L1635

Young-looking, attractive, principled woman, 66, seeks man, 50 to 78, for companionship. Treat man with empathy, kindness, love and respect, and expect the same in return. Enjoy the arts (except dance), cooking, reading, quiet chats, walks, television. Phone number, please. #L1636

I’m a 70-y/o GWM seeking a 60-plus male for some fun. I’m fit and drug- and diseasefree, looking for the same. Discreet fun only. Send stats and contact number. I’m in the Barre/Montpelier area. #L1637

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