Seven Days, April 19, 2023

BORROWING TIME

Parwinder Grewal, the embattled president of the yet-tolaunch Vermont State University, has resigned after weeks of intense criticism following his decision to remove most of the books from the system’s libraries. e library plan itself has been put on hold — but not abandoned.

Last Friday, Grewal, who served for less than a year, said he preferred not to give any details about his resignation. e Vermont State Colleges System announced Grewal’s departure, saying he was leaving immediately for personal reasons.

Mike Smith, former secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, will start as interim president on ursday, April 20. Chancellor Sophie Zdatny told staff in an email that Smith would serve for about six months.

Plans to eliminate eight library jobs by June 30 remain in place, Katherine Levasseur, director of external and governmental affairs for the chancellor’s office, said on Tuesday. But Smith has been asked to pause implementation not only of the library plan but also of proposed controversial changes to athletic programs. Zdatny announced that these plans will remain on hold “pending development of a comprehensive set of recommendations for continued transformation work in the coming weeks.” at probably won’t be enough to silence critics, many of whom have blamed the board and chancellor for the unpopular proposals. Jonathan Spiro, a former faculty member, administrator and interim president at Castleton

emoji that LOCKED DOWN

Southern State Correctional Facility superintendent

Mike Lyon was put on leave amid a misconduct investigation. More turmoil in the prisons.

OFF TARGET

A Pennsylvania cop accidentally fired his gun during a training exercise in Burlington last week, VTDigger. org reported. No press release for that shooting.

That was the temperature in Burlington last Thursday — a record high.

TOPFIVE

MOST POPULAR ITEMS ON SEVENDAYSVT.COM

1. “High-Profile Charlotte Farm, Site of Entrepreneur Will Raap’s Final Ambitious Project, Is for Sale” by Melissa Pasanen. e future of an iconic 583-acre former dairy farm in Charlotte is in question several months after the death of owner Raap.

2. “Vermont State University President Resigns; Library Plan Shelved” by Anne Wallace Allen. Parwinder Grewal stepped down after weeks of intense criticism following his decision to remove most of the books from the system’s libraries.

3. “Murad Used ‘Menacing Tone’ and reatened to ‘Cuff’ Surgeon, Complaint Says” by Courtney Lamdin. Seven Days was the only news outlet that reported details of a surgeon’s complaint about Burlington’s acting police chief, Jon Murad.

4. “Former Half Lounge Owners to Reopen SideBar in Burlington” by Jordan Barry. e bar beside Mr. Mikes Pizza will reopen in late spring as the Other Half.

University, said he hoped the board and chancellor would resign, too.

“So-called leaders who throw their underlings under the bus do not deserve to be leaders,” Spiro said in an interview.

Grewal started at the state colleges system last July 1, moving from Texas with the mandate of combining three institutions — Castleton University, Vermont Technical College and Northern Vermont University — into one unified Vermont State University as of July 1, 2023. He was also tasked with finding $25 million in savings over the next five years and raising enrollment.

Smith has been described in the past as “interim fixerin-chief” for his habit of assuming posts vacated under difficult circumstances. In 2015, he agreed to serve as interim president of Burlington College, a now-defunct institution that was $11 million in debt, four days after the school’s president abruptly resigned.

Much of the criticism that Grewal got after the announcement about libraries and sports focused on a lack of communication from the board. In a brief note he sent to staff last Friday, Smith seemed to acknowledge that.

“I am here to focus on communication, transparency, engagement, and collaboration as we move forward together,” Smith wrote.

Read Anne Wallace Allen’s full story and keep up with developments at sevendaysvt.com.

PLANTING HOPE

For more than a year, Dale Newton has been putting sunflower seeds into envelopes “using a quarter teaspoon, while sitting at the kitchen table, staring at birds,” he said.  e tedious work has a noble purpose: e 68-year-old Marshfield man is the driving force behind Vermont Plants Sunflowers for Ukraine. It aims to distribute seeds — and have people plant them — to inspire solidarity with the people of the besieged European country, who view sunflowers as a symbol of peace and resilience.

“It’s an act of joy,” the bed-and-breakfast owner explained.

CON AGAIN?

EB-5 fraudster

Bill Stenger wants a judge to strike the $250,000 he owes in restitution, saying the blame lies with state o cials. Some of the victims lost more.

CHILD’S PAY

Hundreds rallied at the Statehouse to support a childcare bill. It’s the session’s big-ticket item.

It’s also an act of patience. He funnels 45 seeds at a time into QR code-adorned packages that include detailed instructions for how to plant them and how to help the people of Ukraine. e seeds — which he buys from two companies on the West Coast — are free and available upon request.

After the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in 1986, Ukrainians planted sunflowers in the contaminated area. e yellow-andblack flowers, with their long, green stems, are not only beautiful but also help extract toxins from the soil. Now, they serve a new purpose of raising awareness of Ukrainians’ plight.

Newton began the operation shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February

5. “Bob Blanchard’s New Book, ‘Lost Burlington, Vermont’ Chronicles the Queen City’s Forgotten Places” by Jordan Adams. e citizen historian catalogs Burlington’s many forgotten places.

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2022. With some help from his wife, Janet, and neighbors, Newton estimates that his group distributed some 600,000 seeds last year by teaming up with schools, libraries, businesses, towns, churches and farmers markets across the state. He also mails some packets; shipping is sponsored by a handful of donors, but much of the cost comes out of Newton’s own pocket. He expects to surpass 1 million seeds distributed in a couple of weeks.

As the war stretches into its 14th month, the flowers serve as an important local reminder of the ongoing struggle.

“Beyond bringing joy, I hope the sunflowers keep people’s attention,” he said.

COMPILED BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN & MATTHEW ROY

Dale Newton

FILE: BEN DEFLORIO

Parwinder Grewal meeting staff and students at Vermont Technical College

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TIPPING POINT

[Re “Hot Tips,” March 29]: Thanks for the focus on our archaic system of tipping in restaurants. As a former restaurant server, bartender and manager, I have had times when I earned most of my income in tips and also times when I was responsible for making sure the restaurant’s bills got paid.

The article only briefly mentioned the simplest solution to the chaos around tipping: Just charge menu prices that cover all the restaurant’s expenses — including a fair wage for all employees and a reasonable profit to compensate the owners for their risk and investment. We continue to dance around this option, but it would be honest and straightforward, unlike the random collection of service charges and “appreciation fees,” tip-splitting strategies, and fine print at the bottom of menus and checks. Prices could be set so that when you total up your credit card slip at the end of the meal, the total charges would add up to the same as they do now, just without all the extra shenanigans.

The biggest challenge for restaurants may be that nobody wants to go first, because there’s a fear that higher menu prices will drive guests away to the “lowerprice” competition. I’d love to see the restaurant community come together to address this collectively. Servers deserve to be paid a guaranteed wage regardless of the day, number of guests and average check. They should be treated like any other professional, not like some strange subspecies of employee.

Peter Straube MONKTON

BILLIONAIRES AREN’T SO BAD

[Re “Still Bernin’,” April 5]: When I hear U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders rail against the billionaires, I’m reminded of a scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian Brian is a fictitious character who lived roughly 2,000 years ago in the Middle East and is mistaken for the Messiah. He asks his followers, “What have the Romans ever done for us?” One follower pipes up, “Well, the aqueduct.” Brian responds, “Besides the aqueduct?” Another follower offers, “Roads.” Yet another says, “Sanitation.” Similarly, if

you ask what billionaires have done for us, you will find that they have shaped much of the modern world. They have provided operating systems and software that make personal computers fun and easy to use. They have pioneered massproduced electric vehicles and developed cheap and reliable transportation to outer space. And they have provided one- or two-day shipping of almost anything to our doorsteps. These are just a few recent examples. So before his next rant, I would suggest that Bernie consider the contributions of billionaires and what life would be like without them.

David Maher BURLINGTON

‘ARROGANT’

AUTHORITIES

[Re “Arresting Development,” April 12]: Well, as George Orwell helpfully pointed out 78 years ago in Animal Farm, “some pigs are more equal than others.” In the case of acting Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad threatening a surgeon treating a patient with a gunshot wound, and then Mayor Miro Weinberger playing loose with the facts and reporting them, I see a picture of the big boys behaving as they wish without the limits that are placed on ordinary citizens.

I am particularly offended by the mendacity of this quote: “The important piece,” Murad said, is that “there was an apology.” I note that Murad was unable to say “I apologized” and instead referred to his apology as an entity unconnected to him. With this kind of thinking, I suggest that we could do with a lot less policing and just require lawbreakers to produce an apology.

Further, when Officer Sergio Caldieri said Murad said, “‘no, I am telling you that if he were in custody you would be impeding’” — what, was Murad holding some kind of police regulations seminar in the middle of an emergency treatment for a gunshot wound?

Those who decry the growing disrespect for authority should look to the arrogance of authorities like Murad and Weinberger.

John Rouleau BURLINGTON

IN SOLIDARITY WITH LGBTQA KIDS

I cannot remain silent in response to the letter from Mr. Chris Leicht [Feedback: “Don’t Persecute Christians,” March 22]. It does not present both sides of the issue

CORRECTIONS

A story in the April 5 issue, “Class Is in Session,” incorrectly noted the amount of money spent on Bethel University and the number of participants in its inaugural year. About $1,000 has been spent so far this year, and 83 students attended classes the first year. Also, the story misrepresented the nature of the class taught by a 4-year-old instructor; it was a stamp-making lesson.

A Seven Days-written radio ad for that issue that ran on WCVT 101.7 misattributed the photo essay “On the Scrap Heap.” Photographer Caleb Kenna gets the credit for both the text and the images.

Straube is a former professor at the Stiller School of Business at Champlain College.

of trans children participating in sports, if that was Seven Days’ intent in publishing the letter, but expresses intolerance at best and unveiled scorn toward the LGBTQA community. I don’t even want to repeat the demeaning expressions used in the letter demonstrating bias and hate.

In addition, the letter presents a narrow, punitive view of religion injurious to the LGBTQA movement and to the broader community. I’d like to share a loving God who works through many different people for a just and inclusive world, a God who continues to create and reveal the complexities of Creation, and who calls us into love, respect and justice for all who are different.

It shows allies the need for constant vigilance to stand in solidarity with this often misunderstood but richly diverse and talented community in our midst.

Sylvia Knight BURLINGTON

THROWING SHADE

[Re “Electric Avenues,” April 12]: When Peter Sterling notes that “panels, posts and wiring can be removed,” I wonder if he’s committing his company to doing so when the time comes. Should we be negotiating a decommissioning fund for these projects? I saw no mention of the environmental impact of the manufacturing and disposal of solar panels, which can itself be less than “green.” And why are we allowing out-of-state companies to use our land and then sell the power elsewhere? No solution is without some adverse impact, so we need to understand the long-term implications of our decisions today so we can truly have a better tomorrow and not just something differently awful.

Monique Hayden WILLIAMSTOWN

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Jen Ellis was a second-grade teacher and part-time mitten maker back in 2021 when her life changed on Inauguration Day. A photo of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wearing her mittens became a viral meme. Ellis chronicled this unique experience in a new book, Bernie’s Mitten Maker

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Conjuring Art

Artist John Zaso launches Hexum Gallery in Montpelier

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SATURDAY 22

How Sweet It Is

e town of St. Johnsbury stakes its claim to the title of “Maple Center of the World” during the Kingdom Maple Festival, a daylong celebration of all things sweet and sticky. Attendees young and old satisfy their sweet tooth at a pancake breakfast; a syrupy story time; and a street fair full of sugar on snow, doughnuts and creemees.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

FRIDAY 21

JOLLY GOOD CELLO

Sophie Shao & Friends mark composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday at Robison Concert Hall at Middlebury College’s Mahaney Arts Center. e acclaimed cellist is joined onstage by violinist Scott Yoo and pianist John Novacek for the riveting penultimate show of the season.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 69

SATURDAY 22

Call the Doctor

Pride Center of Vermont, Out in the Open and Outright Vermont present the LGBTQIA+ Health Summit, an opportunity for health care providers and members of the LGBTQ community to connect and learn from each other at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. Workshop topics range from sex education and gender-affirming surgery to acupressure and eating sustainably on a budget.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

SATURDAY 22

Tree’s Company

Champlain Islands locals spend Earth Day at a Volunteer Tree Planting at South Hero Recreation Park. After proactively supplementing the emerald ash borer-endangered forest with native maple, oak, dogwood and willow saplings, attendees kick back at a piano concert and potluck dinner at South Hero Congregational Church.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 70

STARTS SUNDAY 23

at’s a inker

Vermonters expand their minds during Public Philosophy Week, a statewide series of talks and discussions. Among other topics, guests learn about Stoicism at Burlington’s O.N.E. Community Center, how to explain death to kids at Shelburne’s New Village Farm and the benefits of universal welfare at Norwich Public Library.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 71

ONGOING Fantasy Island

Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction presents “Desert/Island,” a solo show by Steph Terao. Terao’s vivid, surreal landscape paintings depict fantastical islands full of strange flora, colorful sea monsters, beach-dwelling cows and bioluminescent cacti and are suffused with a certain climate crisis-inspired anxiety.

SEE GALLERY LISTING ON PAGE 56

TUESDAY 25

Montpelier’s Got Talent

Montpelier’s Lost Nation eater hosts its annual All Ages Anything Goes Poetry Slam With Geof Hewitt, an opportunity for performers of all varieties to show off their skills in pursuit of glory and modest prizes. Poets, musicians, dancers, jugglers and other hopefuls prepare a three-minute demonstration and attempt to outperform their neighbors over two rounds of competition.

SEE CALENDAR LISTING ON PAGE 71

THE FULL CALENDAR, ART SHOWS, AND MUSIC+NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM.

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“Pit Island” by Steph Terao

‘love EK’

I count myself among the lucky Vermonters who got to be friends with Ed Koren. Since he died last Friday, at 87, the longtime New Yorker cartoonist and chronicler of the human condition has been celebrated in media outlets across the globe. Now it’s our turn to thank the former Vermont cartoonist laureate, who never said no to Seven Days. In this week’s culture section, look for a written tribute by Seven Days sta er Sally Pollak and a graphic one from Bolton’s Tony Awardwinning Alison Bechdel.

I met Ed in the early ’90s, a few years after he moved to Vermont, and our relationship developed over dinner parties cooked up by his wife, Curtis. No matter how cold or snowy the night, an invite to their Brookfield home led through the mudroom to a warm, wood-fired hive of fascinating people. An expert chef and social connector, Curtis assembled the guest list and prepared delicious family-style meals. Ed held court, telling stories and delighting in those of others. Sitting at their table was an honor and a pleasure.

I saw him in action outside, too, crosscountry skiing. Ed took great pride in his physical fitness and pushed himself hard. He was eager to share the extensive trail network just beyond his back door in Brookfield. One winter we met at the Millstone Trails in Barre, and he guided me past frozen granite quarries, noting the play of the light on the rock.

When he’d come up to Burlington, I’d often get a last-minute call proposing we get together. In conversation, Ed was curious, attentive, authentic. Witty and well read, he loved to drop a literary reference or, better yet, a French phrase — flawlessly pronounced, a result of the time he spent studying art in Paris. When he had a good line, he’d deliver it with impish glee, eyes twinkling.

Ed and Curtis could have lived anywhere. Once ensconced in Brookfield, working national gigs, they didn’t have to engage in the community. But Curtis, a former journalist, joined the sta of the Sharon Academy and developed a semester-abroad program for the school. Ed volunteered for the local fire department, whose duties included responding to accidents along the most treacherous stretch of Interstate 89.

Their generosity extended to local media — in Ed’s case, this newspaper. Although we couldn’t pay him New Yorker rates, he was a contributor to Seven Days. When we launched an annual Cartoon

Issue, he submitted original work, in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, he drew the cover.

Two years later, I was in charge of a special reporting project on rural Vermont that would fill an entire edition of the paper. Once again, Ed agreed to illustrate it. I gave him the headline and subhead — “Our Towns: Can Rural Vermont Communities Survive in the Age of Amazon and Act 46?” — as well as my intro to the issue, in which I quoted his great insights about Brookfield.

Ed Koren at home with visiting lamb “Little Orphan Andy”

But his first sketch — of a downtown Main Street block surrounded by suburban development — didn’t cut it. It was too subtle and literal. I had to break the bad news to Ed. I was nervous, of course, but he received it cheerfully, went back to the drawing board and came up with a whole new concept that perfectly captured the spirit of the project.

With an attachment of the new sketch, he emailed right before Thanksgiving: “I noodled a way to compress the original idea into a simpler version, and revisited the one that came up during our brainstorming about it and which related more to the subhead’s emphasis on how fragile our towns really are — and the perils of survival they face. Hence the drawing. Your thoughts?”

He closed with: “I’d love to have it finished by next Monday, so I can bring it by my very hand. I would happily work on it over the holiday. love EK”

Later, he thanked me for pushing him to make the drawing better. More evidence of Ed’s humble professionalism: He worked right up until the end; the New Yorker published one of his cartoons the week he died. In his signature shaggy style, it shows Moses holding the Ten Commandments above a crowd of sad-looking regular folk. The caption: “Time for an update!”

With a final touch of his pen, Ed left us smiling.

Paula Routly

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June

John O’Brien, Paula Routly and Ed Koren

Ben & Jerry’s Scoopers Seek to Unionize

BY DEREK BROUWER derek@sevendaysvt.com

Dozens of workers at Ben & Jerry’s flagship scoop shop on Church Street in Burlington are trying to form a union. e employees, known as “scoopers,” filed an election petition on Monday with the National Labor Relations Board and launched a public campaign. ey’re seeking to join Workers United Upstate New York and Vermont, a Service Employees International Union affiliate that has helped ignite a wave of organizing among Starbucks baristas in recent years.

It’s a pivotal moment for the Vermont-born company, whose founders and namesakes are outspoken progressives and have long imbued their business with a social justice mission. Ben Cohen cochaired the 2020 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the most pro-union politicians in Congress. Following the sale of Ben & Jerry’s to the multinational consumer goods company Unilever in 2000, an independent board of directors has continued to oversee its social justice work.

CANNABEAT Higher Ambitions

Vermont wants an equitable cannabis industry. But will the state pony up?

BY DEREK BROUWER • derek@sevendaysvt.com

Euphoria Cannabis won’t open until later this month, but Ti any Johnson’s shop is already glowing up the block. For years home to a medical equipment provider, the drab building on North Avenue in Burlington recently got an unmissable purple makeover. Inside, Johnson has been working as fast as she can on a similarly glamorous transformation that will do justice to her vision for a seed-to-shelf cannabis business.

In one corner of the 2,100-square-foot retail floor, she plans to install a wall of display shelves to showcase colorful product packaging, including for her own cannabis, which she’s growing o -site. One of her logos depicts a Black woman with iridescent hair exhaling a pu of iridescent smoke. “I’m a visual shopper,” Johnson explained on a recent tour, between visits from an electrician, floor installer and delivery driver.

Opening a cannabis business has been

Johnson’s dream. She was born in Brooklyn, came of age in Burlington and attended the Community College of Vermont. A mother and Old North End resident, Johnson was running a small cleaning business when the prospect of getting a share of

under federal law, Johnson has leaned on everyone she knows for cash or a helping hand. She’s planning a soft opening on Thursday, April 20, the date — 4/20 — that has become an uno cial cannabis holiday.

“I am very much broke right now,” she said. “I need to open my doors … I’m battered and bruised, but I’m here.”

But none of the iconic ice cream company’s scoop shops is organized. “ e social activism that we really work for externally just does not exist the way that it needs to internally,” said Rebeka Mendelsohn, a shift manager and University of Vermont senior who has worked at Ben & Jerry’s for two years. “If managers in corporate can’t recognize that, it’s my job to show them.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s said it welcomes the initiative and is committed to a fair, inclusive and fun workplace.

Vermont’s new adult-use market started to seem within reach.

Still, just launching Euphoria Cannabis has been a nerve-racking slog. Without deep pockets and with no access to loans because her product is still illegal

When launching its adult-use market, Vermont put in place some measures intended to ensure that people who were harmed by decades of cannabis prohibition have a fair chance to profit from legal sales. The state created a “social equity” designation for Black and Hispanic business owners and those who were incarcerated for a cannabis-related o ense or had a family member who was. Of the 375 cannabis business licenses granted in Vermont so far, more than 50 have been

“For almost 45 years, we’ve sought to center the principles of justice and equity at the heart of our business model. at’s why we recognize and support the rights of all workers to unionize and collectively bargain,” the statement said.

In a letter, employees asked Ben & Jerry’s to agree to a dozen “fair election principles” that would set out election terms more favorable to the union than federal law requires.

Agreeing to the list of principles, Mendelsohn said of her employer, “would be an incredible step toward recognizing unions and setting a precedent for what that looks like.”

I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACTUALLY PUT MONEY BEHIND OUR WORDS.

SEN. TANYA VYHOVSKY

Ben & Jerry’s shop on Church Street

Tiffany Johnson at Euphoria Cannabis in Burlington

DARIA BISHOP

Survival of the Dankest

Burlington’s cannabis marketplace is quickly becoming crowded. Can all the stores make it?

STORY & PHOTOS BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN • sasha@sevendaysvt.com

During the unseasonably warm weather last week, strolling tourists in downtown Burlington tallied the cannabis stores that have sprouted like so many spring crocuses.

“Oh, look, another one!” Laila, a visitor from New Jersey, remarked to friends as she passed Float On Cannabis Co., a dispensary across the street from city hall. She held a bag containing weed from Green Leaf Central, a separate shop a few steps down an alley known as Thorsen Way. Five other cannabis stores beckoned within a short walk of the Church Street Marketplace.

Years after craft breweries turned Vermont’s biggest city into a destination for hopheads, cannabis is doing the same for potheads. Since legal sales began last October, 12 stores have opened in the Queen City, or will soon — most near a four-block stretch downtown.

Verga sounded unworried that so many new cannabis stores sit cheek by jowl. “I was a car dealer,” Verga said during an interview in the back of his store. “And you know what that’s like? You’re right next to each other.”

Selling weed, he reasoned, is no different: It’s all about the people you employ and the quality of the product you’re offering. “I’m just going to put my blinders on and stay focused on making a living,” he said.

Competition, though, is creating some tension. Tito Bern, owner of the Bern Gallery Cannabis shop on Main Street, has decided that he won’t buy products from growers or manufacturers who are working with a “multistate operator,” or a company that has a footprint in other legal cannabis markets. That includes Ceres Collaborative, a College Street shop that was the first to open in Burlington but is owned by Toronto-based SLANG Worldwide.

Well-funded companies such as that can drive prices down, then endure months, or even years, of losses, while independent, local businesses flame out, Bern said.

“And then they have a monopoly on their scene, and no one’s involved,” he said. “And that’s how you end up with these markets that you see in some other states.”

Ceres’ chief operating officer, Russ Todia, said Bern’s stance only hurts the small local business owners, not his corporation.

While the owners have high hopes of success, it remains to be seen whether there’s enough of an appetite to sustain so many shops. A crowded cannabis marketplace and strict advertising regulations threaten to put a damper on the downtown Burlington green rush. Summer will be a big test for the stores, which hope to showcase their diverse selection of products, hospitable shopping environments and knowledgeable budtenders to the flocks of tourists who are expected to descend once the weather warms.

“There’s gonna be a buying frenzy, and it’s gonna be contagious, and we’re all gonna have a little action,” said Joe Verga, the 71-year-old owner of Green Leaf Central. “How long it lasts — I don’t know.”

“We will never tell a manufacturer or grower who they can or can’t work with, because they’re trying to grow their business,” Todia said. “We’re about growing this cannabis industry in Vermont, and that means all of us — not picking who should be successful or putting our foot on the scale.”

The saturation of shops is a uniquely Burlington issue. The Vermont Cannabis Control Board, which regulates the market, has issued about 50 retail licenses statewide, but no other municipality is home to more than three. Some of the more populous municipalities, such as South Burlington and Williston, have none. That’s because residents of those two Chittenden County suburbs haven’t voted to “opt in” to the market, a necessary step before a store

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Survival of the Dankest

« P.15

can open. Approximately 75 of Vermont’s 252 municipalities have opted in.

“That’s not good for access, and it’s going to keep people on the illicit market because it’s not convenient,” said Bridget Conry, a veteran of the medical cannabis industry who has applied to open a dispensary in Burlington.

She and business partner Shayne Lynn initially wanted to open in South Burlington. But the city council was unwilling to hold an opt-in vote, she recalled, so they settled for Burlington, where they both live. They’re transforming the former Lucky Next Door restaurant space on Cherry Street into High Fidelity, a cannabis shop for discerning consumers who might occasionally use weed “to help with something in their lives,” instead of partaking every day. She and Lynn are planning to diversify their o erings, selling co ee and other items people might have on their to-do list for the day.

“As a businessperson, you’re always nervous,” she said of the large number of dispensaries already open. “Retailers are going to need that diversification. If they’re all serving the same customers, that’s a lot of stores.”

Some Burlington city councilors have bemoaned the lack of local control over cannabis shops. As of now, there’s little they can do about the number or where they open — and there’s no apparent appetite to curb it. Councilor Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5), who serves on the body’s licensing committee, said he’s been happy with how businesses have acquitted themselves thus far and doesn’t think there are too many — yet.

“If we were to reach that point of saturation, where Church Street, the city has sort of been overwhelmed with businesses that are selling cannabis, then I think we may want to take a second look at our regulations,” he said.

James Pepper, the Cannabis Control Board chair, said it has no plans to regulate the number of stores in one city or town. But, Pepper said, the board is alerting those in the industry to the saturation so they can make sound business decisions and perhaps encourage “more equitable geographic distribution of retail.”

“We want some elements of capitalism, free market economics, to play out before the board really starts taking a heavy hand,” he said.

It’s unclear how quickly the market will shake out. In Massachusetts, which started legal retail cannabis sales in 2018, the first store to fail went out of business in December 2022. That was in Northampton, a college town of 30,000 people that had 12 stores open for a time.

Early signs are that Vermont sales have been solid, Pepper said. Through February, the state had collected $2.5 million in excise taxes on cannabis, which is subject to a 14 percent levy at the register.

“I think it’s a good early indicator that this is a strong market,” Pepper said.

The parallels between the Queen City’s brewery scene and its newly rooted cannabis one have not gone unnoticed by the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community, a substance-abuse prevention group. The organization wants the city to be mindful of where shops open, especially when considering children (state rules require a 500-foot bu er from schools, for instance), people who are in recovery and those struggling with addiction.

“The implications from a public health perspective are that there’s this normalization of substance use, and we find that that’s particularly impactful for youth,” said Mariah Flynn, the partnership’s coalition director. “How do you create

Where the weed at?

an environment that makes it easier for people to make healthy choices?”

In interviews, several downtown Burlington store owners said sales are starting to pick up but have been slower than anticipated. Many said state restrictions on advertising limits their ability to reach customers. (The board must preapprove ads, and it has strict rules regarding ad wording, imagery and placement.) The store owners are relying on foot tra c, word of mouth, their websites, Google reviews and Leafly, a cannabis app that hosts menus and deals for participating stores. Only two shops, Green State Dispensary on Pine Street and the soon-to-open Euphoria Cannabis on North Avenue, have parking lots for customers.

“With bars and restaurants, there are plenty of those, too, so we can all definitely coexist,” said Josh Markle, co-owner of True 802 Cannabis. His light-filled store is up a flight of stairs on Church Street, above a bar he owns, Akes’ Place.

All stores must follow certain

state-imposed rules, such as checking IDs at the door and at the cash register to ensure patrons are 21 or older, as well as o ering pamphlets about cannabis from the control board. There are also regulations about outside signage and security measures. Otherwise, each Burlington store is embracing its own aesthetic.

Grass Queen, a tiny shop tucked off South Union Street, is queer- and womanowned and sought to create an environment where “there are no stupid questions” and a customer can find what they’re looking for, retail director Kiersten Wall said. Inside looks like a trendy boutique, with a wall of merch and shelves filled with material from Phoenix Books, with whom the biz struck up a partnership. Purple velvet high-top stools sit next to the counter, which is made of a clear material with dried flowers suspended within. Popular products have included boxes of “dog walkers,” Wall said — shorter joints that someone can, theoretically, finish while out with their pooch.

“We really hope that we have an incredibly welcoming, unbiased and intentional space” that “feels di erent than the norm,” Wall said.

At Ceres on College Street, tablettoting budtenders descend on customers inside the sleek shop, which sells a wide range of products, plus cannabis plants. Ceres had lines out the door when it was the only show in town. While those days

are over, Todia, the COO, said a loyalty rewards program and other perks bring regulars back in.

“If anyone thinks that they can just keep customers and not work hard at it — by providing good service or good pricing or good variety — then I think there’s a real good chance that they’re going to struggle,” Todia said. “Because there will be a lot of options out there.”

To get to Bern Gallery Cannabis on Main Street, one must walk through a glass and smoke shop to the back, where a new wall shields the weed business from prying underage eyes. Inside, Paddy Donnelly, a brand ambassador and cannabis specialist, is eager to explain the differences between various terpenes (which give cannabis its smells and, some say, effects) and discuss the products he’s enjoying. The dispensary o ers free journals so customers can, “in a stream of consciousness,” write down their experiences using a product so they know what works best for them, Donnelly said.

Beside the items for sale are write-ups about the small companies who make or grow them.

“I’m stoked that [customers] can actually pick something that they’re going to enjoy,” Donnelly said. “It’s the easiest job in the world to get enthusiastic about a cultivar that I’m freakin’ excited about.”

Like some stores, Bern Gallery o ers discounts to veterans, people in the cannabis industry, those who work in health care and teachers — among others.

“Basically, if you’re helping society en masse, we are going to help get you stoned,” Donnelly said.

King McMillan opened the Herb Closet on Pearl Street in March, but he’s already seen how hard it is to keep the lights on. His was the first Black-owned store to open, and he benefited from certain fee waivers available through the state’s social equity program. (See page 14.) But everything about running a cannabis business is more expensive than in other industries, he said, and owners can’t write o expenses because weed is federally illegal.

His storefront window is frosted, but inside the small shop, glass-top counters contain readily visible selections of cannabis and edibles; a rack of branded T-shirts lines one side of the shop. McMillan hopes his “inviting atmosphere,” good deals and late hours of operation — the doors are open until 11 p.m. on weekends — will keep him afloat.

But he knows it’s tough sledding and is realistic about the future.

“I think everybody has this idea of, I’m gonna open a dispensary, and I’m gonna make a million dollars this year!” McMillan said. “And then it’s just gonna be a bunch of businesses that fail.” ➆

Joint Venture

Some of the most popular strains of cannabis sound more like ice cream flavors than plants: Blue Dream, Girl Scout Cookies, Sour Diesel, Strawberry Fields, Granddaddy Purple.

They would fit right into the freezer case with the funky names of some of Ben & Jerry’s most iconic products, including Chunky Monkey, Phish Food and Chubby Hubby. But Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s cofounder, took a decidedly more mellow approach with his new Vermont cannabis company, Ben’s Best Blnz.

His pre-rolled joints come in five carefully crafted formulas designed to deliver specific states of mind: Focus, ECS (enhanced, creative and stimulating), Cloud 9, Kick Back, and Dream Sweet Dreams. Each of these Blended SloSmokes is supposed to do what the name says.

Cohen entered the cannabis business to bring something different to the party — both operationally and philosophically. Blended SloSmokes embrace the latest innovation in weed, emphasizing terpenes over THC to create a more effects-driven experience. The products are expected to land at Vermont’s medical cannabis dispensaries around May 1 and in the retail market a few weeks later.

With Ben’s Best Blnz, aka B3, Cohen will carry on the social and political activism he started at Ben & Jerry’s to raise awareness — and money — for progressive causes ranging from voter and LGBTQ+

rights to climate and racial justice. Cohen plans to use the earnings from B3 to correct what he sees as the longtime injustice of U.S. drug policy, giving back to the marginalized communities most harmed by it. Cohen remains a Ben & Jerry’s employee, with the title of cofounder, though he has no involvement in running the ice cream business today, he said.

B3 is registered in Vermont as a 501c3 tax-exempt entity. Cohen said he’ll draw no salary or profit from the business. B3 will distribute 80 percent of its proceeds as grants and loans to Black cannabis entrepreneurs, 10 percent to the Burlingtonbased Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and 10 percent to the Last Prisoner Project, a national effort to release individuals incarcerated on cannabis-related charges and expunge their records.

B3 itself isn’t licensed in Vermont to cultivate, manufacture or sell cannabis. It makes money by selling the rights to use the Ben’s Best Blnz brand, product formulas and package designs to small, mostly minority-owned weed growers, processors and distributors. For the moment, Cohen is concentrating on building the business in Vermont, though he has plans to eventually expand the model to other states.

“It was Black people, mostly, that got screwed over by the war on drugs,” Cohen said. “So we’re trying to use as many Black vendors as we can.”

As when he and Jerry Greenfield founded their eponymous ice cream company in Burlington in 1978, Cohen grew his latest enterprise from an unfilled niche in the marketplace.

“I was sitting around a campfire with a friend of mine, smoking some pot,” Cohen said. They both agreed: “The problem with pot today is that it’s just too fucking strong,” Cohen said. “You can’t have the experience of enjoying the process of getting high, because you take one or two tokes and you’re done.”

In college, Cohen said, he’d pass around a joint with THC content between 4 and 8 percent and slowly get stoned. Most weed for sale today has 20 to 30 percent THC, the element of cannabis that gets consumers high.

“Somebody oughta come up with a brand of pot called ‘Mediocre Marijuana,’” Cohen said his friend suggested. “I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, so I decided to actually start a business that would put out this moderate-THC pot.”

High levels of THC have dominated the cannabis market, Cohen said.

“Most people are first familiar with THC,” he said. “So what ended up happening was that people who wanted to buy pot would go into dispensaries and say, ‘I want the highest THC you got.’ That’s all they knew.”

B3, on the other hand, touts “terpeneforward” pre-rolls. THC gets you high, but

the terpenes determine the kind of high you get. As Cohen likes to say, “Terpenes make the music. THC is the volume.” (The THC content in Blended SloSmokes ranges from 6 to 8 percent.)

Cohen brought in Chris Walsh, a former owner of downtown Burlington nightclub Nectar’s, to help him formulate B3’s products. Walsh is a cannabis industry veteran who spent a year in Jamaica growing weed for the University of the West Indies medical school, which was studying terpenes. In Burlington, he helped start Green State Gardener, a cultivation shop in the South End, and Upstate Elevator Supply, a company producing CBD- and now THC-infused beverages, edibles and other products. Walsh also serves on the advisory committee to the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, which governs the state’s cannabis industry.

“You can’t go wrong with Ben Cohen creating a product for himself,” Walsh said. “A lot of famous products were created by people that wanted something that they couldn’t find.”

Cohen, Walsh and B3’s development team blew through many attempts to come up with the right formulas for the Blended SloSmokes. Working in a lab that Walsh referred to as the “bat cave,” in an undisclosed Vermont spot, they used a gas chromatograph to measure and analyze the chemical components. They balanced major cannabis terpenes such as myrcene and limonene with cannabidiol, cannabigerol and THC, using different strains of flower to create the blend that gives the joints the desired effect, reliably.

“In almost any other industry, a brand stands for a consistent product,” Cohen said. “But in the pot industry, that’s not the case.”

To check that the blends delivered the intended results, Walsh put together a testing panel of weed smokers of various ages, some heavier users than others.

“We had a couple of J. Peterman types in the group,” Walsh said, referring to the eccentric, globe-trotting parodied version of the founder of the real-life J. Peterman Company on the TV series “Seinfeld.” “They would say, ‘This evokes that weekend I spent in the Serengeti. I smell freshcut grass and lion dung.’”

Cohen recognizes that he got his business ventures backward: He should have started his pot company first and then, once followers were overcome by the munchies, sold them ice cream.

But pot wasn’t legal, and wouldn’t be anywhere in the United States for another 40 years, when Cohen and Greenfield met as seventh graders in Long Island, N.Y. They were the slowest runners in gym class when they hatched the idea to sell ice cream — their drug of choice at the time, Cohen

Ben Cohen’s “terpene-forward” cannabis company tries to undo the harm of the nation’s past drug policies BY CAROLYN SHAPIRO

said. Cohen’s limited sense of smell, a condition called anosmia, compelled him toward concoctions with big chunks and a creamy mouthfeel.

Vermont still hadn’t approved the adult-use sale of cannabis when Cohen had the idea for his new venture more than three years ago.

He started it in Colorado, the first state to legalize nonmedical cannabis sales, but it had barely gotten off the ground when the pandemic hit. So he moved the company to his home state of Vermont and continued to develop the products.

B3’s first local production and distribution partner is Lee Stowell, a former Wall Street junk bond broker and now general manager of Grassroots Vermont, a medical cannabis production facility and dispensary in Brandon. Cannabis giant iAnthus, a multistate operator based in New York and Toronto, currently owns Grassroots Vermont, but Stowell is in the process of buying out the larger entity and earning the state Cannabis Control Board’s approval to sell adult-use weed. (Walsh spent years as Grassroots’ president and sits on iAnthus’ board.) The deal with B3 will give Stowell, who is white, a big boost, she said.

“I’m very excited to see how the market responds, because Vermonters love Ben. Vermonters love his ice cream,” Stowell said. “I think Vermonters are gonna say this is a differentiating product.”

C&C Higher Love is another B3 partner, a for-profit marketing company owned by Walsh and Craig Mitchell, a well-known local DJ and Black gay activist with experience in the “legacy” cannabis market. While Walsh develops and explains B3’s products to potential partners, Mitchell handles selling them to medical and retail cannabis dispensaries.

Mitchell has to educate those “budtenders behind the counters” not only on lower-THC weed but also on B3’s social justice objectives.

“People are reaching out like crazy,” Mitchell said.

“We want our products on shelves, and we want it to be prominent. We want them to commit to what we’re doing and the mission behind what we’re doing.”

While the product names aren’t so colorful, the Blended SloSmokes come in plastic-free boxes with vivid, neon colors and groovy designs by local Black graphic artist Eddie Opara. Available in recyclable tins and glass tubes, B3’s organically grown pot is vacuum-packed and nitrogen flushed to keep air out and stay fresh.

B3 plans to have other products, including a rotating selection of limitededition, high-THC buds of single-strain, not blended, cannabis. A discerning team of five testers decides if a particular flower makes the cut.

A line of full-spectrum vaping cartridges is pending, as B3 awaits a July 1 change in state law that now imposes a 92 percent wholesale tax on all vaping products to discourage e-cigarette use. Edibles are likely to emerge down the road, as well.

Just don’t expect a cannabis ice cream. Cohen said he’s done with products that require such extreme temperature control — even though he recommends that B3 customers store their weed in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.

“One of the nice things about pot, as opposed to ice cream,” he said, “is you don’t have to keep it frozen.” ➆

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P.14

issued under the social equity program — a sign that interest is high.

As a Black woman with family members who have been incarcerated for cannabis offenses, Johnson was eligible for the program, so her application fees were waived and her approval was fasttracked. She snagged two of the first 56 social equity licenses.

But Vermont lawmakers have yet to meaningfully address the highest hurdle facing social equity applicants: the gap in capital required to start a cannabis business. Without a commitment to address it, Vermont, like every other state, is doomed to fall short in its stated aim to create a fair cannabis marketplace, advocates say.

“Money gets you in the room,” said Shirelle Grant of Vermont NORML, a group that has advocated for social equity in the cannabis industry. “And that’s what we’re trying to do — get the people in the room.”

Lawmakers responded to such views by establishing the Cannabis Business Development Fund to provide loans and grants to social equity businesses. They seeded it with $500,000 in public funds. Any existing medical dispensary that chose to open an adult-use store during a special early access window last year would have to chip in another $50,000 to the fund; just one of the corporate-owned entities did so.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development spent $150,000 on a consulting firm that can provide technical assistance to social equity businesses on topics such as marketing, bookkeeping and website development. Starting in February, it made the remainder available in the form of $5,000 beneficiary payments, a kind of no-strings-attached grant. So far, 29 social equity business owners have applied for the payments, and 23 have received them.

Johnson’s check came a few weeks ago. She said she appreciated the money, which she immediately used to pay down her mounting bills, but noted politely that an earlier cash infusion may have helped her launch Euphoria closer to the October 2022 market opening date, when Ceres Collaborative, a downtown Burlington store owned by a Toronto-based company, cashed in on long lines of customers.

“In the beginning, if there was that capital, I would have been way further ahead than I am now,” Johnson said.

The Cannabis Business Development Fund is simply too small, with only enough money to launch one company, noted Brynn Hare, executive director of the state’s Cannabis Control Board.

“There were some really grand ideas behind what this fund would be set up to

do, which would be to get people in the industry that couldn’t otherwise get in. And I don’t think that’s happening,” she said.

The Cannabis Control Board and social equity advocates have asked lawmakers to earmark a portion of revenue from the state’s 14 percent excise tax on adult-use weed for the business development fund. Last month, Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (P/DChittenden-Central) introduced S.127, a bill that would direct 20 percent of the excise tax revenue for that purpose. The state has an ethical imperative, she said, to use legal sales of cannabis to help those who were harmed disproportionately by its earlier prohibition.

“I think it’s really important to actually put money behind our words,” she said.

Many states launched their adult-use markets before creating any social equity guidelines and have since tried to catch up. Others are now taking more aggressive steps as their industries have developed.

In Massachusetts, more than two-thirds of cannabis business executives and employees are white, roughly in line with the state’s population, Boston-based WGBH radio reported earlier this year. That state, which legalized adult-use sales in 2018, recently created a trust fund that uses 15 percent of cannabis taxes to help social equity businesses. Some have criticized the move as too little, too late in a market that is already oversaturated and seeing declining prices, the radio station reported.

New York has the most ambitious social equity program. Its first 300 retail licenses

are reserved for disadvantaged applicants as the state tries to achieve a marketplace where they make up half of all licensees. But New York’s ongoing rollout has been hobbled by delays and legal challenges. Unlicensed pot shops have sprouted in the void, creating further headaches.

Vermont, which is 92 percent white and non-Hispanic, hasn’t set forth specific demographic targets for cannabis licensees. Cannabis Control Board chair James Pepper declined to say whether the current proportion of social equity licensees, 15 percent, is adequate, but he and Hare noted that the rate has been increasing in recent months.

Pepper added that Vermont does appear to be succeeding in its broader goal of supporting small-scale agriculture, which tends to require lower startup costs. More than 75 percent of licensed cultivators are growing at the smallest tier.

“If that’s any indication about the barrier to entry in this market, compared to almost any other market, we have cracked the code on getting people in the door,” he said. “I think the real question is: Are these businesses going to survive two, three, four years out?”

The Cannabis Control Board and social equity advocates agree that the state should add other low-cost options for cannabis entrepreneurs. One is a license that would allow people to start home-delivery services, which are not legal — yet, anyway. Another is a special events license that would allow farmers market-style, direct-to-consumer sales by small growers.

Both ideas are included in the bill Vyhovsky is sponsoring. As drafted, the bill would restrict delivery service licenses to social equity applicants exclusively until as late as 2030 — a feature that Vermont NORML said is necessary to allow delivery

businesses a chance to get established before corporate fleets can enter the market. Colorado enacted a similar exclusivity period when creating its cannabis delivery program, but demand for the service has been lower than anticipated, online news outlet Denverite reported last year.

Vyhovsky’s bill includes a bevy of other equity-minded initiatives, including a program that would set aside another 10 percent of excise tax revenues for use as grants to community-based organizations in economically distressed areas of the state. The Cannabis Control Board expects the first year of legal sales to yield $16 million in excise tax revenues.

Only a fraction of the initiatives may stand a chance at passage this session. During a walk-through of the bill in the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, vice chair Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) noted that the legislature had little time left in its session to vet new policy proposals. Vyhovsky said finding an ongoing source of revenue for the Cannabis Business Development Fund was her most urgent priority.

In Burlington, Johnson of Euphoria Cannabis said the state’s biggest help so far has been the $13,750 she saved in licensing fees between her cultivation and retail businesses as a social equity applicant. Without the waiver, she would have needed business partners to help front the cash, and they might not have shared her vision, Johnson said.

What Johnson lacks in capital she’s made up for in resilience. Her 23-year-old son, Jibrail Williams, died of an accidental fentanyl overdose just before Christmas. He was excited about his mother’s new venture, and Johnson said she hopes his spirit will live on in the shop.

Johnson said she wants Euphoria to pay homage to those who faced the consequences of cannabis prohibition and mass incarceration, including a number of her family members and friends. She let out a deep sigh as she discussed it. “I don’t think that’s been a fair shake.”

Now her business, she hopes, can lift others up. She’s set up a room in the shop as a community space and hired a mother of color as one of her budtenders.

“If I have support setting up this space,” Johnson said, “I can help other people make a living for themselves.” ➆

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OBITUARIES

Simone Marie-Ange Boisvert Felty

OCTOBER 12, 1930APRIL 12, 2023

BURLINGTON, VT.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Simone Felty. Simone was born in Kingsbury, Québec, on October 12, 1930, the daughter of Alcide and Regina Boisvert. She had eight sisters. When she was nine, the family moved to Newport, Vt., so her dad could work on the railroad. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School from elementary through high school and graduated as the senior-class

Constance Loso

valedictorian. She was chosen as Newport’s Winter Carnival Queen and received many gifts and accolades.

After high school, she started working as a dental assistant for Dr. Hamilton. Simone came from a musical

FEBRUARY 23, 1945-SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 ORLANDO, FLA.

Constance “Connie” Alma (Niquette) Loso, 77, of Orlando, Fla., passed away peacefully in the late evening hours of Tuesday, September 20, 2022, after battling ongoing health issues.

Connie leaves behind her son, Christopher Loso, and his wife, Rebecca Stone, of Baltimore, Md.; daughter, Jacqueline Loso Hongladarom, and her husband, Bob, of Fulton, Md., and their child (grandchild) Benjamin; sister, Carol Izzo, and her husband, Louis Izzo, of Williston, Vt.; and sister-in-law, Sharon Niquette, of Jeffersonville, Vt.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. She was predeceased by her brother, Richard Niquette, of Burlington, Vt., in 2017.

Connie was born on February 23, 1945, at Fanny Allen Hospital to parents eodore and Gertrude (Marcotte) Niquette of Winooski, Vt., who predeceased her. She attended St. Francis Xavier School in Winooski through the eighth grade. She then attended Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, Vt., and graduated in 1962.

During high school, Connie worked for her parents, who were the proprietors of the former landmark restaurant Ted & Gert’s Fine Food on Main Street in Winooski. She also worked in the mail room and as

family, and she began singing at a young age and was performing in bands by the time she was in high school. She auditioned for the “Arthur Godfrey Talent Show” with her sisters Annette and Anita.

She met and married Allen Felty and gave birth to a daughter, Sheryl, with whom she had a close relationship her entire life.

Simone moved to Burlington, Vt., to work at the University of Vermont while she also continued her singing career. In the 1960s, she sang with many notable jazz bands. In the 1970s, Simone met her lifelong friend Connie Leean Seraphine, and they began performing together, singing and playing

a switchboard operator at Saint Michael’s College during high school. She loved working there and befriended many college students from around the world.

After high school, Connie studied to be a nurse. She graduated from Fanny Allen Memorial School of Practical Nursing in 1964. She was an accomplished pediatric nurse over the years, working in hospitals in Florida, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Connie was a very generous woman, helping many of her neighbors and friends while living in Orlando. She baked her legendary pumpkin, banana and zucchini breads for family, friends and neighbors. She also helped many people in need, giving money and gifts to help support them. In her most recent home in Orlando, she was an avid bingo player and enjoyed shopping and socializing with her friends living at Kinneret Senior Living. Her generosity, kindness and compassionate nature will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

A memorial service is being held on Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winooski. Anyone who would like to receive further information pertaining to the memorial service, please email Christopher Loso at closo97@ yahoo.com.

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made in honor of Constance Loso to the Kinneret Council on Aging (kinneretcouncil. org/donate) and to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org).

guitar. She auditioned for Mercury Records in 1973. In the late ’70s, Simone formed a duo with Jeff Wheel called Sweet Melody, and they entertained at many resorts and clubs. In the ’80s, Simone and Jerry Lavene formed a band called Night Magic. Simone was always willing to give of herself, and she sang at many weddings for family and friends. She wrote and recorded many songs throughout her lifetime, and she also wrote a musical play, Spirit Man Simone had a deep Catholic faith, and she loved collecting religious statues and relics during her many trips to Italy with her dear friend Barb Tognelli Klein. She made several religious

pilgrimages over the years to Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugorje, Padre Pio, St. Francis, John of God and more. She had a natural gift of psychic ability and healing and used these talents to help many people. She lived a life of service and will be greatly missed.

She wrote her autobiography, My Journey Into Three Worlds: Physical, Psychic and Spiritual . This book shares her legacy with the world.

Simone is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Felty; her husband, Gill Daudelin; and their son, Malachi. She is also survived by seven sisters: Annette, Noella, Angele, Alice, Suzie, Jeanne and Gail. She was predeceased by her

parents and her sister Anita. She loved to sing songs and tell stories to her many special nieces and nephews, who called her Aunt Simmie. She had many good friends with whom she enjoyed spending time. She treasured each one of you.

Simone was a strong woman and a trailblazer her entire life.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, April 21, 1 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Burlington. ere will be a wake on Friday, April 21, 10 a.m. to noon, at LaVigne’s Funeral Home in Winooski, Vt. A reception will follow after the mass. Family and friends are invited to attend to share their stories about Simone.

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OBITUARIES, VOWS, CELEBRATIONS

Janet Carscadden

JANUARY 24, 1972MARCH 22, 2023 BURLINGTON, VT.

On March 22, 2023, a good friend, lover, sister, daughter, auntie, coworker, community member and all-around great Canadian, Janet Carscadden, passed away due to a stupid fucking brain tumor.

Over the last 20 years, she practiced physical therapy, yoga and mindfulness at her business, Evolution Physical erapy and Yoga. rough her practice, she brought a calm and steady manner to owning a business. She treated her employees like coworkers, which ensured that her business remained successful, until it closed due to her illness.

She was a superb listener and practitioner whose expansive knowledge of human physiology allowed her to take the art of physical therapy to a new level. In the last 10 years, she helped people manage pain without drugs and practiced dry-needling and pelvic floor therapy. rough yoga, she provided a way to maintain a healthy body and mind and understood that these are not separate but integrated parts of the whole person.

As much as America gained from her

immigration, the Canuck never left her. She was born in Toronto, where she benefited from the superior educational and health care system and developed a Canadian type “Eh” — pronounced “A” — personality, an ability to achieve perfection without hubris or ego. She realized America needed a calmer, more sensible influence and migrated to Florida, then to Connecticut, and then to Vermont in 2000ish. After 20 years of resisting tethering herself to the insanity of the U.S., she semi-reluctantly became a citizen in 2015.

Outside of running a successful business, she was a killer vegan chef. She had the ability to orchestrate 15 volunteers to produce a monthly, three- to five-course meal for residents of Ward 2 and 3 at the ONE Community Dinner! Over the eight years

that she took lead on the dinner, the attendance went from 50 to 150 people. e stealth vegan dinners ranged from Ethiopian to Indian to Mexican to Polish to Chinese foods and were some of the best served anywhere in Vermont. During eight years, we likely served between 8,000 and 10,000 meals to the Old North End. Strengthening the community bonds through good food was truly her gift to us.

For the last 13 years, she lived with her main squeeze, Patrick, and their longtime friend, Mark, in Burlington, Vt. She has tons of wonderful family and friends still in the Toronto and Edmonton area, including her parents, Joan and Roy; her two sisters, Judy and Jean-Ann; and their families.

On the day she passed, word got out, and a host of people visited her throughout the day to share her final hours together. A traditional wake was held immediately after her passing. A memorial service, yoga class and bike ride will be held on June 10, 9 a.m.-ish, at the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. e last 18 months were tough, but the sustained love and support were edification incarnate! Without hesitation, she was truly one of a kind. An ability to be a respected leader without ego is rare in the U.S. anks, Janet!

Emma Nilan

SEPTEMBER 24, 1984APRIL 4, 2023

BURLINGTON, VT.

Emma Lara Nilan, age 38, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, author and artist, passed away on April 4, 2023, surrounded by her parents, Kathy Lara and Clem Nilan; sister, Molly Nilan; and dearest friend, Jessica Bridge.

Emma’s strength, resilience, compassion, loyalty, humor, grace and beauty are immeasurable. The heart is the universal symbol of love. She had three: her birth heart and two more via transplants. She displayed an incredible ability to listen without judgment, without planning her response and with a full and loving presence. She was steadfast in her resolve to fight against all odds and to squeeze more years, months, weeks, days and minutes

Jayne Methot Walker

SEPTEMBER 23, 1957MARCH 30, 2023

GRAND ISLE, VT.

Jayne Methot Walker, 65, peacefully exited this life on March 30, 2023, from neuroendocrine cancer. She passed away with George, her best friend and husband of 37 years, by her side. It was a great comfort to her to be at home, surrounded by the memories of a life well lived. Thanks to the staff at University of Vermont Home Health & Hospice for their invaluable assistance in making this possible.

Jayne is survived by her husband, George Walker, and her daughters, Claire and Lucy. She leaves behind her brothers Rick Methot and his wife, Suzanne; David Methot and his wife, Rachel; and Bobby Methot. She was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Jayne Methot, and two siblings taken by childhood cancer, her older brother Charlie and older sister, Robin. There are also numerous inlaws, nieces and nephews. Her nephew Nathan Methot held a special place in her heart.

Jayne graduated from UVM with a BS in agriculture. Colorado beckoned next, with work for the forest service, followed by a job at Breckenridge Ski Resort. It was in Colorado that she first

out of this life than any of us could have predicted. We wished for a million more.

She was always able to see the good in people under the most trying circumstances. She demonstrated laughter through tears, finding humor in the everyday and true joy. Most of all, Emma overflowed with love for her parents, family and friends. Emma was extraordinary, and all who knew her are forever blessed by her grace and memory.

Emma’s north stars were always love, kindness and creativity; finding awe in small things; the magic of her childhood, family, pets and friends; the sharing of a good meal, art and music. In the last year of her life, Emma found great pride in training to be a recovery coach with the caring and generous community at the Turning Point. There, she built connections with others of like mind who were devoted to helping some of our community’s most vulnerable populations. Emma was surrounded and supported by a fellowship of humans where she learned to embrace the mantra to thine own self be true — and she lived it.

Emma is survived by her parents, Kathy Lara and Clement Nilan, of Burlington, Vt.; and her sister, Molly Nilan, of Shelburne, Vt., with her husband, Ben, and their two children Ella, 12, and

Jacob, 9. She was celebrated by a large and loving extended family in Vermont, New York, New Jersey and Washington. Emma grew up in Burlington and Shelburne with her sister and cousins, especially Chloe, Vanessa and Charlotte, and her dearly loved Aunt Janice and Uncle Ken. She was deeply connected to her closest friends, Jessica Bridge, Naomi Krasnow, Ali Marchildon, Isabel Epstein Gentry, Eva Antczak and Emily Korkosz, to name just a few. They were adored by Emma and will continue to be part of our family. We extend a heartfelt thank-you to the amazing and tireless medical professionals in Burlington and Boston, at Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, who worked heroically in caring for Emma, despite extremely trying circumstances. Their extraordinary expertise

and compassion enabled Emma to remain a bright light among us for over two decades. Emma spent much time in the medical facilities in both cities. The list of their names is our “Canyon of Heroes,” and each is honored, particularly Dr. Karen Sokol, Dr. Jaina Clough, hospice nurse Carrie Steele, Dr. Adam Greenlee, Dr. Cindy Noyes, Dr. Peter Van Buren, Dr. Scott Yeager, Dr. Wendy Davis, and the amazing team of physicians, nurses and staff at the University of Vermont McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., where Drs. Nancy Long and Matthew Gervais worked with great compassion to help bring Emma home to spend her last days surrounded by her family and friends. We are forever grateful that Emma’s voice was heard and honored. In lieu of flowers, Emma requested that you take as many moments as you

can to pause and appreciate the beauty around us and to look at flowers and sunsets. During Emma’s last walks, she was thrilled by the snow crocuses. Emma loved dragonflies, forsythias, peonies and lilacs and wants you to remember her as they appear.

A celebration of life will be held at the Community Barn at the Intervale Center in Burlington on May 21 between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m. Please join us as we gather to share some good food and words, as we collectively remember the light of Emma. Emma, you are free from pain and celebrated every minute. We adore you, sweet angel. Our beloved friend Dave, from the Massachusetts General Cardiac Catheterization Lab wrote, “I will gain comfort from Dr. Seuss for now; ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’”

equally happy in a swanky hotel or a little tent for two on the beach. Mount Washington and many of Vermont’s peaks and trails have her boot prints on them. Anything to do with water — fresh or salt, still or moving — was a source of enjoyment. Put a canoe paddle in her hands, and she was a happy camper.

Taking a hiatus from fulltime work to give birth to and raise her two daughters, she used her spare time to attend Johnson State College and earn a BA in art education magna cum laude, receiving her pre-K through 12 endorsement. Her time spent as the art teacher at the Baird Center gave her a sense of accomplishment in helping students facing adversity. Her empathy for their situations helped her cope with the challenges that would arise. It was there that she made another lifelong friend.

John “Jack” Szanto

DECEMBER 4, 1937APRIL 3, 2023

BURLINGTON, VT.

John B. Szanto “Jack” passed away peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Burlington, Vt., from Parkinson’s disease. He was born on December 4, 1937, in Darien, Conn., the son of Margaret Sullivan and John Szanto. He graduated from Bellows High School in Rye, N.Y., as a celebrated soccer player and went on to college at Pratt Institute and the New School as an avid artist, and he ultimately received his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College.

became involved in performing in musical theater. With her love of singing and an irrepressible comedic personality, Jayne was in her element. She made a lifelong friend from her time there.

Back in Burlington, she enjoyed her summers as a Brown Ledge Camp counselor. It was there that she added even more lifelong friends.

One of those friends brought her to a Lyric Theatre audition. Naturally, she was cast in the first of her 12 shows for Lyric. In that first show was her future husband, George. More lifelong friends followed.

Jayne and George were made for each other. They shared the same enthusiasm for musical theater, travel and being outdoors. Jayne was

In her later career years, she always chose to be around young people in some teaching capacity. She really loved her final years at Heartworks. Only the combination of her cancer and the COVID-19 shutdown could keep her away.

In keeping with her wishes, a celebration of Jayne’s life will be held for family and friends on May 17, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. The interment of her ashes will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington at a later date.

Jack married and bought a small hill farm in Vermont, where he and his wife raised two children, son Jack and daughter Hermine, and where he was a well-regarded carpenter, builder and sheep farmer. Some years later, Jack moved to New York City, where he ultimately taught and worked in New York City schools.

Jack was a great lover of music, fashion and design, farming, carpentry, tractors and homesteading, to name just a few of his many interests. Always the researcher and learner, he delved deeply into Eastern thinking and medicine. He carried with him a dry, soft-spoken sense of humor, a friendly mischief and

a smile that drew people to him right up until the time of his passing. In his later years, Jack moved from his home in the heart of Chinatown in New York to be near — and cared for by — his daughter and her family in Burlington, Vt. Jack leaves behind his son, Jack Szanto and daughterin-law, Angela; daughter, Hermine Flanigan and sonin-law, Russ; grandchildren, Derrick and Devon Szanto and Ayden and Kieran Flanigan; brother Al Suildebhain; and sister, Sandi Hill, and her husband, Carl Shushan. He was predeceased by his brother Gary Szanto. Jack also leaves behind special New York friends Nancy and Kumi, as well as lifelong friends Bob and Hermine. The family wishes to thank all of Jack’s caregivers and friends at Burlington Health and Rehab: Andrea, Menard, Naomi, Shay, Connie, Fred, Ginny and Ken, to name just a few.

From toy cars to action figures to PEZ dispensers to oil lanterns, Vermonters love their unusual collections

BY SEVEN DAYS STAFF

almost everyone collects something. Even if you don’t identify as a “collector,” you probably hold on to keepsakes and mementos for any number of reasons — or no reason at all. Maybe you save smooth, ocean-tumbled rocks from family trips to Maine. Or you keep a stash of snow globes in your o ce year-round. Or you’ve got a jar of belly button lint on your desk. (We’re not here to judge.)

While most people’s collecting habits can be described as casual, Vermont is home to some more serious collectors. Mark Waskow, for example, owns the state’s largest collection of contemporary local art: more than 15,000 pieces that he stores around the state. Musician and Vermont Public radio host Robert Resnik boasts an astounding assemblage of musical instruments — and, we’re told, an impressive cache of hot sauces. Christine Farrell, founder and owner of Earth Prime Comics in Burlington, is rumored to have one of the largest and oldest private collections of comic books in the world.

Recently, Seven Days sta ers wondered what other kinds of collections — and collectors — might be out there. A call for

submissions on social media prompted a deluge of responses from Vermonters who collect everything from creepy dolls to vintage lunch boxes to board games to VHS tapes. And PEZ dispensers. Lots and lots of PEZ dispensers.

As we dug in, other tips followed: a man who collects Coleman lanterns in southern Vermont; another who collects old matchbooks; still more PEZ dispensers; and, yes, someone who hoards their own belly button lint. (Sadly, if predictably, that last person declined to speak with us. We had questions.)

Frankly, there were too many interesting collections to choose from. As we visited some of them, we learned what’s most fascinating about collecting is not so much the objects themselves as the people who gather them and the stories behind their obsessions.

In New Haven, for example, a troubled U.S. Army veteran found meaning and a new path through a Japanese anime series. In Richmond, a grieving family keeps the memory of a loved one alive in a collection of toy cars. And an Underhill postal worker looks to preserve Vermont’s fading history in a vast assortment of obscure ephemera.

Of course, not all collections are imbued with meaning. Some collectors just collect cool stu because, well, it’s cool. Take the Burlington musician who owns a trove of Leon Redbone memorabilia — including a couple of his guitars. Or the Grateful Dead fan who kept collecting plush dancing bears because she couldn’t stop. Or the local engineer whose collection of space toys boldly goes where no one has gone before.

Read on for some of the most unusual and compelling special collections in Vermont.

Volkswagen Transporter van as a young man and saw Volkswagens as a connection to his British upbringing. “From then on, it was like anytime you see a VW anywhere, you get it. Always,” she recalled.

Lucie said Tim would often go to the Waterbury flea market with his son, Andrew, now 30. “There was always a basket of cars, and they would rifle through them to see if they could spot one,” she said. “Sometimes you would find a treasure at the flea market.”

Tim was a warm and easygoing person who taught math education at Trinity College in Burlington and Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. He loved music and performed in the local Irish and Scottish band the Highland Weavers. Tim saw life as a road and told Marie Claire to “just enjoy the drive.” Marie Claire said her father encouraged her to pursue her own passions but also to create opportunities for others. “You’ve got to support passion because it’s what makes the drive enjoyable,” she said.

CATCHING THE BUG

A fleet of tiny Volkswagens helps keep the memory of Tim Whiteford close for his family

Tim Whiteford’s family is still discovering new cars in his collection of miniature Volkwagens. On a recent Saturday, his daughter, Marie Claire Johnson, found a landline phone in the shape of a yellow Volkswagen Beetle tucked on a lower shelf in the room where Tim stored his fleet. Her husband, Erik Johnson, and son Lachlan dusted it o , found a couple of AA batteries and plugged it into a phone jack in the wall. Erik called it from his mobile — and it still worked. The headlights flickered as it rang.

Though Tim died four years ago, his collection of VW Beetle and bus memorabilia remains largely untouched. Lachlan, 8, did some back-of-the-napkin math and calculated that there are nearly 1,000 Volkswagen items in his grandfather’s collection — lovingly arranged on handmade shelves in a small sunroom in his grandparents’ Richmond home.

The collection is delightful, especially viewed up close. There are tiny Beetles — or, more familiarly, “Bugs” — a onewheeled version and another with a clock on its hood. There’s a Gremlins Bug still in the box. One Bug breaks into two pieces — salt and pepper shakers. There’s a necklace charm, a bath toy, a jewelry box and even

a Beetle-shaped bottle that still contains Avon Wild Country aftershave.

“This was the first one. This was the beginning,” Tim’s wife, Lucie Whiteford, said as she held a metal, lime-green Vanagon.

Lucie bought the toy van for her husband at a flea market in the early 1990s, knowing that Tim drove a 1960s

Tim encouraged Andrew to collect as well, and he’s amassed more than 300 Hot Wheels cars. Tim built a track for the cars in the sunroom, and father and son would spend hours shooting the cars up and down its ramp.

Tim told Marie Claire stories about driving around England as a young man in his Vanagon looking for hitchhikers who needed a ride. “I think there’s something about this [collection] that is youthful,” she said. “For him, it made a lot of sense because of the connection to his childhood and his motherland and his passion for driving and vehicles.” Tim was an auto enthusiast throughout his life, owning numerous VW vehicles, including a maroon 1991 VW van, which he sold to his daughter for just a dollar.

“The passion is very catching,” Marie Claire said. “Our house is covered in Volkswagen posters, and there’s Bugs everywhere.”

Tim handed down certain cars to her sons, Lachlan and Kassel, 6, who now have their own mini collection. Despite the uncertainties about buying a car on eBay, Marie Claire supported her husband in a bidding war for an orange 1974 VW Beetle, which he won. “This is the only car that I can do this with and get away with it,” Erik joked.

Though the VW room remains much as Tim left it, it has been maintained. And despite her husband’s death, Lucie said, the collection continues to expand: “Still to this day, when I see one, I buy it.” COLLEEN

OUR HOUSE IS COVERED IN VOLKSWAGEN POSTERS, AND THERE’S BUGS EVERYWHERE.

MARIE CLAIRE JOHNSON

Clockwise from left: Lucie Whiteford, Andrew Whiteford, Erik Johnson, Marie Claire Johnson, Kassel Johnson and Lachlan Johnson

A photo of Tim Whiteford among the collection

A RARE VINTAGE

Retro rocker Billy Bratcher curates a curious music legend

Billy Bratcher has come unstuck in time.

When I stepped onto his Burlington front porch, he was picking a vintage acoustic guitar in an old-timey style that conjured up early 20th-century jazz and blues. The guitar was a 1934 Martin — one of several such gems that Bratcher owns. And the sound? “All those licks I learned from Redbone,” Bratcher said.

He was referring to the late Leon Redbone, the eccentric, anachronistic musician renowned for his roots-jazzblues guitar work, languid vocal style, and signature sunglasses and Panama hat. Starting on the folk festival circuit in the early 1970s, Redbone was like a vaudeville performer who didn’t realize (or care) that other circuit was over.

Bratcher, who’s known to local music fans as the upright bass player in the rockabilly group Starline Rhythm Boys, made Redbone’s personal acquaintance in 2012. When the enigmatic entertainer died in 2019, Bratcher acquired a trove of Redbone’s effects, including two sweet old guitars. The items are in the right hands with Bratcher, a seasoned collector of vintage 78 rpm records and guitars of another era.

HEADS AND TALES

For George DeCell, PEZ spells something sweeter than sugar

Vermont’s top PEZ-head is jonesing for “no feet.”

For most of the candy-consuming world, PEZ is a rainbow-hued mini brick of sugar stacked inside a BIC lighter-shaped dispenser that pops out a piece when the topper is pulled back. For George DeCell and thousands of his PEZ-head brethren, PEZ is all about the container, not the contents. He collects sets of dispensers — four to seven on a single theme, such as Batman characters — that are never, ever opened, lest they lose some value.

And value is the reason that PEZ is reportedly one of the most collected items on the planet. Pristine sets sell for hundreds of dollars. Vintage PEZ produced before 1980 with no “feet” on the stem — more on this later — can fetch four figures. The rarest of the rare — the Good Lord Bird of PEZdom — is said to be the “Political Donkey,” produced in 1961 and valued at $13,000.

Now, that’s a stocking stuffer!

DeCell, a construction manager for an excavation company, said he’s more

After the porch prelude, we headed into Bratcher’s house, where we prepped for awakening Redbone’s spirit at a turntable, listening to some 78s. Bratcher has pared down his inventory from about 3,000 to 1,000 discs in recent years. Among those he kept are all five Elvis Presley Sun Records releases. Bratcher calls the downsizing “getting clean” from a 78-recordcollecting problem.

We moved along to a glass showcase that is the Redbone archive. It contains an eclectic array of artifacts: concert posters and photographs, including one of Redbone as a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”; volumes from Redbone’s music history library; a microphone; one of Redbone’s walking sticks; one of his hallmark hats; and unmixed studio tapes from recording sessions.

The most anticipated pieces on this tour of Bratcher’s collection are the two guitars. The oldest, a 1930 National, shines like silver with its unique metal body. Redbone played it in the “Tonight Show” appearance.

Bratcher also owns Redbone’s early 1960s Harmony guitar, which Redbone played at the Mariposa Folk Festival on Toronto Island in 1972 — when, according to lore, Bob Dylan sought out this curious up-and-comer. Redbone’s Harmony guitar bears the musician’s handiwork: a paintedover brand name on the headstock and tiny flowers painted around the perimeter of

the body. Bratcher called these “vagabond” embellishments.

Bratcher estimates the 15 pieces in the Redbone collection are worth roughly $15,000 on the collector’s market. But

their greater value, to him, lies in connecting to Redbone through his instruments.

“I picked with Leon,” he said. “To be able to play the style that he plays on his guitars is just so fulfilling to me. It’s almost surreal.”

of a bargain than a big-game hunter. He looks for assorted PEZ characters sold in quantity that contain pieces he needs to complete sets of related characters — sort of like filling in a gin rummy hand.

“It’s like anything else,” he said. “If you do it right, you can create a collection that’s worth money and not spend a fortune.“

in his basement. If those little bricks were gold, his home would be Fort Knox. “It combines two of my favorite things: toys and candy,” DeCell, 52, said. His collection includes PEZ cereal, with real cereal in the

DeCell’s Fairfax home looks like the PEZ warehouse fell off a truck and landed

George DeCell with some of his PEZ collection

PHOTOS: DARIA BISHOP

ERIK ESCKILSEN

Even as he channels Redbone, Bratcher’s mind can wander to the one that got away: the 1956 Gibson CF-100, Redbone’s go-to guitar. When Redbone died, widow Beryl Handler offered to sell

I LIKE BEING SURROUNDED BY OLD, UNIQUE THINGS.

BILLY BRATCHER

Bratcher the axe, but he declined, thinking the guitar should stay in Redbone’s family. “It haunts me,” he said. “I think about it a lot.”

Bratcher can only hope the Gibson is in good hands. He’s more certain about where he’d like to see Redbone’s legacy land upon his own death: either at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, Tenn., or “in the hands of another player who appreciates it as much as I,” he said.

The thought gives Bratcher pause. Glancing around his place, one spots evidence that he collects more than music memorabilia: movie posters, antique tin toys and a worn copy of Sports Collectors Digest, the publication of record for people like the avid baseball card collector that Bratcher once was.

“I like being surrounded by old, unique things,” he said.

ERIK ESCKILSEN

Claus, and Disney stalwarts Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. In 1973, a PEZ factory opened in Orange, Conn.; it now also functions as a visitor center and museum, displaying many of the 1,500 unique PEZ dispensers. In 1980, bottom pieces or feet were added to the stems to help them stand up better, making the vintage footless pieces the stuff of DeCell’s dreams.

box topper; PEZ NASCAR; PEZ watches; and PEZ for Pets, with bricks made of kibble. DeCell has a Spider-Man PEZ he said is valued at $800.

Forget what you think you know about PEZ. It was invented in Austria in 1927 by a confectioner named Eduard Haas III, who aimed to corner the thennonexistent market of breath mints that discouraged smoking. The name derives from the German word for peppermint: Pfefferminz. Haas created his immortal Wordle by combining the first, middle and last letters to spell PEZ.

PEZ hit America’s shores in 1952, with the dispensers that contained the 12 little bricks bearing images of Popeye, Santa

DeCell still checks eBay and attends collector conventions (PEZamania in Ohio, anyone?), searching for new acquisitions. But he said he intends to give some sets away or sell a few to buy something nice for Estelle, his very tolerant wife. The collection is “insured and well secured,” DeCell said, but he has occasionally taken it out into the world.

“I used to substitute teach in the Fairfax schools,” he explained. To gain better control over the students, DeCell would come to class with one of the giant, 13-inch-tall PEZ dispensers he’s collected. “I’d flip open the top,” he said, “and an entire PEZ package would pop out. It got their attention.”

STEVE GOLDSTEIN

Billy Bratcher

SEE THE LIGHT

A basement full of Coleman lanterns means never having to be in the dark

Chad Farnum of Brattleboro bought his first Coleman lantern nine years ago. He was in the process of restoring a vintage Serro Scotty camper, envisioning road trips and weekends in the woods with his family. The forest green lantern, made the same year as the camper — 1976 — seemed like just the right accessory to bring along.

Soon Farnum realized that Coleman made red lanterns as well as green ones. He discovered Coleman’s “big hat” lanterns, with wider tops that cast the light downward. He learned that some lanterns had single mantles — the flame-powered light source — and others had double mantles. He was hooked. He went on eBay to look for lanterns, then got off eBay because it was too easy to find what he wanted. He turned to flea markets and antiques stores.

“It became about the hunt,” he said. Today, Farnum owns 60 or 70 lanterns, plus a few dozen flashlights. Most were manufactured in the 1960s and ’70s; a few date back to the 1920s. He typically picks them up for $25 or $30 apiece and insists he won’t pay more than $100 unless it’s a rarer

RIPPLE EFFECT

On tour with Jessica Wetherby’s Grateful Dead dancing bears

On her 16th birthday, Jessica Wetherby started on a long, strange trip that would last the next quarter of a century and beyond. Wetherby was visiting family in Tennessee when her aunt, a Grateful Dead fan, gave her a birthday present befitting a young Deadhead: a small, plush replica of one of the Dead’s famed dancing bears.

The doll was made by Liquid Blue, a company that specializes in psychedelic band, sports and pop culture apparel — think tie-dyed Dead T-shirts, New York Yankees hoodies and Cheech & Chong tank tops. In 1997, on the heels of the Beanie Baby craze, Liquid Blue began producing a line of collectible beanie bears licensed by the Grateful Dead and modeled on the band’s signature icon.

Each came with a name that often referenced a Dead song, such as “Samson and Delilah” and “Sugaree” — Wetherby’s first bear was “Tennessee Jed.” The bears also had “birth dates” from specific Dead shows and came with a “Favorite Tour Memory,” a fictionalized account of life on the road with the band.

“I just fell in love with them,” Wetherby

find, like the yellow lanterns Coleman made for the Gold Bond trading stamps company in the early 1970s. That’s the one model Farnum is still seeking. Otherwise, he said, “It’s not a superexpensive hobby. It’s not like I’m collecting motorcycles.”

Farnum, 50, used to work as a carpenter and builder and then founded his own company, Farnum Insulators, so he knows his way around tools. When he adds a lantern to his collection, he takes it apart, cleans it and, if necessary — and if he can find the original parts — installs a new glass globe or a new generator (which makes the liquid fuel vaporize). “Pretty much every single one I can get to light up,” he said.

That functionality is what drew Farnum to lanterns. “I like to collect things that I’m going to use,” he explained, “whether it’s the lanterns or flashlights for camping, or the grills for when I have people over for dinner.” (Yes, grills — he’s got nine of them.)

Farnum doesn’t just bring one lantern for camping. When he and his wife and daughter would travel to Vermont state parks and Acadia National Park in Maine with their camper in tow, he’d bring along 10 lanterns, give or take. “I’d set them up and tinker with them,” he said. “It was a little obsessive.”

Later, when his daughter was in high school, Farnum would hang the lanterns around his backyard pool on summer nights so she and her friends could see as they swam.

When people ask why he collects lanterns, Farnum tells them he was afraid of the dark as a kid. “That’s my joke,” he said. “But when the power goes out, it’s pretty nice to have a whole bunch of lanterns and flashlights around.”

Does that mean Farnum’s family appreciates his collection? “They humor me,” he said — though they were unaware of the extent of his obsession until he started gathering the lanterns and flashlights in one place. “My daughter thinks I’m a little nuts, and my wife is willing to put up with it as long as it stays in the man cave,” Farnum said, referring to his basement.

He’s OK with that. Eventually, he’ll thin out his collection, he said, and sell some of his lanterns to other collectors who will appreciate them as much as he does.

“These things were built 75, 80 years ago,” he said, “and a lot of them still work the way they did when they were made, which to me is really cool. You just don’t find that much anymore.”

JENNIFER SUTTON

said recently from her St. Albans home, where she lives with her husband, two children and about 150 Liquid Blue bears. “To me, the Grateful Dead concept, the dancing bears — it was always just a joyful, happy thing. And I was 16, so they were cute, too.”

Precise information is hard to pin down — because hippies — but Liquid Blue produced at least 16 “generations” of

the bears, 10 to 12 at a time, in the decadeplus after their introduction. The designs became increasingly colorful over the years, made with an eclectic array of fabric patterns. Liquid Blue also released a few special editions, such as larger bears and holiday versions, and a Jerry Garcia doll.

Wetherby said she has “pretty much all” of the Liquid Blue bears, keeping track

of them with a checklist. She doesn’t know, or particularly care, how much her collection is worth. But complete sets of individual generations of the bears can sell for anywhere from $200 to several thousand on eBay. Certain rare bears can fetch a few hundred on their own.

Asked why she collects the bears, Wetherby cited her love of the Grateful Dead,

Jessica Wetherby

LUKE AWTRY

JOSH STEELE

which she attributes to the influence of her Deadhead aunt. While she never saw the band live before Garcia died in 1995, Wetherby has seen post-Garcia versions

and Dead-adjacent offshoots, and she’s a fan of several local Dead tribute bands.

“Grateful Dead are definitely one of my favorites,” she said.

Wetherby also described her competitive nature as a factor in her dancing bear obsession. A lifelong athlete, she played soccer through college before moving on to boxing, MMA fighting and Spartan races as an adult.

“Once I had so many editions, I was like, Well, I can’t stop now. I want to be the person who has ’em all,” she said. After a pause, she added with a chuckle, “It did get to a point where I wondered what I was going to do with them all.”

A stay-at-home mom, Wetherby put her bears in storage bins when her son Dominic, now 19 months old, was born. Until then, the bears had occupied a home office, but “we really needed the room,” she said.

One day, she hopes to display the bears again. Despite their increasing value, she said she has no plans to part with any of them.

“There’s just something about them,” she said, “and I just can’t let go.”

DAN BOLLES

ONCE I HAD SO MANY EDITIONS, I WAS LIKE, WELL, I CAN’T STOP NOW.

JESSICA WETHERBY

Just the Things

PARTY PLATTERS

Jim Beebe-Woodard’s Fiestaware serves up a slice of American history

In 1936, America was crawling out of the Great Depression and looking toward a brighter future. Literal proof sat on the nation’s dining tables, set with Homer Laughlin China’s new line of affordable Fiesta dishware. It was advertised in “five lovely colors … all brilliant, all eye-catching, all modern.” The cheerful red, cobalt blue, green, yellow and ivory mix-and-match dishes with sleek curves and decorative rings signaled in name and spirit that it was time to celebrate again.

The zeitgeist symbolized by the art decoinfluenced dishes and their colorful charm made Jim Beebe-Woodard a Fiesta collector. Half a lifetime ago, he bought his first two plates at a Cambridge, Mass., antiques shop.

“It’s so deco, so bright, so distinctive. It captures a moment in American history,” said the impressively bearded 51-year-old, who lives with his husband, Travis, in an artfully furnished house in Underhill. “They told housewives, ‘You can have this gay table,’” Beebe-Woodard observed with a chuckle; the description appealed to him on multiple levels.

Among the home’s vintage and handcrafted décor, a large, glass-doored IKEA bookcase stands out. It holds most

PICKING IT UP

Jerry Russin Jr. preserves bygone Vermont culture, one curio at a time

Jerry Russin Jr. is a picker. He spends his spare time in barns and attics looking through people’s forgotten stuff. With an avid interest in Vermont history and culture, Russin is on the prowl for objects and memorabilia that say something about the way Vermonters lived in decades and centuries past.

His collection includes vintage signs (“Carriages/Road Wagons,” announces an Enosburgh business), Walton’s Vermont Register and Farmers’ Almanacs that date back to the 1850s, antique druggists’ bottles embossed with mortars and pestles, and scores of old maple syrup tins. When he displays objects from his eclectic collection in his Jericho apartment, Russin feels like he’s living in an old-time general store, he said.

“It’s all dedicated to Vermont,” Russin, 26, said. “This is stu that really needed to be saved before it was too late.”

His collection includes a turn-of thecentury tin that held 17 pounds of chicken bones from a company in White River

of Beebe-Woodard’s 400-piece Fiesta collection, including his original ivory and chartreuse plates, iconic pitchers in yellow and juniper, and a full set of Fiesta

Casuals in the 1962 Hawaiian 12-Point Daisy design.

“I friggin’ love these,” Beebe-Woodard said of the turquoise-flowered dishes,

which he used to host the couple’s first post-lockdown brunch in March 2021. For more than a decade, Beebe-Woodard’s prized collection sat boxed in the

Objects of greater historical significance are also part of Russin’s collection, such as a document signed by governor Thomas Chittenden, the first (and third) governor of Vermont. The “warrant” dated October 29, 1796, concerns the election of a representative to the U.S. Congress from the “Western District” of Vermont. The governor directed the convening of special freemen’s meetings to elect a representative because no candidate had received a majority of votes in a prior election.

Matthew Lyon of Arlington, who won the contest, would later become the only member of Congress who’s been elected from jail —the first, but perhaps not last, federal o cial to ascend to o ce from prison.

Junction called Smith & Son. Another container from the same era was once filled with 10 pounds of cottage cheese produced at the Bellows Falls Co-operative Creamery; its blue lettering says the brand was Brookside. Russin also has a 19th-century bottle whose label promises “instant relief” — the vegetable liniment that was within cost $1 and, the label directs, should be “corked tight.”

Russin showed this document to folks from the PBS TV show “Antiques Roadshow” when they visited Shelburne Museum last summer. They estimated its value at $500 to $1,000, he said.

A postal worker in Underhill, Russin has multigenerational roots in the UnderhillJericho area. He graduated from Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho but spent most of ninth grade in Florida. While he was living there, he developed an interest in his home state.

Jim Beebe-Woodard

Antique druggists’ bottles

I FRIGGIN’ LOVE THESE.

JIM BEEBE-WOODARD

attic for lack of the “perfect midcentury hutch,” he admitted. Finally, he accepted that his rainbow of dishware deserved to be on display, even if in a mass-produced piece of furniture. It’s appropriate in a way, since Fiesta, like IKEA, strove to make well-designed housewares widely accessible — albeit when mass-market products were of higher quality.

Fiestaware has been crafted in America since 1936, with a break from 1973 to 1985. The classic line has come in 55 colors including the original red, which famously contained a small amount of uranium and rendered dishes slightly radioactive. BeebeWoodard finds that “kind of cool.”

The couple eats daily on “new” Fiesta produced since 1986, but Beebe-Woodard also puts his vintage items to occasional use. He loves to spoon potato-leek soup from cream soup bowls and serve mashed potatoes in a lidded ivory casserole with delicately curved handles, which dates back to Fiesta’s first 15 years.

Beebe-Woodard doesn’t track his collection’s value, but one of his rarer pieces — a teapot in a color called “medium green”

made in the 1960s — would easily fetch more than $1,000. He said he was lucky to get the teapot for a bargain from an old friend of his husband’s grandmother.

The couple had no idea what to expect when they headed with Grammy to her friend Dottie’s house one snowy day. Dottie was about to move into assisted living, and Grammy had said she had “some of those dishes.” While the women caught up, Beebe-Woodard noticed a smattering of Fiestaware in the kitchen but nothing especially notable.

Then, he recounted, “All of sudden, Dottie looks at me and she’s like, ‘So, you want to see it?’” In her dining room, she opened three cabinets chock-full of Fiesta that made Beebe-Woodard’s jaw drop. “Every successive door that [she] opened,” Travis said, “his eyes got bigger and bigger.”

During that first visit, Beebe-Woodard bought eight pieces. Dottie has since given him a number more.

When he’s ready to downsize, BeebeWoodard has no plans to sell his collection to strangers. “I hope I can do what Dottie did,” he said. “To get them in this way is beautiful.”

“I realized that I had taken Vermont for granted,” Russin said.

When he came back, he delved into local history before broadening his interest and subsequent collecting to the whole state. He’s become passionate about finding, saving and cataloging objects related to Vermont history. A network of friends and other pickers knows of his interest and alerts him to estate sales and other sources of Vermonty stu .

Russin keeps his growing collection, which he estimates comprises at least 2,000 objects, in his apartment and in storage. He hopes when people learn about it, they might be inspired to discover more about Vermont.

“I think there’s a slight cultural identity crisis,” Russin said.

SALLY POLLAK

MELISSA PASANEN

PHOTOS: JAMES BUCK

Jerry Russin Jr.

“I am so grateful for FPF for the sense of community and support; any time I post, I am overwhelmed with responses that leave me feeling cared for and with a sense of belonging.” —Lisa, Hardwick

Brandon Burditt & DIJI in LNT's Pass Over

ROCKET MAN

Scott Turnbull’s space memorabilia collection is out of this world

“‘Star Trek’ or Star Wars?”

“Yes,” Scott Turnbull replied.

Turnbull wants it all. A query meant to reveal the galaxial preference of space nerds is irrelevant to a man who has been accumulating rockets; robots; and replicas of astronauts, aliens and all manner of otherworldly objects for 50 years.

Encountering Turnbull’s display, which in large part chronicles the history of space exploration, is like passing through a time warp. One enters this particular Narnia not through a wardrobe but through a garage door in Turnbull’s Chittenden County home, which leads into a 9-by-12-foot sanctum sanctorum that would bring George Lucas to his knees in supplication.

So … how many items has he acquired? Turnbull chuckled. “Best not to ask,” he replied. “What you’re seeing is a small fraction of what exists.”

These are the designated “display pieces.” Backups and backups to the backups can be found among the hundreds of astronaut figurines, mini rockets, moon rovers, fantasy craft, commemorative

BIG TOP ADVENTURE

A beloved Vermont clown archives circus history through thousands of objects

Troy Wunderle does not simply collect circus memorabilia. He lives it and breathes it.

As the owner of Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures, he clowns, unicycles and stilt-walks throughout New England as a performer — and teaches kids to do the same through his educational residencies in schools. For 27 years, he coached and directed programs for Vermont’s beloved Circus Smirkus. He also spent six years as the director of clowning for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus shows.

So it makes sense that Wunderle’s home and spacious work studio in southern Vermont are filled with thousands of circus objects: posters, pennants, history books and children’s books, games, statuettes, toys, ticket stubs, photos, newspaper clippings, rubber noses, a few wagon wheels, and a pair of headdresses once worn by performing elephants.

“Look at this!” Wunderle exclaimed with the excitement of a longtime ringmaster, pointing out a faded but still glamorous shimmery costume in a glass case in his basement, worn by Rietta Wallenda of

buttons, space toys, games and DVDs of every cosmic-related movie, from 1956’s Forbidden Planet to Guardians of the Galaxy

Is that … a photograph signed by all the original “Star Trek” crew?!

“My middle initial is E, so my nickname is Scott-E-Beam-Me-Up,” Turnbull said. He got the space bug in the 1960s as the moon race heated up, embarking on a lifelong avocation of astronomy and model rocketry. His gateway drug to collecting

was a toy called the Johnny Astro, a rudimentary launch platform. At the ripe old age of 9, living in upstate New York, Turnbull brought home an original G.I. Joe twinned with a spaceman. His collection had begun.

he helped out at the nearby Stickney Hill Dairy. He draws a direct line between the hard-core work ethic he learned back then and what he calls the “incredibly hardworking people” who are the heart of a circus. Flipping through an album of historical Barnum & Bailey photos, Wunderle said, “It took thousands of employees — performers, band members, cooks, concessionaires, tent crew — all working together as a traveling city, setting up monster five-ring tents with miles of canvas and cable and rope. The intricacies just blow my mind.”

the Flying Wallendas, Ringling’s famous tightrope-walking troupe.

“And this!” Wunderle exclaimed again, opening a drawer full of Ringling programs that date back to the 1930s. “It’s amazing how you can look at circus programs and posters, or read through newspaper articles, and better understand what was happening in the world,” he said. “And reflect on how things have changed.”

Wunderle, 50, grew up in Saxtons River. From the time he was a little kid,

The first circus skill Wunderle mastered himself was juggling. He juggled to keep himself awake during late nights at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he earned a degree in graphic design and studied every medium he could, from sculpture to textiles. He kept juggling at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and then landed a plum job touring with the renowned show for a year. His collecting began around the same time, initially with personal souvenirs, like the ticket stub and poster from the first Ringling show he ever performed in.

Today, Wunderle and his wife and collecting partner, Sara, seek out ephemera such as news articles, photographs and historical records, including an album of letters written by a circus cook in the late 1950s. “I’ll

Scott Turnbull

A portion of Troy Wunderle’s circus memorabilia collection

Rejected by NASA right out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Turnbull went to work for IBM in New York’s Hudson Valley. He married an engineer and requested a transfer to Vermont, where he and his wife, Ellen, raised their family. Now nearing 62 and bearing more degrees than a thermometer, he’s a computer systems engineer at the University of Vermont.

Turnbull is not a collector in the mold of the late billionaire Malcolm Forbes hunting for Fabergé eggs; his milieu is the flea market, toy shop or thrift store. He shops locally and thinks cosmically. He checks eBay auctions for “the more historical pieces,” he said.

If it isn’t already apparent, Turnbull’s collecting is a mirror image of his life’s work.

One of Turnbull’s most serendipitous finds was a five-inch button welcoming the Apollo 8 astronauts back to Earth — a relatively rare item that he obtained for less than the cost of two lattes. “I don’t usually expect to find things like that in a box of buttons at a flea market,” he marveled.

I COLLECT BECAUSE I LOVE STORIES.

TROY WUNDERLE

never be a circus cook,” Wunderle said, “but I feel like I’m living a piece of this guy’s life by reading his letters.”

Wunderle sees himself as an archivist and caretaker as much as a collector, preserving pieces of history to be passed on to the next generation of circus lovers. His collection, he said, holds little financial value for him. Yes, a few of his acquisitions cost thousands of dollars,

Though Turnbull is careful not to let the contents of his collection

“leak” into the non-sanctified parts of his home, his wife is more than accepting. “We met at engineering school, so Ellen is similarly inclined,” he explained. “We would watch ‘Star Trek’ reruns.”

As for their three grown children, all are “tainted by the double-geek chromosome,” he said. Their son, the most passionate, is likely to assume guardianship of the collection when Turnbull beams up for eternity.

Before then, Turnbull hopes to find another copy of his treasured boyhood toy: Johnny Astro.

An apparent major omission among the scores of figurines on display was the lantern-jawed visage of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. Turnbull had an explanation at the ready.

“I don’t have a Buzz on these shelves, but there are a few in the collection,” he said. “I’ve done some head swaps to give other figures the benefit of the Space Ranger suit.”

but “I collect because I love stories,” he said, “and all of these objects have stories behind them.”

The objects with sentimental connections inspire him most, like the elephant headdresses that hang on a wall in his home. “I knew the elephant that wore one of them, and I knew the gentleman who taught the elephant that wore the other,” Wunderle explained. As a circus professional, he said, “I make it a point to honor and cherish those in the business who came before me.”

JENNIFER SUTTON

STEVE GOLDSTEIN

PHOTOS: ZACHARY P. STEPHENS

Troy Wunderle

Just the Things «

THE DRAGON HUNTER

Brandon Rivers isn’t toying around with his “Dragon Ball Z” collection

When it comes to his massive “Dragon Ball Z” collection, Brandon Rivers knows what some people think. He just doesn’t care.

“I’ve had people make fun of me. I’ve had girls break up with me because of it, even,” Rivers, 38, said at his home in Fair Haven. “But I’m proud of it. For a long time, I had nothing in my life. I’ve been homeless before, addicted to drugs and made some bad decisions.”

He paused as he considered the collection he’s spent the past seven years amassing. By his estimation, it includes well over 1,000 action figures and assorted memorabilia from the popular Japanese anime series “Dragon Ball Z.”

The New Hampshire native served two tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq but faced struggles as he adapted to civilian life afterward, including a 2015 arrest on drug charges. Then the U.S. Depart ment of Veterans Affairs helped him get back on his feet and find an apartment.

“After the VA helped me get my life back together and I got my first place, I started collecting the figures,” Rivers said. “Having them, it was something to show of mine, something I worked on instead of putting my money into booze or drugs. I worked so hard for this, and no one can take that away from me. So I’m just really proud of it.”

He started without knowing much about the collecting world, going purely off his passion for the anime that he grew up watching on Cartoon Network’s “Toonami,” which first aired “Dragon Ball” in the U.S. Rivers particularly identified with the show’s main character, Goku, a purehearted martial artist who embodies traits such as strength and a tenacious work ethic.

“I mean, who wouldn’t want to be superstrong and shoot beams out of their hands?” Rivers asked with a laugh. “But a lot of it was nostalgia for me. I still remember getting a coloring book from Japan when I was 8 with Goku in it and just being so blown away by the look of that world.”

After dipping his toes in the collector market, Rivers plunged in, becoming well known among “Dragon Ball” collectors. He gobbled up figures, from more common ones — which he will often remove from their boxes and display around his house — to the rare, desperately sought-after

figures, which he keeps in their original boxes, hanging on his walls.

One such figure, a variant of a character called an Oozarus, is so rare, only 20 or so were ever made. Rivers said he has been offered $5,000 for it, but he rarely sells his most prized pieces, barring special circumstances.

“There’s a lot of money to be made, and plenty of people collect just to sell,” he said. When Rivers moved from Keene, N.H., to Vermont last year, he ended up selling a few rare figures to help cover the down payment on a new house. “I doubt I’ll ever get the chance to get those figures again,

but, I mean … they got me a house for me and my family.”

There’s no endgame for Rivers or grand plan for what happens to his collection in the future. He just knows he plans to continue collecting — provided he can find the space. An entire room of his house is now dedicated to the collection, and it’s starting to spill out into other rooms, as well.

“My wife and I joke that if the house ever caught fire, it would be her, the cats, then the action figures,” Rivers said with a smile. “It’s funny, but it’s true. They just really mean a lot to me.”

MY WIFE AND I JOKE THAT IF THE HOUSE EVER CAUGHT FIRE, IT WOULD BE HER, THE CATS, THEN THE ACTION FIGURES.

BRANDON RIVERS

CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Brandon Rivers

“Dragon Ball Z” figurines

Brandon Rivers’ “Dragon Ball Z” collection

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

Want to send a check?

Make it out to Report for America and put “for Seven Days” in the notes. Mail it to: Report for America Seven Days Campaign c/o e GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837 Beaverton, OR 97008-7105

$20k goal

$15k $10k $5k

$11,420 raised so far

If you send a check, please let us know it’s coming. Contact Gillian at 802-865-1020, ext. 115, or gillian@sevendaysvt.com. All contributions to Report for America are tax-deductible. Contributions do not influence editorial decisions.

“Rachel Hellman’s stories are consistently fascinating and well written. She, and the topics she covers, are a fantastic addition to Seven Days!”

— NOAH HARRISON, MONTPELIER (CAMPAIGN DONOR)

Firmly Planted

Despacito Bar and Kitchen combines vegan eats and local beats in Burlington’s ONE

At first glance, the menu at Burlington’s Despacito Bar and Kitchen is full of ideal bar snacks: chips and artichoke dip, Bu alo bites, pizza-inspired Empanazas and cheesy smash-burger sliders. The gooey, fried goodness of the fare makes sense, given the Old North End restaurant’s second function as a small, all-ages music venue.

Less obvious — on the printed menu, at least — is that all of those dips, sauces, cheeses and meats are vegan. Customers who show up for an event and don’t notice the sign on the window might not realize

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

that the housemade ranch dressing, mozzarella and smash burgers are made from plants. But even the most dedicated omnivores are unlikely to feel anything’s missing.

Owner David Quintana opened Despacito in the former home of Knead Bakery in December with co-chef Je Hodgdon. Followers of Quintana’s Dos Feos food truck, which he’s rolled around town since 2019, will recognize his signature “vegan junk food.”

Beyond the Buffalo cauliflower and Impossible Burger sliders, Quintana and Hodgdon o er farm-sourced vegan fare and plant-based takes on empanadas,

sorullitos, picadillo and flan to celebrate Quintana’s Puerto Rican heritage.

“Sometimes people come in for a show and don’t realize it’s vegan,” Quintana said, taking a break from assembling tables for the venue space, which opened in February. “They get an item — like, ‘Well, I’ll try it.’”

“It’s just good-tasting snack food,” Hodgdon added. “And it’s a ordable, so people go for it.”

When I stopped in for dinner on a recent Wednesday evening, a handful of other patrons were spread around the 35-seat dining room. Some worked at their computers while sipping on a cocktail or snacking

on fries. That casual café vibe is something Quintana and Hodgdon hope to foster when they can eventually hire enough sta to open during the day for co ee and breakfast. They’re even planning to let customers use the restaurant’s printer.

Right now, it’s a tight team. Hodgdon and Quintana work the line, with a small sta out front running counter service, making drinks, busing tables, and filling takeout and delivery app orders. Soon, Quintana will also be back on the road with the Dos Feos food truck, which has

An array of dishes at Despacito Bar and Kitchen, including Buffalo cauliflower

Eden Ciders and Shelburne Vineyard Merge

Last Friday, two big players in the Vermont beverage scene merged into one company. Northeast Kingdom-based EDEN CIDERS and SHELBURNE VINEYARD will retain their distinct brands while operating under shared leadership, with Eden founder ELEANOR LÉGER as CEO.

KEN and GAIL ALBERT planted some of the first commercial wine grapes in Vermont when they started Shelburne Vineyard in 1998. Now a multi-vineyard operation headquartered on Route 7, the business acquired New Haven’s LINCOLN PEAK VINEYARD in 2021.

For the first six years after Léger and her husband, ALBERT, launched Eden in 2008, Shelburne Vineyard was the only place to taste the brand’s ice cider “unless you came all the way to our kitchen in West Charleston,” Léger told Seven Days

As ready-to-drink canned cocktails have pushed the cider industry toward mass-market, sugary drinks over the past two years, Léger has worked to distinguish her harvest-based beverages, aligned more closely to wine.

“That goal was bubbling in my head when I was delivering some ice cider to Shelburne Vineyard and learned that Ken and Gail were looking for a way to retire,” Léger said. “I thought, Huh. I wonder if we can help with that.”

The Alberts will “ease into retirement” while retaining a portion of ownership in the combined company and acting as brand ambassadors, according to a press release.

No staff will be laid off as part of the merger, Léger said. The combined company’s full range of products — including Shelburne Vineyard grower

ETHAN JOSEPH’s IAPETUS wines — will be sold in its various tasting rooms in Shelburne, New Haven and Newport, as well as online and through out-of-state distributors.

Jordan

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and Eden Ciders products 4t-dailyplanet012523 1 1/20/23 11:27 AM

an erratic schedule. (“You can try to find me,” he said with a laugh.)

Hodgdon’s own seitan and food cart operation, the New Deal, is on hiatus while he’s “all in” at Despacito, he said. Both chefs enjoy the ease of cooking at a restaurant, as opposed to the prep-and-schlep of mobile biz life.

I ordered a smattering of small and large plates in an effort to sample the junk food, the fancier vegetable dishes and the Puerto Rican staples. The Buffalo cauliflower ($8) fit the first category while still feeling lighter and crispier than any chicken wing I’ve had in town. The Empanaza ($5), a pizza-inspired Puerto Rican take on a Hot Pocket, oozed with plant-based mozzarella when I sliced it in half. I used carrot sticks served alongside the cauliflower to swipe up the remnants of the rich, tomatoey sauce underneath.

Despacito’s elegant beet tartare ($12) is made with Pitchfork Farm beets, Dijon, capers, cornichons and shallots and served with crunchy, golden housemade potato chips. It reminded me of veggie-packed dishes from Hodgdon’s New Deal pop-ups. The dish was topped with fresh microgreens, which I had watched Hodgdon cut from trays thriving under a grow light beside the restaurant’s counter.

I sipped on a tall glass of Julian Hackney’s Young at Heart Ginger Beer between dishes; Hackney makes a special honey-free version for Despacito, Hodgdon said. The restaurant also offers local beer, vegan wine and specialty cocktails; mocktails are coming soon.

Right now, none of Despacito’s plantbased ingredients includes nuts (though candied walnuts, kept separate from other foods in the kitchen, top a winter salad). The restaurant also has a dedicated gluten-free fryer, and when I visited, 10 of the menu’s 16 dishes were available gluten-free. Soy allergies are trickier to accommodate with the current menu, Quintana said.

The chefs put vegan versions of traditionally meat- and cheese-filled dishes on their rotating menu “where it makes sense,” Quintana said.

“I think it’s funny when people do vegan and have a bunch of meat substitutes,” Hodgdon added.

The Impossible Burger appears in both the classic sliders ($11 for two) and the picadillo ($12), a Puerto Rican-style chili with olives and peppers. The sliders could have fooled me, with a classic special sauce and punchy pickles topping the tiny smashed burgers on housemade buns. The flavorpacked picadillo, served over rice, was rich in spice and extremely filling. I tried to save room for coconut flan ($6) but couldn’t do it.

No Despacito dish exceeds $15, and most

cost less than $10. That’s by design, Hodgdon said, even though specialty plant-based ingredients are expensive compared with their non-vegan counterparts.

Despacito is a neighborhood spot, and Quintana said he doesn’t want to price anybody out. Family investment helped him get the doors open, but startup costs were high. Earlier this spring, the team launched a crowdfunding effort to support the restaurant through its first few months. Other folks have volunteered their time.

“There’s a lot of people helping and making it so we don’t close down,” Quintana said. “I can steer the ship, but I still need fuel.”

Artist JC Wayne donated time to paint a mural in the dining room, weaving landscape scenery behind an existing floor-to-ceiling Puerto Rican flag. Quintana’s partner, Hallie Wolkin, often helps out behind the counter, making drinks with the couple’s infant son, Atlas, strapped to her.

The 40-person music venue, a space that Knead used for seating and dry goods storage, has been a bootstrap effort, too. Much of the eclectic assortment of furniture came from Junktiques Collective down the block; owner Phinn Sonin recently hosted one of Despacito’s weekly Monday-night open mics, which drew 15 artists in various styles. Burlington musician Matt Hagen, a friend and investor, helps whenever he can. Kevin Bloom of the Dead Shakers donated musical equipment and even set up the Linktree for Despacito’s social media.

For Bloom, being vegan and a musician can be at odds, given the nature of most venues.

“Oftentimes, they’re not really welcoming or accommodating to things I value,” Bloom said. “Having something like this in my neighborhood is like a dream.”

This week, Effectron Presents will host local artists Ivamae, Noah Kesey Magic Band and Wren Kitz with Massachusetts musician Karlo Rueby and live visuals from Eyelingual on Friday, April 21.

On nights with no scheduled show, Despacito lets parties use the venue space for free — as long as they buy food and drink. Community groups can use it at no cost, too, if they’re not making money from the event.

As spring progresses, Despacito is “definitely blooming,” Hodgdon said. The restaurant’s customer base is growing, thanks in part to the addition of the venue space.

“Having this here is going to help out other people,” he continued. “We don’t want to change the neighborhood.”

“We live here,” Quintana said. “We’re just the homies.” ➆

INFO

Despacito Bar and Kitchen, 294 N. Winooski Ave., Suite 112C, Burlington, 540-0493, despacitovt.com

HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS LIKE A DREAM.

KEVIN BLOOM

Clockwise from lower left: Empanaza, Buffalo cauliflower, classic sliders, beet tartare and picadillo

David Quintana (left) and Jeff Hogdgon

AGRICULTURE

Art and Soil

A new exhibit portrays farmers’ role in combating climate change

BY RACHEL MULLIS

A girl kneels in the dirt, holding a magnifying glass to a plant. She can’t see what lies below the surface, but viewers can: a vibrantly colored landscape of subterranean insects, microbes, fungi and carbon molecules.

This illustration, by Cecily Anderson of Tunbridge, represents the agricultural education taking place at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center in East Thetford — and reveals the unseen relationship between soil health and its ability to draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The artwork is an apt introduction to the Climate Farmer Stories Project, a three-year effort funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and organized by Vital Communities, based in White River Junction.

The project launched a multimedia exhibit earlier this month featuring 13 portraits of Upper Valley farmers who are combating climate change in various ways, from farming methods to energy management. The portraits, created by regional artists, are paired with quotes from farmers, audio interviews and a companion website to foster support for climate-friendly farms.

Currently on view through the end of April at the BALE Commons in South Royalton and the Statehouse cafeteria in Montpelier, the exhibit will make its way to community spaces, libraries and even the King Arthur Baking headquarters in Norwich by the end of the year.

“Many farms would consider themselves stewards of the land,” said Nancy LaRowe, director of food, farm and economy for Vital Communities. “And they’re not well versed in how to tell that story. There’s so much that farms provide to the community that often doesn’t get compensated.”

The exhibit’s goal is to give climatefocused farmers in the Upper Valley more resources to share their carbon-mitigation strategies and stories. The artwork raises awareness of the role of these farms, which also receive assistance from the project to promote their practices to consumers and the community.

Other farms featured in the exhibit include Green Mountain Girls Farm in Northfield, Silloway Maple in Randolph Center and Sweetland Farm in Norwich. To Norah Lake of Sweetland, a diversified

meat and veggie operation, being a climate farmer means “always trying to do better as we sit down to make the ... thousands of micro-decisions that happen on a farm every day and every season,” she said.

For example, Lake diversifies Sweetland’s crops and uses cover crops to generate healthy soil, as well as sources nutrients and compost as locally as possible. In 2018, she pledged to cut carbon emissions by 90 percent over 10 years. The farm has since insulated buildings and installed solar panels. It’s in the process of switching to electric vehicles and tractors.

“Farming in a sustainable manner is really expensive,” Lake said. “We need our community to recognize the value of farming with a focus on the climate and support us by buying our products.”

For its next phase, the project will add a dozen more farmers and portraits. The hope is to bring all 25 artworks together in a larger exhibit in the future.

Anderson, a graphic designer and illustrator, proposed the concept. One of seven artists in the exhibit — others include South Burlington painter Misoo Bang and Rutland muralist LMNOPI — she serves as the project’s creative director.

“Our food choices impact the climate, and there are people in our communities who are doing this kind of amazing, handson direct action to help solve the problem,” Anderson said. “The food you buy can not only sequester carbon but also support biodiversity and build resilience in the face of climate chaos.”

Learn more at vitalcommunities.org/ farms-climate-stories.

Clockwise from left: Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center in East Thetford by Cecily Anderson; Luna Bleu Farm in South Royalton by Katie Runde; Green Mountain Girls Farm in Northfield by LMNOPI

Coming in Haute

Three questions for Bobby Berg of Haute & Heady Cannabis Cuisine

BY JORDAN BARRY • jbarry@sevendaysvt.com

When Bobby Berg spoke to Seven Days in 2019, we didn’t use his full name. “Chef Bobby,” the mysterious cook behind Haute & Heady Cannabis Cuisine, was catering multicourse “stoney suppers” and selling holiday pies with 1,200 milligrams of THC by word of mouth — activities then prohibited under Vermont law.

But in January 2023, Formulation Station, the Colchester-based cannabis product manufacturing and packaging biz that Berg cofounded with Kyle Rapoza and Tim Ruarks, received its manufacturing license. It was time for Berg, 33, to step out of the shadows.

“Vermont has done a really good job of enabling a lot of traditional market actors,” Berg said, referring to the cannabis market that existed before legalization. “I think it’s important to be forthcoming about the fact that we took risks for this plant and this industry.”

Haute & Heady’s THC-infused chocolate Bliss Bars, Blazin’ BBQ Sauce, Heady Honey and Stoney Syrup hit select Vermont dispensaries in early March; 20-plus retailers will restock them in time for 4/20.

Haute & Heady is developing three product lines: Heady at Home pantry goods; Haute Chocolate bars and confections; and Not Your Typical Edibles, a nostalgia-fueled line of treats, such as Dunkaroo-inspired Dipperz and frozen Potsicles made from local fruit.

Berg took a break from making soup for Passover to chat about letting the world know he’s “the weed pie guy,” his approach to sourcing, and his dream line of Haute & Heady products.

SEVEN DAYS: You’re out in the open now. How does it feel?

BOBBY BERG: It was a trip to walk into a bank with a manila envelope full of cash — from weed — and not feel sketchy about handing it to the clerk.

I get a kick out of actually being able to tell people what I do. Unfortunately, I lost my father at the beginning of the year. At the shiva, everyone would come up to me like, “I haven’t seen you since you were a kid. What are you doing now?” I’d just bluntly answer, “I make weed food.” [Laughing]

SD: How do you decide whom to work with when you’re sourcing ingredients and choosing retailers?

BB: I want to empower small businesses owned by local Vermonters. Bern Gallery, Winooski Organics — those are longtime friends who will go out of their way to support craft producers. I can list others for days, but we won’t work with any store that has an outlet in another state.

We draw on preexisting relationships, then vet them ethically and sustainably to any degree we can. Backwoods Alchemy [the maple farm in Enosburg Falls that supplies the syrup for Stoney Syrup] runs their operation in a way that doesn’t impact local bird populations. The sap lines can impact nesting and flight patterns. I had no idea.

On the cannabis side, it’s trickier. We try to source biomass [stems, stalks and leaves of the cannabis plant] from farmers we know and adore, but there’s a lack of processing right now for cannabis concentrate. Most of the people involved with that are somewhat morally dubious.

SD: What are your dream products?

BB: Haute & Heady’s roots are in fresh baked goods. We used to do pie sales for holidays or Pi Day — 1,200 milligrams per pie. Granted, that’s a pretty hefty margin. I’d be fine not being able to reach that one anytime soon.

But unless we pre-cut it, we can’t package that. And who wants a brownie cut into 10 little tiny pieces?

Most of my dreams can’t become a reality until there’s reform in packaging and dosing regulation. So, yeah, contact your legislators. ➆

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Haute & Heady S’mores Bliss Bar with locally made marshmallows from Nomadic Kitchen

Haute & Heady owner Bobby Berg

PHOTOS: LUKE AWTRY

SIDEdishes

Charlotte’s Earthkeep Farmcommon Offered for Sale

The future of a high-profile, 583-acre former dairy farm in Charlotte is again at a crossroads, several months after the unexpected death of its latest steward and owner, WILL RAAP, founder of GARDENER’S SUPPLY and the INTERVALE CENTER EARTHKEEP FARMCOMMON, previously known as Nordic Farm, is being offered for sale by LandVest Real Estate, which was hired by Raap’s widow, Lynette Raap, and the couple’s three grown children.

When Raap died on December 12, his family attributed his death to a “longterm illness.”

In a statement emailed to Seven Days, Lynette Raap wrote, “While our family does not have the ability to carry forward Will’s vision for Earthkeep, we are nonetheless hopeful that a buyer will emerge who values the amazing potential that this iconic farm holds for catalyzing the future of Vermont’s working landscape.”

Rather than listing the conserved farm for a specific price, the offering

memorandum outlines the property assets, development restrictions and financial information and solicits proposals from qualified buyers, LandVest broker Averill Cook explained.

Raap bought the farm bordering Route 7 in December 2021 for $3.4 million from a small group of investors led by Jay Canning, founder of Westport Hospitality, which owns Hotel Vermont.

In a May 2022 cover story for Seven Days, Raap, then 73, detailed his goals for Earthkeep Farmcommon, which boiled down to demonstrating “a new way to be a farm.” He hoped to build a collective of profitable and environmentally sustainable local food, beverage and agriculture businesses that would serve as a model for other defunct dairy farms across Vermont.

Showings started on Monday, with bids due by May 23 at 1 p.m.

Read the full story online at sevendaysvt.com.

Melissa Pasanen

Mas Comida Elote Cart Hits Burlington This Summer

SILVIA GREENO launched her food business, MAS COMIDA, with a taco pop-up at Burlington’s TINY COMMUNITY KITCHEN in February. Starting in mid-May, she’ll truck a new food cart around town, serving Mexican street corn, aguas frescas, and Latin American ice cream and popsicles.

Greeno, 21, will have a high-profile spot outside LEUNIG’S BISTRO & CAFÉ on the Church Street Marketplace and will vend regularly at Leddy Park Beach Bites, the Burlington Farmers Market and Summervale.

“I grew up in a Hispanic household, so my cravings were always very different from what I could get at a restaurant around here,” said Greeno, who was raised in Burlington and Winooski and is of Panamanian descent. “I want to shine some light on the flavors the Hispanic community has, because I’m in it.”

Crumbs: Waterbury’s Hen of the Wood Closed Temporarily; Myer’s Wood Fired Opens in South Burlington; Inn at Shelburne Farms Restaurant Reopens

On April 7, the same night HEN OF THE WOOD officially opened in its new Waterbury location at 14 South Main Street, a fire-suppression sprinkler system malfunctioned in the business offices above the restaurant and caused “excessive water damage,” according to an email from restaurant management. Reached by text, the restaurant’s owner, ERIC WARNSTEDT, wrote that a reopening date has not yet been set: “We are out for the foreseeable future.”

MYER’S BAGELS opened its new retail location, MYER’S WOOD FIRED, at 408 Shelburne Road in South Burlington last Friday, after a delay of several months due to construction. Business partners ADAM JONES and CHRIS CONN will

continue to produce their wood fire-baked, Montréalstyle bagels at the original bakery on Burlington’s Pine Street, where they hope to offer bulk bagel pickup in the future.

The new spot, which has indoor and outdoor seating, will eventually expand to evening hours and serve woodgrilled pizza and alcoholic beverages.

After a three-year hiatus from public dining, the restaurant at the historic INN AT SHELBURNE FARMS will fully reopen on May 12 for the season. Last year, it served only inn guests, owing to staffing constraints. Executive chef JOHN PATTERSON will focus his evening menu of small and

Mas Comida will offer traditional elote — grilled ears of corn smothered in mayonnaise, cheese, spices, hot sauce and lime — as well as “Americanized” versions topped with Takis or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Greeno said. Agua fresca flavors such as horchata and strawberry will rotate frequently.

“I’m a young mom, and I want to create a nice lifestyle for my daughter to grow up with,” Greeno said. “The first step is to have a food cart.”

Eventually, she hopes to open a brickand-mortar restaurant serving sopes, pupusas and other dishes rarely found in Vermont.

J.B.

medium plates on fruits, vegetables, beef, lamb, cheddar and maple syrup produced on the property. Reservations for daily breakfast and dinner can now be made up to 30 days in advance of desired dates.

Will Raap at Nordic Farm in 2021

An assortment of Mas Comida elote

Silvia Greeno of Mas Comida

Inn at Shelburne Farms executive chef John Patterson in 2019

FILE: GLENN RUSSELL

Illustrating Inspiration

BY SALLY POLLAK • sally@sevendaysvt.com

Ed Koren, a New Yorker cartoonist and longtime Brookfield resident, died last Friday morning at his home, according to his wife, Curtis Koren. He was 87; the cause of death was lung cancer.

Koren’s artwork is warm, approachable and instantly recognizable. He’s known for his drawings of people (and other creatures) who have lots of hair and long noses, and for his gags that display a nuanced understanding of human nature. Koren observed trends and poked good-natured fun at them.

In one memorable cartoon, he joked about farm-to-table dining. A couple are eating in a restaurant, their table surrounded by a group of farmers, growers and a cow. “We think it’s terribly important that you meet the people responsible for the food you’re eating tonight,” the server says.

“Everybody knew Ed’s style, and he loved to draw,” said Harry Bliss, a fellow New Yorker cartoonist and close friend of Koren’s. “He loved to draw. It was his breath. He breathed in the world through his drawing.”

Koren, who served as Vermont’s second cartoonist laureate, was a prolific artist who drew more than 1,100 cartoons for the New Yorker and published cartoon collections and illustrated books. He published his 20th book, Koren. In the Wild, in 2018.

A native New Yorker, Koren bought his house in Brookfield village in 1978 and divided his time between New York City and Vermont before he and Curtis settled in Brookfield in 1988. He served on the town’s volunteer fire department for 35 years.

“He joined the [Brookfield] fire department, and we were here,” Curtis told

LIVES

Seven Days by phone. “We didn’t have any pretense about going to New York.”

The Korens were drawn to the “classic things” about Vermont, Curtis said, including its sense of community.

“We live in a little village,” she said. “We know all our neighbors. Everybody helps each other out. We love to go biking and cross-country skiing — all those things that make Vermont heavenly.”

Last July, the Brookfi eld community came together to support Koren in his illness. Neighbors, friends and members of the fi re squad gathered outside his house to celebrate the cartoonist. They carried signs that expressed their a ection for him and wore Koren-illustrated T-shirts.

“That tribute characterizes Vermont,” Curtis said. “It was one of

HE BREATHED IN THE WORLD THROUGH HIS DRAWING.

HARRY BLISS

the most moving things. It’s been kind of a big social year.”

Koren, the only child of a dentist and a schoolteacher, started drawing cartoons in high school. He studied liberal arts (not studio art) at Columbia College, where he was editor of the Jester, the college’s humor magazine.

“He advises young people who come to him who want to be artists to get a really good grounding in everything,” Curtis said.

He drew his first cartoon for the New Yorker in 1962 and continued to publish in the magazine until the week of his death: a drawing of his signature furry folk appears in the April 17 issue. It shows Moses standing before a crowd of people, holding aloft the Ten Commandments. Koren’s caption reads: “Time for an update!”

“He’s not like one of his big furry creatures,” Bliss said. “Ed’s just so kind and warm and you just want to cuddle the guy.”

Emphasizing how prolific Koren was, Bliss called him “the consummate cartoonist.”

“Ed really spent the time to articulate and delineate objects and things in his drawings,” he said. “He knew when to pull back and when to move into these things.”

Bliss recalled meeting Koren for the first time more than 25 years ago at a New Yorker Christmas party at Balthazar, an event thrown by then-editor Tina Brown. It was the entry into a new scene for Bliss, whose first New Yorker cover was the magazine’s 1998 New Year’s issue.

“My editor introduced me to Ed at this swanky party,” Bliss said. “Here’s this down-to-earth, nicest, sweetest guy, and all of my nerves just dissipated, man. Ed put me at ease and that never changed. He made me a better person.”

April 11 was a beautiful day, and the Korens decided to go for an excursion, to do something special. They drove to the “big city” and met a friend for lunch at Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier. Koren loved the Main Street bar and designed its T-shirts and glassware. (Three Penny is one of numerous businesses and nonprofits in Vermont for which Koren made drawings.)

His appetite had been minimal, Curtis said, but that changed at Three Penny when Koren ate a New Yorker’s meal in the central Vermont barroom: a hot dog topped with a sauce full of onions and tater tots on the side.

“He loved that hot dog,” Curtis said. Koren is survived by his wife, Curtis; children Nathaniel, Sasha and Ben; and two grandchildren. ➆

Vermont cartoonist Ed Koren dies at 87

Ed Koren

COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR CARTOON STUDIES

Plot Twist

Rick Ames brings his one-man show about cemeteries to Burlington

BY MARY ANN LICKTEIG

When COVID-19 lockdowns went into effect, sending introverts into the ecstasy of mandated isolation, extrovert Rick Ames found himself adrift.

A Burlington writer and performer who once played 80 roles in four years, Ames was in the throes of rehearsals to portray Agatha Trunchbull in Lyric Theatre’s Matilda. Opening night was just three weeks away when the mammoth production screeched to a halt, scattering cast, crew and musicians like dandelion fluff on the wind.

Ames found himself in a cemetery. He had probably walked by St. Joseph Cemetery on Archibald Street hundreds of times on the way to and from his job at the hospital, but when the pandemic hit, he started going in. Then he walked through Mount Calvary Cemetery across the street. He continued on to the Mount Calvary annex, just across Pomeroy

Street, then to other cemeteries in Burlington and well beyond.

“People said, ‘Why are you going to cemeteries?’ And I said, “Because there’s no known cases of COVID there and everybody’s at least six feet away from you,’” Ames said.

He took pictures of whatever caught his eye — names, stonework, wildlife — and posted them on Facebook under the titles “Searching for the Words,” “Still Searching,” “Plot Devices” and “More Plot Devices.”

His tour continued for a year and a half — “It was becoming a bit of an addiction,” he said — encompassing more than 200 cemeteries in four states and producing an estimated 10,000 photos.

Ames, who performs as G. Richard Ames, turned them into his fourth oneman show of original material. Remains

to Be Seen: The Deadventures of Cemetery Gary debuted at QuarryWorks Theater in Adamant last fall and runs Thursday through Sunday, April 20 through 23, at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts in Burlington. Part slideshow lecture, the performance also includes singing and audience participation.

Despite a coffin onstage and some somber moments, it’s not necessarily a spooky show, Ames said: “There’s a lot of humor in it, as well.” He wants audience members to laugh, cry, think “and feel better, I hope, when they leave.”

His old Facebook posts offer a sneak preview. One cemetery photo shows a stone bench with legs carved to look like two of Snow White’s seven dwarfs. “Dopey and Grumpy,” Ames wrote, “which, coincidentally, were the nicknames of the couple buried here.” A November 2020 photo

shows a gravestone that features a large picture of the deceased, mustachioed and shirtless. “Last week I saw my first recent cleavage picture at a cemetery,” Ames commented, adding, “this is the first beefcake shot I’ve seen.”

A large stone in Randolph was engraved, front and back, with the accomplishments of the man below, while, in Fletcher, fresh flowers adorned the grave of a little girl who had died more than 100 years ago. A pocket watch dangled from yet another stone. “It’s obvious it’s been there for years,” Ames said. “But nobody takes it.”

Ames plotted itineraries. Before visiting an area, he searched for cemeteries online, then looked for them on Google Maps. Not all are marked, he said, but if, in satellite view, you see a green patch with “what looks like little rows of teeth, it’s a cemetery.”

His friend Sonja Heins accompanied him on lots of trips. “At times, we would spend, like, seven or eight hours — maybe 10 — just bouncing from cemetery to cemetery in one day,” she said. When Ames wanted more information, he consulted websites such as findagrave.com.

He didn’t seek out the graves of famous people, though he did find Dom DeLuise’s at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, where he paused to thank the actor-comedian for the laughs. Calvary has 3 million graves, the most of any cemetery in the U.S.

Ames deliberately did not visit New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, because that’s where his parents plan to be buried. “I’m going to go there enough later on,” he said, tearing up. His father deeded Ames the family plot at Union Cemetery in nearby Laconia. “That’s the only piece of land I’ve ever owned,” he said. But this self-described “hypermental” guy doesn’t sound like he’s made a firm decision on whether he wants to be interred there.

What would he put on his own gravestone?

Maybe the quote he saw on someone else’s: “The world is my country, and to do good, my religion.”

Anyone in search of an epitaph can see several on the big screen this weekend, Ames said, adding, “If you love hard rock, you’ll love this show.” ➆

INFO

Remains to Be Seen: The Deadventures of Cemetery Gary, Thursday through Saturday, April 20 through 22, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23, 2 p.m., at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, 1127 North Ave., in Burlington. $12-15; $1 off with nonperishable food donation. offcentervt.com

WE WOULD SPEND, LIKE, SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS — MAYBE 10 — JUST BOUNCING FROM CEMETERY TO CEMETERY. SONJA HEINS

THEATER

RIck Ames at St. Joseph Cemetery in Burlington

DARIA BISHOP

In Harmony

Social Band celebrate a quarter century of a cappella camaraderie

BY AMY LILLY • lilly@sevendaysvt.com

Social Band are a group of singers who usually sing a cappella — that is, with no band in sight. If you’re having a hard time wrapping your brain around their name, artistic director Amity Baker advises thinking about it as “a ‘band’ meaning a group of people: a band of singers, a band of criminals.”

The quip is in keeping with the boisterous spirit of Social Band’s concerts, as this reporter discovered on Saturday at the group’s opening 25th anniversary concert, “Where Does the Music Come From?”

(Social Band will reprise the program on Saturday, April 22, at the College Street Congregational Church in Burlington and Sunday, April 23, at the Charlotte Congregational Church.)

The scene was the second floor of the Richmond Free Library, a small room that barely contained the full-throated harmonies of 21 singers plus Baker, who sang soprano whether she was facing her group or the audience. Most sang with their black music folders at their sides, beaming with pure enjoyment.

Their energy was more than matched by the audience — or, rather, the fan base — which hooted after every song and tapped its feet to the catchier tunes. The guy beside me uttered a “Wow” at the end of most of the songs.

Social Band performances can include everything from medieval and Renaissance songs to pieces written in shape note — a simplified musical notation taken up in New England in the early 1800s that uses special shapes for each note in place of key signatures. (At an early rehearsal, the group took its name

from a shape-note song titled “Social Band.”)

For its anniversary, however, the group wanted to honor four of its own singers who have composed a large part of its repertoire since 1998: Don Jamison, who cofounded Social Band with alto Liz Thompson; Bruce Chalmer, a bass like Jamison; tenor Michael Kellogg, who composes under the name Clyde Powers; and Pete Sutherland, who was considered the leader of American folk singing in Vermont and died on November 30, 2022. Jamison, Chalmer and Kellogg still sing with Social Band.

Typically, half of every concert program consists of new works by Vermonters,

Baker noted during a phone interview. The anniversary program features only songs by “the fertile four,” as the artistic director dubbed them.

“Between them, they’re responsible for 75 of the 100 pieces written by Social Band singers” for the group, she said. The program title comes from the refrain of the final work, “Fiddler’s Hymn,” a 1985 song by Sutherland.

Sutherland and Kellogg, aka Powers, collaborated on one of the concert’s funnier songs, called “Watching That Plant Die,” for which the singers passionately conveyed the guilt and shame of failing one’s potted plant. A more nostalgic song by Kellogg, called “None of Us,” captured

MUSIC

the memory of picking up one’s children from the bus stop.

Jamison wrote a major work for the Burlington Choral Society, performed in 2021, called There Is a Day, which set to music seven poems by farmer, writer and activist Wendell Berry. For the Social Band program, he wrote a new work, “Here Together,” based on another Berry poem. Chalmer’s “Clown in the Moon” sets to music the eponymous Dylan Thomas poem. The composer read the verses to the audience ahead of the group’s performance — a practice repeated throughout the concert.

“We love a good poem,” Baker explained by phone. “We pay a lot of attention to the words of songs. We’re a group of people who will sit around and say, ‘Well, what does this poem mean, exactly?’”

She added that, as artistic director, she has some influence over what gets sung, “but it’s a group of very engaged people. We’re very collaborative.”

Social Band’s singers come mainly from Chittenden County, with a few outliers from Rutland, Bakersfield and Underhill. Their ranks include musicians as well as composers. Alto Elisabeth LeBlanc plays clarinet professionally. New member Patricia Julien, also an alto, is a flutist and music professor at the University of Vermont.

For the most part, however, the singers are ordinary community members: schoolteachers, psychologists, auditors (like Baker). Their performances are utterly without pretense — a pie is ra ed off at each concert — and, well, rather social. The group’s energy comes partly from the fact that it sings only songs that are specifically written for communal singing — no arrangements here — and brings back favorites often.

“One thing that makes us a little more band-ish than other choruses is that we like to reuse our repertoire,” Baker said. “We’re not creating a whole new program every time. There’s a certain amount of stewardship. We sing songs for years.” At the concert, Baker invited the audience to sing along to the final song if they knew it.

After the performance had ended and the enthusiastic applause and whoops had finally died down, my neighbor to the other side neatly summed up Social Band’s appeal. “It feels like homegrown music,” she said. ➆

INFO

“Where Does the Music Come From?,”

Social Band’s 25th anniversary concert, Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., at College Street Congregational Church in Burlington; and Sunday, April 23, 3 p.m., at Charlotte Congregational Church. $18 suggested donation. socialband.org

Social Band singers rehearsing for a concert in Richmond

Social Band members on the balcony of the Round Church in Richmond

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHEN MEASE PHOTOGRAPHY

Word on the Street

Theater review: Pass Over, Lost Nation Theater

BY ALEX BROWN • alex@sevendaysvt.com

THEATER

progress is impossible. But repetition also makes the ability to continue a supreme act of defiance.

Pass Over is a window on the numbingly mundane, but Nwandu strips away every distraction to stir the viewer’s attention to pain, hope, fear, hate and joy. Then she balances the abstraction with comic hyperbole, showing fear with minstrel-show exaggeration and deep truth with bizarre fantasy.

Above all, the play is pure speech flowing like a river. The language rings like verse, and it rests on words that could bother some people, so steer clear if profanity disturbs you or if Black people using the N-word offend. Here, those words are used to demonstrate the essence of communication. Moses and Kitch rarely explain anything to each other. They use “fuck” as an all-purpose expression to intensify a thought, without needing to say more. They repeat. And they speak in beats, letting silence carry meaning.

Director Taneisha Duggan lets the script’s intoxicating rhythms guide the production. She uses the vivid clarity of dance in Kitch’s restlessness and Moses’ quiet assembly of his thoughts. A good director’s hand is invisible, but we see the result in the commitment and harmony of these performances.

Burditt plays the many edges of Moses, a character with a leader’s certainty and a Black man’s hard-earned terror. In one slow, stunning moment, Burditt compresses Moses’ huge dreams into a tight clench of his baseball cap.

As Kitch, DIJI jumps and stretches with unquenchable energy. He’s a kinetic force, roughhousing with Moses and grabbing hold like a little brother who doesn’t want to be left behind.

Grant gives Ossifer a commanding presence and Mister a ghastly false gentility. His characters are coherent enough to threaten Moses and Kitch yet fantastical as well, a cunning balance.

Two young Black men on a street corner. Just standing, not doing shit, but because they’re standing on a city street in America, they know the words white people use like a spell to label them: stupid. Lazy. Violent. So they summon words of their own. In Pass Over, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s stunning mix of comedy and tragedy, words are music, a chant to hold back fear and invoke courage. To say what it would take to leave this street.

But they might be stuck here because time might not be moving. Or the weight of hope might crush them. They may be stuck on this street, with one hoodie between them and a shallow stone ledge to lean against. Nwandu uses poetic Black English to capture the arc from sorrow to joy, sprinkling in surreal and comic exaggeration. The production by Lost Nation Theater engages a Black director and extraordinary actors to reveal the script’s power.

On this barren sidewalk, Moses (Brandon Burditt) and Kitch (DIJI) begin another day. Kitch rouses his friend, who’s asleep against a windowless building, and Moses’ first words when startled awake are “Kill me now!” To which Kitch replies, “Bang bang,” grinning, springing like a dancer and waving finger guns. It’s an exchange they’ll repeat and embellish. The play is a ritual of words made musical by Black voices.

The performances give the script’s language hypnotic

power. Moses and Kitch understand each other, and the words they toss back and forth are often incomplete thoughts clarified by complete beats. They conjure a dream of the promised land, somewhere beyond this city block. They list what’s waiting for them, including clean socks and collard greens. Also, Moses’ brother, back from the dead.

Moses vows to “git my ass up off dis block.” It’s a dream, and he knows very well it’s what the Old Testament’s Moses offered the enslaved people of Egypt. Maybe the sea will part and Kitch and Moses can walk through. Maybe they’ll share a crust of pizza Kitch has been saving. Maybe no Black man will be killed tonight.

Maybe they’ll survive the white men they meet, Mister and Ossifer (both played by Orlando Grant). Mister, the one in the white suit with a picnic basket claiming to be lost, might mean no harm. He says he’ll share the food he has. But he also says his name is Master, and the time might be 1855 and the place might be a plantation. And the white man with the gun and the nightstick — the one provoking them, frisking them, whacking them — maybe he’ll let them go when he’s done.

Maybe tomorrow will be different. Nwandu intends a parallel with Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett’s play of futility floating above his characters’ indomitable will to go on. In both plays, a cycle repeats that seems to prove

Scenic designer Kim Bent creates an imposing streetscape scrubbed of humanity. The sidewalk has the weight of concrete, and the stone wall is intimidating in its blankness. Though the intimate theater can’t contain an urban wasteland, Bent’s design compensates.

Lighting designer Samuel J. Biondolillo makes overt the play’s many shifts in tone. He keeps the audience’s experience intense by using lighting to follow the action rather than lead it.

The costume design by Cora Fauser gives Moses and Kitch just-right streetwear and presents Mister in a white suit supernaturally perfect enough to make his appearance disconcerting. But Fauser dresses Ossifer in khakis that at best summon up the bumbling Barney Fife. With a too-short tie and a spindly gun belt, Ossifer is no city cop. It’s possible Duggan and Fauser chose to defuse menace with comedy, but it seems a false note.

Pass Over was first performed in 2017 and reached Broadway in 2021. It crackles with immediacy, reflecting the repercussions of murders beginning with Trayvon Martin, extending to George Floyd and still very far from ending. Viewers can find hope, but not the easy kind from characters claiming their dreams. These characters are singing a lament, the music of healing. ➆

INFO

Pass Over, by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, directed by Taneisha Duggan, produced by Lost Nation Theater. Through April 30: Thursdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. $10-30. lostnationtheater.org

NWANDU USES POETIC BLACK ENGLISH TO CAPTURE THE ARC FROM SORROW TO JOY.

Brandon Burditt (left) and DIJI COURTESY OF JOHN SNELL

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Conjuring Art

Artist John Zaso launches Hexum Gallery in Montpelier

BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com

John Zaso fell in love with Vermont the way many people do: by spending summers here. For a decade, he was a private caretaker for an older man, and every year they would trade the latter’s New York City townhouse for his 150-acre property in the Green Mountain State. Zaso said he “felt like a Fresh Air kid.”

In 2016, he and his husband, Richard Davis, bought a Vermont home of their own, in Barre. Even so, they kept their rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan and continued to rely on their “city fix,” as Zaso put it.

When he opened an art gallery in Montpelier earlier this month, though, Zaso, 52, embarked on a whole new relationship with his adopted state.

Hexum Gallery is on the second floor above Capital Kitchen on State Street, just a couple of blocks from the Vermont capitol. Its two small rooms feature crisp white walls and vintage dark-stained wood. “It’s charming — it takes me back to The Maltese Falcon,” Zaso said, referring to the 1941 film. Previously, Macpherson Travel Bureau occupied the space in the dozen years before the business closed, according to owner and building landlord Scott Fitzgerald.

For Hexum’s inaugural exhibition, which Zaso titled “Wild Things,” he hung nearly two dozen lively paintings and drawings from his own collection and further graced the rooms with vases of tulips. At the opening reception, Davis — a stage and voice actor and occasional bartender — served drinks in an adjacent nook.

Zaso is an artist himself, but over the past two decades he has focused more on collecting than creating. At this point, launching a gallery seemed like a logical step. “It’s something that excites me,” he said. “But it’s scary, too.”

Hexum’s opening night was encouraging. Zaso said he was thrilled by the number of people who climbed the stairs to check out the gallery and grateful for their “overwhelmingly positive” responses.

In a phone interview, Zaso shared what

led him to conjure Hexum and his arty aims for the future.

You came to Vermont from New York City, but were you from there originally?

No, I grew up in a small town in upstate New York — Geneva, north of Seneca Lake. I was always fond of the outdoors.

Why open a gallery now?

The gentleman I’d been caring for passed away last summer. I really wanted to take some time to chill out before I did anything else. Being a caregiver is really intense, a lot of hard work. I spent almost 10 years with him and got really close. I needed to decompress, fix up my house, gather my thoughts.

But I’d had this idea of a gallery in my head for years. I didn’t have a strong

educational background, so going into any kind of [art] institution didn’t make sense for me. I had a strong feeling that if I didn’t pursue it, I would probably be filled with regret.

I’ve had a million di erent jobs since age 10, but art has always been what I did. Starting a gallery just made sense. So I started looking around at spaces and fell in love with this one and signed a lease. Then I had to fi gure out how to run a business!

Why the name Hexum? I looked up the word and found it derives from the Norwegian word for “house of the witches.” It’s a useful concept, but is that what you meant by it? No. [Laughing] It’s a long story, but I wanted a name that kind of meant something to me, and I didn’t want to use my own name. So,

I started combing the depths of my life. When I was a teen, I had a crush on this actor named Jon-Erik Hexum—

Ooh, I found him online, too. He had a tragic death on set when he was young.

Yes. But I thought it was a very strong name. And there was more. Richard and I had a nice Norwegian vacation in 2016. After researching the name further and coming across the Norwegian translation “house of the witches,” the name seemed fitting. It takes a certain amount of alchemy to run an art gallery.

How long have you been collecting art?

Probably since the early 2000s, but seriously since 2007, 2008. But I feel like I’ve been collecting since I was a kid.

IT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ALCHEMY TO RUN AN ART GALLERY.

JOHN ZASO PROFILE

PHOTOS: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

How big is your collection now?

If I had to guess, I’d say about 300 works. I began with drawings and silk-screen prints because they were cheaper. I’m constantly playing catch-up when it comes to documenting.

I felt like I spent any spare money on art during the pandemic. As a collector, I felt it was important to keep these artists in business.

I’ve seen the exhibit and your Instagram, but I wonder if you could summarize your general aesthetic in art. It’s always evolving. When I started, I was more interested in work I felt was connected to mine in some way. My work was very flat, bold, solid-color, hard-edged painting. I did a lot of collage, as well. So, anything that seemed meditative and meticulous and perfectionistic. A lot of patterns.

Do you own work by any Vermont artists?

I do. I have a number of works by Jayne Shoup, a Middlesex artist. She’s perfectionistic, as well. I’ve picked up other works along the way, but she’s my main Vermonter.

The exhibition “Wild Things” features work from your personal collection. Am I right in assuming it’s not for sale?

Right.

Typically, a gallery sells artwork so the gallerist can make a living. Do you plan to bring in other exhibits with work for sale?

Oh, yes. This was just kind of a way to introduce the gallery to the community.

Will you seek out local artists for future shows?

NEW THIS WEEK

burlington

ETHAN HACKER: “Instance and Obstruction,” photographs by the Champlain College student, part of his senior capstone project. Reception: Friday, April 21, 5-7 p.m. April 21-May 4. Info, gallery@champlain.edu. Champlain College Art Gallery in Burlington.

stowe/smuggs

LIZ KAUFFMAN: “Affinity,” abstract paintings that explore harmony and tension in color and form. Reception: Tuesday, May 2, 6-7:30 p.m. April 20-May 16. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson.

middlebury area

‘INTRODUCING!’: A group exhibition featuring new Edgewater artists Tracy Burtz, Melanie Considine, Marcia Crumley, Larry Horowitz, Julie Keller and Sasha Dorje Meyerowitz. April 25-May 25. Info, 458-0098. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls in Middlebury.

Yes! I met a number of artists on Friday night. I also plan to hold other events in the gallery.

Like what?

Maybe a drink-and-draw artist night, poetry readings, stuff like that.

What days and hours will Hexum be open?

At the moment, I’m playing it by ear. Since I still do have a life in New York — though I don’t need to go super often — I wasn’t sure I wanted to set specific hours. I’m posting on Instagram, and I’ll put the sandwich board out when I’m there. Otherwise by appointment, probably Thursday through Sunday.

And you’ll participate in Montpelier’s monthly Art Walk?

Yes, it will be nice to sync up with the other galleries downtown. It reminds me of gallery hopping in New York City.

How often will you rotate the work in the gallery?

I’m planning six-week shows, so every two months there will be a new show. I was entertaining the thought of having a closing party, too.

I noted the gallery doesn’t have a website.

No, I just wanted to get the gallery going first. But I have Instagram, and there will be a website up before the June show. ➆

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Hexum Gallery, 16 State St., Montpelier, hexumgallery@gmail.com. On Instagram @hexumgallery. “Wild Things” is on view through May 6.

WINSLOW COLWELL: “#Skylights,” paper constructions, light boxes, kite art and folded lanterns by the Ripton artist. Reception: Friday, April 28, 5-7 p.m. April 21-June 10. Info, 382-9222. Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, in Middlebury.

northeast kingdom

‘IN FOCUS’: A group exhibition of photographs by Rob Boskind, Lawrence Cincotta, Karl Ehrlich, Steve Malshuk, Elinor Osborne and Ralph Zimmerman. April 22-June 17. Info, 334-1966. MAC Center for the Arts Gallery in Newport.

brattleboro/okemo valley

CHARLES W. NORRIS-BROWN: “Distant Thunder Studio, “ original artworks from the late artist’s graphic novel Thunder Basin within a re-creation of his studio as an interactive exhibition. Reception: Friday, April 21, 5-7 p.m. April 21-June 10. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls.

ART EVENTS

ART VS. THE APOCALYPSE: A student and community film and performance night that explores the experience of living in a time that feels apocalyptic; featuring spoken word, film, music, textiles and visual art, including the artistry of Ibiyinka Alao, Nigeria’s art ambassador to the United Nations. Dana Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center, Middlebury College, Friday, April 21, 7-9 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3031.

ART VS. THE APOCALYPSE: FISHBOWL

SYMPOSIUM: A conversation with guest speakers and community members about how art can reflect, engage and resist apocalyptic ideas and futures. Lunch follows at 1 p.m. Seeler Studio Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, Friday, April 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 443-3031.

ARTIST DEMONSTRATION: LIANE WHITTUM: The artist shows how she creates her realistic works of art and answers questions from the audience. Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, Sunday, April 23, noon-2 p.m. Free. Info, 644-5100.

ARTIST TALK: ANNE THOMPSON: Vermont Studio Center hosts a Zoom presentation with the artist, curator and visual arts faculty member at Bennington College. Register in advance for link at vermontstudiocenter.org.

Online, Wednesday, April 26, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

ARTIST TALK: DANIEL CALLAHAN: The Bostonbased artist discusses the multimedia work in his current exhibit, “En-MassQ.” Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Friday, April 21, 7 p.m. Info, 257-0124.

ARTIST TALK: LISI RASKIN: The visiting artist discusses their work, which takes the form of

music, painting, sculpture, large-scale installations and, most recently, a book on engaged and inclusive pedagogy. Limited seating. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Friday, April 21, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 635-2727.

FAMILY ART SATURDAY: In honor of Earth Day, the make-and-take art activity goes outdoors in front of the gallery; artist Jenn Karson leads participants in a climate-related project. BCA Center, Burlington, Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 865-7166.

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.

‘GIVE WILDLIFE A VOICE’: Awards ceremony for exhibition of works that focus on local wildlife and their habitats by Vermont students. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, Friday, April 21, 5:30-7 p.m. Info, 533-2000.

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 20, 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 24, 12:302:30 p.m. Free. Info, artscollective@howardcenter. org.

PUBLIC ART TALK: Artist and housing advocate Corrine Yonce and laundromat owners Andrew and Hannah Christiansen discuss how art can expand definitions of home and community. King Street Laundry, Burlington, Thursday, April 20, 3-5 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456.

SAMPLER ID DAYS: The Vermont Sampler Initiative seeks to locate, photograph and document all American samplers and related girlhood embroideries held in public and private collections in Vermont. All are welcome to bring in samplers for identification and documentation. Shelburne Museum, Friday, April 21, 1-4 p.m. and Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Info, samplersvt@gmail.com.

VIRTUAL PAINT CLASS: ARMFUL OF FLOWERS: All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this class using whatever art supplies you have available. Online, Friday, April 21, 7-9 p.m. $15. Info, 503-1050.

WORKSHOP WITH DANIEL CALLAHAN: The Boston-based artist shares the technique and meaning behind his practice of “MassQing,” which uses the human face as a canvas to reveal one’s inner state. Preregister at brattleboromuseum. org. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Saturday, April 22, 2 p.m. $55; $45 for museum members. Info, 257-0124.

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.

Hexum Gallery

‘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. rough 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. rough 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. rough 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. rough 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. rough April 29. Info, spacegalleryvt@gmail.com. e 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: Natureinspired abstract oil paintings, in the 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. rough 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. rough 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. rough 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. rough April 28. Info, artscollective@ howardcenter.org. City Market, Onion River Co-op in Burlington (South End).

SARAH ROSEDAHL: “Coffee Break,” paintings of farm animals enjoying a cup. Curated by SEABA. rough June 27. Info, 859-9222. Speeder & Earl’s Coffee in Burlington.

‘SEEKING IDENTITY’: Recent functional works by the potters of Miranda omas Studio, including omas, Eric Moore, Christi Becker, Jessica King, Evan Williams and Matt Protas. rough 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

‘Queer Visions’

Last November, at an orientation event for newly elected Democratic women in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) cheerfully declared herself a “scrappy little dyke.” Certain of her colleagues in the House might have reacted with opprobrium, unaware that lesbians took ownership of the word “dyke” years ago and drained its negative charge.

A similar reclamation has long been under way in the LGBTQ+ community for the word “queer,” Larry Bowling explains in a statement for “Queer Visions,” a current exhibit at Studio Place Arts in Barre. “When capitalized it is a positive self-identifier referring to identity or community,” he writes. “Being a Queer Artist goes beyond sexuality to include concepts of society, family, politics, aesthetics and even spirituality.”

Bowling is a cocurator, with Janet Van Fleet, of the exhibition; he is also one of its five artists. e number of artists and artworks is limited, Bowling said in a phone call, because of the relatively tight confines of SPA’s third-floor hallway. e show is no less powerful for its modest size.

Bowling observes in an artist statement that for three decades he has “created art that reflects my being a Queer/Gay man living in a predominantly heteronormative society.” His oil paintings and encaustic works combine lyrical figuration, abstract brushwork, scratchy textures and sometimes fragments of text.

“Longing,” one of the Vermont artist’s four works in the exhibit, centers an image of 20th-century French poet and playwright Jean Cocteau and embeds a snippet of a Frank O’Hara poem, “For James Dean.” e imagery is dramatically rendered in burnt orange, white and black.

Vermonter PJ Desrochers elevates the concept of selfie; their large installation titled “Shame Blanket” consists of numerous photos on layers of transparent film threaded together as a coherent declaration. Desrochers, who identifies as “transnonbinary,” writes in an artist statement that they have amassed more than 100,000 photographs, each a selfportrait of a moment in time.

“Being seen is elemental to PJ’s joy as a visual expressionist,” they write. “Shame Blanket,” Desrochers explains, “is here to give comfort and return all the warmth that’s been taken.”

Vermont-based Alison Bechdel is internationally known for her previous long-running comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” as well as for her memoirs, particularly Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, which was made into an award-winning Broadway musical. She’s also a former Vermont cartoonist laureate. Well before any of that happened, in 1980, she created “SelfPortrait” for a college drawing-class assignment. And that is what she chose to contribute to “Queer Visions.”

“Self-Portrait” is a long horizontal work on paper made with colored pencil, marker, ink and collage. In fact, as Bechdel points out in an artist statement, it’s a “proto comic strip

in the way it consists of consecutive panels in a narrative progression, and it includes a lot of text.” e piece is a fascinating look back at a young Bechdel — who had come out as a lesbian just months before — and her thoughtful pursuit of understanding “not just my own self but the self in general.”

Xavier McFarlin’s photo-based works are self-portraits of an entirely different stripe. e artist, who lives in Marfa, Texas, aims “to examine blackness and queerness from a North American perspective,” according to a statement. Using costumes — including wigs and stiletto boots — surreal scenery and other props, McFarlin both satirizes and empowers notions of identity. In one round photograph, for example, two figures are posed in outlandish garb on a sort of pedestal of scrubby land. e edges of the image are blurred; the penetrating stare of the humans comes through despite their sartorial obfuscation. e picture is funny, deeply weird and provocative all at once.

Boston-based trans artist Caleb Cole uses vintage photographs to create poignant portraits of isolation, loneliness and absence. One of the images in their aptly named series “Odd One Out” uses the handwritten date at the bottom for a title: “Oct. 22, 1939.” In it, all but one of the individuals in a group have been whited out. e remaining figure is a woman looking downcast, one hand clasping her opposite arm. Each of Cole’s works astutely pinpoints and highlights a person whose expression conveys, “I don’t belong.” at’s a feeling many of us have experienced at some point in our lives, but the relevance in “Queer Visions” is pointed.

“It’s a timely concept,” Bowling said. “ ere are so many attacks on all kinds of personal freedoms now.”

“Queer Visions" is on view through April 29. Learn more at studioplacearts.com.

PAMELA POLSTON

Clockwise from top: "Oct. 22, 1939" by Caleb Cole; "Longing" by Larry Bowling; " em! Right ere! It's em" by Xavier McFarlin

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.

‘EMERGENCE’: Spring-themed paintings by members of the Vermont Watercolor Society. Through May 14. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho.

GARY REID: Vermont wildlife photography on the second floor of the library. Through April 30. Info, 846-4140. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall.

GREG NICOLAI: Black-and-white and color photographs. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through June 23. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.

‘LITTLE LANDSCAPES’: A group exhibition of big scenes in miniature frames by local artists. Through May 1. Info, artworksvt@gmail.com. Art Works Frame Shop & Gallery in South Burlington.

‘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. Secondfloor 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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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. Through April 28. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson.

mad river valley/waterbury

‘REFLECTING ON REFLECTIONS’: An exhibition of photography by members of the central Vermont collective f/7: Annie Tiberio, Sandra Shenk, Rob Spring, Lisa Dimondstein, Elliot Burg and Julie Parker. Through April 27. Info, 496-6682. The Gallery, 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.

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.

‘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

RUTLAND/KILLINGTON SHOWS » P.56

Fleischer-Svayg, Julie Griffith, James Henderson, Jasper Lynch, Jorja McLeod, Alyssa McMahon, Charlotte Morrison, Richmond Rathbun, Alaana Smith and Anita Williams. Through April 22. Info, 800-6398521. 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 May 6. 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. 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.

‘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

CALL TO ARTISTS

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 burlingtoncity arts.awardsplatform.com.

Through May 22. Online.

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.

BURLINGTON ODD

FELLOWS PUBLIC

MURAL: Seeking a Vermontbased artist to design and complete a public outdoor mural on our Burlington lodge this summer. We are looking for art that speaks to the themes of the Odd Fellows, the Pantry and the community. There will be a two-phase selection process beginning with this open call. In phase two, up to six finalists will be granted a stipend to create full proposals. Info and application at oddfellowsbtv.wixsite.com/.

Deadline: April 26. Online. Free. Info, oddfellowsbtv@gmail. com.

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.

Through April 30. Online. $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.

FIRST FRIDAY ART GALLERY EXHIBITIONS: Women artists of all skill levels in any medium are encouraged to submit one or two images of their work to a monthly exhibition, with the opportunity to win a people’s choice award cash prize. The monthlong exhibition can be viewed online beginning at noon on the first Friday of the month. Submissions are due on the Tuesday before the first Friday of the month. More info at theartdames society.com. Online. Through May 2. $5 per image. Info, theartdamessociety@gmail. com.

MURALIST NEEDED: Arts So Wonderful seeks a volunteer artist to re-create four downtown Burlington murals. Arts So Wonderful Gallery, South Burlington. Through May 8. Info, artssowonderful2@ 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.

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, Montpelier. Through June 30. Free. Info, 225-6227.

SOLO & SMALL GROUP SHOWS: Studio Place Arts in Barre invites artists to apply for 2024 exhibitions 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 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

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.

‘TEXTURE!’: The next exhibit at Sparrow Art Supply Gallery in Middlebury will feature artworks that are rough, soft, scratchy, silky, furry, glossy, spiky and more! Guidelines at sparrow-artsupply.square.site. Deadline: May 14. Online. Free to enter; $10 if accepted. Info, 989-7225.

‘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.

homeschools. Through April 23. Info, 367-1311. Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.

‘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.

JOHN DOUGLAS: “My World in Black and White,” photographs by the Vershire artist. Through June 10. Info, 889-3525. The Tunbridge General Store Gallery.

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. Free.

‘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

‘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. 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.

‘¡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.

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

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.

‘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. ➆

RUTLAND/KILLINGTON SHOWS « P.55

S UNDbites

News and views on the local music + nightlife scene

BY CHRIS FARNSWORTH

Comin’ Back

As I drove through downtown Burlington on my way to work and passed the latest generation of college students, I saw the signs: The pants are getting baggier again. There are knee socks and chokers. And — Lord, help me — I even saw a kid wearing a bucket hat on the corner of College and Church the other day. It took every ounce of self-control in my body not to lean out the window and scream, “You’re going to bring back JNCOs, you crazy bastard! Do you just want to watch the world burn?”

Whether or not those PTSDinducing jeans make a comeback, the evidence is incontrovertible: The ’90s are in vogue again. It’s been 30 years since the days of grunge, “Friends,” Starter jackets and, y’know, people in their thirties being able to buy a home. But, as is often the case, the wheel has turned, and the youths are taking the past and remixing it.

One aspect of the ’90s that never really went out of fashion was the electronic music scene. Pioneered

by acts such as the CHEMICAL BROTHERS, MASSIVE ATTACK, ORBITAL and the CRYSTAL METHOD, EDM went from the underground to the top of the charts during that decade.

“When we first started, we were a gateway to electronic music for a lot of kids,” said SCOTT KIRKLAND, cofounding member of the Crystal Method.

“They heard some of our rock influences, and it created a bridge.”

Kirkland is now the sole member of the Crystal Method; his collaborator, KEN JORDAN, retired from music in 2017. Ahead of his upcoming show on Saturday, April 22, at Club Metronome in Burlington, Kirkland and I chatted about the history of the project — and its future.

With albums like their breakout

1997 debut Vegas and the guest-heavy Tweekend, the Crystal Method became a household name in the ’90s and early 2000s. They dropped tracks on the soundtracks for the films Mortal Kombat and Spawn and video games such as

Resident Evil and Need for Speed, and they composed the theme song of the TV show “Bones.”

“EDM has pretty much become mainstream,” Kirkland said. “All the artists that came after our generation took all those elements — the techno, the house, jungle, all of it — and fused it together. And the pop artists loved it, to the point where the biggest artists in the world use the techniques and production styles of all those classic EDM records.”

None of which has bothered Kirkland, who believes the genre should always be looking to grow, both in its reach and its artistry.

“It’s all cyclical, but the hope is each generation will do something di erent with their influences, and I find that to usually be the case,” Kirkland said. “That spirit helps EDM, techno, house — whatever the hell you want to call it — move forward.”

Kirkland still very much wants to be part of that evolution. Twenty-six years after dropping his first record, the Las Vegas native is excited for what the future holds for the Crystal Method.

“Being on my own has changed the dynamic quite a bit,” he admitted. “The great thing about my partnership with Ken was that we always pushed each other to stay fresh.

“When I made the first record without him [2018’s The Trip Home], I

was excited to take the Crystal Method and go in a direction I thought it needed to go,” he went on. “But on the other hand, I knew if Ken was there, I could play him stu and he would say, ‘That’s great; that one sucks; let’s work on this other one,’ which is huge for me.”

Kirkland and Jordan used to take turns spinning tracks three at a time. Since Jordan’s retirement, Kirkland has leaned into being a solo artist, enjoying his newfound freedom and discovering that being alone onstage has its advantages.

“Now I can script out an entire story for the night through my curated playlist,” he said. “It adds more to the sense of continuity. And I get totally lost in it, between triggering samples, playing synths on top, layering a few songs on top of each other … In the past, with Ken and I swapping, it would have been really di cult to achieve that sort of thematic feel.”

Kirkland is excited to see the mix of old heads and new fans at his shows — a generational diversity he attributes to EDM’s ’90s move into the mainstream.

“It’s at the point where I’m seeing parents bringing their kids to the shows,” Kirkland said. “When you’ve been around as long as we have, you come into contact with fans whose lives have been a ected by your music. There’s really no better feeling than knowing something you created can have that power.”

Listening In

(Spotify mix of local jams)

1. “HARES ON THE MOUNTAIN” by Fern Maddie

2. “BLACK WINDS” by Wolfhand

3. “IN LOVE” by Genderdeath

4. “DEFEND YA SELF” by Omega Jade, Rajnii

5. “SINKKO” by No Showers on Vacation

6. “THE FEAR” (tip/toe remix) by Night Protocol, tip/toe

7. “NOW THAT I FOUND THEE” by Tyler Mast

com/playlist

Scott Kirkland

On the Beat

Between Waking Windows announcing a weekend mini fest (PILE!) and Tuesday’s big announcement from the folks at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (KAMASI WASHINGTON!), I’m starting to feel a lot more optimistic about the upcoming summer of music. And a few more events have been announced, so whip out those calendars, folks.

First up is the inaugural IMAGINE ZERO MUSIC FESTIVAL, on Saturday, May 13, at the SolarFest grounds in Brandon. If the name didn’t already give it away, the Imagine Zero fest’s goal is to leave no carbon footprint and zero waste.

“That means having the show entirely powered by renewable energy and [having] no trash,” festival cofounders and Woodstock residents CLIFF JOHNSON and BEN KOGAN explained in a press release. “We know it’s unlikely to get all the way there for now, but we think it’s worth a shot to try and see how close we get.”

The fest features performances from folk rockers DAWES; Vermont artists KAT WRIGHT and MYRA FLYNN; and Kogan’s own band, the BEN KOGAN BAND

“I’ve performed at so many festivals with trash overflowing, compostables that aren’t getting composted, feeling guilty that the festival is using gas-powered generators and everyone [is] driving fossil fuel cars to get there,” Kogan recounted. “I’m grateful that we have the chance to imagine something di erent and put it in motion.”

Next up is FIELD DAY, a one-day fest on June 3 at the Guilford Fairgrounds. Presented by Brattleboro’s Stone Church and URGENT MESSAGE MUSIC, the show features sets from LA indie pop act INNER WAVE; Portsmouth, N.H., native LADY LAMB ; Brooklyn

Eye on the Scene

Last week’s live music highlights from photographer Luke Awtry

indie rockers SUNFLOWER BEAN; and plenty of Vermont talent, including THUS LOVE, ROBBER ROBBER and GREG FREEMAN

Nothing quite beats a one-day fest in the Vermont summer. You get a gorgeous drive and great music, and if you don’t feel like sleeping in a tent, you can be home in your own bed that night. Pop over to stonechurchvt.com for more info and tickets.

While it’s not a festival per se, Zenbarn in Waterbury Center is throwing its annual 420 party this Thursday, April 20, in honor of the stickiest of ickies — the first year the party has gone down since weed dispensaries started popping up all over the state.

The Waterbury Center restaurant, venue and dispensary will celebrate the Mary Jane with sets by reggae act ETANA & THE RAWSOUL REBELS BAND, Philadelphia hip-hop duo KUF KNOTZ & CHRISTINE ELISE, and local Afro-Latino fusion act MAL MAÏZ. Proceeds from ticket sales go to Zenbarn’s Generation Equity Fund, which supports members of the BIPOC community gaining access to the legal cannabis industry.

Watch this space for more summer festival and event announcements, coming soon!

Burlington synth pop act NIGHT PROTOCOL have released a new music video for the song “The Fear,” from their 2022 album Static. Featuring the band members performing in front of a 20-by-60-foot XR LED wall that bathes them in lights and animations, the video is part of an EP release including four di erent remixes of the song, including versions by local producers GENDERDEATH and TIP/TOE

“These remixes explore the song through drum n’ bass, dancehall dream pop, and even house music, all produced here in Vermont,” the band wrote in a press release. ➆

On the Air

Where to tune in to Vermont music this week:

“WAVE CAVE RADIO SHOW,” Wednesday, April 19, 2 p.m., on 105.9 the Radiator: DJs FLYWLKR and GINGERVITUS spin the best of local and nonlocal hiphop.

“EXPOSURE,” Wednesday, April 19, 6 p.m., on 90.1 WRUV: Jazz-rock act FOSSIL RECORD play live in studio.

“ROCKET SHOP RADIO HOUR,” Wednesday, April 19, 8 p.m., on 105.9 the Radiator: Poet and composer TOUSSAINT ST. NEGRITUDE joins host TOM PROCTOR

“THE SOUNDS OF BURLINGTON,” ursday, April 20, 9 p.m., at wbkm. org: Host TIM LEWIS plays selections of local music.

Waiting

EASTERN MOUNTAIN TIME AT RADIO BEAN, BURLINGTON, TUESDAY, APRIL 11: Burlington musician

SEAN HOOD is great at making things up. at’s most obvious in his talent for songwriting and storytelling. But after I first saw him perform, I couldn’t stop thinking about the name of his band. I was pretty sure that it wasn’t an actual time zone, but it sounded legit. (It’s not.) at’s the thing about Sean and his songs: ey make you believe — or, at the very least, make a cynic like me want to believe. e highlight of the More Buses & Trains album release show for me was “Down in My Own Way,” a Nick Drake-evoking Americana ballad. e right voice paired with the right instrument can be so powerful. Sean wields both with such confident tenderness, and that’s something not even he can make up.

“CULTURAL BUNKER,” Friday, April 21, 6 p.m., on 90.1 WRUV: Host MELO GRANT plays local and nonlocal hip-hop.

“ALL THE TRADITIONS,” Sunday, April 23, 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.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.

Flatland Cavalry (country) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $25/$28.

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.

Mark Daly (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30 p.m. Free.

No Showers on Vacation (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5/$10.

Ron Gagnon (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

THU.20

420 Celebration with Etana & the Rawsoul Rebels Band, Mal Maïz, Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise (soul, hip-hop, Latin) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $25/$30.

Alex Stewart & Friends, Sam Atallah (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. Free.

AliT (singer-songwriter) at Filling Station, Middlesex, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Andriana Chobot (indie pop, jazz) at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Bob “Cooper” Recupero (singersongwriter) at Folino’s, Williston, 6 p.m. Free.

Chazzy Lake, Fuzzy Bones, Spiral Arms (singer-songwriter) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6 p.m. $5/$10.

Eric Maier Trio (jazz) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Evanoff, SoBe (electronic) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

$15/$20.

Grace Palmer and Socializing for Introverts (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 6 p.m. Free.

JD Tolstoi (electronic) at CharlieO’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

Jeff Salisbury Band (blues) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 6 p.m. Free.

Josh Dobbs (singer-songwriter) at American Flatbread, Stowe, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Creature Feature

Montpelier singer-songwriter FERN MADDIE raised plenty of eyebrows when British publication the Guardian rated her 2022 album Ghost Story as one of its top 10 folk albums of the year. Soon after, the record was ranked among the best roots music of the year by NPR, which lauded Maddie’s new interpretations of classic folk songs such as “Hares on the Mountain,” as well as her stark and powerful original compositions such as “You Left This,” a stirring tribute to her late father. The talented clawhammer banjoist plays Burlington’s Radio Bean on Wednesday, April 26, with support from fellow singer-songwriters BIM TYLER and CRICKET BLUE

Kirkland the Band (covers) at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex, 6 p.m. Free.

Ruby Lou, LACES (rock, jazz) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 9 p.m. $10/$15.

The So n Sos (country, rock) at T. Rugg’s Tavern, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Tyler Mast (rock, jazz) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Vecchio Stile (Italian traditional) at Hugo’s Bar and Grill, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

FRI.21

90 Proof (rock) at the Old Post, South Burlington, 11 p.m. Free.

Amber deLaurentis and Tom Cleary (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 5:30 p.m. Free.

Anachronist (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $10/$15.

Black Artist Showcase (various) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Chris & Erica (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Community College, Rockin’ Worms, Vehicle (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

Coop (jazz fusion, funk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

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

Kippincoe, Troy Millette (folk) at the Underground, Randolph, 8 p.m. $15.

Mark Legrand & Sarah Munro, the Bar*Belles (singersongwriter) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Otter Creek Trio, Heavy Nettles (bluegrass) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free.

Reid Parsons (singer-songwriter) at Hotel Vermont, Burlington, 4 p.m. Free.

The Rough Suspects (rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

The Tumblers (rock) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Upstate, Wild Leek River (Americana) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $20/$25.

Ursa and the Major Key (rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 11:30 p.m. Free.

Waiting on Mongo, Lazy Bird (funk) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

SAT.22

AJ Lee & Blue Summit (bluegrass) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $12/$15.

‘Almost’ Dead to the Core (Grateful Dead tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $10.

Al’s Pal’s (funk, soul) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. Free.

City of the Sun, Portair (indie) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$23.

Drunk Off Diesel (metal) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

The Full Cleveland (yacht rock) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 9 p.m. Free.

Hambone (soul) at Red Square, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

Jack Hanson, Connor Young (jazz) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free.

James Kochalka Superstar (indie) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $10/$15.

Phil Cohen, Jeff Wilson (folk) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 8 p.m. Free.

Rushmore (rock) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, 6 p.m. Free.

Sara Grace (singer-songwriter) at Hugo’s Bar and Grill, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Soul & Soda (rock, pop) at Burlington Moose Lodge #1618, South Burlington, 3:30 p.m. Free. Spring Training 2023 with the Apollos, MC Hagen, Dad?! (rock) at Citizen Cider, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

Thaya Zalewski Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

SUN.23

MAD DOGS and ENGLISHMEN

50th Anniversary Celebration (Joe Cocker tribute) at Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex, 8 p.m. $35.

Mike MacDonald (singersongwriter) at Foam Brewers, Burlington, 1 p.m. Free.

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

VSO Jukebox Brunch (classical) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 10:30 p.m. $15/$20.

TUE.25

Bluegrass Jam (bluegrass) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 7 p.m. Free.

Grateful Tuesdays (tribute) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 6:30 p.m. $20.

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

John Lackard Blues Duo (blues) at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, 5 p.m. Free.

Theo Kandel, Ratland (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10.

WED.26

Derek O’Kanos (acoustic) at Gusto’s, Barre, 6 p.m. Free. Dusk Quartet (jazz) at the 126, Burlington, 9 p.m. Free.

George Nostrand (singersongwriter) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Gone Wrong, Slob Drop, Street Trash, Drunk Off Diesel, Corrupt World (hardcore) at Monkey House, Winooski, 8 p.m. $10/$15. Gourd (rock) at Monopole, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 p.m. Free.

Jake Whitesell & Evan Allen (jazz) at Hugo’s Bar and Grill, Montpelier, 7 p.m. Free.

Jim Branca Trio (jazz) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Josh Panda Band (pop) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 8 p.m. $12/$15.

Joel Cage (singer-songwriter) at the Den at Harry’s Hardware, Cabot, 6 p.m. Free.

John Daly Trio (singer-songwriter) at Jericho Café & Tavern, 7:30 p.m. Free.

The Lebowski Trio (covers) at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction, 5 p.m. Free.

Left Eye Jump (blues) at Red Square, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free.

Liz Reedy (singer-songwriter) at Taps Tavern, Poultney, 6 p.m. Free.

Merce Lemon, Clifford, Greg Freeman, Dari Bay (indie rock) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8:30 p.m. $12/$15.

AliT, Lake Waves (singersongwriter) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington, 7 p.m. $20/$23. Bluegrass & BBQ (bluegrass) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6:30 p.m. Free.

Doc Hopper, Mikey Erg, Dead Selves, Doom Service, Mr. Doubtfire (punk) at Monkey House, Winooski, 7 p.m. $12/$17.

Fern Maddie, Bim Tyler, Cricket Blue (folk) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 8 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.

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.

WED.26 // FERN MADDIE [FOLK]

No Showers on Vacation (jam) at Nectar’s, Burlington, 8 p.m. $5/$10.

Wednesday Night Dead (Grateful Dead covers) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. $5.

djs

WED.19

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

THU.20

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.21

DJ Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Red Square Blue Room, Burlington, 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.

Glow New England (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. Free.

LTJ Bukem, Charles Nimbus, Craig Mitchell (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 9 p.m. $25.

SAT.22

Blanchface (DJ) at Manhattan Pizza & Pub, Burlington, 10 p.m. Free.

Crypt Goth Night (DJ) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

The Crystal Method, Simply Jeff (DJ) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 8 p.m. $40.

DJ A-Ra$ (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

DJ CRWD CTRL (DJ) at Monkey House, Winooski, 9 p.m. Free.

DJ LaFountaine (DJ) at Gusto’s, Barre, 9 p.m. 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.

SUN.23

Spring Record Day Celebration (record fair, DJ) at 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans, noon. Free.

TUE.25

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

WED.26

DJ Two Sev (DJ) at Red Square, Burlington, midnight. Free.

Queer Bar Takeover (DJ) at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 8 p.m. Free.

open mics & jams

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.

THU.20

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.23

Open Mic Night with Justin at Charlie-O’s World Famous, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

MON.24

Open Mic Night (open mic) at Despacito, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

TUE.25

Poetry Open Mic (open mic) at Bent Nails Bistro, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Free.

WED.26

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.

comedy

WED.19

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

THU.20

American Werewolf: Comedy

Showcase (comedy) at Radio Bean, Burlington, 7 p.m. $5/$10.

Joe “Mr. D.” Dombrowski (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $25.

FRI.21

Joe “Mr. D.” Dombrowski (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

Pinky Patel (comedy) at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $30/$35.

SAT.22

Joe “Mr. D.” Dombrowski (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 & 8:30 p.m. $25.

SUN.23

Joe “Mr. D.” Dombrowski (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 6 p.m. $25.

WED.26

Standup Comedy Open Mic (comedy open mic) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 8:30 p.m.

Vanessa Gonzalez (comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, 7 & 9 p.m. $15.

Whales Tales (comedy) at Club Metronome, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free.

trivia, karaoke, etc.

WED.19

4Qs Trivia Night (trivia) at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, 6 p.m. Free.

Molly Kirschner Poetry (poetry) at the Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington, 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.

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

THU.20

Karaoke Night (karaoke) at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Night (trivia) at McGillicuddy’s Five Corners, Essex Junction, 6:30 p.m. Free.

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

Trivia Night (trivia) at Babes Bar, Bethel, 7 p.m. Free.

Trivia Thursday (trivia) at Spanked Puppy Pub, Colchester, 7 p.m. Free.

MON.24

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

TUE.25

Karaoke hosted by 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.

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.26

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.

REVIEW this

Harpoons, Tuber

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

The early days of the pandemic were a fertile time for creative people. Comedians honed their skills with virtual open mics. Visual artists cleaned out garages to make studio space. And musicians took a page from the book of Seattle indie pop band the Postal Service and made records remotely. Three years on from lockdown, we’re still seeing the release of “quarantine albums.” How deep is the well?

Tristate post-punk outfit Harpoons started work on their sophomore album, Tuber, just after the release of their fall 2020 debut, Pangs of Conscience. Out of necessity, the trio of New York City-based Nick Kennedy, Massachusetts resident Nate Lewis, and Vermont’s (and Vermont Public’s) Liam Elder-Connors went fully remote for its follow-up e ort.

On Bandcamp, Harpoons’ genre tags include “punk, basement, garage punk, noise, post punk” and “shoegaze,” but a

Bim Tyler, Hermit Crab

(SELF-RELEASED, DIGITAL)

Like many other musicians from the Green Mountains, Vermont native Tyler Gri n started out playing in jam bands. He gigged around the state’s bars and eventually helped found Thetfest, a music festival once held in Thetford.

Gri n didn’t stay in the jam scene long, however, but instead reimagined himself as a folk singer, playing under the moniker Bim Tyler. In 2021, he released his debut e ort, Basic Ritual, an intriguing record that saw Gri n show o maturing songwriting chops and multiinstrumentalist prowess. It was essentially a glorified demo, though, a collection of songs that Gri n recorded himself.

We still haven’t seen a fully fleshedout LP from Gri n, who now lives in Massachusetts, though he says it’s on the way later this year. In the meantime, he

concise catchall could be “art rock.” Their songs are impressionistic and eclectic, with strange, often self-reflexive lyrics. The whole record is dosed with anarchic composition.

Speaking of musical chaos, the bandmates switched up some of their duties this time, with Elder-Connors and Lewis occasionally swapping bass and guitar, the instruments they played on Pangs of Conscience, respectively. Kennedy helmed engineering duties, and he and Elder-Connors snowballed ri s and song sketches into the album’s nine tracks. Always heavy on the basic elements of rock (guitar, bass, drums), Tuber also incorporates melodic and atmospheric synth.

Though the band members recorded separately and collaged the songs together, the album has plenty of “in the room” energy, particularly on the twisting, psychedelic instrumentals “Mi ed” and “Pelican.” The latter is almost like free jazz if it were made by a rock group. Overlapping elements clash and coalesce as a string of marimba arpeggios gurgles

behind a swell of sustained electric guitars and cymbal-forward drumming.

Harpoons take some big swings, as on the shape-shifting “Butcher’s Tea.” Not only does it include a roiling, Breedersesque bass line and some poppin’ sax breaks from Elder-Connors’ former Vermont Public colleague Henry Epp, but it devolves into a spoken-word ramble that recalls King Missile’s “Detachable Penis” or the “Drive-By 2001 Remix” of Poe’s “Hey Pretty,” both minor hits on alt radio in the ’90s and early 2000s.

Dropping whimsy for dark, goth energy, “The Sultan” creeps along with serpentine synth bass and haunting guest vocals from Lewis’ wife, Kayla McAuley. Prickly and dripping with attitude, the song puts forth one of the album’s strongest vibes.

Even when the songs slide into fullon weirdness, the trio keeps listeners rapt with its seemingly bottomless pit of ideas. Much like the plant structure for which the album is named, Harpoons are dense and underground, with tangential protrusions jutting out in all directions.

Tuber is available at harpoonsmusic. bandcamp.com and on all major streaming platforms.

JORDAN ADAMS

released Hermit Crab, a three-song EP full of stark, lyrical imagery, gothic-tinged songwriting and the sense of an emerging talent coming into his prime.

The EP opens with the title track, a song brimming with hazy regrets, as if Gri n were reluctantly reviewing a summer romance from a distance. A light touch of programmed percussion and Gri n’s acoustic guitar form a deceptively upbeat-sounding bedrock from which he moves through a postmortem of past mistakes.

“I’m wondering how it is the decision that I make that keeps me on the line,” he sings. “Between the box and my fantasy, and how I got in the way of me.”

Things take an even more melancholic turn with “Railroad Rat.” Over a gently plucked guitar figure and an insistent mellotron, Gri n lays out a folk masterpiece that’s equal parts Pentangle and fellow Vermont singer-songwriter Henry Jamison.

While he has the hushed delivery and almost tenuous melodies of the latter, a thread in Gri n’s songwriting helps

distinguish it from his contemporaries. Yes, he writes with a keen sense of observation, but his details so often suggest secret connections, as if one song were hiding inside another and just waiting to be drawn out: “The peninsula of Florida you have left behind / For the smoky rooms of New Orleans where you now reside / Wearing long sleeves to hide the ink on your wrists / To be another person is just another thing on the list.”

The production on Hermit Crab is a clear step up from Basic Ritual. Mixed and mastered by Adam Selzer (Fleet Foxes, M. Ward) and Sandro Perri (Great Lake Swimmers, Stephen Malkmus), the EP is sonically sumptuous. Whether it’s the gorgeous harmony of the guitar solo on “The Drive” or the ghostly Rhodes piano run at the end of “Railroad Rat,” small, sublime instrumental passages add depth throughout. The result is a record that feels as densely layered and plotted as a novel.

Hermit Crab by Bim Tyler is streaming at bimtyler.bandcamp.com. Catch him on Wednesday, April 26, at Radio Bean in Burlington, along with locals Fern Maddie and Cricket Blue.

on screen

Suzume ★★★★★

What would it even mean to get closure on the losses in our personal and collective histories? That’s the question at the core of Suzume (originally titled Suzume no Tojimari, or “Suzume’s Locking Up”), the new visually stunning animation from writer-director Makoto Shinkai ( Your Name. , Weathering With You). A nominee for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and the fourth-highest-grossing movie to come out of Japan, Suzume is currently playing in subtitled and dubbed versions at Essex Cinemas, Majestic 10 and Merrill’s Roxy Cinemas.

The deal

Seventeen-year-old Suzume (voiced by Nanoka Hara in the Japanese version) lives with her aunt in the seaside town of Kyushu. Though her life seems happy on the surface, her mother, who died when she was 4, haunts her dreams.

Suzume meets an enigmatic young man named Souta (Hokuto Matsumura), who says he seeks ruins with doors in them. Smitten with him, she trails Souta to an abandoned resort, where she finds a door that seems to open into another world.

Suzume’s encounter with the door — and the mysterious cat-creature guarding it — renders her suddenly capable of seeing disaster looming over her city in the form of a coiling, dragon-like “worm.” As people’s phones light up with earthquake alerts, Souta reveals that he is a “Closer,” tasked with shutting the dimensional doors that open in abandoned places and allow natural disasters to emerge.

A clash between Souta and the mischievous cat-creature (Ann Yamane) ends with Suzume’s crush being transformed into her childhood three-legged chair. Awkward! In this ungainly form, Souta needs help closing the doors, and the two young people embark on a road trip to save Japan from further catastrophes.

Will you like it?

In the West, Shinkai’s work is often compared to that of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli — a comparison that, the director suggested in a recent interview with fandom.com, reveals our ignorance of the rich variety of Japan’s animation landscape.

It is an easy parallel to draw, however,

REVIEW

simply because most Hollywood animated films look so one-note and impoverished when we place them beside Suzume or Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. These are movies that unfurl their own rich landscapes on natural, supernatural and emotional planes.

Suzume visits many places on her journey, from a rural tangerine farm to a bullet train to metropolitan Tokyo. Each feels fully realized, the details rendered with a mixture of hand-drawn and digital animation. The ocean sparkles in magic sunset light; fields glow vibrant green as they spread to the horizon.

Yet this beauty has a dark edge, because so much of the country has been harrowed by previous disasters. Interdimensional portals spewing forth monsters are nothing new in fantasy fiction, but the theme has an emotional resonance in Suzume that it lacks in, say, “Stranger Things.”

There’s an intuitive poetic rightness to the notion of these doors opening in places such as a middle school or an amusement park, where children played in the days when Japan had a more substantial population of young people. When Suzume eventually returns to her own abandoned place, the home where she once lived with her mother, we learn that her personal tragedy coincided with a collective one that shaped the experience of a generation.

Rather than spelling out this historical

context, however, Shinkai allows it to seep into our consciousness. A child could see the film as pure escapist fantasy, only to rewatch it a decade later and weep with deeper understanding.

Suzume features just enough frenetic action to keep the attention of more mature kids. The adorably demonic cat, a trickster spirit prone to chirpy a rmations such as “Lots of people are going to die!,” is highly meme-able. But the film’s overall mood is elegiac, and by the end, adults may find themselves in tears.

Some fantasy fans might carp about the story’s world-building. There are no true villains, only natural forces whose destructive power waxes and wanes for reasons that remain mysterious. Against the impersonal danger posed by these forces, Suzume places the humble pleasures of human love and sociability. The film features not one but three scenes of people forming bonds by sharing food — scenes that would probably be ruthlessly excised for “not advancing the plot” if they ever dared to appear in a three-act Hollywood screenplay.

But it’s these quieter scenes, not the requisite pulse-pounding action sequences, that give Suzume its cumulative power. If there’s a moment that’s sure to have the whole theater rapt, it’s the one involving the genesis of Suzume’s silly

little three-legged chair, which is both a comic sidekick and an object imbued with several layers of meaning.

By the film’s end, we learn that some doors aren’t meant to be closed. But we can learn to live with the phantoms of our past selves who lurk within, still grieving and hoping with the intensity of childhood.

MARGOT HARRISON

margot@sevendaysvt.com

IF YOU LIKE THIS, TRY...

YOUR NAME. (2016; Crunchyroll, rentable): Two high school students who have never met begin swapping bodies in the animated romantic fantasy that established Shinkai’s international reputation.

WEATHERING WITH YOU (2019; HBO Max, rentable): As in Suzume, there’s a theme of environmental anxiety in this Shinkai film about an orphan who can control the weather.

KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989; HBO Max, rentable): Shinkai has said this Miyazaki classic about a witch influenced Suzume; both are coming-ofage tales in which a young woman encounters many different potential role models.

A teen races across Japan trying to close interdimensional doors in Shinkai’s gorgeous, emotionally weighty animation.

COURTESY OF CRUNCHYROLL

NEW IN THEATERS

EVIL DEAD RISE: In the horror series’ fifth installment, two estranged sisters (Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland) learn the true meaning of family by fighting off demons. Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) directed. (97 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Star, Welden)

GUY RITCHIE’S THE COVENANT: An Afghan interpreter (Dar Salim) helps an injured American sergeant (Jake Gyllenhaal) survive a trek in this war thriller directed by Ritchie. (123 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Palace, Star)

SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS: Ray Romano directed this comedy in which he plays the overbearing dad of a high school basketball star. With Laurie Metcalf and Jacob Ward. (106 min, R. Capitol, Essex, 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, Marquis, Palace, Playhouse, Roxy, 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. Sunset; reviewed 3/8)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG

THIEVESHHH1/2 Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez play adventurers in the world of the fantasy role-playing game. (134 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Playhouse [ends Thu], Roxy, Star, Sunset, Welden)

HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINEHHHH

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)

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, Stowe)

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)

MAFIA MAMMAHH A soccer mom (Toni Collette) discovers that she’s the heir to an Italian mafia family in this fish-out-of-water comedy. (101 min, R. Capitol, Majestic, Palace, Welden)

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. Catamount, Roxy, Savoy; reviewed 4/12)

THE POPE’S EXORCISTHH 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)

RENFIELDHH1/2 Dracula’s henchman (Nicholas Hoult) tries to get out from under the thumb of his master (Nicolas Cage) in this horror comedy. (93 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Palace, Roxy, Sunset)

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)

SUZUMEHHHH1/2 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, Palace, Roxy; reviewed 4/19)

SWEETWATER: Former Vermonter Martin Guigui directed this biopic of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (Everett Osborne), the first Black player to sign an NBA contract. (114 min, PG-13. Essex)

OLDER FILMS AND SPECIAL SCREENINGS

BACKLASH: MISOGYNY IN THE DIGITAL AGE (Marquis, Wed 19 only)

FROZEN II (Catamount, Tue only)

POETIC JUSTICE (Catamount, Wed 19 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

The best prices of the year are now!

*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

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*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, 2290598, 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.

*NEW* ONE TIRE

ONE FOR DURABILITY ONE FOR SAFETY ONE FOR SUSTAINABILITY ONE FOR YOU

Jake Gyllenhaal in Guy Ritchie's the Covenant

dish at a potluck. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, noon1 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, programs@damlvt.org.

APRIL 19-26, 2023

WED.19 agriculture

TONI KESSLER: A seedsaving expert teaches home gardeners the importance of reusing their local seeds. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

business

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER

MARKETING – WHAT IS IT?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?: A panel of marketing experts teaches business owners how to take advantage of social media. Presented by Vermont Independent Media. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-511-5150.

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: Local professionals make crucial contacts at a weekly chapter meeting. Burlington City Arts, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 829-5066.

community

COMMMUNITY ACTION DAY: Neighbors learn about housing security, clean up their local green space and eat lunch together. Champlain Street Park, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456, ext. 110.

conferences

BREAKING BARRIERS:

FINDING PURPOSE AND POSSIBILITIES TOGETHER:

games

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 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’: 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, 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.

MADE HERE FILM 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’: Sparkling graphics take viewers on a mindbending journey into phenomena that are too slow, too fast or too small to be seen by the

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.

lgbtq

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.

‘POETIC JUSTICE’: Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur play a poet and a postal worker in this 1993 romance. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘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 & 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.

COOK THE BOOK: Home chefs make a recipe from Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files by Deb Perelman and share the

FIND

art

MORE LOCAL EVENTS

IN THIS ISSUE AND ONLINE:

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

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.

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: Beer hounds of legal age take an invigorating jog along a trail of brews. Ages 21 and up. Zero Gravity Beer Hall, Burlington, 6:30 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.

CHAIR YOGA INTRO: A free preview of an upcoming series shows curious folks the splendors of seated stretching. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. Info, 533-2000.

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.

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: 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.

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Fluent and beginner speakers brush up on their español with a discussion led by a Spanish teacher. Presented by

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: 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.

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.

outdoors

CAMPFIRE SESSION: TRAIL

RUNNING: Joggers learn what skills and footwear they’ll need to get wild. REI, Williston, noon12:30 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 316-3120.

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: 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

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: 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.

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 antiques dealer heroine. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

THU.20 business

APRIL MIXER: Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce members eat local treats while learning about physical therapy and other medical services. Cobblestone Health Commons, Northwestern Medical Center, St. Albans, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $5-8; preregister. Info, 524-2444.

HIRING2DAYVT VIRTUAL

JOB FAIR: The Vermont Department of Labor gives job seekers a chance to meet with employers from around the state. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 828-4000.

VERMONT CAREER FAIR: Folks from multiple industries bulk up their résumés for the state’s largest job-seeking symposium. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 223-2374.

climate crisis

BEN MCCALL: A scholar of sustainability contemplates how, if a “Jetsons”-like future is impossible, we can prevent a Mad Max-style one. Lafayette Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-2906.

community

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:

SPEAKER & OPEN HOUSE: The opioid advocacy organization opens its doors for tours, local bites and a presentation by emergency doctor Daniel Wolfson. Turning Point Center,

WINTER SPEAKER SERIES:

AMANDA KAY GUSTIN: Listeners learn the tale of James

FAMI LY FU N

Check out these family-friendly events for parents, caregivers and kids of all ages.

• Plan ahead at sevendaysvt.com/family-fun Post your event at sevendaysvt.com/postevent.

WED.19 burlington

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

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: 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.

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: Elementary-age 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.

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.

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.

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.

Happy Earth Day to You

The Montshire Museum of Science marks Earth Day with a planetfriendly party for all ages. Guests spend the day learning new ecoconscious skills, such as increasing biodiversity in their own backyards, reducing waste by repairing items themselves and practicing mindfulness out in nature. Kids get their hands dirty at the compost petting zoo, where Ham Gillett shares expert knowledge on recycling your food waste; cut and paste collages with artist Kris Cairelli; learn how to mend shirts and darn socks with the Upper Valley Sew-op; and meet museum executive director Lara Litchfield-Kimber, who gives tips on how to garden smart.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 22, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich. Regular admission, $15-18; free for members and kids under 2. Info, 649-2200, montshire.org.

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: Students make friends over crafts and story time. George Peabody Library, Post Mills, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 333-9724.

manchester/ bennington

MCL FILM CLUB: 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

M.T. ANDERSON: Dayna Lorentz interviews this National Book Award-winning author about his new middle-grade novel, Elf Dog and Owl Head. Phoenix Books, Essex, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 872-7111.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL OPEN

HOUSE: Parents and caregivers of seventh through 12th graders visit classrooms and learn about the school’s curriculum during a student-led tour. High School Campus, Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Shelburne, 6-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 495-0834.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC WITH LINDA

BASSICK: The 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.

barre/montpelier

FUSE BEAD CRAFTERNOONS: Youngsters make pictures out of colorful, meltable doodads. Ages 8 and up. KelloggHubbard Library, Montpelier, 3:30-5 p.m. Free. Info, 223-3338.

NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: See WED.19. 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 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.

northeast kingdom

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.20

burlington

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.

chittenden county

DEDICATION OF THE MARJE VON OHLSEN CALDECOTT COLLECTION: Guests peruse a new set of Caldecott Medal-winning kids’ books curated in honor of the retired children’s librarian and say hi to Marje herself. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

org for each week’s title. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TEENS-ONLY OPEN MIC: There are no grown-ups allowed at this supportive performance night for talented teens in grades 6 through 12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:15-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, sarah@brownelllibrary.org.

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

STORY TIME: Preschoolers take part in stories, songs and silliness. Latham Library, Thetford, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

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.22 burlington

EARTH & SPACE-TACULAR FESTIVAL: Visitors fling mud, learn about animals and fly through the solar system during a week of Earth Day and out-of-thisworld activities. ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $14.50-18; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 864-1848.

EARTH DAY ON THE MARKETPLACE: Music, games and ice cream delight the whole family in between connecting with local environmental organizations. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Info, churchstmarketplace@gmail.com.

‘ONE MAN’S TRASH’: SOLD OUT. Cirque Us presents a junkyard adventure full of reanimated garbage creatures and stunning stunts. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 12:30-1:30 p.m. $5-10. Info, 533-2000.

manchester/ bennington

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.21

chittenden county

KIDS’ MOVIES IN THE AUDITORIUM: Little film buffs congregate in the library’s Katie O’Brien Activity Room for a screening of a G-rated movie. See southburlingtonlibrary.

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.

chittenden county

SATURDAY STORIES: Kiddos start the weekend off right with stories and songs. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

SATURDAY STORIES WITH SPECIAL AUTHOR VISIT: Kids enjoy a visit with Kayla Johnson, author of Tea with my Teacher. Ages 3 through 7. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

barre/montpelier

VERMONT SCHOLASTIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Quick

Burlington, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 861-3150.

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, etford, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

dance

OMARI WILES: e dancer and choreographer continues a weeklong residency with a talk about his journey from his childhood training in West African dance to voguing in the ballroom community. See calendar spotlight. Dance eatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5697.

film

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

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

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. Info, 362-2607.

SPRINGTIME ACUPUNCTURE & YOGA

WORKSHOP: Acupuncturist Allison Jacob and mindful movement practitioner Becky Widschwenter combine calming yoga and Chinese therapy for a relaxing workshop. Presented by Waterbury Public Library.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

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.19.

talks

ALEX ZAKARAS: A professor explains how the Jacksonian Era of American history helped popularize myths and ideologies around the free market. Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, 4-6 p.m. Free. Info, 656-1297.

JACK MAYER: e writer and pediatrician tells the story of Irena Sendler, a woman who rescued 2,500 children from the Holocaust and whose story wasn’t unearthed until 60 years later. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

tech

TECH TUTOR: Techies answer questions about computers and devices during one-on-one help sessions. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 4-6 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

theater

‘DESTROYING ANGELS’: Written, directed and performed by students, this play follows three Mormon siblings as they are pursued by a serial killer on their way to spread their father’s ashes. Hepburn Zoo, Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College, 7:30-10 p.m. $5. Info, 443-6433.

‘PASS OVER’: Waiting for Godot meets Do the Right ing in Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s powerful new play about two young Black men hoping for a better life. Lost Nation eater, Montpelier City Hall, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10-30. Info, 229-0492.

‘REMAINS TO BE SEEN: THE DEADVENTURES OF CEMETERY

Strike a Pose

New York dancer and choreographer Omari Wiles shows Vermonters how he lets his body move to the music over two nights of his weeklong Rothrock Residency at Middlebury College. On ursday, he gives a talk on his journey from studying West African dance as a child to embracing vogue, house and hip-hop styles in the ballroom community. en, the culminating event on Friday evening sees Wiles take the stage alongside Middlebury dance students to perform a piece developed over the course of the residency, as well as some of his own work.

OMARI WILES

ursday, April 20, 5-6 p.m., and Friday, April 21, 7:30-9 p.m., at Mahaney Arts Center Dance eatre, Middlebury College. Free. Info, 443-5697, middlebury.edu.

music

‘A MUSICAL TOUR OF EASTERN EUROPE’: Pianist Sylvia Parker plays peasant songs from Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, noon-1 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 223-3631.

TERRY FATOR: e “America’s Got Talent”-winning ventriloquist and his cast of musical puppets perform and parody classic songs. Paramount eatre, Rutland,

7:30 p.m. $57.50-67.50. Info, 775-0903.

THE WAILERS: A soulful shakedown turns the green into a dance floor. Essex Experience, 7-11 p.m. $35-40. Info, 876-7152.

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

UNLOCKING YOUR HOME’S EQUITY: Homeowners learn how the value of their house could benefit them in this webinar from New England Federal Credit Union. Noon-12:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 764-6940.

each month. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 6-7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, henningsmh@ yahoo.com.

JON D. ERICKSON: e author of e Progress Illusion: Reclaiming Our Future from the Fairytale of Economics discusses his vision of a postcapitalist world. 118 Elliot, Brattleboro, 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted; preregister. Info, 118elliot@gmail.com.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

FRI.21 activism

FAIR HOUSING FRIDAY: VISIONS OF HOME, BROADENING OUR HOUSING

VOCABULARY: Local advocates speak on how expansive vocabulary can help us envision a future where all Vermonters have homes. Presented by Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456, ext. 110.

crafts

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

‘THE SHIRE’: NSquared Dance evokes the seven regions of New Hampshire through movement. Lebanon Opera House, N.H., 7 p.m. $18-30. Info, 603-448-0400.

SHOWCASE FEATURING OMARI

GARY’: By turns morbid and humorous, G. Richard Ames’ slideshow about his 15-month journey across New England in search of old cemeteries is a matter of life and death. Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington, 7:30-9:45 p.m. $12-15; $1 discount with a nonperishable donation for Feeding Chittenden. Info, 734-8486.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: e 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. Eclipse Grange eater, etford, 7 p.m. $7.50-20. Info, 785-4344.

‘WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?’: e cast of the beloved improv show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” gets kooky on stage in this sidesplitting, interactive experience. e Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $4858. Info, 863-5966.

words

ARTHUR MAKARIS: A Daoist poet reads from his forthcoming book, Clarification of the Way, and leads the audience in meditation. Bethany United Church of Christ, Montpelier, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, laughingvioletvt@gmail.com.

INQUISITIVE READERS BOOK

CLUB: Bookworms discuss a new horizon-expanding tome

WILES: e West African and vogue dancer joins Middlebury students on stage. See calendar spotlight. Dance eatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5697.

film

See what’s playing at local theaters in the On Screen section. ‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

FOMO?

Find even more local events in this newspaper and online: art

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

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

music + nightlife

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

Learn more about highlighted listings in the Magnificent 7 on page 11.

= ONLINE EVENT

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

games

MAH-JONGG: Tile traders of all experience levels gather for a game session. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 878-4918.

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, 10:3011:30 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.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

music

JOHN FLYNN: The Grammy Award-winning musician and humanitarian makes a rare New England appearance. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley, Norwich, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $20. Info, 603-649-8828.

MARTHA BURNS AND ANDY

DAVIS: The Washington, D.C., guitarist and Brattleboro accordionist, respectively, take listeners on an adventure through folk music both old and new. Adamant Community Club, 7-9 p.m. $15 suggested donation; free for kids under 12. Info, 454-7103.

REED FOEHL: Audiences leave this Grammy-nominated songwriter’s intimate listening room session with new earworms aplenty. Shelburne Vineyard, 7-9:30 p.m. $25. Info, 985-8222.

‘THE SIXTIES SHOW’: Flower children hop on a psychedelic time machine to see a multimedia marvel featuring lights, archival video and larger-than life recreations of classic songs. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort, 8 p.m. $35-55. Info, 760-4634.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL: Six concerts and a full day of master classes taking place over a day and a half celebrate everything to do with tickling the ivories. See calendar spotlight. Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $21-121. Info, 254-9088.

SOPHIE SHAO & FRIENDS: A perennial Middlebury College favorite, the cellist celebrates composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday alongside violinist Scott Yoo and pianist John Novacek. Robison Concert Hall,

Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $5-25. Info, 443-6433.

outdoors

BOMOSEEN STATE PARK BIRD

WALK: Avian enthusiasts of all experience levels spot waterfowl, bald eagles and early spring birds. Bomoseen State Park, Castleton, 8-11 a.m. Free. Info, birding@rutlandcountyaudubon. org.

talks

GENSLER SYMPOSIUM: PERFORMING FEMINIST JOY: Talks, a workshop and a drag performance answer questions about art, gender and resistance. Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest, Middlebury College, 2-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 443-5937.

theater

‘DESTROYING ANGELS’: See THU.20.

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.20.

‘REMAINS TO BE SEEN: THE DEADVENTURES OF CEMETERY

GARY’: See THU.20.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: See THU.20.

‘WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?’:

THU.20. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $45-65. Info, 775-0903.

words

FRIENDS OF THE ALDRICH LIBRARY SPRING BOOK SALE: Bargain hunters dig through piles of used books, CDs, DVDs and more. BYO bags. Aldrich Public Library, Barre, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 476-7550.

PARTRIDGE BOSWELL: The poet and cofounder of Bookstock Literary Festival reads from his latest award-winning collection, Not Yet a Jedi. Norwich Bookstore, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 649-1114.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

SAT.22

agriculture

BACKYARD COMPOSTING: John Malter of the Mad River Resource Management Alliance teaches locals how to process their food waste. Waterbury Public Library, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister by April 20. Info, malterport@ aol.com.

dance

WORKSHOPS & HAFLA WITH

AMITY: Dancers from across New England perform and lead hipshaking classes to raise funds for reproductive charities. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley, Norwich, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations; preregister. Info, raqondance@gmail.com.

environment

EARTH DAY BEACH CLEANUP: Rozalia Project, Outdoor Gear Exchange and other local organizations welcome volunteers to help clear the waterfront of waste. Sorting and trash

sculpture creation follow on the Church Street Marketplace. Community Sailing Center, Burlington, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, 363-3320.

WATERBURY-STOWE FISH & GAME CLUB ANNUAL CLEANUP

DAY: Club members and other volunteers tidy up the neighborhood. Free lunch follows. Waterbury-Stowe Fish & Game Club, Waterbury Center, 8 a.m.noon. Free. Info, wsfgclub@gmail. com.

fairs & festivals

KINGDOM MAPLE FESTIVAL:

The “Maple Center of the World” celebrates Vermont’s signature sweet, complete with a pancake breakfast, a street fair and plenty of kids’ activities. Various St. Johnsbury locations, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Info, 748-8575.

film

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

‘ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’: Vermont Public presents an advance screening of the first of three episodes of the highly-appraised show filmed last summer at the Shelburne Museum. Q&A follows. Double E Performance Center’s T-Rex Theater, Essex, 5 p.m. $60-150; preregister. Info, 655-9451.

‘DER ROSENKAVALIER’: Soprano Lise Davidsen sings the lead in Strauss’s comic opera about matters of the heart, filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, noon. $16-25. Info, 748-2600.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

food & drink

SPRING GREEK TAKE-OUT FOOD

EVENT: Foodies spice up their weekend with souvlaki, gyro, falafel, baklava and spanakopita. Greek Orthodox Church Community Center, Burlington, noon-5 p.m. Prices vary. Info, 862-2155.

games

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.

health & fitness

MENTAL ILLNESS & RECOVERY

WORKSHOP: Family, peers, professionals and community members at this National Alliance on Mental Illness seminar brush up on symptoms, treatment methods, coping strategies and crisis prevention. Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 9:30

•

•

•

•

•

•

a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 876-7949.

holidays

AUDUBON EARTH DAY SPECIAL

MARSH WALK: A scavenger hunt and snacks make this jaunt around the marshlands extra special. Meet at parking area near the boardwalk kiosk on Marble Street. West Rutland Marsh, 8-11 a.m. Free. Info, birding@rutlandcountyaudubon. org.

EARTH DAY VOLUNTEER TREE

PLANTING: Locals plant local saplings to combat forest loss due to the invasive emerald ash borer. Folsom School, South Hero, 10 a.m.-noon & 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 372-3786.

LEAH PENNIMAN: Sustainable Woodstock hosts an Earth Day presentation by the Black Kreyol farmer and food justice advocate. 5-6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation; preregister. Info, 457-2911.

MANCHESTER ENERGY FAIR:

Environmentalists celebrate Earth Day at an extravaganza of eco-friendly delights, from e-bike test rides to lessons on regenerative agriculture. Manchester Town Hall, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Info, 339-205-8584.

lgbtq

LGBTQIA+ HEALTH SUMMIT: Healthcare providers and members of the LGBTQ community connect and learn from each other during a day of panels on topics ranging from gender-affirming surgery to sex education. Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sliding scale. Info, summit@ pridecentervt.org.

QUEER SANGHA: LGBTQ folks of all experience levels meditate, learn and discuss together.

Laughing River Yoga, Burlington, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Info, hayden. boska@gmail.com.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS

INTERNATIONAL LITERARY

FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

music

BOB GAGNON JAZZ TRIO: A guitarist, a bassist and a saxophonist put 30 years of collaboration to work. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER

ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON

MARSALIS: An all-star ensemble pays tribute to jazz standards and contemporary compositions. The Flynn, Burlington, 3 p.m. $50-72. Info, 863-5966.

JUKEBOX QUARTET: The cuttingedge chamber ensemble plays alongside electric cellist Zoë Keating. Artistree Community Arts Center Theatre & Gallery, South Pomfret, 7 p.m. $40. Info, 457-3500.

LOW LILY: Folk sounds from the Brattleboro five-piece fill the air. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 7 p.m. $5-20. Info, 533-2000.

‘OUT OF THE SHADOWS’: The local chamber trio Vermont Virtuosi finally breaks its pandemic hiatus with an optimistic springtime program of works by composers including Claude Debussy and Florence Price. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, 881-9153.

PLAY EVERY TOWN: Prolific pianist David Feurzeig and guest cellist Linda Galvan continue a four-year, statewide series of shows in protest of high-pollution worldwide concert tours. Donations benefit the South Hero Land Trust. Potluck dinner follows. South Hero Congregational Church, 3 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 321-614-0591.

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

Tickling the Ivories

Music lovers bask in the skill and spirituality of jazz piano at the seventh annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival. Over two days, six performances and a full slate of educational presentations, attendees learn how harmony can tell a story, how improvisers can start composing and how algorithms influence music. Two student pianists, Shiyu Fang and Remi Savard, give riveting emerging artist performances, and world-class keyboardists Michael Weiss, Dan Tepfer, Myra Melford and Orrin Evans bring the house down.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL

Friday, April 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. & 7:30-9:30 p.m., at Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro. $21-121. Info, 254-9088, vtjazz.org.

REID-CERUTTI DUO: Pianist

Alison Bruce Cerutti and violist Elizabeth Reid perform the Vermont premiere of ‘Deixo,’ a mesmerizing sonata by composer Douglas Boyce. Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. $25; free for low-income attendees and kids under 18. Info, 279-6082.

SARAH KING: Shades of blues and alt-country color powerful songs by the Ripton-based singersongwriter. Brandon Town Hall, 7 p.m. Free. Info, 247-5420.

SOLO JAZZ PIANO FESTIVAL: See FRI.21, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. & 7:309:30 p.m.

TRIFOLIUM: Energetic improvisations distinguish this eclectic act. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

TUSK: The Rumours are true: The preeminent Fleetwood Mac tribute band rolls into town and makes loving fun. Paramount Theatre, Rutland, 7:30 p.m. $35. Info, 775-0903.

‘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. College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, 7:30-9 p.m. $18 suggested donation. Info, 355-4216.

outdoors

SPRING EPHEMERAL

WILDFLOWER WALK: Lake Champlain Land Trust points out the area’s earliest wildflowers during a sunny jaunt through the woods. Rock Point Nature Trails, Burlington, 10-11:30 a.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, rockpointcenter@diovermont.org.

seminars

REWIRE YOUR BRAIN: UNLOCK YOUR

POTENTIAL: Brain health coach Patty Tashiro explains how the “hardware” of one’s brain can affect feelings and thoughts. 1-2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 265-0053.

theater

‘BED SHEET INTERPRETATIONS’: Bread & Puppet Theater presents a performance that evolves into something slightly new every

Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-3 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

POETRY SOCIETY OF VERMONT: Some of the Green Mountain State’s finest wordsmiths read from their work to celebrate National Poetry Month. Phoenix Books, Burlington, 2 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 448-3350.

VERMONT POETRY SHOWCASE: Fire Index author Bethany Breitland headlines an evening of conversations on craft and readings by other local poets, including Chard deNiord, Shanta Lee and Dede Cummings. Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, 7-9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Info, 387-0102.

SUN.23 film

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

‘BLACK ART IN THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT’: Art lovers enjoy a screening of this 2021 documentary about some of today’s foremost Black American artists, including Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold and Amy Sherald. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

‘BLACK IS THE COLOR’: A documentary surveys the history of Black American art, from the sculptor Edmonia Lewis in 1867 to contemporary artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 11 a.m.12:15 p.m. Free. Info, 863-3403.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

MADE HERE FILM FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

week. Free bread is available and affordable art is on sale after the show. Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, 3-4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 525-3031.

‘DESTROYING ANGELS’: See THU.20, 2-4:30 & 9-11:30 p.m.

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.20.

‘REMAINS TO BE SEEN: THE DEADVENTURES OF CEMETERY

GARY’: See THU.20, 2-4:15 & 7:309:45 p.m.

‘THE SILENCED LYRE’: See THU.20.

words

FRIENDS OF THE ALDRICH

LIBRARY SPRING BOOK SALE: See FRI.21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

OPEN MIC POETRY: Three poets from Québec and Vermont host a bilingual, border-crossing evening of readings. Haskell Free Library & Opera House, Derby Line, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Info, 888-626-2060.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

POETRY EXPERIENCE: Local wordsmith Rajnii Eddins hosts a supportive writing and sharing circle for poets of all ages.

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.19.

‘PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH

REPUBLIC’: The latest dark comedy from an award-winning playwright follows two generations of a Jewish family, separated by 70 years, as they reckon with the Holocaust and antisemitism in our own time. Sylvan Adams Theatre, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montréal, 1:30 p.m. $62-67. Info, 514-739-7944.

music

CHAMPLAIN TRIO: The chamber group performs pieces composed by Lili Boulanger, Jennifer Higdon, Maurice Ravel and Erik Nielsen. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House,

Dan Tepfer

COURTESY OF PAOLO PAVAN

4-5:30 p.m. $20 suggested donation. Info, 498-3173.

GARNET ROGERS: The acclaimed Canadian singer and guitarist elevates the mundane to sublime with his moving songs. Whallonsburg Grange Hall, N.Y., 4-6 p.m. $5-15. Info, 518-963-7777.

HIGHLAND HOOTENANNY: Musicians, singers and dancers of all ages throw down at an informal folk jam. Hawaiian-style dinner available for purchase. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $6-23. Info, 533-2000.

JAKE BLOUNT, NIC GAREISS & LAUREL PREMO: Three awardwinning folk artists join forces for a bewitching evening of haunting harmonies and rich rhythms. Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, 7-9:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 728-9878.

NICOLAS BOULERICE WITH FRÉDÉRIC SAMSON: The founding member of Le Vent du Nord and the acclaimed double bassist, respectively, join up for an incredibly intimate performance. York Street Meeting House, Lyndon, 7 p.m. $15-20. Info, 748-2600.

STOMP: Using anything but traditional drums, this troupe of percussionists keeps the beat with unconventional items such as brooms and hubcaps. The Flynn, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $4098. Info, 863-5966.

‘WHERE DOES THE MUSIC COME FROM?’: See SAT.22. Charlotte Congregational Church, 3-4:30 p.m.

seminars

REWIRE YOUR BRAIN: UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL: See SAT.22.

talks

PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY WEEK: Vermonters expand their minds during seven days of talks on everything from death to morality to the meaning of life. See public philosophyweek.org for full schedule. Various locations statewide. Free. Info, publicphilosophyweek@ gmail.com.

SAMANTHA FORD: A historic preservationist explains how mossy stone walls and overgrown ornamentals can act as clues to how Vermonters 300 years ago were using their land. Charlotte Senior Center, 2 p.m. Free. Info, cchsvt@gmail.com.

theater

‘PASS OVER’: See THU.20, 2-4 p.m.

‘REMAINS TO BE SEEN: THE DEADVENTURES OF CEMETERY

GARY’: See THU.20, 2-4:15 p.m.

words

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

POETRY IN MOTION: Wordsmiths read up to three original poems at this annual open mic. Preregister by April 21 to read. MAC Center for the Arts, Newport, 1-3:45 p.m. Free. Info, 334-1966.

MON.24

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.

KNIT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS: See THU.20.

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.

environment

COMPOSTING FOR EVERYONE: Natasha Duarte, director of the Composting Association, answers questions about recycling food scraps at home. Jericho Town Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 829-8168.

film

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

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

games

CANASTA MASTERS: Players of all experience levels are dealt in to this Uruguayan card game. Instruction for beginners, noon-1 p.m. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, noon3 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 of motion. Holley Hall, Bristol, 11 a.m.-noon. Free; donations accepted. Info, wirlselizabeth@ gmail.com.

PRACTICE WITH PAIGE: An intermediate yoga session makes Mondays less of a drag. BYO mat and any props desired. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

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.

language

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Locals learning English as a second language gather in the Digital Lab to build vocabulary and make friends. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, noon-1 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

ITALIAN BOOK CLUB: Intermediate and experienced Italian speakers read and discuss Cristo Si e Fermato a Eboli by Carlo Levi. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

lgbtq

NONBINARY SOCIAL GROUP: Genderqueer, agender, gender nonconforming and questioning Vermonters gather for a virtual tea time. Presented by Pride Center of Vermont. 6:30-8 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, trans@ pridecentervt.org.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC’: See SUN.23, 7 p.m.

politics

LEGISLATIVE FORUM: State representatives discuss the upcoming session with their constituents. Virtual option available. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

talks

PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY WEEK: See SUN.23.

theater

PLAYMAKERS: Playwrights develop new work in a collaborative setting. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, playmakersvt@gmail.com.

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.

MONDAY BOOK GROUP: The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson inspires a lively conversation. Jaquith Public Library, Marshfield, 7-8 p.m. Free. Info, 426-3581.

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS: Poet and Bennington College writing instructor Camille Guthrie leads a springtime discussion of some of the Bard’s poems about his mysterious male and female lovers. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

TUE.25 agriculture

GARDENING FOR BABY BOOMERS: 10 WAYS TO GARDEN SMARTER AS WE GET OLDER: Retirees learn tips to help them garden into their golden years. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 11 a.m. Free. Info, 362-2607.

SILVIA JOPE: Home gardeners learn how to bring beauty and pollinators to their yards with perennial plants. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington, 1 p.m. Free. Info, lconlong@comcast.net.

business

HOW THEY BUILT IT SPEAKER SERIES: POPPY CAFÉ, MAMAJUANA CAFÉ AND VEOC: 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.

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, 7:309 p.m. $5. Info, 864-8382.

film

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

‘BRAZIL’: Jonathan Pryce stars in this 1985 dystopian satire about a Kafkaesque, totalitarian future. Film House, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7 p.m. Free. Info, mariah@mainstreetlanding.com.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

MOVIE MATINEE: Film lovers and friends gather to take in a classic flick. See mclvt.org for film selection. Manchester Community Library, Manchester Center, 2-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 362-2607.

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘PLANET OF THE HUMANS’: Filmmaker Jeff Gibbs hosts a third anniversary screening of his controversial and factually disputed documentary debating whether green energy can solve the climate crisis. Essex Cinemas & T-Rex Theater, 2-4:30 & 6:30-9 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Info, jamesehlersvt@gmail.com.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19. ‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

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.19.

‘PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC’: See SUN.23, 7 p.m.

music

CHROMATICATS AND JAZZ

VOCAL ENSEMBLE: Songs by Anita O’Day, Thelonious Monk and others shine in a concert directed by Amber deLaurentis and Tom Cleary. University of Vermont Recital Hall, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 656-3040.

COMMUNITY SINGERS: A weekly choral meetup welcomes all singers to raise their voices along to traditional (and not-so-traditional) songs. Revels North, Lebanon N.H., 7:30 p.m. Pay what you can. Info, 603-558-7894.

outdoors

FAIRGROUNDS WEST BIRD WALK: Birders of all experience levels take a slow pace perfect for observing and taking photos. BYO water, snacks, cameras, guides and binoculars. Fairgrounds Trails, Poultney, 7:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Info, birding@ rutlandcountyaudubon.org.

seminars

EASY WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME: New England Federal Credit Union hosts a webinar on easy, affordable ways to make your home design more functional and comfortable. Noon-1 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 764-6940.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN GOLD: Olympic mountain biker Lea Davison, star quarterback Jake Eaton and legendary basketball coach Dave Fredrickson celebrate their induction into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. Rutland Free Library, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Info, awolffinvt@gmail.com.

talks

PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY WEEK: See SUN.23.

tech

DROP-IN TECH HELP: Experts answer questions about phones, laptops, e-readers and more in

one-on-one sessions. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

theater

ALL AGES ANYTHING GOES POETRY SLAM WITH GEOF HEWITT: From poets to musicians to magicians, performers share works up to three minutes long. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 7-9 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Info, 229-0492.

words

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19. POETRY GROUP: A supportive verse-writing workshop welcomes those who would like feedback on their work or who are just happy to listen. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 846-4140.

VIRTUAL POETRY OPEN MIC: Wordsmiths read their work at an evening with local performance poet Bianca Amira Zanella. Presented by Phoenix Books. 7 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 855-8078.

WED.26 activism

CORRINE YONCE: An artist and activist gives a presentation titled “Vocabulary of Home: A Conversation on How We Talk About Housing.” Burlington City Hall Auditorium, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 660-3456, ext. 110. business

QUEEN CITY BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL GROUP: See WED.19.

VERMONT TOURISM SUMMIT: Owners, managers and employees of businesses that depend on outof-staters convene to share insights and learn from the experts. Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. $75-400; preregister. Info, 865-5202. community

CURRENT EVENTS: Neighbors have an informal discussion about what’s in the news. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Info, 878-4918. 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.

‘JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D’: See WED.19.

WED.26 » P.73

thinkers in grades K through 5 vie for their opponents’ king in a meeting of the minds. Capital City Grange, Berlin, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $15; preregister. Info, mike@ vtchess.info.

stowe/smuggs

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.

upper valley

EARTH DAY AT THE LIBRARY!:

Scavenger hunts, seed giveaways and frolicks in the nearby wetland get patrons of all ages invested in the environment. Latham Library, Thetford, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, 785-4361.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION: VINS toasts our planet with a day of adventure hikes, book readings and family-friendly science activities. Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Quechee, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $16-19; free for members and kids 3 and under. Info, 359-5000.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: Composting, gardening, collage and sewing collide at a planet-friendly party. See calendar spotlight. Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Regular admission, $15-18; free for members and kids 2 and under. Info, 649-2200.

SHEEP-SHEARING & HERDING: Families and sheep alike shed their winter coats for a day of springtime fun including border collie herding, dyeing and spinning demonstrations, and woolly fiber crafts. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission, $10-17; free for members and kids under 4. Info, 457-2355.

northeast kingdom

‘ONE MAN’S TRASH’: See THU.20. Catamount ArtPort, St. Johnsbury, 7 p.m. $5-20. Info, 748-2600.

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.23 burlington

EARTH & SPACE-TACULAR FESTIVAL: See SAT.22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

FAMILY CONTRA DANCE: No experience is necessary at this all-ages line dance featuring live tunes by Maeve Fairfax and Brian Perkins. StudiOne Dance, Burlington, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $8-20 suggested donation. Info, calling.luke@ gmail.com.

KARAOKE PARTY: Singers ages 11 through 18 croon, belt or scream along to their favorite jams. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

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.

upper valley

SHEEP-SHEARING & HERDING: See SAT.22.

MON.24 burlington

EARTH & SPACE-TACULAR FESTIVAL:

See SAT.22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

TEEN NIGHT: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Local wizards and warlocks ages 12 and up play a collaborative game of magic and monsters. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston, 5-6 p.m. Free; preregister; limited space. Info, 878-4918.

northeast kingdom

ACORN CLUB STORY TIME: See FRI.21, 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.25

NURTURING A CHILD’S SENSE OF WONDER DISCUSSION SERIES: Fletcher Free Library and 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

EARTH & SPACE-TACULAR FESTIVAL: See SAT.22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

FREE BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS WITH ARAM BEDROSIAN FROM BURLINGTON

MUSIC DOJO: Budding musicians ages 11 through 18 learn the basics of picking 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.

PIZZA & PAPERBACKS: Teen bibliophiles discuss their latest reads over a slice. Ages 11 through 18. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 5-6 p.m. Free. Info, 540-2546.

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

LEGO ROBOTICS: CARNIVAL GAMES: Over four weeks of workshops, builders in grades 3 through 5 learn how to combine their favorite blocks with a knowledge of computer coding. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 878-6956.

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 THU.20.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: See THU.20.

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

ISSUES AND IDENTITIES BOOK GROUP: Using current and past Golden Dome Award nominees, readers ages 9 through 12 discuss social issues such as race, gender and disability. Waterbury Public Library, 3:45-5 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

northeast kingdom

‘FROZEN II’: The continued adventures of Elsa and Anna make for a super cool family movie outing. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 2 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

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.26 burlington

BABYTIME: See WED.19.

CRAFTERNOON: See WED.19.

EARTH & SPACE-TACULAR FESTIVAL: See SAT.22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

STEAM SPACE: See WED.19.

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, 1-2 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

BABYTIME: See WED.19.

GET YOUR GAME ON: Countless board games are on the menu at this drop-in meetup for players in grades 6 through 12. Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 2:30-4 p.m. Free. Info, 878-6956.

LEGO BUILDERS: See WED.19.

PLAY TIME: See WED.19.

TEEN CRAFT CAFE: Kids ages 13 through 18 get creative. All materials provided; refreshments served. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 2-3 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

barre/montpelier

CHESS CLUB: See WED.19.

NATURECAMP AFTERSCHOOL: See WED.19.

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 9 through 11. Waterbury Public Library, 3-4 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 244-7036.

STUFFIE STORY TIME & SLEEPOVER: Kiddos drop their plushy friends off at the library on Saturday, then pick them up the next day and learn what they got up to overnight. Waterbury Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 244-7036.

upper valley

PEABODY AFTERSCHOOL FUN FOR GRADES 1-4: See WED.19.

northeast kingdom

TWEEN BOOK CLUB: Book lovers ages 10 through 14 share their favorite recent reads at this monthly meeting. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 4-5 p.m. Free. Info, 745-1391.

manchester/ bennington

MCL FILM CLUB: See WED.19. NEW MOMS’ GROUP: See WED.19. K

WED.26 « P.71

‘MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD 3D’: See WED.19.

‘PARIS’: A cabaret dancer observes the streets of the City of Light with his sister while he awaits a heart transplant in this 2008 drama. Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 748-2600.

‘WILD AFRICA 3D’: See WED.19.

‘WINGS OVER WATER 3D’: See WED.19.

food & drink

ALL ABOUT FOOD: A FOOD

LOVERS’ GROUP: A monthly discussion group samples new topics of tasty conversation at every meeting. Manchester Community Library, Manchester

Center, 2-3 p.m. Free; preregister. Info, 549-4574.

COMMUNITY SUPPER: See WED.19.

IPAPRIL BEER DINNER: A fivecourse, street food-inspired meal is perfectly paired with IPAs brewed in-house. American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, 5:30-8 p.m. $85; preregister. Info, 861-2999.

games

MAH-JONGG OPEN PLAY: See WED.19.

health & fitness

BURLINGTON HASH HOUSE

HARRIERS TRAIL #756: Beer hounds of legal age take an invigorating jog along a trail of brews. Ages 21 and up. 1st Republic

Brewing, Essex, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Info, charissabeer@gmail.com.

CHAIR YOGA: See WED.19.

COMMUNITY APRÈS SKI YOGA — ALL LEVELS: See WED.19.

SEATED & STANDING YOGA: See WED.19.

language

ELL CLASSES: ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: See WED.19.

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS: See WED.19.

montréal

BLUE METROPOLIS INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: See WED.19.

‘PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC’: See SUN.23, 7 p.m.

music

MUSIC OF ANOTHER WORLD: MUSIC OF THE GHETTOS: This series on Jewish music composed under the Third Reich comes to a close. ADA accessible. South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, 1:15-2:30 p.m. Free. Info, 846-4140.

ZACH NUGENT UNCORKED: The sought-after guitarist plays a weekly loft show featuring live music, storytelling and special guests. Shelburne Vineyard, 6-8:45 p.m. Free. Info, 985-8222.

seminars

WOMEN & MONEY: TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE: Women learn how to overcome various challenges to

effectively save for retirement. New England Federal Credit Union, Williston, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 764-6940.

sports

GREEN MOUNTAIN TABLE

TENNIS CLUB: See WED.19.

talks

MOSQUITO CONTROL IN 2023: A biologist and insect expert discusses how to avoid the nasty buggers as conditions change.

Grace Congregational Church, Rutland, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Info, birding@rutlandcountyaudubon. org.

PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY WEEK: See SUN.23.

theater

‘VENUS IN FUR’: Vermont Stage presents David Ives’ seductive thriller about an erotic director and an unusual actress — again, starring the original cast from the blockbuster 2014 run. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. $31.0538.50. Info, 862-1497.

words

POEMCITY 2023: See WED.19.

SARAH STROHMEYER: The thriller author launches her new novel, We Love to Entertain. 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.

business

THE RETIREMENT DILEMMA: Come hear local experts on the complex topic of retirement financing. Turning retirement savings into a retirement lifestyle is a skill, and it’s easy enough to learn. Walk away with a deeper understanding of what you can do to secure your retirement plans and guarantee your needs are met! Tue., Apr. 11, 6 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: e Board Room at the South Burlington Public Library. Info: erik@ckfinancial resources.com, sevendays tickets.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. Location: Williston Recreation Paths, 250 Library Ln., Williston. Info: Kasie Enman, 802238-0820, firststridesvermont@ gmail.com, firststridesvermont. com.

martial arts

through the ground right now.

Tue., Apr. 25, 5-6:30 p.m. Cost: $15; scholarships & discounts avail. Location: Red Wagon Plants, 2408 Shelburne Falls Rd., Hinesburg. Info: 802-482-4060, info@redwagonplants.com, sevendaystickets.com.

language

FREE FRENCH CLASSES: 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, 135 Church St., 2nd Floor, Burlington. Info: btvescargot@gmail.com,

SPANISH CLASSES FOR ALL

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.

VERMONT BRAZILIAN

JIU-JITSU: We offer a legitimate Brazilian jiu-jitsu training program for men, women and children in a friendly, safe and positive environment. Julio Cesar “Foca” Fernandez Nunes; CBJJP and IBJJF seventhdegree Carlson Gracie Sr. Coral Belt-certified instructor; teaching in Vermont, born and raised in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! A two-time world masters champion, five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu national champion, three-time Rio de Janeiro state champion and Gracie Challenge champion. Accept no limitations! 1st class is free. Location: Vermont Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 55 Leroy Rd., Williston. Info: 802598-2839, julio@bjjusa.com, vermontbjj.com.

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 yinyang 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, 802-288-8160, scott@elementsofhealing. net, elementsofhealing.net.

music

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MEDIA

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

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.

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.

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.

Location: Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave., Suite 3G, Burlington. Info: 802-999-4255, spaton55@gmail. com, burlingtontaiko.org.

nature

MUSHROOM HUNTING ONLINE

CLASS: Join the Mushroom

Forager for our 2023 Mycophile

Membership and online class series. Each month of the Northeast mushroom hunting season (May-October), members enjoy an interactive presentation focused on safely pursuing highlight mushrooms currently fruiting. Members receive colorful handouts and other benefits to pursue favorite edibles as the season unfolds. Live online classes will take place on the following 2023 dates, from 7-8 p.m.: May 11, Jun.

8, Jul. 6, Aug. 10, Sep. 7 & Oct.

12. Membership packages start at $175. Location: Online. Info: Jenna Antonino DiMare, 413-3744670, info@themushroom forager.com, themushroom forager.com.

well-being

SPRING SAMPLER GROUP

RETREAT: Explore the variety of services Wild Trails Farm offers during a unique Spring Sampler group weekend event. Enjoy relaxing retreat sessions led by our skilled practitioners, nourishing food and restorative time out in nature on 400+ private acres in southern Vermont. Fri., May 26, through Mon., May 29. Rooms start at $750, plus 9% lodging tax. Location: Wild Trails Farm, 400 Ruusunen Rd., Springfield. Info: Jo Bregnard, 802-875-2275, retreats@wildtrailsfarm.com, wildtrailsfarm.com.

yoga

A UNIQUE STYLE: 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 (E-RYT 500), yoga therapist certified by Svaroopa Vidya Ashram, 802-333-9477, annie@ center4integrative health.org.

HATHA YOGA CLASSES IN MONTPELIER: Daily evening hatha yoga classes in Montpelier. 26 and 2 series. Call for more information. All levels welcome! Daily, 5:30-7 p.m. Location: Hatha Yoga, 26 State St., 2nd Floor, Suite 4, Montpelier. Info: 802-223-1987.

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. Location: Heart of the Healer, St. Albans. Info: omas Mock, 802369-4331, thomas.mock1444@ gmail.com, heartofthehealer.org.

Humane Society

Ella

AGE/SEX: 2-year-old spayed female

ARRIVAL DATE: February 14, 2023

SUMMARY: With her big smile and even bigger wiggles, Ella brings joy everywhere she goes! She’s an outgoing, social gal who enjoys adventures and making new friends. She loves to play but will also cuddle right up next to you on the couch. Ella is a low-maintenance pup in a lot of ways, but she is on a prescription diet and medication to keep her skin looking and feeling good. Her new family should be prepared to continue giving her that specialized care, but she promises to give you a whole lot of love in return. Think Ella could be your new best friend? She would love to meet you!

DOGS/CATS/KIDS: Ella has limited experience with other dogs and cats, but we’d be happy to tell you more about the best way to introduce her to a new friend. Her history with children is unknown.

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?

Some HSCC animals (such as Ella) are available for adoption from a foster home! If you’re interested in adopting Ella or any of our other foster friends, we can easily arrange a meet and greet. Call us at (802) 862-0135 or email bestfriends@hsccvt.org to learn more!

Sponsored by:

of Chittenden County

CLASSIFIEDS

homesharevermont. org for application. Interview, refs., background check req. EHO.

housing

HOUSEMATES

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/

MAH-JONGG 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

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 AUTO

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY

Receive maximum value of write-off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 888-476-1107. (AAN CAN)

CLASSIFIEDS KEY

housing ads: $25 (25 words) legals: 52¢/word buy this stuff: free online

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.

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)

EALTH/WELLNESS

MASSAGE $80 FOR 60 MIN.

Book a massage at mindfulcounselingand massage.com. $80 for 60 min. $120 for 90 min.

Discounted 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.

services: $12 (25 words) fsbos: $45 (2 weeks, 30 words, photo) jobs: michelle@sevendaysvt.com, 865-1020 x121

print deadline: Mondays at 3:30 p.m. post ads online 24/7 at: sevendaysvt.com/classifieds questions? classifieds@sevendaysvt.com

865-1020 x115

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

Refresh for spring w/ Declutter Vermont! Experienced professional. Clients recommend. Services: organizing by

REAL

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.

LEO’S ROOFING

Slate, shingle & metal repair & replacement. 30 years’ experience. Good refs. & fully insured. Chittenden County. Free estimate: 802-343-6324.

Bid Online or In Person

Sat., April 22 @ 9AM

298 James Brown Dr., Williston, VT

NATIONAL PEST CONTROL

Are you a homeowner in need of a pest control service for your home? Call 866-616-0233. (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)

buy this stuff

MISCELLANEOUS

4G LTE HOME INTERNET

Get GotW3 w/ lightningfast speeds + take your 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) SPECTRUM INTERNET AS LOW AS $29.99

Diecast, Toys & More, Morrisville, VT -

Online Thurs., Apr. 20 @ 10AM

2-Unit Home w/ Detached Garage, Milton, VT - Thurs., Apr. 20 @ 11AM

Simulcast Public Auto Auction, Williston, VT - Fri., Apr. 28 @ 9AM

Foreclosure: Wooded 9.8± Acre Lot, Albany, VT - Thurs., May 4 @ 11AM

Simulcast Public Auto Auction, Williston, VT - Sat., May 6 @ 9AM

Woodworking Machinery & Furniture

Online Lots Closing

Thurs., Apr. 27 @ 10AM

Charlotte, VT Location

PREVIEW: MON., APR. 24 FROM 11AM-1PM

Farm Machinery, Household & Collectibles

Online Closing

Tue., May 2 @ 10AM

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

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

Jeffersonville, VT Location

PREVIEW: THURS., APR. 27 FROM 11-1PM

Art, Antique, Jewelry & Collectibles

Online Lots Closing

Mon., May 1 @ 10AM

131 Dorset Lane, Williston, VT

PREVIEW: THURS., APR. 27 FROM 11-1

3 Unit Home/Office Bldg.

Thurs., May 4 @ 3PM

65 South Main St., Stowe, VT

OPEN HOUSE: WED., APR. 19 FROM 3-5PM

Call to see if you qualify for ACP & free internet. No credit check. Call now! 833-955-0905. (AAN CAN)

APPLIANCES/ TOOLS/PARTS

BLUE STAR GAS RANGE

36-in. Blue Star gas range, 6 burner, convection baking option, well-maintained. Original paperwork. 2012 purchase price was $5,500; asking $2,000. Contact mbrvermont@ gmail.com.

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 qualified watches. Call 888-3201052. (AAN CAN)

GUITAR INSTRUCTION

Berklee graduate w/30 years’ teaching experience offers lessons in guitar, music theory, music technology, ear training. Individualized, step-by-step approach. All ages, styles, levels. Rick

rickbelford.com.

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CALCOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

Fill the grid using the numbers 1-6, only once in each row and column. e numbers in each heavily outlined “cage” must combine to produce the target number in the top corner, using the mathematical operation indicated. A one-box cage should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not the same row or column.

SUDOKU BY JOSH REYNOLDS

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK: ★★★

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IT BACK

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Legal Notices

ACT 250 NOTICE

MINOR APPLICATION 4C0094-6B

10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C0094-6B from SRTB Holdings, LLC was received on April 3, 2023, and deemed complete on April 13, 2023. The project is generally described as changes to the façade of the building approved in Land Use Permit Amendment 4C00946A. The project is located at 1650 Shelburne Road in South Burlington, Vermont.

This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ ANR/Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C0094-6B).

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/partystatus-petition-form, 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 Kevin Anderson at the address or telephone number below.

Dated this April 14, 2023.

By: /s/ Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson

District Coordinator

111 West Street Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-522-6074

Kevin.Anderson@vermont.gov

ACT 250 NOTICE MINOR APPLICATION 4C1301-7

10 V.S.A. §§ 6001 - 6111

Application 4C1301-7 from BC Community Housing, LLC and 351-375 North Avenue Owner’s Association, LLC, was received on March 21, 2023, and deemed complete on March 30, 2023. The project is generally described as : (a) increasing the total number of housing units to 950; (b) combining buildings D, E, F, and I into one combined building to be referred to as DEF; (c) adding floors to portions of building DEF for additional housing units; (d) modifying the footprint of building Q/R to be linear; (e) revising the fourth floor of building C to match the third floor, thereby increasing the unit count in building C to 134; (f) modifying the footprint of building M to move housing units to the northwest corner of the building, with no change in the total number of units in building M; (g) relocating the common green closer to Kieslich Park; (h) site modifications to accommodate revised building footprints, utilities and site features; (i) increasing capacity of the sanitary pump station and overflow storage system to serve the additional housing units; and (j) consolidating lots 1, 8, 9 and 10 into one enlarged lot 1 comprising 8.759 acres. The project is located at 311 - 375 North Avenue in Burlington, Vermont.

This application can be viewed online by visiting the Act 250 Database: (https://anrweb.vt.gov/ ANR/Act250/Details.aspx?Num=4C1301-7).

No hearing will be held, and a permit will be issued unless, on or before May 3, 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 Kevin Anderson at the address or telephone number below.

Dated April 13, 2023.

By: /s/ Kevin Anderson

Kevin

Anderson

District Coordinator

111 West Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-522-6074 Kevin.Anderson@vermont.gov

CITY OF BURLINGTON IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE AN ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO CDO—INCLUSIONARY ZONING INCLUSIONARY ZONING PERCENTAGES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSIONARY

UNITS ZA# 23-02

ORDINANCE 9.02

Sponsor(s): Office of City Planning, Planning Commission

Public Hearing Date: 03/27/23

First reading: 02/21/23

Referred to: Ordinance Committee

Rules suspended and placed in all stages of passage:

Second reading: 03/27/23

Action: adopted Date: 03/27/23

Signed by Mayor: 04/06/23

Published: 04/19/23

Effective: 05/10/23

It is hereby Ordained by the City Council of the City of Burlington as follows:

That Appendix A, Comprehensive Development Ordinance, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Burlington, be and hereby is amended by amending Sections 9.1.8 Inclusionary Units,

Rentals and Sales; and 9.1.14 General Requirement for Inclusionary Units; thereto to read as follows:

Sec. 9.1.8 Inclusionary Units, Rentals and Sales

For covered projects in which units are offered for rent or sale, a base of fifteen percent (15%) of all of the dwelling units in the project, graduated as specified in Table 9.1.8-1, shall be designated as inclusionary units.

This includes any covered project where units are offered for sale via the conveyance of a deed or share for individual units, including fee simple ownership, condominium ownership and cooperative ownership.

Table9.1.8-1InclusionaryZoningPercentages Iftheaveragesaleandrentalpriceof

Sec. 9.1.14 General Requirements for Inclusionary Units

All covered projects must comply with the requirements set forth below.

(a) In order to assure an adequate distribution of inclusionary units by household size, the bedroom mix of inclusionary units in any project shall be in the same ratio as the bedroom mix of the non-inclusionary units of the project.

(b) The bedroom mix requirements

FROM P.77

FROM P.77

(

established in Section 9.1.14(a) do not apply when the ratio of the gross floor area of all inclusionary dwelling units to the total gross floor area of all dwelling units within the project exceeds the required percent of inclusionary units as established in Table 9.1.8-1, based on the project’s average unit sale and rental price (e.g. where at least 15.5 percent of a project’s residential gross floor area is composed of inclusionary units when the project’s average sale and rental price is affordable to a household earning less than 139% of AMI);

(b c) Rental inclusionary units within a covered project may “float” (as opposed to designating specific units). Owner-occupied inclusionary units within a covered project must be specifically designated. In either case, inclusionary units may be grouped together or distributed throughout a covered project;

(c d) Covered projects including both rental and owner-occupied dwelling units shall provide inclusionary units proportionate to the numbers of rental and owner-occupied dwelling units;

(d e) Inclusionary units may differ from the market units in a covered project with regard to interior amenities and gross floor area, provided that:

1. These differences, excluding differences related to size differentials, are not apparent in the general exterior appearance of the project’s units;

2. These differences do not include insulation, windows, heating systems, and other improvements related to the energy efficiency of the project’s units; and,

3. Inclusionary units are afforded the same opportunity for parking that the market units are afforded.

(e f ) The floor area of the inclusionary units is not less than ninety percent (90%) of the average gross floor area of the market rate units within the project with the same number of bedrooms, except when the ratio of the gross floor area of all inclusionary dwelling units to the total gross floor area of all dwelling units within the project exceeds the required percent of inclusionary units as established in Table 9.1.8-1, based on the project’s average unit sale and rental price (e.g. where at least 15.5 percent of a project’s residential gross floor area is composed of inclusionary units when the project’s average sale and rental price is affordable to a household earning less than 139% of AMI).

1. When the gross floor area ratio described above is proposed, the minimum gross floor area of inclusionary units by bedroom count is as follows:

i. Studio: 350 sf

ii. 1 bedroom: 550 sf

iii. 2 bedroom: 750 sf

iv. 3 bedroom: 950 sf

v. 4+ bedroom: 1,150+ sf

(f g ) Upon demonstration of inability to sell units to income eligible residents earning 70% of the AMI, the Manager of the HTF may extend income eligibility to allow priority in the sale of inclusionary units to households earning as much as AMI, adjusted for household size and to households residing in Burlington at the time that these units are offered for sale. In extending income eligibility, priority shall be given to the lowest income household who qualifies for purchase, all else being equal;

g h)Except for household income limitations as set forth herein, occupancy of any inclusionary unit shall not be limited by any conditions that are not otherwise applicable to all units within the covered project unless required under federal law, e.g. local use of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, or in conflict with the stricter bylaws of the designated housing agency; and

(hi) The final calculations for the number of inclusionary units shall be determined by the Manager prior to the issuance of the zoning permit. If there is any change in the project due to sales prices for these units that increases the number of inclusionary units required, such modifications shall be determined by the Manager and communicated to the administrative officer prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the

covered project. The rental or sales price of the inclusionary units shall also be determined by the Manager prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

* Material stricken out deleted.

** Material underlined added.

Planning/KS/Ordinances 2023/ZA-23-02

Inclusionary Zoning Percentages and General Reqt’s for Inclusionary Units

CDO Sections 9.1.8, 9.1.14 2/21/23

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 SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE

LYMAN STORAGE

10438 Route 116 Hinesburg VT 05461 802-482-2379

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid at the Lyman Storage facility. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges and expenses of the sale.

The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Lyman Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), attorney’s fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale. Any proceeds beyond the foregoing shall be returned to the unit holder.

Contents of each unit may be viewed on Saturday 04/29/2023, commencing at 10:00 a.m. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self-storage unit. Bids will be opened one-quarter of an hour after the last unit has been viewed on Saturday 04/29/2023. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50.00 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Lyman Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

Unit 214 ~ Tanya M Tenny 209 Hillview Terrace, Hinesburg VT 05461

PUBLIC HEARING COLCHESTER DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Development Review Board will hold a public hearing on May 10, 2023 at 7:00pm to hear the following requests under the Development Regulations. Meeting is open to the public and will be held at 781 Blakely Road.

a) FP-23-19: THOMAS W. MARTIN III: Final Plat application for a major Planned Unit Development to convert an existing 4-unit multi-family dwelling into a 5-unit multi-family dwelling. No increase in building area is proposed. Proposed dwellings are to be served by existing on-site water, existing on-site wastewater and existing parking. Subject property is located at 5779 Roosevelt Highway, Account #14-023000-0000000.

b) PP-23-03: THE HOUSING INITIATIVE, LLC & SEVERANCE FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC: Preliminary Plat application for a major Planned Unit Development to subdivide a 63-acre parcel into 36 new lots to be comprised of mixed uses including approximately 593 dwelling units in multi-family dwellings, senior housing, and condominium dwellings, with commercial uses such as offices, groceries, short-order restaurants and childcare facilities. Proposed subdivision is to be served by new water, sewer, stormwater, and road infrastructure. Subject property is located at 0 Roosevelt Highway, Account #08-038023-0000000.

April 19, 2023

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS: TOWN OF COLCHESTER GENERAL CONTRACTOR SERVICES COLCHESTER RECREATION CENTER

The Town of Colchester is currently pre-qualifying General Contractors for bidding on the Colchester Recreation Center project, and is therefore seeking Statements of Qualifications from General Contractors for the construction of the new Colchester Recreation Center. The 2-story, 30,000 square foot Colchester Recreation Center will include a full-size multipurpose gymnasium, locker rooms, meeting/classroom/exercise rooms, kitchen, exercise studio, fitness/cardio room, and an elevated walking/running track. In addition to the proposed building, the project will also include parking lots, access road, utility connections, sidewalks, a canopy mounted solar array, and all other supporting/associated infrastructure.

Provide two (2) copies of the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ’s). SOQs must be received in the Town mail, recognized carrier, or hand delivered not later than 3 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023. LATE SOQs WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Address SOQs to: Amanda Clayton, P.E., Town of Colchester, 781 Blakely Road, Colchester, Vt. 05446

Questions, interpretations or clarifications of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) must be requested in writing no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. All questions shall be directed to Amanda Clayton, P.E., Town Engineer (aclayton@ colchestervt.gov). Interested contractors must notify Amanda of their intent to submit a response so they can be placed on a list to receive any issued clarifications or other pertinent information. Please notify Amanda if email is not an acceptable method for receiving information and provide alternate means of contact.

For the full Request for Qualifications document, please visit the Town website at: https://www. colchestervt.gov/bids.aspx

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.

Legal Notices

Name of Probate Court: Grand Isle Probate Court P.O. Box 7 North Hero, VT 05474

VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT CHITTENDEN

UNIT 175 MAIN STREET BURLINGTON, VT 05401

802-651-1518 WWW.VERMONTIUDICIARY.ORG

accessing the services, programs, and/or activities at the Courthouse should contact the Clerk’s office at the above address for further assistance.

Dated at Hyde Park, Vermont this 27th day of March, 2023

Electronically signed pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d) /s/ Daniel Richardson

Daniel Richardson

Superior Court Judge

STATE OF VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT

PROBATE DIVISION GRAND ISLE UNIT

DOCKET NO.: 23-PR-01072

In re ESTATE of BRYANA K BLAIR

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

To the creditors of: BRYANA K BLAIR, late of Grand Isle, 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: April 12, 2023

Signature of Fiduciary: /s/ Hope Blair

Executor/Administrator: Hope Blair, 280 E Shore N, Grand Isle 05458 802-372-6946 hopieb@comcast. net

Name of Publication: Seven Days

Publication Date: 4/19/2023

TOWN OF BOLTON

The Town of Bolton, Vermont, is requesting proposals from qualified engineering firms for engineering services to stabilize of areas of erosion and slope failure, including the areas above and below the slope failure, along Gleason Brook in Bolton in the vicinity of Boulder Wood Lane, a private road. The request for proposal document is available on the town website www.boltonvt.com, or by calling the Bolton Town Office (802) 434-5075. The bid deadline is 3 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023.

TOWN OF ESSEX ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

PUBLIC HEARING MAY 4, 2023 - 6:00 PM

Join in person at 81 Main Street Conference Room. Join via Microsoft Teams at https://www.essexvt. org/870/5481/Join-ZBA-Meeting

Join via conference call (audio only): (802) 377-3784 | Conference ID: 480 347 627#

Public wifi is available at the Essex municipal offices, libraries, and hotspots listed here: https:// publicservice.vermont.gov/content/ public-wifi-hotspots-vermont

CONDITIONAL USE: Eurowest Retail Partners, LTD/Landowner: Magic Mann is proposing Light Manufacturing for cannabis cultivation & processing located at 25 Essex Way, Suites 218 & 221. in the MXD-PUD(B1) Zone. Tax Map 92, Parcel

1. VARIANCE: Jason Baron d/b/a 37 Pinecrest Drive, LLC: Proposed shed to be placed 2 feet from the side and rear property line located at 37 Pinecrest Drive in the (R2) Zone. Tax Map 69, Parcel 13.

MINUTES: April 6, 2023. Note: visit our website at www.essexvt.org if you have questions or call 802-878-1343.

PROBATE DIVISON CASE NO. 23-PR-01641

NOTICE OF HEARING AND ORDER FOR PUBLICATION

Estate of: Lena Knight

TO THE HEIRS-AT-LAW OF LENA KNIGHT WHOSE ADDRESSES ARE UNKNOWN:

A petition to open the estate of Lena Knight has been filed in the Chittenden Probate Court. The petitioner is Randall Knight. Mr. Randall Knight is also named as the estate fiduciary in the putative last will of Lena Knight.

A hearing on the petition will be held at: 10:30a.m. on June 2, 2023 at the Chittenden Probate Court. If no one files an objection to the petition, within 7 days of the hearing, the relief requested may be granted. If you wish to receive notice of future events in this proceeding, you must notify the Court by filing a Notice of Appearance form that can be found on the Vermont judiciary website. It is hereby ORDERED that this exact notice shall be published in Seven Days which is a newspaper of general circulation in the Chittenden Probate District.

Estate counsel (Attorney Morwood) shall file a tear sheet proving this notice has run as an advertisement not later than May 26, 2023. Electronically signed on March 22, 2023 pursuant to V.R.E.F. 9(d)

/s/ Gregory Glennon Probate Judge

Any individual with a disability requiring assistance

PE12 — Order for 1-Tearing by Publication 23-PR-01641 Estate of: Lena Knight

NOTICE OF SELF-STORAGE LIEN SALE

CHIMNEY CORNERS SELF STORAGE

76 GONYEAU ROAD, MILTON VT 05403

Notice is hereby given that the contents of the self-storage units listed below will be sold at public auction by sealed bid. This sale is being held to collect unpaid storage unit occupancy fees, charges, and expenses of the sale. The entire contents of each self-storage unit listed below will be sold, with the proceeds to be distributed to Chimney Corners Self Storage for all accrued occupancy fees (rent charges), late payment fees, sale expenses, and all other expenses in relation to the unit and its sale.

Contents of each unit may be viewed on May 3rd, 2023, commencing at 10:00 am. Sealed bids are to be submitted on the entire contents of each self- storage unit. Bids will be opened one half hour after the last unit has been viewed on May 3rd, 2023. The highest bidder on the storage unit must remove the entire contents of the unit within 48 hours after notification of their successful bid. Purchase must be made in cash and paid in advance of the removal of the contents of the unit. A $50 cash deposit shall be made and will be refunded if the unit is broom cleaned. Chimney Corners Self Storage reserves the right to accept or reject bids.

The contents of the following tenant’s self-storage units will be included in this sale:

David Farnham, Unit 225. Jessica Ferrecchia, Unit 633.

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

Receptionist

Executive Director

Part-time

For more details go to: vermontschoolcounselor.org

VERMONT PUBLIC IS HIRING!

We are Vermont’s unified public media organization (formerly VPR and Vermont PBS), serving the community with trusted journalism, quality entertainment, and diverse educational programming.

• Broadcast Engineer - Transmitter

• Event Producer

We believe a strong organization includes employees from a range of backgrounds with different skills, experience, and passions.

To see more openings & apply: vermontpublic.

org/careers.

Must be able to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Vermont Public is a proud equal opportunity employer.

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

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Case Manager/Options Counselor

(Multiple Positions Available)

“As a fifth-generation Vermonter, I remember watching my great-grandparents struggle to receive services they needed. Now, I can help CVCOA support older adults to age with dignity and choice.” ~Rachel, CVCOA Case Manager/Options Counselor.

We are the leading experts and advocates in healthy aging for central Vermonters. One of five Area Agencies on Aging serving seniors and their families in Vermont, Central Vermont Council on Aging serves adults 60 and older living in Central Vermont, their caregivers, partners, and families without discrimination and regardless of income. For certain programs, we may provide services for younger adults with disabilities.

Supporting older Vermonters to live with dignity and choice is critical for our families, neighbors, and communities!

Looking for a place to work, grow and collaborate with amazing coworkers & benefits? Come join our team!

For more information, visit: cvcoa.org/employment.html

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.

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.

DIRECTOR - Village House

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

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrate the diversity of our clients and staff.

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

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

MULTIPLE OPENINGS

There has never been a better time to bring your values and talents to the collaborative team at the Vermont Department of Taxes. The rewarding work we do supports this brave little state and helps shape its future. We work with proven, dynamic technologies to fund initiatives that preserve the environment, build vibrant communities, strengthen families, and so much more. Discover new opportunities, learn new skills, and solve problems with our dedicated and supportive team.

We currently have the following openings:

· Tax Audit Section Chief

· Tax Audit Assistant Section Chief

· Tax Examiner II, III, IV

· Tax Compliance Officer I, II, III

· Tax Field Auditor I, II, III

· PVR Administrative & Municipal Services Coordinator

· Financial Manager II

Learn more about our department and our mission, goals, and core values - and why a job at the Vermont Department of Taxes may just be the best job you’ve ever had. Contact: tax.vermont.gov/careers

CHARLOTTE, VT

Careers in Horticulture

$18-$22/hour

Delivery & Planting

Gardening Assistant

Garden Center Associate

Order Fulfillment Team

Perennial Grower

Tree & Shrub Grower

details at horsfordnursery.com

CFO/COO

Chooseco, the Waitsfield-based publisher of the world-renowned gamebook series Choose Your Own Adventure, is searching for a full-time CFO/COO. The position will involve handling all operational aspects of the company in collaboration with the Publisher and other managers.

CFO-related responsibilities include overseeing finance reports and annual budgets, analyzing financial performance and developing strategic long term goals with department managers. COO duties include ensuring the company has the proper operational controls, reporting, and people systems in place to effectively and efficiently grow the organization. Hybrid work environment, on-site 1-2 days per week.  Salary $90-115K, plus competitive benefits.

Send resumes to: careers@chooseco.com bit.ly/ChooseCoJob

Nursing Grads: We need you!

•

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

STAFF ASSISTANT

The University of Vermont Medical Center is seeking a Sta Assistant to join their Development team in Burlington. The Sta Assistant provides administrative support to the dynamic team responsible for raising charitable donations to support UVM Medical Center’s mission.

Qualifications:

• Must possess an Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience

• Previous employment in an o ce environment su cient to demonstrate advanced administrative support skills. For more information and to apply, please visit: uvmhealthnetworkcareers.org/sta asst-sevendays

The University of Vermont is an E.O.E.

•

HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR Student Employment

The Office of Human Resources at Saint Michael’s College is inviting applications for the position of Human Resources Coordinator – Student Employment. This is an exciting role that interfaces closely with student employees and their supervisors, providing them with exceptional service in support of their student employment experience. The successful candidate will develop and implement processes, policies, and procedures for the on-campus student employment program and will advise and train supervisors on the recruitment and employment process using Handshake, our recruiting platform, and Oracle HCM, our HRIS and Payroll system. The Human Resources Coordinator will communicate regularly with student employees and their supervisors to provide them with meaningful and helpful information as they move through the employment cycle.

For a full job description, benefits information, and for application instructions, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCHRCSE

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

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

Athens Diner is now hiring.

Seasonal Grounds Maintenance

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.

Development Manager

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Manager will work with the SLR leadership team, Board Development Commi ee, and contracted & volunteer partners to promote a culture of philanthropy within the organization. The Development Manager solidifies connections with existing donors, and diversifies SLR’s donor base, while working closely with others to secure funding for current and new initiatives including spearheading capital campaigns.

BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary, flexible hours, opportunity to work remotely at times.

• Five weeks’ paid time o , family leave options.

• Health/Dental/Vision

Send resumes to: heatherm@springlakeranch.org

HIGHWAY SUPERVISOR Full Time

The Town of Underhill is seeking to fill the position of a full time Highway Supervisor This position is responsible for supervising and assisting the Highway Crew which includes truck driver/laborers and equipment operators This position is also responsible for managing road construction and maintenance, scheduling, coordinating supervision of the work performed on the Town of Underhill roads and maintaining clear and safe roadways free of dangerous hazards, ice and snow during the winter The Highway Supervisor is responsible for various administrative duties as required to oversee the work of the department including payroll records, budget oversight and purchasing for highway expenditures Work is performed under the general guidance of the Selectboard, but requires the ability to work independently following established policies, procedures and routines This position entails extensive public contact

Underhill offers 100% Employer paid medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance to employees and their family & are members of Vermont Municipal Retirement Program (VMERS)

For full job description and application, visit the homepage of the Town’s website at underhillvt gov Send your cover letter, application and resume to jsilpe-katz@underhillvt gov or mail to:

Town of Underhill, ATTN: Human Resources P O Box 120, Underhill, VT 05489

The deadline for submission is April 30, 2023 E O E

FOH Manager: $20/hr plus tips. Prep cook\Sous Chef $18-$28/hr. Wed-Sun Servers

Send resume to info@athensdinervt.com

Marketing Assistant

Looking for an opportunity to work at one of the Northeast’s most reputable breweries? Now is your chance! Zero Gravity is seeking a full-time Marketing Assistant to be responsible for representing one of the Northeast’s most reputable breweries with passion, class, and compassion.

For more information & to apply: careers@zerogravitybeer.com

“Seven Days sales rep Michelle Brown is amazing! She’s extremely responsive, and I always feel so taken care of.” CAROLYN

Get

Contact Michelle Brown

You’re in good hands with...

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

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

Frame Shop/ Gallery Assistant

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

FULL TIME CUSTODIAN

Saint Michael’s College is seeking applications from dependable and efficient workers to fill a custodial position. The shift is Mon.–Fri. 5:00 AM-1:30 PM. Successful candidates will join a team that cleans College buildings, including dormitories, restrooms, offices, and classrooms. Training will be provided for the right candidate. Benefits include health, dental, vision, employer-paid life and disability insurance, voluntary life, critical illness and accident insurance options, parental leave, flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent care), 401(k), generous paid time off, paid holidays, employee and dependent tuition benefits, employee and family assistance program, well-being programs and opportunities, discounted gym membership, paid volunteer time, use of the athletic facilities and the library, and countless opportunities to attend presentations, lectures, and other campus activities. For a complete job description, benefits information, and to apply online, please visit: https://bit.ly/SMCFTCMF

4t-StMichaelsCollegeFTcustodian041923.indd 1

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

Bookkeeping/ Administrative Support

ReStore Director

Do you have a passion and drive to apply your talents to make a difference?

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is looking for a ReStore Director to oversee operations in Williston, Milton, and Swanton

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

General Assembly

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

The Legislative support offices are currently hiring. The nonpartisan offices are an interesting, challenging, and exciting place to work. 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.

Bookkeeping and administrative support position available at Wood & Wood Signs Inc. in Waitsfield Vermont. This design and fabrication company creates custom sign systems across a variety of industries nationwide. Seeking a self-directed and organized candidate with prior administrative and bookkeeping experience including: payables, receivables, reconciliations, invoicing, payroll and quarterly reporting. Contract review/ development experience preferred. Proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Office required with transition training provided. 20-30 hours per week with the opportunity to increase responsibilities and hours. Benefit package, flexible hours. Pay commensurate with experience and abilities. Apply with a letter of interest and resume to: admin@ woodandwoodsigns.com

Estate Planning & Probate Administration Paralegal

Prominent mid-size law firm in downtown Burlington, Vermont seeks paralegal for our estate planning and probate administration practice. The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic; excellent writing and communication skills; fluency in Microsoft Office programs and adaptability to technology generally; good time management skills; and the flexibility to work with multiple attorneys. Qualified candidates must have prior estate planning and trust administration experience, including drafting estate planning documents, deeds and property transfer returns, probate court filings and other trust administration duties.

We care most about excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills and initiative. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), paid parental leave and profit sharing.

For more information about Gravel & Shea, please visit: https://gravelshea.com/careers/

A qualified candidate should promptly submit a cover letter, résumé and at least one writing sample to: bit.ly/GravelSheaEPPadmin

Gravel & Shea PC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

NORTHEASTERN VERMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Multiple Positions

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!

3v-BridgeSchool041223 1 4/10/23 12:53 PM

HEALTH & WELLNESS CASE MANAGER

The position is responsible for direct service provision to refugees and other eligible populations including individuals with complex medical and mental health conditions, home visits, health orientation, health care navigation, transportation, etc. The position will collaborate and work closely with other members of the Health and Wellness team and will handle online and paper file case documentation as well as program reporting.

This is a grant funded position with opportunity for renewal depending on availability of funding. Bilingual and multilingual candidates encouraged to apply. Submit applications online: refugees.org

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!

APPLY TODAY AT NVRH.ORG/CAREERS

Cosmetologist/ Stylist

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• A fully licensed cosmetologist/stylist

• A reliable and friendly team player

• A professional who takes pride in their finished product

• A good communicator with excellent customer service skills.

You will be working in a positive environment with a professional sta who have vast knowledge in the industry. Also o ering the opportunity to provide manicure/pedicure and waxing services is a plus but not necessary and we would train the right person.

If interested please email Oasisdayspavt@comcast.net Attn: Lisa L

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

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/

JOB FAIR

Saturday 4/22/23, 11am - 2pm Inn at Shelburne Farms 99 Inn Road, Shelburne VT

Seasonal Opportunities (May-Oct.):

• Dining Room Manager

• Pastry Cook

• Breakfast & Dinner Server

• Housekeeper

• Office Receptionist

• Grounds Maintenance Crew

• Commercial Cleaner

• Summer Camp Educator

• More opportunities at the inn, restaurant, & welcome center!

Year-Round Opportunities:

• Program Administrative Assistant & Registrar

• Facilities Assistant Manager

• Professional Learning Facilitator

(follow the signs for the inn once you drive onto Shelburne Farms) Visit

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BASED IN MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT

BRIDGESCHOOLVERMONT.ORG

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.

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.

Power Analyst/Manager of Power Resources

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.

Shelburne Highway Department

Truck Driver/ Laborer Positions

The Town of Shelburne has two openings for team-oriented Truck Driver / Laborers. These full-time positions are responsible for operating trucks and equipment to maintain Town roads and properties and working as laborers on Town projects. One position has an immediate opening; the other position will have a July 1st start date. A commercial Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within six months is required. Complete job description is available at shelburnevt.org/237/HumanResources. For information or to apply, contact Nini Anger at nanger@shelburnevt.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Manager

Are you ready for a fun & rewarding career with an iconic local brand? Vermont Cookie Love is looking for a General Manager to run our current business and help realize future growth opportunities. We are seeking an individual who is passionate about spreading joy by providing superior quality cookies, ice cream, baked goods, and cookie dough to the local community and beyond. Giving back is an important part of our mission; we regularly donate product and gift cards to a variety of local charitable organizations as well as partnering with organizations to raise funds for their cause. The General Manager is a position that touches every aspect of the business including production, strategic planning, customer service, sta ng, pricing, and accounts.

You'll be a great fit if:

• You can manage and connect with team members.

• You are able to work independently.

• You bring a positive attitude and energy to work with you every day.

• You are able to represent the company positively in a wide range of customer interactions.

• You are highly flexible and willing to take on tasks you are familiar with, as well as diving into new tasks with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

Send resumes to Mattb@vermontcookielove.com.

HOUSING CASE MANAGER

The position will work closely with the Housing Coordinator on ensuring that resettled refugees are provided with safe, sanitary, and affordable housing. Responsibilities include researching and securing housing, apartment set up, overseeing in-kind and furniture donations, developing relationships with landlords and property management companies, coordinating with Case Aides and volunteers, delivering safety orientations and education, and other relevant duties.

This is a grant funded position with opportunity for renewal depending on availability of funding. Multilingual candidates encouraged to apply. USCRI is an E.O.E. Submit applications to: refugees.org

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

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.

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.

Lane Press prints, binds, and mails high-quality magazines for publishers nationwide. We’re widely known for our cra smanship, and we’re looking for dedicated, collaborative, and friendly employees to join our team. Apply today!

WE HAVE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR:

Bindery Production Crew, All Shi s

Work on our bindery production line, performing tasks to complete magazine binding and prepare finished magazines for shipping. This is a fun, fast-paced, and active role – your shi will go by quickly!

Shi s: 7am-3pm (Mon-Fri), 3pm-11pm (Mon-Fri), 11pm-7am (Sun-Thr)

Pay rate: $18-$19.80/hour

Pressroom Trainees, All Shi s

Learn to perform technical, manual, and machine tasks in our pressroom. Assist in the setup, maintenance, and operation of web presses, as well as stacker and roll-stand units.

Shi s: 7am-3pm (Mon-Fri), 3pm-11pm (Mon-Fri), 11pm-7am (Sun-Thr)

Pay rate: $18-$19.80/hour

General Maintenance Technician, 3rd Shi

Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair controls, mechanical and electrical aspects of manufacturing equipment, and facility systems. Basic plumbing and carpentry skills desired.

Shi : 11pm-7am

Pay rate: Commensurate with experience

Lane offers competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees.

Learn more & apply: careers.lanepress.com

Lane Press is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ATTENTION RECRUITERS:

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.

Liaison Librarian (3 Faculty Positions) - University Libraries - #F2607PO - The University of Vermont Libraries seek three creative and service-oriented individuals to join our team of librarians reporting to the Director of the Information and Instruction Services Department. The three new hires will support the teaching, learning, and research endeavors of the University. These individuals will have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in reimagining how to best support our users’ needs in a time of change. We are seeking both experienced librarians and those who are new to the field. Come and grow with us!

The search will remain open until the positions are filled. For best consideration, complete applications should be received no later than May 8, 2023.

Information Security Officer - Information Security Office - #S4053PO - The University of Vermont is seeking a qualified candidate for the position Information Security Officer. This senior-level position has both operational and strategic responsibilities for information security at the University. The Information Security Officer (ISO) is responsible for establishing and communicating the University’s information security vision, policies, and programs to ensure that information assets entrusted to it are adequately protected. This position requires collaborative, hands-on leadership, with the ability to think strategically, plan to the strategy, and oversee execution of the plan.

The ISO provides guidance and expertise to advance the operational mission of the Information Security Office. The position will lead efforts across the University, collaborate with multiple offices and officers at the University and with the University community as a whole.

The ISO is involved in all forms of IT governance and is responsible for information security-related policy and procedure development and risk assessment work. The ISO will lead and contributes to UVM’s information security awareness and outreach efforts. The ISO must maintain situational awareness using threat intelligence and leads incident response activities. The ISO will provide oversight and direction for the Information Security Office.

The ISO is accountable for all aspects of staff management for the Information Security Office. The position must foster a positive, collaborative, and engaged team dynamic in the pursuit of ISO priorities. The ISO must be able to offer strong technical guidance as necessary. Communication and prioritization skills are essential, with a strong track record in information security as both practitioner and leader. In-depth expertise with Information Security tools and practices is important as the ISO must be able to advise on how to best use technology to enhance UVM’s security posture.

This is a senior-level position within Enterprise Technology Services and has University-wide responsibilities to provide information security leadership for the institution.

Minimum qualifications include:

Bachelor’s degree in technology or related field and seven to ten years’ related experience. Ability to comprehend and assess technical issues across information technology domains. Knowledge of applicable information security regulations and compliance standards.

Technical skills required:

• Experience as a practitioner in one of more of network engineering, systems administration, forensics, traffic analysis, and/ or SOC operations

Additional required skills:

• Project planning, prioritization, management, implementation, and assessment skills

• Ability to establish rapport and maintain trust

• Ability to develop and administer policies across constituencies in a decentralized organizational environment

• Strong communications skills, including experience with:

- Communications to a diverse community, in both written and verbal forms

- Group facilitation

- Formal presentations

• Collaboration, problem-solving and negotiation skills

Required certifications:

Industry-recognized security professional certification, or the ability to acquire within the first year of employment, e.g.: CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) Advanced-Level Certification (such as GLSC, GCED, GSNA), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor).

Cloud Engineer - Department of Psychiatry - #S4219PO - University of Vermont’s Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families (RCCYF, www.aseba.org) is seeking a talented Cloud Engineer (Information Tech Professional Sr.) to join its collaborative, mission-oriented team of technical professionals. Successful candidate shall secure, monitor, troubleshoot, and implement cloud resources, and collaborate with development team. Team player verifies and validates that systems meet internal and external requirements related to security, reliability, and accessibility; analyzes, develops, modifies, tests, and maintains the environment, and serves as subject matter expert on infrastructure, data security, and compliance; diagnoses problems and provides recommendations for improvement on existing and new cloud resources; manages platformprovider and other licensing agreements. Bargaining unit position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy. Bachelor’s degree in an information technology field, and four to five years’ related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Major Lecture Series Coordinator - Office of the President - #S4285PO - The University of Vermont seeks a creative, adaptable, and detail-oriented professional for an exciting opportunity in the Office of the President. The Major Lecture Series Coordinator will have a key role in implementing and maintaining a new initiative at the University to consolidate and elevate the profile of a series of major, public-facing academic lecture events at UVM. The coordinator will be the key liaison to the University’s most prominent guest speakers, facilitating arrangements for their visits and collaborating on all aspects of hosting, promoting, and executing their public events. The Major Lecture Series Coordinator will also collaborate with the Lecture Series Steering Committee to engage University partners in planning the series and connecting its topics with the work and interests of students, faculty, staff and the broader community, participate as a member of the Presidential Events team to coordinate efforts of the Major Lecture Series with other University-wide events support, and collaborate across units in the planning and promotion of University academic events generally.

Bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years of related experience is required. Proven collaboration skills and excellent written and oral communication skills are required. Experience in planning and promoting public events is desirable, as is a background in cultural and/or educational programming.

For further information on these positions 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.

Sales Associate II (Keyholder)

Seven Days

Issue: 4/19

YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL SOURCE.

Due: 4/17 by 11am

Size: 5.8” x 10.63”

Cost: $1,107.98 (with 1 week online)

Join Ten Thousand Villages in Burlington as a Retail Sales Associate! We are seeking part-time keyholders for our Church Street location. If you want to directly connect the Ten Thousand Villages mission, products & artisan partners with customers in our colorful and friendly work environment, apply today! Previous retail experience preferred, but not required. Send resumes to: manager.burlington@ tenthousandvillages.com

Drivers

We are looking for Drivers to transport SSTA clients in a comfortable, safe and timely manner. Driver responsibilities include driving a 27’ lift-equipped van, providing reliable door-to-door transportation service to those in need. Ultimately, our drivers are difference makers, making sure clients who depend on us for their transportation needs are delivered best-in-class service!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure vehicle is safe and clean each shift

• Pick up clients from the place and at the time they’ve requested

• Assist clients with loading and unloading

• Communicate with dispatch regarding circumstances of the day

• Provide a smiling face for SSTA’s outstanding clients!

• Ensure safety practices are adhered to at all times

SKILLS

• A valid driver’s license with 5 years of driving experience

• A clean driving record

• Familiarity with GPS devices

• Knowledge of area roads and neighborhoods

• Ability to lift up to 50lbs

• A polite and professional disposition

• Ability to remain calm in stressful driving situations (e.g. at rush hour)

• A high school diploma

Full or Part time positions available. Flexible Schedule. Starting wage is $19.00 per hour  ALL candidates must complete our application in full.

APPLY ONLINE AT: sstarides.org –Click on “Employment Opportunities” tab

SSTA offers a robust benefits package, competitive pay, paid holidays, and vacation time.

SSTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SSTA is subject to the rules and regulations of the FTA Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Project Administrator

Discovery Map

International, Inc, a VT based company for 40+ years, seeks a Project Administrator for its production department. Based in our Waitsfield office, this person will be responsible for managing multiple production schedules, act as liaison between map owners and staff using written and oral communication, and prioritize projects as needed. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are required. 20-30 hours/wk to start with flexible schedule. Willingness to learn and excel. Competitive salary and collegial work environment. Send letter of interest to susan@discoverymap.com

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

Teaching Faculty Administrative Support

Creativity. Innovation. Diversity. Compassion. What we

General Manager/ Assistant General Manager

Positive Pie, Montpelier

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.

If you’re a positive, food-loving, high performer and a dynamic leader, then we want to hire you! At Positive Pie we strive to create a fun, lively, and professional environment for all, and our management team is the foundation of this. We focus on making great food and creating a positive and inclusive culture for our staff. As our GM/AGM, you will be given the opportunity to lead our team, reinforce our culture, hit financial targets and grow sales.

Responsibilities: The GM/AGM supports the company by maintaining an outstanding work environment through leadership, direction, positivity, emotional intelligence, training, and development. They are responsible for managing day to day restaurant operations, in conjunction with the management team, and focusing on developing a guestcentric culture that consistently delivers positive guest service and superior food quality, while ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in mangement/ supervising in a restaurant

• Experience in business financials

• Experience in many service functions including bar and table service, host, expo, back of house functions and counter / delivery service.

• Refined social skills including charisma and an ability to develop rapport with customers and staff.

• Excellent communication skills, emotional intelligence and a great attitude.

General manager: Salary $70-75k, depending on experience, and an opportunity for performance based bonus.

Assistant General Manger: Comparable hourly rate. This position is available to start immediately. Please send resume directly to carlo@positivepie.com.

Assistant transactional practice required. service-oriented, skills. commercial competitive package, forward Manager at

Legal Assistant

Busy Burlington Law Firm seeks a full-time Legal Assistant to provide support in both litigation and transactional practice areas. Experience in a law firm is preferred, but not required. The ideal candidate will be professional and service-oriented, with strong computer and organizational skills. MSK focuses its practice on real estate, land use, commercial transactions, and related litigation. We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience, benefits package, and a family friendly work environment.

Please forward your resume to Deborah Sabourin, Business Manager at dsabourin@mskvt.com

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.

EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND GRANT MANAGER

The VECF Grant Manager will bring keen project management skills to their oversight of the distribution and compliance of the Vermont Early Childhood Fund, with $1.9M in grants annually going to communities. In this new role, the VECF Grant Manager will take a flexible and collaborative approach to administering equitable selection of grantees, fund management, and clear communication with grantees.

Join the dedicated team at Building Bright Futures who are working to improve the well-being of Vermont children and families. The VECF Grant Manager is full-time with a competitive salary and flexible work schedule. This is a home-based position with the option to work in BBF’s Williston headquarters.

Salary range of $58,000-65,000 annually. Benefits include generous paid time off, healthcare insurance, dental insurance, and retirement. This is a grantfunded limited service position through 12/31/25. Application deadline is 5/1/23.

For the full job description and how to apply please go to buildingbrightfutures.org/jobs/

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

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

POLICE CHIEF

The town of Northfield, Vermont (population 6,100) is seeking a Police Chief whose core values align with the Northfield Police Department values of Integrity, Fairness, and Service (northfield-vt.gov/police-department). The preferred candidate will be collaborative, trustworthy, inclusive, and engaged. The Chief will seek to build connections across the community through positive, proactive communication and involvement.

The Police Chief will lead a department of six full-time officers with a current operating budget of $1,132,600. Northfield is located in central Vermont and is home to Norwich University, which has about 2,200 students on-campus and is the oldest private military college in the United States. The town is governed by a five-member Select Board and has an appointed Town Manager. The ideal candidate will have five years of police command experience, and must either be certified as a full-time officer in the State of Vermont by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council or be able to attain such certification within one year of appointment. The preferred candidate should have a background in community policing, restorative justice and mediation. The successful candidate will have completed cultural sensitivity and internal bias training, or be willing to participate in such programs. Appointment as Chief is contingent on successfully passing a criminal background check.

Salary is negotiable based upon experience. The town provides competitive health and dental benefits and participates in the Vermont Municipal Employees Retirement system.

A complete job description is available on the town website: northfield-vt.gov or by contacting the town manager at jschulz@northfield.vt.us or 802-485-9822. To apply, please E-mail cover letter and resume to jschulz@northfield.vt.us or mail to: Northfield Town Manager, 51 South Main Street, Northfield, VT 05663.

The town will begin reviewing applications on May 19, 2023 and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

The town of Northfield is an equal opportunity employer.

$1,000 SIGNING BONUS

Accounting Assistant

Are you interested in doing valuable work that supports our community and the environment? Consider joining our team as an Accounting Assistant!

We seek a dedicated individual to assist our Finance Department with various accounting tasks. Some travel between our Middlebury, Randolph and Bradford office will be required.

Position Requires:

• Strong attention to detail

• An Associate’s Degree or Certificate in Accounting or equivalent experience

• A minimum of 2 years of accounting work experience

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

• Ability to maintain a positive attitude

• A high level of professionalism

• Strong communication skills

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits, including:

• 25 paid days off to start (Holidays & PTO)

• 100 % Employer paid Health insurance and funds towards deductible (HRA plan)

• Retirement plan with employer match

• Long & short-term disability insurance

• Life Insurance

• Access to low-cost dental and vision insurance with a 50% Employer premium match

• Employee Assistance Program

Please visit trivalleytransit.org/job-openings/ and complete our application in addition to submitting your resume and cover letter for consideration of employment. Employment is contingent upon passing required background checks.

TVT is an AA/EEO Employer

TOWN OF MILTON IS HIRING:

WATER/WASTEWATER TECHNICIAN I & TECHNICIAN II

Per-Diem ADVANCED EMT

Also always recruiting for FIRE & RESCUE VOLUNTEERS

Please visit miltonvt.gov/employment for additional details & to apply.

Staff Accountant

S.D. Ireland is a family run and oriented organization comprised of over 400 motivated employees in three distinct divisions (Concrete, Site Work and Real Estate Development). Our “can do – will do” attitude is a hallmark of the company philosophy.

We are looking for a staff accountant who is motivated and enthusiastic about joining the SD Ireland team. In this role, you will be primarily responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Accounts Receivable process. Other tasks may include various accounting responsibilities across Accounts Payable, Payroll, Financial Statement preparation and assisting the Controller with various projects.

WHAT IT TAKES:

• Knowledge of accounting practices, policies, and procedures.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to research and resolve accounting discrepancies.

• Research and implement policies and procedures to streamline finance tasks.

• Ability to maintain & reconcile complex Excel documents.

• Assist with weekly, monthly, and annual financial reporting.

• Familiarity with the month-end closing process, including reconciliations, general ledger review, and reporting.

REQUIREMENTS:

• A degree in accounting or finance.

• A minimum of 4 years of accounting experience.

• Strong attention to detail & excellent organizational skills.

• Proficiency in Excel.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple priorities and deadlines.

S.D. Ireland is a great place to work! We offer great benefits, including health care, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, paid time off, and a 401(k) plan.

To apply, please visit our website: www.sdireland.com

S.D. IRELAND 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!

Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist

The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc. is seeking a full time Quality Improvement (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.

WHERE YOU AND YOUR WORK MATTER

BUSINESS APPLICATION AND AUDIT SUPPORT SPECIALIST – WATERBURY

When you work for the State of Vermont, you and your work matter. A career with the State puts you on a rich and rewarding professional path. You’ll find jobs in dozens of fields – not to mention an outstanding total compensation package.

QUALITY OUTCOMES SPECIALIST – WATERBURY

Department: Human Services

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 in 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.

Agency. 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 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.

AOT DATA ANALYST I, II, III – BARRE

The Agency of Transportation (AOT) is seeking a Data Analyst to join the agency’s Performance Team. This position supports AOT in planning, coordination, and development at a professional level involving program evaluation, data analysis, and spatial analysis of AOT data. As a Data Analyst, you will be responsible for both independently and collaboratively developing data visualizations of varying complexity and size. Project management and facilitation skills are preferred. Please Note: This position is being recruited at multiple levels. If you would like to be considered for more than one level, you MUST apply to the specific Job Requisition. For more information, contact Kyle Opuszynski at Kyle.Opuszynski@ vermont.com. Department: Transportation Agency. Location: Barre. Status: Full Time. Job Id #46945 for level I, #46946 for level II, or #46898 for level III. Application Deadline: April 30, 2023.

The Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living (DAIL) is hiring an Outcomes Specialist for the Adult Services Division, Quality Management Unit. This position is responsible for assisting with desk reviews, data reporting and is a team lead for State & Federal compliance standards. Candidates should have strong analytical & communication skills. Eligible for a hybrid schedule, some in-person meetings & fieldwork. DAIL values diversity, equity & inclusion of our staff. For more information, contact Colleen Bedard at colleen.bedard@vermont.gov. Department: Disabilities Aging & Independent Living. Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time, Limited Service. Job Id #46912. Application Deadline: May 7, 2023

DDS PROVIDER RELATIONS SPECIALIST – WATERBURY

Do you thrive at making connections and creative problem-solving, all while promoting great customer service? This position develops relationships with the medical community to expand the division’s network of providers and aid in our mission of providing accurate and timely decisions to disability applicants, resolving issues, and facilitating the efficient flow of medical records. Work is performed at the DDS office with the option to telework 2-3 days per week. Some travel is required. For more information, contact Kirsten Moore at kirsten.moore@ssa.gov.

Department: Children and Families. Location: Waterbury. Status: Full Time. Job Id #46415. Application Deadline: April 30, 2023.

DDS MEDICAL CONSULTANT – WATERBURY

Are you a physician looking for a flexible part-time career helping to improve the lives of Vermont’s most vulnerable people? Disability Determination Services seeks a licensed M.D./D.O. with experience in general medicine, family practice, or cardiology to consult with adjudicative staff and provide medical eligibility decisions for applicants filing for Social Security disability, SSI, and Medicaid disability. Telework available. Program training is provided with no patient care responsibilities. For more information, contact Kirsten Moore at kirsten.moore@ssa.gov.

Department: Children and Families. Location: Waterbury. Status: Part-Time. Job ID #44279. Application Deadline: April 27, 2023.

True North is a therapeutic program located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Waitsfield, Vermont.

True North is a small, independently owned program, providing personalized therapeutic interventions and transition support for 14-17 year old adolescents and 18-25 year old young adults with an emphasis on assessment and family participation. This is an excellent opportunity to work for a nationally recognized therapeutic wilderness program, be part of a dynamic, supportive team and live and work in a fantastic community.

True North promotes an inclusive work environment. We seek to recruit diverse staff who will contribute a variety of perspectives in our mission to help young people and their families. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups including professionals of color and non-conforming gender identities.

Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. All positions must pass background checks and a drug test. See each job description for responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation package. Apply here: truenorthwilderness.com/ careers/ or use the QR code listed in this ad.

WILDERNESS THERAPY GUIDE

Are you motivated and energized? Do you have a desire to mentor youth and young adults? Minimal outdoor experience necessary. We are looking for individuals who are empathic and caring, and natural leaders and strong communicators. The Guide role is perfect for someone who is eager to learn and enhance their therapeutic skill set. Guiding is a full-time, year-round position with seasonal opportunities available. Guides work an 8 day on / 6 day off schedule.

Responsibilities: Guides work in teams of two to provide supervision for a group of up to 7 students. A day in the field can include: facilitating/participating in daily activities (hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, games, art, yoga, disc golf, movie nights), teaching outdoor skills (camping, fire-building, outdoor cooking, map and compass navigation), and helping students achieve therapeutic goals.

Qualifications: Must be 21 years or older. Bachelor degree preferred.

Compensation: Average starting pay is $1825 per 8 day shift. Comprehensive benefits include health insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement and an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

THERAPIST

This full-time position is open to masters level or licensed therapists. True North therapists are the hub of the treatment team. They are comfortable in the outdoor setting, demonstrate superior communication, leadership, and therapeutic skills.

Responsibilities: Therapists are responsible for supervising a caseload of up to 7 students and providing therapy in the wilderness setting. This position requires driving and hiking to meet with students outdoors at least twice per week as well as facilitating regular communication and support for families and referring professionals. Therapists at True North work closely as a team and provide training and supervision for guides.

Qualifications: Master’s degree or higher in mental health field, such as Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy. License preferred, and will consider those working toward licensure.

Compensation: Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement & an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

Seeking full-time, year-round Operations Support person. 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 operating the program.

Responsibilities: Tasks including food packing and rationing, gear outfitting, transportation and facilities maintenance. Candidates must be willing to work weekends and occasional evenings and are part of an on-call rotation.

Qualifications: A clean and valid driver’s license is required.

Compensation: Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement and an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

MEDICAL COORDINATOR

Seeking a Medical Coordinator to coordinate medical needs and medication management for all students. The ideal candidate is

highly organized, very comfortable with medical information, and has superior interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities: Manage and and dispense medications for students at True North. This includes close communication with parents, doctors, pharmacies, and other members of the True North team. Support medical needs that may come up for students in the field, depending on level of experience. The job is generally 9-5, Monday through Friday, and there may be flexibility of hours within the parameters of the job requirements.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate is highly organized, very comfortable with medical information, and has superior interpersonal communication skills. Nursing or other medical training is preferred but not required.

Compensation: Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement and an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

OFFICE MANAGER

Recruiting a full-time Office Manager responsible for managing human resources, bookkeeping, and the general administration of the business.

Responsibilities: Human resources responsibilities include recruiting, benefits administration, onboarding and offboarding, managing an HRIS, managing workers compensation and unemployment claims. Bookkeeping responsibilities include reconciling bank and credit card accounts, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll. Administrative responsibilities include serving as Google Workspace administrator, supervising office staff, managing insurance policies including: general liability, property, auto, inland marine and workers compensation.

Qualifications: Bachelor degree or higher. Minimum of 2 years of experience in human resources and some bookkeeping experience. Familiarity with residential treatment programs and recognized independent school regulations is a plus.

Compensation: Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement & an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

ADVENTURE COORDINATOR

Seeking an Adventure Coordinator to facilitate day outings with students including hiking, water sports (canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding), backcountry cooking, yoga, disc golf, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Responsibilities: Oversee and facilitate the adventure activities at True North. Adventure coordinator is a 5 day/week role with some responsibility on weekends and “on-call.”

Qualifications: Candidates must be at least 21 years old. Bachelor degree preferred. WFA certification, competency and leadership skills in the listed activities, and the ability to facilitate meaningful and intentional experiences. Certifications in any of the listed disciplines is preferred.

Compensation: Salary is competitive, and commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision and accident insurance, an employee assistance program, an annual wellness fund, student loan repayment reimbursement and an employer matched SIMPLE IRA.

Now hear this!

Seven Days is recording select stories from the weekly newspaper for your listening pleasure.

Listen to these stories and more:

Tillie Walden Becomes Vermont’s New Cartoonist

Six Quick-Hit Reviews of Local Albums 32 MINS.

The Conversation Artist: Podcaster Erica Heilman Seeks the Meaning of Life, One Interview at a Time 32 MINS. A Proposed State Program Would Help Vermonters Save for Retirement 8 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.

How does it work?

1 2 3

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.

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WHILE YOU WORK

fun stuff

CALCOKU & SUDOKU (P.77) CROSSWORD (P.77)

JEN SORENSEN

HARRY BLISS

fun stuff

JULIANNA BRAZILL

TAURUS

(APR. 20-MAY 20)

Satirical Taurus author Karl Kraus defined “sentimental irony” as “a dog that bays at the moon while pissing on graves.” Please avoid that decadent emotion in the coming weeks, Taurus. You will also be wise to reject any other useless or counterproductive feelings that rise up within you or hurtle toward you from other people, like “clever cruelty” or “noble self-pity” or “sweet revenge.” In fact, I hope you will be rigorous about what moods you feed and what influences you allow into your sphere. You have a right and a duty to be highly discerning about shaping both your inner and outer environments. Renewal time is imminent.

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): In English, the phrase “growing pains” refers to stresses that emerge during times of rapid ripening or vigorous development. Although they might feel uncomfortable, they are often signs that the ongoing transformations are invigorating. Any project that doesn’t have at least some growing pains may lack ambition. If we hope to transcend our previous limits and become a more complete expression of our destiny, we must stretch ourselves in ways that inconvenience our old selves. I’m expecting

growing pains to be one of your key motifs in the coming weeks, dear Aries. It’s important that you don’t try to repress the discomfort. On the other hand, it’s also crucial not to obsess over them. Keep a clear vision of what these sacrifices will make possible for you.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20): In his poem “October Fullness,” Pablo Neruda says, “Our own wounds heal with weeping, / Our own wounds heal with singing.” I agree. I believe that weeping and singing are two effective ways to recover from emotional pain and distress. The more weeping and singing we do, the better. I especially recommend these therapeutic actions to you now, Gemini. You are in a phase when you can accomplish far more curative and restorative transformations than usual.

CANCER (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): After careful analysis of the astrological omens and a deep-diving meditation, I have concluded that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to indulge in an unprecedented binge of convivial revelry and pleasure. My advice is to engage in as much feasting and carousing as you can without completely ignoring your responsibilities. I know this may sound extreme, but I am inviting you to have more fun than you have ever had — even more fun than you imagine you deserve. (You do deserve it, though.) I hope you will break all your previous records for frequency and intensity of laughter.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): In 1886, Vincent van Gogh bought a pair of worn-out shoes at a Paris flea market. When he got home, he realized they didn’t fit. Rather than discard them, he made them the centerpiece of one of his paintings. Eventually, they became famous. In 2009, a renowned gallery in Cologne, Germany, built an entire exhibit around the scruffy brown leather shoes. In the course of their celebrated careers, six major philosophers and art historians have written about them as if they were potent symbols worthy of profound consideration. I propose that we regard their history as an inspirational metaphor for you in the coming weeks. What humble influence might be ready for evocative consideration and inspirational use?

Eva Sollberger’s

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22): Gliding away from the routine for rendezvous with fun riddles? I approve! Delivering your gorgeous self into the vicinity of a possibly righteous temptation? OK. But go slowly, please. Size up the situation with your gut intuition and long-range vision as well as your itchy fervor. In general, I am pleased with your willingness to slip outside your comfortable enclaves and play freely in the frontier zones. It makes me happy to see you experimenting with AHA and WHAT-IF and MAYBE BABY. I hope you summon the chutzpah to find and reveal veiled parts of your authentic self.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): The German word Sehnsucht refers to when we have a profound, poignant yearning for something but we don’t quite know what that something is. I suspect you may soon be in the grip of your personal Sehnsucht. But I also believe you are close to identifying an experience that will quench the seemingly impossible longing. You will either discover a novel source of deep gratification, or you will be able to transform an existing gratification to accommodate your Sehnsucht. Sounds like spectacular fun to me. Clear some space in your schedule to welcome it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Most of us have at some time in the past been mean and cruel to people we loved. We acted unconsciously or unintentionally, perhaps, but the bottom line is that we caused pain. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to atone for any such hurts you have dispensed. I encourage you to be creative as you offer healing and correction for any mistakes you’ve made with important allies. I’m not necessarily suggesting you try to resume your bond with ex-lovers and former friends. The goal is to purge your iffy karma and graduate from the past. Perform whatever magic you have at your disposal to transform suffering with love.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The blues singer-songwriter B.B. King wasn’t always known by that name. He was born Riley B. King. In his twenties, when he began working at a Memphis radio station, he acquired the nickname “Beales Street Blues Boy.” Later, that was shortened to “Blues Boy” and eventually to “B.B.” In the spirit of B.B. King’s

evolution and in accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to identify areas of your life with cumbersome or unnecessary complexities that might benefit from simplification.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Proboscis monkeys live in Borneo and nowhere else on earth. Their diet consists largely of fruits and leaves from trees that grow only on Borneo and nowhere else. I propose we make them your anti-role model in the coming months. In my astrological opinion, you need to diversify your sources of nourishment, both the literal and metaphorical varieties. You will also be wise to draw influences from a wide variety of humans and experiences. I further suggest that you expand your financial life so you have multiple sources of income and diversified investments.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s challenging to track down the sources of quotes on the Internet. Today, for instance, I found these words attributed to ancient Greek philosopher Plato: “I enjoy the simple things in life, like recklessly spending my cash and being a disappointment to my family.” That can’t be right. I’m sure Plato didn’t actually say such things. Elsewhere, I came upon a review of George Orwell’s book Animal Farm that was supposedly penned by pop star Taylor Swift: “Not a very good instructional guide on farming. Would NOT recommend to first-time farmers.” Again, I’m sure that wasn’t written by Swift. I bring this up, Aquarius, because one of your crucial tasks these days is to be dogged and discerning as you track down the true origins of things. Not just Internet quotes but everything else, as well — including rumors, theories and evidence. Go to the source, the roots, the foundations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): In accordance with astrological omens, I’m turning over this horoscope to Piscean teacher Esther Hicks. Here are affirmations she advises you to embody: “I’m going to be happy. I’m going to skip and dance. I will be glad. I will smile a lot. I will be easy. I will count my blessings. I will look for reasons to feel good. I will dig up positive things from the past. I will look for positive things where I am right now. I will look for positive things in the future. It is my natural state to be a happy person. It’s natural for me to love and laugh. I am a happy person!”

supported by: Jen Ellis was a secondgrade teacher and part-time mitten maker back in 2021 when her life changed on Inauguration Day. A photo of Sen. Bernie Sanders wearing her mittens became a viral meme. Ellis chronicled this unique experience in a new book, Bernie's Mitten Maker.

CHECK OUT ROB BREZSNY’S EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES & DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES: REALASTROLOGY.COM OR 1-877-873-4888.

WOMEN seeking...

HIPPIE FROM THE HEART

Earthy, independent, curious. Love storytelling. Moth! Creating worlds on tablecloths. What world do we go to after this one? Love music; hoping to finally learn how to play my guitar. Love ancestry shows. Love summer! Birchtree2023 68, seeking: M

HAPPY, HEALTHY ADVENTURER

I’m a newly retired middle/high school science teacher. I loved the subject and adored the kids, but it was time to explore new horizons because I’m blessed with good health and full of energy. I love the outdoors, listening to live music, dancing, singing and laughter. Life is good. Finding someone who fills my heart would make it even better!

Mountainmeadow, 68 seeking: M, l

BORN IN THE CITY

Because I am just that delightful, I’m looking for someone who enjoys traveling, exploring cultures and languages of every kind — the heart, the mind, nature, all forms of life and spirit. I’m active in arts and community. How do you use your imagination, your courage, your strength?

Let me know. we_are_about_to_begin 62, seeking: M, W, Q, NC, NBP, 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

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

LAKE HOUSE

I am a very active, recently retired professional who is seeking an honest, fun-loving guy to spend time with. I love outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing, and I am open to trying new things. If you have a sense of humor and love adventures, we should connect. lakehouse 66, seeking: M, l

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

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

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

MEN seeking...

JUST A NORMAL MAN WANTING

Hi. A normal guy with an oral fetish looking for adult women OK with a touch of kink who can say they are into a bit of kink, too. Questions? Ask. synodontis 58, seeking: W, l

OLD-SCHOOL, LOYAL AND NONJUDGMENTAL

I like good companionship and an educated person. Honestly is a must. I am a classy guy who has been around the block. I like music and movies. I enjoy talking to someone for hours, as long as they’re interesting. I like keeping active. I enjoy playing pool and bowling. I read quite a bit. Whispers, 65 seeking: W, l

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. 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

OLD-SCHOOL GOOD COMMON SENSE

I’m looking for a nice couple or someone who works, has their own life, and is laid-back with good common sense and honesty. 333h 60, 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

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

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

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 GO WITH THE FLOW

I’m looking for someone just like me — someone who works hard, cares about others and the world we live in but is missing something in their life and/or partnership and wants to find that spark of excitement. I also live a busy life, so spontaneity is desired but oh so challenging. Anybody out there that fits the mold? my_fungi_ username, 45 seeking: W, l

TRANS WOMEN seeking...

FABULOUSLY FUTCH

Tall, smart trans woman looking for my people. I live in Middlebury. Any background in punk or politics is a plus — let’s make some noise! sashamarx, 53, seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Q, NC, NBP, Cp, l

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

NONBINARY PEOPLE seeking...

BBW LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW

Been out of the dating scene for quite a while and want to meet new people! Looking for friends who could turn into more. Open to FWB. I’m honest to a fault, love all animals, and think they all deserve love and kindness, just like any of us. BBW420, 39 seeking: M, W, TM, TW, Cp, 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

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

YIf you’ve been spied, go online to contact your admirer!

dating.sevendaysvt.com

BUMPER-STICKERED JEEP

‘AIR’ AT PALACE 9

You were watching Air on a Sunday evening. You were one of only three people there, including myself and my mom. I thought you were cute and would have started a conversation had I been alone. Did you like the movie? What brought you to the theater that night?

Let’s talk about it if you were interested, too. When: Sunday, April 16, 2023. Where: Palace 9. You: Woman. Me: Man. #915754

MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2004 CRV

What was I thinking?! I should have given you my contact info. LMK if you would like it. When: Sunday, April 16, 2023. Where: Champlain Farms on North Ave. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915753

HARRIET’S DAD, SOUTH BURLINGTON

Harriet was thirsty. Your smile, so warm. I am curious if you are single. If not, then your partner is super lucky. If yes, then perhaps we could take Harriet for a walk sometime? Please share when you respond why I had my vest on during a 80-plus-degree day so I know it’s you! When: Sunday, April 16, 2023. Where: South Burlington bike path. You: Man. Me: Woman. #915752

HOT AT HUNGER MOUNTAIN CO-OP

9:30 a.m. You: masc.-presenting, short dark hair, tattoos, black tank top, black suspenders, tan Carhartts. Me: masc.-presenting, brown hair, goatee, flowers and skulls outfit. Briefly made eye contact when you were looking at breads. Care for a spring fling? When: Sunday, April 16, 2023. Where: Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier. You: Man. Me: Genderqueer. #915751

MISSING THE PRETTIEST OPTICIAN

I’m missing the prettiest optician in Burlington. If you see this, please contact me by telegram. When: Friday, February 10, 2023. Where: Vision Center.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915747

I was jumping into my Jeep when traffic was stopped on Route 116 in Hinesburg. You rolled down your window and gave me a thumbs-up, saying you loved all my bumper stickers. I said thanks. e light turned green before I could ask if you were single. I am! You wore a suit and blue tie and drove a Volkswagen. When: Friday, April 14, 2023. Where: Route 116, Hinesburg.

You: Man. Me: Woman. #915750

GORGEOUS SMILE OFF THE BELTLINE

Hi. Pulled up next to you at the intersection of North Ave. at the exit off the Beltline with my friend. Made eye contact with you, and you smiled at me, which made my night. Up for meeting up sometime to see how things go?

When: Saturday, April 15, 2023. Where: North Ave. intersection off the Beltline.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915749

CAPTIVATING EYES

Our paths crossed at the elevator. I think I caught you by surprise as I stepped out and you were stepping on. When our eyes met, it felt like maybe we knew each other. We probably don’t, but it would be nice to change that. Spy back if you can! When: ursday, April 6, 2023. Where: Bare VT elevator.

You: Woman. Me: Man. #915748

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

REVEREND Ask

Irreverent counsel on life’s conundrums

De Rev end,

I go to restaurants with friends a lot, and we usually wind up splitting the bill equally. It mostly seems to work out fine, but I often feel like somebody winds up paying more than they should. What’s the best way to handle the check for a group without being annoying? Tabitha

(NONBINARY, 32)

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

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

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

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 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

De Tabitha,

WINOOSKI POST OFFICE

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: Non-binary person. Me: Non-binary person. #915738

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

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

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

ere’s nothing annoying about wanting to make sure everyone pays their fair share, but sorting out the bill at the end of a meal can be a real brainteaser — especially when you’re with a bunch of people and somebody is waiting to bus your table.

Asking for separate checks would be the simplest thing, but I’ve never been sure how servers feel about that. To get the scoop, I consulted a friend who has worked in the restaurant industry for a long time.

She told me that these days most restaurants have swanky point-of-sale systems that make splitting a check fairly easy. But asking to put different amounts on different cards may make your server want to drop a drink on you. You know, the old “Can you put $50 on

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

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 able

the red card, $25 on Jim’s card and $35 on the blue card?” It can be done, but it’s a hassle. So don’t do that. e best thing to do, if you’re with a group of six or less, is to ask for separate checks before you order anything. at way, the server can keep track of everybody on their own tab. If you’re in a larger group, depending on the restaurant, you might not be able to do separate checks. In that case, you may have to opt for the even split. Better yet, have one person put the whole thing on a card, and then pay them your share right away with cash, Venmo or another payment app.

Nobody likes to do math when they’re in a food coma, but there’s a calculator on your phone. Don’t be afraid to use it.

Good luck and God bless, The Rev

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PRINT SHOW AT KARMA BIRD HOUSE

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

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

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

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

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Male mountain lion hunting for female mountain lioness to den up with. Wild but housetrained. 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

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

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

Int net-Free Dating!

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

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

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)

ISO “gingandaddy, 46, seeking M.” Did you find your man? Nontech-connected guy would like to discuss 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 disease-free, looking for the same. Discreet fun only. Send stats and contact number. I’m in the Barre/ Montpelier area. #L1637

Man of letters/amateur artist seeks companionship of thoughtful, considerate woman, mid-50s to low 70s. Share fine cinema, literature, classical music and discussions concerning spiritual/ metaphysical subjects. I’m healthy, 71, creative, curious and a good listener. #L1638

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THIS FORM IS FOR LOVE LETTERS ONLY. Messages for the Personals and I-Spy sections must be submitted online at dating.sevendaysvt.com.

Facing Change:

Life’s Transitions and Transformations

WED., APR. 19

ONLINE

e One-Night Stand: Bike-Care Basics

WED., APR. 19

OLD SPOKES HOME, BURLINGTON

Second Annual Uplift

THU., APR. 20

STOWE CIDER, STOWE

Kippincoe with Troy Millette

FRI., APR. 21 THE UNDERGROUND, RANDOLPH

Earth Day

Marine Debris Cleanup

SAT., APR. 22

COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER, BURLINGTON

Spring Willow Wreath Workshop

SAT., APR. 22

ANDERBELL ACRES, MONTPELIER

Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine Takeout

SAT., APR. 22

O.N.E. COMMUNITY CENTER, BURLINGTON

How ey Built It Speaker Series: Poppy Café, Mamajuana Café, & VEOC

SAT., APR. 22

MAVERICK MARKET AT 110, BURLINGTON

Pop-Up Beer Garden & Can Release Party

FRI., APR. 28

12-22 NORTH ST, BURLINGTON

Fair Housing Month Movie Night

SAT., APR. 29

MAIN STREET LANDING PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BURLINGTON

Paul Asbell Plays & Sings

Steel-String Americana

SUN., APR. 30

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ESSEX

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Expo

SAT.-SUN., APR. 29-30

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION, ESSEX

Living with Loss: A Gathering for the Grieving

WED., MAY 3 ONLINE

Focaccia Art Workshop

THU., MAY 4 RED POPPY CAKERY, WATERBURY

e Royal Rendezvous

Great Gatsby Style

THU., MAY 4

SPIRIT OF ETHAN ALLEN, BURLINGTON

e Fyre and Lightning Consort

SAT., MAY 6

PLAINFIELD OPERA HOUSE, PLAINFIELD

e Retirement Dilemma

TUE., MAY 9

SOUTH BURLINGTON LIBRARY, S. BURLINGTON

Playing the Game

FRI., MAY 12

CONNEXION UMC, SOMERVILLE, MA

Imagine Zero Festival

SAT., MAY 13

SOLARFEST, BRANDON

Aurora Chamber Singers: All Generations Will Call Me Blessed

SAT., MAY 13

COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURLINGTON

“ e Pursuit of Happyness”

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